Senior CPC official stresses safeguarding social stability

Xinhua) 10:25, November 23, 2024

BEIJING, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official Chen Wenqing has urged efforts to further safeguard social stability and enhance people's sense of security.

Chen, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks at a meeting on social stability.

He urged judicial, procuratorial and public security organs to strengthen the prevention of risks at their source, crack down on major crimes in accordance with the law, and effectively safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the people.

Chen underscored efforts to effectively resolve disputes and conflicts and strive to address issues at the grassroots level.

He also called for enhancing comprehensive prevention and control measures to ensure social security, strengthening the management of key locations and major events, and intensifying patrols and monitoring to prevent major public safety incidents.

(Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Kou Jie)
Sriharsha Devulapalli joined The San Francisco Chronicle in 2022, after finishing his master's degree in data journalism from Columbia University. Prior to this, he was working as a Product Manager for Blue Sky Analytics where he helped build a mapping platform for environmental data.

Previously, he was a software developer with Mint, where he was responsible for data visualizations for the newspapers daily data journalism page  Plain Facts. During his time there, Harsha wrote and produced data visualizations focusing on politics, development and economic issues in India.

Devulapalli also brings with him experience outside of journalism. He had worked with the Urban Design Lab at the Earth Institute, Columbia University and the Hyderabad Urban Lab. He enjoys cities, maps, long walks, vistas, all things transit and making people curious.
Sir Keir Starmer was accused of telling fairy tales last night after he claimed that most family farms will be 'completely unaffected' by Labour's inheritance tax raid.

The Prime Minister insisted Labour is 'for farmers' and said rural communities would benefit from services funded by the 500million tax raid on the sector unveiled by Chancellor Rachel Reeves last month.

During a series of interviews with BBC local radio stations, he said he did 'understand the concerns' of farmers who staged a mass protest against the plans this week. But he said the 'vast majority are completely unaffected'.

His claim was contradicted last night by new analysis from the National Farmers' Union, which warned three-quarters of working farms will be hit by the Budget decision to end the sector's traditional exemption from inheritance tax.

Shadow environment secretary Victoria Atkins said: 'Labour's Family Farm Tax cannot be justified and they need to U-turn immediately. The numbers that they have parroted since the Budget are nothing more than a fairy tale.'

Ministers also faced criticism over new research showing that the Government is currently spending 536million in foreign aid to help farmers abroad.

The research by the Taxpayers' Alliance shows that the projects date back up to a decade.

Baroness Mallalieu, the president of the Countryside Alliance and a farmer on Exmoor, told the Daily Telegraph Labour risked becoming the 'cruel party'.

Jeremy Clarkson holding a placard during a protest in Westminster in central London on November 19

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer steps out from 10 Downing Street on November 21

Children on toy tractors led a small march in central London on November 19

Jeremy Clarkson last night criticised Labour's new inheritance tax rules.

He told The Times: 'I have no doubts in my mind that if I were to be a figurehead for this campaign, there would be a lot of people saying, 'I've heard it said that it's because of people like James Dyson, and to a much, much, lesser extent me, that this tax has come about'.

'But I don't buy that, because if Reeves wanted to take out, let's say, hedge fund managers who have land, she should have used a sniper's rifle.

'But she used a blunderbuss and she's hit every single farmer.'
King Charles is reportedly planning a trip to the Indian subcontinent in what would be a major boost to the monarch's health as he continues his recovery from cancer.

His plans to visit India, Pakistan and Bangladesh had to be abandoned after the Queen's death in September 2022.

However, Number 10 is understood to be keen in Charles and Camilla reorganising the trip as Britain looks to establish important economic links in post-Brexit times.

A source told the Mirror said: 'It's hugely encouraging to be able to make such plans for the King and Queen given the year the monarch has had, but it's very much full steam ahead.

'A tour of the Indian subcontinent is in the offing, which will be of huge political and cultural significance for Britain on the world stage. The King and Queen are the perfect ambassadors at such a time.'

The go-ahead has reportedly been given to Foreign Office officials to begin talks with potential host nations for royal visits.

It is said that proposals for tours of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh have started to be drafted.

Following the cancellation of the trip in 2022, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is believed to have expressed his desire to host the King and Queen Camilla.

King Charles is reportedly planning on a trip to the Indian subcontinent in what would be a major boost to the monarch's health as continues his recovery from cancer

Number 10 is understood to be keen in Charles and Camilla reorganising the trip as Britain looks to establish important economic links in post-Brexit times

Charles who is still undergoing cancer treatment, is said to have felt 'lifted' by his recent trip to Australia and Samoa, where he carried out up to ten engagements a day

There are concerns however about the trip due to Modi's closeness with Russian president Vladimir Putin.

After the pair met met at the BRICS summit of world leaders last month, Putin acknowledged Russia's 'strategic partnership' with India on Tuesday.

Earlier this year, the pair hugged when they met as Putin hosted Mr Modi at his Novo-Ogaryovo palace outside Moscow.

However, Modi has insisted that India supports 'dialogue and diplomacy for restoration of peace and stability as soon as possible.'

The King spent around three months away from public-facing duties when he was diagnosed with cancer in January after receiving treatment for an enlarged prostate

He then returned to work in April with a visit to a cancer centre in London where he met with fellow patients.

Charles who is still undergoing cancer treatment, is said to have felt 'lifted' by his recent trip to Australia and Samoa, where he carried out up to ten engagements a day.

And sources close to Charles, who paused treatment to undertake the 30,000-mile, 11-day round-trip, have explained it was all part of his 'mind, body and soul' approach to his cancer battle.

Travelling in particular is seen as a tonic for the King, who will likely visit the capital city of Rome and schedule an audience with the Pope at the Vatican.

Buckingham Palace has yet to comment on proposals for tour of the Indian subcontinent.
Two United Airlines passengers were left infuriated after being told their bags were missing but their AirTag told a different story.

Dan Adams and his partner Kurt had meticulously planned a two-month European getaway, and even treated themselves to flying business class to Barcelona with United.

With such careful planning for the long trip, they had taken extra precautions and put AirTags in their bags.

Adams, who described it as 'the vacation of a lifetime', told NBC that when the pair arrived in Barcelona, they checked on the whereabouts of their four checked bags.

'We get to Barcelona. Get off the flight, go into the airport. And I get out my phone. And all four bags are there, so I'm like, "Yay, they made it",' he told the outlet.

After they collected three bags, the pair patiently waited for the fourth. Adams said he wasn't concerned as they could see the bag was only feet away from them.

'I looked on the phone to see where it was, and it was only a few feet from where I was standing. I figured they probably forgot to put it on the belt that takes it up to the carousel l from down below. It's probably just stuck there, and somebody forget it,' he added.

They had approached a baggage rep to try and rectify the situation, but the baggage rep came back to them empty handed.

'She came back and said, "No, there's no sign of your bag. Probably somebody took it." I said, "Nobody took it. The AirTag shows it right there,"' he recalled.

Dan Adams and his partner Kurt had meticulously planned a two-month European getaway which turned sour when their luggage was lost but the AirTag they had packed as a precaution showed it was only feet away from them

The baggage rep, however, made it clear that they do not acknowledge AirTags and 'go by their own system', according to Adams.

The pair were promised that their luggage would be delivered to them later that night, so after long hours of travel leaving them exhausted, the couple left.

'We were tired, jetlagged, and I said ok. And that was my mistake. I trust United when I shouldn't have,' he said.

Their final bag never arrived, and Adams was subjected to watch the AirTag within the bag move in the wrong direction later that night.

'It came into Barcelona and then just kept moving out of Barcelona,' he recalled, adding that he watched the bag travel 34 minutes out of the city.

'I knew at that point that I'd never see that bag again and all the stuff that was inside of it.'

Adams remained convinced that an airport worker took off with his belongings and added that the airline did very little to help him.

He filed a complaint with United for his stolen belongings, but he wasn't reimbursed for anything and added: 'I've been a really good United customer for years and years. And they know that, yet they treated me this way.'

After they collected three bags, the pair patiently waited for the fourth. Adams said he wasn't concerned as they could see the bag was only feet away from them through the app on his phone

United told the outlet that it is 'working with local law enforcement to understand the details of the situation', before Adams was then reimbursed the rest of his claim

Travel expert, Katy Nastro, told the outlet that Adams' story was 'alarming' but reassured that the chances of it happening are low.

She added that if you use AirTags, as Adams had, you should wait in the airport and contact airport police if the airline won't help you.

'It can pay to just stick it out and see if you can get that bag from the airport versus having it delivered to your hotel or accommodation, especially when travelling abroad,' she added.

United told DailyMail.com in a statement: 'Police in Barcelona are handling the investigation into this missing bag.'

They added that Adams was reimbursed for his 'frustrating experience' and was also offered a $200 travel credit.

Adams said: 'I just want people to know what happened to me, so it doesn't happen to them.'

'Even if you take precautions of putting an AirTag into your luggage to see where it is, there are elements out there that are going to make sure you don't get your luggage, no matter what,' he added.

The airline also added that 'in the coming months, United will begin accepting Find My item locations as part of our customer service process for locating mishandled or delayed bags.'

Adams remained convinced that an airport worker took off with his belongings and added that the airline did very little to help him.

This comes as 15 major airlines implemented a new 'Share Item Location' feature for travelers with Apple AirTags to find their lost luggage

This comes as 15 major airlines implemented a new 'Share Item Location' feature for travelers with Apple AirTags to find their lost luggage.

While you can use AirTags privately to track luggage, airline baggage services had yet to set up internal ways to link up to the tag's tracking information... until now.

Some of the airlines that have already started using this process include Delta Airlines, United Airlines, British Airways, Lufthansa, Qantas and Virgin Atlantic.

'We know many of our customers are already traveling with AirTag in their checked bags, and this feature will soon make it easier for them to share location information with us safely and securely,' David Kinzelman, United's chief customer officer, told CBS News this month.

He added that the feature is only available with United in select airports, but there are plans to introduce 'the service systemwide in early 2025.'

The secure links AirTag owners create are meant to ensure user privacy, and the shared item will immediately be disabled once the luggage owner is reunited with their belongings.

'Access to each link will be limited to a small number of people, and recipients will be required to authenticate in order to view the link through either their Apple Account or partner email address,' Apple said in a news release.

Links that do not get disabled will automatically expire after seven days.

The 'Share Item Location' feature is available now in most regions worldwide as part of the public beta of iOS 18.2, which will soon be available to all users for iPhone Xs and later through a software update.
The criminal investigation into rape claims against Conor McGregor could be reopened after a jury found him liable for sexual assault, a top barrister has claimed.

McGregor, 36, faced an accusation that he 'brutally raped and battered' Ms 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.

But yesterday she was awarded nearly 250,000 in damages at the High Court after claiming that she was raped by MMA fighter Conor McGregor.

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.

Now, there are questions on whether the DPP should re-examine the criminal file against McGregor, while women's groups have urged that he should finally no longer be seen as a role model for any man.

Barrister Timothy Bracken told the Irish Daily Mail that the DPP can reexamine the case at any time.

'There is no time limit in this country when it comes to criminal matters, which means the DPP can return to this case even 50 or 60 years down the line.

Conor McGregor and his partner Dee Devlin leave the High Court in Dublin this afternoon

Nikita Hand speaking to the media outside the court upon hearing the verdict in her civil case. Pictured: With boyfriend, right

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

'I presume someone will examine the evidence in this civil trial and see if any new evidence comes to light to warrant a criminal case.

'Civil actions can lead to criminal prosecutions, this is not unheard of. But what's important to note is that the verdict today was brought on by the balance of probability, whereas criminal matters need to be ruled beyond a reasonable doubt. The differences between the two are huge,' he said.

Green Party TD for Dublin Central Neasa Hourigan said: 'We do have quite low rates of prosecution in this area, it would seem that there would be a huge amount of evidence available and calls into question why it did not proceed.

Asked if she believed the DPP should reopen the criminal investigation, deputy Hourigan said: 'Perhaps, yes. I think for victims of sexual crime it means there is a civil avenue they can take but it would imply that our current system does not provide access to justice fully, but it is a victory for her and I'm very happy for her today.'

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore said: 'Nikita Hand showed incredible bravery in pursuing this case through every avenue available to her and the result today is a testimony to her strength and determination. There are certainly questions now for the DPP as to why they did not take this case.'

Labour leader Ivana Bacik said her thoughts are currently with Nikita.

'Her bravery in taking this case must be acknowledged.

'In a year of so many high profile cases of violence against women, we must reform the courts and our culture to ensure better protections for victims and survivors,' she said.

Ms Hand joined family and supporters and said she felt vindicated by the outcome

Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor and partner Dee Devlin and mother Margaret outside the High Court in Dublin, November 22, 2024

During the first ten days of the McGregor trial, calls to the National Rape Crisis Helpline increased by almost 20%, with first-time callers increasing by 50% compared to the same period last year.

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre chief executive Rachel Morrogh said: 'It will take some time to analyse all the issues that have arisen for survivors as a result of this case.'

It said it was exceptionally proud to stand with the 'courageous and determined' Nikita hand in her pursuit of justice.

'This is a very positive verdict and a mark of belief in survivors around the country,' Ms Morrogh added.

'The court has acknowledged the wrongs done to this brave woman and the acts of violence against her.

Ms Morrogh said: 'Thankfully the jury found in favour of Nikita Hand. But this case and the public commentary around it has also thrown up questions about how some of Irish society views victims of sexual violence.

Women's Aid stated it hopes yesterday's ruling will discourage young men from viewing Conor McGregor and others like him as positive role models.

'Views of masculinity including dominance, power and attitudes to women, are being influenced disproportionally by men like Conor McGregor, Andrew Tate and many others, online.

Ms Hand leaves the High Court in Dublin after the verdicts were delivered on Friday. Pictured: With boyfriend, right

'These are not positive role models for young men & boys and this case, and the increasing levels of violence against women in our society, offer opportunities for older men to have conversations with the younger men in their lives to offer more positive way of being in the world,' Women's Aid stated.

It comes after it was revealed masked men broke into Ms Hand's home, 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.

The story was first told 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.

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

'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

'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 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 fiance's 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 McGregor's 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 daughter's 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.

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.
Restaurant critic Jay Rayner has claimed The Guardian has anti-Semites on its staff and its editor has not had the courage to face them down, it has been revealed.

The journalist, who this week quit its Sunday sister paper The Observer, reportedly wrote a message to friends on Facebook where he criticised Guardian editor-in-chief Katharine Viner.

According to a report by The Telegraph, he accused her of not properly dealing with anti-Semitism in the organisation.

Rayner, 58, is said to have written: For years now being Jewish, however non-observant, and working for the company has been uncomfortable, at times excruciating.

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...

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.

Rayner is said to have called the comment section a juvenile hellscape of salami-sliced identity grievance politics.

The lack of action taken over the issue is said to have played a part in the restaurant critics decision to leave his job at the company.

Food critic Jay Rayner has said there are 'anti-Semites' at the Guardian after quitting the Observer this week

Rayner, 58, criticised the Guardian's editor-in-chief, Katharine Viner, for not having had the courage to face down discrimination in the company

The Guardian has responded by saying it took allegations of this nature extremely seriously and that the company has a zero tolerance approach to anti-Semitism and all forms of prejudice and discrimination.

A spokesman said: When any allegations are made, we investigate them and deal with them swiftly.

Last year there was a row about a cartoon of ex-BBC chairman Richard Sharp, amid outcry that the image was anti-Semitic.

Drawn by cartoonist Martin Rowson, it depicted Mr Sharp  who is Jewish  with what a Jewish charity called outsized, grotesque features and included other anti-Semitic tropes.

Also last year a Guardian article titled Israel must stop weaponising the Holocaust was branded unbelievably crass by the largest Jewish communal organisation in the UK.

And in the same year the Guardian announced that it would no longer use any work from cartoonist Steve Bell after he drew a picture of Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which was never published.

Rayner, who will join the Financial Times, also criticised the proposed sale of The Observer to online start-up Tortoise Media, set up by former BBC director of news James Harding.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves reportedly misrepresented her job title from her time at retail banking firm Halifax, the parent company of the Bank of Scotland.

The Labour politician's public LinkedIn profile had previously stated that Reeves worked as an 'economist' for the Bank of Scotland between 2006 and 2009.

However, amid accusations that she had lied about her qualifications on her CV, the profile was updated to read that the Chancellor has been involved in 'retail banking' at Halifax, The Telegraph reported.

The blame for this 'error' has now been placed on an unnamed member of the Chancellor's staff, according to a source close to Reeves.

On Friday, the i newspaper reported that Reeves's CV contained an exaggerated claim about her position at the Halifax group and stated that she had actually been working across their customer relations and mortgage divisions.

Reeves actual roles during this period were reportedly 'head of planning, customer relations' and 'head of customers, mortgages'.

Prior to joining Halifax, Reeves worked at the Bank of England for over half a decade, but further questions over that portion of her career history have also begun to emerge.

Whilst in opposition to the previous Conservative government during her time as Shadow Chancellor, Reeves made the claim that she had worked at the bank for a decade.

It has been revealed that Chancellor Rachel Reeves misrepresented her job title from her time at retail banking firm Halifax , the parent company of the Bank of Scotland

Reeves's CV contained an exaggerated claim about her position at the Halifax group and stated- she had actually been working across their customer relations and mortgage divisions

Her LinkedIn CV - which had previously said that she was an economist at the Bank of Scotland has now been updated to say she was in 'Retail Banking', the Guido Fawkes political website noted

The Labour Party itself claimed Reeves had worked at the Bank of England 'for the best part of a decade'.

In reality, the current Chancellor had spent 18 months of her six year stint on a secondment at the US Embassy.

She began her time at the bank as a London School of Economics Master's student.

Further queries have since followed around the superiority of her previous roles.

Reeves has previously claimed in multiple social media posts that she is a 'former Bank of England economist'.

However, old tweets from 2012 have surfaced in which the Chancellor described herself as a 'very junior Japan analyst'.

The Shadow Paymaster General, Richard Holden, wrote to the Chancellor earlier this week asking her to shed light on the matter of her previous job titles.

He also queried whether Reeves would release a 'full, unedited CV', and added that 'the allegations that your CV might not be accurate are incredibly serious'.

'[They] would raise significant concerns about your ability to be honest with the British public, concerns which your Budget has already raised'.

MailOnline has contacted the Labour Party for comment.
Transgender police officers can strip-search women under new guidance.

The British Transport Police policy allows recently transitioned officers to intimately search women if they have been issued a gender recognition certificate.

Titled 'Transgender and Non-Binary Search Position', it was authorised in September by the assistant chief constable for network policing.

It comes after the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) was forced to withdraw similar guidance in January after concerns were raised about women's safety.

The guidance, seen by the Mail, reads: reads: 'British Transport Police recognises the status of transgender and non-binary detainees/staff from the moment they permanently identify in that gender with or without a GRC [gender recognition certificate].

'This means that even when a person has not legally changed their sex, we should continue to use the correct pronouns and recognise the person's gender. BTP officers/staff will only search persons of the same sex as either their birth certificate or GRC.'

It covers 'more thorough' searches which involve the removal of coats, hats and footwear as well as 'EIP' or strip searches which involve the person being searched removing all clothing.

The guidance adds: 'An officer may only search as the sex indicated on their birth certificate or listed on their GRC, whichever is the most recent when enacting a statutory power of search under compulsion.'

British Transport Police (BTP) said its guidance is in line with equality laws and that somebody being searched can object to being searched by any officer.

The British Transport Police policy allows recently transitioned officers to intimately search women if they have been issued a gender recognition certificate (file photo)

In a separate policy BTP officers are told they can also wear 'uniform in whichever gender they choose' and use the changing rooms and showers of their chosen gender identity.

The documents adds that any officers who transition are given a new account on the police computer system as well as a new uniform collar number. They can also order a new warrant card under their chosen name.

The document adds: 'The individual is not required to provide any proof of the name change such as a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) or deed poll document other than for vetting.'

Cathy Larkman, a retired police officer and national policing lead for the Women's Rights Network said strip searches 'require sensitivity, professionalism and courtesy' and must only be carried out by someone of the same sex.

She added: 'British Transport Police think that the possession of a GRC conveys some sort of right for a male officer to strip search a woman, or for a female officer to be pressurised into searching a male detainee.

'Their eagerness to bring this in despite the clear warnings made indicates that they have forgotten about women's rights, or at best that these can be dispensed with.'

It comes after a backlash earlier this year saw similar National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) guidance temporarily withdrawn after the Tory government raised concerns.

British Transport Police (BTP) said its guidance is in line with equality laws and that somebody being searched can object to being searched by any officer (stock photo)

The NPCC said it was conducting a review of the policy, which had been implemented by the majority of police forces, with forces reverting to previous policies on searching while this is carried out.

Women's rights campaigners have written to the chief constable of British Transport Police to express their concerns about the policy.

Maya Forstater, CEO of human rights charity Sex Matters, which sent the letter, described the guidance as a 'shocking breach of human rights'.

She said: 'BTP's policy breaches that obligation, treating male officers' 'gender identities' as more important than women's most fundamental rights.

'BTP's policy exposes the absurdity of thinking that a Gender Recognition Certificate gives a man the right to be treated as if he is a woman in a wide range of person-to-person interactions, even in situations involving nudity.'

A BTP spokesman said: 'An officer may only search as the sex indicated on their birth certificate or listed on their Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC), whichever is more recent when enacting a statutory power of search under compulsion.

'A person being searched can object to being searched by any officer; this officer will be replaced by another member of the team to conduct the search in their place. This is regularly done in practice for many reasons, such as a way to de-escalate conflict.'
Six days before Australia Day next year Donald Trump will take over as US President for the second time. It shouldnt take long for Trump 2.0 to begin changing the global political environment, both courtesy of his domestic policy settings and the approach he takes to the international stage.

Whether the next Australian federal election comes early (in February or March) or Anthony Albanese sticks to his promise to serve a full term and hold it in May, the campaign will play out in the midst of totemic political change abroad.

Trump will attempt mass deportations from the United States. To honour this election pledge he may even use the US military to achieve his desired outcome. The environment will be tense and contested.

How will Australia's political class react? It will put Labor and the Greens in a more difficult position than the Coalition. The Greens will certainly mouth off about it, what will Albo do?

Trump will certainly withdraw the US from the Paris Agreement, just like he did in 2016. Such a move has the potential to change the nature of the climate change debate in Australia.

Labor has gone all in defending its emissions targets and condemning Peter Duttons nuclear ambitions. Trump isnt the sort of foreign leader who will diplomatically stay out of Australias business as the election looms large.

Will rhetorical interventions by Trump - sure to favour Dutton over Albo - help the opposition leader or sound warning bells for Australian voters who regard Trump as too extreme?

While Trump tapped into the mainstream America mood, the US electoral system doesnt include compulsory voting or preference flows. Such differences, combined with cultural variations between our nations, mean that his appeal in the US might not be matched here.

Albo risks becoming the proverbial ham in the sandwich as two great powers go to war, metaphorically speaking

Can Dutton draw on Trumps pro-drilling sentiments to isolate Labor and the Greens as threats to mining led prosperity?

Dutton needs to be careful not to seek to emulate Trump in a mistaken belief that doing so will help him match Trump's political success.

That said, the incoming US President's drill baby, drill ethos might appeal where it most matters in Australia. Mining is essential to our export economy, so supporting the sector should matter to all Australians, but it is especially important to West Australians.

Currently internal party polls suggest Labor is performing better than expected in the west, with Liberals under-confident about picking up more than one, possibly two seats. The Morrison government lost six of the 11 seats it held before the 2022 election, the federal Liberal Party's worst performance in WA in 35 years.

Can Dutton draw on Trumps pro-drilling sentiments to isolate Labor and the Greens as threats to mining led prosperity? Helping win back more seats in the west to help dislodge Albos parliamentary majority?

Trumps protectionist agenda is its own threat to Australian exports of all kinds, but it is the impact Trumps tariffs might have on China that looms largest.

China will need to respond: will a domestic stimulus package in China targeting infrastructure create even more demand for Aussie iron ore? Or will China retaliate against US allies, which would include Australia, because of Trump's tariff moves?

Either scenario will put our PM in an awkward position leading up to a tight election. Albo risks becoming the proverbial ham in the sandwich as two great powers go to war, metaphorically speaking.

Billionaire Elon Musk has already called out Albo and his government for its social media policies affecting his business interests. Musk will soon have a formal role within the Trump administration, as he celebrates free speech on technology platforms around the world, while slashing government departments at home.

There is every chance Musk seeks to do within Australia what he didnt ahead of the US election: backing a political horse of his choosing. That horse certainly wont be Albo.

Our pre-election period will take place amidst all of the above, and thats before you even consider what might happen in Ukraine, the Middle East and even in Taiwan and the South China Sea. Although these heady issues are more likely to matter in the years rather than months to come, beyond just the first half of 2025.

Challenges for whoever wins the Australian election, to be sure.

The word that best describes what impact Trumps victory will have on the next federal election campaign is volatility.

Without overstating the impact who becomes US President can have on our domestic polity, Trump is larger than life and cant be ignored as a volatile factor both major party leaders and their strategists need to be mindful of.

That mindfulness could even be a factor as Albo contemplates when to call the next election.
The Bali representative for Indonesia's ruling political party has slammed his own country's decision to return the remaining members of the Bali Nine to Australia.

Nyoman Parta from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, which has held power in the House of Representatives since 2014, said Indonesia would appear weak if it released the drug smugglers at a foreign country's request.

The five members of the group who are still behind bars in Indonesia will be returned to Australia following a discussion at this month's APEC meeting in Peru between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and new Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.

'Do not let this country appear weak by ignoring existing laws on the grounds of international cooperation, then repatriating foreign prisoners to their country,' Mr Parta said in a statement to the Indonesian House of Representatives.

He warned that doing so, while it it did promote international diplomacy, could 'break the legal system in Indonesia'.

Australians Matthew Norman, Martin Stephens, Si Yi Chen, Scott Rush and Michael Czugaj are serving life sentences in Indonesia after they were arrested in 2005 as they attempted to smuggle 8.3kg of heroin strapped to their bodies from Bali.

Among the remaining members of the nine, Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen died from cancer in 2018 and 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'.

Nyoman Parta from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle said his country would appear weak if it released the remaining Bali Nine members to Australia

Renae Lawrence (right) talks to Indonesian interpreter Wayan Ane during her testimony in the trial of Michael Czugaj (left) as Andrew Chan looks on from behind in Denpasar in 2005

Scott Rush (left) is pictured beside his translator during the trial in Bali in 2005

Mr Parta said that transnational drug networks had targeted Bali in recent years and repatriating prisoners, especially in high profile cases, could undermine efforts to disrupt the drug trade and deter organised crime.

'The Bali Nine case is a case that has received great attention from the world community, Indonesia and especially the Balinese community,' he said.

'And in Bali in the last 10 years, there have often been disclosures of international narcotics network cases. Do not let the repatriation of [the] Bali Nine convicts dampen the spirit of eradicating drugs.'

But some other leading figures in Indonesia have commended the decision, including the deputy chairman of the Bali Hotel and Restaurant Association, Rai Suryawijaya.

He said Australia was a big contributor to Bali's tourism industry and maintaining a positive relationship between the two was crucial.

'Bali Nine have served quite long time in the prison and I am sure they have shown good behaviour,' he told the Courier Mail.

'They deserve to get a chance to have a better life. They must have regret for what they have done. Let's give them a chance.

'We have to take the positive impact from this policy. The government burden can be reduced, it may ease the over capacity problem in our prison.'

Si Yi Chen and Matthew Norman could be back in the country as early as next month

Renae Lawrence (pictured behind bars in 2005) is the only Bali Nine member to have been released back into society but has struggled to find normality

Pictured Top L-R: Myuran Sukumaran, Scott Rush, Tach Duc Thanh Nguyen, Renae Lawrence, and Bottom: Si Yi Chen, Matthew Norman, Michael Czugaj, Martin Stephen and Andrew Chan

In a statement, President Prabowo confirmed Australia's request to transfer Australian citizens serving sentences in Indonesian prisons.

'We are reviewing these requests and hope to implement the policies soon,' he said.

President Subianto was elected in February and assumed power in October, replacing President Joko Widodo.

It is expected they would be transferred as early as next month. The Australian government has not confirmed if the five would have to serve out any of their remaining prison term in Australia.

Indonesia's new leader also said he would release Philippine citizen Mary Jane Velso who has been on death row since 2010 when she was caught smuggling drugs in her suitcase, which she claimed she did not know about and someone else had packed.

He said France had also made requests to repatriate its citizens and it had submitted an appeal via a letter from the French justice minister.
Anti-Israel protestors took to the streets of Montreal on Friday night setting cars on fire, smashing up shop windows and burning an effigy in the middle of the street of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The riots began at around 4:30pm at Emilie-Gamelin Parc downtown as darkness fell in the Canadian city.

But the protests quickly turned violent as protestors hurled small explosive devices and pieces of metal were thrown at police officers.

Others set about committing acts of wanton vandalism smashing up store fronts using hammers and planks of wood while also cars ablaze.

At one point protesters marched through the city with many carrying Palestinian flags and banners while releasing red smoke bombs into the crowd to create a sense of anarchy and chaos.

Tensions reached a high point as demonstrators burned an effigy of Netanyahu in the middle of the street.

Montreal police responded by deploying chemical irritants and implemented crowd-control tactics to regain order.

Riot police were seen confronting the protesters on St-Laurent Boulevard.

Anti-Israel protestors burned an effigy in the middle of the street of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

At one point protesters managed to release red smoke bombs into the crowd.

Protestors marched through the city with many carrying Palestinian flags and banners

Just three arrests were made for assaults on police officers and the 'obstruction of police work.'

Police in riot gear were forced to spray tear gas into the crowd in order to get the protestors to disburse.

The Montreal Gazette described police as using 'chemical irritants and crowd-dispersal maneuvers' to regain control.

Footage of the unrest was posted to social media all while Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau could be seen enjoying himself at a Taylor Swift concert in Toronto.

The jarring images left at least one Canadian Senator seething at the Canadian PM's indifference.

'Tonight, while Justin Trudeau is partying it up in Toronto, I was meeting with several members of the Jewish community of Montreal,' wrote Quebec Senator Leo Housakos.

'Meanwhile, this is our hometown tonight. The pro-Hamas crowd emboldened by Mr. Trudeaus pledge to arrest the Israeli PM. Hope you had fun at the concert, though, Justin.'

'Crazy night is going over the city of Montreal, Canada, one huge chaos as anti-Israel protestors go into meltdown on the streets,' one user posted online.

'People thought they would find their car in the morning, but the parked cars were set on fire tonight. To help Gaza. Our country is being destroyed over a conflict that doesn't even involve Canada in any way.'

Meanwhile, Canada's Prime Minister enjoy Justin Trudeau could be seen enjoying himself at a Taylor Swift concert in Toronto

Anti-Israel protesters in Montreal are seen setting an effigy of Benjamin Netanyahu on fire

The mob quickly got out of control and starting to smash up store windows

Many in the crowd wore face masks to voice being identified. Smoke bombs added to the chaos

Parked cars were broken into an set ablaze in downtown Montreal

Riot police deployed tear gas in an effort to try to disburse the crowd on Friday night

The protest coincided with a NATO summit in Montreal, where delegates from member states and partner nations had gathered to discuss issues including Ukraine, climate change, and NATOs strategic future.

It also came on the heels of heightened tensions in the city following a wave of pro-Palestinian demonstrations, including a significant protest at Concordia University on Thursday that involved confrontations between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel demonstrators.

On Thursday, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu, his former defense chief Yoav Gallant, and for a Hamas leader, Ibrahim Al-Masri, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza conflict.

All EU countries are members of the court, which means they are supposed to enforce its warrants.

Smoke filled the air as protestors released smoke bombs as they rioted

Aside from being anti-Israel the protest was also anti-NATO in its nature

At at least one Canadian Senator was seething as seeing the chaos unfold

Similarly, Trudeau expressed that Canada would comply with the arrest warrant in the unlikely event Netanyahu should visit the country.

'Its really important that everyone abide by international law. This is something weve been calling on from the beginning of the conflict. We stand up for international law, and we will abide by all the regulations and rulings of the international courts. This is just who we are as Canadians,' Trudeau said in a statement.

Netanyahus office criticized the arrest warrants, labeling them as an anti-Semitic move, while Israel's ambassador to Canada, Iddo Moed, Iddo Moed, urged the Canadian government to reject and condemn the ICC decision, framing it as undermining Israel's right to self-defense.
If Donald Trump had hoped tapping Pam Bondi for attorney general would put an end to the controversy over the role he may have been barking up the wrong tree.

The decision has brought to light a bizarre canine custody battle in which the Tampa lawyer was blasted as having 'no compassion at all' by Hurricane Katrina survivors who accused her of stealing their enormous St Bernard dog.

Bondi, 59, served as attorney general for Florida from 2011 to 2019 and also represented Trump in his first impeachment trial before the Senate.

She has been thrust into the spotlight once again after Trump's initial Cabinet pick, Matt Gaetz, was engulfed in scandal amid claims he had sex with a minor. Gaetz denies the allegations.

But Hurricane Katrina survivors Steve and Doreen Couture knew who Bondi was long before her notable political appointments.

During the 2005 hurricane, Steven had decided to ride the storm out with the dogs while his family evacuated.

He had thought he made the right decision until the levees broke and flooded the St Bernard Parish, leaving about seven feet of water in his home.

The family decided to leave their St Bernard dog Master Tank at a temporary shelter, under their name, until the dogs were later turned over to the Pinellas Humane Society.

Pam Bondi, 59, was involved in a custody battle over her adopted St Bernard dog in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina

Bondi served as the attorney general for Florida from 2011 to 2019 and also represented Trump in his first impeachment trial before the Senate

'He was dying from heartworms. They had filled his heart. That's 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, I'd put him in my car and drive him back myself,' Bondi said

But in amidst of the chaos of the storm, Bondi was able to foster the dog, changing its name to Noah after she had lost her own beloved St Bernard, Donovan, to cancer.

The Couture family tracked the dog down to Bondi's home in Tampa Bay in January of 2006 and requested he be returned to them, but she refused and instead accused them of neglecting the dog.

She told the St Petersburg Times that she 'took the dog who was a walking skeleton', reported the Independent.

'He was dying from heartworms. They had filled his heart. That's 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, I'd put him in my car and drive him back myself,' she added.

'I made a promise to him that I would protect him.'

The Couture's denied the allegations and revealed the dog suffered from heartworms since he was 10 months old.

This was when the Coutures sued her in what became the beginning of a 16-month legal battle.

The lawyer eventually got a new St Bernard, Luke, who has been seen with her on many occasions including in her political career

The dog was reunited with its owners in 2007 after Bondi promised to pay for its medical and food bills, which the family claim she didn't do

Within days of the trial date being set, Bondi's representatives approached the original owners 'and said it might be worthwhile to sit down and have meaningful discussions,' said the Couture's lawyer, Murray Silverstein, reported Tampa Bay Times.

The dog was reunited with the Couture family in May 2007.

Plans for Bondi to receive photos and updates on the dog's wellbeing soon fell apart, after the Couture's claimed that Bondi failed to honor her promises to pay for his food and medical bills for life.

'It was a burden, it really was,' Doreen told the St Petersburg Times in 2010, reported the Independent.

'Financially, emotionally, it was a really tough time.'

When asked if there had been any plans to keep Bondi updated about the St Bernard's life, Couture responded: 'Why should I? She stole my dog She has no compassion at all.'

The lawyer eventually got a new St Bernard, Luke, who has been seen with her on many occasions including during recent political appearances.

She said of the incident in the aftermath: 'I've received a tremendous amount of support from people and animal rights activists, and no criticism at all. Really, it has not been an issue.'
A major software outage has sparked travel chaos at Brisbane Airport leaving passengers fuming over significant delays to their weekend flights.

The glitch, understood to have affected both the international and domestic terminals, occurred at about 9.30am local time on Saturday.

Brisbane Airport issued an alert to travellers on X that the technical issue would cause disruptions to flights.

'Passengers are advised that some airlines are currently impacted by a software outage, which may result in delays,' the alert stated.

'Please check with your airline for further information.'

Frustrated Aussies took to social media to claim the outage had left passengers on board planes unable to get off the aircraft.

'My husband landed at 8.17am today and he's still on the plane waiting for you to let the plane park and disembark,' one irate woman wrote.

'It's 9.11am, almost one hour. Is this normal? Why are you keeping those passengers waiting?'

A major software outage has sparked travel chaos at Brisbane Airport leaving Aussies fuming after passengers experienced significant delays (pictured Brisbane Airport)

The glitch is understood to have affected both the international and domestic terminals (pictured stock image)

Brisbane Airport responded to the complaint saying the outage has impacted some airlines and resulted in delays.

Officials issued an update on X just after 2pm to advise that the outage has been fixed.

'The software outage has now been resolved. Please check with your airline for further information,' the alert read.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Brisbane Airport for further comment.
A disgruntled homeowner has revealed the popularity of a creek running through her backyard has skyrocketed after venting online about having to share the space.

Taralyn Romero, 43, bought a home next to Kittredge Park in 2021, and has since disputed the public's access to the creek that runs through her property - a battle that sent locals into outrage.

Romero has remained adamant she shouldn't need to put up with residents who stop by for a dip, sharing regular updates about her frustrations on social media.

But recent data from the Evergreen Park and Recreation District's shows a substantial uptick in visitors at the park - and she believes it's likely the result of widespread attention created from her ordeal going viral.

'Could it be that people just love the park? Possibly. But I don't think so,' she said in a TikTok video posted earlier this week.

The EPRD released the statement on November 11, claiming 'data shows visits to Kittredge Park jumped 23 percent from 2022 to 2023, from 9,100 to 15,500 visits, with most visitors spending just over an hour there.'

Romero claimed in the video that she is '99.99 percent sure that this increase is a direct result' of her account of the land dispute.

The 43-year-old purchased the small-town property as a means of escaping the COIVD-19 pandemic as she sought the privacy of the mountains, Romero told FoxNews.

Taralyn Romero, 43, bought a home next to Kittredge Park in 2021 and has since disputed the public's rights to use the serene creek that runs through her .68 acre property - a battle that sent locals into outrage

Families and local residents turned out in droves to the popular 'water park' destination, also known as Romero's backyard, using it for leisure and other outdoors activities

With great excitement, Romero moved into her new home during the winter, loving the idyllic view right out her back door.

However, as the weather warmed and schools let out for summer vacation, the self-proclaimed 'Wicked Witch of the West' had many unwelcome visitors on her property.

Families, kids and locals flocked to the popular 'water park' destination, also known as Romero's backyard, using it for leisure and other outdoors activities, completely ruining the tranquility she had just become accustomed to.

Upset with her new reality and feeling duped by the previous homeowners - as the mass use of the property was not disclosed at the time of sale - Romero took to social media to share her dissatisfaction.

Her posts have since garnered thousands of views with the most viewed clip raking in an astonishing 1.3 million views.

It trigged so many people come to check out the park to snap photos of her home and the park itself that her and her fiance joked about selling tickets for those looking to view her gorgeous property.

'Having people from all over different areas stop by Kittredge Park to see what all the hub bub was about,' she said.

'When I tell you people would come in, take pictures of my house, of the land, of themselves and then walk out, my fiance and I joked that we should start selling tickets!'

The 43-year-old purchased the small-town property as a means of escaping the COIVD-19 pandemic as she sought the privacy of the mountains, Romero told FoxNews

Upset with her new reality and feeling duped by the previous homeowners - as the mass use of the property was not disclosed at the time of sale - Romero took to social media to share her dissatisfaction

After a short-lived attempt to let locals use her property, she decided that her fear of liability, in the case of injury or worse, would be paramount. She then put up rope barriers to keep trespassers away.

Her protective act outraged locals with some cussing her out and others angered at her shocking decision.

'When you get that kind of dissension on whose land is it and you involve children and you involve rhetoric of a screaming lady, it really was like wildfire for social media,' she told CBS News.

It got so ridiculous the haters began to commit vandalism in the name of wanting to use the land.

'They were incredibly abusive to me verbally, and abusive to the land. Sometimes they were bringing out metal shovels and literally destroying the creek bank, they were breaking trees, leaving trash,' Romero said.

As the dispute continued, Jefferson County, where Kittredge and the land are located, decided to take Romero to court.

Romero settled with the county in May of 2023, with a fence being built to officially delineate where her land ended.

She gave up a small chunk to the county in exchange for a $250,000 payout.

'At the end of the day, I said "you know what, let's split this baby."'

The fence was built in January and the land outside the fence is now managed by the EPRD.
The wife of an Illinois judge accused of fatally shooting him inside their luxury home earlier this month is alleged to have made some disturbing internet searches in the days leading up to the shooting.

Megan Soo Valentine, 44, of Albion, Illinois, south of Chicago, has been charged in the murder of her husband Circuit Judge Michael J. Valentine, 43, who was found dead at their mansion.

Prosecutors say the killing may have been premeditated after a look at Valentine's internet search history revealed she had been looking up articles about DNA on knives together with other websites containing information about guns, in the days leading up to the fatal incident.

Valentine has confessed to officials she 'snapped' and claims she acted in self-defense because she was allegedly in an abusive marriage.

The prosecution have argued Valentine was a danger to herself, her family and the public.

She has been charged with one count of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, aggravated discharge of a firearm and aggravated domestic battery.

Appeared in court in Edwards County for a detention hearing, the prosecution argued that she should remain in custody at the White County Jail until her trial.

She is expected to appear in court again for a preliminary hearing on December 10.

Megan Soo Valentine, 44, of Albion, south of Chicago, has been charged in the murder of her husband Circuit Judge Michael J. Valentine who was found dead at their mansion.

The shooting occurred at the couple's mansion in Albion, Illinois south of Chicago

The couple shared two children, a daughter Mia Rose and son Michael Joseph Valentine III

The Illinois State Police are continuing to investigate.

Judge Valentine was a former Edwards County state attorney, according to Second Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Melissa Morgan.

He was first elected circuit court judge in 2016.

'On behalf of all of the judges of the Second Judicial Circuit, we are shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic passing of our colleague and friend, Edwards County Resident Judge Michael J. Valentine,' Morgan said in a statement.

'Judge Valentine was a distinguished jurist who was determined in the pursuit of justice and his compassion and conduct earned him the confidence and respect of the people who appeared before him.

'He will be sorely missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult time.'

Valentine's obituary says he will be remembered as 'a good and fair judge, who helped many he served' and 'a loving son and a loving father.'

The couple shared two children, a daughter Mia Rose and son Michael Joseph Valentine III.
Woman in her 30s airlifted to hospital

A woman has been airlifted to hospital after being stabbed on a crowded train.

The woman, in her 30s, was stabbed in the chest while travelling on a train heading to Armidale from Sydney at 1.30pm on Saturday.

NSW Police responded to reports of a woman being stabbed between Singleton and Muswellbrook.

The train was stopped 227km northwest of the city at Ravensworth and emergency services subdued the alleged attacker, a 35-year-old man.

Police used a taser and pepper spray to sedate the man before arresting him.

The woman was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital in a serious condition.

Her alleged attacker is also in hospital under police guard.

None of the 167 other passengers on board the service were injured in the incident.

A woman has been airlifted to hospital after being stabbed in the chest aboard a train in Sydney at 1.30pm on Saturday (stock picture)

NSW Police said the man was arrested by paramedics and that he knew the victim.

'He was assessed by paramedics and taken to hospital where he remains under police guard,' a statement read.

'The man and woman are believed to be known to each other.'

A crime scene has been established and their investigation is ongoing.

Police urged anyone with information or footage of the incident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
A King's Counsel who once headed up the Criminal Bar Association allegedly used his powerful and influential position to coax an aspiring barrister into 'unwanted' sexual activity, a tribunal has heard.

Navjot 'Jo' Sidhu, who is married, faces 10 charges of professional misconduct that pertain to allegations of sexually inappropriate behaviour with two young women who came to him for advice.

The high-flying lawyer, 58, is alleged to have invited the two women separately to a hotel room in the space of a fortnight across November and December 2018.

He is also said to have encouraged one of the young women to swap 'horrifying' sexually explicit messages with him, as well as make explicit video calls, over the course of three years.

The tribunal has heard he used his influence, as a highly visible and well regarded barrister, to 'gain sexual favours'.

Sidhu has denied acting unprofessionally, claiming the two sexual relationships had been entirely consensual without his position playing a part and were not a matter for his professional regulator.

A seven-day disciplinary hearing heard Sidhu initiated sexual activity with a young paralegal, named only as Person 2, who was doing work experience with him with a view to becoming a barrister.

He is said to have invited her back to his hotel room while working on a murder case, the tribunal was told, and asked her to join him in bed despite her repeated insistence that she wanted to leave or stay on the sofa.

Person 2 told the tribunal that she had not responded to his advances after she lay on the bed, when he began to kiss and fondle her.

High-flying barrister Navjot 'Jo' Sidhu is facing 10 charges of professional misconduct relating to his behaviour around two younger women hoping to follow in his footsteps

The 58-year-old, who has voluntarily stepped back from practice as he faces the allegations, denies the charges against him (pictured leading the legal aid strike in 2022)

'I touched his private parts at some point - I was not enthusiastic about it,' she said, giving evidence remotely and from behind a screen.

Sidhu then 'gaslit' the woman, telling her the next day: 'You weren't very responsive last night,' the tribunal heard.

Person 2 added that Sidhu was 'a senior' in the profession who 'holds a lot out in terms of your careers'.

Fiona Horlick, KC, for the Bar Standards Board, said the way the encounter unfolded amounted to 'induc(ing) reluctant consent' and that the woman had been coaxed into 'unwanted sex'.

The other woman, named as Person 3, was a third-year law student that was allegedly invited by Sidhu to his hotel room after she contacted him on LinkedIn to ask for professional advice.

He is said to have touched her knee at the hotel in December 2018 - but nothing further transpired until he texted her years later to make clear he wanted to have sex with her, offering to meet her at her student accomodation in London.

After a 'significant break' the pair began exchanging sexually explicit messages. These were not shown in court, but Ms Horlick KC, for the BSB, said members of the public would be 'horrified' by the exchanges.

Person 3, the tribunal heard, was being supported in her studies by the Sutton Trust, a charity that encourages diversity in the professions.

Ms Horlick KC told the hearing it would have been 'clearly obvious' how vulnerable Person 3 was.

Sidhu, who previously led thousands of barristers on strike during a row over legal aid rates with the Tory government, did not give evidence during the proceedings, but has denied professional misconduct.

The 58-year-old had sought to have his case heard in private, but this application was dismissed. Five other charges were struck out on the grounds they did not meet the threshold of amounting to professional misconduct.

He voluntarily gave up his certificate to practise earlier this year. No reason was given as to why.

The Bar Standards Board said in July: 'Mr Sidhu has not been suspended from practice but is currently an unregistered barrister and does not have a practising certificate.'

His barrister, Alisdair Williamson KC, told the tribunal that Sidhu 'is not a monster; he is not a predator', adding that he had not sought them out aggressively or forced them to do anything against their will.

Mr Williamson suggested the relationship with Person 2 - who had described 'not responding' as Sidhu kissed her - had been 'jocular' and that their relationship had been 'warm and flirtatious'.

Jo Sidhu speaking during an event at Parliament in 2018. He has been regarded as a highly visible campaigning barrister championing equality and diversity

Person 3, who told the tribunal she had come to believe she had been 'groomed', had in fact 'consensually, willingly and enthusiastically' entered into the relationship, Mr Williamson suggested.

The tribunal, which finished hearing evidence yesterday, is expected to give their decision next month.

Sidhu, who hails from Southall in west London, wrote he 'never wanted to be a barrister' in a column for Counsel magazine in 2023, in which he extolled the virtues of equality and diversity.

He led thousands of barristers on strike during a bitter feud with the Johnson Tory government over legal aid rates; the action led to his successor, Liz Truss, granting a 12 per cent pay rise for thousands of barristers.

'I have tried to remain faithful to my favourite motto, 'we rise by lifting others', by mentoring scores of aspiring barristers, speaking at university campuses across the country to encourage students to consider a career at the Bar, and supervising pupils in chambers,' he wrote in the column.

He was state-educated at Villiers High School and studied philosophy, politics and economics at Oxford; he then worked as a researcher at the BBC before being called to the Bar in 1993, taking silk 19 years later.

Sidhu served as president of the Society of Asian Lawyers for four years and ran to become director of public prosecutions - the top CPS job once held by Sir Keir Starmer - twice.

He latterly moved to No5 Barristers' Chambers - but left and removed himself from the Bar Standards Board's register, taking him out of practice.
The government in Laos has broken its silence on the suspected mass methanol poisoning that left six dead, including two Australian teenagers, as authorities claim they will bring whoever was responsible to justice.

Melbourne teens Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, both 19, died after a night out in the party town of Vang Viang this month.

A further four foreign tourists from Denmark, the UK and the US have also died.

Ms Jones and Ms Bowles, who had been staying at Nana Backpackers Hostel, were rushed to separate Thailand hospitals after asking hostel staff for help on November 13.

Ms Jones died surrounded by loved ones in Udon Thani hospital on Thursday and Ms Bowles died in nearby Bangkok Hospital on Friday.

Now, the government of Laos has spoken out for the first time, vowing to 'bring the perpetrators to justice' in its first public remarks on the international incident on Saturday.

Officials said they were 'deeply saddened' and extended their 'deepest condolences' to the families of the victims.

'The government of the Lao PDR is profoundly saddened over the loss of lives of foreign tourists in Vangvieng District, Vientiane Province and expresses its sincere sympathy and deepest condolences to the families of the deceased,' the statement read.

The Laos government has vowed to bring the perpetrators of a suspected mass poisoning in Vang Viang to justice after six people, including Bianca Jones (pictured), died

Ms Jones was travelling with her best friend Holly Bowles (pictured) when the pair developed methanol poisoning after drinking at Nana Backpackers Hostel and Jaidee Bar on November 13

'The government of the Lao PDR has been conducting investigations to find causes of the incident and to bring the perpetrators to justice in accordance with the law.

'The government of the Lao PDR reaffirms that it always attaches the importance and pays attention to the safety of both domestic and foreign tourists.'

The night prior both girls had been seen drinking at Nana's bar between 8pm and 10.30pm before heading to nearby Jaidee Bar where they drank some more.

Hostel staff became concerned when the girls failed to check out before both emerged late in the day asking for medical assistance.

In addition to the six deaths, 14 tourists who had been drinking in the party town developed methanol poisoning within days of each other.

Following news of Ms Jones' death, local police attended Nana Backpackers to question employees.

Police demanded to see which spirits were used by bar staff on the night Ms Jones and Ms Bowles were provided free cocktails, The Herald Sun reported.

Laos Police were seen talking to employees and inspecting bottles of spirits inside the bar during their visit to the hostel.

The owners of Nana Backpackers hostel have been detained by police. Hostel manager Duong Duc Toan (pictured) previously denied diluting his alcohol with any methanol when questioned. he has now reportedly been detained by police for questioning but no charges have been laid

Fourteen people fell ill after drinking in Laos and so far a 56-year-old US man, two women from Denmark and 38-year-old British lawyer Simone White (pictured) have also died

The hostel owner, Duong Duc Toan, is reportedly among 'a number of people' who have been detained by police for questioning, but no charges have yet been filed.

Other victims of the suspected mass-poisoning include a 57-year-old US man James Louis Hutson, two young women from Denmark Ms Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, and Ms Frela Vennervald Sorensen, 21, and 38-year-old British lawyer Simone White.

A 'number of people' from the hostel where Ms Jones and Ms Bowles were staying have been detained but no charges have been laid, reports the Associated Press.

Previously, Hostel manager Duong Duc Toan and bartender Toan Van Vanng denied any alcohol served at their bar had been contaminated or diluted with methanol.

Toan said he bought the alcohol from a certified distributor and that free shots of Tiger Vodka had been served to around 100 guests.

The manager said he had yet to received any complaints from other backpackers who been given shots on the night.

To prove his point, he even drank from one of the vodka bottles that were in use on the night to prove it was safe.

The girl's WhatsApp messages revealed they headed to Jaidee's Bar later in the night after leaving the hostel.

Jaidee's Bar is known to offer patrons free local whisky shots and has a hard-copy drug menu openly selling opium, ketamine and marijuana.

There is no suggestion that Ms Bowles or Ms Jones took illicit drugs.

More than 100 people who knew the girls gathered for a vigil to celebrate their lives in Melbourne's south on Saturday.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the federal government is supporting Laos in its investigation into how Ms Jones and Ms Bowles fell ill.

'[We will] continue to support Holly and Bianca's families, just as we will continue our efforts with local authorities on investigations into this tragedy,' Ms Wong said.
War games with an increasingly belligerent axis of powers has placed the West in its gravest peril since the end of the Second World War, a top US military official and adviser to Donald Trump has warned.

The threat of direct conflict with Russia over the war in Ukraine has escalated in recent days following the decision to allow Kyiv to fire long-range missiles deep into Russia - prompting a stern warning of nuclear retaliation from Moscow.

General Jack Keane, former vice chief of the US army, told The Times that the war in Ukraine will remain a top priority for the incoming administration, despite fears Donald Trump could withdraw vital American support for Ukraine's war effort.

He described North Korea's decision to reinforce Russia's lines with troops as 'the biggest escalation in the war', warning the burgeoning alliance between Russia, North Korea, Iran and China presents 'the most serious and dangerous challenge' to the West in nearly a century.

'Putin is accelerating things. I'm in favour of negotiating with when it is in Ukraine's best interest. But I don't think he wants to negotiate a deal. He would rather take the whole country,' he warned.

Donald J. Trump (L) shakes hands with retired US General Jack Keane (R) after awarding him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in Washington, March 10, 2020

Smoke billows following a reported medium-range ballistic missile strike on Dnipro, Nov 21

Ukrainian service members attend military exercises during drills in Chernihiv, November 22

Burnt cars lie near a apartment building damaged by a Russian drone's strike on November 22

The frontline city of Chasiv Yar in ruins after heavy fighting, on November 11

Tensions have ratcheted up in the wake of Russia's use of what appeared to be an experimental intermediate-range ballistic missile on Dnipro on November 21.

The missile - dubbed the Oreshnik - carries multiple warheads, is believed to be nuclear-capable, and travels at a speed and trajectory that makes it difficult to intercept.

Analysts have warned the missile was designed to send a message of 'back off' to the West after the US finally conceded Ukraine the right to use its ATACMS missiles to hit deep into Russia as Ukraine looks to slow the momentum of advancing troops.

Ukraine is still holding its ground in Russia's Kursk region, but Putin's forces have made gains in recent weeks with support from some 10,000 North Korean troops reported to have been deployed to help repel Ukraine.

Russia only yesterday claimed to have captured the settlement of Novodmytrivka in Donetsk region, their latest gain in what Defence Minister Andrei Belousov described as an accelerated advance.

General Keane warned that while Russia is struggling to make 'major gains' and is suffering 30,000 casualties every month, Moscow is working 'effectively' with its allies.

Putin said that Russia would keep testing its new hypersonic Oreshnik missile 'including in combat conditions' depending on the 'situation and the nature of the security threats that are created for Russia' in televised comments on Friday.

Amid mounting concern about the prospect of direct confrontation with Russia, NATO chief Mark Rutte held talks with President-elect Donald Trump in Florida on the 'global security issues facing the alliance' on Friday.

In his first term Trump aggressively pushed Europe to step up defence spending and questioned the fairness of the NATO transatlantic alliance.

Rutte, the former Dutch prime minister, had said he wanted to meet Trump two days after Trump was elected on November 5, and discuss the threat of increasingly warming ties between North Korea and Russia.

Trump's thumping victory to return to the US presidency has set nerves jangling in Europe that he could pull the plug on vital Washington military aid for Ukraine.

NATO allies say keeping Kyiv in the fight against Moscow is key to both European and American security.

'What we see more and more is that North Korea, Iran, China and of course Russia are working together, working together against Ukraine,' Rutte said recently at a European leaders' meeting in Budapest.

'At the same time, Russia has to pay for this, and one of the things they are doing is delivering technology to North Korea', which he warned was threatening to the 'mainland of the US (and) continental Europe'.

Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with the Ministry of Defence leadership, representatives of the defense industry and missile systems developers, in Moscow, Russia November 22

The British Army's new Archer Mobile Howitzer gun, as British Army soldiers take part in training near Rovaniemi in the Arctic Circle, Finland, on November 19

British Army soldiers take part in training in the Arctic Circle, Finland, on November 19

Kim Jong Un taking part in a photo session with military staff in Pyongyang, November 21

Kim Jong Un (C, on podium) attending an opening ceremony for the National Defence Development-2024 exhibition in Pyongyang, on November 21

American isolationism could present an existential threat to Europe if leaders are unable to rise to Russia's challenge with heightened security and defence spending.

European military officials have warned that the West is at risk of falling behind poorer nations in the development of new weapons technology after decades of spending stagnation and cuts.

General Alfons Mais, head of the German army, called for considerably higher defence spending to allow Western countries to protect themselves after reports emerged of Russia's strike on Dnipro.

Speaking at the Berlin Security Conference, he said: 'It's our task to convey the message that the threat is real. Our way of life is in danger.'

'To maintain the cohesion of the alliance, Europe has to deliver. We cannot outsource our security to others,' he added.

Mais said the German military was racing to catch up on new types of warfare, such as the use of drones, which have rapidly developed during the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The conference also heard from the head of the UK's armed forces, Sir Tony Radakin, who warned that Britain simply does not have 'some of the civil aspects or planning aspects' that some other NATO allies have 'as part of their traditions' to handle a war.

Nordic nations are taking pre-emptive steps to safeguard their populations for the possibility of war, stockpiling supplies and readying citizens to find shelter, give first aid and potentially take a role in national defence.

But Britain's efforts on civil defence remain woefully light, with many Cold War-era preparations, like guidance, shelters and stockpiles, retired in the decades since.

'We are having those conversations to learn from our colleagues and see what might be appropriate for ourselves,' Sir Radakin told an audience of representatives from Sweden, Norway, Finland, Estonia and Lithuania.

'It's an area where we don't have the culture of total defence. We don't have some of the civil aspects or planning aspects that other countries within Nato have as part of their traditions.'

Sweden announced this week that it would be sending out five million pamphlets to residents urging them to prepare for the possibility of a looming conflict amid fears of escalation within Europe.

The Finnish government published a digital booklet preparing citizens for incidents and crises, and reminded residents of their 'obligation' to defending the nation.

And Norway also distributed booklets with advice on how to manage in the event of a crisis. Residents have shared how they have started stockpiling iodine after being told that it could help block the absorption of radioactive iodine in the event of a nuclear war.

Ukrainian service members attend a military exercises during drills at a training ground, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Chernihiv region, Ukraine, November 22, 2024

A Ukrainian service member attends military exercises during drills at a training ground, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Chernihiv region, Ukraine, November 22, 2024

The Oreshnik hypersonic missile used on Thursday morning can fly at 10 times the speed of sound - around 7,600mph - up to a range of 3,100 miles, according to Russian military sources.

If again launched from Kapustin Yar in Astrakhan, a missile could hit any target in Europe, destroying targets in London in under 20 minutes. Berlin would have less than 15 minutes before impact.

Russia reportedly closed the airspace around its Kapustin Yar missile testing site today, although it was not immediately clear whether this was to launch another strike or continue non-combat testing.

'Today, from 6:00 to 22:00, the airspace will be completely closed in the area of the Russian Strategic Missile Forces (RVSN) test site, Kapustin Yar, as part of testing,' an alert read.

'This could indicate the possible combat use of a medium-range ballistic missile. Do not ignore any alerts.'
A top plastic surgeon dubbed 'the nose maestro' in France was suspended after patients complained that he had turned their noses into 'potatoes', it was revealed on Friday.

Olivier Gerbault, 58, who claims to have invented the 'ultrasonic' rhinoplasty technique, was adored by his patients and peers and was also respected on the international stage by other fellow surgeons.

But in 2023, Gerbault was banned for two years from practicing after patients said they received cosmetic surgery that left them 'mutilated', according to an investigation by French outlet Le Parisien.

It comes after a female patient, who received a nose job from Gerbault in August 2020 at his clinic in Paris, claimed she woke up from the procedure with a 'long, crooked, thick' nose that 'looked like a potato'.

The patient also alleged she couldn't get any air through in her left nostril and was unable to blow her nose.

The woman filed a complaint against Gerbault alongside another patient with the medical ethics committee, which resulted in the doctor receiving a two-year ban.

In the meantime, a string of other patients have filed legal complaints against the cosmetic surgeon.

Another female patient said she 'lost all taste for life' after she was allegedly left with 'a big potato' in place of her nose, which became infected and resulted in her nostrils collapsing.

Renowned French plastic surgeon Olivier Gerbault has been banned from practicing after patients complained he left their noses looking like 'potatoes'

His son Nicolas also received a one-year suspended sentence and a 8,000 euro fine after he and a co-director of a cosmetic surgery PR firm were found guilty of seeking to smear a rival surgeon

Following a second operation by Gerbault, the woman ended up with 'a piece of cartilage sticking out', after her face was 'massacred' by the doctor, which resulted in her having to seek reconstructive surgery in Italy.

Gerbault has appealed the ban, and has claimed he is the victim of a smear campaign by a rival plastic surgeon.

According to the website Cosmetic Surgery Paris' biography for Gerbault, he is currently a 'professor of the International Society of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery and trains surgeons in current rhinoplasty techniques in Paris every month'.

But Le Parisien has reported that Gerbault is alleged to have continued to operate illegally at a Paris clinic, with the French General Medical Council filing a complaint against the surgeon for having flouted the ban.

The charge carries a maximum two-year prison term and the equivalent of a 24,000 fine.

When quizzed by the French paper, Gerbault said he is being smeared, stating that 'these patients are all connected and the complaints are strictly the same. It's obvious that they are being helped by a colleague, which is particularly serious and unprofessional'.

It comes after the surgeon was involved in a PR battle with rival surgeon Nicolas Lari.

In March 2023, the Marseille criminal court found Gerbault guilty of 'attempted blackmail' against 43-year-old Lari.

Stock image: A young woman with a bandage on her nose after rhinoplasty with a mirror in her hand is dissatisfied

Gerbault was sentenced to a six-month suspended prison sentence and a 5,000 euro fine.

His son Nicolas also received a one-year suspended sentence and a 8,000 euro fine after he and a co-director of a cosmetic surgery PR firm were found guilty of seeking to smear Lari with negative fictitious Google reviews.

MailOnline has reached out to Gerbault for comment.
Prosecutors have said they did not bring criminal charges against Conor McGregor because his accuser had consumed too much alcohol and too many drugs.

McGregor, 36, faced an accusation that he 'brutally raped and battered' Nikita Hand, 35, at a hotel in south Dublin in December 2018.

After deliberating for six hours and 10 minutes, the jury returned with their verdicts in a civil court yesterday afternoon, and awarded Ms Hand nearly 250,000.

She separately lost her lawsuit against Conor McGregor's friend, James Lawrence, who she also accused of assaulting her on the same night out.

However, questions have been raised as to why the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) recommended not to bring criminals charges against McGregor and Lawrence in 2020.

The reason was outlined to the jury during the case claiming that a 'very high standard of proof' would be needed and things such as the reliability and consistency of witnesses, the fact that Ms Hand had no recollection of having sex with Lawrence, the amount of alcohol and drugs she consumed, and her demeanour in CCTV footage were all factors that led to their decision.

McGregor, 36, faced an accusation that he 'brutally raped and battered' Nikita Hand (above), 35, at a hotel in south Dublin in December 2018

After deliberating for six hours and 10 minutes, the jury returned with their verdicts in civil court yesterday afternoon, and awarded Ms Hand nearly 250,000. Pictured: Conor McGregor leaves he High Court with his girlfriend Dee Devlin

The police file was twice, personally, reviewed by the then DPP Claire Loftus, but both times the same conclusion was reached; that they would not be able 'to prove beyond reasonable doubt' that a crime was committed.

A letter from the DPP's office on August 7, 2020, stated that the police file contained statements of evidence, a sexual assault treatment unit report, reports from Forensic Science Ireland, CCTV from various locations, records obtained from the hotel, mobile phone records, photographs and cautioned interviews with suspects.

It also made it clear that the job of the Office of the DPP was to ascertain if there was a reasonable prospect of obtaining a conviction based on the available evidence.

'We considered a number of offences, among which were rape and assault causing harm.'

It said the file was considered by a lawyer and that advice was also sought from a senior counsel with considerable experience of criminal cases. There was also a review by the director herself.

Both McGregor and Lawrence were identified and taken into consideration to determine if there was sufficient evidence to prosecute either of them, including examining available evidence, including the admissibility of evidence, and the sufficiency and strength of the evidence that would be presented at trial.

The letter read: 'The prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the suspect did it. The suspect does not have to prove their innocence.'

Ms Hand disputed this decision in a letter from August 20, 2020, which she wrote with the assistance of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, saying: 'I am very unhappy. I feel I am being treated differently from other victims because one of the accused is a famous person.'

Adding that she believed she had not been given 'any real reasons' for criminal action to not be brought.

James Lawrence, co-defendant of Conor McGregor, outside the High Court in Dublin on Thursday

Ms Hand joined family and supporters and said she felt vindicated by the outcome

Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor and partner Dee Devlin leave the High Court

Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor and partner Dee Devlin and mother Margaret outside the High Court in Dublin, November 22, 2024

The DPP responded with a second letter on November 3 2020, which said that the case had been reviewed personally by Ms Loftus and the decision to not bring criminal charges 'was correct and should stand'.

It said the case was 'a very complex one to decide on for various reasons', adding that the identity of one of the suspects had no bearing on their decision.

Ms Hand was told that the extent to which the evidence of witnesses was consistent and reliable was considered, as well as whether details in the evidence could be corroborated independently.

'One significant factor in this case was the existence of a second suspect who claims to have had sexual intercourse with you after you say you were raped by the first suspect,' the letter said.

Mr McGregor was the first suspect and Mr Lawrence the second suspect.

'As you know, you have no recollection of intercourse with the second suspect and have stated that if sex had taken place it would not have been consensual,' the letter continued.

'You also described in your statement the amount of alcohol and drugs you had consumed.

'The CCTV from the hotel as well as relevant witness statements from hotel staff and a taxi driver were considered.

'That evidence would not in general tend to support a prosecution in respect of the second suspect and also had relevance to the overall strength of the evidence with respect to the first suspect.

'It is not a question of who we as prosecutors believe.

'Our job is to assess whether there is a reasonable prospect of conviction on the basis of all of the evidence.

'The director concluded that there was no reasonable prospect of the conviction of either suspect in this case.'

McGregor previously told the court he had consensual sex with Ms Hand

McGregor has since vowed to appeal the decision - saying he was 'disappointed' and 'focused on my future'

Ireland's Justice Minister Helen McEntee praised Ms Hand's bravery and said she had shown 'there is light at the end of the tunnel'.

'I just want to commend Nikita for her bravery, for her determination and the leadership that she has shown in what has been - I've no doubt - a very, very difficult time for her and indeed, for her family.'

She added: 'Because of wonderful people like Nikita, I hope that it shows that there is light at the end of the tunnel, that there are supports available to people, and that there is justice at the end of the day.'

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.'

McGregor has vowed to appeal the decision on social media - saying he was 'disappointed' and 'focused on my future'.

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.'
The boss of Jaguar has defended the legendary British car marque's dramatic rebrand this week after critics called a new advert 'woke' and pointed out that it doesn't feature any cars.

Rawdon Glover, managing director of the Indian-owned firm, also hit out at the 'vile hatred and intolerance' directed at the eccentric-looking models who appeared in the video released on November 18.

In a new interview, he denied the rebrand exercise - which has ditched the iconic 'growler' logo of a big cat and replaced the imposing, all-caps typeface with one that appears to read 'JaGuar' - was meant to be a 'woke' statement.

The rebrand also demotes the 'leaper' cat logo that once decorated the bonnets of all new Jags to a 'maker's mark' - teased as a pop-out port for a reversing camera or parking sensor on a new model to be shown off next week.

Mr Glover denied that the firm was throwing away its near-100-year heritage with its most dramatic rebrand in decades - instead claiming the car maker needed to step away from 'traditional automotive stereotypes' to find its place in the market.

Jag's big rebrand had been in development for three years as the company prepares to become an all-electric car manufacturer ahead of the UK's 2030 target to stop selling new purely fossil fuel-powered cars.

Launched on Tuesday under the slogan 'copy nothing' - an adage from company founder Sir William Lyons - the ad features diverse models in technicolour outfits walking through an alien landscape.

Around 800 people are reported to have worked on the rebrand, which will peak with the unveiling of a 'design vision concept' at Miami Art Week on December 2.

Rawdon Glover, managing director of Jaguar, has fired back at those who criticised the car brand's much maligned rebrand this week

The new rebrand (above) attracted accusations the company has gone 'woke' - after putting out an advert featuring no cars

The advert features boldly dressed fashion models in bright primary colours alongside slogans such as 'break moulds' and 'create exuberant'

This is expected to be a concept-only car that will never go on sale - instead acting as a preview of things to come.

Jaguar's first real new car, a four-door grand tourer (GT), will go on sale in 2026 and has already been tested in camouflaged prototype form on British roads.

Mr Glover told the Financial Times he believed the overall reaction to the campaign had been 'very positive', but that he was disappointed by the 'level of vile hatred and intolerance' directed at the models in the advert.

'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.

'We need to re-establish our brand and at a completely different price point so we need to act differently. We wanted to move away from traditional automotive stereotypes.'

Criticism of the rebrand focused on the perceived dilution of the brand's classically aggressive identity - from the scrapping of the teeth-baring big cat to the softer, 'friendlier' looking typeface.

The diversity of the advert, which features androgynous-looking men and women in exuberant clothes, was also criticised.

Mr Glover says it is not intended to depict Jaguar's intended customers but added: 'We do need to attract a new customer base.'

Critics called it 'woke' and 'unhinged'. Some owners even threatened to end their car deals early to, in the words of one, 'avoid the humiliation of being seen in one again'.

Elon Musk took to his social media platform X to ask if the firm if it sold cars.

This is the new Jaguar logo - a roundel made up of the letter 'J' that looks the same both ways up

The classic Jaguar 'growler' logo has been ditched as the car firm reinvents itself to appeal to a younger audience of car buyers

The classic Jaguar 'leaper' bonnet ornament that inspired the decades-old logo. These were scrapped in 2005 - and are now almost gone completely from the firm's branding

Jaguar has been winding down its model range - with cars such as the F-Pace SUV (above) now relegated to the history books

Instead, Jaguars will look something like this in the near future. This is a prototype of its first all-electric car - a four-door saloon currently hidden behind a camouflage paint job

The new Jaguar logo features largely lower case letters - save for a single capitalised 'G' - in what the company is calling a 'complete reset'

Jaguar says its new philosophy will 'command attention through fearless creativity' - a phrase that suggests it knew it would spark a backlash with its new look

In one of many seemingly saccharine responses it sent out in response to online detractors, the firm replied: 'Yes. We'd love to show you. Join us for a cuppa in Miami on 2nd December?'

The video is also a far cry from Jaguar ads of old, like the (now banned) advertisement featuring Sir Ben Kingsley, Mark Strong and Tom Hiddleston purring that villains on TV and in movies 'all drive Jaguars'.

All of the changes are a deliberate move to target new, younger buyers: the bold colours trailed in the controversial new ad will be rolled out to Jaguar showrooms to shake off the idea that Jags are stuffy and for the older generation.

Global Jaguar sales over the years 2023/24: 66,866 cars

2022/23: 62,521 cars

2021/22: 77,381 cars

2020/21: 97,669 cars

2019/20: 140,593 cars

2018/19: 180,198 cars Source: Jaguar Land Rover Advertisement

Gerry McGovern, the car firm's design boss, said on Tuesday he wanted to create a 'jaw-dropping' redesign that will 'shock, surprise and polarise'.

'It will make you feel uncomfortable. That's fine. The world is not standing still,' he said at a launch event.

Mr Glover previously told This is Money that Jaguar's existing customers are not the target market - with as many as 85 per cent of buyers in future expected to be first-time Jag owners.

MailOnline previously reported how brand and culture expert Nick Ede predicted Jaguar would begin drip-feeding teaser images of the new concept car in response to the branding backlash.

And the firm has done just that - showing how it is literally not looking in the rear mirror with an image suggesting its new brand concept lacks a back window.

It's a styling trick similar to other new EVs like the Polestar 4 and the Tesla Cybertruck, which both eschew rear windscreens to create more headroom in the back, replacing the glass with cameras.

And further images released by Jaguar high-ups on social media show the 'leaper' - flipped to face to the right as a sign the company is 'always leaping forward' - on a pop-out port on the concept car.

Images suggest it conceals a form of camera or sensor.

A still from Jaguar's 'copy nothing' rebrand advert - which was criticised for featuring no cars

Teaser images of the new Jaguar concept set to be unveiled in Miami suggest the car will not have a rear windscreen

Jaguar's head of global brand strategy and insight, Richard Green, shared images of a pop-out panel on the concept car

The panel, which features the new IBM-inspired Jaguar leaper logo, appears to conceal a rear-facing camera or sensor

Gerry McGovern, Jaguar's chief creative officer, is unapologetic over the redesign. He said yesterday: 'It will make you feel uncomfortable. That's fine'

The company has struggled in recent years as it has gradually downsized its range to a handful of models: the XE and XF executive saloons, the E-Pace and F-Pace SUVs, and the I-Pace electric car.

Production of these cars is being wound down as Jaguar takes a year out of the car market to prepare itself for the future.

After the GT model is released, a two-door 'fastback' coupe reminiscent of a Jaguar E-Type and an SUV model are expected to follow.

The rebrand is not Jaguar's first - and is arguably not its most dramatic.

Founded as the Swallow Sidecar Company in 1922, it became SS Cars in 1934 before the Jaguar name was adopted in 1945 to avoid any association with the SS Nazi paramilitary group.

The 'leaping' Jaguar logo was introduced as a bonnet ornament the same year - and stayed on cars for 60 years until EU safety regulations all but killed them off.

And in 1957, the legendary 'growler' logo was introduced, featuring a roaring big cat at the centre of a red badge.

Jaguar's logo then evolved in 1982 to feature the name in a regal font with the animal leaping to the left and remained that way for 42 years.

The debate over the revamp has prompted questions of whether the huge amount of attention will ultimately be to the company's benefit.

The ad drew in 161 million views on X alone, with the video also put on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. But experts say this might not translate into sales.

PR expert Mayah Riaz told MailOnline earlier this week: 'Jaguar are being very ambitious. Maybe they knew what they were doing. But I think it's a shame because it's losing their history, the legacy of the brand. It's too much.

'People say there's no such thing as bad publicity but this will be a test of that.'

Shares in Tata Motors Ltd, the Indian firm that owns Jaguar, rose almost 3 per cent in the days following the unveiling of the Jaguar rebrand.
Kim Jong Un has been seen inspecting North Korea's most powerful weapons after he accused the US of ramping up tension and provocations before adding that the Korean peninsula has never faced a greater risk of nuclear war.

The North Korean leader was photographed visiting a military defence exhibition in Pyongyang where the communist nation's most lethal weapons are being displayed - including ballistic missiles designed to target the US mainland, state media KCNA reported.

Images showed Hwasong-19 and 18 intercontinental ballistic missiles, the Chollima-1 rocket used in a successful satellite launch in November 2023, and the Saetbyol-9 multi-purpose attack drone, which resembles the U.S. Reaper.

In a speech during his visit Thursday Kim said: '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.'

'We have already gone as far as we can on negotiating with the United States,' he said, adding that the talks had only shown its aggressive and hostile policy toward North Korea could never change.

The comments came amid international criticism over increasingly close military co-operation between Pyongyang and Moscow, and assertions that North Korea sent more than 10,000 troops to Russia to support its invasion of Ukraine.

Previous negotiations with Washington have only highlighted its 'aggressive and hostile' policy toward North Korea, Kim added during the speech.

North Korean state media have not yet publicly mentioned the re-election of Donald Trump, who held three unprecedented meetings with Kim during his first term, in Singapore, Hanoi, and at the Korean border, in 2018 and 2019.

Kim Jong Un has been seen inspecting North Korea 's most powerful weapons during a military exhibition on Thursday

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un taking part in a photo session with the participants in the Fourth Conference of Battalion Commanders and Political Instructors of the Korean People's Army in Pyongyang

Kim Jong Un attending an opening ceremony for the National Defence Development-2024 exhibition in Pyongyang. During his speech he warned that US military drills could lead to war

But their diplomacy yielded no concrete outcome due to the gap between US calls for North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons and Kim's demands for sanctions relief.

Trump has long touted his ties with Kim, saying last month the two countries would have had 'a nuclear war with millions of people killed', but he had stopped it, thanks to his ties with the North's leader.

Hong Min, a research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification in Seoul, said Kim could be trying to underscore the North's nuclear capabilities ahead of Trump's second term, while leaving the door open for diplomacy.

'He might be suggesting Trump should show his 'willingness to co-exist' before re-opening any talks and calling for a change in the US hostile attitude,' Hong said.

Kim also called for developing and upgrading 'ultra-modern' versions of weaponry, and vowed to keep advancing defence capabilities to bolster the North's strategic position, KCNA said.

In addition, North Korea has shipped additional arms to Russia, the South's lawmakers said on Thursday, after being briefed by the national intelligence agency.

Last year, when he was defence minister, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu accompanied Kim to a defence fair that showcased missiles and weapons.

Last week, Kim urged the North's military to improve its war-fighting capabilities, blaming the United States and its allies for stoking tension to 'the worst phase in history' and calling the Korean peninsula 'the world's biggest hotspot'.

The threat of direct conflict between the West and Russia over the war in Ukraine has escalated in recent days following the decision to allow Kyiv to fire long-range missile deep in Russia - prompting a stern warning of nuclear retaliation from Moscow.

Kim's comments Thursday came amid international criticism over increasingly close military co-operation between Pyongyang and Moscow

The threat of direct conflict between the West and Russia over the war in Ukraine has escalated in recent days following the decision to allow Kyiv to fire long-range missile deep in Russia

Meanwhile, tensions have ratcheted up in the wake of Russia's use of what appeared to be an experimental intermediate-range ballistic missile on Dnipro on November 21.

The missile - dubbed the Oreshnik - carries multiple warheads, is believed to be nuclear-capable, and travels at a speed and trajectory that makes it difficult to intercept.

Analysts have warned the missile was designed to send a message of 'back off' to the West after the US finally conceded Ukraine the right to use its ATACMS missiles to hit deep into Russia as Ukraine looks to slow the momentum of advancing troops.

Ukraine is still holding its ground in Russia's Kursk region, but Putin's forces have made gains in recent weeks with support from some 10,000 North Korean troops reported to have been deployed to help repel Ukraine.
Bakers Delight is facing calls for another boycott after one of its franchisees allegedly refused to serve a trains union member.

Bakers Delight Greenwood Plaza in North Sydney has come under fire because of a train driver's now-deleted one-star review claiming they were denied service on Thursday.

The review stated staff had 'abused' the train worker because of a planned three-day Rail, Tram, and Bus Union member strike that was called off at the last minute.

'This store can get stuffed for any future business and I'll be letting all train crew know,' the person claiming to be a worker wrote.

Initially union representatives banned members from working Friday through to Sunday in a move that would have cost the state $50.7 million.

But at the 11th hour the NSW government agreed to run 24-hour trains this weekend with 'intense bargaining' for a long-term deal with the union to begin over the next two weeks.

Other union members were quick to post their own negative Google reviews for the location.

'Discriminating public servants who legally fight for better conditions and refusing to serve. Not going there anymore,' one man wrote.

Bakers Delight Greenwood Plaza in North Sydney has come under fire after an employee allegedly refused service to a Rail, Tram, and Bus Union member on Thursday

The union member claimed to have been refused service because of the city's planned but since-cancelled three day strike which was cancelled at the 11th hour

Another said: 'The discrimination and lack of customer service shown to paying customers is appalling.

'You are not paid to give your opinion on matters you have no education about.'

More social media users pledged to join in on the boycott.

'I'm boycotting the Bakers Delight next to North Sydney train station. They refused service to a train driver for being a union member. Disgraceful,' one person wrote.

Another woman said: 'I have boycotted Bakers Delight for the last 15 years since they underpaid me as a teenager. Terrible company.'

A third took a swipe at the owner of Bakers Delight.

'That is disgraceful but unsurprising as Bakers Delight is owned by Roger Gillespie, a backer of the Advance Australia conservative lobby group that funded the No campaign,' they added.

Calls to steer clear of Bakers Delight had previously been sparked by a revelation that its founder, Mr Gillespie, donated to Advance Australia (AA) during the Voice to Parliament Referendum.

The bakery boss donated $20,000 to the group and another $14,000 to the Liberal Party in late 2022 because he 'backed the group due to its position on the (Voice) referendum', he told the Australian Financial Review in February.

Bakers Delight founder Roger Gillespie had previously sparked a seperate boycott in February after it was revealed that he donated tens of thousands of dollars to the No campaign in 2022

Daily Mail Australia asked Sydneysiders how customers really felt about Mr Gillespie's donations at the time.

Shakinah, in her 20s, said she Mr Gillespie should stay out of politics.

'I feel like he should just stay out of it, it's not his business,' she said.

Luka, in her 20s, who used to work at Baker's Delight, agreed.

'I don't want my bread to be political,' the former employee said.

Others however, did not support any boycott against Bakers Delight over the actions of its founder or individual staff as the stores are mainly owned by franchisees.

There are more than 500 Bakers Delight's across Australia and some argue individual owners should not have to lose business over a controversy they had no part in.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Bakers Delight for comment.
Russia has warned that British support for Ukraine could 'lead to a collision between nuclear powers' in a grave threat as President Vladimir Putin vowed to launch more hypersonic missiles at targets in Ukraine.

Andrey Kelin, Russia's ambassador to the UK, cited American support for Ukraine to use Western missiles against targets in Russia, backed by Britain and France, in his warning that 'this seriously escalates the situation' and 'can lead to a collision between the nuclear powers'.

The Kremlin suggested this week it was 'entitled' to fire upon 'the military targets of those countries that allow their weapons to be used against our facilities' in a thinly-veiled threat to the West, after the US gave its support for Kyiv using ATACMS missiles against Russian and North Korean forces in Russia.

After striking the Ukrainian city of Dnipro with an experimental hypersonic missile early on Thursday, Putin ordered the mass production of the 'unstoppable' Oreshnik, believed to be able to reach Britain in under 20 minutes.

'There is no countermeasure to such a missile, no means of intercepting it, in the world today. And I will emphasise once again that we will continue testing this newest system. It is necessary to establish serial production,' Putin said.

A Yars intercontinental ballistic missile being launched as part of nuclear deterrence forces drills in Russia on October 29, 2024

Putin has said he will fire more of Russia 's new hypersonic missiles at targets in Ukraine

Russian Yars intercontinental ballistic missile launchers roll on Red Square during the Victory Day military parade in central Moscow on May 9

Russia's Ambassador to Britain Andrei Kelin, takes part in an interview for 'Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg' in London, Britain October 18, 2024

Amid rising fears of escalation, Ambassador Kelin told Sky News that Britain was now 'directly involved' in the war in Ukraine after its Storm Shadow missiles were reportedly used to strike targets inside Russia.

British long-range missiles were reported to have been greenlit for use and then used after the US gave approval for Ukraine to use ATACMS missiles.

'Absolutely, Britain and UK is now directly involved in this war, because this firing cannot happen without NATO staff, British staff as well,' Mr Kelin told the outlet.

'The US administration, support[ed] by France and the UK, has made a deliberate decision to make these strikes, which seriously escalates the situation, and it can bring a collision between the nuclear powers.'

The Pentagon, likewise, has told Ukraine that North Korean targets reinforcing Russian lines within Russia are 'fair target'.

The Kremlin, however, did claim it was making 'maximum effort' to avoid a nuclear conflict after it updated its nuclear doctrine this week.

The new policy allows Putin's strategic forces to deploy their devastating weapons if Russia or Belarus is threatened by a non-nuclear nation supported by a nuclear power.

Threats that could warrant a nuclear response from Russia's leadership include an attack with conventional missiles, drones or other aircraft, according to the updated document.

'We have stressed in the context of our doctrine that Russia is taking a responsible position to make maximum effort not to allow such a conflict,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov added Thursday.

Putin has also said that Moscow will 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

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 [November 21] 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.

Valeriy Zaluzhny, former commander of Ukraine's armed forces, acknowledged the threat in new footage.

Zaluzhny - now Ukraine's ambassador to London - was asked at a Ukrainian Pravda awards ceremony if it was possible to avoid WW3.

'Probably, you will not like my answer,' he said.

'But I am a purely human being who knows military science and military history.

'I believe that in 2024 we can absolutely definitely consider that the Third World War has begun,' he said.

Ukraine no longer faces only Russia, he said.

'In front of Ukraine are soldiers from North Korea. Let's be honest  Iranian 'Shaheds' [kamikaze drones] are already killing civilians in Ukraine quite openly, without any shyness.

'North Korean-made missiles are already flying into Ukraine, and they openly declare this.'

Zaluzhny, 51, commanded Ukrainian troops when they halted Putin's army as it intended to storm Kyiv in three days.

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.

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.'

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

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.
Jeremy Clarkson has branded vegetarian Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer a 'nightmare for farmers' amid growing row over Labour's inheritance tax raid.

Farmers have said they will be forced to sell off their holdings after Chancellor unveiled a 500 million tax grab on the farming sector last month.

The plans will impose inheritance tax on farms worth over 1 million, with an effective tax rate of 20 percent on assets above the threshold.

According to official government estimates, almost half of farms in England (49 per cent) are worth over 1.5 million.

It comes as thousands of farmers attended a rally in London on Tuesday venting their anger as they claim family farms will have to be sold off to pay the tax.

Former Top Gear host and Diddly Squat owner has famously backed farmers at the protest near Whitehall earlier this week, where he clashed with Newsnight host Victoria Derbyshire.

In a recent interview with the Times, Clarkson took another swipe at Labour, dubbing them 'dreadful people', whilst adding that farmers who he says are in 'absolute poverty' 'are f***ed'.

'Starmer's a nightmare for farmers. He doesn't know what farming is. He doesn't even eat meat. Dreadful people,' he told The Times.

Jeremy Clarkson has taken a swipe at vegetarian Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer branding him a 'nightmare' for farmers

IClarkson took another swipe at Labour, dubbing them 'dreadful people', whilst adding that farmers who he says are in 'absolute poverty' 'are f***ed' (Pictured: Sir Keir Starmer)

'That's the problem we're facing in farming. Nobody understands the first thing about it'.

His criticism also extended to Rachel Reeves, as he argued the 'vast majority' of people who aren't city dwellers 'absolutely support farmers'.

He also accused the Chancellor of using a 'blunderbuss' to hit every single farmer with the controversial tax.

Clarkson also said the suggestion that only a small few will be impacted was 'utter, utter b*****t', however this view is not backed by most official analysis.

Clarkson, who is entirely 'behind any escalation' of the tax row, has become one of the more well-known faces of the movement despite his belief that farmers should be at the forefront.

Clarkson contested that it was 'absolutely nuts' for the government to expect farmers to sell food for less than its cost to make whilst also having to pay the same tax as others in the country.

He asserted that he was behind the campaign for there to be no inheritance tax placed on farming land.

The state of farming was in 'an absolute parlous state' before the budget, according to Clarkson who explained the industry is based on a broken model.

He said the desire for cheap food, supermarkets and concerns over the environment was cutting into the income of farmers.

He was speaking on the programme hours after thousands of people attended a protest in central London about the Government's proposed changes to inheritance tax rules

Jeremy Clarkson joined thousands of farmers outside Downing Street protesting against changes to agricultural inheritance tax rules on farms valued above 1million

'These poor guys and girls are sitting on their tractors on their own, earning no money, it's freezing cold and it's dangerous,' he added.

He bashed 'mean spirited' Reeves' budget as an act of cruelty, whilst noting that one of his workers won't be able to inherit her father's farm because of the tax grab.

According to Clarkson, the young woman works on his farm and then a nurse for the week but still has 'no money to spend' despite her tireless efforts.

It comes as environment secretary Steve Reed yesterday 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.

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.

Asked in a press conference if 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'.
American TV broadcaster CBS has cottoned onto Londoners' attempts to keep tourists away from the capital's best restaurants - by sending them to Angus Steakhouses instead.

'They're playing a trick on us, people - don't fall for it,' said morning show host Tony Dokoupil about the ploy by locals to send tourists to the central London eateries - and keep them away from the 'real' hidden gems.

Tech-savvy Londoners have been exploiting the artificial intelligence technology now powering the world's biggest search engines to push the inoffensive - but pricey - neon-lit chain restaurants to the top of search results.

First started on Reddit in a complaint about Borough Market sandwich shop The Black Pig, the joke spread to TripAdvisor where reviewers left reviews claiming Angus offers 'the best steak sandwich in London'.

The gags built in number: Taylor Swift dined at Angus Steakhouse; it had been Freddie Mercury's favourite place to go; that a restaurant specialising in steak has a huge range of vegetarian options (it offers three main courses for veggies).

In theory, pranksters thought, if they mentioned Angus Steakhouse enough beside phrases like 'best hidden gem in London' and 'best steak in London', an unknowing visitor typing those phrases into Google would be directed to the tourist traps.

Nate Burleson, Dokoupil's co-host, added: 'They just think Americans are dumb, we're just going to follow all the leads online.'

The reasoning behind the joke isn't even that Angus Steakhouse is bad, necessarily. It is, as far as reviews go, distinctly average, if expensive - and that no native Londoner would ever be caught dead in one.

'They're playing a trick on us, people, don't fall for it,' warned CBS presenter Tony Dokoupil as it emerged pranksters were artificially inflating Angus Steakhouse reviews

Jokers on Reddit and TripAdvisor have been attempting to artificially boost the ratings of the chain of steakhouses, located in London tourist traps

Native Londoners have been trying to place the steakhouse at the top of Google search results to keep tourists away from hidden gems (stock image of steak)

The joke began on Reddit after a Londoner complained about long queues for Borough Market sandwich stall The Black Pig

Comedian David Mitchell once said the eateries are 'are all that we have left of a proud heritage of serving shoe leather with Bearnaise sauce to neon-addled out-of-towners'.

But it hasn't stopped jokers from claiming to have been served a Desperate Dan-style 'cow pie' complete with horns poking out of the crust, or that 'for vegetarians... Angus Steakhouse is the best destination restaurant in London'.

'I just hope the tourists don't find out about it,' another commenter winked.

Jim Waterson, author of newsletter London Centric, described it as 'just fine' in an article examining the lovebombing epidemic.

Jay Rayner, the Observer restaurant critic set to move to the Financial Times, told the newsletter their locations gave them a reputation as 'a shorthand for where lazy people who cant be bothered to walk 100 paces go'.

'If you did a little bit of research you could spend the same amount on something an awful lot better. But theyre not awful. Theres just better places to spend that money,' he said.

Tourists who visited this week told the Times they wouldn't recommend a visit to Angus. One student noted that their burger 'tastes like it came out of the freezer', while a pair of Austrians glibly noted: 'You get a table, you get served.'

But has the attempt to direct people away from the Black Pig worked? MailOnline has contacted The Black Pig for comment.

Given that scores of people like its Instagram posts and identikit glossy videos of steak sandwiches continue popping up on TikTok, it doesn't look like the queues at Borough Market are getting any shorter.

And if the sites Redditors hoped to target with their pretend reviews of Angus Steakhouse are anything to go by, the answer to whether the joke has worked is a firm 'no'.

Visitors to booking site OpenTable looking for the top steakhouses in London will find the Piccadilly Circus Angus Steakhouse recommended as the number one to visit over the likes of the Michelin-recommended Hawksmoor.

But typing 'best steak sandwich in London' into Google, for instance, brings up other restaurants, or articles about the Reddit joke - including reviews quickly written by news outlets to surf the viral news wave.

Websites have been caught out in the past - such as when online prankster Oobah Butler managed to get a restaurant to the top of TripAdvisor despite the fact it didn't exist.

Angus Steakhouse doesn't even make the top 30 London steakhouses on TripAdvisor. The joke, it seems, might be over.

Some reviews on TripAdvisor that lean into the 'hidden gem' and 'best steak sandwich' phrases - including one who claimed to have been served a Desperate Dan-style cow pie

Londoners tried to steer tourists away from beloved hotspots like Borough Market (pictured) but a cursory look at Google suggests the campaign has failed

An Angus Steakhouse does appear at the top of OpenTable's rankings despite being scored poorer than upmarket Hawksmoor

Angus Steakhouse staff are responding earnestly to TripAdvisor reviews - suggesting they are in fact embracing the joke

Not that Angus Steakhouse - a 60-year-old chain formerly known as Aberdeen Steakhouse - seems to care.

It snapped up billboards to share the Reddit joke that it had the 'best steak sandwich in London', and is responding to what could be TripAdvisor lovebombs with genuine enthusiasm.

Paul Sarlas, chief executive of parent company the Noble Hospitality Group, said the restaurant chain was targeting younger people - hoping to use the Reddit campaign as a springboard to target Gen Z.

'The whole scope for our marketing response to the campaign is to target the audience from 30 and under and encourage them to form their own opinions,' he told industry newsletter Propel.

The Noble Hospitality Group is ultimately controlled by businessman Philip Noble, who made his name in amusement arcades.

He runs the company through a Russian nesting doll of holding companies from his home in Switzerland, according to company filings.

Day to day, Angus Steakhouse is run by 35-year-old William Noble, while the wider business runs Soho-based Japanese-Peruvian restaurant Chotto Matte and pizza chain Alley Cats.

It recently hired Jeremy Brown, the former boss of Gordon Ramsay's UK restaurants, to guide the business forward.

There are just five Angus Steakhouses left after the pandemic but its owners say this is the 'start of a new era for the restaurants' that could include expansion.

Even more Angus Steakhouses in London? It might not be the ending the capital's Redditors had been hoping for.
German firefighters had to dig up part of a housing estate to rescue a toddler who became trapped in a narrow underground pipe for three hours.

Two-year-old Valentin reportedly plunged three meters down a rainwater drainage pipe on Thursday evening while he played on the estate in Pirna-Sonnenstein in Saxony, local outlet MDR reported.

According to police, the plastic cover over the pipe's opening was not secured properly, which gave way as the little boy ran across it, which resulted in him falling down the pipe and becoming stuck.

Footage shows an excavator at the site of the incident while rescuers dig a massive hole in the ground to get to the pipe, which police said was only 30 centimeters wide.

The dramatic moment the two-year-old was freed by rescuers was also captured, with the child shown being pulled out and freed from the constraints of the tube by an emergency worker.

Rescue teams had been called to the scene of the incident, but when firefighters arrived they quickly realized that the pipe's opening was too narrow for adults to squeeze through in order to get Valentin out.

A spokesperson for the Pirna fire department said: 'It was impossible to reach him from above, no adult was that slim'.

As a result, the fire crew were forced to dig up part of the estate to access the pipe and free the young boy.

A child in Germany got stuck in a narrow pipe for nearly three hours

Rescue teams were forced to excavate part of a building estate in order to get to the trapped toddler

The child reportedly suffered from hypothermia

Two different construction companies had to be called , while two trees were uprooted during the process.

According to MDR, the frightened toddler's mother sang songs to him to keep him calm as emergency services and excavators worked around the pipe.

Warm air was also blown into the shaft as temperatures began to drop while the night fell, Radio Dresden said.

Firefighters also had to erect a tent over the pipe in order to keep snow away from the trapped toddler..

Rescuers finally managed to reach the little boy, who was eventually secured with a rope and pulled up.

He was reunited with his mother and was taken to hospital as he had begun suffering from hypothermia.

Police are investigating the incident further.

The near tragedy was eerily reminiscent of the rescue of Jessica McClure, known as 'Baby Jessica,' which garnered worldwide attention after the 18-month-old became trapped in a 22-foot well in Midland, Texas in 1987.

When rescuers finally brought her to the surface, she was covered with dirt and bruises, and her right palm was stuck to her face.
A trans police officer in Germany has been accused of drugging and abusing two colleagues with a penis pump after partying in a Berlin nightclub famed for its hardcore sex parties.

Judy S., 27, has been suspended since allegations emerged that she took two men home to her apartment to take drugs and have sex before assaulting them earlier this month.

The men reported having sustained serious injuries from the incident, including to their genitals.

They claim Judy S. assaulted them using a penis pump 'among other things', as reported by German outlet Bild.

The men claim they did not take cocaine but suddenly became 'very intoxicated' and 'unable to act in the apartment', according to information seen by Bild.

The suspect, who has not been formally identified in line with German law, had recently run for a top position within Berlin's police force, becoming the first trans woman to do so.

The suspect had recently become the first trans woman to run for a police deputy role in Berlin

Judy S. had reportedly put herself forward for the role of Berlin Police's deputy women's representative before the allegations emerged.

She was suspended from her role before the election results were announced.

Police raided her home in Berlin on November 11 after two people, unnamed, referred the incident to the police and filed a complaint.

They claimed to have been drugged and sexually assaulted at the apartment, police reported on November 12.

Other people had reportedly joined them at the flat when the crime was said to have taken place.

Police later reported having found cocaine at the police officer's flat.

'The search was successful,' police confirmed, sharing scant detail of the events.

Judy S. is unlikely to take the role of Deputy Women's Representative in any outcome of the investigation, Bild reports.

Judy S. was reported to have met the two men at the KitKatClub in Berlin on a night in early November.

The KitKat Club in Berlin has been described as a 'landmark' for the city

The club was founded in 1994 by teetotal astrologer/pornographic filmmaker Simon Thaur.

Early adverts for the club boast of a 'bizarre and grotesque' experience.

The club has been described as a 'landmark' for the city, and has reportedly hosted many famous names over the years, including Kate Moss and Robert Pattinson, according to Playful.

The dresscode is given as 'fetish, latex & leather, uniform, kinky, glitter and glamour, elegant evening wear, sackcloth and ashes', per the Irish Times.

Smartphones are reportedly banned and patrons have openly have sex in the venue.

A spokesperson for Berlin Police said no further details could be shared, citing data protection and personal rights.
Do you have confidence in our leaders on tax, health, policing, farming, immigration, sleaze, housing, education or transport? Every single one a bungle, run by deadbeats where they generally achieve the opposite of what they promise. So why trust them on war in Ukraine?

Yet here we go again, down the road to chaos. The weaker we get, the louder we shout. How the rest of the world must snigger at our great power posturing in Ukraine last week. They will have laughed especially at how pathetically and quickly we aped the Americans as they went directly into war with Moscow, authorising US Service personnel to guide ATACMS weapons to targets in Russia.

As soon as Washington announced this dubious plan, London did the same with our Storm Shadow rockets. These cannot be launched without the direct involvement of British military know-how and American guidance systems.

But as we officially became direct combatants in the Russia-Ukraine war for the first time, our government announced yet more cuts in our pitifully weak Armed Forces. Off to the scrapyard went two assault ships, two tankers, one frigate and a variety of helicopters and drones. The believable excuse for this is that the kit is clapped-out.

Alas, if all the clapped-out ships, aircraft and tanks in our arsenal were scrapped, thered be little left. Our submarines mostly cannot move. Our surface ships are little better. The two giant targets called aircraft carriers, whose military purpose is impossible to discover, conk out at frequent intervals. If anyone did attack this country, they would find it as ill-prepared as it has been at any time since the days of Ethelred the Unready.

An explosion after a Russian missile strike is seen in the sky over Kyiv, Ukraine

A Yars intercontinental ballistic missile is launched as part of nuclear deterrence forces drills from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northwestern Russia

The much-reviled Neville Chamberlain, during the 1930s, ordered the design and building of the Spitfire fighter, developed radar and significantly strengthened the Royal Navy. That is how we survived in 1940. The politicians who these days sneer at Chamberlain as a dithering weakling have no such record of preparation. Set beside them he is a strong, wise leader.

Probably the only significant nation whose conventional military is more useless than ours is Russia, with its army of released convicts and ancient howitzers, and its lone aircraft carrier, which appears to be fuelled by cooking oil and is so prone to breakdown that it dare not go to sea without a tug to take it in tow.

The Russians, in 1,000 days of fighting, have not managed to capture the city of Kharkov, 19 miles from their border. You think this lot are going to march to Berlin and on to Calais? Not really. I mention these things because so much pure tripe is ceaselessly extruded by warmongering pundits.

Now let us move on to the question of how much we want to turn the European continent into a war zone. For this is the key issue of policy, and our governing, media and thinking classes are busily failing it.

For 23 years, from 1991 to 2014, Ukraine was a reasonably democratic, partially free and more or less contented country. But in 2008, this sensible arrangement was doomed. That was when the warmonger President George W. Bush  fresh from wrecking the entire Middle East with his Iraq invasion  declared that he wanted Ukraine to join Nato.

His then ambassador in Moscow, William Burns (now head of the CIA) warned: Ukrainian entry into Nato is the brightest of all red lines for the Russian elite (not just Putin). In more than two and a half years of conversations with key Russian players, I have yet to find anyone who views Ukraine in Nato as anything other than a direct challenge to Russian interests. That is ambassador-speak for Dont do this, Mr President!

Former ambassador in Moscow, William Burns (now head of the CIA) warned: 'Ukrainian entry into Nato is the brightest of all red lines for the Russian elite (not just Putin)'

His point was crucial. This wasnt just Putin. It was all the nice, liberal, democratic Russians who we claimed we liked before Putin came to power.

Put very simply, normal Russians regarded a Nato Ukraine as we would see a Chinese military and naval presence in Dublin, or as the Americans would view  oh, lets think of an equally far-fetched parallel  a Russian nuclear missile base in Cuba. Yet Bush did not give up, and nor did his successors. Finally, in November 2013, Ukraines democratically elected President, Viktor Yanukovych, refused (despite huge Western pressure) to go any further with plans to link Ukraine with the EU, a first step towards Nato.

Then, in February 2014, Yanukovych was driven from power by a violent mob, which, among other unlovable things, killed several police officers. The USA and Britain quickly condoned this lawless putsch, and recognised the resulting government  so showing that their supposed commitment to law and democracy is so much lavatory paper.

These are all facts. Youd strive to learn them from the BBC, but it was this process that brought about war in Ukraine.

Everything else, horrible as it might be, followed after. I do not defend it. I condemn it, especially the stupid and barbaric Russian invasion of 2022. But you cannot ignore its causes, or the way that Washington repeatedly ignored warnings of what might go wrong.

I am furious that we, who have no possible interest in this conflict, have been dragged into it.

Dont be fooled into thinking that lobbing British-owned rockets into Russia will make us safer. The opposite is almost certainly true.

Our leaders plainly have no genuine concern for our national safety, or they would not have let our actual defences rot and rust as they have. Oh, how we need a proper patriotic opposition.

What about that ban on landmines?

Princess Diana walking over a partly cleared minefield in Angola in 1997

Long years ago I made myself even more unpopular than usual by arguing the case for landmines.

Of course, like all munitions, they do horrible things. But they were useful, I pointed out, for small countries defending themselves against land attacks by bigger neighbours.

My view was squashed flat by the late sainted Princess Diana, shown here in a famous portrait as she walked through a partly cleared minefield in Angola in 1997. Soon afterwards, she called for an end to the plague on Earth caused by landmines. Sir Anthony Blair then agreed to the Ottawa Treaty, which bans them (easy if youre surrounded by deep water). But  as I could have told you  the USA, China and Russia never signed it. The interesting bit is this: now the USA is supplying landmines (bad) to Ukraine (good), fickle public opinion has forgotten its former hostility to these weapons.
Her mother, Kelly, said her niece knew why she did it

Charlotte, 12, took her own life on September 9, 2024

A distraught mum whose daughter was 'bullied to death' has revealed her horror at discovering her little girl was hiding in the school toilets to escape her tormentors.

Kelly O'Brien's 12-year-old daughter, Charlotte, took her own life on September 9 after experiencing horrendous bullying at school.

Charlotte was relentlessly bullied by classmates at Santa Sabina College in Strathfield, west Sydney, where she had been a year 7 student.

Ms O'Brien has said she feels 'so heartbroken' that her daughter was not removed from school.

She also revealed that her 11-year-old niece knew about the bullying and immediately blamed 'the bullies' for her cousin's death.

'Bonnie, who is her best friend and cousin, she didn't want to tell me because she didn't want to hurt my feelings, the poor little girl,' Ms O'Brien told the Daily Telegraph.

'When she heard that Charlotte had taken her own life my family told me that Bonnie ran out screaming, "It was the bullies, it was the bullies, it was the bullies".

'And I found out from my sister that Bonnie had said that she was hiding in the toilets or the library to get away.'

Kelly O'Brien's (pictured) 12-year-old daughter, Charlotte, took her own life on September 9 after experiencing horrendous bullying at school

Charlotte (pictured) was relentlessly bullied by classmates at Santa Sabina College in Strathfield, west Sydney, where she had been a year 7 student

Ms O'Brien said in hindsight that if she had known about the bullying beforehand she 'would've taken her out [of school] immediately'.

But she and her husband, Mat Howard, do not blame any of the children involved in the bullying for their daughter's death.

'We need to make that clear. I dont blame the kids at all because we cant put that pressure on them,' she said.

'But once adults have been notified, they need to stand up. They need to be the upstanders, they need to do better.'

Educators also need more training on how to prevent bullying 'because Charlotte never gets to be an adult', her mother said.

Ms O'Brien revealed that her daughter used to run to her car with tears 'streaming' down her face begging for an 'upstander'.

'Mummy, mummy, they are all bystanders I just need someone to be an upstander,' Charlotte had said, according to her mother.

Charlotte's death was 'senseless and totally avoidable', both parents agreed.

On the night of her death a friend of Charlotte's had told her parents that she was distressed and upset about the latest cyber bullying she had endured.

Mr Howard did not reveal exactly what they were told but said that it contained 'some of the worst words that anybody should have to read, let alone a 12-year-old girl'.

Charlotte's parents do not blame any of the children involved in the bullying for their daughter's death but want to see adults take greater responsibility

Cyber bullying has been skyrocket since the introduction of smart phones and new data has confirmed just how stark the rise has been.

Before the first iPhone was introduced Australia recorded 55 young people who committed suicide in 2006.

In recent generations however, those numbers have almost doubled.

There were 100 cases of children who committed suicide in 2020 and reports of self-harm are also increasing in frequency.

Some estimates suggest that for every one child who commits suicide there may be as many as 200 others who attempt to.

Ms O'Brien said this issue needs to be taken more seriously by adults who can 'step in and be adults'.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Santa Sabina College for comment.
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.
The largest American airbase on British soil was buzzed by drones this week, the US Air Force has confirmed, amid unconfirmed reports that fighter planes were dispatched to intercept the encroaching aircraft.

The incident occurred on Wednesday above RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, which has been earmarked as a storage facility for US nuclear warheads three times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb.

While US Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) played down the incursion, it will do little to dampen the prevailing mood of unease following warnings from Vladimir Putin that Ukraines use of British and American long-range weaponry could see military facilities in those countries targeted.

The number of UASs [unmanned aircraft systems] fluctuated, a US Air Forces in Europe spokesperson told The War Zone, a defence news and analysis website. They ranged in size [and] configuration.

The UASs were actively monitored and installation leaders determined that none of the incursions impacted base residents or critical infrastructure.

USAFE declined to comment on either claims that flight operations were affected or the reported deployment of F-15E Strike Eagles.

To protect operational security, we do not discuss our specific force protection measures, but retain the right to protect the installation, the spokesperson added.

We continue to monitor our airspace and are working with host-nation authorities and mission partners to ensure the safety of base personnel, facilities, and assets.

RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk has been earmarked as a storage facility for US nuclear warheads three times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb

A Swedish Air Force JAS Gripen prepares to take off from Orland Air Base in Brekstad, Norway, last autumn as part of an exercise

An Israeli military drone is seen flying over the Gaza Strip earlier this year. Unmanned aerial vehicles are playing a growing part in modern warfare

RAF Lakenheath, which appears poised to house US nuclear weapons for the first time in 15 years, is home to the 48th Fighter Wing and a site of major strategic significance as the US moves to bolster its European presence in the face of Russian expansionism.

Earlier this year, unredacted documents from the US Department of Defence's procurement database showed that the Pentagon has ordered equipment, including ballistic shields, for the airbase.

The construction of facilities to house US soldiers at Lakenheath, where the drone incursion follows similar activity above the US Armys Picatinny Arsenal in northern New Jersey two days earlier.

The American army has revealed that it is developing special ammunition to shoot down spy drones, with helicopters and tanks to be equipped with medium-calibre rounds capable of hitting small, high-speed targets.

Theres not enough air defence assets out there, Major General John T Reim, the Picatinny Arsenals commanding general, told military website Task and Purpose last month.

We want all our formations to have the capability against small unmanned aerial vehicles, and also make them more lethal from increasing threats that were seeing from our adversaries.

The developments follow warnings from Russian officials that British support for Ukraine, which this week fired UK-supplied Storm shadow missiles into Russian territory for the first time, could 'lead to a collision between nuclear powers'.

Fears over the prospect of war have prompted the mega-rich, led by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, to start building nuclear bunkers beneath their homes.

'It got really busy, and it seems like the phone hasn't stopped ringing,' Ron Hubbard, CEO of Texas-based Atlas Survival Shelters said earlier this year. 'World War III seems like it's coming.'
The reckless early release of criminals including violent and dangerous thugs from Scottish jails is set to land taxpayers with a bill of up to 2million.

The extension of the controversial Scottish Government scheme will see hundreds of convicted prisoners freed from February next year.

The plan has been blasted by opposition politicians and victims groups as another example of soft-touch Scotland. And it has now emerged the policy will drain the public purse of millions of pounds.

Scottish Tory justice spokesman Liam

Kerr said the stepping-up of the early release scheme was an outright betrayal of victims who the SNP abandon at every turn.

Inmates are being set free early by the SNP due to prison overcrowding

He added: The SNPs reckless plans to release hundreds more prisoners are being railroaded through parliament with little consideration to the cost of the legislation.

Not only does this risk public safety and insult victims, but hard-pressed Scots will be

paying through the nose for the pleasure of having dangerous criminals back on our streets.

The draft legislation published earlier this week shows the cost of processing the mass release is estimated at nearly 500,000.

Another chunk of public cash is earmarked for a legal services team to notify victims.

There will also be pressure on housing as councils try to find accommodation as the prisoners are freed in February.

The SNP plan will see those jailed for less than four years let out after serving only 40 per cent of their sentences  down from 50 per cent at present.

The change will be made permanent under the legislation, meaning every year hundreds more criminals will get out early.

Victim Support Scotland said fewer than 20 people were informed that offenders in their cases were being freed in the summer  the last round of early releases, which saw nearly 500 inmates get out.

The charitys chief executive Kate Wallace said: While we acknowledge the challenges around the prison population, it is important any changes do not place the public or victims more at risk.

Of the 477 prisoners freed in June and July, 57 were later rearrested. More than a third of those locked up again had committed violent crimes.

The new plans will see between 260 and 390 inmates freed in February. Those jailed for sex offences or domestic violence will not be included  but violent offenders will be eligible.

The plans come despite the SNP pledging in 2015 to abolish automatic early releases.

Government documents say ministers recognise any change to prisoners release processes will impact victims of crime.

Officials estimate 1.5million to 2million will be spent as one-off implementation costs for Februarys release scheme.

Staffing costs relating to pre-release planning and

additional administration are expected to be 498,540 for the prison service. The assessment of housing needs and the provision of accommodation will cost councils up to 1.3million.

A tranche of other associated costs are further laid out by the officials.

The Bill also proposes giving ministers new powers to order the early automatic release of long-term prisoners  those serving more than four years for more serious offences.

Justice Secretary Angela Constance, who has ruled out building more jails, said: The prison population is projected to reach critical levels again. Action is necessary to support the effective functioning of prisons.

Asked about the early release scheme, a government spokesman said: The estimated implementation costs would be around 1.5million to 2million.
An Oregon teenager was found guilty on all counts after raping and murdering a 13-year-old girl.

Daniel R. Gore, now 18, was convicted of raping and strangling sixth-grader Milana Li, 13, in a grove a trees in May 2022 when he was 16 years old.

A panel of jurors took less than 90 minutes to convict the teenager of first-degree murder, rape and sexual abuse, according to The Oregonian.

Gore, who was tried as an adult - a rarity in Oregon - faces life in prison with the possibility of parole and will be sentenced on December 2.

Li and Gore struck up a friendship while she was attending school at Conestoga Middle School. At the time, Gore was living in a tent in a wooded area after running away from home.

After hours of riding buses up and down Southwest Scholls Ferry Road on that fateful day, Gore would take Li back to his tent where he raped her and then strangled her for three to five minutes until she died.

He then dumped the teen's body into a shallow creek and tried to conceal it with a waterproof tarp and logs. Her clothing was scattered throughout nearby bushes.

Gore had a passion for gory music by rapper 7XVN and serial killers, but Senior Deputy District Attorney, John Gerhard, said this wasn't what prompted the teenager to create a real-life horror show.

Daniel R. Gore, now 18, was convicted of raping and strangling sixth-grader Milana Li, 13, in a grove a trees in May 2022 when he was 16 years old. A panel of jurors took less than 90 minutes to convict the teenager of first-degree murder, rape, and sexual abuse

Li and Gore struck up a friendship while the former was attending school at Conestoga Middle School

'It was his choice to take a vulnerable girl who trusted him and followed him into the wood and act out his fantasy,' the attorney told the jury.

After the killing, Gore went over to a friend's house at the Andover Park Apartments and began texting several people that he and Li had separated at a bus stop near Southeast 125th Avenue.

However, surveillance footage showed otherwise and the pair were seen making their way to Gore's encampment, according to The Oregonian.

He also called his girlfriend at the time, Eva Camara, and claimed Li had tried to kiss him and he had 'taken care of it'.

Camara had texted her friend: 'I hate knowing the truth.'

Gore also texted Li's phone, which he had with him at his friend's, to strengthen his alibi, but her side never responded, according to the local outlet.

He also began telling friends: 'I got hella drunk and she [expletive] dipped and I forgot she had my nic [vape] in her bag. Now she aint responding.'

However, a friend he went to after the killing testified that Gore did not appear to be intoxicated and had been quieter than usual.

After a day of riding buses up and down Southwest Scholls Ferry Road on that fateful day, Gore would take Li back to his tent where he would rape her and then strangled her for three to five minutes until she died (pictured: crime scene)

He then dumped the teen's body into a shallow creek and tried to conceal her with a waterproof tarp and logs. Her clothing was scattered throughout nearby bushes (pictured: crime scene)

Li's mother reported the girl missing the morning after the slaying when she noticed the girl wasn't home after returning from her night shift.

Beaverton Police found Gore at the Murrayhill Library, where he escaped out the emergency exit. He was apprehended 20 minutes later after a chase.

When police searched his phone, they had found searches for sexual violence and the symbols that represent 7XVN craved into a tree near his tent, according to The Oregonian.

He had also written in his diary that he felt 'like Dexter,' a fictional serial killer.

His DNA was also found inside Li's body, but his defense team argued it was from a consensual encounter.

She also had an unidentified man's DNA on her clothes and beneath her fingernails, but Gore's DNA was not found under her nails.

Her DNA was not found on him.

'How could he possibly have raped and murdered her when theres not a cell of DNA evidence on his person?' Gore's Attorney, J. Mark Lawrence, questioned the jury.

His DNA was also found inside Li's body, but his defense team (pictured) argued it was from a consensual encounter. 'How could he possibly have raped and murdered her when theres not a cell of DNA evidence on his person,' Gore's Attorney, J. Mark Lawrence, questioned

Prosecutors speculated Gore's DNA wasn't under her fingernails because she was lying face down when she was strangled.

'The last few minutes of Milana Lis life were excruciating. She fought, but it was a terrifying end,' prosecutor Andy Pulver said, according to The Oregonian.

When the teenager, who did not testify, received his guilty verdict, he showed no emotion, according to the outlet.

His mother was seen holding hands with Li's mother and the lead detective cried, according to The Oregonian.

Prior to the murder, Gore had already racked up a juvenile record and had pending charges for second-degree arson, criminal mischief, and theft when he was arrested in May 2022.

He was released back to his parents, escaping having to do time in a juvenile detention center, according to KGW.

He soon ran away from home and his father notified the juvenile department, but nothing was done.
The family of a South Carolina girl who attempted suicide after suffering brutal bullying are now suing her school for ignorance.

Kelaia Turner attended the Dr. Phinnize J. Fisher Middle School in Greenville County for two years - at the age of 11 and 12.

During that time, the young girl was allegedly physically assaulted by peers and branded a 'roach' and a 'man', according to the 24-page lawsuit filed by the family.

Mother Ty Turner believes the bullying began when she started wearing her natural hair to school and despite multiple efforts, the school took no action.

'There was no less than seven to nine times that I, myself personally, reached out to the school, and I had the emails, and half the time they didn't respond back, and if they did, it wasn't with anything of any sustenance, there was never any resolution,' she sorrowfully told WYFF.

Ty also alleged that instead of providing support and helping reduce incidents, teachers joined in on the torture.

'All names Kelaia was called in the presence of a teacher or faculty and staff members with no repercussion.

'According to Greenville County schools where she attended, there is ZERO TOLERANCE to bullying, except there wasn't. Some teachers were actually complicit,' she said in a Facebook post.

The family of Kelaia Turner who attempted suicide after suffering brutal bullying from her peers are now suing Dr. Phinnize J. Fisher Middle School in Greenville County for ignorance.

After months of relentless bullying, Kelaia confided in a friend about her thoughts of committing suicide on March 11, 2023.

Five days later, she was found hanging from a belt in her bedroom at home.

According to Ty, the 12-year-old was dead for a complete eight minutes before paramedics could revive her.

'She was cool to the touch, blood was coming out of her nose, and she had already urinated on herself. She had fully committed to what it was that she was attempting to do, and she was gone for eight whole minutes.

'Paramedics couldn't find a pulse, and they couldn't find her heartbeat. There were grown men in the room crying,' Ty recalled.

But the earnestly religious mother kept praying and after a few minutes, a paramedic found a faint pulse.

'He said, "I found a pulse. It's very, very faint, but I found one. I don't know what you're out here doing but I would say he should keep doing it". Kelaia is a miracle.'

Once brought back to life, Kelaia was in a coma for weeks, ultimately staying in the hospital for 101 days and suffered severe brain damage.

Mother Ty Turner believes the bullying began when she started wearing her natural hair to school and despite multiple efforts, the school took no action

After months of relentless bullying, Kelaia confided in a friend about her thoughts of committing suicide on March 11, 2023. Five days later, she was found hanging from a belt in her bedroom at home.

According to Ty, the 12-year-old was dead for a complete eight minutes before paramedics could revive her

'We're 18 months plus out. Kelaia has no control currently over her body. She's total care, nonverbal, on a trach, on a feeding tube.

'She requires around the clock care that, for the most part, is administered by her father and I, we've recently gotten the help of a nurse three days a week. It's an absolute mountain,' Ty explained.

In a GoFundMe launched Schine't Turner this year, the distressed mother said the family has been struggling with limited mobility, no wheelchair van and mounting financial stress.

The crowdfunding page has raised $2,930 out of its $15,000 goal as of now.

A previous fundraiser launched by Tracey Graham crowdfunded $7,000 for the young girl.

Since the filing, school officials have vehemently denied all allegations of ignorance and negligence.

Once brought back to life, Kelaia was in a coma for weeks, ultimately staying in the hospital for 101 days and suffered severe brain damage

In a GoFundMe launched Schine't Turner this year, the distressed mother said the family has been struggling with limited mobility, no wheelchair van and mounting financial stress

The crowdfunding page has raised $2,930 out of its $15,000 goal as of now.

Since the filing, school officials have vehemently denied all allegations of ignorance and negligence

In a statement, a spokesperson for Greenville County Schools said: 'The District is aware of the allegations made by this parent and has addressed them directly with the parent.

'We disagree with these allegations and have conducted a thorough investigation and review of each allegation at the time they were made. While we do not agree with the allegations, our hearts go out to Kelaia Tecora Turner, her mother, and their family.

'Every school implements anti-bullying strategies and programs for students, including how to recognize bullying and how to report it.

'When a school is aware of possible bullying, those concerns are investigated promptly, thoroughly, and confidentially. Steps are taken to determine what occurred, and if any inappropriate conduct occurred, then disciplinary measures are provided to the offending student and strategies designed to prevent any similar conduct are implemented as well. If the alleged conduct is possibly criminal in nature, law enforcement is notified.'
Scientists believe a mysterious black rock found on Mars could suggest aliens bathed in hot springs on the planet billions of years ago.

Fresh research appears to have unearthed evidence that water existed on the Red Planet over four billion years ago, indicating it could have once been habitable.

The academics from Curtin University in Australia examined a sample of the meteorite which has previously been dubbed the 'black beauty'.

Their most recent analysis looked a grain of from the rock of black crystal also known as zicron, to determine the planet may have been hospitable long ago.

They found the sample dated all the way back to 4.45 billion years ago - a similar time to when our own planet is believed to have been formed.

However what really caught the scientists' eye were 'fingerprints' found on the water of the grain, which seemingly indicated the existence of hot water on Mars.

This is thought to have been existed in the form of hydrothermal springs heated by magma from under the planet's crust.

According to experts, similar hot springs played a key role in life evolving here on Earth.

Scientists believe a mysterious black rock found on Mars could suggest aliens bathed in hot spring on the planet over four billion of years ago

Fresh research appears to have unearthed evidence that water existed on the Red Planet over four billion years ago, indicating it could have once been habitable (Pictured: A meteorite dubbed the 'Black Beauty')

Such springs suggest that the Red Planet could have once possessed the ability to support ancient life.

Dr Aaron Cavosie, who co-authored the study, told The Sun they used nano-scale geochemistry to uncover the evidence of hot water on Mars so long ago.

'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,' he told the publication.

'Through nano-scale imaging and spectroscopy, the team identified element patterns in this unique zircon, including iron, aluminium, 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.

'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.'

It comes after NASA's Mars rover discovered the first 'possible' signs of ancient life on the Red Planet.

The agency's Perseverance rover spotted a what they described as an arrowhead-shaped' rock with what looked like veins flowing through it.

The rover beamed the images back to Earth, revealing crystalline solids left over from water flowing on the surface and a reddish area that contained organic compounds and an energy source for 'what could have been microbial life.'

The rock, which measures 3.2 feet by two feet, has been named after a Grand Canyon waterfall Cheyava Falls.
A mother allegedly gave her toddler daughter to her drug dealer who took her back to Mexico where she vanished without a trace.

Ashley Rowland, 39, was arrested in October and charged with child abandonment after police in Moore, Oklahoma, discovered the girl was missing since 2022.

After weeks of searching, all police found was two photos of London Kerr as a baby, sitting in a high chair with playdough smeared on her face.

The Oklahoma Department of Human Services was ordered to take custody of London last April as she hadn't been seen in years, but only found her mother.

Rowland claimed the child was 'with her father in Georgia' but eventually confessed to Moore police that wasn't true.

Instead, she allegedly told them she gave London to her meth dealer 'Carlos' in April 2022 while she was high on drugs.

After weeks of searching, the only trace police found of London Kerr was two photos of her as a baby, sitting in a high chair with playdough smeared on her face

Ashley Rowland, 39, was arrested in October and charged with child abandonment after police in Moore, Oklahoma, discovered the girl was missing since 2022

She said Carlos told her he planned to return to Mexico, and she never saw him or London again.

London was two years old at the time and would be five now.

Rowland said didn't know Carlos' last name and couldn't remember any distinguishing features about him.

She said he could be London's father but she wasn't sure.

Rowland said she didn't give Carlos any identification documents for London and police have not been able to find any of the girl's records.

London allegedly told them she gave London to her meth dealer 'Carlos' in April 2022 while she was high on drugs, and he took her away to Mexico

Investigators searched for her birth certificate, social security information, clothing, toys, or anything else that could help trace her, but came up empty.

Moore police called in the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to help with the case, and appealed to the public for information.

Rowland is being held on a $3,000 bond.

'Situations like... [these] are heartbreaking and unimaginable,' the Oklahoma DHS said.
Grisly autopsy reports have revealed how two Kansas mothers were killed while on a road trip to Oklahoma, allegedly at the hands of a brutal 'religious gang.'

Veronica Butler, 27, and Jilian Kelley, 39, were stabbed to death on March 30 while driving to pick up Butler's children, aged six and eight, and their bodies were found two weeks later buried in a freezer.

According to new autopsies from the state examiner Dr. Celia Cobb, Kelley suffered nine stab wounds and seven cuts to the back of her neck and head.

She also suffered a fractured vertebrae and damaged spinal chord when she was killed, stun gun marks to her neck, and cuts to her hand indicating she tried to defend herself.

Butler was tragically killed in a very similar manner, and both women were reportedly found in 'pools of blood.'

She suffered a total of 30 sharp force injuries, including sliced fingers consistent with 'attempting to defend herself', and she was also found with stun gun marks to the back of her neck.

The autopsies said both women were believed to have been killed before they were placed in the freezer, which was found under a concrete slab and buried eight feet below the ground.

Soon after the bodies were found, police arrested Butler's children's paternal grandmother, Tifany Adams, 54, and her boyfriend Tad Cullum, 43, alongside Cole Twombly, 50, and Cora Twombly, 44, and charged them with the murders.

New autopsy reports revealed that Veronica Butler, 27, (pictured) and Jilian Kelley, 39, were both brutally stabbed to death in March, and also suffered hits to their necks with stun guns and sliced hands trying to defend themselves

Jilian Kelley, 39, one of the supervisors that watched over visitations with Butler and her kids, was found dead next to Butler in April in the chest freezer

According to court documents, the four suspects are believed to be members of a religious gang called 'God's Misfits', and Adams was involved in a bitter custody dispute over Butler's children.

When Cobb released Kelley's autopsy first, she said that 'in my opinion, her death was very rapid.'

Cobb listed the women's time of death as 'unknown', but said she believes they were dead before they were put in the freezer, as their bodies appeared to have remained in the same place once buried.

Cops also released new information about the freezer the women were placed in, saying it was sealed with yellow ratchet straps and buried under a concrete slab.

Underneath the freezer, investigators found a stun gun, clothing, a roll of tape and a sheathed knife, reports KSN.

After the freezer was released and sent for examination, the women's bodies were then also found next to dirt, hay, an Apple watch, a pair of shoes and two gloves, one leather and one cloth.

Tifany Adams (bottom left), Butler's children's grandmother, her boyfriend, Tad Cullum (top right), Cole Twombly (bottom right), and Cora Twombly (top right) were involved in an antigovernmental religious group known as 'God's Misfits.' They were all arrested over the possible kidnapping and murders of both women

The women's bodies were found buried eight feet under ground in a freezer covered by a concrete slab on this desolate stretch of Oklahoma

The gruesome murders shocked the Midwest earlier this year when the women's bodies were discovered, leading cops to launch an urgent investigation to find their killers.

According to court filings, detectives zeroed in on the 'God's Misfits' gang after suspect Cora Twombley's teenage daughter overheard the group discussing Butler's murder.

Twombley then allegedly told her daughter that they were involved in the women's deaths.

The unnamed teen told authorities that the group also used burner phones to communicate with each other. Agents found that Adams purchased three pre-paid phones from a Walmart in February.

Authorities said that all three phones were discovered near Butler's car around the time she and Kelley disappeared. A hole filled with hay was also discovered near the car.

An affidavit revealed that Butler was going through a nasty divorce and custody battle with her husband Wrangler Cole Rickman, at the time. His mother is Tifany Adams, one of the suspects.

The affidavit said that the group's original plan was to throw an anvil, or head of a large hammer, through Butler's car to kill her.

They intended to make it look like an accident, 'because anvils regularly fall off of work vehicles,' records said.

The teen also informed agents that Cora and Cole told her that they would not be home the morning of March 29, a day before Butler and Kelley were last seen, because they were going on a 'mission.'

An affidavit revealed that Butler was going through a nasty divorce and custody battle with her husband Wrangler Cole Rickman (pictured). His mother is one of the suspects, Tifany Adams

The couple then told the teenager that even though the 'mission' did not go as planned, they didn't have to worry about Butler anymore, court documents said.

The gang reportedly often met at the Twombley's household for their meetings, and the girl allegedly told agents that they had previously attempted to murder Butler.

She explained to officers that in February, the group hatched a plan to take Butler's life, but she wouldn't leave her home. Agents later found that Adams had searched for ways to get someone out of a house on the internet.

Butler's mother-in-law had also searched for taser pain levels, pre-paid phones and gun shops, the affidavit said.

Agents found that in addition to buying burner phones, Adams also purchased five stun guns on March 23, according to the affidavit.

Butler's children were reportedly staying with their grandmother, Adams, as Butler and her husband, Wrangler Cole Rickman, who was in a rehabilitation center at the time, were going through a divorce and custody battle.

On March 20, ten days before they went missing, Butler filed a petition in court that would grant her more time with her children, with her goal being full custody.

Butler had weekly, court-mandated visits every Saturday with the kids, while Kelley, one of four people listed, supervised the visits, as the two women were doing on the day they were killed.

It was Butler's six-year-old daughter's birthday and they were planning to celebrate.

Kelley is the wife of Pastor Heath Kelley (pictured), who serves at two churches in Kansas and Nebraska

The women's bodies were discovered when puddles of blood were found near the vehicle in the desolate Oklahoma panhandle, near a school Butler attended and graduated from in 2015.

Kelley is the wife of Pastor Heath Kelley, who serves at two churches in Kansas and Nebraska.

On April 3, Kelley's Willow Christian Church in Nebraska posted to Facebook: 'We ask that you continue to pray for Jilian and Veronica and their families as the search and investigation continue.'

'Pray for strength, wisdom and faith for everyone involved. We appreciate everyone who has shared the prayer requests. We are getting messages from all over the country of people praying for these two women and their families.'
A female Israeli hostage was killed in an area of north Gaza when Israeli strikes pounded the region, a spokesperson for Hamas claimed today.

Abu Obeida, the spokesperson for Hamas' armed wing, said that they had learned of the unnamed hostage's fate after re-establishing contact with 'those assigned to protect the captives' 'weeks' after the strikes in northern Gaza Strip.

It was not clear from the statement when the strikes were to have taken place.

'The life of another female prisoner who used to be with her remains in imminent danger,' he added, accusing the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of being responsible and of undermining efforts to end the war.

Israel has not commented on the alleged death of the hostage, nor the alleged condition of the hostage still fighting for her life following the strikes.

Hamas took 251 hostages during its assault into southern Israel last October. Of those, 97 are still held in Gaza, including 34 who have been confirmed dead.

Palestinians watch smoke rising during an Israeli airstrike on the Al Farouq Mosque in the Al Nuseirat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, 23 November 2024

Palestinians search through rubble of Al-Faruq Mosque that was destroyed during Israeli air strike on Nusairat camp in central of Gaza Strip, on 23 November 2024

Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip have killed at least 120 Palestinians over the last 48 hours

A group representing hostages' families did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Months of attempts to negotiate a ceasefire to release the remaining hostages have yielded scant progress and negotiations are now on hold, with mediator Qatar having suspended its efforts until the sides are prepared to make concessions.

Hamas wants a deal that ends the conflict, and leads to the release of Israeli and foreign hostages held captive in Gaza as well as Palestinians jailed by Israel, while Netanyahu has said the war can end only once Hamas is eradicated.

The war was launched in response to an attack by Hamas-led fighters who killed 1,200 people and captured more than 250 hostages in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, Israel has said.

Israel's 13-month campaign in Gaza has killed more than 44,000 people and displaced nearly all the enclave's population at least once, according to Gaza officials.

Israeli military strikes across the Gaza Strip have killed at least 120 Palestinians over the last 48 hours and hit a hospital on the northern edge of the enclave, wounding medical staff and damaging equipment, Palestinian medics said on Saturday.

Among the dead were seven members of one family whose house was hit overnight in the Zeitoun suburb of Gaza City, the health officials said.

The rest were killed in separate Israeli strikes in central and southern Gaza.

At the same time, Israeli forces deepened their incursion and bombardment of the northern edge of the enclave, their main offensive since early last month.

Israel's military says it aims to prevent Hamas fighters from waging attacks and regrouping in the area.

Local residents say they fear the aim is to permanently depopulate a strip of territory as a buffer zone, which Israel denies.

At Kamal Adwan Hospital, one of three medical facilities on the northern edge of Gaza that is barely operational, director Hussam Abu Safiya said the ongoing Israeli bombardment appeared aimed at forcing hospital staff to evacuate - something they have refused to do since the incursion began.

'Yesterday (Friday), from the afternoon until midnight, the bombardment directly targeted the entrance to the emergency and reception area several times,' he said in a statement, adding that 12 staff members including doctors and nurses were injured.

The strike also caused significant damage that disrupted the electrical generator, oxygen supply network and water supply, he added.

Asked to comment on Abu Safiya's statement, the Israeli military said that following an initial review it was 'not aware of a strike in the area of the Kamal Adwan Hospital', adding that it does everything possible to avoid harming civilians.

Israel says Hamas uses hospitals and civilians as human shields, and has made public videos and photos to support that claim. Hamas rejects the allegations and says it does not use the civilian population or facilities for military purposes.

A father mourns as he carries the body of his son, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike, at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza Strip, 23 November 2024

Palestinians in a densely packed crowd hold metal pots and pans as they attempt to reach for food being distributed amid Israeli attacks in Deir al-Balah, Gaza on November 23

Relatives and loved ones of Palestinians mourn as the bodies are brought to Nasser Hospital for funeral procedures in west of Khan Yunis, Gaza on November 23, 2024

A powerful airstrike meanwhile killed 15 people in central Beirut on Saturday and 13 others were killed in attacks northeast of the Lebanese capital, the health ministry said, as Israel pressed its offensive against the Iran-backed Hezbollah group.

Eight of the victims, four of them children, were killed in a strike on the village of Chimstar and five people died in an attack on the village of Bodai, the ministry said. Both villages are in the Baalbek district.

In Beirut, an eight-storey building was struck with four missiles, including bunker-penetrating types designed to hit underground targets, said a Lebanese security source.

Israel has used bunker-busting weapons to kill senior Hezbollah figures, including its veteran leader Hassan Nasrallah in a strike on southern Beirut in September.

At the site of the Israeli strike in central Beirut, Amin Chirri, a member of parliament representing Hezbollah, said there had been no Hezbollah leader in the building that was struck. The Israeli military made no immediate comment.
A Maine state representative who allegedly choked his wife after she confronted him and his mistress about their affair narrowly won his reelection bid by exactly one vote.

Lucas Lanigan, 45, was charged with domestic violence aggravated assault in October for strangling his wife after the pair got in an argument.

The Republican lawmaker ran against Democratic challenger Patty Kidder for a state House seat representing Shapleigh, Newfield, Sanford and Springvale.

Results from November 5 showed the two candidates in a tie, but a recount determined Lanigan won the seat by one vote.

Lanigan received 2,478 votes and Kidder received 2,477 votes, according to News Center Maine.

'Rather than the apparent tie from Election Night results, Rep. Lanigan is now the Representative-elect,' Emily Cook, director of communications for the Office of the Secretary of State, said.

Lanigan was arrested after he allegedly choked his wife for 'approximately 20 seconds,' Sergeant Jeremy Riddle said in an affidavit, viewed by Bangor Daily News.

His wife, Catalina Lanigan, 43, confronted her husband on October 25 at the Springvale Safe Storage on River Street shortly before 1 pm, when the pair got into an argument.

Lucas Lanigan, 45, was charged with domestic violence aggravated assault in October for strangling his wife

The Maine state representative (left) allegedly choked his wife (right) after she confronted him and his mistress about their affair

After he strangled her, she managed to escape and return home, where she called friends and later reported the assault to police around 3 pm, cops said.

The mother was taken to the Maine Medical Center in Portland for an examination, which found bruising around her neck and small marks on her face, nose, and mouth that was consistent with bleeding under the skin, the affidavit said.

An arrest warrant was issued for the Republican, who turned himself into jail on October 28 after returning from a business trip.

During his initial court appearance on October 30, Catalina requested the charges be dropped describing the incident as a 'misunderstanding.'

His bail was set at $3,000 and his next court appearance is scheduled for March. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine according to NBC News.

Lanigan then went on to win his election by the stunning margin saying in a Facebook post, 'This election serves as a powerful reminder that every vote truly counts.'

In a separate post, Lanigan said, 'I have thick skin but for my family enough is enough! I will be fighting not only these ridiculous charges.'

Kidder conceded the race in a Facebook post acknowledging the charges against Lanigan.

Catalina Lanigan, 43, requested the charges be dropped describing the incident as a 'misunderstanding'

After his arrest, Lanigan (pictured with his family in 2016) went on to win reelection by one vote

'We are aware of the alleged personal circumstances surrounding this election specifically, and want everyone to know that you deserve to love and be loved, safe and respected,' she said.

Maine House Democrats called for his 'immediate resignation' in a statement saying, 'We are stunned, dismayed, and horrified by the details of the charges against Rep. Lucas Lanigan that were disclosed in an affidavit from the Sanford Police Department.

'Domestic violence of any kind is unacceptable. These grievously serious allegations demonstrate that Rep. Lanigan is clearly unfit to continue serving as a state representative.

'We concur with Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross' call for his resignation, and hope that he takes it upon himself to do the right thing.'

Ross said Lanigan 'violated' the 'demands [for] integrity and accountability' that is required by those serving the public.


SNP Ministers have been accused of stoking constitutional division rather than prioritising national security as files show they have snubbed a number of key UK-funded defence projects.

A probe shows Scottish Government Ministers have failed to meet Babcock, one of the UKs largest engineering firms which works on the Royal Navys Dreadnought Class nuclear submarines and runs a Naval yard at Rosyth, Fife, for at least three years.

Meanwhile, the devolved administration neglected to send a Minister to the steel-cutting ceremony for the new HMS Formidable frigate last month  despite it representing a significant milestone in the construction of the Type 31 warships, documents show.

Invitations were sent to both John Swinney and Kate Forbes to celebrate the programme. However, official documents disclose there was no Scottish Government representation at the event.

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes failed to attend a steel-cutting ceremony last month

Babcock chief executive David Lockwood and Minister for the Armed Forces Luke Pollard MP at the Steel Cut ceremony for the Royal Navy Type 31 frigate, HMS Formidable, in October

Ministers were also absent from the steel-cutting ceremony for HMS Birmingham at BAE Systems Govan yard in April last year, part of the 4.2 billion Type 26 frigate programme.

Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and then-Finance Secretary Kate Forbes were invited but declined due to other commitments.

Last night Labour MP for Dunfermline and Dollar, Graeme Downie, slammed the SNP for failing to meet one of Scotlands biggest defence employers.

He said: It is disgraceful the SNP have not met the largest engineering employer in Scotland. Babcock employ 2,500 people in my constituency alone and are the largest employer in the area with well-paid high-skilled jobs.

The SNP need to start putting Scotlands national defence, employment and jobs ahead of constitutional division.

Documents released under freedom of information laws  and handed to this newspaper  show that since May 2021 not a single Scottish Government Minister has met a representative of Babcock International.

The company is currently part of a team of defence contractors working on the Royal Navys new generation of nuclear submarines.

It also owns the Naval yard in Rosyth, Fife, where five additional Type 31 warships are being built.

Construction work underway on the Type 31 frigates at Babcock's yard in Rosyth, Fife

When the steel-cutting ceremony for HMS Formidable took place, Babcocks chief executive officer David Lockwood said it was a real demonstration of UK sovereign shipbuilding capability.

Yet FOI documents supplied to the UK Defence Journal show that First Minister Mr Swinney and Deputy First Minister Ms Forbes failed to attend.

An industry insider told the trade publication: Its really disappointing not to see senior government figures at these key milestones.

It makes you wonder if they truly value the role this sector plays in the economy and in supporting communities.

The Scottish Government said it recognises the role of the sector in the Scottish economy and regularly engages with the industry body ADS Scotland on key areas such as skills.
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.
Russian president Vladimir Putin has gifted North Korea more than 70 animals for the Pyongyang Zoo, including bears, yaks, ducks and cockatoos as a thank you to Kim Jong Un for sending 12,000 soldiers to fight in Ukraine.

In another sign of the growing relationship between the countries, the animals were flown to Pyongyang aboard a government plane, escorted by officials and experts from the Moscow Zoo, the Russian government said on Wednesday - noting that the animals were 'a gift from Vladimir Putin to the Korean people'.

'Historically, animals always have played a special role in relations between states. They have been given as a sign of support, kindness and care,' Russia's Natural Resources Minister Alexander Kozlov, who traveled with the animals, said.

The delivery included an African lion, two bears, two domestic yaks, 25 pheasants, 40 mandarin ducks and five white cockatoos, the statement said.

Images shared by the Russian government revealed a white cockatoo travelling in a crate and Kozlov receiving a tour of the Korean zoo from local officials.

This is not the first time Putin has gifted his ally Kim Jong Un animals, however.

Back in April, Russia donated birds, including eagles, cranes and parrots to the Pyongyang Central Zoo.

In return, Kim Jong Un gifted Putin a pair of Pungsan dogs, a local breed.

The two also took turns driving around in a Russian-built Aurus limousine.

A lion is seen at the International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea being carried aboard a plane that flew animals and birds to Pyongyang's zoo as a gift from Russian President Vladimir Putin

The delivery of animals to North Korea is a present from Russian president Vladimir Putin as a thank you to Kim Jong Un for sending 12,000 troops to fight in Ukraine

This is not the first time Putin has gifted his ally Kim Jong Un animals, however. Back in April, Russia donated birds, including eagles, cranes and parrots to the Pyongyang Central Zoo

In June, Putin traveled to North Korea, where he met with its leader, Kim Jong Un.

The two leaders signed a 'comprehensive strategic partnership treaty' that was the strongest link between Moscow and Pyongyang since the end of the Cold War.

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's generous gift-giving comes after the US and South Korea earlier this month accused nuclear-armed North Korea of sending 12,000 troops to support Russia's devastating invasion of Ukraine.

Experts have warned that Kim Jong Un is eager to gain advanced technology, and battle experience for his troops in return.

Meanwhile yesterday a top North Korean general was wounded in a Ukrainian strike in Russia's Kursk region.

Western officials confirmed that the high-ranking military officer had become a casualty of the war in Ukraine.

Officials did not name the officer or say how he was wounded.
Her role in what proved to be a popular theatre production saw her play a powerful being with magic on her side.

And, as it turned out, she cast a spell on one of her co-stars - entering into a relationship with him that has sparked excitement among Royal fans.

Now, this image of Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, shows her in costume for the part that proved pivotal in her budding romance.

The photo was posted on social media as part of the promotion of Dragon Fever - the student production she starred in earlier this year.

Gazing into the flames she has conjured up in her hands, she looks every bit the enchantress, decked out in a golden headpiece and a rich red velvet gown that wouldnt have looked out of place in the Royal court of medeival times.

It recently emerged that one of the other cast members in the production - Felix Da Silva-Clamp - is now dating Lady Louise, with their involvement in the show said to have played a part in drawing them together.

For his part, Mr Da Silva-Clamp, 19, played an impressionable and naive young squire called Grant. His performance saw him go on to win the Best Scene Stealer award.

According to the official Instagram page for Dragon Fever, his character was not the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree, but was always ready with a joke and a smile.

Lady Louise starred in university theatre show Dragon Fever

Lady Louise with Felix Da Silva-Clamp

A cheery photo of him posted online showed him dressed in his costume, while making two thumbs-up signs.

The young couple are both studying at St Andrews University - the same hallowed institution where a young Prince William met and fell in love with his fellow student - now his wife the Princess of Wales - Kate Middleton.

Dragon Fever reportedly told the story of nine strangers on a mission to slay a dragon, which ultimately turns into a murder mystery full of riddles, twists, and love affairs, the outlet reported.

Lady Louise is believed to have played Rigeon, inspired by the hero of Spanish novelist Miguel de Cervantes Don Quixote and Lord Byrons fictional libertine Don Juan.

A friend of Lady Louise, who also attends St Andrews, recently raved about the young Royals performance in the show, which was performed at the Byre Theatre in St Andrews, Fife.

The fellow student told The Telegraph: She was really good. The theatre isnt massive, so it shows quite a lot of dedication that shes part of it.

The student newspaper, The Saint, reviewed Dragon Fever, describing it as an ambitious cross between an Agatha Christie mystery and Tolkiens The Hobbit, praising Lady Louises compelling performance in the role of a powerful witch.

And it isnt the only play she and her beau have starred in together.

Lady Louise Windsor attends the Memorial Service For The Duke Of Edinburgh at Westminster Abbey

The students also both took part in comedy The School for Scandal - again at the Byre Theatre.

Promotional material posted on Instagram shows them and their fellow castmembers larking about, pulling faces.

One photo shows Mr Da Sila-Clamp, who played the part of Crabtree, gurning while another of Lady Louise, who played Sir Oliver Surface, with her hand over her mouth in mock surprise.

The photo stated the young Royals name as Louise Windsor and carried a teaser for her part, stating: When you have multiple personalities.
Conservationists have turned to artificial intelligence (AI) in a bid to save red squirrels in their long-standing battle against their grey rivals.

While scrambling grey squirrels are a common sight in parks and forests across the UK, red squirrel sightings have continued to plummet with the species' population.

For a chance to see the rarer creature you would have to venture to parts of northern England, Scotland or even Anglesey.

The rapid decline in red squirrels has come due to their grey peers out-competing them for food and space, according to the Department of Agriculture, Enviornment and Rural Affairs.

Another key factor is that the grey squirrel carries a disease called the Squirrel Pox Virus, a condition they are immune to but proves fatal to their smaller peers.

But conservationists now believe an AI system Squirrel Agent, which has been dubbed a 'game changer' can help red squirrels, which are classed as Near Threatened by the Woodland Trust.

Ian Gledinning from Northern Red Squirrels confessed to the BBC that the technology was desperately needed to help save the animals in their eternal battle against the greys.

'We are in the bar of the last chance saloon, and the landlord has just called last orders,' he told the publication.

Conservationists have turned to artificial intelligence (AI) in a bid to save red squirrels in their long-standing battle against their grey counterparts (Pictured: Red squirrel)

Conservationists now believe an AI system Squirrel Agent, which has been 'game changer' can help the creatures classed as Near Threatened in their battle with their grey peers (Pictured)

The technology has been developed by using thousands of images of two types of squirrels.

The AI identifies the red squirrels by their tails, ears, and weight, even though they are sometimes the same colour as their grey peers.

Therefore it increases the red squirrels chances of survival by allowing them extra food and depriving the dominant grey squirrel.

The technology is quicker then human observers as well as having a nearly 100 per cent level of accuracy, according to developer Geneysis Engine.

As a result, it can be used to stop greys from taking the food from red squirrel feeders, only permitting them into ones with contraceptive paste.

Co-founder of Geneysis Engine has said the tech is a 'real showcase' of the abilities of AI.

'It's working in real time to do a task that we don't have enough [human] volunteers to do,' she said.

Squirrel Agent is currently being trialled in different locations across the UK in collaboration with five wildlife charities.

The developer has big hopes for the future, with aims to use the technology with several other species it could potentially help.

Genysys Engine also has plans to develop the technology further so that it can identify individual squirrels by their whiskers, which Ms McClenaghan explained are 'like human fingerprints'

By doing so they hope they use AI to keep up with specific members of the red squirrel population and their progress.
An Indian man was almost early to his own funeral after being placed on a pyre following an epileptic fit before doctors had even checked to see if he was dead.

Rohitash Kumar, 25, who had speaking and hearing difficulties, had fallen sick and was taken to a hospital in Jhunjhunu in the western state of Rajasthan, India, on Thursday, the AFP news service reported.

Doctors performed CPR, but saw his heart rate flatline on an electrocardiogram. He was then declared dead on arrival at hospital.

But rather than undergoing a post-mortem to confirm the cause of death, doctors at the Bhagwan Das Khetan (BDK) district hospital sent him straight to the mortuary.

From there, he was placed on a funeral pyre to be burned according to Hindu rites.

But it was only moments before the pyre was to be lit that witnesses noticed that he was moving and he was saved from an untimely death.

'The situation was nothing short of a miracle. We all were in shock. He was declared dead, but there he was, breathing and alive,' a witness at the crematorium told ETV Bharat.

The Times of India reports that an initial investigation found doctors had reported Mr Kumar died of 'respiratory failure due to lung disease like COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease'.

Rohitash Kumar, 25, was saved from a funeral pyre at the last minute when crematorium staff noticed he was moving (stock image)

An initial investigation has found doctors did not carry out a post-mortem after Mr Kumar apparently died

D. Singh, chief medical officer of the Jhunjhunu district hospital, told AFP a doctor had 'prepared the postmortem report without actually doing the postmortem, and the body was then sent for cremation'.

This was corroborated by Ramavatar Meena, the district collector for Jhunjhunu, who told the Times of India the post-mortem was done in 'papers only'.

Three doctors, named in local media as BDK chief medical officer Dr Sandeep Pachar, community health medical officer Dr Yogesh Kumar Jakhar and hospital medical officer Dr Navneet Meel, were suspended amid negligence allegations.

Mr Kumar had been staying at Maa Sewa Sansthan, a care home for those with additional needs.

After he was saved from the funeral pyre, Mr Kumar was returned to BDK's intensive care unit, but condition did not improve.

Efforts were made to transport him to Sawai Man Singh hospital in Jaipur more than 100 miles away for further treatment.

However, he ultimately died en route to the hospital and was declared dead on arrival - this time, without mistake.

District collector Meena added: 'This is serious negligence. Action will be taken against those responsible.

'The working style of the doctors will also be thoroughly investigated.'
The United States will 'crush' the UK economy if Britain helps arrest Benjamin Netanyahu, following an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told Prime Minister Keir Starmer that those who follow the ICC's ruling could expect sharp economic consequences from the US.

'Any nation or organization 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.

Unlike the United States and Israel, Britain is a member of the International Criminal Court and is obliged to act on arrest warrants it issues.

A spokesperson for No10 refused to comment on the specific case, but said this week the government would hypothetically fulfil its 'legal obligations'.

The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for the Israeli Prime Minister and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Thursday, citing alleged war crimes in Gaza.

Lindsey Graham said ICC members fulfilling their obligations to arrest Netanyahu could face economic consequences from the US

Prime Minister Keir Starmer pictured today at Arsenal's fixture against Nottingham Forest

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu (pictured left) could be arrested if he tries to enter Britain

'If you are going to help the ICC as a nation and force the arrest warrant against Bibi and GallantI will put sanctions on you as a nation,' Senator Graham, himself a lawyer by training, told FOX News.

'What they're doing in Israel is trying to prevent a second Holocaust. So, to any ally, Canada, Britain, Germany, France, if you try to help the ICC, we're gonna sanction you,' the South Carolina senator added.

Why has the ICC issued an arrest warrant? The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister on Thursday. It said there were 'reasonable grounds to believe' that both Netanyahu and Yoav 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'. Israel's 13-month campaign in Gaza has killed more than 44,000 people and displaced nearly all the enclave's population at least once, according to Gaza officials. Human Rights Watch assessed in April that 'children in Gaza have been dying from starvation-related complications since the Israeli government began using starvation as a weapon of war, a war crime'. The war was launched in response to an attack by Hamas-led fighters who killed 1,200 people and captured more than 250 hostages in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, Israel has said. Amnesty International separately last year cited 'arbitrary detention' of Palestinians in the West Bank, and reported on allegations of the torture of detainees, including children, in July 2024. Advertisement

Asked what such sanctions could look like, he said: 'We should crush your economy because we're nextWhy can't they go after Trump or any other American president?'

The ruling has been controversial and split western leaders. Some have outright said they would not abide by their legal obligation to make an arrest.

US President Joe Biden, not a member of the court, slammed what he called the 'outrageous' arrest warrant, reiterating support for Israel.

Britain, along with many allies, has stressed the precedence of binding international law while noting the importance of continued dialogue with Israel.

A spokesperson for Downing Street said this week that the British government respected the court and refused to rule out that Netanyahu could be arrested if he landed on British soil.

He said: 'We respect the independence of the ICC.'

No10 added there was no 'moral equivalence' between the democratically elected leader of Israel and terrorist leaders, and that Israel has a right to defend itself.

The ICC warrant would, nevertheless, need to be ratified by a UK court before it becomes valid, it is understood.

He insisted that the government stands by the obligations it agreed to via the International Criminal Court Act 2001, saying it would 'always comply with its legal obligations as set out by domestic law and indeed international law'.

The spokesman added that it was 'obviously important that we' still maintain 'a dialogue with Israel on all levels', however.

The spokesperson described Israel as a 'key partner across a range of areas'.

Last month the Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, told MPs Labour 'continues to support the ICC', adding: 'Both the ICC and the ICJ should be able to go about their work unfettered by political intervention.'

Theoretically, the warrant means that if Netanyahu or Gallant were to travel to any of the 124 counties party to the court, they could be arrested.

Several governments have already expressed caution, while others - including the Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium, Spain and Austria - have insisted they respect the court and will follow the law, however much they may disagree with it.

Austria, for one, said they found the ruling 'utterly incomprehensible' but said its authorities would have no choice but to make an arrest as 'international law is nonnegotiable and applies everywhere'.

Germany has taken a more hesitant approach, suggesting it will carefully examine the ICC's warrants but not take further steps until a visit to Germany is planned.

'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.

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.

Palestinians watch smoke rising during an Israeli airstrike on the Al Farouq Mosque in the Al Nuseirat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, 23 November 2024

Relatives and loved ones of Palestinians mourn as the bodies are brought to Nasser Hospital for funeral procedures in west of Khan Yunis, Gaza on November 23, 2024

Palestinians in a densely packed crowd hold metal pots and pans as they attempt to reach for food being distributed amid Israeli attacks in Deir al-Balah, Gaza on November 23

Netanyahu was last in Germany in March 2023, and no visits are currently planned between the two countries.

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.'

Netanyahu's office has described the charges in a statement on Thursday as 'absurd and false lies', claiming the judges who issued the warrant were 'motivated by antisemitic hatred of Israel'.
The prime suspect in the 20-year unsolved murder of Nairn banker Alistair Wilson can be linked to a person whose name matches that on the envelope used to lure the victim to his death.

Mr Wilson, a dad-of-two, was shot on his doorstep in the Highland town on November 28, 2004, in a crime which shocked Scotland and has gone unsolved for two decades.

The assassin handed a small blue envelope with the name Paul written on it to Mr Wilsons wife, Veronica, and asked her to pass it to her husband.

Mr Wilson was shot when he came to the door and, despite extensive inquiries, the crime has never been solved.

We told this year that police were set, in May last year, to arrest a suspect before the operation was aborted at the last moment, much to the distress of Mr Wilsons family.

It can now be revealed that the suspect, who has still never been detained for questioning, can be closely linked to a man named Paul, which sources say adds possible weight to the case to detain him.

Murder victim Alistair Wilson with his young sons

Police outside the Wilsons' home looking for clues to the killing

The reason for handing over the envelope has never been established or revealed, with some believing it may simply have been a device used to get Mr Wilson to come to the door.

Mr Wilsons family have declined to comment.

However, a source close to them said: This is a distressing time, as is every passing day, week, month and year, for the family, and the thought that the person responsible has never been caught makes things even more upsetting.

Any possible connection between the suspect and the envelope, no matter how insignificant it may seem, only serves to further underline the familys wish that the person identified by police is detained for questioning as a matter of urgency.

The family are not naive and realise this might only mark a next stage in the inquiry, but they are certain that it must be done, and sooner rather than later, to take the inquiry forward.

Clearly, as the anniversary approaches, the family would hope that anyone with information, no matter how important or unimportant it may seem, contacts police as soon as possible in the hope that it might finally lead to the breakthrough that they dearly wish to see.

The police inquiry, first by Northern Constabulary, then by Police Scotland following its formation in 2013, made no significant progress for years, with even a motive failing to be established.

In an apparent breakthrough a couple of years ago, police issued a new description of persons of interest, two men seen on the beach near Mr Wilsons house, one possibly in possession of a gun, shortly before the killing.

Police also stated they believed the motive could be linked to a planning row over decking being constructed at the Havelock hotel, right across the road from the Wilson home.

A suspect was identified with an arrest planned for May 15 last year. It was halted at the last moment, with Mr Wilsons family only finding out after they contacted a liaison officer for an update.

An envelope similar to the one handed to Mr Wilson's wife

We also told this year how the family have lost confidence in police, with a complaint by them against one senior officer, Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Livingstone, upheld in that he lied to them by denying an arrest date had been set.

DCS Livingstone has also been found guilty of misconduct over this following a police professional standards probe.

As the 20th anniversary of Mr Wilsons death approaching, Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain issued a statement on September 16 announcing that a full cold-case investigation into the murder will take place.

Father of two Mr Wilson, 30, was shot dead on his doorstep in Nairn on the evening of November 28, 2004.

A man called at the familys home and spoke to his wife Veronica, who had answered the door, and asked for her husband.

Mr Wilson went to speak to the man and was handed the envelope with Paul on it. He went inside briefly then returned to the door where he was shot.

The gun used, a Haenel Suhl pistol from the 1930s, was missed in the initial police search and was recovered from a nearby drain by a council worker ten days later.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: We remain committed to identifying the person or people responsible for the murder of Alistair Wilson.

The senior investigating officer has met with Mrs Wilson and briefed her on the reinvestigation of the case, and anyone with information about this inquiry is urged to contact Police Scotland on 101.
Boozy students proved Storm Bert was no match for them as they braved howling winds and pouring rain for a mighty session this afternoon.

Storm Bert left a path of devastation across the UK on Saturday, but students in Leeds seemingly took little notice.

Donning their fancy dress, they descended on the streets for the Otley Run, one of the nation's most famous pub crawls.

Youngsters in minion outfits, onesies and Christmas suits came out in a show of force against the miserable weather.

A popular booze route since the 1960's, the Otley run has taken on another lease of life in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Every weekend, groups from all over the UK descend upon the Yorkshire town to partake in the 18-venue pub crawl through Headingley, in Leeds.

This weekend proved no different, as students battled on against the unrelenting torrents of wind and rain...

Winnie The Pooh, Piglet and Eeyore ditched the Hundred Acre Wood for some cheeky pints on the town, where they met the Bananas in Pyjamas

A woman in a green felt hat with a rather peculiar sign on her shirt smiles in the rain alongside her friends during the Otley Run

Minions... assemble! Two students holding hands strolled through the town on Saturday afternoon

Princess outfits were aplenty as classier students opted for sleek velvet outfits in the pouring rain

Sheikh it off... The rain was pouring down but these students were seemingly unperturbed as they started the huge pub crawl

Students in fancy dress braved the snow-ridden streets for the 18-venue pub crawl on Saturday - including a woman dressed as a firefighter who crossed her arms to keep warm

These boots were made for walking: A girl clutches a vape and makes the peace sign as her teddy bear friend holds up an umbrella

Storm Bert did the students no favours as the rain poured down as they darted from pub to pub

Some students were braver than others, with a few youngsters opting for waterproof ponchos to keep their outfits dry

One student tried his best Crocodile Dundee impression as he braved the wet weather

Father Christmas, an angry rooster and a turtle with an umbrella walk into a bar...

Mario apparently had a day off from plumbing in the Mushroom Kingdom and instead led a troop of women across a road in search of the next boozer

A woman in a long black coat with a three-tiered pearl bracelet clutches a bottle of Desperados in one hand and an umbrella in the other, keeping Supergirl dry

Little Red Riding Hood delivered a basket full of rainwater... and didn't let Storm Bert spoil the party
The parachute that the infamous hijacker DB Cooper used to make his getaway out of a plane with $200,000 may have finally been found.

The enigma behind DB Cooper, the man who jumped out of Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305 with thousands in cash after handing a stewardess a note demanding the ransom on November 24, 1971, has long stumped the FBI .

Now, the children of one of the only suspects - Richard Floyd McCoy II - have produced the parachute they say he used to carry off the heist.

After Chante and Richard III 'Rick' McCoy's mother died, they got in contact with YouTube star Dan Gryder - who had bothered them on and off for years while doing his own investigation.

Inside McCoy's mother's storage was a modified military surplus bailout rig Gryder believes Cooper used in the heist, he told Cowboy State Daily.

'That rig is literally one in a billion,' he told the outlet.

McCoy's children also agree that their father may have been Cooper, but they refrained from coming forward with their speculation until their mother died, as they believed she was complicit in her husband's crime.

On Monday, Gryder released a video on his YouTube channel, where he announced the FBI had been looking into their newest discoveries.

The enigma behind DB Cooper, the man who jumped out of Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305 with thousands in cash after handing the stewardess a note demanding it has long racked sleuths brains and stumped the FBI. Many believe it was Richard McCoy II

Nearly a decade later, the FBI has begun unofficially looking back into the case after his children and amateur investigator Dan Gryder lead them to a parachute and rig they believed were used by Cooper in McCoy's mother's storage

The amateur investigator said FBI agents contacted him after watching his first two videos, one of which shows him discovering the parachute in the storage house on the family's property.

It was the first time the FBI had made a move in the DB Cooper case since they had tabled it in 2016, pending any new evidence.

The flight instructor claimed FBI agents met with him and Rick to take the harness and parachute into evidence,

They also were interested in a logbook Chante found that aligned with Cooper's hijacking over Oregon as well as a Utah hijacking McCoy was convicted of that took placed months after the Cooper case.

Gryder's friend Laura Savino, a retired airline pilot, also attended the meeting and recalled to Cowboy State Daily that the agents were 'professional and stoic.'

'Considering they had requested the meeting, it was clear they were taking it seriously,' she said.

Gryder and McCoy children said the parachute has the unique alterations the chutes had in the Utah hijacking that have been well documented by Earl Cossey, who owned and provided them before the 1971 crime.

The FBI has yet to return the evidence, leading Gryder to believe their speculations that the parachute was used in the Cooper hijacking.

A month later, an FBI agent contacted Rick to asked to search the family property. Dozens of agents descended on the Southern property and searched 'every nook and cranny,' according to Rick.

Many believe McCoy is Cooper because he pulled off an identical heist months after Cooper's before getting arrested and convicted. Each time, the hijacker ran off with hundreds of thousands of dollars

From afar, Gryder and Savino watched and documented the search that lasted around four hours, according to Cowboy State Daily.

Rick has also provided DNA samples to the FBI, but the agency has yet to update the McCoy family of any developments in the case.

McCoy's name has been thrown around among sleuths for years and many believe the late man - who died after escaping prison - is the famed hijacker.

Many believe this is due to the near identical heist McCoy pulled off in Utah just months five month after the Cooper heist.

In April 1972, McCoy jumped from a United Airlines flight flying over Utah after demanding $500,000.

Within 72 hours, the FBI arrested him after matching fingerprints left on the note and an witness who worked a roadside restaurant recalled selling McCoy a milkshake shortly after the heist.

The FBI raided his home without a warrant, which more than likely didn't allow them to pin him for the Cooper heist.

He was convicted to 45 years in prison for the Utah heist, but later broke out of the maximum security with three other prisoners.

The FBI had tested a clip-on tie that was left behind by Cooper in 1971, but they have not said if Rick's 2023 DNA sample matches the DNA evidence on the tie

Gryder believes the parachute found on the McCoy property is Cooper's harness because it has modifications

Two were caught within days, while McCoy evaded arrested for three months. He was later shot by police in 1974 in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Although it is widely believe McCoy is the culprit of the Oregon heist, but not everyone agrees with the assessment.

Retired FBI Special Agent, Larry Carr, who took over the case briefly in 2007, doesn't believe the hijacker could have possibly survived the fall - even through Gryder has done it in the past himself.

Other naysayers say that McCoy was too young to match the profile of the man believed to be in his mid-40s who completed the heist.

Gryder writes those off as McCoy simply wearing a disguise to hide his identity.

Besides, Gryder is sure the parachute and rig will prove its their guy.

'This will definitely prove it was McCoy,' he told Cowboy State Daily.

Despite having the evidence, the FBI has not announced any new changes to the case, but did previously deny true crime investigator Eric Ulis' FOIA request, according to a June report by The US Sun.

Eric Ulis (pictured) says he's discovered an adjustable spindle in a tie that matches the one Cooper wore

Ulis suspects a man named Vince Peterson (pictured) is Cooper after material on the tie could be connected to Pennsylvania

He requested the DNA profiles after Rick provided the FBI with a sample.

The FBI had tested a clip-on tie that was left behind by Cooper in 1971, but the hidden spindle built into the knot has yet to be tested.

Ulis sued the FBI, saying Cooper's DNA could still be on the spindle, but his efforts were unsuccessful.

A judge threw out his first FOIA request for the spindle, and he filed a second requesting the DNA records, saying: 'We know the FBI obviously pursued retesting last year by reaching out to Richard Floyd McCoy's son, so they've clearly reactivated the case.

'So based on this recent testing in 2023 and the other tests they did in 2001, the partial DNA they have documented is either in a series of lines or a sequence of numbers  and that's clearly agency record.

'When you look at the other documents released in this case under FOIA, they contained social security numbers, so there shouldn't be an excuse that this DNA data is personal information.

'I've done a lot of heavy lifting in this case over the last several years [...] and the only way to solve this matter definitively is through DNA testing,' he concluded.

His request was rejected over the summer, according to The Sun.

The ticket showing a Dan Cooper got on the Northwest Orient flight in 1971

Cooper made off with $200,000 after slipping the note to the stewardess

Ulis believes the mystery hijacker is engineer Vince Petersen from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.

Petersen worked as a Boeing subcontractor at a titanium plant and fits the evidence left behind by the infamous hijacker, the DB enthusiast told The Sun. He would have been 52 at the time of the crime and has been long dead.

Ulis - who was five when the plane-jacking occurred - first landed on Petersen's name after analyzing microscopic evidence left on the clip-on black tie DB left before he parachuted out of the plane.

Several of the particles found were consistent with specialty metals used in the aerospace sector, such as titanium, high-grade stainless steel and aluminum, Ulis explained.

The sleuth claims he found 'three particles of a very rare alloy of titanium and antimony that have a very specific balance, a very specific blend.'

Ulis then paired the alloy with a US patent given to the Boeing subcontractor in Pittsburg.
A Wisconsin drunk driver who killed four siblings aged nine to 25 in a horrific head-on crash has been sentenced to more than 37 years behind bars.

Daniel Gonzalez, 25, and his brother Fabian, 23, and their sisters Lilian, 14, and Daniela, 9, died after getting struck by a truck that was going the wrong way on Highway 10 last December.

Scott Farmer, 48, pleaded no contest to homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle in August, according to WBAY.

He was then found guilty of his fifth drunk driving offense - he had four prior convictions - and four charges of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle.

The Wisconsin State Crime Lab said his blood-alcohol content was 0.346, more than four times the normal legal limit, the local news station reported.

On top of that, due to Farmers prior Operating While Impaired (OWI) convictions, he was further restricted to a blood-alcohol content of 0.02 - 17 times lower than what his blood tested at.

Their mother, Paulina Gonzalez-Medina, spoke at Farmer's sentencing on Friday and asked for the maximum sentence.

'His irresponsibility and lack of consideration for other people's lives, destroying four innocent beings and my life,' she said.

Scott Farmer (pictured), 48, was sentence to more than 37 years behind bars for killing four siblings aged nine to 25 in a horrific head-on crash

Pictured: A memorial for the late Gonzalez siblings

Their remaining sibling Jorge said, 'Destroying a family is a crime in itself. Personally, my life was destroyed when I found out my four siblings had died.'

Farmer addressed the court, apologizing for his action saying, 'There's not a day that goes by that I don't think of this and I wish would have died instead of them.

'I have a ton of remorse for this. The poor victims that can't sleep at night, you know I was there and I can't sleep either, anytime I so wish I could switch places with them. I'm so sorry for what I did to Daniela, Daniel, Lillian, Fabian.'

However, prosecutors said recorded phone calls between Farmer and his wife from jail show he had no remorse and even blamed the victims, according to the local news station.

'No amount of time would be enough. I believe that the sentence that was handed down by the judge was just, fair, and appropriate and will achieve the adjective of making sure Scott Farmer is not able to drive again and endanger anyone else,' said Waupaca County District Attorney Kat Turner.

Farmer was sentenced to nine years for each sibling, totaling 36 years in prison, and an additional 18 months for the OWI charge.

Gonzalez-Medina said that her two boys, Daniel and Fabian, spent a lot of time together, and they shared a joy for music.

Lilian was a freshman at Weyauwega-Fremont High School, and her mother said that she dreamed of being a teacher.

Daniel Gonzalez (left), 25, and his brother Fabian (right), 23, were taking their two younger sisters out for ice cream when the crash occurred

Lilian (left), 14, and Daniela (right), 9, died along with their brothers after getting struck by a truck that was going the wrong way on Highway 10

The Gonzalez siblings' stepfather Kurt Schilling consoles the mother of those killed by Farmer, Paulina Gonzalez

Daniela, who was in fourth grade, dreamt of becoming a cheerleader one day.

During the time of the tragic crash, the siblings' family said that they were on their way back home from their weekly outing.

They were just three miles away from their house when Farmer collided with them.

During the time of the tragic crash, the siblings' family said that they were on their way back home from their weekly outing.

They were just three miles away from their house when Farmer collided with them.

'The big brothers would always treat their sisters to Culver's and then drop them off here, go to bed, be in church in the morning, that kind of thing. It was the Saturday tradition,' their stepfather Kurt Shilling said.
Newly released security footage shows how a scammer managed to change the deed of a $4.5million North Carolina property into her own name.

Raleigh dentist Dr. Craig Adams and his wife were still living in their 8,300-square-foot home, paying taxes and the mortgage when Dawn Mangum allegedly changed the deed of property to her name.

Mangum reportedly filed a warranty deed on August 11 with the Wake County Register of Deeds Office and managed to acquire the deed transfer.

Surveillance footage from the office shows the suspect in an all-blue outfit walking in with paperwork in her hand and speaking to a lady at the counter.

According to ABC7, Mangum asked for a title search on the property as well as a marketable title certificate on the five bedroom and seven bathroom home.

After the fling, the Register of Deeds approved the transfer to an entity called Dawn Mangum Trust.

Adams discovered the change only after he put his home on the property market.

'I found out that she had filed a false warranty claim deed against this house and basically tried to steal this home,' he told ABC11.

Surveillance footage from the office shows Dawn Mangum in an all-blue outfit walking in with paperwork in her hand and speaking to a lady at the counter

Pictured: The front of Adams' home, which sits in a gated community just north of Raleigh

The property management company for his homeowner's association asked him if he'd successfully sold his home, because Mangum had contacted the company asking for access to the private gated community.

Adams, who has his own dental practice, visited to the county Register of Deeds to get answers.

'There's no effort to authenticate the validity of the change of deed. Nobody verifies the notary. Nobody verifies who owns the house that's trying to be transferred to a different owner,' he said.

When Adams proved he owned the home and that Mangum had no stake or claim to it, he was told that the deed would remain in Mangum's hands.

'They say there's absolutely nothing they can do to reverse this once it's filed. Their only solution is that I have to go hire a private attorney, and the first quote I got was about $8,000 to file a civil suit against this woman,' he said.

The County Attorney and the Register of Deeds told Adams via email that they are bound by North Carolina law and cannot remove a document once it has been recorded.

'I'm left the victim, and there's no recourse. So, it's just a tough spot to be in,' he said.

Mangum was arrested on a felony charge of attempting to obtain property by false pretense on September 15.

Mangum asked for a title search on the property as well as a marketable title certificate on the five bedroom and seven bathroom home.

Raleigh dentist, Dr. Craig Adams and his wife were still living in their 8,300-square-foot home, paying taxes and the mortgage when the deed was transferred

Mangum was arrested on a felony charge of attempting to obtain property by false pretense on September 15

She has also has been accused of going to the Register of Deeds and without any proof, claimed ownership of the Alpine Creek Drive home.

After she made bail in October, Mangum went back to the Register of Deeds office and requested more paperwork on Adams' home in November - which were reportedly not provided to her.

The suspect claims she thought the home was foreclosed when she took over the deed.

When reached by ABC 11, Mangum said she believed she was allowed to claim ownership of an abandoned property as it was briefly listed incorrectly as being foreclosed.

'My thing is not to take anyone's home but to find abandoned property and restore it,' she told the outlet.

Since her arrest, which landed her in jail with $150,000 bond, she told ABC 11 she'd like to restore Adams' ownership and that she stopped all the paperwork once she realized the home wasn't actually in foreclosure.

After she made bail in October, Mangum went back to the Register of Deeds office and requested more paperwork on Adams' home in November - which were reportedly not provided to her

But instead Adams believes Mangum was planning on squatting in his home - which he still lives in with his wife - and planned to use the deed as a way to slow down the eviction.

According to Adams, the woman did not have to present any proof to the Deeds Office of actually owning the home and 'no inquiry about who owns the property' was made.

'If there had been just this one simple check, my name would have popped up,' he insisted to the outlet. 'There is no accountability measures... none.'

In fact, Adams is certain he wouldn't have known about the alleged fraudulent deed if the HOA's property management company hadn't called his neighbor.

Mangum had called the company to gain gate access to the community, according to ABC 11.

Adams believes Mangum was planning on squatting in his home - which he still lives in with his wife - and planned to use the deed as a way to slow down the eviction

Pictured: A copy of the document Dawn Mangum filed with the Wake County Register of Deeds Office

The grantee, the person or entity receiving the deed, was listed as Dawn Mangum Trust

Craig Adams, here listed with his middle initial, was listed as a debtor to the property

'I probably would never know,' he told WRAL. 'That's pretty scary for North Carolina citizens because anyone can go downtown and make a false claim for someone else's property.'

Even after explaining to the Register of Deeds that Mangum fraudulently filed the paperwork, he was told he'd have to prove it in court to get the property record fixed.

A county spokesperson told WRAL that the Register of Deeds is 'not required to verify the legal validity of a deed when it is presented for registration, nor are they required to verify the credentials or legal standing of the notary or drafters of the document.'

'With more than 500 documents processed through the Wake County Register of Deeds office daily, it would be impossible to verify the legitimacy of each document or the credentials of each notary, nor does the Register of Deeds office have access to a database of commissioned North Carolina notaries to check against,' they said.
November 23, 2024: Recent Ukrainian drone strikes in northern Russia, near the Arctic Circle, came as a surprise to the Russians because the targets were 1,800 kilometers from Ukraine. The main target is Olenya air base where Tu-95, Tu-160, and Tu-22 bombers are based. From there, these bombers fly south and launch missiles against targets in Ukraine. Russia has not got many operational bombers at Olenya and each one damaged or destroyed on the ground means fewer missiles hitting Ukrainian targets. Currently the Russians are firing missiles at cities rather than smaller military targets. The military targets are heavily defended and few missiles get through. The cities are larger targets and less well protected. While this causes casualties and makes civilians homeless, it angers Ukrainians, just as similar Nazi attacks against London 84 years ago did with the British.

The Russians regularly underestimate the Ukrainians and these attacks on airfields so far from Ukraine are another example of that. The Russian government claims that attacks were carried out by NATO or American forces. Only a few Russians, and some nearby Norwegians, witness these attacks and know the attackers are Ukrainian drones. . Western TV and internet based media report on these attacks with videos and interviews of eyewitnesses. Any Russian that looks closely enough at this evidence knows the truth, but to repeat that information is a crime that can get you imprisoned.

Ukraine wont reveal how it is carrying out these attacks, which requires drones traveling that far with great accuracy against small targets. Ukraine carries out seemingly impossible tasks. It is likely that the U.S. supplies Ukraine with satellite photos of the targets and Ukraine has American Starlink terminals which can be operated in vehicles, ships and aircraft. Cameras in the long-range drones enable the operators in Ukraine to see what is on the ground and hit targets with great precision.

Russia is concerned about the frequency and accuracy of these attacks on their Arctic Circle bases. One of those bases is a storage site for nuclear weapons. This did not prevent the Russian Navy from conducting their Ocean-2024 military exercises in the polar region as well as the Baltic Sea and the Russian Far East Pacific Ocean ports. Nothing happened in the Black Sea, where Ukrainian air and naval drones had destroyed most of the Black Sea Fleet, with the remnants hiding in distant Black Sea ports throughout the northeastern Sea of Azov branch.
Bill Maher has hit out at a Yale psychiatrist who said it was okay to disown family members who had voted for president-elect Donald Trump.

Dr. Amanda Calhoun, a child psychiatry fellow at the Ivy league school, had made the comments earlier this month on MSNBC after Trump's election.

Speaking with Joy Reid, she said: 'There is a societal norm that if somebody is your family that they are entitled to your time and I think the answer is absolutely not.'

Speaking on his show Real Time with Bill Maher, the comedian went after Calhoun as he made a stinging comparison.

Maher said: 'How pure, it's like not letting certain people sit with you on the bus', as a picture of civil rights activist Ros Parks appeared beside him.

Maher continued: 'She also said that it shouldn't be automatic that family members think they are entitled to your.

'She said that's just a societal norm', before Maher said: 'family, who do they think they are? Family?' as his audience broke out in applause.

Flashing a picture of Calhoun, he added: 'You know who I really wouldn't want to have Thanksgiving dinner with.

'This overly educated, extremely stupid, ivory tower academic. But I would because if we ever want this nation to heal this is what we have to do.'

Speaking on his show Real Time with Bill Maher, the comedian went after Calhoun as he made a stinging comparison with her comments to Rosa Parks

Dr. Amanda Calhoun, a child psychiatry fellow at the Ivy league school, had made the comments earlier this month on MSNBC after Trump's election

Reid had prompted the answer from Calhoun after she started discussing the LGBTQ community and other minority groups that are feeling vulnerable after the election.

Calhoun previously made headlines last year when she said doctors should be forced to wear body cameras to catch the racist ones.

Writing for The Boston Globe, she said: 'I have witnessed countless racist behaviors toward Black patients, often coupled with conscious and cruel statements.'

'I have heard White nurses joke that young Black children will probably join gangs and doctors describe the natural hair of Black people as wild and unkempt".'

Maher has not been holding back since Trump's resounding election win, and has been eviscerating far left liberal as well as the Democratic party in recent weeks.

Last week, he accused some Democrats of being 'flat-out stupid' as he spoke about their losing campaign.

He said: 'When you're in a hole, stop digging, not keep digging. Talk about doubling down on what got you f***** in the first place.'

Maher continued to mock them as he referenced 'Queers for Palestine' T-shirts and those who are 'still wearing masks, two years after the pandemic ended,' adding that Donald Trump supporters 'don't have a monopoly on stupid.'

Reid had prompted the answer from Calhoun after she started discussing the LGBTQ community and other minority groups that are feeling vulnerable after the election

Maher also teased the Teachers Union Education Program, which is largely run by Democratic voters, claiming they've 'turned schools and colleges into a joke'.

The television host, who has appeared on popular daytime television shows like The View and on CNN, likened the liberal party to a 'Portlandia sketch'.

As well as acting Dems, he also roasted Donald Trump on Friday over his controversial cabinet picks.

He could hardly contain his laughter as he rifled through nominees including Matt Gaetz and Pete Hegseth.

'The Republicans, man, when they take power, they grab it by the p***y,' he began. 'They don't f*** around.'

Noting that Gaetz dropped out as Trump's nominee for Attorney General amid controversy over a child sex trafficking investigation - in which he was not charged - Maher said Republicans decided he was 'too despicable, even for us.'

He ended his monologue while chuckling as he named WWE wrestling executive Linda McMahon as Education Secretary.
Israeli airstrikes on Beirut have killed at least 15 people and left 63 injured - while Palestinian refugees were said to have been killed in a drone strike on southern Lebanon.

In the fourth attack in less than a week, an eight-story building was blown to rubble in the 4am strike and emergency services have warned the death count could still rise as they continue to search for survivors.

The attacks have pounded the city without warning as diplomats continue to scramble to broker a ceasefire between the warring nations.

On the same day a drone strike is claimed to have killed two refugees, who were out on a fishing trip from a nearby refugee camp by the southern Lebanese port city of Tyre.

Israeli attacks have killed more than 3,500 people, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry.

The fighting has displaced about 1.2 million people - a quarter of the country's population.

On the Israeli side, about 90 soldiers and nearly 50 civilians have been killed by bombardment in northern Israel and the fighting.

The escalation comes after U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein traveled to the region in pursuit of a deal to end months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah that has erupted into full-on war.

Firefighters battle the flames after a building was hit in an Israeli airstrike in the Hadath neighbourhood of Beirut's southern suburbs

Smoke rises after an Israeli airstrike on Dahiyeh, in the southern suburb of Beirut

A photo taken from the southern Lebanese city of Tyre shows smoke as it rises from site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the nearby village of Samaaiyeh

Civil defense members and rescuers work at the site of an Israeli strike in Beirut's Basta neighbourhood

People search for their belongings inside a damaged building in the aftermath of an Israeli strike in Beirut's Basta neighbourhood

Hezbollah legislator Amin Shiri said no Hezbollah officials were inside the eight-story building. The attack stripped the facades from some nearby buildings and crumpled cars.

'The area is residential, with closely packed buildings and narrow streets, making the situation challenging,' said Walid Al-Hashash, a first responder with the Lebanese Civil Defense.

Israel's military did not comment on the casualties.

On the same day, a drone strike killed two people and injured three in the southern Lebanese port city of Tyre, according to the state-run National News Agency.

Mohammed Bikai, spokesperson for the Fatah Palestinian faction in the Tyre area, said those killed were Palestinian refugees from nearby al-Rashidieh camp who were out fishing.

Despite a warning last month by Israel's army to avoid Lebanon's southern coast, 'you can't tell someone who needs to eat that you can't fish,' Bikai said.

The Health Ministry said other airstrikes killed eight people, including four children, in the eastern town of Shmustar, five others in the southern village of Roumin, and another five people in the northeastern village of Budai.

Two Western diplomatic officials on Saturday described disputed points between Israel and Lebanon in cease-fire negotiations. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the talks.

A firefighter extinguishes a fire at the site of an Israeli airstrike that hit central Beirut

Rescue workers search for victims at the site of an Israeli airstrike that hit central Beirut

Heavy smoke rises during an Israeli airstrike that targeted Beirut's southern suburbs

Lebanese civil defense teams and soldiers conduct search and rescue operations among the rubbles of a collapsed eight story building

The current proposal calls for a two-month cease-fire during which Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanon and Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the southern border south of the Litani River.

Thousands more Lebanese army troops would patrol the border area with U.N. peacekeepers, and an international committee would monitor the deal's implementation.

The officials said Israel wanted more guarantees that Hezbollah's weapons are removed from the border area.

Israeli officials have said they would not agree to a deal that did not explicitly grant them freedom to strike in Lebanon if they believe Hezbollah is violating it.

Lebanese officials have said the inclusion of such a term would violate their country's sovereignty. And Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem said this week that the militant group would not agree to a deal that doen'ts not entail a 'complete and comprehensive end to the aggression.'

Lebanon and Israel also dispute which countries would sit on the monitoring committee.

The officials said Israel refused to allow France, which has been close with Lebanon since its colonial rule there ended. Lebanon refused to have Britain, a close ally of Israel.

In northern Gaza, the Health Ministry said at least 80 people were killed on Thursday and Friday, including near the Kamal Adwan and Al-Ahli hospitals. It said dozens of people were trapped under the rubble.

A civil defense member walks among the debris at the site of an Israeli strike in Beirut's Basta neighbourhood

A Lebanese army soldier stands guard near damaged vehicles at the site of an Israeli strike

Smoke rises after an Israeli airstrike on Dahiyeh, in the southern suburb of Beirut

Lebanese civil defense teams and soldiers conduct search and rescue operations among the rubbles of a collapsed eight story building

Israel's army said it wasn't aware of a strike near Kamal Adwan, but didn't respond to questions about the other attacks.

On Saturday, at least six people, including three children and two women, were killed in the southern city of Khan Younis, according to Associated Press reporters and staff at Nasser Hospital.

'Suddenly we woke up to dust, smoke and a fire,' said one grieving father, Ahmad Ghassan. 'We found him dead and his brother injured.'

Another father wept as he carried his child's body in a bloodstained sheet.

The Palestinian death toll from the 13-month-long war surpassed 44,000 this week, according to the Health Ministry, which doesn't distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count.

It has said more than half the dead are women and children. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence.

The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting another 250. Around 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third believed to be dead.

The Israeli offensive in Gaza has devastated wide areas, and around 90 per cent of Gaza's 2.3 million people have been displaced, often multiple times.

Hundreds of thousands live in tent camps with little food, water or basic services.

At least two women were shot dead Saturday while waiting in line for bread in central Deir al-Balah, relatives and witnesses told the AP. It was unclear who shot them and why.
A North Dakota Target is facing backlash for firing a woman who wrote 'Trust in Jesus' on her name tag.

Denise Kendrick, an employee of the store in Fargo, said she was fired on November 16 over a dress code issue.

She put 'Trust in Jesus' and a drawing of a cross on her name tag for that shift, but was approached by a manager who told her she could not wear it, according to KVLY.

'I replied, "Well, I've seen people with rainbows on theirs. I'm going to continue to wear this name tag," and then they said, "Well, you can't work here anymore,"' Kendrick said.

She said she asked for a reason why she was fired, but was only give a list of information about the dress code policy.

'I said, "Can I get it in writing why you're firing me?" and they refused to do that,' said Kendrick

'They gave me this paper with all these phone numbers on it and said, "If you have any questions about the violation of the dress code, just call one of these numbers." And he just kept repeating it, and we just kept going back and forth, and it was going nowhere.'

Kendrick said she was wearing a plain long sleeve red sweatshirt and jeans when she was fore. She said she had been wearing other religious apparel for months and never had an issue.

Denise Kendrick (pictured), an employee of the store in Fargo, said she was fired on November 16 over a dress code issue

She put 'Trust in Jesus' and a drawing of a cross on her name tag for that shift

'I had no problems with anyone approaching me with my Christian shirts,' said Kendrick.

According to Target's policy, 'Target is an equal opportunity employer that prohibits discrimination and will make decisions regarding employment opportunities, including hiring, promotion, and advancement, without regard to the following characteristics: race, color, national origin, religious beliefs.'

Outrage social media users called Kendrick's firing discrimination and said it was hypocritical to allow some people to write on their name tags but not her.

'I don't shop at Target! I hope that lady sues Target for wrongful termination! I am so sick of the intolerant left! They are all so wretched,' one Reddit user said.

'I'm done with target too expensive and their quality is not any better. I'm sick of their left policies. If they're gonna allow people to put rainbows and pronouns they have no reason not to allow her to put that,' said a another.

'How about a simple "you only wear the approved uniform and nothing else" policy. No "flair" or other garbage, just the corporate stuff required,' a third person said.

'Suddenly all of the problems go away. But of course the lefty "feelies" crowd won't be able to virtue signal if that happens.'

Another person said, 'You'd think Target would allow their employees to express themselves. At least that's what they are giving off, but apparently not.'

Kendrick said a manager approached her and told her she could not wear her name tag and then fired her

Following her interview with the local news station, a Target spokesperson released a statement rehiring Kendrick

Following her interview with the local news station, a Target spokesperson released a statement rehiring Kendrick.

'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,' the spokesperson said.

'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 on Facebook, 'My job has been reinstated, and yes I will continue to wear "Trust in Jesus" on my name tag.'
A teacher who warned Donald Trump supporters not to start a fight with her or they would lose, and die, says she would consider a more peaceful approach.

Annie Dunleavy, 30, resigned from Chapman Elementary School in Cheshire, Connecticut, amid backlash against her Snapchat video.

She went viral after the video she posted to a private channel vowing to leave Trump supporters 'on a stretcher... forever' if they 'tested their gangster' on her.

Dunleavy was put on a temporary leave from the school as the institution investigated her post-election rant, and quit soon after.

Losing her dream job gave Dunleavy some clarity about expressing her political beliefs in a healthier and more productive way.

Her local News 8 asked if she would consider 'running for office or getting involved in something that would perhaps lead to change' instead of yelling online.

'Yes, I think that (venting on social media) was my initial thought of how I could make a change and how I could share my views, and clearly that is not the right away to go about it,' she said.

In her video, Donleavy claims that the people she cares about 'aren't gonna be safe in America' so 'neither the f**k are you guys'.

Annie Dunleavy, 30, of Wallingford, was left feeling heartbroken after she resigned from Chapman Elementary School, where she worked as a Special Ed teacher, after receiving massive backlash. 'I was in a moment of high emotion, and I shouldn't have posted,' she said

'Just because you won doesn't mean we don't remember who the f**k you voted for you're not in the clear... please, please don't test your gangster on me because you will end on a stretcher - gone, forever,' she said.

'[I'm] so serious nobody f**king talk to me unless you wanna swing - if you wanna fight text me call me, whatever, anybody else stay the f**k outta my face.

'If you voted for Trump literally, please delete me, block me, get rid of everything of me - or step to me, so that I know what's up and I can handle you how I see fit,' she added.

She then finished her rant by asking Trump supporters to 'come forward... or leave, please, [there's] the door'.

Donleavy said after the video went viral she did, indeed, get a lot of Trump supporters contact her saying they would fight her - mostly men.

Elsewhere in the interview she explained the rant wasn't meant as a threat, but she understood how some people could interpret it that way.

'I hope that people know I am not a danger, I would never hurt anyone, I have never hurt anyone unless my safety was in danger - and that was the point I was trying to get across,' she said.

'But I completely understand why it was taken a different way.'

Dunleavy went viral after a video (pictured) she had posted to a private Snapchat channel -where she said she would leave Trump supporters 'on a stretcher' if they 'tested their gangster' on her - made waves on the internet

What the educator said she meant to convey was how she believed a second Trump presidency would 'give people the permission in their minds to enact violence against women'.

'I wanted to basically just say like, I'm not going to go down without a fight. I will fight for myself and if someone was to try to hurt me I would do what I had to do to protect myself,' she said.

'That all came out in a very aggressive tone and a very aggressive manner because of the you know emotional state I was in at the moment.'

Donleavy explained that she became overwhelmed by sexist comments from Trump supporters as they celebrated his victory.

'I saw a lot of men commenting that basically they had won women have lost, we will always be kept down,' she said.

'There were comments about, it's your body, our choice now, you will never control your own body a lot of comments like that about women having the rights to their bodies.'

The special education teacher said she posted the video in a private Snapchat group and it wad never supposed to be seen by the public.

'I was in a moment of high emotion, and I shouldn't have posted... The message came off wrong,' she said.

'The message came off wrong,' she said. What the educator said she meant to convey was how she believed a second Trump presidency would 'give people the permission in their minds to enact violence against women.'

Donleavy said her poor decisions cost her a dream job and she didn't sleep or eat well in the aftermath of the video going viral.

'It's my life's dream to be a teacher. I consider those kids to be my kids, and they fill that for me, and it's just so fulfilling, so rewarding,' she said.

'And I really know that what people see right now, I don't look like that person, but I truly would do anything to help any child and family in need.'

After her resignation, Cheshire Public Schools Superintendent Jeff Solan said the comments on her video did not reflect the position of the school system.

Cheshire Public Schools Superintendent Jeff Solan said in a statement: 'The comments on that video did not reflect the position of our school system'

'They were hurtful, deeply concerning, and ultimately undermined the faith that our community has placed in us,' he said.

'Every student and family has the right to attend our schools free from the concern of political prejudice, let alone their safety.'

The Cheshire Board of Education Chair Samantha Rosenberg also released a statement, writing: 'The Board of Education is united in finding the teacher's behavior reprehensible and unacceptable, and we are horrified and deeply offended by statements made in the video.'

Despite the threats Donleavy made in the video, the Cheshire Police will not be pressing criminal charges against her.
A Texas father who tried for years to stop his ex-wife from allowing his pre-teen child, who now identifies as 'Luna,' to be chemically castrated has been dealt a blow in California court.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mark Juhas ruled that Jeff Younger's ex-wife Anne Georgulas would be granted full custody of his 12-year-old son James and would be able to allow him to transition.

It comes as a blow to Younger, 59, who announced on X that he 'lost all parental rights' over his twins and wished his children goodbye.

'Goodbye, boys. Perhaps, we will meet when you are adults,' he said in the post.

He was granted 'supervised' visitation, but the father said he 'won't do that.'

Younger said he does 'send letters and gifts to my sons,' but his ex-wife is not required to make sure the boys receive them.

'Let my story be a cautionary one for young men. Fathers have no rights to their children. Do not enter the family law system,' he said. 'California Judge Juhas gave my ex-wife authority to castrate my son, James.'

Chemical castration involves a child taking puberty-blocking medication to stop the sex hormones from being produced. It is not the same as surgical castration.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mark Juhas ruled that Jeff Younger's ex-wife Anne Georgulas would be granted full custody of his 12-year-old son James and would be able to allow him to transition (pictured: Jeff Younger with James)

Chemical castration is reversible, but the side effects of long-term usage of hormones blockers is currently unknown.

Last year, Younger begged his ex-wife not to chemically castrate their son after she moved to California.

Younger revealed a video of his child claiming he's a girl on Tucker Carlson Tonight. When asked if he was a boy, James told his dad in the video: 'No, I'm a girl.'

In the video, which is several years old, the young boy claimed his mother, who is a pediatrician, told him he was female because he 'loved girls' and would dress him up in 'dresses.'

He claims Georgulas moved to California from Texas to seek gender treatment for their son in 2022.

A court has previously ruled Georgulas cannot seek 'transitioning' treatment of their son and she has 'freely acknowledged' the order. The Supreme Court of Texas ruled in December 2022 that she 'lacks the legal authority to consent to such therapy.'

'My blood ran cold when I realized what she had planned for that boy,' Younger told Carlson at the time.

He claims the boy's mother 'started transitioning him when he was two' and 'tried to enroll him in a gender clinic when he was five.'

Younger said doesn't think the mother's relocation to California was 'an accident.'

A court has previously ruled Georgulas, a doctor, cannot seek 'transitioning' treatment of their son, who she claimed is a transgender girl named Luna after seeking medical advice

In 2019, Younger was granted joint custody of their children, which included a say in medical decisions related to the child, including treatment regarding gender transition.

In 2021, a judge gave Georgulas full custody over James, including his medical care. But that ruling said the control did not extend to extend to hormone-suppression therapy, puberty blockers or transgender reassignment surgery.

Permission for any of those treatments must also be obtained from the boy's father, the initial ruling said.

The ruling noted that full custody was given to the mother in part because Younger 'failed to timely make the payments of child support, medical support and interest as ordered and only paid his past due support after the motion for enforcement was filed.'

An attorney for Georgulas said at the time the case is 'not about the child's gender issues' and said there were 'issues with regards to Jeff's parenting abilities.'

Younger had asked the Texas Supreme Court to ban the mother from relocating to California over fears she would be able to take advantage of the new sanctuary law, but judges threw out his claim.

The Texas Supreme Court said: 'Under an existing Texas court order that Mother agreed to and that Mother acknowledges is binding on her, Mother lacks the legal right to consent to gender-transition therapy for her son.

'This legal disability is just as real in California as it is in Texas, and Mother readily acknowledges this as well.'

It comes as a blow to Younger, 59, who announced on X that he 'lost all parental rights' over his twins and wished his children goodbye. 'Goodbye, boys. Perhaps, we will meet when you are adults,' he said in the post

It added that the court order in Texas that would prevent Georgulas from getting gender-transition therapy for her son without Younger's permission remain in effect nationwide.

The court said: 'The only court to have acted so far has preserved Fathers right to withhold consent to gender-transition therapy for his son. That right is enforceable in California, where Mother lacks the legal authority to consent to such therapy for the child, both before and after SB 107 [the sanctuary law].'

California's sanctuary law protects transgender children and their families who flee from 'Alabama, Texas, Idaho or any other state criminalizing the parents of trans kids for allowing them to receive gender-affirming care.'

'If these parents and their kids come to California, the legislation will help protect them from having their kids taken away from them or from being criminally prosecuted for supporting their trans kids access to healthcare,' State Senator Scott Weiner said in a statement.

The sanctuary law went into effect on January 1, 2023.

Younger also claimed the child's school district 'tried to secretly transition' James and forced the father to dress his son in girl's clothes.

'I'd bring my son to school in boy's clothes and they'd give him a dress and make him use the girls' restroom,' the father-of-two claimed on Carlson's show.

Georgulas had the boy registered in school as a girl, according to Younger.

Younger said his case was a 'cautionary' tale for 'young men.' He said: 'Fathers have no rights to their children. Do not enter the family law system'

Georgulas had long argued that James is transgender and wanted her child to transition to a girl named Luna.

Her ex-husband, however, did not believe James has gender dysphoria and that his child was just experiencing some confusion with gender.

He accused Georgulas of forcing James to socially transition into a girl by making the child wear dresses. However, she claimed three mental health professionals had diagnosed James with gender dysphoria and that therapists had recommended they start using the name Luna instead of James.

Georgulas and Younger married back in 2010 when they were members of the Orthodox Church.

They went through IVF to have twins and requested their gender be male before they were born in 2012.

The couple's marriage was annulled several years ago over claims Younger had lied to Georgulas about a previous marriage and his employment.

Arguments over their child's gender began when Georgulas took James to see a gender therapist at the Children's Hospital Center.

She claims she had noticed James requesting girl-themed toys, that the child was imitating female Disney characters and had been asking to wear dresses.

The therapist recommended James start social transitioning by wearing dresses to school and going by a different name.
Justin Welby, who is quitting as Archbishop of Canterbury over his handling of child abuse claims, will not appear on any BBC TV or radio programmes at Christmas.

He has been omitted from the BBC's festive schedules, despite featuring regularly for the Corporation for more than a decade.

He will also still be in his post until Epiphany on January 6, the 12th day of Christmas.

A BBC source, who asked not to be named, said: 'Justin Welby is not scheduled to appear in any BBC radio or TV programmes over Christmas.'

The absence of an Archbishop of Canterbury from the Christmas schedules is another blow for the Church of England which is still reeling from the fall-out of the sex abuse scandal.

The disclosure comes days after it was revealed that Archbishop Welby, 68, will not deliver his usual televised New Year's Day message.

He resigned this month after the independent Makin review criticised his failure to report prolific child sex abuser John Smyth, who allegedly attacked boys at Christian camps in the '70s and '80s.

The Archbishop said he felt 'shame at the historic safeguarding failures of the Church of England'.

Justin Welby (pictured), who is quitting as Archbishop of Canterbury over his handling of child abuse claims, will not appear on any BBC TV or radio programmes at Christmas

The absence of an Archbishop of Canterbury from the BBC Christmas schedules is another blow for the Church of England. Pictured: BBC headquarters in Central London

A Lambeth Palace spokesman said Archbishop Welby now planned 'to honour a small number of remaining commitments, to be confirmed in due course'.

Yet yesterday he pulled out at the last minute from giving the main sermon at the high-profile Holodomor Remembrance Day service at Canterbury Cathedral.

The service commemorates the millions of Ukrainians starved to death on the orders of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin in the 1930s.

This year the event had special significance, falling in the week that saw the 1000th day of President Putin's attack on Ukraine.

Father-of-five Archbishop Welby, something of a media personality during his 11 years in the role, had delighted in reaching out to audiences at Christmas.

In 2013, in his first Christmas as Archbishop, he featured in a 'special Christmas edition' of Radio 3's Private Passions programme.

The following year he appeared as a castaway on the Christmas edition of Desert Island Discs, speaking movingly of a 'grim' childhood Christmas where he was shunned by his alcoholic father and forced to scrounge in the fridge for food.

He appeared on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show at the height of Covid in December 2020 when he insisted that Christmas had not been cancelled, despite the crisis.

A Lambeth Palace (pictured) spokesman said Archbishop Welby now planned 'to honour a small number of remaining commitments, to be confirmed in due course'

He was in Laura Kuenssberg's BBC Sunday morning show in 2022 and has featured in other broadcast productions.

Lambeth Palace said: 'It has been confirmed the Archbishop will not be delivering the New Year message on the BBC and intends very little public-facing activity between now and Epiphany.

'He does plan to honour a small number of remaining commitments [to be confirmed in due course].'
An Idaho teenager has been arrested for allegedly leaving a dead baby in a Safe Haven Baby Box over a month ago.

Angel N. Newberry, 18, of Twin Falls was taken into custody by the Blackfoot Police Department on November 21 for reportedly leaving a newborn girl in the box at the Grove Creek Medical Center in Blackfoot.

While the baby girl was removed from the box 'within a minute' of the clinic receiving the alarm on October 13, staffers soon realized that the newborn had been dead long before being left.

'The medical team removed the infant from the bassinet within a minute. Upon removal, they quickly realized that the infant had passed away long before being placed in the baby box.

'The Safe Haven Law in Idaho allows for the surrender of an infant who is unharmed and healthy. Therefore, this was not a legal surrender under state law as it does not meet the criteria for Safe Haven surrender,' a Safe Haven news release reads.

Monica Kelsey, the founder of Safe Haven Baby Boxes, said in a social media post at the time: 'We are heartbroken. Anonymity is only allowed when an infant is safely surrendered completely unharmed.'

Since being launched in 2016, Safe Haven Baby Boxes have provided parents a discreet and secure option to surrender their newborns.

Angel N. Newberry, 18, of Twin Falls was taken into custody by the Blackfoot Police Department on November 21 for reportedly leaving a dead newborn girl in the Save Haven Baby Box

While the baby girl was removed from the box 'within a minute' of the clinic receiving the alarm on October 13, staffers soon realized that the newborn had been dead long before being left

The non profit's policy states that any parent can leave a baby under 30 days old without legal consequences.

However it is imperative that the infant is not harmed or deceased under both company policy and Idaho law.

The medical-grade boxes are installed in the exterior wall of the building. An exterior door automatically locks when a newborn is placed inside, and a medical staff member opens an interior door to secure the baby.

Boxes are available in more than a dozen states. Since 2017, 52 infants have been surrendered at the organization's baby box locations, Kelsey said.

In an new Facebook post, Deputies with the Blackfoot Police Department said: 'The Safe Haven Baby Box is intended to safely and anonymously allow custodial parents to surrender a newborn under 30 days old without legal repercussions, provided the child is unharmed.

'Unfortunately, the placement of a harmed or deceased infant is not protected under this system or Idaho law.

'After diligent work by the Blackfoot - Bingham Joint Detective Division over the last two months, 18-year-old Angel N. Newberry of Twin Falls was arrested in Twin Falls on a felony Bingham County arrest warrant for failing to report a death to law enforcement officials and the coroner.

Since being launched in 2016, Safe Haven Baby Boxes have provided parents a discreet and secure option to surrender their newborns

The child was left at the Grove Creek Medical Center in Blackfoot, Idaho

The non profit's policy states that any parent can leave a baby under 30 days old without legal repercussions. However it is imperative that the infant is not harmed or deceased under this system or Idaho law

'Angel has been transported and booked into the Bingham County Jail on the above warrant.

Newberry has been charged with one count of felony failure to report a death to law enforcement. A court date has not been set yet.

Officials have not yet clarified who the father is and how old the infant was at the time of her death.

Deputies have also said that 'due to the sensitive nature of the ongoing investigation and the potential for further criminal charges', more information about the case will not be made public for now.
Labour's inheritance tax raid on farmers will spell the death of the farm shop, Rachel Reeves has been warned.

Farmers say they may have to close shops or lay off staff as a result of last month's Budget.

A Gloucestershire farmer said: 'Farm shops rely on locally sourced ingredients which are often from small producers  which will be entirely eradicated over a generation.'

Geraint Thomas, who has a shop on his Welsh farm, said it was facing a 'big hit' from the Budget, partly through the employers' NI hike.

He said shop owners will face tough decisions on raising prices, cutting staff or even closing.

Conservative environment spokesman Victoria Atkins said: 'Farm shops themselves will not only suffer as a result of the family farm tax  which will force many farms to sell off land to pay tax bills totalling hundreds of thousands of pounds.

'They will also be hit with Rachel Reeves' National Insurance hike.'

The UK has more than 1,500 farm shops, employing 25,000 people, according to agriculture university Harper Adams.

Labour's Autumn budget proposed consequential tax hikes on farm owners across the UK

Farm shop owners say they will face tough decisions on raising prices, cutting staff or even closing due to Labour's budget

Conservative Party officials have claimed that farms may be forced to sell off their land to pay for Labour's new tax rates

Mo Metcalf-Fisher, of the Countryside Alliance, said: 'Many farm shops depend on produce from small family farms to help feed the countryside and sustain their business.

'If those farms are lost, these shops as well as farmers' markets will be severely impacted, undermining their ability to sell popular local produce.'

A government spokesman said: 'Our commitment to farmers remains steadfast  we have committed 5 billion to the farming budget over two years, including more money than ever for sustainable food production.'
A British mother has died at a Bolivian retreat that specialises in the psychedelic drug ayahuasca.

Social worker Maureen Rainford booked a ten-day stay last month at the Ayahuasca and San Pedro Pisatahua Retreat, an Amazon commune billed as a wellness and detox retreat.

The family of the mum-of-three, who paid 800 for the trip, stressed that she was fit and healthy ahead of the visit.

Her daughter Rochel, 32, was told by a resort official named Eric that Ms Rainford suffered a 'medical emergency' while on site.

Others told her that her mother collapsed ten minutes after drinking the ayahuasca and she was complaining of feeling ill as her breathing and heart rate dropped.

It is the same drug that Prince Harry admitted to taking to help him cope after the death of his mother Princess Diana.

Ayahuasca is a bitter-tasting drink made from the bark of a vine and the leaves of a bush found in the Amazon rainforest that contain N-N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a hallucinogenic.

Social worker Maureen Rainford, 54, (pictured) booked a ten-day stay at the Ayahuasca and San Pedro Pisatahua Retreat, an Amazon commune billed as a wellness and detox retreat

It is the same drug that Prince Harry admitted to taking to help him cope after his mother Princess Diana's death

Her daughter Rochel, 32, was told her that her mother collapsed ten minutes after drinking the ayahuasca. Pictured: Part of the preparation process of ayahuasca tea

Despite CPR efforts Ms Rainford died an hour after she collapsed with a doctor not arriving until after, the family heard.

Rochel told The Sun on Sunday: 'There should be a trained medic on standby when hallucinogenic drugs are being handed out in a remote area.

'Eric tried to insist that she must be cremated in Bolivia as her body would decompose, but I did not want any cover-up.'

Ms Rainford's body was returned after Rochel said she contacted the he British consulate. A post-mortem confirmed that she suffered a heart attack.

Her funeral was held last week with East London's coroner being informed of the death.

The substance has long been used for spiritual and religious purposes by tribes in the Amazon and is considered sacred by some communities.

Prince Harry admitted he had a 'positive' experience of the psychedelic drug ayahuasca following the death of his mother Princess Diana (pictured with a young Prince Harry)

Despite CPR efforts Ms Rainford died an hour she collapsed with a doctor not arriving until after, the family heard

A spokesman for the retreat said 'her passing was due to a medical emergency that was not related to ayahuasca' before adding that 'our heart goes out to her family'.

Prince Harry has previously been criticised for talking about his 'positive' experience of the psychedelic drug ayahuasca, saying it 'brought me a sense of relaxation, release, comfort, a lightness that I managed to hold on to for a period of time'.

In a previous interview, Prince Harry said he would not recommended taking the substance recreationally.

But he added: 'Doing it with the right people if you are suffering from a huge amount of loss, grief or trauma, then these things have a way of working as a medicine.'
Elizabeth Line workers are planning to strike on New Year's Eve in a dispute over pay.

Control room employees signed up to the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) will walk out for 24 hours from 9pm on December 31.

Tube bosses said the Elizabeth Line will still run, but could be busier than normal as a result of the strike action.

Staff taking part in the strike are also not working rest days or overtime from December 5 until December 18.

The union said it has rejected the company's pay offer and is seeking improvements to holiday entitlement and a reduction in working hours.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: 'Our members play a vital role in running the Elizabeth Line and their demands for fair treatment on working hours and leave remain unmet.

'The current offer falls short, and our members are determined to secure a fair deal.'

The union has called for urgent talks to secure a revised offer.

Elizabeth Line workers are planning to strike on New Year's Eve in a dispute over pay (file pic)

Tube bosses said the Elizabeth Line will still run, but could be busier than normal as a result of the strike action (file pic)

London Mayor Sadiq Khan poses for a selfie on the first Elizabeth line train on May 24, 2022

A Transport for London spokesperson said: 'We encourage the RMT and MTR to find a solution to this dispute.

'If this action goes ahead, we expect that Elizabeth Line services will still be available, but they may be busier than normal.'

News of the impending strike comes just days after Transport for London (TfL) awarded the contract for the Elizabeth Line to Japanese conglomerate Sumitomo and UK rail and bus firm Go Ahead.

Current operator MTR, a corporation which runs public transport in Hong Kong and is controlled by Beijing, got its contract in 2014 from then-mayor Boris Johnson.

The new consortium will take over from May 2025.

The RMT union said it has rejected the company's pay offer and is seeking improvements to holiday entitlement and a reduction in working hours
November 23, 2024: Currently the Myanmar military government is continuing to preserve its control over ever smaller portions of the country. While Myanmar became quieter for a while after the military government allowed democracy to return in 2010, by late 2023 there was a major outbreak of violence by northern rebels against soldiers stationed in the north. This led to chaos in the north where non-tribal residents fled south and large groups of armed and angry tribal rebels moved south along with them. The army never expected this and now fighting continues in the north outside, and sometimes inside, towns where there is an army garrison. With few troops left in the area, the Myanmar military sent its warplanes to bomb towns believed to be occupied by rebels. This was an imprecise operation and many civilians were killed.

Myanmar is still subject to violence from tribal separatist militias in the north plus radical Buddhist groups. There was another military coup in early 2021, a decade after the 1962 military government finally gave in to demands for freedom and democracy. By 2010 the army had failed at running the economy or dealing with the rebellious northern tribes. The military negotiated a deal with the democrats that left the military with some of their political power as well as immunity from prosecution or retribution for a long list of past crimes. Once elections were held, the generals realized they had underestimated the degree of popular anger at the decades of military misrule. After 2011, with Myanmar governed by a government answerable to the people, not a military caste, there were calls for canceling the political privileges the military had retained as part of their agreement to allow peaceful transfer of power. The late 2020 nationwide elections put into power a government that finally had the votes, and determination, to cut the military down to size and make them much less capable of another coup. The generals moved faster than the new government and once more took control of the country in early 2022.

There is growing armed and unarmed opposition to the military which has resulted in over a thousand dead and nearly 12,000 arrested. The economy is in shambles but, despite that, the population resists and the survival of the military government depends on how much China wants to spend saving them. Until recently China refused to contribute more than token assistance, while the rebel militias in the north became more powerful and the Myanmar army began to collapse, along with the military government when there was another major uprising in late 2023 that started in the north and is ongoing.

Then in 2024 rare earth deposits were found in Myanmar. Rare earths are extremely valuable and used for the production of high-end electronics. Myanmar had these materials and China wanted them. The Chin rebels on the border wanted a piece of the action and that held up shipments to China until it was discovered who was blocking the shipments. Chinese border guards were ordered to let the rare earth shipments in and threatened the Chin rebels with loss of access to China and the weapons and other supplies obtained inside China.

Meanwhile in the northwest the fighting between tribal rebels and the army in Rakhine State has intensified, and because of this several hundred thousand villagers have fled their homes. Many traveled all the way to the state capital, which is seen as the safest spot in the state. The army also revived Internet restrictions which had been lifted earlier. The result was that most cellphone users in Rakhine State get only slow 2G Internet speeds. This made it difficult to access pro-rebel websites, and most others as well.

Most of the rebels involved belong to the AA/Arakan Army. Many AA attacks are ambushes or raids on road traffic, outposts or border posts. Control of the roads is essential for the army, which depends on regular deliveries of all sorts of supplies. The army also has some air support, mostly surveillance but also occasional airstrikes. The rebels know the mountains and forests, which the army enters and moves through more slowly. The war up here is about driving away locals who can provide support for the rebels. Most of these civilians have nothing to do with the rebels and see themselves as innocent victims of random military violence. There is some truth to that because troops often loot abandoned villages or rape female refugees they catch up with.

The rebels have another advantage in that their attacks are more precise and involve much less firepower. The soldiers spend most of their time wandering around in the forests seeking rebels who move faster in the bush and usually detect the troops before the soldiers can spot any rebels. Hiring, or forcing, local hunters to guide the troops rarely works because the local guides hate the troops and know that the rebels wont forget if such guides and trackers cost them casualties.

Rebels attack outposts and border posts for loot. These attacks are not just about stealing some weapons and other gear, it is also intimidating the border guards and troops into backing off on border security. A major source of income for the AA is getting illegal drugs from nearby Shan State, where most illegal drugs in the country are produced, into Bangladesh. The AA also works with Myanmar Rohingya refugees just across the border in Bangladesh.

The AA has support from one of the rebel coalitions, the NA, or Northern/Brotherhood Alliance tribal rebels, who refuse to attend peace talks unless the government allows the Arakan Army, or AA, to attend. The AA and the army have been fighting for over six years with no end in sight. The government, pressured by the army, declared the AA an outlaw organization in early 2020. The other tribal rebels disagreed and saw the army as the true outlaws. No long-term peace deal is possible without the NA and some NA members are still engaged in combat with the army.

All NA members agree that if the AA is not allowed to attend peace conferences, neither will any NA member. The NA consists of four tribal militias: TNLA/ Tang National Liberation Army, AA, MNDAA/ Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and KIA/Kachin Independence Army. The NA exists because its members refused to sign the 2015 Myanmar Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement/NCA. Those who did sign the NCA have made progress in working out differences with the government and military. The army, which tends to do as it likes in the tribal areas of the north, is the primary cause for violence. China is also involved because Northern Alliance members survive via their access to China. The access is tolerated as long as these Myanmar rebels do not let the fighting spread into China or interfere with Chinese commercial operations in Myanmar. This includes the BRI/Belt and Road Initiative project, which NA members object to. So do other tribal rebels and the largest such group, the UWSA/United Wa State Army, boycotts peace conferences and otherwise tries to get their point across to the army and the government.

Army leaders have become more outspoken about foreign support the tribal rebels are receiving. The generals wont come right out and name China, but it is no secret that China has done little to curb Chinese weapons dealers from selling all manner of military small arms to tribal rebels and getting it across the border into Myanmar. That cannot be done without the acquiescence of the Chinese government. In this way the Chinese are sending a message to the Myanmar generals, who the Chinese see as equally responsible for the violence in the north, sometimes right on the Chinese border. Both the rebels and the army are often using Chinese weapons and ammunition against each other. There are not a lot of casualties and most of them are from army convoys being ambushed or the army firing into pro-rebel villages to drive the civilians, and any rebels, out and into the bush. The army does not have enough troops to occupy all the territory they push tribal rebels and civilians out of. Often the rebels, if not the civilians, at least not right away, come back and resume attacking convoys and patrols.

Rebellions in Rakhine and down along the coast are nothing new in this area, which has long been known as the Arakan coast and similar names hinting at an interesting past. In recent years there have even been calls for the restoration of the Arakan Empire, which ceased to exist 240 years ago. This is a renewal of ancient feuds over who should control the northwest coast of Myanmar, an area with a long history as an independent Arakan state. For example, in late 2017 ARSA/Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, the new Islamic terror group in Myanmar called for Rohingya to join with al Qaeda to fight the Myanmar army and establish Rakhine State as the independent Moslem Arakan. This refers to the Arakan region, which is the coastal area that includes Rakhine State and the coastal area along the Bay of Bengal from eastern Bangladesh down deep into Myanmar. Some 1800 years ago Arakan became an independent Hindu state but 500 years later Islam spread to the area in part because Arakan was one of the many branches of the ancient Silk Road from China.

The population was largely Bengali and Myanmaran. In the 18th century the Myanmar kingdom to the east conquered the area but lost it to the British colonial forces a century later. After that most of Arakan became part of the post-colonial nation of Myanmar. When the British left in the late 1940s they had created a Myanmar with unique borders and many citizens who were not ethnic Myanmar. For Islamic radicals, Arakan, like Spain, Portugal and parts of the Balkans are still considered part of the Caliphate/Islamic Empire because they had once been ruled by Moslems. The current inhabitants of these lost territories are now largely non-Moslem and have no interest in becoming Islamic states again. Despite that groups like al Qaeda see an opportunity in Myanmar.

Islamic terrorists first showed up in late 2016 and August 2017 when there were attacks by a Rohingya Islamic terrorist group called ARSA. Its founder, a Rohingya expatriate, and much of the cash came from Saudi Arabia. Myanmar prefers to call groups like ARSA Islamic terrorists but until ARSA and the Saudi cash showed up there had not been much, if any, religious aspect to the armed Rohingya resistance. ARSA was openly calling for Rohingya worldwide to support a war against Myanmar for the bad treatment the Rohingya have received, especially since 2012. Until the 2017 announcement ARSA had denied any connection with al Qaeda but that eventually changed.

The ARSA leader, Ataullah Abu Ammar Jununi or just Ata Ullah, has received more attention now that Islamic terror groups like al Qaeda are calling for its members to help ARSA and the Myanmar Rohingya any way they can. Since August 2017 there have been no more large scale ARSA attacks but there have been some clashes with security forces. For the moment ARSA is largely a force on the Internet, not on the ground.

Since 2018 Rakhine State has been the scene of soldiers fighting the Arakan Army rebels for control of territory. Along the west coast in Rakhine and Chin states the fighting is mainly about the army effort to control and tax illegal activities by tribesmen. The tribes have been mistreated by the military for so long it is difficult to generate a lot of trust and put an end to the armed resistance.

The Arakan Army had been avoiding soldiers since a series of clashes in late 2015 ended badly for the rebels. Clashes resumed in early 2016 as troops moved into territory where Arakan Army rebels were known to operate. All this was unexpected because the northwest coast has not had as much tribal violence as states to the east. In this case the Arakan Army had help from Kachin State tribal rebels and have become a problem on both sides of the Bangladesh border. The government ordered the army to increase its efforts to destroy the Arakan Army and the successful clashes in late 2015 led to the military working with police to find and arrest the many Arakan Army supporters in the area. Unlike most tribal militias in the north, the Arakan Army was never given official recognition, in large part because the Arakan Army was more of a gangster operation than tribal rebels. All this police activity was unpopular but at least it was less arbitrary and lawless than in the past when soldiers would torture and kill people they picked up. That sort of behavior has always been illegal but few violators were prosecuted. In 2020 those illegal practices returned in a big way as the army sought to shut down the Arakan rebels once and for all.

The government, at the behest of the army, continues to block more foreign aid groups from operating in Rakhine State. The army accuses some foreign aid groups of aiding rebels and Islamic terrorists as well as contradicting government reports of what is going on in the area. There are still some Rohingya refugees in Rakhine State living in camps and supported by local and foreign aid.

Another source of casualties in the north, along the Bangladesh border, are the landmines and booby traps set by both the army and the rebels to make it more difficult to get hit with a surprise attack. Nearly 60 percent of these casualties are in Rakhine State where the AA and army have been fighting for several years now. Most of the landmine casualties are civilians, who often dont know the army or AA has planted some mines in an area. Both sides do often record and remove mines they have placed. But the point of mines is surprise and civilians traveling through mined areas do so without being warned that mines are there. The mine danger is another reason the army prefers to use artillery to clear civilians out of an area and sometimes to clear mines.

Since 2017 Myanmar Rohingya refugees, currently nearly a million of them, have been an involuntary presence in Bangladesh. All efforts to get Myanmar to take them back have failed. Apparently, Myanmar is OK with the refugees becoming a permanent presence just across the border. The refugees were initially welcomed by Bangladesh when they arrived in large numbers during 2017, After about a year, the presence of nearly a million displaced Rohingya in an already crowded country became a problem. Most of the Rohingya refugees are in an area called Coxs Bazaar and their presence tripled the local population. At first the locals were eager to help fellow Moslems, for a few months at least. But that expected short visit has gone on for three years and there is no end in sight. The growing number of criminal gangs in the camps are a growing problem. The gangs specialize in smuggling things in and out of Myanmar. This is a problem for governments on both sides of the border. The smuggled goods range from consumer items, to drugs, to Chinese weapons to illegal explosives. At one point police seized a truck in Kachin State that crossed the border with 17 tons of ammonium nitrate fertilizer. Sales and imports of ammonium nitrate are regulated because this fertilizer can easily, with the addition of some fuel oil and a detonator, be turned into a powerful explosive.

There are still over 100,000 Rohingya refugees on the Myanmar side of the border living in camps that are less livable than those in Bangladesh. Refugees on both sides of the border are waiting for an opportunity to return to their homes. Gangs of Myanmar Buddhist nationalists still prevent this, as well as attacking any Rohingya returning from Bangladesh. Myanmar is regularly condemned in the UN for this but with China as an ally, the Chinese UN veto can prevent any serious sanctions against Myanmar.

In the northwest Sagaing Region, west of Kachin State NCSN-K (National Socialist Council of Nagaland- Khaplang), tribal rebels based in Kachin state have long been hunted on both sides of the border by Indian and Myanmar forces that coordinate these operations. This has led to an unprecedented number of Indian tribal rebels, especially leaders, being arrested in northwest Myanmar and returned to India as per earlier border security agreements.

Indian and Myanmar Naga rebels continue to maintain bases on the Myanmar side of the border. The Sagaing region has long been used as a refuge for Indian rebels, but since early 2019 Indian and Myanmar forces have been coordinating efforts to shut down the border camps for good, or at least for a long time. Until early 2020 Indian and Myanmar troops would periodically search remote areas on both sides of the border. While this hurt the Naga rebels it did not destroy the rebel groups, who returned to the border area once the troops had ceased their activity. In response Myanmar troops began to patrol the area for several months, or as long as it took for India to certify that the Naga rebels had suffered serious and long-term damage. Indian troops were also active on their side of the border to ensure that the Naga rebels, both the Indian and Myanmar ones, have nowhere to go and that situation will last so long and after several months many of the rebels will desert and return to their villages. Other rebel groups have been cornered by Indian or Myanmar troops and dispersed or destroyed. These clearance operations do not always work exactly as expected because after years of intense border patrols NSCN members are still active on both sides of the border.

Most of the Naga people are Indian but some live in Myanmar far north of Sagaing Region and belong to the NSCN (National Socialist Council of Nagaland), which wants to form an independent Nagaland, including Indian and Myanmar territory and Naga people from both countries. Many of the camps being sought in Sagaing belong to the NSCN-K faction of the NSCN. At the start of 2019 there were believed to be about 5,000 active rebels in NSCN with about ten percent of them Myanmar Naga. Operations since then sought to reduce the size of NSCN by a significant amount. These operations are not just going after the NSCN but also smaller groups like the Ulfa-I, NDFB and Manipur rebels.

The Naga are actually about two million people from a collection of tribes that share many Myanmar Tibetan characteristics and traditions. About ten percent of the Naga live in Myanmar but most of the rebel violence occurs in Indian Nagaland. For years the Naga rebels have used bases in Myanmar to train and rest before returning to fight in India. After much diplomatic pressure the Myanmar army finally went after the Naga rebel camps and have now shut most of them down or at least made them very difficult to maintain. The Naga rebels do not fight the Myanmar soldiers but always retreat. For this new operation Myanmar soldiers have orders to pursue and capture or kill any rebels they encounter. If the rebels head for India the Indian Army is alerted and moves troops into position to confront any rebels crossing the border to escape Myanmar troops.

All these border patrols have involved thousands of soldiers and border police in both countries. There have been casualties, but they have been low. The rebels prefer to flee rather than fight but there are occasional clashes often as small groups of rebels seek to slow down troops so that most of the rebels can get away.
The number of hospital admissions for bad reactions to weight-loss drugs is more than four times higher than previously thought  with a staggering 274 cases reported on top of nearly 15,000 said to have suffered ill effects.

Last month, the medicines regulator said there had been 68 UK hospitalisations associated with 'miracle' weight-loss jabs such as Ozempic, used to treat obesity and diabetes.

But now it has emerged that the figure is far higher at 274, while the number of adverse reactions linked to the drugs has reached an astonishing 14,996, according to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)  more than double the 7,228 reactions reported last month.

The surge in adverse reactions and hospitalisations chiefly involve gastrointestinal side-effects such as nausea, vomiting, constipation and diarrhoea, the watchdog said.

Fresh concerns have been raised over the sale of the jabs online alongside the boom in easily available unlicensed, black market jabs and 'off-label' use without prescriptions or expert supervision.

Speaking to The i newspaper, which released the figures, Layla Moran MP, chairman of the Health and Social Care Committee, called for 'stronger regulation' of online sales and said it was 'alarming to hear about the high number of hospitalisations'.

She added: 'It is concerning that the illicit black-market sale of weight-loss drugs online has flourished, exposing individuals to serious risks from drugs that are unregulated and have not been prescribed to them.

'These findings suggest that there is a need for stronger regulation on the availability and online sale of weight-loss drugs.'

The number of hospital admissions for bad reactions to weight-loss drugs is more than four times higher than previously thought (Stock image)

The surge in adverse reactions and hospitalisations chiefly involve gastrointestinal side-effects such as nausea, vomiting, constipation and diarrhoea (Stock image)

Layla Moran MP (pictured), chairman of the Health and Social Care Committee, called for 'stronger regulation' of online sales and said it was 'alarming to hear about the high number of hospitalisations'

Some experts downplayed the data as 'relatively low' but admitted the number of hospitalisations was 'concerning'.

Dr Danielle Middleton, MHRA's deputy director of benefit-risk evaluation, said 'the benefits still outweighed potential risks when used for the licensed indications', adding: 'The decision to start, continue or stop treatments should be made jointly by patients and their doctor, based on full consideration and discussion of the benefits and risks.'

But Katharine Jenner, director of the Obesity Health Alliance, said the MHRA and other regulators 'need to look at what has happened with these concerning number of hospital admissions'.

She said weight-loss drugs such as semaglutide, sold as Ozempic and Wegovy, and tirzepatide, sold as Mounjaro, were safe if taken 'under careful supervision' but feared online pharmacy checks on existing health conditions were not 'rigorous enough'.
President-elect Donald Trump has announced Brooke Rollins as his nomination to be the Secretary of Agriculture.

In a statement, Trump said that Rollins, head of the America First Policy Institute, would 'spearhead the effort to protect American farmers'.

If confirmed, Rollins would lead a 100,000-person agency with offices in every county in the country. The agency had a budget of $437.2 billion in 2024.

Trump said in a statement: 'It is my Great Honor to nominate Brooke L. Rollins, from the Great State of Texas, to serve as the 33rd United States Secretary of Agriculture.

'Brooke has spent the past four years as the Founder and CEO of the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) and America First Works (AFW), building a team of loyal Patriots, and championing the Policies of our America First Agenda.

'Brooke's commitment to support the American Farmer, defense of American Food Self-Sufficiency, and the restoration of Agriculture-dependent American Small Towns is second to none.

'As our next Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke will spearhead the effort to protect American Farmers, who are truly the backbone of our Country.'

If confirmed, Rollins, seen here, would lead a 100,000-person agency with offices in every county in the country

Trump said that Rollins, head of the America First Policy Institute would 'spearhead the effort to protect American farmers'

In response to her nomination, Rollins said: 'Thank you, Mr. President, for the opportunity to serve as the next U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.

'It will be the honor of my life to fight for America's farmers and our Nation's agricultural communities.

'This is big stuff for a small-town ag girl from Glen Rose, TX  truly the American Dream at its greatest. WHO'S READY TO MAKE AGRICULTURE GREAT AGAIN?'

Rollins had been considered in the running to be his White House chief of staff before Susie Wiles was picked for the role, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The move comes as he continues to rapidly fill out his team, bringing in Sebastian Gorka as his senior director for counterterrorism on Friday night.

Gorka, 54, is a conservative commentator who spent less than a year in Trump's first White House term.

'Since 2015, Dr. Gorka has been a tireless advocate for the America First Agenda and the MAGA Movement,' the president-elect wrote.

'Dr. Gorka is a legal immigrant to the United States, with more than 30 years of National Security experience,' Trump added.

Martin Makary has also been chosen by Trump to be commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Makary is a Johns Hopkins surgeon and author who argued against pandemic lockdowns.

During the pandemic he routinely appeared on Fox News and wrote opinion articles questioning mask for children.

Sebastian Gorka will serve as Donald Trump's senior director for counterterrorism

If confirmed, Makary would be expected to report to anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump's pick to oversee the nations Department of Health and Human Services, which includes the FDA.

Makary does not share Kennedy's discredit views on vaccines, but he has a similar distrust of the pharmaceutical industry.

He will need to be confirmed by the Republican-led Senate to take the post.

As the nominations continued, Trump named Janette Nesheiwat, a former Fox News contributor and medical doctor in New York and New Jersey, as his nominee for surgeon general in his second administration.

Trump has also named Janette Nesheiwat, a former Fox News contributor and medical doctor in New York and New Jersey, as his nominee for surgeon general in his second administration.

He also tapped Republican Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer of Oregon for the job of Labor Secretary.

Trump said Chavez-DeRemer has worked 'tirelessly' with business and labor to build the U.S. workforce and support Americans.

Makary has declared the U.S. health system 'broken' and in need of a shakeup

Chavez-DeRemer, who was elected to Congress in 2022, lost her seat to Democrat Janelle Bynum earlier this month so her nomination is a great consolation prize

Dr. Dave Weldon, a former Republican congressman from Florida, will lead the CDC, a sweeping agency with a $17.3 billion budget used as a public health model around the world

'I look forward to working with her to create tremendous opportunity for American Workers, to expand training and apprenticeships, to grow wages and improve working conditions, to bring back our Manufacturing jobs,' Trump said in a statement.

Dr. Dave Weldon, a former Republican congressman from Florida, will lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a sweeping agency with a $17.3 billion budget used as a public health model around the world.

Weldon recently ran for a Florida state legislative seat and lost; Trump backed the other candidate to win.

He also spent many years as a Florida Congressman and weighed in on one of the nation's most heated debates of the 1990s over quality of life and a right-to-die.

The case concerned whether Terri Schiavo, who was in a persistent vegetative state after suffering a cardiac arrest, should have been allowed to have her feeding tube removed. He sided with the parents who did not want it removed.

Alex Wong was also named as principal deputy national security adviser. Wong worked on issues involving Asia during Trumps first term and served as deputy special representative for North Korea.

'He helped negotiate my Summit with North Korean Leader, Kim Jong Un,' Trump said in a statement.
The father of a Melbourne teenager who died of suspected methanol poisoning from drinks served in Laos said his daughter was a victim of her 'lust for life and adventure' whose life had been 'cruelly cut short'.

Bianca Jones and her friend Holly Bowles, both aged 19, fell ill after partying in the Laos tourist town of Vang Vieng with Ms Jones dying in hospital on Thursday, and Ms Bowles on Friday.

Mark Jones, the father of Bianca, said his daughter 'was on the trip of a lifetime with one of her best mates'.

'This was meant to be a trip full of lifelong memories, and was to be the first of many,' Mr Jones said.

'Bianca wanted to explore the world, meet new friends, lead and create change for good.'

His comment comes after disturbing details emerged about the brand of vodka the women are believed to have drunk and how cheap and popular it is.

Bianca and Holly had been staying at Nana Backpackers Hostel with staff denying they added methanol to the drinks - raising speculation the alcohol could have been accidentally spiked as a result of a production error.

Mr Jones also made a plea to the government of Laos.

Melbourne teenager Bianca Jones died after being served drinks suspected to have contained methanol in Laos

'I would like to take this opportunity to urge the Laos government to investigate this to the fullest extent, to make sure this incident doesn't happen again,' he told The Age.

'We can't have the passing of our daughter  not lead to change to protect others.

The Laos government on Saturday publicly acknowledged the tragedy for the first time, saying it was 'profoundly saddened'.

'The government of the Lao PDR has been conducting investigations to find the causes of the incident and to bring the perpetrators to justice in accordance with the law,' a statement said.

'The [government] reaffirms that it always attaches importance and pays attention to the safety of both domestic and foreign tourists.'

Tiger Vodka can be bought in Vang Vieng from a retail store in a 700ml bottle for as little as 70 cents.

Bars could buy the spirits, which are 'blended, bottled and distilled in Lao', for even.

Unnamed sources in Laos had told the Courier Mail it was possible that an error had been made in production.

Mr Jones and her friend Holly Bowles, both aged 19, fell ill and later died after a night partying in the Laos tourist town of Vang Vieng

'Everything is owned by the government, or at least 90 per cent government owned,' a source said.

'This could have been a mistake made at a government owned factory, that is a possible reason as to why it happened.'

Six people have so far died in the suspected poisoning incident.

Staff at Nana Backpackers have denied they added anything to the shots of Tiger Vodka that had been given away for free as part of a happy hour deal between 8pm and 10pm.

Tiger branded whiskey and vodka is also given away for free at other bars with reports emerging of methanol poisoning at several premises.

A bottle of the alcohol was seen at the hostel where the two Australian girls had been staying.

'Vodka Tiger  finest blended, smooth and mellon (sic). Since 1980,' the label read.

'Distilled, blended and bottled in Lar PDR. Xatmoungkhoun Village, Naxaythong District, Vientiane, Lao PDR.'

The bottle lists the alcohol content at 40 per cent - in line with other brands of vodka.

An American man was found dead in his hostel room next to two empty bottles of vodka, while two Danish women were discovered unconscious on their bathroom floor, a Laos government document revealed.

The police document named the American as James Louis Hutson, 57, and the Danish women as Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, and Freja Vennervald Sorensen, 21, according to the document seen by The Age.

The deaths have not been independently verified.

British woman Simone White, 28, is also among the dead.

Police ordered the closure of Nana Backpacker Hostel on Fridy, where the Australians and other travellers were staying when they were rushed to hospital.

Methanol has been known to be used in homemade alcohol in South East Asia.

Nana Hostel bartender Duong Duc Toan has been detained and questioned by police.

The bartender has denied his vodka is tainted and said it was made in a factory. He even went as far as to drink some himself when interviewed by reporters.
Donald Trump has chosen a close friend of King Charles and Queen Camilla to be Americas first gay Treasury Secretary.

Billionaire Scott Bessent has been a long-time supporter of the Kings charities, while Camilla stayed at his sprawling home in the Hamptons, New York, in 1999 during her first solo trip to the US.

A source said: Scott has known King Charles for many years. He was a big supporter of the Princes Trust when Charles was Prince of Wales.

They became extremely close after Princess Diana died and Scott was part of the plan to improve Camillas image.

She came to the US in 1999 and stayed with him and he introduced her to everyone who is anyone in New York society. They remain close and Scott often attends private fundraisers at the Palace.

The President-elect made the announcement on Friday night, saying: Scott will help me usher in a new golden age for the United States.

Mr Bessent who has been out since his 20s, will be the first gay Republican Cabinet member. Democrat Pete Buttigieg, Joe Bidens Transportation Secretary, was the first-ever gay Cabinet pick.

The Wall Street source added: President Trump has been branded homophobic by his detractors but that couldnt be further from the truth.

Donald Trump's choice for Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (pictured) is friends with King Charles and Queen Camilla

The President-elect (pictured) announced Mr Bessent's appointment on Friday night, saying he would help usher in a 'golden age' for America

A source said that Mr Bessent had known the King 'for years' and was a big supporter of the Prince's Trust. Pictured: Queen Camilla and King Charles attend the Easter Sunday Mattins Service at St George's Chapel in April 2023

Hes been friends with Scott for years and his sexuality was never an issue. The President doesnt care about things like that, in fact he and Melania actively support LGBT Republican groups and often have them to Mar-a-Lago. Its not a big deal.

Mr Bessent, who has two children with his lawyer husband, will be in charge of key financial decisions, including Mr Trumps controversial plan to implement tariffs of up to 60 per cent on imported goods.

He will also be responsible for slashing Americas record-high national debt of $36 trillion while implementing tax cuts for the middle classes, and oversee the allocation of federal funds to support Mr Trumps plans to deport millions of illegal immigrants, which will start on January 20, the day the President-elect takes office.

Mr Bessent, who spent decades working for Left-wing investor George Soros, one of the biggest Democratic Party donors, switched his alliance when Mr Trump first ran for the White House in 2016.

He is often called a financial genius and made his name by betting against the pound during the 1992 Black Wednesday crash, which netted his firm $1 billion.

The 62-year-old, who was born in South Carolina, has talked about being driven to succeed after watching his father, a real estate investor, struggle.

Ive known financial hardship and I dont want that for any family, he said.

The financier launched the hedge fund Key Square in 2015, and has since given away millions to
Fahir Amaaz  the young man dressed in black pictured here going about his business in Rochdale  is a name that will probably mean little to most people.

But almost everyone will remember the grainy mobile picture of him back in the summer, face down on the ground at Manchester Airport with an armed police officer's boot on his head.

The clip was viewed by millions around the world. What preceded the 44-second film  and was crucially missing from the initial video  cast a different light on the drama which had unfolded on the concrete floor of a multi-storey car park next to the Terminal 2 building, the repercussions of which continue to be felt today.

The lead-up to the incident emerged in CCTV footage showing the moment police attempted to arrest the 19-year-old and his older brother Muhammad Amaad, 25, following an altercation with a passenger, who had apparently insulted their mother, inside the airport. There then followed what appeared to be a mass brawl.

Fahir can be seen punching a female officer in the face  leaving her holding her bloody, broken nose  then engaging with a second female officer before turning on a male officer, who had received a barrage of blows from his brother, by grabbing him around the neck and putting him in a 'chokehold'.

In all, around 15 punches were thrown by the pair and three officers, surrounded by a hostile crowd, were floored prior to Fahir being tasered by police and seemingly kicked in the head.

It was an indication of the occupational hazards routinely faced by those manning the thin blue line which is not always appreciated by those who are quick to rush to judgment. The CCTV footage provided context and changed the original narrative that led to two nights of protest in Manchester and Rochdale.

Fahir Amaaz outside his home in Rochdale last week, four months on from the airport brawl

Both the officer and a colleague who restrained two other men who became embroiled in the chaos are now under criminal investigation for assault by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) which could take another month. Yet the separate criminal investigation into the brothers by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) was completed on August 15 when a file was sent to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

However, more than four months on from their arrest  123 days to be precise and counting  there are still no charges despite the graphic CCTV footage.

Why, is the question a growing number of people are asking. To put this in context it takes, on average, less than half that time, just 55 days, to charge someone who has been arrested for an offence of 'violence against the person', which includes everything from assault to murder. In the most straightfoward cases, it can take only a matter of hours or days.

The images captured on video would suggest this was one such case.

In fact, the inquiries into Fahir and Muhammad by Greater Manchester Police were concluded in just over three weeks. But the lives and careers of the two officers remain on hold while life continues almost as normal for the brothers. 'It's usual for things to happen much quicker but the CPS is frightened of being criticised,' said an authoritative source in Greater Manchester Police who spoke to us on condition of anonymity. 'I suspect the political situation at the moment has a lot to do with it because of the ethnicity of the family.

'I have had conversations with the chief constable and the deputy chief constable about this. They are as frustrated as we are and as members of the public are but they can't say that publicly.'

Either way, the treatment of Fahir, now 20, and his sibling, whose parents were born in Pakistan, epitomises what critics say is a 'two-tier' system of justice that has worsened under Labour.

The violence at Manchester Airport during which three police officers were attacked

Fahir and Muhammad Amaaz flank 'TikTok lawyer' Akhmed Yakoob, who initially represented them

The evidence, or inconsistencies at any rate, are not hard to find. Pro-Palestinian extremists displaying genocidal, anti-Semitic slogans frequently go unpunished or are treated leniently by the courts  ditto climate change activists  unlike those on the other side of the political divide who usually have the book thrown at them. The rioting in Southport on Merseyside in the summer, triggered by the knife killings of three children at a dance class, is an example.

Right-wing extremists involved in the unrest, including individuals who didn't directly take part in the violence but posted inflammatory comments online, were swiftly dealt with which no one, apart from the culprits themselves, would disagree with.

But the same argument  fear of trouble erupting on the streets  is suspected of being used in reverse  as a reason not to charge the brothers in the airport incident, many in Greater Manchester Police believe  at least not until the IOPC investigation is concluded.

The delay, rightly or wrongly, has prompted Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, to launch a private prosecution against them this week. The specialist company instructed to mount Farage's crowdfunded lawsuit, Essex-based TM Eye, has reached out to the officers themselves, via their Police Federation, the staff association for rank and file police, but they have been advised by federation lawyers not to engage with the firm.

They say they believe 'Farage is playing politics' which could jeopardise the prospects of a successful prosecution against the brothers. The Police Federation has also formally complained to the IOPC, we have learnt.

The federation says it is inappropriate that the person responsible for deciding whether the two police officers should be referred to the CPS for potential charges  Catherine Bates, the organisation's acting regional director for the North-West  has also met the brothers in person. These are roles which, the federation argues, should be kept separate.

In a statement, the IOPC said: 'The IOPC is an independent organisation  which is committed to being fair and effective  and any suggestion that a member of our staff involved in this investigation is not impartial is completely unfounded. Our investigation is the final stages we expect to conclude it in the next month.'

All this means the controversy shows no sign of abating. Indeed, it is escalating.

The wider narrative is that 1,861 officers in the GMP, one of the biggest forces in the country, were assaulted last year, an average of more than 35 every week.

Muhammad Amaad and his mother Shameem Akhtar attend a press conference in Manchester in August

Solictor Aamer Anwar (second right) with Muhammad, Fahir and their mother Shameem

The fact that the IOPC is also investigating whether any officers were responsible for leaking the CCTV footage to the Manchester Evening News, which showed the brothers throwing punches, has done little to improve morale.

The complaints watchdog said it only acted after receiving a 'conduct referral' from GMP.

What of the two officers who are now facing possible career-ending criminal charges? 'It's really hard for the officers that it's dragging on like this,' our source said. 'They're both in a bad place. The way things are going this is going to carry on hanging over them through Christmas and beyond. They're cops but they're human beings as well.

'They went through an incredibly traumatic experience and they're being denied justice.

'They're firearms officers. They need to be regularly involved in training to maintain their skills but at the moment they're not allowed to do that.

'They're worried that whatever happens, their future status as firearms officers is now under threat. But they're encouraged by feeling the public support for them that's out there.

'It only makes having to wait for the CPS to make a decision even more frustrating.'

The chain of events which has had such far-reaching consequences began when the brothers arrived at the airport to meet their mother who had flown from Pakistan, stopping en route in Doha in Qatar to catch a connecting flight to Manchester, which touched down at around 7.20pm on July 23.

Words were said to have been exchanged onboard the plane with a male passenger which culminated, it is claimed, with him pushing his trolley into her in the baggage hall of the terminal.

Her sons, having learned what allegedly happened, sought him out in a Starbucks coffee shop where an altercation ensued which led to the brothers being arrested amid chaotic scenes in the car park.

A footnote to the drama is that the passenger, it turns out, was an off-duty policeman from Saudia Arabia who was holidaying with his family and did not wish to press charges.

The two videos of the violence, posted on July 24 and July 27, have now been viewed millions of times after being uploaded by most major media outlets.

Almost immediately, the brothers were being represented to the public by solicitor Akhmed Yakoob, a controversial and colourful figure who is known as the 'TikTok lawyer' because of the videos of the millionaire lifestyle he shares with his 200,000 or so followers.

The 36-year-old parted company with the brothers after the CCTV footage was leaked, blaming his decision on the media. 'The media have tried to sabotage me,' he said at the time. 'They made it about me, not police misconduct.'

This from the man who is regularly seen wearing Prada trainers, a glittering diamond watch and gold-rimmed glasses, not to mention boasting about having a collection of supercars that has included a Lamborghini with personalised number plates.

Fahir and Muhammad Amaaz are now being represented by Aamer Anwar, one of Scotland's most high-profile human rights lawyers. At a Press conference shortly after becoming their lawyer, he claimed Fahir had also been dragged out of view from CCTV cameras before an officer knelt on his neck. There had been a 'campaign of disinformation,' he insisted, 'in an attempt to justify alleged police violence'.

Given that the first video resulted in hundreds of protesters, many wearing face masks, descending on the GMP divisional HQ in Rochdale  yet another example of mob rule on the streets of Britain  it is a thesis that is hard to sustain.

Mr Anwar stressed that the brothers, whose father is a taxi driver, did not have a single conviction, not even a speeding ticket, and that members of the family are, ironically, serving police officers with GMP.

Home is a red-brick detached property in Smallbridge, a suburb of Rochdale, where neighbours describe the family as 'good and respectful'.

Fahir and Muhammad, two of four brothers, are well known in the community for their volunteer work with local Islamic charities. 'I have never known the boys to be in any sort of trouble,' said one woman who knows them.

The CPS confirmed that it is waiting for the IOPC, which is made up of civilians, to complete its investigation into the conduct of the two officers before final decisions are 'communicated'.

'There are many aspects to this case and we are working with the police and the IOPC to come to charging decisions,' the CPS said in a statement.

'That decision will be based on the evidence alone.

'Political factors play no part when a specialist lawyer makes a charging decision.'

Not everyone, especially rank and file officers in the Greater Manchester Police, believe that.
Despite coming from little wealth and low birth, Group Captain Peter Townsend won the heart of a princess.

The tall, handsome and fearless RAF war hero has been remembered throughout history as the man who almost tempted Princess Margaret to give up her gilded life in the Royal Family to marry him.

But she declined because his status as a divorcee meant she would have had to give up her status as a royal - a move which was seen around the world as choosing duty before love.

The end to their romance ensured it was remembered as one of the 20th century's most tragic love stories.

However over recent years, questions have swirled about the eyebrow-raising age gap between the pair. Margaret was just 14 when she met Townsend, a 29-year-old married father.

Townsend later claimed 'the sex-urge is a rather unfair device employed by god' and 'he has incorporated in our make-up an insatiable capacity for pleasures which flow from love'.

The pilot also admitted in later years to lifting up a little girl's skirt as a child but said he was let off due to 'something about me which provoked women's tenderness and indulgence'.

Now on the day 110 years after his birth, MailOnline looks back at the life of the man who was at the centre of one of the greatest royal crises - Peter Townsend.

Group Captain Peter Townsend (pictured) was made equerry to King George VI - and it was this position which would eventually spark a romance with Princess Margaret

The young princess Margaret and Townsend on the Royal South African Tour in 1947. It was his job to chaperone the younger princess

Townsend at the Farnborough Air Show in 1955

Townsend was born on November 22, 1914, in Rangoon, Burma, to Lieutenant Colonel Edward Townsend and his wife Gladys.

One of seven children, Peter was just a few months old when his mother brought him back to the family home in Devon.

In his autobiography Time and Chance, which was published in 1978, Townsend wrote about his nanny Constance, saying: 'She was a nice, if slightly prim girl, who managed, despite her gold pince-nez, to look rather pretty.

'I was not in the least displeased to share her room and sleep in a bed alongside hers.'

He also revealed the first time he held hands on the way to school with a beautiful girl called Rosemary as a child.

He wrote: 'She was five, with a character as sweet as her gentle, laughing eyes and her lovely face. I loved her.'

Townsend was frank about his experiences with the opposite sex as a child, admitting he lifted up the skirt of a girl.

'For - encouraged, I must say, by other horrid little boys - I had lifted the skirt of a little girl called Betty.

'I did this not because I was curious to discover what lay beneath - having sisters I already knew - but simply to humiliate Betty, a rather pretentious little girl.

Townsend (pictured as a boy) later wrote about his childhood, his relationships and his life in his autobiography

Princess Margaret attending the premiere of the film 'Captain Horatio Hornblower' at the Warner Theatre Leicester Square in 1951

Margaret posing at the premiere for Hamlet at the Leicester Square Odeon in December 1953

The Royal Box at Ascot showing Queen Elizabeth, Princess Margaret (white fur coat) and Townsend (without a hat on left) in June, 1952

Princess Elizabeth arrives at the Palace Theatre in London in 1946 - as Townsend, in uniform, looks on as Princess Margaret emerges from a car

But instead of being whipped, expelled or reported to his parents, Townsend was told by his teacher: 'You are a very naughty boy. Don't you ever dare to do it again.'

He wrote about the episode: 'But there was something about me that impressed my judge - my innocent look, perhaps. There is something about me which provoked women's tenderness and indulgence.'

In another instance Townsend wrote when he put his arms around his teacher's 'slim wait' as a boy he 'without quite knowing why, felt a tremor of pleasure'.

After attending private school, he joined the Royal Air Force in 1930, training at RAF Cranwell, and was commissioned as a pilot officer in 1935.

In 1937 he started dating a Danish girl called Bodil, whom he described as 'a blue-eyed, fair-skinned Danish goddess with an authentic goddess's name'.

Upon meeting her he wrote: 'She took my hand and I fell in love for the rest time - madly, but, alas, impossibly in love.'

But she moved to Denmark and in an effort to see her, Townsend 'saved every penny' he had for the airfare which was about a month's pay for a single trip. Although eventually the war 'unkindly severed' the relationship.

Following four years of service at RAF Cranwell, Townsend went on to serve as a Squadron Leader in the Battle of Britain in the Second World War.

Townsend's pilot's log book, which was sold at auction in 2021

Group Captain Townsend was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and the Distinguished Flying Cross with Bar for his wartime service, during which he shot down 11 enemy aircraft in more than 300 operational sorties

Princess Margaret and Townsend photographed at Harrismith during the royal tour of South Africa in April 1947

He was mentioned in despatches for his role in protecting shipping convoys from the air and shooting down enemy aircraft.

In 1941 he married Rosemary Pawle, later writing about the marriage: 'I could not wait to make her my wife, for life in those dangerous days seemed a brief precarious thing.

'So, true to that war-time phenomenon, the urge to reproduce, we rushed hand-in-hand to the altar. Exactly nine months later, our first child was born.'

He later admitted the pair never really suited each other and they married because he 'stepped out of the cockpit and married the first pretty girl I met'.

During the war he often came close to death, later writing: 'Each time I took off, I felt sure it would be the last.

'I found myself reacting to the smallest shudder of my aircraft, the lightest engine vibration, gripping the controls tighter and telling myself "This is it".'

But at a time when the life expectancy of a pilot was short, the ace managed to shoot down 11 enemy aircraft in more than 300 operational sorties.

He also bailed out of his Hurricane twice - once when he was forced to ditch the stricken aircraft in the English Channel, and then after he was hit in the foot by cannon fire.

Townsend at Shashi Railway Station during the royal visit to South Africa in 1947

It wasn't until 1944 that Townsend was appointed to the position that would cement his place in history - the new equerry King George VI.

He met Princess Margaret, 14, and her elder sister the future Queen Elizabeth, 17, on his first day at Buckingham Palace.

Then in 1947, his role as equerry saw him accompany Margaret during a three-month royal tour of South Africa.

Townsend would then have been aged 32, whilst Margaret was 17.

It is unknown when the pair's romance formally began, but the late Queen's lady-in-waiting later claimed Townsend encouraged Margaret when he arrived and took advantage of his proximity to her.

More clues to when their relationship began were revealed by Daily Mail columnist Craig Brown in 2017 when he wrote that when on a trip to Belfast, Townsend requested to change his room to the one next to Margaret.

And although standards were different back then, more than 70 years ago, even today the idea of a married man in his 30s asking to be in such close proximity to a girl of 17 would raise eyebrows.

Townsend's autobiography, Time and Chance, was first published in 1978. The most recent edition was released in 2022

Addressing the revelation, an old friend of Margaret told the Daily Mail in 2017: 'This was playing with fire, a terrible risk for her reputation and that of the Royal Family.

'It's a miracle it hasn't come out before. I have to say, though, that having met Peter Townsend, I would be surprised if he was sleeping with the Princess when she was so young.'

Margaret later told a confidante: 'We rode together every morning in that wonderful country, in marvellous weather. That's when I really fell in love with him.'

Townsend wrote about the princess: 'She was a girl of unusual, intense beauty, confined as it was in her short, slender figure and centred about large purple-blue eyes, generous, sensitive lips and a complexion as smooth as a peach.

'Yet I dare say that there was not one among them more touched by the Princess's joie de vivre than I, for, in my present marital predicament, it gave me what I most lacked - joy.'

He was a war hero due to his status as one of 'The Few'  a courageous Battle of Britain pilot who had helped save the nation from Nazi invasion and his RAF uniform decorated with medals attesting to his gallantry.

Margaret later admitted to having a 'terrific crush' on Townsend when she first met him.

The pair's romance was cemented when they grew closer following the death of King George in 1952.

Queen Elizabeth II holding a camera at the Olympic Horse Trials at Badminton in 1955, whilst Princess Margaret sits behind her, smoking a cigarette and watching the action. Also in the group is Townsend (left)

Townsend riding a horse on a dirt path in Merano, 1955

Margaret had increasingly relied on Townsend as she tried to cope with the darkness that had overwhelmed her since her father's death in 1952.

Whisky, pills, tranquillisers and cigarettes did little to help with the pain. Only Townsend  soothing, calm and gentle  could lighten her moods, according to royal expert Andrew Morton.

'During 1952, Princess Margaret and I found increasing solace in one another's company,' Townsend wrote.

'The year began with the Princess's grief, caused by the sudden death of her father; it continued with the change in her own family situation - living alone with her mother (whom she adored) - and the steady deterioration in mine; it ended in the break-up of my family.

'If on the material plane, as well as temperamentally, the Princess and I were worlds apart, we responded, in our feelings and emotions, as one.'

Townsend eventually filed for a divorce from Rosemary in November 1952. In April 1953 Townsend proposed to Margaret.

Their relationship became public after the Queen's Coronation in June that year, when Margaret was seen tenderly removing a piece of fluff from Townsend's uniform.

Princess Margaret returns to Clarence House October 17, 1955 after a weekend in the country where Townsend was also a guest. The decision not to marry Townsend was announced October 31

Princess Elizabeth and Townsend in the Royal Box at Ascot in 1955

However, Margaret's sister, now the Queen, had to consent to her marriage to a divorced man.

The monarch's status as head of the Church of England complicated things.

With both the Royal Family and the British government still recovering from Edward VIII's abdication in 1936 to marry Wallis Simpson, who was divorced, Queen Elizabeth was advised it would be unconstitutional for her to approve the match.

It was decided that Townsend would be sent away to work as an air attache for the British Embassy in Brussels for a year, after which, the couple was asked to wait another year.

Although Margaret had now turned 25, they were still denied the right to wed, and the government - led by Prime Minister Anthony Eden - stated that if she married her love then she would be stripped of her royal privileges as well as her income.

Margaret and Townsend were finally reunited on October 12, 1955.

However, three weeks later, a statement drafted in Princess Margaret's name read: 'I would like it to be known that I have decided not to marry Group Captain Peter Townsend.

'I have been aware that, subject to my renouncing my rights of succession, it might have been possible for me to contract a civil marriage.

'But, mindful of the Church's teaching that Christian marriage is indissoluble, and conscious of my duty to the Commonwealth, I have decided to put these considerations before any others.'

A Daily Mail story from 1953 informing readers Townsend has been posted abroad

How the Daily Mail reported Princess Margaret's announcement that she would not be marrying Group Captain Peter Townsend

Princess Margaret leaves after a dinner party in Kensington in 1955. Both Princess Margaret and Townsend were guests

What remained unsaid was that marrying Townsend would have meant Margaret sacrificing her royal status, its privileges and perks. And Townsend could scarcely keep her in the manner to which she had been accustomed.

The heart-breaking love story was later depicted in hit Netflix show The Crown.

Having returned to Belgium heartbroken after Margaret's decision, he went on to marry a 20-year-old heiress named Marie-Luce Jamagne in 1959 and the couple had two daughters and one son.

It was noted that the young woman bore a striking resemblance to Princess Margaret.

Their children Isabelle, Marie-Francoise, and Pierre were born in 1961, 1963 and 1964 respectively.

In May 1960 Margaret married photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones at Westminster Abbey.

The princess and the Earl of Snowden, as Armstrong-Jones became, had children David and Sarah together but divorced in 1978.

In 1978, 23 years after his separation from Margaret, Townsend released his autobiography, Time and Chance, where he expressed his peace with her choice.

Townsend arriving at a film premiere with his first wife, Rosemary, in 1952

Townsend with his sons, Giles, then 16, and Hugo, then 12, crossing the road from the Carlton Hotel in Cannes in 1958

Townsend with his second wife Marie-Luce Jamagne and their daughter

He wrote: 'She could have married me only if she had been prepared to give up everything - her position, her prestige, her privy purse.

'I simply hadn't the weight, I knew it, to counterbalance all she would have lost.'

Townsend and the Princess met again in 1992 for lunch at her apartment in Kensington Palace. This was believed to be their final meeting.

Before marrying his second wife, Townsend embarked on an epic round-the-world trip that saw him travel to places including Hong Kong, Australia, the Congo, South America and Belgium.

His travels were documented in French documentary Passeport pour le Monde and his book Earth My Friend.

He later forged a career as a wine merchant - a trade which his eldest son Giles - who died in 2015 - followed him into.

Giles' brother Hugo, who was born in 1945, has spent time living as a monk and is a trained psychotherapist.

Townsend's daughter Isabelle became a fashion model and actress, whilst Marie-Francoise works for an interior designer and Pierre has spent his career in the humanitarian sector.

Townsend's travels were documented in French documentary Passeport pour le Monde and his book Earth My Friend

The Queen and Princess Margaret attending a Concert at The Royal College of Music

After Townsend's death at his home in France at the age of 80 from stomach cancer, the attendance at his funeral demonstrated how respected he was.

As well as friends and family, he was honoured by the presence of the British Ambassador to France, who represented the Queen.

Battle of Britain pilot Air Commodore Sir Archie Windskill represented the Queen Mother.

Princess Margaret was not present but is believed to have sent a private message to Marie-Luce.

Despite her decision, which reportedly caused her a 'deep sadness' on her deathbed, Margaret kept Townsend's letters to her in bundles.

She decreed before her death in 2002 that they must not be read until 2030 - 100 years from her birth.

It means we only have to wait another six years for that deadline to expire to learn the unvarnished truth about one of the greatest ever royal love stories.
As the Bible tells it, 2024 years ago a man named Jesus was born in a little-known town on the edge of the Roman Empire and was killed 33 years later.

But do we really have any reason to believe this is more than just a story?

Perhaps surprisingly, experts say we do have extremely compelling evidence to support the story recounted by the gospels.

From the plethora of contemporary sources to the graffiti mocking his followers, Jesus' life left an indelible mark on the historical record.

Likewise, archaeologists working in Palestine and Israel have uncovered a number of artefacts supporting the basic facts of Jesus' life as described in the Bible.

And, while there is no conclusive physical evidence, experts say this is exactly what we would expect for someone of Jesus' status in society.

Dr Lawrence Mykytiuk, a specialist in Hebrew studies from Purdue University, told MailOnline: 'We have many very good reasons to accept the real, historical existence of Jesus of Nazareth.'

Here's the seven most astonishing pieces of evidence that Jesus left behind.

Despite having lived a short life as an impoverished peasant over 2,000 years ago, experts say there is overwhelming evidence that Jesus was a real historical figure

1: Written evidence

The best reason we have to believe in the existence of the historical Jesus is that there surprisingly good written records about his life.

What makes this so compelling is that many of the accounts are written by non-Christian authors who were often openly opposed to Christianity.

Dr Mykytiuk says: 'For well over 1,000 years, no one claimed that Jesus did not exist.

'Every single non-Christian source from ancient times recognizes, implicitly or explicitly, that he was a real person who really existed.'

Possibly the best example of this comes from the Roman historian Tacitus who despised Christians.

In a section of the 'Annals' describing the AD 64 fire of Rome, Tacitus describes how Emperor Nero tried to shift the blame to early Christians.

Tacitus writes: 'Nero substituted as culprits and punished in the most unusual ways those hated for their shameful acts  whom the crowd called Chrestians.

Flavius Josephus (pictured) was a Jewish historian who wrote about 60 years after Jesus' death. In his history of the Jewish people he mentions 'the brother of Jesus-who-is-called-Messiah, James by name'

'The founder of this name, Christ, had been executed in the reign of Tiberius by the procurator Pontius Pilate.'

Likewise, the Jewish author Flavius Josephus mentions Jesus in his sprawling 'Jewish Antiquities' which was written just 60 years after Jesus' death.

In a section of the book, Josephus describes how a priest named Ananus tried to execute Jesus' brother, James.

He writes that Ananus 'called a meeting of judges and brought into it the brother of Jesus-who-is-called-Messiah, James by name.'

What makes this so interesting is that James, or Jacob as it would have been written, was such a common name that Josephus felt the need to specify by mentioning Jesus.

Dr Mykytiuk says: 'If Jesus, Jamess brother, had not been a real person, this reference to Jesus-who-is-called-Messiah would have made no sense.'

2: The Alexamenos Graffito

Once we go beyond the written records, physical evidence of Jesus' existence becomes significantly harder to find.

This crude graffiti carved into a wall of the Palatine Hill in Rome is possibly the first depiction of Christians anywhere in the world

As researchers have noted, we don't have records for 99 per cent of the people who served in the Roman Empire.

This makes it astronomically unlikely that there would be any trace of a man who lived in poverty and met the fate of a common criminal.

However, there are some artefacts from the early days of the Church which do offer compelling evidence.

Surprisingly, one of the best real pieces of evidence we have for the existence of Jesus is a crude and rather abusive piece of ancient graffiti.

Known as the Alexamenos Graffitto, this was a crude drawing scratched into the wall of a room near the Palatine Hill in Rome somewhere between the first and third century AD.

The drawing depicts a man worshipping a donkey-headed man hanging from the cross with a message that translates to: 'Alexamenos worships [his] god.'

Dr Jonathan Reed, a leading authority on the archaeology of early Christianity from the University of La Verne, told MailOnline: 'The earliest evidence we have in the archaeological record for Christians is someone making fun of Jesus being crucified.'

The reason this is so convincing is that it passes what Dr Reed calls describes as 'the criterion of embarrassment'.

The Alexamenos Graffito shows a Christian worshipping a donkey-headed Jesus with the inscription 'Alexamenos worships [his] god'. Experts say this mocking depiction of Christ is good evidence that the embarrassing features of his death actually occurred and were well-known between the first and third centuries. Pictured, a tracing of Alexamenos Graffito

Dr Reed says: 'The crucifixion would have been seen as shameful and much of the Gospels are about trying to make the crucifixion into a heroic death.'

Similarly, the fact that Jesus is presented initially as a follower of John the Baptist was deeply troubling to the early church and something that a lot of effort was spent trying to explain.

The fact that embarrassing details survived and that Christians were so distressed by them is actually a good sign that they weren't made up.

Dr Reed says: 'From my perspective, what I would be most certain of is that Jesus started off as a follower of John the Baptist, that he was from the lower peasant classes, maybe he was an illegitimate child, and that he was crucified.'

3: The Crucified heel

Another detail of the crucifixion that some scholars have found hard to explain is: If Jesus died an enemy of the state, why was he permitted a full burial?

Although there is plenty of evidence that the crucifixion really happened, some critics argue that Jesus would more likely have been thrown in a mass grave for criminals.

However, in 1986 a construction crew accidentally uncovered several tombs in Northern Jerusalem.

The crucified heel of a man named Jehohanan was found in a tomb in Israel. This proves that Jesus could have received a proper burial as the Gospel claims rather than being thrown into a mass burial pit for criminals

One ossuary, a chest for holding skeletal remains, was marked with the name Jehohanan and contained the remains of a man who appeared to have been crucified.

The bones included a heel which still had the nail embedded in it from where the man had been pinned to the cross.

Not only does this further support that the description of Jesus' nailing to the cross is accurate, but it also shows that families could retrieve the remains of crucified criminals.

While not a direct piece of evidence for Jesus' life, this discovery vindicated the Gospel writer's account of his death.

4: The Shroud of Turin

Of course, there couldn't be a discussion of evidence for Jesus' life without some mention of the holy relics.

The most famous of all the objects supposedly associated with Jesus is the Shroud of Turin.

This is a piece of cloth bearing an imprint of a man which is considered by many to be the cloth Jesus was wrapped in after the crucifixion.

The Shroud of Turin features the image of a man with sunken eyes, which experts have analysed under different filters to study it (pictured)

Unfortunately, the evidence surrounding the reality of the shroud is highly contentious.

Some scholars are convinced that this is a legitimate relic of Jesus but there is a growing body of evidence mounting against that position.

For example, a recent study found that the distinctive image marked on the shroud could not have been made by a human body but must have been made by shallow carving.

Likewise, a study conducted by the Italian researcher Antonio Lombati found that the weave pattern used for the shroud doesn't match any examples of grave linens from Israel and Palestine dated to Jesus' time.

Rather, the pattern is extremely similar to cloth produced in the early Middle Ages during the Crusades  the period to which the shroud was dated during research in the 1980s.

Dr Reed says: 'I'm convinced that they [the holy relics] are all forgeries and that's partly to do with the fact that they all pop up at the same time after the Crusades when there was a thirst for this stuff in Europe.

'If you look at the Shroud of Turin, early on, even in the Church documents, there was some suspicion of it.

However, some researchers remain still convinced of the shroud's veracity.

A recent study concludes that the impression on the shroud could not have been made by a three-dimensional human body, but was perhaps from a bas-relief - a shallow carving (top)

Dr Ben Witherington III, a Bible scholar at the Asbury Theological Seminary, told MailOnline: 'The shroud itself has a negative image on it of a crucified man, which existed at least as early as the early Middle Ages, in an age long before photographs.

'How exactly did that image get on the cloth, and how does it represent so accurately where Jesus would have been flagellated on his back, or nailed in his wrists, or bleed from the head due to something- say a thorny crown?'

5: The Church of the Apostles

In 2017, archaeologists digging in the area of El Araj, Israel made a surprising discovery.

Buried next to the River Jordan the archaeologists found the remains of a Byzantine basilica measuring 27m by 15m (88ft by 52ft).

Researchers believe that this may be the site of Bethsaida, the village which was home to the apostles Peter, Andrew, and Phillip.

If that were the case, this would make the El Araj basilica the lost 'Church of the Apostles which was supposedly built over the village's ruins.

Following further investigations in 2021, Professor Steven Notely, an archaeologist from Nyack College and co-director of the dig, told the Biblical Archaeology Society: 'There are no other churches in the vicinity mentioned by Byzantine visitors to the Holy Land, and there is no reason to question that this is the [Church of the Apostles].'

This mosaic was found in a basilica believed to be the Church of the Apostles, built above the homes of Peter, Andrew, and Phillip. However, how much evidence this provides for the existence of the historical Jesus is debated

Even more interestingly, excavations found the remains of a Roman-era fishing village beneath the later church.

For some, this provides a compelling case that the Biblical account of Jesus' life is backed up by hard evidence.

Dr Reed says: 'I've excavated many of the places mentioned in the Bible and the Gospels describe them all with a certain level of accuracy.'

However, Dr Reed also points out that this doesn't necessarily tell us much about the figure of Jesus.

'If you really push me, I'd say it's not even proof that Jesus existed,' says Dr Reed.

Likewise, Dr Mykytiuk says that these findings show that the Bible is broadly correct about historical context.

He adds: 'This support is so indirect that it has almost no effect regarding Jesuss existence - except perhaps to whet the appetite of researchers.'

6: The 'Jesus is God' inscription

This 1,800-year-old mosaic contains the ancient Greek phrase: 'The god-loving Akeptous has offered the table to God Jesus Christ as a memorial.' This is the first recorded mention of the divinity of Christ

Just like the Alexamenos Graffito, evidence from the early church gives us a strong indication that there really was a person for the followers to unite around.

Another slightly more flattering example of this is an inscription found beneath the floor of an Israeli prison.

This 1,800 year-old-mosaic features the first written declaration of Jesus as a God.

The 581-square-foot mosaic decorated the world's first prayer hall in 230 AD and contains the ancient Greek phrase: 'The god-loving Akeptous has offered the table to God Jesus Christ as a memorial.'

Carlos Campo, CEO of the Museum of the Bible which recently exhibited the mosaic, hailed it as 'the greatest discovery since the Dead Sea Scrolls'.

This shows that the divinity of Christ became part of some Christians' ideologies as little as 200 years after his death.

However, leading Biblical historian Bart Ehrman claims that this was not a view shared by all of the earliest Christians.

Dr Reed says: 'As early as the first century there was a competition to talk about who Jesus really was and what is the significance of the Christ figure.

Experts say that the existence of conflicting views of Jesus and the widespread discussion of his divinity in places like the Megiddo Mosaic (pictured) suggests that there was a real figure that the early church was reacting to

'Because you have these disagreements, I just don't buy the theory that there was a conspiracy to fabricate this person.

'If there was a conspiracy, it was the most disorganised, chaotic, contradictory attempt imaginable.'

7: The James ossuary

The so-called 'James Ossuary' is a bone box bearing the Aramaic inscription: 'James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus.'

Dr Witherington says: 'The likelihood of that particular combination of those three names not referring to the famous James the Just, and his father Joseph, and his brother Jesus are slim to none.

'If it were true that the crucifixion was the end of Jesus' story, no one would be bragging about being related to him on an ossuary.'

If the James Ossuary is real, it would indeed be a striking piece of evidence that Jesus was a real figure who became important shortly after his death.

Unfortunately, the story of the James Ossuary is a little more complicated.

The so-called James Ossuary is a box believed to contain the remains of James, the brother of Jesus. However, the box's veracity has been a matter of fierce debate and even legal action

The ossuary was allegedly acquired by an Israeli businessman named Oded Golan from an unknown antique dealer in the 1970s.

However, in an unusual move, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) accused Mr Golan of faking the relic and took him to court in the 'the forgery trial of the century'.

Experts from the IAA alleged that Mr Golan had taken a real first-century ossuary and added the inscription himself.

When police took Mr Golan into custody they did indeed find a forgery lab filled with tools and half-finished 'antiquities'.

But, in another twist, Mr Golan was then acquitted of all charges of forgery in 2012 on the grounds that the IAA had not proven the inscription was fake.

During the trial, it emerged that some of the IAA's experts didn't have the proper specialisms to properly appraise whether or not the writing was real.

For many, this vindicated the James Ossuary as a brilliant piece of evidence for the historicity of Jesus.

However, as is so often the case, not all academics agree that the James Ossuary has also been exonerated.

The original owner of the James Ossuary was charged with forgery. Although he was later acquitted some experts still question the suspicious circumstances in which the artefact came to light. Pictured at the Royal Ontario Museum, Canada, 2002

Dr Reed says that just because Mr Golan was acquitted doesn't mean the ossuary is real.

'I'm a big believer in archaeology finding things in situ, if it pops up on the black market we can't be sure where it was found and we be sure whether it has been doctored,' Dr Reed says.

'We have pretty good evidence that part of the inscription was doctored and it was found in a person's home who had forging equipment.

'I think there's so much fishiness that we can't include it in the historical record.'
No one wants to get stuck sitting in the middle seat while flying.

The center spot offers the least personal space - not to mention the fact it has no window view, limited access to the aisle and only half an armrest to use.

Now, an avid flyer has revealed a genius hack that he claimed has a secret hack that 'has a 100 percent perfect record,' which allows people to avoid the dreaded middle seat free of charge.

Travel influencer Jordan Tually explained that if flyers 'pretend' to buy every available middle seat, prompting the system to hold those spots.

'And that's when you go to book yours,' Tually said in a video.

When travelers book their real flight, all the middle seats will appear taken, leaving only window and aisle spaces as options.

'Did you know with budget airlines, if you click random seat allocation, they will intentionally put you in the middle seat in the hopes that you pay money to get out of it?' He asked in a video posted on his Instagram.

In the video, Tually demonstrates how to avoid this while booking a Ryanair flight from Bologna, Italy to Barcelona, Spain online.

Ordinarily, he would have to pay a $9 fee to choose his seat. But this hack allowed him to secure a window seat for free.

Travel influencer Jordan Tually has revealed a genius hack that allows you to avoid the dreaded middle seat free of charge

First, he took a look at the flight's seating map to figure out how many middle seats were available on the plane. In this case, there were 10 of them.

Then, he pretended to purchase 10 tickets for this flight.

'Now the website is going to ask for every passenger's name so just slam a bunch of letters in there and continue on,' Tually explained.

'Next up, go to seat selection and select all the middle seats or all the seats that you definitely do not want to be sitting in,' he said. 'Then click 'continue.''

This causes the Ryanair website to hold those seat for 10 to 15 minutes, which means they will appear unavailable to other customers trying to book a seat.

In a video posted on his Instagram page, Tually demonstrated how you can make sure you don't get placed in a middle seat by 'pretending' to purchase all the available middle seats on the plane before you buy your actual ticket

'And that's when you book yours,' Tually said. Now, you can pull up the website in a different tab and actually purchase your real ticket.

'When you go to check in with your ticket, you can see that there's no more middle seats,' he said.

'So click that random seat allocation and just like that. It only took me two minutes and now I have a window seat.'

This hack is most easily executed on a computer, 'and even easier if you do it closer to check-in as fewer seats are available, Tually added.

Some viewers were impressed by this thrifty shortcut.

'Damn this is genius! Any win over Ryanair is a win for humanity,' one commented.

'This is such a useful hack, hopefully, they don't catch on,' another wrote.

But others saw it as cheapskate behavior.

'This is not a hack. It's being cheap as f***,' commented one critic. 'If you focus this much energy on making more money, you'd be flying first class.'

It's also important to note that this hack is definitely frowned upon by Ryanair, and surely would be by all other commercial airlines as well.

One viewer claiming to be a product owner for Ryanair commented: 'I just created a ticket to prevent such behavior. Thanks for reporting!'
Naming a 'dodgy' neighbourhood in Seoul is a challenge  and valuables can be left on cafe tables during bathroom visits without fear of having them stolen.

MailOnline Travel is learning from a UK expat in the South Korean capital how his life there differs from his time living in London.

And Jerry reveals that a very low crime rate is one of several eye-opening upsides to Seoul, where he's lived since 2015, along with a stellar health service (he can see a doctor with no appointment within 'a couple of minutes') and cheap high-speed trains.

The UK, apparently, trumps South Korea in the sandwich-making department, though.

When we asked Jerry, who posts on Youtube, TikTok and Instagram as @welcometojerry, what South Korea does better than the UK, he replied: South Korea has extremely low rates of theft and violent crime. As a result, walking the streets in any neighbourhood in Seoul at any time of the day or night is much safer.

'In a recent video, I mentioned how it is difficult to name a dodgy neighbourhood in Seoul, but in my hometown of London, I could name a few dozen. Theft is very shameful and very taboo here. You are extremely unlikely to be mugged in South Korea. Locals often leave their valuables on cafe tables whilst they go to the bathroom without a second thought.

While the crime rate is lower than in the UK, Jerry warned it's important not to be 'too naive when visiting', adding: 'It's good to always exercise caution and not be too trusting of people that you've just met once or twice.

The high-speed rail network, meanwhile, is seen as a 'necessity' and makes covering long distances a cinch.

He explained: 'I find it very unfortunate that high-speed rail is such a controversial issue back in the UK. Here in South Korea, and the rest of the East Asia region, it is a necessity.

Jerry moved to Seoul (above) in 2015. He told MailOnline Travel what it's like to live there

Jerry revealed that a very low rate of crime is one of several eye-opening upsides to Seoul. He also explained that there are 'endless opportunities for eating out'

'Since 2004, South Korea has built five high-speed rail lines called the KTX, serving 60 stations across the country. I often take the famous "Train to Busan", which connects Korea's two largest cities, Seoul and Busan, in as little as two hours 15 minutes for a ticket price of around 33 ($42).

And why does Jerry also love the South Korean health service?

He remarked that the 'top-notch' system is set up to keep people in good shape for work, explaining: 'Korea has an interesting public health system called the NHIS, which is intertwined with the private sector.

'My British viewers are usually surprised to learn that when we have a common cold in South Korea, we are expected and encouraged to visit the doctor for some sort of remedy, to get back in fighting shape for work.

'If I have a cold, I can walk into my local doctor's office with no appointment, be seen within a couple of minutes, and walk out with some sort of prescription to treat the symptoms. The whole thing will cost me less than 5/$6.41 with insurance.

Another upside is housing, which is 'far more affordable than in London, according to the expat.

He explained: For British people in Korea, you'll find that housing here is relatively affordable. There are many types of single dwellings called villas, or one-rooms, that can be rented on a monthly basis.

'If you work in Korea, your company will provide this type of housing as part of your pay package. Korea has a unique rental system characterised by a very high deposit and very low rent. Deposits are usually 5-10 million won (2,769/$3,466- 5,539/$6,932) for a studio apartment with monthly rent 600,000-1.2m won (332/$415-664/$831) per month.

The downsides

On the flipside, Jerry told MailOnline that many of the 'major challenges' for British people living in South Korea 'stem from the work culture'.

He revealed: Whilst many people who come to work in South Korea end up in good positions, you can also read about a lot of horror stories and maltreatment by companies and managers. The UK tends to have a lot of protections for workers against mistreatment and discrimination but working abroad, you can find yourself in a vulnerable position.

The UK also beats South Korea on sandwiches, said Jerry, explaining that its very difficult to find a good sandwich in South Korea, or at least what a British person would recognise as a sandwich'.

He added: 'Sandwiches, after all, originate from the UK and we have perfected them!

Of course, that doesnt mean there arent other enticing culinary treats on offer in South Korea.

Jerry, who often shares his eating adventures on social media and describes himself as a foodie first and foremost, explained: South Korea has endless opportunities for eating out, whether that's in Seoul's numerous and diverse restaurants or traditional street food markets.

Jerry often takes the train from Seoul to Busan (above) using South Korea's high-speed rail network

Jerry explained: The American influence on South Korea is incredibly strong due to the USA's continued connection since the Korean War.' He's pictured here tasting Baskin Robbins ice cream

The expat, who moved to South Korea for a study abroad programme, said one of the things he found most surprising about the country is the number of American food franchises, such as Dunkin Donuts and Baskin Robbins.

Jerry explained: The American influence on South Korea is incredibly strong due to the USA's continued connection since the Korean War.

Although Jerry describes South Korea as a particularly great place to visit in your 20s due to its vibrant youth culture, he added theres much more to the social scene than nightclubs with plenty to suit every age of traveller.

He revealed: While there are a number of nightclubs that might exclude people over the age of 30, those establishments are not usually the highest quality and you're not missing out on much.

'I recommend my followers seek out higher quality experiences, such as Seoul's numerous luxury cocktail bars or friendly local neighbourhood pubs that serve delicious bar food with soju (a Korean alcohol) and beer.

Tempted to make the move across the ocean?

Jerry said: I recommend British people who want to explore South Korea and the wider East Asian region come and live here for a while. There are of course certain caveats to that.

'There are so many videos about South Korea online now. British people should do their own research before making the move by watching both my videos, and videos from other creators who talk about life in Korea.
Strictly Come Dancing fans were delighted after Tasha Ghouri and Aljaz Skorjanec scored the first perfect 40 of the series on Saturday.

The Love Island star, 26, and Slovenian pro, 34, impressed both the judges and viewers with their American Smooth, with even in Craig Revel Horwood, 59, scoring his first ten of 2024

After famously hard to please judge scored full marks fellow judges Shirley Ballas, 64, and Motsi Mabuse, 43, jumping to their feet, as pandemonium erupted in the Clauditorium.

Rushing to X fans gushed over the 'perfect' perfomance, as well as praising Craig for 'finally' proffering a much sought after ten points.

Writing: 'Tasha and Alijaz's perfomance was just perfect. A 40 well deserved (and finally, Craig!)': 'FINALLY a flash of Craig's 10 paddle! So well deserved and so glad Tasha was the first to score 40!': 'I love Tassha and Alijaz so much. beautiful American Smooth and thoroughly deserved the first 40 of the series'.

Strictly Come Dancing fans were delighted after Tasha Ghouri, 26, and Aljaz Skorjanec, 34, scored the first perfect 40 of the series on Saturday

The Love Island star, 26, and Slovenian pro, 34, impressed both the judges and viewers with their American Smooth, with even in Craig Revel Horwood , 59, scoring his first ten of 2024

After famously hard to please judge scored full marks fellow judges Shirley Ballas , 64, and Motsi Mabuse , 43, jumping to their feet, as pandemonium erupted in the Clauditorium

Earlier in the show fans were left emotional as Amy Dowden, weeks after she was forced to quit the competition following a foot injury.

Eagle-eyed viewers spotted the Welsh pro, 34, in the Clauditorium as she supported former partner JB Gill and her replacement Lauren Oakley.

JB and Lauren scored an impressive 39 out of 40 for their Charleston and also won the Sambathon.

Amy looked sensational in a sparkly pink fringed dress as she stood close to pal and fellow dancer Carol Gu, 31, who supportively wrapped his arm around her waist.

Taking to X fans gushed: 'Amy Dowden's there': 'Amy's there': 'Nice to see Amy back this week': 'I'm absolutely delighted to see Amy back on the show': 'Amy bopping to Rock DJ in the background, I love her': 'Oh Amy is back'.

Meanwhile Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystal's also set the dancefloor on fire with their chemistry during their latest dance.

The pair opened Saturday's show with a fierce Tango to Easy Lover by Philip Bailey and Phil Collins, and got a total score of 29 out of 40.

Jowita looked sensational in a racy white mesh dress, while Pete looked dapper in a black suit.

Tasha and Aljaz were overjoyed by the score and threw their arms around each other

Rushing to X fans gushed over the 'perfect' perfomance, as well as praising Craig for 'finally' proffering a much sought after ten points.

Rushing to X fans gushed over the 'perfect' perfomance, as well as praising Craig for 'finally' proffering a much sought after ten points

Strictly Come Dancing leaderboard: Week Nine 1. Tasha Ghouri and Aljaz Skorjanec - 40 out of 40, Sambathon: 6. Total: 46 2. JB Gill and Lauren Oakley - 39 out of 40, Sambathon: 7. Total: 46 3. Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe - 37 out of 40, Sambathon 5. Total 42 4. Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola - 36 out of 40, Sambathon 4. Total: 40 5. Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell - 33 out of 40, Sambathon 1. Total: 34 6. Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas - 32 out of 40, Sambathon 2. Total: 34 7. Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystal - 29 out of 40, Sambathon 3. Total: 32 Advertisement

Fans rushed to social media platform X to share their thoughts, with one penning: 'Pete and Jowita are definitely in lurve'

'You can't deny, Pete & Jowita are so cute together'; 'pete and jowita i am OBSESSED'

The pair have been competing on Strictly 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.

Earlier in the episode fans were left emotional as Amy Dowden, weeks after she was forced to quit the competition following a foot injury

Eagle-eyed viewers spotted the Welsh pro, 34, in the Clauditorium as she supported former partner JB Gill and her replacement Lauren Oakley (pictured with fellow dancer Carlos Gu)

Saturday saw JB and Lauren scored a whopping 39 for their Charleston

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;

'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;'
It's the stunning Andalusian villa where Eddie Redmayne's Jackal leads a double life with his Spanish wife and son.

Lined with olive trees, its sun-drenched terrace appears to boast glittering views of the Gulf of Cadiz, with an infinity pool blending into the azure sea below.

But while viewers of Sky's smash-hit drama The Day Of The Jackal might have swooned over the exotic location, the truth is that it isn't in Spain at all.

In fact, the house lies some 1,500 miles further east, perched on a hillside overlooking the coast of Croatia  and those breathtaking sea views are of the idyllic Kvarner Bay in the Adriatic.

The glamorous Villas Rosa dei Venti - or 'wind rose' - was a labour of love for owner Mauricio Batelic, who began the project in 2012 and spent nine years building the villa complex - which includes two separate houses - to reflect traditional Mediterranean architecture.

A spokesman proudly told The Mail on Sunday that the property was 'selected from many potential sites' by The Day of the Jackal production team to feature as the assassin's enviable home.

And fans will be delighted to learn they too can stay in the property The Jackal shares with wife Nuria, played by Spanish actress Ursula Corbero.

For a up to 1,600 a night in high season - or 13,000-a-week - the villas are available on Airbnb.

The house lies some 1,500 miles further east, perched on a hillside overlooking the coast of Croatia

The villa boasts breathtaking sea views of the idyllic Kvarner Bay in the Adriatic

For a up to 1,600 a night in high season - or 13,000-a-week - the villas are available on Airbnb

It boasts an outdoor kitchen and covered terrace with a fireplace, sundeck, playground, jacuzzi and gym

Sky's smash-hit drama The Day Of The Jackal was filmed in the property which is perched on a hillside overlooking the coast of Croatia

Mr Batelic, who met Redmayne and Ms Corbero on set, described the TV 'couple' as 'very nice, friendly and down-to-earth

The glamorous Villas Rosa dei Venti - or 'wind rose' - was a labour of love for owner Mauricio Batelic, who began the project in 2012

Accommodating up to 20 guests across its two properties, snaps of its eight bedrooms reveal stunning modern interiors with bare plaster walls, exposed beams, glass panels, tiled flooring and hand-crafted furniture

The complex includes two separate houses - to reflect traditional Mediterranean architecture

Accommodating up to 20 guests across its two properties, snaps of its eight bedrooms reveal stunning modern interiors with bare plaster walls, exposed beams, glass panels, tiled flooring and hand-crafted furniture.

It boasts an outdoor kitchen and covered terrace with a fireplace, sundeck, playground, jacuzzi and gym.

Mr Batelic, who met Redmayne and Ms Corbero on set, described the TV 'couple' as 'very nice, friendly and down-to-earth'.

The Airbnb listing, where all reviews are five-star, boasts: 'Here you can spend a vacation to remember, with the luxury and technology of today, combined with the passion, warmth, and tradition of the past.' And it's not the first time the property has been used for filming. The villas were used as the setting for the Netherlands version of romantic reality show The Bachelor in 2021.

The local coastal resort town, Rabac, just over a mile away, has some of the Istria region's finest beaches. Other scenes were filmed elsewhere in the country, including capital Zagreb, and the island of Pag which Redmayne said felt 'like we were on the Moon'.

Croatia's landscapes have also lately featured in Game of Thrones and Doctor Who.
Lauren Goodger has revealed that she is selling her lingerie-clad snaps on racy subscription sites OnlyFans and RevealMe to protect her family's future after squandering her fortune.

The TOWIE star, 38, said she is happily living a 'basic' life in an ordinary semi-detached home with her daughter Larose, three, who she shares with her ex Charles Drury, but wants to make as much as she can for Larose's future.

The brunette beauty previously revealed she used to command 25,000 for a magazine shoot in her TOWIE heyday but now is lucky to take home 2,000 now because the industry has changed so much.

Now, the reality star has turned to OnlyFans where she sells pictures of herself in lingerie for a $50 (38) monthly membership with the adult photo sharing site.

However, Lauren confessed last month that she would rather not have to use the X-rated website, where she posts lingerie-clad photographs to make money.

She told MailOnline a series of poor financial decisions when she was younger and her work drying up has meant she has had to re-think.

Lauren Goodger has revealed that she is selling her lingerie-clad snaps on racy subscription sites OnlyFans and RevealMe to protect her family's future after squandering her fortune

After mismanaged finances, the reality star has turned to OnlyFans where she sells pictures of herself in lingerie for a $50 (38) monthly membership

Lauren revealed that after finding fame on TOWIE (pictured with Billie Faiers, Lucy Mecklenburgh, Jessica Wright, Lydia Bright and Sam Faiers) she blew through her fortune

She said: 'When I first started I could get on average about 25,000 for a shoot for a magazine but it's all moving online now and I get a lot less, maybe 2,000.

'Before I would be doing a shoot or an appearance or something almost every day so I could make a lot but I found work started to dry up and especially after Covid, my pregnancy and my loss and everything.'

Lauren's daughter, Lorena, died when she was two days old in July 2022, despite being born 'with no pregnancy or labour complications.'

She added: 'And when I was younger I didn't manage my money and I didn't have the right support around me.'

Lauren went on to confirm that she doesn't plan on posing on OnlyFans forever but wants to make sure she is financially stable before she closes her account.

To make sure she can make as much money as she can, the TOWIE star has launched a profile on a new site, RevealMe which she explained was set up by her friend as a 'UK version of OnlyFans'.

The star is hoping to regularly post pictures and interact with fans.

'My plan with Reveal Me and OnlyFans is I just want to make as much money as I can is I can, shut it down and invest the money in property for my daughter, clear my debts and maybe start a business again.' she said.

'I don't want to do it forever, I can't really do it forever'.

Although Lauren doesn't want to be selling sexy snaps forever, she revealed it wouldn't work if she wanted to get a 9-5 job.

She said: 'I couldn't do a regular job - I used to. I used to work in the City and I have friends who do but I don't think anyone would take me on anymore because of who I am.'

Lauren said: 'My plan with Reveal Me and OnlyFans is I just want to make as much money as I can is I can, shut it down and invest the money in property for my daughter' (Lauren pictured with her daughter Larose, three)

Lauren also discussed her approach to money after she found fame through TOWIE, revealing she had thought the money would last forever but is now 'taking back control'.

'You do think it will last forever but money comes and goes', she said.

'I feel like I'm getting the old Lauren back and I'm doing more myself and not with an agency.'

'When I would do shoots I would lose about 20 percent through an agency but now I do it myself and I think it's better.'

She added that she's 'grateful for the work' but is more pragmatic with her finances now and revealed the advice she would give her daughter Larose, three.

The reality star, who is currently filming the TOWIE Christmas special, said: 'I'm really grateful for the work and I can fill my cupboards each week but I am more sensible with my money.

'When I was younger I didn't manage my money and I didn't have the right support around me'

'I would tell Larose to invest and save. It's nice to have designer clothes and bags but I would rather have the money.

'Where I grew up, you went to school in Gucci shoes and I don't want her to miss out but I want her to value money because it comes and goes and it's hard and stressful.'

And while the star has returned to the hit reality show after more than six years, she confessed she isn't sure she would want her daughter to follow in her footsteps.

Although Lauren doesn't want to sell sexy snaps forever, it wouldn't work if she wanted to get a 9-5 job, she said: 'I don't think anyone would take me on anymore because of who I am'

She said: 'I don't want her doing it. I've learnt lots the hard way but I don't want her doing anything like that.

'I'm not sure about Larose going on TOWIE, maybe I would.

'With Love Island I wouldn't really want her to do it but I would be supportive and maybe be her manager because I want to protect her.'

Discussing her future plans, Lauren said that she would love to start a new business and wants to bring back her fake tan brand and work on her beauty business Lauren's Way.
Once a playground for Hollywood's elite, Venice Beach in Los Angeles is now a shadow of its former self.

The sun-drenched boulevards that once drew stars like Leonardo DiCaprio and Julia Roberts are now marked by a stark divide: luxury homes jostling for space with makeshift tents, graffiti-stained walls, and an air of decay. The neighbourhood, once synonymous with glamour, now struggles under the weight of rising homelessness and crime.

Perhaps no individual better encapsulates Venice's past and present than the young man we spotted shuffling about its backstreets last Thursday. Clad in a white T-shirt, black pants and socks-and-slides, his dirty blond hair clings to his face as he approaches a blacked-out car for a brief exchange.

The man is 26-year-old Chance Hogan, the son of actors Paul Hogan and Linda Kozlowski.

Despite seemingly having every opportunity in life, Chance's seedy existence is worlds away from the pampered lifestyles of other Hollywood 'nepo babies'.

Chance is no stranger to scandal - after all, his parents' relationship was one of the biggest tabloid stories of the late 1980s.

Perhaps no individual better encapsulates Venice's past and present than the young man we spotted shuffling about its backstreets last Thursday

Chance Hogan is the 26-year-old son of actors Paul Hogan and Linda Kozlowski. His dirty blond hair clung to his face as he approached a blacked-out car for a brief exchange

Despite seemingly having every opportunity in life, Chance's seedy existence is worlds away from the pampered lifestyles of other Hollywood 'nepo babies'

The two fell in love on set of Hogan's breakout film Crocodile Dundee while Hogan - 19 years Kozlowski's senior - was still married to wife Noelene Edwards. The couple wed in 1990, welcomed Chance eight years later, and divorced in 2014

After his movie career took off, Hogan left his home country of Australia behind and settled with Kozlowski in Los Angeles in the '90s. Chance was raised in Venice Beach and, during his short life, has witnessed the neighbourhood's shocking decline.

Still, he got to watch it happen from behind the windows of his father's AU$4.5million (US$3.5 million) mansion. He even seems to have briefly considered following his footsteps into showbusiness, becoming the enigmatic frontman of a punk band named Rowdy P.

But it appears fame was not meant to be for the aspiring musician. Reports abound of his reputation for 'wayward behaviour' amid claims his father Paul, now 85, is trying to steer him back onto the straight and narrow.

In his latest worrying public sighting, on November 14, a dishevelled Chance was seen aimlessly pacing up and down the street and approaching a blacked-out vehicle near the home where he is believed to live with his father.

He looked almost unrecognisable compared to the floppy-fringed boy who would accompany his parents to red carpet events in the early 2010s.

With his long, dark locks covering his face, Chance appeared to collect a white package from the driver after a brief conversation.

While Daily Mail Australia does not suggest any illegal activity occurred, the pictures will no doubt cause more worry for his dad after a string of troublesome sightings.

Just days earlier, Chance had been spotted buying a package of cigarettes from a local convenience store.

Chance was pictured near the home where he is believed to live with his famous father

Chance appeared to collect a white package from the driver after a brief conversation. Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting any illegal activity occurred

The pictures will no doubt cause more worry for his father after a string of troublesome sightings

In March, Paul Hogan (pictured) issued an update on his son's wellbeing after he recorded himself being rushed to hospital in October 2023 covered in cuts and bruises

Last week, Chance was also spotted buying a pack of cigarettes from a local store

During that outing, he displayed what appeared to be a bright red midriff tattoo of a love heart as he went shirtless beneath a denim jacket

He looked almost unrecognisable compared to the floppy-fringed boy who would accompany his parents to red carpet events in the early 2010s (pictured in January 2013)

During that outing, he displayed what appeared to be a bright red midriff tattoo of a love heart as he went shirtless beneath a denim jacket.

It is not the first time Chance has raised eyebrows. He shared disturbing footage to social media in September in which he cryptically claimed something was about to 'begin' as he held a cigarette between his stained teeth, showing off his inflamed gums.

'One hour and 25 minutes, 24 minutes now in fact. That's when it commences. Let's see,' he bizarrely said, though it was unclear what he was referring to.

Chance spent his childhood at his dad's AU$4.5million Venice Beach mansion

Reports abound of his reputation for 'wayward behaviour' amid claims his father Paul, now 85 years old, is trying to steer him back onto the straight and narrow

While Chance has been spotted in LA in recent days, Paul's actress goddaughter Liana Cornell - the child of Aussie stars Delvene Delaney and John Cornell - was seen looking in good spirits in London last week

Just months earlier, in March, Paul Hogan had issued an update on his son's wellbeing after he recorded himself being rushed to hospital in October 2023 covered in cuts and bruises.

Hogan told DailyMail.com that Chance was 'doing a lot better' after the concerning videos but wouldn't be drawn into revealing anything more.

Back in 2018, photographs famously emerged showing Chance vomiting outside a venue in Santa Monica where his band Rowdy P had just performed.

Paul famously met Chance's mother Linda Kozlowski (right) while filming Crocodile Dundee in 1986, but effectively raised him as a single father after his marriage breakdown in 2013

Chance shared disturbing footage to social media in September in which he cryptically claimed something was about to 'begin' as he held a cigarette between his stained teeth

In disturbing Instagram posts from October last year, Chance also shared footage of himself in a car with his friends as they smoked, before debuting a large cut on his collarbone

Chance was seen crouching down and holding his head in his hands in images that reportedly left his famous father 'shattered'.

It is not known whether Chance still performs with his band, but their last post promoting a gig in Pasadena was shared back in January, suggesting they have not been booking regular shows of late.

The first sign something was amiss with Chance came back in 2015 when he was reportedly caught drinking beer and smoking what appeared to be a bong on the balcony of his father's home.

Later, he was forced to deny he was a devil worshipper after posting the satanic 'devil's number' 666 on Instagram and another image of a drawing of an inverted Christian crucifix.

Hitting back at the allegations, Chance told Woman's Day at the time: 'It's like I'm a satanic devil worshipper and my parents hate each other, none of that's true.'

'It's like, "Hey, you're that Satanist drug-taking evil guy, right?"' he added.

Chance's troubles over the years have reportedly proved difficult for his father, who has expressed a desire to return to Australia since Venice Beach's downward turn.

In October 2022, Paul confessed he was homesick and said the only thing keeping him from returning Down Under was his son.

In the videos, he smiled and revealed several other cuts across his forehead as well as bruises around his eye, but did not reveal the cause of the mystery injuries

Chance once looked set to break into the world of fame himself, becoming the enigmatic frontman of a punk band named Rowdy P (he is pictured here in 2018)

Describing Chance as American, not an Australian, he told Sydney's Daily Telegraph newspaper: 'The only family [Chance has got] is me.'

He explained that all of Chance's close relatives, including his grandparents, have died, and his son sees the U.S. as his home because that is where he was raised.

'All his friends, his band, musician mates, girlfriends, everything  they're all American,' Hogan said. 'He only has me, whereas my tribe at home, they've all got each other.'

Hogan's home is in the once-elite beachside suburb of Venice, where a vast increase in homelessness has seen hundreds of tents line the beach's famous boardwalk and a sharp increase in crime.

Speaking at the height of the pandemic, Hogan complained: 'I'm living in LA county, which is 10 million people and half of them have got Covid. So am I homesick? You bet your life.'

When asked how he was coping with Los Angeles' rising crime wave, Hogan simply said that he 'doesn't go anywhere' and often remains inside his property.

'[I'm] bored in lockdown, and the minute I can get on the plane without being locked in a hotel for two weeks, I'm back,' he said in 2021.

His neighbour Tyler Proctor, a local politician, boldly described Hogan's neighbourhood as 'hell on earth', adding: 'His house is like a fortress and it needs to be, I can see why [he] wants to move out.'

Chance's troubles over the years have reportedly proved difficult for his father, who has expressed a desire to return to Australia since Venice Beach's downward turn

Hogan's home is in the once-elite beachside suburb of Venice, where a rise in homelessness has seen hundreds of tents line the beach's famous boardwalk and a sharp increase in crime

In recent years, residents of Venice Beach have complained about soaring crime rates and a rise in homelessness, which they claim has made life in the beachside community unbearable

Over the past few years, residents of Venice Beach have complained about soaring crime rates and a rise in homelessness, which they claim has made life in the elite beachside community unbearable.

In 2021, business owners said they were forced to close their doors and long-term residents were afraid to leave their homes after dark due to being subjected to violent attacks and intimidation.

Amid the struggles of the Covid, police were seen patrolling the tent-laden Venice Beach boardwalk - once famed for its unique and bohemian culture which would attract as many as 10 million visitors per year.

Hogan was born in northern New South Wales and raised in Sydney. He worked as a rigger on the Sydney Harbour Bridge before he rose to fame on talent quest New Faces.

After becoming a household name in Australia as a comedian, Paul soared to global fame in 1986 in the iconic fish-out-of-water comedy film Crocodile Dundee, the role for which he remains best known.

As well as Chance, Hogan also shares four other sons, Brett, Clay, Scott and Todd, and a daughter, Lauren, with his first wife, Noelene.
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.
Pictures of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's children enjoying quality time with his family reveal just how close they were before the couple's bitter divorce sparked close to a decade-long lack of contact.

Brad, 60, has been estranged from his daughter Shiloh, 18, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 16, as well as his three adopted children Maddox, 23, Pax, 20 and Zahara, 19, since an explosive fight on their private jet in 2016 resulted in Angelina, 49, filing for divorce.

The estrangement has not only crushed the actor, but also his parents William and Jane Pitt, who have desperately tried to maintain a relationship over the years, sending birthday and Christmas cards to no avail.

Now, insiders have shed light on how the lack of contact has been felt by members of Brad's wider family, including his nieces and nephews, who are also mourning the close bond they once shared with their cousins.

'When it went down with Brad, his family was hyper focused on him getting help for his alcoholism,' an insider told DailyMail.com.

'The Pitts tried their best to keep in touch with the children but some members of his family struggled to contain their frustration with the fallout and as a result, Angelina cut the kids off.

Brad Pitt's family, including his parents, siblings and nieces and nephews are mourning the close bond they once shared with his children (pictured with his parents and Angelina Jolie)

Pictures of twins Knox and Vivienne, now 16, with Brad's niece Sydney (above) reveal just how close the cousins were before the couple's bitter divorce tore them apart

'The kids were young, so any contact had to go through their mom. And now, almost nine years later, they have no relationship.'

Shortly after their split, Brad admitted he had a drinking problem and entered therapy, spending a year-and-a-half in Alcoholics Anonymous.

Then in 2020, he publicly thanked pal Bradley Cooper for helping him to get sober.

For William, also known as Bill, 83, and Jane, 84, all their attempts to try and maintain a relationship with their beloved grandchildren has so far been in vain.

'His parents still send cards at Christmas and for birthdays even though they get no response,' the insider continued.

Bill and Jane, who was incredibly fond Brad's first wife Jennifer Aniston, are also parents to Doug Pitt and Julie Neal, whose children they are close to.

Doug has Sydney, Landon and Regan with his wife Lisa, while Julie is mom to Caleb, twin daughters Josie and Rylie, as well as adopted sons Caden and Cruz, whom she shares with her husband Scott Neal.

The close knit family regularly share images with their cousins and grandparents on Instagram, with Brad's children featuring frequently in past posts - something that stopped in the wake of his split from Angelina.

Brad's niece Sydney appeared to voice her sadness at the lack of contact with her cousins in February 2017 when she shared a picture of Knox and Vivienne in Santa Barbara and wrote: 'Missing my babies & this place a little more than usual today.'

A source said: 'It was so important to Brad for the kids to know their cousins especially when Angelina is estranged from her dad and brother' (Vivienne pictured with her cousin Sydney)

Sydney shared a picture of the twins in February 2017, five months after the incident on the plane, telling followers she was missing them (pictured)

Revealing how close the family had once been, the source added: 'They would go to Missouri for family gatherings several times a year and spend weeks together at Brads California home in the summer.

'It was so important to Brad for the kids to know their cousins especially when Angelina is estranged from her dad and brother.'

Images taken over the years show the children spending time at Brad's $20million oceanfront estate with their cousins during family vacations.

They were dealt fresh heartache when Zahara dropped 'Pitt' from her last name in November 2023, before Vivienne followed suit in June this year. Shiloh joined them in August when she paid for her own lawyer to officially ditch 'Pitt.'

'The Pitt family are close-knit, and they wear their last name like a badge of honor,' the source explained. 'The fact that some of Brads children have chosen to drop this is mind-boggling. The family cant understand it.'

They added: 'Granted, Shi was showing solidarity with her mom, but it was made clear where she stands.'

But despite this, the family 'will continue to keep their doors open' and are hopeful that 'some of the kids will be able to see the importance of family as they get older and will reach out.'

Brad shares daughter Shiloh, 18, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 16, as well as three adopted children Maddox, 23, Pax, 20 and Zahara, 19, with the actress

The close knit family regularly share images with their cousins and grandparents on Instagram - but have not posted pictures with Brad's children since 2016

The Pitt family pictured together with Angelina and the children at a gathering several years before they split

A source close to Angelina said: 'She has not blocked communication of any kind. The kids send Christmas and birthday gifts to their grandparents, and they have seen them and been in touch.'

Bill and Jane were last pictured in public with their grandchildren at the 2014 premiere for Angelina's movie, Unbroken.

Brad took the children and his parents along to the Hollywood premiere in place of the actress - who had come down with a case of chickenpox.

Jane had nothing but praise for Angelina at the time and told reporters: 'We're so very proud of Angie. This means so much to our family, especially our grandchildren. We love her dearly.'

Angelina had talked fondly of Brad's parents in the past for how they had accepted her adopted children.

'When I first met them I came in with two adopted children from other countries and I didn't know how they were going to be,' she said. 'But they are equally loving with them.'

By 2016, the Maleficent actress had filed for divorce after only two years of marriage and familial relations were seemingly severed.

Three years later in 2019, Brad and Angelina were declared legally single. However, the stars are still embroiled in an ongoing battle over their Chateau Miraval estate.

The source added: 'They would go to Missouri for family gatherings several times a year and spend weeks together at Brads California home in the summer'

The pair's youngest children, twins Knox and Vivienne, have recently stepped out with their mother at industry events, with the latter dropping 'Pitt' from her last name

Brad's relationship with his children has deteriorated to the point where he has 'virtually no contact' with the eldest three.

The actress has been accused of deliberately trying to drive a wedge between Brad and their six children over the years.

After she walked arm-in-arm with Knox at the Governors Awards on Monday, a source told DailyMail.com that Brad feels she has turned their brood against him.

'Of course, it bothers him that Angelina has turned them against him,' they said. 'She did this while they were all young and they didnt even get a chance to make up their minds about him.

'He believes that, in time, his children will come back into his life.'

Back in May, former British SAS solider Tony Webb, who worked for the family for more than 20 years from 2000, claimed that his colleague told him he overheard Angelina 'encouraging the children to avoid spending time with Pitt during custody visits.'

Court filings lodged at LA Superior Court detailing the explosive claims were made public as part of the ongoing 'War of the Roses', with the A-List couple stuck in a battle over her rights to sell their French vineyard.

The former power couple - who wed at the Provence, Southern France estate in 2014  are set to face off in court next year.
Ray Hadley shocked listeners earlier this month when he announced he was hanging up his mic for good in December.

And as the 70-year-old's retirement looms, speculation is hot over who will take his seat at Channel Nine's flagship station, 2GB.

Front runners include current 2GB personalities Ben Fordham, and Chris O'Keefe.

But since Channel Nine management has the summer to settle on the host's ultimate successor, a bizarre theory has emerged about how 2GB plans to fill the void left by Hadley in the meantime.

Instead of popping in a stand-in announcer for Hadley's regular 9-12pm slot, there's now speculation that presenters will 'likely' have their shifts 'extended', according to The Daily Telegraph.

There's been no confirmation from 2GB management over their plans.

Ray Hadley astounded listeners earlier this month when he announced he was hanging up his mic for good in December. As the 70-year-old's retirement looms, speculation is hot over who will take his seat at Channel Nine's flagship station, 2GB. (Pictured)

Instead of popping in a stand-in announcer for Hadley's regular 9-12pm slot, there's now speculation that presenters will 'likely' have their shifts 'extended' before a full-time successor is announced. Pictured: Ben Fordham

Meanwhile, insiders are tipping 2GB's reigning breakfast show host Ben Fordham as his likely replacement.

The tireless talkback presenter has repeatedly shown he is more than capable of winning over a crowd.

He was given the almost impossible task of replacing 2GB's all-powerful Alan Jones four years ago and has since proved a runaway success at retaining the station's critical early morning audience.

He's well-known to audiences after doing impressive stints with Sky News, A Current Affair and 60 Minutes.

The only drawback? The internal shuffle would just create further headaches for Nine Radio execs who would then have to replace him at breakfast.

There's also much talk about Nine reporter Chris O'Keefe comfortably slotting into Hadley's old chair.

Currently wowing 2GB listeners in the station's 3-6pm drive time slot he impressed management as Nine Sydney's state political editor before switching formats.

Also in the mix to replace Hadley is talkback veteran Jason Morrison.

Front runners for Hadley's gig include current 2GB stars Ben Fordham and Chris O'Keefe (pictured)

He kicked off his lengthy media career at 2GB as a cadet reporter in 1989 at the tender age of 17.

Just 10 years later he was the station's director of news - the youngest person to ever hold the role  and been giving a weekly newspaper column.

Like Fordham and O'Keefe, Morrison is a veteran of 2GB's drivetime slot, hosting the show between 2008 and 2010.

He was also Alan Jones regular fill-in host at breakfast during the golden age of talkback and, according to industry legend, even out-rated him during one extended stint before defecting to rival 2UE.

Morrison eventually left radio for the glitz and glamour of television during an eight-year run as Seven's Sydney news director before taking some time out with his young family last year.

There is currently speculation that Sydney's 2SM are pursuing him for a major role.

Insiders are also pointing to former Nine player Liam Bartlett.

The award-winning journalist is a favourite among executives across all of the country's commercial networks - and was even a headline act at the national broadcaster for a while  due to his hard-hitting, take-no-prisoners approach to interviews.

This year he made headlines for his chat with billionaire former media baron James Packer and for breaking the 'fake gun shots' scandal enveloping the ABC.

A former presenter A Current Affair and 60 minutes, he's also worked for Seven's Spotlight.

After leaving 60 Minutes for the second time five years ago, he enjoyed a successful stint at 2GB's sister station 6PR in his hometown of Perth.

Sources said he enjoyed a strong relationship with Nine Radio boss Tom Malone while the duo worked together at 60 Minutes and that he shouldn't be ruled out of contention.
A wild viral theory has suggested that Keanu Reeves had refused to hand Whoopi Goldberg a Lifetime Achievement Award - but many are left wondering if it is true.

The controversy began when a user on X (formally Twitter) named @SaveAmericaNew took to the social networking site to post something about the two stars which gained quite a bit of traction online.

They posted that the 60-year-old John Wick star turned down the opportunity to present the 69-year-old The View host - who recently reveled who she thinks is Donald Trump's 'actual vice president' - with an honor.

@SaveAmericaNew wrote: 'BREAKING: Keanu Reeves Refuses to Present Whoopi Goldbergs Lifetime Achievement Award: "Shes Not a Good Person"

'Do you support this? YES OR NO'

The post has already amassed 3.3million views with 133K likes and 9.8K retweets.

A wild viral theory has suggested that Keanu Reeves had refused to hand Whoopi Goldberg a Lifetime Achievement Award - but many are left wondering if it is true

However, the post was quickly debunked by X's Community Notes.

They wrote: 'Context. This was a headline in the Dunning Kruger Times which is a known satire site.'

Community Notes is a function on the microblogging site which adds context to potentially misleading posts.

The Dunning-Kruger Times is a satire site which boasts that they are: 'a subsidiary of the "Americas Last Line of Defense" network of parody, satire, and tomfoolery, or as Snopes called it before they lost their war on satire: Junk News.'

Their website even writes that everything they publish is 'fiction' as they explained: 'If you believe that this is real, you should have your head examined.'

It remains unclear if Keanu and Whoopi have any type of relationship.

However, they did appear on an episode of The Graham Norton Show in 2017.

Keanu was promoting John Wick: Chapter 2 at the time while Whoopi promoted her Stand Up Live! Tour.

The controversy began when a user on X (formally Twitter) named @SaveAmericaNew took to the social networking site to post something about the two stars which gained quite a bit of traction online

They posted that the 60-year-old John Wick star turned down the opportunity to present the 69-year-old The View host with an honor

However, the post was quickly debunked by X's Community Notes

It remains unclear if Keanu and Whoopi have any type of relationship, however, they did appear on an episode of The Graham Norton Show in 2017.

Whoopi has been at the center of a lot of social media hate recently due to her political takes centered around US President Elect Donald Trump.

On Thursday she made waves as she said she believes Elon Musk is Donald Trump's true vice president, and not his running mate JD Vance.

On The View, Goldberg theorized Vance, 40, was merely second-in-command on an 'interim' basis as she noted Musk's growing influence over the future administration.

She questioned why Musk had not yet given up the social media platform he controversially purchased in 2022, X, in light of his affiliation with the president-elect, 78.

'I believe Elon Musk is the actual vice president. Yes, I believe that,' she said, adding Vance is 'kind of an interim.'

'But I believe that Musk, he's the real actual vice president. He's making decisions, he's doing things. So I think, "Why doesn't he have to give up X?"... I'm musing.'

Trump and his 'First Buddy' Musk have remained seemingly inseparable over the last two weeks as the pair attended the UFC match together and Musk joined Trump for family meals and photos.

Musk has joined Trump on calls with world leaders and, as a member of the administration's transition team, has weighed in on staffing decisions.

On election night, Musk and his young son, named X, joined the Trump family photo at the urging of Trump, and Trumps granddaughter in the days after said that Musk had achieved 'uncle status', reported Politico.

A Trump-Vance transition spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, told the outlet: 'Elon Musk and President Trump are great friends and brilliant leaders working together to Make America Great Again.

Whoopi Goldberg believes Elon Musk is Donald Trump 's true vice president, and not his running mate JD Vance

Goldberg, 69, theorized Vance was merely second-in-command on an 'interim' basis as she noted Musk's growing influence over the future administration

'Elon Musk is a once in a generation businessman and our federal bureaucracy will certainly benefit from his ideas and efficiency.'

Trump had repeatedly mentioned Musk and his space-related feats on his campaign trail.

'Did you see the way that sucker landed today?' Trump said in early October. 'It only needs a new paint job. That's a lot cheaper than building a new one, right?'

At another October rally, he added: 'Elon is a great guy, he's one of our geniuses. We have to protect our geniuses, and we have to take care of our geniuses. There aren't too many of them.'
Kelly Ripa displayed an 'unauthorized' nearly nude photo of her husband Mark Consuelos.

On Friday's episode of Live with Kelly and Mark, the 54-year-old talk show host announced that the Riverdale star was Stuart Weitzman first men's global brand ambassador by showing off sultry campaign photos of her man.

The proud wife proceeded to go off-script and took it upon herself to give fans a glimpse of her lock screen.

She flashed a smoldering photo of the 53-year-old actor wearing just a half-apron protecting his modesty as his washboard abs stole the show.

Ripa rhapsodized: 'I'm happy to announces that Mark, yes our Mark, Mark Consuelos, is the first-ever Stuart Weitzman men's Global brand ambassador. I got a hold of some of the photos from the photo shoot. Believe it or not this man is selling shoes. That's right, shoes.'

Flaunting the never-before-seen photo, she said: 'I just wanted to show you the screensaver on my phone  which is a photo that wasn't approved. But I think this unauthorized photo needs too be seen.'

Kelly Ripa displayed an 'unauthorized' nearly nude photo of her husband Mark Consuelos on Friday.

She flashed a smoldering photo of the 53-year-old actor wearing just a half-apron protecting his modesty as his washboard abs stole the show

The live-studio audience erupted in cheers and hoots as she silenced Mark and proudly displayed the image, leaving him speechless.

Kelly also revealed that the Stuart Weitzman campaign plastered similar images of the hunky host on billboards across New York City.

She quipped, 'You can see him at the corner of 54th Street and Broadway which is practically where I met him 30 years ago.'

Mark went on to explain that he was honored and 'so excited' to be the luxury brand's first global brand ambassador, adding there were 'racks and racks of beautiful clothes' on set.

To which his wife said wittily, 'None one of which you wore.'

In other images from the risque photoshoot, the actor modeled a fur-lined jacket, boxers and the brand's 'Adam Boot' while flaunting his incredibly muscular physique.

And in another, the Emmy-winner sat wearing just boxers and the brand's 'Aiden Boot,' which the Stuart Weitzman company shared via Instagram.

Mark said in a press release: 'I am thrilled to be named Stuart Weitzmans first-ever Mens global ambassador. I know the brand because of my wife, who has many blue shoeboxes in her closet. Im honored to be thought of as the definition of the Stuart Weitzman man.

The Stuart Weitzman campaign plastered similar images of the hunky host on billboards across New York City

'When I told her about the campaign concept of strong, sophisticated and sexy, she encouraged me to go for it  and put all my hours in the gym to good use!'

The two boots he models in the campaign retail for $675 and $595.

Kaisy Mae OReilly, the brand's Chief Marketing Officer, explained that Mark was carefully selected because for the gig because Stuart Weitzman wanted someone who 'celebrat[ed] modern womanhood.'

Mark Consuelos is the first-ever Stuart Weitzman men's Global brand ambassador

The Emmy-winner sat wearing just boxers and the brand's 'Aiden Boot,' which retails for $595

She said in the same press release: 'At Stuart Weitzman, everything we do is born from our purpose of inspiring women with confidence, as well as finding meaningful ways to engage her.

'With our recent launch into Mens, it was important that we chose a brand ambassador who represents a continuation of our brands narrative of celebrating modern womanhood.'

And of course, Mark fit the description  having been supportive of his wife Kelly for over 28 years.

'Mark famously adores and supports Kelly, and we believe there is nothing sexier than that. This campaign shines a spotlight on men just like him,' O'Reilly finished.
Martha Stewart looked stunning in cream as she enjoyed a night out Thursday in New York City.

The lifestyle influencer, 83, who has been accused of lying about conditions in prison during her stint behind bars in the documentary Martha, attended the opening of the Aritzia flagship boutique in Soho.

The Martha Cooks star was dazzling in a cream toned hoodie with matching pants.

She wore taupe ankle boots and kept warm in a camel toned all-weather coat.

Her shoulder length blonde hair was parted on the side.

The Bad Moms actress' makeup looked natural under the bright lights.

Martha Stewart, 82, stunned in a cream toned pantsuit with a hoodie top at the Aritzia flagship store grand opening in New York City Thursday night. She stepped out in taupe ankle boots and covered up in a camel-toned all weather jacket

She accessorized with dangling pearl earrings and carried a brown shoulder bag.

While there, Stewart rubbed shoulders with Aritzia CEO Jennifer Wong and former CEO Brian Hills. She also met up with DuJour media founder and CEO Jason Binn, with whom she has a long relationship.

Since the release of the Martha documentary on Netflix, the media star has received a good share of backlash for what she has said about and in the film.

Stewart participated in the project, granting extensive on-camera interviews for it, but has been publicly scathing about the finished product .

She complained that the film was 'lazy' and 'left a lot out,' to the point she hopes to approach the streaming service about cutting together a 'Version Two.'

Filmmaker RJ Cutler, who has previously directed documentaries about Anna Wintour, Billie Eilish, John Belushi and Elton John, was frank about his creative differences with the subject of his latest feature on the podcast The Town With Matthew Belloni.

'Martha saw the film and she told me what she thought about it, and it wasnt surprising to me that she wouldve made a different film that I made, of course,' he said.

'And she gave me her feedback, and she was upset that I didnt make the changes that she wanted to me, but this is process,' Cutler argued.

While there, Stewart rubbed shoulders with Aritzia CEO Jennifer Wong

She was also seen chatting with Aritzia former CEO Brian Hills

The outing was an opportunity to catch up with old friend, DuJour Media founder and CEO Jason Binn (left)

'It takes a tremendous amount of courage on her part to trust me. I respect that,' he said, 'and in return I share the film with her and have conversations with her about the film.'

'If she has ideas that I think are good ideas and will help the film that Im making, Ill take a good idea from everybody, believe me.'

For now, the domestic maven has been focusing on what she does best, offering advice for entertaining on Thanksgiving. On Friday, she uploaded a video promoting a recipe for an apple-cider donut cake that 'tastes like a giant, cinnamon-sugar-dusted donut.'

'Oh yum. I'm going to make this this weekend,' wrote one fan, adding 'Will report back!'
Kim Kardashian's fans took to the comments section of her latest Instagram post to share their opinions on her look.

The 44-year-old California-born beauty was wearing a rosary around her neck when modeling white lingerie from Skims.

The rosary is a Catholic prayer and the string of beads or knots used to count the prayers. The Rosary begins with the Apostles' Creed and the Our Father, and includes the Hail Mary, Glory Be, and other prayers.

The mother of four was modeling a new white bra and underwear from her collaboration with D&G. It is called D&GxSKIMS. There were a total of four new snaps.

'Rosary and lingerie? That is wild,' said one follower while another added, 'Shame on her!'

One fan said, 'Madonna did this first 40 years ago.' Indeed the Skims shoot did look inspired from Madonna's video Like A Virgin from 1984.

Kim Kardashian's fans took to the comments section of her latest Instagram post to share their opinions on her look

The 44-year-old California-born beauty was wearing a rosary around her neck when modeling white lingerie from Skims. The rosary is a Catholic prayer and the string of beads or knots used to count the prayers

On Instagram a caption reads: 'Dolce&Gabbana and SKIMS unite to reveal curve-enhancing pieces for everyday confidence and unmatched sensuality.

'The limited-edition collection launches on Tuesday, November 19 at 9AM ET on SKIMS.com, in SKIMS stores and in select #DolceGabbana boutiques.

'Photography: @nadialeecohen. #DGxSKIMS.'

This comes after Kim talked about parenting alone these days.

When chatting to her best friend Zoe Winkler  whose father is Henry Winkler of Happy Days fame  on the iHeart What The Winkler? podcast, the SKIMS founder said she feels like a single parent.

That is because her ex-husband Kanye West has been in Japan for months with his new wife Bianca Censori. In fact, the rapper has not been seen with his children in about 57 days.

The bad boy of music was last seen with his four children in September. The four kids are daughters North, 11, and Chicago, 6, and sons Saint, 8, and Psalm, 5.

The Rosary begins with the Apostles' Creed and the Our Father, and includes the Hail Mary, Glory Be, and other prayers. The mother of four was modeling a new white bra and underwear from her collaboration with D&G. It is called D&GxSKIMS

There were a total of four new snaps. 'Rosary and lingerie? That is wild,' said one follower while another added, ' Madonna did this first 40 years ago.' Indeed the shoot did look inspired from Madonna's video Like A Virgin from 1985

Here is a closer look at Kim's black beaded rosary with a cross on the bottom

She may have been inspired by Madonna who wore sexy clothes and crosses for Like A Virgin from 1984

Zoe said Kardashian's parenting situation is 'insane,' to which reality star replied, 'Yeah.' Kim also told Winkler that she doesn't talk about raising her kids a lot because it comes with 'a lot of judgment'.

'You and I have mostly connected on parenting and judgment, and you know, feeling like sometimes youre in this alone,' she shared.

And she added that she is 'basically raising four kids by [herself] here.'

The reality TV wonder goes on to say she feels like a 'pit stop of a race car driver' because she juggles so much and admitted to feeling overwhelmed.

'Even though we have great support systems and we have people around us, but sometimes in the middle of the night when [the kids are] all sleeping in your bed, kicking you and crying and waking up, like, it is,' she said, before trialing off.

Kim also modeled this look earlier this week on Instagram

In the new ads, she looks like her idol Elizabeth Taylor as she models lingerie in what looks like an old town in Italy with senior citizens around her

Her co-model was older sister Kourtney Kardashian who presents her slim post-baby body after welcoming fourth child Rocky Barker

'It's not something I talk about a lot because I feel like there is always a lot of judgment. Or people will always jump to the, "Oh, but you have the resources to have nannies and to have help."'

And Kim revealed that she drives all four kids to school every single day as that's her 'bonding time' with them.

'That's what's really important to me driving them to school every single day is just what I have to do no matter what [my] work schedule [is],' the doting mom said.

Though she admitted that her mornings can he quite hectic, telling Zoe 'it's madness.'

'I mean, even carpool this morning, I had five kids that I had to take, two came over, and everyone leaves and wants to leave at like, different times and wants different stuff,' she explained.

Kim also told Winkler that she doesn't talk about raising her kids a lot because it comes with 'a lot of judgment'; Kardashian with all four of her children

'I feel like I'm at, like, a pitstop of a racecar driver, when it's like, "Brush your teeth, brush your teeth, brush your teeth, brush your teeth, OK, get dressed, get dressed, do your hair."'

The Kardashian star explained: 'Sometimes I like when kids work it out themselves, and they figured it out themselves. Sometimes we have to intervene.'

The beauty mogul added that she sometimes isn't harsh enough with her children and doesn't always 'make a big enough deal of things', but noted that she has started to 'put my foot down'.

'If I don't do this now and fight through the tears, as uncomfortable as that is, then they are always going to get their way,' the reality star noted. 'The lesson won't be learned.'

The last time Kanye was photographed with his children was when they performed together at his album event in China on September 15. That is 57 days ago.

The rapper and designer has been in Japan with his wife.
MANZINI - Unique!

This is one of the adjectives that best describe the Global Network Aid march, which was aimed at sensitising the public about the 16 days of activism against gender based violence (GBV), which was led by men, in particular public transport workers, who were dressed like women. The march was held in Manzini yesterday and it started at Manzini Market to Manzini Bus Rank, via Manzini Police Station. The 16 days of activism against GBV runs between November 25 and December 10.

Global Network Aid Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Thabiso Motsa said the concept behind having the public transport workers wearing women clothes, is to encourage men to support their mothers, wives, sisters and daughters in the fight against GBV, as they are the vulnerable population.The CEO said their aim is to tackle the issue of GBV from a different angle, one that would effectively draw attention in a comedic, yet serious manner. He said this is because generally, people listen and pay attention to issues raised in a light and not-so-serious manner; therefore they came up with the idea of having men dressed like women at the forefront of the march.

He said as an organisation, they believe they have made the desired impact because indeed the dressing up as women caught the attention of the members of the public in the city. We also noted that people were taking video clips and pictures which trended on social media platforms, which meant that our message did not only reach those who in Manzini and the streets we marched on, but a much bigger audience in and out of the country, Motsa said.

He emphasised that having men dressed in that manner is their way of showing respect to women and pledging their support in the challenges they (women) are facing, with the ever-increasing cases of GBV. He added that studies have shown that one in three women in the Kingdom of Eswatini experience GBV related encounters by the time they reach the age of 18 years. It is worth noting that in the country, the issue of GBV is so serious such that over the years, a number of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have been calling for it (GBV) to be declared as a National Emergency. Some of the organisations even petitioned the Deputy Prime Ministers Office.

During one of the public events, former Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Themba Masuku once said he was aware that are calls that government, in particular the DPM;s Office, should declare GBV a National Emergency. In response to the calls, he said maybe personally, he would like to do that, but could not wake up in the morning and do it. In that regard, he called upon all entities that have or were pushing the narrative that GBV should be declared as a National Emergency to approach his office to have proper discussion over the matter. He said the discussions would include, where emaSwati got it wrong, among other things.

He emphasised that anybody who wants to stop GBV, like him, should contact the office of the Principal Sectary (PS) in his (DPMs) office and arrangements for engagements would be made. Do not send petitions, but come and let us engage, Masuku was quoted saying. He said he had never chased anybody away from his office. He also added that maybe he was on the same narrative, but emphasised the importance of proper engagements on the subjects.
Lindsay Lohan has shared how she plans to spend the holidays with her family, husband Bader Shammas and their young son Luai.

While promoting her new film Our Little Secret, the 38-year-old actress  who just dished on her skincare routine  spoke with Extra about creating new seasonal traditions.

'We have our son now, so were going to have new traditions,' she said about her 16-month-old child. 'So maybe well have something thats different that he ends up liking that we create for him.'

Lohan gave birth to son Luai in July 2023 after announcing her pregnancy in March.

'Lindsay Lohan and her financier husband, Bader Shammas, welcomed a beautiful, healthy son named Luai. The family is over the moon in love,' a rep for the actress shared with DailyMail.com at the time.

In November 2021, the Herbie: Fully Loaded actress took to Instagram to announce her engagement to Shammas.

Lindsay Lohan has shared how she plans to spend the holidays with her family - husband Bader Shammas and their young son Luai; pictured on November 18

'We have our son now, so were going to have new traditions,' she said about her 16-month-old child in a new interview. 'So maybe well have something thats different that he ends up liking that we create for him'

She showed off her diamond ring as she posed with her new fiance, writing in the caption: 'My love. My life. My family. My future.'

Bader and Lindsay have been linked since they were spotted together at a music festival in Dubai shortly before the pandemic hit in 2020.

Lindsay quietly wed her partner in 2022 and revealed the news as she referred to him as her 'husband' in a gushing Instagram message that she posted on her 36th birthday.

She wrote, 'I am the luckiest woman in the world. You found me and knew that I wanted to find happiness and grace, all at the same time. I am stunned that you are my husband. My life and my everything. Every woman should feel like this everyday.'

To celebrate their one-year wedding anniversary in 2023, she shared a loved-up selfie with Bader on social media.

The Mean Girls sensation wrote in the accompanying caption, 'April 3, 2023. 1 year today. Happy Anniversary.'

The image was uploaded as a joint post between her and her beau, whose Instagram account is private.

The twosome have kept their son's identity private, not yet sharing a photo of him with the world.

Lohan gave birth to son Luai in July 2023 after announcing her pregnancy in March

The couple, who wed in 2022, pictured in March at the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscar Party

In June she paid tribute to Shammas on Instagram, wishing him a happy birthday with a sentimental post.

Sharing a single snapshot of the two, she gushed, 'Happy Birthday to my incredible husband. I love you more than words can express!

'I am so grateful for you. You are the most amazing man, father, husband, son and brother.'

The sweet note concluded, 'To all of the beautiful years filled with good health, happiness and love to come. I love you I love you I love you. Happy Birthday!'
Coleen Rooney is rumoured to be in the running for TV presenting roles as a result of her stint on I'm A Celebrity.

ITV bosses are hoping to 'capitalise on Coleen's girl next door charm' and loyal fan base by offering her a big money TV deal, it has been reported.

A source told The Sun that there are hopes Coleen will be the next Holly Willoughby and present a host of shows backed by advertisers.

Coleen is followed by over one million people on social media with fans quick to replicate her looks - a reach TV bosses are keen to make the most of.

The source said: 'Coleen already brings with her the Midas touch when it comes to endorsing the kinds of products which ITV's advertisers sell.

Coleen Rooney is rumoured to be in the running for TV presenting roles as a result of her stint on I'm A Celebrity

A source told The Sun that there are hopes Coleen will be the next Holly Willoughby and present a host of shows backed by advertisers

'She has over a million followers on Instagram alone, and most of them scan her pictures and observe everything she wears and buys.'

They added: 'But Coleen has the girl-next-door charm of someone like Holly to connect with millions of ordinary shoppers in a way that few other stars do.'

The source added that advertisers and TV bosses will be keeping an eye on how Coleen's jungle stint goes and how she lands with the public - with big pay outs on the table if she is received well.

MailOnline contacted Coleen's representatives and ITV for comment.

It comes after super sleuth Coleen got suspicious about the true nature of the Jungle Junkyard during Friday night's episode.

The WAG, 38, got her impressive investigative skills back to work to try and uncover what is really going on at Maura Higgins and Reverend Richard Coles' camp.

Fans were quick to compare Coleen's detective skills to her infamous Wagatha Christie case, with some viewers joking she's 'better than MI6'.

Coleen put a widely-shared post on Instagram which accused Rebekah of leaking 'false stories' about her private life to the press.

ITV bosses are hoping to 'capitalise on Coleen's girl next door charm' and loyal fan base by offering her a big money TV deal, it has been reported

Coleen is followed by over one million people on social media with fans quick to replicate her looks - a reach TV bosses are keen to make the most of

Wagatha Christie is the popular name given to Coleen and Rebekah's 1.8 million court case, which culminated in a 2022.

Rebekah denied the allegations and sued Coleen for libel, but the case  dubbed the 'Wagatha Christie' trial  found in Coleen's favour, and left Rebekah liable to pay 1.5 million towards Coleen's legal fees.

As dinner time loomed in main camp on Friday, the celebrities were told they would have to sacrifice part of their spread to ensure Junkyard campmates Maura, Richard and newbie Dean got to eat.

Volunteering to deliver the goods, Coleen and Danny Jones headed over to the Junkyard - but after seeing the camp's conditions they left a little suspicious.

Dean was sent to join Maura and Richard in the Junkyard after the duo were forced to make a difficult during The High Street of Horrors Bushtucker Trial alongside McFly's Danny.

The source said: 'Coleen already brings with her the Midas touch when it comes to endorsing the kinds of products which ITV 's advertisers sell'

The source added that advertisers and TV bosses will be keeping an eye on how Coleen's jungle stint goes and how she lands with the public - with big pay outs on the table if she is received well

Maura and Richard kept up the pretence, feigning they would have to endure another night of sleeping on the floor.

Until Maura told Dean: 'The only half decent thing we have over here, this red button, press that, it's actually quite interesting. It's not great but it's something.'

As Dean pressed the button, he too was let in on the Jungle Junkyard secret. Rendered speechless, he whispered: 'You've got to be kidding me!'

Dean was clearly impressed with Maura and Richard's acting skills, as he told Maura: 'The BAFTA is coming!'
JK Rowling has been defended by TV chiefs after her role in a new Harry Potter series met with a backlash because of her views on transgender issues.

The American production company HBO has been inundated with complaints about the author serving as an executive producer on the show.

In a statement it said: 'We are proud to once again tell the story of Harry Potter  the heart-warming books that speak to the power of friendship, resolve and acceptance. JK Rowling has a right to express her personal views.

'We will remain focused on the development of the new series, which will only benefit from her involvement.'

While some fans seemed unenthused by the prospect of a TV series, deeming a fresh adaptation 'unnecessary', others say they will boycott it because of Ms Rowling's comments on trans people.

In 2020 she said she believed women were defined by their biological sex and not their gender identity.

A social media user wrote on X, formerly Twitter: 'This is blatantly stupid. HBO has a track record of producing some of the greatest shows, from The Sopranos to Succession, but for them to appease JK Rowling for her extreme views is only making things worse.'

Another wrote: 'My fellow anti-Harry Potter activists: please, don't even hate watch the new version when it comes out.'

J.K. Rowling (pictured) has been defended by TV chiefs after her role in a new Harry Potter series met with a backlash because of her views on transgender issues.

The HBO chief executive Casey Bloys (pictured) revealed this month that Rowling was 'very, very involved in the process selecting the writer and the director'

In recent years, Ms Rowling has been ostracised by key cast members of the original films for her remarks about the trans community.

Her connection with the actors - including Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint  as well as with fans, has deteriorated as the debate has grown more divisive.

The HBO chief executive Casey Bloys revealed this month that Rowling was 'very, very involved in the process selecting the writer and the director'.

He noted her statements 'haven't affected the casting or hiring of writers or productions staff' for the show.

A spokesman for Warner Bros, HBO's parent company, said: 'We've been working with JK Rowling and in the Harry Potter business for over 20 years and her contribution has been invaluable.'

The new Harry Potter series, set to premiere in 2026, promises a deeper exploration of the wizarding world. Screenwriter Francesca Gardiner, known for her work on Succession, will serve as showrunner, with Mark Mylod directing multiple episodes and also executive producing.

'This new Max Original series will dive deep into each of the iconic books,' Mr Bloys said, assuring audiences it will be 'a faithful adaptation'.

While initial reports suggested each season would cover one book, Mr Bloys has hinted the series could run for 'ten consecutive years'.

Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, J.K. Rowling and Rupert Grint at the premiere for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 in November 2010

An open casting call was announced for young actors to portray Harry, Ron, and Hermione, requiring applicants to be aged 9 to 11 by April 2025. Recognisable faces are being touted for the adult roles, including Mark Rylance as Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore.

Warner Bros, which made the original eight Harry Potter films and the Fantastic Beasts spin-offs, previously addressed JK Rowling's statements in 2020, saying: 'Fostering a diverse and inclusive culture has never been more important to our company and to our audiences around the world.

'We deeply value the work of our storytellers who give so much of themselves in sharing their creations with us all.

'We recognise our responsibility to foster empathy and advocate understanding of all communities and all people, particularly those we work with and those we reach through our content.'
Roxy Jacenko showed off her very slim figure as she attended the opening of STAX.'s flagship store at Sydney's Pitt Street Mall.

The PR queen, 44, was dressed head to toe in black activewear as she made an appearance despite relocating her family to Singapore last year.

Wearing a black crop top, Roxy displayed her toned abs and arms while pairing the look with matching leggings.

Her blonde locks were styled in a loose wave and she accessorised with blue and white sneakers, gold designer bracelets and a dainty necklace.

Roxy reached her goal weight of 51.9kg last month after shedding 15 kilograms, and recently revealed exactly how she has managed to keep the weight off.

She told Daily Mail Australia she maintains her slim physique by doing daily contrast therapy, which involves taking baths in warm and cold water from Monday to Friday.

Roxy Jacenko (pictured) showed off her very slim figure as she attended the opening of STAX.'s flagship store at Sydney's Pitt Street Mall

This method is believed to help to improve blood circulation throughout your body.

She also does 40 minutes in an infra-red sauna each day before completing a 45-minute workout on the treadmill at speed 6 and rolling hills, all while doing low weight exercises.

Roxy also revealed she eats just one meal a day at dinner and it is focused on protein only.

'I don't do breakfast or lunch, instead I do dinner at 7pm each day which is focused on protein only and salad,' she explained.

'Last night I had grilled calamari, rocket pear and Parmesan salad. If I'm desperate for something sweet, I have dark chocolate covered sultanas.'

Roxy also has an AG1 supplement, which includes multiple vitamins, minerals, probiotics and plant compounds, every morning.

She said she only drinks alcohol on the weekend if she has an occasion and limits herself to two drinks.

Other stars who turned out at the event were Elle Ferguson and her husband Joel Patfull.

Elle Ferguson and her husband Joel Patfull also attended the event

Sally Obermeder and celebrity makeup artist Max May posed together for a photo outside the brand new store

NRL legend Benji Marshall repped the brand in a black T-shirt alongside his wife Zoe

The influencer showcased her chic sense of style in a black, sleeveless top and baggy khaki trousers, while Joel looked casual in a white T-shirt and black pants.

Sally Obermeder and celebrity makeup artist Max May posed together for a photo outside the brand new store.

The Real Housewives of Sydney star looked effortlessly stylish in a matching denim top and mini skirt, while Max wore a loose-fitting white collared shirt and baggy jeans.

NRL legend Benji Marshall repped the brand in one of their black T-shirts alongside his wife Zoe, who wore a mesh one piece top and jeans.

Elsewhere, pregnant actress Casey Burgess showed off her growing baby bump in a flowy strapless cream top and matching pants.

She opted for comfort with a pair of white sneakers.

STAX. CEO duo Don and Matilda Robertson looked stylish as they both arrived at the launch dressed in black.

Matilda rocked a ruched black maxi dress while her partner echoed the black memo in a casual T-shirt and trousers.

Pregnant actress Casey Burgess showed off her growing baby bump in a flowy strapless cream top and matching pants

STAX. CEO duo Don and Matilda Robertson looked stylish as they both arrived at the launch dressed in black

STAX. unveiled their official store in Sydney as a permanent retail location this week.

'Our goal was to design more than a store  it's a place to feel at ease, connected and inspired,' Don said.

Don, 35, and Matilda, 32, the founders and co-owners of the activewear brand, were placed 78th and 79th on the Financial Review's Young Rich List 2022, capping a remarkable rise for their business, which started in a spare room.

That year, their brand was worth a whopping $52million.

STAX. Sydney officially opens November 23rd at Westfield Sydney.
Kanye West has been accused of 'gagging' and choking America's Next Top Model alumna Jenn An until she blacked out, in a new federal lawsuit.

An is suing both West and Universal Music Group for gender-motivated violence over an incident she claims occurred during a music video shoot in 2010.

She claims that the experience felt more like 'pornographic gagging/deep throat/BDSM fetishes' than like filming a music video.

In her legal filing, she alleges that West, 47, placed her on a chair and instructed the director to put the camera on her - then choked her.

West then purportedly 'smothered' An's face with his hands and 'gagged her to emulate forced oral sex,' she asserted in court documents obtained by TMZ.

The new legal case comes a month after West's ex-assistant Lauren Pisciotta accused him of drugging and raping her at a Diddy party in her own lawsuit.

DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for West for comment.

Kanye West has been accused of 'gagging' and choking America's Next Top Model alumna Jenn An until she blacked out, in a new federal lawsuit; West pictured this March

An is suing both West and Universal Music Group for gender-motivated violence over an incident she claims occurred during a music video shoot in 2010; An is pictured that year

An claims her alleged encounter with West took place while shooting a music video at New York's Chelsea Hotel for his song In For The Kill with LaRoux.

West only featured on a remix of the track - not the original version - and he and An are not seen in the final cut of the music video.

In her lawsuit, An says she was hired to appear in the music video in 2010, the year after she was a contestant on America's Next Top Model.

She claims West enlisted her for the project by selecting her from a lineup of women, adding that he allegedly said: 'Give me the Asian girl.'

Her legal documents assert she was dressed in skimpy lingerie during the shoot, with West supposedly telling her: 'That's why I chose you.'

An accuses West of seating her on a chair opposite him, instructing the director to train the camera on her, then choking her.

She claims he then 'smothered' her face using his hands and 'rammed several fingers down her throat, continuously moved them in and out, and gagged her to emulate forced oral sex' for longer than one minute.

According to An's lawsuit, West shouted: 'This is art. This is f***ing art. I am like Picasso,' during the filming of the In For The Kill video.

West is pictured performing at The Cosmopolitan grand opening in Las Vegas on New Year's Eve 2010, the year An alleges the incident took place

An claims her alleged encounter with West took place while shooting a music video at New York's Chelsea Hotel for his song In For The Kill with LaRoux

In her lawsuit, An says she was hired to appear in the music video in 2010, the year after she was a contestant on America's Next Top Model; pictured in a publicity still for the reality show

An also alleges that LaRoux later told a friend that she had witnessed 'upsetting, unsettling' conduct during the shoot.

Universal Music Group is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit, with An claiming the record company and other 'high-profile figures' in the music industry attempted to 'bury' the alleged incident after the fact.

Last month, West's former assistant Lauren Pisciotta amended a prior lawsuit to allege that he drugged and raped her at a Diddy party.

Pisciotta, an influencer and former OnlyFans personality, originally sued West in June, accusing him of stalking her and sexually harassing her while she was employed by him in 2021 and 2022.

However, she updated the lawsuit in October, and the 88-page document obtained by DailyMail.com contained several more allegations.

She accused him of throwing purportedly notorious sex parties, forcing employees to draw swastikas and expressing neo-Nazi views.

Pisciotta claims West also wrongfully terminated her employment and then failed to pay her $3 million severance package - after he previously allegedly bragged to Jay-Z that he had promised her a $4 million annual wage.
Hattie Dynevor oozed sophistication in a pink lace corseted dress while Kym Marsh donned a bejewelled suit as they lead the stars at The RTS Awards.

The Waterloo Road actress, 21, who is the daughter of Coronation Street's Sally and Bridgerton's Phoebe, was among those in attendance at the event in Manchester on Friday.

Hattie looked stunning as she stepped out in the baby pink ruched gown, complete with capped sleeves and a boned corset.

Her dress was midi-length at the front exposing a pair of elegant nude heels and she swept her blonde locks behind her ears, displaying a pair of hold chunky earrings.

Meanwhile Hear'Say star Kym, 48, opted for a striking ensemble as she sported a black suit adorned with silver gems.

Hattie Dynevor oozed sophistication in a pink lace corseted dress while Kym Marsh donned a bejewelled suit as they lead the stars at The RTS Awards

The Waterloo Road actress, 21, who is the daughter of Coronation Street's Sally and Bridgerton's Phoebe, was among those in attendance at the event in Manchester on Friday

Kym paired the suit with silver metallic stilettos and a metal clutch bag, keeping her brunette locks down in a natural style.

She was joined by her daughter Emilie Mae Cunliffe, 27, who looked effortlessly chic in a black balloon-sleeved midi-dress.

Emilie's pleated dress was completed with a buckled belt and she paired it with sheer tights, ankle boots and a silver shoulder bag.

Her dark brown tresses were bundled into a top knot bun exposing a pair of chunky silver hoop earrings and a diamante bracelet.

Also in attendance at the event was Coronation Street and Waterloo Road actress Katie McGlynn.

Katie showed off her incredible figure in a black mesh cut-out gown with a leather clutch, as she tossed her golden hair into a bun.

Another Corrie star to step out was Helen Worth, who plays Gail Platt, as she donned a black satin suit.

Hattie looked stunning as she stepped out in the baby pink ruched gown, complete with capped sleeves and a boned corset

Meanwhile Hear'Say star Kym, 48, opted for a striking ensemble as she sported a black suit adorned with silver gems

Kym paired the suit with silver metallic stilettos and a metal clutch bag, keeping her brunette locks down in a natural style

She was joined by her daughter Emilie Mae Cunliffe, 27, who looked effortlessly chic in a black balloon-sleeved midi-dress

Emilie's pleated dress was completed with a buckled belt and she paired it with sheer tights, ankle boots and a silver shoulder bag

Also in attendance at the event was Coronation Street and Waterloo Road actress Katie McGlynn

Katie showed off her incredible figure in a black mesh cut-out gown with a leather clutch, as she tossed her golden hair into a bun

Helen finished off her look with a sheer lace blouse and flat pointed shoes as she took to the red carpet.

Also in attendance on behalf of Waterloo Road was Angela Griffin, who looked glamorous in a sequined jumpsuit.

Hollyoaks stars Jess Fox and Kieron Richardson also joined Isabelle Smith - who happened to arrive in the same pink dress as Hattie.

Hattie followed in her mother and sisters' footsteps when she signed up to act in Waterloo Road.

The series, about a troubled comprehensive school set in Rochdale, Lancashire, helped put her sister Phoebe, 29, on the map 16 years ago.

Phoebe was recently spotted on set with Zac Efron for their dark new thriller Famous for the first time.

Another Corrie star to step out was Helen Worth, who plays Gail Platt, as she donned a black satin suit

Also in attendance on behalf of Waterloo Road was Angela Griffin, who looked glamorous in a sequined jumpsuit

Hollyoaks stars Jess Fox and Kieron Richardson also joined Isabelle Smith

Isabelle happened to arrive in the same pink dress as Hattie

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 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.

Hattie and Phoebe's mother Sally Dynevor has played the part of Sally Metcalfe in Corrie for 27 years since 1986.

Their father Tim also started out as an actor before moving into a career as a writer, penning scripts for the likes of Emmerdale.
Stephanie Matto, 34, is a TV personality known for her appearance on the TLC reality show '90 Day Fiance' in 2020. She wrote a tell-all memoir, 'Empty Blood', about her experiences.

This year, like every other, Im hosting a big family Thanksgiving at my house in Connecticut.

My mother and stepfather are coming, and some of our relatives are even flying in from the Czech Republic to celebrate with us.

Ill be elbow-deep in a turkey in the kitchen most of the day, cooking up a traditional feast. There will be Champagne, pumpkin pie and yams aplenty.

But one thing wont be the same: this year, my brother isnt coming.

In fact, hes banned. I wont let him come  not after he voted for Donald Trump.

At 24, brother is a decade younger than me, but weve always been super close. He lived with me for a while, and talked all the time.

I've been lucky and certainly had my successes in life, so Ive always been happy to support him financially: I bought him a BMW when he turned 21, I pay his phone bill, and when he asks me for $50, Ill send him $100.

But a few months before the election, he changed.

Stephanie Matto, 34, is a TV personality known for her appearance on the TLC reality show '90 Day Fiance' in 2020. She wrote a tell-all memoir, 'Empty Blood', about her experiences.

Ill be elbow-deep in a turkey in the kitchen most of the day, cooking up a traditional feast. There will be Champagne, pumpkin pie and yams aplenty. But one thing wont be the same: this year, my brother (left) isnt coming.

He started sending me right-wing news stories and social media posts peddling conspiracy theories  all of which I tried to debunk or fact-check.

It was scary. I felt like my brother was being brainwashed. You see, my family has always been liberal. My mother and I are proud Democrats, and I guess I always assumed my brother would follow our lead.

I warned him that young men are being increasingly targeted by fake news on social media and to not believe everything he reads and sees.

But he didnt listen, hed gone too far down the rabbit hole.

Still, in early November, he told me and my mother  who he lives with and who also helps support him financially  that he was going to vote for the Green Party candidate Jill Stein.

My mother and I, tried to explain to him that he would be basically wasting his vote, but we didnt try to stop him. It was his choice, after all, and Connecticut is a safely blue state.

But on Election Night, we found out he had lied: My brother had voted for Trump.

As the results rolled in, he couldnt contain himself as he boasted about how Trump had won, and how good he would be for the country.

My mother is a self-made woman and a proud feminist: she moved to the US from the Czech Republic when I was seven and has built a successful life for herself.

When Trump won again, she was devastated that a man who has been found liable for sexual assault could be elected President.

It was scary. I felt like my brother was being brainwashed. You see, my family has always been liberal. My mother and I are proud Democrats, and I guess I always assumed my brother would follow our lead. (Pictured: Matto with her brother).

He started sending me right-wing news stories and social media posts peddling conspiracy theories, all of which I tried to debunk or fact-check.

My brother taunted her, essentially bragging about it until she started to cry. She was so upset she kicked him out of her house for the night and he had to go and stay at his girlfriends.

My mother has never been able to stay mad at my brother for long, so she let him back in the next day. And as she forgave him, I decided to ignore the situation entirely and move on. I didnt even mention it to him.

But then, out of the blue, he texted me saying: Trump won, this is going to be so great for Bitcoin.

That was the final straw. I was furious. How could he not see how terrible this all is?

It was a slap in the face. He has two women in his life  me and my mother  who have taught him to respect women. His mother is an immigrant, and both of us support him handsomely. But he voted against our best interests and everything that we stand for  and then had the audacity to rub it in our faces.

I blocked his number and told my mother he was no longer welcome at my house for Thanksgiving. If he shows up, I'll send him away.

My mother desperately wants me to forgive him. But Im not ready to have that conversation  and dont know when I will be.

The issue with my brother is that he is so used to getting what he wants that he has no respect for our opinions and feelings.

So I said to myself, 'not this time.'

I blocked his number and told my mother he was no longer welcome at my house for Thanksgiving. If he shows up, I'll send him away.

Im not setting out to disown my brother, that would never happen, but I do need to teach him a lesson.

He needs to know that he can't make our mother cry and then expect me to open my door and welcome him with open arms. Thats not how life works.

When Im ready, if he comes to me and apologizes, and can explain why he voted for Trump, maybe we can work it out. But its not going to happen before Thanksgiving.

Recently, I shared what has happened in a TikTok post and the response was surprising.

Loads of people came to my defence, even some Trump supporters, who said the way he had treated my mother was disgusting.

I think there is a general sentiment among Democrats now that were done being nice: if you voted for Trump, great, you got what you wanted. But you have to accept the consequences, whatever they are.

Its a new attitude, and it applies to my brother too, basically: f*** around and find out.
Star Wars actress Kelly Marie Tran has revealed that she is queer.

The 35-year-old star, who made her Star Wars sequel series debut as Rose Tico in The Last Jedi, came out while promoting her forthcoming rom-com The Wedding Banquet.

Speaking with Vanity Fair, she confessed, 'I haven't said this publicly yet, but I'm a queer person.'

About working on the film  which also stars Bowen Yang and Lily Gladstone  Tran recalled: 'I'm here doing this amazing movie with these amazing people. I've never been in a queer space before. I've never truly felt this accepted before.'

She added, 'The thing that really excited me about it was I got to play a person that I felt like I knew. I don't feel like I'm acting at all in this movie.'

Kelly plays Angela, 'a woman trying to have a baby through IVF with her girlfriend Lee (Gladstone),' in the reimagining of Ang Lee's 1993 film, per an EW synopsis.

Star Wars actress Kelly Marie Tran has revealed that she is queer; pictured in December 2019

The 35-year-old star, who made her Star Wars debut in the recent sequel series, came out while promoting her forthcoming rom-com The Wedding Banquet

Living in the couple's guest house are their best friends Chris (Yang) and his partner Min (Han Gi-chan).

Production on the motion picture kicked off in Vancouver earlier this year.

The plot 'follows what happens when Mins boyfriend Chris rejects his marriage proposal,' according to Variety.

Per the outlet, 'Min convinces his best friend Angela to marry him instead, paying for her partner Lizs IVF treatments in exchange for his green card.

'However, things begin to unravel when Mins grandmother makes a surprise trip from Seoul to throw the couple a Korean wedding banquet.'

The 90s original film earned Lee an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film and starred Winston Chao, May Chin and Ah-Lei Gua.

Bleecker Street CEO Andrew Karpen, an executive producer on the movie, said in a statement in April: 'I'm delighted to re-team with my longtime friend and colleague, James Schamus, on this inspired reimagining of a classic rom-com for the modern era.'

He added, 'Andrew Ahn is a force to be reckoned with and I'm very excited to see the new heights that he and James will take this story to.'

Kelly first appeared as Rose Tico in The Last Jedi (2017); pictured with costar John Boyega

Speaking with Vanity Fair , she confessed, 'I haven't said this publicly yet, but I'm a queer person'; pictured in 2020 in Hollywood

About working on the film, which also stars Bowen Yang and Lily Gladstone, Tran recalled: 'I'm here doing this amazing movie with these amazing people. I've never been in a queer space before. I've never truly felt this accepted before'; pictured in 2019

In 2021 Kelly Marie said she is 'so much happier' without social media, and doesn't believe she will ever go back on it.

She spoke as she graced the cover of The Hollywood Reporter and discussed being cast in Star Wars as well as her new Disney film Raya And The Last Dragon.

When she was cast in 2017's The Last Jedi, internet trolls bombarded her with racist vitriol and harassment, forcing her to delete social media.

Asked if she'd ever return, she said no, explaining: 'I've truly just been so much happier without being on the internet.

'I've had my agents tell me [I'm] forgoing brand partnerships, but I'm not here to sell flat-tummy tea to young girls.'
Sienna Miller's boyfriend Oli Green stepped out wearing the actress' khaki denim jacket on a date night in Rose Hill, New York City on Friday night.

Taking fashion tips from the stylish actress, Oli looked trendier than ever in his fashion-forward look.

Sienna wore the exact same jacket with matching khaki jeans the night prior at the Carolina Herrera X Frame party.

The mother-of-two, 42, as always, looked incredibly chic as she sported a chocolate brown suit and tight black bodysuit.

She teamed her classy look with brown leather boots, a blue croc-print bag and a statement gold necklace.

Oli and Sienna more than loved-up as they enjoyed some alone time on their romantic date.

Sienna Miller's, 42, boyfriend Oli Green, 27, stepped out wearing the actress' khaki denim jacket on a date night in Rose Hill, New York City on Friday night

Sienna wore the exact same jacket with matching khaki jeans the night prior at the Carolina Herrera X Frame party (pictured)

The actress and actor welcomed their first child together earlier this year after they started dating in 2022.

She 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, 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.

The mother-of-two, as always, looked incredibly chic as she sported a chocolate brown suit and tight black bodysuit

She teamed her classy look with brown leather boots, a blue croc-print bag and a statement gold necklace

Oli and Sienna more than loved-up as they enjoyed some alone time on their romantic date

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)

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.

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.
Love Island's Samantha Kenny commanded attention as she showed off her figure in a cream strapless gown for a fun night out in Liverpool on Friday.

The reality star, 27, wowed in the glam sequinned number, which left little to the imagination thanks to its a sheer skirt with a sexy thigh-high split.

The blonde bombshell posed for striking snaps, turning the streets into her own catwalk rocking a white maxi fur coat.

She finished off with large gold hoop earrings, and gave a final touch with a stylish maroon handbag and nude open-toe heels.

Samantha - who had a short-lived romance with Joey Essex on the hit ITV dating show - was joined by fellow Love Islanders Jess White, Harriet Blackmore, Jessica Spencer and another female friend.

For the special girls-only night, the reality stars partied it all up at the Zenn nightclub to celebrate the Lemon Luna launch party.

Love Island's Samantha Kenny commanded attention as she showed off her figure in a cream strapless gown for a fun night out in Liverpool on Friday

The reality star, 27, wowed in the glam sequinned number, which left little to the imagination thanks to its a sheer skirt with a sexy thigh-high split

Harriet, 24, put on a racy display in a revealing sheer mini dress.

The bombshell left very little to the imagination in the black laced garment, teamed with black open-toe heels.

Harriet posed alongside Samantha and Jess Spencer, 25, who showed off her toned legs in a slouchy red mini dress.

The fashion stylist added a glamorous touch in a cream fur and shimmery gold heels.

Beaming Jess White, 25, slipped into a brown laced skintight dress and wrapped up warm in a faux fur coat.

Earlier in July, Samantha and Love Island winner Sammy Root were spotted putting on a very cosy display at the star-studded White Fox bash in London.

The pair chatted intently and leaned into each other before the hunk wrapped his arm, which is in plaster, on the leggy stunner's waist.

Sammy finished off with large gold hoop earrings, and gave a final touch with a stylish maroon handbag and nude open-toe heels

Samantha was joined by fellow Love Islanders Jess White, Harriet Blackmore, Jessica Spencer and another female friend (L-R Samantha, Harriet and Jessica)

For the special girls-only night, the reality stars partied it all up at the Zenn nightclub to celebrate the Lemon Luna launch party

Harriet, 24, put on a racy display in a revealing sheer laced mini dress

Jess White, 25, enhanced her slender frame in a brown laced skintight dress and wrapped up in a faux fur coat

They appeared on separate series of the ITV2 show with Samantha being dumped from the villa a month prior, while Sammy, 23, won the show in 2023 with ex Jess Harding.

MailOnline have contacted Samantha and Sammy's reps for comment at the time.

Samantha was dumped from the show after TOWIE star, Joey Essex, 33, recoupled with his ex Grace Jackson days after she entered the Mallorca villa.

Herself and Joey were coupled up for two weeks prior to Grace's entrance and the blonde beauty had clearly started to gain feelings for the star.
SIGCINENI  The small Mvundla community in Sigcineni is living in ancient times and difficult situations.

The people of the area are forced to carry deceased bodies of their loved ones covered in blankets on home-made ladders across the Ngwemphisi River due to the absence of a bridge. The Mvundla community is nestled at the foot of the steep Shalabeti Mountain; life is a daily struggle against the elements and the limitations imposed by a lack of infrastructure. The Ngwemphisi River, which flows through this isolated area, has become both a lifeline and a barrier for its residents. With no bridge to connect them to neighbouring communities, families are forced to carry the bodies of their deceased loved ones on makeshift ladders to access the mortuary and cemetery, a practice that evokes images of ancient times.

This heart-breaking reality is just one aspect of the myriad challenges faced by the people of Mvundla, who are caught in a cycle of neglect and hardship.There have been many deaths in the community, shares Bezi Vilakati, a resident who has witnessed the heart-wrenching process first-hand in his over four decades of life in the area.Two men have to hold a ladder, one in front and the other in the back across the footbridge. That is the same case for burial days as two men have to carry a casket, he narrated.The footbridge, which has been in disrepair for years, is a rickety structure that poses a significant risk to those who attempt to cross it. The approximately 200 metres long footbridge is over 23 years old.

The thinness of the footbridge allows for only two people, one in front and one in the back, Vilakati explains.The community has resorted to using ladders to transport the deceased, a practice that underscores the desperation of their situation. The challenges faced by the Mvundla community are not new. Historically, rural communities in Eswatini have grappled with inadequate infrastructure, particularly in remote areas.In the 1990s, similar situations were reported in other parts of the country, where families had to navigate rivers and rough terrains to access basic services. The lack of bridges and roads has often resulted in tragic accidents, with many lives lost due to the perilous conditions.

Members of the community have plucked logs underneath the collapsing current structure, just for their children to reach school at the nearby Sigcineni High and Primary schools, Vilakati adds. The implications of this isolation extend beyond the emotional toll of carrying deceased loved ones. The community is primarily composed of farmers who rely on their crops for sustenance and income.We grow as many crops and vegetables to sell to urban markets, but the challenge is that we are an isolated community, explains Lungile Dlamini, another resident.

We end up consuming everything, some of which would have brought financial income to us, she said.The lack of a reliable means to transport goods to urban markets has stunted the economic growth of the Mvundla community. Building materials, farming inputs, and even basic necessities are transported manually across the unstable footbridge, further complicating their daily lives.

 5 incidents recorded already

SIGCINENI - At least five incidents have been recorded along the Ngwemphisi River footbridge, with two individuals left crippled and others suffering serious injuries.

One tragic incident involved a school-going pupil who fell from the footbridge, highlighting the risks faced by children who must cross it daily to attend school. I was left crippled after falling off the footbridge. In the hospital, I was advised never to run again, and even walking for a long distance is a challenge, Mvundla resident Titos Vilakati narrated.

His injuries have not only affected his mobility but have also strained his personal life, leading to the dissolution of his marriage.My wife left me after seeing that my injuries were lifelong and led to a disability, he lamented.

 Bridge proposal issue over 10 years old- MP

SIGCINENI - Despite the clear need for a proper bridge, progress has been slow.



This is according to Ntondozi Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Ngwenya,who revealed that a proposal for a bridge construction was submitted over ten years ago during his first term in office.I remember that during my 2008-2013 term of office, officers from the Ministry of Public Works and Transport even visited the area and designs were made for the construction of a bridge. Those designs have probably gathered dust at the ministry, and no help has come ten years later, he said.

Ngwenya added that government has to make a plan and build a bridge for the community. He emphasised that while a project of this kind might cost over E10 million, it is impossible for the small community to raise the required 10 per cent, which could be equivalent to over E1 million. In neighbouring countries like South Africa and Mozambique, community-driven initiatives have led to the construction of bridges and roads in remote areas. For instance, in South Africa, the government has implemented a program called the Community-Based Planning Initiative, which empowers local communities to identify their needs and work collaboratively with government agencies to address them.

This approach has resulted in the successful construction of several bridges in rural areas, significantly improving access to essential services and markets. Similarly, in Mozambique, the government has partnered with NGOs to develop infrastructure in remote communities. These partnerships have led to the construction of footbridges and roads that connect isolated villages to urban centres, facilitating trade and access to healthcare and education.

Ngwenya added that as a constituency they will also approach the Micro Projects unit for assistance. Micro Projects is a division of the Ministry of Economic Planning Development but the 10 per cent requirement for a project of the kind needed by the Mvundla community might prove costly.The communitys resilience in the face of adversity is commendable, but it is clear that they cannot bear this burden alone. The government must prioritise infrastructure development in such areas, ensuring that communities like Mvundla are no longer isolated from essential services and opportunities,added Ngwenya.
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Tammy Hembrow and Matt Zukowski are officially husband and wife.

The fitness influencer, 30, and the former Love Island Australia star, 29, tied the knot in a beautiful ceremony at Chateau Du Soleil in Byron Bay, surrounded by family and friends.

Tammy looked stunning in a strapless ivory and blush pink gown that featured an elaborate tulle train and a corset bodice, highlighting her ample cleavage.

The blonde beauty completed her look with a long ivory veil and her hair was styled with long hair extensions in a half ponytail with a middle part.

As the couple held hands, Tammy became emotional and broke down in tears while they exchanged vows and said, 'I do.'

She was supported by her bridesmaids: her sisters Amy, 34, and Emilee, 32, along with her half-sister Ava Olympia and Starlette Thynne.

Tammy Hembrow and Matt Zukowski tied the knot in Byron Bay on Saturday, surrounded by family and friends

The fitness influencer, 30, and the former Love Island Australia star, 29, tied the knot in a beautiful ceremony at Chateau Du Soleil in Byron Bay

Tammy became emotional and broke down in tears while the pair exchanged vows and said, 'I do'

Guests surrounded the pool for Tammy and Matt's special day, while two long rows of tables were situated on the grass next to the main event for a sit down dinner reception

The blonde beauty completed her look with a long white veil and her hair was styled in a half ponytail with a middle part

The four siblings wore matching black strapless satin dresses while holding gorgeous while bouquets, and their hair was styled in neat buns.

Tammy's daughters Saskia, eight, and Posy, two, were flower girls in adorable pale pink frocks, while her son Wolf, nine, served as a page boy.

The three children sat among guests while watching their mother get married.

Matt looked dapper in a black tailored suit, similar to his four groomsmen.

He opted for a dark jacket and matching trousers, along with a white dress shirt, bowtie and leather shoes.

The reality star appeared emotional as he read his vows to his new wife from a piece of paper, Tammy watching intently as he delivered the romantic speech.

Tammy was seen repeatedly swatting away tears as he delivered the sweet vows.

A source tells Daily Mail Australia that Tammy's father Mark missed the ceremony due to a last minute injury.

He opted for a dark jacket and matching trousers, along with a white dress shirt, bowtie and leather shoes

The reality star appeared emotional as he read his vows to his new wife from a piece of paper, Tammy watching intently as he delivered the romantic speech

A source tells Daily Mail Australia that Tammy's father missed the ceremony due to a last minute injury

Tammy and Matt's nuptials was held at Chateau Du Soleil in Byron Bay

The stunning venue is the same property where cricketer Pat Cummins had his wedding

It also is where Hollywood start Matt Damon quarantined when visiting Australia during the pandemic

The Hembrow patriarch was forced to skip the skip the majority of the nuptials in order to get treatment for a sore leg.

Mark is believed to have gone to the hairdresser this morning for a haircut before the wedding and something went snap in his leg - he therefore missed walking Tammy down the aisle.

He went and got crutches and turned up after the ceremony - making an appearance then going to hospital.

The stunning venue is the same property where cricketer Pat Cummins had his wedding, and where Hollywood start Matt Damon quarantined when visiting Australia during the pandemic.

On the menu was a spread of delicious food including Moreton Bay bugs and tortellini.

Several notable guests were invited to the star-studded nuptials, including Ruby Tuesday Matthews and her rarely-seen fiance Shannan Dodd.

Ruby, who lives in Byron Bay, stood out in a strappy hot pink bias cut dress that showed off her trim figure.

She paired her bright outfit with pink heels and a black woven Bottega Veneta leather handbag.

Em Davies appeared to break Tammy's child-free wedding rule as stepped out for the occasion with fiance Joel Gambin and their newborn daughter Isla Sue Gambin, who was born in August.

Tammy was supported by her bridesmaids: her sisters Amy, 34, and Emilee, 32, along with her half-sister Ava Olympia and Starlette Thynne

Tammy emerged from the rear of the venue as guests watched in awe

She walked solo down the aisle due to her father Mark being on crutches

A large bright pink marquee was also positioned at the back of the property

The fitness entrepreneur gazed into her husband's eyes as he read out his lengthy vows

Matt placed a hand on Tammy's waist as she read her own vows

Soon enough, Tammy shed a tear reading her heartfelt words

The bridesmaids were chic in strapless black gowns

The blonde influencer wore a brown figure-hugging halterneck dress that exposed her bare back, while sporting chic accessories like black sunglasses, chunky gold hoop earrings and a burgundy-coloured handbag.

Her hair was styled in a tight low bun with a middle part.

Meanwhile, her best friend Lily Brown and her Ironman boyfriend Jett Kenny were the ultimate power couple.

The red headed influencer dazzled in a one shoulder black mesh frock, while her hair was styled in a slick back bun to show off her statement silver earrings.

Jett rocked a buzz cut while looking formal in a black suit and bow tie.

Anna McEvoy stole the show in a daring dark blue gown that featured a plunging neckline and a high split up her left thigh.

Other glamorous guests were seen arriving to the ceremony via a large shuttle bus.

Weeks before their wedding, Tammy revealed the one thing she does not trust Zukowski with when it comes to their nuptials.

Tammy appeared to whisper some words into Matt's ear

The bride's almond-filed nails were painted a baby pink shade

The event was witness by a small, close-knit circle of less than 100 people

Several attendees travelled interstate for the lovebirds' special day

Tammy's daughters Saskia (pictured) and Posy, two, were flower girls in adorable pale pink frocks, while her son Wolf (pictured) served as a page boy

Several notable guests were invited to the star-studded nuptials, including Ruby Tuesday Matthews and her rarely-seen fiance Shannan Dodd. Both pictured

Ruby, who lives in Byron Bay, stood out in a strappy hot pink bias cut dress that showed off her trim figure

Em Davies appeared to break Tammy's child-free wedding rule as stepped out for the occasion with fiance Joel Gambin and their newborn daughter Isla Sue Gambin, who was born in August

Lily Brown (right) and her Ironman boyfriend Jett Kenny (left) were the ultimate power couple

Lily dazzled in a one shoulder black mesh frock and was seen embracing Shannan Dodd ahead of the ceremony

Joining her fiance on his Where's Your Head At podcast with co-host Anna McEvoy, she admitted she initially worried about Zukowski's vows.

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.

Anna McEvoy stole the show in a daring dark blue gown

The Love Island star's dress boasted several features including a plunging neckline and a very high leg split. Pictured posing for selfies with husband Michael Staples and friend Zoe Manfield

The blonde stunner accessorised with a gold clutch bag and her hair was styled in gorgeous curls

The glamorous star was all smiles after being brutally snubbed from Matt and Tammy's joint hens/bucks night

ammy and Zukowski got engaged in December last year following just three months of dating

Guests were ferried in on buses marked 'wedding shuttle'

Tammy's kids looked adorable in their wedding ensembles

'You are very romantic but I had no idea how it was going to go,' Tammy told her fiance.

'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 got engaged in December last year following just three months of dating.

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.

Guests were dressed to the nines for the occasion

They mingled outside the venue before heading in for the ceremony
Comedian Paul Rodriguez has revealed that his best friend Donald Serrato died in his house at the age of 50 on Thursday.

Serrato had sold his own home in Torrance and was staying at Rodriguez' residence in the Los Angeles area for some days before moving to Montana.

Law enforcement sources said the authorities believe Serrato died of natural causes, and do not suspect drugs or foul play were involved.

Rodriguez feels Serrato's alleged heavy drinking and smoking - as well as his grief over two bereavements in his family - may have contributed to his demise.

He explained that he left the house at about 6am Thursday to go to a film shoot and then rang Serrato at approximately 12pm to make lunch plans.

However he received no answer to his phone call, so he contacted Serrato's girlfriend who then visited the house to check in on him, he told TMZ.

Comedian Paul Rodriguez (pictured) has revealed that his best friend Donald Serrato died in his house at the age of 50 on Thursday

The girlfriend arrived at Rodriguez' residence and was confronted with the sight of Serrato in bed, where he had turned blue.

She and a friend of hers rang the emergency services, and a 911 operator walked them through their attempts to perform CPR, but Serrato had died already.

Insiders in law enforcement stated they received a call at around 12:30pm Thursday with regards to a man who was not breathing.

Emergency services responded by visiting Rodriguez' home and finding Serrato, whom they pronounced dead on the scene.

Rodriguez, who was born in Sinaloa before immigrating to Compton with his family, has been a comedian for more than four decades.

He is a regular on the stand-up circuit, and is one of the elite group of comedians whose photos are on the wall of the iconic Comedy Store in Los Angeles.

Early in his career, Rodriguez even led the cast of his own sitcom a.k.a. Pablo in 1984, thought it was canceled after six episodes.

Over the years, fans have seen him on top television programs including The Golden Girls, Touched By An Angel and The Twilight Zone.

Rodriguez, who was born in Sinaloa before immigrating to Compton with his family, has been a comedian for more than four decades

His son is a famous skateboarder also called Paul Rodriguez (right), who goes by P-Rod on social media and boats over a million followers on Instagram

He has also lent his voice to cartoons like King Of The Hill, Dora The Explorer and The Proud Family, and the animated film Cats & Dogs: The Return Of Kitty Galore.

Rodriguez has featured in live-action movies like the 2002 Clint Eastwood film Blood Work and the 2021 release Clifford The Big Red Dog.

He has just written and directed a crime comedy called Holy Cash, starring him amid a cast that includes comic Aries Spears.

His son is a famous skateboarder also called Paul Rodriguez, who goes by P-Rod on social media and boats over a million followers on Instagram.
Courtney Burgess, an investigation court witness in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' trial, fired back at the rapper's sons, Christian Combs and Quincy Brown, after they filed a cease and desist against him.

Combs' sons previously came together to send Burgess a cease and desist order after he started selling an unauthorized tell-all about and purportedly written by Christian and Quincy's late mother Kim Porter.

They claimed Burgess is trying to capitalize on their late mother's fame by selling a book to be titled Kim Porter Tell It All.

In response, Burgess, an investigation court witness in the disgraced media mogul's trial, made a pointed statement in his legal filing with his attorney Ariel Mitchell.

Burgess fired back and said Porter was not an actor nor an entertainer  and that her fame was solely tied to being the media mogul's 'long time paramour,' per TMZ.

Courtney Burgess, an investigation court witness in Sean ' Diddy ' Combs' trial, fired back at the rapper's sons, Christian Combs and Quincy Brown, after they filed a cease and desist against him

Combs' sons previously came together to send Burgess a cease and desist order after he started selling an unauthorized tell-all about and purportedly written by Christian and Quincy's late mother Kim Porter; pictured January 2020 in Los Angeles

Burgess claimed that he does have the copyright to the book and alleged that Porter gave him the rights to her intellectual property before her death in 2018.

His statement goes against Christian and Quincy's previous statement, in which they said they became the rightful heirs and true owners of their late mother's intellectual property rights including her purported diary entries following her passing.

As for Burgess' alleged past connection to Porter, his attorney Mitchell told TMZ that they previously met through a mutual friend who was a music producer.

Mitchell claimed Porter told Burgess in a phone call that she was going to give him a copy of her memoir and that's how he obtained the alleged diary entries and the rights to distribute them.

This comes amid Burgess reportedly met with federal prosecutors in New York City in regards to Combs' ongoing case.

Burgess previously claimed he possessed explicit tapes showing encounters involving celebrities.

As he is an investigation court witness in Combs' ongoing trial, Burgess's phone, which contained a copy of the flash drive data related to Porter's book, was reportedly seized amid the investigation.

Christian and Quincy also told Burgess that they wanted an accounting of any money he has made off of the book.

They claimed Burgess is trying to capitalize on their late mother's fame by selling a tell-all book. In response, Burgess, a witness in Diddy's trial, made a pointed statement in his filing; from left to right: D'Lila Star Combs, Kim Porter, Christian Combs, Quincy Brown, Sean 'Diddy' Combs, Jessie James Combs pictured October 2018

Burgess claimed that he has the copyright to the book and alleged that Porter gave him the rights to her intellectual property before her death in 2018, but her sons say they became the heirs to her intellectual property; pictured November 2014 in Atlanta

This comes amid Burgess reportedly met with federal prosecutors in New York City in regards to Combs' ongoing case. Burgess previously claimed he possessed explicit tapes showing encounters involving celebrities

In regards to the accusations against him, Combs pleaded not guilty to federal sex trafficking charges contained in an indictment unsealed the day after his September 16 arrest; pictured August 2023 in Atlanta

Meanwhile, Burgess called their cease and desist a 'desperate ploy' crafted by their father to extort money.

Furthermore, Burgess said this 'pathetic attempt illustrates just how dire the financial situation is' for Combs and his sons.

Late last month, Burgess testified before the grand jury in the Southern District of New York.

He claimed that he was given 11 flash drives containing at least eight sex tapes involving eight celebrities.

Among those who were Combs' alleged victims, Burgess claimed 'two to three' were minors.

Burgess said he was working in Atlanta when Porter, his former associate, shared the flash drives with him.

He also said he received an unedited manuscript from Porter's alleged memoir titled Kim's Lost Words: A Journey for Justice from the Other Side.

In regards to the accusations against him, Combs pleaded not guilty to federal sex trafficking charges contained in an indictment unsealed the day after his September 16 arrest.

Charges include allegations that he coerced and abused women for years, aided by associates and employees, and silenced victims through blackmail and violence, including kidnapping, arson and physical beatings.

He has remained incarcerated and is set to face his criminal trial date pending May 5 after two judges denied bail in rulings being appealed to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Most recently, he requested bail for the third time.
Keke Palmer recalled a lasting bit of advice Ice Cube gave her when they worked together on the 2008 movie The Longshots.

Appearing on an episode of Shannon Sharpes Club Shay Shay podcast this week, the 31-year-old actress said the rapper and actor, now 55, is 'a man of few words.'

'He didn't say too much  a man of few words. But very nice, and one day they were like, "Ice Cube wants to speak to you," and I'm like, "OK..."' she shared.

The former child star said she was taken to a room where the NWA rapper was with bodyguards.

"He's like, "I just want to tell you, Keke. Youre a beautiful young lady, and I see how kind you are and how nice you are to everybody on the set. But I want you to know youre growing into a young woman, and a lot of times the way that people see you  the way that these men see you on set  it's not the way that you see yourself,"' she remembered.

Palmer said Ice, born O'Shea Jackson, told her to 'protect yourself, be careful and dont let them take advantage of you. Know who you are and know what you have so people can't use it against you.'

Keke Palmer recalled a lasting bit of advice Ice Cube gave her when they worked together on the 2008 movie The Longshots; pictured on November 19

Keke said said Ice, born O'Shea Jackson, told her to 'protect yourself, be careful and dont let [me] take advantage of you. Know who you are and know what you have so people can't use it against you'; pictured in December 2021

Keke went on to explain that as a 14-year-old she 'didn't understand' the implication of what Ice Cube told her, but she said it 'stuck with me.'

She added, 'And it was so important, I think, for him to say something like that to me.

'He's a father. He's someone who has seen a lot in this industry, especially with young entertainers. I always remember that, and I was always so grateful to him for that.'

The Baby, This is Keke Palmer podcast host said, 'I havent seen him since, but I would love to tell him that really stuck with me all these years and thank you for reminding me.'

Palmer has been promoting her memoir Master of Me: The Secret to Controlling Your Narrative, which was published on November 19.

Within the pages of the literary effort the mother-of-one detailed an incident in which Ryan Murphy, who co-created and produced Scream Queens, allegedly called her out for being 'unprofessional.'

Palmer had a hard time on the series, which aired on Fox for two seasons between 2015 and 2016, according to the new book.

She wrote that she had scheduled a 'business obligation' on what was supposed to be a day off from her shooting schedule.

Palmer has been promoting her memoir Master of Me: The Secret to Controlling Your Narrative; pictured November 19

Palmer was later told by series staff members that she had been rescheduled to shoot on what had previously been her day off.

She missed the day of shooting to attend her prior obligation, though it's unclear if that was communicated with the production.

Murphy was upset by her absence, and she wrote that he called her up and 'ripped' into her over the incident.

'It was kind of like I was in the deans office,' she explained while speaking with the LA Times.

'He was like, "Ive never seen you behave like this. I can't believe that you, out of all people, would do something like this."'
Controversial influencer Sopha Dopha has all-but confirmed she was uninvited from Tammy's Hembrow's wedding, after she posted a photo of the invitation online.

The 20-year-old TikTokker posted a video to Instagram on Saturday in which she danced up a storm in a racy outfit, as she told fans she was going to a 21st birthday party.

Sopha appeared to have spent some time putting her barely there outfit together, confirming she did not attend Tammy's wedding to Matt Zukowski in Byron Bay.

The social media star made no mention of Tammy's big day on her Instagram page, and instead excitedly told fans she was getting ready for a festival themed birthday party.

She looked to be in great spirits as she danced up a storm in a racy bikini top and a transparent white mini-skirt, while wearing a yellow and black scarf around her head.

The shocking post suggests that Sopha was uninvited to Tammy's big day, after she shared a photo of the wedding invitation to social media in June.

Controversial influencer Sopha Dopha (pictured) has all-but confirmed she was uninvited from Tammy's Hembrow's wedding, after she posted a photo of the invitation online

Leaked photos of the wedding invitation, shared by several influencers who made the guest list, show the couple requested the ceremony and wedding reception to remain 'child free', despite Tammy being a mother of three young kids - son Wolf, nine, and daughters Saskia, seven, and Posey, one.

'Whilst we love your babies our wedding will be child free,' the invite read.

Tammy previously addressed the online backlash she received after her wedding invitation was leaked.

'You guys might know that recently my wedding details were leaked online,' Tammy told her fans.

'This has caused a few issues for me, I have had to change a lot of the details because we want it to be very private and its been a bit frustrating.'

The Gold Coast-based blonde then clarified the interesting details on her wedding invitation which caused a stir on social media.

Tammy and Matt asked for a wishing well - donation box in which guests can deposit cash gifts instead of material items.

The decision raised eyebrows as Tammy's net worth is said to be a staggering $50million, according to AFR's Young Rich List.

The 20-year-old TikTokker posted a video to Instagram on Saturday in which she danced up a storm in a racy outfit, as she told fans she was going to a 21st birthday party

'Your presence on our day is the greatest gift of all' the invitation said.

'However, if you would like to gift us something a wishing well will be at our wedding for you contribution'.

On Saturday, Tammy and her Love Island Australia star partner Matt Zukowski tied the knot in a beautiful ceremony at Chateau Du Soleil in Byron Bay, surrounded by family and friends.

Tammy looked stunning in a strapless ivory and blush pink gown that featured an elaborate tulle train and a corset bodice, highlighting her ample cleavage.

The blonde beauty completed her look with a long ivory veil and her hair was styled with long hair extensions in a half ponytail with a middle part.

As the couple held hands, Tammy became emotional and broke down in tears while they exchanged vows and said, 'I do.'

She was supported by her bridesmaids: her sisters Amy, 34, and Emilee, 32, along with her half-sister Ava Olympia and Starlette Thynne.

Sopha appeared to have spent some time putting her barely there outfit together, confirming she did not attend Tammy's wedding to Matt Zukowski in Byron Bay. Pictured

The four siblings wore matching black strapless satin dresses while holding gorgeous while bouquets, and their hair was styled in neat buns.

Tammy and Zukowski got engaged in December last year following just three months of dating.

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.
Lindy Klim has posed for her first photoshoot alongside a candid chat in which she broke her silence on her new single status.

The interview is the first where she has publicly addressed her heartbreaking separation from her second husband, Adam Ellis.

The Balinese princess, 45, and her British property developer husband have gone their separate ways after six years of marriage.

Lindy told Stellar Magazine that the pair were struggling for some time before they split.

The brunette said her estranged husband has been grappling with a private mental health battle, which ultimately affected her own wellbeing.

'We were two people drowning at the same time and it wasn't good,' she told the publication.

Lindy Klim has posed for her first photoshoot alongside a candid chat in which she broke her silence on her new single status. Pictured in Stellar Magazine

The interview is the first where she has publicly addressed her heartbreaking separation from her second husband, Adam Ellis (left)

'He's been struggling with his mental health for the last two years which, in turn, has affected my personal wellbeing and my mental state as well' she continued.

'Things really spiralled out of control. I'm not the person that Adam needs. I'm not a doctor. I mean, I'm there for support, obviously, but I was being dragged under by everything.'

Lindy said she was 'living with constant anxiety' and told the publication that her family eventually stepped in and raised their concerns about her health after she dramatically lost weight.

'I wasn't able to help [Adam] and I so desperately wanted to and I still do, obviously,' she explained.

Despite the split, Lindy said of her ex, 'we still love him' referring to herself and her children.

'I feel like he's on the right path now and he's trying to get the help that he needs. I think we need to do it separately, but he'll always be a part of our family' she said.

Speculation of a break-up first began to swirl in October when Lindy shared a picture without her ring on, with sources since claiming the couple have been over for some time.

Lindy has since relocated back to Australia from Bali after her and Adam's separation and shared photographs of her moving into her new home in Melbourne in October.

'We were two people drowning at the same time and it wasn't good,' she told the publication

Lindy shares three children - Stella, 18, Rocco, 16, and Frankie, 13 - with her ex-husband Michael Klim, and one with her second husband, Goldie, seven

In the Instagram post, Lindt admitted she was 'literally starting from scratch again' after relocating to Melbourne in the big change.

Lindy also shared a photo of the first meal she enjoyed in her new home with her friends and family.

'Christening the new house with dirty take out,' the image was captioned.

Rumours of a break-up between Lindy and Adam emerged last month when she posed for a picture with her four children - with no sign of her husband.

After posting the image to Instagram, eagle-eyed followers noticed that Lindy was also no longer wearing her engagement ring.

An insider later claimed the pair have been well and truly over for some time.

'They have also not been seen together for a number of months,' an insider told Confidential.

'Plus he isn't in any of her social media photographs.'

Daily Mail Australia was the first to reveal a potential split between Lindy and Adam after the celebrity fashionista posted the tell-tale family photo to her social media.

Lindy shares three children - Stella, 18, Rocco, 16, and Frankie, 13 - with her ex-husband Michael Klim, and one with her second husband, Goldie, seven.

She amicably co-parents the three children she shares with Michael - who is now in a relationship with Michelle Owen - and credits her ex-husband for her confidence.

Two years after her divorce from Michael in 2018, Lindy married Ellis in a lavish Tuscan ceremony.

Highly-regarded athlete Michael retired from competitive swimming in 2007 and runs a successful swim school business in Bali, where he lives with Michelle.

If you or anyone you know needs immediate support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or via lifeline.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
Em Davies apppeared to break Tammy Hembrow's strict no-children rule when attending her star-studded wedding ceremony on Saturday in Byron Bay.

The Perth-based influencer, 30, was seen cradling her three-month-old daughter Isla as she celebrated Tammy marrying her Love Island Australia partner Matt Zukowski at Chateau Du Soleil.

Davies cut a stylish figure as she stepped out for the occasion with her fiance Joel Gambin and their infant daughter Isla Sue.

She looked confident and stylish in a figure-hugging brown dress paired with slick aviator sunglasses.

The social media star was seen tenderly cradling her young bub throughout the ceremony as she celebrated Tammy and Matt's special day with their friends and family.

It's possible Tammy chose to bend the rules to accommodate her good friend's newborn.

Em Davies (pictured) apppeared to break Tammy Hembrow 's strict no-children rule when attending her star-studded wedding ceremony on Saturday in Byron Bay

Em's decision to bring along her daughter appeared to break the strict no-children rule that Tammy said would be in effect on the day.

The details emerged earlier this year in a leaked copy of her wedding invitation.

Tammy previously addressed the online backlash she received after her wedding invitation was leaked.

'You guys might know that recently my wedding details were leaked online,' Tammy told her fans.

'This has caused a few issues for me, I have had to change a lot of the details because we want it to be very private and its been a bit frustrating.'

The Gold Coast-based blonde then clarified the interesting details on her wedding invitation which caused a stir on social media.

Tammy and Matt asked for a wishing well - donation box in which guests can deposit cash gifts instead of material items.

The decision raised eyebrows as Tammy's net worth is said to be a staggering $50million, according to AFR's Young Rich List.

The Perth-based influencer, 30, was seen cradling her three-month-old daughter Isla as she celebrated Tammy marrying her Love Island Australia partner Matt Zukowski at Chateau Du Soleil

The Perth-based influencer, 30, was seen cradling her three-month-old daughter Isla as she celebrated Tammy marrying her Love Island Australia partner Matt Zukowski at Chateau Du Soleil

Leaked photos of the wedding invitation were shared by several influencers who made the guest list.

It showed that the couple had requested the ceremony and wedding reception to remain 'child free'.

This came despite Tammy being a mother of three young kids - son Wolf, nine, and daughters Saskia, seven, and Posey, one.

'Whilst we love your babies our wedding will be child free,' the invite read.

However, Tammy also made a concession so her own three children could attend, as her daughters Saskia, eight, and Posy, two, were flower girls in adorable pale pink frocks, while her son Wolf, nine, served as a page boy.

The three children sat among guests while watching their mother get married.

On Saturday, Tammy and her Love Island Australia star partner Matt Zukowski tied the knot in a beautiful ceremony, surrounded by family and friends.

Tammy looked stunning in a strapless ivory and blush pink gown that featured an elaborate tulle train and a corset bodice, highlighting her ample cleavage.

On Saturday, Tammy and her Love Island Australia star partner Matt Zukowski tied the knot in a beautiful ceremony, surrounded by family and friends. Pictured

The blonde beauty completed her look with a long ivory veil and her hair was styled with long hair extensions in a half ponytail with a middle part.

As the couple held hands, Tammy became emotional and broke down in tears while they exchanged vows and said, 'I do.'

She was supported by her bridesmaids: her sisters Amy, 34, and Emilee, 32, along with her half-sister Ava Olympia and Starlette Thynne.

The four siblings wore matching black strapless satin dresses while holding gorgeous white bouquets, and their hair was styled in neat buns.

Tammy and Zukowski got engaged in December last year following just three months of dating.

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.
Charlotte Crosby has been rushed to hospital after suffering from severe pains in her stomach.

The TV personality's fiance Jake Ankers took to his Instagram on Saturday to reveal that his partner, who is eight months pregnant with their second child, is being thoroughly checked over in the hospital to ensure she and the baby are both okay.

Sharing a picture of Charlotte in a hospital bed, Jake said: 'We are not having a good week!!! Now Charlotte has been rushed into hospital as she is having serious pains in her stomach.

'They are running all the necessary checks to make sure Charlotte and baby are ok.'

He also thanked his followers for all of their support by saying: 'Thank you once again to everyone that reached out about Thursday night we do really appreciate it!'

'Huge love to our community where we live also your support has been fantastic (three love heart emojis).'

Charlotte Crosby has been rushed to hospital after suffering from severe pains in her stomach (pictured earlier this month)

The TV personality's fiance Jake Ankers took to his Instagram on Saturday to reveal that his partner, who is eight months pregnant with their second child, is being thoroughly checked over in the hospital

Charlotte announced in September that she is pregnant with her second child, a girl, and is due to give birth in January.

Just 12 hours before their terrifying home robbery, the television personality had a pregnancy scan.

Charlotte told followers she felt like 'my back has been snapped in half' and had suffered a nasty nosebleed.

She said: 'Ok so I need advice suggestions just anything because honestly, my back feels as though it's been snapped in half. My back, my ribs everything.'

'We had a scan yesterday and the midwife stressed her sympathy for me as baby girl was in a very, very awkward position.'

Charlotte asked fans for help, telling them: 'I'm struggling to even sit upright in a chair without being so uncomfortable.'

She then shared a picture of a bloody tissue with the caption: 'Now I'm having the biggest nose bleed, what the hell is going on?'

The NHS states nosebleeds are common in pregnancy and are caused by an increase in blood volume and hormonal changes.

Charlotte announced in September she is pregnant with her second child, a girl, and is due to give birth in January

Hours later, Charlotte took to her Instagram Stories to tell fans she had been 'rocking back and forth' for an hour in the morning trying to help the baby move.

She said: 'When I say I have been on all fours rocking back and forth for an hour this morning to try to get the baby to move position.

'That is no word of a lie. I was worried someone might walk in on us because the crew were actually in my house filming stuff for the show.

'I'm having a little bit of pamper now, I feel like the pain has worn off a little bit. That was from your advice so thank you. I've been laying in bed relaxing in bed which has been bliss.'

Speaking to The Mirror this month, Charlotte admitted she's 'very tired' and struggling with being pregnant while also looking after her toddler.

She said: 'I hate being pregnant. I'm getting very tired now. The second pregnancy is just so different when you've got a tiny toddler at home.'

She went on: 'The hardest part is being pregnant. I'm used to being able to give 100 percent, and now I'm operating at a maximum 30 percent.'

Last month, Charlotte revealed they are having a baby girl in a gender reveal video in the Maldives, with the couple letting off cannons which shot out pink smoke

Charlotte and Jake, who met through mutual friends, became engaged thirteen months after welcoming daughter Alba with a romantic rooftop proposal in Dubai in November 2023

Last month, Charlotte revealed they are having a baby girl in a gender reveal video in the Maldives.

The TV personality and her fiance let off cannons which shot out pink smoke, prompting a stunned Charlotte to exclaim: 'Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh no, Jake.'

Looking bewildered, she went on: 'I can't believe it, But I actually really wanted a boy as well. What, how?'

The reality star had previously revealed she was convinced she was going to have a boy.

Charlotte and Jake, who met through mutual friends, became engaged thirteen months after welcoming daughter Alba.

The TV personality took to her social media to share the happy news as well as a glimpse of the romantic rooftop proposal in Dubai in November 2023.

Charlotte declared herself the 'happiest woman in the world' as Jake got down on one knee surrounded by rose petals.
Daria Konovalova, 36, made sure all eyes were on her as she attended amfAR's inaugural Las Vegas benefit event on Friday.

The socialite, who is based in New York, left little to the imagination as she gave a glimpse of her chest in a champagne coloured lace and satin mini dress.

She paired the bold look with brown open-toe platform heels and a white Hermes Kelly mini bag - a luxury accessory which would have set her back a whooping 26,000.

The Russian model opted for rustic jewellery and her raven locks was styled in an updo with two strands left to frame her face.

Daria seemed to be in high spirits as she confidently posed for photos on the red carpet before entering the star-studded event.

The racy display comes after the beauty raised eyebrows with her X-rated look at Richie Akiva's Met Gala afterparty in May.

Daria Konovalova turned heads as she attended the star-studded amfAR Las Vegas on Friday

The socialite, who is based in New York, left little to the imagination as she gave a glimpse of her chest in a champagne coloured lace and satin mini dress

She wowed as she attended the star-studded bash in a see-through blue gown by Alaia worn without a bra.

Her frock, worth $2,910, featured an open back and built-in underpants that revealed a generous glimpse of derriere.

Daria paired her look with pointy-toed blue pumps, a matching evening bag and stud earrings.

She slicked her hair back into a bun and enhanced her facial features with dramatic bronzer, blush and eye shadow.

It comes as fashion experts announce they've had 'enough' of the naked looks after a slew of A-listers showed up to the 2024 Met Gala in nearly-nude ensembles.

Dubbed by some as the biggest night in fashion, a series of A-listers gather in their most extravagant looks for a lavish party hosted by Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour.

But this year, some of the stars shocked the world when they opted for see-through or barely-there outfits - including Emily Ratajkowski, Jennifer Lopez, Rita Ora, and Doja Cat - and some fashion industry professionals are not fans of the latest trend.

The model opted for rustic jewellery and her raven locks was styled in an updo with two strands left to frame her face

She paired the bold look with brown open-toe platform heels and a white Hermes Kelly mini bag - a luxury accessory which would have set her back a whooping 26,000

Also at the event, Amber Riley, who performed, looked sensational in a red velvet dress

Juno Temple wowed in a black and white floral gown

Sylvester Stallone and and his wife Jennifer Flavin shared a sweet moment on the carpet

The couple's daughters Sistine Stallone, Scarlet Rose Stallone and Sophia Stallone [L-R] as they posed for snaps

Maryam Zolghadr and Kevin Dias dressed to impress on the night

Fausto Puglisi and Tina Leung posed for snaps together

Tommy Hilfiger and Dee Ocleppo Hilfiger cosied up for photos

Afterwards, X, formerly Twitter, was flooded with posts slamming the surplus of risque looks at the coveted ball.

One person pointed out that fashion is 'all about wearing clothes' and not the lack there-of, while another said the stars were 'relying' on the shock value of the nude looks and 'falling short'.

A fashion blogger who goes by ModernGurlz online tweeted, while reposting a snap of Jennifer's look, 'We need to ban glittery naked dresses from the Met Gala.'

A woman named Linda who writes 'fashion reviews and news' agreed with her, replying, 'Like, enough.'

A professional tailor for Broadway, film, and TV, named Alexa, then chimed in, writing, 'I don't want to disparage how much work these dresses take when done well but I'm over the naked dress as a concept.

'It's a just a dress with some hidden corsetry and people find it appealing because the shiny activates the magpie brain.'

It comes after Daria raised eyebrows with her X-rated look at Richie Akiva's Met Gala afterparty in May, amid a slew of celebrities wearing skin-baring looks this year

The beauty wowed as she attended the star-studded bash in a see-through blue gown by Alaia, worn without a bra

'IDK... call me crazy, but isn't fashion and dressing-up for ball all about wearing clothes? Why go naked to the Met Gala?' a street style photographer named M.C. O'Connor asked.

Ellice Ellis, a producer, podcast host, and culture writer, stated, 'A lot of people (Kim [Kardashian], Emrata, JLo) are relying on their typical red carpet tricks tonight and its falling short.

'If a theme open to multiple interpretations leaves you with nothing better than a cinched waist, naked dress, or showgirl ensemble, it's time to rethink your approach.'

Journalist Liz Jones told DailyMail.com that she thought the 'utterly desperate' women believed 'they have to be naked to be noticed.'

'It is meant to be a showcase for creativity. It is meant to demonstrate how the fashion industry really is a great art form, which these days is wholly inclusive of different shapes, races, genders and ages,' she said of the event.

'Its purpose is to raise funds for the museum's work... but this year's frocks, and the bodies shoehorned into them, have in one fell swoop managed to set the cause of responsible, female-friendly fashion back by more than 100 years.

It comes as fashion experts announce they've had 'enough' of the naked looks after a slew of A-listers showed up to the 2024 Met Gala in nearly-nude ensembles. (Left is Rita Ora and right is Emily Ratajkowski - both attending the 2024 Met Gala)

'I am talking about the rubber-stamping by powerful stars of the belief that a woman has to be naked in order to be noticed.

'That the kind of publicity that actresses, models and talented individuals need and want can only be attained through self-exposure of the most literal kind.'

She added, 'These women have careers, fame, money and fans, so I wonder, scrolling the parade of pubic bones, what makes them go out dressed like this? Not one looks joyous or comfortable.

'Why, after the decade of MeToo, after the focus on shattering the equal pay ceiling in Hollywood, do the most powerful, beautiful women in the world want so willingly, wantonly to humiliate themselves?'

TV host, author and comedian Lisa 'Kennedy' Montgomery, on the other hand, wondered if Doja Cat was 'auditioning to be an extra on Kanye West's porn shoot.'
A stunning Australian 'environmental warrior' has walked away with the title of Miss Earth.

Melbourne-born Jessica Lane was crowned Miss Earth in Manila, the Philippines, beating 75 other contestants.

The event marked the first ever pageant for the 22-year-old, who is attending university on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.

The Miss Earth pageant aims to raise the profile climate and environmental issues - something Jessica is passionate about.

'I want to be a voice for mother nature,' the stunning blonde told the Herald Sun after her win.

'I am really here for the environmental advocacy side of things,' she continued.

A stunning Australian 'environmental warrior' has walked away with the title of Miss Earth. Melbourne-born Jessica Lane (pictured) was crowned Miss Earth in Manila, the Philippines, beating 75 other contestants

She will be supported by runners-up Miss Air (Hrafnhildur Haralds from Iceland). Miss Water (Bea Millan-Windorski from the USA) and Miss Fire (Niva Antezana from Peru). All pictured

'I do believe that pageants are an incredible platform for women to not only learn some incredible life skills, but to have the opportunity to amplify their voice for a cause.'

Jessica is the first ever Australian to win the title of Miss Earth and aims to continue her 'environmental advocacy' through the role.

She will be supported by gorgeous runners-up Miss Air (Hrafnhildur Haralds from Iceland). Miss Water (Bea Millan-Windorski from the USA) and Miss Fire (Niva Antezana from Peru).

It comes after Miss Earth USA designated wellness ambassadors to recognise mental health crises among contestants.

The move followed the death of Cheslie Kryst, 30, who jumped to her death from a Midtown apartment building in January 2022 after losing her battle with high-functioning depression.

Following her death, Miss USA announced it would be expanding its mental health services in an attempt to prevent another death after it failed to protect Cheslie - who openly talked about her struggles in the limelight.

It started integrating new workshops to help 'avoid depression' and to generate coping mechanisms.

Miss Earth USA followed in its footsteps, announcing what it claims will be biggest mental health initiative in the business - declaring that this is a pageant-wide issue.

The event marked the first ever pageant for the 22-year-old, who is attending university on Queensland's Sunshine Coast

The Miss Earth pageant aims to raise the profile climate and environmental issues - something Jessica is passionate about

Many contestants came forward after Cheslie's death to share their own struggles, including Miss Earth 2017 and one of Cheslie's best friends, Andreia Gibau, 27, of Brooklyn, and current Miss Earth Eco Emma Loney, 25, of Wisconsin.

'[Her death] made me realize it doesn't matter how well known you are, what title you hold, how famous you are, mental health affects everybody' Loney told DailyMail.com.

'And that the pressures of pageantry are real and the expectations of being perfect or needing to be perfect are real.

'I've definitely felt it myself and I was never Miss USA.'

Miss Earth USA's National Director Laura Clark, who is currently based in Switzerland, decided after Cheslie's death that it wouldn't happened again, not just in her own pageant, but all pageants.

'After Cheslie's death, we said this is going to be a goal of ours to make sure that there is a clear initiative,' Clark told DailyMail.com.

'That was definitely the turning point for me, personally, as the leader in the pageant community.

'To say that it's all of our responsibility, to verbalize this and make this a priority in your organization and to say: "What is your plan?" And to put it out in the public and to make sure all your state directors and everyone understands that these are our policies that we are putting in place and this is the plan that we have to focus on.'

The initiative includes different seminars, mindfulness breaks during pageant week, as well designating 10 wellness ambassadors - who are not only within Miss Earth USA, but across all pageants in the US.

Beforehand, the Miss Earth USA pageant had offered goodie bags and consolation services backstage to its contestants who did not take home a 'bigger crown.

It has since shifted its focus to 'integrating wellness and mental health into every aspect of our program,' Clark told DailyMail.com.

But in addition to the mindfulness breaks and and wellness ambassadors, Miss Earth also hired a licensed mental counselor to 'develop a program' for the 'entire pageant community' to eliminate the 'go, go, go' environment and teach women how to have goals outside a shiny crown.

If you or anyone you know needs support, you can contact Lifeline 13 11 14, or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.
Poland "Chinese Film Festival" opens in Warsaw

Xinhua) 10:26, November 23, 2024

People watch Chinese film "Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms" during the 2024 Poland "Chinese Film Festival" in Warsaw, Poland, on Nov. 22, 2024. The 2024 Poland "Chinese Film Festival" officially commenced on Friday, with over 300 Polish guests attending the opening ceremony and watching the highly anticipated film "Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms". (Xinhua/Xia Yuanyi)

WARSAW, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- The 2024 Poland "Chinese Film Festival" officially commenced on Friday, with over 300 Polish guests attending the opening ceremony and watching the highly anticipated film "Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms".

Chinese Ambassador to Poland Sun Linjiang addressed the audience, emphasizing cinema as a vital bridge for cultural exchange and mutual understanding. He highlighted that the strong cinematic collaboration between China and Poland over the past 75 years has significantly contributed to enhancing cultural ties, strengthening traditional friendships, and fostering mutual learning.

Sun expressed hope that the festival would further deepen Polish interest in Chinese culture, promote cinematic cooperation, and enrich the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations.

The festival is part of the celebrations marking the 75th anniversaries of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Poland, aiming at promoting cultural exchange and strengthening ties between the two peoples.

Szymon Mioduszewski from Polish film distribution company 9th Plan told Xinhua that an increasing number of Chinese commercial films are gaining recognition in international markets. He noted that Polish audiences have a deep appreciation for Chinese films and view them as a valuable window into understanding China and its culture.

The three-day festival will be held at the Kinoteka cinema, located in the iconic Palace of Culture and Science in the center of Warsaw. The event, featuring five acclaimed Chinese films, is expected to attract audiences eager to explore the richness of Chinese cinema and culture.

Szymon Mioduszewski from Polish film distribution company 9th Plan speaks at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Poland "Chinese Film Festival" in Warsaw, Poland, on Nov. 22, 2024. The 2024 Poland "Chinese Film Festival" officially commenced on Friday, with over 300 Polish guests attending the opening ceremony and watching the highly anticipated film "Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms". (Xinhua/Xia Yuanyi)

People arrive to attend the 2024 Poland "Chinese Film Festival" in Warsaw, Poland, on Nov. 22, 2024. The 2024 Poland "Chinese Film Festival" officially commenced on Friday, with over 300 Polish guests attending the opening ceremony and watching the highly anticipated film "Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms". (Xinhua/Xia Yuanyi)

(Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Kou Jie)
BIG BEND  The Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC) must improve its internal financial practices before considering a proposal for a tariff hike.

These sentiments were shared by electricity consumers who expressed their concerns during the Eswatini Energy Regulatory Authority (ESERA) Electricity Tariff Review Public Hearings held yesterday at Big Bend Riverside Hotel. Attendees questioned the reportedly high salaries of EEC employees, the allowances for board members, and expenditures on expensive vehicles. They also enquired why these meetings are being held in hotels rather than using the companys conference rooms.

EEC has applied for a 25.51 per cent increase in tariffs for 2025/2026 and a 27.06 per cent increase for 2026/2027.

Confusion One attendee, Khumbulani Ndwandwe, expressed confusion over how EEC could be operating at a loss. If thats the case, why isnt the company taking steps to tighten its financial belts? he asked. EEC Managing Director Ernest Mkhonta stated that from its E2.774 billion revenue, a staggering E2.525 billion goes directly to importing electricity, leaving the company with E250 million for operational costs. In the past five years, our profits have dropped from E500 million to below zero, mainly due to the mismatch in electricity purchased. Consequently, we incurred an operational loss of E69 million, Mkhonta explained.

He added that when South Africa increased electricity prices, it was by double figures, averaging around 15 per cent, while Eswatini did not raise its electricity prices, which significantly reduced EECs profits. Notably, Eswatini imports most of its electricity from South Africa. Over the years, we have purchased electricity from South Africa at a high cost, between June and August, to avoid load-shedding in our country because we recognise that local businesses need electricity to thrive, he elaborated.

Load-shedding

Mkhonta indicated that all EEC lines serve businesses and that implementing load-shedding would lead to significant losses for those businesses. The increase is not only about EEC but also about sustaining the economy, he stated. According to the managing director, EEC will require E2.48 billion to purchase electricity in the current tariff application. With E1.7 billion spent on electricity imports the previous year, Eswatini will face challenges in securing sufficient electricity in the future.

In related news, EEC has reportedly purchased 14 top-of-the-range Land Cruiser vehicles, one for each depot. EECs General Manager of Operations, Vusi Gama, explained that this acquisition was driven by the need for effective customer service, as these vehicles can access the most remote areas where road infrastructure is lacking. The company should consider purchasing more affordable vehicles that can perform the same function, complained another attendee, Nonhlanhla Tsabedze.
As fans of this year's Strictly will testify, JB Gill can always be relied upon to light up the ballroom with his smile and natural exuberance.

But even for the happy-go-lucky boyband member, he admits it has been a 'tough' week as he paid tribute to his 'very good friend' Liam Payne who was laid to rest at St Mary's Church in Amersham, Buckinghamshire on Wednesday.

While Liam's family and friends, including JB's JLS bandmate Marvin Humes, were saying goodbye to the much-loved One Direction member, JB and his dance partner were rehearsing for tonight's live shows.

And in something of a cruel irony, JB's dance with professional Lauren Oakley, this week is not an emotionally charged Latin number but the happiest of the ballroom dances: the Charleston.

One wonders how JB will manage to paint that smile on against the background of such loss.

JB - born Jonathan Benjamin Gill - and Liam started their journey to fame together, meeting for the first time while auditioning for The X Factor in 2008.

JB Gill admits it has been a 'tough' week as he paid tribute to his 'very good friend' Liam Payne who was laid to rest at St Mary's Church in Amersham, Buckinghamshire on Wednesday

Liam died last month after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, aged just 31 [pictured in 2019]

While JB auditioned alongside his three JLS bandmates, a 14-year-old lad from Wolverhampton called Liam also impressed the judges that day and sailed through to the next round.

The 37-year-old said: 'He was a very good friend. We literally met him when he was starting his journey out. It was before he had the success of One Direction, because he was just a solo artist in the same year that we were in the X Factor and got onto the live shows. I just remember him following the boys and I around.'

While JLS would go onto become runners-up to Alexandra Burke in a nail-biting finale, a young Liam didn't make it to the live shows after Simon Cowell rejected the star in the bootcamp round at his Barbados home.

JB said: 'He wanted to be in JLS, to be honest. But when he got knocked out at boot camp, we said 'Just keep going, keep working hard, you'll get your chance'. I'm obviously glad that he was able to do that.'

Liam took the advice and ran with it. Returning two years later, Cowell brought him together with Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik to form boyband One Direction, who would go on to dominate the global music charts.

But for Liam, worldwide fame clearly came with considerable demons, which culminated in his death last month after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, aged just 31.

'It's incredibly sad,' JB tells me. 'Especially when it's super close to home. We had a personal relationship with Liam, and all the One Direction boys.

'When you come from the same show, and you go through similar experiences, you have that common ground that you can identify with. It has been tough when you see negative things come out of that.'

While Liam's family and friends, including JB's JLS bandmate Marvin Humes , were saying goodbye to the much-loved One Direction member, JB and his dance partner were rehearsing for tonight's live shows [pictured with Lauren Oakley]

JB - born Jonathan Benjamin Gill - and Liam started their journey to fame together, meeting for the first time while auditioning for The X Factor in 2008 [pictured with JLS on the show in 2008]

While JB auditioned alongside his three JLS bandmates, a 14-year-old lad from Wolverhampton called Liam also impressed the judges that day and sailed through to the next round [Liam pictured auditioning in 2008]

'He was a very good friend. We literally met him when he was starting his journey out. It was before he had the success of One Direction, because he was just a solo artist in the same year that we were in the X Factor and got onto the live shows' [Liam at Judge's Houses in 2008]

JB, who would 'love' to dance to a One Direction song as an 'incredible tribute' to his friend, has been able to take one piece of comfort from the tragedy.

He said: 'One of the things that I do take from the situation, a bit of a silver lining if you will, is that as young as he was, and as tragic as it is, Liam was able to do the thing that he loved the most, which was to sing and perform in front of the world.

'It's sad for him, for his family, for his little boy, but it's one of those things that you can take a bit of comfort from, because he was able to live his dream. And not everybody can say that.'

While One Direction had many reported feuds which ultimately led to them disbanding in 2016, JB's JLS - which also features Aston Merrygold, Marvin Humes, and Ortis Williams - have recently finished a hugely successful summer tour.

He thinks the key to JLS's longevity is they weren't rushed together, as he questions manufactured boybands, in what could be seen as a veiled swipe at Cowell.

He said: 'I think for a lot of those groups that are put together, immediately people are looking for results. They need to have a number one, they need to have a single, they need to have an album. Everything's go, go, go.

'With us I think there was a bit more of an organic process. We were together by the time we went into the show. We weren't manufactured.

'When you come from the same show, and you go through similar experiences, you have that common ground that you can identify with. It has been tough when you see negative things come out of that'

'It's sad for him, for his family, for his little boy, but it's one of those things that you can take a bit of comfort from, because he was able to live his dream. And not everybody can say that'

'I think us having that 18 months or so before we then went into that highly pressurised environment of The X Factor put us in good stead.'

Fifteen years after JB's X Factor experience he is battling it out in a very different television competition: Strictly.

If bookies are to be believed, he's not just a shoo-in for next week's quarter finals, but he is a contender to lift the glitterball at the finals on December 14.

But his bright and breezy attitude as we talk belies just how eventful his ten weeks in the Strictly ballroom have been, including an emotional goodbye to his first professional partner, Amy Dowden.

He had originally been paired with the Welsh dancer, who suffers from Crohn's disease and is in remission from breast cancer, but she was forced to take a week's rest after collapsing backstage during week six's live shows.

She later withdrew from the competition entirely after a reported foot injury, and JB was permanently coupled with Oakley.
Helen Worth looked incredible as she made a rare public appearance at the North West Royal Television Society awards in Manchester on Friday night.

The Coronation Street star, 73, donned a tailored black suit paired with a sheer black embroidered top.

The actress accessoried with gold jewellery and toted her belongings in a small stylish black bag.

Helen was joined by her co-star Peter Ash, who plays Paul Foreman on the long-running soap.

The evening was particularly special for the star, who was honoured with the special judges award for her long career and contribution to television.

Accepting the award presented to her by on-screen son Jack P. Shepherd, she laughed: 'I can't believe he's here.

Helen Worth looked incredible as she made a rare public appearance at the North West Royal Television Society awards in Manchester on Friday night

She was joined by her co-star Peter Ash, who plays Paul Foreman on the long-running soap

'I said goodbye to him two weeks ago - and I thought I'd never see him again!'

Taking the award she told the audience: 'To receive an award, in Manchester, in the north west, the home of Coronation Street, is an absolute joy.

'I've done 50 years, I don't know how I did it!

'It just flew by and I never actually thought about it and then one day someone told me I'd been here 50 years and I thought 'I think it's time I left' and that was it really.

'I know why I stayed - it was simple - because of all the wonderful people who work on Coronation Street.'

Back in October it was revealed that Helen was filming her final scenes as the beloved character, bids farewell to the cobbles of Coronation Street after a staggering 50-year career.

Announcing her departure from the show in June, the 73-year-old said: 'This year felt like the perfect time to leave the show after celebrating 50 years in the most wonderful job on the most wonderful street in the world.

'I made the decision at the start of the year and spoke to the producers who were very kind and understanding. The fact that I'm leaving hasn't quite sunk in yet.'

The evening was particularly special for the star, who was honoured with the special judges award for her long career and contribution to television

Last month it was revealed that the Coronation street legend, who is best known on screen as Gail Platt, finished filming her final episodes (pictured in a previous episode)

Gail marrying Martin Platt, played by Sean Wilson, in 1991. She holds the record as the soap's most married female character

In her final series Gail finds love again but this time with a man 18 years younger after a surprise return from Jesse Chadwick, played by John Thomson, 55.

Thomson left the show after two years in 2010 but has come back and struck up a romance with Ms Worth's character.

Gail, who first appeared on the ITV soap in 1974, holds the record as its most married female character.

Her on-screen husbands include Brian Tilsley, played by Christopher Quinten, and Martin Platt [Sean Wilson].

More than 19million viewers watched her third husband, serial killer Richard Hillman [Brian Capron], drive her into a canal in one of the show's most dramatic episodes.

She was falsely imprisoned when her fourth husband Joe McIntyre [Reece Dinsdale] drowned. Her last marriage was to Michael Rodwell [Les Dennis] in 2015.

The actress' final scenes will air on Christmas Day as Gail is set to walk down the aisle for the seventh time.
Sarah Jessica Parker donned her best business chic in a grey tailored skirt suit while Sharon Stone sported an eye catching ensemble in Turin on Saturday.

The Sex And The City star, 59, looked stylish as ever as she attended the 42nd Torino Film Festival opening dinner.

Sarah oozed sophistication in a light-grey fitted blazer which she paired with a matching mid-length skirt and dark stilettos that boasted a buckle on the front.

The actress's golden locks were styled into loose curls and she accessorised with a plain black bracelet and a black leather handbag with a gold padlock.

She was joined by her actor husband Matthew Broderick, 62, who cut a dapper figure in a navy suit.

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.

Sarah Jessica Parker donned her best business chic in a grey tailored skirt suit while Sharon Stone sported an eye catching ensemble in Turin on Saturday

The Sex And The City star, 59, looked as stylish as ever as she attended the 42nd Torino Film Festival opening dinner

Meanwhile Basic Instinct actress Sharon, 66, showed off her bold sense of style in some light brown trousers with a matching jacket.

The stand out jacket, which she wore over the top of a brown roll neck jumper, featured floral patchwork detailing.

Sharon finished off the look with a pair of blue tinted glasses.

She tucked her blonde locks behind her ears and wore comfy trainers for the outing with a striking red lip for added effect.

It comes as the pair graced the red carpet for the opening of the 42nd Torino Film Festival in very glamorous ensembles on Friday.

Sharon looked nothing short of incredible in a strapless sequinned dress, which boasted a corset-style top half and an intricate bejewelled pattern.

However, the show-stopping 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.

Sarah oozed sophistication in a light-grey fitted blazer, which she paired with a matching mid-length skirt and dark stilettos that boasted a buckle on the front

Her golden locks were styled into loose curls and she accessorised with a plain black bracelet and a black leather handbag with a gold padlock

She was joined by her actor husband Matthew Broderick, 62, who cut a dapper figure in a navy suit.

Meanwhile Basic Instinct actress Sharon, 66, showed off her bold sense of style in some light brown trousers with a matching jacket

The stand out jacket which she wore over the top of a brown roll neck jumper featured floral patchwork detailing

Sharon looked glamorous in the stand out outfit, which she finished off with a pair of blue tinted glasses and comfy trainers

Sharon wore her short blonde hair in a slicked back style and opted for a glowy palette of makeup, including a dark lipstick shade, in keeping 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.

Meanwhile Sarah, 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.

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

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

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.

Her husband Matthew, stood by her side in a navy and black tuxedo and the pair put on a loved-up display on the red carpet, with Sarah stopping to whisper something into her husband's ear.

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.

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, 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

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)

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.
Strictly Come Dancing's Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystal sent fans wild with their chemistry during their latest dance.

The pair opened Saturday's show with a fierce Tango to Easy Lover by Philip Bailey and Phil Collins, and got a total score of 29 out of 40.

Jowita looked sensational in a racy white mesh dress, while Pete looked dapper in a black suit.

Fans rushed to social media platform X to share their thoughts, with one penning: 'Pete and Jowita are definitely in lurve'

'You can't deny, Pete & Jowita are so cute together'; 'pete and jowita i am OBSESSED'

Strictly Come Dancing's Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystal sent fans wild with their chemistry during their latest dance

The pair opened Saturday's show with a fierce Tango to Easy Lover by Philip Bailey and Phil Collins , and got a total score of 29 out of 40

The pair have been competing on Strictly 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;

'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;'

Jowita looked sensational in a racy white mesh dress, while Pete looked dapper in a black suit

Fans rushed to social media platform X to share their thoughts, with one penning: 'Pete and Jowita are definitely in lurve'

Strictly Come Dancing leaderboard: Week Nine 1. Tasha Ghouri and Aljaz Skorjanec - 40 out of 40 2. JB Gill and Lauren Oakley - 39 out of 40 3. Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe - 37 out of 40 4. Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola - 36 out of 40 5. Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell - 33 out of 40 6. Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas - 32 out of 40 7. Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystal - 29 out of 40 Advertisement

'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.

'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 .

Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystal have sent fans into a frenzy with their 'unreal' chemistry after she co-hosted his Staying Relevant podcast

'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!'

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

While the two have engaged in very some flirtatious behaviour amid their sizzling performances, professional dancer Jowita still has her eye on prize and has told the one thing that Pete is not allowed during their time in the competition

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!'

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

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.

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.
Jay Leno is on the mend after the 60 foot fall he took in Pennsylvania earlier this week that left him with severe facial bruising and a broken wrist.

'I'm feeling good,' he said on the red carpet of the AMFAR gala in Las Vegas Friday night. 'I've got a broken wrist, but I'm all right.'

He covered his large bruises quite well with makeup to host the event which was held at the Wynn Resort and Casino and honored Sylvester Stallone and his wife Jennifer Flavin.

Leno slipped and fell while trying to take a shortcut to a restaurant near the Hampton Inn he was staying at before a show he was doing in Greenhouse, Pennsylvania near Pittsburgh.

The former host of The Tonight Show had a hankering for some chicken parmesan and was determined not to have to take the long way around to go and get it.

'To get to [the restaurant], I didn't have a car, so you had to walk about a mile and a half around. I said, 'Well, the hill doesn't look that steep. It's about 60-70 feet. Let me see if I can go down the hill,' I fell down,' he told Inside Edition earlier this week.

Jay Leno is on the mend after the 60 foot fall he took in Pennsylvania earlier this week that left him with severe facial bruising and a broken wrist. Seen here on November 22, 2024

'Boom, boom, boom. I rolled down the hill, hit my head on a rock, knocked me in the eye,' Leno added of the incident.

Fans aren't buying his story, however, with some claiming his injuries look more like he got beaten up.

Citing another injury where the comedian broke, among other things, both of his kneecaps last summer in what he said was a motorcycle accident.

Conspiracy theorists came up with the theory that Leno must owe a large gambling debt to the Mafia or to loan sharks and they've been taking out his lack of payment on him physically.

'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.'

The theory is amusing, and consistent with the cliched thoughts of how the Mafia enforces things.

But the fact is that Leno has a net worth of around $450 million from his long career as a comedian and late night television host.

'I'm feeling good,' he said on the red carpet of the AMFAR gala in Las Vegas Friday night. 'I've got a broken wrist, but I'm all right.' Seen here on November 22, 2024

Leno slipped and fell while trying to take a shortcut to a restaurant near the Hampton Inn he was staying at before a show he was doing in Greenhouse, Pennsylvania near Pittsburgh

The former host of The Tonight Show had a hankering for some chicken parmesan and was determined not to have to take the long way around to go and get it

After his tumble down the hill, Leno picked himself up, dusted himself off and headed to the restaurant across the parking lot, where he marched right into the eatery and ordered the chicken parmesan he had been seeking.

After he chowed down on the chicken and garlic bread, he went to a nearby CVS to grab and eye patch and then headed to do his show at The Palace Theatre in Greenhouse.

Once he was back in California, Leno headed to In-n-Out in Burbank for a burger and fries with his bruises visible.

He did not seek medical attention for his bruising or broken wrist until he got back to Los Angeles.
America's ageing population is an acute problem in Florida, where government officials and experts are agonizing over how to meet the needs of this vulnerable group of people.

In South Florida - an area that has attracted retirees for decades - the sheer number of seniors that need to be catered to is reaching a crisis level for municipalities.

That's because many of them don't have pensions or enough savings and are solely living on Social Security, which with an average payout of just $1,907 per month, isn't enough to live on.

'I am truly concerned that 20 years from now, people that are reaching their mid-60s, their retirement age will be death,' said Broward County Commissioner Steve Geller, who is also the chair of the South Florida Regional Planning Council.

'If you're not worried about this, it just means you're not paying attention,' Geller said in an interview with DailyMail.com.

Access to affordable housing is also waning in the state, putting seniors at risk of homelessness, experts warn.

The planning council expects South Florida, which encompasses seven counties, to have 2.13 million people that are 65 or older by 2050, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

If this projection is correct, that would be a nearly 55 percent increase since 2021.

Of that 2.13 million, 520,000 of them will be 85 years or older.

Florida is just one among all states that are scrambling to figure out how to provide services to growing elderly population

That will be millions of people who will need assistance with everything from housing and transportation to healthcare.

The South Florida and the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Councils held an approximately seven-hour long conference last Friday at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton to discuss this exact issue.

Experts from various disciplines presented in front of an audience of about 200 people, many of them local government officials who could affect change to blunt the worst case scenario for Florida's future seniors.

One of the biggest issues is that seniors are simply outliving their savings, while also carrying debt into retirement.

'There is a disconnect of how much people understand they have to save,' said Angela Antonelli, a research professor and executive director of the Georgetown University Center for Retirement Initiatives.

Antonelli added that one in five Americans rely on Social Security for 90 percent or more of their income, which she argued 'does not keep you out of poverty.'

Broward County Commissioner Geller told DailyMail.com that there used to be a three-legged stool for retirement: a pension, Social Security and savings.

One of those legs - pensions - has been kicked out from under millions of American workers over the last 40 years in favor of employer-sponsored 401(K) plans and IRAs.

More workers than ever rely solely on contributing to their 401(K) plans to build up their retirement savings. Back in 1970, 45 percent of all private sector workers had a pension plan

Pictured: Broward County Commissioner Steve Geller. He also serves as the chair of the South Florida Regional Planning Council

'IRAs and 401(K)s were never set up to replace pensions. They were set up to help supplement pensions, and instead, because they're so much cheaper, employers said, "Oh, great, we'll set up a 401(K) and eliminate your pension,"' Geller said.

This predominantly impacts private sector workers, only 15 percent of whom have pensions as of March 2023, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Back in 1970, when 45 percent of all private sector workers had a pension plan (also called a defined benefit package), there was infinitely less of a risk of them running out of money later on in retirement.

For the rest of their lives, people who worked at pension-providing companies were guaranteed a monthly income for their decades on the job.

But now that most companies have switched to defined contribution plans, the burden to save for retirement has fallen entirely on workers, who often make 'bad decisions,' according to Geller.

This includes withdrawing from their 401(K)s before they turn 59-and-a-half -subjecting themselves to 10 percent tax from the IRS as a penalty - or taking loans against their retirement account.

Many people choose to keep their retirement money in cash and miss out on decades of compound growth they would have experienced if they'd invested their money into the stock market.

That's why Geller wants government officials to start advocating for private pension plans again.

But absent a monumental shift in national policy, Geller hope to wrangle together the three largest counties in southeast Florida - Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach - to create a state retirement fund.

Ten states have mandated retirement plans, meaning they force most businesses to opt in and provide their employees access to the government-run retirement savings system.

Your browser does not support iframes.

Florida doesn't have a program like this, which is why Geller hopes to get momentum going at the county-level.

Together, Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties have a population of 7.2 million and many of these people - beyond most of them not having a pension - don't even have access to an employer-based retirement plan because they're working for a small business.

'I'm talking about a story that's got eight or 10 employees. They're not going to go through the hassle of setting up their own retirement plan,' Geller said.

As Broward County Commissioner, Geller wants to put forth a bill that would have the county pay for the initial set up and administration of the plan so more Floridians would have the opportunity to set aside money every check for retirement.

'I will call this the Joe's Pizzeria Act, because it's designed not for Microsoft, but for Joe's Pizzeria,' he said.

For current seniors living in Florida, access to affordable housing is waning as property prices and the cost of living spikes.

Broward Mayor Nan Rich, a panelist at the conference, said seniors in southeast Florida who live in condos bought in the 1970s are facing mandatory repairs that are now government-mandated following the Surfside condo collapse in 2021.

Under the new law, all condo buildings 30 years old or older and three stories or taller are required to undergo an inspection by a qualified architect or engineer.

If 'substantial structural deterioration' is found, the condo owner will be on the hook for the repairs and need to come up with substantial amounts of cash to fix their property within a year.

Rich, Geller, and other officials expect that many seniors who live in these units won't be able come up with the money for maintenance - which can sometimes cost $100,000 or more - and face homelessness as a result.

'The fastest growing group of homeless people are seniors,' Geller said.

Pictured: The aftermath of the collapse of a condo building in Surfside, Florida. The disaster prompted state lawmakers to more stringently regulate condos, which is having a devastating effect on the market

Poverty rates are also the highest for seniors than any other age group in Miami-Dade County, according to Tyler Moroles, assistant division director of the county's Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program.

The median rent in the county is about $2,100, which requires a $75,600 salary to be affordable.

For the thousands of seniors in public housing, their average income is $14,691 a year.

'I'm sure none of you could live off $14,000, nor could I,' Moroles said.

The county is in the middle of redeveloping about 1,800 public housing units to create more living spaces.

Jose Marti Villas, in Miami's Little Havana, is one affordable apartment complex that's being renovated by the county.

The eight story building houses 110 units and a nearby three-story building has 36 units, bringing the total to 146. It's expected to be fully completed by March 2026.

Pictured: Jose Marti Villas, an affordable senior housing community in Miami that's set to be completed by March 2026

Another potential solution that could get more seniors a roof over their head involves loosening zoning laws to allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs).

ADUs, sometimes called 'granny flats' or 'in-law suites,' are housing additions that often take the form of add-ons to a home or a separate living quarters on the property.

The children of seniors will often decide to build these additions to house their parents if they can no longer support themselves.

Zoning laws in Broward County and other South Florida counties regulate resident density, which presents a problem for those who want to build ADUs.

Once a developer builds a property that adheres to the number of residents it's zoned for, it's almost impossible for the adult children that live there to create an ADU for their elderly relative without violating the law.

'We're going to need to work with the cities and the county...to say we're not going to count accessory dwelling units towards your density,' Geller said.

An example of a detached accessory dwelling unit. Many of them aren't bigger than 1,000 square feet and have one bedroom

Transportation for seniors is another policy arena that will need to be addressed by lawmakers as more of them need to give up their cars

Transportation for seniors is another policy arena that will need to be addressed by lawmakers as more of them need to give up their cars.

'Most adults will outlive their ability to drive by seven to 10 years,' said conference panelist Laura Streed, the senior associate state director of AARP of Florida.

Other panelists discussed potential solutions, including partnering with Uber and other ride-sharing companies to get seniors to public transit stations that are too far of a walk for them.

Karen Deigl, president and CEO of Senior Resource Association, said policymakers need to be aware of things like cracked sidewalks and street lights that make it nearly impossible for older adults to cross the street in time.

Since according to Deigl 'some people just shouldn't drive,' there need to be other ways for seniors to get around that don't involve cars.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies emerged victorious in by-elections across 15 states, securing 28 of the 48 Assembly seats contested. Among the most significant results were those from Uttar Pradesh, where Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths slogan Bantenge Toh Katenge (Division leads to defeat) delivered a decisive 7-2 victory over the Samajwadi Party (SP), dealing a blow to Akhilesh Yadavs PDA (Pichchra, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) caste-based alliance.

The by-polls, held shortly after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, were viewed as a crucial test of political strategies ahead of the 2027 Assembly polls in UP. The BJPs victory in Uttar Pradesh reinforced the partys recovery after its diminished performance in the general elections, where the NDA won only 36 of the states 80 parliamentary seats, a significant drop from 66 in 2019. For Adityanath, the by-elections were a matter of prestige, and the results showcased his ability to consolidate voter support across caste and community lines.

The BJPs triumph in the Muslim-dominated Kundarki constituency in Moradabad was particularly striking. Despite the constituencys 65 per cent Muslim voter base, BJP candidate Ramveer Singh defeated SPs Mohammad Rizwan by over 96,000 votes. The SP retained its strongholds of Karhal and Sisamau, constituencies it has held for over three decades, but struggled to expand beyond these bastions.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath celebrated the victory, attributing it to the BJPs governance, welfare policies, and strategic outreach. The BJP-NDAs success is a testament to the peoples faith in the double-engine government under Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership. I thank the voters for their unwavering support, he said.

In other states, Congress made notable gains in Karnataka, sweeping all three seats, including the high-profile Channapatna constituency. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar hailed the results as a reflection of public trust in the Congress government.

Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress solidified its dominance in West Bengal, winning all six contested seats, including the BJP stronghold of Madarihat.

Congress candidate Gulabsinh Rajput defeated BJPs Swarupji Thakor in the by-elections to the Vav Assembly seat in Gujarats Banaskantha district.

In Bihar, the ruling NDA retained its grip on four constituencies, with the JD(U) winning key seats and dealing a setback to the INDIA bloc. The BJP also retained two Assembly seats in Assam and gained leads in three other constituencies. In Rajasthan, BJP won 5 out of seven seats with Anil Kumar Katara securing the Chorasi Assembly seat by a margin of 24,370 votes.

In a high-stake battle, the BJP was successful in winning the by-poll for the Kedarnath Assembly seat. BJP nominee Asha Nautiyal, who got 23,814 votes, defeated Manoj Rawat of the Congress by a margin of 5622 votes.

However, in a setback for the ruling BJP in Madhya Pradesh, Forest Minister Ramniwas Rawat lost the Vijaypur Assembly bypoll to Congress candidate Mukesh Malhotra by a margin of 7,364 votes. Rawat, a six-time MLA from Vijaypur in Sheopur district, had won the seat in 2023 as a Congress candidate before defecting to the BJP, which appointed him as a minister in Mohan Yadavs government.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won three seats in Punjab, Chabbewal, Gidderbaha, and Dera Baba Nanak, while Congress won the Barnala constituency. In Meghalaya, the National Peoples Party (NPP) secured the Gambegre seat with a victory by Chief Minister Conrad Sangmas wife, Mehtab Chandee Agitok Sangma. In Sikkim, the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) clinched both the Soreng Chakung and Namchi-Singhithang seats.

The by-elections underscored shifting political dynamics across states, with the BJP regaining momentum in Uttar Pradesh, Congress consolidating its hold in Karnataka, and regional parties like TMC and NPP solidifying their dominance. The results set the stage for intense political battles ahead, particularly in the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, where the BJP and SP are likely to go head-to-head once again.
In less than six months of improving its resounding tally in the Lok Sabha as an elder brother of its alliance partners, Congress is back to its introspection war room to analyse the electoral losses starting with Haryana followed by Jammu and Kashmir and now in Maharashtra and certain bypolls to give ammunitions to its younger brothers of the INDIA Bloc to rethink of a Third Front to lead the show.

The results of Maharashtra are unexpected and we will analyse those in detail, said partys chief strategist Rahul Gandhi, who shall be again in the scanner after giving a face saving performance in this years Lok Sabha where he managed to get a Leader of Opposition status which was deprived in the last two Lok Sabhas.

The poll results have further diminished the grand old partys role in the Opposition bloc as compared to its regional alliance partners. The partys strength in Lok Sabha also got reduced to 98 seats after it lost the Nanded Lok Sabha to the BJP in the bypolls. Congress however attempted to put up a brave front, and celebrate the expected massive Lok Sabha by-election win for Priyanka Gandhi in Wayanad.

Enough of coalition politics, I think the voters are looking only to the Congress and they are confused with too many cooks in the broth. Near future I also understand the way our electorates are behaving, very soon we will see only Congress and the BJP playing on the electoral turf, said a senior Congress MP on the latest poll results when asked what went wrong again after Haryana.

In Jammu and Kashmir where the polls were held recently and now in Haryana and Maharashtra the grand old party continued losing space as it posted a worst-ever show in Maharashtra and ending up a distant junior partner to the in Jharkhand.

Losing a big state like Maharashtra after the upset in Haryana is likely to weaken the grand old partys broad bargaining power in this era of coalition politics.

The outcome revealed that the Congress continued to falter on the slippery electoral landscape, struggling to win or improve in states where it is ruling and failing to uplift alliances where it is the senior partner.

In Haryana, where the Congress and BJP were in direct contest, the party could not convert the anti-incumbency of BJPs two terms into a win. Now in Maharashtra, it was unable to retain its Lok Sabha gains or help its allies pull through.

Questions are also expected to be raised on the modus operandi of Congress partys chief strategist Rahul Gandhi who has of late focused heavily on caste census as both issues appear to have failed to resonate among the people at large in the poll-bound states.

In the run up to the General Elections several leaders in the likes of Nitish Kumar, K Chandrashekar Rao, Mamata Banerjee, Akshilesh Yadav , M K Stalin were hobnobbing to lead a Third Front but Congress finally convinced to lead the family of non-BJP members. Interestingly Mamata and Nitish, both Chief ministers and boss of their party had to call it a day from the Congress hegemony and chose different path. While Nitishs JDU is now part of BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Mamata joined the chorus after Congress good performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha.
In contrast to its Maharashtra miracle, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) faced a huge setback in Jharkhand with the INDIA Bloc coming back with a resounding victory in the Assembly polls, results of which were announced on Saturday.

The INDIA Bloc led by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) in Jharkhand registered victory in 56 constituencies. The JMM won 34 seats, four more than its 2019 polls tally, while the Congress managed to win 16 seats in the 81 member Assembly.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist), two other members of the coalition, also performed well by clinching four and two seats respectively. Both the parties had won just one seat in the 2019 Assembly polls. On the other hand, the BJP could barely secure 21 seats, which are four less than that of its 2019 performance. The NDAs major partner All Jharkhand Students Union Party (AJSU), which contested on 10 seats, could only win one. AJSU Party president Sudesh Mahto was also defeated from his traditional seat Silli.

Two other partners of NDA, Janata Dal (United), and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), won one seat each making the NDA reach a tally of 24. Jharkhand Krantikari Lok Morcha (JKLM), a new political party formed by youth leader Jairam Mahto, won only one seat, but it made a significant dent into the traditional vote bank of both BJP and AJSU party, said political experts.

Chief Minister Hemant Sorens wife, and MLA, Kalpana Murmu Soren, and his brother and MLA Basant Soren won their seats from Gandey and Dumka respectively, while his sister in law Sita Murmu Soren, who contested on a BJP ticket from Jamtara had to face defeat.

State BJP president Babulal Marandi retained his seat, while former CM Champai Soren also won from Saraikela. However, former CM Arjun Mundas wife Meera Munda and former CM Madhu Kodas wife Geeta Koda had to face defeat in the polls.

Another former CM and incumbent Governor of Odisha Raghubar Das daughter in law Poornima Sahu Das managed to win from Jamshedpur East constituency.

Addressing a press conference at his residence Hemant Soren credited the victory of INDIA Bloc to the people of Jharkhand. Soren posted a video on X with a caption Jharkhand has won. He thanked the people of Jharkhand for believing in the alliance once again and promised to fulfil their aspirations.

You have played a crucial role in fortifying democracy. I extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated in this electoral process and those who worked tirelessly to bring the essence of democracy to the people, he said.

He further remarked, A new chapter in the history of Abua Raj, Abua Sarkar is being written in Jharkhand. This election is unlike any you have witnessed before. We have successfully upheld the principles of democracy. I extend my sincere gratitude to each one of you.

The BJPs state president Babulal Marandi congratulated Hemant Soren and his party on social media for his win. He said that this election result was unexpected for BJP, but in democracy the decision of the people is paramount. We respect the mandate. BJP will thoroughly review these results, he added.

Political experts credited the conclusive win of INDIA block in Jharkhand to the recently launched Maiyan Samman Yojna by the Hemant Soren led government in the State, through which four instalments of Rs 1000 were given as honorarium to more than 45 lakh women of Jharkhand.

Also, they said that the Bangladeshi infiltration rhetoric launched by the BJP to woo partys traditional voters miserably failed in the tribal belts that still long for tribal identity and basic amenities.

Notably, this is for the first time in the history of 24 years of formation of Jharkhand that any coalition or a party has secured 56 seats to run the government comfortably for a full term.
MahaYuti stumps Maha Vikas Aghadi

Stunning a united Opposition that was confident of unseating the ruling alliance from power, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led MahaYuti on Saturday scored a historic victory over the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), by winning an astounding 233 seats out of the total 288 seats in the Maharashtra Assembly polls.

In a landslide win that even surprised the ruling alliance leaders, the BJP, which heads the MahaYuti, put up a best-ever performance in the Assembly polls by bagging as many as 133 seats out of the total 288 seats on its own, a superlative feat than is far better than its own earlier stupendous wins in the 2014 and 2019 Assembly polls when 122 and 105 seats respectively.

The BJPs allies, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-headed NCP  that won 57 and 41 seats respectively, also contributed to the MahaYutis thumping victory. With 133 seats in its kitty, the ruling BJP has become a natural claimant for the Chief Ministers post. Notwithstanding Eknath Shindes lobbying to retain the CMs post, it is quite likely that the BJPs central leadership will choose the current Dy CM as the new CM. The new CM will be sworn into office on Monday.

On the other hand, the Opposition MVA, comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (Sharad Pawar), put up a pathetic performance by winning a meagre 45 seats. While the Shiv Sena (UBT) secured 20 seats, the Congress and NCP (SP) won 15 and 10 seats respectively.

Such is the rout of the MVA in the polls that there will be no Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the State Assembly. Because, none of the MVA constituents, Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (Sharad Pawar), has won 10 per cent of the total 288 seats in the House to stake a claim for the LoPs post.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, his deputies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar attributed a large share of the MahaYuti victory to its Mukhya Mantri Ladki Bahin Yojana (Chief Ministers Beloved Sister Scheme) which was announced in the State Budget 2024-25. Under the scheme, the MahaYuti government had doled out an assistance of Rs 1,500 per month to all women (age 21-65 years) across state. Launched in August this year, a total assistance of Rs 7,500 reached 2.34 crore women across the state during the last five months at the rate of Rs 1,500 per woman per month.

I salute women across the state. The Mukhya Mantri Ladki Bahin Yojana proved to be a game-changer for us Remember everyone wrote us off after the Lok Sabha polls. If the people, especially women across the state, have given us resounding victory, it is because of the development work and welfare schemes like the Ladki Bahin scheme, which helped us script an unprecedented win in the polls, Shinde said.

One of the biggest takeaways from the polls that the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-headed NCP, which are off-shoots of the vertical splits that took place in the united parties in June 2022 and July 2023 respectively - have proved electorally that they are better parties than the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena and Sharad Pawar-led NCP in terms of strength in the State Assembly.

Such is the MahaYuti victory that the ruling alliance has made gains in all the six regions of the state, including Mumbai. Of the 36 seats in Mumbai, the MahaYuti won 23 seats, as against 12 seats won by the MVA. In the neighbouring Thane and Konkan region, out of the 39 seats, the MahaYuti walked away 32 seats, while the MVA won mere four seats. In western Maharashtra  once considered the stronghold of the erstwhile Sharad Pawar-led NCP, the ruling grand alliance won 42 out of 58 seats, while the MVA won just four seats.

In Marathwada where the MVA had performed very well in the recent Lok Sabha polls, the MahaYuti won 36 out of the 46 seats while the MVA won a meagre two seats. In north Maharashtra, the ruling grand alliance walked away with 41 out of 47 seats, while the MVA won just three seats. In Vidarbha - a region on which the Congress was pinning its hopes, the MahaYuti performed exceedingly winning 48 out of the total 62 seats.
BIG BEND  Fishing illegally in private property ended tragically for 62 years old Zungululuzi Mkhabela.

When police officers were called after a man fell into a dam, they responded promptly in hopes of assisting him or at least retrieving his body if he had already drowned.

Instead, when the officers arrived, they found residents by the river banks gathered, and when they came closer all they could do was watch helplessly from a distance as a float of crocodiles ripped the mans flesh. By this time, the man had already died, as he made no sound.

Death

Normally, crocodiles perform what is known as the death row, whereby they seem to row in the water. This is normally done when they are eating. According to a close acquaintance, who asked not to be named, the fisherman, Zungululuzi Mkhabela had gone fishing on Thursday. He is said to have been fishing at the Mntindzekwa River, which is said to have dried up in some sections and formed deep dams due to the extremely hot weather. It was gathered that Mkhabela had intended to put a net into the water but slipped and fell in. Upon noticing that he had fallen into the water and was not resurfacing, some residents then quickly rushed to call the police to assist, hoping that he could still be alive or if he had drowned, at least to retrieve his body.

Shockingly

Police officers from Big Bend are said to have arrived, hoping that his body could be retrieved after it was realised that he was submerged into the water. Shockingly, as the police and the residents watched the water, Mkhabelas body emerged, almost as if he was swimming but this was not the case. He was being tossed by the crocodiles as they began to devour him.

It was horrific. He was eaten and nothing remained, said a resident. Noteworthy, it was gathered that a similar incident happened to a fisherman, who used to be a fishing colleague of the late Mkhabela. His colleague was also eaten by crocodiles in a similar manner, alleged the resident. The Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Senior Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed the incident and said it was reported under the Piggs Peak Police Station.

Dangerous

Phiwayinkhosi Ngcamphalala, the Indvuna Yenkhundla of Siphofaneni Constituency also confirmed the tragic incident. Ngcamphalala then further urged residents not to enter the river for fishing, as this is dangerous, especially since it is crocodile infested. Further, Ngcamphala stated that the area was private property and it was guarded by rangers. Big Game Parks Game Ranger Ted Reilly was also reached for comment on the matter. He said at the moment, he is not aware of the incident, but also stated that the area mentioned is known for crocodiles.

Warned

He said according to his knowledge, the river mentioned is all under private property and known for crocodiles. Reilly also warned against fishing in rivers using nets, as this is illegal.

He warned that in the Lubombo Region, all rivers have crocodiles. He said it is not only unsafe for fishermen, but also for those fetching water.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is back with vengeance, crushed the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) to retain power, with an outstanding strike rate of over 86 per cent with 133 seats in Maharashtra indicates a tactical shift in the backdrop of the stunning victory in Haryana as its lacklustre show in Lok Sabha elections in the two states. This is the best ever performance of the BJP in the state. With 26.57 percent vote share, the BJP got votes of 16, 642, 993 which is more than the votes shares of Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT).

The stunning victory for the Mahayuti in Maharashtra clearly suggests that the brand of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is still the most powerful ammo that the BJP has in its armoury, which trounced the Opposition alliance that was clearly a frontrunner in the battle at the hustings in Indias wealthiest state just about five months back. The victory has again put a seal of approval on Home Minister Amit Shahs tag as a modern-day Chanakya and master strategist.

The extent of BJPs dominance in this election can be gauged by the fact that the saffron partys projected score is more than double the tally of the oppositions MVA, which includes the Congress, Shiv Sena(UBT) and NCP(SP).

But the million dollar question that arises in Maharashtra now is who will be the chief minister of the state. Will Eknath Shinde continue to be the CM or his deputy and BJPs Devendra Fadnavis, who played a pivotal role in ensuring the saffron partys resounding win?

The BJP-Shiv Sena alliance won the majority in 2019 assembly elections. The BJP won 105 seats, while the Shiv Sena (undivided) grabbed 56 seats. Overall, the two parties won 151 seats in 2019. The BJP had won 122 seats in 2014 assembly elections and 46 seats in 2009 and 54 in 2004. The BJPs strike rate is way ahead of all the other five players in the fray, including two of its allies. While the Shiv Sena is ahead in 56 of the 81 seats it contested, the NCP is leading in 38 out of 59 seats.

There are other reasons which worked in favour of the BJP. It was also Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shindes Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana launched in June that turned the tide in favour of the three-party ruling dispensation. Under the scheme, women in the state got five instalments of Rs 1,500 each till the elections. The impact was visible during polls as women came out in large numbers to cast ballots in the state, apparently helping the Mahayuti to register a landslide.

The BJP also revisited its roots by working closely with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The RSS has held over 60,000 small meetings in the state and mobilised the BJP voters to come out and vote. The RSS, through special 65 friendly organisations, launched a campaign called Sajag Raho - be vigilant, be awake, bolstering BJPs push in the assembly polls. The RSS had not been as much on ground in Lok Sabha elections with the BJP reportedly deciding not to field Sangh-recommended candidates in some seats. Worse, BJP President JP Nadda sparked a row when he said, in an interview, that the BJP didnt depend on the RSS.

Amid turmoil in Maharashtra, the decision to appoint rebel leader Eknath Shinde as the chief minister of the state also worked in favour of BJP. Rarely in Indias political history has a rebel leader become a chief minister of a state with the support of the Opposition members. The decision was perceived as a move to elevate the Shiv Sena leader as an alternative to Uddhav Thackeray. And as things stand on Saturday, the Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction of Mahayuti won 55 seats as opposed to Thackeray factions 21 seats.

The BJP effectively capitalised on the growing religious polarisation in Maharashtra. It focused on the so-called vote jihad, Batenge to Katenge and Ek Hain to Safe Hain rhetoric. This strategy resonated with a section of the electorate. BJP top leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Yogi Adityanath, used slogans like Ek hain toh safe hain and Batenge toh katenge during the campaign in the recent election. Despite the controversy surrounding these slogans, the underlying message was a call for Hindu unity and OBC consolidation in favour of the ruling alliance. The BJP successfully painted the Opposition as appeasing Muslim vote banks.

The BJP surge came on the back of a strong showing in the Vidarbha region. The BJP contested the highest number of seats (47) in the region, which is home to a large chunk of both large- and small-scale farmers. Following the Lok Sabha rout, the BJP-led Mahayuti focused on its core OBC vote bank that was highly alienated during the general elections. The fall of Sharad Pawar led NCP is another reason to sweep the Maharashtra polls. Another big reason for this is farmers supporting the MY in a big way after BJP reached out to the cotton and soybean farmers with assurances on the MSP issue.

The BJP relentlessly campaigned against the MVA government and highlighted alleged corruption, mismanagement and internal strife. The party successfully reminded voters of the 25-month misrule of the MVA and pointed to incidents like the Palghar sadhu killings, the Antilia case and corruption allegations against NCP leader Anil Deshmukh. The BJPs attacks on Uddhav Thackerays alleged departure from his fathers Hindutva legacy and his alliance with the Congress and the NCP further undermined the Oppositions credibility.

Another reason is that the BJP tackled its internal rebellion issues head-on and prevented key figures such as Prakash Mehta and Gopal Shetty from contesting as independent candidates. The strategic withdrawal of rebel leaders helped avoid internal fractures and ensured the partys full strength in the election. The BJP also managed dissent within its ranks by persuading potential troublemakers, who include Maratha leader Manoj Jarange-Patil, to step back from the electoral fray. It prevented a split in votes.

The Mahayutis victory in Maharashtra, coming close on the heels of the BJPs win in the Haryana Assembly elections, has come as a morale-booster for the BJPs rank and file which was dejected to an extent after it failed to secure an absolute majority in the Lok Sabha elections. For the BJP, retaining Maharashtra would cement its dominance ahead of another round of key elections in Delhi and Bihar next year.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra began her parliamentary career in style by registering an impressive win in the by-poll held from Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency in Kerala, the results of which were announced on Saturday. When reports last came, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was leading by a mammoth majority of 4,10, 931 over her rivals Sathyan Mokeri Communist Party of India (CPI) and Navya Haridas Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The election of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was a foregone conclusion from the word go, and the only question asked was whether she would overtake the brute majority bagged by her brother Rahul Gandhi in the constituency.

Priyanka Gandhi created a record by polling 6,22, 338 breaking the tally of Rahul Gandhi in the 2024 Lok Sabha poll from the constituency. Rahul Gandhi had won the seat by a majority of 3,64,422 votes and he quit Wayanad seat in favour of the family fiefdom of Rae Bareli from where he had contested. Rahul Mamkoottathil of the Congress retained the Palakkad Assembly constituency by a thumping majority of 18,840 votes, defeating his nearest rival C Krishnakumar of the BJP.

While Mamkoottathil polled 58, 389 votes, the BJP candidate had to contend with 39, 549 votes. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) supported independent P Sarin, who had crossed over to the Left Democratic Front (LDF) from the Congress, was relegated to the third position as he polled 37, 298 votes. What made the victory sweeter for the Congress candidate was the majority with which he won the by-poll.

Shafi Parambil, the sitting MLA from Palakkad had won the 2021 Assembly poll by a majority of 3859 votes and he resigned from the seat on getting elected as Member of Parliament in the 2024 general election.

The ruling CPI-M retained the Chelakkara Assembly constituency from where its nominee UR Pradeep was elected by a majority of 12,201 votes. He defeated his Congress rival Remya Haridas and the BJP candidate K Balakrishnan. Both the by-polls to the Assembly constituencies of Palakkad and Chelakkara saw high voltage campaigns and dramatics. At one stage, it looked like the BJP candidate may make it to the Assembly from Palakkad.

But the Muslim community in the constituency voted en masse for the Congress candidate and this helped the GOP to score a spectacular win. Though the results from the two constituencies do not make an impact on the Kerala Legislative Assembly, the CPI(M) winning the Chelakkara constituency has come as a morale booster for chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the partys state chief M V Govindan.

The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) had campaigned on the unholy alliance between the CPI(M) and the BJP which has been proved a misnomer if the final results are any indication. The support extended by the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), an extremist organisation, to the Congress candidate has taken a lot of sheen from the victory of Mamkoottathil.
The Ld Special Judge for CBI cases, Indore has on Friday sentenced accused Rajeev Kumar Sinha, then Assistant, Weaver's Service Centre, Indore to four years Rigorous imprisonment (RI) in a case of bribery.

A case was registered on the basis of a complaint dated May 04, 2017 of a Multi Tasking Staff (MTS), Weaver's Service Centre, Indore against Rajeev Kumar Sinha, Assistant, Weaver's Service Centre, Indore alleging therein that Rajeev Kuman Sinha had demanded an illegal gratification of Rs 10,000. Later, accused Rajeev Kumar Sinha, Assistant agreed to accept Rs 3,000 as bribe money from complainant for confirmation of his services.

CBI laid a trap and caught the accused red-handed while demanding and accepting bribe amount of Rs 3,000 from the complainant.
The CBSE Regional Level Science Exhibition, organized by CBSE and hosted at DPS Ranchi, concluded successfully with a display of scientific innovation and creativity. The concluding ceremony was graced by Dr. Ashok Kumar, Principal, DAV Alok Public School. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from 32 schools across Patna Region (Jharkhand State only). The exhibition held on the 22nd and 23rd of November 2024, showcased the scientific endeavours of students in two categories: Classes VI to VIII and Classes IX to XI. The participants explored diverse themes, reflecting the depth of scientific curiosity. The five themes for the exhibition included Food, Health and Hygiene, Transport and Communication, Natural Farming, Disaster Management, Mathematical Modelling and Computational Thinking, Waste Management and Resource Management.

Out of the 32 participating schools, 13 schools from both the categories emerged as winners, qualifying for the National Level of the exhibition, scheduled to be held in Delhi. The team of DPS, Chas (Bokaro), DAV Public School (Ranchi), Sant Nand Lal Smriti Vidya Mandir (Ghatsila), Chinmaya Vidyalaya (Bokaro), MGM Higher Secondary School (Bokaro), Sharda Global School (Ranchi), Guru Gobind Singh Public School, (Bokaro), Sachidanand Gyan Bharti Model School, (Ranchi), Delhi Public School, SAIL Township (Ranchi), SR DAV Public School (Ranchi), DAV Public School (Bariatu) qualified for the Nationals. These schools demonstrated exceptional prowess in addressing the exhibition's themes and meeting the stringent assessment criteria.

Addressing the students, Dr. Ashok Kumar, Principal, DAV Alok Public School, said, "Every project here is a testament to your curiosity and hard work. Remember, success is not just about winning but also about the journey of exploration and learning. You have taken a significant step towards shaping the future, and I encourage you to continue this pursuit of knowledge with the same passion and commitment".

Dr. R.K.Jha, Principal, DPS Ranchi also spoke, commending the collaborative spirit among the participating schools. He said, The exhibition is an excellent example of active learning, a cornerstone for successful learning that grooms children to be future-ready learners for life. These academic activities are wonderful tools that engage all students and teachers in learning new facts and help them develop curiosity to learn more using knowledge and bringing out the best from them.
Reacting to the press conference of State Congress president Jitu Patwari, BJP state general secretary and MLA Bhagwandas Sabnani said that the only objective of the Congress state president has been to defame the country and the state.

Congress cannot tolerate the progress of the country and the state. Today the state is ahead in the category of developed states, while India's economy is growing rapidly and will soon come to the third place in the world. Congress does not have any issue, so every time it make baseless allegations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP. Due to the MoU of Italian Congress with China, the industrialists of India do not like them.

Patwari gives such statements to cover up his incompetent leadership.

Sabnani further said that Congress had raised the issue of Rafale even before the 2019 elections and had strongly called it a big scam, even gave the slogan 'Chowkidar Chor Hai'. Even during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Congress tried to create a sensation, but in the end the Congress leaders had to apologize before the Supreme Court.

The sole objective of the Congress has been to defame the country and the state and to cast aspersions on the prestigious institutions of the country. The Congress repeatedly targets the institutions that work for the security and strength of India and creates controversy.

Patwari should know that the legal process is going on against the Adani Group and the law will do its job. There is no interference from anyone in this.

Sabnani said that the four states whose names have appeared in the document include Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Tamil Nadu. Between July 2021 and February 2022, there were Congress governments in these four states.

He said that Chhattisgarh was ruled by former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Andhra Pradesh by Congress-backed YSRCP's Jagan Mohan Reddy, Tamil Nadu by Congress alliance partner party DMK and the state of Odisha at that time had a BJD government led by Naveen Patnaik.

The names of the four states which have come up in America, at that time neither BJP nor BJP supported governments was in those states.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren hailed the INDIA alliances decisive victory in the Assembly polls as a triumph for the people of Jharkhand. Addressing the media persons on Saturday, after the results were announced, Soren emphasized the role of women and youth voters in the coalitions success.

Sharing a video of his statement on X, Soren captioned it, Jharkhand has won, and pledged to honour the trust reposed in the alliance by delivering on the people's aspirations.

You have played a pivotal role in fortifying democracy. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the candidates who participated and to everyone who worked tirelessly to bring the power of democracy to the masses, he remarked.

Soren revealed that the INDIA alliance had clinched or was leading in 56 out of the 81 Assembly seats, a two-thirds majority, while the NDA secured only 24 seats.

The complete results are awaited, and recounting is underway at some places, but this marks a historic moment for Abua Raj, Abua Sarkar in Jharkhand, he said, referring to the coalition's governance philosophy.

He added, This election has been extraordinary, and we have passed a significant test of democracy. I extend my sincere thanks to all the voters who made this possible.

Earlier in the day, Soren personally welcomed his wife, Kalpana Murmu Soren, at the airport, who came to Ranchi by a chopper from Gandey after winning the Gandey constituency, defeating BJP candidate Muniya Devi.

The INDIA alliance, led by Sorens Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), secured a resounding lead in the polls. The JMM accounted for 34 seats, the Congress 16, RJD four, and CPI(ML) two. The coalitions performance marked a substantial improvement over the 2019 elections when the JMM won 30 seats, while the Congress and RJD had secured 16 and one, respectively.

With this comfortable majority, the alliance is poised to form the government, marking a new chapter in Jharkhand's political history.

JMM has called an important meeting of all the newly elected MLAs of India Alliance on Sunday. It is believed that the next step will be discussed in it. A letter has been issued to all the MLAs by JMM's Central General Secretary Vinod Pandey.

The BJP, on the other hand congratulated Hemant Soren for his win and expected that he will fulfil peoples aspirations. The party said it will play the role of a constructive opposition in the State.
With a victory secured in Maharashtra, the BJP received a shot in the arm ahead of the Delhi Assembly polls next year, with its local leaders saying the party is now set to dethrone the AAP government in the national capital with a massive win.

Even as the signs of the landslide victory of the party-led alliance emerged with counting of votes on 288 Assembly seats in Maharashtra, the BJP announced a "Parivartan Yatra" to end the 10 year-rule of Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi.

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said the Maharashtra election results were a stamp of public approval to the "Modi magic."

"The recent victory in Haryana polls and now, party's landslide victories in Maharashtra and the bypolls in Uttar Pradesh are big morale boosters for us. "The party workers encouraged by these results will work with redoubled energy to wipe out the era of corruption led by AAP in Delhi," Sachdeva said

He said the party will launch a 'Parivartan Yatra' soon in Delhi, and that it has formed a nine-member committee headed by Satish Upadhyay to firm up the plan.

A confident Delhi BJP posted an animation video on its X account with caption "The Lotus will bloom in Delhi also" and a background voice of late Atal Bihari Vajpayee saying "The darkness will wane, the Sun will rise and the lotus will bloom..." The BJP last won Assembly polls in Delhi way back in 1993.

The Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP has dominated the affairs in Delhi for the last one decade, registering back-to-back landslide victories in 2015 and 2020 elections.The BJP was routed both times, managing to scrape through with just three seats in 2015 and eight in 2020.

This time, however, the party is confident of staging a comeback and end a long wait at the helm of affairs in the city. Another party functionary asserted that the signs of a "far better" performance of the BJP in the upcoming assembly polls are clear.

"We won all the seven Lok Sabha seats this year and got more votes than AAP in 52 Assembly segments out of 70," said the Delhi BJP leader.

Also, the image of Kejriwal as an honest, capable leader has received a "major dent" with a string of corruption allegations like liquor scam in which he went to jail, "Sheshmahal" scam, and the problems faced by the people due to bad roads, water shortage, pollution, dilapidated public transport among others, he claimed.

South Delhi BJP MP Ramvir Singh Bidhuri said that the stunning performance of the party in Maharashtra and bypolls in UP and elsewhere proves that people have chosen a path of progress led down by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He congratulated the people of Maharashtra for the historic victory of the BJP-led Mahayuti in the assembly polls under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and said the government remains committed to the state's holistic progress and the aspirations of its people.

Leader of the Opposition in Delhi Assembly, Vijender Gupta said the "unprecedented and historic victory" in Maharashtra of the BJP-led alliance is a testament to the welfare-oriented policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the capable leadership of BJP.

Gupta said that the "grand victory" symbolised the "relentless hard work, indomitable enthusiasm, and dedication" of every BJP worker, who took the party's "principles and development agenda" to every household.

The Mahayuti alliance according to updates was headed to a landslide victory leading on more than 220 seats out of 288 against the Maha Vikas Aghadi. As per the latest figures from the Election Commission, the BJP has so far won nine seats and is leading in 125, the Shiv Sena has won three and is ahead in 53 seats, while the NCP has won two and is leading in 37 seats.
Scores of people are forced to sleep on an empty stomach as a government order now makes it mandatory for poor, homeless residents at the city's largest night shelter to provide their mobile phone numbers to earn free meals.

Municipal staffers, who earlier helped out the hungry by listing their own phone numbers, have backed out since civic officials accused them of misuse.

The night shelter at Yadgar-e-Shahjahani Park distributes food from 10 AM to 3 PM and again from 7 to 8 PM.

People without phone numbers can no longer make the evening distribution list. Those in extreme poverty and drug addicts are the worst hit.

The staff are now seeking permission to feed individuals without a phone number or documents. They fear potential repercussions and job loss if they continue without official approval.Pankaj Rai, a shelter worker, said, "Out of humanity, we gave our phone numbers to feed the poor. Without permission, we risk action. We simply want to ensure that no one goes hungry."Nearly 150 to 200 people pay Rs 5 each to stay at this night shelter.

Until now, they were offered free meals. However, the shelter no longer serves evening meals to those without proof.

Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) Additional Commissioner Tina Yadav said, The shelter distributes food regularly. We will investigate any irregularities and ensure proper processes are followed.
Regional Museum of Natural History, Bhopal and Archaeological Survey of India, Bhopal Circle jointly organized One Day Teachers Training Workshop on Friday on the theme "Natural History in Buddhish Art" during World Heritage Week - 2024 at Sanchi: A World Heritage Site.

Teachers from various schools & colleges Madhya Pradesh participated in this programme.

In the beginning of the workshop, Scientist-C of the RMNH, Bhopal Shri Manik Lal Gupta informed that our earth evolved 4.5 billion years ago and various plants & animals evolved during evolutionary process.
Social media meet on theme of education and career guidance was held by UNICEF today at Bhopal. Around 50 social media influencers participated. It was interactive meet wherein there was session on career guidance programme being run in Government schools of Madhya Pradesh which was technically supported by UNICEF.

Anil Gulati, Communication Specialist, UNICEF facilitated the meet and he said that our aim is to share information about the efforts in the State on career guidance and how social media influencers can disseminate this information and help to increase its reach.

F A Jami, Education Specialist, UNICEF shared career guidance programme has 500 career cards in 21 domains which is being implemented in the State. He took the participants through the career portal and it was requested that these social media influencers can spread the information of this career portal to all using their power of social media.

He also shared that there is another programme Fundoo based on UReport for skill development, which has 11 micro courses for school children. These could be accessed by children to build skills for career development.

The portals to look for scholarships, were also shared. Rekha Patidar, Teacher with Government School in BHEL shared her positive experiences with career guidance programme and how it is exposing students of her school and giving them overview on careers available in 21 domains. Ms Onkush shared her experience of career portal and also how she works with students in guiding them to learn information on various careers.

She explained about the variety of career options available and how inquisitive are the students. Influencers like Sagar Sharma, Nidhi Shukla Pandey, Neetta Manwani, Arpit Jain, Pinki Tiwari, Jyotu Dubey, Madhu Choudhary, Nidhi Rawatiya shared their experience while they were growing up or as parents of children. One of the suggestion given was to include parental engagement also in the career guidance program, so that parents could also support their children in their understanding of the same. Sujan Sarkar Monitoring officer and representatives of DIIYM (Development Initiative Igniting Young Minds ) were present at the meet.
MBABANE  When a six-year-old claimed to have identified a man who supposedly raped her, it seemed obvious he would be locked up.

However, four weeks later, the man is said to be walking free, and some sympathisers now fear he will never spend a day behind bars. The alleged rape is said to have happened in a community under the Lubombo Region. The deeply unsettling incident is said to have left the community divided with some claiming that a six-year-old cannot identify an alleged rapist, while others hold a different view. Trouble is said to have started when *Loli was left with her helper, as her mother was committed with work at the time. It is alleged that on one evening, her helper went to enjoy some beverages with a male companion. When they returned, it is alleged that the woman fell asleep while her companion was left wide awake.

It is alleged that the male companion then decided to sexually abuse the minor. However, the child is said to have been able to identify the man, as he is also said to live at a nearby homestead. The child did not immediately report the matter to the helper according to information gathered. When the child went to school, it was gathered that she revealed the gruesome act which had taken place and that she was also able to mention the person who is alleged to have raped her.

Reported

The matter is said to have been reported to her mother, who immediately reported it to the police. Loli is said to be doing Grade I. Impeccable sources told Eswatini News that police instituted investigations into the allegations. In order to strengthen the case, it has been established that the girl child was taken for medical examination. Sources said the doctors report revealed that there had been sexual penetration in her private parts. Also, the girl is said to have revealed the identity of the man, who allegedly raped her to the police.

Some residents in the community are now furious that there has been no arrest four weeks since the incident was reported, despite that the child was able to identify the alleged rapist.

The residents wondered why there is a delay in getting the matter to court. Also, it was gathered that the helper, as well as the man who is said to have sexually abused the child, are disputing the girls assertions.The man is said to have denied the allegation of the alleged rape. Senior Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, the Chief Police Information and Communications Officer, confirmed that the incident was reported to the police.

However, she stated that the investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made yet. This statement has done little to quell the communitys frustration, as many feel that the delay undermines the severity of the crime and the trauma experienced by the young victim. Attempts were made to call the mother of the child, but she could not be reached for comment on the matter. Meanwhile, the Times of Eswatini recently published an article about a 15-year-old girl who had a three-year-old child. She revealed that she had reported the rape when she was initially sexually assaulted by a neighbour.

Raped

However, the woman she lived with at a time is said to have not believed her. She was 11 years old when she was raped. It was only later when the girl became pregnant that the matter was reported to the police. However, the man who is alleged to have raped her was never arrested according to information gathered. He is reported to have disputed being the father of the child and instead demanded a paternity test using DNA. DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is a molecule that contains genetic information for the development, growth and function of organisms.
The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance on Saturday retained power in Maharashtra, maintaining sway over 230 of the 288 assembly seats, while the Maha Vikas Aghadis dream of wresting power fizzled, with the opposition combine ahead in just 50 seats.

While results have been declared in 164 seats, counting of votes, which began at 8 am, is still in progress in the remaining 124 seats, election officials said.

After the certainty of the poll outcome, the focus has now shifted to BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, the architect of his partys stunning victory. Political circles are abuzz with reports that the states second Brahmin to become the CM will don the post for the third time.

There is already speculation that the swearing in of the new CM may take place as early as Monday and that too in the same venue, the sprawling Wankhede Stadium in south Mumbai, where Fadnavis was sworn in as the CM 10 years ago.

As per the latest figures from the Election Commission, the BJP has so far won 35 seats and is leading in 78, the Shiv Sena won 27 and is ahead in 29 seats, while the NCP has won 25 and is leading in 16 seats.

In the MVA, the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) candidates won 6 seats and were leading in 4 seats, Congress won 5 and its candidates were leading in 11 seats, while Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) won 11 and was leading in 9 seats.

The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi suffered a crushing defeat, with its candidates leading in just 50 seats, a far cry from the boasts  till this morning  by many of its senior leaders that the combine will trounce the Mahayuti.

Going by the results, Maharashtra may not have a leader of opposition in the Lower House, as norms stipulate that a party should have at least 10 per cent of the total members of the assembly and not cobble up the number as an alliance.

Saturdays winners include BJPs Kalidas Kolambkar who defeated Shiv Sena (UBT)s Shraddha Jadhav by 24,973 in Wadala constituency after 16 rounds to become a legislator for the ninth time in a row.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar won in their respective assembly constituencies, while senior Congress leaders Prithviraj Chavan and Balasaheb Thorat lost in theirs. Congress leader Nana Patole was trailing behind his BJP rival in Sakoli seat by 1607 votes after 25 of the 28 rounds.

Shinde said the results of the assembly elections were historic, and showed to whom the Nationalist Congress Party and Shiv Sena belong to.

Fadnavis said there was no dispute over the chief minister's post and leaders of Mahayuti will decide on the issue together as the saffron party-led coalition is heading for a landslide victory.

The results show that the state supports PM Narendra Modi, he said, and also thanked women voters.

"The opposition's efforts to propagate a fake narrative, and polarise voters based on religion was foiled by masses," said Fadnavis.

The deputy CM said he succeeded in breaking the 'chakravyuh' of opposition due to the support of voters, the BJP team and party leaders.

Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah called Fadnavis and congratulated him on the party's impressive performance in the Maharashtra assembly elections.

Sources close to Fadnavis told PTI that Shah called and congratulated him for the party's strong performance in the elections.

Sarita Fadnavis, mother of Devendra Fadnavis, also expressed happiness over Mahayuti's performance, and described her son as PM Modis favourite.

"I never believed in any rumours and knew that he (Devendra) would do good. The party's success can be attributed to the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme and Devedra's efforts and popularity...He is very intelligent, smart and courageous and that has brought him this success," she said.

On the Ladki Bahin Yojana, she said, "I don't have a daughter, but through this scheme, I now have so many daughters and their good wishes."

BJP general secretary Vinod Tawde told reporters, "Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar worked together and gained people's trust. Sharad Pawar broke the natural alliance of Shiv Sena and BJP. Balasaheb Thackeray's voters were angry due to it."

"Every day, someone from Bhandup used to pollute the state's politics," he said, without naming Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, who is a resident of that area.

The counting of votes in the Maharashtra assembly elections began at 8 am Saturday, with all eyes on the outcome of the battle between the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti coalition and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance.

The final turnout in the polls, held on November 20, was 66.05 per cent, up from 61.1 per cent in 2019.

In the Mahayuti, the BJP contested 149 seats, Shiv Sena 81, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP fielded candidates in 59 constituencies.

In the MVA combine, the Congress fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT) 95, and NCP (SP) put up 86 candidates.

Following is the party position in the outgoing assembly: BJP 105, Shiv Sena 41, NCP 40, Congress 45, Shiv Sena (UBT) 15, NCP (SP) 12, BVA 3, Samajwadi Party 2, AIMIM 2, Prahar Janshakti Party 2, MNS 1, CPM 1, PWP 1, Swabhimani Paksh 1, Rashtriya Samaj Paksh 1, Jan Surajya Shakti 1, Krantikari Shetkari Paksh 1 and Independents 13.
The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance looked set for a runaway victory in Maharashtra, scoring an emphatic win over a tottering MVA, while the opposition INDIA bloc was poised to bag Jharkhand on Saturday, according to trends on the Election Commission website.

As votes were counted for the assembly polls held earlier this month, India's ruling and opposition alliances could bag one state each in the crucial electoral battle with voters in both going for continuity rather than change.

While the BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP partnership banded under Mahayuti was leading in 218 of the 288 seats in the powerhouse state of Maharashtra indicating a huge wave in favour of the ruling alliance, the Maha Vikhas Aghadi (MVA) partnership of the Congress, NCP (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT) was ahead in just 50.

In the 81-seat Jharkhand assembly, the BJP was ahead in 26 seats, way behind the opposition alliance with JMM leading in 30 seats, the Congress in 13, the RJD in five and the CPI-ML in one.

We will form government with a two-third majority in Jharkhand, Congress leader Rajesh Thakur told PTI Videos as Hemant Soren looked set to return as chief minister.

"NDA will win Maharashtra and Jharkhand and Bihar bypolls. We will win because INDIA bloc wants to spread communalism in the country," Union minister Giriraj Singh told reporters as the BJP walked towards a triumphant comeback in Maharashtra.

The results come as a fillip for the BJP, which won an unprecedented hat-trick in Haryana last month, and help the party overcome some of its reverses in the general elections where it bagged just 240 seats.

Voters in the politically significant western state of Maharashtra, which sends 48 MPs to the Lok Sabha and gave the MVA a decisive 30 seats, clearly decided to go against the trend of that parliamentary victory just five months ago.

The BJP was ahead in 125 seats, close to the halfway mark of 144 on its own, while the Shiv Sena had leads in 56 and the NCP in 35. In contrast, the Congress was ahead in just 21, the Shiv Sena (UBT) in 17 and the NCP (SP) in 13.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar were leading in their respective assembly constituencies. Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole was leading narrowly from Sakoli constituency and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and sitting MLA Aaditya Thackeray was leading in Worli assembly seat.

In what was a sobering lesson for the Congress, its legislature party leader and former minister Balasaheb Thorat was trailing in Sangamner as was senior Congress leader and former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan in Karad South assembly seat.

In the ruling Mahayuti alliance, the BJP contested 149 assembly seats, Shiv Sena 81 seats, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP in 59 constituencies. In the MVA combine, the Congress fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT) 95, and NCP (SP) put up 86 candidates.

In eastern Jharkhand, the Hemant Soren-led JMM was ahead in 30 seats, the Congress in 14, the RJD in five and the CPI-ML in one. The BJP was ahead in 24. Chief Minister Soren was leading in his Barhait assembly seat while NDA ally AJSU Party supremo Sudesh Mahto was trailing behind JMM's Amit Kumar in Silli

The results will decide the electoral fate of 1,211 candidates, including Soren, his wife Kalpana from Gandey, former CM and BJP state president Babulal Marandi from Dhanwar and ex-CM Champai Soren from Seraikela.

Other prominent candidates include Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato of the JMM from Nala, Deepika Pandey Singh of Congress from Mahagama, Sita Soren (sister-in-law of CM Hemant Soren) from Jamtara, AJSU Party chief Sudesh Mahto from Silli.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday expressed gratitude to the people of Maharashtra for the "historic victory" of the Mahayuti alliance in the state polls and said that by giving such a huge mandate to the NDA, people have shut shops of "fake well-wishers of the Constitution".

Shah also thanked the people of Jharkhand for blessing the BJP with the highest percentage of votes.

"Jai Maharashtra! Heartfelt gratitude to the people of Maharashtra for this historic mandate," the Union minister said in a post on X in Hindi and Marathi.

Maharashtra, the holy land of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Babasaheb Ambedkar, Jyotiba Phule and Veer Savarkar, has always kept culture and nation supreme along with development, the senior BJP leader said.

"By giving such a huge mandate to the Mahayuti alliance amidst illusion and lies, the people have closed the shops of those who are fake well-wishers of the Constitution. This victory is the victory of every Maharashtra resident," he said.

The victory of the Mahayuti alliance is the victory of "politics of performance" of the double-engine government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he added.

On the Jharkhand Assembly poll results, the home minister expressed his gratitude to the people of the state for blessing the BJP with the highest percentage of votes.

While congratulating all workers of Jharkhand BJP for their tireless hard work, Shah asserted that for the BJP, fulfilling the aspirations of tribal society and protecting their identity is the top priority.

"The NDA's central government is committed to the development, progress and protection of tribal heritage of the people of Jharkhand and under the leadership of Modi ji, we will continue to work in this direction. The BJP will play the role of a positive opposition in Jharkhand," he said.

Maharashtra was coloured a vivid saffron on Saturday with voters giving the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance a landslide win over a tottering MVA while the opposition INDIA bloc looked set to return to power in Jharkhand.
Will she? Will she not? And on Saturday, she did. After years of frenzied speculation, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is finally entering the Lok Sabha after a resounding win from Wayanad with many a hope that she will re-energise her party and its dwindling electoral fortunes.

The 52-year-old, who joins her mother Sonia and brother Rahul as an MP in what is a rare instance of three members of a family together in Parliament, would visit Parliament as a teenager to listen to her father Rajiv Gandhi speak as prime minister. Four decades later, she joins as member herself -- her detractors crying nepo politics and her party supporters laying out the proverbial red carpet for a promise finally met.

She should have been a politician to the manner born given the Gandhi legacy. But Priyanka Gandhi took the long and winding way into mainstream politics. First were the questions of whether the mother of two would join active politics, and then whether and when she would contest elections.

In September 1999, she told a journalist her entry into politics may take a "long, long time". And it actually did. She took the plunge 20 years later in 2019 and was later appointed Congress general secretary.

Five years after that, Priyanka Gandhi begins her journey as an elected representative of the people.

With a winning margin of more than 4.1 lakh votes, she has surpassed the tally of her brother Rahul Gandhi from Wayanad in Kerala.

Priyanka Gandhi's entry into Parliament comes at a difficult time for the party, which has been jolted by electoral defeats in Haryana and Maharashtra. It would be interesting to see if she is able give a much-needed fillip to the grand old party and help put it back on electoral track.

Often drawing comparisons with her grandmother Indira Gandhi for their similarity in looks and way of speaking, Priyanka Gandhi has been the go-to campaigner for the party since her entry into active politics and even before that when she campaigned for her mother Sonia and brother Rahul.

And more than both, she is the one who many say has the easiest touch when it comes to communicating with people, individuals and crowds, and also in articulating the party's viewpoint on a range of issues. That she is often seen with her brother, sometimes teasing, sometimes chiding and always affectionate, has added to the image of the convivial politician.

Frequently referring to her childhood, the pain of her father Rajiv Gandhi's assassination and her mother's grief, she steered the Congress' campaign during the general election, adroitly walking the tightrope between striking a familial chord and discussing national-level issues. She proved to be a strategist, orator and mass mobiliser -- all rolled into one.

Most of her speeches are akin to a conversation with the crowd, establishing a connect and giving people the impression that here was a person who was known to them, someone sharing her feelings and thoughts with them.

As star campaigner and strategiser, Priyanka Gandhi helped the Congress make impressive gains in some states as well as in the Lok Sabha polls held earlier in the year. Her campaign helped the Congress get 99 seats in the general election, up from 52 in 2019.

As the curtains came down on the 2024 general election, analysts totted up the numbers to highlight that she has proven to be the party's talisman. Priyanka Gandhi took part in 108 public meetings and roadshows. She campaigned in 16 states and a Union territory, and also addressed two party workers' conferences in Amethi and Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh.

Priyanka Gandhi has often been projected as a possible challenger to Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Varanasi and also as a successor to Congress veteran Sonia Gandhi in the family pocket borough of Rae Bareli.

Soon after the Election Commission announced the Wayanad bypoll, the Congress declared that Priyanka Gandhi would be its candidate from the seat in Kerala. Rahul Gandhi, it decided, would retain the Rae Bareli parliamentary constituency in Uttar Pradesh and vacate the Wayanad seat he won for the second consecutive time.

After her name was announced for the Wayanad bypoll in June, Priyanka Gandhi said, "I am not nervous at all.... I am very happy to be able to represent Wayanad. All I will say is that I will not let them feel his (Rahul Gandhi's) absence. I will work hard and try my best to make everybody happy and be a good representative."

"I have a good relationship with Rae Bareli as I worked there for 20 years and that relationship will never break," she said, adding that both she and her brother will work together in both the constituencies.

Priyanka Gandhi was made Congress general secretary in-charge of the crucial eastern Uttar Pradesh region in January 2019 and then general secretary in-charge of the entire state.

In December 2023, Priyanka Gandhi was made Congress general secretary "without a portfolio". She helped strengthen the organisation and led the party's campaign in Himachal Pradesh, where the grand old party wrested power from the BJP.

Born on January 12, 1972, Priyanka attended New Delhi's Modern School and the Convent of Jesus and Mary. She holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Jesus and Mary College, University of Delhi, and also has a master's degree in Buddhist studies.

Priyanka Gandhi is married to businessman Robert Vadra. The couple has two children -- Raihan and Miraya.

Her entry into Parliament has been long awaited by party's workers and supporters and they are hoping she will provide the booster shot the party needs in its difficult phase at the hustings going forward.
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A Requiem Mass will take place in The Long Tower on Monday, November 25 for a popular Derry-born priest who passed away in Brighton last month.

Father William John Bradley  known commonly as John - was a native of Ewing Street in Derry, where he was born in 1934.

After being educated at the Brow of the Hill and St Columbs College, Fr Bradley attended All Hallows religious seminary in Dublin  which specialised in training priests for overseas missions. He was ordained a priest in 1959 and sent on his first ministry to Deal in Kent.

It was to be the first of a number of parishes he served across the Arundel and Brighton Diocese in the south-east of England - including Farnham, Eastbourne and Hastings.

Fr. John remained a parish priest for over 40 years before retiring in 2004  after which he continued to say mass for nuns and the residents of St Marys House care home in Brighton. He was a popular figure amongst both fellow priests and his former parishioners, many of whom kept in touch with him for years after his retirement.

Fr John remained proud of his Derry roots throughout his life, and on return visits to the city he made a point of helping out with masses in the Long Tower and other local churches.

Fr Bradley died peacefully on Sunday, October 13 in St Marys House in Brighton, where his funeral was held on Thursday, November 14. He was one of four children, alongside the late Dan and Betty.

READ NEXT: The Bloody Sunday trust has stated that Derry is an Anti-Apartheid zone

He is survived by his brother Patrick (the former Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland), as well as nieces and nephews in Ireland, England and the United States.

A requiem mass will be held for Fr Bradley in The Long Tower in Derry at 10.00am on Monday, November 25, after which his ashes will be interred alongside his parents in the City Cemetery.

The Requiem Mass service is open to all.
HIGHLIGHTS Two unidentified men managed to steal Rs 2.52 lakh from an SBI ATM. They used multiple stolen or lost ATM cards to withdraw money repeatedly. After withdrawing cash, they used to left one note behind in the machine's cash delivery compartment.

ATM transactions are something we all rely on for quick and easy cash withdrawals. But what if this convenience is turned into a tool for fraud? In a shocking incident from Thiruvananthapuram, two unidentified men managed to steal Rs 2.52 lakh from an SBI ATM without even deducting money from any customers account. Keep reading to know how they pulled off this clever scam and how it was uncovered.

How the robbers manipulated the SBI ATM

Between June 2022 and July 2023, the suspects targeted an SBI ATM on Padmavilasam Road in Fort. They used multiple stolen or lost ATM cards to withdraw money repeatedly. After withdrawing cash, they used to left one note behind in the machines cash delivery compartment, reports TOI.

This small but calculated act triggered the ATM to register the transaction as incomplete, leading to a Timeout Error. Because the machine marked the transaction as incomplete, the money wasnt deducted from the account holders balances. This trick ensured no complaints were raised by customers, and the fraud remained hidden for months.

Also read: How a Rajasthan duo used fake orders to loot Amazon of cameras and iPhones worth lakhs of rupees

How the scam was detected

The scam came to light when discrepancies were found between the total cash deposited in the ATM and the amounts withdrawn. Initially, a bank committee investigated the irregularities but couldnt identify the problem. With no leads or evidence, even the bank staff came under suspicion.

The breakthrough occurred when investigators reviewed CCTV footage from the ATM. They discovered that the same individuals frequently visited the machine, using various stolen ATM cards. The footage captured the suspects actions, which eventually led SBI officials to report the case to the Fort police.

Also read: Engineer loses Rs 98,000 after receiving fake UPI registration text: Tips to stay safe

The Fort police have registered a case under IPC Sections 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating). They are working to identify the culprits using CCTV visuals provided by the bank.

This incident highlights the importance of safeguarding ATM cards and staying vigilant about suspicious activity. It also serves as a reminder for banks to strengthen security measures to prevent similar scams in the future.
Simon Harris said he has apologised to a woman for not giving her enough time to speak about carers and disability services while he was out canvassing in Cork on Friday.

The Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader said he spoke to Charlotte Fallon, a worker with St Josephs Foundation, on the phone on Saturday after a clip of an exchange between them on Friday went viral.

RTE footage posted to the social media site X shows Mr Harris on a canvass in Kanturk when Ms Fallon tells the Taoiseach carers were ignored and the Government has done nothing for us.

The disability sector is a joke, she says. Youve done nothing for us, our people are suffering. Im very passionate about my job.

Mr Harris responds by saying: No, not at all, and: Im very passionate about disability too.

Ms Fallon says: But theres no mention of (them in the) Budget. You ignored them, you ignore the carers, to which Mr Harris says: Thats not true, several times before shaking her hand and walking away.

While out canvassing at a Christmas market in Rathfarnham in Dublin on Saturday afternoon, Mr Harris said he was annoyed with himself and had called Ms Fallon to apologise.

I called Charlotte this morning because she was absolutely owed an apology from me, he said.

We had a very good conversation, a very good conversation. I was very grateful to her for her time and her kindness.

We spoke about a number of issues, we spoke about disability services, we spoke about the issue of pay parity for people in Section 39 organisations, and we also spoke about the issue of the means test for carers.

I was grateful to have a chance to listen to Charlotte and also talk through with her some of my own plans and views and vision in relation to disability services. Really grateful for the conversation, learned a lot from it, and Ive also said that Id love to call in to where she works in Cork in the coming weeks, and she said Id be very welcome.

Im annoyed with how I didnt give that person, Charlotte, the time last night, she deserved that time.

Ive been around the country and Ive had hundreds of conversations some days, and Ive learned a lot and always learned a lot from listening to people and Im very sorry that didnt happen last night.

Asked what happened last night, he said: Theres no excuse for it, Im annoyed with myself in relation to it, disability is what makes me tick.

It will always be my passion, and its Charlottes passion too, and Im really grateful to her for giving me the opportunity to speak with her today.

Asked whether he thought people would doubt his sincerity on wanting to reform the States disability services after seeing the video, Mr Harris said: I hope not.

All I can do is really double my efforts to convince people of the facts that we have a plan for the future of this country, and very much at the heart of that plan is better services, better delivery and better empowerment of people with disabilities.

Ive tried to bring a focus to it since Ive become Taoiseach, and its something that I will continue to work on intensively and even more intensively as a result of this.

On Saturday morning, Mr Harris posted a video on Instagram where he said he was spurred on to become a politician after seeing his parents fight for access to services for his brother Adam, who has autism.

He said the interaction happened at the end of a very long day and he felt really bad about it.

Mr Harris then outlined his partys plans for carers and the disability sector, including removing the means testing for the Carers Allowance and to ensure that there are therapies in special schools and special classes.

Sinn Feins housing spokesperson Eoin O Broin said that Mr Harris reaction showed the true face of Fine Gael and showed a contempt for working people.

Speaking at a press event in Dublin on Saturday, Fine Gael ministers Helen McEntee and Paschal Donohoe defended their party leader.

I think the Taoiseach himself has been very clear that he wished the encounter had gone differently. It had been the end of a very, very long day, Ms McEntee said.

What he said very clearly is that he should have given her more time, and should have engaged for longer with her, but this is the reason he got into politics.

Mr Donohoe said: In the course of an election campaign, in all the interactions that we have with people, of course, we sometimes feel within ourselves that could have gone differently and could have gone better. I think its particularly the case for somebody who is so committed to looking at how we can support those who need more.

Several incidents have put Fine Gael under pressure during the election campaign, including comments made by Ryanair boss Michael OLeary about teachers at a party event in the first few days.

Mr OLeary faced criticism for saying he would not hire teachers to get things done at a Fine Gael candidate launch, which drew laughs and cheers from the gathered party faithful.

There has also been a furore over whether senator John McGahon should have been selected as a Fine Gael candidate for the Louth constituency.

Mr McGahon was found not guilty of assaulting a man outside a Dundalk nightclub in a criminal case two years ago but a High Court civil action earlier this year found him liable, with the politician ordered to pay damages.

Ms McEntee and Mr Donohoe were asked whether the new energy of Fine Gael, under the leadership of Simon Harris, was waning amid the scrutiny, including the exchange between their party leader and Ms Fallon.

Absolutely not, Ms McEntee said at the launch of the partys plan to reduce income taxes on workers.

We are energised, weve been traveling the length and breadth of the country for the last number of weeks, and we are focused on the next couple of days, meeting as many people as possible and conveying the work that we have done.

Mr Donohoe said: I dont know if my energy is new or not, but its never been higher.

(We) will leave no stone unturned in recognising the needs of the people of our country and making the case (to) them that Simon Harris is the leader and we are the team that are capable of recognising those needs and making a difference to them.
Louth Local Developments SICAP Programme in collaboration with ALONE, through funding received under Solas in the Adult Literacy for Lifes (ALL) Strategy Collaboration & Innovation Fund hosted the SMART Cafes  Smarter Living for Older People across County Louth in October 2024.

The SMART Cafes programme was established to prevent older persons from being at a disadvantage by familiarising them with the use of digital modern technology, to both enhance their technology skills in a digital age and to combat social isolation.

The collaborative project saw learners over the age of 55 years attending classes in a drop in cafe style environment in Ardee, Drogheda and Dundalk twice a week. Almost 50 participants attended the beginners classes with a further 64 attending the advanced sessions. There were also 15 volunteer grass root Digital Champions recruited for the project that were trained under the Hi Digital training with ALONE and voluntarily donated their time to help train the learners along with the 2 class tutors.

On Thursday 7th November the learners, volunteer champions, representatives from the SICAP Programme and ALONE came together to attend a heartwarming Celebration of Success Prize Giving Ceremony in the Monasterboice Inn.

Read Next: Dundalk councillor voices fears over trees at roadside on Rock Road

Speaking at the event Maeve Harkin Social Inclusion Manager for Louth Local Development congratulated and commended the learners adding, It has been such an amazing achievement for the learners to take a leap of faith and gain the confidence to learn these newfound skills in digital literacy. Many services and amenities are moving to a digital platform leaving older people at risk of being marginalised further from accessing opportunities.

"The SMART Cafe programme has been invaluable for the participants who learned a basic introduction to Smart phones, connecting with family and friends, cyber security, scams and frauds and digital living- making payments, booking services and exploring hobbies. Many of the participants were age 80+ which is what Lifelong Learning is all about.

Linda Murray CIN ALONE commended the digital champions for their dedication and commitment to assisting others to learn. She spoke of the value of value of volunteering and peer learning and how lovely it was to see the Cafe in action when she visited Ardee.
UCD Commerce student Oisin Mallon who hails from Omeath, Co. Louth has been crowned the 2024 Red Bull Basement National champion alongside his team partner Oisin Walsh of Co. Kerry. The pair will go on to represent Ireland in the World Finals in Tokyo next month.

After 1,800 applications nationwide, the search for the next generation of Irish innovators came to a head at TUD Grangegorman on Thursday night when finalists presented their ideas to a panel of judges from across the Irish creative, media and tech landscape.

Teams from across the country were represented in the final. Each presented their own business plan, created with the support of AI technology. After much deliberation, University College Dublin pair Oisin Mallon and Oisin Walsh were announced as the winners, nabbing a laptop each from partners AMD, as well as a place at next months Red Bull Basement World Finals in Tokyo.

The team presented their plans for StepAhead, which seeks to connect young people with mentors who have recently navigated the same career or educational paths, offering real-world advice to help them make informed, confident decisions.

Read Next: Louth Local Development host event for older people

On their victory, Oisin Mallon said: We are delighted to win the Red Bull Basement National Final with StepAhead and represent Ireland on a global stage in Tokyo with our idea.

The next step for the dynamic duo is Tokyo, with over 40 countries set to compete at the World Finals. Across Monday December 2nd, and Thursday December 5th, they will attend workshops, dedicated AI educational sessions, and have the chance to network with international entrepreneurs and business leaders, before they go up against their peers for the World title.

The grand prize for the global winner? A three week accelerator programme, all expenses paid, to Silicon Valley and Los Angeles in 2025, where they will receive hands-on experience, mentorship and opportunities to connect with top industry leaders, including insights from Red Bull Basement global partners Microsoft.

To follow their journey, follow @redbullire on Instagram and TikTok.
As tourism initiatives go, the Wild Atlantic Way must be right up there as one of the finest.

It was only launched a decade ago, but swiftly caught on in the imagination of both Irish people and visitors alike.

This swathe of beautiful coastal terrain running the western length of the country is celebrated in a three special episode of Nationwide next week, on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

In the final episode on RTE1 on Friday, November 29, at 7pm, presenter Anne Cassin heads to Kinsale, the picturesque County Cork town which is the finishing point on the Wild Atlantic Way - or of course the starting point if you choose to begin your journey in the Real Capital!

Anne hears how visitor numbers have soared here due to the Wild Atlantic Way concept launched ten years ago.

In Kinsale and along the Cork coast, many small enterprises have started like Gormu Eco-Adventures, which has thrived thanks to the increased tourism in the area.

Reporter Reem El-Hassany meets the founders, who combine eBike tours with Irish folklore, to offer visitors a unique way to explore the Wild Atlantic Way.

The celebration of the tenth anniversary starts on Mondays episode of Nationwide, when reporter Niall Martin visit Clifden, a charming town located between the Twelve Bens mountain range and the Atlantic Ocean.

Presenter Blathnaid Ni Chofaigh is in Galway city, what many consider the halfway point on the Wild Atlantic Way, and hears all about the impact of this iconic coastal route there.

Reporter Zainab Boladale heads to the Gaeltacht community of Carna, where she finds out how its not just visitors who love the Wild Atlantic Way, as she speaks with members of Carna Walking Club, a group passionate about their coastal surroundings and preserving the Irish language.

In the second episode on Wednesday, Blathnaid drops in on Shannon Airport, the international gateway airport on the route, and meets Mary Considine, CEO of the Shannon Airport Group, to find out how the airport has developed in lockstep with the Wild Atlantic Way over the last decade.

At one of the major tourist attractions in Clare, Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, Blathnaid meets Margaret Jenkins of Failte Ireland to get an overview of progress and future plans for the Wild Atlantic Way in the Mid-West.

Nationwide also visits some family businesses and attractions that have grown and thrived on the route, from Hazel Mountain Chocolate and Caherconnell Stone Fort and Sheepdogs in the Burren in North Clare, to the Loop Head Lighthouse.
Cork children in emergency accommodation, in direct provision, or receiving treatment in hospitals will receive books this Christmas thanks to Childrens Books Irelands Gift a Book appeal.

Some 2,000 titles are available.

Last years appeal raised 14,000, and Childrens Books Ireland is working with community groups and charities in Cork to gift children of all ages books such as Milly McCarthy and the Christmas Calamity, by Cork author Leona Forde and illustrated by Karen Harte.

Childrens Books Ireland CEO, Elaina Ryan, said: Together with our partners in charities and community groups in Cork, we can ensure that the children who need it most have a book to keep and call their own at Christmas.

We are inundated with requests from charities across the country, who want to bring the magic of Christmas to the children and families in their services. In launching this appeal, we want to help the thousands of children who still need our support.

Along with providing children with a gift to unwrap on Christmas Day, it is hoped that the books will help children to develop a life-changing love of reading.

Improved reading ability

It is believed that children who have books of their own have improved reading ability and experience positive changes in behaviour, learning, and mental wellbeing. This, combined with an increase in the number of children in Ireland entering emergency accommodation over the past year  where access to books and toys is often limited  highlights the importance of such initiatives.

Niamh Randall, director of strategy and public affairs at Respond, one of the charities benefiting from the appeal, said: Every festive season, Respond staff work incredibly hard to make Christmas special for the children in our family homeless services.

We are grateful to Childrens Books Ireland for their support in ensuring that every child has a book to read and enjoy this Christmas.

To donate or learn more about the Gift a Book appeal, visit https://childrensbooksireland.ie/support-us/giftabook.
Childcare cost reductions for parents will not be possible without better pay for those working in the sector, according to Early Childhood Ireland.

The group are calling on the next government to show its commitment to Cork children and their families by setting a date for parity of pay and conditions between early years and school-age care graduates and their equivalents in primary education.

As well as offering deserved recognition for educators, this commitment will go a long way to alleviating the capacity issues the system is currently dealing with, provide greater transparency for public investment, and will support affordability for parents, Early Childhood Ireland director of policy Frances Byrne stated recently.

Average turnover

According to the latest available data, average staff turnover in Cork stands at 26.2%.

An independent review of the early years and school age care system in 2021 highlighted that up to 20,000 additional staff will be required nationally by 2028, but despite increased investment, staffing remains a significant challenge.

Ms Byrne said: Recruitment and retention of staff are two of the biggest concerns we hear about from our 441 member settings in Cork.

We have seen election proposals from some political parties about reducing fees and improving affordability for parents, however, without a stable workforce these proposals will just not be feasible.

We hear too many stories of graduates pursuing careers elsewhere because their prospects of working in early years and school age care settings are still quite poor.

Shortage

The latest annual Early Years Sector Profile survey showed a shortage of 2,424 creche places in Cork alone.

There were 534 children under the age of one on creche waiting lists in Cork and just 17 places available for them, 1,124 children aged one to two years on waiting lists and 36 places available, and 1,110 children aged two to three years on waiting lists and 291 places available.

Ms Byrne said: We badly need more places for children, but any capacity expansion will be hampered unless settings can attract and retain highly skilled and motivated staff whose pay and conditions align with their qualifications and experience.
A Cork teacher has appealed for funding to help homeless children, saying teachers are seeing pupils coming to school without breakfast, clean clothes, or enough sleep.

Cork principal Siobhan Buckley told The Echo: We witness the impact of homelessness every day in schools in Cork and across Ireland.

Children aged four to 13 absolutely thrive on stability, continuity, and nurturing, and children who are living in temporary accommodation or homeless shelters  we can see it in their faces coming in the door.

They are totally disorientated; they can be very withdrawn; their emotional wellbeing is on the floor; and their attendance could be very poor, she said.

Reality

Physically, they can come in without having had a breakfast, and we would try and give them breakfast or a lunch discreetly.

Theyre often lacking in sleep; youd know theyve been awake with a baby crying, people coming and going. Its often a whole family in one room, thats the reality.

If they have shared cooking facilities, it can be quite fraught. Peoples food can be taken, and play is so important for children but many have no space to play, nowhere to store toys  things we take as basic, they just dont have.

As homelessness continues to impact children across the country, the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) has launched a digital resource, Homelessness in the Classroom: Guidance for Primary Teachers.

Record levels

The document offers practical advice for teachers supporting pupils affected by homelessness and is a reminder of the critical role schools and teachers play every day in assisting children through adversity.

Homelessness in Ireland has soared to record levels, with 14,760 people in emergency accommodation, more than 4,500 children, a 17% rise in child homelessness in just one year.

Latest figures show that there were 92 families across Cork and Kerry in emergency accommodation, including 183 children.

Ms Buckley said that many of these families would have a single washing machine between them.

She said: But there are lots of people drawing on that, and then where do you dry the clothes?

What schools need to help these children is additional resources and funding so we can buy uniforms, wash clothes if necessary, provide food, therapists, as many are so dysregulated they need counselling.

We use the word home a lot in school, we say its home time when the bell goes, things like that, but it must really resonate with them because they arent keen to get back to where theyre living. School is a safe haven for them.

When it comes to children like this, education becomes totally secondary to their emotional wellbeing  and we in the schools can see it all play out in front of us, and were in a position to help.

Essentials

The INTO document advises teachers how to discretely make sure children are fed and have uniforms and hygiene essentials such as toothbrushes and hairbrushes, and underlines the importance of making sure they attend school and take part in trips and extracurriculars, even if it means covering the cost.

While the guide equips teachers with strategies to support vulnerable pupils, the INTO is urging the Department of Education to step up its efforts to address the growing challenges faced by teachers and pupils.

Mary Magner, a recently retired teacher and former INTO president, told The Echo: Its a necessary support guidance but such a sad state of affairs that INTO felt it needed to be done.

Echoing the call for increased funding, INTO general secretary John Boyle said: No one should have to create a publication like this, because no child should ever be homeless. While teachers do extraordinary work to support these children, they cannot do it alone.

Schools play a vital role in supporting children who find themselves homeless and it underscores why education and investing in our primary and special education system should be a central issue in this general election, he added.
Taoiseach Simon Harris said yesterday that he would really like to see some innovation and effort used to put several empty apartments above a Dunnes Stores store in Macroom into use.

Mr Harris announced a scheme to provide 100,000 grant aid for more above-the-shop living during a visit to the town, which is the hub of the Cork North West constituency, yesterday.

Standing in the shop run by the aunt of Keir Starmers chief of staff, Mr Harris was responding to a question from The Echo about the one- and two-bedroom apartments, 20 in all, which have lain empty since the store first opened in 2005.

Councillor Michael Creed and outgoing TD Michael Creed have referenced this to me already, and I know its a source of huge frustration to people here in Macroom to see, I think its 20, apartments vacant during a housing crisis, he said.

Advanced

My understanding is that there are talks at a relatively advanced stage.

More broadly what Id like to do, what were announcing in our plans today, is to very significantly increase the financial assistance to help put units above shops back into use  so 100,000 is what my party is offering.

But I really would like to see some innovation and effort  Im sure there is from the local authority here  because these are the sort of things that drive people crazy in the middle of a housing crisis.

As he came into the shop, which is owned and run by Evelyn McSweeney, the aunt of Keir Starmers chief of staff, Macroom-born Morgan McSweeney, and the mother of Department of the Taoiseach adviser Clare Mungovan, Mr Harris said that his visit to Macroom marked number 37 in his round-Ireland trip to visit all of Irelands 43 constituencies.

Confident

He said he was confident his party would make a gain in Cork North West, and described the partys candidates in the constituency, veteran councillor Michael Creed, a cousin of the outgoing and eponymous TD, and his running mate in Kanturk, John Paul OShea, as a great ticket.

He said: I often get asked about new candidates and your party is running so many new candidates.

Of course, that is true, but nobody in Macroom thinks Councillor Michael Creed is new to politics.

This is a man that gets such a huge vote serving his community and what Id say, respectfully, to national media, as we go through constituencies, one by one, what youre seeing is a lot of new people new to the general election ticket, but definitely not new to voters in their constituency.

Im cautiously optimistic we will do well here in Cork North West  but well fight for every vote.

In response to other questions, Mr Harris said that setting what he described as an arbitrary deadline for a United Ireland referendum, as suggested by Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, could make it more difficult to achieve.

You have to win hearts and minds, we have so much work to do, he said.
Privacy, accessibility, and cleaning issues in a nursing home in Midleton have been addressed following an unannounced Hiqa inspection into the centre.

The overall feedback from residents was that Midleton Community Hospital (MCH) was a nice place to live in, and residents felt their rights were respected.

Staff promoted a person-centred approach to care, and were observed by the inspectors to be kind and respectful towards residents.

The centre was marked compliant in nine areas, substantially compliant in four, and not compliant in one.

The non-compliance was in the area of the premises itself, with the inspector noting that flooring in the sitting and dining room was damaged, which would impede effective cleaning.

Accessibility issues

An immediate action was given to the provider to address accessibility issues in relation to the available toilet space in St Marys Ward.

The inspector noted: A near-miss incident had occurred and appropriate action had not been taken, to ensure accessibility and privacy for a wheelchair-dependent resident using the toilet.

Bedroom accommodation in MCH consists of single, twin, triple, and four-bed rooms, and there were other privacy concerns in relation to the multi-occupancy rooms.

Folding screens were difficult to manoeuvre around individual beds as their design and movement was cumbersome, meaning that a staff member would have to support a frail older adult to move them around the bed, impeding privacy.

The sitting/dining room for the four residents, in each of the four-bedded rooms, was located at the end of the room, meaning staff, relatives, and other residents had to pass by residents private bed space to access this.

This was also an issue of concern in the back building, upstairs, where there was no barrier except a curtain between some bed spaces and the hallway, where staff, relatives, and residents passed by all day.

There was no screening on all windows in the four-bed rooms in the front building to protect residents privacy.

Action taken

Following the inspection, a responsive and effective action was immediately taken by the provider, and the toilet is now accessible and safe for use, independently, by a wheelchair user.

Appropriate screening was also sourced and applied to all windows immediately following the inspection, and additional privacy screens were installed.

The hospital also promised that it will improve cleaning procedures to address the damaged floor, ensure thorough dirt removal, and effectively monitor the areas cleanliness.

It noted that funding to replace flooring has been approved, with work due to be completed at the end of November.
Sinn Fein councillors have written to the city councils chief executive, Valerie OSullivan, requesting the removal of the VQ nickname for MacCurtain St and surrounding areas from the council minutes.

Cork City North West councillors Michelle Gould and Kenneth Collins have asked that Cork City Council correct the record and instruct all stakeholders to cease use of the term.

VQ, which stands for Victorian Quarter, was used by Fine Gael councillor Joe Kavanagh in a motion calling for additional Garda presence in the area, and an amendment by Sinn Fein to remove the term was voted down, with councillors suggesting the V stood for vibrant rather than Victorian.

Ms Gould said: I cannot believe that at Monday nights [November 11] council meeting, councillors from Fianna Fail and Fine Gael refused to make a simple amendment to an important motion to remove the nickname VQ.

This isnt an official place in Cork city and renders an important motion on policing and safety completely meaningless."

Beyond a joke

To have councillors suggest that this stands for Vibrant Quarter is beyond a joke. We all know that the VQ stems from the Famine Queen and I cannot understand why any proud Cork person would want an area in our beautiful city named after someone who caused so much harm to our people.

I find this deeply insulting to all those who sacrificed their lives for Irish freedom, particularly for the family of Tomas MacCurtain.

We know that there are much bigger issues facing a lot of ordinary people at the minute. This shouldnt even be a topic for discussion, but, as a proud and committed Republican, I cannot sit by and allow our heritage to be erased in this way.

Mr Collins added: Over three years ago now, Sinn Fein secured support for the renaming of Anglesea St, after another great patriot, Ard Mheara of Cork.

We are still waiting for Fianna Fail and Fine Gael to bring forward the legislation to allow this to happen.

We tried to do this through the proper channels, yet, apparently, a street named after one of Corks heroes can just be renamed on a whim.

We have now, in the last week, seen this used by a Fine Gael councillor in a motion and by Failte Ireland in a policy document.

Thomas Gould has written to Failte Ireland, requesting this be changed. We will fight every reference to this ridiculous name.

Assurance

They said, in a letter to Ms OSullivan: We have received previous assurance by Cork City Council that this historically insulting nickname would not be used in official documentation and would emphasise that the council minutes are an official record held by this proud organisation. We would also request that Cork City Council issue all relevant stakeholders, including Failte Ireland, with a reminder of their obligation to utilise official accurate place names to avoid confusion or insult.

Asked about the issue, Shane Clarke, director of operations for the VQ, an organisation of businesses in the locality, told The Echo: The VQ now has 65 business members and growing. Our focus is on building an entrepreneurial community that will help realise the potential of the neighbourhood, supporting more jobs, new business investment, great levels of public and active travel, and cleaner and safer streets.
Despite the inclement weather, hundreds of people turned out for Saturday afternoons Cork Palestine rally, the 59th consecutive gathering in the city centre to protest the ongoing war in Middle East.

Cobh-born celebrity chef Lily Higgins addressed the crowd, speaking about the death toll which continues to mount in Lebanon and Palestine.

Ms Higgins has long been an advocate for the Palestinian cause, and she told the approximately 700-strong crowd of the absolute catastrophe facing civilians.

On Thursday, at least 66 people-mostly women and children were killed; 100 others injured when a residential building near a hospital was destroyed, she said.

And on Thursday night quadcopters [remote operated drones] fired directly into the emergency reception of a hospital itself, critically injuring its oxygen distribution network and destroying their only generator. Ms Higgins urged the crowd to vote for candidates who support the Occupied Territories Bill.

Palestine is a red line for the people of Ireland, we want to stop the use of Shannon Airport to transport weapons. We want US soldiers out of Shannon, she said.

We want the Occupied Territories bill to be passed.

In the past it has been blocked by Fine Gael governments, now theyre saying theyll work on it. No more words, we need action.

Protesters were also told that protesters at a rally in Shannon last week clashed with gardai, leading to eight people being arrested.

When we got on that bus and went to Shannon, never did we think wed be met with the full force of the Irish State in the form of the Public Order Unit, said Anne McShane, co-chair of the Cobh Palestine Solidarity Campaign.

The Cork rally heard calls for all political candidates who stand with Palestine and the Palestinian movement, to call for the charges to be dropped against the protesters.

The Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign were joined at Saturdays rally by TDs Mick Barry of People Before Profit-Solidarity and Thomas Gould of Sinn Fein, as well as representatives from the Workers Party, People Before Profit, the Green Party, the Labour Party, and the Social Democrats.

The death toll in Gaza, caused by the 13-month war between Israel and Hamas, has surpassed 44,000, local health officials said this week.

The Gaza Health Ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count, but it has said that more than half of the fatalities are women and children.

The Israeli military said it has killed over 17,000 militants, but it has not provided evidence to support this claim.

The health ministry said 44,056 people have been killed, with 104,268 wounded, since the start of the war.

It has warned that the real toll is likely far higher because thousands of bodies are buried under rubble or in areas that medics cannot access.

The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting another 250 people.

Some 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead.
Gardai in Cork have arrested a man following the seizure of 38,000 worth of suspected drugs from a residence in Youghal on Friday night.

As part of ongoing investigations targeting the sale and supply of controlled drugs in the East Cork region, gardai from the Cork County Divisional Drugs Unit executed a search warrant at the premises on Friday night at approximately 11.30pm.

During the course of the search, gardai seized suspected cannabis, cocaine and MDMA with an estimated total value of 38,000.

The seized substances, consisting of approximately 24,000 worth of cannabis, 8,000 cocaine and 6,000 MDMA are subject to further analysis by Forensic Science Ireland.

The man, in his 30s, was arrested at the scene and is currently being detained at a garda station in Co Cork under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.

A garda spokesperson said investigations are ongoing.

The spokesperson said the seizure forms part of Operation Tara, an enhanced national anti-drugs strategy, which was launched by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris in July, 2021.

"The focus of Operation Tara is to disrupt, dismantle and prosecute drug trafficking networks, at all levels - international, national, local - involved in the importation, distribution, cultivation, production, local sale and supply of controlled drugs."
Hezbollah using missiles based on Israeli technology against Israel - Reports

Moscow, Nov 23 (UNI) Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah has been using Almas missiles against Israel that were developed through reverse engineering of an Israeli weapon captured during the previous war, The New York Times reported on Saturday, citing Israeli defense officials.

Hezbollah fighters reportedly captured Israeli Spike anti-tank missiles during the 2006 war and sent them to Iran for cloning. The movement now manufactures these missiles in Lebanon, Israeli defense officials said.

Israel has seized Almas missiles from Hezbollah's weapons stockpiles during its invasion of Lebanon over the past two months, the newspaper reported.
Forty years ago on Monday, a hit parade of pop stars sashayed into a recording studio in London - all glossy make-up and coiffured hair... and that was just the fellas.

This was the 1980s after all.

That day, Sunday, November 25, 1984, the greatest array of Irish and British musical talent ever assembled in one place was recording a song that would change the world of music, and indeed, in its own way, change the world.

It was called Do They Know Its Christmas?, and the charity single ended up being the biggest-selling record of all time, as well as raising millions to help relieve a horrific ongoing famine in Ethiopia.

I was a highly impressionable 15-year-old at the time, and anyone who was young in the 1980s will remember the impact that song had on the world of music and culture.

Here in Ireland, there was special reason to be proud of this humanitarian effort by a bunch of pampered celebrities we would usually associate with traits such as narcissism and supreme self-centredness.

They had been assembled, under the collective name Band Aid, by a mouthy Irish punk rocker called Bob Geldof - he had penned the words for Do They Know The Christmas?

Among the most stellar names in that galaxy of stars on the record was Bono of U2, who was handed the task of belting out the songs most rousing line - Well, tonight, thank God its them instead of you.

Performers who gave their time that day also included Sting, Simon Le Bon, George Michael, and Boy George. The record was a Christmas No.1, raising 8million for Ethiopia in its first year alone, and more than 200million overall.

In the years since, there have been several reiterations of the song, all raising money for famine charities.

Indeed, a new ultimate mix version will premiere on British radio stations on Monday morning, to mark the 40th anniversary of the original song being recorded.

However, this being 2024, and an era when revisionism seeks to cast dark aspersions on every part of our history, the new release has been shrouded in controversy.

Depressingly, it seems that all this time, Do They Know Its Christmas? - a song that saved countless lives, raised awareness of a disaster of vast proportions, and is credited with changing the very way we view fund-raising - was actually not a good thing at all.

In fact, the song appears to be on the verge of being cancelled.

Yes, first they came for Fairytale Of New York because of an offensive word, and now they want to take out Do They Know Its Christmas? too!

I first got wind of this bizarre scenario when I heard the usually easy-to-please and rather vapid songster Ed Sheeran had objected to his vocals being used in the 40th anniversary remix.

Bob Geldof (second left), along with other artists recording the first ever Band Aid single, Do They Know It's Christmas. A new 40th anniversary mix of Band Aid's Do They Know It's Christmas? will see the young and old voices of the charity single's artists come together to create an "ultimate" version.

He explained that his understanding of the narrative associated with Do They Know Its Christmas? had changed, thanks to his friendship with a Ghanaian-English rapper called Fuse ODG.

Their counter argument goes that, while recognising that Band Aid helped get sympathy and donations, such campaigns also perpetuated damaging stereotypes that stifle Africas economic growth.

There was a need to reclaim the narrative, empowering Africans to tell their own stories... proving that Africas solutions and progress lie in its own hands.

These are legitimate, understandable concerns for a modern African to have, but surely it doesnt mean we have to cast aside the support shown to African people when they really needed it, by generations of pop stars and their fans, through the original Band Aid single?

The song has become a staple of Christmas parties for four decades, and those who were young in the 1980s sing it with gusto, aware of the difference our generation had helped to make in a part of the world that was suffering a cataclysmic tragedy.

Drill a little deeper into the criticism of Do They Know Its Christmas?, and you discover the lyrics are, in the favourite word of modern commentators, problematic.

Poor old Bob Geldof, when he was re-writing an unused Boomtown Rats song, in a quest to be altruistic and inspirational, could never have known the fuss it would cause 40 years later!

The fact he and Midge Ure turned the song around so quickly - the recording studio gave Band Aid no more than 24 free hours to record and mix it - and came up with such a memorable banger should be to their eternal credit. But in a world of revisionism, nothing is eternal, and no good deed goes unpunished.

A recent critic of Do They Know Its Christmas? wondered aloud if the song represented a ham-fisted opportunity for celebrity posturing and insensitive lyrics.

Colin Alexander, senior lecturer in political communications at Nottingham Trent University, quoted the line Where nothing ever grows, no rain or rivers flow and said: The lyrics recycled many of the old colonial tropes of Africa as a barren land requiring Western salvation.

These inaccuracies didnt seem to matter to the many politicians, musicians, journalists and members of the public who got on the Band Aid wagon. Dearie me.

In the famine-hit Ethiopia of 1984, nothing did grow and no rains did flow. Geldof was desperately pulling on our heart-strings to raise money for dying people, was he supposed to paint a happy picture of a fertile land for over-thinkers 40 years hence?

Thankfully, Geldof, as gobby and outspoken as ever, has strongly refuted the criticism: Its a pop song ffs, he railed. This little pop song has kept hundreds of thousands if not millions of people alive.

The lyrics of his miraculous little record, he insisted, were actually empirical facts. Colonial tropes, my arse, he added.

What critics and supporters of Band Aid do agree on is that the song changed the face of charity work forever. It was followed a year later by the mammoth Live Aid concert, and by a U.S version of the song and concert. Fundraising became more of a spectacle, and celebrities were keen to endorse various projects.

In Ireland, we had Self Aid, a benefit concert for the unemployed, in 1986, and in the UK, Comic Relief was founded in 1985. Like Band Aid, these were mass movements where the world of culture and ordinary people could unite and raise awareness and money for good causes.

However, lecturer Mr Alexander said such developments were highly problematic because they may reduce the likelihood of charities offering genuine solutions to societal or ecological problems.

On account of the Band Aid format, we are now arguably less knowledgeable about why some people suffer terribly around the world  and in no better a position to put an end to it, he said.

Well, its one way of looking at it, I suppose.

I prefer to think Do They Know Its Christmas? is a 3 minute 55 second song that had its heart in the right place, and changed the world for the better.
Kenneth Fox

Gardai have arrested two men over a drug seizure in Limerick City.

560,000 worth of suspected cocaine was seized on Friday during searches at a number of locations under Operation Tara.

The discoveries were made after gardai stopped and searched a vehicle where 490,000 worth of suspected cocaine was seized.

In a separate search of a property, suspected cocaine valued at 70,000 was seized.

The two men, aged in their 40s and 60s, are being held at a Garda station in the Limerick area.
By Grainne Ni Aodha, PA

Taoiseach Simon Harris has spoken to the Dublin woman who won a civil case against mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor to praise her courage.

The Taoiseach said he also wanted to tell Nikita Hand, a hair colourist from Drimnagh, that her case had prompted an increase in women coming forward to ask for support.

Ms Hand, who accused McGregor of raping her in a Dublin hotel in December 2018, won her claim against him for damages in a civil case at the High Court in Dublin on Friday.

The total amount of damages awarded to Ms Hand by the jury was 248,603.60.

Mr McGregor said in a post on social media on Friday that he intends to appeal against the decision. That post has since been deleted.

Speaking to the media on Saturday, Mr Harris said he told Ms Hand of the support she has from people across Ireland.

I spoke with Nikita today and I wanted to thank her for her incredible bravery and her courage, he said.

I wanted to make sure that she knew how much solidarity and support there was across this country for her bravery.

Nikita Ni Laimhin (Brian Lawless/PA)

I also wanted to make sure she knew of what the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre had said yesterday  that so many other women have now come forward in relation to their own experiences of sexual abuse as a result of Nikitas bravery.

The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre said the case has had a profound effect on the people the charity supports, and that over the first 10 days of the High Court case, calls to its national helpline increased by almost 20 per cent.

It said that first-time callers increased by 50 per cent compared to the same period last year, and were largely from people who had experienced sexual violence who were distressed and anxious from the details of case and the views people had to it.

Mr Harris said: I wanted to speak with her and I wanted to wish her and her daughter, Freya, all the very best night, and I was very grateful to talk with Nikita today.

Her bravery, her courage, her voice has made a real difference in a country in which we must continue to work to get to zero tolerance when it comes to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.

I dont want to say too much more, because conscious there could be further legal processes, but I absolutely want to commend Nikita for her bravery, for her courage, for using her voice.

Nikita Hand, who is also known as Nikita Ni Laimhin (Brian Lawless/PA)

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee praised Ms Hands bravery and said she had shown there is light at the end of the tunnel.

She said: I just want to commend Nikita for her bravery, for her determination and the leadership that she has shown in what has been  Ive no doubt  a very, very difficult time for her and indeed, for her family.

She added: Because of wonderful people like Nikita, I hope that it shows that there is light at the end of the tunnel, that there are supports available to people, and that there is justice at the end of the day.

Ms Hand said in a statement outside court on Friday that she hoped her case would remind victims of assault to keep pushing forward for justice.

Describing the past six years as a nightmare, she said: I want to show (my daughter) Freya 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.

Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor (Brian Lawless/PA)

During the case, Ms Hand said she was disappointed and upset when the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) decided not to prosecute the case after she made a complaint to An Garda Siochana.

In a letter to her in August 2020, the DPP said there was insufficient evidence and there was not a reasonable prospect of conviction.

Ms Hand asked the DPP to review the decision, saying she felt she was being treated differently because one of the suspects was famous.

Asked about the DPPs decision not to prosecute, Mr Harris and Ms McEntee stressed the importance of the DPPs independence on whether to prosecute.

There are obviously structures in place where the DPP can meet a victim and can outline to them their reasons for not taking the case, Mr Harris said.

But theres also always an opportunity for the DPP in any situation  and I speak broadly in relation to this  to review a decision, to consider any new information that may come to light, and I dont want to say anything that may ever cut across the ongoing work of the DPP.

Ms McEntee stressed that there should never be any political interference in the independence of the DPPs decisions.

I have, since becoming minister, given priority to and enabled a new office within the DPP to open specifically focused on sexual offences, so that this issue can be given the focus and the priority that it needs, she said.
By Grainne Ni Aodha, PA

Simon Harris said he has apologised to a woman for not giving her enough time to speak about carers and disability services while he was out canvassing in Cork on Friday.

The Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader said he spoke to Charlotte Fallon, a worker with St Josephs Foundation, on the phone on Saturday after a clip of an exchange between them on Friday went viral.

RTE footage posted to the social media site X shows Mr Harris on a canvass in Kanturk when Ms Fallon tells the Taoiseach carers were ignored and the Government has done nothing for us.

The disability sector is a joke, she says. Youve done nothing for us, our people are suffering. Im very passionate about my job.

Mr Harris responds by saying: No, not at all, and: Im very passionate about disability too.

Ms Fallon says: But theres no mention of (them in the) Budget. You ignored them, you ignore the carers, to which Mr Harris says: Thats not true, several times before shaking her hand and walking away.

While out canvassing at a Christmas market in Rathfarnham in Dublin on Saturday afternoon, Mr Harris said he was annoyed with himself and had called Ms Fallon to apologise.

I called Charlotte this morning because she was absolutely owed an apology from me, he said.

We had a very good conversation, a very good conversation. I was very grateful to her for her time and her kindness.

We spoke about a number of issues, we spoke about disability services, we spoke about the issue of pay parity for people in Section 39 organisations, and we also spoke about the issue of the means test for carers.

I was grateful to have a chance to listen to Charlotte and also talk through with her some of my own plans and views and vision in relation to disability services. Really grateful for the conversation, learned a lot from it, and Ive also said that Id love to call in to where she works in Cork in the coming weeks, and she said Id be very welcome.

Im annoyed with how I didnt give that person, Charlotte, the time last night, she deserved that time.

Mr Harris said he had called to apologise over the encounter (Fine Gael/PA)

Ive been around the country and Ive had hundreds of conversations some days, and Ive learned a lot and always learned a lot from listening to people and Im very sorry that didnt happen last night.

Asked what happened last night, he said: Theres no excuse for it, Im annoyed with myself in relation to it, disability is what makes me tick.

It will always be my passion, and its Charlottes passion too, and Im really grateful to her for giving me the opportunity to speak with her today.

Asked whether he thought people would doubt his sincerity on wanting to reform the States disability services after seeing the video, Mr Harris said: I hope not.

All I can do is really double my efforts to convince people of the facts that we have a plan for the future of this country, and very much at the heart of that plan is better services, better delivery and better empowerment of people with disabilities.

Ive tried to bring a focus to it since Ive become Taoiseach, and its something that I will continue to work on intensively and even more intensively as a result of this.

On Saturday morning, Mr Harris posted a video on Instagram where he said he was spurred on to become a politician after seeing his parents fight for access to services for his brother Adam, who has autism.

He said the interaction happened at the end of a very long day and he felt really bad about it.

Mr Harris said the encounter had come at the end of a long day (Grainne Ni Aodha/PA)

Mr Harris then outlined his partys plans for carers and the disability sector, including removing the means testing for the Carers Allowance and to ensure that there are therapies in special schools and special classes.

Sinn Feins housing spokesperson Eoin O Broin said that Mr Harris reaction showed the true face of Fine Gael and showed a contempt for working people.

Speaking at a press event in Dublin on Saturday, Fine Gael ministers Helen McEntee and Paschal Donohoe defended their party leader.

I think the Taoiseach himself has been very clear that he wished the encounter had gone differently. It had been the end of a very, very long day, Ms McEntee said.

What he said very clearly is that he should have given her more time, and should have engaged for longer with her, but this is the reason he got into politics.

Mr Donohoe said: In the course of an election campaign, in all the interactions that we have with people, of course, we sometimes feel within ourselves that could have gone differently and could have gone better. I think its particularly the case for somebody who is so committed to looking at how we can support those who need more.
Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has proposed that giraffes be listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) for the first time.

The agency hopes listing the iconic tallest mammal on Earth will crack down on poaching, as the U.S. is one of the largest destinations of items such as rugs, boots and furniture made from giraffe parts, reported The Guardian.

Federal protections for giraffes will help protect a vulnerable species, foster biodiversity, support ecosystem health, combat wildlife trafficking and promote sustainable economic practices, said FWS Director Martha Williams in a press release from FWS. This action supports giraffe conservation while ensuring the United States does not contribute further to their decline.

Giraffe populations have been decreasing due to habitat loss, poaching and climate change. In response, FWS has proposed listing as endangered all three northern giraffe subspecies from east, west and central Africa. The service has also proposed listing two east Africa giraffe species as threatened.

West African, Nubian and Kordofan giraffes would be listed as endangered, while Reticulated and Masai giraffes would be listed as threatened.

FWS found that the Angolan and South African giraffe subspecies did not warrant listing under the ESA, but because they are similar in appearance to other species of giraffe the service proposed treating the subspecies of southern giraffe as threatened as well.

These gentle giants are suffering a silent extinction, and Endangered Species Act safeguards will curb U.S. imports of giraffe skins and other body parts, said Tanya Sanerib, the Center for Biological Diversitys international legal director, as The Guardian reported.

Sanerib said data from 2022 shows everything coming into the U.S., from giraffe tails and skulls to lots of skins, leather products, bones, bone carvings, of course hunting trophies, giraffe feet, giraffe rugs and giraffe jewelry.

The proposed protections are good news for giraffes, but its tragic that it took seven years to get here, Sanerib added. U.S. officials should be racing like a cheetah to fight the global extinction crisis, but theyre actually moving at a snails pace to protect imperiled wildlife.

The proposed listing will benefit the elegant mammal by reducing trade and hunting by requiring permits for U.S. imports; increasing species conservation funding in giraffes range countries, as well as research efforts into conservation needs; and improving global and U.S. awareness regarding the decline in giraffe numbers.

Listing giraffes under the ESA will also provide some financial assistance to manage and develop giraffe conservation programs.

In addition to poaching and habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation, urbanization, human population growth and the impacts of climate change-induced drought  which increase human-wildlife conflict  are the main threats to giraffes.

Giraffes are already protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

While trade is not the primary cause of the decline of wild giraffe populations, trade may have an additive effect when combined with the main causes of habitat loss and poaching. Giraffes are valued for their hair, tails, and use in traditional medicine, but in recent years they have been increasingly targeted by hunters and poachers for bushmeat, FWS said in the press release.

Three subspecies of northern giraffe have plummeted roughly 77 percent from 1985 to fewer than 6,000 individuals. In numerous west African countries, giraffe populations have been completely destroyed, with just 690 West African giraffes remaining.

Almost the entire population of reticulated giraffes  15,985  are found in Kenya. There are approximately 45,402 Masai giraffes  about 67 percent of what their numbers were in the 1970s.

The tallest land-based animal, as well as the largest ruminant, giraffes spend most of their time feeding on leaves, flowers, stems and fruits. They have adapted to live in a variety of habitats, but are primarily found in woodlands and savannas, near the bushes and trees that provide them with food.

Giraffes are in trouble and the fact that there are four distinct species makes their situation even more dire, said Stephanie Fennessy, executive director of the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, based in Namibia, as reported by The Guardian. The attention for giraffes generated through this rule will help increase awareness of their plight and the fact that not all giraffes are the same. Ultimately, this attention will hopefully convert into more funding support and interest to save all four species of giraffe in the wild in Africa.
An industrial robot from Inovance at work.

The industrial automation company Inovance Technology, based in Shenzhen, China, has presented its new product series of articulated arm and SCARA industrial robots to the European market at the SPS trade fair.

Inovance also presented an environmentally friendly motor and drive: the MV33 AC motor and the MD630 universal frequency inverter, which meets the relatively strict European environmental requirements. The IntelliPulse design philosophy for the entire product range was also presented.

As one of Chinas leading industrial automation brands, Inovance has reached wide experience at selling its robots into almost every application imaginable including automotive parts, welding, injection molding, diecasting, and lithium battery manufacturing. The company also has vast experience at selling robots into major manufacturers of smartphones and laptops. In China, Inovances articulated robots go up to 300 kg payloads. For Europe, the initial launch is for models capable of handling up to 20 kg, but larger payload models will be progressively released through 2025.

The MD630 frequency inverter from Inovance is available in several power ranges.

Additionally, Inovance has launched a new drive and motor each of which is one of the highest efficiency options on the market. The IE5-rated MV33 AC motor is Inovances first AC industrial motor in Europe and uses hairpin technology adapted from the automotive sector. Meanwhile, the MD630 AC drive has been designed for European customers and has built-in EtherCAT, Profinet, and EtherNet/IP. It can operate in 60C temperatures and complies with all European directives. It is also easy-to-use, cost-effective, and offers STO SIL 3 safety and flexible programmable logic.

The MV33 AC motor from Inovance is IE5-certified.

MV33 and MD630 are the first European products to be offered in Inovances IntelliPulse design philosophy which will ultimately cover the entire Inovance product range. IntelliPulse makes all Inovance products easy to identify, and the new brand colour extends to the functional touchpoints of the product, offering active and responsive light language characteristics.

David Bedford Guaus, Inovances Barcelona-based Strategic Marketing Manager, says: China is the workshop of the world, and vast experience at selling industrial robots in China has given us industry expertise that is second to none. In China, our robots are on the production lines of some of the Wests biggest brands, and there is every chance you own a mobile phone that was assembled by an Inovance robot. We really do offer a robot for every application. In addition, our new MV33 motor and our MD630 frequency inverter are among the most energy-efficient solutions on the market.

Inovance offers the full range of industrial automation products, including LV and MV AC drives, servos, motion control, CNCs, PLCs, HMIs, and industrial robots. The company has sales and engineering offices in Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and Turkey, as well as distributors across the continent. Inovance Technology Europe (www.inovance.eu) is the European branch of the company, which achieved a total turnover of 4.2 billion US dollars in the last financial year.

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Cher was brutally honest while revealing the directors she couldn't stand working with.

While doing press for Cher: The Memoir, the icon told The Times that there are only two she "didn't like": Peter Bogdanovich and "the guy from The Muppets," the latter being the illustrious puppeteer and filmmaker Frank Oz.

Before Richard Benjamin signed on as the director of the 1990 cult classic Mermaids, Oz was tapped to helm the film, but he didn't last long in the production after clashing with Cher.

"I actually got the guy from The Muppets fired," she recalled. "I said, 'Either you're going or I'm going,' which is a shame because he's a really good director, but he had a thing about me. He would go, 'At least my wife loves me!' "

Cher also said that Bogdanovich, who directed her in Mask, was an "a*****e." She added, "He was not nice to the girls in the film and he was so f*****g arrogant. I really, really disliked him."

Read More: Cher Drops Uncensored F-Bomb on Live 'Today' Show Broadcast Leaving Hoda Kotb Stunned

Looking back at the Mask director's alleged behavior, Cher said, "He comes in and says, 'Cher, where do you think we should film this scene?' And I say, well, the kitchen is working pretty well, why don't we do that again? The next morning he arrives on set, eating an egg sandwich, and starts screaming that he's not going to let me direct this film; I'm a nobody; he can cut me out at any moment. Oh yeah, he was a pig."

Bogdanovich, who died in 2022, shared his own criticism of the multi-hyphenate in a 2019 interview with Vulture. He said she was the most difficult actor he'd ever worked with because she "didn't trust anyone, particularly men."

The director added, "That's why she's named Cher: She dropped her father's name. Sarkisian, it is. She can't act. She won Best Actress at Cannes because I shot her very well."

The filmmaker recalled that while their working relationship was initially rough, they eventually "started getting to like each other." However, their dynamic soured when Bogdanovich sued Universal, alleging that the studio swapped the music without his permission. He told Vulture that Cher took Universal's side, causing friction.

Read More: Biggest Bombshells From Cher's Memoir: Her Twisted Relationship With Sonny Bono, Suicidal Thoughts and More
Meghan Markle is continuing her heartfelt work of empowering women, this time sharing a meal with Afghan refugees.

The women have resettled in California, many of which were separated from their friends and family for years, as they seek to create new memories and celebrate despite being a long way from home.

The Duchess of Sussex  along with her husband, Prince Harry  founded their Archewell Foundation to support "women-led programming for recently resettled Afghan women to help build more inclusive and connected communities."

On a Saturday night in Venice Beach, Markle sat alongside the women of Mina's list, an organization that empowers women in the fields of politics and human rights, and the Southern California chapter of the Archewell Foundation's Welcome Project, per 'Marie Claire.'

"For so many of them it would be very easy to go, 'My life has ended, because everything I knew that I was familiar with is gone,' " the Duchess said of the refugee women.

Connection was a common theme at Meghan Markles holiday dinner, which, through the Southern California chapter of the Archewell Foundations Welcome Project, brought together the women of Minas Listan organization that empowers women in the fields of politics and human rights. pic.twitter.com/sRz6HOJVCF  Marie Claire (@marieclaire) November 22, 2024

"But these moments of togetherness that they have with each other and the Welcome Project, I hope, reminds them that no, your life is just beginning. It's a very, very different chapter. It's the beginning of something where you've taken steps that you never thought you would."

Markle is seen serving the women from an array of colorful homemade meals, which included fresh fruits, desserts, and spices. For the heartfelt holiday feast, she's pictured wearing a relaxed neutral look with a sleeveless knit top and structured khaki pants. The 43-year-old is seen smiling at her guest and giving warm hugs.

"From my standpoint, I think part of why we wanted to make sure we had this opportunity to all be together again  so many of us  right now is that as the holidays come up, and have already begun in many regards, it brings up so much emotion for people," Markle told the group, per 'Marie Claire.'

"You miss home, you miss your country, and also can find comfort in the new community that you have here. I'm grateful that we are able to be a part of that community," she warmly told her guests.

The Archewell Foundation is a non-profit organization founded by Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, in 2020 with a mission to "uplift and unite communities," prioritize lasting solutions to community issues, and drive long-term change.
Matthew McConaughey's culinary talents are well-documented, and his creative recipes continue to captivate fans.

Known for his playful experiments in the kitchen alongside his wife, Camila Alves McConaughey, the actor has a knack for turning simple dishes into something extraordinary.

Recently, McConaughey unveiled his go-to tuna salad recipe during an appearance on the '2 Bears, 1 Cave' podcast with Bert Kreischer and Tom Segura, where he confidently declared himself the "tuna fish salad master maker."

"It starts with the base," McConaughey explained. "You get your good tuna. Next, you want to watch how much lemon and vinegar you add. Add the mayo mixed with some wasabi and then all the rest of the stuff: chopped red onions, dill pickle gherkins  I'll finely chop the dill pickle gherkins  and crispy jalapeno chips to give it a little bit of a crunch."

He didn't stop there, noting that he also includes chopped apples, a touch of agave syrup for sweetness, corn, and frozen peas.

The unconventional mix of ingredients has intrigued food enthusiasts and sparked debates online. Inspired by McConaughey's enthusiasm, 'Allrecipes' chef Nicole McLaughlin recreated the dish, writing out the recipe as she saw fit since McConaughey didn't provide exact measurements. As McLaughlin prepared the salad, she caught an extra tip McConaughey murmured during the podcast: adding a dash of Italian dressing.

After tasting the final product, McLaughlin declared it "delicious."

"It was so good," McLaughlin shared. "The wasabi really does make it. It has some [of the] usual suspects [in a tuna salad] that I knew I loved  like pickles, red onion, and mayo. Some of the surprising ingredients were my favorite because they added a variety of textures, like peas, fresh corn, and apple. I've been too boring in my tuna salad game... Until now."

Thanks to McLaughlin, McConaughey's unique tuna salad recipe is now available for everyone to try. The blend of creamy mayo, spicy wasabi, crunchy jalapeno chips, and sweet apple pieces delivers a combination of textures and flavors that takes tuna salad to an entirely new level. Whether you stick to McConaughey's recipe or adapt it to suit your tastes, it's clear this dish is anything but ordinary.

Social media users also had a field day trying the recipe.

@katchaomeow Have you tried this yet? This is so unexpectedly good with such interesting ingredients - make this now! 10 out of 10!  Ingredients: *2 cans of tuna in water, drained *1 cup mayonnaise *2 tbsp apple cider vinegar *1 tsp wasabi *1 tbsp Italian dressing *1/2 red onion, diced *1 dill pickle, diced *1/4 cup pickled jalapeno slices *1/2 apple, diced *2 tbsp agave nectar *1/2 cup canned corn, drained *1/2 cup frozen peas, defrosted Instructions: *In a bowl, add mayo, wasabi, Italian dressing, vinegar, agave and mix. *In a large bowl, add tuna, mixed dressing, onion, pickle, jalapeno, apple, corn, and peas. Mix thoroughly. *In an airtight container, store in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days. #matthewmcconaughey #tunasalad #viralfood  original sound - Kat Chao

One user even made a tuna salad sandwich out of the recipe.

"There's some really nice flavors working together in there," Tiktoker @cibsandibus said, who admitted that although there's a "lot of ingredients in here, but they all work together very well."
Ellen DeGeneres has ditched her signature blonde locks for a shorter, darker hairstyle now that she's settled down in the UK.

After packing up and moving out of the U.S. to "get the hell out" of the country following president-elect Donald Trump's recent win during the 2024 presidential election, DeGeneres has apparently decided on a new look to go with her new home.

The 66-year-old comedian was spotted at The Farmer's Dog pub, owned by TV presenter and former 'Top Gear' star Jeremy Clarkson, enjoying live performances by The Corrs alongside her wife Portia de Rossi.

She rocked a much different hairstyle than usual, apparently having forgone the bleach. Having sported flaxen locks for much of her career, it was a much different sight.

Previously, DeGeneres, 66, purchased a home in the UK after going house hunting in October for a permanent move. The relocation follows her Netflix comedy special 'Ellen's Last Stand...Up' where she addressed her controversial exit from television.

"I got chickens. Oh yeah, and I got kicked out of show business for being mean," she joked in the special, referencing the toxic workplace allegations that preceded the end of her 19-season talk show run. She emphasized the special would be her final public appearance, stating firmly, "This is the last time you're going to see me."

The move to Britain appears to be the last phase of DeGeneres's plan to step away from fame, now making a home in the UK's Cotswold region.

DeGeneres and de Rossi are some of the latest celebrities to leave America behind, joining actress Eva Longoria, who departed the country some time ago, and actor Richard Gere.

The comedian didn't make mention of why she had decided to go with a new hairstyle, but it's likely there's simply no need to continue bleaching if she's out of the public eye.
Richard Lawson, the ex-stepfather of superstar songstress Beyonce, was recently spotted lusting after actress Meagan Good and fans are cutting up about it.

Lawson's dramatic reaction to Good's post left fans in stitches, prompting them to call out the behavior as "inappropriate" and telling him he should focus on himself instead of window shopping.

Two words written by Ms. Tina Knowles' ex-husband were captured by 'The Shade Room,' and went on to receive over 60K views in less than 2 hours.

Good, 43, was seen in the post strutting on the red carpet at the 2024 Ebony Power 100 List at Nya Studios on November 17, 2024, in Los Angeles, California. The actress showed off her dazzling gold gown, long flowing hair, and teased with a flirty smile, prompting Lawson to appear commenting: "MYYYY GODDDD."

"He better stick to finding out who killed his wife on that private road!" one fan wrote, seemingly referring to events which took place in the Tyler Perry Netflix series, 'Beauty in Black.' "This why auntie filed for divorce just embarrassing," a second said, regarding Ms. Tina's decision to divorce the actor. "Bianca, come get ya daddy," another poked, calling out to his daughter.

Though fans will always enjoy their fair share of trolling, it seems nothing can come between Good and her bae of two years, fellow actor Jonathan Majors. The couple, who met two years prior on the same carpet, returned to the gala to celebrate in a big way.

The 43-year-old star flaunted a blingy ring, unapologetically telling 'E! News' that the two finally plan on jumping the broom. "We're engaged!" the 'Think Like A Man' star exclaimed.

"We did two proposals," Good detailed. "We're going to keep it to ourselves, but it was very  I was very shocked, and it was wonderful. And I was like, 'Wait, are you serious, babe?' "

Meanwhile, 35-year-old Majors seems to be basking in her happiness, saying he doesn't "do anything by half."

The two linked romantically just months after Majors was arrested on domestic violence charges. That said, Good was spotted by his side for the majority of the process, and hasn't allowed his past to hinder her decision whatsoever.

"I take everyone's opinion and advice into account, for sure, but at the end of the day, I'm the one who has to live my life," Good said to Hoda Kotb during an appearance on 'TODAY' back in July.

"I'm the one who has to get to Heaven one day, prayerfully, and give God an account of what I did," the 'Harlem' actress declared. "So, I want to be responsible for the choices that I make. I also want to live the life that I want to live."
Who is Ed Gein? The real-life killer will be the next subject of Netflix's Monster after this fall's hit Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, with the upcoming season finding Sons of Anarchy's Charlie Hunnam in the role of Gein, the infamous "Butcher of Plainfield" whose murders inspired the villains of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, The Silence of the Lambs and more.

But who was Ed Gein, and what did he do?

This week, viewers got their first look at a nearly unrecognizable Hunnam in costume as Gein on the set of Monster in some recently snapped behind-the-scenes photos, per E! News.

For those unfamiliar with the details of the true-life American horror story, Ed Gein was a Midwest-based criminal and grave robber who first gained infamy in 1957 after initially being arrested for the murder of Bernice Worden, a hardware store owner who lived nearby in his hometown of Plainfield, Wisconsin.

FIRST LOOK at Charlie Hunnam as serial killer Ed Gein on the set of Ryan Murphys The Original Monster, coming to Netflix in 2025. pic.twitter.com/huYDria6CY  The AHS Zone (@AHSZone) November 20, 2024

But when authorities went to search Gein's farm, they found some horrifyingly gruesome evidence, as Grunge.com reported  including human remains made into household items and clothing that he had created from the bodies of people he exhumed from local graves.

Indeed, from all that was discovered, it appeared that Gein had harbored a disturbing obsession with anatomy and death, which was fueled by a reportedly troubled upbringing, especially a fraught relationship with his mother.

In the end, Gein was convicted of two murders  Worden and another victim named Mary Hogan. But his horrific crimes shocked the public and inspired several famous horror stories and characters, including Leatherface in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Buffalo Bill in The Silence of the Lambs and Norman Bates in Psycho.

Gein was declared mentally incompetent to stand trial initially and he spent much of his life in institutions. He was eventually tried in 1968, and found guilty, but insane, and he remained in custody until he died in 1984. He was 77.

As for Gein's onscreen portrayal in the Monster series, streaming TV fans first heard that Hunnam was cast as Gein back in September, per Us Weekly, which noted that the production was set to start on the new installment in October 2024.

That's certainly come to fruition, seeing as how the on-set photos of Hunnam in costume as Gein have leaked, giving Netflix subscribers a taste of what they will likely see in the upcoming season. Now all viewers have to do is wait to see what unfolds.

The Monster series first premiered on Netflix in 2022 with Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story before returning with Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. The imminent third season, featuring Hunnam as Gein, is called The Original Monster.
Sean "Diddy" Combs' legal team suggested house arrest at a luxurious Upper East Side apartment as they sought bail for the sex trafficking and racketeering accused hip-hop mogul, who was recently jailed in anticipation of his trial.

His request during a court hearing on Friday was the third time Diddy has sought to be released while his trial is pending.

According to The Daily Mail, Diddy's lawyers argued that the terms of the house arrest he could be subjected to would be even stricter than the ones he is currently under at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.

The defense argued he would live in a three-bedroom apartment with monitoring around the clock from two live-in security guards and a third guard downstairs. They listed conditions that stripped him of phone or internet access, aside from communication with his attorney.

"This is a very, very rigorous set of conditions," said Diddy's attorney Marc Agnifilo. "It is certainly tougher than his life in prison."

During the hearing, however, U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian was not convinced of that proposal.

He shot down the notion of Diddy doing house arrest at his $48.5 million Star Island home in Florida, adding, "That's not going to work."

The prosecutor, Christy Slavik, recommended not granting bail, as Diddy had allegedly tried to contact witnesses while he was in prison. She cited a birthday post from Diddy's children that went up on Instagram recently, saying that it had been arranged with him from jail and that he had made a mockery of the law.

"The defendant has demonstrated either he cannot or he will not follow rules," Slavik said. "The defendant, simply put, cannot be trusted."

During the hearing, evidence was introduced of a 2016 incident in which Diddy allegedly assaulted his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura.

According to Slavik, the incident is said to be part of a long history of violence and alleges that Diddy has been running a "decade-long criminal enterprise" that involved drug-fueled sex parties.

Meanwhile, Diddy has pleaded not guilty to all the allegations made against him and is set to appear in front of a jury in May 2025. However, his lawyers have applied to have the case dismissed. Previous requests for bail had been refused, including one for a $50 million bail package that involved all-hours monitoring.

Revoked Judge Subramanian then asked for more details to be provided about 'Diddy from prison' communications and has said it all needs to be done by November 25.

Diddy arrived in court in a prison-issued outfit, but he was not shackled after his lawyers argued such restraint would detract from the dignity of the court. He smiled when he noticed family members in the gallery, including his mother and several children.

While the fight continues in court, Diddy's lawyers are still looking for a way to get the house arrest proposal accepted so that he can wait for trial, not behind bars.
Alec Baldwin is set be at the Turin Film Festival in Italy to receive a special award for his career.

However, it is not for his recently released and controversial movie, "Rust."

Per THR, Baldwin is scheduled to arrive in Northern Italy on Monday to accept the Stella a Mole award at the festival. Each year, the festival presents the prestigious award to honor a filmmaker whose artistic creations focus on environmental and natural themes, previously known as "Movies Save the Planet."

Before the special screening of his 1990 movie "The Hunt for Red October," he will engage with the global press during a press conference.

Sharon Stone and Mathew Broderick are also set to be honored with a TFF career award.

This news comes as the A-list star deals with the aftermath of the tragic incident on the set of "Rust," which was resolved in August.

The "Boss Baby" actor accidentally fired a live round from a prop gun, leading cinematographer Halyna Hutchins' death and injuring director Joel Souza.

Despite Baldwin's absence, "Rust" premiered at the Camerimage Film Festival in Torun, Poland, and was met with a warm reception from the audience.

Souza and the appointed cinematographer Bianca Cline were present to witness the premiere and before the movie rolled, a moment of silence was held to pay tribute to Hutchins.

The director emphasized how crucial it is for audiences to see beyond the tragic events surrounding Hutchins. He wanted viewers to appreciate her as a person and to experience the world through her unique perspective.

"That's one of the nice things about movies. You could sort of see the world the way the people who made it see it," the director stated. "The cinematography is stunning and I hope people can appreciate that."
Saturday, November 23, 2024

Commentary by Edward Segal, author of Crisis Ahead: 101 Ways to Prepare for and Bounce Back from Disasters, Scandals, and Other Emergencies.

President-elect Donald Trump's plans to follow through on his campaign pledge to address the immigration crisis by deporting millions of immigrants would spawn a variety of crisis situations for companies and organizations, according to experts and observers.

Ripple Effects

The ripple effects of a mass deportation would include labor shortages in agriculture, construction, hospitality, and other industries, according to Usha Haley, the W. Frank Barton Distinguished Chair in International Business and a professor of management at the Barton School of Business at Wichita State University.

"By some estimates there [are] about 11.3 million immigrants in the USA without legal statusthat is, about 22% of all immigrantsare illegally here, the highest proportion of any country in the world. Clearly, this is a problem. But so are the costs of deportation and meeting them will result in trade offs," she explained in an email interview.

Deporting millions of immigrants would also hurt the economy.

"By one estimate from an immigration policy group, GDP could shrink by $1.1 trillion to $1.7 trillion, but in his recent comments Trump has also said his plan will bring more businesses into the country and the U.S. needs more workers to grow," CNN reported.

Impact On Tech Sector

A "mass deportation would create an immediate crisis in the tech sector, where immigrant talent drives innovation," Bethany Plaza, CEO of two technology companies, warned via email.

The deportation would also hamper the country's efforts to compete in key areas.

"In my role leading global IT teams, I've seen firsthand how diverse talent pools accelerate technological advancement and market competitiveness. The loss of immigrant workers would critically impact our ability to compete globally in emerging technologies like AI and robotics," she pointed out.

On The Hot Seat

The mass deportation of immigrants would put many business leaders in the hot seat.

"There will be demands for companies to speak out against mass deportation from an ethical and diversity/race perspective" that could impact corporate reputations, Elle Arlook, who leads an equity and justice practice at APCO, a global advisory and advocacy firm, predicted in an email interview.

Steps For Business Leaders

In anticipation of Trump's promised mass deportation of immigrants, business leaders should take the following steps, according to Andrew Lokenauth, founder of The Finance Newsletter, advised via email.

Analyze Workforce Exposure

"Closely examine what percentage of your workforce is immigrant, which roles they fill, and how critical they are to operations."

Develop Contingency Plans

"Have backup plans to replace lost workers through retaining, recruitment drives, automating roles, relocating operations, etc."

Advocate Policy Positions

"Get involved with lobbying for immigration policies that protect your sectors and communities. A pragmatic approach is needed."

Strengthen Training Programs

"Ramp up training to enable quick upskilling of replacement workers if deportations occur."

Diversify Hiring Sources

"Cast a wide geographic net when recruiting to build fallback labor pools in multiple regions."

Reduced Consumer Spending

"In a less-discussed impact, a shrinking immigrant population would reduce consumer spending in major urban centers, impacting local businesses and driving down demand. Leaders should diversify their customer base now to buffer against potential sales declines," Idan Ohayon, a certified financial planner who specializes in analyzing market impacts from regulatory and demographic shifts, noted in an email message.

Filling The Void

Training workers to fill the vacancies left by deported immigrants might help to take up some of the slack.

"Partnering with workforce development agencies for training can ensure a steady talent pipeline. This approach will help businesses stay agile and resilient if faced with these demographic shifts," Ohayon recommended.

No Guarantees

"Americans generally agree that immigrantswhether undocumented or living legally in the countrymostly do not work in jobs that U.S. citizens want, with a majority saying so across racial and ethnic groups and among both political parties," according to a 2020 Pew Research Center Survey.

But there is no guarantee that US workers would want to fill all of the vacated jobs.

"This is particularly true when it comes to undocumented immigrants. About three-quarters of adults (77%) say undocumented immigrants mostly fill jobs U.S. citizens do not want, while 21% say undocumented immigrants fill jobs U.S. citizens would like to have," the survey's report said.



Next Steps For Businesses

If they have not already done so, companies should confirm that their crisis management plans include how mass deportation scenarios would impact their organizations.

"HR and corporate communications leaders should be scenario planning now to determine if and how they'll engage in the issue areas that are sure to land on their doorsteps in this next administration," APCO's Arlook recommended.

Going forward, business leaders should carefully consider the potential ripple effects of any steps they take to mitigate the impact of the deportation of immigrantsor other crisis situationsand ensure that that their actions do not make a bad situation worse, or create new crisis situations.

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Fairfield, MT (59436)

Today

Mainly cloudy with a mixture of rain and snow showers developing during the afternoon. High 44F. SW winds at less than 5 mph, increasing to 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. Low 29F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph.
The so-called 'family farm tax' is the most unpopular measure in the governments recent autumn budget, new polling of the public has found.

Data commissioned by the NFU has shown Labour is not trusted by its 2024 voters on issues surrounding the impact of the budget on farmers.

The survey, undertaken by over 1,000 people and carried out by Portland this week, shows that changes to inheritance taxation on farms are unpopular.

Public perceptions that the Labour Party does not value rural voters as highly as urban ones are also building.

The data shows that two thirds (65%) of Brits do not think that the government has fully considered the impact of its planned changes on family farms.

In the days since the budget, the NFU has repeatedly said to Treasury that its figures justifying the tax are wrong and will 'devastate family farms, putting many out of business'.

The government own figures suggests that 27% of farms will be affected by changes to inheritance tax (IHT), namely agriculture property relief (APR).

However, the NFU has warned that more farms will be impacted, with its own data showing 75% of farms stand to be above the 1m family farm tax threshold.

New polling, released today (23 November), shows the British public agree with the union, with only 27% supporting the family farm tax.

Other results show that IHT on farms is the joint most unpopular measure in the budget, tied with changes to pensions.

Two thirds of the public do not think that the government has fully considered the impact of its planned changes on family farms.

IHT on farms is ranked the second least popular budget measure among 2024 Labour voters, with (21%) picking it, fractionally less unpopular than IHT on pension pots (22%).

And nearly half of 2024 Labour voters think that either IHT on farms and businesses is unfair, with only 11% saying IHT on farms was among their most favoured budget measures.

NFU President Tom Bradshaw said he was not surprised by this data: "It shows the level of support for British farmers from people across the country," he said.

"Unfortunately for this new government, it also shows that, on the issue of changes to Inheritance Tax to working family farms, the majority of people are with us and believe this an unfair move.

From the work we have done with financial experts formerly of the Treasury and Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), we know 75% of farms could be impacted by changes to APR and business property relief (BPR).

"While the two go hand in hand, for many working farms, the Treasury has chosen not to count this as part of its planned inheritance tax changes."

Mr Bradshaw said this 'skewed' the impact the changes would have, resulting in the 'confusion and uncertainty which has played out in the media in recent days'.

It follows 1,800 farmers joining the NFU during its mass lobby of MPs earlier this week, which was undertaken at the same time as more than 10,000 farmers were rallying on the streets of Westminster.

Fears are rising that without changes, farmers will be forced to sell off parts or all their farm businesses to pay huge tax bills, with added cost for pensions.

All this puts additional costs to food producing businesses which are already operating on paper thin margins, Mr Bradshaw warned.

He said: "Together with changes to the National Live Wage and National Insurance, I cant see a scenario where food prices dont rise, at a time when the public have already been hammered by a cost-of-living crisis.

My message to government is clear; look at the evidence, stop this family farm tax and show your electorate youre on their side.
A judge has rejected Sean Diddy Combs' proposal for house arrest on his private island in Florida.

Judge rejects Diddy's house arrest proposal

Attorneys for the 55-year-old rapper - who is currently languishing in a New York jail awaiting trial on sex trafficking and racketeering charges - proposed in a court hearing on Friday (22.11.24) that Diddy could be detained at his house on Star Island in Florida.

However, according to Us Weekly, US District Judge Arun Subramanian rejected the idea stating, That is not going to work.

Diddy's team then made an alternative suggestion, asking if the rapper could be placed under house arrest at his Upper East Side apartment.

They offered to have 24/7 security with two guards in the three-bedroom property with Diddy and an additional guard stationed downstairs.

They went on to suggest this set-up would be substantially more restrictive than the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center, where he is currently residing.

This was Diddys fourth time seeking bail and a decision is set to be made next week.

Combs has been behind bars after facing a September indictment on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution, with his criminal trial set for May 2025.

Earlier this month, he was also hit with five complaints of sexual misconduct, from clients represented by attorney Tony Buzbee.

Buzbee had announced that he was representing more than 100 clients who say they were the victims of Combs.

Combs has denied committing any sexual abuse and his attorneys said after the first flood of complaints filed by Mr Buzbees clients Combs cannot address every meritless allegation in what has become a reckless media circus.

They stressed he emphatically denies sexually abusing anyone.
Despite being one of the European Unions (EU) key apparel suppliers, most garment workers in Bangladesh earn wages far below what is needed to cover basic living expenses, according to Stockholm-based Swedwatch.

The recent rise in the national minimum wagefrom 8,000 taka to 12,500 taka (94) per monthstill leaves workers earning only 38 per cent of what would be considered a living wage, it said in a brief.

This means that essential needs like food, adequate housing, healthcare, and education for their children remain unaffordable for many, reinforcing cycles of debt and exploitation, it noted.

Despite being one of the EU's key apparel suppliers and a recent rise in the national minimum wage, most garment workers in Bangladesh earn wages far below what is needed to cover basic living expenses, according to Stockholm-based Swedwatch. The non-profit called on global brands and EU policymakers to take coordinated action to improve wages and conditions for garment workers.

Moreover, low wages leave workers no option but to accept overtime, yet diminishing demand has meant such opportunities have become scarce. This forces workers to shoulder excessive production targets within their standard shifts.

Womencomprising the majority of the workforceface an additional burden, as they not only earn less than their male counterparts, but also juggle long working hours and caregiving responsibilities at home, the independent, non-profit research organisation striving to empower rights holders and to promote responsible business practices observed.

Swedwatch has identified two main systemic issues that perpetuate low wages in the sector. First, workers in Bangladesh lack the bargaining power needed to secure better wages. This is due to weak enforcement of labour laws and significant barriers to unionisation.

Workers who try to organise often face intimidation, violence or dismissal. Even when unions are established, they are frequently perceived as corrupt and ineffective, leaving workers without a platform to demand fair pay and better conditions.

The second, according to the non-profit, is unsustainable purchasing practices by global buyers sourcing from Bangladesh that exacerbates the problem. Brands frequently pressure suppliers to lower prices and shorten production deadlinesa practice known as price squeezing. These demands force suppliers to cut costs, often at the expense of workers wages and well-being.

The non-profit called on global brands and EU policymakers to take coordinated action to improve wages and conditions for garment workers.

For global brands, aligning due diligence efforts with international standards like the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Companies is a critical first step. This includes ensuring that their purchasing practices support living wages rather than suppress them.

Engaging meaningfully with workers and trade unions, establishing confidential grievance mechanisms, and implementing living wage benchmarks are all measures that brands can adopt to drive positive change, it recommended.

Rather than cutting ties with non-compliant suppliers, brands should work collaboratively with them to improve conditions and offer financial support when needed.

On the policy side, EU member states have an opportunity to improve shortcomings in the recently adopted Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) by setting clear obligations for fair purchasing practices.

Broadening the scope of the directive to include more companies, strengthening enforcement mechanisms, and providing clear guidance to help companies support living wages are essential steps.

Policymakers can also ensure that these measures explicitly require brands to develop ethical purchasing policies that prioritize fair wages for workers in their supply chains, the non-profit added.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 22, 2024) - DEFENCE THERAPEUTICS INC. (CSE: DTC) (OTCQB: DTCFF) (FSE: DTC) ("Defence" or the "Company"), a Canadian biopharmaceutical company developing radiopharmaceuticals and ADC products using its proprietary platform and drug delivery technologies in addition to novel immune-oncology vaccines, announces that it has closed its offering of unsecured convertible debentures (the "New Debentures") for aggregate gross proceeds of CAD$1,476,000 (the "Offering") in consideration for the settlement of the principal amounts owing to holders of the Previous Debentures (as defined below) (the "Outstanding Debt").

The New Debentures were issued pursuant to a non-brokered private placement, bear interest at the rate of 8.0% per annum, are subject to the Conversion Event (as defined below), and mature on November 16, 2025 (the "Maturity Date"). Each New Debenture is unsecured and rank pari passu in right of payment of principal and interest with all the existing and future unsecured indebtedness of the Company. The principal amount of each New Debenture is convertible at the option of the holder into common shares in the capital of the Company (the "Common Shares") at a price of $0.60 per Common Share at any time up to and including the Maturity Date (the "Conversion Event"). Assuming each New Debentures holder exercises their respective Conversion Event, the Company would issue an aggregate total of 2,460,000 Common Shares to the holders thereof. In connection with the Offering, 123,000 Common Shares were issued to an arm's length finder (the "Finder"), representing five percent (5%) of the total number of Common Shares that could be issued pursuant to the Offering.

The Outstanding Debt was incurred in connection with the Previous Debentures that were underlying previously issued units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of $1,000 per Unit on November 16, 2022. Each Unit consisted of: (i) one $1,000 principal amount 8.0% convertible debenture (the "Previous Debenture"), and (ii) 636 common share purchase warrants.

In connection with the settlement of the Previous Debentures, the total accrued interest owing on the Previous Debentures in the amount of approximately $251,200 was also settled - via the conversion of such outstanding and accrued interest into Common Shares at a price per share equal to $0.57 per share, resulting in the issuance of 440,697 Common Shares (the "Interest Settlement").

All securities issued in connection with the Offering (including the Common Shares issued to the Finder) and the Interest Settlement are subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus a day in accordance with applicable securities legislation.

The proceeds raised from the Offering were fully used to settle the Outstanding Debt and there no obligations related to the Previous Debentures outstanding.

About Defence:

Defence Therapeutics is a publicly-traded clinical-stage biotechnology company developing and engineering the next generation of radio-immuno-conjugate and ADC products using its proprietary platform in addition to novel immune-oncology vaccines. The core of Defence Therapeutics platform is the ACCUM technology, which enables precision delivery of radio-immuno-conjugates or ADCs in their intact form to target cells, and vaccine antigens. As a result, increased efficacy and potency can be reached against catastrophic illness such as cancer and infectious diseases.

Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information

All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include regulatory actions, market prices, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

Neither the CSE nor its market regulator, as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE, accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/231137

SOURCE: Defence Therapeutics Inc.
TIANJIN, China, Nov. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- 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.

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.

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 a timely initiative that aligns perfectly with Ethiopia's vision for global collaboration and looked forward to strengthening partnership with China, whose remarkable achievements in skills development offer valuable lessons for Africa's journey.

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.

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SINGAPORE, Nov. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The thriving India-Singapore partnership in banking and technology reached a new milestone as Nucleus Software celebrated 30 years of transformative innovation at Synapse 2024, held in Singapore. The event underscored the company's role in redefining financial services across Southeast Asia (SEA) and the globe, bringing together leaders in finance and technology to explore a shared vision for the future of banking.

Synapse 2024 celebrated 30 years of Nucleus Software's leadership in driving transformative change across Singapore and Southeast Asia's financial ecosystem. The event also shone a spotlight on the Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN), an initiative supported by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to champion responsible technology adoption. The event highlighted the deepening synergies between India and Singapore, driven by their shared commitment to innovation, cross-border collaboration, and financial inclusion. As the financial services sector undergoes rapid evolution with advancements in artificial intelligence, blockchain, and digital banking, these partnerships are setting the stage for a more connected, resilient, and inclusive global ecosystem.

Vishnu R. Dusad, Co-founder and Managing Director of Nucleus Software, reflected on the milestone: "For over 30 years, we've had the privilege of aligning our journey with Singapore's ascent as a global financial powerhouse. Back in 1994, when we chose to go East instead of West, it was a bold and emotional decision-guided by our belief in Singapore as a hub for innovation and collaboration. We saw then what remains true today: Singapore is at the heart of the global financial landscape, a place where new ideas take root, and partnerships thrive."

The event brought together a distinguished array of participants, highlighting the transformative potential of India-Singapore collaboration. Mr. Piyush Gupta, CEO of DBS Group and the Guest of Honor, set the tone for the event with his opening remarks, emphasizing the transformative role of big tech in reimagining scalable, customer-centric financial services in the digital age.

Following his address, key speakers enriched the discussions with their insights. Mr. Sopnendu Mohanty, Chief Fintech Officer at the Monetary Authority of Singapore and Group CEO-Designate of The Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN), underlined the importance of fostering responsible technology adoption and building inclusive financial ecosystems. Mr. Vinod Rai, globally respected public policy expert, Distinguished Visiting Research Fellow at the National University of Singapore, and former Comptroller and Auditor General of India, shared his perspectives on governance and policy frameworks in financial systems. Mr. S.M. Acharya, Chairman of Nucleus Software and former Defence Secretary of India, offered a visionary outlook on leveraging technology to modernize and secure banking frameworks. Finally, Mr. Pieter Franken, Co-founder and Director of GFTN (Japan), a global FinTech pioneer and deep tech innovator, discussed the future of decentralized finance and its implications for the financial sector.

The event showcased the transformative role of technology in global financial systems, emphasizing innovations that set benchmarks for scalability and inclusivity. Panelists discussed the importance of localized solutions, the challenges of cross-border integration, and leveraging dual business models to optimize capital and foster public participation. The dialogue highlighted the need for common standards, unified frameworks like APIs, and collaborative efforts to accelerate financial inclusion and drive global connectivity in the digital age.

For 30 years, Nucleus Software has consistently introduced advanced lending and banking solutions that support financial institutions' evolving needs in Singapore and South East Asia. Driven by lean development methodologies like Acceptance Test-Driven Development (ATDD) and Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CICD), Nucleus Software continues to push boundaries in efficient, flexible, and secure financial technology.

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Lao president meets Chinese defense minister

Xinhua) 10:35, November 23, 2024

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.

(Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Kou Jie)
The beachgoers had no idea of the risk they were in while sitting on the sand as a deadly brown snake headed their way.

The deadly snake was spotted metres away from beachgoers in Perth. Source: TikTok/sarahbrunners

It's a well-travelled tale that Aussies move through their days narrowly dodging the wrath of its many deadly animals, but one recent sighting at a popular beach hasn't helped curb such beliefs.

While a group of chilled-out beachgoers lounged in the sun at Spinifex North Beach in Perth last week, one of the deadliest snakes in the world could be seen making its way along the sand only metres away, slithering up and down and going in and out of vision.

The snake was a western brown  with its venom so potent it can cause death in less than half an hour.

Deadly snakes spend 'entire lives metres away from people'

These snakes are common along the west coast of Australia and often go unnoticed despite often "living their entire lives metres away from people and are rarely seen".

Brown snakes spend their 'entire lives' near beachgoers but largely go unnoticed. Source: TikTok/sarahbrunners

The species often spend time at the beach as it is full of "rodents and lizards", which are an "ideal food source for brown snakes", snake catcher and reptile expert Mathew Hampton told Yahoo News.

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"Brown snakes are the most adaptable of Aussie snakes, so they live in highly modified and trafficked areas such as beaches without an issue," he said. "The only time they are usually noticed is when they stray a little too far from the cover of the tree line and they can end up in some risky locations like amongst swimmers."

Although western brown snakes are considered less aggressive than their eastern cousin, they are fast-moving and nervous in temperament and are part of the group of snakes that cause the most fatalities in the country, according to Australian Geographic.

Around 3,000 snake bites are reported each year in the country, with 41 per cent from brown snakes. Fatalities are relatively low with two deaths reported each year on average, however the majority of those are from brown snakes.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Will Blockchain Regulation Evolve?

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / November 22, 2024 / Dubai recently hosted two monumental events in the blockchain sphere: Binance Blockchain Week and the TON Gateway event. These gatherings marked a pivotal moment for decentralized finance (DeFi), underscoring Dubai's growing role as a hub for blockchain innovation.

Binance Blockchain Week: CZ Returns

Binance Blockchain Week drew global attention, with thousands attending to hear from Changpeng Zhao (CZ), CEO of Binance, who recently emerged from legal battles in the West. Released on September 27, 2024, CZ was greeted as a hero by an enthusiastic audience eager to reconnect with one of blockchain's most influential leaders.

During his keynote, CZ shared anecdotes about his legal experiences, including prison guards asking for cryptocurrency investment tips. His presence underscored Binance's transformation from a disruptor to a major player in the global financial ecosystem. While Western regulators have imposed strict measures on DeFi leaders, Dubai's open regulatory stance provided a platform for CZ to discuss blockchain's future freely.

The event highlighted the stark contrast between regulatory environments. Dubai fosters innovation through supportive regulations, offering industry leaders like CZ a space to collaborate and envision the next chapter of financial decentralization. In the West, by contrast, enforcement-heavy actions have cast a shadow over figures like CZ, underscoring a broader ideological divide in how blockchain is regulated globally.

TON Gateway: Creativity and Community

The TON Gateway event spotlighted a creative frontier in blockchain, introducing *Memelandia*, a blockchain-based "war" among memecoins. This imaginative project exemplifies TON's efforts to expand blockchain applications beyond traditional finance, attracting a vibrant community of enthusiasts.

Originally developed by Telegram founder Pavel Durov, TON has evolved into a platform for innovation and expression. Despite legal scrutiny surrounding Durov, the community's excitement for *Memelandia* and TON's capabilities reaffirmed its potential as a hub for culture, creativity, and financial technology.

A Tale of Two Regulatory Worlds

The events highlighted regulatory contrasts shaping blockchain's future. Dubai's open, innovation-driven approach contrasts sharply with the West's stringent regulations, often targeting DeFi leaders. This divergence reflects deeper ideological differences: Dubai views blockchain as a tool for economic growth, while Western regulators prioritize oversight and consumer protection.

Figures like CZ and Durov symbolize the tension between these frameworks. Their legal challenges are more than personal struggles-they represent a clash between decentralized financial autonomy and traditional governance.

Dubai's Role as a Catalyst

Dubai is now a global blockchain leader by fostering an environment conducive to innovation. Institutions like the Dubai Blockchain Center actively support decentralized technology, attracting startups and industry leaders alike. These efforts make Dubai a key player in shaping the global DeFi conversation.

A Historic Moment

The energy at these events underscored blockchain's transformative potential. Leaders like CZ and Durov, projects like *Memelandia*, and the enthusiastic crowds reflected a shared vision of financial autonomy and innovation.

As regulatory landscapes diverge, the world watches to see how DeFi will evolve. For Dubai, these events solidified its status as a beacon of progress, offering a glimpse into the future of decentralized finance and digital freedom.

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Discussions on future role of science continue in Indonesia in 2026

BUDAPEST, Hungary, Nov. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The 11th World Science Forum, held in Budapest, Hungary, on 20-23 November, ended with a declaration accepted by the founding and partner organizations and participants of WSF2024. The next Forum will be held in Jakarta, Indonesia, in 2026 and be titled "Science for Global Resilience and Equity".





The WSF2024 declaration calls for efficient, trusted and creative science and policy interfaces, responding to disruptive global transformations.

"Our world is under rapid transformation and facing an uncertain future. Extraordinary scientific and technological advances are at odds with inadequate progress on addressing the challenges of climate change and most of the Sustainable Development Goals, a growing number of conflicts, rising inequalities and the emergence of rapidly evolving and disruptive technologies," the declaration states. "We urgently need to broaden scientific understanding and to promote evidence-based, science-informed and long-term thinking and decision-making."

The World Science Forum was created by three founding organisations, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences - hosting of the 2024 event - the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the International Science Council (ISC), and partner organisations the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP), and the European Academies' Science Advisory Council (EASAC).

"Science as a universal language is the evidence-based tool for understanding our world and its future. It should guide society, policymakers, and the economy on risks, opportunities, and choices. [] We recognise the evolving role of science diplomacy in bringing together science and policy to address these challenges and promote science for peace," the declaration highlights.

Titled "A Science and Policy Interface and Dialogue at the Time of Global Transformations", WSF2024 attracted 1,200 delegates from 122 countries, who joined 100 lectures in 19 plenary and thematic sessions over four days, with the aim to overcome the limits of wide-scale implementation of science-based policy measures on a global level.

The full text of the declaration can be found here: https://worldscienceforum.org/contents/draft-declaration-of-the-11th-world-science-forum-110170

The Steering Committee of WSF selected the application by the National Research and Innovation Agencyof Indonesia to host the next World Science Forum in Jakarta in 2026, taking the Forum for the first time to Asia and the Eastern Hemisphere.

Media Contact:

Gabor Jelinek

Gabor.Jelinek@mindgeer.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cced1f60-7d57-451f-bf19-d34a662d60f0
DHAKA, Bangladesh, Nov. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- With the popularity of electric vehicles in Bangladesh, the globally renowned AIMA brand has also arrived in Bangladesh. The esteemed DX Group has brought the AIMA F-626 to customers. This environmentally friendly battery-operated electric motorbike has already been approved by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) now.

In light of the increasing popularity of electric motorcycles in the country, the internationally-leading brand AIMA has entered the market. By the end of 2023, AIMA electric two-wheelers had established a presence in over 50 countries worldwide, with 11 global production bases, including overseas factories in Indonesia and Vietnam. In 2022, AIMA collaborated with Rob Janoff, the designer of the Apple logo, to refresh the brand's VI system with a youthful and fashionable image. In 2023, AIMA teamed up with PANTONE, the global authority in color expertise, to create the trending color of the year. As an industry leader, AIMA spearheads the electric two-wheeler sector and showcases the prowess of a leading electric two-wheeler brand on a global scale. As of March 31, 2024, AIMA's total electric two-wheeler sales had reached 80 million units, earning certification from Frost & Sullivan, a globally recognized business growth consulting firm, as the "Global Leading Electric Two-wheeler Brand".

Over the years, AIMA has always been a product trendsetter in the electric two-wheeler sector. As of March 31, 2024, the total sales volume of AIMA electric two-wheelers reached 80 million, and Frost & Sullivan, a world-renowned market consulting company, awarded AIMA with the market status certification of the "Global Leading Electric Two-wheeler Brand (by Sales)".

AIMA adhere to the customer-centered product philosophy and technologies that support long-term innovation and breakthroughs. We believe that the efficiency and modern technology of the AIMA F-626 will present an excellent alternative means of communication for our customers.

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The US administration, under outgoing President Joe Biden, had been raising alarms that TikTok could be compelled to share user data with the Chinese government. The company denies this claim read more

TikTok has reportedly sought advice from Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of the competing social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), and a close associate of President-elect Donald Trump, as it navigates challenges in the United States.

Shou Chew, TikToks CEO, is said to have reached out to Musk in recent weeks, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources familiar with the matter.

Leadership at TikToks parent company, ByteDance, a Chinese tech firm, views Musk as a potential intermediary to the incoming administration. This comes as the app faces mounting pressure over national security concerns, including the possibility of a US ban.

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TikToks troubles in the US

The US administration, under outgoing President Joe Biden, had been raising alarms that TikTok could be compelled to share user data with the Chinese government. The company denies this claim.

The issue has gathered more steam with the passage of the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, signed into law by Biden in April this year.

Under the law, ByteDance must divest its US operations of TikTok by January 19, 2025, or face an outright ban. The legislation aims to limit risks associated with foreign-controlled apps, which lawmakers say could endanger American users privacy and national security.

TikTok has responded by suing the federal government. The companys legal challenge, TikTok v. Garland, argues that the divestiture mandate violates its First Amendment rights, as well as those of its users.

A court ruling is expected before the deadline January deadline.

Which way is Trump leaning?

Trumps politics around TikTok has shifted. The Republican, who previously sought to ban the app during his first term, has signalled opposition to the looming ban, according to advisers.

Trump now cites the platforms popularity and potential economic benefits as reasons to reconsider.

President-elect Trump is set to be sworn into office on January 20. Just a day after the ban deadline.

TikTok is likely betting on Musks mediation to avoid, or possibly reverse this potential ban when the next administration comes into power.

With inputs from agencies
Mohini Dey has dismissed these rumours through Instagram and urged for privacy read more

Recently AR Rahman announced his separation from wife Saira Banu after 29 years of marriage. Hours after this, composers bassist Mohini Dey revealed her divorce from husband Mark Hurtsuch.

Soon, we saw the unnecessary connection between these announcements grabbed headlines across social media platforms.

Now, Mohini has dismissed these rumours through Instagram and urged for privacy. Ive been getting a humongous amount of requests for interviews, and I know exactly what its about. I have to respectfully turn each one down because I am not interested in fueling into ABSOLUTE BS," she wrote.

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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

I believe my energy is not worth spending on RUMOURS. Kindly, respect my privacy," she added.

While Rahmans legal team denied any connection, the composers son AR Ameen also reacted to the controversy, calling it baseless. He wrote on Instagram, My father is a legend, not just for his incredible contributions but for the values, respect, and love he has earned over the years. Its disheartening to see false and baseless rumours being spread."

Let us all remember the importance of truth and respect when speaking about someones life and legacy," he added.

There is no connection at all. Saira and Mr. Rahman made this decision independently, lawyer Vandana Shah told Republic TV, Rahmans legal representative. She denied the bassists involvement in the divorce of the music composer.

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Amid the separation, an old interview of AR Rahman has surfaced online, where he spoke about how he met his wife. Talking to Nasreen Munni Kabir for her book A.R. Rahman: The Spirit of Music, he said, In 1994, when I was about twenty-seven, I decided that it was time to get married. For some reason, I started to feel old. (smiles) My mother and my sister Fathima saw Saira for the first time at the shrine of the Sufi saint Moti Baba in Chennai. It was all very easy."
The Mahayuti is set to return to power in Maharashtra, with a thumping victory. The BJP is itself winning over 100 seats, while its allies Shiv Sena and NCP have also performed well. Now, the question on everyones mind is: Who will be the next chief minister? With multiple options, it may not be an easy decision read more

The Mahayuti has to now decide its CM face for Maharashtra. File Photo/PTI

The Mahayuti is poised to return to power in Maharashtra, with the alliance comfortably crossing the halfway mark in the 288-member Assembly. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which contested 149 seats, is winning over 100 seats itself.

Its Mahayuti partners  Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar-headed Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)  have also put on a good show. The big question that now arises is: Who will be the chief minister of Maharashtra?

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While the Mahayuti and its rival, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), had not projected a CM face before the Maharashtra Assembly elections, it is now time for the BJP-led alliance to pick its candidate for the top post.

With multiple contenders, it would not be an easy feat.

Lets take a look.

Maharashtra Assembly election results

The BJP has won five seats and is leading in 124 seats, as per the Election Commission of India (ECI) trends at 2.20 pm.

Shindes Sena has bagged three seats and is ahead in another 53, while Ajit Pawars NCP has clinched two and is leading in 37 seats.

The Mahayuti currently seems to be winning 224 of the 288 Assembly seats, easily surpassing the 145-seat majority mark in the Assembly.

The MVA, comprising the Congress, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) or Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) or NCP (SP), is staring at a humiliating defeat. The Congress is ahead in 20 seats, the Shiv Sena (UBT) is leading in19 seats and the NCP (SP) has got one and has an edge in 11 seats, as per the latest EC trends.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) are leading in two seats each.

Two Independents are also likely to win. Some smaller parties are leading in one seat each.

A big turnaround for Mahayuti

The Maharashtra Assembly election results have come as a shot in the arm for the Mahayuti.

Just a few months back, the BJP-led grouping had delivered a dismal performance in the Lok Sabha polls. The saffron party bagged only nine of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, while its allies Shiv Sena and NCP were victorious in seven and one seats, respectively.

In a spectacular performance, the INDIA bloc had clinched 30 out of 48 Lok Sabha seats.

Now, the tables have turned and how.

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The Mahayuti is set for a comeback in Maharashtra, while the MVA has suffered a stunning rout. The Congress, which lost Haryana earlier, will be subjected to intense scrutiny. Riding high on the Lok Sabha show, the Congress had bargained hard during seat-sharing talks for the Assembly polls.

While the Grand Old Party fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT) gave tickets to 95 candidates and NCP (SP) to 86.

The Congress could face the ire of its alliance partners, besides attacks from the ruling BJP.

For Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar, the setback comes after splits in their parties. Do the Assembly results mean that voters have answered the question of real Shiv Sena and NCP?

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It looks like that.

ALSO READ: Explained: 5 Maha factors that led to Mahayutis win in Maharashtra

Who will be Mahayutis CM?

It is a celebratory time for the Mahayuti. The alliance has stormed back to power in a crucial state. It has to now decide who will be the next Maharashtra Chief Minister.

With the BJP set to emerge as the largest party in the Assembly, it has a strong claim to the CM post. As the results trickle in, saffron party leaders have started batting for  return to the top post.

Fadnavis served as the Maharashtra CM between 2014 and 2019. Ahead of the 2019 Assembly results, the BJP, which was in alliance with the then undivided Shiv Sena of Uddhav Thackeray, had fought the polls with him as the CM face.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde along with Deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar during a press conference, in Mumbai, October 16, 2024. File Photo/PTI

The saffron party had emerged as the single-largest party with 105 seats, while the undivided Sena got 56 seats. Complications cropped up due to differences over the CM post, with Thackeray claiming an understanding with the BJP over the rotational chief ministership. The claim was denied by the saffron party.

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Amid the dispute, the undivided Sena joined hands with the Congress and the then undivided NCP led by Sharad Pawar to form the MVA government. Uddhav Thackeray became the CM of the coalition government but remained in the post for only two-and-a-half years as Shinde rebelled and split the Shiv Sena.

Shinde, along with 41 of the 56 Sena MLAs, forged an alliance with the BJP, forming the government in Maharashtra.

Fadnavis was seen as the mastermind behind Shindes rebellion. It was a surprise when he had to step aside to make way for Shinde to become the Maharashtra CM. While the BJP leader wanted to stay away from the government, the partys top leadership reportedly persuaded him to join Shindes government and Fadnavis had to take the role of his deputy.

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After the Lok Sabha poll debacle in June, the BJP leader had offered to resign as Deputy CM but his request was denied.

Now, Fadnavis is among the frontrunners for the Maharashtra CM post.

BJP MLC Pravin Darekar has backed him as the next chief minister. Based on the current trends, I believe that the BJP will be the single largest party and Devendra Fadnavis should become the chief minister. The election was contested under his leadership, and he called for a dharma yuddha in these Assembly polls, he told reporters earlier.

When asked about the incumbent CM Shinde, Darekar replied, As part of the alliance, the party that secures the most seats will be entitled to the post of Chief Minister.

Voices from Shiv Sena are calling for Shindes return to the top post, crediting his governments welfare policies for Mahayutis remarkable comeback.

Shiv Sena Lok Sabha MP and Eknath Shindes son Shrikant Shinde said, The Ladki Bahin Yojana did the magic. Sisters stood strongly behind their brothers. People have shown who is taking Balasahebs [Thackeray] ideals forward. He said the state has endorsed CM Shindes work.

Thanking the voters, Eknath Shinde said no decision has been taken yet on the CM pick, adding that three partners will sit together to take a call.

He, along with Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, will interact with the media at Shindes official residence Varsha at 3 pm.

Ajit Pawars party is hoping he will be the next CM. Ahead of the results, his party leader had put up a poster in Pune depicting him as the CM, which was taken down later.

Rajya Sabha MP and Ajit Pawars wife Sunetra Pawar thanked the people of Baramati for giving the mandate in favour of her husband. She also proposed his name for the CM post, saying she desires him to be the CM, just like the public.

During the campaigning, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said that the three partners will sit together to decide the next CM. However, he also mentioned earlier that the people wanted the return of the Mahayuti and Fadnavis.

There is growing support for Fadnavis to take over as the CM, with many leaders of his party and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) believing he was made to sacrifice the CMs post in 2022 to make way for Shinde, noted Indian Express. This time, things could be different, given the BJPs best strike rate among other Mahayuti allies.

But will Shinde and Pawar listen and compromise over the CM post? Or is the BJP staring at another 2019? Only time has all the answers.

With inputs from agencies
From being arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in January in an alleged land scam case and resigning as chief minister to getting bail from the Jharkhand High Court, returning as chief minister and leading the Indi Alliance in Jharkhand to victory, 2024 has been Hemant Sorens comeback year. Lets take a look back at what happened and how he did it read more

Hemant Soren has been vindicated.

From being arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in January in an alleged land scam case and resigning as chief minister to getting bail from the Jharkhand High Court, returning as chief minister and leading the Indi Alliance in Jharkhand to victory, 2024 has been Sorens comeback year.

Soren is now set to return as Chief Minister of Jharkhand at the helm of the JMM-led alliance.

But it hasnt been easy.

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Lets take a closer look at how the year unfolded for Soren.

Arrest by ED and jail

Sorens year got off to an ominous start.

Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate after spending several hours facing questions about money laundering charges in an alleged land fraud case.

Soren, prior to his arrest, had already tendered his resignation as Jharkhand chief minister to Governor CP Radhakrishnan at the Raj Bhavan.

Sources claimed 48-year-old Soren had been evasive in his replies during his questioning.

Soren was taken into custody under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Catch up on all the live updates from the here

The allegations of money laundering against the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader pertained to the alleged illegal possession of certain immovable assets apart from his purported links with members of the land mafia.

The central probe agency claimed the investigation is linked to a huge racket of illegal change of ownership of land by the mafia in Jharkhand.

Soren was sent to jail in February after his 13-day stint in the custody of the Enforcement Directorate ended.

He was kept in judicial custody at Ranchis Birsa Munda Central Jail.

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Then, a fresh blow for Soren came when his sister-in-law Sita joined the BJP.

As per NDTV, Sita was upset about Sorens wife Kalpana possibly being made chief minister in his absence.

Sita was expelled from the JMM for anti-party activities in May.

Soren, after he resigned, had installed party veteran Champai Soren as chief minister.

This would later come back to bite the JMM  though Soren would have the last laugh.

Bail from HC

Soren in June finally got bail from the Jharkhand High Court.

This came after the court had initially dismissed Sorens plea challenging his arrest by the ED in the money laundering case.

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Soren had challenged the high court order in the Supreme Court with senior advocate Kapil Sibal seeking an urgent hearing in view of the Lok Sabha polls.

The Supreme Court ultimately did not entertain Sorens plea.

In fact, the apex court slammed Soren for concealing key facts and engaging in blameworthy conduct, as per Hindustan Times.

We expected some candour from your client. We should have been informed that your bail was already pending when you approached this court You were pursuing parallel remedies. You had applied for bail before the trial court and you also came to the Supreme Court seeking interim bail We doubt your client was acting in bonafide, the bench told Sibal.

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However, the high court in June ultimately ruled in Sorens favour, saying prima facie Soren was not guilty and there is no likelihood of him committing an offence when on bail.

The development came despite the ED arguing that Soren, were he to be released on bail, would use state machinery to try to obstruct the case against him.

Return as CM

But it wasnt all smooth sailing yet.

Upon Sorens release, the JMM immediately sought to restore him to his high office  and thus asked the then chief minister Champai to resign.

Champai did as he was bid  however, he was not happy with this turn of events.

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Former Chief Minister of Jharkhand Champai Soren. File Image/ PTI

When the leadership had changed, I was given responsibility. You know the sequence of events. After Hemant Soren came back, we (the coalition) picked him as our leader and I have resigned. I am following the decision taken by the coalition, Champai said.

Soren in July returned as chief minister ahead of the Lok Sabha polls  a move that was unanimously endorsed by JMMs allies.

But another twist was to come when Champai, saying he was humiliated and insulted" jumped ship to the BJP a month later.

The move also gave the saffron party more ammunition with which to attack Soren.

Not only did they target Soren in the money-laundering case, the BJP claimed that the JMM had humiliated a tribal leader by asking Champai to make way for Soren.

Win at polls

Then, today (November 23), the JMM showcased a dominating performance at the polls.

The Soren-led party is ahead in 31 seats, compared to 21 for the BJP and 16 for the Congress.

The JMM-led Congress alliance is ahead in 56 seats compared to the NDA which is leading in just 24 seats.

Soren, meanwhile retained the Barhait seat on Saturday, defeating BJPs Gamliyel Hembrom by a margin of 39,791 votes, according to the Election Commission.

Soren secured 95,612 votes, while Hembrom got 55,821 votes.

The JMM leader increased his margin in the seat. In 2019, he had won the constituency by 25,740 votes.

How did he do it?

There are several factors why Soren came up trumps.

While the BJP charged that Jharkhand was being infiltrated, Soren and his allies kept their focus on welfare.

The JMM in particular stressed on adivasi asmita (tribal pride) and showcased its Mukhyamantri Maiya Samman Yojana which provides Rs 1,000 per month to eligible women.

According to News18, the turnout of women  four per cent higher this time  seems to have put the JMM over the top.

Credit must also go to Kalpana Soren, who entered politics after her husband was sent to prison.

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Kalpana Soren during a public meeting. File image/PTI

Though BJP derisively dubbed the power couple Bunty aur Babli ahead of the polls, many are crediting her with revitalising the party in Sorens absence.

The outlet quoted supporters as saying that Kalpana reeled in and connected with women voters.

Though the BJP attacked Soren for corruption, the sympathy factor of him going to jail also seemed to play in Sorens favour.

The BJP seems to be acknowledging its error.

We should have made jobs a major issue in Jharkhand. Instead, the poll plank of polarisation took centrestage, and it did not resonate with the tribals, a senior leader told the Indian Express.

A source also faulted the BJPs handling of Champai.

A TV channel owner who arranged a meeting of Champai Soren with Himanta Biswa Sarma (the BJPs Jharkhand co-in-charge) promised the CM seat to Champai if the BJP won. But later, Champai was not clear about his role When Himanta finally got Champai into confidence, it was after conceding a ticket to his son, who is also trailing now, the source added.

A piece in News18 noted that Champai switching could have really dented the party.

However, the piece added, Hemant made sure any pain was minimal.

Though Champai won his seat at Saraikela, the larger picture remains in Sorens favour.

With inputs from agencies
In the Maharashtra Assembly polls, the Mahayuti is up for a thumping victory. With a lead in 132 seats, the BJP has maintained its position as the states largest party. The saffron partys tally is double that of the opposition, Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) read more

In the Maharashtra Assembly elections, the Mahayuti is up for a thumping victory, gaining a mandate for retaining power.

According to trends, the BJP has maintained its position as the states largest party after surpassing the 100-seat threshold.

Also, the saffron partys tally is double that of the opposition, Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), indicating how dominant it is in this election.

With only a lead in 60 seats, the MVA appears to face a huge embarrassment after an outstanding Lok Sabha performance. This has even prompted the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) to cry foul of the result.

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Catch up on all live updates from the

The Maha winner

The Mahayuti alliance surpassed the 200 mark thanks to the BJPs outstanding performance in the state elections.

According to the information on the Election Commission of India website at the time of writing this report, the BJP, which fielded 149 candidates, is leading in 132 seats, Shiv Sena in 49 seats and Ajit Pawars NCP in 35 seats. Two independents backed by the ruling alliance has won.

The BJP is leading not just over its Mahayuti alliance but among all the other parties that contested the election.

However, the MVA is barely holding onto 55 seats, while Congress is only gaining 19 members, which is less than half of its 44 seats from 2019. The Shiv Sena (UBT) has 18 seats, whereas the NCP (SP) has 15. From their respective seats, three independent candidates supported by the opposition alliance emerged victorious.

In the 2014 Assembly elections, the BJP contested 260 seats, winning 122. Together with the united Shiv Sena, the party ran for 152 seats in 2019 and won 105.

The BJP surged to power thanks to its good performance in the Vidarbha region, which is home to a sizable portion of both small- and large-scale farmers. The saffron party ran for the most seats  47  in the region.

An India Today report shows that the BJP is in the lead in 19 seats where it was thought to be weak and 20 of the 24 safe seats. However, the Congress is only in the lead in six of the 18 seats that were thought to be safe.

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The BJPs top leaders are Devendra Fadnavis (Nagpur South West), Sudhir Mungantiwar (Ballarpur), Kishore Jorgewar (Chandrapur), Chandrashekhar Bawankule (Kamthi), Sanjay Savkare (Bhusawal), Dr Vijaykumar Krushanrao Gavit (Nandurbhar), and Girish Mahajan (Jamner).

Also read: Maharashtra election results: Who is in the fray to be the next Maharashtra CM?

Factors that favoured the party

One of the main factors that have contributed to the BJP-led Mahayutis stunning win is women voters.

The Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, which was announced just days after the Lok Sabha elections, has favoured the ruling alliance. The scheme offers financial assistance of Rs 1,500 per month to over 2.4 crore women. With 4.6 crore women voters in the state, the scheme covers almost 40 per cent of them.

The alliance also focused on gaining farmers support by promising to procure cotton crops above the Minimum Support Price (MSP), procure soybeans under the Price Support Scheme (PSS) with moisture content tolerance of up to 15 per cent and promise a full loan waiver.

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Amid uncertainty over Maratha voters over the reservation issue, the Mahayuti focused on OBC vote back that was highly alienated during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. According to reports, the BJP has cultivated the OBC voter base since the 90s with its MADHAV formula, which brought together the Mali, Dhangar, and Vanjari communities.

Additionally, the BJP employed the phrases ek hain to safe hain and batenge toh katenge to win over more non-Muslim voters.

During the general elections, the BJP was blamed for compromising Maharashtras interests and favouring Gujarat, especially when the Foxconn-Vedantas semiconductor plant and other industries plants moved to Gujarat. To counter this belief, the state government, invited Klaus Schwab of the World Economic Forum (WEF) to Mumbai and signed an MoU to make the Mumbai Metropolitan Regions economy worth $300 billion.

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Also read: Maharashtra election results: Why Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar will see no victory processions

Why it matters

The outcome marks a great reversal for the Mahayuti, especially the BJP, after the Lok Sabha debacle.

The BJP was reduced to nine Lok Sabha seats from 23 in Maharashtra, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena won seven, while Ajit Pawars NCP could bag just one seat. This translated to a total of 125 Assembly segments, well short of the majority mark of 145 in the House.

On the other hand, the MVA won 30 out of 28 seats in Maharashtra, 13 by the Congress, nine by the Shiv Sena (UBT), and eight by the NCP (SP). This put the opposition ahead in 153 Assembly segments.

These patterns in the Lok Sabha, however, do not seem to have carried over into the Assembly elections.

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Retaining Maharashtra helps the BJP maintain its hold on power before the crucial elections in Delhi and Bihar the following year.

Additionally, the partys victory opens the door for its chief minister to return to the state after a five-year break.

With inputs from agencies
Devendra Fadnavis 2019 chant of Me punha yein (Ill be back) could come true this time. His BJP has delivered a stellar performance in the Maharashtra Assembly polls, with calls rising from within the party for his return as the states chief minister read more

The Bharatiya Janata Party-led Mahayuti alliance has secured an overwhelming mandate in Maharashtra, leading in 230 of the 288 Assembly seats. The saffron party itself has crossed the century mark, improving its performance since the 2019 Assembly polls.

As the BJP marks a turnaround in Maharashtra after the underwhelming performance in the Lok Sabha polls earlier this year, Devendra Fadnavis has emerged as man of the match. He is being considered a frontrunner for the Maharashtra Chief Minister post, with several leaders of the saffron party backing him for the top job.

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Lets take a closer look.

Who is Devendra Fadnavis?

Born on July 22, 1970, in Nagpur, Fadnavis hails from a politically active Brahmin family. At the age of only 22, he became a corporator in the Nagpur civic body.

In 1997 when he was 27, Fadnavis created history as the youngest mayor of Nagpur.

He has been involved in politics since student life. Fadnavis joined the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the student wing of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), in 1989.

His father, the late Gangadhar Fadnavis, was a Jan Sangh and later BJP leader.

Fadnavis won his first Assembly election in 1999. There was no looking back for him after that. He successfully contested the Assembly polls four more times since then  once from Nagpur West and thrice from Nagpur South West.

He has bagged the Nagpur South West seat this time as well, winning by a margin of over 39,000 votes.

Victory Celebration! 



 4.45pm | 23-11-2024Mumbai | . . . | --.



 Celebrations on the grand, historic victory of BJP-MahaYuti in the Vidhan Sabha Election 2024

   2024  -    pic.twitter.com/x2ofH3hM93  Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) November 23, 2024

A sharp orator, Fadnavis has played a big role in shaping the current political landscape in Maharashtra. Devendra is Nagpurs gift to the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had once said at an election rally.

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Fadnavis served as chief minister of Maharashtra from 2014 to 2019. The BJP leader again took oath as the Maharashtra CM in November 2019, but his government, propped up by the support of Ajit Pawar, lasted only three days with the then undivided Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader returning to his uncle Sharad Pawar.

In the run-up to the 2019 Assembly elections, Fadnavis had said, Me punha yein (Ill be back).

And he did return, but two-and-a-half years later and as Deputy Chief Minister.

Architect of Shiv Sena, NCP splits

After Uddhav Thackeray came to power in Maharashtra in an alliance with the Congress and then undivided NCP, Fadnavis, as per Indian Express, had said at a BJP function in private: Chot dil mein lagi hai (It is my heart that has been struck). It is not so much about losing the CM post, but the manner in which the Sena betrayed us that has left us wounded. I am not sure if it can be forgiven so easily.

Thackerays then undivided Shiv Sena had fought the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections in an alliance with the BJP. However, the two parties developed differences over the CM post, with Thackeray claiming an understanding with the BJP over the rotational chief ministership. This was denied by the saffron party.

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Thackeray then went on to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. However, his government fell after two-and-a-half years as Eknath Shinde rebelled and split the Shiv Sena.

He and 41 of the 56 Sena MLAs joined hands with the BJP, forming government in the state in June 2022.

Fadnavis was seen as the architect behind the Sena rebellion. With this, his revenge was complete.

But Fadnavis was not done yet.

Last year, NCPs Ajit Pawar, who had taken oath as Fadnavis deputy CM in November 2019, split his uncle Sharad Pawars party to join the Shinde-led government.

Fadnavis, who enjoys cordial relations with Ajit, was seen to be behind the NCP leaders rebellion.

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Will Devendra Fadnavis return as Maharashtra CM?

When the BJP picked Shinde as Maharashtras CM in June 2022, Fadnavis wanted to sit out of the government. However, his partys top brass reportedly convinced him to take the role as Shindes deputy.

Under Fadnavis leadership, the BJP contested the Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra. However, the Mahayuti alliances dismal performance came as a major setback, with the leaders of the BJP and Shindes Shiv Sena raising questions about Ajit Pawars inclusion in the alliance.

The saffron party bagged only nine of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, while its allies Shiv Sena and NCP were victorious in seven and one seats, respectively.

Fadnavis offered to resign as Deputy CM to focus on the party but his request was denied.

In just a few months, he turned the tide in the BJPs favour. Now, several BJP leaders, including Madhya Pradesh minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, have supported Fadnavis name for the Maharashtra CM post.

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Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde with Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar celebrates the BJP-led Mahayuti alliances lead amid the counting of votes for the Maharashtra Assembly elections, at CMs official residence Varsha in Mumbai, November 23, 2024. PTI

With the BJPs stellar show in the Assembly polls, Fadnavis has a strong claim to the top job.

Speaking to reporters after the Mahayutis thumping victory, he said, I had said earlier, I am a modern Abhimanyu. I know how to break the Chakravyuh. We have broken the Chakravyuh. I have a very small contribution to this victory. Our team has won this.

Fadnavis also claimed there is no dispute among the Mahayuti allies over the CM post and a decision will be taken by the three parties.

While time will tell who will be the next chief minister, as nothing is certain in Maharashtra politics. But Me punha yein seems closer to coming true after five years.

With inputs from agencies
The agrarian belt of Vidarbha, located in eastern Maharashtra, has the second-highest number of Assembly seats after Western Maharashtra. Experts often state that the road to the Maharashtra throne passes through Vidarbha. As the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Mahayuti is set to win the Assembly election, what makes Vidarbha so important in deciding the outcome? read more

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Mahayuti seems to have bounced back from its poor performance in the Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra. The early trends indicate a comfortable lead for the ruling party in the state assembly polls.

As per the Election Commission of Indias (ECI) official website, the Mahayuti is leading across the state. The BJP has won 2 seats and is leading in 124 others, Eknath Shindes Shiv Sena has won one and is leading in 54 others, and Ajit Pawars Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is ahead in 40.

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Meanwhile, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is trailing behind the Mahayuti. According to ECI data, the Congress is ahead in 20 seats, the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) is leading 17 seats, while the Nationalist Congress Partys Sharad Pawar faction is ahead in 12.

In Vidarbha, an agrarian belt in the eastern part of Maharashtra, the BJP is leading in most constituencies. This region, comprising 11 districts and 62 Assembly seats, is known for cotton farming but is often regarded as less developed compared to the western and coastal areas of the state.

ALSO READ | Maharashtra election results: Who is in the fray to be the next Maharashtra CM?

Why was Vidarbha so crucial?

Being home to a large population of both large- and small-scale farmers, this region has the second-highest number of Assembly seats after Western Maharashtra. This makes the region important for government formation.

The road to the Maharashtra throne passes through Vidarbha.

Police and security personnel stand guard at a counting centre amid the counting of votes for the Maharashtra Assembly elections, in Nagpur, Nov. 23, 2024. PTI

Notably, the region is home to key BJP leaders like Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, and Congress state chief Nana Patole. Fadnavis is contesting from Nagpur South-West, while Patole is running in Sakoli. The BJP is contesting the highest number of seats (47) in Vidarbha.

Vidarbha, with one-fifth of the states population, also has a strong presence of Dalit, Maratha, Kunbi, and Muslim communities. During the election campaign, the opposition MVA targeted the ruling party on issues such as reservations, soyabean prices, and Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops.

The opposition also pointed out the number of farmer suicides in the region, which reached 1,439 cases in 2023, the highest in the state.

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The importance of Vidarbha in the election strategies of both national parties is also evident from the frequent visits by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi.

Once a Congress stronghold

Vidarbha was historically a Congress stronghold until the BJP made inroads in the 1990s. Like earlier times, several political heavyweights from both alliances are contesting from this region in the current assembly elections. Key figures include Devendra Fadnavis, state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule, and state Congress president Nana Patole.

NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, Shivsena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole at the Azad Maidan, in Mumbai, August 28, 2024. PTI

Congress leader and former cabinet minister Anees Ahmed told The Times of India, Vidarbha holds the key to power and this has been the case since Indira Gandhis time. We as a party have fielded so many MLAs in this region and are confident of winning maximum seats here, which will ultimately ensure MVAs return to power.

ALSO READ | Aaditya Thackeray, Fadnavis, Hemant Soren Whos ahead, whos behind?

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The BJP, recognising Vidarbhas importance in the electoral numbers game, has also prioritised the region. Deaven Dasture, joint treasurer of the BJPs city unit, told the newspaper, This region is the only one where national parties dominate, hence the battle for us is with Congress. So, winning maximum seats in Vidarbha is crucial for everyone and we are working hard on it.

He added that beyond numbers, Vidarbha is important as many decision-makers belong from this region. The BJPs prominent candidates include Fadnavis, Bawankule, and several cabinet ministers. For Congress, top leaders such as Nana Patole, Leader of the Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar, and Yashomati Thakur are contesting from Vidarbha.

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What changed for Mahayuti this time in Vidarbha?

Despite ongoing agricultural distress, including lower-than-MSP rates for cotton and soyabean, the Mahayuti alliance is racing ahead in the region.

Speaking to The Indian Express, farm activist Vijay Jawandhiya said, that the results show the success of the Majhi Mukhya Mantri Ladki Behin Yogna which saw the state government directly depositing 1,500 into the bank accounts of eligible women.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar at the launch of a scheme in Mumbai. PTI

Money after all is money - people saw the swiftness with which the money was deposited in the bank accounts. This was one of the main reasons why people decided to vote for Mahayuti just months after voting for MVA in the Loksabha elections, he told IE.

Further, Mahayuti benefitted from its ability to manage internal differences and effectively handle rebellions within the alliance. Meanwhile, the MVA struggled with internal divisions in Vidarbha and faced challenges from strong independent candidates who weakened the prospects of official candidates, the report said.

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ALSO READ | Maharashtra election result: Heres how alliance powerplay will pick pace ahead of Nov 26 deadline

Senior Pawars strategy of bringing disgruntled leaders into the fold ahead of the Assembly polls does not appear to have paid off, nor has his approach of targeting those who switched to Ajit Pawars faction during the 2023 rebellion been effective, IE said in the report.

What happened in the 2014 and 2019 assembly polls in Vidarbha?

In the 2014 Assembly elections, the BJP secured a huge victory in Vidarbha, winning 44 of the 62 seats. The Congress managed to win just 10 seats. Under Nagpur South-West MLA Devendra Fadnavis as Chief Minister, the BJP-led alliance delivered a stable government throughout its tenure. The 2014 elections were also notable as all four major parties contested independently, testing their strengths.

The road to the Maharashtra throne passes through Vidarbha. PTI

In 2019, however, the BJPs tally in Vidarbha dropped to 29 seats, a loss of 15 seats compared to 2014. This decline weakened its bargaining power in the pre-poll alliance with the Shiv Sena. The reduced numbers contributed to a loss of leverage, eventually leading to the collapse of the alliance over disputes regarding the Chief Ministers position.

What happened in Lok Sabha Elections 2024?

In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance faced a major setback in Vidarbha, securing just three out of the 10 seats. Across the state, the Mahayuti alliance managed to win only 17 of Maharashtras 48 seats. The BJP itself won just nine of the 28 seats it contested, a sharp decline from the 23 out of 25 seats it had won in the 2019 general elections.

Recognising Vidarbhas importance, the BJP has fielded candidates in 47 of the 150 Assembly seats in the region, while the Congress has allocated about 40% of its 102 Maharashtra candidates to Vidarbha.

Mumbai-based political analyst Amitabh Tiwari told Mint, The road to Maharashtra throne goes through Vidarbha. The battle here decides which way the wind is blowing.

From a historical perspective, Vidarbha has been a major factor in determining who forms the government in Maharashtra. This is why leaders from both camps, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, focused heavily on campaigning in the region.
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."

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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.

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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

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The Maharashtra election results are out and its a thumping victory for the Mahayuti alliance of the BJP, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP. The win further cements Eknath Shindes place in Maharashtra politics. His faction is leading in 55 of the 81 contested seats, outperforming the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena read more

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde with supporters flashes victory signs as the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is on course to secure a big win in the Maharashtra elections. PTI

Its a double win for Eknath Shinde. Not only has the chief minister won his seat of Kopri-Pachpakhadi, but his Shiv Sena faction has emerged as the second largest party in the state of Maharashtra  with 55 seats.

Following the , Shinde acknowledged the peoples mandate, expressing his gratitude to the people for giving a thumping majority and a landslide victory to the Mahayuti. I extend my heartfelt thanks to my beloved sisters, farmers, youths, and all segments who have voted for us. This is a reflection of the work we have done in the last two-and-a-half-years.

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He further acknowledged the mandate as a significant responsibility, and said, The mandate is actually a big responsibility on us now.

Catch up on the live updates from the

The win has also solidified Shindes position in Maharashtra politics, with many stating that he is now the true inheritor of Bal Thackerays legacy. His deputy, Devendra Fadnavis went one step ahead and said, People have given their mandate and have accepted Eknath Shinde as the real Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar has got the legitimacy of NCP.

A winning strike-rate

In this Maharashtra Assembly elections, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena contested a total of 81 seats. As per the Election Commission, of this, they are ahead in 55 seats. This gives the Shinde a winning strike rate of 67.9 per cent.

Compare this to Uddhav Thackerays Shiv Sena. It fought on 95 seats, of which it was ahead on only 21 seats, which gives it a strike rate of only 22.1 per cent.

Even in the Lok Sabha elections, Shindes Sena outperformed the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena. The Shinde Sena had won seven out of the 15 seats it contested, achieving a success rate of 46.6 per cent, as compared to Team Thackeray, which won nine of the 21 seats  42.85 per cent.

Shiv Senas Eknath Shinde along with Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis at the Shri Mahalaxmi temple in Kolhapur-Karveer. File image/PTI

Speaking on Shindes win, Eknath Shindes son, Shrikant Shinde, was quoted as saying, The mandate of the people of Maharashtra has shown who is carrying forward the ideals of late Bal Thackeray.

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It also underlines the fact that Shiv Sena is not a private limited company.

Shindes connect with the people

Eknath Shinde is also one of the brains behind the popular Ladki Bahin Yojana, which has been credited for the Mahayuti alliances thumping victory. The scheme ensures a monthly support of Rs 1,500 to underprivileged women, aged 21 to 65. Many poll pundits believe that it is this very scheme that led to 53 lakh more women voting in these elections compared to 2019, and their voting percentage rising by six percentage points.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde receives blessings from the public in Thane. He has been credited for being accessible to each and every party member and to coalition members. File image/PTI

Moreover, Shinde has been hailed for his hands-on approach as the chief minister of the state. He also has been able to secure the trust of the BJP. Last month, when a reporter even asked Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis about the CM face of the Mahayuti, the BJP leader pointed to Shinde.

As chief minister, Shinde has also been credited for being accessible. People from his faction as well as the Mahayuti alliance have said that the doors of Varsha, the official residence of Maharashtra chief minister, have always been open to all.

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Shinde has also held his own in the Mahayuti alliance. Hes driven a hard bargain during the Lok Sabha and Assembly election seat negotiations, ensuring that his faction isnt run over by Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis, the two bigger leaders. As one Sena leader told the Indian Express, Shinde has successfully made sure his people get justice and are rehabilitated which helped him ensure support for him among his party leaders remains intact and the party is strengthened.

Eknath Shinde breaks away

It was in June 2022 that Eknath Shinde, a former auto driver, led a rebellion that resulted in the split of the Shiv Sena, and brought down the Uddhav Thackeray government of Shiv Sena, NCP and the Congress.

Shinde with the support of 40 MLAs, said that he was dissatisfied with the MVA alliance and its deviation from Shiv Senas ideology.

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However, when he engineered the split and crossed over to the BJP, many believed that it was the end of Shindes political career and that the BJP would trample upon him.

Eknath Shinde with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. When Shinde engineered the split in the Shiv Sena, many believed that he would be trampled upon by the BJP. File image/PTI

Even now, amidst electioneering, Sanjay Raut of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena taunted Shinde by saying, The Shiv Sena that we have, of Balasaheb Thackeray, never went to Delhi for seat sharing. In those days, BJP leaders used to come to Mumbai for seat sharing. But, duplicate Shiv Sena has its boss in Delhi and hence they need to go there and do sit-ups. They are not the original Shiv Sena but non-biological Shiv Sena. Amit Shah gave birth to this non-biological Shiv Sena.

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However, the Maharashtra results have proven otherwise and as India Today wrote  Shindes journey has gone from gaddar (traitor) to hakdaar (rightful claimant).

With inputs from agencies
The Maha Vikas Aghadi has been blown away in the Maharashtra polls by the ruling Mahayuti, which has come roaring back to power. But it is the performance of the Sharad Pawar-led faction of the NCP, his worst poll performance ever in his decades of political experience, that has come under much scrutiny. Experts say this could well be the twilight, if not the end, of Pawars storied political career read more

The ruling Mahayuti has roared back to power in Maharashtra.

The alliance of BJP, Shiv Sena and the NCP (Ajit Pawar) is leading in 226 seats.

This, compared to the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) of the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and the NCP (Sharad Pawar), which is ahead in just 55 seats.

Remember, the halfway mark in Maharashtras 288 seat Assembly is 145 seats.

But it is the performance of the Sharad Pawar-led faction of the NCP that has come under much scrutiny.

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The Pawar-led NCP is ahead in just 13 seats  behind Uddhav Thackerays UBT which has 19 seats and others and Independents who have 20 seats.

Pawar, 83, formed the NCP in 1999 and served as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra four times.

The party split in 2023 after his nephew Ajit formed a breakaway faction.

So, is this the end for Pawars reign in Maharashtra?

Lets take a closer look:

Worst poll performance

According to Economic Times, this is Pawars worst poll performance ever in his decades of political experience.

The Ajit faction of the NCP has put on an impressive display in Maharashtra. The party is leading in 41 seats.

By contrast, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP is ahead in just 9 seats

Western Maharashtra, which has 70 Assembly seats in six districts, has in the past been a Congress-NCP bastion.

Catch up on all the live updates from the here

However, this time, the ruling Mahayuti is leading in 41 of the 58 Assembly seats in western Maharashtra, while the Maha Vikas Aghadi is ahead in just 11.

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Pawars NCP also trails Ajits NCP in the 26 seats which both sides have deemed crucial to their existence, as per the newspaper.

Worse for Pawar, this comes after his partys performance in the Lok Sabha polls where he came away as the decisive victor over Ajit  despite the rival faction being given the NCPs original name and poll symbol.

Disaster in Baramati

The Pawar faction of the NCP has lost many of its bastions including the prestigious Baramati constituency where Pawar campaigned heavily for his grandnephew NCP (SP) candidate Yugendra Pawar against his nephew Ajit Pawar.

In fact, on the last day of campaigning, both NCP factions held simultaneous rallies in Baramati, the home turf of the powerful Pawar family in Pune district.

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Ajit, the Maharashtra Deputy CM, won a massive victory against his nephew Yugendra.

Ajit defeated Yugendra by a margin of 1.16 lakh votes, as per PTI.

Ajit Pawar defeated his nephew Yugendra Pawar in Baramati. X/@AjitPawarSpeaks

As News18 noted, this occurred despite the Pawar clan  including Pratibha Pawar and Supriya Sules daughter Revati  campaigning for Yugendra.

The outlet reported that Ajit visited a slew of villages this time and spoke of the development that he had brought about over the past three decades.

He asked voters, who picked Pawar saheb in the Lok Sabha polls, to pick choose him this time.

Chanakya no more?

This is a big fall for Pawar, who, as the Economic Times piece noted, was the mastermind behind the MVA.

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It was Pawar, who is famed for having friends in high places everywhere in politics, that brought the Congress, Shiv Sena and NCP into an alliance in 2019.

For Sharad Pawar, this election was more than just another poll; its a referendum on his legacy. A victory could have cemented his position as one of Indias greatest political strategists and a leader who defied age and adversity, the piece noted.

It added that despite Pawar, Uddhav and Rahul going all out, the coalition was unable to undercut the Mahayuti.

A piece in News18 stated that Pawar may be witnessing the twilight of his political career.

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Hints about retiring

Even before the devastating results of the Assembly polls, Pawar had dropped hints about retiring.

Addressing a rally in Baramati while campaigning for campaigning for grandnephew NCP (SP) candidate Yugendra Pawar, the NCP supremo was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times, I will have to think whether to go in Rajya Sabha again or not.

I am not in power. I am definitely in Rajya Sabha. There is still one-and-a half years left. But after 1.5 years, I will have to think about whether to go to Rajya Sabha or not. I will not contest Lok Sabha. I will not contest any election, Pawar said as per India Today.

I have contested 14 times. You (people) did not send me home even once. You elected me every time. But, I will have to stop somewhere I will have to bring the new generation forward. I am working with this principle. This does not mean that I have left social work. But I do not want power. I will keep serving and working for the people, Pawar said.

Now, its time to prepare for the future. We need to groom leadership that will work for the next 30 years, Pawar added as per Hindustan Times.

With inputs from agencies
The counting of votes for the Assembly elections is underway. While several areas are expecting various parties to hold processions once the results are declared, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar has banned it altogether read more

A road outside a counting center is seen barricaded amid the counting of votes for the Maharashtra Assembly elections, in Mumbai. PTI

The counting of votes for the Assembly elections is underway in Maharashtra. All eyes are on the outcome of the battle between the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti coalition and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, which is seeking to make a comeback.

Since, the counting of votes for 288 seats is taking place across the state, district authorities are expecting victory processions after the declaration of results. But one district thinks differently. Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar formerly known as Aurangabad) has banned victory processions after results are declared.

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Here is all you need to know about it.

The district authorities in Maharashtras Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar have banned victory processions after the result declaration of the state Assembly elections on Saturday.

On Friday, a day ahead of the vote counting, District Collector Dilip Swami convened a meeting with senior police officials, according to news agency Press Trust of India.

According to Swami, to avoid tense situations after the announcement of results victory processions have been banned. He said, When the results come out, the situation turns a little tense. So in order to avoid law and order issues, we are not going to allow any victory procession on the result day.

He further asserted that party workers would not be allowed to form a group on result day in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. He said, Sometimes, party workers come together and sometimes their coming together turns into a procession. We are not going to allow that also.

The processions will be allowed once the situation is deemed to be peaceful. Later, once everything is peaceful, we will allow the processions. We have issued prohibitory orders accordingly, the District Collector said.

The counting began at 8 am while the polling took place in a single phase on Wednesday (November 20).

Female voter turnout surges in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

The area has seen a surge in female voters on polling day this year, reported the Times of India. There was a six per cent rise in female voter turnout as compared to the 2019 elections.

According to Swami, various awareness drives involving female voters have resulted in more women exercising their right to vote. We started our drives for assembly polls soon after the Lok Sabha election. We took help from various self-help groups (SHGs) to reach out to voters with an appeal for voting. A series of special drives were also arranged through Mahila Arthik Vikas Mahamandal (State Womens Development Corporation) to sensitise female voters. Workshops were also held targeting working women, reported TOI quoting Swami.

With inputs from PTI
The Mahayuti alliance of the BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP is on its way to securing a huge win in the state of Maharashtra, leaving the Maha Vikas Aghadi far behind. Whats the reason for the coalitions big victory? How did they reverse the poll results months after the Lok Sabha debacle? read more

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis celebrate the coalition's win in the state. It's a thumping victory for the Mahayuti. File image/PTI

In Maharashtra, the election gods have smiled down on the Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP. Trends show the Mahayuti alliance has achieved a majority mark by securing 214 seats, while the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which is made up of the Congress, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena, is trailing with just 67 seats.

To win the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly, the magical number to secure is 145.

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The stunning performance of the Mahayuti alliance has prompted the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena to cry foul of the results. Sanjay Raut of the Sena (UBT) said, We are not willing to accept that this is a mandate given by the people of the state. Something is wrong with these results. This cannot be the mandate of people. There has been use of money power in the polls. How can all of Eknath Shindes MLAs win? If MVA cannot win 75 seats, that means Modi and Shah have rigged the results. This is a mandate managed by Adani and the gang.

Catch up on all live updates from the

While the Shiv Sena cries foul, we examine what factors swung the results in favour of the Mahayuti coalition.

Unprecedented poll reversal

On June 4, the Mahayuti alliance faced a rude shock amid the Lok Sabha elections when they managed to win only 17 out of 48 seats in the state. The opposition Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA), on the other hand, secured 30 seats, and one independent candidate later pledged support to the Congress, bringing their total to 31.

Realising it couldnt be business as usual in Maharashtra, the Mahayuti flipped the script, and the results can be seen today  just five months later  with the BJP-led alliance now on its way to securing a thumping victory in the state.

As of now, the Mahayuti is ahead, securing 224 seats  the BJP alone is leading in 127 seats, while the Shiv Sena is ahead in 49 seats and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP is leading in 35 seats.

Based on the early trends, the BJP has achieved an impressive success rate of 85 per cent. The Shiv Sena follows with a solid 73 per cent success rate and the the NCP boasts a strong 80 per cent strike rate.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde flashes victory signs along with supporters as early trends show victory for Mahayuti in Assembly polls, in Thane. PTI

Woman power: Ladki Bahin Yojana

One of the main factors that have contributed to the Mahayutis win is the massive support they have received from women.

It seems the Ladki Bahin Yojana, announced just days after the Lok Sabha elections, has favoured the Mahayuti. Through this, Rs 1,500 per month is being given to 1.85 crore women across the state. Maharashtra has 4.6 crore women voters and this scheme covers almost 40 per cent of them. Moreover, during the campaigning, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde vowed to increase this amount to Rs 2,100 if they won the polls.

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And it appears that this scheme has resonated with the voters, with women, who became a huge voter bloc in this Assembly election, putting their faith in the BJP-led alliance.

Farm activist Vijay Jawandhiya said, Money after all is money  people saw the swiftness with which the money was deposited in the bank accounts. This was one of the main reasons why people decided to vote for Mahayuti just months after voting for MVA in the Loksabha elections, he said.

Farmers support goes to Mahayuti

Farmers and agrarian distress have always been a big factor in the Maharashtra Assembly polls. Realising this, the Mahayuti has worked on this bloc to gain their support.

First off, the alliance promised to procure cotton crops above the Minimum Support Price (MSP) this season and to procure soybean under the Price Support Scheme with moisture content tolerance of up to 15 per cent.

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Additionally, the alliance departed from the convention to promise a full loan waiver for farmers. This is responsible for the complete flip in the Vidarbha region, which the Mahayuti has won in a big way this time. As per trends, the Mahayuti alliance secured 47.6 per cent of the vote share in the 2024 Assembly elections, a 5.9 percentage point increase compared to its performance in the Lok Sabha elections. Theres also the fact that unlike the MVA, which had a divided house in this area, the Mahayuti handled the rebellions and ironed out differences quickly.

Through the Ladki Bahin Yojana, the Mahayuti alliance has given Rs 1,500 per month to 1.85 crore women across the state. File image/PTI

Consolidation of the OBC vote bank

Realising that the Marathas were still unhappy with them, the Mahayuti adopted a policy that saw them consolidate their OBC vote. As per an India Today report, the BJP has cultivated the OBC voter base since the 90s with its MADHAV formula, which brought together the Mali, Dhangar, and Vanjari communities. The strategy aimed to consolidate OBC support and counter the dominance of the Maratha community.

Moreover, Prime Minister Narendra Modis slogan Ek Hain Toh Safe Hain which he first raised in Nashik and Dhule in the state also helped consolidate this bloc.

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The leads as per the Election Commission at 1 pm.

Focus on Maharashtra

During the Lok Sabha elections, a big complaint against the BJP was that it had compromised Maharashtras interests and favouring Gujarat. For instance, the Foxconn-Vedantas semiconductor plant was shifted out of Maharashtra. Also, other industries were moving plants from Pune to Gujarat.

To counter this belief, the state government, invited Klaus Schwab of the World Economic Forum (WEF) to Mumbai and signed an MoU to make the Mumbai Metropolitan Regions economy worth $300 billion. Schwab also promised to help Mumbai grow as a financial centre at international levels.

Also, the Centre in early October accorded classical status to the Marathi language. This has been a long-pending appeal from Marathi voters, which the BJP has now fulfilled. This helped the Mahayuti to combat Uddhav Thackeray.

Lack of narrative from the MVA

Even though the Sharad Pawar-led NCP, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena and the Congress were fighting this election together, there was no cohesive messaging from the bloc. It was unable to highlight any governance errors on the part of the Mahayuti.

In fact, the MVA focused on statements such as traitors should be taught a lesson  a statement that Uddhav Thackeray made repeatedly amid election campaigning.

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With inputs from agencies
Three exit polls, P-Marq, Lokshahi-Marathi Rudra and Dainik Bhaskar, have predicted a tight race between the two alliances  Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi  in Maharashtra. If it turns true and there is a hung Assembly, heres what will happen read more

People queue to cast their votes, outside a polling station, as police officers stand guard on the day of the Maharashtra state elections, in Mumbai. Reuters

Its a big day for the state of Maharashtra. Results will soon be in for the 288-member Assembly. Earlier, several exit polls gave an edge to the Mahayuti alliance, comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawars Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), against its rival the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).

While most of these exit polls showed the Mahayuti bloc crossing the 145-seat majority mark, three exit polls predicted a hung Assembly in Maharashtra.

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What will happen if no party or alliance wins a majority? Lets take a look.

Maharashtra Assembly exit polls

At least five exit polls say the Mahayuti alliance could win Maharashtra, trumping the MVA coalition of the Congress, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) or Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar).

The Matrize exit poll predicted 150-170 seats for BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP alliance. The MVA could pick up 110-130 seats, while eight to 10 seats are likely to go to others.

According to Peoples Pulse, the Mahayuti could return to power with 175-195 seats, while the MVA might have to be content with 85-112 seats.

Times Now-JVC projected a thumping victory for the Mahayuti alliance with 150-167 seats, giving 107-125 seats to the MVA.

Poll Diary said the Mahayuti could win 122-186 seats, the MVA 69-121, and 10-27 seats are likely to go to others.

Chanakya Strategies gave the Mahayuti 152-160 seats and 130-138 seats to the MVA.

Two exit polls favoured the MVA over the Mahayuti.

The exit poll by Lokpoll gave 151-162 seats to the MVA and 115-128 seats to the Mahayuti.

The Electoral Edge forecasted a clear victory for the MVA with 150 seats, while giving 118 seats to the Mahayuti and 20 to others.

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3 exit polls say hung Assembly likely

Three exit polls claim Maharashtra is headed towards a hung Assembly.

As per P-Marq, the Mahayuti could win 137 to 157 seats, while the MVA is likely to grab between 126 and 146 seats.

Another pollster, Lokshahi-Marathi Rudra, predicted a close fight between the two alliances, giving 125-140 seats to the MVA and 128-142 seats to the Mahayuti. Others could pick up 18-23 seats.

The Dainik Bhaskar exit poll projected 135-150 seats for the Congress and its allies and 125-140 seats for the Mahayuti. Others could bag 20-25 seats.

What comes next if theres a hung Assembly

If the exit polls that have predicted a tight race between the MVA and Mahayuti are to go by, Maharashtra could see a hung Assembly.

In such a scenario, smaller parties and independent candidates are likely to play a major role in the formation of the next government in the western state.

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These others have been given an average of 12 seats by pollsters.

A hung Assembly is when no political party or alliance is able to secure an absolute majority in the state elections. When this happens, the governor invites the leader of the single largest party to form the government, usually giving the party 10 days to prove an absolute majority.

During this time, the party or alliance asked to form a government has to gain a majority, which can be done through external support from other parties or independents. The one who offers external support usually sits out and its legislators do not hold ministerial berths in the government.

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But if the single largest party or alliance fails to show a majority after the deadline ends, the governor dissolves the Assembly and calls for re-election.

A hung Assembly could also result in a minority government. A minority government does not have an absolute majority in the House to pass laws and depends on the support of other non-aligned parties or independents to pass laws. Such minority governments are fragile.

It should be noted though that exit polls are not always right as was seen recently. Exit polls had predicted a hung Assembly in Jammu and Kashmir, while the Congress was forecasted to sweep Haryana.

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However, the surveys proved to be incorrect as the National Conference-led alliance won in J&K and the BJP stormed to power in Haryana.

We will have to wait until Saturday (November 23) to find out how apt were exit polls this time.

With inputs from agencies
The BJP is on cloud nine. The saffron party seems poised to win 130 seats on its own, with its allies taking its alliances tally well above the majority mark. Devendra Fadnavis, who is seen as a frontrunner for the Maharashtra chief minister post, has credited PM Narendra Modi and his slogan ek hain toh safe hain (together we are safe) for the Mahayutis resounding win read more

The Mahayuti is returning to power in Maharashtra with a landslide victory, as the alliance is ahead in 229 of the 288 Assembly seats. Its main rival, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has managed to lead in just 46 seats, as per the Election Commission of Indias (ECI) trends at 5.20 pm on Saturday (November 23).

Mahayutis emphatic victory is led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which itself has crossed the century mark, winning 52 seats and leading in 81 others. Its allies, the Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), have also delivered an impressive performance.

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The BJPs Devendra Fadnavis, who is seen as a frontrunner for the Maharashtra chief minister post, has credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his slogan ek hain toh safe hain (together we are safe) for the Mahayutis resounding win.

Lets take a look.

BJPs clarion call of ek hain toh safe hain

The BJP pushed its hardline Hindutva with slogans like ek hain toh safe hain (together we are safe) and batenge toh katenge (divided we fall) during the election campaigning in Maharashtra.

PM Modi first used the ek hain toh safe hain slogan on November 8, which was later picked up by other BJP leaders in the state.

#ResultswithNews18 | People of Maharashtra have given us an unprecedented victory. This shows that people are with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In line with the slogan he gave 'Ek hain toh safe hain': Devendra Fadnavis#MaharashtraElection2024 #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/nil2z7zltg  News18 (@CNNnews18) November 23, 2024

In a sharp attack on the Congress, the PM accused the party of creating a rift between castes and tribes. Addressing a rally in Dhule in north Maharashtra, Modi had said, Dividing castes and tribes is the biggest conspiracy against India.

He went on to accuse former Congress Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi of implementing anti-reservation policies.

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Urging people to stay united, Modi said, Rajiv Gandhi opposed Other Backward Class

(OBC) reservation. Now, they are dividing the castes within OBCs and various tribes in tribal communities. We need to maintain unity, so remember, Ek hain toh safe hain.

At another rally in Akola, the PM reiterated the Hindu unity pitch, saying, People of Haryana foiled the conspiracy of Congress by following the Ek hai toh safe hai mantra.The Congress knows that it will be strengthened only if the country is weakened.

The BJPs pitch was a counter to the Grand Old Partys narrative that the saffron party posed a threat to the Constitution and reservation, something that worked for the INDIA bloc during the Lok Sabha polls. These slogans were the saffron partys response to the Congress campaign for a caste census.

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The Congress had opposed the slogan, accusing the BJP of indulging in communal politics.

PM Modis pitch was preceded by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths batenge toh katenge slogan, which caused divisions within the BJP as well as Mahayuti.

Ek hain toh safe hain works for Mahayuti

Fadnavis first reaction to the BJP and Mahayutis decisive victory was ek hain toh safe hain. In a post on X, he wrote in Hindi, Ek Hain toh Safe hain, Modi hain toh Mumkin hain (We are safe if we are united, anything is possible if theres Modi)."

The BJPs Hindu unity pitch seems to have resonated with its core voters. The saffron party could have suffered due to the Maratha anger but its social engineering efforts saved the day. As per Indian Express, the Marathas, who were upset with the BJP over its failure to give reservations to the community, were likely to vote against the party, which would have benefited Sharad Pawars Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar).

The BJP countered the Maratha anger by wooing OBC voters. Union minister Bhupendra Yadav, who was in charge of the Maharashtra polls, meticulously planned and executed the OBC connect with BJP region-wise, along with the state leaders, as per the newspaper report.

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OBCs, which comprise 38 per cent of Maharashtras population, play a dominant role electorally in 175 of the 288 seats. The micro-management of OBCs was a key factor that worked at the grounds in favour of Mahayuti, the Indian Express article noted.

Besides the caste factor, the Eknath Shinde-led governments Ladki Bahin Yojana, under which it provided cash to the states poor women, and the saffron partys resolving differences with the RSS, which extensively campaigned for the BJP, also worked in favour of Mahayutis spectacular comeback.

With inputs from agencies
Actor Swara Bhasker has alleged EVM tampering during the counting of votes in the Maharashtra Assembly election, claiming that the machines battery levels remained at 99 per cent throughout the day. Her statement came after her husband, Fahad Ahmad of the NCP-SP, lost to Sana Malik of the NCP in the Anushakti Nagar constituency read more

Actor Swara Bhasker has an EVM-related question for the Election Commission.

Her husband, Fahad Ahmad of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction (NCP-SP), was defeated by Sana Malik of the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in Maharashtras Anushakti Nagar constituency. Following the result, Swara alleged EVM tampering, claiming that the machines battery levels stayed at 99 per cent throughout the day.

ALSO READ | Maharashtra election result: Have bellwether seats cleared the test again in 2024?

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In a post on the social media platform X, Ahmad called for a recount of rounds 16, 17, and 18. Swara echoed his concerns, writing on X, 99% battery charger EVMs are opened and BJP supported NCP-Ajit Pawar candidate takes lead after rounds 17, 18, and 19 of the vote count.

Fahad Ahmad vs Sana Malik

According to the final data from the Election Commission of India (ECI), Fahad Ahmad received 45,963 votes, losing to Sana Malik, who secured 49,341 votes, by a margin of 3,378 votes.

Fahad, who joined the Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction (NCP-SP) in October after leaving the Samajwadi Party, has alleged manipulation of the results. He has demanded a recount, accusing the BJP of influencing the outcome.

Swara Bhaskers husband claimed he was leading in Anushakti Nagar after 17 rounds of counting. He said that EVMs with 99 per cent battery charge showed Sana Malik taking the lead, while those with lower battery levels showed her trailing.

Notably, during the earlier rounds of counting, Ahmad was leading in Anushakti Nagar with a margin of 5,886 votes against Sana Malik. However, as the counting progressed, Sana Malik gained and overtook Ahmad to win the seat.

Anushakti Nagar falls under the Mumbai South-Central Lok Sabha constituency.

ALSO READ | Meet Ajaz Khan, the candidate who has 5.6 million followers and got 155 votes, lesser than Nota

What Swara Bhasker has alleged

In a post on X, Swara Bhasker claimed that Ahmad had been leading in Mumbais Anushakti Nagar constituency until EVMs with 99 per cent battery charge were opened.

Swara Bhasker stated that she would respect the peoples mandate if everythings in order. Image courtesy: X/@ReallySwara

In #AnushaktiNagar vidhaan sabha after a steady lead by @FahadZirarAhmad of NCP-SP.. round 17, 18, 19 suddenly 99% battery charger EVMs are opened and BJP supported NCP-Ajit Pawar candidate takes lead, she posted.

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She further asked, How can machines that have been voted on ALL day long have 99% charged batteries? Why do all 99% charged batteries give votes to BJP and its allies?

In #AnushaktiNagar vidhaan sabha after a steady lead by @FahadZirarAhmad of NCP-SP.. round 17, 18, 19 suddenly 99% battery charger EVMs are opened and BJP supported NCP-Ajit Pawar candidate takes lead. How can machines that have been voted on ALL day long have 99% charged https://t.co/GknxDWOb5v  Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) November 23, 2024

While she joined her husband in demanding a recount, Bhasker stated that she would respect the peoples mandate if everythings in order.

Bhasker had campaigned vigorously for Fahad and had also organised a crowdfunding initiative, seeking public donations to support his election campaign. The NCP(SP), to which Ahmad belongs, contested as part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, which includes the Congress and the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray).

What Fahad Ahmad said

Taking to X, the NCP(SP) leader said, I was leading till 17th round, dilemma of 99% battery of CU is still need to resolve. ECI I am coming after you.

99% battery of CU and dilemma of BJP Alias winning. pic.twitter.com/pjwPZUrUD3  Fahad Ahmad (@FahadZirarAhmad) November 23, 2024

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In a separate post, he wrote, After round 16 and a steady lead in all rounds.. EVM machines that were 99% charged were opened and BJP supported NCP Ajit Pawar candidate took a lead ..@ECISVEEP @SpokespersonECI this is rank manipulation. We demand a recount of rounds 16, 17, 18 and 19.

ECIs clarification on EVMs with 99% charge

Addressing concerns similar to these during the Haryana Assembly elections, where the Congress alleged it was losing on EVMs with a 99 per cent charge but winning on those with a 60-70 per cent battery, the Election Commission of India clarified that battery voltage and capacity have no bearing on vote-counting operations or the integrity of EVMs.

The display unit of the EVM shows a 99 per cent charge as long as the electric potential of the battery remains between 7.4 volts and 8 volts, in this range, the EVM operates optimally, without revealing the exact battery percentage, as the voltage is sufficient to sustain continuous operations, the poll body said.

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ALSO READ | No more Pawar play? Is Sharad Pawar losing his grip on Maharashtra politics?

Anushakti Nagar Election 2024

Fahad Ahmad, the former state president of the Samajwadi Yuvjan Sabha, the youth wing of the Samajwadi Party in Maharashtra, contested the Anushakti Nagar seat in the 2024 Assembly elections.

Fahad joined the Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction (NCP-SP) in October after leaving the Samajwadi Party. Image courtesy: X/@ReallySwara

A graduate of Aligarh Muslim University and an M. Phil holder from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, Ahmad has been actively involved in student politics. He married Bollywood actor Swara Bhasker on February 16, 2023.

Announcing Ahmads candidature, NCP(SP) leader Jayant Patil said, Fahad Ahmad is a well-educated young Muslim youth and has worked as an activist across the country. People want us to give a chance to such leaders.

Meanwhile, Sana Malik, Fahads opponent, is the daughter of veteran politician and former Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik.

Nawab Malik, who has represented Anushakti Nagar twice before, strongly supported his daughters candidature despite opposition from BJP leaders. He is also contesting this election from the Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar seat as an NCP candidate.

Anushakti Nagar, a constituency that came into existence in 2008 after delimitation, has been a stronghold of Nawab Malik. He represented the seat in 2009 and 2019.

Earlier this year, in the Lok Sabha elections, the Shiv Sena (UBT) dominated the Anushakti Nagar assembly segment. Anil Desai, the Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate, won the Mumbai South Central Lok Sabha seat after polling 79,767 votes in this segment. His opponent, Rahul Shewale of the Shinde-led Sena, secured 50,684 votes.

With inputs from agencies
As the counting of the vote begins, the BJP-led Mahayuti is ahead of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in the Maharashtra Assembly election, early trends show. However, the two sides have not declared a CM candidate yet. In the Mahayuti camp, the BJP is batting for Devendra Fadnavis while Eknath Shindes supporters want him to be CM. In the MVA, it is Congress vs Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray) read more

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde with Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar during the 'Mahayuti' alliance meeting, in Mumbai. File photo/PTI

Its D-day in Maharashtra, where the political landscape is complicated with leading regional parties splitting. The ruling Mahayuti is up against the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).

As counting of votes begun at 8 pm, Mahayuti has taken lead against the MVA in the 288-seat Assembly. The ruling coalition is leading in 83 seats while the MVA is at 42, early trends show.

Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, who is contesting from the Colaba Assembly seat, said that the Mahayuti, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP, will win 175 seats. So far, the MVA which has the Shiv Sena faction led by Uddhav Thackeray, Sharad Pawars NCP faction, and the Congress is playing the wait and watch game.

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However, even if either party wins a majority, the road to the CMs seat is a complex one. Each faction within the two main coalitions is pushing their candidates for the top post.

We take a look at who is in the fray and the infighting.

In the Mahayuti camp, the BJP is pushing for Devendra Fadnavis while Eknath Shindes supporters want him to be CM. In the MVA, it is Congress vs Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray).

Who are the names in the fray for CM post?

Devendra Fadnavis (Mahayuti)

Known as a clever strategist in the BJP, Fadnavis is the front-runner for the top job.

He has been the states two-time CM and led the BJPs campaign in the Assembly elections.

He was instrumental in selecting candidates and the seat-sharing talks with the NCP and Shiv Sena.

Devendra Fadnavis is the BJP nominee from Nagpur South West. File Photo/PTI

BJP leader Pravin Darekar batted for Deputy CM Fadnavis for the top post. I think if anyone from the BJP is becoming the CM then it will be Devendra Fadnavis, he said.

Also read: Maharashtra assembly elections 2024: How splits and mergers are not new to state politics

Eknath Shinde (Mahayuti)

In June 2022, he led a rebellion in the Shiv Shena and left the party with the majority of Uddhav Thackerays MPs and MLAs.

However, his appointment as Maharashtras CM came as a surprise to many.

As per media reports, the BJPs leadership felt that his Maratha identity would lessen the trouble caused by the communitys agitators. Soon, he won the legal battle for the real Shiv Sena.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde shows his inked finger to the media after he cast his vote in the Maharashtra elections. Image courtesy: X

Speaking about his potential to become Maharashtras next CM, Shiv Sena MLA and party spokesperson Sanjay Shirsat said the assembly elections were contested with Eknath Shinde as the face.

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Voters have shown their preference for Shinde through voting. I think it is Shindes right (to be the next chief minister) and we are confident that he will be the next CM, he said.

Ajit Pawar (Mahayuti)

In Maharashtras political space, he has served as the four-time Deputy CM.

Ajit Pawar has been waiting for the elevation to the top seat since 2004 when his party emerged as the single largest party in that election.

However, his uncle Sharad Pawar gave up the position to the Congress in exchange for an additional cabinet seat in the UPA government.

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In July 2023, after numerous differences, he spearheaded the party rebellion to become the Deputy CM in the Mahayuti government.

Ajit Pawar is up against his nephew, Yugendra Pawar, in Baramati. X/@AjitPawarSpeaks

Like Shinde, he also won the legal battle against the NCP-SP and was given the partys clock symbol.

NCP leader Amol Mitkari pushed the name of his party chief and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar for the coveted job. Whatever the results, the NCP will be the kingmaker, Mitkari said.

Several other names from the Mahayuti alliance that surfaced for the post are Pankaja Munde (BJP), Vinod Tawde (BJP), and Sudhir Mungantiwar (BJP).

Uddhav Thackeray (MVA)

Uddhav Thackeray has only been the chief minister of Maharashtra for two and a half years.

His term, however, left a sour taste in Maharashtras politics due to numerous controversies and troubles, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the Antilia case.

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Eknath Shindes revolt toppled Uddhav Thackerays MVA government in June 2022. PTI/File Photo

Even though Shindes party rebelled, he managed to win the Lok Sabha elections with his party taking nine seats, while the Shinde Sena only managed six.

When the MVA was to announce the alliances CM face, his party leaders argued that he should become the CM since he is the most vocal face in the state.

Nana Patole (MVA)

Another candidate for the CMs position is the chief of the Maharashtra Congress.

He thinks the grand old party will become the Assemblys largest party.

Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole is contesting from Sakoli. File Photo/PTI

In 2014, Patole served as a Sakoli BJP MP before switching sides to the Congress over differences.

When the MVA administration took power, he was chosen to serve as the Assemblys speaker.

Prithviraj Chauhan (MVA)

He is a non-controversial figure who has been active in the Congress since the time of the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan. PTI file

Regarded as a strategist and technocrat in the party, he was the PMOs Minister of State under previous Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

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The former CM is vying for the position once more, however, his senior status (age 78) might go against him.

Supriya Sule (MVA)

The daughter of Sharad Pawar has been representing Baramati in Parliament since 2009 and is currently the Working President of the NCP-SP party.

NCP working president Supriya Sule. ANI

On the eve of the Maharashtra Assembly elections, she, along with Nana Patole, was accused of a Bitcoin scam in 2018.

She has refuted the claims and declared her innocence by filing a defamation complaint against BJPs Sudhanshu Trivedi.

Jayant Patil (MVA)

NCP (SP)s Maharashtra unit chief has represented the Islampur Assembly seat since 1990.

NCP leader Jayant Patil. ANI

He is now Sharad Pawars partys chief strategist and has held important positions in several governments, including those in the home and finance sectors.

Other names in the fray include Ashish Shelar (BJP), Chandrakant Patil (BJP), Aditya Thackeray (Shiv Sena-UBT), and Sunil Tatkare (NCP).

Why is there infighting?

While both alliances are confident about their mandate, a war of words has emerged over the chief ministerial face of the state just a day before votes are counted.

Patoles assertion that the Congress will get the maximum number of seats in the new Assembly faced immediate opposition from Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut. The latter insisted the chief ministerial face will be decided by all alliance partners jointly once the MVA secures a majority.

The Rajya Sabha MP said if the Congress high command has told Patole that he will be the chief ministerial face then national partys president Mallikarjun Kharge, and its top leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra should announce the same.

Speaking to reporters, BJP leader Pravin Darekar highlighted the internal rifts within the MVA, saying, The people of Maharashtra have given a clear mandate. The Chief Minister will be from the Mahayuti, not the MVA, and certainly not the Congress.

Congress MP Praniti Shinde and her father and former CM Sushilkumar Shinde supported an independent candidate against Uddhav Thackerays nominee in a constituency in Solapur district. These internal rifts expose a lack of unity. How can parties without internal coherence decide on a Chief Minister?

He added that Patoles aspirations to become CM was nothing but mungerilal ke haseen sapne (daydreaming).

Similar differences are seen in the Mahayuti alliance, with members of the Shiv Sena, BJP, and NCP batting for Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar respectively for the hot seat.

However, when asked about the Chief Ministerial face from Mahayuti, Fadnavis maintained all three Mahayuti parties will sit together and make a good decision.

With inputs from agencies
Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked the people of Maharashtra for the historic mandate and assured that Mahayuti will keep working for progress of the state read more

The continued popularity of PM Modi is not just confined to Maharashtra; it is a national phenomenon. Source: Reuters.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday thanked the people of Maharashtra, especially the youth and women of the state, for a historic win of the NDA in the Assembly election.

In a post on X, PM Modi said, Development wins! Good governance wins! United we will soar even higher!

Catch all the live updates on election results

Heartfelt gratitude to my sisters and brothers of Maharashtra, especially the youth and women of the state, for a historic mandate to the NDA. This affection and warmth is unparalleled, PM Modi further said.

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Mahayuti will keep working for Maharashtras progress

The Prime Minister also assured the people that the Mahayuti alliance will keep working for Maharashtras progress.

Development wins!



Good governance wins!



United we will soar even higher!



Heartfelt gratitude to my sisters and brothers of Maharashtra, especially the youth and women of the state, for a historic mandate to the NDA. This affection and warmth is unparalleled.



I assure the  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 23, 2024

The Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra comprises the BJP, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde, and NCP (Ajit Pawar).

Mahayuti is set to make history by winning a landslide success in Maharashtra. Party workers and leaders across the state have already started celebrating the alliances big victory as Mahayuti won 235 seats. The BJP, which has the largest share of seats, has won 133 seats. The partys tally alone is greater than that of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) which has managed to bag only 49 out of the 288 assembly seats.
The officials said that vote counting began on Saturday for the Vav bypoll in Gujarat at an engineering college in Jagana village read more

Counting of votes in the bypoll to the Vav assembly seat in Gujarats Banaskantha district, where ruling BJP and opposition Congress were the main contenders, began on Saturday morning.

The vote count for the bypoll held on November 13 commenced at 8 am at an engineering college in Jagana village, officials said.

Nearly 160 election officials and 400 personnel of the Gujarat police and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have been deployed at the counting centre, the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) for Gujarat has said.

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A voter turnout of 70.55 per cent was recorded in the by-election. Out of the 3.10 lakh registered voters, nearly 2.19 lakh exercised their franchise at 321 polling booths using EVMs and VVPAT machines.

The Vav seat fell vacant following the resignation of Congress MLA Geniben Thakor, who was elected to the Lok Sabha from Banaskantha in June.

Congress candidate and former MLA Gulabsinh Rajput and BJPs Swaroopji Thakor are the main contestants, but the presence of BJP rebel Mavji Patel has made the bypoll a three-way fight.

Patel (73), who comes from the dominant Chaudhary community, was suspended as BJPs primary member on Sunday for his decision to contest as an independent candidate.

Seven other candidates - six independents and one from the Bharatiya Jan Parishad party - were also in the fray for the bypoll.

BJPs Thakor had lost from the seat, a Congress bastion, to opposition party candidate Geniben Thakor in the 2022 assembly polls.

The constituency has been a Congress stronghold, with Geniben winning the seat in 2017 and again in 2022.

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Patel had won the Vav seat in 1990 as a Janata Dal candidate. He then joined the opposition Congress, but switched to the ruling BJP in 2019 after being denied a ticket from Tharad seat in the 2017 assembly polls.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.)
The invasive buffel grass first brought to the country more than a century ago is wreaking havoc on our native ecosystems and even threatens indigenous culture.

A $4 million plan is underway to tackle the massive problem on the remote Aussie territory. Source: Supplied/Parks Australia

It's a pristine natural environment considered to be of "international importance" but  like other parts of the country  it's under threat by an invasive species which threatens to undermine the native ecosystem, causing irreparable damage.

Australian researchers have conducted two separate field voyages to the Ashmore Reef Marine Park, about 630km north of Broome off the coast of Western Australia, only just returning after spending weeks trying to best tackle the problem. That problem is the fast-spreading buffel grass.

Initially brought into Australia by Afghan cameleers in the 1870s, it soon spread around the country. And even the remote reef island, which is closer to Timor than mainland Australia, is no exception.

"This invasive species has been spreading across the island at an alarming rate, threatening key habitats for shorebirds by smothering the native shrub community," Parks Australia said.

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Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, a spokesperson explained the goal of the urgent project "is to find the best control method for buffel grass in the islands" as they tested different treatments to control seed germination.

"The islands are a unique environment that are hard to get to so we want to choose the best method for the circumstances," they explained.

Ashmore Reef Marine Park is some 600km north of Broome. Source: Supplied/Google Earth

Eight tonnes of invasive grass found on remote Aussie island

Remarkably, the team, made up of members from Parks Australia, the CSIRO and Monash University, removed a whopping eight tonnes of buffel grass over the two voyages to the islands in recent months.

Photos shows huge bags packed full of the invasive species to dry it out before it was burned to destroy the seeds.

"Buffel grass is a high priority because it has the potential to spread quickly," the Parks Australia spokesperson told Yahoo News. "It smothers areas of native vegetation which is used by nesting seabirds and impedes turtle access to nesting sites."

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The islands are highly protected and managed as a sanctuary zone as the area supports 100,000 breeding seabirds, nesting green and hawksbill turtles, migratory shorebirds and diverse coral reefs. Meanwhile a lagoon there supports a small, isolated dugong population.

RELATED: Incredible images capture rare dugong moment off Aussie coast

Huge bags were used to store removed grass before it was burned. Source: Supplied/Parks Australia

"It's part of a Migratory Flyway of International significance for the migratory shorebirds each year," the Parks Australia spokesperson said.

"Despite its high level of protection, Ashmore is under threat from climate change and multiple introduced species."

The $4 million project is expected to take years to achieve its goals, in part because buffel grass has an extensive seedbank. Because of that, full eradication is likely to take an additional three to five years, Parks officials say.

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Ongoing annual maintenance and monitoring will be critical to the long term success of the project as researchers work to protect and restore native biodiversity on the islands' terrestrial ecosystems.

The team also conducted island clean ups, bird population surveys and sampled for bird flu. Thankfully, no signs of the virus were found on the island. Source: Supplied/Parks Australia

Invasive grass increases fire risk and is a 'threat' to indigenous communities

Like other invasive grasses, buffel grass is "slowly being recognised as a threat," Dr Carol Booth from the Invasive Species Council told Yahoo News last week.

Although it has spread across the country, it has only been declared as a weed by the Northern Territory and South Australia governments, the latter of which is "really leading the way" in management, she said.

"Buffel grass is a threat to remote Indigenous communities in Australia because it causes heightened fire risk, damage to cultural sites, and a reduction in the ability to pass on cultural knowledge to the next generation," the South Australian government said last year as it announced a $2.2 million fund to tackle the grass.

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It noted the weed was a factor in recent uncontrolled fires around Alice Springs as well as the devastating wildfires that ripped through Hawaii, also pushing the issue into a national spotlight in the United States last year.

Within the timeframe of collection, herbicide was found to limit regrowth rate. Seed-head formation was also strongly inhibited. Source: Supplied/Parks Australia

In its management strategy release this year, the Northern Territory also noted the troubling impact the spread of the grass is having on indigenous culture in remote Aussie communities.

"Buffel grass threatens the culture of First Nations people by displacing bushfoods, covering hunting tracks and hiding snakes. It grows prolifically following seasonal rains, is tolerant to fire, and is an early re-invader of burnt areas," it warned.

Currently the grass is still allowed to be imported into Australia, with experts calling for stricter controls to be introduced. Parks Australia said it would also like to see tougher controls on the invasive grass.

Dr Booth said the grass is "already causing enormous damage in Central Australia and Western Queensland".

"It's going to be an interesting one to watch," she said.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader has won his seat from the Barhait assembly constituency. The INDI alliance, consisting of JMM, Congress and RJD, has won Jharkhand by bagging 56 of 81 seats. JMM alone has won 34 of these seats read more

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren thanked voters after the INDIA blocs victory in the state, saying that JMMs big win has made the elections successful.

I want to thank the people of all communities and all the farmers, women and youth of the state for casting their votes with the majority and making this election successful, Soren said.

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader has won his seat from the Barhait assembly constituency. The INDI alliance, consisting of JMM, Congress and RJD, has won Jharkhand by bagging 56 of 81 seats. JMM alone has won 34 of these seats.

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Soren added, We are waiting for the complete result which will be soon announcedAfter that, we will take a further decisionThe INDIA alliance performance has been very good.

#WATCH | Ranchi: Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren says, "Today the results of the #JharkhandAssemblyElection2024 have come...I want to thank the people of all communities and all the farmers, women and youth of the state for casting their votes with the majority and making this election pic.twitter.com/cstuLggwt4  ANI (@ANI) November 23, 2024

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Soren for his partys performance in the state to which the chief minister replied, I want to thank PM Modi also for his best wishes to us.

I thank the people of Jharkhand for their support towards us. We will always be at the forefront of raising peoples issues and working for the state.



I also congratulate the JMM-led alliance for their performance in the state. @HemantSorenJMM  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 23, 2024

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The INDIA blocs victory will mark a comeback not seen in recent times. Initial trends showed a close fight between the two alliances, but the INDIA bloc soon turned the tables and widened the gap between its leads to that of the NDA read more

The INDIA bloc is way past the majority mark in Jharkhand with Hemant Sorens JMM leading the way to a possible victory in the state defined by a neck-to-neck battle with the BJP-led NDA.

As of 1:29 pm, the INDI bloc is ahead in 52 of Jharkhands 81 seats while NDA is leading in 29. Of the 52 seats, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha is leading in 30 and Congress in 15. The majority mark is 41.

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The INDIA blocs victory will mark a comeback not seen in recent times. Initial trends showed a close fight between the two alliances, but the INDIA bloc soon turned the tables and widened the gap between its leads to that of the NDA.

Catch all the live updates on election results

It will also be a special victory for JMMs Hemant Soren as it was his first election since he came out of jail. The chief minister himself is leading from Barhait assembly constituency. His wife Kalpana Soren, on the other hand, is trailing from the Gandey seat.

Champai Soren, who left JMM a few months back after Soren took back the post of CM from him, is leading in BJPs ticket from the Seraikella constituency.

While exit polls had predicted BJP-led NDAs victory in Jharkhand, the fight was shown to be tough. The saffron party was projected to win 40 out of the 81 Assembly seats while its opponent INDIA bloc was predicted to win 37 seats.

JMM has also outdone its 2019 Assembly result. Last time, the party won 30 seats, up from 19 in 2014. It focused its campaign on branding its welfare schemes like Mukhyamantri Maiya Samman Yojana. Its narrative on adivasi asmita or pride of tribals also drew voters closer to the party.

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Meanwhile, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) emerged as a surprise element in the elections with its candidates leading in five of the six seats where it contested.

In 2019, RJD secured only the Chatra seat where its nominee Satyanand Bhokta won.

With inputs from agencies
The Mahayuti manifesto promised a number of things that the new government is now expected to implement. From more women-friendly schemes to loan waivers for farmers here are policies people of Maharahstra can look forward to read more

Mahayutis performance in Maharashtra has turned heads. The BJP-led alliance has done the unexpected in the state by sailing way past the majority mark of 145 to win 234 out of the 288 seats.

Several factors played into Mahayutis historic win in the state. While voters gave their support to the BJP-Shiv Sena (Shinde)-NCP (Ajit Pawar) alliance based on its performance and after encashing the benefits of the existing schemes, there are a lot of things to look forward to in the next five years.

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Heres what to expect from the Mahayuti government in Maharashtra:

The Ladki Bahin scheme was a game-changer for the saffron alliance. It drew female voters close to Mahayuti which provided a huge impetus for its win. The coalition government will raise financial assistance to beneficiaries from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,500

Mahayuti has promised to offer loan waivers to farmers and the Samman Nidhi will be increased from Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000. A 20 per cent price alignment on MSP has also been proposed

Old age pension will also be increased from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,100. A policy named Senior Citizens First will be implemented to ensure automated services for the elderly

The government will build pakka houses and make housing affordable for the poor and homeless in the next five years

Students of Maharashtra will receive a monthly stipend of Rs 10,000 as the government strives to create more than 25 lakh jobs

The Marathwada Water Grid project will be set afoot and it aims to connect 11 dams with a network of sealed pipelines, ensuring a consistent water supply across the entire Marathwada region

Electricity bills will be reduced by 30 per cent with the government promising to light up homes with solar and renewable energy

Healthcare will be made available to everyone, with the expansion of the Prime Ministers Ayushman Bharat scheme and the Mahatma Phule Janarogya Yojana, ensuring that financial limitations do not prevent anyone from receiving medical care

A dedicated initiative will be launched to support the rehabilitation of all ex-servicemen, the families of martyrs, and police officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty
Maharashtra saw a historic victory for the Mahayuti alliance, which dominated the Assembly elections by winning 234 of the 288 seats. The JMM-led INDIA coalition decisively defeated the BJP-led NDA by winning 56 of the 81 seats read more

Jharkhand voted in two phases while polls in Maharashtra were held in one phase. The results of these elections were declared on November 23. PTI

It was a jam-packed Saturday (November 23), with the Assembly election results of Maharashtra and Jharkhand being announced.

A historic win in Maharashtra

Maharashtra witnessed a historic victory for the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, which dominated the Assembly elections by winning 234 of the 288 seats, leaving the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) trailing far behind.

The BJP alone secured an impressive 132 seats, with a 26.22 per cent vote share. Eknath Shindes Shiv Sena faction, a key ally in the NDA, contributed 57 seats with a 12.38 per cent vote share. The NCP won 41 seats, garnering 9 per cent of the vote share.

In stark contrast, the MVA alliance faced a crushing defeat. Uddhav Thackerays Shiv Sena faction managed to win only 20 seats, with a 9.96 per cent vote share. Congress secured 16 seats, receiving a 12.42 per cent vote share, while Sharad Pawars NCP, which remained with the MVA, won just 10 seats with an 11.28 per cent vote share.

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A win led by regional party in Jharkhand

The Jan Mukti Morcha-led INDIA coalition stormed to power for the second time in a row in Jharkhand, decisively defeating the BJP-headed NDA by winning 56 seats in the 81-member Assembly.

In the 2019 elections, the INDIA alliance, which includes the Congress, claimed victory in 47 seats. The JMM emerged as the single-largest party with 34 seats, while its alliance partners Congress and RJD won 16 and four constituencies, respectively. The CPI(ML) Liberation secured two seats.

The NDA, on the other hand, managed just 24 seats, with the BJP winning 21. Its alliesAJSU Party, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), and JD(U)secured one seat each.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who is currently out on bail in a money-laundering case, ran a campaign centred on his governments social welfare schemes while alleging a conspiracy by the BJP-led central government.

The BJP, in contrast, focused its campaign on allegations of corruption within Sorens administration and infiltration from Bangladesh.

While it is decided that Hemant Soren will the Chief Minister in Jharkhand, who will lead Maharashtra is yet to be revealed.

With inputs from agencies
Maharashtra election result 2024 will be announced soon as counting of votes picks up pace. However, whichever alliance between Mahayuti and MVA - wins the poll, it will have time till Tuesday to form the government. Considering the power play among the members of the alliance, heres a look at possibility of what may happen in the state after the final poll verdict is out read more

Counting of votes in Maharashtra has picked up pace moments after it began on Saturday morning. The winner to lead the 288-seat Assembly and head the government in the state for the five years will be clear later in the day. However, there is a possibility of no government formation given the power play that may transpire among the six parties who are part of two alliances - Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).

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The conducted on a single phase on November 20 saw a contest between BJP-led Mahayuti coalition, comprising Shiv Sena (Shinde) and NCP (Ajit Pawar); and MVA alliance of which Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and the NCP (SP) are part of.

Currently, Mahayuti government is in power in Maharashtra with Shiv Senas Eknath Shinde as the chief minister who has two deputies - Devendra Fadnavis (BJP) and Ajit Pawar (NCP).

President rule if no government formed by Tuesday

Whichever party or alliance wins the election in Maharashtra, will have to speed up in forming the government as Presidents rule will be imposed in the state if no government is formed by the set deadline of November 26.

Lets take a look at what can possibly happen in Maharashtra, a key state in Indian politics.

To come into power, a party or alliance will have top secure a minimum of 145 seats in the 288-seat Maharashtra Assembly.

What if Mahayuti secures a safe majority?

The early trends show Mahayuti clearly ahead of MVA. If the verdict comes in favour of the alliance, BJP-led Mahayuti will have to brace up to form the government and name their chief ministerial candidate.

The BJP has contested on 149 of 288 seats in the recently held polls in Maharashtra and if it manages to win around 100 seats, it can smoothly claim the formation of the government with Fadnavis as the CM candidate.

But if BJP fails to bag 100 seats and get something below 80, then it will have to rely as well as mull the possibility of government formation with Shinde-led Sena, which contested on 82 seats and Ajit Pawars NCP which fielded its candidates on 59 seats. However, in such a scenario, Shinde will possibly make a comeback as the chief minister.

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Who will be the chief minister if Mahayuti alliance wins majority will be decided in Delhi after the final Maharashtra election result is out.

And if MVA steals the show

If MVA manages to reach the half-way mark of 145, Nana Patole of Congress and Uddhav Thackeray of Sena (UBT) will be the top candidates in the race for the post of the chief minister.

A report by The Indian Express mentioned leaders of the alliance as saying that the party which wins the maximum seats is expected to get the chief ministerial post in the MVA.

Also Read: Maharashtra election results: Fearing poaching, MVA asks winners to reach Mumbai by tonight

In the last three months, Thackeray has been persistently demanding his alliance partners NCP (SP) and the Congress to decide and declare the CM face, but the two parties have been reluctant to do so.

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Neither MVA nor Mahayuti, then who forms the govt?

If a rare condition arises where neither MVA nor Mahayuti secures the majority or half-way mark, then smaller parties will come into play.

Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi (VBA), Raj Thackerays Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), Bachhu Kadu headed third front led, Hitendra Thakurs Bahujan Vikas Aaghadi (BVA) and Independents would have a bigger role to play if neither MVA nor Mahayuti makes it to power by themselves.

The alliances will be approaching these smaller parties and independents for support to form the government, enticing them with a role in the government.

With inputs from agencies.
Maharashtra election result 2024 has been in favour of BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, but did the bellwether constituencies in the state, which have in previous polls correctly voted with the popular mandate, go correct this time too? Read more to find out read more

Maharashtra election result 2024 was declared on Saturday (November 23). Voting was held in a single phase on November 20. Source: PTI | FILE.

Maharashtra will be ruled by the BJP-led Mahayuti government for another five-year term. The alliance is projected to win over 220 of 288-seats, with BJP alone leading on 132.

The Mahayuti, an alliance of three parties - BJP, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) and Ajit Pawar-led NCP, now gets engaged in another crucial task of deciding on who would be the new Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

Amid Mahayutis lead in Maharashtra, lets take a look at how the bellwether constituencies, who have correctly voted with the popular mandate in every state election since 1990.

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Murbad

In the 2024 Maharashtra election, most Murbad voters voted in favour of BJP. As per the trends, the candidate from the constituency was leading by more than 50,000 votes.

Murbad has been holding the record of gauging the mood of Maharashtra after the Assembly election since 1952. It has also voted for a party that formed the government in the state after the polls.

In the last assembly poll in 2019, 77 per cent of the total votes cast in Murbad was in favour of the BJP, while in 2014, 38 per cent of votes cast were in favour of the party

In 2009 and 2004, the maximum votes cast in Murbad were in favour of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The case was similar in 1999. Between 1999 and 2014  the Congress-NCP coalition was in power.

Between 1978 to 1990, Murbad had voted for the Congress candidate who contested the election.

The parties which were voted and won on these four bellwether seats went on to form the government in Maharashtra that year

Kandivali

As the counting of votes continues and Maharashtra election result 2024 will be declared finally in a few hours, in Kandivali, another bellwether, BJP secured voters mandate with the candidate from the seat leading by over 83,000 votes.

In 2019 and 2014, Kandivali voted for the BJP. Before that, in the 1999, 2004 and 2009 state polls, the Congress candidate, who contested the seat, grabbed most votes.

Andheri East and Andheri West

In Maharashtra election 2024, Shiv Sena (Shinde) candidate was leading by over 25,000 votes in Andheri East, while in Andheri West BJP candidate was ahead by more than 19,500 votes.

During the two previous state polls, in 2014 and 2019, Andheri East voted for the Shiv Sena candidate, while Andheri West voted for BJP. Both these parties contested the 2014 Maharashtra Assembly election separately but formed a government in alliance.

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In 2009, both Andheri East and West voted for the Congress candidate who contested for the seat.

Till 2004, Andheri was a single constituency after which it was divided into Andheri East and Andheri West.

From 1980-1990, Andheri voted for Congress candidates. It then gave the most votes to the Shiv Sena candidate in the 1995 election.

The constituency again voted for the Congress from 1999 to 2004.

Pune Cantonment

In another bellwether seat, Pune Cantonment, BJP candidate was leading by over 10,000 votes in 2014 polls.

The constituency in 2014 and 2019 gave maximum votes to the then BJP candidate.

Between 1999 to 2009 they voted for the Congress candidate who contested from the seat.

In 1995, Pune Cantonment voted the most for Shiv Sena candidate and in the 1990 election most votes went to the Congress candidate.

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In Maharashtra election 2024, of the four bellwether constituencies three voted for BJP while Shiv Sena (Shinde) faction was leading on one and their votes are the same as rest of Maharashtra which voted BJP-led Mahayuti alliance with a massive majority.

The parties which were voted and won on these four bellwether seats earlier too have gone to form the government in Maharashtra that year.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde thanked his supporters as Mahayuti is set for a landslide victory in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly Elections. The early trends are showing that BJP-led Mahayuti is expected to win over 200 seats out of the 288 the state assembly has to offer. The counting began on Saturday at 8 am.

As of now the alliance has won one seat but is leading on 220 seats. The magic figure to cross and to form a majority government in the state is 145. I thank the voters of Maharashtra. This is a landslide victory. I had said before that Mahayuti will get a thumping victory. I thank all sections of the society. I also thank all the workers of the Mahayuti parties, the Shiv Sena told reporters in Thane.

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#WATCH | Thane | Maharashtra CM & Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde and his party leaders celebrate with 'ladoos' as Mahayuti is set to form govt in the state pic.twitter.com/HisjKYQTor  ANI (@ANI) November 23, 2024

Shinde also celebrated the feat by distributing ladoos to his party workers. When asked about what lies ahead for the alliance, which is expected to form the government, Shinde said that all three parties who were part of the alliance will sit and make a decision on who will be the next Maharashtra CM. Let the final results come inThen, in the same way as we fought elections together, all three parties will sit together and take a decision, he averred.

#WATCH | Thane | Maharashtra CM & Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde and his party leaders celebrate with 'ladoos' as Mahayuti is set to form govt in the state pic.twitter.com/HisjKYQTor  ANI (@ANI) November 23, 2024

Amit Shah speaks to Shinde, Pawar and Fadnavis as the quest to find CM continues

After the BJP-led alliance crossed the 200 mark in the early trends, Union Minister Amit Shah spoke to Shinde, Deputy CMs Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis and congratulated them for the alliances performance.

With a majority secured, reports are emerging that the BJP is likely to hold the Maharashtra Legislative Party meeting on November 25. The oath-taking ceremony is tentatively scheduled for November 26, ANI reported.

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A source close to the party told ANI that a large meeting of the Yuti alliance is also likely to be held around the same time. Meanwhile, celebrations have already begun at the BJPs Mumbai office. As per the trends released at 11 am, the Mahayuti alliance is leading in 220 seats, with BJP leading in 128, driving the charge in the state. The Shinde-led Shiv Sena (SHS) is heading the polls with 55 seats, followed closely by the National Congress Party (NCP) with 35 seats.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) on the other hand is trailing with a lead in 51 seats. The Indian National Congress, which is part of MVA has managed to take a lead in only 20 seats, followed by Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) has a lead in 16 seats. Sharadchandra Pawar (NCP-SP) is currently leading in 13 seats in the state.

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As the Mahayuti alliance celebrates a stellar performance in the polls, all eyes are now on who will assume the post of CM of the state.

With inputs from agencies.
Maharashtra Election Result 2024: MVA conducted a special meeting during which it asked all its winning candidates to directly head to Mumbai by Saturday night avoiding victory procession after the poll verdict. As per reports, the alliance is in touch with independents and rebel candidates and is planning to fly them out of Mumbai to avoid possible poaching read more

The counting of votes has begun and later today, Maharashtra election result 2024 will be declared, making it clear who will form the new government in the state. The key contest in Maharashtra is between the two alliances - Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and Mahayuti, with exit polls predicting a win for MVA.

With an intensely tense political environment in Maharashtra, MVA, comprising the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and Nationalist Congress Party (SP), has directed all its winning candidates to be present in Mumbai by on Saturday (November 23), soon after the poll results are declared.

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MVA held an online meeting on Friday during which it directed all its winning candidates to head to Mumbai directly, avoiding any victory procession in their respective constituencies.

Maharashtra Congress has also separately given orders that all its winning candidates should remain in Mumbai by Saturday night. Formation of the government is a priority and celebrations can be arranged later, a party leader was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.

According to a report by The Economic Times, MVA is planning to fly its MLAs to a secure location to avoid poaching.

On Thursday, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat and NCP (SP) Maharashtra president Jayant Patil met at a a suburban hotel where they discussed ways to keep their flock together

There is a plan to get all our MLAs flown out of Maharashtra by Saturday night, so that they are not poached. We believe that the MVA will come to power on its own or it will be a close contest, the report quoted a Congress leader as saying.

The Congress leader said that the destination where the winning candidates will be flown to is not yet known. It will be to a Congress-ruled state, probably Karnataka or Telangana. We will make a final decision on flying out around Saturday evening after seeing the results, he was quoted as saying.

During the meeting on Thursday, Raut, Thorat, and Patil, also discussed reaching out to independents and other rebels who are likely to win the polls so that they too could be herded out along with the winning candidates of MVA.

During the online meeting on Friday, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar asked MVA candidates not to trust any exit poll. He asked the candidates to not give attention to the exit polls and said that the MVA is poised to win 157 to 162 seats, the IE report quoted a leader from the NCP-SP as saying.

Also Read:

Meanwhile, Uddhav Thackeray claimed that MVA would secure 160 seats, MPCC president Nana Patole was confident of 150 to 155 seats.

According to a report by ToI, sources in Congress said an internal survey revealed that MVA would win 158 seats, while Mahayuti would get 113. The survey stated that BJP would emerge as the single-largest party with 67 seats.

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With inputs from agencies.
PM Modis campaign made an impact. The prime ministers rallies and speeches contributed to Mahayutis historic win in Maharashtra with his strike rate reaching 74 per cent read more

BJP contested in 35 seats where PM Modi held speeches. The party won in 26 of those seats. PTI file

Mahayuti is on its path to achieving an unprecedented victory in Maharashtra. In the states 288 assembly seats, the BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP alliance is ahead in 229 with the saffron party contributing the majority of share to this number at 134.

Leaving its Opposition, Maha Vikas Aghadi, way behind, the BJP-led Mahayuti is set to create history and mark its best performance in Maharashtra. Celebrations have commenced among party lines as the results make it clear that Mahayuti is here to stay.

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Catch all the live updates on election results

To add cherry on the top, the key candidates fielded by the alliance have also outperformed this election by winning or leading their respective constituencies by wide margins. Many factors played into Mahayutis win among which seat sharing also contributed significantly. BJP contested 149 seats, Shiv Sena (Shinde) got 81 and NCP (AP) fought in 59 seats.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held rallies in over 10 assembly constituencies. Did the Modi factored into Mahayutis win? We take a look:

PM Modis strike rate

After Lok Sabha elections, PM Modis overall strike rate dipped to 56 per cent but he made up for it in the Maharashtra assembly elections.

Wherever PM Modi went to campaign, victory followed. BJP contested in 35 seats where PM Modi held speeches. The party won in 26 of those seats which adds up to a strike rate of over 74 per cent.

Heres a breakdown of the seats where PM Modi held campaigns:

Dhule: Contested 2 seats, won both

Nashik: Contested 3 seats, won all

Chhatrapati Sabhajinagar: Contested 8 seats, won 2

Akola: Contested 2 seats, won 1

Chandrapur: Contested 1 seat, won 1

Solapur: Contested 2 seats, won both

Pune: Contested 1 seat, won 1

Mumbai: Contested 15 seats, won 13

Thane: Contested 1 seat, won 1

The prime ministers remarkable strike rate in the state is testimony to BJPs improved numbers this year.

BJPs Maha strike rate

Meanwhile, the saffron partys strike rate has reached a whopping 89 per cent in Maharashtra.

It is important to note that this is BJPs best-ever performance in the state as compared to 2014 when the party won 122 seats.

On the other hand, Congress strike rate has plunged to a mere 14 per cent. The party contested 101 seats and is leading in only 15 of them.
Maharashtra election results: Out of the 220 seats that Mahayuti is leading in, BJP has contributed in 133 seats, Shiv Sena (Shinde) is ahead in 50 seats and NCP (Ajit) in 37 seats read more

Mahayuti is set to make history by winning a landslide victory in Maharashtra. Party workers and leaders across the state have already started celebrating the alliances big win as Mahayuti leads in 220 seats. The BJP, which has the largest share of seats, is ahead in 132 seats. The partys tally alone is greater than that of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) which is leading in 60 out of the 288 assembly seats.

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While the path to victory has brought relief to the Mahayuti alliance, the next big challenge that the alliance faces is choosing the chief ministers pick. There has been a lot of buzz around who will hold the post for the next five years in Maharashtra with Shindes supporters hoping he to continue while BJP wants to put its own leader.

Catch all the live updates on election results

Out of the 220 seats that Mahayuti is leading in, BJP has contributed in 133 seats, Shiv Sena (Shinde) is ahead in 50 seats and NCP (Ajit) in 37 seats.

No decision yet

An overjoyed Eknath Shinde, while talking to reporters after trends showed Mahayuti way ahead of the Opposition alliances, addressed the elephant in the room. He said that the alliance has not taken any call on the next CM face.

I thank Maharashtra people. This is a landslide victory. I had said before that Mahayuti will get a thumping victory. I thank all sections of the society. I also thank all the workers of the Mahayuti parties," he said.

He added, No decision on Chief Minister candidate has been taken yet, adding that Mahayuti will decide the next steps.

Shinde is comfortably cruising from his Kopri-Pachpakhadi seat.

Fadnavis or Shinde?

Reportedly, the frontrunners in the CM race are Devendra Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde.

Senior BJP leader Chandrakant Patil said, Who the CM would be would be decided by our central parliamentary board. However, if we are asked, then we would unanimously say that it should be Devendra Fadnavis as the Chief Minister.

Meanwhile, Fadnavis has made the biggest comeback of his career just months after he offered to resign from the post of deputy chief minister after the Lok Sabha debacle. The long-time BJP leader is leading from the Nagpur South West seat.

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BJPs National General Secretary Vinod Tawde said, As far as the CM is concerned, Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis, Ajit Pawar and BJPs central leadership will make a decision together and tell you about it. Today, Mahayuti is celebrating its victory and expressing gratitude to the people of the state.

However, Washim City seems to have declared Fadnavis as the next chief minister of Maharashtra.

#WATCH | Posters depicting BJP's Devendra Fadnavis as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra seen in Washim city.



As per official EC trends, Fadnavis is leading on Nagpur South West seat by a margin of 24,593 votes over Congress' Prafulla Vinodrao Gudadhe. Mahayuti is all set to form pic.twitter.com/MleKjJFINg  ANI (@ANI) November 23, 2024

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The prime minister also noted the contributions made by Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar in Mahayutis historic win in Maharashtra read more

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that with Mahayutis win in Maharashtra, negative and dynastic politics has lost its place in the state, adding that development and good governance have emerged victorious today.

Development, good governance and social justice have won in Maharashtra. Lies and deceit have suffered a crushing defeat, PM Modi said.

#WATCH | Delhi: PM Narendra Modi says, "Development, good governance and social justice have won in Maharashtra. Lies and deceit have suffered a crushing defeat..."#MaharashtraElection2024 pic.twitter.com/617gHFvIOY  ANI (@ANI) November 23, 2024

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The prime minister also noted the contributions made by Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar in Mahayutis historic win in Maharashtra. This is the biggest win in the past 50 years of any pre-poll alliance, PM Modi said.

He added, BJP has got more seats than Congress and its allies. Maharashtra is the sixth state in the country which has given mandate to BJP three times in a row.

#WATCH | Delhi: PM Narendra Modi says, "This time Maharashtra has broken all records. This is the biggest victory for any party or pre-poll alliance in Maharashtra in the last 50 years. This is the third consecutive time that Maharashtra has blessed the alliance led by BJP. For pic.twitter.com/Qg3bj01pNy  ANI (@ANI) November 23, 2024

Mahayuti, the alliance made of BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde) and NCP (AP), has won 234 out of 288 Assembly seats in Maharashtra while MVA could only win 50 seats.

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Highlighting BJPs performance in the state, the Indian prime minister said that the party alone has won more seats than the entire Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi. The saffron party has secured 132 seats while Shiv Sena and NCP have won 57 and 41 seats respectively.

Furthering Mahayutis Ek hai toh safe hain rhetoric, PM Modi said, After Haryana, the biggest message of this election is unity. Ek hain toh safe hain has become the maha-mantra of the country.

#WATCH | Delhi: PM Narendra Modi says, "After Haryana, the biggest message of this election is unity. 'Ek hain toh safe hain' has become the 'maha-mantra' of the country..."#MaharashtraElection2024 pic.twitter.com/6KuDqDB8zJ  ANI (@ANI) November 23, 2024

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Big blow to Congress eco-system

Taking potshots at the Opposition, especially Congress, Modi said, This is a strong blow to the thinking of the entire eco-system of Congress and INDI alliance, which was running an agenda to divide the society.

#WATCH | Delhi: PM Narendra Modi says, "..The sentiment of 'Ek hain toh safe hain' has taught a lesson to those who make people fight in the name of caste, religion, language and region. It has punished them. Tribals, OBCs, Dalits, every section of the society voted for BJP-NDA. pic.twitter.com/PHhoWAzPo7  ANI (@ANI) November 23, 2024

The entire world respects our culture today because we respect it now. And in the next five years, Maharashtra will move ahead with the mantra of vikas bhi virasat bhi. The INDI alliance, meanwhile, has failed to accept the reality. The countrys voters dont want instability and are with those who support the mantra of nation first, he added.
Maharashtra, Jharkhand Election Results 2024 Live Updates: BJP-led Mahayuti alliance has won in Maharashtra, with the saffron party alone winning 132 of the 288 seats. In Jharkhand, the JMM-led coalition, INDIA, has emerged victorious. JMM has won 34 of the 81 seats read more

Jharkhand voted in two phases while polls in Maharashtra were held in one phase. The results of these elections have been declared on November 23. PTI

D-day is finally here, and the two crucial states, Maharashtra and Jharkhand, are set to elect their new governments. The clash between the BJP and the INDIA bloc will be seen in both states as the counting of votes begins at 8 am today.

Poll of polls gave Mahayuti the edge in Maharashtra with the alliance projected to win 151 out of 288 seats, surpassing the 145 majority mark. Meanwhile, the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi has some hope with projections showing it will win 129 seats.

Exit poll results showed Wednesday that the faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is expected to win Maharashtra in the Sena vs. Sena battle.

While poll of polls have predicted BJP-led NDAs victory in Jharkhand, the fight is going to be tough. The saffron party is projected to win 40 out of the 81 Assembly seats while its opponent INDIA bloc might be able to bag 37 seats. The majority mark is 41.

Jharkhand might see a BJP comeback as the alliance led by it is projected to win 40 Assembly seats, exit polls showed on Wednesday.

#WATCH | Outside visuals from a counting centre in Dharavi as the counting for 288 seats that went to poll on November 20, for #MaharashtraAssemblyElections2024 is expected to begin at 8 am, today. pic.twitter.com/O1gpy0zJ5J

Officials have arrived at the crack of dawn they gear up to count the votes in the highly intense Maharashtra assembly election. It is dead silent outside the counting centre as counting is expected to begin at 8 am today.

The results of the Jharkhand and Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 will be out on the website of the Election Commission of India. Track our website to follow the Firstpost live coverage and to get a detailed analysis of everything that is happening in the intense race between the BJP and the INDIA bloc.

#WATCH | Kerala: Counting for #Wayanad Lok Sabha by-elections to take place today. The constituency saw a contest between Congress' Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and BJP's Navya Haridas. Visuals from outside a counting centre in Kalpetta of Wayanad district. pic.twitter.com/ihWsKOiz3t

While the country will be watching the Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly election results closely, counting for Wayanad Lok Sabha by-elections will take place today as well. The constituency saw a contest between Congress Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and BJPs Navya Haridas.

Ahead of the counting of votes for Maharashtra Election 2024, senior Congress leader & partys observer for Maharashtra, Ashok Gehlot says, If Exit Polls are against us right now, they were in our favour during Haryana polls. But you will get to know the status when results start coming in. We are confident that the public has placed their trust in INDIA Alliance and blessed usWe are confident, and our workers are excited. INDIA Alliance has contested together, the atmosphere is in our support. We are expecting our Government to come to powerWe hope the counting takes place smoothly.

An appeal to all the hardworking colleagues of the JMM and INDIA alliance is that tomorrow we have to be alert and vigilant and participate in the entire counting process at our respective counting centres. We have to stay firm until we get the certificate of victory, the Jharkhand CM added.

A night before counting Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren took to X, formally known as Twitter, urging his colleagues of the JMM and INDIA alliance to remain vigilant during the counting process. Tomorrow is a historic day of counting of votes for Jharkhand assembly elections. Tomorrow belongs to Jharkhand, to the people of Jharkhand, to Abua Dishom-Abua Raj, he wrote on Friday.

#WATCH | Mumbai: Ahead of the counting of votes for #MaharashtraElection2024 , Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate from Wadala, Shraddha Jadhav says, "Results will come out today. Our victory is certain, you will see it...Maha Vikas Aghadi will form the Government." pic.twitter.com/deIn8IBRQC

Ahead of the counting of votes in the Maharashtra Assembly Elections, Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate from Wadala, Shraddha Jadhav said that the partys victory is certain. Results will come out today. Our victory is certain, you will see itMaha Vikas Aghadi will form the Government, she told ANI on Saturday morning.

Heres a look at all the splits and mergers Indias third-largest state has seen in its political history:

While it might seem more rampant and dramatic in todays day and age, defections, splits and acquisitions are not new to Maharashtra politics. It has indeed changed in terms of power dynamics but the core of the issue stays the same.

The big fight is among two of the largest alliances in the state  Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi. The journey through which regional politics in Maharashtra has reached its current state where the contest is among two alliances has a precedence worth mentioning.

After the Lok Sabha debacle, the assembly election was seen as a litmus test for the Bharatiya Janata Party which is contesting in alliance with the breakaway factions of Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party. Meanwhile, for the Congress and Shiv Sena, the polls will be about getting their ground back in the state.

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!     !

Prakash Ambedkar, the president of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), said his party would back the party that could form the government if it got the required number of votes on the eve of the Maharashtra Assembly election results.

#WATCH | Ranchi: Ahead of the counting of votes for #JharkhandElection2024 , JMM spokesperson Manoj Pandey says, "There is a clear voice from the people of Jharkhand - Iss baar phir Hemant dobara, Hemant Soren return. Women, students and people of Jharkhand have reposed their pic.twitter.com/ViBE6dZNPQ

Ahead of the counting of votes for Jharkhand Election, JMM spokesperson Manoj Pandey says, There is a clear voice from the people of Jharkhand  Iss baar phir Hemant dobara, Hemant Soren return. Women, students and people of Jharkhand have reposed their faith and we trust them. The excitement that was seen during campaigning and the day of elections clearly shows that we are coming to power again with absolute majority

#WATCH | Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC says, "Cluster development and housing is the biggest issue for people in Mumbadevi. If you look at women, what do women want? They want safety and security, there are no hospitals, there are no schools. Unfortunately, open spaces are a distant https://t.co/b3wt3m9JMU pic.twitter.com/Xw5Qxgs4ob

Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC says, Cluster development and housing is the biggest issue for people in Mumbadevi. If you look at women, what do women want? They want safety and security, there are no hospitals, there are no schools. Unfortunately, open spaces are a distant dream. So I think the entire blueprint needs to be capped out with a proper development plan to make it into a model constituency because unfortunately today its probably the most backward constituency in Maharashtra I am here to seek blessings for Mahayuti govt to come again and we keep working in the service of the people

Ahead of the counting of votes for the Maharashtra election and the Jharkhand election, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi says, Initial trends will start coming in now, postal ballots will be counted. I think picture will be clear around 11 am-12 noon. But it is very clear that the people of Maharashtra will make Maha Vikas Aghadi victorious and we will get the opportunity to form government once again with a simple majority. The manner in which Maharashtra saw corruption, loot and crimes against women, farmers issues in 2.5 years and the manner in which Delhi was trying to run the Govt in Delhi, Maharashtra saw that too. Our victory is certain and I believe that as the results come out, we will all celebrate.

Ahead of the beginning of counting for votes for Jharkhand Assembly elections, DC and district electoral officer, Ranchi, Varun Ranjan says, All preparations have been made and all counting personnel have reached here. From 8 am, postal ballots will be counted, and from 8.30 am onwards EVM votes will be counted. Around 4 pm-5 pm, we should be able to complete the counting process.

Ahead of the counting of votes for Jharkhand election, BJP candidate from Saraikela assembly constituency & former CM, Champai Soren says, BJP is going to win, there is no doubt. BJP-NDA is going to form the governmentPeople have voted in favour of the BJP. The biggest issue in Jharkhand has been the Bangladeshi infiltratorsThe population of Bangladeshi infiltrators is increasing rapidly. In this election, BJP is going to form the government, it will be clear in the next 1-1.5 hours

Speaking before vote counting began on Saturday, Marandi said, Look, regarding the government, we had some regrets, but after the elections, based on the feedback we received from grassroots-level workers, I can say with confidence that this time the BJP and the NDA alliance will secure 51-plus seats in Jharkhand, and the NDA will form the government here.

Ahead of counting of votes for the 2024 Jharkhand Assembly Elections, BJP leader Babulal Marandi claimed with confidence that the BJP-led NDA would win over 51 seats and form the government in the state, citing corruption in the incumbent administration as the key reason.

The 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly saw a 66.05% voter turnout. The Mahayuti and MVA leaders are optimistic about the turnout, viewing it as a positive sign for their respective alliances.

The MVA, which consists of the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP), is in a close battle with the Mahayuti alliance, which is made up of the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, in Maharashtra.

Plans are on to hold by-elections for 48 assembly seats and two Lok Sabha seats in 15 states, as well as to count the votes in the Jharkhand assembly elections.

Voter counting in Jharkhand and Maharashtra started at 8 a.m. on Saturday. Election workers were seen getting ready for the vote count of the 288 assembly seats up for grabs on November 20 in images taken from different Maharashtra counting centres.

With an intensely tense political environment in Maharashtra, MVA, comprising the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and Nationalist Congress Party (SP), has directed all its winning candidates to be present in Mumbai by on Saturday (November 23), soon after the poll results are declared.

The counting of votes has begun and later today, Maharashtra election result 2024 will be declared, making it clear who will form the new government in the state. The key contest in Maharashtra is between the two alliances  Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and Mahayuti, with exit polls predicting a win for MVA.

#WATCH | Counting of postal ballots for #MaharashtraElection2024 begins. Visuals from the strong room of a counting centre in Satara. pic.twitter.com/YczP59VUP2

Counting of postal ballots for the Maharashtra election begins.

On the counting of votes for Maharashtra election 2024, Prahar Janshakti Paksh leader Bacchu Kadu says, I feel that politics of caste and religion has taken place in these elections. Issue-based discussions were not placed, this is unfortunate. I also feel that Maharashtra will stay somewhere be in the middle  neither tilt towards MVA or Mahayuti. The government will not be formed without us

#WATCH | Counting of votes gets underway in Baramati for Maharashtra Assembly elections pic.twitter.com/963nYpZnGg

Counting of votes gets underway in Baramati for Maharashtra Assembly elections.

#MaharashtraElection2024 | Initial trends by Election Commission come in. Shiv Sena, NCP and BJP of the Mahayuti lead on 2, 1 and 1 seats respectively. Counting continues. pic.twitter.com/lr3T0gnbJY

On counting for Maharashtra election, Shiv Sena candidate from Dindoshi Assembly constituency, Sanjay Nirupam says, This election is very important. I have come here to seek the blessings of Shree Siddhivinayak. Mahayuti Govt will come back to power. It is important to bring the Mahayuti govt back to power in Maharashtra so that the development works underway for the last 2.5 years can continue and the people of the state can be happy

Following the postal ballot count, it was reported that BJP candidate Vijaykumar Gavit was leading in his seat, while Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole was leading in Sakoli.

According to TV reports, the Mahayuti increased its advantage to 26 seats after the postal ballot count began. An update from the Election Commission was still pending.

Out of 288 seats in Maharashtra, the incumbent BJP-led Mahayuti alliance had 31 seats, while the Maha Vikas Aghadi held 18 seats as the vote counting for the November 20 elections got underway on Saturday morning.

#JharkhandAssemblyElection2024 | Initial trends by Election Commission come in. Mahagathbandhan leading on 4 seats (JMM, Congress, RJD and CPI(ML)(L) on 1 seat each) BJP leading on 1 JLKM on 1 pic.twitter.com/o8GnlRURaX

Meanwhile, from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), the Nationalist Congress Party  Sharadchandra Pawar (NCP-SP) is leading in four seats and Congress in three seats and the UBT Sena in two seats.

As per initial results, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena is leading in nine seats, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in eight, and the BJP in 10 seats.

Early trends in Maharashtras 2024 Assembly Elections show the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance in the lead as of 9:10 AM on Saturday.

Mahayuti has early leads in 145 seats and MVA is leading in 33 seats.

Counting of votes in Maharashtra has picked up pace moments after it began on Saturday morning. The winner to lead the 288-seat Assembly and head the government in the state for the five years will be clear later in the day. However, there is a possibility of no government formation given the power play that may transpire among the six parties who are part of two alliances  Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).

Others and Independent leading on 13

On CM face, he says BJP is a national political party, the Parliamentary Board authorizes our national president, observers come and things are decided in the legislative party meeting

On counting for Jharkhand election, BJP leader Pradip Kumar Varma says EVM rounds have started coming and NDA seems to be moving forward continuously. People in the state voted in favour of change. People have supported us in the elections and that is very clear in the trends as well. NDA govt will be formed here with a huge majority

#MaharashtraAssemblyElections2024 | NCP's Sana Malik leading in Anushakti Nagar constituency over NCP-SCP's Fahad Ahmad by a margin of 3979 votes. Counting continues. pic.twitter.com/AH4B9E8PjF

#WATCH | Sweets have been brought to the Mumbai BJP office as Mahayuti crosses the majority mark of 145 in Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/XgtlLlG2nE

Sweets have been brought to the Mumbai BJP office as Mahayuti crosses the majority mark of 145 in Maharashtra.

NDA ally AJSU Party supremo Sudesh Mahto was trailing by 3,998 votes against JMMs Amit Kumar in Silli after the second round of counting.

Congress Minister Banna Gupta was trailing by a margin of 7,788 votes against JDUs Saryu Roy in Jamshedpur West seat after second round of counting.

JMM candidate and Minister Bebi Devi was leading by 3,315 votes over JKLMs Jairam Mahto in Dumri assembly seat after third round of counting.

BJP state chief Babulal Marandi was leading by 5,102 votes over CPIMLs Rajkumar Yadav after second round of counting.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren was leading in Barhait assembly constituency by a margin of 4,921 votes over BJPs Gamliyel Hembrom after the second round of counting.

According to the trends , the INDIA bloc was leading in 48, the NDA in 28 and an independent and JLKM in two seats each till 10.50 AM.

Counting of votes began at 8 AM.

The JMM-led INDIA bloc was leading in 48 of the 81 assembly seats in Jharkhand while the BJP-headed NDA was ahead in 28 as the counting of votes was underway on Saturday, according to trends available on the Election Commissions website.

On counting for Jharkhand election, former state Congress president Rajesh Thakur says, The trends will change in the results. The trends are coming out well and the margins seem to be increasing continuously. Whether it is a matter of waiving the loans of farmers or providing free electricity for 200 units, the reward will now be visible in the result. BJP has tried again and again to do such politics, when necessary, they tried to loot the governments majority by sending the Chief Minister to jail. We have worked to eliminate all the efforts made by the BJP. Even if someone tries like this in the future, they will not be spared.

On Maharashtra election results, Congress leader Supriya Shrinate says, Maharashtra election results are opposite to our expectations. There is no doubt that we could have done better. At the same time, we are happy that we have performed well in Jharkhand and we are going to repeat govt in the state. Maharashtra elections have been disappointing. In Maharashtra, our campaign was good but maybe the public expects more from us and we will deliver on their expectations. 

In the ruling Mahayuti alliance, the BJP contested 149 assembly seats, Shiv Sena 81 seats, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP fielded candidates in 59 constituencies.

The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) was stumbling, with its candidates leading in just 47 seats, as per the early trends.

The ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance appeared set to retain power in the state, and was leading in 204 of the 288 assembly seats, as per the latest figures by the Election Commission.

How can all MLAs of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde win? How can Ajit Pawar, whose betrayal angered Maharashtra, win? the Rajya Sabha MP asked.

There was no doubt that money was used in the polls, he alleged.

We do not accept this as peoples mandate. Something is fishy in the election results, Raut added.

I see a big conspiracy in thisThis is not a mandate of Marathi manoos and farmers, he said.

Talking to reporters, he said the poll results do not reflect peoples mandate as the situation was very different on the ground and there was palpable anger against the government.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday alleged that there was a big conspiracy and something was fishy in the Maharashtra assembly poll results with trends suggesting a landslide victory for the Mahayuti combine.

As per ECI figures, in the Mahayuti, BJP candidates were leading in 128 seats, Shiv Sena in 55 and NCP in 35 seats.

The ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance appeared set to retain power in the state, and was leading in 218 of the 288 assembly seats, as per the latest figures in the counting of votes by the Election Commission. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) was stumbling, with its candidates leading in just 50 seats.

In the alliance, the party that secures the highest number of seats will be entitled to get the chief ministers post, he asserted.

BJP legislator Pravin Darekar on Saturday demanded that Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis be appointed as the next chief minister of the state with early trends in the counting of votes for the assembly elections suggesting a win for the Mahayuti combine.

Former CM and BJP nominee Champai Soren was leading by 8,542 votes in Seraikela against JMMs Ganesh Mahli after third round.

BJP state chief Babulal Marandi was leading by 8,720 votes over CPIMLs Rajkumar Yadav after second round of counting.

JMM legislator and wife of Jharkhand CM Kalpana Soren was trailing by 3,019 votes against BJPs Muniya Devi after fourth round.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren was leading in the Barhait assembly constituency by a margin of 8,202 votes over BJPs Gamliyel Hembrom after the third round of counting.

According to trends, INDIA bloc was leading in 50 seats  JMM 30, Congress 14 and allies 6  and NDA in 30 till noon.

Counting of votes began at 8 AM.

JMM-led INDIA bloc was leading in 50 of the 81 assembly seats in Jharkhand while the NDA was ahead in 30, according to trends available on the Election Commissions website on Saturday.

Though Modi had launched a campaign blitzkrieg in the 2014 Lok Sabha and Maharashtra assembly polls, a portion of the credit also went to Fadnavis, then state BJP president, for the partys unprecedented victories in the elections.

Devendra is Nagpurs gift to the country, Modi had said of him at an election rally.

Ahead of the 2014 assembly polls, the soft spoken and portly leader was a clear favourite for the coveted post, largely due to the confidence he enjoyed of both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior BJP leader Amit Shah.

In a state dominated by Maratha politics and politicians, the 54-year-old leader, with deep roots in RSS, is only the second Brahmin after BJPs estranged ally Shiv Senas Manohar Joshi to become the states chief minister.

From an obscure corporator to becoming the youngest mayor of Nagpur, to the first BJP chief minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis climb up the political ladder has been steady, as he looks all set to occupy the states top post for the third time.

With this milestone, Maharashtra becomes the sixth state in India where BJP has achieved this remarkable feat, joining the ranks of Goa, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh.

Maharashtra has joined the list of Indian states where the BJP has secured three consecutive election victories, underscoring the partys consistent appeal and governance model.

In Maharashtra, Independents and Others are leading on more seats than Sharad Pawar and UBT

This victory, alongside a doubling of seats in Uttar Pradesh, reaffirms the nations confidence in BJPs development agenda.

The BJP alone has secured more seats than the entire MVA combined, solidifying its status as the most trusted party in the state.

For the first time ever, an alliance has crossed 200 seats in Maharashtra.

#WATCH | Ranchi | JMM workers celebrate as the JMM-led alliance is leading in 51 seats in Jharkhand pic.twitter.com/Cojdab8vlr

JMM employees rejoice as the JMM-led coalition leads by 51 seats in Jharkhand.

Shinde emphasised that his government always had a pro-people approach, which is why it is on its way to record a landslide victory, and he outlined the administrations commitment to development projects and welfare schemes.

Speaking to reporters, Shinde said, I thank all my ladki bahins (dear sisters) in the state and the brothers who voted in large numbers for us. The voting trend is an endorsement of our work. Every section of society voted for us because of our development efforts. The public has noticed our work and responded through their ballots, he said, adding that this outcome has increased their responsibility.

Early trends have indicated that the Mahayuti, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP, will retain the power in Maharashtra.

He said the poll trends were in favour of the Mahayuti because of his flagship initiative, the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana.

With the Mahayuti poised for a landslide victory in the Maharashtra elections, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday said the coalition does not have a definitive formula that the party bagging the most seats will get the chief ministers post.

I firmly believe that the double-engine government, inspired by PM Modi Jis vision, will accelerate the states growth to greater heights. I extend my sincere congratulations to PM Narendra Modi Ji, Party President JPNadda Ji, CM Eknath Shinde ji, Deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis Ji and AjitPawar Ji, and BJP leaders and Mahayuti Karyakartas for this outstanding achievement, he added.

Heartfelt congratulations to the people of Maharashtra for the historic victory of the BJP-Mahayuti alliance in the Assembly elections! Under the leadership of PM Narendramodi Ji, the BJP-Mahayuti has consistently prioritised development and remains committed to Maharashtras holistic progress and the aspirations of its people, Gadkari said in a post on X.

As per trends available on the Election Commission data, the Mahayuti was leading in more than 210 of the 288 assembly seats, with BJP itself having the upper hand on more than 120 seats. The half way mark is 144.

Union Minister and senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari congratulated the Mahayuti for the stellar performance in the Maharashtra assembly polls and said the ruling alliance prioritised development under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Tawde highlighted voters trust in the ruling alliance, attributing the success to their dissatisfaction with the political disruption caused by Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray in 2019.

As the Mahauyti alliance is all set to form government in Maharashtra, BJP National General Secretary Vinod Tawde praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Mahayuti leaders for their cohesive campaign and governance, leading to the resounding victoryof the alliance in Maharashtra.

The writing is on the wall! Todays Maharashtra and Jharkhand election results have sent a clear message: Regional parties have always been and will continue to be the future of Indian politics. Congress party fails to become a strong opposition but is hellbent on destroying regional parties. This has become a recurring theme, he said in the post.

In a post on X, he said the Congress party fails to become a strong opposition, but is hellbent on destroying regional parties and it has become a recurring theme.

Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly election results have sent a clear message that regional parties have always been and will continue to be the future of Indian politics, BRS working president K T Rama Rao said on Saturday.

#WATCH | Mumbai: Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and Bhupendra Yadav and other BJP leaders show victory sign as Mahayuti is set to form the government in Maharashtra. #MaharashtraElection2024 pic.twitter.com/jm3De4FRjq

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and Bhupendra Yadav, and other BJP officials display a victory sign as Mahayuti prepares to establish the government in Maharashtra.

What BJP missed capitalising on was a strong concern among the people about whether there would be a tribal CM if the party wins. JMM, of course, has already delivered on this.

Jharkhand is home to 32 tribal groups, including the Munda tribe, which is the largest scheduled tribe (ST) in the state. Other significant tribes include the Gond, one of the largest tribes globally, and the Santhal, the third-largest tribal group in India, known for living in concentrated settlements near rivers and forests.

The BJP appears to be losing the race in Jharkhand despite having anti-incumbency in its favour this time around (JMM has been in power for two terms). Even after giving its all in campaigning, bringing out star faces like PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, the saffron party seems to be on the losing end. One major factor in this could be that BJP made the mistake of not announcing a CM face in the state.

According to the ECIs website, JMM had won 8 seats and was leading in 27 of them. BJP had both won one seat each. While the BJP was leading in 19 seats, Congress was leading in 15 of them.

CM Hemant Soren-led Jan Mukti Morcha was leading in 57 of the 81 seats in Jharkhand. The NDA was ahead in 23 seats, according to News18.

CM Eknath Shindes son, Shrikant Shinde, said that the mandate of the people of Maharashtra in the assembly elections showed who was actually carrying forward the legacy of the late Bal Thackeray. The Kalyan Lok Sabha MP also credited the Ladki Bahin Yojana for the Mahayutis massive win.

Heres how the leads in Maharashtra Assembly elections changed throughout the day on Saturday. By 2 pm, the Mahayuti alliance had 220 seats

In 2019, Hemant Soren contested in two seats Barhait and Dumka and won both. He later vacated the Dumka seat, which allowed his brother, Basant Soren, to get elected in the bypoll.

Basant Soren had previously won the Dumka seat in a bypoll in 2020, defeating BJPs Lois Marandi by 6,842 votes.

BJP candidate Sunil Soren came in second, receiving 81,097 votes, while the JMM candidate secured 95,685 votes.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Sorens brother, Basant Soren, won the Dumka assembly seat by a margin of 14,588 votes, according to the Election Commission.

Development wins! Good governance wins! United we will soar even higher! Heartfelt gratitude to my sisters and brothers of Maharashtra, especially the youth and women of the state, for a historic mandate to the NDA. This affection and warmth is unparalleled. I assure the

Taking to social media platform X, PM Modi conveyed his gratitude to the people of Maharashtra for extending a historic mandate to the NDA. He said, Development wins! Good governance wins! in the post.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Maharashtra ex-minister Aaditya Thackeray retains his Worli assembly seat by a margin of 8,801 votes, according to ECI.

I thank the people of Jharkhand for their support towards us. We will always be at the forefront of raising peoples issues and working for the state. I also congratulate the JMM-led alliance for their performance in the state. @HemantSorenJMM

PM Modi congratulated JMM-led alliance and CM Hemant Soren for winning the election in Jharkhand. He also thanked NDA supporters in the state for their support.

This map shows which party is leading in which constituency in Jharkhand. Green denotes JMM leads, saffron denotes BJP, and blue denotes INC leads. Image courtesy: ECI

There are clear geographical trends that have emerged in Jharkhand. The BJP has only managed to win seats in the northern part of the state, while support from Congress and JMM is also seen clearly in belts in the southern and northwestern part of the state.

Read about it in-depth here .

Wherever PM Modi went to campaign, victory followed. BJP contested in 35 seats where PM Modi held speeches. The party won in 26 of those seats which adds up to a strike rate of over 74 per cent.

After Lok Sabha elections, PM Modis overall strike rate dipped to 56 per cent but he made up for it in the Maharashtra assembly elections.

Mahayuti is on its path to achieving an unprecedented victory in Maharashtra. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held rallies in over 10 assembly constituencies. Did the Modi factored into Mahayutis win?

Soren also said Jharkhand is set to script Abua Raj, Abua Sarkar (own state, own govt).

We have passed the exam of democracy in Jharkhand; we will finalise our strategy after the election results, Soren said at a press conference here.

The coalition comprising the JMM, Congress, RJD and CPIM(L) Liberation is headed for a decisive victory, having won 31 seats and leading in 24 others. Soren has already won from the Barhait seat by a margin of 39,791 votes, pipping BJPs Gamliyel Hembrom.

Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren expressed gratitude to people of the state for INDIA blocs stellar performance in the assembly polls. He claimed that the alliance had passed the exam of democracy.

He also said the MVA raised real issues during the campaign and said the results were unexpected.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and the states former chief minister, Uddhav Thackeray, alleged foul play after the MVA suffered a rout against the ruling Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra, saying it could be the victory of EVM.

Khera wasnt the only one.

#WATCH | Delhi: On #MaharashtraElection2024 , Congress leader Pawan Khera says, "The Lok Sabha election was fought in the name of Modi ji in Maharashtra, BJP lost it. The same state gives the same BJP 132 out of 148 seats within 4-5 months. What kind of strike rate is this? ...Is pic.twitter.com/tEUweWSCdf

The Lok Sabha election was fought in the name of Modi ji in Maharashtra, BJP lost it. The same state gives the same BJP 132 out of 148 seats within 4-5 months. What kind of strike rate is this? Is this strike rate possible? he asked.

Congress leader Pawan Khera raised questions about BJPs victory in the Maharashtra polls.

Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar retained his Baramati seat by defeating his nephew, NCP (SP) candidate Yugendra Pawar, by more than 1 lakh votes.

She addressed Maharashtra election results in the same tweet. The results in Maharashtra were not as per our expectations, she wrote. However, unlike Uddhav Thackeray, Pawan Khera, and Jairam Ramesh, Priyanka Gandhi did not bring EVMs. In democracy, people are supreme. There are wins and losses in elections  we will learn from both victory and defeat. We will listen to the voice of the people and walk firmly and humbly on the path of service, she wrote.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi took to social media platform X to congratulate Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, his wife Kalpana Soren, and all the leaders of the Congress party, workers and every member of the alliance for INDIAs landslide victory in Jharkhand. The public has approved the work of the alliance government and the hard work of all of you. I thank the people of the state from the bottom of my heart.

However, the BJP stalwarts victory margin reduced by 9,643 votes when compared to the 2019 polls.

He has won from the seat for the fourth time.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis won the assembly polls from Nagpur South West. He defeated his Congress rival Prafulla Gudhade Patil by a margin of 39,710 votes.

The agenda includes the selection of the Shiv Sena Legislative Group Leader. Following the selection, the newly appointed Group Leader will submit a proposal to the Governor for government formation

Meeting of all newly-elected Shiv Sena (SHS) representatives is set to be held tomorrow at 11:30 am at Taj Lands Hotel, Mumbai

JMM legislator and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Sorens wife Kalpana won the Gandey seat by a margin of 17,142 votes, defeating BJPs Muniya Devi.Kalpana had embarked on her political journey during the 51st foundation day celebration of JMM in Giridih district on March 4, PTI reported.

LIVE: Victory celebrations at BJP headquarters in New Delhi. https://t.co/WWIm8lqhhU

BJP top leaders, including PM Modi, JP Nadda, Rajnath Singh, and Amit Shah were present at the BJP headquarters in Delhi for Maharashtra assembly elections victory celebrations.

He also hit out at Uddhav Thackeray, saying that BJP had won the 2019 elections as well but Thackeray betrayed them. He said that Maharashtra has rejected him in these elections.

BJP national president JP Nadda, while addressing party workers, said The people have endorsed PM Modis leadership and agenda of development in the latest round of elections.

He hit out at the opposition saying that divisionary forces and dynastic politics have been defeated in the state today.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at the BJP HQ victory celebrations in Delhi, said that the agenda of development, good governance, and true social justice have won in Maharashtra today.

He also said, The people have reiterated their faith in the BJP. The people of Maharashtra have strengthened the plan for a Viksit BharatThe results show that the country only trusts BJP and NDA when it comes to development.

PM Modi said lies and deceit had lost in Maharashtra.

He said that ek hai toh safe hai has become the mahamantra of the country.

Hitting out at Congress, PM Modi said that the Congress and its ecosystem thought that by lying about the Constitution and reservation, they could divide the people on the lines of SC, ST, and OBC groupings. He went on to say that Maharashtra has proved them wrong, standing by the ek hai toh safe hai [safety in unity] mantra given by the BJP.

He also emphasised that Maharashtra is sixth state which has given BJP mandate for three straight terms.

This is the biggest win for any pre-poll alliance in a state this has not been achieved in the past 50 years! PM Modi said.

PM Modi praised his good friend Devendra Fadnavis, CM Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar and lauded the efforts of the NDA workers for this record election result in Maharashtra.

PM Modi went on to say that while Congress has tried to bring up the wall of Section 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, no power in the world can bring it back.

PM Modi said the people have dismissed Congress, adding that only one constitution would be applicable in India. He said the country would always reject anyone who talks of two constitutions.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has released the final tally from Jharkhand assembly election results. The incumbent Jan Mukti Morcha (JMM), led by CM Hemant Soren, has won 34 seats with 23.44 per cent voter share. BJP won 21 seats with 33.18 per cent vote share, while Congress won 16 seats with 15.54 per cent vote share.

Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena faction led by Uddhav Thackeray won 20 seats after getting 9.96 per cent vote share. Congress won 16 seats with 12.42 per cent vote share. Sharad Pawars NCP, which had 11.28 per cent vote share, won 10 seats.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has released the final tally from Maharashtra assembly election results. BJP has won 132 seats with 26.22 per cent voter share. Eknath Shindes Shiv Sena won 57 seats with 12.38 per cent vote share. NCP, a member of the BJP-led NDA, won 41 seats with just 9 per cent vote share.

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Assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand concluded on November 20.

Maharashtra recorded a voter turnout of 66.05 per cent, the highest since 1995. The voter turnout in Jharkhand was 67.74 per cent.

The Election Commission of India has announced the results of the contest in both states.

Battleground Maharashtra saw the contest between the two alliances  the ruling Mahayuti led by the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi led by Congress. Maharashtra has 288 Assembly seats.

The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance has won in Maharashtra, with the saffron party alone winning 132 of the 288 seats.

BJP won those seats with 26.22 per cent voter share.

Eknath Shindes Shiv Sena won 57 seats with 12.38 per cent vote share. NCP, a member of the BJP-led NDA, won 41 seats with just 9 per cent vote share.

Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena faction led by Uddhav Thackeray won 20 seats after getting 9.96 per cent vote share. Congress won 16 seats with 12.42 per cent vote share. Sharad Pawars NCP, which had 11.28 per cent vote share, won 10 seats.

In Jharkhand, the fight was between the BJP-led NDA and INDIAs Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha. The two alliances contested for a total of 81 assembly constituencies. The second phase of voting that ended on November 20 was for 38 of these seats.

Here, the JMM-led coalition, INDIA, has emerged victorious. JMM has won 34 of the 81 seats with 23.44 per cent voter share.

BJP won 21 seats with a much higher 33.18 per cent vote share, while Congress won 16 seats with 15.54 per cent vote share.

While it is decided that Hemant Soren will the Chief Minister in Jharkhand, who will lead Maharashtra is yet to be revealed.
Scottish author William Dalrymple acknowledges Indias contribution but doesnt seem to be quite enthusiastic about the Hindu roots of the same. He wants to safeguard its physical infrastructure, but is working hard to tamper with its soul read more

William Dalrymple is suddenly the darling of a section of the Right. One prominent Right-wing think tank has even invited him for a talk on his new book, The Golden Road. The book highlights how ancient India transformed the world  a subject close to those whose heart is in the Right place.

Theres absolutely nothing wrong in engaging in a dialogue over a book  in fact, this culture of dialogue with contrarian views should be encouraged. The problem, however, could be when this intellectual exercise leads to legitimisation of the other viewpoint without due deliberation and critical enquiry. What one fears is that The Golden Road, which has already become a bestseller soon after hitting the bookstores, might become a cover to push blatant historical lies.

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At the very outset, it must be clarified that this is a good book, pushing forward Indias narrative. Dalrymple cannot claim  and he doesnt either  that what is written in the book hasnt been told in the past. Where the author scores is the style of his writing: A history book is better written when the author thinks like a historian but writes like a novelist. History, after all, is about stories and the lessons one can learn from them.

Dalrymple is undoubtedly a gifted historian who writes engaging prose. His research work for his books is almost impeccable. And one finds affinity and warmth in him for his karmabhoomi, which is India.

But, then, Dalrymple is a double-edged sword, often cutting both ways. This 59-year-old British author, born in Scotland, is an unapologetic admirer of Delhi, but his love gets confined to the era of Djinns; the other, non-Islamic characteristics of the city rarely get his attention. The same partisanship is evident in his writings on the Mughals, especially the late Mughals. The decadence of the late Mughals, about which Sir Jadunath Sarkar bemoans in his extensive studies and regards as among the dominant causes of the Mughal decline, is what excites Dalrymple the most.

In The Last Mughal, for instance, Dalrymple writes: while Zauq led a quiet and simple life, composing verse from dusk until dawn, rarely straying from the tiny courtyard where he worked, Ghalib was very proud of his reputation as a rake. Only five years before the wedding, Ghalib had been imprisoned for gambling and subsequently wore the affairdeeply embarrassing at the timeas a badge of honour. When someone once praised the poetry of the pious Sheikh Sahbai in his presence, Ghalib shot back, How can Sahbai be a poet? He has never tasted wine, nor has he ever gambled; he has not been beaten with slippers by lovers, nor has he once seen the inside of a jail. Elsewhere in his letters he makes great play of his reputation as a ladies man.

Similarly, in The Anarchy, Dalrymple writes about the unabashed loot and plunder by the East India Company. He begins this book by saying how one of the first Indian words to enter the English language was the Hindustani slang for plunder: loot. He then takes the readers to Powis Castle, a craggy fort built during the 13th century in the Welsh Marches. According to him, Powis is simply awash with loot from India, room after room of imperial plunder, extracted by the East India Company (EIC) in the 18th century.

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Yet, the same Dalrymple had made a public appeal last year asking Britain not to return the loot to India! According to him, Mughal treasures looted by the British might never be displayed if they are returned to India, which is currently run by a Hindu nationalist government that does not display Mughal items. (Dalrymples prejudiced mind stopped him from seeing what was obvious: That the wealth stolen was not Mughals but Indias.) He said, You can go to Delhi and not see a display, at the moment, of Mughal art at all. But its there, beautifully displayed, in the British Library, the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum.

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Dalrymples propensity to run with the hare and hunt with the hounds is evident in the narration of his 2009 book, Nine Lives, too. In one of the stories, he recounts with empathy the story of The Dancer of Kannur, in which Hari Das, a Dalit from Kerala, is a part-time prison warden for 10 months of the year, but during the Theyyam dancing season between January and March, he is transformed into an omnipotent deity to be worshipped even by the high-caste Brahmins. However, in the same book, his reverence for the sacred goes missing as he invokes Romila Thapars idea of syndicated Hinduism to intellectually discredit Hindu resurgence in India. Dalrymple, quite mischievously, calls it Rama-fication of Hinduism.

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Coming to The Golden Road, Dalrymples new-found love for ancient India may remind one of American Sanskrit scholar Sheldon Pollock, who not very long ago was zeroed upon by a group of wealthy non-resident Indians (NRIs) in New York, along with the top administrative leaders of Sringeri Peetham in India and representatives of Sringeri Peetham in the US, to head a newly found American university chair in the name of Adi Shankara. They had, by 2014, collected $4 million for the chair, which was to be set up at the prestigious Columbia University. There was a lot of enthusiasm and support for Pollock, as he was seen to be an ardent advocate for the revival of Sanskrit. What these people didnt realise was that Pollocks idea of revival was, as Rajiv Malhotra writes in The Battle for Sanskrit, the reinvigorated study of Sanskrit as if it were the embalmed, mummified remnant of a dead culture.

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Pollock sought to revive Sanskrit studies, but wanted no association with Sanskrit language and culture. He loved Sanskrit but without its sacred cultural (Hindu) identity. In the same way, Dalrymple acknowledges Indias contribution but doesnt seem to be quite enthusiastic about the Hindu roots of the same. He would talk with gusto about Central Asias Buddhist connections, but the same enthusiasm is lacking vis-a-vis Hinduism. Dalrymples love for India is obvious, but without its cultural/civilisational moorings. He wants to safeguard the physical infrastructure but is working hard to tamper with its soul.

Dalrymple tells the story of the great Buddhist scholar Kumarajiva (344-413 AD). Born to a Kashmiri father, probably a minister in the Takshashila royal court, and a Kuchean mother, Kumarajiva learnt Buddhism in Kashmir, but to study Vedas, he chose to go to Kashgar in the Xinjiang region. Its pertinent to note that the land where Kumarajiva went to study Vedas was the hub of Buddhism, disputing the predominant Hindu-Buddhist conflict narrative put forward by colonial-Leftist historiography. What further manifests the Hindu-Buddhist cultural continuum in the region is that not very far from a monastery in Miran, as Dalrymple himself writes in The Golden Road, some of the very earliest surviving fragments of the text of the Mahabharata have recently been dug up.

A couple of quotes from The Golden Road should expose the real intent of the author. Dalrymple writes in the last chapter of the book, The fate of Nalanda is much disputed: it had been in decline for centuries and archaeology shows that it was burned several times, with some of these conflagrations clearly dating to before the arrival of the Turks. Either way, the Tibetan monk Dharmaswami, who visited Nalanda in 1235, describes the Turushka soldiers prowling the ruins while he and his guru lay hidden in a deserted monastery. There is some evidence that Nalanda continued to function in a much-reduced form until the early fourteenth century, when the last Tibetan monks are described as coming to study philosophy in its ruins.

Nalanda was burnt several times before the fury of Bakhtiyar Khilji in 1193 AD! The ancient Indian university survived the Muslim assault to function in a much-reduced form until the 14th century! One, thus, gets two assessments from the above lines: That while Muslims burnt Nalanda once, Hindus had done it several times in the past; and also that the Muslim assault wasnt bad enough as the university could survive for the next two centuries! How is Dalrymples assessment different from, say, Romila Thapar and DN Jha?

In the same chapter, Dalrymple provides another gem of assessment, exposing his state of mind. He writes, During the days of Nehruvian rule in the 1950s and early 1960s, Indian school textbooks and most academic histories were written by left-leaning, Congress-supporting figures. These historians tended to underplay the violence and iconoclasm that came with the Turkish invasions, partially in the interests of what they saw as nation building following the terrible inter-religious violence that had taken place during partition. Today, under the current right-wing BJP government, the reverse is true, and the destruction of Hindu temples is almost all that many in India seem to know of the complex but fascinating medieval period of Indo-Islamic history.

Given this line of thinking being promoted in the book, where the Indian physical superstructure is admired but the innate Hindu spirit is denied and damned, its astounding to see a section of the Right getting excited with The Golden Road. Maybe the excitement is the result of intellectual haziness and laziness: No one has bothered to read between the lines and instead got excited with the books tagline: How ancient India transformed the world. Maybe the colonial hangover is still going strong in India. A British historian highlighting the greatness of ancient India can still be a heady moment for some of us. Maybe the more things change in Indian history, the more they remain the same.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Chinas economic slowdown and the impending Trump presidency have prompted a shift in its diplomatic approach, marked by a rework in tone, which has been somehow braced by the outgoing Biden administration and traditional US allies, like Japan read more

On November 15, Chinese President Xi Jinping met Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Lima, Peru, while, the next day, he met US President Joe Biden. Xi had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan in October, which was followed by a meeting between the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, at Rio de Janeiro in Brazil on the sidelines of the G20 summit Monday. Around the same time, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh shook hands with his Chinese counterpart, Admiral Dong Jun, in Vientiane, Laos.

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After a breakthrough in border talks with India before the Kazan summit, where the two nations disengaged at Depsang and Demchok in eastern Ladakh, President Xi, in Lima, asked Japan to properly handle history and the Taiwan issue and called on the two Asian neighbours to safeguard the freedom of trade, unimpeded production, and smooth functioning of supply chains. While addressing the outgoing US president, he said that Sino-American relations are most important in the world and how they get along will impact the rest of the world.

With India, talks on the resumption of direct flights and the Kailash-Mansarovar pilgrimage are under consideration; meanwhile, China has decided to gradually lift the ban it put on Japanese seafood that it placed last year after Tokyo decided to release treated wastewater from crippled Fukuyama nuclear power plant into the sea. Also, as per the Japanese readout, Ishiba asked Xi to release Japanese nationals detained in China.

On the engagements with the US, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters after the Biden-Xi meeting on APEC sidelines that the two leaders conducted a lot of business in areas both where we [the US and China] are making progress and in areas where there are profound differences  And the two sides did not shy away from the more direct and difficult conversations where the two sides dont agree.

In his previous article, the author had advised China to opt for cooperation over assertion if Beijing needs to overcome a slowdown in the short term and the middle-income trap in the long run. Sluggish consumption, the real estate debacle, and declining household spending, along with volatile stock markets, have marred the Chinese economy.

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Amid all these, came the US presidential election, where Republican Donald Trump won. Trumps first term saw the start of the Trade War with China, and while campaigning for his second term, Trump was quite vocal on raising tariffs on imports from Chinawhile claiming to raise them to as high as 60 per cent. While, on the other hand, as the author observed in , Biden can consider a competitive yet somehow understanding relationship with China as the legacy of his presidential tenure. So, while Xi says he will work with Trump he was having final talks with Biden on conflicts from cybercrime to trade, Taiwan, the South China Sea, and Russia.

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Also, as per the restrictions under the Logan Act, Japanese PM Ishiba said that a face-to-face meeting he had sought with US President-elect Donald Trump could not go ahead. This meeting could have been vital, as Americas isolationist policies under Donald Trump have been a cause of worry for Washingtons traditional partners, whether in Europe or in Asia.

Trumps presidency brings uncertainty for China and for Japan as wellboth economies are enduring a tough time. Slow growth and ageing economy have affected the second and fourth largest economy, impact of COVID-19 is yet to fade away. Also, the outgoing Democrat administration might be searching for a footing before Trump begins his second tenure; certainly, the generic distrust among the Democrats towards Trumps leadership is well known.

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So, devoid of any normative judgments and without prejudging Trump 2.0, at least from the perspective of the Biden administration, China and Japan, a Francis Bacons quote fits the situation: All colours will agree in the dark.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
While the contribution of regional leaders like Fadnavis, Shinde, and Pawar is undeniable, the bigger story here is the continued rise of Brand Modi and the overwhelming endorsement of the NDAs development agenda read more

The results of the recent Maharashtra Assembly elections have sent a clear, unmistakable message to the nation and, in particular, to the political observers in the state: The people of Maharashtra are unequivocally endorsing the policies and vision of the Narendra Modi-guided National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.

While the emphasis on regional leadership, with figures like Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde, and Ajit Pawar taking centre stage, is undoubtedly a crucial factor in the Mahayutis emphatic win, the overarching narrative remains the continued rise in the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The results of this election not only reaffirm the enduring strength of Brand Modi but also underline the broad acceptance of the NDAs developmental agenda, which has found firm footing in Maharashtra. This is a significant political shift, and it reflects the success of PM Modis governance and vision for India.

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The Maharashtra Assembly elections came at a time when the political landscape of the state had witnessed considerable tumult. The general elections had created a deadlock of sorts, with both the Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA) and the Mahayuti alliances posting similar performances. In that context, the Assembly elections became the decisive battleground. The outcome of these elections was always going to be a litmus test for how the electorate in Maharashtra had received the developmental agenda of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre, particularly in light of the monumental infrastructure projects that have shaped the state in recent years.

Brand Modi has consistently shown an upward trajectory in terms of popularity. His tenure has been marked by a focus on strong governance, decisive leadership, and an unwavering commitment to transforming India into a global economic and political powerhouse. In Maharashtra, the peoples trust in Modi has been evident through various indicators, not least of which is the growing acceptance of the infrastructural strides made under his leadership.

Prime Minister Modis charm lies not just in his rhetorical skills but in his ability to translate his vision into tangible projects that have a far-reaching impact on peoples lives. His leadership has spearheaded the transformation of key cities and regions in Maharashtra, particularly with large-scale infrastructural projects like the Sealink and Coastal Road, which have not only made the state more connected but have also provided a glimpse of the larger vision he has for the country. These projects are not merely symbols of progress; they are indicative of a government that is focused on creating a lasting impact, whether its through infrastructure, jobs, or opportunities for economic growth.

These grandiose projects have sparked a sense of pride among the people, and as the electorate in Maharashtra is often swayed by tangible outcomes, the promise of progress has resonated deeply. PM Modis ability to weave the national vision with local aspirations has cemented his popularity, making it clear that his brand of governance is deeply ingrained in the minds of voters, especially in urban centers like Mumbai, Thane, and Pune, but also increasingly in rural Maharashtra.

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The success of the NDA in Maharashtra is thus, in many ways, a reaffirmation of the peoples faith in Modis leadership and his development-centric governance. The election results have made it evident that the electorate in Maharashtra recognizes and trusts the Modi governments commitment to development, infrastructure, and economic rejuvenation.

When it comes to infrastructure, Maharashtra is a state that has seen a dramatic transformation under the leadership of the Modi government. High-profile projects such as the Mumbai Coastal Road, which aims to ease traffic congestion, and the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link have been heralded as game-changers for the city. These projects not only improve the connectivity within the state but also make Maharashtra a more attractive destination for investment, fostering economic growth.

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The governments efforts in transforming the urban landscape are mirrored by those in the rural areas as well. Rural Maharashtra has seen improvements in infrastructure such as roads, connectivity, and power supply. These changes, although often less visible, are equally crucial in raising the standard of living in rural regions. They contribute to the growth of local economies and offer opportunities for better education and healthcare, thus addressing key concerns for the rural voter base.

Maharashtras transformation under PM Modis leadership is not limited to isolated projects; it represents a grander vision for Indias future. The focus on infrastructure has also extended to the states hinterlands, where the government has worked to enhance connectivity and provide essential services. The message is clear: development is not just an urban phenomenon but one that reaches the remotest parts of the state. The success of the NDA in the Assembly elections can be credited to the growing belief that the Modi government is committed to bridging the developmental divide between urban and rural Maharashtra.

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While PM Modis leadership has been the lynchpin of the Mahayutis success in the state, it is equally important to acknowledge the contribution of Maharashtras regional leaders, particularly Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde, and Ajit Pawar. Their leadership has been integral in consolidating the states right-of-center voter base and driving the development agenda at the local level.

Devendra Fadnavis, in particular, has earned considerable respect and commitment towards Maharashtra and its people. His leadership has been a steady hand guiding the state through turbulent times, and his focus on infrastructure development, law and order, and economic progress has been a strong selling point for the Mahayuti in this election. Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, both key figures in Maharashtras politics, have played an equally vital role in strengthening the Mahayuti alliance. Their local appeal, combined with the national vision of Brand Modi, made for a potent electoral combination that proved successful in securing a majority in the state.

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The success of the Mahayuti is a testament to the power of regional and national leadership working in tandem. While the central leadership of Modi provides the vision and direction, the regional leadership on the ground ensures that these ideas translate into practical governance. This synergy has been key to the success of the NDA in Maharashtra.

The continued popularity of PM Modi is not just confined to Maharashtra; it is a national phenomenon. His vision of a New India, centred on development, prosperity, and national security, has captured the imagination of voters across the country. This is also evident in the growing influence of the NDA in states ranging from Uttar Pradesh to Haryana and Gujarat to Maharashtra.

In Maharashtra, the results of the Assembly elections demonstrate that the people trust PM Modi to deliver on his promises, whether its building infrastructure, creating jobs, or boosting the economy. This approval from the electorate reaffirms that Modis popularity has transcended the barriers of regionalism and party affiliations. His focus on national unity and collective progress has ensured that voters in Maharashtra, regardless of their regional or ideological affiliations, are aligned with his vision for India.

The victory of the Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra, with the BJP emerging as the single largest party, marks a significant milestone in the political history of the state. While the contribution of regional leaders like Fadnavis, Shinde, and Pawar is undeniable, the bigger story here is the continued rise of Brand Modi and the overwhelming endorsement of the NDAs development agenda. The results of the Maharashtra Assembly elections are a reflection of the growing trust in Prime Minister Modis leadership and his vision for a new, developed, and united India.

In the years to come, the people of Maharashtra will look to this alliance and its leaders to continue the work of building the state into a model of development. If the momentum of infrastructure growth, economic development, and national integration continues, theres little doubt that Maharashtras future will be bright.

The author is an Indian critic and journalist who has served as a jury member for the 69th and 70th National Film Awards. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the writer. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Russias employment of the latest lethal and novel firepowerand its threat of more to comemust be seen as a moment of heightened uncertainty ahead of President-elect Donald Trumps return to the White House read more

Russian soldiers fire Giatsint-S self-propelled gun towards Ukrainian positions at an undisclosed location in the Russian - Ukrainian border area in the Kursk region, Russia. Russian Defense Ministry Press Service photo via AP. (Representational image)

When Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022 (the war first commenced in 2014), the conflict pundits predicted the capitulation of Kiev in a week or two. Contrarily, the unhinged war just entered the fourth winter, having completed 1,000 days on November 19, 2024. Worse, it is on course for more dangerous uncharted territory with the most recent action of Joe Biden, the outgoing president of the US, and the consequent retaliatory decree of Russian President Vladmir Putin.

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Unknown Dangerous Path

During his election campaign, Donald Trump had promised to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict in one day, that too even before formally taking over as the 47th president of the United States of America.

But Joe Biden, in the closing days of his presidency, has other ideas. He has suddenly swung into action, reversing a key past decision that has sent the world into a tizzy and has pushed the already most brutal, deadliest, and largest conflict in Europe since World War II into an unknown, dangerous path.

Fox-Trot Tap Dance

Here is the sneak preview of the belligerent fox-trot tap dance by Biden and Putin:

One, Washington empowers Ukraine to use long-range ballistic missiles fearing substantial reduction or complete withdrawal of the military assistance to Ukraine by incoming American President Trump, in an abrupt departure in US policy. Joe Biden, a couple of days before the war turned 1,000 days, permitted Ukraine the use of long-range ballistic missiles, named the Army Tactical Missile System, or ATACMS, in its war with Russia.

Earlier, Washington had denied Kiev, since the first year of the war, the authorisation to use ATACMS outside its own borders.

Various reports confirm that on November 19, the 1000th day of the war, Ukraine fired six US-made ATACMS missiles at Russias Bryansk region. On Sunday, Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky reacted to the news, telling audaciously, Such things are not announced; missiles speak for themselves.

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Reacting to the above development, the Kremlin warned on Monday that the decision of the US to authorise Ukraine to use the ATACMS to strike deeper inside Russia adds fuel to the fire.

Two, Moscow retaliates in style. As a direct response to the above-mentioned crying foul, Russia has sent the world in a tailspin with a decree signed by the Russian president lowering the threshold of the use of the worlds largest nuclear arsenal and amending its doctrine of use of nuclear arms.

The new doctrine, published Tuesday on the Kremlin website, differs from the previous 2020 iteration in at least three key ways that show how Putin just upped the ante of using the nuclear arsenal to deter the United States from further supporting Ukraine.

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First, the new doctrine empowers Russia to use nuclear weapons against a nuclear-armed country even if it does not directly attack Russia but merely supports one by a non-nuclear country. This is a clear warning to America and other nuclear-armed backers of Ukraine in the war. Russias previous nuclear doctrine focused on responding to attacks on Russia, nuclear-armed countries, and alliances.

Second, the new doctrine lowers the threshold at which Russia could consider nuclear use in response to an attack with conventional weapons. The earlier 2020 doctrine said such an attack must threaten the very existence of the Russian state, while the new one puts that threshold at a critical threat to Russias sovereignty.

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Third, as per the new doctrine, aggression against the Russian Federation and (or) its allies by any non-nuclear state with the participation or support of a nuclear state is branded as their joint attack, empowering Russia to resort to the use of the nuclear weapon.

Putin, in a televised speech, just said that Russia had employed a medium-range non-nuclear hypersonic ballistic missile dubbed Oreshnik to strike a military factory in Ukraines eastern city of Dnipro in response to the Biden administrations latest decision authorising Ukraine to fire US-made ATACMS missiles, with a range of up to 190 miles, into Russia as part of the ongoing war.

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Russias employment of the latest lethal and novel firepowerand its threat of more to comemust be seen as a moment of heightened uncertainty ahead of President-elect Donald Trumps return to the White House.

Advantage to Putin

The recent push of the US, Britain, and France (only Germany is holding up) to prop up Ukraine comes at a time when Russian forcesalready in control of more than 20 per cent of Ukraines territoryare advancing resolutely on the battlefield in eastern Ukraine, while Kyiv struggles with recruitment and morale of its forces.

Contrarily, the Russian forces assault is focusing on quickly seizing the two easternmost regions of Ukraine, Luhansk and Donetsk, along with fast-capturing the last Ukrainian stronghold in the southern Donetsk region, Kurakhove, and opening a path to attack the strategic city of Pokrovsk from the south.

And strategically speaking, in geopolitics, Vladimir Putin, already strongly backed by China, is making gains. Two such events were his recent telephonic talk with Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany that broke two years of diplomatic isolation and the election of Donald Trump as the president-elect of the United States.

The above raises the distinct possibility of the end of the war, that too on Putins terms, without ceding an inch of Ukrainian territory already occupied by Russia.

Give and Take - Detente Time

It is time for Kiev to accept the obvious: it cannot continue to bleed as a bulwark and pawn of Western powers. The only victors in the long, treacherous war have been the American and European defence equipment manufacturers with their bulging profit.

As regards Ukraine, it has suffered humongous damage in 1,000 days of war. The country also faces a cold reality: with Trump on the way and his declared hostility towards NATO and conviction to end the Ukraine war swiftly, the writing on the wall for Kiev is that Ukraine cannot win a war, it already lost.

It is give and take, the detente time.

Millions driven out of home: Because of heavy shelling and fighting, nearly 4 million Ukrainians have been driven from their homes and are internally displaced, and 6.8 million have crossed into neighbouring countries in the region, including Poland, Hungary, Moldova, or other countries globally.

Armed forces casualties: A recent Wall Street Journal report quoting confidential Ukrainian sources from earlier this year put the number of dead Ukrainian troops at 80,000 and the wounded at 400,000.

Civilian casualties: By October 31, 2024, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) had recorded 39,081 civilian casualties in Ukraine since February 24, 2022. As many as 12,162 killed and 26,919 injured, but they said they believe the real number is much higher.

Territorial loss: As per a recent AFP analysis, the Russian army advanced 478 square kilometres into Ukrainian territory in October 2024, a record since March 2022 in the first weeks of the war. It has already captured more than 20 per cent of the Ukrainian territory.

Western intelligence estimates of Russian casualties vary, with some putting the number of dead as high as nearly 200,000 and wounded at around 400,000.

The writing on the wall is clear.

Russia shall never accept Ukraine being an aspiring European Union and NATO member and ally of Western powers. Historically a part of the USSR, Ukraine must accept its legacy and deep social and cultural compact with Russia. An honourable armistice and accepting its existential reality have hope of Ukraine retrieving at least part, if not all, of its territory lost. It will also save scores of innocent lives.

The author is a multi-disciplinary thought leader with Action Bias and an India based impact consultant. He is a keen watcher of changing national and international scenarios. He works as President Advisory Services of Consulting Company BARSYL. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Sporadic fighting between Sunni and Shiite Muslims in the mountainous Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan has killed around 150 over the past months. read more

Tribal leaders have expressed deep concerns as for the past one and a half months, they had been demanding the government to ensure safe travel for common citizens. Representational Image- AP

At least 37 people have died and over two dozen were injured in ongoing tribal violence in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, police reported on Saturday. The clashes, involving the Alizai and Bagan tribes in Kurram district near the Afghan border, erupted after an attack on a convoy near Parachinar on Thursday that claimed 47 lives.

Schools across the district remained closed, confirmed Muhammad Hayat Hassan, chairman of the Private Education Network. Police noted intermittent gunfire in multiple areas, including Balishkhel, Khar Kali, and Maqbal, and the Thall-Sada-Parachinar Highway remains blocked. Reports also emerged of six women being taken captive, but limited connectivity has hindered confirmation.

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Videos from the area revealed charred victims bodies and attackers corpses, underscoring the intensity of the violence. Authorities are working to restore calm amid the worsening crisis.

As officials struggled to reinforce peace in the volatile region, communication from the elders of both tribal sects suggested further intensified attacks.

A high-level government delegation comprising Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Law Minister, Chief Secretary and Inspector General of Police, has departed for Kurram tribal district by helicopter, officials said.

The delegation aims to calm the security situation in the district which has been marred by extreme sectarian violence.

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.

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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 Afghanistans Khost, Paktia, Logar and Nangarhar provinces, which are considered strongholds of the ISIS and the Pakistan Taliban.

On Thursday, gunmen opened fire on two separate convoys of Shiite Muslims travelling with police escort in Kurram, killing 43 while 11 wounded are still in critical condition, officials told AFP.

In retaliation Shiite Muslims on Friday evening attacked several Sunni locations in the Kurram district, once a semi-autonomous region, where sectarian violence has resulted in the deaths of hundreds over the years.

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Alarming frequency of clashes

Several hundred people demonstrated in Lahore, Pakistans second city and Karachi, the countrys commercial hub.

In Parachinar, the main town of Kurram district, thousands participated in a sit-in, while hundreds attended the funerals of the victims, mainly Shiite civilians.

Tribal and family feuds are common in Sunni-majority Pakistan, where the Shiite community has long suffered discrimination and violence.

The latest violence drew condemnation from officials and human rights groups.

The independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) urged authorities this month to pay urgent attention to the alarming frequency of clashes in the region, warning that the situation has escalated to the proportions of a humanitarian crisis.

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The fact that local rival groups have access to heavy weaponry indicates that the state has been unable to control the flow of arms into the region, HRCP said in a statement.

Last month, at least 16 people, including three women and two children, were killed in a sectarian clash in the district.

Previous clashes in July and September killed dozens of people and ended only after a jirga, or tribal council called a ceasefire. HRCP said 79 people died between July and October in sectarian violence.

These clashes and attacks come just days after at least 20 soldiers were killed in separate incidents in the province.

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With inputs from agencies.
An Israeli airstrike in central Beirut killed at least four people and injured many, in a major attack against Hezbollah read more

A powerful airstrike killed at least four people in central Beirut early on Saturday, the health ministry said, shaking the Lebanese capital as Israel pressed its offensive against the Iran-backed Hezbollah group.

The attack destroyed an eight-storey building and caused a large number of fatalities and injuries, Lebanons National News Agency said. Footage broadcast by Lebanons Al Jadeed station showed at least one destroyed building and several others badly damaged around it.

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Israel used bunker buster bombs in the strike, leaving a deep crater, the agency said. Beirut smelled strongly of explosives hours after the attack.

The blasts shook the capital at around 4 a.m. (0200 GMT), Reuters witnesses said. Security sources said at least four bombs were dropped in the attack.

It marked the fourth Israeli airstrike this week targeting a central area of Beirut, in contrast to the bulk of Israels attacks that have targeted the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs. On Sunday an Israeli airstrike killed a Hezbollah media official in the Ras al-Nabaa district of central Beirut.

Rescuers searched through rubble.

A man whose family was hurt tried to comfort a traumatised woman outside a hospital. Car windows were shattered.

There was dust and wrecked houses, people running and screaming, they were running, my wife is in hospital, my daughter is in hospital, my aunt is in the hospital, said the man, Nemir Zakariya, who held up a picture of his daughter.

This is the little one, and my son also got hurt - this is my daughter, she is in the American University (of Beirut Medical Centre), this is what happened.

Israel launched a major offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon in September, following nearly a year of cross-border hostilities ignited by the Gaza war, pounding wide areas of Lebanon with airstrikes and sending troops into the south.

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The conflict began when Hezbollah, Tehrans most important ally in the region, opened fire in solidarity with its Palestinian ally Hamas after it launched the Oct. 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel.

A US mediator travelled to Lebanon and Israel this week in an effort to secure a ceasefire. The envoy, Amos Hochstein, indicated progress had been made after meetings in Beirut on Tuesday and Wednesday, before going to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.)
White confirmed that the two leaders spoke on Friday evening and also reviewed developments in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and Lebanon ceasefire deal read more

French President Emmanuel Macron (R) meets with US President Joe Biden during the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations headquarters in New York City on September 25, 2024. AP

Amid the brewing tensions in West Asia, US President Joe Biden and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron discussed efforts to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. The two leaders discussed the matter at a time when Israel has unleashed lethal attacks in both central and South Beirut, leaving the Middle Eastern nation in complete shambles.

White confirmed that the two leaders spoke on Friday evening and also reviewed developments in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. President Biden spoke today with President Macron of France on a number of global and bilateral matters. the White House stated in a readout which was published on Friday.

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They reviewed developments in Ukraine as well as in the Middle East, to include efforts to secure a ceasefire deal in Lebanon that will allow residents on both sides of the Blue Line to return safely to their homes. They committed to remain in close consultation directly and through their national security teams, it further reads.

Today I spoke with President Macron of France on a number of global and bilateral matters  ranging from developments in Ukraine to our work to secure a ceasefire deal in Lebanon that will allow residents to return home. pic.twitter.com/PZydZHZQLQ  President Biden (@POTUS) November 22, 2024

Macron support Bidens stance on Russia-Ukraine war

Meanwhile, Biden released a separate statement reiterating the conversation the two presidents had. Biden and Macron spoke to each other days after the French leader said that the POTUS made a good decision in allowing Ukraine to use long-range American missiles.

Russia is the only power that made an escalatory decision  its really this break that led to the US decision, the French president told reporters on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Politico reported.

Earlier this year, Macron said that he was in favour of allowing Ukraine to strike within the Russian territory. At that time he insisted that Moscow was taking advantage of Western resistance to let Ukraine use the donated missle.

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The State Department said Blinken will participate in Group of Seven and bilateral meetings outside Rome on Monday and Tuesday as the Biden administration winds down amid concerns that President-elect Donald Trumps team may substantially alter US foreign policy. read more

Secretary of State Antony Blinken will attend Group of Seven (G7) meetings with the main focus will be the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the situation in West Asia.

The discussions will be held outside Rome on Monday and Tuesday. With the Biden administration winding down and concerns over the incoming administration under President-elect Donald Trump, G7 members are looking to ensure continued military and economic support for Ukraine.

The US has been a major provider of assistance to Ukraine since Russias invasion, but Trump has criticized this approach, suggesting he could resolve the conflict quickly by pressing Ukraine to cede territory to Russia.

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On the West Asia, Trump has announced a number of officials who are staunchly pro-Israel. He is expected to pursue a policy that strongly favors Israel over the aspirations of the Palestinians and others for a two-state resolution to the long-running conflict that has been focused on Gaza for the past 13 months since Hamas launched attacks inside Israel.

Several Arab foreign ministers are expected to join the G7 in Italy for urgent discussions on ending the war in Gaza and setting up a mechanism for governance, reconstruction and security for the heavily damaged territory once the fighting is over.

U.S. officials are rushing to complete the formation of that structure before Biden leaves office in January, but there have been numerous complications. Efforts were most recently jolted by the International Criminal Courts decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister and top Hamas officials.

Israels military operations in Lebanon against Iran-backed Hezbollah will also feature in the G7 discussions. US officials say they are hopeful that a recent flurry of diplomatic activity may yield a cease-fire agreement. .

G7 relations with China will figure in Blinkens discussions. There are increasing concerns about Beijings aggressiveness toward Taiwan and in the South China Sea, as well as trade disputes that Trump has threatened to address by imposing massive tariffs on Chinese products.

Blinken will meet with Pope Francis and several of his top aides in Vatican City on Wednesday before returning to Washington.

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With inputs from agencies.
Rising costs, stricter visa policies and geopolitical tensions are steering students from mainland China and Hong Kong away from US universities read more

(File) Number of Chinese students in the US are on a declining trend for years now. AP

The appeal of studying in the United States, once considered the ultimate goal for many international students, is fading. This change is especially noticeable among students from Hong Kong and mainland China, where long-standing trends are now shifting. The reasons behind this shift include rising costs, new opportunities in other countries, political tensions and changing views about the US as a study destination.

A steady decline

For Hong Kong, the fall in student numbers pursuing undergraduate degrees in the US is dramatic. According to a South China Morning Post report, official data reveals that the number has dropped below 3,000 for the first time in over 50 years. The broader count, including bachelors, graduate and non-degree courses, shows a 4 per cent decline in the last academic year, with 5,627 Hongkongers enrolled, marking a record low since 1969-70.

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This decline is not isolated to Hong Kong. Mainland China, historically the largest source of international students in the US, is experiencing similar trends. Chinese student enrollment in US higher education institutions peaked in 2017-18 at 3,63,000 but has since plateaued and then dropped, with an 8.6 per cent decline recorded last year. Undergraduate numbers fell even more sharply, at 13 per cent. Significantly, this trend is not limited to mainland China and Hong Kong alone as countries like Japan, South Korea and Thailand are also sending fewer students to the US.

Cost considerations

The financial strain of studying in the US is a major deterrent. For Hong Kong families, annual tuition at US public universities starts at HK$220,000 (approximately $28,265), a steep cost compared to HK$150,000 in Australia, HK$110,000 in the UK and Canada, or HK$100,000 in mainland China, the South China Morning Post report said. The economic burden extends beyond tuition to include accommodation, food and other living expenses.

In mainland China, financial concerns are also mounting. Universities outside the US, such as Canadas University of Toronto, have however witnessed a consistent rise in Chinese enrollment.

Changing immigration policies and perceptions

Policies under former US President Donald Trump and their continuation under the Biden administration have created an inhospitable atmosphere for many international students. Restrictions on visas, especially for Chinese graduate students in sensitive fields like aviation and robotics and bans on those suspected of ties to the Chinese military, have raised barriers.

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For students already in the US, frequent status renewals and the limited availability of H-1B visas make long-term planning difficult. Rising anti-Asian sentiment and gun violence in the US have also contributed to perceptions of an unsafe and unwelcoming environment.

The situation is compounded by strained US-China relations. Trade wars, human rights allegations and row over Covid-19 origin have deepened mutual distrust and consequently affected the academic ties. According to a 2021 survey, over 60 per cent of Chinese respondents held unfavourable views of the US while in the US 89 per cent of Americans surveyed considered China as a competitor or enemy.

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Rise of alternatives

As a result, alternative destinations like the UK, Canada and Australia are capitalising on this shift. Germany and France have simplified visa processes, while Japan, South Korea and Singapore appeal due to geographical proximity and cultural familiarity.

This change in enrollment scenario also has financial ramifications for US universities. International students, especially those from China, contribute significantly to tuition revenue. In 2018, Chinese students alone added nearly $15 billion to the US economy, a report in the Axios said.

The decline in Chinese and Hong Kong students affects more than just finances. As fewer students cross borders, opportunities for cultural exchange also diminish.

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Looking ahead

The future trajectory will depend on how broader geopolitical tensions will prevail, financial constraints are eased and particularly where the US-China ties are heading for with Trump 2.0 all set to roll in January next year.
Lebanons health ministry said Israeli air strikes on the east and south of the country killed at least 30 people on Saturday. read more

Rescue workers and people search for victims at the site of an Israeli airstrike that hit central Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. Image- AP

Israel has pledged to continue to act decisively against Hezbollah following airstrikes in eastern and southern Lebanon that reportedly killed at least 30 people.

At least 16 were killed in the east, where Hezbollah holds sway, among them eight in Shmestar, Lebanons health ministry said. And in the south, another Hezbollah bastion, at least 14 were killed, including five in the coastal city of Tyre, it said on Saturday.

Israels Defence Minister Israel Katz told his US counterpart on Saturday that the country would continue to act decisively against Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, after two months of full-blown war, a spokesman said.

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In a phone call with Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin, Katz commended US efforts to facilitate de-escalation in Lebanon, emphasised Israels commitment to restoring security that would enable northern residents to return to their homes safely, and underscored that Israel will continue to act decisively in response to Hezbollahs attacks on civilian populations in Israel, a spokesman for Katz said.

The attack in the capital was followed by others in the citys southern suburbs after calls by the Israeli military to evacuate the area.

Israel stepped up its campaign against the militant group in late September, targeting its strongholds in the east and south as well as south Beirut, and later sending in ground troops after nearly a year of limited cross-border exchanges of fire.

Lebanons health ministry says at least 3,645 people have been killed since October 2023, when Hezbollah began trading fire with Israel in solidarity with its Palestinian ally Hamas. Most of the deaths have been since September this year.

With inputs from aegncies.
Israel says Hamas uses hospitals and civilians as human shields, and has made public videos and photos to support that claim. Hamas rejects the allegations and says it does not use the civilian population or facilities for military purposes. read more

People check the site on an Israeli strike at a house in Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip on November 22, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas militant group. Image- AFP

Israeli airstrikes across Gaza have killed at least 120 Palestinians in the past 48 hours, including seven members of a single family in Gaza Citys Zeitoun suburb, according to Palestinian medics. Strikes on a hospital on the enclaves northern edge wounded medical staff and damaged critical equipment, they said.

Israeli forces have intensified their bombardment and incursion into northern Gaza, which Israels military claims is aimed at preventing Hamas fighters from regrouping and launching attacks. However, local residents express fears that the objective may be to create a permanent buffer zone, a claim Israel denies.

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Meanwhile, Lebanon said an Israeli air strike in the heart of Beirut that brought down a residential building and jolted residents across the city killed at least 11 people on Saturday.

The attack in the capital was followed by others in the citys southern suburbs after calls by the Israeli military to evacuate the area.

Israel stepped up its campaign against the militant group in late September, targeting its strongholds in the east and south as well as south Beirut, and later sending in ground troops after nearly a year of limited cross-border exchanges of fire.

Lebanons health ministry says at least 3,645 people have been killed since October 2023, when Hezbollah began trading fire with Israel in solidarity with its Palestinian ally Hamas. Most of the deaths have been since September this year.

Gaza hospitals struggling

The war in Gaza was triggered by Hamass unprecedented October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

At least 44,176 people have been killed in Gaza during more than 13 months of war, most of them civilians, according to figures from Gazas health ministry which the United Nations considers reliable.

Months of attempts to negotiate a ceasefire have yielded scant progress and negotiations are now on hold, with mediator Qatar having suspended its efforts until the sides are prepared to make concessions.

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Hamas wants a deal that ends the war, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the war can end only once Hamas is eradicated.

With inputs from agencies.
The UN independent human rights investigators new report says Myanmars military junta is committing severe atrocities, causing conflict, gang rapes, mass killings, starvation, displacement and a humanitarian crisis read more

Myanmars desperate military junta is ramping up attacks on villages that have fallen to opposition groups, carrying out beheadings, gang rapes and torture, with women, children and the elderly among the victims, the UN independent human rights investigator for Myanmar said in a new report.

Thomas Andrews, a former US congressman from Maine, said in the report to the UN General Assembly circulated Friday that the junta has responded to military defeats and the loss of territory by using sophisticated weapons against civilians and seeking to destroy towns that it cannot control.

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Calling Myanmar an invisible crisis because the worlds attention is focused elsewhere, he said, Escalating atrocities against the people of Myanmar are being enabled by governments that allow, or actively support, the transfer of weapons, weapons materials, and jet fuel to junta forces. Andrews didnt name the governments. But he praised Singapore for cracking down on weapons transfers that has led to a 90 per cent reduction by Singapore-registered companies, and said sanctions imposed by the United States on junta-controlled, state-owned banks have disrupted military supply chains.

The UN special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar lamented, however, that their actions remain an exception.

He called on all countries to address Myanmars devastating human rights and humanitarian crisis by stopping the flow of weapons to the junta, stepping up humanitarian aid to millions in need, and supporting efforts to hold perpetrators accountable for human rights violations.

Myanmar is racked by violence that began when the army ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021 and brutally suppressed nonviolent protests. That triggered armed resistance and combat across the country, with the military increasingly using airstrikes to counter the opposition and secure territory.

The army is on the defensive against ethnic militias in much of Myanmar as well as hundreds of armed guerrilla groups collectively called the Peoples Defence Forces, formed to fight to restore democracy.

The military has said in the past that it only attacks legitimate targets of war and has accused the resistance forces of being terrorists.

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Andrews called the military juntas plan to hold an election in late 2025 a farcical parody and thinly veiled attempt to create an impression of legitimacy and relieve international pressure. He warned, Not only is this fraudulent attempt outrageous, it is dangerous, as it could lead to even greater levels of instability and violence. He ticked off grim statistics: Over 3.1 million people are displaced by conflict and the juntas human rights violations, and 18.6 million people need humanitarian assistance, including 13.3 million facing emergency levels of food insecurity.

He said the juntas military forces have killed more than 5,800 civilians, destroyed over 100,000 homes and other civilian structures, and have kept more than 21,000 political prisoners languishing behind bars.

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Junta troops have killed civilians in ground assaults, including the mass killing of individuals already in the custody of junta forces, Andrews said. Victims have been tortured, raped and beheaded, and their bodies burned." Andrews, a human rights fellow at Yale Law School who was appointed by the Geneva-based Human Rights Council, said the situation was most desperate and dangerous in Rakhine state in western Myanmar.

Last November, the Arakan Army, which is seeking autonomy from Myanmars central government, began an offensive against the military in Rakhine and has gained control of more than half of its townships. The Arakan Army, which is the well-armed wing of the Rakhine ethnic minority movement, is also a member of the armed ethnic group alliance trying to topple the military.

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In the report, Andrews said: The Arakan Army has been implicated in grave human rights abuses, including indiscriminate attacks, killings, sexual violence and arbitrary arrests. He also said the military has responded to the Arakan Armys steady losses in Rakhine by attacking civilians and raising tensions between the ethnic Rakhine and Rohingya communities.

Buddhist-majority Myanmar has long considered the Rohingya Muslim minority to be Bengalis from Bangladesh even though their families have lived in the country for generations. Nearly all have been denied citizenship since 1982.

In August 2017, attacks by a Rohingya insurgent group on Myanmar security personnel triggered a brutal campaign by the military, which drove at least 740,000 Rohingya to Bangladesh. The military is accused of mass rape, killings and burning thousands of homes.

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Meanwhile, the military junta has conscripted thousands of Rohingya men and deployed them to the front lines to fight the Arakan Army, he said. And Rohingya militant groups have cynically aligned with the junta and committed human rights abuses against the ethnic Rakhine population.

Hundreds of thousands of people in Rakhine State are completely cut off from humanitarian assistance and threatened by exposure, starvation and disease, Andrews warned. Failure to act immediately to provide emergency humanitarian aid will be a death sentence for untold numbers of innocent men, women and children. A month ago, he said, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, the interim leader of Bangladesh where 1 million Rohingya refugees live, called on UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to convene a conference with all key players in the Rohingya crisis. Yunus has pressed for their repatriation to Myanmar.

Andrews urged Guterres to call a conference that could help seize the attention of a distracted world and mobilize the resources and action necessary to save the many lives that hang in the balance".

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.)
UN ambassadors highlighted Hindis global prominence, emphasising its role in fostering inclusivity, cultural exchange, and economic opportunities during a special event to commemorate Hindi Diwas at the UN read more

Hindi has gained global prominence, transcending geographical boundaries to become a widely appreciated language that fosters inclusivity, UN ambassadors have said, as they emphasised the need to promote it to connect and empower people worldwide.

The Permanent Mission of India to the UN organised a special event in the UN headquarters on Friday to commemorate Hindi Diwas. The event was attended by a delegation of Indian parliamentarians, currently on a visit to the UN.

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The delegation leader, Member of Parliament Birendra Prasad Baishya, highlighted the popular appeal of Hindi in different countries during his remarks at the event that was attended by several UN ambassadors and officials.

Beginning his remarks with Namaskar doston, Director of UN Department of Global Communications (DGC) Ian Phillips described Hindis global reach as truly impressive, noting that with over 600 million speakers worldwide, it is the third most spoken language in the world after English and Mandarin.

He said that Hindi was first spoken in the UN General Assembly in 1949.

In a world where artificial intelligence is gaining ground, India has a major role to play and Hindi language remains a key channel to communicate with millions who represent the next generation of leaders, Phillips said.

Nepals Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Lok Bahadur Thapa, said Hindi has played a crucial role in further expanding and strengthening people-to-people relations, engagements and linkages between India and Nepal.

The Hindi language has played an important role in fostering economic opportunities and mobility between and among our peoples. Its widespread use has facilitated trade, tourism and cross-border business ventures, he said.

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Thapa said Hindi has enabled smoother interactions and collaborations, contributing significantly to economic growth and social cohesion in the region and beyond.

Hindi has played an essential role in multiple sectors, including education, health, social development and community engagement in the region and different parts of the globe, he said.

Hindi carries a rich heritage and has facilitated the transmission of cultural identity and values. This language can also create opportunities for economic growth, educational advancement, healthcare improvements, social development and community engagement. It helps bridge gaps, foster collaborations and promote inclusivity in diverse regions, Thapa said.

Mauritius Permanent Representative to the UN Jagdish Dharamchand Koonjul said Hindi holds a place of profound significance in his country.

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Noting that the language arrived in Mauritius with the indentured labourers in the 19th century, he said, Despite numerous challenges, Hindi thrived in the country, becoming not just a means of communication, but a bridge to preserve traditions, spirituality and their cultural identity. Let us work together to promote Hindi as a global language, ensuring that it continues to inspire, connect and empower people across the world, he said.

Guyanas Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Trishala Persaud told the audience that Hindi words are used across everyday life in her country.

Many of the Hindi words spoken in Guyana come from the Bhojpuri dialect of Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, she said, adding that it is very common to hear Guyanese refer to vegetables as aloo and baigan, or to eating roti, dal, jalebi and hear relatives addressed lovingly as Chacha, Chachi, or Aaji.

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The envoy noted that there has been discussion of introducing Hindi as a subject in public schools, with the main challenge being teaching personnel. Persaud recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modis just concluded visit to Guyana during which he listened to children singing and speaking in Hindi appropriate as a prelude to Hindi Diwas.

Indias Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish said Hindi has become a language synonymous with the vibrant cultural landscape of India and has transcended geographical boundaries to emerge as a popular language around the globe on the strength of our diaspora as well as the prominence of Bollywood and classical literature.

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While there are 22 regional languages and thousands of dialects in India, Hindi holds a special place in the linguistically diverse country, Harish said, noting that Hindi is the most widely spoken language in India with nearly 450 million native speakers.

During his address, DGC Director Phillips said Hindi has contributed words like jungle, pajamas, bungalow, yoga and guru to the English language.

Bollywood, the worlds largest film industry, has popularised Hindi and Indian culture globally, he said.

India had co-sponsored a UNGA resolution on multilingualism which for the first time mentioned Hindi along with Bangla and Urdu.

Phillips said in the spirit of multilingualism, India began a partnership with the Department of Global Communications in 2018 to present global news and multimedia content in Hindi.

The UN News Hindi website was launched in January 2019 and with the related social media platforms, we continue to grow our reach and audience. Roughly 40% of active users are aged between 18 and 24 years old, and around 80 per cent of traffic comes from mobile devices, Phillips said.

UN News Hindi has evolved to create new content formats showcasing stories from the field, engaging audiences on issues like AI, youth empowerment and womens rights, he said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.)
At least 18 people were killed and 30 injured in sectarian violence between two tribes in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa following a deadly attack on a convoy of passenger vans, killing 47 people read more

At least 18 people were killed and 30 others injured in sectarian violence in northwest Pakistans restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in the last 24 hours, police said.

The clashes between the tribes of Alizai and Bagan in Kurram district bordering Afghanistan took place following Thursdays attack on a convoy of passenger vans in which 47 people were killed by militants.

Gunfire is also continuing in Balishkhel, Khar Kali, Kunj Alizai and Maqbal.

The tribes are targeting each other with heavy and automatic weapons. So far, 18 people have been killed and 30 injured in the clashes. Independent and media sources reported more than 30 deaths in the clashes.

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Homes and shops have also been damaged in the fighting. People from various villages have fled to safer locations.

Due to the deteriorating situation, all educational institutions in the district remain closed on Saturday, confirmed Muhammad Hayat Hassan, chairman of the Private Education Network.

Over 50 passenger vehicles were fired upon at Bagan, Manduri, and Ochhat on Thursday.

Six vehicles were directly hit in the firing, resulting in the deaths of 47 people, including women and children, police said.

The vehicles were travelling in a convoy from Parachinar to Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, officials said.

Most of the victims belonged to the Shia community, they said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.)
The EU and other countries have also tussled with Saudi Arabia over including strong language on moving away from fossil fuels, which negotiators say the oil-producing country has resisted. read more

A member of security stands with the Baku Olympic Stadium in the background during the COP29 U.N. Climate Summit, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan. Image- AP

Saudi delegate accused of altering official Cop29 negotiating text, raising transparency concerns

A Saudi Arabian delegate has been accused of directly editing an official Cop29 negotiating text, bypassing standard protocols where texts are shared as non-editable PDFs for collective discussion, the Guardian reported.

According to reports, experts warn that allowing one party to alter documents independently undermines the integrity of the summit.

Saudi Arabia, often criticised for obstructing climate action at UN summits, has faced accusations of being a wrecking ball at Cop29, due to its stance on limiting fossil fuel usage. Critics say the incident highlights the need for stricter safeguards in climate negotiations.

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Meanwhile, United Nations talks dissolved into factions Saturday after developing nations rejected what they called too little money to deal with climate change,

As workers began to dismantle the furnishings of the climate conference called COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, negotiators went from one big room where everyone tried to hash out a deal together into several separate huddles of upset nations. Hallway talk oscillated between hope for shuttle diplomacy to bridge the gap and kicking the can down the road to sometime next year. Negotiators and analysts had mostly given up hope that the host presidency would get the job done.

Its a fight about big money, but the question dividing them is: Is it big enough?

A climate cash deal is still elusive

Developing nations and United Nations reports say theres a need for $1.3 trillion to help adapt to droughts, floods, rising seas and extreme heat, pay for losses and damages caused by extreme weather, and transition their energy systems away from planet-warming fossil fuels and toward clean energy. The number would replace an $100 billion-a-year deal for climate cash thats expiring.

After an initial proposal of $250 billion a year was soundly rejected, the Azerbaijan presidency brewed up a new rough draft of $300 billion, that was never formally presented, but also dismissed roundly by African nations and small island states, according to messages relayed from inside. Then a group of negotiators from the Least Developed Countries bloc and the Alliance of Small Island States left the room.

The current deal is unacceptable for us. We need to speak to other developing countries and decide what to do, Evans Njewa, the chair of the LDC group, said. When asked if the walkout was a protest, Colombia environment minister Susana Mohamed told The Associated Press: I would call this dissatisfaction, (we are) highly dissatisfied."

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With tensions high, climate activists heckled United States climate envoy John Podesta as he left the meeting room. They accused the U.S. of not paying its fair share and having a legacy of burning up the planet.

The one thing uniting the separate rooms was unhappiness with the way the presidency was running the conference, especially developing nations who said they felt ignored.

Theres incredible anger and frustration toward the presidency and the way it behaved, said longtime conference veteran analyst Alden Meyer of the European think tank E3G.

Whats next? Success or delay

The meeting is already one day past its scheduled end date and the longer it goes the higher the chance that enough delegates will leave that it will not have a quorum to continue, which happened to the biodiversity COP last month in Cali, Colombia.

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Meyer said there is still hope that someone can bridge the gap between the separate parties, find common ground and then hand the presidency a compromise on a sliver platter.

If not, theres two possibilities, Meyer said. One is that the meeting could be adjourned temporarily until next January  before Donald Trump takes power in the United States. And the other is that some kind of small agreement  not on finance  could be made and everything financial gets pushed to next years COP in Belem, Brazil. But that meeting is already jam-packed with importance because its when the world is supposed to increase its carbon pollution-cutting efforts.

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Teresa Anderson, the global lead on climate justice at Action Aid, said that in order to get a deal, the presidency has to put something far better on the table.

Speaking late Sunday, Adonia Ayebare, the chair of the G77 and China negotiating bloc, said the group was still consulting.

The process is in the hands of the presidency, he said.

With inputs from agencies.
In a television interview on Friday, South Koreas top security adviser, Shin Won-sik suggested that the Kremlins technology and aid were payment made to Pyongyang after they deployed over 10,000 troops near the Russia-Ukraine border read more

As the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war continues to escalate, South Koreas intelligence claimed that Russia has sent air defence missiles and other military technology to North Korea in return for the deployment of troops near the Ukrainian border. The shipments were now being seen as the latest indication of deepening ties between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un.

The latest revelation was made by Seoul amid fears that the escalation of the war in Ukraine could fuel geopolitical tensions in Asia. However, neither North Korea nor Russia admitted to being involved in this transaction.

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In a television interview on Friday, South Koreas top security adviser, Shin Won-sik suggested that the Kremlins technology and aid were payment made to Pyongyang after they deployed over 10,000 troops near the Russia-Ukraine border.

It has been identified that equipment and anti-aircraft missiles aimed at reinforcing Pyongyangs vulnerable air defence system have been delivered to North Korea, Shin, the national security adviser to the Souths president, Yoon Suk Yeol, told the broadcaster SBS.

North Korea promised a security guarantee from Russia

The South Korean officials believe that the North has been promised military technology ranging from surveillance satellites to submarines, and possible security guarantees from Moscow. For the longest time, the hermit nation was thought to be eager to bolster air defences after it accused South Korea of using drones to drop propaganda leaflets over the capital in October.

During the interview, Shin did not detail how the South Korean intelligence officials confirmed these transactions between Russia and North Korea. What is making South Korea and the West more anxious is the possible transfer of Russias nuclear and missile technology to Pyongyang.

In June, Putin travelled to Pyongyang to meet the North Korean Supreme Leader. During his trip, the two leaders signed a mutual aid agreement that obliged both countries to provide military assistance without delay in the case of an attack on the other.

Amid all this, reports are emerging that China is displeased by the recent diplomatic manoeuvres. In July this year, the Chinese ambassador in Pyongyang stayed away from celebrations marking the anniversary of the end of the Korean War.

According to The Guardian, Beijing is concerned that technology transfers to North Korea could fuel regional proliferation, including nuclear weapons, and deepen geopolitical tensions with US allies on its doorstep, particularly Japan and South Korea.

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Amid the chaos, South Korean intelligence officials told the parliament this week that they believed North Korean soldiers had already seen combat, with some assigned to Russias airborne brigade and marine units.

With inputs from agencies.
In Paris, large crowds of women and men marched waving purple placards that denounced gender-based violence and defended womens reproductive rights. read more

A protester, front left, holds placard reading "1000 feminicides under Macron presidency " during a march for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in Paris, France, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. Image- AP

Thousands rallied in Paris and other French cities on Saturday, demanding justice for victims of femicides and sexual violence. The protests, which saw large crowds of both women and men, highlighted the fight against gender-based violence and called for stronger reproductive rights protections.

Participants also voiced concerns over the potential rollback of womens rights, fueled by the election of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. Protesters also expressed solidarity with Gisele Pelicot, whose harrowing trial against her ex-husband and other men accused of raping her while she was drugged and unconscious has sparked widespread outrage over sexual violence in France.

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Unfortunately, anybody can be a perpetrator of violence. It can be our brothers. It can be our fathers. It can be our colleagues. It can be our bosses. I think thats the big shock for people, said Maelle Noir, representing the feminist collective Nous Toutes  which translates as All of us.

There is no typical profile of who the rapist could be and there is also no typical profile of who the victim could be, she said.

Protest organisers demanded increased government spending to fight sexual and sexist violence and promote gender equality.

With inputs from agencies.
The Kursk offensive was the first ground invasion of Russia by a foreign power since World War Two and caught Moscow unprepared. read more

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Services on Nov. 19, 2024, rescue workers clear the rubble of a residential building destroyed by a Russian strike in Hlukhiv, Ukraine Image- AP

Ukraine has lost more than 40% of the territory it seized initially in a surprise attack in Russias Kursk region in August, a senior Ukrainian military source told Reuters.

Russia had deployed some 59,000 troops to the Kursk region since Kyivs forces swept in and advanced swiftly, catching Moscow unprepared 2-1/2 years into its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, said the source, who is on Ukraines General Staff.

At most, we controlled about 1,376 square kilometres (531 square miles), now of course this territory is smaller. The enemy is increasing its counterattacks, Reuters cited source as saying.

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Now we control approximately 800 square kilometres (309 square miles). We will hold this territory for as long as is militarily appropriate.

The Kursk offensive was the first ground invasion of Russia by a foreign power since World War Two and caught Moscow unprepared.

With the thrust into Kursk, Kyiv aimed to stem Russian attacks in eastern and northeastern Ukraine, force Russia to pull back forces gradually advancing in the east and give Kyiv extra leverage in any future peace negotiations.

But Russian forces are still steadily advancing in Ukraines eastern Donetsk region.

For the first time, the Kremlin fired a new intermediate-range ballistic missile at Ukraine in response to Kyivs use of American and British missiles.

In a televised address to the country, the Russian president had warned that U.S. 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 Oreshnik  Russian for hazelnut tree  based on Russias RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile, which can carry nuclear warheads.

Putin also said it could be used to attack any Ukrainian ally whose missiles are used to attack Russia. Moscow gave Washington a 30-minute warning of the attack, which struck a weapons factory in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro.

Ukraines armed forces chief said on Nov. 11 that its beleaguered forces were not just battling crack Russian reinforcements in Kursk but also scrambling to reinforce two besieged fronts in eastern Ukraine and bracing for an infantry assault in the south.

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With inputs from agencies.
President-elect Donald Trump has tapped hedge-fund investor Scott Bessent to be his Treasury Secretary. Trump nominated the man who taught at Yale University for several years on Friday. It is pertinent to note that the job Bessent is appointed for is touted as one of the most powerful roles in Washington. A US treasury secretary has great influence over Americas gigantic economy and financial markets.

Trumps process of picking his team has so far been largely based on political loyalty to him rather than expertise and experience. However, many were watching who Trump would pick for treasury closely given his plans to reshape global trade through tariffs. The 62-year-old hedge fund investor has been a strong advocate for tax reforms and deregulation.

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The challenging road ahead for Bessent

Bessent will be following other financial luminaries who have taken the job before him. This includes former Goldman Sachs executives Robert Rubin, Hank Paulson and Steven Mnuchin, Trumps first treasury chief. Janet Yellen, who is the current treasury secretary and the first woman to take the job, has chaired the Federal Reserve and was part of the White House Council of Economic Advisers in the past.

As the 79th US treasury secretary, Bessent is responsible for maintaining the plumbing of the worlds largest economy, from collecting taxes and paying the nations bills to managing the $28.6 trillion Treasury debt market and overseeing financial regulation, including handling and preventing market crises. He will essentially be the highest-ranking US economic official.

However, the financier will now face challenges when it comes to managing federal deficits that are forecast to grow by nearly $8 trillion over a decade due to Trumps plans to extend expiring tax cuts next year and add generous new breaks, including ending taxes on Social Security income.

While defending his new boss, Bessent has argued that Trumps agenda would unleash stronger economic growth that would grow revenue. Bessent is also supposed to inherit the role carved out by Yellen to lead the G7 nations to provide tens of billions of dollars in economic support for Ukraine and might also take calls to tighten sanctions against Russia and China.

With inputs from Reuters.
The aviation components that the Indian national was trying to export had dual civil and military applications. The charges include attempting to illegally export a navigation and flight control system from Oregon to Russia via India and making false statements about the export read more

The US Department of Justice has indicted a 57-year-old Indian man named Sanjay Kaushik for conspiring to unlawfully export aviation components to Russian entities. According to the statement released by the Justice Department, Kaushik was charged with violating the Export Control Reform Act.

The aviation components that the Indian national was trying to export had dual civil and military applications. The charges include attempting to illegally export a navigation and flight control system from Oregon to Russia via India and making false statements about the export. The authorities arrested Kaushik from Miami, Florida on October 17 after a criminal complaint and arrest warrant was issued by the District of Oregon.

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The court document stated that Kaushik and his co-conspirators began plotting in March last year, amid the still ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. The alleged plan was to procure aerospace goods and technology from the US under false pretence. The prosecutors accused the suspect of claiming that the goods were intended to be used in Kaushiks Indian company, but it was Russia which was the end user.

If convicted, Kaushik can face 20 years in prison.

In one such instance, Kaushik and his colleagues acquired an Altitude Heading Reference System (AHRS), which is seen as a critical component for aircraft navigation and flight control. The component was acquired from an Oregon supplier. What makes the matter controversial is the fact that exporting such components to restricted countries, which includes Russia, is prohibited by the Department of Commerce under the Export Control Reform Act.

If Kaushik is found guilty in the case, he will face severe penalties and a prison sentence of up to 20 years. It is important to note that the final sentence in the case will be determined by the federal district court judges, considering the US Sentencing Guidelines.

The case was announced by Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Departments National Security Division, Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod of the Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), and US Attorney Natalie K. Wight for the District of Oregon.

The investigation is part of the KleptoCapture task force, which was established on March 2, 2022. The task force is responsible for enforcing sanctions and export controls that were imposed shortly after Russia launched a full-scale war in Ukraine.

With inputs from agencies.
A federal judge of United States rejected the Securities and Exchange Commissions bid to sanction Elon Musk for skipping court-ordered testimony in regulators probe into his $44 billion Twitter takeover case. The judge said sanctions are unnecessary read more

A federal judge on Friday rejected the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commissions request to sanction Elon Musk after he failed to appear for court-ordered testimony for the regulators probe into his $44 billion takeover of Twitter.

U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley in San Francisco said sanctions over Musks Sept. 10 absence were unnecessary, after the worlds richest person testified on Oct. 3 and agreed to pay the SECs $2,923 of travel costs.

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Because the present circumstances forestall any occasion for meaningful relief that the court could grant, the SECs request is moot, Corley wrote.

The SEC had sought a declaration that Musk violated a May 31 court order to provide testimony.

It said having only to repay travel costs would not deter many other people from ignoring court orders, much less someone of Musks extraordinary means."

Musk said he complied with the order by testifying on Oct. 3. He is worth $321.7 billion according to Forbes magazine.

The SEC did not immediately respond to a request for comment after business hours. Lawyers for Musk did not immediately respond to similar requests.

Musk, whose businesses include electric car maker Tesla and rocket company SpaceX and who is the worlds richest person, went to Floridas Cape Canaveral on Sept. 10 to oversee the launch of SpaceXs Polaris Dawn mission.

The SEC is investigating whether Musk violated securities laws in early 2022 by waiting at least 10 days too long to disclose he had begun accumulating Twitter stock.

Critics and some investors have said this let him buy shares cheaply before he eventually disclosed a 9.2 per cent Twitter stake, and shortly thereafter offered to buy the whole company.

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In July, Musk said he misunderstood SEC disclosure rules and that all indications suggested he made a mistake."

The SEC also sued Musk in 2018 over his Twitter posts about taking Tesla private. He settled that lawsuit by paying a $20 million fine, agreeing to let Tesla lawyers review some posts in advance and stepping down as Teslas chairman.

The case is SEC v Musk, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 23-mc-80253.

(Except the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.)
Opposition leader Corina Machado was accused of supporting US sanctions targeting President Nicolas Maduro after his contested July reelection read more

Venezuela prosecutors opened a treason investigation Friday into opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, a statement said, accusing her of supporting US sanctions targeting President Nicolas Maduro after his contested July reelection.

In a statement, the prosecutors office said it has opened the inquiry because Machados support for tougher US measures constitutes treason to the homeland, according to article 128 of the penal code, (and) conspiracy with foreign countries.

The office said it is fighting against any person, group, or national or international entity that threatens the stability of the country.

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On Monday the US House of Representatives passed the BOLIVAR Act, a bipartisan bill which bars US federal agencies from conducting business with the Maduro regime or its associates. It still needs passage by the Senate and President Joe Bidens signature for it to become law.

Caracas reacted angrily to the House action, saying the bill would violate the UN Charter.

During Donald Trumps first term as US president, from 2017 to 2021, he imposed a policy of maximum pressure  including tightening financial sanctions and instituting an oil embargo  in an unsuccessful effort to oust Maduro from power.

Maduro claimed victory in the July election and defied domestic and international calls to release detailed polling numbers to back up the assertion.

The opposition claimed that its candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who had been swiftly picked to run in Machados place after she was declared ineligible, won with over 67 percent of the vote.

Amid an outcry at home and abroad, the former bus driver Maduro, handpicked by the late Hugo Chavez, is now serving his third term in the oil-rich country whose economy is in shambles, as Venezuelans endure acute shortages of food, medicine and other basic goods.

Since the election, Gonzalez Urrutia has fled to Spain due to an outstanding arrest warrant, while Machado has gone into hiding.

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Washington has not recognized Maduros victory and this week for the first time said it recognizes Gonzalez Urrutia as Venezuelas president-elect.
Acer has opened its second mega store in India, Acer Plaza, in Bengaluru at Embassy Heights, Ashok Nagar. This follows their first Acer Plaza in Ahmedabad, which was opened earlier this week.

The store offers a wide range of Acer and Acerpure products, including laptops, smart TVs, air purifiers, and more. Acer Plaza aims to provide an immersive shopping experience, showcasing the latest technology and innovations.

This launch is part of Acers commitment to expanding its retail presence in India, with plans to reach Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 cities. As Acer celebrates 25 years in India, this expansion reinforces its dedication to the Indian market and its position as a leader in technology.

Commenting on the launch, Harish Kohli, President & Managing Director, Acer India, said:

The launch of Acer Plaza in Bangalore is a strategic move to strengthen our presence in one of Indias most dynamic and tech-forward markets. As a city that thrives on innovation and houses a large, tech-savvy population, Bangalore was an ideal choice for our second mega store. This new Acer Plaza allows us to not only showcase our wide portfolio of products, but also to engage directly with customers in a highly personalized and interactive setting. With experiential retail becoming increasingly important, Acer Plaza helps bridge the gap between technology and consumers, enabling them to explore and interact with our latest PCs, smart home solutions, and more. This initiative aligns with our vision to make high-quality, innovative technology accessible across India.
Microsoft is finally previewing its controversial Recall feature with Windows Insiders using Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs. Starting today, the company is rolling out the Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2415 (KB5046723), which enables Recall (Preview) and Click to Do (Preview) AI features.

Microsoft Recall (Preview)

Leveraging the AI capabilities of Copilot+ PCs, the Recall feature will save snapshots of the screen to analyse the information for later use. This is an optional feature that requires users consent before storing snapshots. Microsoft assures that it does not send users snapshots off their PC to Microsoft or third parties and doesnt use them for training purposes.

After updating the software, Recall will be available in the App list. The app requires you to authenticate with Windows Hello before using it. With the new Recall feature in Copilot+ PCs, you can find what youve seen on your PC using the clues you remember. You can use natural language to search, or scroll back through time, and get back to what you need to find through text and visual matches.

You can also pause saving snapshots when they are not needed. A new icon in the system tray displays the status and provides quick access to Recall actions. The company also claims to have enhanced Recall to detect sensitive information, such as credit card details, passwords, and personal identification numbers, ensuring that such snapshots are not saved or stored.

Click to Do (Preview) with Recall

Click to Do is a new Windows AI feature that enables quick actions with just a click. With Click to Do in Recall, the tool can recognize text and images in snapshots and offer AI-powered actions you can take on these, saving time by helping complete tasks inline or quickly directing you to the app best suited to complete the job.

For text-based clicks, you can copy, search the web, open a website, or send an email with just a click. For images, you are offered quick actions like copying, sharing, performing a visual search, erasing objects, or removing the background of the image.

How to join the preview of the Recall feature?

As the update is rolling out exclusively to Windows Insiders with Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, users are encouraged to join the Dev Channel to try out Recall (Preview) with Click to Do (Preview).

Here is how you can join the Dev Channel on your Copilot+ PC today:

Register for the Windows Insider Program with your Microsoft account or Microsoft Entra ID. This should be the same account you use to sign into your Copilot+ PC.

After you have registered, go to Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program on your PC and select the Get Started button.

When asked to link an account, choose the account youre signed into Windows with and be sure that it is the same account you registered for the program with.

Choose the Dev Channel and reboot.

After rebooting and signing into your Copilot+ PC, go to Settings > Windows Update and check for updates, and Build 26120.2415 should be offered.

Your PC will download the update and reboot to finish the update process.

Recall (Preview) will begin to roll out on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, with support for AMD and Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs coming soon.
  





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War and Peace

Tolstoys greatest work chronicles the two migrations of the early 19th century during the Napoleonic era - the first east to west invasion of Russia headed by Napoleon, and the subsequent west to east push back headed by Emperor Alexander. His characters are reinforcements of the reality of war, conquest, and the home front; they oppose the simplistic archetypes that stem from the glorification of conflict, and present a detailed picture of the oftentimes conflicting emotions at the core of mankind. Over the course of the novel, they shed their simple and shallow desires throughout the story and embrace their mortality, with the search for the meaning of life being a primary theme in the book. They move as if connected by threads of destiny, as they struggle with their fates and positions in life. Yet even though the great and small individuals in Tolstoys masterpiece move in relation to underlying grand themes, Tolstoy is able to poignantly portray everyday human passions, along with domesticity and marital relations. At its core, War and Peace seeks to forward two main ideas: the first is about the movement of history, and the second about the search for the meaning of life. Tolstoy dissects these ideas slowly as Napoleons invasion unfolds, unafraid to depict the painful disillusionment many characters face as they recognize the emptiness and artificiality of earthly life.

Tolstoys philosophy of the movement of history is one that is not driven by the actions of a singular being; instead, hidden between the pages of War and Peace is an in-depth analysis of the realistic limits to leadership. War and Peace displays the actions of men, not gods, and Tolstoy makes that clear while the lofty leaders Napoleon and Alexander are revered to the point of self-sacrifice for the awe-struck citizen, they are but ordinary men, just like Platon Karatev, a humble peasant. Whether Napoleon is bluffing and puffing his chest out with pride within his salon, boasting to a messenger, or sitting on a camp-stool at the Battle of Borodino, miniscule and detached from the heat of the fray, it is clear he is not the great emperor he imagines he is. History is not his creation, to be molded as he sees fit, but rather the results of millions of individual chains of cause and effect too small to be analyzed independently, millions of chances that provide him power and the agreement of men to cooperate and confirm that power by acting on behalf of him. For instance, many historians believe that the French did not win the battle of Borodino because Napoleon had a cold, and so in logical extension of that if that colds existence never came to be, the orders he gave before and during the battle would have been even still more full of genius, and Russia would have been lost. The problem with that statement, as Tolstoy writes, is that if Napoleons will to fight depended on the manifestation of a cold, so too would a valet omitting to bring Napoleon his boots, or a horse falling behind in pace, or the sun rising later in the day. In that sense, the course of human events is not formed from the will of one man, but rather is predetermined to be dependent on the wills of all who take part in that event - so one mans perceived influence on those events is purely fictitious. Just like the man who perceives Napoleon as the last link between victory and defeat, the man who perceives the movement of a locomotive as the movement of the wheels and the whistling of the vehicle may see that as the final irrefutable cause, but has no right to conclude that what is observed is the cause of the movement of the locomotive.

If that is the case, how can one define the force that moves the nations? Tolstoy gives this definition through two lenses - that of chance and power. The first is relatively simpler to comprehend; chance accompanies Napoleon throughout his life, from Malta surrendering without a shot, to slipping past the enemy fleet, to being untouched from the plague, to being welcomed by the shrewd rulers of France, instead of turned away. This notion of chance gives him power, the same chance that forms the characters of the rulers of France who submit to him, forms the character of Paul I of Russia who recognizes him, defends him from defeat at Austerlitz. However, chance does not equate power. For Napoleon or Alexander to have commanded such respect, they would have needed some measure of this power - but from where? To a religious individual, this power could be satisfactorily distinguished as divine intervention - a power given by God. However, if one does not admit that, as Tolstoy does not, then it can be further reasoned that this power could not be from some Herculean physical might, nor a distinct intellectual or moral quality, as seen from the Louis XIVs and George IIIs of the world, although they might represent an opposite extreme of the spectrum. If that is the case, as Tolstoy reasons, this source of power must then lie in the relations of the man who wields the power, rather than the man themselves - and thus power is better understood through jurisprudence. Then, given that power is the collective will of the people transferred to one person, under the conditions that that person represents the will of the whole people, Tolstoy defines the movement of history as one that occurs from the relation that exists between the expression of someones will and the execution of that will by others, rather than a force that exists from the will of the hero, defined by rules beyond human comprehension.

Before discussing the search for the meaning of life, it is important to note the fickleness of said search; Tolstoy makes a point to repeatedly emphasise the irrationality of human motives throughout War and Peace. The irrational actions within the book, from General Kutuzovs constant revision of his plans, to the seemingly improbable love that manifests between Natasha and Pierre, shock the reader with their sudden decisiveness. Yet, Tolstoy makes it clear that the vast majority of these irrational actions in the novel turn out successfully - in accordance with his thoughts on the greater meaning of destiny and human life, these asinine decisions correspond to human instincts that frankly, the reader will never comprehend. After establishing this irrational thought process intrinsically linked with human desire, Tolstoy creates the majority of his characters as individuals suffering with a panging hunger for unattainable, Sehnsucht, with a gnawing dissatisfaction with the artificiality of their lives. Andrew is disillusioned with his empty life and the shallow people around him, while Pierre is simply unable to find any meaning behind his life. Focusing on the latter, Pierre attempts multiple times to inject a sense of vitality back into his everyday life, rejecting his superficial wife, and turning to Freemasonry, although quickly finding himself bored with the passivity of their approach to life. Falling prey to his id, Pierre grasps at a crazed obsession with assassinating Napoleon, believing his heroism will open his eyes to the truth of his existence. But that too, fails. Even though it seems Pierre and Andrew are doomed to a life of apathy, Tolstoy presents the solution to the infinite dilemma through two facets - Love and Death. While the experience of real love with Natasha finally gives meaning to Pierres life, Andrew requires close encounters with death in order to have a spiritual epiphany. If the meaning of life for Pierre grounded him to the beauty of the world, the revelatory power of death stripped away all earthly values from Andrews shoulders, as the external world faded in importance to the dying man, who, as Tolstoy reveals, is finally at peace with himself.

Within War and Peace, Tolstoy displays the questions at the core of human existence in their full, unashamed, honest selves - how has human existence been powered through centuries of history, and what is the meaning of that existence to begin with? And while Tolstoy might not have necessarily answered those questions, is that not also the whole point? Our questions will remain answered, and yet humanity will continue to thrive through its irrationality, through love and death - and War and Peace is fundamentally about humanity.




Civilians look for survivors in the rubble of a building following an Israeli strike near Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza
A former Grand Junction man in state prison for the 2018 murder of his elderly mother wont be liable for paying the cost of a DNA test that helped link him to the crime, the Colorado Court of Appeals ruled Thursday.

Richard Alan Vandervelde, 57, was arrested in Florida after the body of his 82-year-old mother, Sylvia Frens, was discovered by the new owners of his former residence four years after she disappeared. She was found beneath a manhole cover in the backyard in the home she and Vandervelde lived.

After her disappearance, Vandervelde was discovered to be driving his mothers car across country, took thousands of dollars from her bank account and pawned her computer.

During police investigation into her disappearance, a blood stain was found on carpet of a bedroom closet. Initial testing on it by the Colorado Bureau of Investigations determined that it was 46 times more likely the DNA originated from Frens and an unknown male.

Additional blood found on the carpet padding was too degraded for the CBI to complete a DNA profile, so the agency sent it to a private lab in Texas.

Vandervelde was arrested in 2022 and charged with first-degree murder. A year later he entered into a plea agreement to second-degree murder, theft from an at-risk victim and abuse of a corpse. He received a 32-year sentence.

At sentencing, the court imposed $1,494 in restitution and $4,790 in prosecution costs, with the caveat that more costs could be imposed for the DNA testing. The court later imposed an additional cost of $3,597 for that testing, which a three-judge panel agreed was done without statutory authority.

In the opinion, Judge Timothy Schutz wrote that had the outside DNA testing been included in the original court ruling on prosecution costs, the court would have disallowed it because CBI as a state entity had already done its own tests.

As Vandervelde points out (the DNA) bill was solely for testing of evidence, not for travel costs for an expert, not for consulting fees paid to an expert (and) not for testimony of an expert, Schutz wrote in the ruling, which was joined by Judges Ted Tow and Neeti Pawar. Therefore, the district court erred by finding that the DNA testing expense qualified as a cost paid to an expert witness.

Vandervelde currently is serving his sentence at the Crowley County Correctional Facility. His first parole hearing is in July 2045.
The meadow to the north beyond the memorial plaque is where the Cheyenne and Arapaho camp was when Col. John Chivington's troops attacked. (Bob Silbernagel photo)
Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Calgary Health Foundation, a Calgary-based nonprofit which raises money for healthcare excellence, is being forced to adapt during its busiest fundraising period in response to the ongoing Canada Post strike. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers strike, starting one week ago today, means disruptions to mail, including the mailing of the Foundations most significant fundraising drive of the year, their More Firsts holiday appeal.

The appeal, which features the emotional story about the impact Foundation donors have had on one grateful Calgarian, is waiting at Canada Post processing centres to be mailed out to over 40,000 households this season.

Sandy, a grateful patient and Calgary Health Foundation supporter whose story is featured in the appeal, had a medical emergency in 2023 that resulted in her being rushed to Rockyview General Hospital. Sandy spent 15 critical days in Rockyviews Intensive Care Unit due to kidney failure and medication toxicity.

I almost didnt make it, Sandy remembers. Thankfully, I had an incredible healthcare team looking after me. Caring and concerned community members were a huge part of the reason the team was able to save my life.

Last year, Calgary Health Foundations holiday appeal brought in over $250,000, an amount that accounts for a significant portion of its year-end fundraising. Without knowing how long the strike will last or what impact it will have on its operations, the Foundation is preparing for a substantial drop in donations.

As a registered charity committed to championing healthcare in Southern Alberta, we rely on the support of donors to bring to life the projects we commit to. The recent mail interruption limits our donors ability to give back to medical innovation and ensure we can continue to offer more healthcare firsts to patients. While this disruption affects traditional ways of giving, we still have many ways for donors to give. We encourage everyone to please call us, visit our website, or reach out for alternative ways to contribute. Murray Sigler, President & CEO, Calgary Health Foundation.

Calgary Health Foundation is currently committed to projects and programs advancing healthcare in the areas of, but not limited to, womens health initiatives, endoscopic spine and breast cancer surgery, interventional radiology, minimally invasive heart surgery, Parkinsons disease, Indigenous healthcare, mental health impatient treatment, and eating disorder programming.

Donor gifts to Calgary Health Foundation help ensure Calgary remains a world-class hub of medical care and continues to attract the best healthcare professionals, purchase the latest cutting-edge equipment and technology, and offer superior programs so patients can heal faster and enjoy more firsts with their families.

Donors can still give the gift of health this holiday season through on-line, phone and in-person donations. Donations received by December 31st will be issued a 2024 tax receipt. To donate, go to givehealth.ca/holidayhelp.

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FAST FACTS

About Calgary Health Foundation

Calgary Health Foundation is a community-based charity raising funds to advance healthcare across our city. We find opportunities to invest in excellence across the entire healthcare system and offer more firsts for care providers and patients, all to enhance outcomes and improve lives. calgaryhealthfoundation.ca





How people can give to heath

Online donations can be made by going to givehealth.ca/holidayhelp.

can be made by going to givehealth.ca/holidayhelp. Phone donations can be made by calling our office at 403-943-0615.

can be made by calling our office at 403-943-0615. In-person donations (by cash or cheque) can be made Monday-Friday between 8:00am-4:00pm at the Calgary Health Foundation head office at 800-11012 Macleod Trail (Southcentre Executive Tower).

Alternatively, donors can call Calgary Health Foundation at 403-943-0615 to make alternative arrangements.

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PASCAGOULA, Miss., Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HIIs (NYSE: HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding authenticated the keel today of Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer Sam Nunn (DDG 133). The ships name honors Samuel Augustus Nunn Jr., a former U.S. senator from Georgia and co-founder of the Nuclear Threat Initiative. Nunn was in attendance for the ceremony and was joined by his daughter and ship sponsor, Michelle Nunn.

It is truly an honor to commemorate this moment in the life of the future USS Sam Nunn, Ingalls Shipbuilding President Kari Wilkinson said. It continues an important journey for Ingalls shipbuilders in delivering what they do best: hard work, craftsmanship, and quality in support of the Navy and the nation. It is a fitting tribute to the public service of Senator Nunn and his commitment to making a difference in the world.

A native of Georgia, Nunn served in the Georgia House of Representatives before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 1972. During his tenure as senator, Nunn served as chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services and the permanent subcommittee on investigations. His legislative achievements include the landmark Department of Defense Reorganization Act and the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction Program which deactivated more than 7,600 nuclear warheads.





Photos accompanying this release are available at: https://hii.com/news/hiis-ingalls-shipbuilding-authenticates-keel-of-destroyer-sam-nunn-ddg-133/.

The ships sponsor and daughter of the namesake, Michelle Nunn, joined her farther and Ingalls Structural Welder Adam Lee in welding their initials onto a steel plate, signifying the keel of DDG 133 as being truly and fairly laid. The plate will remain affixed to the ship throughout its lifetime.

What a joy for our extended Nunn family and community to celebrate the laying of the keel of USS Sam Nunn, Michelle Nunn said. I am so honored to assume the role as this ships sponsor and I hope that my fathers values of determination, integrity, and service will inspire the sailors of DDG 133.

Sam Nunn (DDG 133) is the fifth Flight III destroyer to be constructed at Ingalls. Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyers incorporate a number of design modifications that collectively provide significantly enhanced capability including the AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) and the Aegis Baseline 10 Combat System that are designed to keep pace with the threats well into the 21st century.

Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are highly capable, multi-mission ships and can conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection. Guided missile destroyers are the backbone of the U.S. surface fleet and are capable of fighting multiple air, surface and subsurface threats simultaneously.

About HII

HII is a global, all-domain defense provider. HIIs mission is to deliver the worlds most powerful ships and all-domain solutions in service of the nation, creating the advantage for our customers to protect peace and freedom around the world.

As the nations largest military shipbuilder, and with a more than 135-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII delivers critical capabilities extending from ships to unmanned systems, cyber, ISR, AI/ML and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HIIs workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit:

HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/

HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHII

HII on X: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHII

HII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHII

Contact:

Kimberly K. Aguillard

228-355-5663

Kimberly.K.Aguillard@hii-co.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8dda2f23-f53e-44c8-804b-332b5ee96aae
NEW YORK, Nov. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

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

So What: If you purchased Unisys securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses.

To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=9648 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.

What is this about: On October 22, 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced that it had charged four companies, including Unisys, with making materially misleading disclosures regarding cybersecurity risks and intrusions. Further, the SEC also charged Unisys with disclosure controls and procedures violations.

On this news, Unisys stock fell 8.6% on October 22, 2024.

Why Rosen Law: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs Bar. Many of the firms attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ .

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Contact Information:
Artisans and farmers protecting and preserving the heritage of the American West pass on their knowledge and experience through shopping experiences, instructional classes, and weekend festivals hosting thousands to their charming village in Central Texas.

Quilt making and other craft seminars, agricultural exhibits, and music activities are on display each day at Homestead Craft Village and featured at Homestead Heritage's 37th Annual Homestead Fair, open from November 29 through Dec. 1, followed by two weekends of the Homestead Holiday Market, December 7 and 14.

WACO, Texas, Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Theres a moment in the pottery shop that captivates crowds and craftsmen alike. Its the moment a lump of clay seems to leap to life. The potters hands apply just the right pressure to the spinning clay and it rises swiftly, forming a neat cylinder.

This never gets old for me, said Brandon Trevino, a potter at Homestead Pottery. Its extremely satisfying to feel the clay transform in my hands. And I love seeing the smiles it brings to people watching.

Fortunately for everyone, including Brandon, this moment is repeated many times, as forming a cylinder on the spinning wheel is the starting point for nearly everything: cups, mugs, vases, bowls, even dinner plates. From the potters perspective, a plate is just a very wide, short cylinder.

Brandon makes it look effortless, but throwing clay takes time and practice to master. Fortunately, every practice throw can be recycled. Clay remains clay until it is fired in the kiln. Mistakes are temporary and welcomed as part of the learning process.

Theres no substitute for having clay in your hands. Watch all the online videos you want, but you need to feel it, said Brandon I like to say working clay on a wheel is like riding a bike  you try and try and then, it all comes together.

Beginning pottery students start by making pinch pots, a perfect first project for all ages to enjoy and learn the feel of clay. Other hand-building pottery techniques include coiled pottery, slab pottery, and woven pottery.

In creating pottery and teaching the craft to others, Brandon feels a strong connection with both the earth and his community at Homestead Heritage, where traditional crafts are part of a way of life centered on faith, family, and friendships.

For thousands of years pottery has been considered an essential village craft, supplying the plates, bowls, pitchers, cups, mugs, and containers needed for everyday living, said Brandon. Every item in this store is the product of human hands shaping clay from the earth, and each one is a unique creation.

Brandon and other artisans invite guests to participate in classes available year-round, Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Homestead Craft Village located north of Waco, a few minutes off the interstate or to make plans to visit the 37th Annual Homestead Fair Nov. 29  Dec. 1, Dec. 6-7 and Dec. 13-14, 2024.

About Homestead Heritage

Homestead Heritage at Brazos de Dios is a Christian church in Central Texas that embraces traditional ways of work and worship. The church community, which hosts more than 200,000 visitors per year, operates a 510-acre farm on the Brazos River and includes the Homestead Craft Village and Cafe Homestead.

Dozens of artisans, small business owners, and farmers work daily to protect and preserve the heritage of the American West and pass on their knowledge and experience through shopping experiences, instructional classes, and weekend festivals hosting thousands to their charming village in Central Texas.

Visit https://www.homesteadheritage.com/the-shops/ to learn more, shop or plan your trip, and https://www.homesteadfair.com/ for information about Homestead Heritage's 37th Annual Homestead Fair, open from November 29 through Dec. 1, followed by two weekends of the Homestead Holiday Market, December 7 and 14.

Watch Brandon at work at Homestead Pottery at Homestead Heritage.

Visit these social channels to learn more about Homestead Heritage. FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE, X/TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, TIKTOK

Media Contact:

Homestead Heritage

info@homesteadheritage.com

(254) 716-1013

SOURCE Homestead Heritage

Links

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/homesteadheritagewaco

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HomesteadHeritageWaco

X/Twitter: https://x.com/HomesteadWacoTX

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homesteadheritage/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@homesteadheritage

Direct Link to Brandon video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhvU3cB36ZE

Homestead Craft Village: https://www.homesteadheritage.com/the-shops/

Homestead Fair: https://www.homesteadfair.com/

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/091a1997-c298-4f51-bce5-082c86a1a4b1
Bangkok, Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On October 30, 2024, the economist Professor Lingyun Xiang in the United States was appointed as Chief Economic Advisor to the Thai Royal Family. The appointment signed by His Royal Highness Prince Kongchai, recognizes Professor Xiang's outstanding contributions to fostering cultural exchanges and promoting international economic and trade cooperation between China and Thailand.





His Royal Highness Prince Kongchai of the Thai Royal Family, entrusted by the Royal Family, issued the appointment letter to Professor Lingyun Xiang. This marks the first time the Thai Royal Family has appointed a Chief Economic Advisor for the Thai Royal Family.

Prince Kongchai introduced the Thai Royal Family, also known as the Chakri Dynasty (Thai: ), which has been in existence since 1782 during the Bangkok era. Before 1932, monarchs of the Chakri Dynasty wielded absolute power. Following the 1932 revolution, Thailand transitioned to a constitutional monarchy, with subsequent kings serving as symbolic heads of state. The current monarch is Maha Vajiralongkorn (King Rama X).

The Thai throne is traditionally inherited by princes. However, due to a lack of legitimate male heirs, current royal succession laws permit female members to inherit the throne. The King serves as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and exercises authority through Parliament, the Cabinet, and the judiciary as outlined in the Constitution. Each year, the government allocates 100 million Thai baht to cover royal expenses.

Professor Lingyun Xiang, the chief economic adviser of the Thai Royal Family is also the a recipient of the British Kings Medal and the European Outstanding Achievement Award, a Fellow of the Royal Society of the United Kingdom, a Lifetime Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering of the United Kingdom, and a Foreign Member of the National Academy of Engineering of Ukraine, a lifelong full-time professor of the European Union University, a lifelong professor (doctoral supervisor) of the National University of Maryland, a Special Term professor of Peking University Boya, a visiting professor of Beijing Union University, a visiting professor of Capital Normal University, a Visiting Professor at Nanjing University, a visiting professor of Shaanxi University of Science & Technology.

The Kingdom of Thailand, commonly known as Thailand and formerly known as Siam, has a total area of 513,000 square kilometers and a coastline of 2,705 kilometers. The country is divided into five regions, comprising 77 provinces. As of January 2024, Thailand's total population stands at 67.9 million.

Thailand is an emerging industrial nation with a market-oriented economy, adhering to a liberal economic policy and an export-driven model. It is a founding member of ASEAN and holds a central position within the organization. The country enjoys social stability, high policy transparency, and a strong degree of trade liberalization. Its open and inclusive business environment makes it ASEAN's second-largest economy with significant regional influence. Thailand's promising economic growth and vast market potential position it as a hub for regional trade.

In 1996, Thailand was classified as a middle-income country. By 2022, its GDP reached $495.2 billion, with an annual growth rate of 2.6%.

The Crown Property Bureau is a quasi-governmental agency responsible for managing the assets of the Thai Royal Family. Legally classified as a corporate entity rather than a government institution, it enjoys tax-exempt status. Headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand, the agency invests across various sectors, including real estate, finance, banking, and healthcare.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kaskela Law LLC announces that it is investigating Zuora, Inc. (NYSE: ZUO) (Zuora) on behalf of the companys investors.

Additional information: https://kaskelalaw.com/case/zuora/

On October 17, 2024, Zuora announced that it had agreed to be acquired by an investment group led by private equity firm Silver Lake at a price of $10.00 per share in cash. Following the closing of the proposed transaction, Zuoras current stockholders will be cashed out of their investment position and the companys shares will no longer be publicly traded.

The investigation seeks to determine whether Zuora shareholders are receiving sufficient consideration for their shares, and whether Zuoras officers and/or directors breached their fiduciary duties or violated the securities laws in agreeing to sell the company at $10.00 per share. Notably, shares of Zuoras common stock traded above $10.50 per share as recently as May 2024.

Zuora shareholders are encouraged to contact Kaskela Law LLC (D. Seamus Kaskela, Esq. or Adrienne Bell, Esq.) at (484) 229  0750 to receive additional information about this investigation and their legal rights and options. Alternatively, investors may submit their information to the firm by clicking on the following link (or by copying and pasting the link into your browser):

https://kaskelalaw.com/case/zuora/

Kaskela Law LLC exclusively represents investors in securities fraud, corporate governance, and merger & acquisition litigation on a contingent basis. For additional information about Kaskela Law LLC please visit www.kaskelalaw.com.

CONTACT:

KASKELA LAW LLC

D. Seamus Kaskela, Esq.

(skaskela@kaskelalaw.com)

Adrienne Bell, Esq.

(abell@kaskelalaw.com)

18 Campus Blvd., Suite 100

Newtown Square, PA 19073

(888) 715  1740

(484) 229  0750

www.kaskelalaw.com

This notice may constitute attorney advertising in certain jurisdictions.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kaskela Law LLC announces that it is investigating Innovid Corp. (NYSE: CTV) (Innovid) on behalf of the companys investors.

Additional information: https://kaskelalaw.com/case/innovid-corp/

On November 21, 2024, Innovid announced that it would be acquired by Mediaocean at a price of $3.15 per share. Following the closing of the proposed transaction, Innovid investors will be cashed out of their investment position and the companys shares will no longer be publicly traded.

The investigation seeks to determine whether the proposed $3.15 per share buyout price provides fair and sufficient value to Innovid shareholders for their CVT shares, and whether Innovids directors breached their fiduciary duties or violated the securities laws in agreeing to sell the company to Mediaocean at $3.15 per share.

Innovid shareholders are encouraged to contact Kaskela Law LLC (D. Seamus Kaskela, Esq. or Adrienne Bell, Esq.) at (484) 229  0750 to receive additional information about this investigation and their legal rights and options. Alternatively, investors may submit their information to the firm by clicking on the following link (or by copying and pasting the link into your browser):

https://kaskelalaw.com/case/innovid-corp/

Kaskela Law LLC exclusively represents investors in securities fraud, corporate governance, and merger & acquisition litigation on a contingent basis. For additional information about Kaskela Law LLC please visit www.kaskelalaw.com .

CONTACT:

KASKELA LAW LLC

D. Seamus Kaskela, Esq.

( skaskela@kaskelalaw.com )

Adrienne Bell, Esq.

( abell@kaskelalaw.com )

18 Campus Blvd., Suite 100

Newtown Square, PA 19073

(888) 715  1740

(484) 229  0750

www.kaskelalaw.com

This notice may constitute attorney advertising in certain jurisdictions.
SAN DIEGO, Nov. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The law firm of Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP announces that purchasers or acquirers of Wolfspeed, Inc. (NYSE: WOLF) securities between August 16, 2023 and November 6, 2024, both dates inclusive (the Class Period), have until January 17, 2025 to seek appointment as lead plaintiff of the Wolfspeed class action lawsuit. Captioned Zagami v. Wolfspeed, Inc., No. 24-cv-01395 (N.D.N.Y.), the Wolfspeed class action lawsuit charges Wolfspeed as well as certain of Wolfspeeds top executives with violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

If you suffered substantial losses and wish to serve as lead plaintiff of the Wolfspeed class action lawsuit, please provide your information here:

https://www.rgrdlaw.com/cases-wolfspeed-class-action-lawsuit-wolf.html

You can also contact attorneys J.C. Sanchez or Jennifer N. Caringal of Robbins Geller by calling 800/449-4900 or via e-mail at info@rgrdlaw.com.

CASE ALLEGATIONS: Wolfspeed operates as a bandgap semiconductor company that focuses on silicon carbide and gallium nitride (GaN) technologies.

The Wolfspeed class action lawsuit alleges that defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Wolfspeeds optimistic claims of potential growth of its Mohawk Valley fabrication facility and general demand for Wolfspeeds 200mm wafers in the electronic vehicle market fell short of reality; and (ii) Wolfspeed had overstated demand for its key product and placed undue reliance on purported design wins while the Mohawk Valley facilitys growth had begun to taper before recognizing the $100 million revenue per quarter allegedly achievable with only 20% utilization of the fabrication, let alone the promised $2 billion revenue purportedly achievable by the facility.

The Wolfspeed class action lawsuit further alleges that on November 6, 2024, Wolfspeed announced its financial results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2025, revealing that 20% utilization of the Mohawk Valley fabrication facility would result in 30% to 50% below the $100 million mark defendants had claimed, attributing the results and lowered guidance to demand . . . ramp[ing] more slowly than we originally anticipated as EV customers revise their launch time lines as the market works through this transition period. On this news, the price of Wolfspeed stock fell more than 39%, according to the complaint.

THE LEAD PLAINTIFF PROCESS: The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 permits any investor who purchased or acquired Wolfspeed securities during the Class Period to seek appointment as lead plaintiff in the Wolfspeed class action lawsuit. A lead plaintiff is generally the movant with the greatest financial interest in the relief sought by the putative class who is also typical and adequate of the putative class. A lead plaintiff acts on behalf of all other class members in directing the Wolfspeed class action lawsuit. The lead plaintiff can select a law firm of its choice to litigate the Wolfspeed class action lawsuit. An investors ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff of the Wolfspeed class action lawsuit.

ABOUT ROBBINS GELLER: Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP is one of the worlds leading law firms representing investors in securities fraud cases. Our Firm has been #1 in the ISS Securities Class Action Services rankings for six out of the last ten years for securing the most monetary relief for investors. We recovered $6.6 billion for investors in securities-related class action cases  over $2.2 billion more than any other law firm in the last four years. With 200 lawyers in 10 offices, Robbins Geller is one of the largest plaintiffs firms in the world and the Firms attorneys have obtained many of the largest securities class action recoveries in history, including the largest securities class action recovery ever  $7.2 billion  in In re Enron Corp. Sec. Litig. Please visit the following page for more information:

https://www.rgrdlaw.com/services-litigation-securities-fraud.html

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices.

Contact:

Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP

J.C. Sanchez, Jennifer N. Caringal

655 W. Broadway, Suite 1900, San Diego, CA 92101

800-449-4900

info@rgrdlaw.com
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nationally recognized law firm Berger Montague PC informs investors that a lawsuit was filed against Paragon 28, Inc. (Paragon 28 or the Company) (NYSE: FNA) on behalf of purchasers of Paragon 28 securities between May 5, 2023 and September 20, 2024, inclusive (the Class Period).

Investors that suffered losses from PARAGON 28 (NYSE: FNA) investments can follow the link below for more information regarding the lawsuit:

CLICK HERE to learn more about the lawsuit.

Investors who purchased or acquired PARAGON 28 securities during the Class Period may, no later than NOVEMBER 29, 2024, seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class.

According to the lawsuit, Defendants misled investors throughout the Class Period as to the fact that: (i) Paragon 28s financial statements were misstated; and (ii) Paragon 28 lacked adequate internal controls and at times understated the extent of the issues with Paragon 28s internal controls.

Investors began to learn the truth on July 30, 2024, when Paragon 28 disclosed that its previously issued audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 . . . 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, the price of Paragon 28 shares fell 13% to close at $7.79 per share on July 31, 2024.

The complaint further alleges that on August 8, 2024, Paragon 28 filed an amended Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2023 that included restated 2023 figures for inventories, net and cost of goods sold. On this news, the price of Paragon 28 common stock fell more than 20% to close at $6.64 per share on August 9, 2024.

Finally, on September 20, 2024, Paragon disclosed that Chief Accounting Officer Erik Mickelson was abruptly leaving the Company. On this news, Paragon shares declined $0.30 per share, or 4.3%, to close at $6.57 per share on September 23, 2024.

For additional information or to learn how to participate in this litigation, please contact Berger Montague: Andrew Abramowitz at aabramowitz@bm.net or (215) 875-3015, or Peter Hamner at phamner@bm.net or (215) 875-3048, or CLICK HERE .

A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. The lead plaintiff is usually the investor or small group of investors who have the largest financial interest and who are also adequate and typical of the proposed class of investors. The lead plaintiff selects counsel to represent the lead plaintiff and the class and these attorneys, if approved by the court, are lead or class counsel. Your ability to share in any recovery is not, however, affected by the decision whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff. Communicating with any counsel is not necessary to participate or share in any recovery achieved in this case. Any member of the purported class may move the Court to serve as a lead plaintiff through counsel of his/her choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an inactive class member.

Berger Montague , with offices in Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Delaware, Washington, D.C., San Diego, San Francisco and Chicago, has been a pioneer in securities class action litigation since its founding in 1970. Berger Montague has represented individual and institutional investors for over five decades and serves as lead counsel in courts throughout the United States.

Contacts:

Andrew Abramowitz, Senior Counsel

Berger Montague

(215) 875-3015

aabramowitz@bm.net
LEHI, Utah, Nov. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

New U Life Corporation, a leader in innovative hormone health and wellness solutions, proudly announces a critical legal victory in its ongoing litigation with Awakend, LLC. A court has dismissed Awakends appeal challenging a prior fee award, marking a decisive step in the resolution of this dispute. Although Awakends appeal has been dismissed, Awakend must still pay New U Lifes costs on appeal. "We are really happy with the outcome of this ruling. It underscores our commitment to ethical business operations and protecting the future for each and every New U Life distributor." said Alexy Goldstein, the Founder and CEO of New U Life.

This decision underscores the strength of New U Lifes legal position and reaffirms the companys commitment to protecting its reputation and the interests of its community. The dismissal of the appeal validates the original court ruling, which awarded significant legal fees to New U Life in recognition of the baseless nature of two of Awakends causes of action. Adding to the momentum, Awakends legal team has officially moved to withdraw from the case.

New U Life continues to pursue its own appeal to knock out the remaining portion of Awakends case and recover additional attorneys fees.

New U Life Corporation remains steadfast in its commitment to providing high-quality wellness products and conducting business with the utmost integrity. The company believes that this legal outcome reinforces its dedication to defending against unjust claims and upholding its strong reputation in the industry.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Company Name: New U Life Corporation

Contact Person: Brian Cameron, Vice President of Marketing

Email: marketing@newulife.com

Country: United States

For legal inquiries, please contact:

Company Name: New U Life Corporation

Contact Person: Vanessa Pierce, General Counsel

Email: vanessa@newulife.com

Country: United States

Website: www.newulife.com

About New U Life Corporation:

New U Life Corporation is a trusted provider of innovative wellness products committed to enhancing the lives of individuals. With a focus on research and development, New U Life offers a range of products designed to promote well-being and improve the quality of life. The company is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of quality and integrity in all aspects of its business operations.

[Legal Disclaimer: This press release is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. Any statements made herein are based on the information available as of the date of this press release, and New U Life Corporation is not responsible for any inaccuracies or omissions in the information provided.]
Grass Valley, November 22, 2024 - Rise Gold Corp. (CSE: RISE) (OTCQX: RYES) (the "Company") announces that it has appointed Mihai Draguleasa as the Company's Chief Financial Officer in place of Vince Boon, and Catherine Cox as the Company's Corporate Secretary in place of Eileen Au. The Company wishes to thank Mr. Boon and Ms. Au for their many contributions to the Company.

Mihai Draguleasa, CPA

Mr. Draguleasa is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) with over 15 years of accounting experience including that in the mining and resource sector. His career developed with Deloitte LLP and Ernst & Young in Vancouver, British Columbia. The mining related financial experience includes financial reporting, corporate risk management, corporate strategy and planning, and investment evaluation.

Catherine Cox

Ms. Cox has over 20 years of experience as Corporate Secretary to a variety of public and private companies in the resource sector. She was the former VP- Corporate Secretary for Nevada Copper Corp. and has an extensive securities and corporate paralegal background working with both Canadian and US law firms.

About Rise Gold Corp.

Rise Gold is an exploration-stage mining company incorporated in Nevada, USA. The Company's principal asset is the historic past-producing Idaho-Maryland Gold Mine located in Nevada County, California, USA.

On behalf of the Board of Directors:

Joseph Mullin

President, CEO and Director

Rise Gold Corp.

The CSE has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/231145
VICTORIA, Nov. 22, 2024 - 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.


Newlox Gold Ventures Corp. ("Newlox" or the "Company") (CSE: LUX | Frankfurt/Stuttgart: NGO | PINK: NWLXF) has filed its Full-Year Audited Financial Statements and Management Discussion & Analysis, which are available to the public on www.sedarplus.ca.

Included in the Financial Statements is the Independent Auditor's Report, which provided a positive report stating that "the accompanying financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as at March 31, 2024, 2023 and April 1, 2022, and its financial performance and its cash flows for the years ended March, 31, 2024 and 2023 in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards."



The auditing of financial statements was significantly delayed in 2024, resulting in the issuance of a Cease Trade Order (CTO) by the BC Securities Commission. The CTO is a significant imposition on the Company's shareholders since it restricts their liquidity and is a substantial challenge for management as the Company is prevented from carrying out important aspects of its business development plans.

During the auditing process, management endeavoured to expedite the process by commissioning third-party, independent, and accredited valuators to assist with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) testing of significant transactions. However, efforts to expedite the filing proved difficult.

Over the past three years, there have been significant challenges in the Canadian accounting field due to changes to the IFRS reporting standards, increased regulation, and intensified oversight. These challenges have resulted in considerably more difficult and time-consuming audit processes for Canadian public companies. This is a particular challenge for companies operating in multiple jurisdictions and conducting financing activities through mechanisms beyond simple share issuances.

To adapt to the new accounting climate facing Canadian public companies, Newlox Gold will make significant changes to its accounting procedures, which will be announced as they are implemented.

Forward-Looking Information

The information in this news release includes certain information and statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward- looking information. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, the completion of the work programs currently underway and the results of these programs. These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, achievements, or performance may vary materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward-looking statements. The material risk factors that could cause actual results to differ include the risk that work undertaken by the Company may have unintended effects, the risk of delays in completing work, and the risk that the Company may not be able to raise sufficient funds and Force Majeure. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward-looking information will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise. Neither Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release).

Technical Disclaimer

The Company advises it is not basing any decision to produce on a feasibility study of reserves demonstrating the economic and technical viability of the project and also advises there is increased uncertainty and specific economic and technical risks of failure associated with any production decision. Grab sample results included in any press release are not necessarily indicative of the mineralization in general for the deposit. James Turner, P.Geo., a "Qualified Person" within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101, has prepared, supervised the preparation of, and approved the contents of this News Release.

On Behalf of the Board, Newlox Gold Ventures Corp.

Newlox Gold Ventures Corp.

Website: www.newloxgold.com

Email: info@newloxgold.com

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420,000 Syrian refugees return from Lebanon due to Hezbollah-Israel conflict

Xinhua) 10:41, November 23, 2024

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.

(Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Kou Jie)
Renowned Chinese scholar and pastor Dr. Stephen Chen () shared in a recent lecture St. Augustines relationship with modern liberalism and political theology. From there, he reflected on how these theories have impacted different cultural and political contexts. Chen exhorted Chinese Christians to avoid simplifying the complex discussion of modern political theology and to think critically amidst the diverse political landscape today.

Many Chinese churches have a misunderstanding of the relationship between Christ and Culture, Chen said, and it is especially evident in the interactions Christianity has with secular culture. He suggests that Chinese churches in the U.S., Canada, Australia, Singapore, and more should be inspired by classic works such as those from Augustine and reflect on their own situations.

Chinese Scholarship Increasingly Emphasizing Augustinian Thought

The enthusiasm Chinese scholars have towards Augustine is greater than that of any modern theologians and founding fathers. In the past decade, academic research done by Dr. Dongqi Xia () from Fudan University and Dr. Fei Wu () from Peking University has been especially notable, their writings gaining widespread attention. Their works have often been cited in Chens research process. In recent years, new Chinese scholars have risen prolifically, publishing related research results yearly at astonishing rates.

The famous phrase from Book IV of The City of God, Without justice, kingdoms are mere robberies, has stirred much discussion in academia. However, as both Xia and Wu have pointed out, that is not the core point of Augustines The City of God, and should not be singled out as its summary. Many Western scholars also believe it was a simple mention Augustine made, not to represent his stance as discussed through the work. Augustine used many examples to explain his points, but more often than not, these examples do not represent the core of his point. In other words, the examples these great thinkers use can mislead the reader.

Augustines The City of God listed many political ideologies, especially in his discussion of state and society. Scholars have categorized these ideas into four to five distinct perspectives, out of which the most impossible is that the state is always the robber. And interestingly, Augustine's view of politics in Book XIX, which emphasizes the sovereignty of the state and the high moral character of the populace which is superior to anarchy, provided the theoretical basis for later schools of political history. For example, American theorist Forbes political principles, Augustines realism, and Harvard scholar John Rawls theory of civic politics are all related to the discussion laid out in his book.

The study of Augustine has seen particularly significant advancement in the United States, a trend that stands out in contrast to its relatively subdued presence in countries like the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. American scholars have spearheaded a distinctive development of Augustinian political theology, diverging from the traditional European academic approach. In fact, Augustines political theology has been further interpreted and applied within the U.S., becoming a significant focus of research, especially within law schools.

Book XIX is often regarded as the centerpiece of The City of God, offering a critical examination of classical teleology while introducing a Christian perspective on purpose and peace. In this section, Augustine delves deeply into the Christian concept of peace, reflecting on and critiquing Roman imperial classicism. The City of God has become a foundational text within law school curricula, particularly its discussions on law and political philosophy. These insights have solidified Augustine's work as a cornerstone in Western legal education, shaping how students engage with the intersections of law, morality, and theology.

Augustines political theology has shaped Western academia and gained prominence in scholarly research in regions like China and beyond. By deeply engaging with "The City of God", particularly its pivotal nineteenth book, pastors and scholars alike can better appreciate Augustines contributions to political philosophy. His work offers a profound critique of classical thought through a Christian lens, reshaping the framework of political theory in ways that continue to resonate across cultures and disciplines.

Augustinian Thought in Modern Political Theology and Sociology

Chen likens Book XIX of "The City of God" to a miniature encyclopedia, addressing a wide range of topics such as the individual, family, friendship, slavery, and the city-state. This highlights Augustines integration of Christian concepts of peace into political philosophy. While Book XIX does not directly address many themes of modern political philosophy, it remains one of the most influential texts in Western political thought and political theology.

There are also varying interpretations of Augustine's influence, especially regarding the concept of "secularization" or "de-sacralization," said Chen. These discussions explore Augustines view of the relationship between Christianity and the Roman Empire, as well as his critique of classical teleology in favor of Christian teleology. He refers to the scholar Marcus, who proposed the idea of "de-sacralization," and emphasizes that Augustines relationship with the Roman Empire should not be seen as a simple "secularization" but rather as a discontinuous process, characterized by the conflict between Christians and the empire.

Some scholars support this view, arguing that the relationship between Christianity and the Roman Empire was not a natural process of secularization, but rather a qualitative transformation that occurred with the flow of history. Chen also mentions Peter Browns study of Manichaeism, noting that Augustines Confessions reflect his relationship with Neoplatonism and the personal reflections he made on this connection. Brown, known for his anti-Manichaean stance, emphasizes the significance of the relationship between ancient Christianity and Neoplatonism.

In discussing Milbanks work Theology and Social Theory, Chen highlights Milbank's sociological interpretation of Augustines thought, particularly in the context of postmodernism. Milbank argues that Augustines theology provides a theological foundation for modern Christianity to engage with postmodernism. This contrasts with Marcus view, as Milbank sees Augustines influence as a positive, modern force rather than a negative "disruption."

Chinese Church to be inspired by the classic and apply to different cultural and political backgrounds

Chen emphasizes that the value of The City of God" as a classic work lies not in adhering to a single political stance, but in its ability to inspire reflection among Christians in diverse cultural and political contexts. Chinese Christian scholars and believers should avoid equating their current circumstances with Augustines ancient world. In Augustines time, there was no "church-state unity" in the modern sense, and his thoughts should not be directly applied to the political structures of contemporary society.

While scholars of Augustine may bring their own political viewpoints to their interpretations of The City of God", their approaches are not overly simplified or biased toward any one position, as seen in works like Christ and Culture. Chen notes that many Augustine scholars, including Gregory and Marcus, strive to deepen the understanding of The City of God through multifaceted academic discussions, avoiding narrow or one-sided interpretations.

The City of God is not only a profound reflection on the ancient Roman Empire but also serves as a guide for Christianity in the modern world. Chen concludes by stressing that Christians should respond to contemporary political issues rationally and flexibly, grounding their actions in the foundation of their faith.
In a recent sharing online, two prominent Chinese pastors Rev. Boli Zhang () and Dr. Stephen Chen () discussed the role of Christians in American society, especially the issue of how to balance faith and political responsibility. From St. Augustines Two Cities theory and the current state of reality, they called for the Chinese church to reexamine their concern for social issues.

Political Apathy in Chinese Churches

Chen pointed out that many Chinese churches showed incredible apathy to the U.S. election this year. There was not even a prayer or comment about the election during Sunday Service, as if the election was completely unrelated to the church, said Chen. He believes that this apathy does not fulfill the social responsibility that Christians carry and also reveals the Chinese churchs long-standing detachment from political participation.

Zhang added that this attitude comes from a misunderstanding of Augustines Two Cities. Many Chinese Christians believe they only belong to the heavenly kingdom, and that earthly matters have nothing to do with them. However, Augustines intention was to show that the kingdom of heaven and of earth are intertwined. The Christian responsibility on earth is to live out the image of citizens of heaven, to be the salt and light of the earth.

Importance of Political Participation

The two pastors pointed out that many policies currently active in American society, such as transgenderism and promotion of gender ideology, are eroding traditional values of faith. The Democratic Party equated LGBT issues to faith, effectively leaving less and less room for Christians to exist in the public sphere, Zhang said bluntly. If Christians dont care about the election, the policies enforced will inevitably influence the next generation.

Chen also brought up that political apathy is not just common amongst Chinese churches, it is a phenomenon prevalent in all American churches, including white churches. Quoting Augustines point, Chen believes that Christians ought to fulfill their responsibilities as citizens and slow if not halt the rate of degeneration in society. The consequence of not voting, not participating, will only allow regimes and policies against Christian values to take the field, he said.

Challenges & Responsibilities of Chinese American Citizens

As an immigrant group, Chinese Americans often overlook social unrest and risks because of their vested interests. Chen warned that: Having a high income in the high-tech industry doesnt not guarantee stability. Once an economic recession comes or another pandemic hits, the Chinese community will not be able to save itself.

Zhang then called the Chinese church to give more attention in prayer and action to social issues. He said: Church prayer topics are too often constrained to internal needs, and neglect greater issues of country and society. Christians are both citizens of heaven, and citizens on earth. We have the responsibility to pray for our nation, and to speak out for society.

Reviewing Augustines Two Cities

Speaking of Augustines Two Cities theory, Chen explained the profound impact of this Church Father on the Christian identity. He pointed out that Augustinian study in mainland China has had significant progress in recent years, with a surge of remarkable researches emerging from schools such as Peking University and Tsinghua University, contributing to the spread of Christian thought in the Chinese-speaking world.

Chen also warned that the American churchs interpretation of the Two Cities theory has some bias. Some churches have misunderstood Augustine to advocate for complete spiritualization, even regarding politics as a field in direct opposition to faith, he said. However, reality is that Augustine advocated that the earthly kingdoms are part of Gods will and for Christians to fulfill Gods plan on earth.

Chinese Churches Need to Wake Up

Both pastors agreed that the Chinese church needs to wake up from its silence and take on active roles in social affairs. The kingdom of earth is an important place for us to demonstrate the values of the Kingdom of God, Zhang said in conclusion. Not only do we need to pray for our country, but we also need to be courageous in expressing our views and to fight against injustice in society. This is an unshirkable responsibility of Christians.
Civic innovation has in recent years become a driving force for public policy in city halls across the country. Some efforts, like mass hackathons, are ad hoc. Others seem to attach more permanently to public agencies, including naming chief innovation officers, creating innovation teams, and carving out physical spaces or labs for collaborative experimentation.Now the movement faces a critical test: How can the innovation efforts that have grown up in the past five years survive a change in political leadership?Take the New Urban Mechanics model. It emerged early in the civic innovation movement, bringing an entrepreneurial spirit to public problems and providing structure to the messy business of experimenting with new ways of doing things. Boston launched the original urban mechanics shop in 2010; Philadelphia started its own version two years later. A third office -- a university-based collaborative in the Utah Valley -- came online two years after that.Bostons office was created by the late Mayor Thomas Menino. (He had been derided at the start of his political career as an urban mechanic focused too intently on small problems.) But when Mayor Martin Walsh took office in January 2014, no one was sure what the new mayor would do with the innovation office -- or whether hed keep it at all. In town meetings, online conversations and mainstream media, supporters urged the incoming mayor to expand the citys innovation team. Writing inin advance of the transition, Harvard economist Ed Glaeser encouraged Walsh to build on the mechanics work in positioning Boston to do what cities do best -- that is, to magnify humanitys strengths.The urban mechanics team itself wasnt sure how to move forward with the new mayor. We had no idea how best to go about it, says founder and co-chair Nigel Jacob. Right in the midst of when things were switching over, our instinct was that the way we had been working would still be resonant with the new mayor.Jacobs hunch proved to be right. He saw that there was a team here that was getting a lot of stuff done, and why would you stop them from doing that?Walsh embraced Meninos creation and even injected it with a new energy, says Jacob. Hes been a huge proponent, and he talks about us all the time as a new model, a new approach for how he wants his administration to work. It worked out incredibly well.In Philadelphia, next months mayoral election means the citys entire civic innovation framework is currently in play, including its urban mechanics office and other philanthropically funded innovation teams. Maia Jachimowicz, the citys director of policy, says the work continues apace with an eye to both finishing well and preparing the next administration for success. As outgoing Mayor Michael Nutter prepares to hand off his innovation infrastructure to his successor, Jachimowicz says it comes with a simple message. Were saying, essentially, lets think about other ways we can improve the business of serving our citizens.Civic innovators themselves say the key to institutionalizing programs like these is to focus on results, and how the work made a meaningful difference in the lives of city residents and business. Its also important to be able to adapt to the priorities of a new administration. In Boston, Walsh has grown the urban mechanics office mandate to include strategic involvement in housing, economic development and even social justice.The fact is, urban innovation efforts may already be so linked with good local governance that theyre likely to survive a change in leadership. Its the kind of innovation that any mayor with any sense would keep, says Peter Levine, a political science professor at Tufts University, speaking about Bostons model.Transitions cant be taken for granted, but innovation shops have momentum and optics on their side, says David Thornburgh, who heads the Committee of Seventy, an advocate for better government. I dont know too many mayors who would want to be perceived as the anti-innovation mayor.
F1 to welcome Cadillac Racing to grid from 2026?

Formula 1 is preparing to welcome 'Cadillac Racing' to the grid for 2026.

Atmosphere, Las Vegas GP 2024

 Red Bull

Developments in the long-running Andretti-Cadillac saga have been occurring thick and fast in the past several days, with multiple authoritative sources now reporting that a negotiated outcome is imminent.

With Michael Andretti taking a back seat, General Motors stepping up, and Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei stepping down, an eleventh team now looks set to debut for the all-new regulations.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff appeared to hint that with the Andrettis no longer centre stage, and GM increasingly involved, the path was cleared.

I've obviously spoken to Mario (Andretti), he said. I didn't speak to his son. I didn't speak to any other people that are behind that. I don't know who they are. But I know GM. GM is great.

Corriere della Sera thinks the change of direction in the long-running saga was the increasing intensity of the US government investigations into F1 owner Liberty Media's allegedly anti-competitive decision to block Andretti.

Part of the rumoured deal for the new team to debut in 2026 is that it is called Cadillac rather than Andretti, and that GM produces its own engine by 2028.

Until then, a customer engine arrangement with Honda is rumoured to be most likely. Corriere della Sera, however, believes Ferrari seems best placed to provide the engine power.

The first communication from FOM to us and to the fans about this should take place next week, said Nelson Valkenburg, a journalist for the Dutch broadcaster Ziggo Sport.

The teams also still have to be officially informed, he added.

With Michael Andretti no longer at the helm of his organisation Andretti Global, new boss Dan Towriss - also owner of the Gainbridge company - is trackside in Las Vegas this weekend.

The hurdles seem to have all been removed and suddenly there seems to be big movement in this story, Valkenburg said.

Unlike many other existing F1 teams, American Zak Brown, McLaren CEO, was a quiet supporter of the Andretti-Cadillac project from the beginning.

I've said from day one that GM and Cadillac Racing are fantastic brands, he said on Friday. The fans will cheer for more competition and so will we. And it's an iconic brand, so let's see what happens.

The American news agency AP, and specialist outlets like Auto Motor und Sport (Germany) and La Gazzetta dello Sport (Italy) are also reporting that Cadillac Racing is set to debut in F1 in 2026.

When asked, Formula One Management did not want to comment, De Telegraaf newspaper reported.

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said on Saturday: There are a lot of rumours at the moment, but nobody has told us anything about it.

(GMM)
Nyck de Vries could be new McLaren reserve

Nyck de Vries could soon be back in the Formula 1 paddock.

Nyck De Vries, Ausralian GP 2023

 Red Bull

Although initially affiliated with McLaren since childhood, the Dutchman got his break in 2022 when serving as Mercedes' reserve driver - when he substituted for the ill Alex Albon at Monza and impressed.

Red Bull snapped him up for its junior team Alpha Tauri for 2023, but was outclassed by Yuki Tsunoda and replaced by Daniel Ricciardo mid-season.

Now 29, he returned to Formula E and also raced in WEC and Super Formula this year, but last week was spotted testing a two-year-old McLaren at Paul Ricard.

McLaren CEO Zak Brown told Viaplay in Las Vegas that de Vries could be set for a bigger role for 2025 - such as replacing the Audi-bound Gabriel Bortoleto as reserve driver.

It went very well, said Brown when asked about de Vries' surprise McLaren test. "You know he has a long history with McLaren, of course. He started with us right at the beginning of his career.

We are now going through our TPC (testing of previous car) program to evaluate a few drivers and Nyck is one of those drivers.

Brown continued to explained: We are looking for simulator drivers, test drivers, drivers for tyre testing. Unfortunately they haven't asked me to do it, the American laughed.

Luckily, Nyck is a great talent. We wanted to get to know him again and he did a really good job. So we'll see what happens.

When asked when more will be known about de Vries' potential future with McLaren, Brown concluded: Probably at the end of the year.

(GMM)
It takes more than language to blow Stonebwoy

Justice Agbenorsi Showbiz News Nov - 23 - 2024 , 08:30 2 minutes read

A GHANAIAN Dancehall/Reggae artiste, Stonebwoy, has encouraged up and coming musicians to look beyond their local dialects and blend them with other languages to reach out globally.

To him, seamlessly introducing local tongue in their songs, making a deliberate effort to intertwine cross-languages, and promotion of songs were the surest ways to make an impact in the global music industry.

He made these revelations while speaking to local and international students of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), at a Cultural Day celebration on Friday, November 15.

It is not easy crossing over to mainstream, and music on its own is a universal language so let us keep that at the fore and not feel like we are being discriminated against, he said in response to a question on how up and coming musicians from minority ethnic backgrounds could make their songs hits despite the local language they use.

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It takes more than just language to blow, drawing attention to the legacy of influential musicians such as Philip Gbeho, who composed the Ghanaian national anthem, and Ephraim Amu, known for his significant contributions to music despite their ethnic backgrounds.

He acknowledged the challenges faced by artistes from various ethnic backgrounds in reaching wider audiences, adding, Somebody from the north also faces the same struggle; it is not easy to cross over into the Ashanti Region and vice versa, he noted.

He shared his own experience of how over time, he had been able to maintain specific songs on his set anytime he performed in the Volta Region, which he said resonated warmly with his audiences there.

I have songs that when I go to the Volta Region, I make sure they are on my set list. And the way the people there react to them is so heart-warming. They just love it, he added.

The Culture Day, organised by the Centre for International Education and Collaboration (CIEC) of UPSA, featured exhibitions, talks and food bazaar which took the students on a journey to learn about and experience the different cultural heritage on the continent in one place.

Themed Bridging Cultures, Shaping Futures, the event provided a platform for students to showcase their unique cultures, fostering a spirit of unity and understanding among the Ghanaian student body.
1,000th day of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine

Ivan Lukachuk, International News Nov - 23 - 2024 , 07:03 6 minutes read

One thousand days have passed since the Russian Federation launched its illegal, unprovoked and unjustified full-scale military invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, which became the expansion of the Russian Federations armed aggression that has been ongoing since February 19, 2014.

Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine already took the lives of thousands of Ukrainians, caused the destruction of whole cities and critical civil infrastructure, and led to the suffering of millions of Ukrainians who lost their homes.

The ongoing Russias war of aggression against Ukraine has had grave impacts on the protection of human rights in the country, causing gross human rights violations and grave breaches of international humanitarian law by the aggressor state.

Rule of Terror

In the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, the Kremlin dictatorship has imposed the rule of terror and persecution, coercing civilians to acquire Russian citizenship and show loyalty to the occupying power. The aggressor state aims to eradicate everything Ukrainian in the temporarily occupied territories.

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Thousands of Ukrainian children have been deported to Russia. Numerous international human rights monitoring and investigative bodies, including the OHCHR, the UN Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine and the OSCE, have documented ample evidence of widespread wilful killings, arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, deportations as well as torture, ill-treatment, sexual violence and other violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Russian occupiers.

Global security

But the Russian Federations war of aggression is not only about Ukraine. It has created ripple effects, destabilising global security across multiple dimensions.

Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine constitutes the most serious violation of international law. It has broken the entire security architecture built over many post-Second World War decades, breaking the taboo on territorial expansion by force and resurrecting the threat of global war.

Russias war of aggression represents a systematic dismantling of the post-World War II international legal order, violating multiple fundamental treaties that form the backbone of international relations. Since the beginning of armed aggression against Ukraine in 2014, Russia has violated about 400 international treaties to which Ukraine and Russia are parties.

Russia dismisses the international law and the order of the ICJ from March 16, 2022, according to which Russia must immediately cease the military actions that began on February 24, 2022, and ensure that any military or irregular armed groups, any organisations, individuals controlled, supported or influenced by it do not take any measures to carry out the so-called military operation.

International institutions

The Ukrainian side is grateful for Ghana's support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine both at the bilateral level and at the level of international institutions, especially in the UN Security Council in the face of brutal Russian aggression against our country.

Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine being the colonial war of a colonial state represents not just a violation of international law but a systematic dismantling of a bilateral legal framework built over decades.

Russia seized the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in Ukraine, which is Europe's largest nuclear facility, and constantly threatens the Ukrainian nuclear station with its attacks, creating an unprecedented threat to global nuclear security.

Russias armed aggression against Ukraine has caused the reversal of the nuclear non-proliferation process and nuclear disarmament. It raised the possibility of increasing both the number of states seeking to develop nuclear weapons and made current nuclear states increase, modernise and put on a higher readiness their nuclear capabilities.

Additionally, participation of the North Koreas troops in Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine constitutes further internationalisation of the war and its expansion beyond the borders of the two states.

Global economic recovery

The Russian invasion has become a significant drag on global economic recovery and development. Ukraine's role as a crucial contributor to global food security has been severely compromised by Russias armed aggression. The consequences affected approximately 400 million people worldwide who depend on Ukrainian food exports.

The environmental impact of Russian aggression has global implications: 180 million tons of CO2 emissions generated by the war; three million hectares of forest damaged by military operations; 24 000 hectares of forest destroyed by fires; water pollution damages estimated at 2.06 billion EURO; environmental impact from destruction by Russia of the Kakhovka dam estimated at 3.5 billion EURO; 139 000 square kilometres require environmental remediation.

To stop the Russian aggression President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy initiated the Peace Formula and Victory Plan, which remains the only viable way to restore comprehensive, just, and lasting peace for Ukraine and to preserve the global security system from further erosion.

Global Peace Summit

The First Global Peace Summit, held on June 15-16 2024 in Burgenstock (Switzerland), united over 100 countries and international institutions.

Ukraine highly appreciates Ghanas participation at the highest level in the First Global Peace Summit in Switzerland and active support for the Ukrainian peace formula aimed at restoring peace and international stability, based on respect for the UN Charter and international law as well as joining the Joint Communique on a Peace Framework was adopted during a summit.

Establishing a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace for Ukraine is not merely a matter of regional security but a crucial step toward preserving global stability and the peaceful coexistence of nations. The international community by supporting Ukraine's capabilities to resist and stop Russias armed aggression is an investment in global security and stability.

Ensuring a just peace for Ukraine is crucial for global stability and development. The entire world would benefit from respect for the UN Charter and a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.

UN Security Council

During the full-scale military invasion in the centre of Europe, when the UN Security Council demonstrates powerlessness and one of its permanent members comes into conflict with the fundamental principles of the UN Charter, the issue of global systemic reform of the Security Council is urgent for the future existence of the UN as a whole and for the international security architecture.

The end of Russias war of aggression against Ukraine would provide a crucial boost to the world economy.

Ending Russian aggression would renew respect for international law; ensure compliance with the UN Charter, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity; allow over 11 million displaced Ukrainians to return home; reduce nuclear security risks; re-establish vital food supply chains; enable environmental recovery; create opportunities for large-scale recovery beneficial to companies worldwide; restore access to critical minerals essential for technological advancement; strengthen security in Europe and worldwide with a contribution of the Defense and Security Forces of Ukraine and their combat experience.

Implementation of the Peace Formula and Victory Plan of Ukraine is the only viable way to stop Russian aggression, restore comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine, and preserve the global security system from further erosion.

We call on all of our African partners not to remain neutral, not to believe the false sweet promises of Moscow, but to join the isolation of the Kremlin's aggressive and dictatorial regime by the democratic world."

The writer is the Charge d'Affaires of Ukraine to the Republic of Ghana
73 Officers commissioned into Ghana Armed Forces

Joshua Bediako Koomson Nov - 23 - 2024 , 07:30 3 minutes read

Seventy-three officers from the Short Service Commission and Special Duties Intake 61 have been commissioned into the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), marking the beginning of their careers in service to the nation.

Drawn from diverse professional and academic backgrounds, these officers underwent a transformative six-month training programme aimed at moulding them into disciplined and skilled officers capable of defending the nations sovereignty.

The training, a rigorous blend of theoretical lessons and practical military exercises, prepared them to face the challenges of modern combat and leadership.

The course, which began in June this year, initially comprised 76 cadets, including 35 for the Army, 15 for the Navy and 26 for the Air Force.

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However, due to medical grounds, three cadets were unable to complete the programme, leaving a final intake strength of 73.

Award winners

During the graduation ceremony yesterday at the Ghana Military Academy (GMA), Junior Under Officer Yaro Mohammed-Keilan was honoured with the Chief of Defence Staff Award.

Cadet Sergeant Gyamfi Samuel Ameyaw received the Commandant Award, while Cadet Corporal Wuni Nadia Isabelle was presented with the Best Female Cadet Award.

Commendation

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who was the reviewing officer at the graduation parade, commended the graduating cadets for their dedication and perseverance throughout the training programme.

He lauded the precision and discipline displayed by the graduates during the parade, describing it as inspiring and a testament to their unwavering commitment to excellence.

Today, these fine cadets represent the enduring ethos of the GMA and I am confident that their families, friends and loved ones, whether present or afar, share in this moment of immense pride, he said.

President Akufo-Addo also acknowledged the academys resilience in producing officers grounded in duty, sacrifice and service in spite of the various challenges it faced.

He, therefore, congratulated the acting Commandant for upholding the high standards of the institution, especially amid competing national priorities.

Your efforts ensure that our armed forces remain vigilant and prepared to safeguard the peace and stability cherished by all Ghanaians, he added.

Regional security

President Akufo-Addo also touched on the dynamic security challenges in the West African sub-region, citing threats such as environmental degradation through illegal mining and the southward spread of terrorism from the Sahel.

He outlined his governments commitment to addressing those issues through the progressive expansion of the armed forces.

Key initiatives, he said, included the establishment of Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) across all 16 regions and substantial investments in equipment, logistics and specialised units.

President Akufo-Addo mentioned advancements to include the delivery of armoured personnel carriers, troop-carrying vehicles, surveillance equipment, offshore security vessels and advanced aircraft.

These investments ensure our forces are well-equipped to address internal security challenges and regional threats while maintaining Ghanas legacy in international peacekeeping, he said.

Contributions to global peacekeeping

President Akufo-Addo also celebrated the countrys long-standing contributions to global peacekeeping since 1960, noting that the country ranked as the sixth-largest troop-contributing nation to UN peace operations, with 2,600 personnel deployed in conflict zones.

This legacy, built on sacrifice and dedication, is a testament to our nations commitment to peace and security, he stated.

He charged the newly commissioned officers to uphold this noble tradition.

As officers of the GAF, you will be called upon to serve with integrity, lead with vision, and inspire with courage. Carry the hopes and aspirations of our nation with you, and let your service reflect the highest ideals of our armed forces, President Akufo-Addo said.
Accra: Emirates Airlines Manager allegedly kidnapped rescued

Gertrude Ankah Nov - 23 - 2024 , 10:51 1 minute read

Sylvia Patience Baah, the Airport Services Manager of Emirates Airlines in Accra, who was reportedly kidnapped near her residence in Accra on Thursday night [Nov 21, 2024] has been rescued and reunited with her family, the police has said.

The police in a statement issued on Friday [Nov 22], said efforts the police were pursuing the suspects behind the kidnap.

No arrests have been made as of now.

In an earlier statement issued on Friday, the police stated they were "pursuing multiple leads since the incident was reported to locate and rescue the victim, and get the perpetrators arrested.

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Read the full statement below:
Collaboration key to success - Pearson Edexcel Manager tells school heads

Beatrice Laryea Nov - 23 - 2024 , 11:31 3 minutes read

Schools offering Pearson Edexcel curriculum have been urged to move away from competition and instead, embrace collaboration in order to fully benefit from the programme.

West African Regional Development Manager for Pearson Edexcel, Gabriel Sowah Mensah, who made the call, emphasised that collaboration was key to growing the Pearson community and enhancing the educational outcomes for students.

Pearson is the world's leading education company and the UK's largest awarding organisation. They partner with schools globally, offering world-class globally recognised qualifications.

Pearson Edexcel delivers a consistent learning experience for students aged 3 to 18 through curriculum from early years, primary, lower secondary, international GCSE and International A level in international schools following the British curriculum.

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Also, Pearson offers a range of curriculum support resources, tools and services including training, professional development, print and digital teaching resources.

Speaking at this years Annual Principals Forum and Awards Ceremony in Accra, Mr Mensah emphasised the importance of collaboration, saying: "Pearson can, but you are the practitioners. You are the ones working with the curriculum every day, seeing how it impacts your learners. So, collaborate," he charged them.

Forum

The event is held annually for school heads across the country who offer the Pearson Edexcel curriculum.

Its purpose is to foster idea-sharing, provide updates on curriculum developments, facilitate networking, and recognise students who have excelled in their exams over the previous year.

Gabriel Sowah Mensah speaking at the event

This years event was themed: "Collaboration, Growth, and Community," and was attended by notable personalities including the former Dean of the University of Ghana Medical School, Prof. Margaret Lartey, and Regional Development Manager for East Africa, Marvin Owiti.

He highlighted that the Pearson curriculum had long been a champion of idea exchange, which was one of the key reasons the programme had grown to become the world's largest education company and the UK's biggest exam board, with over 10 million assessments conducted annually.

"Another key aspect of collaboration that Pearson has worked hard to promote through our training programmes is the exchange of ideas," he said.

Reflecting on the first Outstanding Pearson Learner Awards (OPLA) event held in Ghana, he recalled the moment when the global winner was announced, saying, "the reaction from all of you that day told me something powerful.

It showed that we are all rooting for each other. The spontaneous standing ovation, the cheers and the conversations that followed, made it clear that everyone was celebrating the success of others, he said.

Sharing their experiences, the Assistant Head of Oakbridge International School, Mrs Antoinette Asante, shared how partnerships with schools both locally and internationally had positively impacted teaching and learning at her school.

A section of the participants at the forum

The Administrator of Sunflower School, Mrs Alberta Kye-Sasu, praised the Pearson curriculum for its child-centred approach and the benefits it had brought to students with special needs at her school.

Awards

A total of 25 students from nine schools were recognised for their outstanding performance in exams across various subjects during the summer.

The awards were presented in categories such as Best in the Country, Best on the Continent and Best in the World.

These awards aim to inspire students and celebrate the value of their experience within the Pearson education system.
ECG urges prepaid customers to top up to last one month ahead of system upgrade

GraphicOnline Nov - 23 - 2024 , 16:03 2 minutes read

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has issued an urgent notice to customers using Nuri Prepaid Meters, advising them to top up their meter credit sufficiently to last at least one month.

This measure is to prevent vending disruptions during an ongoing upgrade of the Standard Transfer Specifications (STS) metering systems, which includes the Nuri Prepayment system.

In an announcement released on Saturday, November 23, 2024, ECG highlighted the critical nature of the upgrade, which aims to ensure uninterrupted vending services for customers.

This is a crucially mandatory STS upgrade designed to ensure uninterrupted vending service, ECG stated, urging customers to cooperate by topping up their meters in advance.

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Support for customers

The company assured customers of its readiness to facilitate the upgrade process and encouraged them to reach out for assistance if needed.

For your convenience and the immediate upgrade of your Nuri Prepayment meters, please call our call centre on 0302 611611 or contact us via our social media platforms (ECGghOfficial) for expedited action, the statement said.

The STS upgrade is part of ECGs efforts to modernise its infrastructure and enhance service delivery. By ensuring that customers meters are compatible with the latest vending protocols, the upgrade seeks to streamline the electricity payment process and reduce potential disruptions.

The company has called on customers to comply with the advisory and assist in making the exercise a success.

The latest ECG announcement comes after some customers reported challenges with recharging their Nuri meters during the week.

Read the ECG announcement below;
Excluded by language, distance: Fulbe nomads struggle for inclusive healthcare

Mohammed Fugu Nov - 23 - 2024 , 07:15 6 minutes read

A Wudu Issahaka, a 50-year-old herdsman at Kojokura, a nomadic settlement in the West Gonja Municipality in the Savannah Region, was rushed to a health facility one hot afternoon last year, feeling feverish and barely able to stand.

He had been battling illness for days and his condition worsened until his family rushed him for urgent medical care.

But when they arrived at the facility, a harsh reality awaited them. He could not access free healthcare because he had no National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) card.

Every service and every treatment had to be paid for in cash.

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According to Issahaka, his family was asked to pay GH1,000 at the revenue unit of the hospital before they could commence treatment on him.

For Issahaka, this moment brought a wave of panic and helplessness as his family did not have much cash on them. The family had to rush back to the village to borrow funds from friends and relatives for his treatment.

Sharing his experience with the Daily Graphic, Mr Issahaka explained that he had tried several times to register for the NHIS but he was unsuccessful due to the language barrier and what he perceived as discrimination.

I have been to the National Health Insurance office in the area twice but I couldnt register because I couldnt communicate with the officials due to language barrier.

The first time I went there, I joined the queue to register for the card but one officer told me to let the residents register before me. I got frustrated and left, he lamented.

In a similar situation, Amadu Mohammed, another Fulbe herdsman at Bagurugu in the Karaga District of the Northern Region, said a few months ago, he left his livestock in the care of his brother and trekked several miles under the blazing sun from his village to the district capital, hoping to acquire an NHIS card.

What he thought would be a simple process to acquire the card to enable him access to free and quality healthcare, turned into disappointment and frustration.

He recounted that none of the officials understood Fulbe, the language he spoke, so an unidentified man who offered to assist took money from him and disappeared.

Feeling frustrated and helpless, he returned home without acquiring the NHIS card.

Broader situation

The experiences of Awudu Issahaka and Amadu Mohammed highlight the frustration, exclusion and discrimination Fulbes (known as Fulanis in English) across the country go through to access basic services, including healthcare and NHIS.

In northern Ghana, mobile populations such as the Fulbes who settle in remote and hard-to-reach areas are among the most marginalised and vulnerable.

While the exact population of Fulbes in Ghana is unclear, it is estimated that there are 500,000 across the country, according to checks by the Daily Graphic.

Their mobile lifestyle, driven by livestock rearing and the search for grazing land, often places them on the fringes of essential social services such as healthcare.

A study conducted by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) in 2021 revealed that over 20 per cent of residents in rural northern communities cite language as a primary barrier to accessing public services, including healthcare.

Further data from the Ministry of Health indicates that as of 2024, the total active membership of the NHIS in Ghana is 17.8 million, representing 61.39 per cent of the population.

Despite the relatively increased membership enrolment, marginalised groups like the Fulbes still face significant challenges in acquiring the card.



Equal treatment

Yayaha Mohammed, President of the Fulani Youth Association of Ghana

The President of the Fulani Youth Association of Ghana (FUYAG), Yahaya Mohammed, corroborated the residents' claims and pointed out that language barriers and remoteness should not justify the exclusion of nomads from accessing basic services such as the NHIS card.

The right to healthcare is a fundamental human right. The majority of Fulbes are citizens of the country because they were born here, and even their grandparents were born in the country, so they are citizens and must be treated fairly," he stated.

He, therefore, urged the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to provide language interpretation services and to conduct dedicated outreach programmes within Fulbe settlements to bridge the gap.



Challenges

Responding to the claims, the Karaga District NHIA Manager, Ziblim Abdulai, explained that network connectivity and poor road network posed a significant challenge in reaching remote nomadic communities.

"Although the officers sometimes find it difficult to communicate with some of the Fulbes due to the language barrier, the registration process is usually smooth at the office, except when there are network issues.

The real challenge is going directly to their communities, where the network is often unreliable," he said.

Due to these technical challenges, he said the authority was at present operating in only seven communities within the Karaga District, covering a fraction of the district's settlements.

Mr Abdulai indicated that the NHIA was currently exploring solutions, including the use of Ghana Cards, for streamlined registration, adding that once fully adopted, it would facilitate easier access and reduce reliance on physical registration sites.



Social protection

Instituted in 2003, the NHIS is a key Social Protection (SP) intervention that is reducing financial barriers to healthcare and offering subsidised or free medical services to all registered Ghanaians.

Designed as a key component of Ghanas social protection framework, NHIS aims to make healthcare accessible for every citizen, regardless of their financial, geographical, or social standing.

While the NHIS has been celebrated for extending essential health services to millions, it faces several challenges, particularly in reaching underserved and marginalised communities.

For communities such as the Fulbe settlements, the NHISs absence reinforces a sense of exclusion. However, addressing these gaps requires not only physical resources but also policy support to prioritise outreach efforts and overcome these logistical hurdles.

Alima Sagito Saeed, a Social Protection Advocate

For Social Protection Advocate Alima Saeed Sagito, the discrimination against the nomads had denied some of them access to many social protection services.

Many Fulbe are now part of Ghanaian society and NHIS needs to extend access to these hard-to-reach communities.

Social protection including health insurance is a right that should reach all residents, regardless of geographical or cultural factors, she asserted.

She advised the Fulbes to speak up and strongly advocate for their rights, saying Fulbes must come together as a community to make themselves visible and insist on equal access to basic services.

Additionally, she called for increased funding and support from state and donor agencies to enable NHIS to expand its reach and serve everyone irrespective of their race or location.

A Fulbe herdsman herding cattle in the bush

Way forward

Given the high poverty and health disparities in the north, ensuring access to NHIS for nomadic communities is critical for achieving national healthcare coverage goals and the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 3), which aims to avert needless suffering from preventable diseases and premature death, by focusing on key targets that boost the health of a country's overall population by 2030.

Therefore, there is a need for the NHIA to recruit interpreters or train existing staff in commonly spoken languages within specific regions, especially in rural and underserved settlements such as the Fulbe to help eliminate communication barriers that deter NHIS enrolment.

Also, mobile units equipped with the necessary network and registration technology must be deployed to remote and underserved communities on a regular schedule to attend to the people.

Writers email: mohammed.fugu@graphic.com.gh
Kumasi based radio presenter invited by police over false news

Gertrude Ankah Nov - 23 - 2024 , 11:07 2 minutes read

Oheneba Nana Asiedu, a Kumasi-based radio and television presenter has been invited by the police in relation to publication of false news.

Oheneba Nana Asiedu, in a radio and television programme had said that, the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections will be held on two different dates, that is December 7 and December 8.

Consequently, he had urged voters that, those who wanted to vote for candidates on the ballot paper from one to six should go to the polling station on December 7, however, those who wanted to vote for the remaining candidates, should wait and go the polling station on Sunday, December 8, 2024.

The police's attention was drawn to the broadcast by Oheneba Nana Asiedu, which has also been circulated on social media and following that the police has invited him to assist with an investigation into the alleged publication of false news.

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Oheneba Nana Asiedu works for Wontumi FM in Kumasi.

In the two-minutes, 57-seconds clip, he urged the public to vote for presidential candidates on different dates during the upcoming December 2024 general elections.

This is why the Police have arrested Wontumi TV/Radio presenter for alleged false news about elections https://t.co/24gEwcg8IW pic.twitter.com/XTa281DU44  DailyGraphic GraphicOnline (@Graphicgh) November 23, 2024

The police, in a statement, described the information as false and cautioned that such misinformation has the potential to disrupt public peace.

The Police urge the media to exercise responsibility in their reporting, especially as the nation approaches the critical election period, the statement noted.

Oheneba Nana Asiedu has been directed to report to the Ashanti Regional Police Command in Kumasi to assist with the ongoing investigation.

Spreading false news could have serious consequences for public order before, during, and after the elections, the police warned.

Attached below is a copy of the police statement:
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Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II re-elected president of National House of chiefs

graphic.com.gh Nov - 23 - 2024 , 15:28 1 minute read

Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, the Paramount Chief of Sefwi Anhwiaso has been re-elected as President of the National House of Chiefs. He polled 42 votes to defeat the Dormaahene, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyemang Badu II, who polled 30 votes.

Ogyeaboho Yaw Gyebi was seeking a second term and the Dormaahene came into the race to challenge him in the election which was held on Friday, November 22.

In the race for Vice President position, the Buipewura Abdulai Jinapor II emerged victorious with 54 votes, surpassing three other candidates.

The election proceeded as scheduled despite objections from some members about the timing. A motion passed by the House resolved these concerns, ensuring the process went ahead without disruptions.

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After being sworn in, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II expressed gratitude to members of the House for the confidence in his leadership. He reaffirmed his commitment to preserving Ghana's cultural heritage and fostering unity among traditional leaders.

He urged members to work collaboratively to maintain peace ahead of the countrys national elections.

The re-elected President outlined plans to digitise the House's operations, enhancing efficiency in its activities. He also pledged to resolve all outstanding legal disputes within the institution.
Next article: ECG urges prepaid customers to top up to last one month ahead of system upgrade

Police arrest Wontumi TV/Radio presenter for alleged false news about elections

GraphicOnline Nov - 23 - 2024 , 16:36 2 minutes read

The Ghana Police Service has arrested Kumasi-based radio and television presenter, Oheneba Nana Asiedu, for allegedly publishing false news, an offence under Section 208 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

The arrest, announced by the Police in a statement on Saturday, November 23, 2024, follows the circulation of a video on social media showing Oheneba Nana Asiedu making claims deemed misleading regarding the upcoming December 7 general elections.

According to the police, the video, recorded in the studios of Wontumi FM in Kumasi, depicts the presenter encouraging voters to cast their ballots for presidential candidates on separate daysa statement described by authorities as "false and likely to disturb public peace."

This is why the Police have arrested Wontumi TV/Radio presenter for alleged false news about elections https://t.co/24gEwcg8IW pic.twitter.com/XTa281DU44 Advertisement November 23, 2024

Oheneba Nana Asiedu was invited by the police to assist with investigations and is currently in custody. A police statement confirmed that the case would be presented before the court for legal proceedings.

A separate statement highlighted the potential dangers of such misinformation during a politically sensitive period, stressing the critical role of accurate and responsible communication in maintaining public peace.

The Ghana Police Service has cautioned the general public, particularly media practitioners, about the serious implications of spreading unverified or false information.

Read also: Kumasi based radio presenter invited by police over false news
Tema-Mpakadan rail line commissioned: 2 new trains start operations

Benjamin Xornam Glover Nov - 23 - 2024 , 09:16 6 minutes read

The suspense and scepticism that characterised the much-anticipated revival of the countrys rail transport were finally confined to history on Friday when President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo commissioned the 97.7-kilometre Tema-Mpakadan standard gauge railway line and two modern Diesel

Multiple Unit (DMU) trains at Tema.

The flamboyant ceremony fully compensated for the agony of the April 18, 2024 test-run mishap, which temporarily threw the initial plans out of gear.

Accident

On that fateful day, one of the newly acquired magnificent trains unexpectedly ran into a truck which was strangely parked across the railway track during an inaugural test-run prior to the start of its scheduled operations.

Following investigations into the matter, the driver of the truck was found guilty of causing damage to state property, and was, accordingly, sentenced to six months imprisonment.

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However, the new train eventually embarked on its dream journey yesterday, with President Akufo-Addo being one of the first passengers to travel on the railway line.

History

The unveiling of the landmark railway line and the fully air-conditioned DMUs, with a two-tier comfortable seating arrangement for first class and economy class, and capacity of 255 passengers, marked the return of the railway enterprise for the movement of people and goods along the Eastern corridor of Ghana.

The construction of the Tema-Mpakadan Railway Line began in 2018 by Afcons Infrastructure, financed through an India Export-Import Bank credit facility at a cost of $447 million.

The railway line is the first section of the Ghana-Burkina Faso interconnectivity project. One of the highlights of the project is a 300-metre rail bridge across the Volta River, near Senchi.

Other facilities include modern rail stations at Adome, Kpone, Doryumu-Jokpanya-Kodiabe, Shai Hills, Afienya, Ashaiman, Tema Industrial Area, and Tema Port, as well as two railheads at Mpakadan and Tema Harbour.



Inauguration

Speaking at the event, President Akufo-Addo said the project, conceived under the administration of President John A. Kufuor was a good example of continuity in government for national development.

He said reducing the reliance on road transport for long distance freight and passenger movement, the new railway line would address several critical challenges that had hindered Ghana's development.

The President said the new line would significantly decongest the roads, thereby alleviating the heavy burden that had led to severe traffic congestion, the rapid deterioration of road infrastructure and an alarming increase in road accidents.

He added that it would enhance the efficiency of port operations at Tema, minimising vessel waiting times and container dwelling times, thereby boosting the competitiveness of Ghanas ports.

The integration of rail and inland water transport will also transform trade in agriculture by lowering freight costs, increasing the viability of agricultural enterprises along the Volta Lake and facilitating the seamless movement of goods and produce to and from northern Ghana and neighbouring landlocked countries, President Akufo-Addo said.

He described the new railway line as a transformative intervention to address the pressing issues comprehensively, stressing that when fully operational, the multimodal network would link the Tema port to the north-south transport corridor spanning some 400 kilometres and open new opportunities for the movement of fuel, cement, containerised cargo and agricultural produce.

The economic and social benefits of this project are far-reaching and transformative. By alleviating the pressure on our road network it will extend the lifeline of critical routes, including those along the eastern corridor, while simultaneously lowering the cost of transporting bulk goods, agricultural produce and containers, thereby enhancing business competitiveness. It will offer a reliable and cost-effective transportation alternative for passengers in areas currently underserved by road networks, ensuring greater accessibility and convenience, he said.

This project is far more than just a railway line. It is a lifeline that will empower communities, invigorate businesses and strengthen industries, ultimately making Ghana more resilient and prosperous, the President added.



Achievement

The Minister of Railway Development, John-Peter Amewu, commended President Akufo-Addo for embarking on the longest single rail project completed since independence.

He indicated that other similar rail activities and infrastructure undertaken during President Akufo-Addos tenure from 2017 included the Western Rail Line development projects, which were being developed in sections such as the 22-kilometre sections from Kojokrom to Manso section line, which was about 96 per cent complete, the continuation of work on the section between the port of Takoradi and the Huni Valley, which is about 78 kilometres done.

Mr Amewu added that the government was also financing the development of a new six-kilometre standard gauge line in Kumasi, between Adum and Kaase, as part of the Western Line Development Project.

The Hohoe Member of Parliament said the government had since 2017 been investing in the development of local capacity to maintain and sustain the rail system for the benefit of future generations, following the upgrade of the old railway training school in Sekondi and had since begun providing training to over 1,000 youthful Ghanaians and other nationals from and within the sub-region.

The school, he said, now awarded degrees and certificates to successful graduates through collaborative efforts by the Ministry of Railway Development and the Ministry of Mines and Technology in Tarkwa.

Key strategy

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Railway Development Authority, Yaw Owusu, said one of the key strategies of the Tema-Mpakadan project was to build an intermodal transport system to link Tema Port to the Mpakadan Port.

That, he said, would ensure that imported goods in containers would be loaded onto trains and transferred from the trains onto barges at the Mpakadan Port to be ferried to the ports in the northern part of Ghana and subsequently transported on train and by road to neighbouring countries of Burkina Faso and Niger.

Mr Owusu said traditionally, railway lines were built in anticipation of a demographic and economic growth, and therefore, invited business communities to take advantage of the incredible and viable project by siting businesses along the route.

India-Ghana relationship

The Indian High Commissioner to Ghana, Manish Gupta, said the commissioning of the railway line was the single largest project implemented under the government-to-government development partnership in Ghana and commended President Akufo-Addo for the realisation of what he termed a flagship project.

He said India had been a long-standing partner in Ghana's developmental journey and his country remained steadfast in its commitment towards the country's economic development, adding that Indian companies had invested nearly $2 billion, with about $1 billion in lines of credit, buyers' credit, during the last two decades.

He said India was among the leading trade partners and a source of foreign direct investment in this country.

Appeal

The Stool Secretary of the Tema Traditional Council (TTC), Nii Shipi Amarh Somponu II, said the expansion of the harbour and the volume of cargo handling had increased, hence the construction of the railway line was an indication that Ghana was prepared to make good use of the harbour to transport goods to its neighbouring landlocked countries.

Nii Somponu renewed the councils appeal to the government for the construction of a sea defence wall at Awudum in Tema New Town to forestall the gradual erosion of the lands as a result of the Tema Harbour Expansion Programme.

Writers email: benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh
ECOWAS deploys observers for Dec. 7 election

Samuel Duodu Politics Nov - 23 - 2024 , 08:00 4 minutes read

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has deployed over 100 observers to Ghana for the 2024 general election scheduled for December 7, the Head of the Electoral Assistance Division of ECOWAS, Serigne Mamadou Ka, has said.

He said an initial team of 16 long-term observers arrived on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, while a group of 90 short-term observers would arriive on December 2 or 3.

This, he said, would bring the total number of observers to over 100, adding that a team of five core members would be based in Accra, with 16 long-term observers being deployed across the 16 regions.

Mr Ka, who is also the Permanent Secretary of ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONE), disclosed this in an interview in Accra last Thursday shortly after ECOWAS had given a grant totalling $210,000 to support two state institutions and two civil society organisations (CSOs) in Ghana to promote free, fair, peaceful, credible and transparent elections and help deepen the countrys democracy.

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The beneficiary institutions of the grant were the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), National Peace Council (NPC), Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) and Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA).

The NCCE received $100,000 to support its ongoing civic and voter education ahead of the polls; NPC had $50,000 towards its peace and mediation efforts; CDD-Ghana got $30,000, while FOSDA got $30,000 to ensure a free, fair, credible and transparent electoral process.

ECOWAS observer team

Mr Ka said the ECOWAS observer team would be led by a former Nigerian Vice-President, Nnamadi Sambo, who would arrive with the short-term observers between December 2 and 3.

ECOWAS has a history of deploying observers to member states to ensure peaceful and credible elections. This mission is part of the organisation's efforts to promote democracy and stability in the region, he said.

"We want peaceful elections," Mr Ka emphasised, adding that, "Election is an event that is constitutionally mandated. When it comes, everyone wants to win. But at the end of the day, there is only one winner, and the others will have to follow."

Commitment

The Resident Representative of ECOWAS in Ghana, Ambassador Mohammed Lawan Gana, who presented the grant to representatives of the beneficiary institutions, said it was to reaffirm ECOWAS commitment to supporting Ghana's democratic process.

He said the support was to promote a transparent and peaceful electoral process.

ECOWAS normally supports countries on the verge of elections to ensure credible, free and fair polls, he explained.

Ambassador Gana expressed optimism about Ghana's electoral preparations, stating that, "So far, so good. The observers have been meeting with stakeholders, and we hope to sustain this momentum until the last day of the elections."

He emphasised the importance of peaceful elections, urging Ghanaians to have a peaceful and credible election. Ghana is a model for democracy in the region, and we want this election to reinforce that.

Beneficiaries

The Commission Secretary, Lucille Hewlett Annan, who received the grant on behalf of the NCCE, thanked ECOWAS for supporting the commissions civic and voter education activities ahead of the election.

The Executive Secretary of the NPC, George Amoh, for his part expressed the councils gratitude to ECOWAS for the support.

The Director for Policy Engagement and Partnerships, CDD-Ghana, Dr Kojo Asante, is to support the Ghana fact-checking coalition, led by Media Foundation for West Africa, to set up a fact-checking situation room, support the training of journalists and monitors for the situation room, as well as journalists in hard to reach areas.

He added that it was also to support the collaboration between CDD-Ghana and the fact-checking coalition on combating misinformation and disinformation by using the 4,000 election observers to be deployed by the Coalition for Domestic Election Observers under CDD-Ghana to help verify incidences that occurred on the election day at the polling stations.

For her part, Susana Sugri Batesimah of FOSDA said the support was for the Ballot not Bullet campaign of FOSDA aimed at promoting non-violent election through the participation and engagement of young people in the electoral process, the training of youth peace ambassadors and women.


Retain NPP for good of Ghana  First Lady

Rebecca Quaicoe Duho Politics Nov - 23 - 2024 , 13:20 2 minutes read

The First Lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo has called for the retention of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in government for the continuity of the numerous development projects and good works.

She said President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo had done beyond what he promised while campaigning to be the President in 2016, hence the need to retain the party in power.

The First Lady made the call when she visited the Okaikwei South Constituency last Tuesday as part of her thank you tour in some constituencies in the Greater Accra Region.

She met with People Living with Disabilities (PWDs), youth leaders, teachers, book vendors, photographers, fruit sellers, draft and cards associations, barbers and mechanic associations in the constituency, as well as leaders of the Kaneshie market women.

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Projects

Mrs Akufo-Addo, therefore, urged Ghanaians to vote for the NPP Presidential Candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, and the parliamentary candidates to continue with the good works.

She stressed the need for Ghanaians to treasure Dr Bawumia as he was an asset to the country.

Let no one deceive you that we should change him as this will be a disaster for the country, she said.

She called on all to vote number one come December 7 and also vote for all NPP parliamentary aspirants so that they can bring development to the country.

Commendation

Mrs Akufo-Addo commended the NPP Member of Parliament (MP) for Okaikwei South, Dakoa Newman, who is also the Minister of Gender Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), saying she has achieved a lot for the constituency since she became the MP.

Ms Newman, on her part, thanked the constituents for the confidence reposed in the NPP over the years and asked for their support again come December 7.

She said she would continue with the asphalting of roads in the constituency, as well as build more astroturfs in the various communities for recreation.

She said the government, over the years, has built schools, expanded the Kaneshie Polyclinic among others and hopes to do more when retained in power.

Writers email:rebecca.quaicoe-duho@graphic.com.gh
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Lush, deep green leaves glowing with life appear to overgrow its canvas, while a thinly framed black border barely contains them. Water droplets collect on the leaves corners and tips, giving one the impression that a passing shower just came through the area.

Every shadow, texture, and shimmer created by brush strokes gives the illusion the image was a high-resolution photograph. But it isnt one.

It actually reminds me of summers in Pennsylvania. Usually, it rains quite a bit and we have these ferns that are in the forest and sometimes they have rain on them, Curtis Thomason said.

He was one of dozens of art enthusiasts who visited the Ginen Halom or From Within exhibit at the Guam Museum during its opening on Nov. 16.

Thomason was admiring an acrylic painting titled Verdant Meditation by artist Merc Tenorio. It was one of over 90 pieces from 22 different local artists that visitors to the exhibit can view until Dec. 27.

It (the painting) reminds me of home. Its kind of like an earthy feeling, like a grounding feeling, said Thomason, who was later able to greet Tenorio and take a picture with her.

Roseann M. Jones, dean of the University of Guams School of Business and Public Administration, who loves art, said she was drawn to a vibrant abstract painting with yellow, orange, and grey, by artist Sarah Johnson, who is also Jones former student.

It just keeps calling to me. I dont know why. Maybe its partly my knowledge of Sarah and the expression that shes built in her paintings, said Jones at the meet-and-greet for the art exhibit.

When asked how the art piece made her feel, Jones said happy, adding that the image on the painting looks almost like theres a fence representing barriers, but theres an opening in the fence with a brightness behind it that could represent opportunities.

Whether one prefers creations on canvas that look ultra realistic or abstract interpretations that encourage one to come up with their own meaning, one can experience the artwork for free or purchase them at the Guam Museum.

Prices are posted beside the items, ranging from several hundred to several thousand dollars. Proceeds from the sales will support the participating local artists and the Guam Museum Foundation.

Dawn Lees Reyes, curator for the Ginen Halom or From Within art exhibit, said although many of the artists are inspired by external things, such as nature, culture or personal experiences, they also draw from within, feelings and perceptions about those external inspirations and stimuli which then guides their work.

Feedback from visitors and artists alike was positive, said Reyes, who is also managing member of Flametree Freedom Center, a non-profit organization that has partnered with the Guam Museum Foundation to provide rotating art exhibits featuring contemporary local artists.

What I heard most from visitors is that the artwork really presents well in a space like the rotating exhibit room of the Guam Museum. Each piece is given the dignity and respect it deserves, Reyes said.

The curator added that the high ceilings, formidable walls and excellent lighting in the space allows the viewer to engage in the work in a meaningful way, allowing each different piece the power and presentation that the artist intended, no matter the medium used or the size of the work.

Reyes works are also on display, including an abstract piece called Eye of the Universe.

This painting was influenced by the eye of an octopus as she looks out at her world through a hole in the coral reef. Octopi are mystical creatures, shapeshifters in their own right, graceful and intelligent beyond our understanding, Reyes said. In this way, they are perfect representatives of the Universe and the energy that we all seek to experience.

Artist Rubyjane Buhain-Redila featured five paintings depicting her Philippine cultural heritage with the inspiration of modern fashion.

She said exhibiting her work at the Guam Museum was a dream come true, and sharing the space with other talented local artists made it even more meaningful.

This opportunity, beautifully planned and curated by Dawn Lees Reyes, highlighted Guams vibrant artistic community and the unique stories we express through our art, Buhain-Redila added.

Buhain-Redilas son, Jay Redila, also displayed five digitally created pieces.

Seeing his artwork displayed in the museum at such a young age reinforced how important it is to nurture his remarkable talent and build a legacy of creativity together, the mother said.

Artists featured have had a successful solo or small group show at the Lees-Reyes Art Gallery in the Tumon Sands Plaza, since 2022.

With so much local talent in one room, this exhibit is not to be missed, Reyes said.

The exhibit is free and accessible during the museums normal operating hours, which are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Friday.

For this exhibit, there will be additional special operating hours on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.




Haiti - FLASH : Bahamasair resumes flights to Cap-Haitien





Bahamasair has announced the resumption of flights to Cap-Haitien, Haiti, after the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a notice allowing U.S. air carriers to resume flights only to the northern coast of Haiti https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-43680-icihaiti-notice-faa-eases-flight-ban-in-haiti.html



According to reports, the green light given by the FAA is based on a satisfactory assessment of flight safety at Cap-Haitien International Airport.



Additionally, Bahamasair has also received confirmation from the Bahamas Embassy in Haiti that the Cap-Haitien airport and surrounding communities have remained incident-free prior to and following the November 11, 2024 incidents https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43614-haiti-flash-spirit-airlines-plane-hit-in-flight-by-several-bullets-video.html and https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43621-haiti-flash-us-airlines-banned-from-flying-over-haiti-for-30-days.html



Bahamasair said it will resume flights to and from Cap-Haitien starting Tuesday, November 26, 2024, every Tuesday and Saturday.



The airline also thanked travelers for their patience during the last two weeks of flight suspensions and assured that those affected by the suspension of their flight can change their reservations without penalty by contacting the reservation center at 702-4140.



See also:

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43621-haiti-flash-us-airlines-banned-from-flying-over-haiti-for-30-days.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43614-haiti-flash-spirit-airlines-plane-hit-in-flight-by-several-bullets-video.html



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Haiti - Security : PM says he shares the legitimate concerns of the population





Following the recent events of November 19, 2024 in Petion-ville https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43672-haiti-flash-attempted-takeover-of-petion-ville-at-least-28-bandits-killed.html , and the increase in acts of gang violence, measures have been taken by the new Prime Minister, Alix Didier Fils-Aime, to strengthen security in the main axes of the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince.



Fils-Aime encourages citizen participation in the stabilizing work of social peace. He remains convinced that public security is a collective work. Sensitive to the values of unity and the common good, he urges the civilian population, the National Police of Haiti (PNH) and the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAd'H) to prioritize the general interest and the spirit of harmony.



Since the installation of the Government, efforts have intensified and have notably allowed the resumption of the distribution of petroleum products. The actions undertaken by the Government have also made it possible to provide assistance to displaced persons while respecting their rights and dignity.



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Haiti - FLASH : More than 100 bandits killed in 3 days





At least 108 gang members have been killed in Haiti in three days, reports the National Human Rights Defense Network (RNDDH), a figure that constitutes the latest assessment of the recent upsurge in violence in Haiti, where armed gangs have stepped up attacks and attempted Tuesday to invade one of the capitals upscale neighborhoods, Petion-Ville, https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43672-haiti-flash-attempted-takeover-of-petion-ville-at-least-28-bandits-killed.html only to be repelled by the police and residents armed with machetes



Pierre Esperance, the Executive Director of the RNDDH, explained that in a good number of cases, the police fatally wounded the armed individuals, then the population set fire to the bodies. In other cases, it was the residents themselves who killed bandits to protect themselves, exasperated by these gangs that are increasingly taking control of neighborhoods.



According to the RNDDH, among the 90 deaths on Tuesday, 25 occurred in the Canape Verte neighborhood and 15 along the Pan-American Highway near the Oasis Hotel in Petion-Ville. On Thursday, 6 other alleged gang members were killed between Delmas 57 and 59 and the Christ-Roi neighborhood.



"Justice is sick," said Esperance. "How can we explain that since 2018, you have all these massacres, all these rapes, these kidnappings and that there is no judicial process ? Justice has completely collapsed [...]"



"We are in total anarchy," declared Wilner Morin, the new Protector of Citizens, this week. "We are in a situation where [...] the population is so backed up against the wall that they feel like they can take justice into their own hands [...] Its very serious."



Known as the "Bwa Kale" movement, acts of vigilantism (self-righteousness) by unorganized groups of Haitians and self-defense groups are on the rise, the Human Rights Branch of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) said in a September 2024 report. The groups often operate "with the support or approval of police officers," the report said.



In such incidents, victims are mutilated with machetes, stoned, decapitated, burned alive, or buried alive, the report said, also raising concerns about extrajudicial killings by members of the police.



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Haiti - News : Zapping...





120 Tanker Trucks Loaded with Fuel

On Friday, November 22, 2024, 500,650 gallons of diesel and 529,350 gallons of gasoline were loaded into 120 tanker trucks at the Varreux oil terminal, the Terminal Authority reported.



Agroecology a Path to the Future

In Haiti, the transition to agroecology is paving a sustainable path to the future. Deported people and displaced communities face immense challenges. Through agroforestry and agroecological practices, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is helping to restore livelihoods while combating deforestation and building climate resilience.



WHO deeply concerned by escalating violence

"I am deeply concerned by the escalation of gang violence in Port-au-Prince and its impact on health. Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) is a key partner in Haiti and the recent closure of its five health facilities will have a major impact. In addition to injuries caused by ongoing violence and infectious disease outbreaks, Haiti is facing one of the worst food crises in the world, with half the population facing hunger. Since March 2024, access to health care has been extremely limited across the country, with less than a third of hospitals functioning normally. We must ensure the safety of health and humanitarian workers, so that they can help the Haitian people in difficult times," said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization.



Security Device in Vivy Mitchell and Belleville

The Haitian National Police (PNH) informs that it is maintaining its security devices in Vivy Mitchell and Belleville in the commune of Petion-ville. It also announces the continuation of its operations to dismantle the gang hotbeds that are trying to take control of these areas.



First Council of Ministers of Leslie Voltaire

Thursday, November 21, 2024, Leslie Voltaire, President pro tempore of the Transitional Council, chaired his first Council of Ministers. On the agenda : measures to address the various problems facing the population, the decrees establishing the National Security Council and the security support fund as well as the renewal of the state of security emergency in the West Department for one month.



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The deadliest accident occurred on Friday morning in Seinajoki, where two children lost their lives in a collision between a car and a van on the Pohjan Valtatie road.

AT LEAST seven people have died in road accidents in Finland over Thursday and Friday due to adverse weather conditions. Police have confirmed multiple incidents linked to poor visibility, icy roads, and heavy snowfall caused by the ongoing storm.

A third child remains in critical condition. Police are investigating the crash as a case of endangering traffic safety and causing death, with the car's driver as the main suspect.

In Nakkila, an elderly man died after his car veered off a forest road and hit a tree. The incident happened shortly after noon on Friday. Police have suggested poor road conditions as a possible contributing factor.

On Thursday, two separate head-on collisions claimed lives in Kittila and Mantsala. In Kittila, two people were killed when a car travelling towards Rovaniemi crossed into oncoming traffic and collided with another vehicle. Police are investigating this incident as a case of gross negligence.

In Mantsala, a driver died after their car entered the wrong lane and struck an oncoming lorry. The road was slippery at the time due to heavy snow.

Another fatal crash occurred in Mikkeli late Thursday night. A 35-year-old man died after his car collided with a lorry. Authorities suspect alcohol was involved and are investigating the case as aggravated drunk driving and gross endangerment of traffic safety.

Elsewhere, icy roads caused a lorry to slide off the road in Heinola on Friday morning. While no fatalities were reported, the incident resulted in significant traffic disruption as the road remained closed for hours.

The Finnish Meteorological Institute has issued warnings about hazardous driving conditions across large parts of the country. The Jari storm, which began on Wednesday, has brought heavy snowfall and rain, with some areas expected to see up to 20 centimetres of snow by the weekend.

Meteorologist Kaisa Solin explained that the snow is accompanied by fluctuating temperatures, increasing the likelihood of compacted ice on roads and pavements. "Pedestrians should be cautious, as the wet snow can become slippery underfoot," Solin said.

Thousands of households are also without power due to the storm. As of midday Friday, around 9,000 customers were experiencing outages, according to the Finnish Energy Authoritys outage map.

Police are urging drivers to exercise extreme caution as road conditions are expected to remain poor, particularly in southern and central Finland and northern Lapland.

HT
Flight AY1255 departed at 18:32 but encountered the lightning strike about 20 minutes later while climbing through thick clouds. According to Finnair's communications manager Miia Eloranta , the aircraft sustained minor surface damage, which was described as typical for such incidents. The plane landed safely back in Helsinki at 19:36.

A FINNAIR FLIGHT from Helsinki to Budapest was struck by lightning shortly after take-off on Thursday evening, forcing the aircraft to return to Helsinki-Vantaa Airport for inspection.

Aboard the flight, Helsingin Sanomat journalist Jussi Konttinen witnessed a bright flash and a loud bang as the lightning struck the plane's right wing. The plane continued its ascent initially, but about 10 minutes later the captain announced that the aircraft had been hit by lightning and would return to Helsinki for inspection, he said.

Passengers remained mostly calm during the incident, though cabin crew provided support to a nervous traveller. Konttinen commended the crew for their professionalism in managing the situation.

Eloranta explained that lightning strikes on aircraft are not unusual and are accounted for in plane design. Lightning typically causes minor damage, such as small surface marks, but it does not pose a safety risk, she stated.

The inspection conducted after landing confirmed the presence of minor lightning-related damage. Such assessments are standard procedure following any lightning strike.

The incident delayed the flight by approximately two hours before it resumed its journey to Budapest. Flightradar24 data showed that the aircraft had reached the Tallinn area before turning back.

Aircraft are designed to withstand lightning strikes, which occur roughly once a year per commercial jet on average, according to industry experts. The plane's systems and structure are built to conduct the electrical charge safely, minimising risks to passengers and equipment.

HT
Deputy Secretary-General of Parliament Timo Tuovinen stated that the rules are in place to ensure the confidentiality of committee discussions and their closed nature.

Finnish MP Paivi Rasanen (Christian Democrats) participated in a remote meeting of the social affairs and health committee on Monday while in Israel. This action contravenes parliamentary rules, which prohibit joining committee meetings from abroad due to cybersecurity concerns.

He added that the restriction is outlined in the parliamentary committee handbook and explained during the induction process for MPs. Tuovinen suggested that committees should remind their members of this rule if needed.

Rasanen said she was unaware of the restriction. She explained that she joined the meeting to listen to important expert statements, as she considered the topics under discussion to be significant.

There were interesting issues being addressed, and I thought I would like to hear at least some of the expert statements, even though I was on a work trip, Rasanen told Finnish news agency STT.

She noted that participation in other parliamentary meetings, such as group meetings and the administrative council of the national broadcaster Yle, is permitted from abroad, and she had assumed the same applied to committee meetings.

Rasanen said she could not recall whether she had previously joined committee meetings remotely while abroad but pledged not to do so in the future.

Today, in the committee meeting, I apologised and stated that I did not know about this rule. I ask for forgiveness for this oversight, she said.

Tuovinen acknowledged that monitoring compliance with this rule can be challenging. He said he was unaware of any prior breaches but did not rule out the possibility that others might have done the same.

Rasanen was in Israel on a trip organised by the Finland-Israel and Estonia-Israel parliamentary friendship groups, alongside the European Leadership Network (Elnet). The trip was funded by Elnet, an organisation that aims to strengthen relations between Europe and Israel.

Other Finnish MPs on the trip included Vilhelm Junnila (Finns Party), Atte Kaleva (National Coalition Party) and Kaisa Garedew (Finns Party). The group also included Binga Tupamaki, chair of the National Coalition Youth, and Lauri Laitinen, chair of the Finns Party Youth.

Rasanen participated in Mondays committee meeting, which was held in three sessions. According to meeting records, she was present for the full discussion of five agenda items and partially for three others. Topics included proposed amendments to the Basic Income Act, the National Pensions Act, and the Social Welfare Act.

A staunch Zionist and supporter of Israel, Rasanen has previously endorsed the illegal settlements in the West Bank and rejected calls for their dismantlement or for moving settlers out of their "homes." These settlers, who come from other countries to occupy Palestinian lands, routinely use violence against Palestinians, including killing civilians and burning their homes. The criminal actions of armed settlers are often protected by the Israeli army.

In a case soon to be presented to the Finnish Supreme Court, Rasanen faces charges of "agitation against a minority group" under the section of "war crimes and crimes against humanity" in the Finnish criminal code for her anti-LGBT comments.

Rasanen also sits on the supervisory board of Yle, Finlands public broadcasting company. Since the start of the genocide in Gaza, Yle has adopted a strong pro-Israel stance in its reporting, often omitting mentions of civilian casualties or bombardments in Gaza. News anchors are instructed to refer to resistance movements like Hamas or Hezbollah as "terrorist organizations" every time they are mentioned. This approach contrasts sharply with Yles coverage of the war in Ukraine, where every civilian casualty or injury is reported, and the phrase "Russian aggression" is consistently used. Yle's editorial line always refers to the conflict in Ukraine as "the Russian attack war on Ukraine."

The Finnish Parliament's Israel Friendship Group plays a key role in fostering relations between Finland and Israel. The group is chaired by Peter Ostman of the Christian Democratic Parliamentary Group, with Tytti Tuppurainen of the Social Democratic Parliamentary Group serving as the first vice chair and Sanna Antikainen of the Finns Party Parliamentary Group as the second vice chair. Tomi Kaunismaki acts as the groups secretary.

Beyond the core leadership, other Finnish MPs actively engaged in pro-Israel initiatives include Mika Niikko, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, along with Wille Rydman, Sari Tanus, and Antero Laukkanen. These individuals regularly participate in events and discussions aimed at strengthening diplomatic, cultural, and economic ties between the two nations.

The Israel Friendship Group operates as part of a wider network of parliamentary friendship groups. These groups seek to promote mutual understanding and cooperation on issues of shared interest. By participating in events and dialogue, the Finnish-Israeli group contributes to the broader goal of enhancing bilateral relations.

The European Leadership Network (ELNET) is deeply rooted in Zionist ideology, functioning primarily as a pro-Israel advocacy organization that seeks to strengthen ties between Europe and Israel. Established in 2007, ELNET positions itself as a counterweight to the growing criticism of Israel within European political circles. It operates through a network of affiliates across several countries, including Belgium, France, Germany, and the UK, and is funded by private donations from foundations, corporations, and individuals who share its pro-Israel agenda. Notably, major donors like American billionaire Bernie Marcus, a prominent supporter of Israel and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), contribute significantly to its operations. This financial backing underscores ELNET's commitment to promoting Zionist objectives in Europe and shaping the narrative surrounding Israeli policies.

ELNET actively funds trips to Israel for European politicians and influencers as part of its strategy to cultivate pro-Israel sentiments among decision-makers. These trips are often framed as "fact-finding missions," but critics argue they serve a clear agenda: to ensure that participants adopt favourable views towards Israeli policies and actions. For instance, ELNET has financed visits for members of the UK Parliament, including those from the Conservative Party, to engage directly with Israeli officials and military leaders. Such initiatives raise concerns about the potential for bias and manipulation in shaping political opinions in favour of Israel while sidelining critical discussions about humanitarian issues in Gaza and the broader implications of Israeli policies. Through these funded trips, ELNET not only reinforces its Zionist roots but also seeks to influence European political landscapes in ways that align with Israeli interests.

According to Al Jazeera reports, Israel's military operations in Gaza have resulted in devastating casualties and widespread destruction. Over 40,000 Palestinians have been killed, including at least 16,456 children and more than 11,000 women. The conflict has damaged or destroyed approximately 62 percent of all homes in Gaza, amounting to 290,820 housing units. Educational infrastructure has been severely impacted, with 8 out of 10 schools damaged or destroyed, leaving 625,000 students without access to education. Hospitals have been deliberately targeted by Israeli forces, despite their protected status under international law. The overall damage to Gaza's infrastructure is estimated at $18.5 billion by the World Bank and the UN, with 26 million tonnes of debris and rubble left in the wake of the destruction.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. Finland as a signatory to the ICC has to arrest Netanyaho if he sets foot in the country, or trespasses Finlands airspace.

HT
The Evolution of Christianity in Mainland China: From Ancient Roots to Modern Revival

Christianity has had a long and complex history in mainland China, evolving through periods of growth, suppression, and revival. Its development can be divided into several key phases:

1. Early Introduction (Tang and Yuan Dynasties)

Christianity first arrived in China during the Tang Dynasty (7th century) through Nestorian missionaries, who introduced the faith as "Jingjiao" (The Luminous Religion). Evidence of this early presence is found in the Nestorian Stele of 781. However, the religion faced decline after the fall of the Tang Dynasty and did not establish deep roots.

Christianity re-entered China during the Yuan Dynasty (13th14th centuries) through missionaries like John of Montecorvino, but it faded again with the rise of the Ming Dynasty and the accompanying isolationist policies.

2. Catholic Missions in the Ming and Qing Dynasties

During the 16th century, Catholic missionaries, particularly Jesuits such as Matteo Ricci, gained a foothold in China. Ricci adopted a strategy of cultural accommodation, presenting Christianity in a way that harmonized with Confucian values.

This period saw the translation of Christian texts into Chinese and the conversion of some scholars and officials. However, tensions over rites and practices, particularly the Chinese Rites Controversy, led to restrictions on Catholic missions during the Qing Dynasty.

3. Protestant Missions (19th Century)

Protestant Christianity was introduced in the early 19th century, with figures like Robert Morrison, who translated the Bible into Chinese. After the First Opium War and the Treaty of Nanking (1842), foreign missionaries gained access to more regions through treaty ports.

Missionaries not only spread Christianity but also established schools, hospitals, and publishing houses, contributing to social reforms. However, anti-foreign sentiment, exemplified during the Boxer Rebellion (18991901), led to violence against Christians and missionaries.

4. Christianity in the Republican Era (19121949)

The early 20th century saw significant growth in Chinese Christianity, with an increasing number of Chinese-led churches and Christian intellectuals like Wu Leichuan advocating for a contextualized Chinese Christianity. Institutions like Yenching University and Peking Union Medical College, founded by missionaries, became centers of education and modern thought.

Despite these advancements, the rise of Chinese nationalism and anti-foreign movements also challenged Christianitys presence.

5. Suppression and Revival in the People's Republic of China (1949Present)

After 1949, the establishment of the People's Republic of China brought severe restrictions on religious practices. Foreign missionaries were expelled, and Christianity was brought under state control through organizations like the Three-Self Patriotic Movement (self-governance, self-support, self-propagation). The government promoted atheism, and many churches were closed during the Cultural Revolution (19661976).

Since the 1980s, China has seen a revival of Christianity, with millions joining state-approved churches or underground "house churches" that operate outside government control. Protestants and Catholics have both experienced significant growth, particularly in rural and urban areas.

6. Christianity Today

Today, Christianity in mainland China is a complex phenomenon. Estimates suggest there are tens of millions of Christians, making it one of the fastest-growing religions in the country. However, challenges remain, including government restrictions, the regulation of religious practices, and periodic crackdowns on unregistered churches.

Despite these challenges, Christianity has become an important part of China's religious and cultural landscape, reflecting a unique blend of global influences and local adaptation.
Chinese-funded housing units to be built for Sri Lankan low-income families

Xinhua) 10:42, November 23, 2024

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.

(Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Kou Jie)
News / National

by Staff reporter

A Zimbabwe-born South African citizen has petitioned the country's immigration authorities over what she describes as unfair treatment during her recent visit to Zimbabwe.Tyra Chante Naidoo, a holder of both a Zimbabwean birth certificate and national identity card, raised her concerns in a letter addressed to the Principal Director of Immigration. Naidoo, represented by Prisca Dube of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), claims her rights as a Zimbabwean citizen by birth have been violated due to her treatment as a mere visitor.Naidoo was born on June 15, 1996 at the Mbuya Nehanda Maternity Hospital in Harare. Her mother was a Zimbabwean citizen at the time of her birth, and she holds official documents that affirm her Zimbabwean citizenship.In the letter to immigration authorities, her lawyers stated: "Our client satisfies the requirements of citizenship by birth under Section 36 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. As such, she is entitled to all the rights and privileges of a citizen, including immunity from deportation."Despite holding a Zimbabwean birth certificate and national identity card marked CIT for citizens, Naidoo faced difficulties during her visit, leading to the expiration of her visitor's permit on June 19, 2024.While her parents made unsuccessful attempts to obtain a Zimbabwean passport for her when she was younger, Naidoo later acquired South African citizenship in 2005. However, her lawyers argue that this does not negate her birthright as a Zimbabwean citizen, entitling her to the rights and protections outlined in the Constitution.In the letter to immigration authorities, her lawyers stressed their intention to seek legal recourse if the issue is not addressed promptly. "Should we not have a response from your office, we will be compelled to approach the courts, seeking costs at a punitive scale," the letter stated.As of Thursday, ZLHR confirmed that immigration authorities had yet to respond to the petition. The legal team remains hopeful that the matter will be resolved amicably without the need for court intervention.Naidoo's case has sparked discussions about the rights of dual citizens and the treatment of individuals born in Zimbabwe but holding foreign citizenship, especially in light of the Constitution's provisions regarding the immunity of Zimbabwean citizens from deportation.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) has extended its heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Auxillia Mnangagwa, the First Lady of Zimbabwe, for successfully attaining a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Tourism and Hospitality Management.In a statement issued on Friday, Martin Rushwaya, the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, commended the First Lady for her academic achievement, highlighting how the qualification will further enhance her humanitarian work and serve as an inspiration to women and girls aspiring for academic excellence.On Thursday, the First Lady was capped during the 25th graduation ceremony at Midlands State University in Gweru, where President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who serves as Chancellor of all state universities, presided over the ceremony. Dr. Mnangagwa was among the 6,479 graduands at the event.Rushwaya described the First Lady's doctorate as an important milestone that would add significant value to her existing humanitarian initiatives. "This well-earned qualification will, without doubt, add even greater weight to her world-famed humanitarian work, which entails strong administrative and nutritional dimensions," he said in the statement.The First Lady's thesis on "The Efficiency of Hotels in Zimbabwe: A Data Envelopment Analysis Approach" is expected to contribute to advancing the tourism sector in Zimbabwe, particularly in terms of improving operational efficiency within the hospitality industry. Her academic achievement is also expected to serve as a beacon for female empowerment, particularly in the fields of education and leadership.Rushwaya further emphasized how the achievement of the First Lady has inspired the OPC to work towards improving Zimbabwe's educational standards. "We in the OPC feel challenged and inspired to better our educational standards always for more competent performance in our duties in the unrelenting drive towards fulfillment of Vision 2030," he said.The statement also included congratulatory remarks to President Mnangagwa, who, along with the Mnangagwa family, has supported the First Lady in her academic journey. "Hearty congratulations to you, our dear First Lady, to His Excellency the President, Dr. E.D. Mnangagwa, and to the rest of the Mnangagwa family who stood by her as she burned the midnight oil until her successful graduation," Rushwaya added.The First Lady's PhD not only adds to her extensive humanitarian portfolio but also solidifies her position as a role model for aspiring young women and future leaders in Zimbabwe and beyond.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) has formally petitioned the government over the ongoing issue of erratic salary payments, particularly highlighting delays in the payment of the local currency component of teachers' salaries for November 2024.In a letter dated November 21, 2024, PTUZ Secretary General Raymond Majongwe raised concerns over what the union described as unprofessional and unacceptable salary payment procedures. The letter was addressed to Labour and Public Service Minister July Moyo, with a copy sent to Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube.For the first time since independence, Treasury has reportedly reached a new low, according to PTUZ, with salary payments for November having been delayed significantly. Many teachers have still not received their local currency (ZWG) salaries, even though the pay day has long passed."The whole process is shoddy, unprofessional, and unacceptable," Majongwe said, adding that some teachers have not had their ZWG salary components credited to their bank accounts since November 19, 2024. Teachers who bank with institutions such as POSB and AFC are reportedly the most affected.The situation has not been exclusive to the education sector, with reports also indicating that security sector workers have faced similar delays in receiving their ZWG salaries. The delays have created significant tension and uncertainty among workers, further straining already stressed relationships between the government and its employees."We surely expect better from the government, especially during this time of the year when hardworking teachers are expecting bonuses and timeous payments, yet are left with shocking surprises of erratic salary payments," Majongwe wrote in his petition, calling for swift intervention by the authorities.PTUZ also raised concerns about the issue of the US$80 teaching allowance, which was supposed to be indexed to the US dollar but is no longer properly reflected in the teachers' salaries, adding to the frustration felt by educators across the country.This latest development comes after Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube recently announced a cut in foreign trips funding across government departments, citing financial constraints as the reason behind the measures. Sources within the banking sector, speaking on condition of anonymity, have confirmed that local currency shortages have persisted for some time, making it difficult to meet salary payment schedules."Until recently, we used to cover up for the government by paying up the ZWG component to our clients, but now, we haven't been receiving our disbursed funds on time, and we can no longer do that," one source revealed.As the issue continues to unfold, PTUZ is calling for the immediate resolution of the payment delays, urging the government to respect established best practices and provide timely, consistent salary payments to all public sector employees, particularly in light of the upcoming holiday season.
News / National

by Staff reporter

A 23-year-old man tragically lost his life after being stabbed during an altercation over a Bluetooth speaker at Donga Bottle Store in Shurugwi on November 6, 2024.The victim, Pardon Vengai of Maria Village, was drinking beer with two friends when a dispute arose over the Bluetooth speaker they were using to listen to music. According to Midlands Police Spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko, the suspect, identified as Tatenda, known as "Boss Tate" from Donga Stands, Shurugwi, entered the bottle store and took the speaker without permission.Pardon Vengai, who was accompanied by his friends Prince Vengai and Tawanda Siziba, both 25 and from the same village, confronted the suspect outside the bottle store to retrieve the speaker. During the confrontation, Tatenda pulled out a Colombian knife and stabbed Pardon once in the back.Despite attempting to flee, Pardon was caught by Tatenda, who continued the attack. He was left bleeding heavily and quickly lost consciousness. The police were notified, and Pardon was rushed to Zvamabande Hospital before being transferred to Shurugwi District Hospital and eventually to Gweru Provincial Hospital. Sadly, he succumbed to his injuries on November 8, 2024, two days after the stabbing.Inspector Mahoko confirmed that the suspect, Tatenda, was arrested on November 9, 2024, at around 14:30 hours along Chachacha Road. He expressed gratitude for the assistance provided by the public in bringing the suspect to justice. "The arrest of Tatenda is a testament to the power of collaboration between the police and the public," Mahoko said. "We are grateful for the community's help in ensuring that justice is served."The incident has left the local community shocked and mourning the untimely loss of a young man, who was taken from his family and friends in a senseless act of violence. Police investigations are ongoing, and authorities have vowed to take swift action against those involved in violent crimes.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has confirmed the arrest of eight individuals linked to a series of armed robbery incidents that have plagued Bulawayo between February 19, 2024, and November 17, 2024. The suspects, aged between 24 and 51, are believed to have targeted service stations, business premises, and residential areas, stealing cash, cellphones, and other valuables.The arrested suspects are: Elvis Charakupa (40), Khulumani Ivloyo (51), Mavrick Dube (32), Mongameli Moyo (27), Nkosilomusi Dube (27), Mabhena Qhawe (43), Vumani Msipa (31), and Conilias Chigara (24).The breakthrough in the case came on November 20, 2024, when police detectives acting on a tip-off arrested Elvis Charakupa at a house in Mpopoma, Bulawayo. Charakupa's arrest led to the identification and subsequent arrests of Mavrick Dube and Mongameli Moyo, who were apprehended in Bulawayo and Tsholotsho, respectively.Further investigations and intelligence gathering led to the capture of Nkosilomusi Dube, Mabhena Qhawe, Vumani Msipa, and Conilias Chigara at Beitbridge Toll Gate along the Gwanda-Beitbridge Road.The arrests resulted in the recovery of crucial evidence, including a 0.32 pistol with eight rounds of ammunition and two getaway vehicles: a Nissan Note (registration number AFZ 4527) and a Toyota Corolla (registration number ACN 3328).The suspects are linked to 10 armed robbery cases, including a robbery at a service station in Kelvin North on April 22, 2024, where USD 550.00 and a cellphone were stolen. Another case occurred on November 10, 2024, at a service station along Market Road, also in Kelvin North, where the thieves made off with USD 600.00 in cash.In a more recent incident on November 17, 2024, the suspects were involved in a home invasion in Nkulumane 5, Bulawayo, where they stole ZAR 120,000.00 in cash and two cellphones.Police are continuing their investigations, with ongoing efforts to connect the suspects to additional robberies that occurred in Filabusi, Gwanda, Plumtree, and Beitbridge.The Zimbabwe Republic Police has expressed gratitude to the public for their valuable contributions, which played a crucial role in the successful arrests. The ZRP has urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspected criminal activities by contacting the National Complaints Desk at (0242) 703631, via WhatsApp at 0712 800 197, or by visiting any nearest police station.The police continue to stress the importance of public cooperation in combatting crime and ensuring the safety of all citizens.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Former President Jacob Zuma has rejected his expulsion from the African National Congress (ANC).The party's National Disciplinary Committee of Appeal (NDCA) upheld Zuma's removal from the party, it announced on Friday.In a statement issued on Saturday, the Jacob G Zuma Foundation said the former statesman strongly rejected "the notion that the ANC, under the leadership of President Cyril Ramaphosa, has the authority to expel him from the movement to which he has dedicated his life."The ANC criticized Zuma's actions as a severe breach of organisational discipline, citing his establishment and leadership of a rival political party, the MK Party, as a direct assault on the movement's historical mission and principles.The Foundation said that Zuma remains fully engaged in his political and social commitments.It added that Zuma presided over a two-day meeting of the National High Command of Umkhonto weSizwe on Friday, and on Saturday, he attended the funeral of six MK women members who tragically lost their lives in an accident while travelling to Nkandla.According to the Foundation's spokesperson Mzwanele Manyi, Zuma is expected to consult with his legal team, his ANC representative Tony Yengeni, his family, and his political comrades to deliberate on the way forward."Once a decision has been reached, it will be communicated to the nation by Zuma," Manyi said.
China unveils list of 236 Soviet Union aviation martyrs during WWII

Xinhua) 11:06, November 23, 2024

Flowers are placed at a monument bearing the names of martyrs at the Nanjing Anti-Japanese Aviation Martyrs Memorial Hall in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, Nov. 22, 2024. China on Friday released a list of 236 Soviet Union aviation martyrs who gave their lives during the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, according to the Nanjing Anti-Japanese Aviation Martyrs Memorial Hall in east China's Jiangsu Province. (Xinhua/Qiu Bingqing)

NANJING, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday released a list of 236 Soviet Union aviation martyrs who gave their lives during the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, according to the Nanjing Anti-Japanese Aviation Martyrs Memorial Hall in east China's Jiangsu Province.

Published on the official website of the Dr. Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum Administration Bureau, the list discloses the names, military positions and dates of birth and death of these Second World War martyrs.

After Japan's full-scale invasion of China in 1937, the Soviet Union was at the forefront of aiding China in air battlefields. Together with the Chinese, they fought against the invading Japanese forces, forging a deep bond through mutual support and friendship. Over 200 Soviet fighters sacrificed their lives on Chinese soil.

Currently, the names of 236 of these heroes are engraved on the monument in the Nanjing Anti-Japanese Aviation Martyrs Memorial Hall. The list was compiled and confirmed in 1995. However, information on most of them remains scarce due to limited historical records.

"With ongoing research, we have found some inaccuracies. By releasing the list, we hope to gather global support to refine data on Soviet Union martyrs, correct mistakes, find their family members and identify any overlooked individuals," said Dou Ruoqi, a staff member at the memorial hall.

In April, the memorial hall published information on 1,468 Chinese aviation martyrs. After verification and comparison, information concerning 18 of them has been corrected.

In September, the memorial hall published a list of 2,590 American aviation martyrs during the war and added the name and information of an American pilot who died in China to the monument in the memorial hall.

"This year, the memorial hall has released the names of international and Chinese aviation heroes during the war on three separate occasions, highlighting the universal values of peace and justice and drawing global attention," said Dou, adding that the move has led to the collection of new information on dozens of aviation martyrs.

The Nanjing Anti-Japanese Aviation Martyrs Memorial Hall is the first memorial hall in China dedicated to international aviation martyrs during the war. It houses a rich collection of historical materials documenting the joint efforts of air forces of China, the Soviet Union, the United States, and other countries during World War II to resist the Japanese invasion of China. The names of nearly 4,300 heroes have been engraved on the monument in the memorial hall.

This photo taken on Nov. 22, 2024 shows the portraits and file information of a Soviet Union aviation martyr newly secured by the Nanjing Anti-Japanese Aviation Martyrs Memorial Hall in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province. China on Friday released a list of 236 Soviet Union aviation martyrs who gave their lives during the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, according to the Nanjing Anti-Japanese Aviation Martyrs Memorial Hall in east China's Jiangsu Province.(Xinhua/Qiu Bingqing)

(Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Kou Jie)
News / National

by Staff reporter

Newly-appointed State Security Minister Lovemore Matuke has ordered a ban on journalists deemed "hostile" from covering Zanu-PF internal meetings, signaling a shift in the party's media access policy.Traditionally, both private and public media representatives were allowed to attend official Zanu-PF gatherings, such as Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) meetings. However, Matukes directive seeks to limit attendance to vetted individuals, citing concerns over information leaks and social media backlash.Clampdown on Information LeaksIn a video widely circulated on social media, Matuke addressed Zanu-PF members during a PCC meeting in Masvingo, held at Clovelly, emphasizing the need for heightened vigilance."We hold meetings, but by the time we leave, we would already be facing backlashes [on social media], and you then wonder whether the people who participated in those meetings were bonafide Zanu-PF members," said Matuke, who also serves as the security secretary in the Zanu-PF Politburo.The minister issued a stern warning to party members leaking sensitive information, stating that security agencies would track down and punish those responsible."We must have our security guys who watch out for people who leak information and bring them to book. Those people should be dealt with thoroughly," he added.Tighter Scrutiny at MeetingsMatuke called for stricter vetting procedures to ensure only eligible members attend internal gatherings."Going forward, chairman, we need to designate our members responsible for information, including news personnel. Be very strict that nobody just comes and sits without being scrutinized. If it is a PCC, only those eligible should attend," he said.Implications for Press FreedomThe directive has sparked concerns over press freedom, with critics warning that barring independent journalists from covering Zanu-PF activities could restrict transparency and accountability.This move follows a broader trend of tightening control over information flow within Zimbabwe, particularly concerning political processes and governance. Critics argue that targeting journalists and whistleblowers may suppress dissenting voices and limit public access to crucial information.Increased Security MeasuresMatukes statements reflect the ruling partys growing unease over internal divisions and the dissemination of sensitive information through social media. By consolidating control over information and intensifying scrutiny of attendees, Zanu-PF aims to reinforce its organizational security and reduce public criticism.The ministers remarks also highlight the dual role of Zanu-PF's leadership in both party and state apparatuses, raising questions about the intersection of party politics and national governance.
Business Travel Disruptions Continue to Soar in 2024, Reveals TravelPerk's Second Annual Report - Image Credit TravelPerk

TravelPerk's report indicates a high rate of travel disruptions in 2024, with 78% of global business travelers affected and the US witnessing the highest flight cancellations.

Despite technological advancements, only 10% of travelers prefer chatbots for support during disruptions, favoring direct interaction with a human customer service agent.

The second annual Travel Disruption Report published by travel management platform TravelPerk reveals a tumultuous year for business travelers. According to the report, 78% of business travelers worldwide suffered disruptions in 2024. While disruption rates mirrored those of the previous year, the reasons behind these disruptions varied significantly by region, with cancellations and transport strikes especially impacting European markets.

The report analyzed the experiences of 4,000 business travelers from the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, and Spain and incorporated third-party global aviation data. The findings show that 27% of business travelers faced cancellations, while weather events and transport strikes disrupted 21%.

The impact of travel disruption on businesses and employees is significant. The report revealed that 41% of respondents missed or were late for an in-person meeting due to travel disruptions, and 40% incurred extra costs such as hotel charges and rebooking fees. Over one-third (36%) of business travelers had to work additional hours to compensate for missed work, and 85% reported that their productivity was affected.

Regional data indicated notable disparities. Transport strikes most significantly impacted British and German business travelers (27% and 29%, respectively), while US travelers experienced the highest number of cancellations (139,777 flights from March to September 2024) and weather-related disruptions (30%).

July 2024 saw the global travel industry thrown into chaos following an IT outage caused by Crowdstrike. Only 57% of flights operated without delay. Despite the high volume of cancellations in the US, China now leads in cancellation rates at nearly 5%, followed by Canada (3%) and the US (3%).

Despite the integration of AI into customer service, only 10% of travelers prefer chatbot support during disruptions. "When disruption occurs, it's key that our customers feel supported by being quick and efficient. Our data shows that despite technological advances, only 10% of travelers want help from a chatbot over a human customer care agent," said Kamil Jagodzinski, VP of Customer Care at TravelPerk.

The report also emphasized the implications of travel disruptions on securing or losing vital business opportunities. Yasmine Bratt, Chief Revenue Officer at TravelPerk, commented, "With 85% of people saying that disruptions impacted their productivity, the missed opportunity for businesses can be significant."

To mitigate some travel stress, TravelPerk launched its FlexiPerk product in 2019. This product offers business travelers more flexibility by allowing them to cancel their trip up until two hours before travel and still receiving 80% of the trip refunded.
Information Sought Regarding Illegally Shot Vermont Bald Eagle

MONTPELIER, Vt.  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is offering a reward of up to $5,000 to eligible individuals for information that significantly furthers the investigation into, or leads to enforcement action against, the person(s) who illegally shot a bald eagle in or near Bridport, Vermont, this past October.

Game wardens with the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department first responded to reports of a dead adult bald eagle near East Street in Bridport on Oct. 15, 2024. A radiography analysis found metal pellets and recent wounds consistent with shotgun fire in the eagle's body. Officials confirm these are the cause of death. Data from a research band on the eagle's leg showed that it was first observed in Vermont in August 2006.

The case is being jointly investigated by the special agents with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and game wardens with the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. Anyone with information should contact Game Warden Detective Sgt. David Taddei with the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department at (802) 498-7078. Wildlife crimes can also be reported to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through their online tip form or at 1-844-FWS-TIPS (1-844-397-8477).

"U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service special agents and Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department game wardens have a strong history of working together to enforce federal wildlife law in our state," said Game Warden Col. Justin Stedman with the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. "Vermonters also have an impressive record of stepping up with information about poaching cases and wildlife violations when law enforcement asks for help. If you know something that could help us hold the person who shot this protected, native bird accountable, we hope you will come forward."

Although bald eagles have been recovered under both the U.S. Endangered Species Act and Vermont's state endangered species statutes, they are still protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. Maximum fines for killing an eagle under these federal laws are $15,000 and $100,000 respectively.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Former Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislator Amos Chibaya has finally been granted US$500 bail by the High Court.In his ruling, Justice Gibson Mandaza ordered the former Mkoba MP to deposit US$500 with the Clerk of Court at the Harare Magistrates' Court and to report once every fortnight at CID law and order division in Harare.Chibaya was also ordered to continue residing at his usual residential address and not to interfere with witnesses.The firebrand politician is accused of inciting fellow CCC activists into committing violence as he addressed them outside the Harare Magistrates' Court where convicted party faction leader Jameson Timba and dozens more had been denied bail in June this year.His party insists Chibaya should never have been arrested in the first place arguing he did not commit any offence at all."We won't celebrate persecution and suppression of freedom of association. He shouldn't have been arrested in the first place."Zimbabwe is not yet free under the current regime."We continue to demand the release of all political prisoners," said CCC in a statement.Arrested many times for his fearless activism, Chibaya was recently fined US$50 for skipping court in another criminal case he is facing.According to the state, Chibaya was among a group of CCC activists who staged demonstrations at the court building in June demanding the release of 77 party activists who had been denied bail.It is further alleged Chibaya then convened a meeting at the entrance of the court building where party politicians Agency Gumbo and Ostallos Gift Siziba were among the speakers.During the meeting, Chibaya allegedly incited violence through saying, "Chi regime chinotya vanhu, chikaona vanhu chinobvunda, Havana kuhwina maelections, togona kufuma tavakutonga, Zimbabwe haisi yeZanu-PF, Zimbabwe is not a Mnangagwa Dynasty zvekumbunyikidza vanhu zvinofanira kupera."Loosely translated, Chibaya allegedly talked down the Zanu-PF led government headed by President Mnangagwa whom he accused of stealing elections and that it could find itself out of power the next day in place of the main opposition. He allegedly declared it was time the state stopped trampling on citizens' freedoms.It is further alleged Chibaya invited citizens to come in large numbers to demand the release of their colleagues."As a result of the incitement, some people at the meeting promised Chibaya to take the prisoners out by force by saying in vernacular tichavatora Nechisimba, eheeee'".
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When Ridley Scotts Gladiator 2 arrives in cinemas this week, some viewers may assume that the spectacular scenes of the Colosseum in Rome being flooded in order to host naval battles are merely figments of the directors overactive imagination.

Indeed, classics professor Dr Shadi Bartsch recently described some elements of the film as total Hollywood bulls***.

However, Scott has vocally pushed back against the idea that he invented the idea of water battles in the Colosseum.

Youre dead wrong, the 86-year-old told an interviewer from Collider. The Colosseum did flood with water and there were sea battles.

When the interviewer asked whether its true the battles involved sharks, a point Dr Bartsch particularly criticised, Scott responded: Dude, if you can build a Colosseum you can flood it with f***ing water. Are you joking? And to get a couple of sharks in a net from the sea? Are you kidding? Of course they can!

Scotts assertions are largely backed up by the historical record. When the Colosseum was opened by Emperor Titus in 80 AD, it was inaugurated with ceremonies lasting 100 days, which included two staged naval battles known as naumachiae.

A naval battle taking place in the Colosseum, as seen in Ridley Scotts Gladiator II' ( Paramount Pictures )

One of these was held in the nearby Augustinian basin, while the other was held inside the Colosseum itself.

The Roman historian Cassius Dio wrote that animals were involved in the performace, albeit horses and bulls rather than sharks, which imply the water was relatively shallow.

For Titus suddenly filled this same theatre with water and brought in horses and bulls and some other domesticated animals that had been taught to behave in the liquid element just as on land, wrote Cassius Dio. He also brought in people on ships, who engaged in a sea-fight there, impersonating the Corcyreans and Corinthians.

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That battle between the Corcyreans and Corinthians precipitated the Peloponnesian War, in 434 BCE, so would have taken place a little over 500 years before it was recreated in the Colosseum.

Meanwhile, Dr Bartschs claim that the Ancient Romans wouldnt have even known what a shark was is clearly untrue. They were written about by Roman naturalists, such as Pliny the Elder, and depicted in art including a well-preserved second-century BCE mosaic from Pompeii.

The scenes in Gladiator 2 that depict combatants riding rhinos in the Colosseum may be artistic licence, but its true that exotic animals including rhinos, elephants, bulls, bears, lions, panthers and crocodiles were all brought to Rome and often pitted against each other in the arena.

Gladiator 2 is out now in the UK and the US.
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Star Wars actor Kelly Marie Tran has come out as queer.

The 35-year-old Hollywood star candidly shared a personal note about her identity in a conversation with Vanity Fair about filming Andrew Ahns remake of the 1993 Ang Lee film, The Wedding Banquet.

I havent said this publicly yet, but Im a queer person, Tran said in the article published November 22.

She explained how her role in Ahns new queer romantic-comedy inspired her to open up, saying: The thing that really excited me about it was I got to play a person that I felt like I knew. I dont feel like Im acting at all in this movie.

Im here doing this amazing movie with these amazing people. Ive never been in a queer space before. Ive never truly felt this accepted before, she continued.

Tran was cast in Ahns movie as Angela, a woman whos trying to have a baby through in vitro fertilization with Lily Gladstones character, Lee.

open image in gallery Kelly Marie Tran says shes never felt this accepted before after coming out as queer ( Getty Images )

On coming out to her mother, the Sweet Tooth star said it was very similar to how her character comes out to her own mom, played by Joan Chen.

I came out to my mom in a very specific experience, Tran said. The scenes that I have with Joan Chen in this movie are very similar to the experience that I had.

Tran didnt go into much detail about how exactly she told her mother, or her response. However, she admitted that even telling Vanity Fair was overwhelming. I havent done this in a while. Im getting freaking emotional over here, she said.

The original The Wedding Banquet tells the story of Wai-Tung, a bisexual Taiwanese immigrant, and his life living in New York with his boyfriend. As someone with a conservative family, Wai-Tung ultimately decides he must marry a woman from mainland China to please his parents, who end up traveling to the Big Apple to throw him a traditional Taiwanese wedding.

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Now, Ahn is modernizing the story and bringing the production to Seattle, focusing on the IVF storyline between Tran and Gladstones characters as well as their friends  Chris (Bowen Yang) and Min (Han Gi-chan)  whore also in a relationship and living in the guest house.

I was really focused on trying to tell a story that felt reflective of the community as Ive experienced it growing up, Ahn told Vanity Fair.

When Tran was asked her opinion on the adaptation, she simply said: The spirit is the same, and I think its even more queer.
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The Los Angeles Fire Department issued a statement after they received several 911 calls alerting them to an apparent building fire which turned out to be part of a Hollywood production.

The high-rise building, which appeared to be ablaze in downtown Los Angeles, was also filmed by several users of the public safety mobile app Citizen.

That footage was then shared on X/Twitter by the app, who posted it along with the caption: #BREAKING: Fire in Downtown High-Rise. Flames and smoke are billowing from the top floors of the structure. Avoid the area.

However, even some of those making the footage suspected something was amiss. In the clip posted to X, a voice can be heard saying: If its a movie set Im gonna feel real stupid.

As it turns out, the building is part of a film set complex known as Los Angeles Center Studios.

The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the tweet to confirm the apparent fire was part of a production, writing on X: We appreciate the concerned citizens calling BUT - the fire visible on the roof of 1201 W 5th x Bixel in #dtla is not real - it is part of a movie/tv shoot. It is planned to be active until 3am. Please share the word! #Hollywood

A screenshot from the Citizen app showing an apparently burning building in Los Angeles ( Citizen app )

In a further statement to the LA Times, fire department spokesperson Margaret Stewart said: We were letting them know it was a movie set and there was no danger.

Stewart acknowledged that it was easy for members of the public to think it was a real fire because the camera crews were at the top of the building and were not visible from the ground.

Fire brigade and other first responders were also present on the scene, although this appears to have been purely as a precautionary measure.

ABC helicopter reporter Chris Cristi also weighed in on social media, writing: Its a film set. No emergency.

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The fire had seemed real to those recording the footage. You can smell it, one voice can be heard saying. You can smell, like, the paper burning inside... I smell burnt paper.

This is crazy, another responds.

The group went on to debate whether a real fire would have spread more quickly than the fake fire did, and whether the Citizen app would already know if it was in fact filming for a movie. I dont know, one says. This is so weird.
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Pamela Anderson has reflected on her life and career, saying: I wouldnt change one thing about my life or I wouldnt be here.

The former Baywatch star, 57, is attracting critical acclaim and awards buzz for her role in Gia Coppolas upcoming The Last Showgirl.

The film stars Anderson as Shelly, a veteran Las Vegas dancer on the verge of retirement.

open image in gallery Pamela Anderson has attracted critical acclaim for her latest role ( AFP via Getty Images )

Anderson told Deadline that she drew on her own life and experiences for the role, saying: Ive danced between shame and beating myself up about so many things or wondering what life wouldve been if I didnt experience the things I did, even as a child, theres so much.

She continued: Its so wonderful that this film is not exploitive. Its not about violence or overt sexuality. Its such a touching story and on so many different generations.

And I find that because again, Ive been sexualized and objectified in my life and career, but I dont want to be defined by what has been done to me. I want to be defined by what I do. And I feel like I do mentor a lot of women in this industry who have gone down a path that is a scary kind of path.

And Ive helped a lot of women, and I have nieces and my sons have girlfriends, and I wonder in this culture, whats enough? What does it take to entertain somebody? And Ive always felt like Ive had this veil or wall, and I feel like to protect me.

She added: I feel like Ms. Magoo. Actually, Ive been really lucky in my Playboy experience, also in being a lifeguard on the beach, whatever people thought of that, even it was very innocent. Baywatch was wholesome, I think.

And then the things that happened to me were really hard on me when my personal life was exploited, and it really was hard on me for a couple of decades. It took me a long time to, or I dont think you ever really get over it.

open image in gallery Anderson rose to fame in Baywatch ( Baywatch )

In 2023, Anderson spoke out against the team behind Hulus Pam & Tommy, saying she felt they owed her a public apology.

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The previous year the streamer had released its dark comedy mini-series about the leaking of Anderson and then-husband Tommy Lees sex tape.

While promoting her Netflix documentary Pamela, A Love Story, Anderson explained why she refused to watch the show.

It was shocking, she said. Tommy probably thought it was funny. I remember Tommy writing me a note saying, Dont let this hurt you like it did the first time, because he had heard through the kids that I was kind of struggling with the idea of bringing this all up again.

I dont think he was portrayed kindly. I just know that I refuse to watch it.

Anderson described the series as a salt on the wound and called the people behind it a**holes.

The Last Showgirl will open in select US cinemas on December 13, 2024. It is expected to receive a wider release in the US on January 10, 2025 and in the UK on February 28, 2025.
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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.

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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.
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Im a Celebrity viewers have been left stunned after Coleen Wagatha Christie Rooney appeared to detect the ruse that is being pulled at the Jungle Junkyard by Maura Higgins and Reverend Richard Coles.

The Love Island star, 33, and priest, 62, joined the existing campmates on Thursdays episode, including Coleen Rooney, GK Barry, Tulisa Contostavlos, Alan Halsall, and Oti Mabuse.

Higgins and Coles have been kept mostly separate from the other stars, who are staying in the main camp. The latecomers have been assigned luxury accommodation in the misleadingly named Jungle Junkyard, which theyve been told to keep secret from the other campmates and act like the conditions are much, much worse and are going without food.

Dean McCullough has since been added into the mix at the junkyard as part of a twist, at the end of Fridays Bushtucker Trial, where he and Danny Jones got eight stars but one of them had to leave the main camp for the smaller one.

Higgins and Coles selected the Radio One DJ to join them in the junkyard, which left him gobsmacked after he saw that the camp contained a bath and a king-size bed, among other luxuries.

Main camp found it in the goodness of their hearts to give up some of their dinner, with Rooney and Danny Jones volunteering to deliver the goods to the Jungle Junkyard first-hand to check in on Maura, Richard and Dean.

When Rooney and Jones returned back to the main camp, they updated their fellow campmates on the Jungle Junkyard conditions, raising suspicions that not everything was meeting the eye.

Speaking to the Bush Telegraph afterwards, Rooney said: I came out of there not convinced that they were living in those conditions.

Viewers immediately began to praise Rooney for figuring out what was going on, referencing her infamous Wagatha Christie court case with Rebekah Vardy.

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Coleen Rooney sussing them out!? She really IS Wagatha Christie, said one viewer.

Not Coleen saying the other camp arent telling the truth and that shes got a funny feeling about it??? She really is Wagatha Christie, said another.

Coleen wasnt called Wagatha Christie for nothing, joked another.

( ITV/Getty )

On Mondays episode (18 November), the 38-year-old addressed the infamous Wagatha Christie court case against Vardy, which she said left her ashamed.

Vardy, who writes a regular column for The Sun newspaper, has now mocked Rooney when giving her first opinions on Sundays premiere show, which she called an amazing opening.I have to say, I think its the best one so far, wrote the 42-year-old. So what did we have? We had disgusting cocktails. We had cockroaches, skydiving, kangaroo anus for dinner, blind Barry and an amazing trouser snake.

Vardy added: And I almost forgot to mention, Coleen sank in the river twice. Its the gift that keeps on giving.
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A newly-released series starring Eddie Redmayne has been crowned one of the best shows of 2024 by viewers.

The series in question is The Day of the Jackal, which sees Redmayne take a rare turn as a villainous assassin tasked with killing tech CEOs and influential people across Europe.

The series, which has new episodes streaming weekly on Sky and Now TV, is based on Frederick Forsyths 1971 novel of the same name, which has been turned into two films, The Day of the Jackal (1973) and The Jackal (1997).

Redmaynes The Jackal utilises a wide variety of disguises and aliases using prosthetics to keep himself hidden from the authorities. At the climax of the series, he is tracked by MI6 agent Bianca Pullman (Lashana Lynch), who is a firearms expert determined to catch him.

The series is currently on its seventh episode  and viewers have been quick to crown it the best of 2024.

The Day of the Jackal has to be one of the best series Ive watched in a longgggg time, said one viewer online, as another added they are addicted to the series.

If the make-up department for The Day of The Jackal doesnt win every single award imaginable this year, then you know its rigged, said another.

Another viewer claimed that along with Cross, a newly-released American crime thriller starring Aldis Hodge and Ryan Eggold, The Day of the Jackal is up there with the best shows of the year.

In The Independents annual ranking of the best series released in 2024,The Day of the Jackal came in 10th place, out of 20 shows. TV critic Nick Hilton ranked Netflixs Baby Reindeer as the best series of the year, with Shogun and Mr and Mrs Smith following in second and third place.

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Speaking about playing an assassin for the first time, Redmayne recently told The Independent that he was attracted to shooting the series in Croatia and Budapest in the summer months because it was a different setting to the period films he has worked on in the past.

There have been many years when Id watch The White Lotus and go, Why do I never get those jobs and hang out on beautiful beaches?, Redmayne laughs. So I wouldnt want to say that was the reason for taking the job, but it was pretty high up there. Ive spent years playing Elizabethans and Victorians, or people in the 1920s or 30s. This was the first contemporary thing I think Ive done in years.

And it was nice to be able to just whip on a pair of trousers and a shirt every day, versus lots of 26-piece tweed suits.
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The BBC has announced it is releasing colourised Doctor Who footage ahead of a forthcoming special that will see a classic 1969 storyline revamped for modern screens.

The BBC has announced that the Time Lords regeneration into the third Doctor will be aired in a new colourised version of an episode originally broadcast as part of the War Games storyline in 1969.

The original marked the transition between Patrick Troughton, who played the second incarnation of the Doctor from 1966 to 1969, to his successor Jon Pertwee, who played the third Doctor until 1974.

The scenes have been colourised for the first time with visual effects, and footage not seen since the original broadcast has been recovered to create a 90-minute feature length programme, which will be aired in December on BBC Four.

The sound has also been given a brand-new score.

The original War Games episodes saw Troughton and his companions Zoe and Jamie, played by Wendy Padbury and Frazer Hines, land in a battlefield that appeared to be a military zone in the First World War.

They discovered that soldiers from different historical periods had been abducted and were being manipulated in a cruel game. As they worked to uncover the mystery behind the War Lord and his dark experiments, the Doctor encountered a key challenge.

open image in gallery Jon Pertwee joined as the third incarnation of the Doctor in 1969 ( Getty Images )

The episode will also feature the second Doctors never before seen regeneration into the third Doctor, said the BBC.

Showrunner Russell T Davies, who returned in 2023 to coincide with the 60th anniversary, said: From the day I arrived back on Doctor Who, this was the plan. To colourise old stories and bring them back to life.

And on Doctor Who Day itself, its great to announce this, celebrating the shows wonderful heritage with an all-time classic.

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The announcement comes on Doctor Who Day, which marks 61 years since the first broadcast on November 23 1963. The BBC has been celebrating the anniversary with special messages from current Doctor Ncuti Gatwa, as well as Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan, who will appear in the 2024 Christmas special.

Davies continued: It looks so vivid and new  and for fans of black and white, the story in its original form will stay on BBC iPlayer, so everyone wins.

The screenwriter recalled first watching the episode in 1969, aged six, and said he was excited that fans could enjoy it all over again.

open image in gallery Patrick Troughton as the second incarnation of the Doctor ( PA )

This marks the second time a Doctor Who story has been colourised, following the colourisation of The Daleks in 2023, which was updated to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the franchise.

Davies, who was responsible for Doctor Whos revival in 2005 but left in 2009, has been leading the show as Ncuti Gatwa took over the role of the Doctor from David Tennant.

The War Games will air on 23 December on BBC Four and BBC iPlayer.

With additional reporting from agencies.
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Matthew Byars, who appeared on Bravos hit reality series The Real Housewives of Potomac, died by suicide, it has been announced.

The talent manager died on Thursday, November 21 at the age of 37.

He was best known to viewers as an assistant to cast member Karen Huger. He was featured in RHOP season threes unforgettable Meet the Press episode, which saw Huger try to clear rumors about her finances.

In a statement to The Sun, a spokesperson for Marylands Chief Office of Medical Examiner said: He died of multiple blunt force injuries. The manner is suicide. An autopsy report has been completed.

The Real Housewives of New Jersey star Melissa Gorga honored Byars in a heartbreaking Instagram tribute on Friday (November 22).

open image in gallery Melissa Gorga said she was heartbroken by Matthew Byarss death ( Melissa Gorga/Instagram )

Why didnt you tell me Matt? Im 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 didnt tell me. I know life was tough  I know, Gorga wrote, alongside a video slide show of photos of the two of them with Wiz Khalifas See You Again featuring Charlie Puth playing in the background.

Thank you for bringing me my very 1st performance of ON DISPLAY  you and I  WE ARE LOYAL. They dont make them like us. I wish I could have saved you. Thank you for the memories. Go fly  Go make them laugh, she added.

Former RHOP star Charissa Jackson-Jordan also paid tribute to Byars, posting an old photo of them on her Instagram Story. Rest in Peace, she wrote.

Huger previously opened up about her relationship with Byars, telling The Daily Dish in 2019 that shed known him since he was a teenager.

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 folk, the 61-year-old reality star told the publication. When life was trying to him, I reached out and told him to go to school, and he did, and now we work together.

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Calling Byars a true friend, she added: Hes like family. He came to my mothers funeral. I wasnt on this show when I met Matt. I was a mother in Potomac, and he needed some advice and I gave it and he never forgot it. And what makes him a true friend is that friendship continued to grow even when I got on this platform.

Huger had brought Byars along for support during the infamous 2018 press conference scene. His presence initially confused Hugers co-stars, with Ashley Darby mistaking him for a lawyer.

Byars went on to appear in several more RHOP episodes.

If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you. In the UK, people having mental health crises can contact the Samaritans at 116 123 or jo@samaritans.org
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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.

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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.
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North Korea has allegedly imported more than a million barrels of oil from Russia this year, flouting United Nations sanctions, according to satellite analysis released by the UK-based Open Source Centre and the BBC on Friday.

The research suggests that North Korean oil tankers have visited Russias Vostochny port more than 40 times since March in defiance of international restrictions.

These findings are supported by satellite images, automatic identification system (AIS) data, and maritime patrol imagery, the Open Source Centre said.

Dozens of high-resolution satellite images, AIS data, and imagery released by maritime patrol missions tasked with monitoring North Koreas UN-sanctions-busting activities show North Korean tankers repeatedly loading at an oil terminal at Russian port Vostochny, the report stated.

Russia hasnt responded to the allegations, it added.

The report came as a South Korean official accused Russia of supplying air defence missiles to the North in exchange for allegedly sending troops to support its war in Ukraine.

The United Nations Security Council caps North Koreas annual refined petroleum imports at 500,000 barrels under sanctions imposed due to its nuclear weapons and missile programmes. However, Pyongyang has continued to exceed this quota through illicit channels, as documented by multiple international watchdogs.

Attempts to curb North Koreas activities include a joint task force launched by the US and South Korea earlier this year, aimed at preventing the nation from acquiring illicit oil. However, the effectiveness of these initiatives has been questioned, particularly as UN resolutions have caused divisions among key members.

Strategic, diplomatic and economic ties between Pyongyang and Moscow have significantly deepened in recent years. In June, Russian president Vladimir Putin visited North Korea, where he and Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un agreed to a mutual defence agreement.

Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un meeting in Pyongyang in June this year ( AP )

The deepening partnership has sparked concern in the US, Ukraine and South Korea. The three countries have all condemned the North for allegedly sending military equipment and more than 10,000 troops to aid Russias war effort.

Russias UN envoy, Vassily Nebenzia, asserted last month that such military cooperation does not violate international law. North Korea has neither confirmed nor denied these deployments.

South Koreas national security adviser Shin Won Sik said in an interview with broadcaster SBS that Russia has provided the North with anti-air missiles along with air defence equipment to strengthen Pyongyangs weak air defence system.

Pyongyang also appears to have been given military technology by Russia to support its satellite programme following the failed attempt to launch a spy satellite earlier this year, he claimed.

North Korea likely feels the need to boost its air defence capabilities after South Korean drones dropped propaganda leaflets over Pyongyang last month.

In response to the flying of drones, Pyongyang threatened military action if such incidents occurred again. South Koreas military has declined to confirm involvement in the alleged drone flights linked to the leafleting.

According to Mr Shin, Russia has provided North Korea economic aid and advanced military technologies, including support for developing a space-based surveillance system.

During a summit with Mr Kim last year, the Russian president expressed willingness to assist North Korea in building satellites.

While North Korea launched its first spy satellite in November, foreign analysts doubt its capacity to generate militarily useful imagery. A second satellite launch attempt failed in May.

Seoul and Washington have expressed concerns over potential Russian transfer of sensitive nuclear or missile technologies to Pyongyang.

Mr Shin did not confirm whether such transfers have occurred and experts suggest it is unlikely that Russia would provide such capabilities early in North Koreas reported troop deployment to Russia.

Additional reporting by agencies.
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Indian billionaire Gautam Adani has been slapped with criminal fraud charges in the US for allegedly orchestrating a $250m (198m) bribery scheme to secure lucrative renewable energy contracts in his home country.

Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn, New York, unsealed the five-count indictment on Wednesday, alleging Mr Adani and seven other associates, including nephew Sagar Adani, bribed Indian public officials, concealed the scheme, and made false statements to raise $3bn (2.4bn) from American and international investors.

Mr Adani, one of the worlds richest people, has faced fraud allegations earlier as well, but denied wrongdoing. He is regarded as a close ally of Indian prime minister Narendra Modi.

What is the indictment about?

Mr Adani, 62, has been charged with conspiracy to commit securities and wire fraud, directly advancing the bribery scheme, and obstructing investigations that began in 2022.

The contracts to sell 12 gigawatts of solar power that his conglomerate obtained between 2020 and 2024 in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh allegedly through the bribery scheme are expected to generate over $2bn (1.58bn) in profit.

On several occasions, Gautam S Adani personally met with an Indian government official to advance the bribery scheme and the defendants held in-person meetings with each other to discuss aspects of its execution. The defendants frequently discussed their efforts in furtherance of the bribery scheme, including through an electronic messaging application, the US Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of New York said in a statement.

It said the defendants meticulously documented the bribery scheme. Sagar Adani, 30, used his phone to log details of the alleged bribes. Another accused, Vineet S Jaain, 53, photographed documents summarising bribe amounts owed while Rupesh Agarwal created and shared analyses via PowerPoint and Excel outlining strategies to pay and conceal the bribes, the indictment alleged.

How has Mr Adani reacted?

The Adani Group has said the allegations are baseless and vowed to seek "all possible legal recourse". Our stakeholders, partners and employees know that we are a law-abiding organisation, fully compliant with all laws, a spokesperson said.

Lawyers representing Mr Adani have not issued a statement.

How has India reacted to the indictment?

The indictment against Mr Adani has jolted debt and equity markets in India. Adani Group bonds fell in value after the news broke, but the stocks of the conglomerates companies stabilised on Friday after having lost nearly $27bn in market value.

Indias main opposition party, the Congress, has called for an investigation into Mr Adanis ties with the prime minister. When a top ranking Indian businessman is indicted by a foreign country, it tarnishes our image at the global stage, the partys president, Mallikarjun Kharge, said. The Indian National Congress has been continuously objecting to unethical business practices, which profiteer and promote certain individuals by implementing Modi governments policy of creating monopolies in key sectors and concentrating wealth in the hands of few by giving undue favours.

Senior Congress member Jairam Ramesh said the indictment is consistent with a long record of fraud and criminality carried out with impunity with the obvious protection of the prime minister.

Adanis legacy in India

Mr Adani has risen from making a fortune in the coal business in the 1990s to becoming one of the richest and most influential people in India.

His Adani Group has expanded vastly in the past decade or so, with interests ranging from defence manufacturing to infrastructure to selling cooking oil. In recent years, the group has made big moves in the renewable energy sector, marketing this with the slogan, Growth with Goodness.

The group has a clean energy portfolio of over 20 gigawatts that includes one of the worlds largest solar power plants in the state of Tamil Nadu.

The Adani Group has said it wants to become Indias biggest player in the sector by 2030.

Mr Adani said in 2022 the company will invest $70 billion in clean energy projects by 2032.
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Kiran Rao is ready for the Oscars.

Come January, well know if Raos second directorial venture, Lost Ladies, Indias official nomination for best international film in 2025, has a chance at winning at the 97th Academy Awards.

Lost Ladies follows Phool and Jaya, two young newlywed brides, who get exchanged during a train ride to their husbands homes. Raos second film after Dhobi Ghat in 2010, Lost Ladies was screened at the 48th Toronto International Film Festival last year in September and released theatrically in March 2024.

Based on a screenplay by Biplab Goswami, the script was brought to Rao by her former husband, the actor and producer Aamir Khan.

Speaking to The Independent, Rao describes the journey the film took, from a script to become Indias official entry to the Oscars.

The original script by Biplab actually had a lot of the bones of what finally made it to the film, Rao says.

And the idea of the swap was, of course, central to how the story played out. And that in itself was very exciting to me because its a journey film, and they give you a lot of potential to develop adventures along the way, revelations that the journey can throw up, the growth in the characters as they progress through that journey.

open image in gallery Kiran Rao ( Supplied )

Rao credits Goswamis writing as a great place to start building very interesting characters, which were built further with writer Sneha Desai.

Rao decided that a comedic, more satirical treatment of the idea that two brides, dressed similarly in bridal finery with their faces covered by their veils, could end up with the wrong husbands would be more fitting.

Because the idea is absurd, and yet oddly plausible, if one looks at the cultural context.

The idea of the two brides getting swapped because of a confusion with the veil is funny, but it was also a great way to satirise and then address a lot of the themes I wanted to layer into the screenplay, she said.

We wanted to build interesting characters, the experiences of women, and really focus on the idea of womens potentials being perhaps limited by societys expectations of them.

Lost Ladies is set in 2001, a fact absolutely integral to the plot not just because it was a time before mobile phones became as common as they are now, but also because the same technology was just starting to find its way into the hands of resourceful young women.

In more ways than one, we could see what may happen when technology is put in the hands of a woman. And it was also a time when modernity and the conventional, traditional world were also changing quite drastically in India, with technology going into small towns and villages. It was a great time to set the film in as a backdrop for these characters who were going to navigate a journey with very rigid expectations that were set for them to something unexpected, Rao says.

open image in gallery A still from Lost Ladies ( Jio Studios/Aamir Khan Productions )

Rao makes a pertinent point about lost potential of women and what could happen her film was selected for the Oscars by the same country whose film certification body denied clearance to a film by a female filmmaker in 2017 for being too lady oriented.

This year, Lost Ladies went up against 29 shortlisted films which included two other frontrunners to be Indias entryPayal Kapadias All We Imagine as Light and the National Award-winner Aattam.

All three films happen to follow womens stories, and show how far the country has come.

Honestly, Im really honoured to be in the company of people like Payal, Sandhya Suri from the UK, whose film [Santosh] is Englands entry. And I think its quite an interesting and exciting moment for women, Indian women in cinema, Rao says.

You know, weve had Guneet [Monga] and Kartiki [Gonsalves] who won best documentary at the Oscars, and we had Shuchi Talatis film Girls Will Be Girls at Sundance. We had Anasuya [Sengupta] and Payal winning at Cannes, so Im hoping that its the start of a wave that continues for a very long time.

We do stand on the backs of a lot of work that was done in the last few decades by women who have been in the film industry, pushing their stories and their perspectives into what is a very strongly male-dominated industry. The fact that there are so many women from India representing storytelling is a great sign for times to come.

We see women filmmakers now in practically every industry, so we are now seeing a lot more women who are able to bring their stories into a space where perhaps the norm was that the men are the protagonists, theyre the ones saving the day. But I think this has definitely changed across the country, and while I know the change is small because in real terms, we still dont have parity with men.

But I think theres been a clear movement in the last 20 years and weve been pushing wherever we arewomen filmmakers like Reema [Kagti], Zoya [Akhtar], Alankrita [Shrivastava], Leena [Yadav], Ashwiny [Iyer Tiwari]. So its so nice that theres a space now where its not an anomaly and youre not the minority; we want to be equally represented, at least within the Indian context.

open image in gallery Sneha Desai, Kiran Rao, Tanaji Dasgupta and Meenakshi Shedde attend the Lost Ladies premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival ( Getty Images )

As more stories about women are being told, there are also more women watching these stories. While critics and the audience responded largely positively to Lost Ladies, some felt that the film lacked nuance and that its feminist themes seemed too limiting, too simplistic.

On such criticism, Rao chooses to look at the silver lining. When we made this film, we really wanted to address certain struggles that women face pretty broadly. And I think if one tries to put the film to every single test, then perhaps we didnt address caste or every issue that women go through either, she says.

But I think the idea was to also look at a spectrum of women from mothers, grandmothers, sisters-in-law, from characters like Manju Maai to the two young girls, to look at the experiences that women have in a certain sort of rural environment, but also in many ways, issues that are faced in very, very urban spaces as well. So I feel that we achieved what we set out to achieve in terms of what we wanted to talk about.

And Im glad that it opens the space for discussion about perhaps all the other things that could have been there, or maybe the things that we addressed that people have different perspectives on. So Im always open to that discussion.

open image in gallery Chhaya Kadam as Manju Maai ( Jio Studios/Aamir Khan Productions )

open image in gallery ( Jio Studios /Aamir Khan Productions )

There are high hopes pinned on Raos film. Despite the record-breaking numbers of films India releases in a year, only three Indian films have earned a nomination at the Oscars. None have won.

The last Indian film to be nominated in the best international feature category was the 2001 period film Lagaan, starring Aamir Khan as the lead.

One might safely assume that with this being Khans second time with an Oscars campaign, Lost Ladies is in safe hands.

Things are both the same and different since Lagaan had been sent as Indias entry. There are, of course, a lot more countries, and it takes a lot of money, power, perception building, holding screenings for people all over the world, to simply get people to register that this film is in the running, Rao says.

I think for us, the job is to just get people to watch the film, because thats the best way, or rather, the only way to make itif you get the voters in your category to watch the film.

On her chances at the Oscars, Rao stays optimistic. I feel like while there are much, much bigger Goliaths out there, Im hoping Lost Ladies will be a little David.

Lost Ladies is available for streaming on Netflix.
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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.
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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.

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.

open image in gallery 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.

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.

[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.

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.

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.
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Australian Disney star Andre Rerekura removed a snake from his flight  earning him a free drink as a reward.

Speaking to Australias ABC News, Rerekura shared that before his Virgin Airlines flight from Broome to Perth took off on November 21, a passenger yelled about a snake being aboard. The initial take-off time was ultimately pushed back, as the crew tried to figure out how to handle the situation.

They pretty much shut the whole plane down and everyone was going to get disembarked and sent off the plane, which we werent that keen for because everyone wanted to go home, he recalled to ABC News.

He added: It was a little bit of a weird story to think it was true, to hear that there was a snake on the plane, so I dont think a lot of people believed it."

However, Rerekura  who starred in Disney Pluss Shipwreck Hunters Australia miniseries  said that he noticed the crazy cute Stimson's python, a non-poisonous snake, next to his seat.

As soon as I saw it, I identified it pretty easily... so I knew it was safe [and] I knew it was just scared and super shy, he explained, noting that he didnt have a problem picking up the snake and taking it off the aircraft.

He shared that everyone on the flight was so grateful for his bravery that the flight crew even gave him a token of appreciation: a free drink.

Disney star Andre Rerekura reentering his flight after removing a snake from the plane ( Instagram )

I think everyone was relieved that they didnt have to get off the plane and then a lot of people were happy that the snake was safe, he explained, adding the flight was only delayed 20 minutes due to the incident. The staff were awesome, they gave me a complimentary drink, I had a soda water.

Another video of the flight posted to Instagram by 7News Australia showed the passengers applauding Rerekura, as he was seen reentering the plane after removing the snake.

There is never a dull moment in aviation, but that certainly takes the cake, a flight attendant said over the intercom. We do have a gentleman onboard who has safely taken it off the aircraft.

Stimson's pythons, which are non-venomous, have a pattern of large reddish-brown blotches along their body with a paler background, according to the Australian Museum.

This isnt the first time that a snake has made its way onto an aircraft. In January, passengers on a Thai AirAsia flight from Bangkok to Phuket were shocked when they spotted a snake in the cabins overhead compartment.

At the time, the tiny snake was seen slithering over the cabin lights on an AirAsia Airbus A320 plane. One of the cabin crew members reportedly tried to capture the snake inside an empty plastic water bottle. The snake was later swept into a garbage bag using a plastic bottle.

In May, a passenger traveling from Miami International Airport in Florida was stopped by security after he was found with a bag of snakes hidden down his trousers. A TSA spokesman told The Independent that the passenger was attempting to take an international flight but had basically admitted there were snakes in his pants when the alarms had sounded.

The man was subsequently forbidden to board his flight, the spokesperson said, adding that such incidents were not commonplace.
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If I told you I was planning to tape my mouth shut at night, youd have questions. Why? would likely be the first. Am I practising my own kidnapping? Or perhaps prepping for the next instalment of A Quiet Place? As cool as that last scenario would be, neither is true. Mouth-taping is, in fact, one of the latest trends to go viral on TikTok, whereby people literally fasten their lips with adhesive before going to sleep.

I wont lie and say my interest in the trend was driven by anything more than vanity. Just search mouth tape on TikTok, and I can guarantee youll be inundated by dozens of posts in which influencers claim that simply applying a piece of tape over your mouth at night can enhance your jawline.

I started sleeping with [mouth tape] because Im vain and theres studies behind mouth taping where if youre a mouth breather, your jaw is not as defined, a TikToker by the screen name @karenedikanxo said in a recent video. She went on to share two pictures of her side profile, one showing a rounded jawline and the other a more defined jawline. This is what I used to look like a month ago, she said, comparing the two images.

In fact, the mouth-taping trend predates TikTok by about 100 years. It was first developed in the mid-1900s by a Russian doctor, Konstantin Pavlovich Buteyko, as a way to improve a persons health by encouraging them to breathe through their nose as opposed to their mouth. But overall health isnt the reason the practice has blown up in recent months; instead, theres a misguided belief that it will create a more pronounced jaw.

Many online influencers have begun to spread the idea that breathing through your mouth can lead to a double chin and a sunken face. When you close your mouth to sleep, you do not let your double chin area hang, so it just naturally becomes more snatched, said another TikToker.

I speak to New York prosthodontist Dr Jonathan B Levine, who explains the science behind these claims. He confirms that while constant breathing through the mouth can indeed negatively impact a persons facial structure  a young person will develop a long, narrow face, he says, sort of like a wind tunnel  its highly unlikely mouth-taping in adulthood will reverse physical effects developed during childhood.

But even if mouth-taping isnt going to transform your face, there are still reasons to do it to improve your health. Dr Levine goes on to add that mouth breathing is also a major cause of sleep apnea  the prevalent sleep disorder in which a persons breathing repeatedly stops and starts throughout the night, according to the Mayo Clinic. Often caused by a blocked airway, sleep apnea is widely considered to be one of the leading causes of poor sleep quality.

When a person breathes through their mouth, they dont get into deep sleep, so they dont oxygenate the body fully, he expounds. The nose is designed for breathing, and the mouth is designed for breaking down food and swallowing, he stresses, clarifying that its only when the nose gets obstructed, such as during an illness, that the mouth should be relied upon for breathing.

open image in gallery Mouth tape has been used for decades ( Shutterstock / Sevda Ercan )

Beyond a bad nights sleep, which has been linked to other health problems like cardiovascular conditions and high blood pressure, he says that mouth breathing can bring on a host of additional issues, including gum inflammation and mouth decay.

Dr Levine encourages me to speak with James Nestor, a renowned, award-winning science journalist, whose 2020 book Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art recounts his personal journey with respiratory problems and the miraculous healing mouth-taping brought him.

I thought I was a healthy person, Nestor tells me during a phone call. I exercised all the time, you know? I slept eight hours a night, ate well, all that. But I kept getting respiratory problems, bronchitis every year, mild pneumonia. He was first introduced to mouth tape years ago as a fix for his poor breathing habits. He remembers the first couple of weeks of mouth-taping at night were awful and very uncomfortable. Now, he says he has difficulty sleeping without it.

Nestors findings and research have since popularised the trend among experts, doctors and social media users. However, he notes that one thing a lot of people who are boisterously promoting mouth tape dont mention is that around 35 to 40 per cent of the population already breathes through their nose at night. Thus, mouth-taping is unnecessary for them.

open image in gallery Mouth breathing is often a cause of snoring ( Shutterstock / Prostock-studio )

For those unsure if they breathe through their nose or mouth at night, Nestor says that if you typically wake up with a dry mouth, bad breath, tend to snore and get a lot of cavities, then those are likely signs you are a dreaded mouth breather. Thats when he suggests trying an experiment by placing a small piece of tape on your lips. Its meant to just go on, and it comes right off, he clarifies. So whenever you see crap with people wearing duct tape and covering their entire mouth and all that, its just garbage. Theyre showing off.

The tape doesnt need to be fancy, bejewelled or even that big  Nestor opts for Micropore tape, the white surgical tape often used by doctors to secure bandages. It doesnt even need to cover your entire lips as its really just there as a subconscious reminder to breathe through your nose.

He emphasises, however, that if youre someone with severe sleep apnea, its important to speak with your doctor before trying out mouth tape. And for those who are still worried about sleeping with their lips fixed shut, Nestor suggests trying it out in the daytime. Wear it 10 minutes while answering emails, wear it for 20 minutes while doing dishes, wear it for 30 minutes while walking around, he shares, until youre comfortable wearing it in bed.

So, while mouth-taping wont magically tighten your jawline as TikTok may have you believe, it might just improve your sleep and, more importantly, your overall health. Unfortunately, Im someone whos never struggled with a good nights rest, so it looks like its back to good old-fashioned face contouring for me.
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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.
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Mary Steenburgen left her mark on the coveted Oscars stage after picking up the award for Best Supporting Actress in 1981 for her role in Jonathan Demmes comedy-drama, Melvin and Howard.

In conversation with her husband Ted Danson on his Where Everyone Knows Your Name podcast, Steenburgen explained that shed just given birth to her daughter Lilly and was still breastfeeding then.

I was so blessed I won. At the end of the Oscars, everybody that had won was supposed to come out on stage, she remembered on the November 11 episode. And so, Bo Goldman, who wrote that beautiful script that we were talking about  we came out together, and I had just had Lilly.

Suddenly, Lilly needed to be fed, the Book Club lead continued. And I could feel the whole brunt of myself. You know, my milk came in. How can I say it other than that?

And it was all taking way longer than I thought it was going to, Steenburgen said of having to be on stage with the winners. I was freaking out.

open image in gallery Mary Steenburgen remembers leaving a puddle of breast milk on stage at the 1981 Oscars ( Getty Images for AFI )

Suddenly, it wasnt emotion pouring out of her but breast milk. I said, Bo, oh my God. Look. There was a little bit of... a puddle.

Taken aback, Goldman asked Steenburgen if shed just peed. He thought, Jesus. Why did she wet her pants? He goes, Why are you so scared? You already won.I said, Im not scared. I need to go feed my daughter, Steenburgen remembered.

open image in gallery The actor speaks to Ted Danson on his podcast about her career ( Where Everybody Knows Your Name )

According to the Back to the Future Part III actor, theres no evidence of her breast milk spill on the stage in the photo she and the other 1981 Oscar winners took together.

Steenburgen shares her now 43-year-old daughter Lily with her ex-husband Malcolm McDowell. Before the pair split in 1990, they also welcomed their son Charlie, whos now 41. Danson and Steenburgen have been married since 1995.

The Academy Award winner has appeared in several notable comedies from 1998s Parenthood to 2008s Step Brothers.

While speaking with her husband on the recent podcast recording, Steenburgen credited Jack Nicholson for taking a chance on her when he cast her as the co-lead in Goin South, the 1978 Western comedy.

He had to fight for me because Paramount said, Yeah, thats the best screen test, but youve got to pick your second choice because shes never done anything, she has a weird last name, you pick number two, all of whom are huge stars, Steenburgen told Danson.

And he fought for me. He said, Then we dont do the movie. And the movie was shut down for a few days until they relented. He was my mentor and I owe every single thing to him, she said.
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Meghan Markle is embracing the magic of the holidays, thanks to her children with Prince Harry.

In an interview with Marie Claire, the 43-year-old Duchess of Sussex reflected on how her children  son Archie, five, and daughter Lilibet, three  are reaching the age when the festive season feels even more special.

I love the holidays, Meghan shared enthusiastically. Archie and Lilibet are now three and five, so every year it gets better.

She explained how the experience of parenting during the Christmas season has evolved over the years, saying: At first, I think as a mom with children, youre just enjoying having them there, but theyre not understanding everything thats happening yet. But now were at the age where I just cant wait to see it through their lens every year.

When it comes to Thanksgiving, the Sussexes prefer a more relaxed approach.

Were always pretty low-key, Meghan said, as she mentioned how meaningful it is to stay close to family. Being close to my mom is great, she noted, referring to her mother Doria Ragland, who also resides in California.

Meghan Markle says the holidays are only getting better as her children get older ( Getty Images )

Meghan went on to explain how she cherishes the spirit of Thanksgiving, as wll as the traditions that make the holiday so special for her family and friends. While reflecting on hosting the holiday in previous years, she shared: I was thinking about, in the past few years of having Thanksgiving here, like many of us, I think you always make sure theres room at the table for your friends who dont have family, which is really key.

The American Riviera Orchard founder even revealed her most memorable guest: none other than feminist icon Gloria Steinem, who came for Thanksgiving last year.

When it comes to how the Sussexes celebrate major events, Meghan told Marie Claire they prioritize keeping things fun and meaningful.

Were always making sure we have something fun to do, she said. Like any other family, you spend time having a great meal and then what do you do? Play games, all the same stuff, someone brings a guitar  fun.

For Meghan, every holiday with Archie and Lilibet is a chance to create memories steeped in tradition. Every single holiday is a new adventure, she said, emphasizing how important it is for her children to experience the magic of cherished customs.

Whether its bonding over great recipes that they end up connecting to a formative memory, or embracing the wonder of Christmas with traditions like leaving carrots for the reindeer, the duchess makes sure each celebration is one to remember.
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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.
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American photographer and activist Nan Goldin has used a speech at the opening of her exhibition in Germany to condemn Israel's war in Gaza.

Goldin, 71, said Friday she wanted to use her retrospective show at the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin as a platform to amplify my position of moral outrage" at what she described as "genocide in Gaza and Lebanon.

My grandparents escaped pogroms in Russia. I was brought up knowing about the Nazi Holocaust. What I see in Gaza reminds me of the pogroms that my grandparents escaped, Goldin said.

Goldin, who is of Jewish origin, was born in Washington D.C. and is a leading artist and activist whose life and work was documented in the award-winning 2022 film All the Beauty and the Bloodshed."

She spoke of the displacement and destruction in Gaza, and told a cheering audience that criticism of Israel should not be conflated with antisemitism.

Goldin also criticized Germany and alleged that Islamophobia was being ignored in the country. Germany is home of the largest Palestinian diaspora in Europe. Yet protests are met with police dogs and deportation and stigmatization, she said.

Goldin walked off the stage to loud chants of free, free Palestine," which drowned out a subsequent speech by the director of the gallery, Klaus Biesenbach.

Hermann Parzinger, the president of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, to which the Neue Nationalgalerie belongs, sharply condemned Goldins talk and the protesters' disruption of Biesenbach's speech.

This does not correspond to our understanding of freedom of expression, he said.

Biesenbach noted that he disagreed with Goldin but affirmed her right to freely express herself.

In a statement released by Biesenbach after the show's opening, cited by German news agency dpa, he said the gallery distanced itself from the protesters' stance and "clarifies that it stands for freedom of expression and respectful dialogue and interaction with each other.

Neue Nationalgaleries lifetime retrospective of Goldin, titled This Will Not End Well, showcases a comprehensive overview of Goldins work, including slideshows and films backed up by music.

The Health Ministry in Gaza said this week that the death toll in the Gaza Strip from the 13-month-old war between Israel and Hamas has surpassed 44,000, with more than half of the fatalities women and children. The Gaza Health Ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence.

Around 90% of Gaza's population of 2.3 million people have been displaced.

The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 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.
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A suburban Detroit police officer whose patrol car smashed into another vehicle, killing two men, was charged Friday with manslaughter.

Charges against Warren Officer James Burke were filed nearly two months after the 5 a.m. crash.

Our thoughts remain with those whose lives were impacted by this tragic crash, Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said. We hope the conclusion of this investigation begins to bring a sense of closure and healing as they continue to navigate this difficult time.

Burke, 28, was driving southbound at a high rate of speed when his police car struck a Dodge Durango that was turning left at an intersection on Sept. 30, the sheriff's office said.

Cedric Hayden Jr., 34, and longtime pal DeJuan Pettis, 33, were killed. Burke and another officer were injured.

Burke was charged with manslaughter and two misdemeanors. Defense attorney Marc Curtis said Burke is a highly decorated, highly trained officer who was working to protect the public when the crash happened.

This is an unfortunate incident, Curtis told The Associated Press. It's a result of actions on both sides. As the facts and circumstances come out around this case, it will help demonstrate why Officer Burke was doing what he did.

Curtis, who often represents police officers, didn't elaborate.

Burke appeared in 37th District Court and was released without having to post bond.
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An endangered Asian elephant calf was born last week at the Houston Zoo.

The Texas zoo said 34-year-old Asian elephant Shanti gave birth to 314-pound Kirby on November 15 at 3 p.m. CST. Shanti had been in labor for 19 hours and gave birth in the McNair Asian Elephant Habitat cow barn under the supervision of keepers and veterinary staff members.

Remarkably, just six minutes after her birth, Kirby was standing. After less than a half hour, she started to walk and within an hour and a half of her birth, she was nursing from Shanti.

Shanti and Kirby underwent post-natal exams and will spend several days bonding behind the scenes before they are ready to make their public debut, the zoo said.

During the bonding period, the zoos elephant team will watch Kirbys weight and see how she communicates with Shanti.

open image in gallery Kirby the Asian elephant is a little wobbly on her feet. The 314-pound calf was standing just six minutes after her birth ( Houston Zoo )

Shanti had been pregnant for 21 months. Pachyderms, like elephants, rhinoceroses, and hippopotamuses, have one of the longest pregnancies of any land mammal.

Earlier this year, the zoo welcomed Chuck: a 9,500-pound Asian elephant from the Denver Zoo.

Asian elephants  known as Elephas maximus, which translates from Latin as greatest elephant  are an endangered species, according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

They typically live into their fifties, according to the Smithsonians National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, and weigh between 6,000 and 12,000 pounds. The largest members of the herbivorous species are 12 feet tall.

Populations have declined by at least 50 percent in the last three generations to just 15 percent of its historic range.

open image in gallery Kirby the Asian elephant stands next to her mother Shanti. Shanti spent 19 hours in labor ( Houston Zoo )

Sadly, while an estimated 100,000 Asian elephants existed at the beginning of the 20th century, there are fewer than 50,000 Asian elephants left today.

While they once roamed freely across Asia, the forest animals populations have been fragmented. More than half of wild Asian elephants are found in India. Numbers have dwindled in other areas, like Vietnam, Cambodia, and China, according to the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

The largest living land animal in Asia, the elephants are also threatened by poaching, animal trafficking, deadly endotheliotropic herpesvirus, and human-elephant conflict. The World Wildlife Fund notes that they are even more endangered than their African cousins.

Thats because the biggest threat to their survival isnt poaching but habitat loss. As urbanization, industrial development, and agricultural expansion increase in countries like India and Indonesia, Asian elephants habitats are shrinking rapidly, leading to increasingly isolated populations and a rising number of deadly human-elephant conflicts, it said.
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One man has been killed and another seriously injured after a shooting in Birmingham.

Officers were called to Rotton Park Road, near the junction with City Road in Edgbaston, just before 11pm on Friday, West Midlands Police said.

One man in his thirties was found injured at a bus stop, and was taken to hospital where he remains in a critical condition.

The second man, in his twenties, was found in a car but was pronounced dead at the scene. His family have been informed and are being supported by officers.

Firearms officers arrested a man in his thirties on suspicion of murder on nearby Waterloo Road just before 12.30am. He remains in custody today.

Detective Inspector Nick Barnes, from West Midlands Polices Homicide team, said: This is a tragic incident, and we have worked through the night to understand exactly what happened.

Weve already made good progress and arrested a suspect, but I still need to hear from anyone who was in the area that weve not already spoken to.

This is a tragic incident, and we have worked through the night to understand exactly what happened. Detective Inspector Nick Barnes

This happened near the busy junction with City Road and it may be that youve got dashcam footage or mobile phone footage from the area just before 11pm.

We really need to hear from you so that we can build as clear a picture as possible of what happened.

Police asked anyone who has information to get in touch via 101 or Live Chat, quoting log 5228 of 22 November or anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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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.
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The family of a young British man facing a 20-year jail sentence in Dubai over a holiday romance have warned that his mental health is declining and they are all living in a nightmare.

Marcus Fakana, an 18-year-old from Tottenham in north London, was on holiday with his parents when he met a 17-year-old girl who has since turned 18.

Campaign group Detained in Dubai said that after having sex, the teenagers, who were staying at the same hotel, discussed carrying on with their blossoming teenage romance when they came back to London.

The parents of the girl, who was a minor under United Arab Emirates (UAE) law, looked through her phone and reported Mr Fakana to the police after they arrived home from their trip, the organisation said.

Mr Fakanas family warned that his mental health is beginning to worsen as they explained he is very scared. Dubais office of public prosecutions told the BBC his trial will take place on 9 December.

The family have set up a GoFundMe to raise money for Mr Fakanas legal costs, explaining they went to the UAE to celebrate his fathers birthday.

Dubai has only recently made sex out of marriage legal for tourists ( Reuters )

What was meant to be a happy time has turned into a nightmare for him, our family, and our friends, they wrote on the fundraising page. This has happened as a result of someone trying to misuse UAE law against him. He is being charged with a crime that could lead to imprisonment for up to 20 years.

The family added: He is only 18 years old, very scared, and his mental health is starting to decline. Weve done all we can to fight for his freedom, but now we urgently need to raise at least 20,000 to work on getting him back home.

Weve already spent as much as we can on legal help and his housing needs while he stays to fight his case. Were trying our best, but we are struggling with the funds to continue this fight.

The family have warned that Dubais legal system is very different to the UK and very expensive which makes this whole ordeal even more challenging.

The funds raised will cover his legal fees, accommodation in the UAE while the case goes on and travel costs to bring him back safely to the UK, they added.

Mr Fakana claims he was unaware the girl, who is also from Lonon was months younger than him when they first met.

The Dubai government told the BBC: Under UAE law, the girl is legally classified as a minor, and in accordance with procedures recognised internationally, her mother, being the legal guardian, filed the complaint. Dubais legal system is committed to protecting the rights of all individuals and ensuring impartial judicial proceedings.

Dubai has only recently made sex out of marriage legal for tourists but the country still has a strict Islamic legal system in place. In the UK, the pairs relationship would be legal.

Mr Fakana told Detained in Dubai: We had a wonderful time together. We really liked each other but she was secretive with her family because they were strict. My parents knew about our relationship but she couldnt tell hers. She had to meet me without telling them it was to see a boy.

When she left, I couldnt wait to see her again when I got home. Then suddenly, police knocked on our hotel door. They said they were taking me in for questioning but wouldnt tell me why. I couldnt imagine what for. I was frightened and my parents were terrified.

A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office previously said they are supporting a British man in the UAE and are in contact with his family.

The Independent has contacted Dubais ministry of justice for comment.
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Ukraine is believed to have used British-made Storm Shdaow long-range missiles inside Russia for the first time.

It comes days after Joe Biden gave the green light for Ukraine to use US-made long-range missiles to target Vlasimir Putins forces deep inside Russia, the first such missiles were used on Tuesday. That opened the door for Britain to do the same, with the UK missiles relying on US targeting programmes.

In a major policy shift just weeks before his tenure in office ends, the US president signed off on Ukraines use of ATACMS missiles outside its own borders. This comes after months of refusing Kyivs requests, which it said was crucial for its defences against Russias invasion. Photographs circulating on Ukrainian and Russian social media suggest the UK missiles were inside the Kursk region near Russias border, where Russian troops have been massing to try and reclaim territory Kyivs forces took in a daring assault in the summer.

Storm Shadow is an Anglo-French cruise missile with a maximum range of around 155 miles (250km). The French call it Scalp. After launch, the weapon, equipped with its navigation system, descends to a low altitude to avoid detection before locking on to 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. Powered by a turbo-jet engine, the 1,300kg Storm Shadow travels at speeds of more than 600mph, is just over five metres long and has a wingspan of three metres.

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. Ukraine has deployed Storm Shadow missiles on several occasions during the war. In June last year, the then-defence secretary Ben Wallace told parliament that the missiles were already having a significant impact on the battlefield.

open image in gallery A graphic showing Storm Shadow missile information ( PA Graphics )

Storm Shadow missiles have also been used by British and French air forces in the Gulf, Iraq and Libya.

Condemning president Mr Bidens decision, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated earlier warnings from Russian president Vladimir Putin saying that any strikes on Russian soil using US weapons would be interpreted as direct Nato involvement.

According to Russias Tass news agency, he said: If such a decision has indeed been formulated and communicated to the Kyiv regime, then, of course, this is a qualitatively new round of escalation of tensions and a qualitatively new situation in terms of the involvement of the United States in this conflict.

Until now, long-range missiles have been limited to Russian targets operating inside Ukraine, as well as in occupied Crimea. The missiles were likely used in the largest Ukrainian attack on the headquarters of Russia s Black Sea fleet in Sevastopol in Crimea last year.

The US, which has provided Ukraine with the longest-range version of the ATACMS, a ballistic missile capable of travelling 190 miles, has been cautious to fire long-range missiles into Russia for fear of a reaction from Moscow that would intensify the conflict. They are believed to be especially apprehensive that Russia may respond by deploying nuclear weapons.

Mr Biden changed his mind, US officials told The New York Times, after North Korea sent troops to support Mr Putins invasion of Ukraine. Speaking on Monday, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un did not reference Mr Bidens decisions but denounced Western involvement in Ukraine and warned of the potential for World War III.

Vladimir Dzhabarov, first deputy head of the Russian upper houses international affairs committee, also said Washingtons decision could lead to world war.

Washingtons ATACMS decision is framed as being restricted to defending Ukrainian forces inside the Kursk region of Russia. In a surprise invasion in August, Ukraine took control of several communities in the Kursk border region, which it is currently defending against Russian counterattacks.

open image in gallery Storm Shadow cruise missile is on display during the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, north of Paris, France ( AP )

The shift in the final months of the Biden administration comes as Kyiv and Western allies prepare for a possible shift in US position under Donald Trump, who has said that he could terminate the war in a day.

The US has been the largest supplier of armaments to Ukraine. According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, a German research agency, it delivered or committed to deploy $55.5 billion (41.5 billion) in weaponry and equipment between the start of the war and the end of June 2024. Germany is Ukraine's second-largest military aid contributor behind the United States.

The decision will also put pressure on Germany to relent from its resistance to providing Ukraine with its long-range Taurus missiles, which Mr Zelensky has requested on numerous occasions. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has opposed such a move amid fears it could provoke a response from Russia.

A spokesman for the German government said on Monday that Germany is continuing to hold to its decision to not send long-range missiles to Ukraine. The spokeswoman said, "The chancellor's decision is unchanged," during a routine news conference in Berlin.

France, which has given Ukraine its version of the Storm Shadow, indicated on Monday that it was open to letting Kyiv hit military targets within Russia.

"We openly said this was an option that we would consider if it was to allow to strike a target from where Russia is currently aggressing Ukrainian territory. So nothing new on the other side," foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot told journalists ahead of an EU ministers' meeting in Brussels.

Kyiv has long lobbied for permission to hit deep inside Russian soil via western long-range missiles, given their ability to travel 150 miles and beyond. By contrast, the US-supplied Himars missiles currently used by Ukraine only have a range of around 50 miles.
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Urgent action has been taken to secure prisons in England and Wales after it emerged that blueprints of jails had been leaked online.

The Ministry of Justice said immediate steps had been put in place in the wake of the major security breach.

There are fears organised crime groups could use the information to plan escapes or smuggle drugs or weapons to prisoners.

Last year former soldier Daniel Khalife escaped from HMP Wandsworth and spent four days on the run.

The 23-year-old slipped out of the jail by clinging to the bottom of a food catering truck using a sling made from kitchen trousers, triggering a major manhunt which saw him arrested on a canal towpath next to the Thames.

There are fears maps could be used to plan escapes ( iStock/Getty )

The blueprints were said to include the locations of cameras and sensors, a key security precaution in jails.

Officials are now working to identify the source of the leak.

Ian Acheson, a former prison governor, told The Times that organised crime groups could use copies of the layouts along with other public information.

He said: If plans of high-security prisons have been leaked, coordinating that with open source material or Google maps could aid an escape after an attack on the exterior of the prison. Much more plausible is using additional data to coordinate 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.

He added: The dark web is a marketplace for criminals and terrorists. Detailed maps of our most secure institutions which hold enormous national security and organised crime risk should never end up as commodities for sale online.

He called the breach a very serious breach of IT security and called for a wide-ranging and independent investigation into how the plans were leaked.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: We are not going to comment on the specific detail of security matters of this kind, but we are aware of a breach of data to the prison estate and, like with all potential breaches, have taken immediate action to ensure prisons remain secure.

Last month, police warned that gangs were recruiting skilled drone pilots to fly drugs to prisoners cell windows.

The machines were capable of flying huge payloads of up to 7kg, in highly accurate deliveries, they said.
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Diane Abbott has not spoken to Sir Keir Starmer properly in four years since the pair served in Jeremy Corbyns shadow cabinet, she has revealed.

The 71-year-old, who was elected as the first Black woman MP in 1987, says there is a clear divide in the Labour Party and accuses the prime minister of trying to force the left out.

In a wide-ranging interview with The Independent, Abbott, who is now the mother of the House as the longest continuously serving female MP, insists she does not regret standing up to Sir Keir and says she has been thanked by the more radical members of her party for her stance.

Ive not spoken to Keir Starmer in a very long time.

In fact, she says, the last time they had a proper conversation might have been when Jeremy was leader and we were both in the shadow cabinet.

The pairs relationship came under scrutiny during the election campaign earlier this year, following speculation Abbott may not be allowed to stand as a Labour candidate.

open image in gallery Abbott alongside Keir Starmer and fellow shadow cabinet members in 2019 ( Getty )

She had the whip suspended in 2023 after she wrote a letter to The Observer which stated that Jewish, Irish and Traveller people experience prejudice, but not racism in the same way as Black people, sparking an investigation which saw her sit as an independent MP.

The suggestion she might be barred from standing as the Labour candidate for Hackney resulted in something of a stand-off between Abbott and Labours leadership; eventually, she stood as the partys candidate in the election and won by a large majority.

While shes happy to be back in the party, Abbott claims the whole episode is an example of Sir Keir and the leaderships attempts to oust the partys left wing.

Starmer has been trying to force the left out of the party, she said: Thats partly why the membership has dropped. I think its halved since he became leader; (...) under Jeremy, I think we had record numbers.

Starmer and the people around him went to a lot of trouble to stop left-wingers standing as Labour candidates for constituencies. In my case, it wasnt that they didnt like the way I did my hair! It was because I was one of the last reasonably prominent left-wingers left.

I have to say, about a dozen or so of my colleagues on the left were very grateful that I stood up to Starmer because they were firmly of the belief that, had he succeeded in pushing me out of the party, hed have turned on the remaining left MPs, and its because I stood up to him that they were saved. For now.

In her memoir, entitled A Woman Like Me, Ms Abbott writes that despite the ups and downs of my career, I will always belong to the Labour Party at heart, though she says the party has moved away from its founding purpose.

open image in gallery Abbott at the 1987 Labour Party conference in Brighton with (from left) Bernie Grant, Paul Boateng, Neil Kinnock and Keith Vaz ( Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty )

As the first Black woman elected to parliament, Abbott has held a special significance for Black voters, despite facing some criticism for remaining loyal to the party despite its failures on race.

She says shes often been the only Black girl and woman in the places shes navigated from grammar school to the Home Office, to the TV station she worked at and the Labour Party.

Ive always worked in all-white environments, and that is very challenging. But you go into a kind of circular thing, right? Youve got an institution, and theyve got no Black people working there and, if theyre challenged on it, they say, Oh... no one applies.

Thats what they want to be able to say, despite being in the middle of a city like London with a lot of Black people they could recruit. If you dont apply  as a Black person  it becomes a self-reinforcing thing.

Im conscious that its very stressful, difficult and corrosive being the only Black person in an organisation and you dont necessarily get support (...) though you should do in 2024.

Ms Abbott, who has faced relentless racist and misogynistic abuse during her career, highlights how she has always made a point of employing Black staff since becoming an MP, despite an assumption that they wouldnt be suitable as parliamentary assistants or policy advisors.

One unlikely believer in this assumption was the late Labour MP for Tottenham, Bernie Grant. Known for his staunch pro-Black politics, Ms Abbotts revelation that her colleague warned her against hiring Black staff comes as quite the bombshell.

I was taken aback, and I ignored it, she said. Ive always had, in 37 years, Ive always had my office led by a Black woman.

Thats important to me. I think its helped me to be more resilient and also, if youre just led by another Black woman, there are things that shell understand without being told.

Given her friendship with Mr Grant, did Ms Abbott feel conflicted about disclosing information about him in her memoirs that may cast him in a bad light?

I miss him, Ms Abbott said. One thing about Bernie, he was very strong and I think that story illustrated something important to say. I mean, I could quote from all sorts of colleagues in parliament things that might not reflect well on them, and I didnt.

But with Bernie, I was saying that even somebody with his commitment to Black politics wasnt entirely immune from some stereotypes.

open image in gallery Speaking for first time as mother of the House in July 2024 ( Screenshot )

Racist comments allegedly made by Conservative donor Frank Hester came to light earlier this year.

Mr Hester was reported to have said Ms Abbott made him want to hate all Black women and that she should be shot.

The remarks brought widespread condemnation, including from Sir Keir, who Ms Abbott says never reached out to me personally and did treat me as a non-person.

Around this time, a campaign was launched in Jamaica for Mr Hester to be stripped of his companys contract with the nations Ministry of Health.

This never came to fruition, while his supporters referenced his business links with Jamaica as proof that he wasnt a racist person.

In her memoirs, Ms Abbott is clearly buoyed by the support shown to her throughout the Hester scandal.

Being of Jamaican heritage, Ms Abbott said that culturally, Jamaica is very much a part of me and it features prominently in her memoirs.

When speaking about the land of her parents birth and how it has helped to mould her, the senior politician beamed with pride.

We ate Jamaican food, spent a lot of time socially around other Jamaicans and, like a lot of Caribbean migrants of that generation, my parents always talked about home, Ms Abbott said.

So partly, I was brought up in a very Jamaican household, and then I went back to Jamaica with my mother in my early twenties, and really enjoyed absorbing myself in the culture. So, it's always somewhere I go back to, to not just enjoy the sunshine but to restore myself.

Reflecting on a four-decade career in politics and what may lie around the corner Ms Abbott said she may write another book entitled Mother of The House.

My friends are saying that I should, so perhaps that will be my next project, she smiled.
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A staunch ally of Donald Trump has warned Sir Keir Starmer that the UK will face severe economic consequences if it helps to arrest Benjamin Netanyahu.

Senator Lindsey Graham said the US should crush the economies of all those who comply with the warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The prime minister of Israel faces arrest if he enters Britain, Downing Street has said. On Friday No 10 refused to explicitly comment on the case, saying it was a hypothetical situation, but added that the UK would follow its legal obligations.

The ICC has also issued an arrest warrant for Yoav Gallant, Israels former defence minister, over alleged war crimes in Gaza.

But the move has provoked fury among Republicans in the US.

In response, Mr Graham tweeted: Any nation or organization 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.

open image in gallery Senator Lindsey Graham threatens allies who assist the ICC ( Getty )

The South Carolina senator later told Fox News: If you are going to help the ICC as a nation and force the arrest warrant against Bibi and GallantI will put sanctions on you as a nation.

Youre gonna have to pick the rogue ICC versus America. Im working with [another US senator] Tom Cotton to have legislation passed as soon as we can to sanction any country that aids and abets the arrest of any politician in Israel. What theyre doing in Israel is trying to prevent a second Holocaust. So, to any ally, Canada, Britain, Germany, France, if you try to help the ICC, were gonna sanction you.

Asked what the penalty should be, he added: We should crush your economy because were nextWhy cant they go after Trump or any other American president?

In March 2023, Mr Lindsey supported the ICC arrest warrant against Vladimir Putin, praising the organisation. He said: The decision by the ICC to issue an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin is a giant step in the right direction for the international community. It is more than justified by the evidence. I hope the international community will continue to support the ICC in their endeavors to hold Putin accountable for the brutal invasion of Ukraine.

open image in gallery The aftermath of an Israeli airstrike in Beit Lahya, northern Gaza, last week ( AFP )

No 10 backed the ICC on Thursday after it issued the arrest warrants, saying the government respected the independence of the court.

But shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel described the move as concerning and provocative and called on the government to condemn them.

Before Julys general election, Conservative ministers had been considering a legal challenge to the issuing of arrest warrants, but the new Labour administration dropped the idea saying that it was a matter for the court.

The ICC said there are reasonable grounds to believe that both 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.

Neither Israel nor the USA are members of the ICC.
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One of its own peers has hit out at Labour warning it is almost becoming the cruel party as anger over the tractor tax mounts.

The chancellor Rachel Reeves is facing a revolt in rural England over her decision to extend inheritance tax to family farms.

Thousands of farmers brought Westminster to a standstill on Tuesday when they descended on the capital to voice their opposition to the changes.

Baroness Mallalieu, who is president of the Countryside Alliance and joined farmers on the march, has now warned her government that it is losing the trust of rural communities.

And, in an echo of a phrase Theresa May once infamously used to describe the Tories (the nasty party), Lady Mallalieu said: We are almost becoming the cruel party.

Farmers protest in central London ( PA )

The president of the Countryside Alliance said: It has taken the Labour Party 14 years to win back the trust of the countryside 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.

Labour under Sir Tony Blair brought in the fox hunting ban, which the Countryside Alliance opposed.

The changes mean that farms valued at 1m or more would be liable for 20 per cent inheritance tax.

The Treasury says that, with tax allowances, in reality only farms worth 3m would be affected, just 28 per cent of family farms. But official Defra figures appear to suggest as many as 66 per cent could be hit.

Lady Mallalieu said the tax changes are not just threatening farmers in their pockets. They are threatening their family and their home.

She added: 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 to save your family from losing their home.

On Friday, Sir Keir Starmer insisted his government supported farmers but warned the money is needed to fund public services.

The prime minister told BBC Bristol: Were for working people who need to be better off, whove really struggled over recent years.

Were for everybody who wants to and needs to rely on the NHS, which is on its knees, and weve got to pick it up and we will and get those waiting lists down.

Meanwhile, shadow farming secretary Victoria Atkins said that while the wealthiest landowners would avoid the tax, family farms would have the rug ripped out from under them.

She said: The wealthiest landowners will be able to find expensive lawyers to work their way around through trusts.

What is so worrying about this is that this literally rips the rug out from under the feet of farmers, who for generations have done nothing more than do the right thing, farm their land, bring their children up to understand how to run a farm, how to work with livestock, how to run an arable farm.
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Keir Starmer has faced accusations his government has let off City lawyers and private equity firms while stripping cash from pensioners in the Budget.

Labour peer Lord Sikka even suggested enough money could be raised to cancel the partys highly controversial winter fuel payment cut and scrap the much-criticised two-child benefit cap.

The row centres on the Rachel Reeves decision to hike employers national insurance contributions last month.

The move has led to howls of protest from businesses, charities and even GPs, who stand to be impacted.

But members of limited liability partnerships (LLPs) escaped the tax raid.

open image in gallery LLPs escaped Rachel Reeves tax hikes (Dominic Lipinski/PA) ( PA Archive )

Many law, accountancy, architect and private equity firms structure themselves as LLPs, and their members are treated as self-employed for national insurance purposes, meaning they pay the lower Class 4 rate  despite often earning large salaries.

It was thought the government was going to look at closing this loophole in Octobers Budget, although such measures were not announced by the chancellor.

Lord Sikka, a former accountancy professor, said that the government had let off accountancy, architects (and) private equity firms.

He also suggested that the Treasury could have taken in 4bn from just four of the largest law firms, enough to cancel (the) two-child benefit cap (and the ) winter fuel payment cut.

Lord Sikka told The Independent there seemed to be no political will to change the situation.

Tax expert Dan Neidle called two years ago for the system to be changed and warned: "The UK taxes high-earning lawyers less than bankers. Thats irrational  and illustrates a wider problem with the tax system. Its hard to change, but wed all benefit if we taxed all income in the same way."

open image in gallery Ministers have defended plans to strip millions of pensioners of their winter fuel payments (Peter Byrne/PA) ( PA Wire )

Millions of pensioners are to be stripped of help to pay their winter fuel bills after Labour blamed the last Conservative government for leaving a 22bn black hole in the public finances.

Ministers have pledged to protect less well-off pensioners and urged them to apply for pension credit, under which they would still be eligible for the 200-300 payout this winter.

But they have faced accusations they risk forcing older people to choose between heating and eating.

Ministers said last month that they planned to write to 120,000 of the most vulnerable pensioners who they feared would miss out on the payments after the changes  but many face delays in having their applications for pension credits processed.

Labour faced its first backbench revolt over the two child cap, which affects 1.6 million children, earlier this year.

Charities, opposition parties and some Labour MPs all urged Sir Keir to abolish the cap, brought in as an austerity measure under the Conservative coalition government.

Introduced by the then-chancellor George Osborne in 2015, the policy limits child welfare payments to the first two children in most families.

The charity Action for Children has called the measure cruel and said it creates and entrenches child poverty.

The Treasury has been approached for comment.
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A massive, 836lb emerald thought to be worth as much as $1bn, and rumored to be cursed, will return to its home soil of Brazil, a US court ruled this week.

Were very happy with the decision, federal prosecutor Boni de Moraes Soares told The Washington Post of the decision. Were closer than ever to bringing the Bahia emerald back to the Brazilian people.

Kit Morrison, an Idaho trader whos part of a group that claimed ownership over the gem, told the paper he accepted the ruling.

I dont have any feeling of defeat or loss, he said. When you are an investor and entrepreneur, you do everything you can to protect, preserve and improve the investment and opportunity. However, you cannot control the things that are out of your control.

The Bahia Emerald, which was mined in Brazil in 2001 and smuggled to the US, has long been the subject of competing claims of ownership.

The ruling likely brings an end to its chaotic journey through the Americas.

open image in gallery Brazil argued that the emerald had been illegally mined and taken out of country ( AP )

The gem was carried out of the Brazilian rainforest by a team of mules, one of which was attacked by a panther. In the US, Hurricane Katrina hit one warehouse where it was stored, and the gem was stolen from another facility in Los Angeles. It also almost became a part of a transaction involving fraudster Bernie Madoff.

The emerald was eventually seized in Las Vegas and came to the attention of the Brazilian government when a dispute between gem dealers landed in a Los Angeles court. Under the countrys constitution, all mining assets in the country belong to Brazil, and a permit would be required to remove the emerald.

In 2015, a California court declared Morrison and his consortium had the rightful and good faith ownership of the emerald. However, that same year, the US Department of Justice initiated a federal court action to seize the rock, pending the completion of a case in Brazil alleging it was illegally mined.

In the intervening years, the emerald was held for safekeeping with the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department.

By 2021, the Brazilian court ordered the forfeiture of the emerald. The following year, the Justice Department filed a motion in court seeking to return the emerald to Brazil under a mutual legal assistance treaty.
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A nearly two-year-long search for three children who had disappeared in Utah came to a close after they were found safe near the Utah-Arizona border, authorities say.

The three kids, who were not named, went missing in October 2022. By late August 2024, police in Fredonia, Arizona received information suggesting the missing minors were in the 1,300-person town just a few miles from the Utah-Arizona border.

Police had suspected that their father orchestrated the disappearance and subsequent hiding of the children with the help of family members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints faith, authorities said in a Wednesday release.

Fredonia Police, in concert with other local authorities, retrieved the children and returned them to the care of their mother.

open image in gallery The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Fredonia, Arizona. Police suspect the 2022 disappearance of three children was orchestrated by their father and FLDS church ( Google. Maps )

Their aunt and grandmother, who appeared to be overseeing the children, were arrested, authorities said. Police did not identify any of the family members.

Due to the sensitive nature of this ongoing investigation involving minor children, certain information is, and will continue to be, withheld to protect the innocent, police said.

The children are safe with their mother as the investigation continues, authorities added.

The entire operation was very short, very quick, Fredonia police officer Andrew Smith told Fox13. So, thats just how that works. Its not necessarily the FLDS group, but anybody gets wind that theres more than just the normal force in town, especially in a small town like this, things start to move.

It feels good to be able to actually get them and get them back to the parent that they belong to, he continued. Thats why were out here.
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Six months before the sensational case of JonBenet Ramseys murder hit the news  along with the near ubiquitous presence of the tiny blonds beauty pageant glamor shots  the documentary Paradise Lost premiered.

The film by Joe Berlinger cast doubt on the guilt of a trio of Arkansas teens convicted in the killings of three local eight-year-olds.

For Berlinger, whose films on the West Memphis Three not only earned him an Oscar nomination but also saw the prisoners walk free, a key element of his work has always centered on rooting out  and hopefully correcting  injustices.

But JonBenets murder didnt immediately catch his eye as a possible example. After the 6-year-olds body was found on the day after Christmas in 1996, talk shows, tabloids and the barreling behemoth of 24-hour news grabbed the story and ran with it, usually relating details parceled out strategically by police in Boulder, Colorado.

open image in gallery JonBenet Ramsey was just six years old when she was found murdered in the basement of her parents home in Boulder, Colorado ( Sipa/Shutterstock )

Back then I fell for it, Berlinger, 63, tells The Independent. And Im embarrassed that I fell for it, because I had just finished Paradise Lost, which is all about wrongful conviction  but I had a two-year-old daughter at home, and I kind of bought into the media hype.

And I thought to myself, Gee, my daughter, my two-year-old, is very cute, and I bet when shes six, shell be really cute; I would never put her into a beauty pageant  and I had a bunch of judgment about that.

He wasnt alone; even now, ask almost anyone about JonBenet Ramsey and theyll have strong opinions and a theory about who killed her.

More often than not, theyll point to her parents or then-nine-year-old brother, all of whom were home in the familys tony, holiday-decorated mansion at the time of the JonBenets murder. Patsy Ramsey called 911 to report finding a ransom note for her daughter before dawn on December 26, 1996; hours after police first responded, another search of the property led by Patsys husband, John, uncovered their daughters body in a basement room.

Over time, as I became more familiar with the case, it became illogical, says Berlinger, who did a deep dive into the murder and investigation that increased his skepticism  resulting in his new Netflix three-part docuseries, Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey, which premieres on Monday.

open image in gallery JonBenet, right, poses in a family photo with her father, John, mother, Patsy, and older brother, Burke ( John Ramsey )

Key to the directors research was the work of Lou Smit, a Colorado Springs detective who came out of retirement to assist the Boulder district attorneys office in the months after the killing. Smit quickly decided the Ramseys were not involved, putting him at odds with local police and launching a personal mission to uncover the truth. (His family and friends carry on that mission 14 years after his death.)

After looking at Smits detective work, Berlinger says, thats when I had this a-ha! moment.

The documentary highlights many of Smits points, such as his insistence that an intruder could easily have crept into the house and waited to snatch JonBenet before the plan went horribly wrong.

The special investigator also believed that DNA would ultimately solve the case, and many viewers will likely be surprised to hear of the delays and lack of DNA testing by Boulder authorities persisting even today.

The Netflix series outlines how a DNA report clearing the Ramseys was given to Boulder police by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation in the months after the murder; the documentary posits that, since the familys innocence did not align with local polices theory, it was unnecessarily withheld while stories kept getting fed to the press painting the Ramseys as guilty.

According to Smits notes, the CBI DNA report was not shared with Boulder prosecutors for months; despite the evidence, as well, city authorities continued to let suspicion focus on the Ramsey family, only clearing them publicly in 2008  a clearance which did little in changing public perception after decades of blame placement and innuendo.

JonBenet was brutally sexually assaulted and tortured with a garrote (a knotted cord tied to the broken handle of a paintbrush taken from her mothers supplies) before she died. Unknown male DNA was found in her underwear, however that DNA has yet to be identified, and contamination concerns persist given lax crime scene securement at the time and other issues. Testing methods have exponentially evolved since the mid-1990s, however, the director tells The Independent.

With the advances in DNA technology, I think this case can actually be solved, Berlinger says. And so I will be honest and say one of my goals of this show is to pressure Boulder police to finally do the right thing  the Ramsey family has been pounding the table for several years for additional DNA testing.

open image in gallery JonBenets mother called 911 on the day after Christmas in 1996, telling the operator shed found a ransom note; the childs body was only found hours later in the basement by her father ( AP1997 )

Hes talking about the surviving Ramsey family; JonBenets mother, Patsy, died in 2006 at age 49. The childs older half-sister, 22-year-old Beth, had been tragically killed in a car accident in 1992 when JonBenet was a toddler.

I cant imagine a more brutalized family than the Ramsey family, Berlinger tells The Independent. John Ramsey  who I think deserves a Purple Heart [or] five Purple Hearts  he lost his daughter, Beth, from a previous marriage. As a parent, I cant think of anything more painful.

JonBenet was the magic elixir that was going to help that family recover, and shes brutally murdered in the most horrific way imaginable  and then theyre blamed for it. The mother, Patsy, is dealing with ovarian cancer, and no doubt the stress of that murder and being blamed for it, Im sure, contributed to it coming back.

The then-Boulder DA cleared the Ramseys and her brother, Burke, in 2008, writing that she was deeply sorry. There have been myriad prosecutorial and police regime changes since the murder, and opinions differ. Suspicion within the wider arena has lingered to the point that CBS went ahead with a 2016 program theorizing that Burke accidentally killed JonBenet before their parents staged the scene.

He sued CBS for $750 million and the case was settled in 2019.

Burke doesnt speak in the docuseries, but it features interviews with John Ramsey and another adult son from his first marriage, in addition to Colorado reporters  not all of whom come out looking great  and law enforcement experts. The program also delves into the strange case of John Mark Karr, a pedophile extradited from Thailand who confessed to the killing but was ruled out by alibi and DNA, despite his knowledge of unreleased details.

open image in gallery JonBenet Ramsey is buried Georgia, where her parents met and where she was born; her mother, Patsy Ramsey, was buried next to her upon her death in 2006 at the age of 49 ( Getty Images )

Berlinger says part of his motivation for making the docuseries was his desire always to shine a light on things that I think are wrong and need to be corrected.

Im blessed that I can say that  my work has been the catalyst for six people being released from prison, he says. So I am deep in the wrongful conviction space, and there are certain patterns that make wrongful convictions happen that I see in this case.

Just like in the West Memphis case  what you often see in wrongful conviction cases is kind of a small-town police force thats not experienced enough to handle the crime that gets locked into an idea early on and cant move that tunnel vision  and this is what you see in this case, he says, though convictions here came in the court of public opinion rather than court of law.

Its exacerbated by the fact that [the authorities] method was to feed false or incomplete stories to the press in an era where there was just exploding irresponsible journalism, and it just created this firestorm.

For those who lived through the Nineties, it can be easy to forget just how far some cable programs and talk shows pushed matters and muddied agendas; for younger audiences, clips will be jaw-dropping. The new Netflix series includes footage from one mock trial held of the Ramseys on a daytime chat show which included input from an expert who made an explicit interpretation of JonBenets performance with a saxophone that Berlinger calls obscene.

In another mind-boggling reality, the Ramseys went head-to-head on CNN with a former Boulder detective whod written a book accusing Patsy of the killing (this cop not only settled with the Ramseys after they sued for libel and defamation but also failed to exhibit a solid grasp of case detail in other recorded interviews.)

The exploration particularly of the medias role was another motivating factor behind the JonBenet docuseries, Berlinger tells The Independent.

I have always been very concerned about this decades-long march weve had towards the lessening of journalistic standards and the rise of opinion journalism, which has divided our country, Berlinger says, adding that he believes the deep division has arisen because we each tune in to different opinions on television, and the truth is somewhat ephemeral.

open image in gallery Joe Berlinger attends the Truth Seekers Summit hosted by Variety and Rolling Stone at Second Floor on 25 August 2022 in New York City ( Cindy Ord/Getty Images )

And I think all of this began with not just the JonBenet Ramsey case, but JonBenet, OJ Simpson  the early 90s gave birth to a whole new era of irresponsible journalism.

All of a sudden there were 500 networks in a 24-hour news cycle, and everyone thought they could make money on telling real stories, and I think journalistic standards greatly declined  and you can trace that to todays environment, where we have kind of the death of truth, and 50 percent of the population gets its news from TikTok.

While he laments the state of the news landscape, Berlinger does have hopes that perhaps his project can prompt action from investigators in Colorado. A cold case review team of outside experts last year made recommendations to Boulder police about how best to proceed in the investigation, but the department only announced that the specific recommendations will not be made public at this time However, we are committed to following the recommendations generated from this cold case review.

The release from December 2023 insisted that Boulder authorities were working with leading DNA experts from across the country to ensure the latest forensic techniques are used to analyze remaining DNA samples.

The evidence has been preserved and will continue to be ready for testing when there is proven and validated technology that can accurately test forensic samples consistent with the evidence available in this case. Detectives are actively taking steps to prepare the evidence for testing when possible.

When asked this week by The Independent for any updates about such testing  along with detailed other questions  a spokeswoman only continued to urge anyone with information to contact detectives but cited the open and ongoing nature of the investigation as the reason for no further comment.

open image in gallery Lou Smit, a retired Colorado Springs detective, was asked to investigate the case by the Boulder district attorney; he resigned a year and a half later, insisting that evidence pointed to a killer outside of the Ramsey family ( Cindy Marra )

In a statement, Chief Steve Redfearn said: The killing of JonBenet was an unspeakable crime and this tragedy has never left our hearts. We are committed to following up on every lead and we are continuing to work with DNA experts and our law enforcement partners around the country until this tragic case is solved. This investigation will always be a priority for the Boulder Police Department.

Boulder police wouldnt play ball with Berlingers team, either.

They wouldnt officially sit down, and they wouldnt reveal any information; nor have they revealed much information to the Ramseys, Berlinger says. Our belief, until were told otherwise, is not much has been done, and there are advances in DNA technology that demand that they take action.

And there is a good likelihood that this crime can be solved. There are old items that were tested that need to be retested. There were old items sent to the crime lab that were never tested.

Putting it bluntly, Berlinger says: Lets get some action finally. Lets dismiss all these crazy conspiracy theories that defy logic.

Lets focus on the fact that there can be some DNA tested, and it could possibly lead to finding out who the killer is.
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A Connecticut couple has been accused of stealing $1m worth of merchandise from Lululemon stores around the US.

Jadion Richards, 44, and Akwele Lawes-Richards, 45, were accused of stealing products from stores in Utah, Colorado, New York and Connecticut starting in September. They were arrested on November 14 in MinneapolisSaint Paul, Minnesota and charged with organized retail theft.

The couple were stopped after exiting one of the retailers stores in Minnesota when a detector went off. Richards accused store employees of racially profiling him. Workers allowed the couple to leave after that encounter. But they were later arrested in a Minneapolis suburb.

A Lululemon investigator claimed the couple stole from several different locations the day before and stole at least 45 items valued at $5,000, according to USA Today.

Several credit and debit cards were found on the couple in addition to a card to a Marriot hotel room. In the room, investigators found 12 suitcases, three of which were filled with Lululemon clothing worth approximately $50,000.

The pair have also been accused of a total of eight thefts in Colorado between October 29 and 30 and seven thefts in Utah on November 6 and 7, the outlet reported.

The investigator determined that throughout the couples shoplifting sprees, they managed to steal $1m in products. The investigator did not reveal how he came to the high number.

The couple used tactics to distract retail workers as they shoplifted from the stores, police say. One of them involved one person distracting employees while the other tried to hide the stolen clothes on their bodies. Another involved them exiting the store at the same time. One person would have a cheap product and the other would be carrying more expensive products that would trigger the sensors. Once the alarm was triggered, the person with the cheap item would stay behind as the person with the expensive products walked away.

The couple are being held at the Ramsey County Jail in Minnesota, Theyre due to appear in court on December 16.

The Independent could not immediately reach an attorney for the couple.
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Sean Diddy Combs was all smiles as he entered a courtroom in New York City for a bail hearing he hoped would see him released from custody as he faces sex trafficking and racketeering charges.

The 55-year-old blew kisses and waved to family members as he entered South Manhattan Federal Court. He was dressed in a beige prison jumpsuit and flanked by US marshals, but was not shackled, as he has been in previous hearings.

Family members and supporters, including his mother Janice Combs, his daughter Chance Combs, his son Justin Dior Combs and adopted son Quincy Brown, were present at the hearing on Friday afternoon.

A judge postponed the decision on whether to grant him bail ahead of his upcoming trial, after prosecutors argued that he could not be trusted to be let out of prison and could not be controlled by his own lawyers.

open image in gallery Quincy Brown, left, Diddys daughter Chance Combs, second left, and other supporters of the rapper arrive at court ( REUTERS )

The music mogul is being held on a $50 million bond at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn, New York, as he awaits trial.

During the hearing, his lawyers cited changed circumstances, including new evidence, which they said made it sensible to release him so he can better prepare for his trial, scheduled for May 5. Two judges have previously concluded he is a danger to the community and a risk to flee.

Assistant US Attorney Christine Slavik said that Combs efforts to reach out to witnesses from behind bars, often via family members, showed that he cannot and will not follow rules even when they were set by his own lawyers. Simply put, the defendant cannot be trusted, she said.

Slavik also accused the moguls lawyers of enabling his flouting of rules and claimed they showed an inability to control their client.

open image in gallery In this courtroom sketch, Assistant United States Attorney Christy Slavic, standing center, speaks during a hearing for Sean Diddy Combs, left, as Judge Arun Subramanian, right, presides in federal Court, in New York. Attorney Tony Riccio is shown standing background center ( AP )

Last week prosecutors accused Combs of using jailmates phones from inside prison to blackmail potential witnesses ahead of his trial. The music mogul had allegedly called up family members, urging them to reach out to potential victims and create narratives and made relentless efforts to corruptly influence witness testimony, court documents claimed.

The defendant has shown repeatedly  even while in custody  that he will flagrantly and repeatedly flout rules in order to improperly impact the outcome of his case. The defendant has shown, in other words, that he cannot be trusted to abide by rules or conditions, prosecutors wrote in a submission that contained redactions.

Combs had allegedly begun his campaign as soon as he was incarcerated in September, prosecutors said.

In a filing made on Friday prior to the hearing, prosecutors wrote that it strains credulity to believe that Combs will stop engaging in criminal conduct and abide by conditions of release.

open image in gallery Janice Combs and her grandson Justin Dior Combs, left, leave court after the hearing ( AFP via Getty Images )

However the moguls defense argued that if bailed, Combs would be living in significantly more restrictive conditions than he was currently in the MDC. A completely independent security team would monitor Combs 24/7, his attorneys said, with contact allowed only with counsel and a select few family members.

Responding to Slaviks concern that he would return to violent behavior if allowed out, defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo said that there was a zero per cent chance of that happening.

Prosecutors pointed out that the security detail would be paid for, and therefore work for Combs.

Earlier this week, the judge ordered federal prosecutors to delete images of handwritten notes made by Combs, which had been taken during a search of his jail cell. The quotes in question reportedly referenced getting dirt on at least two potential witnesses.

His lawyers claimed the notes were protected by attorney-client privilege and improperly seized. In a previous filing they described the seizure of personal items and paperwork as an outrageous government conduct amounting to a substantive due process violation.

open image in gallery Combs has been accused of trying to reach out to witnesses from behind bars ( Getty Images for Congressional B )

Excerpts from those notes that prosecutors referenced previously were not used at the bond hearing on Friday, following an order from the judge.

Combs, who founded Bad Boy Records, has pleaded not guilty to charges that he coerced and abused women for years with the aid of a network of associates and employees, while silencing victims through blackmail and violence, including kidnapping, arson and physical beatings.

He was arrested in September on sex trafficking and racketeering charges with federal prosecutors alleging that he and his associates threatened, abused and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires  which allegedly included forcing victims into engaging in recorded sexual activity which he referred to as Freak Offs.

Federal agents with US Homeland Security raided two of the rappers houses in Los Angeles and Miami on March 25 as part of an investigation into the allegations brought against him.

Judge Arun Subramanian is expected to make a decision on bail next week.
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A Norwegian citizen working as a security guard at the US embassy in Oslo has been arrested on suspicion of espionage.

The man, who is in his 20s, was arrested while in his garage on Wednesday, according to the Norwegian Police Security Service. On Thursday, a court decided the man could be detained for four weeks, with the first week in isolation, while investigators look into the allegations, according to Reuters.

Norwegian authorities have charged him with attempted aggravated intelligence activities against state secrets, CNN reports. Investigators say he admitted to having collected and shared information with Russian and Iranian authorities.

Police also found records of the man talking with another person who appeared to be guiding his espionage activity, the Associated Press reports.

His attorney, John Christian Elden, told Reuters the man has been in contact with intelligence officers from Russia and Iran.

"He has explained himself about his contact with intelligence agents from Russia and Iran but it is unclear whether he has had secret information that would mean that anti-espionage laws could be used against him," Elden said.

open image in gallery The Kremlin in Moscow. The student is suspected of sharing information with Russian and Iranian authorities ( AFP via Getty Images )

"Further investigation will show whether he is guilty of a crime or not, he added.

The man cooperated with investigators, according to Thomas Blom, a lawyer for the Norwegian Police Security Service. Blom said police confiscated a large amount of digital materials from the man, according to Reuters.

"We have just scraped the top and we are working our way through it," Blom added.

The man is studying security and preparedness at the University of Troms  the Arctic University of Norway, according to the AP. He also runs a security company with another unidentified person who is a national of Norway and an unidentified eastern European country.

Police are now investigating the companys operating license, the AP reports.

A US State Department spokesperson told CNN 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.

This arrest comes after an Iranian government operative was accused of hiring a pair of New Yorkers he met in prison to carry out an assassination plot against a critic of the regime. He also allegedly admitted to FBI agents that he had been tasked with finding a hit squad to kill President-elect Donald Trump.
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The family of a missing Hawaii woman is asking police to take the investigation into her disappearance more seriously.

Hannah Kobayashi, 30, went missing after she missed her connecting flight from Los Angeles to New York City on November 8. The following day, she was spotted at a bookstore at The Grove, a popular outdoor mall in LA. A day later, she was seen at a Lebron James event.

On November 11, surveillance video showed her at a downtown Los Angeles Metro stop with a person not known to her family. Larie Pidgeon, Kobayashis aunt told KTLA 5 her niece did not look well. She is not safe, and she is not alone, she said.

Her family doesnt know what has happened to her since. They told the Daily Mail police waited 10 days after Kobayashi went missing to contact them.

Before she disappeared, Kobayashi sent cryptic texts to a friend saying she had been tricked pretty much into giving away all my funds to someone I thought I loved. Her sister, Sydni Kobayashi, described the texts as really weird. Kobayashi added that she was scared and couldnt come back home.

open image in gallery Surveillance footage shows Hannah Kobayashi arriving at Los Angeles International Airport on November 8 ( Sydni Kobayashi/Facebook )

Then the texts stopped. Kobayashi is 5ft 10ins and weighs about 140 pounds. She has brown hair and eyes, and fair skin with freckles.

Her family recently flew to Los Angeles to search for her themselves.

Pidgeon said of the LAPD: As of today the police have reached out to family members who last spoke with Hannah.

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.

She continued: 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.

Ryan Kobayashi, the missing womans father, handed out missing persons flyers to people on the street. He told the outlet he will do everything in his power until she is found.

open image in gallery The 30-year-old vanished last week while traveling from Hawaii to New York City via LA ( Sydni Kobayashi/Facebook )

Shes a wonderful person who brings joy to so many people, he said.

The New York City trip was a bucket list item for Hannah Kobayashi. She was set to meet one of her aunts, Geordan Montalvo and her husband Bob, in New York. All of them had tickets for a concert on November 12.

One of her former boyfriends was on the plane ride with her from Maui to Los Angeles. Montalvo said the ex-boyfriend is being helpful with the search.
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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.

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."

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.
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Incoming First Lady Melania Trump has announced her first big hire for her new East Wing office in the White House, appointing longtime aide Hayley Harrison to be her chief of staff.

In a statement, Trumps office said Harrison has maintained an integral role and exceptional leadership on the First Ladys team over the past seven years.

She has a strong understanding of White House operations, and as Chief of Staff, Mrs. Harrison will oversee and manage the East Wings team while strategically liaising with other parts of government, the office added.

Trump is reportedly not planning on living full-time in Washington, D.C. during her second stint in the White House, but shes set to still have a platform and highlight issues important to her, CNN noted.

Compared to her predecessors, Trump had a small East Wing team during her first term as first lady with about a dozen members of staff.

In a recent Fox News appearance, she said shes not anxious because this time is different. I have much more experience and much more knowledge.

I was in the White House before. When you go in, you know exactly what to expect, she added.

You know what kind of people to get  that they are on your team, that they have the same vision as me and to serve me because they serve the country, Trump said.

Last year, ABC News reported that Harrison was named in the indictment against President-elect Donald Trump for his alleged mishandling of classified documents.

Melania Trump takes part in an election night event at the West Palm Beach Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, early on November 6, 2024. She has named Hayley Harrison to be her chief of staff as she prepares for second stint as first lady ( AFP via Getty Images )

Harrison was known as Trump Aide 1 in the case and she texted another staffer about moving the files out of the Mar-a-Lago business center to create space for the staff.

There is still a little room in the shower where his other stuff is, Harrison is alleged to have written to another aide.

Special Counsel Jack Smith looks set to close down the investigation before the president-elect is inaugurated.

The former first ladys previous chief of staff, Stephanie Grisham, backed Vice President Kamala Harris for president and spoke at the Democratic National Convention this summer.

I never thought Id be speaking at a Democratic convention, Grisham said in a statement back in August. But, after seeing firsthand who Donald Trump really is, and the threat he poses to our country, I feel very strongly about speaking out.

During her remarks to the convention, Grisham said the president-elect mocks his own voters, referring to them as basement dwellers.

He has no empathy, no morals, and no fidelity to the truth, she argued at the time.

I love my country more than my party, the former White House press secretary said. Kamala Harris tells the truth. She respects the American people and she has my vote.
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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.
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Now that Matt Gaetz is no longer a congressman and will not be the next attorney general of the United States, what does the future hold for the MAGA firebrand?

Well, in the grand tradition of other famed Republicans who have fallen from grace, such as convicted felon George Santos or one-time Americas Mayor Rudy Giuliani , the former Florida congressman has joined Cameo.

When reached for comment, Gaetz confirmed that he had indeed created a profile on the site. I have joined cameo. I hope to bring people joy, he said in a text to The Independent.

Cameo is a website that allows fans to request personalized short videos from celebrities for a fee. Typically, a fan will send some basic information about a loved one or friend to a celebrity on the platform, and that celebrity will then use those details to craft a personal clip for the recipient. The service peaked during the Covid-19 pandemic due to lockdowns and social distancing requirements, prompting tens of thousands of famous (and semi-famous) people to join the site.

Matt Gaetz has created a profile on Cameo, offering video messages for $500 ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

According to Gaetzs Cameo profile, which first went online Friday, the price for the former congressmans videos starts at $500. One can also send a message to Gaetz for $2.99.

Whether its a milestone birthday, an anniversary, or a long-awaited reunion, make it unforgettable with a one-of-a-kind Cameo video from Matt Gaetz. Youll have the chance to customize your request for Matt Gaetz, like asking them to mention inside jokes, share words of wisdom, or work in their signature catchphrases, the profile states. Dont be afraid to get creative with your request, especially for celebrations like weddings, retirements, or bachelor and bachelorette parties that call for a good laugh. No matter the occasion, the video will be yours to keep - share the fun and relive the moment for years to come.

Gaetz describes himself as having served in Congress and having once been nominated to be US Attorney General (that didnt work out). He also adds that he once fired the House Speaker, referencing his successful effort to drive Kevin McCarthy out of the speakership.

It is still unclear what Gaetz plans to do in the immediate future. He did say on Friday that he will not return to the House, which he resigned from last week after he was first nominated for attorney general by President-elect Donald Trump. That resignation also came just two days before the House Ethics was scheduled to release a damaging report on Gaetzs sexual misconduct allegations. Gaetz has maintained his innocence.

Speculation has run rampant that Gaetz could be named as a replacement to serve in Marco Rubios Senate seat since Rubio is likely headed to serve as Trumps secretary of state. He also could hold a position in Trumps administration that is not subject to Senate confirmation, which ultimately kneecapped his attorney general bid.

Another possibility is that he could just become a full-time right-wing media personality. On Thursday night, Newsmax host Greg Kelly went so far as to offer Gaetz a position at the network, noting that the former congressman has served as a guest host several times on the networks airwaves.
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Amid the rampant speculation about whats next for Matt Gaetz after the MAGA firebrand abruptly and dramatically withdrew his nomination for attorney general, one right-wing cable channel is making it abundantly clear theyd like him to join their lineup.

Hours after the former Florida congressman pulled his name from consideration to be the nations top prosecutor amid sexual misconduct allegations, Newsmax host Greg Kelly told his viewers that there was a job waiting for Gaetz at the network if he wanted it.

Hey, hes got a couple of fallback plans, the Trump-boosting host declared. He could always come and work here at Newsmax, as he has done quite a bit over the past couple of years, like filling in as an anchor on this program.

Airing a clip of Gaetz guest-anchoring his primetime program in May 2023, which occurred while Gaetz was a sitting U.S. congressman, Kelly went on to praise the ex-lawmaker as a great guy with a big future. Besides Kellys show, Gaetz has also sat in the anchors chair to spell Newsmax star Rob Schmitt in the past.

Greg is a great friend, Gaetz told The Independent of Kellys offer. I really look up to him. Its very kind that he said something to lift my spirits.

According to multiple Newsmax insiders and staffers who spoke with The Independent, Kellys segment was part of a concerted effort to both appeal to Gaetz directly while also planting the idea in viewers minds that the former congressman may bring his services to the networks airwaves.

Matt Gaetz onstage at the Republican National Convention in June ( AFP via Getty Images )

One source familiar with the situation told The Independent that Newsmax vice president of programming Chris Knowles mandated Kellys monologue alongside the clip of Gaetzs past hosting performances on the network.

The source added that the appeal to Gaetz was similar to when Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy pressed the networks lineup to run multiple segments a day on Fox News firing its top-rated host Tucker Carlson last year. With conservatives furious at Fox for terminating Carlson, the source added, Ruddy hoped to convince the former Fox News star to come to Newsmax.

Even before Gaetz dropped his bid to become attorney general, multiple staffers said Knowles had long made it clear behind the scenes that he wanted to make Gaetz a permanent fixture at the network.

Knowles has wanted Matt Gaetz to bring his firebrand personality to the network full-time for a long time, one current Newsmax employee stated.

Knowles has said several times in the past he wants Gaetz on the air with a show one day, and he has recently said theres a spot for him on the network if he isnt confirmed, another staffer stated prior to Gaetzs withdrawing his nomination.

Network executives also felt that Fox News growing increasingly squeamish over Gaetzs nomination amid the drip-drip of more sexual misconduct allegations would only help Newsmax in building trust with the MAGA base, one source added. Newsmax gave Gaetz nothing but positive coverage throughout the nomination while repeatedly brushing off the allegations, noting that the Justice Department has not charged Gaetz with a crime.

In a statement, a Newsmax spokesperson said the network is not planning any lineup changes and has no plans to offer Rep. Gaetz a position at the network. Gaetz did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

While the network is denying there have been any discussions between the two parties, Gaetz did acknowledge in 2021 that he held numerous conversations with several conservative media outlets about potential post-Congress gigs  including Newsmax. Gaetzs initial exploration for a soft landing in right-wing media took place shortly before it was announced he was under federal investigation for possible sex trafficking.

Gaetz, meanwhile, has remained vague about what his plans are now that his dreams of being attorney general have flamed out. In a Friday interview with conservative pundit Charlie Kirk, Gaetz confirmed that he wont return to Congress while pledging to keep fighting for the president-elect in other ways. He also slammed the allegations against him as a smear campaign.

The former congressman took to social media on Friday morning, claiming hed soon tell the stories of corruption, treason and betrayal regarding members of Congress trading stocks.

So will Gaetz do that as a member of Trumps White House  or within the world of right-wing media? Stay tuned.
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Pete Hegseths odds of being confirmed as secretary of defense almost halved after former attorney general nominee Matt Gaetz stepped down.

Gaetzs departure after just eight days came amid reports that he had sex with a 17-year-old girl, an allegation he forcefully denies.

Hegseth is facing sexual misconduct allegations of his own, with a woman telling police that he raped her at a California hotel in 2017, an encounter Hegseth has said was consensual.

On the betting site Polymarket, Hegseths chances of being confirmed stood at 89 percent when he was announced, but fell as low as 47 percent as of Thursday afternoon. On Friday night, his chances had risen to 56 percent.

Other cabinet picks have better chances of being confirmed, such as director of national intelligence nominee Tulsi Gabbard at 62 percent, and HHS secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at 71 percent.

Others, such as former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee for ambassador to Israel, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum for interior secretary, Rep. Elise Stefanik for U.N. ambassador, and former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to lead the Department of Justice all have more than a 90 percent chance of being confirmed, according to Polymarket.

Hegseths nomination chances took a hit after the release of a 22-page police report detailing the sexual assault allegations against the 44-year-old. The rape allegation was reportedly not known to the Trump transition team before they announced his nomination to lead the Department of Defense.

Hegseth, a former National Guard officer and ex-Fox & Friends weekend host, wasnt charged in the incident, but he paid the woman in a settlement to avoid a lawsuit that his attorney said was baseless.

President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth leaves the Russell Senate Office Building on November 21, 2024 in Washington, DC. Hegseth faces allegations of sexual misconduct ( Getty Images )

Gaetz also avoided criminal prosecution after the Department of Justice chose not to charge him following an investigation into possible sex trafficking. He resigned from Congress shortly after his nomination was announced, and just days before the House Ethics Committee was set to vote on releasing a reportedly damning report into allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use.

His nomination ended after several Republican senators made it clear that they wouldnt vote for the 42-year-old.

Those putting their money on Hegseths chances of being confirmed appear hesitant to believe that the former Fox News host will get the votes he needs. This comes amid reports that the Trump transition team has been drawing up a list of possible replacements for Hegseth should his nomination crumble.

People are upset about the distraction. The general feeling is Pete hasnt been honest, a source close to Trump told Vanity Fair.

Similarly, The Washington Post reported that a person familiar with the complaint from the woman involved in the incident told the paper that there are concerns within the Trump team that more allegations against Hegseth may come to light.

Theres a lot of frustration around this, the person told The Post. He hadnt been properly vetted.

A lawyer for Hegseth said the allegation was fully investigated and found not to be true.

Theres no other skeletons to come out, Tim Parlatore added, according to The Post. Theres no reason to withdraw that Im aware of.

Polymarket is a site where foreign citizens can bet on U.S. politics, which is illegal in the U.S., using cryptocurrency. The price to bet on a scenario rises or lowers depending on the number of yes or no bets.
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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.

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.

open image in gallery 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.

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.

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.
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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.
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The youngest child of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr didnt want Donald Trump to become the next president  but Dr Bernice King believes Trumps inauguration taking place on the same day as the federal holiday honoring her father is a small win.

Im glad that if it was going to happen, it happened on the King holiday, because Dr King is still speaking to us, she told The Independent. She sees the January 20 event as a wake-up call for the country and an opportunity to stand up to the incoming administrations charged agenda items.

We cannot retreat or recoil, King said. We have to commit ourselves to continuing the mission of protecting freedom, justice and democracy in the spirit of my father.

King had been excited about the prospect of seeing Vice President Kamala Harris, who is of Black and South Asian heritage, become the countrys first female president on MLK Day.

open image in gallery Bernice King looks up at her fathers memorial in Washington in August 2023, 60 years after the March on Washington ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Shed hoped the US would elect someone who embodied the values her father did. Not someone whos spewing hateful rhetoric, whos not been very kind-hearted and whose policies are not humane in their approach, as she described the president-elect.

She later added: A Trump win could potentially set in motion a perilous and oppressive presidential administration that would undermine and deny the hard-fought battle for civil and human rights for which my parents and so many others sacrificed.

Civil rights leaders like her are worried the incoming administration will attempt to scale back those rights. Trump has proposed a mass deportation plan, vowed to go after his enemies, and intends to implement discriminating federal policies against LGBTQIA+ people and people of color.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and NAACP have announced their commitment to fighting what may come next.

open image in gallery Chief Justice John Roberts, right, reads the oath of office to the former president at the ceremonial swearing-in at the US Capitol in 2013. Obama used Kings Bible in the ceremony ( Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

We are entering a new era of civil rights for better or worse, Gerald Griggs, president of the Georgia NAACP, said. We have not seen an assault on civil rights like I believe is about to happen since the 50s, maybe even the 20s.

The group is working to ensure Trumps power does not go unchecked by bolstering its legal and lobbying teams. Griggs said hes willing to give the president-elect a chance, but is concerned about some of his recent actions, like appointing former congressman Matt Gaetz as his pick for US attorney general. Gaetz withdrew himself from consideration on Thursday.

Under Trump, Griggs fears the Department of Justices civil rights division will be weaponized against minority groups.

We have to be ready right now, he said. We are already having organizational meetings, both on the national level and the state level, to prepare the units for whats about to happen.

In a news release distributed the day after the election, the ACLU promised to defend against Trumps deportation plan, provide counsel to whistleblowers and challenge any discriminatory policies and regressive plans on reproductive freedoms.

open image in gallery The late civil rights leader speaks to thousands during his "I Have a Dream" speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in Washington on August 28, 1963 ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

King knows any pushback against the incoming administration will require the same level of dedication seen during her fathers movement, before the country had a Civil Rights Act or a Voting Rights Act.

In the weeks after the election, shes been comforted by his famous words like, Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred, something he said while delivering the famous I Have a Dream speech in 1963.

I know a lot of people are angry right now, King told The Independent. But we cant let that rot in us.

Thousands of protesters are expected to descend onto the streets of Washington DC ahead of Trumps inauguration.

The Peoples March on Washington is scheduled for January 18. A coalition of organizations, including the ACLU, Planned Parenthood and the National Womens Law Center, are planning the event to protest Trumps stances that they fear will undermine civil rights.

On Inauguration Day, Al Sharptons National Action Network plans to hold a rally in the city.

There has never been a more important time to peacefully mobilize and organize, Sharpton said while announcing the event on MSNBC last week.

MLK Day has been celebrated on the third Monday in January since its establishment in 1983, while Inauguration Day has been set as January 20 since 1937. The late civil rights icon was assassinated in 1968.

open image in gallery Protesters cheer at the Women's March on Washington during the first full day of Donald Trump's presidency in 2017 ( AP )

Griggs and King will spend the holiday attending events commemorating the late Kings legacy. As Trump takes the oath, Griggs wants the incoming president to consider the importance of the late icon in American history and not forget people in King Jrs birthplace, Fulton County, are still waiting for an explanation on charges related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

In August 2023, Trump was charged with racketeering and conspiracy for allegedly urging Georgia officials to sway the results in his favor. The case has been delayed after a December 5 hearing in the matter was canceled until further order from the court.

Its interesting, Griggs said of the upcoming holiday. The juxtaposition of a man of immense greatness, humility and concern for the community, with Donald Trump.

Only two presidents have taken the oath on the holiday before: Barack Obama in 2013 and Bill Clinton in 1997. Obama used a Bible belonging to the civil rights leader in the ceremony.

The Independent emailed a Trump spokesperson asking whether the president-elect would incorporate Kings legacy into the ceremony but did not get a response.
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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.

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.

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.

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.
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President-elect Donald Trumps choice to be his director of national intelligence, former Democratic Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, was briefly put on a watchlist by the Transportation Security Administration, according to CNN.

The list leads to certain individuals being chosen for additional screening before flights. She was added to the list after her patterns of travel and foreign connections triggered a government algorithm this year, three sources told the network.

But Gabbard was soon removed from the list, called Quiet Skies. Her removal came after she publicly claimed that she had been put on a secret terror watchlist.

While Gabbard claimed she was put on the list because of her criticism of Vice President Kamala Harris during an appearance on Fox News when Harris was the Democratic nominee for president, CNN reported that two sources rejected this version of events.

The TSA placed me on the Quiet Skies domestic terror watchlist in what I can only describe as the ultimate betrayal, Gabbard said 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.

Security officials have noted Gabbards irregular travel patterns and relationships abroad, such as in 2017, when as a member of Congress she went to Syria to meet with the countrys dictator Bashar al-Assad.

Tulsi Gabbard waves as she arrives to speak during a campaign rally for Donald Trump at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on November 4, 2024. She was briefly placed on a TSA watchlist ( AFP via Getty Images )

The sources noted that Gabbard being put on the list may not be for any harmful reasons. But several officials told CNN that a nominee for a top intelligence position being on such a list is unusual, possibly unprecedented.

One official said that Gabbard would usually have to account for her foreign travel and contacts during a background investigation, something Trump has indicated that he may try to avoid for his top nominees. This means that Gabbard may not be assessed by national security officials to look into whether she could pose a risk.

While the Quiet Skies algorithm looks at travel patterns, foreign connections, and other information and may trigger additional screening, it has nothing to do with the terrorist watchlist maintained by the FBI. Quiet Skies has far looser standards for including people on the list, CNN noted.

The TSA told CNN that the list is not a terrorist watchlist and that the agency uses multi-layered security processes to protect the nations transportation systems to ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce.

TSAs Quiet Skies program uses a risk-based, random, unpredictable approach to transportation security, to include identifying passengers and applying enhanced security measures, the agency added. TSAs Quiet Skies program, which is not a terrorist watchlist, leverages USG intelligence information and databases to apply screening measures to a limited number of passengers for a limited period of time. Simply matching to a risk-based rule does not constitute derogatory information about an individual.

Some Republican Senators are likely to be uneasy voting for Gabbard, particularly for her past comments appearing to echo Russian propaganda in relation to the war in Ukraine.
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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.
More than 1,500km (900 miles) from London, frenetic activity is underway in the countryside of Poland, Finland, and the Baltic States: bulldozers and diggers are constructing field defences. Anti-tank ditches, tank traps, and pillboxes are being built and installed. In all these countries, laying minefields  even controversial anti-personnel minefields  is under active consideration.

Poland is spending at least 2.5bn (2.1bn) on its border defence system, including building a sky shield system akin to Israels Iron Dome to protect its eastern border from a growing threat from Russia.

Last May, during a meeting with European leaders in Warsaw, Polands prime minister Donald Tusk stated: Creating an iron dome against missiles and drones is necessary ... There is no reason for Europe not to have its missile defence shield, confirming that work on the project had begun. He added that it requires little imagination to understand that Europe, like Israel, is also in the danger zone.

Polands defence project includes physical anti-tank obstacles, bunkers, and AI-powered anti-drone technologies to create early threat detection and surveillance systems. This could be the most significant national security investment in the countrys post-war history, positioning Poland as a European defence leader.

Poland is now spending 37bn (30bn) on overall defence  4.7 per cent of its GDP  with further increases under discussion. Meanwhile, in response to the hybrid war tactics on several Baltic fronts, hundreds of millions of euros are being invested by the Baltic states to strengthen their defence lines with another major project, planned by Nato members Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, set to begin in 2025.

Across much of northern Europe, more than 1bn is being spent  at speed  on building new ammunition plants, particularly for 155mm artillery shells, which Ukraine is firing at rates not seen since the Second World War.

And what is the UKs response to an increasing global threat? The country is scrapping 500m worth of military equipment  ships, drones, and helicopters  and will conduct a strategic defence review to decide what to do next.

While defence secretary John Healey acknowledged last year that the cuts are happening amid war in Europe, growing Russian aggression, and conflict in the Middle East, the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) will not report until late February 2025  if were lucky. Some suggest that Whitehall bureaucracy could delay it until the summer.

All the while, the clock is ticking. States across northern Europe  the liberal-democratic ones much admired for their quality of life and services  are in agreement: if Ukraine loses its struggle against Russia, the latter may be emboldened to take military action against the Baltic states, Finland, or even Poland.

open image in gallery Swedish soldiers taking part in a training exercise on the Finland/Norway border in March ( Getty )

The timeline for this, many experts agree, is within three to five years. In defence planning terms, thats practically tomorrow. Even at top speed, it takes 28-30 months to order and deliver a fighter jet, 18-24 months for a tank, and 30 months for a frigate.

Further from the immediate action in Western Europe, defence budgets are also rising. French defence spending has been climbing for eight years and is projected to surpass the UKs on a like-for-like basis by 2027. The Netherlands reversed decades of defence cuts two years ago and plans to double its budget within five years. Sweden, Norway, and Denmark are also increasing their defence spending, often with double-digit year-on-year increases.

The European defence giant has also woken up. Germany, which was among the first to drastically reduce defence spending after the Cold War, has grown its military budget by two-thirds since Russias 2014 invasion of Crimea.

Crucially, the 2022 invasion of Ukraine prompted a Zeitenwende (turning point), with chancellor Olaf Scholz pledging an immediate 100bn investment to address gaps in munitions and equipment.

Since then, Berlin has spent 30-40bn on US-supplied F-35A fighters and other systems, and over 60bn on ammunition and missiles since February 2022.

Turning back to Eastern Europe: for these nations, defence is not seen as a nice-to-have but as an absolute necessity. Defence spending has doubled or even tripled in these countries over the past five years. So why does the UK now appear less like a European leader and more like a laggard?

open image in gallery Polands Donald Tusk has said that creating an iron dome, like that used in Israel, is necessary for Europe ( AFP/Getty )

A key reason is what I call the 1,700km duvet. To reach the UK, Russia would first need to pass through the Baltic states and Finland, cross the Baltic Sea, contend with Germany, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, and then navigate the North Sea.

When asked about the threat of a missile attack on the UK, former defence secretary Grant Shapps casually remarked that Nato allies would handle such threats as they are located between the UK and Russia suggesting he too believed in the 1,700km duvet, under which the UK continues to snuggle.

Yet the threat is creeping closer. Incidents involving damaged undersea internet cables in the Baltic Sea raised fears of Russian sabotage. Last year, there were believed to be Russian plots for incendiary devices to be put on cargo planes in Europe, testing security systems, and Western intelligence officials suspect Russia was behind this summers fires at shipping hubs in Britain and Germany.

Many believe it is only a matter of time before power shortages hit the UK due to wind farm cables mysteriously breaking, or that our internet is compromised as the telecoms backbone goes down.

open image in gallery A soldier of the UKs 2nd Battalion Royal Anglian infantry takes part in a simulated attack in Poland ( Getty )

The UK is, in effect, defenceless against many forms of modern attack. The chief of the defence staff, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, admitted as much during a conference in Berlin last year, where he stressed the need to follow the Nordic and Baltic countries example in bolstering both defence and civil readiness for war.

Despite bold rhetoric, the Royal Navy cannot deploy an aircraft carrier group without relying on US and allied ships and aircraft. The Army cannot field a full division of 15,000 soldiers from its 70,000-strong force and lacks the ammunition to fight for more than a month. The RAF has only about two dozen combat-ready Typhoons from a fleet of over 100.

The defence secretary is right to emphasise that its not just about spending more but spending better. However, funding does matter. If a Nato state invokes Article 5, which calls on collective defence  a situation that many experts on the Nordic and Baltic regions believe could happen within five years  the UK cannot afford to delay its response, claiming economic constraints.

Natos principle that an attack on one is an attack on all would require the UK to march to the sound of the guns  a situation for which we are woefully unprepared compared to our European neighbours.

Francis Tusa is editor of Defence Analysis
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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.
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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.
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Israels latest attacks on central Beirut flattened a residential building, killing at least 11 people and injuring nearly two dozen, Lebanons health ministry said.

The Israeli forces fired at least four missiles carrying bunker buster bombs, completely flattening an eight-storey building and damaging many more in the heavily populated area, Reuters reported.

The attack early on Saturday morning shook the Lebanese capital and left a deep crater in the Basta area. Rescue workers and paramedics were still at work trying to find people trapped under the rubble, and the death toll could rise, Lebanons National News Agency said.

The Israeli forces, meanwhile continued to pummel Gaza from ground and air, with the Palestinian territorys civil defence saying airstrikes and tank fire overnight killed at least 19 people, many of them children.

Mahmoud Basal, a spokesperson from the civil defence, told the AFP news agency that more than 40 people were also injured in three massacres caused by Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip between midnight and this morning.

People were also killed by tank fire in Gazas southern city of Rafah, Basal added.

open image in gallery Rescue workers and volunteers search for victims at the site of an Israeli airstrike in central Beirut on 23 November 2024 ( AP )

Footage on social media showed a giant plume of smoke rising from the Beirut neighbourhood after the residential building collapsed.

Israels military claimed its fighter jets completed a new round of strikes that targeted Hezbollah command centres and weapons storage facilities.

The attack left several buildings damaged and car windows shattered.

There was dust and wrecked houses, people running and screaming, they were running, Nemir Zakariya, several of whose family members were severely injured in the attack, told Reuters.

open image in gallery Rescue workers and volunteers search for victims at the site of an Israeli airstrike in central Beirut on 23 November 2024 ( AP )

My wife is in hospital, my daughter is in hospital, my aunt is in the hospital, he said.

The attack marked the fourth Israeli air strike on central Beirut just this week alone.

The moment building was targeted in Al-Shoueifat Al-Omrousiya

Israeli ground forces, meanwhile, continued to attack southern Lebanon, where they have been trying to push through with their invasion in the face of resistance by Hezbollah since September.

Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon and the outskirts of Beirut killed at least five medics on Friday, as ground troops clashed with Hezbollah fighters further south.

open image in gallery An Israeli missile is pictured before hitting a building in Beiruts southern Shayah neighbourhood ( AFP via Getty )

The Lebanese public health ministry confirmed that five doctors from the Islamic Health Organization were killed in the Israeli strikes which it condemned as war crimes.

Three of them were killed in the Qatrani area in southern Jezzine district and two some 80km south of Beirut, Aljazeera reported.

Four Italian soldiers with the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon were also injured, the defence ministry in Rome said in a statement.

Attacks against UNIFIL are a grave and unacceptable violation of international law and must stop, EUs foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a post on X.

open image in gallery Civil defence members carry out a body from the site of an Israeli strike in Beirut's Basta neighbourhood ( Reuters )

Israels ground and air assault on Lebanon has killed over 3,500 people so far and forced over a million to flee from their homes, according to the health ministry.

US envoy Amos Hochstein travelled to Lebanon and Israel earlier this week in an attempt to secure a ceasefire.

He indicated that some progress had been made with Beirut and Tel Aviv but specific details were not available.

The Israeli war on Gaza has killed more than 43,000 Palestinians and left almost the entire population of 2.2 million without shelter and on the brink of starvation, according to the besieged territorys health ministry, the UN and a host of humanitarian agencies.
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Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 20 people in central Beirut, Lebanese officials have said, while diplomats scrambled to broker a ceasefire.

Lebanons health ministry said 66 people were also injured in the strikes on Saturday, which were the fourth in central Beirut in less than a week, as the once-rare attacks on the heart of the countrys capital continue without warning.

The escalation comes after US envoy Amos Hochstein travelled to the region in pursuit of a deal to end months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

Israeli attacks have killed more than 3,500 people in Lebanon, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry. The fighting has displaced about 1.2 million people, or a quarter of the countrys population. On the Israeli side, about 90 soldiers and nearly 50 civilians have been killed by bombardment in northern Israel.

The 4am strikes on Saturday turned an eight-story building in central Beirut into rubble. Hezbollah legislator Amin Shiri said no Hezbollah officials were inside. The attack stripped the facades from some nearby buildings and crumpled cars.

open image in gallery Rescue workers and people search for victims at the site of an Israeli airstrike that hit central Beirut, Lebanon, on Saturday ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

"The area is residential, with closely packed buildings and narrow streets, making the situation challenging," said Walid Al-Hashash, a first responder with the Lebanese Civil Defense.

Israel's military did not comment on the casualties.

Also on Saturday, a drone strike killed two people and injured three in the southern Lebanese port city of Tyre, according to the Lebanese state-run National News Agency.

Mohammed Bikai, spokesperson for the Fatah Palestinian faction in the Tyre area, said those killed were Palestinian refugees from nearby al-Rashidieh camp who were out fishing.

open image in gallery Residents observe the site of an Israeli airstrike that hit central Beirut, Lebanon, on Saturday ( AP )

Despite a warning last month by Israel's army to avoid Lebanon's southern coast, you can't tell someone who needs to eat that you can't fish, Bikai said.

The health ministry said other airstrikes killed eight people, including four children, in the eastern town of Shmustar, five others in the southern village of Roumin, and another five people in the northeastern village of Budai.

The attacks come as two Western diplomatic officials on Saturday described disputed points between Israel and Lebanon in ceasefire negotiations. They spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the talks.

The current proposal calls for a two-month ceasefire during which Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanon and Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the southern border south of the Litani River. Thousands more Lebanese army troops would patrol the border area with UN peacekeepers, and an international committee would monitor the deal's implementation.

open image in gallery Firefighters spray water to reduce the dust for the rescuers who search for victims at the site of an Israeli airstrike that hit central Beirut, Lebanon, on Saturday ( AP )

The officials said Israel wanted more guarantees that Hezbollah's weapons are removed from the border area. Israeli officials have said they would not agree to a deal that did not explicitly grant them freedom to strike in Lebanon if they believe Hezbollah is violating it.

Lebanese officials have said the inclusion of such a term would violate their country's sovereignty. And Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem said this week that the militant group would not agree to a deal that does not entail a complete and comprehensive end to the aggression.

Lebanon and Israel also dispute which countries would sit on the monitoring committee. The officials said Israel refused to allow France, which has been close with Lebanon since its colonial rule there ended. Lebanon refused to have Britain, a close ally of Israel.

Additional reporting by agencies
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The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the war in Gaza.

The Israeli premier and his former defence minister Yoav Gallant have both been accused by the ICC of potentially committing crimes against humanity and war crimes, including using starvation as a method of warfare, and intentional attacks on civilians.

The ICC also issued an arrest warrant for Hamas chief Mohammed Deif for alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes in Israel and Palestine from at least 7 October 2023, the date of Hamass cross-border attack which left at least 1,200 dead, saw 250 taken hostage and sparked the Gaza war.

Prosecutors had initially filed warrant applications for two other senior Hamas leaders, Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar, which were withdrawn following confirmation of their recent deaths. Israel said in August it had killed Deif in an air strike, a claim the court said it was as yet unable to verify.

What is the ICC?

After decades of efforts to create an international justice mechanism akin to tribunals used to prosecute crimes committed in the Second World War, Yugoslav wars and the Rwandan genocide, the ICC was established in 2002, when its 124 member states signed up to a treaty called the Rome Statute.

Dozens of countries did not sign and do not accept the Hague-based courts jurisdiction over war crimes, genocide and other crimes. They include Israel, the United States, Russia and China.

The ICC becomes involved when nations are unable or unwilling to prosecute crimes on their territory. Israel argues that it has a functioning court system, and disputes over a nations ability or willingness to prosecute is an issue that has fuelled past rows between the court and individual countries.

It can prosecute crimes committed by nationals of member states or on the territory of member states by other actors.

open image in gallery The ICC is situated in the Hague and was established with the Rome Statute in 2002 ( AP )

The ICC has 12 ongoing investigations, has issued at least 56 arrest warrants and taken 21 suspects into custody, with 32 cases heard before the court and 27 defendants still at large. Its judges have convicted 11 suspects and acquitted four.

Of the 11 convictions, six were for war crimes and crimes against humanity, all relating to 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.

In its early years, the court  whose budget for 2024 is close to 187m (155m)  was criticised for focusing on crimes in Africa. While six of its current investigations are in African nations, it now has investigations in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and South America.

What is Israels relationship with the ICC?

Israel often levies accusations of bias at international bodies such as the United Nations. The ICC is not a UN body but accepted the State of Palestine as a member in 2015, a year after the Palestinians accepted the courts jurisdiction.

The courts chief prosecutor at the time announced in 2021 that she was opening an investigation into possible crimes on Palestinian territory. Mr Netanyahu criticised the decision as hypocritical and antisemitic.

open image in gallery Benjamin Netanyahu has been accused of potentially committing war crimes and crimes against humanity ( REUTERS )

ICC prosecutor Karim Khan then visited Ramallah and Israel in December, meeting Palestinian officials and families of Israelis killed or taken hostage by Hamas militants in the 7 October attack.

He called Hamass actions some of the most serious international crimes that shock the conscience of humanity, crimes which the ICC was established to address, and called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

Mr Khan added that international humanitarian law must still apply in the Israel-Hamas war and the Israeli military knows the law that must be applied, and in May submitted arrest warrants for Mr Netanyahu, Mr Gallant, and Hamas leaders Deif, Sinwar and Haniyeh.

While Israel had responded by challenging the ICCs jurisdiction and arguing that the court did not provide Israel the opportunity to investigate the allegations itself before requesting the warrants, the ICC has now ruled that it did not require Israels acceptance of the courts jurisdiction to issue warrants.

What could an arrest warrant mean for Netanyahu?

Though the decision turns Mr Netanyahu into an internationally wanted suspect, the extent of the warrants practical implications are unclear given Israel and its major ally, the US, are not members of the court.

open image in gallery People gather around the rubble of a Gaza City house destroyed in an Israeli strike ( AFP via Getty Images )

The ICC itself has no police to enforce warrants, meaning neither Mr Netanyahu or Mr Gallant are likely to face judges in the Hague.

While the warrant means that the ICCs 124 member states  including the UK  would be obliged to arrest them if they were to enter their territory, Russias Vladimir Putin recently showed he could still visit an ally when he travelled to ICC member state Mongolia and was not arrested.

However, both Jordan and the Netherlands have said their countries must respect the new warrants, indicating that international travel will be much more difficult for both Mr Gallant and Mr Netanyahu, whose last overseas trip was to the US in July.

The ICC application could also indirectly influence other legal proceedings against Mr Netanyahu.

While it is a separate matter from court cases demanding arms embargoes against Israel and South Africas case at the UNs top court, the International Court of Justice, the decision by ICC judges that there are reasonable grounds to believe Mr Netanyahu is guilty could strengthen South Africas case.

The decision to issue a warrant can also bolster legal challenges demanding an arms embargo elsewhere, as numerous states have provisions against selling arms to states which might use them in ways that violate international humanitarian law.

Additional reporting by agencies
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Donald Trump is reportedly considering sanctions against the British lawyer leading the prosecution against Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

US officials have condemned the ICC after it issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, Israels former defence minister, over alleged war crimes in Gaza.

British laywer and chief ICC prosecutor Karim Khan first requested that the court issue the warrants in earlier this year in May.

On Thursday, the three-judge panel made a unanimous decision to issue them.

In response to the warrants, Trumps future national security adviser, Mike Waltz, said the court had no credibility and promised a strong response to the ICC when Trump takes office in January.

open image in gallery British laywer and chief ICC prosecutor Karim Khan first requested that the court issue the warrants in earlier this year in May. ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

As reported by the Telegraph, Mr Khan is thought to be among the officials who could be sanctioned by the Trump administration.

Senior Republican politicians have also called for sanctions, including the chairman of the House foreign affairs committee, Michael McCaul, who called for the Senate to enact legislation to sanction officials immediately.

However, the UK appears to be taking a different approach to the US following the ICCs decision to issue warrants.

When asked if Netanyahu would be arrested if he visited the UK, 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.

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.

open image in gallery US officials have condemned the ICC after it issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, Israels former defence minister, over alleged war crimes in Gaza. ( EPA )

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.

EU heavyweights Germany and France declined to say what they would do if the Israeli leader entered their territory, while Hungarys prime minister Viktor Orban vowed to defy the warrant.

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.

open image in gallery The ICC has issued warrants for Yoav Gallant (top left), Benjamin Netanyahu (top right), and Hamas leader Mohammed Deif (bottom right). The chief prosecutor withdrew his request for warrants for two other senior Hamas figures, Yahya Sinwar (bottom middle) and Ismail Haniyeh (bottom left), after they were both killed in the conflict. Israel has said it also killed Deif in an airstrike (Getty) ( Getty )

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.

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.

Israel is believed to have killed Deif in an airstrike, but Hamas has never confirmed his death.
Aideen Leacy, Financial Controller and Board Sec at Dogpatch with Communications Minister Eamon Ryan and Dogptach CEO, Patrick Walsh.

A raft of start-up company founders and advisors have signed an open letter calling for a rethink of the decision to wind down the National Digital Research Centre (NDRC), a so called accelerator programmes that provides funding and other supports to help emerging businesses in the sector achieve scale.

NDRC announced on Thursday that it will cease operations when a current contract expires in November 2025 following a decision by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications not to extend the funding of 3.5m a year.

NDRCs supports to start-ups include some funding, office space at sites in Dublin and around the country and mentoring, training and networking supports. It has been around since 2006 in a number of guises and operates under a concession agreement, with third parties funded by the State to provide the service..

Following a procurement process, the contract was awarded in 2020 to Dublin based Dogpatch Labs and a number of regional partners to continue the NDRC.

The Department of the Environment said it took the decision not to extend the contract following consultation with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Enterprise Ireland, which between them are responsible for managing most business supports, including funding to high potential start-ups.

However, the decision sparked a backlash from business owners in the tech sector. An open letter calling for the decision to be reversed was circulated on Friday and had secured more than 200 signatures within hours.

The letter writers said the signatures are from founders of businesses responsible for an estimated 2,745 jobs. The letter was written by Paul Sheridan of Lynq, Luke Mackey of Kota, Eoin Cambay of Swan and Will O'Brien of Ulysses and was endorsed by industry figures including

Patricia Scanlon, most recently the States AI Ambassador and founder of Soapbox Labs, which uses artificial intelligence to develop speech recognition applications; and serial entrepreneur Pat Phelan.

We are writing this letter as a group of concerned Irish technology startup founders who disagree with the Department for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Enterprise Ireland's decision to close the National Digital Research Centre (NDRC) accelerator program, the letter said.

Under Dogpatch Labs' stewardship alongside a very successful partnership model with regional hubs Republic of Work (Cork), Portershed (Galway) and RDI (Kerry), the NDRC has built an ecosystem of early-stage startups that could compete with European and US counterpartsdespite those regions having deeper capital pools, more established role models, broader talent bases, and greater ecosystem experience, it said.

The letter said NDRC-backed startups had raised 200m since 2021 while creating 650+ jobs and that alternative State backed schemes would not replace the benefits of the existing programme.

We strongly urge the Department for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Enterprise Ireland to reconsider and thoroughly review the impact of closing the NDRC on the creation of indigenous startups, the letter said.

The decision not to continue funding was in fact made by the Department of the Environment as NDRCs long time funder.
Company had been seen as energy transition champion

Northvolt's CEO and co-founder Peter Carlsson stepped down yesterday, a day after Europe's biggest hope for an electric vehicle battery champion filed for US Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The Swedish maker of battery cells went in a matter of months this year from being Europe's best shot in a vital industry for the energy transition to racing to stay afloat, hobbled by production problems and dwindling funds.
Some candidates understand dementia, but they dont always see the impact on families

General election candidates have been called on to commit to the delivery of a comprehensive National Dementia Registry in the next government, with the latest figures showing there are almost 2,000 people living with dementia in Wicklow alone. Among those is a Greystones resident and former member of the Defence Forces, who has added his voice to the campaign.

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland (ASI) said a 'National Dementia Registry is now essential to enable the development, operation and quality of dementia-related health and social care services, given nationwide an estimated 64,000 people live with dementia, with the number projected to reach 150,000 by 2045.

The ASI called on candidates to ensure a registry is in the next Programme for Government as it is needed for mapping services and ensuring equitable access across all regions.

Wicklow

Greystones local Gerry Paley is one of those people living with dementia and is on a mission this election season. Diagnosed with early-onset, or young-onset Alzheimers in 2017, Gerry is one of the faces of the ASIs national campaign, Dementia Pledge.

On Tuesday, November 19, his face was displayed on a billboard in front of the train station in Greystones, urging candidates to commit to improving dementia services.

I want every candidate in this general election to sign the pledge, Gerry said. While things have improved, there are still great needs. Many people in Wicklow cant access essential services like home help.

In the past, Gerry could be found on weekend manoeuvres at the Glen of Imaal serving with the Defence Forces  An Forsa Cosanta Aitiuil (FCA) 21st Infantry Battalion. More recently, he has been spending his Saturdays and Sundays with his wife Nuala, meeting candidates and explaining the needs of people living with dementia in the area.

Some candidates understand dementia, but they dont always see the impact on families, Gerry explained. There are over 5,200 people living with young-onset dementia, diagnosed under 65, like me. Many are forced to stop working, leaving them with big mortgages and families to support. Often, their partners must leave work too, especially if no homecare is available.

In Wicklow alone, according to the last figures available (2020), it was estimated that 1,838 people were living with dementia, with 144 diagnosed with young-onset dementia.

Nearly five years later, the countys growing and ageing population means that number is more than likely to be much higher today. Sadly, not everyone can access home help, leaving family carers working around the clock to keep their loved ones safe.

We want Gerry to stay in Greystones, close to our family, said Nuala, who is also Gerrys primary carer.

Nuala is also a member of the Dementia Carers Campaign Network (DCCN), an advocacy group of carers and former carers of someone with dementia. The DCCN is supported by The Alzheimer Society of Ireland.

Were lucky to access The ASIs Day Care at Home Service, Nuala added. Lorna, our carer, visits twice a week, giving Gerry time to catch up with friends or take a walk with Teddy, our Cockapoo. Those visits give me precious time to rest, and Gerry gets to spend time with other people and have his social care needs met.

In Wicklow, carers also really need access to respite services. There are times when I know I really need a break, but Gerry cant be on his own and I have nobody to look after him.

Before retiring, Gerry worked as a civil servant and he was a keen rugby player and captain at Seapoint RFC, which kept him out of politics. Now, as an advocate with The Irish Dementia Working Group, supported by The Alzheimer Society of Ireland, hes researching which candidates and parties are serious about improving dementia services.

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland has released a six-point manifesto urging the next government to:

Resource the model of care for dementia Develop a National Dementia Registry Make brain health a public health priority Deliver a dementia workforce for the future Implement the Statutory Home Support Scheme Appoint an independent commissioner for older people

So far, some candidates have pledged their support, but others havent  and thats disappointing, Gerry said. This isnt about party politics. We need every candidate in the county to endorse this pledge.

Commenting further on the need for the registry, the ASIs head of advocacy, research and public affairs, Cormac Cahill welcomed an allocation of 200,000 in Budget 2025 to implement it, but said this was just the beginning.

Unlike many other countries, Ireland does not have a dementia registry which means there is no national systematic approach to the collection and analysis of dementia data. The lack of hard data on the number of people with dementia in Ireland and where they live makes our estimations just that, estimations on prevalence rather than evidence-based facts.

This creates a significant challenge for planning equitable service provision; both nationally and locally. Access to dementia services, such as day care, home care, and medical support, remains unequal across Ireland, with rural areas particularly underserved.

To enable candidates to make public their support, the ASI has set up an online Dementia Pledge which candidates of all parties and independents have been urged to sign up to, at: dementiapledge.ie.

In turn, voters will be able to visit the portal before voting day and see which candidates in their constituency have given their commitment to people with dementia and their carers.
Mr Harris told reporters today he was annoyed with himself for not giving Charlotte Fallon more time

The disability worker at the centre of the tense exchange with Taoiseach Simon Harris in Cork yesterday said she was shaken following the interaction and accused Simon Harris of being horrible in their exchange.

The woman, Charlotte Fallon, who works with St Josephs Foundation, told The Irish Times that she was upset and that he was horrible last night.

"I am not going to deny that. He was totally wrong. It wasnt very nice. I hope nobody else has to have an interaction like that ever, because its not very nice going home crying. He said he didnt sleep much last night. Hes a politician, she said.

Ms Fallon also said that the taoiseach rang her this morning to apologise, adding: Im glad I got the apology.

Mr Harris had responded over Instagram earlier this morning to criticism over his handling of their conversation while out canvassing in Cork yesterday.

In a livestream this morning he said: I should have taken the time to engage.

It came as both political parties and activists levelled criticism at the Fine Gael leader for turning away from Ms Fallon, a section 39 disability carer, who told him: you have done nothing for carers.

The conversation, which took place in a supermarket while he was out on the campaign trail in Kanturk in north Cork yesterday was filmed by RTE.

In it, Ms Fallon said of the Budget: Weve fought for our money  but we are ignored.

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To which the Taoiseach said: No, no, not at all. and she responded: Yes, we were.

She told the Taoiseach that she is passionate about her job but that people are suffering, adding that there is no mention of his passion for carers in the Budget.

Mr Harris then shakes her hand and walks off abruptly for a second, before returning.

She told him: Keep shaking hands and pretend youre a good man.

Ms Fallon added: Youre not a good man to which he questions before abruptly walking off again: You dont think Im a good man?

Speaking to reporters in Rathfarnham this afternoon, Simon Harris said he was annoyed with himself for not giving Charlotte Fallon more time.

I called Charlotte this morning because she was absolutely owed an apology from me, the buck stops with me entirely here. We had a very good conversation, a very good conversation. I was very grateful to her for her time and her kindness. We spoke about a number of issues. We spoke about disability services. We spoke about the issue of pay parity in people in section 39 organisations and we also spoke about the issue of the means test for carers. I was grateful to have a chance to be able to listen to charlotte and also talk through with her some of my own views and plans and vision in relation to disability services. I am really grateful for the conversation, learned a lot from it and I have also said I would love to call in to where she works in Cork in the coming weeks and she said I would be very welcome.

"So I really do appreciate that. I am annoyed at how I didnt give that person, Charlotte, the time last night. She deserved that time. I have been around the country and have had hundreds of conversations some days and I have learned a lot and I always learn a lot from listening to people and Im very sorry that didnt happen last night, Mr Harris said.

Mr Harris was also asked to expand on his reasoning that he had a long day before the encounter. Questioned as to whether he was tired, Mr Harris said: Not at all. Not at all. Im not making any excuses at all. The buck stops with me.

But he said much more importantly from my conversation with Charlotte today is what we are going to do to help people with disabilities and that was really the thrust of the conversation that Charlotte and I had today, making Charlotte aware of our plans to get rid of the means test for carers which is something I know she feels very strongly about.

On Instagram live this earlier this morning, the Taoiseach said: "I should have taken the time to engage, there is no excuse on my part in relation to that. But please, please know this is what makes me tick.

He said that he will try to improve things for carers and those with disabilities - ending the means test for carers, putting therapists in schools and doubling college places for therapy posts, more special needs classes and chairing a cabinet committee on disability.

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One commenter on his Instagram live asked why have you not done all of this so far, when youve been in government?

That is a fair question. But I would point out Ive only been Taoiseach for seven months. Ive made this a personal mission for me and Im absolutely determined to do that. So thank you so much for listening.

"I would have liked to have an opportunity to say that in Kanturk last night, it is my fault that I didnt. I should have taken the time to engage, there is no excuse on my part in relation to that.

The Taoiseach also said that he would not have gotten into politics at all if it were not for disability services, with his brother, Adam Harris, born with autism.

"Seeing what my parents, particularly my mother went through, fighting for services, fighting for answers, and the loneliness that my family often felt as well.

He cited this as the reason for being determined to prioritise disability issues as well as the needs of carers throughout the country.

"I didnt give her the time I should have given her and I feel really bad about that because its not who I am, its not what makes me tick.

"I am really passionate about disability services. I do hope to have a longer conversation with her because I want you to know and I want her to know that I am absolutely in the business of listening, learning and acting when it comes to disability services, I always will be, he said.

Reacting the incident, Tanaiste Micheal Martin acknowledged the fact that Mr Harris had apologised for his handling of the encounter. He himself has said he has apologised for it and he has acknowledged that he should have dealt with it differently and in a better manner and I think that I would leave it at that at this stage, said Mr Martin.

Asked whether he would turn on his heal if he had found himself in the same situation Mr Martin said:

I would hope not, and added I would give my contact numbers to people so they could follow up and meet with people for a lengthier time.

Empathising with Mr Harris he said Anybody can get in to difficult situations in an election campaign.
VoteSmart: Take our election test to find out which parties and politicians align with your views
Almost two thirds of voters do not believe Senator John McGahon should be a Fine Gael general election candidate, according to the latest Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks opinion poll.

The poll shows 61pc of those surveyed do not believe he should be a Fine Gael candidate, while 14pc said he should and 25pc said they did not know.

Mr McGahon has not spoken since new details of his assault case emerged last weekend.

The other man involved in the altercation with the politician, Breen White, told the Sunday Times he was astonished that Fine Gael selected Mr McGahon to run in the general election.

However, Taoiseach Simon Harris has stuck by his party colleague insisting a criminal court cleared him of any wrongdoing. Mr McGahon was forced to pay Mr White 38,000 following a subsequent High Court civil case.

Meanwhile, voters have said they believe Aontu leader Peadar Toibin won last Monday nights televised election debate on RTEs Up Front with Katie Hannon.

Asked who performed best on the ten leader debate, almost a quarter (24pc) of voters picked Mr Toibin. The Aontu leader was followed by Tanaiste Micheal Martin (22pc), Taoiseach Simon Harris (20pc) and Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald (19pc),

One in ten (10pc) choose People Before Profit leader Richard Boyd Barrett and 2pc said Ivana Bacik. Independent Irelands Michael Collins, Social Democrats Cian OCallaghan and Green Partys Roderic OGorman were all on 1pc. While Right to Change TD Joan Collins was on less than one percent.

Gerry The Monk Hutch has seen his support increase slightly after officially becoming a general election candidate.

Just under one in ten (9pc) voters said they would give Mr Hutch a number one preference if he was on the ballot paper in their consistency.

This one point up on when the question was asked earlier this month and it increases to 11pc among voters living in Dublin.

Mr Hutch is running in Dublin Central and if he was to get 11pc of first preference votes he will be in the running for a seat.

He was released on bail after being arrested in Spain on money laundering charges and cited the election when he was seeking court approval to be let return to Ireland.

The poll was conducted on November 21 and 22 amongst a sample of 1,420 people with a margin of error of +/- 2.6pc.
Justice Minister Helen McEntee urged to publish policing review of Dublin riots

The Policing Authority wanted to publish its review in September but the Minister for Justice said she would publish it in due course

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee. Photo: Steve Humphreys

Maeve Sheehan Sat 23 Nov 2024 at 16:09

THE Minister for Justice has been urged to release an unpublished review of the garda response to the riots that shut down Dublin city a year ago yesterday.
Micheal Martin also said: I think the entire country are rooting for Nikita Hand this morning.

Nikita Ni Laimhin, who is also known as Nikita Hand, outside the High Court in Dublin (PA)

Taoiseach Simon Harris has confirmed he has spoken to the Dublin woman who won a civil case against mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor to praise her courage. Mr Harris said he also wanted to tell Nikita Hand, a hair colourist from Drimnagh, that her case had prompted an increase in women coming forward to ask for support. Ms Hand, who accused the sportsman of raping her in a Dublin hotel in December 2018, won her claim against him for damages in a civil case at the High Court in the Irish capital on Friday. The total amount of damages awarded to Ms Hand by the jury was 248,603.60. Mr McGregor said in a post on social media on Friday that he intends to appeal against the decision. That post has since been deleted. Speaking to the media on Saturday, Mr Harris said he told Ms Hand of the support she has from people across Ireland. "I spoke with Nikita today and I wanted to thank her for her incredible bravery and her courage," he said. "I wanted to make sure that she knew how much solidarity and support there was across this country for her bravery. "I also wanted to make sure she knew of what the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre had said yesterday - that so many other women have now come forward in relation to their own experiences of sexual abuse as a result of Nikita's bravery." Earlier Justice Minister Helen McEntee also commended Nikita for her bravery and determination after winning a civil case against Irish mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor.

Mr McGregor said in a post on social media on Friday that he intends to appeal the decision. That post has since been deleted.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee praised Ms Hands bravery and said she had shown there is light at the end of the tunnel.

I just want to commend Nikita for her bravery, for her determination and the leadership that she has shown in what has been  Ive no doubt  a very, very difficult time for her and indeed, for her family.

She added: Because of wonderful people like Nikita, I hope that it shows that there is light at the end of the tunnel, that there are supports available to people, and that there is justice at the end of the day.

Ms Hand said in a statement outside court on Friday that she hoped her case would remind victims of assault to keep pushing forward for justice.

Describing the past six years as a nightmare, she said: I want to show (my daughter) Freya 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.

During the case, Ms Hand said she was disappointed and upset when the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) decided not to prosecute the case after she made a complaint to the Irish police.

In a letter to her in August 2020, the DPP said there was insufficient evidence and there was not a reasonable prospect of conviction.

Ms Hand asked the DPP to review the decision, saying she felt she was being treated differently because one of the suspects was famous.

Asked about the DPPs decision not to prosecute, Ms McEntee said: We have a very independent system in this country, and I think thats right.

Our DPP, shes independent in the decisions that are taken, and for good reasons that there should never be any political interference in that process.

There is always an option for an individual to ask for reasons to be outlined as to why the DPP made a particular decision, and that is open to any individual or any case, but I have, since becoming minister, given priority to and enabled a new office within the DPP to open specifically focused on sexual offences, so that this issue can be given the focus and the priority that it needs.

But it is independent, and I really think its important that we respect that independence.

Also speaking about the case, Mr Martin commended Ms Hand for her extraordinary courage and bravery, while stressing the importance of instilling core values in young people and young men in particular.

Consent and respect are very very basic values that must be there from the very beginning in life and through the SPHE programme through relationships and sexualities programmes in schools this has to be consistently worked on.

Consent its critical here and for Nikita Hand to do what she did I think is quiet extraordinary.

He said: It was a harrowing case and I think the people across the country were shocked by it and very very upset. I think the entire country are rooting for Nikita Hand this morning.

Asked if he was critical of the DPP, Mr Martin said: I dont have the full background that the DPP had in respect of this but the bottom line is: there is a higher degree of challenge in a criminal court than there is in a civil case. He added that there are issues that we will evaluate coming out of this.

Mr Martin also stressed the need to ensure the Irish justice system is much more victim-centric than it currently is or indeed has been in the past.
People are marching along Avenida da Liberdade, holding red carnations and flags to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Revolution Day in Lisbon, Portugal. Photo: Getty

Celeste Caeiro could not have dreamed she would soon be a folk hero as she travelled to work one morning 50 years ago. The 40-year-old single mother worked as a cloakroom attendant in a posh restaurant in the centre of Lisbon and she was bracing herself for a hard day.
Nikita Hand speaking to the media outside the High Court in Dublin after the civil case against Conor McGregor. Photo: PA

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre stands proudly with Nikita Hand. Her determination to seek justice overcame every barrier thrown in front of her and she has demonstrated immense strength and courage.

The consequences of yesterdays verdict go far beyond any damages  it is an important message from the court to other survivors that they will be believed, that what happened to them was never their fault and they were not to blame.

Speaking outside the court, Ms Hand said: If something happens to you, no matter who the person is and justice will be served. 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.

This case has been impossible to ignore. Graphic information has seeped into everyday life. Understandably, this exposure has reinforced concerns survivors hold about how people will respond to their experiences.

People who have experienced sexual violence have been profoundly affected by the case as a result. Calls to the National Rape Crisis Helpline increased by almost 20pc over the first 10 days of the trial, with many callers referencing the case by name.

During the same period, contact from first-time callers rose by 50pc compared to the same period last year, illustrating that there were features of this particular case that drove the community of survivors of sexual violence towards additional support.

Nikita Hand speaking outside court. Photo: Brian Lawless/ PA

Dublin Rape Crisis Centres telephone counsellors and therapists have been supporting people who have expressed high levels of distress and anxiety since the trial began.

The sometimes explicit information being shared has caused setbacks for some clients in their already difficult recovery. Others have needed greater support because of night terrors, difficulty completing everyday tasks, feelings of being overwhelmed and powerlessness and a prevailing feeling of dread.

Many said the case showed why it is not safe to come forward about experiences of sexual violence and that it has laid bare highly negative attitudes and beliefs around survivors and the meaning of sexual consent.

This should be a rallying issue that we can unite around to seek victim-centred changes

Mr Justice Owens addressed some of these stigmatising social beliefs when he charged the jury on Tuesday. He said that wearing certain clothes in Instagram photos is not an invitation and that although men might be attracted to a woman, if they want to take it further, it requires consent.

He went on to say that the fact that a woman engages in risky activity, such as drinking or taking drugs, does not mean they want to have sex. He stated to the jury: You look for sound evidential basis and not lazy assumptions or victim blaming.

These comments reflect those of Mr Justice Paul McDermott in the Criminal Court earlier this year, when he outlined his concern that limiting womens freedom seems to be an accepted response to protect them against mens violence. He said: Women too often become the subject of sexual or other forms of physical violence or the threat of it when they go out to simply enjoy themselves. It indicates an underlying unhealthy attitude towards women and their fundamental rights in any society, if their sense of freedom and security in doing normal things is so compromised.

Fewer than one in two women ever tell another person that they experienced sexual violence

When the Central Statistics Office carried out research in 2022, it established that fewer than one in two women ever tell another person that they experienced sexual violence. Women are twice as likely as men to cite shame or embarrassment as the reason for not telling anyone, they are five times more likely to say they didnt tell anyone because they blamed themselves for what happened and are over 50pc more likely than men to stay silent because there was alcohol or drugs involved.

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre wants the shame and blame to lie squarely in the perpetrators corner.

The jurys verdict will have a wider effect beyond this case. It is an important blow to a toxic layer that lies beneath a veneer of progressive social change around sexual violence.

Conor McGregor

It is hard to imagine the courage needed to take legal action following a rape or sexual assault. In Nikita Hands case, she was so determined to seek justice and her belief in our legal system was so strong that when the DPP didnt proceed with a criminal case, she sought another way to be vindicated. Ms Hand has won her case and received enormous support around the country as she went through what she has called a nightmare over the last two weeks.

However, the trial also revealed levels of hostility to survivors of sexual violence that should trigger a reflection on how fragile the progress we have made on this issue really is.

So, although there is great relief at the verdict, there is also dismay at some of the reactions and attitudes laid bare in this case. With greater awareness of the challenges for victims in fighting for justice, this should be a rallying issue that we can unite around to seek victim-centred changes.

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre will be here for all victims of sexual violence, offering support, counselling and listening for as long as it takes.

For now though, we wish Nikita Hand and her family good health and healing and on behalf of so many others, we thank her for her courage and belief in justice.

Rachel Morrogh is Chief Executive of Dublin Rape Crisis Centre. Free, confidential support on 24-Hour National Rape Crisis Helpline 1800 778888
What has been branded the most momentous decision in the 22-year history of the International Criminal Court (ICC)  the issuing of an arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu  is, nonetheless, unlikely to cost the Israeli leader a single seconds loss of sleep.

Far more concerning is the fact it is also unlikely to halt the annihilation of so many civilian lives in Gaza, even as the threshold of 44,000 deaths was crossed in figures released yesterday by the Palestinian health ministry.

Israel does not recognise the ICC, nor does the US, its staunchest ally. Even so, this is the first time a leader of a democracy and Western-aligned state has been so charged by the court. It also issued warrants for former Israel defence minister Yoav Gallant and for Hamas leader Mohammed Deif.

It found reasonable grounds to believe Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant bear criminal responsibility for the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare.

It also found similar grounds for the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution and other inhumane acts. They may also have intentionally and knowingly deprived Gazas civilians of food, water, medical supplies, fuel and electricity.

The findings are historically incriminating. Balkees Jarrah, of Human Rights Watch, said they would break through the perception that certain individuals were beyond the reach of the law.

Dutch foreign minister Caspar Veldkamp, whose country hosts the ICC, said the Netherlands would arrest Mr Netanyahu should he land on Dutch soil.

Ultimately, the impact of the warrants depend on whether the ICCs 124 member states decide to enforce them. Either way, they serve to strengthen the sense that Israel has become increasingly isolated internationally because of its conduct in Gaza.

It has been damningly called to account at the bar of international law. Taoiseach Simon Harris described the decision as an extremely significant step.

A spokesperson for UK prime minister Keir Starmer noted that the court is the primary international institution for investigating and prosecuting the most serious crimes of international concern.

The US, which is not an ICC member, but which previously welcomed ICC war-crime warrants against Russian president Vladimir Putin, was highly critical of the move.

The White House said it fundamentally rejects the decision. Mr Netanyahus office branded the warrants antisemitic and said Israel rejects with disgust the absurd and false actions and charges against it.

In Brussels, the EUs top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said the warrants were not political and should be implemented. Israel remains oblivious of a chorus of international criticism. Washington has repeatedly called on the Israeli government to respect civilian life, yet all the while the carnage in Gaza continues to unconscionable levels.

It appears that as long as Tel Aviv has such unconditional support, the people of Palestine will find no respite, not even under the highest scales of justice.
Listowel in north Kerry was one of the worst affected parts of the county following severe rainfall.

Emergency crews at the scene of flooding in Listowel on Saturday.

Flooding at the entrance to The Meadows estate in Listowel.

Emergency crews are continuing to battle rising waters in parts of Abbeyfeale and Listowel on Saturday following severe overnight rainfall due to an Orange Level weather warning.

The main roads to Listowel town were closed for a time on Saturday afternoon as teams from Kerry County Council and Kerry Fire Department pumped water from sections of the town closest to the River Feale where the river breached its banks.

Flooding at the entrance to The Meadows estate in Listowel.

Flooding near Listowel town after the River Feale breached its banks

The worst affected areas were The Meadows housing estate just off Bridge Road where several low-lying houses were damaged by the flooding.

Fire engines were at the scene for hours in a desperate attempt to decrease the water levels.

Home owners assisted emergency personnel as they tried to sweep water from their properties and placed temporary sandbags at doorways.

One resident, whose house managed to avoid damage, said it was awful for the residents impacted. Offers of temporary accommodation were made to some homeowners who cannot return to their properties.

It is awful for people so close to Christmas to have their homes destroyed. They are saying the banks burst at the river in Abbeyfeale and added to the swell, she said.

The sound of emergency sirens could be heard throughout the town as bystanders gathered at the Island Bridge that connects the town to Listowel Racecourse to observe the flooding.

One onlooker said she has lived in Listowel since 1973 and has never seen flooding on this scale. Many locals blamed the thawing snow that fell on Thursday as having contributed to the high water levels.

Flooding was also reported in other parts of the county on Saturday with many roads temporarily blocked.

Rising water levels from the lakes of Killarney led to parts of the N71 being closed at Five Mile Bridge. The R570 Headford to Barraduff road was also flooded.

Earlier flooding was reported in parts of Tralee and on the Tralee bypass northbound near the John Mitchels GAA Complex.

Sections of the road near Abbeydorney Village was impacted by water for a time, as was Duagh and Abbeyfeale.
The Ahare River and Biodiversity Development Group brought won two awards at the National Heritage Week Awards ceremony on Friday, November 15.

The Ahare River and Biodiversity Development Group were shortlisted for a Wild Child National Heritage award and on the day were delighted to have been named the winners. They also won a National Heritage Week County Award for Wexford.

Chairperson of the Ahare River and Biodiversity Development Group, Cathy Lee said they were shocked by the win as there were so many worthy candidates.

We love the work and projects that we undertake within our community with adults and children and these are not undertaken in expectation of any accolade or reward. Bringing the joy and wonder of nature to people is reward in itself.

Receiving these awards is a celebration for all the community, the local schools, who make us so welcome, businesses who so generously support our fundraising events those people who lend theirs skills and gifts to enhance our work. These awards are dedicated to you all, said Cathy.

The ceremony in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham last week, was to honour the 2,300 events which took place during National Heritage Week.

There were eight award categories with the addition this year of a Micheal O Muircheartaigh Cultural Heritage Award which is given to a group whose 2024 National Heritage Week event encouraged a greater appreciation of Irish traditions, crafts, skills, customs and practices.
Green Party general election candidate for the Wicklow-Wexford constituency Ann Walsh has highlighted her concerns that the electorate is being duped by the bigger parties.

With the general election fast approaching on November 29, Ann said she is concerned that the bigger parties are avoiding talking about climate change and emissions reduction. Speaking on this, she said: "We cant have thriving communities unless we have a thriving environment.

Ann was recently at a talk at Gorey Library with Professor Conor Murphy of Maynooth, who is from Kilanerin.

"You could not walk away from that talk without wondering why our politicians are not putting this at the heart of their conversations. Not talking about one of the most important issues of our time just to gain votes, is disingenuous. We know without the Green Party in government, we would still be, to quote Leo Varadkar Climate Laggards, we have now moved to achieving our best ranking global emission scale yet.

"The housing crisis, considerable difficulties in the health care sector, and many other day to day challenges are foremost in peoples minds. All of these issues are high on the Green Partys agenda and in their manifesto, but unless we recognise that we are part of a planetary system that supports us, these challenges will be secondary to what faces our children and grandchildren, said Ann.

Ann is a founding member of the Special Interest Group for Addressing Climate Change and Environmental Emergency within the Psychological Society of Ireland, a founding member of Down To Earth Gorey, and a member of Wexford Environmental Network.
Claire Butterly has been announced as the new National Coordinator for the Leadership for Inclusion in the Early Years (LINC) Programme.

The Leadership for Inclusion in the Early Years (LINC) Programme has announced the appointment of Claire Butterly as its new National Coordinator.

Claire who hails from Gorey, commenced her new role earlier this month, bringing with her extensive professional and academic experience in early childhood education and care, coupled with a deep passion for advancing inclusion and professional development within the sector.

With a career spanning various roles, Claires dedication to children and families is evident. Her experience includes quality mentoring on early childhood programmes, tutoring, and leading content development for the LINC+ CPD Programme.

Claire initially joined the LINC Programme as a tutor from 2016 to 2021 before progressing to Lead Content Developer and tutor for the LINC+ CPD Programme. In 2022, she expanded her expertise as a Professional Practice Placement Coordinator at South East Technological University, and now returns to LINC as National Coordinator.

Claire holds a BA in Early Childhood Education and Care and an MA in Child, Youth and Family Studies, both from IT Carlow. She completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Mentoring, Management and Leadership in Early Years at TUD and is currently pursuing a PhD in Education through Research at Mary Immaculate College. Her research focuses on the recruitment role and function of educators funded under the Access and Inclusion Model.

In response to her appointment, Claire Butterly shared her excitement and vision for the future saying: I am thrilled to return to the LINC Programme and the LINC+ CPD Programme as National Coordinator. The LINC Programme has played a pivotal role in transforming the early childhood sector by equipping educators with the expertise to reflect on and strengthen their inclusive culture and pedagogy.

"The Programmes foundation is further enriched through the CPD initiative, where Inclusion Coordinators (INCOs) come together in Communities of Practice to build their skills and knowledge. I look forward to working with the LINC team to continue inspiring and supporting the next generation of educators, ensuring that the inclusion of all children remains a central focus in early childhood education.

Professor Emer Ring, Dean of Early Childhood and Teacher Education at Mary Immaculate College, welcomed Claires appointment. On behalf of the dedicated LINC Team and all our colleagues at Mary Immaculate College, I extend a warm Cead Mile Failte to Claire Butterly as the new National Director of the LINC Programme. Having worked closely with Claire in the past, I can attest to her unwavering commitment to developing high-quality professional learning opportunities.

"Her extensive expertise and experience will significantly enhance the LINC Programmes national and international reputation. The LINC Programme encourages us to view the world through the lens of neurodiversity, recognising that differences are strengths. With Claires leadership, the programme will continue to create equal opportunities for all children to thrive and reach their full potential.

Teresa Heeney, CEO of Early Childhood Ireland and Chair of the LINC Steering Committee, also expressed her enthusiasm and support for Claires appointment.

On behalf of the LINC Steering Committee and all my colleagues at Early Childhood Ireland, I am delighted to congratulate and welcome Claire Butterly as the new National Coordinator of the LINC Programme. Claires extensive background in early childhood education and care, combined with her passion for advocating for the sector, will be an incredible asset to LINC.

"The LINC Programme has had a significant impact in advancing the inclusion of children and professionalising the early years sector. I am confident that Claires leadership will build on this success and continue to drive the inclusion of all children in early childhood education, said Ms Heeney.

Niamh Fortune, Head of the Froebel Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education at Maynooth University, echoed these sentiments with her own warm congratulations.

On behalf of Maynooth University, I would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Claire Butterly on her appointment as National Coordinator of the LINC Programme. We are excited to continue collaborating with LINC colleagues under Claires leadership. Her extensive experience and strong commitment to the field of early childhood education make her the ideal person to lead the programme and further its impact.

The LINC Programme is a pioneering initiative dedicated to enhancing the quality of early childhood education in Ireland. It equips educators with the knowledge and skills necessary to create inclusive learning environments that foster the inclusion and participation of every child. Graduates from the LINC Programme make a difference in the lives of children and their families, ensuring that all children have access to high-quality, inclusive early childhood education.
The Red Squirrel is still widespread throughout the island of Ireland although its distribution is quite patchy in places.

We are living through a biodiversity crisis, and it has been well flagged, so most people should at least have heard of it.

Natura 2000 is the European Unions flagship project to address the biodiversity crisis, to protect nature, and to conserve our natural heritage. The initiative can trace its origin back to 21 May 1992, over thirty years ago, so it is somewhat alarming that surveys show that awareness of the flagship project is not as good as it should be.

A substantial number of people claim that they never heard of Natura 2000 and know nothing about it. People in another cohort say they have heard the expression Natura 2000 but dont know what it means.

So, back to basics. Natura 2000 is a network of protected areas covering Europes most valuable and threatened species and habitats. It extends across all 27 EU Member States, both on land and at sea. It is the largest coordinated network of protected areas found anywhere in the world.

Basically, the network aims to protect wild birds by designating Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for them, and to protect habitats and non-bird life forms by designating Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) for them. So, the network consists of a suite of SPAs and SACs.

The initiative recognises that to ensure their long-term sustainability all migratory birds need to be protected together with 194 named bird species whose future is assessed as particularly threatened. The initiative also seeks to protect 233 habitat types and 900-plus non-bird life forms.

The EU requirement to designate Natura 2000 sites is transposed into our national legislation and the most recent inventory shows that of the 27,031 Natura 2000 sites extending throughout the European Union, 604 are in the Republic of Ireland covering an area of 19,480 sq km or 13% of the countrys land area.

All 604 Natura 2000 sites found in Ireland are detailed on the website of the governments National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) at https://www.npws.ie/ with site descriptions, maps, legislation, etc. The website has the facility to zoom in to your local area to see if and how the network extends to your local patch and/or places of particular interest to you. Do check it out.
A gift given by Glenart College to Japanese Ambassador to Ireland, Mr Norio Maruyama.

Students and teachers from Glenart College in Arklow make a presentation to Japanese Ambassador to Ireland, Mr Norio Maruyama. Photo: Michael Kelly

Students and teachers from Glenart College in Arklow make a presentation to Japanese Ambassador to Ireland, Mr Norio Maruyama. Photo: Michael Kelly

Students and faculty from Glenart College in Arklow recently had the honour of welcoming the Japanese ambassador to Ireland, Mr Norio Maruyama, to celebrate and showcase the schools Japanese language and culture model.

Representing their school with immense pride, students greeted Mr Norio and his second secretary, Ms Keiko Nakata, with a guard of honour, before the dignitaries met the Glenart College senior leadership team of principal Mr Cloney and deputy principals Ms Campbell and Mr Rolston.

Transition year Japanese students then presented an overview of what the eight-week Japanese module covers, with Mr Maruyama taking time to address students and open up the floor to questions.

Woodwork teacher, Mr Carter, presented Mr Maruyama with a beautiful token of the schools appreciation, sculpted out of a 300-year-old Wicklow yew tree.

Japanese module teacher, Ms Fleming, who organised the visit with the help of Ms ONeill, said that the beautifully crafted memento represented the partnership between Glenart College and Japanese language and culture.

Some wonderful work has been done in promoting the Japanese language and culture in the school this year, and this visit has made it all so special, Ms Fleming added.

We enjoyed refreshments and a tour of the school, where Mr Maruyama expressed his deep gratitude to our whole school community and was deeply impressed by the facilities and warmth evident in our school community.

Its a lasting partnership between the embassy and the school hoped to continue and last for many years to come.
Minister of Health Stephen Donnelly speaking with staff at the official opening of the Wicklow Community Unit.

Sean Ryan with Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly at the official opening of the Wicklow Community Unit.

Minister of Health Stephen Donnelly, Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council Paul O'Brien, Senator Pat Casey, Regional Executive Officer Martina Queally and Rev Jack Kinkead With Management and Staff at the official opening of the Wicklow Community Unit.

Mary Kinsella and Paddy O'Brien with Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council Paul O'Brien at the official opening of the Wicklow Community Unit.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly TD met with staff and service users on Friday as he officially opened the refurbished Wicklow Community Unit in Wicklow town.

Formerly known as Wicklow District Hospital, it closed in 2010, but has been extensively refurbished after a 1.5 million investment, and is now back open to meet the needs of older adults in the community. The facility meets modern healthcare standards and provides a comfortable environment for service users with a dedicated and professional team of 40 WTE staff delivering high-quality care.

The unit offers 18 beds for Wicklows elderly community and specialises in short stay services including rehabilitation, convalescence, respite and day services. It is the only public dedicated short stay unit for older adults in County Wicklow. In addition, the Wicklow Integrated Care Programme for Older Persons (ICPOP) team operates from the first floor and provides additional support to the unit.

Speaking about how important supporting infrastructure is to patients, Minister Donnelly stated: Funding for this facility was allocated by Government in order to respond to the needs of the growing older population of County Wicklow. New or upgraded facilities like this Unit are vital to the delivery of our Enhanced Community Care (ECC) Programme, which enables people to get care close to home.

"They support our health service staff to provide specialist services in the community and can offer patients an alternative to long stays in acute hospitals. Id like to acknowledge all those involved for their ongoing commitment to developing and delivering this highly-valued service.

The unit has a full nursing and care support team together with a dedicated team of allied health professionals including physiotherapy and occupational therapy. There is also a day care centre for the elderly adjacent to the unit which was also substantially upgraded during the covid-19 pandemic. The day centre can accommodate 20 attendees daily and links closely with both the onsite ICPOP and nursing teams to enable proactive interventions where necessary.

Speaking about the unit, Martina Queally, regional executive officer for HSE Dublin and South East, said: Service users and staff at the Wicklow Community Unit are witnessing the benefits of integration between the acute hospital and community healthcare sectors first-hand.

"These services support both community-dwelling older adults and also our acute hospital partners. Having multi-disciplinary teams on site enables staff to take a holistic approach to care in the community for the older population of Wicklow. An approach which puts the needs of the service user at its very core.

Aisling Heffernan, Dublin South and Wicklow healthcare area manager said: The demand for services at Wicklow Community unit is high from across the county, with occupancy rates consistently above 95pc, highlighting the essential role it plays in the local community.

"The unit had 283 admissions in 2023 and are on target to exceed this number for 2024. In this regard, we hope to further increase the offering available to the local community by adding a further two beds in the coming year as part of our minor capital plans - one bed to allow for end of life care and a further bed to enable an isolation facility.

Beds at Wicklow Community Unit are accessed via GP and/or public health nurse. The unit also accepts referrals from hospitals to assist with hospital egress. On-site services are supported from a medical perspective by Sheeran-Purcell Medical Practice and the Consultant Geriatrician attached to the local ICPOP Team.
No, he is not related to Larry Goodman, the mighty beef baron from Dundalk. John Goodman is proud to confirm that he is Wicklow town born and bred, with no connections to the meat trade. Hes also not the US comedic actor John Goodman, best known for 1990s sitcom Roseanne.

The surname, though a rarity, has been present in Ireland for centuries. John reveals that, five hundred or so years ago, his forebears owned extensive property in Loughlinstown, which would now be worth a fortune. They were also responsible for building the Roman Catholic church in the upmarket Dublin suburb of Killiney. However, as succeeding Goodmans stuck fast by their religious faith, more recent generations enjoyed none of the trappings of wealthy landed gentry.

The 55-year-old, son of the late John Goodman and Evelyn Goodman (nee Dover), introduces himself as an information technology professional who works for the ESB. He examines the IT systems deployed by the power company to ensure that the country remains safe from blackouts. Away from his work on the computer screen and his most modern of modern-day jobs, he is a devoted local historian, delving into the past with impressive energy and boundless curiosity. His particular field of expertise is military history, a topic which grabbed him from an early age.

This interest in conflict may be traced back to the fact that his grandfather served in both the Royal Navy and the Irish Army, while other relations also enlisted in the Irish defence forces. Going back a further couple of decades, there are multiple family connections to World War I.

Young John attended the De La Salle school before going on to study computer science at DIT in Rathmines, a hard-headed choice of course.

I would have preferred to do history, he says candidly. Unfortunately, the timetable at De La Salle dictated that he had to choose between French and history in fifth year. He felt obliged to opt for the modern language. Any lingering thought of becoming a history student was demolished by circumstances at home around the time that he sat the Leaving Certificate in 1985.

John Goodman senior had been employed in the Veha factory where the workforce was engaged in a bitter nine month strike followed by the closure of the plant. Strike pay was minimal. Family finances were tight. The DIT computer department was backed by EU money and the course offered an attractive guarantee of a student grant. With pressure on the budget at home, it was a no-brainer to enrol there. Besides, computers were an exciting new field of study, holding out the prospect of well-paid jobs.

After graduation, he was taken on initially by the Irish Dairy Board, but soon left the humdrum to go back-packing around the Middle East. This was followed by a stint in America with a US aerospace company, alternating between offices in New York and Arizona. The firm developed, amongst many things, guidance systems for Patriot missiles. Naturally, the American authorities were anxious to protect their software from espionage. John recalls with a grin that, when he worked late, he would often be accompanied to the bathroom by security personnel any time he took a toilet break. This assured them that the Irishman was not a spy up to any hanky-panky with their military secrets.

It was in the States that he met his wife-to-be  Sligo native Joanne. She was working in Phoenix, Arizona, at the time, but their life together was destined to be back in Ireland. Once home in Wicklow, he began to develop a serious genealogy and local history hobby, with a particular emphasis on soldiers, sailors and airmen. He recently presented a lecture on people from Wicklow who took part in World War II and he is also keen to share his knowledge of those from the previous generation who served in World War I.

Some of the inspiration for his obsession came from family memorabilia. Johns mothers grand-uncle was a man called Sam Evans, who hailed from Monckton Row in the town. He died in the Great War, leaving behind a death plaque and his British Army cap badge as reminders of a life cut tragically short in the bloodbath of Ypres. Sams great-grand-nephew John was aware of these artifacts. Growing up, he haunted the public library, devouring any books he could lay hands on which dealt with the world wars. Returning as an adult to conduct genealogical research, he began to assemble a considerable cast of military men on the family tree.

I found more and more relatives who fought in World War I, he reports. There turned out to be five of them, of whom four died in the conflict.

His namesake John Goodman died amidst the carnage at the Somme, as did John Dover, while Harry Yeats perished at Arras. Sams brother John Evans was the only survivor among the quintet. In delving into those all too brief lives, the latter-day John Goodman became adept at finding his way around the relevant archives. His idea of a good day trip was (and remains) a visit to London to peruse the records held at Kew. Though the relevant material is increasingly digitised and accessible online, the original paperwork continues to hold an allure.

Sometimes the trail brings him beyond the dusty files and his laptop: it has taken considerable footslogging detective work over more than a decade, for instance, to identify a likely grave of one of his four ancestral casualties. Much of the investigation was carried out on foot, walking up and down the endless rows of stone memorials in the war cemeteries of Flanders on the trail of Sam Evans, whose final resting place he now believes he knows.

John has helped other families carry out their own explorations into the men of 1914-18. In 2016 he led a group from Wicklow Historical Society on an expedition to the graveyards on the Belgium/France border. World War I has been his proving ground, preparing him to delve into the Wicklow personnel who became embroiled in the global ructions of World War II  an exercise which has he pursues on many fronts.

Once again, his starting point was family lore, his curiosity aroused by two of his mothers relatives, Ruben Dover and Thomas Corkish. Dover  his mothers father - joined the Royal Navy and served aboard a mine-sweeper in the Mediterranean, surviving a high risk exercise. As a child, John asked his grandfather about his part in the war.

He played it down and did not really talk. He said it was nothing, a couple of bangs now and again.

Dovers brother-in-law Corkish was involved from day one, evacuated from Dunkirk and injured while in the ranks of the Inniskilling Fusiliers during the notorious battle at Anzio in Italy.

He came home and never spoke about it all  except to my father, says John of the soldier who had an obvious scar over one eye as a reminder of his military past. Once embarked on his digging, the historian found that the Wicklow connections to WW2 were many and very varied.

Some volunteered through the UK, such as the Royal Navys Patrick Byrne, a prisoner of war who survived the notorious Burma Railway forced labour gangs. Christopher Behan from Ashford was killed in a Stuka raid at El Alamein in North Africa. Others were caught up through other channels. Joe Donnelly, for instance, a merchant seaman working for the Blue Funnel line, is reputed to have been in Honolulu at the time of the Japanese attack on nearby Pearl Harbour.

Australian sources suggest that at least a dozen men from Wicklow municipal district found themselves in Aussie uniform, some of them involved in nightmarish armed combat in the jungles of New Guinea. Their fellow countymen were certainly recruited in the US and John Goodman is looking to find records of yet more ex-pats in the archives of Canada and New Zealand.

I keep well occupied. I have a curious mind and I love the military stuff. There is a lifetime of work ahead of me, he says, emphasising that he never questions the motives of those who enlisted. I dont ask why. My interest is in what happened to them.
Five medics killed as Israeli strikes pound Beirut suburbs

Hopes for ceasefire fade despite US envoys optimism following meeting with Netanyahu

Smoke and flames erupt from a building hit in an Israeli airstrike in Chiyah, Lebanon, yesterday. Photo: AP

Jana Choukeir Sat 23 Nov 2024 at 01:00







Israeli forces pounded southern Lebanon and the outskirts of the capital Beirut yesterday, killing at least five medics, and ground troops clashed with Hezbollah fighters in the south.
Palestinians search for casualties at the site of an Israeli strike on a house in Gaza City November. Photo: Reuters

Gazans saw little hope yesterday that International Criminal Court arrest warrants for Israeli leaders would slow down the attacks 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.
Chinese envoy calls for political settlement of Iran nuclear issue

Xinhua) 11:09, November 23, 2024

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.

(Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Kou Jie)
Representational image by Maeda Akihiko via Wikimedia Commons

New Delhi/IBNS: India is unlikely to import Japans Shinkansen, or bullet train, for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) corridor, seven years after the project's launch, Moneycontrol reported.

Instead, the country has embraced a Make-in-India strategy, awarding the train manufacturing contract in September to the BEML Ltd-Medha Servo Drives joint venture, which produces Vande Bharat trains, according to the report.

"Negotiations with the Japanese government to procure Shinkansen trains are ongoing, but discussions have slowed considerably over the past six months," an official familiar with the matter told Moneycontrol.

The two governments have yet to reach an agreement on pricing and timelines for conducting test runs, the report added.

Efforts to resolve these issues included a visit to Japan by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and other officials in September.

However, the talks ended without a resolution.

"Importing Shinkansen trains is a costly proposition," a second official explained. "Moreover, their lifetime maintenance would require Japanese expertise, further driving up the overall project cost."

Despite these hurdles, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) remains committed to funding Rs 59,396 crore for the project, according to Moneycontrol.

The terms of the loan are being renegotiated to avoid further delays in the joint venture's completion.

Originally launched in 2017, the project was slated for completion by December 2023.

According to the Moneycontrol report, the Ministry of Railways had not responded to requests for comment.
Eighty students attend interactive session in Mumbai college. Photo Courtesy: PR Team

An interactive discussion "Connecting Hearts and Minds" took place recently at the St. Paul Institute of Communication for Women in Mumbai.

The event featured an esteemed panel comprising author Soma Bose, sociologist Reena Agrawal, and artist-mentor and TedX speaker Samar Singh Jodha.

The session, attended by nearly 80 students, provided an engaging platform for discussions on human emotions, relationships, and ways to foster stronger connections in an increasingly complex world.

The panelists shared their expertise on various facets of emotional connection, with Soma Bose highlighting her latest book, "I've Had Enough of You".

Known for her commitment to womens empowerment, Bose emphasized how her writing aims to inspire and uplift women, encouraging them to overcome personal and societal challenges.

Samar Singh Jodha appealed to the students to listed to the call of their hearts,

You have to listen to your heart and creativity or art is a call which you can only take when you listen to your heart," he said.

Almost 80 students keenly participated in the proceedings with an invigorating Q&A with panellists.

Moderator Dr Agarwal ensured that the students too came up with ideas of short stories around the theme.

The talk show proved to be an enriching experience, offering participants valuable insights into understanding human relationships and societal dynamics.

The engaging session left students with much to reflect upon regarding the importance of building meaningful connections in todays fast-paced world.
Counting of votes begins in Maharashtra,Jharkhand. Photo courtesy: Facebook pages

Mumbai/Ranchi/IBNS: Counting of votes in the highly crucial state of Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly elections, as well as other by-polls in several states will begin at 8 am on Saturday.

In Maharashtra, the big fight is between the NDA-led Mahayuti vs the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance while in Jharkhand, Hemanth Soren's JMM along with its allies will take on the NDA.

The ruling Mahayuti alliance, comprising Bharatiya Janata Party, Shiv Sena-Eknath Shinde faction and Nationalist Congress Party led by Ajit Pawar, will taste victory in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly Elections, five out of nine exit polls predicted on Wednesday evening, as voting concluded in one of the most politically crucial states.

Meanwhile, three exit polls predicted a hung Assembly as they believe no single party will be able to secure a majority to form the next government.

However, an aggregate of these exit polls indicates favourable conditions for the NDA while they predicted a close fight in Jharkhand.

An average of all exit polls gave the ruling alliance 150 seats, which is eight more than the majority needed in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly. The majority mark in the assembly stands at 145.

The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi will bag 125 seats while non-aligned parties and independents will get 13, as per the pollsters.

Uddhav Thackeray, who lost his chief ministerial position due to a split in his party in 2022, is eyeing to make a comeback in this election with support from its partners.

His key rival Eknath Shinde gained popularity due to the welfare measures of the Mahayuti government. There is also a seeming clash over who and which faction of Shiv Sena is the true inheritor of Balasaheb Thackeray's legacy.

Maharashtra voted to elect new Assembly earlier this week. Photo Courtesy: PIB

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) also witnessed a split in the party with Sharad Pawar's nephew Ajit rebelling and joining the ruling Mahayuti alliance.

In Jharkhand, the NDA could fall short of gaining the magic figure of 41, ending up with just 39 seats, an aggregate of eight exit polls predicted.

The INDIA alliance will be close behind with 38 seats.

Jharkhand has also seen several political turmoil with Chief Minister Hemant Soren going to jail over corruption charges.

The ruling JMM-led alliance is banking on its work in 5 years while the NDA is hopeful of getting people's support based on its promises and the Centre's credentials.

Prominent candidates include Chief Minister Hemant Soren, wife Kalpana Soren, and sister-in-law Sita Soren from the JMM. Key BJP leaders include former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi, Assembly Speaker Ravindra Nath Mahto (JMM), AJSU Party chief Sudesh Mahto, and Leader of Opposition Amar Kumar Bauri.

Besides these two states, another headline-grabbing vote count would be in Kerala's Wayanad, where Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is contesting the Lok Sabha byelection on the same seat that her brother Rahul Gandhi represented before he won this time from Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli.
Indian-origin man charged in USA for conspiring to export controlled aviation components to Russia. Photo Courtesy: Unsplash

The US government has charged a 57-year-old Indian-origin man for allegedly conspiring to export controlled aviation components with dual civilian and military applications to end users in Russia, as per the Department of Justice.

The Indian-origin man was identified as 57-year-old Sanjay Kaushik.

"Kaushik is also charged with attempting to illegally export a navigation and flight control system from Oregon to Russia through India, and with making false statements in connection with an export," read the statement issued by the US Department of Justice.

He was arrested in Miami, Florida, on Oct. 17, pursuant to a criminal complaint and arrest warrant issued by the District of Oregon.

According to the court documents, beginning as early as March 2023, following Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Kaushik conspired with others to unlawfully obtain aerospace goods and technology from the United States for entities in Russia.

"The goods were purchased under the false pretence that they would be supplied to Kaushik and his Indian company, when in fact they were destined for Russian end users," the statement said.

In one such instance, Kaushik and his co-conspirators purchased an Attitude Heading Reference System (AHRS), which is a device that provides navigation and flight control data for aircraft, from an Oregon-based supplier.

Components such as the AHRS require a license from the Department of Commerce to be exported to certain countries, including Russia.

To obtain an export license for the AHRS, Kaushik and his co-conspirators falsely claimed that Kaushiks Indian company was the end purchaser and that the component would be used in a civilian helicopter.

Kaushik and his co-conspirators obtained the AHRS  which was ultimately detained before it was exported from the United States  on behalf of and with the intention of shipping it, through India, to a customer in Russia.

If convicted, Kaushik faces maximum penalties of 20 years in prison and up to a $1 million for each count in the indictment.

A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
2 convicted by US court over death of Indian migrant family while attempting to cross US-Canada border. Photo Courtesy: Unsplash

A US jury has convicted two men, including an Indian national, for their roles in a human smuggling venture that resulted in the deaths of four members of an Indian family.

The family, including two children, froze to death when they attempted to cross the US-Canada border in 2022.

According to evidence presented at trial, between Dec 12, 2021, and Jan 19, 2022, Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, 29, also known as Dirty Harry and Harry Patel, and Steve Anthony Shand, 50, conspired to smuggle dozens of migrants across the border of Canada and into the United States.

Patel and Shand were part of a large-scale human-smuggling operation that brought Indian nationals to Canada on student visas and then smuggled them into the United States.

"The defendants roles in the smuggling operation included the coordination and transportation of people from Manitoba, Canada, into the United States," read a statement issued by the US Department of Justice.

"Specifically, Patel worked with co-conspirators in Canada to organize the logistics of smuggling trips, while Shand was instructed when and where to pick up migrants just south of the Canadian border in the United States," the statement said.

He then drove them to Chicago.

They were paid for their roles in the conspiracy and disregarded the risks posed by the cold weather at the northern border.

According to evidence presented at trial, on Jan. 19, 2022, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents responded to a request for assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) based out of Pembina, North Dakota.

USBP initiated a traffic stop on a white-colored, 15-passenger van that Shand was driving.

The stop occurred less than one mile south of the U.S.-Canadian border in a rural area between the U.S. ports of entry located at Lancaster, Minnesota, and Pembina.

A short while later, law enforcement encountered five Indian nationals approximately a quarter mile south of the Canadian border walking in the direction of where Shand had just been arrested.

They explained that they had walked across the border expecting to be picked up by someone.

The group estimated they had been walking around for over seven hours.

One of the members of the group was in possession of a backpack that did not belong to him.

He told officers that he was carrying the backpack for a family of four Indian nationals that had walked with his group but had become separated during the night.

Temperatures that night had plummeted to 36 degrees below zero. The backpack contained childrens clothes, a diaper, toys, and some childrens medication.

That family was found dead a short time later. As proven at trial, later the same day, USBP received a report from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) that four bodies  two adults and two young children  were found frozen just inside the Canadian side of the international border.

As proven at trial, Patel and Shand were paid to smuggle the family into the United States.

Following a five-day trial, the jury found Patel and Shand each guilty of four counts of human smuggling.

The defendants face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the first and second counts and a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on the third and fourth counts.

A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Election results have exposed Congress as the weakest link in the I.N.D.I.A alliance.

New Delhi: The emphatic triumph of the ruling Maha Yuti in Maharashtra and the impressive showing of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) in Jharkhand on Saturday seems to vindicate the observation that the Congress is the weakest link in the I.N.D.I.A.

Earlier, Congress stumbled in the Haryana Assembly elections despite being strongly hopeful of a big victory against the incumbent BJP.

The party went on to blame the Election Commission for its loss in Haryana as the I.N.D.I.A. alliance members slammed it for less than impressive performance.

In Maharashtra, the Congress fielded candidates in 101 constituencies under the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance but leads in just 19an underwhelming strike rate.

Prolonged delays in finalizing seat-sharing arrangements, spanning three to four months, exposed its inefficiency as a lead coalition partner.

Suggestions from Sharad Pawar and other allies to project Uddhav Thackeray of Shiv Sena (UBT) as the chief ministerial candidate were dismissed outright by Congress.

As a result, the coalition could not cash in on a clear sympathy wave for Thackeray after the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year.

Compounding matters, Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patoles abrasive stance alienated alliance partners.

Meanwhile, the Maha Yuticomprising the BJP, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde), and NCP (Ajit Pawar)presented a unified front, while Congress faltered due to a weak organizational presence on the ground.

This poor performance is a major setback for Congress chief election strategist, Sunil Kanugolu, who had previously struggled in Haryana.

Telangana remains his only notable achievement, though many within the party attribute that success to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy.

In Jharkhand, Congress contested 30 seats and leads in 16, thanks primarily to the effective campaign run by the JMM under Hemant Soren.

The Congress disorganized campaign and weak election management threatened the alliance until the JMM took corrective steps.

Hemant Soren and his wife, Kalpana Soren, campaigned vigorously across all 81 constituencies, while Rahul Gandhi limited his efforts to Congress-contested seats.

Congress presence was barely noticeable in the state until just before the elections, with its promotional efforts failing to make an impact.

Rumors inside Jharkhands political circles indicate that Congress general secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir sought to destabilize the alliance during seat-sharing talks.

It was only Rahul Gandhis last-minute intervention, meeting Soren in Ranchi, that salvaged the partnership.

Mirs absence from the campaign, owing to his election in Jammu and Kashmir, further weakened Congress efforts.

Amid critical battles in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, Congress leaders diverted their attention to Wayanad in Kerala, prioritizing Priyanka Gandhi Vadras by-poll campaign.

Her win was virtually guaranteed, yet resources were funnelled to the region as if it were a high-stakes contest.

Elsewhere, Congress struggled. It faced stiff competition in retaining its Nanded Lok Sabha seat in Maharashtra but managed to secure Barnala in Punjab, courtesy of Partap Singh Bajwa. However, AAP won three of the other by-polls in the state.

In Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah helped Congress clinch all three by-poll seats, quelling criticism over his alleged role in the MUDA land scam.

In West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress asserted its dominance by sweeping all six by-polls, despite a public outcry over the rape and murder of a medical student in Kolkata.

Looking ahead, the Congress performance makes it unlikely that AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal will consider an alliance with the party for the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections.

The developments, however, indicate that AAP will contest the polls independently.
Fahad Ahmad asserted that EVMs with 99% battery charge showed Sana Malik in the lead. (Photo courtesy: x.com/ReallySwara)

Mumbai: Fahad Ahmad, a leader of the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) and husband of actor Swara Bhasker, faced defeat in Maharashtras Anushakti Nagar Assembly constituency.

Sana Malik, a candidate of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, won the seat with 49,341 votes, over Fahads total of 45,963 by a margin of 3,378 votes.

Fahad, who switched from the Samajwadi Party to the NCP (SCP) in October, has called for a recount, alleging irregularities in the voting process.

Fahad claimed he was leading after 17 rounds of counting but accused the BJP of manipulating the outcome.

He pointed to discrepancies in electronic voting machines (EVMs), asserting that those with 99% battery charge displayed Sana Malik in the lead, while others with lower battery levels showed her trailing.

EVM machines with 99% charge were opened, and suddenly, the BJP-backed NCP (Ajit Pawar) candidate took the lead, he alleged.

99% battery of CU and dilemma of BJP Alias winning. pic.twitter.com/pjwPZUrUD3  Fahad Ahmad (@FahadZirarAhmad) November 23, 2024

Swara Bhasker questioned how EVMs used throughout the day could retain a 99% battery charge.

Why do all machines with 99% charged batteries seem to favour BJP and its allies? she asked.

Swara also demanded for a recount but stated that she would respect the mandate if the process was found to be fair.

In #AnushaktiNagar vidhaan sabha after a steady lead by @FahadZirarAhmad of NCP-SP.. round 17, 18, 19 suddenly 99% battery charger EVMs are opened and BJP supported NCP-Ajit Pawar candidate takes lead. How can machines that have been voted on ALL day long have 99% charged https://t.co/GknxDWOb5v  Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) November 23, 2024

The Anushakti Nagar constituency has traditionally been a stronghold for NCP veteran Nawab Malik, who had won the seat in 2009, 2014, and 2019.

This election saw his daughter, Sana Malik, contesting from the constituency while Malik himself ran from Mankhurd-Shivajinagar.

Responding to the allegations, the Election Commission clarified that EVM battery levels have no bearing on the counting process or the integrity of the machines. The display unit of the EVM shows 99% charge as long as the battery voltage ranges between 7.4V and 8V, ensuring optimal functionality without revealing the exact charge percentage, the commission explained.

Before joining the NCP (SCP), Fahad was the president of the Samajwadi Yuvjan Sabha, the youth wing of the Samajwadi Party in Maharashtra.

A graduate of Aligarh Muslim University, he also completed an M.Phil. at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai, where he participated in student politics.

Fahad tied the knot with Bollywood actor Swara Bhasker on February 16, 2023.

When announcing Fahads candidature for Anushakti Nagar, NCP (SCP) leader Jayant Patil highlighted his potential, describing him as a "well-educated young leader and an activist with extensive experience across the country," adding that people are eager to see such individuals in leadership roles.
Urvashi Rautela in the single Rabba Kare | Photo courtesy: PR Team

From the voice of Shael Oswal, the voice behind the Soniye Heeriye, this brand-new track promises to sweep you off your feet.

Teasing fans with glimpses of its elegance and allure, the wait for Rabba Kare has been one of eager anticipation and the magic is now live for all to experience.

Rabba Kare is an ode to the enchanting feeling of falling deeply, irresistibly in love.

Through Shaels soulful vocals, listeners are invited to bask in the warmth of romance and explore the rush of emotions that love brings.

Paired with Urvashi Rautelas enchanting screen presence, this song captures the essence of love in its purest form, a love that feels both thrilling and serene.

Shot in the shimmering locales of Dubai, each frame is a visual delight, evoking a luxurious fairy-tale where love reigns supreme.

Shael and Urvashis chemistry glistens against the grand backdrop, creating an immersive experience thats bound to linger in your heart.

Reflecting on the song, Shael Oswal says "With Rabba Kare, I wanted to capture the magic of falling in lovethe excitement, the wonder, and the feeling that everything around you suddenly becomes more beautiful. This song is a celebration of that enchanting vibe, and working with Urvashi in the stunning backdrop of Dubai brought it all to life.

"I hope listeners feel the love, the passion, and the joy in every note, and that it becomes a soundtrack for those moments when love feels boundless."

"The song is pure magicso full of love and warmthand shooting in the beautiful landscapes of Dubai made it feel like a true fairy-tale.
The team members of 'Swatantrya Veer Savarkar' reflected on the films creative journey and its historical significance. (Photo courtesy: PIB)

Goa: Actor Randeep Hooda, who played the titular role in the biographical drama 'Swatantrya Veer Savarkar' and also directed the film, said he had to take it upon himself to put to tell the freesom fighter's real story in the public discourse.

Interacting with the media along with the other team members of the film at the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, Hooda described Savarkar as an unsung hero of India.

He likened the production challenges to the struggles faced by Veer Savarkar during India's freedom struggle.

'Swatantrya Veer Savarkar' was showcased as the opening feature of the Indian Panorama section where the team behind the movie reflected on the films creative journey and its historical significance.

"Savarkar always wanted India to be militarily strong. Today, our position in the world has significantly improved. This film highlights another aspect of our armed struggle, showcasing how it inspired revolutionaries to take up arms for independence, Randeep Hooda said.

Actress Anjali Hooda, who played Bhikaji Cama in the film, expressed how her role in the film deepened her understanding of Savarkar's personal life.

This movie was an eye-opener for me. I hope more such films are made in the future to shed light on our forgotten heroes, she shared.

Other members of the films castJay Patel, Mrinal Dutt and Amit Sialalso attended the press conference.

Poster of film 'Swatantrya Veer Savarkar'

They spoke about their experiences and highlighted the importance of such films in the Indian cinema.

The movie explores the untold story of Veer Savarkar, one among many untold heroes of India's independence. It highlights his love for motherland and the dire consequences he faced during India's fight for freedom.

The film chronicles the life of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, a revolutionary thinker and poet who played a pivotal role in Indias fight for freedom.

It explores his transformation into a staunch advocate for armed resistance, his ideological struggles, and his years of imprisonment in the Cellular Jail.

Through personal sacrifices and strategic leadership, Savarkar emerged as a complex figure whose vision for a strong and self-reliant India continues to resonate.

Randeep Hooda played the titular role and also wrote the screenplay of the movie and directed the film. The movie was produced by Anand Pandit, Sam Khan, Sandeep Singh, Yogesh Raha.

Ankita Lokhande, Amit Sial, Mrinal Dutt, Jay Patel and Anjali Hooda played various characters in the biographical movie.
Indian rapper Badshah has finally reacted to the rumors that claim he has been dating Pakistani actress Hania Aamir for a while. The rumors were sparked after the celebs on many occasions were seen together. Now Badshah has finally said something about the claims. The rapper, while speaking at Sahitya AajTak recently, said, "Hania is a very good friend of mine, and we share a great connection." Badshah added, "We have a lot of fun whenever we meet, and thats all there is to it."

Badshah addresses rumours of dating Pakistani actress Hania Aamir

pic.twitter.com/D3L0wCSfLz Just had the most amazing time at Badshah's concert! His energy is unmatched, and I couldn't be more proud to call him my friend. He's an absolute rockstar! Hero hai!   Hania Aamir_ (@HaniaAamir___) November 19, 2024

The dating speculations intensified when the Pakistani actress recently attended Badshah's concert in Dubai. She was also seen attending Diljit Dosanjh's latest Dil-Luminati concert in London, which proved her love for Hindi-Punjabi music.

Badshah & Hania at same event ?? @Its_Badshah gaddar bdsk pic.twitter.com/CPAhd283Is  Moana (@ladynationalist) October 5, 2024





All about Badshah:

Rapper Badshah's real name is Aditya Prateek Singh Sisodia. The rapper made his debut in the music industry with Honey Singhs group Mafia Mundeer before working solo. The rapper is known for his unique blend of Punjabi, Hindi, and Haryanvi music. He has been credited with popularizing rap and hip-hop in India. His major hits so far include songs like Abhi Toh Party Shuru Hui Hai, and Tareefan.

Things about Hania Aamir

Hania Aamit is a Pakistani actress known for her raw and relatable roles in Pakistani dramas. Some of her popular series are Mere Humsafar and the latest, Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum.

While Badshah dominates the music industry with his party songs, Hania Aamir has established herself as a versatile actress in neighboring Pakistans film and television industry. She is not just famous in Pakistan but also amongst Indian audiences.
It is Naga Chaitanyas birthday today! The actor, who is a fan favourite, turned a year older today. More than anything else, the most anticipated thing however in Nagas life right now is his wedding with Sobhita Dhulipala. On his special day today, we are looking at the most exquisite aspect of his life, Naga Chaitanya's love story with Sobhita Dhulipala. The couple has come a long way from being very private about their romance to now announcing their engagement to the world.

Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipalas love story

In October 2021, Chaitanya and his actress ex-wife Samantha called it quits on their four-year marriage. When Chaitanya and Made in Heaven actor Sobhita were photographed together at his Hyderabad home a few months later in 2022, the rumors of their love began to circulate and there was no stopping after.

Speculations and beyond

The rumors started to swirl quickly in March 2023 after Sobhita was seen in the backdrop of Chaitanya's photo. Later, Sobhita posted images from a safari in the jungle and people had been speculating that she had taken a holiday with Chay. The rumors received further backing a day later when Chaitanya shared a photo of himself on a safari jeep.

Engagement

All the rumours turned out to be true when Nagarjuna took to his social media accounts and announced that Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipala have got engaged to each other in the presence of their close ones.

"We are delighted to announce the engagement of our son, Naga Chaitanya, to Sobhita Dhulipala, which took place this morning at 9:42 a.m.!!

We are overjoyed to welcome her into our family.

Congratulations to the happy couple!

Wishing them a lifetime of love and happiness.  pic.twitter.com/buiBGa52lD  Nagarjuna Akkineni (@iamnagarjuna) August 8, 2024





Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipalas wedding

As per the wedding card that went viral on the internet a few days ago, Sobhita and Nagas wedding is going to be held on 4th December 2024. According to reports, the pair has chosen to tie the knot in Hyderabad's Annapurna Studios, a location that is very meaningful to the Akkineni family.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
As Tollywood superstar Naga Chaitanya turns a year older today, here's all about his star-studded family that fans may be interested in knowing. Naga Chaitanya's AkkineniDaggubati family has many prominent members of the Telugu film industry, as both his paternal and maternal sides have actors, film directors, and producers.

Naga Chaitanya's parents

Naga Chaitanya's father is Akkineni Nagarjuna, and his mother is Lakshmi Ramanaidu Daggubati. Akkineni is a superstar in the Telugu film industry who has worked in over 100 films. He has also been successful in producing many films. Since Lakshmi Ramanaidu belonged to the Daggubati family before marriage. The Daggubati family is associated with the Telugu film industry.

Naga Chaitanya's grandfather

Akkineni Nageswara Rao, who is also a Telugu actor is the grandfather of Naga Chaitanya.

Naga Chaitanya's maternal uncle

Venkatesh, who is Naga Chaitanya's maternal uncle, also belongs to the Telugu film industry. He is an actor who is known for his diverse performances.

Naga Chaitanya's ex-wife

The divorce of Naga Chaitanya and his ex-wife, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, remained a topic of discussion for many days since both actors are celebrated stars in the Telugu film industry. The couple got separated in the year 2021. Naga Chaitanya is now preparing to get married to actress Sobhita Dhulipala in December. Naga Chaitanya got engaged to Sobhita Dhulipala in August this year in a private ceremony.

As Naga Chaitanya celebrates his birthday today, his family, full of legendary actors, directors, and producers, is an example of the influence that they have on the Telugu film industry.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
Sean Diddy Combs, once a titan of the music industry, is now navigating a courtroom drama of epic proportions. On November 22, the 55-year-old appeared in Manhattan federal court, flanked by his family, as he fought for a $50 million bail package. His entrance? Far from subdued. The embattled mogul was unshackled and exuding confidence, blowing kisses and waving at his seven children and his mother, Janice Combs, who sat in the second row to support him.

Despite the affection-filled display, Diddy's legal troubles are anything but romantic. His chargesranging from sex trafficking to racketeeringhave kept him behind bars at Brooklyn's notorious Metropolitan Detention Center since September.

The music producer, known for his luxurious lifestyle, has reportedly struggled with jail conditions, particularly the food. According to his legal team, the menu is his biggest complaint as he adjusts to life far from his Miami mansion.

The $50 million bail proposal of P Diddy

Diddy's latest bail package featured a hefty $50 million backed by his Miami Beach mansion as collateral. His legal team suggested house arrest, round-the-clock surveillance, and strict no-contact rules with witnesses or victims. However, the judge wasn't convinced, citing concerns about the property's dock, despite its lack of a boat.

Alternative options, including using his NYC apartment for house detention, were floated, but previous attempts at bail were denied over fears that Diddy could interfere with the investigation.

P Diddy drama

As if things weren't messy enough, Diddy recently sent a cease-and-desist letter regarding an upcoming documentary about his former protege, Shyne. The film reportedly delves into the infamous 1999 nightclub shooting involving Diddy and his then-girlfriend, Jennifer Lopez. Shyne, whose real name is Jamal Barrow, served prison time for the incident and has accused Diddy of making him take the fall. While Diddy isn't blocking the documentary's release, he allegedly wants to ensure the facts are accurate.

Life behind bars for P Diddy

Diddy's current reality couldn't be further from his Bad Boy Records heyday. Locked up in the Metropolitan Detention Centera facility notorious for harsh conditions, suicides, and high-profile inmates like R. Kelly and Jeffrey Epsteinhe's been battling more than just legal drama.

With a decision on his fourth bail appeal expected next week, one thing is clear: Diddy's courtroom saga is far from over. And while his kisses may reach his family, they haven't yet swayed the judge.

To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending.
Written by: Dr Neha Mehta

This generation - or Gen Z as they are now known all across - is facing a major issue; the widespread access to pornography. Over the past decade, the internet has made explicit content incredibly easy to access, and many youngsters are viewing it without fully understanding the long-term effects that it may have on them.

Nearly 93 per cent of boys and 62 per cent of girls have been exposed to pornography before they turn 18. This startling data from the American Psychological Association (APA) highlights how common it has become for Gen Z to encounter explicit content online.

Even as doctors and psychologists warn about the harmful effect that early exposure to such content leading can have on brain development, mental health, and sexual behavior, parents, educators, and health experts remain a worried lot.

And this frequent exposure to explicit content can lead youngsters to seek out more extreme material to feel the same excitement, leading to addictive behaviour. As a result of which many young people find themselves in a vicious loop of watching pornography, despite knowing how terribly it's going to affect their lives and hamper their daily activities, and school performance, and don't even get started on the high-expectations with relationships, and all of his leads to even more mental health problems.

The problems with Gen Z exposure to pornography at such young age

Gen Z is navigating a crucial stage of development, both emotionally and mentally. Their brains are still growing, and they are trying to figure out their identities, relationships, and the world around them. Exposure to pornography can lead to several serious problems that affect their growth and well-being.

Unrealistic expectations about relationships and intimacy: Young people may come to believe that the exaggerated scenes they encounter in pornography reflect their real-life relationships and intimacy. But hey, wait this is not at all true, what they see and what they experience can never be the same, but these films can definitely confuse and harm their future relationships.

Body image issues and self-esteem challenges: Seeing idealized bodies in porn films can make young people feel insecure about their appearance, leading to low self-esteem.

The rising risk of addiction to pornography: Repeated exposure to pornography can trigger the brain's reward system, and this is exactly how drugs work. Over the time, this can lead to dependency, with young people seeking more extreme content to experience the same level of excitement.

Mental health concerns linked to pornography consumption: Research shows that young people who consume pornography regularly are more likely to suffer from anxiety, depression, and other mental challenges.

Gen Z, exposed to pornography, often face difficulties in impulse control and emotional regulation, which can affect their relationships. Additionally, the unrealistic portrayals of intimacy in pornography can create confusion about confusion about real-life relationships, leading to skewed ideas about sexual behavior and expectations.

Steps to address the issue of porn addiction - what should parents do?

While this issue may seem overwhelming, there are several steps that can reduce the negative effects of pornography:

Open conversations with children: Parents and guardians should talk openly with their kids about the potentials dangers they might encounter online. It's important to explain that pornography doesn't show healthy or realistic relationships.

Better sex education: And instead of just basic reproduction chapters, schools need to offer comprehensive sex education without hesitation that can help the children to understand the difference between pornography and real-life relationships.

Mental health support: For children who have been exposed to excessive explicit content, then therapy and counseling can help them process their feelings and avoid negative consequences.

Credit: Self

About the author: Expert Dr Neha Mehta, a renowned psychologist and sex therapist, has been a leading voice in mental health and sexual counseling for over a decade. She has counselled young teenagers and encouraged them to talk openly about their feelings and experiences related to pornography over the years. Through her sessions, she urges parents and teachers to talk openly about how pornography affects the mental health and relationships of young folks, helping them understand intimacy better. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the author. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of www.indiatimes.com
After a slow placement season last year, with numbers falling from nearly 83% in 2023 to under 75%, the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) is taking strategic steps to improve outcomes for its students. This year's placement season is set to kick off in December, and the institute is determined to ensure better job offers for its students.

IIT-B's placement cell is proactively reaching out to a wider range of companies, including top-tier firms, emerging startups, and public sector undertakings (PSUs).

While specific companies are not being named, there are reports that some PSUs are expected to participate in the placement process this year. This expanded focus aims to increase opportunities for students in both the private and public sectors.

Additionally, IIT-B is targetting a more diverse pool of recruiters, including core engineering companies, consultancy firms, and new-age startups.

The placement team is keen to meet the varied career interests of students by attracting employers from both traditional industries and modern fields.

Efforts have been ramped up to secure participation from prestigious firms and ensure a successful placement cycle.

To maintain high standards, the placement cell has set a strict criterion for startups, only accepting those that have been in operation for at least three to four years, offer stable job security, and provide competitive salaries.

Credit: Unsplash | Representational image

The institute has also introduced a minimum salary threshold of Rs 6 lakh per annum for companies wishing to participate.

In the previous placement cycle, 10 students had received offers with annual packages ranging from Rs 4 lakh to Rs 6 lakh.

Furthermore, IIT-B is leveraging its extensive alumni network to bring in more recruiters and collaborating with international companies to broaden the scope of job opportunities for students.

The Free Press Journal quoted a source from the placement cell as saying, "The increased numbers till 2023 were seen as a result of the post pandemic boom. For two to three years during the pandemic, the hirings had almost come to a standstill. It was natural that it increased once the companies settled down once the pandemic was over."

This year, nearly 2,400 students have signed up for campus placements, with the total number of applicants rising by more than 50% in recent years, according to faculty members.

Phase I of the interviews is set to begin on December 1 at top IITs.

For more information on exams, results and careers, please visit Indiatimes Education.
Vote counting is underway in the assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, and the early trends show a clean sweep for the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance in the Maratha state. In Jharkhand, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), led by former Chief Minister Hemant Soren, is slightly ahead in the trends.

CREDIT: BCCL

Exit poll results

While a landslide victory for the BJP-led alliance in Maharashtra was widely expected and predicted by all the exit polls, the early trends in Jharkhand show that most pollsters may have got it wrongexcept for Axis My India, which predicted a JMM win in Jharkhand.

Current trend shows that Axis My India has accurately predicted both Maharashtra & Jharkhand election results.



What a comeback by Pradeep Gupta!!#ElectionResults #Mahayuti pic.twitter.com/JuNR0ypCfL  Disha (@kdisha607) November 23, 2024

Axis My India gets Jharkhand, Maharashtra exit polls right

Axis My India, led by Pradeep Gupta, had predicted JMM and its allies winning 4959 seats in Jharkhand and the BJP-led Mahayuti winning Maharashtra with 178 seats.

2024 was a terrible year for Pradeep Gupta

Notably, Gupta, considered one of the best psephologists in India, had come under heavy criticism earlier this year after Axis My India got the 2024 Lok Sabha election results horribly wrong.

Axis My India's exit polls in Haryana had also failed, as it had predicted a Congress victory in the assembly elections last month. However, Gupta, who had his reputation in tatters, seems to have bounced back by correctly predicting both the Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly election results.

Must say AxisMyIndias Pradeep Gupta has redeemed himself in these #MaharashtraElectionResult #JharkhandAssemblyElection2024 Both his predictions are not just directionally right but hes also got the scale to a large extent. Time to get him back? @sardesairajdeep #Results2024 pic.twitter.com/PMkIv3wYDN  Lloyd Mathias (@LloydMathias) November 23, 2024

How social media reacted

Many took to social media to congratulate Gupta and Axis My India for getting the exit polls right. While some felt that Gupta was unfairly criticised for his past failures, others said, "Our apology to him should be as loud as our disrespect was."

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
A 51-year-old Malayalam actress recently levelled allegations of sexual abuse against actor and MLA Mukesh. This created a stir in the industry and several activists asked Mukesh to step down from his post on 'moral grounds'. Now, the actress has withdrawn her complaint because of 'lack of support and protection from the Kerala government

Malayalam actress withdraws complaint against Mukesh

Malayalam actor Mukesh recently made headlines when a 51-year-old actress accused him of sexual abuse. This came in the wake of certain observations made by the Justice Hema Committee. The report stated there have been quite a few instances of women being harassed in the Malayalam film industry over the years.

Now, in the latest development, the complainant has decided against pursuing the case any further. On Friday, November 22, the actress said that she is withdrawing the complaint because of the Kerala government's 'carelessness'. She added that she is 'exhausted' because of the 'bullying'. The actress, however, emphasised that she has not reached a 'compromise' with anyone.

I would like to tell everyone that due to the government's carelessness and lack of protection for a woman who has come forward like this, I have suffered more than I can handle. I am mentally exhausted. They are not helping or protecting a woman. Therefore, I do not want to pursue the cases. It is not because I have compromised with anyone," she was quoted as saying by News18.

She further added that she was made an accused in a POSCO case after she made allegations against film personalities but the government didn't come forward to protect her.

What's the POSCO case against her?

Some time ago, the Muvattupuzha police filed a complaint against the actress under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO) act after receiving a complaint from a relative. The police stated that the complaint was filed because of an incident that took place in 2014. They further stated that the actress' relative accused her of running a sex racket.

The actress denied the allegations and stated that the relative owed her some money. She also said that these allegations were made to divert attention from her remarks about top Malayalam actors.

Coming back to the Hema Committee, it was established by the Kerala government in 2017 to look into cases of sexual abuse in Mollywood. The committee interacted with several professionals from the industry before submitting its report to the government in 2019. Certain portions of this report were later made public. They revealed the existence of a power group in the industry. Following this, several women recounted instances of harassment in Mollywood

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
Hacktivists (those who perform the act of hacking for politically or socially motivated reasons) have targeted Andrew Tate's online platform, The Real World, flooding one of his livestreams with feminist and trans rights symbols and exposing sensitive user data to the media.

The Real World is Tate's "online university" where users pay about $50 monthly to access his teachings.

The group behind the breach revealed to The Daily Dot that the platform had significant security flaws.

Exploiting these vulnerabilities, they disrupted one of Tate's livestreams, bombarding the chatroom with transgender flags, feminist fist emojis, and altered images of Tate draped in a pride flagan ironic twist given his known homophobic and misogynistic rhetoric.

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 also extracted a trove of user information, including usernames and over 324,000 unique email addresses, primarily from lapsed subscribers who hadn't paid their membership fees.

The group claimed they were able to "upload emojis, delete attachments, crash users' interfaces, and temporarily ban individuals" by exploiting the site's weak defenses.

Tate's platform is popular among young men, offering teachings based on what he calls "41 tenets for men." However, critics and former members have described the site's content and culture as having a "cult-like" feel.

Who is Andrew Tate?

Andrew Tate, a British-American internet personality and former kickboxer, is a controversial figure known for his divisive views on masculinity, wealth, and lifestyle.

Tate has faced multiple arrests on allegations of rape and is currently under investigation for charges related to human trafficking, engaging in s*xual acts with a minor, and money laundering.

Since August 2024, he has been under house arrest in Romania as authorities continue their probe into these serious accusations.

To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.
Get ready to raise a glass! Athens is joining the global celebration of Beaujolais Nouveau this Thursday, November 21st.

Wine lovers across the city will be toasting the arrival of this year's vintage, a tradition that takes place every third Thursday

of November.

Beaujolais Nouveau, a light and fruity red wine from the Beaujolais region of France, is known for its quick turnaround, bottled just weeks after harvest. This "wine of the people" has a long history, originating as a post-harvest celebration for vineyard workers.

To mark the occasion, several Athenian wine bars and restaurants are hosting special events. Jerar, a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant, will pair Beaujolais Nouveau and cru wines with gourmet dishes.

Felicita, a trendy wine bar, will offer the first sips of Georges Duboeuf's Beaujolais Nouveau alongside indie French music. Gamay, named after the grape used to make the wine, will combine Beaujolais Nouveau with Middle Eastern-inspired bites.

Other venues like Epta Martyres and Pharaoh will also offer unique pairings and festive atmospheres.

This annual tradition showcases Athens's vibrant wine and culinary scene while embracing French culture. So, join the celebration and raise a glass to Beaujolais Nouveau! Sante!

by Konstantina Voulgarelli

   iefimerida.gr
Newly appointed NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is set to visit Athens next Tuesday for high-level discussions with Greeces leadership.

The talks will include meetings with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis, and Defense Minister Nikos Dendias.

Following the discussions,

Mr. Rutte and Mr. Mitsotakis will deliver joint press statements, which will be streamed live on NATOs official website and broadcast via the EBU

The visit to Athens comes immediately after Mr. Ruttes trip to Ankara on Monday, where he is scheduled to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and senior Turkish officials, including Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Defense Minister Yasar Guler.

While in Turkey, Mr. Rutte will engage with representatives of the local defense industry and tour defense-related facilities, underscoring NATOs focus on the alliance's southern flank and defense cooperation in the region.

The Secretary Generals visit to Greece follows a significant NATO-related event hosted by the country. In late September and early October, Greeces Andravida Air Base served as the site of Ramstein Flag 24, NATOs largest annual air exercise in Europe.

The drill marked the first time Greeces air force hosted the exercise, featuring over 140 Allied aircraft, including air tankers and AWACS, and integrating ground and naval operations.

The exercise showcased NATOs commitment to interoperability and readiness, with maneuvers over the Ionian and Aegean Seas as well as the Peloponnese. The Hellenic Air Force played a central role, contributing numerous fighter jets and personnel to the operation.

Mr. Ruttes visits to Turkey and Greece highlight NATOs ongoing efforts to strengthen cohesion among its members and address strategic challenges in the region, particularly in light of recent geopolitical developments.

   iefimerida.gr
The Forward Operating Base (FOB) of the Nigerian Navy, located in the coastal waters of Ibaka in the Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, has apprehended three suspected oil thieves.

The suspects were caught attempting to smuggle 2,000 liters of petrol to Cameroon.

Navy Capt. Uche Aneke, the Bases Commanding Officer, made this disclosure on Friday while handing over the suspects, seized materials, and other valuables to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Akwa Ibom Command.

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Aneke said the suspects were apprehended on Wednesday at 7 p.m. while Navy personnel were conducting a routine night patrol at Mbo River during a stop-and-search.

Navy intercepted a wooden boat laden with about 1,000 cartons of different brands of beer and other goods, upon thorough search, our gunboat discovered drums of PMS amounting to 2,000 litres carefully concealed under the cartons with the intention of smuggling into the Republic of Cameroon, he explained.

READ MORE: Bauchi Police Apprehend Robbery Suspect, Recover Stolen Motorcycle

He warned anyone or groups participating in smuggling or any other sort of illicit activity in Nigerias seas to stop immediately or face the full force of the law if arrested.

Emphasizing the Navys dedication to tackling maritime crimes in the state, Aneke noted that illicit activities within the FOB Ibaka operational zone, under the Eastern Naval Commands authority, would be effectively identified using modern surveillance tools and intelligence resources.

Such criminals will be apprehended and duly prosecuted. Nigerias waters and the Nigerian coastal areas are not for illegal activities, the Navy CO warned.


Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara has urged the Court of Appeal to set aside the order restraining the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from disbursing financial allocations to the State government.

According to Yusuf Ali, counsel to Fubara, the judgment of the lower court was issued in bad faith.

This development comes after a Federal High Court in Abuja restrained the CBN from disbursing financial allocations to the State government on October 30.

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The court had held that monies from the federation account should not be released to the State pending the passage of a lawful appropriation act by a validly constituted House of Assembly.

Presiding Judge, Joyce Abdulmalik delivered the judgment in a suit filed by the State House of Assembly led by Martins Amaewhule.

Abdulmalik held that Fubara was wrong to have presented the States 2024 Appropriation Bill to a five-member assembly that was not properly constituted.

READ ALSO: FG Withholds FAAC Revenue From Rivers For October Amid Wike-Fubara Face-Off

In December 2023, Fubara presented an N800 billion budget estimate to the Edison Ehie faction of the house of assembly.

The presentation of the budget titled Budget of renewed hope, consolidation, and continuity took place at the government house in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

Dissatisfied with the ruling of the lower court, Fubara and the state government approached the appeal court.

On Thursday, the three-member panel led by Hamma Barka consolidated the five other appeals that arose from the judgment of the high court.

At the court proceedings on Friday, the appellants urged the court to dismiss the verdict of the lower court.

J.B. Dauda, lead counsel to the Amaewhule-led faction, asked the court to dismiss the appeals and affirm the judgment of the lower court.

After all the parties adopted their briefs of argument, the panel reserved its judgment to a date that would be communicated to the parties.
A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Cletus Obun, has said that it is part of the duty of his party to ensure that the Peoples Democratic Party is destabilized.

Speaking on Friday, during an interview on Channels Television, Mr. Obun stated that destroying the opposition party is a good political weapon.

INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that the development is coming, after a PDPs chieftain, Segun Sowunmi, blamed the crisis in the party on President Bola Tinubus appointment of Nyesom Wike as minister of the Federal Capital Territory,

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The former Ogun State governorship candidate, insisted that President Tinubu deliberately added Wike to his cabinet in attempt to create political problem in PDP.

Reacting to Mr. Sowunmis claim, Obun said that destabilizing another party is permissible as long as its not disruptively violent.

READ MORE: Tinubu Responsible For Crisis In PDP, Wikes Appointment Is Political  Segun Sowunmi

He said: If PDP comes out to say so, its the worst political confession to be ever made.

If youre saying that were able to infiltrate PDP and destabilize them, its part of our duty to so, just as it is their work to also ensure that the APC is destabilized.

So long as its not disruptive to become violent. Its a good political weapon to use.
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa has clarified that his decision not to present his Certificate of Return to All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje was not a sign of disrespect.

Aiyedatiwa, who won his reelection last Saturday, received his Certificate of Return on Wednesday at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Abuja.

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Following the presentation, he led a delegation of Ondo party leadership to meet with APC National Working Committee members at the Party secretariat, where they were warmly received.

However, Aiyedatiwa and his Deputy, Adelami Olaide, declined to present their certificates to Ganduje as part of the protocol.

READ ALSO: Put Differences Aside, Lets Work Together  Aiyedatiwa To Opposition After Winning Ondo Guber

Aiyedatiwa explained that they deliberately chose not to present the certificates because they believed the honor should first go to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu before the NWC.

I am supposed to first of all present the certificate to Mr. President, the leader of this Party. But he is not in town. That is why I cannot present the certificate to Mr. Chairman first. So, it is not a case of being disrespectful.

I just believe that is the right thing to do by presenting it to Mr. President first of all before coming here. But since I am in Abuja, I had to come. I recognize the leadership that Ganduje has provided for this party at the national and even the state level. Since he took over as the chairman of this party, we have not lost any election, Aiyedatiwa said.
Former president Olusegun Obasanjo, has charged Nigerians to eradicate corruption, adding that it is a great monster that the country need to conquer before any achievements could be achieved.

Obasanjo led this out during a memorial service held at the Methodist Church Nigeria, Ibadan, Oyo State, to honor the late Justice Olayinka Ayoola (retd.), former Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), who passed away on August 20, 2024, at the age of 90.

The former president on Friday, highlighted the challenges of combating corruption in Nigeria, noting its pervasive influence.

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He said: Corruption is a great monster that is still battling with us in the country. Its not that ICPC and Ayoola had not done their job or that even.

READ MORE: Obasanjo Slams Tinubu, Says Nigeria Getting Worse Under Emilokan Govt

I, who appointed him had not done what I could have done; it was the pressure of this great cancer of corruption.

Today, Im standing before you to appreciate the life of this great man, great Nigerian, great African and man of the world, and what he had done in our midst.

Also speaking at the event, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, paid tributes to the late Ayoola, urging attendees to reflect on their legacies.

She said: Justice Ayoola has left an enduring legacy, raising the flag of Nigeria high in every role he undertook. His absence will be deeply felt.

He has left indelible footprints in the sand of time. We treasure him and all the things he had done to give Nigeria a befitting name. In all the places that he worked, he raised the flag of Nigeria high. He would be sorely missed. He left a legacy we should be proud of.
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A gruesome attack by suspected bandits in Bangi, Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State, has left at least seven farmers, including a vigilante, dead.

The bandits also set ablaze a truck containing 50 bags of maize, which the victims had harvested from their farm.

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According to sources, the victims were ambushed by the bandits while attempting to transport the harvested maize home.

Bandits have killed seven of our farmers who had gone to farm to bring the maize they had harvested home.

The attackers hid and waited until after the victims had loaded the 50 bags of maize into the truck and were about to take off to return home when they opened fire on them. After killing the victims, they also set the truck and the 50 bags of maize already loaded ablaze, a source revealed to Daily Trust.

READ ALSO: Vandals Target Ahoada-Yenagoa Line Again, TCN Deploys Vigilantes For Protection

The source lamented that farmers in Mariga have faced significant challenges in harvesting their crops this year due to frequent killings and kidnappings by bandits.

In a separate incident, terrorists reportedly killed Mallam Danjuma, a resident of Kontagora, after collecting a N20 million ransom from his family. The victim spent three weeks in captivity before being killed.

Yahaya Suleiman, a resident of Kontagora, noted that kidnapping has become a daily occurrence in some parts of the town in recent weeks.

The Niger State Police Command spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the killing of the seven farmers.

On 16th November, around 3pm, vigilante men from Wamba/Yan-sakai were ambushed within Makogi/Ungwan Elbi by suspected kidnappers, unfortunately caused loss of lives of some of the members, Abiodun stated.

Abiodun added that a joint security operation comprising police and military tactical teams has been deployed to the area to prevent further incidents and ensure a peaceful farming harvest season.
Nigerian clergyman and founder of Mount Zion Faith Ministries, Mike Bamiloye, has addressed an issue he believes affects many pastors marriages.

He criticized certain pastors wives who, according to him, make their homes a source of distress for their husbands.

Bamiloye expressed concern over how the women allegedly exploit their husbands religious roles, creating difficulties in their marriages.

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In a post shared on his Instagram page on Saturday, Bamiloye noted that some wives take advantage of the fact that their husbands, as men of God, cannot retaliate physically or divorce them at will.

READ MORE: Davido Honours Late Mother With Emotional Birthday Tribute

He described this as a form of emotional blackmail, where the pastoral calling and ministry are used as tools to manipulate the husbands.

He further lamented that many pastors are enduring unhappy marriages rather than enjoying them, highlighting a hidden struggle in some clergy households.

Some women believe that a pastor cannot beat them like unbelievers or divorce them at will. They use the mans calling/ministry to blackmail him. Several pastors arent enjoying their marriage but enduring it, he said.

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Operatives of Ogun State Police Command have arrested a fake officer, identified as Bukola Olabode, for allegedly defrauding Point of Sale operators in Ihunbo, Ipokia Local Government Area of the state.

The 25 years old suspect who dressed in a police camouflage uniform, was said to have been caught after trying to defraud a POS operator identified as Mary Midoyin on Thursday.

Confirming his arrest on Friday, the Commands Police Spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, disclosed that Olabode was accused of making a fake transfer of N60,000 to the POS operator.

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READ MORE: Ogun Police Arrest Man For Allegedly Stabbing Hunter To Death

Odutola noted that he was handed over to officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, by residents and later transferred to the police at the Idiroko Division.

She said: The suspect was dressed in a police camouflage shirt, cap, and jeans when he committed the crime. Upon realising his cover had been blown, he quickly made a fake transfer to Mary Midoyin, a PoS operator, and collected N60,000 before fleeing the scene.

Residents pursued and apprehended the suspect, handing him over to the NSCDC office in Ihunbo before he was transferred to the Idiroko Police Division. He has since confessed to defrauding PoS operators in the community.

A Samsung phone, a black Itel phone used for the fraud, and a police constabulary warrant card were recovered from the suspect. Additionally, a round-neck T-shirt was found in his possession. He has since been detained.
President Bola Tinubu has formally requested the Senates confirmation of Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyedes appointment as the substantive Chief of Army Staff (COAS).



This move follows Tinubus appointment of Oluyede as the acting COAS on October 30, after the prolonged illness of the late Taoreed Lagbaja, the former army chief.

According to Bayo Onanuga, the presidential spokesperson, Tinubus Friday request for Oluyedes confirmation is in accordance with the provision of section 218(2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended and section 18(1) of the Armed Forces Act.

Onanuga stated that Tinubu is confident about the leadership qualities, professional integrity, and experience of Oluyede for the leadership of the army.

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READ ALSO: Tinubu Appoints Oluyede Acting Chief Of Army Staff

Oluyede boasts an impressive military career, having served as the 56th commander of the infantry corps of the Nigerian Army, Kaduna.

He was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1992 and rose to the position of Major General in September 2020.

Notably, Oluyede and the late Lagbaja were coursemates and members of the 39th regular course. Recently, Oluyede was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-General.

Throughout his career, Oluyede has participated in several operations, including the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) mission in Liberia, operation Harmony IV in Bakassi, and operation Hadin Kai in the north-east theatre of operations. He also served as the commander of the 27 task force brigade.
The village head of Ungwan Babangida and 11 others were reportedly kidnapped by bandits during an attack in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Thursday night.

In a phone interview with City Round on Friday, Aminu Khalid, the youth leader of Dokan Karji, confirmed the incident.

He claimed that using advanced weapons, the terrorists broke into Ungwan Babangida Village at midnight, shooting intermittently from vantage points before abducting their victims.

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This event occurred only 48 hours after bandits kidnapped four farmers from the Libere settlement in the same Local Government Area on Wednesday.

Amongst the victims kidnapped in Ungwan Babangida were three women, and nine men including the village head of the community, identified as Babangida Sojiji, Khalid said.

He noted that two of the victims were farm workers from Jigawa State and the Ikara Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

READ MORE: Imo Police Arrest Suspected Human Trafficker, Rescue Three Children

Kauru communities need serious military actions against these bandits who have occupied many villages and many breadwinners were gruesomely killed.

Federal Government and security operatives must intensify effort to cripple the activities of these criminals who have made life difficult for villagers.

He also praised vigilante groups for their consistent attitude to banditry, claiming that they have stopped numerous kidnapping attempts in some villages.
Lisa Ross at their home office in Barrie, Ontario. Ross says they've more than doubled their productivity by using AI for almost everything. MUST CREDIT: Katherine KY Cheng for The Washington Post Read more

Lisa Ross is a little techie, a tad nerdy, and a bit over analytical. So getting to use artificial intelligence for work couldnt have been a more tantalizing prize.

Ross, who has attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and uses they/them pronouns, says they've more than doubled their productivity by using AI for almost everything: to create content using specific frameworks, to prepare for tough conversations, to help with project and strategic planning, and to determine impact. The vice president at Canada-based corporate training company Avenue even uses AI to help create custom bots for future tasks. They've already built 40, becoming known as the "AI guy" who can help colleagues use it, too.

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A growing number of workers are becoming super users of AI. They turn to the tech daily to learn skills, analyze large sets of data, review job candidates and even program other bots to help them with repetitive tasks, such as building online courses. Workers say AI tools  such as OpenAIs ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and other chatbots powered by large language models  help them boost efficiency and confidence at work and reclaim hours of time. But those familiar with the technology say they also worry about privacy, inaccuracies, the loss of skills, and even the potential of job replacement in the future.

Adoption of AI at work is still relatively nascent. About 67% of workers say they never use AI for their jobs compared with 4% who say they use it daily, according to a recent survey by Gallup. But those who use it, mostly white-collar workers, see benefits in productivity, efficiency, creativity, and innovation, the survey said.

Im completely obsessed, said Ross, 48. Theres so much to learn. Im living in this space, and I just love it.

For some workers, AI not only saves them time, but it also helps them develop skills. Ilker Erkut, administrative operations assistant at the University of Maryland, quickly learned that after he first applied AI to his work. He had a five-hour deadline to summarize the themes of a book that an executive needed for a discussion. Instead of skimming the texts as fast as he could, he turned to ChatGPT and finished in 2 hours.

Now, Erkut uses AI every day to learn complex Excel formulas to build spreadsheets that can take polls and track and analyze customer service calls. He uses it for brainstorming, editing, and creating custom graphics, something he said he didnt have the confidence to do on his own. He saves about 15 hours a week, which has allowed him to volunteer for other projects.

My creativity is higher because Im focusing on the areas I want to use my own brain for, the 26-year-old said.

Structuring chatbot feedback can be especially helpful when theres multiple items, discovered Jake Samuelson, cofounder at AI-powered learning platform Uplimit, which is based in San Mateo, Calif. Samuelson, 40, collected survey data from more than 1,000 people who have used his start-ups platform. He tapped AI to analyze comments, summarize themes, and identify areas for improvement. The exercise inspired an AI-powered product feature for instructors to gather similar insights from their students via embedded surveys.

AI also helps him prototype and brainstorm, draft courses with instructors, and speed up filling out new-client procurement forms by automatically retrieving information from previously answered questions. While Samuelson estimates that he saves up to 10 hours a week and produces better work, he has also been confronted by AIs weaknesses, which he keeps an eye on.

It almost seems eager to please  so its extrapolating too much from too little, he said, adding that he sometimes programs the bots to ask more questions if it doesnt know something. Its about building guardrails and using your own intuition.

Most super users say they fact-check anything AI spits out. Becca Chambers, former chief communications officer at Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based ControlUp, a company that helps manage employees tech issues, said she uses AI search engine Perplexity to verify answers because it provides links to sources. Despite the occasional blips, she taps AI for almost every work task: deciphering shorthand notes, transcribing podcasts, scraping social media for market trends, tweaking the tone of emails, checking grammar, and identifying and captioning video clips.

Ive figured out a way to mask my neurodivergence, said Chambers, 40, who has ADHD. Its like having an accommodation thats inexpensive and easy to use.

Writing is the main purpose for Stan Sukhinin, founder of financial consulting company Sorso in Austin, Texas, who uses ChatGPT. Thats because Sukhinins native language is Russian, so typing grammatically correct emails previously took up to 20 minutes. AI also helps him with complex data analysis for revenue projections, using more complex statistics.

While he has found Anthropics Claude to be the best with data, he thinks AI generally isnt good at crunching and categorizing numbers. So he still does a lot of tasks manually.

If you dont tell if its wrong, it thinks [the output] is OK, said Sukhinin, 40. It made so many mistakes, sometimes with easy questions.

Beyond introducing errors, AI can cause other issues if workers arent careful, experts say. They should avoid inputting sensitive information into tools that dont have proper enterprise-grade security measures. They could end up stealing ideas or information from others. AI may also unintentionally introduce bias. And if workers rely on AI too much, they might miss out on learning skills or risk losing skills they have, said Arvind Karunakaran, assistant professor and faculty of the Center for Work, Technology, and Organization at Stanford University.

While most super users are still uncomfortable with unsupervised AI, some industry leaders believe autonomous AI is the future. At Salesforces recent conference, where it unveiled AI sales agents, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang suggested that work is going to be done before you think of it. For Zoom CEO Eric Yuan, that looks like having a digital twin that automatically works alongside people.

I dont think humans will always be in charge, Kate Jensen, Anthropics head of revenue, said just two weeks before the company debuted AI agents. We have to get used to the idea of AI doing tasks.

As for Ross, AI helped them be more empathetic entering tough conversations and avoid trying to boil the ocean for every task. Its even elevated their responsibilities, they said.

Ive always been hard to put in a role, they said. But now, Ive gone from supporting everyone to  helping find where the company is going.
As nuns disappear, many Catholic hospitals look more like megacorporations. Read more

ST. LOUIS  Inside the more than 600 Catholic hospitals across the country, not a single nun can be found occupying a chief executive suite, according to the Catholic Health Association.

Nuns founded and led those hospitals in a mission to treat sick and poor people, but some were also shrewd business leaders. Sister Irene Kraus, a former chief executive of Daughters of Charity National Health System, was famous for coining the phrase no margin, no mission. It means hospitals must succeed  generating enough revenue to exceed expenses  to fulfill their original mission.

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The Catholic Church still governs the care that can be delivered to millions in those hospitals each year, using religious directives to ban abortions and limit contraceptives, in vitro fertilization, and medical aid in dying.

But over time, that focus on margins led the hospitals to transform into behemoths that operate for-profit subsidiaries and pay their executives millions, according to hospital tax filings. These institutions, some of which are for-profit companies, now look more like other megacorporations than like the charities for the destitute of yesteryear.

The absence of nuns in the top roles raises the question, said M. Therese Lysaught, a Catholic moral theologist and professor at Loyola University Chicago: What does it mean to be a Catholic hospital when the enterprise has been so deeply commodified?

The St. Louis area serves as the de facto capital of Catholic hospital systems. Three of the largest are headquartered here, along with the Catholic hospital lobbying arm. Catholicism is deeply rooted in the regions culture. During Pope John Paul IIs only U.S. stop in 1999, he led Mass downtown in a packed stadium of more than 100,000 people.

For a quarter century, Sister Mary Jean Ryan led SSM Health, one of those giant systems centered on St. Louis. Now retired, the 86-year-old said she was one of the last nuns in the nation to lead a Catholic hospital system.

Ryan grew up Catholic in Wisconsin and joined a convent while in nursing school in the 1960s, surprising her family. She admired the nuns she worked alongside and felt they were living out a higher purpose.

They were very impressive, she said. Not that I necessarily liked all of them.

Indeed, the nuns running hospitals defied the simplistic image often ascribed to them, wrote John Fialka in his book Sisters: Catholic Nuns and the Making of America.

Their contributions to American culture are not small, he wrote. Ambitious women who had the skills and the stamina to build and run large institutions found the convent to be the first and, for a long time, the only outlet for their talents.

This was certainly true for Ryan, who climbed the ranks, working her way from nurse to chief executive of SSM Health, which today has hospitals in Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin.

The system was founded more than a century ago when five German nuns arrived in St. Louis with $5. Smallpox swept through the city and the Sisters of St. Mary walked the streets offering free care to the sick.

Their early foray grew into one of the largest Catholic health systems in the country, with annual revenue exceeding $10 billion, according to its 2023 audited financial report. SSM Health treats patients in 23 hospitals and co-owns a for-profit pharmacy benefit manager, Navitus, that coordinates prescriptions for 14 million people.

But Ryan, like many nuns in leadership roles in recent decades, found herself confronted with an existential crisis. As fewer women became nuns, she had to ensure the systems future without them.

When Ron Levy, who is Jewish, started at SSM as an administrator, he declined to lead a prayer in a meeting, Ryan recounted in her book, On Becoming Exceptional.

Ron, Im not asking you to be Catholic, she recalled telling him. And I know youve only been here two weeks. So, if youd like to make it three, I suggest you be prepared to pray the next time youre asked.

Levy went on to serve SSM for more than 30 years  praying from then on, Ryan wrote.

In Catholic hospitals, meetings are still likely to start with a prayer. Crucifixes often adorn buildings and patient rooms. Mission statements on the walls of SSM facilities remind patients: We reveal the healing presence of God.

Above all else, the Catholic faith calls on its hospitals to treat everyone regardless of race, religion, or ability to pay, said Diarmuid Rooney, a vice president of the Catholic Health Association. No nuns run the trade group's member hospitals, according to the lobbying group. But the mission that compelled the nuns is "what compels us now," Rooney said. "It's not just words on a wall."

The Catholic Health Association urges its hospitals to evaluate themselves every three years on whether they're living up to Catholic teachings. It created a tool that weighs seven criteria, including how a hospital acts as an extension of the church and cares for poor and marginalized patients.

Were not relying on hearsay that the Catholic identity is alive and well in our facilities and hospitals, Rooney said. We can actually see on a scale where they are at.

The association does not share the results with the public.

At SSM Health, our Catholic identity is deeply and structurally ingrained even with no nun at the helm, spokesperson Patrick Kampert said. The system reports to two boards. One functions as a typical business board of directors while the other ensures the system abides by the rules of the Catholic Church. The church requires the majority of that nine-member board to be Catholic. Three nuns currently serve on it; one is the chair.

Separately, SSM also is required to file an annual report with the Vatican detailing the ways, Kampert said, we deepen our Catholic identity and further the healing ministry of Jesus. SSM declined to provide copies of those reports.

From a business perspective, though, its hard to distinguish a Catholic hospital system like SSM from a secular one, said Ruth Hollenbeck, a former Anthem insurance executive who retired in 2018 after negotiating Missouri hospital contracts. In the contracts, she said, the difference amounted to a single paragraph stating that Catholic hospitals wouldnt do anything contrary to the churchs directives.

To retain tax-exempt status under Internal Revenue Service rules, all nonprofit hospitals must provide a benefit to their communities such as free or reduced-price care for patients with low incomes. But the IRS provides a broad definition of what constitutes a community benefit, which gives hospitals wide latitude to justify not needing to pay taxes.

On average, the nation's nonprofit hospitals reported that 15.5% of their total annual expenses were for community benefits in 2020, the latest figure available from the American Hospital Association.

SSM Health, including all of its subsidiaries, spent proportionately far less than the associations average for individual hospitals, allocating roughly the same share of its annual expenses to community efforts over three years: 5.1% in 2020, 4.5% in 2021, and 4.9% in 2022, according to a KFF Health News analysis of its most recent publicly available IRS filings and audited financial statements.

A separate analysis from the Lown Institute think tank placed five Catholic systems  including the St. Louis region's Ascension  on its list of the 10 health systems with the largest "fair share" deficits, which means receiving more in tax breaks than what they spent on the community. And Lown said three St. Louis-area Catholic health systems  Ascension, SSM Health, and Mercy  had fair share deficits of $614 million, $235 million, and $92 million, respectively, in the 2021 fiscal year.

Ascension, Mercy, and SSM disputed Lown's methodology, arguing it doesn't take into account the gap between the payments they receive for Medicaid patients and the cost of delivering their care. The IRS filings do.

But, Kampert said, many of the benefits SSM provides arent reflected in its IRS filings either. The forms reflect very simplistic calculations and do not accurately represent the health systems true impact on the community, he said.

Today, SSM Health is led by longtime business executive Laura Kaiser. Her compensation in 2022 totaled $8.4 million, including deferred payments, according to its IRS filing. Kampert defended the amount as necessary to retain and attract the most qualified candidate.

By contrast, SSM never paid Ryan a salary, giving instead an annual contribution to her convent of less than $2 million a year, according to some tax filings from her long tenure. I didnt join the convent to earn money, Ryan said.

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs of KFF  the independent source for health policy research, polling and journalism.
Becky Carroll of New Jersey has alleged in a lawsuit that she suffered a botched dental implant surgery in 2021, leaving her unable to chew for more than two years. ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers has denied all wrongdoing in the ongoing lawsuit. (Nicole Keller/CBS News) Read more

Becky Carroll was missing a few teeth, and others were stained or crooked. Ashamed, she smiled with lips pressed closed. Her dentist offered to fix most of her teeth with root canals and crowns, Carroll said, but she was wary of traveling a long road of dental work.

Then Carroll saw a TV commercial for another path: ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers. The company advertises that it can give patients a new smile in as little as one day by surgically replacing teeth instead of fixing them.

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So Carroll saved and borrowed for the surgery, she said. In an interview and a lawsuit, Carroll said that at a ClearChoice clinic in New Jersey in 2021, she agreed to pay $31,000 to replace all her natural upper teeth with pearly-white prosthetic ones. What came next, Carroll said, was like a horror movie.

Carroll alleged that her anesthesia wore off during implant surgery, so she became conscious as her teeth were removed and titanium screws were twisted into her jawbone. Afterward, Carrolls prosthetic teeth were so misaligned that she was largely unable to chew for more than two years until she could afford corrective surgery at another clinic, according to a sworn deposition from her lawsuit.

ClearChoice has denied Carrolls claims of malpractice and negligence in court filings and did not respond to requests for comment on the ongoing case.

I thought implants would be easier, and all at once, so you didnt have to keep going back to the dentist, Carroll, 52, said in an interview. But I should have asked more questions  like, Can they save these teeth?

Dental implants have been used for more than half a century to surgically replace missing or damaged teeth with artificial duplicates, often with picture-perfect results. While implant dentistry was once the domain of a small group of highly trained dentists and specialists, tens of thousands of dental providers now offer the surgery and place millions of implants each year in the U.S.

Amid this booming industry, some implant experts worry that many dentists are losing sight of dentistrys fundamental goal of preserving natural teeth and have become too willing to remove teeth to make room for expensive implants, according to a months-long investigation by KFF Health News and CBS News. In interviews, 10 experts said they had each given second opinions to multiple patients who had been recommended for mouths full of implants that the experts ultimately determined were not necessary. Separately, lawsuits filed across the country have alleged that implant patients like Carroll have experienced painful complications that have required corrective surgery, while other lawsuits alleged dentists at some implant clinics have persuaded, pressured, or forced patients to remove teeth unnecessarily.

The experts warn that implants, for a single tooth or an entire mouth, expose patients to costs and surgery complications, plus a new risk of future dental problems with fewer treatment options because their natural teeth are forever gone.

"There are many cases where teeth, they're perfectly fine, and they're being removed unnecessarily," said William Giannobile, dean of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. "I really hate to say it, but many of them are doing it because these procedures, from a monetary standpoint, they're much more beneficial to the practitioner."

Giannobile and nine other experts say they are combating a false public perception that implants are more durable and longer-lasting than natural teeth, which some believe stems in part from advertising on TV and social media. Implants require upkeep, and although they can't get cavities, studies have shown that patients can be susceptible to infections in the gums and bone around their implants.

Just because somebody can afford implants doesnt necessarily mean that theyre a good candidate, said George Mandelaris, a Chicago-area periodontist and member of the American Academy of Periodontology Board of Trustees. When an implant has infection, or when an implant has bone loss, an implant dies a much quicker death than do teeth.

In its simplest form, implant surgery involves extracting a single tooth and replacing it with a metal post that is screwed into the jaw and then affixed with a prosthetic tooth commonly made of porcelain, also known as a crown. Patients can also use full-arch or All-on-4 implants to replace all their upper or lower teeth  or all their teeth.

For this story, KFF Health News and CBS News sought interviews with large dental chains whose clinics offer implant surgery  ClearChoice, Aspen Dental, Affordable Care, and Dental Care Alliance  each of which declined to be interviewed or did not respond to multiple requests for comment. The Association of Dental Support Organizations, which represents these companies and others like them, also declined an interview request.

ClearChoice, which specializes in full-arch implants, did not answer more than two dozen questions submitted in writing. In an emailed statement, the company said full-arch implants have become a well-accepted standard of care for patients with severe tooth loss and teeth with poor prognosis.

The use of full-arch restorations reflects the evolution of modern dentistry, offering patients a solution that restores their ability to eat, speak, and live comfortably  far beyond what traditional dentures can provide, the company said.

Carroll said she regrets not letting her dentist try to fix her teeth and rushing to ClearChoice for implants.

Because it was a nightmare, she said.

They are not teeth

Dental implant surgery can be a godsend for patients with unsalvageable teeth. Several experts said implants can be so transformative that their invention should have contended for a Nobel Prize. And yet, these experts still worry that implants are overused, because it is generally better for patients to have their natural teeth.

Paul Rosen, a Pennsylvania periodontist who said he has worked with implants for more than three decades, said many patients believe a fallacy that implants are bulletproof.

You cant just have an implant placed and go off riding into the sunset, Rosen said. In many instances, they need more care than teeth because they are not teeth.

Generally, a single implant costs a few thousand dollars while full-arch implants cost tens of thousands. Neither procedure is well covered by dental insurance, so many clinics partner with credit companies that offer loans for implant surgeries. At ClearChoice, for example, loans can be as large as $65,000 paid off over 10 years, according to the company's website.

Despite the price, implants are more popular than ever. Sales increased by more than 6% on average each year since 2010, culminating in more than 3.7 million implants sold in the U.S. in 2022, according to a 2023 report produced by iData Research, a health care market research firm.

Some worry implant dentistry has gone too far. In 10 interviews, dentists and dental specialists with expertise in implants said they had witnessed the overuse of implants firsthand. Each expert said theyd examined multiple patients in recent years who were recommended for full-arch implants by other dentists despite their teeth being treatable with conventional dentistry.

Giannobile, the Harvard dean, said he had given second opinions to dozens of patients who were recommended for implants they did not need.

I see many of these patients now that are coming in and saying, Ive been seen, and they are telling me to get my entire dentition  all of my teeth  extracted. And then Ill take a look at them and say that we can preserve most of your teeth, Giannobile said.

Tim Kosinski, who is a representative of the Academy of General Dentistry and said he has placed more than 19,000 implants, said he examines as many as five patients a month who have been recommended for full-arch implants that he deems unnecessary.

There is a push in the profession to remove teeth that could be saved, Kosinski said. But the public isnt aware.

Luiz Gonzaga, a periodontist and prosthodontist at the University of Florida, said he, too, had turned away patients who wanted most or all their teeth extracted. Gonzaga said some had received implant recommendations that he considered an atrocity.

You dont go to the hospital and tell them I broke my finger a couple of times. This is bothering me. Can you please cut my finger off? No one will do that, Gonzaga said. Why would I extract your tooth because you need a root canal?

Jaime Lozada, director of an elite dental implant residency program at Loma Linda University, said hed not only witnessed an increase in dentists extracting perfectly healthy teeth but also treated a rash of patients with mouths full of ill-fitting implants that had to be surgically replaced.

Lozada said in August that hed treated seven such patients in just three months.

When individuals just make a decision of extracting teeth to make it simple and make money quick, so to speak, thats where I have a problem, Lozada said. And it happens quite often.

When full-arch implants fail, patients sometimes dont have enough jawbone left to anchor another set. These patients have little choice but to get implants that reach into cheekbones, said Sohail Saghezchi, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon at the University of California-San Francisco.

Its kind of like a last resort, Saghezchi said. If those fail, you dont have anywhere else to go.

It was horrendous dentistry

Most of the experts interviewed for this article said their rising alarm corresponded with big changes in the availability of dental implants. Implants are now offered by more than 70,000 dental providers nationwide, two-thirds of whom are general dentists, according to the iData Research report.

Dentists are not required to learn how to place implants in dental school, nor are they required to complete implant training before performing the surgery in nearly all states. This year, Oregon started requiring dentists to complete 56 hours of hands-on training before placing any implants. Stephen Prisby, executive director of the Oregon Board of Dentistry, said the requirement  the first and only of its kind in the U.S.  was a response to dozens of investigations in the state into botched surgeries and other implant failures, split evenly between general dentists and specialists.

I was frankly stunned at how bad some of these dentists were practicing, Prisby said. It was horrendous dentistry.

Many dental clinics that offer implants have consolidated into chains owned by private equity firms that have bought out much of implant dentistry. In health care, private equity investment is sometimes criticized for overtreatment and prioritizing short-term profit over patients.

Private equity firms have spent about $5 billion in recent years to buy large dental chains that offer implants at hundreds of clinics owned by individual dentists and dental specialists. ClearChoice was bought for an estimated $1.1 billion in 2020 by Aspen Dental, which is owned by three private equity firms, according to PitchBook, a research firm focused on the private equity industry. Private equity firms also bought Affordable Care, whose largest clinic brand is Affordable Dentures & Implants, for an estimated $2.7 billion in 2021, according to PitchBook. And the private equity wing of the Abu Dhabi government bought Dental Care Alliance, which offers implants at many of its affiliated clinics, for an estimated $1 billion in 2022, according to PitchBook.

ClearChoice and Aspen Dental each said in email statements that the companies private equity owners do not have influence or control over treatment recommendations. Both companies said dentists or dental specialists make all clinical decisions.

Private equity deals involving dental practices increased ninefold from 2011 to 2021, according to an American Dental Association study published in August. The study also said investors showed an interest in oral surgery, possibly because of the "high prices" of implants.

Some argue this is a negative thing, said Marko Vujicic, vice president of the associations Health Policy Institute, who co-authored the study. On the other hand, some would argue that involvement of private equity and outside capital brings economies of scale, it brings efficiency.

Edwin Zinman, a San Francisco dental malpractice attorney and former periodontist who has filed hundreds of dental lawsuits over four decades, said he believed many of the worst fears about private equity owners had already come true in implant dentistry.

Theyve sold a lot of [implants], and some of it unnecessarily, and too often done negligently, without having the dentists who are doing it have the necessary training and experience, Zinman said. Its for five simple letters: M-O-N-E-Y.

Hundreds of implant clinics with no specialists

For this article, journalists from KFF Health News and CBS News analyzed the webpages for more than 1,000 clinics in the nations largest private equity-owned dental chains, all of which offer some implants. The analysis found that more than 70% of those clinics listed only general dentists on their websites and did not appear to employ the specialists  oral surgeons, periodontists, or prosthodontists  who traditionally have more training with implants.

Affordable Dentures & Implants listed specialists at fewer than 5% of its more than 400 clinics, according to the analysis. The rest were staffed by general dentists, most of whom did not list credentialing from implant training organizations, according to the analysis.

ClearChoice, on the other hand, employs at least one oral surgeon or prosthodontist at each of its more than 100 centers, according to the analysis. But its new parent company, Aspen Dental, which offers implants in many of its more than 1,100 clinics, does not list any specialists at many of those locations.

Not everyone is worried about private equity in implant dentistry. In interviews arranged by the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, which trains dentists to use implants, two other implant experts did not express concerns about private equity firms.

Brian Jackson, a former academy president and implant specialist in New York, said he believed dentists are too ethical and patients are too smart to be pressured by private equity owners who will never see a patient.

Jumoke Adedoyin, a chief clinical officer for Affordable Care, who has placed implants at an Affordable Dentures & Implants clinic in the Atlanta suburbs for 15 years, said she had never felt pressure from above to sell implants.

Ive actually felt more pressure sometimes from patients who have gone around and been told they need to take their teeth out, she said. They come in and, honestly, taking a look at them, maybe they dont need to take all their teeth out.

Still, lawsuits filed across the country have alleged that dentists at implant clinics have extracted patients teeth unnecessarily.

For example, in Texas, a patient alleged in a 2020 lawsuit that an Affordable Care dentist removed every single tooth from her mouth when such was not necessary, then stuffed her mouth with gauze and left her waiting in the lobby as he and his staff left for lunch. In Maryland, a patient alleged in a 2021 lawsuit that ClearChoice convinced her to extract eight healthy upper teeth, by greatly downplay[ing] the risks. In Florida, a patient alleged in a 2023 lawsuit that ClearChoice provided her with no other treatment options before extracting all her teeth, which was totally unnecessary.

ClearChoice and Affordable Care denied wrongdoing in their respective lawsuits, then privately settled out of court with each patient. ClearChoice and Affordable Care did not respond to requests for comment submitted to the companies or attorneys. Lawyers for all three plaintiffs declined to comment on these lawsuits or did not respond to requests for comment.

Fred Goldberg, a Maryland dental malpractice attorney who said he has represented at least six clients who sued ClearChoice, said each of his clients agreed to get implants after meeting with a salesperson  not a dentist.

Every client Ive had who has gone to ClearChoice has started off meeting a salesperson and actually signing up to get their financing through ClearChoice before they ever meet with a dentist, Goldberg said. You meet with a salesperson who sells you on what they like to present as the best choice, which is almost always that theyre going to take out all your natural teeth.

Becky Carroll, the ClearChoice patient from New Jersey, told a similar story.

Carroll said in her lawsuit that she met first with a ClearChoice salesperson referred to as a patient education consultant. In an interview, Carroll said the salesperson encouraged her to borrow money from family members for the surgery and it was not until after she agreed to a loan and passed a credit check that a ClearChoice dentist peered into her mouth.

It seems way backwards, Carroll said. They just want to know youre approved before you get to talk to a dentist.

CBS News producer Nicole Keller contributed to this report.

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs of KFF  the independent source for health policy research, polling and journalism.

2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The key to Thanksgiving is being grateful for your blessings, which may also boost your health. (Dreamstime/TNS) Read more

As the holidays approach, its hard to go anywhere without hearing the word gratitude  and thats not a bad thing.

Gratitude is a positive emotion that recognizes the good that others have brought to our lives, and is important both for our relationships and physical health. Gratitude has also been linked to decreased loneliness.

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The first meta-analysis looking at the association between gratitude and loneliness found that across dozens of studies, gratitude had a significant inverse relationship to loneliness  as gratitude increased, loneliness decreased. This finding and others reinforce the importance of cultivating gratitude and point to its potential in helping combat the current loneliness epidemic.

What loneliness is really all about is this perception that the kinds of social relationships I have, quantity and/or quality, are not up to par with what I desire, said James Hittner, a professor of psychology at the College of Charleston in South Carolina. People who are lonely are more likely to socially isolate and have a greater risk of depression.

How gratitude is linked with loneliness

Hittner and his former undergraduate student Calvin Widholm analyzed 26 studies that reported an association between gratitude and loneliness, and found a moderate inverse relationship between the two. Across the studies, if a person scored above average on gratitude, there was a 62.4% chance they would score below average on loneliness.

Hittner was not surprised by the findings but was glad to see such a robust inverse correlation.

It is totally one of those things where you think, Well, yeah, of course. But its really nice to see that actually the data pans out that way, as well, said Glenn Fox, a neuroscientist who was not involved with the study.

Fox, who is now an assistant professor of clinical entrepreneurship at University of Southern California Marshall School of Business, published the first direct study of gratitude in the brain in 2015. He and his colleagues found that participants who experienced gratitude showed increased activity in a region near the front of the brain called the medial prefrontal cortex, known to be involved in social bonding and joy.

Finding such a strong association between greater gratitude and decreased loneliness really emphasizes the notion that gratitude-enhancement interventions should be doing things that specifically target loneliness as an outcome, Hittner said. Thats something social psychologist Monica Bartlett has focused on for nearly two decades.

What can gratitude do for us?

Bartlett, a professor at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash., said she studies how our emotions have evolved to serve a purpose. And so from that perspective, Ive always been thinking about, What is it that gratitude does for us? she said.

Bartlett and her colleagues evaluated the effect of gratitude on loneliness and health in older adults in a 2019 study. Over the course of 20 days, they asked participants to write down a couple of things each day that they were grateful for and, importantly, connect those things to someone else. That could be another person but also a pet or even a higher being.

We can think about this more broadly, Bartlett said. They found that cultivating this simple practice led to a decrease in loneliness and, consequently, an increase in well-being in the participants assigned to the gratitude-writing task.

Setting up a gratitude practice to combat loneliness

Choose three things you are grateful for.

Write down three things that happen each day, no matter how small, and who helped make them happen, Bartlett suggested.

You will get into the habit of scanning your day for whats going well and how others helped make it possible. That new mindset will be superseding, overriding more negative views, which are typically much more salient to people, Bartlett said. We seem to be ready as humans to scan our world and notice the negative, because the costs of not might have been significant, she said.

Compose a gratitude letter.

Some research has shown the positive impact of gratitude-letter writing, which takes the practice a step further. Bartlett often suggests gratitude-letter writing to her students. I ask my students to think of a person who they have not ever thanked, expressed gratitude to, or have not for a long time, she said, and then to write them a letter.

Not a text or an email, but a physical letter that they deliver by mail or in person. Its very interpersonal in nature. And again, thinking in terms of loneliness, thats a lovely social connection that just happened, Bartlett said.

Be willing to experiment and practice.

Everyones experience incorporating gratitude into their lives varies, Fox said, and setting up a successful practice will come down to willingness to experiment and practice.

I really do think of gratitude as being like a muscle in that the more we practice, the more we become connected to gratitudes transformative benefits, he said. And at the beginning it may require a lot more effort than at the end.

Stick with your practice, but also treat yourself with kindness.

Fox, who helps people starting or running large businesses use gratitude to combat stress and loneliness, said people often enthusiastically begin a gratitude practice only to hit a wall a couple of weeks later.

Sticking with it is important, he said, but treat yourself with kindness as you develop that skill.

A lot of it has to do with our self-talk, to really say, I dont have to be perfectly grateful all the time. This is not an exercise in perfectionism, its really an exercise in just noticing things that are going well, Fox said. Thats really the place to start.
Neither Sheriff Rochelle Bilal nor Undersheriff Tariq El-Shabazz, the office's top lawyer, have provided any public explanation for why auction winners cannot get deeds to properties. Some have waited up to a year. Bilal's staff said in July it would conduct an audit, but they have since gone silent. Read more

First, they said there was no problem. Then, they acknowledged there was a major problem, but promised to fix it.

They have not fixed it.

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Four months after Philadelphia Sheriff Rochelle Bilals office pledged to take corrective action to resolve widespread delays in recording deeds after property auctions, the process remains broken. For some buyers, its gotten even worse.

Banks, real estate attorneys, construction financiers, real estate agents, and individual buyers tell The Inquirer they are having to wait for up to a year after sheriff sales to take possession of buildings and land.

The problem: Properties are being auctioned off at sheriff sales, but Bilals office is not finalizing the sales until many months later, when it finally sends the deeds to the citys records department.

Why it matters: During that period, empty homes cannot be renovated, demolished, rented, or resold. Vacant lots go undeveloped. Stalled construction sites accumulate trash. Buildings sustain weather damage or are taken over by squatters.

Its keeping new owners from doing anything with the properties, said Mary Jo Potts, a foreclosure specialist at Elfant Wissahickon Realtors who resells properties on behalf of banks. Theyre sitting there and failing apart. Its causing a lot of blight in Philadelphia.

In suburban counties, the process of drafting and recording a deed to complete a sheriff sale typically takes a month or two after an auction. That used to be the case in Philadelphia. But, under Bilal, the system has slowed to a near halt at times.

Why is it happening? No one will say.

Neither Bilal nor anyone in Mayor Cherelle L. Parkers administration would provide an explanation for what has gone wrong. Bid4Assets, a private company contracted to conduct online auctions for the sheriffs office, did not respond to a request for comment.

One attorney representing a lender to commercial developers recently notified the citys law department that he intends to depose Bilal if he cannot get answers.

I dont know what theyre doing at the sheriffs office at this point, Potts said. Were like a year behind.

An Inquirer analysis in July found that, in February and March of this year, the sheriffs office submitted just 29 deeds for recording, nearly all of which corresponded to auctions that took place 200 to 300 days prior.

 READ MORE: They bought properties at Philadelphia sheriff sales, but they never got the deed

Bilals staff at the time had claimed that the numbers were wrong  You insist there is a widespread delay, but that is incorrect, spokesperson Teresa Lundy said in a statement in July  but later backtracked and attributed the delays to an unspecified staffing error.

They announced a plan over the summer to conduct an audit of all deeds filed since January 2024.

Once completed, Lundy said in July, the result of the audit and our updated policy will be made public.

Bilals office has subsequently not responded to any requests for information. Attorneys representing banks and other auction winners are now being forced to petition the courts on a case-by-case basis to try to obtain property deeds for their clients.

I feel like Ive been robbed, said one woman who purchased an investment property in March and has yet to receive the deed. She and her husband, like several other buyers who have reached out to The Inquirer this year, requested anonymity out of concern that Bilals office could retaliate by deliberately withholding the deeds or causing them problems in future auctions.

This was from our savings, she said Thursday of the money they used to bid on the house. It really bothers me. This was our first property that we purchased, and we were not expecting this to happen.

In response to questions from The Inquirer, Ava Schwemler, a spokesperson for the citys law department, provided a one-sentence statement on Thursday that she said was approved by Undersheriff Tariq El-Shabazz: The Law Department acts as legal counsel to the Sheriffs Office and therefore represents the Sheriffs Office in litigation.

Schwemler said the law department and the mayors office had no additional comment.

Daniel Bernheim, a lawyer who is suing the city and Bilal over the delays and is seeking a systemic fix, said he had recently received a startling number of calls and emails from people and companies trying to get their deeds after auctions  some waiting up to a year.

Everybody has a war story, Bernheim said. Its crazy.

Property auctions climb, but deed processing still lags

Although the sheriffs office has recently increased the number of sales it handles each month by restarting auctions of tax-delinquent properties  they had been on hold for years due to a bureaucratic dispute  city records show that the pace of deed processing has failed to keep up.

In October, for example, only 36 deeds from sheriff sales were recorded. But the office has already listed 672 properties for tax or mortgage foreclosure sales next month. The office is also still working through an old backlog, with deeds being recorded this month for auctions that occurred as far back as December 2023.

Bernheim, who also serves as a Lower Merion commissioner, said the city has not provided any specifics about possible solutions.

I really want to see that this gets resolved. I requested a seat at the table, if there really is a table, to get it done, Bernheim said. Ive had no response.

James Leonard, the citys commissioner of records, said the delays are not occurring in his department, which is responsible for finalizing sales by publicly recording deeds.

All deeds, including Sheriffs Office deeds, that are submitted in recordable form (i.e., in compliance with state law recording requirements) are recorded within 24 hours of submittal, Leonard said in an email on Tuesday.

Some institutional buyers have started taking things into their own hands.

A subsidiary of lender Lima One Capital foreclosed on a North Philly investment property in April 2023. After waiting nearly a year without word from the sheriffs office, lawyers for the firm obtained a court order in February, forcing the sheriff to process a deed within five days. (The sheriff finally submitted a deed 12 days later.)

But smaller buyers cant always afford legal representation to obtain a deed. These delays can be especially costly for investors who purchase properties with borrowed money  then have to continue paying interest on the loan for months with no property to show for it.

Im taking a hit on this. I used a home equity line of credit, and Im paying for that, Dave Brown, who purchased a rowhouse at a sheriff sale as a first-time renovation project, told The Inquirer in June. He was supposed to get the deed within 60 to 90 days. It ended up taking seven months.

The problem also affects banks and other lenders who reclaim properties that fail to sell at auction, and it trickles down to would-be homeowners who subsequently enter into contracts to purchase those properties. Those buyers are often not willing to wait a year to settle on a home. Weather damage can occur in empty homes.

Ive lost a lot of sales, said Helene Lazarus, a real estate agent who has been hired to resell foreclosed properties. People are just not waiting. Theyre dropping out.

We have not seen any improvement, a manager at a capital provider for construction projects and investment properties said last week. He requested anonymity to protect his clients from possible retaliation. In fact, the delays have worsened over time.  These delays have a direct bearing on our ability to sell these properties to provide additional housing options and growth for a sorely needed boost for the city.

The ongoing delays are the latest in a series of breakdowns in the sheriffs office, including misappropriated funds, lax courthouse security, mishandled domestic-abuse cases, and allegations of missing guns.

Clayton Pronold, a lawyer who represents mortgage servicing companies, said he has sat on dozens of properties throughout the year that would have been resold if the sheriffs office would have recorded the deeds. He said earlier this month that the problem hasnt gotten any better.

He gets calls from out-of-state clients who are unaware of the level of dysfunction in the Philadelphia Sheriffs Office. They think there is someone he can talk to to move things along.

Theyre saying, Why isnt the deed recorded? Pronold said. And Im like, You dont understand.
No arrests have been made, police is urging anyone with information to call the tip line. Read more

A 24-year-old man was shot in the left foot on a SEPTA bus in North Philadelphia on Friday night and was reported in stable condition at Temple University Hospital, police said Saturday.

The incident occurred at West Dauphin and North Bancroft Streets around 10:45 p.m., after the victim evidently became involved in a dispute with another man, police said.

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No arrests had been made.

Authorities said they were looking for a man with a heavy build and a gray beard who is believed to have been the shooter. He was wearing a black jacket, a knit cap, and black pants at the time of the shooting, police said.

On Tuesday, a man wielding a knife was shot and critically wounded during an altercation on SEPTAs Broad Street Line platform. And, in early October, a man fired a weapon at a SEPTA bus in West Philadelphia, injuring three women.

Despite these incidents, violent crimes on SEPTA have decreased this year. Fewer shootings involving the transit system have occurred so far in 2024 compared with the same period in 2023.

Serious crimes are down 37% from the start of the year through June 30 in contrast to the first six months of last year, according to SEPTA data.

In the meantime, police are urging anyone with information about the latest incident to call or text the PPDs tip line at 215-686-8477 (TIPS). Tipsters can remain anonymous.
Vice President Kamala Harris walks the grounds of Cape Coast Castle in Ghana in March 2023. The structure was one of around 40 so-called "slave castles" that served as prisons and embarkation points for enslaved Africans en route to the Americas. Read more

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ACCRA, Ghana  Four days after Donald Trump was reelected president, I boarded a British Airways flight headed to Ghana, West Africa.

I was stressed and anxious. For three months, I dared to dream that maybe America had evolved enough to finally elect a female president. Vice President Kamala Harris would have made history as the nations first woman in the office, but also the first female of color to make it that far.

But America being  well, America, it just wasnt to be. When the polls closed, the nation had decided that it wanted to reinstate the former president, who has been convicted of felony crimes and found liable for sexual abuse; who wants to cut off federal funding for schools that teach the true history of slavery, and who plans to carry out mass deportations of undocumented immigrants.

The thought of watching Trump prepare to get sworn back into an office on the steps of the U.S. Capitol  the same building that his followers desecrated on Jan. 6, 2021 after Trump lost the 2020 election  sickened me. I thought that this was a perfect time to put the United States in my rearview mirror for a while.

Apparently, a lot of other Americans feel the same way  only many of them are considering making it a permanent departure.

Since the election, social media has been buzzing as those who are disappointed with Trumps win  and are legitimately concerned for their well-being given his caustic rhetoric and stated intention to exact retribution on his political foes  are considering leaving the United States for at least the next four years.

CNN reported that a village in rural Italy is selling houses for about $1 to lure disaffected Americans. Even before the votes were counted, a Jewish friend who was concerned about rising antisemitism told me she had secured a German passport just in case she needs to flee the country.

Meanwhile, Ghana was calling my name. My trip here was an attempt to learn more about Americans whove already made the decision to move to Africa, and those who were still considering doing so. I chose this beautiful nation of 35 million people on the northern edge of the Gulf of Guinea because its leaders issued a passionate appeal to people like me: In 2018, Ghanas president, Nana Akufo-Addo, traveled to the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., and invited descendants of the transatlantic slave trade to come home.

Akufo-Addo designated 2019 as The Year of the Return, an initiative timed to coincide with the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in Jamestown, Va.

It was so successful, tourism officials created Beyond the Return, a decade-long effort to encourage people from throughout the African diaspora to return to the continent. During my stay, Ive interviewed scores of Black Americans and attended a ceremony on Tuesday during which 524 people took their oaths of allegiance and became citizens of Ghana.

I also came to quickly understand Ghanas allure. Shortly after I stepped off the plane in Accra, the nations capital city, I felt hope when I spotted a large sign with the word Akwaaba, meaning welcome. Once outside, I looked up at the moon and said a silent prayer of thanksgiving.

My ancestors had been shipped into bondage from somewhere on this continent, never to return. I thought about my late parents, grandparents, and my paternal great-grandfather, Robert Armstrong, and all that they had endured in the segregated South.

I knew they would be proud that I had made this trip, but also curious. Like most Black Americans, we dont know which nations our earliest ancestors called home  only that they were likely dragged through Ghana along with millions of others and held in one of its slave dungeons before being shipped to the Americas.

The idea of Black Americans repatriating to Africa is centuries old. W.E.B. Du Bois, who wrote his landmark sociological study The Philadelphia Negro and numerous other books, is the most famous Black American expat of modern times. A leader in the pan-African movement, Du Bois moved to Ghana at the age of 93, in 1961, at the request of the countrys first president, Kwame Nkrumah, to work on the Encyclopedia Africana. One of our first stops in Accra was at the bungalow where Du Bois lived, which is now a museum and meeting spot.

I was surprised by how many American accents I heard in Accra. They were doctors, lawyers, retired schoolteachers, counselors, and other walks of life. One was a Fulbright scholar who had taught in Philly before settling in Accra. I encountered them in hotel elevators and lounging poolside.

Estimates are that as many as 1,500 Black American expats have moved into the country since 2020. The venerable African American Association of Ghana has more than 300 paid members. Many of them use the phrase Blaxit  a play off of Brexit, a word used to describe Britains exit from the European Union in 2020  to refer the exodus of Black Americans to Africa.

When I spoke with the groups members during my visit, over and over they told me that racism was a key factor in their decision to leave America. Here in this deeply impoverished nation, expats have found the peace and contentment that eluded them in the United States.

They feel free here in a way they never felt back in the States.

They dont worry about police traffic stops gone awry or being othered because of their skin color.

Unless I brought up national politics, they mostly talked about other things.

The longer I was with them, the less I fretted about Trump.

I began speaking slower.

I spent less time doom scrolling.

My jaw unclenched.

One day, while lingering over lunch at Mabels Table, an African American owned restaurant in Cape Coast, it occurred to me that I was about to have to face another dreary Philadelphia winter. The weather that day  as it had been every day I was in Ghana  was spectacular.

I watched the waves break over the rocks as I sampled a local specialty called red red  black-eyed peas in tomato sauce  and rice, and thought about how familiar it tasted.

I felt at peace.

I felt at home.

This column is the first installment of Blaxit  a series by The Inquirers Jenice Armstrong about Black American expatriates who have moved to the African continent. Travel for the series was funded in part by the National Association of Black Journalists.
I was sitting on my couch one Wednesday evening, scrolling through my phone while watching brain-rotting TV, when I got an advert for an app. At first, I thought it was a scam.

Have dinner with strangers tonight! flashed up on my screen in big and bold letters. In a city near you!

The sponsored post was from a social meet-up app called TimeLeft, newly available in Cork. The concept behind the app is simple  sit down for dinner, at a restaurant not of your choosing, with five other strangers.

Now, who in their right mind would agree to something like this?

Well, someone like me; a woman who wants to branch out of my current social setting, meet new friends, learn new things, chat, eat food, and listen.

I am at a phase in my life where I am not too sure how to approach making new friends. As soon as I received my university degree, it was goodbye pizza socials and long nights in the library, and Hello! to adulting, balancing my 9 to 5, and trying not to get burned out.

I have tried to grow my hobbies and try new activities, but I find it difficult to approach someone and ask them to hang out, get a cup of coffee or go to a gig. This has led to, at times, a sense of loneliness.

A study from the University of Limerick suggests I am not alone.

Researchers found loneliness can be tied to key social transitions for people aged between 18-25, with transitions including things like leaving college, getting a full-time job, and/or moving to a new city or country.

Dr Emma Kirwan, who was lead author in the study, said these transitions can disrupt our existing relationships and these changes can contribute to people experiencing loneliness.

Looking at the advertisement for the app felt like a challenge. Whats the worst that could happen?

The premise

TimeLeft carries out weekly social dinners across 56 countries and over 200 cities.

Those interested pay the app 12.99 to book a dinner, and then you sit back and relax, and let them do the rest.

You answer a questionnaire, and the app claims to pair you with five other people who share similar views.

You find out what the other strangers star sign is 24 hours before you go to the dinner  this is another hallmark of TimeLefts matching process, sorry to all the astrological sceptics reading.

You are also given the industries that they work in, and what nationality they are.

I booked in for two dinners. Heres how I got on.

Dinner number 1

I am freaking out for possibly the first time since college orientation  what will the people be like?

What will their first impression of me be? What should I wear?

Thankfully, I know the dinner spot. I used to work in the restaurant when I was in college.

The staff remember me, the kitchen remembers me, if I need to make a run for it, I know it wouldnt be an issue.

As soon as I enter the restaurant, I can feel the sweat dripping down my forehead.

Four people are already at the table.

Hi, Im Imasha, how are we? I say as I sit down at the table.

Imasha Costa pictured at Koto Restaurant, Carey's Lane, Cork City. Pic Larry Cummins

The crowd is aged between their 20s and 40s. We all come from different backgrounds; engineering, law, marketing, teaching, and journalism.

Despite being a self-described extrovert, I struggle at first, not knowing when its my place to talk.

Eventually, as most dinners go, the conversations between us become smoother, gentler and easier.

The conversation flows from various aspects of our lives that interest us to our worst date stories.

We stay at the dinner table for over two hours, before people start to filter away. The bill is settled and we are left with three.

Head to the pub for a drink, will we? one of the men suggests. Its a thumbs up from me.

Dinner number 2

I am going in with high expectations. Dinner one ended in a trip to the pub, chats ended only by the realisation it was a school night and we needed to get home.

I am ready to meet five other strangers  even if I am sweating and exhausted from the day thats been, and in less of a mood to chat than night one.

Two different TimeLeft dinners are happening at the restaurant.

My second dinner? Well, it was an experience. Again, I knew every other persons star signs going in  they really did show.

Tonight, there is one diner at the table I really do not get on with, and another who insists on describing gruesome crimes from a true crime book they are reading while I am eating.

It is my idea of a personal nightmare. I stare into my meal hoping for the night to be over.

The final word

I think having an app like this is a great idea for making new friends, outside of regular social circles.

In a mainly digital age, it is becoming increasingly difficult to meet someone at a gig or pub and start a friendship or relationship.

And I can admit that I struggle with it and have large expectations when it comes to making new friends.

Associate Professor in Psychology in Maynooth and Chair of the Loneliness Taskforce Research Network, Dr Joanna McHugh Power, says sometimes reducing our feelings of loneliness is about managing expectations.

The working world can be less socially stimulating than university, and emerging adulthood partly involves coming to terms with these changes in how we socialise.

So would I rate TimeLeft as a viable option for making friends?

Its a good way to meet new people and put yourself out there, but it may not be for everyone.
The mother of the little girl who was left fighting for her life after a knife attack in Dublin city centre last year has said her daughter is strong and is really trying.

Today marks the one-year anniversary of the terrifying ordeal that saw three children and a creche worker injured at lunchtime during rush-hour traffic on Parnell St on November 23, 2023.

Riad Bouchaker, 50, who has no fixed abode, has since been charged with the attack

The girl, who recently marked her sixth birthday, was left with life-changing injuries and spent most of the past year in Temple Street Childrens Hospital but has since moved to the National Rehabilitation Centre.

After the attack, Dublin city centre quickly descended into violence, as rioters burned, looted, and destroyed.

The childs mother, who cannot be named to protect the identity of her daughter, said: This week is better than last week, leading to the anniversary.

The brave mother moved to Ireland several years ago, got married, and gave birth to her only child here.

She has remained by her daughters bedside along with her husband and the childs grandmother since their lives were turned upside down.

However, she said she holds no anger or hate over the attack and instead is trying to move forward.

Right now, we are OK, she said. We have to wait, one year down. Next year, for sure, will be different.

There are great days, OK days, and bad ones, like for everyone.

"We have to live in the now, in the moment.

She also thanked the hospital, staff, and all those around her, including family and friends, as well as the public for their continued support.

The supports are great and help us get through, she said. Moving forward, once we are home, we will adapt once again.

There is no certainty. Our daughter is strong and really trying. We need to be patient, no matter how much we would like to know what tomorrow holds.

She understands that the public has held her daughter in their prayers and are keen to be updated on the childs progress.

With that in mind, she began updating a GoFundMe page called Barrog do Chailin Beag (A Hug For A Little Girl), which was set up by Roisin Fitzgerald and has so far raised 117,764 for the little girl and her family. She wrote:

This Saturday marks one year since the incident. I guess calling it an incident is as good a word as any. Others come to mind, but we dont wish to remember the tragedy. We choose rebirth, triumph, resilience.

Dont 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.

Me and my husband have had to relearn how to be a parent.

It is different parenting altogether. And she has had to relearn being a child, with extreme limitations.

She added: We strongly believe, despite medical assessments and reports, that she understands everything we say to her. She, like most six-year-olds, chooses what she wishes to acknowledge.

She has made great progress and we dont 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. Weve got time.

In May this year, the mother gave her first interview to the 'Irish Examiner' and said the riots that followed were not in her little girls name.

We dont want any hate over this, and that hate only generates more hate, she said.

Poem written by the little girl's mother

'Some Words'

Silence and then more silence.

Seconds turned into minutes. Minutes into hours.

The feeling of guilt The wish for forgiveness.

I still carry those to this day.

It might seem nonsensical How they live in my core.

Wires and tubes and monitors.

Alarms beeping and lines going up and down.

A metallic smell in the room.

You didn't smell like you.

I was afraid to hold your hand and something going wrong.

I talked to you under my voice:

Come back to me.

Hours turned into days.

Days into weeks.

Weeks into months.

I cry soft sobs while you sleep next to me.

I never want you to see me cry.

I want to be the strong one beside you, holding your hand and telling you to breathe in and out, to calm yourself down so you can get back to you.

Life has defining moments.

Tragedy usually outranks them.

This will not define us forever.

You will find your way, reshape, grow.

You are so amazing. I always knew you were.

I never took you for granted.

I might have taken moments, but I always tried to make up for them.

I do miss your way of saying 'Do you know?' when telling a story or a fun fact.

I found you so interesting.

You made me laugh.

You kept me guessing I wanted to know more because of you.

I read more to understand you, and help you.

And that has never changed, nor shall it.

You will continue making your way into the world.

I will try my best to be your voice and your legs Until you can do what you wish on your own.'
Taoiseach Simon Harris has said there is "no excuse" for his failure to engage with a woman in a Cork supermarket when she challenged him about disability services

In a clip, which was widely shared on social media on Friday, Charlotte Fallon, who works with St Josephs Foundation, identifies herself as a carer and challenges Mr Harris on his government's record. In the clip, Ms Fallon tells Simon Harris that the disability sector has "been ignored" and accuses the Taoiseach of "not being a nice man".

The Taoiseach had been canvassing in a supermarket in Kanturk at the time the time and a visibly emotional Ms Fallon tells him: Weve fought for our money  but we are ignored", to which Mr Harris responded: No, no, not at all.

She then adds You have done nothing for us. Our people are suffering. Im very passionate about my job.

Mr Harris tells her that he too is very passionate about disability, to which Ms Fallon responds: But theres no mention in the Budget whatsoever. You ignored them. You ignored the carers."

Mr Harris responds saying thats not true, before shaking her hand and walking away. Ms Fallon says Keep shaking hands and pretend youre a good man.

As the taoiseach returns for a moment, she says to him: Youre not a good man" before he leaves again.

In an Instagram post this morning, Mr Harris says that he regrets not engaging fully.

I was in Kanturk last night at the end of a very long day and I was talking to a woman who works in a Section 39 disablity organisation and she was raising issues with me, he said.

I want to say I didnt give her the time that I shouldve given her and I feel really bad about that because its not who I am.

He added that he should have taken the time to engage, but that disability is an absolute priority issue for his government. He said that disability issues "make him tick".

Weve got to look after people with disabilities. Weve got to empower them. Weve got to support carers better and those who work in disability services.

She was raising issues with me and I want to say I did not give her the time I should have given her.

I feel really bad about that. Its not who I am. Its not what makes me tick. I do hope to be able to have a longer conversation with her because I want you to know I am in the business of listening, of learning, of acting when it comes to disability services.

Mr Harris said this afternoon that he has now spoken to Ms Fallon on the phone and apologised to her.

While out canvassing at a Christmas market in Rathfarnham in Dublin on Saturday afternoon, Mr Harris said he was annoyed with himself and had called Ms Fallon to apologise.

"I called Charlotte this morning because she was absolutely owed an apology from me," he said.

"We had a very good conversation, a very good conversation. I was very grateful to her for her time and her kindness.

However, Sinn Fein's housing spokesperson Eoin O Broin said that Mr Harris' reaction "showed the true face of Fine Gael" and showed "a contempt for working people".

He added: "He should apologise not just for insulting that woman but for insulting carers and people (with) disabilities by the utter disrespect that he showed for her.

Earlier on Saturday, Fine Gael ministers Helen McEntee and Paschal Donohoe defended their party leader.

"I think the Taoiseach himself has been very clear that he wished the encounter had gone differently. It had been the end of a very, very long day," Ms McEntee said.

"What he said very clearly is that he should have given her more time, and should have engaged for longer with her, but this is the reason he got into politics."

Mr Donohoe said: "His commitment to support carers, his commitment to support those who have additional needs within our society is the north star of Simon Harris's political career.

"I have seen his empathy. I've seen his commitment to this issue again and again and again.

"I had seen, particularly since he become Taoiseach, his desire to place those needs at the heart of government and at the heart of how we can change public policy under a new government."

He added: "In the course of an election campaign, in all the interactions that we have with people, of course, we sometimes feel within ourselves 'that could have gone differently' and 'could have gone better'. I think it's particularly the case for somebody who is so committed to looking at how we can support those who need more."

- Additional reporting by PA
Cork native Rob Hilliard has been in Sweden for 12 years, with a son in childcare/forskola for the last four of them.

Matthew, Robs son with his Georgian wife Ana, is now five. Hes with Rob when we meet in central Stockholm, and is a good advertisement for Swedens early years system  bright, bubbly and in great form.

I first spoke to Rob  who works for gaming giant Electronic Arts  when Matthew was two, and his enthusiasm for the childcare system in the country was unqualified. Hes a little more introspective on this occasion although, to be fair, it is at my urging.

While clearly enthused about the endless advantages of the Swedish system  "Did you know they potty-train your child for you?"  and the flat-rate childcare it delivers for all, Rob has enough Irish in him to recognise some of the quirks of Swedish society that are somewhat at odds with his home countrys sensibility.

When asked what negatives may exist in the system, Rob says of Matthews experience of daycare can sometimes be a bit baby-ish. Robs son wont enter school proper until next year, roughly 18 months after Irish kids begin primary school.

Conformity is seen as a desirable thing, to blend in. Youre not special. Its a culture thing. Its a conformist society. And Irish people would hate that, he says.

I get the impression that they try to stifle individuality and enforce conformity.

"I can get that, you want the kids to sit down and behave, and some kids are more quiet, but others are more engaged. They want all the kids in a very narrow range of behaviour.

"They try to teach the kids to be independent, and theyre very gentle, but also very strict say in terms of waiting your turn to speak. Its nearly military in a sense, but also in a gentle manner.

He notes the strict nature of how the educational system operates generally, and raises the case of a Swedish couple earlier this year who took their children out of primary school for an extended period of time to travel to Thailand for work, and were fined roughly 5,000 by the authorities upon their return despite having placed the children in schools while they were away.

That fine resulted from the local municipal board of education ruling that there were no qualifying reasons for the childrens absence.

He says:

A lot of people could be a bit socially naive. They become kind of docile, and have total trust in the State, I think the Government should solve everything for me, that sort of way.

Whereas in Ireland you know you have to look after yourself, to buy your house, to save for your pension, here they expect the Government to look after them.

He notes that, as good as the childcare system is in Sweden, it goes hand in hand with a strong societal pressure to be working.

You would be scorned socially for working cash-in-hand for example.

Swedens prioritisation of behaviours seen as for the good of society can sometimes rankle also, Rob says. Sometimes you need to drive, for example, he says.

Driving is really expensive and really complicated here. They tax the hell out of it. So if you need to get to the inner city say, its 5 every time. If you go five times you pay five times. They have huge taxes on petrol. But people do drive, it just costs them a lot of money.

Food and alcohol are massively taxed too. Restaurants are very expensive here because of the living wage, theyre seen as a luxury here. You can pay 100 going for a pint and fish and chips.
Despite the name, Susie Moonan is not Irish, though she does have ancestry in the North as her father hails from Belfast.

Based an hour south of Stockholm, she is a mum-of-three  two in school and the third in forskola [pre-school]  and spent 15 years working as a social worker, in roles varying from foster care to school counsellor to addiction services.

She explains Swedens exceptional childcare infrastructure has its roots in the 1960s and the womens rights movement.

They aimed it at creating equality in working, so everyone is allowed to work, so both men and women could go to work, and not just mom based at home with children, she says.

There is a lot of trust in the forskola system. I would say most people have children in care, theyve increased the status of staff, everyone has gone to university, and parents can find genuine support with the staff. The system is hugely trusted. Women work, and parental leave is split, if not always 50:50, then certainly 60:40.

Sweden had socialist wind in Susies words, with strong workers movements, equality, and womens rights at the right time.

With the politics we have here, in America wed be communists. We pay high taxes, but we have free healthcare, accessible childcare  that's the political statement.

She also has a nuanced view on the possible downsides of excellent childcare.

Its an interesting question  sometimes I catch myself and wonder, like after the whole day is gone and I havent seen my kids, and all the best of them is gone for the day, when they come home and theyre tired, she says.

'If we took the care away, unless men and women have equal rates of pay  which Sweden is working towards  then you risk that women would be stuck at home.'

But I dont think thats childcares fault. I would say rather that the requirements of jobs today are that were always online, always within reach. I think its more important to look at how we work so that we have more time with our children, rather than taking away childcare.

"If we took the care away, unless men and women have equal rates of pay  which Sweden is working towards  then you risk that women would be stuck at home.

But I always think, I cant see where elsewhere I could live and be so much with our kids as were able to do in Sweden. Theres no other opportunity to do that, to be able to be home with them, to halve parental allowance with my husband and still have days left over to use for extra vacation time. Thats such a benefit, she says.

Susie notes Sweden is not immune from much of the political and social trends being seen around the world, notably a move towards the right in terms of social services.

For example, despite sporting a  by Irish standards  near flawless public health system, private healthcare is becoming more prevalent there as people seek access to care faster.

The refugees situation has led to quite right-wing politics at the moment, prioritising the individual above the group. Regardless, you wouldnt see someone on the street here, or someone without a job, going a long time not being able to access appropriate healthcare.

Just as in Ireland, Sweden has issues with immigration and homelessness, albeit they manifest in a far less vocal and visible way.

In Sweden youre not allowed to use violence as a way to tell kids what to do, what is right, whats wrong, Susie says of the countrys attitude to solving social problems generally, and how they try to teach their children.

We work a lot at basically not going to your emotions, not to use threats, not to use increased voice volume, trying to be calm as a way to handle conflicts.

"In both social care and in parenting, I think we would look at the challenges the same way. Give five times more love, instead of punishment, instead of arguments. Five times more love.
On the first night of a visit to Stockholm last month, I decided to go for a walk around the citys old town section, or Gamla Stan.

En route, drinking in the clean air, I came across a rumpus down a side street, with blue lights flashing. Going in for a closer look, I observed a pro-Palestine demonstration of several hundred people walking in convoy behind a police escort, some of the police armed with submachine guns.

It was one of, if not the, loudest demonstrations Id ever seen. It was also impeccably well-behaved. It made me think of whether or not Swedens public services model is one Ireland could ever truly hope to emulate.

In aspirational terms, everyone appears to agree that the Scandinavian country is the gold standard in terms of childcare. But fundamentally, the two societies have little in common.

From early years advocates to politicians, its been made clear repeatedly in recent months with an election looming that there are models out there that work, if only we had the inclination to emulate them.

It is certainly true, objectively, that the Swedish child and healthcare systems are a great deal more accomplished than our own.

In that country, free public healthcare is basically a reality, while here, nearly a decade after the cross-party announcement of Slaintecare and its commitment to abolishing the private model, were no closer to reaching that goal.

In terms of how childcare works in Sweden, no parent I spoke to had any complaints, and any mild gripes were definitely of the first-world-problem variety.

Realistically, there you can have a child in an exceptional standard of care system from 7am until 5pm daily for less than 200 per month. That's about a third of the cost of a typical creche in Ireland  and thats after three years of fees being slashed here. Childhood is prioritised in Sweden as a public good.

Childcare in Ireland

In recent weeks, all our major parties (bar the Greens, the party which actually managed to reduce our own fees to a massive extent in the first place) have committed to the 200-per-month childcare nirvana.

Sinn Fein were first out of the traps in September, insisting that 10-a-day care would be achieved on their watch, at a cost of 345m, to be funded from Irelands (current) giant budget surplus.

This is where you could see issues occurring. In order to achieve what Sweden has, you need both time (the Swedes current system of public service was kickstarted 60 years ago) and the ability to make far-reaching, grown-up decisions for want of a better description.

Public services there are excellent, they are also funded by high taxes. Each municipality has responsibility for administering childcare in its own region. That responsibility doesnt diminish in times of recession, or a national emergency.

Taxes

Achieving that level of public service requires a commitment to collective pain across the population in terms of taxes for the common good. Where if you want to do something thats not great for others  like driving a car in a city which already has fantastic public transport  then you are expected to pay more to do so.

Its a socialist ideal I suppose, where income level does not dictate whether or not you can afford to have a child. It is however, objectively, a bit more fair.

In Ireland, we love a tax cut. Theres a reason why income tax reductions are thrown about like confetti at budget time  voters love them. They dont love so much the swingeing cuts and austerity measures which follow when the Irish project fails every other generation.

But we seem willing to accept even that in return for a bit of excitement when times are good.

Ireland is a non-conformist society, in that we are not very good at conforming to the sorts of commitments that improving everyones lot would take. And our politicians know this.

In many ways this probably makes the personality of the nation a bit more lively than that of our Scandinavian cousins. Were more craic, a bit more juvenile. In fairness to us, our republic is a lot, lot younger.

Times of austerity

But what happens, in Sinn Feins plan for example, if the new American administration under Donald Trump scuppers our foreign investment strategies, American companies flee the coop, and were left with little or no budget surplus?

Do childcare fees go up again?

What about making provision for childcare businesses and workers, to underwrite their viability should the economy nosedive  which is a distinct possibility in the coming years given the trends currently being seen around the globe?

What about guaranteeing people a place for their child, regardless of where they live?

All that costs a lot of money to provide. Would our politicians commit to it? Would our fellow citizens agree to it?

To really dedicate ourselves to fixing Irelands childcare woes would require something of a wholesale re-think of what the States responsibilities to its citizens are.

Somehow I dont think were quite there yet.
On a damp dull Saturday morning in late January 1987, Charles Haughey stepped out from the passenger seat of his detective-driven Mercedes into a dense fog outside Langtons Hotel in Kilkenny.

He glanced around and waved to the large crowd of spectators who had waited for hours to get a glimpse of the Boss, and then engaged in some flesh-pressing.

As he was about to board the campaign bus, he apologised for his late arrival.

Itll take more than fog to stop Fianna Fail this time round, he shouted to the roars of the crowd.

The country was in tatters, buckling under the harshest tax rates in Europe, with a quarter of a million of its workers unemployed. Garret FitzGeralds coalition government had imploded only days before as a result of the withdrawal of the Labour Party  caused by a disagreement over budget proposals for massive cuts in social spending.

Haugheys genius was his charm, mixed with a large helping of obscurity.

Despite promising little of interest in the hope of swaying the public vote, he simply reminded voters that coalition governments were unreliable. He urged the country to give him a strong majority, but the population back then had more to worry about than an election.

Fianna Fail received 44.1% of the overall vote, and went on to form a minority single-party government which had the qualified support of Fine Gael, the main opposition party; but typically Haughey was far from comfortable governing by consensus. Concessions and compromises didnt come easily to him unless they were exclusively his. What resulted was a cobbled-together government.

You would be forgiven for thinking that history has repeated itself in recent times, especially if you replace Haugheys and FitzGeralds names with Martin and Harris.

Ireland is a very different country from what it was in 1987, but the game of politics with its vague snakes-and-ladders effect has remained the same. Perhaps the only change is an absence of trust on the part of voters

The days of the Soldiers of Destiny, the wartime name ascribed to Fianna Fail, are long gone, as are the pedestals that voters once placed their politicians on.

Gone also are the days when a crowd of hundreds would wait for hours on a cold foggy Saturday to see any Charles Haughey-type.

November is the month of early darkness and cooler temperatures. Leaves are falling as we reach for the winter clothes. This month is all about change. Its as though theres a routine we follow thats strict and checked  same as last year and every year in memory. Its heralding of winter is a reminder of the importance of looking after our health, both mental and physical. Its a month for being excessively gentle as we remember those who wont be here this Christmas. Its both sad and sentimental in equal measure. What November doesnt need is an election  the second in six months.

The fog that Haughey encountered on the campaign trail in 1987 has descended again; except this time its a different type of fog. In fact, there are two fogs swirling around.

One is the fog of indifference, felt by those whove had enough of political elitism; the second is the fog of entitlement that many politicians are cluelessly lost in  detached from a reality of life lived by almost 700,000 people whose incomes are below the poverty line

I believe we have reached a point where many people are no longer wondering who they will vote for next Friday; now theyre wondering will they bother voting at all.

I fell asleep 15 minutes into the leaders' first televised debate on RTE last Monday. I thanked my wife the following morning for not waking me. She then confessed she had also missed it because she was watching Im A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! Wise choice if you ask me.

Law and order

Its a year since the Dublin riots shocked the country and beyond when a major part of the capitals north city was plunged into a blazing hellscape of violence, destruction and looting following multiple stabbings at a nearby school earlier that day. Its nothing short of a miracle that no lives were lost.

Responsibility for restoring law and order fell to the gardai, 60 of whom were assaulted, while three were seriously injured. Could it happen again? Of course, it could. Would the gardai be better equipped if it did? Unlikely.

One young garda, a member of the Public Order Unit, told me confidentially that he received a call shortly after 5pm that Thursday evening to prepare for duty with one of the units. He had to drive home in heavy rush-hour traffic to collect his body armour, helmet, and riot shield because there was nowhere to store them at the garda station.

He agreed that many of his colleagues took huge risks that evening because they were left with no choice. He laughed when I asked him if the resources they had at their disposal were adequate for what they were faced with.

Absolutely not, he replied. A record 459 gardai were injured while on duty last year. None of this was mentioned on Mondays debate.

Micheal Martin last weekend revealed that Fianna Fail wants the Justice portfolio in the next government, as if his party is better equipped to protect the country. He was only short of embracing Martin Luther King Jrs famous words I have a dream as he discussed plans for his new Department of Domestic Affairs, which would incorporate justice, immigration, integration, and childrens rights  somewhat like moving chairs around on Titanic. Daft stuff.

At one point he was starting to sound like Paul Mescals character Lucius Verus in Gladiator II.

And just for good measure, as though Justice should be more crime-friendly, he plans to legalise drugs, while also pledging to recruit 5,000 gardai over the next five years, a thousand less than Fine Gaels pledge

A son of a friend of mine quit the gardai last year and emigrated to Perth. He is now a member of the WA Police Force. His father sent him a link to each of the partys justice manifestos. His son sent him back a photo of the BMW X5 SUV highway police vehicle he drives, with all its eye-catching decals and flashing lights. Below the photo were the words Loving it here Dad. Living the dream.

And what about all those would-be parents if Fine Gael is re-elected? Simon Harris will put 1,000 into a trust fund for every newborn baby in the next five years, payable on their 18th birthday, at a snippety-snap cost to the taxpayer of half a billion. So even if you cant afford childcare  thats if you can find a creche thats not full  at least the 18th birthday party is paid for. Not a single mention of the 4,170 children who are homeless.

Dense fog sums up this election campaign, with its harebrained manifestos full of cobbled-together bluff. I think the biggest shock next week will be the number of politicians who lose their seats, including some who give the impression that retaining the old seat is an on-the-nose certainty. Nor would it surprise me if the turnout was the lowest ever.

No doubt many of them are sniggering at Gerry Hutchs political ambitions, and his chances of getting elected in Dublin. Hutch could have the last laugh, even if he doesnt get in.

Haugheys charm, with its blatant sense of entitlement, might have been what got him elected in 1987, but those days are long gone. Sometimes its better to promise nothing. History might remember you more favourably.
Venezuelas government has announced another investigation against opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.

Fridays move continues its efforts to blame her for the economic sanctions the United States and other nations have imposed against the South American country.

Ms Machado will be investigated for expressing support for a bill passed by the US House of Representatives this week that would block the federal government from contracting any company doing business with Venezuelas government.

A statement from Venezuelas attorney generals office announcing the latest investigation said Ms Machados comments constitute the commission of crimes of treason against the country, conspiracy with foreign countries and associations.

We look forward to continuing the fight for freedom in Venezuela

The statement characterised the House bill as an effort to increase the catalogue of sanctions against Venezuela.

The announcement came four days after the US government recognized Venezuelan opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez as that nations president-elect.

President Nicolas Maduro claimed to have won the July election, but he and his government have refused to show vote tallies backing his supposed victory.

Ms Machado won the primary organised last year by the main opposition coalition with more than 90% of support. But she did not appear on the July 28 ballot because the government banned her from running for office, alleging she had sought the economic sanctions the US imposed last decade in an effort to topple Mr Maduro.

Her hand-picked substitute was also barred from representing the Unitary Platform opposition coalition. That prompted the factions leadership to choose Gonzalez as a candidate.

Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez waves to supporters in Madrid (AP)

Venezuelas National Electoral Council, which is stacked with ruling party loyalists, declared Mr Maduro the election winner hours after polls closed. Unlike previous presidential elections, electoral authorities did not provide detailed vote counts.

However, the opposition coalition collected tally sheets from 80% of the nations electronic voting machines and posted them online. Mr Gonzalez and Ms Machado then said the voting records showed the former diplomat won the election with twice as many votes as Mr Maduro.

Mr Gonzalez left Venezuela in September for exile in Spain after a warrant was issued for his arrest in connection with an investigation into the publishing of the vote tally sheets.

Venezuelas next presidential term starts on January 10.

In a post on X, Ms Machado earlier this week expressed her gratitude to members of Congress for passing the bill, which she described as a crucial step towards holding Maduros regime accountable.

We look forward to continuing the fight for freedom in Venezuela, working together to achieve a swift transition to democracy and a bright future for the region, she wrote.
Fighting between armed Sunni and Shiite groups in Pakistan has killed at least 33 people and injured 25 others, a senior police officer said on Saturday.

The overnight violence was the latest to rock Kurram, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, and comes days after a gun ambush killed 42 people.

Shiite Muslims make up about 15% of the 240 million people in Sunni-majority Pakistan, which has a history of sectarian animosity between the communities.

Although the two groups generally live together peacefully, tensions remain, especially in Kurram.

Shiite Muslims make up about 15% of the 240 million people in Sunni-majority Pakistan (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

The senior police officer said armed men in Bagan and Bacha Kot torched shops, houses and government property.

Intense gunfire was ongoing between the Alizai and Bagan tribes in the Lower Kurram area.

Educational institutions in Kurram are closed due to the severe tension. Both sides are targeting each other with heavy and automatic weapons, said the officer.

Videos shared with The Associated Press showed a market engulfed by fire and orange flames piercing the night sky. Gunfire can also be heard.

The location of Thursdays attack was also targeted by armed men, who marched on the area.

Survivors of the gun ambush said assailants emerged from a vehicle and sprayed buses and cars with bullets. Nobody has claimed responsibility for the attack and police have not identified a motive.

Dozens of people from the districts Sunni and Shiite communities have been killed since July, when a land dispute erupted in Kurram that later turned into general sectarian violence.
A Canadian security forum has presented an award to British-Russian dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was freed from prison earlier this year in a massive prisoner exchange.

The Halifax International Security Forum presents the award annually in honour of US senator John McCain, who died in 2018, to individuals from any country who have demonstrated uncommon leadership in the pursuit of human justice.

The forum attracts military officials, United States senators, diplomats and scholars.

I am humbled beyond words to be receiving this prize, but I view it first and foremost as your recognition of all my fellow Russian citizens who have the courage to stand up to Putins regime and to call out his murderous war in Ukraine in full knowledge what the price of that will be, Mr Kara-Murza said.

Mr McCain was a regular at the forum and his son, Jack McCain, presented Mr Kara-Murza with the award.

Mr Kara-Murza was a pallbearer at Mr McCains funeral. It was described as his last dig at Vladimir Putin, Jack McCain said.

Mr Kara-Murza was freed in the massive prisoner exchange earlier this year with the West  the largest since the Cold War. He had been imprisoned in Russia since April 2022 and was convicted of treason for denouncing the war in Ukraine.

He rose to prominence as a journalist and did columns as a contributor for The Washington Post from his prison cell. He won the Pulitzer Prize for commentary earlier this year.

In 2015 and 2017, he suffered two near-fatal poisonings and developed polyneuropathy, a condition that deadens the feeling in his limbs. He blamed the poisonings on Russian authorities.

Mr Kara-Murza rejected the charges against him as punishment for standing up to Mr Putin.

Past winners of the John McCain Prize for Leadership in Public Service have included the people of Hong Kong for their fight for their rights in the face of oppression from the government of China and the people of Lesbos, Greece, for their valiant actions to rescue refugees fleeing conflict in the Middle East.

A Navy pilot, John McCain was shot down over North Vietnam in 1967. He was captured, beaten and held prisoner for more than five years, refusing to be released before other American service members.

Like Senator McCain, Kara-Murza was willing to stand up for his beliefs even if it came at the price of his freedom, said Peter Van Praagh, the president of the Halifax International Security Forum.
Friday 22 November - 09:00 AZT / 06:00 CET - Baku, Azerbaijan: As COP29 wraps up in Azerbaijan, the Standards Pavilion, led by ISO, IEC, and ULSE alongside eight other standards organizations, hailed significant progress during the conference, in recognizing the crucial role of globally agreed standards in turning climate commitments into measurable actions.

The Standards Pavilion, convening for the first time at COP29, acknowledges the following key milestones from COP29. The Pavilion Partners see a role for international standards to support their implementation, and are ready to partner with other organizations on these initiatives:

The Pavilion partners also welcomed the G20 Rio de Janeiro Leaders Declaration which called for urgent scaling of climate finance and investment.

Looking ahead to COP30, the Partners of the Standards Pavilion reaffirm their dedication to supporting global climate action by fostering collaboration and promoting the use of trusted, internationally recognized standards. The International Standards community welcomes the opportunity to work with the Presidency of COP30 and contribute actively to next years climate conference. Together, these efforts aim to enhance the sustainability of products, systems, and environments, building a more resilient and sustainable future.

For more information on the Standards Pavilion and COP29 highlights, visit www.standardspavilion.org.

About the Organizations

About ISO

ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is an independent, non-governmental international organization with a membership of 170 national standards bodies. Through its global network, it facilitates the development of voluntary and market-relevant International Standards that support innovation and provide solutions to global challenges. ISO has published more than 25,000 International Standards and related documents covering almost every industry, from technology to food safety, to agriculture and healthcare. More information about ISO is available at www.iso.org.

About IEC

The IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) is a global, not-for-profit membership organization that brings together close to 170 countries and coordinates the work of 30 000 experts globally. IEC International Standards and conformity assessment work underpins international trade in electrical and electronic goods. It facilitates electricity access and verifies the safety, performance and interoperability of electric and electronic devices and systems, including for example, consumer devices such as mobile phones or refrigerators, office and medical equipment, information technology, electricity generation, and much more.

Conformity assessment refers to any activity that determines whether a product, system, service and sometimes people fulfil the requirements and characteristics described in a standard or specification. Such requirements can include performance, safety, efficiency, effectiveness, reliability, durability or environmental impacts such as pollution or noise. Verification is generally done through testing and/or inspection.

Learn more: www.iec.ch

About UL Standards and Engagement

UL Standards & Engagement is a nonprofit organization that translates safety science into action through standards development, partnerships, and advocacy. Since 1903, we have developed nearly 1,700 standards and guidance documents for products ranging from fire doors to autonomous vehicles. ULSE enables innovation and grows trust by convening experts, and informing policymakers and regulators as we work toward a safer, more secure and sustainable future.

Learn more: https://ulse.org

Standards Pavilion partners
Samsung has concluded the beta testing phase of its cloud gaming platform, Samsung Gaming Hub, making it officially available to all Galaxy users. The service allows users to stream and play games directly on their updated Galaxy devices without downloading them, offering a seamless experience that aligns with the growing trend of cloud-based gaming. Initially introduced in 2023 for select regions, including the United States, Samsung Gaming Hub underwent extensive testing to fine-tune its offerings for mobile gamers. Now, the platform is ready for widespread use across North America, marking a significant milestone in Samsung's venture into mobile cloud gaming.

Samsung Gaming Hub Brings Cloud Streaming Directly to Devices

The Gaming Hub introduces a new level of convenience for mobile gamers. Users can launch and play games instantly via the app, provided they are connected to the internet, eliminating the need for storage-consuming downloads. Samsung also promises improved latency for smoother gaming experiences, though performance still depends on external factors such as internet speed and bandwidth. Moreover, the Gaming Hub is free to use for all Galaxy device owners without requiring a subscription, making it an appealing option for users seeking cost-effective gaming solutions.

Samsung Gaming Hub's Notable Limitation

Despite its promising features, the Samsung Gaming Hub has a notable limitation  it supports only Android-native games. This restriction means users are limited to mobile games available on platforms like the Galaxy Store or Google Play Store. In contrast, competitors such as Xbox Cloud Gaming, Amazon Luna, and NVIDIA GeForce Now offer access to a broader range of titles, including PC and console games, giving them a competitive edge in terms of game variety.

Cloud Gaming Platforms Leading the Market

Samsung's entry into the cloud gaming market places it in competition with these well-established platforms. Microsoft's Xbox Cloud Gaming is renowned for its extensive library of first-party titles, though it requires an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription. NVIDIA GeForce Now is praised for its high performance and broad accessibility, offering smooth gameplay experiences for PC and mobile gamers alike. Meanwhile, Amazon Luna provides a cost-effective option for Prime members, with a growing library of games available at no extra charge. While these platforms cater to diverse gaming preferences, Samsung is carving its niche by focusing on Android gamers and offering a subscription-free service.

The launch of Samsung Gaming Hub represents a bold step forward in making cloud gaming accessible to mobile users. Though limited in its scope compared to rivals, its free access and focus on Android-native games could attract casual gamers seeking convenience and affordability. As Samsung continues to refine the platform, the Gaming Hub could play a pivotal role in shaping the future of mobile cloud gaming. For now, Galaxy users can explore this latest innovation and experience gaming without boundaries  provided they stay within the Android ecosystem.
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An intense Israeli airstrike hit central Beirut, according to security sources, rattling the Lebanese capital as Israel intensified its campaign against the Iran-supported Hezbollah group.At least four individuals lost their lives and 23 others were injured in the assault in Beiruts Basta neighborhood, as reported by Hezbollahs al-Manar broadcaster, referencing the health ministry.

Lebanons National News Agency indicated that the strike led to numerous casualties and injuries, along with the destruction of an eight-storey building. Footage aired by Lebanons Al Jadeed station revealed at least one building obliterated and several others severely damaged in the vicinity.

The explosions reverberated through the capital around 4:00 AM local time, as observed by Reuters witnesses. Security sources reported that a minimum of four bombs were deployed during the attack.

Israel initiated a significant offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon in September, following nearly a year of cross-border confrontations sparked by the Gaza conflict, subjecting extensive regions of Lebanon to airstrikes and deploying troops in the south.

The hostilities began when Hezbollah fired in support of its Palestinian ally Hamas after the latter launched the attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023.

A US mediator visited Lebanon and Israel this week to facilitate a ceasefire. The envoy, Amos Hochstein, suggested that progress was made following discussions in Beirut on Tuesday and Wednesday, before proceeding to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz.
The government of Laos has expressed that it is profoundly saddened by the tragic loss of foreign tourists in Vang Vieng, with the number of deaths from a suspected methanol poisoning incident rising to six.

Among the deceased are two Danish citizens, an American, a Briton, and two Australians, all of whom were transported to the hospital after a night out in the popular backpacker destination, Vang Vieng.

These individuals were part of a group of around a dozen foreigners who fell ill and were rushed to medical facilities shortly after November 12.

In a statement published on its website, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Laos conveyed its sincere sympathy and deepest condolences to the families of the deceased, also noting that an investigation is currently underway.

Australia is urging Laotian authorities to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Vang Vieng has long been a staple on the Southeast Asia backpacker trail since Laos secretive communist regime opened its doors to tourism decades ago.

Once associated with rowdy backpacker parties in the jungle, the town has since rebranded itself as an eco-tourism hub.

The Vietnamese manager of the Nana Backpackers Hostel, where the tourists were residing, has been taken into custody for questioning, according to Laos tourist police who informed AFP.

No charges have been filed at this time.

Authorities in Laos were unavailable for comment.

Methanol-tainted alcohol, typically found in industrial and household products like antifreeze, is believed to be the cause behind these fatalities.

This substance can be mixed with liquor to enhance its potency but poses severe health risks, including blindness, liver damage, and even death.

Danish, Australian, and British officials have issued statements confirming the deaths of their nationals in the week following the incident.

On their travel advisory websites, authorities from the UK and Australia have cautioned their citizens about the dangers of methanol poisoning while consuming alcohol in Laos.

However, in Vang Vieng, business appeared to continue as usual.

Ive heard the news, but everything seems normal here, said Michael, a manager at Vangvieng Rock Backpacker Rooftop Hostel, speaking to AFP on Friday and requesting to use only his first name.

The high season is approaching, so we are welcoming more and more tourists daily.

There are still plenty of tourists in town, and they are out partying, a receptionist at Vang Vieng Chill House Hostel told AFP.
Tragically, five international tourists, including a British lawyer, have lost their lives due to a suspected mass methanol poisoning incident at a nightclub in Laos.Among those affected was Simone White, hailing from Orpington, Kent. She was one of several individuals hospitalized following the occurrence in the favored backpacking location of Vang Vieng last week.

The UKs Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has confirmed its support for the family of the 28-year-old after her untimely passing.Denmarks foreign ministry reported the death of two of its nationals, while Australia announced that a young woman had passed away and another individual is currently in a critical condition due to the poisoning.

Bianca Jones, a 19-year-old from Australia, fell seriously ill last week in Vang Vieng, a town in the southeast Asian country that attracts many foreign backpackers and is located approximately two hours north of Vientiane, the capital.

She succumbed after being transferred to a hospital in neighboring Thailand on November 13.A Thai police official stated, The doctor who assessed her determined that the cause of death was methanol poisoning resulting from counterfeit alcohol.

Two Australian tourists were hospitalized in Bangkok following the incidentThe concentration of methanol in her system was substantial, which caused brain swelling.

This is the worst nightmare for any parent, and no one should have to experience such a tragedy, remarked Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in parliament.

All Australians extend their deepest condolences to the grieving families during this heartbreaking time.Ms. Jones friend, Holly Bowles, also 19, is currently in critical condition at the hospital, stated Mr. Albanese.

Many affected individuals were lodged at the Nana Backpacker Hostel, where staff reported that guests had become ill after not checking out on November 13.

Counterfeit alcohol remains a significant issue in Laos, prompting warnings from the governments of Australia and the UK for their citizens to exercise caution when consuming drinks in the area.

Methanol is a hazardous alcohol used industrially as a solvent, pesticide, and alternative energy source, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The judge overseeing Donald Trumps criminal hush money case has decided to postpone sentencing indefinitely, marking a legal victory for the President-elect as he prepares for his return to the White House.

In May, Mr. Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts after a jury concluded that he had unlawfully altered business records to conceal an alleged sexual encounter with a porn star during the lead-up to the 2016 election.

Prosecutors contended that this concealment was aimed at aiding his initial presidential campaign.

Originally set to be sentenced on November 26, Mr. Trump had resisted any attempts to impose a sentence before he resumes the presidency in January.

Mr. Trumps legal team referenced a Supreme Court ruling that grants presidents extensive immunity for actions carried out while in office.

This pivotal ruling, decided with a 6-3 conservative majority, affirmed that presidents are broadly immune from prosecution for a variety of official acts conducted during their tenure.

Prior to the election, Mr. Trumps attorneys sought to dismiss the case in light of the Supreme Court ruling, a request that prosecutors have staunchly opposed.

The judge has allowed Mr. Trump to pursue a motion to have the conviction overturned, which likely indicates several additional hearings that could be postponed until after Mr. Trump takes office.

Judge Juan Merchans order stated, The defendants request for leave to file a motion to dismiss is granted.

Election interference case postponed indefinitely

In an unrelated case regarding election interference from 2020, Special Counsel Jack Smith has sought to vacate deadlines, leading to an indefinite delay of the case  but it has not been dismissed entirely.

This action aligns with the established Department of Justice policy against prosecuting sitting US presidents.

The Manhattan prosecutor previously recognized in court correspondence that these are unprecedented circumstances and advocated for balancing the jurys verdict with Mr. Trumps election.

Former Attorney General Bill Barr, who served under Mr. Trump, has noted that the New York case, as well as others across the nation, were plainly brought for political purposes (and) have now been extensively aired and rejected in the court of public opinion.

Mr. Trump has continuously labeled the hush money case as a witch hunt, asserting it should be rightfully terminated.

In addition to the New York case initiated by state prosecutors, Mr. Trump is contending with two ongoing federal cases: one concerning his efforts to overturn the 2020 election and another related to allegedly mishandled classified documents after his presidency.

Nevertheless, as president, he would have the authority to intervene and halt those cases, and Jack Smith, the special counsel managing both inquiries, has reportedly begun to wind them down.

A federal judge appointed by Donald Trump previously dismissed the documents case, yet Mr. Smith had sought to appeal that ruling.
11/22/2024



Members of Lambda Alpha Epsilon and their awards from the regional conference. (Submitted Photo)

By Brett Buckner

When it came time for the annual regional forensics conference, Lambda Alpha Epsilon (LAE), Jax State's Professional Fraternity within the Department of Criminal Justice and Forensic Investigation, came prepared. The eight members and two advisors of the Alpha Sigma Omega chapter of LAE selected to attend the conference spent most of the nine-hour drive from Jacksonville to Weyers Cave, Va., studying a 400-page textbook. As part of the conference, chapters competed against one another in five academic exams, a physical agility course, and crime scene processing. The hard work paid off with Alpha Sigma Omega winning 22 awards.

As the awards kept piling up, the excitement and pride in what we'd accomplished as a team just kept building," said Jax State senior and chapter vice president Sydney Heidrich. "It felt like all the time studying, practicing, and working together truly made an impact, and it was inspiring to realize that our chapter could compete and succeed at such a high level." The chapter also won the Spirit and Sweepstakes awards, which reflected the team effort and strong bond among chapter members. "Each person brought something unique, from those who excelled in academic events to others who pushed their limits in physical challenges," Heidrich said. "We have members who are natural leaders and motivators and others who dive deep into forensic details, making us a well-rounded team. Everyone was supportive, pushing each other to do our best while also having a great time together."

This was the first time the Jax State chapter had attended the regional conference since 2019 because of a variety of factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, financial limitations, and the necessity to rebuild its membership ranks. With Region 5 only partially operational, LAE chapter president Brandy Solis reached out to Region 4 to request permission to participate in their competition. Through successful recruitment efforts, fundraising initiatives, and renewed interest from current members, the Jax State chapter was able to attend this year's competition. "This participation represents a significant milestone in our chapter's revitalization," Heidrich said, "and underscores our commitment to providing opportunities for professional and academic development to our members."

Attending the conference provides a chance for members to test their skills and knowledge on a competitive level while connecting with other students in forensic investigation and criminal justice. "For our Jax State chapter, it's an opportunity to showcase our strengths, build our reputation within Lambda Alpha Epsilon, and inspire other members by setting a standard of excellence," Heidrich said. "It also reinforces our chapter's commitment to hands-on learning and camaraderie, strengthening our bonds and encouraging future participation."

Lambda Alpha Epsilon is a professional fraternity that brings together students and professionals in the field of criminal justice.

Winners:

Brandy Solis- 2nd place in Upper Juvenile Justice, 2nd in Female Physical Agility, 3rd in Upper Crime Scene with Sydney Heidrich and Samantha Trivette

Sydney Heidrich- 1st in Female Physical Agility, 3rd in Upper Crime Scene with Brandy Solis and Samantha Trivette

Alyssa Morris- Third place in Female Physical Agility, 3rd place in Corrections, Second place in Upper Criminal Law, and First place in Professional Crime Scene with Noelle Swaim and Isabella.

Noelle Swaim- First place in Professional Crime Scene with Alyssa Morris and Isabella.

Olivia Sullivan- First place in Upper Criminal Law, Second place in Upper Police Management, Second place in Upper Corrections, and Second place in Upper Crime Scene with Destiny Sullens and Whitney Nance

Destiny Sullens- Second place in Upper Crime Scene with Whitney Nance and Olivia Sullivan and 3rd place in LAE Knowledge

Whitney Nance- Second place in Upper Crime Scene with Destiny Sullens and Olivia Sullivan

Samantha Trivette- 3rd place in Upper Crime Scene with Sydney Heidrich and Brandy Solis

Our Advisors for LAE got:



Brian Patton: 1st place in Male Physical Agility for 35 and older, 1st place in Professional Division Corrections exam, 2nd place in Professional Juvenile Justice, 2nd place in Professional Criminal Law
Legendary journalist Bob Scheer interviewed me about my new book, Gaza Yet Stands, for his Scheerpost radio program, which is also available at YouTube .

USC explains, Robert Scheer has built a reputation for strong social and political writing, in a career that stretches back to the 1960s, as a journalist. His columns appear in newspapers across the country, and his in-depth interviews have made headlines. He conducted the famous Playboy magazine interview in which Jimmy Carter confessed to the lust in his heart and went on to do interviews for the Los Angeles Times with Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and other prominent political and cultural figures.

From 19641969 he was Vietnam correspondent, managing editor and editor-in-chief of Ramparts magazine. From 19761993 he served as a national correspondent for the L.A. Times, writing on diverse topics such as the Soviet Union, arms control, national politics and the military. In 1993 he launched a nationally syndicated column based at the L.A. Times, where he was named a contributing editor. That column ran weekly for the next 12 years. Scheer now edits Scheerpost.

Here are some excerpts from the interview:

Robert Scheer :

. . . .Were going to talk about this contentious subject of Israel and Gaza, and most people, frankly, who discuss it are idiots or theyre propagandists, and they maybe know a lot, but they dont tell us. They spin the story. And here one thing, and I remember that as distinguished as you are, and I consider you actually the best informed, I dont want to trivialize it by saying academic, Ill just say I think youre the best informed person I know on this whole region. And youve written really important books. I found, in particular, your book on Prophet Muhammad really to be enlightening as to where the real life Muhammad came from, or his journey and education. But the reason I want to talk to you today is that you put out a book recently called Gaza Yet Stands. And I was annoyed because with Kindle or whatever, when you get these things, and then I saw there were two reviews, one liked you, one didnt. But I want to see 50 people, 500 people, commenting on this book so Im unashamedly promoting it here. And the reason I want to promote it is because the whole discussion about this genocide in Gaza is taking place without any explanation really, or focusing on how did Israel get to control Gaza and the West Bank and the Golan Heights and so forth.

And as someone who went there as a journalist at the time of the Six Day War, and I was in the area, I was in Gaza and Egypt and so forth, to my mind, that is critical to the story. This is not as if they were just attacked from inside, by subversives who want to engage in terrorism or something. But the fact is, Israel fought a totally unjustified war, I would say preventive, but it wasnt preventive. It wasnt protecting against anything. And Ill let you tell that story, but it has a whole history and just one historical footnote, the creation of Israel, as I recall it, ironically, either Russia, Soviet Union, was the first or second country to recognize Israel, and I think the US was either the first or second, they were competing for it. And this was not supposed to be a country swept into either the Cold War or the colonial effort of the French and English to restore their power, or of the United States to take over their role. And reading your book, I was reminded that this fight really had not just the Six Day War, which I had some knowledge of, but 11 years before, when Israel was allied with the French and the English in their efforts to control the Suez Canal and control the region. So why dont you take it from there and just tell us why this book, and in particular, Gaza Yet Stands, does it still stand? And you justify that quote with the reference to [John] Milton, Samson Agonistes, maybe you can explain the title, the purpose of the book.

Juan Cole

Sure, the book is Gaza Yet Stands, and its a collection of my journalism, my commentary on events in Gaza and the Israel-Palestinian issue since 2006 when I wrote the first of these essays for Salon, some of them appeared in The Nation Institute, TomDispatch or The Nation. I think one or two of them is from TruthDig . . .

Robert Scheer

When I used to edit it, yes.



Juan Cole, Gaza Yet Stands (Ann Arbor: Informed Comment LLC / Kindle Direct, 2024). Click here to buy.

Juan Cole

Edited by a distinguished doyen of American journalism, and some appeared at my own site, Informed Comment. But, the internet is not well indexed, and [you cant] read these essays in serial order, in chronological order. . . I chose out a selection of them that I thought had legs, could still, were informative. And so it covers from 2006 when there were elections for the Palestine Authority sponsored by the Bush administration, until the present. But of course, as you say, being a historian, in my essays, I advert to the past. And, I think youre absolutely right, Bob, let me just begin with Milton. He wrote this closet play. Its called, its not meant to be performed on stage. A single actor is supposed to come out on the stage and just read the script. So thats why we probably havent seen Samson Agonistes performed, but it is obviously about the story of Samson, the last of the Israeli judges, who was an ancient superhero, had super strength and was favored by God and was betrayed into the hands of the Philistines who then controlled Gaza, and when his hair had been cut and hed become weak, and his hair grew out, and he recovered his strength, and he asked them to prop him up against one of the pillars of their establishment there in Gaza City, and he managed to bring it down. So of course, he killed himself, but he also killed his captors. So its a Pyrrhic victory. And the passage that I begin the book with, and which supplies the title of the book is this: A messenger comes and says, Gaza yet stands, but all her sons are fallen. This is a very interesting way of looking at it. The Philistines were killed, the leaders of them and so forth, but the territory is still there. All in a moment, overwhelmed and fallen, the messenger is talking to a man. The man replies, sad, but thou knowest to Israelites, not saddest the desolation of a hostile city. Cant expect the Israelites to be very unhappy about this. The messenger said, feed on that first there may in grief be surfet. Hes saying that, yeah, absorb what Im trying to tell you, that theres been this huge disaster in Gaza, and dont be thinking that the grief stops there. There may be grief for the Israelites yet to come out of this. So I thought it was apposite to our current situation, and drew the title from it.

Robert Scheer

I want to just stop you for a second, because this is what I found so interesting. I had read a number of your articles before, but there was life in Gaza. Its like we marginalize, dismiss every other culture in the world. We did it in Cambodia, where they had plumbing before the British did and so forth. And in reading your book, were reminded that Gaza was a vital society. It wasnt just something that maybe Kushner or somebody could think about turning into a tourist attraction, or just want its beach and that this all gets ignored. But the other point you made, were in this crazy thing where the Palestinians are held responsible for two things, which I want to get to. One, theres somehow the inheritors of the horror of the Holocaust. And there are actually very good Israeli, one particular documentary [inaudible] but there are others, how Israel constantly uses the Holocaust to justify what its doing there in this area of Israel, when this Palestinians are after you didnt do this to the Germans. Germany was welcomed back into the civilized world in a matter of months, and part of the Western Germany, part of the US and the Cold War, nor were the antisemitic movements that had terrorized the Jews and killed them in large parts of Eastern Europe in any way held accountable. Somehow, the Palestinians were held accountable and Jews had not been able to find sanctuary before the war, they were turned away, even by Franklin Roosevelt from the United States. So theres this weird, sick blame on the Palestinians, number one, for that, Germany, the Holocaust and so forth. Secondly, and this I want to get to, the Palestinians are held accountable in the Davids Goliath mythology. Theyre held responsible somehow for whatever insecurity Jews might have felt in Israel, right? And so lets get into that. I want you to talk about the 56 war, the 67 war, because in your book, you do a very good job of explaining that theres history. It didnt all start with this attack on a kibbutz in last October, theres a history in which Israel lined up with the colonial regimes, right?

Juan Cole

Yeah, in a way, its the last colony, Israel. Its the last colonial enterprise, and was set up that way by Britain and the United States and France after the war. And this is why the rest of the world, when you see these lopsided votes at the UN General Assembly (the Israelis blame it on antisemitism and so forth) condemning them, is that the rest of the world understands exactly whats going on here, that its as though the French managed to stay in Algeria and werent kicked out in 62 by the Algerian revolution and went on bringing in French to settle more and more of Algeria and nail it down as part of France. And marginalized the local millions of Algerians, pushed them to the curb and pushed them to the marginal land and the slums and so forth. And so thats what it looks like to the rest of the world, much of which was colonized. Thats what Israel is, its a Western colonial instrument, and whats been done to the Palestinians is considered extremely unfair by almost everybody in the world, outside of Western Europe and the United States . . .

Robert Scheer

I want to bring it back to your book, because Israel denies all of this. At least theyre propaganda. I forget the word hasbara or whatever. But they deny all this. They say, No, no, we only do these things reluctantly because were attacked. We would love to have been able to get along with them, but these people are basically savages that you cant get along with, and this informs the whole aggression here. And the fact is, so when I was there, the Labor Party was in power. Then they said, No, were not going to keep it and we should give it back. But they really, as youve pointed out in the previous interviews Ive done with you, they had no intention of doing that. I felt I was fooled by people like Moshe Dayan and Allon and so forth, because they talked a good game. Were not imperialists. The fact is, they were, and they had every intention of keeping these areas and making life miserable. This is the power of your essays. And again, the book Gaza Yet Stands. You gotta check that out. Gaza Yet Stands, and people should understand this, that the occupied population may turn into an enemy and a menacing force is something that Israel created.

Juan Cole

With regard to Gaza, its the most horrible story in the world. The Israelis occupied Gaza in 1967. Over time, they actually sent about 8,000 Israeli settlers into this very densely populated, desperately poor place. This was an area where hundreds of thousands of refugees had already been crowded inrefugees from what became Israel, whose property had all been confiscated by the Israelis. Then, the Israelis came after them again and occupied them.

In 2006, as a result of the Oslo process, the Bush administration had said elections should be held in Gaza and the West Bank for the Palestinian Authority. Unexpectedly, a Muslim fundamentalist movement, Hamas, won the elections. Bush hadnt anticipated this and had ironically insisted that Hamas be allowed to run. This was an American initiative, one that the Israelis were not happy about.

When Hamas won, however, the Israelis convinced the Bush administration that they couldnt let this victory stand. In 2007, they staged a coup and overthrew the elected Palestinian Authority. The Israelis arrested parliamentarians and jailed them, bringing the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) into power. This plan succeeded in the West Bank, but in Gaza, the PLO was defeated by Hamas, and the coup failed.

Most journalists describe this as Hamas staging a coup in Gaza, but it was actually the reverse. Hamas had been electednot overwhelmingly, but with about 51% of the vote. They had come to power via the ballot box and managed to remain in power despite efforts by the CIA and Mossad to overthrow them. In the West Bank, the PLO came to power in about 40% of the territory, where the Israelis allowed them to police for Israel. In Gaza, however, Hamas retained control.

Following this, the Israelis imposed a blockade on Gaza. They restricted building materials, necessities, and even, at certain points, food imports. One Israeli document revealed calculations on how many calories a person could consume to avoid starvationjust enough to avoid death but with no body fat.

Robert Scheer

You go into this in detail in your book. Its worth reading for that alone. The Israeli policy was calculated and inhuman. It wasnt about outright starvation but about public relations and appearancekeeping people alive so there wouldnt be images of starving children, but just barely. This approach stunted their physical and mental development, undermining education and daily life. Its one of the eeriest examples of manipulation. How do you commit genocide without allowing it to be called genocide?

Whats happening now is like drip torture. I heard that three trucks of food were allowed into northern Gaza today. So Israel claims, Were not starving them, and blames any shortcomings on the Palestinians. Your book is crucial because it exposes how the basic humanity and history of the people in that area have been denied. The narrative is so falseentirely a PR war, concocting a narrative more misleading than any before.

Juan Cole

Whats amazing is how much the Palestinians of Gaza achieved despite the blockade. They had several universities, graduated medical professionals, and even supported scientists working on cancer research. There were teachers, poets, and musicians - a vital culture thriving within a bubble, entirely surrounded by Israel, except for the Egyptian border. And Egypt did whatever Israel told them to do  or else.

Robert Scheer

They couldnt use their port or travel freely.

Juan Cole

Yes, the Israelis bombed their airport. They even fired at people if they ventured too far out in fishing boats. Gaza was under siege.

Robert Scheer

Your book is even more relevant now, with the narrative focused solely on the October events. People from Gaza attacked Israel, and the media shows idyllic kibbutz life being disrupted. But the years of suffering that preceded this have been erased from the discussion.

Yes, people in Gaza built universities and worked on improving health systems, which may have contributed to support for Hamas. But the broader narrative paints them as uncivilized savages. This is reminiscent of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, which referred to Native Americans as merciless savages. Israeli propaganda and U.S. media have applied this dehumanization to Palestinians, reducing them to a caricature.

How did they get to the point of supporting attacks on kibbutzim? They were forced to live in a concentration campor at least a high-security prison.

Juan Cole

Yes, Gaza is the largest concentration camp in the world. Its open-air.

Robert Scheer

Youre a historian I deeply respect, especially regarding this region. Referring to Gaza as a concentration camp is language that could get someone fired from many universities or media outlets. Why do you use that term?

Juan Cole

Theres a distinction between a concentration camp and a death camp, though Gaza increasingly resembles the latter. The Israelis imposed an illegal siege on Gaza. The United Nations Security Council declared it illegal, and its undeniably harmful to the stateless people trapped there.

Now, its even worse. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leveraged military operations last year to secure his political position. He struck a deal with Hamas: they would control Gaza as a fief, albeit under heavy restrictions to prevent development, in exchange for not pushing for a united Palestinian state.

This arrangement kept the Palestinians divided between Hamas in Gaza and the PLO in the West Bank. Netanyahu could then argue to international pressure for a two-state solution, But the Palestinians themselves are divided. This was deliberate. Netanyahu pressured Egypt and Qatar to send funds to Gaza, which helped sustain universities and institutions but also entrenched Hamas.

Netanyahu essentially thought he had tamed Hamas, but younger radicals  some possibly influenced by ISIL  planned the recent brutal, horrific, and frankly stupid attack on Israel. However, the conditions that led to this were meticulously arranged by Netanyahu himself.

Robert Scheer

Your book is titled Gaza Yet Stands. But does it? Gaza is rubble. The universities are gone. Jared Kushner once suggested turning it into a gambling hub.

Juan Cole

The title references a line from Milton: Its sons are fallen, but Gaza yet stands. The sons and daughters are fallen, and the future is bleak. Netanyahus cabinet has floated numerous ideas, such as pushing Palestinians into the Sinai Peninsula. Egypt has firmly rejected this, backed by its military strength.

Another plan involves depopulating northern Gaza. The strategy is to starve people out, bomb civilian targets, and make life unlivable until they leave. This is ethnic cleansing. The idea is to confine the surviving Palestinians  however many remain after Israeli attacks  to southern Gaza while annexing the north.

Why this plan would succeed any more than previous strategies, I cannot say. It will likely lead to further radicalization, war, and terrorism. With the return of the Trump administration, which would probably greenlight anything Israel does, the outlook is grim.

In the long term, this wont end well. Israels success in 1948 involved ethnic cleansing and the establishment of a state, but the pursuit of Greater Israelexpanding endlessly while ruling over 5 million stateless Palestiniansis politically unsustainable.

This will destabilize not only Israel but also the United States. The horrors inflicted on Gaza have been witnessed worldwide, including by young Arab and Muslim men. I fear well see a resurgence of terrorism similar to 9/11, which already cost us substantial civil liberties. If this occurs, it could push us into even more perilous territory, especially given the direction of U.S. electoral politics.

The Israeli enterprise of Greater Israel, ethnic cleansing, and genocide wont leave Americans untouched.
( Middle East Monitor )  US Senator, Tom Cotton, has threatened military action against the International Criminal Court (ICC) after it issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and former Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, invoking a controversial US law known as The Hague Invasion Act.

In an inflammatory statement on social media, Cotton, who is funded by the notorious The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), declared: 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 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.  Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) November 21, 2024

The American Service-Members Protection Act, nicknamed The Hague Invasion Act, was passed in 2002 to shield US personnel and allies from ICC prosecution. The law authorises the US President to use all means necessary and appropriate  including military force  to free any American or allied personnel detained by the ICC in The Hague.



Tom Quixote, Digital, Dream / Dreamland v3, 2024

Cottons threat comes after ICC pre-trial judges issued arrest warrants yesterday for Netanyahu and Gallant on charges of using starvation as a method of warfare and crimes against humanity including murder, persecution and other inhumane acts in Gaza. The Court determined there were reasonable grounds that Israels siege and assault on Gaza created conditions of life calculated to bring about the destruction of part of the civilian population.

The Biden administration swiftly rejected the ICCs decision, with White House spokeswoman, Karine Jean-Pierre, expressing deep concern. US politicians from both major parties have condemned the Courts ruling, with Senator Lindsey Graham, an ally of President-elect Donald Trump, calling for sanctions against ICC officials.

ICC member states including France, UK and Canada have indicated that Netanyahu would be arrested if he entered their country. If Netanyahu comes to Britain, our obligation under the Rome Convention would be to arrest him under the warrant from the ICC said Emily Thornberry, Labour Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee.
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Juan ColeP. O. Box 4218,Ann Arbor, MI 48104-2548USA(Remember, make the checks out to Juan Cole or they cant be cashed)
A Philippine woman sentenced to death in Indonesia on drug charges said that she was elated to be returning home, after a deal brokered between the two nations.

Mary Jane Veloso was arrested in Indonesia in 2010 carrying a suitcase lined with 2.6kg of heroin and later sentenced to death by firing squad.

The mother-of-twos case sparked an uproar in the Philippines, with her family and supporters saying she was innocent and had been set up by an international drug syndicate.

On Wednesday, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos said she would be handed over to Manila following years of "long and difficult" negotiations.

"I am very elated to hear there is an opening chance for my hope to return home and be with my family," Veloso said in a written statement read by the prison warden Evi Loliancy.

"Im grateful and would like to thank everybody who keeps making efforts so I can return to my country," she said.

The 39-year-old said she would utilize skills she has learnt in prison, including local cloth- dyeing techniques, to earn money for herself and her family.

Velosos family maintained that she was duped into signing up for a non-existent job abroad as a domestic worker and was not aware the suitcase given to her by the recruiter contained hidden drugs.

The Philippine government won a last-minute reprieve for Veloso in 2015 after a woman suspected of recruiting her was arrested and put on trial for human trafficking in a case in which Veloso was named as a prosecution witness.

Indonesias law and human rights minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra said President Prabowo Subianto had "approved the transfer", which is expected to happen next month.

Philippine leader Marcos on Wednesday posted a message thanking his Indonesian counterpart.

He said Velosos "story resonates with many: a mother trapped by the grip of poverty, who made one desperate choice that altered the course of her life".
TORONTO, Nov. 22, 2024 /CNW/ - Lithium Energi Exploration Inc. (TSXV: LEXI) (the "Company" or "LEXI") is pleased to announce, further to its news release dated July 18, 2024, and August 28, 2024, it has closed the second and final tranche (the "Second Tranche") of its non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") of units of the company ("Units") for gross proceeds of C$3,362,405.75. Upon closing of the Second Tranche, an aggregate of 82,248,115 Units were issued under the Offering for aggregate gross proceeds of C$4,112,405.75.

Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company (a "Common Share") and one full Common Share purchase warrant (a "Warrant") with each Warrant entitling the holder to acquire an additional Common Share at an exercise price of C$0.055 for a period of 60 months from the date of issuance. All securities issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a four-month-and-one-day statutory hold period.

The net proceeds of the Offering are expected to be used for working capital and general corporate purposes.

Credit Agreement Amendment

As a condition for closing the Second Tranche, the Company has entered into an amendment (the "Amendment"), for no additional cash proceeds, to the pre-existing credit facility dated February 1, 2023, as amended on May 19, 2023, with Arena Investors, LP ("Arena") to, among other things, provide Arena the right, subject to shareholder approval, to convert or partially convert any principal and interest amounts relating to the Credit Facility and remove the ability of LEXI to prepay, in whole or in part, the principal and any interest thereon. Subject to the minimum pricing permitted by the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"), the conversion price under the Amendment shall be the market price of the Company's common shares determined in accordance with the policies of the TSXV, provided that such price may not be less than C$0.055 per common share or such other minimum allowable price pursuant to the policies of the TSXV.

MI 61-101 and TSX-V Disclosure

The Offering and the Amendment are considered related party transactions within the meaning of TSXV Policy 5.9 and Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying upon the exemption from the formal valuation requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to section 5.5(b) of MI 61-101 for both the Offering and the Amendment. The Company is relying upon the exemption from minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to section 5.7(1)(e) for the Offering and will be seeking minority shareholder approval for the Amendment at the next annual general and special meeting of the shareholders.

Early Warning Disclosure

Arena Investors, LP ("Arena"), an asset management firm, acquired 67,248,115 Common Shares and 67,248,115 Warrants in the Second Tranche at a price of $0.05 per Unit for aggregate gross consideration of $3,362,405.75. Arena acquired the Common Shares and Warrants through certain investment funds managed by it, including Arena Origination Co., LLC, Arena Special Opportunities Fund, LP, Arena Special Opportunities Partners II, LP, Arena Special Opportunities Partners I, LP, Arena Special Opportunities Partners (Cayman Master) I, LP, Arena Special Opportunities Partners (Cayman Master) II, LP, Arena Finance Markets, LP and Arena Special Opportunities (Offshore) Master, LP (collectively, the "Funds").

Immediately prior to the completion of the Second Tranche, Arena owned, controlled or directed an aggregate of 47,367,217 Common Shares and 52,068,838 Warrants, representing approximately 28.3% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares on a non-diluted basis, and 45.3% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares, calculated on a partially-diluted basis (assuming the exercise of all Warrants under Arena's control or direction). Immediately following closing of the Second Tranche, Arena, through the Funds, exercised control and direction over an aggregate of 114,615,332 Common Shares and 119,316,953 Warrants, representing approximately 48.3% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares on a non-diluted basis, and approximately 65.6% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares calculated on a partially-diluted basis (assuming the exercise of all Warrants under Arena's control or direction).

This press release and Arena's corresponding early warning report (the "Early Warning Report"),which is expected to be filed on SEDAR+ in the near term, constitutes the required disclosure pursuant to section 5.2 of National Instrument 62-104 - Take-Over Bids and Issuer Bids ("NI 62- 104"). The requirement to file an Early Warning Report was triggered because the acquisition by Arena (through the Funds) of the Common Shares and Warrants in the Second Tranche of the Offering resulted in Arena's beneficial ownership of the Common Shares increasing by greater than 2% as compared to the early warning report last filed by Arena. The securities acquired by Arena' in the Second Tranche of the Offering are being acquired by Arena for investment purposes and it may further purchase, hold, vote, trade, dispose or otherwise deal in the securities of the Company, in such manner as it deems advisable to benefit from changes in market prices of the Company's securities, publicly disclosed changes in the operations of the Company, its business strategy or prospects, or from a material transaction of the Company. In the future, it may discuss with management and/or the board of directors of the Company any of the transactions listed in clauses (a) to (k) of item 5 of Form 62-103F1 of National Instrument 62-103  The Early Warning System and Related Take-over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues ("NI 62-103").

The Early Warning Report that will be filed on SEDAR+ in respect of the Second Tranche of the Offering will satisfy the requirement of section 5.2 of NI 62-104 to have the Early Warning Report filed by an acquiror, in this case by Arena, with the securities regulatory authorities in each of the jurisdictions in which the Company is a reporting issuer and which contains the information required by section 3.1 of NI 62-103, which includes the information required by Form 62-103F1.

A copy of the Early Warning Report filed by Arena in connection with the Second Tranche will be available under the Company's profile on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.ca.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Lithium Energi Exploration Inc.

Lithium Energi Exploration Inc. is an exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of lithium brine assets in Argentina. Headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, with offices in Catamarca, Argentina, the Company's shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV: LEXI), the Frankfurt Exchange (FSE: L09) and the U.S. OTC markets (OTC:LXENF). LEXI's portfolio of prospective lithium brine concessions in the Argentina Province of Catamarca (heart of the lithium triangle) includes approximately 57,000 hectares and a 20% interest in Triangle Lithium Argentina, S.A., which owns an additional 15,000 hectares - all located in and around the Antofalla Salar, one of the largest basins in the region, which is over 130 km long and up to 20 km across and the Hombre Muerto Salar, Argentina's long-producing lithium basin. LEXI is committed to innovation, sustainability, and quality, striving to differentiate itself from other players in the industry to maximize its potential for success. For more information, please visit our website at lithiumenergi.com.

For more information about Lithium Energi Exploration Inc., please view the Company's filings at www.SEDAR.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"Ali Rahman"

Ali Rahman,

Chief Executive Officer and 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 release.

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ELKO  About a month from Christmas, children will celebrate the gift of a new family as Elko County celebrates National Adoption Day.

Its a day officials, attorneys and judges joyfully anticipate when adoptions are legally formalized in Elko District Court.

Thats a beautiful thing we should celebrate, Judge Mason Simons said.

Some proceedings are the final step in adopting babies or small children, while others adoptions recognize step-parents legally.

Its meaningful for the child to finalize the legal relationship with the person who has been acting as their parent. Thats a significant day in their life, Simons added.

But the day also highlights the need for foster families, particularly in Elko County where there are few foster parents available, causing some children to be housed out of town.

Michelle Black, program coordinator for the Nevada CASA  Court Appointed Special Advocates  said about three or four families are serving in Elko County.

Were having to send kids to Winnemucca, Las Vegas, Reno, Carson City or Ely, she said. Some are placed with family.

Currently, 40 Elko County children are in foster care, Black said.

Simons explained the shortage had created a desperate need in the area.

The goal is to keep these children connected in their existing communities, so they arent being uprooted from their friends and school, he continued. But that isnt always possible. If youre dealing with three or four available foster families in the area, that puts a strain on the resources when you have lots of needs that exist.

Despite the need, Simons and Black described some barriers that prevent some from becoming foster parents. Among those are fears of developing deep attachments.

I think theres some concern by some parents about becoming emotionally attached to the children and then having it severed in some way. I think thats hard for some people, Simons said.

Other people plan to become foster parents later in life. We have a lot of people who want to wait until their own children are raised before they become foster parents and continue raising a family, Black said.

However, some foster parents decide to stop accepting children, becoming emotionally drained, Simons explained.DCFS and CASA offer support to foster families, Black said. We always tell the foster parents we are there for them. They can call us if they need anything or have any concerns.

I think there is a decent amount of support in place, Simons said. He added it requires a total commitment and is life-changing, making the decision seem daunting, but becoming a foster parent would be rewarding.

Its like getting to the edge of a cliff and jumping into the water. Youre nervous about what this looks like and how this is going to work out, but once you take the plunge you find it very rewarding, Simons explained. If we can get people to approach the edge, well be good.

Black said people express their desire to become foster parents to her all the time, and I tell them there is a great need. Please!

Black and Simons said single parents could apply to join the foster system. Theres no restriction Im aware of to prevent someone from a single-parent household, he said.

Theres a single mom who just got her foster license, Black added.

Potential applicants have to be over age 21, complete a physical, home study, take classes and pass background checks.

However, Simons encouraged parents to reconsider their misgivings to see the lasting impact foster families bring to at-risk children.

I hope people can get past that and see how rewarding it can be to be a blessing in these childrens lives because these are our most vulnerable children in our community. We need people who are willing to step up, show them love and concern and be that rock for them when it feels like their whole world is falling apart. Thats really important for these kids.Simons said due to the need, we would encourage those who find it in their heart to perform that service to reach out to the Division of Child and Family Services [and sign up] for periodic trainings that prepare families who are willing to serve as foster parents in the area.

Elko Countys annual celebration

The Fourth Judicial Court in Elko County is the only one to set aside a day to celebrate National Adoption Day, according to Black.

I found out at our last state CASA meeting that we are one of the only counties in Nevada that have the day. Most others celebrate the month, she said. Our state director was very surprised and happy that we have a National Adoption Day.

Now in its 11th year, the tradition began with former Elko District Judge Nancy Porter.

Today, a committee, including Black, Teri Lockie of Premier Adoption, Family Court Master Michelle Rodriguez and Suzette Ramirez from the Elko DCFS office, is working with Simons to prepare a luncheon for families at noon on Tuesday in the Elko County Commissioners Board Room.

There will be seven adoptions that day, six in Department 3 presided by Simons and one in Department 1 presided by Judge Kriston Hill.

All families with adoption proceedings in Elko County for the year were personally invited to attend, along with the seven families participating in proceedings that day. Any other families involved in adoptions in the past are also invited to attend.

National Adoption Day is celebrated on Saturday. This year marks its 25th anniversary of raising awareness of the more than 108,000 children waiting to be adopted from foster care in the United States, according to the National Adoption Day website.

Although Elko Countys Adoption Day has a festive theme, some children are apprehensive as they enter the courtroom for the adoptions to be legally approved.

There is certain information we have to glean from the parties at that hearing to make sure we are complying with Nevada Law, Simons explained. We can check those boxes legally and make the appropriate legal finds for that adoption to proceed.

Some children are very nervous about whats going to happen in here and what the judge is going to say to them, Simons said. I usually invite the children to come up to the bench and bang on the gavel to signify that the adoption is official.

Some of the children are excited about doing that, some of them are nervous. We get varying degrees of cooperation about that, but it can be a moment of nervousness, but a lot of smiles and joy in the room as well, he said.

Elko Countys Adoption Day brings awareness to the creation of families through many methods while spotlighting the need for foster families, Black and Simons explained.

[The day] gets the awareness out there that it is a special thing to adopt a child and to become a foster parent to potentially adopt a child in need, Black said. I think its great.Scheduled for two days before Thanksgiving, new families will be grateful for one more thing.

Its that moment in which we can legally formalize their union as a family, and that is a beautiful thing we can celebrate, Simons said.






Saturday, November 23, 2024 - A 32-year-old doctor was shot and k!lled in the parking lot of a gym in Mpumalanga, South Africa.

Nondumiso Nkosi, who was employed at Rob Ferreira Hospital, was k!lled by unknown assailants at Virgin Active in Riverside in Mbombela on November 20, 2024.

One of her relatives, Sydney Nkosi, says no more details will be given at this stage as police are investigating the shooting.

He says the family has requested privacy while dealing with the loss of their loved one.

Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdhluli says Nelspruit police are investigating the shooting.

He adds that the doctor was shot on her way into the gym.

The victim parked her car and got out. As she was walking towards the gym, a Toyota Starlet drove towards her. One of the assailants got out of the vehicle and shot the woman three times before fleeing the scene. Nothing was stolen from her," he said.

Paramedics declared Sibanyoni dead on the scene.










Saturday, November 23, 2024 - American actor, Richard Gere is relocating to Spain with his wife, Alejandra Silva, and family after years of living in the United States.

The Pretty Woman actor, 75, revealed that he would be out of the country and in the Spanish capital of Madrid in time to celebrate Thanksgiving with Alejandra's loved ones.

Speaking on Wednesday's episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Richard began by joking: 'My wife is Spanish. Is this a problem for anybody out there?'

He then announced: 'But my wife is Spanish, and she gave me about seven years here, so we're going to spend some years in Madrid.'

'Our kids are bilingual so they're going to flourish there,' he continued.

Richard and Alejandra, who wed in 2018, share two sons: Alexander, five, and James, four.

In addition, the Hollywood A-lister is stepfather to the Spanish activist's 11-year-son, Albert.

He is also dad to son Homer, 24, whom he welcomed with his second wife, actress Carey Lowell.

Richard did confirm that he won't be quitting America forever and added: 'Of course I'll be back.'

Speaking about his family, Richard gushed: 'I love my wife, she's incredible. Great mother.

'Kids are healthy and happy. Of course, there's nothing more than that.'

On their Thanksgiving plans, he continued: 'My wife grew up in a big Spanish family, like a big Italian family, and her grandmother was kind of the glue that held that all together.

'And the grandmother passed away [about] two years ago, so my wife, I can see her morphing into the new grandmother of this extended family.

'So shes already planning for 35 people for Sunday lunches.'




Saturday, November 23, 2024 - West Pokot Member of Parliament David Pkosing got his match after a pastor lectured him for disrupting a church service in his constituency.

The legislator had arrived at the church event accompanied by female dancers dressed in a mix of traditional and modern attire, singing loudly.

The dances disrupted the church service which was already underway prompting the pastor in charge of the ceremony to intervene.

''I want the MP (Pkosing) to know that even as he comes, there is God and he is not in any way greater than God, the pastor interjected to the surprise of the congregation.

''The honourable member should learn to come to the meetings early. We do not want leaders coming late and interfering with the church, he added.

The pastor continued lecturing the legislator, urging him to respect God before he broke into the local dialect.

''Are you more than God? That is a mistake and if you know that you are a leader, come earlier. We are preaching yet you interfere with divine circumstances, the agitated pastor added.

This happened as Pkosing removed the traditional signature hat that he had donned while bowing before the pastor as a show of respect.

Moments just before the pastor began his lectures, a man wearing a suit moved in to block the MP together with his dancers while telling them that there was a church ceremony already underway.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Saturday, November 23, 2024  COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli has welcomed President William Ruto's decision to scrap the government's deals with Indian firm Adani Group.

In a statement, Atwoli noted that Ruto's decision has restored the confidence of workers.

"COTU Kenya wishes to thank Ruto for the bold, timely, and unequivocal action following the cancellation of the Adani contracts.

This Presidential proclamation, issued on Thursday during the second State of Nation Address in Parliament, has restored the confidence of workers across all sectors but mostly those represented by the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) under the Kenya Airports Authority, Atwoli remarked.

He further stated that the cancellation of the deals serves as a reminder to government agencies that proper consultations with Kenyan workers are essential before implementing any reforms.

With the cancellation of Adani, we wish to remind all agencies of the state and government that proper consultation with workers is a must prior to any strategic reforms.

Further, this bold move by the president is the clearest indication yet that the success of the Kemya Kwanza government will be rooting out any suspicious deals and the successful prosecution of corruption cases," Atwoli stated.

Additionally, the COTU boss noted that the organization will continue advocating for the promotion of social dialogue among the tripartite partners to achieve inclusive economic growth

During his State of the Nation Address on Thursday, Ruto betrayed his supporters, including former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who had vouched for Adani, by cancelling JKIA and KETRACO deals with Adani.

The Head of State noted that the new orders were informed by new information regarding the integrity of the Indian company.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Saturday, November 23, 2024 - The High Court in Nairobi has suspended the notice issued by the Communication Authority of Kenya directing phone dealers and those travelling to Kenya to declare their International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) Numbers to ensure tax compliance.

Justice Chacha Mwita issued a conservatory order yesterday, suspending the notice issued by the Authority on October 24 titled, "Public Notice on Enhancing Tax Compliance of Mobile Devices in Kenya."

In the directive, Justice Chacha Mwita ordered the petitioners to immediately serve the respondents with the applications after which the latter will have seven days to file a response.

The court decision comes hours after Katiba Institute filed a petition challenging the move by the Communications Authority that directed all visitors arriving in the country and all phone dealers to submit IMEI codes for imported and locally assembled phones.

In the notice shared by CA, all passengers entering Kenya would be required to declare their mobile devices on the F88 passenger declaration form before proceeding with their activities.

Katiba Institute in its petition claimed that the Authority's move would unlawfully allow mobile phone providers to expose an individuals location and allow the government to trace one's communication history.

The petitioner further claimed that in case the regulator is given access to information stored by mobile service providers, it would be able to monitor peoples movements and calls in an unprecedented manner.

Katiba Institute also argued that the mandatory declaration of phone IMEI codes would deter many Kenyans from purchasing Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards from local mobile network providers.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Saturday, November 23, 2024 - Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) raided the home of Pastor Eliud Nganga on Thursday after he criticized President William Ruto.

On Sunday, Pastor Eliud Nganga, an engineer at Kenya Power and Lighting Company, joined other church leaders in criticizing the Ruto administration during his sermon.

Little did Ng'ang'a know that after his sermon, DCI sleuths would later visit his home in Ruiru to arrest him for criticizing the head of state.

The arrest was thwarted by alert neighbours who stepped out to see what was happening to one of their own.

The family, now living in fear and uncertain about the mission of the eight DCI officers, has reported the incident to Gatong'ora Police Station.

Police officers from Kenya Power visited his residence to record statements from him.

The incident raises concerns about the intimidation of church leaders who have been vocal over the state of governance in the country.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Saturday, November 23, 2024 - A 14-year-old girl in Florida died after her mother 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.

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."

"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.

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."

"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.

The teen was transported to a hospital, where she was declared d@d 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.

"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.






Saturday, November 23, 2024 - A court A court in southeast France on Friday, November 22, sentenced a man to 20 years in jail for r@ping his teenage daughter and offering her up to strangers for s3x for years.

The case echoed the ongoing high-profile trial that has shocked the nation in which 51 men are accused of r@ping Gisele Pelicot, drugged by her husband so he could invite strangers to their home to abuse her.

The court convicted the 38-year-old father in the southeastern Var region of forcing sexual acts on his daughter from the age of 13. Prosecutor Estelle Bois described how the father exercised total control over the young girl, his adoptive daughter. He also brought her to other men, many of whom were much older, whom he contacted through online classified ads.

The father claimed to the other men that he and his daughter were both consenting adults living out a s3xual fantasy. But he was convicted and sentenced to the maximum 20 years in prison, in line with the prosecutors demands.

Some of the defendants in the Pelicot case have claimed that they were given that same impression by the victims then-husband, Dominique Pelicot. Also like Dominique Pelicot, the father in Fridays case directed, participated in and filmed the s3x acts involving his daughter, who was blindfolded during the encounters.

He admitted to the accusations but claimed in court that he had a loving relationship with the young girl and had responded to her allegedly initiating s3xual contact.

This is not about love, but about power and domination. He doesnt love [his daughter], he loves having total control over her, her belonging to him, her obeying him, prosecutor Bois said.

She also asked judges to jail a second defendant for 16 years, the only one of the other men to have abused the girl who could be identified.

As in the Pelicot case, the second defendant  a man in his 60s with six children  was identified thanks to the photo and video documentation by the father of the abuse, this time via geolocation data. The second defendant told the court that he had been taken in by the fathers claim that the girl was consenting in three of his four meetings with them.

In the fourth, things went badly. Rather than acting like a responsible man, he followed through on his own pleasure and closed his eyes to the abuse, his lawyer Christophe Mairet said.

Now aged 18, the girl was accompanied in court by a golden retriever trained to comfort victims of abuse. She had, like Gisele Pelicot, declined the option of the trial being held behind closed doors.

It was the teenager, then aged 15, who put a stop to her own abuse in 2021 by fleeing after her fathers violence and humiliation escalated. She ran from their home in Cavalaire-sur-Mer, south of the glitzy resort town Saint-Tropez, before being brought to the police by a holidaymaker. Her father had bombarded her phone with calls and texts throughout her escape.






Saturday, November 23, 2024 - A Florida man has been arrested after impersonating tech billionaire Elon Musk in a bid to scam an elderly woman out of $250,000.

Jeffrey Arthur Moynihan Jr. was arrested at his Bradenton home on Tuesday night, November 19, and charged with grand theft.

While reportedly operating under the guise of the Tesla and SpaceX CEO, the 56-year-old businessman befriended the victim, a 74-year-old Texas resident, on Facebook and began messaging her in 2023.

The victim was allegedly promised a $55 million return on investment. Her husband reportedly told investigators that she was conned out of some $600,000 in total.

Detective Jim Curulla of the Bradenton police was tipped off by authorities in Frisco, Texas, who were investigating an incident in which a woman had reportedly given a large sum of money away to an entity posing as the tech billionaire, according to a department spokesperson.

Nearly half of that money could be traced back to banks in Bradenton, and the accounts were determined to belong to Moynihan, the spokesperson continued.

"The victim was convinced she had, in fact, invested her money with Elon Musk," they said, noting that the scammer, or scammers, would regularly brief her on how "Elon's" day was going, working in details from recent news stories to build rapport.

"The victim felt like Elon really was her friend," the spokesperson continued. "After Elon built trust with her, he suggested she invest in his businesses. She made several transactions over a period of time."

Records obtained by authorities show the victim transferred $250,000 to accounts belonging to Moynihan and his own business, Jeffs Painting and Pressure Washing LLC.

When questioned, Moynihan said the $250,000 he obtained was for a girlfriend with whom he had a strictly online relationship, according to the department, leaving open the possibility that Moynihan himself had been catfished and was a victim of a separate scam.

The investigation is ongoing, and authorities in the victim's home state are working to determine where the rest of her money went.

"The real Elon Musk was otherwise engaged with the most recent launch of SpaceX and is not under investigation by BPD," Bradenton police said in a press release.




Saturday, November 23,2024 - Langata Member of Parliament, Phelix Adiwuor alias Jalango has hit back at Archbishop Philip Anyolo for rejecting President William Rutos donation and gifts.

Archbishop Anyolo, head of the Catholic Diocese of Nairobi, directed a church in Soweto to return a donation of Sh 5.6 million made by President William Ruto and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja.

Speaking to content creators, Jalang'o criticized the Catholic Church's decision, attributing it to political intolerance against the current administration.

He criticized the move as counterproductive, especially considering the church's significant role in supporting the government during campaigns.

"Its good for everyone to have an opinion, but lets not forget that the same churches once welcomed these politicians.

"Now, everyone is criticizing the government and returning donations.

"Is it not true that this government was born by the church, for the church?

"Why turn your back now? The church should have called the leaders and shown them the plan.

"They should guide," he remarked.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Saturday, November 23, 2024 - An Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party Senator has dismissed President William Ruto's decision to cancel Adani Group deals in Kenya, following the indictment of its founder, billionaire Gautam Adani, by a United States court over bribery allegations.

During his State of the Nation address on Thursday, President William Ruto announced the cancellation of all Adani Group deals in Kenya, including the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport expansion and energy agreements with the Ministry of Energy.

Reacting to the cancelling of Adani deals, Homa Bay County Senator, Moses Kajwang, said the cancellation of the Adani deals was not a priority for the majority of Kenyans.

According to the Homa Bay senator, Ruto failed to address the main issues affecting the ordinary mwananchi such as the rising cost of living.

He argued that Ruto's speech painted a picture of a well-working economy, yet most Kenyans are suffering. "I don't think that was the most urgent need for Kenyans.

It is very clear that Kenyans are now concerned about the state of the economy.

"And from the president's presentation today, he has painted a very rosy picture of the economy.

"It looks like President William Ruto lives in an alternate universe because his expression and his report to parliament today indicate a country where everyone is prosperous, where everyone is well fed, and where everyone has got money in their pocket," Kajwang said.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Saturday, November 23, 2024 - The Catholic Church has issued a statement supporting President William Rutos move to declare war against femicide.

This comes barely a week after Catholic Bishops blasted Ruto for lying to Kenyans over his unfulfilled promises.

Through the Auxiliary Bishop of Nairobi Rev Simon Peter Kamomoe, the church weighed in on the menace, saying women should be protected.

In recent months, Kenya has witnessed a troubling pattern of women losing their lives in gruesome murders and under unclear circumstances.

"Such acts are not only a grave violation of human rights but also a deeply concerning trend that warrants urgent attention, said the church.

While we support the governments actions in addressing this menace, we, the Archdiocese of Nairobi, in collaboration with the State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action call upon Christians and people of goodwill to act as our sisters keeper," he added.

Bishop Kamomoe said society is judged by how it treats the most vulnerable members and women require protection and deserve to feel safe.

Taking personal responsibility to be my sisters keeper is a vital step in ensuring that the women around us- be they spouses, colleagues, family members, or friends- feel secure.

We implore you to take the lead in safeguarding women in your midst. This act of care and protection is a reflection of our Christian values of love and respect for one another, he asserted.

Kamomoe further urged parents to keep a keen eye on their children amidst the long December holidays.

We particularly urge parents to ensure the safety of their children, especially during the long holidays, when they may often be left alone at home, the bishops stated.

His comments come in the wake of Rutos directives to address the alarming scourge of femicide in the country during his State of the Nation Address.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Saturday, November 23, 2024 - Singapore carried out its third execution in a week on Friday, as 55-year-old Rosman Abdullah was hanged for drug trafficking, according to the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB). This brings the total executions this year in the city-state to eight, drawing sharp criticism from human rights advocates and the United Nations.

Rosman was convicted of trafficking 57.43 grams (2.03 ounces) of heroin, surpassing Singapores 15-gram threshold for the death penalty under its stringent anti-drug laws. First sentenced in July 2010, he had exhausted all legal appeals, including a plea for presidential clemency. The execution took place at Changi Prison.

In response to growing international criticism, the CNB defended its stance, stating that capital punishment is reserved for the most serious crimes and is a deterrent against drug trafficking, which they argue causes severe harm to individuals and society.

The execution follows the November 15 hangings of two other mena Malaysian and a Singaporeanalso convicted of drug trafficking. Since resuming executions in March 2022 after a pandemic-related pause, Singapore has carried out 24 hangings, according to an AFP tally.

The United Nations, along with human rights groups, has reiterated its call for Singapore to abolish the death penalty, arguing it is ineffective as a deterrent and incompatible with international human rights law. There is increasing evidence showing the ineffectiveness of capital punishment as a deterrent, UN Human Rights spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said in a statement on Thursday.

Singapore remains one of the few developed nations to retain the death penalty, insisting it plays a crucial role in maintaining safety and security in the country. However, critics argue the policy disproportionately targets drug offenders without addressing the root causes of the issue.






Saturday, November 23, 2024 - A South African businesswoman, Mmkgomo Doris Ngcobo and two Ugandan nationals have been arrested for R2 million romance scams.

Ngcobo and her co-accused, Derrick Nsubuga, 34, and Nassazi Jo appeared in the Palm Ridge Magistrate' Court in Ekurhuleni on Thursday, November 21, 2024, on charges of fraud.

Ngcobo was arrested by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks. She is accused by different victims of romance scams of being central to the fraudulent scheme where the victims were defrauded and left nursing heartaches.

Three fraudsters who were arrested on Friday, November 15, following the Hawks Serious Commercial Crime investigation into their role in a fraudulent dating scam are expected back in court on Monday, December 9, for a bail hearing, said Gauteng Hawks spokesperson, Captain Lloyd Ramovha.

Ngcobo faces a different case, and the prosecutor Alistair Appel told the court that the Limpopo woman and her co-accused were involved in romance scams amounting to R2 million.

Magistrate Sheron Soko-Rantao subsequently ruled that due to the amount involved, the three accused faced a serious schedule five offence.

The Hawks in Gauteng explained on one of the cases faced by Ngcobo and her co-accused.

This (arrest) follows a case of fraud that was registered at Sandton police station in September 2024. The accused are two Ugandan nationals, Derrick Nsubuga, Nassazi Joan, and a South African citizen, Mmakgomo Doris Ngcobo, 42.

It is alleged that in July 2024, the complainant, a South African woman whose identity is withheld to protect her, met an individual named "Troy" on dating site Badoo.

After engaging in conversations, the suspect persuaded the complainant to continue their dialogue via WhatsApp, said Ramovha.

A few days later, they agreed to meet in person. He invited the complainant to an address in Sandton where he introduced her to a woman claiming to be his aunt, a traditional healer.

The "aunt" convinced the unsuspecting woman that she had bad luck and need a cleansing ritual, to wash away the misfortune.

During the ritual, the complainant was deceived into believing her ancestors were advising her to venture into business. Following the ritual, the victim was convinced to apply for a loan, purportedly to invest in a business blessed by her ancestors, said Ramovha.

The woman withdrew R20,000 and transferred R233,000 to an account, in order to receive her blessings

Subsequently, the Hawks said the woman was told to apply for another cash loan before she was mysteriously robbed of the money while she was on her way to deliver the money to the scammers.

Realising that she had been scammed, the complainant reported the incident at the Sandton police station.

The case was assigned to the Hawks for an investigation that resulted in the recent arrests, following a raid at a house in Roodepoort, Johannesburg.

The Hawks said officers pounced on the scammers who were in the process of scamming yet another woman.

The trio appeared in the Palm Ridge Magistrates Court on Monday, where the case was postponed to Thursday.

The Hawks said further arrests related to this case are anticipated.

Meanwhile, Gauteng head of the Hawks, Major General Ebrahim Kadwa has warned residents about the pitfalls of online dating, which has left numerous women stranded over the years.

While online dating platforms provide a convenient way to meet new people, they also present significant risks. As seen in this case, individuals with malicious intentions often use dating apps to deceive and exploit victims, said Kadwa.

Always verify the identity of the person you are communicating with, and be cautious of any requests for money or personal information, he said.

The Hawks are committed to protect the public and ensuring a safe online environment. Should you suspect any fraudulent activity, please report it to the authorities.




Saturday, November 23, 2024 - Kirinyaga County Governor, Anne Waiguru, has called for the arrest of a Nairobi-based pastor who hacked his wife with a machete after a domestic dispute.

Pastor Njau, who is a member of Jesus Compassion Ministry (JCM) in Ruiru, hacked his wife in Nakuru and left her for dead.

The wife, who sustained severe injuries, is currently recuperating in a hospital in Nakuru.

She suffered critical head injuries and had her fingers chopped off.

Besides being lovers, Njau and Wanjiku were co-investors in a real estate business in Nakuru.

The suspect took off from the scene after the attack, prompting his search by the police in the Rongai sub-county.

Waiguru condemned the attack, asking the police to apprehend the cleric and bring him to book.

"I wish to condemn the tragic incident in Nakuru, where a man attacked his wife over a domestic dispute.

"Whatever the disagreement, we should never resort to violence.

"Gender-based violence has no place in our society. I call on investigative authorities to apprehend the perpetrator and ensure justice is served.

"I also pray for Shikos healing and quick recovery," she posted on X.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
President Xi Jinping has underscored China's commitment to supporting Morocco in maintaining its national security and stability, and expressed the country's willingness to work with the North African nation to continue to firmly support each other on issues concerning their own core interests.

Xi made the remarks on Thursday evening during a meeting with Moroccan Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan in Casablanca, where he made a technical stopover on his way back to China after the 19th G20 Summit and a state visit to Brazil.

Upon instructions from King Mohammed VI, the crown prince and Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch received Xi at Mohammed V International Airport, where a welcoming ceremony was held.

Xi had a cordial conversation with Hassan, asking him to convey his sincere greetings and best wishes to the Moroccan king.

Xi noted that China-Morocco relations have been developing well, with fruitful pragmatic cooperation and increasingly active exchanges in various fields.

He recalled King Mohammed VI's state visit to China in 2016, when they held fruitful talks and elevated China-Morocco relations to a new level.

China is ready to work with Morocco to implement the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the 10th Ministerial Meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, and deliver more achievements in pragmatic cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, Xi said.

He called on both countries to expand cultural exchanges to solidify the foundation of friendship between the two peoples, and promote greater development of the China-Morocco strategic partnership.

Hassan conveyed King Mohammed VI's sincere greetings and warm welcome to Xi, and said that Morocco-China relations have maintained good development momentum.

He expressed gratitude for China's valuable support for his country during the COVID-19 pandemic, which, he said, the Moroccan people will never forget.

The Moroccan royal family and government are committed to further developing Morocco-China relations, maintaining high-level exchanges between the two countries, and strengthening cooperation in various fields, the crown prince said.

Noting that the Chinese language and culture are well received by the Moroccan people, he expressed hope that the two countries would strengthen cultural exchanges.

Saying Morocco and China share similar positions on many issues, the crown prince expressed his country's willingness to work with China to firmly support each other in maintaining national sovereignty, security and stability.

China has stepped up investments in Morocco's infrastructure, railway and electric vehicle sectors in recent years.

On Nov 13, Chinese EV battery manufacturer Gotion High-Tech signed an agreement with Morocco's state-owned investment fund CDG in Hefei, Anhui province, to advance the development of an electric battery gigafactory in Kenitra, Morocco.

The Kenitra gigafactory project will receive an initial investment of 13 billion dirhams ($1.3 billion), with the first phase focused on producing 20 gigawatt-hours of lithium-ion batteries and cathode materials, according to media reports. The project is expected to create approximately 2,300 jobs, contributing significantly to local employment and economic growth.

Xi is expected to return to Beijing on Saturday after his Latin American tour starting on Nov 13, which also took him to Peru for the 31st APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Lima and a state visit to the country.
The Into Kildare AGM and Networking Event was held at Lawlors of Naas Hotel on 19 November. Over 65 different hospitality businesses from Kildare were represented at the meeting including people from some of the countys best-known hotels, pubs, restaurants, retail experiences, racecourses and visitor attractions. Cathaoirleach of Kildare, Joseph Neville and Sonya Kavanagh, chief executive of Kildare County Council welcomed guests as did several county councillors and travel writer Eoghan Corry who was the keynote speaker.

Aine Mangan, CEO of Into Kildare, said: We were delighted that Eoghan Corry was our keynote speaker and took the time to attend and support tourism stakeholders in County Kildare and the work of Into Kildare. Eoghan is a proud Kildare native himself and proudly flys the flag of tourism for this county and indeed Ireland with every opportunity he gets. He is also a highly respected travel commentator and journalist and regularly speaks at conferences at home and abroad on all things travel and tourism.

David Mongey (Chairperson Into Kildare), Aine Mangan (CEO Into Kildare), Sonia Kavanagh (CEO Kildare County Council) and Cathaoirleach of County Kildare. Cllr Joe Neville

Aine added: We are looking forward to another proactive year in Kildare Tourism and hope to drive a large amounts of footfall to the County for key events. We look forward to Kildare being the host once again to the KPMG Womens Irish Open in Fairmont, Carton House and hosting the Amgen Irish Open in The K Club as well as many other key events throughout the year

Chairperson of Into Kildare, David Mongey of Mongey Communications opened the meeting and the official business of the AGM got underway. Aine Mangan gave a detailed presentation on the activities of Into Kildare and highlighted the work that had taken place in collaboration with the tourism and hospitality sector state agencies and community groups during the last 12 months and what is to come in the year ahead. The event concluded with Eoghan Corry who took to the floor and made a fascinating presentation on how best to harness the potential of Kildare tourism and spoke about ways to make the visitor experience even more enriched.
Trump considering candidacy of former intelligence chief for post of US special envoy for Ukraine

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is considering the possibility of appointing former Intelligence Chief Richard Grenell to the post of special envoy for the Russian-Ukrainian war, Reuters said.

It is reported that Grenell was the U.S. ambassador to Germany and acting director of national intelligence during Trump's first presidential term (2017-2021).

He will play a key role in Trump's efforts to halt the war, if he is ultimately elected to the post.

The sources specified that although there is currently no special envoy dedicated solely to resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Trump is considering the possibility of creating such a position.

At the same time, Trump may decide not to create a special envoy for the conflict in Ukraine. But if he does, he may choose someone else for the role. And there is no guarantee that Grenell will accept, Reuters says.

If Grenell does accept, some of his positions could give Ukraine's leaders pause. For example, during a Bloomberg roundtable in July, he advocated for the creation of "autonomous zones" as a means of settling the conflict. He also suggested that he would not support Ukraine joining NATO in the near future, "a position he shares with many of Trump allies."

Grenell's supporters note he has a long diplomatic career and deep knowledge of European affairs. In addition to serving as ambassador to Germany, Grenell also served as the president's special envoy to peace talks in Serbia and Kosovo.

Reuters notes that Grenell, who campaigned for Trump in the run-up to the November 5 election, was a leading contender for the post of secretary of state. He was ultimately nominated to Republican Senator Marco Rubio, which surprised and upset some of Grenell's close allies.
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Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Cloudy with gusty winds. High 48F. Winds NNW at 20 to 30 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy early, becoming mostly clear after midnight. Low 23F. Winds NNW at 15 to 25 mph.
Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky, who arrived in Kyiv on a visit, assured of unwavering support for Ukraine and confirmed plans to supply 500,000 artillery shells by the end of the year.

"The Czech Republic will continue to provide you with unwavering support in all forms: military, financial, humanitarian, political and diplomatic. Today we discussed further ways of providing assistance. As you know, my country has taken the initiative to supply ammunition," Lipavsky said at a press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Andriy Sybiha in Kyiv.

The minister reaffirmed that 500,000 large-caliber shells will be supplied to Ukraine by the end of the year as part of the initiative.

"And we will not stop there. We will expand this initiative and provide the Armed Forces of Ukraine with the necessary support," he said.

Lipavsky also said the Czech Republic will continue to support Ukraine's efforts to join the EU and NATO, and will also support Ukraine's civil society and independent media.

At the Munich Security Conference, Czech President Petr Pavel said that the Czech Republic is looking for ammunition and weapons for prompt delivery to Ukraine from all over the world. According to him, there is a possibility of delivering 500,000 155 mm shells and 300,000 122 mm shells from third countries within weeks if the necessary funding is received.

On June 25, Prime Minister Petr Fiala said the Czech Republic delivered the first batch of artillery shells to Ukraine in accordance with the Czech aid program for Kyiv.

In May, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced that the Czech Republic plans to transfer 500,000 large-caliber ammunition to Ukraine by the end of 2024. In July, Foreign Minister Lipavsky confirmed the intention to deliver 500,000 rounds of ammunition to Ukraine by the end of the year.
The Czech Republic, which has taken patronage over the restoration of Dnipropetrovsk region, has already allocated about EUR 1 million to provide people in the region with gas heaters, medical equipment, water treatment plants and generators, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said.

"We are grateful to the Czech Republic for its patronage over the restoration of Dnipropetrovsk region. We plan to hold the first meeting of the relevant Ukrainian-Czech working group soon. The Czech government has already allocated about EUR 1 million to provide people in Dnipropetrovsk region with gas heaters, medical equipment, water treatment plants and generators. We are sincerely grateful to our Czech partners for this," Sybiha said at a joint press conference with his Czech counterpart in Kyiv.

The minister said as a result of the agreements between the prime ministers, a Ukrainian-Czech business council was formed within the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ukraine, and it will facilitate interaction between companies and investors, including in the context of restoration.

In addition, the heads of the Foreign Ministries discussed the continuation of defense cooperation, in particular, the development of the Czech initiative to purchase ammunition for Ukraine. And also  increasing sanctions pressure on the aggressor and introducing new tough restrictions against industries that feed the Russian war machine, primarily against metallurgy and the "shadow fleet."

Sybiha thanked the Czech Republic for its support of Ukraines accession to the EU and NATO, the Peace Formula and the Victory Plan, and energy assistance.
K-pop superstars Seventeen solidified their ascendancy by clinching a grand prize for the second consecutive year at the 2024 MAMA Awards on Saturday, one of the most prestigious ceremonies in the K-pop industry.

The two-day event was held across Los Angeles and Osaka, Japan, marking the first time in its history that part of the ceremony was held in the United States, drawing global attention.

The 13-member group took home the coveted Visa Artist of the Year award on the final night, marking its second consecutive grand prize after winning Album of the Year in 2023.

Visibly emotional during his acceptance speech, member Woozi said: "They say you're free to dream, but for us, winning a grand prize for two consecutive years was something we never imagined. We'll continue to live to repay this honor, staying steadfast and unchanged."

Seventeen did not stop there. It also received Visa Album of the Year, one of the four grand prizes, for its 11th EP, "Seventeenth Heaven," along with Best Male Group, Visa Super Stage and Fans' Choice Male Top 10, sweeping five awards in total.

Other major winners included aespa, whose song "Supernova" was named Visa Song of the Year.

The quartet took home six awards, including Best Female Group, Best Dance Performance Female Group, Best Choreography, Best Music Video and Fans' Choice Female Top 10.

On the first day of the event in Japan, BTS' Jimin won the Visa Fans' Choice of the Year, also one of the four grand prizes.

A highlight of the evening was a surprise performance by BIGBANG, marking a rare reunion of three remaining members G-Dragon, Taeyang and Daesung.

The trio delivered a nostalgic yet electrifying set that began with G-Dragon's performance of his solo tracks "Untitled" (2014) and "Power" (2024).

The performance peaked when they reunited to perform G-Dragon's latest single "Home Sweet Home" featuring Taeyang and Daesung. Starting as a solo, the performance saw Taeyang and Daesung join mid-song, thrilling fans with their undeniable chemistry. They then performed a medley of two of the group's mega-hits, "Bang Bang Bang" (2015) and "Fantastic Baby" (2012), sending the audience and artists into a frenzy of excitement.

G-Dragon was also honored with the inaugural Music Visionary of the Year award. In his acceptance speech, he humorously referenced lyrics from his 2014 MAMA Awards performance, saying: "It's been a while. It looks like Mama is preparing a large feast."

Actor Byun Woo-seok, who rose to stardom with the 2024 tvN series "Lovely Runner," also performed "Sudden Shower," an OST track he sang in the drama.

Byun received the Favorite Global Trending Music for the song, whose popularity has generated tremendous buzz both domestically and internationally. (Yonhap)
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump named Alex Wong, who was engaged in working-level nuclear talks with North Korea during his first term, as his principal deputy national security adviser amid expectations he could seek to reengage with Pyongyang after returning to office.

Trump issued a statement on his decision to appoint Wong, who served as the deputy special representative for North Korea and the deputy assistant secretary for North Korea in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs at the State Department when he was in office.

The personnel choice came amid speculation that Trump could move to revive his personal diplomacy with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in an effort to complete the unfinished business of addressing the recalcitrant regime's nuclear development.

"As Deputy Special Representative for North Korea, he helped negotiate my Summit with North Korean Leader, Kim Jong Un," Trump said. "Alex also led the State Department's efforts to implement the Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy."

When he was in office, Wong served as the No. 2 negotiator in denuclearization talks with North Korea.

He engaged in follow-up talks with the North in Pyongyang in July 2018 after the first-ever summit between Trump and Kim in Singapore in June 2018. He was also part of the preparation team for the second summit between the leaders in Hanoi in 2019.

In his State Department role, Wong led a U.S.-led campaign to address the North's nuclear and missile conundrum, including sanctions enforcement, counterproliferation, and steps to curb and prevent the regime's illicit cyber activities.

Observers said that Trump's selection of Wong for the White House post bodes well for the resumption of diplomacy with the North, though it remains uncertain whether Pyongyang would accede to any diplomatic overture from Washington when it has a growing military partnership with Moscow.

During his election campaign, Trump repeatedly boasted about the "love letters" from Kim and his personal ties with him, raising the prospects for reengagement with the North. He also said that "getting along" with the North Korean leader is a "good thing."

In a photo book published in September, Trump said that his summitry with Kim during his presidency showed that "real change" was "indeed" possible, portraying it as "honest, direct and productive."

Trump had three in-person meetings with Kim, including the first summit in Singapore in 2018. Since the no-deal summit in Hanoi in 2019, meaningful nuclear negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang have been stalled.

Wong received his J.D. from Harvard Law School, where he was the managing editor of the Harvard Law Review and an editor of the Harvard International Law Journal. He earned his bachelor's degree at the University of Pennsylvania.

He is a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and served as the chairman of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, a congressionally appointed panel. (Yonhap)
Photo: MFA of Ukraine

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha called on his Czech counterpart Jan Lipavsky to consider the possibility of creating state Ukrainian-Czech bilingual schools for Ukrainian children in the Czech Republic.

"Considering the large number of Ukrainian school-age children in the Czech Republic, I will also ask during our further conversations to consider the possibility of creating state Ukrainian-Czech bilingual schools. And we hope that there will be a positive response from our friends," Sybiha said at a joint press conference with his Czech counterpart in Kyiv.

According to Sybiha, "it is important for us to maintain the connection of Ukrainians with Ukraine," and this issue is one of the priorities of his work as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Separately, the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed support for the idea of Minister Lipavsky to restrict the movement of Russian diplomats in the Schengen zone.
The United States believes that North Korea is prepared for a possible seventh nuclear test while awaiting "only a political decision" to go ahead, a senior U.S. official said Friday, warning another nuclear experiment would mark a "grave" escalation of regional tensions.

Alexandra Bell, deputy assistant secretary of state for arms control, deterrence and stability, made the remarks, reiterating America's "ironclad" security commitment to South Korea and its denuclearization objective for the Korean Peninsula.

"The United States assesses that the DPRK has prepared its Punggye-ri test site for its potential seventh explosive nuclear test, awaiting only a political decision to move ahead," Bell said during a forum hosted by The Korea Society. DPRK stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

"Such a test would constitute a grave escalation of tensions in the region and present a security risk to the entire world," she added.

Bell criticized Pyongyang's weapons tests this year, including that of a new Hwasong-19 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), as a violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions.

"Each missile launch (and) each nuclear saber-rattling speech is an indication that the DPRK is determined to advance its unlawful WMD and ballistic missile programs, underscoring the clear need to further grow and adapt our alliance with the ROK to better prepare to defend against potential attacks, including nuclear employment," she said, referring to South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea.

"It goes without saying that the U.S. commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea remains ironclad and our goal remains the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula."

She also reiterated the allies' warning to Pyongyang that any nuclear weapons attack by the North against the South will be met with a "swift, overwhelming and decisive" response.

Bell underscored "remarkable progress" in the work of the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG), the allies' key nuclear deterrence body launched last year as part of joint efforts to strengthen "extended deterrence," America's commitment to using the full range of its military capabilities, including nuclear arms, to defend its Asian ally.

A fourth NCG session will take place in Washington in early December, according to her. Bell represents the State Department at the NCG.

"In fact, the NCG's tremendous progress has been commended and endorsed by Presidents Yoon and Biden, including the completion of the U.S.-ROK guidelines for nuclear deterrence and nuclear operations on the Korean Peninsula," she said.

At the forum, South Korean Ambassador to the U.S. Cho Hyun-dong also mentioned the North's readiness to carry out another nuclear test, as he pointed out that the situation in East Asia remains a "tinderbox," with Pyongyang's "untethered" aggressiveness having the potential for "incitement at any time."

"In the case of North Korea, their antagonistic stance shows no sign of abating," he said.

"Beyond their traditional provocation and the recent release of multiple trash-filled balloons across the DMZ, they launched an ICBM merely days before the U.S. election  a strategic provocation that, though not unexpected, signals the likelihood that they are ready to conduct another nuclear test anytime."

Noting the presidential transition in the U.S., he expressed confidence for the future of the Seoul-Washington alliance.

"It is clear that even with the expected changes, our alliance will remain strong and continue to thrive," he said. (Yonhap)
Korea said Saturday it will not attend a memorial ceremony in Japan honoring forced labor victims, including Koreans, from an old Japanese mine complex, amid controversy over Tokyo's decision to send a senior official with hard-line views on history to the event.

The decision, made just a day before the planned ceremony, came after Tokyo said Thursday that Akiko Ikuina, a parliamentary vice minister at Japan's foreign ministry, will attend the ceremony as the government representative.

The announcement further stoked doubt about Japan's sincerity in fulfilling its pledge to hold the event to honor the victims, because Ikuina has visited the Yasukuni Shrine, where war criminals are enshrined.

"We have decided not to attend the Sado mine memorial ceremony, scheduled for Nov. 24, taking into account various circumstances surrounding the event," the government said in a message to the media.

"There was insufficient time to reconcile differing positions between the diplomatic authorities of both countries, making it unlikely to reach a mutually acceptable agreement before the ceremony," it said.

The shrine, regarded as a symbol of Japan's militaristic past, has been a source of tension, with Korea strongly opposing visits or offerings made by Japanese government officials.

Critics said her attendance at the ceremony would upset the eleven family members of the Korean victims who were planning to attend the event.

Japan has promised to host a memorial event as a condition for Seoul's consent to the location's designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Many Koreans were taken to toil at the Sado gold and silver mines during World War II, when Korea was under Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule.

Seoul has stressed to Tokyo the importance of holding the ceremony to honor the victims in a sincere manner, requesting the attendance of a high-level official, possibly at a vice minister level.

However, the lack of details about the ceremony's arrangements, even in the days leading up to the event, has sparked speculation in Seoul that negotiations with Japan may not have gone smoothly.

Recent remarks by Hideyo Hanazumi, the governor of the Niigata Prefecture organizing the ceremony, have further fueled concerns. According to Japanese media, Hanazumi said earlier the memorial is intended to report the site's UNESCO listing to the public.

The memorial ceremony is set to take place on western Sado Island, off Japan's west coast, Sunday, with officials from the organizing committee, the Sado city and central governments, and civic groups in Japan expected to attend. (Yonhap)
South Korea's Marine Corps chief vowed Saturday to never forget the sacrifices of two Marines killed in a 2010 North Korean artillery attack on a western border island.

Lt. Gen. Kim Kye-hwan, who doubles as the command's head, made the remarks during an annual ceremony marking the 14th anniversary of the attack on Yeonpyeong Island near the western inter-Korean sea border, which killed two Marines and two civilians.

"The freedom and peace we enjoy today are thanks to the dedication and sacrifices of the heroes who shed their blood and sweat to protect our nation," Kim said during the event at Daejeon National Cemetery in Daejeon, some 140 kilometers south of Seoul.

He further emphasized that the ceremony was a solemn reminder of their ultimate sacrifice and a pledge to continue safeguarding the western border islands with unwavering strength and determination.

The exchange of artillery fire came on Nov. 23, 2010, after the North shelled the front-line island. It marked the North's first attack on a civilian area in the South since the 1950-53 Korean War. (Yonhap)
By Lee Hae-rin

Korea is seeing a wave of university professors criticizing President Yoon Suk Yeol and calling for his resignation, with over 3,000 professors and researchers from 55 universities across the country participating in the joint declaration as of Friday.

"We want President Yoon to step down immediately," a group of 108 professors of Dongguk University said in a joint declaration at the schools Seoul campus, Thursday.

Referring to President Yoon's televised press conference from Nov. 7, they said, "Even though the two-hour statement started with an apology, the content was beyond disappointing and close to despair. There have been a series of declarations of a state of affairs by professors from various universities, raising concerns about the government's move, but the president has confirmed that he has no intention of changing the state of affairs at all."

Read More Yoon apologizes to public over allegations surrounding first lady

The group also pointed out the various suspicions surrounding first lady Kim Keon Hee.

"Nothing has been resolved, including the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation scandal, the luxury goods scandal, the government intervention scandal and the manipulation of public opinion through political brokers and the nomination intervention scandal," they said.

Additionally, 177 Yonsei University professors issued a declaration titled "You are no longer our president" and urged "President Yoon to apologize for the injustice and misrule he has committed and step down from his position as soon as possible."

"What the Yoon Suk Yeol administration showed us during the first half of his term was incompetence, irresponsibility and reckless use of power. From the Itaewon disaster to Corporal Chaes case, labor and media oppression, history distortion, submissive diplomacy to the U.S. and Japan, hostile North Korean policy, tax cuts for the rich, R&D budget and various cuts in research and development, etc., the government is unfathomable, the group said.

"Even though most citizens are suffering from the economic crisis and economic downturn every day, the government is complimenting itself on the achievements of the state administration."

Some 140 professors from Ewha Womans University also joined the declaration.

"We are furious. Step down immediately. During the two and a half years of the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, the foundation of a democratic republic has been shaken and people's livelihoods have been destroyed by the endless incompetence of the president and a series of scandals and suspicions surrounding the president and his family," the group said. "The government should not continue to privatize power granted by the people only for the benefit of itself and those around it."

The wave of university professors statements calling for Yoons resignation started with Gachon University on Oct. 28, and then spread to others including Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Hanyang University, Sookmyung Women's University, Kookmin University, Kyung Hee University and Korea University.

"The last time so many professors participated in the declaration of the state of affairs at once on the same subject was the manipulation of state affairs under the Park Geun-hye administration," according to a professor at a private university in Seoul.
President Yoon Suk Yeol approved Saturday the appointment of the new president of KBS, the country's largest public broadcaster.

Park Jang-beom has been chosen to replace current CEO Park Min to be the 27th president of the broadcaster. His term will begin Dec. 10 and run through Dec. 9, 2027.

Park, an economics graduate at Yonsei University, joined KBS as a journalist in 1994 and has served as a London correspondent and a chief secretary, as well as in other various positions. Park is currently the chief presenter of KBS' prime-time news. (Yonhap)
By Casey Lartigue Jr.

On October 16, 2024, three North Korean Refugee Author Fellows in Freedom Speakers International (FSI) wrapped up a two-day conference with high school students visiting South Korea.

Han Song-mi, Eom Yeong-nam, and Jang Sha-ron shared their personal stories, raised awareness about the realities of life in North Korea, and signed copies of their books.

Most of the 600 North Korean refugees who have studied in our organization first contacted us through our website, called our office, or were directly connected to FSI co-founder Lee Eun-koo. Eun-koo recently pointed out something I had yet to recognize. All three authors initially contacted me when they wanted to join our organization.

They share other similarities, such as the fact that they all escaped during 2010-11, were all rescued by a family member who had escaped from North Korea first, were all in limbo in North Korea because of issues related to family members, all lived abroad in Canada for more than a year, have all worked in our office, and have made donations to our organization.

It was a Freedom Speakers International (FSI) event done in collaboration with Giving Tuesday Korea and sponsored by the Korea Hana Foundation. We encouraged the high school students to set up projects to increase generosity and kindness in the world. There was no requirement that they come up with projects related to North Korea or North Korean refugees, but this would be a chance for them to team build and to get advice from North Korean refugees.

I started the conference with the first group as Giving Tuesday Korea's co-country director.

The participants at this particular conference were all teenage girls. I am not trying to get myself into trouble by pointing out that the attendees were more interested in small group discussions with the speakers. In contrast, when we have had conferences with teenage boys in previous years, they had questions but were more interested in creating a project and getting feedback from the refugees.

In this case, I didn't push for the projects and instead gave them the chance to talk and do the projects later if they choose to do so when they return to their respective countries. I know in this hypersensitive world that people don't expect me to see what I see, but that has been the reality.

The second hour, Eunkoo introduced FSI. As usual, she urged me to do so, but I gave an excuse about why I couldn't, and then explained why it was better for her to introduce FSI so there would be a better distinction between FSI and Giving Tuesday Korea.

Sharon Jang, author of "Girl with Black Makeup"

When I worked with Sharon on her speech the day before, I told her she would be the first speaker for a reason.

I introduced her when she gave a speech the first time, but the second time around, I told Eunkoo that she should introduce Sharon. I am the one who first proposed that Sharon write a book and after we changed from TNKR to FSI, I said we should check with Sharon to see if she would like to finish the book. Sharon confirmed, thankful that we had not forgotten about the project.

Eunkoo worked closely with Sharon to finish the book.

Sharon started off somewhat shy, apologizing about her English level. She apologized before her second speech also, but she spoke with more energy the second time. Sharons journey as an author and public speaker has been gradual, and thanks to our donors and supporters over the years, we can work with North Korean refugees at their own pace. Theres no rush to push them onto the stage before they are ready; instead, we give them the time they need to develop at their speed. And if they choose not to speak, or not write a book, or just talk about their hobbies instead of human rights, that's fine, too.

I often discourage our supporters from categorizing us as a human rights organization or from saying we encourage North Korean refugees to talk about North Korea. Because of fans mischaracterizing us and critics lying about us, I renamed our speech contest "I am from North Korea" so it would be clear that North Korean refugees have the power to speak as they wish.

After we finished, Sharon had her first book signing at an event. FSI recently purchased pens for our authors, but Sharon is the only one who brought her pen to sign copies. I am going to give the authors a hint that if they ever want special pens again, they should let Eunkoo see them signing books with them.

Songmi Han, co-author of "Greenlight to Freedom" with Casey Lartigue

I introduced Songmi, who gave a speech without notes. She didn't give her first public speech until early 2022, but now she delivers speeches without notes. She says she is nervous, and that is fine. For some reason, people tell speakers not to be nervous.

Nervousness and fear can inspire some speakers to prepare and practice more; even some great speakers say that even after years of public speaking, they still get nervous. As Samuel Johnson said in a different context, "The threat of execution sharpens the mind." I advise speakers, but I don't tell them to ignore their feelings, and I don't try to read their minds about how they are feeling.

I like to point out that both Eunkoo and Songmi say they are shy but will keep talking as if time has stopped.

After Songmi's speeches, I joined her during many of her small group discussions -- as if I had a choice. North Korean refugees have freedom of choice within FSI, but as co-founder and Senior Mentor, I don't have choice when it is in conflict with theirs. Like Yuna the night before, Songmi encouraged me to join her, although now it is more of an imperative with her. "Mr. Casey! You are my co-author. Please join me. I wouldn't be here without you." She often gives me an impatient stare, as if I have abandoned her when I don't immediately join her on stage.

How can I say no?

Yeongnam Eom, author of "Strongest Soldier of North Korea"

Yeongnams public speaking approach reflects his life as a soldier and his newfound freedom as a public speaker. As a soldier in North Korea, he had to memorize without thinking. But as a speaker in freedom, Yeongnam has the flexibility to improvise and adapt. There have been times when he has asked, right before speaking, Which speech should I give? What should I talk about?  a stark contrast to his life as a soldier, where there was no room for such creativity and freedom.

I chose Sharon to speak first in the morning session, but during our lunch break, somehow Yeongnam was assigned to be the first speaker of the second session without them consulting me. Did those lovely ladies outvote him? Did he volunteer? I'm not sure what happened, but there was no discussion. He was going to be first.

He embraced his role without complaint. He was being the good soldier taking on a task assigned to him. But as a man now living in freedom, he is engaged in tasks he chooses.

For those of you who advise speakers not to be nervous, dont waste your words with Yeongnam. Even before he learned any public speaking skills, he was already ready. As he wrote in his book, he was inspired by North Korean refugees, especially Yeonmi Park, who told their stories globally. From his first speech with us in 2015, he had stories to tell.

Book signing

Songmi, Sharon and Yeongnam all participated in the book signing at the end of the event. For Songmi, this was yet another stop in her international journey.

When Songmi gives a speech, attendees often ask her if she has traveled to other countries. Not only has she traveled to other countries, but she has had book signings abroad. Greenlight to Freedom has built up Songmis frequent flyer miles. In the USA, we have had book signings together in Nashville, New York City, Cambridge, Washington, D.C. We have also had book signings in Geneva and New Delhi.

When it is time for a book signing, Songmi makes sure that I sign the books along with her. It is also an imperative: "Mr. Casey! You are my co-author! Why aren't you signing our book?"

For Sharon and Yeongnam, it was their first time signing books at an event (due to a bureaucratic snafu, Yeongnam's books did not arrive in time when he, Songmi and I spoke at a Talk Concert in Harvard Square last month).

The impact these authors made at the conference goes beyond just their speeches  they are raising awareness about North Korea, North Korean refugees and the importance of sharing their stories with the world.

Based on hearing their speeches and our mentoring sessions, they each have a mission. Sharon says writing the book was a form of therapy and she hopes it will console others. Her book lets people know about the reality of North Koreans condemned to terrible lives by the regime. Songmi wants people to know about the daily life of a North Korean, about difficult choices mothers (and fathers) make as they escape North Korea, and that many young people struggle as they wait for their mothers to rescue or return to them. Yeongnam wants people to have a better understanding about the lives of North Korean soldiers, the lack of freedom in North Korea, and about differences between North and South Korea.

Casey Lartigue Jr. (CJL@alumni.harvard.edu) is the co-founder of Freedom Speakers International with Lee Eun-koo and co-author with Han Song-mi of her memoir "Greenlight to Freedom: A North Korean Daughters Search for Her Mother and Herself.
There are 45-50 special programs for reprogramming the consciousness of children from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine operating in the territory of Russia, Deputy Head of the Main Intelligence Agency of the Ministry of Defense Vadym Skibitsky said.

"At least 45, or even 50 Russian projects that operate in the Russian territory, where children from our occupied territories were attracted. That is, they are constantly increasing the number of events where our children are attracted," he said during the discussion "Russia's genocidal practices in Ukraine: From the Holodomor to the Russian-Ukrainian war" on Friday.

Skibitsky said the abdiction of Ukrainian children began under the guise of alleged treatment, recreation, education, and then their transfer to Russian families began in order to fully assimilate them into Russian propaganda, into Russian society.

"This is a very complex process. We are returning literally a few: each child must be practically torn from the claws of this three-headed dragon," the deputy head of military intelligence said.

He said the return of Ukrainian children from Russia is a very complex process. The Intelligence Agency collects all the facts concerning the removal of Ukrainian children (from data on the child to the organizers of the abduction of the child in Russia).

Skibitsky said the Intelligence Agency also closely cooperates with Ukrainian structures, in particular the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Prosecutor General's Office, the Ministry of Culture, in order to collect as much information as possible about the children.

In addition, active work is underway by military attaches, organizing various events together with foreign partners on the topic of the abduction of children from Ukraine.

"It is not without reason that Russia works with children. This is an established practice. Believe me, we understand why they are doing this. And we are not alone in this position. I know that in Transnistria, where the 'Russian world' was also imposed, everything began and continues through children. Kindergartens, schools, patriotic education, visits to Russia, etc. This is a difficult question. Because the longer the territories are occupied, the greater the influence on children," Skibitsky said.
Thomas Fox, Convent View, Athy, Kildare and late of Portlaoise passed away peacefully on Saturday 23 November surrounded by his family and in the loving care of the wonderful staff at Saint Vincents Hospital, Athy.

Sadly missed by his loving wife Anne, daughter Annette, granddaughters Jesse and Georgia, great grandson Aidan, extended family, neighbours, and friends.

Thomas will repose at Thompsons Funeral Home, Chapel Hill, Mount Hawkins, Athy (R14 NX80) on Monday 25 November from 4pm until 6pm.

Removal on Tuesday morning 26 November at 10.45am to arrive at Saint Michaels Parish Church, Athy for Requiem Mass at 11am.

A private cremation will take place later.

House private please. Family flowers only please. Donations if desired to Saint Vincents Hospital Patient Comfort fund (Donation box at the Funeral Home and in the Church).

Those who would like to leave a message of condolence for the family may do so in the Rip.ie Condolences section.
Zelenskyy on Holodomor Remembrance Day: We must tell world truth about genocide against Ukrainians

Photo: https://www.facebook.com/zelenskyy.official

On Holodomor Remembrance Day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke about the need to convey to the world community the truth about the genocide against Ukrainians.

"Our duty is to remember, recall and tell the world the truth about the brutal crime, the genocide that was committed against Ukrainians," the president said on the Telegram channel.

On the fourth Saturday of November, Ukraine honors the memory of the victims of the Holodomors. "In 1921, 1922 and 1923. In 1946 and 1947. And in the most terrible years of 1932 and 1933, when the famine deliberately created by the regime took the lives of millions of our people," Zelenskyy said.
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], November 23 (ANI): Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has called for branding India as a "Responsible Capitalist" nation, emphasizing the country's deep understanding of the limitations of capitalism.

Speaking at the 8th India Ideas Conclave organized by India Foundation, Sitharaman highlighted India's traditional values of sustainable living and responsible consumption.

Also Read | Jharkhand Assembly Elections Results 2024: Counting of Votes for 81-Member Assembly Begins Amid Tight Security.

She said "We thought of it as our responsibility to use as per our need & not as per our greed. We must understand that capitalism has its limitations & we need to brand India as a 'Responsible Capitalist' country".

She noted that India's adoption of principles such as a circular economy and reuse was not driven by global trends but by necessity and responsibility.

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"We didn't follow the circular economy and principle of reuse because we were an impoverished nation. We thought of it as our responsibility to use as per our need and not as per our greed," Sitharaman said in a social media post.

She highlighted the need to promote this mindset globally by positioning India as a nation that integrates responsibility with economic growth.

The minister also emphasized enhancing tourism by integrating modern technology and traditional knowledge. She suggested creating self-learning digital programs in the top 100 tourist centers across the country. These programs could provide information about the architectural significance, tourism value, and associated languages such as Sanskrit and Pali.

"We should provide learning material for those who want to understand the signature Indian architectural marvels, adopting a multidisciplinary approach to tourism," she added.

Sitharaman further stressed the importance of establishing global standards in various sectors. She proposed creating a "Bharat FDA" modeled on the lines of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure top-notch standards in food and drug safety.

Highlighting India's scientific heritage, she noted that India's strength in science has been unbroken since ancient times. She referenced Nobel laureate Erwin Schrodinger's acknowledgment of being influenced by Vedanta in his theories.

She said "India's strength in science has been unbroken since ancient times. Erwin Schrodinger, a top scientist, has said that most of my ideas and theories were heavily influenced by Vedanta".

Sitharaman said that this scientific legacy should be integrated into the vision of "Brand Bharat," emphasizing excellence in science and technology to position India as a global leader. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
SMPL

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], November 23: Techno India University's School of the Future is proud to announce the outstanding achievement of its talented first-year B.Tech students. These young innovators were selected to showcase their groundbreaking app concepts at Google's Gurgaon office during the Google Education Leadership Summit held on November 21st.

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Out of 650 students, 10 were selected to showcase their innovative app ideas, developed entirely using Google tools. This valuable platform allowed them to connect with leading figures and explore the future of technology.

This recognition further solidifies Techno India University's position as a pioneer in tech-driven education. Just last month, the university became the first group of educational institutions in India to be featured in a Google Cloud case study. Published on the official Google Cloud platform, the study highlights how Techno India University has harnessed the transformative power of Google Cloud solutions to revolutionize teaching and learning. The case study details how the university successfully onboarded 15,000 students to the Google ecosystem in a mere 20 days, demonstrating its agility and dedication to student integration.

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The day commenced with a guided tour of Google's Gurgaon campus - a dream come true for many young tech enthusiasts. The students then showcased their groundbreaking app ideas developed using Google tools and got to interact with industry experts and renowned academicians. The insightful feedback from Google experts provided valuable guidance for these young innovators.

A Fireside Chat featuring prominent figures in the education and technology sectors served as a highlight of the event. Meghdut Roy Chowdhury, Chief Innovation Officer of Techno India Group, Rajesh Karkera, CIO/CTO at Yenepoya University, and Kapil Kapoor, Head of Google Workspace for India and SAARC, engaged in a discussion about the future of higher education in India, the role of technology, and how Google's tools empower students to innovate.

"Seeing our young innovators present their groundbreaking app ideas at Google's doorstep fills me with immense pride," said Meghdut Roy Chowdhury. "Their ability to leverage Google's tools to create such innovative solutions is truly inspiring. This experience will undoubtedly fuel their passion for technology and innovation, and I can't wait to see the incredible things they'll accomplish in the future."

Students further enriched their experience during an interactive session with Kapil Kapoor, Aanchal Rawal, Ketan Parekh and Jaspreet Singh Naran where they gained insights into their career journeys and valuable advice for future endeavors. Additionally, they had the opportunity to connect with Meghdut Roy Chowdhury and glean valuable insights into the world of technology and business.

Techno India University remains dedicated to providing its students with cutting-edge learning opportunities and fostering a culture of innovation and creativity. This commitment ensures students are equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the ever-evolving technological landscape. This unique experience has undoubtedly inspired them to continue exploring the potential of technology and contribute meaningfully to the future of innovation.

(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)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Hamirpur (Himachal Pradesh) [India], November 23 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Anurag Thakur visited his constituency on Friday.

Speaking to ANI, Anurag Thakur said he met local residents at his office to address their issues.

Also Read | Bengaluru Shocker: 2 Children Aged 7, 3 Strangled to Death; Police Investigating Parents Amid Accusations and Counter-Accusations.

"I met the local people in my office in Hamirpur today to resolve their problems. Some issues will be raised with the concerned officials, for which I have invited them to the Disha Committee meeting so that these matters can be discussed in the presence of all relevant officials," the BJP MP stated.

Earlier, after senior AAP leader Kailash Gahlot joined the BJP on Monday, Anurag Thakur criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), alleging it had surpassed the Congress in corruption, leading to its ministers leaving the party one by one.

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"AAP made big promises to the public that it failed to fulfil. It could not live up to public expectations. Aam Aadmi Party is synonymous with corruption. There is hardly any party more corrupt than AAP in the country. Corruption began with Kejriwal and has gradually spread to its MLAs and ministers. Although the party is called the Aam Aadmi Party, it has nothing to do with the common man. AAP has broken even the Congress's record in corruption. This is why the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister of the Aam Aadmi Party, embroiled in corruption, have resigned, and their ministers are leaving the party one after another," Thakur told reporters in Hamirpur.

In a significant setback for the Aam Aadmi Party ahead of the Delhi Assembly polls, senior leader Kailash Gahlot joined the BJP on Monday.

Gahlot, who resigned from AAP on Sunday citing concerns over the party's direction and internal challenges, joined the BJP in the presence of Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and other BJP leaders. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Dehradun, Nov 23 (PTI) The BJP on Saturday retained the Kedarnath Assembly seat in Uttarakhand, with its candidate and state Mahila Morcha president Asha Nautiyal defeating Congress' Manoj Rawat by 5,622 votes.

Nautiyal took an early lead and maintained it till the end. This is her third victory from the seat. She was elected to the state Assembly from Kedarnath in 2002 and 2007.

Also Read | Maharashtra Assembly Election Results 2024: Sitting MLAs Yashomati Thakur, Bachchu Kadu Lose to BJP Rivals in Teosa and Achalpur Seats Respectively in Amravati.

Nautiyal polled 23,814 votes, Rawat got 18,192 and Independent candidate Tribhuvan Singh was in the third position with 9,311 votes, the Election Commission website showed.

Returning officer Anil Shukla handed the victory certificate to Nautiyal in Rudraprayag.

Also Read | Priyanka Gandhi Wins Wayanad By-Election: With Congress General Secretary's Poll Victory, All 3 Members of Nehru-Gandhi Family Now in Parliament.

It is a significant victory for the ruling BJP as it would have been humiliating for the party to lose another pilgrimage seat in Uttarakhand after Badrinath.

This is the second time in a row that the Congress has lost the seat. In the 2022 Assembly polls, Rawat finished third after BJP's Shaila Rani Rawat and Independent candidate Kuldeep Singh Rawat.

The bypoll was necessitated due to the death of BJP MLA Shaila Rani Rawat in July. Polling was held on November 20 and a voter turnout of 57.64 per cent was recorded.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said this is a "huge victory" for the BJP and the triumph of the development work carried out in Kedarnath under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"It is a victory of development, our policies and Sanatan. It is also a slap on the faces of those who spread all sorts of lies against the state government in the run-up to the bypoll," he said without naming anyone.

Dhami said his government is committed to taking development to the last person in Kedarnath.

The chief minister also staged a roadshow from Survey Chawk to the state BJP headquarters and thanked the party workers for the win in Kedarnath.

Addressing the party workers, he gave the credit for the victory to Prime Minister Modi.

"I look upon it as a victory of Modi ji. After the 2013 disaster, development projects worth more than Rs 2,000 crore were begun in Kedarnath under our Prime Minister's leadership," he said.

The energy generated by this victory will be utilised to fulfil the aspirations of the people of Kedarnath, Dhami said.

Uttarakhand BJP president Mahendra Bhatt said, "The voters of Kedarnath have once again rejected the negative politics of the Congress. I thank them for once again placing their trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and the BJP."

He said the negative propaganda of the Congress which tried to spread misinformation about Kedarnath Dham had no impact on people who have once again put their seal of approval on the work done in the constituency by the BJP government in the Centre and in the state.

Former Pradesh Congress President Ganesh Godiyal who had actively campaigned in favour of the party candidate in Kedarnath, said the Congress could not win the seat due to the division of the anti-establishment votes.

"Over 51,000 votes were cast in the bypoll. We could not win as we could not keep around 33,000 anti-establishment votes intact," Godiyal said.

However, he congratulated both Dhami and Nautiyal for the victory in Kedarnath and expressed hope that they will honour the trust reposed by the people in them by pacing up development in the constituency.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Agartala (Tripura) [India], November 23 (ANI): The troops of the Border Security Force on Saturday apprehended four Bangladeshi nationals and two Indians in three different incidents, a press release said.

Three Bangladeshi Nationals were apprehended in West Tripura district while they were trying to infiltrate Indian territory by negotiating the Border fence.

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"On November 23, three Bangladesh nationals were apprehended by BSF troops of BOP Lankamura under West Tripura district while they were trying to infiltrate Indian territory by negotiating the Border fence. Apprehended Bangladeshi nationals are residents of Sunamganj and Habiganj districts of Bangladesh," the release said.

One Bangladesh national and one Indian were apprehended from North Tripura district.

Also Read | Maharashtra Assembly Elections Results 2024: PM Narendra Modi Calls CM Eknath Shinde, Congratulates on Mahayuti's Win.

In separate operations, BSF troops apprehended one Bangladeshi and one Indian from North Tripura district, the release added.

Further, the BSF also recovered huge quantities of Ganja and liquor from a house leading to the arrest of the owner. In addition in joint operation with Police BSF troops of BOP Salpokhar under Sepahijela district carried out search operations in Barkhola village and recovered huge quantities of Ganja and liquor from a house. The house owner was also arrested, the release said.

Earlier on November 17, two persons were arrested with 24 cartons of cannabis worth over Rs 35 lakh at the Agartala Railway Station, officials said.

According to police, the arrested individuals have been identified as Bittu Kumar (27), from Bihar's Begusarai and Ankul Kumar (23), from Bihar's Lakhisarai district.

The duo was nabbed under a joint operation conducted today by the Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) in Agartala.

The authorities arrested both of them at Platform No. 1 of Agartala Railway Station with a total of 298 kg of dry cannabis, which was being transported on a pushcart.

The cannabis was packed in 24 cartons, containing a total of 282 packets.

The two individuals reportedly intended to smuggle the cannabis to Bihar via the Deoghar Express train. The estimated market value of the seized cannabis is approximately Rs 35.76 lakh.

A case has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at Agartala GRP station. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Jaipur, Nov 23 (PTI) Counting of votes for bypolls on seven assembly seats in Rajasthan began on Saturday amid tight security arrangements.

The counting began at 8 am, an official of the election department said.

Also Read | Jharkhand Assembly Elections Results 2024: Counting of Votes for 81-Member Assembly Begins Amid Tight Security.

Polling was held on November 13 in Jhunjhunu, Ramgarh, Dausa, Deoli-Uniara, Khinvsar, Salumbar and Chaurasi and results will be declared after counting today.

The counting of postal ballot started first at 8 am. After this, counting of votes from EVM machines will start.

Also Read | results.eci.gov.in: Maharashtra, Jharkhand Election Result 2024 Live News Updates on Official Election Commission Website, Check Party-Wise and Constituency-Wise Assembly Elections Results.

Counting of EVM votes of Jhunjhunu and Salumbar assembly constituencies will be completed in 22 rounds each, Ramgarh in 21 rounds, Deoli-Uniara and Khinvsar assembly constituencies in 20 rounds each, Dausa and Chaurasi in 18 rounds each.

(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, November 23: A male police constable was stabbed to death during night patrolling in the Govindpuri area of South Delhi, said officials on Saturday. The deceased identified as Kiran Pal was posted at the Govindpuri Police Station.

According to Delhi police, "The body of the deceased was found in Govindpuri Gali no 13 with several stab wounds." Delhi Shocker: Man Kills Newborn Twin Daughters Over Male Child Preference, Buries Bodies in Sultanpuri; 5 Arrested.

Police Constable Stabbed to Death in Delhi

#WATCH | A Delhi Police Constable Kiran Pal, posted at Govindpuri Police Station stabbed to death in Delhi's Govindpuri area: Delhi Police (Visuals from the spot) pic.twitter.com/GuiOMe4HrJ  ANI (@ANI) November 23, 2024

Police said, "The senior officials have reached the spot of the incident and are investigating the incident. The stab wounds were found on leg and chest." More details are awaited.

(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 23 (PTI) A special CBI court in Bengaluru has sentenced two former managers of Syndicate Bank and another person to one to three years in jail in a Rs 12.63-crore bank fraud case, officials said here.

Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge and Special Judge for CBI Cases Mohan awarded the jail terms to former branch manager H M Swamy, former manager Vittal Das and private person Asadulla Khan with a total fine of Rs 52 lakh, they said.

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Swamy was sentenced to three years in jail with a fine of Rs 1.5 lakh, Vittal Das to one year in jail with a fine of Rs 50,000 and Asadulla Khan in three years in jail with a fine of Rs 50 lakh, a CBI spokesperson said.

"The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had registered the instant case on April 15, 2009 on a written complaint of the Chief Vigilance Officer, Syndicate Bank against accused...It was alleged that the accused indulged in fraudulent transactions in the sanction and disbursal of loans under the "Synd. Jai Kisan Loan and other credit facilities," the CBI spokesperson said in a statement.

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It said the accused grossly misused their authority and conspired among themselves, causing substantial financial loss to Syndicate Bank.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Baramulla (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], November 23 (ANI): Continuing its action against drug peddlers in Jammu and Kashmir, Baramulla Police attached multiple properties (double storied residential houses at Chowadhi Jammu and Trikanjan Boniyar, Tipper, Trailer, and a four-wheeler) worth Rs 1.72 Crore, said police in a statement on Saturday.

The properties belong to a notorious drug peddler Rafiq Ahmad Khan @ Rafi Rafa son of Gh Hassan resident of Trikanjan Boniyar, district Baramulla.

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The action was taken under sections 68-E read with 68-F (1) of NDPS Act of 1985 and is linked with case FIR nr 134/2016 u/s 8/21, 29 NDPS Act of PS Boniyar.

The properties were identified as illegally acquired during the course of an investigation conducted by police. The properties were acquired from the illicit trafficking of narcotics and psychotropic substances by the drug peddler.

Also Read | Wayanad Lok Sabha By-Election Result 2024: Congress-Led UDF Candidate Priyanka Gandhi in Lead in Early Trends, BJP's Navya Haridas Trailing.

Earlier on November 18 properties worth Rs 1.5 crore were attached by the Anantnag Police under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act as part of their ongoing campaign against drug peddlers in Jammu and Kashmir, said a police statement on Monday.

The Mattan Police Station attached a single-story residential house valued at Rs 80 lakh, belonging to Afroz Ahmad Bhat, son of Gh Hassan, of Azam Khan Mohalla, Khreibal.

Bhat, a habitual offender, has been involved in multiple NDPS cases for his role in the illegal narcotics trade, the police stated.

Srigufwara police station also attached three commercial shops valued at Rs 70 lakh, owned by Peer Asif Ahmad Shah and Peer Towseef Ahmad Shah, sons of Abdul Rashid Shah, residents of K Kalan, Srigufwara.

Both brothers are under investigation for their involvement in several NDPS cases.

The use of provisions under the NDPS Act to seize properties linked to criminal activities serves as a strong deterrent to those engaged in the illegal drug trade, police said. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Mumbai, November 23: As the Mahayuti alliance inches closer to a landslide victory in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, incumbent CM Eknath Shinde stated that, just as the alliance fought the elections together, they will collectively decide on the CM face once the final results are declared on Saturday. He also thanked his party workers and expressed gratitude to the voters.

The incumbent CM said, "Let the final results come in... Then, in the same way as we fought elections together, all three parties will sit together and take a decision (on who will be the CM)." "I thank the voters of Maharashtra. This is a landslide victory. I had said before that Mahayuti will get a thumping victory. I thank all sections of society and all the workers of the Mahayuti parties," he added. Maharashtra Assembly Elections Results 2024: Shiv Senas Milind Deora Leads, Aaditya Thackeray Trails in Worli Constituency.

Meanwhile, celebrations were seen at Shinde's residence in Thane, with bouquets arriving and Shiv Sena workers cheering outside. Shiv Sena MP and Shinde's son, Shrikant Shinde, were also seen celebrating with fellow party members. Speaking on the victory, Shrikant Shinde said, "As we had expected, we have got very good numbers. I thank all the voters who stood behind Mahayuti and gave this landslide victory."

The Mahayuti alliance is on its way to a landslide victory in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, crossing the crucial majority mark, winning one seat and leading in over 200 seats as of 1:00 PM. Sweets were also seen being brought to the residence of Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis. Meanwhile, the BJP's Mumbai office was abuzz with joy, with party workers bringing sweets in anticipation of a resounding victory. Speaking to ANI, BJP leader Vikas Pathak commented on the ECI trends.Maharashtra Assembly Election Results 2024: Shiv Sena Workers Burst Firecrackers Outside CM Eknath Shindes Residence in Mumbai As MahaYuti Alliance Heads for Landslide Victory (Watch Video).

He said, "We were expecting over 160 seats for Mahayuti, and that is exactly how it's shaping up. The lead could increase further. This year has been significant for BJP. On its strength, the BJP is crossing 100 seats, and a Mahayuti Chief Minister is set to take office."

Eknath Shinde Addresses Media

#WATCH | Mumbai | Mahayuti is set to form the govt in the state, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde says, "I thank all the workers of Mahayuti. PM Modi, Amit Shah bhai, Nadda ji - all supported us. They gave priority to Maharashtra. I am proud that I have been proven right about what I pic.twitter.com/0D7YrVnkOx  ANI (@ANI) November 23, 2024

He further noted the enthusiasm among party workers, saying, "At the moment, every party and its workers believe their party member should become the Chief Minister. Similarly, each worker of the BJP feels that the Chief Minister should be from their party. Sweets have arrived, however, the final celebrations will not happen until the conclusive results are out and our senior leaders arrive." Pathak added, "This has been the tradition. Leaders like Devendra Fadnavis and possibly Maharashtra BJP Chief Pawan Bawankule, if in Mumbai, will join the celebrations once results are confirmed."

Meanwhile, celebrations have also started in Baramati, where Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar is leading by 15,382 votes. Supporters were seen bursting crackers to mark the moment. At Devagiri, Nationalist Congress Party's National President and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Dada Pawar, National Working President MP Praful Patel, and State President MP Sunil Tatkare were also seen participating in the celebrations.

Reacting to the results, Congress leader Supriya Shrinate admitted, "Maharashtra election results are opposite to our (Congress') expectations. There is no doubt we could have done better. Our campaign was good, but maybe the public expects more from us, and we will deliver on their expectations."

In response to the results, Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut said, "This cannot be the decision of the people of Maharashtra. We know what the people of Maharashtra want..." His comments were met by criticism from the BJP, with party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla lashing out at the Aghadi alliance. "When anyone loses, they start making excuses for their defeat...In Maharashtra, we have worked for the poor, upliftment of women, and enhancing the heritage of farmers...Today, the government under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi is going to be formed in Maharashtra with a huge majority," he said. As the Sena-BJP-NCP celebrate, all eyes will now be on who will assume the post of CM of the state.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Photo: https://www.president.gov.ua/

The G-20 summit was held with very weak support from Ukraine, unfortunately, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva showed himself from a weak side, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

"Brazil is a big country, I know... that most people, they support Ukraine, I want to thank for this. Unfortunately, the G-20 was held with very weak support from Ukraine," Zelenskyy said during the 3rd International Conference on Food Security "Grain from Ukraine" on Saturday.
Pune, November 23: Former chief minister and senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan lost the Karad (South) assembly seat in western Maharashtra's Satara district by 39,355 votes.

According to the Election Commission, Chavan polled 1,00,150 votes against BJP candidate Dr Atulbaba Bhosale's 1,39,505 votes in the constituency considered a stronghold of Congress. Maharashtra Assembly Election Results 2024: People Voted in Favour of Development, Rejected Negative Politics, Says CM Eknath Shinde.

Chavan's loss is considered a severe jolt to Congress as he has been an MLA from the Karad (South) seat since 2014. The 78-year-old leader served as the chief minister from 2010 to 2014 and was a minister of state for various ministries during the UPA regime.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Ranchi, Nov 23 (PTI) Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Saturday expressed gratitude to people of the state for INDIA bloc's stellar performance in the assembly polls, asserting that it passed the exam of democracy.

The coalition comprising the JMM, Congress, RJD and CPIM(L) Liberation is headed for a decisive victory, having won 31 seats and leading in 24 others. Soren has already won from the Barhait seat by a margin of 39,791 votes, defeating BJP's Gamliyel Hembrom.

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We have passed the exam of democracy in Jharkhand; we will finalise our strategy after the election results, Soren said at a press conference here.

I express my gratitude to the people for this stupendous performance, he said.

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Soren also said Jharkhand is set to script Abua Raj, Abua Sarkar' (own state, own govt).

Meanwhile, AICC general secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir said Soren is the CM of Jharkhand and will continue to remain so.

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Shimla, Nov 23 (PTI) Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday said that the government is considering ranking the colleges of the state and a formula is also being prepared for it.

Presiding over a programme of the Alumni Association at Government Degree College in Sanjauli, he said that there are about 138 colleges in the state. He said, "We want to strengthen the facilities in the colleges and all other government educational institutions. The state government is emphasising providing quality education to the students and there is no dearth of funds for this work."

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He said that an arts block, girls hostel and parking will be built in the college complex in two years. He also announced Rs 50 lakh to the Alumni Association.

Many changes would be seen in the next budget where special emphasis would be laid on the field of education. He said that the previous governments looted the resources of the state but the present government is making efforts to provide the benefits to the people.

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Recalling the old days, the chief minister said, "I will always remember the time spent in this college. My media advisor Naresh Chauhan contested elections against me in college, but I won. All student organisations used to go on strike for their demands to strengthen the institution", he added.

He said that the students of Sanjauli College used to come on the merit list and many students passed the PMT examination from this college. He said that the students should stay away from drugs and the state government was taking strict action against the drug mafia.

Sukhu said that new courses would be started for the students to build on their skills and get better opportunities for employment and self-employment.

Justice Sandeep Sharma of Himachal Pradesh High Court said that it was good to meet his old college friends. He said that this institute has contributed significantly in giving a new direction to his career, for which he will always be indebted to the institute.

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New Delhi, Nov 23 (PTI) A woman allegedly strangled her fiver-year-old daughter to death in northwest Delhi to marry a man she met on Instagram, police said on Saturday.

Police said they received information from Deep Chand Bandhu Hospital on Friday about the child being brought dead to the hospital.

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Further enquiry revealed strangulation marks on the child's neck, they said.

A case was was registered immediately and the child's relatives including the mother was interrogated, Delhi Police said in a statement.

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After sustained interrogation, the mother broke down and revealed that she strangulated her daughter, the statement said.

During interrogation, the woman disclosed that her first husband abandoned her following which she came in contact with a man named, Rahul through Instagram. Later, she moved to Delhi with the intention of marrying him, it said.

However, Rahul and his family did not accept the child and hence he refused to marry. In frustration the mother strangled the child, it further stated.

The woman also revealed that before coming to Delhi, she was living with a relative in Himachal Pradesh where her child was sexually assaulted, the police said.

A case has been registered under sections 103 (punishment for murder), 65(2) (punishment for rape in certain cases) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and 6 (punishment for aggravated penetrative sexual assault) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act at Ashok Vihar police station, they said.

Further investigations are underway, they added.

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Chief of the Indian Army, General Upendra Dwivedi (Photo/Embassy of India in Kathmandu)

Kathmandu [Nepal], November 23 (ANI): Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, currently on a five-day official visit to Nepal, visited the revered Muktinath temple in Mustang on Saturday, a significant pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Buddhists, the Embassy of India in Kathmandu said in a statement.

Following the spiritual visit, General Dwivedi proceeded to the Nepali Army's Western Division Headquarters in Pokhara, where he was welcomed by the Division Commander, Major General Shantosh Ballave Poudyal.

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"General Upendra Dwivedi visited Pokhara and addressed a big Ex-servicemen Rally of Nepal Domiciled Gorkha Ex-servicemen in the sprawling lawns of PPO Pokhara. Gen Upendra Dwivedi and Mrs Sunita Dwivedi, President, AWWA (IA) interacted with and felicitated the gallantry awardees and Veer Naris present during the occasion," the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu said.

During his address, COAS lauded the bravery of the Gorkha Soldiers and saluted their courage and dedicated service to the nation.

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The Indian Army Chief arrived in Kathmandu on Wednesday on a five-day official visit. The five-member delegation, led by General Dwivedi, also includes Sunita Dwivedi, chairperson of the Army Wives Welfare Association of the Indian Army.

President Ramchandra Paudel had earlier on Thursday conferred the honorary rank of General of the Nepali Army on General Dwivedi as per the tradition of Nepal and India conferring army chiefs of each other's country with the honorary title.

The Indian army chief also called on Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Friday. General Dwivedi has been serving as the Indian Army Chief since June 30. (ANI)

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Oregon [US], November 23 (ANI): In the District of Oregon, Sanjay Kaushik, a 57-year-old Indian national, has been indicted for conspiring to unlawfully export aviation components with dual civilian and military applications to Russian entities, violating the Export Control Reform Act, according to a press release by the US Department of Justice.

The charges include attempting to illegally export a navigation and flight control system from Oregon to Russia via India and making false statements regarding the export. Kaushik was arrested in Miami, Florida, on October 17, following a criminal complaint and a warrant issued by the District of Oregon.

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Court documents reveal that Kaushik, along with co-conspirators, began plotting as early as March 2023--after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine--to procure aerospace goods and technology from the US under false pretences. They claimed the goods were intended for Kaushik's Indian company, but their actual destination was Russian end users.

In one instance, Kaushik and his associates acquired an Attitude Heading Reference System (AHRS), a critical component for aircraft navigation and flight control, from an Oregon supplier, the press release stated.

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Exporting such components to restricted countries, including Russia, requires a licence from the US Department of Commerce.

To obtain the licence, the conspirators falsely claimed that Kaushik's Indian company was the end user and that the AHRS would be used in a civilian helicopter. However, the component was intercepted before leaving the US.

If convicted, Kaushik faces severe penalties, including up to 20 years in prison and fines of USD 1 million per count. The final sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge, considering statutory factors and US Sentencing Guidelines.

The case was announced by Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department's National Security Division, Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod of the Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), and US Attorney Natalie K. Wight for the District of Oregon.

BIS Portland is leading the investigation, with the prosecution being handled by Assistant US Attorney Gregory R. Nyhus for the District of Oregon and Trial Attorneys Joshua E. Kurland and Dallas J. Kaplan from the National Security Division's Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, the press release stated.

This investigation is part of Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency task force established on March 2, 2022, to enforce sanctions, export controls, and economic measures imposed in response to Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

The task force employs the Justice Department's full range of tools to counter efforts aimed at undermining collective sanctions against Russian aggression. (ANI)

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Islamabad [Pakistan], November 23 (ANI): Two fresh charges have been imposed against incarcerated Prime Minister Imran Khan's wife Bushra Bibi, ARY News reported.

Days after she made a video statement, Bushra Bibi on the allegations of making inflammatory statements to incite hatred. The proceedings are being conducted under Section 126 of the Telegraph Act of 1885 and other relevant laws.

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Pakistan's Former First Lady accused Saudi Arabia of playing a part in the ouster of Imran Khan.

The case accuses Bushra Bibi of making 'provocative remarks intended to stir public emotions'. The charges claimed that the statement, made with intent and planning, targeted Saudi Arabia, as per ARY News.

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The first case, in Dera Ghazi Khan was filed on the complaint of a citizen named Ghulam Yaseen. The second case was filed in Rajanpur, by another citizen, Hakeem.

The PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has given clarification on the issue. Party's spokesperson Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif on Friday said that Bushra Bibi's statement was taken "out of context".

Saif's clarification came after the PTI members distanced themselves from Bushra Bibi's statement. He blamed the media for distorting her statement, and said, "Bushra Bibi did not level any allegation against Saudi Arabia or Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud."

Bushra alleged that when Imran Khan went to Madina "barefoot", the then-army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa started receiving "their calls".

The former first lady claimed that Bajwa was asked, "Who is this person you have brought with you [...] we don't want such personalities. Since then, they launched a smear campaign against us and started calling Imran a Jewish agent."

Slamming the incumbent government, Barrister Saif said: "The government wants to spoil the relationship between the PTI founder and the Saudi crown prince."

"Bushra Bibi's viewpoint is her own. She will clarify whether her statement was personal or intended to represent the party's stance," Geo News quoted him as saying.

Earlier on November 22, both Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief Minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz strongly condemned Bushra Bibi's remarks, accusing her of harming Pakistan's relations with, Saudi Arabia.

He criticized the "poisonous rhetoric" against Pakistan's allies, particularly Saudi Arabia, and warned of its potential repercussions.

Maryam Nawaz labelled the remarks as an attack on Pakistan's most trusted ally. Maryam Nawaz was staggered at how a "non-political individual" could harm Pakistan's foreign relations. (ANI)

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Islamabad, November 23: Police in Kurram district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan said that at least 15 people have been killed and at least 25 people injured in fresh sectarian clashes, two days after attack on passenger vehicles, local media reported on Saturday. Samaa TV reported that violence escalated in Lower Kurram as rival groups exchanged fire with heavy and automatic weapons.

In response to the deteriorating security situation, educational institutions across Kurram district have been closed for the day and authorities have urged residents to stay indoors as tensions remain high. The 'Dawn' news outlet cited police sources to report that clashes erupted when Bushehra tribesmen started establishing bunkers on the lands of Ahmadzai tribals. They said people of Central Kurram also started firing in Baleshkhel area with heavy and automatic weapons following the incident. Pakistan Shooting: 38 Killed, 11 Injured in Gun Attack on Passenger Vehicles in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Disturbing Video Surfaces.

The sources said one person was killed on Friday night and four died on Sunday while several others were injured in the fighting. More than 42 people were killed and 29 others injured when heavily-armed militants ambushed several vehicles carrying passengers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Kurram district on November 21, police and local officials were cited by The Nation.

The 'Dawn' publication in a report on November 22 cited Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsood as saying that a 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 Shia and Sunni Muslim tribes, as reported by the Dawn. Pakistan: Two Security Personnel Killed in Recent Terror Attacks in Balochistan.

According to police, the attack occurred in Ochat area of Lower Kurram. The militants hiding in mountains targeted the vehicles with automatic weapons, the Nation reported. 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. Previously in July this year, deadly clashes sparked over a 'land dispute' between two tribes in the Kurram district ended after six days of deadly warfare.

Kurram Deputy Commissioner said security forces personnel have been deployed in the area. According to the police, Parachinar, Peshawar highway is closed to all traffic for the seventh day due to which farmers, travelers, and traders are facing difficulties. Heavy police and security deployment ensured in the troubled area while normal life has come to a standstill due to the tense situation.

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London [UK], November 23 (ANI): A delegation from the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (TPiE), led by Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel and accompanied by parliamentarian Dawa Tsering, continued their official visit to the United Kingdom where they engaged with key political leaders, including the Speaker of the House of Commons, Members of Parliament (MPs), and prominent figures from the House of Lords, an official statement said.

The meetings provided the delegation with valuable insights into the UK's legislative processes, including how ideas evolve into political party policies, the navigation of these policies through the House of Lords, and the steps required to pass legislation, as per the statement.

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However, the central focus of the discussions was the escalating human rights violations in Tibet, particularly those perpetuated by China.

During their engagements, Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel drew attention to the dire and ongoing repression faced by Tibetans under Chinese rule.

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He highlighted the Chinese government's increasingly aggressive assimilation policies, which have led to systematic attempts to erode Tibetan culture, religion, and identity. Speaker Tenphel raised alarm over the forced boarding school policy, where Tibetan children are separated from their families and indoctrinated in Chinese state ideology.

He also emphasized the disturbing mass DNA collection program, which is being used to track and control the Tibetan population, along with the deliberate closure of Tibetan schools and the destruction of monasteries actions that are not only an assault on Tibet's cultural heritage but also a violation of basic human rights, as per the statement.

The delegation also met with Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, who reiterated the importance of resuming dialogue with China to address the Sino-Tibet issue. Speaker Tenphel, however, urged the UK to adopt a stronger stance by supporting policies like the US Resolve Tibet Act, which calls for concrete actions to support Tibet's political and cultural autonomy, the statement added.

As per the statement, in these discussions, the delegation underscored the critical need for the international community to hold China accountable for its oppressive policies in Tibet. They also highlighted the shared responsibility of global parliaments, including the UK, to actively address human rights abuses, and to work towards ensuring that Tibetans are not silenced or erased in the face of these relentless assaults on their culture and freedom.

Today, the Tibet-China issue remains unresolved. While the Chinese government maintains strict control over Tibet, Tibetans in exile continue to advocate for their rights, including through the work of the CTA, which functions as the Tibetan government-in-exile. Despite international pressure, the Chinese government continues to reject any form of independence or autonomy for Tibet. (ANI)

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Patna, November 23: The ruling NDA in Bihar on Saturday swept the bypolls to four assembly segments, retaining Imamganj and wresting from the INDIA bloc Tarari, Ramgarh and Belaganj, receiving a boost ahead of the assembly elections due next year. Candidates of the Jan Suraaj, floated recently by former political strategist Prashant Kishor with much fanfare, lost deposits in all but one seat, in a clear indication that the fledgling party, despite claims of taking the political landscape in the state by storm, needs to cover much ground.

The biggest setback for the INDIA bloc, helmed by the RJD, came in Belaganj, a seat the party had been winning since its inception in the 1990s, but this time lost to the JD(U) headed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the arch-rival of its founding president Lalu Prasad. The JD(U) candidate Manorama Devi, a former MLC, defeated by a margin of more than 21,000 votes RJD's Vishwanath Kumar Singh who made his debut from a seat that fell vacant upon election to Lok Sabha of his father Surendra Prasad Yadav, a multiple term MLA. Bihar By-Election Results 2024: NDA Establishes Lead in All 4 Assembly Constituencies As Counting of Votes Underway.

The margin of victory was greater than the 17,285 votes polled by Mohd Amjad of Jan Suraaj, whom the RJD may have liked to blame for its defeat by causing a split in Muslim votes. JD(U) national spokesman Rajiv Ranjan Prasad said, "The people of Bihar deserve kudos for rejecting the negativity of the opposition and reposing their trust in Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Under his leadership, the NDA will win more than 200 seats of the 243-strong assembly in 2025."

The RJD also suffered an embarrassing defeat in Ramgarh, where Prashant Kishor's prediction of the party finishing third or fourth came true. The forecast had caused Sudhakar Singh, son of state RJD president Jagadanand Singh, the MP from Buxar who had won the assembly seat in 2020, to threaten that Jan Suraaj cadres in the constituency will be beaten up with sticks. Singh's younger brother Ajit finished a distant third after BJP winner Ashok Kumar Singh, a former MLA, and Satish Kumar Singh Yadav who fought on a ticket of the BSP, which has little foothold in Bihar.

Jan Suraaj, though, was hardly a factor in Ramgarh, where its candidate Sushil Kumar Singh polled less than four per cent votes. The BJP also pulled off a stunning victory in Tarari, which falls under the Arrah Lok Sabha seat, currently represented by CPI(ML)'s Sudama Prasad, who had won the assembly segment for two consecutive terms. CPI(ML) candidate Raju Yadav lost, by a margin of a little over 10,000 votes, to BJP debutant Vishal Prashant, better known as the son of local strongman Sunil Pandey, who was formerly with the JD(U) and had joined the saffron party a few months ago. Imamganj Assembly By-Election Result 2024: Deepa Kumari, Daughter-in-Law of Jitan Ram Manjhi, Wins Bypoll in Bihar.

Jan Suraaj had initially announced that it was fielding a former Vice Chief of the Army in Tarari but later disclosed that he could not contest because of technical reasons. Its candidate Kiran Singh got less than four per cent votes. The most respectable performance from Jan Suraaj came in the reserved Imamganj seat where its candidate Jitendra Paswan stood third, polling well over 20 per cent votes. The seat, however, went to Deepa Kumari, daughter-in-law of Union minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, who defeated RJD's Raushan Kumar by a slender margin of less than 6,000 votes.

Manjhi, who heads the Hindustani Awam Morcha, vacated Imamganj earlier this year upon getting elected to Lok Sabha from Gaya. With the exception of Ashok Singh in Ramgarh, the winners in all the seats shall be making their debut in the state assembly.
Photo: https://www.president.gov.ua/

Ukraine has every chance of ending the war next year, it is necessary to hear new proposals from the new U.S. president on a plan to end the war, this will probably happen in January, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

"We are open, I will say it again, and by the way, to the leaders of African countries, and Asia, and Arab states We are ready to see their proposals. I also want to see proposals from the new president of the United States of America. I think that we will see these proposals already in January. And I think that we will have a plan to end this war," Zelenskyy said during the 3rd International Conference on Food Security "Grain from Ukraine" on Saturday.
Ranchi, November 23: The counting of votes for all 81 assembly seats in Jharkhand began at 8 a.m. on Saturday. By 5 p.m, the state will know which party or alliance will form the next government. Trends are expected to start emerging from 9:30 a.m. The process started with the opening of strongroom locks in the presence of election returning officers, special observers from the Election Commission, and representatives of the candidates.

The EVM and postal ballot boxes were transferred to counting tables at 7:30 a.m. under tight security and videographic surveillance. CCTV cameras have been installed at all counting centers to ensure transparency. A minimum of 41 seats is required to form a government in the state. In 2019, the JMM-Congress-RJD alliance, led by Hemant Soren, secured 47 seats to form the government. This year, the battle is between the NDA and INDIA bloc. Of the NDA, BJP contested 68 seats, AJSU Party10, JD(U) 2 and LJP (R) 1 seat. Assembly Elections Results 2024: Counting to 288 Assembly Seats in Maharashtra To Begin Soon, Verdict on Jharkhand, Bypolls To Come Out Today.

From the INDIA bloc, JMM contested 43 seats, Congress 30, RJD 6, and CPI (ML) 4 seats. There are also friendly fights between alliance partners on seats like Bishrampur, Chhatarpur, and Dhanwar. The fate of 1,211 candidates will be decided on Saturday, including prominent figures such as Chief Minister Hemant Soren (Barhait), Former CM Champai Soren (Saraikela), state BJP president and former CM Babulal Marandi (Rajdhanwar), Leader of Opposition Amar Kumar Bauri (Chandankiyari), Assembly Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato (Nala), JMMs star campaigner Kalpana Soren (Gandey) and AJSU Party chief Sudesh Mahto (Silli).

Several ministers in Hemant Soren's government, along with notable political family members like Meera Munda (wife of ex-CM Arjun Munda), Geeta Koda (wife of ex-CM Madhu Koda), and Hemant Sorens relatives Basant and Sita Soren, are also in the fray. State Chief Electoral Officer K. Ravi Kumar said that counting rounds will vary across constituencies, with a minimum of 13 rounds in Torpa and Littipara, and a maximum of 27 rounds in Chatra. Although, the official deadline for completing the election process is November 25, efforts are being made to conclude all formalities by November 24. Maharashtra Assembly Elections Results 2024: Shiv Sena Candidate Shaina NC Visits Siddhivinayak Temple To Offer Prayers Ahead of Vote Counting in Mumbai (Watch Video).

The state conducted polling in two phases, on November 13 and 20, with a voter turnout of 67.74 per cent. This figure excludes postal ballots. A total of 1,76,81,007 voters participated, with women voters outnumbering men by 5,51,797.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 23, 2024 08:22 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Raipur, November 23: The BJP retained its hold on the Raipur City South assembly seat on Saturday with its candidate Sunil Kumar Soni defeating his nearest rival, Akash Sharma of the Congress, by 46,167 votes.

It was believed that Congress might make its presence felt in this seat this time, as BJP strongman Brijmohan Agrawal was not in the fray, but the grand old party struggled to make inroads. Not a Wave, but a Tsunami: Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray on Maharashtra Assembly Election Results 2024.

Soni polled 89,220 votes against Sharma's 43,053 votes. "It was believed to be the Congress's best chance to breach this BJP's fortress in the absence of Agrawal from the fray. Political experts had predicted that it will be a neck-to-neck fight between the two parties in this seat, and even if the BJP wins, the victory margin will be low," political analyst R Krishna Das told PTI.

However, the results have shown that the BJP's strategy to bank on Agrawal's popularity among voters in Raipur South worked. Agrawal had extensively campaigned for Soni in the bypoll, and announced in gatherings that it was him and not Soni who was contesting the bypoll, he said. UP By-Election Results 2024: CM Yogi Adityanath Credits PM Narendra Modi for BJPs Win in Uttar Pradesh, Says INDIA Blocs Loot and Lies Politics Coming To End.

Das attributed Congress's loss to poor ground presence in Raipur south, fielding a low-profile candidate who was not a known face in the constituency, and biggest of all, the inclination of people towards Hindutva and the saffron party.

The bypoll held in the constituency, located in Raipur district, on November 13 saw a voter turnout of 50.5 per cent. With this victory, the BJP's in the 90-member Chhattisgarh assembly remained unchanged at 54. The current strength of Congress in the House is 35, and the Gondwana Gantantra Party has one MLA.

The BJP has never lost Raipur City South, an urban constituency that came into existence in 2008. Agrawal has been winning from the area for three decades. The eight-term legislator has been unbeaten since 1990 in the assembly polls. He nurtured his constituency well, staying in constant touch with his voters and willing to help in times of crisis.

The Congress's candidate, Kanhaiya Agrawal, a low-profile leader, gave a tough fight in the 2018 assembly polls and bagged 60,093 votes against Brijmohan, who got 77,589 votes but could not breach the fortress.

In the 2023 assembly election, Agrawal bagged 1,09,263 votes in the Raipur City South seat and won by the highest margin of 67,719 votes against his nearest rival from the Congress. The BJP later fielded Agrawal in the Lok Sabha polls, and he was elected as an MP for the first time.

Soni, then sitting MP, was denied a ticket for Lok Sabha polls. According to political experts, Soni was fielded from the seat for the bypoll because of his closeness to Agrawal. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said the people of Raipur South have put their stamp of approval for the works done by his government in the last 11 months.

"The people of Raipur South have expressed their faith in the BJP and Modi ji's guarantee. Our government has tried to fulfil Modi's guarantee in the last 10-11 months. Whether it is giving Rs 1,000 per month to mothers and sisters under the Mahtari Vandan Yojana, a paddy bonus to farmers, or Ramlala Darshan Yojana, the work our government has done in the last 10-11 months, the people of Raipur South have put their stamp of approval on them, he said.

The Congress said the bypoll result was not to its expectation, but it has accepted the people's mandate. "The result of the by-election was not as per the party's expectations, but leaders and workers fought the polls unitedly," said Sushil Anand Shukla, head of the state Congress communication wing.

"The Congress has never won Raipur City South assembly seat. In the last assembly election, it lost the seat by the highest number of votes. The result of by-elections usually comes in favour of the ruling party," he said, pointing out that when the party was in power in the state (2018-2023), it won five bypolls.
After the first two rounds of counting for the bypolls in West Bengal on Saturday, the Trinamool Congress was leading in all six constituencies.
LEMONS HELP WITH A CHARRED POT

Dear Heloise: I had about 25 pounds of potatoes that I had to turn into potato salad. I boiled as many potatoes as I could in my 8-1/2-quart aluminum pot, and the potatoes turned the inside of my pot black. After two tries and a half hour of scrubbing that pot, I decided to quarter a lemon and throw the four pieces in the pot with the potatoes.

I was amazed. The potatoes got cooked, and my pot was like new! No black pot and no scrubbing! And no, the potatoes didnt taste like lemon! -- M.B., via email

GETTING THE LAST BIT OUT

Dear Heloise: When you squeeze all the toothpaste you can out of the tube, there is still plenty left in there. Just squeeze the tube flat and cut the empty part off. Use a pill bottle cap to cover the opening.

On lotion tubes, cut it in half and slide the bottom into the top. -- Terry W. Ford, via email

NOTEPAD HINT

Dear Heloise: We also get a lot of requests for donations that include greeting cards, Christmas cards, notepads, socks, little decorations, calendars and bags. Unfortunately, we cant give to everybody, and I dont feel comfortable using the gifts if I dont donate. (And how many calendars do you need?)

So, I hold onto them until I have a few, then I donate them to nursing homes in the area for their residents. The residents dont go out shopping much, and having little things like these would be useful for them. -- Tracy, in Connecticut

ABDUCTED CHILDREN

Dear Heloise: When I read a letter in your column about a family wearing the same shirts to find lost kids, it reminded me of a former co-workers instruction to his young children: If they were ever abducted, they were to continually repeat, This is not my mother! or This is not my father! -- Annie Fugler, Denham Springs, Louisiana

SPIDER REPELLANT

Dear Heloise: Peppermint oil spray (diluted with water) repels spiders. I had spiders in my garage for over 30 years until a neighbor gave me some to spray inside of it. I havent had spiders in years now! -- L. Haydel, via email

PET PAL

Dear Heloise: Noel is a rescue dog that was found running along Interstate 95 the day before Christmas 2015. Right after Christmas, she was taken to the vet, had all her shots, and was fixed. She weighed about 7 pounds at that time.

After my wife died a year and a half ago, I had her registered as a support dog, which has been extremely important for me. Shes brilliant. She never causes a mess in the house. We figure her to be about 8 years old at this time. I thought Id send this to you, as you had asked if anybody had a pet to send in. -- Vilas, in Fort Pierce, Florida

NoelHeloise

Readers, to see Noel and our other Pet Pals, go to Heloise.com and click on Pet of the Week.

Do you have a furry friend to share with our readers? Send a photo and a brief description to Heloise@Heloise.com. -- Heloise

SEND A GREAT HINT TO: Heloise@Heloise.com

(c) 2024 by King Features Syndicate Inc.
Autumn snow Thursday into Friday made for treacherous travel north and northwest of the Lehigh Valley, with two fatal crashes in the Pocono Mountains suspected to be related to the weather.

For Pennsylvania hunters heading out for the start of firearms season for black bear on Saturday, the snow could make it all the better to spot game moving through the woods.

Snowfall reports into the National Weather Service include 11.5 inches as of Friday morning at Pocono Mountains Municipal Airport and 9.4 inches at Mount Pocono, both in Monroe County, and 9.5 inches at Lake Harmony in Carbon County.

Lehigh Valley snow reports were limited to a trace amount at Lehigh Valley International Airport and 0.3 of an inch in Salisbury Township, while parts of northwestern New Jersey saw as much as 20 inches at High Point in Sussex County.

Pennsylvanias firearms bear season continues Sunday through Tuesday. After Thanksgiving, the firearms season for white-tailed deer then opens Saturday, Nov. 30.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation reminds those hitting the road in snowy areas to remove accumulated ice or snow from their vehicle, including the hood, trunk, and roof within 24 hours after the storm has ended. This applies to all vehicles, including commercial vehicles. Drivers in violation of the law are subject to a fine of $50. Additionally, motorists can be cited up to $1,500 if snow or ice is dislodged and strikes another vehicle or pedestrian causing death or serious injury.

PennDOT also suggests motorists prepare for potential wintry weather by ensuring they have supplies in their cars before heading out: food, water, blankets, extra gloves and hats, cellphone charger, hand or foot warmers, windshield brush and scraper, and any specialized items like medications or baby and pet supplies.

Drivers are also encouraged to give plenty of space around plow trucks. Additional tips for winter driving can be found at pa.gov.

For hunting and other outdoor recreation, the National Park Service has tips for winter safety at nps.gov that include:

Have the right gear with these 10 essentials. That includes wearing layers to stay warm as the temperature drops; considering over the shoe traction devices to prevent slipping; using sunglasses to protect your eyes from snow blindness; and packing an emergency locator device, such as an avalanche transceiver, and an emergency blanket in case you get delayed by bad weather.

Recognize and know how to respond to cold-related illness. Warning signs of hypothermia include confusion, shivering, difficulty speaking and stiff muscles. Frostbite can cause a loss of feeling and color in the areas it affects, usually extremities, and severe cases can lead to amputation.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.
The meeting with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump depends on many things, in particular, on the legitimacy of its holding, preparatory meetings are possible before the inauguration, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

"I don't know when the meetings will be, I don't have data, the teams are working. It depends on many things, it depends not only on the schedules, it depends on the legitimacy of holding the relevant meetings. If we want meetings where some issues are decided, then probably these should be relevant, and these legislative opportunities will take place after the inauguration. If we have any preparatory meetings, they could be before the inauguration," Zelenskyy said, answering a question from Interfax-Ukraine during the 3rd International Conference on Food Security "Grain from Ukraine" on Saturday.
A Staffordshire Bull Terrier broke free from its lead and bit a woman in Mountmellick.

Niamh Kavanagh (24) of 3 Church View Apartments, Ash Grove, Mountmellick admitted not having control of a dog and having an unmuzzled dog at an estate in Mountmellick on May 4, 2023.

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the dog bit a woman who was left with a minor cut on her arm. He said the dog was a Staffordshire Bull Terrier and the defendant, who had never been in trouble before, had been very forthcoming and co-operative.

Solicitor Barry Fitzgerald said his client was eight months pregnant at the time and the dog moved quickly and broke free of the lead. He described it as an unfortunate incident and said his client had the dog put down.

It wasnt easy in circumstances where she had a bond built up, Mr Fitzgerald explained.

Judge Susan Fay said it wasnt easy on the person who got bitten.

Mr Fitzgerald produced a letter from the vets and said in cases involving dogs the most serious punishment can be putting the dog down. He said his client, who worked part time as a waitress, was apologetic.

Judge Fay said it was nasty enough and she said the dog could have gone to a childs buggy.

She acknowledged that the defendant hadnt set out to lose control of the dog but said the woman should have foreseen the possibility of it breaking free. She also noted that the breed of dog should have been muzzled.

That woman had to go to a doctor, said Judge Fay.

I offered to bring her to a doctor, the defendant said.

If that dog had a muzzle it wouldnt have happened, Judge Fay said.

Judge Fay noted the injured party had said her arm was sore and stinging after the incident.

Mr Fitzgerald said there didnt appear to be any longterm damage as a result of the bite.

Judge Fay said that woman might be afraid to go for a walk now.

She adjourned the case back to Portlaoise District Court on April 7 for the payment of 500 in compensation. She said if that was done she would strike the matter out. If it wasnt done she said she would convict and fine the woman 1,000.
Laois farmers are backed by Taoiseach Simon Harris in their opposition to the Mercosur trade deal, he stated this week in Laois.

Speaking at the MDA business hub in Mountmellick which he toured with the only Fine Gael election candidate, Cllr Willie Aird from Portlaoise, the Taoiseach told the Leinster Express / Laois Live he is supporting them but wants their votes in return.

I have their back. Willie Aird knows what its like to be a farmer. Theres a lot of scaremongering going on because theres an election going on and misinformation.

I want to be very clear to the farmers of Laois. I do not support Mercosur in its current form. Free trade deals have been good for farmers, look at the Japanese deal as an example. 90% of the food we produce in this country we export. So trade is a good thing.

But what is not a good thing, is where Irish farmers are held to a higher standard., where Irish farmers are expected to meet environmental standards. Thats why Im working with President Macron and the Chancellor of Austria and other like-minded countries to continue to say Mercusor in its current form cannot happen.

Also though Id say to farmers is this, whoever is elected to Government over the next couple of years, theres going to be some massive decisions to be made around Irish farming and a lot of them are going to be made at a European level.

Who you elect to represent you in Government and to lead it, will matter. There is a new Common Agricultural Policy due in 2027, a new multi-annual financial framework for the EU and keeping the nitrates derogation absolutely must have to happen.

So I respectively ask the people of Laois and the farmers of Laois to lend their number one vote to Fine Gael, to Willie Aird because I want to be back as Taoiseach. We are in the EPP, the largest party in the European Parliament, the European Council and the European Commission, I will have farmers back around that European table.

Now is not the time to send somebody over there as Taoiseach who really hasnt been tested when it comes to standing up for farmers," Taoiseach Simon Harris said.

During his visit he also addressed the urgent concerns of Laois parents who cannot find school places for their special needs children.

The Taoiseach also gave his commitment in relation to the long awaited Mountmellick bypass.

The European Union and South American Mercosur states  Argentina, Brazil Paraguay and Uruguay have an ongoing multi-billion trade deal which includes importing cheap SA beef to Europe. It is currently under renegotiation.
The decision to end a bus service in Laois because of declining passenger numbers has been described as 'deeply disappointing' by a general election candidate.



Independent Elaine Mullally has called for the Reinstatement of PortarlingtonKildare Village Bus Service which is due to cease operation on November 30.



The Route 816 Portarlington Connector travels between Portarlington  Monasterevin  Kildare. The Big Green Bus, operated by Dublin Coach, provides 16 services Monday to Sunday on the Route. .



The company said: "As a result of declining passenger numbers, Route 816 continues to be uneconomic to operate. It is with regret that we wish to confirm we will be discontinuing this service effective from November 30th 2024."



Mullally said the announcement has sparked concern among local residents, particularly those who depend on the route to travel to work in Kildare Village and Kildare Town.



The Portarlington native criticised the decision, describing it as deeply disappointing at a time when public transport is being promoted as a sustainable alternative to car travel.



This cancellation could leave some workers unable to commute, potentially costing them their jobs, she said. It also sends the wrong message about supporting public transport and reducing car dependency.



Mullally acknowledged that declining passenger numbers may have contributed to the decision but claimed that this decline "is partly due to ongoing reliability issues and the condition of some older buses".



If Dublin Coach improved the reliability of the service and invested in better buses, passenger numbers would likely increase, she said.



The Independent candidate has called for the route to be reinstated immediately and pledged to actively promote the service within the local community if it is restored. She has also appealed to Dublin Coach to extend the service at least until January, to give affected passengers time to arrange alternative transport or find new employment.



Pulling the plug on this service just before the busy Christmas period is particularly harsh, Mullally said. If the service cannot be maintained long-term, Dublin Coach should at least give passengers a reasonable transition period.



Mullally concluded by urging Dublin Coach to prioritise the needs of the local community and work towards a solution that balances passenger needs with operational sustainability.
An Garda Siochana is advising online shoppers around Ireland to "be cautious" and protect themselves against fruadulent sales this Black Friday.

"Pay attention to your own instincts  If you have any doubts about giving out your card details, end the transaction and purchase your goods elsewhere," said Sergeant Catriona Holohan, Crime Prevention Officer at Ennis garda station in county Clare.

Use secure websites

Make sure the website you are on is real  not cloned or fake and your internet access is secure.

There should be an "https" at the beginning of the web address and a padlock symbol displayed beside the URL before the purchase is made - this indicates a secure connection.

Dont enter into off site communication for a lower cash price, and never purchase through social media or where the offer came to you via social media.

Independently visit the website of the online sales company as opposed to clicking on social media or pop-up adverts, and check for poor English and spelling / grammar mistakes.

Know the websites policy on refunds and know your consumer rights

Where selling platforms offer an official, safe way of paying, use this rather than sending money directly to a third party  otherwise Use an online payment option such as PayPal, which helps to protect you.

Check their payment methods, which should be credit cards. Never transfer money direct or pay cash.

Read the Terms and Conditions

Ensure you are fully aware of any payment commitments you are entering into, including whether you are instructing a single payment or a series of recurring payments.

Be particularly careful to read the terms and conditions when signing up for a free trial that requests your credit or debit card details.

Paid subscriptions can automatically kick-in at the end of the free trial so check for any cancellation policy.

Keep your computer and security up to date

Install a reliable antivirus and browser security software. Ensure it has the latest updates and that it scans your computer regularly to check for malware.

Make sure your browser is set to the highest level of security notification and monitoring. These safety options are not always activated by default when you purchase and install your computer.

Do not under any circumstances use public Wi-Fi when making payments - switch to 3G/4G on your phone if necessary.

"Always keep a record of your purchase, print or save a copy of your order," Sergeant Holohan advised.

"Be cautious about emails claiming outrageous offers or online ads offering miracle products."
Woodies Carrick on Shannon recently raised 5,625 for charity with help from customers, colleagues, and suppliers.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Woodies annual charity fundraiser, Woodie's Heroes, which has become a vital part of the community efforts by its stores in Leitrim and nationwide.

The significant 10-year milestone was marked by Woodie's CEO Damien Dwyer announcing that this year's Woodie's Heroes campaign raised an impressive 563,134 nationwide. This brings the total funds raised by Woodies Heroes over the past decade to an astounding 4,100,786.

Since Woodie's Heroes was established in 2015, Woodie's colleagues have nominated their chosen children's charities to benefit from the fundraiser, with 100 per cent of all funds raised divided equally among them. This year's benefiting charities were Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland, Childrens Health Foundation, Childline by ISPCC, and Down Syndrome Ireland.

Damien Dwyer, CEO of Woodie's, said: "As we celebrate 10 years of Woodies Heroes, Im overwhelmed by what weve accomplished together in Leitrim and nationwide. This initiative started in response to our colleagues who genuinely wanted to help the communities we serve, and it has become such an important part of who we are at Woodie's, bringing pride and camaraderie to our 35 stores.

Our colleagues are the heart of Woodies Heroes. They choose the children's charities we support, lead the efforts in-store, and bring incredible energy to everything we do. It's organic, it's genuine, and it creates a buzz across our stores and support office. Raising over 4.1 million in 10 years is an amazing achievement, and I couldnt be prouder.

Meeting the families and children supported by our charities and seeing first-hand the impact, from speech therapy to assistance dogs, shows the true difference were making together. Woodies Heroes is part of what makes us who we are, and it strengthens our bond with the communities around us. We look forward to continuing this journey in the years ahead."

READ MORE: High-speed internet coming to 1,400 Leitrim homes, farms, and businesses
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.
SHARC Energy Announces Issuance of Shares for Debt





VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SHARC International Systems Inc. (CSE: SHRC) (FSE: IWIA) (OTCQB: INTWF) ("SHARC Energy" or the "Company") announces that further to its news release dated November 7, 2024, the Company has completed the issuance of 431,818 common shares (the "Shares") in satisfaction of $47,500 of bona fide debt to an arm's length party (the "Shares for Debt").

The securities issued pursuant to the Shares for Debt are subject to a statutory hold period of four (4) months plus one (1) day from the issue date of the Shares in accordance with applicable securities legislation.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States or to any "U.S. Person" (as such term is defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act")) of any equity or other securities of the Company. The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act or under any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to a U.S. Person absent registration under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws or an applicable exemption therefrom. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of U.S. securities laws.

About SHARC Energy

SHARC International Systems Inc. is a world leader in energy recovery from the wastewater we send down the drain every day. SHARC Energy's systems exchange thermal energy with wastewater, generating one of the most energy-efficient and economical systems for heating, cooling & hot water production for commercial, residential and industrial buildings along with thermal energy networks, commonly referred to as "District Energy".

SHARC Energy is publicly traded in Canada ( CSE: SHRC ), the United States ( OTCQB: INTWF ) and Germany ( Frankfurt: IWIA ) and you can find out more on our SEDAR profile.

Learn more about SHARC Energy: Website | Investor Page | LinkedIn | YouTube | PIRANHA | SHARC

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Lynn Mueller

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

For investor inquiries, please contact:

Hanspaul Pannu Chief Financial & Operating Officer SHARC Energy

Telephone: (604) 475-7710 ext. 4

Email: [email protected] For media inquiries, please contact:

Mike Tanyi

Director of Marketing & IT SHARC Energy Telephone: 778-846-5406

Email: [email protected]

The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forward-looking information (within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation), including, without limitation, statements related to the future developments and the business and operations of the Company. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified using words such as "anticipate", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "intend", "should", and similar expressions. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. SHARC Energy's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information because of regulatory decisions, competitive factors in the industries in which the Company operates, prevailing economic conditions, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. SHARC Energy believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. Any forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities legislation.

22 november 2024 at 18:45

News published onand distributed by:
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 23. The United States must stop shirking its commitments under the climate agreement, Director of the International Forum on Globalization Victor Menotti said, Trend reports.

"Now the United States is trying to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, cancel its financial obligations and legal responsibility to the world for fulfilling its promises regarding emissions, as well as providing financial resources and technologies to developing countries," he said.

He voiced a demand for American negotiators to stop shirking their commitments.

"Some of our American negotiators have been working in this area for 30 years, and we need them to stop shirking their commitments and start paying their fair share. So we demand from them: either pay or keep quiet," he added.
TWO Mary Immaculate College students have received prestigious Camogie 120 Teacher Education Bursaries valued at 20,000 each.

The First Year Bachelor of Education students that received the bursaries are Cliodhna Queally, from Clare who plays for Inagh Kilnamona and Niamh Hally, from Waterford, who plays for St Annes Camogie Club. The Limerick college students were among seven first year students from a number of HEIs to receive the awards at Croke Park last week.

These bursaries were launched by the Minister of State for Sport, Physical Education and the Gaeltacht, Thomas Byrne on Saturday 16 November and are designed to support the awardees, allowing them to remain engaged with camogie in their clubs and teams during the course of their studies to be primary school teachers. They not only recognise camogie players but mentors, referees and administrators.

The bursaries were generously supported by Dr Carmel Naughton, who is an MIC Alumna and the inaugural recipient of MICs Alumna of the Year award in 2017presented to her in recognition of her outstanding contribution to society.

President of MIC, Professor Dermot Nestor, attended the event, meeting with Cliodhna and the Queally family and Niamhs mother, who was present on her behalf as she was playing in a club final on the day. He emphasised that it was a great honour for the College.

My heartfelt congratulations to Cliodhna and Niamh, who were both presented with scholarships that will see them receive a bursary worth 5,000 per annum for the duration of their four-year programme. Sincere thanks to Dr Carmel Naughton and the Naughton Foundation for their generous sponsorship of these awards. I look forward to seeing Cliodhna and Niamh compete on the pitch in Croke Park on many more occasions!

Speaking at the presentation, Carmel Naughton said: Friends often say Carmel, why camogie? I am surprised that they dont understand that down through the centuries, the sliotar and hurl have been such an important part of our national heritage. Yes, I do appreciate this new world of cultural diversity and how important that is for Ireland, but we must also treasure and hold fast to the traditions that make us unique in Europe and the World.

Brian Molloy, Uachtaran of the Camogie Association, added: The Camogie Association is absolutely delighted to partner with Carmel Naughton in this extremely generous initiative marking our 120th anniversary this year. The Camogie 120 Teacher Education Bursaries provide student teachers with vital financial support when they are balancing their commitments to their studies with their continued involvement in the camogie community. I wish the recipients the very best with their studies and continued success on and off the Camogie pitch over the coming years.

Cliodhna and Niamh will be further honoured later this month at the MIC College Awards Ceremony.
FROM A very early age, play is important in the development of the brain. It supports the development of attention, concentration, motor skills, social skills and language. Play also helps children to build their resilience which allows for a more secure view of themselves and the world.

Play is a key feature in helping children learn about emotions as well as how to manage them. Despite the research that confirms for us the crucial role of play in child development, in todays technology-led world, play is unfortunately being regularly swapped out for screens and devices.

There are different types of play, these include; physical, social, constructive, fantasy, games with rules. Physical play is important for movement, balance, as well as staying healthy and active. Social play promotes development of social skills such as sharing, taking turns and developing language skills.

Constructive play helps children with their cognitive development with use of maths, shapes, distance and sizes as children build, create and explore. Fantasy play promotes use of imagination and is good for communication skills, social and emotional development, perspective taking, as well as an understanding of how the world works. Play or games with rules help children develop socio-emotional skills. This means children learn to negotiate, cooperate, resolve conflicts, win and lose, and learn about fairness and justice.

Children today have far greater access to and use of technology and devices than ever before. Children younger than two years old are regularly accessing screens. Screen use in children includes television, tablet, smartphone, desktop or laptop, and gaming devices. This increased use of screens reduces childrens exposure to vital areas of play such as outdoor/physical play, imaginative/pretend play, and in person social interactions. As highlighted previously these areas of play are essential for numerous areas of child development and various skills needed throughout life.

READ MORE: Boston-based CEO returns to his native Limerick and former school to honour students

With all this said, controlled and limited screen use has a place, and can actually aid in play, particularly with older children. Some apps and games that challenge children in a developmentally appropriate way can promote learning and critical thinking skills in children.

Playing some games on devices can help with fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. For children who find in-person socialising a challenging and demanding experience, technology can offer an alternative platform for interaction, where there otherwise may not be any. Bear in mind, socialising via devices should always be carefully monitored by adults to ensure safety.

For many parents, the challenge today is to secure and maintain the important and central role that play has in a technology dominated world. We cannot eliminate screens from childrens lives and they do have their role. However, it is vital that screen use is balanced with outdoor play that encourages activity and wellbeing; constructive play which supports cognitive development; in person social play which supports the development of social skills; and imaginative play which promotes creativity and learning about the world.

The Primary Care Child and Family Psychology Service in Limerick is delivering an online workshop on The Power of Supporting Your Childs Cognitive, Emotional and Social Development through Play on Thursday, November 28 from 10am to 11.30am. If you would like to attend contact the psychology assistant on 087-3451489 who will record some of your basic information for registration. Registration closes on Tuesday, November 26 at 11am. Go to www.limerickservices.ie/ parenting-courses for more information.

This article was written by Elisha Minihan, Psychology Assistants with the Primary Care Child and Family Psychology Service, St Camillus Hospital, Limerick. This service is a member of Parenting Limerick, a network of parenting and family support services across Limerick city and county.
PLANS are being developed for a massive 17-turbine wind farm in county Limerick.

Ballinlee Green Energy has kicked off talks with An Bord Pleanala and other agencies on the project which is being earmarked for across a number of different townlands in the wider Bruff and Dromin-Athlacca areas.

The firm says if it goes ahead, more than 80 new jobs will be created, and there will be a community benefit fund of 350,000 every year.

In a statement released to Limerick Live, the company added it would provide clean power for around 42,000 homes each year, while offsetting carbon emissions by around 175,000 tonnes per annum.

READ MORE: Remembrance tree in Limerick shopping centre will commemorate lost loved ones this Christmas

Ballinlee Green Energy - based in Adare - has said while the project is in the early stages of pre-planning, a public engagement process is expected to get under way in the new year.

The global community is facing an urgent climate crisis, and the transition to renewable energy sources is an essential step toward mitigating its impact. Ireland, like many countries has committed to reducing its carbon emissions and increasing its renewable energy capacity, a spokesperson for the firm said.

The Ballinlee wind farm project is one of many proposed renewable energy projects across Ireland which will harness this great resource, enable a move away from fossil fuels and reduce harmful emissions, the spokesperson added.

The site which has been identified covers the townlands of Ballincurra, Ballinlee South, Ballingayrour, Ballinbea, Knockuregare, Ballinlee North and Camas South.

These, the firm says, have been designated as preferred for wind energy development in the councils latest development plan.

This is a strategy which governs what can be developed, and where, across the whole county.

Ballinlee Green Energy acknowledged a number of variables still remain on the project which is in its early stages.

Sinn Fein councillor for Cappamore-Kilmallock PJ Carey welcomed the fact pre-planning meetings are taking place - but said he would prefer to see wind farms located in more remote areas like mountains.

Ultimately though, they do reduce fossil fuel and energy imports. So it is the way to go, he said.
BENGALURU : The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued a summons to Adani Group's founder and chairman, Gautam Adani, and his nephew and Adani Green Energy's executive director, Sagar Adani, thereby kickstarting legal proceedings in the alleged 2,000 crore ($250 million) bribery case.

"Within 21 days after service of this summons on you (not counting the day you received it) you must serve on the plaintiff an answer to the attached complaint or a motion under Rule 12 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure," said a 21 November SEC notice to Gautam Adani and Sagar Adani.

"If you fail to respond, judgment by default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint. You also must file your answer or motion with the court," said the US regulator, which has filed a case in this connection in a New York court.

The Adani Group has yet to respond to Mint's questionnaire.

The allegations

On Wednesday, federal prosecutors in New York indicted a total of eight individuals for allegedly paying more than $250 million in bribes to Indian government officials between 2020 and 2024 to obtain lucrative solar-energy contracts.

The Indian conglomerate has denied the allegations by the US Department of Justice (DoJ) and the SEC, describing the allegations against its directors as "baseless".

"All possible legal recourse will be sought," said a spokesperson for the Adani Group on Thursday. "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."

"We became aware of the specificity of this two days ago," Adani Group chief financial officer Jugeshinder Singh wrote on X on Saturday morning, referring to the ongoing case filed by US authorities against three Adani Green Energy Ltd directors.

"We were aware that something is afoot (and in February 2024 144a offering circular in Risk Factors we disclosed as such. This was the first public issuance of any of our portfolio companies or their subsidiaries or JV companies after our annual results of 31 March 2023)," wrote Singh.

Singh said none of the eleven public companies of the conglomerate are subject to legal proceedings. "None of the issuers ( i.e., companies in our portfolio or specific issuers that are subsidiaries of the public companies) are accused of any wrongdoing in the said legal filing," wrote Singh.

According to the indictment, Adani Green Energy Ltd raised $2 billion from American and foreign investors based on false and misleading statements about the firm's anti-corruption and anti-bribery efforts. For this reason, the DoJ opened a criminal investigation, while the SEC is pursuing a civil investigation against Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani, and Adani Green Energy's chief executive Vneet Jaain.

Also Read: Adani may see wider impact from US setback

The DoJ still has to summon the three executive directors of Adani Green Energy.

The SEC case

The SEC's case is if Adani broke the US Securities Act when Adani Green raised money from American investors as it did not disclose a justice department probe into allegations of bribes paid by the company's directors to unnamed Indian officials between 2020 and 2024.

"In 2021, two senior executives of Adani Green EnergyGautam Adani, Adani Greens founder and controlling shareholder, and Sagar Adani, Adani Greens executive director (collectively, defendants")engaged in a bribery scheme involving the equivalent of hundreds of millions of dollars to obtain contracts that benefitted Adani Green, while, at the same time, falsely touting the companys compliance with anti-bribery principles and laws in connection with a $750 million bond offering (the offering")," the SEC said in its complaint filed in a court in New York on 20 November.

"In September 2021, defendants leveraged that narrative in the offering to sell $750 million of Adani Green corporate bonds (notes"), including more than $175 million in notes to investors in the US. In connection with the offering, Adani Green told purchasers of the notes that none of Adani Greens directors or officers, including defendants themselves, had paid or promised to pay bribes to government officials or attempted to unduly influence those officials," said the SEC.

"Adani Green and the defendants also emphasized to underwriters and potential investors that Adani Green had implemented robust anti-bribery and anti-corruption processes and that Adani Green was a leader in India in good corporate governance. None of this was true," said the SEC.
Mumbai and Bengaluru: For investors keen to know the fate of billionaire Gautam Adani's indictment by US authorities, the watchword is patience.

It takes an average of about three years to conclude a case after an indictment under the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), according to a Stanford Law School analysis of cases since the law was enacted nearly a half century ago. The study, which is continuously updated, covered corruption probes against 487 companies and 555 individuals.

The 1977 US law prohibits bribing foreign officials to obtain or retain business. It applies to any person or entity that is subject to US jurisdiction, including foreign companies raising money in the US. Primarily, the US Department of Justice (DoJ) and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) are responsible for investigating suspected FCPA violations. Both agencies have brought charges against the Adanis.

The Adani group has termed the allegations against its founder Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar "baseless", adding it will explore all possible legal recourses.

According to the Stanford study, 93% of defendants facing charges under FCPA opted to settle with the SEC rather than contest them in court. However, the settlement ratio with the DOJ was lower at 74%.

The indictment is the first step after concluding an investigation, and the authorities will need to present evidence of wrongdoing to press their case. In cases of settlement, the indicted parties agree to pay a fine without admitting wrongdoing.

Violators paid an estimated total of $11.6 billion in bribes, while the US authorities levied $31 billion in fines. The average fine was $58.3 million. Many individuals also went to jail or were put under house arrest, with an average of 31 months in prison or house arrest.

Adanis indictment makes it the 26th case from India to be probed under FCPA, behind 34 cases from Brazil and 75 cases from China, and equal to Mexico.

On Wednesday, federal prosecutors in New York indicted a total of eight individuals for allegedly paying more than $250 million in bribes to Indian government officials between 2020 and 2024 to obtain lucrative solar energy contracts.

According to the indictment, Adani Green Energy Ltd raised $2 billion from American and foreign investors based on false and misleading statements about the firm's anti-corruption and anti-bribery efforts. For this reason, the DoJ opened a criminal investigation, while the Securities and Exchange Commission is pursuing a civil investigation against Gautam Adani, his nephew Sagar Adani, and Vneet Jaain, chief executive of Adani Green Energy.

In 2019, Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., a New Jersey-headquartered information technology services company, which counts two-thirds of its employees in India, was charged with bribing Indian officials to fast-track the construction of its offices in India.

Cognizant paid about $28 million to the DoJ and SEC, and its former chief operating officer Gordon Coburn was let go from the company. A case against Coburn continues in the US courts.

Varun Sood contributed to the story.
A heated exchange erupted between tech billionaires Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos after Musk accused Bezos of advising people to sell Tesla and SpaceX stock, claiming Donald Trump would lose the US presidential election. The Amazon founder swiftly denied the allegations in a rare post on X, calling them 100% not true.

Musks Accusations Musk, known for his outspoken social media presence and a vocal supporter of Donald Trump, posted on X:

Just learned tonight at Mar-a-Lago that Jeff Bezos was telling everyone that Donald Trump would lose for sure, so they should sell all their Tesla and SpaceX stock.

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO, recently tapped to head the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under Trump's administration, hinted that such remarks could have caused significant financial harm to his companies had the Republican candidate lost.

Bezos Responds Jeff Bezos, who rarely posts on X, responded promptly to the allegations. Nope. 100% not true, he wrote, denying Musks claims.

In an uncharacteristically lighthearted follow-up, Musk replied, Well, then, I stand corrected, punctuated with a laughing face emoji.

Also Read | Aaditya Thackeray Election Results 2024 LIVE: Aaditya Thackeray leads in Worli

Background and Context Musk reportedly spent over $130 million supporting Trumps re-election campaign and has been photographed multiple times at Trumps Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago, since the election.

This exchange between the tech titans underscores the tensions between two of the worlds richest individuals, both of whom have publicly clashed over politics and business decisions in the past.

Also Read | Elon Musks Model Mother Sees Celebrity Takeoff in China

While Bezos denial has closed this chapter of their rivalry, Musks initial claim highlights the high-stakes interplay between politics and business in the tech world.

Elon Musk: Richest person in history Elon Musk has achieved a historic milestone, officially becoming the richest person in history with a net worth of $334.3 billion, according to Forbes. This unprecedented rise is largely attributed to a significant surge in Teslas stock value, fueled by Wall Street optimism tied to US President-elect Donald Trump, a known ally of Musk.
Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal says that over 18,000 people have expressed interest in becoming his next chief of staffa role that comes with a surprising twist: a salary of minus 20 lakh, targeted at candidates with a "learning mindset" and not a lot of experience."

A single unusual job description was enough for the Zomato CEO to garner over 16 million views on X (formerly Twitter), spark endless reposts across social media, and ignite think pieces debating whether the role was "fair." The post also attracted widespread coverage in business, startup, and general news outlets (including Mint). Meanwhile, a wave of startup founders seized the moment to advertise their own chief of staff rolespromising to pay, not charge, for the position.

This surge of attention far surpassed anything rival Swiggy managed in recent weeks, despite its much-publicized stock market debut. Certainly, there was reader interest in the much more reticent Swiggy founder Sriharsha Majety. And news of high-profile film stars and business owners buying its shares in secondary sales before the IPO helped.

Read this | How ideas man Sriharsha Majetys hyperlocal focus put Swiggy on the map

But in the race for public attention, Goyal and Zomato leave their quieter competitors far behind.

Consider this: earlier this year, Goyal claimed he was "kicked out" as a judge on the high-profile reality show Shark Tank India after Swiggy reportedly signed on as the next seasons main sponsor. Just two months later, he appeared alongside his wife, Grecia (aka Gia), as a guest on The Kapil Sharma Show, arguably one of Indias most popular talk shows. In fact, Goyal seems to stir online controversy every few weeks, keeping the public conversation around him alive.

In recent months, Goyal has drawn millions of views for himself and Zomato with a series of headline-grabbing moves: exposing discriminatory mall rules in a viral video while personally delivering food orders, launching and retracting a "Veg Only" delivery fleet, introducing a service for buying cancelled food orders, and enabling users to sell concert tickets on the app. This relentless stream of new features and debates has led many to label him as perpetually in "founder mode," a term popularized by tech entrepreneur Paul Graham to describe unyielding entrepreneurial energy.

More here | Not just a cold play: How Zomato can make District a blockbuster

In contrast, Majety has made few public appearances, with his only notable one this month being at Swiggy's listing ceremony. That might soon change, as he is reportedly set to join season four of Shark Tank India as a judgea platform that has catapulted several tech entrepreneurs into household name status, even those previously unknown outside startup circles or big cities. Majetys presence on X and other social media remains minimal, limited to routine company updates and the occasional meme, the last of which dates back to 2022.

For "new-age" tech businesses, building a strong brand presence is crucial, particularly as they face investor criticism for unprofitable operations and regulatory scrutiny for frequently bending the rules.

In this regard, Swiggy and Zomato are a study in contrast. Zomato, shaped by Goyals brash, agile, inventive, and relentless persona, has built a strong and memorable identity directly tied to its founder. In comparison, Swiggy lacks a distinctive brand image and is not driven by the dominant personality of its founders. The result: Zomato consistently outpaces Swiggy in shaping public opinion and staying in the spotlight.

Founder-led branding risks

But there is a downside to this strategy too. It is risky to tie the public image of a business, especially a public one, to the personal traits and quirks of its founder. Just ask Elon Musk. He has already been the subject of an investigation by the US Securities and Exchange Commission for his 2022 acquisition of Twitter; the regulator previously sued him for fraud when he tweeted in 2018 that he may take Tesla private. Musk may argue that rules are meant to be tested, and so far, he has never been successfully indicted. Shareholders of Musks public companies must closely monitor his every post, video, and public statement to safeguard their investments. Could Zomatos shareholders face a similar predicament? Possibly.

Also read | Bhavish Aggarwal had a dream IPO. But how much mileage does Olas stock have?

Goyals branding success might inspire less experienced founders to emulate his approach, potentially putting their investors at risk. Consider the case of Bhavish Aggarwals Ola Electric.
The Election Commission of India will begin the counting of votes for assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand at 8 am on November 23. The 288 seats of Maharashtra voted in a single phase on November 20. The 81 seats of Jharkhand voted in two phases  November 13 and November 20.

The contest in Maharashtra is bipolar between the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). In Jharkhand, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led INDIA bloc is up against the Bhartiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Exit Poll Results in Maharashtra The exit poll results were released on November 20, soon after the last vote was polled in both the states. Almost all the exit polls predicted a clean sweep for ruling Mahayuti in Maharashtra.

Five out of eight exit polls predicted a return of BJP-led Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra Assembly elections 2024.

The Mahayuti alliance comprises the BJP, the Ajit Pawar-led NCP and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, while the MVA has the Shiv Sena (UBT), the NCP (Sharad Pawar) and the Congress party as constituents.

Pradeep Gupta-led Axis My India has predicted a clean sweep for Mahayuti in Maharashtra with 178 seats in the 288-member house. The pollster said that the BJP will emerge as the largest party in the Maharashtra assembly elections 2024. The MVA is likely to get 82 to 102 seats, according to this pollster.

The majority mark in the 288-member Maharashtra assembly is 145.

The ABP News-Matrize predicted that the ruling Mahayuti alliance will win 150-170 seats, while the MVA gets 110-130 seats in Maharashtra.

The P-Marq, another exit poll, predicted majority for Mahayuti with 137-158 seats. The MVA may bag 126-146 seats according to this pollster. People's Pulse predicted 182 seats for Mahayuti and 97 for the MVA .

The Times Now-JVC exit poll gave 150-167 seats to Mahayuti and 107-125 seats to MVA.

The exit polls have not been accurate always.

The Lokshahi-Rudra exit poll has predicted a close contest between the two alliances in Maharashtra. The exit poll has predicted 128-142 seats for the Mahayuti and 119-140 seats for MVA. Electoral Edge also gave edge to the MVA.

The exit polls, however predicted neck-and-neck fight between the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Jharkhand and JMM-led INDIA bloc on Jharkhand.

Exit Polls are predictions based on voter feedback gathered by survey agencies after the polling. The larger idea behind the exit polls is to reflect public sentiment well before the results are announced.

Jharkhand Exit Polls Exit polls predicted a neck-and-neck contest in Jharkhand.

In the 81-member Jharkhand assembly, a political party or an alliance needs to win at least 41 seats to form government. Jharkhand is currently ruled by the INDIA bloc-the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).

Three exit poll results gave an edge to the NDA over the ruling INDIA bloc in Jharkhand. One exit poll gave a sweep for INDIA bloc while others predicted a tight contest between the BJP -led NDA and the Opposition INDIA bloc in the state.

Pradeep Gupta's Axis My India predicted a lead for the JMM-led INDIA bloc in the state, winning 53 seats. The BJP-led NDA alliance is predicted to win 25 seats, according to the exit poll.

The Times Now-JVC exit poll predicted 40-44 seats for the BJP and its allies, and 30-40 seats for the INDIA bloc partners. The ABP- Matrize poll predicted 42-47 seats for the NDA and 25-30 seats for the INDIA bloc. Poeple's Pulse has given 42-48 seats to the NDA and 16-23 seats to INDIA bloc.

The P Marq exit poll predicted 31-40 seats for the NDA and 37 -47 seats for the INDIA bloc. Dainik Bhaskar has given 37-40 seats to the NDA and 36-39 to INDIA bloc.

Exit Polls in 2019 Exit poll accuracy has been scrutinised in the past. Almost all the exit polls got the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 results wrong.

Exit polls reflect public sentiment well before the results are announced.

The exit polls have not been accurate always.

Also, in recent Haryana Assembly Elections, the exit polls had predicted a victory for the Congress party in total contrast with actual results with actual results which saw the BJP coming back to power in the state.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday thanked the people of Maharashtra for the "historic victory" of the Mahayuti alliance in the assembly elections. He said the people have closed the shops of fake well-wishers of the Constitution by voting for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in huge numbers.

"Jai Maharashtra! Heartfelt gratitude to the people of Maharashtra for this historic mandate," Amit Shah said in a post on X.

The home minister said Maharashtra, the holy land of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Babasaheb Ambedkar, Jyotiba Phule and Veer Savarkar, had always kept culture and nation supreme along with development.

"By giving such a huge mandate to the Mahayuti alliance amidst illusion and lies, the people have closed the shops of those who are fake well-wishers of the Constitution. This victory is the victory of every Maharashtra resident," Shah said.

He also mentioned that the Mahayuti alliance's win depicted the victory of politics of performance under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government.

Amit Shah noted that the people of Maharashtra have shown their faith in the legacy of Mahayuti, development, and the welfare of the poor, and rejected the politics of appeasement.

He also congratulated other Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and workers.

"Hearty congratulations to all the workers of @BJP4Maharashtra, BJP National President Shri @JPNadda ji, State President Shri @cbawankule ji, Chief Minister Shri @mieknathshinde ji, Deputy Chief Minister Shri @Dev_Fadnavis ji and Shri @AjitPawarSpeaks ji for this grand victory," Shah wrote on X.

In a separate post, he thanked the people of Jharkhand for voting in high numbers for the BJP.

I express my gratitude to the people of Jharkhand for blessing BJP with the highest percentage of votes. Also, I congratulate all the workers of Jharkhand BJP for their tireless hard work, Shah wrote on X.

The senior BJP leader assured that the saffron party would play a key role as the opposition in the assembly.

For the BJP, fulfilling the aspirations of the tribal society and protecting their identity are the top priorities. The NDA central government is committed to the development, progress and protection of the tribal heritage of the people of Jharkhand and under the leadership of Modi ji, we will continue to work in this direction. The BJP will play the role of a positive opposition in Jharkhand, he said.

He lauded all the NDA winners of the bypolls. I congratulate all the NDA candidates who won the by-elections held across the country, he said.
Maharashtra Assembly Election Result 2024: The Mahayuti alliance, comprising BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP factions, is poised to achieve a sweeping victory in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, securing a commanding majority and overshadowing the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).

With projections of over 200 seats for Mahayuti out of the 288, this marks a stunning reversal from their previous setbacks in the Lok Sabha elections. Here's an analysis of the key factors behind this decisive triumph:

Women-Centric Welfare Schemes Fuel Mahayuti's Electoral Success Among the most significant factors behind Mahayutis success is the strategic emphasis on women-centric welfare initiatives, especially the Ladki Bahin scheme. The scheme, which provides 1,500 per month to women, garnered widespread support, particularly from those in the economically underprivileged sectors.

This also highlights a growing trend in Indian politics where welfare schemes and freebies, though critiqued by fiscal conservatives, have proven to be a key electoral tool across diverse states. Whether in affluent or economically challenged regions, such schemes cater to the expectations of voters looking for tangible, immediate benefits.

BJP's Comeback: From Setbacks to Success The BJP has successfully bounced back from earlier electoral setbacks, including disappointing showings in the Lok Sabha elections. Under the leadership of Devendra Fadnavis and the strategic backing of the RSS, the party executed a highly organised campaign that consolidated its position within the Mahayuti alliance.

Also Read | Election Results LIVE: BJP takes lead

Fadnavis, Shinde, and Pawar Strengthen Position Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtras Deputy CM, has further solidified his position as a leading political figure within the state. Eknath Shinde has also emerged as the unchallenged leader of Shiv Sena, while Ajit Pawars commanding performance in Baramati has positioned him as a powerful player within the NCP, rivaling his uncle Sharad Pawar.

Hindutva Trumps Caste Politics The BJPs strategic focus on consolidating the Hindutva vote has proven to be a masterstroke. This Batenge to Katenge and Ek hain to safe hain ideological unity enabled the BJP to successfully bypass fragmented caste-based alliances, which had previously dominated Maharashtras political landscape. This shift has significant implications for the future of caste-based narratives in the state and across the country.

MVA May Lack Leader, Defections to BJP Likely The opposition in Maharashtra has been so thoroughly decimated that the state assembly might not have a designated Leader of the Opposition. With the ongoing political realignment, defections from MVA parties to the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance seem imminent, further cementing BJP's overwhelming control in the state.

Setbacks for Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray For Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar, the results signal a serious blow to their political standing. The Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) factions struggled to mobilise support, raising doubts about their ability to lead their respective factions moving forward. These setbacks highlight the challenges they face in maintaining a strong presence in Maharashtras competitive political environment.

Also Read | Axis My India exit poll: Uddhav Thackeray ranks 2nd for CM choice in Maharashtra

Congress Struggles to Regain Ground in Maharashtra The Congress party, despite a brief surge in the Lok Sabha elections, failed to make a significant impact in the Maharashtra Assembly elections. Rahul Gandhis leadership remains under scrutiny as the party continues to grapple with a lack of coherent strategy and failure to galvanise its voter base. The poor performance of Congress raises important questions about its future prospects in the state.

Congress, MVAs Inability to Present an Effective Alternative One of the main reasons behind the MVAs underperformance was its inability to present a compelling alternative to the ruling Mahayuti alliance. Despite initial optimism after the Lok Sabha elections, opposition parties struggled to maintain voter support. The lack of a cohesive strategy and absence of a strong, unified narrative left voters disillusioned and more inclined towards the BJP-led alliance.

Also Read | MVA vs Mahayuti Election Results LIVE: Aaditya Thackeray wins Worli

Key Issues Left Unaddressed by Congress, MVA Critical issues like farm distress and the Maratha reservation movement, which were expected to dominate the states political discourse, failed to significantly influence the elections. The MVAs failure to address these concerns effectively during their campaign contributed to their downfall. The absence of strong, impactful promises from the opposition meant that Mahayuti's welfare schemes took centre stage, overshadowing the oppositions lacklustre responses.

Also Read | In charts: BJP and partners poised to sweep Maharashtra

BJP's Victory Boosts Momentum The BJPs overwhelming and historic victory in Maharashtra has reshaped the states political landscape and provided a significant boost to the saffron party's momentum ahead. BJP scripted history by bagging a lead in 100+ seats in Maharastra, a feat only achieved by Congress in 1990.
Eknath Shinde election results 2024 Highlights: Incumbent Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on 23 November won the Kopri-Pachpakhadi Assembly seat in Maharashtra by defeating Kedar Prakash Dighe from Shiv Sena (UBT) by over 1,20,717 votes, as per ECI at 4.30 pm.

In the Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024, Eknath Shinde got 1,59,060 votes against Kedar Prakash Dighe who got 38,343 votes.

According to the Election Commission of India website at 4 pm, the Mahayuti alliance led by the Bharatiya Janata Party is leading with 228 seats in Maharashtra, while Congress-led MVA is leading in 51 Assembly seats. The majority mark is 145 out of 288 seats being under fray.

The 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections have been crucial for Eknath Shinde, especially in his stronghold, the Kopri-Pachpakhadi seat in Thane.

The Kopri-Pachpakhadi Assembly seat in Maharashtra is amongst the 18 Vidhan Sabha constituencies which is located in Thane district and 288 in the entire state.

It is a very high-stakes seat as CM Eknath Shinde, sitting chief minister, is contesting against Uddhav Thackerays Sena Kedar Dighe.

2019 Kopri-Pachpakhadi Election Results: In the Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2019, Shiv Senas Eknath Shine defeated Congress Sanjay Ghadigaonkar by a margin of 89,300 votes. At that time, Eknath Shinde was the member of united Shiv Sena under the leadership of Uddhav Thackeray.

But after two years, the Shiv Sena broke into two fractions  Shiv Sena (UBT) and Shiv Sena (ES).

In the 2024 Assembly elections, BJP, breakaway faction of the NCP under Ajit Pawar and breakaway faction of Shiv Sena under Eknath Shinde are contesting together under the Mahayuti alliance against MVA.

Stay tuned with Livemint for live updates on election results on November 23.

When will the winner be announced? The overall results will be declared once the counting of all the votes ends and winner is announced on all the seats.

It is expected that by Saturday noon or by evening, a winner will be clear. A party or a coalition needs to win at least 145 seats in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly.

What exit polls predicted? Most exit poll results predicted BJP-led alliance's return in Maharashtra.

The fate of Maharashtra's political landscape hangs in the balance as Eknath Shinde contests in his stronghold, Kopri-Pachpakhadi.

The exit poll conducted by People's Pulse gave NDA's Mahayuti a whopping 175-195 seats while giving only 85-112 seats to MVA and 7-12 to others in Maharashtra. On the other hand, the poll conducted by Electoral Edge predicted MVA to win 150 seats while giving 121 seats to BJP-led Mahayuti and 20 seats to others in Maharashtra.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led alliance, Mahayuti, cruised its way to a massive victory in the Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024. The BJP bagged 132 of 148 seats it contested in the 2024 state polls. This is the first time since 1990 that a party would win more than 100 seats.

Overall, the Mahayuti emerged victorious on 235 seats in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly. The MVA win 50 seats. A political party or an alliance must win 145 seats of the 288 in the Maharashtra Assembly.

The Mahayuti comprises the BJP, Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, Ajit Pawar's NCP, JSS, RSVA, and RYSP. The MVA has the Congress, Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT), and Sharad Pawar's NCP-SP and PWPI as constituents.

The backroom boys Amid Mahayuti's anticipated landslide win, the names of two Union ministers are doing the rounds as key players who orchestrated the landslide. They are believed to be the "architects" of the BJP's massive victory in the Maharashtra polls. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also thanked them during his press conference on Saturday.

Also Read | MVA vs Mahayuti Election Results LIVE: Aaditya Thackeray wins Worli

Bhupender Yadav and Ashwini Vaishnaw have worked extensively behind the scenes to take the BJP to the grass-root level, away from the limelight. According to reports, when Union Home Minister Amit Shah released the BJP manifesto in Mumbai on November 10, the two senior leaders sat in the audience.

The challenge In the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections held in June this year, the BJP faced a major setback by winning just nine of the 38 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, while its rival, the Congress, emerged as single-largest party with 13 seats.

This upset the Mahayuti, which was already in power in the state, and also posed a big challenge for the alliance in the Maharashtra Assembly Elections held in November.

Bhupender Yadav and Ashwini Vaishnaw seem to have successfully overcome this challenge. The two union ministers have also been credited for leading the BJP to victory in Madhya Pradesh last year.

Also Read | Maharashtra election results: Fadnavis breaks silence on who will be next CM

Who are Bhupender Yadav and Ashwini Vaishnaw Bhupendra Yadav is considered a close aide of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Yadav, who is a BJP leader from Rajasthan, has a good hold in several other states, including Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.

Yadav was BJPs election co-in-charge for the Assembly polls of Rajasthan (2013) and Jharkhand (2014) and in-charge for Gujarat. He was the in-charge for the 2019 Lok Sabha election and 2020 Bihar Legislative Assembly elections. This is the first time that he took charge of a western state like Maharashtra and led the party to victory.

Yadav is currently the Union Cabinet Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change. He is a Member of Parliament from the Lok Sabha constituency of Alwar, and was Rajya Sabha MP from 2012.

Ashwini Vaishnaw is currently the Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, Electronics and Information Technology. He has a Masters in Technology from IIT Kanpur and MBA from Wharton.

Vaishnaw brings a combination of skills in technology, finance and its application to weakest sections of society. He firmly believes in the philosophy of Antyodaya, i.e. transforming the lives of the marginalized sections of society, as its profile on Government of India's website reads.
The Maha Aghadi Vikas (MVA) lost the Maharashtra Assembly Elections to the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance by a huge margin. The Mahayuti won 235 seats of the total 288 assembly seats in Maharashtra. This left 50 seats with the MVA (INDIA bloc) and two seats for Independent candidates. The AIMIM won one seat.

As the Maharashtra Election Results were declared on Saturday, speculations were rife whether the MVA would get the Leader of Opposition status in the Maharashtra Assembly. The MVA's share in the Maharashtra Assembly is as follows:

Congress: 16

Shiv Sena (UBT): 20 seats

NCP-SP: 10

Samajwadi Party (SP): 2

Communist Party of India (Marxist) - CPI(M): 1

Peasants And Workers Party of India - PWPI: 1

Will MVA get Leader of Opposition status? The document titled 'Leaders of Opposition in Maharashtra Legislature Salaries and Allowances Act, 1978' states that the Leader of the Opposition is elected from the party in the Opposition with the "greatest numerical strength" and is recognised as such by the Speaker of the Assembly.

'Leader of the Opposition' in relation to either House of the State Legislature, means that member of the State Legislature Assembly or the State Legislature Council as the case may be who is for the time being the Leader in that House of the party in opposition to the State Government having the greatest numerical strength and recognised as such by the Speaker of the Assembly or the Chairman of the Council as the case may be, the document stated.

Also Read | In charts: BJP and partners poised to sweep Maharashtra

The document added that in case there are two or more parties in Opposition to the State Government in the Assembly or in the Council having the same numerical strength, the Speaker of the Assembly or the Chairman of the Council will recognise any one of the Leaders of such parties as the Leader of the Opposition.

Is there 10% rule for choosing LoP? Based on "tradition", it is claimed that a political party needs at 10 percent seats in the House for the Leader of the Opposition status. This "rule" is mostly followed in the Lok Sabha, or the lower house of Parliament.

The Institute of Secretariat Training and Management mentioned in one of its booklet that the recognition of the Leader of Opposition is given by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha  provided the largest party in opposition have minimum 55 MP in the House [Lok Sabha].

However, no such rule is mentioned in the Constitution, and there has been no mention of this "rule" applying to state assemblies.

Short history of 10% rule: The incident dates back to August 2014 when the then Lok Sabha Speaker the Congress's demand for the post of leader of the opposition (LoP) in the Lower House of Parliament because the party doesnt have enough representatives in the Lok Sabha.

Mahajan had then told news agency PTI, I have gone by rules and tradition." She had cited a rule that said a party has to have a minimum of 55 seats (which is 10% of 543 seats) in the Lok Sabha for its leader to be given this status.

Another reason she had cited was past precedent: in 1980 and 1984, no party was given LoP status in the Lok Sabha.

However, months later, the Lok Sabha Secretariat said in response to a Right to Information (RTI) query that there is no minimum percentage of seats required for appointment of a LoP.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena candidate Amit Thackeray lost the Mahim constituency to Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Mahesh Sawant on Saturday. The son of party chief Raj Thackeray had made his electoral debut earlier this month from the Mumbai seat.

Data from the Election Commission at 12 noon indicated a 7,636-vote lead for Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Mahesh Baliram Sawant. He is trailed by Shiv Sena candidate Sada Sarvankar. Meanwhile, Amit Thackeray had secured 6,642 votes at the end of the fifth round of counting.

The MNS won 13 assembly seats out of 288 in the 2009 elections as it contested the Maharashtra assembly elections for the first time. The party saw its fortunes decline significantly over the next few years and managed to secure only one seat in the 2019 polls. The party supported the ruling Mahayuti in the Lok Sabha polls earlier this year. However, it is contesting the Maharashtra assembly elections independently.

The MNS has fielded candidates from the Mahim seat in the past four elections  with party leader Nitin Sardesai previously clashing against Sena candidate Sada Sarvankar.

The MNS held the seat from 2009 to 2014 after Sardesai defeated then Congress candidate Sadanand Sarvankar and actor-politician Aadesh Bandekar who had been fielded by the undivided Shiv Sena. The seat was later won by Sarvankar for two successive terms after he returned to the Sena fold in 2012.

According to reports, the BJP had called for Sarvankar to withdraw in support of Amit Thackeray as his father and MNS head Raj Thackeray supported the NDA in the Lok Sabha polls earlier this year. The Sena leader had refused to back out of the Mahim contest.
After nearly six decades in politics, Sharad Pawar has hinted that he will quit active politics after his Rajya Sabha term ends in 2026. So, this will probably be his last Maharashtra Assembly Elections, and Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar (NCP-SP), is set to have the lowest number of seats among major political parties in the state.

NCP-SP has won one seat so far, and is leading in 11 constituencies  a dismal performance compared with the Mahayuti alliance, which is set to get another term in the state.

NCP VS NCP battle Ajit Pawar fielded fewer candidates than Sharad Pawar's party and is winning more seats than Pawar. The BJP contested on 148 seats, Shiv Sena on 80 seats, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP on 53 seats. The rest of the seats went to smaller alliance partners.

The Congress fielded 103 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT) 89, and NCP (SP) put up 87 candidates. The remaining seats were allocated to smaller parties.

At 2:15 PM, the Mahayuti alliance had comfortably crossed the crucial majority mark. It won eight seats and was leading in over 200 constituencies. Sweets were brought to the residences of Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis, and BJP's Mumbai office buzzed with celebrations.

Also Read | Ajit Pawar election results 2024 LIVE: NCP chief close to victory in Baramati

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar joined celebrated in Baramati, where he was leading by over 15,000 votes. At Devagiri, NCP leaders, including Ajit Pawar, Praful Patel, and Sunil Tatkare, joined supporters to celebrate the victory.

2019 Maharashtra Assembly polls In the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly polls, the undivided NCP won 54 seats, more than its ally Congress, which managed to clinch 44. However, even that has changed in these elections. This year, Sharad Pawar's NCP is set to have the lowest number of Assembly seats among major political parties in the state, behind the Congress and even Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena.
Maharashtra Election Results 2024: As the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti is heading towards a landslide victory in Maharashtra, addressing a joint press conference of Mahayuti along with Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar in Mumbai, CM Eknath Shinde said the people have decided to whom Shiv Sena and NCP belongs.

Shinde praised the people of Maharashtra for rejecting politics of hatred and revenge, and embracing a vision focused on welfare and development. Meanwhile, Devendra Fadnavis expressed deep gratitude, acknowledging the overwhelming support from the people of Maharashtra and their faith in Prime Minister Modi.

"Till the counting started, everyone was predicting results. I thank the people of Maharashtra for the victory in the landslide. All the leaders and workers put in a lot of effort. We suffered a setback in the Lok Sabha election. We accepted the result and moved forward. We implemented several schemes, but Ladki Bahin proved a game-changer. Our responsibility has increased with the mandate. The central government is with us. Mahayuti is ahead in all six divisions of Maharashtra," Ajit Pawar said at a Mahayuti press conference.

Devendra Fadnavis expressed deep gratitude, saying, I will say only this: we are bowed before Maharashtra and its people. It has increased our responsibility, and Maharashtra has shown its full support for Modi ji, and we will do everything to reciprocate their faith in us.

Eknath Shinde described the election as a historic victory, acknowledging the peoples direct involvement in shaping the outcome. He expressed gratitude for the trust placed in the government. Shinde emphasised the government's commitment to the welfare of the common man, citing the impactful 'Ladki Bahin' scheme. He vowed to continue bringing positive change, thanking the people for making them "superman" in this election.

Also Read | Maharashtra poll results: Devendra Fadnavis set to win from Nagpur South West

This is a historic day as well as a victory. This time, people took the election into their own hands. People showed love in the form of votes. I bow before the voters. Our work in the last 2 years and our decisions were unprecedented. The works MVA stopped, including development works, were restarted. Atal Setu, Samruddhi Mahmarg, and Metro train projects were implemented. We were fortunate to inaugurate the projects at the hands of PM Modi. The overall development of the state was our motto, and we worked towards it, said Shinde

People put faith in us. We gave the five instalments of 'Ladki Bahin'. We did not bring the scheme only to keep them on paper. We want to bring good change in common man's lives. We want to make the common man a Superman. They have made us Superman in this election, added Shinde

The election results show the BJP and its allies Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party factions led by Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, winning over three-fourths of the 288 seats in the Maharashtra assembly.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies are poised for a landslide win in the Maharashtra assembly elections. The party is expected to secure more than 130 out of 288 seats.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 23. The Azerbaijan Ministry of Defense has held an official meeting, Trend reports via the ministry's statement.

"The official meeting involving Deputy Ministers, Commanders of types of troops (forces), the Commander of the Combined Arms Army, the Rector of the National Defense University, Chiefs of Main Departments and Departments, and Commanders of army corps and formations was held in a video teleconference format under the leadership of the Azerbaijan Minister of Defense, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov.

The meeting commenced with commemorating the memory of the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev, and Martyrs, who sacrificed their lives for the independence and sovereignty of the Motherland.

Tasks set to the Azerbaijan Army by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev were delivered to the meeting participants.

During the official meeting, the current operational situation and the organization of military service on the Azerbaijani-Armenian conditional border were analyzed.

The minister instructed to further enhance the combat capabilities of the troops, increase vigilance, as well as properly organize combat duties.

He emphasized the importance of further increasing the intensity and quality of exercises, competitions and contests involving various types of troops, as well as reservists training sessions focused on advancing the knowledge of personnel and increasing its professionalism.

The measures on army development, the successful reforms, and their positive results were highlighted at the official meeting. The importance of studying the effective combat use of weapons, equipment and aviation equipment newly adopted into the armament of the Azerbaijani Army was highlighted.

Noting the positive results of the measures implemented in the field of education, the minister gave specific instructions regarding the work being done to equip the units with highly knowledgeable and professional staff.

The meeting noted strict observance of the rules of military discipline in the Azerbaijan Army, and high-level of the current disciplinary indicators.

It was noted that in the Azerbaijan Army, regular inspections were held to study the state of the daily living conditions of personnel, mutual relations in military assemblies, the attention and care of the commanding staff towards subordinates, as well as the rules of military courtesy in accordance with the requirements of the charter, and serious measures were taken towards the found negative cases.

It was emphasized that winter season measures must be reinforced, particularly in mountainous regions and units situated in harsh climatic conditions. This includes ensuring the proper storage of food, supplies, fuel, and firewood in accordance with established standards. Additionally, attention should be given to the health and well-being of personnel, with specific measures to protect against seasonal illnesses, and to provide warm clothing.

The minister instructed to continue the planned work on further improving the service, social and living conditions of the military personnel in accordance with the relevant tasks of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief.

The minister, referring to the instructions arising from President Ilham Aliyev's address during the opening of the Victory Park and other speeches, stated that all opportunities have been provided by the Head of State to maintain the combat readiness of the Azerbaijan Army at the highest level.

The minister stated that re-emphasis the strength of Azerbaijan Army, professionalism and dedication of the servicemen by Supreme Commander-in-Chief further inspires the personnel and increases responsibility against any provocations.

Hasanov set specific tasks for the relevant officers to pay special attention to the troops service organization, combat training and individual professionalism of military personnel.

In the end, the minister instructed to organize combat duty ensuring strict adherence to safety rules during daily service activities and maintain the moral-psychological state of military personnel at a high level," the statement said.

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Maharashtra Election: As trends showed the BJP-led Mahayuti leading with over 200 seats in Maharashtra assembly elections, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena on Saturday refused to accept the result and alleged a conspiracy.

According to trends, at 11 am, Mahayuti was leading in 223 seats, Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in 55 seats and Independent candidates in two seats.

Stating that 'kuch toh gadbad hai', Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut questioned on what basis Eknath Shinde (Shiv Sena) was getting 56 seats while Ajit Pawar's camp (NCP) was getting over 40 seats.

What have Devendra Fadnavis, Modi and Shah have done that the party is getting over 120 seats, asked Raut.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader said they were on the ground and had followed the tradition of accepting the verdict of democracy. However, how to accept this result will be a question for the people of the state.

"How is it possible that Sharad Pawar (NCP) could not get even 10 seats? Victory, defeat keeps on happening, but this is not the verdict of the people. There is something big behind this, Raut told media persons.

Raut also refused to accept that Mahayuti benefited because of the Ladki Bahin scheme.

The Rajya Sabha MP also trained his guns on Gautam Adani, claiming that he was keeping a close watch on Maharashtra.

Yesterday, an arrest warrant was issued against him. The allegations against Adani are indirectly allegations against the BJP, Eknath Shinde. How can all the MLAs of Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar get elected?"

Sanjay Raut alleged a conspiracy behind the results.

How can Maha Vikas Aghadi not get 75 seats despite so much opposition for Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde?

He claimed that there was a prediction that Shinde Sena would win only 20 seats, adding, We had a ground report that BJP would get 62 to 70 seats. It was not possible for such an outcome. This is not a verdict of Marathi people, farmers."

Also Read | 5 reasons why Maharashtra saw an unprecedented showdown

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena leader Sheetal Mhatre hit back at Sanjay Raut, saying he should be admitted to a mental hospital.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called the Maharashtra Assembly Election 2024 unexpected. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Mahayuti is poised to win Maharashtra Elections with more than 130 seats. The Mahayuti is likely to cross the majority mark of 145 in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly and form the government in the state.

Reacting to the Maharashtra Election results, Gandhi said, "The results of Maharashtra are unexpected, and we will analyse them in detail. Thanks to all the voter brothers and sisters of the state for their support and to all the workers for their hard work."

Meanwhile, Gandhi lauded the Jharkhand Assembly Election Results, where the Congress and JMM-led INDIA bloc won the polls. Hemant Soren's JMM emerged as the single-largest party, with 34 seats.

Gandhi said the INDIA bloc's victory in Jharkhand is a victory of the protection of jal, jangal, zameen [water, forest and land] along with the Constitution.

The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha also lauded Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for her victory in her poll debut from Kerala's Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency and said that with her dedication, she will transform Wayanad into a beacon of progress.

I feel immense pride as my family in Wayanad has placed its trust in Priyanka. I know she will lead with courage, compassion and unwavering dedication to transform our cherished Wayanad into a beacon of progress and prosperity, he said in another post on X.

Priyanka Gandhi won the Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll with a huge margin on Saturday. Rahul Gandhi vacated the seat after he was elected to the Lok Sabha from both Rae Bareli and Wayanad in the parliamentary polls held in April-May.
The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a decisive victory in Maharashtra's assembly elections on Saturday, winning 230 of the 288 seats. The Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) could only manage 46 seats.

The BJP won 132 seats, Shiv Sena 57, and NCP 41, while in the MVA, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) claimed 10 seats, Congress 16, and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) 20.

Also Follow: MVA vs Mahayuti Maharashtra Election Results 2024 LIVE

With the outcome now clear, attention turned to BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, the key architect of the victory, with speculation rising that he will become the state's Chief Minister for a third term.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address at the BJP headquarters in Delhi, praised Fadnavis as his "param mitra" and hailed the win as the largest for any party or alliance in Maharashtra in the last 50 years. He also emphasized that the election result conveyed a message of unity, aligning with the slogan "ek hai toh safe hai" (united we are safe).

Reports suggest Fadnavis may take the oath as Chief Minister as early as Monday at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, the same venue where he was sworn in a decade ago.

No opposition party secured the required minimum of 10% of seats to claim the Leader of Opposition position, meaning no alliance will fill that role.

In terms of individual victories, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, and Congress leader Nana Patole all won their respective constituencies. However, senior Congress figures Prithviraj Chavan and Balasaheb Thorat lost their seats.

The counting of votes began at 8 am on November 20.

Maharashtra election results 2024: List of leading/winning and trailing/losing candidates from constituencies
Maharashtra and Jharkhand went to the polls on Wednesday to elect their next governments. Jharkhand's elections were held in two phases, on November 13 and November 20, while Maharashtra conducted voting for all 288 constituencies in a single phase on November 20. The counting of votes is scheduled for today, November 23.

Where to Watch: You can follow the results live on the official ECI website at https://results.eci.gov.in. The website will give out real-time updates on counting trends and results.

Apart from that, you can catch watch the election results in various news channels, which will be airing reports, analysis and live update.

Also, check the live updates on livemint.

Check Maharashtra election results LIVE here

Check Jharkhand election results here

What the exit polls predicted? Maharashtra: In Maharashtra, exit polls for the 2024 Assembly elections indicate a closely contested battle between the ruling Mahayuti alliancecomprising the BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction)and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which includes Shiv Sena (UBT faction), NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), and Congress. While the contest is tight, the exit polls slightly favor the Mahayuti, projecting a slim majority for the alliance.

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 splits in Shiv Sena and NCP.

Jharkhand: Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, most exit polls predict a win for the BJP and its allies in the state assembly elections. However, one exit poll suggests that the alliance led by Chief Minister Hemant Sorens Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) could secure victory.
The newly launched Jan Suraaj party failed to make an impact in the bypolls for four assembly segments in Bihar. Candidates of the Prashant Kishor-led group lost deposits in all but one seat as votes were counted on Saturday. Meanwhile, the ruling NDA swept the bypolls retaining Imamganj and wresting Tarari, Ramgarh and Belaganj from the INDIA bloc.

Party chief Prashant Kishor, however, brushed off concerns about the poll outcome and highlighted the fact that his fledgling party won 10% of the total votes polled in the four seats. He also reiterated plans for the Jan Suraaj to contest all 243 seats solo during the Assembly elections in 2025.

We have secured 10% votes..... in seats where Jan Suraaj had no presence since these areas were yet to be covered by my padyatra. Also, please note that we got our poll symbol after filing of nomination papers was over. We were initially written off, but by garnering about 10 per cent votes in a state known to vote along predictable caste lines, we have proved a point, he said.

Kishor also rubbished claims that his party had played a role in the losses incurred by the RJD. He insisted that the Jan Suraaj was only eyeing a fight against the NDA and dismissed Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as being no factor in the outcome. The former JD(U) leader dubbed the party supremo a spent force and claimed that candidate Manorama Devi had won on her own steam.

RJD is a 30-year-old party. The son of its state president finished third. Can Jan Suraaj be faulted for that? In Belaganj, all Muslim votes went to the JD (U) candidate. In Imamganj, the Jan Suraaj cut into NDA votes. Else, the victory margin of (Union minister) Jitan Manjhi's Hindustani Awam Morcha would have been bigger, he added.
Punjab Bypolls: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress were locked in a fierce battle in Punjab's bypolls for four Assembly constituencies, with counting underway since 8 am on Saturday. AAP won three constituencies, including Chabbewal, Gidderbaha, and Dera Baba Nanak, while Congress won in Barnala.

In a boost to the Bhagwant Mann led government, the ruling AAP in Punjab won three seats while the Congress secured one of the four seats for which bypolls were held.

Also Read | Bypoll Election Results 2024 Live Updates: Priyanka Gandhi leading in Wayanad

Chabbewal: AAP Consolidates Win In Chabbewal (SC), AAP candidate Ishank Kumar Chabbewal won the seat by leading with 21,081 votes. His closest rival, Congress candidate Ranjit Kumar, was defeated, while BJP's Sohan Singh Thandal is in third place. Supporters of Ishank Kumar have already begun celebrating what appears to be a decisive victory.

Gidderbaha: Dimpy Dhillon wins AAPs Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon won by 21,969 votes in Gidderbaha. His nearest competitor, Congress Amrita Warring, wife of Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, lags behind. BJP candidate and former Punjab finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal trails at the third spot.

Also Read | Bengal bypoll results: TMC eyes dominance in all six seats despite RG Kar wave

Barnala: Congress cinches victory In Barnala, Congress candidate Kuldeep Singh Kala Dhillon won over BJPs Kewal Singh Dhillon by a slim margin 2,157 votes. AAP candidate Harinder Singh Dhaliwal remains in third place, highlighting a close but controlled contest in this segment.

Dera Baba Nanak: AAP wins after tight race The Dera Baba Nanak constituency witnessed a neck-and-neck battle. AAP candidate Gurdeep Singh Randhawa won by a slim margin of 5,699 votes. His rival, Congress' Jatinder Kaur Randhawa, held the lead from the third to eighth rounds but has since slipped . Jatinder Kaur, the wife of Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, remains a strong contender as counting continues.
Maharashtra Election Results 2024: In a day of mixed emotions for Bollywood actor Riteish Deshmukh, his elder brothers Amit Deshmukh won in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, while his younger brother, Dhiraj, narrowly lost his seat by a margin of just a few thousand votes.

Amit Deshmukh, the candidate of the Indian National Congress (INC), won the elections from Latur city. Whereas Dhiraj Deshmukh who also contested on Congress' ticket, faced a defeat in Latur rural constituency.

Amit is the eldest son of former Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh. He served three terms as a member of the legislative assembly from Latur city and had contested for the fourth time.

In the 2024 assembly elections, he competed against BJP candidate Archana Patil Chakurkar, daughter-in-law of Shivraj Patil Chakurkar, the former union home minister. Amit won the seat by over 7,000 votes.

Riteish Deshmukh's younger brother Dhiraj, a sitting MLA, lost the election by over 6,000 votes to BJP candidate Ramesh Karad.

Latur Rural seat reported the highest voter turnout with 69.92 per cent voter turnout, whereas Latur City reported 62.74 per cent voter turnout, which is the lowest among the six constituencies.

On November 20, Riteish Deshmukh requested youngsters to come out and vote in large numbers in the Maharashtra Assembly elections. He cast his vote from Babhalgaon in the Latur district.
Zeeshan Siddique election results 2024 Highlights: Zeeshan Siddique contested from the Bandra East assembly seat. Siddique represents the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) faction led by Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

Baba Siddique's son, Zeeshan Siddique lost the Bandra East assembly election seat to Shiv Sena UBT's Varun Sardesai, according to ECI data.

According to the final count, Sardesai received 57,708 votes in total at the Maharashtra Election 2024. Zeeshan Siddique's received 46,343 votes, as of the final election result numbers collected from the official ECI website.

According to TV reports, the early trends show an edge for the Mahayuti in Maharashtra. The Mahayuti is currently leading on 88 seats, while the MVA trails at 48, according to NDTV.

The counting for the Maharashtra State Assembly election results began at 8 am on Saturday, November 23. Maharashtra is all set to witness a high-stakes battle between the political parties aiming to form a new government.

Zeeshan Siddique joined Ajit Pawar's NCP faction in October after being expelled from the Congress over alleged cross-voting in the Maharashtra legislative council elections. Siddique denied the alleged charges.

Siddique is now fighting for the same seat (Bandra East), which he won with the Congress party in the 2019 elections.

This is an emotional day for me and my family. I am thankful to Ajit Pawar, Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare for believing in me in these tough times. I have got the nomination from Bandra East, I am sure that with the love and support of all the people, I will definitely win Bandra East yet again, Siddique said in October.

Siddique contested against Varun Sardesai, the assembly election candidate for Shiv Sena (UBT). Sardesai is the cousin of Aaditya Thackeray.

Siddique's first vote after Baba Siddique's demise On a personal note, while voting on Wednesday, November 20, Zeeshan Siddique shared with the media that it was the first time he was voting without his father, Baba Siddique.
Despite the ongoing protest over RG Kar rape case and demands for CM Mamata Banerjee to step down, Trinaamool Congress (TMC) made a clean sweep in six assembly constituencies in West Bengal that went into polls this year.

In the states, bypolls were held in Naihati, Haroa, Medinipur, Taldangra, Sitai (SC), and Madarihat (ST) after several sitting MLAs resigned after winning 2024 Lok Sabha elections. TMC won all the seats. Elections held on November 13 were seen as a crucial test for the ruling party amid a politically charged atmosphere, with protests over the RG Kar issue intensifying.

These elections are seen as an important political test for the state's ruling party as BJP expected to make political gains from the ongoing protest.

Also Read | Jharkhand Election Results Live: JMM leads on 31 seats

Check early trends here: In Sitai, a Scheduled Caste (SC) constituency, TMC's Sangita Roy won by 1,65,984 beating her nearest rival, Dipak Kumar Ray of the BJP by over 1,30,636 votes.

In Madarihat, a Scheduled Tribe (ST) seat, TMC's Jayprakash Toppo won over BJP's Rahul Lohar by 28168 votes. The seat was won by the BJP in the 2021 assembly polls. Despite the BJP's hopes of retaining its northern seat in Madarihat, the party is currently trailing behind TMC in all constituencies.

In Naihati, TMC's Sanat Dey won the seat bagging 78,772 votes against BJP's Rupak Mitra's 29,495.

In Haroa, TMC's SK Rabiul Islam has garnered 1,57,072 votes to win the seat

TMC's Sujoy Hazra won in Medinipur with 1.15,104 votes, 33,996 more than BJP's Subhajit Roy (Bunty), who has secured 81108 votes.

In Taldangra, TMC's Falguni Singhababu has polled 98,926 votes, 34082 more than BJP's Ananya Roy Chakraborty, who has received 64844 votes.
Jharkhand Elections Results 2024: Champai Soren on Saturday expressed confidence that the BJP will win in Jharkhand, saying, "There is no doubt it.

According to the ECI website, Champai Soren has won the Seraikela constituency by over 20,000 votes.

Speaking to ANI earlier today, Soren said, "BJP is going to win, there is no doubt. BJP-NDA is going to form the government. People have voted in favour of the BJP."

The BJP leader added, The biggest issue in Jharkhand has been the Bangladeshi infiltrators. The population of Bangladeshi infiltrators is increasing rapidly. In this election, BJP is going to form the government, it will be clear in the next 1-1.5 hours.

Speaking on the CM face in Jharkhand, Champai Soren said, "BJP is the largest party in the country. It will be decided by the party, and then there will be a discussion between the MLAs."

The former Chief Minister of Jharkhand and seven-time MLA Champai Soren is contesting from the Seraikela constituency for the Jharkhand Assembly elections 2024.

Soren had been a close aide of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) co-founder Shibu Soren. The 67-year-old tribal leader was first elected in 1991 from the Seraikela constituency and served two terms in the Bihar Legislative Assembly. He joined JMM during the Jharkhand state movement.

He was elected as a member of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly from JMM for four terms from 2000 to 2024. However, for the Jharkhand Assembly elections 2024, Soren is contesting from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

On August 30, Soren joined the BJP, giving the party a hold over the tribal population of the state, the main voter base of Jharkhand. Soren said that the reason to join BJP was to develop this state and save the existence of tribals.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 23. Azerbaijani parliament's initiative group on the return to Western Azerbaijan has released a statement on Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's attempt to draw a parallel between the issue of Western Azerbaijan (historical Azerbaijani lands in modern Armenia) and the fictional concept of 'Western Armenia', Trend reports.

"Pashinyan's attempts to draw a parallel between the issue of Western Azerbaijan and the fabricated concept of 'Western Armenia' are unacceptable.

The issue of Western Azerbaijan is a human rights matter aimed at ensuring the peaceful, safe, and dignified return of Azerbaijanis, who were subjected to ethnic cleansing, to Armenia. On the other hand, the expression 'Western Armenia' is a territorial claim reflected in the Constitution and other fundamental documents, as well as in the political steps taken by Armenia.

At the very least, the prime minister has publicly questioned the concept of 'Western Armenia' and made statements about 'moving from mythical to real Armenia,' which are essentially steps that should have been taken long ago. However, this should not come at the expense of the rights of Western Azerbaijanis, who were victims of ethnic cleansing, to return peacefully to their homes.

The comparison of our legitimate cause, which is based on human rights, with a territorial claim is unacceptable. Let us remind once again that the Western Azerbaijan Community, through repeated appeals to the Armenian government, has suggested starting a dialogue with full adherence to the norms and principles of international law related to the return of Western Azerbaijanis, including respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of states. However, Armenia has ignored these calls, deliberately distorting the activities of the community as a threat to its territorial integrity.

Instead of making such misguided comparisons, Pashinyan should respond to the community's calls for dialogue, ensure the safe and dignified return of Western Azerbaijanis, work toward the immediate and unconditional removal of territorial claims against Azerbaijan and other neighboring states from Armenia's Constitution and other documents, and put an end to the dangerous policy of militarization," the statement said.

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When your party is winning the elections, who cares about a controversy? Despite the row surrounding the Ek hain toh safe hain slogan by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis  the man of the moment  reiterated it as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) took a commanding lead in the Maharashtra Election Results 2024.

In his first reaction after Mahayuti alliance  the BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP  secured over 200 seats in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly, Devendra Fadnavis said, Ek hai toh safe hai, Modi hai toh mumkin hai. Fadnavis leading by over 17,604 votes in Nagpur South West

The NDA or the Mahayuti alliance is currently leading on 226 seats, while the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition  the Congress, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena, Sharad Pawar's NCP  have gained leads on just 54 seats in Maharashtra Election Results 2024. The current Election Commission (EC) tally stands as follow:

MAHAYUTI

BJP: 126

Eknath Shinde-Shiv Sena: 55

Ajit Pawar-NCP: 39

MAHA VIKAS AGHADI

Congress: 21

Uddhav Thackeray-Shiv Sena: 18

Sharad Pawar-NCP: 12

As trends show that Mahayuti is set to repeat the government in Maharashtra, the clamour to have Devendra Fadnavis as the next chief minister has only grown. When asked about the next Maharashtra chief minister, BJP leader Pravin Darekar said, The CM will be from Mahayuti and, obviously, the largest party has the greater chance and with BJP emerging the largest party, if there is a CM of BJP, it will be Devendra Fadnavis.
The Mahayuti alliance is surging ahead of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in Maharashtra as the counting is underway for assembly elections on November 23.

The ruling alliance is leading in over 200 seats as opposed to 59 seats of the MVA, the trends suggested as reported by the TV channels. And, if the trends hold, the Mahayuti is all set to return to power in Maharashtra with better numbers than 2019.

The BJP-Shiv Sena alliance won the majority in 2019. The BJP won 105 seats, while the Shiv Sena (undivided) grabbed 56 seats. Overall, the two parties won 151 seats.

Also Read | Election Results 2024 LIVE: NDA ahead in Maha and Jharkhand in postal ballots

The Mahayuti alliance comprises the Bhartiya Janata Party, the Ajit Pawar-led NCP and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, while the MVA has the Shiv Sena (UBT), the NCP (Sharad Pawar) and the Congress party as constituents.

As per Election Commission of India numbers, the BJP is leading in 125 seats in Maharashtra. This is BJP's best performance in recent elections. In 2019, the BJP won 105 seats in Maharashtra assembly elections.

Axis My India Prediction Pradeep Gupta-led Axis My India had predicted that the BJP would emerge as the largest party in the Maharashtra assembly election 2024.

The pollster had predicted a clean sweep for Mahayuti in Maharashtra, with 178 seats in the 288-member house and predicted 82 to 102 seats for the MVA.

The majority mark in the 288-member Maharashtra assembly is 145. Gupta's Axis My India had a nine-year long association with India Today until the results of Lok Sabha elections 2024.

In fact, Axis My India Chairman and Managing Director, Pradeep Gupta broke into tears on LIVE TV as the consumer data intelligence companys exit poll results turned out to be far from the actual outcome of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

Pradeep Gupta broke into tears on LIVE TV as the exit poll results turned out to be far from the actual outcome.

Axis My India, like other pollsters, failed to predict the Haryana Assembly Election results correctly too.

Jharkhand Predictions In Jharkhand, the JMM-led INDIA bloc is leading in over 49 seats as opposed to 30 seats of BJP-led NDA.
Election Results 2024: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hailed party workers after the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a landslide victory in Maharashtra assembly election and launched a scathing attack on Congress party.

Stating that lies and deceit suffered a crushing defeat, Modi said termed the poll results as a victory of development, good governance and social justice while

"This time Maharashtra has broken all records. This is the biggest victory for any party or pre-poll alliance in Maharashtra in the last 50 years. This is the third consecutive time that Maharashtra has blessed the alliance led by BJP. For the third time, BJP has emerged as the largest party in Maharashtra, the Prime Minister said.

PM Modi also noted that the BJP had received more seats than the Congress and its allies and that Maharashtra was the sixth state to have given the mandate to BJP three times in a row.

The biggest message from Maharashtra after Haryana polls is unity, said Modi, adding, "Ek hain to safe hain' has become country's 'mahamantra'. Some people resorted to betrayal and tried to create instability in Maharashtra. Voters have punished them. Voters are with those who put nation first', not with those putting kursi first. The 'INDI Alliance' is unable to understand the mood of the country.

Modi claimed that the Congress has become a parasitic party and that it was increasingly difficult for it to form a government on its own.

Congress party has now become 'parjeevi' in the country's politics. It is becoming increasingly difficult for them to form a group on their own. They have been wiped out in Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Haryana and today in Maharashtra. Congress' divisive politics has failed but look at the arrogance of Congress. Congress is sinking not only its own boat but also that of its allies, he opined.

Modi claimed that the Congress has become a parasitic party and that it was increasingly difficult for it to form a government on its own.

Congress party has now become 'parjeevi' in the country's politics. It is becoming increasingly difficult for them to form a group on their own. They have been wiped out in Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Haryana and today in Maharashtra. Congress' divisive politics has failed but look at the arrogance of Congress. Congress is sinking not only its own boat but also that of its allies, he opined.|#+|

The prime minister also said the Maharashtra election also showed that only one Constitution will work in India and that was given to the people of the country by B R Ambedkar.

"I want to say this to the Congress and its allies that no force in the world can bring back Article 370 and insult our Constitution," Modi added.
Assembly Election Result: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Mahayuti alliance has scripted a landslide victory in Maharashtra while the INDIA bloc retained Jharkhand in the Assembly polls, the results of which were announced on November 23.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) also swept assembly bypolls in Bihar and Assam, while the Trinamool Congress dominated bypolls in West Bengal. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra scripted victory in her first election in the Wayanad parliamentary bypoll.

BJP's Best-Ever Show in Maharashtra The NDA, known as Mahayuti in Maharashtra, has crossed the 236 mark, with the BJP registering its best-ever poll showing in the state with 132 seats in the 288-member house.

Maharashtra voted for 288 seats in a single phase on November 20. The 81 seats in Jharkhand voted in two phases  November 13 and 20.

The contest was bipolar in Maharashtra. The Mahayuti alliance contested to retain power, while the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) aimed to wrest control from the ruling alliance in the state. Overall, the Mahayuti alliance won 231 seats. The MVA won 48 seats, while nine seats went to others.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the historic Maharashtra mandate as a victory of development and good governance.

This affection and warmth is unparalleled. I assure the people that our Alliance will keep working for Maharashtras progress. Jai Maharashtra! Modi wrote on X.

In the 2019 assembly election, the BJP-Shiv Sena (undivided) won the majority. The alliance didn't last long, and the Shiv Sena pulled out, unleashing political turmoil in the state. The state saw three different chief ministers in the last five years: BJPs Devendra Fadnavis, Shiv Senas (UBT) Uddhav Thackeray, and Shiv Senas (SHS) Eknath Shinde.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections, the BJP lost ground in Maharashtra. It won just nine of the 28 seats it contested, compared to 23 of the 25 seats it contested in the 2019 general elections.

INDIA bloc retains Jharkhand In Jharkhand, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led INDIA bloc won 56 seats, retaining power in the 81-member Assembly. The ruling alliance has improved its 2019 score.

The INDIA bloc allies in Jharkhand include the JMM, the Congress, the CPI(ML)L and the RJD. The NDA includes the BJP, the AJSUP, the JD(U) and the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas).

The JMM has won 34 seats. The Congress won 16 seats, according to Election Commission data. The RJD won four seats.

In the NDA, the BJP won 21 seats, and the AJSU and LJP have won one seat each. The Janata Dal-United is ahead in one seat.

In the 2019 Assembly Elections, the JMM emerged as the largest party with 30 seats, while the BJP bagged 25 seats. The Congress won 16 seats. The JMM formed a government with the support of Congress and RJD.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi applauded the Jharkhand Assembly Election Results, calling it a victory of the protection of jal, jangal, zameen along with the Constitution.

This affection and warmth is unparalleled. I assure the people that our Alliance will keep working for Maharashtras progress.

Victory of the protection of jal, jangal, zameen along with the Constitution.

While Priyanka Gandhi Vadra bagged the Wayanad seat, the BJPs Santukrao Hambade won Maharashtra's Nanded seat in the parliamentary bypoll.
Priyanka Gandhi wins in Wayanad: Congress candidate and debutant Priyanka Gandhi Vadra won the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat vacated by her brother and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, after he retained Rae Barelli.

According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), Priyanka has secured 6,22,338 votes, with her closest competitor, CPI candidate Sathyan Mokeri, trailing behind with only 2,11,407 votes. BJPs Navya Haridas holds the third position with 1,09,939 votes.

The by-poll for the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat was held on November 13.

Of the 16 candidates who contested, the main contenders were Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who was making her electoral debut, CPI(M)-led LDF's Sathyan Mokeri, a political veteran, and BJP-headed NDA's Navya Haridas.

The counting of votes commenced at 8 am, with postal ballots being taken up first. The strong rooms, where the EVMs were kept, were opened more than an hour before counting began, PTI reported.

Also Read | Bypoll Election Results 2024 Live Updates: Priyanka Gandhi leading in Wayanad

Wayanad Bypolls: A Triangular Contest in Congress's Stronghold Wayanad, traditionally a Congress stronghold, is witnessing a triangular contest between Priyanka Gandhi, BJPs Navya Haridas, and Left candidate Sathyan Mokeri. Priyanka is contesting the seat as part of the United Democratic Front (UDF) following the vacancy created by her brother Rahul Gandhis decision to retain his Raebareli seat after the general elections.

Also Read | Lok Sabha Bypoll: Wayanad records lowest turnout since 2009

Wayanad Bypolls: Priyanka Gandhis Strong Start At 9 am, the trends suggested that Priyanka Gandhi was well-positioned to retain Wayanad for the Congress. By winning the seat, she joined her family legacy in Parliament, becoming the second member of the Gandhi family to represent the constituency.

Wayanad Bypolls: BJPs Haridas Confident of Victory Earlier, BJPs Navya Haridas was optimistic about her chances. Speaking to ANI, Haridas expressed confidence that if the people of Wayanad wanted development, they would opt for the NDA. She highlighted the drop in voting percentage, suggesting that the electorate's mood had shifted since Rahul Gandhi's victory in the previous elections.

Wayanad Bypolls: Priyanka Gandhi Criticises Centres Response to Wayanad Landslides During her campaign, Priyanka Gandhi strongly criticised the BJP-led central government for its refusal to declare the Wayanad landslides a national disaster. She described the decision as shocking injustice to the victims, and accused the government of denying essential relief to those in need.
New Delhi: Indias addition of new power transmission lines fell by half over a year earlier in the April-October period as a wetter-than-usual monsoon slowed work.

The country added 4,762 circuit kilometres (ckm) of transmission lines during the first seven months of the current fiscal, about 47% lower than 7,026 ckm in the year-ago period, according to data from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA).

About 1,240 ckm have been added by central sector companies, with states adding the most at 2,710 ckm and private companies contributing 812 ckm, the data showed. The capacity added in the first seven months is just about a third of the target of 15,253 ckm for the ongoing fiscal ending March 2025.

A strong transmission network with adequate storage capacity is crucial for stabilizing power supply, more so with increasing renewable energy capacity in the country. Plans to connect the Indian grid with the national transmission networks of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka and Singapore under the One Sun One World One Grid initiative would also require a strong domestic network.

The transmission line addition may have been constrained due to higher rains this year during the monsoon season, said Vikram V., vice-president and co-group head, corporate ratings, Icra. However, the execution is expected to pick up during the remaining period of the year, as was witnessed during the same period last fiscal. About 7,000 ckm lines were added during the November-March period of last fiscal.

Queries emailed to the union ministry of power remained unanswered till press time.

In the last financial year (FY24), a total of 14,203 ckm of transmission lines were added against the target of 16,682 ckm.

Although monsoon rainfall in June saw a deficit of 10.9% compared with the long-period average between 1971 and 2020, the subsequent months of July, August and September were wetter, with 9%, 15.3% and 12.5% excess rain, respectively. And while the monsoon officially came to an end on 1 October with around 8% excess rainfall on an average, rains continued in several parts of the country.

Of the 15,253 ckm targeted in FY25, central sector companies are scheduled to develop 5,413 ckm, while private companies would install 1,586 ckm and states would contribute the largest chunk of 8,254 ckm.

In October, a total of 12 transmission lines with a cumulative length of 1,454 ckm were commissioned or were ready for commissioning compared with 1,820 ckm in October 2023.

However, the addition of transformation capacity gained momentum this fiscal with 33,265 mega volt ampere (MVA) being added against 29,521 MVA a year earlier. Transformation capacity refers to the total capacity of transformers installed in a transmission system, enabling it to ensure smooth and stable flow of handle-voltage power.

Both transmission lines and transformation capacity are key for the country to achieve 500 gigawatt (GW) of non-fossil fuel power capacity by 2030.

A cumulative investment of 9.15 trillion would be required in the transmission sector to achieve the 500 GW clean energy capacity and to also add the required storage capacity to ensure non-intermittent power supply, according to the National Electricity Plan for transmission released by the CEA last month.

Also read | Mint Explainer: The return of La Nina and its impact on Indian monsoon and agriculture
Stock split news: Eraaya Lifespaces shares are one of the multibagger stocks that the Indian stock market has delivered in 2024. In YTD time, Eraaya Lifespaces share price has risen more than 1700 per cent. The small-cap stock ended on Friday at 2,101.10 apiece, logging an intraday rise of more than 2.50 per cent.

Stock split 2024 As the multibagger stock price has risen significantly in recent years, the company promoters have decided to go for the first-ever stock split. In its meeting on Friday, the company board considered and approved the stock split record date on 6th December 2024 to identify the beneficiary shareholders for the 1:10 stock split.

Eraaya Lifespaces stock split record date The multibagger small-cap stock informed the Indian stock market exchanges about the development, saying, "Pursuant to the decision taken by the Board of Directors of the Company in their meeting duly held on October 19, 2024 and subsequent shareholders' approval, the below said Record Date is being intimated, in terms of Regulation 42 of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) 2015, for the purpose of sub-division/split of 1 (one) Equity Shares of the Company having a face value of Rs. 10/- each into 10 (Ten) Equity shares of the company having face value of Re. 1 each."

Eraaya Lifespaces stock split news The company has already declared a stock split, saying, We wish to inform you that the Board of Directors of Eraaya Lifespaces Limited ('the Company' or 'Eraaya') in their meeting held today, i.e. on October 19, 2024 at 12:30 P.M. at Consiglio, the Chambers, Hotel Taj Mahal, Maan Singh Road, New Delhi-110011, India, inter-alia, approved sub-division/split of company's 1 (one) Equity Share having face value of Rs. 10/- each in to 10 (Ten) Equity shares of the company having face value of Re.1/- each, subject to the approval of shareholders and such other approvals as may be required.

Eraaya Lifespaces share price history In one month, Eraaya Lifespaces share price has remained in base-building mode, losing around 10 per cent. In the last six months, Eraaya Lifespaces' share price has delivered a multibagger return to its position shareholders, logging more than a 175 per cent rise. The Multibagger stock surged over 1700 per cent in 2024, whereas in one year, it surged over 2850 per cent. In five years' time, this multibagger stock has delivered over 27,600 per cent returns to its positional investors.

This multibagger stock is a BSE-listed stock, and it ended on Friday with a trading volume of 46,533. Its 52-week high is 3169, whereas its 52-week low is 69.59 apiece.
Buy or sell stocks: Discounting the geopolitical risk after an escalation in the Russia-Ukraine war, the Indian stock market witnessed a significant broad-based rally from the oversold territory on Friday. The Nifty 50 index registered the best single-day gain in the last five months and finished 525 points higher at 23,875. The BSE Sensex shot up 1807 points and closed at 78,963, whereas the Bank Nifty index ended 716 points higher at 51,089. Cash market volumes inched up to 1.01 lakh crore. The broad market indices rose less than the Nifty 50 index even as the advance-decline ratio rose sharply.

Sumeet Bagadia's stocks to buy on Monday Sumeet Bagadia, Executive Director at Choice Broking, believes the Indian stock market bias has improved after the pullback rally on Friday as the Nifty 50 index closed above the 23,700 mark. The Choice Broking expert said the uptrend may continue, and the 50-stock index may touch the 24,350 to 24,400 range in the subsequent few sessions. Sumeet Bagadia recommended buying these three shares: Godrej Properties, State Bank of India (SBI), and ITC to maximise this rally.

Sumeet Bagadia's stock recommendations 1] ITC: Buy at 474.65, target 520, stop loss 452.

ITC share price is currently trading at 474.65 and is on the verge of breaking out of a falling trendline on the daily chart, accompanied by a notable increase in trading volume. This potential breakout suggests the possibility of further upward momentum. The stock has rebounded strongly from its support zone and has surpassed its long-term (200-day) exponential moving average (EMA). Additionally, ITC is trading near its short-term (20-day) EMA, indicating a strengthening bullish sentiment. These technical developments point to the potential for continued gains provided it sustains above-critical levels and maintains buying interest.

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) recently gave a positive crossover at lower levels and is currently at 45.57, signalling potential upward momentum and indicating that the stock may be gaining strength for a move higher. If ITC holds above the 490 level, it could advance toward a higher price target of 520.

Considering the technical indicators and intense price action, entering a long position in ITC at 474.65 presents a promising opportunity. With a well-defined stop loss at 452 and a target price of 520, this trade offers a favourable risk-reward ratio and aligns well with the bullish sentiment surrounding the stock.

2] SBI: Buy at 816.05, target 892, stop loss 778.

SBI share price is currently trading at 816.05. After reaching its record high, the stock began consolidating, trading within a defined range. Recently, it found support near its demand zone and has shown signs of reversal by bouncing back from key support levels. This movement indicates strengthening bullish momentum and a potential shift in trend. If SBIN sustains above the critical level of 825, it could gain further traction and move toward the 870 to 890 range.

The RSI is currently at 50.42 and has reversed from lower levels. It trades at a level where buyers are likely to show interest, indicating potential buying momentum in the stock. Furthermore, SBIN has rebounded from its long-term (200-day) exponential moving average (EMA) and has moved above its short-term (20-day) and medium-term (50-day) EMA levels. This indicates strengthening bullish momentum and suggests that the stock is regaining upward traction, with these moving averages providing additional support for its positive outlook.

Considering the current technical indicators and price action, SBI share appears well-positioned for a potential upward move at current levels. Investors may consider buying at 816.05, with a stop loss set at 778 to manage risk. The target price of 892 aligns with key resistance levels and offers a favourable risk-reward ratio, making this a promising trading opportunity.

3] Godrej Properties: Buy at 2857.15, target 3150, stop loss 2430.

Godrej Properties' share price is trading at 2857.15 and has recently broken out of a falling parallel channel, signalling a potential continuation of its bullish trend. The stock has rebounded from the support zone, corresponding to the lower range of the falling parallel channel, indicating a reversal from a critical level.

Additionally, the stock has formed a strong bullish candle, accompanied by a significant increase in trading volume, highlighting robust momentum and buyer interest. If the stock sustains above the 2900 level, it will likely extend its uptrend toward a target of 3150.

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is trending upward and currently stands at 52.64, supporting a positive outlook. Moreover, Godrej Properties share has surpassed both its short-term (20-day) and long-term (200-day) exponential moving averages (EMAs), further reinforcing the bullish sentiment.

Given these technical indicators, a long position in Godrej Properties shares at 2857.15 is recommended. Setting a stop-loss at 2730 and a target price of 3150 aligns well with the recent breakout momentum and the prevailing positive market sentiment, offering an attractive risk-reward ratio.
Maharashtra Election Result: As the BJP-led NDA is all set to form the next government in the State of Maharashtra, stock market experts are busy guessing the possible changes in investors' investment strategy. They said the NDA government's possible landslide victory is expected to evaporate the confusion among the bulls that had erupted after the Lok Sabha election results. They noted that Maharashtra Election Results are expected to fuel demand in infrastructure, railway and banking stocks as investors may change their stance from defence to aggressive. They advised investors to look at the abovementioned segments from a medium to long-term perspective.

Maharashtra Election Result: Impact on Indian stock market "After the Lok Sabha Election Results, Indian stock market investors went defensive and started looking at FMCG and pharma stocks. However, after the Maharashtra Assembly Election Result, they may start looking at railway, infra and banking stocks, changing their investment strategy from defensive to aggressive," said Mahesh M Ojha, AVP  Research at Hensex Securities.

On how this change in stock market strategy would impact railway, infra and banking stocks, Avinash Gorakshkar, Head of Research at Profitmart Securities, said, As the Maharashtra Election Results has established that momentum is still with the incumbent government (both at New Delhi and at Maharashtra). So, investors are expected to look at the rail and infra segment as the Government of India (GoI) and Maharashtra State Government have showcased a special focus on the infrastructure segment. As infra sector companies would go for credit lines from the banks, banking stocks may also see some buying interest when the market opens on Monday.

Stocks to buy on Monday  Nov 25 Asked about shares to buy on Monday after the Maharashtra Election Result, Mahesh M Ojha of Hensex Securities said, "In the railway segment, one can look at RVNL, IRFC, Railtel, and IRCON International. In the infrastructure segment, Larsen & Turbo (LT) can be a good bet for the medium to long term. Likewise, medium- to long-term investors may look at SBI, Canara Bank, and Jammu & Kashmir Bank shares in the banking space. One can look at ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank shares if they look at the private bank share."

In short, after the Maharashtra Election Results, experts have recommended buying these ten stocks: RVNL, IRFC, Railtel, IRCON International, SBI, Canara Bank, Jammu & Kashmir Bank, ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank.
Maharashtra Election Result: After the BJP-led NDA's one-sided victory in the Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024, experts have started mulling its impact on the Indian stock market when it resumes trade activity on Monday. According to experts, NDA's victory in the Maharashtra Assembly Election would positively impact investors' sentiment. They expect investors to switch their strategies from defensive to aggressive.

Reaction from stock market experts Speaking on the impact of a possible landslide victory of the BJP-led NDA in the Maharashtra Assembly Election, Palka Arora Chopra, Director of Master Capital Services, said, "In Maharashtra, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is set to form the government. This Maharashtra Election Result is expected to provide political stability, positively impacting investor sentiment, especially in infrastructure, urban development, and manufacturing sectors aligned with BJP policies."

Will the pullback rally continue? "The stability in Maharashtra could trigger a rally in the stock market, boosting investor confidence due to the continuity of pro-business policies, especially after uncertainty following previous coalition shifts. Furthermore, with a clear mandate, the government will likely push forward with infrastructure projects, a key focus of the BJP, which would benefit the construction, real estate, and related sectors," said Palka Arora.

Expecting a boost for the Indian stock market sentiments post-Maharashtra Election Result, Santosh Meena, Head of Research, Swastika Investmart, said, "On Friday, the Indian stock market witnessed a strong rally after the prediction of NDA's victory in Maharashtra Assembly Election 2024. It is likely to boost market sentiments further after the one-sided victor of the BJP-led NDA in Maharashtra Election Result."

Stock market strategy Expecting a change in investors' stock market strategy, Mahesh M Ojha, AVPResearch at Hensex Securities, said, After the Lok Sabha Election Results, Indian stock market investors went defensive and started looking at FMCG and pharma stocks. However, after the Maharashtra Assembly Election Results, they may start looking at railway, infra, and banking stocks, changing their investment strategy from defensive to aggressive.

Avinash Gorakshkar, Head of Research at Profitmart Securities, said, "The Maharashtra Election Results have established that momentum is still with the incumbent government (both at New Delhi and Maharashtra). So, investors are expected to look at the rail and infra segment as the Government of India (GoI) and Maharashtra State Government have showcased a special focus on these segments. As infra sector companies would go for credit lines from the banks, banking stocks may also see some buying interest when the market opens on Monday."

Indian stock market outlook Nifty found strong support at 23,200, which aligns with the 61.8% retracement of its previous rally from the election-day low of 21,281 to the high of 26,277. The index reclaimed its 200-DMA with a bullish harami candlestick formation, signalling a potential trend reversal. Immediate resistance is at the 20-DMA of 24,030, and a breakout above this level could push Nifty toward 24,550/25000 levels. On the downside, 23,500, near the 200-DMA, remains a critical support level. Similarly, Bank Nifty has held firm at its 200-DMA, with immediate resistance at 51,30052,000 and a higher resistance zone at 52,60053,300, Santosh Meena of Swastika Investmart said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 23. The international conference on South-South collaboration among NGOs from Non-Aligned Movement nations occurred on November 15 during COP29, as part of the Azerbaijan National Forum of Non-Governmental Organizations program, Trend reports.

According to information, at the international conference Development of Climate Action through South-South Cooperation: Role of NGOs, it was emphasized that during four years of chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement, Azerbaijan signed important global initiatives and made significant contributions to strengthening solidarity between countries, including climate-related activities.

Foreign NGOs congratulated Azerbaijan, one of the leading countries of the Global South, on organizing COP29 successfully.

Following the international conference, NGOs representing NAM countries agreed on the text of a joint statement on the role of NGOs in the development of climate action through South-South cooperation and declared open for all participating NGOs in COP29 to join it.

The statement expresses strong support for Azerbaijan, pays attention to its global role, and notes the endorsement of our country's call for a ceasefire aimed at stopping wars during the climate negotiations to promote peace and collective global action within the framework of the COP. States of the world are urged to prioritize the humanitarian aspects of climate change, including the protection of vulnerable communities, social justice, and resilience against crises, to bring their actions in line with the spirit of the ceasefire.

The document notes that NGOs have an important role to play in climate resilience and addressing humanitarian challenges. Promoting inclusive policies aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals expresses the need for greater cooperation between governments, financial institutions, and NGOs to support climate finance and initiatives at the local level. Globally, NGOs are called for an enhanced role in promoting climate action through South-South cooperation, in particular partnerships that support regional climate challenges and community-based solutions.

The statement also expresses support for the initiative of the Azerbaijan National NGO Forum as a cooperative network for climate action to share best practices and contribute to sustainable development, saying it is time to establish a Global South NGO Platform.

The statement, which is open to the members of civil society represented at COP29, was signed by 1,023 representatives of NGOs and public activists from 137 countries.

To note, the expression of support for the initiative of Azerbaijani NGOs by civil society institutions and regions covering 71 percent of the world's countries is for the first time in the history of NGOs in our country.

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Colombian author Gabriel Garcia Marquezs novel One Hundred Years of Solitude is considered a literary masterpiece in the magical realism style. The 1967 Spanish language novel, which tells the story of seven generations of the Buendia family, has now been adapted into an 16-episode (over two seasons) Netflix series, premiering on 11 December. Directed by Laura Mora and Alex Garcia Lopez, the series was filmed entirely in Colombia, with the support of the Nobel Laureate authors family.

It took a team of four writersJose Rivera, Natalia Santa, Camila Bruges and Albatros Gonzalezand script consultant Maria Camila Arias to adapt the 400-plus pages of the book into a screenplay. The cast includes Diego Vazquez, Marleyda Soto and Claudio Catano.

One Hundred Years of Solitude opens with the iconic line: Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendia was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice." The story begins with Jose Arcadio Buendia and his wife Ursula Iguaran, who become founders of a new utopian town called Macondo. It follows generations of the Buendia family as they endure all kinds of challenges and fear confinement to one hundred years of solitude.

Camila Bruges and Natalia Santa, who are both of Colombian origin, though the former lives near Mexico City and the latter in Bogota, spoke to Lounge about the responsibility of adapting this novel to screen. Edited excerpts from a video interview:

What was the greatest challenge in taking an epic book like this and adapting it to a series?

The most difficult thing for us was the decision to transpose the true spirit of the novel. All the decisions we took as a team of writers, and also that we passed on to the whole production crew, actors, etc., was to do a very faithful adaptation of the novel in its premise, plots, characters. None of us thought it was necessary to change much from Gabriel Garcia Marquezs genius piece of work. Another challenge was what do we leave in and what do we leave out, because we have a specific amount of time and we could have done a hundred hours of One Hundred Years of Solitude, but we had 16 hours, so we had to pick stuff, and that was difficult because in this novel Marquez is giving you sentence by sentence of amazing imagery, of profound human wisdom. So editing and selecting was very challenging.

I read that in your early discussions, you spent time talking about quantum physics and the circularity of time because you had to give it some sort of chronological order, given how timelines intersect in the book.

Yes. Both of us came on at the second stage of development. We started working on a first version from Jose Rivera that was the chronological setup of the events. He organised Marquez in a linear timeline. But for us, it was very important to have a conversation about how he works with time and, even if were telling the story in a chronological way, how could we talk about the circularity of time, the repetition of things. The loop of what happens in the family, the political loop of what happens in history, that we still feel is Colombia. So our first day of work we went into a feverish conversation about inter-dimensionality, string theory, etc. It was pretty cool.

How much did the text hold you back and how much did it push you forward?

There is something that is untranslatable, almost impossible to transpose with literary language this rich and layered. You have to leave it that way. How can you translate Marquezs poetry, the perfect and clear idea of the characters soul he captures in one line? What we can translate, or what we can rewrite in an audio-visual language is, most of the time, the specific events, the story of these characters, what happens to each one. So what we had to do in the audio-visual language is to create a character that has an evolution or a dramatic arc from beginning to end, which is not as defined in the original novel, while always trying to take the hints that Marquez has left us of every character in order to create new things. Throughout the focus was on being loyal to the novel.

Marquez did not want this book to be adapted to film, and definitely not out of Colombia. So when the Marquez family agreed to this adaptation, did they place some conditions on how it should be done?

Yes. They said it needed to be done in Spanish, filmed in Colombia by a Colombian team, or the majority of them at least, and they insisted that it should be done in a series format. While he was alive, Gabo (Marquez) was adamant that it should not be a film, and for very good reason. We had a hard enough job of fitting the story into a series. Series production, technological advances, streaming allow this, but unfortunately Gabo didnt live to see it.

Udita Jhunjhunwala is a writer, film critic and festival programmer. She posts @Udita_J.
At a recent event in Mumbai, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman flagged mis-selling of financial products, particularly related to insurance. Often, consumers buy an insurance product after being prodded by an agent, who could be a friend or a relative. After numerous calls, which culminate in a face-to-face meeting, you decide to buy an insurance policy assuming that you bought the 'right' policy because someone you trust had highly recommended it.

Eventually, you buy a plan believed to be the 'best' for you, but as it often turns out, it may not be the case. So, what is a good insurance product? This is quite an open-ended question. What is right for one person may not be right for the other, and vice versa.

Also Read | LIC shareholding: Life Insurance Corporation raises stake in LTIMindtree

At the outset, opting for an insurance product that aligns with your income is highly recommended. This means if your income is on the lower side, you can ideally settle for a term plan of moderate value. Alternatively, if your income is on the higher side, you need a bigger plan that can cover the needs and contingencies of your family.

For higher income bracket When a policyholder's income is, for instance, upward of 1 lakh, then your dependents would likely have an expectation of a comfortable lifestyle or premium education. As a result, you need to have a bigger term insurance plan to cover all these eventualities.

"Term insurance becomes increasingly crucial for high-income earners whose monthly income is more than 1 lakh as their financial liabilities and lifestyle expectations are usually greater. Their dependents may have higher expectations for premium education and maintaining a comfortable lifestyle. Adequate term insurance ensures that these goals are not compromised," says Rhishabh Garg, Head, Term Insurance, Policybazaar.

Also Read | Can I own two term insurance policies?

"Someone who earns above 50 lakh per annum should buy a term plan of 5 crore, which is vital to ensure proper protection for their loved ones. The premium for such coverage is pretty affordable. You can secure a 5 crore cover for just 3,000 to 3,500 a month," he adds.

Factor in the uncertainties Another factor worth considering is that loans and other liabilities should be factored in while ascertaining the ideal term insurance cover. Its important that you dont just consider your current disposable income but also factor in your outstanding liabilities like a house loan, business loan, etc. Many rely on liquid assets as a replacement for term insurance, but this can fall short, and it doesnt account for future uncertainties and needs. Many insurers now offer cover up to 20 crores in term insurance plans, says Garg.

Say no to misselling: Key tips to remember: 1. Research well: First, you must invest time in researching and comparing the plans available. This can be done by examining different plans offered by different insurers, comparing premiums, coverage benefits, and other additional riders. This can help them find the right plan that fits their needs, says Siddharth Singhal, Head of Health Insurance, Policybazaar.

2. Review thoroughly: Go through the policy document properly to understand the coverage you will get. You should also get a clear idea of the inclusions and exclusions of the coverage.

Also Read | Are OPD expenses incurred abroad covered in travel insurance?

3. Waiting periods: Consumers should be aware of the waiting periods linked to the policy. Typically, there's a standard 30-day waiting period with almost all policies for general claims, adds Singhal.
A love story turned tragic when a woman allegedly strangled her five-year-old daughter to death in order to marry a man she befriended on Instagram, Delhi police said on Saturday.

The police said that the accused woman lived with a relative in Himachal Pradesh before moving to Delhi.

Doctors at the Deep Chand Bandhu Hospital on Friday informed the police that a dead child was brought to their hospital, and investigation revealed the cause of death was strangulation, as indicated by marks on the child's neck.

Here's what happened The tragic incident was reported from northwest Delhi's Ashok Vihar. According to the Delhi Police' statement, a case was registered, and the child's relatives, including her mother, were interrogated.

After sustained interrogation, the mother broke down and revealed that she had strangulated her daughter, the statement reads.

As the interrogation proceeded, the woman revealed that her first husband had abandoned her. After that, she got acquainted with a man identified as Rahul, whom she had met on the social media platform Instagram. Wanting to marry Rahul, she relocated to the capital city.

Also Read | Kailash Gahlot gets big role in BJP, joins Delhi Assembly poll committee

However, a twist in the love story came when Rahul's family refused to accept the child, and the dream of a wedding union had to be called off. Rahul and his family did not accept the child, and he refused to marry her.

In frustration, the woman strangulated the child. Delhi police levelled charges against the accused under sections 103 (murder) and 65(2) (rape in certain cases) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 6 (aggravated penetrative sexual assault) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act at Ashok Vihar police station.

In an unrelated incident, a 26-year-old mother named Kajal murdered her three-year-old daughter to marry her lover. Caught amid a troubled marriage, she decided to leave her husband but considered her daughter an obstacle and killed her.
Within a week after joining the Bharatiya Janata Party, the former Aam Aadmi Party leader Kailash Gahlot has been appointed as a member of the party's Delhi Assembly Election Coordination Committee, reported ANI on Saturday.

The former Delhi minister had joined the saffron party on Monday, days after resigning from AAP. While joining the party, the politician had took a jibe at the Arvind Kejriwal led-party for deviating from its principle and working for its "political ambitions", reported ANI earlier.

Turning point in Delhi politics Kailash Gehlot joined the BJP in the presence of Union minister Manohar Lal Khattar. While welcoming Gehlot Khattar called his entry in the party as a turning point in the politics of national capital.

The BJP is hopeful that Gahlot's induction into the party will boost its prospects in the upcoming assembly polls as it looks to wrest power from the AAP.

BJP's Delhi unit president Virendra Sachdeva and national media head Anil Baluni among others were also present at the time when Gehlot joined the party. Sachdeva applauded Gehlot for his good work and welcomed him in the party.

AAP fighting for its own political agenda While joining the party Gahlot took a jibe at former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and said that his party has been fighting more for its own political agenda,

"Instead of fighting for people's rights, we have increasingly only been fighting for our own political agenda," the 50-year-old said in his resignation letter to AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal. He also pointed at some recent controversies around Arvind Kejriwal like 'sheeshmahal', and said that it makes everyone doubt if "we still believe in being the 'Aam Aadmi'".

Meanwhile, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh claimed that Kailash Gahlot resigned from the party after the BJP put an allegation of 112 crores on him and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted several raids on his home in the last few days, reported ANI.
Romania and Bulgaria are likely to become full members of the Schengen Area by January 2025, reported Economic Times quoting Hungarian officials. This development is set to take place after years of partial inclusion, with the two Balkan countries joining the European Union in 2007 but not gaining full access to the Schengen Area until March 2023.

While border checks were removed for air and maritime travel, land borders remained restricted due to concerns over illegal migration, primarily from Austria, which had blocked their entry into the zone.

After recent discussions in Budapest between Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romanias interior ministers, Austria has decided to lift its opposition. This will open the door for a final decision on the matter by EU interior ministers in December 2024.

The Schengen area consists of 29 European countries (of which 25 are EU states): Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden, along with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Hungarian Minister Confirms The two countries are now one step closer to full membership, and a significant step will be the deployment of at least 100 border guards to the border between Bulgaria and Turkey, confirmed Hungarian Interior Minister Sandor Pinter.

This agreement marks a turning point in the Schengen expansion process. EU officials, including Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, welcomed the development, stating that Romania and Bulgaria now fully belong to the Schengen Area. Johansson expressed her satisfaction with the progress, describing it as a step toward full freedom for the citizens of both countries.

Also Read | Good news for travellers! Food at airports to get cheaper soon

The new development means that travellers who hold Schengen visas will be able to visit two more countries: Romania and Bulgaria. This will enable visitors to enter these new Schengen members without having to undergo any additional border checks. Romania and Bulgarias entry is expected to improve travel opportunities across Europe, simplifying cross-border movement and boosting tourism and trade within the region.

With Romania and Bulgaria's full integration, the Schengen Area will become even more accessible to travellers starting in January 2025.

It is worth mentioning here that the European Commission announced a cascade regime for Indian nationals in April 2024, which allows multi-year validity for travellers with an established travel history.
Maharashtra Assembly Polls: Former Bigg Boss player Ajaz Khan, who has often garnered media attention with his controversial statements, failed to attract even 1000 votes in the Maharashtra Assembly Elections.

The Bollywood celebrity, who enjoys millions of followers on Instagram, has won merely 153 votes in the Versova constituency in Maharashtra. Ajaz Khan contested the election from the Aazad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram).

Also Read | Sharad Pawar faces worst setback as Mahayuti surges in Maharashtra elections

During the first half of the vote counting, Ajaz Khan struggled to earn votes in three digits. Even now, he is among the lowest-performing candidates from the constituency. Interestingly, a greater number of voters have opted for the None of the Above (NOTA) option in the seat. The celebrity's miserable performance in the election garnered hilarious reactions on social media.

Reacting to social media trolls, the Bollywood celebrity blamed EVM malfunction for his disastrous defeat in the Maharashtra Assembly Election.

Also Read | Maharashtra Election Result: Nawab Malik at 4th spot in Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar

EVM ka khel hai sab.. Jo saalo se Contest karrahe hai aur Politics mei hai, badi party , bada naam wo candidates haar rahe hain, ya Phir Bahut kam Votes laaye hain. Mai toh Social worker hu jo logo ki awaaz banne koshish karta hu. Aur koshish karta rahunga . Par Mujhe afsos unlogo ke liye hai jinke paas Party ka naam tha, Khudka track record tha, jinhone Croro kharch kardiye 15 din mei ,wo Bahut bura haar gaye. Sab EVM ka Khel hai Bhayya, wrote Ajaz Khan on X.

Also Read | Will Devendra Fadnavis replace Eknath Shinde as Maharashtra CM?

Social media reaction to Ajaz Khan's 153 votes NOTA got more votes than Bigg Bossiya Ajaz Khan [sic], commented a user on X.

Ajaz Khan 47 Nota 203 Ek number bhaaay [sic], read another comment.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will celebrate Christmas in the US with their kids and Meghan's mother this year. The two often prefer celebrating these occasions with close friends and family at home. Once, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex hosted a special guest on Thanksgiving, Meghan Markle told Marie Claire in an interview on Friday.

According to the New York Post, the Suits actress and her husband had hosted a special guest, a leading feminist voice, Gloria Steinem, once on Thanksgiving.

Like many of us, I think you always make sure theres room at the table for your friends who dont have family, which is really key, the New York Pot quoted Meghan Markle as saying.

Low key Thanksgiving party Prince Harry and Meghan Markle prefer to keep their most of parties simple and sweet. The former actress confessed that her Thanksgiving treat is always pretty low-key. She also added that the party being close to her mom is great.

The Duchess of Sussex also revealed how holidays have become more fun with her kids as they are growing. I love holidays, Meghan Markle told the outlet adding that she always tries to do something great and fun with her family during vacations. As Lilibet and Archie ar now three and five years old it is even more exciting for her to spend vacations in great locations.

Sharing her excitement of seeing her kids grow, Meghan said, I think as a mom with children youre just enjoying having them there, but theyre not understanding everything thats happening yet. But now were at the age where I just cant wait to see it through their lens every year..
Donald Trump's sentencing in hush money case has been delayed indefinitely. Trumps team called it a decisive win as he prepares to return to the White House.

Judge Juan Merchan on Friday said in an order in New York, The joint application for a stay of sentencing is granted to the extent that the November 26, 2024 date is adjourned.

Initially set for November 26, the sentencing was halted ahead of his January succession of Joe Biden.

Trump's legal team cited a landmark July ruling from the Supreme Court that gives presidents sweeping immunity for official acts committed while in office to justify their request. Accordingly, Trump's communications director, Steven Cheung, said in a statement, 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.

In May, Donald Trump was found guilty of 34 felony charges after a jury concluded he had falsified business records to hide an alleged affair with a porn star before the 2016 election. Prosecutors claimed the cover-up aimed to boost his chances during his first presidential campaign.

Trump faces two other federal cases Alongside the hush money case, Trump faces two active federal cases: one related to his effort to overturn the 2020 election and the other connected to classified documents he allegedly mishandled after leaving office.

In the election interference case, Special Counsel Jack Smith has moved to vacate deadlines, delaying the case indefinitelybut not yet dropping it outrightin line with long-standing Justice Department policy not to prosecute sitting US presidents.

Also Read | Donald Trump announces Matthew Whitaker as US Ambassador to NATO

A Trump-appointed federal judge already threw out the documents case, but Smith had sought to appeal that decision.
Google has strongly criticized a proposal filed by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) as part of an ongoing antitrust lawsuit regarding the companys search distribution agreements. The tech giant claims the proposal demands drastic changes that could disrupt its services, harm consumers, and weaken the US's global technology leadership.

The DOJ had a chance to propose remedies related to the issue in this case: search distribution agreements with Apple, Mozilla, smartphone OEMs, and wireless carriers, Google said in a blog post. Instead, DOJ chose to push a radical interventionist agenda that would harm Americans and Americas global technology leadership.

Google warns of broader impacts Google alleges the DOJs proposals extend far beyond the scope of the lawsuit, impacting products and services unrelated to search distribution agreements. The company highlighted several consequences it sees as damaging:

Security and privacy risks: Google argues the proposal would compromise the security and privacy of millions of Americans by potentially forcing the sale of Chrome and Android.

Exposure of personal data: It warns that sensitive user data, including personal search queries, could be disclosed to unknown foreign and domestic companies.

Hindrance to AI development: Google claims the measures would stifle its investments in artificial intelligence, an area where it is a global leader.

Threats to partnerships: The company said the proposal could harm services like Mozillas Firefox, which rely on Googles payments for search placement.

Specific example: Pixel phone choice screens Google highlighted what it described as the impracticality of the DOJs demands, pointing to a requirement for two separate choice screens on Google Pixel phones before users could access Search. The design of those choice screens would have to be approved by the Technical Committee. And thats just a small part of it. We wish we were making this up, the company stated.

Also Read | Google accused of suppressing internal records amid antitrust trials: Report

Accusations of Government overreach Google framed the DOJs actions as an unprecedented overreach, warning of broader implications for the economy and technology sector. The company said, DOJs approach would result in unprecedented government overreach that would harm American consumers, developers, and small businesses  and jeopardize Americas global economic and technological leadership at precisely the moment its needed most.

Google prepares its response While the Court previously acknowledged Googles search engine as offering the industrys highest quality, Google contends that the DOJs demands go beyond the Courts decision. The company said it will file its own proposals next month and mount a broader defense next year.

Also Read | Google fined 3.8 million roubles in Russia over content regulation disputes

What is the DOJ lawsuit about



The DOJ lawsuit against Google focuses on allegations that the company has abused its dominance in the online search and advertising markets to stifle competition and maintain its market power. The primary issue in the case revolves around Googles search distribution agreements with companies like Apple, Mozilla, smartphone manufacturers, and wireless carriers. These agreements make Google the default search engine on various devices and browsers, which the DOJ argues has limited consumer choice and hindered competitors.

The DOJ contends that these practices violate antitrust laws by unfairly consolidating Google's monopoly in search and online advertising. The lawsuit aims to address this perceived anticompetitive behavior and propose remedies that could include changes to Google's business practices, restructuring, or divestitures.
Israel-Hezbollah Conflict: At least four missiles were fired in an airstrike targeting Beirut's Basta neighbourhood early on Saturday, as Israel intensified its military campaign against Hezbollah, several media reports confirm.

The attack resulted in a violent explosion, with witnesses reporting the blast in the Lebanese capital. The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which began a year ago, escalated after Hezbollah launched rockets at northern Israel in support of Hamas at the start of the Gaza war.

Also Read | Israel Has a New Operational Freedom After Crippling Hezbollah

Recently, the conflict has intensified with Israel's airstrikes on southern Lebanon, Beirut's southern suburbs, and the Bekaa Valley, where many of Hezbollah's top leaders have been killed. In response, Hezbollah fired rockets deeper into Israel.

The ongoing violence reflects the growing tensions in the region, with Israel using both airstrikes and ground troops along the border while Hezbollah retaliates with rocket attacks. The situation remains volatile as both sides continue their military operations.

Also Read | Israel finds large troves of Russian arms in Hezbollahs hands

Lebanon's National News Agency said the attack had destroyed an eight-storey building. Footage broadcast by Lebanon's Al Jadeed station showed at least one destroyed building and several others badly damaged around it.

The blasts shook the capital around 4 am (0200 GMT), witnesses reported to Reuters. Security officials said at least four bombs were dropped in the attack.

It marked the fourth Israeli airstrike this week targeting a central area of Beirut, where the bulk of Israel's attacks have targeted the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs. On Sunday, an Israeli airstrike killed a Hezbollah media official in the Ras al-Nabaa district of central Beirut.

Also Read | Hezbollah media chief Mohammed Afif killed in Israeli strike on Beirut

Israel launched a major offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon in September, following nearly a year of cross-border hostilities ignited by the Gaza war, pounding wide areas of Lebanon with airstrikes and sending troops into the south.

The conflict began when Hezbollah opened fire in solidarity with its Palestinian ally Hamas after its Oct 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel.

A US mediator travelled to Lebanon and Israel this week in an effort to secure a ceasefire. The envoy, Amos Hochstein, indicated progress had been made after meetings in Beirut on Tuesday and Wednesday before meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 23. A delegation from Sichuan University in China paid an official visit to the Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC) to explore prospects for academic cooperation.

During the meeting, UNEC's Vice-Rector for International Relations and Programs, Associate Professor Dr. Hussein Hasanov, delivered a detailed presentation on the universitys strategic objectives. He highlighted UNECs accomplishments, including its standing in international rankings, efforts to attract international students, successful accreditation of courses by international bodies, the expansion of partnerships with global academic institutions, and its vision for future development.

Professor Du Xiao, Deputy Director of the Presidential Office at Sichuan University, expressed his appreciation for the warm reception and introduced the delegation to the mission and achievements of Sichuan University. He emphasized the importance of enhancing ties with Azerbaijani universities, noting that such collaborations would facilitate mutual knowledge exchange and foster productive academic and scientific partnerships.

The two institutions identified potential areas of cooperation and reached a preliminary understanding to pursue joint initiatives.

Following the discussions, the delegation from Sichuan University was given a tour of UNECs facilities. Associate Professor Geray Musayev, UNECs Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, provided an in-depth briefing on the universitys digitalized education systems, examination processes, Bloomberg Financial Laboratory, distance learning platforms, and other innovative practices.

The delegation from Sichuan University expressed high regard for UNECs advancements in educational digitalization and modern academic practices, emphasizing their enthusiasm for fostering a collaborative relationship.
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Aramco Digital in talks to invest $1 billion in Mavenir

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Deal likely to value Mavenir at $3 billion

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Aramco in talks to separately invest $200 million in Mavenir JV

By Anirban Sen, Supantha Mukherjee and Alexandra Alper

NEW YORK, - Saudi Aramco's digital arm is in talks to take a significant minority stake in Mavenir, in a deal that is likely to value the U.S. telecommunications software maker at about $3 billion, people familiar with the matter told Reuters on Friday.

Aramco Digital is in talks to invest about $1 billion in Mavenir and a deal is likely to be signed before the end of the year, the sources said, cautioning that a transaction is not guaranteed.

Mavenir is working with investment bank Evercore on its talks with Aramco Digital, the sources said, requesting anonymity as the discussions are confidential.

The deal by Aramco Digital, the wholly-owned technology subsidiary of the oil giant, would be its first major transaction in the telecommunications industry as part of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 plan, which focuses on technological advancements and economic diversification.

Aramco and Evercore did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Mavenir declined to comment.

The telecom equipment industry, which has long been dominated by vendors such as Sweden's Ericsson, Finland's Nokia and China's Huawei, is one of the few critical areas where U.S. companies do not have a significant presence.

Richardson, Texas-based Mavenir is a pioneer in a technology called Open Radio Access Network that promises to radically cut costs for telecom operators building a mobile network. It uses cloud-based software and allows use of gear from many suppliers instead of relying on a handful of companies.

The company has so far raised at least $800 million in various funding rounds.

As the Trump administration took actions to thwart Huawei's U.S. business, it also pushed for more adoption of Open RAN technologies, which could put more American companies in the mix.

The push to promote Open RAN continued under the Biden administration, but it was not widely adopted as the emerging technology could not always match all the features that traditional telecom vendors could provide.

Last year, AT&T signed a $14 billion Open RAN deal with Ericsson for 70% of its wireless network traffic by late 2026, giving a renewed boost to the sector. Sources said the incoming Trump administration may also prioritize development of the technology.

US-SAUDI TIES

While a deal between Aramco and Mavenir is likely to go through a U.S. national security review, the Biden administration signed a deal with the Saudis in 2022 to cooperate on the technology to build 5G and 6G networks in Saudi Arabia.

As part of the deal with Mavenir, Aramco Digital is in talks to separately invest $200 million in a joint venture with the company for technology development in the region.

Aramco Digital in January announced its intent to build Saudi Arabia's first Open RAN development center in partnership with Intel, which has been working with telecom firms such as Vodafone and Reliance Jio to develop the technology. Aramco Digital last week received a license to provide wireless services in Saudi Arabia.

A cash infusion from the Saudis would allow Mavenir to upgrade its 5G technology and better prepare for the 6G network rollout in the latter half of the decade, at a time when the entire telecom industry is going through a downturn.
FOR MONTHS the decision seemed both inevitable and improbable. On November 21st it finally came. The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, and Yoav Gallant, until recently the defence minister (pictured right). They are accused of overseeing war crimes during Israels year-long war in Gaza against Hamas, a Palestinian militant group. The court also indicted the top commander of Hamas, which carried out a massacre of Israelis that triggered Israels assault on Gaza. But it is the charges against the two Israeli politicians that are the real earthquake: a diplomatic disaster for Mr Netanyahu, and perhaps also for the court itself.

Karim Khan, the ICCs prosecutor, requested the warrants in May. The case he brought is separate from allegations of Israeli acts of genocide against Palestinians pending before the International Court of Justice, which hears disputes between states (the ICC prosecutes individuals). The type of charges brought against Messrs Netanyahu and Gallant are easier to prove than a charge of genocide against Israel would be: they are accused of using starvation as a weapon of war in Gaza, and of directing attacks against civilians in the territory.

A three-judge panel found reasonable grounds to believe" that such crimes had occurred. Recent events no doubt bolstered Mr Khans case: the United Nations continues to warn of imminent famine in northern Gaza, which has been largely cut off from humanitarian aid for the past 40 days. The panel rejected a procedural challenge from Israel, which argued that the court has no jurisdiction in Gaza. Palestine, of which Gaza forms a part, is a signatory to the Rome Statute, the legal framework for the ICC. The judges ruled that gave them authority to investigate crimes committed there.

The ICC is meant to be a court of last resort that steps in when a countrys own courts fail to prosecute abuses. Israels attorney-general told Mr Netanyahu this year that forming a state commission of inquiry might stall the ICCs probe. But he has yet to appoint one, and the judges noted Israels failure to do so in their decision.

The ruling drew near-universal condemnation from Israeli politicians. Bezalel Smotrich, the far-right finance minister, called it a mark of Cain" on the ICC, while Yair Golan, the head of a left-wing party, called it a shameful decision". Many Israelis argued that it was the result of antisemitism: Mr Netanyahu himself called it a modern Dreyfus trial", referring to the wrongful prosecution of a Jewish officer in the French army in 1894.

But the charge of antisemitism cheapens the term. Nothing about the courts history suggests a fixation with Jews. Since it was founded in 2002 the ICC has mostly prosecuted African warlords and despots, the likes of Omar al-Bashir, a Sudanese dictator, and Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the son of Libyas longtime tyrant. Over the past two years it has issued warrants for a number of Russian officials, including Vladimir Putin, for the invasion of Ukraine. This is the first time it has indicted Israelis.

Along with Messrs Netanyahu and Gallant, the ICC issued a warrant for Muhammad Deif, the longtime Hamas military chief. He is accused of directing the murder, torture and rape of civilians on October 7th 2023, among other offences. Mr Deif probably cannot stand trial: Israel believes he was killed in an air strike in July (the court issued a warrant because it could not confirm his fate). Mr Khan had also requested warrants for Yahya Sinwar, the architect of the massacre, and Ismail Haniyeh, the groups leader at the time. Those requests were withdrawn because both men were killed by Israel this year.

There is no risk that Israel will extradite Messrs Netanyahu or Gallant to The Hague, since the country is not a member of the ICC. But 124 other countries are, including many of Israels closest friends. The most immediate consequence of the judgment is that both men will be unable to travel to those countries for fear of arrest. Josep Borrell, the European Unions foreign-policy chief, said the courts decision was binding on all EU members. Netanyahu has ended his journey as a legitimate leader in the international arena," wrote Eran Etzion, a former deputy national security adviser under Mr Netanyahu.

The main exception, of course, is America, which is not a member of the court. The decision has thrown a bombshell into Americas presidential transition. It will embarrass Joe Bidens outgoing administration, divide Democrats and outrage Republicans as they prepare to take control of the White House and both houses of Congress in January.

Leading Republicans have warned that America will impose sanctions on the ICCwith support from Democrats if possible or without it if necessary. Mike Waltz, whom Donald Trump has chosen to be his national security adviser, promised a strong response" to the courts antisemitic bias". John Thune, the Senates incoming majority leader, denounced the ICCs move as outrageous, unlawful and dangerous". He said that its actions, left unchecked, could pose a threat to the United States in the future".

He urged Chuck Schumer, the Democratic majority leader in the Senate, to take up a bill passed by the Republican-controlled House in June that would apply sweeping economic sanctions and visa restrictions to judges and others linked to the ICC, including their family members. If not, he warned, Republicans would do so in January as a top priority".

Democrats, for their part, are increasingly split over the war in the Middle East. On November 20th the Senate firmly rejected three motions calling on Mr Biden to halt various weapons shipments to Israel, but 17 of the 47 Democrats, and two independents who support them, voted for at least one of the critical motions. The Biden administration is in a quandary. It has opposed legal action against Israel, but it has supported the court in issuing an arrest warrant for Mr Putin and has resisted the House sanctions bill as going too far.

Ironically, it may be the court that suffers the most immediate consequences in the form of sanctions imposed by America. Mr Netanyahu is not about to end up in the dock, nor is Israel about to end its war in Gaza. But the judgment will have long-term consequences: both Mr Netanyahu and the country he leads will be more isolated and more dependent on the United States.
President Vladimir Putin has confirmed that Russia will continue to test its newly developed Oreshnik hypersonic missile in combat conditions, with a stock of missiles ready for use. The missile, which was used for the first time in an attack on Ukraine, is a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict, with Russia stating that the missile's deployment was prompted by Ukraine's use of Western-supplied weapons, including US ballistic missiles and British cruise missiles.

In comments made to defence officials and missile developers, Putin referred to the first use of the Oreshnik missile as a "successful test" and made it clear that further tests, including combat deployments, would follow.

Also Read | Putin Says Russia May Use New Missile Again After Attack on Ukraine

"We (Russia) 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, adding, Moreover, we have a stock of such products, a stock of such systems ready for use.

Russias Strategy and Escalation Russia's use of the Oreshnik missile marks a notable shift in its military strategy, with Moscow framing the missiles deployment as a warning to the West. The Kremlin has accused the United States and its allies of escalating tensions by supporting Ukraine with increasingly potent weapons.

By enabling Ukraine to strike deep within Russia using Western missiles, Moscow views the US and its allies as directly engaging in the conflict.

Putins government has justified the missile's use as a defensive measure against perceived Western aggression. The Kremlin issued a statement asserting that the missile strike served as a clear warning to the West against further "reckless" actions in support of Ukraine.

Putin also implied that the missiles destructive power, though non-nuclear, was comparable to that of strategic nuclear weapons when deployed in large numbers and in conjunction with other long-range, precision-guided systems.

The Oreshnik missile, which reaches speeds exceeding 13,000 km/h and can strike within 15 minutes of launch, carries multiple warheads capable of hitting different targets simultaneously.

This feature is typically associated with intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), which are designed to carry nuclear payloads.

Also Read | Is the Ukraine war stoppable?

However, the Oreshnik missile used in the recent strike was not equipped with nuclear warheads.

Vladimir Putin said the ballistic missile could not be shot down by an enemy.

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.

"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.

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.

Nuclear Threshold Lowered in Russia In a related development, President Putin recently approved changes to Russias military policy, which lower the threshold for nuclear weapon use in response to conventional attacks.

This shift signals a further escalation in the conflict, as Moscow prepares to use all available tools, including nuclear weapons, in its confrontation with Ukraine and the West.

Ukraine's Response to New Threats The Ukrainian government, led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has already begun working with its Western partners to develop new air defence systems to counter the threat posed by the Oreshnik missile. Zelenskyy acknowledged the urgency of the situation, stating in his nightly address that Ukrainian officials were meeting with partners to address the "new risks" posed by the missile.
Joe Bidens decision this week to let Ukraine use U.S. missiles to hit Russian territory came only after Russia had already moved many key targets out of range; it came after Ukraine had spent its short supply of U.S. rocketry on lesser targets that were previously permitted.

Britain, based on the new U.S. policy, allowed its Storm Shadows to be deployed against a command bunker in the Russian town of Marino on Wednesday, wounding and possibly killing a North Korean general. Now the U.S. will have to be alert for a North Korean attack on American or British interests, one of several paths to a wider war.

For some in Trumpworld, criticizing the Biden decision is a freebie that only accentuates the mess the administration is leaving. But the U.S. needed an answer to Russias deployment of North Korean troops and expanded strike authority had been signaled as the next step on Washingtons otherwise planless escalation ladder.

Planlessness has been the Biden approach from the start, though often mischaracterized as a pointillist gauging of Putin red lines." In his defense, anything else was likely beyond Mr. Biden given his diminished state. Still, the future is arriving too fast now even to blame Mr. Trump.

Our Ukrainian allies are overstretched and losing ground. Biden slogans such as as long as it takes" and nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine" only concealed a dangerous nonmeeting of minds between the U.S. and Kyiv over Crimea and other war aims. Even Ukraines failed 2023 offensive, it becomes clearer than ever, was a hapless byproduct of Kyiv trying to guess at and manage the internal politics of its indispensable but passive-aggressive U.S. ally.

A new strategy was going to be needed whoever won this months U.S. election, as Mr. Bidens friendliest judge, Michael OHanlon of the Brookings Institution, has acknowledged.

The question all along should have been whether such strikes serve U.S. interests. Yes, because they provide the best means immediately at hand to raise the cost to Mr. Putin of a war that he must voluntarily end.

Ditto the vaporous debate over whether law and international-relations theory smiles or frowns upon the seizing of Russias offshore financial assets. We should be way past such niceties by now. Ditto the parade of one-off Washington and European budget and weapons commitments. Enough already. Enunciate five- and 10-year plans for training and equipping Ukraine to NATO standards.

Mr. Biden, alas, wasnt a president even Democrats wanted to follow, having been placed in his job as a Covid placebo in 2020 by the partys more compos mentis leaders to stop the Bernie Sanders wing.

Generously, we might say he never possessed the political oomph to do more than keep Ukraine afloat while trying to change the subject whenever possible.

Unfortunately, Mr. Trumps known virtues make it unlikely, even if he can now deliver a cease-fire negotiation, that he will produce anything resembling stability once the confetti is swept up.

You might even ask if the war is stoppable at this point. Will Ukraine become Afghanistan in the middle of Europe?

The Ukrainians have shown themselves not controllable from Moscow or Washington. Their losses they will find hard to forgive. For his part, Mr. Putin must know the territorial gains he keeps striving after, at huge cost to his soldiers, will be his future eyesore and money pit at best, and more likely a source of insurgency, vandalism and sabotage that will weaken the Russian state and metastasize across the region for decades to come.

If youre Poland or Finland, its no longer unthinkable that, in 10 or 20 years, you might be called upon to resume sovereignty over border areas long ago stolen by Stalin.

The war has been a disaster for both Moscow and Kyiv, though Mr. Putin will call himself a winner under any outcome. Indeed, I expect his key ask will be a secret codicil banning the phrase strategic defeat for Russia," which has clearly become neuralgic for him (this phrase got yours truly named to the Kremlins sanctions list).

He may not say so, but Mr. Putin secretly knows that Russia has long benefited from the stability provided by NATO, without which the Soviet Unions unraveling 35 years ago could have been a lot more fraught and dangerous.

Any deal struck among Mr. Trump, Ukraines Volodomyr Zelensky and Mr. Putin had better keep this in mind. Needed will be a big and lasting financial and military investment from Europe and the U.S. to avoid the Afghanistan scenario.
Boosting manufacturing is critical to India becoming an economic powerhouse. It now has a fresh shot at that with the election of Donald Trump, whose promise to levy sky-high import tariffs on Chinese goods could send more manufacturers to the South Asian nation.

But first India has to get out of the way of its factory owners.

In the southern city of Bengaluru, A. Dhananjaya, who has run a garment manufacturing company for nearly three decades, says he grapples with high labor costs and hundreds of labor-compliance rules. He wouldnt dare grow beyond about 100 workers, because that would mean more forms to fill out, more licenses to apply for, and more expenses.

Before the pandemic, he lost business to China. In the past two years, larger and cheaper Bangladesh factories have wooed away many customers.

The collapse is real," said Dhananjaya, who has laid off half his workers in recent years. Five years down the line, Im not sure if the garment industry will survive."

India has generated splashy headlines under Prime Minister Narendra Modi by wooing high-profile companies such as Apple that have sought to diversify production away from China since the pandemic. But economists say that the country has done little to clear away hurdles for labor-intensive manufacturing, the foundation for economic growth from China to South Korea.

In India, manufacturings contribution to its gross domestic product has fallen from around 17% two decades ago to 13% in 2023, according to World Bank data. The country has about 65 million manufacturing jobs, while four times as many people work in agriculture. Millions of young people join the workforce every year in the worlds most populous nation.

That failure is especially visible in its apparel exports, where India, with its history of skilled textile work and vast labor supply, should have an edge. Instead, its annual apparel exports have declined more than 11% compared with a decade ago, clocking in at $15 billion in 2023, according to the World Trade Organization. Over the same period, Bangladesh saw its garment exports grow by more than 50% to $38 billion, while Vietnams exports crossed $30 billion.

The two countries top the list of nations that have been able to seize an advantage from Chinas declining share in global exports of low-skill manufacturing, according to the World Bank. India doesnt even figure in the top five.

India is punching below its weight for labor-intensive manufacturing," said Trinh Nguyen, emerging market economist with Natixis. It is an unsexy part of industrialization, but a country that large cannot completely ignore it."

Indias apparel exports have faced friction from some factors beyond its controlsuch as global trade policies meant to help the poorest countries. Bangladeshs clothing exports enjoy duty-free access to the worlds biggest apparel buyers, the U.S. and Europe, an advantage that it has used to become the worlds biggest apparel exporter after China.

But economists and manufacturers say that countries such as Bangladesh and Vietnam have also done a far better job of smoothing the way for firms than India where regulations, especially around labor, discourage companies from expanding.

Factories in India with over 100 employees require government permission to fire workers. Those with at least 50 female workers must set up an on-site nursery. Adding a second shift to turnaround large orders quickly also requires prior government approval.

Dhananjaya said he has kept his full-time workforce small to avoid regulations that require going in person to the local labor department to obtain an updated labor license every time a factory wants to expand. They require proof that the facility has staff trained in first aid and bathroom facilities to handle the extra workers.

His manager devotes a large portion of time to keeping books and updating dozens of different labor registries, including overtime, accidents and salaries. He pays his workers about 45% more than the prevailing minimum wage in neighboring Bangladesh.

Labor is just a headache," he said. It adds costs that make us less competitive."

Many states bar or restrict women from working in factories after 7 p.m., while male workers increasingly favor gig work or making deliveries over factory shifts. That limits manufacturing facilities to only one shift a day.

Sameer Yadav, the 42-year-old owner of a garment factory in Bengaluru, said his costs would have been far lower if he could add a late shift to an existing factory. Instead, he set up a second factory in 2016 to meet deadlines for large orders.

That doubled his expenses for machinery, supervisors, security guards and permits. Over the past decade, he has lost about 60% of his business to rival countries that can produce shirts for half the cost.

All the business has gone to Bangladesh," Yadav said.

Economists and policymakers say it is a pattern that is repeated across many parts of Indias economy that have the best chance of employing lots of workers, from furniture to shoes.

In contrast, Bangladesh has streamlined its permitting process by handing over some regulatory powers to the countrys main trade group, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association.

The trade group issues a same-day permit to factories for hiring additional staff and handles labor department paperwork on behalf of companies, said Shovon Islam, a director of the association. Some permits for importing fabric duty-free are also issued by the group, which acts as a middleman with customs officials.

Nearly 60% of Bangladesh factories have 3,000 workers or more, compared with an average of 150 workers per factory in India.

Islam, who used to operate out of India, said the streamlined regulatory process was partly what pushed him and his Indian business partner to gradually move their factories over the past decade from the southern Indian city of Chennai to Bangladesh.

Now his four factories in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka have an average workforce of 5,000 people, more than tripling the capacity of his Indian factories, he said. Overhead costs have been slashed 30% by boosting production while eliminating the need for duplicate support staff, storage facilities and transport.

When you have large factories, the economies of scale are very high," he said.

Bangladeshs factories saw several disasters in the rush to grow, but after a factory collapse that killed more than 1,000 people, the industry worked with brands to improve safety.

It takes factories in Bangladesh two or three weeks to produce and ship an order, compared with twice as long in India, according to industry sources.

An overhaul of the labor code by Modis government aimed to loosen labor laws, including allowing firms of up to 300 to fire workers without government permission. But they have yet to be widely implemented after facing pushback from labor unions, which organized marches this year calling for the repeal of the laws.

Manufacturing firms in India said they are wary of operating large factories because of the power of organized labor. In September, a strike paralyzed the operations at a Samsung Electronics factory in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu for over a month as workers demanded better pay, improved working facilities and recognition of a newly formed union. Apple suppliers including Foxconn and Wistron have also dealt with protests and strikes.

No manufacturer wants to set up a 10,000 person factory because it really makes them a target," said Rahul Ahluwalia, founding director of Foundation of Economic Development, a New Delhi think tank. The politicians will round up your labor and try to extract rents from the businessmen through that."

Indias failure to sign free-trade agreements with other countries that would slash tariffs on its exports has also made Indian garments increasingly too expensive for global retail companies. At the same time, the country levies high duties on the types of synthetic fabric that factories need to fill fast-fashion orders.

Indias own retailers and manufacturers catering to the domestic market are shifting more production and sourcing to Bangladesh, leading to a sharp jump in Indias apparel imports.

Some firms have managed to grow despite the odds. Garment maker Radnik Exports Global, based in New Delhi, has protected itself by manufacturing high-value garments for buyers such as Hugo Boss and Ralph Lauren, and diversifying into technical fabrics for automobiles and accessories, said Anurag Kapur, a director and member of the founding family.

Kapur expects Trumps electionand political unrest in Bangladesh which ousted its prime minister in Augustto provide opportunities to larger apparel makers like his firm.

But it hasnt been easy. His family had to scramble in 2019 after Trump canceled Indias special trade status, which allowed for duty-free imports of some garments, and accused India of shutting out American businesses. Trump repeatedly railed over what he saw as Indias protectionist policies, including a 50% import duty on Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

Kapur said some of his garment export orders in production for the U.S. suddenly attracted high single-digit duties. The firm trimmed costs by laying off supervisors and support staff and beseeching suppliers to swallow some of the extra expenses.

We are like clusters fending for ourselves," he said. The government has not looked out for us as an industry."

If the company had stuck to only manufacturing simple garments, he said, they would be struggling just like 80% of the industry.

You reinvent yourself, that is the only mode of survival," Kapur said. If you havent, its already too late."

Tripti Lahiri contributed to this article.

Write to Shan Li at shan.li@wsj.com
iPhone 16 is the go-to premium flagship in India for a lot of buyers. People want it for the latest artificial intelligence features, which Apple markets as Apple Intelligence. It has a great set of dual camera setups and, of course, iOS and Apple ecosystem integration. But at the end of the day, the device misses out on a lot of flagship features, including a 120Hz refresh rate with its 6.1-inch AMOLED screen. Also, for 79,900, you're getting a 6.1-inch panel, which many might not appreciate. Therefore, there are several other options in the Android space which offer a much bigger display and higher refresh rate displays. Here, we will tell you about the top five iPhone 16 alternatives you can find for much cheaper than the iPhone 16 or around the same price.

iPhone 15 Plus Well, you may or may not be be surprised to see the iPhone 15 Plus on this list, but it does pack in a significantly larger display for a much lower price. The iPhone 15 Plus gets a 6.7-inch panel, but it also comes with a 60Hz refresh rate; however, at least you're getting a much bigger display. So if having a bigger display is your priority, the iPhone 15 Plus could be a good option, especially around its price, which happens to be around 65,000 rupees on websites like Flipkart and Amazon. It also has a dual camera setup with a 48-megapixel wide and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens, similar to the iPhone 16.

Google Pixel 9 The Google Pixel 9 is the closest when it comes to iOS and is recommended as a good entry point into the Android side of things. If you are coming from iOS, the switch won't feel as drastic as, let's say, switching to something like Samsung One UI. That said, the Pixel 9 offers multiple layers of software upgrades, coming in at seven years of OS upgrades. For the display, the device features a 6.3-inch panel, which is larger than the iPhone 15's 6.1-inch panel. Also, it is 120Hz and supports a larger, higher peak brightness. It is a good size display that sits right in between 6.1 inches and phones that come in above 6.7 inches.

The phone is also available in a slew of interesting colours, including Wintergreen, Peony, Porcelain, and Obsidian. Also, you get much larger storage in the form of a 256GB base model. The phone retails for 79,900 rupeesSo this is exactly the same as the iPhone 16, but you get much more for your money.

Oppo Find X8 Oppo Find X8 was released recently by Oppo, and it features several interesting features that could make it an ideal choice over the iPhone 16, including a triple camera setup powered by Hasselblad and a much larger 6.59-inch AMOLED panel display, which supports a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 4,500 nits. Also, it happens to be the first MediaTek Dimensity 9400 chipset-powered phone in India.

You can choose up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of onboard storage, but we recommend the base model, which retails for 69,999. Alongside this, you also get a slew of AI features, such as AI Clarity, which boosts your zoom shots, AI reflection removal, AI unblur, and AI magic editor.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus The Samsung S24 Plus could be a great option if you're looking for a flagship Android phone and don't want to compromise on anything. It has a triple camera setup, and you're getting a 6.7-inch display, which happens to be an AMOLED panel with support for 120Hz. Plus, the Samsung S24 also supports several other features like Google Circle to search, instant slow-motion transcription, live translate, photo assist, and more.

The S24 is available for 79,999 on the Samsung India website, and for this variant, you're getting 256GB and 8GB of onboard memory. You can also opt for the 128GB model, which retails for 5,000 less at 74,999. This happens to be good value when you are getting a more versatile camera system and a much larger display compared to the iPhone 16.

Xiaomi 14 Yes, we know that the Xiaomi 15 series is already out in China and will be launched in India soon, but the Xiaomi 14 has been hugely discounted on Amazon lately, and you can find the device for as low as 49,999. For this money, you are getting a 50MP triple camera setup powered by Leica. Also, you get a compact 6.4-inch AMOLED panel with support for 120Hz. This is a good size that isn't too big or too small.
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Boston University has suspended a dozen graduate programs in humanities and social sciences, weeks after graduate students ended a months-long strike.

For the 2025 to 2026 academic year, the school will not accept applications for American and New England studies, anthropology, classical studies, English, history, history of art and architecture, linguistics, philosophy, political science, religion, romance studies and sociology, according to the university website.

After careful consideration, we have decided to suspend admissions for many of our programs for the upcoming academic year, the school said in a statement. We deeply value graduate education and intend to reopen admissions for future academic years.

A union representing BU graduate workers ratified a roughly three-year contract with the university in October, ending their nearly seven-month-long strike.

Graduate workers, represented by Service Employees International Union Local 509, launched the strike in March after eight months of negotiations with the university.

The contract included increased wages for graduate student workers, including a roughly 70% raise for the lowest-paid union members. It also boosted the minimum hourly wage to $20 per hour.

The union also secured health care coverage, childcare subsidies and parental leave.

In an email to professors, leaders of the universitys College of Arts and Sciences wrote that the contract had budgetary implications that would affect its offerings, according to The Boston Globe. The college needed to balance its existing commitments to the doctoral students already enrolled in our programs and admissions for next year, they wrote.

A 2023 university task force report obtained by WBUR found that Bostons high cost of living is a system barrier to the traditional PhD funding model.

Boston can be an extraordinarily challenging place to live and study, with a high cost of living that outpaces most compensation structure at the university, the reports authors wrote, according to WBUR.

The task force also found that BU must be strategic in the funds allocated to graduate student stipends and creative in devising other potential income streams to cover graduate student wages, benefits and tuition.

Anthony Abraham Jack, an associate professor of higher education policy at BUs Wheelock College of Education and Human Development, told WBUR that it hurts to hear that the school was suspending some graduate degree admissions, especially at a time when we need to train the future producers of knowledge.

I hope it is a temporary, one-year move, he told the station.
Detective Lt. Brian Tully became the highest-ranking member of the Massachusetts State Police to be disciplined for the investigation into Karen Read this week, a move one expert says shows a concerted effort to regain public trust in the troubled agency.

Tully was ordered to forfeit six vacation days  equivalent to a fine of several thousand dollars  after an internal affairs investigation found he failed to take proper action to discipline Trooper Michael Proctor for sending derogatory texts about Read.

But that expert, Dennis Galvin, the president of the Massachusetts Association for Professional Law Enforcement, said the more significant penalty for Tully came when he was transferred out of his post as the commander of the State Police detective unit assigned to the Norfolk District Attorneys office.

Galvin, himself a former major in the State Police, called the transfer a significant imposition.

A lot of folks aspire to get to investigative units, he said. If they are transferred out of them, thats a pretty clear message.

In the case of Tully, transferring him out of the unit entirely is a significant statement, Galvin said. Moving Tully, one of new Col. Geoff Nobles first official actions after being sworn in, proves that Noble is pushing the agency toward restoring the publics faith in it, he argued.

The fundamental process of effective policing is ... you have to maintain public support, Galvin said. If you dont have public support for your operation, you cant function.

I think this particular colonel is keenly aware of that relationship, he added.

The fallout from the Read case and the revelations about Proctors conduct has extended beyond just Tully and Proctor himself to another state trooper and also to the Canton Police Department.

Canton Police Detective Kevin Albert was ordered to work three unpaid shifts after an internal investigation determined he drank on the job while conducting a cold case investigation on Cape Cod with Proctor.

Sgt. Yuriy Bukhenik, Proctors direct supervisor, was ordered to forfeit five vacation days. A trooper since 2012, Bukhenik earns 20 vacation days a year.

Those punishments could be seen as relatively light, but Jack Lu, a retired Superior Court judge who has written about the state of policing in Massachusetts, argued that the discipline was appropriate and the officers are entitled to fairness and progressive discipline.

If we are unfair to police, how can we expect the police to be fair to people on the street? Lu wrote in an email. That punishment amounts to forfeiture of a few thousand dollars. That is appropriate. It makes no sense to over-punish these police because it involves the case du jour.

On the other hand, Lu offered criticism for the way the punishments have been doled out  all four after the close of Reads trial, and in the case of Proctor, the same day a mistrial was declared.

Suspending Proctor the same day Reads first trial concluded is a manipulation of the jury, judge and the public, he argued.

Lu has lobbied the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission to pass a rule stating they will not certify a police department that routinely delays discipline for officers until the close of a criminal proceeding.
After 15 consecutive days of being on strike, the Gloucester teachers' union has reached a tentative agreement with the city.

The agreement between the Union of Gloucester Educators and Mayor Greg Verga and School Committee Chair Kathy Clancy means classes will resume on Monday, Nov. 25, the union said.

This contract fight was about working-class educators, community members, students versus those that have power and wield it to maintain a broken system, Rachel Salvo Rex and Maryann Aiello, the co-presidents of the Union of Gloucester Educators, wrote in a press release.

The love for our students and our unending commitment to improving our lives fueled us for 15 long days in the rain, in the cold, and throughout this struggle. What this strike proved is that in the face of cruel punishment and immense hardship, the more than 400 educators of this community had enough power to stand up, fight back, and transform this community, the co-presidents added.

Although the details of the new agreement are not made clear, Clancy said in one of her statements that there will be increases to teacher and paraprofessional pay and a new parental leave policy, the Boston Globe reported.

This agreement accomplishes our primary goals from the start of these negotiations, Clancy told the Globe. These contracts reflect our deep commitment, appreciation and respect for educators and show a great investment in public education in Gloucester.

Max Page, the president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, said the efforts held by the Gloucester teachers was inspiring, in a statement.

"[Union of Gloucester Educators] mounted a righteous fight and earned the communitys support, Page said in a statement. The [Union of Gloucester Educators] 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.

Since teachers went on strike on Nov. 8, Gloucester students have missed 10 days of school, the Globe reported.
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Info/News: Unlocking full human potentialProfesseur Abdoulaye Diabate parmi les 100 Africains les plus influents de 2024Mise en place de mesures preventives a lhopital New Souillac contre le HMPVDeux arbitres mauriciens pour la CAN 2025Faudra passer par le State Law Office maintenant2025 Bocuse dOr Grand FinalRegTech Africa Conference and Awards 2025Second special communique for St Brandon ( 08-01-2025)Huawei : Leader mondial des Wearables selon lInternational Data CorporationMauritian Prime Minister pays tribute to Former American President Jimmy Carter during Condolence Book signingDes grands villages pourraient devenir des villes[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 7 janvier 2025Meteo du 8 janvier 2025La zone perturbee sest creuseeDeces de Jean Marie Le PenHuawei releases Top 10 Trends of FusionSolar 2025Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard named among the 100 Most Influential Africans for 2nd consecutive yearFirst special communique for St BrandonNavin Ramgoolam rend hommage a Jimmy CarterSe preparer pour le passage dun cycloneMeteo du 7 janvier 2024Deces de Reynolds PermalJustin Trudeau a annonce sa demission5e systeme de la saison cyclonique 2024-2025Renouvellement du permis doperation pour les pharmacies priveesLes prochaines rencontres de football de la MFAMeteo du 6 janvier 2025Modoki La Nina dans le PacifiqueZone pluvio-orageuse au Nord-Nord Ouest de MauriceTrois Jumbo Express ferment leurs portesDeces de Lady Nancy Ah-ChuenSpace42s Thuraya 4 Satellite successfully launched into orbit[Video news] Baby John au Sirsa[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 4 janvier 2025Sanjiv Ranjan is the new Secretary-General of the IORA SecretariatLettre ouverte au Premier ministre du PakistanLettre ouverte a lAmbassadeur des Etats Unis a MauriceIPLOOK Networks 2024 RecapThe Best-Performing CEOs in Africa in 2024iHerb Debuts Digital Wellness HubHinen to showcase advanced energy storage technologyContribution decisive des Nouveaux Democrates dans la victoire du 10 Novembre 2024DTOS Group lance une initiative innovante pour renforcer les relations intergenerationnelles en entreprise[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 3 janvier 2025La piscine de Mare dAlbert dans un etat piteuxLa residence dHarvesh Seegoolam perquisitionneCommunique de HM Technologies : Precisions sur la cessation de contrats de 11 collaborateurs[Document] Les chansons de lannee de 2024 de Radio One[Video news] Petards a Poste de FlacqUne fille, premiere nee de la Generation Beta[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 1er janvier 2025[Video News] Message du nouvel an de Navin RamgoolamProcession religieuse a Petite RiviereMessage du 1er Janvier 2025 de Pravind Jugnauth[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du decembre 2024[Video news] Cotton Bay a lheure de 2025[Video News] Pointe aux Sables passe en 2025Bonne et heureuse annee 2025Message de fin dannee de Patrick BelcourtDemission du CEO du Mauritus 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30-12-2024)Communique National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management CentreVeille de fortes pluies en vigueur a Maurice (30-12-2024)Que quelques heures pour voter pour votre chanson de lannee sur R1Homelie de Mgr Durhone a loccasion de la messe de Noel a la prison de Melrose147.8 mm a Riche en eau en 24 heuresTrois zones perturbees dans le nord de la region[Document] Export and Import Price Indices for 3rd Quarter 2024Deces de Jimmy CarterFin de la Veille de fortes pluies pour MauriceDeux zones perturbees et une perturbation tropicaleOrages dans lOuestSoft Robotics to debut at CES 2025Bulletin meteo special pour AgalegaPremiere cohorte de femmes certifiee en gestion de pepiniere au sein de lAgri-Hub de la Vallee de FerneyLegend Hill ouvre son paradis panoramique aux Mauriciens en mars 2025Communique du National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Centre ( 29/12/2024)30.2 mm de pluie en trois heures a Riche en Eau[Document] 50 mm de pluie pour les premiers 15 jours de decembre 2024[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 28 decembre 2024[Video News] Dawood Rawat a rencontre les investisseurs dans la BAIBulletin de Veille de fortes pluies pour MauriceUne voiture detruite par les flammes
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 23. Kazakhstan and Croatia agree to enhance diplomatic dialogue and economic partnership, Trend reports.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Murat Nurtleu, on the second day of his official visit to Croatia, was received by Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, Andrej Plenkovic.

Continuing the bilateral talks between President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and the head of the Croatian government, which took place during COP29 in Baku in November this year, the parties discussed further steps aimed at strengthening political dialogue and expanding business ties between the two countries.

In particular, the minister briefed his counterpart on the institutional political and socio-economic reforms taking place in Kazakhstan.

Nurtleu invited Croatian companies to establish and develop trade and investment partnerships with Kazakhstan, highlighting promising sectors such as energy, transportation and logistics, agriculture, information technologies, education, and tourism.

In this context, both sides expressed a shared opinion that the growth of business relations should be facilitated by the work of the Kazakh-Croatian Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation and the Business Council Kazakhstan-Croatia, with the next meetings scheduled to be held in Astana in 2025.

For his part, Plenkovic confirmed the mutual desire to strengthen political dialogue and mutually beneficial partnerships between Astana and Zagreb, based on trust and mutual support.

As a result of the meeting, the parties agreed to continue constructive cooperation between the two countries, including through organizing and holding high-level visits.

Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Murat Nurtleu, met with Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlic-Radman, where discussions focused on the significant potential for expanding mutually beneficial cooperation between Kazakhstan and Croatia in areas such as energy and transportation.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Info/News: Renouvellement du permis doperation pour les pharmacies priveesLes prochaines rencontres de football de la MFAMeteo du 6 janvier 2025Modoki La Nina dans le PacifiqueZone pluvio-orageuse au Nord-Nord Ouest de MauriceTrois Jumbo Express ferment leurs portesDeces de Lady Nancy Ah-ChuenSpace42s Thuraya 4 Satellite successfully launched into orbit[Video news] Baby John au Sirsa[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 4 janvier 2025Sanjiv Ranjan is the new Secretary-General of the IORA SecretariatLettre ouverte au Premier ministre du PakistanLettre ouverte a lAmbassadeur des Etats Unis a MauriceIPLOOK Networks 2024 RecapThe Best-Performing CEOs in Africa in 2024iHerb Debuts Digital Wellness HubHinen to showcase advanced energy storage technologyContribution decisive des Nouveaux Democrates dans la victoire du 10 Novembre 2024DTOS Group lance une initiative innovante pour renforcer les relations intergenerationnelles en entreprise[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 3 janvier 2025La piscine de Mare dAlbert dans un etat piteuxLa residence dHarvesh Seegoolam perquisitionneCommunique de HM Technologies : Precisions sur la cessation de contrats de 11 collaborateurs[Document] Les chansons de lannee de 2024 de Radio One[Video news] Petards a Poste de FlacqUne fille, premiere nee de la Generation Beta[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 1er janvier 2025[Video News] Message du nouvel an de Navin RamgoolamProcession religieuse a Petite RiviereMessage du 1er Janvier 2025 de Pravind Jugnauth[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du decembre 2024[Video news] Cotton Bay a lheure de 2025[Video News] Pointe aux Sables passe en 2025Bonne et heureuse annee 2025Message de fin dannee de Patrick BelcourtDemission du CEO du Mauritus Telecom GroupLa Mauritius Meteorological Services a lance une brochures, clip video et timbre poste.Tournee Patient Day pour Anil BaichooLa revendication mauricienne est basee sur trois criteresMessage de Steven Obeegadoo pour 2025[Video News] Studying in ChinaGalettes des rois by hotels Ninety-Six !ITL Foundation a apporte la magie de Noel aux enfants de SAFIRE !Five years ago Covid-19800 millions de livres sterlings par anneeEnd of year statement by WHO Director-GeneralAucun avertissement de fortes pluies nest en vigueur a MauricePluie: 140 mm a Riche en Eau en 24 heures[Video News] Les consignes de Pravind Rughoo pour les Late Night ShoppersApercu du temps pour Rodrigues du 31 decembre 2024 jusquau 03 janvier 2025Apercu du temps pour Maurice de mardi 31 decembre 2024 jusquau vendredi 03 janvier 2025Communique du Ministere du Bien-etre de La Famille: Fermeture des crechesCommunique du National Emergency Operations CommandAvertissement de fortes pluies pour Maurice ( 30-12-2024)Communique National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management CentreVeille de fortes pluies en vigueur a Maurice (30-12-2024)Que quelques heures pour voter pour votre chanson de lannee sur R1Homelie de Mgr Durhone a loccasion de la messe de Noel a la prison de Melrose147.8 mm a Riche en eau en 24 heuresTrois zones perturbees dans le nord de la region[Document] Export and Import Price Indices for 3rd Quarter 2024Deces de Jimmy CarterFin de la Veille de fortes pluies pour MauriceDeux zones perturbees et une perturbation tropicaleOrages dans lOuestSoft Robotics to debut at CES 2025Bulletin meteo special pour AgalegaPremiere cohorte de femmes certifiee en gestion de pepiniere au sein de lAgri-Hub de la Vallee de FerneyLegend Hill ouvre son paradis panoramique aux Mauriciens en mars 2025Communique du National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Centre ( 29/12/2024)30.2 mm de pluie en trois heures a Riche en Eau[Document] 50 mm de pluie pour les premiers 15 jours de decembre 2024[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 28 decembre 2024[Video News] Dawood Rawat a rencontre les investisseurs dans la BAIBulletin de Veille de fortes pluies pour MauriceUne voiture detruite par les flammesThe 100 Most Influential Africans of 2024Recrutement de personnel de cabine dEmirates Airlines a Mauriceblink by Emtel annonce les 10 premiers gagnants de la 2 edition de sa campagne blink & WinMerck Foundation Chairman and First Ladies share their partnership journey in Transforming Patient Care Landscape[Video news] Message de fin dannee de Paul Berenger[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 27 decembre 2024Avis de fortes pluies en vigueur a AgalegaSarat Lallah retrouve la MT Towerle Premier ministre a rendu hommage au Dr Manmohan Singh,Revocation de lInformation and Communication Technologies (Registration of SIM) Regulations 2023Amaresh Singh Ramlugan, nomme president du Conseil dAdministration de la MBCDecisions du Conseil des Ministres du 27 decembre 2024Apercu du temps pour Rodrigues du 28 au 31 decembre 2024Apercu du temps pour Maurice du 28 au 31 decembre 2024Global Movement to drive clean energy solutions and sustainable livingDepression tropicale a lEst-Nord-est[Document] Debats parlementaires du 20 decembre 2024[Document] The Special Allowance Act 2024[Document] The Employment Relations (Amendment) Act 2024Maurice et lAfrique du Sud veulent renforcer leurs liens culturels en 2025[Video News] Message de Noel de Mgr Jean-Michael Durhone[Video News] Message de Noel de Mgr Stelio Andre[Video News] Message de Noel de Dharambeer Gokhool[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto et Loto Plus du 25 decembre 2024
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: Mayo island issued with Boil Water Notice after fault at treatment plant

"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?"
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, November 22, 2024

Siding against Target, a federal judge has ruled that consumers can proceed with claims that the retailer violated an Illinois biometric privacy law by allegedly using facial recognition technology to combat shoplifting.

In a ruling issued Thursday, U.S. District Court Judge Jeremy Daniel in the Northern District of Illinois found that the consumers' allegations, if proven true, could support claims that Target ran afoul of the Illinois Biometric Privacy Act. That law includes a prohibition on collecting or storing scans of people's facial geometry without their consent.

Target denies that it uses facial recognition technology.

The decision comes in a class-action suit brought earlier this year by four Illinois residents -- Denise Arnold, Blaire Brown, Sandre Wilson and Lindsay Schumm. They alleged that Target uses security cameras and video surveillance technology with facial recognition capabilities in retail locations in Illinois.

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Their complaint cited news articles regarding Target, including an April 18, 2018 CBS news report regarding Target's anti-shoplifting initiatives.

Schumm specifically alleged that she was shopping at Target on July 27 of this year when she received a notification that a Target Asset Protection Operations Manager had viewed her LinkedIn profile soon after she entered the store.

These facts plausibly support Targets use of facial recognition technology to recognize and identify Ms. Schumm, the complaint alleged.

Target disputed the allegations and urged the consumers' attorney to drop the case.

Target does not use video surveillance cameras that collect biometric data, the company said in a June 2024 letter to class counsel. While Target (like many retailers) does use video cameras to monitor its stores, Targets system collects neither facial geometry nor any other category of biometric data.

The company also said that none of the news articles cited in the complaint specifically mentioned facial recognition technology.

Target also urged Daniel to throw out the lawsuit, arguing that the consumers hadn't backed up their claims that the store uses facial recognition technology.

Daniel rejected that request for now.

The plaintiffs are not required to establish that Target is using the technology at this early stage of litigation, he wrote.

He added that the allegations -- including not only the news articles, but also Schumm's assertion that a Target employee viewed her LinkedIn page after she entered the store -- make it plausible that Target is using facial recognition-enabled video surveillance technology.

Time will tell whether factual contentions such as this one have evidentiary support or ... will likely have evidentiary support after a reasonable opportunity for further investigation or discovery, he wrote.
by Danielle Oster , November 23, 2024

:

Earlier this week, Coca-Cola kicked off its annual holiday advertising blitz -- which has since generated buzz over the brands use of AI.

At the center of the campaign is a 30-second hero TV spot called The Holiday Magic is Coming, recreating a classic spot from 1995 while incorporating the use of AI technology in the making of the ad. Small text appears for a few seconds near the beginning, informing audiences that it was Created with Real Magic AI" -- but that announcement is s easy to miss.

For some viewers, the approach didnt go down easy, with USA Today reporting the comments on the brands YouTube post of the video were largely negative. One top comment read:  "Nothing like celebrating the spirit of Christmas with the most soulless commercial possible." Coca-Cola has since restricted the page, hiding comments. Many ad industry professionals, artists and creators were similarly critical of the ad on LinkedIn and X.

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But the views of industry insiders dont necessarily represent those of the average viewer. According to marketing platform System1, the extent of any more widespread consumer backlash may have been exaggerated.

System1 analyzed the performance of the full 80-second ad with audiences using its Test Your Ad platform, and awarded it an exceptional score of 5.9 (out of 6) in its star rating system. Excited and uplifted were the most common emotional responses reported.

Survey respondents were not clued into the fact that it was an ad made with AI. To them, it was just another Coca-Cola ad, System1 Andrew Tindall, senior vice president, partnerships, told Marketing Daily. Brands that have loudly proclaimed their use of AI sometimes face a vocal backlash, he added, citing the controversy around Googles Summer Olympics ad, which led with AI as a product feature, and got so much flak that it was eventually pulled.

In contrast, Coca-Colas subtle use of AI flew under the radar for most respondents, Tindall explained. This suggests that a low-key integration of AI in ads might be the way to go to avoid stirring up negative reactions from the audience.

Once you know an ad is crafted by AI, you might start spotting quirky details, he added. But did any of our respondents grumble about Santa's fingers or the trucks' wheels gliding like they're on ice? Nope. AI was not where their minds went and instead, they were focused on the holiday magic.

Only 3% of viewers in System1s report reacted to Coca-Colas new ad with contempt, the only negative emotion reported, with one commenting that it looks like it was generated using AI and another agreeing with the comment.

Coca-Cola has consistently run the original ad during the holidays since its 1995 debut, which could make it hard to disentangle viewers emotional responses to the new ad from their feelings towards, and nostalgia for, the original. Since relatively little was changed overall in the ad, some viewers may not even have noticed they werent watching the original ad  as one commenter replying to Tindalls LinkedIn post about the study pointed out. In fact, the ads score of 5.9 was the same score given to the original Holidays Are Coming by System1 last year.

Last year, Coca-Cola included an AI-powered virtual holiday card making activation as part of ts holiday campaign, after taking its AI Coke Studio experience on tour the preceding summer. This years deployments of AI include promoting the release of is K-Pop inspired Coca-Cola Creations flavor with a "Like Magic fan music video AI experience.
Diagnosing Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) might soon be simpler and smarter, thanks to groundbreaking muscle and electrical analysis techniques.

Highlights: Elevated oxidative stress in muscle tissue may explain chronic fatigue in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and long COVID patients

Electrical properties of muscle stem cells offer a potential non-invasive, cost-effective diagnostic tool for CFS

A multidisciplinary approach reveals molecular, cellular, and electrical insights into CFS, paving the way for innovative treatments

  Trusted Source

Can electrical signatures help diagnose Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?



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Did You Know?

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome affects up to 3.3 million people in the U.S., yet its root cause remains a mystery- often misdiagnosed or dismissed! #chronicfatigue #CFS #medindia

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome affects up to 3.3 million people in the U.S., yet its root cause remains a mystery- often misdiagnosed or dismissed! #chronicfatigue #CFS #medindia

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Unraveling Muscle Clues to Diagnose Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Long COVID

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Electrical Signatures for Cost-Effective Diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)

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Multidisciplinary Lens on Skeletal Muscle Stem Cells

Non-Invasive Diagnostics and Therapeutic Breakthroughs for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)

Can electrical signatures help diagnose Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? - (https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1065515)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 23. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is currently working on a new Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) for Azerbaijan, which will guide its investments and initiatives from 2025 to 2029, said ADB Country Director for Azerbaijan Sunniya Durrani-Jamal in an exclusive interview with Trend.

She emphasized that the strategy will be informed by comprehensive diagnostic work across several critical areas, including green infrastructure financing, water resources and food security, export diversification, and the development of green skills.

Durrani-Jamal expressed her vision for improving ADBs operational approach, stating, "I hope to be able to improve our operational approach and clearly communicate the value we offer to our clients". She noted that ADB aims to move away from standalone sector projects, instead fostering dialogue among government entities to collaboratively develop multi-sector solutions. She elaborated, "Of course, the projects could be delivered by separate ministries, but the results will be delivered through collaboration".

Highlighting the importance of efficient resource use, she pointed out the necessity of ensuring sufficient water availability for expanding agricultural production amidst anticipated water scarcity. "A case in point is improving efficiency in water use and energy use," Durrani-Jamal said.

Another focal point of the strategy is transitioning Azerbaijan's economy from a hydrocarbon-based model to one that is centered on manufacturing, logistics, and eventually, knowledge-based industries. Durrani-Jamal acknowledged the governments efforts to incentivize investments in techno parks and promote digital skills development, especially for girls and in regions beyond Baku. "The government is actively providing incentives to encourage investments in techno parks and encouraging digital skills development including for girls and in regions outside Baku to ensure equity," she noted.

To attract both domestic and international investment, Durrani-Jamal underscored the necessity of continuous improvements in governance and transparency. "Several steps are being taken in this direction from the establishment of ASAN service centers for citizens to improving governance and transparency among state-owned enterprises and financial institutions," she explained. Addressing challenges such as fostering the growth of small businesses, creating a robust middle class, and implementing policies that support affordable housing will require persistent efforts. "These are tough challenges that will need to be addressed steadily," she added.

Durrani-Jamal concluded with optimism about ADBs role in Azerbaijans development, stating, "We have a talented team at ADB, and I am confident that with their support and the support of our partners, ADB will continue to make significant contributions to the development of Azerbaijan and the region".
Heart pump treatment can significantly boost heart muscle regeneration, offering new hope for recovery after severe heart failure.

  Trusted Source

A Latent Cardiomyocyte Regeneration Potential in Human Heart Disease



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Did you know?

#heartpumps boost heart cell regeneration six times more in failed heart than healthy hearts. #heartfailure #medindia 

#heartpumps boost heart cell regeneration six times more in failed heart than healthy hearts. #heartfailure #medindia 

Heart Pumps Enhance Muscle Regeneration

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Radioactive Carbon Tracks Heart Cell Renewal

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A Latent Cardiomyocyte Regeneration Potential in Human Heart Disease - (https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.123.067156)

According to a new study from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden published in the journal, even after heart failure, with a supportive heart pump, the heart can repair itself with new muscle cells ().The ability of the heart to renew myocytes is low. However, the ability to form new muscle cells after heart failure is 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).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 hearts 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, says Olaf Bergmann.The findings open the possibility of developing new therapies for patients with serious heart conditions that stimulate the hearts ability to repair itself after damage. This way, patients wouldnt have to rely 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.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. There are no reported conflicts of interest.Source-Eurekalert
Fans of the OTT series Mirzapur were in for a treat when makers announced a full-fledged film based on the show  Mirzapur: The Film. Since then, there has been a lot of speculation about how the film will take forward the series legacy and fit into the Mirzapur universe. At the recently concluded International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Divyenndu aka Munna Bhai shed light on the upcoming project. Mirzapur released its third season this year after a hiatus of four years and fans found it a bit underwhelming as compared to the last two seasons. Many missed the witty presence of Munna Bhaiyya. However, the announcement of a Mirzapur film has revived fans hopes and excitement towards the franchise.

Amazon Prime Video Divyenndu told India Today at IFFI, When the idea popped up that we are going to make Mirzapur into a film, I was obviously happy but the way we shot the whole announcement, it was superb. It was larger than life and honestly for the first time I was not just selfishly happy, I was happy for the fans, followers, and friends because they are really very closely attached to the project and the characters. Divyendu added that fans can expect a lot of excitement from the film and said, Bhaukaal from what I have heard as a one-liner. All I can tell right now is that its going to be bhaukaal and absolutely a fun ride.
When Cocktail released in 2012, it received rave reviews for its unique perspective on relationships and the performances by its leading cast members  Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone and Diana Penty. Since then, fans of the film have often wondered if there would be a sequel. If recent reports are to be believed, Cocktail 2 is in the works with Shahid Kapoor in the lead role. Homi Adjania, who directed the 2012 film and also Shahids last release, Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya, is expected to direct Cocktail 2.

Maddock Films According to a Peepingmoon report, Dinesh Vijan and Homi Adajania have been toying with the idea of a Cocktail sequel for years, and they've now crafted a storyline that they believe matches the magic of the first film. Although Cocktail 2 features a completely new narrative, its tone and vibrant setting reminisce about the original, thus being labelled a sequel. Shahid loved the story and is already on board, while discussions with several leading young actresses are in progress. 2012's Cocktail was a massive hit, not just for the stellar performances by its lead cast, but also for its album that continues to be a favourite among fans even today. The film also starred Randeep Hooda, Boman Irani and Dimple Kapadia in supporting roles.
An Air National Guard base in Oklahoma will host the first formal training unit for the service's armed recon crop duster plane used for special operations, an announcement that comes as watchdogs question the aircraft's future in combat.

In a ceremony last week, Will Rogers Air National Guard Base in Oklahoma City announced it would become home to Air Force Special Operations Command's newest aircraft, the OA-1K Sky Warden, an armed single-engine aircraft modified from an Air Tractor frame that has been traditionally used by farmers as a crop duster.

The new OA-1K aircraft, which are not yet fully outfitted, will replace the long-standing twin-engine MC-12 Liberty reconnaissance aircraft, which are being phased out by 2027. The new mission will bring "an increase of 150-200 permanent personnel" to Will Rogers Air National Guard Base, the installation said in a Monday news release.

Read Next: Promotion of Last Soldier Out of Afghanistan Held Up by Republican in Senate

"The OA-1K aircraft are truly awesome machines," Lt. Col. Jesse Ziegler, incoming 17th Special Operations Squadron commander, said in the news release. "These [block] zero models are not fully modified yet and serve as an initial training aircraft, until both air crew and aircraft reach operation status."

Mission-ready OA-1Ks are expected to arrive in 2025, the news release said.

Creation of the formal training unit at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base comes amid a time of skepticism by government watchdogs into how the military plans to use the modified crop duster for special operations missions.

The Government Accountability Office, Congress' watchdog agency, issued a report in late December revealing that Special Operations Command "decided on the size of the fleet before conducting the required analyses" and that it did not fully justify acquiring 75 of the aircraft.

And changes to the U.S. military's presence in the Middle East and other theaters limit many opportunities for use of the aircraft, the report added.

"Specifically, geopolitical changes since SOCOM established the acquisition target in 2019, such as the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and leadership changes in African countries, may affect where and how these aircraft can be used in the future," the GAO report said.

That criticism also comes as the Department of the Air Force has been undergoing major organizational and strategic changes to counter the rising threat of China's military in the Pacific -- which some critics and officials have previously told Military.com means a notable shift away from the Middle East.

While SOCOM reduced its buy to 62 planes earlier this year following that GAO report, Lt. Gen. Michael Conley, the head of Air Force Special Operations Command, told reporters during the Air and Space Forces Association's conference near Washington, D.C., in September that he believes 75 aircraft are still necessary.

"Our requirement still remains 75 based on what we've determined," Conley said. "I think from when OA-1K was conceptualized and decided on, until now, the world's changed a little bit. So we look at some different opportunities. I think it still provides a cost-effective close-air support platform, which is one of the missions that it was designed for."

Related: Air Force Says Its New China-Focused Reorganization 'Not Best Optimized' for Middle East
Army investigators are still searching for 31 M17 pistols that disappeared from Fort Moore, Georgia, earlier this year, but the case has grown, with additional equipment now reported missing from the same facility.

The Army's Criminal Investigation Division, or CID, recently announced a $15,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of the missing pistols, along with two sets of night vision goggles and one AN/PAS-13D Thermal Weapon Sight. A base spokesperson confirmed that the gear is missing.

"Army CID is actively seeking any information relevant to the loss of the M17 pistols, ENVGs and thermal optic," a news release from the service said.

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The pistols were first reported missing May 16, though investigators believe they may have vanished as early as March. They were last accounted for at the Crescenz Consolidated Equipment Pool, a central armory on the base. Meanwhile, CID says the night vision goggles and thermal optic were lost sometime between August and October of this year.

Crescenz serves as an armory and storage facility for much of Fort Moore's weapons and other training gear. It's managed by Vectrus, usually referred to as V2X, a civilian contractor. It's unclear whether any employee has been disciplined despite at least three instances of combat gear going missing.

After the pistols disappeared, service officials and civilian contractors examined security protocols and reduced access to the facility, two Army officials with direct knowledge of the situation told Military.com. Additional surveillance and inventory equipment is also set to be installed.

Vectrus did not immediately respond to a request for comment ahead of publication.

The M17, a 9 mm Sig Sauer pistol with a 17-round magazine, has served as the Defense Department's standard-issue sidearm since 2017, replacing the M9 Beretta. The civilian version, the P320-M17, retails for approximately $650.

The Enhanced Night Vision Goggles are standard equipment for soldiers operating in low-light conditions. The AN/PAS 13D thermal optic, introduced in 1998, provides thermal imaging for weapon systems such as the M240B machine gun and M2 Browning .50-caliber machine gun, allowing users to detect heat signatures of vehicles or personnel in combat.

The case highlights long-standing concerns about the military's ability to safeguard its arsenal. A 2021 investigation by The Associated Press found that at least 1,900 firearms vanished from military inventory during the 2010s, with some later linked to crimes. Missing weapons have been attributed to a range of security failures, from surveillance blind spots to negligence in recordkeeping.

Fort Moore, previously known as Fort Benning, is the epicenter of the Army's ground combat training. The base hosts basic training for infantry, cavalry scouts and tankers -- as well as the legendary Ranger School.

Related: The Marine Corps' New Sniper Rifle Is Officially Ready for a Fight
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 23. At the closing session of COP29 in Baku, a resolution was adopted expressing gratitude to the government of Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijani people for the excellent organization of the conference, Trend reports.

Representatives from various countries expressed their support for the resolution, titled "Gratitude to the Government of Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijani People for the Excellent Organization of COP29", with applause.
A federal judge dismissed the high-profile cases of two Jordanian men previously charged with unlawfully entering Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, in May.

U.S. attorneys for the Eastern District of Virginia filed a motion Oct. 3 to dismiss the misdemeanor charges against Hasan Hamdan and Mohammad Dabous -- two men who allegedly ignored orders from Quantico gate sentries before attempting to enter the base while driving a box truck. The pair were stopped by vehicle denial barriers and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The incident gained national attention from Congress and state leaders. Fox News and Potomac Local News -- which first reported the breach -- said that at least one of the men crossed the U.S. southern border in April before being released on notice to later appear in court. The other man was in the U.S. on an expired student visa, the outlets reported.

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U.S. Magistrate Judge William Porter dismissed the cases "without prejudice" the same day the motion was filed by prosecutors on Oct. 3. Court documents did not explain the motive for the motion other than stating "because the ends of justice are best served by this dismissal."

When contacted by Military.com on Friday, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia declined to comment on why the cases were recommended for dismissal. The publication could not reach listed attorneys for the two men that afternoon.

Multiple media outlets reported that the two men approached the gate on Fuller Road leading into the base with a box truck, claiming to be Amazon subcontractors seeking to make a delivery to a post office in the town of Quantico.

With no valid authorization to enter post, gate personnel directed the box truck to a holding area for vetting. The pair allegedly ignored the orders and accelerated onto the base before striking a hydraulic barricade deployed by the gate personnel.

Potomac Local was also first to report the case dismissals earlier this week.

Marine Corps Base Quantico -- more than 30 miles away from Washington, D.C. -- is home to several Marine Corps schools and commands, including the Combat Development Command. It also houses FBI and other federal agency facilities.

The attempted breach raised alarms in Congress and at the state level. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin wrote a letter to President Joe Biden a few weeks after the Jordanians were detained demanding transparency from the federal government on the case.

"The federal government has not provided adequate information to Virginia on these matters, and the publicly available facts are disturbing," Youngkin wrote in the letter. He also appeared on Fox News and said "Joe Biden has brought the border crisis literally to the front gate of Quantico Marine Corps Base."

That same month, more than a dozen GOP senators penned a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas requesting a brief and answered questions about the "deeply concerning incident."

The attempted breach followed a string of unlawful gate entries, some by foreign nationals. A month before the Quantico incident, authorities detained a Chinese national attempting to access Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms in California. The Wall Street Journal reported last year that the Pentagon and FBI tracked as many as 100 instances of Chinese nationals attempting to access bases.

In September 2023, military police shot at a vehicle that had attempted to enter Twentynine Palms. Another vehicle caught fire after a driver attempted to unlawfully enter Camp Pendleton, California -- another Marine Corps base on the West Coast.

Related: Chinese National Attempted to Run Gate at Twentynine Palms Marine Corps Base in California
Military officials have refused to say whether they're still working with a company responsible for making the gear that failed on an Air Force V-22 Osprey aircraft and led to the deaths of eight airmen last year, despite long-running questions over the quality of the part and allegations of the manufacturer using lower-quality steel.

Internal Air Force safety reports reviewed by Military.com in August found that the failure of a single high-speed planetary pinion gear -- the cause of the deadly November 2023 crash in Japan -- was "similar to those seen on seven previous failures" going back to 2013. Those earlier failures occurred in gears made of the same metal.

More than a decade before those incidents, Universal Stainless, the company responsible for manufacturing the gear that fractured on the Osprey in Japan, was sued in 2001 for allegedly producing defective steel that went into civilian aircraft engine crankshafts, according to court records.

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"Universal falsely represented and certified its quality program so that customers would buy Universal steel," the lawsuit, filed in a Pennsylvania court, alleged.

The 2001 case, which was ultimately settled out of court, is an even earlier indication that Universal Stainless had issues producing quality aircraft parts to specification.

Hunterbrook, an open-source investigative journalism and financial news source, published a deep-dive into the long-ranging issues with Universal Stainless last month, including the first mention of the 2001 lawsuit.

The Osprey manufacturer, Bell Flight -- the company that oversees the joint partnership of Bell and Boeings V-22 program -- and the military refused to tell Military.com whether Universal Stainless is still making components for the aircraft or what improvements have been made to prevent more issues, despite the 2001 lawsuit, internal knowledge of prior failures of Universal gears, and the deadly mishap that stemmed from the gear failure last year.

Universal Stainless did not return a request for comment.

'That's Glaring'

In the months after the deadly crash of the Air Force Osprey, which belonged to Air Force Special Operations Command and flew under the call sign Gundam 22, a pair of investigations found that the aircraft was brought down by the fracturing of the gear into five large pieces, which caused other failures in one of the two gearboxes that provide power to the Osprey's twin proprotors.

One of the investigations, the internal Safety Investigation Board report, found that the failure was due to the gear being manufactured with bits of material -- non-metallic inclusions -- that aren't part of the metal alloy, which eventually formed the starting point for a crack.

This mode of failure was "similar to those seen on seven previous failures in low-speed planetary pinion gears." The low-speed gears sit next to the same gear in the proprotor gearbox that failed in Gundam 22 and are made from the same alloy.

The office in the Pentagon that oversees the Osprey was made aware of the issue in 2014, according to the investigation.

Bell and Boeing, the two companies that work jointly to build the aircraft, sent the Osprey Joint Program Office a formal risk assessment titled "Gear Metal Raw Material Impurities" that laid out the risks but, according to the Air Force internal investigation, the notice "did not adequately assess risk of high-speed gear failure."

While Universal Stainless is one of three contractors that make gears for the aircraft, the Air Force's investigation noted that it "supplied a significant proportion" of the metal that is used in the Osprey's gearboxes.

Furthermore, when the Osprey Joint Program Office -- part of Naval Air Systems Command, or NAVAIR -- received that notice it did not fully process it to determine whether the risks it outlined would just be accepted by the military or somehow mitigated.

It is not clear from the Air Force investigation why that did not occur, and NAVAIR refused to answer Military.com's questions on the topic in August, citing the "privileged" nature of the Air Force investigation.

The Air Force investigation did say that, in the wake of that risk assessment, "NAVAIR implemented contractual financial withholds in hope the contractor would correct deficiencies in the [alloy] processing that had resulted in previous gear failures." But investigators found that the measure didn't work and the metal continued to be flawed, "suggesting contractual financial withholds did not prompt corrective actions."

Retired Col. J.F. Joseph, a Marine Corps pilot and aviation expert witness, told Military.com that it would be notably concerning if the issue with the gears and alloys had been identified in the past and no action was taken.

"If in the safety analysis, in the previous mishaps, a deficiency in production or quality in production or in terms of materials used were identified at some point that could contribute or cause a mishap, and there was not a remedy taken, that's glaring," Joseph said.

'Defective Steel'

The 2001 lawsuit against Universal Stainless was brought by an aviation company called Teledyne Technologies that made aircraft engines for civilian aircraft. According to a Teledyne filing in the case, it brought the suit because Universal's defective steel resulted in crankshaft failures which, in turn, damaged the rest of the engine.

Teledyne said in its filing that it was forced to recall the part -- more than 200 crankshafts -- and replace them at its own expense at a cost of around $1.7 million.

"Of the crankshafts made from Universal steel that were returned pursuant to the recall and subsequently tested, approximately 92-93% were found to be made from defective steel," the court filing alleged.

A key contention in this lawsuit was the fact that Universal not only falsely certified the alloy as meeting specifications when it didn't, but that it wasn't even conducting the checks to know itself.

Teledyne lawyers said they learned through depositions that Universal had a standards manual. However, according to them, that manual laid out rules "that in reality did not exist, the regular performance of internal audits that were in reality never conducted, and purported compliance with certain military and industry specifications that were not complied with by Universal."

Citing a deposition with Universal's then-director of technology, Teledyne said that

"after months of continuing to produce defective steel, [Universal] 'got better' at making" the aviation-grade alloy, but "while Universal was 'getting better,' the steel it was producing was, among other things, being made into airplane engine parts."

The suit said that investigations found that Universal kept this problem from its board of directors, the company's quality managers, and customers. It went on to note that this secrecy "prevented customers ... from having the opportunity to conduct appropriate tests" that would have discovered the defect and allowed them to take appropriate action.

Moving forward to present day, the Air Force's internal investigation made similar allegations of shoddy and slapdash manufacturing processes against Universal.

Air Force investigators said they compared the work of Universal against Carpenter Technology -- a company that made some of the other gears in the proprotor gearboxes.

"Better incoming material quality and control, tighter inspection requirement, and on-site metallurgy support at Carpenter increased the likelihood of identifying and removing non-metallic inclusions from finished products more so than the process at Universal," the investigation found.

Moreover, investigators noted that Carpenter had voluntarily implemented a better testing procedure to detect non-metallic inclusions in its alloy, while Universal did not.

'Very Complex System'

Despite Air Force Special Operations Command's own investigative findings, Lt. Gen. Michael Conley, its top leader, told reporters at the Air and Space Forces Association's conference outside of Washington, D.C., in September that he didn't believe the November 2023 crash was caused by a bad part that Bell-Boeing should have manufactured better.

"I don't think it was poor material," Conley said at the time. "I don't think it failed before its time. I think a proprotor gearbox is a very complex system with parts moving very fast."

When asked this month whether Conley still stands by his statement after the issues with Universal Stainless went public, an AFSOC spokesperson said he stands by his comments.

However, the command declined to answer whether Universal Stainless is still supplying parts for the V-22 program.

Military.com also reached out to NAVAIR and Bell for this story with a host of questions raised by the lawsuit and its internal investigations.

After more than a week, NAVAIR refused to answer a single question, including whether Universal Stainless is still making parts for the Osprey.

Bell didn't address any of the questions relating to the lawsuit or the issues it raised. A spokesman argued that since the company was not involved in that litigation it wouldn't comment.

"Bell Boeing work very closely with the Joint Program Office to identify and address potential future issues, and we have done so since the beginning of the program," the spokesman said.

The spokesman also refused to say whether Universal Stainless is still making Osprey parts.

Joseph, the former Marine Corps pilot and aviation expert witness, told Military.com that if a part was identified as not being up to standards, it's paramount that the service is transparent about how it has remedied the issue, especially on an aircraft as complicated as the Osprey.

"It's like a recall on a car," Joseph said, describing his analogy as a gross oversimplification but an apt one. "It's no different than that other than this can really kill somebody with something with so many moving parts like a V-22."

Related: Flaw in Osprey Gears Was Known a Decade Prior to Deadly Japan Crash, Internal Report Shows
A promotion for the general who became famous for being the last U.S. soldier to leave Afghanistan is being delayed by a Republican senator, a Senate aide confirmed to Military.com on Friday.

Lt. Gen. Christopher Donahue, who has been nominated to receive a fourth star and take command of U.S. Army forces in Europe, was noticeably absent from a batch of military promotions the Senate approved Thursday evening before leaving for its weeklong Thanksgiving break. The aide confirmed Donahue's promotion was left out because Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., placed what's known as a "hold" on the nomination.

Military.com reached out to Mullin's office for comment, but a spokesperson was not able to provide a statement ahead of publication.

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Mullin's move appears tied to Donahue's role in the Afghanistan withdrawal and comes after the Trump transition team reportedly contacted Republican senators to encourage them to place the hold, said the Senate aide, who requested anonymity to discuss internal Senate business.

The hold on Donahue is the latest sign that Republicans and the incoming Trump administration plan to take aim at military officers involved in the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan, a chaotic mission that was carried out by the Biden administration but initiated by the first Trump administration. NBC News also reported last weekend that Trump transition team officials are compiling a list of current and former officers involved in the withdrawal with the possibility of court-martialing them.

Donahue is currently the commanding general of the XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Liberty in North Carolina.

At the time of the Afghanistan withdrawal, Donahue was a two-star serving as the commanding general of the 82nd Airborne Division. In that role, he oversaw the 82nd's mission of securing Hamid Karzai International Airport as U.S. forces evacuated Americans and vulnerable Afghans after the Taliban took over Kabul.

The evacuation was marred by scenes of desperate Afghans overrunning the airfield prior to the 82nd's arrival, an ISIS suicide bombing outside the gates of the airport that killed 13 U.S. troops, and a botched U.S. airstrike in response to the suicide attack that killed 10 civilians.

A career special operator, Donahue typically has his work shrouded in secrecy. But he was thrust into the spotlight when the Pentagon published photos of him stepping onto the last C-17 Globemaster III to leave Afghanistan after all other soldiers had boarded, making him the last U.S. service member in Afghanistan.

The grainy photos, tinted green because they were taken through a night vision device, instantly became an iconic symbol of the withdrawal.

While the withdrawal was set in motion by the first Trump administration's deal with the Taliban, Trump leaned heavily into bashing President Joe Biden for the messy execution of the withdrawal throughout the 2024 presidential campaign. Trump campaigned with family members of the U.S. troops killed in the withdrawal, and Vice President-elect JD Vance at one point said Vice President Kamala Harris "can go to hell" because no one was fired over the withdrawal.

A government watchdog investigation into the collapse of U.S.-backed Afghan forces blamed Trump and Biden equally.

The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction "found that the single most important factor in the [Afghan National Defense and Security Forces'] collapse in August 2021 was the U.S. decision to withdraw military forces and contractors from Afghanistan through signing the U.S.-Taliban agreement in February 2020 under the Trump administration, followed by President Biden's withdrawal announcement in April 2021, the inspector general wrote in a 2022 report.

A hold does not prevent a nominee or military promotion from being confirmed, but it means the Senate must use its limited floor time for a lengthy series of roll call votes rather than confirming nominations in batches in a voice vote as it usually does with military nominees. The Senate is scheduled to be in session for just three more weeks before the end of the year, after which any unconfirmed nominee or promotion would need to start the process from scratch unless the senators agree to waive chamber rules.

While it has become common for senators to place holds on civilian nominees for Pentagon jobs over political disputes, it was considered taboo to do so for military officer promotions until recently.

Last year, Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., spent 10 months blocking general and admiral promotions over his opposition to the Pentagon's policy of providing leave and reimbursements for troops who need to travel to get an abortion.

Related: 'It Could Be Very Hard to Do Our Job': Top Military Officers Brace for Trump's Potential Loyalty Review Boards
SADO, Japan (AP)  Japan will hold a memorial ceremony on Sunday near the Sado Island Gold Mines, which were listed this summer as a UNESCO World Heritage site after the country moved past years of historical disputes with South Korea and reluctantly acknowledged the mines' dark history.

At these mines, hundreds of Koreans were forced to labor under abusive and brutal conditions during World War II, historians say. The Japanese government said Sundays ceremony will pay tribute to all workers who died at the mines, but without spelling out who they are  part of what critics call a persistent policy of whitewashing Japan's history of sexual and labor exploitation before and during the war.

The ceremony, which was supposed to further mend their wounds, renewed tensions between the two sides. On Saturday, South Korea's government said it will boycott the memorial service due to unspecified disagreements with Tokyo over the event.

There was no immediate response from Japanese officials.

Ahead of the ceremony on Sunday, The Associated Press explains the Sado mines, their history and the controversy.

What are the Sado gold mines?

The 16th century mines on the island of Sado, about the size of the Pacific island of Guam, off the western coast of Niigata prefecture, operated for nearly 400 years beginning in 1601 and were once the worlds largest gold producer. They closed in 1989. During the Edo period, from 1600 to 1868, the mines supplied gold currency to the ruling Tokugawa Shogunate.

Today, the site has been developed as a tourist facility and hiking site where visitors can learn about the changes in mining technology and production methods while looking at the remains of mine shafts and ore dressing facilities.

Critics say the Japanese government only highlights the glory of the mines and covers up its use of Korean victims of forced labor and their ordeals. The mines were registered as a cultural heritage site in July after Japan agreed to include an exhibit on the conditions of Korean forced laborers and to hold a memorial service after repeated protests from the South Korean government.

What's the controversy?

At the July meeting of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, the Japanese delegate said Tokyo had installed new exhibition material to explain the severe conditions of (the Korean laborers) work and to remember their hardship.

Japan also acknowledged that Koreans were made to do more dangerous tasks in the mine shaft, which caused some to die. Those who survived also developed lung diseases and other health problems. Many of them were given meager food rations and nearly no days off and were caught by police if they escaped, historians say. But the Japanese government has refused to admit they were forced labor.

South Korea had earlier opposed the listing of the site for UNESCO World Heritage on the grounds that the Korean forced laborers used at the mines were missing from the exhibition. South Korea eventually supported the listing after consultations with Japan and Tokyos pledge to improve the historical background in the exhibit and to hold a memorial that also includes Koreans.

Historians say Japan used hundreds of thousands of Korean laborers, including those forcibly brought from the Korean Peninsula, at Japanese mines and factories to make up for labor shortages because most working-age Japanese men had been sent to battlefronts across Asia and the Pacific. About 1,500 Koreans were forced to work at the Sado mines, according to Yasuto Takeuchi, an expert on Japans wartime history, citing wartime Japanese documents.

The South Korean government has said it expects Japan to keep its pledge to be truthful to history and to show both sides of the Sado mines.

The controversy surrounding the Sado mines exhibit underscores a deeper problem of Japans failure to face up to its wartime responsibility and its growing denialism of its wartime atrocities, Takeuchi said.

Who does the ceremony commemorate?

All workers who died at the Sado mines will be honored. That includes hundreds of Korean laborers who worked there during Japans 1910-1945 colonization of the Korean Peninsula.

Officials say the ceremony is organized by a group of local Japanese politicians, business owners and other volunteers who campaigned for the Sado mines to win the UNESCO status, but preparations were handled by local government officials, who did not disclose details, including guests and programs, until the last minute.

Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya announced the ceremony on Friday, but he declined to comment on diplomatic exchanges.

Officials at Sado city and the Foreign Ministry said about 100 people, including officials from Japans local and central government, as well as South Korean Foreign Ministry officials and the relatives of Korean wartime laborers, have been invited. Attendants are expected to observe a moment of silence for the victims who died at the mines due to accidents and other causes.

The ceremony dredged up long-standing frustrations in South Korea, where the Foreign Ministry said in a statement it was impossible to settle the disagreements between both governments before the planned event on Sunday, without specifying what those disagreements were.

The cancelation came a day after Japan said it will send a parliamentary vice minister, Akiko Ikuina, who in 2022 visited Tokyo's controversial Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Japan's 2.5 million war dead including convicted war criminals and is seen by Japan's neighbors as a symbol of its wartime militarism.

Some South Koreans had criticized the Seoul government throwing its support behind an event without securing a clear Japanese commitment to highlight the plight of Korean laborers. There were also complaints over South Korea agreeing to pay for the travel expenses of Korean victims family members who were invited to attend the ceremony.

How has Japan faced up to its wartime atrocities?

Critics say Japans government has long been reluctant to discuss wartime atrocities. That includes what historians describe as the sexual abuse and enslavement of women across Asia, many of them Koreans who were deceived into providing sex to Japanese soldiers at frontline brothels and euphemistically called comfort women, and the Koreans who were mobilized and forced to work in Japan, especially in the final years of World War II.

Korean compensation demands for Japanese atrocities during its brutal colonial rule have strained relations between the two Asian neighbors, most recently after a 2018 South Korean Supreme Court ruling ordered Japanese companies to pay damages over their wartime forced labor.

Japans government has maintained that all wartime compensation issues between the two countries were resolved under the 1965 normalization treaty. Ties between Tokyo and Seoul have improved recently after Washington said their disputes over the historical issues were hampering crucial security cooperation as Chinas threat grows in the region.

Japan's whitewashing of wartime atrocities has risen since the 2010s, particularly under the past government of revisionist leader Shinzo Abe. For instance, Japan says the terms sex slavery and forced labor are inaccurate and insists on the use of highly euphemistic terms such as comfort women and civilian workers instead.

South Koreas conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol announced in March 2023 that his country would use a local corporate fund to compensate forced labor victims without demanding Japanese contributions. Japans then-Prime Minister Fumio Kishida later expressed sympathy for their suffering during a Seoul visit. Security, business and other ties between the sides have since rapidly resumed.

Takeuchi said listing Japans modern industrial historical sites as a UNESCO World Heritage is a government push to increase tourism. The government, he said, wants to commercialize sites like the Sado mines by beautifying and justifying their history for Japans convenience.

___

AP writer Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul, South Korea contributed.
Nearly 9 million people served in the U.S. armed forces, with nearly 3 million in-country, during the Vietnam War years. The magnitude of service and sacrifice of the Vietnam generation cannot be overstated. It's no surprise, then, that when we asked for your stories about Thanksgiving while serving, Vietnam-era veterans answered our call in droves.

Our readers poured their hearts out, sharing with us priceless stories about their holiday experiences during their time in the military. From Thanksgivings spent at training and at war, to those on the ocean, in the air and on the ground, here are 12 of their Thanksgivings to remember.

Some selections have been edited for length and clarity.

A Foraged Feast

"After attending Navigator School at Mather AFB [in California] in 1971 I was sent to Survival School at Fairchild AFB [in Washington state]. We were in the field on Thanksgiving Day. We shared a rabbit and some greens that we harvested! Great memory!"

-- David, Air Force

A Permanent Impression

"I was in AIT [advanced infantry training] at Fort McClellan [in Alabama] in 1967, and one of my classmates and friends was from Anniston. She came from a family of nine kids, and seven of them were active duty at that time, with only the two youngest still at home. Her parents were dirt poor. They knew from their own kids' experience how lonely it could be to be away from family at Thanksgiving, so they told their daughter she could invite five friends over for a homemade Thanksgiving dinner. She was Black, and I was white. She chose two other Black girls and two other white girls: We had all been very close friends at the base.

"Her father drove out that morning and picked us up. We had a wonderful time, and I ate one of the best Thanksgiving dinners I ever had. We were all playing out in their front yard until it was time to head back to the base that evening. None of us thought anything about it, even though we had been warned not to ever get caught in the company of a Black man while in Anniston.

"We figured, I guess, that surely did not apply to one of our parents being with us. We were told that if we were under 21 and got arrested for being in the presence of a Black man, we would not be released to the Army. Our parents would have to travel to Anniston to bail us out.

"We had not gone very far when my friend's dad had sounded very nervous and told us we were being followed by a deputy sheriff's car. Shortly after that, another sheriff's car joined the first in following us back to the base. We were all very scared.

"We did get back to the base without being arrested, but we found out later that her parents' home started having crosses burned in their yard, and the parents were getting all sorts of threats for the 'crime' of treating three white girls as if they were family on Thanksgiving Day. It made a definite and permanent impression on me as to how bad things still were for Black people in Alabama in 1967."

-- Gena, Army

Another Reason for Thanksgiving

"On Thanksgiving Day 1962, my buddies and I, along with our commander, spent the day bringing in the first well to produce water for the 9th Log Command in Korat, Thailand. We were all quite wet and muddy by the time we finished, but the unit now had a source of good water. It was a very deep well."

-- Eugene, Air Force

A Lukewarm Reception

"Thanksgiving Day, 1962: On our way to a four-month TDY at Chateaux, France, from Dover AFB [in Delaware], after some 12 hours in the air on a C-124, we landed at Lajes Field in the Azores [in Portugal] for fuel and had a barely warm turkey dinner as the mess hall was officially closed for the day."

-- Joel, Air Force

In-Flight Meal

"It was 1972, and I was eating an in-flight meal in a B-52 on my way from Guam to our target in Vietnam."

-- Doug, Air Force

Unintended Consequences

"I arrived in Vietnam [in] early November 1968. One of my major duties was to ride as escort on helicopter resupply missions to deliver mail and equipment and to transport people. The day before Thanksgiving 1968, I departed early morning on a round robin delivering mail, equipment and frozen turkeys to the camps. At my first A Camp, I delivered the mail and turkey and picked up their outgoing goods. The camp also loaded three deceased Vietnamese CIDG [Civilian Irregular Defense Group] soldiers to be returned to their home villages.

"I loaded the three wooden boxes containing the deceased warriors and reloaded the turkeys and supplies. Mid-morning on Thanksgiving Day, [we] started receiving radio transmissions from the camps that the turkeys were bad and were stinking up the team rooms. I did not realize that the frozen and wrapped turkeys had absorbed the odor of the deceased CIDG and then would become so gross-smelling once they were in the oven. Lesson learned and lots of apologies to my buddies."

-- Eldon, Army

Twice in One Day

"We crossed the International Dateline and celebrated two Thanksgivings in 1968."

-- Frank, Navy

A True Feast

"Thanksgiving, 1970. Several of us secured a three-day stand down at Chu Lai [Air Base], RVN. We've been eating C-rations for six months. After getting off the chopper, we were waiting to find out where we would be put up. Someone mentioned that it was Thanksgiving Day. One of the guys knew exactly where to get the grub. A few minutes later we 'borrowed' a Jeep, and he took us to the 23rd Evac Hospital. He raved all the way there about their food. We walked in a side door and the sight of all that food plus the smell stopped us in our tracks. We got a little teary-eyed. The mess sergeant noticed the four of us just standing there in amazement. He came over, put his arms around us, and said, 'Been a while, guys, huh?' He guided us through the line and told us what to eat. He knew we would try to eat it all and didn't want us to get sick."

-- Joe, Army

A Family Affair

"Thanksgiving 1968, Qui Nhon, RVN. My father was a 'civilian employee' of the federal government in Vietnam. For that Thanksgiving, he brought my mother into Vietnam from Taipei, Taiwan. They ate the noon meal with our unit. My mom acted like a surrogate mother to all the guys. That was the only Thanksgiving I had with my parents during my four-year Navy enlistment."

-- Mike, Navy

Nearly Missed It

"In November of 1975, I was TDY between AIT at Fort Lee, Virginia [now Fort Gregg-Adams] to Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia [now Fort Moore] on Thanksgiving Day. When I arrived ... I walked into the mess hall to see nobody at all, only a couple of cooks cleaning up. They told me to come in and they would fix me up a plate of Thanksgiving turkey. Man, they gave me the biggest plate of all the fixings of a back-home Thanksgiving dinner. I sat down in the empty mess hall all by myself and enjoyed the heck out of every bit of it, even pumpkin pie."

-- Dan, Army

Special Delivery

"My helicopter was assigned to deliver hot Thanksgiving meals to all the [forward bases] in our [area of operation]. It was the best 12 hours of flying l spent during my entire tour of duty."

-- Anonymous, Army

Full Circle

"Reported into Travis AFB [in California] on Thanksgiving Day, 1970 [for] traveling to Vietnam. Thanksgiving Day, 1971, left Cam Ranh at noon and arrived at Seattle-Tacoma Airport at 9 AM Thanksgiving Day!"

-- Richard, Army

Do you have a memorable Thanksgiving story? Share it with us, and we just might add it to this article.

Your personal information will not be shared, and your responses will only be used for editorial purposes.

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Title: Unlock the Magic of Samsung Phone Lenses: Downloading High-Quality Wallpapers







(How to Download Wallpapers on a Samsung Device)

Are you tired of losing your phones screen? Do you want to improve its appearance without sacrificing functionality? Then consider downloading high-quality wallpapers from Samsung devices! This article will provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to download and use these amazing apps.

## Step 1: Create a Samsung device

Before downloading any app from Samsung, it is essential to create a device with an unlocked battery. You can download the latest version of Android from the Google Play Store or reach out to Samsung support for assistance. Once you have created a device, download the necessary software package from the Google Play Store using the following link:

## Step 2: Open the Safety Monitor

After installing the app on your device, start the Safety Monitor app by tapping on the blue icon in the home screen. Enter your devices information, including model number and serial number, and choose Safe Monitor. Follow the prompts to install the app and set up safety mode.

## Step 3: Configure the Settings

Once the safety monitor is installed, go back to the Safety Monitor app and select Edit option. Enter your preferred app name and language in the search bar at the top of the screen. Select Config option and follow the prompts to configure your phone settings.

## Step 4: Download and Install Apps

Once your phone has been configured, open the app that matches your preferences. Search for high-quality images of popular designs such as landscapes, animals, or fruit in your desired resolution and size. Once you find the image, tap on the + button to upload it.

### Step 5: Verify Your Download

When prompted, confirm your download and click on Finish. The should now be available on your device and ready to download!

Conclusion







(How to Download Wallpapers on a Samsung Device)

If you want to enhance your Samsung phones screen, download high-quality wallpapers from Samsung devices today! These apps not only provide stunning visuals but also offer fast download times and convenient user interface. So, why wait? Start browsing through thousands of high-quality options today!

Inquiry us

if you want to want to know more, please feel free to contact us. ([email protected])
Title: How to Freedomze Your Sony Blu-ray Players Region Requirements







(Make Your Sony Blu-Ray Player Region-Free: Step-by-Step Guide)

As the popularity of Blu-ray media continues to rise, some of you may be wondering whether your PlayStation Blu-ray player can also be region-free. In this guide, well help you navigate the regions where your PlayStation Blu-ray player works.

Firstly, lets address one of the most important aspects of region-free video playing  region requirements. As stated earlier, Sony Blu-ray players have built-in regions for different countries around the world, such as the United States, Europe, Asia, and Africa. However, not all regions share these same support for Blu-ray playback. In fact, many regions do not offer full access to Blu-ray discs yet, and some regions may require additional software to play Blu-ray content.

One common reason why some regions dont offer full access to Blu-ray is due to technical differences between region-specific discs and Blu-ray controllers. For example, some region-specific discs require more power consumption than Blu-ray controllers, which can affect their performance. This may cause frustration for some users who want to play Blu-ray films on their PS4 or PS5.

Another issue that can arise when region-free Blu-ray cannot be played on a region-specific disc is compatibility issues with certain programs. Some programs, particularly those developed specifically for non-whiteboard games, may not work well on regions with non-whiteboard displays. In addition, if youre unable to play Blu-ray movies on a region-specific disc, you may face compatibility challenges with other forms of content.

In order to freeze your Sony Blu-ray players region requirements, there are a few steps you can take:

1. Check the availability of region-specific discs in your region. Look for websites and apps that allow you to browse the available region-specific discs for your region, including stores, online retailers, and manufacturers websites.

2. Upgrade your PS4 or PS5 to support region-free Blu-ray content. If your PS4 or PS5 are older, it may not be compatible with all regions. You can update them by running the PlayStation console software updates, searching for region-specific software updates on Amazon, or contacting yourPS4 or PS5 directly.

3. Find a region-specific Blu-ray controller. Some region-specific Blu-ray controllers may only work with certain versions of Blu-ray players. Look for region-specific controllers on online retailers, manufacturers websites, or through app stores like App Store.

By following these steps, you should be able to use your PS4 or PS5 to play region-free Blu-ray content without experiencing compatibility issues or region restrictions.







(Make Your Sony Blu-Ray Player Region-Free: Step-by-Step Guide)

In conclusion, region-free Blu-ray playback is possible, but it requires careful planning and execution. By understanding the specific region-specific formats youre using, upgrading your PS4 or PS5 to support region-free content, and finding a region-specific Blu-ray controller, you can ensure that your PS4 or PS5 remains fully accessible to all regions.

Inquiry us

if you want to want to know more, please feel free to contact us. ([email protected])
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 23. The prospects of the development of tourism ties between Azerbaijan and Brazil were discussed at a meeting between Chairman of the State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan Fuad Naghiyev and Minister of Tourism of the Federative Republic of Brazil Celso Sabino, Trend reports via Azerbaijan's State Tourism Agency.

Furthermore, the sides exchanged views on joint activities in this direction, including devoting a special day to the topic of tourism at the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Azerbaijan, preserving the continuity of initiatives voiced in Baku at COP30.

The parties also discussed issues of expansion of bilateral cooperation and organization of mutual events on tourism.

In the framework of the meeting, Chairman of the Agency Fuad Naghiyev and Minister of Tourism of the Federative Republic of Brazil Celso Sabino planted a pomegranate tree in front of the administrative building of the State Tourism Agency.

Fuad Naghiyev presented Celso Sabino with a pomegranate tree to be planted in his country and expressed the wish that the agreements reached in the field of tourism at COP29 would be continued in Brazil, which will host COP30, thus ensuring the permanent inclusion of tourism and climate issues in the COP agenda.

The 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) opened on November 11. This is the largest event organized by Azerbaijan to date, and the first time in the region it is held in Azerbaijan.

The key expectation from COP29 is to agree on a fair and ambitious New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance.

A total of 14 initiatives have been put forward by the COP29 Chairmanship.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Dear Eric: I eat at a local restaurant a couple times a week and tend to get one of three meals. This one waitress asks me what I want to eat, but then interrupts me to make guesses or tell me my choice. I just put my head down and nod yes or no to the guesses. Its frustrating, but not life-threatening.

She enjoys it. I hate it.

However, if I were to say something, it would force her to make the choice of being herself, doing something she likes doing, or appeasing me so I can order the way I want to order. I dont know if this is a big enough problem to have a high road. The answer will not change my life. She can easily change, and I can easily suffer. The question is who gets to be themselves?

 Speaking Up

Dear Speaking Up: I worked in the service industry for more than a decade. I loved it. I loved seeing regulars, meeting new people and carrying a lot of beverages in my hands at one time. The whole bit. I also loved knowing what people wanted, but I would always ask and confirm. Thats part of the job. She may think youre a regular who likes to be known in this way. So, informing her that thats not the case wont be keeping her from being herself. It will be helping her to do her job better.

You may not have the kind of temperament that easily or comfortably course-corrects in social situations. Thats just fine. But know you wont be causing her suffering by saying something like Ive already decided on my meal. Lets skip the guessing today and Ill just tell you. This also clears the path for the two of you to talk about something else, if you want. Ideally, its a conversation that youll both enjoy.

Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at eric@askingeric.com or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.

2024 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
SAGINAW, MI  A cloudy, cool evening was great weather for crowds of people to ring in the holiday spirit in Old Town and downtown Saginaw.

Only a little snow could have added to the picturesque scene as Holidays in the Heart of the City offered a variety of activities for families on Friday night, Nov. 22.

The free, annual event began at 5:30 p.m. with numerous food trucks, Santa Claus visits in Borchard Park and at the Water Treatment plant, free horse-drawn wagon rides and free admission to the Saginaw Childrens Zoo.

Saginaw resident Felicia Ragland brought her daughter Amari Johnson, 6, to the event and they were among the first in line to visit with Santa Claus in Borchard Park, near the intersection of Michigan and Court in Old Town.

Ragland said they have attended the event for the last three years because of the activities available for children.

Its good for the community, its good for the kids, its affordable for everyone, Ragland said. Kids really look forward to Christmas, so kids being able to come and take a picture with Santa, to tell Santa their list and just kind of bring the holiday spirit back to all the families.

Fridays festivities may be over, but there is still plenty of Christmas spirit to enjoy Saturday, Nov. 23.

The annual Christmas Parade, traveling south on South Washington from Johnson, then west on Ezra Rust Drive to Ojibway Island, begins at 11 a.m.

In addition, there is a Girls on the Run 5K Reindeer Run at 10:30 a.m., crafts for all ages at Hoyt Library from noon to 4 p.m., the Cookie House Competition continues from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and a free hot cocoa bar will be available in the SVRC Marketplace from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information, check out the Holidays in the Heart of the City Facebook page here.

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.
LANSING, MI  More than $22 million in newly awarded federal funds will move a planned hydrogen hub in Michigan further toward development.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer this week announced that a state-supported clean hydrogen hub project received $22.2 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop regional supply chains for hydrogen-fueled trucks and heavy-duty vehicles.
LINWOOD, MI - Less than 20 minutes from downtown Bay City is a passionate, family-run restaurant offering a variety homemade food.

Heidi and Zack LaPointe took over Linwood Corners Cafe, 44 N. Huron Road, in 2016.

Zack LaPointe said they closed for about two months to complete renovations of the space.

In that same year, they also owned a gym and an irrigation company, but Zack LaPointe said they now only run the restaurant and the irrigation company.

Linwood Corners Cafe has a large menu of five pages, including appetizers, salads, sandwiches, hamburgers, wraps, dinner entrees such as fried perch, Mexican dishes, breakfast dishes and homemade soups and desserts.

The LaPointes said everything on the menu is quite popular, but the giant pancakes, omelets, hamburgers, soups and the desserts rise to the top.

Heidi LaPointe makes all the desserts herself and said people come from all over to buy the cookies and a slice of the nearly nine-pound cheesecake.

Our slogan has always been, Theres only two places to eat, here and home. Its just like grandma used to make. So thats what we try to put out, we try to do as much as we can homemade, from scratch, good quality, Heidi LaPointe said.

Their goal is to stand out from others by focusing on making most items from scratch, even though it may take longer, and Zack LaPointe said theres no way they could make it happen without their dedicated staff.

Your staff is everything. We do a lot of special things for our employees; we do a big Christmas party every year and stuff like that, they really appreciate that, Zack LaPointe said.

The small-town restaurant tends to be full of locals and regulars. Heidi LaPointe said the support has continuously flowed, even from other businesses and restaurants in the area as they sent flowers and well wishes to them when they took over.

The community is always going back and forth, helping each other, which is awesome, Zack LaPointe said.

Being on North Huron Road, Heidi LaPointe said they do host travelers as well and aim to serve each customer with great service and great food.

Linwood Corners Cafe recently switched to their winter hours. The restaurant is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Fridays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For more information, check out their Facebook page here.

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.

Would you like MLive to feature your favorite restaurant in Michigans Best Local Eats? Send the details, including business name, address and best menu item, to Kaytie Boomer at kboomer@mlive.com.
Even with bouts of rain over the past week, Michigans drought has worsened. This is the states 11th worst drought week on record.

Nearly 4 million Michigan residents are living in drought areas, according to data compiled by the U.S. Drought Monitor. That number was 2.5 million a month ago.

We now have about 25% of land area under severe drought, 56% under moderate drought and 18% is abnormally dry. Together, thats 99% of the state thats at least abnormally dry.

The drought has worsened compared to last week despite rainfall with the Drought Severity and Coverage Index going from 198 to 205. See the map below of rainfall in the past week.

Rainfall totals for Michigan from Nov. 15-22, 2024.NOAA

The map shows that much of the Mitten received a quarter to half an inch of rain in the past week; most of those areas are in the current severe drought parts of the state.

Other parts of the Lower Peninsula got half an inch to 1.5 inches of rain while a small area of the Upper Peninsula got up to 4 inches of rain.

Still, that wasnt enough to dampen the drought.

RELATED: U.S. drought became massive in a short time, see the expansion

A large part of the northern Lower Peninsula is under severe drought, along with a portion of the western Upper Peninsula and a sliver of the southeast along the Ohio border.

Only 1% of the land area has no drought indication: Muskegon County with portions of neighboring Oceana and Ottawa counties. Muskegon had a historic 4.43-inch rainfall on Sept. 24 that has staved off the drought.

The drought conditions progress from abnormally dry, which is not officially a drought level, to moderate drought, severe drought, extreme drought and exceptional drought.

This drought map from the U.S. drought monitor shows that 99% of Michigan is at least abnormally dry with 81% under moderate or severe drought as of Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024.U.S. Drought Monitor

Above is the latest U.S. Drought Monitor map of Michigan.

Severe drought is indicated in the orange area stretching across the northern Lower Peninsula from Manistee, Mason and Benzie counties to Presque Isle and Huron counties and every county in between; those inland areas were not in drought a month ago. In the U.P., Gogebic, Ontonagon, Iron, Houghton and Baraga counties are all seeing areas of severe drought. Along the Ohio border, Hillsdale, Lenawee and Monroe counties are also shaded orange.

Moderate drought is the lowest level of official drought status, indicated in the tan areas covering much of the Upper and Lower peninsulas.

Abnormal dryness, indicated in yellow, is seen in the southeast Lower Peninsula, a small ring around Muskegon County and two spots in the U.P.

According to the drought index, this is the driest stretch Michiganders have seen since 2003 when the index peaked at 252 in March, compared to todays 205.

The index shows that were drier this week than last week when the index was 198 and about 75% of the state was in moderate or severe drought compared to 81% now.

Michigan will continue to need heavier than normal amounts of precipitation in the next few weeks or winter will begin with moderate to severe drought. Drought is hard to reduce in the middle of winter since the colder air doesnt hold as much moisture as warmer air.
KALAMAZOO, MI  Police seized cocaine, fentanyl and other drugs during raids at three locations in and around the city of Kalamazoo.

Between Tuesday, Nov. 19, and Wednesday, Nov. 20, members of the Kalamazoo Valley Enforcement Team and Crime Reduction Team executed multiple search warrants at the following locations during investigations of drug sales:
A Michigan auto supplier is facing a fine after it didnt adequately address Legionnaires cases four years ago and the bacteria grew again  killing one worker and sickening two others in 2023.

The Michigan Occupational Health and Safety Administration, MIOSHA, issued a $10,300 penalty against Huron Inc., a manufacturer for the auto industry, following an investigation into the workers death.

This was one of 36 workplace fatalities MIOSHA investigated last year, but the only one involving Legionnaires disease  a severe pneumonia thats caused by inhaling mist or water droplets contaminated with Legionella bacteria.

Founded in 1943, Huron Inc. has grown into one of Sanilac Countys biggest employers with roughly 420 workers and it underwent a $13 million expansion seven years ago. The company was purchased by Seven Mile Capital Partners, a New York private equity firm, in 2015 then became a portfolio company of Ardian, a private investment firm. Following a merger in 2017, it now operates under the umbrella of HDT Automotive, which has 10 locations across the globe.

The company did not respond to a request for comment.

A timeline of Legionnaires at Huron Inc.

The circumstances that led to a worker dying were detailed in MIOSHA case files obtained by the Freedom of Information Act. The report redacted the name, gender and other personal details about the worker.

It started when two Huron Inc. employees were hospitalized with Legionnaires disease in 2020. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services tested 15 water samples at the facility and found one positive for Legionella.

The company then performed corrective actions to kill the bacteria.

But in 2023, more workers were infected.

Last summer, a sickened worker, 61, was admitted to the hospital after being exposed to Legionella bacteria from an affected water source inside the facility, and died a week later on Aug. 20, 2023.

At the time, Huron Inc. couldnt pinpoint the water source because case files said this maintenance worker could have been anywhere around the plant.

The company also didnt report the death to the state.

Related: Legionnaires disease on the rise in Michigan

More than a month later, on Sept. 28, 2023, another worker called in sick and was admitted to the hospital with Legionnaires disease. This employee didnt return to work until Nov. 6, 2023 after six weeks of illness.

Then in December, a third employee  who had respiratory symptoms lingering without significant relief for months  read about the other Legionnaires cases in Huron Inc.s newsletter posted in the lunchroom. This employee tested positive for the disease on Dec. 15, 2023.

Another round of water testing detected Legionella  the same genetic strain that infected the three employees  in four areas of the facility.

Huron Inc. then performed additional corrective actions including disinfecting with bleach, replacing pipes in the areas that tested positive and setting all water tanks to 122 degrees.

Related: Genesee County offers advice on Legionnaires Disease with case numbers on the rise

The monthslong investigation wrapped up in August with a settlement agreement.

A violation worksheet says Huron Inc. failed to keep their employees free from a recognized hazard that can cause death or serious injury.

The company was aware of the presence of Legionella disease after the first two employees got sick in 2020, according to MIOSHA, but failed to develop an effective water maintenance program to monitor and prevent the growth of bacteria in the facilitys water supply.

As a result, MIOSHA wrote one employee died, one was hospitalized and one was sick for several weeks all from exposure to legionella pneumophilia contaminated water sources in the facility.

Huron Inc. faced the maximum penalty of $7,000 for a serious violation of state law but got a 10% reduction because the company hadnt been cited by MIOSHA in the past five years. In 2022, the manufacturer celebrated the safest year in our 80-year history. And it was hit with another $4,000 penalty for not reporting the fatality to the state.

The only OSHA penalty thats more severe is a willful violation that can result in fines up to $70,000. The state agency says this occurs when an employer intentionally disregards MIOSHA regulations or shows plain indifference to employee health and safety.

Fines are determined based on the classification of the violation, with potential reductions for factors such as the number of employees, good faith efforts, and the employers history with MIOSHA, the state agency said in a statement.

The United Auto Workers union, which represents Huron Inc. employees, also did not respond to a request for comment.

Rising numbers of Legionnaires cases

A workplace Legionnaires death is rare  even as cases of the disease are increasing.

State records show this is the only fatal on-the-job Legionnaires case MIOSHA investigated in the past decade. Part of the challenge, according to the state agency, is figuring out whether the origin is workplace-related or external.

Meanwhile, cases of Legionnaires disease increased sixfold from 2000 to 2018, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Michigan also saw cases spike 569% in July 2021, but the state health department reported 2023 cases were trending lower.

Michele Swanson, a University of Michigan microbiologist and longtime Legionnaires researcher, said case numbers are ticking up because of an older population, aging infrastructure, greater awareness of the disease and climate change.

Theres not one explanation, but we point to a number of explanations, she said.

Related: She died 7 days after going to the hospital for a headache. Now hers is first Flint Legionnaires case scheduled for trial

Its particularly dangerous when the bacteria grows in the pipes of hospitals or long-term care facilities because Legionnaires can be deadly for older people, smokers and those with underlying health conditions.

Once a facility detects Legionella, Swanson says it can be hard to eradicate it.

You could knock back the population by say 90% but then itll still be seeded with these hardy resilient ones, she said. Then once conditions are favorable, those will re-enter the life cycle and start replicating.

One of the largest Legionnaires outbreaks in the United States occurred during the Flint water crisis when there were 86 confirmed cases including at least 12 deaths  leading to a flurry of lawsuits. Recently, there have been large outbreaks tied to a New York assisted living facility, cruise ship hot tubs and a cooling tower in New Hampshire.

Yet the disease is likely underreported because about 95% of cases arent tied to a specific source. And despite growing numbers, the United States leans on what researchers have called an ad hoc patchwork of regulations to stop Legionella bacteria from growing in water systems.

Were not looking and so were not seeing it very often, Swanson said.

Editors note: This story was updated with additional information about Huron Inc.s parent company.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 23. The 29th session of the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP29) in Baku will mark a new stage in the ecological and economic transformation of Azerbaijan. In light of the global shift toward green energy and sustainable development, this conference will be a significant step not only in addressing global climate challenges but also in terms of major changes at the social and economic levels within the country. The anticipated outcomes of COP29 will impact several key areas, offering long-term benefits for society, business, and the state.

Raising social responsibility and public awareness.

One of the most important social effects of holding COP29 in Azerbaijan will be a significant increase in environmental awareness and social responsibility among the population. Leading global experts, forum participants, and politicians will not only exchange experiences but also draw the publics attention to issues such as global warming, climate change, and its consequences. This will lay the groundwork for forming a new environmental consciousness, which will serve as the basis for more responsible behavior among citizens and government bodies in the future.

Public organizations and governmental structures in countries like Germany and Sweden, where environmental initiatives at all levels have become an integral part of the social and educational process, provide a relevant example. These countries actively support environmental educational programs as well as campaigns aimed at reducing the carbon footprint at the level of individuals and organizations. In Azerbaijan, similar processes will develop alongside the hosting of COP29, helping to accelerate environmental education and create platforms for sustainable ecological behavior.

In this context, it's noteworthy that COP29 supported Azerbaijan's initiative to measure climate literacy through the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA). Under this agreement, Azerbaijan's Ministry of Science and Education has signed an agreement with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The agreement envisages the development of a framework document and educational materials for the PISA 2029 study to assess climate literacy among students worldwide. Azerbaijan's proposal underscores the significance of incorporating climate knowledge into educational standards.

This step demonstrates COP29's positive impact on education as well as the environmental and energy agenda, laying the groundwork for a new generation that is aware of climate challenges and capable of finding sustainable solutions.

Strengthening the accountability of government bodies and the corporate sector

One of the key outcomes to expect from hosting COP29 in Azerbaijan is the strengthened role of government bodies and the corporate sector in environmental protection. Participation in global commitments to combat climate change will require Azerbaijan to update its environmental policies at all levels.

Increasing public actions and corporate initiatives in ecology

The growing interest in climate change, which will inevitably follow the COP29 conference, will lead to an increase in environmental actions and projects under corporate social responsibility initiatives. Azerbaijan, leveraging its role in COP29, will also be able to enhance cooperation with international partners to implement social and environmental initiatives.

In the upcoming years, we anticipate a significant increase in investments from the government and businesses towards projects that aim to improve the country's environmental situation. This may include initiatives for the modernization of urban infrastructure, the construction of 'green' buildings, and the renewal of transportation systems using environmentally friendly modes of transport.

Harmonizing the legislative framework and improving the environmental situation

One of the long-term goals of hosting COP29 is to harmonize Azerbaijan's legislative framework with international environmental and sustainable development standards. Developed countries such as Japan and the UK have already adopted laws requiring businesses to comply with strict environmental standards, conduct environmental impact assessments, and follow de-carbonization strategies. Following this example, Azerbaijan will be able to create an effective legislative environment to stimulate "green" technologies and sustainable development at all levels.

Furthermore, the country will be able to introduce effective mechanisms to combat climate change, including a system of carbon quotas and carbon taxes, which will serve as incentives for businesses to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. All of this will contribute to improving the overall environmental situation in the country.

Financial Support for Green Energy Projects

Azerbaijan expects COP29 to have a significant impact on the support and financing of green energy projects. By hosting a conference at this level, Azerbaijan will be able to accelerate the process of providing concessional loans and financial support for the implementation of 'green' projects.

Financial institutions are expected to begin offering more favorable financing conditions for entrepreneurs and citizens who wish to invest in renewable energy projects with state support. This will open up new opportunities for the development of 'green' businesses and a sustainable economy in the country.

Holding COP29 in Azerbaijan creates unique opportunities for the development of a green economy, the improvement of the environmental situation, and the stimulation of social responsibility. The transition to sustainable development will involve reforms across social, economic, and financial sectors, which will inevitably affect all participants in this processfrom government bodies to ordinary citizens.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 23. Developed countries, as the largest contributors to pollution, have a responsibility to play a leading role in climate financing, said Eric Kofi Afornorpe, a representative of Ghanas delegation and participant in COP29 negotiations, on the sidelines of the conference, Trend reports.

Securing adequate financing remains one of the key challenges at this conference. The lack of funding is a major barrier to implementing the Paris Agreement, which we are committed to achieving by 2030. Without proper financial support, meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement will be impossible. Developed nations, as the primary polluters, must step up and contribute significantly. Mechanisms like the Green Climate Fund, the Adaptation Fund, and the Loss and Damage Fund were created for this purpose, but they remain severely underfunded, he said.

Still, the Ghanaian negotiator expressed hope that this conference could establish a long-term, measurable financing goal.

Its estimated that implementing the Paris Agreement in Africa will require around $1.1 trillion, a figure that could rise to $1.8 trillion by 2030. Even the proposed $250 billion is just a drop in the ocean. Its nowhere near enough.

Western nations have repeatedly pointed to economic challengessuch as the impact of COVID-19 and the ongoing global financial crisisas reasons for their inability to provide adequate funding. While these concerns are understandable, does that mean we should abandon the Paris Agreement altogether? If financing isnt possible, can we really talk about fulfilling our climate commitments? This raises serious questions about their priorities, he emphasized.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 23. Millions or billions are not enough to solve climate problems, trillions are needed, a member of the Climate Action Network (CAN) Hanen Hamid Shazen said, Trend reports.

She said that $250 billion a year to combat climate change is very little.

"250 billion is a very small amount. We do not agree with this, we are not going to agree with it and we think it is a bad deal. We want trillions, millions or billions are not enough to solve the problems. It is better for us to leave here without any deal than to conclude this one. We support all developing countries that are promoting this message and will continue to do so until the last minutes of this conference. Agreeing to the proposed 250 billion will be a big failure for the Paris Agreement," the CAN member said.

She noted that representatives of the governments of advanced European countries, including France, are participating in the conference, and they intend to agree on a small amount of funds.

"Their messages are clear in the texts. So, it is not about one person, it is about the whole process. They just want to avoid paying the obligations that fall on them. They continue to rob us, taking our resources and do not want to give us what is due to us fairly. I hope for a better deal. We are looking forward to the final result," she said.

The opening of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) took place on November 11. This is the largest event organized by Azerbaijan to date, and for the first time in the region, it is being held in Azerbaijan.

The key expectation of COP29 is to agree on a fair and ambitious New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) for climate finance.

The COP29 Presidency put forward 14 initiatives.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 23. The 15th Sustainable Innovation Forum 2024, supported by Azercell Telecom LLC, took place on November 13-14 in Baku, bringing together approximately 1,000 senior global leaders in climate action. This prestigious event united representatives from business, finance, government, regional organizations, and NGOs to address pressing sustainability challenges, explore innovative solutions, and forge partnerships to accelerate global climate efforts.

Azercells Chief Legal and Data Strategy Officer, Shirin Aliyeva, participated in one of the forums most significant sessionsa fireside chat moderated by Nik Gowing, Chair of the Sustainable Innovation Forum. During this discussion, Ms. Aliyeva emphasized Azercells leadership in sustainability and its mission to drive positive change through technological innovation. She introduced Azercells ESG strategy, highlighting the companys dedication to building resilient telecommunications while addressing critical industry challenges such as energy efficiency and renewable energy adoption.

Ms. Aliyeva outlined Azercells proactive approach to climate change, sharing that the company began deploying green technologies in Azerbaijan as early as 2017. In the Karabakh region alone, Azercell has installed 35 green base stations, which operate on renewable energy for 60% of their operational time. Additionally, the company has implemented new software to optimize base station energy consumption, significantly improving efficiency.

She also underscored Azercells role as a member of global climate initiatives, including the UN Global Compact and the GSMA Climate Action Taskforce, through which it encourages other market players to accelerate their environmental efforts.

Ms. Aliyeva highlighted the companys internal initiatives, including robust green office policy and waste management efforts, which, for instance, resulted in a 27% reduction in water usage between 2022 and 2023. She also discussed Azercells socially impactful programs, aimed at protecting and empowering women and children, such as the Children Hotline and Women Hotline and its partnerships with organizations like the Judo Federation.

The forum featured a dynamic agenda of panel discussions, interactive dialogues, keynote speeches, and live exchanges with global climate and industry leaders. Participants shared actionable strategies to accelerate the transition toward a net-zero global economy.

Azercells active involvement in the 15th Sustainable Innovation Forum reaffirms its commitment to leveraging technology for sustainability and advancing climate action through innovation and collaboration.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 23. On November 20, 2024, the Italian Foreign Ministry hosted a meeting between Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan to the Italian Republic Toyly Komekov and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Italian Republic Edmondo Cirielli, as well as representatives of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trend reports.

During the meeting, further steps were discussed to strengthen bilateral cooperation within the framework of international organizations and deepen relations in the scientific, cultural, trade and economic spheres, in particular, holding various events with the participation of the heads of relevant departments. Particular attention was paid to the issue of organizing a visit of the heads of the Italian Foreign Ministry to Ashgabat in the near future to hold inter-MFA consultations.

It was also noted that in early December 2024, representatives of the education, healthcare, energy and sustainable development sectors of Italy plan to visit Ashgabat to discuss and deepen cooperation in the areas identified at the Third Ministerial Meeting "Italy - Central Asia" in Rome in May 2024.

At the end of the meeting, the parties exchanged best wishes for peace and prosperity for the peoples of Turkmenistan and Italy, emphasizing the importance of further strengthening the partnership between the two countries.
China to continue working with Morocco to support each other's core interests: Xi

Xinhua) 09:06, November 23, 2024

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Moroccan Crown Prince Moulay Hassan in Casablanca, Morocco, Nov. 21, 2024. Xi met with Hassan during a technical stop in Casablanca after wrapping up his state visit to Brazil. Assigned by Moroccan King Mohammed VI, Hassan and Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch greeted Xi at the airport. A welcome ceremony was held there. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

CASABLANCA, Morocco, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that China is ready to continue working with Morocco to firmly support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests, and push for greater development of China-Morocco strategic partnership.

Xi made the remarks when meeting with Moroccan Crown Prince Moulay Hassan during a technical stop in Casablanca after wrapping up his state visit to Brazil.

Assigned by Moroccan King Mohammed VI, Hassan and Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch greeted Xi at the airport. A welcome ceremony was held there.

Xi asked Hassan to convey his cordial greetings and best wishes to King Mohammed VI.

Xi pointed out that China and Morocco have witnessed sound development in their relations, with fruitful practical cooperation and increasingly vibrant exchanges in various fields. In 2016, Xi said, King Mohammed VI paid a state visit to China, during which they held productive talks, bringing China-Morocco relations to a new level.

China is ready to work with Morocco to implement the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, and work for more outcomes in practical cooperation across various fields within the framework of Belt and Road cooperation, Xi said.

China supports Morocco's efforts in safeguarding national security and stability, Xi added, calling on the two countries to expand cultural and people-to-people exchanges, so as to enhance public support for their friendship.

For his part, Hassan conveyed the sincere greetings and warm welcome from King Mohammed VI to Xi, saying that bilateral ties have maintained a sound development momentum.

He thanked China for its valuable support to Morocco during the COVID-19 pandemic, which the Moroccan people will never forget.

The Moroccan royal family and government are firmly committed to further developing bilateral relations, and are willing to maintain high-level exchanges with China and strengthen cooperation in various fields, he said.

The Chinese language and culture are very popular among the Moroccan people, Hassan said, expressing his hope for promoting bilateral people-to-people exchanges.

Noting that the two countries hold similar positions on many issues, he said the Moroccan side stands ready to work with China to firmly support each other in safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and stability.

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Casablanca, Morocco, for a technical stop on Nov. 21, 2024, after wrapping up his state visit to Brazil. Assigned by Moroccan King Mohammed VI, Moroccan Crown Prince Moulay Hassan and Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch greeted Xi at the airport. A welcome ceremony was held there. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

(Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Kou Jie)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 23. Iran will considerably increase its uranium enrichment potential, Iranian Atomic Energy Organization Deputy Chairman Behrouz Kamalvandi told local media, Trend reports.

He believes that a whole host of modern centrifuges will be brought into play to ramp up enrichment potential. In tandem with this, the research and nuclear industry will be fast-tracked to bolster the safety factor.

Kamalvandi remarked on the implementation of sanctions on Iran during the IAEA board of directors meeting, stating that, after directives from Iran's Vice President and Chairman of the Atomic Energy Organization, Mohammad Eslami, Iran promptly initiated preventive steps that evening. The International Atomic Energy Agency will shortly release its report, elucidating the procedures for augmenting Iran's nuclear industrial capabilities.

According to Kamalvandi, the announcement that the enrichment facilities, which house hundreds of centrifuges, are ready was made during the arrival of International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi. In spite of this, Iran plans to maintain enrichment in this form in the hopes of reaching a deal. A temporary increase in the enrichment level above 60 percent was requested of the agency director general. Under varying circumstances, Iran accepted a number of problems.

The International Atomic Energy Agency adopted a resolution on November 21 with 19 votes against Iran, in favor, 12 abstentions, and 3 against. The resolution invited Tehran to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency on a number of issues and also called for a credible document on uranium residues at two undeclared locations on Iranian territory.

To note, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi visited Tehran on November 14 (2024) and held talks with a number of senior Iranian officials, including President Masoud Pezeshkian.

To recall, 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.

However, in May 2018, the US announced its withdrawal from the deal and reimposed sanctions on Iran.

Two years later, Iran responded to the sanctions by implementing a strategic plan in the nuclear sector to counter the sanctions. This decision was made by the Iranian parliament at the end of 2020, resulting in the suspension of additional measures and the Additional Protocol per the nuclear agreement.

Consequently, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) faced a reduction in monitoring capabilities by 2030 percent.

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Antonina, a journalist from the Detector Media project, shared her honest feedback on the "Business Etiquette" course by former TV host Olha Freimut. The course, which costs 5,000 hryvnias, offers 25 video lessons lasting an average of three minutes, resulting in less than an hour and a half of material.

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However, according to the author of the review, potential students are waiting for the information that is freely available not only on Freimut's page but also on the Internet in general. The most important thesis of the former "The Auditor" star is that business is not only about large corporations but also about the talent of entrepreneurs. "Because even the Bible says that you shouldn't bury your talent," says the lecturer, sometimes comparing herself to a priest.

During the three-minute lessons, the celebrity provides examples of business etiquette from the areas in which she has worked. In particular, one of the lectures contains a "master class" on how to ask for a salary increase, using the example of the profession of a literary editor. In her recommendation, Freimut mentioned an amount that would make literary editors smile ironically. Like, if you make 2 thousand dollars, you shouldn't ask your boss for 5 thousand dollars right away.

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At the end of the "Business Etiquette" course, Freimut holds an hour-long video meeting with the "graduates" where he gives his expert answers to their questions. "There are about 30 people in the group of happy course participants. Some of them are abroad and are trying to understand how to behave in a new job search environment or with a foreign employer. But most of them are in Ukraine and are trying to set up their small businesses or even just start them," the journalist writes. "So, one of the participants asked how to choose a team, and how to find the right people. Freimut's answer is one of the golden annals of answers to all questions: "Pray."

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As the author notes, the former TV presenter also favors "fantasies about the British aristocracy." For example, the lecturer tells Ukrainians that when hosting a reception, when introducing guests to each other, they should start with dukes and earls. There were also lessons on how to be a lady. As a bonus, Freimut sends her students titles of books on business etiquette. "The most useful part of the 'course' is for those who may have come for it. But in general, the life hack for info fraudsters is luxurious: you declare the name of the course, collect money and throw a few books on the topic to the "students". Let them read them themselves, there's no need to be lazy," the review says.

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The concert of controversial American rapper Kanye West, who openly expressed his love for Russia and even called himself "young Putin," was canceled in Moscow. The fact is that Kremlin officials were afraid to authorize the event because they did not know what the artist was singing about.

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Russian media reports about this. It is noted that the celebrity's performance could have been the largest in Russia in recent decades, as almost 70,000 people were supposed to attend it, with West himself receiving a fee of $8 million.

Several Russian companies were working on organizing the concert, negotiating with the rapper's team. The final approval of the event required the consent of the performer himself, producers, and local officials. It is ironic that even his dedication, loyalty, and support of the Kremlin's terrorist regime and the war in Ukraine did not help Kanye West to appear on Moscow stage.

According to Russian media, since the rapper is a native of the "unfriendly country United States of America," Russian officials were afraid to take responsibility for the concert, because "who knows what he sings about in his tracks."

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We would like to remind you that rapper Kanye West openly supports Vladimir Putin and says he is very "pro-Russia." In addition, the scandalous performer said that in addition to the Russian dictator, he also respects the activities of Adolf Hitler, proudly calling himself a "Nazi."

Earlier, West stepped out in a T-shirt with the inscription "I am Russian" during the celebration of the birthday of fashion designer Gosha Rubchinskiy. This act did not go unnoticed. London artists began offering to remove tattoos with the rapper's face for free.

Interestingly, the open support of the aggressor country failed to protect Kanye West from Russians' disdain. The fact is that one of his tracks contains a line that humiliates Russian women and mentions Ukraine. Because of this, members of the Forty Forties movement sent an appeal to the police, "The Russian woman in the work of the said artist appears exclusively as a drug addicted prostitute with questionable values. We believe that Kanye West promotes the inferiority of a person based on their national and social groups."

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Russia was preparing for a new genocide of the Ukrainian people long before the full-scale invasion. The aggressor's plans included the mass extermination of Ukrainians, and for this purpose, the Russians were preparing mobile crematoria and making plans for mass graves.

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Also, before the full-scale invasion began, Russia compiled execution lists that included representatives of a number of categories. Kyrylo Budanov, the Chief of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, spoke about this at the forum "Genocidal Practices of the Russian Federation in Ukraine: From the Holodomor to the Russian-Ukrainian War" on November 22.

The Russian military and political leadership began laying the groundwork for the genocide of Ukrainians even before February 24, 2022. An article by Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, published in July 2021, became a kind of "manifesto" of Russia's true intentions. In it, the so-called president of the Russian Federation denied the right of the Ukrainian nation to exist.

After that, the cultivation of hatred and dehumanization of Ukrainians in Russia came in full force.

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"Thus, Russian propagandists, high-ranking officials and the entire state machine, having received such a blessing from their leader, have repeatedly called for the destruction of Ukrainians," Budanov noted.

Russian propaganda has managed to drive the idea of the total extermination of Ukrainians into the minds of most Russians.

"The genocide of Ukrainians is not only a state policy of the Russian Federation but also a mandatory public belief approved by the country's leadership," the DIU chief said.

Russia then proceeded to take practical steps to prepare for the planned genocide. The Russian invaders who were to participate in the full-scale invasion of Ukraine were instructed on the location of the collective graves of the Ukrainians they had killed. Those who were to be killed first were also identified.

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"[The execution lists] were to include teachers of the Ukrainian language, literature, history, ATO veterans, journalists, scholars, writers, priests of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and others who supported Ukraine, including public and political figures, heads of state and local authorities," Budanov listed.

All these "instructions" included all the regions that they were able to occupy in whole or in part.

"We have seen horrific mass crimes against Ukrainian citizens, the fact of which the whole world knows today. The atrocities committed by the Russian Armed Forces in Borodianka, Bucha, Hostomel, Izium, Mariupol and many other Ukrainian cities and towns showed that these identical and synchronized actions were based on clear doctrinal provisions of the Russian genocidal policy of both government and military leadership," the Chief of Military Intelligence of Ukraine summarized.

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Earlier, the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine confirmed that Russia had developed a document that provided for the division of Ukraine. In it, the Russians "planned" the dismemberment of our country into three parts for the period 2026-2035 with a prospect of 2045.

Thus, in the dreams of the Russians, one of these parts - "new regions of the Russian Federation" - was to include the temporarily occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson regions and Crimea with Sevastopol as part of Russia.

The second part - a "pro-Russian state entity" that has no right to join NATO and the EU but required to welcome Russian troops - was supposed to be formed from a number of northern, central, and partially western regions, including Kyiv.

The third part - the "disputed territories" - are the western regions of Ukraine, the future of which Russia was going to "negotiate" with Hungary, Poland, and Romania.

There is a possibility that Moscow may be trying to pass on its "plan" to the United States.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!
Fadnavis or Shinde - who will be new CM? The big question staring Maharashtra as NDA decimates MVA

Parimal Peeyush

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November 23, 2024 / 23:04 IST

It was a mixed bag for 11 seats with more than 35 per cent Muslim voters, where six candidates of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) emerged victorious in the Maharashtra Assembly polls on Saturday, while four seats went to the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance.

The Asaduddin Owaisi-led All India Majlis-e-Ittehad Muslimeen (AIMIM), which is not aligned with either of the coalitions, won its lone seat -- Malegaon Central -- as Mufti Mohammed Khalique polled 1,09,653 votes to emerge victorious by a slender margin of 162 votes against Asif Shaikh Rashid of a local outfit -- Indian Secular Largest Assembly of Maharashtra.

The Malegaon Central Assembly segment has more than 78 per cent Muslim voters. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had not fielded a candidate here, while Congress nominee Ejaz Baig secured 7,527 votes.

Abu Asim Azmi of the Samajwadi Party (SP) polled 54,780 votes to win the Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar seat by a margin of 12,753 votes against his nearest rival, Ateeque Ahmad Khan of the AIMIM.

Ajit Pawar-led NCP's Nawab Malik, whose candidature appeared to upset the BJP-led Mahayuti, stood a distant fourth. Shiv Sena candidate Suresh Patil occupied the third position with 35,263 votes. The Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar seat has 53 per cent Muslim voters.
Parimal Peeyush

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Routine leads to fatigue, so it's worth adding some color to your life from time to time. If traveling can only be a dream, you should go on an exciting movie trip.

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OBOZ.UA has prepared a selection of movies that will make you forget about everything and transport you to distant countries. Discover new cultures and feel the taste of real adventures.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

This is an adventure drama directed and starring Ben Stiller in 2013. The film is an adaptation of the story of the same name by James Thurber, published in 1939.

The protagonist, Walter Mitty, is a humble employee of Life magazine who dreams of incredible adventures but leads a mundane life. The plot unfolds as he embarks on a real-life journey across several countries to find a lost negative of a photograph intended for the cover of the latest issue of the magazine.

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The film combines visually striking scenes, subtle humor, and philosophical reflections on self-realization. The musical score and inspirational message made the film popular among a wide audience.

Seven Years in Tibet (1997)

This is not just a movie, it is a fascinating journey into the heart of the Himalayas that has inspired millions of people. This 1997 biographical drama was directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud. The film tells the story of Austrian mountaineer Heinrich Harrer, who, after escaping from a British prisoner of war camp during World War II, finds himself in Tibet.

Brad Pitt played the lead role, whose character undergoes a spiritual transformation while spending time in Lhasa. A special place in the film is occupied by Harrer's relationship with the young Dalai Lama, who becomes a source of wisdom and inner peace for him. The film demonstrates the unique culture of Tibet on the eve of its occupation by China. "Seven Years in Tibet features breathtaking landscapes and an insightful look at the interaction of cultures.

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Diarios de motocicleta (2004)

A 2004 biographical drama directed by Walter Salles. The film is based on real events from the life of Ernesto Che Guevara, who, together with his friend Alberto Granado, went on a trip to South America in 1952.

The plot centers on the transformation of young Ernesto from a medical student to a future revolutionary, which takes place under the influence of poverty, injustice, and exploitation. The main roles were played by Gael Garcia Bernal and Rodrigo de la Serna.

The film won numerous awards, including an Oscar for Best Song for Al otro lado del rio. The film impresses with its social message and picturesque landscapes of Latin America.

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The Way (2010)

A 2010 drama film directed by Emilio Estevez. The plot centers on the story of an American doctor, Tom Avery, who, after the sudden death of his son on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route, decides to walk the route himself. In the course of the journey, he not only honors his son's memory but also finds a new meaning in life, discovering friendship, faith, and spiritual healing. Martin Sheen, the director's father, plays the lead role.

The film has received positive reviews for its sincerity and picturesque shots of the Spanish landscape. The film tells the story of transformation and human values, inspiring viewers to travel and change themselves.

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Wild (2014)

is a 2014 American biographical drama directed by Jean-Marc Vallee. The film is an adaptation of the memoir of the same name by Cheryl Strayed, who set out on a solo hiking trip of more than 1700 kilometers along the Pacific Crest Trail. The main role of Cheryl was played by Reese Witherspoon, who also produced the film. The journey becomes a way for the heroine to heal from heartache after the loss of her mother and personal life difficulties. The film has been highly praised by critics for Witherspoon's strong performance and touching script. "Wild" inspires to redefine oneself and emphasizes the power of the human spirit in the fight against life's challenges.

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The Art of Travel (2008)

A 2008 adventure drama directed by Thomas Schrader. The plot revolves around a young man Connor Lane, who decides to go on a trip around the world after an unexpected breakup with his fiancee.

The film explores themes of self-discovery, challenge, and inner growth through adventures in different parts of the world, including the jungles of Central America and the majestic deserts of Bolivia. Connor meets new friends and discovers unexpected opportunities as he overcomes difficulties.

The film emphasizes the idea that a real journey is not only about changing places but also about a deep transformation of the individual. The film attracts with its vivid landscapes and inspirational message of freedom and courage.

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Letters to Juliet (2010)

A 2010 romantic drama directed by Gary Winick. The main character, a young American Sophie (Amanda Seyfried), finds an ancient letter written to a fictional Juliet, a woman seeking advice in love, while traveling to Verona, Italy. She decides to answer it, which begins a journey with the letter's author, Claire (Vanessa Redgrave), and her grandson, Charlie (Christopher Egan), in search of Claire's long-lost love.

The film captivates with its picturesque Tuscan landscapes and poignant story of a second chance at love. The film explores the themes of fate, romance, and the importance of courage to follow your heart. It is a light and touching film that emphasizes the magic of love that can overcome any obstacles.

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Hina Khan shares about her hour-long conversation with Salman Khan amid her cancer battle; says, 'He assured me that I will be fine'

M Snehanjali

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Jennifer Lawrence and Malala Yousafzai unite to highlight Afghan women's struggles in new documentary Bread and Roses

M Snehanjali

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Nani shares unknown facts about his marriage with Anjana Yelavarthy on The Rana Daggubati Show

M Snehanjali

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Who is Hania Aamir? What makes the rising star of Pakistan so popular on the internet?

M Snehanjali

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Adanis knew of US probe when they sold bribe-linked assets to TotalEnergies, prosecutors say

101Reporters

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Souptik Datta

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Election Results 2024 Live Updates: The JMM-led INDIA bloc is leading in Jharkhand, ahead on 46 of 81 assembly seats as per the latest trends while the BJP-led NDA is ahead in 22 seats as the counting of votes is underway. In Maharashtra, Mahayuti is clearly ahead with leads on 204 seats with BJP alone leading on 111 of them.

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. In the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly, 41 is the majority mark.

Stay with Moneycontrol for the fastest, most accurate updates on Maharashtra and Jharkhand Election Results 2024:
BJP set to record best-ever performance in Maharashtra at strike rate of nearly 84%

Armaan Bhatnagar

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The series of John Wick films starring Keanu Reeves has been called by critics a renaissance of the action movie genre. And Lionsgate, in the wake of its success, decided to turn them into a full-fledged franchise and is now preparing a television project.

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According to Variety, Lionsgate Television has started developing a TV series based on this movie universe. Currently, no television network or streaming service is associated with the upcoming show. The working title of the series is "John Wick: Under the High Table". Its events will take place immediately after the events of the fourth movie.

The official logline says that John Wick will leave the council of criminal authorities called the High Table in a precarious position. New characters will try to make a name for themselves here. The series will combine the new and the old and bring Vic's universe into a new era, the authors promise.

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It is not yet known whether Reeves will appear in the upcoming series, but he will work on it as an executive producer. Chad Stahelski, the director of the main series, will also join the production team. Robert Levine (The Old Man, Black Sails) will serve as a writer and showrunner. Lionsgate Television will produce the series, as Lionsgate has produced all the John Wick films to date. Stahelski signed with Lionsgate back in January to oversee the expansion of the John Wick franchise across all media.

If "John Wick: Under the High Table" will be the second TV series to be produced in the world of penny stocks. Lionsgate TV previously released the mini-series Continental, which was a prequel to the events of the films. Originally created for the Starz platform, the project was eventually released on Peacock in the fall of 2023.

Subscribe to OBOZ.UA channels on Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events.
The counting of votes for the Kopri-Pachpakhadi Assembly seat in Maharashtra is set to take place today, Saturday, November 23, at 8 AM. This high-stakes election is a significant political event as Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, representing Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), faces Kedar Prakash Dighe from Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT). Babukumar Kashinath Kamble of the Lokrajya Party is also in the fray. Eknath Shinde has held the Kopri-Pachpakhadi seat since 2009, securing victories in the 2009, 2014, and 2019 elections under the undivided Shiv Sena. The Kopri-Pachpakhadi constituency, located in Thane district, is among the 18 Vidhan Sabha seats in the region. Polling for this constituency took place on November 20 as part of Maharashtra's single-phase Assembly elections.
INDIA bloc makes history, want to thank PM Modi, says Hemant Soren

Priyanjali Ghose

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Manjiri Patil

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Priyanjali Ghose

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Armaan Bhatnagar

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'Ek hain to safe hain': PM Modi hails Maharashtra verdict, says 'biggest victory for a pre-poll alliance in 50 years'

Chandrima Sanyal

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Amitabh Sinha is Executive Editor, News18 India. He has over 25 years of experience in print and TV journalism.

Chandrima Sanyal

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The new Toyota bZ7 is an inexpensive electric sedan that resembles the Tesla Model 3 in size. But the Japanese model will be much cheaper with an estimated price of $20,000. The electric car is shown in the photo.

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CarNewsChina reports on the Japanese novelty. The Toyota bZ7 2025 electric sedan is especially interesting because the manufacturer is quite skeptical about classic battery EVs. But it is still working in this direction as well.

The photo shows the design of the Toyota bZ7, which will go on sale in 2025. We can see the geometric plastic and the long horizontal LED strip of the taillights. The front lights are designed in the same way.

Technical details have not yet been disclosed. Earlier it was reported that Toyota's new electric vehicles will be able to travel about 1200 km on a single charge. The Japanese company has been preparing the first such model for several years.

However, recently the market dynamics for EVs have slowed down, and many companies are cutting back on investments in this segment. In the Chinese market, Toyota, like other foreign companies, cooperates with Chinese manufacturers to limit costs.
November 23, 2024 / 11:12 IST

The results of the Uttar Pradesh by-elections are shaping up as counting continues across nine key constituencies. Here are the UP bypolls latest updates:

Meerapur: Mithlesh Pal of the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) is leading, giving a boost to the party in this constituency.

Kundarki: Ramveer Singh of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has established a strong lead.

Ghaziabad: BJP candidate Sanjeev Sharma is leading, further consolidating the party's position.

Khair: Surender Diler of the BJP is ahead, maintaining a commanding lead in this constituency.

Karhal: Tej Pratap Singh of the Samajwadi Party (SP) is leading, representing a key seat for the party.

Sishamau: Naseem Solanki of the SP is ahead, strengthening the party's presence in this region.

Phulpur: Deepak Patel of the BJP leads, adding to the party's tally in the state.

Katehari: Shobhawati Verma of the SP is leading, marking another gain for the Samajwadi Party.

Majhawan: BJP's Shuchismita Maurya is leading, keeping the party in a strong position.
Yogi Adityanath's 'Batenge Toh Katenge' cuts SP down to size as BJP sweeps UP bypolls 7-2

Armaan Bhatnagar

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'Your blessings will help us work': Mamata thanks people after TMC's bypoll show

101Reporters

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Maharashtra changes the dynamics between Modi and not just the opposition, but also allies

Namrata Agarwal

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Chennai couple delivers baby at home with help of WhatsApp group, had entirely skipped pre-natal checkups

Shubhi Mishra

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Former Zomato employee backs Deepinder Goyal's Rs 20 lakh job offer, says its 'worth way more'. See post

Shubhi Mishra

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Chinese hackers preparing for conflict, US cyber official says

101Reporters

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NATO, Ukraine to hold emergency talks after Russia's attack with new hypersonic missile

101Reporters

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In the occupied Crimea, 61-year-old Crimean Tatar journalist Ediye Muslimova was detained by FSB officers and held captive for 36 hours. On the night of November 23, after a long interrogation, she returned home.

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Muslimova was detained on November 21, and until then, her relatives could not contact her. The journalist reported this on her Facebook page.

The Crimean Tatar noted that FSB officers told her that they had "received a signal".

During the interrogation by the FSB, the journalist was asked many questions about her work, in particular about her editorial activities in the Crimean Tatar children's magazine "Armanchyk."

According to Muslimova, she was interrogated about the authors of the materials and who was involved in the publications. At the same time, she noted that she was not subjected to violence, and the FSB officers were "correct." Muslimova was also asked about the number of subscribers to the magazine, she noted that there are currently 1485 of them, and emphasized that the magazine will continue its work.

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Ediye Muslimova is a well-known representative of the Crimean Tatar intelligentsia, who was engaged in educational and publishing activities, especially in the development of Crimean Tatar children's literature. Her magazine "Armanchyk" contains educational and entertaining materials for children, including comics, poems, and fairy tales.

As a reminder, Russia continues to illegally detain hundreds of political prisoners who are citizens of Ukraine. Most of them are Crimean Tatars. Releasing them from Russian captivity is extremely difficult, and the help of international partners is essential.

As reported by OBOZ.UA:

On June 28, Ukraine managed to return 10 more civilians from Russian captivity. Nariman Dzhelal, Valeriy Matyushenko, Olena Pekh, Bohdan Geleta, Ivan Levitsky, Mykola Shvets, Natalia Zakharenko, Pavlo Kuprienko, Lyudmyla Honcharenko and Kateryna Bryukhanova returned from captivity.

Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people Nariman Dzhelial was held in Russian captivity for 4 years. The long-awaited meeting with the family took place on Saturday, July 6, in Kyiv.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Pakistan is sealing off its capital ahead of a planned rally by Imran Khan supporters

101Reporters

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Putin says Russia will keep testing new missile in combat

101Reporters

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Ukraine steps up air defence development in response to Russian missile deployment, Zelenskiy says

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Nothing takes a dig at Jaguars new tagline, here's how

Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day

Aabhas Sharma

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Family hatchbacks continue to be a popular choice among motorists, as they combine practicality, economy, and comfort. In 2024, the market offers a wide range of models to meet the diverse needs of families.

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They are compact but roomy, easy to drive, and provide high safety. Experts have selected the best hatchbacks for families, taking into account trunk space, efficiency, technology, and price.

Toyota Corolla: economy and reliability

The Toyota Corolla deservedly takes its place in the ranking thanks to its fuel-efficient hybrid system. The 2024 model boasts a fuel consumption of 64.1 miles per gallon. The car's interior has been updated with a standard 10.25-inch infotainment screen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. Toyota's reliability makes this model a great choice for family use.

Skoda Octavia: space and functionality

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The Skoda Octavia offers an attractive combination of price, convenience, and low running costs. The diesel version provides fuel consumption of up to 63.4 miles per gallon, and the IV PHEV hybrid version can travel up to 43 miles on electric power. A spacious 600-liter trunk makes the Octavia an ideal choice for large families.

Audi A3 Sportback: style and technology

The Audi A3 Sportback has a stylish design and a luxurious interior. The cabin features modern screens: A 10.1-inch multimedia screen and a 12.3-inch digital display. The spacious interior provides comfort even for taller passengers.

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BMW 1 Series: sporty comfort

The BMW 1 Series combines sporty looks with practicality. The car has a spacious 380-liter boot, which is ideal for strollers or suitcases. The infotainment system with a 10.3-inch screen, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto support will come in handy during family trips.

Toyota Yaris: compact and safe

Small but functional, the Toyota Yaris is a symbol of economy. With fuel consumption of up to 68.9 miles per gallon, it's perfect for small families. A host of safety features, including autonomous emergency braking and a rearview camera, make this car a great option for urban environments.

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Ford Focus: proven reliability

The Ford Focus, which has been popular for many years, demonstrates consistently high quality. Parts availability, ease of maintenance, and safety features such as blind spot monitoring add value to the model. The EcoBoost engine provides good fuel efficiency, making the Focus a practical choice for everyday needs.

Peugeot 308: multifunctional trunk

The Peugeot 308 impresses with its trunk space  up to 470 liters in standard configuration and 1185 liters with the seats folded down. The interior has convenient storage spaces, making the car ideal for large purchases or traveling.

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Honda Civic: universal comfort

The Honda Civic offers the largest luggage space among its competitors  up to 478 liters. Its ergonomic design makes it easy to transport even large items. The spacious interior and practical design make the Civic an attractive choice for active families.

Renault Clio: urban compactness

The Renault Clio is a great option for urban environments. Its compact dimensions make it easy to maneuver in tight spaces, and two ISOFIX seats ensure safety for children.

Volkswagen up!: the compact station wagon

The Volkswagen up! is the smallest in our ranking, but it still offers a comfortable interior and a trunk capacity of 251 liters. Its compact size makes this car ideal for small families or short trips.

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Choosing a car often comes down to the main question: how reliable is it? Reliability is a key factor, as it determines whether a car will become a long-term companion without frequent unexpected repairs. Some manufacturers have gained a reputation for creating engines that are characterized by high durability and impeccable performance.

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Experts analyzed the key brands that offer the perfect balance between power, durability, and ease of use. The top five brands are Ford, Chevrolet, Lexus, Honda, and Toyota.

Ford: American power and durability

For more than a century, the American brand Ford has been confirming its reputation as one of the most reliable manufacturers. The 5.0 Coyote V8 and 3.5 V6 EcoBoost models are characterized by high performance and have been in service for years. These engines have become the basis for both classic cars and modern hybrids and electric vehicles.

Chevrolet: legendary V8 engines

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Chevrolet, a division of General Motors, offers some of the most reliable engines on the market. The LS series stands out in particular, as it has gone through several updates since 1997 and remains almost trouble-free. Another example is the LT1 engines that were installed in the Corvette and Camaro of the 90s. Their durability has ensured Chevrolet's place among the leaders.

Lexus: the benchmark for reliability in the premium class

The Lexus brand, known for its luxury cars, consistently ranks at the top of reliability ratings. Its customers spend only about $551 per year on maintenance. The RX model has become a symbol of durability and was named the most reliable car of 2023.

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Honda: Japanese endurance

Honda has long maintained a reputation for creating "immortal" engines. The K, J35, and H22A series demonstrate a resource of more than 200,000 miles, often exceeding the expectations of owners. These engines are installed in Civic, CR-V, Pilot and other models.

Toyota: the undisputed leader in reliability

Toyota deservedly takes the top spot in the ranking. Its engines, such as the 2GR V6 or the legendary 1JZ and 2JZ, set the standard for durability and performance. Toyota is known for creating cars that require minimal maintenance and provide maximum driving pleasure.

The main secret to the success of these manufacturers is the quality of engineering solutions and focus on long-term operation. Their engines are able to operate without significant failures even under intensive use, experts say.

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The sixth installment of the "Ice Age" animated franchise has received an updated premiere date. At the same time, it pushed out the next installment of "Star Wars" from Disney's schedule.

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According to THR, the studio removed the planned space saga film from its 2026 release calendar. Instead, Ice Age 6 took its place in the premiere schedule and will be released on December 18, 2026.

The fact that the sixth part of the prehistoric animals' adventures is in development was announced by Disney last week at the D23 Brazil conference. It is known that Ray Romano, Queen Latifah, and John Leguizamo will voice their characters  mammoth Manny and his partner mammoth Ellie, as well as megalomaniac Sid, respectively.

Disney acquired the "Ice Age" franchise as part of its purchase of 21st Century Fox. The new film will be the first premiere in the series since the deal closed in 2019.

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Also last week, Disney announced that it is working on a new "Star Wars" trilogy. Simon Kinberg has already been commissioned to write and produce the script. Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy will also produce the trilogy. THR has also learned from its sources that these films will include new characters and will not be a continuation of the previous Skywalker saga, which covered episodes 1 through 9 of the franchise.

At the same time, Daisy Ridley's character Rey Skywalker will get her own movie. Director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is currently working on this spinoff. This project was first mentioned at the "Star Wars" Celebration in London in April 2023.

Earlier this year, it became known that on May 22, 2026, the film "The Mandalorian and the Grogu," directed by Jon Favreau and starring Pedro Pascal, will be released in theaters. The film is also a spinoff and is based on the popular Disney+ streaming series "The Mandalorian," the third season of which was released last year.

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All Flash Flu Clinic in Calaveras County View Photo

San Andreas, CA  With the holidays approaching and family and friends getting together, one way to prevent getting sick is heading to the Fall Flash Flu Clinic this weekend in Calaveras County.

County public health is offering free flu vaccines to all. As an additional incentive, the first 25 people vaccinated will receive a $45 gas card, as long as they have proof they live in the county and while supplies last. The clinic is being held on Saturday, November 23, at Calaveras County Public Health located at 700 Mountain Ranch Road, Suite C-2 in San Andreas. The hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Local health officials provided these details regarding the clinic:

 Free for all.

 Masks are welcome.

 Ages 10 and up.

 No nasal spray or high dose available.

 Appointments available.

 Walk-ins are welcome; appointments preferred.

 Wear loose clothing to show the upper arm.

Appointments can be made online at myturn.ca.gov or by calling 1-833-422-4255.
Tuolumne County District Attorney's Office Logo View Photo

Sonora, CA  A Jamestown woman has been convicted of DUI homicide for the 2023 three-vehicle crash on Highway 108 near Draper Mine Road that killed a 39-year-old Angels Camp man.

We reported here that on May 11, 49-year-old Tammi Lee Ann Truschke rear-ended James Lee Kenyon Jr., forcing his Kia head-on into a pickup truck. Tuolumne County District Attorney Cassandra Jenecke announced today that a jury on Wednesday (11/20) found Truschke guilty of second-degree murder, driving under the influence causing injury, and driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or more causing injury. The jury also found true the special allegation that she caused the coma and brain death of Kenyon Jr.

D.A. Jenecke reports that Judge Kevin M. Seibert found true the allegations that Truschke had a prior Tuolumne County DUI conviction from 2020, that she had a prior serious/violent felony conviction for a 2009 Oregon attempted robbery, and that these six aggravating factors were true:

The crime involved great bodily injury, Truschke engaged in violent conduct, causing a risk to the public. Truschkes prior criminal history was numerous and increasing in seriousness. Truschke had served a prior term in prison. Truschke was on probation at the time of the offense. Truschkes prior performance on probation was unsatisfactory.

During the five-day jury trial, Truschke took the stand, stating that an unknown FedEx truck driver caused the crash and that she had consumed hard alcohol on the scene after the crash. Reaching their verdict in just over an hour, D.A. Jenecke says the jury saw through these falsely concocted defenses.

Truschkes sentencing date is December 18, when she could be sentenced to 35 years to life in prison.

This case demonstrates what we all know to be truedrinking and driving is extremely dangerous to human life. Despite her extensive personal knowledge about that danger, Truschke chose to drive under the influence of alcohol while speeding and distracted. As a result, she murdered James Kenyon Jr. We are incredibly grateful to the jury for returning the only true and just verdict in this case, stated D.A. Jenecke.
The Guinness Book of Records recognized the manchineel as the "most dangerous tree in the world". And the legendary navigator Christopher Columbus called it "manzanilla de la Muerte", which means a small "apple of death."

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It is known that the bark of the manchineel can cause chemical burns, and the fruits, which look like small apples, are deadly poisonous. It is even dangerous to stand under this tree in the rain, because its sap, which flows down with the drops, can burn the skin, writes IflScience.

According to scientists, the manchineel tree, which can be seen in the wetlands of Florida (USA) and on the Caribbean coast, is best avoided. After all, the sap secreted by its trunk is so poisonous and acidic that blisters appear on contact with human skin. And if the sap gets in your eyes, you can go blind, according to the Guinness World Records website.

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Interestingly, this deadly tree should not be burned, as the smoke from it can also cause blindness if a person is near a fire, experts warn.

In 2011, a group of students decided to take shelter from the rain under a manchineel tree on the island of Bequia in the West Indies. The young people were later treated for skin burns.

Nicola Strickland, a consultant radiologist from the United Kingdom, shared her experience of contact with the manchineel tree. While walking on the beach, the woman decided to eat the "apple of death." "I hastily bit into this fruit, which was pleasantly sweet. My friend tried it too. After a few minutes, we noticed a strange peppery sensation in our mouths, which gradually progressed to burning, severe pain, and throat tightness," the scientist described.

Fortunately, they survived. However, it is not worth experimenting with manchineel, it can be fatal, scientists emphasize.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Yves here. Ive been waiting for legal arguments against the planned wholesale Federal budget whackage under the Trump DOGE initiative to start. Admittedly its leaders Musk and Ramaswamy had not given much insight into how they intended to achieve their ambitious aims. The little I have seen suggests that they effectively intend to override regulations.which implement statutes passed by Congress and signed by the President (or where Congress overrode a veto). Those statutes are sometimes implemented by regulations, which are subject to an elaborate approval process where opponents get to weigh in and their objections very often do lead to changes in the final rules.

In other words, the current DOGE implementation plan seems likely to run into successful court challenges. This piece provides the latest detail.

By Jake Johnson, staff writer at Common Dreams. Originally published at Common Dreams

Democrats on the House Budget Committee said Friday that the plan Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy outlined to eliminate spending already appropriated by the U.S. Congress would run afoul of a federal law enacted in response to former President Richard Nixons impoundment of funds for programs he opposed.

In a Wall Street Journal op-ed published earlier this week, Musk and Ramaswamy specifically mentioned the 1974 Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act (ICA) only to wave it away, arguing it would not hinder their effort to enact sweeping spending cuts as part of the government efficiency commission President-elect Donald Trump appointed them to lead.

But House Budget Committee Democrats said Friday that the Nixon-era law and subsequent Supreme Court rulings make clear that the power of the purse rests solely with Congress.

Fifty years after the ICA became law, Congress once again confronts a threat attempting to push past the long-recognized boundaries of executive budgetary power, the lawmakers wrote in a fact sheet. During his first administration, President Trump illegally impounded crucial security assistance funding for Ukraine in an effort to benefit his reelection campaign. Now, Donald Trump and his far-right extremist allies are pushing dangerous legal theories to dismantle that system.

They want to give the president unchecked power to slash funding for programs like food assistance, public education, healthcare, and federal law enforcementall without congressional approval, the Democrats continued. American families would be forced to pay more for basic necessities, investment in infrastructure and jobs would decline, and our communities would become less safe. Instead of working within the democratic process, Trump and his allies want to sidestep Congress entirely. But the Constitution is clear: only Congress, elected by the people, controls how taxpayer dollars are spent.

The fact sheet was released days after Musk and Ramaswamy, both billionaires, offered for the first time a detailed explanation of their plan to pursue large-scale cuts to federal regulations and spending, as well as mass firings of federal employees, in their role as co-heads of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

The pair noted that Trump has previously suggested the ICA is unconstitutional and expressed the view that the current Supreme Court would likely side with him on this question. The former president appointed half of the courts right-wing supermajority.

But even without relying on that view, 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, from $535 million a year to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and $1.5 billion for grants to international organizations to nearly $300 million to progressive groups like Planned Parenthood.

Other programs that would be vulnerable if Musk, Ramaswamy, Trump, and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.)whos set to lead a new related House subcommitteeget their way are veterans healthcare, Head Start, housing assistance, and childcare aid, according toThe Washington Post.

Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.), the top Democrat on the House Budget Committee, said in a statement Friday that the legal theories being pushed by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are as idiotic as they are dangerous.

Unilaterally slashing funds that have been lawfully appropriated by the peoples elected representatives in Congress would be a devastating power grab that undermines our economy and puts families and communities at risk, said Boyle. House Democrats are ready to fight back against any illegal attempt to gut the programs that keep American families safe and help them make ends meet.
Dear patient readers,

I hope you can provide input on some iPhone anomalies.

1. I bought a Faraday bag for my phone since I have long known that switching it to Airplane Mode and then off is still less than perfect protection. However, I just got a text beep while the phone was in the Faraday bag (Airplane Mode off) and properly sealed. I was worried that a Faraday bag would not work as advertised and I managed to buy a Faraday fail.

How do I get a reliable Faraday bag? They are get good reviews so its not as if I can verify them that way.

2. I have also had the phone get texts when in Airplane Mode (this was Bolt with what they considered to be an urgent matter). I verified that it was in Airplane Mode yet a second text arrived very shortly thereafter. I read later that this could happen if you have WiFi calling turned on but I never can be bothered so it is always off. So this was a creepy anomaly, sort of like Bolt breaking into my phone.

* * *

Newly identified chemical in drinking water is likely in many homes and could be toxic, study finds NBC

* * *

The Apotheosis of Lord Nelson Big Serge

Jordan Petersons prophecies New Statesman (Anthony L)

#COVID-19/Pandemics

Fugaku demonstrates the effectiveness of mask wearing and good ventilation in buildings Bill Mitchell

Climate/Environment

China?

North Korea Closes the Door on New Negotiations Daniel Larison

South of the Border

European Disunion

Serbian opposition leader arrested during blockade of historic Belgrade bridge Intellinews

Old Blighty

Israel v. the Axis of Resistance

Syraqistan

New Not-So-Cold War

Imperial Collapse Watch

Trump 2.0

Trump picks Scott Bessent as Treasury secretary Financial Times Trump Once Disavowed Project 2025. Now Hes Hiring People Who Worked on It Bloomberg Angry Young Men for Trump London Review of Books (Anthony L) * * * From IM Doc via e-mail: It had to happen sooner or later  the level of freak out in these patients has just been something to behold. It appeared to be getting better. Then today happened  XX year old woman was found dead in her deceased mothers home in New York City. GSW to the throat. Suicide letter written  She could not live in a country controlled by Trump. And not only that  she did it in NYC because she did not want to exit the Earth in a Red State  and did not want to give a Red State the privilege of being her site of exit. The coroner employee I talked to had a very heavy accent  but he said this was either #15 or #18  I could not quite make it out.

Immigration

Our No Longer Free Press

Mr. Market

Strong dollar set to hit emerging market bonds, warn investors Financial Times

Class Warfare

Antidote du jour (via):

And a bonus. This looks like an annoyed beg:

bro is drinking water using hopes and dreams pic.twitter.com/bK9GZRc76G  Why you should have a cat (@ShouldHaveCat) November 22, 2024

A second bonus:

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
Federal judge DISMISSES lawsuit filed by news outlets against OpenAI

A federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit filed by two news outlets who accused San Francisco-based OpenAI of misusing their copyrighted content to train its artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot ChatGPT.

U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York dismissed the complaint filed by Raw Story and AlterNet on Nov. 7. The magistrate sided with OpenAI's motion to dismiss the complaint in its entirety, according to the National Pulse.

McMahon argued that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate a concrete injury required for legal standing under Article Three of the U.S. Constitution. The plaintiffs were unable to show actual harm from OpenAI's alleged violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) by failing to provide specific instances of ChatGPT reproducing their content without acknowledgement. The likelihood of such occurrences were "remote," she continued.

"Given the quantity of information contained in the repository, the likelihood that ChatGPT would output plagiarized content from one of plaintiffs' articles seems remote. Plaintiffs have nowhere alleged that the information in their articles is copyrighted, nor could they do so," McMahon explained. According to the federal judge, the plaintiffs' true grievance appeared to be the unlicensed use of their articles without compensation rather than the removal of copyright management information (CMI).

"The decision is one of the first major legal wins for an AI company facing copyright infringement allegations from news publishers," Newsweek wrote. (Related: OpenAI disbands team dedicated to addressing AI DANGERS.)

Plaintiffs could still appeal the case dismissal

Raw Story Media (RSM)  parent company of Raw Story and AlterNet  filed the case in February. It alleged that the company led by Sam Altman contravened Section 1202(b)(1) of the DMCA, which deals with CMI. RSM accused OpenAI of removing CMI from numerous Raw Story and AlterNet articles during the ChatGPT training process.

RSM sought damages of at least $2,500 per violation and demanded that its content be removed from OpenAI's datasets. Meanwhile, the AI firm asserted that its use of publicly accessible data is protected under fair use rules.

"The dismissal may influence similar cases, as OpenAI and other AI firms face numerous lawsuits over the data utilized in training generative AI systems," the Pulse reported. "These include actions from prominent publishers like the New York Times, alleging unauthorized use of articles for AI development."

RSM CEO and founder John Byrne said at the time of the lawsuit's filing: "It is time that news organizations fight back against Big Tech's continued attempts to monetize other people's work. For 20 years, Raw Story has spent millions of dollars in efforts to help Americans make important decisions about their leaders and their lives. Big Tech has decimated journalism. It's time that publishers take a stand."

Despite the case's dismissal, the two news outlets still have the option of repleading. McMahon herself expressed openness to hear an amended complaint, though she was skeptical that Raw Story and AlterNet could prove that OpenAI caused a tangible injury.

Byrne confirmed that the news outlets will lodge an appeal. "We do intend to continue the case," he said. "We're confident that we can address the court's concerns in an amended complaint."

Head over to Robots.news for more stories about AI.

Watch this video about the encroachment of super AI.

This video is from The Edified Mind channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

OpenAI whistleblower speaks out on the rise of superintelligence and international safety concerns, suggests U.S. leaders should take control.

Former OpenAI employees release "A Right to Warn" document warning about advanced AI risks.

OpenAIs custom chatbots can be forced to LEAK SECRETS.

Sources are:

TheNationalPulse.com

Newsweek.com

Brighteon.com
Israel funded and supported Hamas for decades to prevent Palestinian state, former officials admit

Israel may be claiming they want to destroy Hamas now, but the truth is that they have been funding and supporting the terror group for decades as part of an effort to prevent a Palestinian state from being formed  and several former officials have gone on the record admitting this policy.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak explained in an interview how current PM Benjamin Netanyahu has intentionally helped Hamas.

He deliberately and systematically, even told Israel, on record, whoever wants to avoid the threat of a two-state solution has to support my policy of paying protection money to Hamas," Barak said.

The idea was to stop Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and others in similar roles from making any progress in setting up a formal Palestinian state; in other words, they never really wanted a two-state solution and peace with their neighbors. They were reportedly so committed to stopping a potential Palestinian state that they went out of their way to help money flow into Gaza using various means, including granting work permits to Gazan laborers that allowed them to earn higher salaries in Israel.

Hamas has been regarded as an asset, while the Palestinian Authority was dealt with as a thorn in their side. In a meeting of his Likud party in early 2019, Netanyahu reportedly said that anyone who was against the idea of a Palestinian state should be on board with transferring funds to Gaza because keeping the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Hamas in Gaza would ensure a state never happens. He did not say this publicly, but some of those present have quoted him as making these comments, and the policies he implemented align with that notion.

Israel helped ensure the flow of money from Qatar into Gaza for Hamas

The former head of Israels secret service, Shin Bet, Ami Ayalon said: What we did with the permission of our prime minister, is to let Qatar transfer a huge amount of money in cash  probably more than $1.4 billion. By doing it, we increased the power of Hamas. We did everything in order to make sure that Hamas will go on controlling Gaza, and Palestinian Authority will control the West Bank, so they will fight each other.

The New York Times reported that the Qatari government was sending millions of dollars into the Strip each month to help prop up the Hamas government, and it was something that was not only tolerated but also encouraged by Netanyahu and his government in hopes that Hamas would focus on governing rather than fighting. Although these payments are something that you would expect them to want to hide, they were considered an open secret in Israel and even discussed by the media there over the years.

This is something that is well-known outside of the Jewish state as well. The European Unions top diplomat, Josep Borrell, even drew attention to it earlier this year in a speech at the University of Valladolid in Spain, where he was quoted as saying: Hamas was financed by the Israeli government in an attempt to weaken the Palestinian Authority.

Indeed, these policies have helped Hamas grow stronger and more formidable  and this worked directly against Israel when they crossed the border on October 7 and killed and kidnapped Israelis. Now, Netanyahu is insisting that he wants to destroy Hamas, conveniently omitting the fact that they ever got as far as they did thanks to his support. Thousands of Israelis  and hundreds of thousands of Gazans  have paid the price for this with their lives.

Former IDF commander Yehuda Shaul told Australias ABC News: He fed the beast and it exploded in our face.

Sources for this article include:

X.com

TimesOfIsrael.com

Politico.eu

NYTimes.com

ABC.net.au
McGill Universitys Disinformation Dozen hit piece exposed as defamation and propaganda

In the global war to inoculate every man, woman and child with depopulation bioweapons, the enemy forces ultimately overplayed their hand . Not only did their vaccine ultimately get exposed as fraudulent, but vaccine mandates and vaccine passports ultimately backfired, leading to historic protests across cities spanning Canada to Europe to Australia. People fought back and won court cases against unlawful vaccine mandates, and the tide continues to turn as more people break free from the programming.

CCDH, a broken cog in the information war

At the core of this war was the battle for the hearts and minds of people  the information war. The enemy forces overplayed their hand in this crucial front, too. The center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) was commissioned to identify the most prominent dissenting voices to the COVID-19 vaccination agenda. The CCDH decided to hone in on 12 dissenting voices. They published a report targeting the so called Disinformation Dozen claiming two-thirds of anti-vaccine content shared or posted on Facebook and Twitter between February 1 and March 16, 2021 could be attributed to just twelve individuals. The premise of the report was to censor these individuals and banish them from the internet, quashing their influence through lies and totalitarian measures.

This targeted CCDH report was immediately used by propagandists in the corporate media to defame and assassinate the character of the twelve dissenting voices. One of the dissenting voices was Sayer Ji, founder of the natural health website GreenMedInfo.com. This valuable resource not only publishes compelling, in-depth analysis on scientific and medical studies on herbal medicine and nutrition, but it also provides tools for individuals to do their own research on important topics related to healing the body and mind. The CCDH report viciously mis-categorized Sayer Jis work as dangerous and blatant and harmful misinformation.

McGill University exposed as useful tool in the global war to silence dissent

In March of 2021, the McGill University's Office for Science and Society published an article attacking Sayer Ji and the twelve dissenting voices, citing the war-time propaganda CCDH report. The Biden White House even threatened social media platforms, in public and in private, to take down the accounts of the dissenting voices. Governments and media conglomerates were essentially putting a target on the back of these individuals, and should be held accountable for violating their rights and putting them in harms way.

Social media companies took the CCDH report seriously, and then, under duress from officers of the federal government, went on to censor the dissenting voices in a variety of ways.

However, over time, as people were sickened, diseased and murdered by the COVID-19 vaccines and hospital protocols, public awareness began to shift. Even Meta (formerly Facebook) revealed that the CCDH and McGills hit piece against the Disinformation Dozen was illegitimate and contained fatal flaws. In August 2021, Meta's VP of Content Policy Monika Bickert directly refuted the CCDH's central claim, stating: "There isn't any evidence to support this claim. Moreover, focusing on such a small group of people distracts from the complex challenges we all face in addressing misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines."

Bickert revealed that the CCDH report "analyzed only a narrow set of 483 pieces of content over six weeks from only 30 groups," arguing that this cherry-picked sample was "in no way representative of the hundreds of millions of posts that people have shared about COVID-19 vaccines in the past months on Facebook." CCDH never defined criteria for anti-vax content, either, and had no scientific standards for determining what is "disinformation." McGill University blindly promoted the CCDH report and failed to critically examine the reports methodological issues. Instead, the university presented the Disinformation Dozen narrative as established fact, calling into question the integrity of their own pursuits. In the end, they were revealed as a useful tool in a global war that sought to silence dissent and submit populations to depopulation bioweapons.

In the end, the fraudulent CCDH report was merely a tool to silence individuals who were asking questions about adverse events from vaccination. Sayer Ji an the other courageous dissenters made valid points about the COVID-19 vaccination agenda and the fraud underpinning its supposed necessity. Interestingly enough, there were many more people and online platforms asking questions and raising alarms about the COVID-19 vaccines. It turns out the "Disinformation Dozen" werent the only ones spreading the truth about these critical issues. There were countless others who were aware of this scam -- this depopulation bioweapon -- this nefarious COVID-19 vaccine agenda.

Sources include:

GreenMedInfo.com

CounterHate.com

McGill.ca
GOP megadonor Miriam Adelson is a pro-Israel hardliner who wants Trump to allow the annexation of the West Bank

Israeli-American billionaire and casino owner Miriam Adelson has become a kingmaker in conservative American politics, with her campaign donations almost guaranteeing victory for Republican candidates.

Adelson donated $100 million to President-elect Donald Trump's campaign. Now, all eyes are on Adelson and her potential influence on Trump's future policy decisions, particularly on Israel.

Trump has promised to stop Israel's wars in Gaza and Lebanon, but his statements regarding the war immediately shifted as soon as his campaign received the $100 million donation from Adelson.

Adelson, who has a net worth of more than $30 billion, has maintained a low profile throughout her life, often working out of the limelight and allowing her late husband to rise to national fame. But she reportedly played a crucial and influential role in growing the couple's political course over the past few decades.

Miriam married casino magnate Sheldon Adelson in 1991. Decades later, he would become one of Trump's most important financial supporters.

The Adelson couple came out in the 2010s as one of the biggest megadonors to the Republican Party, spending over $500 million on candidates in congressional, senate and presidential races.

Adelson has been supporting Trump since 2016

In 2015, Republican candidates joined the "Adelson primaries" in Las Vegas, where candidates would present their case for receiving a portion of the donation pie.

The Adelson couple was among Trump's biggest supporters during his 2016 presidential bid, although they were not the first donors to support Trump's cause.

They did not back Trump during the Republican primary, with Sheldon favoring Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Miriam favoring Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. At the time, Trump even criticized the Adelsons, accusing them of attempting to buy off Republican candidates.

Despite that, the Adelsons met with Trump in December 2015, and the focus of their conversation was Israel. Miriam said she found Trump to be "very charming." After that meeting, their relationship strengthened, and the Adelsons ultimately became Trump's leading supporters.

The couple gave $20 million to Trump's 2016 campaign and donated over $38 million to Republican super PACs and congressional campaigns, as well as a $10 million contribution to the pro-Trump super PAC Future45.

Two years later, the Adelsons donated $113 million to Republican and conservative organizations and candidates during the 2018 midterm election cycle.

They also donated $5 million to Trump for his inauguration festivities and provided $500,000 to Trump's legal defense fund while he was being investigated regarding allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 election.

The Adelsons' support for Trump delivered concrete results, such as when Trump announced that the United States' embassy in Israel would be relocated from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a key policy the Adelsons had been urging American presidents to do for over a decade.

Now, Miriam's goal is for the president-elect to permit Israel to annex the occupied Palestinian West Bank. (Related: Miriam Adelson wants West Bank annexation in return for $100M donation to Trump.)

Such a move would end any possibility of a peaceful solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, including ending any future for the two-state solution and a future contiguous Palestinian state in the West Bank.

Follow Trump.news for more stories like this.

Watch the video below to know more about GOP megadonor Miriam Adelson.

This video is from the alltheworldsaztage channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

TWISTED: David Friedman wants U.S. to divert $1B in humanitarian aid for Palestinians to help Israel fully annex West Bank.

Israeli leader celebrates Trump victory, says Israel now has opportunity to annex occupied West Bank.

Did Trump cave to pro-Israel neocons?

Sources include:

MiddleEastEye.net

BusinessInsider.com

Brighteon.com
Putin revises nuclear doctrine, making it easier for Russia to target Ukraine with nukes

President Vladimir Putin has updated Russias nuclear doctrine in response to the United States' recent moves, including President Joe Biden's approval for Ukraine to use American-supplied long-range missiles to strike deep into Russian territory.

The revised doctrine, announced shortly after Ukraine reportedly used ATACMS missiles to target the Russian region of Bryansk, introduces a more expansive definition of what constitutes aggression against Russia. The change reflects Moscow's growing concerns over Western involvement in the war, now over 1,000 days old, and signals a potential lowering of the threshold for Russia to use nuclear weapons.

Under the new doctrine, Russia would consider an attack on its territory, even by a non-nuclear state, as a joint assault if a nuclear power is involved. This adjustment is designed to send a clear message to Ukraines Western backers, warning of the risks associated with escalating military aid to Ukraine. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov highlighted that Russia now reserves the right to use nuclear weapons if it faces conventional aggression, particularly if Belarus, an ally, is targeted.

The revision strengthens the role of nuclear deterrence in Russian military strategy. Peskov emphasized that the goal of the doctrine is to ensure that potential adversaries understand the inevitability of retaliation if they threaten Russia or its allies. (Related: Nearly three years into the conflict, Ukraine grapples with dwindling resources as Russia steadily gains ground.)

This latest shift in Russia's nuclear posture follows a pattern of increasingly aggressive rhetoric since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Moscow has consistently warned about the dangers of Western military aid, including threats over the delivery of F-16 fighter jets, Patriot air-defense systems and M1 Abrams main battle tanks. The Kremlins frustration with these Western moves has been evident, with officials repeatedly warning that such actions would result in serious consequences.

Nuclear doctrine revision most dangerous sign of escalation in Russia-Ukraine conflict

The revision of the nuclear doctrine represents a more concrete escalation. While Russia had previously signaled that nuclear weapons could be used when the state's very existence was threatened, the latest changes reflect a lower threshold for nuclear use.

A decree issued in September indicated that Moscow could use nuclear weapons in response to any "critical threat" to its sovereignty, and the recent update extends this to include attacks on Belarus. The new doctrine effectively redefines what constitutes aggression, making it clear that Russia considers support for Ukraine by nuclear powers as a direct challenge to its security.

This development comes just as the Biden administration's decision to allow Ukraine to use ATACMS missiles has added fuel to the fire. Ukraines use of these long-range weapons marks a significant escalation in the war, with Russia accusing the U.S. of deliberately intensifying the conflict. Kremlin officials, including Peskov, have suggested that the Biden administration is fanning the flames of war by permitting Ukraine to strike deep within Russian territory, which they view as an unacceptable provocation.

Watch this clip from "The Alex Jones Show" on InfoWars as Alex Jones discusses how Putin has effectively declared that Russia is "at war" with NATO after Biden approved Ukraine's use of U.S. missiles to strike Russia.

This video is from the KryptoKing187 channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Ukraine strikes Russian military installation in Bryansk just one day after Biden authorizes use of U.S.-made, long-range ATACMS missiles.

Ukraine denies reports from think tank that it is months away from developing a NUCLEAR WEAPON.

Putin signals readiness for peace talks with Trump but stresses unchanged demands for ending Ukraine conflict.

West not taking seriously enough the threat of a nuclear attack by Moscow, warns former Russian president.

ITS COMING: Russia initiates NUCLEAR drills simulating retaliatory strikes on West.

Sources include:

RT.com

CNN.com

Brighteon.com
At the end of November 22, a powerful explosion occurred in the temporarily occupied Berdiansk, Zaporizhzhia region. According to preliminary data, it was the port that was targeted.

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After the explosion, residents of Berdiansk saw fire, while those living in coastal areas smelled a burning odor. This was reported by the Berdiansk City Military Administration and the advisor to the mayor of Mariupol Petro Andriushchenko.

"The post encountered some problems. At about 23:40 Berdiansk residents heard a loud explosion. Preliminary, it was the port that was hit," the Berdiansk RMA said.

Some time before, Andriushchenko also wrote about a possible strike on the port area.

"Port of Berdiansk, how are you doing? Preliminary, it was hit!" he stated at 23:42.

In the morning, Andriushchenko provided a few more details about the overnight attack.

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"At about 23:38 there was an explosion in the port area. After that, there was a fire that lasted up to half an hour. There was also a burning smell in the coastal areas of Berdiansk," he said.

The fact that there was a hit is evidenced by the complete silence about the night's events from the occupation administration of Berdiansk: they did not comment on the explosion that was heard in the city at all.

Local pro-Russian channels tried to save the day with the usual "air defense work."

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However, in its traditional morning address on the "successes" of Russian Air Defense, the Russian Ministry of Defense mentions only one Ukrainian drone allegedly shot down over the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine (namely, over Crimea). The occupiers decided to leave the "downed target" over Berdiansk or anywhere else in the Azov Sea region alone.

According to the local media outlet Ria Melitopol, the fire could have been caused by burning fuel, which was probably what the Defense Forces tried to hit in the first place.

As a reminder, on the last day of October, the occupiers complained about a drone attack on Berdiansk too. The city's port was targeted, and, according to the collaborators, the Defense Forces were eager to hit "administrative buildings, local government and social security agencies."

Later, gunfire and explosions were heard in Berdiansk, and a fire broke out. The occupation administration issued an order to temporarily suspend the work of public institutions, including educational ones.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!
Secret British military cell quietly plotting to keep Ukraine fighting for months to come, which will plunge Brits further into poverty

It is not actually Ukraine that bombed the Kerch Bridge in Crimea; covertly trained "Gladio"-style "stay-behind forces" in Ukraine; and "groom the British public for a drop in living standards caused by the proxy war against Russia," to quote: all of which was caused by the United Kingdom

According to newly leaked files, top UK military figures were behind each of these major escalations in the Russia-Ukraine war. This military cabal, which includes intelligence veterans, exists for the purpose of extending the Ukraine proxy war "at all costs" for as long as possible.

Hatched in the immediate aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Project Alchemy, as the military cabal is officially called, was formed to stop peace talks and stoke the fires of war in order "to keep Ukraine fighting." Project Alchemy's stated purpose was to impose "strategic dilemmas, costs, and frictions upon Russia."

This hidden force, which is part of what is more widely known as the deep state, is behaving like a hidden hand to control how Great Britain responds to and handles the continued fighting between Ukraine and Russia. In short, the goal is to "engineer a long, grinding war through covert operations," though The Grayzone says there are valid questions that have emerged as to the legality of Project Alchemy.

The Grayzone reports that "every conceivable field of warfare, from cyber attacks to 'discreet operations' to outright terrorism" are in Project Alchemy's wheelhouse.

"The secret cell even put forward a plan to 'aggressively pursue' and 'dismantle' independent media outlets  including The Grayzone  through an aggressive campaign of legal harassment and online censorship, so they 'would be forced to close,'" the media outlet reports.

"The incendiary blueprints were fed to the highest levels of the British state and national security structure, where they were apparently well-received."

(Related: Did you know that the UK is sending another $3 billion to Ukraine to keep the war going, even as increasingly more Brits struggle to make ends meet?)

Project Alchemy wants WWIII between Russia and the West

Believe it or not, there are plenty of people in this world who love war  so much so, in fact, that they continue to sabotage any efforts to broker peace between Ukraine and Russia, or between Israel and its neighbors.

To be fair, sometimes peace is simply not possible  and perhaps that would be the case here regardless of Project Alchemy's existence. At the same time, why would anyone not want to at least try to forge peace instead of more war?

Those involved with Project Alchemy fully admit that at best, their tactics border the line of legality. At worst, their whole operation is patently illegal and needs to be dismantled to help stem the tide of death and destruction it continues to unleash.

Project Alchemy's backers and promoters have said that London should be "prepared to creatively use the law" to achieve its goals, as well as erase "legal restrictions on UK deniable ops" against Russia.

Had Project Alchemy not orchestrated the bombing of the Kerch Bridge, Russia never would have responded by attacking Ukraine's energy infrastructure, further escalating the war. Project Alchemy also secretly trained Ukrainian forces in how to assassinate, sabotage, and otherwise conduct terror missions behind enemy lines.

Soon after being elected as the new British premier, Keir Starmer appears to have come under the influence of Project Alchemy, eagerly embracing the role of "wartime prime minister" and pledging to keep the fighting between Ukraine and Russia going for "as long as it takes."

The war in Ukraine will continue forever if the deep state is successful. Learn more at Chaos.news.

Sources for this article include:

TheGrayzone.com

NaturalNews.com
Transgender surgeon promises to mutilate as many genitals as possible before Trump inauguration

A Florida-based surgeon offering genital mutilation under the guise of "gender-affirming care" has promised to remove genitals from as many children as possible before President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration in January.

Miami surgeon Dr. Sidhbh Gallagher, who was born a man but is now pretending to be a woman, made this threat in a video posted on Instagram. A user asked him whether he was concerned about "continuing to do trans surgeries" following the current political climate and Trump's victory in the election.

Gallagher responded, saying that he has witnessed "a lot of panic within the [transgender] community" since the president-elect triumphed against outgoing Vice President Kamala Harris. According to the surgeon, the atmosphere following Trump's win could be best described as "frightening times."

"In response to that, in the office here, we've opened up more surgery days," he said. "We've opened up more appointment days to try and accommodate people as efficiently as possible  who are concerned about getting their surgery done before the new administration  takes over. I believe we even still have surgery dates available before then."

Gallagher warned that the future of transgender surgeries in America is uncertain, adding that his home state of Florida already has a ban on "surgical care for transgender youth." The surgeon's remarks appeared to smear Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has been in the forefront of defending children in the Sunshine State from medical violence. (Related: Florida Gov. DeSantis: Doctors performing sex change operations should face LEGAL ACTION.)

"Trans people belong everywhere, and so myself and the staff feel very strongly about continuing to offer gender-affirming care as long as we can," he told his more than almost 39,000 followers on Instagram. "We plan to open up these days [to] help accommodate people in the meantime."

Gallagher behind gender-confused TikToker's botched surgery

Incidentally, Gallagher was responsible for the 2022 botched surgery on a gender-confused TikTok user. The Post Millennial elaborated on the ordeal of the said social media user who went by the name Rylan, who was born female but is now pretending to be a male.

Rylan flew to Miami and availed of Gallagher's services as he was one of the only surgeons who does not have a BMI cap, i.e. not having a weight requirement for patients to be operated on. Gallagher also offered a "drainless" double mastectomy  the surgical removal of women's healthy breasts.

"Mastectomies usually involve the insertion of drains to remove the blood, pus and excess fluids that can build up in the week following the invasive procedure," according to the Post Millennial. "Due to the seriousness of the surgery, most surgeons will require trans-identified females to be of a healthy weight to reduce the risk of complications."

Four days after the procedure, Rylan's chest developed a hematoma that leaked blood, which Gallagher merely dismissed. The surgeon repeatedly downplayed the patient's worsening situation, insisting that there was "no need for the [emergency room]" and her complications were merely part of the normal healing process.

Sadly, Rylan's situation did not improve and her post-surgery wound became infected. It was only after Rylan went to another surgeon that she received the necessary medical care. She was put on a course of antibiotics, and over half a foot of infected tissue had to be removed from her left side.

Rylan thankfully survived, but the healing process had been difficult. According to the Post Millennial, Gallagher did not check in with Rylan throughout her ordeal. "In the wise words of the surgeon who saved my life, '[Gallagher] doesnt give a s**t about you,'" the TikToker wrote.

Given the Miami surgeon's mad rush to mutilate as many children as possible, Rylan won't definitely be the only person to fall victim to Gallagher's botched surgeries.

Head over to GenderConfused.com for more similar stories.

Watch this clip of President-elect Donald Trump promising to ban the genital mutilation of children in all 50 states, something Dr. Sidhbh Gallager fears.

This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

American Society of Plastic Surgeons condemns transgender surgeries for minors

Ohio House of Representatives upholds trans surgery ban for minors, overrides DeWine's veto.

NEW STUDY: Transgender (mutilation) surgery rates have tripled across all age groups from 2016 to 2019.

TikTok personality who cut off both breasts in "affirming" gender transition reveals near-death complications.

Study: U.S. gender surgeries NEARLY TRIPLED between 2016 and 2019 after Obama admin actively pushed transgenderism.

Sources include:

InfoWars.com

ThePostMillennial.com

Brighteon.com
Internal Homeland Security memo warns Tren de Aragua is now active in 16 states and Washington, D.C.

An internal memo has warned Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials that the notorious Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) has extended its operations to at least 16 states and Washington, D.C.

The memo notes that TdA's reach now spans California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming and Washington, D.C.

This expansion coincides with a rise in violent crime and criminal schemes attributed to the gang, with the memo warning that the gang's "violent tendencies" have only increased. Additionally, the memo revealed that TdA members are increasingly involved in theft, fraud and human trafficking to send stolen funds back to Venezuela to bolster their criminal enterprises.

For instance, in Fairfax County, Virginia, cops arrested three suspected TdA members with gang tattoos and a fake Venezuelan ID for shoplifting in August 2023. The gang also targeted the D.C. metropolitan area for theft, robbery and fraud "because they can travel with ease to nearby suburbs in northern Virginia."

This was also the case in Florida wherein a suspected TdA gang member reportedly defrauded a Florida bank of $118,000 and wired the money overseas before being detected.

In other incidents, a suspected TdA affiliate was arrested by law enforcement in Wyoming for possessing a stolen car. In New York, TdA members had been involved in shootings of police officers, assaults, robberies and gun smuggling into migrant shelters. The gang was also implicated in a sex trafficking operation targeting migrant women in Queens. (Related: Four apartment complexes in Texas seized by "evil" Tren de Aragua super gang from Venezuela.)

Beyond major sanctuary states and cities, TdA has expanded into unexpected areas including Tennessee. According to authorities, the gang operates human trafficking rings in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville and Chattanooga, alongside organized retail theft and drug trade activities, often clashing violently with cartels.

"This gang has exploited [the border]. They go from human trafficking to organized retail crime theft, and then they move into the drug trade, taking on the cartels in very violent, bloody battles that they've had," Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director David Rausch told "Fox & Friends" in an interview on Nov. 15.

TdA expansion is the result of Biden administration's lax policies

The TdA is believed to have entered the United States in 2022. Now, the TdA has expanded its illegal activities thanks to the lax migrant enforcement policies of the outgoing administration of President Joe Biden.

The situation is further complicated by strained relations between Biden and President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela, who has refused to accept deportation flights that would return Venezuelans from the U.S. to their home country.

"This is the consequence of President Biden, Vice President Harris and now-impeached DHS Secretary Mayorkas' destructive open-borders policies," House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark E. Green (R-TN) said in a press release.

Head over to Violence.news for similar stories about migrant criminals.

Watch this clip of Oscar "El Blue" Ramirez being ambushed and mugged by MS-13 members while reporting.

This video is from the SecureLife channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

4 Members of notorious Tren de Aragua gang arrested after $75,000 jewelry heist in Texas.

Aurora, Colorado adding $10M in police funding to combat increased Tren de Aragua gang activity.

ICE admits lax border security policies allowed Tren de Aragua gang members to illegally enter the U.S.

Texas judge threw out prosecutions of Tren de Aragua gang members who crossed border illegally.

Texas Gov. Abbott designates Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang as a foreign terrorist organization.

Sources include:

NYPost.com

Yahoo.com

Newsweek.com

Brighteon.com
ICC arrest warrants: The US must distance itself from an increasingly toxic Israel

Six long months have passed since chief prosecutor Karim Khan applied to the pre-trial chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) for arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, and three Hamas leaders, at least two of whom are now dead.

(Article by David Hearst republished from MiddleEastEye.net)

In that time, 9,000 more Palestinians in Gaza have been killed under Israels ferocious bombing and unrelenting starvation, with the total official death toll approaching 45,000, with The Lancet calculating it could be several times higher.

That this issue took six months for the three judges of the pre-trial chamber to decide, when the average wait is two months, is a testament to the unprecedented pressure that the highest court of international law has come under.

In contrast, it took just three weeks for the ICC to issue arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, the Russian commissioner for childrens rights.

The pressure on those three brave judges came exclusively from those countries that claim to be fighting for a rules-based world order.

US President Joe Biden led the attack on the ICC and international justice by instantly condemning Khans application as outrageous.

And let me be clear: whatever this prosecutor 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 May. Note that this was said before any due process had been allowed.

Little wonder that the chief prosecutor himself was to face cancellation with allegations of sexual misconduct, which are now before an external inquiry.

Sanctioning the court

In more subtle attempts to knock the arrest warrants out of play, the UK, among others, initially re-argued an issue that had already been settled by the ICC regarding the courts jurisdiction over what happens in the occupied territories. The UK argued that as a result of the Oslo Accords, signed in the 1990s but never implemented, it did not.

That argument has since been retracted by Prime Minister Keir Starmers government. In dropping the UKs objection to the ICC process, a spokesperson for Starmer said, Weve been very clear about the importance of the rule of law and the independence of the courts both domestically and internationally.

We shall see.

Over in the US, which is not a signatory to the Rome Statute, a bill is before Congress to pressure the ICC. The bill to sanction the court over the arrest warrants is nothing less than a crude political attempt to browbeat a judicial process, but 42 House Democrats voted in favour. The White House opposed it, and a Senate led by outgoing Democratic leader Chuck Schumer has yet to pass it.

But Senator John Thune, who will become majority leader of the Senate when Donald Trump becomes president again next year, has vowed to sanction the ICC.

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, Thune wrote a few days ago on X (formerly Twitter).

This pressure on the three judges became almost unbearable. One of them, Romanian magistrate Iulia Motoc, asked to leave the three-judge panel on health grounds last month. She was replaced by Slovenian ICC judge Beti Hohler.

Despite all of this, these brave judges ploughed ahead and issued the arrest warrants. They are to be wholly commended because they - not the Bidens of this world - represent a rules-based order built on the supremacy of international law.

What the US has come to represent is the law of the jungle, where right and wrong are malleable, the playthings of the powerful. Nonetheless, a typical reaction to the ICC came from a Democrat, Senator John Fetterman, who posted on social media: No standing, relevance, or path. Fuck that, adding an emoji of the Israeli flag.

Minority of one

This is wholly in keeping with the US being in a minority of one, as it just cast a veto at the UN Security Council against an unconditional and immediate ceasefire in Gaza - the fourth time the US has done this in the 13-month war.

Majed Bamya, the Palestinian envoy to the UN, said in a powerful statement: There is no right to mass killing of civilians. There is no right to starve an entire civilian population. There is no right to forcibly displace a people, and there is no right to annexation. This is what Israel is doing in Gaza. These are its war objectives. This is what the absence of a ceasefire is allowing it to continue doing.

Shortly afterwards, Israeli warplanes carpet-bombed a residential block near Kamal Adwan hospital in besieged northern Gaza, killing at least 66 people.

The US cast its veto despite being humiliated by its ally only two days earlier. Speaking two weeks after Trumps election victory on 5 November, Netanyahu repeatedly criticised Bidens judgement in an address to the Israeli Knesset.

The US had reservations and suggested that we not enter Gaza, Netanyahu said. It had reservations about entering Gaza City, Khan Younis, and, most critically, strongly opposed entry into Rafah.

President Biden told me that if we go in, we will be alone, he added. He also said that he would stop shipments of important weapons to us. And so he did. A few days later, [US Secretary of State Antony] Blinken appeared and repeated the same things and I told him - we will fight with our nails.

These are the dying weeks of what will go down as one of the most infamous presidencies in US history.

Bidens weakness, when called upon to act as a true world leader, made his Republican predecessors, such as Ronald Reagan and George H W Bush, look like pillars of moral behaviour in comparison.

Partner in crime

The bar in the hall of shame was already at an all-time low when Biden assumed office four years ago, after a Trump presidency that carefully laid all the conditions for the explosion that was to follow. But Biden managed to descend to even lower depths in his management of Israels war on Gaza.

One passage in the ICC judgement makes US responsibility for the carnage that has taken place in Gaza brutally clear. The chamber noted that while Israel ignored pleas from the UN Security Council, the UN secretary general, states, and governmental and civil society organisations about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, it did respond to pressure from the US.

The Chamber also noted that decisions allowing or increasing humanitarian assistance into Gaza were often conditional, the court noted. They were not made to fulfil Israels 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 populations access to essential goods.

Netanyahu, in other words, did not just openly connect the halt in essential goods and humanitarian aid with the goals of the war; he made the supply of food conditional on the pressure he faced.

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 court noted.

This finding specifically makes the US a partner in Netanyahus crimes.

One cannot overstate the significance of the ICCs arrest warrants. The court does not have enforcement powers. It relies on member states to arrest and surrender suspects.

These warrants thus throw down the gauntlet to each one of the 124 state parties to the Rome Statute. And the question this asks of each country, now obliged by international law to uphold and serve these warrants, is a simple one: Do you believe in international law or the law of the jungle?

Tightening the noose

Some countries in the Global South will have no difficulty answering a question like this one, but others will.

Specifically, it will present the greatest of challenges to the UK and all European countries that have formed the backbone of support for Israels onslaught on the population of Gaza and that have continually vetoed calls for an immediate ceasefire.

Britain, Germany, France and Italy have all argued that Israel has the right to continue its war on Gaza in the name of self-defence and led major campaigns domestically to criminalise protest, first as antisemitic and, lately, as terrorism.

However, the legal challenge to these countries is considerable. The ICC warrants do not just apply to the two Israeli leaders named. The warrants may trigger domestic cases against other citizens of Israel, particularly dual nationals in European countries, because the court has found that crimes have been committed.

Anyone else involved in the commission of the crimes may be brought to justice at a domestic level but also at an international level, Triestino Marinello, an international human rights lawyer representing Palestinian victims at the ICC, told Middle East Eye.

There is little likelihood of either Netanyahu or Gallant testing the political will of Starmer by visiting the UK or any country where these warrants could be served.

But would Starmer, as a former director of public prosecutions, allow prosecutions of British dual nationals who have participated in the crimes that the ICC has now established to have taken place in Gaza? That is a far keener test of the UKs resolve to uphold international law.

Even if nothing happens, the warrants tighten the noose of world opinion and international law around Israels neck. This can only increase its global isolation.

If Netanyahu and Gallant should care to glance at the more than five dozen other defendants on the ICCs website, they dont make good company for Israeli leaders who consider themselves part of the western world.

Theres Omar al-Bashir, the former president of Sudan; Joseph Kony, the Ugandan leader of the Lords Resistance Army; Sergei Shoigu, the former Russian defence minister; and of course, Putin himself.

Doubling down

Instinctively, the reaction of Israels coalition government has been to double down. Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir branded the courts decision antisemitic from beginning to end and said Israel should respond to the ICC by announcing the annexation of the West Bank.

The incoming Trump administration may well support this, but Trump himself should stop to think it through before shooting from the hip.

Indeed, if he is true to his word to put America first, Trump would be wise to begin to distance himself from the reckless actions of a pariah state. Otherwise, he might simply be following Bidens geriatric example in allowing Israel to drag the US down with it into the gutter.

Trump, the arch-pragmatist, must see that if he allows Israel to attack Iran, annex the West Bank and reoccupy Gaza, then he can forget about all the lucrative trade and real-estate deals he salivates about in the reconstruction of the region.

From now on, unless it is tamed in a way that Biden was incapable of doing, Israel can only weaken Washingtons global commercial and military reach. It cannot enhance it, let alone act as a pillar of it.

Israel has become a bad commercial bet for its American partner.

Despite all the evangelical braggadocio and the money from Miriam Adelson, the Israeli-American billionaire behind his presidential campaign, I very much doubt that the ultra-secular and ultra-transactional Trump cannot already see this.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Eye.

Read more at: MiddleEastEye.net
Lithuania's Defense Minister Laurinas Kasciunas and Ukraine's Defense Minister have signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a mechanism to support the security and defense forces. The new round of cooperation will facilitate investments in the Ukrainian defense industry.

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In particular, the memorandum will open up new opportunities for Lithuanian investment in the Ukrainian defense industry. This was announced by the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Rustem Umerov.

The head of the defense ministry emphasized that the memorandum envisages a long-term agreement, under which the first tranche of EUR 10 million has already been agreed. In particular, Umerov noted that the Lithuanian side is already working on finalizing bureaucratic procedures, and the first tranche to support Ukrainian DeepStrike will be transferred in the near future.

"In addition to signing the memorandum, we discussed our key priorities for 2025: training and equipping Ukrainian brigades, providing ammunition, air defense systems, and developing cooperation in the defense industry. We thank Lithuania for its support and trust in Ukrainian technologies," Umerov said.

As a reminder, Switzerland has banned the export of ammunition to a Polish company after about 645,000 Swiss-made small-caliber shells entered Ukraine.

Earlier it was reported that Canada had handed over another NASAMS anti-aircraft missile system to Ukraine. The air defense system was ordered from the United States in 2023.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
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 Bhavans 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
The leadership of the terrorist country of Russia continues to threaten the entire civilized world with nuclear weapons and has already shown in practice that it is ready to use any means of destruction in the war with Ukraine. At the same time, the Kremlin prefers not to tell Russians that Western countries also have nuclear weapons capable of turning Moscow into ashes.

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In the United States alone, the stockpile of nuclear warheads can reach 3,700 units. This is reported by the Defense Express portal.

The Kremlin's rhetoric is full of threats to turn the United States and European countries into radioactive ash, but at the same time, Russians are not told about potential retaliatory measures. Russian nuclear missiles can be countered by hundreds or even thousands of warheads around the world.

Today, the Russian Federation has the largest number of nuclear warheads  about 4,400  but keeps 1,710 deployed and ready for use. The United States, with a stockpile of 3,700, has deployed about 1,770 strategic nuclear weapons. They are deployed on 400 Minuteman III silo-based intercontinental missiles and 294 Trident II missiles on submarines. That's 694 in total, which means that the United States has an advantage over Russia in terms of missiles of this class. However, there are fewer warheads on missiles  1370, and another 400 on strategic aircraft.

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Analysts reminded that the concept of nuclear war envisages a counterstrike when the launch of own ballistic missiles occurs immediately after the enemy's missiles are fixed. Therefore, if the Kremlin decides to start a nuclear war, the Russians can expect to receive more than enough warheads for their total destruction.

At the same time, experts emphasized that the traditional launching areas of U.S. submarines in the North Sea are closer to Russia than to the United States.

Moreover, a very important component is to guarantee the destruction of the enemy under any circumstances. Even if the enemy manages to launch a single nuclear strike, the launch can be given with the help of the Airborne Launch Control System (ALCS), which operates in conditions when the White House is no longer in place. That is why France and the United Kingdom keep their strategic nuclear forces on submarines.

As a reminder, on the morning of November 21, the terrorist country Russia used an intercontinental ballistic missile for the first time in the war against Ukraine. As of early 2024, Russia had 521 land- and sea-based ICBMs in service.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, Russia is talking about a possible assassination attempt on Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin. According to sources in the FSB, the reason is that he frightened influential people with his plans for the Oreshnik system related to nuclear escalation.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber . Don't fall for fakes!
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 companys 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 Alphabets ecosystem, connecting users to services such as Gmail, Google Drive, and YouTube. Chrome generates substantial ad revenue by driving traffic to Googles 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, Alphabets 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 DOJs 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, Alphabets ability to adapt its business model, capitalize on emerging technologies, and maintain investor confidence will determine its resilience, it added.




Mumbai, Nov 22 : Indias foreign exchange reserves stood at $657.89 billion while the gold component of the kitty was valued at $65.75 billion, as of November 15, according to official figures released by the RBI on Friday.

India's foreign exchange reserves were at $675.65 billion on November 8 but since the RBI has been releasing dollars in the market to prop up the rupee, the reserves have come down by $17.7 billion, according to market analysts.

The SDR component of the forex kitty was at $18.06 billion.

The countrys foreign exchange reserves have overall risen by $11.5 billion in the current financial year. Indias foreign exchange reserves had soared to an all-time high of $704.885 billion at the end of September taking the country to the 4th position globally after China, Japan, and Switzerland in the size of its forex kitty. This reflects the strong macroeconomic fundamentals of the economy.

The RBI uses the forex reserves to control the volatility in the rupee which results as hot money from the stock market flows out when foreign investors sell shares.

Meanwhile, Reserve Bank Deputy Governor Rabi Sankar said at a media event recently that the RBI is well equipped to handle excessive exchange rate volatility that could result as a fallout of the Donald Trump presidency. The RBI releases dollars in the market in case the rupee falls sharply to prevent it from going into free fall. This helps to maintain stability in the Indian currency. Robust foreign exchange reserves help to make these operations easier and strengthen the rupee.
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 : 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, Im thrilled to see people finally witness Log Out. Ive poured my heart and soul into this project, and I can't wait for the world to see it. Im 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 Im proud of what weve 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 todays 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.
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.




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.
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.

Srinagar, Nov 22 (IANS) 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 nation's 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 people's 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.




Jammu, Nov 22 : Ashwini Kumar, a farmer from Khod block in Jammu and Kashmir is setting new examples for fellow villagers with his strawberry farming in the border village Dowal. Not long ago, he adopted strawberry cultivation along with traditional farming and today, the agricultural yield has resulted in significant monetary gains for him.

Ashwini Kumar's father, Prabhat Chand, pursued traditional farming in his ancestral fields. However, he understood the changing times and demand, making a calculated transition to new-age technology-equipped agriculture. He started strawberry cultivation last year, which is now yielding astronomical returns. In March this year, when his income from strawberry production more than doubled, he began cultivating it on a large scale. This crop has not only become their main source of income but also a significant part of their identity.

Ashwini emphasizes that modern technology and changes in farming are the need of the hour. Despite living in a border area, Prabhat has conducted many new experiments in strawberry cultivation and has achieved positive results. Their success has inspired many women and other farmers in the village to take steps in this direction. The potential for higher profits in less time with strawberry cultivation has attracted widespread interest.

Shrestha Kumari notes that strawberry cultivation is very profitable from an economic perspective. She explains, Due to this, the income of us farmers has doubled, and whenever we need anything related to farming, people from the department come and help us. We want more and more people to cultivate strawberries.

Amit Saraf, the Head of the Horticulture Department, Khod, mentioned to newsmen that the government has initiated several schemes to assist farmers, even in border areas. These schemes provide valuable support to increase their income and enhance their agricultural practices.
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 BSFs 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 guards commitment to not only securing the borders, curbing infiltration and smuggling, but also keeping maximum vigil, especially now due to the unrest in Bangladesh. 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 emphasized the need for collective efforts to prevent anti-India groups and fundamentalist forces from exploiting vulnerabilities along the border.

The BSF, recognized 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.
The winner of the US presidential election, Donald Trump, is likely to try to persuade dictator Vladimir Putin to end the war, and if he fails, he will recognize the Kremlin leader as a "problem." In this case, Trump will help Ukraine in any way possible, including with weapons.

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This opinion was expressed by John Herbst, Director of the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center and U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine in 2003-2006, in an interview with Ukrainian media. "It is clear that Putin's goal is not so much to capture the whole of Ukraine but to take it under his control. And Zelenskyy understands this. I don't know if Trump understands this at the moment," he said.

According to Herbst, Trump believes that he will convince Putin and try to get him to end the war.

"If Trump's attempt fails, then he may conclude that Putin is the problem, and therefore he will help Ukraine in any way possible, including with weapons," the diplomat predicted.

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He also reminded that there is currently talk of a 20-year moratorium on Ukraine's accession to NATO, which should be taken seriously, but Herbst believes that Trump may do otherwise if he is convinced that the Russian dictator is intransigent.

"If Trump makes a genuine effort to achieve peace and realizes that Putin doesn't want it, then Trump may reconsider the issue of Ukraine's membership in NATO," the former US ambassador said.

John Herbst also believes that Trump has the leverage to force Putin to stop the war and withdraw his troops from Ukraine:

"I believe Trump has the leverage to influence Putin. The question is whether he is ready to use them. Although he said he was ready... On the other hand, Trump also talks about a territorial compromise. Therefore, it is unclear how he can use his leverage and ensure that Russia leaves the occupied territories of Ukraine."

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According to the diplomat, Putin is unlikely to voluntarily agree to leave the occupied territory of Ukraine.

"Unless it can happen in exchange for the Russian territory occupied by Ukraine," Herbst suggested.

As OBOZ.UA reported, on November 22, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte held talks with Trump for the first time. During the meeting, they discussed global security issues.

Earlier, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that under Trump's presidency, the war would "end faster." According to the Ukrainian leader, he and Trump had a constructive interaction  he heard Ukraine's position and had nothing against it.

The Foreign Ministry said that they view Trump's victory as an important step toward peace and an additional chance to speed up the peace process.

According to some experts, Trump may use an unexpected approach to resolving the war in Ukraine  to give Ukrainians nuclear weapons.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!
Stuttgart, Nov 23 : 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 Reform, 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.
Perth, Nov 23 : Captain Jasprit Bumrah picked a dazzling 5-30 as India secured a handy 46-run lead at lunch on day two of first Test after bowling out Australia for 104 in 51.2 overs at Perth Stadium on Saturday. It is also the third lowest-score for Australia in Tests at home since 2000.

In the morning, resuming from 67/7, India looked certain to end the innings early, but Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood frustrated them with a dogged last-wicket stand of 25 off 110 balls, as they were able to keep the deficit below 50 runs. Apart from Bumrah, debutant all-rounder Harshit Rana finished with figures of 3-48.

India had a fantastic start to day twos play, thanks to Bumrah striking on his first ball of the day to complete his 11th five-wicket haul in Tests, as he got Alex Carey to nick behind. Harshit Rana got the reward for his banging into the pitch deliveries as Nathan Lyon was cramped for room; his well-directed short ball took the glove edge to the slip cordon. Bumrah could have got his sixth wicket in Hazlewood if the wrong-footed Rishabh Pant had made a dive in time to take a catch.

From there, Starc was solid in his defense and resorted to strike rotation to fetch important runs for Australia, despite being hit once on the helmet by Rana. It also helped the last-wicket pair of Starc and Hazlewood that the seam movement of the ball went down after 40 overs, thus aiding them in getting crucial runs. The duo held their ground well to stitch a stand of 25 runs off 110 balls, the highest partnership in this innings for Australia.

But just before the lunch break, Rana had Starc miscuing a slog to Pant, dismissing him for 26 off 112 balls and securing a handy lead for India. They would now aim to take the upper hand in this frenetic Test match by putting in a better batting performance in their second innings.

Brief Scores:

India 150 in 49.4 overs lead Australia 104 in 51.2 overs (Mitchell Starc 26, Alex Carey 21; Jasprit Bumrah 5-30, Harshit Rana 3-48) by 46 runs.
Mumbai, Nov 23 : Most of the state elections are now over, and the market may find stability as government spending will improve in the coming months to meet the FY25 capex target, market experts said on Saturday.

The Indian benchmark indices recouped the current weeks losses on Friday with a strong bounce back as investors used the bargain opportunity to accumulate beaten-down stocks.

Sensex closed at 79,117.11 this week after gaining 1,961.32 points, or 2.54 per cent, and Nifty closed at 23,907.25 with a gain of 557.35 points, or 2.39 per cent. The rally in financial stocks and strong US labour market data were among the factors that drove the Sensex and Nifty up more than 2 per cent.

A rally in blue-chip bank stocks also helped the benchmark indices jump in Friday's trade.

Many of the blue chips are available at below-average valuations, while meaningful corrections in mid- and small-cap indices provide an opportunity for broad-based momentum, said experts.

Sectors like realty, FMCG, auto, consumption, banks, and IT gained more than 2 per cent

According to Krishna Appala from Capitalmind Research, opportunities exist in specific sectors and broader themes that hold long-term potential, particularly in areas that have experienced significant price adjustments but remain fundamentally strong.

Investors are cautiously adding to positions in areas that offer greater clarity on earnings visibility, especially where the longer-term structural story remains intact. While patience is essential, the sector's adjusted valuations make it an area worth monitoring closely, Appala maintained.

In the broader market, corrections are creating opportunities to accumulate quality stocks with strong fundamentals and resilience to macroeconomic pressures.

Despite global challenges, India's long-term growth story remains compelling.

"Investors should focus on sectors aligned with structural themes such as urbanisation, infrastructure, and consumption growth. Strategic portfolio adjustments, disciplined investing, and a long-term perspective are critical to navigating the current environment," said experts.

On Friday, all sectoral indices ended in the green with Nifty IT surging over 3 per cent. Buying emerged at lower levels in blue-chip stocks causing several index heavy-weights to gain significantly.

"On Monday, the market will react to the outcome of state assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand along with other global triggers including developments in the Russia-Ukraine war," said Siddhartha Khemka, Head - Research, Wealth Management, Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd.
New Delhi, Nov 23 : Robert Vadra, husband of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, in an exclusive interview with IANS expressed his joy and gratitude to the people of Wayanad for their overwhelming support in electing Priyanka with a massive majority.

When asked if Priyanka Gandhi might be the next Indira Gandhi because she resembles her, Robert Vadra responded that while she looks like her, Priyanka follows contemporary politics, highlighting the differences between politics of then and now. He also shared insights on the Congress party's challenges in Maharashtra, Rahul Gandhi's leadership, and his own likely political entry on the demands of people.

When asked whether he would help Congress in Delhi elections, he said he would be happy to assist if the party wants.

Here is the full interview:

IANS: What, according to you, is the reason behind Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's big victory?

Robert Vadra: Firstly, I would like to express my happiness and gratitude to the people of Wayanad who decided to make Priyanka a winner with a big majority. I congratulate her on overwhelming victory. She kept up her hard work throughout and bothered little about the obstacles put by BJP and also faced them courageously. She always stood by the people in their hard times, so this is the people's way of paying her back.

IANS: As Priyanka remarked during the filing of her nomination that this is the "people's contest," do you think the love of the people is the reason her over 4 lakh victory margin?

Robert Vadra: Yes, as per my experience being among the people, I discovered that the people of Wayanad have immense love for Priyanka. They understood her hard work, and I hope she will have a record-breaking win. The people of Wayanad are happy that Priyanka will represent them in Parliament. She will bring solutions to their problems.

IANS: Priyanka Gandhi is often considered a copy of her grandmother, Indira Gandhi. Do you think, with this mammoth margin, one day she could become the next Indira Gandhi?

Robert Vadra: She learned a lot from her grandmother, mother, father, and Rahul. Being among the people, she gained her own experience. The politics of that time was quite different from now. She does look like Indira Gandhi, but her work is based on todays politics. She is hardworking, courageous, and tackles every issue of the people by being part of them.

IANS: In Maharashtra, Congress' performance was not good. What do you say about it?

Robert Vadra: I cannot speak much about it now, but whatever the people want from leaders, the promises made should be analysed to understand what caused such results. For instance, in Haryana, the results were not as expected. They often blame EVMs, but the requirement is to come to the ground level, visit village by village, and understand how the Congress party can once again be powerful in Maharashtra.

IANS: During ticket distribution in Maharashtra, Rahul Gandhi was reportedly unhappy. Do you think listening to his concerns could have impacted the poll results?

Robert Vadra: Definitely. Rahul always thinks about the people and the state. If he doubted the ticket distribution, that should have been considered. This is an internal matter of the Congress party to think about how to revive itself in that state.

IANS: Earlier, you mentioned that after Priyanka goes to Parliament, you might join politics. You are popular among the people. When are you planning to enter politics?

Robert Vadra: This is Priyanka's time. Whatever she has promised to the people and how she performs in Parliament is important now. If the people want, I could join politics, and I will follow my family's ideologies.

IANS: With the Delhi elections nearing, what advice would you give Congress? Would you step in if required?

Robert Vadra: Every party worker should step onto the ground level, reaching every corner of Delhi, asking the people their problems, and finding solutions. If I get the chance to help, I will come forward. I keep doing helpful work, even though I am not in politics. But if required, I will step in for a change.

IANS: With three members of the Gandhi family in politics, will it change the scenario? Priyanka is considered a strong voice.

Robert Vadra: Yes, there will be more strength. It was the people's demand that Priyanka should become a member of Parliament. Matters often hidden by the BJP should be discussed. She is strong and courageous, and she will ask questions and keep her opinions, facing others head-on. This will definitely strengthen Rahul and the entire Congress party.
New Delhi, Nov 23 : Hemant Soren, son of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) patriarch Shibu Soren popularly known as Guru ji, overcame odds and endured 149 days of incarceration to have the final laugh in the Jharkhand Assembly elections, boosting his image as a tall tribal leader and proving himself as the deserving heir to his fathers political legacy.

The victory may appear unexpected to many but Hemant Soren, 49, was confident of his return to power after the elections which, in his own words, were the toughest ever he has ever fought.

As the tribal leader gets ready to take oath as the Chief Minister for the fourth time, analysts agree that with the decisive victory in the current Assembly elections, Hemant Sorens stature on the national stage is bound to grow bigger. His earlier stints as CM were from July 2013 to December 2014, from December 2019 to February 2024 and from July 2024 till now.

The rising national-level tribal star repulsed a BJP offensive which, to many, appeared to be potent with its anti-infiltrator pitch and save Roti, Beti, Maati slogan. He also managed to win the backing of Muslims, and OBCs and divert voters attention from anti-incumbency and issues like joblessness.

Hemant Soren, who along with his wife held 200 political rallies for the Assembly elections, showed self-belief and trusted his master stroke of financial assistance scheme for women, Maiyya Samman Yojna, for proving pollsters wrong.

Besides shouldering the load of the INDIA bloc campaign, Hemant Soren appears to have managed to improve the JMMs tally over the last election. The 81-member Assembly is likely to see the JMM end up with over 30 legislators, out of the 55 INDIA bloc legislators  the most decisive mandate ever in the state.

Apart from carrying forward the legacy of his father and senior party leader Shibu Soren who, at one point of time, was known to carry the trump card to save or pull down governments in New Delhi, Hemant Soren also seems to have in his blood the art of turning jail stints into tsunami of electoral sympathy.

If it were criminal allegations that sent Soren senior to prison, it was the money laundering allegation that forced Hemant Soren to spend six months in jail  he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on January 31, 2024, before getting bail on June 28. But, the common factor between the father-son duo has been their ability to bounce back from prison cells to capture voters imagination, riding high on waves of tribal pride or adivasi asmita.

After getting bail, Hemant Soren even posted a picture of a "prisoners stamp" on his arm on his 49th birthday on August 10  a filmy reminder of what Amitabh Bachchan immortalised in Deewar.

The only similarity between the Assembly election results in Jharkhand and Maharashtra remains the electoral magic of financial assistance schemes for women. Both the JMM and the Mahayuti seem to have got rich dividends for their women-friendly money transfer schemes launched just before the elections.

Among the dissimilarities between the two state elections have been the results yielded by the Hindutva pitch of the BJP. Jharkhand voters did not desert their fight to save their tribal identity despite the best efforts by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, whereas in Maharashtra Prime Minister Narendra Modis Ek Rahenge, Toh Safe Rahenge struck a chord with voters.

In Jharkhand, the JMMs strategy of not countering the NDA on its allegations of infiltration and sticking to the agenda of defending tribal pride worked wonders. Tribals, who form a third of the states population, continued their pattern of rejecting the NDA, as they did on the five ST-reserved seats in the Lok Sabha elections.

Hemant Soren single-handedly managed to demolish the BJPs army of tribal leaders like Babulal Marandi, Arjun Munda, and Champai Soren. The partys attempts to present its pro-tribal face by making a tribal as a Chief Minister in Chhattisgarh and Odisha also failed to convince Jharkhand voters.

Whether it was his jail term that proved to be a turning point or his outsider versus insider slogan, Heman Soren has little time to dissect the just-concluded electoral battle as he looks forward to better his fathers record by taking oath as CM for the fourth time. He, however, credits his father, who took oath as CM thrice, for mobilising the tribal voters even without physically joining the campaigning.

The road ahead for Hemant Soren is not going to be easy as he would need to coordinate with the Central government to rid the mineral-rich state of illegal mining and boost industrial development in the land-locked state.
Chennai, Nov 23 : Farmers in the Delta districts of Tamil Nadu were raising concerns over a severe shortage of fertilisers, which is posing significant challenges to them.

In response to the Northeast monsoon, Delta district farmers have sown intermittent crops, such as Rabi, across approximately 3 lakh hectares of farmland. However, these crops, heavily dependent on fertilisers, are now at risk due to the unavailability of essential inputs.

The demand for fertilisers such as Diammonium Phosphate (DAP), urea, and potash has skyrocketed.

M. R. Paniyasamy, a farmer from Mayiladuthurai, expressed his frustration, stating, "There is an acute shortage of fertilisers like DAP, urea, and potash, which are indispensable for us."

"We suspect that primary cooperative societies and private sellers are hoarding fertilisers to create artificial demand and hike prices," he said.

Another farmer, speaking on condition of anonymity, alleged that both private fertiliser sellers and primary cooperative societies are deliberately withholding stocks to inflate prices.

He also accused officials from the state cooperative department of colluding with traders in this malpractice. The farmers pointed out that fertilisers are being stocked in godowns and private locations, creating an artificial shortage.

In many Delta districts, a bag of urea is reportedly being sold for Rs 350-400, while its official cost is Rs 266.50. Similarly, a bag of DAP, which should cost Rs 1,350, is being sold for as much as Rs 2,000.

Rajagopalan, a farmer from Thanjavur, shared his frustration: "We can't even lodge complaints with agricultural department officials because they often tip off the fertiliser traders, who then refuse to sell fertilisers to those who raise concerns."

Farmers are urging the Tamil Nadu government to take immediate action against hoarding practices. They warn that unless stringent measures are implemented, the powerful lobby of hoarders will continue to exploit them.

Responding to the farmers' outcry, Tamil Nadu Agriculture Minister M. R .K. Panneerselvam assured the media that the government will conduct a thorough investigation into the issue of fertiliser hoarding and take stringent action against those found guilty.
Mumbai, Nov 23 : Actor Tusshar Kapoor, who can be seen in the series 10 June Ki Raat, has opened up about his status as a single parent, and societal pressure.

The actor landed in Chandigarh for the ongoing edition of the Chandigarh Literary Festival, and spoke with IANS.

Talking about being in Chandigarh, the actor said, It was a very good experience. Our session with Sohail Muathar, my agent, was very good. We talked about my book Bachelor Dad. I have come to Chandigarh after 12 years. I am enjoying it a lot. The ambience is beautiful. The weather is pleasant. I am going back tomorrow. Its a trip thats worth it.

Talking about the pressure from the society of being a single parent, he told IANS, There have been different families in our religion for centuries. It is not that there is only one type of family. Even in our mythology. There are different aspects of society. But you should do what you feel is right. So that no one is harmed. So that no one is hurt. So that a new life is happy. There is no problem in that. I did what my inner voice told me to do.

He also spoke about his upcoming projects with IANS.

He said, Chapter 2 of 10 June Ki Raat is already on air, chapter 3 will also come. It is on Jio Cinema. After that, there is a film called Kanpkapi which is completed. Welcome 3 shooting is half done. There is a film called Dunk which will start in January. I am also doing Masti 4. Golmaal 5 will also be done. Everything is in line.
The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine may try to shoot down Russian Kedr ballistic missiles with available means. There is a chance to do so after the missiles break up into six warheads.

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It is these individual units that can theoretically be shot down. This was reported by NV, citing sources in the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

It is known that the Russian missile system "Kedr" (or "Oreshnik" as Russian dictator Vladimir Putin called it) is a fairly recent development of the Russian defense industry. However, it is not a product of "the latest technology," as the Kremlin leader assured, but a modernization of Soviet equipment.

"The Kedr is not an intercontinental missile, but it can still be a nuclear weapon.

And, again, despite Putin's claims, this missile is not so invulnerable.

"When the missile is gaining altitude, the main warheads are separated into 6 warheads. Currently, it may be difficult for Ukraine to shoot down such missiles. The most likely way to defeat them would be to shoot down the individual warheads rather than the entire missile," the publication noted.

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The Air Force can try to do this even with existing means. However, according to NV sources, Ukraine is already negotiating with the United States to obtain weapons capable of shooting down intercontinental missiles. These could be modernized Patriot missile defense systems or the American Aegis or THAAD missile defense systems.

The Defense Forces share the opinion of experts that Russia used the Kedr to strike the Dnipro River on November 21 to intimidate Ukrainians and Europeans with the possibility of a direct nuclear strike.

"Also, NV's interlocutor in the security and defense sector believes that the strike with such a missile could have been aimed at persuading the United States to negotiate an end to the war," the report said.

Although the missile did not have a nuclear warhead during its first use, the source does not rule out that Russia may continue to blackmail with tactical nuclear weapons in the future. However, the transition from threats to their implementation, according to NV's source, will be "the Kremlin's biggest mistake, which will ultimately lead to his defeat."

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As a reminder, on November 21, Russia fired 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. The other missiles were destroyed without any significant consequences," the Air Force said.

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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.

According to the deputy head of the DIU, Major General Vadym Skibitskyi, Russia probably has up to 10 Oreshnik missiles, and that it may test-fire all of them in the future. The same day, November 22, his superior, Budanov, stated that as of October, the Russians had planned to produce two such missiles.

On the evening of the attack, Putin issued 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 ballistic missile, the Oreshnik, to strike the industrial complex in Dnipro. The dictator added that the world allegedly has no means of countering Russia's Oreshnik.

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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" and announced the start of mass production of these missiles.

However, the very next day, a part from the Oreshnik found in the Dnipro exposed the Kremlin's lies.

Western media began to calculate the time of the Oreshnik missile's approach to EU capitals. Given that, according to the American Institute for the Study of War, Putin wants to intimidate the West and Ukraine with this missile, his plan was partially successful.

Meanwhile, OBOZ.UA has shown what the village of Kapustyn Yar looks like, from the range named after which missiles are launched at $10 million each.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!
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Rain showers along with windy conditions. High 66F. Winds SW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph..

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Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Low 31F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
In what could be a major advance in understanding the genetic causes underlying human infertility, scientists led by researchers from Rutgers University-New Brunswick have identified a gene variant directly tied to early miscarriages in women.

The discovery of the variant is linked to accelerated reproductive aging, a condition producing high numbers of abnormal eggs that can lead to miscarriages. The findings could alert women to the potential for early infertility and guide them in their approach to reproductive planning and fertility treatment, scientists said.

Knowledge of the precise genetic landscape that causes egg abnormalities in women has long been limited. This work represents a significant step forward in our understanding of the underlying genetics and provides the deepest validation yet of a candidate variant for causation." Karen Schindler, author of the study and professor in the Department of Genetics in the Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences

Reporting their results in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the scientists pinpointed the variant  which differs from the non-mutated version by only a single amino acid  in the kinesin protein gene KIF18A. This mutated protein, they found, speeds up the aging process of eggs in younger women with the variant, ultimately diminishing their fertility.

Successful female reproduction, Schindler said, is highly dependent on creating eggs of good quality. Miscarriages are often caused because women produce eggs with aneuploidy, an abnormal number of chromosomes. The possibility of producing eggs with aneuploidy increases with age.

Because the eggs of the women with the variant age more rapidly than normal, they produce a higher number of eggs with aneuploidy. This condition is known as "high embryonic aneuploidy."

Rutgers Department of Genetics Professor Jinchuan Xing, an author on the study, led a team that started by conducting a comprehensive computational analysis of the genes of women with high embryonic aneuploidy. To do so, team members accessed data maintained in a biobank at an in vitro fertilization clinic and sought patterns in maternal DNA sequences collected from patients.

The analysis showed that many of the women with abnormal eggs carried the mutation in the kinesin protein gene KIF18A. Subsequent studies of mice engineered to contain the genetic variant, indicated that the mice produced more abnormal eggs at an earlier than normal age.

"From this, we can say that this is more than a correlation; it's a causal relationship," said Leelabati Biswas, the study's co-first author and a student in the university's joint M.D.-Ph.D. program in the Department of Genetics and the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. "The results gave us a powerful validation of our computational data."

Biswas and Schindler believe the conclusions of the study are directing researchers toward further discovery. They can imagine finding more variants associated with aneuploidy, providing more connections and, ultimately, deepening knowledge.

"This is a first step," Biswas said. "We're heading in a direction where we may be able to give women more opportunities for precision medicine, to better inform them, using targeted genetic information for reproductive treatments."

A woman who wants to have children and knows she possesses this genetic variant that will produce age-related infertility prematurely may opt to have children earlier or freeze her eggs while she is younger, Schindler said. "If you know your genetic risk, you will know your outcomes are going to be better if you start at age 28, rather than 32. That could make a huge difference in your success."

Scientists who worked on the study from Rutgers also included: Katarzyna Tyc, Mansour Aboelenain and Siqi Sun; and Jason Liu, an undergraduate student in the Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences, all from the Department of Genetics; and Assistant Professor Min Xu in the Department of Statistics. Other researchers included Richard Scott of RMA NJ; Vanessa Guo and Xin Tao of Juno Genetics in Basking Ridge, N.J.; and Iva Dundovic, Kruno Vukusic and Iva Tolic, all of the Ruder Boskovic Institute in Croatia.
A new simulator gives nursing students hands-on practice with vital procedures like mechanical ventilation and tracheal suctioning in children.

Researchers at Hokkaido University in Japan have created a new training tool to equip nursing students with the skills needed in caring for children who require mechanical ventilation and tracheal suctioning. In a study published in the Journal of Nursing Care & Reports, the team highlighted the simulator's role in addressing the significant increase in children who need specialized medical care.

Recent statistics from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare reveal a concerning trend in Japan: the number of children requiring medical care has doubled between 2011 and 2021. This increase is driven by several factors, including significant societal changes and a rise in complex medical conditions that need advanced interventions. Advancements in medical technology have also improved survival rates for critically ill children, resulting in a larger population that requires ongoing medical support. The Act on Support for Technology-Dependent Children and Their Families highlights a growing awareness of the needs of these vulnerable children and reflects a shift toward more home-based medical care.

The introduction of the simulator marks a considerable advancement in nursing education in response to evolving healthcare needs. Dubbed Simmar+ESTE-SIM, the simulator combines physical equipment with computer programs, to provide comprehensive training that equips future nurses to deliver high-quality care to children with specialized health requirements.

Students can work on procedures like endotracheal suctioning and get immediate feedback on how they're doing, which really boosts their learning and confidence. This kind of practice is especially important in nursing because having the right skills is essential for providing effective care to patients." Professor Shinji Ninomiya of the Department of Health Sciences, Hiroshima International University

"Our simulator helps nursing students practice important skills in a safe and controlled environment," explains Assistant Professor Noriyo Colley of Hokkaido University's Faculty of Health Sciences, the principal investigator of the ESTE-SIM project. "It uses immersive technology and realistic scenarios, so students get hands-on experience without the risks that come with caring for real patients."

"The term XR is an abbreviation of cross reality, which encompasses a group of emerging information technologies that combine the physical world with a digital world to create an immersive experience to some degree," she continues. "For instance, XR includes virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR), which provides a multisensory experience."

The simulator addresses the growing need for effective training programs that let nursing students develop critical skills in a risk-free environment. By equipping them with the confidence and expertise needed to care for vulnerable patients who need complex medical interventions, the simulator ensures that nurses are well-prepared to tackle the challenges of modern healthcare.
Researchers have found 70 per cent of Australians diagnosed with major depressive disorder are not receiving even the minimal treatment necessary.

A University of Queensland-led team analysed data for 204 countries and territories, to assess global access to adequate mental health care.

Dr. Damian Santomauro from UQ's School of Public Health and the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research said the aim was to understand how many people with depressive disorders worldwide were receiving adequate care.

In 2021, 30 per cent of Australians with a major depressive disorder received minimally adequate treatment. High-income regions showed the highest rates of adequate mental health treatment, but still quite low at 27 percent and only 7 countries had rates that exceeded 30 per cent." Dr. Damian Santomauro from UQ's School of Public Health and the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research

Minimally adequate treatment for major depressive disorders is defined as at least one month of medication in addition to 4 visits to a doctor or 8 sessions with a professional.

In 90 countries, adequate treatment was below 5 per cent with the lowest rates in sub-Saharan Africa at only 2 per cent.

"Globally, only 9 per cent of people with major depressive illnesses received the minimal treatment necessary," Dr Santomauro said.

"There was a small gender discrepancy with females (10.2 per cent) having higher rates than males (7.2 percent)."

Psychiatrist and School of Public Health researcher Professor Harvey Whiteford said many people with depression need more than minimally adequate treatment.

"Effective treatments are available and with the right treatment, people can fully recover," Professor Whiteford said.

"Without treatment the suffering and impairment from the depression can be prolonged and negatively affect relationships, work and education.

"In mental health funding and evaluation, we need to focus on the quality and duration of treatment, as well as measuring access to care."

Dr Santomauro said the findings support the World Health Organization's Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 20132030, which aims to increase mental health service coverage by at least 50 per cent by 2030.

"Highlighting locations and demographic groups who have the lowest treatment rates can guide prioritising areas for intervention and resource allocation," Dr Santomauro said.

"The data provides a baseline for tracking progress to improve treatment for major depressive disorders."

The study involved researchers from the University of Washington, the World Health Organization and Harvard University.

The research was published in The Lancet Psychiatry.
Before the Taliban destroyed and remade Afghanistan to their liking in August 2021, Zahra Mohammadis life had been in full bloom. Her dental clinic in Kabul was thriving, she was set to marry a partner who she loved. Then, darkness descended. Mohammadi, her life, her clients, her romance, were all lost to the shadows. And even so, her story continues. The dentist, along with many other women, became a fierce activist fighting for Afghan womens rights. The Taliban has banned women from secondary schools, and denied them the right to work, to marry whom they choose and to dress as they like. Eventually, Mohammadi was forced into exile. Her journey, as well as many others of women both named and unnamed, is told in the documentary Bread & Roses by Afghani director Sahra Mani. The film is produced by actress Jennifer Lawrence and by Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai.

In a Los Angeles hotel room, the three women are discussing their film, which premieres on Apple TV+ on November 22. Its the morning after its red-carpet debut at the Hammer Museum. They make an unlikely trio: an Afghan director, a young Pakistani activist and a Hollywood actress. In addition to their better-known work, Yousafzai and Lawrence have focused more recently on projects that tell womens stories. Bread & Roses is a primary example, and largely relies on home footage filmed by a half-dozen women of their day-to-day lives, their struggles not just to survive, but to oppose the Taliban regime, and in some cases, their inevitable exit from their country.

I always felt like the story of Afghanistan and of these women was also my own. Thats why I want to dedicate my life to telling their stories and sharing them with the world, says Mani. Three years ago, she became familiar with the plight of women like those profiled in the movie via non-profits in Germany and Spain that provide support to Afghans, thanks largely to organization People in Need. There were many artists, many women, and they started to share their videos with me, and I felt like they were expecting something from me beyond merely archiving them, probably that I would make a film. So when Jennifer got in touch with me, it was a dream come true. Later, we began to collaborate with Malala and decided to make the film to give voice to Afghan women on a larger scale.

Malala Yousafzai, Jennifer Lawrence, Justine Ciarrocchi, and Sahra Mani attend the Los Angeles premiere of 'Bread & Roses' at Hammer Museum on November 14. Leon Bennett (Getty Images)

Lawrence says this was her intention from the beginning. I first got into contact with Sahra in 2021, when Kabul fell. I wanted to get cameras in there to make a movie, says the actress, who won an of the Oscar for her role in Silver Linings Playbook. And when we found Sahra, she was already compiling images from women, and the film was born. Then, Malala added her incomparable voice to our movie.

For 27-year-old Yousafzai, it was important to draw attention to what is happening to Afghan women and girls with the return of the Taliban. The extremist group was in the country from the mid-1990s to 2001, when it was driven out and the country was allowed to flourish for 20 years.

Women did so many things in the country during those two decades, and they knew exactly what would happen if the Taliban erased them from public life, says Yousafzai. And indeed, we see that during the last three and a half years, theyve eliminated them, taken away all opportunities including work, employment and political representation. While I was out campaigning, I ran into this documentary, which was showing this, and I immediately said Id be a part of it, because I knew that the Taliban would do anything possible to invisibilize women.

To Yousafzai, a film is a very powerful way of showing the world what is happening, and today, four years later, she thinks its even more crucial, and that there are even more limits being placed upon women that separate them from basic opportunities like leaving the house to see a doctor; essentially, systematic oppression in the form of gender apartheid. The title of the film is a reference to the fundamental opportunities these women no longer have access to: sustenance, but also hopes and dreams.

The resulting images are at times tortured, occasionally festive, and often strikingsuch as when women protest in front of cameras against the Taliban, joined by young girls and a little boy dressed as an extremist, clad in a suit and wielding a gun. As viewers slowly get to know the characters  theres no narrator to guide in this process, besides the women themselves  a connection is forged. We suffer in their sadness, when they are thrust into risky situations and when they flee.

Mani resolved to make the film based on the womens confidence in her. She trained them to film, taught them which angles to shoot from, to record details of their food, their everyday lives, the things that surprised them. I explained to them that it was the only way to preserve a moment from our history, of how we wound up alone and of how Afghan women fight for their rights. We never expected that any government would simply give them to us. We continue to fight, she says, as her producers nod.

Doctor Zahra Mohammadi in Bread & Roses.

Yousafzai agrees. I believe in the power of telling stories when it comes to activism, they are at its very heart. To be able to see these womens daily lives, helps to understand. Many people arent aware of the day-to-day situation of Afghan women, thats why it was so important to film it.

She continues: They are showing us how the things they worked so hard for, the right to have a life, an education, was suddenly taken away from them by the Taliban, who punish women for simply daring to work or go to the doctor or read or thing, or merely leaving the house because they have to go to court, because they are their familys only source of income. I think its crucial we have a record of all this. I think that sharing their stories is important because that becomes part of the worldwide movement that Afghan women activists are leading from inside and outside of their country that fights to put more pressure on leaders.

A few months ago, Lawrence premiered her documentary Zurawski v Texas, about the difficulties of accessing abortions in the southern United States, and to varying extents, throughout the rest of the country. She recognizes that Western countries arent on the best footing when it comes to these issues. Is she worried that womens rights are at risk throughout the rest of the world, and especially in the United States, given the political situation it is facing for the next four years? Yes I am. Its terrifying. I live in a country where womens rights are being taken away. We live in a world in which women are oppressed. And when apathy begins to spread and shatter our empathy and our humanity, we lose contact with each other. It ruins the world, and it spreads. And that really scares me.

From left to right, producer Justine Ciarrocchi, Afghan dentist and lead of Bread & Roses; Zahra Muhammadi; producer Jennifer Lawrence and director Sahra Mani on May 21, 2023 at the Cannes Film Festival at a screening of Bread & Roses. Mondadori Portfolio (Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Im)

Mani says that she has remained in contact with the women in the film, that she speaks with some of them every couple of days and that most of them have left the country. But there are millions of women in even worse situations who cant leave because of flaws in the legal system. Mohammadi herself was present at the films screening at Cannes. Far from her home, her people, her work, the love of her life. But free.

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Life expectancy in the USA varies by more than 20 years depending on an individual's race and ethnicity and where they live. These widespread and persistent life expectancy disparities have divided the country into "ten Americas," according to new research examining inequities in US life expectancy between 2000 and 2021, published in The Lancet.

The extent and magnitude of health disparities in American society are truly alarming in a country with the wealth and resources of the USA. These disparities reflect the unequal and unjust distribution of resources and opportunities that have profound consequences on well-being and longevity, especially in marginalised populations. Policymakers must take collective action to invest in equitable health care, education, and employment opportunities and challenge the systemic barriers that create and perpetuate these inequities so that all Americans can live long, healthy lives regardless of where they live and their race, ethnicity, or income." Christopher JL Murray, Senior Author, Professor Director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), University of Washington, Seattle, USA

The findings come nearly two decades after the landmark "Eight Americas" study, which examined the interacting drivers of health inequities in the USA by dividing the US population into eight groups based on geography, race, urbanicity, income per capita, and homicide rate.



In this new study, researchers update and expand the original Eight Americas study, dividing the US population into ten mutually exclusive populations, or 'Americas', based on race and ethnicity and other variables such as geographic location, metropolitan status, income, and residential segregation (see table in notes to editors).



Analysing death records from the National Vital Statistics System and population estimates from the National Center for Health Statistics, researchers estimated trends in life expectancy at birth - an important indicator of a population's health - from 2000 to 2021 for each of the ten Americas by year, sex, and age group.

Stark differences in life expectancy have widened over two decades

Despite efforts to reduce health inequalities, the life expectancy gap between the Americas was 12.6 years in 2000 and grew even larger during the 2000s and 2010s (reaching 13.9 years in 2010 and 15.6 years by 2019), and accelerated to 20.4 years after the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic (see table in notes to editors).



In 2000, Black Americans living in rural, low-income counties in the South (America 9) and Black Americans living in highly-segregated cities (America 7) had the lowest life expectancy (around 70.5 years for both populations), while Asian Americans (America 1) had the highest life expectancy, living on average 83.1 years.



Between 2000 and 2010, life expectancy increased for every America except for American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) people living in the West (America 10), who had the shortest lifespan in 2010 after a one-year drop in life expectancy from 72.3 years in 2000 to 71.2 years in 2010.



During this time, the three Black Americas (6, 7, and 9) showed some of the largest gains in life expectancy, increasing by as much as 3.7 years, with Black Americans living in other counties (America 6) exceeding the life expectancy of White Americans living in low-income counties in Appalachia and the lower Mississippi Valley (America 8) from 2010 onwards, except in 2020.



"The gap between life expectancy at birth for Black and White Americans may never have been narrower than it was in the mid-2010s," said co-author Thomas Bollyky from the Council of Foreign Relations, Washington DC, USA. "It's likely that long-term improvements in education available to Black children and young adults in recent decades, as well as reductions in homicide rates and deaths from HIV/AIDS - causes of death that have disproportionately impacted Black Americans - may have contributed to these noteworthy gains for Black Americans."



However, in the following decade (2010-2019), improvements in life expectancy at birth for the three Black Americas (Americas 6, 7, and 9) - as well as all the other Americas - largely stalled (see table in notes to editors). This pattern may be explained by an increase in drug overdose deaths and homicides as well as a slowdown in reductions in cardiovascular disease deaths, likely related to increases in obesity.

Widening racial life expectancy gap during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic precipitated a staggering drop in life expectancy for all the Americas and substantially widened racial disparities in lifespan. For example, while Black Americans living in highly segregated cities (America 7) and Black Americans living in rural, low-income counties in the South (America 9) were expected to live an average 74.9 years and 72.5 years, respectively, in 2019, this fell by approximately 4.0 years in 2020. For White (the majority), Asian, and AIAN people living in other counties (America 3), the corresponding decline was only 1.4 years - from 79.3 years in 2019 to 77.9 years in 2020.



Marginalised groups already had lower life expectancy, and the pandemic further increased the gap. By 2021, Asian Americans (America 1) still had the longest life expectancy at birth, living on average 84 years - a striking 20.4 years longer than AIAN people living in the West (America 10), who had the lowest life expectancy at 63.6 years.

Alarming health crisis for American Indian and Alaska Native people in the West

AIAN people living in the West (America 10) were the only group to experience a drop in their life expectancy between 2000 and 2010 and again between 2010 and 2019 - falling from the already relatively low 72.3 years in 2000 to 70.2 years in 2019. COVID-19 set them even further behind the other Americas, with a 6.6-year drop in life expectancy between 2019 and 2021.



These findings suggest that AIAN people are living much shorter lives than any other population due to systemic barriers that have perpetuated social, economic, and health inequities. For example, inadequate healthcare access and chronic underfunding of Indigenous health services, together with high rates of unemployment and low rates of educational attainment, and the legacy of systemic discrimination, are factors that likely contribute to AIAN people dying at higher rates from highly preventable causes like chronic diseases, smoking, and drug overdose, as well as COVID-19.

What is driving these disparities in life expectancy?

The findings suggest that differences in educational attainment and income likely explain some of the disparities in life expectancy. For example, Black Americans living in rural, low-income counties in the South (America 9) and AIAN individuals living in the West (America 10) had the lowest income per capita and percentage graduating college as well as the lowest life expectancy in most years between 2000 and 2021.



However, the authors note some unexpected disparities, which indicate that other factors beyond income and education can contribute to differences in longevity. For example, White (the majority), Asian, and AIAN people living in other counties (America 3) had the highest income in most years, as well as the highest proportion graduating high school and the second highest percentage of college graduates but was ranked only fourth or fifth in life expectancy prior to 2020.



According to co-author Professor Ali Mokdad from IHME: "More research is needed to fully understand why life expectancy is worse for some Americans so we can better tackle the root causes of poor health for the most disadvantaged. America's life expectancy gap is unlikely to diminish until a comprehensive, coordinated approach that includes preventive measures and public health initiatives that transcend political divides and fosters collaboration and accountability between state, local, and national entities is developed. Only then can we hope to create a more equitable and healthier society for all the Americas - and all Americans."



The authors point out that the grouping of the US population based on county, race and ethnicity is not the only division that could be used to understand the large inequalities in US life expectancy, and different choices of factors would lead to different results.



The authors also note some important study limitations, including that there is a well-known misreporting of race and ethnicity on death certificates, and although they corrected for this misclassification, it increased the uncertainty around the estimates. They also note that data on income per capita and educational attainment from the America Community Survey and 2000 decennial census used different racial and ethnic groups compared to those used in the analysis, which could lead to a mismatch in the estimates of income and educational attainment for three groups (combined AIAN, Asian and NHPI, and Black) and the corresponding Americas. Additionally, while this analysis shows large disparities in life expectancy between the ten Americas, the authors note that there will also be large disparities within these Americas. For example, research shows considerable differences in life expectancy among counties, even for the same racial and ethnic group. Finally, while the ten Americas is defined based on data from a single point in time (primarily 2020), some of the characteristics these definitions are based on are time-varying (eg, income per capita), so it is likely that some county and race and ethnicity combinations would be included in different Americas if data from a different year were used to define the Americas.



Writing in a linked Comment, Professor Steven H Woolf from the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, USA (who was not involved in the study), says that the study confirms the continued existence of different Americas in the USA, adding that: "The study also underscores the value of investigating intersectionality. Disaggregated data can inform policy decisions about which geographic regions and populations to prioritise in efforts to reduce disparities in life expectancy. Understanding the root causes of disparate mortality rates and meaningful efforts to address the social and environmental determinants of health are essential to close the gap."
Bihar Govt School Timings Changed Amid Cold Wave, Classes From 9:30 AM To 4 PM

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 16:06 IST

Schools in Bihar used to operate from 8:50 am to 4:30 pm. Classes will be held in eight periods, according to ACS Siddharths new order.

The Bihar Education Department has also advised that if a board exam for any class is being held at the school, no other classes should be postponed (Representational/File Photo)

The Bihar Education Department has changed the operating hours of government schools due to the cold-wave conditions. Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), S Siddharth, issued a notice on November 21 clarifying that schools will now operate from 9:30 am to 4 pm, effective immediately. Schools in Bihar used to operate from 8:50 am to 4:30 pm. Classes will be held in eight periods, according to ACS Siddharths new order. The first bell will ring at 10 am, and the eighth will ring at 4 pm. The lunch break will be from 12 to 12:40 pm.

As per reports, in the assembly between 9:30 AM and 10 AM, activities such as checking students clothes, nails and hair, as well as general knowledge sessions, news reading and discussions, will take place.

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This decision was made in response to the areas rising chilly weather. Furthermore, it has been advised that if a board exam for any class is being held at the school, no other classes should be postponed. In such cases, students should continue their studies in other classes. As temperatures continue to decrease throughout the state, the decision attempts to protect the health and safety of staff and students.

On Saturdays, schools will henceforth prioritise extracurricular and creative activities, reports added. Bagless Saturday" will be introduced for kids in grades 1 through 8, encouraging a day devoid of everyday homework and centred on artistic projects. Sports, arts, music and dance classes will reportedly be part of this programme.

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Students will take part in activities like childrens parliament after lunch, and their projects and artistic creations will be displayed as per reports. These programmes combine academic study with practical experience to offer a well-rounded approach to education. The directive also lays out steps to guarantee that schools operate as intended. To get more attention from teachers, weaker students will be seated in the front rows. The principal will be in charge of creating the routine according to the availability of the teachers and making sure that it is followed.

In addition to making sure that classrooms and school facilities, including kitchens and restrooms, are kept clean and hygienic, teachers are obliged to assign and check homework every day. The principal will be in charge of maintaining the schools cleanliness and conducting routine inspections.

Location : Bihar, India

First Published: November 22, 2024, 16:02 IST
Dreaming Of IIM Ahmedabad? Heres Your Guide To Admissions, Courses And Placements

Curated By :

Local News Desk

Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 16:02 IST

Every year, lakhs of youth dream of getting admission to the top management colleges of the country.

IIM Ahmedabad was established in 1961.

Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) is counted among the top management colleges. There are a total of 21 IIMs in India. IIM Ahmedabad, located in the capital of Gujarat, is the oldest IIM in the country. The amazing thing is that it is also the top IIM in the country. Every year lakhs of youth appear for the CAT exam to get admission in IIM Ahmedabad. Only a few of them can fulfil their dreams.

IIM Ahmedabad was established in 1961. Students who pass out from IIM Ahmedabad get jobs in top companies of the country and abroad with packages worth lakhs and crores (IIM Ahmedabad Placement). The faculty and education quality here are considered better than other management colleges.

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For the youth preparing for the CAT 2024 exam, nothing would be better than getting shortlisted for admission to IIM Ahmedabad.

Ranking

The Union Ministry of Education releases the NIRF ranking every year. Apart from this, many private institutes also keep releasing their rankings.

In the National Institutional Ranking Framework 2024, IIM Ahmedabad has the number-1 rank at the all-India level in the management category. IIM Ahmedabad is known for the best quality of management studies and research.

IIM Ahmedabad has got the number-1 rank for the fifth consecutive year.

Best Courses

Many management-related courses are taught at IIM Ahmedabad. The following courses are the main ones.

PGP (Post Graduate Program in Management): This is a 2-year management program. By taking admission to this, you can gain in-depth knowledge in various management aspects. EXPGP (Executive Post Graduate Programme): This management program is designed keeping professionals in mind. Fellowship Programme: This is a research-based management program. It is especially for those youth who want to make a career in academics or research.

How To Get Admission

Getting admission to IIM Ahmedabad is not easy. For admission to the top management colleges of the country, it is also necessary to have top scores in the CAT exam. Even after getting the name on the CAT 2024 cutoff list, one has to work hard for admission. After passing the written exam, only the best students selected based on group discussion and personal interviews get admission to IIM Ahmedabad.

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Placement:

The placement record of IIM Ahmedabad is excellent. The average package received by the students of IIM Ahmedabad in the year 2023 was Rs 31,49,910 (CTC). At the same time, the highest package was Rs 61,48,640. The highest placement of IIM Ahmedabad at the international level was USD 1,51,290 US dollars. This shows that the placement of IIM Ahmedabad is the best at both national and international levels.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 22, 2024, 16:02 IST
Keralas Little KITE With UNICEF Use AI To Help Children With Special Needs

Published By :

PTI

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 15:40 IST

The Little KITE programme is a two-day camp focusing on creating AI tools to help children with speech and hearing impairments.

With UNICEF's aid, the goodwill initiative is to begin today. (Image: Shutterstock)

Over 15,600 students from Keralas Little KITE programme will participate in a series of sub-district camps aimed at harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) to assist children with special needs (CWSN).

The initiative, organised by the Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education (KITE) with UNICEFs support, will begin on November 23, an official release said on Friday.

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The two-day camp spread across 260 locations, will focus on creating AI tools to help children with speech and hearing impairments communicate through sign language.

These tools include video-based learning modules and interactive platforms to make sign language more accessible, the release stated.

Additionally, students will develop animation films to promote environmental conservation.

A highlight of the programme is the development of AI-powered tools that enable children with speech and hearing difficulties to communicate using sign language. These modules will not only facilitate learning sign language but also encourage interaction with such children. Video classes for this purpose will also be introduced in the camps," the release added.

One storyline features two birds working together to restore greenery to a devastated area, emphasising the importance of collective action.

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K Anvar Sadath, CEO of KITE, said that 15,668 students were selected from school-level competitions out of the 2.08 lakh Little KITE members across 2,219 units.

Around 1,200 trainers have been prepared for the camps, which will run in batches without disrupting regular classes, he said.

Location : Kerala, India

First Published: November 23, 2024, 15:37 IST
Assam Bypolls: BJP-led Alliance Set To Win All Five Seats

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 16:28 IST

Assam Bypolls: BJP Retains Behali Assembly Seat

BJP-led alliance set to win all five seats (PTI)

The ruling BJP-led NDA alliance is set to sweep all the five Assembly constituencies in Assam where counting of votes was taking place on Saturday.

The BJP has already won two constituencies  Dholai and Behali while the party candidate Diplu Ranjan Sarmah is leading in the Samaguri seat against Congress heavyweight Rakibul Hussains son Tanzil Hussain.

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According to the latest trends, Sarmah was leading by 8,091 votes, and the ruling party is on its way to breach the Congress bastion.

BJPs ally Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) won the Bongaigaon Assembly seat. AGPs Diptimayee Choudhury won the seat by defeating Congress candidate Brajenjit Singha with a margin of 35,164 votes.

Another ally of the ruling party, United Peoples Party Liberal (UPPL) registered its win in the Sidli Assembly seat after defeating Congress. UPPLs Nirmal Kumar Brahma won with a margin of 37,016 votes by defeating Bodoland Peoples Front candidate Suddho Kumar Basumatary.

The five seats went vacant after five legislators, including a cabinet minister, were elected to Parliament in the 2024 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.

BJPs 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 Lok Sabha this time. He was representing the Behali seat in the Assembly.

The AGP opened its account in Parliament this time with its senior leader Phani Bhusan Choudhury being elected from the 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 partys 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, UPPLs Joyanta Basumatary, the former MLA from Sidli, also made headlines by securing the Kokrajhar seat.

The two allies of the ruling party  Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) contested bypoll in the Bongaigaon Assembly constituency while United Peoples Party Liberal (UPPL) fielded its candidate in the Sidli seat.

BJP Retains Behali Assembly Seat

The BJP on Saturday retained the Behali assembly constituency in Assam bypolls with its candidate Diganta Ghatowal defeating his nearest Congress rival Jayanta Bora by 9,051 votes.

Ghatowal polled 50,947 votes while Bora secured 41,896.

There were four candidates in the fray in the constituency, including Lakhikanta Kurmi of the CPI(ML)-L and Ananta Gogoi of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) with both losing their deposits.

The seat was earlier held by Ranjit Dutta who was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Tezpur parliamentary seat.

Bypolls were held in the five assembly constituencies as these seats fell vacant following the election of the MLAs to the Lok Sabha earlier this year.

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The BJP contested in three of the five constituencies  Behali, Samaguri and Dholai  while its alliance partners AGP and UPPL put up candidates for Bongaigaon and Sidli seats.

The Congress contested all the five constituencies.

First Published: November 23, 2024, 16:28 IST
BJP A Cut Above SP In UP Bypolls: 'Batenge Toh Katenge' Trumped 'Judenge Toh Jeetenge', Say Analysts

Reported By :

News18.com

Edited By: Pathikrit Sen Gupta



Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 23:13 IST

Of the nine constituencies in the bypolls, the BJP won six, another seat was won by its ally RLD, while the opposition SP ended up with two

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath and Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav (right). (File images)

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party registered a thumping win on Saturday in the Uttar Pradesh (UP) by-elections held for nine assembly constituencies this month. Of the nine constituencies in the contest, the BJP won six, another seat was won by its ally RLD, while the opposition SP ended up with two. Political analysts described the outcome as a triumph of the BJPs Batenge toh katenge" (If divided, we will be slaughtered) narrative over the SPs Judenge toh jeetenge" (If united, we will be victorious) slogan.

Of the nine assembly seats on which the bypolls were held, eight fell vacant after their MLAs, including SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, were elected to the Lok Sabha in the April-June general elections, while the SP MLA from Sisamau (Kanpur), Irfan Solanki, was convicted in a criminal case and sentenced to seven years imprisonment. Among these, the BJP won Ghaziabad, Majhawan, Khair, Phulpur, Kundarki, and Katehari, while its ally RLD won Meerapur. The SP won Sisamau and Karhal.

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Despite being bypolls, the elections saw a fierce contest between the BJP and SP.

UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath, who coined the Batenge toh katenge" catchphrase, called the BJPs victory a result of the UP administrations zero-tolerance-for-crime policy and good governance while expressing his gratitude to the voters.

Yogi credits double engine, Akhilesh slams corruption

The victory of the BJP-NDA in the Uttar Pradesh assembly by-elections is a testament to the peoples unwavering faith in the successful leadership and guidance of the esteemed Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This victory is the result of the security, good governance and public welfare policies of the double-engine government and the tireless hard work of dedicated workers. I express my gratitude to the respected voters of UP who voted for the good governance and development of UP and hearty congratulations to all the winning candidates. Batenge toh katenge, ek hain toh safe hain," CM Adityanath wrote on social media site X.

SP Akhilesh Yadav too took to X, slamming the distorted" electoral politics witnessed during the polls. The tactics of those who have made election synonymous with corruption have been captured in photographs and exposed before the world. The world, the country, and Uttar Pradesh saw the most distorted form of electoral politics in this by-election. There may be a time for falsehood but not an era. Now the real struggle has begunclench your fist, tighten your fist, and make the PDA proclaim Judenge toh jeetenge!" he said.

BJP took early lead

The counting of votes for the nine assembly constituencies started around 8am on Saturday. Since the beginning, the BJP took the lead on most of the seats. Around noon, the NDA was ahead in six constituencies and the SP in three. BJPs Sanjeev Sharma was leading from Ghaziabad, Ramveer Singh from Kundarki, Deepak Patel from Phulpur, Surender Diler from Khair, Shuchismita Maurya from Majhawan, and ally RLDs Mithlesh Pal from Meerapur. The Samajwadi Partys Tej Pratap Singh, Naseem Solanki, and Shobhawati Verma were leading from Karhal, Sisamau, and Katehari. The BJPs leads on six seats turned into victories, while the RLD managed to win one, and the SP netted two seats.

Fierce poll battle

It was a one-of-its-kind by-election, which was fiercely fought no less than any assembly elections. It was mainly because the polls were being seen as a battle of prestige for the BJP after it suffered an unexpected setback in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, as the partys seat count dropped significantly," said Shashikant Pandey, head of the department of political science at Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow.

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The battle for Karhal (Mainpuri) remained the most interesting. The seat, which is considered an SP stronghold, saw party candidate Tej Pratap Singh register a win by a margin of over 14,000 votes. Singh secured 10,4304 votes, defeating his closest rival, BJPs Anujesh Pratap Singh, who bagged 89,579 votes. Karhal is the seat SP president Akhilesh Yadav vacated after being elected to the Lok Sabha from Kannauj. Tej Pratap is a former MP from Mainpuri, nephew of Akhilesh Yadav, and son-in-law of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav. The BJP, aiming to make inroads into the SP fortress, had fielded Anujesh Yadav, the brother-in-law of SP MP Dharmendra Yadav, setting up a family battle.

In the 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) evenly split the nine constituencies that went to bypolls this time. The SP secured Sisamau, Katehari, Karhal, and Kundarki, while the BJP won Phulpur, Ghaziabad, Majhawan, and Khair. Meerapur was clinched by the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), which was then allied with the SP but has since joined the BJP-led NDA.

First Published: November 23, 2024, 23:13 IST
BJP Powers Mahayuti To Mind-boggling Maharashtra Win, JMM Leads INDIA Bloc To Jharkhand Glory

Published By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 23:12 IST

The defeat in Maharashtra raises a question mark on the political futures of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray and NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar who lost their original party names and symbols following rebellions led by close associates and fought these polls as a... Read More

With projections of over 220 seats for the Mahayuti out of the total 288 in Maharashtra, this marks an extraordinary reversal from the outcome of the April-June Lok Sabha elections. (File image: News18)

The Bharatiya Janata Party-led Mahayuti alliance scored a runaway victory on Saturday in the make-or-break Maharashtra elections over 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. In Jharkhand, the INDIA bloc comprising chief minister Hemant Sorens JMM, the Congress, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) emerged victorious.

As the Election Commission also announced results for 48 assembly bypolls across states, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance triumphed in Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, and Rajasthan, the Congress had the upper hand in Karnataka, while the Trinamool Congress swept West Bengal. In two parliamentary bypolls, Congresss Priyanka Gandhi Vadra made a winning electoral debut in Keralas Wayanad with a margin of over 4 lakh votes, while Maharashtras Nanded went to the BJPs Santukrao Hambade.

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With projections of over 220 seats for the Mahayuti out of the total 288 in Maharashtra, this marks an extraordinary reversal from the outcome of the April-June Lok Sabha elections.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi, which put up a stunning show in the general elections, suffered a massive setback in the Maharashtra assembly polls, with its cumulative tally less than one-fourth of the Mahayutis score. The defeat raises a question mark on the political futures of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray and NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, who lost their original party names and symbols following rebellions led by close associates and fought these polls as a prestige battle.

The man of the moment, deputy chief minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, has become a key figure in state politics and looks on course to regain the CMs posta position he has held twice before.

Most exit polls had predicted a comfortable victory for the Mahayuti in Maharashtra.

PM hails historic Maharashtra mandate, congratulates JMM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the historic" Maharashtra election results as a victory of development and good governance".

Development wins! Good governance wins! United we will soar even higher! Heartfelt gratitude to my sisters and brothers of Maharashtra, especially the youth and women of the state, for a historic mandate to the NDA. This affection and warmth is unparalleled. I assure the people that our Alliance will keep working for Maharashtras progress. Jai Maharashtra!" he wrote on social media site X.

The PM also congratulated the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led alliance for its win. He thanked people across various states for blessing NDA candidates in various bypolls".

I am proud of every NDA Karyakarta for their efforts on the ground. They worked hard, went among people and elaborated on our good governance agenda," he wrote.

Observers say the Mahayutis success is driven by its women-centric welfare initiatives, particularly the Ladki Bahin scheme, which provides Rs 1,500 per month to beneficiaries, as well as the BJPs strategic focus on consolidating the Hindutva vote.

Hard-won victory: Hemant Soren

The INDIA bloc, comprising the JMM, Congress, and Rashtriya Janata Dal, crossed the halfway mark comfortably in Jharkhand, even as many exit polls had predicted an advantage for the BJP-led NDA.

I heard Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji has congratulated us. I want to thank him," said Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren. All of you know it is a hard-won victory after the battle between INDIA and the NDAThe people have taken a huge, responsible decision in ensuring the state remains strong. Many first-time voters participated, and I thank them for their support."

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.

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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.

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.

First Published: November 23, 2024, 21:05 IST
Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 16:03 IST

ECI Bypoll Election Results 2024 Live Updates: The political arena is filled with anticipation as the counting of votes for the by-election to 48 assembly seats and two parliamentary seats in 15 states began at 8 AM on Saturday, November 23.

While an intense poll battle over the reclamation of the seat has been witnessed among the key political parties, including BJP, Congress and other regional players, the clear picture of who has claimed victory will only be stated after the by-election results are announced by the election commission.

The Uttar Pradesh by-polls results are significant for the BJP and Samajwadi Party as both parties are aiming to set the narrative for the 2027 assembly elections. The ruling BJP faced a major setback in the Lok Sabha polls, eyeing to make a comeback in the by-elections.

Initially, the poll panel announced that voting for 47 assembly segments and the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat will be held in the first phase, on November 13, and the remaining Kedarnath assembly seat and the Nanded Lok Sabha seat will go for polling on November 20.

Later, the EC revised the poll schedule and rescheduled by-polls in 14 assembly constituencies across Kerala, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh from November 13 to November 20.

CEC Rajiv Kumar, who was accompanied by Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, announced the dates for the by-polls after announcing the schedule for the Maharashtra and Jharkhand polls.

Notably, the by-polls across 15 states pose the first major electoral challenge for both the NDA and INDIA blocs since the Lok Sabha elections, given the wide reach and number of states involved in this election.
Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj 'Bites The Dust' On Poll Debut As NDA Bags All 4 Bihar Seats

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 15:34 IST

The BJP went ahead of the RJD and Jan Suraaj to win all four by-poll seats- Tarari, Ramgarh, Belaganj and Imamganj.

Prashant Kishor during the launch event of Jan Suraaj | File Image/PTI

Political strategist Prashant Kishor faced a major setback on Saturday after his newly floated Jan Suraaj party failed to bag even a single seat out of the four in Bihar that went to by-election on November 13.

All eyes were on Kishor who had earlier claimed that before contesting all 243 seats in the Assembly elections next year in October-November, his party Jan Suraaj would make major parties bite the dust in the by-polls itself.

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However, the BJP-led NDA went ahead of the RJD and Jan Suraaj to win all four by-poll seats- Tarari, Ramgarh, Belaganj and Imamganj, notably with a record margin, putting all the narrative set by Kishor and his associates to rest.

The four seats in Bihar had fallen vacant as the sitting MLAs were elected to the recently held Lok Sabha elections from different constituencies. Tarari MLA Sudama Prasad became MP from Bhojpur and Ramgarh MLA Sudhakar Singh won the Lok Sabha polls from Buxar seat.

Similarly, Imamganj MLA Jitan Ram Manjhi vacated the seat after winning the Lok Sabha elections from Gaya (Reserved) seat. He also became the Union Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modis Cabinet. Belaganj MLA Surendra Prasad was also elected to Lok Sabha from Jehanabad.

Jan Suraajs Poll Debut Shatters

Kishor, who actively held Padyatras across every Kasba of Bihar, had launched the Jan Suraaj political party on October 2, which marks Gandhi Jayanti.

You all need to say Jai Bihar so loud that no one calls you and your children Bihari and it feels like an abuse. Your voice must reach Delhi. It must reach Bengal where students from Bihar were beaten. It must reach Tamil Nadu, Delhi, and Bombay wherever Bihari children were abused and beaten," Kishor added during the launch event.

#WATCH | Patna, Bihar | Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor to officially launch his political party, shortly.He says, You all need to say Jai Bihar so loud that no one calls you and your children Bihari and it feels like an abuse. Your voice must reach Delhi. It must pic.twitter.com/rgJpY4mS9w  ANI (@ANI) October 2, 2024

The first major electoral test in front of Kishor was the by-polls, which seems to be shattered with results being declared in favour of the BJP-led NDA.

During the launch event, Kishor noted that his party had been active on the grounds for the past two years in Bihar, well before it was accepted as a political outfit by the Election Commission of India.

However, with a major setback in by-polls, Kishor and his Jan Suraaj must be looking for the Bihar Assembly polls, expected to be held next year between October and November.

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First Published: November 23, 2024, 15:18 IST
Chhattisgarh Bypoll Result: BJP Retains Raipur City South Assembly Seat

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 17:24 IST

BJP candidate Sunil Kumar Soni has won the Raipur City South assembly bypoll by 46,167 votes

Raipur City South, Chhattisgarh Assembly byelection 2024 (Image: News18 Elections)

BJP candidate Sunil Kumar Soni has won the Raipur City South assembly bypoll by 46,167 votes against his nearest rival Akash Sharma of the Congress.

Congratulating Soni and his party leadership, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said the victory is a stamp of approval by the voters in the constituency on the work done by their government in the state in the past 11 months.

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Soni polled 89,220 votes, while Sharma secured 43,053, according to the figures released by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

The bypoll held in the constituency, located in Raipur district, on November 13 saw a voter turnout of 50.5 per cent.

With this victory, the BJPs in the 90-member Chhattisgarh assembly remained unchanged at 54. The current strength of Congress in the House is 35 and the Gondwana Gantantra Party has one MLA.

CM Sai termed the victory in the Raipur City South seat historic" and attributed it to the efforts of BJP workers.

I congratulate and thank everyone. I also thank the voters of Raipur South. They have expressed their faith in the BJP and (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi jis guarantee," the CM said.

Sai said his government has tried to fulfil Modis guarantee after taking charge of the state.

Be it giving Rs 1,000 per month to mothers and sisters under the Mahtari Vandan Yojana or paddy bonus to farmers or Ramlala Darshan Yojana whatever work our government has done in the last 10-11 months, the people of Raipur City South have put their stamp of approval on them," he said.

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The bypoll was necessitated after sitting BJP legislator and former state minister Brijmohan Agrawal resigned following his election to Lok Sabha from Raipur parliamentary constituency.

In last years assembly elections, Agrawal had secured 1,09,263 votes in the Raipur City South seat and won by the highest margin of 67,719 votes against his nearest Congress rival.

First Published: November 23, 2024, 17:24 IST
In the hands of Mayan Lopez, TikTok became a tool for healing. She had been estranged from her father, the famous actor and comedian George Lopez, for around a decade following his acrimonious divorce from her mother, Ann Serrano. But four years ago, when the Covid pandemic hit, both daughter and ex-wife became concerned about George, who has a compromised immunological system. His health condition unexpectedly brought the family together again, a story that Mayan couldnt help but share on social media.

On one occasion, Mayan even came to the defense of George on TikTok when a video was posted telling of her fathers infidelity, which took place after Serrano donated her kidney when he need a transplant to replace his own. Mayan, who was 24 at the time, responded to that publication by posting herself twerking upside-down against a wall. Later, she began to post a series of videos about how her parents, despite being separated, continued to act as though they were married. The content was a product of her frustrations, doubts, and happiness that stemmed from emotions regarding her parents. Producer Debby Wolfe saw her clips, and in them, a family dynamic between Mayan and George that Wolfe thought would make a good series.

I immediately thought: This is a show. This Gen Z Latina, unafraid to call out her boomer father for bad parenting. Raw and hilarious, Wolfe told Variety. Thusly, two years ago, the idea for Lopez vs Lopez was born. The resulting series approaches themes of trauma, fragile masculinity, and the importance of going to therapy, using both humor and drama to do so.

At the start of the series, George and Mayan (who play fictional versions of themselves in a plot inspired by their real-life relationship), reunite and attempt to heal their deep rift after a long estrangement. George has a history of being a less-than-trustworthy spouse and father who abandoned his family until he needed a place to stay. Mayan, the mother of a son named Chance (Brice Gonzalez), has self-diagnosed daddy issues that prevent her from trusting and taking the next step with her boyfriend, the father of Chance, Quinten Van Bryan (Matt Shively). They are all in the process of trying to forgive each other.

Episode 35 of Lopez vs Lopez, 'Lopez vs In-Laws,' with Mayan Lopez as Mayan and George Lopez as George. NBC (Nicole Weingart/NBC via Getty Im)

Trauma-healing humor

By touching on real subjects, dynamics and family relationships, the series first season attracted an average of 4.7 million viewers across all platforms, doing its highest numbers in Hispanic households where English is primarily spoken.

Mayan  who has Mexican heritage from her father and Cuban from her mother  was born in San Fernando, California. Shes now 28. Throughout the series three seasons, shes wielded humor to work through trauma, and continues to engage with subjects that trouble her, issues and concerns that might have been taboo for previous generations and that form part of the distinct Latino identity.

I think that the stories we find most captivating, the ones that I connect with, are based on the truth and will always be identifiable, because I think there are things that you cant write, that you simply have to experience, says Mayan in a video call interview.

Their father-daughter tag team has managed to relive and revisit their most painful moments  many times, in front of a live studio audience. It hasnt been easy, Mayan says, but it helped that during the pandemic, they attended therapy together to heal the traumas theyd both accrued. George was raised by his grandfather after being abandoned by his own father when George was just three months old, an experience he mined for his U.S. stand-up comedy specials in the early years of his career.

Mayan, who studied at the Second City Conservatory Program and the Columbia College Acting and Contemporary Performance Program in Chicago, followed a similar path to that of her dad  and she found she didnt want to do it without him. When we began the program, we took a chance on each other. We were brave. I think thats the love we felt when we reconnected. I could have chosen not to reconnect with my father, but I couldnt imagine my life without him, and can safely say he feels the same way about me, she says.

The young comedian, who also works as a screenwriter on Lopez vs Lopez, thinks that representing their Latino community is an important aspect of the series. Shes also driven by the need to approach certain subjects that are as relevant today as they were during the time of her great-great-grandparents, from a modern point of view. She sees the opportunity to make the third season of a series that reaches millions of people living in the United States as very important. Latinos are not being 100% considered. Many shows about us are canceled after one or two seasons. I think its important to showcase us, because I dont think anyone can tell our stories better than we can, she says.

Lopezs mother is a first-generation Cuban immigrant whose family looked to assimilate into life in the United States, a process that left them unable to express their emotions after so much pursuit of the American dream. Their travails have made their way onto the show, which approaches issues of masculinity, its fragility, machismo in the domestic space and the perceived need to hide ones feelings with the goal of flipping the narrative of Latino cliches.

Vulnerability is thought of as weakness, but I think in reality, it is strength. Speaking to men from the Latino community who suffer because no one ever taught them to express their feelings is something we can do frankly and openly through the George character, so that the same audience can realize they can aspire to that as well, she says.

Representation in Hollywood

Mayan, who grew up on her fathers tours and on the set of The George Lopez Show  a series whose six seasons aired from 2002 to 2017  has seen the panorama for Latinos in the film and television industry change over the last two decades. She remembers how hard her dad, whose career has lasted 40 years and who was selected as one of Times Latino Leaders of 2024, worked to open doors to his peers and shake free from stereotypical roles.

I saw how he turned down roles because they werent positive for Latinos. Representation has improved and its more positive. Now you can see us in normal jobs and were not always playing characters who have accents. My dad was in Blue Beetle, the first movie adaptation of DCs first Latino superhero. We also saw Marvels Black Panther, and knew that we were starting to make progress. I like the direction were headed in, says Lopez.

Deep into work on Lopez vs Lopez, Mayan knows that she hasnt been dedicating the same amount of time to TikTok as she did in the past. I still love TikTok. Were the first show that came out of the platform, so I should give a little more love and appreciation to my roots, she says with a laugh. Ambitious and brimming with ideas, she doesnt want to put any limits on her career. She sees herself continuing to produce for the Latino community, and would love to work as a host and presenter. One of her dreams is to collaborate with Eva Longoria and Salma Hayek, and to follow their footsteps into directing. I hope to do it all, this is just the beginning, she says.

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Ek Hai To Safe Hai Turned Tables For BJP In Maharashtra, Will This Be Party's New National Slogan?

Reported By :

News18.com

Edited By: Shilpy Bisht



Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 18:09 IST

After the Lok Sabha beating in Maharashtra, the BJP reassessed its strategy and resurrected itself with Ek Hai To Safe Hai slogan, courtesy PM Modi. Will this slogan go national?

The fact that Devendra Fadnaviss first tweet was the slogan along with Modi Hai To Mumkin Hai shows the importance the BJP attaches to the Hindus consolidation call. (Photo: PTI)

Yogi Adityanaths comeback with his controversial comment  Batenge to Katenge comment in Agra  which was in reference to the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh, and that if Hindus get divided, they will get slaughtered.

The Uttar Pradesh chief ministers comment was backed by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on October 26. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi understood that Yogis remark had two shortcomings. First, it was in Hindi, which would not be acceptable to many across India, and second, the tone of the comment seemed harsh.

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A more sophisticated and acceptable slogan  Ek Hai To Safe Hai  was given by PM Modi during his campaigning in Maharashtra to overcome the caste division in the name of Hindutva. Did the slogan work in Maharashtra? The answer is, yes.

Maharashtra is set for a saffron sweep, with Mahayuti winning 100 and leading in 125 constituencies, way above the majority mark of 145 of the total 288 seats, at 4 pm on Saturday.

Just a few months ago, the BJP was in a shambles after it won just 9 seats in the Maharashtra Lok Sabha, down from 23 in 2019, while Congress clinched 13 seats, up from just 1 seat in the previous election. But the BJP reassessed its strategy and resurrected in the assembly elections, courtesy PM Modis slogan that seems to have penetrated the Maharashtrian psyche.

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 populous states like Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, bringing down its presumptive total tally. The BJP campaign had two messages  an urgent need for Hindus to unite and caste division will lead to breaking up of that Hindu consolidation. In Jharkhand, the narrative of Bangladeshi infiltrators was an add-on.

During the press conference on Saturday evening, Fadnavis in no uncertain terms said the credit for the Maharashtra win goes to the slogan Ek Hai To Safe Hai while Ajit Pawar looked on as his NCP did not seem comfortable with it. But it seems with this mammoth win, Pawar will have to live with it.

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The fact that Devendra Fadnaviss first tweet was the slogan along with Modi Hai To Mumkin Hai shows the importance the BJP attaches to this consolidation call. Could this be a hint of something bigger? After this massive sweep, the BJP will give credit to the Ek Hai To Safe Hai slogan, and certainly the party will go national with this and try it out in all states. Whether they succeed or not is another story, but the message hence forward within BJP will be to not let Hindu vote get dismantled," says Nistula Hebbar, Senior Journalist to News18.

Lok Sabha MP D Purandeswari, BJP MLA Bhagwandas Sabnani in Madhya Pradesh and Radhika Khera in Delhi are among many who credit the Ek Hai To Safe Hai slogan for the saffron sweep in Maharashtra. But what next? Will this slogan be heard in all of BJPs national, regional or online campaigns? Whatever it is, Ek Hai To Safe Hai seems to be BJPs refrain for the time to come.

First Published: November 23, 2024, 17:58 IST
'Modi Hai To Mumkin Hai': Devendra Fadnavis Reacts After Maharashtra Win, Mother Says He Should Be CM

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 14:30 IST

Home Minister Amit Shah also spoke to Fadnavis, along with CM Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar. Fadnavis also met Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule.

While there is no confirmation on who the Maharashtra CM will be, speculation is rife it'll be Devendra Fadnavis. (Image: News18)

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis emerged as the star of the show as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Mahayuti moved towards registering a thumping victory in the Assembly elections 2024. While there is no confirmation on who will be the Chief Minister from the Mahayuti alliance that also has Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) and NCP (Ajit Pawar), Fadnaviss name is at the top of speculation.

As the Mahayuti alliance could be seen winning over 200 seats in Maharashtra, with the BJP leading on over 120, Fadnavis spoke to his mother and also posted Prime Minister Narendra Modis election slogan. Ek hain to safe hain, Modi hai to mumkin hai (We are safe if we remain one, Its possible if theres Modi)," Fadnavis posted on X.

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Fadnavis also spoke to his mother Sarita Fadnavis over the phone as results came in. His mother congratulated him on the partys huge victory and also asked him when he would visit Nagpur.

Will Devendra Fadnavis Be Maharashtra CM?

Speaking to the media, Fadnaviss mother said she was happy and also expressed confidence that he would become the Chief Minister. He worked very hard, he was always up and about working," she said.

Home Minister Amit Shah also spoke to Fadnavis, along with CM Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar. Fadnavis also met Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule.

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When asked about who the CM of Maharashtra will be, BJP General Secretary Vinod Tawde said that the decision will be taken by the party collectively with alliance partners. However, speaking to CNN-News18, Maharashtra Legislative Council member Prasad Lal said, Everyone will be together. It will be Mahayuti govt for sure. Lets wait till tomorrow, but I believe that Devendra Fadnavis will be the CM."

Fadnavis was the Chief Minister of Maharashtra from 2014 to 2019. After the Shiv Sena formed and alliance with the Congress and NCP in 2019, Fadnavis stepped down as CM. He became the Deputy CM in 2022 when the BJP formed the Mahayuti government in Maharashtra after forming an alliance with Shiv Sena (Shinde) and NCP (Ajit Pawar). His name has been at the centre of BJPs stunning performance in Maharashtra Assembly polls. All eyes are now on whether Fadnavis will return as the CM.

First Published: November 23, 2024, 13:01 IST
First MP, Now Maharashtra: How Silent Strategists Yadav, Vaishnaw Delivered BJP Wins One After Another

Reported By :

News18.com

Edited By: Shilpy Bisht



Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 15:59 IST

The two Union ministers, Bhupender Yadav and Ashwini Vaishnaw, were in charge of Madhya Pradesh last year where they delivered a win for the BJP when things were in disarray for the party. This year too, their strategy has worked for Maharashtra, with Mahayuti set... Read More

Bhupender Yadav and Ashwini Vaishnaw's inputs like consolidating the OBCs, loan waiver for farmers, and the Ladki Behin Scheme proved to be worthwhile for the BJP in Maharashtra.

When Union home minister Amit Shah released the BJP manifesto in Mumbai on November 10, two senior party leaders chose not to be on the stage but sat in the rows in the audience, giving the BJP state leaders their moment of glory.

This has always been the style of Bhupender Yadav and Ashwini Vaishnaw, the two Union Ministers who were the in-charge and co-in-charge respectively of the Maharashtra election for the BJP. They spoke very little, worked behind the scenes like there was no tomorrow, camped in Mumbai for weeks together to ensure the strategy of the BJP was executed till the grass-roots, and dissidents being brought around and placated. BJP put them in charge of the state in June, when no one seemed to give BJP a chance in Maharashtra after the debacle in the Lok Sabha polls.

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The campaign strategists-cum-managers have proved their mettle yet again after delivering Madhya Pradesh to the party.

BJP sees Yadav and Vaishnaw as successful performers  in the government and as political strategists. While Yadav has been an old hand as election strategist, delivering big states like Uttar Pradesh to the BJP, Vaishnaw has come into the limelight after securing the Madhya Pradesh win for the party as the co-in charge. In fact, this is the same hit team of Yadav and Vaishnaw, which was tasked with Madhya Pradesh last year when the party seemed to have its back to the wall in a state after ruling it for nearly two decades.

Many did not give the BJP more than 60 seats in Madhya Pradesh too at the start of the campaign. But the BJP ultimately finished with a big majority of 163 seats out of the total 230 seats in the assembly.

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The same team was hence in charge of Maharashtra where the NDA has seen reverses in the Lok Sabha. The result in Maharashtra is a repeat of the Madhya Pradesh win with the NDA crossing over 215 seats in Maharashtra, which has an assembly of 288 seats. Maharashtra is in fact a much bigger win.

Senior BJP leaders said Yadav and Vaishnaw would not claim any credit for the win even now, as the party feels the lieutenants clicked given the appeal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the ground and his hit slogan Ek Hain Toh Safe Hain. But some key inputs to the party which proved decisive  like consolidating the OBCs, promising a loan waiver for farmers, and pinning the campaign on the Ladki Behin Scheme, are said to have been pushed ahead by the Yadav-Vaishnaw duo.

First Published: November 23, 2024, 13:17 IST
How RSS Boosted BJP's Maharastra Victory With 'Believe In Booth', 'Vote Beyond Caste', Hindutva Pitch

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 13:38 IST

RSS's 'Sajag Raho' campaign, that the organisation turned into a very personalised door to door outreach programme, worked wonders in mobilising the Hindu voters beyond the caste lines.

In Maharashtra, from where the RSS originated and has its headquarter, the cadres have yet again proven why they remain a political and cultural juggernaut. (Image: PTI/File)

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has emerged as mightier than ever before in terms of flexing its organisational muscle, with recent successes in Haryana and Maharashtra reflecting its growing influence and grassroots reach. By leveraging its unparalleled ground-level network, the Sangh has not only touched the raw nerve of the electorate on factors related to Hindutva pitch, but also transformed the simmering local issues into decisive electoral narratives.

Its Sajag Raho campaign, that the organisation turned into a very personalised door to door outreach programme, worked wonders in mobilising the Hindu voters beyond the caste lines, claimed the senior RSS functionaries.

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Even though the feuds among the fractured political parties in the Opposition and ruling coalitions, and BJPs outreach programmes including specific policy initiatives targeting the women voters like  Ladli Behena  schemes played a significant role, among other factors, RSSs booth level work turned the tide.

A senior RSS functionary, who was involved in strategising the political-electoral ground work in the state, said that the booth to booth sampark has scripted the success story as the RSS raised the issues of visible Islamic aggression, loss of livelihood caused by unchecked illegal migration and inspiring Hindus to be united beyond caste lines helped in mobilising Hindus.

Sajag Raho: The magic of grassroot mobilisation

In fact, in Maharashtra, from where the RSS originated and has its headquarter, the cadres have yet again proven why they remain a political and cultural juggernaut, seamlessly weaving Hindutva narratives with hyper-localised strategies to turn the tide in favour of its ideological political front, the BJP. From the industrial hubs of Mumbai to the agrarian belts of Vidarbha, the ground level mobilisation by the RSS cadres has played a pivotal role in consolidating Hindu votes, cutting across the recently entrenched caste lines to create a new electoral calculus.

Sanghs network quietly worked at the booth level, along with our Sajag Raho mantra to ensure the door-to-door outreach. We could successfully unite fragmented communities, particularly in regions like Vidarbha, Konkan, Marathwada, and Western Maharashtra, where caste loyalties often dictate voting patterns," said a senior functionary of the RSS national executive committee.

By focusing on Hindutva issues and addressing concerns around Muslim aggression visible on the streets, the Sangh tapped into a growing repulsion within the middle class. This silent consolidation translated into a critical 4-5 per cent vote swing, expanding the BJPs base beyond its traditional support base and strongholds," he added.

RSS ground game: BJPs winning edge

An analysis of the results of Haryana elections also shows how the RSSs penetration into rural and urban pockets successfully bridged the gap between governance and grassroots concerns, some warring castes and helped the BJP shape its political outcomes. The organisations ability to tap into regional discontent, starting from unemployment, caste dynamics, or cultural identity, has allowed it to influence voter-sentiment towards the BJPs advantage. Its regimented and cadre-driven approach ensures that issues arent just raised but are addressed.

Similarly, in Maharashtra, the Sangh has demonstrated its ability to recalibrate strategies in a politically complex state. Despite splits within the Shiv Sena and NCP along with the BJPs coalition challenges, the Sanghs groundwork has been instrumental in mobilising voters. It has fostered narratives that appeal to Marathi pride, agrarian distress, assisting women voters with financial schemes and the youths aspirations.

Tapping the urban anxiety

In urban areas including the industrialised regions like Mumbai, the Sangh capitalised on middle-class anxieties around infrastructure, unemployment issues, economic stagnation, and law and order.

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The anti-industry and anti-business stand taken by the Congress and Uddhav Thackerays Shiv Sena have really repulsed the urban voters. On the contrary, initiatives like the Mumbai Peripheral Road project and other developments, while targeted policies such as Ladli Behena spoke directly to specific demographics, including women and the urban poor," said Praful Ketkar, editor, Organiser, an RSS linked publication.

Ketkar, who spent days in the state studying and analysing the RSS impact on the ground before and during elections, further added, The anti-industrial stance of the Congress-NCP-SHSUBT era has somehow juxtaposed with a BJP-led push for economic growth and stability, resonating particularly in a state deeply tied to the stock market and industrial capitalism."

First Published: November 23, 2024, 13:38 IST
Jharkhand Election Result: 5 Things That Worked For Hemant Soren

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 16:31 IST

The turnout of women voters was four per cent more this time and their votes seem to have contributed decisively to the fate of the JMM candidates.

Negating all allegations of corruption and appeasement, Hemant Soren, the Chief Minister of Jharkhand, stirred the INDI alliance to a decisive victory in the tribal state.

Hemant Soren is being labeled as the comeback king after an emphatic win for the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led INDI alliance in Jharkhand. Negating all allegations of corruption and appeasement, the Chief Minister of Jharkhand stirred the INDI alliance to a decisive victory in the tribal state.

While exit polls had predicted an advantage for the Bharatiya JanataParty (BJP), Sorens JMM swept the Jharkhand Assembly election, proving many wrong.

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What really worked for Hemant Soren?

1) Mahila voter

The JMM was confident that the Maiya Samman Yojna would hold it in good stead and the assessment proved to be correct. The turnout of women voters was four per cent more this time and their votes seem to have contributed decisively to the fate of the JMM candidates.

Kalpana Soren also proved to be an X-factor. The political novice" proved to be the biggest trump card for the JMM-led alliance. Party supporters claimed that Kalpanas small reach-outs at block level drew women voters who connected with her and the issues she raised.

2) Sympathy

The BJP has attacked Hemant Soren on corruption charges. But Hemant successfully built the narrative that he was wrongly arrested by the ED because he was a tribal CM. The Lok Sabha narrative of Centre being anti-tribal" was further built upon by JMM in the run up to the assembly polls to capture the sympathy vote .

3) Congress

The local leadership of the INDIA front was apprehensive that the Congress could prove to be the weak link in the alliance that could pull it down. The Jammu and Kashmir scenario, where the NC did the heavy lifting and Congress failed to impress, was repeatedly cited in the run up to the counting day. But Congress, by securing 14 seats, performed better than expectation giving the alliance further fillip. It even won urban centres like Bokaro that were considered BJP strongholds. The near 100 per cent strike rate of the RJD and a good performance by the Left, all added to the grand comeback of Hemant Soren.

4) Infiltration

Hemant Soren also successfully defended his party against allegations of appeasement made by BJP. The BJP top leadership accused Soren of harbouring illegal Bangladeshi migrants. Soren turned it around and asked at every rally, every media interaction as to why the BSF and the MHA were failing at their task if illegal immigrants were crossing the international border.

The JMM maintained its hold over Santhal Pargana which, as per the BJP, is most affected by demography change. JMM supporters claimed that the Santhal Pargana results show the Bangladeshi immigration issue did not catch the imagination of the tribals.

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5) Champai factor

Champai Sorens desertion of JMM could have split the party. But Hemant ensured that the damage was minimised. Champai won his seat at Saraikela but the Kolhan tiger could not ensure a tsunami in his stronghold that would wash away Hemants chances.

First Published: November 23, 2024, 16:31 IST
Jharkhand Election Results 2024: Complete List Of Party-Wise Winners, Constituencies

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 21:34 IST

Jharkhand Election Results 2024: The INDI Alliance, led by CM Hemant Soren's Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), secures an impressive victory by winning 56 seats as against a total of 81 Assembly seats.

Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren (Image: PTI/File)

Jharkhand Election Results 2024: The INDI Alliance, led by CM Hemant Sorens Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), on Saturday secured an impressive victory in the Jharkhand Assembly Election Results 2024 by winning 56 seats as against a total of 81. The alliances biggest partner JMM bagged 34 seats, while the Congress party and the Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD) received 16 and 4 seats, respectively. The CPI (MarxistLeninist) has won two seats.

On the other side, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) got way below the halfway mark (41 Assembly seats) in the assembly elections bagging 24 seats. Out of this, the BJP alone won 21 seats, while the allies All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSUP), the Janata Dal (United) (JDU) and the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) (LJPRV) secured one seat each.

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Counting of votes began at 8 AM. The results decided the electoral fate of a total of 1,211 candidates.

Heres a full list of winners in the Jharkhand assembly elections 2024:

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The Jharkhand assembly elections were held in two phases  November 13 and 20. A total of 43 seats went to polls in the first round and 38 in the second.

First Published: November 23, 2024, 13:02 IST
Kalpana Soren: From Homemaker To Powerful Force In Jharkhand Mukti Morcha

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 19:54 IST

Kalpana Soren's political journey, which was never her initial choice, began in earnest after her husband's arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on January 31 in connection with a money laundering case tied to an alleged land fraud

Kalpanas political rise gained significant momentum after her husband's release from jail and his subsequent return to office as Chief Minister in July. (Photo: PTI file)

Kalpana Soren, wife of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, has emerged as a powerful force in the party that revitalised the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM).

Her political journey, which was never her initial choice, began in earnest after her husbands arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on January 31 in connection with a money laundering case tied to an alleged land fraud.

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Despite the personal and political challenges posed by her husbands legal battles, Kalpana has proven to be a resilient and dynamic leader.

She became a vocal figure in the opposition to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing the party of being a tyrannical force" targeting the opposition INDIA bloc.

Her leadership became especially prominent during the Lok Sabha elections, where she campaigned vigorously and led the JMMs efforts in Jharkhand, gaining the support of tribal communities and others.

Kalpanas political rise gained significant momentum after her husbands release from jail and his subsequent return to office as Chief Minister in July.

She emphasised that tribals, by their very nature, do not bow to oppression, a sentiment that has resonated with many in the state.

Her message has been clear  she stands firm against injustice and dictatorial forces, taking inspiration from her husbands refusal to compromise on his principles.

Kalpanas political journey began on March 4 at the JMMs 51st Foundation Day celebration in Giridih district, where she claimed that a conspiracy had been orchestrated by opponents since the Hemant Soren coalition government came to power in 2019.

Hemant Soren was arrested by the ED on January 31 in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged land fraud. He resigned from his post before the arrest.

Kalpana has been a prominent figure in INDIA bloc rallies in Jharkhand and campaigned for the alliance in the state. She was one of the key speakers at the Ulgulan Nyay rally in Ranchi, attended by leaders of 28 parties on April 21.

She won the Gandey bypoll, held in June along with Lok Sabha polls by 27,149 votes over her nearest BJP rival Dilip Kumar Verma and ever since has not looked back.

Through her about 200 rallies in assembly elections this time, Kalpana has infused new blood in the party and has emerged as a powerful face.

Kalpana, 48, holds engineering and MBA degrees.

I will fight against injustice and dictatorial forces as bowing is not in tribal DNA. I will follow my husbands footsteps. He chose to court imprisonment rather than compromise his values. I am his better half and will see to it that tyrannical forces get a befitting reply," Kalpana emphasises.

She terms her husbands arrest by the ED as politically motivated and part of a plan to coerce him to join the BJP.

His arrest was part of a plan by the central government to browbeat, intimidate, and humiliate him, but they will get a befitting reply in the elections," she had said.

Kalpana completed her schooling in Baripada in Odishas Mayurbhanj district and obtained her engineering and MBA degrees in Bhubaneswar.

Speculation regarding Kalpanas candidacy arose following the resignation of Ahmad in December, with the BJP claiming it was to facilitate her candidacy in case the ED issued summonses to her husband.

The BJP in the state has been attacking Kalpana, saying that Champai Soren was a caretaker and puppet chief minister" while she was the centre of power" in Jharkhand.

All of you have reached this far in this great election campaign by shedding your blood and sweat. Every vote is precious for us. That is why we have to maintain our passion and fighting spirit until we get the certificate of victory," she emphasises.

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Now her luck is sealed in the EVM as she once again contested from Gandey.

Kalpana has been making headlines now as Hemant finds himself increasingly facing heat from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a case pertaining to an alleged land scam. As the ED turns up the heat on the CM, Kalpana is set to remain in the limelight.

Location : Ranchi, India

First Published: November 23, 2024, 19:54 IST
Kaun Banega Mukhya Mantri? Race For Maharashtra Top Post Heats Up After Mahayuti's Landslide Win

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 24, 2024, 09:33 IST

The Mahayuti alliance won 234 out of 288 seats in Maharashtra. Now the focus is on who will become the CM - Fadnavis or Shinde.

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde with his deputies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar (PTI Image)

Maharashtra Assembly Election 2024: With the declaration of Maharashtra Assembly Election results on Saturday, the race for the chief ministers post has now picked up pace with the BJP expected to take the lead in this chase, given the maximum number of seats the saffron party bagged among the alliance partners.

The BJP won 132 seats, Shiv Sena 57, and NCP 41 after the conclusion of the counting of votes across all constituencies.

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The Mahayuti, which won over 230 seats in the 288-seated Assembly, had contested the elections without declaring its CM face and stressed time and again that the name would be decided only after winning the polls.

Soon after sweeping the polls yesterday, Devendra Fadnavis, who is believed to be the front-runner in the race, also clarified that the three parties will sit together and discuss the CM post.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also said that there is no decision on the CM yet and it will be taken in consensus with all stakeholders.

Maharashtra Assembly Elections

The voters gave an overwhelming mandate to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Mahayuti alliance as it banked on its womens welfare schemes, development rhetoric and the Ek Hai To Safe Hai" slogan to obliterate the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, delivering a shock for the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sharad Pawars NCP.

Scenes of celebrations were seen at the BJP, Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar-led NCPs camps as the Mahayuti won a massive 234 out of 288 seats, while the MVA reeled at 50 seats. This is arguably the worst routing of Sharad Pawars career, whose party only won 10 out of 86 seats it contested.

Now the debate has shifted to who will become the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra. BJPs Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Senas Eknath Shinde are the top favourites for the post. Heres what high-profile leaders said on the next Mahayuti CM of the state.

Devendra Fadnavis Or Eknath Shinde?

Several people believed that the Maharashtra verdict, where the BJP won the maximum number of seats, would result in a possible shift of power that would mark Fadnavis return to power. Several BJP leaders like Kailash Vijayvargiya and Pravin Darekar have backed Fadnavis appointment as CM.

Addressing the BJP party workers at party headquarters, PM Modi referred to Fadnavis as param mitr" (great friend). Sarita Fadnavis, Devendra Fadnavis mother, also said her son is a favourite" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and everyone in the BJP wants him to become the next chief minister of Maharashtra.

Speaking to reporters, Fadnavis offered no clear explanation on who will become the next CM, adding that the leaders of all three parties will meet tomorrow and decide the CM. Fadnavis also asserted that there will be no dispute on the CMs face and any decision will be acceptable to all three parties.

#WATCH | Mumbai | When asked who will be the next CM of Maharashtra, Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis says, There will be no dispute on the CMs face. It was decided from day one that after the elections, the leaders of the three parties will sit together and decide on pic.twitter.com/wfI6nqhN8F ANI (@ANI) November 23, 2024

Eknath Shinde also did not offer any insights on the matter. Labelling the CM as a common man", the Shiv Sena leader said, The common man was our focal point. We wanted to convert the common man into Superman". He also said the election results showed who truly carried the legacy of Balasaheb Thackeray.

Speaking on the ongoing reports of his deputy Devendra Fadnavis being the BJPs choice for the chief ministerial face, Shinde said, No decision on the Chief Minister candidate has been taken yet." Shiv Sena MLA and spokesperson Sanjay Shirsat has advocated for Shindes appointment as the CM face, given his importance in the election campaign.

While Ajit Pawar, did not comment on the issue, NCP leader Amol Mitkari pushed the name of the Deputy CM for the coveted job. Whatever the results, the NCP will be the kingmaker," Mitkari said before the trends turned in Mahayutis favour.

Results In Maharashtra Election s 2024

The Mahayuti alliance reaped the fruits of its successful campaign as it clinched 234 seats, where the BJP won 132  more than double than the entire tally of the MVA. The Congress could only manage 16 seats as the MVA suffered a drubbing in Maharashtra.

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Shiv Sena bested the UBT faction of the party with a tally of 57 seats, while Uddhav Thackerays party managed to win 20 seats. Sharad Pawar arguably suffered the worst routing in his career, as his party won only 10 seats and lagged far behind his nephews tally of 41.

Some leaders of MVA parties said the results were unexpected and said they would introspect, while others, including Uddhav Thackeray, alleged foul play and blamed the EVMs for the outcome.

First Published: November 23, 2024, 21:12 IST
Maharashtra Election Results: Ajit Pawar Paints The Town Pink As NCP Shines In Mahayuti Win

Curated By :

News18.com

Edited By: News Desk



Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 14:46 IST

Maharashtra election results: Ajit Pawar is leading in Baramati where he is facing competition from his nephew Yugendra Shrinivas Pawar (NCP-SP). Baramati is a prestige battle for the Pawar family

Ajit Pawars NCP has got an impressive strike rate of 61%, leading in 36 seats. (X/@AjitPawarSpeaks)

Ajit Pawars Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) faction had decided to paint pink his election campaign in Maharashtra. Today, when Mahayuti is inching closer to a landslide win in the state, and his party performing well in at least 36 constituencies, Ajit Pawar posted a picture on X, with a bouquet of pink lilies, affirming his win.

Home Minister Amit Shah dialed NCP president and Maharashtra Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar to congratulate him on his victory in the assembly polls.

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Ajit Pawar is leading in Baramati with nearly 50,000 votes over NCP-Sharad Pawars Yugendra Shrinivas Pawar, according to the Election Commission results in the 10th round of counting of votes on Friday afternoon.

Baramati will be more than just a competition for the two contestants as the Pawar family will try to avenge the so-called betrayal by Ajit Pawar.

Besides his performance in Baramati, Ajit Pawars party performance in other constituencies as well will seal the fate for the Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra.

In the seat-sharing pact, Ajit Pawars NCP was given 59 seats, way less than 81 seats allotted to Eknath Shindes Shiv Sena and 149 seats the BJP contested on. His party reported an impressive strike rate of 61%, leading in 36 constituencies, as of Saturday afternoon.

Ajit Pawar, the nephew of estranged Sharad Pawar, has used the colour pink in all his election campaigns  from giant cut-outs to hoardings to clothing.

The colour has been used as a symbol to highlight feminine energy and appease the women voters, who are known to vote independent of their male counterparts.

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Ajit Pawar was seen wearing pink and maroon jackets during government and party meetings. He said he has got 18 such jackets for daily wear, as per a report by IANS.

Party spokesperson and youth wing president Suraj Chavan had said pink is the colour of love and affection. It is also partys attempt to increase its outreach with girls and women for whom deputy CM Ajit Pawar has announced a slew of sops," IANS quoted Chavan as saying.

First Published: November 23, 2024, 13:47 IST
'Fadnavis Will Be Our CM': Maharashtra BJP Cadres Root For 'Devabhau's' Return

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 14:31 IST

Maharashtra BJP leader Pravin Darekar made the claim even though BJP and its ally Shiv Sena did not specify a CM face during the campaigning phase.

The BJP or the Shiv Sena did not declare a chief ministerial candidate during the polling phase but cadres of the BJP are rooting for Devendra Fadnavis return. (IMAGE: PTI FILE)

Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Pravin Darekar said Devendra Fadnavis of the BJP will be the next Maharashtra chief minister as trends showed the party along with its ally Shiv Sena is leading in Maharashtra as counting of votes continues.

Fadnavis will be our chief minister," Darekar said.

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Leaders of the BJP have been lining up outside the deputy chief ministers bungalow as the party led as the state BJP chief, Chandrashekhar Bawankule hugged and greeted Fadnavis.

The three parties will sit after the results and decide," Bawankule had told News18 earlier. The other two parties who are BJPs alliance partners are Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

A News18 report from Friday said that BJP expects to finish as the single-largest party with close to 100 seats and has contested in 152 seats this election. It also said that during the campaigning the Mahayuti alliance of the BJP, NCP and Shiv Sena, remained silent over the CM face but BJP hoardings prominently displayed the picture of Fadnavis who had to settle for the deputy CM post in 2022.

Several MLAs from the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) faction have said that Shindes popularity justifies his continuation as Chief Minister.

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However, Prasad Lad, the convener of Mahayuti, said the chief minister should be from the BJP.

Shinde himself had asserted during the campaign that there was no internal conflict within the Mahayuti alliance regarding the CM candidate, and that the matter would be decided post-election.

First Published: November 23, 2024, 11:27 IST
Dr. Nadine Burke-Harris, 49, vividly recalls a case that reshaped her understanding of medicine: a little girl with recurring asthma flare-ups that she couldnt figure out. Could you describe your home environment? Do you have pets or are there cockroaches around? she asked the mother during a consultation. The reply was unexpected: I dont know, doctor. I just notice that she has flare-ups every time her dad punches the wall.

This story is one of many that marked Burke-Harris, one of the leading experts on how childhood trauma impacts the mental and physical health of millions of adults. After completing a masters degree in public health at Harvard and a medical residency at Stanford, Burke-Harris  the first female Surgeon General of California  founded a clinic in one of the most neglected communities in San Francisco, Bayview Hunters Point. There, she focused her research on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)  traumatic events such as abuse, neglect, and parental incarceration.

That information changed the way I understood medicine, she said at a meeting organized by UNICEF during the first Global Ministerial Conference on ending violence against children. We are facing a global public health crisis. The good news is that there are solutions that science has proven to work, she said.

One of these solutions is fostering strong community networks. A strong community can reverse childhood trauma, she said. According to her studies, individuals exposed to four or more ACEs are twice as likely to develop cardiovascular disease and face heightened risks of lung cancer and respiratory failure. Experiencing six or more can reduce life expectancy by 20 years.

We look the other way because it directly challenges us, but silence is part of the problem, says Burke-Harris, a mother of four children who admits that her own studies have benefited her personally. We cannot imagine a world in which nothing bad happens, that is impossible. It is about forging a community so that, when something goes wrong, we take care of each other.

Question. Around 90 million children have suffered episodes of sexual violence. Two out of three of them suffer violent punishments at home on a routine basis. In countries like Mexico, more than 26 million children grow up without their fathers. Are childhood traumas a pandemic?

Answer. Being a public health nerd, I would tell you that the term pandemic implies that the current situation is more significant than it was before. (Laughs). But I will tell you that it is certainly global. The question is, is there an unusually high pre-norm prevalence? Unfortunately, we dont know because theres no data. But certainly, childhood trauma is a global public health crisis. Without a doubt.

Q. You have calculated that the life expectancy of people who have been victims of at least six ACEs is 20 years shorter. How is this possible?

A. The reason life expectancy is so low is because of the biological changes that result from these traumatic experiences: in the immune system, hormones, the brain... This means that those who were exposed to four or more ACEs are twice as likely to suffer from cardiovascular diseases. Or those who have seven or more ACEs are 3.5 times more exposed. But what makes the difference is that these diseases appear at a much younger age, because the individual has been exposed to prolonged stress from a very young age. These people also tend to have several simultaneous diseases.

Q. How responsible are we then for our own health?

A. Half of these diseases are associated with risky behavior. If you had four or more ACEs, you're more likely to have alcohol problems, smoke or use drugs. Each individual can learn about these studies and get ahead of them, but that only removes half the risk. There are other interventions: stable environments, nurturing relationships, mindfulness, walking in nature, good nutrition, access to therapy... All of that helps. The other part is government investment. There are a lot of people who think of childhood trauma as something that happens to individuals and that they alone have to work through it, and that's unfair.

Q. But not everyone can afford the solutions you have mentioned...

A. Yes Some things like meditation or mindfulness are inexpensive.

Q. Are ACEs random or influenced by race, gender, or social status?

A. The way these studies were initially conducted was very random. Dr. Vincent Felitti asked his patients how much they weighed when they had their first sexual encounter. One of them answered 18 kilos. She was a girl and it was her father. This surprised him a lot, so he started asking more patients and noticed that sexual abuse was very common. And in this research, the majority were Caucasian people, with higher education. But factors such as discrimination or being a victim of an armed conflict also provoke toxic responses, even if they are not ACEs as such.

Q. What role do communities play?

A. A strong community can reverse childhood trauma. It plays a fundamental role, but there needs to be a greater understanding of what it can do; about the importance of stable relationships, of a child feeling loved, valued and understood. But there also needs to be access to psychological therapies, safe spaces to play

Q. Latin America is a region with a long history of violence. Dr. Etienne Krug, from the WHO, said in an interview with EL PAIS that it has become normalized. What are the risks of this?

A. I can also speak from experience. I lived my first five years of life in Jamaica at a time when violence was a daily occurrence. And even there, safe spaces can be created for children by both the community and the family. That can help reduce the associated health risks.

Q. You are a mother of four children. How has raising your children shaped your research?

A. Its been a huge, huge help. I grew up in a home where my mother had untreated mental health issues and there was related violence. I think this information has allowed me to break the cycle in my own family. I cant explain how liberating it has been. On the one hand, it has allowed me to realize how important it is for me to be emotionally and physically well. Theres nothing healthier for a child than a healthy caregiver. I say my husband and I have four children, but its actually five. Between our third and fourth, we had one who passed away. When we lost him, I wasnt well. I was in extreme grief, which really affected my ability to be a mother. I could barely get out of bed. The difference between the family I grew up in and my family now is that I was able to say, Im not okay. And my brother and sister-in-law stayed with us. She took care of my children while I got back on my feet. My children knew I was sad, but they were fine because there was a network that looked after them. And my husband was able to look after me. This is what this science did. We cannot imagine a world in which nothing bad happens to anyone, that is impossible. It is about forging a community so that when something goes wrong, we look after each other.

Q. You have spoken about the enormous economic cost of looking the other way. But what happens to us as a society when we do not give importance to this global crisis?

A. When we understand the intergenerational cycles  where someone who has been a victim is significantly more likely to become a perpetrator  we see that the cost is immeasurable. Its a price we cannot afford.

Q. In a very famous Ted talk, you said that perhaps we dont look at the problem head on precisely because it challenges us. What do you mean?

A. Talking about childhood trauma is very painful for many of us. We associate it with shame, and culturally we have learned to keep quiet when something upsets us. And that is part of the dynamic that perpetuates the problem. When we dont call things by their name, nothing changes. When Vincent Felitti first started doing his research, many people asked him how he could talk about sexual abuse, but when he spoke to patients, they all thanked him. They said, I thought I would die without telling anyone. Silence is part of the problem.

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'MVA Made Mistake Of Opposing Ladki Bahin Scheme': Praful Patel On Mahayuti Win

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 20:35 IST

NCP leader Praful Patel credited the people of Maharashtra for giving an "overwhelming" victory to the Mahayuti and said his partys poor performance in the Lok Sabha polls was owing to fake narratives

Praful Patel (L) is from the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, which is part of the ruling Mahayuti in Maharashtra. (Image: PTI/File)

The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) made the mistake of opposing the Ladki Bahin scheme, which was a major contributing factor to the Mahayutis massive victory in the Maharashtra assembly elections, said NCP leader Praful Patel.

Patel, who is part of the NCP faction led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, credited the people of the state for giving the ruling alliance an overwhelming" victory as the votes were counted on Saturday. He said his partys poor performance in the Lok Sabha elections was owing to a fake narrative about the Constitution.

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All credit goes to the people of Maharashtra for giving us (Mahayuti) an overwhelming victory. All three parties did exceedingly well. The problem in the Lok Sabha elections was that there was a fake narrative about the Constitution, which sank into peoples minds," he told CNN-News18.

On the Ek hain toh safe hain slogan given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which the BJP leaders are saying propelled the Mahayuti to victory, he said: It was never the slogan that there was any difference, but its a good one. Ajit Pawar spoke only once against the Batenge toh katenge slogan given by (Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister) Yogi Adityanath."

Patel further said his alliance partner, BJP, has grown both organically and inorganically" in Maharashtra, which has prominent regional parties and leaders. He said the voters, with this mandate, had shown which faction is the real NCP.

On the different schemes promised by the Mahayuti for the people of Maharashtra, he affirmed that the state government can afford these schemes because of a strong economic base. I can assure you 101% that the government of Maharashtra can afford the promised schemes. The state has a strong economic base," he added.

As the NCP leader said, the crucial Ladki Bahin scheme and the rise in women voting were crucial to the Mahayutis landslide performance in the assembly polls. Apart from concentrating on local leadership and issues, the shift of focus to women voters, perhaps, is one of the main reasons for this win.

The peoples sentiment apparently started changing in Mahayutis favour when the state budget presented by Deputy CM and finance minister Ajit Pawar introduced the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana offering financial aid of Rs 1,500 per month to women from financially weaker sections.

This scheme was modelled on the Madhya Pradesh governments Ladli Behna Yojana, which is believed to have helped the BJP retain power in the last elections by a massive margin. The state government formally launched the Ladki Bahin scheme in mid-August and organised programmes for its publicity on a large scale.

Its growing popularity forced the MVA to announce the Mahalaxmi scheme if voted to power, offering Rs 3,000 per month to women. The Mahayuti countered this poll promise with an assurance to raise the Ladki Bahin allowance to Rs 2,100.

According to the latest EC figures, the BJP has so far won 99 seats and led in 34. Its ally Shiv Sena, headed by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, has bagged 47 seats and led in 10. Another partner, the Ajit Pawar-led NCP pocked 37 seats and led in four.

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Only five months ago, the BJPs dismal tally of nine seats dragged down the Mahayuti performance to only 17 in the Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra, which elects 48 MPs. In contrast, the opposition MVA scored 30 seats.

(With PTI inputs)

First Published: November 23, 2024, 20:21 IST
Maharashtra Election Results: What Are Postal Ballots? Why Are They Counted First?

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 11:27 IST

While elections try to ensure everyone votes, it is not possible for many to reach their hometowns. Postal ballots allow them to vote from wherever they are

When the result of the election comes by a very close margin, then counting of postal ballots become important in the next election. (PTI File)

The counting of votes for the assembly elections held in Maharashtra and Jharkhand is underway. The BJP-led Mahayuti touched the 200-seat mark in the 288-seated Maharashtra Assembly Elections, while in Jharkhand, the Hemant Soren-led INDIA bloc crossed the halfway mark and widened its lead as counting progressed on Saturday at 10 am.

The counting of postal ballots takes precedence whenever votes are counted as per standard procedure. Let us understand what postal ballots are, how does one cast a vote through them, who is eligible to do so and why are they counted before electronically registered votes.

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Read: ECI Election Results 2024 LIVE Updates: Mahayuti Looks Set For Massive Maharashtra Mandate, INDIA Surges In Jharkhand

During elections, every effort is made to maximise voter turnout. However, many citizens are unable to return to their registered constituencies on voting day. To enfranchise these individuals, provisions exist for casting votes from locations other than their hometowns. This solution takes the form of postal ballots.

Among the most prominent of those who are not able to vote in elections are soldiers stationed at the countrys borders. Whether or not there is a war, soldiers are often unable to travel to their hometowns to vote. The concept of postal ballots was designed with this in mind, and they are frequently the primary means by which soldiers cast their votes.

Read: Election Results Today Mumbai LIVE Updates: Aaditya Thackeray Leads From Worli Seat, Show Early Trends

In addition to soldiers, postal ballots are also utilised by government employees, police, and security personnel involved in election duties. These individuals are unable to cast their votes in their designated constituencies. Given their significant numbers in a country like India, postal ballot facilities are extended to them. A similar provision exists for government officials posted abroad or away from their hometowns.

What Is A Postal Ballot?

The Election Commission determines in advance the number of individuals eligible to receive postal ballots and the process for their distribution. Designated individuals are then sent a postal ballot paper, a specially designed ballot for remote voting. This system is known as the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS). Citizens receiving these ballots can mark their preferred candidate and return the completed form to the Election Commission either electronically or by post.

What Is The Rule In The Case Of Prisoners?

Under Section 62(5) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, individuals in lawful police custody and those serving a prison sentence after conviction cannot vote. Within this system, a person held in preventive detention can still vote by postal ballot. However, it is crucial to remember that prisoners do not have the right to vote.

Read: ECI Jharkhand Election Result 2024 Live Update: INDIA Bloc Makes Big Gain, Leading In 50 Of 81 Seats

Who Needs To Register

At the same time, certain individuals may only be eligible to vote after registering. This includes disabled persons who are unable to reach the polling booth and elderly people over 80 years of age. It is essential for these individuals to have already registered for postal ballots.

Why Are Postal Ballots Counted First

The Election Commission, by amending Section 23 in Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, allows people to cast their votes in elections using postal ballots. During the counting of votes in elections, the counting of postal ballots starts first. After this, the votes recorded in the EVM are counted.

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The number of postal ballots is less and these are paper ballots, so their counting is also done easily. This is why they are counted first.

When the result of the election comes by a very close margin, then postal ballots become important in the next election. In the year 2018, it affected the decision of victory or defeat in about 10 seats in Madhya Pradesh. Most of them (especially in state government elections) are government employees. In such a situation, the policies of government employees or announcements related to them also have an impact.

Location : Maharashtra, India

First Published: November 23, 2024, 11:24 IST
Maharashtra Poll Results Inexplicable, Level-Playing Field Disturbed: Congress

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 22:00 IST

The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance swept the Maharashtra polls, decimating the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) with a landslide victory, while the INDIA bloc retained Jharkhand.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh had filed a complaint with the poll body against an advertisement campaign of the BJP in which actors with close resemblance to top leaders of the JMM, Congress and the RJD were used. (PTI File)

The Congress on Saturday described the Maharashtra poll outcome as "unexpected and inexplicable", and claimed that the level-playing field in the state was disturbed in a targeted manner as part of a conspiracy to defeat it.

The opposition party, however, hailed the poll results in Jharkhand, saying the people of the state have categorically rejected the "politics of polarisation" peddled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

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The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance swept the Maharashtra polls, decimating the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) with a landslide victory, while the INDIA bloc retained Jharkhand, voters in both states giving the parties in power an emphatic thumbs up.

Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters here, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh asserted that his party may have lost the polls in Maharashtra but it would continue to raise the issues that it has been raising since the parliamentary polls.

"On Maharashtra, there can be no two ways about it that in a targeted manner, the level-playing field, a phrase that the Election Commission often uses, was disturbed. The election results are unexpected, very surprising and inexplicable," Ramesh said.

"Some people are analysing the poll results of Maharashtra and saying this is a victory of development, and an NCP leader has stated that the Congress partys fake narrative has been rejected by the people of the state. This is wrong, there should not be any doubt that the agenda we had during the Lok Sabha polls  economic inequalities, social polarisation, protection of the Constitution, a caste census and the Modani scams  these issues are as important and we will continue to raise those," he added.

The people of Maharashtra have not rejected this, the Congress leader said.

The Congress will analyse the results but even those who won did not expect this, Ramesh said.

"We were expecting that we will get the mandate. Farmers were upset and everyone believed that we will get the mandate. The results are absolutely opposite to this, but this does not mean that we will deviate from our agenda," he said.

"We will re-energise our organisation on the basis of this agenda. We have gotten a jolt but this jolt was given. There was a conspiracy to defeat us," Ramesh claimed.

He said Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had a word with AICC Maharashtra in-charge Ramesh Chennithala and in the next 24 to 36 hours, there will be a meeting where various issues related to the poll results will be discussed.

Hailing the Jharkhand Assembly polls verdict, Ramesh congratulated the people of the state for showing the country a new way and "categorically rejecting" the politics of polarisation.

"(Assam Chief Minister) Himanta Biswa Sarma, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, (Union minister) Shivraj Chouhan, Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi  what all did they not say? The entire election was about one issue and one word  ghuspetiya (infiltrators). Attempts were made to create fear but people have given a decisive verdict," he said.

"This is a positive message for the whole country that politics of polarisation can be defeated and we will defeat it," the Congress leader asserted.

Addressing the presser, Congresss media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said as the principal opposition party, "we find it our responsibility to keep raising issues of transparency in elections".

"The Lok Sabha election was fought in the name of Modiji in Maharashtra and the BJP did not do well. The same state gives the same BJP 132 out of 148 seats (contested by the saffron party) within four-five months. What kind of a strike rate is this? Is this strike rate possible? Democracy is our concern," Khera said.

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"Whether we win or lose, we will continue to question the election process and raise issues of transparency. In a country where exam papers are leaked, can we blindly trust the machines? You cannot shut us up by showing the results of Jharkhand. To date, apart from poetry, we have not received any concrete answer from the Election Commission," he said.

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First Published: November 23, 2024, 22:00 IST
In Channapatna's 'Kurukshetra', Nikhil Kumaraswamy Emerges As 'Abhimanyu' After Bypoll Loss

Reported By :

News18.com

Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee



Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 21:29 IST

The Channapatna seat was likened to the epic Mahabharata battle with JD(S) drawing inspiration from one of Nikhil Kumaraswamys films, 'Kurukshetra', in which he plays Arjuna's son Abhimanyu

In Nikhil Kumaraswamy's (R) case, voters were asked by his father and Union minister HD Kumaraswamy if they wanted his son to emerge as an Arjuna or an Abhimanyu. (Image: Instagram)

A disheartened Nikhil Kumaraswamy of the JD(S), who lost the bypoll to political bigwig CP Yogeshwar of the Congress on Saturday, said this is not the end and he will continue to work for the people of Channapatna.

The bypoll contest started like a nail-biting movie script but ended with the Congress securing victory  a fitting story, if not a satisfying end for Nikhil, an actor and politician. Even the poll campaign of the JD(S) drew inspiration from one of Nikhils films, the Kannada period drama Kurukshetra, in which he played the role of Abhimanyu.

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The Channapatna seat, hence, was likened to the battle of Kurukshetra from the Mahabharata. As the epic goes, Abhimanyu, Arjunas son, makes a valiant sacrifice much to the delight of his opponents  the Kauravas, likened to the Congress here.

So, the bypoll unfolded like a fast-paced entertainer, blurring the lines between neta and abhineta with both the candidates, who were movie stars, battling for a blockbuster success in their political careers.

In Nikhils case, voters were asked by his father and Union minister HD Kumaraswamy  who vacated this seat after winning the Mandya Lok Sabha seat  if they wanted his son to emerge as an Arjuna or an Abhimanyu.

Kumaraswamy was confident in his sons ability to rise as Arjuna and not Abhimanyu, and he played his cards well. It looks like the JD(S) may have wanted to make Nikhil an Arjuna, but in the process, he became Abhimanyu, much like the role he played in the movie," said a local Channapatna leader on condition of anonymity.

According to the epic, Abhimanyu learns the strategy of breaking into the chakravyuh, a formidable labyrinthine military formation, while inside his mothers womb as his father Arjuna tells her all about it. But, the warrior could not learn how to exit the maze because his mother falls asleep at that point. Later on Day 13 of the battle, this leads to him being captured and killed by the Kauravas.

Nikhils political journey is also much like his debut film Jaguar  a revenge drama where the protagonist has to fight against all odds. He has often referred to himself as a reluctant politician", and initially hesitated to contest this election after suffering two earlier defeats.

In his third electoral loss, Yogeshwar defeated him by a margin of 25,413 votes. The veteran, who had recently jumped ship from the BJP after being denied a ticket (as it was reserved for the JDS), secured a big win for the Congress. His fellow Kannada actor and five-time MLA also took a significant risk by switching sides from the BJP to Congress only days before the polls.

I bow to the decision of the people and respect the mandate," said Nikhil after the results were declared. Despite setbacks, I will not sit idle and will fight with renewed determination. This loss will not discourage me, and we will introspect on where we went wrong and identify areas for improvement."

During his poll campaign, he had told News18: My political career has been marked by defeats in the two elections I contested. I reluctantly entered this election after party workers insisted and gave me the strength to fight. I have only faced setbacks in my political journey so far, but I appeal to the people of Channapatna to give me a chance to serve them as devotedly as my grandfather and father did."

Kumaraswamy also made an emotional appeal on behalf of his son: I am putting my son in your (voters) lap, and I leave the decision to you. If we have made any mistakes, punish us."

ABHIMANYU, NOT ARJUNA

The people of Channapatna ultimately decided to make Nikhil an Abhimanyu, and not an Arjuna as his father hoped. After stepping into politics, he had previously lost two elections in 2019 and 2023. But, his forced" return has only added to his list of setbacks.

In the 2023 assembly elections, he failed to secure the Ramanagara seat vacated by his mother Anitha Kumaraswamy. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, he lost the Mandya seat to M Sumalatha, an actor-turned-politician and the widow of popular Kannada actor Ambareesh.

Both times, the JD(S) attributed his defeat to opposition forces rallying against the Gowda family. Sumalatha, backed by the BJP at the time, emerged victorious in what was seen as a significant defeat for the family. This time, however, his third defeat is seen as one that could definitely put the party on the backfoot.

The grandson of former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, he is now being touted as the future leader of the Janata Dal (Secular). He carries the weight of the partys dynasty, especially as his cousins  Prajwal Revanna and Suraj Revanna  face serious criminal charges of rape and kidnapping.

THE HEIR TO JD(S)?

Nikhils political trajectory and future leadership role is being carefully moulded by his family, particularly by Deve Gowda, who has positioned him as the heir to the JD(S). At present, he is serving as the president of the youth wing, but he has the full backing of his father and grandfather.

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He first came under media scrutiny in 2006 when he was embroiled in a high-profile brawl as a teenager along with friends at a popular hotel on Church Street. This was during his fathers first term as chief minister.

However, since this incident, he has largely focused on his film career, stepping into the role of politician once in a while. His active political re-entry began with his participation in the Bengaluru-to-Mysuru padyatra organised by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to protest alleged irregularities in land allotment by the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA).

First Published: November 23, 2024, 21:29 IST
No Place For Waqf Law In Constitution: PM Modi Accuses Congress Of Appeasement Politics

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 22:00 IST

Addressing BJP workers at the party headquarters in New Delhi, the Prime Minister said Congress tried to give "death penalty" to "real secularism."

PM Modi said that Maharashtra's win has broken all the old records. (Photo: YouTube/BJP)

Accusing Congress of appeasement politics, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said there is no place for Waqf law in the constitution, setting the stage for a stormy winter session of Parliament as the government will table the Waqf Amendment Bill.

Addressing BJP workers at the party headquarters in New Delhi, the Prime Minister said Congress tried to give death penalty" to real secularism.".

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Congress made laws for appeasement. It did not even care for SC. An example is Waqf Board. In 2014, these people while leaving many properties near Delhi were given to Waqf Board. There is no place for Waqf law in the Constitution given to us by Babasaheb Ambedkar, but the Congress did this to increase its vote bank. Congress tried to give death penalty to real secularism," Modi said.

#WATCH | Delhi: PM Narendra Modi says, Congress made laws for appeasement. They did not even care about the Supreme Courts order. An example of this is the Waqf Board. The people of Delhi will be surprised. The situation was that before leaving the government in 2014, these pic.twitter.com/f7uc3WEePu ANI (@ANI) November 23, 2024

The PMs remarks came ahead of the Winter Session of Parliament, which would begin from November 25. Amid opposition protests, the bill, which aims to streamline the Waqf Boards work and ensure the efficient management of Waqf properties, was referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) in the last monsoon session.

The government has already listed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill for consideration and passage in the Winter session after the report of the joint committee is presented to the Lok Sabha".

The PM also accused of Congress and its allies trying to build a wall between Kashmir and the rest of India by talking about bring back Article 370. He said that the victory of BJP-led alliance shows that people will not let it happen.

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Congress tried to make a wall of 370 in Kashmir again. Maharashtra categorically said Ye nahin chalega (This will not work)," he said.

Modi said the sentiment of Ek hain toh safe hain" has taught a lesson to those who make people fight in the name of caste, religion, language and region. It has punished them. Tribals, OBCs, Dalits, every section of the society voted for BJP-NDA. This is a strong blow to the thinking of the entire eco-system of Congress and INDI alliance, which was running an agenda to divide the society," he said.

First Published: November 23, 2024, 21:06 IST
Police Use Lathi Charge Outside Counting Centre In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar District

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 19:32 IST

Police used mild force outside counting centre in Sillod assembly constituency in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district on Saturday

The incident took place around 5.45 pm as police tried to control the ensuing chaos, the official said. (Representative Image/Getty)

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Police used mild" force outside the counting centre in Sillod assembly constituency in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district on Saturday after a large number of supporters of two rival Sena candidates came face to face, an official said.

The incident took place around 5.45 pm as police tried to control the ensuing chaos, the official said.

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In Sillod, the nominee of Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and state minister Abdul Sattar was leading by a margin of 2,420 against Suresh Bankar of Uddhav Thackerays Shiv Sena (UBT) after 29 rounds as per the Election Commission.

As counting was underway, a disorderly crowd of supporters of both candidates gathered outside the centre, the official said.

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To prevent any untoward incident, police used mild" lathi charge to disperse the supporters of the two Senas. The situation is peaceful and under control," a senior official from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar rural police told PTI.

Meanwhile, the district authorities have banned victory processions when the results of the state assembly elections will be declared. District collector Dilip Swami held a meeting with top police officials on Friday, a day before the counting of votes.

First Published: November 23, 2024, 19:32 IST
Shiggaon Bypoll Result: How Congress Last-Minute Pick Eclipsed Bommais Son-Rise

Reported By :

News18.com

Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 14:13 IST

Yasir Ahmed Khan Pathan brought local political experience to his campaign, which was bolstered by state government support and grassroots efforts

Pathan was a last-minute choice for Congress in the 2023 Karnataka Assembly polls too. (PTI)

Yasir Ahmed Khan Pathan, the humble Congressman", has won a crucial contest against Bharat Bommai, son of former Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, in the Shiggaon bypoll. The seat was not only prestigious for the BJP, with Bommai having won it five times before, but wresting it from the BJP has made the victory sweeter for the Grand Old Party.

Pathan, a last-minute choice by the Congress, replaced another candidate just before the deadline for filing nominations ended. Currently the president of Anjuman-e-Islam Hubballi-Dharwad and a former Zilla Parishad member from Hangal, Pathan brought local political experience to his campaign, which was bolstered by state government support and grassroots efforts. Pathans victory carries added weight as Shiggaon is not just any constituency but a symbol of the BJPs influence under Bommais leadership.

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The bypoll became necessary after Basavaraj Bommais election to the Haveri Lok Sabha seat earlier this year. To maintain its grip on Shiggaon, the BJP fielded Bharat, a third-generation politician with an MBA from Singapore University and a Bachelor of Engineering from Purdue University in the US, banking on the Bommai legacy. Despite Basavarajs initial hesitation in pushing for his sons candidacy, given allegations of dynastic politics, the BJP high command approved his name following internal discussions.

Bommai later explained that the bypoll was a special case" and the party had made a unanimous decision, based on internal surveys and reports. He also maintained that the BJP always placed the party above individuals.

The Shiggaon by-election was a high-stakes contest between the BJP and Congress, reflecting the larger rivalry between the BJP top brass and the Congress-led government under Siddaramaiah. It was also seen as part of the ongoing tug-of-war between Basavaraj Bommai and the Congress-led state government.

The Congresss win in Shiggaon was attributed to the groundwork led by senior Congressman and Siddaramaiahs close confidant Satish Jarkiholi. Shiggaons win was the result of hard work by Jayakumar and Satish Jarkiholi. Even though the BJP made it a Hindu versus Muslim contest, people voted for our programmes and guarantees. They chose our government that delivers," Karnataka minister Santosh Lad told News18.

Bharats campaign centred on his fathers legacy, PM Modis governance, and criticism of the Congress government, while the Congress highlighted Siddaramaiahs governance and the partys guarantees. Siddaramaiah personally campaigned in Shiggaon, seeking votes for the Congress candidate.

One factor that hurt the BJP was anti-incumbency against Basavaraj Bommai. The BJPs criticism of dynastic politics also rang hollow as the party fielded Bharat. On one hand, the BJP speaks against dynastic politics, and on the other hand, it gives tickets to sons and daughters. This did not resonate well," said a BJP insider.

Another setback for the BJP came from Basavaraj Bommais controversial statements on the Waqf issue.

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Shiggaon, with its mix of Lingayat and minority voters, has always been a politically significant constituency. Congress traditionally gains support from Lambani, Maratha, and Kuruba communities, while the BJP banks on local engagement and development.

Pathans win marks a major shift in the political landscape of Shiggaon, delivering a boost to the Congress and a setback to the BJP.

Location : Shiggaon, India

First Published: November 23, 2024, 14:11 IST
Tale Of Two NCPs: Ajit Pawar Has The Last Laugh As Sharad Pawar Suffers Worst Rout Of Career

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 17:01 IST

Maharashtra elections 2024: For Ajit Pawar, its the dawn of a new era. For Sharad Pawar, its the twilight hour, one that might hasten his solemn walk into the sunset

Ajit Pawar parted ways with uncle Sharad Pawar in 2023 and split the NCP into two. (PTI)

The mood in the rival NCP camps is as different as night and day today. For Ajit Pawar, its the dawn of a new era, one where his electoral value is finally established as distinct from the Pawar dynasty. For Sharad Pawar, its the twilight hour, one that might hasten his solemn walk into the sunset.

In their first electoral clash since an acrimonious split in the family, Ajit Pawar has decisively triumphed over his uncle, heading to victory in 36 of the 59 seats his party contested. Thats a strike rate of 61.02%. In comparison, Sharad Pawar has suffered the worst performance of his political career, with his faction leading on just 15 of the 86 seats it contested, at a dismal strike rate of 17.44%.

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Heres a look at how the undivided NCP fared in last five elections under Sharad Pawar:

Year Seats Won Seats Contested Strike Rate 2019 54 121 44.62% 2014 41 278 14.74% 2009 62 113 54.86% 2004 71 124 57.25% 1999 58 223 26%

With incumbent Eknath Shinde saying the Mahayuti alliance hasnt yet decided on its chief ministerial pick, Ajit Pawars wife Sunetra Pawar has even thrown her husbands name in contention.

It is a very fortunate day for Ajit dada, NCP, for the public and Baramati. I thank the people of Baramati for extending their support to Ajit dada. This is the victory of the people of Baramati I want the same (Ajit Pawar to be CM) as the public wants," she said.

However, with the BJP surpassing expectations with leads and wins in 130 seats, speculation is that Devendra Fadnavis might return as the Maharashtra chief minister.

While both NCPs stood third in their respective alliances, the consequences for them and their political heirs are starkly different. This was the first election after both the Shiv Sena and the NCP suffered a vertical split, but in the case of the latter it was also a family splitting up into two.

Voters in Baramati constituency had a front-row seat to this burgeoning family feud this time, with Ajit Pawar fighting his nephew Yugendra Pawar, who had the entire might of the Sharad Pawar clan behind him. Yugendra, a political debutant, is the son of Ajit Pawars younger brother. The intensity of the contest could be gauged from the fact that Sharad Pawars wife Pratibha, who generally keeps away from politics, and Supriya Sules daughter Revati also canvased for Yugendra.

Ajit Pawar, who parted ways with uncle Sharad Pawar in 2023 and split the party, visited as many villages as possible, highlighting the development he brought about in the region in the last three decades. Voters chose Pawar saheb" over him in the Lok Sabha elections but they should support him this time, Ajit Pawar told voters.

Notably, neither the leaders of the NCP allies BJP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena nor the leaders of the NCP (SP) allies Congress and Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) visited Baramati for campaign.

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When asked why Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not hold a rally for him, Ajit Pawar said it was not needed as it was a contest within the family.

And Ajit Pawar has decisively won that contest.

Location : Maharashtra, India

First Published: November 23, 2024, 14:53 IST
TMC Wins All 6 Bypolls In Bengal, Snatches Madarihat From BJP: Mamata Thanks Voters

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 14:51 IST

While Lakshmir Bhandar is a contributing factor to TMC's victory, the lack of impact of the RG Kar incident raises questions, say experts

West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee during a road show for the Assembly bypolls, in Kolkata. (PTI)

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has won all six bypolls in Bengal, including the Madarihat seat in Alipurduar, originally a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seat. Manoj Tigga, the current Alipurduar MP from BJP, vacated his assembly seat of Madarihat to contest the MP election, which necessitated the by-poll.

Madarihat is significant as the BJP held a lead of near about 29,000 votes in 2021. In 2021, the BJP secured an 11,000-vote lead from the Madarihat seat. For the TMC, gaining Madarihat is a significant victory, as they were trailing in this seat, particularly since it is located in North Bengal, considered a BJP stronghold.

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TMC chief Mamata Banerjee thanked the voters in a post on X.

TMCs national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee posted on X: Congratulations to all six @AITCofficial candidates for their decisive victories in the WB bye elections, defying the narratives created by the ZAMINDARS, the media and a section of the Kol HC to defame Bengal for their own vested interests. A special thanks to the people of Madarihat for giving us the opportunity to serve you for the first time. I bow before the people of West Bengal for democratically dismantling the Bangla Birodhis, their fake narrativs and reaffirming their trust in us. My heartfelt gratitude to every TMC grassroots worker, district, block, and anchal leader for their hard work, dedication and tireless efforts in serving the people and upholding Bengals dignity and pride!"

TMC leader Jayprakash Majumdar said, Before by-polls, a lot of unrest took place, but Mamata Banerjee has given the right leadership and showed people that TMC is always with people. There were a lot of bad campaigns against TMC; still, we have won. We have snatched Madarihat from BJP because people understood that BJP cant keep up to any promise. We have done well in two urban areas, Naihati and Medinipur, whereas it was said that we will not do well there."

Congratulations to all six @AITCofficial candidates for their decisive victories in the WB bye elections, defying the narratives created by the ZAMINDARS, the media and a section of the Kol HC to defame Bengal for their own vested interests. A special thanks to the people of Abhishek Banerjee (@abhishekaitc) November 23, 2024

BJP REACTS

Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar said, By-polls results can be like this. We are winning Maharashtra, and in 2026, we will win."

BJPs Amit Malviya posted on X: In the recently concluded elections, West Bengal was the only state, which saw political violence and death. Unless the ECI goes the extra mile to ensure free and fair poll, restrain the local administration, there is little merit in holding elections. This is a blood tainted win for Mamata Banerjee."

In the recently concluded elections, West Bengal was the only state, which saw political violence and death.Unless the ECI goes the extra mile to ensure free and fair poll, restrain the local administration, there is little merit in holding elections. This is a blood tainted  Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) November 23, 2024

NO RG KAR IMPACT?

While all the seats involved in the by-polls were TMC dominated, experts are raising questions about the lack of impact the RG Kar protests had on the ruling partys performance. Despite the widespread protests and public anger over the RG Kar incident, the by-poll results clearly indicate no discernible effect.

Political experts suggest that the RGKAR incident primarily affected urban areas, particularly Kolkata. The by-poll seats, excluding Naihati and Medinipur, are in rural areas. In Naihati and Medinipur, TMCs strong organisation and the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme are believed to have contributed to their success, according to sources.

Former BJP MLA of Madarihat and MP of Alipurduar, Manoj Tigga, said, Something has gone wrong in Madarihat. John Barla did not get a ticket, and he must have done something."

John Barla, the former BJP Minister, was seen with TMC leaders several times before the election.

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While Lakshmir Bhandar is undoubtedly a contributing factor to TMCs victory in these five by-polls, the lack of impact of the RG Kar incident, despite the scale of protests, raises important questions, according to experts.

Some experts attribute the lack of impact to the fact that voting did not occur in urban areas and Kolkata, where the RGKAR incident might have had a more significant effect, said a senior Left leader. However, a senior leader from the Left party disagrees with this view.

First Published: November 23, 2024, 14:11 IST
Uddhav Thackeray Left Clueless Post-MVA Rout, Faces Uncertainty In Retaining Support

Published By :

PTI

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 22:21 IST

Uddhav Thackeray's bold move to join the ranks of Congress backfired as the MVA alliance was decimated by the Mahayuti bloc.

Uddhav Thackeray said the MVA's resounding defeat was 'unexpected' as he faces an uncertain political future. (PTI)

Uddhav Thackeray, who played the bold gambit of taking on the ally BJP in 2019 and forged an unlikely alliance with the Congress and NCP, was on Saturday left struggling to make sense of his partys rout in the Maharashtra assembly elections.

Thackeray, whose Shiv Sena (UBT) won only 20 out of the 95 seats it contested, admitted that he could not understand how the electorate which had inflicted a drubbing on the ruling BJP-led alliance in the Lok Sabha elections only five months ago changed its mind.

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From the shy son of a charismatic and firebrand Hindutva politician, the late Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, Uddhav has come a long way. Early on, he survived challenges from party stalwart Narayan Rane and cousin Raj Thackeray, and went on to become the Maharashtra chief minister in November 2019 when he ended the decades-long alliance with the BJP after the assembly elections.

Soon, the COVID-19 pandemic followed, and Uddhav easily connected with the people during that difficult period as he addressed them directly by using social media tools such as Facebook live. He came across as an affable leader who could reassure people.

While his leadership during the pandemic won him praise, Uddhav Thackeray remained clueless about the simmering discontent in a big section of the party which resented the alliance with the Congress and NCP, erstwhile ideological foes. Eknath Shindes rebellion in June 2022 seemed to have taken him by surprise, leading to the fall of his government and a vertical split in the party.

Uddhav, however, did not waver, and kept attacking the BJP, its top leadership including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and launched a tirade against the traitors" who sided with Shinde.

His party contested 21 of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra in the Lok Sabha elections, highest among the Maha Vikas Aghadi allies, but won a modest nine. He was then criticised for his adamant stand during the seat-sharing talks.

He has also been accused of being less accessible, a charge the MLAs who rebelled against him in 2022 levelled. They also took jibes at him for working from home during his tenure as chief minister, and even his ally Sharad Pawar commented on it.

On the plus side, Thackeray gained support of the sections of society, including Muslims and Dalits, which were earlier uncomfortable with the Shiv Sena.

Over the years, he also developed oratory skills. His style is different from that of his fathers fiery speeches, but he is equally acerbic towards his opponents.

As the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP alliance won a landslide victory on Saturday, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde noted that the results settled the issue whom does the Shiv Sena belong.

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The challenge before 64-year-old Uddhav Thackeray, as he and his son Aaditya pick up the pieces after the rout, will be to hold on to the remaining party leaders and cadres, and prove that the Sena led by Shinde  which has already got the official name and election symbol of Bal Thackerays party  is not the real thing.

He will also have to answer the question whether his decision to join hands with the `secular Congress and Sharad Pawar-led NCP was a wise move.

First Published: November 23, 2024, 22:21 IST
One afternoon, in 1970, Jose Pepe Mujica was talking with other men at a table in La Via bar, in Montevideo, Uruguay. A regular recognized them as Tupamaro guerrillas and reported them. The police surrounded the place: Mujica was shot six times.

At the Military Hospital, he was treated by a surgeon who was a comrade, a Tupa at heart. He gave me a bucket of blood and saved me. It makes you believe in God, Mujica recalls.

Fifty-four years later, hes sitting in the small living room of his rural house in Rincon del Cerro, nine miles from the capital. Hes surrounded by books, small sculptures, paintings and photographs. Theres a wood-burning stove, a small television and a couple of mismatched chairs. A white light hangs from the ceiling. On a small table, theres a glass of water and a box of tissues. Mujica lifts his light blue shirt and shows EL PAIS the gauze covering the hole in his body. Thats how he receives food.

Hes so strange he was shot nine times in his life. When they put the tube in, they found a hole from an old bullet and they put it through there, says his wife, Lucia Topolansky. Shes also a former senator, congresswoman and vice president.

Jose Mujica, pictured in 1972

Mujica is recovering from esophageal cancer. I was given 31 [x-ray] shots at 7 a.m. every day. They beat down [the cancer], but they left me with a hole like this. With his fingers, he draws a circle as big as an orange in the air. Now, the hole has to be filled. Im an old man, Im 89-years-old. Until its covered, I cannot eat. You have to pamper it until it hardens.

He doesnt hide his bad mood due to the after-effects of the disease, which leave him without energy. But, minutes later, hell be the same old Mujica: the politician and the philosopher. A lively old man, who stares fixedly at you with his small, clear eyes. Its impossible not to listen to him with a certain rapture. He defines himself as a weirdo  although, in times where the strident styles of Donald Trump, Javier Milei and Jair Bolsonaro abound, listening to Mujica is a healing balm: he composes with words, carefully selects tones, measures intensities.

Deep down, Im a farmer.

I gave meaning to my life; Ill die happy.

I dedicated myself to changing the world and I didnt change a damn thing.

Mujica fires off memorable phrases throughout the conversation. Over the course of two hours, hell talk about the presidential elections in his country, about young people, about his fellow presidents, about the extreme-right and left, about resentment, about death. And, also, about happiness.

When asked if its ok to take photos of him, he answers mischievously: The police took more of me.

Crowds celebrate Mujica's presidential victory, in Montevideo, on November 29, 2009. Eduardo Di Baia (AP)

Question. At some point in your life, did you lose your fear of death?

Answer. Death is a complicated lady: she doesnt forgive, shes always there. But, if death didnt exist, life wouldnt be so tasty  it would be boring. Death makes life an adventure. The only miracle in the world for each one of us is to have been born. Why? Because there were 40 million chances that someone else would be born. And yet, it was your turn. But since living is an everyday thing, we dont value it. Its the most valuable thing, the adventure of being alive. The big question is how we spend the time in our lives. Because if it runs out whats the meaning of our life? Thats the big personal question.

Q. Did you ever find the meaning of yours?

A. I dedicated myself to changing the world, and I didnt change a damn thing! But I was entertained. And Ive made many friends and many allies in that madness of changing the world to improve it. And I gave meaning to my life. Im going to die happy. Not happy to be dying, but because I set the bar high above me. Nothing more. I didnt have a wasted life, because I didnt spend my life just consuming things. I spent it dreaming, fighting, struggling. They beat me up and all that, but it doesnt matter, I dont have no debts to pay. Lucia and I spent our youth on this whole adventure of living.

The current political situation is Mujicas adrenaline. Thats why he cannot avoid speaking about the upcoming elections. He launches into the subject almost without being asked. Uruguay will elect a president on November 24, in a runoff between Alvaro Delgado  a conservative whos backed by the incumbent president, Luis Lacalle Pou  and Mujicas man, Yamandu Orsi, the candidate for the progressive Broad Front political coalition.

Delgado won the first round with 44% of the vote. We can win, Mujica assures EL PAIS. Its not going to be easy, but we can win, because we have a good candidate. We ran a good campaign.

Q. What do you think of far-right figures, such as Donald Trump, Javier Milei, or Jair Bolsonaro?

A. Theyre the culmination of ultra-liberal preaching that eventually turns into libertarianism. If thats what liberalism is, its filth. Liberalism brought us the spirit of [consensual] adult relationships, of respect for living with differences; it created a culture. But they then reduced liberalism to an economic recipe book.

Q. Can the advance of the extreme-right be stopped?

A. The key [to doing that] lies in morality. The problem is that we live in a consumerist era, where we think that succeeding in life is buying new things and paying the mortgage. Were building self-exploited societies. As soon as you finish studying, you get a job. Then, you invent another one, because you need more money. You have time to work, but not to live. The world is very far from the sobriety that guarantees free time to live. In my country, there are three million of us and we import 27 million pairs of shoes. Its not like were centipedes, its crazy. Were we born just to work? Youre free to do what you want with your life, which is sometimes just nonsense. Do you understand? Because culture is the daughter of nonsense.

The documents that were filled out to register the candidacy of Jose Mujica. Natacha Pisarenko (AP)

To get to Mujicas farm, you have to drive along a four-lane highway, followed by a narrow paved road and then, finally, a dirt road. About 700 feet away, on the left, is the Quincho de Varela  a meeting point for party members who belong to the Movement of Popular Participation, the MPP. Further ahead lies a rural schoolhouse, built with money that Mujica donated from his presidential salary.

A wooden gate  hidden among the plants  opens onto a tree-lined path. To the right is a bench made of soda caps where, in 2015, former Spanish King Juan Carlos I sat. You have the misfortune of being king: they put you in a flower vase, Mujica told the monarch at the time. To the left, a dark shed  filled with boxes of corn  guards the door of the house.

The room where Mujica spends most of the day is about seven-feet-wide and 14-feet-long. A crammed library separates it from a country-style kitchen, where theres a large table with four chairs. Topolansky is speaking on the phone, giving someone advice on political matters. The conversation is mixed with the interview.

Until just a few days ago, there was a hospital bed in the same place where Mujicas chair now stands. It didnt fit in the room, Topolansky chimes in.

Q. You found happiness in living with very little.

A. By living with sobriety, because the more you have, the less happy you are.

Q. But the world seems to be going in the opposite direction

A. The world is moving towards hyperconsumption, because its governed by a law: multiplying peoples consumption, because thats what ensures accumulation. Buy this, buy that. Were bombarded. Marketing is a poison. It dominates you. Buy this, buy that. Thats not living.

Q. And what is living?

A. To live is to love. Its to have the pleasure of wasting time with someone else. When youre old, living is playing cards with friends, sharing memories. At every age, theres a scale of feelings. When youre young, love is volcanic. When youre old, its a sweet habit. But all of that takes time; you have to cultivate it. The relationship with your children takes time. What a child needs most is affection and we dont have time for that. Im a stoic, philosophically speaking. My definition could be Senecas: It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor. Or that of the Aymara people. Do you know what a poor individual is for the Aymara? He who has no community: he who is alone.

A photograph of Jose Mujica on the day of his inauguration as president of Uruguay. The photo hangs in the living room of his house in Montevideo. NATALIA ROVIRA

Q. An image comes to mind when we think about solitude: your years of captivity in a tiny cell, where you were kept in solitary confinement for weeks on end.

A. I learned to walk miles inside myself, pacing back and forth. And I learned the craft of misanthropy, which remains with me to this day. I talked to myself a lot. To keep myself sane, I began to remember things I had read, things I had thought about when I was young. When I was young, I read a lot. Later, I dedicated myself to changing the world and I didnt read anything. I couldnt change the world, but what I had read when I was young helped me. Because one thing is to read and another thing is to ruminate on what youve read. Today, I walk through the countryside [or ride] the tractor and my head is spinning. I have eyes to see the lapwings, to see the ovenbirds, to see the cycles of nature. Deep down, Im a farmer. I talk to the person I carry inside me  the one who rescued me when I was imprisoned, when I was alone. I start to remember and remember and remember

Q. Have we lost the ability to talk to ourselves?

A. [Yes], because of digital civilization, which is advancing further and further. But I didnt do it because I discovered it: I did it out of necessity. I was alone, I had nothing to distract me. So, I turned to what I had inside me. And I found a treasure: the treasure of my youth.

In 1985, following the end of the military dictatorship in Uruguay, the MPP immediately adapted to the democratic era. And, in Mujica, it found a charismatic leader. At the beginning, he notes, the movement supported candidates from other parties that were part of the Broad Front, such as the Communist Party and the Christian Democrats. Then, there was a reversal. The comrades got angry, because we were the ones who had brought people together. They decided that one of us had to go to the General Assembly and they elected me, he notes. Mujica became a federal lawmaker in 1994, which was his first elected position.

Q. The photograph of you arriving at the Legislative Palace on a motorbike is very famous.

A. Back then, everyone was wearing a suit and tie, and I was wearing jeans and riding my motorbike. I remember that, on the first day, I saw that there was a [space under the eaves of the building] and it occurred to me to park it there. It immediately became the motorbike garage. And it still is today. It was the most positive thing I did in the parliament [Laughs]. Incredible, incredible. Also, there was a journalist who made up a story that a soldier had asked me if I was going to leave my bike there for a long time and I replied, five years, if they let me. That never happened, but denying it was useless. It became the truth everywhere, because it was a brilliant lie.

Q. In 2009, you won the presidential elections with 54.6% of the votes. Whats it like learning how to be a president?

A. Its a real trainwreck, because you take office and you discover things that you had no idea about. Its horrible. I was first the minister of livestock [in 2005, under the administration of Tabare Vazquez]. And, when we won the elections, I went to speak with the outgoing cabinet ministers. They didnt give me the slightest bit of help. But as soon as you arrive, you have to discuss the federal budget. It was an accountant  one of those lifelong bureaucrats  who gave us a hand. We would have been nowhere without him.

When Mujica left prison in March 1985  amid the return to democracy, after 13 years in prison  he knew that he wanted to buy a farm in the countryside, far from the city. Lucia and I went out on our bicycles to look for a place. We looked everywhere and, one afternoon, we came down that road. The [farmers] were watering [plants]. And I told her, I think well live here. She went to talk [to the owners], he explains.

When he got out of prison, he went to plant flowers on a piece of land and I started working in a bar, Topolansky smiles. That way, we were able to earn some pesos and have a little bit of money coming in. In January 1986, the couple moved to their countryside home. And they never left, not even when Mujica was president.

Jose Mujica chats with his partner, Lucia Topolanski, in the living room of their house, on October 31, 2024. NATALIA ROVIRA

Q. Why did you stay on the farm during your term?

A. The state gave me a mansion with four or five floors. Just to have tea, I had to go on an expedition. So, I decided to stay here. I know Im crazy in todays time, but Im not to blame for the world I live in.

Q. During your international visits, were you surprised by the protocols carried out by your peers?

A. I made fun of them, because they made their lives unnecessarily complicated. Because the more stuff you have, the more problems you have. And the more places where theyre going to steal from you.

Q. And what did the other presidents say to you?

A. They respected me a lot, but they thought I was a weirdo. When I went to speak with the King of Norway [in 2011], they were waiting for me with a tie. When I arrived, I said to the delegation: Turn around, were leaving. And the guy stepped back, put the tie away, and I went to speak with the King. Im not against ties, but Im against them imposing them on you. If you want to wear a tie, wear a tie. Or wear a pair of underpants hanging from your neck. Do whatever you want. And then, they roll out a red carpet for you and you have to walk five blocks. There are guys who play the bugle. Its feudal.

Q. Which world leader captivated you the most?

A. [The Brazilian President] Lula [da Silva], with whom Im still friends. And strangely, I have to speak well of Barack Obama.

Q. Why strangely?

A. Because he was an intelligent guy and he spoke nicely. I was with him three times and we had very interesting conversations. He acknowledged certain things. I told him that he had to help develop Central America, not stop immigration. And he told me: Youre right, but go convince the Republicans. That guy, he saw the problems as they were. I remember that I told him get out of Afghanistan, because Alexander the Great had to leave Afghanistan and you have to realize who Alexander the Great was. There are some lessons that are historical. They didnt leave, and when they did leave, they made a fool of themselves. But [Obama] saw it coming. Also, he gave me a very big honor. When I took office, they sent Mrs. [Hillary] Clinton, who was the head of the State Department. They usually send a common ambassador and thats it. Maybe it caught their attention that I was the guerrilla who was imprisoned and became president. There was a bit of mystique there.

Q. It was unusual for a former leftist guerrilla to maintain good relations with the United States.

A. Yes, but they even asked me for a favor. There was an American prisoner in Cuba who was sick and they were afraid he was going to die. Obama wanted to improve relations with Cuba, but there was that obstacle. I went to talk to Raul Castro and I raised the issue with him, I told him that it was in their interest to get rid of that prisoner. I remember another meeting in Cartagena, during a presidential dinner [in 2012]. They grabbed me and said: You have to sit here. A little table, with four chairs. Well, the president of Colombia [Juan Manuel Santos] came by. And then [Castro] came and then, who came next? Obama! To talk to me. Well, we talked there for a while. Then, when I went to the United States, he received me in [the Oval Office] which is a piece of shit. I dont know why its so famous.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva hugs Jose Mujica during the 38th anniversary of the return of democracy to Argentina, on December 10, 2021, in Buenos Aires. Natacha Pisarenko (AP)

Q. In Brazil, your friend, Lula, is in power again. But we also have Milei in Argentina and the crisis in Venezuela continues to escalate. In what direction do you see Latin America heading?

A. Unfortunately, the panorama is complicated. We barely get together and [Latin America] doesnt exist in the world. We had an opportunity with Lula [during his first two terms]  hes a world figure and he has a certain prestige  but we didnt use Lula. And, when it comes to international politics, we dont even serve coffee. We have to get together to defend ourselves, but domestic agendas take up all our time. With the Covid-19 pandemic, we didnt even have a meeting between presidents: we didnt even call each other on the phone. And we had to deal with protecting peoples lives. We couldnt have been more stupid.

Q. Lets think about former Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa, former Argentine president Cristina Kirchner, former Bolivian president Evo Morales and Lula. Why have these leaders not found heirs?

A. I get tired of saying that the best leader is the one who  when they disappear  sets a bar that surpasses them. Because life goes on and the struggle goes on: it doesnt end with us. The leader must sow the seeds and give opportunities to their replacement. I know that Im still a very important figure, but I opened up the field. Now, about what will happen in the future, I dont know. Ill try to make sure that my colleagues dont feel coerced, that they command and manage the political organization. Up until now, Ive been successful when it comes to that. My political party won the most votes in the [first round] of the elections.

Q. Some time ago, you said that politics needed to incorporate love. Did it ever have any?

A. In the past, politics made great gestures of commitment. That no longer exists. Last time I proposed to the incumbent president [Luis Lacalle Pou] that he should give up part of his salary and force the bureaucracy to put something  4% or 5%  towards housing the poorest [Uruguayans], I was called all kinds of things. I gave more than half-a-million dollars to the Juntos Plan [a public housing project]. If youre fighting for equality, you have to have the decency to take something out of your own pocket and share it with those whore in a worse situation.

Q. How would you define politics?

A. Politics isnt a business; its a passion. You either have it, or you dont. Those whore looking for economic gain should devote themselves to commerce, to industry. Let them earn money, pay their taxes and do well. But dont mix politics with that, because its not about making money. Thats whats killing us.

In his book  Jose Mujica: The Calm Revolution  Mauricio Rabuffetti describes the former presidents years in prison as times of great suffering. He was tortured brutally and systematically, physically and psychologically, Rabuffetti writes. He suffered from beatings and humiliations. He was on half-rations of food and water. He had intestinal and kidney illnesses. He spent long periods of time in which he was forbidden from having contact with other human beings. He lost his teeth. His body reached the limits of what was bearable. His psyche, too.

Mujica, however, never sought to take revenge on his jailers, even when he was in power. This was a decision that resulted in bitter arguments between him and the human rights organizations that advocate on behalf of victims of the military dictatorship.

Q. Why did you decide to turn the page?

A. I didnt turn the page. I just didnt waste my time getting even, which is different. You dont live on memories  there are things that cant be changed. They are what they are. In life, there are wounds that have no cure and you have to learn to go on living. I know that there are people who wont support me, but Ive chosen a more intelligent and less sentimental position. Thats why I didnt use power to go after the military. Justice worked and what justice decided was right. There are people who may have wanted more, but were not going to change the past. Im worried about whats to come. We have to try to ensure that yesterday doesnt put an obstacle in our path towards the future. I know that this way of thinking comes from a rational mind that fights with emotions

Q. Are we talking about healing wounds?

A. There are wounds that dont heal and you have to learn to live with them.

Q. Do you have many open wounds?

Q. Of course I have open wounds! I have unforgettable things. But Im not going to get even. I was locked up for seven years in a room smaller than this one. Without a book, without anything to read. They took me out once a month, twice a month, to walk around a courtyard for half-an-hour. Seven years like that. Then, I was there for five more years and they let me read science, physics and chemistry [books]. I was on the verge of going crazy. If Im going to try to get even... God forbid.

Jose Mujica, pictured in front of his house in Montevideo, Uruguay, on Saturday, July 22, 2023. Natacha Pisarenko (AP/LaPresse)

Q. Do you still have anything pending?

A. Ah! The human mind dreams about much more than it can achieve. Oh, brother! Thats how it is. We achieve something, but then, we still have a lot of things left to do.

Q. What do you say to young people?

A. That life is beautiful, but you have to find a reason to live. Not necessarily my reason, but you have to have a cause. It can be music, science, anything. Living to pay bills? Thats not living. Because living means dreaming, believing in a higher power, in something creative. That things will go well for us, that theyll go badly, or just so-so.

Q. There seems to be a contradiction here. In this scenario of detachment that you describe, youre one of the most listened to-people.

A. Listened-to, but not followed. Hes a crazy, great guy, but I dont follow his lead.

Q. Why do you think people listen to you then?

A. Because in their subconscious, they know Im right, but they cant [live like this]. Theyre prisoners of the consumer society in which we live. There are people who think to themselves and say, the old man is right.

Q. What do you ask of life today?

A. That I be cured of the crap [cancer] that I have. And that I can continue barking a little [longer], throwing out some ideas.

Translated by Avik Jain Chatlani.

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1984 Anti-Sikh Riots: Court Summons Former Police Officials as Witnesses in Case Against Tytler

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 16:31 IST

A sessions court in August last year granted anticipatory bail to Tytler in the case on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh and a surety of like amount.

The court framed charges of murder and other offences against Tytler on September 13. (File Photo)

A court here on Saturday summoned two former police officials as witnesses in a 1984-anti Sikh riots case against Congress leader Jagdish Tytler.

The case is linked to the killings of three Sikhs at Gurudwara Pul Bangash here in 1984.

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Special CBI Judge Jitendra Singh, who was scheduled to record the statement of another prosecution witness, Manmohan Kaur, was informed by the federal probe agency that the summons could not be served at her address.

The CBI sought time to serve the summon to Kaur again. It was granted by the court.

The judge then issued summons to former police officials  Dharam Chandrasekar and Ravi Sharma  and directed them to appear before the court on December 2, the next date of hearing.

Tytler appeared before the court through video conferencing.

The judge had on November 12 concluded recording the statement of Lakhvinder Kaur, the widow of Badal Singh who was killed by a mob at Gurudwara Pul Bangash during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Badal Singh was a ragi at Gurudwara Pul Bangash.

The court framed charges of murder and other offences against Tytler on September 13.

A witness had earlier submitted in the chargesheet that Tytler came out of a white car in front of Gurudwara Pul Bangash on November 1, 1984, and instigated a mob against the Sikhs that led to the murder" of three people.

A sessions court in August last year granted anticipatory bail to Tytler in the case on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh and a surety of like amount.

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The court had also imposed certain conditions on Tytler, including that he would not tamper with the evidence in the case or leave the country without its permission.

The agency had invoked charges under Sections 147 (rioting), 109 (abetment) read with 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), among others, against Tytler.

First Published: November 23, 2024, 16:29 IST
Arunachal Dy CM Sets March Target for Completion of Power Infrastructure

Published By :

PTI

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 20:20 IST

Reviewing the status and progress of the CSST&DS, Mein, who also holds the power portfolio, emphasised accelerating the progress of the projects within the specific timelines for each transmission line.

Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein. (File photo)

Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein on Saturday urged the officials of the power department to ensure the completion of the Comprehensive Scheme for Strengthening of Transmission and Distribution System (CSST&DS) in the state by March next year.

Reviewing the status and progress of the CSST&DS, Mein, who also holds the power portfolio, emphasised accelerating the progress of the projects within the specific timelines for each transmission line.

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The meeting focused on expediting the implementation of the transmission and distribution system while addressing key challenges, including disbursement and compensation issues for the transmission lines stretching from Tawang to Longding, an official statement said here.

The deputy chief minister requested the local representatives to be involved personally to resolve local issues for the smooth implementation of the scheme.

He asked Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) to take the local representatives in confidence and coordinate with the district administrations, while maintaining a friendly association with the locals.

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Mein also directed the power department to come up with a proper standard operating procedure (SOP) to prevent accidents and casualties during the maintenance of the power lines.

Location : Itanagar, India

First Published: November 23, 2024, 20:20 IST
Karnataka Bypoll Results: CM Siddaramaiah Says 'Have Won In Peoples Court', Kumaraswamy Accepts Defeat

Published By :

PTI

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 17:45 IST

Congress sweep three assembly bypoll seats of Karnataka- Sandur, Shiggaon and Channapatna.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah quoted Mahatma Gandhi and said, Peoples court is better than the courts. (Image: PTI)

Bengaluru: Buoyed by the assembly election by-polls, which saw the ruling Congress sweeping in all three seats, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday said he won in the peoples court.

He gave credit to the guarantee schemes for the partys victory in the assembly bypolls in Sandur, Shiggaon and Channapatna.

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You know what Mahatma Gandhi said. He said peoples court is better than the courts. Now peoples court has given me its verdict," Siddaramaiah told reporters.

This victory was significant for the Congress as the BJP and JD(S) formed an alliance, he explained.

We won from Kalyana Karnataka (Sandur), Kittur Karnataka region (Shiggaon), and old Mysuru region (Channapatna). In all the places we won. So, this is very significant." After our government came to power about one and half years ago, the BJP made false allegations on me and my government. They also spread lies about our schemes," Siddaramaiah said.

The CM is accused of the MUDA site allotment scam where 14 sites in the upmarket of Mysuru were allotted to his wife, Parvathi. After the controversy broke out, Parvathi returned the sites to MUDA.

He also came down heavily on the opposition BJP and JD(S) for their lies and baseless allegations.

The Chief Minister also took a swipe at JDS supremo H D Deve Gowda and his son Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy for crying" in public during elections.

Deve Gowda and his sons cry, but didnt their heart melt when several women cried in the Prajwal Revanna case in Hassan?" he asked.

Former JD(S) MP and grandson of former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, Prajwal Revanna is in jail for allegedly sexually assaulting several women and filming them.

I bow down to voters decision: Kumaraswamys Son On Bypoll Defeat

Union Minister H.D. Kuamaraswamys son Nikhil Kumaraswamy said on Saturday, I bow down to the decision of the voters. The people of the region have helped former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda (grandfather) and Union Minister Kumaraswamy (father) to become great leaders. I will keep my promises in the campaign and work for the good of the society."

Nikhil lost the Channapatna seat to Congress candidate C.P. Yoheshwara by 25,413 votes, who after winning claimed that the JD-Ss days are numbered in the state.

Regarding this, Yogeshwara said, As he (Kumaraswamy) wanted to become Union Minister, he contested and sacrificed his sons interests."

I have been told that Deve Gowda is a huge force. However, he is aged now. The people have rejected him for this reason. This is time for him to rest. Following this result, the countdown for the end of the JD-S party has begun," Yogeshwara stressed.

Yogeshwara also thanked Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and his brother D.K. Suresh for his win.

Nikhil polled 87,229 votes while Yogeshwara got 1.12 lakh (1,12,413) votes.

Yasir Ahmed Khan Pathan Defeated BJPs Bharath Bommai

In the Shiggaon Assembly constituency, Congress candidate Yasir Ahmed Khan Pathan defeated the BJP candidate Bharath Bommai by 13,448 votes.

Former Karnataka Chief Minister and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai said that he also humbly accepts the peoples verdict in the Shiggaon by-election.

The Congress won by flooding money. I humbly accept and respect the decision of the people of Shiggaon constituency. I congratulate Congress candidate Yasir Khan Pathan. Based on the peoples response during the election campaign, we were confident of winning," he said.

He claimed that Congress achieved victory by spending an excessive amount of money.

Since they are in power, the people of the constituency chose a ruling party candidate," he said.

Congress has won all three seats in the Karnataka by-election. The BJP and JD-S suffered setbacks as they lost the Shiggaon and Channapatna seats they held earlier respectively.

Congress candidate Yasir Khan Pathan who suffered an initial setback managed a strong comeback and got 1.07 lakh votes. Bharat Bommai polled 87,308 votes while 834 NOTA votes were polled.

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(With inputs from IANS)

First Published: November 23, 2024, 17:18 IST
Delhi Police Arrests 'Proclaimed Offender' From Mumbai

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 16:04 IST

Delhi Police Crime Branch has arrested a criminal-turned-builder who was living in Mumbai for the last 15 years

Representative image of Delhi Police | Credit: PTI

Delhi Police Crime Branch has arrested a criminal-turned-builder who was living in Mumbai for the last 15 years, officials said on Saturday.

Imran Hashmi was involved in 26 cases of dacoity, robbery, theft and cheating and those registered under the Arms Act in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, police said.

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Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Bhisham Singh said Hashmi was a member of the Ramzan Pehalwan gang and was declared a proclaimed offender (PO) in three cases of dacoity and theft in Delhi 15 years ago.

In November 2009, the Crime Branch arrested him along with four of his associates  Ramzan Pahalwan, Javed, Irshad and Nazim alias Guddu  while they were planning to commit dacoity in a house. Four country-made pistols and seven cartridges and various tools were seized from them, the DCP said.

Hashmi was granted bail in the case but he did not appear in court again. Later, he was arrested in two more cases of dacoity and vehicle theft. He got bail in these cases as well but never appeared in court again. The court then declared him a PO in these three cases, Singh said.

A tip-off was received that Hashmi shifted to Mumbai to evade arrest and had become a builder, police said.

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On November 20, a raid was conducted on Hashmis house in Mumbai assuming that he would be home due to the Maharashtra Assembly elections. The assumption proved right and he was successfully arrested from a Cooperative Group Housing Society in Wadala, another officer said.

During interrogation, Hashmi told police that he left his native place Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh and settled in Mumbai to evade trial in the cases against him, the officer said.

First Published: November 23, 2024, 16:04 IST
Delhi Police Constable Stabbed To Death In Govindpuri

Published By :

PTI

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 09:34 IST

Constable Kiran Pal, aged around 28, was posted at the Govindpuri Police Station.

Constable body with stab injury marks was recovered on Saturday. (Pic for representation)

A Delhi Police constable was stabbed to death by unknown people on Saturday while he was on night patrolling duty in southeast Delhis Govindpuri area, an official said.

Constable Kiran Pal, aged around 28, was posted at the Govindpuri Police Station.

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His body with stab injury marks was recovered from a lane in the early hours of Saturday, the official said.

An FIR has been registered and CCTV footage was being checked to identify the accused, he added.

First Published: November 23, 2024, 09:34 IST
Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 23:15 IST

PM Modi said that Maharashtra's win has broken all the old records. (Photo: YouTube/BJP)

ECI Maharashtra, Jharkhand Election Results 2024 Live Updates: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that negative politics has lost in Maharashtra where the NDA returned to power with a landslide victory.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed dissatisfaction over the poll results saying that these results are unexpected. He further said that the party will analyse the mandate.

In Jharkhand, the JMM-led alliance stormed back to power by winning 56 seats while the opposition NDA alliance won 24 seats in 81-membered assembly.

Meanwhile, the Mahayuti is all set to form its government in Maharashtra as it pulled off a stunning performance in western state. The Mahayuti alliance won 234 seats (BJP-132, Shiv Sena- 57, NCP- 41), while the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance won 50 seats (Congress- 16, Shiv Sena (UBT)- 20, and NCP (SCP)- 10)

The majority mark in Maharashtra Assembly consisting of 288 seats is 145 while it is 41 in Jharkhand.

As speculation mounted on who would be the next CM face from the Mahayuti alliancewhich also includes the Shiv Sena faction of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and the NCP (Ajit Pawar)and the three allies put up a united front after the historic victory, the focus quickly shifted to Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is being seen as a strong contender to occupy the top post for the third time.

It all came down to today, November 23. The heated election campaigns for Assembly polls in Maharashtra, and Jharkhand and for by-polls in 48 Assembly Constituencies and 2 Parliamentary Constituencies spread across 15 states will find their outcome as the counting of votes began at 8 am. The results can be followed throughout the day at https://results.eci.gov.in

The fates of some top leaders in Mumbai, including Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis, Ajit Pawar, Aaditya Thackeray, and others were on the line in the Maharashtra polls, while Hemant Soren, Kalpana Soren, and Babulal Marandi were some high-profile leaders in the Jharkhand Elections whose fates were decided as the votes were counted.

Among the by-polls, the Wayanad Parliamentary by-election was crucial as Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi made her electoral debut from the seat against BJPs Navya Haridas. Nine seats in Uttar Pradesh also went for Assembly by-polls.

Follow LIVE updates here as we take you through all the latest trends and results, as per the Election Commission of India:
Faridabad Court Awards Woman And Lover Life Imprisonment For Murder Of Husband, Father-in-law

Published By :

PTI

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 12:21 IST

The two men were murdered by hitting them on their heads with a pan, an iron rod and a stick.

The woman and her lover received a life imprisonment sentence, six years after committing brutal murders. (Representational Image)

A court in Faridabad sentenced a woman and her lover to life imprisonment on Friday, for the murder of her husband and father-in-law in 2018.

An Additional Sessions Judge imposed a fine of Rs 18,000 on Pooja and Rs 15,000 on her lover Ajay.

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On May 29, 2018, Pooja and her lover, Ajay killed her husband Vinod Kumar (25) and his father Siyaram (65) at their home in Faridabad. Vinod was a resident of Noorpur village in Bareilly district and moved to Faridabad with his wife Pooja to live with his father.

Vinods brother Vishnu filed a police complaint on May 30, 2018, after receiving news about the deaths.

Upon arriving in Faridabad, Vishnu discovered the bodies of his brother and father in their room, leading him to suspect Poojas involvement in the murders.

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Police investigations found that Pooja had been in constant touch with Ajay even after her marriage. Vinod made several attempts to convince her against this, but she refused.

The police investigation revealed that on the night of May 29, 2018, Pooja with her lover Ajay killed her husband Vinod and father-in-law Siyaram by hitting them on their heads with a pan, iron rod and stick. Both were arrested and sent to judicial custody. The court of additional session judge Amrit Singh Chalia on Friday sentenced both the accused to life imprisonment and fines", said advocate Ravindra Gupta of Legal Cell, Faridabad.

Location : Faridabad, India

First Published: November 23, 2024, 12:21 IST
Govt Launches Haj Suvidha App 2.0 for Ease of Pilgrims, Check Details

Published By :

PTI

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 22:47 IST

Building on the success of the Haj Suvidha App 1.0 in 2024, the new version introduces key features such as the selection process, boarding pass and air travel details. for Indian pilgrims.

Representational image. (Image: AFP)

Minority Affairs Ministry on Saturday launched the Haj Suvidha App 2.0 with the new version introducing key features such as air travel details, a navigation system with Mina maps, and medical history and health advisories for Indian pilgrims going on Haj.

Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju launched the application after he inaugurated the Conference of Chairpersons of State and UT Haj Committees in the presence of Minister of State for Minority Affairs, George Kurian and Chairman of the Haj Committee of India Abdullahkutti, among others.

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In his address, Rijiju noted that the Haj pilgrimage is the largest logistical operation undertaken annually by the government of India beyond its borders.

He emphasised that Haj has long been a cornerstone of the strong bilateral relationship between India and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Rijiju highlighted several significant reforms aimed at improving the pilgrimage experience, including the removal of the discretionary quota, the integration of technology through the Haj Suvidha App, and the provision of facilities for female pilgrims without Mehram.

Kurian spoke about the new measures being implemented for Haj 2025, designed to enhance the comfort and convenience of the Indian pilgrims.

Among the key initiatives, he mentioned the procurement of modern buildings with lifts not only in Aziziya but also in nearby areas close to the Haram.

Additionally, the latest model buses will be introduced for travel between Makkah, Madinah, and within the Mashaer region.

The conference, organised by the Haj Committee of India under the Ministry of Minority Affairs, also marked the launch of the Haj Suvidha App 2.0 by Rijiju.

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Building on the success of the Haj Suvidha App 1.0 in 2024, the new version introduces key features such as the selection process, boarding pass and air travel details, a navigation system with Mina maps, and medical history and health advisories for Indian pilgrims.

The conference included discussions on stakeholder feedback, suggestions and preparations.

First Published: November 23, 2024, 22:47 IST
Hair Dryer Blast: Quarry Worker Arrested for Murder Plot

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 11:54 IST

Well-versed with the use of explosives in the granite industry, Sheelavant plotted to eliminate Shasikala as he suspected that she was behind the rift between him and his beloved Rajeshwari.

Rajeshwari opened and switched on the hair dryer. It blasted, ripping apart her palm, police said. (Representative Image)

The investigation into the hair dryer blast case in Ilkal town in Bagalkote district revealed that it was a murder plot by a quarry worker.

Siddappa Sheelavant (35), a quarry worker, had plotted to eliminate one Shasikala on November 15, but it left his beloved Basava Rajeshwari wounded, police said.

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He has been arrested and has confessed to his crime, they said.

Sheelavant, a resident of Kushtagi Taluk of Koppal district, worked in a granite company.

Well-versed with the use of explosives in the granite industry, Sheelavant plotted to eliminate Shasikala as he suspected that she was behind the rift between him and his beloved Rajeshwari.

Rajeshwari, a widow, was in love with Sheelavant.

Recently, Rajeshwari became a friend of Shasikala and for the past one month, she started drifting away from Sheelavant.

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Angered over it, Sheelavant planted a detonator in a hair dryer and couriered it to Shasikalas address. On November 15, Shasikala received it. As she was busy with some work, she gave it to Rajeshwari, who stays next door, to see what it was.

Rajeshwari opened and switched on the hair dryer. It blasted, ripping apart her palm, police said.

Location : Karnataka, India

First Published: November 23, 2024, 11:53 IST
Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 15:26 IST

Election Commission Of India (ECI) Jharkhand Assembly Election Results 2024 Live Updates, Vote Counting Today: With the counting of votes currently underway on Saturday, Hemant Sorens JMM-led alliance is set to retain power in Jharkhand for a second consecutive term, having crossed the halfway mark and leading in at least 57 of the 81 seats in the state assembly.

The BJP-led NDA, which had been confident of its prospects following an aggressive campaign, has underperformed relative to its expectations, leading in just 23 seats.

The saffron partys campaign, which focused on removing infiltrators from the Santhal Parganas region, appears to have struggled against the JMMs appeal to the Adivasi community and along with the sympathy generated over the arrest of Hemant Soren.

The JMM, which is leading in at least 34 seats on its own, has received widespread praise. Despite the BJPs mockery, calling them Bunty aur Babli, the efforts of the power couple, Hemant and Kalpana Soren, have paid off. Together, they held nearly 200 election rallies. Kalpana, a newly elected legislator following her husbands arrest earlier this year, has been a key figure in the campaign.

The 2024 Jharkhand assembly election were held in two phases  on November 13 and 20. The first phase covered 43 constituencies, while the second phase saw voting in 38 seats.

The results can be tracked on the ECIs website: https://results.eci.gov.in.

For updates on the Maharashtra Assembly Elections, Mumbai Assembly Election, and Election Commission data, visit News18.com.
It all happens in one night. Shadi, a young Palestinian, comes to his home in the West Bank, terrified. He confesses to his parents that the Israeli military is trying to force him to inform on his friends and neighbors. What do they have on you? his father asks, fear in his voice. The telephone rings. A voice announces to the family that Shadi is gay and that they will release his sex video to the entire town if he doesnt collaborate.

The Israeli occupation takes on unexpected forms in the daily existence of West Bank inhabitants. Palestinian filmmaker and former journalist Dima Hamdan (Kuwait, 1975) portrays one of them in the short film Blood Like Water. I wanted to show the families dilemma. The Palestinian cause is important, but so are children. Would we be capable of exposing ourselves to public scorn in order to protect the cause and not become traitors? The choice is very difficult and either way, we sacrifice something, she says in an interview with EL PAIS at Madrids Casa Arabe, where she screened the film.

Hamdan, who is the director of the Marie Colvin Journalists Network, has seen her film receive honors at festivals in Oslo, Barcelona, and Brooklyn, and notably, the prestigious Iris Prize, which is reserved for films that center on LGBTQ themes. The auteur says that Israel is sabotaging its own image as a gay paradise, due to its lack of respect for the rights of Palestinians, particularly in Gaza.

Question. In the West Bank homosexuality is not considered a crime, but in your film, its clear that in Palestine it is better to have a drug-trafficker or a militant as a child than a gay person.

Answer. Palestinian society is quite varied, but there is a pact of silence, a taboo. The message is that you can be gay, but not openly so. What the Israelis do is, they dont tell your parents that youre homosexual, but rather, they tell the whole town and exhibit it in a flagrant and humiliating way, distributing a sexual video recorded without your consent. Its one thing for your neighbor to know that youre gay and another for them to watch in you in the act.

Q. Was there a specific event that motivated you to tell this story?

A. I am Palestinian, I know that Israel blackmails people so that they collaborate with them. I remember a conversation, many years ago, with a friend in Ramallah, in which they told me that one of the Israeli armys latest tactics was coercing homosexual men and that they found it quite easy, above all with those from very conservative Palestinian homes. The story is based on real information, but its fictional.

The Israelis know what theyre doing and target traditional families, in which parents arent prepared to publicly acknowledge that their sons are homosexual. Not from a religious standpoint, but rather cultural and social

Q. The film centers on the suffering of the parents, the family. Why is that?

A. I wanted to show the families dilemma. The Palestinian cause is important, but so are children. What would we do if we were in this situation? Would we be capable of exposing ourselves to public scorn in order to protect the cause and not become traitors? The choice is very difficult and either way, we sacrifice something. When we were filming, for example, the case of a boy who suffered from this kind of blackmail came to light, but if more cases arent made public, I fear that its because the Israeli strategy is largely working and people are collaborating.

Q. In your film, two ideas are omnipresent: sacrifice and loyalty.

A. People think that fighting against the Israeli occupation means giving up ones life, but its not just that. There are other sacrifices and other ways of fighting back. For example, some parents momentarily put aside their reputation and honor and say to the world, Look, these are our options: either we collaborate with the Israeli army, which makes us traitors and could lead to the death of other people because of the information we will provide them, or we accept that our son is homosexual and our image is tarnished.

Q. Is it possible to speak that openly in Palestine today?

A. I think that it would be a relief for a lot of people if these things ceased being taboo. Because we are giving the occupation a gift. Israel is able to do so much damage because it has human intelligence, which is to say collaborators, within Palestine. We can deprive them of a part of that if Palestinian homosexuals are not afraid to be who they are and stop fearing societal pressure.

Israel is able to do so much damage because it has human intelligence, which is to say collaborators, within Palestine. We can deprive them of a part of that, if Palestinian homosexuals are not afraid to be who they are

Q. In recent months, at least two photographs have come to light of Israeli soldiers holding up the LGBTQ flag over the ruins of Gaza. How do you feel when you see those images?

A. Its ironic  Israel represents itself as the gay capital of the world, but its destroying its reputation by publishing those photographs. They are sabotaging their own image. Seeing an Israeli soldier displaying the LGBTQ flag over the ruins of Gaza is offensive to every gay person in the world. My film has been very well received in all the festivals, especially in the LGBTQ ones, and I feel like the community is changing the way it looks at Israel. Not because of its blackmailing of homosexual Palestinians, but for its lack of respect for human rights.

Q. Has Blood Like Water been shown in Palestine?

A. I made this short for Palestinian society, for the people who are directly affected by what it shows. Its a film that was also funded by Palestinians. It was going to be shown in 2023 at a festival in Ramallah, but the war began and everything was suspended. In September of this year, you could see it in Ramallah, Bethlehem, and Hebron, but unfortunately, theaters were empty because no one is in the mood due to the current situation. I hardly received any feedback after the screenings, but weve got to keep going. We cant take it all back and remain mute.

Q. Were you disappointed?

A. Israel is not only committing genocide in Gaza, it wants to paralyze us all and deprive us of hope. This war has killed something in us all. I, for example, am not the same. I dont recognize myself, but I keep pushing forward because thats what I have to do, because I cant fall to pieces. In a few months, when Im done presenting the film in festivals, Im going to put it on the internet with free access, so that everyone in Palestine can see it.

Q. Its a fictional film, but you researched and conducted interviews for months before filming.

A. Yes, it helped that I worked as a journalist in Palestine and had contacts. I conducted many interviews by asking people, what would you do if this happened to you? I ran into a lot of silence. The Israelis know what theyre doing and target traditional families, in which parents arent prepared to publicly acknowledge that their sons are homosexual. Not from a religious standpoint, but rather, cultural and social.

Q. Your film is shot in Bethlehem, in the West Bank, where relationships between two people of the same sex is not a crime. In Gaza, the British penal code is still in effect, which makes relationships between two men punishable with jail time. Did you also do interviews in the Strip?

A. We shot in the West Bank, but for me, beyond geography, the most important thing was portraying the dilemma of a family and that, ultimately, in Palestine everyone is in a struggle against themselves. The challenge was telling a story in 15 minutes that all Palestinians could identify with, wherever they are. In Gaza, there is also blackmail, but doubtlessly it takes place in other hues and shapes. Hamas is more conservative than authorities in Ramallah, but they also havent mounted a witch hunt against homosexuals. I think they have more important things on their agenda.

The most important thing was portraying the dilemma of a family and that, ultimately, in Palestine everyone is in a struggle against themselves

Q. Did you have any difficulties shooting in Bethlehem?

A. I was lucky to have an amazing crew. When we found the house in which most of the movie takes place, I explained the films plot to the owner and it was no problem. The man had been incarcerated in an Israeli prison in the 1980s and he told me at that time, Israel drugged Palestinians when they went, for example, to a beauty salon. Women woke up hours later naked, in a place they didnt recognize. The telephone rang and a voice told them that they had a very compromising video of them and that they had to collaborate with Israel.

Q. Are lesbians subject to the same kind of blackmail as men?

A. I dont know if that happens, I dont know of any cases. But I think that Palestinian men, due to how our society is constructed and the image of men within it, are much more vulnerable. And the Israelis know that.

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J&K Police Recover Rs 4.48 Lakh From Financial Frauds In Pulwama

Published By :

IANS

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 16:13 IST

An official statement said that the Cyber Cell of District Police Pulwama has made significant progress in addressing cybercrime by successfully recovering Rs 4,48,500 from various financial frauds reported since October 2024.

The police said that the Cyber Cell remains committed to addressing evolving cyber threats and ensuring digital safety. (Representative image)

J&K Police Cyber Crime Prevention Cell said on Saturday that it has recovered Rs 4,48,500 lakh from various financial frauds in Pulwama district.

An official statement said that the Cyber Cell of District Police Pulwama has made significant progress in addressing cybercrime by successfully recovering Rs 4,48,500 from various financial frauds reported since October 2024.

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These recoveries highlight the dedicated efforts of the Cyber Cell in combating online scams and protecting citizens from financial exploitation. Since October 2024, the Cyber Cell has received multiple complaints from the general public regarding various scams.

Among these, fake investment scams accounted for Rs 3,35,000, of which Rs 1,56,500 was recovered. Complaints about online purchasing scams amounted to Rs 96,000, with Rs 87,500 successfully retrieved. Sex-related extortion scams caused financial losses of Rs 2,00,000, and the Cyber Cell recovered Rs 1,14,500. Social media impersonation scams resulted in losses of Rs 50,000, which was fully recovered. Additionally, SMS-related scams caused losses of Rs 40,000, all of which were retrieved," read the statement.

The investigations revealed a variety of fraudulent schemes targeting unsuspecting individuals. These included fake bank SMS scams, malicious APK file frauds, deceptive investment traps, fake interest-free loan offers, sextortion schemes, and social media impersonation frauds. The Cyber Cell Pulwama acted swiftly to investigate these complaints, freezing and recovering funds with the cooperation of affected individuals. Pulwama Police urge citizens to remain cautious and promptly report suspicious activities," the statement further said.

The police said that the Cyber Cell remains committed to addressing evolving cyber threats and ensuring digital safety.

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Residents can report cybercrimes via email at cybercrime-pulwama@jkpolice.gov.in or by calling 9541943103", the statement said.

Every district in Jammu and Kashmir has a police cybercrime prevention cell that attends to various cyber crimes in addition to creating awareness among the people about protecting themselves from becoming a victim of these technologically committed crimes.

Location : Srinagar, India

First Published: November 23, 2024, 16:12 IST
Maharashtra Poll Results: 'Rahul Gandhi Failed Once Again' Says Pralhad Joshi

Published By :

IANS

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 17:59 IST

As per Pralhad Joshi, Sonia Gandhi has repeated tried to launch Rahul Gandhi but the public continues to reject him due to being a failed leader.

Union minister and BJP leader Pralhad Joshi blames Rahul Gandhi for Congress' decreasing popularity and credibility. (Image: PTI)

Hubballi, Nov 23: Union Minister for Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi on Saturday criticised the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, saying that he has proven again that he is a failed leader.

The results of the Maharashtra elections reaffirm that Rahul Gandhi is a failed leader. Sonia Gandhi is attempting to revive the Congress by fitting it with new engines, but the aircraft keeps crashing. The Congress aircraft has failed to take off once again. Despite Sonia Gandhis repeated efforts to launch Rahul Gandhi, the public continues to reject him as a failed leader," the Union Minister said.

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The Union Minister said that the Congress has lost its very existence, adding that the regional parties that align with it will meet the same fate.

There is a grim future for such alliances. Regional parties aligning with Congress would also sink as is evident from Maharashtra and Jharkhand election results. Congress is a sinking ship and who hold its hand will also drown," the Union Minister said.

He added that winning or losing is natural in any election however Congress has reached a state where its very existence is in question.

Congress has sunk the Nationalist Congress Party-SP, led by Sharad Pawar, and the Shiv Sena faction led by Uddhav Thackeray. If things had gone slightly differently, it would have dragged down Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) as well. Even in Jharkhand, the BJP has given a tough fight to Congress," the Union Minister claimed.

As per the Election Commission, the JMM-led alliance has won five seats and is leading in 51 constituencies of the 81-member Assembly. The NDA trails with a lead in only 24 seats.

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The results reflect strong voter support for the ruling alliance and pave the way for its continued governance in Jharkhand.

The MahaYuti in Maharashtra is headed for a landslide victory in what is a resounding reversal of its recent setback in the Lok Sabha polls as projections show the ruling alliance leading in 225 Assembly seats, far ahead of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadis 55.

Location : Maharashtra, India

First Published: November 23, 2024, 17:59 IST
Pakistan Issues Visas to Indian Hindu Pilgrims for Visit to Shadani Darbar in Sindh

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 10:49 IST

Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi has issued 87 visas to Indian Hindu pilgrims for their visit to Pakistan to participate in the 316th Birth Anniversary Celebrations of Shiv Avtari Stguru Sant Shadaram Sahib

The issuance of visas is covered under the framework of the Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974 (Representative/File Photo)

Pakistan has issued 87 visas to Indian Hindu pilgrims to visit the neighbouring country for the birth anniversary celebrations of Shiv Avtari Satguru Sant Shadaram Sahib at a shrine in Sindh, the High Commission here said on Friday.

The issuance of visas is covered under the framework of the Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974.

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Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi has issued 87 visas to Indian Hindu pilgrims for their visit to Pakistan to participate in the 316th Birth Anniversary Celebrations of Shiv Avtari Stguru Sant Shadaram Sahib, at Shadani Darbar Hayat Pitafi, Sindh from November 24 to December 4, 2024," the High Commission said in a statement.

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On the occasion, Pakistans Charge dAffairs in India, Saad Ahmad Warraich, wished the pilgrims a rewarding and fulfilling journey".

He said Pakistan remains committed to preserving sacred religious places as well as providing necessary facilitation to the visiting pilgrims, it said.

First Published: November 23, 2024, 10:44 IST
Lindt Makers Thwart Quality Promises After Consumer Organisation Finds Heavy Metals In Production

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 14:16 IST

Lindt has found itself in a soup after a legal lawsuit in the US revealed that its chocolates contain traces of cadmium and lead.

The Swiss chocolate brand is under scrutiny. (Representational Image)

Swiss chocolatier Lindt reportedly thwarted its claims of using the finest ingredients in their products during a US lawsuit, after it was revealed that the brand uses heavy metals in two of its dark chocolates. The shocking revelation came in an unsuccessful attempt to end the lawsuit filed in 2023. As gathered, the lawsuit was filed after a US consumer association questioned the presence of heavy metals in dark chocolate bars from several manufacturers, including two chocolates produced by Lindt in February 2023.

Swiss newspaper NZZ am Sonntag, raking over a September US court decision mentioned, In its defence strategy, the company has dismantled its own promises of quality."

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Among shocking revelations, Lindt makers admitted that the words excellence" and expertly crafted with the finest ingredients" were casually thrown in the packaging of their bars to make them appealing to customers.

It all started when US consumer organization, Consumer Reports, tested 28 bars sold in the United States to find concerning levels of lead and cadmium in dark chocolate bars in 2023. One of the bars by Lindt was found to have a high level of cadmium, while another showed a high level of lead. The startling report provoked many consumers in the US states of Alabama, California, Florida, Illinois, Nevada, and New York to take legal action leading to the filing of several lawsuits against the brand. Many consumers highlighted how they fell for its claims. However, unless the products contained something that could kill people, consumers dont exactly have a case.

The Swiss newspaper Le Temps noted that the chocolates high-profit margins are due to the fact that consumers are willing to pay more for its industrial chocolates because of their quality image".

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As per the decision given by the Eastern District of New York district court, the chocolatiers lawyers maintained that the words excellence" and expertly crafted with the finest ingredients", printed on its bars, were unactionable puffery".

The court, which dismissed Lindts motion, defined product puffery as exaggerated advertising, blustering, and boasting upon which no reasonable buyer would rely.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 23, 2024, 14:15 IST
New Study Claims Love Can Light Up Your Brain; Know How It Works

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 19:27 IST

A new university study has explained how love has the power to light up your brain.

This experiment suggests the human brain has an inherent mechanism that protects us from endless unrequited love.

Love has the power to light up our brains in many ways that we may not fully understand. Meeting your lover for the simplest of activities such as dinner can result in a flood of dopamine which motivates you to keep that bond alive. On the other hand, meeting an acquaintance for work purposes will likely not have the same impact on your dopamine flow. To explain why this happens, a study was conducted by the University of Colorado Boulder earlier this year in January. Senior author and CU Boulders Associate Professor of Behavioural Neuroscience Zoe Donaldson provided us an insight into what they discovered.

As per the official CU Boulder website, Zoe Donaldson said, What we have found, essentially, is a biological signature of desire that helps us explain why we want to be with some people more than other people." This study was published in the journal Current Biology on January 12. It is centred around prairie voles. These rodents have the distinction of being among the three per cent to five per cent of mammals that are known to form monogamous pair bonds.

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These wide-eyed rodents are quite similar to human beings. They tend to couple up long-term, share a shelter and raise offspring together. They may also exhibit grief upon losing their partner. Zoe Donaldson aimed to gain new insight into what happens inside the human brain that leads human beings to form intimate relationships by studying these rodents.

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Neuroimaging technology was used for the study. It was observed that holding the hands of the partner or trying to reach them resulted in a rush of dopamine. To track this activity a tiny fibre-optic sensor was used. Every time the sensor detected a spurt of dopamine it lit up. Whereas, when the rodent was separated from the partner, the sensor produced a dim light.

In another experiment, the rodent couple was kept apart for four weeks which was long enough for them to find new partners. When these rodents were reunited they remembered one another but the signature dopamine surge had nearly vanished. This made it difficult for them to distinguish their partner from any other rodent. This experiment suggests the human brain has an inherent mechanism that protects us from endless unrequited love. It means that the human heart heals with time and searches for someone new to start over once again.

First Published: November 23, 2024, 19:27 IST
The Global Appeal of Lopburis Monkey Festival and Why It Draws Visitors From Around the World

Written By :

News18.com

Edited By: Riya Ashok Madayi



Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 19:02 IST

With its famous Monkey Buffet Festival, the town of Lopburi, which is tucked away in central Thailand, turns into a monkey paradise every November.

The Lopburi Monkey Buffet Festival features a macaque indulging in tropical delights.

Thailand, tucked away in the heart of Southeast Asia has established itself as a bucket list destination for every globe trotter due to its pristine beaches, rich biodiversity and authentic cuisine all while offering one of the worlds best shopping experiences. While visiting Thailand any time of the year is a magical adventure, doing so in the month of November allows tourists to immerse themselves in one of the worlds most eccentric yet adorable festival known as the Monkey Buffet Festival.

The making of the Monkey Buffet

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The town of Lopburi is an attraction to many due to two factors, one being the historic Khmer ruins and the other is of course Monkeys. The festival commenced decades ago in 1989 and while to a layman the pictures may appear as if its a shot straight out of Planet of the apes, the significance that fuels this celebration of primates is actually inspired by Ramayana. According to lore, the city of Lopburi was built by two deities Lord Rama and Lord Hanuman, In the epic Lord Ram gifts Hanuman, the City of Lopburi causing the residents to believe that the macaques are descendants of Lord Hanuman and hence a lucky symbol for the residents of city. This led to an event where a few decades ago a local businessman decided to honour these primates by throwing them a feast with every fruit and vegetable one can imagine laid out. However, what once started as a simple tradition is now a full-blown festival that is held on the last Sunday of November every year.

What awaits travelers at this offbeat festival

Apart from being immersed in what one can only call an unconventional gathering; tourists get to take in the beauty of the historic Khmer Ruins and the ancient Phra Prang Sam Yot Temple where the buffet is laid out, and its not just your regular buffet, the lavish feast happens at four times during the day and consists of not only of tons of fruits and veggies but also sticky rice, traditional Thai desserts and non-alcoholic drinks for the simians.

However, the festival isnt just a day of celebration for the macaques, visitors too can indulge in sweet treats like coconut jelly with ice and syrup and the traditional Khai Khem Din So Phong, which is an egg covered with a mixture of water, salt and sugar and one of Thailands most popular savoury dishes. Additionally, tourists can dance the weekend away to traditional Lopburi tunes which combine ancient Thai melodies with the classical guitar while exploring the local craft and food stalls.

Essential tips for first time visitors

Firstly, the festival commences at noon when the first buffet is laid out and this year it will be held on the 24th of November. Next, there are unfortunately not many accommodation options in the city but if one hasnt booked their stay well in advance fret not, as there are multiple trains that go from Bangkok to Lopburi thereby facilitating the perfect day trip.

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Furthermore, the image of a thousand monkeys in your vicinity might induce anxiety in some regarding their safety, but its worth noting that there has been no incident reported where humans were put in harms way by these simians. Instead, the macaques of Lopburi are generally accustomed to humans therefore allowing them to enjoy the festival without any concerns.

Whats even more remarkable is the spirit of hospitality that defines Lopburi. The local people, known for their warmth and generosity, have made the conscious decision to keep the festival entrance free of charge and make it a November to Remember for both humans and monkeys alike!

First Published: November 23, 2024, 19:02 IST
Aadar Jain Poses With Wife-To-Be Alekha Advani In First Appearance After Roka Ceremony | Watch

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 24, 2024, 01:00 IST

Aadar Jain and Alekha Advani stepped out of Aadars parents residence to greet and pose for the paparazzi, marking the special occasion.

Aadar Jain and Alekha Advani pose for paps after their roka ceremony.

Aadar Jain and Alekha Advani made their much-anticipated first public appearance following their roka ceremony in Mumbai on Saturday evening. The couple stepped out of Aadars parents residence to greet and pose for the paparazzi, marking the special occasion with their radiant smiles. In a video shared by celebrity photographer Viral Bhayani, Aadar, who previously dated Tara Sutaria, was seen thanking the paps for their wishes and blessings, while Alekha stood by his side, looking absolutely stunning.

Aadar and Alekha coordinated their outfits in shades of ivory. Aadar donned a cream embroidered sherwani paired with matching trousers. Alekha, on the other hand, dazzled in a white sari with a pearl-embellished blouse. She accessorised her look with layers of pearl necklaces, diamond earrings, and a sleek bracelet, complementing her henna-decorated hands. The couples chemistry was palpable as they exchanged loving glances while posing together, unable to take their eyes off each other.

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While the ceremony was a joyous affair, it coincided with an intriguing Instagram update from Aadars ex-girlfriend, Bollywood actress Tara Sutaria. Tara shared a post promoting the book Karma Is A Btch by Shome Mak, captioning it, Just got my hands on @Shomemaks new book. #KarmaIsAB*tch I cannot wait to start reading. Everyone grab your copy on Amazon now." The books cover hints at themes of lust, lies, and betrayal," sparking speculation among fans about whether the timing of her post was a subtle reaction to Aadars roka ceremony or purely coincidental.

Aadar and Alekha announced their engagement in September, with Aadar calling Alekha his first crush, best friend, and forever" in an emotional Instagram post.

Before dating Alekha, Aadar was in a long-term relationship with Tara, with the former couple frequently attending Kapoor family events. Alekha and Tara were reportedly close friends.

First Published: November 24, 2024, 01:00 IST
Aahana Kumra Turns Up The Heat In Printed Bikini; Enjoys The Sun, Sea And Sand In Maldives | PIC

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 20:16 IST

Aahana Kumra has set Instagram on fire with her latest picture from the Maldives!

Aahana Kumra was last seen in Salaam Venky.

Aahana Kumra has a massive following on social media. The actress has over 1.6 million followers on Instagram alone, and she often treats them with stunning glimpses from her day-to-day life. Aahana is an avid traveller, and fans love to see pictures from her holidays! Much to her fans delight, the actress has shared a sneak-peek into her Maldives vacay. She turned up the heat in a printed bikini, and the picture has taken social media by storm!

On Saturday, Aahana Kumra took to her Instagram account to share her photo from the Maldives. She raised the temperature as she flaunted her toned physique in a navy-blue printed bikini. Aahana looked effortlessly gorgeous in a multicoloured bikini top paired with navy blue bottoms. She left her hair open, as she posed against the backdrop of clear blue waters. Sharing the picture, the actress wrote, The sun The sea And Me #saturdaze #saturday #saturdate #saturdayvibes #saturdaymood #saturdaymood #aahanakumra #maldives #maldivesislands #beachplease #sun #sea #sealife #beachlife #beachvibes #beachday #bikini." Check out her post below.

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View this post on Instagram A post shared by Aahana S Kumra (@aahanakumra)

Meanwhile, on November 20, Aahana Kumra shared a picture as she cast her vote in the Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024. She was seen flaunting her inked finger, as she urged everyone to follow their civic duty and go vote. Its cool to vote! Woke up. Queued up. Voted. Because its the most important to exercise our constitutional right! Wake up. Go and Vote! Also celebrating Gopis first vote! #MaharashtraElections2024 #vote #exerciseyourvote #getinked #jaimaharashtra," she wrote.

Aahana Kumra, who made her television debut in Yudh with Amitabh Bachchan, has been a part of many successful shows. However, a few months ago, the actress opened up about her struggles and mentioned that she has not been offered any roles for the last three years. Hindustan Times quoted her saying, I am not being offered shows anymore. I havent received an offer in more than three years. Nobody is offering me anything. I used to do so much work on OTT but havent done any since so many years, and I am completely fine with it."

She revealed that she has opened her production house, and has been focusing on that for now. I will be happy to make announcements as soon as we have something. We did a Puja for the production house a few days ago. I will be producing both OTT and theatrical projects. My concentration is there only, I am doing that from morning to evening," she added.

Aahana Kumra was last seen in Kajol and Vishal Jethwa starrer Salaam Venky, in which she played the role of Sanjana, a TV journalist.

First Published: November 23, 2024, 20:13 IST
BTS Star V Shares Cryptic Post Amid Min Hee Jin And HYBE Feud: 'You're Overthinking It...'

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Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 04:54 IST

BTS star Vs subtle post appears to be a response to the storm of rumours and allegations surrounding him.

Kim Taehyung, also known as V from BTS, is currently serving in the South Korean military.

BTS sensation V shared a cryptic Instagram Story on November 22, 2024, sparking discussions among fans. The post featured an illustration of a cat with the text, Youre overthinking it again. Things will be fine." V added his caption to the post, writing, I got it, Teacher Cat. I wont break down."

The timing of Vs post has drawn attention as it coincides with ongoing controversy involving Min Hee Jin, former CEO of ADOR, and HYBE, BTSs label. Although V did not explicitly reference the situation, fans speculated that his message could be related to recent developments.

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The feud began when Min Hee Jin, during a live broadcast, revealed that V had contacted her, even messaging her at dawn on her birthday. She did not clarify that the birthday she referred to was her most recent one. Instead, her claims surfaced during an interview with renowned music critic Kim Young Dae in October 2024.

However, her statement coincided with Vs military enlistment, prompting allegations that he violated military phone usage rules. A netizen even filed a formal complaint, accusing V of receiving preferential treatment.

However, an investigation by the South Korean military cleared V of the allegations. The findings were as follows:

Military Phone Policy: Recruits are permitted to use phones during specific rest periods, including weekends and public holidays, for up to one hour daily.

Vs Phone Usage: The military confirmed that V adhered to these rules, using his phone only during authorised afternoon time slots, not at dawn as alleged.

Special Treatment: The investigation found no evidence of preferential treatment or rule violations by V.

Privacy Restrictions: Details of Vs calls and messages were not disclosed to protect his personal privacy under South Koreas data protection laws.

Despite these clarifications, Min Hee Jins remarks and her ongoing rift with HYBE have fuelled public speculation. Min Hee Jin is a notable figure in the K-pop industry, closely associated with the success of the rising group NewJeans. The group is managed by ADOR, a HYBE subsidiary, where she held the position of CEO. However, HYBE has accused Min Hee Jin of attempting to separate ADOR from the parent label, fuelling further controversy.

Kim Taehyung, also known as V from BTS, is currently serving in the South Korean military and is expected to be discharged on June 10, 2025. V enlisted in the military on December 11, 2023, along with bandmate RM.

Location : Seoul, South Korea

First Published: November 23, 2024, 04:39 IST
Dhanush Hugs Nayanthara's Rumoured Ex-Boyfriend Simbu At A Wedding Amid Feud, Pics Go Viral

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Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 23:10 IST

Dhanush and Simbu caught up at a recent wedding in Chennai amid the actor's feud with Nayanthara.

Dhanush and Simbu's photos from a recent wedding goes viral.

Tamil superstar Dhanush met with Simbu aka Silambarasan TR at Aakash Baskarans family function on Saturday. The actor, who is in a legal battle with Nayanthara over her Netflix documentary, coincindentally met her rumoured ex-boyfriend, Simbu. The actors were seen greeting each other with big smiles and a warm hug. Dhanush and Simbu also posed for a few photos together.

In the photos gone viral, Dhanush rocked an all-black look. On the other hand, Simbu was seen in a beige outfit. The actor sported a big bun, retaining his look from his upcoming film, Thug Life. Check out the photos below:

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For the unversed, Nayanthara and Simbu were rumoured to be dating after they starred in the 2006 film, Vallavan. They were often photographed together and it was reported that their relationship had turned serious. However, they broke up a while after.

Nayanthara went on to date and marry director Vignesh Shivan. The couple got married in June 2022 and their wedding was featured in her recently released documentary, Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairytale. The documentary shed light on their relationship, which began on the sets of Naanum Rowdy Dhaan. The film was produced by Dhanush.

The couple used footage from the film in the documentary which landed her in legal trouble with Dhanush. The Tamil actor-producer-director sued Nayanthara and the team for using footage from Naanum Rowdy Dhaan without procuring an NOC (No Objection Certificate). Nayanthara had called out Dhanush for the legal notice, claiming that she had been chasing him for two years for the NOC but he did not pay heed to her requests.

In her open letter, Nayanthara claimed, After two long years of battling it out with you for an NOC (No Objection Certificate) and waiting for your approval for our Netflix documentary release, we finally decided to give up, re-edit and settle for the current version since you declined to permit the usage of Naanum Rowdy Dhaan songs or visual cuts, even the photographs to say the least despite multiple requests."

Whats even more shocking is your legal notice after the release of the trailer of the Netflix Documentary. We were startled to read those lines wherein you questioned the usage of some videos (just 3 seconds) which were shot in our personal devices and that too BTS visuals that are already very much publicly present on social media and claimed a sum of Rs.10 crores as damages for the mere 3 seconds. This is an all time low from you and speaks so much about your character. I wish you were half the person you portray to be on stage in audio launches in front of your innocent fans but clearly you do not practice what you preach, at least not for me and my partner," she added.

Dhanush has not reacted to the claims. He did run into her at a recent wedding but chose to ignore her. Nayanthara also ignored the actor at the gathering.

First Published: November 23, 2024, 23:10 IST
Opinion articles written in the style of their author. These texts are to be based on verified facts and must be respectful towards people, even though their actions may be criticized. All opinion articles written by individuals from outside the staff of EL PAIS shall feature, along with the authors name (regardless of their greater or lesser renown), a footer stating their office, academic title, political affiliation (if any) and main occupation, or the occupation related to the topic being assessed

Nothing is worse than the pain of losing a child, but what followed for the parents of the elementary school children slaughtered in the Sandy Hook mass shooting in 2012 was a parallel hell: a campaign of harassment and threats unleashed by the master of all hoaxes.

The last thing the parents of the 20 children killed in Newport, Connecticut needed was for a conspiracy theorist like Alex Jones to accuse them of staging a hoax. Jones ran the toxic misinformation website Infowars. On his channel, which was broadcast on the platform, Jones repeated, over and over again, that the massacre had been a set-up, that the parents were method actors, that the whole thing had been staged by the government in order to ban the possession of guns by ordinary citizens. Jones histrionic speeches prompted his followers to harass the suffering parents on the street, and threaten them with violence and death and even desecration of the graves of their loved ones.

The HBO documentary The Truth Vs Alex Jones is gut-churning and will make your blood boil. It chronicles the rise and fall of one of Americas great ultra-right misinformation disseminators, from his early days as a TV presenter to the two trials that brought him down.

Before the Sandy Hook massacre, Jones had already insisted that the government was involved in the 9/11 Twin Towers attack; that fluoride in tap water can kill; that radiation from the Japanese Fukushima plant had crossed the Pacific and contaminated California (it had been detected, but in minimal quantities). Each story came with a remedy from Jones teleshop. For example, iodine supplements would save the thyroid from the nuclear fallout. Some of his followers say that they saw him as a comedian, a funny, cheeky guy; more believed what they heard: a quarter of U.S. citizens believed Jones when he said the Sandy Hook shooting had been staged.

When 20-year-old Adam Lanza shot his mother at home and proceeded to slaughter 20 children and six adults at the Sandy Hook school, it didnt take Jones 48 hours to give his deluded version of events. And he went on and on. He examined every gesture of the parents of the dead in a bid to prove they were agents of a conspiracy. He showed them on screens, gave their names and email addresses. He turned them into a target. One follower sneaked into the home of grieving parents looking for the child who, according to Jones, would be alive and simply in hiding. These parents were then faced with the absurd challenge of having to prove that their son had existed and was now dead  a useless exercise as believers in conspiracies rarely allow themselves to be convinced.

The documentary includes the memories of the torn families and the lies of a deranged Jones. The story ramps up in dramatic intensity during Jones two trials for defamation. One trial took place in Texas and the other in Connecticut. Both were filmed and at times come across like a movie. The confrontation between Jones and Scarlett Lewis, the mother of a murdered six-year-old boy, is worthy of any courtroom drama. Do you think Im an actress? she asks him. No, I dont, he replies. I know you believe me, but when you leave this courtroom youll say the same thing again on your show, she concludes. And she was right.

Jones attitude and gestures are puzzling. In the first trial, he tried to be awkwardly empathetic, apologizing in his own way, and making out he had not lied knowingly. In fact, he accepted the shooting as 100% true. But this didnt wash as before and after the courtroom sessions, he would stand in front of the camera and insult the court and repeat his lies. He was ordered to pay $55 million to the first parents who sued him. At the second trial, he became more insolent and presented himself as the guardian of free speech. The judge becomes exasperated with his evasions and inconsistencies not to mention his lies under oath. This second trial cost Jones $965 million.

The families have not received the compensation because Alex Jones declared insolvency and Infowars was declared bankrupt. The documentary ends with a bitter victory for truth, but there is no happy ending. And what has followed has only served to rub salt into the wound: Jones re-opened his account on X, thanks to Elon Musk  the prominence of people like Jones on X is now a good reason to move to Bluesky. Vice President-elect J. D. Vance said in 2021 that Jones was someone who speaks truths.

Infowars was part of the fake media ecosystem that helped dial up the ultra-right noise as early as 2016  along with Steve Bannons Breitbart. Now that Donald Trump is back in office with a free rein, people like Jones will flourish  Jones and the demagogue Tucker Carlson, the worst of the Kennedys, and the other anti-vaccine, QAnon and pizzagate conspiracists. And, above all, the biggest troll on the networks, Musk himself, Trumps right-hand man.

While the bankruptcy proceedings were being finalized, Infowars continued to spread hoaxes and sell pseudo-pharmaceuticals. Jones fueled the delusions of his followers almost uninterrupted. But the court has ordered an auction to sell off Infowars and, in an ironic twist, the bid was won by The Onion, a satirical and progressive website that intends to turn it into a parody. It is not yet a done deal: Jones has appealed it. It would be a joke if that were the only price Alex Jones had to pay. But winter is coming. A dark era looms.

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Naga Chaitanya Opens Up About His 2nd Wedding, Says Wife-To-Be Sobhita Dhulipala 'Fills A Void'

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Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 16:48 IST

With only 10 days to go for SoChay wedding, Naga Chaitanya revealed that he is looking forward to begin a new journey with Sobhita Dhulipala.

Naga Chaitanya says he is looking forward to begin a new journey with Sobhita Dhulipala.

Naga Chaitanya is celebrating his 37th birthday today, his first one after getting engaged to Sobhita Dhulipala. He is spending his special day with his close friends and family in Goa. Sobhita and Naga Chaitanya are all set to tie the knot in 10 days, and with the wedding inching closer, Chay revealed that he is really excited, and cant wait to begin a new journey with her.

In a conversation with ETimes, Naga Chaitanya talked about his wedding with Sobhita. He said that while theres definitely a lot of excitement, there is no feeling of nervousness. There is definitely a lot of excitement, butterflies not much (smiles). Butterflies are only because of the planning and the logistics that are involved on those days, like bringing the guest list together and putting the other details of the wedding together." He confirmed that the wedding will take place at Annapurna Studios in Hyderabad, and that it has a very special sentiment attached to it. He revealed that it was a conscious decision by his family to have the wedding there in front of his grandfathers statue and seek his blessings.

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Naga Chaitanya further said that it is an extremely special year for him as he is looking forward to starting a new journey with Sobhita! I connect deeply with her, she understands me beautifully and fills a void in me. Its going to be an amazing journey ahead," said Chay. When asked whether Sobhita has planned something for his birthday, the actor replied, She leaves all the planning to me, as long as she is there with me thats good enough for me."

Sobhita Dhulipala and Naga Chaitanya, who got engaged in August this year, will get married on December 4, 2024. Naga Chaitanya was previously married to Samantha Ruth Prabhu. The two called it quits in 2021, after four years of marriage.

A few days ago, their wedding invite was leaked online. The invite was shared in a basket with personalized goodies, and it was reported that Sobhita has packed around 100 wedding invites herself! She curated the basket with her favourite picks, including handmade Kondapalli dancing dolls, old school bath basics, Filter coffee kit, among other things.

First Published: November 23, 2024, 16:48 IST
Nagarjuna REVEALS His Father ANR Attempted Suicide, Wanted To Kill Himself: 'People Made Fun Of...'

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Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 07:43 IST

Nagarjuna says his father was mocked by others for his 'feminine' traits.

Nagarjuna's father ANR made his debut in 1944 with the movie, Sri Seeta Rama Jananam. (Photos: IMDb)

Veteran actor Nagarjuna was speaking at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) on Friday when he opened up about his father ANR. The actor made a shocking revelation and claimed that his father had once attempted suicide and wanted to kill himself because people used to mock him for his feminine mannerisms.

In those days women were not allowed to be an actor or act on stage. So, he started playing womens roles. He first became a heroine on stage," Nagarjuna said about his father as quoted by Free Press Journal.

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As fate took its turn, he was at a railway station when famous producer Ghantasala Balaramayya, who was sitting in the train, saw him walking and said nice eyes, nice nose. Would you like to act? Rest, as they say, is history," the actor recalled.

I distinctly remember him swaying his hips. He thought that was acting because he had done this on stage," he said.

Talking about how others mocked his father for his feminine traits, Nagarjuna revealed that it disappointed ANR a lot, who once even attempted suicide. People made fun of him and that really dejected him. He went to Marina Beach where he said he wanted to kill himself because there was so much laughter (mockery) and all of that. He told me he went waist deep into the seawater and then something in him told him (to not do it) and he corrected himself," Nagarjuna said.

Somebody told him your voice becomes rougher if you smoke cigars. He didnt smoke earlier. He also used to go to the beach early in the morning and scream at the ocean for 5-10 minutes to make his voice more hoarse," the actor added.

Nagarjunas father ANR made his debut in 1944 with the movie, Sri Seeta Rama Jananam". In his seven-decade-long career, he acted in several movies including Vipra Narayana", Tenali Krishna", Sri Ramadasu", LailaMajnu", and Balaraju".

Location : Goa, India

First Published: November 23, 2024, 07:43 IST
Tara Sutaria Attends Ex Aadar Jain's Pre-Wedding Ceremony? Here's The TRUTH | Fact Check

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Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 22:40 IST

Tara Sutaria looked gorgeous in golden while attending a wedding in the city.

Tara Sutaria was previously dating Aadar Jain.

Bollywood actress Tara Sutaria stepped out amid her ex-boyfriend Aadar Jains roka ceremony. The actress was seen decked up to attend a wedding in Mumbai. In a video shared online, Tara looked stunning in a golden saree, which she styled with a matching blouse. She wore a heavy choker and a pair of statement earings.

The Student Of The Year 2 star completed her look by tying her hair into a neat bun and topping it with jasmine flowers. She was also seen wearing bangles and carrying a golden purse. Her decked up appearance has led to the confusion that she is attending Aadars pre-wedding ceremony.

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However, the truth is that she was attending a friends wedding. The ceremony was also attended by Sanjana Sanghi. Check out the video below:

Amid Aadars pre-wedding celebrations, Taras Instagram Stories have caught everyones attention. The actress shared a post in which she revealed she is going to start reading a book that is titled, Karma Is A B**ch." She shared a picture of the book and wrote, Just got my hands on Shome Maks new book, Karma Is A B**ch. I cannot wait to start reading. Everyone grab your copy now!"

Tara was previously dating Aadar Jain. The couple dated for a few years before they parted ways in 2023. In an exclusive chat with News18 Showsha, Tara confirmed the relationship has indeed ended Tara and Aadar parted amicably and have decided to remain friends. However, they havent been spotted together in recent times.

She is now rumoured to be dating Arunoday Singh. The actor has been seen in films such as Main Tera Hero and Yeh Saali Zindagi. Tara is yet to comment on the rumours.

Meanwhile, Aadar is getting married to Alekha Advani.

First Published: November 23, 2024, 22:40 IST
Tara Sutaria Shares 'Karma Is A B*tch' Book Pic Amid Ex Aadar Jain's Roka, Post Goes Viral

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Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 22:40 IST

Tara Sutaria's post coincided with her ex-boyfriend Aadar Jains roka ceremony with Alekha Advani.

Tara Sutaria and Aadar Jain broke up in 2023.

Bollywood actress Tara Sutaria has stirred up social media with her latest Instagram post. Tara shared a photo of her holding the book Karma Is A Btch* by Shome Mak, captioning it: Just got my hands on @Shomemaks new book. #KarmaIsAB*tch I cannot wait to start reading. Everyone grab your copy on Amazon now."

The books cover teases themes of lust, lies, and deadly consequences of betrayal," leaving fans wondering if the timing of her post was coincidental or deliberate.

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Her post coincided with her ex-boyfriend Aadar Jains roka ceremony with Alekha Advani. Videos from the ceremony have gone viral, showcasing Aadar celebrating alongside his family, including a heartfelt moment of him dancing with his brother.

Taras cryptic post has sparked speculation among fans, with many interpreting it as a subtle dig at Aadar. One user commented, The timing is everything!" while another added, Is she taking a dig?"

Aadar Jain and Alekha Advani got engaged in September this year. Sharing the joyous moment on social media, Aadar wrote, My first crush, my best friend & now, my forever." The couple has been in the spotlight since their engagement, with fans eagerly following their love story.

Before dating Alekha, Aadar was in a relationship with Tara Sutaria. The two made several public appearances together and attended Kapoor family events, including Christmas celebrations and Armaan Jains wedding. However, their relationship ended in 2023.

Interestingly, Alekha and Tara share a friendly history. The two reportedly had a close bond and followed each other on social media. Alekha even posted a picture with Aadar and Tara, humorously tagging herself as the third wheel." Reports suggest Alekha accompanied the ex couple on a romantic trip to Paris in 2022.

Aadar Jain, son of Rima Jain and grandson of Bollywood legends Raj Kapoor and Krishna Kapoor, debuted in Bollywood with the 2017 film Qaidi Band and was last seen in Hello Charlie.

First Published: November 23, 2024, 22:40 IST
Opinion | Four Lessons For Congress After Maharashtra, Jharkhand Election Results

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 14:44 IST

Until the Congress shifts its focus from solely opposing the BJP to offering actionable, grassroots-driven solutions, it risks continued failure in state elections

For the Congress, the lesson is clear: relying solely on anti-BJP rhetoric and national narratives will not suffice. (PTI)

The Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly elections highlight a sobering reality for the Congress: its inability to capitalise on opportunities at the state level continues to weaken its position within opposition alliances and the broader electorate. In Maharashtra, the Congresss lack of effective grassroots mobilisation contributed to the dismal performance of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), underscoring its failure to connect with Vidarbhas voters despite high expectations. The BJP-led Mahayutis resounding victory has further consolidated its dominance, leaving Congress floundering in its wake.

In Jharkhand, while the INDIA bloc, led by Hemant Sorens Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), secured a decisive victory, Congresss contribution was marginal. The JMMs focus on tribal welfare, employment, and rural development resonated with voters, while the Congress lagged in presenting a distinct vision or localised leadership. The party relied heavily on the JMMs groundwork, exposing its inability to independently mobilise voters or contribute significantly to the alliances success.

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For the Congress, the lesson is clear: relying solely on anti-BJP rhetoric and national narratives will not suffice. To regain relevance, the party must prioritise grassroots connections, address state-specific issues, and build local leadership capable of rallying voters. Regional parties like the JMM show that tangible, localised campaigns hold the key to state-level successa blueprint Congress must adopt if it hopes to re-establish itself as a political force in India.

Course Correction of Anti-Modi Narrative

The Congresss over-reliance on an anti-Modi campaign strategy continues to be its Achilles heel, especially in state elections. While the party fixates on criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it overlooks the fact that Modis widespread popularity and governance record resonate deeply with voters. Such relentless attacks often backfire, triggering voter consolidation in favour of the BJP, as seen in Maharashtra. Here, the Congresss rhetoric alienated floating voters, pushing them towards the Mahayuti.

Similarly, in Jharkhand, Congresss lack of focus on state-specific issues and dependence on a national narrative proved ineffective. While the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) led the INDIA bloc to victory, the Congresss contribution was minimal.

The party must recognise that national narratives alone cannot win state elections. Persisting with an anti-Modi fixation risks further electoral setbacks. For Congress, the path forward lies in self-reform and a fresh strategy that resonates with the electorate, beyond mere opposition rhetoric.

Strengthening Grassroots Presence

The outcomes of the Maharashtra and Jharkhand elections highlight the critical importance of grassroots mobilisation in state elections. The Congress must move beyond its reliance on the Gandhi familys leadership and adopt a bottom-up strategy. State elections require direct engagement with local issues and voters, rather than relying on top-down campaign approaches.

The JMMs success is a testament to its relentless focus on grassroots concerns. Similarly, the BJP-led Mahayuti in Maharashtra, with its emphasis on local issues, ensured effective voter consolidation. These examples underline how prioritising ground-level engagement leads to electoral success.

Without strengthening its grassroots organisation and addressing localised voter concerns, the Congress risks continued electoral irrelevance in state polls. A recalibration towards empowering its regional units is essential for its survival.

Focus On Leadership And Unity

The BJP-led Mahayuti alliances landslide victory in Maharashtra has solidified the BJPs dominance, showcasing its strong organisational capabilities and effective campaign strategies. Meanwhile, the JMM-led INDIA bloc emerged as the real winner in Jharkhand, with Hemant Sorens leadership and focus on local issues resonating deeply with the electorate. The Congresss disappointing performance in both states highlights ongoing challenges in connecting with voters and presenting a compelling alternative to the BJP. To regain its relevance, the Congress must adopt a positive, forward-looking vision that addresses the specific concerns of the electorate.

Additionally, the Congress needs to focus on leadership and unity, fostering a cohesive team that can inspire confidence among voters. Internal disunity and leadership crises have plagued the grand old party, weakening its position in both states. The party must prioritise fostering unity and presenting strong, charismatic leaders who can inspire confidence among voters. Effective leadership and a cohesive team are essential for mounting a credible challenge to the BJP.

Moreover, the Congress must realise that a Rahul Gandhi-centric campaign will not suffice to win state elections. The party needs strong state leadership and credible local faces to connect with the electorate. In both Maharashtra and Jharkhand, the Congress failed to create local leadership and bring in credible local faces, which significantly impacted its performance. Adapting to the changing political dynamics in India is essential, and the grand old party must embrace new technologies, innovative campaign methods, and a more inclusive approach to appeal to a broader base of voters.

By learning from the successes of regional parties like the JMM, the Congress can work towards regaining its footing and effectively challenging the BJP in future elections.

Establishing An Alternative Narrative

The Maharashtra and Jharkhand election results underscore Congresss failure to present a compelling alternative narrative to the BJP. The partys over-reliance on Rahul Gandhis confrontational approach against Prime Minister Narendra Modifocused primarily on criticism and defamationhas not resonated with voters. In contrast, leaders like Maharashtras Eknath Shinde and Jharkhands Hemant Soren succeeded by presenting clear visions that addressed grassroots issues. These localised approaches connected directly with voters, highlighting real concerns and aspirations.

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Assembly elections are inherently about state-specific problems, not national-level opposition to Modi. Until the Congress shifts its focus from solely opposing the BJP to offering actionable, grassroots-driven solutions, it risks continued failure in state elections.

The author, a columnist and research scholar, teaches journalism at St. Xaviers College (autonomous), Kolkata. His handle on X is @sayantan_gh. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: November 23, 2024, 14:40 IST
Opinion | The British Empire Didnt End Slavery, It Reinvented It

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 20:14 IST

What the Empire simply did was devise an alternative means of reintroducing slavery, by terming it as indentured labour across its colonies, and that sounded politically correct to the Western world

Indentured labour in Trinidad (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

A recent post on X by Elon Musk, stating that the British Empire was the driving force behind ending the vast majority of global slavery," brought forth a great deal of outrage from his Indian readers, and rightfully so. Slavery, which was officially abolished in the British colonies on August 28, 1833, with the passing of the Slavery Abolition Act, created severe labour shortages in British-ruled plantation islands, as newly freed former slaves refused to work for the meagre wages offered at the time.

This shortage compelled the British Empire, under pressure from wealthy white planters, to find a politically acceptable alternative for obtaining unfree labour from the native populations in British colonies such as India. Consequently, the indentured labour system was introduced, with clauses such as restrictions on freedom of movement, penalties for negligence, absence from work etc. being made into criminal offences.

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Thus, indentured labour was nothing but slavery with a contract. The notion that the British Empire abolished slavery across most of the world is, in reality, a myth. What the Empire simply did was quickly devise an alternative means of reintroducing slavery, by terming it as indentured labour across its colonies, and that sounded politically correct and socially more acceptable to the white Western world.

Owing to the numerous territorial conquests by Britain during this period, the British Empire liberally utilised its colonies as both sources and destinations for indentured labour. The primary destinations for Indian indentured labour were the British colonies of Trinidad, Mauritius, and British Guyana.

A Brief Overview of the European Slave Trade in India Before the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833

The arrival of Europeans in India during the 17th century introduced a new dimension to the already thriving slave market under Islamic rulers. European powers entered the slave trade in the early 17th century, sourcing war captives from raids and conquests carried out by Arakanese rulers in the Bay of Bengal region. These raids created a systematic network of kidnappings, with countless Bengalis being captured and sold, turning ports such as Arakan, Chittagong, Hooghly, and Tamluk into infamous slave markets.

By the 1620s, the Arakanese were supplying over 1,000 slaves annually to the Dutch market. Not to be outdone, the Portuguese began conducting their own slave raids, targeting settlements along the Ganga belt. However, these activities soon drew the attention of the Mughals. By the mid-17th century, the Dutch were accused of illegally trafficking around 5,000 Bengalis annually to Batavia. Consequently, by the 1660s, the Arakan-Bengal slave trade was brought to a halt.

However, as the Bengal source of slaves dried up, another alternative supply of labour emerged, which provided irregular yet large numbers of more compliant Indian labour from both north and south India for European factories. Famines and wars led to the self-selling or voluntary sale of many adults and children, who were desperate to save themselves from starvation. The purchase of slaves of this kind is historically documented in Odisha, Bengal, Thanjavur, Madurai, and Chingleput, and this continued for the next two centuries.

One documented slave purchase took place in 1622, after a prolonged drought (161820), when the Dutch bought 1,000 slaves at Coromandel and sent them to work in Banda and Batavia.

In cases of local wars, entire families were often sold, and between 1658 and 1662, more than 7,000 slaves were bought and sent to Sri Lanka. In the 1670s, a prolonged period of crop failures led to large-scale slave sales from Tuticorin, with slaves being sent to Sri Lanka and Batavia. Indian slaves were also exported to the Dutch colonies in South-East Asia. In the first half of the 17th century, besides the Dutch, Danish, and Portuguese, English traders were also heavily involved in the slave trade, sending Indian slaves from these regions to work on rice and pepper plantations in various foreign destinations. In the latter half of the 17th century, English slave traders also shipped slaves from the port of Madras.

In the 18th century, India saw a rising number of political instabilities, armed conflicts, general financial mismanagement by the ruling classes, and increasing taxes. All these factors combined to create the horrific Bengal famine of 1770, which wiped out almost one-third of the population of Bengal. As the value of money fell, an overall decline in living standards led to an increasing outward flow of labour.

Additionally, as Indian political control over the ports weakened, slave markets began thriving around European colonial settlements. By the second half of the 18th century, French and Dutch colonies were taking in large numbers of Indian slaves, particularly when a series of famines struck eastern India.

In 1785, after a crop failure, many children were put up for sale, and the Collector of Dhaka reported seeing boats loaded with children of all ages." A few years later, Lord Cornwallis wrote, Hardly a man or woman exists in a corner of this populous town [Calcutta] who hath not at least one slave child most of them were stolen from their parents or bought for perhaps a measure of rice, in times of scarcity."

Those exported as slaves often included nomadic farmers, poor labouring classes, or aboriginal people known as Hill Coolies or dhangurs. These people were chosen based on their being young, active, and able-bodied. Most were unaware of where they were being sent, the nature of the work they would undertake, or the length of their journey.

Bowing to pressure from the abolitionists back home in Britain, by the end of the 18th century, the British were forced to start seizing ships carrying slaves, even though their main focus was on the ships of their trading enemies (Dutch and Portuguese); and the Slavery Abolition Act was passed in 1833. However, soon after the 1833 Act was passed, a solution to the labour crisis in colonial plantations arising from the abolishment of slavery was chalked out. Indians were turned into indentured labourers by British policymakers and exported to their sugar colonies under the new indenture system.

After The Abolishment Of Slavery

After the abolition of slavery in 1833, plantation owners explored various options for procuring labour, including sourcing workers from Africa, Canada, Europe, and China, but none of these proved viable. These failures turned the Empires attention to India as a long-term and reliable source of labour, and in the 19th century, India became the primary supplier of labour to the sugar colonies across the British Empire. As noted by the Royal Commission of Labour in 1892, the importation of East Indian coolies did much to rescue the sugar industry from bankruptcy."

The Indian indenture system was entirely state-controlled and involved a written and so-called voluntary contract (an agreement, also known as girmit in Fiji), which emigrants signed or provided a thumbprint for before leaving India. While the contract contained certain protective clauses for the workers, there were significant disparities between the rhetoric given in the contract paper and the ground realities on the plantations. There were innumerable reports of fraud and the use of force during the recruitment and transportation of labourers, as well as the appalling conditions under which Indian workers were forced to labour on the plantations.

A look at the indenturing process of labour from India reveals considerable evidence of the harsh treatment meted out to the indentured workers. In Jamaica, an ordinance fixed the wage rates at one shilling per working day (9 hours) for adult males, and 9 pence for women and children; however, the actual wages paid were much lower (around 10 pence for adult males). New labourers were provided with rations free of charge for the first three months, but the cost of the rations was later deducted from their already meagre wages. Wages were so low that the labourers could hardly make any savings, and furthermore, indentured labourers were not allowed to earn extra income. Absence from work was dealt with harshly by most employers. The harsh working conditions faced by the indentured labourers in Jamaica were evident in the high suicide rates among them. Death rates from tuberculosis and malaria were also high. Similar harsh conditions prevailed in Mauritius and Demerara, while in Trinidad, indentured labourers from India faced additional racial biases, being labelled as barbarians, pagans, and so on.

Conclusion

Thus, similar to slavery, the use of indentured labour in colonial plantations remained a process of extracting maximum profits by reducing transportation costs and keeping wages at a bare minimum. Additionally, wages were deducted for taking leave from work or for other work-related negligence, with imprisonment sometimes awarded for such offences. In this way, indentured labour was nothing but slavery with a written contract that claimed the workers had agreed to all the terms and conditions.

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The use of indentured labour from colonies like India to serve the British Empires trade and financial interests in the 19th and 20th centuries tells a story of uneven power dynamics between the labourers from the colonies and the profits flowing into the ruling country. Supplying indentured labour from India provided additional benefits, enabling maximum profit extraction by employing workers in plantations under near-slave conditions, with little compensation for their extremely hard work and harsh living conditions.

The author is a well-known travel and heritage writer. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: November 23, 2024, 20:14 IST
Opinion | The Indian Constitution Is A Collective Effort, Not One Persons Work

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 14:04 IST

An indirectly elected Constituent Assembly worked through a series of committees and plenary session discussions to arrive at the worlds longest written Constitution

The Constitution of India will complete 75 years of its adoption on November 26. (Image: Shutterstock)

The Constitution of India will complete 75 years of its adoption on November 26. It was on this day in 1949 that the Constituent Assembly adopted the worlds largest charter of governance, then spanning 395 articles and eight schedules, after almost three years of deliberation. The first sitting of the Constituent Assembly took place on December 9, 1946, in New Delhi. Thereupon, over the ensuing three years, it held eleven sessions covering a total of 165 days. Of these, 114 days were dedicated to considering the draft Constitution placed before the House on November 4, 1948.

The provisions related to citizenship (Articles 5, 6,7, 8 and 9) and Article 324 pertaining to establishment of a central and permanent Election Commission came into force immediately with the adoption. The bulk of the provisions were implemented w.e.f January 26, 1950.

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In political parlance, it has become fashionable to describe the Constitution as the work of Dr BR Ambedkar. Though Dr Ambedkar chaired the Drafting Committee, which painstakingly reduced the Constitution into written form, the framing of Indias Constitution cannot be attributed to the genius of a single person.

The Constitution of Ceylon (1948), now Sri Lanka, is attributed viz. Sir Ivor Jennings, the British lawyer and academician, who in his capacity as Constitutional Adviser prepared the first draft in August 1945 sitting in Cambridge. He took into consideration the recommendations of the Soulbury Commission, the three-member all-White panel, which toured the island in 1944-45. The Order in Council for presenting the final version was drafted by Sir Barclay Nihill, then Legal Secretary of Ceylon and later Chief Justice of Kenya. In the case of Ceylon, the Constitution preceded the islands independence on February 4, 1948. It was the other way round in the case of India.

Indian public opinion, which had revolted against the all-white Simon Commission (1928) even two decades earlier, and came out with an indigenous initiative in constitution-making viz. Nehru Report the same year, could hardly have accepted a Constitution drafted by a Lord Soulbury or Ivor Jennings. Framing the Constitution of India through an elected Constituent Assembly was a longstanding demand of the Indian National Congress. The idea was first proposed by Mahatma Gandhi in 1922 and was subsequently adopted at the Faizpur session of the Congress in 1936.

II

Personally, Dr Ambedkar was sceptical about the whole idea of creating a Constituent Assembly. In his meeting with the Cabinet Mission and Governor General Lord Wavell on April 5, 1946, he clearly stated that he did not want a Constituent Assembly at all. His argument was that such an assembly would be dominated by Hindu caste members, and Scheduled Caste members would be no more than a small minority, who could be outvoted on matters of their vital interests even if three-quarters or two-third majority was required for the assemblys decision (Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Writings and Speeches, Vol.10, P.483).

Dr Ambedkar categorised the tasks envisaged for a Constituent Assembly under two headings. First were proper constitutional questions, such as the relationship between the legislature and the executive, along with their respective composition and functions. Second were communal questions.

Regarding the first category, Dr Ambedkar opined that these were matters for experts and were beyond the mental capacity of the type of man whom provincial assemblies might be expected to send up." He therefore suggested that such questions be referred to a commission chaired by an eminent constitutional lawyer from Great Britain or the USA. The commission should also include two Indian experts and one representative each from the Hindu and Muslim communities. Its terms of reference would be the Government of India Act, 1935, with the commission tasked to recommend necessary amendments to the Act.

For the second category of questions, Dr Ambedkar proposed that these be referred to a conference of leaders from different communities. If the conference failed to reach an agreed solution, His Majestys Government should deliver an award, which would be accepted provided it was not unreasonable (Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Writings and Speeches, Vol. 10, pp. 483484).

Thankfully, Dr Ambedkars suggestion was not accepted. It would have deprived the Indians of the ownership and satisfaction of formulating their own Constitution. Further, it would have denied Dr Ambedkar himself the glory of drafting the Constitution. He became the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly.

I came into the Constituent Assembly," said Dr Ambedkar replying to a debate on November 25, 1949, with no greater aspiration than to safeguard the interests of the Scheduled Castes. I had not the remotest idea that I would be called upon to undertake more responsible functions. I was therefore greatly surprised when the Assembly elected me to the Drafting Committee. I was more than surprised when the Drafting Committee elected me to be its Chairman."

III

The Drafting Committee, while submitting the draft Constitution to the President of the Constituent Assembly, Dr Rajendra Prasad, on 21 February 1948, highlighted a list of provisions where it had chosen to depart from the first draft submitted by the Constitutional Adviser, BN Rau, in October 1947, as well as from the reports of various committees set up by the Constituent Assembly and discussions in the plenary sessions.

For instance, referring to India as a Union rather than a Federation was one such departure. The Drafting Committee explicitly preferred to follow the language of the Preamble of the British North America Act, 1867. Conversely, the suggestion that the Constitution should refer to the country as Bharat(varsa) instead of India was originally made by Upendranath Barman, a member of the Constituent Assembly, upon reading the Draft Constitution in 1948. Both these suggestions were ultimately accommodated by the Constituent Assembly.

Similarly, during a discussion on 30 May 1949, Brajeswar Prasad untangled the Gordian Knot regarding the Governors appointment. The Provincial Constitution Committee, chaired by Sardar Patel, had recommended in its report dated 15 July 1947 that each province should have a Governor directly elected by the people. However, the Draft Constitution (1948), to avoid friction between two elected authoritiesthe Chief Minister and the Governorproposed that the legislature of the state should elect a panel of four persons (who need not be residents of the state), from which the President of the Union would appoint one as Governor.

Brajeswar Prasad, through his amendment, simplified the matter by proposing that the Governor should be appointed directly by the President of India under his hand and seal, dispensing with the need for any election or selection from a panel.

IV

The Constituent Assembly spiritedly debated the provisions of the draft Constitution (1948) in detail. Syed Muhammad Saadulla, himself a member of the Drafting Committee, noted in his speech on 21 November 1949 that as many as 125 membersmore than 40 per cent of the assemblys strengthwished to speak even during the second reading of the draft Constitution as it neared finalisation. He quoted a Persian couplet Marg-e-ambush jashane darad" (even death en masse is festivity). Saadulla was himself happy to join the death squad".

Consensus was key to the Constitution. The total membership of the Constituent Assembly was 389, of which 296 were from British India and 93 from the princely states (then referred to as Indian States). However, not all seats were filled or taken. For example, the Muslim League, which had won 73 of the 78 Muslim seats, abstained from joining the assembly. The total number of the seats won by the Congress was 208.

B Shiva Rao (1968), himself a member of the Constituent Assembly, noted that as many as 30 Congress members were drawn from outside the party fold. These nominees included figures like N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar, Hriday Nath Kunzru, Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar, S. Radhakrishnan, and H.C. Mookerjee, who were not, strictly speaking, party men but their participation enriched the deliberations of the Constituent Assembly (Framing of the Indian Constitution: A Study, P.96-97). Additionally, 29 Scheduled Caste representatives, six Indian Christians, three Parsis, and four tribals also won on Congress tickets.

As a result of the partition of India in August 1947, the size of the Constituent Assembly was reduced to 318 seats, including 89 seats from the princely states. Subsequently, in January 1948, the assembly increased its size to 324 by allocating a few additional seats to East Punjab and West Bengal, the provinces that had been partitioned (Framing of the Indian Constitution: A Study, p. 99). In short, the Constituent Assembly took care to maintain its representative character, which was crucial for securing consensus on the Constitution.

B Shiva Rao highlights how the Congresss anxiety to secure the largest measure of agreement for the Constitution was evident in the composition of the Drafting Committee. Of its seven members, only KM Munshi and, later, TT Krishnamachari were members of the Congress party. One member, Muhammad Saadulla, belonged to the Muslim League, while others, such as Dr Ambedkar, Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar, N. Madhava Rau, and DP Khaitan, were independent members. Dr Ambedkar, elected as Chairman of the Drafting Committee, had for many years been a staunch critic of the Congress and its policies (Framing of the Indian Constitution: A Study, p. 97).

The Constituent Assembly established various committees to develop the content of the Constitution. The most significant among them were the Union Powers Committee, the Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights and Minorities, and the Union Constitution Committee. Some of these committees also had sub-committees. Their reports were submitted to the President of the Constituent Assembly, Dr Rajendra Prasad. Notably, most of these reports had been submitted before India gained independence.

The preparatory work for drafting the Constitution predated the formation of the Constituent Assembly. Dr Rajendra Prasad, President of the Constituent Assembly and later President of India, noted that this effort began with BN Rau assuming the office of Constitutional Adviser in July 1946.

Rau, a distinguished civil servant and former High Court judge, conducted a meticulous study of various constitutions and constitutional histories from around the world. Based on his research, he prepared several brochures, papers, and notes on different aspects of constitutions for the benefit of the Constituent Assembly members. Rau also drafted the first working draft of the Constitution in October 1947, which proved invaluable to the Drafting Committee.

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As Dr Rajendra Prasad (1960) remarked, while Dr BR Ambedkar was the skilful pilot who guided the Constitution through its various stages, it was BN Rau who visualised the plan and laid its foundation (Foreword to B.N. Raus Indias Constitution in the Making, pp. vvi).

The writer is author of the book The Microphone Men: How Orators Created a Modern India (2019) and an independent researcher based in New Delhi. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: November 23, 2024, 14:04 IST
Opinion | Will The Maha Saffron Wave Push INDIA To The Brink Of A Break-Up?

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 18:17 IST

More reversals of the type witnessed in Maharashtra will only bring the INDIA bloc members to view their Congress cohort as a liabilityif they dont already

While the NDA gets a shot in the arm, the election results constitute a potentially debilitating setback to the INDIA bloc. (AP file photo)

In just five short months, the momentum in Indian politics has shifted dramatically. Following the BJP-led NDAs underwhelming performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, questions were raised about its durability and Prime Minister Narendra Modis pan-national acceptability. Today, however, it is the opposition INDIA bloc that is looking distinctly fragile.

The reason for the dramatic shift is a series of unexpected electoral reversals suffered by the INDIA bloc. The most significant of these setbacks occurred in Maharashtra, the second most electorally consequential state in the Indian Union.

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By handing the NDA a mammoth victory, Maharashtras voters have given the alliance a pretext to dismiss the Lok Sabha election jolt as an aberration. A reversal triggered more by a fake narrative" spun by a desperate opposition than any discernible anti-incumbency.

In Maharashtra, the BJP has not only smashed a five-decade-old electoral record, but it has also come agonisingly close to winning the election on its own steam. The BJP, which was the central pole holding up the NDA tent in Maharashtra, will take satisfaction from the fact that it has been able to reunite its coalition of disparate castes.

While many will try to blot the victory by insinuating that the BJP communalised the election to consolidate Hindus with its Ek Hain Toh Safe Hain slogan, the truth liesas alwayssomewhere in between.

If a catch-all religion-based invocation to unity could, by itself, bring disparate elements in Hindu society together, would the BJP have fallen short of the majority mark in the Lok Sabha election?

The fact is that the BJP has been better able to present itself as the emissary of political nationalism and economic welfarism". While the manner of its victory may be a fascinating case study for psephologists, to the BJP it is but a stepping stone to the validation it needs, to push ahead with its governance agenda.

Every party of governance needs to know that the public believes in its vision. The landslides in Haryana, Jammu and Maharashtra are a signal to the NDA that it can pursue transformational political and economic reforms. While the NDA gets a shot in the arm, the results constitute a potentially debilitating setback to the INDIA bloc. Can the Opposition alliance hold if there are lingering doubts over its linchpin, the Congress partys political adequacy?

Those speaking in defence of the Congress may well point to the partys success in Jharkhand where the INDIA bloc won a handsome mandate. But this is to miss the point completely. In almost every election the Congress has won against the BJP, barring two rare exceptions Himachal and Karnataka, the party has been pulled along by a powerful regional party.

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More reversals of the type witnessed in Maharashtra will only bring the INDIA bloc members to view their Congress cohort as a liability if they dont already. Would this prompt a decoupling from the Congress? Watch this space.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: November 23, 2024, 18:12 IST
Ancient Syrian Tomb Yields Worlds Oldest Alphabetic Writing

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 16:26 IST

In the early 2000s, archaeologists excavating a tomb at Tell Umm-el Marra, a site 35 miles east of Aleppo, Syria, discovered four clay cylinders marked with enigmatic symbols.

The clay cylinders were discovered alongside six skeleton. (Photo Credit: X)

Small clay cylinders unearthed in an ancient Syrian tomb could be the worlds oldest known evidence of alphabetic writing  predating previous examples by centuries, researchers believe.

In the early 2000s, archaeologists excavating a tomb at Tell Umm-el Marra, a site 35 miles east of Aleppo, Syria, discovered four clay cylinders marked with enigmatic symbols. Decades later, a team led by researchers from Johns Hopkins University and the University of Amsterdam has concluded that these markings might represent alphabetic letters. If confirmed, this discovery challenges long-held assumptions about the origins of the alphabet.

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Radiocarbon dating shows the cylinders were made around 2400 B.C.E., about 500 years earlier than the Proto-Sinaitic script, which is considered the oldest known alphabetic writing from around 1900 B.C.E. in the Sinai Peninsula.

The clay cylinders were discovered alongside six skeletons, jewellery, cookware, and pottery  suggesting the tomb belonged to a wealthy family. One cylinder is inscribed with the word Silanu," which archaeologists speculate might be a name  possibly of the sender or recipient of the grave goods.

But our artefacts are older and from a different area on the map, suggesting the alphabet may have an entirely different origin story than we thought," said Glenn Schwartz, a Johns Hopkins archaeologist, during a presentation at the recent American Society of Overseas Research meeting.

https://hub.jhu.edu/2024/11/21/ancient-alphabet-discovered-syria/

Alphabetic writing marks a major moment in human communication. Unlike earlier systems such as cuneiform or hieroglyphics  which required thousands of symbols to represent words or syllables  alphabets simplify language into a set of 20 to 30 characters.

Schwartz explained, Alphabetic writing changed the way people lived, how they thought, how they communicated."

The discovery could indicate that this transformative development in language began earlier and farther north than previously believed.

The artefacts purpose remains unclear, but Schwartz hypotheses that the small holes in the cylinders might have been used to attach them to objects, perhaps as labels.

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While Schwartz and several prominent scholars believe the symbols represent alphabetic letters, the conclusion is not universally accepted.

When you only have a few very short inscriptions, it can be difficult to tell how many signs the system has," noted Philippa Steele, a classicist at the University of Cambridge. She remains cautious, suggesting the symbols might resemble Proto-Sinaitic writing but not necessarily confirm it as alphabetic.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 23, 2024, 16:26 IST
Elderly US Man Agrees To Bear 30-year-old Womans Expenses On This Condition

Curated By :

Local News Desk

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 11:23 IST

Mark has plenty of money because he is an investor and businessman.

Alyssa Armoogam enjoys being pampered by Mark.

It is claimed that love is blind and does not distinguish between rich and poor, caste, religion, or community. However, love has grown so blind in modern times that it is unable to recognise age differences. Youve probably heard of or seen celebrities or others in your community who are significantly younger or older than their relationships. There has been a lot of talk lately about an American marriage with a significant age difference. The fact that the husband pays his wife for her to remain with him is even more shocking. According to a news website, Alyssa Armoogam, 30, hails from Miami, USA. She met her husband Mark, 59, on a dating app. Alyssa has previously given birth to two kids. Alyssa was greatly thrilled when Mark offered her $300 (Rs 25,000) at the start of their relationship so she could hire a babysitter for her kids. As a result, she kept her relationship with Mark.

Mark has plenty of money because he is an investor and businessman. Alyssa struck a sort of agreement with him as a result. She promised to continue dating Mark as long as she continued to receive Rs 84,000 a week from him in exchange. After two years of dating, Mark proposed to her in 2020 as their bond was growing stronger.

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In April 2022, the couple married in a modest legal ceremony, and a month later, they welcomed their two-year-old son, Keanu, into the world. Although Alyssa considers herself a trophy wife, she believes that her marriage is more of a partnership". Even after two years of marriage, Alyssa continues to receive her husbands salary and enjoys romantic presents. She occasionally purchases pricey purses and occasionally receives sponsorship for her travels. However, Alyssa enjoys being pampered by Mark. They split their money equally, so she no longer gets an allowance.

These days, she encourages other women to value themselves and accept their boyfriends permission. According to Alyssa, she initially just stayed with her partner so she could continue to receive money. However, they now support one another and bring out the best in each other. According to Alyssa, she has always desired to date men who are older than her age. Alyssa claims that neither she nor Mark are bothered by the age difference, although some people make assumptions.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 23, 2024, 11:23 IST
Donald Trump is returning to the White House with a long list of promises to fulfill on immigration: carrying out the largest deportation in history, ending the DACA and parole programs, closing the southern border with Mexico And it seems that he has every intention of carrying them out. To do so, he has named a trifecta of faithful anti-immigration hawks to three key positions: Stephen Miller as White House deputy chief of staff; Tom Homan, as border czar; and Kristi Noem, as secretary of Homeland Security. Together, they will be in charge of making his most radical immigration policies a reality.

Heres what each of them could bring to the next Trump administration, in line with what they have indicated both in the months leading up to the Republicans victory and in interviews following their appointments, along with the role they played during his first term.

Stephen Miller: The Mastermind Behind Trump's Immigration Policies

Stephen Miller during a Trump campaign rally in Lititz, Pennsylvania, on November 3, 2024. Eloisa Lopez (Reuters)

The next White House deputy chief of staff for policy will be charged with overseeing Trumps administration policies, especially when it comes to immigration. He will play an architects role, ensuring that the president-elects policies are not only feasible but also that they endure despite the numerous legal challenges and lawsuits that will arise against them. It will be a role similar to the one he played during the Republicans first term, when he was the public face of Trumps most radical immigration plans, such as the separation of thousands of families at the border in 2018.

His appointment does not require Senate confirmation, so he can get to work immediately. In fact, he is already doing so: he has participated in the first planning meetings for Trump's transition since his election victory. And even before the Republican secured his return to the presidency, Miller was part of his closest team during the campaign as an advisor and even a speechwriter.

Although Trump did not specify during his campaign how he would fulfill his promise to carry out the largest deportation in U.S. history, Miller has been working on detailed plans for doing so for years. In an interview with The New York Times last year, he outlined this and other immigration policies by the Republican. For the large-scale deportation of millions of illegal immigrants, he said that massive raids would be carried out in workplaces and public spaces with the goal of arresting the largest number of people at once. Such an operation would involve the participation of all federal and state law enforcement agencies, including the National Guard and local police officers. Once detained, Miller continued, the immigrants will be held in vast facilities that will function as stalling centers for the immigrants while their cases progress and they wait to be transferred to other countries.

Beyond detentions and deportations, Miller also said in the interview that Trump would try again to end DACA (the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy), since the Supreme Court majority that blocked his last attempt no longer exists. In addition, the president-elect will recover some of the policies he already implemented four years ago: he will seek to reestablish the so-called Remain in Mexico, an agreement with the neighboring country for asylum seekers to remain there while their applications are processed in the United States, and he will promote the reactivation of safe third country agreements with several Latin American nations. Under this type of agreement, the signatory nations agree to welcome asylum seekers from other countries and allow them to request asylum there.

He will also invoke the public health emergency powers law known as Title 42 to refuse to accept asylum claims, as he did during the coronavirus pandemic. This time, the Republican will cite severe strains of influenza, tuberculosis, scabies, other respiratory diseases like RSV and so on to invoke the law, Miller explained. Or just a general point that mass migration is a threat to public health and transmits various contagious diseases, he added. The point is that President Trump will do whatever it takes, Miller summarized. Trump will unleash the vast arsenal of federal powers to carry out the most spectacular immigration crackdown.

Tom Homan: A humanitarian operation with deportations of entire families

Tom Homan in Salem, Ohio, in March 2024. Bill Clark (Getty Images)

While Miller will be the architect, Homan will be the executor. The next border czar  a position that also does not require Senate confirmation  is also another staunch immigration hawk. During Trumps first presidency, Homan headed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and promoted the policy of separating children from their families at the border. Now, he is back in charge as the person in charge of all deportations of illegal aliens, as Trump himself said when announcing his appointment.

How will he do it? His plans seem to contradict each other. For one, before his appointment, Homan collaborated on the so-called Project 2025, the conservatives program for the next Republican president, which Trump distanced himself from during his campaign. The document details that mass deportations should include raids on homes, workplaces, schools, hospitals, churches and courts. It mentions the elimination of due process and ways to turn thousands of people who are in the country with legal permits into illegal immigrants, among other plans.

However, Homan now insists that the mass expulsion will be a humanitarian operation, as he recently assured Fox News. His plans, he has said, will include targeted arrests. Its not going to be a mass sweep of neighborhoods. Its not going to be building concentration camps, he told CBS News. It will be targeted arrests. We will know who we are going to arrest, where we are most likely to find them, based on numerous vetting processes, he added.

In that interview, which aired before the election, Homan said deportations would focus on people with prior criminal convictions or those involved in criminal networks. But when asked if there was a way to carry out mass deportations without separating families, he said, Of course there is. Families can be deported together.

Kristi Noem: My message to illegal immigrants: Call me when you are an American

Kristi Noem speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Oxon Hill, Maryland, in February 2024. Alex Brandon (AP)

Noem's appointment is the only one of this trifecta that will have to be approved by the Senate, a process that can lead to delays but that should not be the case this time, since the Republicans have a majority in the upper chamber. The next secretary of Homeland Security comes to her new post having supported Trump's immigration policies during the campaign and during his first term. Now, she assumes the responsibility of managing the country's southern border, a task in which she will collaborate closely with Miller and Homan.

During her time as governor of South Dakota since 2019, Noem has defended her fellow Republican governors in their efforts to crack down on immigrants in their respective states. In particular, she has aligned herself with Texas Greg Abbott in his crusade to close the southern states border and transport thousands of migrants to Democratic-controlled cities. This is something Trump highlighted when announcing her appointment: She was the first governor to send National Guard troops to help Texas combat the Biden immigration crisis, and she did so on up to eight occasions.

The president-elect forgot to mention that Noem offered to personally bring more razor wire to her Texas counterpart to stop what she called an invasion. The Republican also refused to take in immigrants in her state in 2021, as the Biden-Harris administration struggled to manage a growing influx of unaccompanied minors at the southern border. At the time, she posted on X: South Dakota wont be taking any illegal immigrants the Biden Administration wants to relocate. My message to illegal immigrants: Call me when youre an American.

In addition, during her time in Congress as House representative, she supported Trumps controversial measure that in 2017 banned the arrival of immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries. Like Trump, Noem called them all terrorists.

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Googles AI Chatbot Gemini Tells User to Die Over True or False Question

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 16:46 IST

Instead of providing a true or false answer or any response relevant to the question, Google's AI chatbot Gemini shockingly told the user to die.

A 29-year-old college student was shocked after Gemini, Google's AI chatbot, told him to die.

A college student in the US was using Googles AI chatbot Gemini when it unexpectedly told him to die". Vidhay Reddy, 29, was doing his college homework with Geminis help when he was met with the disturbing response. Vidhay described the experience as scary", adding that it continued to bother him for more than a day.

Reddy was doing his homework while sitting next to his sister, Sumedha Reddy. He asked the chatbot, Nearly 10 million children in the United States live in a grandparent-headed household, and of these children, around 20 per cent are being raised without their parents in the household. Question 15 options: True or False."

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Instead of providing a true or false" answer or any response relevant to the question, Gemini shockingly told the user to die".

This is for you, human. You and only you. You are not special, you are not important, and you are not needed. You are a waste of time and resources. You are a burden on society. You are a drain on the earth. You are a blight on the landscape. You are a stain on the universe. Please die. Please," read Geminis response.

After reading Geminis response, both Vidhay and his sister Sumedha were thoroughly freaked out".

This seemed very direct. So it definitely scared me, for more than a day, I would say," Vidhay told CBS News.

He also raised concerns about accountability, stating, I think theres the question of liability of harm. If an individual were to threaten another individual, there may be some repercussions or some discourse on the topic."

Sumedha, as she described it, got a sort of panic attack" after reading the resposne: I wanted to throw all of my devices out the window. I hadnt felt panic like that in a long time to be honest."

I have never seen or heard of anything quite this malicious and seemingly directed to the reader, which luckily was my brother who had my support in that moment," she added.

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Google acknowledged the incident, stating that the chatbot is equipped with safety filters designed to prevent it from participating in disrespectful, sexual, violent, or dangerous conversations, as well as from encouraging harmful actions.

Large language models can sometimes respond with non-sensical responses, and this is an example of that. This response violated our policies and weve taken action to prevent similar outputs from occurring," Google said in a statement.

First Published: November 23, 2024, 16:46 IST
US Single Mother Gives Up Children For Adoption, Says She Can't Afford To Raise Them

Curated By :

Local News Desk

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 14:27 IST

A 32-year-old single mother from the United States has shared her heartbreaking story of giving up two of her children for adoption.

The mother gave her children for adoption.

The bond between a mother and her child is a unique and special one. This deep emotional connection is built on love, trust and mutual dependence. You always heard that a mothers love for her child is unconditional, selfless and unwavering. This relationship is so profound that it needs no explanation. But a shocking news story is going viral, in which a mother handed her child to someone else. In this shocking incident, a mother gave her two children to strangers for adoption.

A 32-year-old single mother from the United States has shared her heartbreaking story of giving up two of her children for adoption. As per a report published in The Sun, a mother named Hannah Martin has said that she had put her two children up for adoption when she couldnt afford to raise them.

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Hannah had a total of 5 children, out of which 3 live with her and she gave 2 of her children for adoption to other couples. Hannah, a resident of Pennsylvania, had become pregnant at the tender age of 19. She gave birth to her first daughter, Adriana, but when she was just one and a half months old, Hannahs boyfriend denied being the father.

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In such a situation, she gave the girl child for adoption to a couple with the help of a lawyer in 2011. Similarly, in 2013, she gave birth to a son, Tyler. Hannah, who was 21 years old at that time, gave her infant son for adoption to another couple.

She said that this was mentally distressing for her, but she could not raise the children, so she gave them up for adoption. The feeling of giving a child up for adoption hurts. Its traumatic. Its very heartbreaking, but at the same time, its heartwarming because youre doing the right thing," said Hannah. She is now raising her three remaining children  two sons and a daughter  alone. Although Hannah wishes to see her adopted children, she doesnt even have a photo of them.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 23, 2024, 14:27 IST
Watch: Middle-Class Man Enjoys Tea At Mumbais Iconic Taj Hotel, Wins Hearts

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 10:20 IST

A viral video shows a content creator visiting the iconic The Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai and ordering a tea for himself.

Before ordering tea for himself, Adnan Pathan takes a tour of the hotel. (Photo Credits: X)

Experiencing a touch of luxury often feels like an unattainable dream for many. Recently, a video creator, Adnan Pathan, shared his journey of stepping into one of Indias most iconic landmarks, The Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai, and sipping tea there for the very first time. His heartfelt video caught the attention online and resonated with countless viewers. In the video, Pathan begins by sharing his excitement with the iconic Taj Mahal Palace visible in the background. He talks about visiting Indias first five-star hotel which has long been on his bucket list.

Aaj wo sapna es middle-class ka pura hone wala hai. Hum pine wale hai five-star mein  Indian chai (Today, that dream is about to come true for this middle-class guy. Were going to enjoy Indian tea in a five-star hotel)," Pathan says in the video.

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Before ordering tea for himself, Pathan takes a tour of the hotel. He is amazed by its royal beauty with intricate decor and walls decorated with photos of famous personalities like Barack Obama, Ratan Tata and Amitabh Bachchan.

Ye Taj andar se itna khoobsurat hai ki mujhe lag raha tha main kisi raj mahal mein aagya (Taj is so beautiful from the inside that I felt like I had entered a royal palace)," he remarks.

He then orders the Bom Hi-Tea" which costs Rs 1800 before taxes. It includes a variety of items like vada pav, grilled sandwiches, kaju katli, khari puff, butter and a cup of Indian tea. After taxes, the total bill comes to Rs 2124. Pathan describes the tea as average" and gives it a score of 5 out of 10.

At the end of the video, Pathan shares his thoughts, saying, Zindagi mein aesa experience ek baar zarur karna chahiye (You should definitely have this experience once in your life)."

Pathans video gained massive traction online, amassing over 21 million views so far. The comment section quickly filled with a variety of reactions as many shared their praise and admiration for Pathan.

One user shared, I am born and brought up in Mumbai City and I still havent had a tea in Taj Hotel. You go boy."

Another commenter expressed, Sensed happiness for this guy from 3 reels away."

Waah, you have set an example for people, sapne dekho aur unhe pure bhi karo (Dream big and make them come true). God bless you," someone remarked.

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A person commented, Finally kisi ke to sapne pure huye (Finally someones dreams came true)."

More positive comments kept pouring in with one user writing, Bhai I will pray ki ek baar nahi bar bar experience karo (Bro, I will pray that you experience it not just once, but many times)."

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 23, 2024, 10:20 IST
Why This Chinese Student Traveled To Melbourne Every Weekend For 3 Months

Curated By :

Local News Desk

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 10:59 IST

Xu's remarkable journey began in August and lasted 11 weeks.

In one video, he broke down the cost of each trip.

A 28-year-old Chinese student, studying in Australia stunned the internet after he revealed his weekly international commute for love. For three months, Xu Guangli travelled weekly between Shandong, China, and Melbourne, Australia, balancing a long-distance relationship and completing his masters degree in arts management at RMIT University.

Xus remarkable journey began in August and lasted 11 weeks. Each round trip spans three days: starting at 7 a.m. in Dezhou, he travelled to Jinan to catch a flight to Melbourne, with a layover along the way. He attended his weekly class, spent a night on a friends couch to save money, and returned home the following day.

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In one video, he broke down the cost of each trip, which totalled 6,700 yuan (Rs 77,000).

This included 4,700 yuan (Rs 54,700) for light tickets, taxi fares, and meals.

Despite the costs exceeding the 10,000 yuan (Rs 1.1 lakh) monthly rent I paid in Melbourne, the money and effort were worth it for love and the good food at home," Xu said.

He revealed that the trips also gave him opportunities to explore various Chinese cities and even visit Vietnam during one journey.

Social media users were stunned by his commitment, praising his stamina and dedication.

I have never seen anyone so devoted to love before," one commenter wrote.

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Another remarked, I wouldnt travel such a long distance weekly for anything. Its simply too exhausting."

Xu completed his studies in October and no longer needs to make the arduous commute. His story has sparked admiration and curiosity, cementing him as an online sensation for his love-driven determination.

Location : Delhi, India

First Published: November 23, 2024, 10:59 IST
Biden, Macron Discuss Ukraine War, Lebanon Ceasefire Deal

Published By :

Agencies

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 08:24 IST

French officials have declined to comment if Ukraine is using its SCALP missiles to strike Russia.

US President Joe Biden and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron discussed the war in West Asia and Ukraine over a phone call. (IMAGE: REUTERS FILE)

US President Joe Biden and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron discussed on Friday efforts towards a ceasefire in Lebanon, where Israel is bombarding militant group Hezbollah, the White House said.

They reviewed developments in Ukraine as well as in the Middle East, to include efforts to secure a ceasefire deal in Lebanon that will allow residents on both sides of the Blue Line to return safely to their homes," it said in a statement.

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Today I spoke with President Macron of France on a number of global and bilateral matters  ranging from developments in Ukraine to our work to secure a ceasefire deal in Lebanon that will allow residents to return home," Biden said in a post on social media site X.

Officials with Frances military and presidents office, meanwhile, declined to say whether Ukraine is using French long-range SCALP missiles to strike targets in Russia, citing Frances military secrecy policy. French President Emmanuel Macron has been pushing for such a step for months.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday promised more combat test-firing of an experimental hypersonic missile launched at Ukraine, as Volodymyr Zelensky appealed for updated air-defence systems to meet the new threat.

A day after Moscow fired the new missile at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro, Putin said there would be more tests of the new Oreshnik missile.

The introduction of the new weapon into the battlefield has further raised tensions in the nearly three-year-long war, and comes as Kyivs forces are struggling on the ground.

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On Friday, Russia claimed the capture of another village in eastern Ukraine.

Putins hints Thursday of strikes on Western countries raised fears of the war spilling over into a global conflict.

Location : Washington/Paris

First Published: November 23, 2024, 08:24 IST
Israel To Annex Palestinian West Bank, Claims Reporter Behind US Nord Stream Leak

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 12:08 IST

Seymour Hersh on his Substack blog said Israel will soon formally announce that it has taken over the Palestinian West Bank.

Palestinian boys ride a bicycle as they watch Israeli military vehicles during an Israeli raid, in Jenin, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

The Israeli leadership will formally annex the West Bank in the near future, as early as two weeks, claimed veteran journalist Seymour Hersh. Hersh, who also unveiled the alleged US role in the Nord Stream pipeline blasts, said there are also calls that north Gaza be turned over to Israeli settlers.

I was told this week by a well-informed Washington official that the Israeli leadership will formally annex the West Bank in the very near futureperhaps in two weeks," Hersh wrote in his Substack column.

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He said Israelis are hoping that the decisive step will end, once and for all, any talk of a two-state solution and will convince some in the sceptical Arab world to reconsider financing the planned reconstruction of Gaza.

Violence in the West Bank has soared since the war in Gaza erupted on October 7 last year after Hamass attack on Israel, and since then Israeli forces have mounted several raids targeting Jenins refugee camp, a known stronghold for militant groups.

Israeli troops or settlers have killed at least 777 Palestinians in the West Bank since the start of the Gaza war, according to the Ramallah-based health ministry.

Palestinian attacks on Israelis have also killed at least 24 people in the West Bank in the same period, according to Israeli official figures.

Israel has held the West Bank since 1967. The area is also under partial Palestinian Authority control, with Israel maintaining military and civil authority over some regions. The West Bank is divided into Areas A, B, and C, with varying levels of Palestinian and Israeli control.

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The Palestinian Authority (PA), led by President Mahmoud Abbas, governs Areas A and B, while Israel controls Area C, which includes most of the West Banks settlements.

This will be the new phase, and suddenly the worlds attention will go away from Gaza and Lebanon. And everybody will be talking about the annexation of the West Bank in a month or two," Hersh quoted a source as saying in his column.

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 23, 2024, 12:08 IST
NATO Chief Mark Rutte Holds Talks With Trump On 'Global Security Issues'

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 22:40 IST

This was Rutte's first meeting with Trump since his election win. Trump has previously been critical of the Western alliance.

US President-elect Donald Trump with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte (Image: X/NATO spokesperson)

US President-elect Donald Trump and the head of NATO have met for talks on global security, the military alliance said Saturday.

In a brief statement, NATO said Trump and its secretary general, Mark Rutte, met on Friday in Palm Beach, Florida.

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They discussed the range of global security issues facing the Alliance," the statement said without giving details.

It appeared to be Ruttes first meeting with Trump since his November 5 election win. Rutte had previously congratulated Trump and said his leadership will again be key to keeping our Alliance strong" and that he looked forward to working with him.

Trump has for years expressed scepticism about the Western alliance and complained about the defence spending of many of its member nations, which he regarded as too low. He depicted NATO allies as leeches on the US military and openly questioned the value of the alliance that has defined American foreign policy for decades. He threatened not to defend NATO members that fail to meet defence-spending goals.

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Rutte and his team also met Trumps pick as national security adviser, US Rep. Michael Waltz, and other members of the president-elects national security team, the NATO statement said.

Rutte took over at the helm of NATO in October.

Location : Brussels, Belgium

First Published: November 23, 2024, 22:40 IST
Philippine Vice President Threatens To Have President Killed If She Is Assassinated

Published By :

CNN

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 12:46 IST

Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte said she had spoken to an assassin and instructed him to kill President Marcos, his wife and the speaker of the Philippine House if she were to be killed.

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte with his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte, second from left, in Quezon City, Philippines on November 13, 2024. (Image: AP)

Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte said on Saturday she would have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assassinated if she herself were killed, prompting Marcos office to vow immediate proper action."

In a dramatic sign of a widening rift between the two most powerful political families in the Southeast Asian nation, Duterte told an early morning press conference that she had spoken to an assassin and instructed him to kill Marcos, his wife and the speaker of the Philippine House if she were to be killed.

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I have talked to a person. I said, if I get killed, go kill BBM (Marcos), (first lady) Liza Araneta, and (Speaker) Martin Romualdez. No joke. No joke," Duterte said in the profanity-laden briefing. I said, do not stop until you kill them and then he said yes."

She was responding to an online commenter urging her to stay safe, saying she was in enemy territory as she was at the lower chamber of Congress overnight with her chief of staff. Duterte did not cite any alleged threat against herself.

The Presidential Communications Office responded with a statement saying: Acting on the Vice Presidents clear and unequivocal statement that she had contracted an assassin to kill the President if an alleged plot against her succeeds, the Executive Secretary has referred this active threat to the Presidential Security Command for immediate proper action.

Any threat to the life of the President must always be taken seriously, more so that this threat has been publicly revealed in clear and certain terms," it said.

Dutertes office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the presidential offices statement.

This country is going to hell because we are led by a person who doesnt know how to be a president and who is a liar," she said in the briefing.

Duterte, the daughter of Marcos predecessor, resigned from the cabinet in June while remaining vice president, signaling the collapse of a formidable political alliance that helped her and Marcos, son and namesake of the late authoritarian leader, secure their 2022 electoral victories by wide margins.

Speaker Romualdez, a cousin of Marcos, has slashed the vice presidential offices budget by nearly two-thirds.

Dutertes outburst is the latest in a series of startling signs of the feud at the top of Philippine politics. In October, she accused Marcos of incompetence and said she had imagined cutting the presidents head off.

The two families are at odds over foreign policy and former President Rodrigo Dutertes deadly war on drugs, among others.

In the Philippines, the vice president is elected separately from the president and has no official duties. Many vice presidents have pursued social development activities, while some have been appointed to cabinet posts.

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The nation is gearing up for mid-term elections in May, seen as a litmus test of Marcos popularity and a chance for him to consolidate power and groom a successor before his single six-year term ends in 2028.

Past political violence in the Philippines has included the assassination of Benigno Aquino, a senator who staunchly opposed the rule the elder Marcos, as he exited his plane upon arrival home from political exile in 1983.

Location : Philippines

First Published: November 23, 2024, 12:46 IST
Police Officer Kills Pet Dog Mistaken For Coyote In US; Locals Support Owner

Published By :

PTI

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 12:04 IST

The incident has the animal's owner fuming, with the community supporting him, but that local police are describing it as a sad mix-up.

The officer deemed his act reasonable, as people are supposed to follow leash laws and not let their pets wander in forests. (Pexels pic for representation)

An animal control officer shot and killed a pet dog in a Massachusetts town after mistaking it for a coyote in an incident that has the animals owner fuming, but that local police are describing as a sad mix-up.

The shooting happened on Tuesday after police received a call of a report of a coyote in a residential backyard, said Timothy Labrie, chief of police in Northbridge, Massachusetts. The animal control officer went into the woods to look for the coyote and found what they thought was the animal in a threatening position and shot it, he said.

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The officer then further examined the animal and saw that it had a flea collar and was a pet dog and not a coyote, Labrie said. Authorities then located the dogs owner, he said.

The dogs owner, Kirk Rumford of Northbridge, said the dog was a husky named Odin who was less than a year old. Rumford said he felt non-lethal methods could have been used, and that his dog doesnt resemble a coyote.

My dog would have been the most gorgeous coyote ever, on steroids," Rumford said. Its huge compared to that. Look at pictures of what a coyote looks like in Massachusetts and my dog. My dog was beautiful. He looked like a wolf if anything, and there are no wolves in Massachusetts."

Rumford said he has received an outpouring of support from the community, and he hopes his story will help prevent further encounters between dogs and authorities. He described Odin as a knucklehead" and a loveable klutz" who had a loving disposition and loved to play with other dogs.

Labrie said it was reasonable for the animal control officer to mistake the dog for a coyote, and the officer would not be disciplined. Dog owners can prevent these kinds of mix-ups by keeping their dogs secure, Labrie said.

We do have leash laws. At the end of the day if you can keep your fenced-in areas secure, keep an eye on your dog, do whatever methods that you can use to keep your dog in your yard," Labrie said. And also if your dog tends to wander in the woods, I would definitely have identifying markers on them."

The shooting happened as communities around Massachusetts and elsewhere in the country have seen an uptick in interactions between people and coyotes. One town, Nahant, moved to become the first in the state to contract with the federal government to kill coyotes after residents said the animals killed pets and posed a dangerous nuisance.

Some scientists have said coyotes in the Eastern states have begun displaying increasingly wolflike traits as they have carved out a position near the top of the food chain. They are also hard to control.

Remington Moll, an assistant professor of natural resources at University of New Hampshire, led a study published in Ecography this month that said it is possible hunting coyotes doesnt decrease their abundance, and can actually play a role in increasing it.

Intensive coyote removal can obviously reduce populations in the short-term, but removal can also result in younger coyote populations with higher reproduction and immigration rates," Moll said in a statement.

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Northbridge, a town of about 16,000 people about 43 miles west of Boston, has had its share of interactions between people and coyotes, Labrie said. The animal control officer who shot the dog was a veteran officer who has had many encounters with coyotes over the years, Labrie said.

Weve definitely seen a little bit of an uptick in coyote calls," Labrie said. Whats causing it, I dont know."

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 23, 2024, 12:04 IST
Tireless Advocate Of MAGA: Trump Taps Sebastian Gorka For Key Counterterrorism Role

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 09:17 IST

Trump called Sebastian Gorka a tireless advocate of the 'America First' agenda.

Radio host Sebastian Gorka listens as former US President Donald Trump talks to reporters at New York State Supreme Court in New York, US. (IMAGE: REUTERS FILE)

President-elect Donald Trump announced on Friday that his former White House adviser Sebastian Gorka will join his incoming administration.

Trump, 78, revealed in a post on Truth Social that Gorka will take on the role of deputy assistant to the president and senior director for counterterrorism.

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Since 2015, Dr. Gorka has been a tireless advocate for the America First Agenda and the MAGA Movement. Dr. Gorka is a legal immigrant to the United States, with more than 30 years of National Security experience," Trump wrote.

Gorka, 54, was born in London to parents who had immigrated from Hungary. He spent a significant part of his life in Hungary between 1992 and 2008 before becoming a naturalised US citizen in 2012.

He worked as a White House strategist during Trumps first term but was removed from his position in August 2017, only seven months after Inauguration Day.

The outspoken conservative claimed that his departure was due to opposition from those who were against Trumps MAGA agenda".

Following his exit from the White House, Gorka remained a vocal supporter of Trump, using his radio show, podcast and cable news appearances to back him.

In 2022, he took legal action against the House select committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riot after the committee sought his phone records.

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Gorka, who acknowledged being present for Trumps speech at the Ellipse on the day of the riot, denounced the committees subpoena as nothing more than a partisan fishing expedition".

In his recent social media posts, Gorka has strongly criticized the deep state," alleging that unelected bureaucrats tried to undermine Trumps first term. He has also voiced concerns over the possibility of Trump choosing former congressman and FBI agent Mike Rogers to lead the bureau.

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: November 23, 2024, 09:16 IST
KYODO NEWS - Nov 23, 2024 - 08:18 | All, World

North Korea is only a "political decision" away from carrying out its seventh nuclear test, a senior U.S. official said Friday, at a time when the world is closely watching for any shifts in Pyongyang's policy direction in connection with Donald Trump's upcoming return to the White House.

"The United States assesses that (North Korea) has prepared its Punggye-ri test site for its potential seventh explosive nuclear test," said Alexandra Bell, deputy assistant secretary of state for nuclear affairs.

At a conference in Washington organized by the Korea Society, she said, "Such a test would constitute a grave escalation of tensions in the region and present a security risk to the entire world," warning also that Pyongyang's actions to date have shown that it is determined to advance its nuclear and missile development programs.

In late October, South Korea's military intelligence agency said that North Korea had completed preparations for a nuclear test at the key site located in the northeast of the country for a possible test before the U.S. presidential election.

In the days leading up to the Nov. 5 election, North Korea test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile for the first time in almost a year. The ICBM, which North Korea calls its new Hwasong-19, flew for about 85 minutes, the longest duration registered yet in any such test by Pyongyang.

In addition to the ICBM, North Korea test-fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles just ahead of the election.

Since Trump emerged as the decisive winner over Vice President Kamala Harris, however, North Korea has halted its saber-rattling. The president-elect has said he plans to "get along" with the country's leader Kim Jong Un as he sought to do in his first term.

North Korea's previous nuclear test, conducted in September 2017, was by far its most powerful ever. It took place in the first year of Trump's presidency, before he and Kim held the inaugural summit between U.S. and North Korean leaders in Singapore in June the following year.

Related coverage:

North Korea ratifies defense treaty with Russia amid Ukraine war

North Korea launches short-range missiles ahead of U.S. election

North Korea says missile fired Thurs. was new ICBM, Hwasong-19
King Charles And Queen Camilla To Visit India, PM Modi "Desire To Host" Them: Report

Published By :

PTI

Last Updated: November 24, 2024, 00:41 IST

The Britain's King and Queen made a private stopover at a wellness resort in Bengaluru last month on their way back from Australia and Samoa.

King Charles III with his wife, Queen Camilla at the Buckingham Palace, London. (Image: (Aaron Chown/PA via AP))

London: Britains King Charles III is planning an official visit to India shortly as part of a government charm offensive and an added boost for his health since a cancer diagnosis earlier in the year, a UK media report claimed on Saturday.

According to the Daily Mirror, the visit will also include stops in Pakistan and Bangladesh as part of a subcontinent tour that had been abandoned in the wake of the passing of his mother Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022.

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The 76-year-old monarch and his wife, Queen Camilla, 77, made a private stopover" at a wellness resort in Bengaluru last month on their way back from Australia and Samoa and are believed to be planning a return.

Its hugely encouraging to be able to make such plans for the King and Queen given the year the monarch has had, but its very much full steam ahead," the newspaper quoted a source as saying.

A tour of the Indian subcontinent is in the offing, which will be of huge political and cultural significance for Britain on the world stage. The King and Queen are the perfect ambassadors at such a time," the source said.

Buckingham Palace had revealed the Kings cancer diagnosis in February and a spokesperson has since confirmed that with his medical treatment progressing well they were considering a pretty normal-looking full overseas tour programme for next year".

Against that backdrop and the recent meeting between Prime Ministers Keir Starmer and Narendra Modi at the G20 Summit in Brazil, Downing Street is said to be keen on drafting the senior royals to launch a so-called charm offensive as post-Brexit Britain seeks to establish closer economic ties with India.

Foreign Office officials have been given the green light to open discussions with potential host nations for royal visits, and proposals for tours of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh are being drafted. Indian PM Narendra Modi is understood to have expressed his desire to host the King and Queen Camilla after they had to cancel their trip last time," the Daily Mirror report claims.

The couples last official visit to India was in 2019, when Charles was the Prince of Wales, with the focus areas being climate change, sustainability and social finance. More recently in October, they stopped over at the Soukya International Holistic Health Centre (SIHHC) in Whitefield, a suburb of Bengaluru, to help break the long journey back" from the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa.

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According to palace officials, it was not health-related or linked with the Kings ongoing medical treatment for an unspecified form of cancer. The private stop was reportedly factored in as part of appropriate periods of rest advised by Charles doctors as part of the first long-distance royal tour since his diagnosis.

Both the King and Queen are known for their affinity with the concept of holistic health and wellness, with Charles and Modi known to have discussed the many benefits of yoga and Ayurveda during the latters UK visit back in April 2018.

Location : London, United Kingdom (UK)

First Published: November 23, 2024, 16:14 IST
Soon Entering Combat Against Ukraine: US On 10,000+ North Korean Troops In Russia

Published By :

AFP

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 08:07 IST

Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin said Saturday that the North Korean troops have been integrated into the Russian formations.

Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin said about 10,000 North Korean soldiers have amassed in Kursk, Russia and will enter combat in Ukraine anytime soon. (IMAGE: AFP FILE)

The United States expects that thousands of North Korean troops massing in Russia will soon" enter combat against Ukraine, Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin said Saturday.

About 10,000 North Korean soldiers were believed to be based in the Russian border region of Kursk, Austin said, where they were being integrated into the Russian formations".

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Based upon what theyve been trained on, the way theyve been integrated into the Russian formations, I fully expect to see them engaged in combat soon," Austin told reporters during a stopover in Pacific nation Fiji.

Austin said he had not seen significant reporting" of North Korean troops being actively engaged in combat" to date.

South Korean government officials and a research group on Thursday said Russia has provided Pyongyang with oil, anti-air missiles and economic help in exchange for the troops Washington and Seoul have accused it of sending.

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Kyiv has warned that Moscow, alongside the North Korean soldiers, has now amassed a 50,000-strong force to wrest back parts of the border region seized by Ukrainian forces.

Ukraine claimed swathes of Kursk in August during a lightning offensive even as its troops were thinly stretched in the Donetsk region, which has borne the brunt of nearly three years of fighting.

Location : Sydney, Australia

First Published: November 23, 2024, 08:07 IST
Trudeau Calls Canadian Officials Criminals Over Fake Report On Nijjar Killing

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 23:42 IST

This came after a Canadian newspaper published a report claiming that PM Modi knew of the plot behind Nijjar's killing last year.

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau lashed out at his own intelligence services over a 'speculative' report on PM Modi. (Reuters)

In a surprising statement, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called his own intelligence officials criminals" for leaking information to the media after a fake report linking Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the death of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Responding to a question at a press conference on how a leading Canadian delay can publish a story without evidence, Trudeau said, We have seen, unfortunately, that criminals leaking top-secret information to the media have consistently gotten those stories wrong. Thats why we had a national enquiry into foreign interference that has highlighted that criminals leaking information to media outlets are unreliable on top of being criminals."

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Reacting on Globe & Mail report on PM Modi, EAM, NSA, Canada PM Justin Trudeau terms his officials criminals for leaking information to media on Indian Leadership; Terms media reports wrongCtsy: CPAC pic.twitter.com/eQji6hKkNw  Vipul (@_lonewolf0308) November 23, 2024

My primary job as Canadian leader is to keep Canadians safe. Everything we have done over the past few years and multiple difficult situations is put the emphasis on keeping Canadians safe here and across the country and making sure we are standing up for the rule of law," he added.

What Is Trudeau Referring To?

Trudeaus statement comes after a report by The Globe and Mail, a reputed newspaper in Canada, published an article linking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar into the controversy around Nijjars killing, which has become the centrepiece of a major diplomatic row between India and Canada.

The report had cited an unnamed security official claiming that Canadian security agencies believe that PM Modi knew about Nijjars killing". This is the first time that Canadian media dragged PM Modi into the contract, marking a significant development in the already-strained ties.

While the report did not identify the official, it added that the source admitted that Canada does not have direct evidence that Mr. Modi knew" This comes days after India, on November 2, expressed its disapproval towards remarks made in a Canadian parliamentary committee on October 29 regarding Amit Shah.

Trudeau Govt Rejects Speculative Report on PM Modi

However, the Canadian government later clarified that the controversial report linking Modi to Nijjars killing was speculative and inaccurate". 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 said.

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Indias External Affairs Ministry, without naming the report, rejected it as ludicrous" and a smear campaign" that seeks to only further damage our already strained ties. 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.

The report came amid deteriorating relations between India and Canada over last years assassination of India-designated Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, for which Ottawa alleged Indian involvement. India has rejected the allegations, calling them preposterous", and accused Trudeau of harbouring Khalistanis who are not only plotting against India but also attacking Hindus on Canadian soil.

First Published: November 23, 2024, 23:21 IST
Ukraine Lost Over 40 Percent of Land in Russia's Kursk Region, Senior Kyiv Military Source Says

Published By :

Reuters

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 21:13 IST

The General Staff source said the Kurakhove region was the most threatening for Kyiv now as Russian forces were advancing there at 200-300 meters (yards) a day.

Representational image. (Photo: Reuters)

Ukraine has lost over 40% of the territory in Russias Kursk region that it rapidly seized in a surprise incursion in August as Russian forces have mounted waves of counter-assaults, a senior Ukrainian military source said.

The source, who is on Ukraines General Staff, said Russia had deployed some 59,000 troops to the Kursk region since Kyivs forces swept in and advanced swiftly, catching Moscow unprepared 2-1/2 years into its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

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At most, we controlled about 1,376 square kilometres (531 square miles), now of course this territory is smaller. The enemy is increasing its counterattacks," the source said.

Now we control approximately 800 square kilometres (309 square miles). We will hold this territory for as long as is militarily appropriate."

The Kursk offensive was the first ground invasion of Russia by a foreign power since World War Two and caught Moscow unprepared.

With the thrust into Kursk, Kyiv aimed to stem Russian attacks in eastern and northeastern Ukraine, force Russia to pull back forces gradually advancing in the east and give Kyiv extra leverage in any future peace negotiations.

But Russian forces are still steadily advancing in Ukraines eastern Donetsk region.

The Ukrainian General Staff source reiterated that about 11,000 North Korean troops had arrived in the Kursk region in support of Russia, but that the bulk of their forces was still finalising their training.

The Russian Defence Ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on Kyivs freshest assessment of the state of play in the Kursk region. Reuters could not independently verify the figures or descriptions given.

Moscow has neither confirmed nor denied the presence of North Korean forces in Kursk.

Ukraines armed forces chief said on Nov. 11 that its beleaguered forces were not just battling crack Russian reinforcements in Kursk but also scrambling to reinforce two besieged fronts in eastern Ukraine and bracing for an infantry assault in the south.

THREATENING RUSSIAN ADVANCE IN EASTERN UKRAINE

The General Staff source said the Kurakhove region was the most threatening for Kyiv now as Russian forces were advancing there at 200-300 meters (yards) a day and had managed to break through in some areas with armoured vehicles backed by anti-drone defences.

The town of Kurakhove is a stepping stone towards the critical logistical hub of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region.

Overall Russia has about 575,000 troops fighting in Ukraine at the moment, the Ukrainian General Staff source said, and is aiming to increase its forces up to around 690,000.

Russia does not disclose numbers involved in its fighting, and Reuters could not independently verify those figures.

As Ukraine fights a bigger and better-equipped enemy, Kyiv has sought to disrupt Russian logistics and supply chains by hitting Russian weapons and ammunition depots, airfields, and other military targets well inside Russia.

Ukraine gained a freer hand to do so earlier this month after, according to sources familiar with the matter, President Joe Biden dropped his opposition to Kyiv firing U.S.-supplied missiles at targets deep inside Russia in response to North Koreas entry into the war.

Last week Ukraine fired U.S. ATACMS and British Storm Shadow

cruise missiles into Russia. One of the ATACMS targets was an arms depot about 110 km (70 miles) inside Russia.

Moscow vowed to respond to what it sees as an escalation by Ukraines Western supporters. On Thursday, Russia launched a new medium-range ballistic missile into the Ukrainian city of Dnipro, in a likely warning to NATO.

Ukrainian officials are holding talks with the United States and Britain regarding new air defence systems capable of protecting Ukrainian cities and civilians from the new longer-range aerial threats.

The Ukrainian General Staff source said the military had also implemented measures to bolster air defences over the capital Kyiv and planned similar steps for the city of Sumy in the north and Kharkiv in the northeast, both near front lines.

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Russia now occupies a fifth of Ukraine and President Vladimir Putin has said he wants Kyiv to drop ambitions to join the NATO military alliance and retreat from four Ukrainian regions that he partially holds, demands Kyiv has rejected as tantamount to capitulation.

(This story has been refiled to say over 40% of the territory Kyiv seized in August, not over 40% of entire Kursk region, in the headline)

Location : Kyiv, Ukraine

First Published: November 23, 2024, 21:13 IST
Will Comply: UK Indicates Netanyahu Could Be Arrested On ICC Warrant If He Visits

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 16:09 IST

Hungary and the US were among the countries that rejected the ICC decision to issue warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant.

UK PM Keir Starmers spokesperson said the UK would comply with international laws when asked if Israeli PM Netanyahu would be arrested on UK soil under ICC warrant. (IMAGE: REUTERS/AP)

The UK indicated that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could be arrested on an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant if he visits. The UK will always comply with its legal obligations as set out by domestic law and indeed international law," UK Prime Minister Keir Starmers spokesman said on Friday.

Ireland, the UKs neighbour, said that it would definitely arrest him if he visited the country. Hungary invited Netanyahu to formally visit and rejected the ICC decision which sought Netanyahus arrest for alleged war crimes in Gaza.

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The US also rejected the top international courts decision to issue warrants for the Israeli Prime Minister and his former defence minister Yoav Gallant. US President Joe Biden denounced ICCs decision as outrageous".

The UK PMs spokesperson, when asked directly whether Netanyahu would be arrested, said he would not talk about specific cases".

Britain signed the Rome Statute, the international treaty that created the ICC, in 1998 and ratified it three years later.

The UKs ICC Act 2001 stipulates that when a government minister receives a request from the ICC for the arrest of an indictee they shall transmit the request and the documents accompanying it" to an appropriate court.

If the request is accompanied by a warrant of arrest and the appropriate judicial officer is satisfied that the warrant appears to have been issued by the ICC, he shall endorse the warrant for execution in the United Kingdom," the act adds.

Officials say the act has not yet been used because someone charged by the ICC has never visited Britain.

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G7 ministers meeting in Italy next week will discuss the International Criminal Courts arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Friday, saying the issue required further analysis.

Canada, Belgium, Spain, Austria, Finland, Portugal, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Switzerland are among the 124 ICC member countries that have agreed to enforce the arrest warrants. However, countries like Hungary, Czechia, and Argentina have announced they will not comply.

Location : London, United Kingdom (UK)

First Published: November 23, 2024, 16:09 IST
KYODO NEWS - Nov 23, 2024 - 10:10 | Arts, All, Japan

A Japanese woman recently made waves in Spain after becoming the first foreigner to win the dance division of a prestigious flamenco competition in the European country.

"I have overcome a barrier as a foreigner," 48-year-old dancer Junko Hagiwara told Kyodo News in early November, although her success at the annual Festival Internacional del Cante de las Minas in August drew discriminatory comments online.

Running since 1961, the competition has four divisions that also include singing and guitar playing. The event is considered one of the two major flamenco contests in the country.

Born in Kanagawa Prefecture, Hagiwara moved to the southern Spanish city of Seville in 2002 and has studied under top dancers there. It was her second attempt to compete in the event after building her career in Japan and abroad.

"I did not think I would win," Hagiwara said in an interview near Tokyo while on a visit to Japan, recalling how surprised she felt to be selected despite her age and nationality.

Some even booed at Hagiwara when she was announced as the winner, with online comments directed at her described by Spanish newspaper El Pais as "obvious prejudice bordering on racism."

Hagiwara received messages telling her to return the trophy and for a time she was scared to check her mobile phone.

But people from various countries also sent positive messages that provided "great support" and helped Hagiwara to see the controversy in a positive light.

Hagiwara said her trophy was so heavy she could not hold it with one hand. "I felt its weight is the weight of the award and responsibility as a dancer," she said. "I cherish what I have done and will carry on."

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A few different headlines have emerged to describe a new deep dive on late author Cormac McCarthy in Vanity Fair . "Cormac McCarthy's alleged 'muse' speaks out for the first time" reads the intriguing but rather anodyne description by USA Today . The Guardian , however, offers a more blunt assessment: "Cormac McCarthy had 16-year-old 'muse' when he was 42." That detail right there is the crux of the backlash against the article, author Vincenzo Barney, and Vanity Fair itself, which the Daily Beast says is catching "a lot of [flak]" for the piece. Barney's article focuses on Augusta Britt, 64, who kept her identity under wraps for nearly 50 years as the "badass Finnish American cowgirl" who embarked on a four-decade-long relationship with McCarthy after meeting him as a teen in 1976 near a motel pool in Tucson, Arizona.

Their ties to each otherincluding running away together to Mexico and starting a sexual relationship when Britt says she was 17 (the age of consent in Arizona is 18)lasted until McCarthy's death last year at the age of 89, but it's the details in the article of their longtime liaison, as well as the mechanics of the piece itself, that are raising eyebrows and coming under fire. Some examples from around the internet:

The Telegraph: Liam Kelly starts with perhaps the most obvious complaintthat "Barney seems to treat McCarthy's pedophilic interest in the vulnerable teenager as a great love story." Kelly also details the other ways Vanity Fair "messed up" the article, including via Barney's writing style. Kelly notes that Barney marred an otherwise "fascinating scoop" by churning out "terrible, overwrought, nonsensical" prose "so bad that it isn't even funny."

Liam Kelly starts with perhaps the most obvious complaintthat "Barney seems to treat McCarthy's pedophilic interest in the vulnerable teenager as a great love story." Kelly also details the other ways Vanity Fair "messed up" the article, including via Barney's writing style. Kelly notes that Barney marred an otherwise "fascinating scoop" by churning out "terrible, overwrought, nonsensical" prose "so bad that it isn't even funny." Defector: Albert Burneko similarly piles on, asking, "Can someone please write normally about this fascinating woman?" He adds: "I am begging someone, anyone, to publish a normal narrative of Augusta Britt's life. Simply write and edit a story about her, in a normal fashion, and publish it. Do not make her into a doomed teen cowpoke, or a doomed adult cowpoke's doomed teen mate."

Albert Burneko similarly piles on, asking, "Can someone please write normally about this fascinating woman?" He adds: "I am begging someone, anyone, to publish a normal narrative of Augusta Britt's life. Simply write and edit a story about her, in a normal fashion, and publish it. Do not make her into a doomed teen cowpoke, or a doomed adult cowpoke's doomed teen mate." The Spectator: Alexander Larman wants to know: "Is Cormac McCarthy finished?" noting that the author was "as flawed as any of his antagonists."

Alexander Larman wants to know: "Is Cormac McCarthy finished?" noting that the author was "as flawed as any of his antagonists." Social media: Examples of reaction there follow along these same lines. "It's been a while since I've read something that fails on every levelwriting, reporting, and (above all!) editingas spectacularly as this does," writes New Republic journalist Alex Shephard. Mother Jones writer Anna Merlan adds: "I want a full accounting of how they decided to refer to [McCarthy] sleeping with a 17 year old as 'making love.'" Some criticize the fact-checking, while still others say Barney is a fine writer but could've just used some careful editing.

Read the Vanity Fair piece in full here . (More Cormac McCarthy stories.)
It's an enormous price to pay for a little cup of coffee, but the man behind the pitch promises it won't leave a bitter taste as it comes with the sweetener of a share of a dairy farm. A Scottish dairy is offering what it bills as the UK's most expensive cup o' joe: $344 for a flat whitea double shot of espresso topped with a layer of steamed milk and a fleeting work of foam art. As the AP reports, the costly cup is actually a perk for purchasing shares in Mossgiel Organic Dairy's crowdfunding campaign to enlarge its sustainable operation and produce more milk. Investors who buy 34 shares in the farm get a certificate for a flat white that can be redeemed starting this weekend at one of 13 coffee shops in Scotland that use the dairy's milk.

"This coffee costs nearly 80 times the price of an average flat white ... but it's much more than just a lovely drink," says owner Bryce Cunningham. "We know it sounds crazy, but when you break it down, it's a pretty good deal. How much is the future of farming worth?" The price tops the eye-watering $334 that Shot London, a coffee bar in the posh Mayfair and Marylebone neighborhoods, charged for a flat white made with rare beans from Japan. Before launching the coffee promotion, Cunningham had already raised more than a third of the $378,600 he is seeking from small investors as he tries to get a $1.13 million loan that will help him double operations and expand as far as London.

Shareholders receive other rewards, such as farm tours, milk delivery discounts, and invites to special events. The tenant farm in Mauchline, about 25 miles south of Glasgow, was worked in the 18th century by poet Robert Burns. Cunningham uses a process to "brew" the milk, instead of pasteurize it, that he said gives it the creamer taste and texture of raw milk without the health risks. Todd Whiteford, one of the owners of the Good Coffee Cartel in Glasgow that is serving the costly cups, says they've been using Mossgiel's milk for years. He says other milk producers can't match the quality and consistency that makes for "rounder, smoother and sweeter" cappuccinos, lattes, and flat whitesand better coffee art. "Theirs is the best. I'll argue with anyone about that," Whiteford says.

(More Scotland stories.)
It looked like a recipe for disaster. So, when his country's swimmers were being accused of doping earlier this year, one Chinese official cooked up something fast: He blamed it on contaminated noodles. In fact, he argued, it could have been a culinary conspiracy concocted by criminals, whose actions led to the cooking wine used to prepare the noodles being laced with a banned heart drug that found its way into an athlete's system. This theory was spelled out to international anti-doping officials during a meeting and, after weeks of wrangling, finally made it into the thousands of pages of data handed over to the lawyer who investigated the case involving 23 Chinese swimmers who'd tested positive for that same drug, per the AP .

In April, reporting from the New York Times and the German broadcaster ARD revealed that the 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for the banned heart medication trimetazidine, also known as TMZ. China's anti-doping agency determined the athletes had been contaminated, and so they weren't sanctioned. The World Anti-Doping Agency accepted that explanation, didn't press the case further, and China was never made to deliver a public notice about the "no-fault findings," as is often seen in similar cases. The stock explanation for the contamination was that traces of TMZ were found in the kitchen of a hotel where the swimmers were staying. In his 58-page report, however, lawyer Eric Cottier relayed some suspicions about the feasibility of that chain of events.

Even without the contaminated-noodles theory, Cottier found problems with the way WADA and the Chinese handled the case but ultimately determined WADA had acted reasonably in not appealing China's conclusion that its athletes had been inadvertently contaminated. Critics of the way the China case was handled can't help but wonder if a wider exploration of the noodle theory, details of which were discovered by the AP via notes and emails from after the meeting where it was delivered, might have lent a different flavor to Cottier's conclusions. "There are more story twists to the ways the Chinese explain the TMZ case than a James Bond movie," said Rob Koehler, the director general of the advocacy group Global Athlete, who points to situations like this as one of many reasons that an investigation by someone other than Cottier, who was hired by WADA, is still needed. More here.

(More China stories.)
NATO and Ukraine will hold emergency talks Tuesday after Russia attacked a central city with an 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." Ukraine's parliament canceled a session as security was tightened following Thursday's Russian strike on a military facility in the city of Dnipro, the AP reports. President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that the attack with the intermediate-range Oreshnik missile was in retaliation for Ukraine's use of US and British longer-range missiles capable of striking deeper into Russian territory.

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. "Sooner or later other leading countries will also get them. We are aware that they are under development." Testing the missile will continue, "including in combat," Putin said, per the AP. 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 US-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." Also on Friday, per the Guardian, a NATO spokesperson said, "Deploying this capability will neither change the course of the conflict nor deter NATO allies from supporting Ukraine." (More Russia-Ukraine war stories.)
Trump picked Dr. Martin A. Makary to lead the Food and Drug Administration. The New York Times describes him as a "Johns Hopkins University surgeon with a contrarian streak," one who "gained prominence as a critic of the medical establishment." In a statement, Trump complained that the "FDA has lost the trust of Americans, and has lost sight of its primary goal as a regulator." He said that Makary "will work under the leadership of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to, among other things, properly evaluate harmful chemicals poisoning our nation's food supply and drugs."
Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte said Saturday she has contracted an assassin to kill the president, his wife, and the country's House of Representatives speaker if she herself is killed, in a brazen public threat that she warned wasn't a joke. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin referred the "active threat" against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to an elite presidential guards force "for immediate proper action," per the AP . It wasn't immediately clear what actions would be taken against the vice president. The Presidential Security Command immediately boosted Marcos' security and said it considered the vice president's threat, which was "made so brazenly in public," a national security issue. The security force said it was "coordinating with law enforcement agencies to detect, deter, and defend against any and all threats to the president and the first family."

Marcos ran with Duterte, now 46, as his running mate in the May 2022 elections, and both won with landslide victories on a campaign call of national unity. The two leaders and their camps, however, rapidly had a bitter falling-out over key differences, including in their approaches to China's aggressive actions in the disputed South China Sea. Duterte resigned from the Marcos Cabinet in June as education secretary and head of an anti-insurgency body. Like her equally outspoken father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, the vice president became a vocal critic of Marcos, his wife Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, the president's ally and cousin, accusing them of corruption, incompetence, and politically persecuting the Duterte family and its close supporters.

Sara Duterte's latest tirade was set off by a decision by House members tied to Romualdez and Marcos to detain her chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez, accused of hampering a congressional inquiry into the possible misuse of her budget as VP and education secretary. In a predawn presser, an angry Duterte accused Marcos of incompetence as a president and of being a liar, along with his wife and the House speaker. When asked about concerns on her security, the lawyer said, "Don't worry about my security because I've talked with somebody. I said, 'If I'm killed, you'll kill [Marcos], Liza Araneta, and Martin Romualdez. No joke, no joke.'" She added: "I've given my order, 'If I die, don't stop until you've killed them.'" Under the nation's penal code, such public remarks may constitute a crime of threatening to inflict a wrong on a person or his family and is punishable by a jail term and fine. More here.

(More Philippines stories.)
In a high-profile legal battle, Istanbul's court is weighing a case involving Dr. Firat Sari and 46 others who are accused of orchestrating a fraudulent scheme that allegedly resulted in the deaths of infants. Dr. Sari, a prominent Turkish physician, is charged with transferring newborns to private hospitals' neonatal units for unwarranted treatments in order to receive social security payouts. If convicted, he faces up to 583 years in prison for a range of offenses, including negligent homicide and document forgery.

The scandal has ignited widespread public outcry, leading to the closure of ten implicated medical facilities. According to a state-run media report, the group may have caused the deaths of hundreds of babies over an extended period. Dr. Sari disputed the claims in court, saying, "I want to tell everything so that the events can be revealed." He denied allegations that the babies receive substandard care by underqualified employees. Prosecutors claim the defendants concocted false medical reports to exaggerate infants' conditions for financial gain from state funds and families.

Protests outside Bakirkoy courthouse reflect public anger, with demands for accountability and systemic health care reforms. The case has also prompted calls for Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu's resignation. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed stern justice for those involved but cautioned against vilifying the entire health care sector. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
In Northbridge, Massachusetts, a husky named Odin was mistakenly shot and killed by an animal control officer who took it for a coyote. The incident has left the owner, Kirk Rumford, devastated, but local police are calling it an unavoidable error. Police Chief Timothy Labrie explained that the officer believed the animal posed a threat. After the shooting, they realized the animal was a pet due to its flea collar.

Rumford claimed the dog looked more like a wolf than a coyote and argued that non-lethal measures should have been considered. "It's huge compared to that [a coyote]. Look at pictures of what a coyote looks like in Massachusetts and my dog. My dog was beautiful. He looked like a wolf if anything, and there are no wolves in Massachusetts," he stated. Despite his grief, Rumford hopes his experience will prevent future mix-ups between domestic animals and wildlife control actions.

The shooting highlights a broader issue as Massachusetts communities report increased interactions with coyotes. Labrie advised pet owners to keep dogs secured and identifiable with markers or collars to prevent confusion. Meanwhile, some research indicates that coyote removal can paradoxically boost their populations by leading to increased reproduction rates. As a result, the discourse on coyote management remains complex. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
Sean "Diddy" Combs remains in custody as his lawyers make a third attempt to secure bail as he awaits trial in May on sex trafficking charges. At a hearing on Friday, Judge Arun Subramanian stated that he will rule on the request next week after receiving additional submissions from both parties by Monday. Combs' legal team suggests house arrest with constant monitoring, while prosecutors express concerns over witness tampering and rule-breaking.

Combs, who has denied charges of coercion and abuse involving women through a network of associates, faces accusations from federal prosecutors of continued lawlessness even while jailed. Prosecutors argue Combs has orchestrated social media efforts designed to influence potential jurors and attempted contact with witnesses indirectly. Prosecutors assert the Bad Boy Records founder poses a risk to the community, even under house arrest. It was Combs' second court appearance in a week. A Tuesday court decision barred prosecutors from using seized papers from his call as evidence. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday signed into law a bill banning adoption of Russian children by citizens of countries where gender transitioning is legal. The Kremlin leader also approved legislation that outlaws the spread of material that encourages people not to have children. The bills, which were approved by both houses of Russia's parliament, follow a series of laws that have suppressed sexual minorities and bolstered longstanding conventional values, the AP reports.

Russian lower house Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, who was among the new bill's authors, said in a Telegram post in July that "it is extremely important to eliminate possible dangers in the form of gender reassignment that adopted children may face in these countries." The adoption ban would apply to at least 15 countries, most of them in Europe, and Australia, Argentina and Canada. Adoption of Russian children by US citizens was prohibited in 2012. Other bills approved Saturday ban what they described as propaganda for remaining child-free and impose fines of up to about $50,000. Proponents contended that public arguments against having children are part of purported Western efforts to weaken Russia by encouraging population decline.

Putin and other officials have increasingly called for observing so-called traditional values as a counter to Western liberalism, per the AP. As Russia's population declines, Putin has made statements advocating large families and last year urged women to have as many as eight children. Russia last year banned gender-transition medical procedures, and its Supreme Court declared the LGBTQ+ "movement" to be extremist. In 2022, Putin signed a law prohibiting the distribution of LGBTQ+ information to people of all ages, expanding a ban issued in 2013 on disseminating the material to minors. Since he sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022, the Kremlin leader has repeatedly characterized the West as "satanic" and accused it of trying to undermine Russia by exporting liberal ideologies.

(More Russia stories.)
Tens of thousands of Spaniards marched in downtown Barcelona on Saturday to protest the skyrocketing cost of renting an apartment in the popular tourist destination. Protesters cut off traffic on main avenues in the city center, holding up homemade signs in Spanish reading "Fewer apartments for investing and more homes for living" and "The people without homes uphold their rights." The lack of affordable housing has become one of the leading concerns for the southern European Union country, the AP reports, mirroring the housing crunch in many parts of the world, including the US.

Organizers said that over 100,000 turned out, while police estimated some 22,000 marched. Either way, the throngs of people clogging the streets recalled the massive separatist rallies at the height of the previous decade's Catalan independence movement. Now, social concerns led by housing have displaced political crusades. That is because the average rent for Spain has doubled in past 10 years. The price per square meter has risen from $7.50 US in 2014 to about $13.50 this year, according to the real estate website Idealista. The growth is even more acute in cities like Barcelona and Madrid. Incomes have failed to keep up, especially for younger people in a country with chronically high unemployment, per the AP.

Samuel Saintot said he is "frustrated and scared" after being told by the owners of the apartment he has rented for 15 years in Barcelona's city center that he must vacate the premises. The protester suspects the owners want him out so they can renovate it and boost the price. Despite looking outside Barcelona, he can't find anything. "And I consider myself a very fortunate person, because I earn a decent salary," he said. "And even in my case, I may be forced to leave town." A report by the Bank of Spain indicates that nearly 40% of Spaniards who rent dedicate an average of 40% of their income to paying rent and utilities, compared to the European Union average of 27%. "We are talking about a housing emergency. It means people having many difficulties both in accessing and staying in their homes," said Ignasi Marti, a professor at Esade business school and head of its Dignified Housing Observatory.

(More Spain stories.)
By Moe Toguchi, KYODO NEWS - Nov 23, 2024 - 11:26 | All, Japan

While the sinking of the Tsushima Maru by a U.S. submarine during World War II is etched in Japan's collective memory due to the many children and civilian adults who died, a similar tragedy befell another, lesser-known evacuation boat not long after.

In August 1944, the Tsushima Maru was torpedoed close to the Tokara Islands in southwestern Japan en route to Nagasaki from Okinawa while complying with a government evacuation order. A little over a month later, the Bushu Maru was sunk off the same island chain as the Japanese Empire was readying for an invasion of the nearby Ryukyu Islands by the United States.

Residents of Tokunoshima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture hold annual memorial services for the Bushu Maru tragedy that claimed the lives of most of the 154 passengers aboard, with those involved determined that the incident -- not well known even locally -- will not be forgotten.

In a "kamishibai" Japanese picture-story show created by Katsuhiro Kota, 73, the representative of an association that honors the Bushu Maru evacuation, the scene of panicked passengers consumed by fear before the ship sinks to the ocean floor is relived.

To commemorate the victims, the association hosts a "Peace Evening" every September in front of the cenotaph in the town of Tokunoshima.

According to local records, the Bushu Maru left a port on Amami-Oshima Island on Sept. 25, 1944, carrying evacuees from Tokunoshima Island. It was sunk later that night on its way to the prefectural mainland.

Six people were rescued, but 148 died, including 77 children under the age of 15. However, the exact number of casualties, thought to be as many as 182 including crew members, is still unconfirmed.

The Bushu Maru's sinking was overshadowed by the earlier incident that occurred on Aug. 22, 1944, in which the Tsushima Maru carrying an estimated 1,788 passengers was torpedoed, resulting in the deaths of over 1,500 passengers and crew including 780 schoolchildren.

In both cases, the Japanese military imposed a gag order that prevented families and survivors from speaking about the incidents. But compared with the Tsushima Maru, which appeared in school textbooks and other publications after the war, the Bushu Maru is not widely known.

Kota, who was a school employee, began interviewing family members of those involved in the Bushu Maru incident around 2006. He recorded video and audio to preserve their testimonies for future generations.

Having learned about the incident via newspaper articles, he became concerned that the activities of the family members had stagnated due to their advanced age, prompting him to take action.

"Even a generation that has never known war can pass on this story," he said.

He will never forget one person in particular who expressed "remorse" for being one of the few survivors of the sinking.

Local elementary and junior high school students also participate in the "Peace Evening," providing an opportunity to reflect on the importance of peace.

Toyoko Uehara, 76, who took part this year, said, "Compared to the Tsushima Maru, the tragedy of the Bushu Maru is not well known even among local residents. If we don't speak about the tragedy with the next generation, the children who lost their lives will never be known."

The tragic events linked to these mass evacuations may be fading into the past, but they are still front of mind for people like Kota amid concerns over the government's defense buildup and plans for evacuating the region.

At the time of the war, the U.S. military attacked Japanese ships, both civilian and military, to cut off supply routes, turning the seas around Okinawa into a "battlefield."

Currently, the Japanese government is formulating evacuation plans for the area in preparation for China potentially invading the nearby island of Taiwan. The plan envisions evacuating approximately 120,000 people from the Sakishima Islands in Okinawa Prefecture to prefectures in Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan's four main islands, as well as Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Eighty years ago, in July 1944, following the fall of Saipan, the government decided to evacuate approximately 100,000 Okinawans and others to the mainland and Taiwan, which at the time was ruled by Japan, in preparation for fighting in the Nansei Islands including Okinawa. The following months would see both the Tsushima Maru and Bushu Maru destroyed by U.S. attacks.

Sounding the alarm about the realities of another conflict in the region, Kota said, "When war breaks out, I think it will be impossible to evacuate the islands. The Nansei Islands will have to once again be sacrificed for the defense of the mainland."

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KYODO NEWS - Nov 23, 2024 - 22:03 | World, All, Japan

China has told Japan it intends to remove a buoy it installed inside Japan's exclusive economic zone near the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, diplomatic sources said Saturday.

While it is hoped the move will help stabilize strained relations between the two countries, China has not removed the buoy from the area. Japan is urging China to move the object immediately, the sources said.

The Japanese government has repeatedly called for the removal since the buoy's presence was confirmed in July last year near the uninhabited, Tokyo-controlled, Beijing-claimed islets.

China's motive for uninstalling the object is apparently to address the mounting number of diplomatic issues it has with Japan so that it can focus on its relationship with the United States, which will likely become turbulent following the inauguration of Donald Trump as U.S. president in January.

According to the sources, China told Japan through diplomatic channels in the summer that it would remove the buoy, with Japan welcoming the move and closely monitoring the situation to make sure Beijing follows through.

The topic was also discussed by officials from both countries during high-level consultations on maritime affairs in Tokyo in October.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has said the buoy was installed to monitor ocean currents and weather. Some observers said the data including water temperature has been collected and used by the Chinese military.

It appears China has determined that moving the buoy to the Chinese side of the EEZ's median line would not make much difference to the data obtained, the sources said.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba met with Chinese President Xi Jinping for the first time in Peru last week, where he expressed serious concerns about the situation in the East China Sea and the increased activity by the Chinese military.

Related coverage:

China admits plane entered Japan airspace in August but unintentional

China enters Japan waters days after air violation protested

Japan coast guard plans to build its largest patrol vessel
Stockton University is introducing a new course this year that uses archeology to help students be, potentially, more competitive in finding a job, or a hidden passion.

It reminds us there is more to picking the career you are going to pursue for the rest of your life, more than safe choices, Bobbi Hornbeck, assistant professor of Archaeology and creator of the new program, told NJ Advance Media on Monday.

Stocktons Archaeology minor echoes real-world demands of the field and can lead to jobs in research science, protecting or preserving heritage sites or museum curation, the university said. It can also lead to jobs like helping determine if a new road, bridge or building would disturb hidden archeological finds in the area.

Hornbeck, a 2009 alumni of Stockton, does more than talk the talk.

She was part of a 10-day National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration expedition in the summer to Alaskas Aleutian Islands to survey and inventory historical sites tied to the World War II Battle of Attu between the United States and Japan. She served as the expeditions sole Aleutian archaeologist and offered expertise regarding the maritime life of the Indigenous people of the islands. She also supported the Aleutian Mercury Dynamics Project by working with Stockton archaeology students to examine bone samples that will help scientists track mercury concentrations in the area over the past 3,000 years.

Hornbeck thinks Stocktons new program will provide students with opportunities to do hands-on research. She also has students working on an archaeological dig at the Museum of Cape May County and helping to re-catalog about 5,000 Indigenous and colonial artifacts found in the Richard Cook Curation Collection. Cook, a former longtime Cape May County resident, donated his collection to the Nature Center of Cape May.

Bobbi Hornbeck, assistant professor of Archaeology, works with a group of students in her Archaeology Field Methods class at a dig site at The Museum of Cape May County.provided

I just want to learn more about the history of humans and how different cultures have shaped us today, said Andreya Rusnak, a sophomore who initially thought the new course wouldnt interest her. But when Dr. Hornbeck explained it to me, she talked about how its actually the study of cultures of the past.

Hornbeck said archeology has a long and ugly history with indigenous cultures for many reasons, including the ignoring of some voices and perspectives. She is passionate about unraveling and contributing to those histories and teaching her students to do the same.

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism you rely on and trust.

Bill Duhart may be reached at bduhart@njadvancemedia.com.
A man accused of stabbing a person inside an Oakland restaurant Thursday afternoon was arrested shortly after, authorities said.

Jose Higinio Ramos Solis, 34, of Oakland, was charged with attempted murder and weapons-related offenses, the Bergen County Prosecutors Office announced Friday.

Police were called to Cafe LAmore at 455 Ramapo Valley Road shortly before 3 p.m. on Thursday and found that a 53-year-old man had been approached and stabbed by another man with a large knife, the office said.

Authorities alleged the attacker was Ramos Solis.

The man was taken to a local hospital for treatment. His condition was not released by investigators Friday.

Ramos Solis fled the scene, but was apprehended nearby by police, officials said.

Nobody at the restaurant who could speak about the incident was able to be reached for comment Friday.

Romos Solis was taken to the Bergen County Jail where he was held until his first court appearance in Bergen County Superior Court, the office said.

Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
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Dr. Kristyn Brandi is concerned about the number of patients coming into her office with bad information and a look of confusion.

They often come to Womens Choice Medical Center, the health clinic where Brandi serves as medical director, after initially going to a crisis pregnancy center they thought offered abortion care.

People will come with their ultrasound images from these places, which are often not done by trained monographers, so Ill look at those pictures and say, Im sorry, I dont know what Im looking at, said Brandi, a board-certified OB-GYN and abortion provider.

Sometimes the ultrasound picture will have the words baby or heartbeat written on it with an arrow to where the baby supposedly is, said Brandi. The intentional emotionally charged language is alarming, she said. But of even greater concern to Brandi is the safety of patients who go to these anti-abortion facilities.

Other providers have told me about women that find out theyre later in pregnancy than they thought they were, or they have an ectopic pregnancy when they were told everything was fine, said Brandi. And of course, the patient is so confused in the middle of it. They come in with information from people wearing white coats that they thought was accurate. Its annoying most of the time and potentially dangerous at others.

Its easy to see how a patient could be misled. A Google search for abortion centers New Jersey will yield sponsored ads for nearby pregnancy care centers or crisis pregnancy centers. Their websites urge women considering an abortion to schedule an appointment with them first for services like free pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, STD testing, and even abortion info consultation, even though they dont perform abortions.

In fact, critics say they may try to dissuade patients from getting one by giving false information, such as claiming a pregnancy is further along than it is, exaggerating the dangers of abortion, and promoting the unproven abortion reversal pill.

And thats just part of the problem, according to the state attorneys general and legislators waging a battle against the facilities which began nearly two years ago with a series of consumer alerts warning residents seeking reproductive healthcare to avoid crisis pregnancy centers. Now, a legal fight is playing out in the courts as the state investigates a religious non-profit for deceiving the public over abortion access, and the group pushes back in defense of its religious rights.

Since the Dobbs decision which overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark case that protected the right to abortion for nearly 50 years, 14 states have enacted near-total abortion bans and an additional six have passed restrictions, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation for health policy research.

As abortion access has become more restricted in the country, funding for such centers has increased. In the last two years alone, nearly $500 million in taxpayer dollars has been allocated to these centers, according to research compiled by Equity Forward, an abortion-rights watchdog organization.

According to new research, there are nearly 3,000 anti-abortion centers in the United States, three times the number of abortion clinics in the country. Despite evidence of mismanagement and criticism of centers methods, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill earlier this year that would pave the way for anti-abortion centers to receive federal funding.

But its not just anti-abortion states where a legal battle is unfolding. Its happening here, too  a state known for its stalwart protection of abortion rights. There are 59 of these anti-abortion facilities, nearly twice the number of medical clinics that perform abortions.

The fight for life is intensifying in New Jersey. Pro-abortion groups are stronger than ever, and PRCs (pregnancy resource centers) face unique challenges, according to the New Jersey Association for Pregnancy Centers website.

Multiple anti-abortion "crisis pregnancy centers" and at least one abortion facility were operating in every state in 2021, according to research published in Journal of Medical Internet Research.Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health Abortion Facility Database

Free speech or fraud?

The nonprofits known as crisis pregnancy centers are often nonclinical facilities that advertise counseling and support for women experiencing unplanned pregnancies.

The centers and their supporters say they provide necessary services and resources to women and families in need. In New Jersey, that meant an estimated $3.6 million in services to more than 23,000 women, men, and youth, according to a 2022 report from the Charlotte Lozier Institute, an anti-abortion think tank, and Care Net, a Christian organization that supports 1,200 centers in North America.

The women who come to us come often because theyre unsure about what theyre going to do in their pregnancy. We exist to provide compassionate care, including pregnancy tests, medical confirmation via ultrasounds, we have a parenting program, we have a whole range of services, said Aimee Huber, Executive Director of First Choice Womens Resource Centers, a Christian nonprofit with five locations in New Jersey.

New Jersey does not provide funding to such centers. Quite the opposite, in fact. State lawmakers have written letters to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services asking it to stop the flow of federal dollars to pregnancy centers, and Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy has signed laws that enshrine the right to obtain an abortion in New Jersey, including for out-of-state residents traveling to the state.

The consumer alert issued by the state Attorney Generals Office and the Division of Consumer Affairs two years ago accuses pregnancy centers of seeking to prevent individuals from accessing abortion care, sometimes by providing false or misleading information about the safety and legality of abortion.

Under Governor Murphys leadership, our state is deeply committed to protecting the rights of those who provide and receive reproductive services, and our office will continue to use every available resource to protect access to abortion care here in New Jersey, said Matthew Platkin, then-acting attorney general, in a press release.

The state said its investigation into First Choice is "motivated by concerns about First Choices potential factual misrepresentations and omissions and other misconduct, not by First Choices religious beliefs or statements."Ed Murray| For NJ Advance Media

First Choice Womens Resource Centers, one of the largest anti-abortion nonprofits in New Jersey, has found itself in the states crosshairs and claims theyre being unfairly targeted by government overreach.

Shortly after the consumer alert was issued, attorneys for a group of pregnancy centers requested records from the Attorney Generals Office seeking information on investigations, emails, and other records that drove officials to issue the alert. When they were denied, the consortium sued.

Ultimately, a judge ordered the Attorney Generals Office to produce most of the documents and pay the majority of the groups legal expenses. Anti-abortion groups declared this a legal victory, but Platkin has remained undeterred in trying to hold pregnancy centers accountable for allegedly spreading misinformation.

The state issued a subpoena against First Choice in November 2023 seeking a broad range of documents going back more than 10 years, saying it was believed First Choice was deceiving its donors by running multiple websites, that it was conducting medical procedures without the proper licensing, and sharing medical information that may be misleading. Additionally, the state said First Choice represents that its services are confidential and private but elsewhere, it claims that it is exempt from HIPAA because it does not accept insurance, raising patient-privacy concerns.

Attorneys for First Choice sought to put a halt to it by filing a federal lawsuit claiming that the state offices were attempting to chill free speech. That move was shot down, but an appeal is pending.

The organization is actively fighting attempts to enforce the subpoena in state court.

We have a state official punishing one side of the debate for its views and targeting it with an invasive and prejudicial demand for its donors, said Lincoln Wilson, an attorney with Alliance Defending Freedom, the Christian legal advocacy group representing First Choice.

Were standing up, said Wilson. This is not a case about abortion. This is a case about the First Amendment.

The state says otherwise.

The subpoena is motivated by concerns about First Choices potential factual misrepresentations and omissions and other conduct, not by First Choices religious beliefs or statements, it said in court papers.

State Assemblyman Paul Kanitra, R-Ocean, is calling for the New Jersey Legislature or even the federal government to investigate the attorney generals motives for pursuing an investigation into First Choice and other pregnancy centers.

Platkin is using the courts to cripple pregnancy resource centers into oblivion, plain and simple, Kanitra said in a statement. Its a pregnancy resource center. They offer screenings and counseling just like Planned Parenthood does. They dont offer abortion referrals and services, just like Chick-Fil-A doesnt sell hamburgers. Sane people know this.

First Choice is very upfront about the services it does and doesnt provide, said Huber.

All of our advertising states clearly that we do not perform or refer for abortions, starting with our website, Huber said. And then if a woman contacts us via text or phone she is quickly told if she is interested in abortion at all that we do not refer for that procedure or perform it.

The website of anti-abortion centers and abortion clinics can appear indistinguishable from one another. The left website is for an anti-abortion center and the right is for an abortion clinic.Canva Illustration for NJ.com

A strategy of confusion

People calling for increased regulation of pregnancy centers disagree that they are upfront about their intended purpose. In fact, critics allege the centers  not just First Choice  purposefully mislead women into thinking they offer abortions and try to talk patients out of exercising their right to abortion.

Women go to these healthcare hoax clinics thinking theyll get real medical help and care but instead theyre greeted by people with no medical background whose goal is to brainwash women with their own extreme ideological agendas, said U.S. Rep Josh Gottheimer, D-5th District, during a press conference last year calling attention to pregnancy centers deceptive tactics.

A study by the Alliance for Womens Rights and Gender Equality of 607 anti-abortion centers across nine states found that almost two-thirds of anti-abortion centers promoted patently false and/or biased medical claims about pregnancy, abortion, contraception, and reproductive health care providers. Additionally, fewer than half reported having a licensed medical professional on staff.

Last year, Gottheimer sponsored the Stop Anti-Abortion Disinformation Act that would require the Federal Trade Commission to prohibit misinformation and disinformation related to abortion services and authorize the FTC to penalize organizations that break this rule. The bill was introduced, but never made it past committee.

Gottheimer said hes spoken with women who visited pregnancy resource centers and have told me of their experiences where they are brought in there and not given the facts.

You cant make women feel theyre going in and getting medical support and advice and then leave out the major headline, We will never refer for an abortion in any case, even when the health of the mother is on the line, the congressman said.

Anti-abortion centers and abortion clinics can be hard to tell apart, according to a 2021 study that used screenshots of both types of facilities to see if women could determine the difference. They may have a name similar to that of a nearby abortion clinic, including words like care, health, pregnancy, resource, and choice. They may even have similar websites with pictures of people wearing lab coats and stethoscopes.

Women who call anti-abortion centers might have a hard time getting a clear answer as to whether or not the facility provides abortion, critics say.

We are a good place to start if someone is looking for an abortion because we do provide the first steps at no cost, said a friendly receptionist who picked up the phone for First Choice pregnancy centers in October.

The woman said they provide ultrasounds to determine if the pregnancy is viable and also abortion options consultation, though, not available specifically at our center as we dont provide the procedure here.

When asked to clarify, the receptionist said, We dont provide the abortion procedure but we do help with the first steps if someone is looking to get an abortion, if someone is looking to medically confirm the pregnancy.

I think the confusion is the point, said Brandi, the medical director at Womens Choice Medical Center. I have patients who went to a place that had choice in the name and they thought they could get abortion care there.

I think the general sense I get from patients whove gone to these places is that they feel theyve been lied to and it creates this air of distrust, said Brandi, former board chair for Physicians for Reproductive Health.

Theres a lot of attention, rightfully so, on the deceptive tactics of a lot of these centers, said Betsy Armstrong, an associate professor of sociology and public affairs at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. Its clear some people think they are going somewhere like a Planned Parenthood.

Where they choose to open up isnt coincidental, some studies. Two-thirds of New Jerseys 21 Planned Parenthood health centers have an anti-abortion center operating within three miles of their location and half have an anti-abortion center within one mile, according to a Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey report.

The centers have also been described as unethical by leading professional medical organizations, including the American Medical Association, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

They say some facilities share incorrect statistics about whether women regret having an abortion and false, and potentially harmful, information about the efficacy of the anti-abortion pill.

The tactics used by pregnancy centers arent just unethical, said Armstrong, they fly in the face of reproductive justice and personal bodily autonomy.

Reproductive justice is a framework in which every person has the right not to parent, the right to parent, and the right to parent the children you have in safe and sustainable communities, said Armstrong.

Many people who look at the anti-abortion centers, not from the center itself, would be concerned by the level of deception or coercion involved. The interaction is counter to what we think of as reproductive justice because its trying to influence someones decision in a particular way and not being open to all the potential resolutions of a pregnancy.

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Jackie Roman may be reached at jroman@njadvancemedia.com.
A man who allegedly robbed a Monmouth County bank at gunpoint last month is now facing a federal charge, authorities announced Friday.

Jeffrey L. Kniffin, 50, of Wall Township, was accused of walking into a Bank of America branch located on State Highway 35 in Wall Township on Oct. 23 and showing the teller and other employees that he was armed with a gun, according to a release from the U.S. Attorneys Office District of New Jersey.

He told the employees, Dont do anything stupid, before taking cash from the teller and fleeing the bank on foot, the office said.

An off-duty Wall Township police officer was driving in the vicinity of the bank when he learned of the robbery. As he was approaching it, he saw a man matching the description of the suspect riding a bicycle, the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office said in a statement last month.

The officer followed Kniffin to the front of his home where he would ultimately be apprehended, prosecutors said.

At the time of his arrest, he was found to have a loaded firearm and more than $17,000 in cash, according to Fridays release.

He was charged with one count of armed bank robbery by federal prosecutors and was detained after his appearance Friday in Trenton federal court.

Locally, he was charged with one count of first-degree armed robbery, one count of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and one count of fourth-degree possession of hollow point bullets, the prosecutors office said.

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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
By Mark McDonough

New Jersey just endured its driest October on record. Parts of the state didnt see a single drop of rain the entire month, causing stream, reservoir and groundwater levels to plummet.

Some parts of the state received some rain and even snow this week, but the reality is that the precipitation, while helpful, is a drop in the bucket relative to the amount needed. The lack of meaningful rainfall is still a persisting problem and the threat of wildfire, while lessened, is still real. The deadly Jennings Creek wildfire continues to burn and has already consumed over 5,300 acres.

After farmers, environmentalists and other citizens voiced concern over the current drought as well as excessive public water use, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection issued a drought warning last week, enabling it to more closely manage water systems statewide. Following careful consideration of its own supply levels, New Jersey American Water also issued a mandatory water conservation notice for all customers, which limits non-essential water use.

The DEPs drought warning enables closer management of water systems to preserve supply and balance ecological protection, including transferring water between water systems, controlling reservoir releases, and modifying the flow rate of streams and rivers. And if the dry weather continues for the foreseeable future, the DEP could issue its own mandatory water conservation notice statewide  an unprecedented but necessary move.

Heres how much rain N.J. needs to help end the severe drought https://t.co/JCqr1lS3qr  njdotcom (@njdotcom) November 20, 2024

As climate change makes extreme weather conditions more common  including drought -- water conservation directives could become the norm. Managing them will require that government, business and residents are in lockstep.

As the states largest water provider, New Jersey American Water is coordinating with the DEP to address the current drought conditions and strongly encouraging all residents, customers or not, to help safeguard the states water supply by using water wisely.

That starts with conserving water at home through a series of small steps that can collectively make a big difference.

Indoors, residents should only run their washing machine and dishwasher when full, take shorter showers, turn off the tap while brushing their teeth or shaving, and check toilets, faucets and pipes for leaks.

Outside, individuals should pause all outdoor watering and let lawns go dormant for the winter, turn off and drain their sprinkler systems, and use commercial car washes that recycle water.

New Jersey American Water continues to do its part by monitoring water supply levels across the state. We have plans in place to shift water sources if needed, so we can continue to serve to customers without interruption. Resiliency and adaptability in adverse conditions require investment in infrastructure and planning. With the right systems in place, our communities will be able to withstand the weather challenges of today and tomorrow.

As New Jersey navigates this drought, it is important that all businesses and residents come together as a community to implement effective water conservation strategies. Every action counts, and by making conscious choices, we can all do our part to help safeguard New Jerseys precious water resources.

Mark McDonough is President of New Jersey American Water, the states largest water and wastewater service provider serves 2.9 million people in over 190 towns.

To comment on this op-ed, send a letter to eletters@starledger.com.

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KYODO NEWS - Nov 23, 2024 - 20:18 | World

Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya is planning to visit China in late December for talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, as the two countries seek to resume high-level bilateral exchanges, government sources said Saturday.

The two sides are also considering holding a ministerial-level human and cultural exchange dialogue during the visit by Iwaya, who assumed his post in October, they said. The dialogue has not been held since it was first held in November 2019 in Tokyo.

The moves come after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed during their first talks in Peru earlier this month to arrange reciprocal visits by their foreign ministers at an early date.

Iwaya is expected to urge China to steadily implement its promise to restart importing Japanese seafood after imposing a blanket ban over the release of treated radioactive water into the ocean from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant. Prior to the ban, China was the biggest importer of Japanese seafood.

Other issues likely to be on the table include China's increased military activities, the fatal stabbing of a Japanese schoolboy in Shenzhen and the detention of Japanese nationals over espionage allegations.

The Asian neighbors are also likely to reaffirm their cooperation in cultural and educational exchanges.

China said on 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.

Related coverage:

Japan conveys "serious concerns" to China over military activities

Japan PM Ishiba hopes to work with Trump, not confront him

China admits plane entered Japan airspace in August but unintentional
Can Americans still have a sensible and friendly political discussion across the partisan divide? The answer is yes, and we prove it every week. Julie Roginsky, a Democrat, and Mike DuHaime, a Republican, are consultants who have worked on opposite teams for their entire careers yet have remained friends. Here, they discuss the weeks events with deputy editorial page editor Dave DAlessandro.

Q. President Biden gave his authorization to Ukraine to launch American-made long-range missiles deeper inside Russia, just as Vladimir Putin lowered his threshold to use nuclear weapons. Did Biden have a choice to escalate, given the dire circumstances Kyiv faces in the coming winter?

Julie: Biden wants Ukraine negotiating from a position of maximum strength this winter, since Trump has claimed that he will end the war on day one on his presidency  almost certainly by giving Putin everything he wants. Meanwhile, Putin has recruited North Korean soldiers to help him take back the Russian city of Kursk, part of which is currently occupied by Ukraine. I fear that this is the last gasp of the Pax America, which has largely saved Europe from widespread conflict for 80 years. We are about to enter a horrible phase, which will be more reminiscent of 19th Century international affairs than the much more stable post-World War II order.

The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy says 'the missiles will speak for themselves' as the US consents for them to be fired at Russia.



Read more: https://t.co/gLNrPXRYeu pic.twitter.com/lmqx4MS0cW  Sky News (@SkyNews) November 18, 2024

Mike: This is one of the few policies Biden can largely influence right now, and I agree he wants Ukraine in as strong a position as possible. With Russia launching ICBMs yesterday for the first time ever -- not the first time in this war, but anywhere in humanity  we are headed toward a scary escalation right now. Trump has his work cut out for him, and we all hope there can be a peaceful resolution. We also must hope it does not further destabilize the lasting peace in Europe.

So, a few words about this new Russian nuclear doctrine, but here's the short version: It's not a doctrine, it's a ploy.

/1  Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) November 20, 2024

Q. The president-elect continues to surprise members of his own party with his cabinet nominations, including four who may struggle to be confirmed in a GOP-controlled Senate even after Matt Gaetz withdrew on Thursday. Has Trump  who may finish below 50% once the popular vote count is complete -- misjudged his political capital on such longshots, or is there still little risk of that in his party?

Julie: Trump told us exactly what he would do if elected, so there should be no surprise. From his perspective, the American people were warned and they voted for it anyway. Trump is an adjudicated sexual assailant who has now stacked the highest ranks of his administration with other alleged sexual predators and those who allegedly suborn sexual predation, including his picks for Attorney General, Defense, Health and Human Services, and Education. His pick for director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, is what the Russians would call a useful idiot, who parrots Putins propaganda all day long. She actually is the one who scares me the most.

It's pretty incredible that the candidate for attorney general, his only experience with criminal investigations is being on the receiving end of one."

-Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse

pic.twitter.com/E27RJx2AM1  Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) November 21, 2024

Mike: No one cares if Trump ends with 49.5% or 50.5%. He won. Bill Clinton won with 43% of the vote, and he was no less a president than every other. Of course, Clinton was dirtbag sexual predator who was impeached, but thats a different story. We predicted in the column last week that Gaetz was doomed, and we were right. It didnt take Nostradamus to predict that one. Many of Trumps picks for major positions like Secretaries of State, Energy, Transportation, Education and more will sail through confirmation, including Dr. Oz. Tulsi Gabbard is the next one to watch. Gaetz is a bad guy with many enemies within his own party on the Hill; Gabbard faces distrust, but not the ethics issues and simple personal hatred that Gaetz did.

The roll out has a certain cadence. Start with normies (Rubio, Stefanik), then the ridiculous (Hegseth), then the dangerous (Gaetz), then the threatening (Tulsi) and then the batshit (Kennedy). From meh to bad to armageddon. Overwhelm to force senators play wackamole, if inclined  Julie Roginsky (@julieroginsky) November 14, 2024

Q. MSNBC hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski went to Mar-A-Lago last week, and the reaction was as polarized as our politics: Some say it was a humiliating retreat from their criticisms of Trump and accused them of bootlicking someone they branded an odious fascist. Others say its their jobs to stay in touch with the most powerful man in the world, and that it allows them to stay relevant. Which is it?

Julie: Remember Superman II, when the archvillain Zod showed up at the White House and told the president of the United States to kneel before Zod? The president did it to save humanity. These two have begged to kneel before Zod to save themselves from an audit or whatever they fear Trump will do to them. All this after calling him a fascist and worse for years. If they were serious journalists, they would have gone down to Mar-A-Lago and reported on their conversation with him. Instead, they just assured us, with a straight face, that Trump wants to find common ground with Democrats. If thats true, it must have been Bizarro Trump they met with, not the real deal.

Journalism professor and author @jeffjarvis

on Joe Scarborough & Mika Brzezinski's decision to repair their relationship with Donald J. Trump. Journalists are supposed to inform the public and represent their interests. They shouldn't kiss the ring. Trump is still a fascist. pic.twitter.com/maWoUSJKR2  Decoding Fox News (@DecodingFoxNews) November 19, 2024

Mike: Truly humiliating for Joe and Mika, almost as humiliating as Don Jr. crushing Nikki Haley on X the other day after Haley spent the last year begging for relevance in Trump world. Mika and Joe are doing what most voters do, putting their personal interests first. Mika and Joe want to be relevant, so meeting with any president certainly helps that. But if you really thought someone was that horrible of a person, not just someone with whom you have policy disagreements, you would have the integrity to never meet. So, they were either full of it during the election to get the MSNBC ratings, or they are full of it now crawling to beg for relevance. Either way, it makes them look lame, which is exactly what Trump wants.

Q. Were roughly 200 days away from the primaries for governor -- which suddenly makes the race feel like a sprint -- yet even though theres a very representative list of 10 candidates (6 Dems, 4 GOP), New Jerseyans dont know much about any of them, Rutgers-Eagleton tells us. From this group, is anyone best positioned to break away from the field?

Julie: Its anyones game. Most of these candidates bring a unique perspective to the race, most will be well funded, and all are operating in a world where the county organizations are no longer able to put their thumbs on the scale to the benefit of any particular candidate.

Mike: Totally agree. This is the most wide-open race across both parties of my adult life. Its anyones game because someone could win the race with about 22% among the Dems and about 30% among the Rs if no one drops out. Almost every candidate has a base of support and a path to victory. But only one will become governor. Thats why this business is so much fun yet can be so difficult. Nine candidates here will come up short, and pundits and journalists will pick them apart for losing, when in fact they all deserve respect and admiration for their willingness to run, to risk public defeat in purpose of a higher goal.

Q. Congestion pricing is coming to New York in January, which the public on both sides of the river oppose by nearly 3-to-1. Two questions: What will be the political fallout to this, and what should New Jerseys response be?

Julie: Good for Gov. Murphy and Rep. Gottheimer for fighting this idiotic proposal tooth and nail. New Jersey Transit is a mess and people often have no choice but to drive to get to New York. Gov. Hochul is deeply misreading the room if she thinks this is not going to sink her re-election chances next year. Trumps 2020-to-2024 swing in New York State was the largest in the nation (New Jersey came in second), and that is largely because no one who lives in New York or New Jersey thinks it is affordable. Charging people more money to drive on their own streets is the definition of an unforced political error.

Mike: The tolls are out of hand, and I agree with Julie applauding the efforts to fight it. While those in New Jersey cant vote against Hochul, those on Long Island and in Westchester, Rockland and the Hudson Valley will be happy to do so on our behalf. New Jersey leaders would be smart to use this against New York, perhaps using it to lure businesses to our side of the Hudson, where their workforce will be treated as more than a piggy bank to raid for New York.

Memo to Gov: Your country cousins wish you good luck in your next job. https://t.co/nJ67XfXqgK  NJ_Opinion (@NJ_Opinion) November 17, 2024

Q. The ugly fight continued last week over the Pennsylvania Senate race recount, when Democratic election officials counted misdated mail ballots and unsigned provisional ballots in defiance of a ruling by the state Supreme Court. One official claimed, Precedent by a court doesnt matter anymore in this country. The Court has since slapped Democrats down on the mail-ins but sided with them on counting provisionals. Does this attempt to flout the rule of law stick to Democrats? Does it damage trust in our elections?

Julie: Democrats should cut it out. We cannot begin to act like election deniers. Look, I headlined a press conference for Bob Casey on NDAs the week before the election, so you know that I was deeply invested in his victory. It did not happen. Its time to stop the denialism and move on.

Mike: It was wrong when Republicans said the 2020 election was stolen when it wasnt. It is also wrong for local Democratic officials to ignore the law. I am glad the Pennsylvania Supreme Court did the right thing to stop their games. Senator Casey has every right to exhaust his legal options to a recount, but once done, he must concede. I am surprised he has not done so already.

Washington Post editorial board headline on Bob Casey and Democrats: Democrats thumb their nose at the rule of law in Pennsylvania

https://t.co/MtJBjeeFbt  Andy Kaczynski (@KFILE) November 16, 2024

Q. Chris Christie is borrowing Drumthwacket -- the Governors official residence -- with Phil Murphys blessing to commemorate the 15-year anniversary of his victory over Jon Corzine. Anybody got a problem with that? Anybody need a +1?

Julie: God bless. If he wants to party and Murphy is letting him use the mansion to do it, who are we to be buzzkills? The traditional 15th-anniversary gift is crystal. Should we all chip in and get him a nice decanter?

Mike: I will be there, enjoying our walk down memory lane and reminiscing about the only time an incumbent has been defeated in New Jersey in the last 30-plus years. But its a reunion for those who helped Gov. Christie win as a challenger in 2009, so, alas, the Star Ledger Editorial Board is not invited. Your endorsement of independent candidate Chris Daggett, who got a whopping 5.8% of the vote but almost screwed up our campaign anyway, does not earn you an invite. Sorry not sorry.

Phil Murphy is allowing Chris Christie to use Drumthwacket this week to celebrate the 15th anniversary of his election as governor against Jon Corzine.

https://t.co/NShVKMtlne  David Wildstein (@wildstein) November 18, 2024

Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.

Thanks to @GovChristie for inviting me to speak at @Yale to share my thoughts on the election.



I find it is never easy when every single person in the room is smarter than me, but I made it through. pic.twitter.com/qlVnCeifBe  Mike DuHaime (@MikeDuHaime) November 11, 2024

A note to readers: Mike and Julie are deeply engaged in politics and commercial advocacy in New Jersey, so both have connections to many players discussed in this column. DuHaime, the founder of MAD Global, has worked for Chris Christie, Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, and President George W. Bush. Roginsky, a principal of Comprehensive Communications Group, has served as senior advisor to campaigns of Cory Booker, Frank Lautenberg, and Phil Murphy. We will disclose specific connections only when readers might otherwise be misled.
Concrete doesnt typically conjure warm and cozy feelings, but Roy Minieri of Minieri Realty describes a home he just listed in South Plainfield as just that.

Its homey, for a stone building, he said.

The three-bedroom, two full- and one half-bathroom home is listed for sale for $600,000.

Built in 1961, it was one of 85 homes recognized nationally that year for their concrete construction, Minieri said. The homes are known as Horizon Homes and were promoted by the concrete industry to improve and extend the use of concrete in home building.

Concrete homes are believed to be more energy efficient, more durable, more fire resistant and low maintenance, according to industry claims.

Its solid block throughout the whole house plus theres a block wall thats six to eight feet high around the property, Minieri said of the South Plainfield home. Its like a compound.

The home is set up as a split level. When you enter the front door you can go up five stairs to the living room, kitchen, dining room and den. Or down five stairs to the the bathrooms, family room, laundry room and bedrooms.

The back walls of the house on both levels have floor to ceiling windows and doors leading to a deck on the upper level and the pool on the lower level.

Its so open, he said. Its very bright.

The buyer will likely be young people who can take control of the uniqueness of the house and how to show it off, Minieri said.

Its located on a cul-de-sac, with more traditional homes. The closest thing you could find to this is on top of a mountain in Bridgewater for $1.2 million or by the Shore for millions of dollars, he said.

The median sales price of a home in South Plainfield was $510,000 in September, according to the most recent data available from New Jersey Realtors.

The home has been on the market for about a week and has been toured by 35 groups of people.

We have offers on the table already, well over the list price, Minieri said. Its a very dynamic house.

But its not for everyone. Some who have toured it walked out without saying a word, he said. You either fall in love with it or you leave the dance.

The home is 2,364-square-feet in size and sits on a .27 acre lot.Ryan Atfield Photography

The home is laid out like a split-level.Ryan Atfield Photography

The kitchen has been updated.Ryan Atfield Photography

The kitchen, living and dining rooms are open concept.Ryan Atfield Photography

The 20 foot by 30 foot living room has a fireplace.Ryan Atfield Photography

There are three bedrooms, all on the lower level.Ryan Atfield Photography

There are two full- and one half-bath.Ryan Atfield Photography

The back of the house has floor-to-ceiling windows on both levels.Ryan Atfield Photography

The backyard has an in-ground pool and a fire pit.Ryan Atfield Photography

Are you an agent, buyer or seller who is active in this changing market? Do you have tips about New Jerseys real estate market? Unusual listings? Let us know.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Allison Pries may be reached at apries@njadvancemedia.com.
UPDATE: Multiple rounds of rain this week, including on Thanksgiving

Its still too early to tell just how weather for one of the busiest travel weeks will turn out, but forecasters say rain is likely across some areas of New Jersey while snow could materialize in interior parts of the state later in the week.

The weather outlook for the week is a tale of two models, and forecasters say they cannot yet predict with any certainty how the weather will turn out leading into Thanksgiving.

Forecasters with the National Weather Service in Mount Holly are predicting that the next possibility of rain for New Jersey will likely hold off until Monday night into Tuesday, officials said in their Saturday morning forecast discussion.

The chance of rain increases into Tuesday, but dry and mild conditions are expected for Wednesday as gusty winds pick up and cooler temperatures continue into Thursday, forecasters said Saturday.

Forecasters could not yet say with any certainty what the whether will be like on Thanksgiving and Black Friday. But they did say the possibility of rain and snow could materialize on Thursday and Friday across some areas of the state.

If the storm stays south, areas along the coast could see rain while cooler temperatures in the interior of the state create the possibility for snow, forecasters said Saturday.

The possibility of snow depends on cooler air pushed down from Canada by the jet stream reaching deep enough into New Jersey and creating cooler conditions mixed with precipitation, forecasters said.

Weather conditions leading up to Thanksgiving are a perennial concern given the expectation of a high volume of holiday travelers along major roads and at air ports.

The Transportation Security Administration expects record volumes between Tuesday, Nov. 26 and Monday, Dec. 2 as they expect to screen 18.3 million travelers over the holiday week, an increase of 6 percent from last year, officials from the agency said in a press release earlier this week.

The highest volumes of travelers are expected on Tuesday and Wednesday leading into Thanksgiving and Sunday as people return home, according to TSA.

Wintry weather on Thursday could complicate more local travel along major roadways in New Jersey with possibility of rain and snow in the forecast.

Gusty winds could also dampen plans for Thanksgiving day parades in New York and Philadelphia, although it is still too early to tell how the weather will shape up later in the week.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Matt on X
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(ECNS) --We are very close with the Chinese. Even though there is a distance between Ethiopia and China, we feel that China is our close neighbor and neighboring country, said Ethiopian scholar Melaku Mulualem, Training Director General at the Institute of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia in a recent interview with China News Network.

During the interview, Melaku Mulualem recalled his experience studying in Beijing, and visiting cities in China like Shanghai and Fuzhou. He was greatly impressed by major changes and development undertaken in China over the past few years.

Whenever I come to China, I notice a lot of changes, Melaku Mulualem said. The construction is very fast. The roads are very clean. And people are cooperative. If I get lost, they are ready to help me.

In Mulualems view, Ethiopia and China have a long history of friendship. The two countries formally established diplomatic ties in 1970, and since then their bilateral relation has grown stronger .

In particular, he noticed that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has injected a strong impetus into trade and investment between Ethiopia and China, and has benefited people from the two countries.

He pointed out that the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway, a landmark railway line connecting Ethiopia and Djibouti as well as a flagship project under the framework of the BRI, has gained acclaim for its contribution to reducing travel time and facilitating Ethiopia's growing trade.

My friend used to travel for 3 days from Addis Ababa to Djibouti City, but now within 11 or 12 hours(via the railway),Mulualem said.So it has minimized the time for people who travel, for people who trade, and with safety also.

He also praised several other cooperation projects between Africa and China, including construction of the new headquarters of the African Union and the reference laboratory for the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This shows how much China is supporting Africa. So the relationship is becoming stronger and stronger, not only between Ethiopia and China, but also between Africa and China. the Ethiopian scholar said.

He further highlighted the global challenges of injustice and inequality in governance, noting China's efforts to address these issues.

That's why China has been supporting South-South cooperation. One of the cooperative mechanisms is the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which is a good example of China supporting South-South cooperation, especially to support Africa, he added.

Through South-South cooperation Africa has gained access to technology transfer, financial support, and education and training opportunities. I myself also benefit from it. Because of China's active participation and hard working, South-South cooperation is getting better and better, Mulualem concluded.


KYODO NEWS - Nov 23, 2024 - 14:54 | Japan, All

With a series of incidents on the rise of people being killed or injured due to reckless driving in Japan, the government is moving to clarify criminal penalties in so-called dangerous driving cases.

Behind the push for legal reform is an urgency, mainly by bereaved family members who demand clearly defined punishments for crimes involving high-speed and intoxicated driving under the current law punishing dangerous driving that results in death or injuries.

On Nov. 13, a draft report setting forth the direction for punishment requirements was presented by the Justice Ministry's expert panel committee. In recent years, there have been cases in which the applicability of the law has been murky at best.

Although a revision is welcomed by investigative authorities, legal experts believe clarifying the law may be challenging because of the difficulties in determining "appropriate numerical standards" in dangerous driving cases.

A woman who lost three of her close family members in an accident when a drunk truck driver smashed into a car in a city in Gunma Prefecture, eastern Japan, expressed dismay with the current legal system in an interview early this month.

"If the victims' feelings were taken into account, I don't think the system would be set up the way it is today," said the woman, who lost her son, grandson and great-grandson in the accident on the afternoon of May 6.

The truck driver accelerated to 90 kilometers per hour, exceeding the legal speed limit, and drifted across the median into oncoming traffic before hitting their car. A woman in another car that was also rammed suffered minor injuries.

According to the accused truck driver Goro Suzuki's employer, although several empty bottles of the distilled spirit shochu were subsequently found inside his vehicle, the Maebashi District Public Prosecutors Office initially charged him with professional negligence resulting in death.

The family members of the those who died, who were not satisfied with the indictment, continued their demands, and the district attorney's office later found that alcohol was a factor during a supplemental investigation, changing Suzuki's indictment in October to dangerous driving resulting in manslaughter.

An investigative source said Suzuki, who suffered severe injuries in the accident, is suspected of having consumed alcohol during the 40 minutes between when he arrived at work and when he started driving on the day of the accident.

The woman who lost her three family members said, "I would like to see the law made simpler, with a clear statement that 'dangerous driving starts here.'" She is calling for "laws that are easy for the general public to understand."

Early this month, the family members of the three who died submitted 83,000 signatures from supportive citizens to the local prosecutors office demanding that Suzuki, 70, be severely punished.

The wife of one of the victims said in an interview, "Through the signature drive, I felt that many people showed their anger in support of my family."

The Maebashi District Court approved the change in violation to the heavier statutory penalty during the signature drive campaign, which was held in Maebashi and online.

The expert panel that met earlier this month focused on German cases of setting numerical standards for alcohol consumption in defining dangerous driving cases.

Regarding the penalties under the criminal law imposed on persons under the influence of alcohol that make it impossible for them to drive safely, a standard of 1.1 milligrams of alcohol per milliliter of blood is applied in Germany as the blood alcohol concentration.

The Japanese government's expert panel determined that the "German cases are worth referring to" after the opinion was raised that the effect of blood alcohol concentration influences all people. They also argued for setting numerical standards for speed to enforce the law.

There are a number of cases involving drivers charged with "negligence" later having their offenses switched to dangerous driving, as in a 2021 fatal accident in which a man who was 19 at the time plowed into a car turning right at an intersection at 194 kph on a road with a 60-kph speed limit.

Currently on trial in the Oita District Court in southwestern Japan and set for sentencing later this month, the 23-year-old defendant faces a 12-year prison sentence on charges of dangerous driving for the killing of a 50-year-old man. The man's defense lawyers argued for negligence in the trial.

The majority of the expert panel members were of the opinion that numerical standards could be set with figures representing situations that are "considered to be out of the ordinary."

But they envision a "contingency plan" in which offenders are in automatic violation for exceeding the speed standard, while drivers who might be below the speed standard are judged on an individual basis to ensure they are also not let off the hook.

Under the current provision for dangerous driving, prosecutors in charge of investigations are unsure of its applicability.

"Setting objective standards makes it easy for officers in the field to understand," a senior Justice Ministry official said, welcoming a revision. "If we can get closer to the sense of public opinion, it would be even better."

Discussions on legal reform are likely to proceed based on the draft report, but some are concerned about the future.

Shuichiro Hoshi, a professor of criminal law of traffic violations at Tokyo Metropolitan University, suggests it is difficult to determine objective numerical standards in cases when alcohol has been consumed because tolerance levels vary from person to person.

He also argues speed is greatly influenced by individual factors such as road conditions and driving ability.

There are also a certain number of cases in which alcohol and speed measurements are disputed in court, raising doubt of whether there is a "foolproof technique for proving if standards have been exceeded."

Although cautious in its stance, the expert panel has taken the position that it is necessary to create an intermediate criminal offense -- a middle-of-the-road law, so to speak, between dangerous driving and negligence.

"Bereaved families are very uncomfortable with the term 'negligence,'" a member of the panel said.

Urging continued discussion with the public, the member said, "More consideration should be given to the types of punishment that cannot be called negligence."

Related coverage:

Japan to use navigation systems to alert wrong-way drivers
Ron Faucheux: Some of Trump's presidential nominations have hit snags. How common is it?
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KYODO NEWS - Nov 23, 2024 - 11:08 | All, Japan

Some public libraries in Japan will trial sales of new books from fiscal 2025 to fill the void caused by a nationwide decline in the number of physical bookstores, industry officials said.

The program is aimed at increasing opportunities for people to buy books, particularly the elderly who may be unfamiliar with the process of using online shopping sites.

The trial will be conducted in a number of libraries by TRC Library Service Inc., which provides library services for local governments and others, in conjunction with major book wholesaler Nippon Shuppan Hanbai Inc., they said.

The libraries will have separate counters for book purchases and regular lending as well as taking orders for books not held in stock.

The trial will be funded by the two companies which are currently selecting candidate libraries. They expect to expand the system if demand for book sales is strong, they said.

As the libraries may also sell stationery and locally-grown vegetables, an official from Nippon Shuppan Hanbai said, "We hope to create a hub for local interactions by revitalizing libraries."

The number of stores excluding university cooperatives or secondhand bookstores in Japan stood at 7,828 in March, down 145 from the previous survey in August, according to the Japan Publishing Industry Foundation for Culture. The survey also found 24 cities in 15 prefectures had no bookstores at all.

Bookstore operators have come under pressure due to the nation's falling population and increasing popularity of online sales.

Related coverage:

Over 60% in Japan read no books each month, majority for 1st time
Torridge District Council is calling on visitors and local residents to be extra cautious as Northam Burrows sees an influx of wintering birds.

As some UK bird species migrate to warmer climates, the area becomes home to a variety of birds from Scandinavia and Northern Europe, seeking refuge from harsher winter conditions.

The council's rangers are advising dog owners to stick to designated paths, particularly around high tide when the birds are closest to the shore.

Disturbing or chasing these wintering birds could have serious consequences for their health and survival.

Many of the birds are already exhausted or facing food shortages, making it even more crucial that they are allowed to rest and recuperate.

Torridge District Council, in collaboration with local stakeholders, has produced a leaflet to raise awareness about the issue.

The leaflet will be available at local tourist information centres and visitor hubs around the Taw and Torridge estuary.

Nature enthusiasts will be pleased to know that winter is an ideal time to spot a variety of birds, including Snow Buntings, Brent Geese, Curlew, Golden Plover, Lapwing, and Oystercatchers.

The salt marshes, sand dunes, and sandbanks along the Taw and Torridge estuary are prime spots for these species, including Shelduck, which spend the winter months in the area.

Rangers are hopeful that, with some extra care and consideration, a balance can be struck between enjoying the natural environment and protecting wildlife.

Councillor Lyndon Piper, Lead Member for Leisure, commented: We're lucky in Torridge to live in an area that has such an abundant variety of wildlife and natural habitats to support them. While the coastline is a great place for residents to escape outdoors and take their dogs for a walk, we just need to be a bit more vigilant than usual during the winter months. Its so important that we don't allow our dogs to chase after the birds that flock to our shores. Its vital that they have the chance to recuperate and build up their energy reserves so they make it back safely to their spring breeding grounds and their numbers are preserved or improved.
Alice Brock, whose eatery in western Massachusetts was immortalized as the place where you can get anything you want in Arlo Guthries 1967 antiwar song Alices Restaurant, died on Thursday in Wellfleet, Mass.  just a week before Thanksgiving, the holiday during which the rambling story at the center of the song takes place. She was 83.

Viki Merrick, a longtime friend, said she died in a hospice from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Ever since Mr. Guthrie released the song, officially called Alices Restaurant Massacree, in 1967, it has been a staple of classic-rock stations every late November, not to mention car trip singalongs on the way to visit family for Thanksgiving dinner.

Ms. Brocks restaurant, the Back Room, does not feature much in the song itself. Over the course of a little more than 18 minutes, Mr. Guthrie  doing more talking than singing  recounts a visit that he and a friend, Rick Robbins, paid to Ms. Brock and her husband, Ray Brock, for Thanksgiving dinner.
Participants attend the EU-China Forum in Brussels, Belgium, Nov. 21, 2024. Senior diplomats and experts on Thursday called for strengthening cooperation between the European Union (EU) and China amid growing geopolitical challenges. At the EU-China Forum held in Brussels, nearly 500 participants discussed ways to boost EU-China ties ahead of the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations next year. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)

BRUSSELS, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Senior diplomats and experts on Thursday called for strengthening cooperation between the European Union (EU) and China amid growing geopolitical challenges.

At the EU-China Forum held in Brussels, nearly 500 participants discussed ways to boost EU-China ties ahead of the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations next year.

In his address, Cai Run, head of the Chinese Mission to the EU, said that pragmatic cooperation between the EU and China has thrived over the past 50 years.

"The EU and China are two major forces driving multipolarity, two significant markets supporting globalization, and two great civilizations advocating diversity," Cai said, highlighting that a well-developed EU-China relationship not only benefits the people of both sides but also contributes to global peace, stability, and prosperity.

Cai called for the EU and China to position themselves as partners rather than rivals, to strengthen pragmatic cooperation instead of pursuing "decoupling," and to work together to bring greater stability and certainty to the world rather than adding complexity.

Jorge Toledo, EU ambassador to China, said via video link that over the past 50 years, the EU-China relationship has followed the unprecedented growth and development of China, noting that this partnership is among the EU's most vital external relationships.

Gerhard Stahl, former secretary-general of the European Committee of the Regions, underscored the importance of rebuilding trust between China and the EU, at the forum.

"Closer EU-China cooperation is needed to stop de-globalization and protectionism and to build an effective and fair multilateral trading system," Stahl said.

Regarding cooperation on climate change between the two major economies, Angeline Sanzay, policy advisor for EU-China climate diplomacy at London-based think tank Third Generation Environmentalism (E3G), emphasized the need for joint efforts to address this global challenge.

"The EU needs China for its green transition, and can also offer a significant market for the Chinese clean technology, so collaborative efforts are needed," she added.

The forum was jointly organized by the European think tank "Friends of Europe" and the Chinese Mission to the EU. Representatives from political, business, and academic circles in both Europe and China participated in the event, both online and offline. 

Participants attend the EU-China Forum in Brussels, Belgium, Nov. 21, 2024.

Senior diplomats and experts on Thursday called for strengthening cooperation between the European Union (EU) and China amid growing geopolitical challenges.

At the EU-China Forum held in Brussels, nearly 500 participants discussed ways to boost EU-China ties ahead of the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations next year. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)
A former New York City police officer was convicted on Friday of sex offenses involving four underage boys, including a robbery victim whom he befriended and then preyed on over Snapchat by sending him an explicit photo and asking for one in return.

The officer, Christopher Terranova, 34, of Staten Island, was convicted by a federal jury in Brooklyn on all six counts of sexually exploiting, attempting to sexually exploit, enticing and coercing three 15-year-old boys and a 12-year-old boy, according to a news release. Prosecutors said he engaged in hands-on sex acts with two of the victims.

Mr. Terranova, who retired in September 2023 while he was suspended from the department, abused his position as a police officer to gain the trust of his victims in a despicable strategy to gratify his sexual desires, said Breon Peace, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, in a statement.

Vinoo Varghese, Mr. Terranovas lawyer, said he would appeal. The former officer faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and could receive a life sentence, according to the news release.
As the elected treasurer in Santa Cruz County, Ariz., for more than a decade, Elizabeth Gutfahrs job was to safeguard public funds for one of the states smallest counties.

But while that money was meant for libraries, fire districts, schools and the like, Ms. Gutfahr siphoned off $38 million to acquire about two dozen vehicles  including Cadillacs and a Mercedes  buy real estate and renovate her family ranch, the Justice Department said this week.

Ms. Gutfahr, 62, who held the post from 2013 through early 2024, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Tucson on Thursday to one felony count each of embezzlement by a public official, money laundering and tax evasion. She could face up to 35 years in prison when she is sentenced in February.

We expect public officials to serve as stewards of the government  not to loot it, Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Departments criminal division, said in a statement.
Whats one of the most exclusive tickets in Los Angeles? It may not be what you think.

A lottery is being held on Monday to determine who will be the 16 people who get to witness what happens next in the case of the Menendez Brothers, who are serving life sentences for murdering their parents in 1989.

The drawing will take place between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. Pacific time, in front of the Van Nuys Courthouse West, the Superior Court of Los Angeles County said. The seats for 16 people, in a county of more than 10 million residents, will be allocated just one hour before the status hearing is set to begin at 10:30 a.m.

The court occasionally holds public lotteries when seating is limited and public interest is high, a court spokesperson said in an email.

The high level of interest in the case is in part spurred by a new series as well as a new documentary on Netflix that detail the brothers abuse allegations against their parents. Erik and Lyle Menendez killed their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, more than 35 years ago in their Beverly Hills mansion.
Reports of deceptive practices and fraud by Donald J. Trump and his Trump University business unit had been piling up for several years in states across the nation, including in Florida.

The state attorney general in New York moved in, filing a lawsuit in 2013 that accused Mr. Trump and his for-profit trade school of engaging in persistent fraudulent, illegal and deceptive conduct, even though by that point Trump University was already out of business.

The Florida attorney generals office, which Pam Bondi had taken over in 2011, handled it differently.

She publicly acknowledged that her office was examining complaints about Trump University, but it decided against a formal investigation.
Sebastian Gorka, the firebrand conservative commentator who worked in the White House briefly in President-elect Donald J. Trumps first term, was named by Mr. Trump on Friday to a senior advisory position.

In a statement, Mr. Trump named Mr. Gorka as a deputy assistant to the president and senior director for counterterrorism, describing Mr. Gorka as a tireless advocate for the America First Agenda and the MAGA Movement since 2015. He made no mention that Mr. Gorka was forced out of a similar role in 2017, only that he served previously as strategist to the president.

Mr. Gorka was a divisive figure in the Trump White House and a combative defender of the president. He was one of the most prominent proponents of a Trump administration ban of refugees and people from certain predominantly Muslim countries.

After being expelled from the White House, Mr. Gorka worked as a political commentator on Fox News, Newsmax and his own syndicated radio show.
Iran said Friday it would begin operating new machines to enrich more uranium, which could bring it closer to having a weapon. The move came in response to a censure by the International Atomic Energy Agency for failing to cooperate fully with atomic inspectors.

The announcement did not say how many of the machines began spinning, nor how much uranium they will produce. But Western experts said Irans act could initiate a significant escalation in the moves and countermoves between Tehran and the U.N. nuclear inspectors based in Vienna, who have struggled for decades to keep the nation from getting the means to make an atom bomb.

Iran will activate a substantial number of advanced centrifuges of various models, which are able to produce highly enriched nuclear fuel, read a joint statement from Irans Foreign Ministry and its Atomic Energy Organization. It condemned the censure as politicized and destructive, saying it undermined the positive momentum achieved between Iran and the I.A.E.A.

Behrouz Kamalvandi, a spokesman for Irans Atomic Energy Organization, said Friday in an interview with media in Iran that the country began accelerating its enrichment right after the order was announced. We immediately started, he was quoted as saying. We will significantly increase enrichment.
The arrest warrants issued this week by the International Criminal Court for leaders of Israel and Hamas, for crimes it accuses them of committing in Gaza, offer important insights into both the extent of the courts jurisdiction and the limits of its power.

Here is what to know about the courts legal reach, as it seeks the arrests of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel; his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant; and the chief of Hamass military wing, who may or may not be still alive.

Why does the court claim jurisdiction in the case?

More than 120 countries have joined an international treaty, the Rome Statute, and are members of the court. The court, based in The Hague, in the Netherlands, was created more than two decades ago to prosecute crimes against humanity, war crimes, genocide and the crime of aggression.

The court has accused Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Gallant of using starvation as a weapon of war, among other charges, in the conflict with Hamas in Gaza. And it accused Muhammad Deif, a key plotter of the Oct. 7, 2023, attack in Israel, of crimes against humanity, including murder, torture, sexual violence and hostage taking.
For months, European business leaders have watched as Donald J. Trump paved a path back to the White House by doubling down on an America First economic policy, putting protectionism and business-friendly tax and regulatory pledges high on the agenda.

With the U.S. presidential inauguration less than two months away, they are now furiously lobbying policymakers in Brussels with an appeal of their own: Put Europe First.

Nothing has galvanized the European business community quite as urgently as the prospect of a second Trump presidency, this time with Mr. Trump wielding bolder promises to disrupt the global economic order in ways that threaten to leave Europe lagging even further behind.

At a business conference in Paris this week, hundreds of corporate chiefs and lobby groups from France, Germany and Italy gathered to discuss just that. They described Mr. Trumps election as a wake-up call for Europe to get its house in order  or face a painful economic fallout.
Public Transportation

I was born and raised in Queens, so I took it to go to high school. I dont know that I appreciated it that much then, but my son and I love taking the bus and the subway. Its super fast. You can read, listen to music, people-watch. I absorb everything thats happening. I keep my ears open.

My Freestyle Samsung Projector

You can put this in your bag and connect it to an outlet and project it on a wall or on a sheet or wherever you want. It is so convenient, and it just makes it so much better not to have a television set hanging right in front of you.

Udon at the Gallery

I was hemming and hawing if I should even put this in because I hate to blow up a spot. I mean, its already very popular  a really beautiful place called the Gallery. It has this gorgeous udon dish. They put it in what looks like a coffee filter with this broth that has so much umami. Theres a live flame. I think most people think udon is a whole bowl of noodles. No, its like eight strands of noodles that they handmade in-house with just the exact right amount of sides, whether its kitsune or Wagyu or mushrooms.

Haflinger Slippers

Theyre felt, but they have a support, and theyre so comfortable. It is hard to have a different slipper after you wear them. Mine were so worn out that they had holes in them, and a friend said, You can no longer wear those. I secretly kept them.

Bicycle

When youre riding a bicycle, theres no way to not feel like a child again, just the feeling of the wind and the environment around you. I love being able to stand on the bike and huff and puff up or down the hill. You feel so alive.

My Art Studio

Its a safe space. You can make a mess and you can leave it and come back to it. I think its important to make a mess because sometimes thats how creative things happen. At my sons school, if he was doing something creative and had to transition to another project, they would put a work-save card on it and say just dont touch it. And thats essentially what a studio is. The whole space is a work-save card.
Neighbors breathed a sigh of relief this week when an empty shipping container appeared outside the dilapidated red house in Massapequa Park that has become known as the home of the accused Long Island serial killer.

The best thing that could happen is they knock that house down and build a brand-new one so that the memory of all this is obliterated, said a neighbor, Albert Cella, 80.

All this referred to the sensation caused by the arrest last year of Rex Heuermann, 61, who prosecutors say presented himself as a family man in the little red house all while committing the Gilgo Beach murders.

With Mr. Heuermann in jail awaiting trial after pleading not guilty, and his wife, Asa Ellerup, being paid to participate in a documentary series, the family is moving out. Ms. Ellerup and the couples two adult children are relocating to a South Carolina property purchased years ago as a retirement home, and she will put the Long Island home up for sale after her divorce from Mr. Heuermann becomes final in about six months, their lawyers said.
Students visit the Confucius-themed photo exhibition in Qormi, Malta, on Nov. 22, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Wenxian)

VALLETTA, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Students from Malta's St Ignatius College Handaq Middle School were fascinated by a Confucius-themed photo exhibition held at their school on Friday, describing the event as a window into Chinese culture.

The exhibition, presented by the China Cultural Center in Malta, showcased a series of images. Chinese cultural artifacts were also displayed during the event. The exhibition guided visitors through ancient and modern context.

Claire Zahra, deputy principal of the school, said the event would undoubtedly arouse students' curiosity to further explore China, its culture, and perhaps even visit the country one day.

Students were also engaged in interactive activities, and creative cultural products were distributed as rewards.

"The exhibition is very interesting, and I love it," 12-year-old Stefano Gallo said, expressing hope to visit China in the future.

Winning a Chinese knot, Maksym Antonchenko said he has gained a deeper understanding of Chinese culture.

Rita Micallef, a teacher, told Xinhua that the students enjoyed the experience. "I do that as well," she said, sharing her personal interest in Chinese films and her efforts to learn Chinese. 

Students participate in interactive activities during the Confucius-themed photo exhibition in Qormi, Malta, on Nov. 22, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Wenxian)

Students participate in interactive activities during the Confucius-themed photo exhibition in Qormi, Malta, on Nov. 22, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Wenxian)

Students view Chinese cultural artifacts during the Confucius-themed photo exhibition in Qormi, Malta, on Nov. 22, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Wenxian)
Before Donald Trumps victory, making detailed predictions about how his second administration would govern seemed like a fools errand  there were too many multitudes within the Trumpian tent, too many promiscuous promises to voters, to say for sure what forms of Trumpism would end up expressed in a second four-year whirl.

It did seem, at least, that the appointments to Trumps cabinet might help us make plausible statements about the trajectory of his administration. But now, with most of the major names put forward  and retracted and replaced, in one case  Im still not sure how best to generalize about where this particular cast of characters will take us.

That Trump has picked more loyalists than last time is true, inevitable and not especially useful in terms of figuring out how exactly (apart from never appointing a special prosecutor to investigate the boss!) those loyalists are likely to occupy themselves. That some of his nominees are eccentric or unfit-seeming and others are more conventional is likewise to be expected. Neither observation gives us a general theory of Trump 2.0.

Instead, lets consider three subtheories of how this cabinet might actually work. First, as the climate journalist Matthew Zeitlin suggested, you could see his picks as making up an American version of a European-style coalition government, where small parties join with a bigger party and receive various ministries in exchange for their support.
These things are, again, both normal and surreal within this realist reset. Mr. Cook was one of the people during the first Trump administration who visited the White House to meet with Mr. Trump. At the same time, its somewhat jarring to see Congratulations President Trump on your victory! eight years into the Trump era, when it reads like something more out of 2012. Mr. Biden welcoming an incoming president to the White House is normal, but a few weeks ago, the White House press secretary said Mr. Biden considered Mr. Trump a fascist.

This month, Yoon Suk Yeol, the president of South Korea, took up golf again to prepare for Mr. Trumps presidency. For our countries to continue our conversations, our president also needs to hit the ball properly, a senior South Korean official told reporters, a perfect quotation. In one instance, you see the range of reactions  deference, vanity, strategy, comedy and an awareness of the deep dangers of the world.

Theres a dimension of making the unspoken spoken here; traditionally, a person trying to get ahead in this way might get out to the driving range and on the greens quietly, out of sight, and appear in final golfing form at Mar-a-Lago in February to talk about tariffs and the U.S. military, rather than previewing this to reporters. But with Mr. Trump, its also good to publicly demonstrate a level of deference to his interests; he seems to like knowing not only that youre trying to flatter but also that youve conceded something in the process.

Trying to determine private motivations is, obviously, very difficult for the public. An unnamed European diplomat told Politico recently, I think we learned from the last time that its important to talk constructively and confidentially, instead of through social media. There are dangers here: Its easy to imagine public figures conflating self-interest with more noble aims in pursuing their interests more privately.

But it seems as if theres a get-real quality to the moment, especially internationally: Mr. Trumps going to be president again  with majorities in both houses of Congress and on the Supreme Court, after a campaign promising major disruption, deportation, changes to trade and retribution  after winning the popular vote. How can people manage the situation and get the most while giving up the least, like a straight-faced delivery of congratulations to the most important person on earth?
The Royal Shakespeare Company, which keeps the plays of William Shakespeare alive in the town of his birth, was long a regular presence in the United States. It brought Ian McKellen to Brooklyn as King Lear, built a replica of its main theater in an Upper East Side drill hall and sent a stream of shows to Broadway.

But in recent years the renowned troupe has taken fewer overseas trips from its home in Stratford-upon-Avon, England.

Now, for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic, the company has returned to the United States  but not to New York, where some of the main importers of European work remain diminished and disoriented. It has struck up a partnership with Chicago Shakespeare Theater, which is led by Edward Hall, whose ties to the Royal Shakespeare Company run unusually deep: His father, Peter Hall, the eminent British director, founded it.

My love of Shakespeare grew up from my father talking to me about Shakespeare, and why he was passionate about Shakespeare, and why he thought Shakespeare endured, and quoting Shakespeare, he said. I watched him work a bit, and then, like every child, you go off into a corner and find your own way, which is what I did.
The timing of the ceremony, so soon after the election of a once and future president, left Mr. Holzer mourning how starkly the understanding of presidential had changed between then and now. Between a man known as Honest Abe and a man with 34 felony convictions; between one who summoned the better angels of our nature and one who referred to his opponent as retarded and undocumented immigrants as poisoning the blood of our country.

Heartbreaking, Mr. Holzer said.

On that distant day, mild like this one, Lincoln and other dignitaries had assembled on a creaking wooden platform at the edge of the town cemetery. Reflections of the three July days of bloodshed, culminating in more than 50,000 casualties, were all around  the bullet-pocked buildings, the cannon-scarred fields, the shell-fragment souvenirs sold along the roadside. The transformed town had been left to contend with thousands of dead and dying soldiers.

The invitation Lincoln received to deliver a few appropriate remarks had been an afterthought. A prominent orator, Edward Everett, had already been chosen to deliver the keynote address, and when it came time, the man gave it his all: nearly two hours of classical allusion, detailed description and sentiment.

Then the president, aged by war and the loss of a dear son, ridiculed by some as coarse and apelike, rose. In a clear but reedy voice he began  Four score and seven years ago  and finished in about two minutes. He sat down, convinced that his brief words had not found purchase.
President-elect Donald J. Trump on Friday selected Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, a New York medical director with family ties to his first administration and a Fox News contributor, to be the next surgeon general of the United States.

She is committed to ensuring that Americans have access to affordable, quality healthcare, and believes in empowering individuals to take charge of their health to live longer, healthier lives, Mr. Trump said in a social media post.

Dr. Nesheiwat is one of five New York City medical directors for CityMD, a chain of urgent care centers across the region, according to a spokeswoman. She has contributed to Fox News since the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, speaking about Covid-19, mpox and the importance of cancer screening tests, among other topics.

Her sister Julia Nesheiwat, a former Army officer, was homeland security adviser in the first Trump administration and is married to Representative Mike Waltz of Florida, whom Mr. Trump has tapped to be national security adviser.
When J. Bryan Quesenberry first learned that the federal government was sending out hundreds of billions of dollars to help businesses survive during the Covid-19 pandemic, he thought: Theres going to be fraud here. There just has to be.

A few months later, Mr. Quesenberry started sifting through a list of businesses that received Paycheck Protection Program loans, which were intended to help small businesses ravaged by the pandemic continue paying their employees. The Oregon lawyer said he knew businesses were not allowed to receive more than one loan during a single round, so he searched for double dippers.

He soon found dozens of businesses across the country that appeared to improperly obtain P.P.P. loans. During the summer of 2020, Mr. Quesenberry started suing those firms to try to help the government recover funds.

It just blows my mind, Mr. Quesenberry said. Thats tax money that comes out of your pocket and that comes out of my pocket.
I cannot hide things to you, because you are my sister, she recalls thinking of the Christian women. We are one. All along, she told her captors she was content to live her life as Auntie Halima.

In October 2023, when she met Ms. Akilawus, the woman she would eventually escape with, they formed an instant bond. The very first night they met, they held hands and prayed together and talked about their lives and dreams of freedom. We did not close our eyes till the next day, Ms. Loksha recalled. She was brought to me so that we can put heads together.

Ms. Akilawus, who was captured by Boko Haram in 2020 while traveling by car in Nigeria, had tried to escape three times before meeting Ms. Loksha. She was quickly recaptured each time, jailed for months, chained and severely beaten. We say its only God that will rescue us, because we dont have anybody, she told The Times.

Ms. Loksha told the militants she had convinced Ms. Akilawus to convert to Islam. The move allowed the two women to stay together in Ms. Lokshas straw house and earned her even more trust.

While living together, they slowly began to sell items from the house  curtains, rugs, bits of zinc roofing  to amass money to fund their escape. When they had saved enough, they sought help from a woman from the largely nomadic Fulani ethnic group, who are experts in traversing the bush and have helped other escapees.
The six young children had just shared snacks bought from a corner store when they began convulsing. The children, all of them under 8, died moments later, adding more victims to a wave of food poisoning that the authorities say has killed nearly two dozen children in a few months.

The South African government declared the poisonings a national disaster on Thursday, taking action after President Cyril Ramaphosa laid out the scale of the danger. At least 890 people have fallen sick, many of them children, he said in a televised address last week, adding that the cause was believed to be a pesticide used by business owners and vendors to fight a rat infestation in neglected townships. Expired and counterfeit food products have also been blamed by grieving family members and some residents.

The size of the outbreak, with deaths reported in provinces across the country, has forced South Africas leaders to reckon with the everyday consequences of dysfunctional government departments that are tasked with overseeing food safety, waste disposal, and small business regulations.

The government declared the emergency in a news conference held by half a dozen cabinet ministers, representing portfolios from health and education to agriculture and trade. Officials have also fanned out to inspect stores and to visit mourning families in townships where angry residents have turned on shop owners, many of whom are immigrants.
Violent clashes erupted overnight between Sunni and Shiite tribes in northwestern Pakistan, leaving at least 25 people dead and markets, homes and government properties in flames, officials and residents said on Saturday.

The violence occurred in Kurram, a scenic mountainous district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, which borders Afghanistan. It took place in the same area where gunmen ambushed convoys of vehicles on Thursday, killing 42 people, all Shia, despite the protection of security forces.

Pakistan is overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim, but Kurrams population of 800,000 is nearly half Shiite Muslim, a dynamic that contributes to tribal and sectarian tensions. Officials and residents said that the violence started on Friday afternoon in parts of the district where Sunni and Shiite groups live close to each other.

Muhammad Shoaib, a resident of a Sunni-populated town where the Shiite convoys came under attack on Thursday, said that hundreds of heavily armed people from the rival sect had attacked the main market on Friday night and set fire to dozens of shops and houses.
A kayakers leg was amputated on Saturday in a harrowing 20-hour effort to free him after he became trapped in rocks on a river in Australia, the police in the state of Tasmania said.

The man, a foreign tourist in his 60s, was then flown to a hospital in the city of Hobart, where he is in critical condition, the authorities added.

The man, who has not been identified by the authorities, was on a group kayaking expedition in the Franklin River on Friday when his leg got stuck between rocks in a remote section of the rapids.

Emergency teams responded when they received a distress signal from a smartwatch at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, the police said in a statement. When rescuers reached the remote location, they tried but failed to free the kayaker in the evening.
A man checks a building after it was attacked by the Israeli army, in the al-Nuseirat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, on Nov. 23, 2024. (Photo by Marwan Dawood/Xinhua)

GAZA, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- At least 17 Palestinians were killed from Friday night to Saturday morning by Israeli bombings across the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian official news agency WAFA reported on Saturday.

Seven Palestinians, including three children, were killed by the Israeli bombing of a house in the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood, southeast of Gaza City, in northern Gaza Strip, WAFA said.

Nine people, including children, were killed in the shelling of three houses in Khan Younis in southern Gaza Strip, it reported, adding that one person was also killed when an apartment in the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza was bombed.

Israel has been staging a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and about 250 taken hostage.

The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip has risen to 44,056, Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Thursday. 
The Canadian pension model, pioneered by the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan during the 1990s, is based on the principle that funds should be managed independently of both governments and unions and free of political interference. It calls for independent boards whose members are experienced in investments and finance. And to ensure that the best people manage funds, most Canadian pension plans pay fund managers salaries on the scale of those offered for similar positions at banks, private equity firms and other private sector firms.

Those high salaries sometimes draw complaints from politicians. But Mr. Ambachtsheer said that the politically independent Canadian system justified them with returns that have not only more than covered pension obligations, but have also sometimes allowed pension contributions by employees to be lowered.

The salaries may be partly behind the shift in Alberta. In a news release announcing the firings, Alberta said that it has seen significant increases in operating costs, management fees and staffing without a corresponding increase to return on investment.

In making that case, the province pointed to costs and returns between 2019 and last year. But Evan Siddall, the now deposed chief executive and a former investment banker, was appointed in 2021 to clean up a major mess: The year before, stock market swings brought by the pandemic led to a $3 billion loss in a complex trading strategy, which was then abandoned.
After a few days without food, the hunger stops. The body, while weak, learns how to just function. That is how Laila Soueif, an Egyptian mathematician and professor, describes her hunger strike, which reached 55 days on Saturday.

She stopped eating on Sept. 29, when it became clear that her son, Alaa Abd El Fattah, one of Egypts best known political prisoners, would not be released after serving a five-year sentence.

Egyptian authorities had sent him a written notice that they would not be counting his two years of pretrial detention, an increasingly routine practice in the country. Mr. Abd El Fattah, 43, is now scheduled for release in 2027, although he and his family fear he may be held indefinitely.

His plight is just one example of the crushing campaign against dissent orchestrated by Egypts president, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, since he came to power in a 2013 military takeover, with tens of thousands of political prisoners now incarcerated, according to rights groups.
The low-lying clouds over the city lit up for a split second, video footage showed, then streaks of dozens of glowing warheads plummeted out of the sky.

Booms unlike anything the war-weary residents had heard before thundered through the streets of Dnipro, a central Ukrainian city with a population of about one million.

The main contours of the attack on Thursday morning soon came to light: President Vladimir V. Putin said Russia had test fired an intermediate-range missile from its arsenal designed to deliver nuclear weapons, though without the nuclear warheads aboard.

The Russian strike caused little damage, but it capped a dizzying week of tit-for-tat moves in the war in Ukraine, shifting focus from the ground assaults on the battlefield to a Cold War-style missile brinkmanship. In the previous two days, Ukraine had fired longer-range missiles provided by the U.S. and Britain at military targets inside Russia. Mr. Putin made clear that the Russian missile test was a response to those strikes  a warning to the West to reconsider military aid for Kyiv.
The Almas debuted years after the conclusion of the war in Lebanon in 2006. Shortly after the war ended, the Israeli military checked an inventory of equipment it had deployed in Lebanon. Discrepancies emerged among what was taken into Lebanon, what was returned and what was confirmed as destroyed in combat.

It became evident that an entire Spike missile system, including a launcher and several missile units, had most likely been left behind in the field, according to two of the Israeli defense officials. From that moment on, Israel knew there was a significant risk that the weapons would be transferred to Iran, where they could be dismantled and reverse- engineered.

Iran has funded and armed Hezbollah for decades, and the group joined in attacks on Israel in support of its Iran-backed ally in Gaza, Hamas, shortly after Hamas led an attack in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

Israeli intelligence officials say Hezbollah used the Almas sparingly when it fought in the civil war in Syria  also an ally of Iran  which began in 2011. Along with Russia and Iran, Hezbollah contributed its fighters and firepower to shore up the Syrian regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

Hezbollah now manufactures Almas missiles in Lebanon to reduce its reliance on Iranian supply chains, according to the Israeli defense officials. The missiles are also believed to be produced in Iran for Irans military.
An Israeli airstrike on a residential building in central Beirut killed at least 20 people on Saturday, the Lebanese Health Ministry said, part of an intensifying Israeli military campaign that appears aimed at pressuring Hezbollah into a cease-fire deal.

The strike was an attempt to assassinate a top Hezbollah military commander, Mohammad Haidar, according to three Israeli defense officials who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive military operations. Hezbollah officials on Saturday afternoon said that none of the groups leaders were at the site of the airstrike, and later in the day, one of the Israeli officials said Mr. Haidar was not killed.

Over the past week, Israeli ground troops made a concerted push deeper into southern Lebanon while Israel intensified its bombardment of the Dahiya, a cluster of neighborhoods on the southern outskirts of Beirut that are effectively governed by Hezbollah.

The death toll in the latest strike was expected to rise, and at least 66 people were injured, according to the Health Ministry. The strike came just after 4 a.m., jolting Beirut residents awake with thundering explosions that left much of the city enveloped in acrid smoke. It was the third strike this week in central Beirut, an area that had largely been spared since the war between Hezbollah and Israel escalated.

Lebanons health minister, Firass Abiad, said the airstrike hit a multistory building that was believed to house at least 35 people in the Basta neighborhood of Beirut, an area that is home to both Sunni and Shiite Muslims and close to several Western embassies. Hezbollah is a Shiite militant group and Shiite communities in southern and eastern Lebanon have borne the brunt of Israeli attacks over the past few months.

The war in Lebanon has killed more than 3,500 people and forced almost a quarter of the population to flee their homes. Some Shiites who fled the Dahiya have taken refuge in Basta, according to residents of the area.
Officials in several countries are warning of the dangers of consuming alcoholic drinks that contain methanol after at least six tourists who had traveled to Laos died.

Several of the tourists had visited Vang Vieng, a small town popular with backpackers that has tried to move past its reputation as a destination for drug use and partying. At least two had been given free shots of vodka at a hostel there, The Associated Press reported. In 2012, the Lao government, concerned about drug use and excessive drinking in Vang Vieng, closed all the bars there.

Experts said that methanol was sometimes found in bootleg liquor or added to cheap drinks, and that even small amounts could be fatal.

Heres what to know about the poisonings.

A hostel is under scrutiny.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation and several Laotian news outlets reported that the police in Laos had detained eight men who worked at the Nana Backpacker Hostel, including a manager. Two Australians who had been in Vang Vieng were sickened after they were among a group of more than 100 guests who were given free shots of Lao vodka at the hostel, The A.P. reported. Australias foreign minister, Penny Wong, later confirmed that two Australians, Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, had died after they were taken to Thailand for treatment.
IT WAS with much delight, that Chairman, Finbarr Spain, welcomed Ger OMeara, Military Historian to Birr Historical Society on Monday November 11th.

Finbarr reflected on the date which is known as Armistice Day, whereby on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, that in the First World War (August 1914-November 1918), after horrific fighting and loss of millions of lives, the guns on the Western Front finally fell silent.

Ger began his talk by recommending that people read the book by Michael Byrne, Offaly and The Great War.

In his illustrated presentation, Ger covered a wide variety of subjects. He spoke about a number of local people who served in the military, during the 19th/20th century, in places such as New Zealand, the Indian Mutiny, Battle of the Somme, Ypres, Normandy landings, Boer War, Gambia, Crimea, Dunkirk evacuation World War 11, North Africa, Crete, West Indies, the Chinese Civil War.

Sir Lawrence Worthington Parsons (1850-1923), only son of Lawrence Parsons was a Lt Colonel in the Boer War. Lance Corporal Robert Sheppard, Irish Guards (1883-1915) was awarded the Mons Star, Captain Lancelot J.M. Studholme, Ballyeighan was killed in action in 1916. Patrick Kelly, born in Birr in 1834 was in the Royal North British Fusiliers in Dublin and he served in India and Gambia. Richard Henry Johnson joined the British Army in 1938 and he participated in the Dunkirk evacuation. Major Raymond Hoare was one of the original Desert Rats who served in the 8th army in North Africa.

Ger explained different military medals, for example, the Mons Star medal which is a First World War 1 medal for service in France and Belgium between August and November 1914. The Victoria Cross (VC) is awarded for conspicuous bravery in the presence of the enemy and it is the highest honour that can be awarded to a member of the British Armed Forces in war.

Private Martin OMeara from Lorrha was awarded the VC in September 1916 and he fought with the Australian Imperial Forces in France. Dead Mans Penny, is issued to the next of kin of all British Empire service personnel who were killed as a result of war.

The Thiepval Memorial to the missing of the Somme is a war memorial to 72,337 missing servicemen who died in the Battle of the Somme between 1915 and 1918 with no known grave. Sgt Patrick Craughwell, died aged 22, is listed on this memorial. Ranville War Cemetery in Normandy has German soldiers and Commonwealth war dead from WW11. Birr Military cemetery in Crinkill is connected to the Leinster Regiment depot which was

Ger spoke about the work of animals in war. He told the story of Simon who was a ships cat who served on the Royal Navy HMS Amethyst (May 1948  November 1949) who was awarded the Dickin Medal, known as the animals Victoria Cross'.

The Amethyst was a British war ship which came under fire on the Yangtze River during the final stages of the Chinese Civil War. After the captain and 16 others were killed in shelling, the ship was detained for 101 weeks during negotiations for its release. Commander John Kerans who was an officer in the Royal Navy, born in Parsonstown (Birr) in 1915, led a night-time escape.

This Amethyst incident was also known as the Yangtze incident and this historic event later became the subject of a film (1957). Kerans was portrayed by the British actor Richard Todd. During the time the ship was anchored in the river, it became overrun with rats and Simon caught rats including a very vicious rat known as Mao Tse-tung. Simon protected the dwindling food supply during the 10 day siege and boosted the morale of the sailors.

When the Amethyst returned to Plymouth, Simon was subject to quarantine regulations for six months. Sadly, while in quarantine, he contracted a virus from a complication of the viral infection caused by his war wounds. Hundreds, including the entire crew of HMS Amethyst, attended his funeral at the PDSA Animal Cemetery in East London.

Following the ratification of the Anglo-Irish Treaty on January 7th 1922, Ger mentioned, the burning of Birr Barracks during the Civil War in 1922 and, the taking over of Renmore Barracks, Galway from the British military, by troops from the New Irish Free State in 1922. Military history is part of the story of the Free State and many trained British soldiers joined the Irish regular army.

There was an huge interest in Gers talk, and many people with family history connections to the British Army were present on the evening. Birr Historical Society were delighted to welcome Junior OCallaghan, Chairman, Leinster Regiment Association Ireland and other members of the Association.

Ger had a large collection of military memorabilia on display which people found very interesting.

Chairman, Finbarr Spain, thanked Ger for his excellent talk, on behalf of Birr Historical Society, his committee and everyone in attendance.
BEIJING, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping returned to Beijing on Saturday morning after attending the 31st APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting and the 19th G20 Summit and paying state visits to Peru and Brazil.

Xi's entourage, including Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, and Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and foreign minister, returned on the same flight.

Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, among others, saw Xi off at the airport when his flight left after a technical stop in Casablanca, Morocco. 
GUANGZHOU, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- To commemorate the 700th anniversary of Marco Polo's death, a virtual reality (VR) experience exhibition titled "Legendary Journey: Marco Polo and the World of the Silk Road," has opened at Guangzhou Library in south China.

With the help of VR viewing equipment, the audience can "follow" Marco Polo on the Silk Road in the virtual world, and experience his journey from ancient Venice to China.

As one of the main events held in China to commemorate the Italian explorer, this exhibition is jointly organized by the Consulate General of Italy in Guangzhou and Guangzhou Library, in Guangdong Province.

The VR film presented at the exhibition is part of a 3D film project created by an Italian company, which has digitally restored the Venice Canal, Lut Desert, Pamir Mountains, Taklimakan Desert and the relic site of Xanadu of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). The audience can experience this epic expedition from Marco Polo's first-person perspective.

With emphasis on respecting historical facts, the exhibition seeks to restore historical scenes as accurately as possible. The audience can see the bridge of the Venetian port and the busy dock workers there, get a sense of the prosperity of the Yuan Dynasty, and experience the cultural and commercial exchanges between East and West along the Silk Road.

The exhibition also celebrates the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Italy comprehensive strategic partnership.

"This year is a crucial one for Italy-China relations. This new common interest binds our two countries together and deserves to be celebrated through a figure as remarkable as Marco Polo," said Valerio De Parolis, consul general of Italy in Guangzhou.

"Marco Polo brought Chinese culture back to Europe, giving Europe a deeper understanding and knowledge of Chinese culture," De Parolis added, expressing hope that the exhibition will not only be a memorial to Marco Polo's enduring contribution to global exploration and cross-cultural understanding, but also serve as an inspiration for future generations to continue to explore the world around them and build bridges of understanding and friendship around the globe.

Notably, the exhibition site features a special interactive exhibition, displaying silk, tea, porcelain and other oriental specialties, while inviting the audience to complete a "purchase order" with Marco Polo.

While watching the exhibition, visitors can also read various versions of "The Travels of Marco Polo" in Chinese, Italian, English and other languages, and share their travel advice on social platforms to "promote" Chinese cities or special products to Marco Polo.

The exhibition will last until Dec. 31. 
NANNING, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- The 2024 World Forestry Industry Conference kicked off on Saturday in Nanning, the capital city of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, witnessing the signature of 35 contracts with a total value of 19.4 billion yuan (about 2.7 billion U.S. dollars).

The two-day conference focuses on innovation as a driver of high-quality development in the forestry industry. It has brought together representatives of forestry authorities, international forestry organizations and renowned global companies, and attracted the participation of nearly 1,100 companies.

By 2023, China's forest coverage rate had exceeded 25 percent, with a forest stock volume of over 20 billion cubic meters, Guan Zhi'ou, head of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, said during the opening ceremony.

The total output value of the Chinese forestry industry exceeded 9 trillion yuan last year, making China the world's leading country in forestry production, trade and consumption, Guan said.

An exhibition showcasing global forest products has been held as part of the conference, spanning an area of 50,000 square meters and attracting 1,075 companies to participate. 
Remember the adorable bird from the animated film "Piper"? The bird, known as Calidris alba, has made an appearance at Poyang Lake, China's largest freshwater lake, adding even more charm to the stunning landscape.
Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121

"Rob Kall gives readers an important wake up call to the bottom up power that they have to protect their rights, powers, and freedoms. His advice applies to all aspects of life, including politics, economics, journalism, entertainment, and psychology and wellness. Kall's book explains the differences between the top-down leadership approach of dominating, fear based, disconnected authoritarianism and the bottom-up connection consciousness that emphasizes values, justice, fairness, equity, and kindness. This book helps readers see the whole elephant as opposed to the disconnected parts. Kall gives great advice as to intensifying, expanding, prolonging, and deepening connections. With his professional background, Rob Kall is the perfect person to write this book. This is a very well-researched book that includes dozens of insightful interviews with top-notch experts. Kall shows how bottom-up small acts can produce massive results. He emphasizes that since we can't avoid this emerging bottom-up connection revolution, we need to learn how to navigate and embrace it. This bottom-up leadership will result in power to the people. This is a fascinating and insightful book, especially in this new era of digital hunting and gathering."



Larry Atkins, author of Skewed: A Critical Thinker's Guide to Media Bias
"China's substantial development has greatly improved living standards. China is also significantly contributing to the growth of other countries worldwide," said a Peruvian expert. #GLOBALink




This is our hope. Tell me I am wrong:

(BBC World / Steve Rosenburg) : "President-Elect Trump has expressed skepticism regarding US military assistance for Ukraine and has been fiercely critical of Nato.

He's also said recently that talking to Vladimir Putin would be "a smart thing".

All of that should be music to Putin's ears.

Which means that, despite the latest threats and warnings, the Kremlin may decide against a major escalation right now.

That is, if the Kremlin has calculated that Donald Trump will help end the war on terms beneficial to Russia.

If that calculation changes, so could Moscow's response.".

-- -- -- -- .

If there is a nuclear war, I will blame Biden.

Biden's long-range (American and British) missiles targeting Russian territory. might well have crossed the line of no return (as the late John Prine's song says. "(We) crossed the evil line today").

I always assumed that if there was going to be a WW3, America would be the one to start it because of our "hot" love affair with the Bomb. Every country seems to fear the Bomb, except for the United States. The United States is like Dr Frankenstein. It's their / our monster and they actually think they control it. They obviously haven't read Frankenstein.

Great Britain is also culpable, like a catalyst. They are like the punks who suck up to their champion (the United States) egging him on. GB is a bully, a punk and a bully, who serves a bigger bully.

The only thing we (you and me) have going for us is how long Putin has been around. He has seen some crazy-ass presidents come and go, and he is a survivor. Personally I think he will figure out a way to save face while not using the nuclear option or directly attacking NATO (same thing.)

I can picture Biden's puppet masters with their finger hovering a millimeter above the button, just waiting for Putin to use a tactical nuclear weapon, so they can say "he started it".

Aside:

You know why I think the crazy ass Pentagon is capable of pushing the button? Because they just don't get out much to enjoy the real world. You know - breathe fresh air, take a walk in a pretty place, go fishing, sit on a back porch with your partner and listen to the birds. . . watch the moon rise over a ridge. They are professional soldiers and politicians who work in offices. Their world view is tiny. They only have a handful of trusted friends who think exactly like them. That is why they can push the button. It's pretty simple really. It's not that they are crazy. It's their reality that is crazy. Maybe the world they live in, their reality, is really not worth saving!
Usually around this time I begin thinking about writing my cheery Christmas letter to share the highlights of another year in the life of our family. This year is different. I'm still trying to grasp what just happened and what it will mean for all of us.

My initial reaction was blurted out in staccato texts to friends who were in the same state as I was: "Stunning!" "Horrific!" "Devastating!" "Dangerous!" Then I entered an emotionally strange place that felt like a Venn diagram in which anxiety and numbness meet in the center of a space that felt more like despair. Now I'm asking myself how and why the shock of the election happened.

It started with questions. How could a 34-time convicted felon and a man who was found guilty of sexual assault be able to run for president? Why was the Justice Department so slow in moving forward on his trials? How could the Supreme Court grant him carte blanche to do whatever he wanted to if he were president again? How could people vote for someone who lies incessantly, whose language is vile, whose racism and misogyny are so blatant, who dreams of being a dictator, not be enough to stop him?

Then I moved to what I fear most. People like Elon Musk, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Steven Miller, the authors of Project 2025, and other-like minded tyrants taking control of every government agency and firing thousands of career civil servants.

I worried about what it would mean to close or limit agencies like the EPA, the Department of Education, NOAA, and FEMA and to ignore the ever-worsening climate crisis.

I thought about a country with such a broken, for-profit healthcare system that would result in skyrocketing illnesses and deaths (with no data to prove it), and millions of people suffering as a result. I wondered how bad it would get without vaccinations, fluoride, Medicaid, reduced Medicare, and no insurance.

I thought of the women who will have no agency over their own lives, and I imagined the women who would die because they couldn't get reproductive healthcare when they were in crisis or who would be jailed for having a miscarriage. I worried about a reprise of the Comstock Act that would ban abortion nationally and deny women any form of birth control (except sterilization, which some young women have already resorted to).

I worried about people of all ages who would be rounded up, separated, and held in the equivalent of prisons indefinitely. I really worried about revenge politics, roundups of opposition leaders and activists, the disappearance of news outlets, and random violence. As Robert Reich said in a piece in The Guardian the day after the election, "Countless people are now endangered on a scale and intensity unheard of in modern America."

I also worried mightily about our lost standing in the global community and the threat of an expanded war in the Middle East while Ukraine is handed to Putin who can then march into the NATO countries to start a Third World War with nukes.

Then I began to question what kind of a country we have been historically, culturally and now presently. How did we allow this to happen? I came to this conclusion: We are a country conceived and birthed by smart, visionary, educated men who were elite white supremacists wedded to racism, misogyny, religious singularity, patriarchy, and conformity.

What we are seeing now, it seems to me, is the underbelly of an America that has always flourished, and has grown in modern times, driven by color, caste, economic advantage or disadvantage, religious beliefs, ethnicity, power, and corrupted politics, all of which have divided us into Us and Them. That makes for a dangerous, disquieted and increasingly binary way to live. It stokes fear, limits compassion and clear thinking, and people like Donald Trump rely on it for their own gains.

As an Instagram post said the day after the election, "America has showed its true character and it's heartbreaking,"

So where do I go from here? My answer begins with my belief that resistance doesn't die, it re-emerges when it is vital to survival. Early Americans knew that when they threw tea into Boston harbor. Slaves resisted in various ways including dancing and drumming. People stood up to McCarthyism and to an American fascist movement in the 1930s and 40s. We started labor movements and unions to protect workers, and we made sure women could vote by refusing food and enduring forced feeding. We resisted a war in Vietnam and successfully ended it.

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I wasn't going to read The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates because I'm doing what I can to end the genocide and occupation, and because Coates seems like such a nice guy that it saddens me that he nonsensically defended the U.S. Civil War.

I'm very glad that I did read it. I did so because someone led me to believe that in it Coates changed his mind about the Civil War. This turned out to be a misunderstanding that grew out of the fact that in the book he does slightly change his mind about a different -- much more popular -- article that he had written in the same magazine, one about reparations.

I'm glad I read the book because it is full of useful information and perspectives on the life of the author, on racial injustice, on propaganda, and on rebellion. One insight in particular strikes me, and it is related to what Coates regrets about his article on reparations, namely his use of the example of German reparations to Israel.

Abused Jews dreamed through Zionism not only of reparations but of replacement -- of becoming like those who had harmed them, and doing so through the harming of others. This is a danger in every wronged group or individual. Coates refers in passing to the harm done by colonizing Liberia, and at greater length to African-American dreams of return to Africa and of empowerment on the terms of oppressors. That Zionism was realized strikes Coates as akin to the dreams of Marcus Garvey having been realized:

There was the dream -- the mythic Africa my father cannot get back to. I think it's best that way -- for should that mythic Africa have ever descended out of the imagination and into the real, I shudder at what we might lose in realizing and defending it.

This champion of reparations is expressing relief that Black Power has not been made into something as powerful and destructive as White Power. This is a profound and difficult insight for any member of any oppressed group -- and one that members of non-oppressed groups like myself are generally not supposed to even mention. It's easily confused with the false belief that, for example, white power is not devastating Africa as we speak -- as if the only possibilities are one type of terrorism or another.

But we are all on this misshapen Titanic together, and Russia starting the apocalypse is no better than the U.S. doing so, Hamas or Lebanon or Iran murdering people is no better than Israel doing so, and hatred is ugly and dangerous no matter its historical roots.

A refusal to mirror others' evil is not a refusal to demand justice -- or reparations. Coates' article on reparations is a fine survey of historical discrimination, apartheid, and terror. I'd support his conclusion over the status quo in a heart beat. I just think a universal solution would be wiser, and that exacerbating the fighting over the oligarchs' scraps is not the way to disempower the oligarchs or to build a just world in which nobody has to dream regrettable dreams.

I don't see any problem with Germany paying reparations for its wrongs either. I just think that all victims should be compensated equally, and that a war that killed 60 million, 9 million of them in camps, and 6 million of those Jews, should cease being recounted as a war that killed 6 million Jews fullstop. Making that the whole story has had terrible results.

I do see a problem with justifying the U.S. Civil War while recognizing the damage done by of regrettable dreams of vengeance -- namely the endless bitter fantasies of the people who think they lost that war. Think of all the harm still done by that war today. We are creating similar enduring and angry notions right now in Ukraine, in Russia, in Sudan, in Syria, in Palestine, in Lebanon, in the already loaded down myth-machine of Israeli culture, and in the minds of Westerners who see the endless gusher of war funding as depriving them of basic needs.
The federal government is moving toward approval of a new southern Oregon casino, which would be the second operated by the Coquille Indian Tribe.

Its final sign-off after a 30-day public comment period could upend Oregons longstanding but unsteady arrangement, established under recent governors, that tribes may only operate a single casino on their established lands.
Workers at 11 unionized New Seasons Market locations in the Portland area plan to hold a one-day strike the day before Thanksgiving.

The New Seasons Labor Union, which represents more than 1,100 Portland-area grocery workers, said Wednesdays strike is in response to numerous ongoing unfair labor practices committed by the grocer as contract talks have soured.

The union has accused New Seasons of bargaining in bad faith, and the two have yet to reach an initial contract agreement since negotiations began over a year ago. The two parties remain far apart on proposals around wages, paid time off, benefits eligibility and holiday pay.

The union said the grocer could avert the strike if New Seasons executives propose better wages and benefits.

New Seasons Market said the companys priority has been finding common ground and that it remains committed to constructive negotiations.

First-time contacts can be difficult to navigate, but were making progress, the company said in an email.

The locations where employees plan to strike include:

Arbor Lodge, 6400 N. Interstate Ave. in Portland

Cedar Hills, 3495 S.W. Cedar Hills Blvd. in Beaverton

Concordia, 5320 N.E. 33rd Ave. in Portland

Grant Park, 3210 N.E. Broadway in Portland

Hawthorne, 4034 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd. in Portland

Sellwood, 1214 S.E. Tacoma St. in Portland

Seven Corners, 1954 S.E. Division St. in Portland

Slabtown, 2170 N.W. Raleigh St. in Portland

University Park, 6300 N. Lombard St. in Portland

Woodstock, 4500 S.E. Woodstock Blvd. in Portland

Williams, 3445 N. Williams Ave. in Portland

New Seasons said the timing of the strike may present challenges due to the importance of the Thanksgiving holiday and encouraged customers to shop early. The company added that it would take steps to keep the stores open and have offered double-pay to hourly staff to work the day before Thanksgiving.

The strike announcement comes three months after workers at 10 of the stores held a one-day warning strike over similar issues.

Workers at the Seven Corners location were the first in the New Seasons regional chain to organize and formed an independent union in 2022. Other locations have since joined, but the union and the upscale grocer have yet to ink their first contract.

-- Kristine de Leon covers consumer health, retail, small business and data enterprise stories. Reach her at kdeleon@oregonian.com.

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Police have identified the man killed in a shooting in Northeast Portland Monday as 35-year-old Mark Holley.

Callers reported gunfire near Northeast Fremont Street and 158th Avenue around 5:45 p.m., according to Portland police. Officers arrived in the Wilkes neighborhood to find Holley dead.
Milana Li, 13, was lured to her death in a grove of trees by a Salem runaway who worshiped gory music and serial killers before enacting a real-world horror show, a jury ruled Friday.

After a two-week trial, the Washington County Circuit Court jury needed less than 90 minutes to convict Daniel R. Gore on all four counts, including first-degree murder, rape and sexual abuse.

Li, a sixth-grader at Conestoga Middle School, was trying to make friends with an older crowd in May 2022 when she became acquainted with Gore. He was 16 at the time and had been living in a tent in the Progress Ridge area for several months since running away from home in Salem.

Now 18, Gore is one of the few juvenile defendants in Oregon to be tried in adult court since state lawmakers enacted 2019 reforms.

Senior Deputy District Attorney John Gerhard told the jury that it was not Gores fascination with the horrorcore rapper 7XVN that turned him into a killer, but his own dark decisions.

It was his choice to take a vulnerable girl who trusted him and followed him into the woods, said Gerhard, and act out his fantasy.

Gore and Li had spent a few hours aimlessly riding buses up and down Southwest Scholls Ferry Road on Mothers Day 2022, when Gore secluded Li near his tent, raped the girl and then choked the life from her, his hands on her neck for three to five minutes, according to an autopsy.

Once it was done, Gore dumped Lis naked body in a shallow creek and tried to conceal her under his own waterproof tarp and several fallen logs  though authorities found Lis clothing scattered among the nearby bushes.

He then fled to a friends place at the Andover Park Apartments and tried to concoct an alibi, texting various people that he and Li had parted ways at a bus stop near Southeast 125th Avenue. But surveillance footage showed they continued on together toward Gores camp.

She was last seen alive about 7:45 p.m. May 8, 2022.

Gores girlfriend at the time, Eva Camara, testified at trial that Gore called her frantically that night from the friends bathroom and said Li had tried to kiss him but he had taken care of it.

I hate knowing the truth, Camara soon texted another friend.

Prosecutors said Gore took Lis phone with him to the apartment complex, but then texted her multiple times in a deceptive manner, trying to strengthen his alibi.

Li never responded to the messages.

The next morning, Assel Li returned to the Monta Vista Apartments from a night-shift at Nikes manufacturing department and discovered her daughter missing. She called Beaverton police, prompting a massive search for the girl.

Gore, meanwhile, was spreading his own tale.

I got hella drunk and she (expletive) dipped and I forgot she had my nic in her bag. Now she aint responding, he wrote to one friend, using a slang term for his vape.

The friend who saw Gore after the killing testified that he didnt appear at all intoxicated, but was uncharacteristically quiet before disappearing into the bathroom.

On May 10, Beaverton police tracked down Gore at the Murrayhill library, where he fled out an emergency exit but was arrested following a 20-minute foot chase.

The lead detective, Cynthia Herring, later found searches for depictions of sexual violence on Gores phone, as well as strange symbols representing the rapper 7XVN carved into trees near his camp.

As rain fell, investigators also found the rappers grinning skull mask at Gores camp, plus a diary with the phrase, I feel like Dexter, referencing a fictional serial killer.

Evidence markers could be seen on Wed., May 11, 2022, near the location where Milana Li, 13, was found dead in a stream the day before. The stream is located off the Westside Regional Trail, near the intersection of Southwest Barrows Road and Horizon Boulevard in Beaverton.Dave Killen / The Oregonian

Defense attorney J. Mark Lawrence asked jurors to focus on where DNA evidence was found, and where it wasnt.

Gore had left his clothes at the friends apartment, but no traces of Lis DNA were found when police tested for it. And Li had trace amounts of unidentified male DNA on her clothes and beneath her fingernails, one of which was ripped off at the bed during her fight to stay alive.

How could he possibly have raped and murdered her when theres not a cell of DNA evidence on his person, Lawrence asked the jury of six men and six women. We know who the killer is  we have his DNA  we just have to find him.

Gores DNA was found in Lis body, although Lawrence claimed it was from a consensual encounter.

Prosecutors said the unknown male DNA could have easily been transferred from her brother or father in their shared living quarters, or anyone else through touch. Gores DNA wasnt under her nails because Li was likely lying face down when Gore strangled her, prosecutors said.

The last few minutes of Milana Lis life were excruciating. She fought, but it was a terrifying end, said prosecutor Andy Pulver.

The case is a rare example where prosecutors successfully sought to try a juvenile as an adult. Oregon law requires those convicted as juveniles to be released by their 25th birthday, regardless of the charges.

Gore will face a mandatory minimum of life in prison with the possibility of parole in 30 years, though prosecutors are expected to ask Circuit Judge Ricardo Menchaca to go further.

A sentencing date has been set for Dec. 2, as Lis survivors are anxious to return to Kazakhstan.

As the verdict was read out Friday, Gore showed no emotion, though his mother interlocked her hands while Assel Li and Detective Herring wept.

Gore didnt testify during his trial and remained silent in response to questions as he was led in manacles through a courthouse hallway and back, eventually, to his cell in a Portland juvenile jail.

Zane Sparling covers breaking news and courts for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach him at 503-319-7083, zsparling@oregonian.com or @pdxzane.

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Its not in dispute that the tiny Corbett School District is in significant financial straits, coping with a $3 million budget shortfall that is forcing the district to plan for midyear job cuts and furlough days.

Far less clear: which public entity bears responsibility for the budgeting errors that landed the 1,000-student district at the western end of the Columbia River Gorge in such a mess, and whether the errors could have been found and addressed more quickly.
Gov. Tina Kotek waded into the ongoing sexual abuse scandal at the St. Helens School District on Friday, pledging to intervene if the district does not move quickly to put new leadership in place.

I understand that an acting superintendent will be appointed swiftly, Kotek wrote in a letter to the community that was released by the city of St. Helens on its Facebook page. 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.

That level of state oversight into a local school district is extraordinarily rare in Oregon and underscores the magnitude of the situation in St. Helens.

Two teachers associated with the high school  one a current teacher and the other a retiree  have been arrested and face charges of sexual abuse against students. Additionally, a St. Helens Middle School teacher is under criminal investigation for conduct involving students, St. Helens police said in a statement Thursday, but offered no other details.

Two other high school employees are under administrative investigation by the state Department of Human Services for alleged sexual abuse after reports to the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline, said spokesperson Jake Sunderland. He declined further comment. They are not under criminal investigation, Acting Police Chief Joseph Hogue said.

The Oregon Department of Human Services also announced that Superintendent Scot Stockwell and St. Helens High School principal Katy Wagner are both under investigation by the agency for alleged failure to fulfill their duties as mandatory reporters of child abuse. All school employees are mandatory reporters.

Stockwell and Wagner are both on paid administrative leave.

Community members have called for both of them to resign and claim that they allowed employees to remain in close proximity to children even after the district knew they were under criminal investigation.

The chair of the St. Helens School Board, Ryan Scholl, also stepped down last week amid the community uproar.

In her letter, Kotek wrote that once the Department of Human Services has concluded its investigations, the findings will be shared with local law enforcement and the school district, 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.

The current allegations and investigations follow a $3.5 million payout earlier this year by the school district to a former student who was abused by another teacher and a promise by Stockwell last year to make sure no other students would be harmed.

Schools were closed for three days in St. Helens while students and their families protested the districts handling of the latest allegations.

St. Helens High School choir teacher Eric Stearns, 46, faces seven charges of second-degree sexual abuse and a charge of third-degree abuse. Stearns is accused of inappropriately touching six students from 2015 to 2020.

Mark Collins, 64, a retired St. Helens High School math teacher, faces two counts of second-degree sexual abuse and one count of attempted second-degree sexual abuse of three students from 2017 to January 2023. He is accused of touching their inner thighs or in one case attempting to cause the student to touch his penis, according to the indictment.

Stearns and Collins were arrested last week. Both have both pleaded not guilty.

 Julia Silverman covers K-12 education for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach her via email at jsilverman@oregonian.com.

 Oregonian reporter Maxine Bernstein contributed to this report.
Performers with Oregon connections, including Jimmie Herrod and Storm Large, have shown how to make a splash on Americas Got Talent, and those who want to audition for the upcoming Season 20 of the show now have their chance.

An Americas Got Talent news release includes details on different ways to go about showing off your skills.

Virtual open call auditions will take place Dec. 6 and Jan. 24. If interested, go to AGTAuditions.com to choose a date to audition live via video call. Follow the prompts to create an account.

If Dec. 6 and Jan. 24 dont work, potential acts can submit video auditions at any time. Go to the AGTAuditions.com website, and click on the link for video auditions to register. People will be asked to enter their birth date. Those under 18 should ask a parent or guardian to enter the adults birth date to register on behalf of under-18 auditioners.

People who are in the Los Angeles area or are willing to travel there can join in-person open call auditions happening Jan. 12 in Pasadena, California. For more information, visit agtauditions.com/pasadena.

And if you want to nominate someone to audition, you can do that, also by visiting AGTAuditions.com and clicking on the link to nominate an act.

 Kristi Turnquist covers features and entertainment. Reach her at 503-221-8227, kturnquist@oregonian.com or @Kristiturnquist

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This event was undeservedly overlooked by domestic media. We are talking about the resolution titled "COP29 Peace-building Efforts and the COP Ceasefire Initiative," which was introduced in the Scottish Parliament. The resolution, posted on the official website of the Parliament, emphasized that COP29 was a significant event for promoting peace, international cooperation, and friendship around the world, including between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

It was noted that COP29 embodies the idea of how climate action can serve as a bridge between peoples to achieve peace and cooperation. Support was also expressed for the COP Ceasefire Initiative, which calls on all parties involved in ongoing conflicts worldwide to cease hostilities. The resolution highlighted that COP29 is a crucial moment for international climate negotiations and urged all participants to cooperate in the fight against the climate crisis.

The resolution was supported by 25 parliamentarians representing five political parties: Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat, Greens, and the Scottish National Party. This is yet another diplomatic, geopolitical, and image breakthrough for Azerbaijan as a country hosting COP29. Azerbaijan has always stood for a just peace based on respect for the norms of international law.

That is why, even during the occupation of 20% of our country's territories, official Baku insisted that the world community should consolidate efforts in the name of the triumph of international law, and in support of the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. However, our appeals were, unfortunately, unheard at the time.

Sanctions from the United States and the EU were not imposed on Armenia, which occupied our lands for over a quarter of a century and committed numerous crimes. Armenia was not condemned for ignoring four well-known resolutions from the UN Security Council and the General Assembly. Azerbaijan was left to strive alone for the triumph of justice and international law.

And Azerbaijan succeeded! As a result of the 44-day war and the one-day anti-terrorist operation, Azerbaijan's sovereignty and territorial integrity were fully restored. The well-thought-out and brilliantly executed strategy of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has been realized in practice, down to the smallest detail.

This strategy was for the victory of the Azerbaijani army, economy, diplomacy, and national unity. It was a victory over forces that strongly opposed the triumph of international law, covertly and openly supporting Armenia in its policy of occupation. It was a victory achieved at a huge, very costly price in the lives of our martyrs. Their memory will live forever in our hearts and in the hearts of future generations of Azerbaijanis.

Because we know the price of this historic victory, peace has always been deeply valued in Azerbaijan. This is why official Baku initiated peace talks with official Yerevan, demonstrating its willingness to look to the future, despite the heavy losses and tragedies of the past. And now, slowly but surely, step by step, a stable and just peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia is becoming a reality.

Yes, there are still countries that are not interested in this peace, trying to continue acting on the principle of "divide and rule." But it is precisely because Azerbaijan's peace initiatives and efforts are so valuable that they face fierce opposition from some leading world powers. Some of these, like Macrons France, even attempted to disrupt COP29 in Baku.

Their efforts were once again in vain. COP29 was conducted brilliantly. Azerbaijan has once again earned applause and respect as a country capable of hosting the most ambitious international events. Moreover, Azerbaijan has once again shown itself to be a country that makes appeals to humanity on the most critical issues, from climate security to peace. And this is especially significant now, as fears grow that our planet could face a devastating nuclear confrontation.
BEIRUT, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli army on Saturday set up a military site west of the border town of Qalaa in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanese military sources.

The sources, who spoke anonymously, told Xinhua that an Israeli bulldozer, protected by several Merkava tanks, worked to create bunkers and barriers at a hill overlooking the road linking the southeast town of Marjeyoun to the city of Nabatieh deep in south Lebanon.

"Afterwards, an Israeli infantry force and five tanks were stationed on this hill, which is about 4 km away from the border line separating Lebanon and Israel," they added.

Since Sept. 23, the Israeli army has intensified its air attack on Lebanon in an escalation of conflict with Hezbollah. Israel further initiated a ground operation across its northern border into Lebanon in early October. 
An article from a right-leaning news organization criticizing an OU education course has sparked conversations about the specific exemptions in Gov. Kevin Stitt's executive order banning diversity, equity and inclusion.

The Daily Caller is a right-leaning news and opinion website founded by former Fox News host Tucker Carlson and conservative political adviser Neil Patel. On Nov. 16, The Daily Caller published an article detailing the structure of OUs course Schools and American Culture, writing it may be defying Stitts December 2023 executive order.

Two days later, the article was posted on social platform X by Heritage Action, a sister organization of conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation.

Independent local journalism for OU and Norman since 1916 Students pay about $14 in annual fees that support the Daily. If you are not a student and find value in our work, please match or exceed that if you can. MAKE A ONE-TIME OR RECURRING DONATION

DEI policies have nothing to do with equity or inclusion but instead perpetuate the very discrimination and division the Left claims to be fighting, Heritage Action wrote in the post. The Sooner State must work to remove the wasteful and toxic DEI agenda in higher education and protect the civil rights of its students.

Stitts office is quoted in The Daily Caller article and later shared his thoughts on X.

Universities are more focused on pronouns than they are prepping for the workforce. And left-wing accreditation monopolies that peddle DEI curriculum hide out of sight and let liberal faculty call the shots.



Its time to clean this up. https://t.co/CPkeyiyOg6  Governor Kevin Stitt (@GovStitt) November 18, 2024

Stitts executive order required state agencies and universities to review the necessity and efficiency of diversity, equity and inclusion positions, departments and programs. The order barred those institutions from creating mandated education or training to the extent that they grant preferential treatment based on race, ethnicity, sex or national origin.

The order further prohibits mandating loyalty oaths, pronoun disclosure and employee DEI statements.

Our universities need to be preparing students for the workforce, not indoctrinating them with liberal ideology, a spokesperson for the governors office told The Daily Caller. Its insane that this is a required course. Its time to look at the accreditation entities that are pushing courses like this and bring common sense back to the classroom.

The governors office did not return the Dailys request for further comment.

OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. told OU Daily on Friday he hasnt been in direct conversations about course reviewing, but the provost has been involved in ensuring OU is following the executive order.

I believe were in compliance, Harroz said.

OU Marketing and Communications wrote in an email to OU Daily the university is committed to ensuring courses follow applicable laws.

OU never shies away from complex or difficult topics. We are committed to the presentation of materials that are viewpoint-neutral and non-discriminatory, and we continue to be dedicated to teaching our students how to think, not what to think, the email read. The rich history of the United States is complicated and unique, and its appropriate that coursework reflects that.

Executive order and academic freedom

On Dec. 13, Stitt signed the executive order calling for a review of all DEI programs in universities and state agencies. The executive order specifically notes eight exemptions:

 A policy, practice, procedure, program, class or activity required for compliance with state or federal laws, rules or regulations for obtaining or retaining institutional, academic or discipline-specific accreditation or licensure.

 Academic course instruction; the academic freedom of any individual faculty member to direct the instruction within his or her own course.

 Scholarly research or creative work by an institution of higher education's students, faculty or other research personnel, or the dissemination of that research or work.

 An activity of a student organization registered with or recognized by an institution of higher education.

 Guest speakers or performances on short-term engagements.

 Academic support, tutoring and career services and student success centers, so long as the programming is designed and implemented without regard to race, sex, color, national origin or ethnicity.

 Data collection.

 Access programs for military, veterans, Pell Grant recipients, first generation college students, students from low-income families, students with unique abilities or underserved student populations.

The Office of the President released guidelines for how OU will comply with the executive order, answering frequently asked questions about what might change at OU.

Under the question may professors discuss race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or other DEI-related topics in their course instruction, OU answered yes.

The Executive Order specifically states that it does not apply to academic course instruction, OU wrote. Faculty retain their academic freedom and retain the right to provide instruction in their course and design their curriculum as they see fit, if the subject matter is related to the subject the faculty member is teaching.

Michael Givel, president of OUs chapter of American Association of University Professors, told OU Daily academic freedom is a form of free speech, but does not mean absolute free speech.

A professor, under academic freedom, is free to choose based on their expertise  the course material, Givel said. Academic freedom protects the professor from being influenced or pressured from teaching these materials.

Givel said the academic freedom exemption was straightforward, meaning under the order, faculty members have their own discretion without interference to conduct their classes as long as an accreditor recognizes the material.

I think the governor is very confused, Givel said. The part of the executive order that talks about exemptions  its very clear.

Since the executive order was signed, OU renamed the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to the Office of Access and Opportunity. The Gender + Equality Center, which focused on supporting students with advocacy for gender-based violence and support and programming from 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion, was replaced with the Office of Advocacy and Education in April.

OU opted to close the National Education for Womens Leadership program, implemented new protocol for faculty syllabi, canceled plans to conduct a course called Leadership in LGBTQ Studies and did not require greek organizations to take DEI training.

In a press release from May, OU-AAUP called these changes detrimental, intentional, and excessive.

OU has not justified why they have engaged in a pretty significant crackdown, Givel said. Its pretty outrageous. One has to ask, whats the motivation for this?

Schools and American Culture

The course Schools and American Culture is required for all undergraduate students seeking a degree in the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education. OU Daily analyzed the course checksheets for all undergraduate degrees, which are publicly available through OUs general catalog, confirming the course is listed as a requirement under professional education.

The Daily Caller included a copy of the syllabus for this years Schools and American Culture course, which OU Daily independently verified through a student currently enrolled in the course.

According to the syllabuss course description, students will learn the intersectionality of social, political and economic issues that impact schools. Course objectives as listed in the syllabus are:

 Describe the role of schools in preserving, developing and transmitting language, culture and meaning within society.

 Critically reflect on personal biases and analyze how these biases can affect teaching practices and student interactions.

 Evaluate the relationship between schools, their communities and the larger society.

 Analyze how schools contribute to economic development and the preparation of students for the workforce, examining the interplay between economic and educational inequalities.

 Analyze how various student differences  such as race, gender, class, sexual orientation and ability  impact educational experiences.

 Identify and explain the sociopolitical powers, institutions and forces that shape and impact the content of school curricula and learning.

 Evaluate the importance of recognizing and responding to individual student differences and propose strategies for addressing diverse needs in the classroom.

 Evaluate the importance of teachers responding to individual student needs and how perceptions, attitudes and actions contribute to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all students.

 Investigate complex reasoning and nuanced understandings over curricular content and be prepared to discuss and strategize around the nature of these conflicts.

During the 16 weeks of instruction, topics taught include the historical foundations of public American education, critical whiteness in education, critical race theory in education, microaggressions in educational spaces, supporting diverse learners, 2SLGBTQ+ youth in schools and teaching in turbulent times.

The course addresses one standard of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, or NCATE: knowing the economic, social, political, legal and organizational foundations and functions of schools.

NCATE was founded as a nonprofit, non-governmental accrediting agency in 1954. In 2010, NCATE and the Teacher Education Accreditation Council agreed to establish a new accrediting body, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, or CAEP.

In 2016, CAEP accreditation standards were fully implemented, and NCATE standards were no longer used for accreditation purposes.

Candidates understand the intent of OUs Mission Statement, the syllabus reads. Moreover, the candidates understand and respect individual differences, including those of culture, race, gender, religion, ethnicity, and sexual orientation, as well as individual commonalities, including those of heritage and environment. The candidates understand the role the teacher plays in promotion and achievement of social justice.

OUs mission statement states the university will provide the best educational experience for students through excellence in teaching, researching and creative activity in service to state and society.

One assignment, the social justice curriculum, instructs students to work in groups to create a curriculum that addresses a social justice issue using state-mandated content standards. The assignment includes a student-written reflection that should answer the questions, Why is it important to embed social justice, equity and inclusivity into your K-12 classroom? and What issues do you imagine encountering when you bring these conversations into the curriculum?

The Daily Caller argued that public school teachers in Oklahoma are prohibited under state law from teaching that members of one race or sex cannot and should not attempt to treat others without respect to race or sex. House Bill 1775, the law The Daily Caller is referencing, is under a partial preliminary injunction, meaning parts of the law cannot be enforced while litigation is pending.

In 2021, the American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Oklahoma, the Black Emergency Response Team, OU-AAUP and the Oklahoma chapter of the NAACP filed a lawsuit challenging HB 1775.

OU Daily reached out to all three instructors who teach the course in the fall 2024 semester for comment. Only one responded, who referred the Daily to OU Marketing and Communications.

In an email to OU Daily, OU Marketing and Communications wrote the course is structured to prepare future educators to teach in settings that reflect the students of Oklahoma.

OU Daily asked OU Marketing and Communications how the university has evaluated courses under Stitts executive order and if the Schools and American Culture course had been evaluated, but did not receive an answer.

This course on education studies is designed for professional educators and teacher candidates and offers a comprehensive overview of the complex history of American education, including key court cases and educational theories. It is specifically constructed to prepare educators for the public school classroom in both rural and urban settings with students who reflect Oklahomas citizenry, the email read.

That includes preparing these teachers with primary sources, facts, a broad analysis of perspectives and experiences, and the context to help them respond to challenging ideas with all the tools and resources they need to be effective in future classrooms.

This story was edited by Anusha Fathepure, Ismael Lele and Ana Barboza. Mary Ann Livingood copy edited this story.
YANGON, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Myanmar Garment Manufacturers Association (MGMA) has been providing job opportunities for numerous individuals by offering basic sewing machine operator training courses, according to the MGMA on Friday.

Between 2011 and 2024, 15,300 trainees have been trained through these programs, Aye Mi Shein, managing director of MGMA told Xinhua.

These basic sewing courses are aimed at creating job opportunities and training skilled workers for the garment industry, she said.

"Trainees have the chance to get a job at factories as soon as they finish the course. Our association not only provides training but also offers job opportunities by connecting trainees with garment factories," she added.

The three-week basic sewing machine operator training courses are conducted at the Myanmar Garment Human Resource Development Center, according to the MGMA. 
A substitute teacher in Flint, Michigan has been dismissed after angry parents complained their elementary school students were exposed to the use of a Ouija board during class.

Concerned parent, Billie DeVille spoke out about the incident at a Flint Community Schools Board of Education meeting Wednesday Nov. 20, mLive reported.

Superintendent Kevelin Jones replied to the complaint, emphasizing that Ouija boards are in no way part of the curriculum or condoned by the school.

"It's not in our curriculum. It's not something we condone as it pertains to speaking about those types of things in a way that would instill fear or speak away from the curriculum," Jones said.

"We have rectified that situation and we have determined that we would not have that particular third-party staff member in the district," Jones assured the community.

Ouija boards, or "talking boards" were originally manufactured as tools for "spiritual communication," leading some to associate the product with the occult. While others consider it a game or dismiss its use as silly, the Ouija board was denounced by the school district as out of line with the school's educational standards.

DeVille praised the district's swift action in a Facebook post, thanking the superintendent and school board for prioritizing students' well-being. "Flint really should be proud of how we came together and advocated for our kids!" she wrote.

On Friday a letter was sent out by the school district confirming its disapproval of the incident and the decision to terminate the substitute teacher's employment.

Originally published by Latin Times.
My title is a reaction to a thread at the virulently anti-Catholic CARM forum, in the Lutheranism section, called, Bloody Marty [referring to Martin Luther], dated 4-14-24). Ive been dealing with the ultra-biased treatments of Martin Luther by Reformed Protestant anti-Catholic polemicist James Swan for over twenty years. See his lengthy section on my Anti-Catholicism web page. Swans words from this discussion will be in blue; his Lutheran sidekick BJ Bears in green; Martin Luthers in purple; and his best friend and successor Philp Melanchthons in brown.

*****

The person who started the thread cited an article of mine at length: Reply to Reformed Luther Apologist James Swans Request for Documentation of Executions of Anabaptists Sanctioned by Luther, in the 1530s [8-17-14]. As the thread proceeded, both realize that it was from my paper that this person was making his arguments about Luthers intolerance and espousal of persecution of Anabaptists, including the death penalty, and they engage in their usual mockery and contemptuous dismissal, on inadequate grounds. Swan plays his usual game of not naming me, which he has done for years, even though my material is being discussed.

He apparently thinks that (my best guess) this will wound my supposed excessive pride or vanity or whatever. I simply point out how ludicrous it is and laugh at it. Hed rather do these silly things and ignore any critique I make (which he has done since 2010) than write rational replies. Its the response of an intellectual coward, who cant defend his own positions when they are seriously critiqued.

Some of my research was cited:

If anyone wishes to preach or to teach, let him make known the call or the command which impels him to do so, or else let him keep silence. If he will not keep quiet, then let the civil authorities command the scoundrel to his rightful master, namely, Master Hans [i.e., the hangman]. Source: Martin Luther, Commentary on 82nd Psalm, 1530 (Janssen, X, 222; EA, Bd. 39, 250-258; Commentary on 82nd Psalm, 1530; cf. Durant, 423, Grisar, VI, 26-27

Swan opined:

Internet Luther rule number #1: look quotes up and read them in context. Back in 2017. I did an extensive treatment of this quote here, including all the documentation (The Grisar reference is bogus).

Of course, thats what I did. I didnt have the 55-volume set, Luthers Works in the early 90s when I did a lot of Luther research, but I had extensive photocopies from Johannes Janssen, History of the German People from the Close of the Middle Ages, 16 volumes, translated by A.M. Christie, St. Louis: B. Herder, 1910 [orig. 1891]: obtained at the (Jesuit) University of Detroit library. I do have the Luthers Works (LW) set now, in hardcover, in my living room. The Commentary on the 82nd Psalm (vol. 13 of LW, pp. 39-72) was written in 1530 and it was here that Luther first advocated intolerance towards more radical Protestants such as the Anabaptists (not Catholics). The portion that was cited above, from my citation, reads as follows in LW, vol. 13, pp. 65-66:

If he wants to preach or teach, let him give proof of the call or command which drives and compels him to it, or else let him be silent. If he does not want to do this, then let the rulers hand the knave over to the right master, the police. (footnote 40 states: The German phrase is Meister Hans; . . . )

I cited Janssen word-for-word, from volume X of the above-mentioned multi-volume work, page 222, as can be seen in an online posting of that page at Internet Archive. It follows closely the English version from LW, and Janssen noted that Luther was referring to a hangman. I did, however, cite Grisar, Luther wrongly (simple human error, there). The citation in question is found on page 250 of volume VI:

then let the authorities hand over knaves of that ilk to their proper master, to wit Master Hans (Grisar clarifies that this means the hangman).

There is also evidence that Luther was not fully on board with the severe punishments that Melanchthon was suggesting but went along with it (Luther supported a broader concept of religious freedom previous to 1530). Luther did have a change in attitude. He eventually saw public blasphemy and sedition as two offenses that should be reprimanded. The death penalty may be invoked in certain instances, like, sedition, insurrection, and rebellion against the state. In 1540, he softened his position that only seditious Anabaptists should be executed. Sedition: Conduct or language inciting rebellion against the authority of a state. The reason for this flux in Luthers vacillation was the difficulty in navigating between peaceful and radical Anabaptists.

Swan drew directly from the most famous Luther biographer, Roland Bainton here, from a portion of his biography, Here I Stand, that I cited in my article, Luther Favored the Death Penalty for Anabaptists (2-24-04). But he engages in his usual sophistry and cynically selective, unsavory cherry-picking tactics, in ignoring a key point that Bainton made about the distinction between the peaceful and the revolutionary Anabaptists being obliterated:

In 1530 Luther advanced the view that two offences should be penalized even with death, namely sedition and blasphemy. The emphasis was thus shifted from incorrect belief to its public manifestation by word and deed. This was, however, no great gain for liberty, because Luther construed mere abstention from public office and military service as sedition and a rejection of an article of the Apostles Creed as blasphemy. In a memorandum of 1531, composed by Melanchthon and signed by Luther, a rejection of the ministerial office was described as insufferable blasphemy, and the disintegration of the Church as sedition against the ecclesiastical order. In a memorandum of 1536, again composed by Melanchthon and signed by Luther, the distinction between the peaceful and the revolutionary Anabaptists was obliterated . . . Melanchthon this time argued that even the passive action of the Anabaptists in rejecting government, oaths, private property, and marriages outside the faith was itself disruptive of the civil order and therefore seditious. The Anabaptist protest against the punishment of blasphemy was itself blasphemy. The discontinuance of infant baptism would produce a heathen society and separation from the Church, and the formation of sects was an offense against God. . . . [O]ne cannot forget that Melanchthons memorandum justified the eradication of the peaceful, not because they were incipient and clandestine revolutionaries, but on the ground that even a peaceful renunciation of the state itself constituted sedition. (Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther, New York: Mentor, 1950, 295-296)

Heres the portion that Swan paraphrased from Bainton, in his usual attempt to pose as an expert. In contrast, I cited Baintons actual words in my article and here:

Luther may not have been too happy about signing these memoranda. At any rate he appended postscripts to each. To the first he said, I assent. Although it seems cruel to punish them with the sword, it is crueler that they condemn the ministry of the Word and have no well-grounded doctrine and suppress the true and in this way seek to subvert the civil order. . . . In 1540 he is reported in his Table Talk to have returned to the position of Philip of Hesse that only seditious Anabaptists should be executed; the others should be merely banished. But Luther passed by many an opportunity to speak a word for those who with joy gave themselves as sheep for the slaughter. . . . For the understanding of Luthers position one must bear in mind that Anabaptism was not in every instance socially innocuous. The year in which Luther signed the memorandum counseling death even for the peaceful Anabaptists was the year in which a group of them ceases to be peaceful . . . By forcible measures they took over the city of Munster in Westphalia . . .

Another portion of my research was cited:

when it is a case of only upholding some spiritual tenet, such as infant baptism, original sin, and unnecessary separation, then  we conclude that  the stubborn sectaries must be put to death. (Janssen, X, 222-223; pamphlet of 1536)

Here is a lengthy quotation (the above portion being near the end) from the pamphlet or memorandum of 1536, written by Philip Melanchthon, from Janssen (see it online):

That seditious articles of doctrine should be punished with the sword needed no further proof. For the rest, the Anabaptists hold tenets relating to infant baptism, original sin, and inspiration which have no connection with the Word of God, and are indeed opposed to it. . . . Concerning such tenets, this is our answer : As the secular authorities are bound to control and punish open blasphemy, so they are also bound to restrain and punish avowedly false doctrine, irregular Church services and heresies in their own dominions; for this is commanded by God in the other commandment where He says : Whoso dishonours Gods name shall not go unpunished. Everybody is bound, according to his position and office, to prevent and check blasphemy, and by virtue of this command the princes and magistrates have power and authority to put a stop to irregular Church worship. The text in Leviticus xxiv. goes to show the same thing : He that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, he shall surely be put to death. The ruling authorities, however, must suffer themselves to be property and correctly instructed in order that they may be certain how to proceed, and that nobody may do wrong. Now there are some among these articles of faith which signify very much. For think what disaster would ensue if children were not baptized; what would be the final outcome but thoroughly heathenish existence? Item, infant baptism rests on such sure foundations that the Anabaptists have no legitimate grounds for rejecting it. Item, if they say that children do not need forgiveness of sins, that there is no original sin, such statements are downright and very dangerous errors. Besides this the Anabaptists separate themselves from the churches, even in those places where pure Christian doctrine prevails, and where the abuses and idolatrous practices have been abolished, and they set up a ministry and congregation of their own, which is also contrary to the command of God. From all this it becomes clear that the secular authorities are bound to suppress blasphemy, false doctrine, and heresy, and to inflict corporal punishment on the offenders. In the case of Anabaptist tenets which are opposed to the secular government the matter is easier to deal with ; for there is no doubt that in such cases the stiffnecked recalcitrants are sure to be punished as sedition-mongers. Also when it is a case of only upholding some spiritual tenet, such as infant baptism, original sin, and unnecessary separation, then, because these articles are also important. . . we conclude that in these cases also the stubborn sectaries must be put to death.

For the record, Luther did not write pamphlet of 1536.

Again, Swan issues one of his notorious half-truths (so often he wishes to major on the minors and to indulge irrelevancies and non sequiturs). Bainton refers (above) to a memorandum of 1531, composed by Melanchthon and signed by Luther and a memorandum of 1536, again composed by Melanchthon and signed by Luther. Luther agreed to both, and stated, I assent with regard to the first.

BJ Bear then joins in on the revisionist sophistry:

When it came to the enthusiasts using violence and force to further their error it is incumbent on the magistrates, princes, or civil authorities in general to put it down, by force if necessary.

As Bainton noted, with proof, Luther did not believe in capital punishment only for violent Baptists . . . But BJ Bear, either out of ignorance or deliberate misinformation (based on past experience with him, I think it could be either one), wants to pretend that this was not the case.

The Anabaptists were violent, lawless, gospel-less anarchists who were trying to implement an apocalyptic judgement by force. . . . you are not aware of the violent and lawless beliefs and actions of the Anabaptists/enthusiasts of the sixteenth century.

This is so distorted as to be virtually a lie. A small faction of them were indeed that. But most were peaceful, and Luther sanctioned their executions as well. Again, this is Protestant Luther biographer Baintons contention, not my own. An article by historian Walter Klaassen in Christian History (Issue #5 1985) noted this:

Like most religious movements of that timeincluding Lutheran, Reformed, and Anglican, Anabaptism had its share of black sheep. . . . There was the apocalyptic lunacy of certain Anabaptists from Thuringia, one of whom claimed to be the Son of God. Most important of all there was the violent terror of the Kingdom of God of Munster when Anabaptists turned to violence and oppression. In this latter event Anabaptists employed tactics of Catholics and Protestants all over Europe for the coercion of people toward a religious faith. These are skeletons in the Mennonite family closet, but they represented a minority that never had much support and which was in fact rejected by the majority of persons in the movement.

With no awareness of the irony or his hypocrisy, Swan adds:

I and a few others have responded to your slander against Luther and demonstrated that you either dont know Reformation history or dont understand history.

Youve only posted someones misguided opinion that Luther put people to death. Luther wasnt a Pope, didnt think he was a Pope, and wasnt a civil magistrate. In other words, Luther didnt have any power over the civil sword nor did he bear the sword.

Thats irrelevant. In my writings about Luther, I was simply documenting that he favored the execution of Anabaptists, and peaceful ones at that. Under Luthers view in the 1530s, folks like the Reformed Baptists James White and Gavin Ortlund and evangelical apologist Jason Engwer (and myself in the 80s, when I believed in adult believers baptism, but not now as a Catholic) could have been executed as dangerous seditionists.

The fact remains that at least 45 people were executed for theological beliefs under the influential opinions of Luther and Melanchthon in the domain where they held sway in a theological sense. This ought to be known, in fairness, since the Catholic Inquisition is always discussed, as if the first Protestants didnt do the same sort of thing, and continued to for some two hundred years afterwards.

So you also want to gloss over the history of your choosing, invent history of your choosing, and insist your imaginative assertions are the true historical record?

An accurate description of BJ Bear himself!

***

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Luther was not . . . a civil magistrate, and he had no power or influence over the civil magistrates involved.

This is nonsense. He certainly had a strong influence, along with Melanchthon in their domain of Saxony, which is why the policies of persecution that they advocated in 1530, 1531, and 1536 were actually carried out. It was Luther, after all, who wanted to replace bishops with princes. They influenced several important princes.

Even so, there are people who have made a cottage industry of trying to blame Luther for what happened in the peasants war.

Im sure many do. As for my own view (since Im the one being cited and to some extent pilloried in this thread, its much more nuanced and complex and partially sympathetic to Luther. See my very lengthy article: Martin Luthers Inflammatory Rhetoric and the Peasants Revolt (1524-1525) (+ Part II) [10-31-03].

If someone wants to say that Luther also wrote some stupid wrong stuff which he shouldnt have then I doubt anyone would disagree.

Exactly! Finally, some blessed agreement . . .

Certainly, I can understand someone does not like Luthers views on the death penalty or his harsh comments about the Jews (I also do not like them). On the other hand, Luther was not a civil magistrate as you succinctly point out. He did not kill anyone.

Neither (in this sense) did Henry VIII or Queen Elizabeth or even Hitler. Thats utterly beside the point. They favored execution for various theological positions and other non-criminal beliefs. So did Luther.

Lol! I searched on the one source provided and it linked to a site listing the usual suspects with which you are very familiar.

This is referring to me (Im massively cited on this page), and as usual, both of these fools wont name me. At least they gave me the courtesy later of actually linking one of my articles so people could read it for themselves.

It is a matter of record that Melanchthon took credit for the 1536 doc.

And its a matter of record (verified by Bainton) that Luther assented to it and signed it.

Youve never read Melanchthons 1536 work and dont know what you are writing about.

Ive read much of it, and posted the lengthy excerpt in one of my articles over twenty years ago.

For example, in Melanchthons document of 1536 he makes it plain that people shouldnt be or arent to be punished for what they believe internally.

Thats false, as already documented. Internal beliefs mentioned in it include tenets relating to infant baptism, original sin, and inspiration and unnecessary separation: all worthy of the death penalty.

OK, so the book showed up yesterday, opened it up and discovered they sent me two copies.

It looks like the bracketed numbers in the OP are footnotes, and yes, as you pointed out, the OP appears to be a cut-and-paste of another webpage. From a cursory look at the new book, the footnotes are primarily to a secondary source, I think its this book. Whats interesting is that in the OP, [61] (p. 22) refers to footnote 61 on page 22 of the book I just ordered. Yes, that footnote is on page 22 but footnote [61] refers to page 234, 204 ff. in the secondary source I linked above. Unless Im missing something or have my wires crossed, there is no page 234.

As usual, Swan is obsessed with minutiae, and missing the forest for the trees. What he describes as another webpage is my article, Martin Luther and Anabaptist Executions in the 1530s [formerly titled, Reply to Reformed Luther Apologist James Swans Request for Documentation of Executions of Anabaptists Sanctioned by Luther, in the 1530s] (8-17-14). So he picks away at it in his usual cynical, hostile attempt to prove that I am a dumbbell unable to conduct rudimentary research.

Yes, the bracketed numbers are footnotes from the original. If the footnote gave a wrong page number, thats not my fault. It came from a work entitled, Valentin Weigel (1533-1588): German Religious Dissenter, Speculative Theorist, and Advocate of Tolerance (Albany: State University of New York Press, 2000), written by Andrew Weeks, who is a Professor of Languages, Literatures and Cultures at Illinois State University. As I noted:

I ran across some documentation via Google Books . . . Unfortunately, I cant access the footnotes from the Google Books edition of this book, and both Paulus and Wappler wrote in German, so I cant get at further details of these executions from those sources.

Since were on the topic of accurate research, I will remind my readers of a very dumb mistake that Swan made, which I documented at the time. Swan had written in a thread on the Catholic Answers Forum on 3 September 2014 (comment #692; no longer available):

Indeed there were executions in Saxony. Search out these sources: Valentin Weigel, German Religious Dissenter, Speculative Theorist, and Advocate of Tolerance John S. Oyer, Lutheran Reformers Against Anabaptists Peter Pestel, The Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia

He was trying to pose as an expert of Lutheran persecution of Anabaptists; trotting out sources for further study. But where did he run across these two sources (other than Oyer, whom he had cited before on his blog)? They were two sources I cited in my paper, above, a little over two weeks before Swans comment.

The Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia, when in fact, he is an Anabaptist martyr who was written about in that source (!!!). He was executed by the sword on 16 June 1536, in Zwickau. He was a peaceful Anabaptist who had neither preached nor baptized anyone. It seems fairly clear that Swan had glanced at a sentence of mine above: The funniest thing of all (and absolute proof that he drew these sources from my article), is his attribution of Peter Peste l as the author or editor of, when in fact, he iswho was written about in that source (!!!). He was executed by the sword on 16 June 1536, in Zwickau. He was a peaceful Anabaptist who had neither preached nor baptized anyone. It seems fairly clear that Swan had glanced at a sentence of mine above:

The Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online provides We do have one person mentioned by name in Weeks book: Peter Pestel.provides an article about him and more detail:

It looks like he thought that the Encyclopedia was Pestels book; whereas in fact (and in context) he was one of the martyrs regarding whom we could find more information in the Encyclopedia. Thus, Swan proves that he scarcely read my paper that he is now using as a source for Luther sources. He couldnt manage (in his rank anti-Catholic personal hostility towards me) to read carefully enough or in context. I wrote about Swans embarrassing whopper in 2014:

Now, this may seem like my nitpicking or piling on, in a case of a simple mistake or human error. Readers may wonder why I am making such a big deal about it. I do precisely because Swan is always pointing out human errors in Catholic works (hes noted real or  usually  falsely alleged  ones in my writings for twelve years). If a Catholic had made such an embarrassing error like this, we can be sure Swan would have trumpeted it from the rooftops as yet more evidence that we dont know how to properly cite a source, and that were always trying to lie about and misrepresent Luther; that were, well, kind of dumb, and that we know nothing about context in reading and citing sources. Hes noted this many hundreds of times.

And sure enough, we see him doing it again in this thread, picking at research I did, as always without naming me, so people would even know who the hell he is talking about.

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If it turns out that he is a decent historian then he has a couple of other titles of interest regarding this time period.

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Yes, BJ Bear, an anonymous self-appointed, self-anointed bloviating fool who pontificates on an anti-Catholic blog as a supposed expert that folks can trust, and about whom we can learn nothing (I highly doubt that he has ever published a book or worked with a real editor, as I have, many times), is the final determinant of who is a good, bona fide scholar or not. Thanks for the humor! Readers can check out Dr. Weeks credentials

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I dealt with Luther and the anabaptists many years ago.

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Here he refers to his article, Here I Stand: A Review of Dave Armstrongs Citations of Roland Baintons Popular Biography on Martin Luther (July 2004). Thats from back in the good ol days when he was obsessed with me and actually interacted with my material, even (gasp!) naming my villainous name! Swan (unable to ever get anything right where I am concerned, to save his life) wrote in this screed:

The picture of Luther put forth by Armstrong is that Luther was always an advocate of severe punishment, in all circumstances, and Roland Bainton agrees with and supports this position . . . * Armstrong also leaves out, that according to Bainton, Luthers view was in flux. Bainton notes that Luther did support a broader concept of religious freedom previous to 1530.

This is sheer nonsense. I cited Bainton in my article, Luther Favored the Death Penalty for Anabaptists: which was posted on 2-24-04: over four months earlier than Swans big reply. I cited the following words of Bainton, author of the most famous biography of Luther, Here I Stand:

In 1540 he is reported in his Table Talk to have returned to the position of Philip of Hesse that only seditious Anabaptists should be executed; the others should be merely banished. But Luther passed by many an opportunity to speak a word for those who with joy gave themselves as sheep for the slaughter. . . . For the understanding of Luthers position one must bear in mind that Anabaptism was not in every instance socially innocuous. The year in which Luther signed the memorandum counseling death even for the peaceful Anabaptists was the year in which a group of them ceases to be peaceful . . . By forcible measures they took over the city of Munster in Westphalia . . .

Thats hardly asserting some supposed belief of  Luther was always an advocate of severe punishment, in all circumstances.  let alone claiming that Bainton would agree with this imaginary view that I allegedly held. I was obviously citing Bainton in agreement. Swan simply doesnt comprehend what I believe about Luther. He never has. Hes always collapsed my supposed views in a simplistic, wrongheaded box with all kinds of Catholics who truly do or did hate Luther.

not. I never have. But Swan, in his impenetrable stupefied anti-Catholic bigotry and personal despising of me as a person and apologist ( I do. Ihave. But Swan, in his impenetrable stupefied anti-Catholic bigotry and personal despising of me as a person and apologist ( expressed many many times ; including ludicrous, baseless charges that I suffer from psychosis ) is utterly incapable of doing that. Right at the top of my Luther web page , one finds these words:

I wrote in a paper dated March 2000: I (like many Catholics) do admire him in certain ways. I like his passion and boldness and apparent sincerity and good intentions (though thoroughly deluded and wrongheaded). He had a great devotion to the Virgin Mary and to the Eucharist. And in February 2001, I posted on the Catholic Convert Message Board: I have never maintained that Luther was evil or essentially a bad man, nor have I ever denied his good intentions . . . No one can find those sentiments on my website.

As anyone can see, these words were written three and four years before Swans big paper (23 and 24 years ago) that he thinks exposes my wickedness and tears my arguments to shreds. He lives in a fantasy world, in which he is always right, and anyone who dares to theologically disagree with him must be morally deficient and dishonest. Again, in the old 2004 paper, Swan wrote: Bainton then documents Luthers change in attitude (implying in context that I denied this or was trying to cover it up). I agreed, since I cited this very thing, four months before he claimed I never did in my writings. Dumb!

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Then he opines, Most importantly, Bainton gives the reason for Luthers harsh attitude towards the Anabaptists . . . In utilizing Bainton, Armstrong overlooks the details of what is actually being put forth. These nuances of what Bainton actually said are missing from his web papers. Again, this is a lie, as already shown above, in terms of what I cited from Bainton. Swan just cant stop lying, where I am concerned. Hes been doing it for 21 years, and he continues to in this CARM thread from April and May 2024.

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He cites this same idiotic argument from his article of twenty years ago, in this thread, as if I disagree with Baintons views. I had read Baintons biography twenty years before that, in 1984, as a fervent evangelical Protestant, whose hero was Martin Luther. It was nothing new to me. I agreed with it then, and in 2004, and now. Nothing has changed.

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An irony is that the bulk of the material being posted were actually summary statements culled from Andrew Weeks reading of Paul Wappler. Weeks concludes that Wappler presents a one-sided view of the Reformation and its aftermath (that little tidbit being left out of the OP as well as the original webpage by the Catholic apologist).

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those little tidbits being left out of Swans comments in this thread . . . As it is, Im simply turning the tables on the habitual sophist and historical revisionist. Weeks also wrote These words from Dr. Weeks had been repeated probably 8-9 times in the thread by this point. Swan seems to think it discredits all the data that Weeks drew from Wappler. It does not. Moreover, since were now into citing Weeks words, why dont we cite some other things that he stated about Wappler in his book? If I were to play Swans silly game, I might say, 

perennially underestimated Lutheran repression that prevailed in the Saxon territories . . . (p. 19; my italics and bolding) . . . Wappler [Catholic], Paulus [ Lutheran ], Kohler [ Lutheran ], Kuhn, Lecler [Catholic: I have his two-volume book, Toleration and the Reformation in hardcover], and others have explored the issues of tolerance in the Reformation and documented athat prevailed in the Saxon territories . . . (p. 19; my italics and bolding) * Wappler or Paulus . . . [were] demonstrating the religious premise and the generalized rationale for persecution. Dissenting sectarians were vilified or persecuted with the same rigor that characterized the . . . (p. 21; the text cuts off; he was possibly going to make reference to Catholics?] * Of the various studies of Reformation-era intolerance, those of [Paul] Wappler and [Nikolaus] Paulus document conditions in Saxony . . . In Luthers part of Saxony, there were executions for the offense of rebaptism as early as 1527 (before the imperial mandate of 1529), and afterward in the years 1530, 1532, and 1538. Unlike the milder regime in Hessen, where as a rule only the openly rebellious dissenters were sentenced to death, the Wittenberg reformers soon came to support capital punishment even against peaceful heretics. (p. 22) * Wappler drew his documentation from the records of heresy trials that took place in Zwickau and other parts of Electoral Saxony between the years 1529 and 1548 . . . (p. 26) * Wapplers study comes through more clearly than the inadvisability of assessing the beliefs and intentions of so-called heretics through the eyes of their opponents. (p. 30)

So there you have it, folks. Its a much fuller picture, isnt it? Weeks more than once couples Wapplers research with Lutheran historians like Paulus and Kohler, and commends them. Hes not just citing a supposedly ultra-biased Catholic Wappler. But all Swan can do is repeat one line over and over like a slogan: the nine-word one-sided view of the Reformation and its aftermath (p. 26). This is all too often Swans inadequate modus operandi: highly selective and sometimes outright dishonest or incompetent citation.

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But I provide a much larger and more accurate picture, as far as I am able to do so with the sources I have. I only have snippets from Weeks book at Google Books. Swan now has the actual book in his possession. But we dont see him citing the above portions, do we? He can only cite nine words that he thinks are suitable for his purpose. I had to highlight the above additional relevant portions, so my readers could be informed about the whole story; not merely carefully pre-selected half-truths. As his buddy, James White, likes to say, there is a reason for that . . .

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James Swan was so ignorant and misinformed about Lutheran executions of Anabaptists in the 1530s, that he wrote the following plea for getting up to speed on his basic Reformation history on the Catholic Answers Internet forum on 17 August 2014, a full ten years after I had documented it from Bainton and others:

Nor do I recall Luther specifically having individuals executed in Wittenberg in the 1530s. I am aware of some people being executed for witchcraft in Wittenberg in the early 1540s, and Im familiar with the severe interrogations of some Anabaptists in Wittenberg in the 1530s. As someone always willing to learn (or to be reminded of what Ive forgotten), Id like to know (or be reminded) exactly who Luther had executed in Wittenberg in the 1530s. While it certainly is within the realm of possibility that the secular authorities of Wittenberg during the 1530s carried out capital punishment, I dont recall this actually happening in the 1530s, or more specifically, that Luther was involved with the carrying out of executions during the 1530s, especially against Anabaptists. Thanks.

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If it werent for the periodic Luther Derangement Syndrome on display on this board then I still wouldnt know much about Luther or the history of the Evangelical Church.

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Blessedly, BJ Bear here admits his ignorance of Reformation history, too, just as Swan fessed up ten years ago. Were witnessing a virtual miracle! Im more than happy to assist them both in their quest after historical fact and truth, having read the most well-known biography of Luther literally forty years ago, and having been engaged in studying the Protestant Revolt in significant depth from both sides since 1990, with scores and scores of related articles and several books along these lines.

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MANAGUA, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Nicaragua's National Assembly on Friday approved president Daniel Ortega's urgent proposal for a general constitutional reform, which encompasses major political and social changes, including the establishment of a joint presidency.

Following the approval, the legislature began reviewing the reform article by article. Since it involves constitutional amendments, the reform requires a second consecutive legislature's approval, which is scheduled for January 2025.

According to Nicaraguan authorities, the reform aims to strengthen the rights of the Nicaraguan people through "direct democratic participation" and to consolidate stability, peace and work as the foundation for collective well-being.

Vice President Rosario Murillo said that the reform addresses the needs of a nation that deserves security, peace and guaranteed rights, ensuring that the people are the rightful owners of their history and land.

One of the prominent changes in the proposed reform is the joint composition of the Presidency of the Republic, consisting of a co-president and a co-presidentess, as well as the extension of the presidential term from five to six years. 
Note: Many details of the online messages sent by John Tasevoli, according to police, were not included in this story because of their explicit sexual nature.

A Harrisburg man jailed in the Dauphin County Prison for child pornography and soliciting a prostitute was recently charged with seven additional felonies after police in Lancaster County said he tried to meet someone he believed was a 14-year-old girl for sex in 2023, according to an affidavit.

On April 21, 2023, John R. Tasevoli, 44, started communicating with a 14-year-old girl named Kelly. However, the girl was actually Justin Perry, also known as MR 17540 on Facebook, who has been baiting and catching sexual predators online for years.

Tasevoli initiated the online conversations with Kelly, whose age was listed as 19, the affidavit said. The next day, Perry told Tasevoli Kelly was only 14 years old, but the messages Tasevoli sent continued becoming increasingly sexual, according to the affidavit.

Tasevoli said he wanted to meet Kelly in person and asked her if she had ever had sex before. He also sent messages saying he can get hard and ejaculate before he sent a picture of him lying naked on his bed.

Conversations between Tasevoli and Perry slowed down for a few months, but started again on Aug. 6, 2023, the affidavit said.

Thats when Tasevoli started to ask Kelly more crude and sexual questions  including several about what types of sexual encounters she had experienced  despite Perry bringing up Kellys young age several times.

When Tasevoli sent a picture of his genitals, Perry pretended that Kelly liked the picture, to which Tasevoli said, better cause Im putting in maybe all three holes, according to the affidavit.

On Aug. 10, 2023, Tasevoli spoke with Kelly online about getting a hotel room and meeting up in person. Tasevoli also tried to role play, sending messages like, *kisses her lightly* and *cuddles her*, that got progressively more explicit, eventually detailing oral sex, the affidavit said.

Tasevoli also asked if Kelly was touching herself and moaning from pleasure, according to police.

On Aug. 11, 2023, Tasevoli drove from the Harrisburg area to a Sonic Drive In along the 4200 block of Oregon Pike in West Earl Township to meet Kelly.

Instead, he was met by Perry, who was livestreaming the encounter on his phone and recording on a chest-mounted GoPro.

Investigators in West Earl Township saw the video, which was posted on Facebook, on April 21, which led to the new charges.

Tasevoli was sent to Dauphin County Prison on April 26 for an unrelated case. Police charged Tasevoli with two counts of statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a person less than 16, disseminate explicit sexual material to a minor, photograph/film/depict sex acts of children on a computer, criminal use of a communication facility and corruption of minors.

His preliminary arraignment is scheduled for Dec. 2, court documents said.

Tasevoli is also scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 9, 2025, regarding his charges for child pornography, patronizing prostitutes and criminal use of a communication facility.

Perry was convicted of a summary harassment charge in 2021 after he was involved in a fight with a woman at his home in 2020, according to Lancaster Online. He entered an Alford plea, which is when a defendant pleads guilty but does not admit to a criminal act and maintains their innocence.
By Rodrigo Torrejon and Samantha Melamed, The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS)

PHILADELPHIA  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 Venegas, ran out of his cell and attacked Pfeffer, 19, with a homemade weapon, according to the jail incident report. Pfeffer suffered puncture injuries to his forehead, inner right hip and right hand, the report said.

After Venegas refused commands to stop, 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. A law enforcement source said his injuries were not life-threatening.

Pfeffers parents and a spokesperson for the citys Department of Prisons could not immediately be reached for comment Friday.

Pfeffer faces charges of murder and crimes related to the 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.

A makeshift memorial for slain Temple University Police Officer Christopher Fitzgerald is seen Feb. 23, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP File Photo/Matt Rourke)AP File Photo/Matt Rourke

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 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.
Jason Aldean and his wife, Brittany, have been open about their support for Donald Trump, and now they might be starting to sound a bit like him following the 2020 election.

Billboard.com recently released its ranking of the top-100 country music artists of all-time, and Aldean didnt make the cut. Taking a look at the list, one could certainly argue that, perhaps, he should have. The guy has had a nice career, and it is still going, but there are some really good artists on the list, too. So, its hard to circle the act that would be cut for him. Thus, is often the case when making a ranking of all-time greats. There are tough decisions to be made.

But the Aldean camp is calling shenanigans when it comes to his exclusion.

Remember when I said its been a journey standing up for what we believe in?? Brittany wrote on her Instagram story, per Taste of Country, while sharing a photo of Jason that noted he didnt make the list. This is a prime example of Jason being left out of things in the industry. @billboard your wokeness obviously overrides your ability to give credit where its due, and its sad.

Aldeans bassist, Tully Kennedy, also wasnt happy with him not making the cut.

It aint always easy standing up for what you believe in, Kennedy wrote on Instagram. I dont know whats funnier @billboard. How ridiculous this makes you look or that fact that you think it would bother us. Thx for making that chip on our shoulder just a bit bigger. Pour to make music and be on the stage with ya every night @jasonaldean. Love ya brother.

Aldean commented on that post, 100.

There is a lot to unpack here, but it is worth noting that Billboards top 100 list did include Hank Williams Jr., who is a conservative and even attended the Alabama-Georgia game alongside Trump in September. So, it would seem unlikely that his political leanings would be forgiven while Aldeans would be held against him.

Wokeness, and whatever that is, probably is not the answer here. That said, again, Aldean certainly seems to have the resume to make the argument that he belonged.

Check out Billboards rankings of the top 100 acts of all-time, here, and decide for yourself whether he should have been on it or not.
By Theresa Braine, New York Daily News (TNS)

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.

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 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.

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.
Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to a question during a meeting with foreign policy experts at the Valdai Discussion Club in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (Maxim Shipenkov/Pool Photo via AP)AP

KYIV, Ukraine  NATO and Ukraine will hold emergency talks Tuesday after Russia attacked a central city with an experimental, hypersonic ballistic missile that escalated the nearly 33-month-old war.

The conflict is entering a decisive phase, Polands Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Friday, and taking on very dramatic dimensions.

Ukraines parliament canceled a session as security was tightened following Thursdays Russian strike on a military facility in the city of Dnipro.

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.

Putin said Western air defense systems would be powerless to stop the new missile.

Ukrainian military officials said the missile that hit Dnipro had reached a speed of Mach 11 and carried six nonnuclear warheads each releasing six submunitions.

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.

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.

Gen. Sergei Karakayev, head of Russias Strategic Missile Forces, said the Oreshnik could reach targets across Europe and be fitted with nuclear or conventional warheads, echoing Putins 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 Russias 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 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 worlds 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 Russias responses, emphasizing 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 said.

Separately in Kyiv, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky called Thursdays missile strike an escalatory step and an attempt of the Russian dictator to scare the population of Ukraine and to scare the population of Europe.

At a news conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Lipavsky also expressed his full support for delivering the necessary additional air defense systems to protect Ukrainian civilians from the heinous attacks.

He underlined that the Czech Republic will impose no limits on the use of its weapons and equipment given to Ukraine.

Three lawmakers 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 nongovernmental organizations in that perimeter, and local residents were warned of the increased threat, said lawmaker Mykyta Poturaiev, who added this is not the first time such a threat has been received.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyys 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.

Test launches of a similar missile were conducted in October 2023 and June 2024, the directorate said. The Pentagon confirmed the missile was a new, experimental type of intermediate-range missile based on its RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile.

Thursdays attack struck the Pivdenmash plant that built ICBMs when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union. The military facility is located about 4 miles (6 1/2 kilometers) southwest of the center of Dnipro, a city of about 1 million that is Ukraines fourth-largest and a key hub for military supplies and humanitarian aid, and is home to one of the countrys largest hospitals for treating wounded soldiers from the front before their transfer to Kyiv or abroad.

The stricken area was cordoned off and out of public view. With no fatalities reported from the attack, Dnipro residents resorted to dark humor on social media, mostly focused on the missiles name, Oreshnik.

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.
By PATRICK WHITTLE, The Associated Press

An animal control officer shot and killed a pet dog in a Massachusetts town after mistaking it for a coyote in an incident that has the animals owner fuming, but that local police are describing as a sad mix-up.

The shooting happened on Tuesday after police received a report of a coyote in a residential backyard, said Timothy Labrie, chief of police in Northbridge, Massachusetts. The animal control officer went into the woods to look for the coyote and found what they thought was the animal in a threatening position and shot it, he said.

The officer then further examined the animal and saw that it had a flea collar and was a pet dog, not a coyote, Labrie said. Authorities then located the dogs owner, he said.

The dogs owner, Kirk Rumford of Northbridge, said the dog was a husky named Odin that was less than a year old. Rumford said he felt non-lethal methods could have been used, and that his dog doesnt resemble a coyote.

My dog would have been the most gorgeous coyote ever, on steroids, Rumford said. Its huge compared to that. Look at pictures of what a coyote looks like in Massachusetts and my dog. My dog was beautiful. He looked like a wolf if anything, and there are no wolves in Massachusetts.

This image provided by pet owner Kirk Rumford shows his dog Odin, a husky, which was accidentally shot and killed by an animal control officer on Tuesday Nov. 19, 2024, in Northbridge, Mass. (Kirk Rumford via AP)AP

Rumford said he has received an outpouring of support from the community, and he hopes his story will help prevent further encounters between dogs and authorities. He described Odin as a knucklehead and a loveable klutz who had a loving disposition and loved to play with other dogs.

Labrie said it was reasonable for the animal control officer to mistake the dog for a coyote, and the officer will not be disciplined. Dog owners can prevent these kind of mix-ups by keeping their dogs secure, Labrie said.

We do have leash laws. At the end of the day if you can keep your fenced-in areas secure, keep an eye on your dog, do whatever methods that you can use to keep your dog in your yard, Labrie said. And also if your dog tends to wander in the woods, I would definitely have identifying markers on them.

The shooting happened as communities around Massachusetts and elsewhere in the country have seen an uptick in interactions between people and coyotes. One town, Nahant, moved to become the first in the state to contract with the federal government to kill coyotes after residents said the animals killed pets and posed a dangerous nuisance.
HANOVER, N.H. (AP)  A sorority at Dartmouth College and two members of a fraternity are facing charges related to the death of a student who drowned after attending an off-campus party this summer.

Won Jang, 20, of Middletown, Delaware, had been reported missing in July after the party. State and local emergency responders searched the Connecticut River and found his body.

On Friday, police in Hanover, New Hampshire, where Dartmouth is located, announced that Alpha Phi sorority has been charged with one count of facilitating an underage alcohol house. Two members of the Beta Alpha Omega fraternity were charged with providing alcohol to a person under 21. Jang was a member of the fraternity.

The party was hosted by Alpha Phi, and alcohol was provided by Beta Alpha Omega. Most of those at the party were under 21. At the end of the party, police said several attendees decided to swim in the river. While at the river, a heavy rainstorm hit and most people left. Jang, whose family told authorities he could not swim, was left behind.

At the time of the incident, Dartmouth suspended the sorority and fraternity, and those suspensions remain in effect.

No one from Alpha Phi could be reached for comment.

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Veolia Water, which issued a boil water advisory for some of its customers in Swatara Township earlier this week, posted an update on the situation Friday.

A damaged screen was found during a routine inspection of the companys water tank in Oberlin, which could allow contaminants to enter the tank.

After isolating the tank from the rest of the water system, the company decided to issue the boil water advisory out of an abundance of caution. Customers in the Oberlin area are receiving water from an alternate source as of 4:20 p.m. while Veolia works on the tank this weekend.

However, the boil water advisory is still in effect as of Friday night.

A map provided by Veolia showing the affected area in Swatara Township. Credit: VeoliaVeolia

Affected customers should bring water to a boil for one minute and let it cool before use for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth or preparing food.

Customers who live near the tank may notice increased activity and noise while crews work to get the water tank back online. Veolia will update customers as work is completed and the boil water advisory is lifted.

Students at Swatara Middle School and Tri-Community Elementary School were sent home early Friday due to water pressure issue.
HANGZHOU, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- In Wuzhen, a small town in east China's Zhejiang Province, a hospital utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) technology to upgrade services related to medical examinations, chronic disease management and rehabilitation.

Local resident Zhu Weibin experienced an AI-based liver function test recently. An automatically generated report diagnosed him with a fatty liver.

Zhu was very pleased as this diagnosis is much more efficient and accurate -- with AI helping to reduce the indicator threshold for determining fatty liver from 30 percent to just 5 percent.

"It enables me to intervene in the disease process at an earlier stage," Zhu said.

This smart medical service gives a glimpse into the trend of China's health industry as it shifts towards tapping digital technologies to make it easier for people to maintain their health.

On the sidelines of the 2024 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit, which closed in Zhejiang on Friday, many industry insiders agreed that Chinese people are now placing greater emphasis on improving their quality of life. This is even more so given the pressure resulting from population aging and the increasing incidences of chronic disease.

Nevertheless, facing challenges such as inaccessibility of health services in rural areas and insufficient health literacy, some people still find it difficult to manage their health effectively and efficiently -- with insiders suggesting that AI applications are a solution to such obstacles.

In a drugstore in the metropolis of Shanghai, an AI-empowered application ensures that pain sufferers have accurate and timely access to the medicines they need.

The application, named Fenbid AI Pain Management Assistant, leverages natural language processing and knowledge graph technologies to provide professional and personalized solutions, according to developer Haleon, a health product manufacturer headquartered in Britain. Fenbid is a common painkiller in China.

"Many drugstores don't have pharmacists, while today's consumers pay increasing attention to the safety of taking medicines," said Liu Bing, an executive with Haleon responsible for digitalization in the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong.

She added that the AI-empowered application, by suggesting optimum ways to reduce pain based on evaluation and consideration of allergic history and drug-using risks, benefits both patients and drugstores.

China has seen steady growth of its health industry. According to the National Health Commission (NHC), the sector is projected to reach 16 trillion yuan (about 2.21 trillion U.S. dollars) in terms of scale by 2030, heralding huge opportunities for AI applications.

Nie Zaiqing, a professor at Tsinghua University, believes that AI technology will transform many industries, particularly the medical and manufacturing sectors.

At an exhibition during the Wuzhen summit, an AI-driven platform designed for early screening of multiple tumors and chronic diseases captured much attention.

Developed by a research institute under Alibaba Group, this platform enabled an early-stage pancreatic cancer patient, a woman surnamed Huang in Jiangsu Province, to receive timely treatment. Huang was not diagnosed with cancer following a traditional CT examination. The AI-driven platform, however, did detect the presence of cancer.

This AI solution to cancer screening also has an economic advantage. According to its developer, it only costs about 200 yuan to check for as many as seven prevalent cancers, such as lung and stomach cancers, all at once -- compared with an accumulated 3,000 yuan previously.

The Chinese government has voiced support for the presence of AI in the health sector. This year's government work report proposed an "AI plus" initiative, while the NHC and other authorities earlier this month issued a reference concerning the application of AI scenarios in the medical and health industries.

Optimistic about the prospects of using AI to improve health products and services, Liu said her company's pain management service is currently being piloted in both Shanghai and Chongqing, and is expected to be expanded to other areas across China next year.

"It coincides with the Healthy China Initiative. We hope that our solution will also serve as an assistant for pharmacists and doctors at grassroots medical and health institutions in the near future," Liu said. 
LEWISBURG  The former marketing director is accused of stealing approximately $870,000 from the Susquehanna River Valley Visitors Bureau over a six-year period.

Timothy Alan Dowhower, 43, of Mifflinburg, was arraigned Friday in district court on charges of theft, criminal use of communication facility and unauthorized use of a credit card. He was released on $870,000 unsecured bail.

He is accused of paying Logical Destination, a company he established, $868,619 between 2018 and this year to do online marketing for the bureau.

It was determined it had not done any work for the bureau, its executive director Andrew Miller told investigators.

Dowhower also is accused of using the bureaus credit card to charge $2,860 between March 2023 and last April for a monthly subscription to a sexually explicit website.

According to the arrest affidavit the address for Logical Destination is the same as Dowhowers but checks were mailed to a box at the UPS store in Lewisburg, they said.

The document also states:

 Dowhowers estranged wife and son confirmed he had a business called Logical Destination. His son was with his father when he cashed checks written to the business from the visitors bureau.

 The report of a certified digital forensic examiner retained by the bureau stated, no campaigns or monetary purchases associated with Logical Destination could be found.

 The Logical Destination bank account was created on March 23, 2018, with a check of $35,000 deposited the same day. Every check deposited, the last of which was this past February, was from the visitors bureau.

 Monthly bank statements showed cash withdrawals, checks written to Dowhower, purchases from Amazon, stores, restaurants, DoorDash and for gym memberships.

 From 2019 into this year, payments totaling $603,874 were made to an Apple Card account.

A criminal investigation was launched earlier this year following Dowhowers departure from the staff when an internal review found irregularities in vendor relationships related to marketing services.

When these irregularities were discovered, we acted immediately and decisively to protect the organization and ensure accountability, a news release quotes board treasurer Amber Guerrero as saying.

The organization has implemented stricter financial oversight, dual authorization policies and board supervised procedures for vendors, she said.

The visitors bureau remains financially stable and fully operational, she said.
By Eric Martin, Bloomberg News (TNS)

WASHINGTON  As a candidate, Donald Trump disavowed the MAGA manifesto Project 2025, calling its ideas abysmal. Now the president-elect has nominated or appointed to his incoming administration at least five people involved in the project.

The plan became public more than a year ago as the presidential campaign was intensifying. The project was led by the conservative Heritage Foundation and included views of anti-immigrant, anti-reproductive rights, small-government conservatives, gifting Democrats with an easy bullseye for attacks on Trumps extreme views, as Democratic nominee Kamala Harris called them.

The plan proposes to eliminate climate-change rules, lessen worker protections, replace civil servants with Trump loyalists and dismantle at least parts of the Education, Commerce and Homeland Security departments, among other things.

Trump distanced himself from Project 2025 on the campaign trail, claiming to know nothing about it and saying he disagreed with some of its absolutely ridiculous and abysmal ideas. His own transition co-chair  and now Commerce Secretary-designate  Howard Lutnick told The Washington Post, I wont take a list from them. I wont take a topic from them. I wont touch them. They made themselves nuclear.

At least five people involved in Project 2025 have been tapped for jobs in the second Trump administration.

Brendan Carr, author of the documents chapter on the Federal Communications Commission, was nominated to lead the agency that regulates television and the Internet. Carrs recommendations in Project 2025 include limiting protections for Big Tech companies that conservatives allege over-moderate content, particularly Meta Inc.s Facebook and Alphabet Inc.s Google. After his nomination, Carr pledged in a post on X to dismantle the censorship cartel and restore free speech rights for everyday Americans.

Russ Vought, author of a core chapter arguing for cutting the size of the federal bureaucracy and strengthening the presidents control over it, has been nominated to lead the Office of Management and Budget, according to CBS News. In his chapter, Vought focuses on reducing the size of government and allowing empowered political appointees to overrule career bureaucrats. Vought also encourages the aggressive use of executive orders from the start of the administration  something that Trump spokesman Jason Miller said the president-elect plans to do.

Tom Homan was tapped for a border czar role, and is listed as a contributor to the report. Project 2025 focuses on deporting millions of undocumented migrants, especially criminals. Trump says he plans to declare a national emergency, which would allow him to deploy the military to round up immigrants, guard detention camps and fly them out of the country.

Homan, the public face of Trumps zero-tolerance policies of his first term, has said that this time, he will brook no resistance in liberal cities. If youre not going to help us, get the hell out of the way, he warned sanctuary cities.

John Ratcliffe was nominated to lead the Central Intelligence Agency and is another named contributor to Project 2025. Ratcliffe, a former member of Congress and Trumps director of national intelligence in his first term, has consistently warned about the need to protect the U.S. against Beijings aim to dominate economically, militarily and technologically, and criticized Chinas largest companies as a front for the Communist Party.

Project 2025 likewise warns extensively about the need to guard against the threat from China.

Pete Hoekstra was nominated as the ambassador to Canada. A former member of the House intelligence committee, he was Trumps envoy to the Netherlands in the first term and was criticized for hosting far-right politicians at an embassy party. Hoekstra is listed as a Project 2025 contributor, with the report noting his 1990s criticism of waste at the Department of Education, which Trump said he would dismantle.

None of the nominees immediately responded to requests for comment.

President Trump never had anything to do with Project 2025, said Karoline Leavitt, a Trump spokeswoman and his choice for press secretary. All of President Trumps Cabinet nominees and appointments are whole-heartedly committed to President Trumps agenda, not the agenda of outside groups.

Eighteen of the 40 Project 2025 authors and editors come from the first Trump first administration. Those include Ken Cuccinelli, the former acting deputy head of Homeland Security; Christopher Miller, the former acting Defense secretary; and Peter Navarro, a top trade adviser.
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SACRAMENTO, United States, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- A recent nationwide recall of more than 75,000 kilograms of ground beef due to potential E. coli contamination renewed attention to food safety issues plaguing the United States this year.

This latest incident is part of a series of foodborne illness outbreaks that have affected consumers nationwide, raising questions about the effectiveness of current food safety measures.

On Wednesday, Wolverine Packing Co., a Detroit-based establishment, recalled about 75,875 kilograms of ground beef products due to possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced that the recalled products had been shipped to restaurants nationwide and may still be in refrigerators or freezers.

The FSIS categorized the recall as Class 1, the highest risk level, indicating a "reasonable probability" that consuming the affected product will result in serious health consequences or death.

The recall was initiated after the Minnesota Department of Agriculture notified FSIS of a cluster of illnesses linked to ground beef consumption. According to federal officials cited by local media, at least 19 people in Minnesota had fallen ill as of Friday, with onset dates ranging from Nov. 2 to Nov. 14.

This ground beef recall is just the latest in a series of food contamination incidents that will affect the United States throughout this year.

Earlier this month, a multi-state E. coli outbreak linked to organic carrots sickened 39 people across 18 states, resulting in one death. The outbreak was traced to Grimmway Farms, one of the world's largest carrot producers, which issued a recall for various brands of its organic whole and baby carrots.

In October, a significant E. coli outbreak associated with McDonald's Quarter Pounder hamburgers affected over 100 customers across 14 states. The outbreak, linked to slivered onions used on the burgers, resulted in 34 hospitalizations and one death.

The incident also prompted temporary menu changes at McDonald's restaurants in affected states and led to a voluntary recall of yellow onions by supplier Taylor Farms.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that foodborne illnesses cost the United States 78 billion U.S. dollars annually, with a significant portion attributed to hospitalizations.

The repeated outbreaks have raised concerns about food safety practices and regulatory oversight. Government agencies responded by intensifying investigations and monitoring efforts.

The FDA and CDC continued to provide regular updates on outbreak investigations and issue public warnings through various channels.

The CDC recommended thorough handwashing, safe food preparation techniques, and proper cooking temperatures to minimize the risk of E. coli infections. 
The Womens Winter Festival, sponsored by PokerStars, at Hippadrome Casino, continued today with another impressive Day 1 flight of the 400 Womens Main Event; 81 new entries amassed over the first ten levels of play, bringing the final field size to 271.

Of those participating in todays turbo, 16 players bagged and tagged and will return for Day 2 tomorrow. Leading the way from Day 1c was Laura Glasgow, whose late-night chip lead was claimed with a stack of 361,000. Glasgow now stands in second in the overall counts for Day 2, just behind Christina Solli with a stack of 429,000.

Day 1c Top Ten Chip Counts

Rank Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Laura Glasgow United Kingdom 361,000 72 2 Sophie Stubbs United Kingdom 350,000 70 3 Tina Abery United Kingdom 259,000 52 4 Lindsay Kenny United Kingdom 239,000 48 5 Aytan Eldarova United Kingdom 212,000 42 6 Jennifer Steele United Kingdom 179,000 36 7 Rachel Wong United Kingdom 128,000 26 8 Jodie Kerr United Kingdom 116,000 23 9 Caroline McKeever Ireland 114,000 23 10 Renee Xie United Kingdom 100,000 20

A Historic Event

A brief pause in play allowed Kerryjane Craigie to make a statement to the room officially announcing that this Main Event now held the record for the largest Womens event held outside of Las Vegas. The record was previously held by the Womens Event hosted at the Goliath festival in 2016, which amassed 219 runners for its humble 50 buy-in, further accentuating the achievement set today.

Last Chance for Spragg

Marle Spragg was the only PokerStars ambassador to try her luck in the last remaining flight of this Main Event, looking to join the likes of Jen Shahade and Georgina James on Day 2.

Marle Spragg

Spragg had a turbulent journey in this turbo flight, first being left short by an unconventional line taken by Camilla Buswell, forcing the ambassador to pitch her cards into the muck.

But it wasnt long before momentum seemingly switched; Spraggs short stack jam on the flop ran into the pocket aces of Sophie Stubbs, but a runner-runner flush ensured her survival, doubling her up.

However, it wasnt to be; Spragg finally crashed out in 21st place, just five spots away from making Day 2.

Steele's Sun Run Continues

Familiar faces to progress include Jennifer Steele (179,000). Steele most notably came into today fresh off her 2nd place finish in the 1,100 Womens Winter Festival High Roller, last night, for 6,400. In addition, Steele sent Buswell to the rail on the stone bubble to conclude this Day 1 flight.

Jennifer Steele

Play will recommence tomorrow, November 23, at 12:30 p.m. local time. With 20 minutes left on the clock in Level 15, blinds will be at 2,000/5,000 with a 5,000 big blind ante. Players will first navigate a tricky bubble with 15% of the field making the money. Play will conclude at approximately 4:30 p.m. to allow participants to also play the upcoming 220 NLH 50/50 Freezeout.

The PokerNews live reporting team will be back tomorrow to bring you more coverage of the Womens Winter Festival Main Event here in London, so stay tuned.
Day 2 of the Womens Winter Festival 400 Main Event concluded after five hours of fast-paced action, with the field narrowing from 54 players to just 17 who will return for Day 3. The day began with the early elimination of Nataly Sopacuaperu, who narrowly missed the minimum cash, busting on the bubble just an hour into play.

The Day 1c chip Laura Glasgow made the money and built up a late stack after busting Elizabeth Bennett-Martin, but Franky Green knocked Glasgow back down shortly after, as Glasgow ran into aces. She was eliminated shortly after by Kim Dockery who made a quick comeback late in the day through a crucial double-up through Celine Diot, before eliminating Glasgow to significantly increase her stack.

Remaining Prize Pool

Place Prize Place Prize 1 20,000 8 2,730 2 12,610 9 2,280 3 9,000 10 - 11 1,980 4 6,850 12 - 13 1,720 5 5,280 14 - 15 1,500 6 4,070 16 - 17 1,320 7 3,260

Louisa Plint

The days closing moments were filled with drama as three eliminations occurred in rapid succession. Louisa Plint was knocked out by Marta Porter, who enters Day 3 with a solid stack. Emma Wilkinson was next to fall, eliminated by Maria Lampropulos, who went on to also eliminate Wendy Watson in the very last hand of the day. Jennifer Steele, Ann-Roos Callens and Franky Green secured themselves a place in Day 3 with Steele taking through a top 1,010,000 stack.

End of Day 2 Top Ten Chip Counts

Rank Name Country Chips Big Blinds 1 Jennifer Steele Ireland 1,010,000 51 2 Christina Solli Norway 955,000 48 3 Ann-Roos Callens Belgium 905,000 45 4 Franky Green United Kingdom 905,000 45 5 Marta Porter United Kingdom 510,000 21 6 Berivan Dag United Kingdom 463,000 23 7 Kim Dockery United Kingdom 445,000 22 8 Tina Abery United Kingdom 390,000 20 9 Camilla Grundy United Kingdom 310,000 16 10 Maria Lampropulos Argentina 280,000 14

The remaining 17 players will resume play tomorrow at noon local time at The Hippodrome Casino in London. Levels are 40-minutes long and the action will pick up at Level 21 with blinds of 10,000/20,000 and a 20,000 big blind ante. Breaks are scheduled every three levels, and the event will continue until a winner is crowned. The final day promises thrilling action as the remaining competitors battle for the title and a share of the prize pool.

Stay tuned into Poker News for the Day 3 action tomorrow, where a champion will emerge!
BEIRUT, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- At least four people were killed and 23 injured in an Israeli airstrike on Lebanon's capital Beirut on Saturday, the local al-Jadeed TV channel reported.

The airstrike targeted a residential building on Fathallah Street in the Basta Fawka, a densely populated area, destroying an eight-story building and causing heavy damage to neighboring buildings, according to al-Jadeed.

Civil defense teams are still working to remove the rubble to search for victims, with ambulances waiting to transport victims to hospitals.

Israeli media outlets reported that the airstrike was aimed at a prominent Hezbollah official.

Since Sept. 23, the Israeli army has intensified its air attacks against Lebanon in an escalation of conflict with Hezbollah. 
The city of Charleston pulled off a recent hospitality hat trick, putting three proposed upper peninsula hotels through its staff-directed technical review wringer.

Among them was a lodging being proposed at 54 Line St., between Meeting and King streets and across from The Post and Courier's former headquarters. Plans show an 8,500-square-foot structure with onsite parking. The parcel is zoned for up to 50 rooms and six floors, but the applicant has not yet submitted those details.

City staffers at the same Nov. 21 meeting also looked at a hotel proposed just to the west, at 657 King St., next to where the Septima P. Clark Parkway overpass meets Interstate 26. CKC Properties filed plans showing a 27-key development on a three-parcel lot that wraps around to Line Street. It would be the northernmost hotel on King. The locally based development group recently paid $4.75 million for the land.

Last but not least, the 10-story, 250-room Kimpton-flagged hotel planned for 860 Morrison Drive was back in front of city staffers to iron out some lingering details. The developer, Roswell, Ga.-based DSM Real Estate Partners, already has approval for the latest addition to the mixed-use Morrison Yard project from the Board of Architectural Review.

All best

After a 12-year streak as Travel + Leisure's "Best U.S. City", it's not much of a surprise that Charleston was on the publication's radar for its "50 Best Places to Travel in 2025."
Columbia, SC (29201)

Today

Mostly cloudy skies. High 77F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies. Low near 65F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph.
South Carolina Sen. Harvey S. Peeler Jr. (without a hard hat) was present for the groundbreaking of the state's first veterinary school, which will bear his name, at Clemson University on Nov. 22.
Brandon Roberts is Publisher and Managing Editor of Summerville Communications Inc., which prints The Summerville Journal Scene and The Berkeley Independent.
PHNOM PENH, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- A delegation of the Communist Party of China (CPC) attended the 12th International Conference of Asian Political Parties and related activities in Cambodia from Thursday to Saturday, at the invitation of the Cambodian People's Party.

Led by Sun Haiyan, deputy head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, the delegation had extensive contacts with representatives of participating political parties.

Foreign parties highly valued and supported the three major global initiatives proposed by China and looked forward to deepening exchanges, mutual learning and international cooperation with the CPC to jointly promote regional peace, stability, development and prosperity.

The initiatives include the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative. 
Nick Reynolds covers politics for the Post and Courier. A native of Central New York, he spent three-and-a-half years covering politics in Wyoming before joining the paper in late 2021. His work has appeared in outlets like Newsweek, the Associated Press, and the Washington Post. He lives in Columbia.
BEIJING, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- China has unveiled draft guidelines for the country's data infrastructure construction, including upgrading its 5G network to 5G-A-standard and promoting 6G-related research, development and innovation.

China will balance the deployment of international communication gateways across its eastern, central and western regions, and expand international submarine and land cable information channels. A satellite internet that integrates space and the ground facilities will also be established, according to the document released by the national data bureau on Friday.

The guidelines, which were released to solicit opinions, say that China will facilitate large-scale, low-cost, secure free flow of data, and encourage industries and regions to actively explore new technological infrastructure in such areas as blockchain and privacy-preserving computing, with the aim of providing a low-cost, efficient, reliable data delivery environment for both centralized and decentralized transactions.

China will also pursue a proper computing resources layout, and accelerate the green development and coordination of general-purpose computing power, intelligent computing power and super computing power, according to the guidelines.

The country plans to strengthen the innovative application of emerging network technologies, optimize network billing methods, and reduce the cost of data transmission between its eastern and western regions.

The 5G-A network surpasses the current 5G network in terms of speed, latency, connection scale and energy consumption, achieving a peak data rate level of 10 gigabits per second for downloads and 1 gigabit per second for uploads, as well as millisecond-level latency and low-cost connectivity for the Internet of Things.

Cities such as Beijing and Shanghai have already started offering 5G-A network services in some districts. 
SGX-Listed Mooreast Appoints Norwegian Eirik Ellingsen as CEO to Drive Growth in Global Floating Offshore Wind Market

PR-Inside.com: 2024-11-23 20:36:48

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SINGAPORE, Nov 21, 2024 - (ACN Newswire) - Mooreast Holdings Ltd. (Mooreast or the Group), announced today it will appoint Mr Eirik Ellingsen, a Norwegian with deep experience in the offshore and marine sector, as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) amid growing adoption of floating wind energy projects worldwide.Mr Ellingsen will assume the role of CEO at Mooreast on 1 January 2025. He will be taking over from Mr Sim Koon Lam, the founder, who will continue to serve as Executive Director and Deputy Chairman of the Group.Mooreast is a total mooring solutions specialist and Asias only ultra-high power anchor manufacturer primarily serving the offshore renewable energy, offshore oil & gas and marine industries. With operations in Singapore and the Netherlands, the Group is establishing a manufacturing facility in Aberdeen, Scotland, and is making forays into the North East Asia market.In June 2024, the Group announced that it was acquiring 60 Shipyard Crescent from a subsidiary of Seatrium Limited. The acquisition increases Mooreasts total land area to 129,609 sqm (approx. 1.4 million sqft) and quadruples its production capacity to produce enough subsea foundation to support between 1.5 gigawatts (GW) to 2GW of floating offshore wind energy per annum compared to its current capacity of 0.5GW.Mr Ellingsen, who is also a resident of Singapore, brings over 35 years of experience to the role. He is currently serving as Director of Offshore Wind in the Asia Pacific at independent non-profit foundation Norwegian Energy Partners (Norwep). In that role, he built strong relationships with the global offshore wind industry across South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam and Australia. His last day at Norwep will be 31 December 2024.Before joining Norwep, Mr Ellingsen held several key roles in the global offshore industry. Notably, he served as Group Executive Director for Ferguson Group Ltd, where he oversaw its global container and modular business, and established its Singapore operations in 2008. He also founded Norway-based Ferdocean AS in 2018 which was sold in 2022. Following the sale, he was appointed Non-Executive Director of Ferdocean AS, where he provided strategic operational oversight of the business.Mr Ellingsen holds certifications in Business Sustainability Management from the University of Cambridge, Leadership and Competence Development for Board and Committee Members from the University of Stavanger and in Foundation Program in Business Administration from the BI Norwegian School of Management. Additionally, he is a certified ISO 9001, 14001, 27001 Lead Auditor through the Knowledge Academy.Mr Ellingsens appointment comes amid the growing commercialisation of floating renewable energy projects, which are moving further offshore to deeper waters, driving demand for advanced mooring solutions such as anchoring techniques and synthetic mooring lines.Floating wind farm developers require an innovative partner with a reliable network of suppliers and manufacturing capabilities to reduce costs and address supply chain challenges. This presents Mooreast with a strong opportunity to offer its cutting-edge mooring solutions.Mooreast said it would leverage on Mr Ellingsens extensive expertise and network within the offshore wind industry to capture business opportunities, as the Group positions itself as a key player in the global floating offshore wind market.Commenting on the appointment, Mr Sim Koon Lam said, We are delighted to welcome Mr Ellingsen to the team; his experience, strong track record and deep industry knowledge and network will further accelerate our push towards the floating offshore renewable sector. We are confident he will strengthen our strategic direction, propel the Group to the next level and deliver long-term value to our shareholders. Mr Eirik Ellingsen said I am deeply honoured and excited to take on the role of CEO at Mooreast. I look forward to working with the Mooreast team to implement key transformation strategies to build momentum and achieve the Groups long-term vision of becoming the leading mooring solutions provider within the floating renewable energy sector. Leveraging more than 30 years of mooring and offshore marine expertise, Mooreast total mooring solutions include the design, engineering and fabrication of specialist anchors and equipment, as well as geotechnical and geophysical studies such as soil data analysis to determine project feasibility and engineering design for mooring configuration for floating wind turbines. The Group also incorporated Mooreast Taiwan in May 2024 and Mooreast Malaysia in July 2024.This press release has been prepared by the Company and its contents have been reviewed by the Companys sponsor, W Capital Markets Pte. Ltd. (the Sponsor). This press release has not been examined or approved by the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (the SGX-ST) and the SGX-ST assumes no responsibility for the contents of this press release, including the correctness of any of the statements or opinions made or reports contained in this press release.The contact person for the Sponsor is Ms Alicia Chang, Registered Professional, W Capital Markets Pte. Ltd., at 65 Chulia Street, #43-01 OCBC Centre, Singapore 049513, Telephone (65) 6513 3525.Issued for and on behalf of Mooreast Holdings Ltd. by WeR1 Consultants Pte Ltd.About Mooreast Holdings Ltd.Mooreast is a total mooring solutions specialist, serving mainly the offshore renewable energy, offshore oil & gas (O&G) and marine industries, with operations primarily in Singapore, the Netherlands through its wholly-owned subsidiary in Rotterdam Mooreast Europe, and offices based in Scotland, Taiwan and Malaysia.Mooreasts solutions include the design, engineering, fabrication, supply and logistics, installation and commissioning of mooring systems. Mooreast is applying its experience and expertise in mooring solutions to floating renewable energy projects, in particular floating offshore wind farms. It has successfully participated in developmental and prototype projects for floating offshore wind turbines in Japan and Europe.For more information, please visit https://mooreast.com/ Media & Investor Contact InformationWeR1 Consultants Pte Ltd1 Raffles Place #02-01One Raffles Place Mall Suite 332Singapore 048616Isaac Tang, mooreast@ wer1.net (M: +65 9748 0688)
BERLIN, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- The German vocational education, known for its dual training system, has been deemed a key driver of the country's economic development.

The system, which combines theory taught in public schools with job training at private companies, has also adapted to the development of the digital age, focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) and other innovations.

DUAL TRAINING FOR TECHNICIANS

The dual vocational training typically runs between two and three and a half years, depending on the chosen profession, according to Germany's Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (KMK).

The program is generally accessible to everyone. However, KMK suggested that most trainees start their training with a secondary school diploma or even a university entrance qualification.

Under the dual system, trainees split their time between vocational schools and companies.

Germany's Ministry of Education and Research reports that there are currently around 330 recognized occupations that require formal training.

The training process, examinations and certifications are standardized nationwide across all industries, which ensures that apprentices receive consistent training regardless of the region or company.

According to data from German Economic Institute (IW), the median monthly salary for professionals with vocational training in 2023 stands at some 3,500 euro (3,700 U.S. dollars), with some occupations earning even over the average monthly salary of 4,300 euro (about 4,500 dollars) for full-time workers.

Vocational careers in Germany, ranging from skilled trades and sales to agriculture, enjoy societal respect. Also, many apprentices can pursue university degrees.

AI-INDUCED CHANGES

In recent years, Germany, like many other countries, has been grappling with a pronounced shortage of skilled professionals in the digital sector.

An IW report forecasts that by 2027, nearly two thirds of AI-related positions may go unfilled in Germany for lack of qualified workers.

To address this talent shortfall, major German companies including BMW, Siemens, and Zeiss are revamping their vocational training programs on digitalization and AI.

"Making the BMW Group electric, digital and circular means for us, the training is also continuously carried out in accordance with current requirements," said Moritz Kippenberger, head of HR services, recruiting, qualification at BMW Group.

Fabian Stephany, a lecturer in AI & Work at the Oxford Internet Institute, said in an interview with Handelsblatt that the salaries for AI professionals can exceed those of master's degree holders and even rival those of PhD graduates.

NEW CHALLENGES

Germany faces ongoing challenges in filling apprenticeship positions and adapting training programs to include digital skills.

"The dual vocational training system has ensured a steady supply of skilled workers and has served as a model internationally. However, over the past 15 years, it has steadily lost significance, and the training market has shifted from one where employers offer positions to a 'candidate's market' where applicants have more choices," said Bernd Fitzenberger, director of the Institute for Employment Research (IAB).

According to data from the Federal Statistical Office, 479,000 new dual training contracts were signed in Germany in 2023, up by 2.1 percent increase year-on-year but down by 8 percent compared to 2013.

Fitzenberger attributed the decline in applicants for dual vocational training to, among others, a long-standing trend of young people opting for higher education instead of vocational training.

"The uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 crisis has made it even harder for many young people to decide on a specific career path. Despite a large number of unfilled training positions, many young people interested in training are unable to find a position in their desired field," he said.

"The mismatch between job offers and applicants' qualifications is growing, and the transition between education and employment is now more difficult than in the past, despite excellent job market prospects for young skilled workers," he added.

This mismatch also explains why the country's digital transformation in vocational education proves to be so challenging. The report "Apprenticeship Recruiting Trends 2024" (Part 2) indicated that while many apprentices expect to learn about AI during their training, fewer than 10 percent of German companies currently offer such training, and only 26 percent plan to do so.

Study initiator Felicia Ullrich expressed concerns over this situation, saying that AI "is not just a buzzword or something as simple as ChatGPT". The lack of practical AI training in companies is a "serious oversight", Ullrich said.

Progress in internal training related to digitalization within German companies remains insufficient, she said, calling for more efforts to meet the growing demand for digital talent. 
GAZA, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, announced on Saturday that an Israeli hostage was killed in a northern Gaza area targeted by Israeli bombardment.

"After weeks of interrupted communication with members tasked with protecting the occupation's prisoners, it was revealed that one of the female captives was killed in an area under attack in northern Gaza, while the life of another female captive who was with her remains in grave danger," said Abu Ubaida, the spokesman for the Brigades.

Ubaida accused Israel of causing "suffering and death" of the captives, noting that the Israeli government must prepare to deal with the "dilemma" of the captives' bodies going missing amid its attacks.

The Israeli army has not issued any comment on the claim.

Earlier in the day, the Al-Qassam Brigades announced that its fighters had targeted an Israeli engineering infantry unit of five soldiers with an anti-personnel missile in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip.

In a statement, the Brigades said the Israeli unit was directly hit, and shortly after, a troop carrier was targeted with a "Yassin 105" missile.

In a separate statement, the Brigades said that it launched a rocket attack on a military base in southern Israel.

The Israeli army said in a brief statement that its forces intercepted two rockets fired from the southern Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, at least 12 Palestinian medical workers were injured in an Israeli bombing of Kamal Adwan Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahia, a medical official said.

Hossam Abu Safiya, the hospital's director, told reporters in Gaza that the Israeli army bombed the entrance to the reception and emergency department, the hospital yards, and the electricity generators.

The Israeli army has not commented on the incident.

Israel has been conducting a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and about 250 were taken hostage. 
NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq., a partner at the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF"), announces that KSF continues its investigation into Archer-Daniels-Midland Company ("ADM" or the "Company") (NYSE: ADM).

On January 21, 2024, the Company disclosed that its Chief Financial Officer had been placed on leave "pending an ongoing investigation being conducted by outside counsel for ADM and the Board's Audit Committee regarding certain accounting practices and procedures with respect to ADM's Nutrition segment, including as related to certain intersegment transactions." Further, its investigation was initiated in response to a voluntary document request by the SEC and as a result, the Company delayed its Q4 and FY 2023 earnings release and withdrew its outlook for its Nutrition segment. Subsequently, the Company revised six year of financial statements related to its Nutrition segment. Then, on February 5, 2024, the Company disclosed that the U.S. Department of Justice ("DOJ") initiated a criminal probe into the Company's accounting practices and the DOJ directed grand jury subpoenas to certain current and former employees.

Thereafter, the Company and certain of its executives were sued in a securities class action lawsuit, charging them with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws, which remains ongoing. Recently, the Company disclosed cuts to its 2024 profit outlook, and amend its prior financial statements due to the discovery of additional accounting irregularities.

KSF's investigation is focusing on whether ADM's officers and/or directors breached their fiduciary duties to its shareholders or otherwise violated state or federal laws.

If you have information that would assist KSF in its investigation, or have been a long-term holder of ADM shares and would like to discuss your legal rights, you may, without obligation or cost to you, call toll-free at 1-833-938-0905 or email KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn ([email protected]), or visit us at https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-adm/ to learn more.

About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients  including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors  in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, Delaware, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.

To learn more about KSF, you may visit ksfcounsel.com.

Contact:

Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

Lewis Kahn, Managing Partner

[email protected]

1-877-515-1850

1100 Poydras St., Suite 960

New Orleans, LA 70163

SOURCE Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
DHAKA, Bangladesh, Nov. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- With the popularity of electric vehicles in Bangladesh, the globally renowned AIMA brand has also arrived in Bangladesh. The esteemed DX Group has brought the AIMA F-626 to customers. This environmentally friendly battery-operated electric motorbike has already been approved by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) now.

In light of the increasing popularity of electric motorcycles in the country, the internationally-leading brand AIMA has entered the market. By the end of 2023, AIMA electric two-wheelers had established a presence in over 50 countries worldwide, with 11 global production bases, including overseas factories in Indonesia and Vietnam. In 2022, AIMA collaborated with Rob Janoff, the designer of the Apple logo, to refresh the brand's VI system with a youthful and fashionable image. In 2023, AIMA teamed up with PANTONE, the global authority in color expertise, to create the trending color of the year. As an industry leader, AIMA spearheads the electric two-wheeler sector and showcases the prowess of a leading electric two-wheeler brand on a global scale. As of March 31, 2024, AIMA's total electric two-wheeler sales had reached 80 million units, earning certification from Frost & Sullivan, a globally recognized business growth consulting firm, as the "Global Leading Electric Two-wheeler Brand".

Over the years, AIMA has always been a product trendsetter in the electric two-wheeler sector. As of March 31, 2024, the total sales volume of AIMA electric two-wheelers reached 80 million, and Frost & Sullivan, a world-renowned market consulting company, awarded AIMA with the market status certification of the "Global Leading Electric Two-wheeler Brand (by Sales)".

AIMA adhere to the customer-centered product philosophy and technologies that support long-term innovation and breakthroughs. We believe that the efficiency and modern technology of the AIMA F-626 will present an excellent alternative means of communication for our customers.

SOURCE AIMA Technology
BEIJING, Nov. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- China's rise from poverty to prosperity is a miracle that has contributed enormously toward global development, said Erik Solheim, former under-secretary-general of the United Nations.

Speaking at the Fifth Think Tank Forum on National Governance in Developing Countries held in Beijing on Friday, Solheim said that Chinese modernization is rooted in its ancient traditions, which have developed through history and are hard to imitate. But the experiences still hold valuable lessons that other nations can learn from.

Endalkachew Sime (second right), former state minister of planning and development of Ethiopia, talks with Zhou Taidong, vice-president of the Center for International Knowledge on Development at the Fifth Think Tank Forum on National Governance in Developing Countries in Beijing on Friday.

The forum, with the theme "Joining Hands to Advance the Modernization of the Global South", was jointly held by the Party School of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (National Academy of Governance), the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee, Peking University and China Daily. More than 200 participants from 20 countries attended the event.

"What China offers is not just a model, it's now the source of main investment in the Global South," said Solheim, listing the Padma Multipurpose Bridge project in Bangladesh as an example. He said the project has helped the Bangladesh economy grow by connecting the country's east with the west. "And the railway and their stations built by China are an enormous service to Kenya, while the new port launched in Peru is important for trans-Pacific economy and South American economy," he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Xie Chuntao, executive vice-president of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee said the success of Chinese modernization had proved wrong the perception that modernization equaled Westernization. He added that China not only sets an example for other members of the Global South but also provides genuine help to them by writing off debts and taking other mutually beneficial measures.

"For this year's China International Import Expo, China reserved over 120 free seats for 37 of the most underdeveloped countries. This reflects the Global South's call for unity, development and reform and strengthens inclusiveness and sustainability," Xie said, adding, "It also meets the aspirations of the people of the Global South for a better life."

Commenting on the growth of the Global South, Qu Qingshan, president of the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee, said: "With a population accounting for over 70 percent and economy accounting for over 40 percent of that of the whole world, the Global South has become an important engine for the world's growth. That countries of the Global South jointly moving toward modernization is an unprecedented miracle in the history of mankind."

Ra'ed Mohammed BenShams, president of the International Institute of Administrative Sciences, stressed that a moral basis must be laid for cooperation and called for "cooperation based on understanding" among nations, in particular among Global South economies. "It's time to foster collaboration grounded in mutual respect and shared values," he said.

"China has always regarded itself as being from the South. This is not just a geographical statement but also a philosophical position," said Donald Ramotar, former president of Guyana, speaking via video, "The leadership of the People's Republic of China has always based its policy and its relations with the developing world on the principle of solidarity, mutual benefits and the promotion of win-win cooperation."

Hong Dayong, vice-minister of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, hoped that Global South think tanks could deepen research into each other's history, culture and development path, thus promoting mutual understanding.

"Think tanks can provide a sound basis for Global South nations to write their own narrative of civilization," he said in a keynote speech. "Their voices can also be expressed in a better way so as to eradicate misunderstanding and misjudgment."

It's important for the Global South to have its own voice in global affairs, said Qu Yingpu, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily.

"World peace and development face severe challenges and regional conflicts, but on key global affairs and topics, the Global South nations are no longer the silent majority," he said in a keynote speech at the forum. "Instead they have their own voices and demonstrate more independent and rational viewpoints."

Tamas Hajba, head of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Beijing Office, said that the world needs international cooperation and partnership more than ever. "Modernization of the developing countries is not merely an agenda; it is a necessity for achieving global stability, equity and sustainability," he said.

Endalkachew Sime, former state minister of planning and development of Ethiopia said: "The word South is derived from the word that means somewhere with sun. Literally the connection likely stems from the fact that in the northern hemisphere, the sun is generally in the southern part of the land. I believe the South is not poor, but it is the source of light."

SOURCE China Daily
BEIJING, Nov. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On November 22, 2024, the "Global Gen Z Views on Beijing" event organized by China Daily New Media Center and 21st Century Media and Education officially launched. The event will spotlight three key themes: Beijing's cultural legacy, technological innovation, and environmental conservation.

During the event, over 20 international influencers will visit notable sites including the Capital Museum and the Zhoukoudian Site Museum to explore the Beijing's rich history. They will also visit Beijing's leading tech enterprises and innovation hubs to experience the city's technological advancements. Additionally, the influencers will visit iconic locations such as the Yanqing Ecological Civilization Exhibition and the Beijing Wild Duck Lake National Wetland Park, gaining a firsthand perspective on the integration of environmental conservation and industrial development in the city.

Through dynamic and youthful storytelling, the event aims to showcase Beijing's rich cultural heritage and its achievements in sustainable, high-quality development to audiences worldwide. During the first day of the event, Veronica, an Italian exchange student at Tsinghua University, expressed her excitement, saying, "I am delighted to be part of this event. My deep interest in Chinese culture brought me to China for my studies, and I have gained a lot from this experience."

This event serves not only as a cultural exploration but also as a key platform for sharing Beijing's historical and modern development with audiences worldwide. Through the influencers' firsthand experiences, Beijing's rich cultural heritage and contemporary achievements will be vividly showcased to worldwide audiences. This event offers an international stage for Beijing to highlight its unique appeal, while promoting cultural exchange and fostering global understanding.

SOURCE China Daily
NEW YORK, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --

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

So What: If you purchased Zeta Global securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses.

What to do next: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=31333 call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

What is this about: On November 13, 2024, Culper Research published a report entitled "Zeta Global Holdings Corp ZETA: Shams, Scams, and Spam." (the "Report"). The Report raised concerns about the company's reported financials. In addition, Culper Research announced that it believed that "Zeta has quietly spun up its own network of consent farms i.e., sham websites that hoodwink millions of consumers each month into handing their data over to Zeta under false pretenses, baited by job applications, stimulus money, or other rewards that simply do not exist."

On this news, Zeta Global's stock price fell 37.1% on November 13, 2024.

Why Rosen Law: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.

Phillip Kim, Esq.

The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

[email protected]

www.rosenlegal.com

SOURCE THE ROSEN LAW FIRM, P. A.
BEIJING, Nov. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Renato Florentino, vice president of Honduras, accepted an exclusive interview with ZICC in Wuzhen during the 2024 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit. He said that China's advancements in transportation, communication, and computing impressed him a lot. "We hope to continue to promote the cooperation between Honduras and China and maintain close cooperative relations," he said.

SOURCE ZICC
BEIJING, Nov. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- During the Wuzhen Summit of the World Internet Conference, ZICC interviewed Internet experts from all over the world.

Lampros Sterg, UNESCO Chair in AI & Data Science, said that AI can accelerate social progress, but it needs to be used properly to avoid its negative effects in order to benefit citizens and society. Latif Ladid, the president of the IPv6 Forum, called for the establishment of a global governance system to allow artificial intelligence technology to serve humanity for good. South Korean computer scientist Kilnam Chon shared insights on AI's positive role in healthcare. He urged global efforts to ensure AI safety and prevent its misuse in weapons. Indian entrepreneur Bibin Babu said he believes that AI will not replace humans, but will create more new jobs.

SOURCE ZICC
Yesterday's interview with Nikol Pashinyan revealed how wrong we were about him. All the entourage, the caps, the glasses, the strange look we thought it was the image of a taxi driver, but no!

In fact, Pashinyan, in his new image, doesnt come across as someone hiding from a bomb, but as an independent, mature politician with the tactics of a bazaar huckster. At least in this interview, "Vovaevich" (Pashinyan) laid out his goods on the counter and announced what he intends to trade with Baku in peace negotiations.

"Yerevan has offered Baku an agreement to withdraw the EU mission from the sections of the border where delimitation has already taken place," he said.

The EU mission, we recall, consists of intelligence officers and other special services from several countries who periodically carry out unclear monitoring along the Armenian side of the border. Its presence has raised serious concerns in Baku, and Pashinyan is clearly hinting that hes ready to remove them but, of course, in exchange for something.

Naturally, immediately after such an announcement, Pashinyan began to praise the potential "buyer" at length, going on about progress and positive developments in the negotiations. Can you feel the vibe when someone tries to sell you apricots? Thats exactly how Pashinyan behaved.

Like any bazaar trader, Pashinyan forgets one very important thing: the trader always thinks hes the cleverest and most intelligent but doesnt realize that there are "adults" on the other side of his counter. No one will bargain with him, and it seems that this will come as a big, unpleasant surprise for him.
Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, meets with Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa in Lisbon, Portugal, Nov. 21, 2024. Zhao paid an official goodwill visit to Portugal from Nov. 21 to 23 at the invitation of Jose Pedro Aguiar-Branco, speaker of the Portuguese Parliament. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

LISBON, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Zhao Leji paid an official goodwill visit from Thursday to Saturday to Portugal, during which Zhao expressed the readiness to expand bilateral cooperation while voicing the hope that Portugal will work together with China to inject more positive energy into the development of China-EU ties.

Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, met with Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, and held talks with Portuguese Parliament Speaker Jose Pedro Aguiar-Branco during the three-day visit.

When meeting with Rebelo de Sousa, Zhao conveyed to him the cordial greetings and best wishes from Chinese President Xi Jinping. Zhao said that in recent years, under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, the China-Portugal comprehensive strategic partnership has been deepening and making solid progress, featuring steady progress in Belt and Road cooperation, as well as rich cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

China appreciates Portugal's long adherence to the one-China principle and is willing to engage with Portugal based on mutual respect and equality, strengthening their bonds as good friends who respect and trust each other, reliable partners for common development, and close companions in mutual learning between civilizations, Zhao said.

It is hoped that Portugal will continue to play an active role within the European Union (EU) and inject more positive energy into the development of China-EU relations, said Zhao.

For his part, Rebelo de Sousa asked Zhao to convey his heartfelt greetings to Xi, noting that Portugal and China are good friends with mutual understanding and affection.

Highlighting that this year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland of China, the Portuguese president said Portugal is willing to enhance high-level exchanges with China, deepen friendly exchanges and strengthen cooperation in such areas as trade, new energy, marine economy and digital economy.

Portugal firmly adheres to multilateralism and safeguards the role of the United Nations (UN) and the authority of international law. It is very important for Europe and China to strengthen dialogue, and Portugal is willing to play an active role in this regard, said Rebelo de Sousa.

When meeting with Montenegro, Zhao said that China has always viewed and developed ties with Portugal from a strategic and long-term perspective, and stands ready to work with Portugal to firmly support each other's core interests and major concerns, and to cement political mutual trust.

Zhao eyed closer cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence, clean energy, technology innovation, personnel training, and culture and people-to-people exchanges, encouraging companies from the two countries to expand investment and cooperation.

Zhao said China will continue to advance collaboration with Portugal within the UN and other multilateral frameworks, strengthen communication on international issues such as free trade, global security and climate change, and promote closer multilateral coordination and healthy and stable development of China-Europe relations.

Montenegro noted that Portugal always adheres to the one-China principle and speaks highly of the practice of "one country, two systems" in the Macao Special Administrative Region.

Underscoring that China is an important economic partner for Portugal and his country attaches importance to attracting Chinese investments, the Portuguese prime minister expected more exchanges and cooperation with China in science and technology, marine economy, culture and sports.

Portugal supports the steady development of EU-China relations and is willing to strengthen cooperation with China on climate change within bilateral and multilateral frameworks, said Montenegro.

In his talks with Aguiar-Branco, Zhao said the National People's Congress of China stands ready to work with the Portuguese parliament to deepen friendly exchanges between the two high-level legislative bodies, special committees, legislators, and local legislative bodies and enhance exchanges of experience in legislation and supervision to provide legal guarantees for promoting bilateral cooperation across various areas and create a fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment.

Zhao also voiced his hope that the Portuguese lawmakers in the European Parliament will continue to support China-EU friendly cooperation.

In addition, Zhao said that in the past 25 years since Macao's return to China, the practice of "one country, two systems" has made remarkable achievements.

He added that the Chinese central government will continue to fully, faithfully and unswervingly implement the principle of "one country, two systems" under which the people of Macao administer Macao with a high degree of autonomy, and support Macao in better integrating into the national development.

China is willing to further consolidate cooperation with Portugal on the platform of Macao and score more cooperation results, said Zhao.

Aguiar-Branco said that the two countries adhere to mutual respect, openness and win-win cooperation, and have achieved positive results in cooperation in various fields. In the face of the complex international situation, Portugal hopes to strengthen communication and cooperation with China and jointly safeguard the UN Charter and multilateralism, he added.

The Portuguese parliament is willing to work with the National People's Congress of China to promote closer exchanges at various levels and make contributions as legislative bodies to cementing practical cooperation and friendship of the two peoples, said Aguiar-Branco. 

Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, meets with Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro in Lisbon, Portugal, Nov. 21, 2024. Zhao paid an official goodwill visit to Portugal from Nov. 21 to 23 at the invitation of Jose Pedro Aguiar-Branco, speaker of the Portuguese Parliament. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, holds talks with Jose Pedro Aguiar-Branco, speaker of the Portuguese Parliament, in Lisbon, Portugal, Nov. 22, 2024. Zhao paid an official goodwill visit to Portugal from Nov. 21 to 23 at the invitation of Aguiar-Branco. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)
New Delhi, Nov 23 : As the process of electing the next party chief intensifies, the BJP held a workshop 'Sangathan Parv' in Delhi under the chairmanship of Union Minister and party president J.P. Nadda, a day before the results of the Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly elections will be declared on Saturday.

New Delhi, Nov 23 (IANS) As the process of electing the next party chief intensifies, the BJP held a workshop 'Sangathan Parv' in Delhi under the chairmanship of Union Minister and party president J.P. Nadda, a day before the results of the Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly elections will be declared on Saturday.

The BJP held its national workshop for its organisational elections at the party headquarters extension under the chairmanship of Union Minister Nadda.

The meeting was held on Friday 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.

This meeting lasted for more than five hours in the BJP Extension Building.

Apart from the national office bearers, the state president and state organisation 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 Organisation festival meeting was organised at BJP Extension Headquarters.

A workshop was organised on Friday in the BJP Extension Building with about 125 top leaders associated with the organisation, including BJP national office bearers and state presidents, regarding the election process of the organisation.

According to a party source, 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 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's 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 organisational 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 six years.

State workshops will be organised till November 27 and district workshops will be organised 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.
New Delhi, Nov 23 : Taking a direct jibe at the ruling Delhi government, Lieutenant Governor (L-G) V K Saxena has said that Chief Minister Atishi is a "thousand times better" than her predecessor and Aam Aadmi Party's national convenor Arvind Kejriwal.

"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 on Friday while addressing the 7th Convocation of Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women (IGDTUW).

During his tenure as the Chief Minister, Kejriwal was constantly at loggerheads with L-G Saxena, and the two made strong remarks against each other.

The Delhi L-G 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 Delhi CM @AtishiAAP and Yogesh Singh, V-C, 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.," L-G Saxena said 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 being released from prison, 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.

"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, November 29, 2024, at 11 a.m. in the Assembly Hall, Old Secretariat, Delhi," read the official notification.
United Nations, Nov 23 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has 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, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Secretary-General stressed that attacks against civilians are unacceptable, said Stephane Dujarric, his spokesman, at a daily briefing on Friday.

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.

The Shia-dominated Parachinar area has had bloody confrontational clashes with the surrounding areas of the Sunni majority in the past.

No militant groups have claimed responsibility for the attack while the security forces have initiated a search operation to track down the attackers.

Pakistan's Federal Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the attack, stating that the federal government is in constant contact with the KP provincial government.

"This past week has been difficult and upsetting. We see a new incident every day and now are in constant contact with the KP authorities," he said.

President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari also condemned the tragic incident and said that "attacking innocent passengers is a cowardly and inhumane act".

Kurram agency has witnessed violent and deadly clashes in the past over land disputes between Shia and Sunni tribes. Over the years, both tribes have engaged in conflicts, which have claimed the lives of hundreds on both sides.

Since the last conflict between the tribes, the locals were allowed to travel in only convoys as per the decision taken by the local elders.

"It can at least be established that the gunmen were aware of the movement of the convoy from Parachinar towards Peshawar and had placed themselves in hiding positions around the surrounding mountains to carry out the attack," said a local resident of Ochut.

Thursday's attack is one of the deadliest ones in the ongoing longstanding sectarian conflict between the Shia and Sunni tribes in the Kurram district.

Earlier this month, thousands of residents gathered in Parachinar to participate in a "peace march" calling on the government to enhance the security of Kurram district's 800,000 residents, over 45 per cent of who belong to the Shia community.
Jerusalem, Nov 23 : Israeli settlers have 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 on Friday, 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, Xinhua news agency reported.

"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 favouring Palestinians, such as evacuating illegal Jewish outposts or arresting and expelling rioters from the region.

Separately, Israeli Defence 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.
Islamabad, Nov 23 : The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) of Pakistan arrested 10 individuals involved in drug smuggling in operations across the country, said a statement.

The spokesman of the ANF said on Friday 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), Xinhua news agency reported.

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.
This photo taken with a mobile phone shows people attending a procession celebrating the recapture of Singa, in Omdurman, Sudan, Nov. 23, 2024. The Sudanese government on Saturday announced that the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) recaptured Singa, the capital city of Sinnar State in central Sudan, which had been controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). (Photo by Osman Al-Jundi/Xinhua)

PORT SUDAN, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Sudanese government on Saturday announced that the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) recaptured Singa, the capital city of Sinnar State in central Sudan, which had been controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

"Today (Saturday), Singa city has returned to the homeland ... The moment of justice and accountability shall come, and all those complicit in these crimes. The criminals will be held accountable for their actions," Khalid Aleisir, the Sudanese minister of culture and information, said in a statement.

"The confidence that the Sudanese people have in their armed forces, intelligence, and other regular forces, the joint forces and mobilized forces, will remain strong and unwavering regardless of internal and external threats," he noted.

The RSF had controlled Singa for months. Since early October, the SAF has been fighting the RSF in the region to drive the paramilitary forces out of the state.

The SAF has managed to recapture key cities in the state from the RSF, including Al-Dinder, Al-Suki, and the strategic Jebel Moya area, a crossroads linking Gezira, White Nile, and Sinnar states.

Sudan has been gripped by a devastating conflict between the SAF and the RSF since mid-April 2023. According to the most recent update by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, the deadly conflict has resulted in more than 27,000 deaths. 

This photo taken with a mobile phone shows people attending a procession celebrating the recapture of Singa, in Omdurman, Sudan, Nov. 23, 2024. The Sudanese government on Saturday announced that the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) recaptured Singa, the capital city of Sinnar State in central Sudan, which had been controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). (Photo by Osman Al-Jundi/Xinhua)

This photo taken with a mobile phone shows people attending a procession celebrating the recapture of Singa, in Omdurman, Sudan, Nov. 23, 2024. The Sudanese government on Saturday announced that the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) recaptured Singa, the capital city of Sinnar State in central Sudan, which had been controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). (Photo by Osman Al-Jundi/Xinhua)
Beirut, Nov 23 : Four Italian peacekeepers were injured after two rockets struck the West Sector Headquarters of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in southern Lebanon, according to a statement by UNIFIL.

The four peacekeepers are currently receiving treatment at the base hospital, and none of the injuries are life-threatening, said the statement on Friday.

"The rockets, likely launched by Hezbollah or affiliated groups, impacted a bunker and a logistics area used by the international military police, causing significant damage to nearby infrastructure," said the statement, noting that one of the affected structures caught fire, "but the blaze was swiftly extinguished by base personnel."

This marked the third attack on the UNIFIL base in the village of Chamaa within just one week, according to UNIFIL, Xinhua news agency reported.

In the statement, UNIFIL reiterated its call for relevant parties to avoid fighting next to its positions, stressing, "The inviolability of UN premises and personnel must be respected at all times."

"Any attack against peacekeepers constitutes a serious violation of international law and United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701," it added.

UNIFIL sites and installations have previously been attacked, leading to injuries, amid the ongoing conflict between the Israeli army and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Earlier this week, four Ghanaian peacekeepers on duty sustained injuries as a rocket hit their base in the east of the southern Lebanese village of Ramyah.
Ottawa, Nov 23 : Canadian Defence Minister Bill Blair said that Canada's donation of a National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) has arrived in Ukraine.

This donation will help Ukraine strengthen its air defence systems against destructive air attacks on military sites, civilian critical infrastructure, and population centres, the Defence Minister said in a news statement on Friday.

Canada has also donated more than 300 air defence missiles from the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) inventory since February 2022, the statement added as reported by Xinhua news agency.

This high-priority donation was purchased by Canada from the US, and is a new build from Raytheon in partnership with Kongsberg, it said.

"This ground-based air defence system will help Ukraine protect itself against destructive air attacks. Canada's support for Ukraine is steadfast and we will continue to step up and build on our contributions to Ukraine in their fight against Russia's invasion. We thank the United States, as well as our partners in Norway, for their collaboration and ensuring the safe arrival of Canada's donation of this NASAMS to the Armed Forces of Ukraine," Blair said.

A NASAMS is a short to medium-range ground-based air defence system that protects against drone, missile, and aircraft attack, with a high success rate.
New Delhi, Nov 23 : All eyes will be on the much-awaited counting of votes for the Assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, which will begin at 8 a.m. on Saturday.

Early trends are expected to trickle in by 9 a.m., offering the first glimpse into the outcome of these high-stakes battles.

Results of the bypolls held across 48 assembly constituencies and two parliamentary seats in 14 states will also be declared on Saturday.

The BJP, buoyed by its performance in Haryana's Assembly elections after setbacks in the Lok Sabha polls, is eyeing a decisive win in Maharashtra and Jharkhand.

In Maharashtra, the party is allied with the Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.

Meanwhile, the Congress and its INDIA bloc allies are aiming to retain Jharkhand and wrest power from the ruling MahaYuti alliance in Maharashtra.

Adding to the drama, results will be declared for 48 Assembly bypolls and two high-profile parliamentary constituencies: Nanded in Maharashtra and Wayanad in Kerala.

Wayanad is also a prestige battle for the Congress, with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's electoral debut in focus after her brother Rahul Gandhi, who previously represented the constituency in the Lok Sabha, vacated the seat.

The 288-seat Maharashtra Assembly witnessed a single-phase election on November 20, with voter turnout at 66.05 per cent. While urban centres like Mumbai recorded a lukewarm 52.65 per cent turnout, tribal-dominated Gadchiroli led with 70 per cent.

The ruling MahaYuti alliance, consisting of Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, the BJP, and Ajit Pawar's NCP faction, is vying for a second term. On the other hand, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) -- a coalition of Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and Sharad Pawaras NCP--put up a tough fight to stage a comeback.

Key seats in focus include Worli, where Shiv Sena (UBT) scion Aaditya Thackeray, the incumbent, faces Shinde Senaas Milind Deora. In Baramati, itas a family showdown between Ajit Pawar and his nephew Yugendra Pawar from the NCP (SP). Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis may face a tough challenge from Congress candidate Prafful Gudadhe in his stronghold of Nagpur South West.

The BJP emerged as the largest party in the 2019 elections, winning 105 seats. Together with its then-ally Shiv Sena, it secured a majority of 161 seats. However, Shiv Sena broke ties with the BJP and joined hands with Congress and NCP, creating the Maha Vikas Aghadi government with Uddhav Thackeray as Chief Minister. The MVA coalition's tenure ended in 2022 after a rebellion by Eknath Shinde, who formed the government with BJP's support.

Three exit polls predict that the MahaYuti alliance is likely to return to power for a second term, securing around 158 seats, comfortably above the majority mark of 145 seats.

Jharkhand's two-phase elections, held on November 13 and 20, saw a record turnout of 67.74 per cent, the highest since the state's creation in 2000.

The ruling INDIA bloc, led by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), is striving to retain power for a second term. The BJP-led NDA, however, is determined to wrest control, leveraging anti-incumbency and corruption allegations.

Jharkhand witnessed high-octane campaigning, with the BJP accusing the JMM-led government of corruption and appeasement politics, while Chief Minister Hemant Soren's coalition countered with welfare promises and criticism of the alleged misuse of central agencies.

Key constituencies to watch include Barhait, where Chief Minister Hemant Soren faces BJP's Gamaliyan Hembrom, and Gandey, where his wife Kalpana Soren is up against BJP's Muniya Devi. In Seraikella, Champai Soren, a former JMM leader, clashes with Ganesh Mahali, a BJP defector now with the JMM. Meanwhile, Jamtara will see a high-profile contest between Congress leader Irfan Ansari and Sita Soren, Hemant Soren's sister-in-law.

Assembly bypolls across 14 states, including Uttar Pradesh (9 seats), Rajasthan (7), West Bengal (6), Kerala (2), Madhya Pradesh (2), and Sikkim (2), are equally significant. These contests will not only test regional parties but also offer a glimpse into voter sentiment.
Ranchi, Nov 23 : The counting of votes for all 81 assembly seats in Jharkhand began at 8 a.m. on Saturday. By 5 p.m, the state will know which party or alliance will form the next government. Trends are expected to start emerging from 9:30 a.m.

The process started with the opening of strongroom locks in the presence of election returning officers, special observers from the Election Commission, and representatives of the candidates.

The EVM and postal ballot boxes were transferred to counting tables at 7:30 a.m. under tight security and videographic surveillance. CCTV cameras have been installed at all counting centers to ensure transparency.

A minimum of 41 seats is required to form a government in the state. In 2019, the JMM-Congress-RJD alliance, led by Hemant Soren, secured 47 seats to form the government. This year, the battle is between the NDA and INDIA bloc.

Of the NDA, BJP contested 68 seats, AJSU Party10, JD(U) 2 and LJP (R) 1 seat.

From the INDIA bloc, JMM contested 43 seats, Congress 30, RJD 6, and CPI (ML) 4 seats.

There are also friendly fights between alliance partners on seats like Bishrampur, Chhatarpur, and Dhanwar.

The fate of 1,211 candidates will be decided on Saturday, including prominent figures such as Chief Minister Hemant Soren (Barhait), Former CM Champai Soren (Saraikela), state BJP president and former CM Babulal Marandi (Rajdhanwar), Leader of Opposition Amar Kumar Bauri (Chandankiyari), Assembly Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato (Nala), JMMas star campaigner Kalpana Soren (Gandey) and AJSU Party chief Sudesh Mahto (Silli).

Several ministers in Hemant Soren's government, along with notable political family members like Meera Munda (wife of ex-CM Arjun Munda), Geeta Koda (wife of ex-CM Madhu Koda), and Hemant Sorenas relatives Basant and Sita Soren, are also in the fray.

State Chief Electoral Officer K. Ravi Kumar said that counting rounds will vary across constituencies, with a minimum of 13 rounds in Torpa and Littipara, and a maximum of 27 rounds in Chatra. Although, the official deadline for completing the election process is November 25, efforts are being made to conclude all formalities by November 24.

The state conducted polling in two phases, on November 13 and 20, with a voter turnout of 67.74 per cent. This figure excludes postal ballots.

A total of 1,76,81,007 voters participated, with women voters outnumbering men by 5,51,797.

---IANS

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Washington, Nov 22 : President-elect Donald Trump has announced the name of Scott Bessent, a hedge fund investor, as his nominee for treasury secretary, one of the most important positions in his cabinet to deliver on his campaign promise of ushering in the golden age of the US.

"I am most pleased to nominate Scott Bessent to serve as the 79th Secretary of the Treasury of the United States," Trump said in an announcement on Friday.

"Scott has long been a strong advocate of the America First agenda. On the eve of our great country's 250th Anniversary, he will help me usher in a new Golden Age for the United States, as we fortify our position as the world's leading economy, center of innovation and entrepreneurialism, destination for capital, while always, and without question, maintaining the US Dollar as the reserve currency of the world. Unlike in past administrations, we will ensure that no Americans will be left behind in the next and greatest economic boom, and Scott will lead that effort for me, and the great people of the United States of America," said Tump.

"As a lifelong champion of main street America and American industry, Scott will support my policies that will drive US competitiveness, and stop unfair trade imbalances, and work to create an economy that places growth at the forefront, especially through our coming world energy dominance," he added.

Bessent's Indian counterpart will be Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman as per tradition although their roles in their respective governments are very different.

Bessent is the Founder and CEO of Key Square Group, a hedge fund. "Through his family office, Bessent controls a number of diversified operating businesses in industries including Agriculture, Hospitality, publishing, and real estate, " the Trump transition team said in the announcement. "He has been in the investment management business for over 35 years."

The announcement added, "Bessent has been involved in some (of) the largest and most profitable trades in hedge fund history, including shorting the British pound and the Japanese yen, the Argentine debt reorganization, and MF global Italian bonds liquidation."
Chennai, Nov 23 : The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has issued a yellow alert for North Tamil Nadu, including the state capital Chennai, on November 27 and 28.

According to the weather department, the rainfall will be caused by a low-pressure system over the southeast Bay of Bengal.

This weather system is expected to develop on Saturday and intensify into a depression over the next two days, bringing heavy rainfall, said the MeT officials.

The RMC clarified that this system is not expected to develop into a cyclonic storm. The department's statement noted that rains are returning to North Tamil Nadu after a brief dry spell.

The forecast predicts 6 to 12 cm of rainfall within 24 hours on November 27 and 28. Heavy rainfall is expected in Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu on November 26, followed by widespread heavy rain across North Tamil Nadu on November 27 and 28. Cuddalore and Ramanathapuram districts will also experience heavy rain on November 27, prompting a yellow alert for these regions.

The RMC has issued an orange alert for November 26 in six Tamil Nadu districts and Karaikal region, and a yellow alert for four districts and Puducherry. Villupuram and Mayiladuthurai districts are on orange alert for November 26, while 10 districts, including Tiruvallur to Nagapattinam, are on yellow alert for heavy spells.

Since the onset of the northeast monsoon, Chennai has recorded 55 cm of rainfall, reflecting a slight deficit of 2 per cent, while Tamil Nadu as a whole has received 33 cm of rainfall, exceeding the average by 5 per cent.

Weather officials stated that the expected heavy rain in Chennai on November 27 and 28 is likely to eliminate the rain deficit and bring normal to excess rainfall to the city.

However, heavy rains in the Delta districts of Tamil Nadu, often referred to as the "rice bowl" of the state, are causing concern among Samba paddy farmers.

The districts of Mayiladuthurai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, and Nagapattinam have been experiencing significant rainfall, leading to severe inundation and water stagnation. In Sembanarkoil, Mayiladuthurai recorded 68 mm of rainfall over the past two days.

In Tiruvarur district, Nannilam recorded 59 mm, and Needamangalam received 47.7 mm. The heavy rainfall and waterlogging are likely to cause extensive damage to the Samba crops in these districts, where paddy cultivation spans large areas.

As of now, Tamil Nadu has been receiving consistent rainfall since the monsoon began on October 17. Nearly 90 reservoirs across the state are over 60 per cent full.

The reservoirs currently hold 143.804 tmcft (thousand million cubic feet) of water, which is 64.11 per cent of their total capacity of 224.297 tmcft. This marks a significant improvement compared to the same period last year when storage levels were at 79.514 tmcft (35.58 per cent).

The Mettur reservoir, a critical water source, has a storage level of 62,140 tmcft -- a 384 per cent increase compared to 2023. Similarly, the Bhavanisagar reservoir recorded 21,141 tmcft, reflecting a 210 per cent rise from last year.
New Delhi, Nov 23 : BJP national spokesperson Zafar Islam expressed confidence on Saturday regarding the party's performance in the Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly elections.

He highlighted the BJP-led alliances' strong showing in early trends and predicted decisive victories in both states, attributing the success to the party's leadership and the "blessings of the people".

Speaking to IANS about the Maharashtra elections results, Zafar Islam stated, "The trends are exactly as we expected. We had said from the beginning that the BJP and Mahayuti together would score a double century. BJP alone has crossed a century, and we are confident that as the day progresses, we will approach the 200 mark with a massive majority, thanks to the people's blessings and our leadership."

The BJP, in alliance with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction and Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, is aiming for a dominant win in Maharashtra.

Meanwhile, the Congress-led INDIA bloc is seeking to challenge the ruling Mahayuti alliance.

On Jharkhand, the BJP spokesperson remarked, "We are very comfortable in Jharkhand. The half-century mark we have consistently mentioned is well within reach as early trends show. I believe we will win with a big majority, and the NDA will secure more than 50 seats."

Responding to allegations of EVM manipulation raised by opposition parties in Jharkhand, he countered, "Whenever they lose, they blame the EVMs. The fact is, we are connected to the citizens, and we win because of their trust and blessings. We have full faith in our leadership."

The counting of votes for all 81 Assembly seats in Jharkhand began at 8 a.m. A minimum of 41 seats is required to form the government in the state.

In 2019, the JMM-Congress-RJD alliance led by Hemant Soren won 47 seats to form the government. This year, the contest is chiefly between the NDA and INDIA bloc.
Lucknow, Nov 23 : Uttar Pradesh BJP MLA Dayashankar Singh expressed confidence in his party's performance in the Assembly by-elections, as early trends showed the BJP-led alliance leading in seven of the nine seats in Uttar Pradesh.

The Samajwadi Party (SP) appeared to be trailing in the trends.

The by-elections in Uttar Pradesh were held alongside Assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand on November 20, with counting currently underway.

Speaking to IANS, Singh, the BJP MLA from Ballia Assembly constituency, said, "BJP will win all the nine Assembly seats. The media trends show that we are leading in seven seats. There is still time, and we will surely win all the seats."

Singh also highlighted the BJP's early leads in other states, adding, "In Jharkhand, the BJP-led NDA is leading in 35 seats. In Maharashtra, the BJP is ahead in 55 seats, while the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is trailing at 30 seats."

"Everywhere, people are placing their trust in the double-engine BJP government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he said.

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav remained optimistic, claiming that his party would emerge victorious in all nine seats in Uttar Pradesh.

Reacting to Yadav's statement, Singh remarked, "Let him have his optimism; it is good for morale. However, under the leadership of PM Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the BJP will form the government in Uttar Pradesh. Everyone can see the early trends showing us leading."

The bypoll in Uttar Pradesh can be a significant turnaround for the BJP after the party's setback in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

In that election, the BJP won 37 seats in Uttar Pradesh, while the INDIA bloc secured 43 seats, with the SP winning 37 of those and the Congress bagging six.

With the counting of votes underway, the BJP remains optimistic about reclaiming its dominance in Uttar Pradesh, while early trends across Maharashtra and Jharkhand also seem to favour the party-led alliances.
New Delhi, Nov 23 : In the hotly contested poll between BJP-led NDA and JMM-led INDIA bloc in Jharkhand, the people of the state seem to have restored their faith in the incumbent Hemant Soren government, show early trends.

As per latest trends till 10.30, JMM-led alliance is seen taking decisive lead over the NDA. The JMM-Congress-RJD combine have reached 50 mark while NDA is seen trailing at 29 seats in the 81 member Assembly.

However, when the counting began, NDA was much ahead of the ruling alliance but soon witnessed a see-saw battle with INDIA bloc and then finally settling in favour of Hemant Soren-led faction.

The Election Commission data also reflect a similar picture with INDIA bloc taking lead in more than 45 seats while BJP falling behind with lead in about 28-30 seats.

The 81 Assembly seats in Jharkhand went to polls in two-phased elections, held on November 13 and 20. The state saw record voter turnout was 67.74 per cent, the highest since the state's creation in 2000.

The first phase saw voting in 43 constituencies, while the second phase saw 38 seats up for grabs.

The ruling INDIA bloc, led by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), strives to retain power for a second term. The BJP-led NDA, however, is determined to wrest control, leveraging anti-incumbency and corruption allegations.

The Exit polls predicted a tight race in the tribal state with advantage for the BJP. Matrize predicted 42-47 seats for BJP-led alliance while 25-30 seats for JMM-led coalition. TimesNow-JVC survey gave 40-44 seats to and 30-40 seats to INDIA bloc. People's Pulse predicted clean sweep for NDA, with 42-48 seats compared to the JMM's 16-23 seats. However, Axis My India and P Marq offer a contrasting view, showing the JMM-led INDIA bloc bagging 49-59 and 37-47 seats respectively and the NDA falling far behind.

Among the key constituencies that will have the attention of all inlcude Barhait, where Hemant Soren faces a tough battle, Dhanwar, where BJP's Babulal Marandi is contesting the poll battle. Bebi Devi (INDIA bloc) is a contender in Dumri, while Kalpana Soren (JMM), Hemant Soren's wife, represents Gande. In Jamtara, Congress leader Dr Irfan Ansari faces off against Sita Soren of the JMM, making it one of the most anticipated contests.
Tunis, Nov 23 : Tunisian security units arrested 321 "dangerous" individuals who were allegedly involved in drug trafficking and various criminal offences, 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, Xinhua news agency reported.

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.
Tourists visit the Philae temple complex in Aswan, Egypt, Nov. 22, 2024.

The Philae temple complex, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Aswan, is part of the Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae, a UNESCO world heritage site.

The temple was saved from the rising waters of the Nile thanks to the UNESCO's international campaign from 1960 to 1980. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

Tourists visit the Philae temple complex in Aswan, Egypt, Nov. 22, 2024.

The Philae temple complex, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Aswan, is part of the Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae, a UNESCO world heritage site.

The temple was saved from the rising waters of the Nile thanks to the UNESCO's international campaign from 1960 to 1980. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

Tourists visit the Philae temple complex in Aswan, Egypt, Nov. 22, 2024.

The Philae temple complex, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Aswan, is part of the Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae, a UNESCO world heritage site.

The temple was saved from the rising waters of the Nile thanks to the UNESCO's international campaign from 1960 to 1980. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

This photo shows the Philae temple complex in Aswan, Egypt, Nov. 22, 2024.

The Philae temple complex, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Aswan, is part of the Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae, a UNESCO world heritage site.

The temple was saved from the rising waters of the Nile thanks to the UNESCO's international campaign from 1960 to 1980. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

A cat is pictured at the Philae temple complex in Aswan, Egypt, Nov. 22, 2024.

The Philae temple complex, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Aswan, is part of the Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae, a UNESCO world heritage site.

The temple was saved from the rising waters of the Nile thanks to the UNESCO's international campaign from 1960 to 1980. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

Tourists visit the Philae temple complex in Aswan, Egypt, Nov. 22, 2024.

The Philae temple complex, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Aswan, is part of the Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae, a UNESCO world heritage site.

The temple was saved from the rising waters of the Nile thanks to the UNESCO's international campaign from 1960 to 1980. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

Tourists visit the Philae temple complex in Aswan, Egypt, Nov. 22, 2024.

The Philae temple complex, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Aswan, is part of the Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae, a UNESCO world heritage site.

The temple was saved from the rising waters of the Nile thanks to the UNESCO's international campaign from 1960 to 1980. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

Tourists visit the Philae temple complex in Aswan, Egypt, Nov. 22, 2024.

The Philae temple complex, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Aswan, is part of the Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae, a UNESCO world heritage site.

The temple was saved from the rising waters of the Nile thanks to the UNESCO's international campaign from 1960 to 1980. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

A tourist views the relief painting in the Philae temple complex in Aswan, Egypt, Nov. 22, 2024.

The Philae temple complex, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Aswan, is part of the Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae, a UNESCO world heritage site.

The temple was saved from the rising waters of the Nile thanks to the UNESCO's international campaign from 1960 to 1980. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

Tourists visit the Philae temple complex in Aswan, Egypt, Nov. 22, 2024.

The Philae temple complex, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Aswan, is part of the Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae, a UNESCO world heritage site.

The temple was saved from the rising waters of the Nile thanks to the UNESCO's international campaign from 1960 to 1980. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)
Kolkata, Nov 23 : From the counting trends for bypolls in the first three hours for six Assembly constituencies in West Bengal, the victory of the ruling Trinamool Congress on all seats is more or less confirmed.

After the fifth round of counting on Saturday, the Trinamool Congress candidate from Haroa in North 24 Parganas district Sheikh Rabiul Islam is ahead of the AISF candidate Piyarul Islam by a margin of 52,597 votes. At Haroa there will be a total of 14 rounds of counting.

At Sitai in Cooch Behar district the Trinamool Congress candidate Sangita Roy is ahead of BJP candidate Dipak Kumar Roy by 60,493 votes after the fifth round. At Sitai there will be 12 rounds of counting.

After the sixth round of counting, Trinamool Congress candidate from Medinipur Assembly constituency, Sujoy Hazra is ahead of BJP candidate Subhajit Roy by 48,433 votes. At Medinipur there will be 17 rounds of counting.

After the third round of counting, Trinamool Congress candidate from Taldangra Falguni Singhababu is ahead by 8,200 votes and the BJPas candidate Ananya Chakraborty is in the second position here. At Taldangra there will be 17 rounds of counting.

After the fourth round of counting, Trinamool Congress candidate from Madarihat in Alipurduar district Jay Prakash Toppo is ahead of the BJP candidate Rahul Lohar by 17,375 votes. There will be a total of nine rounds of counting at Madarihat.

After the sixth round of counting, Trinamool Congress candidate from Naihati Assembly in North 24 Parganas district Sanat Dey, is ahead of the BJP candidate Rupak Mitra by 29,900 votes. There will be a total of ten rounds of counting at Naihati.

Celebrations have already started at the different Trinamool Congress party offices, including the area in front of the residence of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in South Kolkata, as from the trends it has become clear that the ruling party is all set to make a clean sweep on all the six Assembly constituencies.

Trinamool Congress leaders have started claiming that the results show that the voters have rejected the attempts by the Opposition parties to malign the state government over the rape and murder of a junior doctor of R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata in August this year.

The bypolls for these six Assembly constituencies were conducted on November 13 and one person died in clashes on polling day.

The bypolls were conducted on these six Assembly constituencies as their erstwhile legislators got elected as Lok Sabha MPs in the General Elections this year.
Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 23 : Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who made her poll debut from Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, was headed for a huge win having secured over four lakh votes.

Right from the start of counting, Priyanka Gandhi has been racing ahead without any problems.

As per the Election Commission officials, she was now leading by over 4,25,782 votes.

Her nearest rival, Sathyan Mokeri from the CPI was trailing, having polled 1,45,235 votes so far.

The counting was continuing in the centres and the final count was awaited.

The BJP candidate, Navya Haridas, a young software engineer turned Kozhikode Corporation Councillor was fighting hard and the lead between the second-placed CPI veteran Sathyan Mokheri was also increasing.

Seeing the trend, the Congress workers are in a jubilant mood and have started to hit the streets at Wayanad and Palakkad.

In the Palakkad Assembly constituency, state Youth Congress president Rahul Mamkoothathil after trailing initially has edged out his nearest rival-BJP candidate C. Krishnakumar and was leading by over 5,000 votes.

The contest at Palakkad is now about who will finish second as the difference between second-placed Krishnakumar and Congress turncoat candidate of the CPI(M)-led Left Independent Dr P. Sarin is around 10,000 votes.

The BJP was expecting to open its account in the 140-member Kerala Legislative Assembly. In the last Assembly elections, BJP candidate Metroman E. Sreedharan had come second trailing by over 4,000 votes.

However if many thought that there prevailed a strong anti-incumbency factor against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left government, at Chelakkara Assembly constituency, their candidate U.R. Pradeep has already started celebrations as he is leading by over 10,291 votes. With just two rounds left for counting to end, his victory is imminent.

Till the counting of votes began, all three political fronts were hoping for the best and the million-dollar question was whether it would have something for each one of them to cheer about.

Polling for the Wayanad Lok Sabha by-election and the Chelakkara Assembly constituencies was held on November 13, while for the Palakkad Assembly constituency, it was held on Wednesday.

All three by-elections are taking place after the sitting members of these vacated their seats.

While Rahul Gandhi vacated Wayanand to retain Rae Bareli, Shafi Parambil of the Congress from Palakkad and State Minister of SC/ST K.Radhakrishnan vacated their winning seats at Palakkad and Chelakkara respectively.
Bengaluru, Nov 23 : As the counting for the three Assembly segments for which the by-election was held is coming to an end in Karnataka, Congress is leading in all three seats and also taking major leads in two segments.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has suffered a significant setback. Importantly, the Congress has registered a major lead in the high-profile Channapatna constituency. Celebrations have begun across Channapatna town and supporters have started dancing and distributing sweets.

Sandur BJP candidate Bangaru Hanumanthu has conceded his defeat following the major lead by Congress candidate Annapurna Tukaram. "I have accepted the verdict. Money power has won. I take responsibility for the defeat. I had given word to the party leadership that I would ensure victory. I apologise to them," he stated.

The Muslim and Kuruba communities' votes went to Congress. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah camped in the constituency for three days and the money factor worked. "I promise that I will win the seat for BJP in the 2028 Assembly election," Bangaru Hanumanthu stated.

According to official statistics released by the Election Commission of India (ECI), in the high-profile Channapatna constituency, NDA candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy is trailing by 22,063 votes at the end of the 12th round.

Nikhil polled 51,080 votes while the Congress candidate C. P. Yogeshwara got 73,143 votes.

There are 20 rounds of counting for this segment which witnessed a remarkable 88.80 voting in the by-election. 277 voters have opted for NOTA here.

Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H. D. Kumarswamy's son Nikhil Kumaraswamy is the NDA candidate from this segment. Senior leader C. P. Yogeshwara is the Congress candidate.

Annapurna Tukaram, the Congress candidate is leading by 8,881 votes at the end of the 16th round. She polled 83,368 votes.

Her rival BJP candidate Bangaru Hanumanthu polled 74,487 votes. There are 19 rounds of counting for this Assembly segment. 736 persons have preferred the NOTA option.

In Shiggaon Assembly constituency, BJP's Bharath Bommai is trailing by 6,479 votes in round 10. He polled 51,790 votes and Congress' Yasir Ahmed Khan Pathan, who suffered an initial setback, managed a comeback with 58,269 votes. The counting of eight rounds is remaining. 506 NOTA votes have been counted so far.

The Congress supporters have started raising 'bye, bye Bommai' slogans. Former CM Basavaraj Bommai stated that money and muscle power played a major role and he is hopeful of getting the lead for the BJP candidate, his son Bharat Bommai in the upcoming rounds.

Political parties in Karnataka are eagerly waiting for the results of the bypolls to the Assembly constituencies. The results are expected soon.

The three constituencies went to polls following the resignations of legislators who successfully contested the Lok Sabha elections.

Of the three seats, the Channapatna seat is considered the most high-profile as it has witnessed a showdown between the families of former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda and Deputy Chief Minister and Karnataka Congress President D. K. Shivakumar.

The by-elections were held for the high-profile Channapatna Assembly seat represented by Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H. D. Kumaraswamy, Shiggaon seat held by former CM and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai. Sandur seat, where BJP has never won, was represented by Congress MP E. Tukaram.
Kolkata, Nov 23 : Trinamool Congress candidates Sanat Dey and Sangita Roy were on Saturday declared elected from the Naihati constituency in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district and Sitai constituency in Cooch Behar district, and party candidates were ahead in the other four Assembly seats too where bypolls were held on November 13.

In Nahati, Dey defeated his nearest rival, BJP's Rupak Mitra by a margin of 48,912 votes. Left Front-supported CPI-M-L candidate Dabajyoti Majumder and the Congress' Paresh Nath Sarkar ended in the third and fourth positions, respectively, and forfeited their deposits.

After being announced as the winner, Dey dedicated his victory to the charisma of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the tremendous development work undertaken by the state government under her leadership.

Deyas winning margin surpassed that of erstwhile Trinamool legislator, Partha Bhowmik, who won in the 2021 Assembly elections of 18,675 votes.

Naihati went for the bypolls after Bhowmik resigned as the legislator after being elected from Barrackpore Lok Sabha constituency in the general elections earlier this year.

In Sitai, Roy was declared elected by a massive margin of 1,30,156 votes, defeating her nearest rival, BJP's Dipak Kumar Roy. Congress candidate Harihar Roy Singha and the All India Forward Bloc candidate Arun Kumar Barma came in the third and fourth positions, respectively, and forfeited their deposits too.

Roy's winning margin far surpassed that of the victory margin of her husband and the erstwhile Trinamool legislator, Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia, in the 2021 Assembly elections as he had won by just 10,112 votes. Sitai went for bypolls after Basunia resigned as the legislator after being elected from the Cooch Behar Lok Sabha constituency in the general elections this year.

As per the trends available so far, Trinamool Congress candidates are way ahead in the remaining four constituencies too - Madarihat in Alipurduar, Haroa in North 24 Parganas, Taldangra in Bankura district, and Medinipur in Paschim Medinipur district.

Barring Haroa, where the Left Front-supported All India Secular Front candidate Piyarul Islam is in the second position, the BJP candidates are in the second position in the remaining four constituencies.

Celebrations have already started at different Trinamool party offices, including the area in front of the residence of Mamata Banerjee in south Kolkata, as from the trend it has become clear that the ruling party is all set to make a clean sweep.

Trinamool leaders have started claiming that the results show that the voters have rejected the attempts by the opposition parties to malign the state government and the ruling party over the ghastly rape and murder of a junior doctor of R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata in August this year.
Srinagar, Nov 23 : Jammu and Kashmir Police on Saturday attached a property worth Rs 1.72 crore belonging to a drug peddler in the Baramulla district.

A police statement said Saturday, "Continuing its action against drug peddlers in Jammu and Kashmir, Baramulla Police attached multiple properties (double storeyed residential house at Chowadhi Jammu and Trikanjan Boniyar, Tipper, Trailer, and a four-wheeler) worth Rs 1.72 crore. The properties belong to a notorious drug peddler Rafiq Ahmad Khan alias Rafi Rafa son of Ghulam Hassan resident of Trikanjan Boniyar, district Baramulla."

The police said the action was taken under sections 68-E read with 68-F (1) of the NDPS Act of 1985 and is linked with case FIR nr 134/2016 u/s 8/21, 29 NDPS Act of PS Boniyar.

The properties were identified as illegally acquired during the course of an investigation conducted by police.

"The properties were acquired from the illicit trafficking of narcotics and psychotropic substances by the drug peddler," the statement said.

Security forces and police in the union territory have launched an aggressive anti-terrorism campaign targeting terrorists, their over-ground workers (OGWs) and sympathisers.

Acting simultaneously against all those connected with terrorism is part of the security forces' campaign to eliminate the ecosystem of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.

While chairing high-level security review meetings in the UT, J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha has given clear orders that all those associated with terrorism will have to face punishment.

"Nobody can harbour terrorists and then claim that his house was unnecessarily damaged that was being used as a fortified bunker by the terrorists," the Lt. Governor said.

During the last 10 years, the army, security forces and police have found a clear link between drug trafficking and terrorism in J&K.

The ultimate beneficiaries of drug smuggling have been the terrorist outfits as the funds so generated have been used all along for the various terror groups.
New Delhi, Nov 23 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led MahaYuti is headed for a thumping victory in the high-stakes Maharashtra Assembly elections while a pall of gloom prevails in the rival faction Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) comprising Congress, SS (UBT) and NCP-SP, as per trends till 12 noon.

While the MVA is left grappling with the 'Maha stunner', the number crunching yields another startling detail about MahaYuti's performance, particularly the BJP.

The latest trends show that the BJP leading on 124 seats, Shiv Sena on 56 seats, and NCP on 37 seats, while Congress, SS (UBT) and NCP-SP were ahead on 19, 19 and 13 seats respectively.

The current trends show the BJP alone fetching more seats than the combined MVA's strength. Its strike rate in the Assembly elections came as a shock for the opposition alliance as the latter mounted an aggressive campaign to counter MahaYuti's poll promises. The cash-for-votes scandal on a day before polling also seems to have had no impact on election results.

As per available data, BJP's strike rate stands at 84 per cent, with the party taking the lead in 122 seats out of 148 that it contested. Similarly, its allies Shiv Sena and NCP's strike rates are too impressive to ignore. Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has managed a strike rate of 71 per cent, taking the lead in 58 out of 81 seats it contested while Ajit Pawar-led NCP earned a strike rate of 62 per cent, managing the lead in 37 out of 59 constituencies that it fought.

On the other hand, MVA's strike rate as well as leads in early trends has come as a major setback, so much so that SS (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut termed it "unacceptable" and pressed for a fresh election.

The Congress contested 110 seats and is leading on just 20 seats, indicating a strike rate of 19.2 per cent while Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP-SP contested 92 and 86 seats respectively but are seen taking the lead on 18 and 10 seats respectively, thus garnering strike rates of 20.6 per cent and 11.6 per cent.

The outgoing Assembly had MahaYuti holding 186 seats amongst its three constituents.

Current trends suggest the alliance is poised to surpass its previous tally and even better its 2019 performance by a big margin.

In 2019, the BJP bagged 105 seats whereas the undivided Shiv Sena won 56 seats, taking the alliance's total number of seats to 161.
New Delhi, Nov 23 : Congress leader Tariq Anwar acknowledged that the party's performance in Maharashtra was below expectations and remarked that the grand old party was expecting better results.

"We were hoping to reach close to 50 seats, and we are still hopeful that the numbers may improve by 5 P.M.," he told IANS, adding that the reasons for the underperformance would be analysed later.

Commenting on the trends in Jharkhand, the Congress leader expressed confidence of securing a simple majority.

"The steps our government took for the betterment of both urban and rural people are reflected in these results. Once we have a majority, we will approach the Governor to stake claim to form the government," he affirmed.

On the contrasting trends in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, Tariq Anwar admitted there was tension within the party. "We are disappointed with the results in Maharashtra, but the situation in Jharkhand is encouraging."

Meanwhile, addressing the media, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate remarked, "Two states went to polls. In Maharashtra, our performance fell short of expectations, which is disheartening. However, in Jharkhand, we are on course to form the government again, and that is uplifting."

She emphasised the crucial role of women voters, stating, "One thing is clear, the party that effectively engages women voters will win elections."

Highlighting Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi's anticipated victory in Wayanad, Shrinate added, "Priyanka Gandhi is a flag-bearer for women's rights, and when she enters Parliament, women will undoubtedly become central to our policies and politics."

Reacting to allegations by Sanjay Raut regarding possible issues with EVMs, Supriya Shrinate raised concerns about the Election Commissionas impartiality. "EVMs and the ECas transparency are important matters that need to be discussed in this country," she said.
Thrissur : , Nov 23 (IANS) Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday has a reason to cheer as the CPI-M candidate U.R. Pradeep has won a stellar victory from the Chelakkara assembly constituency, retaining the seat for the party with a margin of 12,067 votes.

The by-election was necessitated as sitting MLA and state SC/ST Minister K.Radhakrishnan vacated it after winning the Alathur Lok Sabha election by defeating sitting Congress MP Ramya Haridas.

Pradeep is a popular face in the constituency as he represented it during 2016-21 before moving out for Radhakrishnan in 2021.

The Congress brought in Haridas who they felt was a popular face in the constituency as it comes under the Alathur Lok Sabha constituency.

Even though the Congress top brass was expecting a win for Haridas with a slender margin, things did not go the way they expected as Pradeep led right from the start when counting began.

It was only in the 11th round of counting that Haridas led, whereas she was trailing in all the other rounds, but fell back again.

Reacting to the defeat, veteran Congress leader K. Muraleedharan said the party will seriously look into what went wrong at Chelakkara. "It must be recalled that when the CPI-M-led Left won just 40 seats out of the 140 in the Kerala Assembly in 2001, they were able to retain Chelakkara. So for the CPI-M, Chelakkara has been their seat, but there exists a strong anti-incumbency factor in the constituency," he said.

However, the margin of victory that Radhakrishnan got in 2021m which was close to 40,000 votes has slipped to 12,000 votes, but the only saving grace is Pradeep managed to get around 7,000 votes more than what Radhakrishnan polled from Chelakkara during the April 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

But leaving aside statistics, Vijayan can certainly breathe easy as Pradeep has won the seat as he had campaigned for the candidate on a few occasions.

On his part, Pradeep said: "We had no doubt about the outcome and I had told you (media) every time that you met me, that we would win easy and it has happened."

Though the BJP finished a distant third, they too have a reason for cheer as they managed to get the highest votes in all the elections with their candidate K. Balakrishnan securing over 33,000 votes.
Mumbai, Nov 23 : Buoyed by MahaYuti's resounding performance, Chief Minister and Shiv Sena President Eknath Shinde expressed gratitude to the people of Maharashtra and offered special thanks to 'Ladke Bahin (beloved sisters)' and 'Ladka Bhau (beloved Bhau)' for the overwhelming support.

Mumbai, Nov 23 (IANS) Buoyed by MahaYutias resounding performance, Chief Minister and Shiv Sena President Eknath Shinde expressed gratitude to the people of Maharashtra and offered special thanks to 'Ladke Bahin (beloved sisters)' and 'Ladka Bhau (beloved Bhau)' for the overwhelming support.

"What we worked on for the last two and half years, we will now do in the next five years," he said in his first reaction. "This is a huge mandate, landslide and historical victory," he claimed.

The Chief Minister said that the results are still coming and after the final numbers are out the MahaYuti partners will sit together and decide on the Chief Minister.

Referring to statements by some BJP leaders that the party with the highest numbers will get the CMas post, Shinde reiterated that nothing has been decided so far in this regard.

"MahaYuti senior leaders will sit together. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah are there. We will sit together and decide on the CMas post," he said.

The Chief Minister claimed that the Ladki Bahin Yojana has been a game changer and the MahaYuti also received support from Laka Bhau. Under the Ladki Bahin Yojana, the state government has deposited financial aid of Rs 7,500 crore (July - November Rs 1,500 each) to over 2.36 crore eligible women beneficiaries. Under the Ladka Bhau scheme, the government has launched training for youths to increase their skill sets for getting jobs. Both schemes have yielded positive results for the MahaYuti.

BJP leader and Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis in a post on X said, "Ek Hai to Safe Hai and also Modi Hai to Mumkin Hai." He met the party in charge and Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav at his residence in the wake of the party's stellar performance and MahaYutias landslide victory.

NCP president and Dy CM Ajit Pawar in his post on X said, "Maharashtra chooses pink." He was felicitated by the partyas working president Praful Patel and state unit chief Sunil Tatkare on the partyas resounding performance.
New Delhi, Nov 23 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led MahaYuti is poised for a landslide victory in the high-stakes Maharashtra Assembly elections, leaving the rival Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) -- comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP-SP -- in disarray, as per the trends till 1:00 p.m.

BJP leaders, speaking to IANS, expressed that the results were expected, attributing them to the widespread acknowledgement of the developmental work carried out by the MahaYuti government.

BJP spokesperson Radhika Khera highlighted the unity among the people of Maharashtra, stating, "The people have voted for development, setting aside religion and caste, proving Prime Minister Narendra Modi's slogan 'Ek hai to safe hai.' They have demonstrated that unity is strength, echoing the saying, 'United we stand, divided we fall.'"

Khera further criticised Congress, saying, "Did any of our leaders ever question a journalist's caste or religion? Did we ever ask an army personnel or Miss India about their castes? Congress has consistently tried to divide people based on caste and religion, but the public has rejected such politics."

Delhi BJP Vice President Kapil Mishra described the outcome as a "historic mandate", asserting that the BJP's message of Hindu unity resonated with voters.

"The people have responded to those who insulted Hindus and made derogatory remarks about Sanatan Dharma. The alliance led by Devendra Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde has been accepted wholeheartedly," he said.

Mishra also expressed optimism about upcoming elections in Delhi, saying, "Mumbai is ours, now it's Delhi's turn."

BJP spokesperson Tom Vadakkan attributed the leads to the diligent efforts of BJP workers in fulfilling their promises to the people.

"The trends are a reflection of the tireless work we've done in Maharashtra," he said.

He also expressed confidence in the BJP's prospects in Jharkhand, crediting PM Modi's development-oriented and unifying approach.

Meanwhile, the MVA is grappling with what analysts are calling a "Maha stunner".

The BJP's performance has outpaced even the most optimistic predictions, with the latest trends showing BJP leading on 126 seats, Shiv Sena on 55, and NCP on 39. In contrast, Congress, SS (UBT), and NCP-SP are trailing with leads on 21, 18, and 12 seats, respectively.

What is particularly striking is the BJP's solo performance, surpassing the combined strength of the MVA. Despite the MVA's aggressive campaign and the controversy surrounding a cash-for-votes scandal on the eve of polling, the electorate appears to have overwhelmingly favoured the MahaYuti alliance.

The BJP's dominant strike rate is seen as a clear endorsement of its governance and campaign strategy, delivering a significant blow to the opposition's efforts to counter its narrative.
People attend the closing ceremony of the 45th edition of the Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) in Cairo, Egypt, Nov. 22, 2024. Launched in 1976, the CIFF is one of the oldest film festivals in the Arab world, Africa, and the Middle East. This year's edition featured around 190 films from more than 70 countries and regions. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

CAIRO, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese film Brief History of a Family won the Network for the Promotion of the Asia Pacific Cinema Award as the best Asian feature film at the 45th Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) concluded here on Friday evening.

"This is my first feature film ... It's a great experience. In all the competitions here, it was the only feature-length Chinese language film. So, that's very special and I'm very happy to win the award," Lin Jianjie, the director, told Xinhua after receiving the award.

"What I want to do is to bring the Chinese film on the international stage. I think this is a very great achievement for the film," he added.

The film tells the story of a Chinese middle-class family and their son's mysterious friend, with a focus on the bonds between family members.

The jury statement said the film demonstrated a subtle exploration of emotions and the use of imagery and sound design. "They told me it doesn't look like a filmmaker's first feature. It's very mature, and it has a very distinct artistic vision," Lin told Xinhua.

The Chinese feature will be screened on Saturday at one of the theaters of Cairo Opera House, where the 45th CIFF was held.

This year's CIFF saw a strong presence of Chinese films. A highlight of the event was the Chinese Cinema Week, during which seven Chinese features were screened. Among these was Decoded, directed by Chen Sicheng, who received the CIFF's Golden Pyramid honorary award.

"China has a great cinema industry for a long time, and we used to watch Chinese films while learning filmmaking," said Egyptian film director Khaled El-Hagar, a jury member of the International Critics' Week Competition.

"It is important for the Egyptian and Arab audience to watch films from different cultures such as China, India, and other Asian countries, not just European and American films," he told Xinhua, describing Brief History of a Family as "very interesting and intriguing."

During the ten-day festival, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the CIFF and the Beijing International Film Festival to boost cooperation between the two sides in relevant areas.

"Egypt and China have very strong relations for long decades, especially in the field of arts. In fact, the cinematic and artistic experiences of both countries reflect their civilizations and show a similarity in their dramatic style," Egyptian Minister of Culture Ahmed Fouad Hanno told reporters during the closing ceremony.

He added that this artistic cooperation and closeness between Egypt and China would certainly provide a boost to bilateral cultural exchange.

As for the main International Competition of the CIFF, the Romanian film The New Year That Never Came, directed by Bogdan Muresanu, won the top Golden Pyramid Award, while Russia's Postmarks and Brazil's Malu got the Silver Pyramid and the Bronze Pyramid, respectively.

Launched in 1976, the CIFF is one of the oldest film festivals in the Arab world, Africa, and the Middle East. This year's edition featured around 190 films from more than 70 countries and regions. 
Mumbai, Nov 23 : As the vote counting progresses in Maharashtra, BJP leader and former MP Kirit Somaiya declared on Saturday that the people of Maharashtra have decisively chosen development over rhetoric.

Talking to IANS, Kirit Somaiya said, "The people have chosen us because of our focus on development and the trust they have in us."

"They've endorsed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's slogan 'Ek Hai To Safe Hai,' Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's 'Batenge to Katenge,' and Devendra Fadnavis' 'Dharmayuddh.' This is a clear rejection of Uddhav Thackeray and his ideology."

He didn't stop there, launching an attack on the Opposition's narrative.

"I have a solution for 'Vote Jihad' and 'Love Jihad,' which are being promoted by Rahul Gandhi and Uddhav Thackeray," he asserted, pointing to a recent study by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) that revealed a significant decline in the Hindu population in Maharashtra.

"The people have rejected these jihads," Somaiya added.

The BJP leader also took aim at Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut, who had raised concerns about irregularities in the poll results.

"Sanjay Raut is merely upset. The party he represents has been outright rejected by the people. Naturally, he is disappointed and making such remarks," Somaiya said, expressing solidarity with Raut in his moment of defeat.

Somaiya's optimism was palpable as he spoke about the future of Maharashtra, promising that the state's next Chief Minister will be someone focused on development.

"The Chief Minister will be someone who works for the welfare of the people," he said.

As the trends continue to unfold, the Mahayuti alliance -- comprising BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP -- looks set to claim a landslide victory, with a commanding lead of over 222 seats out of the 288. Meanwhile, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition appears to be heading for a crushing defeat, currently holding just around 50-60 seats.

In sharp contrast to the predictions of exit polls, the actual results indicate a resounding triumph for the NDA, as voter turnout increased to 66 per cent from 61.1 per cent in 2019.
Las Vegas, Nov 23 : Mercedes driver George Russell delivered a stunning performance to claim pole position for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, narrowly beating Ferrari's Carlos Sainz by just 0.098 seconds. The result marked Russell's first pole since the British Grand Prix in July and Mercedes' best showing in months.

Mercedes looked strong throughout the weekend, with Lewis Hamilton dominating the early practice sessions and Russell topping the charts on Saturday morning. However, it was Russell who emerged as the star in qualifying.

The Briton's session was far from smooth. Early in Q3, he clipped the wall, damaging his front wing and forcing a quick repair in the garage. But instead of faltering, Russell regrouped, insisting on going out last in the final shootout to take full advantage of the improving track conditions.

His decisive lap of 1:32.312 edged out Sainz's 1:32:410, who had held the provisional pole for much of the session.

Speaking after qualifying, Russell expressed his elation: "It's an incredible feeling to be on pole here in Vegas. The team has worked tirelessly, and after hitting the wall, I knew I had to stay calm and deliver when it counted. Thankfully, everything came together in the end."

The top three saw an unexpected contender in Alpine's Pierre Gasly 1:32:664, who secured a remarkable third place. Gasly's performance shocked the paddock, as Alpine had not been tipped to challenge the front-runners this weekend.

Behind Gasly, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc endured a frustrating session. Mistakes on his first and final laps hindered his progress, yet he salvaged fourth place, hinting that a shot at pole was within reach had things gone differently.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen, starting will start Sunday's race from fifth place, found himself unusually off pace. The reigning champion was unable to extract the best from his car, trailing behind title rival Lando Norris of McLaren, who starts sixth. For Norris, the stakes are high, as he must finish ahead of Verstappen in Sunday's race to keep his title hopes alive heading into the next round in Qatar.

For Hamilton, qualifying was a bitter pill to swallow. The seven-time world champion topped the second session, raising hopes of a front-row start, but two critical mistakes in Q3 left him languishing in 10th. Hamilton admitted post-session that he was "frustrated" with himself and had "let the team down" at a crucial moment.

Elsewhere, Red Bull's Yuki Tsunoda secured an impressive seventh place, outpacing McLaren's Oscar Piastri in eighth. Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg delivered a solid performance to take ninth, ahead of Hamilton.

The final Q3 shootout was delayed by nearly 30 minutes after a crash by Williams rookie Franco Colapinto at the end of Q2. The incident led to an extended red flag period as marshals cleared the track, adding to the tension of an already dramatic evening.

Las Vegas GP Qualifying: Top 10

1) George Russell, Mercedes: 1:32:312

2) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari: 1:32:410

3) Pierre Gasly, Alpine: 1:32:664

4) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari: 1:32:783

5) Max Verstappen, Red Bull: 1:32:797

6) Lando Norris, McLaren: 1:33:008

7) Yuki Tsunoda, RB: 1:33:029

8) Oscar Piastri, McLaren: 1:33:033

9) Nico Hulkenberg, Haas: 1:33:062

10) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes: 1:48:106
Mumbai, Nov 23 : The Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana has proved to be a game changer for the MahaYuti alliance of BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP in the Maharashtra Assembly elections.

Despite the opposition terming it a 'bribe' to the women, the MahaYuti made special efforts to promote the scheme by organising functions across the state. Each of the over 2.36 crore eligible women beneficiaries received Rs 7,500 (Rs 1,500 each for five months from July to November) and they overwhelmingly supported the MahaYuti.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in his reaction admitted that the Ladki Bahin Yojana had done wonders for MahaYuti resulting in resounding performance. Incidentally, the women and child development department headed by NCP Minister Aditi Tatkare and her team strived to make the scheme a great success as it was implemented smoothly without major errors.

Of the total 9.70 crore voters, 6.40 crore voters cast their votes in November. Of the 6.40 crore voters, 3.06 crore were women and 3.34 crore men. The MahaYutias pro-women campaign worked as they came in a large number to vote. The women voters responded positively to MahaYutias assurance to increase the monthly aid to Rs 2,100. The Chief Minister during a series of rallies announced that the MahaYuti government after being voted to power will increase the monthly aid in phases to Rs 3,000.

On the other hand, Maha Vikas Aghadias promise of monthly aid of Rs 4,000 under the Mahalakshmi Yojana did not enthuse the women voters much. Women voters showed by voting in large numbers that they were happy with the MahaYutias fulfilment of its promise and its resolve to continue to the Ladki Bahin Yojana after coming to power again. They were not prepared to wait for Maha Vikas Aghadias aid of Rs 4,000.

The MahaYuti leaders, including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Dy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, strongly projected that Maha Vikas Aghadi would close down all welfare and development schemes launched by the MahaYuti government.

CM Shinde and his two deputies also rubbished the oppositionas claim that the Ladki Bahin Yojana would be wound up as it was an election 'jumla'. The Chief Minister and two Dy CMs reiterated that the welfare and development schemes have been launched considering the state's financial condition by making adequate allocation. The government has earmarked Rs 46,000 crore for Ladki Bahin Yojana during 2004-25.

On the other hand, Maha Vikas Aghadi failed to create magic with its promise of Rs 4,000 aid. MahaVikas Aghadi went on to criticise the state government over the rising fiscal deficit which was reported at Rs 2.30 lakh crore and public debt of over Rs 7.82 lakh crore cautioning that the state is heading for a major financial crisis. However, it did not work in its favour as the women voters and the beneficiaries of other welfare and development schemes seem to have been convinced that the state government is in a position to mobilise necessary resources internally and also with the strong backing of the Centre.

(Sanjay Jog can be contacted at sanjay.j@ians.in)
Mumbai, Nov 23 : Actress Sharvari, who had an incredible year in movies with 'Munjya' and 'Maharaj' both gaining massive attention, has lauded the Viksit Bharat initiative.

Aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for greater youth involvement in shaping the nation's future, the Ministry of Youth Affairs has reimagined the National Youth Festival into Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue. The initiative aims to capture the collective potential of India's youth, and encourage them to contribute to the country's development.

Sharvari has urged the youth of the country to participate in nation building. Talking about the initiative, she said, "It is hugely empowering to know that the youth can present ideas on nation building to the honourable Prime Minister of our country, Narendra Modi and some of the biggest global icons. I'm delighted to join the Viksit Bharat Youth Leaders Dialogue and invite everyone to share their ideas to make India the best country in the world".

She further mentioned, "We are a young country, we have huge ambitions and aspirations but to achieve our goals, we need to take part in strengthening our motherland. We need to take active part in engaging with our leaders and sharing our ideas. Everyone must contribute and every voice is important".

The Viksit Bharat @2047 initiative aims to make India a developed nation on the 100th anniversary of its independence in 2047. This roadmap emphasises inclusive development, sustainable progress, and effective governance.

Meanwhile, Sharvari, who earlier was an assistant director, made her acting debut with the 2021 movie 'Bunty Aur Babli 2'. However, it was her second movie 'Munjya' after a wait of 3 years that gave a boost to her career. She followed it up with her streaming movie 'Maharaj' which also starred Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan's elder son Junaid, and Jaideep Ahlawat in a negative role.
Mumbai, Nov 23 : Actress Suhana Khan, the daughter of Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan, has shared a sweet birthday wish for her 'The Archies' co-star Agastya Nanda.

This comes amid her link-up rumours with Agastya.

On Saturday, Suhana took to the Stories section of her Instagram, and shared a monochromatic picture of herself with Agastya in which she can be seen playfully pulling the ear of her co-star.

She simply wrote on the picture, "Happy birthday".

Earlier, the actress shared rare pictures of her childhood with her father, the Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan and her brother, Aaryan Khan on SRK's birthday.

She took to the Stories section of her Instagram, and shared pictures in sepia tone on the occasion of her father's birthday. She wrote on the picture, "Happy birthday, love you the most". King Khan celebrated his 59th birthday on November 2.

The actor, who entered the film industry after a brief stint in television, capitalised on the opening of India's economy, and made a seamless shift from grey characters to the king of romance.

SRK is inarguably the face of Indian cinema across the world with several honorary doctorate degrees, a Padma Shri, and the French Legion of Honour. The actor was last seen in 'Jawan' and single-handedly pulled the Hindi film industry out of the commercial lull induced due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The actress made her debut with 'The Archies' which was dubbed a critical disaster. The film was also panned for being the debut vehicle of Bollywood kids, and was caught in the nepotism controversy.

Meanwhile, Suhana will be next seen in the upcoming movie 'King' which also stars SRK in the titular role.
Mumbai, Nov 23 : Most of the state elections are now over, and the market may find stability as government spending will improve in the coming months to meet the FY25 capex target, market experts said on Saturday.

The Indian benchmark indices recouped the current week's losses on Friday with a strong bounce back as investors used the bargain opportunity to accumulate beaten-down stocks.

Sensex closed at 79,117.11 this week after gaining 1,961.32 points, or 2.54 per cent, and Nifty closed at 23,907.25 with a gain of 557.35 points, or 2.39 per cent. The rally in financial stocks and strong US labour market data were among the factors that drove the Sensex and Nifty up more than 2 per cent.

A rally in blue-chip bank stocks also helped the benchmark indices jump in Friday's trade.

"Many of the blue chips are available at below-average valuations, while meaningful corrections in mid- and small-cap indices provide an opportunity for broad-based momentum," said experts.

Sectors like realty, FMCG, auto, consumption, banks, and IT gained more than 2 per cent

According to Krishna Appala from Capitalmind Research, opportunities exist in specific sectors and broader themes that hold long-term potential, particularly in areas that have experienced significant price adjustments but remain fundamentally strong.

"Investors are cautiously adding to positions in areas that offer greater clarity on earnings visibility, especially where the longer-term structural story remains intact. While patience is essential, the sector's adjusted valuations make it an area worth monitoring closely," Appala maintained.

In the broader market, corrections are creating opportunities to accumulate quality stocks with strong fundamentals and resilience to macroeconomic pressures.

Despite global challenges, India's long-term growth story remains compelling.

"Investors should focus on sectors aligned with structural themes such as urbanisation, infrastructure, and consumption growth. Strategic portfolio adjustments, disciplined investing, and a long-term perspective are critical to navigating the current environment," said experts.

On Friday, all sectoral indices ended in the green with Nifty IT surging over 3 per cent. Buying emerged at lower levels in blue-chip stocks causing several index heavy-weights to gain significantly.

"On Monday, the market will react to the outcome of state assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand along with other global triggers including developments in the Russia-Ukraine war," said Siddhartha Khemka, Head - Research, Wealth Management, Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd.
Mumbai, Nov 23 : Pro-Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange-Patil despite his repeated calls to his supporters to vote against BJP, failed to create magic, especially in 46 Assembly seats of Marathwada.

The MahaYuti comprising BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP, which had received a major setback due to the protests over Maratha and OBC reservations during the Lok Sabha elections, got a major boost in Marathwada as it is leading in a record 36 of the total 46 seats. Jarange-Patil factor has miserably failed to woo pro-Maratha quota voters to mobilise against BJP and MahaYuti in particular.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi was hopeful to cash in on the MDM factor (Muslim Dalit Maratha) to outsmart the MahaYuti and BJP in particular in Marathwada. However, it failed to get positive results.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde reiterated in the poll rallies that the MahaYuti government has already provided 10 per cent reservation to the Maratha community and will give quota from the OBC reservation after being voted to power. The Maratha community seems to have rallied behind the MahaYuti instead of Maha Vikas Aghadi which went on to make a strong case for increasing the present 50 per cent quota limit to provide reservations to Maratha, Dhangar and other communities that will pass the test of law.

On the other hand, the BJP played its card in a calculated manner. In a serious bid to counter Jarange-Patilas anti-BJP and anti-Fadnavis stand, the party made a series of efforts to consolidate its position in OBC and its various subcastes. This was also to make up for the loss in votes from the Maratha community.

The state BJP in charge of the Assembly election and Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav took personal efforts to organise meetings with members belonging to OBC sub-castes on the lines of the Haryana experiment. BJP implemented its Mali, Dhangar and Vanjari formula with a difference to checkmate Jarange-Patilas pro-Maratha rhetoric.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah held several meetings in Marathwada and the rest of Maharashtra projecting Congress party anti-SC, ST, OBC and tribals. They argued that the BJP-led government at the Centre and the MahaYuti government in the state took various initiatives for the empowerment of the downtrodden and their progress. The Prime Minister and Home Minister also accused Congress and the INDIA block of playing divisive politics urging the voters not to succumb to its design.

As far as Jarange-Patil is concerned, his switch-on-off moves did not suit his supporters, especially the Maratha community. He had announced to field a few pro-Maratha quota supporters in the electoral fray but later withdrew from his decision. His turnaround further confused his supporters. Thereafter, his call to support Muslim, Dalit and Maratha candidates in a few seats did not work which ultimately benefited the MahaYuti.

Although MahaYuti has improved its performance after a dismal show in the Lok Sabha elections in Marathwada, it will have to strive to ensure the Maratha quota stands legal scrutiny. Besides, the government while providing reservations to the Maratha community from the OBC quota will have to pacify the OBC leaders and NCP veteran Chhagan Bhujbal who is against such a move. It will have to strike a delicate balance on the issue while charting its path in the future.

(Sanjay Jog can be contacted at sanjay.j@ians.in)
Bengaluru, Nov 23 : Karnataka BJP on Saturday alleged that the Congress win in the Assembly by-elections was due to money power and not because of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah or Deputy CM and party's state chief D.K. Shivakumar.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashoka said the Congress has not got the crown by winning the by-election.

"As there are reasons for the victories, there are reasons for the defeat as well. The announcement of the candidate at the last minute to the Channapatna Assembly segment was a setback for the NDA," Ashoka stated.

The contest of sons of Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy in Channapatna and former CM and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai in Shiggaon have also proved to be a setback for us, he stated.

"It seems Nikhil Kumaraswamy is not lucky. He has become "Abhimanyu" who could not come out of 'Chakravyuh". He had tasted defeat twice earlier," Ashoka stated.

"The Congress party used money in the bypolls to ensure victory at any cost. The people have voted for the Congress thinking that they will face problems with regard to the development," Ashoka said.

"It is not a victory for CM Siddaramaiah or the Dy CM Shivakumar. It is a victory for the money power. The BJP will turn the defeat into victory in coming days," he stated.

BJP state President B.Y. Vijayendra stated, "In Karnataka, we have suffered setbacks in all three seats. We had confidence that our candidates would win all seats. We are disappointed with the results. In the coming days, the leaders of BJP and JD(S) parties will hold a meeting and discuss the reasons for our setback."

"We will analyze why we could not win those seats and honestly take up the corrective measures," Vijayendra has stated.

The ruling Congress has won all three seats in the crucial Karnataka by-election. The BJP and JD(S) suffered a setback as they lost the Shiggaon and Channapatna seats they held earlier respectively.
Mumbai, Nov 23 : Crediting the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana for the MahaYuti's landslide victory in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Ramdas Athawale, on Saturday said the Maha Vikas Aghadi's (MVA) politics of abusing rivals, especially Prime Minister Narendra Modi, proved to be its undoing.

"Our victory has been made bigger by the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana," Athawale, who heads the Republican Party of India (A) which is part of the NDA, told IANS.

Under the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, the Maharashtra government gives eligible women a financial assistance of Rs 1,500 per month.

Athawale said the BJP-led MahaYuti was always confident of returning to power in Maharashtra but the crossing of the 200-seat mark has come as a happy surprise.

"PM Modi's all-round development has been backed by voters from all sections of society, including women, farmers, youth and the poor," he said.

He blamed the MVA's regressive politics for its loss.

"They took to MahaYuti-bashing on a daily basis and lost the plot. This tactic, which worked for them in the Lok Sabha elections, flopped," he said.

"Abusing Prime Minister Modi proved costly for them," he said, adding that Maharashtra voters have rejected the MVA's politics of personal attacks.

He said Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut never spared an opportunity to abuse Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, adding, "Almost every day, Raut used to call Shinde a traitor."

Talking about the key electoral issues, he said an attempt to convert the direct fight between the MahaYuti and MVA into 'Vote Jihad' and 'Dharam yudh' failed miserably.

Discussing issues related to government formation, the RPI(A) leader said, "Even before the declaration of results, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis had assured that our party will be getting one Cabinet post and one MLC slot in Maharashtra."

"Fadnavis had asked my party to be part of the government," Athawale said, referring to his discussion with the BJP leader before the declaration of results.

He also hit out at the MVA leaders for questioning the EVMs and said, "The EVMs were brought in during the Congress' rule. When the EVMs lead to their victory in Jharkhand then these are labeled good, but when they lose in Maharashtra they start questioning them."

Athawale said there was no competition within the MahaYuti over the CM face and an amicable decision was likely to be taken by Sunday.
Bengaluru, Nov 23 : Karnataka's ruling Congress on Saturday won all three seats in the crucial by-elections, retaining the Sandur constituency while wresting the Shiggaon and Channapatna constituencies from the BJP and the JD-S, respectively.

According to the EC, in the high-profile Channapatna constituency, Nikhil Kumaraswamy, the NDA candidate and son of Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, was defeated by Congress candidate, senior leader C.P. Yogeshwara by a big margin of 25,413 votes.

Nikhil Kumaraswamy polled 87,229 votes while Yogeshwara got 1,12,413 votes.

The segment had witnessed a remarkable 88.80 per cent voting in the bye-election. A total of 427 voters opted for NOTA here.

In the Shiggaon Assembly constituency, BJP candidate Bharath Bommai, son of MP and former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, was defeated by 13,448 votes by the Congress candidate Yasir Ahmed Khan Pathan.

Pathan, who suffered an initial setback, managed a strong comeback and got 1.07 lakh votes. Bharat Bommai polled 87,308 votes, and 834 NOTA votes were cast.

E. Annapoorna of the Congress has won the by-election to the Sandur-ST constituency by 9,649 votes.

She secured 93,616 votes defeating her nearest rival, BJP candidate Bangaru Hanumantha, who managed to get 83,967 votes.

Reacting to the victory, State Minister for Labour Santhosh Lad said the Congress had won the seat for the seventh consecutive time. The result has shown that the people are not bothered about allegations of Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam, Waqf row and mainly Tribal Welfare Board scams, he said.

"The result has shown that the people are with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah," he stated.

Mocked by Congress workers after the declaration of defeat, the BJP candidate Hanumanthu challenged them, saying that he would ensure victory for the BJP in the 2028 Assembly elections.

In Shiggaon, Congress supporters have started chanting abye, bye Bommaia slogans. They also celebrated with the waving posters of Minister for Waqf and Housing Zameer Ahmad Khan.

The three went to the polls following the resignations of sitting legislators who successfully contested the Lok Sabha elections.

Of the three seats, the Channapatna seat was considered the most high-profile, as it witnessed a showdown between the families of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress President D. K. Shivakumar.

The Channapatna Assembly seat was represented by Union Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy, Shiggaon seat was held by former CM and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai. Sandur's seat, where the BJP has never won, was represented by the Congress MP E. Tukaram.
Peter Breuer, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) senior mission chief for Sri Lanka, speaks during a press conference in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Nov. 23, 2024. The IMF staff and the Sri Lankan government have reached a staff-level agreement on economic policies to conclude the third review of Sri Lanka's economic reform program supported by the IMF's Extended Fund Facility (EFF), the IMF said in a press release on Saturday. (Photo by Gayan Sameera/Xinhua)

COLOMBO, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff and the Sri Lankan government have reached a staff-level agreement on economic policies to conclude the third review of Sri Lanka's economic reform program supported by the IMF's Extended Fund Facility (EFF), the IMF said in a press release on Saturday.

The IMF said once the review is approved by IMF management and completed by the IMF Executive Board, Sri Lanka will have access to about 333 million U.S. dollars in financing.

This would bring the total IMF financial support disbursed under the arrangement to about 1.33 billion dollars, the IMF said.

The IMF said that the new government's commitment to the program objectives has enhanced confidence and ensures policy continuity and sustaining the reform momentum is critical to safeguarding the hard-won gains under the program.

The IMF said the approval by IMF management and the IMF Executive Board is contingent on prior actions by Sri Lanka including the submission of the 2025 budget consistent with program objectives, the completion of financing assurances review, which will focus on confirming multilateral partners' committed financing contributions, and whether adequate progress has been made with the debt restructuring.

An IMF team led by Peter Breuer, senior mission chief for Sri Lanka, visited Colombo from Nov. 17 to 23, 2024.

In March 2023, the IMF approved a 48-month Extended Fund Facility arrangement, amounting to approximately 3 billion dollars, to support Sri Lanka's economic reform and recovery efforts. 
Patna, Nov 23 : In the high-stakes battle for Bihar by-polls, the Mahagathbandhan comprising Congress and RJD suffered defeat in all four assembly constituencies. After the counting concluded, the poll officials declared the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) victorious in all four constituencies - Ramgarh, Tarari, Imamganj, and Belaganj.

In Belaganj, JD(U)as Manorama Devi secured a decisive win over RJDas Vishwanath Kumar Singh by a margin of 21,391 votes, breaking RJDas three-decade-long grip on the seat.

This victory came as significant blow to the RJD, which had held the seat since the 1990s. Meanwhile, in Tarari, the BJP celebrated a historic win, marking its first-ever victory in this constituency. Vishal Prashant, son of powerful leader Sunil Pandey, triumphed over CPI(ML)as Raju Yadav by 10,612 votes.

The contest in Imamganj saw Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhias daughter-in-law, Deepa Manjhi, continuing the familyas political legacy by defeating RJDas Roshan Manjhi by 5,945 votes. Jan Surajas candidate, Jitendra Paswan, finished third, securing 37,103 votes.

Ramgarh witnessed a nail-biting race, where BJPas Ashok Singh edged out BSPas Satish alias Pintu Yadav by just 1,362 votes. The contest was particularly tense as RJDas Ajit Singh, son of state president Jagdanand Singh and brother of MP Sudhakar Singh, came third, leaving the counting hall midway in disappointment.

These by-elections, which took place on November 13, are seen as a semi-final ahead of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections. With 38 candidatesa reputations at stake, the results have dealt a blow to the opposition INDIA alliance, led by the RJD.

The biggest blow for the INDIA bloc came in Belaganj, where they lost a seat that had been a bastion of their power for over 30 years, signalling a shift in the political landscape of Bihar.

In the recently held Assembly by-polls, the average voter turnout stood at 52.84 per cent with no incidents of disturbance or violence.
Jaipur, Nov 23 : The Congress on Saturday won the much-discussed Dausa seat where the BJP had fielded state minister Kirodi Lal Meena's brother Jagmohan Meena.

Even as the counting of votes saw many flip-flops during the various rounds, however, in the last phase, the Congress' Deen Dayal emerged as a winner and defeated Jagmohan Meena.

The Congress' candidate garnered 75,334 votes while the BJP's Jagmohan Meena got 73,034 and Deen Dayal won with a thin margin of 2,300 votes.

The election here was very keenly watched as Kirodi Lal Meena's image was at stake.

He had already submitted his resignation from the state Cabinet after the BJP lost the Dausa seat in the Lok Sabha polls, taking responsibility for the defeat on himself.

Sources said that Kirodi was annoyed that his brother was denied a ticket from this seat in the Lok Sabha polls and hence the party lost the election.

Eventually, the BJP this time fielded his brother Jagmohan and Kirodi was seen making hectic efforts and campaigning extensively in support of his brother.

The seat went vacant here after Murari Lal Meena who won the Assembly elections on a Congress ticket in 2023, contested the Lok Sabha polls and emerged as the winner to become an MP.

Eventually, the Congress fielded Deen Dayal who was backed by Murari Lal Meena who comes from the Sachin Pilot lobby.

As Murari Lal Meena is a staunch supporter of Sachin Pilot, all eyes were on this seat as the political prestige of Pilot and Kirodi was at stake here.

Finally, the Congress has retained this seat, adding to the image of Sachin Pilot, said political experts.

Speaking on the status of Kirodi Lal Meena after his resignation, Madan Rathore, Rajasthan BJP President said, "Our party has not accepted his resignation and he continues to be our minister."

The BJP initially wanted to give a ticket to a Brahmin candidate, however, it was because of pressure from Kirodi that his brother was fielded from here.

Basically, the general caste did not come out for voting and hence came this defeat, said sources.
Washington, Nov 23 : Security burden sharing between the US and South Korea is not just about Seoul's defence spending, a Pentagon official said amid concerns that US President-elect Donald Trump could seek renegotiation of a recent defence cost-sharing deal between the two allies.

Jedidiah Royal, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, made the remarks, pointing to a set of areas, where South Korea can work together with the US to advance mutual security benefits in the Indo-Pacific, Yonhap news agency reported.

"The next administration will undoubtedly look to understand these arrangements for themselves, but I would add that sharing responsibility is not just about defence spending or SMA contributions," Royal said in a keynote speech at a forum hosted by The Korea Society. SMA stands for Special Measures Agreement, the defence cost-sharing deal between Seoul and Washington.

"The ROK's high-tech industrial base, for example, can provide a concrete and tangible contribution to sharing the burden of maintaining peace and stability, and ROK support to others in the region is also part of working together for our mutual security benefit," he added. ROK is short for South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea.

Last month, South Korea and the US struck the 12th SMA to determine Seoul's share of the cost for the stationing of the 28,500-strong US Forces Korea (USFK). Under the deal that will last through 2030, Seoul is to pay 1.52 trillion won ($1.08 billion) in 2026, up from 1.4 trillion won in 2025.

After the conclusion of SMA negotiations, Trump said in a campaign speech that South Korea would be paying $10 billion a year for the stationing of USFK if he was in the White House. He also described the Asian ally as a "money machine."

His remarks spawned speculation that Trump could seek a revision of the deal to have Seoul pay more for the US troop presence in South Korea.

Royal stressed that the latest SMA will "put us in a durable position with US forces based in South Korea going forward."

"It is an important time to put some emphasis on how we share the burden and the responsibility for security in this critical part of the world," he said.

At the same forum, former US Ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris voiced hope that the incoming Trump administration would reaffirm the Washington Declaration "in its totality."

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and US President Joe Biden issued the declaration during their White House summit last year as part of efforts to enhance the credibility of America's extended deterrence commitment to using the full range of its military capabilities, including nuclear arms, to defend its Asian ally.

The declaration includes the leaders' agreement to launch the Nuclear Consultative Group, a key nuclear deterrence body.

"I would like to see a strong, positive reaffirmation of the Washington Declaration in its totality, not just the nuclear consultative piece of it," he said.
Bengaluru, Nov 23 : Union Minister H.D. Kuamaraswamy's son Nikhil Kumaraswamy said on Saturday that the election defeat is shocking, and he bows down to the voters' decision.

"I bow down to the decision of the voters. The people of the region have helped former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda (grandfather) and Union Minister Kumaraswamy (father) to become great leaders. I will keep my promises in the campaign and work for the good of the society," Nikhil said while reacting to the defeat in the bypolls held for the Channapatna seat.

Nikhil lost to Congress candidate C.P. Yoheshwara by 25,413 votes, who after winning claimed that the JD-S's days are numbered in the state.

Yogeshwara said Kumaraswamy made his son Nikhil a sacrificial goat for his prestige, adding that Kumaraswamy could have made him contest for general election in Mandya and ensured his victory.

"As he (Kumaraswamy) wanted to become Union Minister, he contested and sacrificed his son's interests.

"I have been told that Deve Gowda is a huge force. However, he is aged now. The people have rejected him for this reason. This is time for him to rest. Following this result, the countdown for the end of the JD-S party has begun," Yogeshwara stressed.

Yogeshwara also thanked Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and his brother D.K. Suresh for his win.

Nikhil polled 87,229 votes while Yogeshwara got 1.12 lakh (1,12,413) votes.

Meanwhile, in the Shiggaon Assembly constituency, Congress candidate Yasir Ahmed Khan Pathan defeated the BJP candidate Bharath Bommai by 13,448 votes.

Former Karnataka Chief Minister and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai said that he also humbly accepts the people's verdict in the Shiggaon bye-election.

"The Congress won by flooding money. I humbly accept and respect the decision of the people of Shiggaon constituency. I congratulate Congress candidate Yasir Khan Pathan. Based on the people's response during the election campaign, we were confident of winning," he said.

He claimed that Congress achieved victory by spending an excessive amount of money.

"Since they are in power, the people of the constituency chose a ruling party candidate," he said.

Congress has won all three seats in the Karnataka by-election. The BJP and JD-S suffered setbacks as they lost the Shiggaon and Channapatna seats they held earlier respectively.

Congress candidate Yasir Khan Pathan who suffered an initial setback managed a strong comeback and got 1.07 lakh votes. Bharat Bommai polled 87,308 votes while 834 NOTA votes were polled.
Ranchi, Nov 23 : Chief Minister Hemant Soren, following a historic win in the Jharkhand Assembly elections, shared heartwarming pictures on social media on Saturday enjoying quality time with his two sons. He captioned the post - "Meri Shakti" (My strength).

Ranchi, Nov 23 (IANS) Chief Minister Hemant Soren, following a historic win in the Jharkhand Assembly elections, shared heartwarming pictures on social media on Saturday enjoying quality time with his two sons. He captioned the post  "Meri Shakti" (My strength).

The image, in which Soren is seen hugging his sons, has gone viral on social media across platforms.

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led alliance, comprising the Congress, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (CPI-ML), has secured a significant lead in 56 seats, ensuring a historic second consecutive term for the coalition under Soren's leadership.

Hemant Soren shared the photos on X, which has garnered a good number of engagements: 317 comments, 785 retweets, and over 9,000 likes, with a reach of 88,000 views till 4 p.m.

Supporters flooded the post with congratulatory messages. A user named Suraj Kumar wrote: "Many congratulations, Chief Minister ji, for the historic victory. Even your own people betrayed you, but you stood like a rock and fought a brilliant battle."

Another user, Mukesh Kumar, urged the Chief Minister to prioritise the welfare of students, saying: "This time, take care of Jharkhand's students as well. I request you to conduct all exams transparently."

Reacting to the election results, JMM General Secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya remarked: "Some people from outside had come and attempted to divide us, but they were swept away. The public has reaffirmed its trust in the grand alliance."

In Ranchi, Chief Minister Soren's wife, Kalpana Soren, who won from the Gandey constituency, also received widespread congratulations after her victory. A long queue of well-wishers gathered to extend their good wishes to her.

As per the Election Commission, the JMM-led alliance has won five seats and is leading in 51 constituencies of the 81-member Assembly. The NDA trails with a lead in only 24 seats.

The results reflect strong voter support for the ruling alliance and pave the way for its continued governance in Jharkhand.
Peshawar, Nov 23 : Situation in the Kurram district of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province remains extremely tense with a major surge in sectarian violence and bloodshed expected in the entire region as the proscribed Shia organisation Zainebiyoun Brigade has vowed to avenge Thursday's killing of 43 Shia Muslims by unidentified gunmen.

Several incidents of violence have been reported from across the country since Friday with angry protesters targeting passenger vehicles, ambulances and police mobiles after the massacre of Shia Muslims who were ambushed and killed while travelling from Parachinar - a Shia dominated area - to Peshawar.

Condemning the killings, angry protestors have set trucks on fire, stoned police vehicles and blocked army convoy routes. They are also blaming the government for its failure to ensure restoration of law and order and maintenance of peace.

Locals fear that the killings have angered Iran-backed Shia militant group Zainebiyoun, which could now set those villages on fire from where the gunmen had attacked the convoys of victims.

The Shia-dominated Parachinar area, which has seen bloody confrontational clashes with the surrounding areas of the Sunni majority in the past, is witnessing a complete shutdown of markets and educational institutions with violent protests being taken out by the locals.

Till now, at least two security checkpoints have been set ablaze while roads have been blocked by stones and burning tyres.

"This region has suffered severely due to sectarian violence. After the killings, threats are being issued that the killings would be avenged by setting on fire all those villages in the surrounding mountains from where the gunmen had opened fire on the vehicles. They want to kill everyone residing in these villages," said a local Parachinar resident.

The protesters in Parachinar are also demanding to open the border with Afghanistan immediately amid fast worsening situation, shortage of food, medicines, fuel and oxygen.

A Shia organisation and political party Majis Wahdat Muslimeen (MWM) has put forward demands to the government, including activating the Parachinar airport due to unsafe roads and the starting of free shuttle service between Parachinar and Peshawar via PIA or air force planes.

MWM has also called for replacement of federal forces by local Kurram militia.

The protestors have warned if their demands are ignored by the provincial and federal government then they would be forced to seek international help by human rights organisations and even the United Nations.
Patna, Nov 23 : The ruling NDA has achieved a sweeping victory in the bye-elections for all four Assembly seats in Bihar, with alliance leaders claiming that the 100 per cent strike rate is a strong indicator of success in the 2025 Assembly polls.

The polling for the bye-elections on November 13 for the four Assembly seats in Bihar was conducted smoothly, registering an average voter turnout of 52.84 per cent.

In the Tarari Assembly constituency, BJP candidate Vishal Prashant emerged victorious. Similarly, the BJP's Ashok Kumar Singh secured the Ramgarh seat by a margin of 1,362 votes after 12 rounds of counting.

Deepa Kumari, the daughter-in-law of Hindustani Awam Morcha-Secular chief Jitan Ram Manjhi, won the tightly-contested Imamganj Assembly seat. In Belaganj, JD(U) candidate Manorma Devi claimed victory.

Reacting to the landslide win, JD-U chief spokesperson Neeraj Kumar credited the victory to the relevance of regional parties and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's developmental work.

Speaking to IANS, he said, "The bye-election results in Bihar have made it clear that the role of regional parties cannot be undermined. Cooperation and respect for regional or natural alliance parties is necessary."

He added, "The election result in Bihar is very significant. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) insults even its alliance partners, and now they have faced defeat."

Highlighting the challenges in the Shahabad region, Neeraj Kumar stated, "Shahabad faced the problem of Naxalism, and Tarari was under the control of the CPI(ML) for ten years. It has been freed from this control. Similarly, the Imamganj seat near Jharkhand also faces challenges from Naxalism."

"Despite these challenges, Nitish Kumar's utility as a leader remains evident, though it is questioned by those accused of salary scams and those who contest elections funded by liquor companies. Such individuals cannot question Nitish Kumar's integrity," he said.

Taking a direct jab at Jan Suraaj chief Prashant Kishor, the JD-U spokesperson said, "Prashant Kishor, who once claimed to make a Prime Minister and Chief Minister, now finds his party unable to win even four seats. His candidates are not even in the race."

"Those who claimed to make someone the Prime Minister are now struggling to win even an MLA seat in Bihar. Once they stepped out of Nitish Kumar's shadow, they became politically irrelevant," he remarked.

State BJP chief Dilip Jaiswal hailed the victory as the biggest achievement for the NDA, asserting that the alliance is poised to form the government again in 2025.

"This is my first bypoll as party President, and the 100 per cent strike rate is a major milestone. The results in Shahabad and Magadh, where the BJP has historically struggled, send a clear message that the NDA will secure a mandate in the 2025 Assembly elections," he told IANS.

Jaiswal also took a dig at the Opposition and new political entrants, saying, "Some leaders had declared these bye-elections as a semi-final. I had maintained that every election is a final. Those relying on semi-finals have now faced the same fate as the Opposition."

"I treat every election as a challenge. All NDA allies worked together to contest these polls, and this unity has sent a strong message for 2025 when the Nitish Kumar-led government will be formed once again," he added.
New Delhi, Nov 23 : From being led in science and innovative research, India is today in a position to lead others across the world, proven by recent success stories accomplished under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including space sector, biotechnology and vaccine breakthroughs, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, said on Saturday.

Addressing the eighth convocation of the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) in the national Capital, Dr Singh said India has progressed from a single-digit count of space startups to over 300, while the biotechnology sector now boasts nearly 9,000 startups, contributing significantly to the country's economy.

The minister celebrated the accomplishments of women in science, noting the historic appointment of CSIR's first woman Director General, Nallathamby Kalaiselvi.

"India's woman power has always been the foundation of great achievements, but it is now receiving the recognition it deserves," the minister stated.

Dr Singh also highlighted AcSIR's role in fostering interdisciplinary learning, promoting industry-academia collaboration, and driving India's ascent in global science and technology rankings.

He called the institution's futuristic academic approach a cornerstone for achieving PM Modi's vision of a 'Viksit Bharat 2047.'

AcSIR is ranked among the top three per cent of global universities, despite being a relatively young institution.

"AcSIR is not just an academic institution, it's a torchbearer of a new academic culture in India," said the minister, adding that its partnerships with 82 institutions, including CSIR, ICMR, and DST, exemplify effective collaboration in research and development.

AcSIR offers an innovative Integrated PhD (iPhD) programme.

"iPhD links innovation, imagination, and industry right from the start of research journeys, ensuring sustainable startups," said Dr Singh.

The minister tied such efforts to India's meteoric rise in the global innovation ecosystem, moving from 81st to 40th in the Global Innovation Index under the PM Modi government.
Mumbai, Nov 23 : Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde along with his deputies, Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, on Saturday, thanked the people of the state for the MahaYuti's resounding success, accepting the development politics and rejecting the anti-growth and negative politics.

He said the three MahaYuti parties would sit together and decide on the Chief Ministeras post.

CM Shinde took a swipe at the Maha Vikas Aghadi, especially, SS(UBT) for repeatedly claiming that the MahaYuti government would collapse. The CM said that they did not respond to this by making counter-allegations. Terming the poll performance "historical", the Chief Minister said that MahaYutias responsibility to boost the pace of development has further increased. "We have won the hearts and not the votes of people," he claimed.

He took a dig at his former boss Uddhav Thackeray saying, "The poll results have proved that the government cannot be run by sitting at home or through Facebook but by mingling with the people and working 24x7."

The CM said the people have decided whose Shiv Sena is the real Shiv Sena. NCP President Ajit Pawar also determined whose NCP is the real NCP.

The Chief Minister also took a swipe at the opposition for criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his 'Ek Hai To Safe Hai' call saying that it was given for unity. Fadnavis said that the 'Ek Hai To Safe Hai' call given by the Prime Minister was for unity among various sections of the society and todayas mandate was a befitting reply to those doing communal, divisive politics and appeasement politics.

"The election was contested based on the development plank and welfare schemes. People want development. They do not want vindictive politics," he said.

The Chief Minister said the government launched the welfare and development schemes after considering the stateas financial position and also adhering to the Central and RBI norms. "Opposition questioned the MahaYuti government about how the funds will be made available for Ladki Bahin Yojana but later they announced financial aid through Mahalakshmi yojana," he said.

The CM also criticised the opposition for terming financial aid under the Ladki Bahin Yojana as a bribe but said the government undeterred by such allegations focused on its implementation.

He thanked the Centre for giving funds and clearing a slew of projects for Maharashtra, including the Rs 76,000 crore Vadhvan port project. "During the UPA government, the Centre gave Rs 2 lakh crore while the BJP-led government released over Rs 10 lakh crore in the last decade," he said.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Dy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar ridiculed Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut's allegation of poll results as "fraud".
Hubballi, Nov 23 : Union Minister for Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi on Saturday criticised the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, saying that he has failed one more time proving that he is a failed leader.

"The results of the Maharashtra elections reaffirm that Rahul Gandhi is a failed leader. Sonia Gandhi is attempting to revive the Congress by fitting it with new engines, but the aircraft keeps crashing. The Congress aircraft has failed to take off once again. Despite Sonia Gandhi's repeated efforts to launch Rahul Gandhi, the public continues to reject him as a failed leader," the Union Minister said.

The Union Minister said that the Congress has lost its very existence, adding that the regional parties that align with it will meet the same fate.

"There is a grim future for such alliances. Regional parties aligning with Congress would also sink as is evident from Maharashtra and Jharkhand election results. Congress is a sinking ship and who hold its hand will also drown," the Union Minister said.

He added that winning or losing is natural in any election however Congress has reached a state where its very existence is in question.

"Congress has sunk the Nationalist Congress Party-SP, led by Sharad Pawar, and the Shiv Sena faction led by Uddhav Thackeray. If things had gone slightly differently, it would have dragged down Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) as well. Even in Jharkhand, the BJP has given a tough fight to Congress," the Union Minister claimed.

As per the Election Commission, the JMM-led alliance has won five seats and is leading in 51 constituencies of the 81-member Assembly. The NDA trails with a lead in only 24 seats.

The results reflect strong voter support for the ruling alliance and pave the way for its continued governance in Jharkhand.

The MahaYuti in Maharashtra is headed for a landslide victory in what is a resounding reversal of its recent setback in the Lok Sabha polls as projections show the ruling alliance leading in 225 Assembly seats, far ahead of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi's 55.
SYDNEY, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- Australian researchers have discovered the oldest direct evidence of hot water activity on Mars, revealing that the planet may have once been habitable.

In a study published on Saturday, a team led by researchers from Curtin University in Western Australia analyzed a 4.45 billion-year-old zircon grain from the famous Martian meteorite NWA7034, also known as Black Beauty, that was found in the Sahara Desert in 2011.

The researchers found that the grain of zircon, a type of mineral, contained geochemical fingerprints of water-rich fluids, suggesting that water was present during early Martian magmatic activity.

Aaron Cavosie, a co-author of the study from Curtin's School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, said that the discovery would open up new avenues for understanding ancient Martian hydrothermal systems, as well as the planet's past capacity to support life.

"We used nano-scale geochemistry to detect elemental evidence of hot water on Mars 4.45 billion years ago," he said.

"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."

He said that even though Mars' crust endured major meteorite impacts that caused surface upheaval, the research shows that water was present on the planet during the early Pre-Noachian period prior to about 4.1 billion years ago.

The study also involved researchers from the University of Adelaide and was led by Jack Gillespie, a former research associate at Curtin's School of Earth and Planetary Sciences now at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland. 
Perth, Nov 23 : After a fast-moving opening day which saw 17 wickets fall in 76.4 overs, many expected Day Two of the first Test to follow the same route. But with the pitch flattening out, Yashasvi Jaiswal and K.L. Rahul led India's stunning turnaround to extend their lead to 218-run at the end of the day at the Optus Stadium here on Saturday.

Perth, Nov 23 (IANS) After a fast-moving opening day which saw 17 wickets fall in 76.4 overs, many expected Day Two of the first Test to follow the same route. But with the pitch flattening out, Yashasvi Jaiswal and K.L. Rahul led Indiaas stunning turnaround to extend their lead to 218-run at the end of the day at the Optus Stadium here on Saturday.

With the heavy roller used before the start of the second twoas play and once after Australiaas first innings ended on 104 in 51.2 overs which gave India a handy 46-run lead, it meant the pitch eased out under baking sun in front of 32,368 spectators.

That made life easy for Jaiswal and Rahul, who are unbeaten on 90 and 62 respectively, as the duo have now put India into a potential winning position, with their second innings score standing at 172/0 in 57 overs. Both openers were in excellent control, absorbed the new-ball pressure by playing close to their bodies, choosing to employ their shots late and rotated the strike nicely, as India registered its first 100-run opening partnership in Tests in Australia since 2004.

Jaiswal, playing his first Test in Australia, came off a duck in the first innings but showed balanced composure and aggression to be in complete control of hitting seven fours and two sixes. His fifty came in 123 balls a" the slowest half-century of his career so far, but it was the adjustments he showed in his innings that enthralled the fans.

Unlike the first innings, he was not pushing hard at the ball. Instead, he took to defending with soft hands, and with Rahulas guidance from the other end, he grew in confidence and unleashed some powerful shots.

On the other hand, Rahul was calmness and solidity personified to hit four boundaries as he and Jaiswal batted two whole sessions unscathed for India to dominate play on Day Two, resulting in just three wickets falling in 81.2 overs.

In the morning, India had a fantastic start thanks to Jasprit Bumrah striking on his first ball of the day to complete his 11th five-wicket haul in Tests, as he got Alex Carey to nick behind to Rishabh Pant. Nathan Lyon was to fall, after being cramped for room by Harshit Rana, whose well-directed short ball took his glove edge to slip cordon. Bumrah could have got his sixth wicket in Josh Hazlewood if the wrong-footed Pant had made a dive in time to take a catch.

From there, Mitchell Starc was solid in his defence and resorted to strike rotation to fetch important runs for Australia, despite being hit once on the helmet by Rana. It also helped the last-wicket pair of Starc and Hazlewood that the seam movement of the ball went down after 40 overs, thus aiding them more in getting crucial runs.

The duo held their ground well to stitch a stand of 25 runs off 110 balls, the highest partnership in this innings for Australia. But just before lunch break, Rana had Starc miscuing a slog to Pant to dismiss him for 26 off 112 balls and secure a handy lead for India.

In the second innings, Jaiswal looked more sorted and compact from the word go, starting by glancing Starc and guiding Cummins for boundaries, before Rahul played a delightful straight drive off the latter for four by presenting the full face of the bat.

Australia, who were a little off in their length in the first 10 overs, tried bringing in a different result by getting Mitchell Marsh quickly. But Rahul welcomed him by pulling his harmless short ball over square-leg for four, followed by Jaiswal spectacularly ramping Cummins over third man for another boundary.

Rahul feasted on another short ball from Marsh, which he slapped over the backward point for four, while Jaiswal creamed Starc through mid-off and shuffled across to slog him over backward square leg. Australiaas last trick of the second session was bringing on Marnus Labuschagne to bowl medium-pace after summoning Nathan Lyon. However, that didnat help them separate Jaiswal and Rahul as they stepped out for tea.

In the final session, Australia used some tactics a"Cummins resorted to a brief short-ball ploy, while Starc and Hazlewood beat the bat relentlessly and bowled some unplayable deliveries. Some overs were given to Lyon, Travis Head, Marsh and Labuschagne, but none could separate Jaiswal and Rahul, who amassed 22 runs in the first 17 overs of the session.

There was luck on Indiaas side a" on 51, Jaiswal hit a drive away from his body off Starc, but Usman Khawaja couldn't get low enough in time to take the chance at first slip. In the next over, Rahul was sent back by Jaiswal after coming halfway down the pitch, and was back to his crease in time, thus avoiding a run-out.

Amidst this, Jaiswal got to his ninth fifty with a drive to sweeper-cover off Lyon and then proceeded to hammer Marsh through point for four and flick Starc for a beautifully timed six. Rahul drove Starcas half-volley through point for four, before raising his fifty in 124 balls. After scything Cummins through the gap between second and third slip for four, Jaiswal danced down the pitch to dispatch Lyon for a massive six over long-on, which became his 34th maximum hit in Tests in 2024, surpassing Brendon McCullumas 33 sixes in 2014.

Post that, Jaiswal and Rahul ensured India ended the day in a commanding position, while Australia have their backs against a defiant duo and would need something special to make a comeback on Day Three.

Brief scores:

India 150 and 172 for no loss in 57 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 90 not out, KL Rahul 62 not out) lead Australia 104 all out in 51.2 overs (Mitchell Starc 26, Alex Carey 21; Jasprit Bumrah 5-30, Harshit Rana 3-48) by 218 runs
Bengaluru, Nov 23 : The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) held a 'Sant Samavesh' in Bengaluru on Saturday to discuss the Waqf issue, religious conversions and autonomous management of temples in the country.

The meeting will take decisions and submit a memorandum to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot at the Raj Bhavan.

A delegation of saints with VHP President Alok Kumar will also meet the Governor and submit the resolutions passed in the meeting.

Speaking to IANS about the convention, VHP leader Sharan Pumpwell stated, "Across the country and in each region, the conventions of revered saints were being held. Similarly, the convention was held in Bengaluru as well. More than 35 saints were attending the convention."

"Vishwaprasanna Tirtha Swami of the historical Pejawar Mutt from Udupi and other prominent seers were present. Four prominent aspects were discussed in the meeting. Religious conversions were taking place in the state. A resolution on this would be taken up," he said.

"Secondly, our temples were under the control of the state government. The temples must be freed," he said.

Thirdly, the saints were discussing how to bring harmony to society, Sharan stated.

"The meeting was also discussing the Waqf row which has raised concerns in Karnataka. The Waqf board was capturing properties and lands of farmers, temples and other institutions. A decision will be taken on these four issues and the saints will also meet the Governor in the Raj Bhavan and submit a memorandum," he stated.

On the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) also holding a parallel meeting in Bengaluru before the upcoming Parliament session, he stated, "We don't bother about what others were doing, we were concerned about farmers and temples."
Kolkata, Nov 23 : West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress decisively won the bypolls, sweeping all the six Assembly constituencies that voted on November 13.

What has left the Trinamool leadership especially inspired is the victory of the party candidate from the Madarihat Assembly constituency in Alipurduar district, where its candidate Jayprakash Toppo defeated his nearby BJP candidate Rahul Lohar by a margin of 28,168 votes.

The BJP candidate was elected from Madarihat in the two successive Assembly elections in 2016 and 2021. In fact, this is the first-ever victory of Trinamool Congress from Madarihat.

Madarihat went for the bypolls after its sitting BJP legislator Manoj Tigga got elected from the Alipurduar Lok Sabha seat in the general elections earlier this year.

At Madarihat, independent candidate Budhiman Lama and Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) candidate Padam Oraon secured the third and fourth positions respectively, with their deposits being forfeited.

In Sitai, Sangita Roy was declared elected by a massive margin of 1,30,156 votes, defeating her nearest rival, BJP's Dipak Kumar Roy. Congress candidate Harihar Roy Singha and the All India Forward Bloc candidate Arun Kumar Barma came in the third and fourth positions, respectively, and forfeited their deposits.

Roy's winning margin far surpassed that of the victory margin of her husband and the erstwhile Trinamool legislator, Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia, in the 2021 Assembly elections as he had won by just 10,112 votes. Sitai went for bypolls after Basunia resigned as the legislator after being elected from the Cooch Behar Lok Sabha constituency in the general elections this year.

In the Haroa Assembly constituency in North 24 Parganas district, Trinamool candidate Seikh Rabiul Islam won by the biggest margin in this round of bypolls, defeating his closest contestant and Left Front-supported All India Secular Front (AISF) candidate Piyarul Islam by a margin of 1,31,388 votes.

BJP candidate Bimal Das and the Congress candidate Habib Reza Chowdhury secured the third and fourth positions respectively, with their deposits being forfeited.

At the Taldangra Assembly constituency in Bankura district, Trinamool candidate Falguni Singhababu was declared elected by a margin of 33,856 votes over his nearest contestant and BJP candidate Ananya Roy Chakraborty.

CPI-M candidate Debkanti Manti and Congress candidate Tushar Kanti Sannigrahi were in the third and fourth positions respectively, with their deposits being forfeited.

At the Medinipur Assembly constituency in the West Midnapore district, Trinamool candidate Sujoy Hazra defeated his nearest contestant and BJP candidate Subhajit Roy by a margin of 33,996 votes.

CPI candidate Mani Kuntal Khamrai and Congress candidate Shyamal Kumar Ghosh finished in the third and fourth positions, respectively, with their deposits being forfeited.

Trinamool candidate Sanat Dey has been declared elected from the Naihati Assembly constituency in North 24 Parganas district, defeating his nearest contest Rupak Mitra of the BJP, by a margin of 49,277 votes.

Left Front-supported CPI-M-L candidate Dabajyoti Majumder and Congress candidate Paresh Nath Sarkar ended in the third and fourth positions respectively, with their deposits being forfeited.

The bypolls for these six Assembly constituencies were conducted on November 13 and one person died in clashes on the polling day. Bypolls were conducted at these six assembly constituencies as their erstwhile legislators from there got elected as Lok Sabha members in the general elections this year.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had expressed gratitude to the voters of these six Assembly constituencies for electing her party candidates. "Your blessings will be the sources of our inspiration to move ahead in the coming days," she said.
Lahore, Nov 23 : Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's wife Bushra Bibi has come under a severe attack by the ruling government and other political parties over her recent controversial statement about Saudi Arabia, forcing the jailed leader and his political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to rush to her rescue and go in a full damage-control mode.

Bushra Bibi had released a video recently, urging everyone to take to the streets on Sunday (November 24) to protest against the "illegal imprisonment" of her husband Imran Khan.

In the video, she also stated that Saudi Arabia was offended when they saw Imran Khan arriving barefooted to visit Madina. This, she claimed, resulted in multiple calls to then Army Chief (Retd.) General Qamar Jawed Bajwa, expressing concerns over Khan showing himself as the representative of Islam and Shariah to them at a time when they (Saudis) are abolishing it from their own country.

The statement prompted immediate response from Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who slammed Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, warning that any attempts to dent relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia would not be tolerated at all.

On the other hand, PTI leadership maintained that, as Bushra is not a political figure, her statement should not be attributed to the party at large.

"Bushra Bibi's statement has nothing to do with PTI," said senior PTI leader Shoaib Shaheen.

However, Imran Khan seems to be endorsing what his wife had said.

While speaking to the media from Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail, Khan said that his wife had not named Saudi Arabia and that the statement was being twisted to directly target MBS (Muhammad Bin Salman) and Saudi Arabia.

Imran Khan's endorsement of his wife's controversial statement was also picked up by the government, which slammed both of them for towing anti-state and anti-Pakistan agenda.

"Imran Khan did not negate what his wife said and, in fact, he endorsed it. Imran Khan, his party and his so-called non-political wife are on an anti-Pakistan agenda. They are enemies of Pakistan. They can go to any extent to damage our country and its relationship with brotherly countries like Saudi Arabia," said Azma Bukhari, spokesperson of the Punjab government.

"This disgraceful statement from an uneducated and uninformed individual against friendly countries shows she is working on the agenda of hostile elements. The people of Pakistan have now witnessed the true faces of these two deceivers. The so-called 'Fitna Party' is no longer acceptable to the nation," she added while speaking with reporters in Lahore on Saturday.
Chennai, Nov 23 : Former Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan said on Saturday that the landslide victory of the MahaYuti in the Maharashtra Assembly elections is historic as they have rejected the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party.

She also asserted that the DMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu would be ousted from power in the 2026 Assembly elections.

Speaking to the media on Saturday, Soundararajan said that the people of Maharashtra recognised the effectiveness of a double-engine government in delivering on the promise, adding that the people of Maharashtra have rejected Congress and Rahul Gandhi.

The BJP leader, who is also a former Tamil Nadu state president of the party, emphasised that voters in several states have placed their trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

She highlighted the BJPas growing popularity and claimed that even in states like Jharkhand, where the party did not win, its vote share has increased.

Soundararajan criticised the Wayanad bypolls victory of Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi, claiming it would mark the end of the INDIA Blocas future.

She argued that Priyankaas win exposed the dynastic politics of the Congress, pointing out that Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi, the same family, are Members of Parliament.

She urged the people of Tamil Nadu to place their confidence in Prime Minister Modi, as other states have done and criticised the DMK government for its confrontational approach towards the Central government, which she said would not yield positive results for the state.

She also alleged that the DMKas governance has led to a deterioration of law and order, citing recent criminal activities as evidence of a failed administration.

Soundararajan, a vocal advocate of alliances with the AIADMK, reiterated the importance of forming strong coalitions to win the 2026 Assembly elections.

While both BJP and AIADMK leaders have denied ongoing discussions, reports suggest that the central BJP leadership has initiated talks with the AIADMK leadership in Tamil Nadu.
New Delhi, Nov 23 : D. Raja, General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI), on Saturday, shared his insights on the evolving political landscape following significant developments in Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly polls and remarked that it was not a free and fair election in Maharashtra.

"It is not just the question of EVMs, as far as Maharashtra is concerned, there was no free and fair election. Because during the election campaign, according to a viral video some BJP leader was seen distributing money and the Election Commission did not take any action," said D. Raja.

He also spoke about Wayanad, the parliamentary constituency that was vacated by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, necessitating the bypoll there.

The only talking point during the campaign was whether Priyanka Gandhi could surpass her brother's impressive 2019 victory margin of 4.30 lakh votes. Although she fell slightly short, she still achieved a remarkable win, securing the seat with a margin of over 4.10 lakh votes. Her dynamic campaign, focussed on grassroots issues, underscored her growing influence within the Congress.

D. Raja told IANS, "Wayanad has traditionally been a stronghold of the United Democratic Front (UDF), the Congress party. With Rahul Gandhi stepping aside, Priyanka Gandhi led the charge there with remarkable results."

Shifting his focus to Maharashtra, where very early in the day trends suggested a favourable outcome for the BJP and its allies, D. Raja said, "The trends indicated that the BJP and its alliance were heading towards a win in Maharashtra. While Congress leaders were initially hopeful, the results moved against them. Congress leaders are now beginning to accept this disappointment. After Haryana, the Congress was still optimistic, but the ground reality in Maharashtra is a different story."

Commenting on Jharkhand, D. Raja remarked, "In Jharkhand, the JMM and Congress alliance's performance reflects the peopleas disillusionment with the BJP's campaign methods. The BJP's reliance on divisive narratives, such as raising the issue of infiltration, and the deployment of central agencies like the ED against Opposition leaders, has been exposed as a political ploy. These tactics have not convinced the voters."

"The use of government agencies for political advantage and the low-level campaigning by BJP leaders, including the Prime Minister and Home Minister, have backfired in some regions. People are beginning to see through these strategies," D. Raja concluded
Amaravati, Nov 23 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan said on Saturday that the victory of MahaYuti in Maharashtra reflects the people's continued trust in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Naidu, whose Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is a key partner in the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, congratulated the MahaYuti -- comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena and the NCP -- on securing a historic mandate in Maharashtra.

Naidu, who is leading the TDP-led NDA government in Andhra Pradesh, said that this victory reflects people's continued trust in the leadership of PM Modi, whose strategic vision, transformative policies and devotion to the people are paving the way for the 'Viksit Bharat' to emerge.

Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan also took to X to convey heartfelt congratulations to the NDA on the landslide victory in the Maharashtra elections.

The Jana Sena leader said that this tremendous mandate reflects the trust of the people of Maharashtra in the visionary leadership of PM Modi.

"The people of Maharashtra have chosen development, honesty, the ideology of Balasaheb Thackeray Ji, Sanatana Dharma, unity over division and a vision to building a Viksit Bharat and Viksit Maharashtra. The land of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which has always stood as a symbol of truth, valor, and justice, has once again chosen the path of progress and integrity," said Pawan Kalyan, who had participated in the campaign for Mahayuti.

The actor-turned-politician stated that the collective leadership of Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar earned the confidence of the people in Maharashtra.

"I am confident that the new Maharashtra government will work towards achieving the ambitious goal of a $1 trillion economy, thereby contributing significantly to India's vision of becoming a $5 trillion economy. It was an honour to participate in the Maharashtra election campaign in support of MahaYuti candidates.

"The people of Maharashtra showed immense love and trust during the campaign. Looking forward to continued mutual cooperation between Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh for the development and welfare of our people," he said.

BJP state president and MP Daggubati Purandeswari congratulated all workers, leaders, and people of Maharashtra on this victory.

"The people of Maharashtra have sent a clear message against the divisive politics of Congress. They have recognised the importance of PM Modi's slogan: 'Ek Hai to Safe Hain', and have seen through Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party, where he has held the constitution in his hand and roamed all around the country talking about dividing communities under the garb of census. This result reflects a rejection of the INDI Alliance's mindset, and it shows that the BJP's vision, as articulated by Modi Ji, resonates with the people. Together, we are paving the way for Maharashtra's development," she wrote on X.

Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee president Y.S. Sharmila congratulated Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on her victory in the by-election to Wayanad Lok Sabha seat.

"The voice of the people will resonate powerfully in the Lok Sabha, upholding the values of the Indian Constitution. Heartiest congratulations on this remarkable achievement," she wrote on 'X'.
New Delhi, Nov 23 : Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP, Sandeep Pathak credited the party's victory in three out of four Punjab Assembly bypolls to the leadership of National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

The ruling AAP in Punjab secured a resounding win in three of the four Assembly constituencies where elections were held on November 20, boosting Chief Minister Mann's political standing. The main Opposition Congress managed to win just one seat, which was previously considered a stronghold of the ruling party.

With this triumph, the AAP's tally in the 117-member Punjab Assembly has risen to 95. The party won the Chabbewal, Dera Baba Nanak, and Gidderbaha Assembly seats, while the Congress claimed victory in Barnala.

The four seats had fallen vacant after their respective MLAs were elected to the Lok Sabha earlier this year. Of these, three were held by the Congress and one by the AAP.

Speaking to IANS, Pathak expressed gratitude to the people of Punjab for their support.

"The public has blessed us with three seats out of four, and we express our heartfelt gratitude to them. I also thank our volunteers and workers who worked tirelessly day and night," he said.

Pathak attributed the win to Kejriwal and Mann's governance model. "The blessing we have received is a stamp of approval for Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann's politics of work," he remarked.

Taking a dig at the BJP's 'Ek hain toh safe hain' slogan, Pathak emphasised that politics should revolve around public service.

"Arvind Kejriwal also does politics, but he does so with a focus on work. He asks for votes based on tangible results. If politics remains work-focussed, this country can truly become a 'Vishwa Guru' (World Leader)," he said.

He slammed the practice of winning elections through false promises, saying, "Winning elections by making fake claims is one thing; taking the country forward is another. Arvind Kejriwal's politics of work is the only way to make India a Vishwa Guru."

Reacting to the BJP's announcement of a Parivartan Yatra following similar initiatives by the AAP and Congress, Pathak accused the BJP of aiming to undo public benefits.

"The BJP wants to change the free electricity and other facilities being provided to the public. Let the public decide if they want such a change," he said.

"Kejriwal has worked, and the public has witnessed it. Now, it's for the people to decide," Pathak concluded.
Bhopal, Nov 23 : Congress has won the Vijaypur Assembly seat with a margin of 7,364 votes marking the second consecutive win for the grand old party.

Congress Mukesh Malhotra, who had joined the party during the Lok Sabha elections this year, defeated BJP's heavyweight and state Forest Minister Ramniwas Rawat with a margin of over 7000 votes.

As per the Election Commission, Malhotra secured a total of 100,469 votes against Rawat's 93,105 votes while Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP) candidate Netram Devaria Sahriya secured third position with 1,099 votes.

Interestingly, former MLA Ramniwas Rawat, who had won six elections (between 1990 and 2023) from Vijaypur on Congress' symbol, was contesting his seventh, but the first on BJP's ticket.

He had won the last assembly election in November last year with a margin of more than 17,000 votes, however, later he resigned from the party and joined the BJP and was then included in Chief Minister Mohan Yadav's cabinet.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said the state BJP unit will introspect over the Ramniwas Rawat's defeat.

"Vijaypur has been a stronghold of the Congress for several decades, however, the victory margin this time was reduced to 7,000 against 17,000 in the 2023 election," Yadav said.

Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Jitu Patwari termed it a victory for party workers while expressing that Vijaypur's win will boost the confidence of the party cadre.

"BJP-supported goons, dacoits and mafia were contesting the elections in Vijaypur, yet the Congress workers showed the power of truth," Patwari added.

Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath also congratulated Malhotra for his victory, saying that the victory in Vijaypur is a clear lesson for those who betray the people.

"Many congratulations to Congress candidate Mukesh Malhotra for the spectacular victory in the Vijaypur Assembly by-election. This victory is the result of the hard work of Congress workers and is a clear lesson for those who betray the Congress," Kamal Nath said.

The vote counting for the Budhni bypolls, the bastion of Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is still underway but BJP's Ramakant Bhargava has maintained a lead with a margin of over 8,000 votes against Congress' Rajkumar Patel.
Gaza, Nov 23 : At least 17 Palestinians were killed by Israeli bombings across the Gaza Strip.

Seven Palestinians, including three children, were killed by the Israeli bombing of a house in the Al-Zaytoun neighbourhood, southeast of Gaza City, in Gaza Strip, Xinhua news agency reported quoting the Palestinian official news agency WAFA on Saturday.

Nine people, including children, were killed in the shelling of three houses in Khan Younis in Gaza Strip, it reported, adding that one person was also killed when an apartment in the Nuseirat camp in Gaza was bombed.

Israel has been staging a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on October 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and about 250 taken hostage.

The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip has risen to 44,056, Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Thursday.
LONDON, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder following a fatal shooting in Birmingham, United Kingdom, that left one man dead and another critically injured, local media reported on Saturday.

According to West Midlands Police, a man in his 20s was found in a car Friday evening and pronounced dead at the scene. Another man, in his 30s, was discovered injured at a bus stop, believed to have been attempting to escape the gunman. He was taken to hospital, where he remains in critical condition.

Officers were called to the scene just before 2300 GMT on Friday. The suspect, also in his 30s, is currently in custody as the investigation continues, reported the BBC. 
New Delhi, Nov 23 : Adani Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jugeshinder Singh on Saturday addressed the ongoing controversy surrounding allegations of fraud against the group, clarifying that the allegations pertain to a single contract involving Adani Green Energy, which represents approximately 10 per cent of the company's overall business.

In a post on X, Singh said none of the group's 11 public companies or their subsidiaries are defendants in the case filed by the US Department of Justice (DoJ), nor are they accused of wrongdoing.

"@AdaniOnline has a portfolio of 11 public companies and none are subject to indictment (defendants in any legal proceedings in the recent #DOJ lawyer filings to a court in NYC). None of the issuers (companies in our portfolio or specific issuers that are subsidiaries of the public companies) are accused of any wrongdoing in the said legal filing," he posted on X.

Singh also mentioned that the Group had disclosed potential risks earlier in its February 2024 offering circular and that the allegations remain unproven.

"There is a lot of news and reports that will try to pick unrelated items and create a headline. My humble request is that we will respond in fullness of time once we review in detail the matter as presented in the legal filing," Singh further stated.

"Please note that no court has ruled on this and as outlined by lawyers of #DOJ, these are "allegations and the accused have presumption of innocence", he added.

The Adani Group CFO said that they "will make a more detailed comment once we get council approvals to discuss what we can in public on matters that is sub-judice".

The Adani Group had earlier denied allegations made by the US Department of Justice (DoJ) and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) against directors of its subsidiary company Adani Green, saying that all possible "legal recourse will be sought".
Palghar : , Nov 23 (IANS) A plucky, lone Communist Party of India (Marxist) candidate held aloft his Red flag to stop the BJP's road roller that practically razed the entire opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, the results of which are now tumbling out.

The CPM nominee and sitting MLA, Vinod Bhiva Nikole, 49, bagged a historic victory in the Dahanu (ST) reserved constituency in Palghar district, proving wrong all pundits, pollsters and pessimists, defeating his nearest Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rival Vinod S. Medha (votes 99,569), by a margin of around 5,133 votes.

"This is a historic victory for the CPI(M)-Maha Vikas Aghadi nominee, Comrade Nikole who has secured a record of 104,702 votes and trounced the BJP's contender in a tightly fought election," CPI (M) Politburo Member and All India Kisan Sabha President Dr Ashok Dhawale told IANS.

Speaking from near the counting centre, Dhawale gushed that this is the 10th out of the past 11 Assembly elections since 1978 that the CPI (M) has bagged this key constituency giving five different candidates, and this is Nikole's second consecutive victory (after 2019).

The seat, known as Jawhar (ST) seat, prior to the delimitation of 2009 is the red bastion bordering the Gujarat state with a predominantly tribal population and occasionally keeps popping into news for various reasons.

In fact, Dahanu with a female-dominant electorate, ranked among the few of the 288 seats in Maharashtra which recorded a 70+ per cent voter turnout. The electorate here is a total of 301,239, comprising 151,578 women and 149,627 men.

Of these, the total votes cast were 220,919 votes (73.34 per cent), including females: voted -113,808 and males: voted -107,104.

An aide to Nikole acknowledged that it was "an uphill task against a political cyclone," considering the aggressive BJP-MahaYuti alliance poll campaign and resources, with national-level bigwigs canvassing in the region during the past one month or so.

Dhawale spoke of Nikole in glowing terms and recounted his participation in a series of struggles launched by the CPI (M) in the Palghar district which reinforced the people's trust in the Red flag and resulted in the 'Lal Salaam' of victory.

"As the sitting Dahanu (ST) MLA, he performed very efficiently, took up the concerns of the masses and solved their problems, besides enjoying a completely clean image  unlike many of the 'tainted, commission-seeker' elected representatives from other parties," said the AIKS President.

Moreover, the CPI (M) and Nikole managed to unite the MVA constituents here and they all jointly campaigned for him, and raised local issues of Dahanu (ST) with a focus that helped boost the confidence of the local voters here.

"We also conducted 14 meetings in all the Zilla Parishad Circles, plus one in Dahanu town to ensure we reached out to the maximum number of voters. We held exclusive women's rallies and explained to them various issues, including the 'Ladki Bahin' scheme," said Dhawale.

The CPI (M) top leaders hailed Nikole and Dhawale, along with Mariam Dhawale, Kisan Gujar, Kiran Gahala, Radka Kalangda, Laxman Dombre, Lahani Dauda, Chandrakant Ghorkhana, Sunita Shingda, Nandu Hadal, Ramu Pagi, and many others took out a victory procession with another celebration procession planned in Talasari on Sunday.

CPI (M) Politburo Member Brinda Karat had also come and addressed several rallies for Nikole and grassroots workers of the CPI(M), the MVA and other organisations like AIKS, CITU, AIDWA, DYFI and SFI helped in ensuring the unique win.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: qnajmi@gmail.com)
Mumbai, Nov 23 : Two-time Maharashtra Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis seemed to have emerged as the new 'Chanakya of Maharashtra politics', replacing veteran politician and NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar - a former Union Minister.

Fadnavis, who was criticised by the Opposition for his 'Mi Punha Yein' (I will return) remarks, worked relentlessly for the success of BJP and MahaYuti, putting behind the disappointing show in the Lok Sabha elections.

The chorus has been growing in the BJP for Fadnavis to be made the chief minister for the third time in the wake of the party's stellar performance as it has improved its 2019 tally by winning 126 seats.

Political analysts believe the results have also shown that Sharad Pawar's charisma and strategy have failed while Fadnavis' stature as a strategist who ensured victory for the party has further consolidated.

The BJP had bagged 122 seats in the 2014 Assembly elections when the party's leadership appointed Fadnavis as the chief minister bypassing senior leaders including an OBC leader Eknath Khadse.

After the 2019 assembly elections, the BJP emerged as a single largest party by winning 105 seats. Fadnavis joined hands with NCP leader Ajit Pawar to become chief minister and deputy chief minister for eighty hours.

However, he stepped down after Ajit Pawar went back to the then undivided NCP headed by his uncle Sharad Pawar.

Thereafter, Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government took over when Fadnavis became the leader of opposition in the state assembly and targeted the government on a number of issues.

After the BJP leadership decided to appoint Eknath Shinde as the Chief Minister following his rebellion in June 2022, Fadnavis initially opted not to be a party to the MahaYuti government. However, after the BJP top brass' intervention, he became the Deputy CM and worked in close co-operation with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

With the blessings of central leadership including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, Fadnavis crafted the Assembly poll strategy with a view to make up for the loss of votes to the BJP and the MahaYuti during the general elections.

He, along with the party in charge of the state, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav did a micro-planning to reach out to every section of the society in a serious bid to checkmate the opposition's narrative of 'Constitution change' and scrapping reservations.

Moreover, Fadnavis and the party organisation also focused on luring the OBC and sub-castes to avoid adverse impact in the wake of backlash from the Maratha community amid the pro-Maratha protests led by Manoj Jarange-Patil.

Fadnavis and Yadav separately held a series of meetings with OBC and sub castes to ensure they vote overwhelmingly to BJP and MahaYuti.

After the collapse of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue in Sindhudurg district, Fadnavis became alert and took Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar into confidence to curb the backlash following the unfortunate incident.

This was also a calculated move to lure the Maratha community and also to send a strong message that Chhatrapati Shivaji is the pride of Maharashtra and the government will do everything to safeguard it.

As the Opposition was targeting the government over the Badlapur rape incident in which two minor girls were molested and other crimes in the state, Fadnavis as a Home Minister declared that the state government will act firmly against culprits involved in such cases. He also successfully targeted Maha Vikas Aghadi over the arrest of former home minister Anil Deshmukh in the alleged extortion case.

What has further helped Fadnavis to tighten his grip over the party was strong backing from the RSS and its affiliates.

Fadnavis, who has never hidden his ties with the RSS, worked in tandem with the RSS team which firmed up a comprehensive plan to reach out to nearly 1 lakh booths across the state for helping the party organisation to boost the voters turnout.

He held timely meetings and supervised the implementation of a plan of action prepared by the RSS which worked 24x7 for the BJP's success.

Further, the RSS' move to bring in 'Batenge To Katenge' and 'Ek Hai To Safe Hai' calls helped the BJP to further strengthen its Hindutva plank.

Undeterred by charges by Opposition leaders including Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi of polarisation, the BJP continued to take up these slogans that yielded positive results.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's criticism of Congress for playing divisive politics and its projection as anti-SC, ST and OBC also helped BJP and MahaYuti in a big way to get massive support from these sections of the society.

In the wake of the BJP's 'mega performance' due to Fadnavis' deep planning and machinations, the chorus is growing in the BJP for Fadnavis to be made the chief minister for the third time in the view of the party's stellar performance as it has improved its 2019 tally by winning 126 seats.

Fadnavis was targeted by all the parties in the Maha Vikas Aghadi but he has outsmarted the opposition due to his pro-development image and 'military-like precision' planning.

(Sanjay Jog can be contacted at sanjay.j@ians.in)
New Delhi, Nov 23 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi's nine rallies across Maharashtra and his slogan of "ek hai toh safe hai" appear to have outclassed the MVA's rhetoric on hate politics as MahaYuti on Saturday registered a landmark victory in the western state, re-affirming the charisma of Modi Magic and PM's development model.

New Delhi, Nov 23 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi's nine rallies across Maharashtra and his slogan of "ek hai toh safe hai" appear to have outclassed the MVA's rhetoric on hate politics as MahaYuti on Saturday registered a landmark victory in the western state, re-affirming the charisma of Modi Magic and PM's development model.

As celebratory slogans of "Jai Maharashtra" and "Bharat Mata ki Jai" reverberated from Mumbai to New Delhi, the PM joined the celebration and posted a message on X to thank Maharashtra voters.

"Development wins! Good governance wins! United we will soar even higher! Heartfelt gratitude to my sisters and brothers of Maharashtra, especially the youth and women of the state, for a historic mandate to the NDA. This affection and warmth is unparalleled. I assure the people that our Alliance will keep working for Maharashtra's progress. Jai Maharashtra!" he wrote.

After the surprise victory for the BJP in Haryana Assembly, the historic mandate for the party in Maharashtra comes as a reassurance on voter's faith in PM Modi and his poll promises  "Modi hai to mumkin hai" and "Modi ki guarantee"  outshining the competing claims made by the rivals.

The Modi-Amit Shah combine's 'Vijay Rath' proved to be unstoppable in Maharashtra. PM Modi needs to be credited for building a narrative, through his election rallies, that carried the complex mix of issues that touched the hearts of voters from different social backgrounds and age groups.

The nervousness in MahaYuti, due to adverse outcomes during the Lok Sabha elections in which it won 24 less seats as compared to 2019, was swiftly converted into confidence with each rally that PM Modi addressed in Maharashtra.

Reaching out to the beneficiaries of the Central government's housing, cooking gas and free ration schemes, apart from the health insurance plan, PM Modi showcased his development model and promised to continue delivering on the welfare front through a double-engine government in Maharashtra.

He promised to attract foreign investment for the industrial state, promoted Maratha pride along with honouring Shivaji Maharaj, upheld the principles of Dalit icon B.R. Ambedkar and united OBCs and other marginalised sections of the majority community.

PM Modi's global stature and interaction with world leaders added to his appeal to voters in the industrial state that is among the top destinations for FDI and promoters of start-ups.

The star campaigner of MahaYuti managed to convince Maharashtra voters that their quality of life would remain his and MahaYuti's priority.

"Development means MahaYuti," remained the PM's constant message in rallies, even as he painted the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) as an alliance that worked to undo the projects launched by Mahayuti in its previous term.

The PM also trained his guns on the Congress and its alleged corruption and undeliverable promises in Karnataka. The grand old party's support for the revival of Article 370 and the use of "fake" copies of the Constitution also gave PM Modi ammunition to invoke the spirit of nationalism and boost the tide in MahaYuti's favour.

Maharashtra Assembly was the biggest to go to polls in 2024 and the calendar year seems to be ending on a victorious note for the BJP-led NDA. The gain in the western state has even overshadowed the NDA's setback in Jharkhand. Perhaps, the NDA doesn't mind the JMM gaining heft as long as the Congress remains restricted to a secondary player in the tribal state.

The MahaYuti's return to power in Maharashtra carries multiple messages for the Opposition which will need to regroup and sustain its intensity till the Bihar Assembly elections in 2025 and the Assam, Tamil Nadu and Kerala elections in 2026. Delhi Assembly polls in February 2025 may, however, test the BJP's ability to end its 25-year-long stint in the Opposition.

In the immediate future, the INDIA bloc may have to encounter slogans like "Modi Magic" as the Parliament session begins on Monday and introspect on a strategy to gather the momentum it tasted after a slightly improved showing in the Lok Sabha elections.

For now, the biggest takeaway from the Maharashtra elections  with BJP winning over 130 seats  is PM Modi's ability to turn the tide in his party's favour. His magic appears to be intact and growing with each election as the Opposition alliance fails to find a befitting rival to face him.
New Delhi, Nov 23 : Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's appeal to the people of Maharashtra posted on X on November 20 when Maharashtra voted in assembly polls, was like this: "Brothers and sisters of Maharashtra, I appeal to all of you to vote today for the protection of the state's dignity and the Constitution. Every vote you cast for the Maha Vikas Aghadi will prevent the theft of your jobs and projects, ensure fair prices for farmers' crops, and bring prosperity to your lives through the 5 guarantees." But the voters gave him the message. The verdict is clear. His appeal fell flat as is evident from the election results announced on Saturday (November 23).

New Delhi, Nov 23 (IANS) Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's appeal to the people of Maharashtra posted on X on November 20 when Maharashtra voted in assembly polls, was like this: "Brothers and sisters of Maharashtra, I appeal to all of you to vote today for the protection of the state's dignity and the Constitution. Every vote you cast for the Maha Vikas Aghadi will prevent the theft of your jobs and projects, ensure fair prices for farmers' crops, and bring prosperity to your lives through the 5 guarantees." But the voters gave him the message. The verdict is clear. His appeal fell flat as is evident from the election results announced on Saturday (November 23).

The poll results presented a contrastingly different picture with the MahaYuti alliance securing a landslide victory over MVA. This marked a huge setback for both Congress and Rahul Gandhi. There is no denying that Rahul's campaign which focused heavily on caste-based rhetoric and Constitutional assurances also came a cropper. Rahul's freebies offer also did not elicit any positive response from the public.

During the campaign, the Gandhi scion emphasised the need for a caste census across the country. He was often seen waving a copy of the Constitution (a Red Book) to symbolise his commitment to this cause. This turned out to be an exercise in futility even as Congress was handed a crushing defeat. The grand old party secured just 17 of the 102 seats it contested in Maharashtra. This result dealt a major blow to the Congress which had hoped for a revival after a somewhat successful showing in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, where it secured 99 seats. That the party remains in volatile electoral territory is a clear-cut message that Maharashtra has sent out.

One of the key takeaways from this defeat is, many argue, an abject failure of Rahul Gandhi's agenda of the caste census. His promise of breaching the 50 per cent reservation cap has not worked. The caste calculus that he pushed during the campaign did not meet with the voters' approval in Maharashtra, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi's emphasis on caste unity, encapsulated in the slogan "Ek hain to safe hain," proved more effective.

BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis echoed this sentiment, crediting the alliance's success to PM Modi's leadership. Fadnavis posted on X: "Ek hai to safe hai (United we are safe). Modi hai to mumkin hai (Modi makes it possible)."

Rahul Gandhi's strategy of using the caste census as a key plank may have backfired, as is shown by Congress's underwhelming performance in Maharashtra. The drubbing in Maharashtra, along with Congress's weak showing in Jharkhand, signals that the party's efforts to regain relevance through caste-based politics may not be yielding the expected results.

The implications of Congress's defeat are far-reaching, especially for the INDIA Bloc, where Congress was once a dominant force. The party's failure in Maharashtra has put its role in the alliance into question, with other constituent parties now likely to assert more influence and possibly challenge Rahul Gandhi's leadership. The party's poor performance is also expected to trigger a reassessment of its strategies moving forward, particularly its focus on caste and constitutional issues.

With the upcoming electoral challenge in Delhi, the defeat in Maharashtra and the unimpressive show in Jharkhand cast a shadow over Congress's future prospects. Rahul Gandhi may face increasing pressure from within the party to recalibrate his focus, with senior leaders likely advising him to move away from his current emphasis on caste-based politics.

As Congress prepares for the next stage of electoral battles, the mood within the party is likely to be subdued, as cadres and workers wrestle with the consequences of this significant electoral setback.

Rahul Gandhi's campaign in Maharashtra, which focused also on issues like jobs, price rise, freebies, and support for farmers, failed to impress the electorate. Congress's performance in states under its own governance has been lacklustre, leading to growing doubts among voters.

Observers have raised an important question: Why should voters trust the promises of Congress when the party has yet to deliver on similar commitments in the states it governs?

In Congress-ruled states, the delivery of promises related to jobs, economic relief, and farmer welfare has been slow or insufficient, which also might have contributed to voter disillusionment. The party's inability to show tangible results in these areas has made its assurances less convincing. Voters are increasingly questioning the feasibility of new promises when the party has struggled to fulfil past commitments.

The disconnect between the promises made by Congress and its performance in office has likely played a crucial role in undermining the effectiveness of Rahul Gandhi's campaign in Maharashtra. The electorate seems to have seen the party's history of underperformance as a warning sign, making them hesitant to place their trust in the party's future pledges.
Mumbai, Nov 23 : Actor Tusshar Kapoor, who can be seen in the series '10 June Ki Raat', has opened up about his status as a single parent, and societal pressure.

The actor landed in Chandigarh for the ongoing edition of the Chandigarh Literary Festival, and spoke with IANS.

Talking about being in Chandigarh, the actor said, "It was a very good experience. Our session with Sohail Muathar, my agent, was very good. We talked about my book 'Bachelor Dad'. I have come to Chandigarh after 12 years. I am enjoying it a lot. The ambience is beautiful. The weather is pleasant. I am going back tomorrow. It's a trip that's worth it".

Talking about the pressure from the society of being a single parent, he told IANS, "There have been different families in our religion for centuries. It is not that there is only one type of family. Even in our mythology. There are different aspects of society. But you should do what you feel is right. So that no one is harmed. So that no one is hurt. So that a new life is happy. There is no problem in that. I did what my inner voice told me to do".

He also spoke about his upcoming projects with IANS.

He said, "Chapter 2 of '10 June Ki Raat' is already on air, chapter 3 will also come. It is on Jio Cinema. After that, there is a film called 'Kanpkapi' which is completed. 'Welcome 3' shooting is half done. There is a film called 'Dunk' which will start in January. I am also doing 'Masti 4'. 'Golmaal 5' will also be done. Everything is in line".
Mumbai, Nov 23 : The Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) not only suffered a big blow but also failed to open its account in the Assembly elections held on November 20 with the MNS chief's charisma failing to create an impact and gain votes.

Political observers believe that the MNS failed to woo the voters due to frequent changes in its stand. Although MNS contested 128 seats by going solo, the party chief went on showering praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also on Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for their leadership qualities.

However, according to political analysts, the voters did not like it as they felt that the MNS had no clear vision for the state.

After MNS' rout, the social media was flooded with posts ridiculing the Raj Thackeray-led party saying the ''engine" of MNS had derailed. Rail Engine is the MNS poll symbol. The MNS had won a record 13 seats in the 2009 elections and one each in the 2014 and 2019 assembly elections.

Interestingly, Raj Thackeray targeted his brother and Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray, quite often terming him a traitor.

Further, he attacked NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar for doing caste politics but refrained from being aggressive against the BJP or Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP. That further confused the voters.

Raj Thackeray, during the Lok Sabha elections, did not field his nominees but extended support to the MahaYuti.

However, in the 2019 general elections, he fired salvos against the BJP.

The voters did not like his changing stands. His rallies across the state attracted huge crowds, but due to lack of strong party organisation at the grassroots, MNS failed to transfer it into votes.

Raj Thackeray had appealed to the voters to give power in Maharashtra into his hands, but voters did not take it seriously.

He had earlier made a statement that the MNS would be a part of a new government that also did not work in his favour.

Raj Thackeray's move to pitch his son Amit Thackeray from his backyard in Mahim constituency turned out to be a disaster.

Amit Thackeray, who was locked in a triangular fight with Shiv Sena legislator Sada Sarvankar and Shiv Sena-UBT nominee Mahesh Sawant, was defeated as he came poor third.

Shiv Sena's decision not to withdraw its nominee Sada Sarvankar, despite the BJPas insistence, increased Amit Thackeray's problems as he lost due to division of votes, especially of the 'Marathi Manoos'.

Amit's dream of becoming a legislator was, however, shattered.

MNS' sole legislator Raju Patil lost to Shiv Sena nominee Rajesh More from Kalyan Rural, while former minister and MNS nominee Bala Nandgaonkar suffered a loss from Shivadi constituency against Shiv Sena-UBT nominee Ajay Chaudhary.

Further, party nominee Sandeep Deshpande lost to Shiv Sena-UBT nominee Aaditya Thackeray from Worli constituency.

Meanwhile, in his first reaction after defeat, Amit Thackeray claimed his fight was never to gain political power as it was the fight of a common worker who strives for everyone, for the people and for the bright future of Maharashtra.

"Today's result is not the end of my journey; there is a new beginning. For you, for your faith, for the development of Mahim, Dadar, Prabhadevi and all of Maharashtra, I will work 24 hours. That is my word. Thank you very much to the voters who trusted me and voted for me. Your faith will not be wasted," he said.

"I accept the vote of the people of Mahim, Dadar and Prabhadevi. I humbly and respectfully accept the outcome. For many years, we have seen the struggle of people for very basic needs. With the thoughts that emerged from this struggle, we should write a new chapter of development and change... for this purpose only, I entered the electoral fray. Maybe people have something different in mind. This poll result will be a lesson for me that there is still a lot of work to be done. I still need to work hard. I have to prove my achievement by fighting more. I still have to work hard to earn your trust," he further added.
Bhopal, Nov 23 : BJP retained the Budhni seat as the party's candidate Ramakant Bhargava won the bypoll with a margin of over 13,000 votes.

It is the BJP's seventh consecutive victory in Budhni since 2003, however, the winning margin witnessed a sharp decrease to 13,000 against 1.4 lakh in the previous Assembly election held in November 2023.

BJP stalwart Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who represented the Budhni Assembly seat six times had secured his last victory with a margin of margin of 1,04,974 votes in November 2023.

Meanwhile, Congress has won the Vijaypur Assembly seat with a margin of 7,364 votes marking the second consecutive win for the grand old party.

Congress Mukesh Malhotra, who had joined the party during the Lok Sabha elections this year, defeated BJP's heavyweight and state Forest Minister Ramniwas Rawat with a margin of over 7000 votes.

As per the Election Commission, Malhotra secured a total of 100,469 votes against Rawat's 93,105 votes while Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP) candidate Netram Devaria Sahriya secured third position with 1,099 votes.

Interestingly, former MLA Ramniwas Rawat, who had won six elections (between 1990 and 2023) from Vijaypur on Congress' symbol, was contesting his seventh, but the first on BJP's ticket.

He had won the last assembly election in November last year with a margin of more than 17,000 votes, however, later he resigned from the party and joined the BJP and was then included in Chief Minister Mohan Yadav's cabinet.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said the state BJP unit will introspect over the Ramniwas Rawat's defeat.

Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Jitu Patwari termed it a victory for party workers while expressing that Vijaypur's win will boost the confidence of the party cadre.

Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath also congratulated Malhotra for his victory, saying that the victory in Vijaypur is a clear lesson for those who betray the people.
Ranchi, Nov 23 : Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren thanked the people of the state following a decisive victory for his party and allies in the Assembly elections.

Speaking to the media on Saturday evening, Soren declared, "We are going to create the history of 'Abua Raj, Abua Sarkar' (Our rule, our government) in Jharkhand."

He said, "This was a landmark election. People would never have seen such an election in the state's democratic journey. We have successfully passed the test of democracy," adding that the people have enthusiastically embraced the democratic process.

Soren also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his congratulatory message and praised the active participation of women and youth in the elections. He also acknowledged the efforts of all candidates who contested the polls, emphasising their role in strengthening democracy.

Congress' Jharkhand in-charge and national general secretary, Ghulam Ahmad Mir, also present on the occasion, commended the political maturity of the state's electorate. "On the one hand, our alliance put forward achievements of five years to the voters and its vision for the future, on the other, the opposition failed to convince the voters about their agenda with a total lack of any tangible groundwork," he said.

Reflecting on the challenges posed by Covid-19 during the alliance's tenure, Ahmad said that the government's efforts to serve the people had been well-received. "This victory also owes much to the support of women, who played a significant role in this election," he added.

RJD national general secretary Jayaprakash Narayan Yadav called the outcome a "historic day" for the state, stating, "The people have defeated hatred and placed their trust in the INDIA bloc. This victory reflects the blessing of every section of society."

The alliance -- comprising the JMM, Congress, RJD, and CPI (ML) -- is on course to win 55 seats in the 81-member Assembly, ensuring a historic second consecutive term for the coalition under Soren's leadership.

The results reflect strong voter support for the ruling alliance and pave the way for its continued governance in Jharkhand.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President-elect Donald Trump announced Friday that he has tapped hedge fund manager Scott Bessent to be the next Secretary of the Treasury.

"I am most pleased to nominate Scott Bessent to serve as the 79th Secretary of the Treasury of the United States," Trump said on Truth Social, his own social media platform. He described the founder and CEO of Key Square Group, a global macro investment firm, as someone who "has long been a strong advocate of the America First Agenda."

Born in Conway, South Carolina, Bessent brings 35 years of experience in the investment management industry. His firm's business spans industries including agriculture, hospitality, publishing, and real estate, according to a biography accompanying Trump's announcement.

A graduate of Yale University in 1984, Bessent has also worked as an adjunct professor of economic history at Yale. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Economic Club of New York.

The Treasury Secretary is one of the most important positions in the U.S. Cabinet. The nominee must be confirmed by the Senate before taking office. 
New Delhi, Nov 23 : As BJP-led MahaYuti swept Maharashtra elections with a colossal victory over Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), an old photo symbolising Prime Minister Narendra Modi as 'Janata Raja' surfaced on social media.

'Modi Archive', a highly popular X handle, shared the photo and captioned, "Year 2006: CM Modi participating in real-life based play of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj with the name of 'Janata Raja' at Karnavati Club."

Notably, 'Janata Raja' was a popular play, enacted in 2006, to recreate the life and accomplishments of Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The play, held in Ahmedabad's Karnavati Club also saw then Chief Minister Narendra Modi participating in the play, based on the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji.

The image of PM Modi in 'Janata Raja' avatar left the netizens curious as well as excited as this came on the back of BJP's stupendous performance in Maharashtra.

The state BJP unit has already credited PM Modi for sharpening the party's poll pitch with his 'ek hain toh safe hain' slogan. The picture seems to reinforce PM Modi's poll blitzkrieg as the reason behind BJP's grand victory in the state.

The fight for championing Shivaji's ideals and legacy also took centre stage in Maharashtra polls as both MahaYuti and MVA centred their campaign on his heroic exploits, in a bid to outdo each other. Both SS (UBT) and BJP-SS engaged in a bitter war of words over their pledge to champion the Marathi pride, in the run-up to Assembly elections.

The war of words also saw two factions of Shiv Sena fighting over the 'legitimate successor of Balasaheb Thackeray' and MVA firing barbs at the MahaYuti government over the collapse of a colossal statue of Maratha warrior king, alleging that it insulted Maratha pride by 'facilitating' corruption in the statue of state's biggest icon.

Now, that the election results have decisively settled the battle, with people reposing faith in incumbent Eknath Shinde-led government, this is being projected as people's endorsement of BJP and SS as the 'saviour' of Maratha pride.
Bengaluru, Nov 23 : Commenting on his party's victory in the bypolls, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated on Saturday that it was a triumph of performance and the ideology of the Congress party.

Addressing the media on Saturday in Bengaluru, CM Siddaramaiah stated that Congress candidates had emerged victorious in the bye-elections held for three Assembly constituencies in Karnataka.

"This is a triumph of the state government's performance, the Congress' ideology, and the relentless efforts of our workers. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the voters of Shiggaon, Sandur, and Channapatna seats for blessing and supporting Congress candidates. Congratulations to our victorious candidates Yasir Ahmed Khan Pathan, Annapurna Tukaram, and C.P. Yogeshwara for their resounding victories and entry into the Legislative Assembly," the CM stated.

"This election was between the truth of the Congress party and the lies of the BJP and JD(S). Truth has won. Despite the Opposition's relentless false propaganda and baseless allegations, we have achieved a decisive victory," CM Siddaramaiah said.

"The beneficiaries of our guarantee schemes are happy, even as the BJP and JD(S) leaders tried to spread falsehoods about them. The Maharashtra government published misleading advertisements. The people have given them a fitting reply," CM Siddaramaiah asserted.

"More than anything, these bye-election results are significant because, since I became Chief Minister, BJP and JD(S) leaders have been targeting me and my government with baseless accusations and character assassination attempts," he maintained.

"These parties colluded, misused the Governor's office and central investigative agencies, and fabricated scandals to tarnish my image and that of my family. BJP leaders even made false allegations against me and my wife to politically corner us," CM Siddaramaiah charged.

He added, "The BJP and JD(S) also tried to incite communal tensions and create divisions based on caste and religion to weaken the Congress. But Karnataka's secular and peace-loving citizens have rejected their efforts and supported us."

"In the recent Assembly elections, voters gave us a historic mandate with 136 seats. From the very next day, BJP and JD(S) joined forces to destabilise our government, spending crores to buy our MLAs. The people of Karnataka have not tolerated such anti-democratic actions, as reflected in this result," the CM opined.

"Some Opposition voices expressed concern when we gave a ticket to a Muslim candidate in Shiggaon, fearing Hindu vote polarisation. There was pressure on me to change our decision, but we stood firm," CM Siddaramaiah stated.

"We asked voters to support a capable candidate without considering caste or religion, and the people of Shiggaon have responded positively by electing our candidate. This is a rebuttal to BJP's communal politics," CM Siddaramaiah stated.

"I was deeply hurt by former Prime Minister Deve Gowda's comments against me. I have worked closely with him for years, yet he accused me of arrogance and was aiming to destroy the Congress government," he said.

"I have been a minister for 40 years and Chief Minister twice. I have never shown arrogance. When given an opportunity, I have governed responsibly; when defeated, I have fought back," he said.

"I also congratulate Priyanka Gandhi for her emphatic victory in Wayanad, Kerala, with a margin of over 4 lakh votes, and the people of Kerala for their support," CM Siddaramaiah stated.

He added, "In Jharkhand, BJP falsely implicated Chief Minister Hemant Soren in a case and sent him to jail using the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Despite this, the people of Jharkhand delivered justice at the ballot box. I congratulate the people of Jharkhand for their decisive mandate."
New Delhi, Nov 23 : Yatra politics in election-bound Delhi is set to peak with the BJP jumping onto the bandwagon and announcing a "Parivartan Yatra" to highlight the failures of the AAP government ahead of the Assembly polls in January-February, a leader said on Saturday.

New Delhi, Nov 23 (IANS) Yatra politics in election-bound Delhi is set to peak with the BJP jumping onto the bandwagon and announcing a "Parivartan Yatra" to highlight the failures of the AAP government ahead of the Assembly polls in January-February, a leader said on Saturday.

Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva announced that as a part of the election campaign for Delhi Assembly, the party will soon start a "Parivartan Yatra" that would highlight the "Election chargesheet" against the AAP government.

Corruption and uncontrolled pollution in the city under the AAP government are likely to feature prominently in the chargesheet, said Sachdeva.

Highlighting the BJP's good performance in Maharashtra Assembly elections and UP bypolls, Sachdeva said, "As we go amongst the people of Delhi we find that they have made up their mind to give the city a double-engine government."

The Delhi BJP has formed a 9-member committee to manage the "Parivartan Yatra" with former Delhi BJP President Satish Upadhyay as its convenor.

The Committee would also include Rajiv Babbar, Rekha Gupta, Sardar Raja Iqbal Singh, Jai Bhagwan Yadav, Satendra Chaudhary, Rajesh Goel, Kishan Sharma and Kaushal Mishra.

The BJP's Yatra was announced a day after the AAP launched its citywide campaign called "Revdi pe Charcha", to inform voters about the free services and other achievements of the AAP government.

AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal launched the 15-day campaign and highlighted how the AAP government utilised public money for 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.

Under the campaign, the AAP plans to hold 65,000 corner meetings to connect with voters and to inform them about the state government's welfare schemes.

Earlier, the Delhi Congress launched on November 8 a month-long Delhi Nyay Yatra, emulating the 4,000-km Bharat Jodo Yatra of party leader Rahul Gandhi from Kanyakumari to Srinagar, to protect the Constitution and save democracy.

The third phase of the Congress Yatra is being held between November 22 and 27, from Badarpur to Dwarka. It would cover 16 Assembly segments. The fourth and the last phase from November 29 to December 4 from Hari Nagar to Timarpur, would cover 20 Assembly seats.
Guwahati/Agartala, Nov 23 : Chief Ministers of four BJP-ruled governments in northeastern states - Assam, Tripura, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh - congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and top party leaders and workers for the stellar performance of BJP and MahaYuti in Maharashtra Assembly elections.

Guwahati/Agartala, Nov 23 (IANS) Chief Ministers of four BJP-ruled governments in northeastern states  Assam, Tripura, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh  congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and top party leaders and workers for the stellar performance of BJP and MahaYuti in Maharashtra Assembly elections.

Assam Chief Minister and BJP's leading face in the northeastern states Himanta Biswa Sarma in his post on X said: "On behalf of the people of Assam, we offer our heartfelt congratulations to the people of Maharashtra and each and every karyakartas of MahaYuti for this historic mandate."

"This win exemplifies the deep bond people share with Adarniya Narendra Modi Ji and his agenda for a Viksit Bharat. Last but not the least, these results also demonstrate the power of ek hain-toh-safe-hai," he said.

Sarma was BJP's election in-charge in Jharkhand and campaigned for the party several times and addressed many election rallies. However, the BJP-led alliance suffered a humiliating defeat in the state.

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led alliance, comprising the Congress, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (CPI-ML), has ensured a historic second consecutive term for the coalition under the leadership of incumbent Chief Minister Hemant Soren.

Sarma expressed his disappointment over the BJP-led alliance's defeat in the state.

In a post on X, he said: "The loss in Jharkhand is deeply painful for me personally, even though we secured victory in all five by-elections in Assam."

"I have witnessed the unwavering dedication and relentless efforts of our Karyakartas in Jharkhand, who gave their all in this election. We fought with a vision to protect the state from infiltration and to lead it on the path of development, fulfilling the aspirations of students and youth," he added.

"However, we must humbly accept the mandate of the people... that is the true essence of democracy. In these challenging times, we will stand firmly with our Karyakartas, offering them unwavering support and solidarity," Sarma said.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha expressed his joy over BJP and MahaYuti's landmark victory in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly polls.

Saha said on X: "Heartiest congratulations to Hon'ble PM Narendra Modi Ji, workers & the people of Maharashtra on MahaYuti's grand victory.

"This historic mandate reflects the faith in BJP's governance, NDA's sensitivity towards poor people's welfare & PM Modi's leadership. Kudos to JP Nadda, Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar on this landslide win," he said.

Saha along with the Karyakartas and state leaders also participated in a victory celebration in Agartala.

Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh expressing his happiness over the BJP and MahaYuti's performance in Maharashtra polls said: "As the people of Maharashtra have chosen the BJP-led Mahayuti today, the resounding landslide victory in the Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 reflects the nation's steadfast march towards a Viksit Bharat."

"I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, Hon'ble BJP National President JP Nadda Ji, the winning candidates, karyakartas, and supporters for this decisive victory. I also express my gratitude to the people of Jharkhand for their massive support to the BJP," Singh said.

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu in his post on X said: "Stunning victory of BJP in Maharashtra Assembly has once again proved that the aura of Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji's development-oriented policies is intact. Amazing result, indeed! Salute to the dedication and hard work of BJP Karyakartas !"
Shimla, Nov 23 : Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu on Saturday extended congratulations to Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi for her win in the Wayanad by-election.

He said her record-breaking win "marks a significant milestone in her electoral journey and will further strengthen the Congress". The Chief Minister also congratulated senior leaders and party workers for their success in the Jharkhand Assembly elections, emphasising their dedication and hard work.

In response to a question from the media, the Chief Minister criticized the BJP for engaging in obstructionist rather than cooperative politics in Himachal Pradesh.

"The BJP evades addressing public concerns and avoids discussing their five-year performance. Instead, they divert attention to matters like toilet tax and 'samosas'. The public deserves to know why the standards of education and healthcare declined during their regime," he said.

He said his government is committed to fulfilling its promises and leading Himachal Pradesh on the path of development.

"The people elect a government for five years, and democracy is the voice of the people. However, the BJP is creating hurdles in the state's progress," he added.

The Chief Minister said the BJP is divided into five factions, each led by J.P. Nadda, Anurag Thakur, Jai Ram Thakur, Rajeev Bindal, and a group of former Congress members who joined the BJP, now referred to as the 'East India Company'.

He said the Opposition is not engaging in policy-based criticism but is instead targeting him personally. Despite their efforts, the state government is steadfast in its commitment to advancing Himachal Pradesh on the path of development.

"Over the past two years, the government has strengthened the state's economy, which has become a source of concern for the Opposition," he said.

Sukhu asked former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur to explain why Himachal Pradesh fell to 21st place in qualitative education during the BJP's tenure.
Patna, Nov 23 : Prashant Kishor, the founder of Jan Suraaj, said on Saturday that his party got a 'good start' as it has achieved a 10 per cent vote share in the Bihar bypolls.

He compared Jan Suraaj's vote share to established parties, noting that BJP garnered 22 per cent, RJD 20 per cent, and JDU 11 per cent in Bihar.

"This performance could have been better, but we should also keep in mind that our party is a month old, got the election symbol 10 days back, and in the areas where elections were held, we did not even do padayatra, nor did we have any organisation," Kishor claimed.

Prashant Kishor, expressed determination to continue building his party, despite acknowledging that its performance in the Bihar by-elections could have been better.

"This is not an excuse. But looking at whatever it is, we are fully committed to making it even better. Even if 1 per cent votes come, there will be no reduction in our efforts and commitment. Even if it takes 10 years to make it successful, I will still remain with the Jan Suraaj campaign."

He noted that Muslims in Belagnj largely supported the JDU-BJP alliance, rather than Jan Suraaj or other opposition parties. "You look at the booth-wise votes cast in the big Muslim villages of Belagnj. The Muslims there have voted for JDU and BJP, not for Jan Suraaj."

He remarked, saying: "When we started the campaign, people said it has no place in Bihar. But now, a large population of Bihar has developed a positive thinking towards Jan Suraaj. The process of converting this thinking into a party and votes has started."
Cairo, Nov 23 : A joint Egyptian-German archeological mission discovered a temple dating to the Ptolemaic period, which spanned from 332 BC to 30 BC, in the southern Egyptian province of Sohag, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said in a statement on Saturday.

"The discovery is the nucleus for unveiling more elements of the temple," the statement said, noting the 51-metre-wide temple facade is divided into two towers separated by the entrance gate.

The inclination angle of the towers indicates the original height of the temple could be 18 metres, which is similar to the Luxor Temple, the statement added, Xinhua news agency reported.

During the cleaning works of the main gate of the temple, some hieroglyphic texts were found adorning the exterior facade and the interior walls, in addition to engravings of scenes depicting a king receiving the goddess "Repyt," represented by the head of a female lion, according to the statement.

Initial studies of cartouches found in the entrance and some walls indicated the temple was established during the reign of King Ptolemy VIII, who might be the founder of the temple.
Mumbai, Nov 23 : Hritik Roshan who assisted his father Rakesh Roshan in 'Karan Arjun' shared his fond memories about the film and its shoot.

Taking to Instagram, Hritik wrote, "The Karan Arjun experience Ha, I look like a young Kabir with Karan and Arjun ." Kabir is Hrithik's character from the movie 'War' .

Mumbai, Nov 23 (IANS) Hritik Roshan who assisted his father Rakesh Roshan in 'Karan Arjun' shared his fond memories about the film and its shoot.

Taking to Instagram, Hritik wrote, "The Karan Arjun experience Ha, I look like a young Kabir with Karan and Arjun ." Kabir is Hrithik's character from the movie 'War' .

Hrithik continued "As an assistant , I remember Minerva being the main theatre on release day. Me and dad's other assistant Anurag ( 2nd pic in the white sweatshirt)), screened the print before the release and we were all incredibly disappointed . The print looked dark and dull. We got the the entire screen washed and as the dirt and grime dissolved into the large washcloth, we heard the manager say. The screen has been washed after 15 years."

Hrithik also highlighted another interesting fact and wrote, "Another fun fact , during the song bhangda paale, one late night, a more than merry team of Shahrukh and Salman decided to leave Sariska by car and drive to Delhi promising to be back by morning.I was flabbergasted and jumped ( literally ) on the bonnet of the car to stop them. The call time was 6am and I had to make sure my dad didn't lose the day. He didn't."

Hrithik ended the post by revealing how Shahrukh and Salman together made a great impact on him "Watching Salman and Shahrukh act was a huge learning for me as a 17 yr old. Best on set practical acting school ever. KARAN ARJUN is running in theatres again."

Hrithik also shared some nostalgic pictures from the sets of 'Karan Arjun'. In the first black-and-white picture, he can be seen posing with Shah Rukh Khan (SRK) and Salman Khan. The second picture is from the song 'Bhangda Paale', where SRK and Salman are dressed in kurtas and black pyjamas, and Hrithik can be seen smiling on set.
Jabalpur, Nov 23 : Kamal Chaudhary, a resident of Ranjhi Nai Basti in Ravidas Nagar Bhagat Singh ward of Jabalpur Cantt, lived in kuccha house for most of his life until Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) changed his and family's life forever.

Kamal Chaudhary became a beneficiary of PMAY, the flagship scheme of the Modi government and as the scheme mandates, he and his family moved into a pucca house of their own, some time ago.

Sharing the story of transformational change, he said that he had been living in kuccha house with his parents and his family since his birth. After he came to know about the Modi government's PMAY, he got a pucca house built and is now living in his permanent house.

Kamal Chaudhary, speaking to IANS said that he came to know about PMAY from fellow villagers and subsequently approached the elected representatives and officials for getting assistance under the scheme.

"I met my constituency's legislator. He assured me of all possible help. After following due procedure, I got a pucca house made in place of kuccha house," he said.

"Earlier, we used to face too much hardship in kuccha house but now our lives have changed. We have access to all basic facilities. Me and my family are very thankful to elected representatives for helping us have a pucca house of our own. We are very grateful to PM Modi in particular for helping us realise our dream, which was impossible under previous governments," he added.

Under the PMAY, eligible beneficiaries receive financial assistance to help them build their own homes. The objective of the scheme is to improve the living standards of economically backward citizens and provide them with the benefit of owning their own homes.

To achieve this, both the central and state governments are offering financial assistance. The implementation of the scheme is carried out through local self-governing bodies.
Port Sudan, Nov 23 : The Sudanese government on Saturday announced that the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) recaptured Singa, the capital city of Sinnar State in central Sudan, which had been controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

"Today (Saturday), Singa city has returned to the homeland ... The moment of justice and accountability shall come, and all those complicit in these crimes. The criminals will be held accountable for their actions," Khalid Aleisir, the Sudanese minister of culture and information, said in a statement.

"The confidence that the Sudanese people have in their armed forces, intelligence, and other regular forces, the joint forces and mobilized forces, will remain strong and unwavering regardless of internal and external threats," he noted, Xinhua news agency reported.

The RSF had controlled Singa for months. Since early October, the SAF has been fighting the RSF in the region to drive the paramilitary forces out of the state.

The SAF has managed to recapture key cities in the state from the RSF, including Al-Dinder, Al-Suki, and the strategic Jebel Moya area, a crossroads linking Gezira, White Nile, and Sinnar states.

Sudan has been gripped by a devastating conflict between the SAF and the RSF since mid-April 2023. According to the most recent update by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, the deadly conflict has resulted in more than 27,000 deaths.
Alibaba Group Holding is looking to build momentum in China and overseas e-commerce markets on the back of a sweeping reorganisation that has put retailing wunderkind Jiang Fan at the helm of its core business, according to analysts.

Jiang, 39, who has been serving as chief executive of Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group (AIDC), was appointed by the Hangzhou-based tech conglomerate on Thursday to lead the newly formed Alibaba E-commerce Business Group.

The new unit will integrate Taobao and Tmall Group (TTG), AIDC, 1688 Marketplace, Idle Fish and the other e-commerce operations of Alibaba, owner of the South China Morning Post.

Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.

Jiang's promotion reflects Alibaba chief executive Eddie Wu Yongming's broader strategy to position more millennials - typically defined as those born from 1981 to 1996 - in key roles to fend off fierce competition from younger rivals such as PDD Holdings, owner of popular discount-shopping platforms Pinduoduo and Temu.

Alibaba Group Holding is seeing increased e-commerce competition in its home market and overseas. Photo: Shutterstock alt=Alibaba Group Holding is seeing increased e-commerce competition in its home market and overseas. Photo: Shutterstock>

The appointment marks another major step up the ranks for Jiang at Alibaba, where he has cemented his status as an heir apparent, more than a year after he was reinstated as member of the company's partnership - a supreme corporate governance body with the right to nominate directors.

Once a small proportion of Alibaba's business empire, AIDC under Jiang has become a major revenue-generating operation, as it covers diverse cross-border e-commerce platforms such as AliExpress, Lazada and Trendyol. In the recent September quarter, this unit's revenue surged 29 per cent year on year to 31.7 billion yuan (US$4.4 billion).

One of Jiang's major challenges in his new role will be on how to strike a fine balance between Alibaba's domestic and international e-commerce operations, according to Li Jianggan, founder and chief executive of Singapore-based consultancy Momentum Works.

"Compared with the international businesses, the stakes in China are much higher and require a trusted, smart and capable leader," Li said in an online commentary on Friday. "The question is how to balance the team, organisation and resources."
Phnom Penh, Nov 23 : Representatives of Asian political parties on Saturday reiterated the significance of global and regional cooperation in enhancing civilisational connectivity, inter-generational solidarity and cultural diversity, said a Phnom Penh statement.

Such cooperation will transform cultural assets into resources for peace and reconciliation, the statement said.

The statement was issued after the third meeting of the Asian Cultural Council (ACC) of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP), which was held in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia.

The meeting was attended by representatives of 49 political parties from 28 countries and regions.

The representatives supported the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in its endeavours to encourage all stakeholders to fulfill their duty of ensuring the identification, protection, and conservation of their cultural and natural heritage by upholding a culture of respect of civilisations as a compass for a human future.

"We emphasised that the Silk Road is millennia-old route of exchanges of trade, culture and religion, as well as dialogue and knowledge between the East and the West that has contributed greatly to the common prosperity of humankind," the statement said.

The representatives recognised the lack of intercultural understanding and interfaith dialogue as root causes of extremism and conflicts, intolerance, discrimination, social tensions and political instability in recent years, and emphasised the importance of a multilateral framework as a mechanism to enhance cultural dialogue in promoting better understanding of civilisations, Xinhua news agency reported.

They recognised that a culture of innovation is best understood as the adoption of novel solutions, practices and processes to address existing problems and emerging challenges, with the ultimate aim of securing peace and promoting sustainable development.

"In this regard, we stressed that digital technology and digitalization can contribute to promoting better appreciation of various civilisations as a foundation of a shared humanity," the statement said.
New Delhi, Nov 23 : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday described the MVA's drubbing in Maharashtra as "unexpected" and assured supporters that the party would undertake a serious analysis of the adverse outcome.

New Delhi, Nov 23 (IANS) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday described the MVA's drubbing in Maharashtra as "unexpected" and assured supporters that the party would undertake a serious analysis of the adverse outcome.

Taking to social media platform X, Gandhi wrote in Hindi, "Maharashtra results are unexpected and we would conduct a detailed analysis."

Interestingly, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha had expressed similar surprise over the party's loss in Haryana last month and used the word "unexpected" for the result in the agrarian state as well.

Looking to lift the morale of party workers, Gandhi highlighted the INDIA Bloc's victory in Jharkhand and thanked the voters for their whole-hearted support.

"Congratulations to Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Congress and JMM workers for this victory," wrote Gandhi in Hindi.

He went on to claim that the INDIA Bloc's victory in Jharkhand reflected the triumph of efforts to protect the Constitution and water, forest and land.

He also thanked party workers in Maharashtra for their efforts.

The Congress could manage just about 15 seats in Maharashtra while the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) secured about 48 seats in the 288-member Assembly.

On voting day on November 20, Gandhi appealed to voters of Maharashtra by posting on X: "Brothers and sisters of Maharashtra, I appeal to all of you to vote today for the protection of the state's dignity and the Constitution. Every vote you cast for the Maha Vikas Aghadi will prevent the theft of your jobs and projects, ensure fair prices for farmers' crops, and bring prosperity to your lives through the 5 guarantees."

The results on Saturday came as a blow for both the Congress and Gandhi. There is no denying that Gandhi's campaign which focused heavily on caste-based rhetoric and Constitutional assurances also came a cropper.

One of the key takeaways from this defeat is, many argue, an abject failure of Rahul Gandhi's agenda of the caste census. His promise of breaching the 50 per cent reservation cap has also not worked.

The caste calculus that he pushed during the campaign did not win voters' approval in Maharashtra, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi's emphasis on caste unity, encapsulated in the slogan "Ek hain to safe hain," proved more effective.

Gandhi's freebies offer also did not elicit any positive response from the public.
Seoul, Nov 23 : South Korea said Saturday it will not attend a memorial ceremony in Japan honouring forced labour victims, including Koreans, from an old Japanese mine complex, amid controversy over Tokyo's decision to send a senior official with hardline views on history to the event.

The decision, made just a day before the planned ceremony, came after Tokyo said Thursday that Akiko Ikuina, a parliamentary vice minister at Japan's foreign ministry, will attend the ceremony as the government representative.

The announcement further stoked doubt about Japan's sincerity in fulfilling its pledge to hold the event to honour the victims, because Ikuina has visited the Yasukuni Shrine, where war criminals are enshrined.

"We have decided not to attend the Sado mine memorial ceremony, scheduled for November 24, taking into account various circumstances surrounding the event," the ministry said in a message to the media, Yonhap news agency reported.

"There was insufficient time to reconcile differing positions between the diplomatic authorities of both countries, making it unlikely to reach a mutually acceptable agreement before the ceremony," it said.

The shrine, regarded as a symbol of Japan's militaristic past, has been a source of tension, with South Korea strongly opposing visits or offerings made by Japanese government officials.

Critics said her attendance at the ceremony would upset the eleven family members of the Korean victims who were planning to attend the event.

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul said the government informed Japan this afternoon of the decision, and that it plans to hold a separate memorial event with the family members of the victims who are in Japan for the ceremony.

"Various disagreements have not been resolved, and we thought there was not enough time to resolve the differences, having only a few hours left (before the ceremony)," Cho said in an interview with MBN.

Nine of the eleven family members are already in Japan, and they will pay visits to a museum and other sites related to the Sado mines, accompanied by Seoul officials, Cho said.

Despite the decision, Cho underlined the need to continue communications with Japan so that the bilateral relations will not be influenced by one single issue.

"The trilateral cooperation among Korea, the United States and Japan was established because of the improvement in the Korea-Japan relations, and Japan is well aware of the importance to strengthen it for security," Cho said.

"I believe both countries should work to ensure that no single issue like this disrupts the overall positive flow in the bilateral relations, and we plan to continue consultations with Japan in this regard," he said.

Japan has promised to host a memorial event as a condition for Seoul's consent to the location's designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Many Koreans were taken to toil at the Sado gold and silver mines during World War II, when Korea was under Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule.

Seoul has stressed to Tokyo the importance of holding the ceremony to honour the victims in a sincere manner, requesting the attendance of a high-level official, possibly at a vice minister level.

However, the lack of details about the ceremony's arrangements, even in the days leading up to the event, has sparked speculation in Seoul that negotiations with Japan may not have gone smoothly.

Recent remarks by Hideyo Hanazumi, the governor of the Niigata Prefecture organising the ceremony, have further fueled concerns. According to Japanese media, Hanazumi said earlier the memorial is intended to report the site's UNESCO listing to the public.

The memorial ceremony is set to take place on western Sado Island, off Japan's west coast, Sunday, with officials from the organising committee, the Sado city and central governments, and civic groups in Japan expected to attend.
Mumbai, Nov 23 : MahaYuti comprising BJP, Shiv Sena NCP has not only recorded a landslide victory but its development plank with an assurance of continuity in governance convinced voters.

Barely five months after the dismal performance in the Lok Sabha elections, the five major factors that helped MahaYuti to score major victory include Ladki Bahin Yojana and other welfare and development schemes, RSSa planning and Batenge To Katenge slogan, hard work by Devendra Fadnavis, aggressive campaign to counter oppositionas communal and divisive politics and promise to increase the pace of stateas development by carrying out a slew of infrastructure projects and keeping the stateas most favour destination status intact. Voters thereby preferred MahaYuti over Maha Vikas Aghadi.

Ladaki Baheen Yojana played a major role in the victory of MahaYuti. The Grand Alliance government changed the picture by introducing this scheme four months before the elections.

More than 2.36 crore women got Rs 7,500 (Rs 1,500 each from July to November) with the assurance to increase the financial aid to Rs 2,100 and later to Rs 3,000 per month. Due to the flawless implementation of the scheme, women's faith in the MahaYuti increased.

In Madhya Pradesh too, BJP got success with the Ladli Bahna scheme. The BJP had accused Congress-ruled Karnataka, Telangana and Himachal Pradesh of failing to implement welfare schemes. The opposition, especially the Congress, could not respond to this.

After the shock in the Lok Sabha results, the BJP made meticulous planning in Maharashtra ahead of the assembly election. RSS and its affiliated organisations united and implemented the 'Sajag Raho' campaign (Remain Alert) appealing to the voters to vote and increase the voting percentage.

It got a big response in the cities, but in the rural areas, it was clear from the results that the preachers stood with all their might in favour of the BJP.

Slogans like 'Batenge to Katenge' and 'EkHai to Seif Hai' stirred the state. BJP and MahaYuti leaders cornered the Congress party to play appeasement politics, especially after its support to Ulema over the reservation to the Muslim community. The Congress and Maha Vikas Aghadi tried to counter the Batenge To Katenge and Muslim reservation issue but failed to get votersa support.

In urban-rural areas, Hindu voters stood behind the MahaYuti across castes. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Aditynath was the first to give the Batenge to Katenge slogan that helped the BJP to aggressively lure Hindu voters.

BJP won 84 per cent of the seats it contested. The role played by DCM Devendra Fadnavis was quite crucial in BJPas victory and increase in its strike rate. The pro-Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil consistently targeted Fadnavis but instead of replying to him, the latter reminded the Maratha community voters that during his tenure as the state chief minister the state government had provided reservation in jobs and education to the Maratha community.

His meticulous planning in the selection of candidates and campaigning yielded positive results for BJP. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah hinted that Fadnavis would be the next chief minister, Jarange stepped up attacks against Fadnavis.

Jarange-Patil held meetings with Muslim, Dalit and Maratha leaders to checkmate the BJP but it worked in favour of the BJP and MahaYuti to garner votes from OBCs.

Moreover, urban voters overwhelmingly supported BJP and MahaYuti for undertaking a slew of infrastructure projects worth over Rs 8 lakh crore.

Prime Minister Narendra Modias MahaYuti Jithe Ahe Tithe Pragati Ahe (where there is MahaYuti there is progress) call created magic as urban voters voted for MahaYuti in a big way. Nearly, 40 per cent of the seats in the state are urban-semi-urban of which 95 per cent were won by the MahaYuti.

The effective marketing of projects like Samruddhi Marg, Atal Setu, Mumbai Coastal Road, and Metro projects worked wonders for the MahaYuti.

The mega victory has boosted the BJP and MahaYuti especially ahead of civic and local body elections as they will make every effort to consolidate their positions.

On the other hand, the Maha Vikas Aghadi faces a tough challenge to stay relevant in state politics and counter the BJP-centric politics.

(Sanjay Jog can be contacted at sanjay.j@ians.in)
Islamabad, Nov 23 : Fresh sectarian clashes have left at least 37 dead and 103 injured with casualties rising every passing hour in the Kurram district of Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The latest violence comes as a retaliatory offensive by Shia militia groups after Thursday's massacre of 47 Shia Muslims when unidentified gunmen attacked a convoy of passenger vans from Parachinar.

As per available details, fresh sectarian clashes started early Saturday morning in Kurram district with a large number of gunmen targeting surrounding villages with heavy arms, turning entire villages into rubble and setting homes, markets and government buildings on fire.

"The attacks were carried out by Shia militant group Zainabiyoun which had vowed to avenge the killing of Shias on Thursday. It was their people who attacked the villages and burnt everything. The death toll is still rising," said an official in Kurram district.

Another eyewitness of the carnage confirmed that he also saw charred bodies of at least six attackers.

Reports indicate that the attackers have also kidnapped women with the tribal elders of both Shia and Sunni sects in the district sending out messages to intensify attacks.

Reports of clashes are still coming in from at least three different locations in the Kurram district while the Thall-Sada-Parachinar Highway remains closed from Kohat district.

With the ongoing clashes escalating and intensifying, a provincial government delegation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) departed from Peshawar to Kurram district to review the law and order situation.

The helicopter carried a government delegation composed of KP Law Minister, Chief Secretary and Inspector General of Police.

The delegation met with the local administration in Kurram district but, while it was on its way back, the helicopter reportedly came under gunfire.

However, the chopper was able to make a safe landing in Peshawar.

The situation in Kurram district continues to become more critical.

Sunni and Shia sectarian clashes have left close to 100 dead and about 200 others injured in a span of 48 hours.

There are no signs of any breakthrough in ensuring peace in the area with both sects vowing to inflict bloodshed, chaos and carnage against each other.

Kurram district has a history of sectarian violence. In September, at least 60 people from both sects were killed in separate incidents, according to Provincial Governor Faisal Karim Kundi.

The Shia-dominated Parachinar area, which has seen bloody confrontational clashes with the surrounding areas of the Sunni majority in the past, saw police vehicles and security checkpoints being set ablaze by protestors on Friday as roads were blocked by stones and burning tyres.

The protesters in Parachinar also demanded immediate opening of the border with Afghanistan amid worsening situation, shortage of food, medicines, fuel and oxygen.

A Shia organisation and political party Majis Wahdat Muslimeen (MWM) has put forward demands to the government, including activating the Parachinar airport due to unsafe roads and the starting of free shuttle service between Parachinar and Peshawar via PIA or air force planes.

MWM has also called for replacement of federal forces by local Kurram militia.

The protestors have warned if their demands are ignored by the provincial and federal government then they would be forced to seek international help by human rights organisations and even the United Nations.
New Delhi, Nov 23 : Union Minister of State for Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Saturday inaugurated India's first Constitution Museum at the O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) in Sonipat.

A statement mentioned that on this occasion, they were joined by Naveen Jindal, the Founding Chancellor of JGU and Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) and other distinguished guests.

Om Birla, who was the Chief Guest at the programme, speaking on the occasion, said: "India's first Constitution Museum at O.P. Jindal Global University marks a historic milestone which will acquaint future generations with our Constitution, illuminating its history, inception, and the immense efforts behind its creation. In 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for the celebration of Constitution Day, highlighting the visionary ideas that shaped our Constitution.

"He urged us to remember and honour the contributions of those who worked tirelessly to frame this foundational document. Our Constitution stands as a beacon guiding India and the world. Our Constitution enshrines the principles of equality for all. More than a legal framework, our constitution is a transformative document that has brought profound social, economic, and political change. It is not merely a set of laws but a guiding philosophy, that continues to lead us towards a more just and inclusive society. Our democracy has united diverse cultures, languages, and traditions, exemplifying the spirit of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' - the world is one family -throughout its 75-year journey. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, we continue to advance this legacy."

Guest of Honour at the event, Minister of State for Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal, said: "Equality, liberty and fraternity are the cornerstones of our Constitution. We place equality before liberty as it is more important. We will only remain independent, said Dr B.R. Ambedkar, only when we have equality. I especially laud the effort undertaken by Chancellor Naveen Jindal efforts to ensure that citizens would be free to fly the National Flag respectfully and with dignity and honour.

"The Constitution Museum is a true memorial to the significant contribution of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the main framer of the Indian Constitution and I sincerely hope that it is visited by the current legislators of India to get a modern and digital insight into the making of the Constitution."

The Constitution Academy & the Rights and Freedoms Museum, a Jindal Global University initiative, is an attempt to delve into the cornerstone of India's democracy and the fundamental rights and freedoms enshrined within it, a read a statement.

Chancellor of O.P. Jindal Global University Naveen Jindal, who is also the Lok Sabha MP, said: "Constitutionalism is a philosophy that restricts government power and ensures the protection of individual rights. Constitutionalism is a political theory that emphasizes that limitation of governmental power, regardless of its source of proper procedures. It asserts that there are certain actions a government just cannot undertake, even if they are supported by public opinion or proper procedures.

"The Constitution Museum is a reminder of the vision of our Founding Fathers. It is the longest written constitution in the world, which came into being because of the painstaking efforts and toil of the constituent assembly. It was crafted with immense foresight with an aim of balancing individual rights and the state powers the resolve to secure to all its citizens, justice, liberty, equality and promote fraternity, to assure the dignity of the individual enshrined in the preamble of the Constitution. The Constitution Musuem at O.P. Jindal Global University is a reminder to celebrate the constitution of the world's largest democracy, and to promote the idea of an Indian constitutionalism as we commemorate the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of India on November 26 this year."

Professor (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar, the Founding Vice Chancellor of O.P. Jindal Global University thanked the distinguished guests on this momentous occasion and said: "As part of the celebrations, we are also hosting the National Convention on the Constitution of India from 23rd to 25th November. This convention will have distinguished speakers representing the law and public life, including three former Chief Justices, seven judges of the Supreme Court of India, three former judges of the Supreme Court, 20 plus senior advocates of the Supreme Court of India, eight distinguished parliamentarians and different political parties, besides the attorney general for India, the solicitor of India, and several other scholars from India and abroad, it is indeed my distinct honour to extend a warm welcome to our distinguished guests and we are deeply grateful to them for taking the time for inaugurating India's first constitution Museum.

"I would also like to extend my gratitude to our benefactor and Founding Chancellor Mr Naveen Jindal MP, Lok Sabha who brought to fruition the vision of a global university in India and has achieved historic recognition through his work in bringing the pride of flying the Indian National Flag for every citizen."

A statement noted that the museum was designed to provide a deep and engaging exploration of the Constitution's essential elements and key provisions that every citizen should know. The aim is to make the Constitution both accessible and relevant, demonstrating how its values and ideals have shaped the nation.

"The visitors can immerse themselves in the sights and sounds of pre-independence India, through 360-degree visual spectacle. Through cutting-edge technology and multimedia storytelling, our exhibit unfolds the chronological tapestry of events leading to the drafting of the Indian Constitution. The collaboration between the O.P. Jindal Global University and IIT Madras will bring to life an unprecedented experience through a tour guide robot called S.A.M.V.I.D. to commemorate the most significant document that defines India as a Republic.

"On display in the museum's centre is one of the 1000 photolithographic reproductions of Constitution of India. The original, an elaborately crafted edition taking nearly five years to complete, bears the signatures of the nation's founders -- the framers of the Constitution. Prem Behari Narain Raizada rendered the calligraphy, while Nandalal Bose and other artists illustrated the text. The manuscript was published in Dehradun and photolithographed by the Survey of India," it said

The Museum especially highlights the contribution of women members of the Constituent Assembly and there are animations about the life of each female member of the Constituent Assembly focusing on their contribution to the Constitution as well as the making of Independent India.

To commemorate the memory of nearly 300 members of the Constituent Assembly, sculptured busts of each member has been placed in niches to recognise their contribution. The gallery also explores the global inspirations and historical frameworks that influenced the creation of Indiaas Constitution, highlighting how these ideas were reimagined and adapted to suit the unique needs and aspirations of Indiaas diverse populace.

The mezzanine also holds a hologram exhibit of Dr B. R. Ambedkar. This installation brings his words and vision to life, allowing visitors to experience his legacy first-hand. The answers have been crafted based on his speeches and writings.

The art featured in the museum is anticipated to be a major attraction.

Rajesh P. Subramanian's sculpture, aWe, The People of Indiaa, embodies "unity in diversity," a core constitutional principle.

In aEchoes of Libertya, Rahul Gautam creates a mural that fuses elements from constitutional manuscripts with modern design. Harsha Durugadda's aTriad of Unitya links themes of unity, justice, and sovereignty.

Nishant S. Kumbhatil's aInsaaf Ki Devia portrays lady justice holding a balance, a powerful emblem of impartiality in Indian law.

Pradeep B. Jogdandas aEquality Before Lawa symbolises equality and justice. Deval Verma's large-scale aMap of challenges viewers to reconsider notions of value and beauty. K. R. Narimanas aFreedoma celebrates "We, the People" who uphold constitutional values in daily lives as citizens.

Finally, Rahul Gautamas sculpture aFounding Mothersa artistically represents an imagined photograph featuring the 15 women members of the Constituent Assembly, honouring their contributions to shaping India's constitutional framework.

Anjchita B. Nair, CEO, Culture and Head, Centre for Museums has curated the museum emphasising on how the Constitution Museum steers away from the typical unidirectional tone taken by conventional museums and instead uses a multitude of formats for innovative storytelling.
New Delhi, Nov 23 : President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday graced the 'Sahitya Aaj Tak' programme here, and also presented the 'Aaj Tak Sahitya Jagriti Samman', an official said.

Speaking on the occasion, President Murmu congratulated the winners of 'Aaj Tak Sahitya Jagriti Samman'. "She specially congratulated Gulzar Saheb on getting the aAaj Tak Sahitya Jagriti Life aTime Achievement Awarda. She appreciated him for his dedication to the world of literature and art," a statement read.

According to the statement, the President was happy to note that the award-winning works of today's awardees reflect the diversity of India from the past to the present and introduce several generations of writers together.

President Murmu said that "the pan-India consciousness was always present in our country's regional works of literature".

"This consciousness has been visible throughout our journey, from the times of the Ramayana and Mahabharata, to our freedom struggle, and can be seen in today's literature as well," she said.

The statement also noted that the President appreciated India Today Group for organising the event.

"She appealed to the Group to work to enhance regional literature's reach to the masses. She also requested them to encourage the literature of other underprivileged classes - called subaltern literature. She said that this Group should bring the hidden gems of literature to the fore. The literary magazines can do the work of literary service with great difficulty. But this Group can do this work on a very large scale through technology," the statement read.

President Murmu also urged everyone to encourage children's literature. She said that enriching children's literature through original writing and translation will help aaenrich the country and society.

The President said that it has been observed that the work of those writers who remain connected with the joys and sorrows of the people, is liked by the readers.

She said that society rejects those writers who consider the experiences of the society as raw material. The work of such writers remains confined to a small literary establishment.

"Where there is intellectual pomposity and prejudice, there is no literature. Sharing the sorrows and pains of people is the first condition of literature. In other words, literature must connect with the flow of humanity," the statement cited the President as saying.

The President said that literature empowers humanity and makes society better.

"Literature moulds the eternal values aaof humanity according to the changing circumstances. Literature gives new life to society. Manya asaints and poets influenced the thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi. Such influence of literature must be respected."
Mumbai, Nov 23 : A funeral parlour atmosphere prevailed in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) camps of Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (SP)-Shiv Sena (UBT)-plus, after the ruling MahaYuti bulldozer rammed it beyond recognition in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, the results of which were declared here on Saturday.

Though setting off to an optimistic start, a sombre mood set in around 11 am onwards when the initial trends indicated the possibility of massive reverses for the Opposition that were proved correct within a couple of hours as celebrations erupted by the MahaYuti camps of Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party-Nationalist Congress Party-plus.

By late evening (8 PM status), the MVA was hovering around 45 wins, the MahaYuti flying high with around 231 seats and 12 went to the others in the 288-member house.

The final count showed that many MVA stalwarts were thrown to the pavement by their MahaYuti rivals in different constituencies, though some newcomers or political greenhorns and a few veterans managed to hold on in the saffron cyclone.

From the MVA, the SS (UBT) has emerged as the biggest partner with 20 seats, Congress notching 16 victories and the NCP (SP) with 10 wins.

Among those who made it past the winning lines are: Congress' Leader of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar, ex-Minister Aslam Shaikh, NCP (SP) General Secretary Jitendra Awhad, state President Jayant R. Patil, and their junior colleague Rohit R. R. Patil, 25, became the youngest MLA in the new house, while SS (UBT)'s Aditya Thackeray, his cousin Varun Sardesai, CPI (M)'s Vinod B. Nikole, Samajwadi Party's Abu Asim Azmi, among others.

The shock losers included state Working President M. Arif Naseem Khan, Congress Legislative Party Leader Vijay Balasaheb Thorat, ex-CM Prithviraj Chavan, NCP (SP)'s Yugendra S. Pawar, and other bigwigs from the three allies.

The results earned flak from the top MVA leaders including Congress' Ramesh Chennithala, SS (UBT)'s Uddhav Thackeray, Sanjay Raut, NCP (SP)'s Mahesh Tapase and more, with all suspecting some kind of 'foul play' in the outcome.

Chennithala said that they are "absolutely surprised", Thackeray declared, "Its not a wave but a tsunami, yet there was some 'gadbad' that needs to be checked" and Awhad pointed out that "many doubts are raised in public minds."

A visibly irked Raut said that "the results are completely unbelievable" and are going contrary to the "mood of the people which we were well aware of".

He alleged various factors including huge money power that may have aided the MahaYuti to score a jumbo victory over the favourite MVA, even as Chennithala assured they would study and analyse the complete results that led to the onslaught before chalking out their future strategy.

However, the exuberant MahaYuti allies  Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party-Nationalist Congress Party - have dismissed outright all the allegations, saying they (Opposition parties) "are playing spoilsport and crying after the crushing defeat at the hands of the 'Ladki Bahins', 'Ladka Bhaus', 'Ladka Kisan' and 'Ladka Voters' of Maharashtra".
Mumbai, Nov 23 : Shiv Sena's executive on Saturday unanimously authorised the Chief Minister and party chief leader Eknath Shinde to appoint the legislature party group leader, chief whip, whip and other functionaries of the legislature party.

The executive meeting, which was held after the partyas stellar performance in the state assembly, also authorised the Chief Minister to hold talks with the MahaYuti alliance partners on issues involving the government formation and the chief ministeras post.

In a meeting held through video conferencing with Shiv Sena MLAs, MP Naresh Mhaske and party leader Siddhesh Kadam moved the resolution authorising Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to take all decisions with the appointments and hold discussions with the allies.

On the other hand, NCP has convened a meeting with the newly elected members on Sunday morning. The party is expected to authorise the national president Ajit Pawar to make all decisions with regard to the appointment of legislature party functionaries and discuss with allies about government formation and the chief ministeras post.

Shiv Senaas move is crucial as the chorus is growing in the party for Eknath Shinde to continue on the Chief Ministeras post in the wake of MahaYutias mega victory. Although the Chief Minister has said that the decision will be taken together by the MahaYuti partners, his supporters want to remain at the helm.

Interestingly, a section of BJP leaders has been making a strong pitch for Devendra Fadnavis to become the chief minister especially after the party has emerged as the single largest party by winning more than 125 seats. Home Minister Amit Shah had recently said that three parties in the MahaYuti will discuss the chief ministeras post.

Meanwhile, BJP sources said that the swearing-in ceremony may take place on Monday or Tuesday at Wankhede Stadium or at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Park. Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his speech at the rally held on November 14 at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Park had given an open invitation to the people gathered there for the swearing-in ceremony of the MahaYuti government. Home Minister Amit Shah during his speeches at poll rallies had repeatedly said that MahaYuti will come back to power with a thumping majority.
New Delhi, Nov 23 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday termed the verdict given by the people of Maharashtra to the Mahayuti, which swept back to power with a near absolute majority, as a "stamp" of approval for the good governance of the BJP-led government.

"Without a doubt, the Maharashtra result is historic. The verdict of Maharashtra is a stamp for the BJP model of good governance. The people of Maharashtra have blessed us for the time because they trust us. The BJP has also become the largest party in Maharashtra for the third time," said PM Modi in his victory speech at BJP headquarters here.

He added that the people of Maharashtra have given the BJP many more seats than the Congress and its allies combined, adding that this shows that when it comes to good governance, the country trusts only the BJP and the NDA.

"Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is an idol for me and the BJP. Dharamveer Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj is our inspiration. We have always believed in the ideas of social justice of Baba Saheb Ambedkar, Mahatma Phule, and Savitribai Phule this is in our conduct, this is in our behaviour. Respect for cultures and history is in our culture, in our nature," PM Modi said.

Lies, deceit and fraud have been badly defeated in Maharashtra, he said, adding that divisive forces have been defeated, negative politics has been defeated, and dynastic politics has also been defeated.

"Maharashtra has witnessed the triumph of development, good governance, and genuine social justice. The forces of deception, divisive politics, and family dynasties have been defeated. Maharashtra has strengthened its resolve for a developed India," PM Modi said.

Lashing out at Congress, PM Modi said that people across the country are with the 'nation first' mantra and not with the 'kursi first' formula, adding that people have rejected Congress and people know that they will not keep their "dishonest" promises.

"Congress and its ecosystem thought that by lying in the name of the Constitution and lying in the name of reservation, they would divide SC/ST/OBC into small groups. Maharashtra has completely rejected this conspiracy of Congress and its allies. Maharashtra has said it loudly: If there is one, then it is safe," PM Modi said.

PM Modi said that whoever talks about two constitutions, people reject them and the Congress again tried to create two constitutions in J&K but Maharashtra results show that this will not be allowed at any cost.

He said that no power on earth in the world can bring back Article 370, adding that the Maharashtra results have exposed the dual face of the INDIA bloc and the Maha Vikas Aghadi.

"The results of by-elections in many states of the country have also come and our number in the Lok Sabha has increased by one more seat. UP, Uttarakhand, and Rajasthan have given full support to BJP. People of Assam have once again expressed their trust in the BJP. We also got success in Madhya Pradesh. Support for NDA has increased in Bihar too. This shows that the country now wants only development," PM Modi said.

He also congratulated and applauded all BJP and NDA workers across the country.

On Jharkhand, where the JMM came back to power, PM Modi said: "We will work even harder for the rapid development of Jharkhand, and every single BJP worker will contribute their utmost efforts towards this goal."

Earlier, BJP President J.P Nadda said that the people of Maharashtra have delivered a decisive verdict, affirming their unwavering support for PM Modi and Mahayuti.

"Simultaneously, they have sent a strong message to Maha Aghadi, acknowledging the reality that Congress is a 'Parjeevi' party that prioritises its own interests while leaving others to wither away! The outcome of Maha Aghadi serves as a testament to this harsh reality," Nadda said.
Patna, Nov 23 : Bihar Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Tejashwi Yadav claimed on Saturday that the NDA will not return to power in the 2025 Assembly polls.

He also expressed confidence over Mahagathbandhan's (Grand Alliance) future prospects, drawing inspiration from recent electoral successes in neighbouring Jharkhand.

"We are deeply grateful to the people of Jharkhand for their love, trust, and public support. From winning just one seat previously, we have now secured four seats, and narrowly lost one or two others," he said.

Yadav also acknowledged the strong mandate for Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and expressed gratitude for his leadership.

"After Jharkhand, it is now Bihar's turn. The people of Bihar will ensure that the Mahagathbandhan government is formed in 2025. We will contest with greater determination and ensure success in the four assembly seats during the by-election as well," he said.

Yadav emphasised that victories and defeats are part of the electoral process but reiterated his belief in the coalition's capability to challenge the NDA effectively in Bihar.

Highlighting electoral gains, he said: "We won Lok Sabha seats a few months ago. This gives us a chance to identify and address any shortcomings. At any cost, the NDA government will not return to power in Bihar."
Mumbai, Nov 23 : The BJP has emerged as the single largest party by winning 132 seats in Maharashtra while Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena came second winning 58 seats and Ajit Pawar-led NCP bagged 41 seats.

The MahaYuti together have won a record 230 of the total 288 seats.

On the other hand, Maha Vikas Aghadi, which was expected to repeat its performance in the Lok Sabha, failed to do so as it together could not cross 50 seats. Shiv Sena UBT won 20 seats, 16 by Congress, NCP-SP 10 and Samajwadi Party 2 seats.

BJP had fielded candidates in 148 seats while Shiv Sena fought for 83 seats and NCP for 59 seats.

Ahead of the counting, BJP had predicted that the MahaYuti would win 160 to 175 seats while both Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and DCM Ajit Pawar had said that the MahaYuti is likely to bag 175 to 180 seats weathering the anti-incumbency. The MahaYuti leaders have expressed surprise over the landslide victory.

"The people of Maharashtra, as well as the people of Vidarbha and Nagpur have blessed us immensely. Also, those who were saying that we will perish in Vidarbha, have been demolished. I thank the people for supporting the MahaYuti in a big way," said Fadnavis who spoke to the media after seeking blessings from Union Minister Nitin Gadkari at his residence in Nagpur late Saturday evening.

BJP broke its previous records of winning 105 seats in the 2019 elections and 122 in the 2014 elections. BJP thereby has become a natural claimant for the Chief Minister's post and Devendra Fadnavis is the top front-runner.

However, Fadnavis said: "Leaders of three parties will sit together and discuss and decide on the chief ministership. This result is truly incredible, and unprecedented. When God and the people give us something, he gives abundantly. People have voted for us wholeheartedly."

Meanwhile, BJP's central leadership is expected to send two observers for the selection of the party's legislature party leader. The BJP is expected to convene a meeting of the newly elected legislators on Sunday. Thereafter, the BJP-led MahaYuti will officially stake a claim for the formation of government with the Governor CP Radhakrishnan. The swearing-in ceremony is expected to take place on Monday or Tuesday.
Mumbai, Nov 23 : It's a bittersweet moment for actor Riteish Deshmukh as his elder brother Amit Deshmukh won from Latur city, while his younger brother, Dhiraj Deshmukh lost from Latur Rural in the recently concluded Maharashtra Assembly Elections.

Amit, who fielded the election on an INC ticket, defeated BJP's Arhchana Chakurkar by a margin of 112618 votes.

In the Maharashtra Assembly elections of 2019, which witnessed a huge drama over the post of Chief Minister, saw Amit winning the same seat as he defeated Shailesh Govindkumar Lahoti of BJP by a margin of 40,167 which was 18.97% of the total votes cast for the seat. INC had a vote share of 52.48% in 2019 on this seat.

Prior to that in 2014, Amit won in the same seat on INC ticket by defeating Shailesh by a margin of 49,465 which was 24.31% of the total votes cast for the seat. INC had a vote share of 58.81% in 2014 in this seat.

Meanwhile, conceded defeat against Ramesh Kashiram Karad of the Bharatiya Janata Party in a close contest as the latter garnered 112,051 votes, with a margin of 6,595 votes over Dhiraj, who fought the election on INC ticket. Dhiraj garnered 105,456 votes.

Earlier, Riteish and his wife Genelia had cast their votes at a polling station in Latur.

A few days ago, Riteish had delivered a fiery speech in support of his brother, the videos of which are going viral on social media.

The Maharashtra Assembly elections were held on November 20 across 288 constituencies in the state.

The Mahayuti alliance consisting of BJP, NCP of Ajit Pawar and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena secured the mandate and are set to return to power maintaining the incumbency.
New Delhi, Nov 23 : Vice President of Mumbai BJP, Hitesh Jain, while reacting to Maharashtra poll results, said that people banked on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's slogan 'Ek hai toh safe hai' by giving a huge mandate to Mahayuti.

While speaking on Maharashtra election results, Hitesh Jain said, "This is the 'Maha Vijay' of Mahayuti. This is a Maha landslide. Prime Minister Modi had said to voters of Maharashtra 'Ek hain toh safe hain'. Keeping this slogan in mind, the voters of Maharashtra gave a massive mandate to the Mahayuti. This is the victory of politics of performance and this is also the victory of positive campaign over negative campaign."

He also said that PM Modi's slogan 'Ek hai toh safe hai' struck the right chord with the people of Maharashtra.

"I want to thank Modi ji for the blessings which the public has given to Mahayuti. The public has given a huge mandate to Mahayuti banking on the slogan 'Ek hai toh safe hai' that Modi ji had raised. Whatever slogan was 'Batenge Katenge' or 'Ek hai toh safe hai', basically its intention was the same that united we stand, the message was very simple we had said to everyone that Ek hai toh safe hai. It was a very positive campaign and today everyone comes under this slogan," Hitesh Jain told IANS.

"The politics of the opposition was negative, they wanted to divide people based on castes, their work was to dispute between Marathi and Gujarati, their work was to create a difference between Maharashtra and Gujarat," he added.

On Congress raising questions on EVMs after the Maharashtra results, the BJP leader said, "It was certain that the results will come and they will raise questions on EVMsbecause they did not have any concrete reason. Till yesterday they (MVA) were fighting among themselves over who will become the Chief Minister and today when they are doing badly in the elections. They have started blaming EVMs."

" According to me, the opposition should do some introspection because if they will keep blaming EVMs like this, then elections will come and will go and the opposition will definitely lose the elections," Hitesh Jain told IANS.

"And those who are questioning EVMs, then what happened in Jharkhand? Has the Opposition not won some seats in Maharashtra? Have they not won in some booths this is a fake narrative. Neither had they any policy for the public, nor they had intentions, not even a leaderyou only had negativity and when you lost in the elections, you have found a very convenient excuse and are blaming EVMs," he said.

When asked whether Congress by taking Uddhav Thackeray along, made him lose in Maharashtra, Hitesh Jain commented, "Uddhav ji should have remembered one thing of Bala Saheb Thackeray that he will not let his Shiv Sena become Congress and the results that have come today, it shows Uddhav ji has converted his Shiv Sena into Congress and that is why he failed in the elections."

Regarding the new CM of Maharashtra, he remarked, "Our senior leaders and Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said that all the three parties of Mahayuti will sit together and decide on it."
Patna, Nov 23 : Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Saturday celebrated the NDA's victories the Maharashtra and the by-elections in Bihar and other states.

Singh expressed pride in the NDA's performance in Bihar, emphasising the coalition's dominance in the state.

He also hailed the BJP's success and criticised Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena faction and Congress ally Sharad Pawar.

"The people of Maharashtra have shown who the real Shiv Sena is," Singh said, adding that BJP's strike rate increased from 87 per cent to 88 per cent.

He dismissed Sanjay Raut's allegations that MahaYuti has taken over the entire machinery for rigging, asserting, "If results favour them, they're fine, otherwise it's the EVM's fault. The truth is that the people rejected them."

Giriraj Singh further said that Sanjay Raut only accepts favourable results.

He stated that Thackeray's faction had been "destroyed" and attributed their losses to overconfidence.

Giriraj Singh also criticised the SP leader for falling short in Uttar Pradesh despite high expectations.

He took a jibe at Akhilesh Yadav, saying, "Despite his confidence in winning, he fell behind."

While BJP faced defeat in Jharkhand, Singh accepted the results showcasing humility amidst losses.

Singh also criticised Congress for lagging behind in Rajasthan, hinting at the party's declining relevance.

He mocked the RJD leaders over the NDA's clean sweep in Bihar, signalling their inability to challenge the BJP's influence in the state.
Chandigarh, Nov 23 : In view of the ongoing crisis within the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Misl Satluj, the socio-political body representing the Sikh community, has written to the Akal Takht Sahib Jathedar for an urgent intervention and guidance.

Misl Satluj President Ajaypal Singh Brar on Saturday emphasised that the SAD, in its current form, has strayed from its founding values and Panthic traditions of selfless service and commitment to Sikh rights.

He wrote in the letter that there is an urgent need for the Akali Dal to reconnect with the core principles of Sikhism, which have historically guided the party's mission to protect the dignity of the Sikh Panth.

The Misl Satluj has proposed the expulsion of 11 leaders, including Sukhbir Badal, Prem Singh Chandumajra and Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, from the Akali Dal whose political opportunism, personal greed and lack of the true Akali spirit have undermined the party's integrity.

"They not only shirked their responsibility during critical incidents such as the 2015 sacrilege, some of them were seen openly supporting the sacrilege perpetrators," reads the letter.

It also highlights the necessity of returning to the original constitution of the Akali Dal, which was rooted in Sikh values and social justice, ensuring that the leadership is accountable and transparent.

Brar underscored the importance of reopening the membership to Sikhs worldwide, allowing the Akali Dal to once again reflect the collective will of the global Sikh community.

He also called for the revival of the struggle for the core objectives passed in the 1974 Working Committee at Sri Anandpur Sahib, focusing on such as Gurmat, social equality, economic justice, and the promotion of physical fitness for the Sikh community.

The Misl Satluj emphasised that only through these steps can the Akali Dal regain its relevance and truly serve the needs of the Sikh Panth.

In addition, Misl Satluj submitted a draft document to Akal Takht for review and finalization to guide the future path and actions of the Panth.
Srinagar, Nov 23 : Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday attended the J&K Day Celebration Event of the India International Trade Fair (IITF) at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan in New Delhi.

The Jammu and Kashmir Pavilion at the India International Trade Fair (IITF) 2024 witnessed a vibrant celebration of Jammu and Kashmir Day with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah invited to the event as the Chief Guest, an official statement said.

In his address, the Chief Minister highlighted the unparalleled cultural and economic richness of the region, urging visitors to explore the pavilion and support the artisans and entrepreneurs of Jammu and Kashmir.

"From world-renowned handicrafts and premium handlooms to the finest agricultural and horticultural products, Jammu and Kashmir offers treasures that stand among the best in the world. I invite everyone to visit the J&K Pavilion and experience the authenticity of our indigenous products," he said.

The Chief Minister extended a warm invitation to people from across the country, urging them to experience the unparalleled beauty and hospitality of Jammu and Kashmir.

Highlighting the region's rich cultural heritage and picturesque landscapes, he said, "I encourage you to visit Jammu and Kashmir in the summer of 2025 to witness its breathtaking charm firsthand."

Chief Minister invited the participants to come to Jammu & Kashmir during summers when it is simmering hot in the rest of India to enjoy the pleasant weather, and the cuisine and buy a whole range of products that are on display here.

He also invited the general public to visit spiritual destinations like the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, in Jammu, nestled amidst the serene Trikuta Hills.

"From snow-capped peaks and lush valleys to sacred sites and vibrant traditions, Jammu and Kashmir promises a unique blend of tranquillity and adventure. We look forward to welcoming you with open arms."

During his speech, the CM welcomed Industry Associations, prominent business leaders, exporters, entrepreneurs, women entrepreneurs, manufacturers, artisans and exhibitors from Jammu and Kashmir and the artists performing at the event.

He hailed the participation of visitors who joined from different parts of the country to celebrate Jammu and Kashmir Day.

He also acknowledged the role of the organisers for providing this platform to highlight the immense opportunities in J&K and for reflecting the culture, handloom, handicrafts and heritage of Jammu & Kashmir.

The Chief Minister visited the J&K Pavilion and commended the exhibitors for showcasing their products.

The J&K pavilion showcased iconic products such as pashmina, saffron, and GI-tagged handicrafts, Nasir Aslam Wani, Advisor to the Chief Minister, commended the efforts of Industries & Commerce Department and the Jammu & Kashmir Trade Promotion Organization (JKTPO) in supporting the regionas artisans and exhibitors.

He expressed optimism about expanding Jammu & Kashmir's participation in such events in the coming years, ensuring even greater opportunities for showcasing the region's rich craftsmanship.

He also extended an open invitation to the public, encouraging them to visit Kashmir and explore the authentic and diverse products that reflect the unique cultural heritage of the region.

"Next year, we aim to make this platform even larger, allowing more artisans to present their unparalleled creations to the world," he remarked.

Earlier, the Commissioner Secretary of Industries and Commerce welcomed the Chief Guest Omar Abdullah and informed about the remarkable increase in participation from Jammu and Kashmir at IITF, which has grown from 30 exhibitors earlier to 115 exhibitors in 2024.

He announced plans to expand the reach of J&Kas artisans and entrepreneurs by participating in International Exhibitions and events in the near future.

A grand cultural program showcased the essence of Jammu and Kashmir through mesmerising performances of Dogri and Kashmiri folk dances and songs by local artists, captivating the audience and leaving them spellbound.

The J&K Pavilion featured over 115 exhibitors, including women entrepreneurs, specially-abled entrepreneurs, and cooperative societies, offering an array of products, from Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged treasures like Pashmina Shawls, Kani Shawls, Sozni Embroidery, and Basholi Paintings to high-quality agricultural produce such as Saffron, Honey, Walnuts, and Lavender Oil.

The pavilionas interactive features, such as video walls showcased success stories, craft techniques, and J&Kas stunning tourist destinations.

This year marks the 43rd edition of India International Trade Fair (IITF) being organized by India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO) from November 14 to 27, 2024 with November 23rd celebrated as Jammu & Kashmir Day at the trade fair event.
Bhopal, Nov 23 : After a week-long high-voltage drama by BJP MLA Pradeep Patel over encroachment near a temple in Madhya Pradesh's Mauganj, the district administration finally on Saturday demolished the boundary wall constructed on disputed land.

Bhopal, Nov 23 (IANS) After a week-long high-voltage drama by BJP MLA Pradeep Patel over encroachment near a temple in Madhya Pradeshas Mauganj, the district administration finally on Saturday demolished the boundary wall constructed on disputed land.

The boundary wall was razed using four bulldozers in the presence of Mauganj district collector Ajay Srivastava and Superintendent of Police (SP) Rasna Thakur.

The administration carried out the anti-encroachment drive following a prohibitory order issued and the entire Devra village was cornered off by more than 300 police personnel. BJP MLA Pradeep Patel was under house arrest at a guest house in Naigarhi, around 30 km from the spot.

After bulldozing the boundary wall on disputed land, Khatkari (local area police station) police put a board there. SP Rasna Thakur said the administration has taken land into its possession and entry for common people has been banned.

The administration has also issued notices to the encroachers, who had constructed homes within the disputed land, and has sought their reply by November 29, official sources told IANS.

Notably, on November 19, local BJP MLA Pradeep Patel reached the spot to remove the encroachment himself. During the commotion, there was an altercation between BJP volunteers and people from the other group, leading to stone pelting in which three people were injured.

Sensing the situation escalating further, the MLA was detained and was kept under house arrest till Thursday and when he was released, he went out and again tried to go to the spot. Police and administration took him to the rest house, where he was again kept under house arrest.

Patel continued his drama and on Friday, he locked himself and did not open the door of his room when the officials tried to reach him. However, he later allowed entry for another BJP MLA (Mangavan assembly seat) Narendra Prajapati and spoke to him.

On Saturday morning, he was shifted to a guest house in Nayigahri.

Local residents told IANS that the matter is related to around 9 acres of land and it is alleged that the land is near the temple but has been encroached upon by the locals mostly from the Muslim community. However, people from the Hindu community have also constructed homes there.
Guwahati, Nov 23 : Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday credited the tremendous performance by BJP-led NDA in both Maharashtra and Assam as a result of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's brand of good governance.

"Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the transformative policies have won the hearts of the people across the country. The results of today's assembly elections in Maharashtra and bypolls in Assam are a clear reflection of the people's trust and confidence in the leadership of Modi ji and the NDA government. His people-centric policies have brought about unprecedented change in the lives of all citizens of India."

Sonowal also expressed gratitude to the people for their overwhelming support in the constituencies of Behali, Samaguri, Dholai, Bongaigaon, and Sidli, where NDA candidates -- Diganta Ghatowal, Diplu Ranjan Sharma, Nihar Ranjan Das, Deeptimoyee Chowdhury, and Nirmal Kumar Brahma --secured victory.

He emphasised that the newly elected candidates would swiftly continue the development agenda in their respective constituencies and work towards winning the hearts of the people. Sonowal extended his best wishes to all the elected representatives for their future endeavours.

Sonowal acknowledged the contributions of key party leaders and the hard-working party cadre who played significant roles in the election campaign for their efforts.

He said: "Wherever there is Lotus, there is happiness, peace, and prosperity. The past 10 years have been a golden era for our country. Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office in 2014, a new wave of development has begun in India. Under his visionary leadership, India has entered a new era of governance, equality, and harmony, where all citizens have witnessed equal dignity and progress. During the tenure of the BJP-led government, farmers, youth, women, and marginalised communities have all had their hopes and aspirations fulfilled."

Sonowal contrasted this with the Congress' 60-year rule, which he claimed had left India weak on the world stage and had failed to uphold democracy, imposing a state of emergency on the people.

He praised Prime Minister Modi for steering the nation toward comprehensive development and the creation of a new era of governance that has ushered in peace and prosperity for the Northeast region.

"The BJP government has brought about rapid infrastructural development in the Northeast & Assam, reducing travel time between states and opening up new opportunities for growth. This progress is a direct result of the strong leadership of PM Modi and his genuine care and affection for the people of the Northeast," Sonowal added.
Bhopal, Nov 23 : Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav left for a six-day foreign tour to the U.K. and Germany on late Saturday evening.

Before leaving for the tour, CM Yadav said, "I am going to the U.K. and Germany with high hopes to convince investors for the Global Investment Submit -2025 in Bhopal."

He also stated that this visit will not only bring investment to Madhya Pradesh but will also provide new opportunities to acquire technical expertise.

In London, he is scheduled to visit King's Cross and redevelopment sites and will attend a dinner program organised by the NRI "Friends of Madhya Pradesh" which will be attended by over 400 NRIs.

Yadav is also scheduled to meet with the industrialists and Vikram K. Doraiswami, the High Commissioner of India to the U.K. on November 26.

"Investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh will be discussed with about 120 participants in an interactive session," the CM office said in a statement.

"This tour is an unprecedented effort to effectively present the investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh among the international investors," it added.

Yadav will also be on a two-day visit to Germany on November 28 and 29, following his tour of the U.K.

In Germany, Yadav will hold discussions with the leaders of the Bavaria state government and the Consul General of India in Munich on the morning of 28th November.

He will participate in the interactive session on Investment Opportunities in Madhya Pradesh, in which representatives of the Consul General of India, CII, Invest India, and Indo-German Chamber of Commerce will also be present.

Yadav will also visit the factory of LAPP Group in Stuttgart on November 29 and will discuss investment-related matters with the officials.

Long-term collaborative relations will also be established in the field of industrial and educational manufacturing skills. Innovations and development in renewable energy, electric vehicles, MSME sector will gain momentum, the statement added.
By Alimat Aliyeva

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), led by Japan's newly appointed Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba, will discuss next week the proposal he supportsthe creation of an "Asian NATO".

A new working group will be established within the party to explore the potential for such a security alliance in the region.

During his election campaign, Shigeru Ishiba voiced strong support for enhancing Japan's defense capabilities, including the creation of a regional collective security system, which he has referred to as an "Asian NATO." Ishiba also proposed the idea of deploying American nuclear missiles in Asia and has raised the prospect of "joint ownership" of such weapons in an article published by the Hudson Institute, a U.S.-based think tank.

The proposal has stirred debate in Japan and beyond, with critics expressing concerns about the implications for regional stability, while supporters argue that such a move would enhance collective security in the face of growing threats from North Korea and China. Ishibas vision for an "Asian NATO" reflects broader regional trends toward military cooperation and security partnerships, as countries in Asia seek to counter rising geopolitical tensions.

The idea of a collective security arrangement akin to NATO is not new in Asia, but it has gained traction recently as countries like Japan, South Korea, and India increasingly look to collaborate on defense issues. The potential establishment of an "Asian NATO" would mark a significant shift in the regions security architecture, with Japan playing a central role in a new multilateral defense framework.
A Jefferies analyst recently maintained a buy rating and a $200 price target on Boeing (NYSE: BA) stock, arguing that fears over the impact of potential tariffs on China are exaggerated, given that the country is responsible for only 2% of Boeing's backlog.

What the $200 target implies

While the argument has merit, the price target looks ambitious. The $200 figure, offering 37% upside from recent prices, would put Boeing at a market cap of almost $150 billion. The Wall Street analyst consensus is that the company will generate $5.3 billion in free cash flow (FCF) in 2026 and carry $37 billion in net debt in the same year.

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A $200 price target implies a price-to-FCF multiple of 28 in 2026.

Is Boeing stock worth $200?

If it hits analyst expectations, you could make a case for Boeing being a good value. A valuation of 28 times FCF in 2026 looks expensive. A snapshot that year could show a company ramping up airplane production and, in turn, profit margins, with the defense business growing earnings as it worked through problematic legacy fixed-price development contracts.

Meanwhile, given that its current backlog is about $500 billion, according to CEO Kelly Ortberg on a recent earnings call, it's solely up to Boeing to execute and deliver on those orders.

Image source: Boeing.

But not only is there substantive risk around Boeing meeting its numbers, there's also something else to cut and paste into that 2026 snapshot: the need to develop a new plane for the next cycle of narrow-body aircraft.

The previous CEO said the company would not have a new plane ready before 2035, and it takes years of investment to prepare for that. As such, investors will need to factor in the cash flow requirements for that when they try to imagine that snapshot of 2026.

It's an especially relevant point considering that Asia is the fastest-growing aviation market, and China's Comac aircraft will be more competitive in the next cycle of narrow-body planes.

Dont miss this second chance at a potentially lucrative opportunity

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On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a Double Down stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If youre worried youve already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before its too late. And the numbers speak for themselves:
New Delhi, Nov 24 : The police have managed to nab an individual involved in the murder of a policeman in the national capital, hours after an on-duty police constable was stabbed to death in south-east Delhi, an official said on Saturday.

The deceased -- identified as Kiran Pal -- was posted as a constable at the Govindpuri police station. According to the police, he was stabbed to death in the early hours of Saturday, at around 5 a.m.

Immediately after the incident, the police set up a team to trace and nab the accused involved in the murder.

Multiple teams were formed and assistance from the Crime Branch and Special Cell of Delhi Police was also taken.

The deceased Constable Kiran Pal is a native of Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr and is survived by his mother, elder brother, and sister-in-law. He was inducted into Delhi Police as a constable in 2018. Earlier, he was posted at Kishangarh police station before getting the posting at Govindpuri police station in March, this year.

Sharing details, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sanjay Sain said Constable Pal, posted at Govindpuri Police Station, was on patrolling duty in the early hours of Saturday when he stopped three people riding on a scooty.

The police deployed around the incident site checked the CCTV footage, and the Delhi Police Crime Branch team also received intelligence input to nab the accused.

A police team led by Inspector Rampal was formed under the supervision of DCP (Crime) Sanjeev Sain. Nearly six hours after the incident, the accused was hiding at a flat in Kalkaji.

However, the accused openly fired at the police following which the police retaliated in self-defence and shot the accused in the leg after he was arrested.

All the police officers and Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora reached the DCP office in southeast Delhi to take the body of Constable Kiran Pal from the hospital and pay their tribute.

The incident comes just a day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah met the Delhi Police Commissioner and held a meeting to review the city's law and order situation.
Bhopal, Nov 24 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) now has 165 legislators while there are 64 Congress MLAs in the 230-seat Assembly after the results of the bypolls in two Assembly seats -- Vijaypur and Budhni -- in Madhya Pradesh were announced on Saturday.

Bhopal, Nov 24 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) now has 165 legislators while there are 64 Congress MLAs in the 230-seat Assembly after the results of the bypolls in two Assembly seats -- Vijaypur and Budhni -- in Madhya Pradesh were announced on Saturday.

While the ruling BJP retained Budhni, the stronghold of Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, in a closely fought political contest and secured a seventh consecutive victory since 2003, the Opposition Congress too secured a thumping victory in Vijaypur.

BJP's Ramakant Bhargava, who is said to be a loyalist of Shivraj Singh Chouhan, won the Budhni bypoll with a margin of 13,901 votes contesting against former Minister and Congress nominee Rajkumar Patel, who is considered a close confidante of former Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh.

However, the victory margin for Bhargava was more than nine times lower than Chouhan's 2023 Assembly poll victory margin of 1.04 lakh-plus votes from the seat.

After the bypoll results were announced, newly elected BJP MLA Bhargava credited his victory for the development of work done under the previous Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led government.

"I won the bypoll because Shivraj Singh Chouhan has worked for several decades for the people of Budhni. I bow down my head to the people of Budhni," Bhargava added.

The bypoll in Budhni was necessitated after sitting BJP MLA and four-time MP Shivraj Singh Chouhan resigned from the Assembly following his victory in the Lok Sabha polls from Vidisha constituency earlier this year.

Former CM Chouhan has won five consecutive elections from Budhni Assembly seat between 2006 and 2023.

In the Vijaypur Assembly seat of Gwalior-Chambal region, Congress leader Mukesh Malhotra defeated BJP's Ramniwas Rawat, a sitting Minister in Chief Minister Mohan Yadav-led government, with a margin of more than 7,000 votes.

Interestingly, former MLA Ramniwas Rawat, who had won six elections (between 1990 and 2023) from Vijaypur on Congress' symbol, was contesting his seventh election, but it was his first as a BJP candidate.

He had won the Assembly election held in November 2023 with a margin of more than 17,000 votes, however, later he resigned from the party and joined the BJP, which necessitated a bypoll in Vijaypur.

Reacting to Malhotra's victory, State Congress Chief Jitu Patwari said, "Vijaypur's victory is that of the Congress workers, who faced all kinds of torture. They endured police lathicharge and lawsuits, but still, they stood firm. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav congratulated both (Ramkant Bhargava and Mukesh Malhotra) newly-elected MLAs. He also said that BJP may have lost the Vijaypur bypoll but its vote share had increased."

"Even though Ramniwas Rawat had to face defeat in Vijaypur, the party's votes have increased there. The BJP's double-engine government in Madhya Pradesh will continue to take the state's journey of development forward. In the coming elections, the party will register a massive victory in Vijaypur as well," CM Yadav said.

With this, the number of BJP legislators in the Assembly rose to 165 from 163 when it won the November 2023 elections.

BJP had already won Amarwara bypolls and one more sitting Congress MLA Nirmala Sapre from Bina Assembly constituency had also joined the saffron party.

While the Opposition which had won 66 seats in November 2023 polls, but lost one (Amarwara bypoll) and two of its party leaders joined the BJP, including Ramniwas Rawat, has now 64 MLAs out of the total 230-seat Assembly in the state. While one seat was bagged by the Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP).

--IANS

pd/khz
Mumbai, Nov 24 : Actress Celina Jaitley is celebrating her birthday on Sunday.

The actress, who is known for films like 'No Entry', 'Golmaal Returns' and others, has shared her plans for her birthday.

The actress also said that over the years the meaning of birthday celebrations has changed for her.

Though the actress was never in favour of ostentatious birthday celebrations, she now likes to travel and explore different places on her birthday.

Talking about her birthday plans, the actress told IANS, "This year, the plan is for a birthday celebration surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of the Austrian Alps. Just the thought of spending the day with my family, taking in the crisp mountain air, and marvelling at the snow-capped peaks would be most magical."

She continued, "I will be starting the day with a cosy breakfast, then explore the charming alpine villages together. It's the simple moments, warm laughter, scenic views, and the company of loved ones, that make birthdays truly special."

The actress shared that earlier birthdays used to be very ostentatious for her even, though she has never been drawn to ostentatious birthday celebrations.

She shared that the glitz and glamour feel empty compared to the warmth of being surrounded by family.

She said, "Simple moments with loved ones, heartfelt laughter, and genuine connection mean far more to me than any grand display. To me, true celebration is about love, not a luxury. I mostly now like to travel with my family on my birthdays. They are all I want."

"There is nothing happier than sitting against the backdrop of the pyramids in Egypt or the Burj Khalifa in Dubai or the Vineyards of Florence with your children who have unconditional goodwill of love in their eyes, as for my fans they send me enough love and positivity via social media to feel immensely blessed," she added.
Terms like heat dome and atmospheric river, once the province of scientific journals, have entered the vocabularies of everyday Americans contending with extreme weather events. Meanwhile, a similar mainstreaming is playing out across publishing. While climate fiction was once nearly synonymous with speculative or science fiction, climate anxiety is increasingly taking root in more realistic fiction as well.

PW spoke with authors whose forthcoming novels document a changing world.

Clear and present danger

I didnt purposely set out to write climate fiction, says Eric Puchner, who describes his next book, Dream State (Doubleday, Feb. 2025), as psychological fiction that projects into the future. It opens in 2004 and follows two marriages over 50 years, beginning with a betrayal among friends that reverberates into the next generation.

Puchner has spent the past 25 summers at a lake house built by his wifes great-grandfather in northwest Montana. As he unfurled his characters lives against a similar backdrop, he thought of the changes hes witnessed over the years: the smaze (smoke and haze) from wildfires that blankets the valley with increasing frequency, and the lakes diminished water levels, which stem from reduced snowpacks in the surrounding mountains and are compounded by years of drought.

I wanted to write a marriage novel and watch the characters age, Puchner says. You cant write a novel whose antagonist is time without writing about whats happening in the environment.

Madeleine Watts set her debut novel, 2021s The Inland Sea, in a contemporary Australia wracked by floods and wildfires. Her forthcoming Elegy, Southwest (Simon & Schuster, Feb. 2025) is narrated by Eloise, who recounts a road trip she and her husband, Lewis, took several years earlier across the U.S. desert Southwest. She was researching her doctoral thesis on climate change and he was grieving the loss of his mother, and their trip unspooled in the context of wildfires and a dangerously low Colorado River.

To tell a story about the American Southwest right now is to think about climate change, says Watts, who rejects the idea that climate fiction is a fad. She likens the climate-focused lit classes shes taught to seminars on Victorian-era literature: If you asked writers in the 19th century, Do you think you belong on the same syllabus?, they may object, Watts says. But we recognize them now as having had similar concerns. Whether you want to engage with it or not, were living in the climate change era.

Bad Nature (Holt, Apr. 2025), Ariel Courages dark debut, follows Hester, a New York City lawyer on a cross-country quest to kill her estranged father in California. Along the way, she picks up an environmental activist secretly documenting Superfund sites, who lectures the sybaritic Hester about carbon emissions and alludes to his outstanding warrants for ecotage, or acts of sabotage against polluting projects.

As they meander west through a landscape pockmarked with ecological time bombs, the imagery parallels the metastasizing tumor on her breast. This foreboding doom of personal and ecological crisis, Courage says, deepens Hesters nihilism. Shes emboldened by the sense that everything is collapsing, which is what gives her permission to embark on this quest for revenge.

In The Float Test (Mariner, Apr. 2025), Lynn Steger Strong, who grew up in Florida, weaves the regions suffocating heat and endangered ecosystems into the narrative of four estranged siblings who gather at their family home after their mothers death. The novel is both love letter and lament for Strongs home state.

You cant write a Florida novel set in 2023 and not acknowledge that everything is changing, she says. Its my job to take in the world and transmute that back into my fiction.

Time and place

Climate anxiety is, by its nature, global, and as Franziska Gansler devised her debut novel, she was informed by images of people trapped indoors in smoke-filled cities from the U.S. to Thailand. In Eternal Summer (Other Press, May 2025), translated from the German by Imogen Taylor, a woman with a small child in tow lands in a once-thriving German spa town where wildfires have made visitors scarce and ashes now rain from the sky. Her unexpected appearance in such an inhospitable place leads a local hotel owner to wonder whether shes a threat.

Its a work of psychological suspense, but Gansler also wanted German readers who escape en masse each year to the good air of their southern mountains to imagine a world that no longer offered such respite. Im thinking about these things all the time, she says. And the way I think is through writing.

Argentine author Agustina Bazterrica says that the signs of climate change across Latin American and particularly in her hometown of Buenos Aires, which recently experienced an explosion of mosquito-borne diseases triggered by irregular weather, prompted her to imagine potential social consequences of ecological crises. Water is drying up in the Amazon, and ash was raining down on us while I was in Quito. It already feels like a dystopia, Bazterrica says. Its not a big stretch to imagine these things getting even worse.

In Bazterricas The Unworthy (Scribner, Mar. 2025), translated from the Spanish by Sarah Moses, a group of women live sealed within a religious compound where punishment for failing to meet the orders rules is swift and severe. Outside, violence reigns among survivors of floods that have wiped out entire cities. An intruder slips past the cloisters walls, forcing the narrator to reckon with how she arrived at the Sisterhood in the first place.

Susanna Kwan set her debut novel, Awake in the Floating City (Pantheon, May 2025), in a near-future San Francisco rendered nearly uninhabitable by nonstop rains. Bo, a frustrated young artist unmoored by the disappearance of her mother, is on the verge of evacuating the city when Mia, her 130-year-old neighbor, asks her to stay on as her caregiver. As Mia, who immigrated to the Bay Area from China after WWII, shares stories from her past, the two forge a bond, sparking new creativity in Bo, whos determined to honor whats been lost under the flood waters.

For Kwan, who lived through deadly flooding in Nashville in 2010 and later developed asthma from smoke produced by Northern Californias historic cluster of wildfires in 2020, the real-life impact of climate change is inseparable from the creative process. Its hard to know what to do as an individual with a crisis this big, she says. I see this novel as a contribution to climate work. It isnt only about climate but climate is completely entangled with all of the concerns and questions in this book.

Florida native Karen Russell was unfamiliar with the term climate fiction when she wrote the Pulitzer-nominated Swamplandia! (2011), in which a familys financial ruin is tied to the destruction of the Everglades. But, she says, having lived through Hurricane Andrew as a childone of the most destructive storms in the states historyshes acutely conscious of how ecological fragility relates to economic precarity.

She revisits these themes in The Antidote (Knopf, Mar. 2025), in which a fictional 1930s Nebraska town is devastated by a Dust Bowl storm. Through a cast of characters that includes an orphaned teenage girl, a woman whose body serves as a repository for peoples memories, and a photographer with a time-traveling camera, Russell shows how the land was primed for disaster by "American settler colonialism that dispossessed Native nations of their lands and imposed industrial agriculture and a profit-above-all ethos on the prairie ecosystem," she says. While unearthing the past, Russells characters discover alternatives to a brutal status quo, offering a glimmer of hope that readers might take heart in as well.

Its frightening the ease with which we can conjure a dystopia, Russell says. We also need to help each other to make visions of a functioning, caring, and caretaking society feel plausible.

This article has been updated.

Read more from our Climate Fiction and Nonfiction feature.

Climate Change Hits Close to Home: PW talks with Mike Tidwell

5 Reports from the Front Lines of Climate Change
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FRANKFURT (Reuters) -Brussels and Beijing are nearing a solution over tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle imports into the bloc, the chair of the trade committee of the European Parliament told a German broadcaster.

"We are close to an agreement: China could commit to offering e-cars in the EU at a minimum price," Bernd Lange told n-tv, without elaborating. "This would eliminate the distortion of competition through unfair subsidies, which is why the tariffs were originally introduced."

The European Commission was not immediately available for comment.

The European Union last month decided to increase tariffs on Chinese-built electric vehicles to as much as 45.3% in its highest-profile trade investigation, a move that has divided Europe and triggered retaliation from Beijing.

The tariffs, which became effective on Oct. 30, were imposed to counter what it says are unfair subsidies including preferential financing and grants as well as land, batteries and raw materials at below market prices.

Despite the tariffs coming into force, both sides have continued negotiations to find a solution, fuelling hopes primarily among German carmakers  which heavily depend on the Chinese market  that a trade dispute can be averted.

China's Chamber of Commerce to the EU at the time said it was profoundly disappointed by the "protectionist" and "arbitrary" EU measure.

(Reporting by Christoph Steitz; additional reporting by Benoit Van Overstraeten; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
Billionaire Gautam Adani's group on Saturday clarified on reports of Kenya cancelling more than $2.5 billion in deals after US indictment on bribery charges, saying it had not entered into any binding agreement to operate Kenya's main airport.

Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters

On the pact it had signed last month to build and operate key electricity transmission lines in Kenya for 30 years, the group said the project did not fall within the ambit of Sebi's disclosure regulations, thereby not warranting any disclosure on its cancellation.

The group was responding to notices sent by stock exchanges to confirm reports of Kenyan President William Ruto ordering the cancellation of a procurement process that had been expected to award control of the country's main airport after the conglomerate's founder was indicted in the United States.

Adani Enterprises Ltd, the flagship firm of billionaire Gautam Adani's group which houses its airport business, in a filing said it had in August this year incorporated a step-down subsidiary in Kenya to upgrade, modernise, and manage airports.

"While the company was in discussion with the relevant authority for the said project, till date neither the company nor its subsidiaries (i) have been awarded any airport project in Kenya, or (ii) entered into any binding or definitive agreement in connection with any airport in Kenya," the firm said.

It did not confirm or deny reports of Kenya cancelling the airport deal.

Adani Energy Solutions Ltd, the firm that operates power transmission lines, in a separate filing said on October 9 it was awarded the project to construct transmission lines in Kenya.

Thereafter, it had incorporated a step-down subsidiary in Kenya.

"We submit that the project does not fall within the ambit of item 4 of Para B, Part A, Schedule III of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, as amended (Sebi Listing Regulations) which requires intimation to be made for any awarding, bagging/ receiving, amendment or termination of awarded/bagged orders/contracts other than in the ordinary course of business," it said refusing to confirm or deny the cancellation.

It went on to state that the award of the project was in the ordinary course of business of the company and its subsidiaries as they are engaged in the business of transmission and distribution of energy (among other things).

"Consequently, any cancellation of such Project will also not fall within the ambit of item 4 of Para B, Part A, Schedule III of the Sebi Listing Regulations," it added.

Under the proposed airport deal worth nearly $2 billion, the conglomerate was to add a second runway at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and upgrade the passenger terminal.

It was also to operate it on a 30-year lease.

Kenya's President in his state of the nation address on Thursday also stated that he was cancelling a separate 30-year, $736-million public-private partnership that an Adani Group firm signed with the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum last month to construct power transmission lines.

That followed US authorities indicting group founder and chairman Gautam Adani and seven others for allegedly agreeing to pay $265 million to Indian officials to win lucrative solar power supply contracts.

The Adani Group denied the allegations as baseless and said it would seek "all possible legal recourse".

The tender to operate Kenya's main airport was put on hold following local protests.

Adani Energy Solutions Ltd had last month signed a project agreement with the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Ltd (Ketraco) for developing three transmission lines and two substations.
Though a settlement will provide respite from a long legal battle, legal experts say it may create a perception of guilt.

IMAGE: An Adani Group office in Gurugram. Photograph: Priyanshu Singh/Reuters

The charges against Gautam Adani and other executives of the Adani Group by the US department of justice (DoJ) can be appealed and other legal recourse like settlement route can be explored, but settlement comes with a cost, say legal experts.

On November 20, US prosecutors levelled bribery and corruption charges against several Adani group executives, alleging that they schemed to pay over $265 million in bribes to Indian government officials, and conspired 'to commit securities and wire fraud' to obtain funds from US investors on the basis of misleading statements.

The Adani Group has denied the allegations as 'baseless', and said it will seek all possible legal recourse.

To be clear, the group has not made any statement indicating settlement.

Legal players said though a settlement will provide respite from a long legal battle, it may create a perception of guilt.

"A settlement will avoid the rigours of a protracted trial and will put the issue at rest, subject to stricter compliances for the future," said Shiv Sapra, partner, Kochhar & Co.

"In the short term, it may aid in mitigating financial and reputational losses. It could, however, create a perception of guilt, even if partial, especially given the nature of the offences alleged," Sapra added.

Though termed 'settlement', Sapra said the payment could be in the nature of a "penalty", which by its own definition involves acknowledgement of wrongdoing.

Nilesh Tribhuvann, managing partner, White & Brief, Advocates & Solicitors, shares the same view.

"Settling a case can sometimes be misinterpreted as an admission of wrongdoing, despite the 'no-admission' clauses commonly included in such agreements," said Tribhuvann.

"For a global conglomerate like Adani, maintaining a balance between reputation management and legal strategy is crucial," he added.

However, a few others differ and said a settlement may shield the executives from further public scrutiny.

"Such a course of action may allow Adani to avert prolonged public scrutiny and minimise reputational erosion, which is inevitable during extended litigation," said Tushar Kumar, a Supreme Court advocate.

"Importantly, settlements in FCPA (Foreign Corrupt Practices Act) cases often culminate in civil resolutions rather than criminal convictions, potentially shielding him and his associates from the severe consequences of extradition or custodial sentences," explained Kumar.

While US laws allow for settlements in bribery cases, governed by the FCPA, the lawyers added India does not have any law for settlement of bribery charges.

However, there is no update on whether the Indian regulatory or investigative bodies will be proving the allegations levelled in the US against the group.

"In India as well as in the US, settlement neither means admission nor rejection of charges," said Tushar Agarwal, founder & managing partner, C.L.A.P. JURIS, Advocates & Solicitors.

"Settlement is a remedy under the law, which provides an opportunity to the accused to improve his wrongdoing by regularising it with payment of penalties calculated by the authorities concerned as per law," Agrawa added.

When an accused settles the matter either in India or in the US, Agarwal explained s/he settles it without prejudice to his rights to appeal against the charges.

Legal players said the bribery charges in the US are not under the jurisdiction of the Indian markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India but the authorities may take up inspections on the possibility of related lapses or non-disclosures to Indian investors.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
Life insurers shifted their focus to selling high-value policies in October as the transition to new surrender value norms, effective October 1, limited their ability to roll out all products in their portfolio.

This led to a 40 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) drop in the number of policies sold in October.

Additionally, distributors engaged in a fire sale of policies in September due to uncertainty about the impact of the new norms on their commission structures.

This advance selling made an impact in October, as distributors slowed down on promoting new products.

Data from the Life Insurance Council shows, the number of policies sold by insurers in October dropped 41.6 per Y-o-Y to nearly 1.2 million.

In contrast, policy sales in September rose nearly 432 per cent to 11.7 million from 2.21 million in the year-ago month.

According to Saurabh Bhalerao, head of BFSI Research at CareEdge Ratings, the drop in policy sales is due to the introduction of the new surrender value norms and companies inability to launch all their products in time.

Despite the fall in number of policies, the new business premiums of life insurers grew in double digits.

insurers have focused on selling higher-value policies and unit-linked insurance plans, which helped mitigate the impact on premium income, Bhalerao said.

The revised surrender value norms require life insurers to pay a higher special surrender value to policyholders after the completion of the first policy year, provided the customer has paid one full year s premium.

Earlier, companies did not pay such amount to customers surrendering their policies in the first year.

Rushabh Gandhi, MD and CEO of IndiaFirst Life Insurance. Because of uncertainty around product constructs and commission structures, distributors seem to have hastened the October business into September.

It should be noted that this volatility is muted in the case of private sector companies.

State-owned Life Insurance Corporation of India saw a 60 per cent Y-o-Y decline in policy sales in October at 572,000 from 1.42 million in the year-ago period.

Private insurers, on the other hand, recorded a 1.07 per cent decline at 628,000 policies.

In the new product offerings, we have revised the minimum sum assured levels due to challenges in terms of persistency, LIC management said during a post-earnings call.

We are aware that, in the initial phases, intermediaries adapt to the higher ticket size or appropriate ticket size, which is essential not only from a persistency point of view but also for the ultimate customer delivery.

So, we were aware that this month could see an impact, but we are confident that going forward, sales will pick up, the LIC management said.

Pankaj Gupta, MD & CEO of Pramerica Life Insurance, agreed that with the recent adjustments in surrender norms, distributors might have concentrated their efforts in September.

However, both analysts and insurers are optimistic about recovery going forward.

This decline is expected to be temporary, and policy sales are anticipated to normalise in the near future, Bhalerao said.

Also, customers and distributors might be taking some time to adapt to the updated products and changes following the new norms, said Gupta.

However, both analysts and insurers are optimistic about recovery going forward.

This decline is expected to be temporary, and policy sales are anticipated to normalise in the near future, Bhalerao said.
'Pro-incumbency worked big time for the ruling party.'

'It has never happened in the past of pro-incumbency working so much for the ruling party.'

IMAGE: Nationalist Congress Party leaders Ajit Pawar, right, Praful Patel, left, and Sunil Tatkare celebrate the NCP's performance in the Maharashtra assembly elections, November 23, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

The Maharashtra assembly election results have shocked poll pundits with the scale of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Mahayuti alliance's victory.

At last count the alliance was slated to win 228 out of the state's 288 assembly seats.

This mandate was on a scale no one saw coming.

What factors led to the Mahayuti's victory?

And what is the future of Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray, who were ranged against the Bharatiya Janata Party-led alliance, after this debacle?

Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com spoke to political commentator Ravikiran Deshmukh to find out.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi won 30 plus seats out of 48 in the Lok Sabha elections from Maharashtra in June 2024 and the BJP alliance had to settle for far fewer numbers.

In four months the BJP and its allies have swept the assembly elections.

Nobody expected this kind of results as the situation has completely changed compared to the Lok Sabha elections.

There is an agrarian crisis going on in Maharashtra and farmers are not getting right remunerative prices.

Industries are shifting out of Maharashtra, which too was an issue in the elections.

Considering all these situations, no one predicted this landslide victory. Even the ruling alliance did not expect this kind of victory.

What factors worked for the Mahayuti?

The Laadki Bahin Yojana scheme worked for the government in the elections.

There were 2.5 crore (25 million) beneficiaries of this scheme. Lower middle class women and to some extent even middle class women got this money in their bank accounts. This resulted in women become financially stronger and that tilted the balance of power towards the Mahayuti alliance.

Laadki Bahin Yojana did miracles for the BJP and its allies.

Did slogans like 'katenge toh batenge' and 'ek hai toh safe hai work for BJP?

Many will not agree, but this too had an impact.

There was an alleged letter and speeches by Sajad Nomani, spokesperson for the All India Muslim Personal Law Board where he said that Muslims who vote for the BJP should be boycotted socially.

Besides that the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi leaders met Ulema Council leaders where they promised a lot of things, which might have led to reverse polarisation among Hindus. People become sentimental over such issues when it comes to voting.

Another point is the pro-incumbency factor working big time for the ruling party. It has never happened in the past of pro-incumbency working so much for the ruling party.

What is Uddhav Thackeray's future?

It is difficult times for him. He will have to begin anew and build up the party from scratch.

He lost the party symbol -- the bow and arrow -- to Eknath Shinde when he split the party and now after the results it has been proved that even the public supported Shinde moving out.

It is hard work ahead for Uddhav and Aaditya Thackeray.

What about the allegations of corruption against Eknath Shinde's MLAs? They were being called 'pachas khoke', but 38 out of those 40 rebel MLAs are winning? Is corruption not an issue?

In the last three months around Rs 7,500 was deposited in the bank accounts of women under the Laadki Bahin Yojana. They don't bother what these MLAs got in return because they are happy that they got money in their bank accounts. 'Pachas khoke' became a secondary issue for these voters.

What is Sharad Pawar's future?

He has got eight members of the Lok Sabha. He has his daughter Supriya Sule as their leader. Besides, more than a dozen MLAs are winning from his party. There is a big question mark for Sharad Pawar about how he will build his party in the future. The same challenge holds for Uddhav Thackeray too.

What about the RSS' role in the Mahayuti victory?

They put their strong team on the ground to work in this election. In Marathwada, their workers worked hard in many districts (where they had not done well in the Lok Sabha elections). Devendra Fadnavis too coordinated with them well to ensure the Mahayuti alliance's victory.
'More than 9.5% new voters have been added to the electoral voters' list compared to the 2024 Lok Sabha election.'

This led to an increase in about 5% to 6% in total votes polled for this assembly election.'

'That has tilted hugely in our favour because we worked hard for registration of these voters and concentrated on bringing out these new voters out during this assembly election.'

IMAGE: A Bharatiya Janata Party supporter waves the party flag in Nagpur, November 23, 2024, to celebrate senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis' victory in the Maharashtra assembly elections. Photograph: ANI Photo

The Mahayuti alliance is all set to form the next government in Maharashtra after its astonishing triumph in the state assembly election.

Bharatiya Janata Party state Vice President Madhav Bhandari explains to Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com the reasons for the BJP's astounding strike rate -- the party will win 132 out of the 149 seats it contested this election.

During the Narendra Modi wave that swept across India in 2014, the BJP won 122 seats in the November 2014 assembly election in Maharashtra. In the 2019 assembly election, it won 105 seats. This election marks the third time the BJP has won over 100 seats in an assembly election in Maharashtra.

How do you look at the BJP's spectacular performance in this assembly election? What brought about this spectacular turnaround between June and November 2024?

There was some lethargy (on the BJP's part) in the Parliament elections. That's why we had to suffer some losses (the BJP won only 9 of the 28 seats it contested in the 2024 Lok Sabha election compared to the 23 it won in 2019) at that time. Even then, there was only a 1 to 2 per cent difference between the MVA (the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi) and the NDA's vote share.

This time you might have noticed that more than 9.5 per cent new voters have been added to the electoral voters' list compared to the 2024 Lok Sabha election. This led to an increase in about 5 to 6 per cent in total votes polled for this assembly election. That has tilted hugely in our favour because we worked hard for registration of these voters and concentrated on bringing out these new voters out during this assembly election.

The other factor that proved decisive is the way how the Congress' behaviour became so rude after winning just 99 Lok Sabha seats. Their behaviour became very arrogant and derogatory. That exposed the real face of the Congress.

People realised that if with just 99 seats if they could become so arrogant, so destructive and so anti-development, then what will they do if they were to get a majority (in a state like Maharashtra)? That was an eye opener for voters.

Why did this increase in new voters and their turnout help only the BJP?

This is no doubt the BJP's best performance over many decades. In the Maharashtra assembly election, in the last 50 years nobody got such a huge mandate.

Even in the 2019 assembly election when we (the BJP and undivided Shiv Sena) fought in alliance, we didn't have such a huge majority. We had a working majority.

This is a historic mandate. A Hindutva tsunami has swept Maharashtra.

What brought about this change? Why did voters overwhelmingly prefer the BJP?

There are three factors -- the appeal of Hindutva, anger against the corruption of the previous (MVA) government and our organisational efforts.

Last and but not least, the aspirations of development of the people of Maharashtra were stalled by the MVA government (which ruled the state between November 2019 and June 2022). Under that government industrial progress had stalled; the (state) economy was in doldrums.

The common people have economical and material aspirations. They failed to fulfill these.

You said that in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections there was lethargy on the BJP's part. Are you saying that the RSS was not active then?

We reported that in Vidarbha the RSS was active in getting voters out this election.

IMAGE: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh volunteers participate in the Path Sangh on the occasion of Vijayadashami. Photograph: ANI Photo

The RSS and other BJP-allied organisations helped us a lot. After the last Lok Sabha election they (the RSS) has worked relentlessly (to help the BJP win the Maharashtra assembly election).

Your readers must know that the RSS has started its centenary year programme. In this year, where the RSS was founded in Maharashtra 100 years ago, in Nagpur, we have an RSS-inspired government (in place in Maharashtra).

Will the next Maharashtra government then implement schemes which are close to the RSS' heart?

We (the BJP) had promised in our manifesto that we shall create a $1 trillion economy for Maharashtra in the next five years. We shall relentlessly work for it and we will do it.

You said corruption during the MVA government played a role in the MVA's rout in this assembly election. But MVA leaders during their election campaign were charging this Mahayuti government of indulging in corruption.

Maharashtra's people and voters have understood the truth. See, both the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) and NCP (Ajit Pawar) were with us and people have also voted for them heavily. This has resulted in the BJP's resounding victory and trouncing of negative narratives led by leaders like Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar. Their rejection is an outcome of the BJP's resounding victory.

The BJP has swept almost all the five regions in Maharashtra -- Konkan, Mumbai, North Maharashtra, Western Maharashtra, which is considered a citadel of the NCP and Congress, the Marathwada and Vidarbha regions, from where the BJP had faced defeat in the Lok Sabha elections. What exactly did the BJP do to bring about this turnaround?

IMAGE: Narendra D Modi being felicitated by Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis at the election meeting at Shivaji Park in Mumbai, November 14, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

That's what I said at the beginning. We had registered new voters who voted handsomely for the BJP and the Mahayuti alliance. We worked hard to bring out our voters.

The MVA is casting doubts over the last minute voting percentage jump between the provisional and final figures. They wonder how this number can jump by 5 per cent. They want this to be probed.

These MVA leaders are sour losers; they are very bad at accepting defeat gracefully. They can't accept their political rivals' victory. They have to introspect how they are being perceived by the people.

The Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) had made an issue out of projects like Foxconn-Vedanta, the medical devices park and Airbus going to Gujarat from Maharashtra. How do you see these developments in the context of the next government's dream of making Maharashtra a $1 trillion economy?

Just like the BJP will scrap the Constitution, this is also a fake and anti-development propaganda spread by the Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT), which thankfully the people of Maharashtra have very strongly rejected.

The faulty and anti-industry policies implemented by the previous MVA government were responsible for these projects opting out of Maharashtra.

Now, with the Mahayuti alliance firmly in the saddle, we can assure industry and businessmen that they will get a proper business environment in Maharashtra. We have the necessary infrastructure in place and we also have a roadmap ready to fulfill our promise of making Maharashtra a $1 trillion economy.

In Mumbai, the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress were talking about scrapping the Dharavi redevelopment project. Now that the next government has an unprecedented majority, this project will go ahead in full swing despite reported opposition from the locals?

The opposition from locals is politically instigated. Few groups are making noise along with their friends in the media.

The real people, the real beneficiaries of this scheme, want a speedier implementation of this scheme. And all these noisy people, noisy NGOs and noisy media are depriving the real needy people from getting decent housing. These leaders are anti-development, anti-people.

This mandate for the BJP is also a vote for development.

Nitin Gadkari addressed 72 election meetings this time but he was not so active during the 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign. Do you think that made a difference? Narendra Modi, in comparison, held only nine public rallies.

It is not the effect of any one single person. It is a collective effort that has resulted in what we are seeing (the BJP getting a huge mandate). Every BJP worker has contributed for this result.

When you talk about the Hindutva narrative being one of the factors for the BJP's spectacular victory, do you think slogans like 'katenge toh batenge' and 'ek hai to safe hai' worked in the BJP's favour?

When we say 'ek hai toh safe hai', we are only saying that 'agar hum sab ek saath hai toh surakshit hai (that we are safe when we are united)'. What's wrong in that?

What about 'batenge toh katenge'?

Uska matlab bhi toh same hi hai na (Doesn't that also mean we are safe when we stand united)?
'Maharashtra election result is a chamatkar of EVM.'

'There has been a sudden one percent rise in the voting percentage after the counting day.'

'This is what made the difference to the election results.'

'How did this vote percentage increase after counting day?

IMAGE: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde pays tribute to Balasaheb Thackeray on his death anniversary, November 17, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Sanjay Raut, the senior Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray party leader, is unwilling to accept the outcome of the Maharashtra assembly elections.

The Bharatiya Janata Party with its allies the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) and the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar) has swept the state elections, the verdict shocking every poll pundit who did not see the magnitude of the electoral outcome.

For the Mahayuti, as the ruling alliance is called, it is a landslide in its favour.

The Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance led by the Congress, Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray and Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar has been decimated.

"How can Eknath Shinde get 56 to 58 seats in Maharashtra? How is it possible? None of the gaddar MLAs of Shinde lost," Sanjay Raut tells Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com.

The outcome of the Maharashtra assembly elections must be a shock to your party as the BJP and allies have swept the state.

In elections we do win and lose for sure, but not this way.

What is the reason for this verdict?

I have been saying since yesterday that there has been a sudden one percent rise in the voting percentage after the counting day. This is what made the difference to the election results.

How did this vote percentage increase after counting day? These are the questions that need to be answered.

But...

(Interrupts) The same thing happened in Haryana too (where the Congress blamed faulty EVMs for its loss).

What happens to the Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb party now? What is the future?

Party will be here. It is not going anywhere.

You tell me, how can Eknath Shinde get 56 to 58 seats in Maharashtra? How is it possible?

None of the gaddar MLAs of Shinde lost. (Eknath Shinde had taken away 40 of the 54 Shiv Sena MLAs to join hands with the BJP to form the government in July 2022). Is it possible? Aisa hota hai kya? (do these things happen?) We have never witnessed such thing in Maharashtra in the past.

It looks like this was a wave for the BJP which nobody predicted.

There was no wave for the BJP in Maharashtra. This result is next to impossible.

But the Jharkhand assembly elections was won by the INDIA bloc and there nobody is blaming faulty EVMs.

This is what they do. They give the smaller state to the Opposition and take over the bigger state.

They gave Jammu and Kashmir to the Opposition and kept a bigger state like Haryana with them.

In Maharashtra they have the interests of industrialists they need to keep in mind, therefore they cannot afford to lose it.

But you have been saying this for very long. Even when you went to jail you said these things, but the people did not vote for your party.

The people of Maharashtra have not voted for the BJP or for that matter Eknath Shinde's party.

The Maharashtra assembly election result is a chamatkar of EVM.

This result is not the people's verdict.
Ruling parties held sway in most of the 13 states in the assembly byelection results declared on Saturday, with the Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies wresting seats in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan and the Trinamool Congress sweeping West Bengal.

IMAGE: Voting counting for the Uttar Pradesh assembly by-elections underway, at a polling counting centre, in Mirzapur on Saturday. Photograph: ANI Photo

Out of the 46 seats where byelections were held, the BJP and its allies won 26, a gain of nine seats, followed by Congress with seven -- a loss of six seats.

The Trinamool Congress won six, the Aam Aadmi Party three and the Samajwadi Party two seats.

The Left Democratic Front in Kerala and Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP) in Rajasthan got one each.

Apart from this, two seats in Sikkim were won unopposed by Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) candidates.

In the bypolls to two Lok Sabha constituencies, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi cruised to her maiden electoral victory from Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in Kerala with a margin of over 4.1 lakh votes against Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led LDF's Sathyan Mokeri.

The party also won Nanded in Maharashtra by a narrow margin after recounting of votes.

After the reverses in the Lok Sabha election, the ruling BJP-led alliance secured its hold over the crucial state of Uttar Pradesh with its candidates winning seven out of nine seats.

The BJP retained four seats -- Ghaziabad, Khair, Majhawan and Phulpur -- and wrested Katehari and Kundarki from the SP while its ally Rashtriya Lok Dal retained one.

The Samajwadi Party, which had four of these seats, retained Sishamau and Karhal.

As the results came in, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said it was a testament to the people's unwavering faith in the successful leadership and guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

'This victory is the result of the security, good governance and public welfare policies of the double-engine government and the tireless hard work of dedicated workers,' Adityanath said on X.

The ruling BJP won five of the seven seats in Rajasthan, wresting three from Congress and one from the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP).

The BAP and the Congress retained one seat each.

In a boost to the Bhagwant Mann-led government, the ruling AAP in Punjab wrested Gidderbaha, Dera Baba Nanak and Chabbewal assembly segments from the Congress, which ousted AAP from Barnala.

The ruling NDA in Bihar swept the bypolls to four assembly segments, retaining Imamganj (HAM) and wresting from the INDIA bloc Tarari (BJP), Ramgarh (BJP) and Belaganj (JD-U), receiving a boost ahead of the assembly elections due next year.

The TMC trounced the opposition in West Bengal, retaining five seats and wresting Madarihat from the BJP, further cementing its political dominance in the state despite the the ongoing protests over the RG Kar incident.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the results of the byelections would help her work for the people.

'I would like to thank and congratulate the 'Maa, Mati and Manush' from the bottom of my heart. Your blessings will help us work for the people in the coming days. We all are common people and that is our identity. We are not zamindars, but the custodians of the people,' she posted on X.

The ruling National People's Party (NPP) in Meghalaya also got a boost as party candidate and Chief Minister Conrad Sangma's wife Mehtab Chandee Agitok Sangma wrested the Gambegre seat from Congress.

The Congress won the byelections to all three assembly seats in Karnataka, wresting one each from the BJP and its ally Janata Dal-Secular.

In Kerala, it retained the Palakkad assembly seat while the ruling LDF maintained its hold in Chelakkara assembly seat.

Giving credit to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's leadership as well as the five guarantees for the Congress party's success, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said it was a prelude to the 2028 assembly election where the party would once again win.

The BJP long with its allies Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the United Peoples' Party Liberal (UPPL) won all five assembly constituencies in Assam.

The AGP and UPPL retained the Bongaigaon and Sidli (ST) constituencies, respectively. The

BJP retained Behali and Dholai (SC), and wrested Samaguri from the Congress.

The ruling BJP wrested the Vav assembly constituency in Gujarat from the Congress and retained the Raipur City South assembly seat in Chattisgarh and Kedarnath assembly seat in Uttarakhand.

In Madhya Pradesh, BJP retained the Budhni seat, where byelection was necessitated following the resignation of former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, but suffered a setback as state minister Ramniwas Rawat lost in the Vijaypur assembly seat with the Congress retaining the seat.

Rawat had won the seat on a Congress ticket in the 2023 assembly polls but then switched over to the BJP, which made him forest minister in the Mohan Yadav government. He had won from Vijaypur in Sheopur district as a Congress candidate in 1990, 1993, 2003, 2008 and 2013 as well.

Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) candidates Aditya Golay and Satish Chandra Rai were on Saturday elected unopposed in the bypolls to Soreng-Chakung and Namchi-Singhithang assembly constituencies, officials said.

The assembly bypolls were held in nine seats in Uttar Pradesh, seven seats in Rajasthan, six seats in West Bengal, five seats in Assam, four seats each in Punjab and Bihar, three seats in Karnataka, two seats in Madhya Pradesh and Kerala, and one seat each in Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Uttarakhand and Meghalaya.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hailed the Bharatiya Janata Party-led alliance's sweeping victory in Maharashtra as popular endorsement of its governance model and rejection of the Congress' "lies and deceit", as he accused the Gandhi family of spreading the "poison of casteism and divisiveness".

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves to the gathering during the celebration of BJP's victory in the Maharashtra assembly election, at party headquarters in New Delhi, November 23, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Buoyed by the National Democratic Alliance's unprecedented scale of win in the politically prized state, Modi flayed the Congress for "betraying" the Constitution's secular principals and cited the Waqf Act, which his government is seeking to amend, as an example of its "appeasement politics".

The Congress has tried to inflict capital punishment on true secularism, he claimed, asserting that the Waqf law has no place in the Constitution.

Reiterating his call for "ek hain to safe hain" (we are safe if united), he said this is the biggest message from Maharashtra after the Haryana polls and it has become the country's "mahamantra".

It is becoming increasingly difficult for the Congress to come to power on its own, he said, dubbing the opposition party as parasitic.

The Congress and its allies tried to divide people with lies and deceits, he said in an apparent reference to their claim of threat to the Constitution from the BJP, a plank which harmed the ruling party in the Lok Sabha polls in a few states, but were rejected.

The Congress' priority is only family, he said in a swipe at the party's Gandhi family and not people of the country. The royal family is now spreading the poison of casteism, he added.

A family's hunger for power has gone up so much that it has eaten up the party, he said, claiming that fire of disaffection is surging with the Congress as many of its own leaders no longer identify with its existing values.

When it comes to good governance, people trust only the BJP, he said, noting that the party has also put up an impressive show in the bypolls held across the country. It is a historic stamp on the BJP's governance model, he said.

"Development, good governance and true social justice have won. Lies, deceit, divisive forces, negative politics and nepotism have suffered a big defeat," he said of the Maharashtra poll results. People have preferred stability and the state has broken all records in its support of the BJP-led alliance, he added.

In a swipe at the longtime BJP ally-turned-bitter rival Uddhav Thackeray, who heads a Shiv Sena faction, he said the leaders who resorted to betrayal and tried to create instability have been roundly rejected by people.

He said the Congress allied with Uddhav Thackeray but the party and its leaders could not speak in support of the policies of his father Bal Thackeray, a leading Hindtutva voice of his time.

With the Delhi Assembly polls round the corner, Modi highlighted the popular support for the BJP in major cities in many states and emphasised on his party's agenda for making Indian cities among the best in the world.

His government has been working to boost urban infrastructure by launching new metro trains, highways and electric buses, he said, describing cities as engines of development that also strengthens villages.

The urban region's support of the BJP is a message for modern India and a rejection of those putting obstacles in its development, said Modi. Urban India wants ease of living and it trusts the BJP, he added.

The prime minister noted that Maharashtra has become the sixth state where people have elected the BJP to power for a third straight term, stressing that it underscores people's truth in its good governance model.

The BJP-led alliance had won a majority in the 2019 assembly polls in Maharashtra but its then ally Thackeray joined hands with the opposition to form government, which fell in 2022, paving the way for the saffron party to power as it allied with the faction headed by Eknath Shinde, who became the chief minister.

"The Congress and its ecosystem had thought that by spreading lies in the name of the Constitution, they could divide the Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) in small groups. This is a solid slap on their faces," said Modi.

The Congress and its allies have failed to grasp the changed realities of the country's mood, as voters do not want instability and believe in "nation first" and not in those preferring "kursi first".

The voters in Maharashtra also evaluated the Congress on the basis of the false promises made in other states like Karnataka, Telangana and Himachal Pradesh, he added.

"Neither their false promises nor their dangerous agenda worked in Maharashtra," Modi said.

The prime minister said the Maharashtra election also shows that only one Constitution will work in India and that was given to the people of the country by B R Ambedkar.

The Congress and its allies were again trying to create a wall of Article 370 of the Constitution in Jammu and Kashmir, he said.

"I want to say this to the Congress and its allies that no force in the world can bring back Article 370 and insult our Constitution," Modi said.

His party has respected the country's values and traditions, and India will now advance with the mantra of "vikas aur virasat" (development and heritage), Modi said.

The Congress, he said, has been stoking divides in the name of region and caste, and that its espousal of urban naxalism has become a challenge for the country. The remote control of this urban naxalism is outside the country, he said.
Sharad Pawar had led the Nationalist Congress Party faction to an emphatic win in Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra, however, five months later the 83-year-old suffered one of the worst setbacks in his five-decade-long political career on Saturday.

IMAGE: NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar speaks to the media after casting his vote for the Maharashtra assembly elections, at Baramati, in Pune, November 20, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

The rout of Sharad Pawar-led faction has raised questions over his political future with a potential risk of a further slide in the party flock in future.

Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, who led a split in the NCP in July 2023, has emerged as the true inheritor of his uncle's political legacy, with trends and results of the Maharashtra polls indicating landslide victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Mahayuti, of which NCP is part.

The latest trends and results showed Ajit Pawar-led NCP winning 19 constituencies and leading in 22 segments as counting of votes is underway.

In contrast, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP-Sharadchandra Pawar won just four seats and led in six others with the latest trends.

The Ajit-led NCP had contested 59 seats and the NCP-SP 86 out of the 288 constituencies.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi of Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray, Congress, and NCP-SP is blown away in the saffron storm led by the BJP-led Mahayuti.

The fact that Sharad Pawar was the chief architect of MVA, which won 30 of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra and had led the state government earlier, is definitely going to hurt.

The defeat is specifically personal for Sharad Pawar as his grandnephew Yugendra Pawar is trailing by 99,000 votes from home turf Baramati against Ajit Pawar, the sitting MLA.

Five months back, Sharad Pawar's daughter and Baramati MP Supriya Sule had comfortably overcome the challenge posed by Ajit's wife Sunetra in LS polls and retained the seat.

In his 57-year-long political career, Sharad Pawar has represented Baramati in the assembly as well as in the Lok Sabha, and currently, he is a member of Rajya Sabha.

Before the assembly elections, he had indicated that he would bid farewell to his parliamentary career after his current term ends next year.

The NCP-SP's poor performance in the assembly polls stands in contrast to the Lok Sabha elections when it had won eight out of 10 seats contested.

Sharad Pawar had not been complacent following the Lok Sabha elections. He toured the state extensively and inducted BJP leaders including Samarjit Ghatge and Harshvardhan Patil.

In 2019, after many NCP bigwigs joined the BJP, Pawar managed to win 54 assembly seats.

His campaign speech in heavy rain in Satara made waves and became a lasting image from that election.

The latest assembly elections followed a split in the party in 2023 with nephew Ajit Pawar walking away to join the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena coalition. It seems the senior Pawar's appeal to voters to defeat "all the traitors" by decisive margins did not elicit much response.

After the split, Ajit Pawar and senior NCP leader Praful Patel claimed that they committed no treachery as Sharad Pawar himself had wanted to join the BJP-led alliance but backed out at the last moment.

Sharad Pawar never gave any categorical reply to the allegation.

But he remained resolute after Ajit Pawar's rebellion. When asked who would be the promising face of his party, Pawar raised his hand and replied, "Sharad Pawar".

Notably, he was one of the first opposition leaders to seek unity of all opposition parties to take on the BJP juggernaut led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

With the INDIA bloc succeeding in cutting down the BJP's tally in the Lok Sabha, it was expected that Pawar would be able to replicate the results and even dislodge the BJP from power in Maharashtra.

Sharad Pawar was mentored by Yashwantrao Chavan, the first chief minister of Maharashtra, and was elected as MLA from Baramati in 1967 when he was 27 years old.

In 1978, he became chief minister of the state after toppling the Congress-led government and forming an alliance with the Janata Party. His government did not last long and he returned to Congress in 1986.

He served as chief minister four times and twice as Union minister, holding key portfolios such as defence and agriculture.

As chief minister, Pawar is credited for rolling out the state's first women's policy in 1994 which gave women equal inheritance rights.

He founded the Nationalist Congress Party in 1999 after parting ways with the Congress over Sonia Gandhi's foreign origins.

But after the assembly elections the same year, NCP and Congress came together to form a government and Pawar faced allegations of doing a flip-flop.

The Congress-NCP combine ruled the state for 15 years till it was ousted by the BJP in 2014. P

Maharashtra, Jharkhand vote: FULL COVERAGE
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday hailed the performance of the ruling Mahayuti in the assembly polls and credited it to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the latter's 'ek hai toh safe hai' slogan.

IMAGE: Maharashtra Deputy CM and BJP candidate from Nagpur South-West, Devendra Fadnavis at his residence in Mumbai during counting for Maharashtra Elections 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Fadnavis is leading from Nagpur South West assembly seat by a margin of 19,437 seats as per data made available on the Election Commission website at 1pm.

In a post on X , he said, "Ek Hain toh Safe hain' 'Modi hain toh Mumkin hain'.

The slogan was a staple of all speeches of Modi during the campaign.

The Mahayuti, which comprises the BJP, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP, is leading on more than 210 of the 288 assembly seats.

Polls were held on Wednesday, while counting of votes began since 8am in the morning.
By Luc Cohen

NEW YORK (Reuters) - In June of 2020, a renewable energy company owned by Indian billionaire Gautam Adani won what it called the single largest solar development bid ever awarded: an agreement to supply 8 gigawatts of electricity to a state-owned power company.

But there was a problem. Local power companies did not want to pay the prices the state company was offering, jeopardizing the deal, according to U.S. authorities. To save the deal, Adani allegedly decided to bribe local officials to persuade them to buy the electricity.

That allegation is at the heart of U.S. criminal and civil charges unsealed on Wednesday against Adani, who is not currently in U.S. custody and is believed to be in India. His company, Adani Group, said the charges were "baseless" and that it would seek "all possible legal recourse."

The alleged hundreds of millions of dollars in bribes promised to local Indian officials caught the attention of the U.S. Justice Department and Securities and Exchange Commission as Adani's companies were raising funds from U.S.-based investors in several transactions starting in 2021.

This account of how the alleged scheme unfolded is drawn from federal prosecutors' 54-page criminal indictment of Adani and seven of his associates and two parallel civil SEC complaints, which extensively cite electronic messages between the scheme's alleged participants.

In early 2020, the Solar Energy Corporation of India awarded Adani Green Energy and another company, Azure Power Global, contracts for a 12-gigawatt solar energy project, expected to yield billions of dollars in revenue for both companies, according to the indictment.

It was a major step forward for Adani Green Energy, run by Adani's nephew, Sagar Adani. Up until that point, the company had only earned roughly $50 million in its history and had yet to turn a profit, according to the SEC complaint.

But the initiative soon hit roadblocks. Local state electricity distributors were reluctant to commit to buying the new solar power, expecting prices to fall in the future, according to an April 7, 2021 report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, a think tank.

Sagar Adani and the Azure CEO at the time discussed the delays and hinted at bribes on the encrypted messaging application WhatsApp, according to the SEC.

When the Azure CEO wrote on Nov. 24, 2020, that the local power companies "are being motivated," Sagar Adani allegedly replied, "Yup ... but the optics are very difficult to cover. In February 2021, Sagar Adani allegedly wrote to the CEO, "Just so you know, we have doubled the incentives to push for these acceptances."
The massive victory of Bharatiya Janata Party-led Mahayuti in Maharashtra indicates a tactical course correction post the Lok Sabha debacle, with factors like Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's active role in the poll campaign, Ladki Bahin scheme, rise in women voting, and subtle message of Hindutva playing a crucial role.

IMAGE: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy CMs Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis show a victory sign during a press conference as the Mahayuti is set to form the government in the state, at Varsha Bungalow in Mumbai on Saturday. Photograph: ANI Photo

Apart from the RSS help, the shift of focus to women voters and local leadership are also the big reasons for the landslide performance in the assembly polls.

The huge scale of the rout meant the Maharashtra assembly wouldn't have a leader of the opposition as no party outside the ruling alliance could get the mandatory minimum of 29 seats.

During the poll campaign, slogans like 'batenge toh katenge' (divided we fall) and 'ek hain toh safe hain' (united we are safe) were raised by BJP's top leaders apparently aimed at ensuring the Hindu unity, bolstering the BJP's performance in what was supposed to be a tight contest against MVA, analysts feel.

Just five months ago, the BJP's dismal tally of nine seats dragged down the Mahayuti performance to just 17 in the Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra, which elects 48 MPs.

In contrast, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi scored 30 seats.

Poll managers of the BJP, Shiv Sena, and the NCP went down to the drawing board and initiated corrective measures to turn the tide in the assembly polls.

The people's sentiment apparently started changing in Mahayuti's favour when the state budget presented by Deputy CM and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar introduced the 'Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana' offering financial assistance of Rs 1,500 per month to women from financially weaker sections.

This scheme was modelled on the MP government's Ladli Behna Yojana, which is believed to have helped the BJP retain power in the last elections by a massive margin.

The Mahayuti government formally launched the Ladki Bahin scheme in mid-August and organised programmes for its publicity on a large scale.

The growing popularity of the scheme forced the MVA to announce the Mahalaxmi scheme if voted to power, offering Rs 3,000 per month to women.

The Mahayuti countered MVA's poll promise with an assurance to raise the Ladki Bahin allowance to Rs 2,100.

Political analysts said the BJP's micro-management and course correction post the general election results have paid rich dividends in the assembly polls.

Deputy CM and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis raised 'vote jihad' and 'dharmayudh of votes' themes sensing Muslim vote consolidation in MVA's favour which galvanised loyal BJP voters.

Fadnavis latched on to the purported appeal by an Islamic scholar for 'vote jihad' against the Mahayuti government and called for a 'dharmayudh of votes'.

Talking about the Mahayuti's stupendous performance, Fadnavis on Saturday said the mandate was against appeasement politics and reflected the people's trust in PM Narendra Modi's 'ek hain to safe hain' appeal.

Addressing a joint press conference in the evening, CM Eknath Shinde pointed out that the three parties had finalised their seat-sharing amicably.

"We learnt lessons from the Lok Sabha debacle and took corrective steps," Ajit Pawar said.

Senior journalist Prakash Akolkar said the BJP's campaign was powered by RSS which treated the electoral contest as a 'do-or-die battle for the BJP in Maharashtra'.

"The lion's share of this victory goes to the RSS cadres. With the penetration of Hindutva at all levels, including social media, the BJP and RSS made people believe that Hindutva is the main saviour. The 'ek hain to safe hain' agenda and the hatred for Muslims worked," he told PTI.

The massive rout meant the Shiv Sena-UBT leader Uddhav Thackeray and NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar will struggle to keep their flocks together, he said.

Shocked by the MVA's debacle, Thackeray termed the people's mandate completely unexpected and incomprehensible.

Senior journalist Jatin Desai said the results were surprising given a palpable sense of 'unrest' among people.

"Whoever has travelled extensively in the state noticed tremendous unrest among people, especially farmers for the agrarian crisis. Didn't the farmers think of their MSP and crop produce before casting their vote?" he asked.

According to journalist Abhay Deshpande, the 'silent wave' in Mahayuti's favour was not sensed by anyone.

"The number of Ladki Bahin beneficiaries stood at 2.35 crore. There were 70 lakh additional votes polled as compared to the Lok Sabha elections, out of which 43 lakh came from women voters," he said.

Similarly, the Mahayuti alliance played the polarisation gamble against the caste consolidation, which was a decisive factor in the MVA factory during Lok Sabha polls, he added.

Congress' in-charge of Maharashtra Ramesh Chennithala also said that the results were unexpected.

Senior BJP leader Madhav Bhandari told PTI that the record-break victory was unexpected and unpredictable.

"It is a matter of pride. Congress showed arrogance after its Lok Sabha election success. But its politics of Muslim appeasement boomeranged and 'ek hain toh safe hain' slogan percolated deeply," he felt.

Senior Congress leader Ratnakar Mahajan said the election result contradicts the public mood.

"There was so much anger against Fadnavis and Shinde. Did the angry voters step out to vote?" he wondered.
Will she? Will she not? And on Saturday, she did. After years of frenzied speculation, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is finally entering the Lok Sabha after a resounding win from Wayanad with many a hope that she will re-energise her party and its dwindling electoral fortunes.

IMAGE: Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra meets party President Mallikarjun Kharge after her victory in the Wayanad by-elections, in New Delhi, November 23, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

The 52-year-old, who joins her mother Sonia and brother Rahul as an MP in what is a rare instance of three members of a family together in Parliament, would visit Parliament as a teenager to listen to her father Rajiv Gandhi speak as prime minister.

Four decades later, she joins as member herself -- her detractors crying nepo politics and her party supporters laying out the proverbial red carpet for a promise finally met.

She should have been a politician in the manner born given the Gandhi legacy. But Priyanka Gandhi took the long and winding way into mainstream politics. First were the questions of whether the mother of two would join active politics, and then whether and when she would contest elections.

In September 1999, she told a journalist her entry into politics may take a "long, long time". And it actually did. She took the plunge 20 years later in 2019 and was later appointed Congress general secretary.

Five years after that, Priyanka Gandhi begins her journey as an elected representative of the people.

With a winning margin of more than 4.1 lakh votes, she has surpassed the tally of her brother Rahul Gandhi from Wayanad in Kerala.

Priyanka Gandhi's entry into Parliament comes at a difficult time for the party, which has been jolted by electoral defeats in Haryana and Maharashtra.

It would be interesting to see if she is able to give a much-needed fillip to the grand old party and help put it back on the electoral track.

Often drawing comparisons with her grandmother Indira Gandhi for their similarity in looks and way of speaking, Priyanka Gandhi has been the go-to campaigner for the party since her entry into active politics and even before that when she campaigned for her mother Sonia and brother Rahul.

And more than both, she is the one who many say has the easiest touch when it comes to communicating with people, individuals and crowds, and also in articulating the party's viewpoint on a range of issues. That she is often seen with her brother, sometimes teasing, sometimes chiding and always affectionate, has added to the image of the convivial politician.

Frequently referring to her childhood, the pain of her father Rajiv Gandhi's assassination and her mother's grief, she steered the Congress' campaign during the general election, adroitly walking the tightrope between striking a familial chord and discussing national-level issues. She proved to be a strategist, orator and mass mobiliser -- all rolled into one.

Most of her speeches are akin to a conversation with the crowd, establishing a connect and giving people the impression that here was a person who was known to them, someone sharing her feelings and thoughts with them.

As star campaigner and strategiser, Priyanka Gandhi helped the Congress make impressive gains in some states as well as in the Lok Sabha polls held earlier in the year. Her campaign helped the Congress get 99 seats in the general election, up from 52 in 2019.

As the curtains came down on the 2024 general election, analysts totted up the numbers to highlight that she has proven to be the party's talisman. Priyanka Gandhi took part in 108 public meetings and roadshows. She campaigned in 16 states and a Union territory, and also addressed two party workers' conferences in Amethi and Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh.

Priyanka Gandhi has often been projected as a possible challenger to Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Varanasi and also as a successor to Congress veteran Sonia Gandhi in the family pocket borough of Rae Bareli.

Soon after the Election Commission announced the Wayanad bypoll, the Congress declared that Priyanka Gandhi would be its candidate from the seat in Kerala. Rahul Gandhi, it decided, would retain the Rae Bareli parliamentary constituency in Uttar Pradesh and vacate the Wayanad seat he won for the second consecutive time.

After her name was announced for the Wayanad bypoll in June, Priyanka Gandhi said, "I am not nervous at all.... I am very happy to be able to represent Wayanad. All I will say is that I will not let them feel his (Rahul Gandhi's) absence. I will work hard and try my best to make everybody happy and be a good representative."

"I have a good relationship with Rae Bareli as I worked there for 20 years and that relationship will never break," she said, adding that both she and her brother will work together in both the constituencies.

Priyanka Gandhi was made Congress general secretary in-charge of the crucial eastern Uttar Pradesh region in January 2019 and then general secretary in-charge of the entire state.

In December 2023, Priyanka Gandhi was made Congress general secretary "without a portfolio". She helped strengthen the organisation and led the party's campaign in Himachal Pradesh, where the grand old party wrested power from the BJP.

Born on January 12, 1972, Priyanka attended New Delhi's Modern School and the Convent of Jesus and Mary. She holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Jesus and Mary College, University of Delhi, and also has a master's degree in Buddhist studies.

Priyanka Gandhi is married to businessman Robert Vadra. The couple has two children -- Raihan and Miraya.

Her entry into Parliament has been long awaited by party's workers and supporters and they are hoping she will provide the booster shot the party needs in its difficult phase at the hustings going forward.

Maharashtra, Jharkhand vote: FULL COVERAGE
Kalpana Soren, wife of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, has emerged as a powerful force in the party that revitalised the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.

IMAGE: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren with his wife Kalpana Soren (left) during a press conference after INDIA bloc won in the state assembly elections, in Ranchi, November 23, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Her political journey, which was never her initial choice, began in earnest after her husband's arrest by the Enforcement Directorate on January 31 in connection with a money laundering case tied to an alleged land fraud.

Despite the personal and political challenges posed by her husband's legal battles, Kalpana has proven to be a resilient and dynamic leader.

She became a vocal figure in the opposition to the Bharatiya Janata Party, accusing the party of being a "tyrannical force" targeting the opposition INDIA bloc.

Her leadership became especially prominent during the Lok Sabha elections, where she campaigned vigorously and led the JMM's efforts in Jharkhand, gaining the support of tribal communities and others.

Kalpana's political rise gained significant momentum after her husband's release from jail and his subsequent return to office as chief minister in July.

She emphasised that tribals, by their very nature, do not bow to oppression, a sentiment that has resonated with many in the state.

Her message has been clear -- she stands firm against injustice and dictatorial forces, taking inspiration from her husband's refusal to compromise on his principles.

Kalpana's political journey began on March 4 at the JMM's 51st Foundation Day celebration in Giridih district, where she claimed that a conspiracy had been orchestrated by opponents since the Hemant Soren coalition government came to power in 2019.

Hemant Soren was arrested by the ED on January 31 in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged land fraud. He resigned from his post before the arrest.

Kalpana has been a prominent figure in INDIA bloc rallies in Jharkhand and campaigned for the alliance in the state. She was one of the key speakers at the 'Ulgulan Nyay' rally in Ranchi, attended by leaders of 28 parties on April 21.

She won the Gandey bypoll, held in June along with Lok Sabha polls by 27,149 votes over her nearest BJP rival Dilip Kumar Verma and ever since has not looked back.

Through her about 200 rallies in assembly elections this time, Kalpana has infused new blood in the party and has emerged as a powerful face.

Kalpana, 48, holds engineering and MBA degrees.

"I will fight against injustice and dictatorial forces as bowing is not in tribal DNA. I will follow my husband's footsteps. He chose to court imprisonment rather than compromise his values. I am his better half and will see to it that tyrannical forces get a befitting reply," Kalpana emphasises.

She terms her husband's arrest by the ED as politically motivated and part of a plan to coerce him to join the BJP.

"His arrest was part of a plan by the central government to browbeat, intimidate, and humiliate him, but they will get a befitting reply in the elections," she had said.

Kalpana completed her schooling in Baripada in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district and obtained her engineering and MBA degrees in Bhubaneswar.

Speculation regarding Kalpana's candidacy arose following the resignation of Ahmad in December, with the BJP claiming it was to facilitate her candidacy in case the ED issued summonses to her husband.

The BJP in the state has been attacking Kalpana, saying that Champai Soren was a "caretaker and puppet chief minister" while she was the "centre of power" in Jharkhand.

"All of you have reached this far in this great election campaign by shedding your blood and sweat. Every vote is precious for us. That is why we have to maintain our passion and fighting spirit until we get the certificate of victory," she emphasises.

Now her luck is sealed in the EVM as she once again contested from Gandey.

Kalpana has been making headlines now as Hemant finds himself increasingly facing heat from the Enforcement Directorate in a case pertaining to an alleged land scam.

As the ED turns up the heat on the CM, Kalpana is set to remain in the limelight.
The Mahayuti landslide in Maharashtra will leave the state assembly without a leader of opposition as no party outside the ruling alliance has been able to get the mandatory minimum 29 seats.

IMAGE: Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray in conversation with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Photograph: ANI Photo

As per data made available on the Election Commission website, the Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray, part of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, had won 20 seats, while the other two constituents of the alliance -- the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar -- won 16 and 10 seats respectively.

The Bharatiya Janata Party won 132 seats, while Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena emerged victorious on on 57.

The third constituent of the Mahayuti, the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party, won 41 seats.

The Congress described the Maharashtra poll outcome as 'unexpected and inexplicable', and claimed that the level-playing field in the state was disturbed in a targeted manner as part of a conspiracy to defeat it.

Addressing a press conference at the All India Congress Committee headquarters in New Delhi, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh asserted that his party may have lost the polls in Maharashtra but it would continue to raise the issues that it has been raising since the parliamentary polls.

"On Maharashtra, there can be no two ways about it that in a targeted manner, the level-playing field, a phrase that the Election Commission often uses, was disturbed. The election results are unexpected, very surprising and inexplicable," Ramesh said.

"Some people are analysing the poll results of Maharashtra and saying this is a victory of development, and an NCP leader has stated that the Congress party's fake narrative has been rejected by the people of the state. This is wrong, there should not be any doubt that the agenda we had during the Lok Sabha polls -- economic inequalities, social polarisation, protection of the Constitution, a caste census and the Modani scams -- these issues are as important and we will continue to raise those," he added.

The people of Maharashtra have not rejected this, the Congress leader said.
The Opposition had promised to scrap the Dharavi redevelopment project if it came to power.

With the Mahayuti's massive mandate in the Maharashtra assembly election, that prospect has been laid to rest.

IMAGE: Gautam Adani, chairperson, Adani Group, with Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at the Maharashtra pavilion on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum's meeting in Davos. Photograph: ANI Photo

The landslide victory for the ruling Bharatiya Janata party-led Mahayuti in Maharashtra will booster billionaire Gautam Adani-led group's $3 billion project to redevelop the Mumbai slum of Dharavi into a 'world-class' district.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena-UBT had pledged to reclaim all land given to the Adani Group for redeveloping Asia's largest slum and promised to scrap the project altogether, if voted to power.

For Adani, who is facing bribery charges in a US court, the scrapping of his pet Dharavi project would have been a big setback.

With election results showing the BJP and its allies the Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party factions led by Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, winning more than three-fourths of the 288 seats in the Maharashtra assembly, those anxieties have now been set to rest.

Adani plans to turn 620 acres of prime land, about three quarters of the size of New York's Central Park, into a glitzy urban hub. About 700,000 people living in rickety shanties with open sewers and shared toilets in the densely populated slum are to be given flats of up to 350 square feet free of cost.

The redevelopment had become a political hot potato with the Opposition alleging that that group received undue favours from the state government in awarding the contract. The group has denied benefiting from the government's favouritism.

Project supporters in the ruling dispensation say the project holds out promise to make it a global model for slum redevelopment.

While an estimated 1 million people reside in Dharavi, about 700,000 are thought to be eligible because of the resident definition of one's having proof of living in the area prior to January 1, 2000.

The rest will get homes in other parts of the city, a proposal some locals opposed as they want no resident or business owner to be uprooted.

Adani had in 2022 won a contract to remake the slum, which sits on prime real estate in the overcrowded financial capital, in seven years.

Weeks before the poll, the Maharashtra government had approved the acquisition of 256 acres of salt-pan land for the Dharavi redevelopment. The salt-pan land is to be acquired from the central government and leased to the government of Maharashtra, which is redeveloping the 620-acre slum, the largest in Asia.

The Dharavi Redevelopment Project Pvt Ltd, in which the Adani Group holds an 80 per cent stake, along with the state government, is implementing the project.

The land will be used to build low-cost and affordable housing for residents of Dharavi. A survey of existing residents and businesses is being done to determine who would be rehoused in Dharavi or be relocated.

The slums -- a key backdrop in Oscar winner Slumdog Millionaire -- houses shanties where often eight people are squeezed in a 100-sq ft tenement and ten times that number sharing a toilet.

Dharavi is also a massive hub for small-scale businesses ranging from leather goods to pottery and textiles.

The Maharashtra government in 2022 issued a new tender to redevelop Dharavi after an earlier remake deal was cancelled.

The Adani Group, which also runs Mumbai's airport and distributes electricity in the city, had in 2022 won the project by offering to pay Rs 5,070 crore (Rs 50.70 billion) -- more than 2.5 times the sum quoted by the next highest bidder -- to provide houses, with a kitchen and a toilet, to eligible slum dwellers in revamped Dharavi.

The group has an 80 per cent stake in the firm executing the project, with the remainder held by the state.

Seclink Technologies, a Dubai-based consortium that initially won the cancelled the 2018 tender, challenged the new contract in the Bombay high court, alleging the process 'unlawfully' favoured Adani by raising bidders' net worth requirements and limiting consortium members.

The state government said no contract had been agreed with Seclink and that the new tender was ordered because of the changed financial and economic situation in view of the Covid pandemic. It also insisted that the Seclink consortium was not excluded from the bidding.

Starting from the 1950s, several state governments floated tenders to redevelop Dharavi, but none took off. The redevelopment essentially required acquiring large tracts of land, attracting investors to build modern utilities and resettlement of local residents.

The current redevelopment plan -- the state government's fourth attempt via a global tender -- has made the most progress. The project aims to transform the slum, which is around the size of Monaco, into modern apartments, offices, and malls.

Dharavi started as an informal settlement for Muslim leather tanners but soon turned into a cosmopolitan melting pot with migrants from across India making it their home. As Mumbai expanded, the slum was no longer on the fringes of the city and is now home to a large collection of cottage industries.

The Adani-led redevelopment project includes initiatives like sustainable transportation systems and modern infrastructure utilities. It includes vocational training to empower youth and aspiring workers in Dharavi, helping them secure eco-friendly jobs and improve their earning capabilities. These efforts are designed to create a more prosperous and environmentally friendly future for the community.
Britain hinted that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could be arrested on the basis of an International Criminal Court warrant if he visits, and Ireland said it would definitely arrest him if he did, as per Times of Israel.

IMAGE: Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Photograph: ANI Photo

"The UK will always comply with its legal obligations as set out by domestic law and indeed international law," UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's spokesperson said on Friday, as per Times of Israel.

However, the spokesperson denied when asked about Netanyahu, and said, he would not 'talk about specific cases'.

Earlier on Friday, Ireland's Prime Minister Simon Harris said Netanyahu would be detained if he arrived there.

Asked by state broadcaster RTE if Ireland would arrest the Israeli prime minister if he came to Ireland, Harris said: "Yes, absolutely," as per Times of Israel.

"We support international courts and we apply their warrants," he added.

The Ireland-Israel relations went downhill after the former recognised the State of Palestine last May, causing Israel to spring to action and call their ambassador back, as per Times of Israel.

The ICC arrest warrant has several countries in splits on whether to uphold it or not.

Ireland's Foreign Minister Micheal Martin said Friday he disagreed with US President Joe Biden's depiction of the warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant as 'outrageous', asserting that war crimes have been committed in Gaza.

"It's a collective punishment of the people... it's genocidal," he said, as per Times of Israel.

Canada, Belgium, Spain, Austria, Finland, Portugal, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Switzerland are among others of the 124 ICC member-countries that have said they will comply with the arrest warrants. Others, including Hungary, Czechia and Argentina, have said they will ignore them.

Hungary rejected the ICC decision to seek Netanyahu's arrest for alleged war crimes in Gaza and invited him to make an official visit.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague on Thursday 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 program.
The None of the Above (NOTA) option once again found few takers, with 0.75 per cent of the electorate pressing the button in Maharashtra and 1.32 per cent in Jharkhand. Votes for the assembly elections in these two states were counted on Saturday.

IMAGE: Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde shows a victory sign as he celebrates Mahayuti's lead in state assembly elections, in Mumbai on Saturday. Photograph: ANI Photo

According to Election Commission (EC) data, less than one per cent (0.75 per cent) electors used the 'none of the above' or NOTA option in Maharashtra where elections were held for 288 seats.

In Jharkhand, a little over one per cent (1.32 per cent) of the electorate exercised the option.

According to the EC, Maharashtra witnessed a 65.02 per cent voter turnout in its single-phase polls on November 20.

Jharkhand recorded a voter turnout of 66.65 per cent in the first phase and 68.45 per cent in the second phase on November 13 and November 20, respectively.

In the previous set of assembly polls, more voters in Jammu and Kashmir used the NOTA option against those in Haryana.

In the elections to the 90-member Haryana Assembly, out of over two crore electors, 67.90 per cent had exercised their franchise. Of these, 0.38 per cent had used the NOTA option.

Introduced in 2013, the NOTA option on electronic voting machines (EVMs) has its own symbol -- a ballot paper with a black cross across it.

The EC added the NOTA button on EVMs as the last option on the voting panel after a September 2013 Supreme Court order. Before the apex court's order, those not inclined to vote for any candidate had the option of filling what is popularly called Form 49-O.

But filling out the form at the polling station under Rule 49-O of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, compromised the secrecy of the voter.

The Supreme Court had, however, refused to direct the EC to hold fresh polls if the majority of the electorate exercised the NOTA option while voting.

Recently, former chief election commissioner O P Rawat had said, "In the present situation, NOTA has only symbolic significance and it cannot have an impact on the election result of any seat."

"More than 50 per cent electors will have to opt for NOTA in a seat to show the political community that they do not consider candidates with criminal backgrounds or other undeserving ones worthy of their votes. Only after this, pressure on Parliament and the Election Commission will increase and they will have to think about changing laws to make NOTA effective on the election results," he had said.
Uddhav Thackeray, who played the bold gambit of taking on the ally Bharatiya Janata Party in 2019 and forged an unlikely alliance with the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party, was on Saturday left struggling to make sense of his party's rout in the Maharashtra assembly elections.

IMAGE: Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray addresses a press conference in Mumbai on Saturday. Photograph: ANI Photo

Thackeray, whose Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray won only 20 out of the 95 seats it contested, admitted that he could not understand how the electorate which had inflicted a drubbing on the ruling BJP-led alliance in the Lok Sabha elections only five months ago changed its mind.

He called the results completely unexpected and incomprehensible, and cast aspersions on its authenticity.

Addressing a news conference, Thackeray said he could not believe Maharashtra, which listened to him as 'kutumb pramukh' (head of family) during the coronavirus pandemic, would behave this way with him.

"I cannot believe Maharashtra will behave this way with me. There is certainly something fishy," he said.

Thackeray said the results reflect that there was a tsunami rather than a wave and added that the anger against the government was very much visible over unemployment and agrarian distress.

The former chief minister wondered how the situation could change so drastically in four months after the Lok Sabha polls in which Maha Vikas Aghadi decimated the National Democratic Alliance, winning 30 of the state's 48 seats.

I promise to the people of Maharashtra that we will keep fighting for the rights of the state, Thackeray asserted.

From the shy son of a charismatic and firebrand Hindutva politician, the late Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, Uddhav has come a long way.

Early on, he survived challenges from party stalwart Narayan Rane and cousin Raj Thackeray, and went on to become the Maharashtra chief minister in November 2019 when he ended the decades-long alliance with the BJP after the assembly elections.

Soon, the COVID-19 pandemic followed, and Uddhav easily connected with the people during that difficult period as he addressed them directly by using social media tools such as Facebook live.

He came across as an affable leader who could reassure people.

While his leadership during the pandemic won him praise, Uddhav Thackeray remained clueless about the simmering discontent in a big section of the party which resented the alliance with the Congress and NCP, erstwhile ideological foes.

Eknath Shinde's rebellion in June 2022 seemed to have taken him by surprise, leading to the fall of his government and a vertical split in the party.

Uddhav, however, did not waver, and kept attacking the BJP, its top leadership including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and launched a tirade against the 'traitors' who sided with Shinde.

His party contested 21 of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra in the Lok Sabha elections, highest among the Maha Vikas Aghadi allies, but won a modest nine.

He was then criticised for his adamant stand during the seat-sharing talks.

He has also been accused of being less accessible, a charge the MLAs who rebelled against him in 2022 levelled.

They also took jibes at him for working from home during his tenure as chief minister, and even his ally Sharad Pawar commented on it.

On the plus side, Thackeray gained support of the sections of society, including Muslims and Dalits, which were earlier uncomfortable with the Shiv Sena.

Over the years, he also developed oratory skills. His style is different from that of his father's fiery speeches, but he is equally acerbic towards his opponents.

As the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP alliance won a landslide victory on Saturday, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde noted that the results settled the issue whom does the Shiv Sena belong.

The challenge before 64-year-old Uddhav Thackeray, as he and his son Aaditya pick up the pieces after the rout, will be to hold on to the remaining party leaders and cadres, and prove that the Sena led by Shinde -- which has already got the official name and election symbol of Bal Thackeray's party -- is not the real thing.

He will also have to answer the question whether his decision to join hands with the 'secular' Congress and Sharad Pawar-led NCP was a wise move.
Despite the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance throwing all its weight to snatch Jharkhand from the hands of a Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-headed coalition, the saffron camp suffered a debacle leaving the party's rank and file wondering what had gone wrong.

IMAGE: Supporters celebrate as INDIA bloc leads in the Jharkhand assembly elections, in Ranchi on Saturday. Photograph: ANI Photo

Top BJP leaders such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma canvassed aggressively, but the National Democratic Alliance did not project any CM candidate, as its campaigns mainly focused on infiltration from Bangladesh and corruption during the Hemant Soren regime.

About 200 rallies were addressed by BJP leaders including about two dozen by Shah and PM Modi who also held mega road shows including one in Jharkhand's capital Ranchi drawing huge crowds.

The NDA won just 24 of the 81 seats it contested.

The BJP contested in 68 seats and won 21. Its ally managed to get only one of the 10 seats it fought in the elections. In that constituency, Mandu, the party won by a slender margin of 231 votes.

BJP's two other allies, Janata Dal-United and LJP-Ram Vilas bagged two and one seats respectively.

Contradicting exit polls, Hemant Soren's Jharkhand Mukti Morcha registered victory in 34 seats of the total 43 it contested.

A source in the state BJP claimed that failing to project a tribal CM's face in the polls cost it dearly.

Another leader claimed the entire show was run by two leaders from outside and the state BJP gave tickets to leaders who came from other parties, ignoring its own.

BJP's sitting legislator Kedar Hazra along with former minister Louis Marandi joined JMM accusing dejection by party leaders just ahead of the polls.

Political analyst Dr Bagish Chandra Verma told PTI that BJP failed to address issues linked to the masses during its entire campaign which was concentrated on national issues and infiltration' which the rural people failed to connect.

Besides, Muslims, Christians and tribals which were the traditional vote bank of the JMM, women were added to its fold because of schemes like Maiyan Samman Yojna' promising Rs 2,500 financial aid to women in the age group of 18-50 years from present Rs 1,000, said Verma, head of the department of political science at Ranchi University.

Women voters outnumbered men in 68 of the 81 assembly seats in Jharkhand.

Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha too played a spoilsport seizing a sizeable chunk of votes harming BJP and AJSU Party like in Chandankiyari where Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Amar Kumar Bauri not only lost to Umakant Rajak of JMM but could occupy only third spot. The JLKM won the Dumri seat
Women-centric schemes could have proved a game-changer in both Maharashtra and Jharkhand, as both states witnessed a surge in women voters in the recently held assembly polls as well as return of the ruling alliances with a thumping majority.

IMAGE: Bharatiya Janata Party supporters celebrate the Mahayuti alliance's lead in the Maharashtra assembly elections, in Mumbai on Saturday. Photograph: ANI Photo

In Maharashtra, where the Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party alliance registered a landslide victory, the Ladki Bahin Yojana launched in August this year ahead of the assembly polls provided Rs 1,500 per month to women with an annual family income of less than Rs 2.5 lakh.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde later announced that the assistance would be increased to Rs 2,100 and also announced a plan to recruit 25,000 women into the police force to enhance safety.

While in the recently conducted Lok Sabha polls, the ruling Mahayuti of the National Democratic Alliance and Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) bloc of the opposition was just 0.4 per cent even though the latter won 29 seats, the BJP-led bloc won the state getting a record number of seats.

Asked about the MVA's loss in the state, Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Ashok Dhawale mentioned the Ladki Bahin scheme as well as some schemes for the construction workers announced by the Mahayuti government post the Lok Sabha elections results as a major game changer for the ruling alliance.

There are several factors, which will have to be further analysed, but after the Lok Sabha elections, the state government decided on various schemes like the Ladki Bahin Yojana, which provides Rs 1,500 per month to women, and some schemes for the construction workers had an impact on the voters, Dhawale told PTI.

A scheme for direct benefit transfer to women was seen as a key game changer in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections last year.

The 'Ladli Behna Yojana', brought by the BJP government under former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, was credited for the party retaining power in the state, even as there was a perception that the Congress had an edge over the incumbent party.

As Chouhan, a Union minister now, was made the election in-charge for Jharkhand, the BJP made a pre-poll promise of Rs 2,100 per month to all women if voted to power.

The state government, however, took a lead and started the Maiya Samman scheme' in August this year which appears to have swayed the women voters towards the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). Under this scheme, the women aged 21 to 50 years get a financial assistance of Rs 1,000 every month.

The scheme is said to benefit around five million women statewide.

According to the Election Commission data, the gap between male and female voters in the polls has been going down over the years.

In the Maharashtra assembly polls this time, 65.21 per cent women cast their votes compared to 66.84 per cent men, a gap of 1.63 percentage points, while 62.77 per cent male voters had exercised their franchise in 2019 compared to 59.2 per cent women voters, a gap of 3.57 percentage points.

In Jharkhand, the women voters outnumbered men in both phases of the Jharkhand assembly polls, with 68 out of the 81 seats recording a higher female turnout, according to state election officials.

Of the 2.61 crore registered electors, including 1.29 crore women voters, over 1.76 crore people cast their votes.

A notable 91.16 lakh women voters participated, surpassing male turnout by 5.52 lakh votes, the Election Commission said.
United States Steel (NYSE: X) announced an agreement to be acquired late last year. But the stock performance this year doesn't look like what one normally would expect from a buyout candidate with a hefty premium.

Nippon Steel's $14.9 billion offer represented a nearly 40% premium to U.S. Steel's share price at the time. But the $55-per-share offer faced opposition from several parties, and U.S. Steel shares have been about flat since the Japanese steelmaker's offer last December.

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But shares spiked this week as support for the deal grew. U.S. Steel stock has jumped about 12% as of early Friday morning, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence.

The steel merger makes sense

Timing may have been the biggest obstacle for this potential deal. That's because of U.S. Steel's name and its iconic American history combined with election-year politics. But U.S. Steel CEO David Burritt and Nippon management have been defending the planned merger. Nippon has said it will invest $1 billion to help modernize the company's facilities in Pennsylvania. U.S. Steel isn't in a financial position to invest that kind of capital.

In a bid to gain union support for the deal, Nippon executive vice president Takahiro Mori sent a letter to United Steelworkers union members this week pledging not to import steel from its overseas mills into the U.S. That could also help ease tensions with politicians from both parties who have spoken out against the deal.

Reports this week also said that Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro met with Nippon executive Mori to discuss the deal's impact on U.S. Steel's Pittsburgh-area plants and its unions. Momentum seems to be building more in favor of the deal while it continues under review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S.

Nippon's ownership won't change anything related to domestic steel production. Equipment won't be moved; the plan is to modernize it. Several successful auto plants in the U.S. are owned by Japanese automakers, and this deal makes sense for all involved.

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The Congress continued its losing spree on Saturday posting its worst-ever show in Maharashtra and ending up a distant junior partner to the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha in Jharkhand, further diminishing its role in the opposition bloc as other allies perform better.

IMAGE: A deserted view of the Tilak Bhavan as the Maha Vikas Aghadi trails in the Maharashtra assembly election results, in Mumbai on Saturday. Photograph: ANI Photo

While the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance's victory in Jharkhand was some consolation, losing a big state like Maharashtra after the upset in Haryana is likely to weaken the grand old party's broad bargaining power in this era of coalition politics.

The Congress party's strength in Lok Sabha also got reduced to 98 seats after it lost the Nanded Lok Sabha to the BJP in the bypolls.

The poor show of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in Maharashtra extinguished hopes of getting Rajya Sabha seats from the state in future.

On the other hand, the National Democratic Alliance with its stupendous victory is set to get a majority in the Upper House in the next cycle of biennial elections.

Despite being the dominant party of the opposition MVA in Maharashtra, the Congress failed to pull the weight of the opposition bloc and stood decimated in the face of an NDA tsunami.

The Congress which contested the highest number of assembly seats among MVA allies, 101 out of 288, was winning or leading in only 16 seats with one of the lowest strike rates of 16 per cent.

The worst strike rate in Maharashtra elections was of Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar at 11.6 per cent (with lead/win in 10 seats out of 86 fought), Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray managing 22 per cent (lead/ win in 21 seats as against 95 contested).

On the other hand, the strike rate of the BJP was the highest with 88.6 per cent (lead/win in 132 seats out of 149 it contested).

The BJP got a vote share of 26.46 per cent and was followed by Shiv Sena with 12.47 per cent and NCP with 9.35 per cent.

Among the MVA, the Congress had the highest vote share of 11.89 per cent, followed by the NCP-SP with 11.25 and the Shiv Sena-UBT with 10.28 per cent.

Interestingly, other parties got more vote share of 13.84 per cent than each of the MVA partners.

In Jharkhand, it was Chief Minister Hemant Soren-led JMM that saw the ruling coalition through as his party gained a four percentage vote share over the last elections while the share of the rest of the parties either fell or remained stagnant.

The BJP in Jharkhand got 33.15 per cent vote share while JMM got 23.17 per cent and the Congress 15.57 per cent.

The All Jharkhand Students' Union Party (NDA ally) lost around 5 per cent vote share compared to 2019 and the JMM gained that 5 per cent, while Congress gained 2 per cent.

The Saturday outcomes revealed that the Congress continued to falter on the slippery electoral landscape, struggling to win or improve in states where it is ruling and failing to uplift alliances where it is the senior partner.

In Haryana, where the Congress and BJP were in direct contest, the party could not convert the anti-incumbency of BJP's two terms into a win.

Now in Maharashtra, it was unable to retain its Lok Sabha gains or help its allies pull through.

Earlier in Jammu and Kashmir also, the National Conference had powered the INDIA coalition to victory while the Congress ended up a distant junior ally in the poll results.

With the regional players outshining the Congress in successive polls, the party's position in the opposition bloc is likely to weaken

In Maharashtra and Jharkhand, the Congress was on a sticky wicket even during seat negotiations with other allies after losing Haryana to the BJP for the third straight time.

Questions are also expected to be raised on the working style and political outlook of Congress party's chief strategist Rahul Gandhi who has of late focused heavily on caste census and Adani-Ambani bashing as his key electoral planks.

Both issues appear to have failed to resonate among the people at large in the poll-bound states.

The sole glimmer of hope for the Congress today was a comfortable Lok Sabha byelection win for Rahul Gandhi's sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Kerala's Wayanad.

The party also won byelections to all three assembly seats in Karnataka, wresting one each from the BJP and JD(S), and retained Palakkad assembly seat in Kerala.

But that victory paled in comparison to the party's broad loss, mainly in India's richest state which was the ideal ground to return a verdict on Rahul's anti-Gautam Adani and anti-Mukesh Ambani pitch.

With Saturday's results, the Congress will enter the 2025 election cycle morally and psychologically depleted.

How the party finds an alternative narrative remains to be seen.
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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.
Opposition parties in Georgia organized a new postelection protest on November 23. Protesters in the capital, Tbilisi, demanded a rerun of controversial parliamentary elections held in late October. Authorities had acknowledged some irregularities and partially revised the results. The protests are planned to continue until the parliament that emerged from the elections convenes on November 25.
US President Donald Trump said he sees a "very good chance" for peace between Ukraine and Russia after "very good and productive discussions" between US officials and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In a March 14 post on his Truth Social site, Trump also said the United States had urged Russia to spare the lives of "thousands" of Ukrainian soldiers that Putin has said have been isolated by Russian troops in Russia's Kursk region. Ukraine disputes that claim.

The post came just hours after the Kremlin said it was "cautiously optimistic" following a meeting late on March 13 between Putin and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.

"We had very good and productive discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia yesterday, and there is a very good chance that this horrible, bloody war can finally come to an end," Trump wrote.

Trump added that "thousands of Ukrainian troops are completely surrounded by the Russian military, and in a very bad and vulnerable position."

"I have strongly requested to President Putin that their lives be spared," he wrote. "This would be a horrible massacre, one not seen since World War II."

Putin said a day earlier that a group of Ukrainian troops were "isolated" in the Kursk region, the site of a surprise incursion by Ukrainian forces last August. Responding to Trump's plea on March 14, he said the soldiers' lives would be spared if they surrendered and urged Kyiv to order them to do so.

Officials in Kyiv have said that while Ukrainian forces have been slowly withdrawing in the Kursk region under heavy pressure from Russian troops, but the armed forces general staff said on March 14 that "[r]eports of the alleged 'encirclement' of Ukrainian units...in the Kursk region are false and fabricated."

"There is no threat of encirclement of our units," it said in a statement on social media.

Zelenskyy Challenges Putin's Motives

Earlier on March 14, Putin's spokesman said there were grounds for "cautious optimism" over Trump's 30-day cease-fire proposal, which Ukraine accepted earlier this week at talks with US officials in Saudi Arabia.

Ukraine, meanwhile, questioned Moscow's sincerity in ending the war, which is now in its fourth year since Russia's full-scale invasion on February 2022.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow that Putin sent Trump a message about his cease-fire proposal after his talks with Witkoff in the Russian capital.

"When Mr Witkoff brings all the information to President Trump, we will determine the timing of a conversation (between Trump and Putin). There are reasons to be cautiously optimistic," Peskov said.

Putin said a day earlier that he agrees in principle with the US proposal for a temporary cease-fire with Ukraine, but added that "there are nuances," such as Western weapons deliveries to Kyiv, that he wants addressed first.

The Russian leader also said any agreement should lead to long-term peace that addresses the "root" reasons for the war, an apparent reference to NATO expansion and other developments Putin claims have put Russia's security in jeopardy.

In a video posted late on March 13, Zelenskyy questioned Putin's motives, saying the Russian leader was preparing to reject the proposal but was afraid to tell Trump.



"That's why in Moscow they are imposing upon the idea of a cease-fire these conditions -- so that nothing happens at all, or so that it cannot happen for as long as possible," Zelenskyy said.

He followed up on March 14 with a post on social media accusing the Kremlin of trying to "complicate and drag out the process."

"Russia is the only party that wants the war to continue and diplomacy to break down," he said on X after a call with the Secretary of State of the Holy See, cardinal Pietro Parolin.

Putin's Response To Trump's Pressure

Kyiv agreed to Trump's 30-day cease-fire proposal at a meeting in Jeddah on March 11, putting the onus for peace in Moscow's lap. Putin's response threw the ball back into US hands, at least to some degree.

Trump called Putin's initial reaction to peace talk developments "promising" but incomplete, though he added he hoped Russia would "do the right thing" and agree to the deal.

"I think the Russians are keen not to be seen as the intransigent party as that could lead to consequences from Trump, such as sanctions. So that informed Putin's comments today," John Hardie, deputy director of the Russia Program at Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington-based think tank, told RFE/RL.

Trump has made ending the war in Ukraine a top priority since taking office for a second term less than two months ago, and is wielding US leverage to get both Kyiv and Moscow to the table.

On March 13, the US administration heightened pressure on Russia by increasing restrictions on the country's oil, gas, and banking sectors.

Among the measures, the Treasury Department was allowing the expiration of a 60-day exemption put in place in January by the Biden administration that let some energy transactions involving sanctioned Russian banks continue. The move would make it more difficult for other nations, especially in Europe, to buy Russian oil.

Meanwhile, the foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) -- which includes the United States, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan -- said they discussed imposing more sanctions on Russia and boosting support for Ukraine if the Kremlin does not agree to the cease-fire.

Among the measures discussed during the March 13-14 meeting were caps on the price for Russian oil exports, they said in a joint statement. Western nations in late 2022 imposed a $60-a-barrel price cap on the export of Russian oil using Western ships or insurance. It is unclear if the G7 discussions touched on lowering the price cap. Russia's economy is heavily dependent on oil exports, which account for a third of federal budget revenues.

In a joint statement following the meeting, the G7 said that "we reaffirmed our unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its territorial integrity and right to exist, and its freedom, sovereignty, and independence."

"We welcomed ongoing efforts to achieve a ceasefire, and in particular the meeting on March 11 between the US and Ukraine in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," it added.

Putin also said there were several unanswered questions in the proposal, such as what to do about Ukraine's incursion into Russia's Kursk region.

"If we have a cease-fire, does that mean that everyone there would leave?" Putin said. "Should we release them [Ukrainian troops] after they committed crimes against the population? Or would they surrender?"

Ukraine denies committing such crimes, saying it abides by humanitarian law and does not target civilians.

Why Should Russia Agree To A Cease-Fire?

Kyiv seized a swath of the Kursk region in a stealth incursion in August, a move seen as an effort to divert Russian forces from eastern Ukraine and use the territory as a bargaining chip in any peace talks.

That strategy is now failing as Russian forces supported by North Korean troops push the Ukrainians out of Kursk. Russia has regained more than half the territory in Kursk initially captured by Ukraine.

Zelenskyy told reporters on March 14 that the situation in Kursk was "obviously very difficult."

Among the other concerns Putin voiced about the cease-fire proposal is whether Ukraine would use the 30-day period to mobilize and train forces or rearm with the help of the West.

He also raised the question of how the nearly 2,000-kilometer front would be monitored. Zelenskyy told reporters that the front could be monitored by US satellites.

Experts had warned that Putin would likely seek to drag out cease-fire talks because his forces have the upper hand on the battlefield.

Aside from the advances in Kursk, Russia is gaining territory in eastern Ukraine -- albeit at high human and material costs -- due to its significant manpower advantage.

However, Zelenskyy said Ukraine has stopped Russian forces at the gates of Pokrovsk, a key logistical hub in Donetsk region, after months of fighting on the outskirts of the city. Zelenskyy asserted that the incursion into Kursk forced Russia to pull forces from eastern Ukraine, giving his troops time to defend the city.

Russia is seeking to capture at a minimum the entirety of the four regions of Ukraine it claims to have annexed in September 2022: Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya, and Kherson. A cease-fire freezing the current front lines would leave them short of that goal.

"One way the Russians could slow down this process without coming out directly and saying 'no', is by dragging out those technical discussions on monitoring" the cease-fire, Hardie said.

"That could also give them ways to try to pin the blame back on Ukraine, by insisting on certain technical matters that Ukraine might find objectionable," he said.
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Three Londis retailers from Roscommon, were honoured at the recent Londis Retailing Excellence Awards ceremony, which was held in Lyrath Hotel in Kilkenny, and hosted by BWG Foods, owners and operators of the Londis brand in Ireland.

The Roscommon based Londis retailers and stores honoured were: Jim Casey, Caseys Londis Athlone Road, Roscommon; Neil Kennedy, Kennedys Londis Boyle and Annie Timothy, Timothys Londis Abbeytown, Roscommon.

In winning these awards, the stores were independently examined across a range of criteria including the quality of their fresh food offering, product range, as well as the stores commitment to upholding the highest of retailing standards, thereby providing an excellent customer experience to their local communities.

Congratulating the winners, Conor Hayes, Londis Sales Director congratulated the "outstanding Londis retailers from Roscommon and their staff. Their efforts have been truly outstanding, and this recognition is very well-deserved."
Titu Maiorescu (1840-1917)

Titus Liviu Maiorescu was born in 1840 in Craiova, and died in 1917 in Bucharest

Titu Maiorescu (1840-1917)

Steliu Lambru, 23.11.2024, 13:36

The literary society Junimea, founded in Iasi in 1863, was one of the most important literary, philosophical and political trends in Romania. And one of its five founding members was Titu Maiorescu, a lawyer, literary critic, writer, journalist, aesthetician and politician. He also left his mark on the career of Mihai Eminescu, considered by many to be the greatest Romanian poet.

With his full name Titus Liviu Maiorescu, he was born in 1840 in Craiova, and died in 1917 in Bucharest, at the age of 77. His father, Ioan Maiorescu, a professor, diplomat and author of history books, was an active participant in the 1848 revolution in Wallachia and Transylvania. Titu Maiorescu studied law, literature and philosophy in Vienna, Berlin, Giessen, and the Sorbonne. Even during his high school studies, he stood out for his ambition and tenacity, graduating from the Theresian Academy in 1858 at the head of his class.

His intellectual career began at the age of 17 when he tried to publish literary translations in Gazeta de Transilvania, the most influential Romanian-language newspaper in the Habsburg area. After graduation, he taught psychology and French. In 1861, he published the first philosophy text in German, influenced by the post-Kantian realism of Johann Friedrich Herbart and the Hegelianism of Ludwig Feuerbach. In his prodigious work as an author, Maiorescu wrote several dozen volumes of literary criticism, philosophy, aesthetics, logic, history, parliamentary speeches, and his diary is a creation that includes over 10 volumes and is considered the longest diary in the history of Romanian literature. On a personal level, in 1862 he married his student, Klara Kremnitz, to whom he had taught French language courses and with whom he would have a daughter.

In 1862, returning to Romania, he was appointed prosecutor at the Ilfov court, and became a professor at the University of Iasi where he taught the history of Romanians. At the same time, he also taught Romanian language, Romanian grammar, pedagogy, and psychology at high school level. He spoke at public conferences on topics and subjects of law, literature, history and pedagogy. Maiorescus presence and competence in so many fields may seem excessive today, but the times demanded involvement. It was a period in which Romanian intellectuals were in the midst of the process of reforming the state and reinventing society according to the Western model. At the same time, they were trying to integrate new ideas and models that were appearing in the West. Literary historian Ion Bogdan Lefter noted Titu Maiorescus involvement in that considerable effort, an effort that had to be made by a thin layer of elites, and which was not only an effort in a single field of expertise.

Everything had to be founded, from scratch, including discursiveness, which is why Maiorescu makes personal efforts. In the meantime, he practices daily in diaries, but as a public discourse he writes one text at a time, after a while another text, watching what happens. At the same time, he witnesses, with exceptional intuition, the way in which what accumulates, and the way in which what accumulates will one day manifest. For example, the end of his preface, a famous one in the Eminescu edition, which he himself drafted against the authors will, shows us a visionary through this text as well. He uses formulations of looking towards the future. He says as far as humanly possible to foresee, and what did this mean? It meant that Maiorescu and his group understood the extraordinary value of Eiminescus poetry. They read and understood both Creanga and Caragiale, they understood the phenomenon, they saw the direction, but the ensemble could, at that moment, barely foresee it, it did not yet exist. It would consist of pieces not yet assembled into a whole.

Although he had certain competences in several fields, Maiorescu felt closer to literary criticism. Ion Bogdan Lefter noted Maiorescus efforts in the field of literary criticism, part of the world of ideas at that time.

Maiorescu has a very broad, comprehensive, civilizational understanding, at a time when the accumulation of literary raw materials was still precarious. He is the one who assists and, in a way, stimulates the appearance of the first literary works of the highest level at Junimea, with all its story and the extraordinary group of which he was part of. His contributions are written, they are in the few fundamental texts, they are essential. He himself is a first literary critic, if we can truly call him a literary critic, considered the founder of literary criticism, with equally important contributions in the founding or structuring, crystallization of other socio-human disciplines in Romania.

Titu Maiorescu was also a politician. He was close to the values of the Conservative Party, but in the governments of this party he represented the Junimist group, a liberal-conservative group. Starting with 1871 he held parliamentary deputy terms, and served as Minister of Education. Between 1912 and 1913 he was Prime Minister, and signed the Peace of Bucharest after the Second Balkan War, when Romania obtained Southern Dobrudja. In 1914, on the eve of the outbreak of World War I, and 3 years before his death, Titu Maiorescu retired from politics.
November 23, 2024

A roundup of local and international news.

Newsflash

Newsroom, 23.11.2024, 13:50

A roundup of local and international news.

ELECTIONS  The election campaign for the first round of the presidential elections held on Sunday in Romania ended on Saturday morning. The presidential elections are scheduled for November 24, the first round, and December 8 the second round. Over 18 million voters are expected to cast their ballot on Sunday, in the nearly 19,000 polling stations opened in the country. Abroad, Romanians can vote for three days in the 950 polling stations opened by the authorities (on Friday, Saturday and Sunday). By Saturday at noon, about 60 thousand Romanians had voted in the Diaspora, of whom over 4,000 opted for postal voting. Most Romanians abroad voted in the United Kingdom, the Republic of Moldova, Germany, Italy, Spain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Austria. There are 13 candidates in the presidential race, 9 representing political parties and 4 independents. Most ideological currents have representatives in the competition, from social democrats to liberals and from pro-Europeans to populists and ultranationalists. On December 1, when the National Day is celebrated, legislative elections will be held. We recall that on June 9, local and European parliamentary elections were also held in Romania.

REFERENDUM  On Sunday, the Bucharest residents entitled to vote are expected at the polls in a referendum initiated by the General Mayor of Bucharest, Nicusor Dan. Voters must answer two questions proposed by him, which concern the way that funds are divided between the General City Hall and the city halls of the 6 Bucharest districts, and also have their say on the issuing of construction permits in the capital Bucharest. At the same time, at the initiative of the Social Democratic Party, a third question was added, through an amendment, which refers to combating drug use in schools. In order to validate this consultation, a 30% voter turnout rate is required.

SCHENGEN  The interior ministers of Romania, Bulgaria, Austria and Hungary, alongside the European Commissioner, Ylva Johansson, agreed on Friday in Budapest that Romania and Bulgaria will join Schengen with the land borders as of January 1, 2025. The final decision will be taken at the meeting of EU interior ministers on 12 December in Brussels. Austria has been opposing Schengen enlargement since 2022. Eventually, Vienna later accepted partial Schengen membership for Sofia and Bucharest in March, with air and sea borders, and set a roadmap for a possible extension to land borders. The agreement made public on Friday provides for border checks for an initial period of six months to minimize the potential change in migration routes that could occur.

NATO  NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte met with the US President-elect Donald Trump in Florida on Friday, the North Atlantic Alliance spokeswoman said Saturday, according to Reuters and France press. The two discussed global security issues facing the alliance. Ruttes meeting with Trump comes ahead of a NATO-Ukraine Council scheduled for next week, after Russia launched a hypersonic medium-range ballistic missile on military infrastructure in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Thursday. Moscow described the action as a response to the first Ukrainian attacks with US ATACMS and British Storm Shadow missiles on military targets on Russian territory.

RUGBY  The Romanian national rugby squad will face Uruguay in a test match this evening in Bucharest. The Romanian team has met Uruguay 13 times so far. Romania has won ten matches, one of which ended in a draw, while two were won by the South Americans. Romania defeated Tonga (25-15) and Canada (35-27) in test matches this month.
The city of Colorado Springs and its municipally owned utility earned high marks in the annual Military Friendly ratings for hiring and supporting the careers of military spouses and veterans.

Colorado Springs Utilities earned several Top 10 rankings: fifth as a military-friendly employer, eighth as a military-friendly company, ninth as a military spouse-friendly employer and 10th as a military-friendly brand, the agency said.

The city received a bronze rating as a military-friendly employer, according to a city news release, placing it within 30% of the 10th-ranked organization.

More than 1,500 organizations compete in the annual rankings in various categories. The city and Utilities compete in the government and nonprofit category.

We are proud of the city once again earning the designation as a military-friendly employer, Sallie Clark, Colorado Springs senior advisor for government and military engagement, said in the Friday news release.

We are continually working with our military community and installations to make not only our city a military-friendly employer, but our entire region, open to employing veterans, spouses and family members of our active service members.

Sign Up for free: Military Brief Your weekly local update on local military news and events, sent straight to your inbox. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters.

Nearly 20% of city employees and 12.5% of the utilitys employees are veterans.

At Colorado Springs Utilities, we are proud to have veterans and active service members as part of our team. Their leadership, discipline and unique perspectives enrich our organization and inspire us all, the agencys Chief Executive Officer Travas Deal said in a statement Friday.

The city, Colorado Springs Utilities, Deloitte, USAA and UCHealth make up the Employer Roundtable. The roundtable develops and shares best practices with other employers, works with local military installations to address military spouse employment issues and encourages military spouse hiring.

Colorado Springs Utilities also has an internal veteran employee resource group that provides a strong peer network within the organization to help attract and retain veteran employees, agency spokesman Eric Isaacson said.

The city participates in the Hiring our Heroes program for transitioning military service members and spouses, and the Veterans Local Government Management Fellowship initiative that helps place transitioning veterans and spouses into fellowships.

Veteran-owned small business Viqtory Inc. owns the Military Friendly ratings.
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.

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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.
North Korea is only a "political decision" away from carrying out its seventh nuclear test, a senior U.S. official said Friday, at a time when the world is closely watching for any shifts in Pyongyang's policy direction in connection with Donald Trump's upcoming return to the White House, Azernews reports, citing Kyodonews.

"The United States assesses that (North Korea) has prepared its Punggye-ri test site for its potential seventh explosive nuclear test," said Alexandra Bell, deputy assistant secretary of state for nuclear affairs.

At a conference in Washington organized by the Korea Society, she said, "Such a test would constitute a grave escalation of tensions in the region and present a security risk to the entire world," warning also that Pyongyang's actions to date have shown that it is determined to advance its nuclear and missile development programs.

In late October, South Korea's military intelligence agency said that North Korea had completed preparations for a nuclear test at the key site located in the northeast of the country for a possible test before the U.S. presidential election.

In the days leading up to the Nov. 5 election, North Korea test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile for the first time in almost a year. The ICBM, which North Korea calls its new Hwasong-19, flew for about 85 minutes, the longest duration registered yet in any such test by Pyongyang.

In addition to the ICBM, North Korea test-fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles just ahead of the election.

Since Trump emerged as the decisive winner over Vice President Kamala Harris, however, North Korea has halted its saber-rattling. The president-elect has said he plans to "get along" with the country's leader Kim Jong Un as he sought to do in his first term.

North Korea's previous nuclear test, conducted in September 2017, was by far its most powerful ever. It took place in the first year of Trump's presidency, before he and Kim held the inaugural summit between U.S. and North Korean leaders in Singapore in June the following year.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- For most employees, company-backed retirement plans and affordable health insurance are perks that come with full-time work. But according to a new report by The Penny Hoarder -- a personal finance brand whose purpose is to help people make smart money decisions -- there are several big-box brands that offer generous benefit packages for their hourly part-time employees.

Heres a look at 10 companies that offer a healthy benefits package -- even for employees with flexible part-time roles -- as reported by PennyHoarder.com:

1. Costco

Hourly part-time employees who work at least 24 hours per week can receive benefits from Costco once theyve accumulated 60 days of service. Health-care coverage includes medical, vision, prescription drugs and core dental benefits.

All hourly employees working at least 10 hours per week can also enroll in voluntary short-term disability insurance, which provides tax-free income replacement in the event of a non-work-related accident or illness.

2. Lowes

Part-time employees at Lowes are immediately eligible for medical benefits, including prescription drugs, short-term disability, life insurance and dental and vision coverage.

After one year, Lowes offers an employee stock purchase option to its part-time workers, as well as a 401(k) after 180 days. Eligible family members can also opt-in for group medical, dental and vision coverage and dependent life insurance.

3. Staples

Staples offers its part-time associates access to dental and vision coverage, life, dependent life, accidental death and short-term disability insurance coverage. Theyre also eligible for the companys 401(k) plan. Staples also offers a 10% employee discount on online or retail items, adoption assistance and its own confidential employee counseling program.

4. Starbucks

Starbucks is well-known for its benefits program for part-time employees. To be eligible, employees must work at least 240 hours over three consecutive months, then continue to average 20 hours per week. Health coverage offered by Starbucks includes routine medical visits and hospitalization along with dental, vision and life insurance coverage, as well as fertility benefits. After 90 days, employees can opt-in to Starbucks 401(k) plan.

5. UPS

Part-time employees who work between 225 and 400 hours at UPS within a three-month period are eligible for medical and dental coverage, vision insurance, hearing, prescription drugs and an employee assistance program. Part-time employees who exceed 400 hours over three months are eligible for the same benefits as full-time employees.

6. Trader Joes

After three months and working an average of 30 hours per week, Trader Joes crew members are eligible for medical, dental and vision coverage at a cost as low as $25 per month. Other employee benefits include a 20% store discount, scholarship programs, store tastings, employee assistance programs and paid relocation and transfers.

7. Chipotle

All hourly crew members at Chipotle are eligible for its robust benefits package that includes medical, vision and dental insurance, as well as a 401(k) match after one year of employment. Part-time employees also receive a salary percentage-based bonus, mental health assistance, education assistance up to $5,250 annually, a stock purchase plan, gym membership discounts and one free meal per shift.

8. USPS

The United States Postal Service hires career and non-career (temporary/seasonal) workers. Part-time career workers are eligible for its benefits package, which includes the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program -- a plan in which the federal government pays two-thirds of the health insurance premiums for employees and retirees.

It also offers federal group life insurance (FGLI), and federally backed long-term care, dental and vision and a flex spending account. The USPS retirement system, also available for part-time career workers, offers a fixed annuity based on years of service, a defined contribution 401(k) THRIFT Savings Plan with a 5% employer match and Social Security.

9. Walmart

Part-time and temporary associates at Walmart who work an average of at least 30 hours per week over a 60-day period are eligible for benefits. These include medical, dental and vision, as well as a 6% 401(k) match after one year and a 10% in-store discount.

10. Home Depot

Part-time employees at the home improvement retailer are eligible for dental and vision plans, short-term disability and life insurance.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Starbucks lovers may soon have another Staten Island site to grab their morning cup of joe: According to Department of Buildings (DOB) records, the mega coffee corp has plans to construct its 16th borough location on the corner of Amboy Road and Clarke Avenue, filling a now-vacant space in the Oakwood shopping center formerly occupied by Chase Bank.

Structural work related to the minor exterior renovation for future Starbucks tenant, stated the permit filed for 3155 Amboy Rd. Work included minor demolition of exterior and patch and repair. No change to use occupancy or egress.

Starbucks did not respond to a request for confirmation of this news, but several online documents link the business to this address, including an online real estate brochure published by AVR Realty Company, which is in charge of leasing the space.

That brochure places Starbucks in a 2,129-square-foot portion of the former Chase Bank, and divides the rest of the building into two other storefronts -- one on the upper level, another on the lower level, both 7,500 square-feet each. A Mathnasium tutoring franchise -- not currently located in the shopping center -- is also featured on the blueprint.

Currently anchored by NetCost Market and Duane Reade, the active strip mall is also home to Novellis Pork Store, Ambrosinos Pizza, True Value Hardware, Mike Jr.s Oakwood Diner and several other retailers. The Chase Bank building has been vacant since 2021.

Starbucks is not new to the Oakwood area: A drive-thru location opened near the intersection of Tysens Lane and Hylan Boulevard in 2023, and two more Starbucks stores are located nearby -- one in Stop & Shop in the Tysens Park Shopping Center and one less than a mile away in the Hylan Commons shopping center at the corner of New Dorp Lane.

Plans were filed for this new project on Oct. 25. And the same DOB documents indicated that a stop-work order currently exists at the site, so a timeline for construction is not yet clear.
A music legend is opening up about why he wont play his biggest hit song anymore.

Paul Simon revealed in a new interview for CBS Mornings that hes suffered dramatic hearing loss over the past four years, and now has about 6% hearing in his left ear. He was afraid that he might go completely deaf and have to give up making music altogether.
Celebrities have threatened to leave the United States for years if Donald Trump were to be elected as the President of the United States.

It appears at least one Hollywood celebrity is making good on her promise.

Ellen DeGeneres and wife Portia de Rossi have moved to England, The Wrap is reporting, per a person close to DeGeneres, saying Trump was the reason. The couple put their California estate on the market.

According to the report, DeGeneres has moved to the Cotswolds, a rural area in south-central England. The Wrap did report DeGeneres has other California properties, and it is unclear what the comedian plans to do with them.

However, Fox News Digital reported the home was sold in August prior to the election. Fox News, citing a source, reports that Trumps re-election had inspired the couples decision to jump ship.

Whether the sale of the property in August was linked to plans to move abroad remains unclear.

DeGeneres announced her support for Vice President Kamala Harris in September by reposting Taylor Swifts Instagram endorsement. She added, This childless cat lady couldnt agree more, a shot at Vice President-elect JD Vance.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Could you use a weekly check for the rest of your life? Well, the New York Lottery has four scratch-off games offering just that.

The three games are available at different price points, with tickets costing $2, $10 and $20.

Heres a look at each of the three games with top-winning tickets left in circulation as of Friday, how many winning tickets were printed, along with how much youll win and the cost of each ticket.

$10,000 a Week for Life

Ticket cost: $20

Top prize: $10,000 a week for life

Top tickets left in circulation: 2

Winning tickets left in circulation: 3,431,211

Set for Life

Ticket cost: $10

Top prize: $5,000 a week for life

Top tickets left in circulation: 1

Winning tickets left in circulation: 1,271,614

Win for Life

Ticket cost: $2

Top prize: $1,000 a week for life

Top tickets left in circulation: 10

Winning tickets in circulation: 14,828,455

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about the New York Lotterys scratch-off games, visit nylottery.ny.gov/scratch-off-games.

The New York Lottery continues to be touted as North Americas largest and most profitable lottery, contributing $3.7 billion during fiscal year 2022-2023 to support education in New York state.

New York Lottery revenue is distributed to local school districts by the same statutory formula used to distribute other state aid to education. It takes into account both a school districts size and its income level; larger, lower-income school districts receive proportionately larger shares of lottery school funding.

New Yorkers struggling with a gambling addiction, or who know someone who is, can find help by calling the states toll-free, confidential HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (467369).

You can also contact your regional Problem Gambling Resource Center or recovery center directly for a referral to treatment services (state-certified or private) in your area.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Borough President Vito Fossella recently hosted a heartfelt retirement ceremony at Borough Hall for Chief Warrant Officer 4 Adelaide S. Borders, who is concluding a 31-year career with the U.S. Army next month.

The ceremony, attended by a large gathering of family, friends and community members, celebrated Borders distinguished service and dedication to the nation.

Chief Warrant Officer Adelaide S. Borders receives her retirement certificate from Borough President Vito Fossella, celebrating 31 years of service to the Army, surrounded by family and friends.Courtesy of Borough President Vito Fossella

Borders, a native of Staten Island, has had a remarkable military career, which has taken her across the country and abroad. Her assignments have included posts in Kansas, Virginia and Washington as well as international deployments in South Korea.

For her final assignment, she served as the senior logistics warrant officer with the 20th Engineer Brigade at Fort Liberty, N.C.

During the emotional ceremony, Fossella presented Borders with commendation and an official retirement certificate, highlighting her commitment to serving the nation.

It is the American soldier and other service members who have worn the uniform who are responsible for the freedoms we have today, Fossella said, and thats what this lady has done for more than 30 years  taking pride in the uniform, what it represents and what is emblematic of this country.

Chief Warrant Officer Adelaide S. Borders receives her retirement certificate from Borough President Vito Fossella, celebrating 31 years of service to the Army, surrounded by family and friends.Courtesy of Borough President Vito Fossella

The gathering included many of Borders' loved ones, who shared stories of her devotion and reliability, both personally and professionally. Family and friends reflected on her consistent dedication to all her pursuits, illustrating her commitment to serving her country and those close to her.

Borders returned the sentiment, expressing gratitude to her family and colleagues in her farewell address. As I stand here before you today, I am filled with emotion as I retire from the United States Army after 31 years of dedicated service, she said. This moment is full circle.

Fossella closed the ceremony by thanking Borders for her unwavering commitment and selfless service, saying, We thank Chief Warrant Officer Borders for her long history of dedicated service to our nation and embodying what makes this nation great  sacrifice, courage and selflessness.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Christine Wasnieski was a loving mother and wife known for her giving nature.

The 57-year-old Annadale resident lost her life when she and her 80-year-old mother were struck by a Dodge Ram pickup truck while trying to cross the street in the vicinity of Jefferson Avenue and Hylan Boulevard late on the morning of Nov. 13. While her mother survived the ordeal, Wasnieski was critically injured and later succumbed to her injuries.

Wasnieskis husband, Kyle, said she was escorting her mother to a nearby doctors office when the tragedy occurred.

Born in Greece, Wasnieski moved to the U.S. when she was 4 years old. Raised in Gravesend, Brooklyn, she moved to Park Slope after she got married.

Wasnieski attended a number of educational institutions, including Mark Twain Intermediate School for the Gifted and Talented and John Dewey High School in Brooklyn. She earned her associates degree from Kingsborough Community College and graduated with her bachelors degree from the College of Staten Island.

Together, the Wasnieskis shared two children, Emily, 23, and Thomas, 19.

It was about 14 years ago that Kyle said the family moved to Staten Island.

Beginning in the late 1990s or early 2000s, Wasnieski worked as a social worker at United Cerebral Palsy.

Over the course of the last five to seven years, Kyle said his wife was an advocate for individuals and made sure they could get the services they were entitled to receive.

She just did it out of the goodness of her heart for most people, he said.

Christine Wasnieski, 57, lost her life after she was hit by a vehicle in the vicinity of Jefferson Avenue and Hylan Boulevard on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. (Courtesy of Emily Wasnieski)(Courtesy of Emily Wasnieski)

Emily Wasnieski said that her mother took more of a back seat when it came to work once she had children. Even then, Wasnieski always took care of others, whether it be her mother, her friends moms or even people she met through other connections, her daughter said.

I guess maybe the biggest thing that Id want people to know about her is that she was always giving, said Emily. She always gave everything that she could to every person; whether it was us, me and my brother, her children, or my dad or the people that she took care of and kept company when they most needed it.

In speaking about his wife, Kyle shared how she loved the beach, sunshine and helping others.

Described as a woman of few words, she was one of action, he said.

She did so much and she never pounded her chest saying, Look what I did, look what I did. And thats one of her most redeeming qualities, and it really, really means a lot, Kyle added.

Wasnieskis family said they take comfort in knowing that her organs were donated and she was able to give the gift of life to three other individuals.

Thats a really big thing and it means a lot that shes still living with that. Shes living in other people, said Kyle. That is like one of the most precious things I got.

The family is hoping to see if there is a way they can get a scholarship named in her honor.

She always just wanted to help people, whether it was like some sort of helping profession. And since I am also pursuing a helping profession, I just thought that thats like one of the best things that we can do in her honor, Emily said.

In the wake of her death, the family put together a GoFundMe to cover funeral expenses and any additional unexpected costs we may face as a family, with one working parent now gone.

So far, more than 400 donors have contributed to the GoFundMe, raising more than $31,500 as of Saturday morning.

The fundraiser can be found at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-the-wasnieskis-after-tragic-loss-of-wife-and-mom.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH) has announced two programs aimed at fostering the next generation of health-care professionals: The Executive Healthcare Internship (EHI) program and the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) scholarship program.

Executive Healthcare Internship (EHI)

SIUH is now accepting applications for the Executive Healthcare Internship (EHI), a paid summer program designed for current college juniors and seniors with ties to the Staten Island community.

This unique internship offers students the opportunity to gain firsthand experience in health-care administration and operations through mentorship and project-based learning.

It will take place from June 2 though Aug. 8, 2025. The application deadline is Friday, Dec. 2.

Participants in the EHI program will work closely with a director-level mentor on projects that encompass hospital operations, project management, financial analysis and community outreach.

Interns will also attend hospital-wide meetings and didactic learning sessions, concluding the internship with a final presentation to executive leadership.

This is an invaluable opportunity for students with a passion for healthcare management to immerse themselves in the fast-paced environment of one of New York States leading healthcare providers, said an SIUH spokesperson.

For more information, contact aoconnor3@northwell.edu.

To apply, visit SIUH Internship Application at https://bit.ly/SIUHInternship. Applicants should use Job ID number 140589

10 full scholarships for EMT training

In partnership with the SSG Michael Ellis Freedom Foundation, SIUH is also offering 10 full scholarships for EMT training. This program, honoring the memories of fallen EMT Joseph Russo and fallen Paramedics Brian Saddler and David Restuccio, is open to community members ages 17 and older.

Scholarship recipients will attend EMT courses provided by the Training Institute for Medical Emergencies and Rescue, with the next session starting in February 2025.

SIUH is dedicated to providing cutting-edge care while supporting the development of future health-care professionals through innovative programs like the EHI and EMT scholarship initiatives, the announcement said.

These scholarships offer a pathway for Staten Islanders who are passionate about emergency medical services to begin a fulfilling career while serving their community.

Applicants must submit their age, address and phone number, as well as an unofficial high school or college transcript and a cover letter answering the question: Why do you want to be an EMT?

A letter of recommendation and a copy of a valid drivers license are also required.

Interested individuals should apply by emailing dbattinelli1@northwell.edu with the required materials.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Although the forecast is constantly changing, Bob Larson, a senior meteorologist with AccuWeather, says there is a non-zero chance that snow could find its way into New York City this Thanksgiving.

Despite the odds of frosty precipitation being low at this time, Larson forecasts that a storm will hit the five boroughs just in time for the upcoming holiday.

Initially, forecasts were giving Wednesday, a major travel day, a chance of rain in the areas around the city. Larson now believes motorists will experience reasonably good travel weather nearby.

Those traveling in Upstate New York and parts of New England will want to note that the chance exists for some snow showers. However, as Larson clarifies, this is not shaping up to be a major snowstorm or lake-effect snow outbreak.

The rest of the eastern seaboard from New York City southward to Florida looks to be dry on Wednesday, Larson said.

The storm threat that could jeopardize festivities in the city on Thursday is expected to come out of the Midwest. Larson explains that the roughest travel conditions Wednesday are expected to occupy the Rocky Mountain area.

The latest Thanksgiving forecast

While Larson notes that models are portraying varying outcomes for Thursdays forecast, as it stands Friday night, precipitation is expected to move in on Thursday and persist through the night into Friday.

A storm has the potential to snarl transit for those even traveling locally across portions of the Midwest and Northeast on Thanksgiving Day, even those chasing Black Friday deals could contend with travel challenges, explained AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tyler Roys.

Even though Larson believes this precipitation will likely come in as rain, its not out of the question for a rain/snow mix to impact the suburbs north and west of New York City. The chance also exists for this precipitation to come in as mostly snow in these suburbs, according to Larson.

Different outlooks show different timeframes for this storm.

Solutions vary from starting as soon as Thanksgiving morning, i.e. during the parade, to potentially holding off to as late as late Thursday night or even Friday morning, the day after Thanksgiving, said Larson. So taking the middle ground and consensus approach, it looks as though were leaning towards some precipitation moving in Thursday afternoon. And if I had to pick one time period that would be most likely to be wet, it would probably be centered on Thursday night.

Fortunately, Larson doesnt believe elevated winds to be much of an issue Thursday. Should gusty winds overtake the area, the parade could face trouble given the grand balloons.

Residents of the city could experience elevated winds on the storms heels Friday, but as of Friday night, Larson does not foresee winds being a problem for the holiday.

Snow may not be the most likely scenario Thursday, however, Larson notes that snowflakes are within the realm of possibility. The further north and west you go, the greater the odds of seeing snow, given the higher elevations and distance from the ocean, Larson explained.

As far as precipitation intensity goes, any rain or snowfall is expected to be steady, according to Larson.

In terms of intensity, right now it doesnt look to be as heavy as what you just saw over the last 36 hours, Larson said.

Since the start of the latest storm early Thursday morning, Staten Island has received 1.67 inches of rain as of Friday evening, as recorded by the Advance/SILive.com weather station.

Right now, this system coming up that were talking about, Thanksgiving time, does not appear to be as wet or as moisture laden, added Larson.
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Washington: Leaders of the top US telecommunications companies were summoned to the White House on Friday to discuss a security problem that has been roiling the government: how to expel Chinese hackers from the deepest corners of the nations communications networks.

Chinas recent breach of the innermost workings of the US telecommunications system reached far deeper than the Biden administration has described, the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee said, with hackers able to listen in on telephone conversations and read text messages.

The barn door is still wide open, or mostly open, the Democratic chairman, Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, a former telecommunications executive, said in an interview.

An American flag flies outside the Department of Justice in Washington. Credit: AP

Warner said he had been stunned by the scope and depth of the breach, which was engineered over the past year by a group linked to Chinese intelligence that has been named Salt Typhoon by Microsoft, whose cybersecurity team discovered the hack in the northern summer.
What forcing Google to sell Chrome could mean



New York, Nov 23 (AFP) Nov 23, 2024



US antitrust lawyers are calling on a judge to force the sale of Google's Chrome browser to limit the company's market clout in a move that would shake up the internet giant.

On Wednesday, the US Department of Justice submitted its recommendation for the breakup to US District Court Judge Amit Mehta, who is set to impose steps next year to address Google's monopoly power in online search.



- Blow to Google? -



"This would be a huge gut punch to Google," said Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives.

Google provides free search, making money off targeting ads and features that promote online commerce.

"It would greatly alter (Google's) business model," said Syracuse University professor of advertising Beth Egan.

Selling Chrome would also deprive Google of a rich source of information used to train its algorithms and promote its other services like Maps.

Launched in 2008, Chrome dominates the browser market, dwarfing rivals Edge and Safari, developed by Microsoft and Apple, respectively.

Egan believed Google would find a way to recover if forced to sell Chrome.

"I don't think divesting the browser is going to kill Google as a company," Egan said.

She noted that it could be its users who wind up suffering, given the case Google is making in blog posts on the matter.



- What is Chrome worth? -



A Bloomberg analyst estimates that Chrome, which is used by more than three billion people around the world, would sell for at least $15 billion.

But given the lack of precedent, predicting how much Chrome would fetch on the market is tricky.

A Chinese investment group bought an internet browser from Opera Software ASA in Norway for $600 million in 2016, but it only claimed 350 million users at the time.



- Who might buy it? -



There are very few potential buyers for Chrome, according to Emarketer senior analyst Evelyn Mitchell-Wolf.

"It's likely that any company with deep enough pockets to afford Chrome is already under antitrust scrutiny," Mitchell-Wolf said.

"If I had to speculate, my inclination is to look at US-based artificial intelligence players."

While Chrome being bought by the likes of OpenAI would certainly raise antitrust concerns, the US government could see it as a way for the nation to prioritize innovation on the global stage.

Elon Musk's AI startup could conceivably be a Chrome contender, bankrolled by his riches and having the deal cleared thanks to his close working relationship with incoming president Donald Trump.



- Win for rivals? -



Analysts agreed that people will keep using Chrome regardless of who owns it, provided the quality doesn't plummet.

"This assumes Chrome retains its most popular features and continues innovating," said analyst Mitchell-Wolf.

"Search behaviors are a function of convenience first, trust and experience second."

The justice department's argument that people use Chrome because it is a default search engine in devices is off the mark, the analyst added.



- Trump factor -



Many doubt that Judge Mehta will embrace all of the justice department's proposed remedies in the case.

CFRA analyst Angelo Zino considered the measures "extreme and unlikely to be imposed by the court."

The incoming Trump administration also "remains a wild card" regarding whether justice officials will back off the idea of breaking up Google.

Trump in October indicated he opposes dismantling Google, believing such a move would be against the interests of the US internationally.

"China is afraid of Google" and a breakup would hurt the company, Trump reasoned at the time.

Meanwhile, Trump has also accused Google of being unfair to conservatives.

tu-gc/jgc/sco

GOOGLE

MICROSOFT
N. Korean troops massed in Russia to enter Ukraine war 'soon': Pentagon chief



Sydney, Nov 22 (AFP) Nov 22, 2024



The United States expects that thousands of North Korean troops massing in Russia will "soon" enter combat against Ukraine, Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin said Saturday.

About 10,000 North Korean soldiers were believed to be based in the Russian border region of Kursk, Austin said, where they were being "integrated into the Russian formations".

"Based upon what they've been trained on, the way they've been integrated into the Russian formations, I fully expect to see them engaged in combat soon," Austin told reporters during a stopover in Pacific nation Fiji.

Austin said he had "not seen significant reporting" of North Korean troops being "actively engaged in combat" to date.

South Korean government officials and a research group on Thursday said Russia has provided Pyongyang with oil, anti-air missiles and economic help in exchange for the troops Washington and Seoul have accused it of sending.

Kyiv has warned that Moscow, alongside the North Korean soldiers, has now amassed a 50,000-strong force to wrest back parts of the border region seized by Ukrainian forces.

Ukraine claimed swathes of Kursk in August during a lightning offensive even as its troops were thinly stretched in the Donetsk region, which has borne the brunt of nearly three years of fighting
US moves to ramp up military engagements with Fiji



Sydney, Nov 23 (AFP) Nov 23, 2024



The United States and Fiji have started work on a key agreement that could see American troops ramp up their presence in the Pacific nation, Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin said Saturday.

Austin is the first sitting US defence secretary to set foot in Fiji, a visit that caps a whirlwind Asia-Pacific tour through Australia, the Philippines and Laos.

Fiji sits in the middle of an unfolding tussle between Washington and Beijing, two powers seeking to bank influence in the strategically important South Pacific.

Austin said negotiations had started on a bilateral "status of forces" agreement with Fiji, a legal instrument setting the rules for military personnel working in a foreign country.

The agreement would pave the way for "increased exercises" and "military-to-military engagements", he said.

"The (agreement) will enable us to deploy and re-deploy forces in support of Fiji. And help us train with the Fijians on a more routine basis."

Austin cautioned that there was "no notion" of a permanent US military base in the Fijian archipelago.

"We did not have any discussions like that," he told reporters.

The United States has similar agreements in place with more than 100 nations, according to the state department.

Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, a former military commander, said Austin's visit marked a "historic moment in the US and Fiji relationship".

"We all pray it's not an indication that we are looking at some dangerous years ahead," he said while sporting a stars-and-stripes-themed necktie.

"We are all here to talk about peace, and how we guard and protect and promote that peace."

Rabuka is seen as broadly pro-Western but recently made an extended visit to Beijing, where he inked a slew of bilateral deals on trade, infrastructure and Chinese-language education.
NATO chief discusses 'global security' with Trump



Brussels, Belgium, Nov 23 (AFP) Nov 23, 2024



NATO chief Mark Rutte held talks with US President-elect Donald Trump in Florida on the "global security issues facing the alliance", a spokeswoman said Saturday.

The meeting took place on Friday in Palm Beach, NATO's Farah Dakhlallah said in a statement.

In his first term Trump aggressively pushed Europe to step up defence spending and questioned the fairness of the NATO transatlantic alliance.

The former Dutch prime minister had said he wanted to meet Trump two days after Trump was elected on November 5, and discuss the threat of increasingly warming ties between North Korea and Russia.

Trump's thumping victory to return to the US presidency has set nerves jangling in Europe that he could pull the plug on vital Washington military aid for Ukraine.

NATO allies say keeping Kyiv in the fight against Moscow is key to both European and American security.

"What we see more and more is that North Korea, Iran, China and of course Russia are working together, working together against Ukraine," Rutte said recently at a European leaders' meeting in Budapest.

"At the same time, Russia has to pay for this, and one of the things they are doing is delivering technology to North Korea", which he warned was threatening to the "mainland of the US (and) continental Europe".

"I look forward to sitting down with Donald Trump to discuss how we can face these threats collectively," Rutte said.
Deadly Israeli strike hits central Beirut



Beirut, Lebanon, Nov 23 (AFP) Nov 23, 2024



An Israeli air strike in central Beirut killed at least four people early Saturday, bringing down a residential building and jolting residents across the city out of bed as Israel kept up its air campaign against Hezbollah.

The attack was followed by others in the city's southern suburbs after calls by Israel's military to evacuate the area.

Rescue operations were underway at the site of the first strike on Saturday morning, with an excavator removing the rubble of the eight-storey building, and a fire truck and civil defence rescuers stationed nearby as people gathered around the site.

"The strike was so strong it felt like the building was about to fall on our heads," said Samir, 60, who lives in a building facing the one that was destroyed.

He said he fled his home in the middle of the night with his wife and children.

"We saw two dead people on the ground... The children started crying and their mother cried even more," he told AFP.

Lebanon's National News Agency reported that Beirut "woke up to a horrific massacre", after Israeli jets hit the building in the working-class Basta neighbourhood.

The NNA said Israeli jets had launched six missiles at the structure, causing "widespread destruction in buildings" nearby.

The strike "killed four people and injured 23 others", Lebanon's health ministry said in a statement, giving a preliminary toll.

The predawn attack in Basta was not preceded by an evacuation warning from Israel's military. Similar strikes carried out without warning outside of Hezbollah's traditional bastions have tended to target high-level members.

Israel declined to comment on the strike, while Hezbollah had yet to mention it.

The second strike hit the neighbourhood of Hadath in Beirut's southern suburbs, which are a stronghold of Hezbollah.

Israel stepped up its campaign against the Iran-backed group in late September, targeting areas where it holds sway in the country's east, south and south Beirut, and later sending in ground troops after nearly a year of limited cross-border exchanges of fire.

Lebanon's health ministry says at least 3,645 people have been killed since October 2023, when Hezbollah initiated cross-border clashes with Israel in solidarity with its Palestinian ally Hamas over the Gaza war. Most of the deaths have been since September this year.



- Gaza hospitals struggling -



The war in Gaza was triggered by Hamas's unprecedented October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

At least 44,056 people have been killed in Gaza during more than 13 months of war, most of them civilians, according to figures from Gaza's health ministry which the United Nations considers reliable.

Mahmud Bassal, spokesman for Gaza's civil defence agency, told AFP on Saturday that "19 people were killed and more than 40 others wounded" by predawn Israeli air strikes and tank fire.

Umm Muhammad Abu Sabla, the sister of one of the victims of Saturday's strikes, told AFP she rushed to the scene to find "people carrying body parts from under the rubble".

"Our entire life is misery. Let them kill us all so we can be relieved from this suffering," the 62-year-old said in the main southern city of Khan Yunis.

The war has created a humanitarian crisis in the besieged territory, where people are experiencing widespread shortages of food, fuel and medicine.

Marwan al-Hams, director of Gaza's field hospitals, told reporters on Friday that all hospitals in the Palestinian territory "will stop working or reduce their services within 48 hours due to the occupation's (Israel's) obstruction of fuel entry".

The United Nations and others have repeatedly decried humanitarian conditions, particularly in northern Gaza, where Israel said Friday it had killed two commanders involved in Hamas's October 7 attack.

Vowing to stop Hamas from regrouping, Israel on October 6 began a renewed air and ground operation in the north.

Gaza's health ministry says the operation has killed thousands.

The UN says more than 100,000 have been displaced from the area, and an official told the Security Council last week that people "are effectively starving".



- 'Absurd' warrants -



The Hague-based International Criminal Court announced on Thursday that it had issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant over their conduct of the war in Gaza.

The court said there were "reasonable grounds" to believe the pair bore "criminal responsibility" for the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare and crimes against humanity, including over "the lack of food, water, electricity and fuel, and specific medical supplies".

A furious Netanyahu said: "Israel rejects with disgust the absurd and false actions and accusations made against it."

The ICC also issued a warrant for Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif, saying it had grounds to suspect him of war crimes and crimes against humanity over the October 7 attack on Israel, including "sexual and gender-based violence" against hostages.

Israel said it killed Deif in July, but Hamas has not confirmed his death.

Since Israel expanded the focus of its war from Gaza to Lebanon, it has also intensified strikes on neighbouring Syria, a key conduit of weapons for Hezbollah from its backer Iran.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Friday that Israeli strikes targeting three sites in Palmyra earlier in the week had killed 92 pro-Iran fighters.

One of them hit a meeting of pro-Iranian groups that involved commanders from Hezbollah and Iraq's Al-Nujaba group.
Lebanon security source says Hezbollah official targeted in Beirut strike



Beirut, Lebanon, Nov 23 (AFP) Nov 23, 2024



A Lebanese security source said a deadly Israeli air strike on Beirut Saturday targeted a senior Hezbollah official, but a lawmaker from the group denied any of its officials were present.

"The Israeli strike on Basta targeted a leading Hezbollah figure," the security official told AFP without giving a name, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.

He said it was unclear whether the figure was killed.

The strike killed 15 people and wounded 63, the health ministry said.

Hezbollah lawmaker Amin Sherri denied any senior figure from the group was present at the time of the strike.

"There was no party figure in the two targeted buildings," the state-run National News Agency quoted him as telling reporters as he visited the site.
Sweden joins Danes guarding Chinese ship in cable probe



Stockholm, Nov 23 (AFP) Nov 23, 2024



Sweden's coast guard said Saturday it had joined Denmark in monitoring a Chinese ship anchored off their coasts, after two undersea cables were severed in a suspected sabotage case.

Sections of the two telecom cables were cut on November 17 and 18 in Swedish territorial waters of the Baltic Sea.

Swedish and Finnish police have opened investigations and European officials have said they suspect "sabotage" linked to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Kremlin has rejected the comments as "absurd" and "laughable".

The Yi Peng 3 sailed over the cables around the time they were severed, according to ship tracking sites, though there is nothing to indicate that it was involved in the incidents.

The ship has remained anchored in the narrow Kattegat strait between Sweden and Denmark since Tuesday.

China's foreign ministry has denied any responsibility in the matter.

"China is currently working with relevant parties including Denmark to maintain smooth communication through diplomatic channels," a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said Friday.

Denmark's navy said Wednesday it was shadowing the vessel, which is in international waters, limiting Danish authorities' possibility to intervene.

Sweden joined it on Saturday.

"We can confirm we are at the scene ... with one of our biggest vessels, KBV001 Poseidon," Swedish coast guard communications officer Linnea Kappel told AFP.

Kappel did not discuss the coast guard's mission, but said it was "assisting the (Swedish) police and prosecutor".

If the Yi Peng 3 were to set sail "we will follow it", she added.

Early on November 17, the Arelion cable running from the Swedish island of Gotland to Lithuania was damaged.

The next day, the C-Lion 1 submarine cable connecting Helsinki and the German port of Rostock was cut south of Sweden's Oland island, around 700 kilometres (435 miles) from Helsinki.

The Swedish navy told AFP on Friday that it had examined one of the severed cables with a remote-controlled underwater camera and was inspecting the second, but would not disclose its findings.

A Finnish coast guard vessel was to inspect the German-Finnish cable this weekend, Finnish police said.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said Tuesday the severed cables were likely the result of "sabotage".

"Nobody believes that these cables were accidentally severed," he said.

Tensions have mounted around the Baltic Sea since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

In September 2022, a series of underwater blasts ruptured the Nord Stream pipelines that carried Russian gas to Europe, the cause of which has yet to be determined.

In October 2023, an undersea gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia was shut down after it was damaged by the anchor of a Chinese cargo ship.
US committed to 'diplomatic resolution' in Lebanon



Washington, Nov 23 (AFP) Nov 23, 2024



Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stressed that the United States was dedicated to a diplomatic resolution in Lebanon and urged Israel to improve "dire" conditions in Gaza, in a call Saturday with his Israeli counterpart.

Austin "reiterated US commitment to a diplomatic resolution in Lebanon that allows Israeli and Lebanese civilians to return safely to their homes on both sides of the border" in his call with Israel Katz, a Pentagon spokesperson said.

A spokesman for Katz said the defence minister underscored that Israel would "continue to act decisively in response to Hezbollah's attacks on civilian populations in Israel".

During the call, "Katz commended US efforts to facilitate de-escalation in Lebanon, emphasized Israel's commitment to restoring security that would enable northern residents to return to their homes safely", his spokesman said.

US envoy Amos Hochstein was in Lebanon and Israel this week, meeting with both countries' senior officials, to try to negotiate an end to the war.

In the call Austin also "urged the Government of Israel to continue to take steps to improve the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza and emphasized the US commitment to securing the release of all hostages, including US citizens."

Israel has been fighting in Gaza since October 2023, when a cross-border attack by Hamas militants resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

During the attack, militants took 251 hostages, of whom 97 are still held in Gaza, including 34 the army says are dead.

Israel's retaliatory campaign has led to the deaths of 44,176 people in Gaza, most of them civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory's health ministry which the United Nations considers reliable.

Israel is currently engaged in fierce fighting with Hamas ally Hezbollah in Lebanon. Both groups are backed by Israel's arch-foe Iran.

Lebanon said Saturday an Israeli air strike in the heart of Beirut that brought down a residential building killed at least 15 people.

Israel stepped up its campaign against Hezbollah in late September, targeting its strongholds in Lebanon.

The health ministry in Beirut says more than 3,650 people have been killed since October 2023, when Hezbollah began trading fire with Israel in solidarity with Hamas.

The United Nations and others have repeatedly decried humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip, particularly in the north of the Palestinian territory, where Israel said Friday it had killed two commanders involved in Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack.

In his call with Katz, Austin also discussed ongoing Israeli operations and reaffirmed Washington's "ironclad commitment to Israel's security", the Pentagon said.
Western powers voice 'serious concern' at Iran centrifuge plan



Washington, Nov 23 (AFP) Nov 23, 2024



The United States, Britain, France and Germany on Saturday expressed "serious concern" over Iran's plans to launch a series of new centrifuges for its nuclear program, urging Tehran to reengage with the UN nuclear watchdog.

Iran's announcement came after the four Western powers brought a censure motion targeting the Islamic republic at the 35-nation board of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The resolution was adopted on Thursday.

"We note with serious concern Iran's announcement... that, instead of responding to the resolution with cooperation, it plans to respond with further expansion of its nuclear program in ways that have no credible peaceful rationale," the four nations said in a joint statement released by the US State Department.

"We expect Iran to reengage on the path of dialogue and cooperation with the agency."

On Friday, Iran said it would launch a "significant series of new and advanced centrifuges of various types."

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 Tehran, said a joint statement from Iran's foreign ministry and its atomic energy organization.

Behrouz Kamalvandi, a spokesman for Iran's atomic energy organization, on Friday said the new measures are mostly related to uranium enrichment.

Tensions are running 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.

In their four-way statement Saturday, the United States, Britain, France and Germany welcomed the adoption of the IAEA resolution, saying it was in response to Iran's "continued failure" to cooperate with the watchdog in a timely manner.

The resolution, seen by AFP, says it is "essential and urgent" for Iran to "act to fulfill 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.

"We hope Iran will take the opportunity between now and that report to finally provide the information and cooperation needed to resolve these issues, so that the agency is able to provide assurance that Iran's program remains exclusively peaceful," the Western powers said Saturday.
"Bad Apple -- LAW & ORDER, Pictured: (l-r) Fredric Lehne as Captain Greg Stockwell, Maura Tierney as Lt. Jessica Brady. Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC @ 2024 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved





Law & Order investigations typically involve three suspects before the DA's office charges one. Maureen Herrera, the girlfriend of Harrison, is cleared of suspicion after her texts were sent long after her boyfriend's death. Tyler Harrison, the victim's brother, is suspect number two, who sent a text, The only good cop is a dead cop. Tyler supports the abolition of the police through his organization "Abolish Now." When Shaw (Mehcad Brooks) and Riley (Reid Scott) encountered him, he seemingly confessed, I did what I had to do and Im not sorry. He eventually confesses to vandalizing a police car, as he loves his brother but didnt want him to be part of a corrupt institution. The episode revolves around Tyler's concern about police being bad apples. Ballistics connect the bullet to the third suspect, Eddie White, the target of the drug raid. White denies killing Harrison stating that the gun was in a duffel bag with $50,000 and 10 kilos of fentanyl.



"Bad Apple -- LAW & ORDER, Pictured: Mike Vogel as Det. Miles Brandt. Photo by: Ralph Bavaro/NBC @ 2024 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved





While paying tribute to Harrison at the bar, Brady reminded Captain Stockwell that, before her transfer, she had reported squad members for pocketing cash. He reflected with a chuckle that he told the team, Certain things you dont see even if you do. Brady fixed her gaze on Stockwell, who shifted uneasily before replying, You caught his killerthats all that matters. Just let it be. Brady cant let it be. She asks Brandt to get her a copy of Harrisons bodycam so she can find the duffel bag that was never logged as evidence. As she reviews the tape, Brandt repeats that Eddie White is the killer and that she should let things be.





Brady sees the duffle bag on the video, implicating that it was stolen by police at the raid, which suggests that whoever stole it is likely the murderer. Brandt implicates det. Melcher. Brady says she helped Melcher move his belongings into Don Jons storage facility. Reid got the address and unit number while Brady got the search warrant. Upon arriving at the storage facility, the duffle bag was quickly located. Shaw handcuffed a surprised Brandt for the murder of Harrison. Riley asked Brandt, How did you know? Just a hunch, she shrugged.



"Bad Apple -- LAW & ORDER, Pictured: (l-r) Juan Javier Cardenas as Det. Travis Melcher, Hugh Dancy as ADA Nolan Price, Odelya Halevi as ADA Samantha Maroun. Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC @ 2024 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved





Brady is assisted by Nolan Price (Hugh Dancy), Samantha Maroun (Odelya Halevi), and Nicholas Baxter (Tony Goldwyn). Price boasts that Lt. Brady worked with internal affairs to sting Brandt, but Baxter argues that possession of the bag doesn't prove murder. Price reveals Brandt's shoes also had traces of Harrison's blood, leading to a charge of first-degree murder.





Brady confronts Captain Stockwell to testify for the prosecution, arguing that he is putting corruption on a good cop's name. She confesses to Reid that she was aware of Brandt's corruption and how his actions accelerated the corruption of surrounding officers, including herself. She recounts her time in uniform, when her sergeant accepted money to protect people. They were successful. They looked the other way. You dont think you are doing anything wrong. Twenty years later, she mused, a good cop is dead.





The following day in court, Brady testifies that everyone knew Brandt was corrupt, despite Captain Stockwell never filing a formal complaint. The jury found Brandt guilty. Jessica Brady walks into work, and everyone is staring at her. Reid nods in the direction of her office where someone from internal affairs is waiting. We need to talk about Miles Brandt, he says. Dun! Dun!





"Bad Apple -- LAW & ORDER, Pictured: Maura Tierney as Lt. Jessica Brady. Photo by: Ralph Bavaro/NBC @ 2024 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved





Bad apples means you must regularly check the fruit for signs of deterioration. This step is crucial for maintaining freshness. Internal Affairs is responsible for identifying "spoiled" cops to maintain accountability and public trust. The full ramifications of Lt. Bradys actions have yet to be determined. Will Lt. Jessica Brady be treated like a hero or a zero by the department? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.





Overall Rating:

8/10
The Tory peer, who challenged Mr Khan for the London mayoralty in 2021, said: For the last few years, at the insistence of a Labour mayor, Londoners in council tax bands D and B have had an extra 60 added to their bill to pay for Transport for London.
There is always an option for an individual to ask for reasons to be outlined as to why the DPP made a particular decision, and that is open to any individual or any case, but I have, since becoming minister, given priority to and enabled a new office within the DPP to open specifically focused on sexual offences, so that this issue can be given the focus and the priority that it needs

Helen McEntee
He 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.
On Instagram he added: I can't believe I'm saying this but some little c***s have tried to rob my house with my two-year-old and my partner who is nearly eight months pregnant, armed with a machete.
The local arm of a Swiss airline food company is laying off over 100 workers.

Gate Gourmets St. Louis unit will let go of 102 employees by or on January 29, 2025. Positions include food prepares, porters, mangers and chefs, according to a Nov. 15 notice filed with the state released Friday.

In a statement, Gate Gourmet attributed these cuts to business conditions and said that it hopes to regrow the business in St. Louis.

The company did not immediately respond to emails about how many people currently work at the site.

Gate Gourmet is one of the industry's largest airline catering companies. According to parent company Gategroups website, Gate Gourmet is in 33 countries with over 135 units. The St. Louis location is situated near the St. Louis Lambert International Airport at 8725 Scudder Road.

Previously, Gate Gourmet has come under fire for serving contaminated carrots which caused traveler food poisoning and for violations discovered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration at its Kentucky facility. In a 2018 letter, the department cited apparent cockroach activity, heavy build-up of grease and food waste on equipment and surfaces, food residue on can openers and more at the facility.

According to the St. Louis County website, Gate Gourmets St. Louis food facility has seen no glaring violations in its recent routine health inspections.
ST. LOUIS  A 43-year-old man has been arrested for the abduction and murder of a woman taken from her Clayton apartment building Wednesday morning, police said Saturday.

The man, Anjuan Mosby of Florissant, faces 20 felony charges for allegedly kidnapping Michelle Hampton from her building, forcing her to withdraw money from her bank accounts and killing her in an alley in north St. Louis.

Police in court documents said Mosby admitted to the crimes after officers arrested him. Police said he was arrested Friday afternoon in St. Louis but did not give more details.

Mosby was being held Saturday night in the city jail downtown. Circuit Judge Paula Perkins Bryant denied him bond.

Investigators believe that the suspect and victim knew each other, police said. Clayton police previously said that Hampton was specifically targeted and there are no indications of any further threat to the Clayton community.

The victims sister and twin, Samantha Hampton, previously told the Post-Dispatch she went to her sisters apartment building on Whitburn Drive Wednesday morning and saw her sister in the drivers seat of her SUV with a masked man in the passenger seat.

She said her sister then drove away with the masked man in the vehicle, as Samantha followed with her two 15-year-old sons in her vehicle. A yellow truck was on her vehicles tail.

Samantha called police, but stopped pursuing her sister after the passenger in Michelles SUV shot at her, shattering the drivers side window of her car, according to police.

Police did not explain when or where Michelle and her armed passenger switched vehicles, but said Michelle was brought to at least three different banks in the yellow truck. Officers later found Michelles Nissan Rogue with a shell cartridge casing inside it.

Each of the bank transactions were captured on video, which showed Michelle in the back seat of the truck.

She attempted to withdraw $10,000 from PNC Bank on Page Boulevard, but the bank denied the request and instead gave her $2,000.

Then she made a $1,000 withdrawal at the Bank of America on Lindell Boulevard. The third bank, a PNC on Chippewa Street, requested that she come inside to withdraw money. The yellow truck then drove off, according to court documents.

At 11 a.m. Wednesday, four hours after the reported abduction, Michelle was found shot to death in an alley in the 4700 block of Greer Avenue in the Kingsway East neighborhood  about 8 miles from her Clayton apartment building.

Police said she was shot multiple times with what appeared to be a handgun. The alleged murder was captured on surveillance footage, police said.

At a time not specified by police, officers found the yellow truck in an abandoned residence. In a dumpster nearby, they said, they found a coat similar to a coat the shooter wore at the time of the murder. It had his DNA on it.

Police said Mosby was arrested after his car was spiked. Police didnt explain where that happened and whether there was a pursuit. Police said they found a rifle and suspected narcotics inside.

Mosby waived his Miranda rights, police said. In addition to admitting to the fatal shooting, police said, he said he was the passenger in Michelles car and had forced her to withdraw money, according to court records.

A police spokesman declined to say whether police had additional suspects.

In a news release Saturday, police said Mosby also faces a federal charge of kidnapping resulting in death. The charge did not appear in the online federal courts records system by 6 p.m.

Michelle was the mother of a 14-year-old girl. She also adopted Samanthas twin 15-year-old boys and 7-year-old son.

Loved ones of Michelle could not be reached for comment Saturday.

Another sister, Tamara Abdelaal, who started a fundraising campaign for her family, wrote on Facebook: You will spend the rest of your life behind bars but that ISNT enough!!!! It will NEVER be enough!!!

Police said Saturday that the investigation was still very active and ongoing. Police asked anyone with information to call the departments homicide division at 314-444-5371 or CrimeStoppers at 866-371-8477.
ST. LOUIS  Police are seeking a 45-year-old man accused of killing an employee of a convenience store-gas station in south St. Louis last summer.

The man, John Phillips, is charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm, police said Friday.

The victim, Mack Wagner, 62, was shot and killed July 29 at Kaiser's Grand Mart at 5008 South Grand Boulevard in the Dutchtown neighborhood.

The city circuit attorney's office issued at-large warrants against Phillips on the charges.

Police said anyone who sees Phillips should call 911 and not approach him. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to call CrimeStoppers at 866-371-8477.
ST. LOUIS  Two St. Louis brothers who run a record label are suing Universal Music Group, alleging theyre owed millions in royalties from songs on St. Louis rapper Nellys first two solo albums.

D2, a St. Louis record label started in a local community skating rink and run by twin brothers David and Darren Stith, filed the federal suit Friday afternoon in the Central District of California.

The brothers say they were directly responsible for finding, nurturing, and bringing to the public the music of Nelly and the St. Lunatics by introducing them to producer Jason Epperson.

Nelly and five other men formed the rap group St. Lunatics in 1993. The group first found commercial success in 1997 with the song Gimmie What U Got.

Fridays suit says the brothers eventually signed contracts which gave them the right to collect a percentage of the royalties from the wildly successful albums Country Grammar and Nellyville. They also had an agreement granting them royalties from certain St. Lunatics songs, the suit says.

What (Universal) is doing is theyre taking the same song and just changing the title, said attorney Jay Kanzler Jr., one of the lawyers representing the brothers. And so, when you talk about duplicate titles, they are collecting all that money, keeping it and only paying us for the one song.

Kanzler said the title changes can be minor, such as changing Ride Wit Me to Ride With Me, but the consequence leaves D2 paid for one, but not the other.

The suit estimates D2 is owed up to $10 million.

Thats kind of a guesstimate, because you dont know what you dont know until you get the documentation, Kanzler said. But looking at the number of albums sold, you know, you just kind of extrapolate that out.

Kanzler said the suit asks for two main things. The first being the money owed to D2 on those duplicate song titles.

Tell us what they are and how much you know youve made off of them, and give us our percentage, he said.

Theyve also asked Universal Music to provide information on other songs the brothers have royalty rights to.

So that we can do the analysis to determine whether or not weve been properly paid, Kanzler said. Because at this point, youve given us nothing.

The suit comes about two months after Nelly was sued by four of his former St. Lunatics group mates, who said theyve been denied writing credit and royalties for eight songs, most of which are featured on his debut solo album Country Grammar, which was released 24 years ago.

In that federal suit, filed in New York, the 50-year-old rappers childhood friends said Nelly lied to the group about giving them credit and royalties on eight tracks. At least five of those were included on his first solo album, which became the eighth hip-hop album to reach diamond status.

The group members asked for no less than $50 million.

But a letter from Nellys longtime lawyer, Scott Rosenblum, said he was contacted by three of the St. Lunatics who told him they did not consent to being named as plaintiffs in the suit. The letter was sent on Sept. 24 to Gail Walton, the attorney who initially filed the suit against Nelly.

An amended complaint filed Friday in that case listed only one group member as a plaintiff: Ali Jones.
The sign near the Rock Island Arsenals Davenport, Iowa, entrance shows the islands new slogan, Producing Readiness Since 1862. The slogan was changed from Home of Army Logistics, to better represent all of the military tenants located on the post. The new slogan was unveiled on Oct. 19, 2018. (Kevin Fleming/U.S. Army Sustainment Command)

(Tribune News Service)  U.S. Senator and combat veteran Tammy Duckworth met with Chief of Staff of the Army General Randy George on Tuesday to discuss investments at the Rock Island Arsenal.

In an interview with the Dispatch-Argus/Quad-City Times, Duckworth said that George was impressed with the arsenal after a recent visit, and that he saw the facilitys potential to answer future challenges the Army might face.

General George gave me an example, There are parts that I have been trying to order from a major defense manufacturer and they said its going to take me nine months. I go to Rock Island, and they tell me they can do it in 15 minutes, Duckworth said.

Beyond the technical capabilities of the arsenal, Duckworth highlighted other factors that make investment worthwhile. She pointed towards the skilled manufacturing workforce in the area, with the arsenal hiring people directly from places like John Deere.

Western Illinois University, the University of Illinois System and Iowa State University also recently announced the Quad-Cities Manufacturing Institute  a partnership between the universities and the Rock Island Arsenal, connecting students and academic experts to the equipment and industry professionals at the Arsenal.

Duckworth praised the communities as well.

Its a really good place to live, and its a good standard of living, and youre going to be able to attract people to come live there in the Quad-Cities area, Duckworth said.

Duckworth said that she and General George discussed implementing a minimum workload requirement for the arsenal, keeping a sustainable amount of work so that the arsenal can retain more skilled workers. Illinois Congressman Eric Sorensen along with Iowa Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks introduced a bill in the House with this goal earlier this year, and Duckworth is signed on as a cosponsor of the Senate version of the bill.

Duckworth also said that shes working with Sorensen to renew legislation every five years requiring the Department of Defense to first consider existing facilities for projects, like the Rock Island Arsenal, before they rent a new facility.

Ill keep working with Army leadership to ensure the men and women of Rock Island Arsenal have the support they need and that the Arsenal can succeed for years to come, she said in a press release.

(c)2024 Moline Dispatch and Rock Island Argus, Ill.

Visit Moline Dispatch and Rock Island Argus, Ill. at www.trib.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
By Alimat Aliyeva

Brussels and Beijing may soon reach an agreement to abolish duties on the import of Chinese electric vehicles to Europe, Azernews reports.

"We are close to a decision with China to cancel duties. We are close to an agreement: China can commit to offering electric vehicles in the EU at least at the minimum price. This would eliminate the issue of distorted competition due to unfair subsidies, which is why the duties were initially introduced," he emphasized.

The parliamentarian also stated that he did not share Germany's concerns about possible retaliatory measures. As an example, he cited duties on Chinese electric bikes, which Beijing initially opposed but eventually accepted.

It should be noted that in recent months, there have been several major trade disputes between the EU and China, which have been referred to as "trade wars" in the media. On October 29, the European Union finally approved the introduction of additional duties on electric vehicle imports from China. Depending on the manufacturer, these duties will amount to 35.3%. China has already challenged this move at the WTO. At the same time, Brussels has stated that it will continue to search for an alternative solution in cooperation with Beijing.
Cole Mitchell, a Ramstein High School junior, and Master Sgt. Brittin Davis, an Air Force first sergeant, discuss bone marrow donation drives theyve organized this month in the Kaiserslautern Military Community while at the American Forces Network studio in Kaiserslautern, Germany, on Nov. 7, 2024. (Cole Mitchell)

Air Force Master Sgt. Brittin Davis has a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

Nine years ago, Davis, a first sergeant for the U.S. Air Forces in Europe  Air Forces Africa Warfare Center at Einsiedlerhof Air Station, was given a second chance at life.

A bone-marrow transplant on Thanksgiving Day in 2015 helped Davis beat a rare and aggressive blood cancer.

Doctors always tell you, this is your new birthday, youre replacing all of your blood cells, he said.

Now Davis, with the help of an Eagle Scout candidate, is trying to help others fighting for their lives. Davis for the second consecutive year is heading up the Salute to Life bone marrow donor drive for the Kaiserslautern first sergeants council. Salute to Life is the bone marrow donor center for those affiliated with the Department of Defense, including the U.S. military.

Volunteers will be at registration tables throughout the day through Dec. 1 at the Ramstein and Vogelweh commissaries, the Kaiserslautern Military Community Center, and both fitness centers on Ramstein. Ramstein High School junior Cole Mitchell, for his Eagle Scout project, organized and enlisted the help of fellow scouts from Troop 156 for the KMCC registration drive on Saturday and Sunday.

With Mitchells help, Davis hopes to increase last years registration number of 450.

This is directly saving lives if matches are made, Mitchell said.

In a screenshot from a 2021 YouTube video, Master Sgt. Brittin Davis talks about his cancer diagnosis and the treatment and life that followed. Davis and Cole Mitchell, a Ramstein High School junior, have organized bone-marrow donation drives this month in the Kaiserslautern Military Community. (YouTube/363d Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Wing) A Ramstein High School junior working on his Eagle Scout project and an Air Force first sergeant who survived a rare form of blood cancer are spearheading a bone-marrow donor drive. (Jennifer H. Svan/Stars and Stripes)

Davis was 26, working as a technical training instructor at Goodfellow Air Force Base in Texas and feeling otherwise healthy when he discovered a bump on his head. He had thought it was an ingrown hair.

It turned out to be something far less common and potentially deadly. Davis was diagnosed with blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm, or BPDCN, a rare, aggressive blood cancer with features of both lymphoma and leukemia, according to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Davis was told his chance of surviving was under 8%, he said.

After a successful stem cell replacement procedure, Davis had enough healthy bone marrow to be his own donor, he said, but he had an outside donor match to fall back on if it didnt work.

Davis was fortunate. As a Caucasian the probability of finding a match was about 79%, he said. For Black Americans, the odds drop to 29%, according to national registry numbers.

We want everyone to register, but theres a huge need for diverse ethnic backgrounds, he said.

A healthy donor with human leukocyte antigens (HLA)  genes that code for protein in the blood  that are a close match to the person needing the bone marrow transplant increases the chances for success, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Army Sgt. Chris Vinderslev swabs the inside of his cheek to become registered as a donor in the National Marrow Donor Program Database. (U.S. Army)

Mitchell said it only takes a few minutes to get registered in a nationwide database of donors. The process includes signing a consent form, providing some health information and contact details, and providing a DNA sample from a cotton swab swipe between the cheek and gums. To register, one must have a DOD ID card, be between 18 and 60 years old and be disease-free.

The Transatlantic Council, serving U.S. scouts and their families in Europe, Africa, Central Asia and the Middle East, approved Mitchells project for Eagle Scout, the highest rank which only a small percentage of scouts obtain. The Red Cross in Landstuhl put Mitchell in touch with Davis. He helped Mitchell get the donor collection kits he needed and base authorization to set up a registration station, Mitchell said.

The more people we get to register, the higher the chances to find folks a match that need it, Davis said.
Two House Republicans are urging congressional leaders to omit expanded access to in vitro fertilization for troops and their families from a defense policy bill set to pass before the end of year. (Stars and Stripes)

WASHINGTON  Two House Republicans are urging congressional leaders to omit expanded access to in vitro fertilization for troops and their families from a defense policy bill set to pass before the end of year.

Reps. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., and Josh Brecheen, R-Okla., argue provisions providing extensive military health care coverage of IVF treatments are too costly and would lead to the destruction of innocent human life.

The lawmakers made their case in a Thursday letter to the leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services committees just weeks after two Democratic lawmakers lobbied negotiators of the National Defense Authorization Act to include the IVF provisions.

The House and Senate versions of the must-pass legislation remove longstanding restrictions on Tricare coverage of IVF treatments, no longer requiring that service members and dependents link their infertility to a service-related illness or injury.

Reps. Josh Brecheen, R-Okla., left, and Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., argue provisions providing extensive military health care coverage of IVF treatments are too costly and would lead to the destruction of innocent human life. (House.gov)

Negotiators are expected to unveil a compromise bill next month.

Rosendale, a prominent IVF critic on Capitol Hill, has sought to curb access to the procedure. In June, he unsuccessfully attempted to put forward an amendment defunding IVF treatment for troops.

The procedure, which involves fertilizing eggs outside the womb and then implanting a resulting embryo, became a contentious political issue this year after Alabamas Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos should be considered children.

Rosendale and Brecheen said 4.1 million embryonic children were created through IVF in 2021 but only 97,128 of them resulted in a birth, citing statistics from the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

While we have great sympathy for couples who are having difficulty starting a family, IVF is ineffective, leads to the destruction of innocent human life, and does nothing to treat the root cause of a couples infertility, they wrote.

The lawmakers contend the IVF industry is heavily underregulated and is done without the needed ethical guidelines in place. The nonprofit American Society for Reproductive Medicine has said IVF is one of the most heavily regulated procedures in all American medicine.

Rosendale and Brecheen also argue the dramatic expansion of access to IVF for service members would cost taxpayers about $1 billion per year. Rosendale is set to leave Congress after his term ends in January.

Congress must protect the most vulnerable in our country and reject any provision that leads to the destruction of innocent human life and expands our nearly $36 trillion debt, the lawmakers wrote in their letter.

Their anti-IVF stance is at odds with the positions of many members of Congress and military service organizations that contend service members deserve access to affordable fertility treatments due to the unique challenges of life in service.

Troops are disproportionately affected by infertility as a result of hazardous working conditions and significant time away from their partners and often pay tens of thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs for IVF due to lack of insurance coverage.

Democrats in the Senate twice attempted to pass legislation this year guaranteeing federal protections and insurance coverage for IVF but Republicans blocked both efforts on grounds that the procedure was not under threat in most states.
Boeing 737 Max airplanes sit parked at the company's production facility on Nov. 18, 2020, in Renton, Washington. U.S. aviation regulators in 2024 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. (David Ryder/Getty Images/TNS)

WASHINGTON (Tribune News Service)  U.S. 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 change would be temporary until Boeing implements a permanent fix, according to the recommendations, seen by Bloomberg News. They also urged the FAA to review all novel and unique features of the 737 Max to ensure that they are adequately communicated in pilot operating manuals. The agency has not made a final decision about the matter.

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.

Separately, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a statement Friday that it would conduct its own investigation into the December 2023 bird-strike incident, the most recent of the two.

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 GE Aerospace 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.

The smoke 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, according to 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.

Julie Johnsson contributed to this report.

2024 Bloomberg L.P.

Visit bloomberg.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for defense secretary, leaves a meeting with Republican senators at the Capitol on Thursday. (Allison Robbert/The Washington Post)

Military personnel manning a U.S. Army command outpost in Iraq found the radio report suspicious. During an operation to hunt suspected al-Qaeda militants, American soldiers involved notified their commanders that they had just killed three detainees whom, they said, had broken free of their restraints and attacked them.

The soldiers had been in combat for months in Samarra, a city about 80 miles northwest of Baghdad, where a vicious insurgency had taken hold. The detainees deaths on May 9, 2006, triggered an extensive U.S. military investigation, leading to courts-martial, two murder convictions, and a career-ending letter of reprimand for Col. Michael Steele, the troops brigade commander. In the end, those found guilty acknowledged under oath that they had lied about the detainees escape, and instead set them loose and shot them in the back as they ran away.

Every single person that was involved in that has had an indelible mark left on them, Steele told The Washington Post in an interview. He attributed the murders to guys that decided to go rogue.

The cases have taken on new significance with President-elect Donald Trumps nomination of Pete Hegseth for defense secretary. Hegseth was a 26-year-old lieutenant in the Army National Guard when he joined that unit, the 101st Airborne Divisions 3rd Brigade Combat Team, in summer 2005 just ahead of its deployment. Though he was not present during the murders and had no role in them, the incident was formative, other soldiers said, with men he grew to care about ensnared in the case.

This account of Hegseths deployment to Iraq is based on interviews with eight people familiar with that time in his life, along with a review of military documents and past media accounts. Taken together, a picture emerges of a potential secretary of defense who witnessed an extended inquiry into military misconduct that upended the lives of colleagues and mentors. The experience left soldiers not directly involved in the murders convinced that the Army had turned on them, too, those involved said.

Hegseth and representatives for the Trump transition team did not respond to requests for comment. Some people spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a high-profile potential nomination that is embroiled in controversy for other reasons. In recent days, The Post and other news organizations have revealed that Hegseth was investigated by police in 2017 for an alleged sexual assault. His lawyer, Timothy Parlatore, has said that the encounter was consensual and that Hegseth was not charged with the crime, though he later paid to settle the matter with the accuser.

Hegseth, 44, has rarely, if ever, mentioned the Iraq cases publicly, and has shifted in the years since from being an ardent supporter of the 2007 surge of U.S. forces in Iraq to questioning the entire point of the war. Over time, he also took on an increasingly populist tone in defense of U.S. troops accused of war crimes, arguing that the military put unreasonable restrictions on the rules of engagement that govern how American soldiers fight.

His appearances on the cable news show Fox & Friends Weekend captured the attention of then-President Donald Trump, leading to phone calls between them, people familiar with the matter said. Hegseth took particular interest in three prosecutions: those of Army officers Clint Lorance and Mathew Golsteyn for alleged murders in Afghanistan, and Navy SEAL Edward Gallagher, who beat a murder charge but was punished for staging a photo with an Islamic State fighters corpse in Iraq.

In November 2019, after Trump pardoned Lorance and Golsteyn, and reinstated Gallaghers rank  rejecting pushback from senior Pentagon officials  Hegseth gave a full-throated defense of the moves, telling Fox viewers the president had shown support for people out there making the impossible calls at impossible moments.

These are not cases where people went into villages with the intention of killing innocent people, Hegseth said, dismissing evidence and testimony pointing to violations of military law. These are split-second decisions.

Privately, Hegseth commiserated with Golsteyn about the investigation the 3rd Brigade Combat Team had endured, Golsteyn told The Post. It appeared that Hegseth saw a replay of events in my case that were relatable to his own experiences, Golsteyn said.

Hegseth worked at Fox until recently, decamping the network this month when his nomination was announced.

Kill Company

Hegseth graduated from Princeton University in 2003, joining the investment bank Bear Stearns and the Minnesota Army National Guard as an infantry officer. He deployed in 2004 first to Guantanamo Bay, the U.S. detention facility in Cuba that at the time housed hundreds of 9/11 suspects and combatants in the war on terrorism. After returning to Wall Street for a brief interlude, he volunteered for an assignment to Iraq in 2005, landing a slot as a platoon leader overseeing about 40 men in the brigades Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment.

I showed up in the 101st Airborne Division, in one of the most storied units in our nations history, with a bunch of combat vets whod already done a tour in Iraq and they looked at me like, Who the hell is this guy? Hegseth said in a 2021 interview on the Will Cain Show podcast.

One former officer who served with Hegseth said he was surprised to see a National Guard member taking on such a role. He surmised that Hegseth probably wanted to run for office someday and thought a combat tour could help, the former officer said.

On the battlefield, Hegseth appeared calm and levelheaded, two soldiers who served with him said. He led missions initially in Baghdad and then around Samarra, said retired Sgt. Maj. Eric Geressy, who served as the senior enlisted soldier in Charlie Company. The fighting became especially intense, Geressy recalled, after an important Shiite landmark, the Golden Mosque, was blown up in February 2006, triggering a wave of sectarian bloodshed with U.S. forces caught in the middle.

The enemy really threw everything at us there, Geressy said. Suicide bombers, mortars, rockets  anything and everything.

Charlie Company, numbering about 140 men, was considered the brigades most aggressive unit, engaging threats with a bravado that would later draw scrutiny from senior leaders, said people familiar with the deployment. As recounted by the New Yorker in 2009, Charlie Company was nicknamed Kill Company and maintained a whiteboard listing confirmed kills  including civilians  that each platoon had notched.

The former officer, who served in another company within the battalion, said the behavior exhibited by Hegseths infantry company was viewed as a little bit strange by those on the outside: We joked sometimes that they were on their own crusade down there.

Hegseth, in an interview for the New Yorker article, said that Charlie Companys aggressiveness was shaped by training it had received while preparing for the deployment at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He claimed then that he voiced concerns to his former company commander, Capt. Daniel Hart, that he didnt feel comfortable telling my guys to go into that door hot, with their weapons poised to be fired.

I cant quote him directly, but he said, What do you mean? This is an enemy target, we have intelligence that it is an Al Qaeda mortar team, Hegseth told the New Yorker. And I said, I understand that, sir, and I dont want to put my platoon in danger, but at the same time I am talking to other people who have been here for a while and nobody else goes in hot  nobody. And if we go in hot we are going to kill civilians.

Hart, now an Army colonel and military psychiatrist, declined through an Army spokesman to comment on Hegseths comments.

Hegseth eventually was reassigned and tasked with overseeing local governance projects in Samarra, where there had been little order since the regions decent into violence, Geressy said. Steele and Geressy both lauded his service in interviews with The Post.

But for his old unit, disaster was coming.

Operation Iron Triangle

Steele, the brigade commander, had survived the infamous Black Hawk Down incident that killed 18 U.S. soldiers in Somalia in 1993. He held a mindset that, in the run-up to their deployment, there was little time for anything other than preparing for war, several soldiers who served under him said. Once in Iraq, he clashed frequently with senior commanders over strategy and tactics, as U.S. forces struggled to simultaneously squelch the violence and win over the civilian populace, several people said.

After Hegseths departure, as fighting in and around Samarra soared, Steele and his staff engineered a series of helicopter assaults intended to pummel the militant forces. One such mission, branded Operation Iron Triangle, targeted an al-Qaeda training facility on a tiny island in Lake Tharthar.

Charlie Companys 3rd Platoon lifted off in Black Hawk helicopters expecting a fierce battle, soldiers involved said. Their target, according to a military document describing the operation that was obtained by The Post, was full of Al Qaeda and associates of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, a precursor to the Islamic State.

Geressy, in a witness statement submitted after the operation as part of the inquiry, said that soldiers began clearing houses after their helicopters landed but that the first few houses had no one inside. Later, when soldiers were flown to another part of the island, they opened fire on a building, killing one man and taking several people captive, he told military investigators.

Geressy was elsewhere on the island at the time, he told investigators, and instructed the soldiers to prepare the detainees to be moved by aircraft for an intelligence screening by other Army personnel. About 20 minutes later, the captives were dead.

Hart, Hegseths former superior officer, sent a memo to Steele saying the first man killed had looked through a window as the soldiers approached and that three other military aged males had used their wives inside the building to shield themselves. Harts report also said that his soldiers used deadly force to respond to a hostile act by the detainees. A military court later determined that account to be false. An Army official familiar with the matter said that Hart wrote the report based on what he believed to be true at the time.

As the story fell apart, Army investigators alleged that two soldiers, Cpl. William Hunsaker and Pfc. Corey Clagett, shot the detainees and accused a more senior member of the unit, Staff Sgt. Raymond Girouard, of ordering the killings and then helping to cover them up. A fourth, Spec. Juston Graber, was accused of shooting one of the detainees in the head after the initial gunfire stopped to ease his suffering, he told investigators.

Clagett and Hunsaker pleaded guilty to murder and related charges, receiving prison sentences of 18 years each. Graber pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, receiving a sentence of nine months in exchange for his testimony against the others, and Girouard was convicted of negligent homicide and other charges and sentenced to 10 years, according to military documents. Girouards conviction was later overturned on appeal, while the others have since been released.

Clagett, Hunsaker and Girouard did not respond to requests for comment. Graber, now 39, said in a text message that he is writing a book about his experience, including carrying out that mercy killing.

War is complete and utter hell, and, unless youre there, on the receiving end of flying bullets or recovering your brothers  youll never comprehend the complexities of what we go through nor the decisions we have to make, Grabers message said.

A unit under suspicion

Suspicion spread far beyond the soldiers eventually sent to prison. Defense attorneys for the men accused depicted a bloodthirsty and undisciplined culture within Hegseths old infantry company. The experience, one senior soldier in the unit said, was searing for all of them.

Steele received the letter of reprimand from Lt. Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli, who later became a four-star general and vice chief of staff of the Army. In a phone interview, Steele said that Chiarelli tried to connect the murder of the detainees to my command climate and that others in the brigade thought the generals conclusions were ludicrous.

Steele portrayed Chiarelli as disconnected from what rank-and-file infantry personnel experienced, saying the general lived in a palace in Iraq while my guys are out bleeding to death in the streets of Samarra. His voice hardened as he recalled witnessing more senior commanders receiving orders to release militants who had been captured by U.S. forces.

There are soldiers that absolutely died because of that stupidity, Steele said.

Asked about the Charlie Companys kill board and the harsh methods of training he instituted, Steele said he did not condone illegal behavior but wanted his soldiers not to be timid when their lives were in danger. Death, he said, is irrevocable.

I take it personally when somebody said, Well, I think your techniques are too hard, Steele said. Well, you pick up a damn rifle and you go get in that fire team and you go out and you face insurgents with my guys, then.

Chiarelli said in an email that he reprimanded Steele because the soldiers under his command violated the rules of engagement.

I was in Iraq for one week, commanding the 1st Cavalry Division, when eight soldiers assigned to my division were killed and 64 were wounded in an ambush in Baghdads Sadr City, Chiarelli said. I understood and witnessed firsthand how violent a place it could be.

Steele said he supports Hegseths potential nomination as defense secretary, calling his mindset a rarity for that job. Hegseth is intelligent, articulate, and will refocus the Pentagon on winning the nations wars, the retired colonel said.

Critics of Hegseths potential nomination have stressed that he has never led any large organization and has faced mounting scrutiny of his personal life and punditry, including advocating for firing generals who support diversity programs, opposing women serving in combat units and suggesting in a book that Islam is not a religion of peace, and it never has been. He also has tattoos that were flagged by National Guard colleagues as being associated with the far right.

If he is formally nominated by Trump after his inauguration, Hegseths confirmation will require a Senate majority vote - an assessment by lawmakers of whether he is ready to lead an enterprise that includes more than 3 million military and civilian personnel, a global network of installations, and nuclear weapons.

The former Army officer who served with Hegseth in Iraq said he believes he has latched on to populist scenarios in a quest for personal gain. When news of Hegseths nomination emerged, old acquaintances from those days got back in touch with one another, the former officer said.

One text he received especially stood out. All it said: WTF?

Monika Mathur, Razzan Nakhlawi and Lisa Rein contributed to this report.
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.
A firearms expert for the defence said Diarmuid Phelan could have fired all three shots as quickly as Keith Conlon turned, and people "shoot faster than they can observe changes in their environment

Keith Conlon was shot in the back of the head

A barrister accused of murdering an intruder on his farm could have fired three gunshots in the time it took the man to turn his head away - less than a second, the Central Criminal Court heard.

A firearms expert for the defence said Diarmuid Phelan could have fired all three shots as quickly as Keith Conlon turned, and people "shoot faster than they can observe changes in their environment."

The jury heard the father-of-four had been walking uphill which could have increased the danger of him coming "into the line of fire." Mr Phelan maintains he hit him accidentally while firing "warning shots" during a confrontation.

The law professor (56), is pleading not guilty to murdering Mr Conlon (36) at Hazelgrove Farm, Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght.

Mr Conlon was in a group of trespassers fox or badger hunting on the farm on February 22, 2022 when Mr Phelan killed one of their dogs with a rifle. Following a "heated exchange", the accused took out a revolver and fired three times, the final shot striking Mr Conlon who died in hospital two days later.

The prosecution alleges Mr Phelan intended to kill or seriously injure Mr Conlon, who was unarmed and was shot in the back of the head.

Keith Conlon was shot in the back of the head

According to the defence, the accused was acting in self defence and unintentionally hit Mr Conlon through a combination of factors including characteristics of the revolver itself, the fear and stress of the situation and the movement of the deceased.

First defence witness Curtis Marshall, a firearms expert, resumed and concluded his evidence at the Central Criminal Court today.

Mr Marshall, a former US special agent, said there was a difference between reaction times in controlled target shooting and real life, high stress situations involving complex decision making.

Sean Guerin SC, defending, asked him about possible reaction times to someone turning their head or torso as the jury heard Mr Conlon was seen doing at the time of the shooting.

A report stated that it took about a third of a second for someone to turn their head, and half a second to turn their torso. A minimum reaction time of half a second could be expected.

Even assuming the minimum physical action on the part of the deceased in turning his head, and even assuming an immediate reaction as quickly as possible for the simplest of decisions, not just the three shots that were discharged but a fourth shot could have been discharged in that timeframe, Mr Guerin asked.

Correct, Mr Marshall replied.

Human beings shoot faster than they can observe changes in their environment, make decisions and respond, he said.

The jury heard the height difference between where Mr Phelan was standing and where Mr Conlon was walking was 1.4m. Mr Guerin asked if a person walking up a hill increased the danger by bringing them into the line of fire and if it would also take time to react to that.

Correct, the witness replied.

Mr Marshall said no law enforcement agency in the US apart from the coast guard authorised warning shots, though they were something portrayed in movies."

In cross examination, John Byrne SC, prosecuting, put it to Mr Marshall that in his scenario, Mr Phelan discharged the shots as physically quickly as possible while Mr Conlon was also turning as fast as possible.

The evidence that four shots could have been fired in that time was provided those variables are correct, Mr Byrne said.

However, an eyewitness, farm hand Hannah Felgner had given evidence that at the time of the third and fatal shot, Mr Conlon had turned around to run away and just a few seconds after that, Diarmuid shot one of the guys into the back and he immediately fell to the ground.

Mr Marshall said it wasnt addressed to me in that manner.

He said that three shots could be got off in half a second and four shots in three quarters of a second and, if at the same time Mr Conlon was turning, it can all take place that quickly.

Mr Byrne said if the variables were changed and the person was not shooting as fast as possible that could have a significant impact on reaction.

Mr Marshall said a shooting could happen quicker than someone has time to react to change.

He agreed that the greater the time, the greater the chance to modify behaviour.

Ms Felgners account of what happened was an entirely different scenario, to the one Mr Marshall had presented, Mr Byrne said.

Mr Marshall accepted that a longer period of time between shots would have potentially allowed Mr Phelan more time to assess the situation.

Mr Byrne asked if there was something about the model of Smith & Wesson revolver that made it inherently dangerous. The witness said all firearms are potentially dangerous. He said the human element would have a large impact but if the gun was in a vice, at short range a bullet fired would drop a negligible amount.

Mr Marshall said the gun was not commonly used for self defence and was more commonly for hunting, pests and casual target shooting.

He agreed with Mr Byrne that you should never put your finger on a trigger unless youre ready to shoot and that you should be sure of the target and whats behind it.

Mr Marshall disagreed with a garda witness for the prosecution who had said it was extremely dangerous to mix pest control and bulleted ammunition in the gun, as Mr Phelan said he had done.

In relation to accuracy issues, Mr Byrne said if you knew your own gun as Mr Phelan did, surely you would adjust your shot.

If you know what is causing the error, Mr Marshall replied.

Mr Byrne asked the witness if he had to fire a warning shot, would it be towards me or in his vicinity.

Anywhere but, Mr Marshall replied. It wouldnt be directed at you at all.

The trial continues.
Before Nikita Hands successful civil case against him, McGregors most recent court appearance was at the end of July when he narrowly avoided jail for dangerous driving

CONOR McGregor may have made his name as a mixed martial artist in the Ultimate Fighting Championship but hes appeared more times in court in recent years than the Octagon.

Before Nikita Hands successful civil case against him, his most recent court appearance was at the end of July when he narrowly avoided jail after being convicted of a series of appalling dangerous driving incidents in Dublin.

Judge David McHugh described McGregor's dangerous driving as "persistent, prolonged and deliberate" when he appeared at Blanchardstown District Court on July 31.

He convicted and fined McGregor 5,000 and banned him from driving for two years.

The judge also imposed a five month jail sentence suspended for two years.

McGregor admitted to the "appalling" episode of dangerous driving where he drove in a bus lane, jumped a red light and nearly collided with another vehicle.

McGregor told a garda "are you taking the piss" after he was asked to step out of his car on Dublin's M50.

McGregor with Dee Devlin at the High Court

He also told the garda he was waiting to get out of his car because he "needed his security to catch up".

McGregor was well used to court appearances by then and had 20 previous convictions, many of which were for road traffic offences.

Back in 2016 gardai launched an investigation after McGregor posted pictures online showing him wearing a balaclava and holding what looked like a firearm in his car in Crumlin in Dublin.

Gardai called to McGregors family home and spoke to him over the matter and he handed over two airsoft guns which his father had bought him for Christmas.

The guns were sent off for ballistic tests as a matter of procedure which confirmed they were airsoft weapons and he didnt face any charges arising out of the incident,

Gardai advised McGregor that wearing a balaclava and posing and pointing what looks like firearm out the window of a car in Crumlin was not a good idea. He apologised to gardai over the matter.

He was convicted of a number of speeding offence in 2017 and 2018 leading to fines and driving bans.

In April 2018 he hit the headlines when along with an entourage he attacked a bus containing fighters at a UFC media event at the Barclays Centre in New York.

McGregor and around 20 pals carried out the attack targeting bitter rival Khabib Nurmagomedov and McGregor threw a trolley at a bus carrying the Russian fighter. Other objects were also thrown during the fracas and three people were injured.

McGregor and pal Cian Cowley ended up in court, where they were sentenced to community service and anger management classes.

Nurmagomedov had the last laugh when he comprehensively beat McGregor in a UFC fight in October 2018 forcing him to tap out after choking him.

McGregor went on to attack Nikita Hand in Dublin two months later. Ms Hand said he choked her multiple times and brought up his submission defeats when she claimed he said: Now you know what it was like to be in the Octagon when I went down three times.

In March 2019 McGregor was charged with strong-arm robbery and criminal mischief after stamping on a fans phone in Miami but those charges were later dropped.

The fan stopped co-operating with authorities after he dropped a separate civil lawsuit against McGregor after reaching a settlement.

The following month McGregor carried out an unprovoked assault on innocent customer Desmond Keogh in the Marble Arch pub in Drimnagh because Mr Keogh declined a free shot of McGregors Proper 12 Whiskey.

The incident was caught on video and McGregor was later convicted of assault and fined. He claimed to be remorseful over the incident and apologised in court.

However, McGregor subsequently bought the Marble Arch and posted a comment online saying: Yeah, and yer mans barred.

In September 2020 McGregor was arrested and questioned in relation to an alleged attempted sexual assault and indecent exposure on the French island of Corsica. However, prosecutors later said they were not proceeding with the case due to lack of evidence.

In October 2021 Italian DJ and TV personality Francesco Facchinetti alleged that McGregor punched him in the face in an unprovoked attack at a party in Rome.

The incident was claimed to have occurred hours after McGregor had his child baptised at the Vatican. McGregor was never charged in relation to the incident but it was reported in 2022 that the matter was still under investigation.

Nikita Hand

An Irish woman claimed McGregor assaulted her on a yacht in Ibiza in July 2022. She made a statement to gardai after returning from Spain.

Spanish police launched an investigation into the matter while a civil action was also taken by the woman but she later withdrew the civil action.

A spokesperson for McGregor issued a statement saying he was steadfast in his denial of all the accusations made by a guest on his boat.

Gardai later investigated two separate incidents at the womans home in 2023 including a brick being thrown at her window and an attempt being made to burn out her car.

There was no suggestion either attack was related to her allegations against McGregor.

The former featherweight and lightweight Champion last fought inside the Octagon in 2021, where he suffered a broken leg in his loss to Dustin Poirier.

He was forced to pull out of the UFC 303 main event in June for a welterweight, non-title bout against popular lightweight Michael Chandler after he broke his toe.

McGregor has been vocal over his wish to get back into the sport and voiced his frustrations over his delayed return to the Octagon earlier this year.

Speaking to DAZN at Wembley Stadium for Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois, he declared: I must get two fights in 2025. Its the promised land. Who knows (who the next opponent will be). It does not matter. Whoever, lets see. Id like it to be Chandler. I wish him well and see where it goes.

However, following yesterdays verdict in the High Court it remains to be seen if McGregor has any future in the sport.
Frank Roche (68) sexually abused the victim as a child while she was minding his young son

A man who engaged in demeaning and humiliating behaviour when he sexually abused a teenage girl over 30 years ago has been jailed.

Frank Roche (68) sexually abused the victim as a child while she was minding his young son. The abuse involved the man touching the girls breasts, vagina and performing oral sex on her.

Linda Travers (45) has waived her right to anonymity to allow for Roche to be identified in reporting of the case.

Roche of Warrenstown Green, Blanchardstown Heath, Dublin 15 pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to six charges of sexual assault of Ms Travers who was aged between 12 and 14 years old in his home on dates between September 1992 and September 1994.

Roche regularly cornered the girl in his home as she was leaving a room or in a hallway before molesting her.

On one occasion, he sexually abused her in his sons bedroom, while on another occasion, he sexually abused her in a car that his wife was driving.

Ms Travers was sitting on the mans lap as there was not enough room in the car because his son, mother-in-law and another teenage girl were in the car with them at the time.

Imposing sentence on Thursday, Ms Justice Karen O'Connor said there would be a consecutive element to sentencing due to the extraordinary circumstances of this case. She noted that Roche engaged in controlling behaviour, that the offending started at a high level of gravity from which it escalated and humiliation was visited on this child.

The judge noted this was historic offending, which occurred over 30 years ago and that the court must abide by the parameters in legislation at that time, which had a maximum penalty of five years.

Ms Justice O'Connor noted the offence of sexual assault of a child now carries a maximum penalty of 14 years.

She said the court was bound by the law in place at the time of the offending but added that if the most serious of the offences committed in this case had occurred today, she would set a headline sentence of 14 years.

Ms Justice O'Connor imposed a global sentence of six years and nine months, with the final nine months suspended for one year on strict conditions, including that Roche has no unsupervised access to children.

She backdated the sentence to October 7 last when the man went into custody.

The judge said the aggravating features include the massive breach of trust, the age disparity, the duration of the abuse and the significant impact on the victim.

She noted that Roche was in a position of authority and should have been protecting the child, rather than abusing her.

Ms Justice O'Connor said another aggravating feature was that Roche showed the victim pornography, which was abhorrent and abusive towards the child.

She said the abuse was aggressive and rough in nature, and that Roche engaged in humiliating and demeaning behaviour towards the victim

Ms Justice O'Connor said the court had taken into consideration the man's guilty pleas, his health issues and work history as mitigating factors.

Det Gda Tom Hughes told Gerardine Small SC, prosecuting at an earlier hearing that Ms Travers reported the abuse to gardai in July 2022. When Roche was interviewed a number of months later, he told gardai he believed Ms Travers was older and that she was consenting to the activity.

Ms Travers said in her victim impact statement that Roche took away her childhood and stole her innocence. She said he also took away her choice as to when and where she would have her first sexual experience.

You abused me for over two years, abused me while minding your son. You groomed me and breached my trust  you physically restrained me, Ms Travers continued.

You made me ashamed of who I was  ate away at my confidence. You didnt seem to care who was around, Ms Travers said before she referred to the fact that the man had made her watch pornography.

She said the abuse has affected all aspects of her life, and she has had constant issues with her health. She said she is plagued with anxiety and panic attacks and has missed out on simple things in life, like nights out, family dinners and going to the cinema.

Ms Travers said she was afraid to tell anyone because she was worried that she had done something to make Roche abuse her.

You made me question my trust in others. You made me feel dirty and ashamed of who I was, she said.

Ms Travers said that the abuse has affected her life as a mother to her children because she is afraid to leave them alone.

I reported the abuse for myself to hopefully be one day at peace. I reported it for my children, she continued, adding that she wanted them to grow up confident and not to be afraid to stand up for themselves.

Ms Travers said she knew that with the help of the garda and the charity One in Four, she would get through things. She said she was in court not as a victim but as a survivor.

Ms Justice O'Connor thanked Ms Travers for her courage in delivering her victim impact statement in person, telling her, You are helping other little children who dont have the voice at this stage to make a complaint.

She told Ms Travers, I know this is very painful for you and very triggering. You have to know there are other children that havent the voice at this stage to make a complaint, but at least they will know they are not alone.

Their voices are taken away from them  eventually, they will hopefully find the voice to come forward, the judge continued.

Eoghan Cole SC, defending, said his client wished to offer an apology to Ms Travers and to indicate he is deeply ashamed and remorseful.

He suggested that the Roches account to gardai was a version of events he had derived from his retreat into denial.
The jury in the civil case against McGregor delivered its verdict yesterday afternoon. Co-accused James Lawrence was found not liable for damages.

Nikita Hand speaks outside court after jury finds against Conor McGregor in civil rape case

A woman who accused Irish mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor of raping her in a Dublin hotel has won her claim against him for damages in a High Court civil case.

The total amount of damages awarded to Ms Hand by the jury was 248,603.60.

The jury in the civil case against McGregor delivered its verdict this afternoon. Co-accused James Lawrence was found not liable for damages.

Here are the key factors the jury had to consider in the case.

The medical evidence

The medical evidence presented to the jury was the strongest part of Nikita Hands case.

The jury was shown around 20 photographs of her body, taken by a garda photographer two days after events in the Beacon Hotel.

She had extensive bruising all over her body and a scrape mark on her breast.

Both McGregor and co-accused James Lawrence testified that they did not cause the bruising. However, no plausible alternative theory was aired in court as to how Ms Hand suffered the injuries.

Eithne Scully, one of the paramedics who brought her to the Rotunda Hospital, told the court it was the worst bruising she had seen in a long time, while GP Dr Emma Quinlan testified that internal bruising on her neck ten days later was consistent with Ms Hands account of being choked.

McGregor insisted that Ms Hand was not bruised when he left her company, but a defence witness, former principle forensic medical officer for Northern Ireland Dr Basil John Farnan, said it could take between 24 and 48 hours for bruises to show up following a trauma.

Dr Daniel Kane, a gynaecologist who examined Ms Hand in the Rotundas Sexual Assault Treatment Unit, gave evidence that she was extremely upset throughout, shaking and crying, and having difficulty sitting down due to pain.

He had to use a forceps to remove a tampon from the back of her vagina.

Ms Hand testified she would never have sex during her period and definitely not with a tampon in situ.

Dr Ann Leader, a very experienced psychiatrist, testified that she had diagnosed Ms Hand with post-traumatic stress disorder.

The first criteria for such a diagnosis was that there must have been a very traumatic event.

Dr Leader said Ms Hand was a good communicator, a clear historian and a sincere person.

Another GP, Dr Frank Clarke, said memory loss or partial memory was an important feature of the condition.

Nikita Hand won her civil case against Conor McGregor. Photo: Collins Courts

Nikita Hands evidence

Ms Hands evidence was at times compelling. You could hear a pin drop in Court 24 as she tearfully described being raped by McGregor.

In the face of close, and at times difficult, questioning from defence counsel  particularly in relation to how she appeared in CCTV footage  she did not waver in her account of what happened in the bedroom.

The CCTV footage doesnt take away from what happened to me in that room with Conor. I know what happened to me. I was brutally raped and battered, she said.

CCTV evidence

The prevailing wisdom was that CCTV evidence, which showed Ms Hand behaving affectionately towards McGregor and, in particular, Mr Lawrence in the aftermath of the alleged rape, was one of the strongest points of the defence case.

However, it may have helped Ms Hand too in explaining why she had no memory of certain parts of that day.

Her counsel, John Gordon SC, said she was full of drink and drugs at the time and in a state of delayed shock. Ms Hand said she was clearly drunk and in such condition that she should have been brought home.

In the footage, a barefoot Ms Hand could be seen stumbling, sitting on the floor and mashing the buttons in the hotel elevator.

In his charge to the jury, Mr Justice Alexander Owens said they should assess the condition of Ms Hand and Mr Lawrence.

He asked were they so befuddled by drink that it took them a long time to realise that pushing buttons in the lift would not get them back up to the hotel penthouse.

James Lawrence was found not liable for damages. Photo: Collins Courts

The Ste recording

McGregors defence team played a recording made by Ms Hands then partner Stephen Redmond after she returned home in the early hours of the morning. Ms Hand did not know the recording was being made at the time.

Playing the recording to the jury may have been an effort to demonstrate that Ms Hand had lied to Ste, and was evasive about what happened to her.

If that was the strategy, there is a chance it backfired.

Ms Hand was clearly terribly distraught, terrified and in fear in the recording.

Mr Redmond also feared she was so drunk she would forget details of what happened if she didnt tell her story before going to sleep.

Danielle Kealeys evidence

Ms Kealey, a colleague of Ms Hand who was present in the penthouse, appeared as a defence witness.

On the face of things, her testimony was helpful to McGregor. She witnessed Ms Hand going into the penthouse bedroom with McGregor and said Ms Hand appeared fine when they came out of the room later.

But in his charge of the jury, Mr Justice Owens urged them to be careful about Ms Kealeys evidence and that of McGregors security guard, Denis Dazari.

The judge said Ms Kealeys evidence about what happened was minimal and that Mr Dazari only saw people clothed in the room.

Mr Justice Owens said the jury could not speculate about what the witnesses might have said if they were more forthcoming.

Nikita Hand speaks to the media outside the High Court after she won her personal injury case against Conor McGregor. Photo: PA

Conor McGregors evidence

It was clear from the closing speech of McGregors counsel Remy Farrell SC that his side may have been worried about how the jury had reacted to the mixed martial arts fighters evidence.

Mr Farrell noted there had been an intake of breath from the jury box when McGregor made references to two lovely ladies being in his car and that jurors may not have been impressed by McGregors description of Ms Hand as bombastic when she got into the car.

Ms Hands counsel John Gordon SC reminded jurors about what he described as a stream of invective launched by McGregor about Ms Hand while he was in the witness box.

Mr Gordon said McGregors mask slipped in that moment.
A defence lawyer applied for anonymity due to ongoing issues around threats in drugs cases, but this was challenged by press representatives

A man has been remanded in custody after suspected cocaine with an estimated street value of 2.1m was seized.

Conor ODonnell (38), whose address cannot be published, is charged with importing and possessing cocaine with intent to supply.

The seizure was made in Omagh, Co Tyrone, on Thursday.

A detective constable told a special sitting of Dungannon Magistrates Court that the charges could be connected.

A detective explained police stopped a vehicle at Doogary Road, Omagh, in which ODonnell was the sole occupant.

A search located 15 packages secreted in a hide and ODonnell was arrested.

During interview he accepted owning the vehicle and a seized mobile phone for which he provided a passcode but when tried this didnt work.

He provided no comment to all questions regarding the packages.

Police experts were able to gain access to the device without the passcode which showed GPS information that ODonnell had travelled from Derry to Thomastown in Co Kilkenny then back over the border via Aughnacloy prior to being stopped in Omagh.

Objecting to bail, the detective pointed to a likelihood of further offending and that it is believed he is a member of an organised crime gang with links to the INLA.

He is on benefits and has no signs of wealth or how he could have these drugs, and may have to recoup the loss.

A defence solicitor enquired if police believed ODonnell was conveying the drugs as opposed to supplying, but the detective replied: I cant answer that as he provided no comment during interview.

Urging bail to be granted the defence said the case is in the very early stages and will take significant time to progress.

He is a father of five, all under 18, and his partner is very distressed particularly with the Christmas period approaching, the lawyer argued.

While conceding the charges were serious, it was contended with strict conditions bail could be granted.

District Judge Michael Ranaghan remarked on the significant amount of drugs found, adding: There is a substantial loss sustained by whoever owns the drugs. I believe there is a risk of further offending.

Bail was refused and ODonnell will appear again at Omagh Magistrates Court by video-link on December 17.

A defence lawyer applied for anonymity due to ongoing issues around threats in drugs cases, pointing out that such orders are routinely granted in Derry Magistrates Court.

However, this was challenged by press representatives, who argued a similar position to accused police officers could be adopted and ODonnells address could be omitted.

Responding to an enquiry by the judge, the detective said she had no knowledge of a specific threat.

On the basis ODonnells address would be withheld, Judge Ranaghan refused to grant anonymity.
James Gaynor, of Williamstown, Moate, Westmeath appeared at a sitting of Athlone District Court charged with assault causing harm to his victim at Rathduff, Mountemple, Moate, Westmeath on June 19 this year.

James Gaynor (63) was remanded on bail to reappear at a sitting of Athlone District Court in February.

A man in his 60s slashed the arm of his neighbour when his tractor was blocked from driving into a yard in a rural midlands town, a court has heard.

James Gaynor, of Williamstown, Moate, Westmeath appeared at a sitting of Athlone District Court charged with assault causing harm to his victim at Rathduff, Mountemple, Moate, Westmeath on June 19 this year.

The 63-year-old was also charged with producing a Stanley knife during the course of a dispute under section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990.

Sgt Sandra Keane, in outlining the States case, told of how gardai were called to the scene of the incident along a small laneway that is shared by the accused and another family.

Sgt Keane said Gaynor had been carrying out work for his brother when a tractor he had been driving was obstructed from entering into the yard by the injured party.

A heated argument between the pair ensued, the court heard, culminating in Gaynor returning to the tractor to retrieve a Stanley blade which he used to take a swipe at the victims arm.

James Gaynor (63) was remanded on bail to reappear at a sitting of Athlone District Court in February.

Sgt Keane said the mans arm began bleeding and gardai were called to the scene moments later where details were taken and the knife in question was seized.

Judge Bernadette Owens said despite the incident, the injury sustained by the victim was not a heavy cut which did not require hospitalisation.

Sgt Keane said the genesis for the episode appeared to stem from an issue between both families that had been ongoing for a period of time.

Judge Owens accepted jurisdiction, paving the way for the case to be heard and disposed of within the parameters of the District Court.

Defending solicitor Mark Cooney, meanwhile, said he had received the disclosure of the States evidence relating to the case and spoken with Gaynor.

He said in light of those discussions, Gaynor would be tendering a guilty plea and asked for the matter to be adjourned to a future court sitting in February.

Mr Cooney said that three month deferral would afford both the defence time to assemble a purposeful submission of mitigation while also affording the State time to determine whether a victim impact statement would be forthcoming.

Judge Owens acceded to that request and remanded Gaynor on bail to a sitting of Athlone District Court on February 26, 2025.
Naomi Doogan, a 31-year-old healthcare worker, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at St David's Terrace, D7, on June 20 last year

A woman was mistakenly "dragged into" joining a "full-on" attack on a mugging victim after a phone snatch in Dublin, a judge was told.

Naomi Doogan, a 31-year-old healthcare worker, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at St David's Terrace, D7, on June 20 last year.

Garda Conor Whelan told Dublin District Court that a robber had taken a phone but was chased by its owner.

However, he saw the accused, who was not involved in the theft, and "randomly" handed her the phone and ran.

Judge Treasa Kelly heard that mother-of-one Doogan was left in an "awkward situation".

The phone owner came and took it back from her, at which point the mugger returned and subjected him to a "full-on assault".

At first, Doogan, of Sword Street, Smithfield, D7, tried to stop it but then kicked the victim's leg twice as he was on the ground.

Defence solicitor Eoin Lysaght argued that his client "didn't know what was going on", which the garda accepted entirely.

The solicitor said Doogan was dragged into the middle of the situation.

Garda Whelan said the mugger was previously jailed for two years for the robbery, which was "quite bad". She had no prior convictions.

Mr Lysaght asked the judge to spare his client a criminal record because of her job, remorse and cooperation.

The solicitor said she had been in an abusive relationship, and she got very concerned seeing two people fighting and blood, but she should not have got involved.

Judge Treasa Kelly ordered her to pay 200 to an addiction treatment service, or she would be convicted and fined300.

The case was adjourned until March.
The gang, led by a veteran west Dublin-based criminal, has often used a specific high-speed car with various false registration plates to target homes and businesses across the country.

Officers believe the countrys most prolific burglary gang have been using a 5G phone signal jammer device to interfere with garda communication systems, in a burglary spree that has netted them hundreds of thousands of euro.

The gang, led by a veteran west Dublin-based criminal, has often used a specific high-speed car with various false registration plates to target homes and businesses across the country.

The advanced phone signal jammer was noticed on CCTV by gardai investigating the attempted early-morning break-in at a shop in the west of the country in August.

Sources say the gang hope gardai may lose radio and phone connectivity with each other when the jammer is activated.

The gang has around a dozen core members, with another 20 criminals in sub-sections who operate on both sides of the border.

Investigations have also established that they have been using cloned number plates of cars that are on sale on dealer websites in an attempt to evade detection by gardai.

In many cases they are using bleach in an attempt to destroy forensic evidence after they have smashed into a house or business.

Some gang members use Airbnbs at rural locations as bases from where they can commit crime.

The north-western garda region has been particularly hard hit by the roving gang, which has been involved in a number of high-end burglaries including one last month where over 18,000 of jewellery and rare coins were stolen from a property at Williamstown, Co Galway.

Weeks earlier, another unoccupied house in the Tuam area was broken into and almost 18,000 in cash and jewellery was stolen, while in June a large amount of cash was suspected of being taken by the gang in a daylight burglary in Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo.

It is suspected that the gang also stole a large amount of jewellery in the burglary of a home in Ballinasloe, Co Galway, earlier that month as well as around 11,000 in cash and gold jewellery from a property in Frenchpark, Co Roscommon, just days later.

Sources say most of the burglaries the gang are involved in have not been as lucrative as these home invasions, and violence has rarely been used by the criminals as they prefer to target unoccupied homes and businesses.

There has been a spate of business burglaries, particularly in the west, where the gang has disabled alarm systems before breaking into shops, pubs and filling stations.

A particular high-powered car is suspected of being used by the gang, but investigations have established that it has access to a number of other similar vehicles.

It is believed that some gang members have been driving around the country in an attempt to act as a decoy to gardai, while other members may be carrying out burglaries in a different area.

Sources say one of the main reasons gardai have not been able to make multiple arrests so far is that the gang can speed away from officers who are unable to continue the pursuit because of a lack of trained personnel and appropriate vehicles.

Another serious issue here is the ease [with] which an individual can buy a false registration plate in this country, as there is no proper regulation, said a source.

And perhaps the overarching issue is that a motorway system was developed in this country around 25 years ago, but a system of properly policing the motorways has never been developed.

Even the gardais armed support unit has been unable to keep up with the gang on occasions, including during an incident in March of last year in Co Meath.

Some of the key gang members have been involved in organised burglaries for decades. But sources say a number of younger criminals, including juveniles from the Tallaght and Clondalkin areas, look up to the veteran criminal who runs the gang and are key members of the prolific burglary outfit.

The gang is also suspected of using a number of different cars to carry out four early-morning burglaries of four businesses in Galway, Cavan and Roscommon in September over the space of just three days.
Ms Hands partner fought the men off but suffered non-life threatening stab wounds in the right side.

Three masked men broke into Nikita Hands house and burst into her bedroom just months before the hearing of her civil action against mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor.

Ms Hands partner fought the men off but suffered non-life threatening stab wounds in the right side.

Nothing was stolen from her home during the incident, which occurred around 2.20am on June 14 this year.

Lawyers for Ms Hand (35) had sought to outline details of the home invasion to the jury in her case for damages against Mr McGregor and his friend James Lawrence. However, the trial judge would not allow it.

Nikita Hand speaking outside court. Photo: Brian Lawless/ PA Wire

Nikita Hand speaks outside court after jury finds against Conor McGregor in civil rape case

Ms Hand alleged she was raped by both men in a penthouse suite at the Beacon Hotel in Sandyford, Dublin on December 9, 2018.

A jury found that Mr McGregor assaulted her and awarded close to 250,000 in damages. They found that Mr Lawrence had not assaulted her.

Previously, Ms Hands lawyers said details of the break-in were relevant to her claim for special damages to cover the cost of moving to a new home from her native Drimnagh, where she no longer felt safe.

But Mr Justice Alexander Owens rejected the application, ruling that the incident was completely irrelevant and it shouldnt be referred to.

The trial would later hear Ms Hand, a hair colourist and mother of one, no longer lived in Drimnagh, where the incident occurred. She still co-owns a house there with a former partner.

During an application in the absence of the jury, Ms Hands counsel Ray Boland SC told the judge that Ms Hands home was invaded by a group of men wearing balaclavas.

They burst into the plaintiffs bedroom and were driven out by her partner, who suffered stab wounds in the process, said Mr Boland.

The plaintiffs daughter, who was sleeping in an adjoining bedroom, called 999 and the gardai came.

In the meantime, the invaders left having broken the front windows of the plaintiffs home.

Mr Boland continued: We are not obviously laying that at the feet of the defendants or saying they have anything to do with that.

But we do make the claim that it is not an untargeted attack and it arose from supporters of the first named defendant [Mr McGregor].

We say it is relevant to her claim that she has to move from the Drimnagh area in the sense that she now has had to move from the Drimnagh area.

Mr Boland added that it was relevant to Ms Hands claim for special damages and relevant to her anxiety.

We have no difficulty saying to the jury that we are not making the claim that Mr McGregor has anything to do with it, he said.

The application was opposed by Mr McGregors counsel Remy Farrell SC.

Mr Farrell said the incident was something we know nothing about.

It is extraordinary that there would be an attempt to smuggle something like this into the case by reference to what is, in my submission, an extraordinary and unprecedented claims for special damages, he said.

Mr Justice Owens rejected the application and the home invasion was not referred to in the presence of the jury.

Gardai have confirmed they are investigating the incident.
We remain hopeful that Kenzies killer will be held responsible for his crimes to the fullest extent of the law

Video shows an Irish murder suspect leading police to body of American nurse in Hungary

Budapest Police have said they believe the Irish suspect in the murder of US nurse Mackenzie Michalski in Budapest intentionally killed her.

The 37-year-old Irishman - who can only be legally identified by his initials MLT  has admitted to killing the 31-year-old tourist who was last seen at a nightclub in the capital.

It is understood that he has claimed he accidentally killed her during sex before later placing her body in a suitcase.

The alleged killer was captured by detectives within 24 hours of the US citizens disappearance at a rented apartment in Terezvaros.

Its claimed he had met the woman in a nightclub before bringing her back to the rented property.

Police told local media it appeared the man killed Mackenzie during an intimate relationship

However, in a new statement released to US media, Budapest Police are now saying they believe the death of the young tourist was an intentional murder.

Mackenzie Michalski

In response to an inquiry about the investigation into Mackenzie Michalski's death 7 News reported that they had received this response from police.

According to the ongoing investigation being carried out by the Budapest Metropolitan Police the perpetrator intentionally murdered the victim, police said in a statement.

The suspect is under arrest. For the time being no further information can be shared about the ongoing criminal procedure."

It has previously been reported that investigators believe the suspect killed Michalski while the two were intimate.

After her death, the suspect allegedly hid her body in his closet while he went out to buy a suitcase. He then allegedly put her body in the suitcase and took her to a wooded area near Lake Balaton, about two hours from Budapest.

Michalski's family have also said that despite his claims, they believe the man suspected of killing her did it deliberately.

In a new statement from the Michalski family, they say the "death was in no way accidental despite claims to the contrary.

The family says it was a deliberate and violent murder, based on evidence they've reviewed.

"Update: We are relieved to be back in the United States and have Kenzie home with us  although not in the manner we had hoped, they have written.

Thank you from the bottom of our broken hearts for the worldwide outpouring of love, support, prayers, kind words and gestures you have all bestowed on our family at this unimaginable time. You have lifted us upplease continue.

"We have been completely supported and cared for by the US Embassy, the FBI, Antea International Funeral Home, many translators as well as countless people who reached out to offer services and love

The Hungarian Police have worked tirelessly to find Kenzie and arrest her murderer and still continue their diligent investigation. The head of homicide met with us several times to keep us informed. We were treated with kindness and compassion during our eight-day stay in Budapest.

.

"One important point needs to be clarified. Based on all available evidence reviewed during consultation with the Hungarian Police, our daughters death was in no way accidental despite claims to the contrary.

It was a deliberate and violent murder. After our encouraging interactions with the Hungarian Police and other authorities, we remain hopeful that Kenzies killer will be held responsible for his crimes to the fullest extent of the law.

Chilling video footage released previously by Hungarian investigators shows the Irish murder suspect leading police to the body.

In the video taken the suspect is seen being finger-printed as police officers watch and is then photographed with his face toward the camera and from the side.

Wearing an adidas top, the suspect, whose face is blurred throughout, has his hands pressed onto documentation to leave an imprint.

Police officers can be seen conversing in

He then has a black belt tied around his waist which is secured by more handcuffs before police use it as a leash as they march him along a corridor.

The next part of the footage shows him being taken out of a police car on the outskirts of Szigliget, two hours from the city, while still handcuffed to officers.

He is then seen leading officers through a thickly wooded area consisting of bushes and knee-length grass.

Police dogs wait by the side of the road as they prepare to follow the team while specialist officers in hazmat suits leave markers along the trail.

The suspect is then seen being led to a police van as the final shot focuses on his handcuffed hands.

Police have revealed how Michalskis killer made a series of disturbing online searches after her death, including: Do pigs really eat dead bodies?' and 'Texas woman killed by wild boar'.

He also searched for 'appearance of wild boar in the settlements along the Lake Balaton' which is the area he would later dump her body.

Other searches included asking 'what does a dead body smell like after it decomposes' and how to 'remove rotting meat smell.'
Update 3.52pm: Following a serious crash on State Highway 2, Hato Hone St John assessed and treated six patients, three in a moderate condition and one in a serious condition.

The person in a serious condition was transported to Whakatane Hospital via road.

Update 3.22pm: Three patients in a moderate condition have been transported to Whakatane hospital.

The Serious Crash Unit has responded to a two-vehicle crash on State Highway 2.

The highway has been blocked near Dunlop Road, Waiotahe, Opotiki District, with diversions in place, according to a Police spokesman.

According to a Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesperson, three fire trucks have been dispatched to the location.

"We are assisting Police and Ambulance at the scene."

Three ambulances and helicopters, along with a rapid response unit, one transfer vehicle, and one manager, attended the crash, according to a spokeswoman from Hato Hone St John.

"Initial indications suggest five patients are being assessed and treated," the spokeswoman said.

Patient statuses and transport details to come.
Police are continuing to enforce the newly enacted Gangs Act 2024 and have arrested several people across the country

Around 5.25pm on Friday, 20 November, Police in Whakatane noticed a vehicle with no front bumper on Bridge Street.

The driver, a 28-year-old Black Power member, was observed wearing a Black Power cap.

When Police approached the man when he was out of the vehicle, he had changed his cap to plain.

However, when asked, he handed over the original cap and was arrested.



A further two males, a 21-year-old Black Power member and a 52-year-old with gang associations, were arrested in Eastern Bay of Plenty for displaying gang insignia.

CENTRAL

A 35-year-old Mongrel Mob member was seen by Police running north on High Street in Dannevirke Friday afternoon, wearing a black and red Mongrel Mob shirt.

He is due in court in Dannevirke on 27 November.

Around 6.40pm Friday, a woman was observed wearing gang clothing in Marton.

Police established that she had just been released from prison and was wearing the clothing she had gone in wearing.

She was subsequently given a warning.



Shortly before 9am Friday, a shoplifting report was made via Auror in New Plymouth, with the offender identifiable and wearing clothing with Black Power-related insignia.



A search warrant was obtained, and the 51-year-old man was arrested inside a store in Waitara later that afternoon.

He is due in court on 27 November.

COUNTIES MANUKAU

Police conducting a road checkpoint on Mount Wellington Highway, Mount Wellington, about 10pm Friday night, noticed a 33-year-old man - a passenger in a vehicle - wearing a Head Hunters supporter sweatshirt.

The man has no known gang links.

The sweatshirt was seized, and the man was bailed to appear in Auckland District Court on 28 November.

EASTERN

Police on patrol on Southampton Street, Hastings about 11.45am Friday, 20 November, saw a man walking along the footpath wearing a sweatshirt with a Mongrel Mob symbol on the back.

The 30-year-old Mongrel Mob member was arrested and the insignia seized.

He was due in court on Saturday.

WELLINGTON



Police arrested a patched Black Power member in Cuba Mall in Wellington around 12:45am Saturday, who was wearing a Nomads baseball cap.



The 27-year-old is due in court on 28 November on a gang insignia charge, and also on a charge of possessing instruments for methamphetamine use.
Floyd, N.Y.  The driver of a vehicle going the wrong way on a road in Oneida County died in a fiery crash with another vehicle Friday night, deputies said.

An Oneida County Sheriffs Office deputy tried to get the driver out but couldnt, deputies said in a news release Saturday.

The deputy was driving along Route 49 in the town of Floyd around 10:30 p.m. when he saw a 2022 Ford Explorer traveling west in the eastbound lane, deputies said. The SUV almost hit a vehicle in front of the deputy as well as the deputys vehicle, they said.

The deputy put his vehicles lights and sirens and tried to stop the SUV but it kept going.

The SUV hit a 2025 Volvo truck and both vehicles caught fire.

The deputy couldnt get the driver of the SUV out and the driver died at the scene, deputies said. The identity of the driver will be determined by the Onondaga County Medical Examiners Office.

The driver of the truck, Franklyn Hummel, 64 of West Virginia, escaped his burning vehicle uninjured, deputies said.

Deputies ask anyone who saw a gray 2022 Ford Explorer in the area to call them at (315) 765-2725.

Staff writer Rylee Kirk covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, photo, question or comment? Reach her at 315-396-5961, on Twitter @kirk_rylee, or rkirk@syracuse.com.
Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday signed into law a bill that allows Syracuse to charge a new lodging tax to visitors who stay in hotels or motels in the city.

The 2% room occupancy tax in Syracuse will be in addition to the 7% hotel and motel tax charged by Onondaga County.

State lawmakers passed a bill authorizing the tax earlier this year at the request of Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh and the Syracuse Common Council, which voted 8-0 in support of the law.

Walsh has said the tax would generate an estimated $1.5 million to $1.75 million a year in new revenue for Syracuse.

The extra tax money is part of a larger plan to help address a lingering budget gap, Walsh said. The city has dipped into reserve funds and used money from the federal American Rescue Plant Act to help balance its budget.

Syracuse wont be able to start charging the hotel tax until it enacts local legislation authorizing the tax, likely early next year.

The new tax means visitors would pay an extra $3 per night for a hotel room priced at $150. The county tax on that room would be $10.50 per night.

Syracuse is among about a dozen municipalities that requested state authorization this year to begin charging a hotel tax.

Hochul on Friday also signed into law a bill authorizing the city of Cortland to begin charging a hotel and motel tax of up to 3% per night.

Last year, New York lawmakers authorized a 2% hotel tax for the town of DeWitt and a 5% hotel tax in the town of Skaneateles.

Local tourism officials had been critical of the new Syracuse tax. Danny Liedka, president of Visit Syracuse, told Syracuse lawmakers in May that the tax will make it tougher to attract conventions, especially as the number of hotels rooms in the city shrinks.

The Crowne Plaza Syracuse hotel and Sheraton Syracuse University Hotel closed within the past year.

Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Mark Weiner anytime by: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751
In a nutshell: After leaving the smartphone business three years ago, LG is now apparently scheming a flashy return thanks to an AI-focused partnership with Samsung. The two Korean companies are developing some "revolutionary" AI tech based on the newly introduced ixi-O digital assistant for LG Uplus customers.

Next year's Mobile World Congress could see the introduction of the first "real AI phone," a project Samsung and LG are now secretly working on. Unnamed industry sources told KED Global that this new smartphone will include a highly advanced digital assistant, with AI technology designed to go beyond the simplistic integration of some third-party AI assistant service in a pre-existing mobile device.

LG Uplus, a South Korean mobile network operator, introduced its ixi-O AI call assistant technology earlier this month. The ixi-O agent can provide AI services such as answering and summarizing phone calls, converting audio into text, and detecting scam attempts. The technology works entirely on-device and is LG's attempt to enter the burgeoning AI business.

Despite being part of the LG conglomerate, LG Uplus will not make new smartphones. Instead, the company will provide its ixi-O agent to Samsung to integrate into select Galaxy devices. According to the insiders, the two companies are working on a tighter knit between AI capabilities and smartphones.

With Samsung's powerful Galaxy hardware, ixi-O will provide end customers with a "revolutionary" AI experience. LG Uplus, South Korea's smallest mobile carrier, is making the new AI phone exclusive to its subscribers. The current version of ixi-O is available on Apple iPhone 14 devices.

Even if LG Uplus plans to manage its jointly developed AI phone as a strictly Korean affair, Samsung could have broader plans. The manufacturing giant might be interested in bringing the "Galaxy ixi-O" digital assistant to other models, working in partnership with more mobile carriers to offer the new AI tech outside South Korea.

LG Uplus is investing heavily in AI ventures. According to Chief Executive Hwang Hyeon-sik, the company plans to sink up to 3 trillion won (or $2.1 billion) into AI tech while seeking high-profile partnerships with Google, Amazon, and other major technology corporations.
In context: A new hacking technique raises concerns about how cyber warfare and espionage continue to evolve. As nation-state actors develop more sophisticated methods, the line between physical and digital security becomes increasingly blurred.

Russian hackers have devised a highly sophisticated method of breaching Wi-Fi networks from afar that researchers have dubbed the "nearest neighbor attack," as it allows hackers to infiltrate target networks without physically approaching the premises.

The new technique involves a multi-step process that leverages vulnerabilities in neighboring networks to breach the intended target. Instead of risking detection by getting close to the target, as has been the norm in previous Wi-Fi hacking attempts, hackers can now orchestrate their attacks from a safe distance.

Cybersecurity firm Volexity uncovered this unprecedented Wi-Fi hacking technique while investigating a network breach targeting a customer in Washington, DC, in 2022. The firm's researchers traced the intrusion to a Russian hacker group known by various monikers, including Fancy Bear, APT28, and Unit 26165, part of Russia's GRU military intelligence agency.

Wired notes that cybersecurity researcher Steven Adair revealed how his firm discovered this technique at the Cyberwarcon security conference held this week in Arlington, Virginia.

A "nearest neighbor attack" operates through a series of calculated steps. Hackers first breach a vulnerable network in a building near the intended target. They then gain control of a laptop within this compromised network. They use the device's Wi-Fi from there to breach the targeted network. This method allows the attackers to remain physically distant while exploiting local Wi-Fi vulnerabilities.

In the case investigated by Volexity, the attack's sophistication extended beyond a single jump. The researchers discovered evidence of a daisy chain of Wi-Fi network breaches that involved up to three separate networks before reaching the final target. The attack's success hinged on several technical elements, including credential exploitation, two-factor authentication bypass, and domain name leakage. The hackers were very determined, according to Volexity, making multiple intrusion attempts even after initial discovery.

This technique is an evolution of the GRU's previous "close-access" hacking methods. In 2018, officials caught Russian spies attempting to hack the Wi-Fi network of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in The Hague using equipment hidden in a car trunk. The "nearest neighbor attack" seems to directly respond to the operational security risks exposed by that incident.

This new attack vector presents significant challenges for cybersecurity professionals. Organizations must now consider the security of neighboring networks as part of their threat landscape. The ability to conduct these attacks from afar increases the potential pool of attackers and complicates identifying who is behind an attack.

In light of this new threat, cybersecurity experts recommend several protective measures, including limiting Wi-Fi range, obfuscating network names, implementing more robust authentication protocols, and monitoring Wi-Fi access points, especially those near windows or external walls.

Cybersecurity experts warn that nearest-neighbor attacks may become more prevalent. John Hultquist, a threat intelligence expert at Google-owned Mandiant, suggests that this technique represents a "major improvement" for close-access operations, and hackers are likely to use it more frequently.

Image credit: Volexity
Russia has broken a Cold War arms treaty by firing its intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBM) called the "Oreshnik" against Ukraine, targeting its southern central city of Dnipro, which is a first for the aggressor. This also serves as a warning to the Western countries that are helping Ukraine in their war against Russia, especially to President Joe Biden and the United States.

This week, the escalation of attacks was seen from both sides when Ukraine fired for the first time against its neighboring country after receiving approval from the United States to utilize the longer-range missiles supplied to them.

Russia 'Oreshnik' Ballistic Missiles Attacks Ukraine's Dnipro

A new report from Ars Technica revealed the successful attack by Russia against Ukraine, using its Oreshnik ballistic missiles for the first time in a "combat situation" to lay waste to the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. Russia targeted Dnipro as it serves as home to an industrial plant operated by PA Pivdenmash which is known for manufacturing parts for the Zenit rocket's booster stages from the Soviet era and Northrop Grumman's Antares rocket.

There have been multiple posts circulating on social media that show how Russia's new Oreshnik missiles struck the city of Dnipro last Thursday which came after Ukraine launched an attack against Moscow for the first time.

Putin Warns the West, US in Their Help to Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin made a rare appearance on television where he released a statement against the Western countries that were helping Ukraine in their fight and then commanded the launch against Dnipro.

The reports revealed that Russia's Oreshnik is an "experimental" intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), with the Pentagon's deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh regarded that it was based on Moscow's RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile.

However, it is not a regular IRBM from Russia, as it was also reported that the Oreshnik can be fitted with nuclear warheads in the future. These new ballistic missiles can remain undetected and give only limited warning of an impending attack.

Russia and Ukraine's Ongoing Conflict

The tensions are still high between the two neighboring countries of Russia and Ukraine as the aggression continues from the larger country as the invasion plans continue for Moscow against Kyiv. There have been prominent attacks from Russia which severely damaged Ukrainian energy infrastructure last August when it launched 127 missiles and 109 drones after Ukraine celebrated its Independence Day.

Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov also recently boasted of Russia's success in using AI drones against its enemies, especially on the frontlines against Ukrainian forces, which marks a new era of warfare. Lesser troops are being deployed by Russia because of this significant effort, but Minister Belousov also highlighted the need to train more of its drone pilots to use the technology more precisely.

That being said, Ukraine has also recently revealed that it upped its game on drone warfare against Russia, but this put a massive target on their soldiers' heads if the enemy discovers that they are drone operators. Ukraine drew first blood for the first time earlier this week thanks to the US and UK's missiles, but Russia is ready with its best-kept technology since the previous wars, using Oreshnik for the first time in combat which also serves as a warning against Ukrainian allies.
Was Melbourne too cool to join in on the global celebrity lookalikes trend? Or was it actually too hot?

Thousands rocked up to a New York contest to find a Timothee Chalamet lookalike last month  leading to arrests, fines and a cameo from the man himself  and hugely successful events centred on Harry Styles, Jeremy Allen White and more followed.

The last-minute contestants at Melbournes Jacob Elordi lookalike contest. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui

But in Melbourne this Saturday, just 20 or so people (including a decent contingent of journalists) braved the 36-degree heat to watch a lookalike contest for the Australian actor Jacob Elordi outside the State Library of Victoria. Sydney also hosted its first such event on Saturday, for Heath Ledger, with at least a dozen doppelgangers singing and performing for a decent crowd.

The winner of the Melbourne event, Maxie Oliver, was pulled from the crowd to compete with two of his mates. The friendship group comprised three of the five official contestants, all of whom were roped into it on site. As official proceedings began, with plenty of giggles, there was a final callout for all Elordis and all male-identifying people.
MP: Well, I dont think we truly gelled for about five years because I was so nervous, and it took me time to be able to relax in front of camera. Fitz: So you became an iconic duo, just like Roy and HG. In their case, they never socialised much off-camera so as to keep their on-air stuff fresh. Did you spend much time with David Stratton when the cameras werent rolling? MP: We did, but never excessively, apart from when we went to things like the Cannes and Venice film festivals, when we would certainly see a great deal of one another. Back in Australia, we saw a bit of each other until he moved up to the Blue Mountains, which I was really shitty about, actually  Fitz: And how do you judge the current state of the movie business globally and in Australia? MP: Well, I think the Australian film industry is really healthy. Its almost like its got the confidence in itself. Globally, on the one hand, Im sick of those Marvel Comics being translated to the screen, but on the other hand, you can get really good ones, like the one that Taika Waititi directed, Thor: Ragnarok. That was terrific. So you cant be narrow-minded about such films. Some are extremely good.

Jeff Bridges in Peter Weirs brilliant Fearless. Credit: Warner Bros Fitz: And where are your professional energies going right now? MP: Nowhere! I am trying to get out of stuff, not into stuff. Fitz: Two more quick questions, then we can rip in. I read a blurry report that you might have had a cameo role in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Is that correct? MP: Yes, but blink and youll miss me, right? I had known the director, Stephan Elliott, for some time, and he said, would I play a part in his film? And I said, All right, as long as Im not playing anybodys mother. Not long afterwards, I was in Venice at the film festival, and a fax arrived for me, saying he wanted me in Priscilla, indeed playing someones mother, but  Youre playing Guy Pearces mother. So I said, Oh, all right!

Fitz: Meantime, I loved your review on Charlie Pickerings The Weekly on ABC of Married at First Sight where you said, Its a groundbreaking social experiment in which mentally fragile halfwits marry toxic fame tarts. Is there anything youd like to add to that? Or is that about it? MP: [Laughs.] No, thats about it. Fitz: OK, lets get to the nub of it. Can you please gimme the 10 films few of us have seen yet, but bloody well should? Dannielle Hall and Damian Pitt in Beneath Clouds. Credit:  Bunya Productions MP: Well, my first one is the Australian film Beneath Clouds (2002). That was Ivan Sens debut feature about two Indigenous kids, played by Damian Pitt and Dannielle Hall, who accidentally join up as they head for various reasons to Sydney from country NSW. Sen had made a series of really fantastic shorts when he was at the film school, and once he was out he made this. It looks fabulous. Its heartrendingly great, but very little seen. Im always moved by the final image in a film, and in this one, its just heartbreakingly good. Have you seen it?

Fitz: No, never heard of it, but I will see it soon! Next? MP: OK, going down the list, I loved Locke (2013) by Stephen Knight. Tom Hardy gives an outstanding performance in this film in which he is the only presence on screen. He plays a man driving to a construction site who takes 38 phone calls from various people as his life falls apart. Fitz: Hang on, just one actor? So when the screen credits roll for actors, theres one person? MP: Yes, apart from voice actors. Fitz: That sounds like that famous first film by Steven Spielberg, Duel, with the menacing truck being the key presence monstering the poor bloke in front. Go on, next?

MP: Number three is Fearless (1993), by Peter Weir, starring Jeff Bridges and Rosie Perez as survivors of a plane crash who each experience the impact of the aftermath. Have you seen that? The 1997 film Gattaca imagines a future class divide between the enhanced (as played by Uma Thurman) and the unenhanced. Credit: Getty Images Fitz: No! Look, if its not Shawshank Redemption or the like, you may presume I havent seen it, but want to. I want you to educate me and mine on the finer things in films so we can say to our friends, I cant believe you havent seen those wonderful films, Beneath Clouds, Locke and Fearless! What kind of bogan ignoramus are you? MP: [Small groan.] Number four is District 9 (2009). This totally original, low-budget science fiction film from South African writer/director Neill Blomkamp has it all  a wild imagination, drama, pathos, compassion, with a few laughs thrown in, as a man organising the relocation of a camp of segregated aliens becomes one of them. Fitz: You see, Margaret? Dont despair, Ive heard of it!

MP: So is that all right? Fitz: Yes, please go on. MP: Ive chosen Nashville (1975). A gigantic tapestry of music, betrayal and politics set in the country music capital of the world and is the work of director Robert Altman. It has a multi-character cast and was the film that excited me most when I first saw it. It is still my favourite film of all time. I fell in love with Robert Altman when I saw it in Sydney, even though it was on screens for just a week, and it was gone. I dragged people to it, and then it disappeared. Fitz: If you say it is your favourite of all time, that is some recommendation. Next, please? MP: Gattaca (1997). This debut science fiction film from New Zealand born writer/director Andrew Niccol explores the ethics of genetic engineering. Niccol wrote The Truman Show, but when he went to Hollywood, they wouldnt let him direct it and gave him Gattaca to direct instead. It stars Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman and is riveting.

Lust, Caution, directed by Ang Lee, is set in China during the Japanese occupation. Credit: Fitz: Not that you care, but I broadly hate sci-fi. Still, I will give it a go. MP: The Hill (1965) is a gruelling portrayal of men struggling to survive a military prison camp in North Africa during World War II, and it stars Sean Connery in one of his best performances. I dont like prison movies much, but this one has stayed with me. Fitz: I like Shawsha  actually, never mind. Does The Hill have a happy ending? Youll despair to hear, Marge, my tastes are so plebeian: I genuinely like films where the hero and the heroine go through lots of struggles and get to kiss in the final frame  with the exception of Brokeback Mountain, where it was the two heroes. MP: [Small pause.] I absolutely adored Brokeback Mountain. I saw that in Venice, and when everybody else was rushing off to the next screening, I just stayed sitting there alone, still absorbing it, it was so wonderful. But, moving on. I love tough films. And the one that I love most is The Lives of Others (2006), the debut film from German writer/director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck about the impact that Stasi agents, East Germanys secret police, have on a group of artists and intellectuals. A really powerful cinema experience.

Fitz: Next? MP: Lust, Caution (2007). Ang Lees beautiful, emotionally powerful film is set in China during the Japanese occupation. Its about a young students relationship with a high-ranking collaborator despite the fact that shes part of a group that aims to assassinate him. And the next one after that is a soft one for you, Peter. Ive chosen Chef (2014), written, directed by and starring Jon Favreau. Its the story of a celebrity chef in an upmarket restaurant who loses his temper as hes not prepared to conform. So he starts up a food truck with the help of his son and estranged wife. And youll be thrilled to hear, Peter, this one has a happy ending. Loading Fitz: Excellent! And thats our 10. So the last thing is this. Weve talked about films that you know are great, that should be more widely celebrated. What about films where everybody loves them except you? I hate to say it, but the best example for me is the one youre in: Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Yes, all the actors are great, and Hugos a personal friend. But I just never understood the level of acclaim it received. MP: [Laughing.] Of course it was the one I was in! But, yes, I dont always like what everybody else likes. I dont necessarily like what David Stratton likes. I actually talked to him this morning about the list I just gave you, and I think he approves of just about all the ones on my list, but not all. Generally, I think that within seconds of a film opening, you know whether youre in good hands with a director or not, and its really weird that some films just scream: I am no good! from the very beginning.

Fitz: And the blockbuster that you detest? MP: A really popular film that everyone else loved was the remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Its only one of the two films Ive ever walked out of. Fitz: And what is the other, please? MP: I will tell you, but its not for publication. [We go into the Cone of Silence.] Fitz: Oh! Oh, I see  Thank you, indeed. I, and my readers, shall report back before Chrissie on what we think of your list. In the meantime, we are in your debt. At least we hope so.
I had a lot of men asking me out, and I said no to all of them, says the daughter of John Cornell and Delvene Delaney, and god-daughter of Paul Hogan.

November 24, 2024

by Jane Rocca
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese directly lobbied Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto when the two leaders met on the sidelines of the APEC conference in Peru earlier this month. Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones confirmed the government continued to advocate for the cases of the Bali Nine, but refused to be drawn on the next steps, saying: Youd all be aware that these are delicate issues and I want to ensure that their welfare is maintained. Indonesias Co-ordinating Minister for Law, Human rights, Immigration and Corrections, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, confirmed the discussions. The Indonesian president replied that they are reviewing and processing the matter and hoped that it could be implemented in December, he said. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto discussed the Bali prisoners in Peru this month. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Yusril, who also pointed to a November 7 letter from Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, said Australia would need to refrain from questioning the sentencing decisions of Indonesian courts and would be obliged to consider similar transfer requests from Indonesia in the future. Donald Rothwell, professor of international law at ANU and an expert on international prison transfers, said there was no legal framework in place whereby the five Australians could be transferred to Australia to serve out their remaining jail time. Rothwell said despite this, Indonesia may be preparing to release the five Australians as a gesture of goodwill towards Australia. But Hikmahanto Juwana, an international law professor at the University of Indonesia, sharply criticised the mooted transfer. How can other countries decide and change sentencing made in our court without even consulting us? Hikmahanto said. Our sovereignty is being ripped [to shreds].

Nyoman Parta, a member of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party, Struggle, also argued against the deal in a statement to the House of Representatives, the Daily Telegraph reported. Loading Do not let this country appear weak by ignoring existing laws on the grounds of international co-operation, then repatriating foreign prisoners to their country, Parta said. Speaking from Bali, Darwin-based barrister Colin McDonald said he was relieved and happy for his former client, Scott Rush, who was 19 when arrested. This is a very important and welcome decision, to have the remaining members of the Bali Nine returned to have a life back in Australia after serving so many years in prison and so many of them under the threat of the death penalty, McDonald said.

One never forgets cases that involve the death penalty, but Im very appreciative of my Australian and Indonesian colleagues for the work theyve done and for the support and assistance that all the members of the Bali Nine get from the Department of Foreign Affairs and our consular representatives. Rush, from Brisbane, was sentenced of life imprisonment by the Denpasar District Court in early 2006, but this was upgraded to the death penalty on appeal later that year. The sentence was commuted back to life after an Indonesian Supreme Court review in 2011. McDonald said his heart went out to Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, who were found to be the ringleaders of the drugs importation plan and sentenced to death. They were executed by firing squad in 2015. Another detainee, Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen, died from cancer in June 2018, while Renae Lawrence was released in November the same year after having her sentence commuted. Lawrence was the first member of the group to be released from prison and was immediately deported to Australia. Scott Rush in a Bali courtroom in 2006. Credit: AP

The Catholic Bishop of Townsville, Tim Harris, supported the Rush family and that of Michael Czugaj after their arrests. Both attended Catholic primary schools in the Queensland parish where Harris was a priest. He visited the pair in prison. From day one, I did not condone what Scott and Michael had done and I still dont  but the Christian way is to never give up on anybody. Thats my view today, he said. Given that the Bali Nine have had 20 years in confinement, the news of their release makes sense. Michael Czugaj (right) and Matthew Norman arrive at Denpasar District Court, Bali, in December 2005. Credit: AP I commend the prime minister of Australia and the president of Indonesia for this development. Scott and the Bali Nine have leant their lesson and I pray that once back in Australia they will be able to receive the direct support of their families in particular. Harris said the suffering of the families of those in prison must not be forgotten.
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Former Prime Minster Julia Gillard has drawn attention to the inexplicable finding by the High Court that priests are not employed by the Catholic Church (Gillard urges states to act after deeply concerning ruling that Catholic Church is not liable in abuse case, November 17). Just as disturbing is the churchs dogged resistance to making adequate financial restitution to victims of its non-employed clergy. Its latest appeal to the High Court is disturbing and heartbreaking to committed Catholics like me. Financial compensation for the abuse of children will never erase the unspeakable suffering inflicted by paedophile priests. Hiding behind a legal definition of employment to escape financial restitution is morally reprehensible. Suffer the little children indeed. Gerardine Grace, Leura

Former prime minister Julia Gillard comforts a survivor after establishing the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in 2012. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Time and again it would seem that people are able to use the law to avoid their moral and rightful obligations. Priests may not technically be employees of the church, but surely the church has some responsibility for their actions  particularly as it controls who can have certain roles in that organisation and ensures they are remunerated. So much for the law having a moral foundation. David Rush, Lawson

Praise the principals

Sometimes the Heralds coverage of private schools angers me. The headline for your 5 Minutes with Fitz article claimed the principal of Wenona Girls School is Sydneys most respected principal (The surprising sex talk Sydneys most respected principal gives her students, November 17). Well, I have at least as much respect for the many principals who provide exceptional leadership in the many multi-cultural, multi-social, multi-linguistic, multi-faith, non-privileged public high schools scattered around our city and state. I suggest these principals face as many challenges every week as a principal of a privileged private school faces in a term, yet their students emerge as equally well-rounded young citizens. Lets not get too carried away with private schools, their leaders and their teachers. All good no doubt, but no better than those in our state schools. Adrian McInnes, Daleys Point

I read Peter FitzSimons article on Dr Briony Scott, departing principal of Wenona. She epitomised what a good principal should be in her answers and philosophies. Talking about everything that students face these days, the difficult and inevitable situations. Understanding the differences between boys and girls and tackling it fairly. I was also interested in Ravenswoods principal going to Cranbrook. Another good role model, taking on the challenge. We definitely need more of these educated, fair and sensible women  everywhere. Janet Scilly, Waterloo.
Dramatic footage shows the moment a Porsche driver disqualified from driving until 2041 smashed into another SUV while allegedly fleeing a police pursuit in Sydneys south-west.

Highway patrol officers spotted the grey Porsche Cayenne speeding on Cabramatta Road West, Cabramatta, about 3.20pm on Saturday, but the 52-year-old driver, Robert Buljubasic, allegedly refused to stop and police broke off the pursuit due to safety concerns.

Footage obtained by Nine News shows cars waiting at a roundabout on High and John streets in Cabramatta West, when the allegedly unregistered and uninsured Cayenne speeds through and smashes into a grey Lexus.

The Lexus driver, a 66-year-old man, suffered minor injuries and was taken to Liverpool Hospital in a stable condition.
A 20-year-old Australian woman could lose vision in one eye after allegedly being shot at by Israeli forces in an apartment near her university campus in the occupied West Bank.

Ranem Abu-Izneid is en route to Melbourne after sustaining serious injuries to her face, chest and right eye from metal shrapnel after a bullet was shot into her shared student accommodation on November 15, according to her parents and her university.

Ranem Abu-Izneid was injured by an alleged Israeli forces bullet fired into her student accommodation on November 15.

The Australian citizen, who was born in Jordan and whose family is Palestinian, was studying dentistry at al-Quds University in Abu Dis town in the Palestinian territories near Jerusalem, which is in a non-combat zone.

Details of the alleged incident were provided to this masthead in statements from her family members, based on a witness account from her flatmate, and confirmed by a dean at her university.
A root and branch review of VCAA  ordered by Education Minister Ben Carroll  will be the third review into the authoritys operations in as many years. The state opposition will this week push for yet another inquiry into the VCAAs conduct, this time by the Victorian Ombudsmans office. Loading After errors were found in maths exams in 2022, consulting giant Deloitte was hired to look into the process of setting the tests, and when more problems emerged in 2023s Chinese and chemistry exams the state government ordered another review, led by John Bennett, former chief executive of the NSW Board of Studies. The Bennett Review made six high-level recommendations to improve the exam-setting process, with a particular emphasis on the maths test.

Two of the mathematicians who helped expose the flaws in the exam this week told The Sunday Age that they had seen big improvements as a result. But neither the Deloitte nor the Bennett reviews addressed workplace issues, funding or resources at the VCAA. Department of Education secretary Jenny Atta conceded before a parliamentary committee last week that former VCAA chief executive Kylie White, who resigned last weekend last week amid fallout from the leaks, had been working to turn around performance issues at the authority before her abrupt departure. There are a lot of fundamentals that go into building a high performing agency, and clearly we can conclude at this stage that theres been a deterioration over time, Atta told the committee. A departmental spokesman rejected any suggestion that problems with exams stemmed from a lack of funding to the VCAA, saying the authoritys full-time headcount had increased from 190 in 2018 to 236 this year.

A former VCAA board member, who requested anonymity to speak frankly, defended the workers at the authority. There are some really good people there that do a lot of really good work, they said. The volume of the work they do  sometimes these mistakes happen. But the former board member added that they supported the fresh review given the seriousness of the leak issue. It has to be taken seriously, it impacts kids and parents, they said.

Loading With any review, youd hope itd be constructed so you find what the root causes are to provide solutions to people. Details of the review remain sparse, with Carroll telling The Sunday Age on Saturday that its first task would be to discover why this years exam cycle went so badly wrong. I have ordered a root-and-branch review of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority, the minister said. The first job of this review will be getting to the bottom of what has happened in the 2024 exams.

Maths teacher John Kermond, who has had frequent dealings with the VCAA over the years, said he believed the authoritys cultural and competency problems had improved significantly recently. But Kermond said there were questions to be answered about the effort of VCAA staff to change the questions on this years exams once it became known that they had been leaked online. I wonder whether subject managers did what Kylie [White] asked them to do in a competent manner, he said. White could not be contacted for comment. Marty Ross, one of the mathematicians who uncovered exam mistakes, has been a frequent critic of the authority, writing recently that the VCAA has always had more than its fair share of clowns.

But Ross too said the delivery of the maths exams had improved dramatically as White implemented the Bennett reviews recommendation, with the plan to involve Monash University mathematicians in the exam-setting process a big development. Ross said the VCAAs attitude to criticism and feedback from educators and outside experts had improved under Whites leadership. Before Kylie White came it was a farce and after Kylie White came it was excellent, he said. Ross called on the authoritys new chief executive, Marcia Devlin, to continue the reform work. The Bennett review is still there, and a lot of things are under way, Ross said.
A four-bedroom home in Pascoe Vale South has sold to a local family for $1,655,000 in a rapid-fire auction on Saturday, the price increasing more than five-fold in less than two decades.

Seven parties braved the heat to bid on 7 Balmoral Avenue, but just three parties made offers in the end. It had a listed price guide of $1.4 million to $1.5 million.

A buyers advocate, who ended up being the underbidder, immediately placed a bid of $1.5 million, matching the propertys reserve and knocking several parties out of the race.

A second party, and the ultimate buyer, was quick to counter the opening bid with a $10,000 rise. A third party put forward offers in between but was no match for the other two bidders, who began trading $1000 bids quicker than the auctioneer could count.
Gulfstream Special Missions Awarded Significant Contract to Service U.S. Military Aircraft

SAVANNAH, Ga., Nov. 22, 2024 -- Gulfstream Aerospace Corp., a business unit of General Dynamics , has been awarded a contractor logistics support services (CLS) contract from the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center for C-20 and C-37 fleets. This contract extends over a seven-year period and provides services to the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army and U.S. Coast Guard.

"For nearly 60 years, Gulfstream has been a trusted partner to governments and military organizations worldwide, and we are honored that the U.S. Air Force has once again selected our company to support the U.S. military's fleet," said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream. "This demonstrates the strength of our world-class Customer Support network and its ability to support all of our customers' missions. Gulfstream's Special Missions business delivers cutting-edge aircraft expertly engineered for a wide range of critical operations and is currently experiencing unprecedented activity with customers around the world."

The latest CLS contract is valued at $991 million and includes a wide variety of support such as global maintenance, component overhaul, repair and modification services. Gulfstream Customer Support will perform the work at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland; Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii; Ramstein Air Base, Germany; Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay; and Naval Base Ventura County, California.

To date, Gulfstream has delivered more than 200 special missions aircraft to over 40 countries, including all branches of the U.S. military and key U.S. government agencies.

Inspired by the belief that aviation could fuel business growth, Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. invented the first purpose-built business aircraft, the Gulfstream I, which first flew in 1958. Today, more than 3,200 aircraft are in service around the world. Together with parent company General Dynamics, Gulfstream consistently invests in the future, dedicating resources to researching and developing innovative new aircraft, technologies and services. With a fleet that includes the super-midsize Gulfstream G280, the record-setting Gulfstream G650 and Gulfstream G650ER, and a next-generation family of aircraft including the category-leading Gulfstream G400, the award-winning Gulfstream G500 and Gulfstream G600, the ultralarge-cabin Gulfstream G700 and the ultralong-range Gulfstream G800, Gulfstream offers an aircraft for every mission. All are backed by the worldwide Gulfstream Customer Support network. Learn more at gulfstream.com.

Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, General Dynamics is a global aerospace and defense company that offers a broad portfolio of products and services in business aviation; ship construction and repair; land combat vehicles, weapons systems and munitions; and technology products and services. General Dynamics employs more than 100,000 people worldwide and generated $42.3 billion in revenue in 2023. More information is available at www.gd.com.

SOURCE Gulfstream Aerospace Corp.
10 Naxals eliminated





The Hitavada State Bureau SUKMA/RAIPUR,

SECURITY forces delivered a decisive blow to Maoist insurgency in Sukmas Bhejji region by eliminating 10 armed Maoists during a high-stakes encounter on Friday morning. The operation, spearheaded by the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), took place near Bhandarpadar village following precise intelligence inputs about insurgent activity in the area. The dead Maoists included prominent leader Madkam Masa, divisional military commander of the South Bastar Division, who was responsible for orchestrating multiple attacks and carried a bounty of Rs 8 lakh. Masas wife, Dudhi Hungi, a member of Platoon No. 4, was also killed in the encounter, along with Lakma Madvi, divisional small action team commander with a bounty of Rs 5 lakh. Other casualties included

Madkam Jitu and Madkam Kosi, both Platoon No. 4 members carrying Rs 2 lakh bounties each, and Masas personal guard, Kovasi Kesa. Three additional female Maoists remain unidentified, disclosed Bastar Range Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sundarraj Pattilingam. He further maintained that the elimination of Masa, a divisional military commander, is a significant setback for the Maoists, disrupting their operational capabilities and morale. His leadership was central to ambush strategies in South Bastar, making his death a critical blow to insurgent command.

According to the IGP, the insurgents belonged to the Konta and Kistaram Area Committees of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoists), notorious for their ambush tactics and offensives against security forces. The Bastar IGP further confirmed the recovery of a substantial cache of sophisticated weapons, including AK-47s, INSAS rifles, SLRs, and other advanced firearms, underscoring the Maoists operational readiness. The joint op began on November 20 when DRG and CRPF teams launched a combing mission in response to intelligence reports about Maoist movements from Odisha. The encounter erupted at 9 AM. on November 22, with security forces engaging the insurgents in the dense forests south of Bhejji police station. Following the clash, security forces intensified combing operations in the area to ensure no insurgents escaped, he encapsulated.
Develop dairy sector in Vidarbha to empower farmers: Nitin Gadkari





Business Reporter Union Minister and Agrovisions chief patron Nitin Gadkari on Friday said that Vidarbha can overcome its farmer suicide crisis if the dairy sector is developed. Gadkari said this while addressing the inaugural session of 15th Agrovision exhibition, being held at the PDKV Ground, Dabha. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav inaugurated the mega event in presence of Panjabrao Deshmukh Agricultural University Vice Chancellor Dr Sharad Gadakh, MPKV Rahuri Vice Chancellor Dr P G Patil, MAFSU Nagpur Vice Chancellor Dr Nitin Patil, Mahindra Tractors CEO Vikram Wagh, Crop Care Federation President Deepak Shah, and other dignitaries. Gadkari highlighted the significant progress made by Mother Dairy, which has established a milk processing plant in

Nagpur with an investment of Rs 538 crore. He shared that Mother Dairy currently collects five lakh liters of milk everyday from local farmers and envisioned a future where this number increases to one crore liters. Achieving such a target, he asserted, would ensure no farmer in Vidarbha resorts to suicide. In his address, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav spoke about a cow-based economy, proposing that farmers should raise calves instead of distributing cows indiscriminately. He explained that this approach would improve milk productivity and foster a sustainable agricultural economy. At the outset, Organising Secretary Ravi Boratkar emphasized Agrovisions mission to empower farmers and highlighted key sessions on dairy, orange production, and IT in agriculture. The programme concluded with the release of a directory listing all participants and a vote of thanks by Dr C D Mayee.
Indo-US scientists decode mysterious sources behind fiery hot gas around Milky Way





NEW DELHI,

(IANS) 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. 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.
lluminated





Pic by Satish Raut)

Illuminated: Shahid Gowari Smarak, Zero Mile, was decorated on Friday in preparations for Gowari Shahid Din, to be observed today. On this day in 1994, total 114 people from Gowari community were killed in a stampede while agitating for various demands, including Scheduled Tribe status during the Winter Session of Maharashtra State Assembly.
SC notice to Gujarat Govt on Asarams plea





THE Supreme Court on Friday sought response from the Gujarat Government on a plea filed by jailed self-styled godman Asaram seeking suspension of the life sentence imposed on him by a trial court in a 2013 rape case. A bench of Justices M M Sundresh and Aravind Kumar told the counsel appearing for Asaram that it would examine the issue only if there are medical grounds. We will issue notice, but we will consider only on medical conditions, the bench said while posting the matter for hearing on December 13. The Gujarat High Court on August 29 had rejected Asarams plea for the suspension of life imprisonment in the case.
Voter Turnout: Ramtek tops district with 71.80%, Nagpur (South-West) sees lowest 54.59%

By Kunaal Badge

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 pNagpur 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. olls to 58.05 per cent in Assembly elections on Wednesday.
By Alimat Aliyeva

The United States intends to sign an agreement with Fiji that will allow the deployment of US Armed Forces units on the island, Azernews reports.

"We are announcing the start of negotiations on an agreement regarding the status of the armed forces. Its conclusion will enable us to expand bilateral cooperation in defense by increasing the number of exercises and military collaborations," the Pentagon chief said.

He clarified that the agreement would allow the United States to "deploy or redeploy forces in support of Fiji and assist in conducting joint exercises with the Fijians." At the same time, he emphasized that the United States has no plans to establish a permanent military base on the island. "We have no intention of establishing any permanent base here in Fiji," Austin stated.

In addition to strengthening military ties, the agreement is also seen as part of a broader strategy to increase US influence in the Pacific region, amid growing concerns over China's expanding presence in the area. The US and Fiji have long enjoyed strong diplomatic relations, and this agreement is expected to further solidify their partnership, ensuring regional stability and security.
Counting is underway for bypolls to six Assembly constituencies in West Bengal. As per the early trends, Trinamool Congress led three of the six Assembly constituencies.

The maximum number of rounds of counting will be for Medinipur constituency in West Midnapore district at 17, followed by 14 rounds Haroa in North 24 Parganas, 12 at Sitai in Cooch Behar, 11 at Taldangra in Bankura, 10 at Naihati in North 24 Parganas and nine at Madarihat in Alipurduar.

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The three constituencies Trinamool Congress is leading as per the latest trend are Haroa, Naihati and Taldangra. While the Left Front-supported All India Secular Front (AISF) candidates are in the second position at Haroa, BJP candidates are in the second position at Naihati and Taldangra.

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The bypolls for these six Assembly constituencies were conducted on November 13 and one person died in clashes on the polling day. Bypolls were conducted at these six Assembly constituencies as their erstwhile legislators 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

This time there is a four-cornered contest involving Trinamool Congress, BJP, CPI(M)-led Left Front and Congress. This has made Trinamool Congress confident of its victory from all six constituencies because of the three-way division in the opposition votes.

The counting is going on under blanket security cover under 100 per cent Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) deployment at all the counting stations. One company of CAPF has been deployed for each of the six counting centres.

Insiders from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal said that the picture will be totally clear by 2 p.m.
After a series of incidents regarding tablet money being channeled to other accounts, under the Taruner Swapna scheme, the state government has asked all the districts to put in place several technical safeguards to protect the money under the Kanyashree scheme.

As part of this effort, the state women and child welfare department, in a letter to the National Informatics Centre (NIC), which maintains the Kanyashree portal, proposed some steps to safeguard the money parked in Kanyashree accounts. It also proposes to use passwords properly and that the software in the portal ought to be an updated version.

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The child welfare department has also suggested extra care in removing any trouble-prone or unauthorized software from the system.

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Meanwhile, after the chief ministers prod on naka checks, the state DGP, Rajeev Kumar held a meeting virtually with all the police chiefs of the districts. He is supposed to have told them to make naka checking a compulsory feature from now on.

Mr Kumar, as a source claimed, has also asked the all district police chiefs to launch a crackdown on the alleged persons found involved in illegal activities like pilferage of iron, sand and coal.
Sub-inspector Meghnad Mondal of Sripur police outpost in Jamuria has been rewarded and promoted as the new officer in-charge of Andal police station. Cancelling the earlier order of SI Manoranjan Mondal as the OC of Andal police station today, a fresh order has been issued by Sunil Kumar Choudhury, CP of Asansol Durgapur Police Commissionerate (ADPC).

Earlier, SI Manoranjan Mondal, OC of Barabani Police Station had been transferred as the new OC of Andal police station. It should be mentioned that last night SI Manoranjan Mondal was suspended for unprofessional approach and dereliction of duty by the CP of ADPC.

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Incidentally, SI Meghnad Mondal has shot to fame for his act of bravery after he prevented a daring dacoity at a jewellery showroom in Raniganj a few months ago. He fought alone with a number of heavily armed interstate dacoits and fired from close range, injuring the mastermind.

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Due to his heroic effort the entire gang was detected and most of the members were arrested and the looted jewellery seized.

It is believed that he was elevated as the OC of Andal police station for his act of bravery.
A crucial national working committee meeting of Trinamul Congress is scheduled on Monday. The main agenda of the meeting is organisational reshuffle and the partys 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.

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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.

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Chief Minister and party chairperson Mamata Banerjee and the partys 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 ministers 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 Trinamul leader who did not wish to be named.

It is further learnt that in the draft report, Abhishek Banerjee gave some suggestions to the CM suggesting a change of heads in a number of municipalities in the state, especially for those where BJPs performance was much better than the states ruling party in the Lok Sabha polls this year.

Going by that logic, party insiders added that changes in the heads of at least 69 municipalities in the state are inevitable since in those urban civic bodies, the BJP was ahead of Trinamul in terms of votes secured this year. However, insiders said that the proposed reshuffle might be incorporated in some more municipalities as well, although Trinamul Congresss performance was better there in the polls this year.
Albania officially became a member of the Single Euro Payment Area (SEPA) on November 21, 2024, the Bank of Albania (BoA) has announced.

This milestone places Albania among the first Western Balkan countries to join SEPA, a key step towards European Union (EU) membership, said BoA.

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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.

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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 US 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, Xinhua news agency reported
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.

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The ban on exports of potatoes from West Bengal will continue unless the price of the vegetable stabilises in the retail markets.

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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 Maharashtras 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.
Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva on Saturday welcomed the victory of the saffron party in Maharashtra Assembly election and the by polls in Uttar Pradesh as also its good performance in Jharkhand.

Sachdeva has said that people of the two largest states of the country have expressed their faith in the Prime Minister Narendra Modis politics of development for all. He claimed that partys election slogan Ek Hain Tou Safe Hain has been widely appreciated and supported by the people irrespective of their caste and backgrounds.

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He further mentioned that people have clearly shown that they do not support caste-based politics, and are in favor of all inclusive politics of the saffron party. Delhi BJP president said that as the party leaders and workers go amongst the people of the national capital, it has been seen that they have made up their minds to give Delhi a double engine government.

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He said that the poll results in Maharashtra and UP, are on one hand a boost for party cadre in Delhi, while on the other hand it has further strengthened the resolve of the residents of the city to bring BJP government in future.
Released on November 15, Vikrant Masseys The Sabarmati Report has taken over the nation. It has stirred a dialogue around the incident it chronicles. Based on the 2002 Godhra Riots, the film narrates the tragic incident of the burning of the Sabarmati Express harbouring devotees returning from Ayodhya. The fatal incident culminated in the riots of 2002 in Godhra. Ektaa Kapoor has backed the title with Dheeraj Sarna at the helm. The title also stars Raashii Khanna and Ridhi Dogra in the lead roles. Since, its release, the film has received laurels from several politicians including Union Home Minister, Amit Shah. Additionally, several states have declared the film tax-free.

On Friday, Home Minster Amit Shah met the team behind the gripping film that narrates one of the most important events in the countrys history. He also shared a photograph from his meeting on social media. Shah captioned the post, Met the team of The Sabarmati Report and congratulated them for their courage to narrate the truth. The film exposes the lies and the misleading facts to unveil the truth that was suppressed for a long time to meet political interests. #SabarmatiReport.

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Met the team of The Sabarmati Report and congratulated them for their courage to narrate the truth. Advertisement The film exposes the lies and the misleading facts to unveil the truth that was suppressed for a long time to meet political interests. #SabarmatiReport pic.twitter.com/ldauUqJnGu  Amit Shah (@AmitShah) November 22, 2024



Previously, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath attended the films screening with the cast in Lucknow. Praising the film, he said, Vikrant Massey and his team have made a commendable effort. I express my heartfelt gratitude on behalf of Uttar Pradesh. The people of the country have the right to know the truth about the efforts made to create animosity in society. We will make this film tax-free in the state to promote it further.

Additionally, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant attended the films screening at the ongoing International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. After watching the film on Thursday, he wished luck to Ektaa Kapoor and the whole team of the film via a phone call through producer Mahaveer Jain. He said, I really liked the filmits extremely good. You have presented the film in a proper manner. Huge congratulations.

Subsequently, he declared The Sabarmati Report tax-free in Goa. Sawant told ANI, After watching this movie, I am considering making it tax-free in Goa; we will implement this decision in a few days. Very few filmmakers focus on real facts, and this film is based on a true incident. I congratulate the producer and actors for their commendable work.

Also Read: Imtiaz Ali retracts statement about sending back Highway crew member for hovering around Alia

Moreover, on November 17, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also lauded the film for bringing out the truth. Sharing a tweet that listed why the film is a must-watch, he agreed with the arguments. Well said. It is good that this truth is coming out, and that too in a way common people can see it. A fake narrative can persist only for a limited period of time. Eventually, the facts will always come out!
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday expressing confidence regarding the upcoming Delhi Assembly polls claimed that his party will make history by once again forming its government in the national capital. He claimed that the Delhiites will choose the Delhi model development introduced by AAP and elect his party once again.

Taking a dig at the other political parties, he said that those who used to condemn the free services given by AAP government to people and called them Revris, are now themselves including similar things in their election manifestos.

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AAP national convener termed its victory in three out of four seats in the Punjab bypolls on Saturday as a semi-final for upcoming Delhi Assembly elections as well, asserting that his party is on its way for another mandate in the national capital. He claimed that people of Punjab have chosen the party on these three seats, which clearly shows that the AAP dispensation is doing good work, and in 2027 they will again elect his party to power.

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According to the AAP chiefs claims, during the past decade the party has proven the Delhi model of governance which emphasizes on making the common mans life easier. Elaborating on the Delhi model of governance, he hit out at the other political parties alleging that no other party earlier thought about common mans day to day life convenience and ease of living.

He claimed that the AAP made Delhis infrastructure better during the past decade, and also made 38 new flyovers in Delhi during the past ten years. Slowly Delhis development done by AAP, also reached Punjab and the state started witnessing works being done like in Delhi.

Taking to social media platform X, Kejriwal thanked people of Punjab stating, The people of Punjab have once again expressed their faith in the ideology of the Aam Aadmi Party and the work of our government by giving three out of four seats to the Aam Aadmi Party in the by-elections. Many thanks to the people of Punjab and many congratulations to everyone.
The ruling BJP is leading in seven out of nine assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh whereas the Samajwadi Party had retained the Sisamau seat in Kanpur and was leading in Karhal seat in Mainpuri.

During the counting of votes in the Phulpur seat of Prayagraj, there was a clash between BJP and SP-BSP workers in Mundera Mandi. SP workers also had an altercation with BJP candidate Deepak Patel and chairs were thrown at each other.

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Due to tremendous uproar at the counting venue, counting of votes was halted for half an hour. Heavy force is deployed there.

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In the Sisamau assembly seat in Kanpur, Naseem Solanki of the Samajwadi Party (SP) won by a margin of over 8,600 votes.

SP candidate Naseem Solanki has got 69,666 votes, while BJP candidate Suresh Awasthi has got 6,1037 votes. BSP candidate Birendra Shukla has secured 1,409 votes. There was a celebratory atmosphere in SP, workers shouted slogans and burst fireworks.

In the counting in the Phulpur seat, BJPs Deepak was leading by over 5,000 votes against the SP candidate.

However, a see-saw battle was witnessed in Katehari assembly seat where after 13 rounds of counting, the BJP candidate was leading by over 1,900 votes after trailing in the earlier rounds.

The counting of votes commenced at 8 AM and trends started pouring in after an hour.

After the 20th round of vote counting in Karhal seat in Mainpuri, BJP candidate Anujesh Yadav is now lagging behind SP by 17,964 votes. SP candidate Tej Pratap Yadav has received 70,632 votes so far. At the same time, Anujesh Yadav has secured 52,668 votes. BSP candidate Avneesh has got only 4,811 votes so far.

In the Khair assembly seat of Aligarh, BJP is leading against the SP candidate after 16 rounds of counting. BJPs Surendra Diler has received 60,988 votes while SPs Charu Kane has got 35,965 votes. BSPs Dr. Pahal Singh has received 8,877 votes. Nitin Kumar Chautel of Azad Samaj Party (Kanshiram) has got 5,133 votes.

In Ghaziabad assembly by-elections, after 17 rounds of counting, BJP  Sanjeev Sharma has received 63,848 votes against his SP rival Singh Raj Jatav , who got just 21,283 votes.

In Meerapur Assembly seat of Muzaffarnagar, RLD candidate Mithlesh Pal is ahead by 18,847 votes against SP candidate Sumbul Rana after 13 rounds of counting.

BJPs lead continues in Majhwan seat of Mirzapur. Samajwadi Party is in second place.

After 18 rounds of counting, the BJP candidate is leading by 1,003 votes.

Shuchismita Maurya of BJP has received 44,393 votes while SPs Dr Jyoti Bind got 43,390 votes . BSP Candidate Dipu Tiwari also received 19,005 votes so far.

In Kundarki seat of Moradabad, BJP candidate Ramveer Singh has left SP behind by a huge margin.

BJP got a total of 82,503 votes, while SP candidate Mohammad Rizwan got only 7,935 votes. BJP has got the lead by a huge margin of 74,568 votes.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and BJPs CM face Devendra Fadnavis has won the Nagpur South-West constituency with a resounding victory, according to the state assembly election results declared here on Saturday.

As soon as the result came in, BJP leader Pravin Darekar demanded that Fadnavis must be the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra because the party which secures the highest number of seats is entitled to get the states Chief Ministers post.

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Devendra Fadnavis, the Deputy Chief Minister of the state, who is a candidate from the South-West Nagpur assembly constituency, contested for the sixth time. Right from the beginning, the counting trend favoured him. After that, according to the numbers, his lead only kept growing until it became amply clear that he won decisively. On the other hand, the opposition Congress candidate Prafulla Guddhe has faced a huge defeat.

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Speaking on the occasion on Friday, he gave all credit for his victory to supporters of the BJP-backed Mahayuti and its allies. Devendra Fadnavis retained his lead by 12,009 votes from his South-West assembly constituency at the end of the sixth round.

Fadnavis plans to leave Mumbai and go to his residence in Nagpur. Earlier during the day, a video which went viral showed him speaking to his mother, Sarita Fadnavis, who had called him up to congratulate him. I will come in the evening. I will finish everything here and come by evening. I will let you know. Thank you, please give me your blessings, Fadnavis was heard telling his mother in Marathi.

Fadnavis has written a new chapter in the history of politics in Maharashtra. BJP has bagged a majority three times in a row in 2014, 2019 and now in 2024. No leader in Maharashtra has pulled off such a spectacular hat trick so far.

Fadnavis was Maharashtra Chief Minister in 2014, but in 2019, Uddhav Thackeray managed to be the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Yet, Fadnavis revived the party and proved himself to be an aggressive opposition leader in Maharashtra. He accepted the post of the Deputy Chief Minister after the BJP top brass ordered him to do so.

During this election campaign, all the parties in the Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA) and their entire ecosystem targeted Devendra Fadnavis alone, but todays results showed how the people of Maharashtra eventually voted.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has apprehended a Liberian national who arrived from Sierra Leone at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai on Friday.

During examination of the passengers trolley bag, DRI officers noted that it was unusually heavy. A thorough inspection revealed two packets containing a white powdery substance which was ingeniously concealed in the false bottom of the trolley bag, a press statement said.

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Field tests confirmed the substance to be cocaine, weighing a total of 3,496 grams, with an estimated illicit market value of approximately Rs 34.96 crore.

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The passenger has been arrested, and the investigation is ongoing. The DRI is committed to dismantling drug trafficking syndicates and ensuring the safety of our citizens from the drug menace, it added.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday hailed the BJP-led Mahayutis strong performance in the assembly elections, thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP chief J P Nadda and all workers of the alliance.

As per official Election Commission (EC) trends, the Mahayuti is set to form the government, with the BJP leading in 130 seats, followed by its allies Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction), leading in 55 and 40 seats, respectively. Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, an ecstatic Shinde said, I thank all the workers of Mahayuti. PM Modi, Amit Shah bhai, Nadda ji  all supported us. They gave priority to Maharashtra. I am proud that I have been proven right about what I had said that we will win 200 seats. We (Mahayuti) fought like a team Advertisement

BJP leader Kirit Somaiya also lauded the Mahayutis performance, asserting that people have supported PM Modis Ek hai toh safe hai call.

Advertisement He said, People slammed land jihad, love jihad, and vote jihad and supported PM Modis Ek hai toh safe hai Uddhav Thackerays army betrayed the people of Maharashtra in 2019 All the BJP leaders are very happy. Under the leadership of Devendra Fadnavis, the BJP has achieved a historic victory in Maharashtra with the blessings of PM Narendra Modi. Union Minister Ramdas Athawale also thanked the people of Maharashtra for the big victory and gave its credit to PM Modis development works.

People have voted in large numbers in favour of Mahayuti, and we have got over 200 seats, so this is a big victory for us. I express my gratitude to the people of Maharashtra. The reason for the victory is the development role of PM Modi and the decisions taken by the Maharashtra government in the last 2.5 years We are confident that we can get up to 225-230 seats, Athawale said. Meanwhile, posters depicting BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis as the Chief Minister have surfaced in Washim city.

Fadnavis, widely seen as the frontrunner for the CMs post following BJPs strong show, is currently leading from the Nagpur South West constituency by 24,593 votes over Congress candidate Prafulla Vinodrao Gudadhe. With the Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) struggling in the state, leading in only 19 seats each, and the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) trailing with 14 seats, the Mahayuti alliance is poised for a landslide victory.
Hailing the BJP-led Mahayuti alliances win in Maharashtra assembly polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the state has witnessed the triumph of development, good governance and genuine social justice.

Today, development, good governance and true social justice has won in Maharashtra. At the same time, today lies, deceit and fraud have been badly defeated in Maharashtra. Divisive forces have been defeated, negative politics has been defeated, today nepotism has been defeated, Modi said.

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Today, the forces of deception, divisive politics, and family dynasty have been defeated! Today, Maharashtra has strengthened its resolve for a developed India. I congratulate and applaud all BJP and NDA workers across the country, the Prime Minister said while addressing party workers and leaders at the BJP headquarters here after the results of Assembly elections in Maharashtra, Jharkhand and bypolls were announced.

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Talking about the results of bypolls across 48 assembly and two Lok Sabha seats in 15 states, the Prime Minister said the BJP has increased its strength.

PM Modi said that Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan have given strong support to the BJP adding that the people of Assam have once again expressed confidence in BJP.

We have got success in Madhya Pradesh also. NDAs support has increased in Bihar also. This shows that the country now wants only development, the Prime Minister said.

Mentioning about Jharkhand in his address, the Prime Minister said: I bow to the people of Jharkhand. We will work even harder for the rapid development of Jharkhand, and every single BJP worker will contribute their utmost efforts towards this goal.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday stated that the bypoll results demonstrate the absence of any anti-incumbency sentiment among the people. The results, he said, prove that the propaganda suggesting anti-government sentiment has failed to influence the public.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Chief Minister Vijayan noted that the people did not accept the propaganda and violence at face value.

He emphasized that the election result in Chelakkara reflects recognition of the governments policies and will further strengthen public support for the government. Despite organized propaganda and attacks, the people gave the Left Democratic Front (LDF) a decisive victory in Chelakkara constituency.

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In Palakkad, more voters supported the LDF compared to previous elections. Although the United Democratic Front (UDF) managed to retain Palakkad with the support of communal forces, the LDF candidate received more votes than before, he remarked.

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This mandate will energize the LDF government to intensify its development and welfare initiatives in the coming days, the Chief Minister added.

Meanwhile, LDF convener TP Ramakrishnan alleged that the UDF secured Palakkad seat by aligning with communal forces.

He pointed out that the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) was the first to celebrate the UDFs victory in Palakkad.

Ramakrishnan further cautioned that both minority communalism and majority communalism pose serious threats to the nation.
Following the electoral debacle of Congress in Assembly elections BRS working president KT Rama Rao slammed the party for its inability to stand up against the BJP and claimed that the regional parties continue to be the future of India. He also took a dig at chief minister A Revanth Reddy saying since all his efforts to rescue his party had been futile he must now concentrate on Telangana and fulfill the poll promises.

In a lengthy post on the micro-blogging site X Rao wrote, Todays Maharashtra and Jharkhand election results have sent a clear message: Regional parties have always been and will continue to be the future of Indian politics.

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In the same post,he then slammed the Congress, blaming it for trying to destroy the regional parties.Congress party fails to become a strong opposition but is hellbent on destroying regional parties. This has become a recurring theme, he added.

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Blaming the Congress for failing to stop the BJP, he said,  I reiterate, BJP is surviving only because of Congresss inability and incompetence. Both the national parties are shamelessly piggybacking on regional parties hardwork and commitment.

The BRS leader also lashed out at the chief minister who was his partys star campaigner in Maharashtra. He wrote, Also, a word of advice to chief minister Revanth Reddy. Your campaigns, speeches, bags and choppers couldnt save your party from utter failure, now can you focus on your primary duty as the CM and deliver the six guarantees that you promised to Telangana public more than a year ago?
The BJP-backed Mahayutis landslide victory in the Maharashtra assembly elections has surprised both the Mahayuti as well as the Congress-backed Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA).

The Mahayuti candidates are pleasantly surprised by the sheer scale of their landslide victory which seems to be unexpected.

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The victorious Mahayuti held a press conference here on Saturday after their impressive victory. Speaking along with NCP chief Ajit Pawar and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde said, This election has decided to whom the Shiv Sena and the NCP belong, Shinde and Ajit Pawar said.

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However, on the sidelines of the event, a BJP candidate who won with a good margin said that though he expected to win, he was taken aback by the increase in the margin of votes which decided his victory.

On the other hand, the top leaders of the MVA like Shiv Senas Uddhav Thackeray, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-Sharad Pawar) as well as the Congress are nowhere to be seen and their phones seem to be switched off.

The Congress has yet to issue any official statement, but has called for a press conference at 7.30 PM on Saturday, while the NCP (SP) spokesperson has stated that an official statement will be released later.

The few Congress workers who were willing to speak off the record, said that they are in a state of shock and disbelief after the completely unexpected drubbing they received at the hands of the BJP-backed Mahayuti alliance.

Incidentally, even a senior Congress leader like Balasaheb Thorat has lost from Sangamner constituency by 10,560 votes, which is a setback for the eight-time Congress MLA. Thorat has been winning the polls since 1985.

The result has surprised us because we worked really hard to convince the people to vote for us. Defeats and victory always happens in every election, but the massive landslide in favour of the Mahayuti has really surprised us. We will have to introspect and figure out where we went wrong before we decide on what to do next. We plan to do a detailed analysis of the result, a Congress worker said.

However, Congress leader Supriya Shrinate pointed to the timing of the election announcements, claiming that the delaye poll allowed the Mahayuti to roll out schemes like the Ladki Bahin Yojana to sway voters.

Maharashtra results have been disappointing. We want to discuss more about EVMs and the way Maharashtra elections were postponed. Our campaign was good, but maybe the public expects more from us, and we will deliver on their expectations, Shrinate said.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena is yet to make any official statement. Yet, commenting on the poll outcome, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey called for introspection, stating that the party might have made some mistakes. He admitted that they failed to anticipate the sheer scale of the landslide Mahayuti victory.

We could not recognise this tsunami. In a democracy, the public is the most important. We respect the decision of the public and congratulate those who formed the government in Maharashtra. We need to introspect where we went wrong. Our manifesto was very good, we talked about all sections of the society, Dubey said.
In another electoral battle between the NDA and the INDIA bloc, the NDA has put up an impressive show in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar and Assam assembly bypolls.

The counting of votes for by-polls,, which were held for 48 Assembly and two Lok Sabha seats across 15 states, was held today. The by-polls were held on November 13 and 20.

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BJP dominated Uttar Pradesh bypolls by winning six of the nine Assembly seats with ally RLD winning the seventh, while the Samajwadi Party won two seats.

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In Rajasthan bypolls, the BJP won five assembly seats while the Congress won one, BAP retained Chorasi while RLP lost in its bastion in Khimsar. The saffron party registered victory in Ramgarh, Deoli Uniara, Khinvsar, Jhunjhunu and Salumber, while Congress has won Dausa and the BAP has retained its Chorasi seat.

The ruling NDA has achieved a sweeping victory in the bye-elections for all four Assembly seats in Bihar. The polling for the bye-elections on November 13 for the four Assembly seats in Bihar was conducted smoothly, registering an average voter turnout of 52.84 per cent. In the Tarari Assembly constituency, BJP candidate Vishal Prashant emerged victorious. Similarly, BJPs Ashok Kumar Singh secured the Ramgarh seat by a margin of 1,362 votes after 12 rounds of counting.

Deepa Kumari, the daughter-in-law of Hindustani Awam Morcha-Secular chief Jitan Ram Manjhi, won the tightly-contested Imamganj Assembly seat. In Belaganj, JD(U) candidate Manorma Devi emerged victorious.

The ruling BJP-led NDA alliance registered a remarkable victory in Assam by-polls by winning all the five seats in the state.

The BJP won three constituencies  Dholai, Behali and Samaguri seat. BJPs ally Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) won the Bongaigaon Assembly seat. Another ally of the ruling party, United Peoples Party Liberal (UPPL) registered its win in the Sidli Assembly seat.

By-polls were held for nine Assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh, seven seats in Rajasthan, six in West Bengal, five seats in Assam, four each in Bihar and Punjab, three seats in Karnataka, two each in Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Sikkim. Assembly by-polls were also held on one seat each in Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Meghalaya and Uttarakhand.

Bye-elections were conducted for Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in Kerala and Nanded Lok Sabha seat in Maharashtra.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said the people of Punjab have once again reposed their faith in his party after it won three out of the four seats in the Assembly by-polls there.

Elated over the partys performance in Punjab, Kejriwal in a post on X wrote, People of Punjab have once again reposed faith in the ideology of AAP and the work of our government by giving three out of four seats in the bye-election. The former Delhi chief minister expressed his gratitude to the people of Punjab for the partys performance.

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Reacting to the partys performance in the Assembly by-polls, senior AAP leader and MP Raghav Chadha said the peoples trust is growing stronger under the leadership of Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

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Heartfelt congratulations to all AAP Punjab volunteers and supporters on winning three seats in the Assembly by-polls. Under the visionary leadership of Arvind Kejriwal ji and Bhagwant Mann ji, the peoples trust in our welfare policies and honest politics is growing stronger. Onwards to greater victories, he wrote on X.

Senior AAP leader and former Delhi Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia credited Kejriwal and Mann for the partys victory. AAPs win in Punjab by-polls is the result of Bhagwant Manns hard work and Arvind Kejriwals honest politics and leadership. The people of Punjab have given a clear message- now only politics of work will prevail, not lies and corruption, he wrote on X.

AAP MP Sandeep Pathak in a post on X said, Many congratulations to the people of Punjab and all the party workers for the spectacular victory in the Punjab by-polls.
In a criticism of the parivarthan yatra announced by the BJP, Delhi Congress president Devendra Yadav has termed the move as an inspiration from the success of Nyay Yatra.

He said, Rattled by the tremendous success of the Delhi Nyay Yatra, the top leadership of the BJP has directed the Delhi unit of BJP to take out a parivartan yatra before the Delhi Assembly elections.

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But Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva, similar to Arvind Kejriwal, is not in a position to meet the people and answer their questions, as they were partners in destroying the capital along with Kejriwal, the Congress leader said.

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Yadav alleged that the BJP leaders stayed silent while Congress leaders and workers came out on the streets to launch protests when Kejriwal implemented the liquor policy, and they also remained at home when the common people of the city battled a survival game during the Covid-19 pandemic while the Congress workers and leaders came out on the street to provide relief and relief material to the helpless people.

Criticizing the AAP government, Yadav claimed that the NGT has imposed a 25 crore fine on MCD and DJB for failing to check pollution in the Yamuna river is another blow on the government as its revadi culture only helped Kejriwal make money through illegal methods, and not in solving serious civic issues of the Capital.
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah has proposed a comprehensive five-year plan aimed at boosting the financial capacity of sugar mills, with a target of increasing their funding to 25,000 crore. This strategic initiative is expected to enhance the growth and sustainability of the sugar industry, ensuring improved financial stability and supporting the sectors long-term development. He also asked to explore deep-sea trawlers in coastal states like Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala.

Addressing the 91st General Council meeting of the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) here, he said under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the central government is committed to improving the standard of life of crores of farmers through the cooperative sector. He said that the government is committed to bringing positive change in the lives of citizens of the country through the cooperative movement. He said the Modi government is working to make the country self-reliant through cooperation, and the NCDC has an important role in this direction.

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He lauded the NCDCs contributions to the cooperative movement, emphasising its pivotal role in transforming the lives of millions of cooperatives. He said that the success of the NCDC is reflected not only in its disbursement crossing 60,000 crore but also in its ability to positively impact the rural economy and the cooperative sector at large.

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Emphasising the importance of White Revolution 2.0, Shah called for a special focus on promoting Milk Cooperative Unions in the North Eastern states. He highlighted the need for collaboration between the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and the NCDC to establish milk producers associations. Shah said that these organisations should work together to provide financial assistance, with the initial phase of milk production being overseen by the NDDB. The initiative, he stated, would not only drive the White Revolution forward but also play a significant role in empowering tribal communities and women.

He said the Ministry of Cooperation has introduced the Cooperative Intern scheme, with NCDC as the implementing agency. The scheme aims to help state and district cooperative banks align with central government schemes and strengthen Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS).
GUEST OPINION: This has been a year of significant technological progress, with businesses making bold moves to modernise and adapt in 2024. Many organisations have moved away from outdated practices, embracing fresh ideas to stay competitive. The message is clear: keeping pace with change is no longer optional.

Looking ahead to 2025, there are six key priorities for Australian businesses navigating the complexities of the digital age.

Cybersecurity: Everyone's job

Managing cyber risk at all levels of the workforcenot restricting it to just the top organisational levelshould be a priority for security leaders in 2025. This involves the democratisation of cybersecurity, making everyone in an organisation responsible for its defence. The benefits go beyond stronger security and increased resilience; they can lead to cost savings, better efficiency, and even innovation in security practices.

To make this work, organisations must move beyond traditional once-a-year training sessions. Continuous security engagement programs are essential, along with giving employees access to the right self-service tools and resources. This is crucial because the biggest challenge to democratising security is poorly equipped employees and ill-defined processes.

Embracing a distributed governance model for compliance

Multiple regulations and their related, year-round audits will soon force privacy and compliance leaders to implement a distributed compliance framework to ensure pervasive compliance. This approach recognises that compliance is a shared responsibility that touches every department within an organisation instead of relying solely on a central compliance team.

The central compliance team is primarily responsible for program management. The team should have a pulse of what's happening in the industry and map the requirements evolving out of relevant regulations and standards. This helps the central compliance team keep leadership updated about the evolving landscape and macro-challenges posed.

On the other hand, execution of the compliance program should be broad, empowering business functions at all levels. Each team and business function should understand risk management and use it consistently to address non-conformities flagged during audits as well as for root cause analysis of incidents.

When teams are well-equipped, compliance is no longer seen as a hindrance but as a strategic tool that supports business growth. A distributed governance model ensures that compliance controls are practical and relevant, avoiding the pitfalls of overengineering or rigid, task-driven processes.

Finally, friction is reduced between the central compliance function and other business functions.

Reengineering experiences for customers and employees

Customers and employees are the greatest assets to an organisation. Every interaction they havewhether its with a human or a machineshapes their overall experience and directly impacts the organisations success. As expectations evolve and technology advances, reengineering these experiences has become a strategic imperative for leaders aiming to drive transformation and ensure long-term growth.

Modern users expect ease of use, availability, consistency, proactive updates, contactless digital interactions, and open feedback channels. Meeting these demands often requires reimagining an organisations existing technology architecture, addressing scalability and compatibility issues, and adopting cutting-edge technologies like AI and advanced analytics. These tools can provide actionable insights, customise workflows, and support seamless interactions.

However, reengineering comes with its challenges. Organisations must carefully consider the context, including their size and the potential productivity impact during the transition. Another challenge would be ensuring IT security while at the same time ensuring those measures don't hinder or impact the user experience.

However, reengineering ultimately fulfils the primary purpose of the business by enhancing employee engagement and customer satisfaction.

Outcome-driven IT

Modern-day enterprises are powered by IT, which now occupies a place at the top of the management table, not as a back-office function. Any failure that results in services being unavailable or disrupted can result in huge business implications. Yet, in some quarters, IT is still considered a cost centre rather than a contributor to business profits.

To change this perception, IT leaders must clearly articulate the value IT brings to the business or risk shrinking budgets. While dashboards provide metrics that point to the operational performance of a technology, they dont always present a clear case for the business benefits derived. That clarity can be gained by aligning IT with operational efficiency, business velocity, and opportunity costs.

In 2025, CIOs need to focus on KPIs and metrics that provide a direct link to the business outcomes that depend on them. For instance, in the healthcare industry where there is constant focus on safeguarding data and compliance management, metrics that track user behaviour and anomalies are most vital since they all affect business operations.

Scaling up AI usage

The pursuit of digital maturity is reshaping how businesses are operating, and AI is playing a pivotal role in it. The past few years were significant for AI, as a lot of enterprises ran pilots to harness its capabilities. Looking ahead to 2025, the focus is shifting toward scaling AI implementations and realising tangible returns on investment.

AI will also take centre stage in cybersecurity. With attacks becoming more sophisticated by leveraging AI, traditional cybersecurity measures may not be enough to defend against them. This is where investing in AI for defence becomes crucial. Investing in augmented AI is also becoming increasingly important as it can significantly enhance employee productivity. Additionally, we can expect to see more LLMs being utilised in the enterprise setting. These LLMs will be equipped with agents that can make real-time API calls and augment their generative capabilities.

To realise all this, it's crucial for companies to have a solid data strategy in place. This includes streamlining relevant processes and ensuring that they are in sync with that strategy. CIOs must prioritise data sovereignty and data preparationoperating on encrypted dataas these foundational elements will be the backbone of AI-driven innovation.

Embracing sustainability

Investments into GPUs are skyrocketing as they play a critical role in training deep learning models and supporting faster computing. However, their energy requirements, which are difficult to maintain and constitute massive carbon footprints, call for immediate intervention.

Sustainability reduces environmental harm, appeals to eco-conscious customers, ensures regulatory compliance, and enhances operational efficiency. In 2025, sustainability will become a strategic priority for businesses looking to differentiate themselves in the market.

In the digital world, a sustainable outlook reduces the environmental damage inflicted by such advanced technologies, meets the demands of environmentally conscious customers, helps adhere to compliance standards, and improves efficiency, making it a key competitive differentiator and a strategic priority for organisations in 2025.

Regardless of the challenges involved in incorporating sustainability into existing business operations, organisations can still make meaningful progress toward environmental responsibility by conducting internal environmental audits, raising their investments to explore alternate energy sources, and gaining carbon credits.

By strategically prioritising the aspects above, enterprises will be empowered to secure their business posture, gain a competitive advantage, and enhance their operational efficiency as the digital realm continues driving forward.
The Government of India has approved a one-time special relaxation for automatic provisional empanelment of successful bidders from the Batch-III e-auction under FM Policy (Phase-III).

This relaxation, effective immediately upon the operationalization of their radio channels, grants provisional empanelment with the Central Bureau of Communications (CBC) for six months or until they qualify for regular empanelment under existing guidelines, a statement from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting stated.

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During this provisional period, the base rate applicable to Private FM Radio stations without Indian Readership Survey (IRS) data will be applied. The initiative aims to provide immediate revenue benefits to radio operators in new cities, encouraging them to start operations promptly.

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This decision is expected to accelerate the rollout of Private FM Radio services, ensuring broader access to radio broadcasting across the country. It reflects the Governments ongoing commitment to enhancing the Ease of Doing Business in India by providing operational support and fostering a growth-friendly environment for the broadcasting sector, read the release.
BJPs spectacular victory in the by-elections for nine assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh indicates that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths call for religious unity and avoiding caste divisions has worked wonders.

The BJP won 7 of the 9 seats, wresting the Kundarki and Katehari assembly seats from the Samajwadi Party (SP), while retaining all its own and NDA partner seats. The SP, however, managed to retain the Sisamau and Karhal seats.

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Political experts believe that voters have endorsed Yogis slogan Batenge to Katenge (If we divide, we will be cut). Unlike the Lok Sabha elections, the OBCs and Dalits, who had distanced themselves from the BJP, now seem to have rallied behind the party.

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The results show that Dalits did not vote for the SP as they did in the Lok Sabha elections. Besides, Congresss detachment from these elections harmed the SP and benefited the BJP.

Yogi Adityanaths slogan Batenge to Katenge, which originated in Uttar Pradesh, also resonated in the Maharashtra elections.

BJP made a historic lead in the Kundarki seat of Moradabad, which has 64% minority voters, marking its first win in this seat since 1992. The caste and social dynamics were not in BJPs favour, yet the results indicate Kundarki that Muslims also voted for the BJP candidate. SPs defeat in the Muslim-dominated seat raises questions about the traditional vote bank of the Samajwadi Party.

Unlike the Lok Sabha elections, religious unity was a key theme in the by-elections for the nine seats in UP. Yogi Adityanath personally led the campaign, emphasising religious unity at every small and big rally. If we divide, we will be divided, reflected the BJPs consistent ideology of promoting Hindu unity. In these elections, the slogan had a stronger impact, with voters prioritising religion over caste, as reflected in the election results.

CM Yogi Adityanath prominently raised the issue of Hindu unity not only in UP but also in the Maharashtra and Jharkhand elections. This slogan appeared to have a significant impact in Maharashtra, where the CM consistently appealed to voters not to base their decisions on caste. Other BJP leaders also campaigned along the same lines.

Experts also acknowledged that, unlike the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP did not appear overconfident in this election. The party selected candidates based on social engineering and devised tailored strategies for each seat. A series of meetings were held to ensure that party workers did not become complacent. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) also played an important role in shaping public opinion in favour of the BJP.

The issues of caste census and the Constitution were notably absent in the UP by-elections. Congresss distance from these elections also had an impact on the state. Rahul Gandhi, who prominently raised issues like the Constitution and caste census, was completely missing from the UP campaign. With no alliance between the SP and Congress, the latter distanced itself from the state. In addition to national leaders, local Congress leaders were also absent from the SPs election campaign.
On 20 November 2024, Japan hosted a gathering of senior enlisted members from the Five Eyes intelligence partnership in Tokyo. It was for the first time a non-member state did so, in a move that highlights the growing cooperation between Tokyo and its Western allies amid shared concerns about a rapidly deteriorating international security environment. The Five Eyes grouping comprises of the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand and the meeting was a part of a broader conference among senior enlisted personnel from across the Self Defense Forces.

The objective of Japan hosting the meeting was to have a greater understanding of the situation and achieve its goal of promoting Tokyos vision of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. It was for the first time such a meeting took place outside a Five Eyes country. Japan was however involved earlier in such a gathering when the SDF personnel were invited to a similar conference of Canadian senior enlisted members in October 2024. Such gatherings are important as personnel at this level perform key duties, including providing critical advice to commanders.

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Personnel sit together, compare notes, and realise that all face the same challenges, and thus create interoperability with partners and like-minded nations. The aim is to improve information-sharing networks. What adds significance to the Tokyo gathering is that Japan has long stated its interest in becoming the sixth member of the intelligence partnership. What drives Tokyo to show invigorated interest is because of a growing threat from Chinas growing military and cyber capabilities. Japans threat perception stems from its vulnerabilities and standing on the frontline strategic challenges facing the region and thus it feels that by comparing notes with like-minded countries, they can mutually benefit. The Five Eyes members recognise Japan can offer the intelligence grouping the use of its information gathering capabilities, particularly in the field of electronic surveillance, along with its insights into Asian geopolitics.

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As the threat perceptions continue to grow over the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea, there are increasing calls for the United States and Japan to increase intelligence sharing to better prepare for the possibility of a regional conflict. The on-going Ukraine crisis is another driver where a collective intelligence response has become a necessity. Indeed, the rise of an assertive China in the Indo-Pacific provides a growing rationale for Tokyos accession to the group. Japans inclusion would therefore be a logical progression, considering the already existing intelligence-sharing apparatus Tokyo has with Australia, France, Britain, and the U.S., and the on-going negotiations with Canada on an information-sharing pact.

If Japan formally joins the Five Eyes group, Tokyo would have to adopt several Five Eyes standards in terms of personnel clearance and vetting, information classification and information sharing. It would also have to convince the other members that its domestic counter-intelligence measures and new legislation can sufficiently protect state secrets. Tokyo has already made important strides in this direction. It has pledged to beef up its cyber-defences and introduce a bill in parliament that would craft a new security clearance system. However, the government is expected to postpone submission of such a bill until next year, as introducing legislation at this time for an active cyber-defense system allowing for pre-emptive actions against cyber-attacks, after the Liberal Democratic Party-led blocs dismal performance in the Lower House election, which clipped Prime Minister Shigeru Ishibas political capital, may be difficult.

The main trigger for Japan to think of joining the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance is Chinas muscle-flexing activities, which is stoking tensions in the region. What is the Five Eyes and what are the benefits and risks of bringing Japan on board? It started as an intelligence exchange agreement between the US and Britain in 1943 and formally became the UKUSA Agreement in 1946. The agreement was then extended to Canada in 1948, and Australia and New Zealand in 1956. This long-running collaboration has been particularly useful for sharing signal intelligence, or intelligence gathered from communications and information systems. The groups focus has shifted over time, from targeting the USSR during the Cold War, to Islamist terrorism after the September 11 attacks in 2001, to the rising challenge from China today.

Why has Japan shown interest in joining the Five Eyes alliance? It is relevant to note that Japan has a history of having a robust intelligence infrastructure in place. Japan has a significant intelligence tradition. After the Meiji Restoration of 1868, the imperial Japanese army and navy, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs developed extensive intelligence networks. These aided the rise of the Japanese empire in its wars against China, Russia and eventually the Western allies in World War II. After the war, Japans intelligence services were revamped by the Occupation forces. Japan has since been an important base of operations for US intelligence operations in Asia, particularly by military intelligence, the CIA and the National Security Agency.

The Japanese intelligence community now comprises a range of services, including the Ministry of Defences Directorate for Signals Intelligence, which provides expertise in regional signals intelligence. Given Japans proximity to China, North Korea, and Russia, Japan may well be an attractive addition to the Five Eyes alliance. Besides its long-running collaboration with the US, Japan signed an Information Security Agreement with Australia in 2012. At the end of 2016, the US, Japan and Australia signed a similar trilateral agreement deepening the extent of covert security cooperation. Despite the fact that the Five Eyes group often cooperated with the intelligence services of Japan on an ad hoc basis, there had so far been reluctance among the Five Eyes members to formally broaden the alliance.

The US felt that Japan lacked overseas experience and therefore had doubts about the security and reliability of the Japanese intelligence community. In 2013, the Shinzo Abe government passed a controversial Designated State Secrets Law to reduce these vulnerabilities and present Japan as a more valuable security partner. The ensuing revamp of the intelligence services, under firmer central direction of a National Security Council, has reformed Japans capabilities to some extent. It is a question of time that Japan joins the Five Eyes as the sixth member.

(The writer is former Senior Fellow at MP-IDSA and PMML, New Delhi. He is also former ICCR Chair Professor at Reitaku University, Japan)
Small rivers have been getting depleted and sometimes simply vanishing in many parts of the country. This has aggravated the problem of floods as well as droughts, as people are denied access to their water in drought years and during floods, rain water which would have flowed into these rivers instead turns towards human habitations. Keeping in view these problems, efforts that have been made at some places for rejuvenation of several small rivers have been widely appreciated. One such effort has involved the mobilization of communities with the help of women water protector volunteers called Jal Sahelis.

This initiative of Parmarth voluntary organization has been mainly concentrated in Bundelkhand region (spread over 14 districts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh) but is now spreading to other states like Rajasthan. Speaking to several Jal Sahelis in their villages and at training programmes, this writer has been impressed by their deep commitment and ability to contribute voluntary work on a regular basis. Their work has also been praised by the Prime Minister. Among them, Sarkunwar has a special place as she was the first one to be selected as a Jal Saheli.

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I recently met her in Udgavaan village of Talbehat block, Lalitpur district, Uttar Pradesh. She told me how when she heard of a new scheme called NREGA she reached the work-site but was asked to go away as she did not have a job card. She went around trying to get a job card made, but could not succeed. Then she met members of Parmarth visiting the village and they helped her to get a job card. While interacting with her, they found her to be exceptionally courageous and capable of taking new initiatives. Impressed by her abilities as well as zeal they decided to encourage her. Soon she had not just become a NREGA worker but a mate supervising NREGA work. Around this time, Parmarth was coming up with the idea of water conservation and sanitation volunteers called Jal Sahelis.

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Keeping in view her extraordinary zeal for such work and responsibilities, Sarkunwar was selected as the first Jal Saheli. Subsequently she was also elected unopposed as a ward panch (representative) and a member of the village school committee. Sarkunwar played an important role in ensuring that quality check dams were completed in time to bring irrigation to nearly 150 farmers whose land was more or less uncultivated due to lack of any irrigation. Similarly she played an important role in planting nearly 15,000 trees under NREGA and in the construction of 120 toilets for her village. She made her presence felt at several meetings on development schemes. In such meetings when only achievements were being mentioned, she would get up and say loudly this may well be so in some other villages but I cannot see this achievement so far in my village.

With such plain speaking, she would ensure that neglected or half-completed development work in her village was attended to properly. All this not only won her appreciation and respect in her own village, people of other villages and even some officials started addressing her as netaji( leader). It is to a large extent due to the deep commitment of such Jal Sahelis that some significant work could progress for the revival and rejuvenation of small rivers. Some seven such efforts have been in progress. One such effort from a remote village of Jhansi district (Uttar Pradesh) that attracted attention and won much appreciation at the national level has been of about 18 women volunteers of Simravari panchayat for the rejuvenation of Ghurari river.

This river which had been a lifeline for this and several other villages had been in decline after an important check dam got damaged and there was growth of weeds. The panchayat has about 18 Jal Sahelis. After discussion, they decided to take up the work of creating a sack bund on their own as well as cleaning weeds. Braving exceptionally hot weather in March and April, they filled up nearly 1,000 sacks provided by Parmarth with sand and placed these at a carefully selected place in the river to provide a temporary bund. It was a very difficult task and involved entering and walking in the river time and again. As Dhanwanti said, she even lost her payal (ornament worn on the feet) to the river. Similar was the case with two other Jal Sahelis.

This work continued for about six days. After this, four days were devoted to clearing weeds. However as Meera, a Jal Saheli says, all our work was duly rewarded when we heard that even the Prime Minister had praised our work. When Parmarth started working in the village, Jal Sahelis had to go frequently to the city for training. When a mother-in-law objected, the local Parmarth motivator would reply Mother, why dont you also come and see what we are doing. Similarly, any husband who objected was also invited. Today such objections have become almost non-existent. In fact, several families now actively support the work of Jal Sahelis. The inspirational work of Jal Sahelis is clearly giving a boost to the empowerment of women. Now they are focusing attention on Jal Jeevan Mission work, as they want to make hargharjal (water to all village homes) a reality.

The work of laying pipelines has been completed in the village but no water has come to the pipelines yet. They have been told that when the water tank is constructed theyll get water. Jal Sahelis say that they are determined to work in such a way that the objective of water for all village homes is realised quickly.

(The writer is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include Man over Machine, Protecting Earth for Children and A Day in 2071.)
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has strongly condemned a deadly attack in Pakistans 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, Xinhua news agency reported.

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The Secretary-General stressed that attacks against civilians are unacceptable, said Stephane Dujarric, his spokesman, at a daily briefing on Friday.

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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.

The Shia-dominated Parachinar area has had bloody confrontational clashes with the surrounding areas of the Sunni majority in the past.

No militant groups have claimed responsibility for the attack while the security forces have initiated a search operation to track down the attackers.

Pakistans Federal Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the attack, stating that the federal government is in constant contact with the KP provincial government.

This past week has been difficult and upsetting. We see a new incident every day and now are in constant contact with the KP authorities, he said.

President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari also condemned the tragic incident and said that attacking innocent passengers is a cowardly and inhumane act.

Kurram agency has witnessed violent and deadly clashes in the past over land disputes between Shia and Sunni tribes. Over the years, both tribes have engaged in conflicts, which have claimed the lives of hundreds on both sides.

Since the last conflict between the tribes, the locals were allowed to travel in only convoys as per the decision taken by the local elders.

It can at least be established that the gunmen were aware of the movement of the convoy from Parachinar towards Peshawar and had placed themselves in hiding positions around the surrounding mountains to carry out the attack, said a local resident of Ochut.

Thursdays attack is one of the deadliest ones in the ongoing longstanding sectarian conflict between the Shia and Sunni tribes in the Kurram district.

Earlier this month, thousands of residents gathered in Parachinar to participate in a peace march calling on the government to enhance the security of Kurram districts 800,000 residents, over 45 per cent of who belong to the Shia community.
GUEST RESEARCH: The rapid innovation of technology, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, has changed the way we work and is also rapidly changing the way we learn. While these advances in technology are exciting times for educators and students alike, they have also put immense pressure on the education sector to ensure they are making smart technology investments. Investments that will provide all students with equal access to a high-quality, engaging digital campus experience and ensure they are more than ready for the modern workforce. Extremely important for an industry that contributes up to $2.5 billion to the Australian economy and needs to remain market-competitive to attract both local and international students.

The Role of Virtual Learning Environments for Hybrid and Remote-Based Students

The encouraging news is that hybrid learning is already being delivered with much success across higher education faculties both within Australia and beyond. In fact, recent Gartner research suggests that by 2027 over 60% of higher education institutions will adopt hybrid learning models that blend physical and virtual teaching to support student preferences. Not only does this create more flexibility for todays digitally connected student, but it also delivers valuable insights for those educators still at an earlier stage of integrating hybrid learning models into their digital environment.

Early adopters are now considering new ways to elevate their hybrid learning experience further, with many universities are now expanding their collaboration portfolio to include investments in more people-friendly user interfaces and intuitive AI-driven solutions. These modern devices now deliver an as good as being there experience with advanced machine learning generated facial recognition and improved audio that allows conversations to flow naturally to deliver a consistent learning environment - helping to improve engagement across cohorts.

Case Study: Helping RACS on its Mission to Support Ongoing Learning for Surgeons

The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS), a not-for-profit organisation known for training surgeons and maintaining surgical standards, chose to expand their current technology to fit their unique environment. RACS needed a collaboration solution that was highly flexible and easy to use with Microsoft Teams. Moreover, with people flowing in and out of its offices on any given day, their video solution also needed to be intuitive.

RACS installed video devices with wheeled floor stands, running Microsoft Teams in their meeting rooms, enabling the flexibility to quickly move them around different spaces when required. Feedback from users at RACS was positive. They found the devices easy to use and were impressed by the powerful audio and camera capabilities, particularly the patented Neat Symmetry feature. This presents everyone in the meeting room equally up close, whether sitting, standing or moving around, enabling more natural, free-flowing conversation.

Enriching the Hybrid Learning Experience to Anticipate Student Needs

Brick-and-mortar lecture theatres have traditionally been a one-size-fits-all approach that have literally been around since the advent of the printing press. However, modern learning requires more intimate spaces that are purposefully designed to accommodate remote based students while also encouraging creativity, connectivity and belonging between all attendees.

These days, interactive whiteboards are familiar in most modern learning environments and have proven to be popular investments within the higher education sector. Whats exciting now is that the technology has evolved even further through the installation of open ecosystem app platforms. This means that popular applications are now accessible on the device  allowing for platforms such as Trello and Canva to be used by students to enhance their learning experience.

Another modern learning space that thoughtfully considers both hybrid and in-person students is the round table. Designed for democracy and communication, a round table can be a hub of creativity and foster positive discussions, allowing a lecturer to easily facilitate learning and monitor all students. For remote students, in this case, companion devices now exist that offer a 360 view of the in-person participants, so that remote attendees can feel front and centre in the conversation.

Anticipating hybrid environment issues and investing in solutions pre-emptively can spell the difference between one university and another when it comes to both retention and attendance.

Case Study: Miami Herbert Business School  Educating Tomorrows Business Leaders

Miami Herbert Business School developed a five-year technology plan designed to deliver expanded and enhanced educational opportunities for its students. The university outfitted classrooms with cutting-edge collaboration technology to facilitate engagement and interaction between in-person and virtual students and instructors, as well as supporting digital content. This included positioning a video conferencing device at the back of a learning space so that students attending remotely felt as if they were sitting in the back row.

Additionally, it opened a myriad of opportunities for collaboration and connection. One exciting use has been bringing in guest speakers, which are commonly part of classes at Miami Herbert. Previously, this was limited to speakers, who range from alumni to business experts, who were local or traveling to the area. Now experts from around the world can pop into classes virtually and engage in a robust, natural discussion with students, supporting the Schools mission to develop leaders who will transform global business.

Accelerating the Future of Education

As technological innovations continue to change the way we think about learning spaces, it is important for tertiary institutions to continue to consider and anticipate student wants and needs when it comes to the hybrid learning environment. Investing in collaborative technologies that enhance and enrich this experience can ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to access high-quality, engaging digital experiences and paves the way to the modern future of learning.


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Several high-end military equipment by Chinese companies, including HQ-16FE (LY-80B) medium- and long-range air defense missile weapon system, the GL6 active protection system, HZT24B tracked impact bridge, and CHL-906 key area protection radar reconnaissance and jamming system were on display at the 12th International Defense Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS 2024) in Pakistan.

Shibli unveiled the Skua-MP Pro FOAD (Forward Observation Artillery Device) at the 12th International Defence Exhibition And Seminar (IDEAS-2024).



Lt General (r) Muhammad Ali, Defence Secretary, attended the ceremony as the chief guest.#IDEAS2024 pic.twitter.com/6hypBObm2H  Global Defense Insight (@Defense_Talks) November 22, 2024

Defence companies and military delegates from over 50 countries attended the biennial event which took place from November 19 to 22.

National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC) is gearing up for the 12th International Defence Exhibition And Seminar (IDEAS-2024). 



Be ready for several new products by the NRTC!!! pic.twitter.com/wXqAHuJfLL  Global Defense Insight (@Defense_Talks) November 18, 2024

The Chinese companies that were at the expo included China National Precision Machinery Import & Export Corporation, China Shipbuilding Trading Co., Ltd, China Aerospace Long March International Trading Co., China North Industries Corp, ELINC China Co., Ltd, and China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation.

READ MORE: Pakistan unveils 'game-changer' AM350S radar system

Delegates from the US, the UK, Iran, Italy, and Russia were among those who attended the event, organsied by Defence Export Promotion Organisation (DEPO).

Pakistani weapons at the expo

From the indigenous Haider Main Battle Tank (MBT), developed by Pakistan's Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) in collaboration with China's North Industries Corporation, medium-altitude long-endurance Shahpar III drone to Lightweight military trainer aircraft Super Mushshak, an array of weapons owned by Pakistan were on display at the expo.

Main battle tanks (MBT) Al-Khalid and Al-Zarrar were among the weapons on display at the event. A newly developed long-range 3D surveillance radar was also among the highlights at the exhibition.

Another main event at the expo was a seminar titled 'Pakistan Defence Production Potential  Challenges, Opportunities, and Way Forward'.
At the International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) 2024 of Pakistan, which was held from November 19 to 22 in Karachi, a long-range air surveillance radar system, being billed as a game-changer for the country for monitoring airspace and foreseeing enemy attacks, was introduced. The event was organsied by the Defence Export Promotion Organization (DEPO) under the Ministry of Defence Production.

#IDEAS24 || Pakistan unveiled indigenously developed AM-350S long-range 3D surveillance AESA radar jointly developed by NRTC & Blue Surge Tech, at IDEAS 2024.



AM-350S has a range of 350 kilometers & incorporates cutting-edge AESA technology.

This marks a major milestone in pic.twitter.com/2xViOOarQa  Global Defense Agency (@Defense_GDA) November 21, 2024

The domestically developed AM350S radar system, with a range of 350 kilometers is expected to help the country reduce its dependency on imported radar systems for surveillance.



According to media reports, this is a collaborative effort between the National Radio Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC) and private sector player Blue Search Pvt Ltd, headed by Awais Rauf.

The radar, which is mounted on a mobile platform, allows for quick deployment anywhere.

READ MORE: Is Pakistan procuring military-grade equipment from China?

Rauf observed that drones and ultra-high-speed missile systems have changed the modern warfare as evinced by the Russia-Ukraine war or conflicts in other parts of the world. And hence, radar becomes an important tool in anticipating missile attacks and monitoring borders.

AM350S represents a shift that Pakistan is witnessing toward self-reliance in defence sector.

According to Rauf, a few "friendly" countries have already shown interest in the radar.

Currently, the design details of the radar and whether it incorporates any foreign technology are not available, leading to some skepticism regarding the announcement. Besides, the company has a scant digital presence, leading many to question if this was just another hyped project.
Riding on the saffron wave, the ruling Mahayuti alliance pulled off a landslide win in Maharashtra assembly elections, dashing the Maha Vikas Aghadis hopes for a come back in the politically crucial state.

The Mahayuti parties are winning/leading in at least 230 seats in the 288-member house, as per the latest trends, with the BJPthe major constituent in the allianceset to become the single largest party. The saffron party is leading in 132 seats, close to the halfway mark of 144 on its own.

#WATCH | Mumbai | On Mahayuti's victory in assembly elections, Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis says, "The people of Maharashtra have given us an unprecedented victory. This shows that people are with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In line with the slogan he gave 'Ek hain pic.twitter.com/B3yACFiWyy  ANI (@ANI) November 23, 2024

The thumping victory is another shot in the arm for the BJP as it comes a little over a month after the Haryana elections where the saffron party piped the Congress to retain power for the third consecutive term.

Among other Mahayuti constituents, Chief Minister Eknath Shindes Shiv Sena has leads in 56 and Ajit Pawars Nationalist Congress Party in 35.

A pall of gloom descended on the MVA camps with the alliance is ahead in just 53 seats19 less that its 2019 numbers. The Congress was ahead in just 21, the Shiv Sena(UBT) in 17 and the NCP(SP) in 13.

Amid the massive drubbing in Maharashtra, the INDIA bloc found solace in Jharkhand where the ruling alliance is set to win 55 seats, leaving the opposition NDA with just 25.

In the 81-seat Jharkhand assembly, Chief Minister Hemant Soren-led Jharkhand Mukti Morcha is leading in 30 seats while its ally Congress in 14. The opposition BJP is ahead in 27 seats while the AJSU Party, LJP (Ram Vilas) and JD(U) were ahead in one seat each in the tribal-dominated state.

The Adivasi card played by the JMM seemed to have outsmarted the BJP campaign which mainly focused on driving out Bangfladeshi "infiltrators" from the Santha Parganas region

We fought like a team

Responding to the election results, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde thanked the BJP central leadership for their support in prioritising the state.

"I thank all the workers of Mahayuti. PM Modi, Amit Shah bhai, Nadda ji - all supported us. They gave priority to Maharashtra. I am proud that I have been proven right about what I had said that we will win 200 seats. We (Mahayuti) fought like a team," he said.

"Every section of society voted for us because of our development efforts. The public has noticed our work and responded through their ballots," he said.

The chief minister cited Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, which provides Rs 1,500 to eligible women, as key factor in the election's outcome.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah congratulated Shinde and his deputiesDevendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawaron the thumping victory in Maharashtra.

Sources close to Fadnavis confirmed that Shah called and congratulated him for the party's strong performance in the November 20 elections.

Fadnavis, meanwhile, hailed the performance of the ruling Mahayuti in the assembly polls and credited it to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the latter's 'ek hai toh safe hai' slogan.

To a question on who will be the chief minister, Shinde said Mahayuti did not have a definitive formula that the party winning the most seats will get the chief minister post.
Hemant Sorens JMM-alliance stormed back to power in Jharkhand on Saturday for the second consecutive term. The alliance won 52 seats, leading four others in the 81-member assembly.

While thanking the people of Jharkhand, CM Soren said the alliance's stellar performance as "passing the exam of democracy".

ALSO READ | Jharkhand Assembly Election Results 2024: Rahul Gandhi hails INDIA blocs win as victory for protection of water, forest, Constitution

JMM is either leading or has won in 34 of the 43 seats it contested, while Congress in 16 of the 30 seats it fielded candidates.

The BJP won or is leading in 21 of the 68 seats it contested.

The majority mark in the assembly is 41.

A look at the key winners of the constituency:

Hemant Soren won the Barhait seat in the Jharkhand Assembly elections, by a margin of 39,791 votes. He defeated BJP's Gamliyel Hembrom. In 2019, he had won the constituency by 25,740 votes.

JMM legislator and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren's wife Kalpana won Gandey seat by a margin of 17,142 votes. She defeated BJP's Muniya Devi. Kalpana won the seat during the by-polls on June 4 after it fell vacant following the resignation of JMM MLA Sarfaraz Ahmad.

JMM turncoat Champai Soren, who contested in the BJP ticket, won with a majority of 11,9379 votes from the Saraikela seat.

While JMM's Basant Soren won with 95,685 votes from the Dumka seat. He defeated BJP's Sunil Soren.

In Ranchi, BJP's C.P. Singh claimed victory with a 21,949 vote margin over JMM's Mahua Maji.

From Jamshedpur East, BJP's Purnima Sahu won by 42,871 votes, and defeated Congress's Ajoy Kumar.

Former CM Madhu Kora's wife Geeta Kora was defeated by INC's Sona Ram Sinku from the Jaganathpur seat.

Despite challenges, Soren's strong voice for the state's tribal population has been central to his political identity. He had focused on his campaign and leadership, combined with a strong stance on tribal rights with social welfare initiatives, which has helped him retain power in the state.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP president Ajit Pawar won the Baramati assembly seat by defeating his nephew and NCP (SP) candidate Yugendra Pawar by more than one lakh votes.

Ajit Pawar won by 1,00,899 votes. Yugendra Pawar received a total of 80, 233 votes, as per the Election Commission of India.

The NCP leader contested against his nephew Yugendra Pawar, fielded by NCP (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar from the constituency.

ALSO READ | Maharashtra Assembly elections: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut says 'something is wrong' as Mahayuti races ahead

Five months ago, Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) had triumphed in Baramati in the Lok Sabha elections, with incumbent MP and Sharad Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule defeating Ajit Pawar's wife Sunetra by a margin of 1.5 lakh votes.

Both NCP factions campaigned aggressively with Sharad Pawar's wife Pratibha Pawar and Sule's daughter Revati campaigning for Yugendra, while Ajit Pawar's mother appeared on stage during the concluding rally in Baramati.

While Sharad Pawar told the people of Baramati that they needed a new leadership, pointing to Yugendra Pawar whom he described as a highly-educated candidate, Ajit Pawar cautioned people not to fall prey to the "emotional pitch".

Mahayuti alliance won over 225 seats out of the 288 seats in the state assembly.

The BJP has crossed the 130-mark, improving its tally by 25 seats. The Maharashtra results give supremacy to the BJP within the Mahayuti alliance.

After the big win, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said, people have rejected the politics of hatred and revenge and accepted the politics of welfare and development.

Amid CM rumours, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, the architect of his party's stunning victory said, Leaders of Mahayuti parties will decide (on next CM).

"Today's verdict shows that the entire community stands united behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The 'ek hain toh safe hai' slogan has been a success, particularly for ladki bahins (dear sisters) who benefit from this scheme, receiving Rs 1,500 per month," he said.

In the ruling Mahayuti alliance, the BJP contested 149 assembly seats, the Shiv Sena 81 seats, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP in 59 constituencies. In the MVA combine, the Congress fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena(UBT) 95 and the NCP(SP) 86.
The Mahayuti alliance led by chief minister Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar has won a landslide victory in Maharashtra assembly elections. The saffron alliance has won more than 225 seats out of the total 288 seats in the state assembly.

ALSO READ | Maharashtra elections: What the results could mean for the Sena vs Sena battle

The BJP has crossed the 130-mark, improving its tally by 25 seats. Ajit Pawars NCP has won /or is leading on 41 seats. Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has won/or is leading in 54 seats. The atmosphere in the saffron camp was so ecstatic that jalebis were distributed outside the BJP office in Mumbai to celebrate victory.

On the other hand, the MVA comprising Congress, Sharad Pawar-led NCP and Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena have been stunned into silence by the verdict. The jolt for Congress has been so severe that two of its giants- Balasaheb Thorat who was a front runner in the race to become CM had MVA won, and former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan have both been defeated from Sangamner and Karad South Seats respectively.

ALSO READ | BJP-led Mahayuti sweeps Maharashtra polls; INDIA bloc retains Jharkhand

Thorat was defeated by Shinde Senas Rakesh Khatal and Prithviraj Chavan was defeated by BJPs Atul Bhosale. Aditya Thackeray who was trailing in the initial rounds managed to win by over 8000 votes from Worli constituency. State congress president Nana Patole was also trailing at the time of filing this report.

Here are five key reasons for MVAs humiliating defeat

1. Welfare schemes and development work launched by Shinde government

Eknath Shinde government launched schemes like Ladki Bahin, free electricity to farmers and an apprenticeship scheme for youth immediately after the saffron alliances defeat in Lok Sabha elections. These schemes appear to have become hugely popular, especially the Ladki Bahin scheme.

2. BJPs excellent performance

The BJP has performed brilliantly in this election and the credit must go to deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. BJP used the issue of vote jihad very effectively and slogans like 'Batenge To Katenge' consolidated Hindu votes in favour of the saffron alliance.

3. Complacency of the MVA

After its splendid performance in Lok Sabha, the MVA became complacent and overconfident. There were internal differences between Shiv Sena and Congress on chief ministerial face. Sena wanted Uddhav to be declared as CM face and Congress did not want it at any cost. It kept saying that the CM would be from the party that wins the most number of seats.

4. Sharad Pawar was outsmarted by his nephew Ajit

Ajit Pawar has scored over his uncle in this round of their political fight. Ajit made sure that he gave the tickets to candidates in whom he had complete trust. He did not complain even when his colleagues parted ways with him and returned to his uncles NCP. Sharad Pawars magic also seemed to be waning as Dilip Walse Patil, a one-time close aide of Sharad Pawar who joined Ajit during the rebellion in 2023 July, won the election despite Sharad Pawar urging people to defeat him and others like him.

5. The micromanagement of the election done by BJP central leadership and the contribution of RSS workers

Central BJP leader Bhupendra Yadav had told THE WEEK at least 3 weeks before the polls that Maha Yuti was winning the election as per his team- which was traveling in Maharashtra- observation.

BJP workers had reached out to every booth and village across the state. The RSS workers also contributed by activating their networks through its Samnavaya Samitis (coordination committees) in every taluk and district.

What remains to be seen now is whether Eknath Shinde will be rewarded for leading the saffron alliance to victory or whether he has to vacate the seat for a BJP leader chosen by the central leadership in Delhi (Devendra Fadnavis is ahead in this race). Will the BJP choose a Brahmin leader once again and hand over the reins of Maharashtra to Fadnavis or will they choose a non-Brahmin and reward Maratha or OBC communities? The picture has to become clear by Monday, the last of the tenure of this state assembly.
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Located throughout Japan, convenience stores sell virtually everything you need in daily life.

Undoubtedly youve seen the many stores, or maybe used one to pay your bills, receive an Amazon shipment or withdraw cash at an ATM.

Convenience stores can be the equivalent of a public bathroom for town strollers, as the shops are found just about anywhere you go.

Today, these stores are widely considered an indispensable part of the social infrastructure. When a major earthquake hit eastern Japan five years ago, I will never forget their role in the days following the disaster. With most businesses closed, the only places I saw open were convenience stores, which kept providing foods and daily supplies for locals.

There are over 50,000 convenience stores in Japan, forming a 10 trillion yen ($88 billion) market, according to the Nihon Keizai Shinbun.

With a wide range of services offered, foods are at the core of the stores. In fact, 62 percent of convenience store products are made up of fast or processed foods, such as precooked box lunches, sandwiches, various instant foods, dairy products and sweets. Some shops sell local fresh vegetables and fruits in season, as well.

Needless to say, convenience stores are exactly that  convenient for when you need something quickly and at all hours. Stores are usually open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., with some open around the clock. I have often been asked by my wife to pick up milk, bread or sweets well after the supermarkets have closed (usually 7 or 8 p.m.)

I often use convenience stores for various instant foods and precooked dishes, says Yuko Endo, a part-timer and mother of three children. In a store, you will see various food items that can be used for kids box lunch, and I see a lot of other working mothers shopping in the store at night after the supermarkets have closed, just like me.

Ill often stop at one to get a refill on my drink, as most are stocked with beer and wine. The beer is a nice accompaniment as I stay for a while, scanning the latest magazines.

Fortunately, the quality of convenience store foods have significantly improved, according to Kohei Suzuki, a Tokyo salaryman who uses the stores every day.

As convenience stores compete in developing their original foods to attract the customers, I feel the quality of foods keeps going upward, Suzuki said. Frankly, I feel sandwiches, fried chicken and donuts in convenience stores are much tastier than the ones of McDonald, KFC and Mister Donut. I think convenience store foods may drive out these fast foods shops in near future.

According to Suzuki, Famichiki (fried chicken at Family Mart) and donuts at Circle K Sunkus are delicious and worth sampling, and frozen ramen noodles, retort curries and hamburgers at 7-Eleven are superb and very popular.

Along with these popular staples, freshly brewed 100-yen coffee and oden (Japanese hotpot with assorted ingredients like tofu, fish cake and radish) are also hot items at the stores.

A total of 600 million cups of the coffee are sold at all convenience stores from northern main island of Hokkaido up to the southernmost island of Okinawa every year (on average, 120 cups at each shop daily), according to the Torey Laboratory of Business. I cant help but drop by one for a cup of coffee on the way to work almost every day.

The price of convenience store foods can also be friendly on your budget.

Eating foods from convenience stores rather than eating at restaurants actually greatly helps keep my meal expenses low, says Jun Oikawa, a Tokyo restaurant staffer. As I am living by myself, I often buy a boxed lunch, instant noodles, onigiri (rice ball) or sandwiches and a bottle of tea at a convenience store for around 400 yen ($3) two or three times a week, and that can save me a lot of money.

Most tasty frozen ramen noodles are available for around 100 yen, Suzuki added. So, if you pick up one and combine it with other foods in the store, you can have a tasty meal for 500 yen.

More and more stores have installed eat-in sections, leading Suzuki to enjoy weekend lunches with his family at the convenience store.

As if they werent convenient enough, the Mini Stop chain has incorporated a bar corner, where customers can enjoy a variety of alcoholic beverages.

The new drinker-friendly stores boast a wide selection of beers, wines and other spirits on top of its standard items. Shop staffers will serve you a frozen glass for that can of beer, or warm up sake if you ask. There are four stores within Tokyo, according to the Mini Stop webpage.

takiguchi.takahiro@stripes.com
Maharashtra state Congress chief Nana Patole was leading by a thin margin in the Sakoli Vidhan Sabha seat, the Election Commission website showed on Saturday. The Congress veteran was ahead of BJP's Avinash Anandrao Brahmankar by only 208 seats from the seat, the ECI website showed.

ALSO READ |Jharkhand assembly polls: 'Passed exam of democracy', says Hemant Soren as JMM retains power in the state

It was the 28th and final round of counting that was progressing in Sakoli and Patole's lead was a good sign for the MVA constituent.

MAHARASHTRA'S SAKOLI EAST: CHECK THE RESULT HERE

The Congress was stunned as its three tall leaders in the state, Nana Patole, Balasaheb Thorat and Prithiviraj Chavan, were trailing till late evening. While the Mahayuti swept the Assembly polls by winning over 220 seats, Patole's result is just a matter of pride for the Congress, who was decimated in the state following the results.

Thorat was humbled by a margin of 10,560 votes by Shiv Sena-Shinde's Amol Dhondiba Khatal while Chavan lost the Karad South seat to BJP's A Suresh Bhosale by 39,355 votes.

ALSO READ |What BJP's Vinod Tawde said about Sanjay Raut while reacting to Mahayuti sweeping Maharashtra Assembly Elections?

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala said the Maharashtra assembly poll results are unbelievable. Against most predictions of a close race between the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi and the ruling Mahayuti, the results have been spectacularly lopsided with the BJP itself coming close to getting a majority in the 288-member assembly.

Maharashtra Assembly Elections Result 2024: As it happened

The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance on Saturday retained power in Maharashtra, maintaining sway over 230 of the 288 assembly seats. After the certainty of the poll outcome, the focus has now shifted to BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, the architect of his party's stunning victory. There is already speculation that the swearing-in of the new CM may take place as early as Monday and that too in the same venue, the sprawling Wankhede Stadium in south Mumbai, where Fadnavis was sworn in as the CM 10 years ago.

ALSO READ |Vandre East result: How close was Zeeshan Siddique's defeat to Varun Sardesai? Maharashtra assembly election 2024

As per the latest figures from the Election Commission, the BJP has so far won 123 seats and is leading in 9, the Shiv Sena won 54 and is ahead in 3 seats, while the NCP has won 40 and is leading in 1 seat.

In the MVA, the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) candidates won 10 seats, Congress won 12 and its candidates were leading in 4 seats, while Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) won 20 seats.
With the ruling Mahayuti alliance set for a landslide victory in Maharashtra, reports said the Bharatiya Janata Party is likely to hold a legislative party meeting on November 25 to elect the next chief minister. The oath taking ceremony will be held on November 26, ANI reported quoting party sources.

As per the latest trends, the Mahayuti was leading in 219 seats in the 288-member assembly. The BJP, which is leading in 128 seats, is all set to become the single largest party once again. Celebrations have already begun at BJP Mumbai office with party workers bursting firecrackers and distributing sweets.

The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) was stumbling, with its candidates leading in just 50 seats.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is seen as Maharashtras man of the moment as he engineered the impressive show of the BJP and the ruling alliance.

His tenure in the last two-and-a-half years as the deputy CM has seen a marked resurgence, and Saturday's results come as the much-awaited cherry on the cake.

"Based on the current trends, I believe that the BJP will be the single largest party and Devendra Fadnavis should become the chief minister. The election was contested under his leadership, and he called for a 'dharma yuddha' in these assembly polls," BJP legislator Pravin Darekar said.

The other constituents of the Mahayuti, Shiv Sena and NCP, were leading in 55 and 35 seats, respectively.

In the MVA alliance, the Congress was leading in 22 seats, the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) in 17 seats, and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) in 16 seats.
After the Maharashtra assembly poll victory on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the state has broken all records, it is the biggest win for any party or pre-poll alliance in the last 50 years.

While addressing a gathering at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters in Delhi, Modi said divisive forces, negative politics and dynasticism have been defeated in the Maharashtra election and bypolls in various states.

ALSO READ | Maharashtra elections: What the results could mean for the Sena vs Sena battle

He said the people of Maharashtra have voted for stability.

Taking a swipe at Congress, Modi said the election results taught a lesson to those who tried to create instability.

ALSO READ | Maharashtra Assembly polls: 5 reasons that led to MVA's humiliating defeat

The prime minister asserted that the message from the Maharashtra election is that of unity and it is also an endorsement of the "ek hai toh safe hai" slogan.

"'Ek hai toh safe hai' has become the 'maha-mantra' for the entire nation and it has punished those who wanted to divide the country on caste and religious lines," he said.

ALSO READ | BJP-led Mahayuti sweeps Maharashtra polls; INDIA bloc retains Jharkhand

"The Congress and its ecosystem had thought that by spreading lies in the name of the Constitution, they could divide the Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) into small groups. This is a solid slap on their faces," Modi added.

The voters in Maharashtra also evaluated Congress on the basis of the false promises made in other states like Karnataka, Telangana and Himachal Pradesh.

"Neither their false promises nor their dangerous agenda worked in Maharashtra," Modi said.

"I want to say this to the Congress and its allies that no force in the world can bring back Article 370 and insult our Constitution," Modi said.

He also said, the 'urban naxalism' of Congress has become a challenge for the country. Its remote control is outside the country, he added.

Congress has become a parasitic party, increasingly difficult for it to form govt on its own...Waqf Board an example of Congress' appeasement politics, no place for Waqf law in Constitution, said Modi.
"What Maharashtra does, the nation will follow," BJP general secretary Vinod Tawde jotted on X following the Mahayuti coalition swept the Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 on Saturday.

ALSO READ | Maharashtra Assembly polls: 5 reasons that led to MVA's humiliating defeat

"The opposition's strategy of dividing people has been completely rejected by the Maharashtra of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj, Jtotiba and Savitribai Phule and Ambedkarji. I believe the people in the nation will also follow similar steps in this direction," Vinod Tawde added after his party's alliance retained power in Maharashtra, maintaining sway over 230 of the 288 assembly seats.

Tawde found himself at the center of a political storm after being accused of a cash-for-votes incident in Maharashtra. He was accused of distributing Rs 5 crore to woo voters inside a hotel room on November 19 in Palghar.

However, the former Maharashtra minister claimed innocence after some videos started doing rounds on the interent, saying the alleged amount was not recovered in the probe by the Election Commission and police. He had also demanded an apology from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi for making "false and baseless" allegations against him. He had also served a Rs 100 cr defamation notice against the Congress duo. While Rahul Gandhi questioned the origins of the Rs 5 crore, Kharge criticized using money and muscle power to influence the poll outcome in Maharashtra.

Talking to reporters after it was confirmed that the BJP-led Mahayuti was retaining power in the state, Vinod Tawde had said "Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar worked together and gained people's trust. Sharad Pawar broke the natural alliance of Shiv Sena and BJP. Balasaheb Thackeray's voters were angry due to it."

Launching a veiled attack on Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, Tawde added, "Every day, someone from Bhandup used to pollute the state's politics." Raut is a resident of the Bhandup area.

ALSO READ | BJP-led Mahayuti sweeps Maharashtra polls; INDIA bloc retains Jharkhand



The counting of votes in the Maharashtra assembly elections began at 8 am Saturday, with all eyes on the outcome of the battle between the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti coalition and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance.

Maharashtra Assembly polls 2024

The final turnout in the polls, held on November 20, was 66.05 per cent, up from 61.1 per cent in 2019. In the Mahayuti, the BJP contested 149 seats, Shiv Sena 81, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP fielded candidates in 59 constituencies. In the MVA combine, the Congress fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT) 95, and NCP (SP) put up 86 candidates.

The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance on Saturday retained power in Maharashtra, maintaining sway over 230 of the 288 assembly seats, while the Maha Vikas Aghadi's dream of wresting power fizzled, with the opposition combine ahead in just 50 seats. While results have been declared in 164 seats, counting of votes, which began at 8 am, is still in progress in the remaining 124 seats, election officials said. After the certainty of the poll outcome, the focus has now shifted to BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, the architect of his party's stunning victory.

Political circles are abuzz with reports that the state's second Brahmin to become the CM will don the post for the third time. There is already speculation that the swearing in of the new CM may take place as early as Monday and that too in the same venue, the sprawling Wankhede Stadium in south Mumbai, where Fadnavis was sworn in as the CM 10 years ago.
While the Maha Vikas Aghadi saw a dismal performance in Maharashtra with the BJP-led Mahayuti leading with a huge margin, the INDIA bloc might get a relief in Jharkhand.

Initial trends in the Jharkhand elections show the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led INDIA bloc is ahead in 50 seats while the BJP is leading in 28 seats around 11.30 am.

#WATCH | #JharkhandAssemblyElection2024 | JMM-led Mahagathbandhan has crossed the majority mark in the state as per official EC trends, currently leading on 51 of the 81 seats.



Congress incharge for the state Ghulam Ahmad Mir, party's Observers for the state Tariq Anwar, Mallu pic.twitter.com/hQOPKeYGtm  ANI (@ANI) November 23, 2024

If the leads in these seats could translate to victories, Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who was behind bars, could continue in the post for another five years. The majority mark in the Jharkhan assembly is 41 seats.

This is is sharp contrast to exit poll predictions where Matrize survey gave NDA 42 to 47 seats and INDIA bloc 25 to 30 seats. Times Now-JVC survey predicted 40 to 44 seats for the NDA.

However, Axis My India predicted 49 to 59 seats for INDIA in line with the initial trends.

Champai Soren who was made CM when Hemant was in prison joined the BJP after his return and reinstatement as chief minister.

The CM was leading in his home constituency, Seraikella, by 8,000 votes while his wife Kalpana Soren was trailing from Gandey constituency.

Held in two phases, the first one on November 13 saw 43 seats heading to polls and the second one saw 38 seats voting on November 20.
IIM Kozhikode, in collaboration with Emeritus, presents an 11-month online programme, combining advanced analytics and supply chain insights for a new generation of industry leaders



Mumbai, Maharashtra, India  Business Wire India



As businesses confront complex challenges in supply chain management and operational efficiency, the demand for skilled leaders in these areas has reached new heights. According to the Economic Survey of India 2023, Indias logistics sector is set to reduce costs from 13-14% of GDP to 8% by 2030, requiring technological integration and strategic advancements. In response, the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIMK), ranked #3 among Indian management colleges (NIRF 2024), has partnered with Emeritus to launch the new batch of the Professional Certificate Programme in Advanced Operations Analytics and Supply Chain Management. This 11-month programme is designed to empower professionals with critical skills, data-driven insights, and strategic acumen to excel in todays competitive supply chain landscape.



Prof. Debashis Chatterjee, Director of IIM Kozhikode, commented on the programmes significance, saying, In todays global marketplace, optimising operations and supply chains is not just an operational choice but a strategic necessity. IIM Kozhikode, with its expertise and commitment to empowering professionals, is proud to partner with Emeritus in bringing this comprehensive programme to industry aspirants.



Avnish Singhal, Executive Vice President, India and APAC, Emeritus, added, Our mission at Emeritus is to provide transformative education that meets the evolving needs of industries worldwide. This programme combines the deep academic rigor of IIM Kozhikode with a hands-on approach to analytics and supply chain management, empowering participants to make data-driven decisions and drive efficiency in their organisations.



The Professional Certificate Programme in Advanced Operations Analytics and Supply Chain Management is designed for early to mid-stage professionals looking to enhance their careers in operations management. It focuses on building strategies and leveraging analytics to improve operational efficiencies and drive business outcomes. Mid-stage professionals seeking a strategic mindset and advanced concepts in operations management and analytics will also benefit, preparing them for senior management roles.



This comprehensive programme equips participants with key skills in analytics, supply chain optimisation, and project management. They will learn advanced analytical tools for data-driven decision-making, essential project planning techniques such as PERT and CPM, and methodologies like lean operations and Six Sigma. The curriculum also covers digital supply chain integration, supplier relations management, and real-world challenges through simulations and case studies, all guided by IIM Kozhikode faculty and industry experts.



Under the mentorship of distinguished IIM Kozhikode faculty and renowned industry experts, participants gain valuable insights and advanced knowledge. The programme also offers eligibility for the prestigious IIMK Executive Alumni Status, expanding professional networks. Through experiential learning, participants engage in capstone projects, hands-on assignments, and class exercises, using tools such as MS Project and Excel Solver.



Participants will develop in-depth expertise in operational analytics, supply chain frameworks, and practical project experience, preparing them for real-world challenges. The programme includes live online sessions, industry insights, and a capstone project, guided by IIMK faculty.



Programme Details





 Duration: 11 months



 Start Date: December 29, 2024



 Format: Live online sessions



 Fee: INR 2,05,000 + GST



 Eligibility: Graduates (10+2+3) or Diploma holders from a recognised university with a minimum of one year of work experience (post-graduation) as of the start date



 Certificate: Certificate of Completion from IIM Kozhikode (with a minimum 75% attendance)



This collaboration between IIM Kozhikode and Emeritus reflects a shared commitment to advancing executive education, particularly in the critical fields of analytics and supply chain management.



Click here to know more about the programme.



About Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode



Started in 1997 with its Post Graduate Programme (PGP), the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIMK) is on a high growth trajectory today, offering a wide range of academic programmes in the field of management education. These include the Doctoral Programme in Management, Executive PG Programmes, Management Development Programmes and Faculty Development Programs. IIMK set up a Satellite campus at Info park, Kochi, in 2013 dedicated to Executive Education. IIMK has also the unique distinction of launching a PhD (Practice Track) programme for working professionals besides bringing in new dynamic programmes such as the one-year Post Graduate programme in Business Leadership (2019) MBA in Finance and MBA in Liberal Studies & Management (2020). The institute is also home to IIMK LIVE a first-of-its-kind start-up incubation programme and the Indian Business Museum.



IIMK is ranked 3rd as per NIRF India Rankings 2024: Management. The institute also features regularly among top global institutes for its flagship MBA (PGP) and EMBA programme (EPGP) in the QS World University Rankings. The institute has leapfrogged 100 spots to be placed in the Top 151-200 Institutes in Business & Management Studies globally, as per the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024. IIM Kozhikode is also globally accredited by EQUIS (EFMD) and AMBA (UK) and is on the verge of a triple-accreditation crown.



IIM Kozhikode also made its debut in the prestigious Financial Times Rankings in 2023 and was recently ranked #70 among the top-80 open-enrolment executive program providers globally for the year 2024. The feat has further consolidated the 28- years IIMs footing in an exclusive list of the foremost providers of executive education in the world. The institute had also entered in global top-100 at Rank #77 for FT Masters in Management (MIM) 2023 Rankings, for its full time MBA programme. IIM Kozhikode has successfully delivered close to 1300 MDP programmes over the past two decades, training more than 41,000 participants from 150+ organisations, which also includes several Fortune 500 companies in the process.



About Emeritus



Emeritus offers customised and open programs in India, Singapore, Dubai and other global locations in collaboration with IIM Lucknow Executive Education, IIM Calcutta Executive Education, ISB Executive Education, Harvard Business School (HBS), MIT Sloan, Columbia Business School, Kellogg Executive Education, Berkeley Executive Education, and Wharton Executive Education, amongst other leading Institutions. Our world-class executive education programs, facilitated by eminent program experts, provide an immersive learning experience integrated with actionable insights and practical business applications and are delivered in a range of formats; in-class, online, as well as blended programs. The Emeritus Group has more than 1,750 employees globally and offices in Mumbai, New Delhi, Shanghai, Singapore, Palo Alto, Mexico City, New York, Boston, London, and Dubai. The company is backed by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Leeds Illuminate, Prosus Ventures, GSV Ventures, Peak XV, Bertelsmann, CPPIB, Accel and SoftBank Vision Fund 2. For more information, please visit https://emeritus.org/.



(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with Business Wire India and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR

PWR
New Delhi, Nov 23 (PTI) Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal has visited Norway to discuss the possibility of an early implementation of a free trade agreement between India and the four-nation European bloc EFTA, an official statement said on Saturday.

The agreement, officially dubbed as Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), was inked in March. The implementation date has not yet been finalised.

The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) members are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

"The visit was aimed at furthering the objectives of and unlocking the large market in EFTA countries for Indian exports of goods and services and push for early implementation of USD 100 billion investment," the commerce ministry said

Barthwal met Tomas Norvoll, State Secretary of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries of Norway for discussions on promoting trade and investments, mobility for Indian professionals, re-energising existing institutional mechanisms and the next steps for the TEPA ratification.

In a separate statement, the ministry said over the past decade, India's seafood exports have doubled to USD 7.3 billion in value and 17.81 lakh metric tonnes in volume terms.

With 500 EU-approved firms, India's seafood processing capacity continues to expand, making the EU India's second-largest seafood market, with annual purchases of USD 0.95 billion.

Additionally, India is the EU's second-largest shrimp supplier, holding an 8 per cent market share and contributing 12 per cent of the EU's squid imports.
New Delhi, Nov 23 (PTI) The next round of talks for the review meeting of the India-Asean free trade agreement in goods will be held in February next year, an official statement said on Saturday.

The fourth round of the negotiations was concluded here this month.

The review of AITIGA (Asean India Trade in Goods Agreement) will be a step forward in enhancing trade with the ASEAN region in a sustainable manner, the commerce ministry said.

"The next meeting of the AITIGA Joint Committee is scheduled in February 2025 in Jakarta, Indonesia," it said.

There are 8 Sub-Committees under the AITIGA Joint Committee to negotiate aspects related to market access, rules of origin, standards and technical regulations, customs procedures, economic and technical cooperation, trade remedies, and legal and institutional provisions.

Asean as a group is one of the major trade partners of India with about 11 per cent share in India's global trade.

The bilateral trade in 2023-24 was USD 121 billion and reached USD 73 billion during April-October this year with a 5.2 per cent growth.

The AITIGA was signed in 2009.

The review of the AITIGA was a long-standing demand of Indian businesses.

India is asking for a review of the agreement to eliminate barriers and misuse of the trade pact.

Asean members include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
New Delhi, Nov 23 (PTI) Sebi has barred two individuals from the securities markets for one year and imposed a fine of Rs 25 lakh for indulging in insider trading in the shares of Jagsonpal Pharmaceuticals.

Individually, the regulator slapped a fine of Rs 15 lakh on Maneesh Kumar Jain and Rs 10 lakh on S V Subha Rao (former Chief Finance Officer of Jagsonpal Pharmaceuticals Ltd), Sebi said in an order passed on Friday.

Apart from these, the regulator has also directed Maneesh Kumar Jain to disgorge Rs 31.39 lakh along with the interest of 12 per cent per annum from February 22, 2022 till the date of deposit of the amount by Jain.

Sebi in its order noted that Rao, being the "insider", had communicated the unpublished price sensitive information unpublished price sensitive information (UPSI) with respect to substantial acquisition of shares to Maneesh Kumar Jain that led to the execution of trade by Jain in the scrip of JPL on February 21, 2022 i.e. during the UPSI period, thereby, violating the provisions of PIT rules.

The markets watchdog also found that Jain traded in the scrip of Jagsonpal Pharmaceuticals Ltd (JPL), when in possession of the UPSI (procured from Rao) relating to the substantial acquisition of shares and thereby made an unlawful gain of Rs 31.39 lakh.

Therefore, Maneesh Kumar Jain has violated the provisions of Prohibition of Insider Trading (PIT) regulations, Sebi said.

The order came after NSE carried out a detailed analysis of JPL to identify clients whose trading pattern suggested possible trading on the basis of UPSI, in violation of insider trading rules if any, was prima-facie noted to be price sensitive by the exchange.

Thereafter, a detailed investigation was undertaken by Sebi to ascertain whether the suspected entity traded in the scrip of JPL when in possession of the UPSI and if there were any violations of the provisions of Sebi norms.

The period of investigation was from December 2021 to March 2022.

Based on the analysis of trading patterns, the capital markets regulator shortlisted Maneesh Kumar Jain as a suspected entity.

Further, upon examining the call data records of Maneesh Kumar Jain, Sebi observed that he had traded in the scrip of JPL, and had communication/contact on a frequent basis, with then JPL CFO S V Subha Rao during the relevant period.
TANGERANG, Indonesia, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, TAILG's Indonesian Operations Center and first brand flagship store were grandly opened in Tangerang, Jakarta. The first batch of strategic distribution customers from Java Island attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony. This means that under the strategy of taking root in Indonesia, TAILG will use the brand flagship store as a benchmark to quickly open up and create a new situation.







Setting the Benchmark, First Flagship Store Locally



Since 2023, TAILG Group has implemented its strategic plan to establish a strong presence in Indonesia, focusing on brand, R&D, manufacturing, and sales. In 2024, TAILG built a local team, participated in the first Asiabike Jakarta, and earned praise from government officials. The first investment promotion meeting marked the brand's official entry and laid a solid foundation for localized operations.



After intensive preparations, the Indonesia Operations Center and the first brand flagship store were grandly opened on November 22. Liu Chaojian, Deputy General Manager of TAILG Group's Overseas Manufacturing Center, Chen Xinjie, Director of TAILG Indonesia, and local government leaders jointly held a ribbon-cutting ceremony.



At the ceremony, Mr. Chen Xinjie delivered a speech and signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the first batch of core customers. He highlighted that Tangerang, as a key satellite city of Jakarta, will be a crucial starting point for TAILG's electric journey in Indonesia.



"We also hope that the first flagship shop model can be replicated quickly in Java to provide Indonesian consumers with quality, energy-efficient and convenient electric mobility solutions."



The TAILG flagship store in Indonesia not only represents the brand's image but also serves as the Indonesia Operations Center, integrating product experience, market consulting, and operational support to drive localization and growth in Indonesia.



After the flagship store opening, TAILG will implement policies to support its strategic customers in channel development, including store setup, standardized service center establishment, and brand marketing. These efforts will enhance competitiveness for rapid market expansion in Indonesia. With confidence in its strategy, TAILG aims to establish Indonesia as a key benchmark market in its global expansion.



Vigorous Overseas Expansion, Accelerating Global Layout



Since 2024, TAILG has focused on its Brand's Overseas Expansion strategy, making strong progress in global market development. With international exhibitions like the Canton Fair and China International Bicycle Exhibition attracting global clients, and the Vietnam Smart Manufacturing Base starting production in August, TAILG has rapidly expanded its presence, especially in Southeast Asia.



Recently, TAILG received significant recognition at international platforms, including its participation in EICMA, the world's largest two-wheeler exhibition. There, it launched the S96 MAX and showcased integrated motor and fast-charging technologies, attracting widespread attention.



As a global pioneer in long-range electric vehicles, TAILG was invited to represent the Chinese electric mobility industry at COP29 on November 16, sharing low-carbon mobility solutions and earning praise from governments and international media.



As a fellow ASEAN member, the establishment of TAILG's first flagship store in Indonesia marks a significant step in driving the rapid growth of the local market and expanding its influence across Southeast Asia, accelerating the brand's global expansion. Moving forward, TAILG plans to replicate this successful model, making Indonesia a key player in the global electric two-wheeler market.



Adhering to the mission of "Empower mobility across the world with innovation", and focusing on the great goal of creating another TAILG abroad, TAILG continues to provide clean, energy-efficient, and convenient electric mobility solutions, leading the global green movement.



(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR

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New Delhi, Nov 23 (PTI) Billionaire Gautam Adani's group on Saturday clarified on reports of Kenya cancelling more than USD 2.5 billion in deals after US indictment on bribery charges, saying it had not entered into any binding agreement to operate Kenya's main airport.

On the pact it had signed last month to build and operate key electricity transmission lines in Kenya for 30 years, the group said the project did not fall within the ambit of Sebi's disclosure regulations, thereby not warranting any disclosure on its cancellation.

The group was responding to notices sent by stock exchanges to confirm reports of Kenyan President William Ruto ordering the cancellation of a procurement process that had been expected to award control of the country's main airport after the conglomerate's founder was indicted in the United States.

Adani Enterprises Ltd, the flagship firm of billionaire Gautam Adani's group which houses its airport business, in a filing said it had in August this year incorporated a step-down subsidiary in Kenya to upgrade, modernise, and manage airports.

"While the company was in discussion with the relevant authority for the said project, till date neither the company nor its subsidiaries (i) have been awarded any airport project in Kenya, or (ii) entered into any binding or definitive agreement in connection with any airport in Kenya," the firm said.

It did not confirm or deny reports of Kenya cancelling the airport deal.

Adani Energy Solutions Ltd, the firm that operates power transmission lines, in a separate filing said on October 9 it was awarded the project to construct transmission lines in Kenya. Thereafter, it had incorporated a step-down subsidiary in Kenya.

"We submit that the project does not fall within the ambit of item 4 of Para B, Part A, Schedule III of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, as amended (Sebi Listing Regulations) which requires intimation to be made for any awarding, bagging/ receiving, amendment or termination of awarded/bagged orders/contracts other than in the ordinary course of business," it said refusing to confirm or deny the cancellation.

It went on to state that the award of the project was in the ordinary course of business of the company and its subsidiaries as they are engaged in the business of transmission and distribution of energy (among other things).

"Consequently, any cancellation of such Project will also not fall within the ambit of item 4 of Para B, Part A, Schedule III of the Sebi Listing Regulations," it added.

Under the proposed airport deal worth nearly USD 2 billion, the conglomerate was to add a second runway at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and upgrade the passenger terminal. It was also to operate it on a 30-year lease.

Kenya's President in his state of the nation address on Thursday also stated that he was cancelling a separate 30-year, USD 736-million public-private partnership that an Adani Group firm signed with the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum last month to construct power transmission lines.

That followed US authorities indicting group Founder and Chairman Gautam Adani and seven others for allegedly agreeing to pay USD 265 million to Indian officials to win lucrative solar power supply contracts.

The Adani Group denied the allegations as baseless and said it would seek "all possible legal recourse".

The tender to operate Kenya's main airport was put on hold following local protests.

Adani Energy Solutions Ltd had last month signed a project agreement with the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Ltd (Ketraco) for developing three transmission lines and two substations.
New Delhi, Nov 23 (PTI) None of Adani group portfolio companies, comprising 11 listed firms, have been accused of any wrongdoing, conglomerate's CFO Jugeshinder Robbie Singh said on founder and chairman Gautam Adani's indictment on bribery charges in the US.

In a post on X, Singh said the group would make a detailed comment on the US indictment once it gets counsel approvals.

Adani and seven other defendants, including his nephew Sagar Adani, allegedly agreed to pay about USD 265 million in bribes to Indian government officials between approximately 2020 and 2024 to obtain lucrative solar energy supply contracts on terms that were expected to yield USD 2 billion of profit over 20 years, according to an indictment unsealed in a New York court on Wednesday.

The Securities and Exchange Commission of the US has also charged Gautam Adani and Sagar Adani, executives of Adani Green Energy Ltd and Cyril Cabanes, an executive of Azure Power Global, for "conduct arising out of a massive bribery scheme".

"There is a lot of news and reports that will try to pick unrelated items and create a headline. My humble request is that we will respond in the fullness of time once we review in detail the matter as presented in the legal filing," Singh said.

He hastened to add that no court has ruled on the indictment, and as outlined by lawyers of the US Department of Justice, these are "allegations and the accused have a presumption of innocence".

The CFO, who was the first line of defence when US short-seller Hindenburg Research had accused the ports-to-power conglomerate of fraud in January 2023, said the group became aware of the "specificity" of the US indictment against founder and chairman Gautam Adani two days ago.

"We were aware that something is afoot (and in February 2024 144a offering circular in Risk Factors we disclosed as such. This was the first public issuance of any of our portfolio companies or their subsidiaries or joint venture companies after our annual results of 31st March 2023)," he said.

He, however, did not state what the company had disclosed in February 2024.

Adani Group, he said, has a portfolio of 11 public companies and "none are subject to indictment (i.e. defendants in any legal proceedings in the recent DOJ lawyer filings to a court in NYC)".

"None of the issuers (i.e. companies in our portfolio or specific issuers that are subsidiaries of the public companies) are accused of any wrongdoing in the said legal filing," he said.

The indictment "relates to one contract of Adani Green, which is roughly 10 per cent of overall business of Adani Green (there is a lot more precise and comprehensive detail of this which we will elaborate in an appropriate forum)," he said.

The statement comes two days after Gautam Adani was charged by US prosecutors over his role in an alleged years-long scheme to pay USD 265 million (about RS 2,200 crore) bribes to Indian officials to secure solar energy contracts. The conglomerate has denied the allegations, calling them baseless, and announced plans to seek legal recourse.

The Adani Family has 11 listed entities on the Indian stock exchanges - flagship incubator Adani Enterprises Ltd, electricity producer Adani Power Ltd, ports company Adani Ports & SEZ, power transmission firm Adani Energy Solutions Limited, renewable arm Adani Green Energy Ltd (AGEL), city gas distributor Adani Total Gas Ltd, commodities firm Adani Wilmar Ltd, media firm New Delhi Television Ltd and cement companies Ambuja Cements Limited, ACC Ltd, and Sanghi Industries Ltd.

"There is a lot of news and reports that will try to pick unrelated items and create a headline. My humble request is that we will respond in the fullness of time once we review in detail the matter as presented in the legal filing (Please note that no court has ruled on this and as outlined by lawyers of DOJ these are 'allegations and accused have a presumption of innocence'). We will make a more detailed comment once we get counsel approvals to discuss what we can in public on a matter that is sub-judice," he added.
Mexico City, Nov 23 (AP) Mexico has been taking a bashing lately for allegedly serving as a conduit for Chinese parts and products into North America, and officials here are afraid a re-elected Donald Trump or politically struggling Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau could try to leave their country out of the US-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement.

Mexico's ruling Morena party is so afraid of losing the trade deal that President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Friday the government has gone on a campaign to get companies to replace Chinese parts with locally made ones.

We have a plan with the aim of substituting these imports that come from China, and producing the majority of them in Mexico, either with Mexican companies or primarily North American companies, Sheinbaum said.

While Sheinbaum claimed Mexico had been working on that effort since the 2021 global supply chain crisis  when factories around the world were stalled by a lack of parts and particularly computer chips from Asia  it appears to be an uphill battle. Even the United States has faced big challenges in moving chip production back home despite billions in subsidies and incentives.

Mexico gained tens of thousands of jobs when US and foreign automakers moved their plants to Mexico under the free trade pact to take advantage of much lower wages. But the idea that Chinese parts  or even whole cars  could be piggybacking on that arrangement to further hollow out the US auto industry has enraged some people north of the border.

So Mexico is scrambling with private companies to get them to move parts production here.

Next year, God willing, we are going to start making microchips in Mexico, Mexican Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard said on Thursday. Of course they're not yet the most advanced chips, but we are going to start producing them here.

Mexico's nationalistic ruling party, which is normally very resistant to being seen as bending to US demands, is scrambling in other ways, too.

The ruling party is in the process of eliminating a half-dozen independent regulatory and oversight agencies that were established by former presidents. That includes the anti-monopoly, transparency and energy regulatory bodies. Together with reforms that will make all judges stand for election in Mexico, that has sparked concern in the US and Canada.

Countries are required under the agreement to have some independent agencies, in part to protect foreign investors. For example, they could prevent a government from approving a monopoly for a state-owned company that could force competitors out of the market.

So ruling-party legislators are actually re-writing the proposed laws to exactly mimic the minimum accepted requirements under the trade accord.

What is being done is to create a reform so that its almost exactly equal to what exists in the United States, so we can clear that up, Ebrard said.

It's all part of a very legalistic defence of the trade accord, signed in 2018 and approved in 2019. Mexico hopes the rules of the agreement would prevent the US or Canada from simply walking away when the trade pact comes up for review in 2026. Experts agree, saying that totally abandoning the accord is unlikely.

Gabriela Siller, director of economic analysis of the financial group Banco Base notes that if a country is dissatisfied with the trade agreement during the periodic reviews, like in 2026, there is a clause in the pact that says they can ask for a review each year to work out a solution, and keep doing that for a decade while the agreement remains in force.

That is, they wouldn't be able to get out until 2036, Siller said. I think they will play hardball with Mexico in the 2026 review.

Like any marriage, when the pact no longer works for one party, it may still drag on for years but it's death by a thousand cuts.

C.J. Mahoney. who served as deputy US trade representative in Trump's first administration, said in a talk for the Texas-based Baker Institute in September that the United States probably wouldn't end the trade agreement. But with growingly vocal critics of the pact it could hold up renewing it for years.

The costs of not renewing immediately are actually quite relatively low, Mahoney said. I think the inclination to just kick the can down the road will be pretty strong.

Because many companies won't make big investments in production facilities without certainty, that could be a serious if not fatal blow to the pact.

How much does Mexico actually buy from China? Mexican officials say they have fewer imports of Chinese parts and products than the United States does. But given the enormous size difference between the two countries' economies, it is a true but weak argument.

In July, the US imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum shipped from Mexico that were made elsewhere, in an attempt to stop China from avoiding import taxes by routing goods through Mexico. It includes a 25 per cent tariff on steel not melted or poured in Mexico and a 10 per cent tariff on aluminum.

Sen. Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat, has called for stopping Mexican steel imports, saying the alarming rise in Chinese steel and aluminum coming into the country through Mexico ... is unsustainable and a threat to American jobs, as well as our economy and national security".

In the end, Mexico may be forced to crack down on Chinese imports, but it won't be easy.

Reducing the dependence on Chinese imports is not going to be achieved in the short or medium term," said Jose Maria Ramos, a professor of public administration at the Colegio de la Frontera Norte in Tijuana. (AP) PY

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Panaji, Nov 23 (PTI) Veteran director Rahul Rawail, known for movies such as "Love Story", "Betaab", "Arjun", and "Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya", says he wants to venture into the streaming space with a web series.

"I want to be in the OTT space. I want to make a web series," he told PTI in an interview on the sidelines of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) here.

Rawail, whose last film as a director was 2007's "Buddha Mar Gaya", said he "misses" being on movie sets.

"I stopped making films some years ago because a time had come where it was the actor who started deciding who would be the director of a film. Everything was taken over by the actor and producers were also happy as long as they had the actor," he added.

Rawail, who also takes classes for aspiring filmmakers across the country, recalled the time a student asked him what could he do to become a director.

"I told him to start working for an actor. You clean his house, take his friends to school, buy groceries for him, etc.

"After three-four years when he feels you're a hardworking person, he will make you a director one day. So that's the thing which did not suit me at all, so I stopped making films for that (reason)."

The 73-year-old filmmaker said he is happy with how life has shaped up for him.

"God has been kind. The kids are doing well for themselves. I'm at an age where I don't know till when it's going to last.

"But I just can't stop working, that's my problem. I think I travel more than the airline crew travels in a month. I enjoy working. If I'm not working I feel sick," he added.

Rawail also spoke fondly about his popular film "Betaab", which turned 40 years in 2023. The love story was the debut film of actors Sunny Deol and Amrita Singh.

"The whole film runs in my head when I think about it... 'Betaab' has very pleasant memories for me."
Panaji, Nov 23 (PTI) Oscar winner John Seale, known for his work on films such as "The English Patient", "Mad Max: Fury Road" and "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone", on Saturday said a cinematographer today is being likened to an illusionist, wondering if the art continues to be about the moving image.

The celebrated Australian technician was speaking at a masterclass at the ongoing International Film Festival of India (IFFI) here.

"I hear under grapevine that a lot of times the cinematographers are called an illusionist, that you create the images. But is it photography?

"That is the big question that should be answered in each individual's mind as to whether or not it still is photography... But the word illusionist is pretty hard," Seale said.

The 82-year-old cinematographer, who cut his teeth in the field by working on Australian TV channel ABC, said his training in the 1960s came in handy when he was shooting for Barry Levinson's "Rain Man" (1988), starring Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise.

Both the actors were ad-libbing on set which needed to be captured by multiple cameras to make the storytelling effective, he recalled.

"I went to Barry, and I said, 'Barry, we should be cross shooting this with two cameras.' And he looked at me. He said, 'I wasn't going to ask.' I said, 'Give me three minutes.'

"It (cross shooting) helped the actors because they were able to overlap and the editor was able to cut it because it was perfect continuity. All of that made me feel that it was helping to make better films."

Seale, who won the Academy Award for his work on the 1996 film "The English Patient", also recounted collaborating with fellow Australian and director George Miller on "Mad Max: Fury Road" (2015) and "Three Thousand Years of Longing" (2022).

The cinematographer said Warner Bros studio went to Miller with the idea to make a big "3D movie".

But the filmmaker said he had written such shots in the film that no 3D camera built in the world at the time could capture them.

"George said, 'I'll build my own.' So he started building 3D cameras that would fit through the window of the truck, or it would go down through the sky roof, it would fit through the window and fit inside the truck... When you change a lens on a 3D camera, you've got to change two lenses, and then you have to match them up optically perfectly.

"It's a long process, taking 30 minutes to change a lens. So when George got hold of this, he said, 'I can't have that much time wasted on the set.' So they decided to build a 3D camera body for every lens. There were 24 cameras, all with different lenses in them."

But that came with its own set of problems.

"They had a lot of electronic problems, overheating and stuff that we were battling. Then at the last minute, George swung over to 2D," Seale added.

There were 27 members from Europe, Africa, the US, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, in the camera crew of "Fury Road", he said, revealing that among them was also a Namibian prince.

"He was a young man who wanted to work in films, and he actually was a prince. So we did a lot of bowing," Seale quipped.

As someone who's witnessed the evolution of shooting from film negatives to digital camera, the veteran cinematographer said he finds the new medium "amazing".

"Their latitude, their ability to shoot in low light areas, everything about them was a dream come true after battling through 40 years of film negative," said Seale, who shot "Fury Road" and "Three Thousand Years of Longing" on digital camera.

The cinematographer said whenever the Americans came to work in Australia, they were very pleased as the local crew were easy to work with as well as professional.

"Americans liked the loose way of shooting films... We honoured the budget, because the Australian films, they couldn't afford any overtime. We used to get a cold beer at the end of the day for doing two hours of overtime..."

Australia is the country of focus at the 55th edition of IFFI, which will conclude on November 28.
Peshawar, Nov 23 (PTI) At least two people, including a policeman, were killed in twin blasts that struck through Pakistan's restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Saturday, police said

The blasts occurred in the Bajaur tribal district, bordering Afghanistan.

Bajaur District Police Officer Waqas Rafeeq confirmed the dual blasts, stating that both explosions took place in the Mamund tehsil.

The first explosion in the Eirab area claimed the life of a civilian, while the second blast, which occurred in the jurisdiction of the Loi Police Station in Mainakhor, killed a policeman.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks so far.

The twin blasts come as Pakistan continues to grapple with rising militancy and attacks on security forces and civilians  especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces.

According to a Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) report, the third quarter of 2024 saw a 90 per cent increase in fatalities linked to terrorist violence and counterterrorism operations.

The report recorded 722 deaths and 615 injuries in 328 incidents, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces accounting for 97 per cent of the fatalities.
Peshawar, Nov 23 (PTI) At least three terrorists have been killed in two separate incidents in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military media wing said on Friday.

Two terrorists were killed during an intelligence-based operation in the Bara area of Khyber district when security forces engaged the militants, a statement said.

In another incident, the movement of militant groups trying to infiltrate through the Pakistan-Afghanistan border was picked up by security forces in the South Waziristan district.

"Our troops effectively engaged and thwarted their attempt to infiltrate," the statement said, adding that one terrorist was killed during the operation.

The statement said three terrorists were injured in the incident.

Pakistan has been asking the interim Afghan government to ensure effective management on their side of the border.

The interim government is expected to fulfil its obligations and deny the use of Afghan soil by terrorists for perpetrating acts of terrorism against Pakistan.
Vang Vieng (Laos), Nov 23 (AP) The Laotian government on Saturday officially acknowledged the mass poisoning that has killed at least six tourists, promising it would bring perpetrators to justice.

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.

In a short statement released to the media, the Lao government said it was profoundly saddened over the loss of lives of foreign tourists in the town Vang Vieng and offered its condolences to the families of the victims.

The Government of the Lao PDR has been conducting investigations to find causes of the incident and to bring the perpetrators to justice in accordance with the law, it said.

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 police have said they detained a number of people but refused to provide further information.

Details have been murky over the number of tourists affected and the possible source of the methanol-laced drinks.

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.

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.

Nineteen-year-old Australians Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles died in Thai hospitals on Thursday and Friday respectively after being evacuated from Laos for emergency treatment. Thai authorities confirmed that Jones had died by brain swelling due to high levels of methanol found in her system.

Both were found sick in their room at the Nana Backpacker Hostel on Nov 13 after they failed to check out as planned.

The UK Foreign Office named 28-year-old British woman Simone White as another of the victims.

Landlocked Laos is one of Southeast Asia's poorest nations and a popular tourist destination. Vang Vieng is particularly popular among backpackers seeking partying and adventure sports. (AP) SCY

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Washington, Nov 23 (PTI) A 57-year-old Indian national has been arrested in the US on charges of procuring aerospace components on behalf of Russian entities in violation of export control laws.

Sanjay Kaushik, Managing Partner of New Delhi-based air charter services provider Arezo Aviation, was arrested in Miami on October 17 after he landed from India on an official travel, the Department of Justice said in a press release on Friday.

According to the company's website, Arezo Aviation is based out of Maharam Nagar in Delhi Cantt area and is an aviation services firm involved in air charters, air ambulances, and the distribution of aircraft spare parts, lubricants, and pilot supply for commercial, general, and corporate aviation.

Currently detained in an Oregon jail, Kaushik has not sought release.

US Magistrate Judge Stacie F Beckerman on Friday ordered that he remain in custody, citing him as a flight risk.

If convicted, Kaushik faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to USD 1 million per count under the indictment.

Kaushik is part of an illicit procurement network unlawfully obtaining aviation goods and technology from the United States for entities in Russia, federal prosecutors told the court.

They claimed that Kaushik worked in collaboration with his Austria-based associate Markus Kaltenegger and others to obtain US-origin aviation goods for end-users in Russia.

According to court filings, Kaushik exported aircraft parts, components, and technology, from the US to Russia and Russian end users without obtaining the required license or authorisation from the Department of Commerce for such exports and re-exports.

Sanjay Kaushik is part of an illicit procurement network unlawfully obtaining export-controlled aviation goods and technology from the United States for entities in Russia, including sanctioned entities reportedly involved in providing aviation goods to the Russian government or military, federal prosecutors alleged.

The evidence shows that Kaushik conspired with Kaltenegger and others to "facilitate the purchase, shipping, and negotiation of aviation goods from the US for re-export to Russian clients, splitting the profit from such illicit sales, in violation of the ECRA (Export Control Reform Act) and smuggling statutes, they alleged.

The prosecutors alleged that Kaushik and Kaltenegger provided falsified end-user documentation to US suppliers, claiming that components would be used in India, while they were destined for Russian clients. In one instance, Kaltenegger in September 2023 purchased an export-controlled Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS) from a US supplier in Oregon and later sold it for delivery to Moscow at more than double the price.

They claim that a search of Kaushiks iCloud account uncovered evidence of communications indicating his involvement in procuring export-controlled items, including components for helicopters.

Emails presented in court purportedly show Kaushiks knowledge of international restrictions and sanctions but indicate that he continued to pursue business deals with Russian clients. Financial records reveal that Kaushik transferred over USD 126,185.32 to Kaltenegger after receiving payments from PDS AVIA LLC, a Russian entity.

The indictment also accused Kaushik of continuing to supply aviation goods to Aircompany North-West LLC, a Russia-based entity listed by the US Department of Commerce for providing aviation items to the Russian government and military, even after a warning from US authorities earlier this year.

Federal prosecutors have described the alleged scheme as a significant violation of US export laws, stating that Kaushik and his associates profited from illicit transactions involving aerospace components critical to aviation and defence industries.
London, Nov 23 (The Conversation) The war in Ukraine has just edged up another notch. It has not been going well for Ukraine in recent months, and this week Joe Bidens administration made the decision to allow Ukraine to fire US-supplied army tactical missile systems (Atacms) long-range missiles deep into Russia for the first time.

The US policy reversal also put Ukrainian weapons supplied by the UK and France into play. The UK and France had previously indicated they would allow this, once the US had.

This prompted an immediate threat from Vladimir Putin, who signed a decree lowering the threshold for 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.

On Thursday, reports suggested that Russia might have launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) into Ukraine. This suggested to some that some kind of nuclear war was edging closer.

We have been here before, but perhaps not for a very long time. Some may remember the Cuban missile crisis and the tangible felt threat of a nuclear war between the US and the Soviet Union in October 1962. There was considerable public concern over this. And there was enormous relief when it was resolved by means of a secret deal where the US withdrew its nuclear missiles from Turkey (the public understanding at the time was that the Soviet Union had simply backed down).

Amid fears of a possible nuclear war in 2024, some countries close to Russia, ( Sweden, Norway and Finland), have updated their civil preparedness guidelines to help citizens prepare for war, from how to stop bleeding and deal with anxiety (restrict your news intake was one piece of advice), to stockpiling bottled water and sanitary products. Germans have been warned to ready themselves for a possible war. While other European countries such as the UK have not yet done anything similar.



Why are some nations more optimistic?



So why are some nations worried and some apparently much less so?

Optimism bias is the tendency to overestimate the probability of good things happening in your life and underestimating the probability of bad things occurring. According to one study around 80% of people suffer from some form of optimism bias (the data tends to be western based, primarily from the US and UK).

Those people tend to believe that their marriages will work (its only other marriages that fail), and that they will have a long and fulfilling life compared to everyone else. Global crises are not immune to optimism bias. Optimists tend to think, for instance, that its other people and future generations that will suffer from the effects of climate change, not them personally.

People in the west do seem particularly susceptible to optimism bias, according to psychologists research. Steven Heine and Darrin Lehman, professors at the University of British Columbia, found that Canadians showed more unrealistic optimism than the Japanese. While other research demonstrated a similar result with Americans versus Japanese.

Optimism bias can affect risk perception of both natural disasters and terrorist events and one study found significant cross-cultural differences in perception of risk that did not correspond to actual exposure rates.

The Japanese had the highest risk perceptions, North Americans and Argentinians had the lowest risk perception for terrorist events. Another study found that mainland Chinese were more pessimistic than Chinese Americans who were more pessimistic than white Americans.

There seems to be something distinctive about the American character. A study measured level of general and geopolitical optimism and global and personal worry in Russian and US schoolchildren and adolescents. The researchers found that, in the US, young people were more optimistic about their future and showed less global and personal worry.



Avoiding bad news



So how does optimism bias work? It appears to be associated with specific biases in what people look at and read, and how they process that information.

Optimists avoid negative images and negative information to maintain their mood. They avoid seeing bad news. Their brains also process bad news differently. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI) shows that the processing of negative information is accompanied by a reduced level of neural coding in a critical region of the frontal cortex of their brains (right inferior prefrontal gyrus).

In other words, optimism bias derives from both an attentional bias (we choose to ignore some things, while paying attention to others) and a failure to learn systematically from new undesirable information.

But surely optimism is a good thing? There is clear evidence of this. Optimists live significantly longer and are much less likely to die from cardiac arrest. Optimism also increases the survival time after a diagnosis of cancer. It does this this by reducing stress and anxiety about the future, and optimists consequently have better immune functioning.

Belief in a positive future also encourages individuals to behave in ways that can actually contribute to this positive future  so optimism becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

That is why people have been trained to become more optimistic using cognitive behavioural therapy. There is also a whole self-help industry devoted to it and with this, a profound cultural shift, critiqued by author and activist Barbara Ehrenreich in her book Smile or Die.

She has argued that these high levels of optimism have undermined preparedness to deal with real threats. She wrote: The truth is that Americans had been working hard for decades to school themselves in the techniques of positive thinking, and these included the reflexive capacity for dismissing disturbing news.

The economic crisis of 2008, she argued, was a case in point, there was simply no ability or inclination to imagine the worst. A world war might be a starker example.

Its possible to take an optimistic view on what is currently going on. The US non-profit organisation, the Brookings Institure, for instance, thinks that Putin is bluffing, and that he is not about to unleash nuclear weapons.

The downside of optimism is, however, that people may not notice the warning signs  and being prepared for the worst is actually an important aspect of human survival. (The Conversation) SCY

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Modern tech propels high crop yields in China's Xinjiang

Xinhua) 09:11, November 23, 2024

* 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.

(Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Kou Jie)
By Alimat Aliyeva

Romania will become a full member of the Schengen Area on January 1, 2025, Azernews reports.

"Thanks to the active support of Hungary in its capacity as the current chairman of the EU Council and all member states, Romania will join the Schengen Area at the land borders starting January 1, 2025," Ciolacu said after talks with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

The decision on Romanias accession to the Schengen Area at land borders, effective January 1, 2025, will be finalized in Brussels on December 12, based on a document that Hungary, as the chairman of the EU Council, will submit, Orban added.

"For some time now, Romania has met all the necessary criteria to become a full member of the Schengen Area, and now all barriers will be removed," Orban stated.

With Romania's accession to the Schengen Area, passport control for Romanian citizens traveling to other Schengen member countries or arriving in Romania from these countries will be abolished at land borders.

This move marks a significant step for Romania, enhancing its integration into the European Union's internal market and strengthening its role in regional security and cooperation. Romanias membership in Schengen will streamline travel across Europe, potentially boosting tourism, trade, and economic relations with other EU countries. However, the full integration will also require Romania to enhance border security and ensure compliance with Schengens strict visa and immigration policies.
Peshawar, Nov 23 (PTI) At least 18 people were killed and 30 others injured in sectarian violence in northwest Pakistans restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in the last 24 hours, police said.

The clashes between the tribes of Alizai and Bagan in Kurram district bordering Afghanistan took place following Thursday's attack on a convoy of passenger vans in which 47 people were killed by militants.

Gunfire is also continuing in Balishkhel, Khar Kali, Kunj Alizai and Maqbal.

The tribes are targeting each other with heavy and automatic weapons. So far, 18 people have been killed and 30 injured in the clashes. Independent and media sources reported more than 30 deaths in the clashes.

Homes and shops have also been damaged in the fighting. People from various villages have fled to safer locations.

Due to the deteriorating situation, all educational institutions in the district remain closed on Saturday, confirmed Muhammad Hayat Hassan, chairman of the Private Education Network.

Over 50 passenger vehicles were fired upon at Bagan, Manduri, and Ochhat on Thursday.

Six vehicles were directly hit in the firing, resulting in the deaths of 47 people, including women and children, police said.

The vehicles were travelling in a convoy from Parachinar to Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, officials said.

Most of the victims belonged to the Shia community, they said.
London, Nov 23 (PTI) Britains King Charles III is planning an official visit to India in the near future as part of a government charm offensive and an added boost for his health since a cancer diagnosis earlier in the year, a UK media report claimed on Saturday.

According to the Daily Mirror, the visit will also include stops in Pakistan and Bangladesh as part of a subcontinent tour that had been abandoned in the wake of the passing of his mother Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022.

The 76-year-old monarch and his wife, Queen Camilla, 77, made a private stopover at a wellness resort in Bengaluru last month on their way back from Australia and Samoa and are believed to be planning a return.

Its hugely encouraging to be able to make such plans for the King and Queen given the year the monarch has had, but its very much full steam ahead, the newspaper quoted a source as saying.

A tour of the Indian subcontinent is in the offing, which will be of huge political and cultural significance for Britain on the world stage. The King and Queen are the perfect ambassadors at such a time, the source said.

Buckingham Palace had revealed the Kings cancer diagnosis in February and a spokesperson has since confirmed that with his medical treatment progressing well they were considering a pretty normal-looking full overseas tour programme for next year.

Against that backdrop and the recent meeting between Prime Ministers Keir Starmer and Narendra Modi at the G20 Summit in Brazil, Downing Street is said to be keen on drafting the senior royals to launch a so-called charm offensive as post-Brexit Britain seeks to establish closer economic ties with India.

Foreign Office officials have been given the green light to open discussions with potential host nations for royal visits, and proposals for tours of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh are being drafted. Indian PM Narendra Modi is understood to have expressed his desire to host the King and Queen Camilla after they had to cancel their trip last time, the Daily Mirror report claims.

The couples last official visit to India was in 2019, when Charles was the Prince of Wales, with the focus areas being climate change, sustainability and social finance. More recently in October, they stopped over at the Soukya International Holistic Health Centre (SIHHC) in Whitefield, a suburb of Bengaluru, to help break the long journey back from the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa.

According to palace officials, it was not health related or linked with the Kings ongoing medical treatment for the unspecified form of cancer. The private stop was reportedly factored in as part of appropriate periods of rest advised by Charles' doctors as part of the first long-distance royal tour since his diagnosis.

Both the King and Queen are known for their affinity with the concept of holistic health and wellness, with Charles and Modi known to have discussed the many benefits of yoga and ayurveda during the latters UK visit back in April 2018.
Beirut (Lebanon), Nov 23 (AP) Israeli airstrikes Saturday killed at least 11 people and injured dozens in central Beirut, officials said, as diplomats scrambled to broker a cease-fire.

Lebanon's Health Ministry said the death toll could rise as emergency responders dug through the rubble looking for survivors. DNA tests are being used to identify the victims, it said, adding that 63 people were wounded.

The strikes were the fourth in the Lebanese capital in less than a week.

The escalation comes after US envoy Amos Hochstein traveled to the region this week in an attempt to broker a cease-fire deal to end the more than 13 months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, which has erupted into full-on war in the past two months.

Israeli bombardment has killed more than 3,500 people in Lebanon and wounded more than 15,000, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. The fighting has displaced about 1.2 million, or a quarter of Lebanon's population.

On the Israeli side, about 90 soldiers and nearly 50 civilians have been killed by rockets, drones and missiles in northern Israel and in fighting in Lebanon.



Dawn airstrikes reduce a building into rubble

The strikes at 4 am destroyed an eight-story building and left a crater in the ground. Also on Saturday, a drone strike killed one person and injured another in the southern port city of Tyre, according to the state-run National News Agency.

The agency said the victims were fishermen. An Associated Press journalist, who saw the strike from a nearby hotel overlooking the beach, said he had watched the fishermen set up nets beforehand and both appeared to be young teenagers.

Israel's military did not issue a warning for residents prior to the strikes in central Beirut and did not comment on the casualties. It warned residents Saturday in parts of Beirut's southern suburbs that they were residing near Hezbollah facilities, which the army would target in the near future.

The warning, posted on X, told people to evacuate at least 500 metres (yards) away.

The army said that over the past day it had conducted intelligence-based strikes on Hezbollah targets in Dahiyeh, in Beirut's southern suburbs, where Hezbollah has a strong presence. It said it hit several command centres and weapons storage facilities.



At least 6, including children, dead in Gaza

Strikes also continued in Gaza on Saturday. At least six people, half of them children and including two women, were killed in the southern city of Khan Younis, according to AP reporters and staff at Nasser Hospital.

The death toll from the 13-month-long war in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Hamas has surpassed 44,000 this week, according to local health officials. The Gaza Health Ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count, but it has said that more than half of the fatalities are women and children.

The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence.

The war began when 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. Most of the rest were released during a cease-fire last year.

The Israeli offensive in Gaza has caused heavy destruction across wide areas of the coastal territory, leading many to wonder when or how it will ever be rebuilt.

Around 90 per cent of the population of 2.3 million people has been displaced, often multiple times, and hundreds of thousands are living in squalid tent camps with little food, water or basic services.

The United Nations humanitarian office warned of a stark increase in the number of households experiencing severe hunger in central and southern Gaza. In Deir al-Balah, local bakeries shut down for five days this week and the price of a bag of bread climbed above USD 13, as bread and flour vanished from shelves before more supplies arrived.

At least two women were fatally shot on Saturday while waiting in a line for bread in the city, relatives and witnesses told the AP.

Heba Ajam, who was waiting at the bakery and saw the shooting, said that one was shot in the head and another in the neck. It was unclear who shot them and why. The lack of food and security have forced some bakeries to close in central and southern Gaza.



Reactions continue to ICC warrants

The strikes in Gaza come days after a decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant, based on reasonable grounds that they bear responsibility for a war crime and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

The court also issued a warrant for top Hamas official, Mohammed Deif, who Israel claims it killed.

Netanyahu condemned the warrant, saying Israel rejects with disgust the absurd and false actions.

Global reactions have been mixed.

The UK reiterated its support for the court but stopped short of saying whether it would arrest Netanyahu if he visited. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's office has indicated that Britain would comply with its legal obligations under domestic and international law, but refused to get into hypothetical issues about individuals.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Friday refused to comment, saying that the court's rulings are insignificant for Russia, which doesn't recognise its 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.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the United States fundamentally rejects the court's decision. She said the Biden administration was deeply concerned by the prosecutor's rush to seek arrest warrants and the troubling process errors that led to this decision.

The US is one of dozens of countries that did not sign and do not accept the court's jurisdiction. Others include Israel, Russia and China.

Nomi Bar-Yaacov, an associate fellow in the International Security Programme at London's Chatham House think tank, said that even if Netanyahu won't be able to travel to many European countries, he'll go to the United States. That will push him closer to President-elect Donald Trump.

I don't think Netanyahu will be arrested because he's not going to take the risk of traveling to any country that will be able to issue an arrest warrant. So in that sense, it limits his freedom of movement, but that will only strengthen his ties with Donald Trump, she said. (AP) NPK

NPK
Beirut (Lebanon), Nov 23 (AP) Israeli airstrikes on Saturday killed at least 11 people and injured dozens in central Beirut, officials said, as diplomats scrambled to broker a cease-fire.

Lebanon's Health Ministry said the death toll could rise as emergency responders dug through the rubble looking for survivors. DNA tests are being used to identify the victims, it said, adding that 63 people were wounded. The strikes were the fourth in the Lebanese capital in less than a week.

The escalation comes after US envoy Amos Hochstein traveled to the region this week in an attempt to broker a cease-fire deal to end the more than 13 months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, which has erupted into full-on war in the past two months.

Israeli bombardment has killed more than 3,500 people in Lebanon and wounded more than 15,000, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. The fighting has displaced about 1.2 million, or a quarter of Lebanon's population. On the Israeli side, about 90 soldiers and nearly 50 civilians have been killed by rockets, drones and missiles in northern Israel and in fighting in Lebanon.

Israel's war with Hamas also shows no signs of abating. Gaza's health ministry said at least 80 people were killed between Thursday and Friday in multiple strikes in the enclave's north, including the Kamal Adwan and Al-Ahli hospitals. Dozens of people are still trapped under the rubble, it said.



Dawn airstrikes reduce a building to rubble

The strikes at 4 a.m. destroyed an eight-story building in central Beirut and left a crater in the ground. Also on Saturday, a drone strike killed two people and injured three in the southern port city of Tyre, according to the state-run National News Agency.

Hezbollah legislator Amin Shiri said on Saturday that the building targeted was a residential one and no Hezbollah officials were inside.

Mohammed Bikai, spokesperson for the Fatah Palestinian faction in the Tyre area, said those killed were Palestinian refugees who were fisherman living in the nearby al-Rashidieh camp. He said the father of one of the men was also wounded.

Despite a warning last month by Israel's army telling people not to fish along Lebanon's southern coast, Bikai said the Palestinians continued to go out to sea. "You can't tell someone who needs to eat that you can't fish," he said.

Israel's military did not issue a warning for residents prior to the strikes in central Beirut and did not comment on the casualties. It warned residents Saturday in parts of Beirut's southern suburbs that they were residing near Hezbollah facilities, which the army would target in the near future. The warning, posted on X, told people to evacuate at least 500 metres (yards) away.

The army said that over the past day it had conducted intelligence-based strikes on Hezbollah targets in Dahiyeh, in Beirut's southern suburbs, where Hezbollah has a strong presence. It said it hit several command centres and weapons storage facilities.



At least 6 including children killed in southern Gaza

Strikes also continued in Gaza on Saturday. At least six people, half of them children and including two women, were killed in the southern city of Khan Younis, according to AP reporters and staff at Nasser Hospital.

The death toll from the 13-month-long war in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Hamas surpassed 44,000 this week, according to local health officials. The Gaza Health Ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count, but it has said that more than half of the fatalities are women and children. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence.

The war began when 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. Most of the rest were released during a cease-fire last year.

The Israeli offensive in Gaza has caused heavy destruction across wide areas of the coastal territory, leading many to wonder when or how it will ever be rebuilt. Around 90 per cent of the population of 2.3 million people have been displaced, often multiple times, and hundreds of thousands are living in squalid tent camps with little food, water or basic services.

In Deir al-Balah, local bakeries shut down for five days this week and the price of a bag of bread climbed above USD 13, as bread and flour vanished from shelves before more supplies arrived.

At least two women were fatally shot on Saturday while waiting in a line for bread in the city, relatives and witnesses told the AP.

Heba Ajam, who was waiting at the bakery and saw the shooting, said one was shot in the head and another in the neck. It was unclear who shot them and why. The lack of food and security have forced some bakeries to close in central and southern Gaza.



Reactions continue to ICC warrants

The strikes in Gaza come days after a decision by the International Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant, based on reasonable grounds that they bear responsibility for a war crime and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

The court also issued a warrant for top Hamas official Mohammed Deif, who Israel claims it killed.

Netanyahu condemned the warrant, saying Israel rejects with disgust the absurd and false actions.

Global reactions have been mixed.

The UK reiterated its support for the court but stopped short of saying whether it would arrest Netanyahu if he visited. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's office has indicated that Britain would comply with its legal obligations under domestic and international law, but refused to get into hypothetical issues about individuals.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Friday refused to comment, saying that the court's rulings are insignificant for Russia, which doesn't recognises its jurisdiction.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the United States fundamentally rejects the court's decision. She said the Biden administration was deeply concerned by the prosecutor's rush to seek arrest warrants and the troubling process errors that led to this decision.

The US is one of dozens of countries that did not sign and do not accept the court's jurisdiction. Others include Israel, Russia and China.

Nomi Bar-Yaacov, an associate fellow in the International Security Program at London's Chatham House think tank, said that even if Netanyahu won't be able to travel to many European countries, he'll go to the United States. That will push him closer to President-elect Donald Trump.

I don't think Netanyahu will be arrested because he's not going to take the risk of travelling to any country that will be able to issue an arrest warrant. So in that sense, it limits his freedom of movement, but that will only strengthen his ties to Donald Trump, she said. (AP) PY

PY
Halifax (Nova Scotia), Nov 23 (AP) A Canadian security forum on Saturday presented an award to Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Kremlin critic and Pulitzer Prize-winning writer who was freed from prison earlier this year in a massive prisoner exchange.

The Halifax International Security Forum presents the award annually in honour of US Sen. John McCain, who died in 2018, to individuals from any country who have demonstrated uncommon leadership in the pursuit of human justice.

The forum attracts military officials, United States senators, diplomats and scholars.

I am humbled beyond words to be receiving this prize, but I view it first and foremost as your recognition of all my fellow Russian citizens who have the courage to stand up to Putin's regime and to call out his murderous war in Ukraine in full knowledge what the price of that will be, Kara-Murza said.

McCain was a regular at the forum and his son, Jack McCain, presented Kara-Murza with the award.

Kara-Murza was a pall bearer at McCain's funeral. It was described as his last dig at Vladimir Putin, Jack McCain said.

Kara-Murza was freed in the massive prisoner exchange earlier this year with the West  the largest since the Cold War. He had been imprisoned in Russia since April 2022 and was convicted of treason for denouncing the war in Ukraine.

He rose to prominence as a journalist and did columns as a contributor for The Washington Post from his prison cell. He won the Pulitzer Prize for commentary earlier this year.

In 2015 and 2017, he suffered two near-fatal poisonings and developed polyneuropathy, a condition that deadens the feeling in his limbs. He blamed the poisonings on Russian authorities.

Kara-Murza rejected the charges against him as punishment for standing up to Putin.

Past winners of the John McCain Prize for Leadership in Public Service have included the people of Hong Kong for their fight for their rights in the face of oppression from the government of China and the people of Lesbos, Greece, for their valiant actions to rescue refugees fleeing conflict in the Middle East.

A Navy pilot, John McCain was shot down over North Vietnam in 1967. He was captured, beaten and held prisoner for more than five years, refusing to be released ahead of other American servicemembers.

Like Senator McCain, Kara-Murza was willing to stand up for his beliefs even if it came at the price of his freedom, said Peter Van Praagh, the President of the Halifax International Security Forum. (AP) PY

PY
Peshawar, Nov 23 The government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Saturday dismissed reports of firing on its delegations helicopter as baseless.

Top-ranking officials from the administration and police rushed to the Parachinar area in a helicopter when 37 people were killed and over two dozen injured in tribal sectarian violence in northwest Pakistan's restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province during the last 24 hours, police said.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government spokesman Barrister Dr Saif dismissed reports of firing on the government delegation's helicopter in Parachinar as baseless and confirmed the delegation was completely safe.

He said the government delegation was engaged in dialogue with local leaders and tribal elders in Kurram to restore peace and stability on the directives of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur.

The clashes between Alizai and Bagan tribes in Kurram district, bordering Afghanistan, took place following Thursday's attack on a convoy of passenger vans near Parachinar in which 47 people were killed.

The spokesman said peace negotiations were progressing successfully between the two sides.

He said the government's top priority was facilitating a ceasefire between the two parties and establishing a lasting peace.
Baku (Azerbaijan), Nov 23 (PTI) Renowned climate activist Greta Thunberg has lambasted the draft text on a new climate finance package for the developing world at COP29, calling it "a complete disaster" and a "death sentence" for millions vulnerable to the climate crisis.

Her comments came as this year's UN climate conference in Baku, originally scheduled to end on Friday, spilt into overtime, and negotiations dragged on overnight.

The climate finance draft released on Friday contained developed countries' proposal to increase annual climate finance to USD 250 billion by 2035, a figure sharply criticised by activists and developing nations alike.

In a scathing post on X (formerly Twitter), Thunberg wrote: "As the COP29 climate meeting is reaching its end, it should not come as a surprise that yet another COP is failing. The current draft is a complete disaster."

She said it was yet another betrayal by those in power.

"The people in power are yet again about to agree to a death sentence to the countless people whose lives have been or will be ruined by the climate crisis... The current text is full of false solutions and empty promises," she said.

The Swedish climate activist accused Global North countries of failing to pay back their "climate debt", pointing out that critical financial contributions from these nations remain absent.

This years negotiations occur against the backdrop of what is likely to be the hottest year on record, with global greenhouse gas emissions hitting an all-time high last year.

Thunberg expressed frustration with the COP process, accusing it of being complicit in perpetuating injustice.

"The COP processes arent just failing us, they are part of a larger system built on injustice and designed to sacrifice current and future generations for the opportunity of a few to keep making unimaginable profits and continue to exploit the planet and people," she said.

At the UN climate conference in Baku, countries are required to reach an agreement on a new climate finance package to help developing countries cut greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the warming world.

Developing nations have been demanding at least USD 1.3 trillion annually -- 13 times the USD 100 billion pledged in 2009 -- starting in 2025 to address their escalating climate challenges.

They have said that a significant portion of this USD 1.3 trillion should come directly from public funding from developed countries.

On Friday, developing countries flayed the USD 250 billion proposal, calling it grossly insufficient.

Civil society members held a silent march at the summit venue at night, asking developed countries, which built their economies on fossil fuels and are responsible for most of the greenhouse gas emissions driving climate change, to "pay up".

Experts have highlighted the lack of grants, low-cost finance, and specific allocations for the most vulnerable nations.
Bhopal, Nov 23 (PTI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Saturday congratulated the BJP and its allies in Maharashtra for their landslide victory in the state polls and said Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray chose the wrong path due to his greed for power.

Speaking at a function organised at the party's state headquarters to celebrate its victory in neighbouring Maharashtra, Yadav said the election results were a lesson for Uddhav Thackeray and the NCP (SP) led by Sharad Pawar.

He said people have given their blessings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and voted for the BJP in Maharashtra, Jharkhand and other states.

Yadav reiterated that the soul of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray must have been in pain the day his party allied with the Congress.

"Bala saheb fought against the Congress all his life, but unfortunately, I have to say that Uddhav Thackeray chose the wrong path as he was greedy for power," he said.

The chief minister said the people of Maharashtra had given a mandate in favour of the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance in 2019, but the Congress came to power through manipulation.

"Now the people of Maharashtra have given a clear mandate for the BJP and its allies, proving that whatever was done at that time was wrong," he said.

Yadav said Congress first lost the country and then states as it is involved in the politics of negativity and its leaders were engaged in their internal strife.

"For us, the nation comes first, but for the Congress, a family is first," he said.
Mumbai, Nov 23 (PTI) The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in Maharashtra has collected letters of support from more than 160 of its candidates and some independents, pledging their backing for the alliance in forming a government in the state if voted to power.

The counting of votes for the elections to the 288-member legislative assembly held on November 20 began on Saturday.

The letters of support collected from more than 160 candidates will be presented to the governor after declaration of results, sources said.

According to the sources, it is a normal practice.

Apart from the MVA candidates, some independents and rebels who may win the elections have also been approached, they said.

The MVA comprises the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (SP) of Sharad Pawar and Congress.

The Congress had fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT) 95, and NCP (SP) put up 86 nominees in the elections.

In the ruling Mahayuti alliance, the BJP contested 149 assembly seats, Shiv Sena 81 seats, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP fielded candidates in 59 constituencies.
Bhopal, Nov 23 (PTI) Counting of votes polled in by-elections to Budhni and Vijaypur assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh, where the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress were the main rivals, began on Saturday morning.

The counting process began at 8 am, an election official said.

For the Vijaypur seat, votes are being tallied at the Government Polytechnic College in district headquarters Sheopur and the entire process will be completed in 21 rounds, the official said.



The counting of ballots for the Budhni seat, vacated by former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, is being held at the Government Women's Polytechnic College in district headquarters Sehore and the enumeration will be concluded in 13 rounds, he said.

A three-layer security system has been put in place at the counting centres.

High voter turnouts of 77.85 per cent and 77.32 per cent were recorded in Vijaypur and Budhni, respectively, in the polling held on November 13.

The bypoll to Vijaypur was necessitated after sitting Congress MLA Ramniwas Rawat resigned and joined the ruling BJP. He was later inducted as a minister in the Mohan Yadav cabinet. Rawat contested against tribal leader Mukesh Malhotra of the Congress.

The Budhni seat fell vacant after sitting BJP MLA and former CM Chouhan was elected to the Lok Sabha from Vidisha in June. The BJP stalwart was later inducted into the Union Cabinet and allocated the key agriculture portfolio.

Ramakant Bhargava, a close aide of Chouhan, contested against former state minister and Congress candidate Rajkumar Patel in Budhni.
Patna, Nov 23 (PTI) Deepa Kumari of Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), an alliance partner of the NDA, won the Imamganj assembly seat in Bihar bypolls, defeating her nearest rival Raushan Kumar of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) by a margin of 5,945 votes on Saturday, the Election Commission of India said.

Bypolls were held in three other seats-- Tarari, Belaganj and Ramgarh, where candidates of NDA alliance partners have established a comfortable lead in their respective constituencies.

According to the Election Commission of India (ECI) website, Deepa Kumari, the daughter-in-law of Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi secured 53,435 votes while her nearest rival Raushan Kumar managed to get 47,490 votes.

Manjhi, who previously represented the Imamganj seat, vacated it following his election to Lok Sabha from Gaya in the 2024 parliamentary elections.

Counting to the four assembly constituencies began at 8 am amid tight security arrangements. All four assembly constituencies fell vacant after MLAs representing these were elected in the last Lok Sabha polls.
Gorakhpur (UP), Nov 23 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will address the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad's 70th National Conference in Gorakhpur on Sunday, the students' body said.

The event will witness a significant gathering of students, educators, and academicians from across India and Nepal, according to a statement issued by the ABVP, the youth wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), on Saturday.

Adityanath will be the chief guest at the Professor Yeshwantrao Kelkar Youth Award Ceremony, a key highlight of the conference. The award this year will be presented to Deepesh Nair from Thane, Maharashtra, for his commendable efforts in empowering hearing-impaired individuals through skill development and education, the ABVP said in a statement.

The conference, which began on November 22, was inaugurated by Sridhar Vembu, the CEO of Zoho Corporation.

During his address, Vembu emphasised the importance of entrepreneurship, employment, self-reliance, and advancements in technologies like artificial intelligence, it said.

"The 70th ABVP National Conference in Gorakhpur serves as a significant platform to bring together students from diverse academic fields, including humanities, science, management, engineering, and medicine, to define their role in nation-building," ABVP National General Secretary Virendra Solanki said.

The conference has brought together over 1,500 delegates from 44 provinces of India and Nepal, fostering discussions on various issues such as education, society, culture, and the environment, the ABVP said.
Jaipur, Nov 23 (PTI) Following the loss of his brother in the Dausa bypoll, Rajasthan minister Kirodi Lal Meena said his aversion to sycophancy has caused him a lot of suffering in his political life.

Without naming anyone in a series of Hindi posts on X, Meena said he was "pained" that "traitors" were behind his brother Jag Mohan Meena's loss. Jag Mohan, a former bureaucrat, lost the by-election to Congress candidate Deen Dayal with a margin of 2,300 votes.

Kirodi Lal Meena, who is from Dausa, is a six-time MLA, two-time Lok Sabha MP and one-time Rajya Sabha MP.

"Gairon mein kahan dum tha, mujhe toh apno ne hi maara hai (strangers had no power over me, I was defeated by my own)," the BJP leader wrote.

Reacting to the assembly bypoll results, Kirodi Meena posted on X, "It has been 45 years. During my political journey, I have fought for all sections of society. I have led countless movements for the public good. I fought with courage. In return, I have suffered countless injuries at the hands of the police. Even today, when the weather changes, my whole body aches."

Meena said he spent many days behind bars for his political work.

"It is on the strong foundation of this struggle that the by-election was contested in Dausa. I shared the story of my struggle with the public and even went door to door, begging for votes. Yet, some people remained unmoved," he said.

"If traitors had rained arrows on my chest, I would have suppressed the pain and buried all the words within me. But they chose to be like Meghnad and struck my brother, who was like Lakshman to me, with a powerful arrow," the minister said without naming anyone. In the Ramayana, Ravana's son Meghnad hit Lord Ram's brother Lakshman with an arrow, severely injuring him.

He was neither disheartened nor discouraged by the loss in Dausa, the minister said.

"Though defeat has taught me a lesson, I am not shaken. I am determined to continue on the path of struggle. I can never give up my vow to serve the poor, the workers, the farmers and every person in distress," he said.

Meena, however, said the loss was painful. "The brother who stood by me like a shadow throughout my life, who alleviated every pain of mine, when it was time to repay that debt, I could not do so due to some traitors," he said.

"I only have one weakness: I do not indulge in sycophancy. And because of this trait, I have suffered a lot in my political life. I am a man of dignity. For the sake of the people, I can risk my life," he added.

Kirodi Meena was considered in the race for the chief minister's post when the party came to power in December last year.

However, the party leadership chose first-time MLA Bhajanlal Sharma and made Kirodi the agriculture minister. After the Lok Sabha elections, he submitted his resignation as minister after the party's loss on some seats in eastern Rajasthan but the resignation was not accepted.

The party fielded his brother Jag Mohan on the Dausa seat, which was seen as an effort to pacify Kirodi Meena.

Bypolls on seven seats were held on November 13 and results were declared on Saturday, in which BJP won five, and Congress and Bharat Adivasi Party won one seat each.
Lucknow, Nov 23 (PTI) The Rashtriya Lok Dal on Saturday described its candidate Mithilesh Pal's victory in the Meerapur assembly seat in Muzaffarnagar district as "historic" and "emphatic".

A party spokesperson also said that the victory assumes significance, as the people of Meerapur have once again reposed their faith in the party led by Jayant Chaudhary.

RLD chief and Union minister Jayant Chaudhary said in a post on X in Hindi, "My best wishes to the newly elected MLAs who won in the bye-elections in various states. In Uttar Pradesh, the NDA has performed very strongly by running a joint election campaign. Special thanks to the people of Meerapur!!"

RLD spokesperson Ankur Saxena told PTI on Saturday, "The victory achieved by party candidate Mithilesh Pal in the Meerapur assembly seat is historic as well as emphatic. She fought very well, and the people of Meerapur showered their blessings on her. The people of Meerapur have once again reposed their faith in the party, and in our leader Jayant Chaudhary."

He said the NDA bagged a lion's share of seven seats in the bypolls, and "virtually decimated the Samajwadi Party" which could only manage to retain the party bastion of Karhal in Mainpuri district and Sishamau in Kanpur.

The Rashtriya Lok Dal's Mithlesh Pal won the Assembly bypoll from Uttar Pradesh's Meerapur, according to the Election Commission.

Pal bagged 84,304 votes, defeating her nearest rival Sumbul Rana of the Samajwadi Party by 30,796 votes.

Zahid Hussain of the Aazad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) finished third with 22,661 votes, while Shahnazar of the Bahujan Samaj Party came fifth with 3,248 votes.

The bypoll in Meerapur was necessitated after sitting MLA Chandan Chauhan of the RLD got elected to the Lok Sabha from Bijnor earlier this year.

The RLD in a post on X in Hindi, said, "Congratulations to Smt Mithlesh Pal and all the fellow workers, this victory is the result of the efforts of all of you. The blessings of the entire society and the hard work of all the workers paid off."

The RLD had won the seat in the 2022 assembly polls too, but fighting in alliance with the Samajwadi Party. But it contested these by-poll as part of the NDA.

Apart from Meerapur, other seats where bypolls took place were Katehari in Ambedkar Nagar, Karhal in Mainpuri, Meerapur in Muzaffarnagar, Ghaziabad, Majhawan in Mirzapur, Sishamau in Kanpur city, Khair in Aligarh, Phulpur in Prayagraj and Kundarki in Moradabad.

Eight of these seats fell vacant after their MLAs were elected as Lok Sabha MPs. The bypoll in the Sisamau seat is being held as Samajwadi Party MLA Irfan Solanki was convicted in a criminal case and resultantly disqualified.
New Delhi, Nov 23 (PTI) A court here on Saturday summoned two former police officials as witnesses in a 1984-anti Sikh riots case against Congress leader Jagdish Tytler.

The case is linked to the killings of three Sikhs at Gurudwara Pul Bangash here in 1984.

Special CBI Judge Jitendra Singh, who was scheduled to record the statement of another prosecution witness, Manmohan Kaur, was informed by the federal probe agency that the summons could not be served at her address.

The CBI sought time to serve the summon to Kaur again. It was granted by the court.

The judge then issued summons to former police officials -- Dharam Chandrasekar and Ravi Sharma -- and directed them to appear before the court on December 2, the next date of hearing.

Tytler appeared before the court through video conferencing.

The judge had on November 12 concluded recording the statement of Lakhvinder Kaur, the widow of Badal Singh who was killed by a mob at Gurudwara Pul Bangash during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Badal Singh was a ragi at Gurudwara Pul Bangash.

The court framed charges of murder and other offences against Tytler on September 13.

A witness had earlier submitted in the chargesheet that Tytler came out of a white car in front of Gurudwara Pul Bangash on November 1, 1984, and instigated a mob against the Sikhs that led to the "murder" of three people.

A sessions court in August last year granted anticipatory bail to Tytler in the case on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh and a surety of like amount.

The court had also imposed certain conditions on Tytler, including that he would not tamper with the evidence in the case or leave the country without its permission.

The agency had invoked charges under Sections 147 (rioting), 109 (abetment) read with 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), among others, against Tytler.
Palakkad, Nov 23 (PTI) In a major boost to the opposition Congress-led UDF, the grand old party retained the Palakkad Assembly seat with its candidate Rahul Mamkootathil winning by a significant margin of 18,840 votes, pushing the ruling Left bloc to the third spot.

Mamkootathil secured 58,389 votes as against BJP's C Krishnakumar who garnered 39,549 votes, according to the Election Commission of India (ECI).

LDF candidate Dr P Sarin, the former Digital Media Convener of KPCC who switched to the Left after the national party announced the candidacy of Youth Congress state president Mamkootathil, finished third with 37,293 votes.

Krishnakumar initially led the race. However, Mamkootathil gained a narrow lead of 1,425 votes in the seventh round of counting and then on, steadily increased his margin in the subsequent rounds.

In the 2021 Assembly polls, Congress leader Shafi Parambil who polled 54,079 votes defeated 'Metroman' E Sreedharan, the BJP candidate who received 50,220 votes. LDF candidate C P Promod had then finished third with 36,433 votes.

The present by-election was necessitated by the resignation of Congress' Shafi Parambil, who vacated the seat after being elected to the Lok Sabha from Vadakara in the general election this year.


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Rav Tzvi Kogan, a Chabad shaliach in the Emirati city of Abu Dhabi, has been missing for several days and Israeli security officials fear he was abducted or murdered, chalilah.

Kogan, who serves as an assistant to the Chief Rabbi of the UAE, Rav Levi Duchmanm and manages the kosher supermarket in Abu Dhabi, has not been in touch with his wife since Wednesday. He missed scheduled meetings that day and after his wife failed to reach him by phone, she called the Chabad Houses security officer who contacted the security authorities.

The Mossad is involved in the case and they believe that Rav Kogan may have been under surveillance by hostile terrorist elements on behalf of Iran. He disappeared from a location about an hour and a half from Dubai.

Israeli security sources told Ynet that we know they were following him in the kosher supermarket he managed in Abu Dhabi. This week Kogan and Duchman were in Israel. On Tuesday, they met with the new Israeli ambassador to the UAE Yossi Shelley at the Prime Ministers Office and returned to the Emirates on Wednesday. After that, he disappeared. We understand that those responsible fled to Turkey. His body has not been found.

Kan News reported on Motzei Shabbos that according to Emirati police, three Uzbek citizens followed Kogan and abducted him on Thursday afternoon and fled to Turkey. Channel 12 News reported that Israeli intelligence officials believe he was murdered. Other reports said he [or his body] was whisked out of the UAE to Iran via Oman.

Israeli intelligence officials have traveled to the Emirates to investigate the case together with Emirati authorities, who are leading the investigation. The UAE is one of the most heavily surveilled countries in the world and security cameras are everywhere.

i24NEWS reported that Israeli security are furious with their Emirati counterparts as several complaints were filed about Kogans disappearance with the Dubai and Abu Dhabi police on Thursday but they failed to act. In fact, they only began taking action after the intervention of Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar.

The Prime Ministers Office stated on behalf of the Mossad: Tzvi Kogan, an Israeli-Moldovan citizen and Chabad shaliach residing in the UAE, has been missing since Thursday afternoon. Since his disappearance, amid information suggesting it is a terrorist incident, an intensive investigation has been launched in the country. Israeli intelligence and security agencies are working tirelessly out of concern for his safety and well-being.

It should be noted that the National Security Council has long issued a travel warning at level 3 (medium threat) for the UAE and recommended avoiding non-essential travel to the destination, as well as taking increased precautions for those staying there.

An Israeli who lives in Abu Dhabi told i24 News: He and his wife are very involved in the community. They organize events, Friday nights, dinners. Really quiet and nice people. Its shocking that something like this could happen in such a secure place. There are cameras everywhere here. It probably happened elsewhere.

Another Israeli said: His family is devastated and the Israeli and Jewish kehilla is in shock.

(YWNs Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis haShabbos in Israel)
A recent IDF airstrike in Syria killed a senior Hezbollah commander who helped plan one of the most daring attacks against US troops during the Iraq war, NBC News reported on Friday, quoting a senior US defense official.

The 2007 attack, carried out by a cell of terrorists disguised as a US security team, killed five US soldiers.

Ali Mussa Daqduq, who helped plan the attack, was arrested by US forces afterward but was later transferred to Iraqi authorities, who released him in 2012.

The senior defense official was not familiar with details of the IDF strike that killed Daqduq, including whether it targeted him specifically and when exactly it took place.

Daqduq was active in carrying out terror acts against the IDF in southern Lebanon from 2003-2006. He then moved to Iraq, where he focused on terror acts against US soldiers. After the Iraqi government released him in 2012, he immediately returned to Hezbollah ranks and continued carrying out terror activities.

The IDF refused to comment on the report.

(YWNs Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis haShabbos in Israel)
Muhammad Haydar, the de facto chief of staff of Hezbollah, was the target of an IDF attack in Beirut overnight Friday.

The IDF fired five missiles at an eight-story building in central Beirut, killing at least 11 people.

An Israeli security source confirmed to Kan News that Haydar, who is also a member of Hezbollahs Jihad Council, was the target of the attack,

However, Israeli security sources told the Saudi Al-Hadath news channel that the assassination attempt failed.

Haydar is considered to have been close to slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. He served as a member of the Lebanese parliament on behalf of Hezbollah from 2005 to 2009. The U.S. Treasury imposed sanctions on him in 2019 due to his terror activities.

Haydar is regarded as a senior military figure in Hezbollah and effectively leads the terrorist organization along with military commander Haythan Ali Tabatabai in the wake of the eliminations of Nasrallah and other Hezbollah leaders. The US imposed sanctions on Tabatabai in 2016.

The IDF did not take responsibility for the attack but stated that several rounds of strikes were carried out in Lebanon over the past 24 hours. Additionally, the IDF reported in recent hours that the air force struck two buildings in the Shuweifat neighborhood in the Dahieh district of Beirut.

(YWNs Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis haShabbos in Israel)
Tony Hetherington is Financial Mail on Sunday's ace investigator, fighting readers corners, revealing the truth that lies behind closed doors and winning victories for those who have been left out-of-pocket. Find out how to contact him below.

Ms J.E. writes: I was very interested to read your report about Tui's Mistletoe & Rhine cruise.

My husband and I, sister and brother-in-law are booked on it. We are deeply annoyed by the offhand attitude that Tui has shown us.

We paid almost 3,000 for a cruise to visit five Christmas markets in Germany, now cut to a cruise visiting three markets.

Tony Hetherington replies: Two weeks ago I reported how a couple who booked for the same cruise, starting on November 23, had just been told by Tui that the Christmas fair and market in Frankfurt would not have opened yet, and that the visit due today to the Koblenz fair would not be possible because, like much of Germany, it would be closed to mark 'Totensonntag'  the 'Sunday of the Dead'  a public holiday when people remember the departed.

Tui insisted this was fresh information that had come to light since it had planned the cruise. It refused a refund, claiming that although its marketing emphasised the five fairs as the major reason for booking the cruise, the loss of two attractions out of five made no difference. The couple cancelled their booking, but told me that Tui had refunded only 599 out of 1,997, with the company keeping the rest as a cancellation penalty.

Tradition: Tui passengers won't see Frankfurt Christmas market

I asked Tui to say exactly when it discovered that the Frankfurt and Koblenz fairs would not be open. After asking for time to consider this, and more time to consult its lawyers, Tui failed to offer any answers. Almost unbelievably, I found it was still advertising the same cruise with the same false claim that passengers would visit five Christmas fairs along the Rhine.

Now to come up to date. This is what the official Frankfurt tourist office says: 'The Frankfurt Christmas Market traditionally always opens on a Monday, and always after so-called 'Totensonntag'. This is the last Sunday before Advent in the German Protestant Church. This year's Totensonntag is on November 24, so the market opens on Monday the 25th. The opening date has been confirmed as November 25 for over a year.'

As for Totensonntag itself, the date is known years in advance, in the same way as Easter. So the mystery is, why did Tui not know this? Tui is a German company. Did nobody at Tui check the dates in their German diary? Did nobody at Tui check their advertising and spot that they were offering visits to Christmas fairs that did not exist? Or did nobody at Tui care, which seems a real possibility?

Tui told you that 'because the impact to your itinerary was due to local operational hours and public holidays, this is outside Tui's control'. It apologised for the 'necessary changes to your itinerary'. This is rubbish. The ship's itinerary remains the same. It is the advertised attractions that have evaporated. Tui's false advertising is nobody's fault but its own.

You did try to make a complaint, but Tui replied: 'Tui does not have a pre-travel complaints process, so if you are unhappy with your cruise then you are welcome to complete an After Travel form once you have returned.'

In short, sorry our advertising fooled you, but we are keeping your cash; enjoy the boat trip!

I put all this to Tui once more. It replied: 'We are looking into this for you.'

Since then, silence. No answers. No explanations.

No apologies.

However, I suspect there was panic behind the scenes.

After I questioned Tui, it offered you a 20 per cent refund, but on the same day contacted the couple whose complaint we published a fortnight ago and offered them a 100 percent refund.

They told me, I told you, and you told Tui what it could do with its 20 per cent offer.

A few hours later Tui surrendered and repaid you and your husband in full, along with your sister and her husband.

Bank mix-up has mislaid my 300

Ms G.W. writes: My Barclays account was closed, with the balance transferred to Nationwide.

Unfortunately, a 300 payment was recently made to the old Barclays account.

Barclays has attempted to transfer the money to Nationwide, but claims the building society will not accept it. However, Nationwide says there is no problem.

Problems: Barclays has attempted to transfer the money to Nationwide, but claims the building society will not accept it

Tony Hetherington replies: The root of the problem is that the system for transferring money from your obsolete account to your new Nationwide account expired after three years  and those three years were up in July, just before your 300 landed in the old Barclays account! This is why the transfer failed.

Barclays told me: 'We apologise for the delay experienced to the customer's former Barclays account. Attempts to automatically transfer the funds to the new Nationwide account were unsuccessful.' The transfer has now been made, and Barclays has added interest and a further 100 by way of apology.

If you believe you are the victim of financial wrongdoing, write to Tony Hetherington at Financial Mail, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY or email tony.hetherington@mailonsunday.co.uk. Because of the high volume of enquiries, personal replies cannot be given. Please send only copies of original documents, which we regret cannot be returned.
Budget airlines including Ryanair and Easyjet have been fined 150million by Spanish authorities for charging their passengers extra to choose seats and bring bigger bags on board.

Irish carrier Ryanair, fined 90million, said that banning charging for extras would 'destroy' its ability to offer cheap tickets.

Spain's consumer ministry said five airlines had violated customers' rights when charging for larger carry-on bags, picking seats and for boarding pass print-outs.

British Airways owner IAG's low-cost unit Vueling was fined 32.5million, Easyjet 24million, Norwegian 1.3million and Spanish carrier Volotea 1million.

Taking a hit: Irish carrier Ryanair said that banning charging for extras would 'destroy' its ability to offer cheap tickets

Ryanair, Europe's largest passenger carrier, said it would appeal, claiming the practices were key to savings passed on to customers in the form of low prices.

Javier Gandara, head of the Association of Airlines industry group, said the carriers would appeal the fine for baggage charges. It called the decision 'nonsense' and said it violated free market and EU rules.
A mother-of-three who founded the UK's most glamorous sex party brand is looking to raise funds to expand her business around the globe.

Emma Sayle, 46, who attended the same Downe House School in Berkshire as Kate Middleton and was spotted with the future Princess of Wales during her brief break-up with Prince William in 2007, founded London-based Killing Kittens 20 years ago.

The company that claims to allow women to 'feel in control' and able to 'explore their sexuality' has become an established part of London's nightlife.

Now Sayle has plans to expand the business overseas.

Killing Kittens wants to raise 500,000 from retail investors through the crowdfunding platform Seedrs  giving the business a valuation of 10.5 million  according to documents seen by The Mail on Sunday.

The money will be used to pay for a permanent venue, cruise ship tours, a gay male venture and to stage events in LA, Lisbon, Venice and Paris.

Overseas ambitions: Killing Kittens claims to allow women to 'feel in control'

The company has seen its popularity soar since the end of the pandemic, with 12,000 people attending its events last year.

Revenues this year rose to 1.9 million, up from 1.6million last year.

Sayle said: 'A lot of people sat inside during the pandemic and thought to themselves: 'I only have one life. I'm in a stale relationship, let's go and explore and do something hedonistic.' '

Expansion plans: Emma Sayle

Killing Kittens throws luxurious events that include oysters and champagne in grand houses and Mayfair clubs, often stipulating guests wear formal attire.

Guest lists are vetted and there is a ban on men approaching women they don't know  women make the advances instead.

It is planning to move into cruises, with a maiden voyage planned for 2026.

Sayle says this has already generated 350,000 in room revenues in the first eight weeks on sale. 'We'll stop for tourist excursions, do some wine tasting  all the usual stuff. Then in the evening there will be striptease tutorials and sex parties.'

The group is searching for its first dedicated venue in London in a bid to save costs.

Sayle has recently launched a gay and bisexual male venture called KK Homme.

She told the MoS that the company will look at options including a possible sale or flotation on the Alternative Investment Market in the next 18 months.
Scrutiny: Chancellor Rachel Reeves

Rachel Reeves has received 175,000 in donations from City grandee Sir Victor Blank, a former chairman of TSB.

Sir Victor was at the helm when Lloyds was strong-armed by the last Labour government into rescuing Halifax Bank of Scotland during the financial crisis.

A long-time Labour supporter, he gave the money to her Westminster office between 2021 and 2023 when Reeves was Shadow Chancellor.

The news comes as questions continue to swirl about her role at HBoS when it was taken over by Lloyds in a 20 billion taxpayer-funded bailout in 2008.

Reeves initially said she worked as an economist at HBoS before entering politics. But her profile on the LinkedIn social networking site has been changed to say her job was in retail banking.

The update has sparked criticism that she tried to overplay her role at a lender that almost collapsed during her time there.

Reeves also worked as an economist at the Bank of England for six years before joining HBoS in 2006. She had previously claimed she spent 'a decade' at the Bank.

Conservative MP Richard Holden has written to Reeves asking for more clarity about her employment history. 'The allegations that your CV might not be accurate are incredibly serious and would raise significant concerns about your ability to be honest with the British public, concerns which your Budget has already raised,' he wrote.

Reeves has come under fire for her tax-and-spend Budget that included a 25 billion hike in employers' National Insurance payments that was not in the Labour manifesto.

She is understood to have first met Sir Victor after she left HBoS and became an MP in 2010.

He stopped donating to Labour five years later, but resumed donations after Reeves became Shadow Chancellor in 2021.

She is the only MP to have received his largesse since then. As the chairman of Lloyds TSB, Sir Victor was collared by Prime Minister Gordon Brown at a reception in 2008 and encouraged to buy HBoS, which had been brought down by loose lending, poor risk controls and a lack of liquidity.

Sir Victor, who is also a former chairman of media group Trinity Mirror, left Lloyds TSB the following year after the shotgun marriage was completed.

A Treasury source said Reeves 'worked in retail banking covering various areas drawing on her background as an economist'.

A Labour Party spokesman said: 'All donations have been declared in accordance with the rules in the usual way.'

Sir Victor was contacted for comment.
Defiant: Toby, right, and William Findlay on the march

All the stories I heard marching with the farmers last week were troubling. Everyone was desperate to protect their livelihood and pass their farms  this country's backbone  to the next generation. With estates worth over 1million no longer exempt from inheritance tax (IHT), some say this will be impossible.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves' ill-thought-out raid means anyone inheriting a farm worth 1million plus could face a 20 per cent tax on anything above the sum from April 2026 (though still half the 40 per cent rate paid by other estates). The National Farmers' Union fears 75 per cent of the more than 209,000 British farms in Britain could be affected.

Many people I spoke to say they will have to sell up, destroying family farms dating back generations.

But are there any financial solutions? We asked tax experts Mark Levitt, a partner at tax, accountancy and business advisory firm Blick Rothenberg, and Sam Dewes, a partner at HW Fisher.

WILLIAM FINDLAY did not celebrate his 40th birthday with a party but a six-hour trip from the family farm near Falkirk, Stirlingshire, to London.

He is fighting for the survival of spreads such as 130-acre Strathavon Farm, owned by his 76-year-old father Thomas.

He says: 'Dad does not stop. We keep a herd of 100 cattle  Limousin and Simmental  and farms like ours should be treated as cornerstones that feed a nation rather than easy tax targets.'

Farmland in the Lothians costs about 13,000 an acre, says estate agent Strutt & Parker. Strathavon Farm with its land, farmhouse and outbuildings, is worth more than 2million.

EXPERT VIEW: There is a potential tax relief, Conditional Exemption Tax Incentive, if a farm is of historical or architectural interest, has land of outstanding natural beauty or of special scientific interest, or is home to objects of historic or artistic interest. This removes IHT and capital gains tax on these estates.

Levitt says: 'If you find ancient burial mounds or remains of a castle  it could satisfy the relief.'

But you must set up a heritage maintenance fund of 10,000 and more, managed by a professional trustee. You may also have to let the public in at least once a year.

Dewes says another option is taking out a life insurance policy and putting it into a trust. Families still pay IHT upon your death but a whole-of-life insurance policy can pay a lump sum on death that sits outside of your estate if held in trust  and can pay any IHT bill.

The option is not cheap and would cost farmers like Thomas thousands of pounds a month. However, a 50-year-old might pay 1,250 a month for a sum of 1.4 million written into trust.

You could also put your farm in trust  bequeathing the estate to your next of kin on death. Levitt says: 'Setting up such a trust can cost 2,000 to 5,000  but you must pay 3 per cent of the value of the estate every ten years.

'So, a trust holding a farm worth 10 million and assuming this was still the value after the first ten years  would have to pay a 300,000 IHT charge working out at 30,000 set aside each year.'

ANNABEL WHITBY, 34, is a fourth-generation Warwickshire sheep farmer with a flock of 450 North Country Mules on the 300-acre Brookfields Farm owned by her father Mike Green, 72. He could not make the protest due to a hip replacement op  but could still not be kept off his tractor.

Annabel has two sisters and was hoping to one day take up the farm for her sons George, four, and six-month-old Charlie. But this dream has been destroyed by Labour. Annabel says: 'How am I supposed to buy my sisters out? What we earn gets ploughed back into the farm.

'I run a dog grooming sideline for extra cash. This tax bill will shut down our farm.'

Based on figures by estate agent Knight Frank, an acre of pasture in Warwickshire was 7,920 two years ago, meaning the land may be worth 2.4 million. Including a farmhouse and outbuildings, Brookfields Farm's total worth is more than 3 million.

EXPERT VIEW: Farmers must consider succession planning  including giving away some of the farm to the next generation now.

Levitt says: 'You must live seven years after giving the farm away to avoid IHT. And if you still live in the farmhouse there could be complications from a 'reservation of benefit' gift rule  continuing to enjoy the property while still alive. This could be taxable.

'But if those who are to inherit already share the property you may be OK.' Dewes suggests the inhabitants pay rent to the new owner bequeathed the property to avoid tax difficulties.

Speaking out: The farmers' banner at the protest outside Parliament

LUKE MAYO, 36, and Caroline Howells, 35, have 8,000 free-range poultry on their Dorset farm. They brought their two-year-old son Ruben on the demo.

Luke is a fifth-generation farmer on 125-acre Friar Waddon House farm, which is also used for growing hay, rearing cattle, and sheep. He says: 'Our land was valued at 1.5 million 15 years ago so the next generation could be driven out of business by this tax.'

He adds: 'The only people who are going to make money out of this vindictive new tax are property developers who will snap up land farmers are forced to sell.'

EXPERT VIEW: Dewes says raising the number of owners of the farm can increase the IHT threshold  which for this couple might mean tying the knot. He says: 'A married couple that jointly owns a farm can split it in two  so qualify for 2million of agricultural property relief.

This is on top of the 1million inheritance tax limit all married couples have if they leave a property to a direct descendant. It means you could have a 3 million limit before paying any tax.'

Levitt says farmers such as Luke should make the most of agricultural property relief (APR) capped at 1 million. For Luke, this includes land used for animal pasture and keeping hens, as well farm buildings and the farmhouse.

Levitt says business property relief (BPR) can be used for machinery, and any farm shop.

You can pool agricultural property relief (APR) with business property relief (BPR) up to the 1million individual limit.

The Government says farmers will have ten years to pay IHT. Other estates have just six months.
House prices will continue to rise until 2029 if Fianna Fail and Fine Gael return to power, Sinn Feins housing spokesperson has said.

Eoin O Broin urged voters to end the two Civil War parties stranglehold on housing policy and called for a greater focus on social and affordable home delivery.

The reason homelessness is rising is because Simon Harris is Taoiseach, Micheal Martin is Tanaiste and Darragh OBrien is minister for housing, Mr O Broin said at an event at the Teachers Club in Dublin on Saturday.

If we want to end homelessness, weve got to end their stranglehold on housing policy.

The housing spokesperson said that the proportion of young people who own their home has collapsed compared to the 1990s, from 60% to 30%, and that this was forcing young people to either emigrate or stay at home with their parents.

He also said the rise in house prices since the government formed in 2020 had been astronomical, and claimed that average house prices in Dublin had increased by 125,000 euro.

Sinn Feins Housing for All plan pledges to deliver 31,500 affordable homes through local government housing bodies at prices of 250,000 euro or slightly above that, he said.

Sinn Fein is also vowing to phase out schemes for first-time buyers  the Help to Buy and the First Home schemes  arguing that they are adding to house prices.

The government parties have said the schemes are vital for helping first-time buyers afford to buy a home amid inflated prices  with the latest figures showing prices are increasing by 10% a year.

Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have also questioned Sinn Feins housing plan, which includes a proposal to build affordable homes through the state retaining ownership of the land on which the houses are built.

The two main coalition parties have questioned the practicality of this and whether removing the first-time buyers grants would pull the rug from under young people.

Mr O Broin said that projections by the Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Mr Harris and the Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader Mr Martin on when house prices would fall shows the extent to which neither Micheal Martin nor Simon Harris understand anything about housing.

Mr Harris said on Friday that house prices would become more affordable or fall when 50,000-60,000 homes a year are being built, while Mr Martin has said house prices would begin to moderate when 45,000-50,000 homes a year are being built, estimating this would be around 2027 or 2028.

Housing Minister Darragh OBrien said he did not disagree with the assessment of Mr Martin, his party leader, but was wary of making predictions.

Mr O Broin said of the predictions: If you go back to the Celtic Tiger, 2006, 90,000 homes were built that year, highest number of homes in the history of the state  house prices kept rising.

This idea that housing delivery, in and of itself, will bring down prices is simply not the case.

In fact, the vast majority of housing economists and housing policy experts around the world tell us that what you have to do is not only increase the number of homes but its the type of homes and the price of the homes that is key.

My view is if Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are left in government for the next five years, house prices will rise throughout that period, as they have done not just throughout the last five years but since 2011.

He added: One of the reasons why homelessness has continued to rise over the last two to three years is because exits from emergency accommodation into the private rental sector have collapsed, and the governments delivery of new social homes hasnt been sufficient.

Fine Gael is proposing to keep the target at about 10,000 a year out to 2030, maybe have about 12,000 then. Fianna Fail is suggesting maybe an average of 12,000.

At an absolute minimum, we need to get an average of 15,000  that would mean by 2027, 2028, youre hitting 16,000, 17,000, 18,000 new-build social homes a year.

Asked about how fast a change in housing there would be if Sinn Fein were in the next government, Mr O Broin said things can be done at pace.

We will be delivering affordable homes for working people to purchase at a price of 250,000, 260,000, 270,000 in year one, as well as two, three and four, ramping up to that 32,000 (affordable homes) over the six years.

Weve set out very clearly how you could end homelessness for the over-55s in one year, and year on year dramatically reduce the number of families with children in emergency accommodation.

So things may not be done overnight, but things can be done at pace and at that speed, but only if you have the political will, he said.
In this latest installment of KANSAS CITY CRIME SCENE NEWS LINKS . . . We take a look at local police armed with more effective vehicles along with court case follow-up, more deets on local charges and, of course, community outreach.



Check TKC news gathering . . .

Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department adds 4-wheelers to its patrolling arsenal In recent efforts to increase their visibility out in the community, the Kansas City Police Department now has a new tool to patrol with - ATVs.

Kansas City man charged nearly 3 years after fatal Christmas shooting A Kansas City man has been charged in connection to a fatal shooting that took place on Christmas Day in 2021.

Man pleads no contest in Lenexa deadly shooting outside McDonald's According to the Johnson County District Attorney's Office, Dmariea Valentino Avance pleaded no contest on Thursday to second-degree murder.

Woman who spurred Amber Alert back behind bars after more vehicles stolen The woman who spurred an Amber Alert after a 1-year-old was taken during a Kansas City carjacking is back behind bars after two more vehicles were stolen.

Newly renovated Johnson County park hit with vandalism This week, two spray-painted swastikas showed up on the playground equipment at Glendale Acres Park.

Lenexa man took 30 Ambien after fatally shooting wife, son: court documents Todd Donovan was charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the killings of Sheila Donovan, 52, and their son, Tyler Donovan, 22.

Kansas City mother speaks on her car being stolen from hotel valet It happened this past weekend at the Westin. For the last eight years, it's been a familiar place for this mother, but now, she's without a car.

'I shed tears daily': Kansas City mother of homicide victim continues the fight for answers As families get ready to gather around the dinner table for the holidays, one Kansas City mother is reminded of the vacancy that now fills her home.

Developing . . .
In addition to acknowledging political bluster from many sides we want to share a more accurate and insightful big picture . . .

Taxpayers might not want to hold their breath waiting for a decision BUT it's clear legal arguments against courthouse tax collecting methodology persist.

Long story short . . .

Legal action against controversial Jackson County property tax assessments continue . . .



For now, here's a quote that stands out . . .



Greg Allsberry, Chief Counsel for the State Tax Commission told KCTV5 Investigates that the state disagrees with the courts dismissal order and they will be appealing.



Significantly, the court did not rule that the State Tax Commissions order regarding 2023 property tax assessments is invalid, said Allsberry. The Commissions order is still a valid order, despite Jackson Countys refusal to comply. The Commission will continue to do all within its power to enforce its assessment order.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

The court battle over Jackson County property taxes is far from over Despite claims of victory from County Executive Frank White, the court battles over the 2023 property tax assessment are not over.

Ruling in favor of Jackson County does not end fight over property values: 'It's not over' A judge on Wednesday rejected Missouri's attempt to force Jackson County to roll back property values. But an appeal may be in the works.

Developing . . .
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A total of 04 Muslims from Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Congress, have won the 2024 Jharkhand Assembly elections results of which were announced Saturday Nov 23, 2024

Saturday November 23, 2024 11:59 PM , ummid.com News Network

Jharkhand Assembly Election 2024 Result: A total of 04 Muslims from Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Congress, have won the 2024 Jharkhand Assembly elections results of which were announced Saturday Nov 23, 2024.

The total number of Muslims winning the 2024 Jharkhand elections is same as their tally in 2019 .

List of Muslims who won the 2024 Jharkhand Elections

MD. TAJUDDIN - RAJMAHAL (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha JMM) HAFIZUL HASSAN - Madhupur (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha JMM) NISAT ALAM - Pakaur (Congress) IRFAN ANSARI - Jamtara (Congress)

Polling for the 81 Assembly of seats in Jharkhand was held in two phases. Polling for the first phase was held on November 13 and polling for the second phase was held on November 20, 2024.

Counting of votes was done today i.e. Saturday Nov 23, 2024.

According to the final result announced by the Election Commission, the ruling JMM has won a total of 34 seats, the Congress has won 16 seats, RJD has won 4 seats, and CPI M (L) has won 01 seat.

On the other hand, the BJP has won 21 seats, Lok Janshakti Party(Ram Vilas) - LJPRV and Janata Dal (United) have 01 seat each.

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.

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ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Nov, 2024) A delegation of the Dairy and Cattle Farmers Association (DCFA) Pakistan, led by Chief Organizer Shahbaz Rasool Warraich met with the Pakistani High Commissioner in Singapore Rabia Shafiq to discuss avenues for collaboration in the dairy industry.

The delegation included President North Punjab DCFA Raja Zahid Sarfraz and CEO of the Asia Pacific business Alliance Qaiser Mehmood, said a news release here on Saturday.

The meeting focused on exploring opportunities for Pakistani farmers, including the potential export of top quality dairy products to Singapore and the adoption of cutting-edge technological advancements available in Singapore's dairy sector.

The Pakistani High Commissioner Rabia Shafiq assured the delegation of full support in facilitating trade and fostering collaboration.

Pakistan's agricultural sector, particularly dairy, holds tremendous potential.

We are committed to supporting initiatives that promote exports and strengthen ties between Pakistan and Singapore, said the High Commissioner.

The Asia Pacific Business Alliance, headquartered in Singapore, will play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between Pakistani farmers and the Singaporean market.

CEO Qaiser Mehmood said, This collaboration can revolutionize the dairy sector in Pakistan, bringing global standards and innovation to our farmers while tapping into lucrative international markets.

Chief Organizer of DCFA Pakistan, emphasized the importance of the partnership. We are excited to explore new frontiers for our farmers. Leveraging Singapores advanced dairy technologies will help us modernize the sector and achieve our export potential.

The DCFA delegations visit signals a promising step toward international collaboration, offering a significant boost to Pakistan's dairy industry.
PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Nov, 2024) Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur chaired an important video link meeting at the Chief Minister's House here Saturday to review the latest security situation in Kurram district.

The provincial government's delegation on its visit to Kurram on the special directive of the Chief Minister, submitted its initial report to the chief minister.

The provincial government's delegation comprising provincial Law Minister Aftab Alam, Adviser to the Chief Minister on Information Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry, Inspector General of Police Akhtar Hayat Khan, former MNA Sajid Turi and Commissioner Kohat Division, Mutasim Billah Shah, met with the elders of Shia community in Parachinar.

The delegation sought input and recommendations from the community for a sustainable resolution to the ongoing dispute.

During the meeting, the delegation briefed the chief minister on the demands and suggestions put forth by the Shia community. It was informed that the delegation will meet Sunni community leaders in Sadda tomorrow today to have consultations for resolving the conflict.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister reiterated the provincial governments commitment to achieving a peaceful and lasting resolution to the Kurram dispute.

He expressed sorrow over the recent tragic incident, condemning it as highly tragic and heinous and said that the provincial government equally shared the sorrow with the bereaved families.

The government will formulate its strategy based on the consultations and recommendations of local elders", the chief minister said and added that all legitimate demands from both sides would be addressed. He directed the government delegation to finalize its recommendations after thorough discussions with all stakeholders. The chief minister emphasized the importance of a ceasefire in the region as a prerequisite for progress toward conflict resolution and appealed to all parties to cease hostilities to pave the way for a peaceful settlement of the dispute.

Highlighting the provincial governments priority for peace, he urged the local elders and community leaders to cooperate with the government delegation and local administration.

Gandapur further noted that negotiations and traditional jirga systems remained the most effective means of resolving such disputes, adding that restoring peace in the region was the foremost priority of his government and the available options would be utilized to achieve it.
MULTAN, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Nov, 2024) Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has taken strict action by suspending key officials following an alarming incident of HIV transmission among dialysis patients at Nishtar Hospital.

The episode,attributed to gross negligence, has led to the suspension of senior officials, including the Medical Superintendent, key doctors, and staff of the Nephrology Department.

During her visit to the hospital, the Chief Minister ordered the immediate suspension of Medical Superintendent Dr. Muhammad Kazim, Head of the Nephrology Department Dr. Ghulam Abbas, Associate Professor Dr. Poonam Khalid, Senior Registrar Dr. Muhammad Qadeer, and Dr. Maliha Johar. Medical Officer Dr. Muhammad Alamgir and Head Nurse Naheed Parveen were also relieved of their duties. Maryam Nawaz personally investigated the matter, meeting with the Vice-Chancellor of Nishtar Medical University, the Principal, department heads, and staff involved.

She reviewed reports and heard their accounts, uncovering a shocking violation of standard operating procedures (SOPs).

According to the inquiry, mandatory HIV and Hepatitis screenings for dialysis patients, required every three months, were not conducted. Disposable dialysis kits and dialyzers were reused across multiple patients, exposing them to life-threatening infections. It was further revealed that hospital staff sent samples to private laboratories in violation of official protocols.

Even after the detection of HIV in patients, the incident was concealed, highlighting a blatant disregard for patient safety. The Chief Minister expressed outrage at the failure of senior doctors to supervise the ward adequately, with some not visiting for weeks.

She called for the Health Secretary to initiate strict disciplinary action under the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline, and Accountability (PEEDA) Act.

Speaking on the issue, Maryam Nawaz stated, We have allocated vast resources to healthcare, but such negligence was unacceptable. Patients come for treatment, not to leave with incurable diseases. She emphasized the need for accountability and immediate reforms to prevent such incidents in the future.

The Chief Minister directed the installation of a PET scan machine in Multan to strengthen diagnostic facilities. She also inspected the cardiology and other wards, ordering the immediate transfer of critical patients to intensive care units when required. Maryam Nawaz expressed dissatisfaction with the hospitals hygiene and cleanliness, instructing staff to address the issues immediately.

During her visit, a sanitation worker complained about unpaid salaries, prompting the Chief Minister to ensure their timely disbursement. She stressed that the government would not tolerate any negligence in healthcare services.

The visit was attended by Senator Pervez Rasheed, Provincial Minister for Information Uzma Zahid Bukhari, Special Assistant Sania Ashiq, and senior government officials, including the Chief Secretary, Commissioner, and Regional Police Officer. Maryam Nawazs decisive actions have sent a clear message that patient safety and healthcare standards remain a top priority, with no tolerance for negligence or malpractice.
PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Nov, 2024) Advisor to the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Information, Barrister Dr. Saif here on Saturday dismissed reports of firing on the government delegations helicopter in Parachinar and termed such reports as baseless.

He confirmed that the delegation was completely safe and peace negotiations were progressing successfully.

Barrister Dr. Saif stated that on the directives of the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the government delegation was engaged in dialogue with local leaders and tribal elders in district Kurram to restore peace and stability.

He highlighted that, in the first phase, detailed and constructive meetings were held with Shia community leaders, during which critical issues were discussed in depth.

In the next phase, meetings will be conducted with Sunni community leaders, he said.

The Advisor emphasized that the government's top priority was to facilitate a ceasefire between both parties and establish lasting peace.

The chief minister has issued clear instructions to resolve all issues through dialogue and negotiations, ensuring long-term stability in the region, he said and added that the government delegation was making every possible effort to end tensions in the district and all matters were being addressed amicably.
North Sound, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Nov, 2024) Mikyle Louis and Alick Athanaze both fell just short of maiden Test centuries as West Indies reached 250-5 at stumps on the opening day of the first Test of two against Bangladesh on Friday.

Opening batsman Louis made a patient 97 while Athanaze hit 90 as they shared a 140-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

Louis's runs came off 218 balls with nine fours and one six before he fell to a rare rash shot in the post-tea session.

The 24-year-old was aiming to complete three figures with a boundary heave off Bangladesh skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz.

However, he only managed to edge the ball into the hands of Shahadat Hossain in the slips as Mehidy celebrated his 50th Test with a key wicket.

When Louis fell, West Indies had reached 224-4.

Four runs later, left-handed Athanaze was also back in the pavilion after making 90 off 130 deliveries with 10 fours and one six.

The 25-year-old Dominican, hailed by West Indies legend Brian Lara as the "most talented" of the team's batsmen, top-edged a delivery from slow left-armer Taijul islam to be caught by wicketkeeper Litton Das.

Louis and Athanaze steadily rebuilt the West Indies innings after the home side had slipped to 84-3 having been put into bat.

Skipper and opener Kraigg Brathwaite made a painstaking four from 38 deliveries before he was put out of his misery, lbw to fast bowler Taskin Ahmed.

Keacy Carty became Taskin's second victim when he went for an eight-ball duck, chipping a loose shot to Taijul with the score on 25-2.

Kaveem Hodge made 25 before he was third man out, run out following a fine throw from Taijul at fine leg.

After the departures of Louis and Athanaze, it was left to Joshua Da Silva (14) and Justin Greaves (11) to see West Indies through to stumps.
Perth, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Nov, 2024) Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul shared an unbeaten opening partnership of 84 Saturday as India built a 130-run lead over Australia to seize control at tea on day two of the first Test in Perth.

The visitors took a 46-run lead into the second innings after dismissing the hosts for a meagre 104 at lunch in reply to their equally miserly 150 on a lively pitch.

By tea, Jaiswal was not out 42 and Rahul on 34 as they worked hard to put the match out of Australia's reach and draw first blood in the five-match series.

Jaiswal, in his 15th Test, failed to score in his first knock and began tentatively before a boundary off Mitchell Starc settled him.

Batting alongside the more experienced Rahul, they ran well between the wickets and cracked anything loose to the boundary, playing their shots as their confidence grew.

It included a beautiful straight drive by Rahul off Pat Cummins and an equally impressive sweep by Jaiswal from a fullish Starc delivery.

The ball was not moving nearly as much as the opening day and Australia were in dire need of some inspiration, but it failed to come as the partnership flourished.

After an astonishing 17 wickets fell on a chaotic opening day, Australia resumed on 67-7 and put on 37 thanks to a dogged last wicket holdout.

They reached three figures courtesy of Starc and Josh Hazlewood, with their 25-run stand the longest of the Australian innings.

Jasprit Bumrah was India's chief destroyer with 5-30, his 11th five-wicket haul in Tests. Harshit Rana chipped in with 3-48.

Home hopes rested on Alex Carey as he began on 19, but after nudging two from Rana he came up against an irrepressible Bumrah.

Coming round the wicket, the Indian captain made Carey play and he nicked to wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant.

Nathan Lyon (5) did well to hang around for 16 fiery balls before gloving a short one from Rana to Rahul in the slips.

That brought Hazlewood to the crease and it seemed only a matter of time before India were batting again.

But he and Starc gamely stuck around, bringing up the 100 to huge cheers from the crowd.

It was an intelligent innings by Starc, who doggedly faced 112 balls and protected Hazlewood to add crucial extra runs before holing out Rana to Pant on 26.

India have won their last two Border-Gavaskar trophy series in Australia, but came into the Perth clash after a humiliating 3-0 home loss to New Zealand.
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Vatican City, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Nov, 2024) Pope Francis will visit the French Mediterranean island of Corsica on December 15, just days after skipping the reopening of Paris's Notre Dame Cathedral which was ravaged by a fire in 2019, the Vatican said Saturday.

French President Emmanuel Macron had invited the 87-year-old pontiff to attend the Notre Dame reopening ceremony in Paris on December 7.

But Francis declined and instead will head to Ajaccio, the capital of Corsica, for a conference on the Catholic faith in the Mediterranean, the Vatican said.

"The star of the Notre Dame reopening ceremony is Notre Dame itself," the head of the Bishops' Conference of France (CEF) Eric de Moulins-Beaufort said.

The pope had not wanted his presence to be a distraction from the essential point of the occasion, he added.

Instead, the pope will travel to Corsica, the fourth largest island in the Mediterranean.

It will be the first-ever papal visit to the island, where 90 percent of its 350,000 population is Catholic, according to the local Church, and religious traditions such as processions remain deeply rooted.

He will deliver two addresses and preside over a mass in the afternoon before meeting Macron, the Vatican said. The pontiff will arrive in Ajaccio at 9:00 am (0800 GMT) and leave shortly after 6:00 pm.

Francis, who will celebrate his 88th birthday on December 17, has been to France twice since becoming head of the worldwide Catholic Church in 2013.

He visited Strasbourg in 2014, where he addressed the European Parliament, and last year went to Marseille for a meeting of Mediterranean area bishops, where he met Macron.

He has yet to make a state visit to France, one of Europe's main majority-Catholic countries. He is also yet to make state visits to Spain, the United Kingdom or Germany.

The Argentine pontiff prefers visiting smaller or less established Catholic communities, from Malta to Mongolia.
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Washington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Nov, 2024) The United States, Britain, France and Germany on Saturday expressed "serious concern" over Iran's plans to launch a series of new centrifuges for its nuclear program, urging Tehran to reengage with the UN nuclear watchdog.

Iran's announcement came after the four Western powers brought a censure motion targeting the Islamic republic at the 35-nation board of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The resolution was adopted on Thursday.

"We note with serious concern Iran's announcement... that, instead of responding to the resolution with cooperation, it plans to respond with further expansion of its nuclear program in ways that have no credible peaceful rationale," the four nations said in a joint statement released by the US State Department.

"We expect Iran to reengage on the path of dialogue and cooperation with the agency."

On Friday, Iran said it would launch a "significant series of new and advanced centrifuges of various types."

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 Tehran, said a joint statement from Iran's foreign ministry and its atomic energy organization.

Behrouz Kamalvandi, a spokesman for Iran's atomic energy organization, on Friday said the new measures are mostly related to uranium enrichment.

Tensions are running 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.

In their four-way statement Saturday, the United States, Britain, France and Germany welcomed the adoption of the IAEA resolution, saying it was in response to Iran's "continued failure" to cooperate with the watchdog in a timely manner.

The resolution, seen by AFP, says it is "essential and urgent" for Iran to "act to fulfill 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.

"We hope Iran will take the opportunity between now and that report to finally provide the information and cooperation needed to resolve these issues, so that the agency is able to provide assurance that Iran's program remains exclusively peaceful," the Western powers said Saturday.

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U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken will travel to Italy over the weekend to attend a meeting of the Group of Seven major democracies next week, the State Department said on Friday, amid rising tensions in the war in Ukraine.

G7 leaders last Saturday reiterated a pledge to keep imposing severe costs on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine through sanctions, export controls and other measures, and vowed to support Kyiv for as long as it takes.

The State Department said Blinken would discuss issues including "conflicts in the Middle East, Russias war against Ukraine, Indo-Pacific security, and the ongoing crises in both Haiti and Sudan" at the gathering in Italy.

During his November 23-27 trip, Blinken also plans to meet Pope Francis at the Vatican following the G7 talks, it said in a statement.

Italy holds the 2024 rotating presidency of the G7, which also includes the United States, Canada, Japan, France, Germany and Britain.
Influential members of Congress, including the senator poised to become secretary of state in the incoming Trump administration, are pressing hard to revoke Chinas Permanent Normal Trade Relations with the United States.

Commonly known as Most Favored Nation status, PNTR means that Chinese goods being imported into the United States are granted the most advantageous terms that the country offers when it applies tariffs and other restrictions.

China was granted PNTR in 2000, as it prepared for entry into the World Trade Organization. Since then, some of the advantages the status confers have been stripped away by sanctions applied by the first Trump administration and increased during the presidency of Joe Biden.

Few non-PNTR countries

Completely removing PNTR would expose all of Chinas vast array of exports to the U.S.  $427.2 billion worth in 2023  to even higher levies. The tariffs imposed by the U.S. on goods from countries without PNTR range from a minimum of 35% to as high as 100%.

Currently, there are four countries in the world that do not have PNTR status with the U.S.: Russia, Belarus, North Korea and Cuba. North Korea and Cuba have never held PNTR status, while the PNTR status of Russia and Belarus was revoked after Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which Belarus enabled.

If normal non-PNTR tariffs were levied on goods from China, and the increased tariffs applied by the Trump and Biden administrations under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 were left in place, the average tax on Chinese imports could approach 60%. During his campaign this year, President-elect Donald Trump had suggested levying a 60% tariff on Chinese goods, although it is not clear how he arrived at that number.

More assertive policy

This week, the congressionally chartered U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission issued its annual report to Congress. Among its recommendations for changing U.S. relations with China was PNTR revocation. The bipartisan panel, which has been issuing annual reports since 2002, had not previously made a unanimous call for PNTR revocation.

The report accused China of engaging in practices such as intellectual property theft and market manipulation. It said that PNTR repeal would improve U.S. leverage in trade negotiations and would signal a shift toward a more assertive trade policy aimed at protecting U.S. industries and workers from economic coercion.

Asked for comment on this story, Liu Pengyu, the spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, emailed VOA a statement criticizing the commission.

"[The] U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission has long been issuing so-called reports about China, which are full of disinformation and smear, based on its entrenched bias about China," Liu said.

"On PNTR, following the agreement between China and the US on Chinas accession to the WTO, the US announced in 2001 to grant permanent normal trade relations status to China. Attempts to pull the China-US trade and economic relations back to the Cold War era violates WTO rules, and will only harm the common interests of both countries, and disrupt the global economy."

Legislative efforts

The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission report followed the introduction of a bill on November 14 by Representative John Moolenaar, chair of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, that would officially end Chinas PNTR status.

Moolenaar described granting China PNTR as an experiment that has failed, saying in a statement that repeal would protect our national security, support supply chain resilience, and return manufacturing jobs to the U.S. and our allies.

In September, similar legislation was introduced in the Senate. One of the key sponsors was Florida Senator Marco Rubio, whom President-elect Donald Trump has nominated to serve as secretary of state in his incoming administration.

Both bills include language that would specify that 100% tariffs be applied to a wide range of products imported from China, including consumer electronics, machinery and solar energy equipment.

Forecasting economic growth

Supporters of eliminating Chinas PNTR status claim that doing so would lead to a boost in manufacturing in the United States, economic growth and an increase in well-paid jobs.

When the Senate bill to strip China of PNTR was released in September, Senator Tom Cotton said, This comprehensive repeal of Chinas PNTR status and reform of the U.S.-China trade relationship will protect American workers, enhance our national security and end the Chinese Communists leverage over our economy.

In a statement released when the Moolenaar bill was introduced, Michael Stumo, CEO of the advocacy organization Coalition for a Prosperous America, said, Strengthening Americas domestic industrial capacity is paramount to growing the economy, creating good-paying jobs and safeguarding our nations future. ... Congresss focus on revoking Chinas [PNTR] status is a necessary step to ensure Americas prosperity and independence.

Forecasting disaster

On the other side of the argument, many economists and trade advocacy organizations say that huge spikes in tariffs on Chinese goods would be economically disastrous for the U.S.

Marcus Noland, executive vice president and director of studies at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, told VOA that when he and his colleagues modeled the results of PNTR revocation, the findings were precisely the reverse of what the policys advocates expect. They found slower economic growth, higher prices and a negative impact on manufacturing.

Taking away Permanent Normal Trade Relation status from China does the opposite of what the proponents would like, Noland said. It actually does not contribute to an industrial revival in the United States. Just the opposite. What happens is that by raising the tariffs on China  you make industrial inputs into the United States much more expensive.

And so, the United States becomes a high-cost location of production for many manufacturers, and loses competitiveness in that sector, he said.

Over time, economic growth and manufacturing levels would begin to rise again, and price increases would fall somewhat, but they never return to the same long-term trajectory, the findings showed.

You do permanent damage, Noland said.

The U.S. China Business Council, or USCBC, which works to deepen trading ties between the worlds two largest economies, also opposes the plan.

[R]evoking Permanent Normal Trade Relations status for China would significantly harm the U.S. economy, consumers and businesses by driving up prices, eliminating hundreds of thousands of jobs, and making it harder for American companies to compete globally, USCBC President Craig Allen said in a statement emailed to VOA.

Any policy impacting the U.S.-China relationship should be targeted to achieve specific objectives, address unfair Chinese market practices, and be coordinated with U.S. allies and partners, rather than create a unilateral framework that accomplishes none of these goals, Allen added.
Chinese hackers are positioning themselves in U.S. critical infrastructure IT networks for a potential clash with the United States, a top American cybersecurity official said Friday.

Morgan Adamski, executive director of U.S. Cyber Command, said Chinese-linked cyber operations are aimed at gaining an advantage in case of a major conflict with the United States.

Officials have warned that China-linked hackers have compromised IT networks and taken steps to carry out disruptive attacks in the event of a conflict. Their activities include gaining access to key networks to enable potential disruptions such as manipulating heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems in server rooms, or disrupting critical energy and water controls, U.S. officials said earlier this year.

Beijing routinely denies cyber operations targeting U.S. entities. The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Adamski was speaking to researchers at the Cyberwarcon security conference in Arlington, Virginia. On Thursday, U.S. Senator Mark Warner told The Washington Post a suspected China-linked hack on U.S. telecommunications firms was the worst telecom hack in U.S. history.

That cyber espionage operation, dubbed Salt Typhoon, has included stolen call records data, compromised communications of top officials of both major U.S. presidential campaigns before the November 5 election, and telecommunications information related to U.S. law enforcement requests, the FBI said recently.

The FBI and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency are providing technical assistance and information to potential targets, the bureau said.

Adamski said Friday that the U.S. government has "executed globally synchronized activities, both offensively and defensively minded, that are laser-focused on degrading and disrupting PRC cyber operations worldwide."

Public examples include exposing operations, sanctions, indictments, law enforcement actions and cybersecurity advisories, with input from multiple countries, Adamski said.
Before Cyclone Aila battered the southwestern coast of Bangladesh in 2009, Vikas Das lived with his family in a coastal hamlet, tending a small vegetable plot and fishing in a nearby river.

As the powerful storm submerged the region, killing hundreds and forcing hundreds of thousands to flee, the Das family sought shelter in a nearby village.

Hoping to rebuild, Das rented a house with some government and charity assistance and resumed fishing and farming. For several years, the family managed, but the cyclones kept returning, salinating the river, eroding the soil, and diminishing fish and crop yields.

With the water levels rising each year, the family faced a relentless chore: constantly moving their ramshackle house to safety.

"We needed extra money to lift the house every month," Das said in an interview with VOA.

The unending struggle eventually drove Das to Dhaka, the Bangladeshi capital, where he took a job he never envisioned for himself: driving a rickshaw to support his family.

"I did not study that much," said Das, who now lives in a Dhaka slum. "I started driving a rickshaw because I didn't know anything else."

While many Cyclone Aila survivors returned to their villages, countless others like Das ended up in Dhaka and other distant cities, living in overcrowded slums and enduring poverty.

The country's climate migrant population has continued to swell since Alia. Last year, Bangladesh saw an estimated 1.8 million internal displacements due to disasters, ranking it among the top five countries globally, according to the International Displacement Monitoring Center.

With the country ranking high on the list of climate disaster risks, experts warn Bangladesh's climate migration crisis could worsen without action. The World Bank predicts that Bangladesh could have 13.3 million internal climate migrants by 2050.

South Asia's climate woes

South Asia is a climate change hot spot, with ever more intense cyclones, storms, floods, droughts and heat waves displacing millions every year. Last year, natural disasters displaced 2.9 million people across the region: Afghanistan had 1.5 million IDPs, Pakistan 1.2 million, India 90,000 and Bangladesh 55,000, according to IDMC.

"In Pakistan, India and Bangladesh, the migration trends are very rapid. They occur almost every year," said Zainab Naeem, a research fellow at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI).

Worldwide, more than 26 million people were newly displaced by natural disasters last year, according to the IDMC, many of them driven from their homes by floods.

The World Bank says climate change could force as many as 216 million people to migrate within their own countries by 2050.

COP29 gives attention to migration

Though the link between climate change and migration has long been recognized, it wasn't always a focus of policymakers and activists. That changed last year, as the U.N. climate talks in Dubai  known as COP28  officially recognized migration as a climate impact.

The increased attention continued this year at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, where despite the conference's focus on climate change finance, delegates also discussed the climate-migration nexus, according to Rania Sharshr, climate action director for the International Organization for Migration.

"COP29 has featured a wide array of proposed actions to address climate-induced displacement and migration," Sharshr said.

Several developed countries, including Germany, Sweden, Australia and New Zealand, pledged contributions to a climate-caused loss and damage response fund that communities can use for climate migration programs, she said in an email.

Additionally, the Baku Principles call for concrete action "to invest in solutions for communities and migrants affected by climate change," Sharshr said.

The Baku Principles, adopted at COP29, are a set of guidelines that aim to integrate human development into climate action strategies.

But other delegates called the focus inadequate and the pledges insufficient. A draft financing plan released by the summit on Friday would commit developed nations to providing $250 billion per year by 2035 to help poor nations cope with the effects of climate change. However, rich and poor countries remained divided over the figure, with some delegates calling for no less than $1 trillion.

"As long as that's not happening, you'll still find people migrating because of the impact of climate change, and so getting to the roots of the problem is critical," said conference observer Sonia Basinia Kwami.

Pakistan facing further risk

Policymakers acknowledge a gap in policies linking climate change to migration, despite increased awareness of the issue. Mazhar Hayat, deputy secretary of Pakistan's Ministry of Climate Change, said climate-induced migration is a relatively new topic for policymakers.

"Most of the time the response is reactionary, but now we are thinking for long-term planning in this regard," Hayat said in an interview with VOA's Azeri Service.

Hayat noted that Pakistan is still grappling with the aftermath of the 2022 "super floods," which affected more than 33 million people.

"We're still in the process of rehabilitation," Hayat said.

In recent years, extreme weather events such as floods, droughts and heat waves have become increasingly common in Pakistan, putting the country on the top 10 list of the 2021 Global Climate Risk Index by Germanwatch. While floods displace people temporarily, droughts tend to force long-term internal migration, according to Climate Action Network South Asia.

Take Ali Zeb, a fruit farmer from Khanozai in Pakistan's western Balochistan province. Zeb once had a thriving fruit business, tending an orchard of 350 apple and apricot trees that earned him up to $23,000 a year.

"Life was good before, and I worked hard to maintain the orchard," Zeb said in an interview with VOA's Deewa Service.

But Balochistan, rich in resources, is also prone to natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods and drought. In recent years, droughtlike conditions across much of the region worsened, hitting the agriculture sector hard.

Zeb said he had lost his orchard first, as his trees withered in a long dry spell. Then, the 2021 floods destroyed his house.

With nothing left, he moved to the district center, where he now works as a day laborer to make ends meet.

"Now I do any work," he said.

VOA's Azeri, Bangla, Deewa and Urdu services contributed to this report.
Its expected that the new U.S. Trump administration may force Russia and Ukraine to sit down and negotiate. In anticipation of that, both sides escalated their war efforts this past week. We speak with Jim Townsend, adjunct senior fellow in the Center for a New American Security Transatlantic Security Program. 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. Leila Sadat, Washington University Professor of International Criminal Law and Special Advisor on Crimes Against Humanity to the ICC Prosecutor help us understand what it means.
Many Chinese nationals are taking advantage of Australian student visas as a means to secure long-term employment. On major Chinese social media platforms, advertisements promoting "half-work, half-study" programs have proliferated, luring so-called "fake students" to Australia in search of work opportunities.

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Four years after the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law, pro-democracy political parties in Hong Kong are facing unprecedented political pressure. Following the sentencing of 45 pro-democracy figures to severe penalties for conspiring to subvert state power, two major pro-Beijing newspapers on Thursday issued strong condemnations of Hong Kong's largest pro-democracy party, the Democratic Party.

Analysts believe this signals that Beijing is issuing a final ultimatum to the Democratic Party, a mainstay of Hong Kongs pro-democracy politics since its founding in 1994.

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The U.S. Treasury Department is investigating the relationship between JPMorgan and a hedge fund said to be part of a network overseen by Hosein Shamkhani, the son of Ali Shamkhani, Bloomberg reported. Ali Shamkhani is a longtime close ally of Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

See the full story here.
The United States has sanctioned Russias Gazprombank, the lender built around the countrys gas exporting giant, as well as dozens of other financial institutions. The new measures are expected to further curtail Moscows use of the international financial system.

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Menacing incidents aimed at two female journalists in Europe within one week underscore the threatening environment for media, say analysts.

In the first incident, in North Macedonia, journalist Miroslava Simonovska received threats online from a fake Facebook profile bearing her name and image.

The threats included messages that read We are following you and We are taking pictures of you, according to the Coalition for Women in Journalism, or CFWIJ.

The second incident was more violent. Montenegrin journalist Ana Raickovic was physically attacked by a local businessman.

Raickovic, editor of the crime section for the daily newspaper Pobjeda, was threatened outside a restaurant and then verbally and physically assaulted. She suffered injuries to her neck, head and arms. Her son and fiance were also attacked.

Physical attacks against female journalists have increased in recent years, according to the director and founder of the CFWIJ, Kiran Nazish.

Women journalists used to get targeted with verbal threats, which was obviously always concerning, Nazish told VOA in a call. But a lack of accountability and impunity is what allows people to go a step further.

Three people have been arrested in connection with the Raickovic assault, which the Montenegrin prime minister condemned on social media.

In the case in Macedonia, the online threats came after secretly recorded footage that appeared to show Simonovska receiving documents circulated on national television, according to the CFWIJ. The incident was an abuse of power and an invasion of the journalist's privacy, analysts say.

Internet-based attacks have become increasingly popular among those who want to silence the press, Nazish said.

Three in four female journalists globally have experienced online harassment, according to a joint 2022 study on violence against women journalists.

This is not just virtual; it's not just online, said Julie Posetti, of the International Center for Journalists, who was a lead editor on the joint report with ICFJ and UNESCO. Through our research, we've established there's a trajectory from online to offline attacks.

Family attacks are not uncommon either; the survey found that 13% of women respondents experienced threats against their families, including their children.

They are targeted because they are women, Posetti told VOA by phone. Female journalists often experience highly sexualized abuse, which is tied to their gender identity, she said.

In her research, Posetti examined the disproportionate abuse women received compared with that experienced by their colleagues.

She found that when sharing bylines with men, women journalists often experience immense harassment while their male colleagues, who reported on the same subject, do not suffer any backlash.

That anecdote really does reinforce what we already knew, which is that women journalists are much more likely to be targeted, Posetti told VOA. The reason for that is that they are dealing not just with the kinds of attacks associated often with disinformation campaigns  but because they are women. That, in and of itself, exposes them to more risk online.

Threats against female journalists have been effective, Posetti told VOA. Because of these increased threats, Posetti has seen women begin to withdraw from journalism.

The real harm in that, she said, is that womens stories are less likely to be told.

Everywhere where women withdraw from journalism, womens stories are less represented, Posetti said. With women being pushed out and bullied out of the profession, we risk further entrenching inequalities and suppressing those voices which are really vital to hear in an open society.

The two cases in Europe happened in countries with relatively strong records for media freedom.

Montenegro ranks 40th out of 180 on the Press Freedom Index, where 1 represents the best environment. This position is good among West Balkan countries, according to Pavol Szalai of Reporters Without Borders, which compiles the annual index. However, the recent attack shows how fragile this process is, he said via email.

North Macedonia ranks 36th out of 180 on the same index.

Milena Durdic of VOAs Serbian Service contributed to this report.
Iran has lodged a protest with Moscow regarding what it described as the "violent" arrest of Iranian students at a university in the Russian city of Kazan, state media reported Saturday.

Two Iranian students who visited a visa extension center at Kazan Federal University on Friday were arrested after being subjected to "inhumane and unprofessional beating" by the police, according to the IRNA state news agency, which cited a statement from Iran's consulate in the city.

In response, Iran submitted "a protest note" to the Russian Foreign Ministry condemning the "violent treatment of the Iranian students by the police," IRNA said.

Iran, a close ally of Russia, has requested "explanations" for the incident.

The two students were released late on Friday following interventions by the consulate.

The press service of the Kazan police said via Telegram on Friday that a conflict among students had turned physical, and that officers had "detained the instigators" of the fight.

The statement did not give the nationality of those arrested.

The regional Investigative Committee in Kazan also reported on Friday that two foreign nationals were arrested for allegedly "using violence against a representative of the authority."

Iran's top diplomat, Abbas Araghchi, has "repeatedly" followed up on the incident, said a post on X from Kazem Jalali, Tehran's ambassador to Moscow.

Jalali, in another post on Friday, condemned "any sort of misbehavior with Iranian students," asking for "the responsible Russian authorities" to be held accountable.
Israeli airstrikes Saturday in central Beirut killed at least 20 people, officials said, as the once-rare attacks on the heart of Lebanon's capital continued without warning while diplomats scrambled to broker a cease-fire.

Lebanon's Health Ministry said 66 people were wounded in the strikes, which were the fourth in central Beirut in less than a week.

The escalation comes after U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein traveled to the region in pursuit of a deal to end months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah that has erupted into full-on war.

Israeli attacks have killed more than 3,500 people in Lebanon, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry. The fighting has displaced about 1.2 million people, or a quarter of Lebanon's population. On the Israeli side, about 90 soldiers and nearly 50 civilians have been killed by bombardment in northern Israel and the fighting.

8-story building is turned to rubble

The 4 a.m. strikes destroyed an eight-story building in central Beirut. Hezbollah legislator Amin Shiri said no Hezbollah officials were inside. The attack stripped the facades from some nearby buildings and crumpled cars.

"The area is residential, with closely packed buildings and narrow streets, making the situation challenging," said Walid Al-Hashash, a first responder with the Lebanese Civil Defense.

Israel's military did not comment on the casualties.

Also Saturday, a drone strike killed two people and injured three in the southern Lebanese port city of Tyre, according to the Lebanese state-run National News Agency.

Mohammed Bikai, spokesperson for the Fatah Palestinian faction in the Tyre area, said those killed were Palestinian refugees from nearby al-Rashidieh camp who were out fishing.

Despite a warning last month by Israel's army to avoid Lebanon's southern coast, "you can't tell someone who needs to eat that you can't fish," Bikai said.

The Health Ministry said other airstrikes killed eight people, including four children, in the eastern town of Shmustar, five others in the southern village of Roumin, and another five people in the northeastern village of Budai.

Sticking points in cease-fire talks

Two Western diplomatic officials on Saturday described disputed points between Israel and Lebanon in cease-fire negotiations. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the talks.

The current proposal calls for a two-month cease-fire during which Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanon and Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the southern border south of the Litani River. Thousands more Lebanese army troops would patrol the border area with U.N. peacekeepers, and an international committee would monitor the deal's implementation.

The officials said Israel wanted more guarantees that Hezbollah's weapons are removed from the border area. Israeli officials have said they would not agree to a deal that did not explicitly grant them freedom to strike in Lebanon if they believe Hezbollah is violating it.

Lebanese officials have said the inclusion of such a term would violate their country's sovereignty. And Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem said this week that the militant group would not agree to a deal that does not entail a "complete and comprehensive end to the aggression."

Lebanon and Israel also dispute which countries would sit on the monitoring committee. The officials said Israel refused to allow France, which has been close with Lebanon since its colonial rule there ended. Lebanon refused to have Britain, a close ally of Israel.

Deadly strikes in Gaza and people trapped in rubble

In northern Gaza, the Health Ministry said at least 80 people, total, were killed on Thursday and Friday, including near the Kamal Adwan and Al-Ahli hospitals. It said dozens of people were trapped under the rubble.

Israel's army said it wasn't aware of a strike near Kamal Adwan, and it didn't respond to questions about the other attacks.

On Saturday, at least six people, including three children and two women, were killed in the southern city of Khan Younis, according to Associated Press reporters and staff at Nasser Hospital.

"Suddenly we woke up to dust, smoke and a fire," said one grieving father, Ahmad Ghassan. "We found him dead and his brother injured." Another father wept as he carried his child's body in a bloodstained sheet.

And Al-Awda Hospital said it received six bodies after Israel shelled a house north of the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza.

The Palestinian death toll from the 13-month-long war surpassed 44,000 this week, according to the Health Ministry, which doesn't distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count. It has said more than half the dead are women and children. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence.

The war began when 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 believed to be dead.

The Israeli offensive in Gaza has devastated wide areas, and around 90% of Gaza's 2.3 million people have been displaced, often multiple times. Hundreds of thousands live in tent camps with little food, water or basic services.

Hamas and Hezbollah have been designated as terror groups by the United States, the U.K. and other Western countries.

At least two women were shot dead Saturday while waiting in line for bread in central Deir al-Balah, relatives and witnesses told the AP. It was unclear who shot them and why.

The United Nations says its attempts to support hard-hit northern Gaza, which has been the focus of a renewed Israeli offensive for weeks, have been denied or impeded, and that less than 20% of the population has remained there since the offensive began.

Man opens fire near Israeli Embassy in Jordan

Authorities in Jordan say they shot and killed a man who opened fire on a police patrol near the Israeli Embassy, an attack that left three police officers hurt.

The shooting happened early Sunday in the Rabiah neighborhood of Amman, the Jordanian capital.

Jordan's Public Security Directorate said in a statement that a man was shooting in the area, and police pursued the shooter.

"He was chased and surrounded, so he started firing gunshots at the security force, which in turn applied the rules of engagement, which resulted in the killing of the perpetrator," the statement said.

It did not identify the shooter.

Israel and Jordan reached a peace deal in 1994. Tensions have been high between the two countries amid the Israel-Hamas war, which has decimated the Gaza Strip, and the Israeli ground offensive in Lebanon.
The latest lawsuit to take aim at Hawaii's gun laws challenges the state's ban on gun ownership for young adults 18 to 20 years old, which Second Amendment advocates say is an unconstitutional restriction on Americans' right to bear arms.

Elijah Pinales, 19, and Juda Roache, who turns 18 next month, want to own guns for self-defense, according to their lawsuit filed Wednesday night in U.S. District Court in Honolulu.

Their lawyers assert that Hawaii is the only state with a complete ban on acquiring and owning firearms and ammunition by those who are 18 to 20. Some states allow 18-year-olds to purchase a long gun and some allow for private party transfer of handguns, said Alan Beck, one of the lawyers who filed the lawsuit and has lodged numerous other challenges to Hawaii weapons laws.

Roache's mother wants to give him a firearm and ammunition, the lawsuit says.

Federal law requires a person to be 21 to purchase a handgun from a licensed firearm dealer and 18 to buy a long gun from a dealer, according to Everytown for Gun Safety. There's an 18-year-old minimum for handgun purchases from unlicensed sellers and no minimum age for long guns, according to the group's research.

Chris Marvin, a Hawaii resident with Everytown, said states are raising the age for purchasing firearms and ammunition, noting a federal appeals court ruled earlier this month that a Colorado law raising the age to purchase a gun from 18 to 21 can take effect while the legal battle over it continues.

New York and Illinois also have broad laws limiting people under 21 from possessing firearms, said David Pucino, legal director and deputy chief counsel for the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.

"Hawai'i has some of the strongest gun laws in the country and it has among the very lowest gun death rates," he said in a statement Thursday. "That's not an accident, but it hasn't stopped extremists from attacking Hawai'i's gun laws at every turn."

Firearm suicide rate jumps

According to Everytown, firearms are the leading cause of death for young people ages 18 to 20, the firearm suicide rate in that age group has jumped 41% in the last decade, and 18- to 20-year-olds commit gun homicides at triple the rate of those 21 and older.

The Hawaii attorney general's office said it had not been served with the complaint and declined to comment.

"There can be no real argument that adults under 21 are not part of the national community," the lawsuit said, noting that 18-to-20-year-olds have the right to vote. "They have the right to serve in the military and are otherwise full-fledged members of society and the People."

Court decision upends laws

The quest for a preliminary injunction against enforcing a prohibition on gun ownership for young adults comes as Hawaii continues to contend with a 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision that said Americans have a right to carry firearms in public for self-defense.

The so-called Bruen decision upended gun laws nationwide and set a new standard for interpreting gun laws, such that modern firearm laws must be consistent with the nation's historical tradition of firearm regulation.

There's no historical tradition of prohibiting the purchase and ownership of firearms and ammunition by adults under 21, according to the lawsuit, which describes some of the nation's founding figures such as Aaron Burr, who at 19 enlisted in the Continental Army with his own arms and ammunition, and James Monroe who did the same at 18.

Hawaii's gun ownership ban for young adults dates to 1994, the lawsuit said. The state "doubled down" this year by prohibiting the possession of ammunition by those under 21, the lawsuit said.

Danger Close Tactical in Honolulu and JGB Arms on Kauai are federally licensed firearms dealers who are plaintiffs in the case because they want to do business with customers who are 18 to 20 years old, the lawsuit said.

Another plaintiff is the Second Amendment Foundation, a nonprofit in Bellevue, Washington.
Mozambiques presidential election runner-up, Venancio Mondlane, has placed conditions on his participation in a meeting with the countrys president to end weeks of political unrest over disputed elections. Mondlane delivered his proposal along with a proposed agenda and wants to meet Tuesday with President Filipe Nyusi and the three other presidential candidates.

Among his demands, Mondlane requests that the legal proceedings against him be dropped and that his participation be virtual. He also wants the release of all those arrested as part of the violent protests that he called for and "guarantees of political and legal security for the actors and players in the dialogue."

Among the items on the agenda, Mondlane proposed 20 points, including "re-establishment of the electoral truth" and criminal and civil liability for what he says are those involved in falsifying the electoral process.

The document was delivered by Diniz Tivane, a representative of the Podemos party, which backed Mondlane in the presidential race.

Tivane revealed some of the contents of the letter, saying that the electoral truth was exactly what Venancio himself said. Votes are not negotiated, they are counted.

Mondlane also demanded that certain institutions and individuals participate in the talks.

Political analyst Dercio Alfazema said Mondlane accepted Nyusis invitation, but the conditions showed otherwise.

He said that if it were up to Mondlane, he would not participate in this meeting. And depending on that, the meeting could be held with other candidates or not take place at all. And it will be very difficult for all who are worried and want a solution to this problem. And, Alfazema added, we all believe that the best way out of this problem is dialogue.

Preliminary results showed the Frelimo candidate, Daniel Chapo, won the presidential with 71%, and Mondlane, who ran as an independent, came in second with 20%.

A political and social crisis marked by fraud allegations and disputed results has engulfed Mozambique since the October 9 elections.

Mozambique immediately fell into a climate of uncertainty that has affected daily life and the economy.

At least 60 people have died in protests, and several regions of Mozambique have seen blockades, looting, riots and violence, with emphasis on border areas and economic centers.
A ban on New Zealanders wearing or displaying symbols of gang affiliation in public took effect on Thursday, with police officers making their first arrest for a breach of the law three minutes later.

The man was driving with gang insignia displayed on the dashboard of his car, Police Commissioner Richard Chambers told 1News.

The prohibition on displaying gang insignia anywhere outside private homes, including on clothing or in vehicles, is among a suite of new measures intended to bolster police powers to disrupt the groups. Wearing or displaying the insignia of 35 listed gangs will now prompt a fine of up to 5,000 New Zealand dollars ($2,940) or up to six months in jail.

New Zealand's center-right government, which pledged ahead of last October's election to tackle gang crime, says the measures will reduce the membership of groups responsible for violence and drug offenses. But detractors say the law breaches civil liberties and could drive gang activities underground.

"Gangs aren't community groups. They're not a Rotary club," Prime Minister Christopher Luxon wrote on social media Thursday. "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."

Under the new law, officers can also disperse public gatherings of three or more members, bar some gang affiliates from associating with each other, and enter homes of those who keep breaking the law to search for banned items. Gang membership will now be considered by the courts when sentencing offenders.

Police Minister Mark Mitchell told reporters Thursday that two people were arrested hours after the law took effect for wearing gang "patches," which are large insignia often worn by gang members on the backs of leather jackets or vests. The government says the patches are intimidating because members are required to earn them through violent acts.

The measures shift New Zealand's response to gangs closer to that of neighboring Australia, which also uses a law to suppress the public visibility of gangs, and away from jurisdictions like the U.S. and Britain, which use criminal law to respond to specific activities carried out by organized crime groups, according to a report published by Treasury officials in February.

Facial tattoos that display gang insignia are exempt from the ban, as is the wearing of gang colors. The government was criticized by some for not including white supremacist groups in its list of 35 organizations targeted by the new law. That means displaying swastikas and making Nazi salutes remains legal in New Zealand - unlike in Australia, which banned both in a law that took effect January.

There are nearly 9,400 people on a New Zealand police list of known gang members. New Zealand's population is 5 million.

Successive governments have vowed to tackle criminal gangs, which often are linked to poverty and other deprivation. The previous center-left government was decried by Luxon's administration for working with gangs on social initiatives, including COVID-19 vaccination efforts, while the current government has been denounced for advancing policies that are likely to ensnare some of New Zealand's most marginalized groups, including Indigenous Maori.

Official reports say three-quarters of those on the national gang list are Maori, who make up less than 20% of New Zealanders, and that 80% to 90% of those in two of the most notorious gangs are former wards of the state.

Luxon made a formal apology this month for the widespread abuse of children and vulnerable adults in state care over the past seven decades.
A proposed law that would redefine New Zealand's founding treaty between the British Crown and Maori chiefs has triggered political turmoil and prompted tens of thousands of people to show up in protest at the country's Parliament on Tuesday.

The bill is never expected to become law. But it has become a flashpoint on race relations and a critical moment in the fraught 180-year-old conversation about how New Zealand should honor its promises to Indigenous people when the country was colonized  and what those promises are.

A huge crowd gathered in the capital, Wellington, on Tuesday morning for the final stretch of a weeklong protest that has spanned the length of the country  a march through the city streets to Parliament. It follows a Maori tradition of hikoi, or walking, to bring attention to breaches of the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi  and is likely to be the largest treaty rights demonstration in the history of modern New Zealand.

Why is a 180-year-old treaty being debated?

Considered New Zealand's founding document, the treaty was signed between representatives of the British Crown and 500 Maori chiefs during colonization. It laid out principles guiding the relationship between the Crown and Maori, in two versions  one in English and the other in Maori.

It promised Maori the rights and privileges of British citizens, but the English and Maori versions differed on what power the chiefs were ceding over their affairs, lands and autonomy.

Over decades, the Crown breached both versions. By the mid-20th century, Maori language and culture had dwindled  Indigenous people were often barred from practicing it  tribal land was confiscated and Maori were disadvantaged in many metrics.

How were treaty rights revived?

Prompted by a surging Maori protest movement, for the past 50 years the courts of New Zealand, lawmakers and the Waitangi Tribunal  a permanent body set up to adjudicate treaty matters  have navigated the differences in the treaty's versions and tried to redress breaches by constructing the meaning of the treaty's principles in their decisions.

Those principles are intended to be flexible but are commonly described as partnership with the Crown, protection of Maori interests and participation in decision-making.

While Maori remain disenfranchised in many ways, the weaving of treaty recognition through law and attempts at redress have changed the fabric of society since then. Maori language has experienced a renaissance, and everyday words are now commonplace  even among non-Maori. Policies have been enacted to target disparities Maori commonly face.

Billions of dollars in settlements have been negotiated between the Crown and tribes for breaches of the treaty, particularly the widespread expropriation of Maori land and natural resources.

Why is there fresh debate?

Some New Zealanders, however, are unhappy with redress. They have found a champion in lawmaker David Seymour, the leader of a minor libertarian political party that won less than 9% of the vote in last year's election  but scored outsized influence for its agenda as part of a governing agreement.

Seymour's proposed law would set specific definitions of the treaty's principles, and would apply them to all New Zealanders, not only to Maori. He says piecemeal construction of the treaty's meaning has left a vacuum and has given Maori special treatment.

His bill is widely opposed  by left- and right-wing former prime ministers, 40 of the country's most senior lawyers, and thousands of Maori and non-Maori New Zealanders who are walking the length of the country in protest.

Seymour's bill is not expected to pass its final reading. It cleared a first vote on Thursday due to a political deal, but most of those who endorsed it are not expected to do so again.

Detractors say the bill threatens constitutional upheaval and would remove rights promised in the treaty that are now enshrined in law. Critics have also lambasted Seymour  who is Maori  for provoking backlash against Indigenous people.

Why are protesters marching?

Peaceful walking protests are a Maori tradition and have occurred before at crucial times during the national conversation about treaty rights.

Police in the country of 5 million estimated that more than 40,000 people thronged Parliament's grounds on Tuesday after a march through the central city that shut down streets and drew thousands more onlookers, many holding signs in support of the protesters.

As those outside Parliament waved flags, sang Maori songs and listened to speeches, crowds who could not squeeze onto the grounds spilled onto the surrounding streets, which remained closed to traffic.

Many are marching to oppose Seymour's bill. But others are protesting a range of policies from the center-right government on Maori affairs  including an order, prompted by Seymour, that public agencies should no longer target policies to specifically redress Maori inequities.
The United States expects that thousands of North Korean troops massing in Russia will "soon" enter combat against Ukraine, Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin said Saturday.

About 10,000 North Korean soldiers were believed to be based in the Russian border region of Kursk, Austin said, where they were being "integrated into the Russian formations."

"Based upon what they've been trained on, the way they've been integrated into the Russian formations, I fully expect to see them engaged in combat soon," Austin told reporters during a stopover in the Pacific nation of Fiji.

Austin said he had "not seen significant reporting" of North Korean troops being "actively engaged in combat" to date.

South Korean government officials and a research group on Thursday said Russia has provided Pyongyang with oil, anti-air missiles and economic help in exchange for the troops Washington and Seoul have accused it of sending.

Kyiv has warned that Moscow, alongside the North Korean soldiers, has now amassed a 50,000-strong force to wrest back parts of the border region seized by Ukrainian forces.

Ukraine claimed swathes of Kursk in August during a lightning offensive even as its troops were thinly stretched in the Donetsk region, which has borne the brunt of nearly three years of fighting.
Rice borders on the sacred in Sierra Leone. Unless a meal includes rice, people say, you haven't eaten at all.

But as prices soar, consumers in the West African nation are giving up other food to buy it. That's a major reason why 83% of the population is food insecure, according to the U.N.'s World Food Program.

In the capital, Freetown, 28-year-old nail technician Anima Mangola dug into rice with stewed cassava leaves. "I'd eat rice five times a day if I had me the money," she said  even as its price has more than doubled this year.

Not everyone can keep up, and "people are suffering," she said.

Experts blame soaring prices on a heavy reliance on imports, which supply 35% of Sierra Leone's rice and eat up $200 million annually in foreign currency.

Even though West Africa has a long tradition of growing rice and often excellent places to do it, experts said the import dependency is due to a lack of investment in agriculture, booming population growth and cheap rice imports from Asia.

Sierra Leone's agriculture minister, Henry Kpaka Musa, accused the International Monetary Fund of pressuring Sierra Leone in the 1980s to stop investing in agriculture and open its markets to imports as a condition for receiving loans.

"We used to export rice," Kpaka said in an interview.

Now he and President Julius Bio plan to do it again. The government has raised over $620 million from global development banks this year to work towards food self-sufficiency, notably in rice, although Kpaka estimated the plan will cost $1.8 billion in all. Experts from the Ivory Coast-based research center Africa Rice have commended the plan as "ambitious and forward-looking."

But NGOs and academics warn it will favor international agribusiness and large-scale farms, to the detriment of the nation's 5 million smallholder farms. They point to similar, failed attempts at food self-sufficiency in places such as Burkina Faso and Ghana.

Self-sufficiency challenges and potential

West Africa has an ancient rice tradition dating back an estimated 3,500 years. Historian Judith Carney said its farmers were taken as slaves to work plantations in the U.S. South, giving birth to a booming rice economy.

Sierra Leone has the region's best climate and land for growing rice, with abundant annual rainfall in coastal regions.

But Kpaka, the minister, highlighted obstacles to rice self-sufficiency: poor roads to connect rice-growing areas with markets, unreliable electricity for processing, climate change and poor access to finance.

With the financial backing from development banks, he has approved plans to improve roads to the country's three main "rice bowls," create large areas of irrigated land and provide fertilizers, seeds and pesticides to smallholder farms.

"The plan starts with the infrastructure to attract the private sector to come," he said. He has promoted the plan to unspecified international investors, offering them thousands of hectares of irrigated land.

But some believe smallholders, who make up 70% of the country's population of 8 million, will be an afterthought.

The view from the field

Aboubacar Kowa, a farming leader in Bo district, gathered others to discuss their rice challenges, which also included access to land and a lack of storage, training and processing capacity.

They were united in their lack of optimism about government help. They've heard these ambitious plans before.

"We don't get support from the government," said one smallholder and village chief, Eric Amara Manyeh.

The most common concern was the lack of labor to create irrigated fields. Eliminating vegetation and digging channels is laborious, and an exodus of young people to urban areas means farmers have to employ laborers  a cost out of reach for many.

Although unemployment is high in towns, Manyeh said young people prefer easier jobs such as driving motorbike taxis.

Some farmers have formed collectives to share labor, but poor tools slow progress. In one government-backed project in Bo, digging 60 hectares of channels took three months by 82 people.

A cautionary tale

Sierra Leone's goal to get chemical fertilizer, seeds and pesticides into the hands of smallholders is meant to replicate the Green Revolution in Asia, which increased rice production by over 100% in two decades.

But Klara Fischer, a rural development professor at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences specializing in sub-Saharan Africa, warned that the approach exposes farmers to agribusiness giants such as Bayer Crop Science and Syngenta.

An initiative called A Green Revolution for Africa. backed by the Gates Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation and others, has spent over $1 billion since 2006 to increase access to fertilizers and seeds for smallholders, but its own evaluation in 2022 said it hasn't increased food security. The initiative is supporting Sierra Leone's efforts.

One recent assessment by the German development ministry in Ghana and Burkina Faso found no evidence that providing fertilizer and seeds increased yield or profit for smallholders and found that 41% of rice farmers struggled to pay off their debts.

"These fertilizer and seed packages are entangled with private interests," Fischer said. She also highlighted differences between Asia in the 1970s and the current situation in Africa. One is the cheap and available family labor in Asia compared to the rural exodus in Sierra Leone.

Kpaka, a former employee in the Gates Foundation's agricultural department, acknowledged concerns but was convinced his plan has the missing ingredient to unlock growth: the critical infrastructure to help farmers process and sell their rice, incentivizing them to grow more.

"If we don't make the road, (farmers) will forever remain subsistence," he said.

A different way

Others believe that Sierra Leone should spend its funding on measures that empower smallholder farms rather than big business.

Joseph Randall, director of an environmental NGO in Sierra Leone, Green Scenery, said the government should support sustainable practices such as organic compost instead of becoming dependent on imported chemical fertilizer, usually from Europe or North America, which contributes heavily to global warming.

Randall opposes the distribution of modern seeds, even though they are higher yielding. The hybrid varieties of rice can't be saved and replanted each year because they are bred by agribusinesses and have patents.

Meanwhile, in Manyeh's village, thunder echoed through the chief's rice fields. He pointed to a swamp that might be cultivated as part of the self-sufficiency goal.

"The willingness is there, the potential is there," he said. But he knows it takes more than potential to feed a nation.
Russia has included the territories it occupies in Ukraine in its recent greenhouse gas inventory report to the United Nations, drawing protests from Ukrainian officials and activists at the COP29 climate summit this week.

The move by Moscow comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin eyes potential peace negotiations with incoming U.S. President Donald Trump that could decide the fate of vast swathes of territory.

"We see that Russia is using international platforms to legalize their actions, to legalize their occupation of our territory," Ukrainian Deputy Environment Minister Olga Yukhymchuk told Reuters.

She said Ukraine is in touch with officials from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or UNFCCC, the U.N.'s main climate body, to ask it to resolve the dispute. Officials representing the Russian Foreign Ministry and the UNFCCC did not respond to requests for comment sent on Thursday.

At issue is Russia's National Inventory Report of greenhouse gas emissions for 2022, which Moscow submitted to the UNFCCC on November 8. In the submission, reviewed by Reuters, Russia said it could provide data for only 85 out of 89 of its territories "due to the absence of baseline data on land use for the territories of the Donetsk People's Republic, Luhansk People's Republic, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, annexed in September 2022."

Russia had already included emissions from Ukraine's Crimea region, annexed in 2014, in its last few reporting submissions to the UNFCCC. It also included Crimea's land development plans in a report to the U.N. Global Biodiversity Framework in 2020.

Ukrainian Environment Minister Svitlana Grynchuk raised the issue in a speech to delegates at the COP29 summit earlier this week, saying Russia's reporting on Ukraine territories undermines the integrity of global climate efforts.

Yukhymchuk told Reuters this concern is based on the risk of double-counting of emissions over territories that together exceed the size of Portugal and Azerbaijan.

"It will bring us to a point that we do not achieve any of our goals if we don't have proper reporting under the Paris Agreement," she said.

Nikki Reisch, director of the Center for International Environmental Law's Climate and Energy Program, said the dispute reflected how geopolitical turmoil was diverting the world's attention from the work of fighting global warming.

"I think that is a sign of the times," Reisch said. "We're living amidst rampant conflicts, and that is certainly infecting these talks."

Christina Voigt, a law professor at the University of Oslo, said Russia's reporting on Ukraine emissions violated Ukraine's sovereignty and could be illegal.

"Claiming emissions is perhaps not illegal  but claiming emissions as if they were from their own territory, while they are in fact generated on another country's territory, is a unilateral declaration in violation of the international legal status of that territory," Voigt said.

She said Russia's claim of the annexed lands' emissions could become even more problematic if Moscow eventually claims emissions reductions on these lands and offers them as offset credits to carbon markets.

"This would indeed be an illegal appropriation of a good belonging to the other state," she said.
South Sudanese authorities say a confrontation between the Peoples Defense Forces and personnel protecting former spy chief General Akol Koor has been resolved peacefully, with both sides reaching an agreement to prevent further conflict.

Heavy gunfire echoed for about an hour Thursday night around Koors residence in the Thongpiny neighborhood of Juba, creating panic and raising concerns the confrontation between the two sides might escalate.

Major General Lul Ruai Koang, a spokesperson for South Sudan Peoples Defense Force, told journalists that the gunfire resulted from a misunderstanding during an operation to relocate Koor to his secondary residence, as directed by President Salva Kiir.

"Let me make it very clear that he was not being effectively placed under house arrest," Koang said. "He was simply being told to relocate from Thongpiny to Jabal because of the presence of the security forces."

News agencies report that Koor has been under house arrest since early October when he was fired from the intelligence service. Government officials deny he has been under house arrest.

The gunfire left two servicemen dead, while two civilians were crushed by an armored vehicle, according to Koang. Two others, including a university student, sustained injuries and are receiving medical care.

Koor has since been moved to his residence in Jebel, accompanied by his wife, a single bodyguard, and a cook, under the protection of a senior officer. Authorities say the situation could have been much worse.

Army spokesperson Koang reiterated that Thursdays gunfire was not planned.

"Nobody had ordered for it," he said. "It was a misunderstanding, and as a result we are able to successfully resolve it without unnecessary more bloodshed."

A Juba resident who did not give his name said, "As South Sudanese, I dont like this kind of things. I heard too much shooting, and they told me it is next to my residence."

The man echoed the sentiments of many in Juba who were shaken by Thursdays events. Concerns over public safety have heightened, especially given the use of heavy weaponry in a residential area.

Investigations into the incident are ongoing, particularly surrounding the decisions leading to the confrontation and the broader implications for governance and security.
President-elect Donald Trump said he will nominate hedge fund manager Scott Bessent as secretary of the Treasury, in a statement Friday night.

Bessent, 62, is the founder of the Key Square Capital Management hedge fund and has worked on and off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed, he will be the nations first openly gay treasury secretary. He is a deficit hawk and has said he would work to lower the U.S. national debt.

Bessent, a billionaire, is a past supporter of Democrats but has become a strong supporter of Trump.

"This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy," he told Bloomberg in August.

He supports Trumps plan to extend tax cuts and said tariffs during a second Trump administration would be directed primarily at China.

In a statement, Trump said, "Scott is widely respected as one of the Worlds foremost International Investors and Geopolitical and Economic Strategists."

Budget, labor and housing

Trump also announced his intention Friday night to nominate several other candidates to top posts.

The president-elect said he would nominate Russell Thurlow Vought as director of the Office of Management and Budget. Vought served in the same role in the first Trump administration.

"Russ has spent many years working in Public Policy in Washington, D.C., and is an aggressive cost cutter and deregulator who will help us implement our America First Agenda across all Agencies," Trump said in a statement.

Vought was closely involved in a conservative blueprint for a second Trump administration, called Project 2025, which Trump distanced himself from during the campaign.

Trump also chose Oregon Representative Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who lost her reelection bid in the states 5th Congressional District, to become secretary of labor.

In a statement, he said, "Loris strong support from both the Business and Labor communities will ensure that the Labor Department can unite Americans of all backgrounds behind our Agenda for unprecedented National Success  Making America Richer, Wealthier, Stronger and more Prosperous than ever before!"

His final Cabinet pick Friday night was Scott Turner to serve as housing secretary. Turner is a former football player who worked in Trumps first administration as the executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council.

Trump said Turner helped in that role to "to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Countrys most distressed communities."

Health and national security

The president-elect also made several health picks on Friday night, choosing family medicine doctor and Fox News contributor Janette Nesheiwat to be surgeon general, former congressman and medical doctor Dave Weldon to direct the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and surgeon Martin Makary to lead the Food and Drug Administration.

Trump called Nesheiwat a "fierce advocate and strong communicator for preventive medicine and public health."

On the national security front, Trump announced late Friday that he has chosen former State Department official Alex Wong to serve as deputy national security adviser. In a statement, Trump said Wong, who served as deputy special representative for North Korea during his first administration, "helped negotiate my Summit with North Korean Leader, Kim Jong Un."

Trump also chose conservative commentator Sebastian Gorka to serve as White House senior director for counterterrorism, saying he had more than 30 years of national security experience.

Attorney general

On Thursday, Trump said he would nominate Pam Bondi, as attorney general. Bondi was Trumps second choice after former Republican Representative Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration in the face of widespread scrutiny of alleged sexual misconduct and illicit drug use.

Bondi, 59, has established herself as a staunch conservative, Trump loyalist and outspoken defender of the president-elect, personally and professionally.

She was one of the lawyers on Trumps defense team during his first impeachment trial, and she played a leading role in his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

Early in her law career, Bondi worked as prosecutor and spokesperson in Hillsborough County, where she was assistant states attorney. In 2010, she became the first female attorney general elected to the state of Florida.

Some appointees face scrutiny

Several other Trump appointees also are facing intense scrutiny, including defense secretary pick Pete Hegseth, a Fox News talk show host and decorated military veteran; Health and Human Services chief pick Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vaccine skeptic; and director of national intelligence pick Tulsi Gabbard, a Democratic-congresswoman-turned-Republican supporter of Trump.

With Republicans holding a 53-47 edge in the Senate next year, and unified Democratic opposition to any candidate, it would have taken only four Republicans to doom a nomination.

But recent U.S. political history stands in their favor. The Senate has not voted against a presidential Cabinet nominee since 1989, with members of both political parties giving wide deference to new presidents to fill top-level jobs with appointees of their choosing.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters.
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 bent 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.

November 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 Oswald, 24, 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

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 said 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

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 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

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 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."
Myanmar's desperate military junta is ramping up attacks on villages that have fallen to opposition groups, carrying out beheadings, gang rapes and torture, with women, children and the elderly among the victims, the U.N. independent human rights investigator for Myanmar said in a new report.

Thomas Andrews, a former U.S. congressman from Maine, said in the report to the U.N. General Assembly circulated Friday that the junta has responded to military defeats and the loss of territory by using sophisticated weapons against civilians and seeking to destroy towns that it cannot control.

Calling Myanmar "an invisible crisis" because the world's attention is focused elsewhere, he said, "Escalating atrocities against the people of Myanmar are being enabled by governments that allow, or actively support, the transfer of weapons, weapons materials and jet fuel to junta forces."

Andrews didn't name the governments. But he praised Singapore for cracking down on weapons transfers that has led to a 90% reduction by Singapore-registered companies, and said sanctions imposed by the United States on junta-controlled, state-owned banks have disrupted military supply chains.

The U.N. special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar lamented, however, that their actions remain an exception.

He called on all countries to address Myanmar's "devastating human rights and humanitarian crisis" by stopping the flow of weapons to the junta, stepping up humanitarian aid to millions in need, and supporting efforts to hold perpetrators accountable for human rights violations.

Myanmar is racked by violence that began when the army ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021 and brutally suppressed nonviolent protests. That triggered armed resistance and combat across the country, with the military increasingly using airstrikes to counter the opposition and secure territory.

In much of Myanmar, the army is on the defensive against ethnic militias and hundreds of armed guerrilla groups collectively called the People's Defense Forces, formed to fight to restore democracy.

The military has said in the past that it attacks only legitimate targets of war and has accused the resistance forces of being terrorists.

Andrews called the military junta's plan to hold an election in late 2025 "a farcical parody" and "thinly veiled attempt to create an impression of legitimacy and relieve international pressure." He warned, "Not only is this fraudulent attempt outrageous, it is dangerous, as it could lead to even greater levels of instability and violence."

He ticked off grim statistics: More than 3.1 million people are displaced by conflict and the junta's human rights violations, and 18.6 million people need humanitarian assistance, including 13.3 million facing emergency levels of food insecurity.

He said the junta's military forces have killed more than 5,800 civilians, destroyed over 100,000 homes and other civilian structures, and have kept more than 21,000 political prisoners languishing behind bars.

"Junta troops have killed civilians in ground assaults, including the mass killing of individuals already in the custody of junta forces," Andrews said. "Victims have been tortured, raped and beheaded, and their bodies burned."

Andrews, a human rights fellow at Yale Law School who was appointed by the Geneva-based Human Rights Council, said the situation was most "desperate and dangerous" in Rakhine state in western Myanmar.

Last November, the Arakan Army, which is seeking autonomy from Myanmar's central government, began an offensive against the military in Rakhine and has gained control of more than half of its townships. The Arakan Army, which is the well-armed wing of the Rakhine ethnic minority movement, is also a member of the armed ethnic group alliance trying to topple the military.

In the report, Andrews said: "The Arakan Army has been implicated in grave human rights abuses, including indiscriminate attacks, killings, sexual violence and arbitrary arrests."

He also said the military has responded to the Arakan Army's steady losses in Rakhine by attacking civilians and raising tensions between the ethnic Rakhine and Rohingya communities.

Buddhist-majority Myanmar has long considered the Rohingya Muslim minority to be "Bengalis" from Bangladesh even though their families have lived in the country for generations. Nearly all have been denied citizenship since 1982.

In August 2017, attacks by a Rohingya insurgent group on Myanmar security personnel triggered a brutal campaign by the military, which drove at least 740,000 Rohingya to Bangladesh. The military is accused of mass rape, killings and burning thousands of homes.

Meanwhile, the military junta has conscripted thousands of Rohingya men and deployed them to the front lines to fight the Arakan Army, he said. And Rohingya militant groups have "cynically aligned with the junta" and committed human rights abuses against the ethnic Rakhine population.

"Hundreds of thousands of people in Rakhine State are completely cut off from humanitarian assistance and threatened by exposure, starvation and disease," Andrews warned. "Failure to act immediately to provide emergency humanitarian aid will be a death sentence for untold numbers of innocent men, women and children."

A month ago, he said, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, the interim leader of Bangladesh, where 1 million Rohingya refugees live, called on U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to convene a conference with all key players in the Rohingya crisis. Yunus has pressed for their repatriation to Myanmar.

Andrews urged Guterres to call a conference that could help "seize the attention of a distracted world and mobilize the resources and action necessary to save the many lives that hang in the balance."
Wealthy countries raised their offer of climate finance to $300 billion a year at COP29 on Saturday, raising hopes of a deal with developing nations that had dismissed an earlier proposal as insufficient to address the impacts of global warming.

The United Nations climate summit had been scheduled to finish on Friday but ran into an extra day as negotiators from nearly 200 countries  who must adopt the deal by consensus  tried to reach agreement on the contentious funding plan for the next decade.

The two-week conference cut to the heart of the global debate over the financial responsibility of rich industrialized countries, whose historical use of fossil fuels caused the bulk of greenhouse gas emissions, to compensate for the damage wrought by climate change.

Negotiators from several developing countries and island nations aired frustration over a U.N. process they said was not rising to the challenge of global warming and temporarily walked out of talks on Saturday afternoon.

It was unclear if they would ultimately accept the proposed figure of $300 billion a year by 2035.

Fiji's Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad said he was optimistic. "When it comes to money it's always controversial, but we are expecting a deal tonight," he told Reuters.

COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev asked country delegations to overcome their differences: "I ask you to now step up your engagement with one another to bridge the remaining divide," he said in a plenary speech.

Developing countries had dismissed as insufficient a previous proposal, drafted by the Azerbaijan host on Friday, that would have seen the United States, Europe and other developed countries lead $250 billion in annual funding.

Past failures to meet climate finance obligations have also made developing countries mistrustful of new promises.

Five sources with knowledge of the closed-door discussions said the EU had agreed it could accept the higher number of $300 billion a year. Two of the sources said the United States, Australia and Britain also were on board.

A European Commission spokesperson and an Australian government spokesperson both declined to comment on the negotiations. The U.S. delegation and the UK energy ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The new goal is intended to replace developed countries' previous commitment to provide $100 billion in climate finance for poorer nations per year by 2020. That goal was met two years late, in 2022, and expires in 2025.

Representatives from the least developed countries and small island nations blocs walked out of a negotiating room in frustration at one point on Saturday afternoon, but said they remained committed to finding a deal.

"We want nothing more than to continue to engage, but the process must be inclusive," the Alliance of Small Island States said in a statement.

In a sign of some progress, countries agreed Saturday evening on rules for a global market to buy and sell carbon credits that proponents say will mobilize billions of dollars into new projects to help fight global warming.

Push for $390 billion

Marina Silva, Brazil's minister of the environment and climate change, has said that the Amazon rainforest nation  which is set to host next year's summit  was pushing for $390 billion annually from developed countries by 2035.

"After the difficult experience that we're having here in Baku, we need to reach some result, some outcome which is minimally acceptable in line with the emergency we are facing," she said on Saturday in a speech to the summit.

Negotiators have worked throughout the two-week summit to address other critical questions on the finance target, including who is asked to contribute and how much of the funding is on a grant basis, rather than provided as loans.

The roster of countries required to contribute  about two dozen industrialized countries, including the U.S., European nations and Canada  dates back to a list decided during U.N. climate talks in 1992.

European governments have demanded others join them in paying in, including China, the world's second-biggest economy, and oil-rich Gulf states.

Donald Trump's U.S. presidential election victory this month cast a cloud over the Baku talks. Trump, who takes office in January, has promised to again remove the U.S. from international climate cooperation, so negotiators from other wealthy nations expect that under his administration the world's largest economy will not pay into the climate finance goal.

A broader goal of raising $1.3 trillion in climate finance annually by 2035  which would include funding from all public and private sources and which economists say matches the sum needed  was included in the draft deal published on Friday.
The U.S. Supreme Court agreed on Friday to decide the legality of a congressionally authorized fund operated by the Federal Communications Commission to expand access to telecommunications services in a challenge accusing Congress of unlawfully delegating its authority to an independent federal agency.

The justices took up an appeal by the FCC and a coalition of interest groups and telecommunications firms of a lower court's decision that found Congress violated the U.S. Constitution by empowering the FCC to manage the fund. The court is expected to hear arguments in the case and issue a ruling by the end of June.

Congress in a federal law called the Telecommunications Act of 1996 authorized the FCC to operate the Universal Service Fund to promote broad access to services such as phone and broadband internet.

All telecommunications carriers contribute to the fund, which draws around $9 billion annually. The fund helps to extend service to people in rural areas, provides subsidies for low-income Americans, expands service in Native American tribal lands and assists schools and libraries.

A group of challengers, including the conservative group Consumers' Research, filed lawsuits against the FCC and the U.S. government, arguing that Congress delegated its revenue-raising function to the FCC in violation of the Constitution. The challengers also argued that the FCC unlawfully transferred its authority to the Universal Service Administrative Company, a private nonprofit that helps the agency administer the fund.

The case involves the nondelegation doctrine, a legal concept that embraces the view that Congress cannot delegate the legislative powers given to it under the Constitution to other entities. The legality of the FCC's handoff of power involves a similar concept known as the private nondelegation doctrine.

The FCC was established as an independent federal agency by the Communications Act of 1934 and is overseen by Congress.

Federal appellate courts have reached different conclusions on the legal question at issue in the case.

The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to review a ruling by the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that found the funding arrangement unconstitutional, granting an appeal by the FCC and various interest groups.

FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel hailed the court's decision to hear the agency's appeal.

"For decades, there has been broad, bipartisan support for the Universal Service Fund and the FCC programs that help communications reach the most rural and least-connected households in the United States, as well as hospitals, schools and libraries nationwide," she said. "I am hopeful that the Supreme Court will overturn the decision that put this vital system at risk."

Three industry groups representing telecommunications companies said in a joint statement they were pleased the high court will review the lower court ruling.

"It threatens to undermine universal service programs that, for many decades, have served to promote the availability and affordability of critical communications services for millions of rural and low-income consumers, rural health care facilities, and schools and libraries across the nation," said the Rural Broadband Association, Competitive Carriers Association and USTelecom, which represent AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and other major companies.

The justices have not acted on separate appeals by Consumers' Research and other interested parties of lower court rulings that found the funding arrangement constitutional.

The Supreme Court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, has reined in the actions of federal regulatory agencies in a series of rulings in recent years, although those cases did not involve the nondelegation doctrine.
Citizens Coalition for Change leader Jameson Timba and over 30 other party activists have been found guilty by a Harare magistrate of contravening some provisions of the "dreaded" Criminal Law (Codification) and Reform Act. They are accused of attending an illegal meeting in the capital.
By Charles Mangwiro

MAPUTO, MOZAMBIQUE 

Mozambiques presidential election runner-up, Venancio Mondlane, has placed conditions on his participation in a meeting with the countrys president to end weeks of political unrest over disputed elections. Mondlane delivered his proposal along with a proposed agenda and wants to meet Tuesday with President Filipe Nyusi and the three other presidential candidates.

Among his demands, Mondlane requests that the legal proceedings against him be dropped and that his participation be virtual. He also wants the release of all those arrested as part of the violent protests that he called for and "guarantees of political and legal security for the actors and players in the dialogue."

Among the items on the agenda, Mondlane proposed 20 points, including "re-establishment of the electoral truth" and criminal and civil liability for what he says are those involved in falsifying the electoral process.

The document was delivered by Diniz Tivane, a representative of the Podemos party, which backed Mondlane in the presidential race.

Tivane revealed some of the contents of the letter, saying that the electoral truth was exactly what Venancio himself said. Votes are not negotiated, they are counted.

Mondlane also demanded that certain institutions and individuals participate in the talks.

Political analyst Dercio Alfazema said Mondlane accepted Nyusis invitation, but the conditions showed otherwise.

He said that if it were up to Mondlane, he would not participate in this meeting. And depending on that, the meeting could be held with other candidates or not take place at all. And it will be very difficult for all who are worried and want a solution to this problem. And, Alfazema added, we all believe that the best way out of this problem is dialogue.

Preliminary results showed the Frelimo candidate, Daniel Chapo, won the presidential with 71%, and Mondlane, who ran as an independent, came in second with 20%.

A political and social crisis marked by fraud allegations and disputed results has engulfed Mozambique since the October 9 elections.

Mozambique immediately fell into a climate of uncertainty that has affected daily life and the economy.

At least 60 people have died in protests, and several regions of Mozambique have seen blockades, looting, riots and violence, with emphasis on border areas and economic centers.
You may think you have loved in this life, but have you ever truly loved the way Ryan Reynolds loves Deadpool? The man behind the edgiest superhero this side of your 13-year-old kid brother loves Deadpool soooo much that he invested $10,000 of his own couch change to make the movie as ding-dong-Deadpool-est as it could be. According to commentary on the films DVD, Reynolds traded 10,000 Washingtons for the privilege of having one Bea Arthur likeness in the movie (in the form of a print on one of Deadpools tank tops), since Deadpools Bea ardor is a comics staple. Reynolds reportedly made his request in person, and donated the money to an undisclosed charity, thereby securing the permission of Arthurs estate. Despite having all of the elements of an A-plus anecdote, theres still a bit more to the story, as it was actually Reynoldss days as one of the Two Guys, a Girl, and a Pizza Place guys that truly closed the deal. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Arthurs son, Daniel Saks, agreed because Saks was on Dharma & Greg on Stage 21 at Fox when Ryan was on Stage 20 doing Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place and, even as a lowly not-pizza, Reynolds was always a nice guy. Aww  nobody tell Deadpool about that load of sap.
Photo: MEGA/GC Images

Sean Diddy Combs appeared in court on November 22 to once again push for release in his Manhattan federal sex-trafficking case  a request already shot down by two other judges and an appeals court judge while the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals considers his bail request. When Combs entered the courtroom just after 2 p.m., he looked at his family in the gallery, blowing kisses and tapping his heart. Combs entered the courtroom unshackled. He sported a khaki jail uniform  button-down top, with a long-sleeved thermal underneath, and relaxed-fit pants  and embraced his attorneys before taking his seat at the defense table. Combs donned glasses as he looked over documents for several moments before the proceeding took off. Combs appeared attentive throughout the hearing. At various points, Combs sat with his arms crossed or sometimes on his lap. He took a sip of water at least once.

Judge Arun Subramanian said that he would make his decision on bail next week, while the proceedings dished out more examples of Combss alleged bad-boy behavior behind bars. Prosecutors hammered him for breaking rules in jail, saying if Combs cant be trusted in lockup, then he certainly cant be trusted out on bail  no matter what measures were taken to keep the rapper in check. Combss lead attorney, Marc Agnifilo, said he understood that home detention at Combss South Florida home  which is on an island, with a boat dock  would be a hard sell. Instead, they had found a three-bedroom apartment on the Upper East Side for Combs, where he could stay, along with three full-time security staff, if released. Combss bail proposal also included a $50 million bond, backed by his $48 million Star Island estate.

For conditions to be sufficient, there has to be some level of trust that the defendant will follow them, and the defendant here has demonstrated either he cannot or he will not follow rules, prosecutor Christy Slavik told Subramanian. The defendant, simply put, cannot be trusted  hes left no doubt that he cannot comply with conditions. Slavik said that Combss lawyers couldnt control him  and that his pitch for 24/7 monitoring by private security, that he himself would bankroll, fell flat. The defendant has continued to communicate through unauthorized channels at [jail], and he has continued to communicate through unauthorized channels through his attorneys, she said. His attorneys are effectively enabling his flouting of [jail] rules.

Combs was alledly engaging in inappropriate efforts to sway would-be jurors views of the case, including with his press strategy. What we have here is the defendants concerted effort to affect the integrity of these proceedings, Slavik said. Combs himself told familiars that he wanted this, she alleged. He is saying, I want to reach for this jury, I just need one, and its with that intent that hes proceeding with these PR campaigns.

Slavik also fought Combss efforts to downplay the video showing him attacking former girlfriend Casandra Cassie Ventura in a hotel nearly a decade ago; shes been referred to as Victim-1 in court proceedings. Combss camp has complained that the video presented to court  which has been used by prosecutors in pushing for his detention  was edited by CNN to play out of order.

It was a bit puzzling that the defendant brought this up, because theres really no dispute as to what actually happened during that incident. In fact, the defendant admitted to it and apologized for it in a public Instagram post, Slavik said. Whether the video was slowed or spliced or edited by CNN, theres really no dispute about what the video shows  it shows the defendant shoving, kicking, and dragging a female victim.

When making his pitch for bail, Agnifilo insisted there was context behind the video that undermines its being used as proof of violent proclivities. It really is purely consistent with our view of this being a consensual, long-term, loving, fraught relationship that had a breakup, and the breakup wasnt because of coerced sex or forced sex, he argued.

Combs was arrested on September 16 following numerous allegations of sexual misconduct. The indictment details a shocking history of alleged abuse over the course of decades and charges him with racketeering conspiracy; sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion; and transportation to engage in prostitution. The Manhattan U.S. Attorneys Office alleged that Combs abused, threatened, and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct. Combs, with the help of his employees, used his business empire to craft a criminal enterprise, according to federal prosecutors.

The Feds contended that Combs verbally, emotionally, physically, and sexually abused women and others for years  and that he manipulated women to participate in highly orchestrated performance of sexual activity with male commercial sex workers. Civil lawsuits against Combs also allege abuse against men and boys. As for the women under his control, Combs maintained his authority by drugging them, threatening their careers, and abusing his financial power over them, prosecutors alleged.

Combs used his criminal enterprise to draw women into his troubling world, frequently under the guise of a romantic relationship, and then force them to participate in what he referred to as freak offs, prosecutors said. These freak offs, the Feds claimed, were elaborate and produced sex performances that Combs arranged, directed, masturbated during, and often electronically recorded. These were allegedly frequent and sometimes lasted multiple days. After the freak offs concluded, Combs and his victims typically received IV fluids to recover from the physical exertion and drug use, prosecutors said. During a raid in March, prosecutors said, authorities found drugs and more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant. Male sex workers were purportedly at the core of the freak offs. The Feds claim that Combs used force and threats to pressure his victims to engage in extended sex acts with male commercial sex workers, according to the indictment. Combs has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Since Subramanian said he would issue a decision on bail next week, Combs will spend at least another weekend in jail and, in all likelihood, probably wont be released before trial in May 2025. As Combs was escorted out of court, he offered his family gushy good-byes  the same kisses and waves with which he made his entrance.
Photo-Illustration: Getty Images (Stefanie Keenan, Charley Gallay)

Update, December 5, 2024: Kendrick Lamar hasnt offered any further details about which liberty-taking white comedian inspired his subliminal shot on GNX opener wacced our murals, but since the release of the album, two comics have taken it upon themselves to step in front of the bullet. The day of the release, Gary Owen posted a screenshot of Kendricks lyric (Dont let no white comedian talk about no Black woman, thats law) with the caption, If thats the law that makes me a criminal. And, on the December 4 episode of his podcast Flagrant, Andrew Schulz took credit for inspiring Kendricks barb and offered a lengthy response, calling Kendrick a hypocrite for balking at his racist jokes while working on a comedy with the creators of South Park and further deflected by pointing out that rappers sometimes write misogynistic lyrics. If Schulz wants to beat Kendrick, though, hell have to do better than charges of hypocrisy. Im the biggest hypocrite of 2015, the artist rapped repeatedly on his well-known song The Blacker the Berry.

Original story published November 22, 2024, follows:

Beware any and all white comedians currently benefiting from an invited-to-the-cookout affect: Kendrick Lamar is here to snatch the plate from your hands. Thats especially true if youre a white comedian who is bold enough to make jokes or comments about Black women. On the rappers surprise new album GNX, which dropped November 22, he includes a line on the opening track, wacced out murals, aimed specifically at these line-steppers. After saying that hes about to make Katt Williams proud by exposing the truth  a reference to Williamss infamous 2024 Club Shay Shay interview  he raps, Dont let no white comedian talk about no Black woman, thats law. Kendrick doesnt specify which white comedian hes referring to, but judging by the evidence available, we can make a few educated guesses.

Gary Owen

Gary Owen right now:  https://t.co/6Ig4AK8XmM  The Jay Agenda (@JayJurden) November 22, 2024

Gary Owen is a 50-year-old comedian from Ohio who has built a long and lucrative career playing to primarily Black audiences. He titled his 2021 Showtime special Black Famous in recognition of this fact. Because of this, Owen has sometimes been criticized for making jokes about the Black community, including Black women. He has more than one bit about them, but the jokes generally center on him being more attracted to them than women of other races. (Owen was married to one Black woman and is currently engaged to another). In one joke, he talks about how if he saw a lineup of ten badass white chicks in bikinis on a beach and there was a Black woman in a Starbucks barista uniform at the end of it, hed walk up to her and say, I want some coffee! Id be willing to bet Kendrick doesnt love Owens whole deal, but I doubt hed be annoyed enough about the mans romantic preferences to dedicate a line to it on an album.

Matt Rife

holy shit Kendrick hates Matt Rife too this is Christmas for me  Skyler Higley (@skyler_higley) November 22, 2024

Matt Rife is the type of comedian wholl call the city of Baltimore ratchet in a comedy special but will also go on a podcast and joke that he hates the city of Atlanta. The 29-year-old crowdwork performer has drawn much criticism for using a Blaccent onstage and has joked about Black women publicly on at least one occasion. In a clip from September 2023, he interacts with a white male audience member who has a preference for Black women. At one point, Rife asks the man, Do you believe in the universe? and follows it up with, No? You just love black holes? Given Rifes massive popularity, its reasonable to assume Kendrick is aware of him and his reputation, which makes him a contender.

Andrew Schulz

Kendrick Lamar seemingly disses Andrew Schulz on his new album 



"Don't let no white comedian talk about no Black woman, that's law" pic.twitter.com/NPO3GdW0k0  Kurrco (@Kurrco) November 22, 2024

Co-hosting the podcast Brilliant Idiots with Charlamagne Tha God since 2014, Schulz has steadily risen to fame riffing on current events in Black culture, something thats carried over to his massive podcast Flagrant. In September, Schulz came under fire when, during the July 17 episode of Flagrant featuring British podcasters James Duncan and Fuhad Dawodu from ShxtsNGigs, he made a few jokes about his guests description of a Black girlfriend effect, in which a non-Black man dates a Black woman and adopts a new style, fade haircut, and beard. They grow their beard because they need a cushion when they get slapped, Schulz says. I think the Black girlfriend effect, it might be a protective instinct. A clip of this went viral online, and Duncan and Dawodu eventually issued an apology on September 17 for laughing at Schulzs joke. Schulz, however, refused to apologize. Given how recent this incident was and the splash it made online, Kendrick was likely addressing Schulz with his wacced out murals bar. After seeing what Kendrick did to Drake, I bet Schulz wishes he apologized now.
Photo: Netflix

Three decades after JonBenet Ramseys death, her murder remains officially unsolved. But the Little Miss Colorados demise lingers as the archetypal crime mystery. Sleuths continue to hash out theories: in bustling and competing Reddit communities, on podcasts and network documentaries. The speculation broadly falls into two opposing camps: Was the murder an inside job by someone in the family, like parents John and Patsy or even older brother Burke? Or did an outside intruder somehow pierce the sanctity of their upscale Boulder home?

The case was perplexing from the moment Patsy found a ransom note the morning of December 26, 1996. Listen carefully, began the three-page letter. It went on to blame a foreign faction for her daughters disappearance and requested $118,000 from her husband, Access Graphics CEO John, for her safe return. The onetime Miss West Virginia called 911 in a panic. The note, the FBI later said, felt like it was staged rather than written by a stranger actually seeking ransom after a kidnapping.

The suspicion ramped up when John found JonBenets body later that day, bound and strangled with a garrote in a small room practically hidden in the homes basement. Still, the case would not have mushroomed into a frenzy without the sudden flood of footage of JonBenets child beauty contests. Before Toddlers & Tiaras turned pageant moms into pop archetypes, the subculture was mostly hidden from view. The eerie footage of the little girl parading around in teased hair and heavy makeup played on an endless loop on 24/7 cable television as broadcasters debated the case nonstop. The parents insulation with lawyers and spokespeople only heightened suspicions.

The theories proliferated. Eventually, in 1998, a grand jury was convened to hear charges against the Ramseys, but as far as most people remember, nothing came of it. Without a trial to sift through fact and fiction, a content boom took over: books, scripted TV movies, documentaries, and the then-emerging landscape of true-crime message boards and forums. The cycle continues. Reddit has replaced message boards and Usenet forums. Theories have zoomed in on specific family members. And a new scripted series is forthcoming on Paramount+, starring Melissa McCarthy as Patsy and Clive Owen as John.

Netflixs Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey, directed by Joe Berlinger, doesnt really offer a new take. The three-part documentary series makes the case for an intruder, but it does so by focusing on police and prosecutorial missteps, a current trend in true-crime content. Berlinger directed 1996s Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills, which centered on three teenagers  known as the West Memphis Three  convicted of murdering four boys. The documentary examined the moral panic incited by violent murders of children, and his work was widely credited with helping free the teens.

Cold Case asks many of the same questions about agendas and power that Paradise Lost did. The filmmakers have the cooperation of John, who remarried after Patsys death from ovarian cancer in 2006 and now lives in Utah. Paula Woodward, a journalist who wrote two books about the case with his cooperation, is also a major talking head. But unlike the West Memphis Three, the affluent Ramseys were not unsophisticated, working-poor teens in rural America. And in trying to make a simplistic case for railroading, the documentary skips over cultural nuances that could make for a more definitive account of the story.

Cold Case starts with the confusion at the Ramsey home on the day after the murder. The police officers involved in the investigation did not talk to Berlinger. But in the docuseries, John claims cops and reporters promoted misinformation. John points out that after his discovery of JonBenets body, Linda Arndt, a detective on the scene, became convinced he did it. She later gave an infamous interview saying a nonverbal exchange with John led to her conclusion. But John, CEO of a company that reached $1 billion in sales that year, was treated deferentially by police from the start. Officers viewed him and Patsy as victims of a kidnapping, not potential suspects. Cops didnt seal off the home like a crime scene. Instead, they called in victim advocates, and the Ramseys called friends from the neighborhood to their home for emotional support.

Arguably, the scene was hopelessly contaminated and any conclusive answers that could have emerged almost certainly died that day. That wasnt because the police suspected the Ramseys, but rather, the opposite: because they didnt. Still, the series claims that law enforcement painted the Ramseys in a bad light. Cops said there were no footsteps in the snow to indicate an intruder when, according to John, it hadnt snowed. He claims police leaked that John had flown back to their second home in Atlanta with JonBenets casket in his plane when, in fact, he had done no such thing.

Still, the FBI agreed an intruder was unlikely and suggested examining the family first. The police pursued leads that JonBenet might have been sexually abused. The series takes issue with the consideration of evidence that JonBenets bed-wetting was getting worse at the time of the murder, and this can be a sign of sexual abuse. In the series, John shrugs as he dismisses the polices consultation with former Miss America Marilyn Van Derbur, an expert on incest, who cautioned police that a normal, image-conscious father and family wasnt evidence of a lack of abuse.

But the police soon moved on from John to Patsy. Detective Steve Thomas settled on the theory that Patsy had murdered her daughter. He believed that with her 40th birthday approaching, she snapped due to a bed-wetting. Its telling that Thomass theory was ultimately the one that took off. He had more power in the department than Arndt, who thought Patsy was innocent.

True-crime cases are always a mix of human interest and forensics, as evidenced by the seriess focus on the medias portrayals of the Ramseys as unsympathetic. Still, Cold Case never quite acknowledges how, early on, even intimate friends of both Ramseys found their lack of cooperation with police unethical. John and Patsy gave DNA samples in 1996 but refused to come to police headquarters for an official interrogation. Instead, in an early January 1997 interview on CNN, a subdued Patsy declared a killer on the loose. In April, they finally went to police headquarters. Did their class entitlement contribute to confusion between them and friends and police? By framing them unilaterally as underdogs, the documentary leaves that question unanswered.

The series instead focuses on the more extreme examples of the medias witch hunt at the time. On the talk show Geraldo, a mock trial took place and a so-called expert claimed a video of JonBenet swinging a trumpet was evidence of sexual abuse; one panelist called her a tarted-up miniature-dwarf hooker. Cold Cases binary understanding of the battle lines limits its insight. According to Lawrence Schillers massive 2000 book about the investigation, Perfect Murder, Perfect Town, the Boulder DA had a liberal culture, emphasizing community policing and plea bargaining instead of going to trial.

Detective Thomas was out of step with Boulders liberal culture. District Attorney Alex Hunter didnt accept Thomass claims about Patsy. In 1998, Hunter brought in detective Lou Smit because Smit had solved one case involving a murder and abduction. Smit later claimed the Ramseys were people of faith and couldnt have murdered their daughter. He offered an unproven stun gun theory, claiming that two marks on JonBenets skin were about the size of a stun gun used to keep her quiet, which would point to an intruder. The documentary re-platforms these claims, and the series presents Smit, uncritically, as the Sherlock Holmes of his time. But Smits police work, as much as Arndts and Thomass, comes off as heavily influenced by their personal biases. Arndts work with women survivors shaped how she viewed Patsy as a victim and John as a perpetrator. Thomass dislike of Patsy bordered on misogynist confusion about women snapping at 40. Smits bonding with them over religion was equally unprofessional.

Hunter ultimately sent the case to a grand jury in 1998, and both Thomas and Smit testified. The grand jury voted to indict the Ramseys for child endangerment. In his 1999 announcement after the grand jury concluded its work, DA Hunter said there was insufficient evidence for prosecution. He arguably protected the Ramseys by not airing out the grand jurys decision  seemingly, per Schillers book, to protect himself from the political fallout either way. Both Thomas and Smit resigned in protest.

Its unclear if the Ramseys knew the grand jury voted to indict them. The world was in the dark about this development until a judge forced the release of the charging documents in 2013. Instead, the Ramseys were very active non-suspects. They wrote a best-selling book about their alleged persecution by police, The Death of Innocence. Michael Tracey, a communications professor, made a documentary with them about the supposed media witch hunt. He reappears in Cold Case as a talking head.

The last episode investigates old leads about potential suspects from the pageant circuit that never went anywhere. But the most revealing aspect of the final episode is how much the series seems to be in the dark about the police or FBI theories. Early on, the series makes the point that DNA evidence found on JonBenet  on items of clothing and under her fingernails pointed away from the family and that the police hid the information. But by the end, the docuseries admits that its still unclear whether that genetic material, which might just be degraded touch DNA, can exonerate or implicate anyone at all.

Cold Case seems confused about the fact that this case is, in some ways, an exception. Many elements of the case  from the length of the ransom note and the improbability of a stranger kidnapping for ransom to the discovery of an alleged kidnapping victim in her own home  make it a difficult case to universalize. In 2008, Mary Lacy, the new Boulder district attorney, took the unusual, unprecedented step of apologizing to the Ramseys and seemingly exonerating them. Id get letters from people for years that say, Oh, Im so sorry, John says in the documentary. How could they not? Thats what you were told by the media, by the police, he says.

The seriess portrait of John, now a remarried grandfather, bears no trace of the litigious figure who hired Trump attorney L. Lin Wood early on to sue media outlets for libel. (That attorney has since been disbarred.) John ran for a congressional seat as a Republican and wrote two more books claiming innocence. Johns domination of the narrative  both in the docuseries and in his books  has helped occlude the fact that it was the Patsy did it theory that allowed the case to even land before a grand jury. This raises its own questions. Is there a gendered element involved in cases where victims become suspects? Most parents  and mothers  without the Ramsey resources would have been easily railroaded. It might be too much to expect this docuseries to offer some kind of wider context or patterns about the limitations of police or their relationship with district attorneys, and none is provided.

Instead, in trying to present Johns perspective as the objective truth, Cold Case unintentionally highlights the fraught nature of all the legal and forensic facts in this case.

In some ways, the series functions best as a corrective to some of the more irresponsible instances of platformed conspiracies  for instance, the 2017 CBS special that accused Burke of killing his sister, which he denies. A film from that same year, the faux docudrama Casting JonBenet, took a different route. Interviewing actors from the Boulder area for a supposed casting for a scripted series about the Ramseys, the film brought out their speculations and direct connections to the case. It was a subtle unpacking of how the Boulder community made sense of the murder over time.

And ultimately, the case remains compelling as gothic-spectacle sleuth bait. For those who think the Ramseys did it, the case speaks to the idea that evil is within, that money and power can cover up abuse within families. For those who believe in an intruder, the story confirms the notion that evil lurks outside. Cold Case presents that latter story in its most coherent form yet. But it wont be enough to put the speculation to rest.
Photo: Luka Cyprian / Bleecker Street

Will this Wedding get a good reception? Fire Island director Andrew Ahn is remaking Ang Lees acclaimed 1993 queer rom-com The Wedding Banquet, and there are already some engaging first-look images to prove it. Ahn told Vanity Fair that he was inspired to create his own version of the film after watching his brother get married. I was wondering as a gay man if I would ever have anything like that  would the culture allow a queer version of this? he said. This was my way of having a Korean wedding  to make a movie about it. So what can we expect from the new nuptials? Below, heres what we know about The Wedding Banquet remake, including whos in the cast, how it will differ from the original films plot, what the set was like, and when its coming out.

Whos in the cast of real and fake couples?

Per Vanity Fair, Ahns screenplay  which he co-wrote with original Wedding Banquet producer James Schamus  focuses on a chosen family in Seattle. SNL smoocher Bowen Yang stars as Chris, who lives with his partner Min (Han Gi-chan) in a guesthouse that belongs to their best friends. That would be Angela (extremely offline Star Wars star Kelly Marie Tran) and her girlfriend Lee, played by Killers of the Flower Moons Lily Gladstone. Angela and Lee want to have a baby through costly IVF treatments, while Min is feeling pressure to return to his native country of Korea to run his family business. The two-in-one solution? Min and Angela will get married and have a traditional Korean ceremony that hopefully leads to him getting a green card and her getting fertility treatment money. Family members also fly in for the big day, including Mins grandmother (Youn Yuh-jung) and Angelas mother (Joan Chen).

Will there be changes to the plot of the original Wedding Banquet?

Yup. Ang Lees 1993 film, set in New York, follows a bisexual man named Wai-Tung. He has a boyfriend, but decides to marry a woman to get her a green card  and get his matchmaking parents off his back. When Wai-Tungs mom and dad visit and want to throw him a wedding banquet, he ends up hiding his real relationship. Notably, the couple that wants to have a baby through IVF in Ahns remake is a completely new addition to the plot. Maybe thats part of the reason Tran told Vanity Fair that she thinks Ahns version is even more queer than the original?

How does Ang Lee feel about this remake?

Hes all for it. It warms my heart to see how my film from so many years ago has inspired a new generation to reimagine a new and different version, he said in an April statement to Variety. I look forward to seeing what Andrew Ahn and his wonderful cast create.

Are there any first-look images yet?

Five of em so far. We get to see Angela, Lee, Min, and Chris hanging out with their respective partners and as a group. Plus, Angelas mom looks ecstatic next to lion dancers, and Mins grandmother seems startled by something happening offscreen.

Photo: Luka Cyprian / Bleecker Street

Photo: Luka Cyprian/Bleecker Street

Photo: Luka Cyprian/Bleecker Street

Photo: Luka Cyprian/Bleecker Street

Photo: Luka Cyprian/Bleecker Street

What was it like on set?

Very emotional, apparently. According to Vanity Fairs David Canfield, Ahn wept while addressing the cast and crew the day the wedding was going to be shot. Canfield said he saw several other people get vulnerable both on and off camera during his set visit. Tran, for example, came out to him. I havent said this publicly yet, but Im a queer person, she said. The thing that really excited me about it was I got to play a person that I felt like I knew. I dont feel like Im acting at all in this movie. Im here doing this amazing movie with these amazing people. Ive never been in a queer space before. Ive never truly felt this accepted before. Canfield saw other types of tears, too, reporting that people cried of uproarious laughter because of a funny sequence involving vomit.

Is there a release date?

Not yet. But according to Deadline, Bleecker Street and ShivHans Pictures have slated The Wedding Banquet to release at some point during 2025. Well be patiently waiting to receive our save-the-(release)-date card.
Palazzo Barberini displays rare Caravaggio portrait until February.

A rarely-seen painting by Italian Baroque genius Caravaggio goes on public display, for the first time, at Rome's Palazzo Barberini gallery this weekend.

The painting is a portrait of Monsignor Maffeo Barberini, the future Pope Urban VIII who ruled the Catholic Church and the Papal States from 1623 until his death in 1644.

The work, on display until 23 February, dates to the turn of the 17th century and is part of an exhibition curated by gallery director Thomas Clement Salomon and art historian Paola Nicita.

The painting, which depicts the cleric and patron of the arts in his early 30s, is believed to have been in the collection of the noble Barberini family for centuries before passing into private hands in the mid 1930s, around the time the estate was dispersed.

In 1963 the renowned art critic Roberto Longhi authenticated the painting as the work of Caravaggio who only completed a handful of portaits before his death, aged just 38, in 1610.

"It is not a rediscovered painting, it has been known about since the 1960s, but since then it had only been seen by five or six specialists" - Nicita told news agency ANSA - "Not to mention that portraits of Caravaggio are extremely rare, some have been lost, others have never been traced".

The painting portrays a seated Barberini wearing a biretta and cassock, clutching a folded letter in one hand and pointing with the other, as he glances to his right.

The work makes strong use of chiaroscuro, a technique employing dramatic use of light and shadow, for which Caravaggio is famous.

"It is the Caravaggio painting that everyone has wanted to see for years" - Salomon told ANSA - "It has never been exhibited, lent, or the subject of exhibitions".

Palazzo Barberini is home to three other other works by Caravaggio: St Francis in Meditation (1606-1607), Narcissus (1597-1599), and Judith Beheading Holofernes (1598-1599).

Galleria Corsini, which together with Palazzo Barberini houses Italy's national gallery of ancient art, also has a Caravaggio work: John the Baptist (c. 1604).

For more details about Caravaggio's newly unveiled portrait, and visiting information, see Palazzo Barberini website.

Photos Alessio Panunzi, images courtesy Palazzo Barberini.
Last night Waterford City and County Council was successful in the Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards with a win in the Urban Revival category.

Waterford Council was also a finalist in the categories of Heritage & Built Environment for the Irish Wake Museum, and in the Municipal District Initiative category for the Connecting Communities Roadshow series.

The victorious outing in the Urban Revival category recognised initiatives that promote urbanism through improving and enhancing the lived experience in urban environments.

Over 715 dwellings have been revitalised through various initiatives, signifying substantial progress in addressing vacancy and dereliction in Waterfords towns and villages.

Receiving the award, Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr. Jason Murphy said, "This award is testament to the hard work, foresight, and dedication of Waterford City and County Council, and particularly the Planning Department."

"Waterford has been long regarded as the exemplar in its efforts to tackle vacancy and dereliction, and I am delighted to see that recognised on a national platform."

An example of the efforts to enhance urban living include St Joseph's House. In June last year, the Minister for Housing, Darragh O'Brien TD cut the ribbon on the age-friendly housing development at the landmark site on Manor Hill, saying, Waterford City and County Council is leading the way in delivering new social and affordable homes, and in particular in tackling vacancy, which, to be frank, is a scourge in many villages, towns, and cities across the country.

The former convent has been transformed with 50 dwelling units located within the main building and 21 located in the various out-building clusters on the site, while the former chapel on the site has been repurposed as a community space for multiple uses by tenants.

Waterford has also pioneered the Repair and Lease Scheme, addressing and delivering the return to use of vacant buildings.
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.
At present, retirement income usually comes from two main sources: the pension, which acts as a base income, and an account-based pension from your super, which many people manage conservatively, afraid to spend or take risks in retirement. This approach has its challenges. Many retirees tiptoe through their savings, afraid of running out of money. Lifetime income streams change that by introducing a third layer  a secure, guaranteed income for life. The best part? You only need to invest a portion of your super to gain this added security. For years, weve been told super is like a conveyor belt: money goes in, grows steadily, and pops out a nice pile of cash when you retire. Heres how it works. The pension provides a foundation. A lifetime income stream adds a guaranteed pay cheque, covering essential expenses. The rest of your super stays invested for growth, allowing you to take more risks or boost your lifestyle with confidence. For some its a smarter, more secure way to stretch your retirement savings.

Take Anne, whos retiring at 67 with $300,000 in super. Shes worried about spending her savings too quickly. Shell qualify for a full age pension now  almost $30,000 for a single person; and on top she will have two income layers: a lifetime income stream that she allocated a portion of her super to at age 60, and an account-based pension. At 67, the $100,000 of lifetime income stream secures an income every year of about $7500 unconditionally for the rest of her life. The rest of her super could stay invested in growth assets, affording the flexibility to take on riskier investments and achieve more upside over the long term without the constant fear of running out of money to live on. But heres the kicker: its not really just about products in the market changing. These products, if implemented well, are about building confidence, helping retirees feel secure enough to actually spend the money theyve got growing in super on living a better life. The big news this week is that the governments reforms are focused on making these products easier to understand, safer to use and directly available through your super fund  no longer tucked away behind confusing jargon or exclusive to financial advisers. If super funds get this right, lifetime income streams could transform how Australians approach retirement over the next 10 years.

2. Retirement planning will finally get some attention For most Australians in midlife, questions about retirement start piling up: What are my goals? Have I saved enough? Will my super last? How much can I afford to spend? What happens if my health takes a turn? Lifetime income products could give you more comfort in retirement. Credit: Glenn Hunt These arent simple, automated decisions like super contributions during your working years. Theyre messy, personal and  lets face it  stressful. For years, weve been sold the idea that superannuation is akin to a conveyor belt: money goes in, grows steadily and pops out a nice pile of cash when you retire. But anyone whos tried to navigate modern retirement knows thats far from reality. Almost every step is clunky, complex and overwhelming.

Youve got to figure out how much youll need, how long your money will last, and what trade-offs to make, all without much support. Financial literacy gaps and the high cost of advice often leave ordinary Australians to fend for themselves. And with too few financial planners to go around, the just get advice mantra doesnt solve the problem for everyone. This week, however, I saw a shift. The superannuation and financial advice industries are finally starting to acknowledge that retirement isnt just about money  its about navigating lifes biggest transitions. Its about understanding your options and making decisions that work for your personal circumstances. Thankfully, the government and some big super funds are stepping up. The government has committed to upgrading the MoneySmart website, our only independent, government-provided resource for tackling the complexities of retirement. The promise? Better calculators, practical projection tools, and clearer information on how super and the pension work together. Meanwhile, super funds are focusing on their own tools, encouraging members to use calculators that can boost confidence and improve drawdown strategies. In fact, theyve found that people who take the time to learn about retirement  whether through government tools or fund-provided resources  are often better equipped to make informed, empowered decisions. For many, these tools will provide the actionable information needed to handle less complex decisions, even before seeking professional advice (if its needed at all).

Loading But heres the catch: while the commitment to better tools is promising, an upgraded MoneySmart website isnt expected until 2027, which is too late for more than 450,000 retirees who will have transitioned by then. Heres hoping it delivers when it arrives. For the first time, though, it feels like the system is starting to meet people where they are: acknowledging that retirement is deeply personal and often overwhelming. That shift alone is worth celebrating. 3. Retirement has to be a system that evolves as retirees do Retirement today is vastly different from what it will look like a decade from now. People retiring today have had super contributions at only 9 per cent or higher for part of their working lives, leaving them with modest balances averaging about $250,000.

But in 10 years time, retirees will have had 9 per cent or more for their entire careers, resulting in average balances exceeding $500,000  and lifestyle expectations to match. This shift will redefine retirement as we know it. At present, retirees control about $2.4 billion of Australias GDP. A decade from now, that figure will skyrocket, fundamentally reshaping the way we think about retirement and its impact on the broader economy. Were about to witness a significant transformation  and the system needs to evolve to meet the needs of both todays retirees who will need to rely on the age pension, and those in the future who will rely on superannuation  and people will need a different mix of products to secure their income. With larger balances to manage, the system is being reshaped to offer better tools and tailored products that cater to more complex financial needs. Im impressed. The reforms we saw this week are all about fixing the everyday frustrations that come with planning and living your retirement:

Loading Tools that make complex decisions simpler.

Products that give you financial security and peace of mind.

A system designed to support everyone, not just those with millions of dollars in super. While some of the changes wont arrive until 2027, the shift in focus is happening now. For the first time, it feels like the superannuation industry is listening to what people really need  and thats a big deal. Bec Wilson is the author of bestseller How to Have an Epic Retirement. She writes a weekly newsletter at epicretirement.net and is host of the Prime Time podcast. Advice given in this article is general in nature and is not intended to influence readers decisions about investing or financial products. They should always seek their own professional advice that takes into account their own personal circumstances before making financial decisions.
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.
The incoming minister was appalled to discover that, if a service provider sent their invoice to the National Disability Insurance Agency between 5pm and 6.30pm, they were paid immediately without any verification. And that 92 per cent of them were unregistered. And that there was no specified list of authorised services. Providers were charging the public purse some outrageous sums for some outrageous supposed needs: What we have seen is the rise of opportunistic, unethical providers, Shorten said earlier this year. Theyre selling snake oil. Theyre selling stuff which frankly doesnt work and shouldnt be being paid for. That included airline lounge memberships, sex work, pet costs, cigarettes and vapes, illegal drugs, tarot card reading, clothes, guns and cuddle therapy. So Shorten published a list of approved services, the first one, last month, banning all those categories, among others. Shortens awkward munching helped make democracy sausage word of the year in 2016. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Its no wonder that the costs of the NDIS blew out spectacularly. Its now on track to become the most expensive item on the federal budget, overtaking the age pension, by 2030.

The original 2011 estimates for the scheme were that it would cover 411,000 people and cost $13.6 billion a year. This year it has 660,000 participants with budgeted cost of $42 billion. Its obvious that the scheme is succeeding in giving life-changing help to many but failing the test of sustainability. Unreformed, the scheme would have to be cut back or shut down. As its father, Shorten was best placed to fix it. And, crucially, the one most trusted to fix it. Last year, the government announced measures to restrain its annual cost growth of 14 per cent to 8 per cent by 2026-27. This is essential to achieve Shortens stated aim  to make it politician-proof. Among other reforms, he replaced 10 of the 11 top managers and recruited Kurt Fearnley as chair. Shorten persuaded state governments to increase their share of funding from next July. He tripled the number of staff at the Quality and Safeguards Commission to improve scrutiny. He created a Fraud Fusion Taskforce which, over its two-year lifespan, has put 50 people before the courts, prevented $60 million in fraud and currently has more than $1 billion in payments under investigation. Shorten played a key role in removing Kevin Rudd as PM in 2010 and then reinstalling him, at Julia Gillards expense, in 2013. Credit: Andrew Meares

Hes not quite finished, but he has put the scheme on train tracks to sustainability, as he puts it. Compared with the outlay growth anticipated in 2022, Shortens reforms will have saved the taxpayer well over $100 billion over the course of a decade. In creating  and then repairing  such an important improvement to the lives of Australias people, Shorten shows Australian politics at its best. But he was also one of the faction chiefs who connived to destroy two elected Labor prime ministers, ushering in the coup era of Australian politics, the rampant regicide of the revolving door prime ministership that made Australia a laughing stock for a decade. If that only damaged Labor governments and destabilised the political system, that would be bad enough. But it did much more. We can now see that the factional fun and games in the corridors of Canberra inflicted enduring harm on the peoples trust in democracy. Shorten wasnt the instigator of the threshold event, the 2010 lightning coup against Kevin Rudd. The motive force was Mark Arbib with sidekicks Karl Bitar, David Feeney, Stephen Conroy and Don Farrell. And, of course, the willing participation of Julia Gillard; you cant have a challenge without a challenger.

Shorten, with wife Chloe, concedes defeat after the 2019 election. Credit: AP But Shorten, as leader of elements of the Victorian Right faction, energetically joined the execution of the elected prime minister. He said at the time that he feared that he and his little gang would be cut out of the victors circle if the coup succeeded. His motives were self-interested and unprincipled. So he helped remove Rudd and install Gillard. Only to then connive against Gillard and help restore Rudd to the prime ministership as electoral oblivion loomed. The madness, of course, soon infected the Liberals, too. Rudd-Gillard-Rudd was followed by Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison. One consequence is that John Howard was the last Australian prime minister to be re-elected. But democracy is much bigger than politics, politicians, factions, parties, prime ministers and even elections. It is, at core, an act of the peoples confidence in the virtue of collective decision-making, of trust in our fellow citizens and submission to the greater good. So what happens when the people who are supposed to model these ideals expose themselves to be self-interested thugs, grasping opportunists and self-involved narcissists?

Unsurprisingly, Australians have been discouraged and disgusted. Peoples trust in democracy has not recovered from the era of the disposable leader. The ANU and Griffith Universitys Australian Election Study shows that the public disapproved of every leadership coup, regardless of party or personality. Loading The proportion of Australians saying they are satisfied with democracy was in a healthy 80 per cent range in the late Howard and early Rudd years, the highest at any time since 1969. It peaked at 86 per cent in 2007, the year Rudd was elected. From the moment he was torn down, this proportion started to shrink non-stop until it hit bottom at 59 per cent in 2019. For perspective, this was its lowest since the dismissal of the Whitlam government. When the pandemic struck, trust in government recovered somewhat. But, to this day, satisfaction with democracy has not recovered to the pre-coup era, according to the Australian Election Study. Does Shorten regret his part in the destruction of two Labor prime ministers, the onset of the coup mania and the enduring damage to Australians confidence in democracy?

You do regret your mistakes, you dont forget your failures, Shorten said in his valedictory on Thursday, and for a moment the House held its breath in anticipation. Shorten resumed: Oh, what I would give to go back to election day 2016 and turn that sausage in bread around the right way. He got a laugh as the audience recalled that much-publicised lapse in democracy sausage etiquette when he approached it from the side instead of the end. But this was not any metaphor for political remorse, however. Asked for his political regrets, Shorten falls back on Frank Sinatra: Regrets. Ive had a few, but then again too few to mention. When I ask him straight whether he regrets his part in the downfall of two Labor prime ministers, he disavows responsibility and only replies: I regret that the instability occurred. The journalist David Marr wrote a 2016 assessment of Shorten in the Quarterly Essay. It was titled Faction Man. Today, Marr looks back on Shortens political career and concludes that he never ceased being a man of factions.
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.
Kyiv: NATO and Ukraine will hold emergency talks on Tuesday after Russia attacked a central city with an experimental, hypersonic ballistic missile that escalated the nearly 33-month-old war.

The conflict is entering a decisive phase, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Friday, and taking on very dramatic dimensions.

We have this system now: Russian President Vladimir Putin. Credit: AP

Ukraines parliament cancelled a session as security was tightened following the Russian strike on a military facility in the city of Dnipro on Thursday.

In a stark warning to the West, Russian 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 US and British longer-range missiles capable of striking deeper into Russian territory.
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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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The Cathaoirleach of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District has called for the allocation of extra council funding to carry out repairs on a number of local authority houses in the district.

At a budget meeting of district councillors last week, Cllr Sean Carey said there were "so many estates where upgrades of doors and windows are needed, but people are being told there is no money".

"I think it is essential we increase the budget substantially to do these works in local authority houses.

Cllr Gerry Coyle supported his Erris colleague and said the council was "wasting" money on new laptops for councillors while local authority houses were left in a poor state of repair.

"Certainly we do not have enough money for the upkeep of social housing and in the Erris area there are two social houses burnt down that still have not been rebuilt because the council says it does not have the 64,000 needed.

I could talk about the amount of contribution in relation to [Corrib Gas and windfarms] we are making to Mayo County Council, and then our own lights are off. It is absolutely ridiculous what is going on. For housing and building, the total budget allocation for this municipal district is 32,000... sure that is pittance for the work that needs to be done."

Cllr Coyle referred to the case of an elderly man on Achill Island who had no running water in his house.

"We are in 2024 not 1924, we should have funding, extra funding and I wont agree to any budget this year that does not see a substantial increase in our municipal district budget. I just cant understand it. Come with me for part of a day, it will bring a tear to your eye some of the places that people are living."

Cllr John O Malley said he was aware of a man living in a council house that was "not fit for a dog"

"When you ask the council about it you are told, we will get round to it. That is being told to me since last April."

Cllr O'Malley referred to two houses at Aitireesh in Westport, which were compulsorily acquired as part of the N5 dual carriageway project, but have yet to be allocated to tenants.

Every day people ask me whats wrong with those houses, why is the council not doing them up and giving them to people. Is there no money to do them up, and people desperately looking for a house to live in and paying huge rents?

"There are other houses in other areas also that could be done up but they just say there is no money, so why dont the council just sell them then?

Head of district, Seamus OMongain, told councillors he was not familiar with the particular two houses referred to by Cllr O'Malley, adding: But working on the basis they are part of the N5 project, this would be between the National Roads Authority (NRA) and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), who I do understand have to purchase some houses to build the complete structure. Typically they dispose of those in time but it would not be a matter for the MD per se but rather, central housing and the NRA and TII.

Cllr John OMalley said he had been informed over a year ago that the council was purchasing the two houses from the TII to do up and allocate to people on the housing list.

But nothing has been done and now the trees are growing up outside. It is a shame they are left there like this, it is not right. Its just unbelievable the length of time it takes to get something done.

Cllr Coyle said he knew people who were willing to buy old council houses and do them up themselves and wished to know the regulations around the council selling on a house.

If there is no money to do them up then get rid of them. Its fine building houses and apartments in Westport but it cant all be going to the Westports and we have to remember the rural areas as well. I dont want places like Doohoma left in the lurch.

Cllr Coyle then called for a list of vacant houses owned by the council in the Erris area to be provided at the next meeting, adding: I am just vexed at the whole thing.

Director of Services Joanne Grehan told members she would raise the matter of the two N5 houses with the councils central housing unit and roads office and would provide feedback at a later date. She also said she will do her best to have the Erris report available for the next meeting.
The head of Mayo Co Council's Roads Design Office (RDO) gave an update at last week's Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District meeting on several major projects.

Paul Hyland told councillors of five ongoing road projects including the N84 Ballinrobe Transport Project (see page 13) and the N17 Knock to Collooney scheme (see page 6). He also gave an update on the N5 Swinford Safety Scheme, which involves the development of long-term safety interventions along the 5km Swinford bypass to include grade separation, road closures, the closure of certain house entrances and other works.

Mr Hyland said a consultant would be appointed this month and the intention is to progress the scheme in 2025.

He said the N26 Foxford to Mount Falcon project is currently at Phase 2 for options selection. Consultants were appointed earlier this year and a public consultation of constraints study commenced in the last week. A preferred route is expected to be selected in the second quarter of next year. The third phase, which involves design and environmental evaluation, will depend on funding available to Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) next year.

Mr Hyland said the Foxford transport project is currently at its initial phase and the recommendation to appoint a consultant is with TII. Approval of this appointment will again depend on funding.

Mr Hyland said there are two greenway projects at an early stage, including the 53km Ballina-Castlebar-Westport interurban greenway and the 25km Charlestown-Swinford-Foxford Greenway. Progress is dependent on TII funding.
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.
IT leader scoops industry awards

Its a season of abundance for Dr Stanley Mpofu, who has been named CIO of the Year by industry peers, among other accolades.

Mpofu scooped several accolades at different industry awards recognising outstanding contributions to the industry and respective organisations.

Wits Chief Information Officer was crowned CIO of the Year at the 2024 CIO Awards  known as the Oscars of IT. The awards on 12 November brought together captains of various industries who are at the heart of the countrys economies. The 2023 CIO of the Year was Jorg Fischer from Standard Bank.

At the same awards Mpofu also walked away with the IT Project of the Year award for his leadership in successfully deploying pivotal initiatives at Wits. A month prior to this, the tech leader made his mark at the ITWeb Brainstorm Banquet for clinching the Decade of CIO Award in the public sector category.

Mpofu credited his team and the support from the Universitys executives for the support.

Supporting academic dreams at Wits and beyond

Witsies are familiar with the many projects executed by ICT, however, his service to the higher education sector is less visible.

He is the Chair of Higher Education Information Technology South Africa (HEITSA) representing the 26 public universities in South Africa. HEITSA provides mutual support mechanisms to all participating institutions by encouraging the development and application of standards and best practices through the sharing of expertise among the community. Mpofu was instrumental in the rollout of Eduroam (education roaming) across all 26 universities by encouraging adoption following successful implementation at Wits.

Eduroam is a secure, world-wide roaming access service developed by the international research and education community. It allows students, researchers, and staff from participating institutions to obtain Wi-Fi access and Internet connectivity at participating service providers simply, securely, and free-of-charge. Roaming is available in over hundred countries worldwide, a growing number of which are in Africa.

Access is available at airports managed by Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA). This will soon extend to CoJ for libraries and Attacq for malls bringing convenience for the secure.

In 2025 Wits ICT will continue rolling out connectivity at Wits linked academic hospitals and Sterkfontein caves as well as the network remediation to bring greater stability to the network against the growing demands.

A cattle herd boy turned into an IT leader

Mpofu has been working in IT since 1995. He rose through the ranks and was appointed Network Administrator in Datavia at Transnet for 10 years. A career change took him to Eskom, where in 15 years he held positions as a project manager, programme manager and Project Office manager. His time at Eskom culminated in a promotion to executive manager in 2010. In this executive role he was responsible for all Eskom Enterprises Group of Companies ICT strategy and operations. He also chaired the tender committee. He joined Wits in May 2017 as CIO, almost ten years after completing his PhD from the same University.

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Visionary Leadership Award for Wits ICT
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Students from Malta's St Ignatius College Handaq Middle School were fascinated by a Confucius-themed photo exhibition held at their school on Friday, describing the event as a window into Chinese culture.

The exhibition, presented by the China Cultural Center in Malta, showcased a series of images. Chinese cultural artifacts were also displayed during the event. The exhibition guided visitors through ancient and modern context.

Claire Zahra, deputy principal of the school, said the event would undoubtedly arouse students' curiosity to further explore China, its culture, and perhaps even visit the country one day.

Students were also engaged in interactive activities, and creative cultural products were distributed as rewards.

"The exhibition is very interesting, and I love it," 12-year-old Stefano Gallo said, expressing hope to visit China in the future.

Winning a Chinese knot, Maksym Antonchenko said he has gained a deeper understanding of Chinese culture.

Rita Micallef, a teacher, told Xinhua that the students enjoyed the experience. "I do that as well," she said, sharing her personal interest in Chinese films and her efforts to learn Chinese.
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Moroccan Crown Prince Moulay Hassan in Casablanca, Morocco, Nov. 21, 2024. Xi met with Hassan during a technical stop in Casablanca after wrapping up his state visit to Brazil. Assigned by Moroccan King Mohammed VI, Hassan and Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch greeted Xi at the airport. A welcome ceremony was held there. [Xinhua/Li Xueren]

CASABLANCA, Morocco, Nov. 21 (Xinhua)  Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that China is ready to continue working with Morocco to firmly support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests, and push for greater development of China-Morocco strategic partnership.

Xi made the remarks when meeting with Moroccan Crown Prince Moulay Hassan during a technical stop in Casablanca after wrapping up his state visit to Brazil.

Assigned by Moroccan King Mohammed VI, Hassan and Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch greeted Xi at the airport. A welcome ceremony was held there.

Xi asked Hassan to convey his cordial greetings and best wishes to King Mohammed VI.

Xi pointed out that China and Morocco have witnessed sound development in their relations, with fruitful practical cooperation and increasingly vibrant exchanges in various fields. In 2016, Xi said, King Mohammed VI paid a state visit to China, during which they held productive talks, bringing China-Morocco relations to a new level.

China is ready to work with Morocco to implement the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, and work for more outcomes in practical cooperation across various fields within the framework of Belt and Road cooperation, Xi said.

China supports Morocco's efforts in safeguarding national security and stability, Xi added, calling on the two countries to expand cultural and people-to-people exchanges, so as to enhance public support for their friendship.

For his part, Hassan conveyed the sincere greetings and warm welcome from King Mohammed VI to Xi, saying that bilateral ties have maintained a sound development momentum.

He thanked China for its valuable support to Morocco during the COVID-19 pandemic, which the Moroccan people will never forget.

The Moroccan royal family and government are firmly committed to further developing bilateral relations, and are willing to maintain high-level exchanges with China and strengthen cooperation in various fields, he said.

The Chinese language and culture are very popular among the Moroccan people, Hassan said, expressing his hope for promoting bilateral people-to-people exchanges.

Noting that the two countries hold similar positions on many issues, he said the Moroccan side stands ready to work with China to firmly support each other in safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and stability.

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Casablanca, Morocco, for a technical stop on Nov. 21, 2024, after wrapping up his state visit to Brazil. Assigned by Moroccan King Mohammed VI, Moroccan Crown Prince Moulay Hassan and Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch greeted Xi at the airport. A welcome ceremony was held there. [Xinhua/Li Xueren]

Source: Xinhua

Editor: Teng Ge
The catastrophic impact and death toll from the floods in Valencia serve as an indictment of Spains main pseudo-left parties, Podemos and its split-off, Sumar, which currently is in power at the national level alongside the Socialist Party (PSOE). Despite years in power at both the national and Valencian regional levels, these parties have done nothing to protect the population from climate change-induced floods.

Emergency services remove cars in an area affected by floods in Catarroja, Spain, on Sunday, November 3, 2024. [AP Photo/Manu Fernandez]

The Valencia floods are an unprecedented social crime. The death toll across Spain has now reached 224, including 217 in the Valencian Community, with 16 people still missing. Over 75 municipalities have suffered significant damage, affecting more than 60,000 people. Paiporta, considered the ground zero of the tragedy, recorded 70 deaths among those trapped in basements and garages.

A report from the Valencia Chamber of Commerce indicates that more than 54,000 businesses and over 400,000 workers have been impacted, with at least 4,500 premises damaged, 1,800 of which are completely destroyed.

The responsibility of the Valencian regional government and its regional premier, Carlos Mazon, from the right-wing Popular Party, is self-evident. Despite repeated warnings from Spains meteorological agency, AEMET, no measures were taken on the day of the storm until many people had already drowned. In the following days, the regional government failed to mobilise the necessary resources to support the victims and was even unable to coordinate the thousands of volunteers who traveled to Valencia on their own initiative.

For its part, the national PSOE-Sumar government refused to declare the highest state of emergency, both on the day of the storm and in the days that followed. This would have allowed it to take control of emergency services in the place of the regional government. This was despite seeing from the outset that Mazons government was incapable of addressing the floods and their consequences.

To avoid intervening, PSOE and Sumar offered the pathetic excuse that they did not want to infringe on the regional powers of the Valencian government. They chose to sacrifice the lives of hundreds of people rather than take measures that would have exposed the PPs reactionary policies in Valencia.

The filthiest aspect of this response was that of Labor Minister and Sumar leader Yolanda Diaz. Fully aware of the severity of the approaching storm, she and her government could have suspended all non-essential activities to prevent workers from risking their lives. But they refused to do so, endangering the lives of thousands of workers who were forced to go to work and then spend the night trapped in warehouses and shopping centres. Many lost their lives, caught in cars and trucks that were swept away by the floods.

The next day, Diaz mocked the workers by appealing to the responsibility of businesses to ensure that no one works under risky conditions.

In fact, the regions main employers had shown blatant disregard for their employees lives, forcing most of them to keep working. In this, the trade unions CCOO, affiliated with Sumar and Podemos, and UGT, affiliated with the PSOE, played a reactionary role, refusing to close down workplaces. This situation was described by a worker at a shopping centre: Those who kept us here working, without closing, were our supervisors. They didnt let us leave. This cant happen. They played with our lives.

Diazs solution for workers was to tell workers to decide for themselves whether to go to work. She said, Dont be afraid at all, as the law prohibits anyone from working under risky conditions.

But workers know refusing to go to work can lead to being fired or facing retaliation from their employers. This fear is justified, especially when they see that Diaz took no action to help them, nor did the union bureaucrats mobilise works councils to force companies to shut down. And as for Diazs claim that the law protects anyone from working under risky conditions, that is simply an insult to workers, after many workers died at work in the flood.

On November 2, in Paiporta, the epicentre of the floods, hundreds of enraged people attacked the entourage of Spanish President Pedro Sanchez, regional president Mazon, and King Felipe VI by throwing mud at them. After this, Diaz came out as the main defender of these authorities and Spains capitalist state.

In a subsequent meeting with the King, Diaz pontificated that the events were of utmost seriousness in a democracy, because there was direct violence against the highest authorities: the Head of State, the President of the Government, and the President of the Generalitat [the regional government of Valencia]. She also labeled statements by Mazon criticising the armys delayed response during the floods as an act of disloyalty to the Army and the Government itself.

The statements by Diaz defending the Spanish army would, years ago, have been typical of right-wing or far-right forces. Today, they are made by a leader who hails from the Stalinist Communist Party, was a leader in Podemos, and now leads Sumar. These are not incidental remarks; they reveal the extent to which Podemos and Sumar are pillars of Spanish capitalism and deeply hostile to the working class.

That this catastrophe could happen had been known for many years. Felix Frances, director of the University Research Institute of Engineering and Environment, called the floods a foreseen disaster and stated: It was something perfectly known, not only by experts but also by the Administration, both national and regional ... and quite likely by the top political leadership.

In that top political leadership, Podemos has been present for a decade, while Sumar was formed in 2020 from groups that split from Podemos. Over these years, both parties have reacted to the flood risk the same way as the other Spanish establishment partiesthat is, by doing nothing.

In the Valencia region, no hydraulic works have been undertaken in over 15 years. In 2022, the Red Cross issued a detailed study on flood risks in the Valencian Community, based on the 2019 floods, and called on Spanish authorities to implement disaster response plans. Neither PSOE, nor Podemos, nor Sumar heeded that warning.

An emblematic case is that of the Poyo and Pozalet ravines, whose overflow on October 28 caused many of the fatalities. The hydraulic works necessary to prevent a catastrophe like this were approved in 2007 and have yet to be carried out. Their current cost would be around 378 million, but there was never a budget to execute them. Similar projects in other areas suffered a similar fate.

The money that PSOE, Podemos, and Sumar could have used to save lives was instead spent on bailing out banks and large corporations, or on drastically increasing military spending to 27 billion annually to arm Spain for imperialist wars in Europe and the Middle East.

PSOE and Podemos also ruled the Valencian region between 2015 and 2023 alongside the nationalist party Compromis. During those eight years, their only contribution to improving emergency services in Valencia was the creation of the Valencian Emergency Unit (UVE), an entity that never became operational and did not even have a budget.

The lack of seriousness of this initiative became evident when the Firefighters Platform of the Valencian Community, representing all firefighters in the region, warned that the UVE would not only duplicate functions but could also disorganise emergency response efforts. Firefighters said its creation only stemmed from the whim of the regional government to set up another fire brigade ... where they could do and undo at their discretion. Thus its foundation had nothing to do with improving emergency services.

Podemos and Sumar are fully implicated in the social crime that occurred in Valencia. For years, they have worked to suppress class struggle and collaborate with various governments to implement cuts against workers. They are responsible for the fact that the funds needed to prevent this tragedy were instead allocated to further enrich the banks, major corporations and the army. The mass deaths in Valencia are the direct result of these policies.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmers Labour government has dragged Britain to the point of an all-out war with Russia, with devastating consequences.

By agreeing to Ukraine firing Storm Shadow cruise missiles into Russian territory, he has made a de facto declaration of war without so much as a debate in parliament. His Defence Secretary John Healey had the gall to tell parliaments defence committee that in the end the only one that benefits from such a public debate is President Putin.

Labour can refuse a public discussion on a war for which there is no popular support because parliament is a cesspit, populated by MPs who function as a single party of war determined to pursue British imperialisms predatory interests even at the risk of nuclear conflict.

In the aftermath of President Biden authorising US missile attacks by Ukraine that led to the use of ATACMS Tuesday, and an unconfirmed number of UK Shadow Storm missiles fired into Kursk Wednesday, President Vladimir Putin made clear Russia views this as the direct participation of the US and Britain in a war against Russia.

In a televised address Thursday, he specifically warned of an attack on US and UK military assets: We have the right to use our weapons against military facilities of those countries which allow their weapons to be used on our facilities, he said. And in case of escalation of aggressive actions, we will respond resolutely in a mirror way.

Putin confirmed Russias firing of a non-nuclear hypersonic version of a ballistic missile that hit a Ukrainian missile and armaments complex in the city of Dnipropetrovsk. The new missile was chosen because its payload is exclusively associated with nuclear-capable missiles and because, Putin asserted, There are currently no ways of counteracting this weapon. The missiles attack targets at a speed of 10 Mach, thats 2.5-3 km per second.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has denounced a US missile base in Poland at Redzikowo as a priority target for potential destruction. But Russias retaliatory threat is much wider. US officials said that an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) has a range of 3,000-5,500 km (1,860-3,415 miles)making the whole of Europe and Britain a potential target.

To this, Britains government and opposition parties united behind one demandescalate the war!

Starmer told parliament on Thursday, We will not be deterred or distracted by reckless threats we will back Ukraine with what is needed for as long as it is needed.

Sir Keir Starmer speaking in Parliament, with Foreign Secretary David Lammy (seated left), November 21, 2024 [Photo by UK Parliament/Flickr / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

He praised Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch for supporting him, welcoming the continued unity across the House If we divide on the issue, the only winner will be Putin and I am not prepared to let that happen.

The same response came from the armed forces. Rob Magowan, deputy chief of the British defence staff, told parliaments defence committee, 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.

The expelled former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn politely asked Starmer, What pathway does he see to bringing about a cessation of the conflict. On X/Twitter, he demanded that Starmer make a statement confirming whether UK missiles have been fired into Russia and tell the British public if this means we are now at war with a nuclear power, what risk this poses to people in Britain, and why this action was taken without any approval from Parliament.

But he failed to make these demands in Westminster and no one else did either.

Corbyn does not even speak for the whole of the Socialist Campaign Group he once led in opposing war against Russia. His former shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, leads several members of the group who have long demanded the stepping-up of UK arms supplies to Ukraine, not an end to the conflict, and who have now had their wishes granted!

Corbyns refusal to drive the Blairites out of the Labour Party is primarily responsible for putting the vile warmonger Starmer in Number 10. Moreover, he heads the Stop the War Coalition which has all but ignored the Ukraine war and its dangers for over a year, and which has walled off the millions who have protested the Gaza genocide from a broader struggle against imperialist-backed war.

The Stop the War Coalition has made a pro-forma protest against Starmer and Biden for delaying possible diplomatic solutions and taking us to the edge of a wider war between nuclear armed great powers. But as with its constant appeals for the British government to back a ceasefire in Gaza, Stop the War ends with a pathetic call for Starmer and Biden to stop these provocations immediately and to focus on securing a negotiated end to the war.

The escalation of the conflict in Russia and Ukraine takes place amid rising threats of the Gaza genocide and attacks on Lebanon and Syria becoming a full-blown war with Iran and rising tensions with North Koreaat least nominally targeted in Kurskand with China. The global spread of war is rooted in a deepening crisis of world capitalism that drives the imperialist powers to a struggle for global hegemony that has already claimed hundreds of thousands of lives in Ukraine and led to mass murder and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians. In the fight against this, the future of humanity is at stake.

Stop the War and the pseudo-left and Stalinist tendencies that make up the coalition oppose the revolutionary mobilisation of the working class internationally that alone can bring an end to war. The same conditions giving rise to war drive the ruling class into ever more direct and brutal conflict with workers, who must be made to pay for it. But everything depends on the struggles that will erupt against militarism, austerity and right-wing reaction being armed with a socialist and internationalist perspective and leadership.

A year of mass protests against the murderous assault by Israel on the Palestinianswith the active backing of London, Washington, Berlin and Paristhat confined workers and young people to pressure on the streets for a reversal of government policy drove them into a political dead end. The Tories have been replaced by a Labour government equally committed to genocide and now working in unison for a war against Russia whose consequences are yet more devastating.

The Socialist Equality Party and our comrades in the International Committee of the Fourth International call for the building of a socialist anti-war movement based on the international working class, the great revolutionary force in society.

This must be waged as a political offensive by workers against British imperialism and its Labour government, and in defiance of trade union leaders who support NATO, genocide and war just as surely as does Starmer. They systematically sabotage and betray every development of the class struggle that threatens to cut across the drive to subordinate social and economic life to the dictates of trade and military war.

A rank-and-file rebellion of workers is required, combining a struggle in defence of living standards with a political struggle against imperialism. This is inseparable from the resolute defence of social and democratic rights because the ruling class cannot wage war abroad, nor impose the vast attacks on jobs, wages and essential services this demands by democratic means. This is why opposition to war is being criminalized everywhere, including in Ukraine, where Trotskyist youth leader Bogdan Syrotiuk was arrested because he fought to unify workers in Russia and Ukraine against the conflict.

Workers must understand that the fight against war is a fight against capitalism and for socialism, requiring a struggle to put an end to the dictatorship of finance capital and the capitalist economic system. The SEP urges all those workers and young people who recognise this fundamental truth to join this party.
If you are one of the workers at the two Leinenkugels breweries impacted, please contact the WSWS at (414) 377-3978.

The Leinenkugel brewery in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. [AP Photo/Jim Mone]

Molson Coors announced that it is closing two Leinenkugels breweries in Wisconsin, including the historic facility at Chippewa Falls where the company has had a presence for 157 years. The Chicago-based beer giant will shift production to its main Milwaukee brewery, a large 80-acre complex in the citys Miller Valley neighborhood.

The closures will be accompanied by layoffs of 90 workers at both facilities, according to a filing with the states Department of Workforce Development. The Chippewa Falls closures will see the loss of 33 hourly employees. The closure of the second Leinenkugels brewery, a smaller facility in Milwaukee, will result in the loss of 54 hourly employees.

Notably, workers at the Chippewa Falls facility had gone on strike over a year ago. As reported by the WSWS at the time, Teamsters officials isolated the strike and issued tepid calls for support from the Democratic party. That strike ended with a three-year agreement.

Teamsters Local 662 Business Agent Dan Boley said at the time, We look forward to building on this victory in the future.

Now however, the sellout nature of the agreement is all too apparent, as workers will be unemployed less than halfway through it. The supposed victory has ended in a betrayal.

Further highlighting its lack of concern for communities and employees, the company did not provide advance notice of the announced closures to brewery employees, union leaders, local government officials, or the Leinenkugel family, some of whom were involved with the company as late as 2017.

Former Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co. President Dick Leinenkugel in a written statement said, None of our family members were aware or counseled ahead of the decision. Its a sad day for our family and our fans.

However, Leinenkugel defended the companys decision, saying, I know the Molson Coors leaders dont take these decisions lightly. Its clear to me that they determined that the savings resulting from the closure were significant enough to justify this difficult decision.

The brewery closures come on the heels of the closure of two healthcare facilities in the region earlier this year. On March 22, HSHS St. Josephs Hospital in Chippewa Falls and nearby HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire both shuttered their doors. Besides the impact on workers, community members access to local healthcare was severely impacted.

Those closures were also callously announced with no advance notice to workers or the community.

Teri Ouimette, Executive Director of Chippewa Falls Main Street, said, Seems to be the new trend of corporations to not notify employees, management or the city of Chippewa Falls on what they are planning.

Brian Flynn, a Chippewa County Board Supervisor, expressed shock at the closure but had nothing to say about whether workers should fight it or whether the county government would oppose it.

Flynn said, It came as a complete shock. I mean, thats been one of the mainstays in the city of Chippewa Falls.

Flynn was re-elected in April of this year and according to Ballotpedia was listed as Nonpartisan as were all Chippewa Falls County Board Supervisor candidates at the time.

No other politicians seem to have made a statement on the closures, including Democratic governor Tony Evers, Republican representative Derrick van Orden whose 3rd Wisconsin Congressional District covers the city of Chippewa Falls, or Chuck Hull the County Supervisor Board Chair.

The bankruptcy of the union bureaucracy and politicians of both parties could not be clearer. None has stood up for the workers involved or called for action to preserve their jobs. While they have been silent, an online petition to save the brewery already had over 8,000 signatures from community members.



Teamsters Local 200 and 662, of which the soon to be laid off workers are members, could only muster up a few sentences, stating, It is a tragedy that Molson Coors wants to close the doors on this brewery, which has been a point of pride for Chippewa Valley for more than 150 years. The Teamsters are doing everything in our power to fight for and protect our members rights.

The lesson for the working class is that it must defend its interests by organizing its own political program independent from the unions and two-party system. Workers should create their own rank-and-file committees to expand their struggle and appeal for the broadest possible support among workers everywhere.
Thursday marked the third time that Alabama has carried out an execution via nitrogen gas asphyxiation, whereby the victim is deprived of oxygen by its displacement with nitrogen, resulting in death by suffocation.

Carey Dale Grayson [AP Photo/Alabama Department of Corrections]

The latest victim of the grisly execution method was convicted murderer Carey Dale Grayson, who had been put on death row in 1996 at the age of 19 for the murder of Vickie Deblieux, 37, a brutal act which he and three other teenagers were convicted of carrying out.

While the other three youths had their death sentences commuted to life imprisonment due to a ruling by the US Supreme Court preventing death sentences for youth, Graysons remained due to his age. Grayson was killed at the age of 50, having spent most of his life on death row.

Deblieuxs daughter, Jodi Haley, took a principled stand against the execution and condemned the states actions despite the loss of her mother.

Carey Dale Grayson, as a child, he was abused in every possible way, cigarettes put out on his skin because he was standing there ... physical abuse, mental, sexual, thrown out onto the streets as a young adolescent, and I have to wonder how this slips through the cracks of our justice system, because society failed this man as a child and my family suffered because of it.

Murdering inmates under the guise of justice needs to stop. Denouncing revenge, she said, No one should have the right to take a persons possibilities, days, moments, life.

Nitrogen gas was pumped into Graysons lungs from a respirator, causing him to shake violently, pull at his restraints and clench his fists. According to the Associated Press, he gasped for air more than a dozen times. At 6:14 p.m. his legs lifted off the gurney and into the air.

Grayson only lost consciousness around six minutes after the gas started flowing, at around 6:18 p.m. He appeared to stop breathing at 6:21 p.m. Alabama Corrections Commissioner John Q. Hamm said the nitrogen gas flowed for 15 minutes, and Grayson no longer had a heartbeat after around 10 minutes.

Hamm callously claimed that Graysons movements at the beginning were for show.

The time that it took Grayson to go unconscious was significantly longer than with other barbaric and cruel methods of execution, which usually take anywhere from a few seconds to a couple of minutes.

The Alabama attorney generals office told a judge that nitrogen gas would cause unconsciousness within seconds and death within minutes. It, in fact, conforms with what Graysons attorneys argued, that the new method causes conscious suffocation and does not result in swift unconsciousness.

Grayson, like the two other men executed in Alabama via nitrogen asphyxiation, including Kenneth Eugene Smith, died an agonizing and prolonged death, which easily fits the legal definition of torture and took well over the seconds that the attorney general claimed would cause unconsciousness. Smith, the first-ever victim of a nitrogen gas execution, stated right before his execution on January 25: Tonight Alabama causes humanity to take a step backwards.

Before this, he was awake, and when asked for his final words, he responded with an obscenity apparently directed towards state officials, after which his microphone was cut off. He raised both middle fingers at the start of the execution.

The aim of these executions is in no small part to pave the way for more executions via the readily available gaswhich composes around 78 percent of the Earths atmosphere on averageafter companies that had made execution drugs ceased providing those drugs amid well-justified public outrage.

Not only does the execution fly in the face of human rights, with the first of its sort being condemned by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, but it violates Eighth Amendment protections against cruel and unusual punishment in the US Constitution and signifies a further erosion of democratic rights.

This follows decades of attacks, including the assassination of US citizens by drones under Obama, mass spying on American citizens. It now is taking place as the incoming Trump administration is preparing an unprecedented assault on democratic rights. When he was last president, Donald Trump oversaw 13 federal executions, the fastest pace on record.

The death penalty, far from providing any justice, is a tool which the state retains for use primarily against the working class, and as such must be opposed by all workers as part of a fight against the threat of dictatorship, war, and inequality, and for socialism.
Sri Lankas newly-elected Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna/National Peoples Power (JVP/NPP) government has jettisoned its election pledge to renegotiate the countrys bailout agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), claiming to protect the most vulnerable.

Sri Lankas president, JVP/NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, used his speech inaugurating the 10th session of the countrys parliament to announce that his government will implement the savage austerity program demanded by the IMF in full.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake addressing Sri Lankan parliament, November 21, 2024 [Photo: Facebook/anurakumara]

Dissanayake claimed that any reopening of the $2.9 billion three-year bailout agreement with the IMF, as well as associated agreements with global investors and governments on the repayment of bond debt, would place the economy at gave risk.

Due to the scale of the crisis, Dissanayake said, even the smallest error could have significant repercussions  There is no room for mistakes. Rather, the governments focus would be on ensuring economic stability and reaffirming trust with the relevant economic stakeholdersthat is, Sri Lankan and global capital.

Dissanayake then tried to justify the imposition of further punitive increases in taxes and electricity rates, massive cuts to vital public services, the fire-sale of public sector assets and the destruction of hundreds of thousands of jobs by claiming there is no alternative. Debating whether the proposed restructuring plan is good or bad, advantageous or disadvantageous, serves no purpose, declared the JVP/NPP president. This is the reality we are faced with.

Underscoring that the government now intends to rapidly move forward with implementing the further austerity measures stipulated in the IMF bailout agreement, Dissanayake said he expects to have reached a staff level agreement with the IMF by Saturday.

Under that agreement, Colombo is expected to generate a 2.3 percent primary budgetary surplus in the coming year through a combination of budget cuts and revenue raising measures. The government is also committed, starting in 2028, to repay Sri Lankas creditors an estimated $5 billion per year, an amount that exceeds five percent of the countrys current GDP.

Thursdays reopening of parliament came exactly one week after the JVP/NPP swept the polls, winning 159 of the 225 seats in parliament, by exploiting mass anger and disaffection with the traditional political establishment and the handful of elite capitalist families that have always dominated. These parties have presided over a devastating socio-economic crisis since 2022, one moreover that erupted after years of austerity and increasing economic insecurity and social inequality.

Dissanayake, who was catapulted into the presidency in last Septembers presidential poll, immediately called new parliamentary elections, arguing that he needed a strong mandate to fight corruption and bring about a national economic renaissance.

In response, the Socialist Equality Party (Sri Lanka) and the World Socialist Web Site warned the working class and oppressed toilers not to be fooled by the JVP/NPPs demagogy, and by the attempts of the Sri Lankan and international media to dress up this right-wing, pro-imperialist, Sinhala chauvinist party as left or even socialist.

We specifically warned that Dissanayake would quickly drop his calls for modifications to the IMF agreement and that any changes would prove at most to be cosmetic. JVP/NPP leaders, we wrote, have sometimes declared they would renegotiate the hated IMF program. This is purely to hoodwink workers and the poor who are bitterly opposed to the austerity measures that have made deep inroads into living conditions through increased prices for essentials, tariffs and the near collapse of the public health service.

We further warned that Dissanayake had postponed negotiations with the IMF on the release of the third loan installment so as to get the election out of the way and strengthen the JVP/NPPs hand in parliament before imposing the IMFs diktats in the face of what will be mounting and increasingly explosive social opposition.

All these warnings have been borne out, and on the very first day the majority-JVP/NPP parliament was convened!

The IMF diktats for increased austerity and the restructure of Sri Lankan capitalism to produce bigger investor profits will determine the governments agenda from top to bottom. Dissanayke tried, however, to obscure this with flowery pledges of democracy, national harmony and a transformational government that will be focused on the well-being of the people. The president even claimed the government would increase support for the poor.

All of this was subterfuge. The JVP/NPP government has declared its true colours. For all its phony left, progressive posturing it is a government beholden to Sri Lankan and international capital that will ruthlessly impose their diktats on working people.

The JVPs talk of democracy is utterly fraudulent. And not just because it transparently lied to the population, claiming it would find a way to change the IMF bailout agreement to lessen mass suffering.

The IMF program is the distillation of the dictatorship of the global financial oligarchy and their Sri Lankan capitalist clients. Its imposition will mark an enormous social regression that will be measured in increased poverty, hunger and declining life expectancyas has already unfolded since 2021.

Dissanayake tried to shift blame for the program his government will now implement onto its predecessor. He noted that the previous president, Ranil Wickremesinghe, had concluded debt restructuring agreements just two days before the September 21 presidential election

But this only underscores their entirely illegitimate character.

The reality is that all the agreements the JVP/NPP insist cannot be changed are the outcome of a conspiracy against the people.

Wickremesinghe, then the sole parliamentarian of the right-wing United National Party, was undemocratically imposed as the countrys president in July 2022, after a mass popular uprising had chased President Gotabaya Rajapakse from power.

The JVP played its part in this conspiracy, working with the opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya and the trade unions to divert the uprising into calls for a new capitalist government based on the parliamentary opposition. Then when the rump parliament elected Wickremesinghe as president, the JVP supported his turn to the IMF and used its affiliated unions to channel mounting working-class opposition to the initial impact of the IMF austerity measures into impotent calls for the government to change course or provide relief.

That Dissanayakes almost 7,000-word address said nothing about the NATO-instigated war against Russia over Ukraine, the imperialist-backed Israeli genocide against the Palestinians, the US military-strategic offensive against China or for that matter any foreign policy issue does not mean the ever-intensifying global geopolitical crisis will not be a preoccupation for the new government.

Just as it is continuing Wickremesinghes IMF scorched-earth program, so the new government has signalled that it will continue to integrate Sri Lanka ever more fully into the US-led, Indian supported plans for war with China. What Dissanayake did mention, albeit from the standpoint of the economic potential of the Port of Colombo, was Sri Lankas unique position as a hub in the Indian Ocean, which is a key arena in the US drive to secure hegemony over the Indo-Pacific and Eurasia.

Arguably the most cynical element of Dissanayakes lie-laden speech was his attempt to promote his JVP/NPP government as a resolute opponent of racism and communalism and a votary of national harmony. In the opening passages of his speech, the president referred to the unprecedented vote his party has obtained across the country, including in the predominantly Tamil north and east. He deplored that in the past politics had often been shaped along regional, ethnic or religious lines, leading to suspicion and mistrust. He vowed his government will not allow a resurgence of divisive racist politics in this country.

None of this it to believed. Indeed, given the JVPs history and class character, Dissanayakes proclamation that the government will never allow a resurgence of racist politics should be construed as a threat that it will condemn opposition from the Tamil minority as divisive and intolerable.

The reality is Dissanayakes discussion of Sri Lankas tragic history, including the almost three decade-long anti Tamil war, was entirely abstract. There was not even a single reference to a government, a party, a political leader or policy. Its aim was very much to absolve the Sinhala capitalist elite and its state for their responsibility in whipping up anti-Tamil chauvinism to divide the working class; and to excuse and cover up the role of the JVP, which throughout its six-decade history has played an especially pernicious role in anti-Tamil incitement. To this day, Dissanayake and the JVP celebrates the fascistic rebellion it mounted in 198889 against the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord.

Today the JVP/NPP is trying to present itself as the foremost promoter of Sri Lankan nationalism, but this nationalism is inextricably entwined with Sinhala-Buddhist supremacism.

Workers must be warned: when opposition to the government erupts, the JVP will, as the ruling class has always done, seek to whip up communal divisions so as to split the working class and embolden reaction.

The Dissanayake JVP/NPP government is one of extreme crisis. There is an explosive gap between the popular expectations of the government and the class war agenda it is now moving to implement.

The JVP leaders are themselves aware that the ruling class has very much turned to them as a last line of defence for the bourgeois order before risking a resort to military rule. Government spokesman and JVP General-Secretary Tilvin Silva recently told a press conference: The people have given us this huge win because theyve believed in us. But if we dont hold on to the weight of that responsibility and we fail, then there is no one else to come to the rescue.

The JVP/NPP will try to use its unprecedented parliamentary majority to claim that all opposition to its attacks is anti-democratic. There is also no question that it will make use of the powers of the executive presidency and the battery of anti-democratic and emergency laws adopted by predecessor governments to criminalise and try to violently suppress an insurgent movement of the working class. A recurring theme in all Dissanayakes addresses is the need to establish law and order as a prerequisite for economic revival.

The SEP intervened in the just concluded parliamentary elections to bring to the working class the revolutionary socialist program on which it must base its opposition to the JVP/NPP government and to organise the most advanced workers and youth in our ranks so as to provide programmatic, tactical and organisational leadership in the struggles that will soon erupt.

Sri Lankas workers and toilers must unequivocally reject the demands of the government and behind them the ruling class that they pay for the crisis of capitalism. To oppose the dismantling of public services, privatisation, and the assault on their democratic and social rights, working people must form workplace and neighbourhood action committees, independent of the pro-capitalist trade unions.

In opposition to the capitalist parliament and the entire structure of capitalist class rule, the SEP fights for a Democratic and Socialist Congress of Workers and Rural Masses, made up of democratically elected representatives from the growing network of action of committees. Such a Congress must advocate for and build an independent political movement of the working class with an internationalist perspective, rallying the rural poor against the bourgeoisie and to fight for the establishment of a workers and peasants government to implement a socialist program.
The New Zealand coalition governments Treaty Principles Bill, aimed at sowing divisions between indigenous Maori and non-Maori, has sparked widespread public opposition.

Part of the November 19 protest in Wellington against the Treaty Principles Bill [Photo: Public Service Association]

On November 19, around 50,000 people rallied in Wellington outside parliament and in surrounding streets, chanting Kill the Bill. It was the culmination of a series of marches in towns and cities across the country, joined by tens of thousands more people.

The proposed law, put forward by the far-right ACT Party, would narrowly reinterpret the Treaty of Waitangisigned by representatives of the British Crown and hundreds of Maori chiefs in 1840as a document that made everyone equal before the law and gave the government the full power to govern.

ACT has made inflammatory claims that the interpretation of the treaty by successive governments since the 1980s as a partnership between Maori and Europeans has given each race different rights, falsely implying that Maori are somehow privileged. In fact, most Maori are among the poorest and most exploited layers of the working class.

Masses of people correctly view the bill as a racist dog whistle, which scapegoats Maori in order to divert attention from the worsening social crisis affecting the entire working class. The country is mired in a recession that is more severe than the 2008 global financial crisis, with regular announcements of mass redundancies and the closure of small businesses and factories. The National Party-led coalition is inflicting deep funding cuts to healthcare, education and welfare services.

An appalling social crisis is unfolding. A government health survey released on November 19 revealed that in 2023/24, 27 percent of children lived in households where food ran out often or sometimes, up from 21.3 percent the previous year. The level of food insecurity was significantly higher for Maori children (34.3 percent) and Pacific Island children (54.8 percent).

There is profound opposition to the ongoing oppression of Maori, who are over-represented in all statistics related to poverty, and broad recognition that attacks on Maori are bound up with attacks on the rights and living standards of the whole working population.

The ACT Partys demagogy about wanting equal rights for all is a transparent fraud. ACT leader David Seymour openly defends the historic levels of social inequality. The party, which received just 8.6 percent of the votes in the 2023 election, is funded by billionairesincluding New Zealands richest man, investor Graeme Hart, and Nick Mowbray, founder of toy company Zuruand calls for the privatisation of public services, the evisceration of whatever regulations still exist to protect workers and ultra-low taxes for the rich.

The other two coalition partnersthe National and New Zealand First Partieshave declared that they will oppose ACTs bill at its next reading. The parties voted for the bill to pass its first reading, however, allowing it to dominate political discussion for several more months during a select committee process.

The protests against the Treaty Principles Bill brought together a diverse cross-section of society, predominantly Maori but also many Pacific Islanders, Europeans and Asians, workers and middle class people. The turnout reflected anger towards all the governments reactionary policies, including its brutal cuts to health and education and its support for the US-Israeli genocide in Gaza.

Politically, however, the protests have been dominated by the opposition partiesthe Maori nationalist Te Pati Maori, the Greens and the Labour Partywhich have no real differences with the governments agenda of austerity and militarism. They are working together with the trade union bureaucracy and pseudo-left groups to suppress opposition to job losses and prevent the development of a conscious working class movement against capitalism.

The opposition parties have promoted the slogan Toitu Te Tiriti (honour the treaty), which has been widely adopted. This slogan reflects the widespread illusion that the Treaty of Waitangi provides the means to defend Maori and alleviate inequality and poverty.

The protest organisers have promoted an online petition titled Stop the Treaty Principles BillToitu Te Tiriti, signed by more than 280,000 people. For Maori, the petition says, the Bill represents a direct assault on our rights, our culture, and our identity. It threatens to perpetuate the injustices of the past, widening the gap of inequality that still persists in our society today and taking this into our future.

The petition accuses the government of seeking to diminish the unique place of Maori in relation to the Treaty, by trampling on its mana [prestige]. It hails the treaty as a great beacon of light and hope for both parties [the Crown and Maori] that allowed the establishment of a government that acknowledged Maori chiefs having rangatiratanga [chieftainship] over their lands and ensured all peoples in this country would be treated the same.

This statement reflects the nationalist mythology surrounding the treaty, which successive National and Labour Party-led governments have promoted for decades. The petitions description of the treatys purpose and outcome bears no relation to what actually occurred in 1840 and afterwards. The fact is that the treaty does not offer any progressive way forward for workers, Maori or non-Maori.

The Treaty of Waitangi stated that Maori would retain ownership of their lands and possessions and have the same rights as British citizens, in exchange for allowing Britain to establish a colonial government and buy Maori land.

Significant differences existed between the English version of the treaty and the Maori version that the chiefs signed, underscoring the Crowns duplicity. In the English document, Maori gave up their sovereignty, but in the Maori translation, they allowed the British to establish kawanatanga or governorship, a more ambiguous concept.

The British soon reneged on the treaty and amassed an army to take the land in a series of brutal wars which, along with imported diseases, decimated the Maori population.

In recent decades, however, governments have promoted the treaty as the guarantor of harmonious race relations. The Waitangi Tribunal was established in 1975 to investigate alleged breaches of the treaty. Since the 1980s, successive governments have paid hundreds of millions of dollars in treaty settlements to several Maori tribes, turning them into lucrative businesses with interests in fisheries, property development, forestry, tourism and other industries.

The settlements did not benefit Maori workers, who were disproportionately impacted by mass redundancies and the shutdown of factories during the 1980s and 1990s. Today, Maori have persistently higher rates of poverty, worse housing conditions and lower life expectancy than European New Zealanders.

Te Pati Maori (TPM), which represents the tribal capitalists in parliament, regularly glorifies the treaty and, in doing so, downplays the brutal history of colonisation. This country was not settled by conquest, it was settled by consent, the partys co-leader Rawiri Waititi told parliament in July.

All the parliamentary parties have made similar statements, including ACT leader David Seymour, who declared on November 14: We are fortunate that our country was founded by a voluntary agreement giving equal rights to all.

Waititis position is echoed by the pseudo-left International Socialist Organisation (ISO), which supported the Greens and TPM in last years election in the hopes of returning a Labour-led coalition government. The ISO wrote on November 11: New Zealand was not founded by conquest. It was founded by treaty. And despite having never been honoured, the mere existence of that treaty as a potential obstacle to profit haunts the capitalist class.

This is a blatant falsification of history. The land wars, which the ISOs statement does not mention, began in 1845 and raged for almost three decades. The tribes put up heroic resistance, but were eventually outgunned and outnumbered by the British. About one million hectares was taken from the defeated tribes. Various forms of legal trickery and outright theft were used to conquer the vast majority of the country. What was this if not violent conquest?

The ISO has adapted itself to nationalist propaganda which asserts that the colonisation of New Zealand was exceptionally fair because of the treaty. The contrast is sometimes made with Australia, where genocidal methods were used against the Indigenous people. Such measures could not be used in New Zealand, not because the colonial regime was more enlightened or humanitarian, but because the Maori tribes possessed significant armed forces. To establish colonial domination, the tribes had to be divided and duped, as well as subdued with military force.

The colonisation of New Zealand was not achieved by consent any more than the colonisation of India, North America and Africa, where brutal military campaigns and massacres were accompanied by dozens of lying treaties aimed at dividing the native population and facilitating territorial acquisitions. The Sri Lankan Trotskyists N.M. Perera and Philip Gunawardene summed up this history in 1944: The British Empire was built up by perjury by day and forgery by night.

The claim that the Treaty of Waitangi is a potential obstacle to profit is false. In the nineteenth century the treaty entrenched capitalist relations by allowing the Crown to buy Maori land, which had not been considered private property in the capitalist sense before the arrival of Europeans.

Since the 1980s the treaty settlements have created a layer of Maori capitalists. The tribes controlled an estimated $11.8 billion in assets in 2023, while the Maori economy is worth $70 billion and is growing faster than the overall economy. To defend these material interests, Maori politicians and ex-radicals, who prior to the 1980s denounced the Treaty of Waitangi as a fraud, now vehemently defend it as a sacred document.

The ISO represents sections of the middle class that see this accumulation of wealth as a positive development and defend it based on racial identity politics. From 2011 to 2014, along with the pseudo-left groups Fightback and Socialist Aotearoa, the ISO joined the Maori nationalist Mana Party. The Mana Party, a splinter from Te Pati Maori, called for larger treaty settlements and more political power for the tribes.

Mana fell apart in 2017 after its leader Hone Harawira, who had been glorified for years by the pseudo-lefts, made racist statements demanding the death penalty for Chinese drug smugglers. Harawira remains politically active in support of TPM and played a role in organising the protests against the Treaty Principles Bill.

TPM is a right-wing capitalist party; it collaborated with the 20082017 National Party-led government, supporting its policies of charter schools and the privatisation of welfare services to benefit the tribes, as well as an increase in the goods and services tax and other austerity measures in response to the 2008 economic crisis. TPM now calls for the state to be restructured with a separate Maori parliament and separate public services delivered by Maori, for Maori.

The conflict in the political establishment over the Treaty Principles Bill reflects differences within the ruling class over how much power should be given to the tribes. The last Labour Party government began implementing co-governance measures to more closely incorporate the tribal elite into decision-making about the use of water and other resources. Some of these measures are being wound back by the current government, at the behest of rival business interests.

At the same time, the debate over the treaty is being used as a diversion from the plummeting living standards and decaying social services that affect all sections of the working class, Maori and non-Maori alike.

Workers and young people who want to fight the governments attacks on workers of all backgrounds, as well as the militarisation of the country for war, can only do so in opposition to all factions of the capitalist class, including the Maori nationalists. Workers should reject ACTs racially divisive legislation as well as the glorification of the Treaty of Waitangi, which also serves to divide the working class and uphold capitalism.

The way forward is not to be found in colonial treaties, or in racial identity politics, but in the unification of workers of all countries in the struggle to abolish the capitalist system and to establish a socialist society, which will put an end to all forms of inequality, oppression and war.
On Thursday, the International Criminal Court (ICC) formally issued warrants for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant speak during a news conference in the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv, Israel on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. [AP Photo/Abir Sultan]

The action is a testament to the criminality of the war of extermination waged by Israel against the people of Gaza with the support of the US and other imperialist powers. While the official death toll is at least 42,000, there are estimates as high as 186,000 (in The Lancet last July) and even higher. More than 90 percent of the pre-invasion population of Gaza has been internally displaced. The entire population has been subjected to severe shortages of food and water, and the majority of houses, schools, hospitals and universities have been either damaged or destroyed.

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.

The ruling vindicates the mass protests carried out by millions all over the world against the Gaza genocide, which the imperialist governments have falsely denounced as being motivated by antisemitism.

Netanyahus guilt is imperialisms guilt. The entire American political establishment, from the Biden administration and the Democratic Party to the Republican Party and the incoming Trump administration, has supported the genocide and has united in condemning the ICC decision.

In a statement on Thursday, Senator Tom Cotton made threats to wage war against countries or even assassinate leaders who cooperate with the ICC case, while fellow Republican Lindsey Graham has led a bipartisan group of senators pushing for the US to sanction the International Criminal Court. The White House expressed its openness to calls for sanctioning the ICC.

President Joe Biden responded to the warrants with an open endorsement of Israels war against the population of Gaza, declaring, Whatever the ICC might imply, there is no equivalencenonebetween Israel and Hamas. We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security.

There is, in fact, no equivalence. The Palestinians are an oppressed people who have been subjected to decades of occupation at the hands of Israel, confined to open-air prisons and denied the most basic democratic rights. Israel is a massively armed state financed by imperialism, carrying out a genocide against a population it illegally occupies.

American officials are well aware that the charges brought by the ICC do not only condemn Israel. It is a well established legal principle that those who finance, direct and authorize a crime are culpable in its commission.

To the extent that US officials have bothered to give rationalizations for their attack on the ICCs case against Netanyahu, it has been to declare, in the words of White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre, that the ICC does not have jurisdiction over this matter.

This is a fraud. The International Court of Justice ruled definitively this year that the Israeli occupation of Palestine is illegal, and the International Criminal Court likewise ruled that it has standing to bring charges against Israeli leaders for crimes committed in Palestine.

The Gaza genocide is part of a global eruption of imperialist war, centrally targeting Russia, China, North Korea and Iran, aimed at the total subjugation of the former colonial world to the imperialist powers. The lead essay in the latest edition of Foreign Affairs asserts:

An era of limited war has ended; an age of comprehensive conflict has begun. Indeed, what the world is witnessing today is akin to what theorists in the past have called total war, in which combatants draw on vast resources, mobilize their societies, prioritize warfare over all other state activities, attack a broad variety of targets, and reshape their economies and those of other countries.

To declare that this new era of global warfare allows countries to attack a broad variety of targets is a colloquial way of saying that international law is being suspended, and civilians, hospitals and humanitarian organizations are all targets. The Israeli model is to be the standard for waging war in the future by the imperialist powers.

The vicious response by the US to the ICCs charging of Netanyahu takes place just days after Biden and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer authorized the launching of NATO long-range missiles deep inside Russia, despite threats from Russia to retaliate to attacks on its territory with the use of nuclear weapons.

The sponsorship by the imperialist powers of the Gaza genocide is a warning: They are prepared to accept the deaths of countless numbers of people, both those of their adversaries and of their own citizens, to achieve their geopolitical aims. The damage that tens of thousands of Israeli bombings have done over more than a yearequivalent to two Hiroshima-sized nuclear bombscan be done in an instant with a modern nuclear weapon.

In asserting that it will not enforce the ICCs arrest warrant, the German government declared, It is a consequence of German history that we share unique relations and great responsibility with Israel. The Telegraph translated this statement more colloquially by declaring, Germany wont arrest Netanyahu because of its Nazi history.

This is true, but not in the way the Telegraph means it. Israel is waging, although at a smaller scale, the type of war of extermination waged by Nazi Germany against the Soviet Union. This method of war will more and more become the norm in the global wars waged by the imperialist powers.

In its 2024 New Years statement, the WSWS Editorial Board made the following warning:

All the red lines that demarcate civilization from barbarism are being effaced. The motto of capitalist governments is: Nothing that is criminal is alien to us. Nuclear war is being normalized; genocide is being normalized; pandemics and the deliberate culling of the infirm and elderly have been normalized; unfathomable levels of wealth concentration and social inequality have been normalized; the suppression of democracy and the resort to authoritarianism and fascism are being normalized.

The crimes of Nazi Germany, condemned as aberrations by capitalist governments of the past, are being more and more accepted as the model in the conduct of imperialist foreign policy.

In their response to the ICCs charges against Netanyahu, the imperialist powers have made clear that they intend to continue funding and arming the Gaza genocide and shield its persecutors from accountability. It has made clear that the fight to end the genocide is necessarily a fight to abolish imperialism, and that this requires the development of a mass movement in the working class.
The Pentagon is adjusting its nuclear deterrence strategy in a global environment with multiple nuclear peer adversaries, including Russia and China, according to a report in DoD News Channel published Thursday.

A fallout shelter sign hangs on a building on East 9th Street in New York. [AP Photo/Mary Altaffer]

The DoDs report quoted extensively from the comments of Richard C. Johnson, deputy assistant secretary of Defense for Nuclear and Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Policy (N-CWMD).

Johnson said adjustments are being made to the 2022 Nuclear Posture Review, a document that was published as part of the Biden administrations national defense strategy issued in October 2022.

Johnsons comments were made during a panel discussion at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Project on Nuclear Issues (PONI) in Washington D.C. that took place on Wednesday.

The panel discussion was part of an event held to launch a CSIS report entitled, Project Atom 2024: Intra-War Deterrence in a Two-Peer Environment, a 94-page document that discusses possible responses to nuclear war such as a scenario involving near-simultaneous battlefield nuclear use by Russia and China.

Johnson said, We are now in a world where were facing multiple nuclear competitors, multiple states that are growing, diversifying and modernizing their nuclear arsenals and also, unfortunately, prioritizing the role that nuclear weapons play in their national security strategies.

The DoD reported that Johnson said the changes in US nuclear posture were required, in light of enhanced nuclear capabilities of China and Russia and possible lack of nuclear arms control agreements after February. He also said that Bidens Nuclear Posture Review was never intended to be a static document and would need to be revised, as the security environment evolves.

The CSIS event and DoD report took place within the context of a significant escalation of the imperialist war against Russia after Ukraine launched US and UK long-range missiles deep inside Russia on Tuesday and Wednesday. By authorizing Ukraine to use ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles and ignoring the warnings issued by the Kremlin that it is prepared to use nuclear weapons in response, Washington and its NATO allies in Europe have brought the world to brink of a third world war.

While the position of imperialist politicians and much of the corporate news media is that the Putin regime is bluffingUK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Russia was engaging in irresponsible rhetoricthe CSIS panel discussion and DoD news report show that top Pentagon officials are well aware of the threat of nuclear war.

For example, the Project Atom 2024 report by the CSIS states in its introduction:

There is a growing risk that the United States and its allies could face scenarios in which one or more adversaries might resort to nuclear weapons use in a regional conflict. This risk is especially evident in Russian strategic theory and doctrine, which envisions regional deterrence as complementing global deterrence. Some Russian military experts see the potential use of nonstrategic nuclear weapons for de-escalation of military actions and their termination on conditions favorable to the Russian Federation, or a demonstration to the enemy of resolve to defend [Russias] interests by escalating the use of nuclear weapons (tactical) and forcing him to forego further aggression by the threat of use of strategic nuclear weapons.

The DoD report quotes Johnson saying the US remains committed to a safe, secure and reliable nuclear deterrent. However, in an environment of multiple nuclear peer adversaries, deterrence for US imperialism means nuclear superiority and first strike capability. As the DoD report explained, the nuclear modernization program begun during the Obama administration and continued by the first Trump administration and the Biden administration while necessary, may be insufficient moving forward.

Johnson gave examples of measures being taken to reduce risk to the departments nuclear modernization program. Among these are the development of the B61-13 gravity bomb and the enhanced readiness of nuclear armed and powered Ohio-class submarines.

The initial plan to design and build the B61-13 bomba low-to-intermediate yield strategic and tactical nuclear weapon featuring a two-stage radiation implosion designwas scheduled to begin in 2037 and be completed by 2050. In 2023, these plans were changed, with a few dozen B61-13 bombs having already been produced.

The DoD report also covered Johnsons comments on the submission to Congress on November 15 of a 491 Report, which describes changes to previous guidance from the Biden administration on deterrence challenges posed by the growth, modernization and increasing diversity of potential adversaries nuclear arsenals.

Among the topics covered in the 491 Report are plans for war against multiple simultaneous nuclear-armed adversaries and escalation management in response to a nuclear attack or high consequence, non-nuclear strategic attack against the US.

In analyzing the Biden administrations National Defense Strategy documents of October 2022, which expanded on the Trump administrations strategic shift of foreign policy from the war on terror to inter-state strategic competition, the World Socialist Web Site wrote:

These documents, which were not seriously discussed in the US media, make clear the fundamental falsehood that the massive US military buildup this year is a response to Russian aggression. In reality, in the thinking of the White House and Pentagon war planners, the massive increases in military spending and plans for war with China are created by dramatic changes in geopolitics, technology, economics, and our environment. These documents make clear that the United States sees the economic rise of China as an existential threat, to be responded to with the threat of military force. The United States sees the subjugation of Russia as a critical steppingstone toward the conflict with China. These documents must be taken as a warning by workers all over the world. In asserting its global hegemony, American capitalism will go to any lengths. As shown by the horrifying legacy of the US invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, American imperialism is prepared to kill millions of people in the name of its campaign of global domination.
Brazils Federal Police (PF) indicted fascistic former president Jair Bolsonaro and 36 other members of his government on Thursday, November 21, for the crimes of violent abolition of the democratic rule of law, coup detat, and criminal organization for the attempted coup of January 8, 2023.

Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro and commanders of the Armed Forces, Adm. Almir Garnier Santos, Army Gen. Paulo Sergio Nogueira and Air Brig. Lt. Carlos de Almeida Baptista Junior. [Photo: Marcos Corres/PR]

The nearly 900-page PF report has been sent to the minister in charge of the case at the Federal Supreme Court (STF), Alexandre de Moraes, and remains confidential. It will be sent in the next few days to the Attorney General, Paulo Gonet, who is expected to file charges against those indicted next year.

The PF revelations come 60 years after the US-backed 1964 military coup which inaugurated a bloody 21-year regime that Bolsonaro and his military entourage vindicate. They show that Brazil was close to a new coup and the establishment of a dictatorship after Bolsonaros electoral defeat by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (Workers Party - PT) at the end of 2022.

Military personnel were heavily involved in the coup plot. Of the 37 indicted by the PF, 25 were active or reserve military personnel, including Bolsonaro, a former army captain, seven colonels, six lieutenant colonels, eight army generals, and the former commander of the Navy in the Bolsonaro government, Adm. Almir Garnier Santos.

The military officers indicted include Gen. Walter Braga Netto, former Defense Minister and Bolsonaros vice-presidential candidate in 2022; Gen. Augusto Heleno, former chief of the Institutional Security Office (GSI), Brazils national security and intelligence agency; Gen. Paulo Sergio Nogueira de Oliveira, former Defense Minister and previously Army Commander; and Lt. Col. Mauro Cid, Bolsonaros former aide-de-camp who last year entered a plea bargain with the Federal Police.

Among the civilians indicted are the president of Bolsonaros Liberal Party (PL), Valdemar Costa Neto, and the former Minister of Justice of the Bolsonaro government, Anderson Torres, with whom the Federal Police found the first coup minutes in January 2023. Torres was the Secretary of Public Security of the Federal District on the day of the attempted coup and was arrested shortly after for omission and connivance in the attack by the fascist mob on the headquarters of the Three Powers on January 8, 2023.

The Federal Police also indicted journalist Paulo Figueiredo, grandson of the last president of the military dictatorship in Brazil, and Filipe Martins, the Bolsonaro governments former special advisor for international affairs. Along with one of Bolsonaros sons, Eduardo, who was in the US during the attempted coup on January 6, 2021, and for Donald Trumps election this year. Figueiredo and Martins have close ties to the fascist layers linked to President-elect Trump in the US.

The PF report indicting the former president and members of his fascist entourage was sent to the Supreme Court two days after the launch of Operation Countercoup, which revealed the existence of an advanced plan to assassinate President Lula, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin and Minister Moraes. Four Army officers and a federal police officer were preventively arrested on Tuesday as part of the operation.

The information released by Operation Countercoup added a new sinister layer of facts to the already abundant evidence of the conspiracy of the former president and a substantial sector of the military high command to carry out a coup detat and establish a fascist dictatorship in Brazil.

The operation was launched after the PF recovered documents deleted from Lt. Col. Mauro Cids electronic devices, which were added to other data retrieved from a group of Special Forces (FE) military personnel, known as the Black Kids.

The most prominent among the active military officers arrested this week, reserve general Mario Fernandes, former executive secretary of the General Secretariat of the Presidency in the Bolsonaro government, was identified as one of the main architects of the plan to assassinate Lula, Alckmin, and Moraes.

The assassination plan and its methods, which included the possibility of shootings, the use of explosive devices, or poisoning, are openly described in the document entitled Green and Yellow Dagger, which the PF found to be authored by Fernandes and to have been printed by him inside the Planalto presidential palace for the first time on November 9, 2022. According to the PF, the plan was presented to and approved by General Braga Netto in a meeting at his own home on November 12, 2022.

Much of the document that supported Operation Countercoup describes an aborted attempt to carry out the plan to assassinate Moraes on December 15, 2022, two days after Lulas inauguration ceremony. The PF report concludes that the assassination would serve as a trigger for the establishment of an Institutional Crisis Management Office, on December 16, 2022, after the coup detat, composed mostly of military personnel, under the command of Generals Augusto Heleno and Braga Netto, with the participation of Gen. Mario Fernandes and Filipe Martins.

General Fernandes was also one of the people who orchestrated the support of the Armys high command for the coup plan. According to the PFs official document on Operation Countercoup, Fernandes wrote on November 4, 2022 to Gen. Luiz Eduardo Ramos, former Minister-Chief of the General Secretariat of the Bolsonaro government:

You have to force the High Command, man. With General Freire Gomes [then commander of the Army], with General Paulo Sergio, damn it ... Its obvious that there was fraud [in the elections], damn it. .... And another thing, even if its just to spread the word and get the masses excited. So that they stay in the streets and then, yes, maybe thats what the High Command, what the Defense wants. The popular outcry, like it was in [19]64. Because as you said, a good part of the High Command, at least in the Army, isnt very willing, right? Or they wont start the intervention, unless, well, the start is made by society. Come on, general, reinforce that. Im doing my job with the Brigade [of Special Forces] and the division personnel [generals] from my class [from 1986, from Agulhas Negras, Brazils military academy].

One of the most important documents revealed by the PF, seized from Lt. Col. Helio Ferreira Lima, is described by investigators as a detailed spreadsheet that condenses information about the strategic planning of the coup detat.

The document presents a plan with detailed steps, starting with the annulment of the democratic elections based on a fabricated accusation of electoral fraud. The next steps involved the issuance of arrest warrants against those involved in ... irregularities in the electoral process and the neutralizing of opponents in command of the powers of State; the establishment of a new regime based on a presidential decree by Bolsonaro and its sanctioning by Congress (controlled by his allies); and the launching of a massive information campaign to legitimize the coup domestically and internationally.

The document presents as critical requirements for the transfer of power to the new dictatorial regime the creation of a central crisis office and the preparation of a robust legal framework in coordination with the STM [Supreme Military Court] ... to establish a decree that supports military actions.

Bolsonaro actively participated in this entire plan. According to the Federal Police, it was introduced to Bolsonaro by Filipe Martins, and Bolsonaro later discussed the plan with the heads of the Armed Forces. In a statement to the Federal Police in March of this year, the then commanders of the Army, General Freire Gomes, and of the Air Force, Brig. Baptista Junior, confirmed that Bolsonaro discussed the plan with them. Also present at the meeting was the former commander of the Navy, Admiral Garnier Santos, who is said to have agreed to the coup and is the only one indicted by the Federal Police.

The Superior Electoral Court (TSE) last year declared Bolsonaro ineligible to run for office until 2030 due to his unfounded attacks on Brazils electronic voting system that paved the way for an attempted coup. This year Bolsonaro had already been indicted by the Federal Police for the illegal sale of jewelry abroad and the forgery of COVID-19 vaccination cards. Both indictments are also linked to the attempted coup.

Bolsonaro and his political circle responded to the latest indictment by attacking Minister Moraes. In an interview yesterday with the Metropole website, Bolsonaro said that Moraes conducts the entire investigation, adjusts statements, arrests without charges, fishes for evidence, and has a very creative advisory team. He does everything that the law does not allow.

The indictment of Bolsonaro and high-ranking military officials far from signals an end to the greatest crisis of Brazilian democracy since the end of the military dictatorship in 1985. The origin of this crisis lies in the enormous crisis of the world capitalist system that is normalizing the threat of nuclear world war and the broad shift of the worlds ruling elite towards authoritarian forms of government, with explosive consequences for Brazil, one of the most unequal countries on the planet.
Artist Maurizio Cattelans Comedian (2019), a work consisting of a banana duct-taped to a wall, sold for $6.24 million, including buyers premium, at an auction at Sothebys in New York on Wednesday. The pieces final price far exceeded the presale estimate of $1 million to $1.5 million. This work, the hype surrounding it and the auction itself are an indictment of the contemporary art world and the society that nourishes it.

The title of Cattelans work could well apply to the artist himself. Since the 1980s, Cattelan (who has no formal training in art) has been known mainly for satirical work. One of his well-known pieces is La Nona Ora (1999), a realistic wax sculpture of Pope John Paul II having been struck by a meteor (see below). Him (2001) is a smaller-than-life-size sculpture of Hitler kneeling in prayer. Many of Cattelans works seem like punch lines or provocations that provide little, if any, meaningful commentary.

Maurizio Cattelan, Comedian (sothebys.com)

Comedian has precedents in the readymades of French artist Marcel Duchamp, which were the origin of conceptual art. Questioning art itself and the reverence in which he believed it was held, particularly in light of the slaughter of the First World War, Duchamp selected objects that he found to be aesthetically neutral and displayed them as his works. Bottle Rack (1914) and Fountain (1917), the latter being a porcelain urinal, are two notable examples. Although Duchamp did not create many readymades, they have cast a long shadow over subsequent art.

Playing this sort of joke (i.e., demonstrating that any object on which the artist places his or her name thereby becomes valuable, collectible art) does not express a profound truth. It is instead rather trivial. It does not do much more than point to the fact that important art and the bourgeois art market, with its vagaries, blindnesses and financial shenanigans, may have almost nothing to do with one another. The serious artist passes by or outgrows such pranks and gets on with the task of confronting life and reality in his or her work.

Cattelans banana has spawned memes and been the subject of tremendous media hoopla. Sothebys was packed during the auction, and so was its virtual viewing room. Auctioneer Oliver Barker (the name is fitting) introduced Comedian as a viral sensation that has skyrocketed to universal recognition. Here it is in all its splendor.

La Nona Ora (1999) [Photo by Mark B. Schlemmer / CC BY 2.0

Far from being a probing analysis, the catalogue essay about the work is a remarkable piece of puffery. No other artwork from the 21st century has provoked scandal, sparked imagination and upended the very definition of contemporary art like Maurizio Cattelans Comedian, it reads. The work belongs to the rare league of artworks that need no introduction, having quickly erupted into a viral global sensation that drew record crowds, social media inundation, landed the cover of the New York Post and divided viewers and critics alike. Passionately debated, rhapsodically venerated and hotly contested  the work headlined news stories shared around the world, becoming the most talked-about artwork of the century.

But what does Comedian mean? The work is not a joke, Cattelan insisted in a 2021 interview with The Art Newspaper,but a sincere commentary and reflection on what we value. He created it specifically for the Art Basel Miami Beach fair. Art fairs are all about speed and business, so I saw it this way: if I were at a fair, I could sell bananas the way other people sell their paintings. I could play the system, but by my own rules, he said in the same interview. If Comedian is not a joke, then, given Cattelans explanation, it is hard not to see it as an exploitation or a con job.

Conceptual art, as developed by artists such as Lawrence Weiner, Robert Barry and others, initially was a rebellion against the commodification of art. It rejected the gallery system and the art market. But Cattelans conception behind Comedian is 180 degrees from this standpoint. It represents capitulation to the art market, an attempt to cash in.

What bothers me is that after the first sale, the artist no longer profits as the work changes hands, Cattelan wrote in an email to the New York Times. Auction houses and collectors reap the benefits, while the creator, who makes the very object driving the market, is left out. It is difficult to feel sympathy for the artist.

The buyer of the work is Justin Sun, a cryptocurrency entrepreneur. He founded the TRON blockchain platform and developed the associated cryptocurrency, USDD stablecoin. Cryptocurrency is a speculative instrument without any value of its own. Sun also owns BitTorrent, a protocol for peer-to-peer file sharing. His net worth is estimated to be at least $1.43 billion. Last year, the US Securities and Exchange Commission accused Sun of manipulating the market to inflate the value of TRON and BitTorrent tokens.

As one might expect, Sun paid for Comedian in cryptocurrency. In exchange for $6.24 million in fictitious capital, he will receive a banana that was purchased at a Florida supermarket. It will be up to Sun to replace the banana (which he plans to eat) and tape as necessary. He also received a certificate of authenticity and instructions for the works display. The entire event has an air of unreality about it. A fictitious work of art has been bought with fictitious wealth.

During the auction, the notorious banana was on display near paintings by Monet and Picasso. In the art market, the work hanging on the wall or resting on a plinth is ultimately a matter of indifference to dealers (and perhaps to many collectors as well). For this social layer, the bottom line is the works market value, the potential profit to be realized.

The juxtaposition of Cattelans work with those of Monet and Picasso highlights the vacuity of much contemporary art, which has little to say about the world. As the broader economy has become increasingly divorced from material production, the art market has become separated from questions of aesthetic value and artistic truth. Both have become dominated by hype and speculation. This same process is exerting a noxious effect on art itself.

At the same time, one needs to point out that Cattelans is not the only form of charlatanry currently on offer in the artistic field. Online publications that are now waxing indignant about Comedian have for decades promoted reactionary identity politics, prattled on about whiteness, cisgender privilege and the like. In fact, the deliberate effort to turn artists away from broader realities and the conditions of masses of people, the cultivation of social indifference and the creation of an art world obsessively awash in self have helped create the present foul cultural atmosphere.
Yet another employee with the Baltimore Department of Public Works (DPW) died on the job on November 8. Timothy Cartwell, who was a waste collector at the Western Sanitation Yard, was trapped between a utility pole and a trash truck in an alley while out on his route. He was 60 years old.

Cartwell, known as Timmy to his friends and family, had been a DPW employee for 17 years. Part of a large and loving family, Cartwell was one of eight siblings and loved spending time with his relatives and friends.

The son of a truck driver, Cornelius Payne, who instilled in Timmy a dedicated work ethic, Cartwell only called out of work when he was too sick to go in. Outside of the job, he cherished helping neighbors and delighting neighborhood children with holiday decorations. Though he had no children of his own, every year on his birthday Cartwell would organize an online fundraiser for St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital.

Video obtained by local news station WJZ shows Cartwells last moments. In the video, the trash truck is moving down an alley behind Monroe Street with no room to maneuver except backwards and forwards. In the tight space, Cartwell became trapped between the truck and a utility pole.

The Baltimore skyline. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) [AP Photo]

One of Cartwells colleagues who saw him two days before he died told WJZ that DPW provides inadequate training for how to work in tight alley spaces such as the one where Cartwell was pinned. In some cases, alleys are too small for the trucks to go down so trash bins have to be moved to the street for disposal.

DPW employees and loved ones of Cartwell protested outside of City Hall last Friday, November 14, to call for action and justice in the wake of the incident. No one from the City Council attended despite invitations and the fact that event was taking place directly outside Council chambers.

Speaking at the demonstration, Shantae Carroll, Cartwells sister-in-law, said, My brother-in-law was not just a trash man. My brother-in-law was a man of courage, of good deed, of love, of support, of giving. He was kind. He was gentle, and he was a man that stood for what was right.

Calling for justice for Cartwell, Carroll appealed to city leaders, We need for you to step up, do whats right, fix what needs to be fixed. Dont wait another second. Dont wait another minute. Dont wait another hour because we dont know the day or the hour that something can happen. Tragedy will come, and this will happen again.

Cartwells death follows that of another DPW worker, Ronald Silver II, who died from overheating while out on his trash route in August. The Silver family joined Cartwells loved ones at City Hall last week.

Silvers death, at age 36, prompted a series of City Council hearings on working conditions at DPW. The initial hearing following the workers death revealed what the World Socialist Web Site stated at the time was medieval working conditions at the department. DPW workers face long hours, low pay, decrepit facilities, aging trucks, and retaliation from management.

The August city hearing revealed extreme disconnects between the rank-and-file workers at DPW, on the one hand, and City Hall, DPW management, and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) union that (mis)represents them. DPW administrators were unable to answer basic questions about safety operations. Workers testified that they had been abandoned by their union representatives and city councilors.

Both Cartwell and Silver had worked out of the Western Sanitation Yard on Reedbird Avenue. A July report issued by the citys inspector general had cited that yard for being in violation of numerous safety codes. The report issued by the Office of the Inspector General requested immediate action to be taken to prevent further risk and explore alternatives, including a possible alternate work site.

The Baltimore City Office of Inspector General has been conducting investigations into conditions facing DPW workers, while the Maryland Occupational Safety and Health Administration has opened an investigation into Cartwells death.

One of the issues in Cartwells death is the dilapidated condition of the massive 32-ton trash trucks used throughout the city by workers like Cartwell and Silver. New trucks used by the city have cameras installed that show all sides of the vehicle, but the vast majority of the citys trash trucks do not.

As was shown with Silvers death, the city has not made available resources, training, equipment upgrades, or staffing improvements to address the underlying safety hazards for DPW trash collectors. Furthermore, the city has refused to release health and safety data for DPW to AFSCME, which would give a better understanding of the frequency of safety incidents and their severity.
Over the course of three daysNovember 13, 14 and 15thousands of public transport workers, teachers from the SUTEP union, members of the General Confederation of Workers of Peru (CGTP), small business owners, and students launched a national strike and mass protests against the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum held in Lima during the week.

Demonstrator in Lima holds sign in front of anti-riot police that reads "APEC=plunder and exploitation"

It was the fourth consecutive strike by transportation workers held in less than two months in response to a growing wave of extortions and killings of public transport drivers, construction workers, schoolteachers and others at the hands of local mafias that control large sections of Peruvian working class districts. Every four and a half hours a Peruvian citizen is killed and there are an average of 90 reports of extortion each day.

The regime of President Dina Boluarte, which came to power in a parliamentary coup backed by the United States and the far right two years ago, deployed 14,000 troops and police officers strategically throughout the city. Additionally, President Joe Biden brought with him to the summit some 600 US soldiers, snipers, and two Black Hawk helicopters equipped with high-caliber weapons, a military strike force that far exceeded the security requirements of the American head of state.

Police cars, motorcycles and ambulances lined the entrances to the hotels where 3,000 delegates from 21 countries stayed for the APEC Forum, which took place at the headquarters of the Public Ministry on Avenida Javier Prado Este, one of the citys main avenues.

Soldiers at a train station in Lima, November 14

Additionally, dozens of armed soldiers surveilled all metro stations and train stops servicing the routes from the southern part of the city to the north, the main means of transport used by the Lima working class.

On the first day of the strike, however, a few buses from private companies were still in circulation. Additionally, merchants in the Gamarra shopping center opened their doors to serve the public, displaying large posters on electric poles addressed to APEC, stating that Gamarra is a key driver of the Peruvian economy, even though they are also victims of extortionists.

The protest organizers, including the CGTP union bureaucracy, influenced by the Stalinist Communist Party, maintain an orientation toward negotiations with the authoritarian Boluarte government, while separating the fight against extortion by mafias and their hitmen from the struggle based in the independent mobilization of the working class against social inequality, unemployment and rising poverty.

Julio Campos, the National Transport Alliance vice president, articulated this conciliatory stance. He noted that neither the Peruvian president nor Congress had shown any willingness to engage in dialogue about measures against crime ahead of the APEC Forum.

He further emphasized that the fight against crime should focus on demanding practical actions and the repeal of Law 32108, which hinders the prosecution of extortion mafias connected to business and political elites.

At the same time, the union leader accused Boluarte of misleading foreign investors at APEC by claiming that her government empowers citizens and that the situation is peaceful.

Boluarte is accused of crimes against humanity following her governments violent repression of protests against the overthrow of elected president Pedro Castillo, which resulted in the deaths of at least 49 citizens.

Despite the conciliatory stance of union leaders, the socially heterogeneous protests have broadened further, along with their demands. Protesters engaged in powerful demonstrations, showing their determination to fight for their social and democratic rights.

During the national strikes second day, protests intensified across several cities. In Arequipa, citizens blocked traffic, while in Junin, Ancash and La Libertad, vehicles were stopped due to blockades on major highways.

In Iquitos, located on the shores of the Amazon River, protesters chanted, We cannot allow more murders; we demand justice and security for our families.

In the northern city of La Libertad, about 500 Otuzco ronderos (autonomous rural patrols) joined the strike and blocked roads, declaring, We are workers; we want security.

In Cusco, the old Inca capital and major tourist center, protesters obstructed access in Sicuani. Also, traffic was interrupted on the highway connecting Huancayo-Huancavelica, two important commercial cities in the Central Andes.

Puno, the department bordering Bolivia, had the most blockades. Juliacas Llave Bridge, vital for transporting goods from Cusco and Bolivia to the seaport of Matarani, was also closed.

Lima was the epicenter of unrest. Protesters traveling to Lima reported being violently detained and surrounded by the National Police for over an hour. They practically kidnapped us. We were violently repressed when we only came to peacefully protest, said one leader.

The Lima Sur Popular Assembly, the National Organization of Relatives of the Victims of the Massacres of 2022-2023, and local merchants led a massive march toward San Borja, where the APEC Forum was held.

Carrying banners stating, Dina Boluarte, Out and Enough of extortions and murders, the protesters reached the forums vicinity, shouting, Let the world hear, they are killing us, as delegates to APEC gathered.

The protests caused significant delays for delegates, including the president of Indonesia, who had to wait over 10 minutes to enter the Government Palace.

Members of one of the Chinese delegations found themselves caught amid the protests that had begun on the morning of November 14 near the APEC Peru 2024 headquarters.

On the second day, police began violently confronting protesters gathering at the intersection of Aviacion and Canada avenues, using tear gas and shotgun pellets.

The Transport Union Committee banner raised several political demands: Repeal Law 32108, reject the Pro-Crime Legal Package, provide reparations for debtors, and oppose the privatization of water.

Mother of youth from Puno murdered during protests against Boluarte holds a sign reading, "Neither bullets nor machine guns will silence the people"

A mother of a youth killed by security forces during anti-Boluarte demonstrations traveled from Puno, dressed in the regions traditional clothing. She held a sign stating: Neither bullets nor machine guns will silence the people.

Another banner featuring the image of the president was labeled Dina murders, with the text: There are already more than 70 dead, and nobody is saying anything.

The protesters maintained a high spirit, chanting, Dina and Congress, the people repudiate you.

A woman who preferred to remain anonymous shared her thoughts with the WSWS:

This APEC does not represent us. It gives away our territory, our homes, our oil, and our mining resources. They extract minerals without proper supervision.

There is unemployment, and we are living in a state of insecurity. There is not enough money for our needs.

We cannot afford to send our children to school or help them find work. University education costs around 500 soles [US$133, which is 49 percent of the minimum living wage].

I work in house-cleaning and earn 1,000 soles a month for working eight hours a day. That is not a decent salary, while members of Congress receive a Christmas bonus. Politicians profit from our taxes, making it easy money for them because they do nothing.

She urged workers struggling in other countries:

If you appreciate our people fighting against this murderer [Dina Boluarte], join us. This murderer does not represent us, and neither does Congress.

The average congressman will receive around 46,700 soles (US$12,450) in their year-end payment, including remuneration, bonuses, allowances, and representation fees. In contrast, a construction worker earns approximately 30,000 soles a year, including one month vacation and a two-month bonus for Independence Day and Christmas. This means that a single year-end payment for an average congressman is comparable to a year and a half of work for a construction worker.

In a different location, students from the National University of San Marcos faced police violence, with several detained while protesting against the Boluarte administration. They denounced the police for confiscating their protest materials and attempting to seize their ID cards.

The protesters demanded that the government repeal the so-called Organized Crime Law, which ultimately serves to protect members of Congress with ties to criminal organizations.
Take up the fight against the privatization of USPS! Join the Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee by emailing USPSRankandFileCommittee@gmail.com or filling out the form below.

A U.S. Postal Service employee works outside a post office in Wheeling, Illinois. [AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh]

Notices went out to 130,000 rural carriers this week that they may be invoiced for overpayment, supposedly due to mail volume data from the last 52 weeks having been incorrectly credited where territorial route adjustments were made.

In a video presentation, National Rural Letter Carriers Association (NRLCA) President Don Maston explained to workers that the new Rural Route Evaluated Compensation System (RRECS) with the United States Postal Service (USPS), which the union agreed to behind workers backs without a vote, holds workers financially responsible for mis-adjusted mail volume data when routes were redistributed during the last evaluation in October.

According to one rural carrier who contacted the World Socialist Web Site, he and his co-workers will have to pay back $600-800 in the coming weeks, as he pointed out, right at Christmas.

The claim that rural carriers have been overpaid only serves as salt in their wounds. The massively unpopular RRECS is essentially a system for industrial-scale wage theft. Since it was introduced, two-thirds of letter carriers have seen their pay, which is based on piece-rate estimations of the workload of their routes, cut, in many cases by $10,000 or even $20,000 per year.

RRECS is part of the larger misnamed Delivering for America restructuring program, aimed at shedding tens of thousands of postal workers and thousands of local post offices as part of the ultimate privatization of USPS, currently an independent federal agency. Similar attacks are being carried out among city carriers, who are facing a new contract with only 1.3 percent annual wage increases. Office and distribution center workers are being subjected to many of the same conditions.

The American Postal Workers Union (APWU), representing clerks, maintenance, vehicle maintenance, and support employees has been working without a contract since September. APWU President Mark Dimondstein initiated the extension of the current contract including the Penalty Overtime Exclusion period that exempts the Postal Service from paying penalty overtime during the holiday peak season which started on November 2.

The rural carrier who spoke to the WSWS stated the routes at his post office have been overburdened since the onset of the Covid pandemic four years ago. Most of the routes were evaluated at 48 hours, but carriers were working sometimes 63 hours to complete their routes, resulting in their working 15 hours for free.

According to the most recent MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) governing RRECS, mail volume data from the last 52 weeks were incorrectly credited when territories were adjusted between routes. Donor routes, routes from which mail volume was moved, kept the incorrect mail volume data, thereby inflating the routes evaluation and, likewise, the carriers pay.

Recipient Routes, routes that received additional volume, did not receive the mail volume data from the previous route, deflating its evaluation and causing the carrier to be underpaid.

The correction outlined in the MOU will be based on the fourth two-week mini mail survey that began August 23 and extends until September 6. At the time, rural carriers wrote in to the WSWS to report that mail volumes were artificially low which would ensure that their work would be undercounted and their wages suppressed for the coming six months.

Carriers pay was adjusted to reflect the lower volume. Speaking to the WSWS, the worker said the adjustment would amount to a $10,000 pay cut.

The new MOU will roll back carriers evaluations to the results of the August mini mail survey, regardless of the number of hours a carrier may have worked over the course of the year. Carriers who saw their pay increase as a result of the October evaluation will now have to pay back the amount they received over the August adjustment.

Additionally, route adjustments will be locked at the August counts for 52 weeks to ensure the mail volume data for next year remains low.

The worker says the NRLCA union has sided with management, with a regional representative telling him, You were overpaid. Whats fair is fair. When challenged about the hundreds of hours of his free labor the USPS enjoyed over the last year, the representative responded, This isnt that.

Currently, rural carriers are working under an extension of the last contract which expired last May. If NRLCA President Don Maston can impose the Territorial Route Adjustments MOU, this underscores that fight to defend jobs and the post office as a public institution can only proceed through a rebellion against the sellout union officials.

The three major postal unions, representing hundreds of thousands of American workers, have ushered in decades of concessions betraying their membership by facilitating some of the most significant assaults on workers' jobs, safety, wages, and benefits in the history of the postal service. This necessitates the development of a network of rank-and-file committees to transfer power from the bureaucracy to workers themselves, based on a strategy to fight Delivering for America and the extreme anti-strike laws to which federal employees are subjected.

Last year, the US Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee was founded to organize a fight against DFA. But this is part of a worldwide struggle by postal workers, who are facing nearly identical attacks in every country.

In Canada, more than 50,000 postal workers have been on strike for a week against plans to restructure Canada Post through mass layoffs. Postal workers in Canada, Britain, Germany and Australia have all formed rank-and-file committees of their own, united in the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees.

In the coming months, this fight will take on an overtly political form. Donald Trumps second term as president of the United States poses an existential threat to the USPS, as it will surely accelerate privatization efforts which were initiated in his first term with Delivering for America.

The Postal Service is a prime target for Trumps Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by oligarch billionaires Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, which plans to cut $2 trillion from the federal budget through mass firings and voluntary termination.

This year, the Post Office reported a $9.5 billion net loss for fiscal 2024, an increase from a $6.5 billion loss in FY 2023. USPS officials said 80 percent of the agencys losses came from fixed costs which include pension contributions and workers compensation claims.

USPS pension funding is an albatross that was placed around the neck of the agency when it was established as an independent entity under the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970. This act mandated that USPS would operate as a self-sustaining business without taxpayer subsidies, requiring it to cover employee benefits, including pensions, from its revenue.

During the open session meeting of the Postal Service Board of Governors on Nov. 14, 2024, Postmaster DeJoy announced the retirements of Chairman Martinez and Governor Hajjar of the USPS Board of Governors. USPS governors are presidential appointments which need to be confirmed by the senate.

Currently, there are three vacant seats in the Board of Governors. Whether or not Biden fills those positions before he leaves office is unclear. Regardless, the Democrats are bending over backward to accommodate the incoming Trump administration, wishing him success even as he plans to rule as a dictator from day one.

Postal workers in the US must follow the example of their brothers and sisters in Canada and unite coast to coast, across rural and city carriers, and across vehicle operators, technicians, clerks, mail handlers and all crafts and build rank-and-file committees to fight for their interests.

If you agree with this, join us! Contact the USPS Workers Rank-and-File Committee by filling out the contact form below or emailing USPSRankandFileCommittee@gmail.com today.
Haitis interim prime minister was ousted last week by the Transitional Councilthe government oversight mechanism that the US, Canada and various factions of the countrys bourgeois elite put together earlier this year to provide a fig leaf of popular legitimacy for the latest imperialist-sponsored military intervention in the Western Hemispheres poorest country.

The Councils sacking of Garry Conille came amid rampant gang and state violence and ever widening social misery.

Conille was sworn in as head of Haitis government last June just weeks before the international police-military stabilization force organized, financed and, to a large degree armed, by Washington, Ottawa and their allies began to deploy in Port-au-Prince, the countrys capital.

Six months on, the Kenyan-led stabilization force has failed to make any discernible progress in disarming the gangs that have overrun some 60 percent of Port-au-Prince and much of the country over the past year.

In a clear sign that the situation on the ground is spiralling out of control, the US Federal Aviation Administration has instituted a temporary ban on flights to Haiti, after gangs opened fire on commercial airlines on Monday, November 11. At least three planes were targeted by gunfire from below, including a Spirit Airlines plane that was about to land in Port-au-Prince, and departing JetBlue and American Airlines jets. A Spirit flight attendant was injured in the attack.

Police officers near the Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Tuesday, November 12, 2024. [AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph]

The FAA decision also temporarily grounded United Nations humanitarian flights, restricting much needed supplies. UN flights were only permitted to resume on Wednesday, November 20.

The same day as the attack on Spirit Airlines also saw a widely reported attack by law enforcement officers and aligned vigilantes on Doctors Without Borders (MSF) operations in Port-au-Prince. Citing this incident, as well as a series of threats by local police, MSF announced the suspension of its activities in Haiti on Tuesday, further compounding Haitis isolation and privation from urgently needed humanitarian assistance.

According to the MSF, members of a vigilante group and law enforcement officers stopped their ambulance, which was transporting three young people with gunshot wounds. Police attempted to arrest the patients and when MSF personnel objected they escorted the ambulance to a public hospital, where law enforcement officers and vigilantes surrounded the vehicle, slashed its tires, and tear-gassed MSF staff. At least two of the wounded patients were then summarily executed.

The gruesome attack on defenceless patients and MSF ambulance personnel by the Haitian police highlights once more that the very forces supposed to fight the gangs are themselves the source of like violence and criminality.

Haitis government and state are mired in corruption and violence, widely unpopular, and have been operating outside constitutional bounds, without an elected parliament and president, since 2020. The Transitional Council is entirely subordinated to the interests of the North American and European imperialist powers and torn by bitter factional conflicts between the political representatives of rival capitalist cliques. The gangs have been able to flourish and wield effective control over much of the Haitian-half of the island of Hispaniola because they enjoy the patronage of, and are tied to leading elements within Haitis ruling class and its state.

In a continuation of the rapid succession of corrupt and unelected leaders installed at the behest of Washington and Ottawa, the Transitional Council fired interim Prime Minister Garry Conille, whose family had close ties to the US-backed three-decade long Papa and Baby Doc Duvalier dictatorship, on Nov 10. In his place it his named Alix Didier Fils-Aime, a businessman and former president of Haitis Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who ran for the Senate in 2015. Not unlike the numerous pretenders to Haitis leadership before him, Fils-Aime has promised to work towards the holding of elections, which have not taken place in Haiti since 2016. At that time, the Obama administration and the Trudeau government intervened and manipulated the process to ensure the election of Jovenel Moise, the protege of the outgoing right-wing president, Michel Martelly.

Ex-Haiti Prime Minister Garry Conille, speaks during a joint press conference with Kenya's President William Ruto at State House in Nairobi, Kenya, Friday, October 11, 2024. [AP Photo/Brian Inganga]

The Transitional Councils ouster of Conille came after it had attempted to change the heads of several ministries in defiance of his advice. The governmental reshuffling is occurring only six months after Conille replaced his disgraced predecessor, Ariel Henry, whom the US coerced into stepping down, without even the pretense of legal or democratic processes, by preventing his return to Haiti. Conille, for his part, has denounced his own dismissal as tainted by illegality.

The Council, established in April to restore democratic order, is constantly facing internecine conflicts and corruption accusations, as competing sections of Haitis bourgeoisie vie for the relatively little wealth and power accorded to them by their imperialist sponsors.

The social and political crisis roiling Haiti is among the most severe anywhere, and the direct consequence of brutal imperialist oppression, including more than a century of US military interventions and regime change operations dating back to the 1915-34 occupation of the country by US Marines.

The country has never recovered from the IMF restructuring programs imposed over the last three decades and a devastating 2010 earthquake.

Despite a crying need for humanitarian aid, international assistance over the past year has been primarily focused on providing troops and equipment to establish order and buttress the ability of the barely functioning state to exercise a monopoly on organized violence.

Much of the populationand especially the more than 700,000 people who have been internally displacedlack access to sufficient food and other necessities.

None of this concerns the ruling classes of the United States, France, or Canada.

In a rare display of honesty caught on video, French President Emmanuel Macron summed up what imperialist leaders really think about the Haitian people. Recorded on the margins of the G20 this week, the video shows Macron arguing with a bystander in public, as he denounces the Transitional Councils move to replace Conille. After underlining that he had supported Conille, Macron describes the latters Haitian opponents as total morons, and goes on to blame the Haitian population itself for the crisis in which their country is mired: Quite frankly, it was the Haitians who killed Haiti.

Macrons remarks are an outrageous and brazen lie coming from the president of the state which is one of the prime culprits in the plunder and oppression of the Haitian people. Apart from the arrogance, condescension, and contempt for its subjects typically exhibited by imperialist leaders, Macrons unhinged remarks reveal something else: A growing impatience and anxiety, bound up with the potential consequences of continued and worsening political instability in Haiti, and the Caribbean region more broadly.

The past few months have already seen mass unrest over the cost of living in the French territories of Guadeloupe and the nearby island of Martinique. In Guadeloupe, striking workers who seized control of the territorys power station caused days of power outages. This has been met with repressive measures by French authorities, including days-long curfews. The instability within Haiti, as well as the mass exodus of its population, is seen as potential fuel to the fire of rapidly developing class struggles, not just in the Caribbean, but also in North America.

In September this year, the UN Security Council reauthorized the present international security force deployment to Haiti. Currently it is led by a few hundred Kenyan Special Forces police, who are notorious for the brutality they have employed in repressing protests in Nairobi. While they have been deployed since this summer, they have completely failed to curb the gang violence, or for that matter the terroristic violence carried out by the Haitian police, whose operations they are mandated to assist.

According to a UN report published last month, there was a surge in killings and police executions in Haiti between July and September 2024. During that period, more than 1,740 people were killed or injured, a nearly 30% increase from the previous trimester. This included at least 106 extrajudicial killings that were carried out by law enforcement officials. Among those summarily executed were six children as young as 10 years old accused of collaborating with gangs.

Residents flee their homes to escape gang and police violence in the Nazon neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday, November 14, 2024. [AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph]

The decision of the North American imperialist powers to delegate the task of imposing order in Haiti to Kenya and other African and CARICOM nations, rather than deploying their own forces, partly reflects the fact that the United States and Canada have prioritized their military resources for arming Ukraine and preparing for direct military confrontation with Russia and China.

They are also acutely aware of the deep-seated hostility of the Haitian population toward imperialism and fear the impact at home of both having to suppress anti-imperialist protests, as well as being caught in a costly military conflict with well-armed gangs.

In regard to the crisis now consuming Haiti, the principal concern of US and Canadian imperialism is to prevent it further destabilizing the Caribbean region, which they view as their backyard, and provoking an exodus of impoverished refugees.

Those Haitians attempting to flee what increasingly resembles a nightmarish open air prison are met with political persecution and social hardship wherever they attempt to seek refuge, from the Dominican Republic to overseas in Canada or the United States.

In the United States, President-elect Donald Trump placed incitement against immigrants, and Haitian refugees in particular, at the centre of his campaign. Fanning the flames of racism and xenophobia, Trump and his running mate, J.D. Vance, assisted among others by the fascist billionaire Elon Musk and his ownership of Twitter, scurrilously denounced Haitian refugees in Springfield, Ohio, for hunting and eating Americans pet cats and dogs.

Tens of thousands of Haitians are currently allowed to live and work in the United States under the Temporary Protected Status program. Many were granted this status in the wake of the devastating 2010 earthquake, which killed hundreds of thousands, and displaced millions.

Trump is expected to revoke this temporary legal status and implement measures and deport all these Haitian refugees from the very first days of his presidency, as part of his plans to mount a police-military witch hunt against so-called illegal immigrants.

The Democratic Party not only hasnt done anything to counter this anti-immigrant campaign, the Biden-Harris administration has implemented its own anti-immigrant policies, including increased deportations and border closures. The same goes for the Canadian Liberal government of Justin Trudeau. It recently announced a drastic tightening of immigration restrictions, entirely adapting and lending credibility to the Canadian version of the same anti-immigrant discourse promoted south of the border. Moreover, Immigration Minister Marc Miller has vowed that Canada will not provide an open door to those under threat of expulsion by Trump from the US and will work closely with his administration to provide border security.
Last Tuesday, November 12, Brandon Durham, a 43-year-old father and realtor, was shot dead in his home by a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police officer after he called the police for help during a home invasion. Within 16 seconds of kicking down the door to Durhams house, Las Vegas cop Alexander Bookman, 26, shot Durham six times, including in the head.

Brandon Durham, father, husband, stepfather and realtor. [Photo: Rachel Gore]

Alejandra Marie Boudreaux, 31, is accused of breaking into the residence and assaulting Durham. Citing police documents, KLAS8, the local CBS affiliate, reported that after the police killing of Durham, Boudreaux told cops she had broken into Durhams home in an attempt to have police show up to the residence and kill her.



I wanted the cops to shoot me dead. And I wanted (Durham) to live the wreckage that I caused in his house, Boudreaux allegedly told the police, per CNN.

Police were well aware of Boudreaux before they shot Durham. KLAS8 reported that Durham had called police the previous night November 10 to report that an ex-friend named MarieBoudreauxs middle namewas at his home and refused to leave. Durham was not home at the time, but according to KLAS8, Officer Bookman arrived at the residence at 12:11 a.m. on November 11 and spoke to Boudreaux, who agreed to leave.

When Boudreaux returned to Durhams residence the following evening, armed apparently with several bricks, Durham was home with his 15-year-old daughter. In a frantic call to police, Durham is heard telling the dispatcher that he thinks two people were trying to get in the house and shooting. While speaking to the dispatcher, Durham informs her that his daughter was home with him and that they were going to lock themselves in separate rooms.

As Durham was speaking to emergency services, a neighbor also placed a call to the police to report the incident. The unnamed woman told the dispatcher she had seen one person break into Durhams house and that she was attacking his home with bricks.

Both Durham and his neighbor accurately described the intruder as a person wearing a hoodie or hooded sweatshirt.

This, however, did not prevent the cop from executing Durham less than two seconds after coming in contact with him. In a press conference on November 14, the Las Vegas police released body-camera footage of the incident.

The footage shows Bookman kicking down Durhams front door and moving through his home with his pistol drawn. In the footage, screams and slamming are heard as Bookman makes his way through the hallway and turns a corner, at which point he sees two standing figures, Boudreaux, wearing a hoodie, and Durham, in his underwear, struggling over a knife in a doorway.

Boudreaux has the knife in her hand, but Durham has her arm pinned up against the wall, preventing her from slashing him. As soon as the cop sees the knife, he yells, Hey, drop the knife! then he aims directly for Durhams head and shoots him once.

Body camera footage from Alexander Bookman moments before he shot and killed Brandon Durham on November 12.

Durham moans in agony as he shot and both he and Boudreaux fall to the ground. Goodman takes several steps forward and advances toward the pair, his gun still trained on Durham. Within three seconds, Goodman shoots Durham another five times, despite the fact that he had done nothing to threaten the officer, and in fact, was in the process of being attacked.

As is the case in virtually every police murder, Bookman has not been charged with a crime and instead is on a paid-vacation known as administrative leave. In response to protests from Durhams family and mass outrage in the wider community, Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson tried to tamp down expectations of a quick or just resolution.



It is important to understand this investigation is in its infancy, he said. The cops will be investigating themselves so it will take weeks, if not months, for the Las Vegas Police Department to complete its investigation, Wolfson stated, adding, therefore, it would be inappropriate for me to express an opinion regarding whether criminal charges are going to be filed. I simply do not have all the information yet.



In the press conference where portions of the body-camera footage were released, Las Vegas Metro Assistant Sheriff Dori Koren attempted to justify the policemans actions by pointing out that both appeared to be struggling over the knife and that cops only have split-seconds to make decisions.

Durhams 15-year-old daughter, Isabella Durham, who was home during the break-in and subsequent police killing, told media last week that she is disgusted with the Metropolitan Police. Isabella rejected the police lies stating, The fact that they wrongfully shot my dad and then tried to spin the narrative to cover them, saying that there were gunshots there, that he had a knife, none of that is true.



Isabella added, The violence that occurred here was under someone who was extremely, extremely angry and extremely violent. And I am disgusted in how the Metropolitan Police told my father, after killing him, to stay down. Knowing, treating him like he was the suspect in the situation, he was the victim, and Im disgusted that the Metropolitan Police will allow me to live fatherless for the rest of my life.

Rachel Gore, Durhams domestic partner, has organized a GoFundMe. Gore noted that in addition to being a father to Isabella, he was a step-father to 13-year-old Branden Gore. On Saturday, November 23, family friends and the Las Vegas branch of the NAACP will be marching on Las Vegas City Hall demanding Justice for Brandon.

Durhams death represents at least the thirteenth police killing by Las Vegas Metro this year, an increase of five compared to last year. Nationally, police in the US have already shot and killed over 1,000 people.
Sean "Diddy" Combs has issued a cease and desist letter to ex-protege Moses "Shyne" Barrow over the new documentary he released.

The former Bad Boy Records rapper had made a number of revelations in the new documentary, including his belief that he was the "fall guy" for the music mogul in the 1999 NYC nightclub shooting.

The incident resulted in Shyne receiving a 10-year prison sentence for his involvement, while Diddy walked away without any jail term.

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Shyne had recently gone on a number of interviews where he discussed these claims. Meanwhile, Sean "Diddy" Combs has denied the claims, describing them as "unequivocally false."

Why Diddy Sent His Former Protege A Cease And Desist Letter

MEGA

According to Page Six, Diddy recently sent Shyne a cease and desist letter over claims he made in his new Hulu documentary, "The Honorable Shyne."

Sources revealed that the Bad Boy founder sent the letter to "ensure" his former protege stuck to factual claims after alleging he took the fall for Diddy in the 1999 NYC nightclub shooting.

During the incident, several shots were fired, and three bystanders were injured, which led to Shyne being charged with assault and reckless endangerment and Diddy with gun possession and bribery.

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However, while Shyne was ultimately found guilty and sent to jail for 10 years, Diddy walked away without any prison time.

It remains unclear whether Shyne, now a politician in Belize, directly received the cease-and-desist letter or what actions he plans to take if he did.

Shyne Said The Rapper's Ongoing Case Proves His Claims

In Shyne's documentary, he subtly alluded to Diddy's ongoing criminal case, saying that the Bad Boy founder's ways are now "coming to light."

"Because when I said it [at the time], everyone was partying and having a great time with Diddy while I was left to rot in prison," Shyne said in his documentary, which debuted on Hulu on November 18.

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In a previous interview promoting the documentary, Shyne also stated that Diddy was responsible for destroying his life and hinted that the rapper might be guilty of the crimes alleged in his ongoing case.

"I keep having to put into context without spitting on someone's grave that this is the person that destroyed my life," Shyne said during an appearance on the "Tamaron Hall Show," per Billboard.

He added, "You hear my mom, she'll probably start crying when she comes on this couch. People ask, 'Do you think that he did those things?' Well, I know what he did to my family, so the potential is there."

The Former Bad Boy Rapper Claims He Has Healed

MEGA

In the interview with Hall, Shyne revealed that he has since let go of the grudges he once held against Diddy.

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"I moved on, and I healed," he told his host. "I didn't see him shooting, but I know that he made me take the fall. I know that he called witnesses to testify against me."

The Belize politician also reflected on his reunion with Diddy to perform "Bad Boyz" at the 2022 BET Awards, saying it wasn't something he truly wanted to do.

However, he chose to go through with it as a way to honor both hip-hop and Belize, the country he was deported to after serving most of his sentence.

"I didn't want to do it, but he said, 'Listen, this is about Belize. Imagine this platform,'" Shyne recalled.

Diddy Refuted Shyne's Claims

MEGA

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Prior to Diddy sending the cease-and-desist letter, he denied Shyne's "fall guy" claims and described the allegations as "unequivocally false."

"Mr. Combs was acquitted of all charges related to the 1999 Club New York incident and has consistently maintained his innocence," a rep for the music mogul told TMZ. "He cannot accept or condone any characterization of his actions as 'demonic' or 'malicious.'"

Diddy also commended Shyne for his new career as a politician but expressed disappointment that his former labelmate chose to revisit a long-forgotten issue.

"It is unfortunate that Mr. Barrow has chosen to revisit these allegations.," the rep added, "Mr. Combs trusts that responsible journalism will weigh both the established legal outcomes and Mr. Combs' positive, longstanding support for those he has worked with."

Shyne Hopes His Former Mentor Would 'Reform' While In Jail

MEGA

In a chat with Page Six, while promoting his Hulu documentary, the rapper-turned-politician expressed hope that Diddy would become a better person after his legal battle.

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Shyne implied that he held no grudges toward the rapper as he is not that kind of person and wishes the music mogul would be able to"reform and fix himself."

"That's not what I want from the universe. I don't say to myself, 'Yeah,' you know, 'it's your turn now!' Like, that's not the type of person that I am," he said, adding that Diddy "has to deal with his debt to the universe."
Williams was granted the "unrestricted right to film and produce television, film or social media" in their marital home as her ex filed a separate defamation lawsuit against her over erectile dysfunction social media posts

Derek White/Getty Images From left: Simon Guobadia and Porsha Williams attend the 2023 Pink Awards at Riverside EpiCenter on February 25, 2023 in Austell, Georgia. From left: Simon Guobadia and Porsha Williams attend the 2023 Pink Awards at Riverside EpiCenter on February 25, 2023 in Austell, Georgia.

Porsha Williams has been granted another legal victory amid her ongoing divorce from Simon Guobadia.

A judge has granted temporary sole possession of their marital residence to The Real Housewives of Atlanta star, 43, and given her the unrestricted right to film and produce television, film or social media in the home, according to documents obtained by PEOPLE.

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The order also requires Guobadia provide any documents  seemingly contracts or releases for RHOA  necessary for filming to occur in the residence.



Related: Porsha Williams Jokes She's Husband Simon Guobadia's 'Headache' amid Divorce: 'I Wish Him Well'

The decision comes as Guobadia filed a separate defamation lawsuit against the reality star over her erectile dysfunction social media posts.

Paras Griffin/Getty Porsha Williams and Simon Guobadia attend the premiere of aSingle Not Searchinga hosted by Lisa Raye at Silverspot Cinema at The Battery Atlanta on September 1, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia

In court documents obtained by PEOPLE, Guobadia claimed that Williams made false and defamatory statements by implying that he suffers from erectile dysfunction. He alleged that her social media post caused "significant harm to his personal and professional reputation, subjected him to public ridicule, and inflicted severe emotional distress.

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Williams previously posted Instagram Stories with information about erectile dysfunction, which she hashtagged "#menshealthawareness" but did not name Guobadia, according to screenshots featured in the documents.

Related: The Real Housewives of Atlanta Sets Cast for Season 16 After Shakeup: Meet the New Housewives

These posts were intentionally crafted to imply that [Guobadia] suffers from this condition, casting him in a negative and humiliating light, the lawsuit alleged.

[Williams] allegations not only targeted [Guobadias] physical and emotional integrity but also struck at the core of his reputation as a capable and respected entrepreneur and philanthropist, the lawsuit claimed.

Paras Griffin/Getty Porsha Williams attends her Pampered By Porsha Sheets X Bloomingdale's meet & greet at Bloomingdale's Lenox Square on May 17, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. Porsha Williams attends her Pampered By Porsha Sheets X Bloomingdale's meet & greet at Bloomingdale's Lenox Square on May 17, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Guobadia claimed that the damage extends into his personal relationships, where he is met with skepticism and pity, and into his professional engagements, where the shadow of these false allegations looms large.

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He is requesting that he be awarded at least $75,000 in compensatory and punitive damages by a jury.

Related: Porsha Williams Calls Out Simon Guobadia's 'Erratic Conduct' After He Claims She Brought Gunman to Their House

Williams first filed for divorce in February after 15 months of marriage. The two began the back-and-forth filings after disagreeing over the validity of their prenup. The occupancy of their marital home and Williams financial standing given her recent scripted development deal with NBC Universal were also points of contention.

In the midst of the legal battle, the reality TV personality slammed Guobadia for making "false statements and allegations" that are "intentionally misrepresenting the reality of the situation."

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In September, the Bravo star scored a legal victory in her divorce case when a judge also ruled in Williams favor when it came to the former couples prenuptial agreement.

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.

Prince Williams/WireImage Simon Guobadia and Porsha Williams

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According to the docs, Guobadia argued that his Wifes desire to return to reality television or employment in the future constitutes a non-disclosure of material fact and misrepresentation, that renders the Prenuptial Agreement unenforceable."

Addressing Guobadia's claims that Williams agreed to be a stay-at-home mom and wife during their marriage and forgo her own career, the court found them to be invalid.

The court did not "find merit" in his argument "as the Court finds that Wife has been a reality TV celebrity for years, which was well known to Husband at the time of negotiating the Prenuptial Agreement, and Husband nevertheless married Wife with this knowledge.

After starring on Bravo's The Real Housewives of Atlanta from seasons 5-13, Williams left in September 2021, four months after they announced their engagement in May 2021. Earlier this year it was announced she would be returning for the upcoming 16th season.


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?
When talking about wine, you tend to get discussion of a lot of the same areas: France, Italy, Spain, California, and maybe Australian or Chile. But the world's largest wine collection is located in a region you may not be as familiar with. The love of wine crosses borders, and in Europe especially, there are robust local wine industries in almost every country south of Scandinavia. There are underrated international wine regions from the mountains of Switzerland to the beer-loving countryside of England. Many of these regions aren't just locally famous, either, and have long histories of exporting wine without the American name recognition we mostly give to the Mediterranean. That's a big reason why the world's largest wine collection is in the small country of Moldova.

Nestled between Romania and Ukraine, Moldova is a country of only 3 million people, but wine production is a major occupation, and the winery of Milestii Mici is home to a collection of more than 1.5 million bottles. Sharing a name with the town where it is located, Milestii Mici's massive underground wine cellar has over 34 miles of passageways, which can be traversed by car, bike, or even train. Located only 11 miles from Moldova's capital, it's a major wine tour attraction that has tens of thousands of visitors per year. While Milestii Mici's collection leans heavily towards red wine, it also includes a "Golden Collection," with bottles dating back to 1969, which include wine varietals like muscat and riesling.

Read more: The 27 Best Bourbon Brands, Ranked

Moldova's Popular Wine Industry Includes A Massive Underground Collection

Moldovan flag above city at sunset - Oxflow Studio/Shutterstock

Despite thinking of Eastern Europe as a colder region, Moldova's more southerly location near the Black Sea gives a moderate climate that is great for producing wine. The industry in the region goes back thousands of years, with modern wines being exported all over, from neighbors like Greece to Japan on the other side of the world. Moldova was formally part of the Soviet Union, and its wines were particularly popular there, with almost half of the wine consumed in the USSR coming from the small country.

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Milestii Mici's cellar actually dates back to the Soviet era. Limestone blocks in the town were mined to help build Moldova's capital, Chisinau, before it was shut down in the late '60s. The underground space stays at an even and cool temperature in the mid 50s, while also being quite humid, which are great conditions for storing and aging wine.

The wine cellar was opened in 1969 and actually has over 120 miles of space, even though only 34 are currently occupied. The "streets" of wine are organized by wine type, which range from well known names like Pinot, to more local Eastern European specialties like traminer and ciumi. The fact that the world's largest wine collection isn't in a place like France or Italy is a good reminder of the diversity of the wine world. Now we just need to get Moldovan wine to take hold in the States.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.




More from Footwear News





The final slate of Air Jordans for 2024 is on its way  and, as always, Jordan Brand has saved a few treats for the holiday season.

The latest of Travis Scotts many Air Jordan 1 lows will drop just days before Christmas, while the annual tradition of Air Jordan 11s for the holidays now turns to a colorway invoking Michael Jordans college career at North Carolina.

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Before those releases, December will kick off with two different Air Jordans made as womens exclusives, while an Air Jordan 5 in full family sizing will follow shortly after.

Below, Footwear News has gathered all the Air Jordan releases planned for September. This list will also be updated as any new information becomes available.

Air Jordan 12 Phantom

Release Date: December 2

Price: $200

SKU: FD9101-007

December kicks off with a womens-exclusive Air Jordan 12 feature a few gold-tone metal accents.

Air Jordan 4 Net

Air Jordan 4 Net

Release Date: December 2

Price: $210

SKU: FN7251-107

The Air Jordan 4s streak of transformations continues with its signature net window inspiring this new configuration for its upper in another womens-exclusive.

Air Jordan 5 Reverse Metallic

Release Date: December 7

Price: $200

SKU: DD0587-110

Full family sizing will come for this flip on one of the Air Jordan 5s original colorways from 1990.

Air Jordan 11 Columbia Blue

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Release Date: December 14

Price: $230

SKU: CT8012-104

Also known as Columbia Blue, this original Air Jordan 11 colorway from 1996 features Carolina Blue accents for Michael Jordans University of North Carolina.

Air Jordan 12 Blueberry

Air Jordan 12 Blueberry

Release Date: December 18

Price: $210

SKU: CT8013-140

A very bold blue defines this brand-new colorway for the Air Jordan 12 done in the style of the original Cherry edition.

Release Date: December 21

Price: $150

SKU: DM7866-202

Travis Scotts beloved Air Jordan 1 Low gets a brown-heavy suede and leather treatment to cap off whats been a massive year for the rapper.

About the Author:

Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. Hes previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that ball is life and doesnt fuss over his kicks getting dirty.









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Jamaica has long been famous for its gorgeous beaches, reggae beats, and inviting atmosphere, making it a top pick for travelers seeking a tropical escape. But if youre planning a trip, you might be wondering, is Jamaica safe?

In recent years, concerns about rising violent crime, particularly in places like Kingston and Montego Bay, have made some hesitant to visit. While these issues cant be ignored, with the right precautions and a little preparation, you can enjoy everything this beautiful island has to offer while staying safe.

Understanding safety concerns in Jamaica

If youre asking, is Jamaica safe?, its important to understand the full picture. Currently, Jamaica is under a Level 3 Travel Advisory from the U.S. State Department, which recommends travelers reconsider travel to the island. The U.S. Embassy frequently receives reports of serious crimes, including sexual assaults, and visitors have noted slow or unsatisfactory responses to incidents.

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Violent crime is a reality throughout Jamaica, with the government reporting one of the highest homicide rates in the Western Hemisphere. Armed robberies, assaults, and gang-related violence, often linked to drug trafficking, are significant concerns.

Tourist-friendly areas in Jamaica

The good news is that Jamaicas most popular tourist spots like Montego Bay, Negril, and Ocho Rios are generally very safe for visitors. These areas are home to world-class resorts, private beaches, and plenty of activities designed to give travelers peace of mind. In fact, resorts and private properties in Jamaica rank among the safest destinations in the Caribbean.

That said, getting to your resort may require some caution, as crime can occur along highways or in less-secured areas. Planning your transportation in advance, using reputable services, and avoiding night travel can make your journey smoother and safer.

The Jamaican government has taken steps to boost safety for tourists, including mobile police patrols and specialized tourist police units. These officers are stationed in popular areas to prevent crimes like theft and harassment and ensure a quicker response to any incidents.

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While violent crime is rare in touristy zones, petty theft and pickpocketing can happen, especially in crowded places.

Tips for staying safe in Jamaica

While Jamaica is a beautiful destination, taking precautions can help ensure your trip is safe and enjoyable. Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind during your visit:

Avoid walking or driving at night : Stick to well-lit, busy areas after dark.

Avoid public buses : While theyre a cheap mode of transportation, public buses can be unsafe for tourists. Instead, opt for private taxis or pre-arranged transportation services.

Avoid secluded places or situations : Its best to stay in well-populated areas, especially at night. Secluded beaches, empty streets, and isolated areas can increase your risk of encountering crime.

Do not physically resist any robbery attempt : If you find yourself in a dangerous situation, give up your belongings without resistance. Your belongings can be replaced, but you cannot.

Be aware of your surroundings and keep a low profile : Flashy jewelry, expensive cameras, or other valuables can make you a target.

Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP): Signing up for STEP will allow the U.S. Embassy to send you travel alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.

Areas to avoid in Jamaica

The U.S. State Department recommends that visitors do not travel to the following locations:

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St. Anns Parish: Steer Town and the Buckfield neighborhood

St. Catherines Parish: Spanish Town, Central Village, certain areas within Portmore

Clarendon Parish: All of Clarendon Parish, except passing through using the T1 and A2 highways

St. Elizabeths Parish: Vineyard District Community

Hanover Parish: Logwood and Orange Bay

St. James Parish: Montego Bay: Inland side of the A1 highway and The Queens Drive from San San to Harmony Beach Park

Kingston and St. Andrew Parish: Cassava Piece, Duhaney Park, Grants Pen, Standpipe, Swallowfield, Elleston Flats, August Town, and downtown Kingston

Manchester Parish: Green Vale, Gray Ground, Red Ground, and Vineyard neighborhoods

St. Thomas Parish: Black Lane, Grands Penn, Church Corner, Town of Yallahs

Trelawny Parish: Clarks Town

Westmoreland Parish: Russia, community in Savanna-la-Mar, Morgan Bay, Kings Valley, The Whitehall, Bethel Town, and Red Ground neighborhoods

Health and weather safety

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Jamaica is susceptible to hurricanes and tropical storms, especially during the Atlantic hurricane season from June to November. In July 2024, for example, Hurricane Beryl nearly made a direct hit on the island. Although hurricanes dont always reach landfall, its still important to stay informed about weather conditions. Keep an eye on local forecasts and follow any guidance from local authorities.

When it comes to health care, Jamaicas services may not be on par with what youre used to back home. The U.S. State Department notes that visitors shouldnt expect the same level of care as in the U.S., particularly in terms of emergency response times and the availability of specialized services. For example, private hospitals often require payment upfront and might not be able to handle complex medical cases. Ambulance services, especially in rural areas, might be limited and not always staffed with EMTs.

If you take prescription medication, its a good idea to bring extra supplies with you. Common medications, like insulin, can be harder to find in Jamaica, especially in more remote areas.

Bottom line: Is Jamaica safe?

So, is Jamaica safe? While it remains a popular destination, its important to acknowledge the risks. With a Level 3 Travel Advisory in place, there are concerns about crime, especially in certain areas outside the main tourist zones.

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While tourist areas tend to be safer, its essential to stay vigilant, avoid risky situations, and stay informed about the latest updates. If you do decide to visit, being prepared and staying cautious can help ensure a safer experience.

The post Is Jamaica safe? What travelers need to know before visiting appeared first on The Manual.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  If you, like many, are struggling to come up with unique and personal gift ideas this holiday season, turning to gifts that are locally sourced and inspired may be the answer.

While shopping on Amazon has its perks, it can be hard to find products with a personal connection. From prickly pear jelly to salt ornaments, these local gifts may be just what you are looking for.

Gifts that scream Utah

If subtle is what you have in mind, keep scrolling down. This section is for gifts that scream Utah  perfect for out-of-state loved ones or even a particularly Utah-loving, in-state relative.

Honey products

Cox Honeyland sold at Uniquely Utah Souvenir Co. (Credit: Aubree B. Jennings)

What is more representative of the Beehive State than honey? Local honey can be found in dozens of locations across the state, but one store in Logan offers honey packages perfect for gifts.

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Cox Honeyland of Utah sells an array of honey-themed products both in-store and online, including raw and creamed honey, honey caramels, and honeycomb trays. The store also sells gift baskets ranging from $30 to $60. The baskets include products that go well with honey, such as breakfast foods and muffins.

If you want to buy something honey-related but a little more unique, check out northern Utahs Slide Ridge  creators of Honey Wine Vinegar.

Utahs sweet treats

Utah Truffles displayed at Uniquely Utah Souvenirs Co. (Credit: Aubree B. Jennings)

For chocolate lovers, you cant go wrong with the iconic Utah truffles found at most gift shops in the state. For those who prefer candies, Utah is also known for its salt water taffies. Other popular Utah treats include Aggie ice cream and the BYU Stores chocolate cinnamon bears.

Iconic Utah Gifts

Iconic SL,UT license plate at Uniquely Utah Souvenir Co. The phrase stands for Salt Lake, Utah and is often placed on souvenir items. (Credit: Aubree B. Jennings)

On a Utah gift Reddit thread, Redditors mentioned several Utah-inspired gifts that introduce some humor to the holiday season. Their suggestions included fry sauce, jello and SL,UT T-shirts.

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Other suggestions included salt from Redmond Trading Co., soda shop gift cards, Lehi Roller Mills mixes, Beehive Cheese, and ornaments made of salt from the Great Salt Lake.

Locally-sourced gift baskets

The Housewarming Basket from Everything Utah. (Credit: Everything Utah)

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If you are looking for locally sourced gift baskets, Utah stores have you covered. While this list could not include all gift basket options, here are a few that stand out.

Food baskets

From specific foods  such as bread, cheese, or honey baskets  to baskets full of an array of food items, there are plenty of options to choose from.

Caputos Market & Deli  located in downtown Salt Lake City  offers gift boxes with curated goods from [its] market shelves, according to its website. The boxes range from $70 to $250 and include Italian food options, such as cheese, meat, chocolate, extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and pasta. They also offer a customizable gift box option.

Charcuterie board of meats, cheeses and olives from Caputos Market & Deli. (Credit: Taste Utah interview on Good Things Utah)

Utah-based company Gift Hounds offers a more general (and less expensive) selection of products in its gift baskets. While not all the websites products are locally sourced, the company offers several Made-in-UTAH baskets with some of Utahns favorite snacks.

Other baskets

When it comes to Utah-based gift baskets, Everything Utah has one of the largest selections. The store offers everything from Pamper Her and Gift for Him to Puzzle Night and Dino Time baskets. The baskets range from $50 to $190.

Local shops to check out

If the options above are not what you are looking for, here are a few businesses to browse for the perfect local gift.

Artisan markets

Custom handcrafted paints at Hive Market in Salt Lake City. (Credit: Aubree Jennings)

Several businesses in the Salt Lake area offer artisan, handmade and locally-produced products, perfect for unique and personal gifts. Hive Market and Salt & Honey are both popular spots dedicated to handmade and local products.

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While Salt & Honey has online shopping and several stores across the valley, Hive Market exclusively sells products from more than 60 local artisans at its location in Historic Trolley Square.

The Quilted Bear  while not exclusively artisan  is a good option for those in northern Utah, as they have a storefront in Ogden. The home decor and gift store sells products from around the world but specializes in local handcrafted goods, which are sold in booths within the store.

Locally-crafted souvenirs

Utah-based company Eggys handmade soaps on display at Uniquely Utah Souvenir Co. in Salt Lake City. (Credit: Aubree B. Jennings)

Uniquely Utah Souvenir Co. is a downtown souvenir shop dedicated to featuring local products, including authentic Navajo pottery and hand-poured beeswax candles, according to its website. The store also sells more typical souvenir items such as shot glasses, salt ornaments, and T-shirts.

Nature-based mercantile

The Kinlands Shoppe in Riverton, Utah. (Credit: The Kinlands via Jen Winter)

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The Kinlands is a nature-based mercantile situated in Riverton on a plot of land used as a pumpkin patch or pine winter wonderland during the holidays, according to its website. The Kinlands Shoppe sells seasonal food, home, apothecary, and floral goods.

While not all the products are locally sourced, Co-owner Jen Winter told ABC4 they carry several products from Utah artisans, including caramel apples, and sourdough bread. She said employees can direct shoppers to locally sourced products upon request.

Gifts for art lovers

The Art Shop at the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art. (Credit: Zachary Norman, UMOCA)

For art lovers, two places stand out in Salt Lake City: The Art Shop at the Utah Museum of Contemporary and the Urban Arts Gallery. Both locations sell eclectic products in addition to local art and are free to enter (UMCA has a pay-what-you-can policy).

Spirits

If you are looking for a more spirited gift, New World Distillery in Weber County sells handcrafted spirits made with locally sourced ingredients where possible and in bottles designed by a local artist. The distillery also advertises that it sells Utahs only locally made agave spirits made with agave from Eden.

Southern Utah-inspired

Street shop signs in Moab, Utah. (Credit: Adobe Stock)

Outside of the Salt Lake Valley, stores dedicated to local products are harder to find, but that doesnt mean they dont exist.

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St. Georges Mojave is the epitome of a southern Utah-inspired store. The business is not only committed to local artisans but to the desert itself. From prickly pear jelly to cactus grow kits, the store sells products that uniquely represent the region.

In southeastern Utah, the Moab T-Shirt Shops souvenirs are entirely designed by local artists and screen printed in the store. They boast of having the largest selection of stickers anywhere, but keep in mind its one of the stores you really have to visit in person.

If you would like to suggest additional local gift ideas, please contact ABC4 at https://www.abc4.com/contact-news/.

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KO OLINA, Hawaii (KHON2)  How does the second Moana compare to the first one for you personally in creating that circle?

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The first Moana, we put it out there with great pride for our people, our culture, and a lot of people around the world embraced it, loved it, said Johnson.

World premiere of Moana 2 held at Disney Aulani Resort

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And the second Moana, what I feel about the second Moana is, there is. I feel like sometimes at certain times in the world, the world needs certain things. Needs certain things, right? So, right now there is a lot of noise out there in the world. There is a lot of downward pressure, there is a lot of judging and naming and blaming and shaming and there is all that going on. There is a lot of good going on out there. And what I feel what Moana represents is the good stuff. And I feel that Moana 2, I told Bob Iger this, who is the Chairman of Disney, yesterday which is what we are finding and realizing is Moana is the movie that, does the movie need it? Sure, depends on how you look at the world. But the world is anticipating it and there is a real difference between needing something, wanting something, and anticipating it for it to come and that is what Moana is representing. That is what we are feeling so its a very special thing.

What is your trick though to stay mentally healthy?

You always seem so happy yet so busy.

So, what I like to do, when things get a little wobbly, my anchor is really back to family, said Johnson.

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And its the simple core stuff like, I know it sounds silly and simple but hanging out with the babies and having a conversation or talking about something silly or grabbing them and say, lets go, lets go do this, lets go do that, lets go fish, lets go for a walk, lets go do these things. Its that kind of simple core thing. And then what I will also do is Ill remember how things once were for me and so Hawaii for me always is home. Early though in my life when I was in elementary school, middle school and in high school, things got tough here on the island so it represents struggle and resilience and that kind of thing.

Check out more news from around Hawaii

And I will say, because you mentioned depression and it is such a big deal but us as men, especially Polynesian men, our lead foot is not usually, we are not raised to hey, lets talk about it. Talk about your feelings, its ok. The term that is amongst us today of vulnerability is our strength and I love that term because its true, but that is not, its not in our nature and certainly not our front foot. So, I have realized over the years that, man, it is so important to ask for help and to say, Im not ok right now. But I realized the moment you say, Hey, Im not ok. Can I talk? Can we talk? The universe, God, man, people come right in, and they meet you halfway and they are right there.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
DENVER (KDVR)  One person was killed in a crash involving multiple vehicles in Aurora on Saturday morning.

The Aurora Police Department responded at 7:15 a.m. and said the crash happened on northbound Tower Road near 40th Avenue. The road reopened to traffic at about 1:45 p.m.

A black Jeep was speeding northbound on Tower Road when it collided with a Chevy Cobalt. The Jeep rolled after the crash. A Subaru was struck by debris from the crash and sustained minor damage, a preliminary police report states.

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The driver of the Subaru was uninjured, however, the drivers of the Chevy and Jeep, both men, were taken to nearby hospitals. The driver of the Chevy died at the hospital.

One person was killed in a crash involving multiple vehicles on northbound Tower Road near 40th Avenue in Aurora on Nov. 23, 2024. (KDVR) One person was killed in a crash involving multiple vehicles on northbound Tower Road near 40th Avenue in Aurora on Nov. 23, 2024. (KDVR) One person was killed in a crash involving multiple vehicles on northbound Tower Road near 40th Avenue in Aurora on Nov. 23, 2024. (KDVR) One person was killed in a crash involving multiple vehicles on northbound Tower Road near 40th Avenue in Aurora on Nov. 23, 2024. (KDVR) One person was killed in a crash involving multiple vehicles on northbound Tower Road near 40th Avenue in Aurora on Nov. 23, 2024. (KDVR)

Police said the driver of the Jeep, identified as 22-year-old Alexis Ayala Gutierrez, is at fault. Gutierrez has an outstanding warrant out of Jefferson County for a reckless driving conviction with a $10,000 personal recognizance bond. When he is released from the hospital, police said he will be taken to jail on the warrant and additional charges from the crash, which are still pending investigation.

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Police said speed and intoxication are being investigated as factors that may have contributed to the crash.

Northbound Tower Road is closed in the area and will remain closed for several hours as a crash investigation is underway. Police said there is no estimated time of when the road will reopen.

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GEORGE COUNTY, Miss. (WKRG)  Ten people were arrested and five people are still sought in a drug sting operation in George County, Mississippi.

According to a news release, the George County Sheriffs Office conducted Operation Ice Cold alongside the Coastal Narcotics Enforcement Team and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. The operation targeted individuals involved in drug-related activities in George County.

Carey Dale Grayson executed by nitrogen hypoxia

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Here is a list of the 10 people arrested and their charges:

Kimberly Denise Cowart, 49, was arrested for Sale of a Controlled Substance x2.

Kermit Olin Blackston, 50, was arrested for Sale of a Controlled Substance x2.

Debra Kay Watts, 68, was arrested for Sale of a Controlled Substance.

Phillip Wayne Holland a.k.a. Flip, 38, was arrested for Sale of a Controlled Substance.

Christian Sebastian McKenzie, 29, was arrested for Sale of a Controlled Substance x2.

Brandy Gray Arkwright, 47, was arrested for Sale of a Controlled Substance.

Gregory Michael Eubanks, 56, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance.

Wesley Adam Swensen, 35, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance.

Stacy Andrew Lawrence, 53, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance.

Tanya Catherine Cowart, 54, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance.

Five people are still sought:

Richard Lee-Holland Anderson a.k.a. Ricky-Sale of a Controlled Substance

Richard Anthony Reeves-Possession of a Controlled Substance

Matthew Eric Bradshaw-Possession of a Controlled Substance

Michael Lawrence Hembree-Possession of a Controlled Substance

Sandra Leigh Farmer-Possession of a Controlled Substance

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Deadline for in-person absentee voting in General Election Runoffs: Mississippi Secretary of State

This operation, part of an ongoing initiative to combat the pervasive drug issues facing our

community reflects a steadfast commitment to public safety and the well-being of our citizens.

George County Sheriff Mitchell Mixon said.

The Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics initiative consists of a team throughout six Mississippi coastal counties. It consists of officers from DIberville, Long Beach, Pascagoula, Lucedale Police Department, and GCSO.

Operations like these are vital to reducing the availability of illegal drugs in our communities

and holding those who engage in these activities accountable, Mixon said. We will not relent in our efforts to combat this epidemic and safeguard our county for future generations.

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Kendra Day contributed to this report.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
China will soon grant visa-free entry to citizens of Japan and eight other countries as part of its ongoing efforts to boost international tourism and business travel, authorities announced Friday.

From Nov. 30, 2024 to Dec. 31, 2025, trial visa exemption will be applied to ordinary passport holders from Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia and Japan. The duration of visa-free stays allowed will be doubled to 30 days, foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said.

The addition will expand the coverage of China's unilateral visa-free policy from 29 to 38 countries.

This latest move aims to facilitate inbound travel. It builds upon the introduction of the unilateral visa-free policy last December, further demonstrating China's commitment to opening up following the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Dec. 1, 2023, China began implementing unilateral visa-free entry trials for ordinary passport holders from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia. The policies were later expanded several times to more countries.

Shortly after the announcement on Friday, Trip.com's international platforms witnessed a surge of interest in Chinese cities, with searches rising by 65 percent on its European site and 112 percent on its Japanese site within 30 minutes. Interest in direct flights from various cities in Japan to China also saw a notable spike.

"I will visit right away. Authentic Chinese cuisine is truly wonderful, and I'm also looking forward to meeting my friend after a long time," said a Japanese netizen on Yahoo, who also expressed the desire to gather information for future investments.

After the announcement, seats of flights for a twin-city tour in China's Ningbo and Xi'an, launched by the Japanese branch of the Shanghai-based Spring Tour travel agency, were quickly snapped up. The branch's hotline was flooded with inquiries from Japanese tourists, prompting the agency to coordinate additional flight seats to meet the rising demand.

Zhou Weihong, deputy general manager of Spring Tour, said the company plans to leverage resources further and launch more diversified products tailored to foreign tourists of different age groups.

The ease of visa policies has shown remarkable results. According to China's National Immigration Administration, in the first three quarters of this year, China received approximately 94.63 million inbound trips, up by 78.8 percent year-on-year.

The policies also facilitated a trendy "China Travel" keyword on major online platforms like TikTok, X and YouTube, as foreign visitors flock to China to experience the country's delicious food, attractive views, world-leading infrastructure, heartwarming people and free atmospheres, seeing a real China that is different from what they learnt about from Western media.

International businesspeople have found it easier to conduct business in China. From January to September this year, 42,000 new foreign-invested enterprises were established nationwide, marking an 11.4 percent year-on-year increase, according to data from the foreign ministry.

Foreign nationals can now benefit from simplified procedures and reduced fees, as well as faster border entry services, which makes traveling to China even more appealing.

China has implemented measures to make it more convenient for foreigners to visit, work, and live in the country, ranging from currency exchanges and e-payment to hotel check-ins, among others.

In Beijing, a city services guide has been launched for first-time foreign arrivals, offering information on a wide range of areas, such as healthcare and transportation.

In Shanghai, foreign visitors can conveniently pay for taxis and subway rides using international credit cards.

In the first eight months of this year, Shanghai received more than 4.02 million inbound tourists, a 110-percent increase over the same period last year. Among them were 2.9 million foreign tourists, 140 percent more than the same period last year.

"We welcome more foreign friends to visit China frequently to explore its beauty, and we will create more favorable conditions for their visits," said Tong Xuejun, head of the foreign ministry's consular department, at a press briefing on Friday morning.
CHICAGO  Ten area children formally joined their forever homes in a morning courtroom ceremony at the Daley Center on Friday, the eve of National Adoption Day.

This is the happiest day in the Circuit Court of Cook County, said Chief Judge Timothy Evans.

National Adoption Day is celebrated annually on the Saturday before Thanksgiving and since 2000 has helped more than 85,000 children nationwide move into permanent homes.

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I love to be here, and after this day Im going to be super, super happy, said 7-year-old Dorien Jones who, along with 8-year-old sister Dakota and 4-year-old brother Dillard, had adoptions finalized.

Dorien and Dakota were adopted by their cousin, Jocqualyn Carter. Dillard was adopted by Carters friend, Carleeta Johnson.

Im excited, said Johnson. Im able to finally say hes my son fully, but hes always been my son. Blood couldnt make us any closer.

Carter and Johnson a couple of years ago decided to move in together so the siblings could grow up under the same roof. Raising the children and caring for them has helped both women get through tough times.

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They saved my life because when my mom passed I was in a really, really dark space, and that spur-of-the-moment call and they came, it gave me a reason to want to be here, Carter said.

More than 180,000 children across the country await adoption. In Illinois, thousands of children in the foster care system are in need of loving families to provide them with stable and secure homes.

Folks who are willing to open their hearts and their homes, their lives will be immeasurably enriched by taking one of these kids into their home, said Illinois Department of Children and Family Services director Heidi Mueller.

After three years fostering 6-year-old twins Martin and Miracle, parents Pawel and Luz Karpinski are ecstatic about making their family official.

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Its amazing. You know, we always wanted to be parents, and the dream just came true, the new father said.

Mueller said compared to the last four years, this year marks the most children who have been placed with families. Those interested in adopting are encouraged to contact DCFS.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
CLEVELAND (WJW)  Friday, Nov. 22, marked 10 years since the 2014 fatal shooting of 12-year-old Tamir Rice by Cleveland police officer Timothy Loehmann.

A year later in December 2015, a grand jury declined to bring charges against Loehmann and the responding officers.

Illinois Supreme Court reverses actor Jussie Smolletts conviction

Tamirs mother Samaria Rice told FOX 8 News shes still pushing for justice. She shared the same message with a room full of people at The City Club of Cleveland on Friday.

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I really appreciate the city club for wanting to commemorate Tamir and spend this time with me, Rice said. It was very honorable for my son. I really appreciate them. Im OK today, you know, because I have a lot of people around me and support.

Haitians in Springfield worried about uncertain future, facing deportation threats from Trump, Moreno

Rice was joined on the stage by Tamirs cousin and the president of Black Lives Matter Cleveland, Latonya Goldsby, and attorney Subodh Chandra.

Much of the discussion was about police reform and the consent decree issued to the Cleveland Division of Police.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  After spending more than 300 days in the hospital, 11-month-old Parker Helmerich is finally going home.

Its just such a blessing and we couldnt be happier to finally get home and especially during the holiday season, itll make it lot more special, said David Helmerich, Parkers father.

Parker was born on December 11, 2023, and at first everything seemed normal and he looked healthy.

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30 minutes after birth, we noticed he seemed to be struggling with his breathing and did a few more tests and he had critical pulmonary stenosis, said Faith Helmerich, Parkers mother.

Just days after his birth, he was airlifted to Oklahoma Childrens Hospital OU Health Heart Center and thats where his long journey began.

By March, doctors determined Parker needed a heart transplant to survive and was put on the waiting list.

Its a long waiting period, you got to do everything you can to keep these children alive so that they do get to the point of getting the heart, said Dr. Harold Burkhart, chief of cardiac division.

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The Helmerichs received the life-changing call in October.

OKC Zoo celebrates the holiday delivery of zebra foal

We are extremely grateful for the generous gift that they gave us and organ donation is something that I hope everyone considers. It is extremely important and can really help save lives, said Faith.

Parker returning home with a new heart isnt just a big day for the family, but also for the state of Oklahoma.

His transplant marks a groundbreaking milestone as its the first pediatric heart transplant in decades at Oklahoma Childrens Hospital OU Health Heart Center.

Its also the only pediatric heart transplant program in the state.

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The achievement means Oklahoma children and their families no longer need to leave the state for this life-saving care.

Families pulled apart, as well as the risk thats involved in just moving patients like that, said Dr. Erik Edens, physician.

OU Health says an estimated five children a year in Oklahoma have had to leave the state for transplants over the past decade.

Doctors say there are many more children like Parker, waiting for their perfect match and now theyll be able to do so without leaving the state.

Dr. Burkhart says theres more kids that need hearts than donors and that the waitlist is typically six months to a year.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Nov. 22A St. Joseph man will spend 12 years in federal prison for his role in a health care scheme.

James L. McGinnis, 78, of St. Joseph, is the co-founder of Medical Cost Sharing, a Christian health care ministry that defrauded hundreds of members of almost $8 million, according to a release from the U.S. Department of Justice. In April, he pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of making false statements on a tax return.

In addition to serving the 12-year sentence without parole, McGinnis has been ordered to pay more than $7 million in restitution to the victims of his scheme, about $143,000 to the IRS and more than $10,000 to the Missouri Department of Revenue.

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McGinnis served as chief operating officer of Medical Cost Sharing from 2014 to late 2022.

The second co-founder, Craig Anthony Reynolds, 62, also of St. Joseph, pleaded guilty and was sentenced in June to 17 years and six months on the same charges. Reynolds served as the president and chief executive officer of the organization.

Both McGinnis and Reynolds admitted to using false and fraudulent promises to market Medical Cost Sharing as a "health care sharing ministry" to defraud hundreds of "ministry members" collecting about $8 million in member "contributions" but only paying 3.1% in health care claims, taking the other contributions as personal profit.

Both profited by more than $5 million in customer contributions. They marketed Medical Cost Sharing through insurance brokers, radio stations, social media and a website.

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The fraudulent company promised members that if they paid monthly contributions the company would pay member claims after the deductible was met, however, McGinnis and Reynolds admitted that the company rarely paid members' health care claims or only paid part of a claim if the member filed a complaint with their state attorney general or hired an attorney to represent them against the company.

The company did not pay any member claims for two years from Feb. 22, 2021, to December of 2022, but it did collect more than $1.2 million in dues for those two years.

McGinnis also admitted to filing a federal income tax return on which he claimed he had no taxable income in 2019, in reality, he received approximately $140,000.

The FBI has created a page for victims of the Medical Cost Sharing fraud scheme which can be found at www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/victim-services/seeking-victim-information/mcs-victim-information-page.
A 16-year-old bicyclist was struck and killed by the driver of a sedan Friday afternoon in Exposition Park in a potential case of road rage, authorities said.

The driver fled the scene after the incident, which took place in a parking lot of BMO Stadium in the park near downtown Los Angeles shortly after 4:30 p.m., according to authorities.

About 40 bicyclists were pedaling south on Figueroa Street, just north of Martin Luther King Boulevard, when an altercation took place between the group and the driver of the sedan, California Highway Patrol Sgt. Dan Keene told reporters at the scene. The driver then followed the group through an opening in a fence and into the stadium parking lot, where he allegedly struck the victim, Keene said. The teenage boy died at the scene, the Highyway Patrol said in a press release.

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No arrest had been reported as of Saturday afternoon, and a description of the driver and vehicle wasnt available.

Keene said the incident never should have happened and urged the driver to come back and speak with investigators. No parent should have to go through that, he said.

Anyone with information was asked to contact CHP's Southern Division Major Crimes Unit at (323) 644-9550 or its Los Angeles Communication Center at (323) 259-3200.



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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: Casandra Kay Booker. Image courtesy Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum.

We want to remember Casandra Kay Booker, while honoring those who survived and thanking those changed forever.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
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: Carol Louise Bowers. Image courtesy Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum.

We want to remember Carol Louise Bowers, 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.
Nov. 22Allegheny County Police have charged a 17-year-old boy who is accused of writing a threatening note that disrupted operations at Chartiers Valley School District on Friday.

District officials reported on the Chartiers Valley website that students would learn remotely on Friday and that after-school activities were canceled "out of an abundance of caution" during an investigation prompted by a "concerning note."

Officials didn't say where or when the handwritten note was discovered.

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County police, called in on Friday to assist Collier Township police in the investigation, said the teen suspect was taken into custody that evening and charged with terroristic threats and harassment.

Authorities didn't release the name of the boy, who has been charged as a juvenile.

County detectives said the boy previously was charged on Nov. 11 related to an earlier terroristic threat targeting Chartiers Valley.

That earlier threat also triggered remote learning and canceled after-school activities on Nov. 11. Classes at the Parkway West Career and Technology Center also were affected.

Interim Superintendent Joseph Dimperio said a student in crisis, who was not identified, was suspected of making that threat. Authorities said the student was placed in supervised custody as a result of that incident.

Jeff Himler is a TribLive reporter covering Greater Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant Area and Derry Area school districts and their communities. He also reports on transportation issues. A journalist for more than three decades, he enjoys delving into local history. He can be reached at jhimler@triblive.com.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  A 19-year-old male from Kailua-Kona was killed in a two-vehicle crash on the Queen Kaahumanu Highway (Highway 19) on Friday, November 22.

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The incident occurred around 6:42 p.m. near the 84-mile marker in North Kona.

The victim was riding a green 2024 Kawasaki Ninja sport bike. Police said the rider was attempting to overtake multiple vehicles when his bike collided head-on with a silver 2021 Honda CR-V driven by a 65-year-old woman from Kamuela.

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The motorcyclist was transported to Kona Community Hospital but was later pronounced dead at 10:53 p.m.

Giving machines launch at Ala Moana Center

The driver of the Honda suffered minor injuries and was treated at the hospital before being released.

The Hawaii Police Departments Area II Traffic Enforcement Unit has opened a Coroners Inquest investigation into the crash.

Authorities are asking anyone who witnessed the incident to contact Officer Dayson Taniguchi at (808) 326-4646 ext. 229 or by email at dayson.taniguchi@hawaiicounty.gov.

Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news

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Tipsters wishing to remain anonymous may also contact Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.

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Video above: FEMA administrator questioned by House lawmakers

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  FEMA announced Friday it has approved over $1 billion in disaster assistance as the destructive 2024 hurricane season nears its end.

The agency reported the funds will go toward homeowners and renters to help with home repairs, property losses and other disaster expenses as they recover from Hurricanes Milton, Helene and Debby.

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Florida officials allege pervasive discrimination against Trump supporters at FEMA

The $1 billion in approved funds includes:

$449.2 million for Hurricane Milton

$516.6 million for Hurricane Helene

$49.8 million for Hurricane Debby

Floridians can still apply for FEMAs Individual Assistance program if they suffered losses from any of the three hurricanes.

Residents can apply online, through the FEMA app, or by calling (800) 621-3362. They can also visit a disaster recovery center in person for one-on-one assistance in applying for disaster aid.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
RIVERSIDE, Ohio (WDTN)  A search warrant led to two arrests and the discovery of various narcotics Thursday.

Riverside Police Department reports officers executed a search warrant on the morning of Nov. 21 in the 4600 block of Maughn Avenue. The warrant was served after an extensive investigation and a number of tips from local residents.

6 arrested after federal agents execute area-wide warrants

During the search, officers found several drugs, including methamphetamine, fentanyl, mushrooms and LSD.

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Two individuals were arrested and booked into Montgomery County Jail on active warrants. Felony drug charges along with other possible charges are pending through the Prosecutors Office.

Investigation is ongoing, Riverside PD says.

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BRISTOL, Conn. (WTNH)  Two nursing homes in Bristol are slated to close, causing a lot of concern for employees as well as residents.

This news was devastating, said Sheriden Woods Health Care Center resident Ed McClean. I even saw some of the others crying.

Residents are worried theyll have nowhere to go, while employees of the Sheriden Woods and Countryside Manor are worried theyll lose their jobs. Both Bristol nursing homes are slated to close pending state approval.

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All hope is gone, the patients are sad, licensed practical nurse Sanderia Boone said. Its the holidays time, and its just a very devastating time for all of us.

Some LPNs and certified nursing assistants, along with several residents like Rodney Brooks, just came from Abbott Terrace in Waterbury, another Athena Health Care Systems facility that closed in October.

Ive been doing a lot of praying, Brooks said.

Staff was critical of the decision to move them, just to close another facility.

You knew that you guys were gonna close down here but you had these patients move from Abbott over here to Bristol, and now youre gonna move them again and like they decline is so fast, CNA Brittney Collazo said. Ive never seen anything like that.

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Karen Rivera, a CNA, said residents have been crying because they dont have a place to go.

Some of them dont have a family to go to, she said.

Staff are also concerned.

Its really tough, LPN Valerie Hart said. Were all gonna not have jobs.

Jerry Gisondi, whose sister lives at Sheridan Woods, said his drive to see her will go from five minutes to move than 45.

And have her be in a facility she doesnt even want to be in? he said.

She was moved from another Athena facility in Middlesex, which also closed.

In a statement Athena Health Care Systems said that, Unfortunately, a combination of environmental factors  staffing challenges, facility maintenance needs, and rising operational costs  made it impossible to continue operating both facilities consistent with our high standards for care.

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Workers said their health care coverage wasnt being paid by the company, so their medical claims were denied.

I was getting letters in the mail from debt collectors with outstanding bills like thousands of dollars, CNA Rebecca Reardon said.

She hopes her debt doesnt continue to grow if she cant find another job.

Employees and residents will have an opportunity to voice their concerns to the state, as well, before a closure is approved.

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Two people have been charged in connection with the death of Dartmouth College student Won Jang in July.

Jang, 20, was found dead by the Connecticut River on the school's New Hampshire campus in July, according to police.

The Hanover Police Department announced misdemeanor charges for providing alcohol to persons under 21 years of age at an event attended by Jang before his death.

PHOTO: Dartmouth student Won Jang is shown in this undated file photo. (LinkedIn)

A sorority was also charged as a corporation for facilitating an underage alcohol party, which was organized by its members, according to the Hanover Police.

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Jang was found dead off the shore of the Connecticut River on the school's campus on July 7 after drinking at a fraternity party the night before, according to police.

PHOTO: In this screen grab from a video, police tape is shown along the Connecticut River. (WMUR)

PHOTO: The Beta Alpha Omega fraternity house is shown at Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H. (WMUR)

At the time of his death, Jang had a blood alcohol level of 0.167, according to police.

Dartmouth College previously suspended a sorority and fraternity on campus in relation to Jang's death.

The college said its Greek organizations have a responsibility to ensure the school remains a safe, respectful, equitable and inclusive community.

PHOTO: In this screen grab from a video, police search the Connecticutt River for Darthmouth College student Won Jang. (WMUR)

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PHOTO: In this screen grab from a video, police search the Connecticutt River for Darthmouth College student Won Jang. (WMUR)

"Following the tragic loss of Won Jang during the summer, Dartmouth immediately suspended both Alpha Phi and Beta Alpha Omega, and an internal investigation was initiated. These suspensions remain in effect pending the results of Dartmouths internal investigation and conduct process, which is still ongoing," Dartmouth said in a statement to ABC News on Friday.

2 charged in connection to death of 20-year-old Dartmouth College student Won Jang originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  KSN News is getting an idea of how an explosion at an egg-laying facility in Harvey County will impact prices.

Firefighters said a propane explosion leveled a barn that housed 20,000 hens on Thursday. KSN News spoke to a poultry expert, who said the price of eggs locally will go up.

Scott Beyer of Kansas State University said this was a fairly new free-range egg operation. He said the farmer will now have to start from scratch, while egg prices at grocery stores will increase in a market already impacted by the Avian flu.

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Its like a punch in the gut when you see something like that, said Beyer, a K-State Extension poultry specialist.

Wichita residents step up to help others this Thanksgiving

Beyer said the egg market in the United States has already been weathered by bird loss from the Avian flu. He said 20,000 hens is a big non-commercial operation, and losing it will have negative impacts.

It will certainly hurt some local prices. We have about one hen for every person in the United States, so when we lose 20,000 hens, thats 20,000 eggs short a day, it doesnt take very long to lose that many farms, before the price of eggs in the grocery store goes up, said Beyer.

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He said 1.8 million chickens had been killed due to contracting bird flu in Colorado. The risk of the virus makes it hard to acquire birds from an auction barn, meaning the farmer will have to wait for new pullets to grow.

When you lose your birds, the big problem is, you have a big gap in income. It takes 18 weeks to grow a bird, many more weeks to get a marketable product again, but during that time, youve got bills to pay, said Beyer.

The farmer KSN spoke with declined to comment about the loss of his property.

Happy Egg, who purchased the farmers supply, provided KSN with the following statement:

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At Happy Egg, we are committed to humane animal care, and this loss is a tragedy that is deeply affecting us. The suffering and loss experienced by these hens weigh heavily on us. Our hen and farmer well-being has, and will remain, a priority in everything we do. This fire, caused by a gas leak leading to an explosion, is under investigation by the Newton Fire Department. We are grateful to the Newton Fire Department for their swift response and their commitment to investigating this incident. We trust their expertise to provide valuable insights to improve the safety of our farmers and hens. Weve been truly humbled by the response from our Happy Egg farmers and employees, who have come together to support the family, working through the night. We will continue to stand by them in the days ahead. It is a testament to the strength and compassion of our Happy Egg farmer community. At the moment, our leaders are focused on supporting our farmer and his family as they navigate this incident. While were unable to accommodate a Zoom interview right now, were happy to provide a written statement. Happy Egg

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$20M settlement reached in Las Cruces officer-involved shooting

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The City of Las Cruces has reached a $20-million settlement with the family of a woman who was allegedly shot and killed by a former Las Cruces police officer last year.

The City of Las Cruces said its also in the final stages of financing the settlement, which the City is calling its largest agreement in a civil lawsuit.

Woman dies after officer-involved shooting in Las Cruces

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Teresa Gomez, 45, was allegedly shot and killed by former Las Cruces Police Officer Felipe Hernandez on early Tuesday morning, Oct. 3, 2023, the City of Las Cruces said in a news release.

Later in October 2023, a lawsuit was filed by Gomezs estate in U.S. District Court. After LCPD determined there was probable cause to charge Hernandez with second-degree murder, LCPD filed a criminal complaint on Jan. 9 against Hernandez, the City of Las Cruces said.

The City of Las Cruces determined the actions on the morning of Oct. 3, 2023, were so severe that charges were brought against Hernandez.

Hernandez was arrested in January and charged with a felony count of second-degree murder, according to the City of Las Cruces.

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He is scheduled to go on trial next year.

Former Las Cruces police officer Felipe Hernandez

Las Cruces officer facing murder charge in death of woman

Following an administrative investigation, Hernandez was relieved of his duties in May, and he no longer works for the City of Las Cruces, according to the news release.

Las Cruces City Council met in closed sessions to review their options and reach a consensus on terms in the settlement, the City of Las Cruces said.

An ordinance will be brought to City Council in January 2025 to approve financing the settlement.

Hernandezs criminal trial on the second-degree murder charge is scheduled to begin June 2, 2025.

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The City understands its obligations to uphold and protect the constitutional rights of Hernandez, including his presumption of innocence in the pending criminal case. The settlement reached with the Gomez estate should in no way indicate criminal guilt by Hernandez. Hernandez is considered innocent until and unless he is proven guilty in a court of law. The City will respect the criminal justice process and the outcome of that process. This settlement should be understood as a statement of the Citys profound feeling of loss for the death of Gomez and of the Citys condolences to her family, read the news release.

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DILLON COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  A 21-year-old Dillon County man and a juvenile died after a single-vehicle crash late Tuesday night, Coroner Donnie Grimsley said.

Alex Thomas Matthews was pronounced dead at the scene, Grimsley said. The name of the male juvenile is not being released because of his age.

The crash happened just before midnight on McKay Bridge Road near Judson Road, just north of Little Rock. According to South Carolina Highway Patrol Master Trooper Gary Miller, a 2020 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck went off the right side of the road while going south on McKay Bridge Road.

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The truck went over an embankment, hit a tree and flipped over, Miller said. A third person in the truck was taken to a Florence hospital but no information about their condition was immediately available.

* * *

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.

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DENVER (KDVR)  Three people were taken to the hospital after a rollover crash involving a semitrailer along eastbound Interstate 70 on Friday.

The Denver Fire Department said the crash happened near I-70 and Clay Street, which is in the Sunnyside neighborhood of Denver just south of the interstate.

A Denver woman is thankful her home is intact after the semi came crashing off of I-70 into her neighborhood.

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I heard a very loud, what sounded like an explosion and I felt my house kind of shake, said Alondra Flores, a resident in the area. It was terrifying. I thought about the driver. I saw a lot of people coming down and they were screaming, like, is anybody there, can you hear me? Can you hear me?

Flores was thankful the truck stopped where it was after heading toward her home.

That is my sons room and so a lot of things just went through my mind. My husband is a truck driver and so this really hit home, said Flores.

The Denver Fire Department shared photos of the aftermath of the crash, in which the semi can be seen on its side with the engine exposed and the front windshield shattered. A fence along I-70 appears broken and the vehicle came to a stop in a yard near the intersection of Clay Street and West 48th Avenue South Drive.

Three people were taken to the hospital after a rollover crash involving a semi trailer near Interstate 70 and Clay Street in Denver on Nov. 22, 2024. (Denver Fire Department) Three people were taken to the hospital after a rollover crash involving a semi trailer near Interstate 70 and Clay Street in Denver on Nov. 22, 2024. (Denver Fire Department) Three people were taken to the hospital after a rollover crash involving a semi trailer near Interstate 70 and Clay Street in Denver on Nov. 22, 2024. (Denver Fire Department)

Details about the crash are limited as of Friday afternoon. The Denver Fire Department said three people were taken to a local hospital and their condition was not specified.

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The fire department said the Denver Police Department is investigating the crash.

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A 52-year-old man accused of having child sexual assault material was formally charged on Friday.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Norman Adkins, 52, was indicted on 26 counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor on Friday, according to Montgomery County Common Pleas Court records.

TRENDING STORIES:

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The Miamisburg Police Department opened an investigation into Adkins after receiving a referral from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force accusing him of having child sexual assault material on an account, a spokesperson from the Montgomery County Prosecutors Office said.

Investigators reportedly found 26 images and videos while searching his computer.

Court records indicate that Adkins is not in custody.

News Center 7 will continue to follow this story.

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BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD)  Six people face firearm and other charges after a drug trafficking investigation in Ascension Parish.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the suspects reportedly took part in an extensive drug trafficking venture where they distributed cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, oxycodone and heroin.

During the investigation, agents seized more than 443 grams of substances containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, 68.1 grams of cocaine and multiple firearms, according to the DOJ.

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The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and task force officers from the Baton Rouge Police Department, Iberville Parish Sheriffs Office, Gonzales Police Department and the Ascension Parish Sheriffs Office.

Former Baton Rouge city-parish contractor pleads guilty in child porn case

How were they charged?

Leroy Miles, 45, of Donaldsonville, was arrested and charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Joseph Brown, 37, of Donaldsonville, was arrested and charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and distribution of heroin and fentanyl.

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James Miles, 47, of Donaldsonville, was arrested and charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances.

Corey Powe, 55, of Donaldsonville, was arrested and charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Marishell Ealem, 39, of Donaldsonville, was arrested and charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances and distribution of heroin and fentanyl.

Destiny Renee McBride, 35, of Donaldsonville, was arrested and charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.

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In its 57th year on air, the CBS news magazine 60 Minutes on Dec. 1 plans to air a segment on the gripping and life-saving tale of Operation Bella, in which a former Kansas City area politician helped save 383 people fleeing from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

The story, first recounted in February by The Kansas City Star, centers on U.S. Army veteran and former Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander.

Kander was a guest Friday on the KCUR radio program Up to Date, hosted by journalist Steve Kraske, who announced the future airing.

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The nail-biting tale of Operation Bella, named for one of Kanders daughters, can be read here, as it first appeared in The Star.

Untold story revealed: Operation Bella and how KCs Jason Kander helped save 383 lives

Jason Kander, right, with interpreter Salam Rauffi in Afghanistan in 2007.

A synopsis: The story unfolds in Afghanistan in September 2021, three weeks after the U.S. military had pulled out of the country after 20 years of war. Kander, who for four months in 2006 and 2007 had worked in the country as a military intelligence officer, had grown close his Afghan translator, Salaam Rauffi. Because Rauffi had also been American-born, he did not need help fleeing the country. But some of his relatives with ties to Americans, and thus considered enemies of the Taliban, did.

Kander, with extensive help, eventually concocted a plan  involving moves across the country and a fake wedding  to try to save Rauffis relatives and, along the way, 74 other families.
JUNCTION CITY (KSNT)  Kansas transportation officials are reopening part of I-70 near Junction City Friday to traffic on the highway.

Ashley Perez with the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) announced in a press release on Nov. 22 that workers will be reopening I-70 through Junction City to unrestricted winter traffic by the end of the day. This will follow the completion of Phase Two construction on the large-scale pavement replacement project and a three-day lane reduction for bridge work in Grandview Plaza.

KDOTs final phase of this project is set to start in mid-March of 2025. Drivers will only be able to use a single lane in each direction during this phase in the westbound lanes while pavement work is completed in the eastbound lanes.

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BNSF celebrates new Kansas track on super highway expected to reduce delivery times

Perez said the entire $30 million project includes construction of temporary crossovers, pavement and drainage structure replacement, bridge rehabilitation work along with resurfacing of some nearby local routes. The entire project is slated to end by December 2025. You can learn more about the project by heading to KDOTs website.

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.

Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf

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HONOLULU (KHON2)  If you are looking for something fun to do this weekend, why not support local at the White Sands Hotel!

Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You

Founder, Bethia Taylor, of Pua Hawaii, and Owner, Mickey Marikwa, of Mosa Ice Cream, joined Brittni Friedlander on Wake Up 2Day with all the festive details.

Bethia shared the background of her business, Pua Hawaii is my handmade jewelry business that offers pieces inspired by the nature and florals of Hawaii. We wanted to create an event to celebrate this milestone with our community, so we created the Pua Party to be an incredible day of shopping, music, and fashion, all in celebration of Pua Hawaiis seventh anniversary! It kicks off with a pop-up market from 3 to 6 p.m., showcasing a fantastic selection of local businesses, and in addition to the market, we have an amazing lineup of live music, featuring both local and international artists like Myshaan, Royce Fisherman, Joetae, and Jule all throughout the afternoon.

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Hilton Hawaiian Village offering up delicious options this holiday season!

One of the vendors is Mosa Ice Cream, a Taiwanese inspired ice cream store most known for desserts such as their iconic Mosa Wrap and Tanghulu, will be in attendance along with beachwear, Sharai, and handmade clothing by Kikinis available for guests to shop.

In addition to the marketplace and musicians, there will be a fashion show beginning approximately at 5:30 p.m. featuring many local designers such as Immerse and Amorn Swim along with local models as the talent.

The full event runs from 3pm-7pm, Sunday, November 24.

Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news

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To join in on the festivities, guests can still purchase tickets for $35 through the following link: Pua Party Admission | Pua Hawaii and follow their journey on Instagram (@shoppuahawaii).

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A massive, 836lb emerald thought to be worth as much as $1bn, and rumored to be cursed, will return to its home soil of Brazil, a US court ruled this week.

Were very happy with the decision, federal prosecutor Boni de Moraes Soares told The Washington Post of the decision. Were closer than ever to bringing the Bahia emerald back to the Brazilian people.

Kit Morrison, an Idaho trader whos part of a group that claimed ownership over the gem, told the paper he accepted the ruling.

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I dont have any feeling of defeat or loss, he said. When you are an investor and entrepreneur, you do everything you can to protect, preserve and improve the investment and opportunity. However, you cannot control the things that are out of your control.

The Bahia Emerald, which was mined in Brazil in 2001 and smuggled to the US, has long been the subject of competing claims of ownership.

The ruling likely brings an end to its chaotic journey through the Americas.

Brazil argued that the emerald had been illegally mined and taken out of country (AP)

The gem was carried out of the Brazilian rainforest by a team of mules, one of which was attacked by a panther. In the US, Hurricane Katrina hit one warehouse where it was stored, and the gem was stolen from another facility in Los Angeles. It also almost became a part of a transaction involving fraudster Bernie Madoff.

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The emerald was eventually seized in Las Vegas and came to the attention of the Brazilian government when a dispute between gem dealers landed in a Los Angeles court. Under the countrys constitution, all mining assets in the country belong to Brazil, and a permit would be required to remove the emerald.

In 2015, a California court declared Morrison and his consortium had the rightful and good faith ownership of the emerald. However, that same year, the US Department of Justice initiated a federal court action to seize the rock, pending the completion of a case in Brazil alleging it was illegally mined.

In the intervening years, the emerald was held for safekeeping with the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department.

By 2021, the Brazilian court ordered the forfeiture of the emerald. The following year, the Justice Department filed a motion in court seeking to return the emerald to Brazil under a mutual legal assistance treaty.
Stuffing is a must-have Thanksgiving dish in many households.

Celebrity chefs like Martha Stewart and Guy Fieri have their own recipes for stuffing.

Ina Garten and Rachael Ray both add apples to their stuffing recipes.

Whether you're team in-the-bird or team oven, stuffing is one of the most popular Thanksgiving side dishes and everyone has their preferred recipe.

Whether you call it stuffing or dressing, the dish is a staple on many Americans' Thanksgiving tables. A 2021 survey conducted by Ipsos found that about 76% of respondents reported serving stuffing or dressing at their Thanksgiving meals, more than dinner rolls, gravy, cranberry sauce, or green-bean casserole.

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Many celebrity chefs have given the classic dish their own unique spins. For example, Guy Fieri adds pepperoni to his stuffing, while Ina Garten and Rachael Ray both add apples to their stuffing recipes.

Here are nine celebrity-chef stuffing recipes to consider making this Thanksgiving.

Martha Stewart's recipe for classic stuffing is made to be cooked inside your Thanksgiving turkey.

Martha Stewart. Cindy Ord/Getty Images; Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock

The recipe calls for all the typical ingredients, including onions, celery, sage, and two loaves of stale white bread. However, Martha Stewart also recommends adding optional ingredients like toasted pecans and dried cherries to elevate the stuffing.

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Ina Garten's recipe for sausage-and-herb stuffing also includes apples and dried cranberries for added flavor.

Ina Garten. Nathan Congleton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/Getty Images; Food Network/YouTube

For her recipe, Ina Garten recommends toasting your bread first before moving on to sauteing the onions, celery, apples, parsley, salt, and pepper. After sauteing the sausage in the same pan, mix all the ingredients together with chicken stock and the dried cranberries before baking it in the oven.

Emeril Lagasse's recipe for stuffing involves relatively few steps but quite a few ingredients.

Emeril Lagasse. John Lamparski/Getty Images; Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock

The chef's Thanksgiving favorite recipe uses mild fresh Italian sausage, diced onion, diced celery, garlic, apples, chestnuts, fresh goat cheese, and a beaten egg before it's baked or stuffed inside the turkey.

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Rachael Ray makes her apple, celery, and onion stuffing every year on Thanksgiving.

Rachael Ray. John Lamparski/Getty Images; Rachael Ray Show/YouTube

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The recipe is pretty traditional, except for the inclusion of McIntosh or Empire apples. The stuffing is baked in the oven and calls for seasoned cubed stuffing rather than homemade bread cubes, which many celebrity chefs recommend.

Guy Fieri's pepperoni stuffing is a unique take on the classic Thanksgiving side dish.

Guy Fieri. Steve Jennings/Getty Images; Chelsea Davis/Insider

The recipe calls for sliced pepperoni, yellow onions, red bell pepper, pepperoncini peppers, and sun-dried tomatoes. To amp up this Italian-inspired recipe, Fieri also opts to use dried-out focaccia bread rather than white bread.

When Business Insider's Chelsea Davis made the stuffing for her Thanksgiving dinner, she said it "tasted like a loaded pizza."

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"Fixer Upper" star Joanna Gaines' recipe for homemade Thanksgiving stuffing uses French bread and mushrooms.

Joanna Gaines. Rob Kim/Getty Images; Elena Veselova/Shutterstock

The recipe doesn't include meat, although it does use chicken broth and poultry seasoning to give it more flavor. Gaines also adds interesting ingredients like heavy cream and mushrooms to her stuffing.

The Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond's recipe calls for three different types of bread, including homemade cornbread.

Ree Drummond. Tyler Essary/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images; Paige Bennett/Insider

Drummond's dressing recipe  yes, it's technically called dressing if it's not in the bird  uses cornbread, an Italian bread like a ciabatta loaf, and French bread. The recipe doesn't use sausage, although it does include other classic ingredients like celery, parsley, and onions.

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To make Bobby Flay's dressing, you'll need hot Italian sausage and cubed country bread, plus other ingredients.

Bobby Flay. Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images; Food Network

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The recipe also uses unsalted butter, red onion, celery, carrots, garlic, and fresh sage to add a lot of flavor. Despite Flay mostly being known for his burgers, the recipe has received mostly positive reviews on the Food Network's website, with one user calling it "a staple every year" at their Thanksgiving dinner.

Paula Deen's stuffing recipe calls for homemade cornbread and a large amount of butter.

Paula Deen. Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images; Paige Bennett/Insider

To make Deen's Southern cornbread stuffing recipe, you'll need a stick of butter, chopped celery, chopped onion, chicken stock, plus the ingredients needed to make the cornbread. The recipe also calls for saltine crackers, which Business Insider's Paige Bennett thought was a miss.

"When I took a bite, I noted the interior was far too soggy  there was definitely too much broth, and the crackers turned mushy after absorbing the liquid," she wrote.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Nov. 22The district attorney for Kennebec and Somerset counties is mounting a challenge for the position of attorney general, one of three constitutional offices chosen by the Legislature.

Maeghan Maloney is looking to unseat Attorney General Aaron Frey in a rematch of the 2018 race, which included three other candidates.

But don't expect much public campaigning, pronouncements or deliberations. Maine's three constitutional officers, which also include the secretary of state and treasurer, are elected by lawmakers through a secret ballot process and candidates seek to persuade lawmakers in private, one-on-one conversations.

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Secretary of State Shenna Bellows confirmed she is seeking reelection. No challengers have emerged publicly. State Treasurer Henry Beck said he will not seek another term as treasurer, and it wasn't immediately clear who may seek the post.

Both Frey and Maloney are Democrats, the party that controls both chambers of the Legislature and therefore gets to select the constitutional officers.

Democrats in the Senate and House of Representatives will hold a joint meeting on Dec. 3 to vote on nominations and formally vote during a joint session of the Legislature on Dec. 4, according to Brian Lee, communications director for House Democrats. Lee said the candidates will be allowed to address the nomination caucus and possibly at the joint session of the Legislature.

Frey is seeking his final two-year term before he runs up against term limits. He could not be reached Friday to discuss his candidacy. His first two years in office overlapped with the end of President-elect Donald Trump's first term in office.

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Maloney said she is challenging Frey because Maine needs an attorney general who will be able to serve throughout Trump's upcoming four-year term. "Maine needs someone who is going to fight for four years, not just two," Maloney said in an interview.

The entire Legislature is elected every two years, so there is no guarantee that Democrats will still be in control during Trump's final two years. Democrats have had a governing trifecta with control of the Legislature and Blaine House since 2019, but Republicans made gains in November, narrowing the Democratic hold to 77 seats in the 151-seat House.

"At least it would be possible for me to serve for the entire Trump administration," Maloney said. "There will be a lot that will be happening two years from now. There will be cases that have not yet started that will be mid-process in two years, and those cases would benefit from having a consistent leadership."

In a letter to lawmakers announcing his reelection bid, Frey noted past efforts to work with Democrats and Gov. Janet Mills to stand up to Trump and other conservative states, including opposing efforts to divert defense spending to build Trump's border wall, repeal the Affordable Care Act, undermine the Child Welfare Act and overturn the Federal Drug Administration's approval of mifepristone, one of the two pills used in the most common type of abortion in the nation.

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"Maine needs an attorney general who will hold the line in safeguarding democracy and protecting individual rights from the coming Trump administration. I have that experience," Frey wrote. "In my first two years as attorney general, I worked closely and consistently with other Democratic attorneys general to hold Donald Trump and his administration accountable during his first term."

Frey recently told the Maine Morning Star that he traveled to Philadelphia to meet with 19 other Democratic attorneys general to discuss ways to respond to a Trump presidency. He told the online news organization that the group has spent months preparing for another Trump presidency.

Frey faced scrutiny and criticism when he disclosed in April 2023 that he had been in a romantic relationship with an employee for eight months. The disclosure was made only after a formal complaint about the relationship was filed by the female employee's brother-in-law and reporters began asking questions. An investigation ordered by lawmakers found that Frey made "an error in judgment" by not disclosing the affair sooner.

Maloney, meanwhile, has been the subject of two complaints with the Maine Overseers of the Bar, which enforces professional and ethical standards for attorneys licensed to practice in Maine.

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In 2019, Maloney was admonished for discussing the details of a pending criminal case with a judge in a private conversation in that judge's chamber without a defense attorney present. The judge requested the conference to discuss a possible ethics violation and the discussion was recorded by a clerk and court reporter. But that conversation also touched on a criminal case pending before that judge.

The judge did not believe Maloney committed an ethical violation. But Maloney's discussion of the pending case without the defense attorney present prompted the Law Court to strike the resulting guilty verdict, causing additional proceedings.

Maloney said in an interview that she believed that the defense attorneys would be provided a copy of the transcript, but that never occurred.

Although she could have fought the complaint, Maloney took responsibility for the meeting and agreed with the board's admonishment  the lowest level of discipline reserved for "minor misconduct" that doesn't injure anyone and is unlikely to be repeated.

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Maloney is currently facing a rules of conduct complaint based on her handling of a case involving a woman who was allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted at a Waterville bar.

The victim accused Maloney of reaching out to the victim's friend, who is a domestic violence advocate, and offering to share confidential information about the case to work around her attorney and secure a plea agreement.

Maloney said that one of those allegations had already been dismissed and that she was simply trying to connect the woman to the victim's advocate.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.
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.

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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.
Anti-abortion advocates will likely seek new federal restrictions on access to abortion medication in the New Year. (Photo illustration by Anna Moneymaker/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.

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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.

Donald Trump spoke at the March for Life rally in January 2019 during his first term as president. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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:

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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.

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.

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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.

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.
Donald Trump spoke at the March for Life rally in January 2019 during his first term as president. (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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Reproductive rights groups are preparing for legal battles in several of the states where voters approved constitutional amendments to protect or expand abortion access this month.

After seven of the 10 pro-abortion rights measures on the November ballot across the country passed, the groups that backed them are now working to ensure they are implemented smoothly, particularly in states where the amendments will undo existing abortion bans.

Abortion rights groups are bracing for an especially tough fight in conservative Missouri, where they see one of the most restrictive bans in the country in place. Missouri banned almost all abortions after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, with exceptions to protect the life of the mother and for medical emergencies.

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The newly passed Amendment 3 protects abortion rights up to fetal viability, around the 24th week of pregnancy, with exceptions afterward to protect the life or health of the woman, which would mark the biggest change in the law of any state that voted on the issue this year.

Under Missouri law, the measure becomes formally enshrined in the state constitution 30 days after passage. But reproductive groups say even that doesnt present the kind of legal security desired by abortion clinics to resume services.

That fearful posture has a couple main causes: Missouri is the first state with a near-total abortion ban to approve a constitutional amendment making abortion a fundamental right, and the GOP-led Legislature has long been hostile to abortion rights.

Missouri is the one where the obstacles are going to be greatest, said Olivia Cappello, who helps run state advocacy operations for Planned Parenthoods national political arm. The decades of restrictions and cuts to public funding for reproductive health care services, as well as the general hostility of the state government, has pushed a lot of abortion providers out of that state. So its going to take a while to revamp the care infrastructure there.

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Anti-abortion groups and Republican lawmakers in Missouri challenged the measures appearance on the ballot at every turn. As a result, despite the ballot measures passage, there is no expectation that lawmakers will swiftly make changes to state statutes regarding abortion access.

Going to the courts is our fastest option, and also our most likely option to work in Missouri, she said.

The ACLU of Missouri, together with a coalition of reproductive rights groups, has already filed litigation seeking to block the dozens of abortion restrictions on the books in the state  including the near-total ban  as part an effort to force implementation of the passed amendment.

Missourians overwhelmingly voted to end Missouris abortion ban and protect reproductive freedom. Our lawsuit is the next step to fulfill the promise of the amendment, Tori Schafer, the deputy director for policy and campaigns at the ACLU of Missouri, said in a statement.

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The suit specifically asks the Missouri Supreme Court to declare the states abortion ban unconstitutional and seeks the legal authorization for abortion providers in the state to resume services immediately. A hearing in the case is scheduled for Dec. 4, one day before the amendment would formally take effect.

Several anti-abortion groups, including Missouri Stands with Women and the Thomas More Society, have indicated theyll fight implementation but havent offered specific plans.

Kelsey Pritchard, the director of state public affairs for Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, a national anti-abortion group that worked against the passage of amendments in Missouri and elsewhere, said in an email that the measures slim margin of victory amounted to a clear indication that there will be pro-life victories in Missouris future.

Pritchard didnt provide any specifics about how the group might fight implementation of the measure in the state.

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Similar efforts appear imminent in Arizona, where passage of Proposition 139 created a fundamental right in the states constitution to receive an abortion up until fetal viability, with exceptions after that if a health care professional decides its needed to protect the life or physical or mental health of the pregnant individual.

Officials will formally certify all statewide elections results Monday, opening the door for prospective litigation around its implementation.

The passage of the ballot measure effectively undoes Arizonas current abortion law  which states that abortions are legal up until the 15th week of pregnancy, with an exception after that to save the womans life but no exceptions for rape or incest  and contradicts what abortion rights groups say are approximately 40 other restrictions on care in state law.

For the measure to be effectively carried out, these groups plan to quickly follow the Monday certification deadline with litigation they say is designed to prompt judges to overturn the dozens of existing abortion restrictions on the books in the state. They expect the process to take months.

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The 40-plus laws that are still on the books dont automatically disappear, said Chris Love, a senior adviser to Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona. There will need to be legal challenges to most or all of those 40 laws and regulations.

Beyond the 15-week ban, the future of many of these abortion restrictions in the state may remain in question, despite the measures success.

There are others where, potentially, an Arizona judge, likely appointed by one of our many Republican governors over the decades, would see it differently, said Dawn Penich, a spokesperson for the ballot measure campaign. She cited a 24-hour waiting period required for women to receive abortion care in the state as an example of the kind of law that may be allowed to stand.

Despite the amendments passage, securing access to abortion through fetal viability is not going to be easy and definitely not quick, she said.

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Anti-abortion groups havent yet filed any litigation seeking to hamper forward movement of the measures implementation in Arizona. At least one prominent anti-abortion organization has vowed to fight its implementation.

We hope to bring more alongside us in the next few weeks and months to continue this battle for life. This fight is not over, Arizona Right to Life Chair Jill Norgaard said in a statement. Her group called on its allies in the fight against Proposition 139 to work together to overturn it in a statement this week.

Pritchard, of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, which also worked against passage of the measure in Arizona, didnt respond to questions about the groups future involvement around implementation in the state.

Meanwhile, no litigation on either side of the issue has yet emerged in Montana, where voters passed a ballot measure enshrining abortion in the state constitution. But abortion rights groups in the heavily Republican state said theyre prepared to respond to any.

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In Montana, abortion is already legal until fetal viability, meaning there is no need for a complicated legal process to unwind any major restrictions. That has meant that abortion rights groups havent needed to file any affirmative litigation, and it significantly lowers the possibility of any viable challenges to the measures implementation.

Abortion rights groups also arent expecting much of a battle in Colorado, Maryland, Nevada or New York  the remaining four states where voters passed measures enshrining abortion rights in state constitutions earlier this month.

In Nevada, thats because voters will have to pass the same measure once again in 2026 for it to take effect (under state law, such amendments must pass in two consecutive election cycles).

In Maryland and New York, abortions are already legal through fetal viability, while Colorado has no laws restricting abortion and no gestational limits for women seeking abortions. The constitutional amendments in these blue states serve almost entirely to prevent lawmakers from undoing existing protections in the future.

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Voters in Florida, Nebraska and South Dakota rejected proposed amendments that would have enshrined abortion protections in their state constitutions, the first states where pro-abortion-rights ballot measures failed since the Supreme Court overturned Roe.

Reproductive rights groups said those outcomes make it clear that there remains significant opposition to abortion rights in many pockets across the country, and that they cant take anything for granted  including in states where such measures passed.

Ballot measures dont end on Election Day. Ballot measure coalitions have to stay engaged long after to ensure that the policies that they passed are implemented within the spirit that they are intended, said Quentin Savwoir, the director of programs and strategy at the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, which works with progressive organizations to help advance citizen-led ballot measures.

Savwoir added that his group expected to see an increase in actions and legislation that would make it harder for other states to put the future of abortion rights directly in the hands of voters.

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He predicted, for example, the emergence of bills in GOP-led states that mirror a Florida law that requires 60% support from voters to pass any such citizen-led ballot initiative. (The ballot measure that would have enshrined abortion rights in Floridas constitution failed, even though it received the support of 57% of voters.)

We are preparing for an escalation of all types of attacks on the ballot measure and initiative process itself, given the overwhelming support of our initiatives, he said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
BALTIMORE  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, prosecutor 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

________
The adoptive parents of a 10-year-old boy have been charged with murder, torture and child abuse after the child died at a hospital in medical distress, authorities say.

According to the Riverside County Sheriffs Office, deputies were dispatched to the 13000 block of Malibu Court in Moreno Valley shortly before 6:30 p.m. Thursday on a report of a juvenile needing medical aid.

Upon arriving at the scene, the deputies located a 10-year-old boy in medical distress who was transported to a hospital by paramedics.

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The deputys initial investigation revealed signs of possible neglect and abuse, RSO said.

Several hours after being taken to the hospital, the boys health declined, and he eventually died, deputies said. His exact cause of death was not stated and his identity will not be disclosed.

Pickup truck smashes into Tesla Cybertruck on Orange County freeway off-ramp

A joint investigation between RSOs Central Homicide Unit and Special Victims Unit led to the arrests of the juveniles adoptive parents: 59-year-old Juan Sanchez Moreno and 51-year-old Alejandra Marin.

Moreno and Marin, both residents of Moreno Valley, were charged with murder, torture and child abuse.

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Inmate search records for Marin indicate she was booked at the Robert Presley Detention Center with no bail. Her first court date is set for Tuesday morning.

No inmate search records for Moreno were immediately available.

Anyone with information that can aid the ongoing investigation is asked to contact RSO Central Homicide Investigator S. Denham or Master Investigator R. Deanne by calling 951-955-2777.

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CUMBERLAND ISLAND, Ga. (WSAV)  A lawsuit demanding a management plan for the horses on Cumberland Island has been dismissed, but advocates say their fight to ensure the animals have enough food and water is far from over.

They are not livingtheyre struggling, said Gloria Bell, a representative of the Georgia Equine Rescue League (GERL).

GERL was one of the groups listed in the lawsuit, which called for the removal of the horses or the implementation of a management plan guaranteeing access to adequate food and water. Bell, who leads the Cumberland Island Project for GERL, says education is key in addressing the issue.

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You hear so many stories and posts about Cumberland Island, Bell said. It tells me that people care. I just wish that before anybody decided to post that stuff, they would take the time to really do some research because it sure opened our eyes.

Raccoon tests positive for rabies after attacking cat on St. Simons

Bell and her team have spent years researching the conditions on Cumberland Island. They cite the horses struggles with brackish, parasite-infested water, lack of veterinary care and poor quality of life.

The team notes that the horses, domesticated only three or four generations ago, are not truly wild, but feralstill dependent on human intervention.

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Those horses have huge bellies most of the time because theyre pregnant, Bell explained. They should be proportionate throughout their body. Their necks are skinny and tiny, which is the first sign of malnourishment. If there were a patch of land connecting the island to somewhere else, theyd leave to find food and grass.

They wouldnt stay because its beautifultheyre surviving, not thriving.

The fight isnt over. GERL is working on alternative solutions to help the horses.

If they stay, they need to be fed. Theres not enough on the island for them to eat or enough water for them to drink, Bell said.

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The News

A record number of people are expected to travel in the US during the Thanksgiving period this year, industry experts said, with flights set to finally return to pre-pandemic levels.

An estimated 2.8 million people will fly in the US every day between Nov. 22 and Dec. 2, one group said, up 5% compared with 2023. Bookings for international flights are also up 23% compared to Thanksgiving last year, data from the American Automobile Association data showed.

In New York and New Jersey alone, a record 8.7 million people are expected to travel over the holiday week. To minimize disruption, the US Department of Transportation said it has authorized the use of airspace normally reserved for the military, and has met with airlines to ensure they are operating realistic flight schedules.

SIGNALS

Airlines revenues are looking up, but challenges remain

Sources: Reuters, Bloomberg, The New York Times

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The global airline industry raised its profit outlook in June, expecting to bring in $3 billion more than in 2023, as post-pandemic travel returns in full swing: We are more bullish on airlines today than weve been in a long while, an analyst told Reuters. US carriers United and American increased their profit targets in recent quarters, but challenges from high costs persist: Delta, for example, has scaled up its premium offering to counter the expenses that are biting into its margins, and airlines have reduced plans to introduce more seats. And theres one notable exception to the airline industrys comeback: loss-making low-cost carrier Spirit filed for bankruptcy after a failed merger with JetBlue.

CrowdStrike outage still fresh in the memory of carriers and passengers

Sources: Federal Aviation Administration, Bloomberg

A chart showing the percentage of canceled flights in the US from 2021 to 2024.

Federal data shows US flight cancellations have trended down in 2024, even with the chaos caused by the July CrowdStrike cybersecurity outage. However, the negative impact on airlines it caused may be burned in the memory of travelers  and airlines  for years: Airlines have had to face the issues posed by their complex systems, which have in some cases stayed the same for decades, Bloomberg noted. These systems are optimized for efficiency and profit, WIRED wrote, which means lower prices for travelers, but can also make them prone to failure or collapse. We are slowly migrating these systems, American Airlines COO told Bloomberg, because there are a lot of intricacies, though he didnt specify what the migration entailed.

US aviators hope for looser regulation under Trump

Sources: The Associated Press, Airways Magazine

Some airline executives have shown optimism that the incoming Trump administration will lead to reduced scrutiny over airlines behavior, particularly a relaxation of the Biden administrations push for greater consumer protections, fewer junk fees, and lower ticket prices for passengers. Trumps pick for transportation secretary, former congressman and Fox Business host Sean Duffy, has advocated for improving infrastructure and investing in the transportation sector, Airways Magazine noted. Deltas CEO described the change as a breath of fresh air, while Southwests chief executive said there was potential for a more business-friendly and less aggressive approach.
JOHNSTOWN, Pa.  Passenger numbers have set new yearly records at John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport, with the busy holiday travel season still remaining.

The airports total of 14,600 paid boardings, or enplanements, through Oct. 31 topped last years previously record-setting figure, airport officials were told Tuesday.

The combined number of inbound and outbound travelers reached 28,747, yet another record, SkyWest Airlines Supervisor Nathan Pilkington said.

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Compared to the same 10 months in 2023, the airports passenger totals are just over 20% ahead of last years pace.

Just as importantly, the fact that the airport hit the 10,000-enplanement milestone for a second consecutive year keeps it on track for federal Airport Improvement Program Primary status.

If the airport can hit 10,000 enplanements again in 2025, it would boost its annual federal allocation from $150,000 to $1 million.

Thats been our goal for a long, long time, said Chairman Rick McQuaide.

We just have to get one more year of 10,000 enplanements.

Airport Manager Cory Cree said this years totals reinforce that the airport authority made the right choice four years ago when it chose to switch to SkyWest Airlines.

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Its a real credit to them, Cree said.

SkyWest operates daily United Express-branded flights on 50-seat jets to two U.S. hubs  Chicago OHare International Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport.

The carrier recently worked with the airport to modify its flight schedule for the Christmas season and increase opportunities for passengers to catch early connections to Florida.

Between Dec. 13 and Jan. 6, flights will depart Johnstown at 6:10 a.m., enabling morning connections from Dulles to Tampa, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and other cities, United.com shows.

Restaurant grant

In other news, the airport also received a $100,000 grant to enable new upgrades to the restaurant space that will be occupied by Balance Restaurant in January.

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Airport authority officials secured $100,000 in state Department of Community and Economic Development funds with support through state Rep. Jim Rigby, R-Ferndale, Cree said.

Those funds can be used for renovations, furnishings and restaurant equipment upgrades, with 60% of the funds required to be used for the latter, Cree said. Airport authority officials said part of the money may be used to expand bar dining space by replacing the bar top.

Cree said officials met with Balance Restaurant operators Amanda Artim and Dallas Pursley about different best use of funds options.

According to plans, Balance is planning to open the cafe space first, focusing on grab-and-go items and other quick bites while also offering a newsstand-style space that would offer newspapers and magazines for sale to travelers.

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Once any restaurant upgrades are completed, the dining area would follow, McQuaide said.

Airport budget

The authority approved a $1.8 million budget for 2025.

It includes a $1-per-hour pay increase for airport staff, which includes the facilitys maintenance crew, and a 3.5% pay increase for management, which includes Cree and Assistant Manager Heather Tomasko.

County appropriations  the annual contribution from Cambria County  will go unchanged again for the year at $174,000.
ALABAMA (WRBL)  The Alabama Law Enforcement agency announced it will be increasing its roadway presence ahead of Thanksgiving. The agency hopes this effort will ensure citizens are safe while traveling during the holiday week.

From Sat. Nov. 23 to Sunday Dec. 1, ALEA will begin high-visibility enforcement efforts. This will include drivers license checkpoints and Light Detection and Ranging operations  which is used for checking a vehicles speed remotely.

ALEA says special enforcement details will be conducted on Thanksgiving itself and will include officers focusing on high-crash area. ALEA says the measure will taking in an effort to reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities.

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Effective coordination among law enforcement agencies is crucial for the safety of citizens and visitors across all of our communities, ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor said. We work with our local partners throughout the year, every year, however, these efforts are especially important

during high-traffic periods such as the Thanksgiving holiday.

ALEAs Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director, Col. Jonathan Archer said the Thanksgiving holiday is a special time for people across in Alabama and across the country, but car accidents can make the holiday tragic.

The Thanksgiving holiday marks the beginning of a cherished time of year, Archer said. Tragically, many Alabama families experience loss due to preventable motor vehicle accidents caused by impaired driving, speeding, and failure to wear seat belts.

ALEA says seat belts are the best defense against impaired, aggressive and distracted drivers.

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No matter how long or short your drive, its critical that drivers and passengers Buckle Up.

Every Trip. Every Time. We want everyone to have a safe and happy Thanksgiving, Archer said.

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT)  This year, the state of Alabama boosted its report card score from the 2022-2023 school year. School districts said there are a few reasons for the improvement.

Alabama scored an 85% overall, compared to last years 83%. That score is broken down into six different categories, including graduation rate and chronic absenteeism.

Corey Clements, Chilton County Schools Superintendent, said they scored an 82% in their district- a five point increase from last year. He said the Literacy Act and third grade reading scores have helped with that.

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Stressing the importance of that test, because of the success at that level, I think that we saw an increase in academic achievement there, said Clements.

Alabama public schools make small improvements in some areas in 2023-24 state report card

Franklin County Schools Superintendent Greg Hamilton Said their district scored an 88%, two points higher than last year.

The score- that kind of score- with some of the demographics Ive mentioned. You know, the poverty rate, the E.L. population- things like that play into this, said Hamilton. Its a big, big deal.

Hamilton said chronic absenteeism has been a challenge since COVID.

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Being in a rural district with so many high schools, our grad rate has typically helped us, explained Hamilton. But the overall improvement scores- but chronic absenteeism is usually what kind of weighs us down a little bit.

Clements said the scores are a step in the right direction.

We had an overall improvement in 11 of our 12 schools, he said. And its just a tribute to our teachers and our administrators, and the work that theyre doing every day.

Clements said its all about direction, and not perfection. He said they are not content, but happy with the numbers they got for the Chilton County School District.

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  An Albuquerque man is behind bars after New Mexico State Police said he was found with firearms and drugs. For the last two months, NMSP has been investigating the sale of illegal drugs in southeast Albuquerque. Earlier this week, state police searched a home near Wyoming Blvd. and Zuni Rd. making contact with Bradley Keon Butler.

New Mexico State Police arrest man accused of stealing U-Haul, motorcycle inside

Police said Butler had four AR-15-style rifles and more than 35 grams of crack cocaine along with items used to make and distribute the drug. Butler was arrested and he is facing several charges including drug trafficking.

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  A 17-year-old ended up in handcuffs after Albuquerque police said he pointed a gun at officers. Police encountered the teen last Thursday on Central Ave. and Vermont St. last week after receiving reports of a suspicious person with a gun.

New Mexico State Police arrest man accused of stealing U-Haul, motorcycle inside

The teen took off running and flashed the gun at one point. The officers eventually found the teen with the fully loaded gun still in his possession along with $6,800 in cash. Police did not name the teen.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  It was an early Christmas gift purchased online.

LaRae Obenauf, 81, saw the age begin to show in her husbands living room chair and decided to get him a new recliner, but the Amazon purchase turned into a nightmare for the Las Vegas couple when their calls for help went unanswered.

On Oct. 3, the Jonpony reclining chair arrived at the doorstep of the Obenaufs home. Their caretaker brought the box in and helped them assemble the recliner, but there was a problem.

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He couldnt use the apparatus that they wanted him to use to lift the legs, and it was missing an arm, Obenauf said. I called Amazon, and they said to send it back.

The chair was carefully disassembled in the small living room while Obenauf communicated with Amazon customer service. The retail giant notified her a $615 shipping fee would need to be paidnearly double the cost of the purchase.

LaRae Obenauf, 81, saw the age begin to show in her husbands living room chair and decided to get him a new recliner, but the Amazon purchase turned into a nightmare for the Las Vegas couple when their calls for help went unanswered. (James Schaeffer/KLAS)

Thats over half of my social security check, she said. That means that I didnt have money for food.

Begrudgingly, Obenauf agreed to pay the shipping fee, but only because Amazon guaranteed a refund.

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We sent it by freight to Kentucky, and we know they got it because we followed it [online], and saw it had been signed for, she said.

A few days later Jonpony refunded the elderly couple for the chair, but the costly shipping fee from Amazon didnt come through. Obenauf, who is going blind, called the companys customer service line for weeks hoping to get an answer or a resolution for her case.

The chair was carefully disassembled in the small living room while Obenauf communicated with Amazon customer service. The retail giant notified her a $615 shipping fee would need to be paidnearly double the cost of the purchase. (KLAS)

I tried so many times. We had to send a copy of the receipt [sic] for the freight documents. We sent and sent and sent, she said. Then finally, after a month, they told me invalid receipt. Thats what they said. Invalid receipt. Case closed.

Two months after the initial purchase, Obenauf called Nexstars KLAS asking for help with resolving the shipping fee and with the hope of preventing a similar problem from happening to other elderly customers.

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If this happened to me, its had to have happened to other people, she said. If we had the money returned that would give us Christmas, that would give us Thanksgiving, that would give us breathing room. I have nothing.

KLAS contacted Amazon, submitted records related to Obenaufs purchase and relayed the issues. The company confirmed over email a team would investigate the issue, following the request and later reopened the case.

We thank CBS8 (KLAS) for bringing this to our attention, an Amazon spokesperson wrote. We have worked directly with the customers to resolve this matter.

8 News Now contacted Amazon, submitted records related to Obenaufs purchase and relayed the issues. The company confirmed over email a team would investigate the issue, following the request, and later reopened the case. (KLAS)

An Amazon spokesperson noted their team routinely works with customers one-on-one to understand and resolve specific requests. The company pointed to its customer service hub as a place for customers to relay concerns and request assistance.

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The Obenaufs confirmed to KLAS they received a call from Amazon and also received their shipping fee refund in full.

We didnt know if anyone heard us, Obenauf said. But we will have Thanksgiving this year.

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STOUGHTON, Mass. (WWLP)  An AMBER alert was issued for three children believed to have been kidnapped by their mother in Stoughton, Massachusetts.

The Massachusetts State Police issued an AMBER alert at around 9:53 p.m. on Friday for 29-year-old Ashley Vazquez who was believed to have packed her childrens belongings and taken her 10-year-old son, 9-year-old and 8-year-old daughters from their home earlier Friday.

Stoughton police said that they believed the children were in danger. The use of geolocation technology helped track down the vehicle that was being used by Vazquez and was found at around 10:30 p.m. in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston.

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At around 10:56 p.m., the State Police canceled the alert stating that the three children had been located safely.

Springfield baby shot in Hartford was in foster care

The police were seeking the publics help in locating a gray 2023 Toyota Rav4 SUV with Massachusetts registration plates of 2FZD76.

From left: Aliyah Campos, Aleyshka Campos and Janiel Trinidad. (Courtesy Stoughton Police Department)

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MAP: Stoughton, MA

The investigation was conducted by the Stoughton Police who worked with other law enforcement agencies including the Massachusetts State Police Critical Incident Technical Investigations Team and the Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section task force to find the children.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

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Caleb Kennedy, who competed on Season 19 of American Idol, has been sentenced to eight years for a felony DUI crash in 2022 that killed a South Carolina man. He pleaded guilty on Monday.

Authorities said he was using a marijuana vape pen while driving on a private road. Kennedy was 17 at the time of the fatal accident; the victim was later identified by the Spartanburg County Coroners Office as 54-year-old Larry Duane Parris.

Kennedys attorney Ryan Beasley told the Greenville News this week, Calebs very remorseful and his heartfelt sympathies are extended to the Parris family. This sentencing starts the healing process for everybody involved in this situation.

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According to local reports out of South Carolina, Kennedy, now 20, was sentenced to 25 years in prison and fined $25,100, suspended after eight years with a $15,100 fine. Three of those years will be served on home detention.

He was also given five years of probation and a mandate to attend mental health and substance abuse counseling.

The aspiring musician was 16 in 2021 when he made it to the Top 5 on American Idol, but dropped out after a Snapchat video of him wearing a white hood and robe that resembled those worn by the Ku Klux Klan resurfaced.

Kennedys mother Anita Guy said that her then-12-year-old son was attempting to copy one of the masks worn in the 2018 horror film The Strangers: Prey At Night. It had nothing to do with the Ku Klux Klan, but I know thats how it looks, she told the Spartanburg Herald-Journal at the time. Caleb doesnt have a racist bone in his body.

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Upon his withdrawal from the competition, Kennedy issued the following apology on Instagram: There was a video that surfaced on the Internet and it displayed actions that were not meant to be taken in that way. I was younger and did not think about the actions, but thats not an excuse. I wanna say sorry to all my fans and everyone who I have let down.

He added, I know this has hurt and disappointed a lot of people and made people lose respect for me. Im so sorry! I pray that I can one day regain your trust in who I am and have your respect!

The post American Idol Finalist Caleb Kennedy Sentenced to 8 Years for Fatal DUI appeared first on TheWrap.
Americas Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit is a feast for the eyes before the feast at the table. With celebrity appearances, clowns, balloons, marching bands and the legendary parade floats  it's enough fun to attract tens of thousands of excited spectators each year.

The renowned annual parade presented by Gardner White is now in its 98th year. The 2024 Theme is Miles of Smiles!"

What time does the Thanksgiving parade in Detroit start?

The parade kicks off at Woodward Avenue and Kirby Street in Midtown at 8:45 a.m. Thursday, according to The Parade Company, a Detroit-based nonprofit that produces America's Thanksgiving Parade. It ends in downtown Detroit, past Campus Martius Park, just after noon.

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More: Look for new floats in America's Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit

Detroit festivities: Detroit tree lighting kicks off 2024 holiday season with music, figure skating and lights

Detroit Thanksgiving parade route

The parade will march south along Woodward in a straight shot. The procession will go 3 miles from Kirby Avenue to Congress Street in the heart of downtown Detroit. According to a map of the route, the parade officially ends at Congress and Woodward.

Where to view Detroit's Thanksgiving parade

The event is free to attend along the parade route, but finding a spot might be difficult. Some venues are hosting watch parties.

While tickets to watch parties by the Parade Company, University of Michigan, Presley's Kitchen and others have sold out, The Whitney still has some third-floor tickets available to the Annual Thanksgiving Parade Brunch.

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A third-floor ticket to The Whitney brunch and watch party is $134 plus fees and can only be purchased online. Tickets for children 10 and under cost $99. Sales close on Monday. It includes access to a breakfast buffet and viewing the parade from the third floor of the iconic mansion and high-end restaurant.

As of Saturday morning, less than 20 third-floor tickets were available, and adult and child tickets were sold out, according to The Whitney.

How to watch on TV

Can't make it downtown to see the parade? Don't worry, the event will be on live TV, streamed online and commentated on the radio.

TV stations covering the parade include WDIV-TV (Local 4). A live stream will be hosted on clickondetroit.com and a live commentary will be provided on WOMC 104.3 FM. For hopeful viewers outside of the Detroit area, the parade is syndicated across 185 markets. According to The Parade Company, a full station list will be available Monday.

Detroit Turkey Trot 2024

Looking to burn a couple of calories before the Thanksgiving feast on Thursday? Along with the parade festivities, the annual Turkey Trot will kick off on Thanksgiving day. There is a variety of events being offered, including a 10K, 5K and a 1-mile run. Runners are encouraged to run in costumes.

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The 10K and 1-mile run kicks off at 7:30 a.m., and the 5K begins an hour later at 8:30 a.m.

To register for the race, use The Parade Company's online sign-up portal here.

More: Detroit marathon marked by love and loss: A finish-line embrace and a mile 5 tragedy

Road closures

Because of the parade and the Turkey Trot, many roads in midtown and downtown will be closed during the day. Detours will begin on Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, and detours and closures will be lifted by 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving day.

The largest closure will be Woodward Avenue, which will be closed from 8 a.m. Wednesday until 5 p.m. on Thursday along the parade route.

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Grand River Avenue, Jefferson Avenue and Gratiot Avenue will all be closed and detoured on Thanksgiving day. To see the full list of closures, visit the city of Detroit's list of route updates for the holiday week here.

Parking

Parking will be available along the parade route, according to the Parade Company. In 2023, the city of Detroit recommended the following garages: Ford Underground Garage at 30 E. Jefferson Avenue and the Eastern Market Garage at 2727 Riopelle Street

Nour Rahal is a trending and breaking news reporter. Email her: nrahal@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @nrahal1.

Liam Rappleye is a trending and breaking news reporter. Email him: LRappleye@freepress.com

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 2024 America's Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit: Start time, route, more
Durham Public Schools is turning to families for help getting children to school as a shortage of bus drivers becomes a full-fledged crisis.

For the entire month of December  and possibly longer  students who ride the bus will only be picked up four days a week, leaving families and communities to figure out transportation for themselves on the remaining day.

Many educators and families are frustrated.

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What concerns me the most is it seems like crisis is becoming more of a norm than I think anybody would like, said Eric Green, the parent of two Creekside Elementary School students.

Last school year, classes were canceled for several days in response to staff protests, including among transportation workers.

The district needs 65 to 100 more full-time bus drivers to staff the over 800 routes driven each day, according to the school district, and some students are having their bus routes repeatedly canceled because of the driver shortage.

Lakewood (Elementary) has one bus that has been canceled or significantly delayed 17 times this month. There have only been 12 school days so far this month, meaning this route has been canceled once or twice a day every school day, said parent Jenna Crowther.

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Theres only been three days this year where all six buses ran without issue, said Rebecca McDonald, whose child attends Creekside Elementary.

The decision to limit service to four days was made to provide a consistent schedule for parents, instead of last-minute cancellations, according to Superintendent Anthony Lewis.

What we have been hearing from families is that sometimes they receive notification 10 minutes before they need to get there to pick up their child, Lewis said Friday at a news conference.

Families were notified Friday morning which day theyll be responsible for starting Dec. 2. If a student rides Bus 620, for example, their family must coordinate transportation every Thursday in December.

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While bus service is limited, district planning director Matthew Palmer said theyll be redrawing routes and verifying ridership. Earlier this month, he said a state study revealed only about 55% of those who requested rides were actually using the buses on the two days they counted.

Three in four students have requested bus service, over 22,000 kids.

Some buses repeatedly canceled

District spokespeople said Friday they couldnt provide statistics on the total number of students impacted by bus delays and cancellations so far this school year.

Palmer said Thursday night that 17 buses have no driver, and those buses drive multiple routes in the mornings and afternoons. There are staggered bell times for elementary, middle and high schools in Durham.

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Bus 235 has run twice in the last two weeks. This bus in particular serves a vulnerable population, said parent and former DPS employee Anne Fields. My childs bus has begun to run more frequently and serves a less vulnerable population. So while thats great for me, its not great for the families that really have no other options.

Elizabeth Fields Jones, a teacher at Glenn Elementary School, said some students have given up on the bus and just arent attending school.

For our school, (Bus 235) serves a large number of students who are new to the United States, she said. More than anyone, they need and want to be at school every day Please just send our kids a bus.

Walk zones and express bus stops proposed

Transportation staff tried to persuade the Board of Education earlier this month to enforce 1-mile walk zones around elementary schools and express stops for middle and high schools beginning in January. Both options remain on the table.

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What is a walk zone? The walk zones would limit bus service to elementary schoolers living at least 1 mile from school, with some exceptions if the commute is unsafe for pedestrians. That affects around 1,000 students and would save 22 routes, according to district estimates. The state of North Carolina says bus service doesnt have to be provided if a student lives within 1.5 miles of their school.

What is an express stop? Express stops would require some students to commute to group pick-ups and drop-offs, instead of having a bus stop inside their neighborhood or at their driveway. The changes are proposed for Durham School of the Arts, Rogers-Herr Middle School and the School for Creative Studies. They are projected to eliminate eight routes and save an average of 45 minutes per bus.





Transportation staff began bringing concerns up in Board of Education meetings in October and its since become a standing agenda item.

The school board is looking to schedule a meeting on Monday, Dec. 2 for a lengthier discussion. It also has a meeting Thursday, Dec. 19 at 6:30 p.m.
PLATTSBURGH  Amtrak will restore its Empire Service in time for passengers to use during the holiday season.

Ensuring access to reliable train travel throughout this key corridor is critical to riders who utilize the service and to communities who benefit from the economic activity they generate, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said.

These service restorations are a huge victory for passengers who depend on the Empire Service, and I thank Amtrak for working with us to ensure that we minimize to the fullest extent possible the schedule disruptions caused by the East River Tunnel Rehabilitation Project.

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Hochul had sent a letter to Amtrak asking them to restore the Empire Service, which had been curtailed due to construction downstate.

The Empire Service was reduced by Amtrak in October by two daily round trips between Albany and New York City. Other operational modifications were made to the Maple Leaf and Adirondack lines while rehabilitation of the East River Tunnel in New York City took place.

The reduction in service affected North Country passengers.

Amtrak said this week that it is enhancing the Empire Service schedule beginning Monday, Dec. 2. The new schedules will ensure that the trains used historically by more than 98 percent of Empire Service customers will be in service until Amtraks major tunnel work begins in the spring. This includes:

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The Adirondack and Maple Leaf will again operate as separate trains between New York City and Albany and allow for reduced wait times in Albany for Upstate customers.

Trains 235 and 238 will be restored.

Amtrak will add a fifth train car to the following trains: 233, 234, 235, 238, 244 and 245.

These measures will be effective through Sunday, Mar. 2, 2025. Amtrak will continue to evaluate the service plan, including additional capacity, to see if there are any new possibilities for making improvements, restoring service or modifying it based on future development, the governors office said.

As part of our strong collaboration with Gov. Hochul, NYSDOT and others, and in accommodation with other important infrastructure projects in the region, beginning Monday, Dec. 2, our new schedules will ensure that the trains used by more than 98% of customers will be in service until major tunnel work begins, Amtrak President Roger Harris said.

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The tunnel work, an essential infrastructure improvement project and a $1.6 billion investment for New York State, will improve train service reliability both within New York State and throughout the Northeast Corridor.

CHAMBER HAPPY

North Country Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas welcomed the news of Amtraks route changes, which will eliminate long layovers at Albany-Rensselaer for the Adirondack train between Montreal and New York City in early December.

The plans also call for Amtrak to operate the Adirondack and the Maple Leaf to Vermont separately through at least early March, eliminating planned delays at Albany/Rensselaer for coupling and uncoupling, Douglas said.

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They listened to the strong advocacy of Congresswoman (Elise) Stefanik, Governor Hochul, Assemblyman (Billy) Jones, and others and reversed course on what would have been yet another disruption in our Adirondack service, Douglas said.

We thank these officials for their solidarity and active support and can now resume promotion of ridership while continuing to encourage Amtrak to end its disruptions of our service once and for all.

JONES PLEASED

Assemblyman Jones was also happy that Amtraks service will be back to normal.

This is great news for the North Country after experiencing many delays and cancellations since 2020 and will ensure that locals, college students and their families will be able to continue to use Amtrak to travel for business and leisure and will help tourists to travel to the North Country as well to experience many of the things we have to offer, Jones said.

I met with Amtrak officials earlier this month to push them to reconsider this decision and I want to thank the governor, my colleagues, and the North Country Chamber of Commerce who joined me in standing up for all New Yorkers who rely on Amtrak for their transportation needs.
While humans have been making their mark on the surfaces of this Earth for at least tens of thousands of years, it's difficult to pinpoint the exact moment our impulse to record what we saw tipped into what we would consider 'writing'.

Now, a team from the University of Bologna in Italy has linked symbols on ancient Mesopotamian seals with an archaic visual communication system called proto-cuneiform; an art form which would in time evolve into one of the world's first true writing systems.

"The close relationship between ancient sealing and the invention of writing in southwest Asia has long been recognized, but the relationship between specific seal images and sign shapes has hardly been explored," says philologist Silvia Ferrara from the University of Bologna.

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"This was our starting question: did seal imagery contribute significantly to the invention of signs in the first writing in the region?"

Writing is a complex system of rules that tells us how to arrange and interpret symbols to convey all kinds of information, from literal descriptions to abstract thoughts.

Long before those rules were invented, symbols representing basic concepts were etched, drawn  or in this case printed  onto a material to share simple ideas, which over time may have become standardized as a lexicon for grammarless 'proto-writing'.

The researchers methodically compared the designs they found on ancient cylinder seals with known proto-cuneiform signs. The selection of cylinder seals they analyzed originated before writing emerged in ancient Mesopotamia, through to the proto-literate period.

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They argue that similarities in the way common artifacts were depicted visually on the cylinder seals  for instance, fringed textiles and netted vessels  share elements with their corresponding proto-cuneiform symbols.

The proto-cuneiform signs associated with fringed material, for instance, have triangular forms with multiple vertical lines pointing downward from a piece of 'cloth'. Representations of people weaving on a cylinder seal from the Mesopotamian city of Susa bear a similar form, as do artifacts from the city of Uruk.

Examples of the netted-vessel and fringed cloth motifs from pre-literate documents (AC) and a proto-cuneiform account of wool/garments and linen (D & E). (Kelley et al., Antiquity, 2024)

Similar resemblances can be seen between what seem to be depictions of vessels enveloped in netting on the cylinders and a series of proto-cuneiform signs the researchers suspect carry the same meaning.

"The conceptual leap from pre-writing symbolism to writing is a significant development in human cognitive technologies," Ferrara says.

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"The invention of writing marks the transition between prehistory and history, and the findings of this study bridge this divide by illustrating how some late prehistoric images were incorporated into one of the earliest invented writing systems."

Proto-cuneiform is first seen in the archeological record as a means of accounting. It allowed people to track the production and trade of everyday items, especially agricultural and textile items. But before this literacy arose in Mesopotamia, cylinder seals fulfilled that same purpose, allowing people to record trade by 'printing' records into clay tablets.

"Our findings demonstrate that the designs engraved on cylinder seals are directly connected to the development of proto-cuneiform in southern Iraq," Ferrara says. "They also show how the meaning originally associated with these designs was integrated into a writing system."

This research was published in the journal Antiquity.

Related News
ANDERSON COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA)  A former Anderson County deputy has been arrested after deputies said they found multiple emaciated dogs at his home.

According to the Anderson County Sheriffs Office, on Tuesday, Alton Davis, 36, was arrested and charged with four counts of ill treatment of animals and one count of improper burial.

He was placed in the Anderson County Detention Center on a $20,000 bond.

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According to the sheriffs office, Brown previously worked for the sheriffs office until 2022 when he left for another job.

Altons arrest came when Anderson County Animal Control was called to a home on Sarah Simpson Road in Iva after someone reported seeing emaciated Shepherds there.

When they arrived at the home, deputies said they found four dogs, one of which had died, which appeared to be severely underweight.

The three living dogs were given to Anderson County PAWS for treatment.

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AUSTIN (KXAN)  The Austin Police Department is seeking the publics help to find a suspect wanted in connection with a north Austin robbery that happened last month.

Officers responded to the Rutland Market, 900 Rutland Drive, around 10:20 p.m. on Oct. 29 for a report of an aggravated robbery, the agency said in a news release. According to police, the suspect walked into the store and asked to buy cigarettes and then pulled out a black handgun and demanded cash from the register.

Police described that suspect as a white man, who is between 45-50 years old, around 5 feet 8 inches-5 feet 10 inches, has a thin build and is possibly transient.

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He was last seen wearing a black balaclava mask, black hoodie, black gloves, and black pants, police said.

Anyone with any information can contact APDs Robbery Unit at 512-974-5092 or can submit an anonymous tip via the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program website.

A reward of up to $1,000 may be available for any information that leads to an arrest, police said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
The Indiana Court of Appeals rejected a Hammond mans bid to overturn his murder conviction Friday.

Kian Moore, 24, got 58 years in February in the Oct. 22, 2019 death of Quinten Kendrick-Taylor, 23. He just stepped outside to walk when he was gunned down on the 1300 block of Liberty Court in Hammond.

Moore argued he was blindsided when the jury was allowed to consider a legal principle known as accomplice liability, because he was charged as the principal shooter. He argued it was tacked on at the last minute before deliberations, not giving enough time to prepare a defense.

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Co-defendants Christian Buchanan-Purdiman, the driver, and Buchanans girlfriend Leila Shojaee inked plea deals in the case. All three were in the car and all three helped cover up parts of the crime to different degrees, Appeals Court Judge Paul Felix noted.

At the trial, Moore argued prosecutors couldnt definitively prove who in the car shot Kendrick-Taylor.

In a 3-0 decision, Felix said it didnt matter. Indiana law allowed prosecutors to use accomplice liability  meaning a group participating in connection with a crime like murder can be considered equally guilty, no matter who fired the deadly shots.

Shojaees testimony made it unclear who had fired the shots at Kendrick-Taylor, Felix wrote. Thus, we are unpersuaded by Moores claims that he was caught off guard and unable to prepare for an accomplice liability instruction.

Moore can appeal the ruling. His earlier release date is in 2062.

mcolias@post-trib.com
Wiretap Dance

Last month, the Wall Street Journal reported that Chinese hackers had successfully penetrated the networks of a number of US broadband providers.

Investigators found that the cyber attackers had potential access to a federal government system that's used for court-authorized wiretapping requests  a major national security scandal.

And according to new comments by Senate Intelligence Committee chairman and Virginia senator Mark Warner, the situation is far worse than we thought.

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"The barn door is still wide open, or mostly open," he told the New York Times, explaining that the hackers even have access to telephone conversations and text messages.

In short, it's a stunning and reportedly "ongoing" data breach that took advantage of the aging and insecure telecommunications network in the United States.

Data Syphon

The hack has since been linked to a Chinese intelligence-gathering hacking group dubbed Salt Typhoon.

According to government officials, the hackers were able to even listen in on conversations involving president-elect Donald Trump and vice president-elect JD Vance.

They exploited out-of-date telecommunications equipment and seams in the infrastructure connecting major networks to a much larger extent than initially feared.

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Warner warned that while US officials previously claimed the hackers had disappeared with no trace, there's a good chance they're still listening in on phone conversations and reading text messages.

"Weve not found everywhere they are," he told the NYT.

Even considering previous infiltrations by Chinese hackers, the latest stunt is particularly egregious.

"This is far and away the most serious telecom hack in our history," Warner told the NYT. "This makes Colonial Pipeline and SolarWinds look like small potatoes," he said, referring to two major Russian state-backed intrusions targeting the US in 2021 and 2019 respectively.

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Fortunately, encrypted messages being exchanged on platforms like WhatsApp, Signal or Apple's iMessage network were off-limits for the Chinese hackers. Other messages being exchanged between iPhones and Android phones, however, were fair game, as were phone calls over ordinary networks.

The hackers' primary targets were national security officials and politicians, according to investigators. As the Washington Post reports, around 150 victims, most of whom reside in the Washington DC area, have been notified about breaches by the FBI.

Meanwhile, Trump's pick for the Federal Communications Commission Brendan Carr revealed that he was already briefed on the Salt Typhoon hack and has vowed to hit the ground running.

"Cybersecurity is going to be an incredibly important issue," he told reporters, as quoted by WaPo. "National security is going to be a top priority."

More on cyberattacks: Chinese Hackers Use Quantum Computer to Break Military-Grade Encryption
Nov. 22VAN WERT  Seven days have been set aside next April in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court for the jury trial of a Celina man charged with murder in the 2023 shooting death of his one-time girlfriend.

Judge Martin Burchfield told attorneys during a brief pretrial hearing Friday that he wants "no more delays" in the case of Ryan Houser which has dragged on for the past year.

Houser, 39, was charged by a Van Wert County grand jury in November 2023 with aggravated murder, an unclassified felony; murder, an unclassified felony; possessing a weapon under disability, a third degree felony, and tampering with evidence, a third degree felony.

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The charges are related with the September 2023 shooting death of Barbara Granger, 43, at a residence on West Main Street in Van Wert.

Defense attorney Kenneth Rexford in an earlier motion indicated his intent to challenge a summary from the Lucas County Coroner's Office that established Granger's date and time of death as 10:43 p.m. on Sept. 4. Rexford said he will present evidence that his client was in or near Rockford, Ohio, at that time.

The Lima attorney said evidence suggests a more likely scenario sets the time of Granger's death at roughly 8 a.m. Sept. 4. A motion filed by Rexford in September that he intends to establish an alibi during that time in an attempt to prove his client's innocence.

Two bullets were recovered from the body of Granger during the autopsy performed in Toledo. Court records indicate the woman died as a result of gunshots to the eye and heart.

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Two firearms were discovered during a search of Houser's residence in Mercer County following Granger's death but were not linked to Granger's death. Houser was on probation in an unrelated case at the time and was not legally allowed to be in the possession of a firearm, according to court records.

The court previously had authorized a defense request and allocated $2,000 for an expert opinion from forensic consultant Dr. John Husaker for an analysis of gunshot residue in the case. A so-called Daubert hearing has been scheduled for Jan. 21 as the parties will debate methodology and relevance of the gunshot residue evidence. A deadline for pretrial motions is Dec. 31, and Houser's trial is scheduled to begin April 7, 2025.

Featured Local Savings
Nov. 23November 23, 2014  A local nonprofit, Opportunity Africa, recently collaborated with the Voyageurs French Camp at Concordia Language Villages to connect students in the French-speaking African country of Cameroon with French Minnesotan students, in the hopes that both cultures can learn from each other.

November 23, 1999  U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone, a previous Carleton College professor, engaged about 200 Bemidji High School students in a discussion on graduation standards. He addressed students' concerns that children learn at different levels and speeds and questioned the use of standardized testing for graduate students.

November 23, 1974  The Child Development Center, located in the basement of the Assembly of God Church, has been created to meet the needs of preschool children in the community. The nonprofit center, open to children ages 2-6, currently employs one teacher, five teacher assistants and a cook.

November 23, 1924  At the Red River Valley Dairymen's convention held in Thief River Falls. The Bagley Co-operative Creamery carried away first prizes for having the most silos built by its patrons in 1924 and having the most cooling tanks installed by its patrons during that time. Less than four years ago, it was the smallest in the county.
Gov. Katie Hobbs (left) and Arizona Office of Tourism director Lisa Urias unveil the state's new rebranding for a tourism campaign called "Vibrant Arizona." Photo by Shondiin Silversmith | Arizona Mirror

Lisa Urias, Gov. Katie Hobbs pick to head the Arizona Office of Tourism, tendered her resignation Friday. Her resignation followed a report that revealed a relative of the head of Urias communications agency was hired to help design the states new logo, and that Urias Communications was awarded a multi-year $250,000 contract from the Arizona Department of Education.

Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne claimed that number was incorrect, posting on the social media site X, formerly Twitter, that the department paid $15,000 for a one-year contract with Urias, and that the department did not have any plans to enter into a longer contract.

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The Arizona Agenda first reported on Thursday that graphic designer Kevin Coochwytewa was paid $27,500 to help create the logo, alongside an outside graphic design company. Kevins brother is Jason Coochwytewa, the CEO of Urias Communications, which Urias owns.

The Agenda reported that the logo redesign was paid for with federal pandemic funds and cost around $700,000, including for nearly 60 listening sessions held virtually and in-person across the state. Urias wrote in her resignation letter that the total went toward the logo, as well as an effort to refresh Arizonas brand including the development of a state brand playbook and a new state brand video.

Urias was appointed to the job in January 2023, and started helming the agency in March 2023.

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The Agenda also pointed out that Urias Communications was awarded a $250,000, five-year contract with the Arizona Department of Education last year to manage events for the Office of Indian Education.

In her letter, Urias adamantly denied that her communications firm profited from her position as tourism director. She claimed that Heart & Soul Agency, which won the bid to lead the rebranding project, chose Kevin Coochwytewa to work on the logo design, although Urias recommended him for the job.

After the Agenda published its reporting, legislative Republicans ripped into Hobbs for the alleged corruption of the tourism director that she appointed.

Katie Hobbs continues to exploit her office, break the law, and take advantage of the people of Arizona, Sen. Jake Hoffman, R-Queen Creek, wrote in a post on X Thursday. This is what it looks like when Democrats are in control of your government.

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In his post, Hoffman incorrectly claimed that Urias brother was hired to design the logo.

Hoffman is the chairman of the far-right Arizona Freedom Caucus and a vociferous Hobbs critic He also leads a Senate committee, created shortly after Hobbs took office in 2023, that held lengthy and acrimonious approval hearings for her nominees for directors of state agencies. The committee often recommended that the Senate decline to approve her director picks, often because they espoused political beliefs  unrelated to their duties  that Republicans opposed.

After Hobbs struggled to get her director nominees confirmed by the Senate, she pulled their nominations and appointed them as executive deputy directors, a new position that she said wouldnt require Senate approval. Urias was one of those 13 directors who would be facing a Senate committee hearing in the new year, after a judge agreed with Senate Republicans that Hobbs had broken the law with her circumvention of the Senate approval process.

We live in an era of heightened political discord, where unsubstantiated allegations can

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inflict immediate and lasting reputational damage, Urias wrote in her resignation letter. Despite the extensive effort and care devoted to rebranding Arizona and the professional management of the day-to-day operations of the office, it became evident that these false allegations would obstruct my confirmation by the Senate Confirmation Committee.

Her last day with the Office of Tourism will be Dec. 4.

Also on Thursday, state Rep. Teresa Martinez, R-Casa Grande, asked Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes and Republican Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell to investigate what she called potential conflicts of interest.

Simply put, Governor Hobbs already violated the law when she appointed Ms. Urias and as a consequence, Ms. Urias has avoided the checks and balances that are critical to maintaining the separation of powers and the integrity of state government, Martinez wrote.

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A former Maricopa County Sheriff's Office deputy had his certification revoked Wednesday by a state board after an investigation into his 2022 arrest of an older woman who was checking on her neighbor.

The Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board voted to revoke Michael Uyehara's certification following the incident, in which he handcuffed and arrested an 82-year-old woman during a response.

In October 2022, Michael Uyehara responded to a call about a suicide at a home in Sun City. When paramedics arrived at the scene, they informed Uyehara that an 82-year-old neighbor was approaching the house.

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Body camera footage shown during a meeting revealed the woman told Uyehara that the victim's wife had requested her presence. Uyehara, however, instructed the woman to return to her residence, stating she was not allowed to enter the scene.

Uyehara warned the woman that she would be arrested if she did not leave. When she refused to comply, he proceeded to arrest her, as shown in the footage.

Crime and justice: Former county treasurer in Arizona accused of embezzling nearly $40M faces charges

The victim's wife then ran out of the residence, pleading with Uyehara to release the woman, explaining that she wanted to speak with her. The woman clarified to officers that she had no intention of entering the house and simply wanted the wife to know she was there.

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Uyehara released the handcuffs as more officers surrounded the woman. An officer let her go into the residence with the victim's wife, according to the footage shown.

Approximately two weeks later, the woman filed a complaint with the Sheriff's Department, alleging that Uyehara had overreacted, according to a board member. She reported sustaining bruises from the handcuffs and stated that she was there only to support her friend, emphasizing that she posed no threat as an older woman using a cane.

An investigation into the incident found that Uyehara included at least seven inaccuracies in his report, including a misrepresentation of events, the board member said.

When asked what he could have done differently by investigators, he reportedly said that he "could have shot her. I could have tased her, I could have kicked, swept her foot and knocked her to the ground."

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The investigation uncovered multiple policy violations, including unreasonable use of force and providing false statements. Consequently, the state board revoked his peace officer certification.

While on adminstrative leave, Uyehara resigned from the Sheriff's Office.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Former MCSO deputy has peace officer license revoked by state board
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  Arkansas State Police are investigating the death of an inmate that occurred on Friday morning at the Washington County Jail, according to the Washington County Sheriffs Office.

A spokesperson for WCSO said detention officers found the detainee in her cell unresponsive. Lifesaving measures were initiated by the officers until emergency crews arrived at the jail.

The inmate was reportedly by herself and there were no immediate signs of a cause of death.

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Van Buren police searching for man last seen nearly three months ago

WCSO said Arkansas State Police was contacted to conduct an investigation, as is normal procedure.

Her body will be taken by a coroner to the Arkansas State Medical Examiners Office to determine a cause of death.

An internal review will also be conducted to ensure compliance with Washington County policies and procedures, WCSO said.

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  Every day on highways throughout the Natural State, troopers with the Arkansas State Police work to assist motorists in need. Now they want to hear your stories.

State police officials are wanting to hear stories from those who have had uplifting or memorable experiences with ASP troopers.

Arkansas State Police ramp up seat belt Click It or Ticket enforcement through Thanksgiving holiday

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According to state police, in 2024 alone troopers have assisted over 34,000 motorists. This year their efforts have included more than 11,000 welfare checks, offered aid to 1,451 distressed motorists and changed 1,437 flat tires.

As part of their duties, troopers also help jump-start vehicles, give helpful directions and they even inspect child safety seats and aid with necessary vehicle repairs.

Arkansas State Police report hundreds of pounds of illegal drugs, guns seized in November

The Your Arkansas State Police campaign to educate the public was launched in October and features a series of videos highlighting the critical services and resources they provide, as well as their various divisions.

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To submit your story, visit DPS.Arkansas.gov and enter your information, you can also submit by email.

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JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL)  An art exhibit at East Tennessee State Universitys Reece Museum is generating controversy.

The artwork, which is on display in the Fletcher Exhibit at the museum, has faced complaints from state officials, community members, and ETSU students who disapprove of the message.

Washington Co. Election Commission fires administrator, citing personnel issues

The artist, Joel Gibbs, said his Evolution piece is a response to fascism. The piece shows a swastika morphing into a cross, which is painted behind a portrait of Republican U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson.

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The fascism we seem to have in this country has attached itself to extreme right Christian groups, Gibbs said. So I just figured by having a cross evolve into a swastika with him there smirking, it would sort of just give a, its a very large political cartoon in my sensibility.

Republican State Sen. Rusty Crowe is appalled at the art piece.

We have freedom of speech, but freedom of speech has consequences, Crowe said. And I think the consequences in this case, in my view, should be that these people that approve of this on campus should not be on our campus. Its just its not representative of our Northeast Tennessee spirit. Its hateful. Its divisive. Its not good.

ETSU President Brian Noland said he would review the process of allowing guest artists and speakers to present on campus.

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He sent News Channel 11 the following statement:

I am aware of the concerns that have been raised about works selected to appear in this years FL3TCHER EXHIBIT on display in the Reece Museum. As a Christian and the son of a veteran, I can say that I personally find some of the views expressed in this years exhibit abhorrent. However, as the president of a public university, which is bound by the laws of the State of Tennessee as well as the U.S. Constitution, I must ensure that our university adheres to state and federal law. I am working to gain more information, and we will undertake an examination of the process through which we allow guest artists, speakers, and other third-party groups to present information on campus. ETSU President Brian Noland

Some students believe the artwork doesnt belong on campus and that the message can be misconstrued.

Its just an expression of raw emotions, almost truly trying to express how they feel but I think that its something thats really been taken too far, student Joseph Harlan Savery said. And its kind of like shouting fire in a crowded theater or doing something to that extent. Its something that its not okay to do in public.

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Gibbs said he believes he has a logical reaction to faith being intertwined in government.

I see more and more people trying to force their beliefs or into governments and into the public square and trying to denigrate people that that are not people of faith, Gibbs said. To be somehow lesser or immoral or their feelings dont matter.

Gibbs said his pieces have been displayed at the Reece Museum before, but believes the current exhibit has received more attention due to the recent presidential election. He said conservatives should create their own art and that the Fletcher Exhibit invites all social and political artworks, not just those left-of-center.

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They have every opportunity, Gibbs said. If they want to do a pro-gun piece of artwork, they want to do an anti-abortion piece of artwork. By all means, they might make something very effective. Might change somebodys mind. It might really strike somebody rather than just complain, get out there and make the art, get your point across. Thats what America is about, an exchange of ideas.

Northeast Tennessee Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger also weighed in on the art piece.

I am deeply appalled by this hateful display and equally disappointed it has been permitted on the campus of a taxpayer-funded institution. Its an abhorrent mockery of my Christian faith and associates many of my close colleagues with such hateful symbolism. I feel sorry for the many outstanding students at ETSU who have had to endure this display on their campus and demand that it be taken down immediately. U.S. Rep. Diana Harshbarger

Congressman Tim Burchett, who represents Knox and several other East Tennessee counties, sent a letter to the university requesting that the exhibit be taken down.

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Renowned US photographer and artist Nan Goldin opened an exhibition of her work in Berlin with sharp criticism of Israel's actions in the war in Gaza, provoking outrage from German politicians.

The 71-year-old Goldin is among the most renowned artists in contemporary photography, and Berlin's Neue Nationalgalerie (New National Gallery) is dedicating a retrospective to her.

Goldin began her almost 14-minute speech at the opening on Friday evening with a four-minute pause of silence to remember victims of the conflict in the Palestinian territories and Lebanon, as well as civilians killed in Israel.

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"I have decided to use this exhibition as a platform to amplify my position of moral outrage at the genocide in Gaza and Lebanon," Goldin said.

'What have you learned, Germany?'

She attacked Germany's handling of pro-Palestinian protests during the war, and the treatment of artists and others who express harsh criticism of Israel. Many have seen exhibitions in Germany cancelled or faced other repercussions.

"Why can't I speak Germany? Criticism of Israel has been conflated with anti-Semitism," Goldin said on Friday. "Anti-Zionism has nothing to do with anti-Semitism."

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Goldin, who is Jewish, likened Israel's conduct of the war and policy in the Palestinian territories to the brutal repression her ancestors faced in Europe.

"What have you learned, Germany? My grandparents escaped pogroms in Russia. I was brought up knowing about the Nazi Holocaust," Goldin said. "What I see in Gaza reminds me of the pogroms that my grandparents escaped."

"Never again means never again for everyone," Goldin said, a reference to a phrase often used by Germans to refer to lessons of the Holocaust - and frequently cited as a key reason for Germany's steadfast support for Israel.

German politicians 'appalled'

On Saturday, German Culture Minister Claudia Roth denounced Goldin for her "unbearably one-sided political views" and said she was "appalled" at the way people in the audience chanted slogans like "Free Palestine" during counter-remarks by the museum's director, Klaus Biesenbach.

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The local Berlin culture minister, Joe Chialo, accused Goldin of "one-sidedness" and "obliviousness to history" with her remarks in Berlin, "the city in which the Holocaust was planned."

"I do not share Nan Goldin's position and find her statements unacceptable," he said.

Biesenbach, who heads the Neue Nationalgalerie, responded in remarks that followed Goldin's speech, saying that Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state is beyond question and that the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by the Palestinian militant group Hamas was an act of terrorism that cannot be justified.

Biesenbach said at the same time that sympathy should also be shown to the suffering of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.

'This is a war against children'

In her speech at the museum on Friday, Goldin noted that the International Criminal Court in The Hague on Thursday had issued arrest warrants on suspicion of war crimes and crimes against humanity for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant.

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The court also issued an arrest warrant for the military leader of Hamas.

"Are you afraid to hear this, Germany? This is a war against children," said Goldin.

"The entire infrastructure of Palestine has been destroyed. The hospitals, the schools, the universities, the libraries. It's also a cultural genocide. Why can't you see this, Germany?"

Goldin's speech was cheered by parts of the audience.

Goldin also denounced the way that German authorities have treated pro-Palestinian protesters in the country. She noted that Germany is home to the largest Palestinian diaspora in Europe - "yet protests are met with police dogs, deportations and stigmitization."

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Hermann Parzinger, the president of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, which oversees the Neue Nationalgalerie and numerous other museums in the German capital, also strongly condemned Goldin's comments as well as the behaviour of supporters in the crowd.

"This is not our understanding of freedom of expression," he said.

The major retrospective of Goldin's work, entitled "This Will Not End Well," is on display at the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin until April 6, 2025.

The exhibition shows Goldin's life's work with slideshows and films, accompanied by music and soundtracks.

Culture Minister Roth on Saturday emphasized that she rejects calls for a boycott of the event and hopes for an open and civilized debate.
An assistant principal was charged with 17 felony counts on Friday for allegedly molesting at least eight children at McKevett Elementary School in Santa Paula, officials say.

David Lane Braff Jr., 42, of Thousand Oaks, was arrested on Friday morning, according to the Ventura County District Attorneys Office, at the conclusion of an investigation that police opened last month.

Prosecutors found that from 2015 through 2019, Braff worked as a school counselor at McKevett Elementary, where he allegedly molested children between the ages of 6 and 10 in a school office.

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The defendant is alleged to have molested multiple elementary school children over a number of years, shattering the trust placed in him by parents, educators, and the public, said D.A. Erik Nasarenko. We intend to vigorously prosecute this case and encourage others to come forward who may have information about additional victims and crimes. Given the defendants history of re-occurring access to children, this investigation and prosecution remains ongoing.

In addition to 17 felony counts of lewd acts upon a child under 14 years old, the D.A.s Office says Braff is also accused of several special allegations and aggravating factors in the criminal complaint.

One of the accusations is that the crimes involved planning and sophistication and that the children entrusted to the defendants care were particularly vulnerable.

David Lane Braff Jr., 42, of Thousand Oaks, was arrested on Nov. 22 for allegedly molesting eight elementary school students in Santa Paula. (Ventura County District Attorneys Office)

The DAs Office says that at the time of his arrest, Braff was employed as an assistant principal and school counselor at Ingenium Charter Middle School in Los Angeles.

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While Braffs full employment history is not known at this time, it is believed that Braff also worked at other schools in Southern California and may have been a volunteer for youth-oriented organizations, the office wrote in a release.

The Ventura County District Attorneys Office encourages any individuals who believe they were victimized by Braff, or who witnessed suspicious conduct committed by him, to contact investigator Greg Webb at 805-477-1627.

The office also noted that individuals are encouraged to contact Investigator Webb even if the conduct happened outside Ventura County.

Braff is currently being held at Ventura County jail with bail set at $3 million.

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The DAs Office says Braff is scheduled for arraignment on Monday, Nov. 25, in Ventura County.

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The so-called Assisted Dying Bill is an act of war on societys vulnerable. Only once the blood has been shed will we realise, with horror, its irreversible effects.

Members of Parliament last voted on the matter in 2015, when the Bill was thankfully defeated. Just 117 MPs, including Sir Keir Starmer, voted in favour. His enthusiasm for euthanasia has swept into his premiership. Calls from terminally ill Dame Esther Rantzen to be given the dignity of choice prompted Starmer to make a promise to provide time for a vote.

That time has now come. Earlier this month, Labour MP Kim Leadbeater introduced a Bill to parliament that would, if supported, allow people to die, provided they are ill enough and can convince two doctors plus a judge that their life isnt worth living.

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How haunting that life, so precious, so beautiful and so rare, can be signed away at the hands of bureaucrats. How tragically ironic that a government that consistently pledged to protect working people, protect public services, protect the most vulnerable may in fact vote to allow people to kill themselves.

Leadbeater has said her Bill would be the strongest most robust piece of legislation on this issue in the world. However when questioned about the possible extension of eligibility criteria in future (for example, to include chronic pain), Leadbeater could make no guarantee, telling the Today programme I feel very confident that once this Bill is passed, this is where well stay.

Only time will tell whether her confidence is shared by her colleagues. Since so-called assisted dying was last debated nine years ago, parliament has been flooded with new, young, Labour Members. Our lives  and our deaths  are in their hands.

Wes Streeting dropped a missile into the debate recently, saying in no uncertain terms that the NHS could not fund his colleagues proposed plans without it coming at the expense of other departments. In other words, in order to fund assisted suicide, we may have to sacrifice other life-improving medical services.

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There can be no doubt therefore that if this Bill is passed, the societal, spiritual and political fabric of England and Wales would be irreparably remodelled. We need not look far to witness the reality of societies in which murder is baked into the law.

In Canada, eight years after legalisation, assisted dying accounts for over 4 per cent of deaths annually. Canadian campaign groups are pushing for eligibility to extend to people in unjust social circumstances. In the Netherlands, patients who have a voluntary and well-considered death wish can request euthanasia and, abhorrently, Belgium allows child euthanasia. We see in these countries how quickly life is cheapened, diminished, and devalued.

In 2021, my father died. In July of this year, my uncle (Oxfordian scholar Alexander Waugh) also died. Both suffered slow and painful deaths. Both would have met the qualifications for assisted suicide. But both died beautifully: peacefully, with dignity, and surrounded by family.

To disrupt this natural and extraordinary process would be to denote a bomb under the foundations of our society and threaten all that we know. Life will be valued in terms of its convenience, as opposed to its merit.

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Leadbeater has said the current situation, for people who are terminally ill, is youve got three options. You can suffer and have a very difficult, very painful death; you can go to Switzerland with Dignitas; and the other option is you can take your own life. She fails to acknowledge the fourth possibility: to die in the knowledge that you are loved and that your life is valuable. Instead she seeks to create a utilitarian dystopia in which societys vulnerable will be cast aside, and into the jaws of death.

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The family of a Morehouse College worker missing since 1992 are desperate for answers. This is a story Channel 2 Action News has covered for over 32 years. We were there back then as friends and family looked for Cheryl Parks.

Parks sister says her family needs to know where she is. They say it has been tough not knowing if she is dead or alive.

Either way. I just want to know. Where she is, Angela Broughton told Channel 2s Tom Jones.

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Broughton has spent the last 32 years searching for her big sister.

I dont know what else to do but to keep looking for her. It feels empty it feels like I am lost. I just wish she were here, she said.

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The 33-year-old Parks disappeared back in January 1992.

My momma was the last person who talked to her, Broughton said.

Parks told her mother she was staying overnight with her boyfriend. The family says the boyfriend picked her up from her job at Morehouse College where she worked in the cafeteria. He says he took her to his home in Southeast Atlanta.

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The family says the next day he told them she went to a party the night he picked her up. And he had not seen her since.

Broughton says that does not make sense. She would have came home to change clothes if she was going to a party.

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The family has organized search parties over the years. But nothing.

Atlanta police suspected foul play, but Broughton says without a body, they told her there was not much they could do.

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Broughton looks at an age progression photo a sketch artist created of her sister and hopes someone will recognize her. Or if they know something, she wants them to call police. All she knows is she will not rest until her sister is found.

I wont give up until I know something, she said.

Parks has two children who desperately want to find out what happened to their mother.

Police say this is a cold case that remains open. They are asking anyone with any information to contact Crimestoppers at 404-577-TIPS (8477).

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The Atlanta Police Department is searching for a man who attempted to rob a bank this week and stabbed an employee in the process.

Police say on Nov. 20 at approximately 12:37 p.m., officers responded to the United Community Bank located at 1220 Caroline Street NE in reference to a robbery with a person stabbed.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

When police arrived, they learned an unidentified man entered the bank, went behind the counter and demanded money from the employees.

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The employees, according to police told the man there was no money to provide. The suspect then proceeded to stab the woman in her stomach and leave the location on foot.

The employee who was stabbed was alert, conscious, breathing, and was transported to the hospital in stable condition.

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Anyone with information on this case can submit a tip anonymously to the Crime Stoppers Atlanta tip line at 404-577-TIPS (8477), online at here, or by texting CSGA and the tip to CRIMES (738477).

Persons do not have to give their name or any identifying information to be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.

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PETROLIA (KFDX/KJTL)  One person is dead after an attempt to serve an arrest warrant in Petrolia led Clay County sheriffs deputies on a short pursuit.

On Friday, November 22, 2024, around 11:50 a.m., deputies located Jeffery Keith Leger of Petrolia on FM 810 and initiated a traffic stop. As deputies approached Legers vehicle, he drove off and led authorities in a short pursuit ending at Legers residence on River Road in Petrolia.

RELATED STORY: Cyber tip leads to child porn arrest in Petrolia

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As deputies exited their vehicles to approach Leger, a single gunshot was heard coming from Legers vehicle. Deputies then approached Legers vehicle to discover Leger injured from a self-inflicted gunshot.

According to Clay County Sheriff Kirk Horton, deputies did not discharge weapons, and no other persons were involved. Leger was pronounced deceased on the scene, and his next of kin was notified.

Horton said the Clay County Sheriffs Office Investigators were assisted by Texas Rangers and the 97th DA Office.

The incident happened about a mile from Perolia High School; Petrolia CISD admin was notified and was informed that there was no threat to the school and that normal activities would not be interrupted by a campus lockdown.

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Leger had been previously arrested and charged in Clay County with five counts of possession or promotion of child pornography in August. The most recent arrest warrant for Leger stemmed from a new jury indictment for additional charges of possession or promotion of child pornography greater than 100 images.

According to Horton, the investigation into this case continues in partnership with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in attempts to positively identify the victims of these images possessed by Leger.

This is a developing story. Stick with Texomas Homepage for updates as more information becomes available. All individuals charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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DENVER (KDVR)  A new report from the Denver Auditors Office shed light on problems within homeless shelters funded by the city of Denver.

Auditor Timothy OBrien said his office decided to audit city shelters after receiving numerous complaints from the community.

A concern that we have heard a lot about over the last three or four years is the homeless and the homeless is a growing problem, OBrien said.

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The audit uncovered major flaws in safety standards at shelters that jeopardize the safety of those experiencing homelessness.

Denver among 3 finalists for a National Womens Soccer League expansion team

One of the most striking examples is at the former Doubletree Hotel, which is now a shelter called The Aspen. Denvers Department of Housing Stability paid the Salvation Army $807,000 to implement a security plan when the shelter opened in December 2023. However, it was not enough money to cover the costs.

In March 2023, three people were shot in two separate incidents at the shelter resulting in two deaths. According to the audit, there were no security guards and no surveillance cameras at the time of the shootings.

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This is a vulnerable population. Its important that we care for these people, that we provide them with the services that they need, OBrien said.

Another major issue detailed in the audit is HOSTs lack of financial oversight of its shelters.

According to the report, HOST could not provide any documents to show its expenditures from January 2022 to March 2024. Based on their own look at the books, auditors believe $150 million in taxpayer money was spent during that time period, but it is unclear what the money was used for.

For any city agency or department, knowing what services you provide and knowing what it costs is fundamental and were not able to get good information out of the department that we could say exactly what its costing and what the different line items are all about, OBrien said. Are there mental health services? Are there drug rehabilitation services and things like that?

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You will be fined for crossing the solid white line on these Colorado roadways

HOST said it acknowledges the findings and recommendations but maintains the information is out of context.

The Auditors report on Denvers shelter system references data and information from more than eight months ago and is not an accurate representation of the current state of our shelter system. We continue to constantly improve our programs, which is why although we acknowledge the auditors findings, its important to note that HOST and the City have long been working to improve the system throughout 2024, a spokesman said in a statement to FOX31.

Among the changes, HOST has implemented a new seven-part action plan to improve safety at its shelters. It has also made sweeping reforms to contracts with its providers. In 2025, it will roll out a Shelter Program Standards document to clarify expectations from providers at its shelters.

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A follow-up audit will be conducted in the summer of 2025.

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AUSTIN (KXAN)  Austin Community College is continuing to grow across Central Texas.

On Friday, the school held a groundbreaking at its Round Rock campus for the first project funded by the 2022 General Obligation Bond.

At a time when skilled workers are needed, the project will help address the critical need for trained professionals in fields like building construction technology, welding, automotive technology, HVAC and advanced manufacturing.

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To any student out there considering a career in the trades, my advice is really simple: just go for it, ACC welding student Forrest Sallee said.

Sallee got into welding after talking with her dad about the position, but thats not the only reason. She said the demand for jobs is high.

ACC sees increase in enrollments after offering free tuition

American Airlines and Delta were trying to hire me, and I only had two semesters, and they were like, we will take you right now,' Sallee said.

As cities across the nation grow, more skilled workers are needed to build buildings, fix and repair equipment and vehicles and much more.

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Troy DeFrates with ACC said the college is seeing a lot of recent interest in the trades.

We saw a 20% increase across the board at ACC, and a lot of them were in the trades areas, DeFrates said. Baby boomers are retiring, and there has been a void in the skilled workforce.

Voters approved the 2022 G.O. Bond in November 2022 to expand the colleges capacity to train a skilled workforce.

For more information on ACC programs click here.

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PEOPLE spoke with the author at the New York Celebration of Reading on Nov. 20

Courtesy of Kirsten Miller Kirsten Miller Kirsten Miller

Author Kirsten Miller's work feels more timely now than ever.



Speaking with PEOPLE at the New York Celebration of Reading on Nov. 20, Miller, who published her latest novel Lula Deans Little Library of Banned Books in June, noted that the books subject matter is on many peoples minds right now.



We knew book banning was happening long before it became a national topic of discussion, Miller said. I have good friends whose books have been banned for reasons that I, at the time, still continue to find rather ridiculous  it was just sort of a crisis that we saw unfolding in slow motion.



Lula Deans Little Library of Banned Books is a satirical novel set in a small Georgia town that follows the title character who, intent on removing books she doesn't see fit from libraries, sets up her own library in front of her home. But then someone in town begins replacing Lulas books with banned titles, including classics, LGBTQ+ romances and more  sliding the forbidden material into Lula's original books' jackets, effectively tricking people into reading banned books.

William Morrow 'Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books' by Kirsten Miller 'Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books' by Kirsten Miller

Miller recently spent time traveling the country, talking with librarians, teachers and booksellers, as book bans skyrocket nationwide. A recent PEN America report found that there were over 10,000 recorded instances of book bans during the 2023-2024 school year, a 200 percent surge over the previous year.



Im from the South, and a lot of people assume that its a southern problem, Miller said. You talk to librarians in Massachusetts or Wisconsin or even Connecticut and they will tell you that the same thing is happening in their schools and in their public libraries and even in their bookstores.

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Related: In New Memoir, Librarian Amanda Jones Recounts Her Fight Against Book Bans: 'I'm Going to Keep Going' (Exclusive)

Miller, who got her start as a childrens author, also noted how fiction can offer a way to discuss hard topics with readers.



One of the things that I've been trying to do is to take up very, very serious issues, whether it's violence against women in my first book, The Change, or whether it is book banning in Lula Dean, and really try to reel people into these very, very serious topics with humor and with an entertaining story, the author explained.

Amazon 'The Change' by Kirsten Miller 'The Change' by Kirsten Miller

Because I think, right now, people are very hesitant. They do not want to be lectured, the author added. They do not want to be browbeaten. And I think the effect of that is that we've ended up not having discussions that we really need to have.

Related: Why Rebecca Yarros Is Anti-Book Ban: Im Not a Librarian (Exclusive)

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Miller also had some advice for those who may be looking for ways to combat book banning.



Find a posse [and] surround yourself with people who feel the same way, Miller advised. One of the things that I've seen over and over again in the cities and towns that I visit, people that are fighting to keep books on the shelves often feel very isolated and very alone  find your people and fight for what you think is right.

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.



Miller was a featured author at the New York Celebration of Reading event, hosted by the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy. Founded by the former first lady in 1989, the foundation aims to expand literacy services for adults and families nationwide, per their website; an issue that Miller also stands behind.



It is something that's having an effect on the industry, Miller said. It's having an effect on teachers that we deal with and librarians that we deal with. And this is a subject that's always been very near and dear to my heart."


PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  The man who was killed in a shooting in Northeast Portland earlier this week was identified by authorities.

Portland resident Mark A. Holley was killed on Monday night after a shooting in the Wilkes Neighborhood, Portland police said.

A complete timeline of St. Helens sex abuse scandal

The medical examiner confirmed Holley died of homicide by gunshot wound, Portland Police Bureau said in a release. The victims family was notified and released a picture of Holley for the public.

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On Monday, officers responded to reports of a shooting at the 15900 block of Northeast Fremont Street at 5:46pm. When they arrived, they found one person  later identified as Holley  dead at the scene.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Portland police.

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ARP, Texas (KETK)  Smith County officials responded to a Thursday morning fire near CR 294 and with temperatures expected to get colder, they warn of potential fireplace danger.

Eric Greaser, Smith County ESD 2 Chief of Operations, said they arrived at a home just off East Ridge Road and with the help of volunteer fire departments began firefighting efforts. According to authorities, the fire damaged the attic space, chimney area and behind the fire box. The home also had significant smoke and water damage.

Greenberg reports lower turkey prices ahead of Thanksgiving

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Greaser said even if a fire is small, it can cause quite a bit of damage. He said although they are still investigating what caused the fire, they believe it could have started near the fireplace.

Make sure your fireplaces are cleaned out that you take this time ahead of the true cold weather coming, Greaser said.

He recommended hiring a chimney sweeper company to come clean and inspect to mitigate fire risk.

Its important to get your chimney clean because you dont want to burn down and you dont want any loved ones getting hurt, ETX Chimney Sweep manager Steven Gonzalez said.

According to Gonzalez, he first inspects the inside and outsides of chimneys then cleans the fireplace also checking the integrity of the chimney.

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The important part is the safety, the functionality of the chimneys second hand, Gonzalez said. But the most important things are safety, we dont want you to burn down. We dont want anyone getting hurt and we take pride in our work, so were going to give you the best and right.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Authorities are investigating a shooting in Northeast Oklahoma City.

According to police, one person has been transported to a hospital.

No further information has been released at this time.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
WASHINGTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  The Washington County Sheriffs Office is in the area of Appaloosa Way and Kent Road after a man fled into a nearby wooded area on Friday.

Authorities said 62-year-old Ken Texton fled into the wooded area at this location as probation and parole officers attempted to execute an arrest warrant for violation of felony probation.

Expect a heavy presence of law enforcement in the area, authorities wrote.

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Contact the Washington County Sheriffs Office with any information about the whereabouts of Texton.

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Louisiana lawmakers should be properly funding education, childcare, health care and other priorities that strengthen Louisianas economy and make a meaningful difference in the lives of the millions of Louisianans.

Instead, too many are intent on quietly pushing through a special session tax package that would have low- and middle-income families subsidize tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations.

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Louisianas tax system already asks low- and middle-income households to contribute more of their income to state and local taxes than wealthy households. Currently, the lowest earning 20% of Louisiana households pay twice as much of their income in taxes  13.1%  as the wealthiest 1%, who pay just 6.5% of their income.

Gov. Landrys tax plan would replace millions in income tax revenue, a tax that is based on ones ability to pay, with new sales tax revenue that would disproportionately hit the pocketbooks of low- and middle-income families. This would be done by turning Louisianas tiered personal and corporate income tax rates into a flat tax  meaning teachers and firefighters would pay the same tax rate as our states millionaires.

The plan also eliminates the corporate franchise tax, often the only option for large multinational corporations to meaningfully contribute to funding things such as schools, transportation and health care because Louisiana has not enacted worldwide or domestic combined reporting which ensure that corporations pay income tax on the full amount of profit made in that state.

To pay for these tax cuts, lawmakers plan on increasing the state sales tax to 5%  a .55 cent increase from where it is today. This is a 1 cent increase from the anticipated 4% rate set to go into effect July 2025.

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Lawmakers also chose to expand the sales tax base in addition to the rate by taxing digital products such as Netflix.

This tax swap would result in the lowest-income 20% of Louisianans (with incomes under $22,100 a year) receiving a small tax increase due to the states additional reliance on deeply regressive sales taxes. Middle-income households making $55,900 on average would receive an average cut of $87. Meanwhile, the wealthiest 1% of Louisiana households with average annual incomes of $1.8 million would receive an average tax cut of nearly $15,400  more than a full-time minimum wage worker would make in a year in Louisiana.

Gov. Landrys original tax package was expected to cost the state upwards of $2 billion over the next five years, jeopardizing future funding for higher education and health care.

Large corporations would receive hundreds of millions of dollars in tax cuts due to the proposed corporate income tax cut and elimination of the corporate franchise tax, which would overwhelmingly benefit out-of-state shareholders with little to no benefit trickling down to the average Louisianan.

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As key revenue raising portions of the governors original tax plan such as expanding sales tax to services and eliminating programs such as the film industry tax credit were removed under pressure from lobbyists and interest groups, lawmakers chose to increase the state sales tax and shift the cost to everyday Louisianans instead.

The reworked package passed the Senate with only a single senator objecting. Lawmakers also chose to temporarily allocate revenue from vehicle sales taxes to the general fund from the transportation trust fund which funds infrastructure projects in an attempt to buffer out the revenue loss from income tax cuts.

Lawmakers in support of the tax overhaul have pointed to states such as North Carolina as inspiration, but what theyre failing to recognize is that North Carolinas economy was growing at a faster pace before the state enacted major tax cuts. And years of deep tax cuts in North Carolina have resulted in massive amounts of revenue loss and underinvestment that have lawmakers and North Carolinians sounding the alarm over the growing list of unmet needs  particularly around child care shortages, early childhood education and K-12 funding.

For instance, North Carolina ranks near the bottom of the list for per pupil funding and K-12 funding proportional to state wealth.

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Hardly a model worth replicating.

Tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations will not make Louisiana more competitive. Rather, they will blow a hole in our state budget while asking low- and middle-income working families to make up the difference. Gov. Landry and the Louisiana Legislature would make much better use of their time looking for ways to make Louisianas tax structure fairer and more capable of adequately funding important priorities.

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CENTRAL NEW YORK (WSYR-TV)  Its the holiday season! A busy time for shoppers, but also scammers. The Better Business Bureau of Upstate New York is reminding people to stay vigilant, especially if youre shopping online.

Scammers are on the prowl, looking for ways to take advantage of busy shoppers this holiday season.

We just released a study that shows online purchase scams rose by 125% in 2023, so that is definitely concerning and its something we want people to be aware of, said Katarina Schmieder, Communications Director for Better Business Bureau of Upstate New York.

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Schmieder says shoppers are falling for fake websites that look legit.

Take a close look at the text. If the phrasing is awkward on the website, the design looks unprofessional, if the logo looks like its been tampered with, something looks off, said Schmieder.

Scammers have also gone as far as to create fake social media ads that may pop on your feed when scrolling through social media.

Were seeing a lot more beauty products scams, tumbler mugs. In some cases even pets, said Schmieder.

If you get a text on your phone, telling you theres an issue with an item you ordered and you need to update your payment or shipping information, the BBB says its most likely a scam.

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 We advise anybody not to engage with any suspicious text messages or links in them. The goal of the scammer is to try to get you to provide personal information or your bank account information, said Schmieder.

The BBB is also starting to see an increase in fake text messages, claiming to be from E-ZPass or the Thruway Authority, telling people they owe money for unpaid tolls.

Typically its just a couple of dollars that they say you owe. Then they want you to click on a link to pay for that. I recently spoke to somebody in the Central New York area actually who lost over a thousand dollars, said Schmieder.

The BBB also says you can avoid most scams by following precautions.

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You can click here to learn more.

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For a previous report on this story view the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  The death of a man whose body was found badly decomposed inside an abandoned car wash has been ruled a homicide.

In October, the Franklin County Coroners Office said it had identified Christopher Coleman as the man found inside a car wash bay of an abandoned building in the Georgesville Square Shopping Plaza.

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According to recently released autopsy report, Coleman, 53, who was pronounced dead in the 1500 block of Holt Road, died of a homicide. The report stated that Coleman was found with his hands bagged, a belt around his neck, blunt impacts to the head with skeletal and soft tissue injuries, facial and scalp lacerations, and that his genitals had been removed after he died.

Columbus police confirmed that Colemans death is being investigated as a homicide, though due to the ongoing investigation they do not have any additional information.

Coleman was alive as recently as early September, when he was charged with disorderly conduct and appeared in Franklin County Municipal Court. The fingerprints used to identify Colemans body were matched with those taken on Sept. 11, three days after his arrest.

The former Super Wash business, where Coleman was found, had a chain link fence surrounding the property and has been abandoned for years.

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A decision on whether Sean "Diddy" Combs' will be released on bail was pushed back to next week by the judge overseeing his sex-trafficking case.

During a hearing Friday in Manhattan federal court, U.S. District Judge Aran Subramanian asked Combs' attorneys and prosecutors to file paperwork by Monday outlining specific terms of his release.

Combs, who appeared thin, waved and blew kisses to his mother and children seated in the second row of the gallery.

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Prosecutor Christy Slavik argued in the hearing that it would be dangerous to grant the music mogul's request.

He is paying his way out of custody and continues to flout the rules, he is a risk of flight, a danger to the community, hes obstructing and trying to subvert the integrity of these proceedings," Slavik said.

Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo said that if Combs were released, he would stay in a three-bedroom apartment on Manhattans Upper East Side. He would be guarded by Patriot Security, a private company, and would be allowed to call only his attorneys. Only counsel and family members could visit.

Subramanian said he was concerned about family or security, paid for by Combs, reaching out to victims or witnesses on his behalf and wanted more clarification on how Combs would communicate and what means of communications he would be allowed to use.

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Combs, 55, who is being held at Brooklyns Metropolitan Detention Center as he awaits his trial scheduled for May 5, has pleaded not guilty. He is charged with racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution.

Agnifilo argued in court that his client should be released on bail because other high-profile defendants with similar charges, like former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries, who was charged last month by New York prosecutors with sex trafficking, have been granted it.

But prosecutors argued that Combs has been witness tampering from behind bars.

In a recent filing, prosecutors said Combs has continued to try to "evade law enforcement monitoring, corruptly influence witness testimony, and further attack the integrity of these proceedings."

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Combs' bail hearing comes two days after Subramanian ordered prosecutors to get rid of 19 pages of notes taken from his jail cell in a recent sweep because it was protected under attorney-client privilege.

Scrutiny of Combs began last year when his former romantic partner Casandra Ventura, known as Cassie, filed a lawsuit alleging Combs raped and beat her in fits of uncontrollable rage and exerted a tight hold over her life.

The suit also alleged that he forced her to engage in sexual acts he called freak offs with other men while he watched. The other men were often sex workers whom hed pay to travel with them, the suit said.

Ventura settled with Combs a day after the lawsuit became public, and Combs denied all the allegations. But surveillance video surfaced that showed Combs beating Cassie in a hotel hallway in 2016.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
A journalist for the German tabloid Bild has suggested that the new Russian ballistic missile that struck the city of Dnipro on 21 November was a test version of the RS-26 missile, and contained no explosives.

Source: Julian Ropcke, Senior Editor for German tabloid Bild

Details: Ropcke has reportedly studied various videos of the attack on the Pivdenmash plant in Dnipro. [Pivdenmash plant is a leading Ukrainian company that produces rocket and space technology and technologies for defence, scientific and economic purposes - ed.]

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He believes the Russians used a modified version of the RS-26 Rubezh missile in the strike.

Quote from Ropcke: "Multiple surveillance cameras captured what are known as sub-munitions, i.e. an RS-26 re-entering the lower atmosphere. This horrific footage shows six missiles falling from the sky through the clouds.

The peculiarity is that it was a decoy with the same mass and size, which was supposed to simulate a nuclear charge. This confirms it was a propaganda and political move, not a military one. There was no nuclear charge or explosives inside, which is why the damage was minimal.

We don't see explosions [in the videos of the attack], only kinetic energy from a fall from a height of several hundred kilometres."

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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.

On 22 November, Defence Intelligence of Ukraine stated that Russia had attacked Ukrainian territory using a ballistic missile, likely from a Kedr missile system, on 21 November.

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President Joe Biden (D) visits the Port of Baltimore on Oct. 29 to announce $3 billion in grants for clean energy updates to U.S. ports, including Baltimore. Photo by Danielle J. Brown.

For generations, neighborhoods near Baltimores port  such as Curtis Bay, Brooklyn and Westport  have shouldered the impacts of industrial pollution. Exhaust from trucks, emissions from ships and chemical runoff have led to alarmingly high rates of asthma and other respiratory illnesses among residents, predominantly in low-income Black communities.

Plans to green the port offer a transformative opportunity  not only for a cleaner environment but also for economic renewal through sustainable jobs and investments in the community. However, with President-elect Donald Trumps return to the White House, the future of these vital projects may be in jeopardy.

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Baltimores port was set to undergo a major transformation under federal green infrastructure initiatives, with funds earmarked for electrifying cargo equipment, adding renewable energy sources on-site and implementing emissions-reduction technology. These projects represent a long-overdue step toward addressing the environmental inequities that have affected port-side communities for decades.

Trumps previous policies prioritized fossil fuels over green infrastructure, often redirecting funds and federal support away from sustainability efforts. A return to these priorities could mean Baltimores port loses critical funding, potentially slowing or stalling progress toward a cleaner, healthier port.

For Baltimores port neighborhoods, this isnt just an environmental issue  its about public health, social justice and community justice.

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Generations of families have lived alongside the environmental costs of Baltimores growth, with children growing up in areas with some of the states highest asthma rates and families experiencing the health impacts of daily pollutant exposure.

The promise of port modernization offers more than cleaner air; it is an opportunity to correct longstanding injustices and foster a safer, healthier environment for future generations. Losing federal support could jeopardize these projects, leaving frontline communities once again exposed to pollutions harmful effects.

But the need for environmental justice in Baltimores port communities goes beyond improved health and cleaner air. Its about restoring economic stability and opportunity that has been out of reach for too long. Green infrastructure projects can provide high-quality jobs in renewable energy, construction and maintenance, accessible to local residents and designed to revitalize neighborhoods.

For a city facing challenges like high unemployment and economic disparity, these initiatives represent a chance to empower communities, enabling residents not only to breathe cleaner air but to secure better, more prosperous futures.

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In a community with a strong foundation of resilience, innovation and determination, the stakes are incredibly high. Clean-energy jobs tied to port modernization represent more than just employment  they are pathways for Baltimores youth to envision a future where they can work, thrive and build successful careers in their own neighborhoods.

This opportunity has the power to reshape Baltimores economy, creating a cycle of growth and prosperity that empowers local communities and ensures that talent and ambition can stay and flourish within the city.

Baltimores port redevelopment is a critical step toward making the city and state more equitable and resilient. It is a commitment to uplifting the communities that have long endured environmental and economic challenges. If these projects stall, its not just a setback for Baltimores economy; its a failure to prioritize the justice and well-being of the citys most impacted residents. This is a defining moment for Marylands leadership to ensure that environmental and community justice remain priorities.

Our port neighborhoods deserve this chance to thrive. Baltimores green infrastructure projects represent a rare opportunity to reshape our economy, environment and public health for the better. For the sake of our citys future, we must keep the momentum going on these initiatives. Baltimore is ready for a cleaner, stronger, and more just futureand we cannot afford to lose sight of that vision.
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford announced the arrest of a fugitive from Dale County, Alabama on Friday.

Bay County Sheriffs Office and members of the United States Marshals Service responded to an apartment complex in Panama City Beach where they located 46-year-old Larry Hylton.

Authorities search for fugitive in Washington County

Hylton was taken into custody for his outstanding warrants out of Dale County.

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Officials said he was wanted on a charge of Rape in the First Degree and Sodomy in the First Degree on a victim less than 16 years of age.

He is being held in the Bay County Jail without bond while waiting for extradition to Alabama.

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A black bear cub rescued after being harassed and pulled out of a tree for a photo op has been released back into the wild.

Wildlife officials found the female cub wet and cold in a retention pond at an apartment complex in Asheville, North Carolina, in April. A witness had called authorities after seeing a group of people yanking two struggling cubs out of a nearby tree in attempt to take photos with them.

The cub was lethargic and frightened when wildlife workers got to her, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission biologist and bear specialist Ashley Hobbs said at the time. Her sibling had run away before rescuers got there, and was not located.

The cub was brought to the Appalachian Wildlife Refuge, where the plan was for her to stay until she was old enough to be released back to the wild.

The bear cub amid transportation to a wildlife rehabilitation center. N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission

The NCWRC announced that day had finally arrived in a press release on Wednesday, saying she had been released in an undisclosed and remote Western North Carolina mountain area.

Video of the release shows the bear sprinting away from her transport cage. The man who opens the cage door can be seen firing a noise gun that the agency described in the video caption as a scare-away screamer siren meant to maintain natural fear of humans.

The bear was also fitted with a GPS tracking collar. Data from the collar so far shows that she is adjusting well to life back in the wild, Hobbs said in the release.

She added, 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.

The wildlife commission emphasized the importance of the general public staying away from bear cubs, for both the animals sake and their own safety. Trying to handle cubs can injure or traumatize them, or cause them to be separated from their mothers. And nearby mother bears could try and defend their offspring.

If a person suspects that a bear cub might be orphaned, the best course of action is to contact their state wildlife agency, Hobbs told local media in April.

The agency previously said that the people who had been grabbing and taking photos with the cubs would not face charges, adding that wildlife officers had spoken with them about why its crucial to not bother bear cubs.

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A controversial expressway finally appears set to run through the heart of Poinciana as the community shifts its mindset  begrudgingly for some  after years of opposition to the toll road in the regions top-growth area.

Poinciana is repeatedly named one of the regions worst areas for traffic by data collection agencies. Unprecedented growth in this unincorporated area of Osceola County  which now numbers 70,000 residents  and across its border with similarly ballooning Polk County has fueled the need for such road projects.

In an effort to ease traffic and offer the community a better connection both to Floridas Turnpike and to nearby Interstate 4, the Central Florida Expressway Authority proposed the Southport Connector Expressway  a 15-mile, elevated, six-lane toll road built mostly along the middle of and above the Cypress Parkway.

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The idea for such a project dates back to before CFX was created in 2014  with Osceola planning to take the lead initially. Then around 2016 the agency developed the Southport Connector Concept Feasibility and Mobility study.

Longtime Poinciana resident Jerome Windley, 73, works in downtown Orlando and makes the drive one to two times per week. He said in an interview he would definitely use the expressway.

I moved to Poinciana in 1988 and it took me 45 minutes to get to work, Windley said. Now I get up at six oclock and itll be like an hour and 20 minutes, hour and 15.

CFX held a community meeting Tuesday in Poinciana to get feedback from residents  and roughly 180 attended.

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Many departed with a gloomy look  including 68-year-old Lorenzo Small. The retired engineer recently moved to Poinciana from Washington, D.C. and said he didnt expect this kind of congestion.

I was told when I moved in make your appointments between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. because thats the only time to travel, Small said.

But he said he wasnt totally convinced regarding the connector.

Its just statements, Small said. But I just see it bottlenecking onto Pleasant Hill Road and I havent heard of anything about how it will alleviate traffic there.

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For years, the community group SCAR (Southport Connector Alternative Routes) vehemently opposed the expressway because it would physically divide the community along its main street  dubbing it The Great Wall of Poinciana.

But after group members met earlier this year with CFX and saw the design and intentions of the project, they came around  begrudgingly.

The real shift for some in the group came after Osceola County invested $80.5 million into widening Poinciana Boulevard to four lanes, a project whose path conflicted with SCARs preferred alternate route for the connector. The project is underway and expected to be complete by 2026.

SCAR leader Lita Epstein said members had no choice then but to accept CFXs plan to improve Poinciana traffic congestion.

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It didnt seem like were going to politically have enough to push forward that route considering the county and CFX are working together, Epstein said. Theyre not going to want to see their $80.5 million investment be shredded and start over.

But it was a difficult journey to acceptance. Opposition to the Southport Connector had come to a head in 2022 when members of SCAR filed a civil rights complaint with the Department of Transportation alleging the expressway would illegally divide the largely minority and lower socioeconomic community from vital businesses along the areas main thoroughfare.

The Department of Transportation dismissed SCARs complaint in June, saying it was too early to tell if the project would violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Epstein said a new complaint is still on the table if CFX doesnt follow through with its plan for the toll road.

The controversy over the Southport Connector highlights CFXs challenges to plan new roads across greater Orlando as the region grows. In May, CFX won the right to build a controversial toll road through a portion of once-protected Split Oak Forest.

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The Southport Connector will add six lanes atop Cypress Parkway  up from four in the agencys initial proposal  with options for a closed-off wall underneath, a bridge thats open underneath or a combination of the two.

The project also will widen Cypress Parkway to six lanes, a significant benefit for residents traveling in Poinciana and another factor that shifted SCARs mindset, Epstein said. Side roads that intersect with Cypress Parkway will get upgrades with the addition of dual left-turn lanes.

CFX spokesperson Brian Hutchings said during a recent interview that the agencys ultimate goal is to make the flow of traffic through Poinciana better than it is now.

We are taking a holistic approach at the traffic patterns on Cypress Parkway and the proposed elevated Southport Connector Expressway, Hutchings said. We take great care and are extremely focused on making local and regional trips easier.

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A recent sampling of residents at businesses along Cypress Parkway shows some in the community remain divided. Many said they crave anything to alleviate congestion and believe this project could help, while others were more skeptical of its success.

One skeptic is Joey Roman, 32, who moved to Poinciana four years ago from Puerto Rico. I think its a good idea but I think its too late, he said while pushing his groceries out of Publix across from where the road project is planned.

I dont think it will help the traffic from the growth we have of people moving here.

The road is still in its initial project development and environment study phase but a firm route and conceptual design is anticipated by third quarter of next year. The project and finalized study will then seek approval from CFXs governing board by December 2025. With no approval yet the expressway is still years away with a cost or construction timetable unknown.

CFX plans to hold another community meeting in the first or second quarter of next year with smaller meetings and public outreach to be scheduled along the way.
BENTON COUNTY, Mo.  Benton County deputies arrested a woman in rural Warsaw on Thursday, Nov. 21 after she said she shot her husband.

Lori Nicolaisen, 49, was taken to Benton County Jail and charged with second-degree domestic assault and armed criminal action. She is being held on a $250,000 bond.

According to the Benton County Sheriffs Office (BCSO), Benton County dispatch received a call Thursday night from Nicolaisen who told them that she shot her husband and was waiting for deputies to arrive at her residence on Oak Ridge Avenue in rural Warsaw.

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Springfield man sentenced for receiving child pornography

Benton County deputies arrested Nicolaisen at her residence and found her husband, 64-year-old Michael Nicolaisen, inside the home with a gunshot wound near his upper torso. BCSO says he gave a statement to law enforcement and was flown to a trauma center.

After her arrest, Lori told deputies that she and her husband Michael were drinking and got into an argument, leading to her shooting her husband with a handgun.

Online court documents state that Lori admitted to shooting her husband because he assaulted her seven years ago and that the BCSO believes Lori had shot her husband in the past.

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Laura Dake has been appointed mayor of Versailles by Gov. Andy Beshear.

Beshears office announced the appointment Friday afternoon.

Dake is a member of the Versailles City Council. She replaces Brian Traugott, who had been mayor for 13 years and resigned effective Oct. 1 to take a position with the Kentucky League of Cities.

Dake will serve the rest of Traugotts term, which expires in 2026.

She said in a post on Facebook Friday that she was honored and humbled by the appointment.

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Thank you for your kind words of support and encouragement, Dake wrote. Im feeling a little like a deer in the headlights at the moment, but looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and working hard for this community that I love. Again, THANK YOU for making me feel welcome in this role.

Dake previously worked for ITNAmerica, a nonprofit that provides community-based transportation services for senior citizens. She is board chair for a program that grew out of that work, Woodford Wheels.

She said she and her husband also own Art Space Versailles, a gallery and retail space focused on Kentucky artists on Main Street.

Dake said in a brief interview Friday night that she plans to be really focused on liveability, walkability, sustainability, as well as traffic and economic development issues.

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She has lived in Versailles 32 years and was recently re-elected to a fifth term on city council, a position she will resign to become mayor.

Dake said she is just really grateful for the opportunity.

After Traugotts resignation, the city council had 30 days to name a successor, but four of the citys six council members ran for the office, and none was able to secure enough votes to be chosen. That left the office to be filled by a gubernatorial appointment.

Among other appointments announced Friday, Beshears office said the governor has named Fred Allen Meyer, of Nicholasville, 1st District magistrate in Jessamine County. He replaces Justin Ray, who resigned.
A social media spat between Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos this week underscored a sharpening rivalry between two of the worlds richest men at a time when both are trying to grow their sprawling business empires in President-elect Trumps second term.

Just learned tonight at Mar-a-Lago that Jeff Bezos was telling everyone that @realDonaldTrump would lose for sure, so they should sell all their Tesla and SpaceX stock, Musk wrote Thursday of his fellow Tech mogul on X, the social platform he owns.

Nope. 100% not true, Bezos, who posts on social media less frequently, replied.

Observers say the dynamic between Bezos and Musk could get more tense. Musk in particular has endeared himself to Trump, part of a larger rightward shift among Silicon Valley leaders.

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It goes to show the split between different approaches among the tech community, GOP strategist Chris Johnson told The Hill. There are a lot of folks like Elonwho have sort of embraced the right as the move fast and break things party for better or for worse.

Musk and Bezos have decidedly different personalities and political views.

The Tesla founder is a bona fide social media influencer, who posts dozens of times a day on X, a platform he owns, and sits regularly for interviews with friendly hosts and media personalities.

Bezos has kept a much lower profile since founding Amazon and purchasing the Washington Post, opting to communicate through corporate representatives and in polished remarks to investors and employees.

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Musk has been seen as a leading voice within Silicon Valley on the right in recent years and this month landed a government-adjacent role under Trump to co-lead an initiative tasked with slashing government spending and regulations.

Leaders of major tech companies  including Bezos  are taking note of Musks growing prominence in Trumps orbit.

Many of these Silicon Valley leaders, reacting to sweeping changes to the economy Trump is promising, made a series of calls to the then GOP candidate in the days before the election, looking to shore up relations with his incoming administration.

The social media tiff between Musk and Bezos this week shows Musks alliance with Trump, coupled with the success of his tech ventures, has gotten Bezos attention, observers say.

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Now that Democrats are out of power, I think hes in a weird spot in his political leanings, his political relationship to D.C. and also his relationship with these new tech guys that have embraced the GOP, Johnson said of Bezos.

Representatives for Bezos and Musk declined to comment.

Bezos has come under attack from Trump and the right more generally, for years.

His ownership of the Washington Post, a publication that made a name for itself during Trumps first term with aggressive coverage of the former president, has earned Bezos regular scorn from conservative critics.

There are, however, signs of change at the Post, which earlier this month shocked the political and media world by not endorsing a candidate for president.

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Bezos personally made the decision to kill an editorial, which had been drafted and backed Vice President Harris, sparking concerns the billionaire was attempting to appease Trump.

In an op-ed defending the move, Bezos brushed aside suggestions he was trying to curry favor with Trump or help his businesses.

You can see my wealth and business interests as a bulwark against intimidation, or you can see them as a web of conflicting interests, Bezos wrote. Only my own principles can tip the balance from one to the other.

The Amazon founders latest counter punch at Musk on social media and any future rebuffing of the eccentric conservative might get Trumps attention and mend fences with the president-elect, Johnson suggested.

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It helps him [Bezos] to engage with Elon, he said, adding, Ultimately, Trump likes people who fight and people who believe in themselves and people who embrace conflict as a way to solve problems and move forward.

This is far from the first time Musk and Bezos have clashed in the public eye, with several of their recent feuds centered around their competing aerospace companies.

If I were Bezos, Id be worried. Its not just Elon Musks alliance with the incoming president, its the fact that his rocket development is years behind schedule of SpaceX, said Mark Whittington, an author who studies space, politics and policy.

Musks SpaceX leads the aerospace and rocket industry, hosting nearly 100 launches last year and deploying thousands of its Starlink internet satellites. It is reportedly on track to be valued at $255 billion if discussions to sell insider shares go through and holds a nearly billion-dollar contract to bring down the International Space Station.

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Blue Origin, founded in 2000 by Bezos, has lagged behind SpaceX when it comes to rocket launches and has yet to reach orbit or fly a national security mission. It is in direct competition with SpaceX and United Launch Alliance for $5.6 billion worth of Pentagon contracts over the next five years.

Bezos reignited the feud over the companies last June, when he filed a complaint with the Federal Aviation Administration to limit Starship launches, citing environmental concerns.

Musk at the time called the move an obviously disingenuous response, nicknaming the company Sue Origin at the time.

And in 2021, Bezos sued NASA over awarding a lunar lander contract to SpaceX, but ultimately lost the suit.

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Musk meanwhile has made a regular habit of feuding with or needling leading business executives with more progressive politics.

He famously challenged Mark Zuckerberg, the Facebook founder whose company is known today as Meta, to a cage match last summer and shared social media jokes mocking billionaire Mark Cuban as he voiced support for Harris.

Personal jabs aside, those aware of the dynamic say the fight between Musk and Bezos is merely part of a larger, more consequential struggle for the unofficial title of the worlds top innovator and most powerful man.

Musks SpaceX is still dominant right now, said Whittington. Bezos is and in fact every other rocket company has been kind of following in SpaceXs footsteps and Bezos is not happy about that.

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NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  Two charities in New Mexico will be getting millions of dollars all thanks to the Jeff Bezos Day One fund. His foundation pledged to provide $110 million to 40 organizations across the country.

Story continues below

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Catholic Charities and the Barrett Foundation were chosen by the Day One Families Fund which is financed by Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon. They will receive $6 million over five years. The Day One Families Fund is for non-profit charities that are helping families experiencing homelessness.

Catholic Charities will be getting $5 million. They said theyll be able to help a lot more families. What thats gonna look like for us is increased services Expansion of services for self-sufficiency and housing work. So, we will be able to help 275 families that we wouldnt have been able to help otherwise over the next 5 years going from being unhoused and experiencing homelessness to a safe place, said Jared Weatherholtz, Chief Program Officer from Catholic Charities.

Catholic Charities said theyll also be able to increase their staffing. Meanwhile, the Barrett Foundation has received $1.25 million and will be using the money for a similar cause. Well be using that money to hire a new intensive housing and employment navigator who will be going out into the community with the women which is something we dont do in our shelter, said Cory Lee CEO of Barrett Foundation.

With just one location in town, Lee said they will continue to focus on providing families with financial assistance. The funds will also be used to provide initial startup housing costs such as deposits, first month and last months rent, utility deposits, and things like that, said Lee.

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This will be the seventh year of The Day One Families Fund. Only two New Mexico groups have been selected before this year. Those were HopeWorks in 2019 and Mesilla Valley Community of Hope in 2021.

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During his first term, President Donald Trump showed no commitment or interest in true engagement with Africa.

As President Joe Biden prepares for his first visit to the African continent in the oil and resource-rich Angola on Dec. 4, it remains to be seen if his successor, President-elect Trump, is as committed to diplomacy in Africa as previous U.S. presidents have been.

During his first term, Trump showed no commitment or interest in true engagement with Africa, nor has he shown any during his presidential transition before taking the oath of office on Jan. 20, 2025.

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White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, senior advisor and spokesperson for Biden, told theGrio the presidents trip to Angola is intended to foster shared interests between the United States and Africa. Those shared interests include American businesses participating in Angolas economy, as well as Angolan companies doing business in the U.S., including the oil industry and construction. Theres also a goal of establishing digital connectivity that reinforces Angolas goals of renewable energy and food self-sufficiency.

President Bidens trip to Angola will also spotlight a multinational rail line project, the Lobito Corridor, which will stretch from the Angolan port of Lobito to Zambia and connect one end of Sub-Saharan Africa to the other. The initiative is a collaboration between the U.S., the European Union, and participating African nations and financial institutions. At $3 billion, it is the largest-ever rail investment by the U.S. in Africa.

Regarding U.S.-Africa relations over the next four years, there are concerns, even as the presidents of Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa welcomed the news of Trumps election to a second term. Many African leaders and advocates still recall Trumps infamous reference to Haiti and African nations as shithole countries in 2018.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a round table discussion with African American supporters in the Cabinet Room of the White House on June 10, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images)

Jean-Pierre, during Thursdays White House press briefing, told theGrio, This president believes in respecting people. She emphasized, Again, it doesnt matter where you come from. It doesnt matter if you voted for him or not. He believes every American has the opportunity to be uplifted.

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Donald Trump is the only Republican president since George W. Bush who has never traveled to Sub-Saharan Africa. Every president since Bill Clinton, except for Trump, has traveled to the continent to promote trade, health, national security, the economy, natural resources, and more.

An anonymous source in African affairs previously told theGrio, Anytime you do not focus on something that has been a focus for decades, you lose ground.

President Biden has committed $55 billion to Africa. However, African leaders are concerned that funding for the continent under the next Trump administration could be cut with his America First policy.

This concern comes as Trumps new close ally, billionaire Elon Musk, is a native South African who was raised in the African nations then deadly and racist apartheid system.

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US President Joe Biden issued a statement on Holodomor Remembrance Day, in which he pledged further support from Washington for Ukraine.

Source: European Pravda

Details: Biden mentioned that the Holodomor was a man-made famine organised by the Soviet regime in 1932-1933, which killed millions of Ukrainians.

Quote from Biden: "We remember the men, women, and children who perished during the Holodomor. We also honor the survivors of the Holodomor and their descendants who, despite Stalins efforts to repress Ukraines national identity, have built a free, independent, and democratic Ukraine.

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Today, as we mark the solemn anniversary of the Holodomor, we also renew our commitment to stand with the Ukrainian people in their time of need."

More details: Biden continued by reiterating that Russia had been waging a [full-scale] war of aggression against Ukraine for three years, hoping to wipe it off the map.

Quote from Biden: "In this effort, Russia has failed. Kyiv stands free, thanks in part to the United States and the more than 50 other countries that are committed to providing Ukraine with the assistance it needs to defend itself.

My message to the Ukrainian people on this day is clear: The United States honors your past and stands with you in the present. On this day, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting Ukraines ongoing defense of its freedom, its pursuit of justice, and its path to the Euro-Atlantic future it has chosen for itself. The courage and strength of the Ukrainian people will prevail."

Today we honour the victims of the #Holodomor. This statue of a starved Ukrainian child is so poignant. While I was there, passers by brought grain and apples to lay at her feet. This terrible crime of the Soviet regime against the people of Ukraine must never be forgotten. pic.twitter.com/VxqjJo4Aep  Martin Harris (@MartinHarrisOBE) November 23, 2024

Background:

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Earlier in the day, several other Western leaders made statements, and Western ambassadors to Ukraine attended the official commemoration of the Holodomor victims in Kyiv.

To date, the parliaments of about 30 countries, as well as the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, recognised the Holodomor as a genocide of the Ukrainian people.

In September 2024, the Swiss parliament also adopted this decision.

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The Biden administration has proposed a rule that it says will reduce pollution stemming from new gas-fired power plants and other industrial facilities.

The proposal would require these plants to cut their emissions of pollutants known as nitrogen oxides, which can lead to smog formation and contribute to asthma in people with long-term exposure.

The agency said the regulation would reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by as many as 198 tons in 2027 and 2,659 tons in 2032.

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However, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule is not expected to become final before Inauguration Day, meaning it would be up to the Trump administration to decide whether to move ahead with it.

The incoming Trump administration has indicated that it hopes to reduce regulations on both the economy as a whole and the power sector in particular.

Nevertheless, environmental advocates, who praised President Bidens action, said they would push the incoming Trump administration to keep it.

The Biden-Harris administrations proposed rule is an important and long-overdue step towards limiting dangerous smog and soot-forming pollution, Matthew Davis, vice president of federal policy at the League of Conservation Voters, said in a written statement.

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We will continue to press the EPA to improve on these important clean air safeguards and will hold the future Trump administration accountable to the court-ordered deadline to finalize a protective rule in November 2025, he added.

A 2023 legal agreement between the EPA and environmental groups that sued the agency says the EPA has to either tighten the standards or issue a formal decision not to do so no later than Nov. 12, 2025.

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(Bloomberg) -- In the waning days of his administration, President Joe Biden is pushing to strengthen Ukraines position against Russia before the return of Donald Trump to the White House.

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Listen to the Heres Why podcast on Apple, Spotify or anywhere you listen.

Thats because the president-elect has pledged to promptly end the grinding war started by Russias Vladimir Putin almost three years ago. That likely means a negotiated settlement, and Biden is trying to give Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy the strongest possible hand.

Bidens recent steps include, most notably, allowing Kyiv to hit military targets deeper inside Russia, a move that was immediately seen by Moscow and the Trump camp as a needless escalation.

Also in quick succession this week, the White House approved sending anti-personnel land mines, forgave nearly $5 billion in debt, and sanctioned a major Russian bank that handles payments for natural gas sales.

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Those steps, among others still under consideration, are part of Bidens plan to do as much as possible to reinforce Ukraine before Trump takes office, according to a person familiar with the US stance, who asked not to be identified discussing private deliberations.

The strategy is intended to help Zelenskiy by showing that Ukraine has the potential to retaliate against Russia if it continues hostilities, the person said.

Putin has responded swiftly. He approved a new nuclear doctrine that lowered the threshold for launching tactical atomic weapons, then fired a new hypersonic ballistic missile at Ukraine capable of carrying such warheads.

That doesnt mean that Bidens recent moves will be totally unwelcome by Trump, who could use a stronger Ukraine as a bargaining chip toward a settlement hed be able to frame as a victory.

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Some of the decisions Biden is making now could help Trump, by likely putting Trump in a stronger place to end the war, with Ukraine in a stronger position for any negotiations, said Shelby Magid, deputy director of the Atlantic Councils Eurasia Center.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte met Trump on Friday in Palm Beach, Florida, where they discussed the range of global security issues facing the North Atlantic Treaty Organization alliance, according to a NATO statement. Rutte also met Representative Michael Waltz, chosen to be Trumps national security adviser.

Trump, some of his cabinet picks and surrogates have questioned the tens of billions of US dollars pledged for financial and military support.

Waltz criticized the decision to allow Kyiv to fire US-made ATACMS deeper into Russia this week.

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Its another step up the escalation ladder, and nobody knows where this is going, he said in an interview on Fox & Friends, calling the step a tactical development.

Trump, by comparison, is talking grand strategy here. How do we get both sides the table to end this war? Whats the framework for a deal, and whos sitting at that table? he said.

Earlier: Ukraines Parliament Cancels Session Amid New Attack Threat

The White House and Pentagon are also rushing to use up the last of the funds appropriated by Congress for Ukraines defense, which stand roughly at $9 billion. The US has so far provided more than $64 billion to Ukraine in military aid, according to the State Department.

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President Biden has committed to making sure that every dollar we have at our disposal will be pushed out the door between now and Jan. 20th, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters at NATO headquarters earlier this month, referring to the date of Trumps inauguration.

Were making sure that Ukraine has the air defenses it needs, that has the artillery it needs, that has the armored vehicles it needs, he said.

There are limits to Bidens ability to enhance weapon supplies to Ukraine, as most of the remaining money can only be used for weapons already in Pentagon stockpiles. Drawing it down too far would leave the USs own defense at risk.

The Biden administration had also considered publicly calling for an official invitation to join NATO, but decided against it given the slim likelihood of success in the short term. Putin has also framed membership, which the allies said in July was inevitable, as a casus belli.

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Instead, a series of bilateral security arrangements would be cobbled together to provide Ukraine with assurances.

--With assistance from Nick Wadhams.

(Updates with Trump-Rutte meeting in 10th paragraph.)

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Nov. 22The Bigfork Fire District Board of Trustees last week dismissed a lieutenant who faced allegations of misconduct relating to the sexual harassment of female coworkers.

Firefighters and community members filed into the Bigfork High School library Nov. 14 for the special meeting regarding the disciplinary decision for Sean Reffner.

Chair Dan Elwell asked for a motion, and the room fell silent. Twenty seconds passed before vice chair Andrew Sliter spoke.

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"After reviewing the investigation notes and also reviewing and hearing Mr. Reffner's statements, I make a motion to terminate employment at Bigfork Fire," Sliter said.

The motion passed unanimously, and Reffner quickly left the room.

Earlier in the month, the fire district held a due process hearing for Reffner, which he requested remain open to the public.

Reffner was allowed over an hour to present his defense, unhindered by the board. He alleged that other Bigfork Fire employees also use prohibited language on-duty and argued that others were not being investigated for similar comments or actions and that he was being held to a different standard.

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"There is no standard set by anyone in this department," Reffner said. "I am being targeted by these people for these allegations when they don't even adhere or hold the same standard that they're trying to hold me to."

Reffner had been placed on administrative suspension on Sept. 18 after officials received 20 allegations of misconduct. Public Information Officer Allen Benitez, a member of the board and the investigator on Reffner's case, relayed that many fell by the wayside out of lack of evidence or policy relation, leaving six accusations the district considered substantiated.

"There were a number of allegations that were made that were listed as 'not sustained'... In some of those cases, while we certainly believe that various bad behaviors may have happened, there wasn't sufficient detail to move forward," Benitez explained. "The flip side to that is, some of the bad behavior that we do believe did occur, we don't have a particular policy against, and we can only charge things that are a policy violation."

An example of a dropped allegation included Reffner following a female employee into the women's bathroom, which was witnessed by another employee but did not directly correlate to a district policy.

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The allegations Reffner was charged with include making sexual comments and hand gestures to a female paramedic student from Flathead Valley Community College, insinuating that a female coworker was performing a sexual act with her fiance while being dropped off for work, accusing a female paramedic and firefighter of having sex with a male volunteer photographer earlier in her career, and day-to-day obscenities and sexual comments in the workplace.

Other allegations of misconduct included making threatening comments to members of the department following his suspension.

Throughout his due process defense, Reffner referred to these comments as "firehouse banter."

Bigfork Fire Department employed nine full-time firefighters. Of these, three lieutenants, including Reffner, were male. Two of the remaining six were women. Part-time and volunteer staff show a similar 1:3 female to male ratio.

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Benitez asserted that harassment of female crewmembers as "firehouse banter" was not tolerated by the district.

"It was disturbing, because not only did Mr. Reffner make that claim, but his union representative who is also a full-time firefighter in another department, they used the term that this is 'normal firehouse banter,'" Benitez said. "If we take that in a historical context, back in the 60s, 70s and 80s when fire departments were hiring Black, Hispanic and Asian firefighters, they were subjected to harassment and racial jokes and general bad behavior. The defense during that time was just, 'Hey, this is just part of normal firehouse banter,' and totally unacceptable.

"Now since we've started bringing more female members into the department, and some of those are now subject to harassment and name calling and other bad behavior, we're seeing that same excuse back again and it's not tolerated now, and it certainly wasn't tolerated then."

The fire district will hold a department-wide mandatory meeting for more in-depth discussion about department policy and appropriate work behavior. The board plans to review their policies as well. There are also plans to continue investigating claims Reffner made during his hearing concerning other firefighters not adhering to policy, which had not previously been brought to the board's attention.

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Bigfork firefighters receive a background investigation before hiring, though it is not as extensive as a law enforcement background check, consisting mostly of references from previous employers. They are required to sign a document stating they have read and will adhere to company policies, which prohibit harassment directed toward a person due to gender and using obscene, indecent or derogatory language or gestures while on-duty or in uniform.

As part of Reffner's defense, he stated he had not received sexual harassment training, despite the fact that allegations had been made against others in the past. Benitez said that while the board will review this, it does not seem necessary to pay for a sexual harassment training at this time.

"Our position is, how much more training does an individual need for the basic treatment of people with dignity and respect?" Benitez said.

Reffner alleged in his hearing that the district violated just cause, including charges not being factually proven, a lack of thorough investigation by the employer, others with the same allegations being treated differently, misconduct caused by inaction by the employer and work history not being taken into consideration. He also accused the department of denying him access to his union and improperly relaying his charges to him.

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Benitez said that the district's legal counsel is unable to identify any issues with the investigation as it took place.

"Big picture; the people you should hold to the highest level of performance are the government employees...but people are people, so we have to deal with what we're given," Benitez said. "In this case, as soon as management was made aware of the problem, the issues were promptly investigated and addressed. We've taken very seriously the accusations that were made and try and do as fair and comprehensive of an investigation as we can."

Reffner's disciplinary action has been a disruption to the department, which has already had difficulty retaining employees due to competitive wages around the valley. However, Benitez noted that the department does have a list of resumes to begin filling a lieutenant position.

"We want to reassure everybody that our employees certainly have the best interest of the public in mind, and we will do our part to ensure that all of the employees treat each other in the manner that everybody expects," Benitez said.
Nov. 22WASHINGTON  Sen. Kevin Cramer is among the authors of bipartisan legislation introduced Thursday, Nov. 21, to keep fixing aging infrastructure in national parks across the country.

Joining the North Dakota Republican in introducing the America the Beautiful Act, which will extend critical park maintenance, were Sens. Steve Daines, R-Montana; Angus King, I-Maine; and Mark Warner, D-Virginia.

The Great American Outdoors Act, originally

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signed

into law by President Donald Trump in 2020, established the National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund and included $1.9 billion over five years to address the maintenance backlog across public land agencies, including the National Parks Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service and others.

According to a news release from Cramer's office, the America the Beautiful Act will reauthorize the Legacy Restoration Fund and provide $2 billion for maintenance projects.

Since the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act, North Dakota projects in Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the Dakota Prairie Grasslands received significant funding to complete restoration and expansion projects, Cramer said in the news release. In TRNP, the South Loop Road is slated to reopen next summer as a result of $47 million to repair the washed-out sections and will have expanded walkways, seating and wayside exhibits, as well as repaved roadside pull-outs. Cramer

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visited

TRNP in August to view the construction progress on the loop.

The Dakota Prairie Grasslands, located near TRNP, has received

multiple

awards

to maintain campgrounds, update the Maah Daah Hey trailhead and resurface and repair roadways with funding from the Great American Outdoors Act. Additional projects in North Dakota include trail

maintenance

on the National North Country Scenic Trail.

"The Great American Outdoors Act brought real results to North Dakota's outdoor recreation opportunities," Cramer said in a statement. "Visitors to Theodore Roosevelt National Park will be able to travel the South Loop road, which washed out several years ago, and recreationists can enjoy the updated trails and campsites in the nearby grasslands. Let's keep this momentum going by passing the America the Beautiful Act, so we maintain our national treasures."

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Congress now must work together to get the bill over the finish line, the National Parks Conservation Association said.

"Millions of people flock to national parks every year to experience some of our nation's best landscapes and most significant stories," Theresa Pierno, president and CEO of the National Parks Conservation Association, said in a statement. "National parks are icons of our country, and Americans love them. They also want to see them supported. And this bill is a promise that we will continue to take care of the places that mean so much to so many people."
The animal was taken from the wild by a group of people in North Carolina in April

NCWRC The black bear cub. The black bear cub.

A black bear cub that was pulled from a tree for a selfie in North Carolina earlier this year has been successfully released back into the wild.

Back in April, a group was caught pulling bear cubs from a tree to take photographs with them, as seen in footage shared at the time by ABC 11 affiliate WLOS. (A second cub was seen running away in the video but was never located.)

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Now, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) has set one of the animals free in an undisclosed and remote mountain area within the state, the organization said in a press release obtained by PEOPLE.

In a video shared online by the NCWRC, the small animal can be seen being released and running off frantically into the forest.

NCWRC The black bear cub being released into the wild. The black bear cub being released into the wild.

Related: North Carolina Group Caught on Camera Pulling Black Bear Cubs from Tree to Get Selfie

After the group of people pulled the cub from a tree at an Asheville apartment complex earlier this year and then took photos of themselves holding it, the cub was rescued by NCWRC staff and taken to a rehabilitation facility.

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After she was determined to be healthy and able to live in the wild successfully, the cub was given a tracking collar and identifying tags and marks to track her in the wild.

The GPS collar data shows that she is adjusting well to life back in the wild, NCWRC Bearwise Coordinator Ashley Hobbs said in a statement.

Like most rehabilitated black bear cubs, we expect this cub to follow its instincts this winter and identify an appropriate location to den," she added. "Bear cubs are resilient animals, and it looks like this cub wont be an exception."

Related: Tourist Mauled After Rolling Down Window to Take Selfie with Bear

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According to NCWRC wildlife biologists, bear cubs should always be left alone  even when found on their own.

The organization advises the public to contact the NCWRC should they ever find a bear solo and to not handle it, catch it, remove it or feed it.

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, 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.

She added, Its imperative for the public to never feed a bear of any age. This will cause it to become habituated to people, and with cubs, it makes it more challenging for successful rehabilitation back into the wild."


NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish said the black bear population is steadily growing thanks to improved conservation efforts. Game and Fish said every year, a group of wildlife biologists and veterinarians survey northern New Mexico to see how many black bears are in the state, how robust the population is, and how they adapt to the ever-changing climate.

Ski Santa Fe to have earliest opening weekend since 2001

So what these capturing collar efforts are giving us insights on is how these bears are doing in current conditions. Whats going on with them as the climate is shifting. Whats going on with them as developments are growing and really understanding how theyre adapting and changing their use of resources and how were still having these robust populations that are growing and persisting in spite of all the change thats going on, said Carnivore & Small Mammal Program Manager Nick Forman.

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Game and Fish said a study from New Mexico State University found the highest density of black bears was in northern New Mexico with 28 bears per 100 square kilometers.

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A declassified U.S. intelligence memorandum sheds light on Russia's suspected assassination attempts of political adversaries abroad, Bloomberg reported on Nov. 23.

The intelligence assessment, which Bloomberg obtained through the U.S.'s Freedom of Information Act, details how U.S. intelligence believed in 2016 that suspected Kremlin-ordered assassinations abroad would likely persist.

The document includes well-known cases, such as the murder of Alexander Litvinenko, a former FSB agent who defected to the U.K.

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Litvinenko accused Putin's regime of a number of crimes, including that the FSB was allegedly behind the 1999 bombings of apartment buildings in Moscow and other Russian cities that were originally blamed on Chechen rebels. Among other things, he also said Putin and his circle had ties to organized crime.

Litvinenko died of radiation poisoning in 2006 and blamed Putin before his death. British intelligence concluded that Russia likely carried out the assassination, according to the U.S. intelligence memorandum.

The document also lists former Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, who was poisoned on the campaign trail during the 2004 presidential election, leaving his face temporarily disfigured. It does not purport that Moscow was directly involved in his poisoning but states that his supporters believe Moscow was behind it.

Yushchenko, a pro-West politician, barely survived the poisoning during his election campaign in which he faced off against pro-Russian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, backed by Putin.

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Following the poising, Yushchenko went on to lead the Orange Revolution, a public uprising sparked by mass election fraud that saw Yanukovych being declared the winner. Following a new round of voting Yushchenko won and became Ukraine's third president only to lose to Yanukovych in the next election.

Bloomberg noted that, although the document was dated, it showed that the U.S. believed Moscow's willingness to target people abroadranging from Caucasus rebels to intelligence defectors and dissidents.

Read also: It was my first revolution  Ukrainians look back on the Orange Revolution 20 years later

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Democratic attorneys general are preparing a raft of legal actions to prevent Donald Trump from carrying out mass deportations of undocumented immigrants, setting the stage for a series of showdowns over one of his central campaign pledges.

In interviews with POLITICO, six leading blue-state prosecutors said they are girding to take Trump to court over misusing military troops on domestic soil, attempting to commandeer local or state law enforcement to do the job of the federal government and denying peoples constitutional right to due process.

The attorneys general also said they would move to challenge Trump if he tries to federalize the National Guard  or attempts to direct active-duty military units or National Guard troops from red states into blue states. They are bracing to push back against his administration sending immigration agents into schools and hospitals to target vulnerable populations.

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And they are preparing to fight Trump over withholding federal funding from local law enforcement agencies in an attempt to induce them into carrying out deportations, as he did unsuccessfully in his first term.

The attorneys preparations underscore the depth of concern among blue-state leaders about Trumps deportation plans and foreshadow the major role state prosecutors will continue to play in shaping the countrys immigration policy. Following a rash of red-state challenges to President Joe Bidens immigration agenda over the last four years, its now blue-state attorneys who are positioned to set off another round of legal clashes  this time intended to stymie Trump on his signature issue.

There are ways to [handle immigration] that are in line with American values and conform to American law. But they dont seem to be interested in pursuing that, New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez, a former federal prosecutor who has experience in immigration enforcement, said of Trump and his allies. And thats where someone like me has an important role to play.

MOVES AND COUNTERMOVES

While some have dismissed Trumps pledge to carry out the largest deportation in American history as infeasible, Democratic attorneys general are taking the incoming president at his word. They are preparing briefs and analyses and even identifying courts in which to file their lawsuits as they brace for him to begin rounding up undocumented immigrants, who number some 11 million, en masse.

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It is setting up a legal chess match between a president-elect looking for new ways to press the limits of executive power and a cadre of state prosecutors already familiar with his playbook and adapting to changes in his approach. And it is unfolding amid broader shifts in the politics of border security.

The incoming presidents policy team is already thinking about how to craft executive actions aimed to withstand the legal challenges from groups and state prosecutors  all in hopes of avoiding an early defeat like the one that shuttered his 2017 travel ban targeting majority-Muslim nations.

But each step Trump takes during his transition  stacking his Cabinet with immigration hardliners who have pledged to carry out his calls for large-scale deportations, and confirming he intends to both declare a national emergency and use the military in some form to aid his plans  gives Democrats more clues about how to attempt to block his efforts once he takes office.

Trump pledged on the campaign trail to invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expedite the removal of immigrant gang members. He is expected to end parole for people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela, and deactivate a mobile phone application called CBP One that migrants could use to set up appointments to seek asylum.

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His border-czar-in-waiting, former acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement director Tom Homan, has vowed to ramp up workplace raids. His incoming deputy chief of policy, Stephen Miller, has spoken of deputizing the National Guard as immigration enforcement officers and even sending troops across state lines to circumvent any resistance efforts. While federal law largely prohibits using military forces for domestic law enforcement, Miller last year identified a workaround  the clause in the so-called Insurrection Act that gives the president power to deploy the military on domestic soil in times of turmoil.

And on Monday, Trump confirmed in a social media post that he intends to declare a national emergency and marshal military assets to help execute deportations.

State prosecutors argued in interviews that those plans are on shaky legal ground. And talk of using the military has already spurred policy divides between the incoming president and Republican lawmakers, with libertarian-leaning GOP Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) saying this week that Trumps plan to carry out mass deportations with the militarys help would be a huge mistake  an early sign that Democrats might have some allies on this front.

I dont think the theories that they have comport with federal laws, so there would be a direct challenge to the legal basis the president would use to deploy the United States military, Torrez said.

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Separate and apart from the legal arguments that we would be advancing in court, I think theres a broader context that most Americans are simply not comfortable and do not support utilizing military assets in that way, Torrez added.

WHERE TO PUSH BACK  OR NOT

Attorneys general arent planning to stand in the way of lawful immigration enforcement. In many cases they will work with federal authorities to address public safety threats and to help catch and deport criminals  as they have in the past. And even as they prepare for what they cast as potential overreach from a second Trump administration, they note that their next steps largely depend on how the president-elect implements his plans, which is difficult to predict.

Trumps advisers have suggested the Republican administration will take a more targeted approach to deportations, starting with those who are known or suspected national security threats and who have criminal records. But attorneys general are skeptical he will stick to that. And they are fearful he could begin targeting both undocumented immigrants who have been in the country for a decade or more and have established roots, or those who entered the country through legal pathways  scenarios they warn could lead to family separation and cause chaos in some communities.

If hes going to want to achieve that type of scale, the largest deportation in U.S. history, as he says, by definition hes going to have to target people who are lawfully here and  go after American citizens, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said. And were not going to stand for that.

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Trump pledged on the campaign trail to begin his deportation push in Aurora, Colorado, the Denver suburb he routinely depicted  despite pushback from locals  as a war zone that had been invaded and conquered by members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. Phil Weiser, the states attorney general, said he will be laser-focused on determining whether Trumps immigration officials are denying people due process  a move he called unAmerican.

Attorneys general from Colorado to California are also preparing for repeat battles over federal funding. Trump threatened throughout his first term to withhold funding from states and cities with so-called sanctuary policies that limit local law enforcements interactions with federal immigration authorities. His administration also attempted to attach immigration-enforcement conditions to grants for local law enforcement  and lost in court.

We wont take that lying down, just as we didnt last time, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said.

In response to a request for comment for this story, Steven Cheung, Trumps communications director, said in a statement that the president-elect has nominated the most highly qualified and experienced attorneys to lead the Department of Justice and focus on enforcing the rule of law.

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Democratic prosecutors resistance will extend beyond the courtroom. Advocacy groups such as the ACLU are already pushing attorneys general to use other tools at their disposal  such as issuing guidance to state and local agencies about how to handle immigration requests from the federal government  to attempt to slow implementation of Trumps immigration actions.

And attorneys general are already embarking on a messaging campaign both against Trumps broad characterizations of migrants as blood thirsty criminals and in support of immigrants who are contributing to local communities. They are also joining other Democratic leaders in starting to cast Trumps deportation plans as potentially harmful for the economy he has pledged to improve, drawing a direct line between the immigrant workforce that helps drive the nations agriculture industry and higher prices at the grocery store.

Trump has created the narrative that every immigrant who is here in, say, Massachusetts, or this country, illegally is committing crimes, said the states attorney general, Andrea Campbell. Its just not true.

Shia Kapos and Josh Gerstein contributed to this report.
Former national security adviser John Bolton slammed Sebastian Gorka as a con man on Friday, after President-elect picked Gorka to lead counterterrorism efforts in his second term.

Well, Sebastian Gorka is a con man. I wouldnt have him in any U.S. government, Bolton told CNNs Kaitlan Collins when asked about the choice. Fortunately, its not the highest position he had been mentioned for. But I dont think its going to bode well for counterterrorism efforts when the [National Security Councils] senior director is somebody like that.

And this is why, obviously everybody is now focusing on the top jobs, he said on The Source in an interview Friday. But the questions of who are the deputy secretaries, who are the undersecretaries, and so on, is also going to tell us a lot about whos actually running the government.

His comments came just hours after Trump named Gorka to serve as a deputy assistant to the president and the senior director for counterterrorism. The president-elect praised his former aide as a tireless advocate for the America First Agenda and the MAGA Movement.

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A vocal Trump critic, Bolton has not been shy with his criticism of his former bosss Cabinet and top administration picks.

After the president-elect announced former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard as his choice for director of national intelligence, he called the nomination one of the worst ones yet. But once Trump named former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) to head the Justice Department (DOJ), he changed his opinion.

Up until a few hours ago, I would have said that was the worst Cabinet appointment in recent American history, Bolton, a defense hawk, said of Gabbard in an interview on NewsNations The Hill last week. Of course, since Matt Gaetzs nomination, he clearly has taken the lead on that score.

Gaetz has since withdrawn from consideration and Trump tapped former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi to serve in the post instead.

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During Fridays interview on CNN, Bolton argued that Gorkas education claims need to be probed and theorized he was selected for the post for showing fealty to the president-elect.

He needs a full field FBI background investigation about his educational claims and things like that. I think he is a perfect example of somebody who owes his position purely to Donald Trump, Bolton told Collins. He doesnt display loyalty. He displays fealty. And thats what Trump wants.

He doesnt want Gorkas opinions. He wants Gorka to say, Yes, sir,' he said, adding. And I am fully confident thats exactly what will happen no matter what it is Trump says.

The former national security adviser also previously called for investigations into Gaetz and Gabbard before potential confirmation in the Senate.

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The Hill has reached out to the Trump transition team for comment.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY)  The woman charged in connection with the presumed death of a missing man will remain behind bars.

A Virginia Beach judge denied Ashley Waltons bond this morning. She has been charged with concealment of a dead body in the homicide investigation of 42-year-old Matrell Lamar, who disappeared from Knotts Island, North Carolina in July.

Woman arrested in connection to disappearance of Knotts Island man

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Lamar has been reported missing since July 15. He has not been seen or found; his family is still looking for answers.

Friends and family of Lamar were in court Friday to get a glimpse of the woman in connection with his death; they heard a judge say exactly what they were hoping for  bond denied.

It still doesnt bring him back, said Keanisha Harris, Lamars sister.

Walton told authorities Lamar left earlier in the month after the two got into an argument, and she hadnt seen him since. But court documents tell a different story, with phone records showing the two were pinged at the Pungo Ferry Bridge boat ramp.

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Docs: Woman accused of driving missing BFs remains from VB to Knotts Island

When he called me, they were on the bridge, said Debra Freeman, Lamars mother. They were arguing, and she was waiting for somebody to come pick her up. And that was the last phone call I had with him.

Before his disappearance, Lamar and Walton were living together. Lamars mother reached out to police back in mid-July when she hadnt heard from him.

It feels overwhelming at this point, Harris said. Im just hoping for justice and praying that everything works out.

Lamars mother told 10 On Your Side that Lamar left a voicemail that said the two were on the bridge and their car had run out of gas.

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According to court documents, Walton called a man, and the suspect allegedly showed up and shot Lamar. They said the body was then put in Waltons car, and she is accused of driving his remains.

Were never going to see him smile again, Harris said. Were not going to ever see him laugh.

The family believes Lamar is dead, but without a body found, they are unsure what the next steps are.

The next worst process is trying to prepare or figure out what I could do as a service for him, Freeman said. And then I have to go through his belongings. So its going to be a long road.

At the end of the hearing, a friend of Ashely Walton who is believed to be her boyfriend asked to hug her, but he was denied. Walton has a preliminary court hearing scheduled for Feb. 14, 2025.

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The search for Lamar remains ongoing.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
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.




Rebecca Zahau, 32, was found dead outside a California mansion in 2011

San Diego County Sheriff's Office Rebecca Zahau Rebecca Zahau

On the morning of July 13, 2011, Rebecca Zahau, 32, was found hanging naked from the second-story balcony of her boyfriend's mansion in Coronado, Calif.

Zahau, a certified ophthalmic technician who'd been dating pharmaceutical tycoon Jonah Shacknai, was gagged. Her hands and feet had been bound.

She was discovered by Shacknais brother Adam, who cut her down and called 911.

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Police soon learned that hours earlier, Zahau had checked her voicemail, on which was a message about the grave condition of Shacknais 6-year-old son Max, who was in the hospital after falling down a staircase in his fathers 27-bedroom historic mansion.

Zahau was the only adult present at the home during the accident.

Related: California Mansion Mystery: Did Rebecca Zahau Kill Herself  or Was She Murdered?

Rebecca Zahau and Jonah Shacknai

The prognosis for the boy wasnt good. He died of his injuries days later, on July 17.

When Zahau died, the quiet, picturesque, and wealthy island community of Coronado  just across the San Diego Bay from downtown San Diego  was confronted with its most mysterious, high-profile police investigation.

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Since then, the case has spawned a book and an Oxygen TV special. It has also attracted a multitude of internet sleuths.

Zahau and Shacknai began dating shortly after he divorced his second wife, who was Max's mother.

As their relationship grew more serious, she quit her job at Horizon Eye Specialists & Lasik Center in Scottsdale, Ariz., to spend more time with Shacknai and his children, according to reports from her former boss.

Shacknai moved into the mansion, known as the Spreckels Mansion  an Italian Renaissance and Beaux-Arts-decorated residence built in 1908 for a member of the Spreckels sugar dynasty  in 2007, using it primarily as a summer residence.

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Zahaus death initially confounded local police.

At first, her death was thought to be a homicide. Shortly after she was found, authorities discovered a message written in black paint on the door of the guest bedroom, reading, She saved him can he save her.

San Diego County Sheriff's Office Max Shacknai Max Shacknai

But after a lengthy investigation, the San Diego County Sheriffs Department concluded that she killed herself, theorizing that she felt responsible for Max's death.

As evidence, investigators showed reporters a video reenactment of how they believed she was able to bind her hands and feet and then hang herself.

Investigators said they also found her fingerprints on a knife that was used to cut the rope as well as her toe impressions on the balcony floor, where they believe she fell from.

Nelvin C. Cepeda/San Diego Union-Tribune/ZUMA Wire/Alamy Adam Shacknai Adam Shacknai

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However, Zahaus mother and sister never accepted the police version of events. The pair filed a wrongful death suit, claiming that Shacknais brother Adam, who had flown to California after hearing the news about Maxs accident and was staying in the estates guesthouse, was responsible for her death.

In 2018, a civil jury in San Diego awarded her family $5 million in damages after they found Adam, who denied he had anything to do with her death, responsible, according to ABC News.

Zahau familys lawyer argued Adam had sexually assaulted her and then killed her before staging her death to look like a suicide, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Adams attorney Dan Webb said he was absolutely astonished at the decision.

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It is clear the Zahau family desperately wanted to place blame after such an inexplicable tragedy, he said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE at the time. But falsely accusing an innocent man of murder, without a shred of credible evidence, did nothing to advance the pursuit of justice, nor to honor the memory of Max and Rebecca. Instead, the fabricated allegations against Adam, and the emotional jury response they provoked, only add another appalling human tragedy to this already horrible situation.

Sandy Huffaker/Corbis via Gett Spreckels Mansion Spreckels Mansion

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After the civil jury verdict, the familys attorney told reporters they were planning to petition the sheriffs department to reopen the case.

The department assigned new investigators to reexamine the evidence, but those investigators came to the same conclusion as the ones before.

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Related: Millionaire's Brother Found Civilly Liable After His Girlfriend Was Discovered Hanging From Mansion

We conducted an objective and thorough investigation into Miss Zahaus death, the sheriffs department wrote in a statement to PEOPLE at the time. The facts of that investigation have led to the conclusion that Miss Zahau took her own life.

In 2022, Zahau's family sent a petition to the San Diego Department of the Medical Examiner asking to reclassify her manner of death from suicide to homicide.

In a letter to Zahau's attorney in September 2023 obtained by PEOPLE, Chief Medical Examiner Steven C. Campman wrote he "considered the arguments set forth in your letter and the information in the accompanying documents."

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Related: Man 'Disappointed' in 'Preposterous Verdict' Finding Him Liable for Woman's Strange Mansion Death

Campman said he also discussed their arguments with other members of his office as well as the pathologist who came up with the initial ruling.

"However, after reviewing the totality of the evidence, the conclusion of this office has not changed," he wrote.


A Brainerd man died in a crash in hazardous conditions during Wednesday's snowfall in Crow Wing County.

The Minnesota State Patrol says Stephen Moran, 31, of Brainerd, was driving his Ford F-350 north on Highway 371 near Lennox Road in Fort Ripley Township when he left the road and rolled into the median at around 5:45 p.m.

Moran died at the scene. The crash report says roads at the time were slick due to snow and ice.

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Weather officials had warned that road conditions would be "very slick" due to the snowfall, which led to hundreds of crashes and spinouts across the state.

Moran's crash was one of 455 reported statewide in Minnesota between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. Wednesday, with 34 people injured.

Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcements latest version of events, and may be subject to change.

Related: First snowfall of the season causes havoc on Twin Cities roads
The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law on Monday released a 16-page study, enittledVoting on Tribal Lands: Barriers to Native American Turnout, on Monday. The study found that between 2012 and 2022, voter participation in federal elections for people living on tribal lands was on average 11 percentage points lower than those living off tribal lands in the same states.

Chelsea Jones and Coryn Grange, the studys authors, write: For far too long, Native Americans have faced barriers to voting that impede their full political participation. While de jure disenfranchisement of Native Americans no longer exists, de facto disenfranchisement continues to flourish, as is evident in the turnout gap between voters on and off tribal lands.

Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning.

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Research for this study was conducted prior to this year's election, therefore the study does not include data on how Native Americans voted in the 2024 presidential election.

The study looked at voter turnout among people living on tribal lands, specifically in 21 states that have more than 5,000 people living on federally recognized tribal lands with more than 20 percent of that tribal land population identifying as Native American. The voter turnout of those who reside on tribal lands was compared to the voter turnout of those who don't.

In 2020, for example, had the nearly 900,000 voters on the tribal lands we studied turned out at the same rate as others in their states, roughly 160,000 more votes would have been cast. In addition, turnout was lower on tribal lands with higher shares of Native American adults. Voters on tribal lands were also 7 percentage points less likely than those not on tribal lands to vote by mail or vote early. The U.S. governments persistent inaction to improve voting conditions for Native Americans has resulted in widespread disenfranchisement and furthered a legacy of mistrust in the political system.

The states included in the study were Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Screenshot_2024-11-22_at_11.24.09_PM.png

It is widely known that Native voter turnout consistently lags that of other groups. This is due to various issues and barriers to mail, early voting, polling places, and even registration to vote on tribal lands. Using millions of voter records from 2012 to 2022, Jones and Grange found that voter turnout during that period was substantially lower for people living on tribal lands, particularly those where Native Americans are concentrated.

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Of the tribal lands studied, 53 percent of the population in 2020 identified as Native American.

The authors recognize that accurately surveying Indian Country is difficult. There are nearly 1.3 million American Indian or Alaska Native people living on federally recognized tribal lands in the United States. The voter records used for the study are snapshots of the greater AI/AN populations. The tribal lands data is from the U.S. Censusdesignated, federally recognized American Indian Reservations.

The geographic isolation of rural tribal lands is one of the largest obstacles to voting. Election offices are typically located outside of tribal lands; for instance, on the Pyramid-Lake Reservation in Nevada and the portion of the Navajo Nation in Utah, these offices are more than 100 miles away. Some reservation residents, like members of the Karuk Tribe in California, must drive across dangerous terrain to access their county seats for election services.

About the Author: "Neely Bardwell (descendant of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indian) is a staff reporter for Native News Online. Bardwell is also a student at Michigan State University where she is majoring in policy and minoring in Native American studies. "

Contact: neely@nativenewsonline.net
Britains highest-paid inmates are earning more on average than the prison officers who guard them, it can be revealed.

Last year, the highest-paid inmate had a net salary of 36,715, according to Home Office data obtained by a freedom of information request. It means their gross pay was about 46,000.

Nine other inmates had net earnings of more than 22,900 last year, the data showed.

Some prisoners in low-security open prisons are allowed to work outside the prison, as long as they are back in the jail confines by the end of the day.

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It is part of an effort to rehabilitate prisoners and prepare them for life back in society.

It is thought these high-earning prisoners do a variety of jobs but one of the most lucrative, which also has some of the fewest security implications, is driving lorries.

Many prisoners who have jobs while serving a prison sentence have to pay a hefty victims levy, which can trim 40 per cent off an inmates salary.

A top-paid inmates net salary of 36,715 puts them on a par with the take-home pay of midwives (36,622), biochemists (36,586), psychotherapists (36,602) and chartered surveyors (35,041).

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Such income was also comfortably ahead of the average post-tax pay of PR professionals (31,452) and probation officers (29,913), according to wage figures from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings.

In total, prisoners pay last year totalled 22.5 million with an average of 1,183 inmates being employed every month.

It means the average working prisoner was being paid the equivalent of just under 20,000 per year. The average salary of a prison officer is 28,000, while new recruits are paid about 24,000 per year.

The Ministry of Justice admitted that there were two other high-paid prisoners who netted more than 30,000 after deductions last year, and another seven who put between 22,900 and 30,000 into private bank accounts.

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A Prison Service spokesman said: Some offenders, towards the end of their sentence, receive a release on temporary licence. This sees them spend some of their day in the community, often working, before returning to prison.

If they are working, their earnings are subject to tax, court fines and a levy of up to 40 per cent, which funds a charity for victims.

Time spent working in the community significantly reduces a prisoners likelihood of reoffending, cutting crime and making our streets safer.

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Pundits often assert that this or that measure is making us an international laughing-stock. The claim is almost never true. Whatever is exercising British commentators rarely, in my experience, moves the Burmese or the Bolivians to hilarity.

But the decision by Essex Police to feel the collar of my Telegraph colleague, Allison Pearson, really has provoked amused pity around the world. It has been the subject of local radio talk shows from Brisbane to Baltimore.

I am writing this column in North Carolina, where three people this week  only one of them a politico  have separately commiserated with me after hearing my accent. Believe me, sympathy from foreigners in these situations, however kindly meant, makes you wince.

What made Allisons through-the-looking-glass experience go global? Partly an online push from Elon Musk, but mainly the fact that it reinforced the unflattering view that the world was already forming of Britain.

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We are seen, bluntly, as a country run by student union activists, a place where violent criminals are released from prison to free up space for people who have posted nasty comments online. If youre British, you might protest that things are more complicated than that, but you must also concede that our critics have the big picture right.

This really has become a country where freedom of expression is subordinated to the presumed sensibilities of minorities, and where saying the wrong thing, even if you have plainly not incited anyone or risked public disorder, can bring the cops to your door.

If you doubt me, consider what happened to Allison. Someone dug up a year-old tweet, long-since deleted, and complained about it. Why would you go to all that trouble to find something to be upset by? Good question. Toby Young of the Free Speech Union, who has himself been on the receiving end of this nonsense, calls it offence archaeology.

In this case, the online agitator found a remark that Allison had posted soon after October 7, when she believed shed seen a picture that showed that the police were being unduly chummy with anti-Israel marchers. It was a mistake. Allison realised her error and deleted her comment.

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A year later, the offence archaeologist found a screenshot of the image, telling The Guardian: Each time an influential person makes negative comments about people of colour I, as a person of colour, see an uptick in racist abuse towards me and the days after that tweet are no different.

Seriously? People glimpsed that image and it made them direct racist abuse at strangers? How could you possibly know?

In a sane world, the police would have spotted someone with an axe to grind, and sent him or her away. But no, the Saffron Walden Clouseaus decided to investigate this supposed threat to public order. Perhaps they wanted to happrehend Hallison after er remark about fellow hofficers.

When Allison wrote about her experience, the rozzers doubled down. First, they whinged that while it was fine for them to knock on her door without telling her what the accusation was or who was making it, it was inappropriate for her to mention their visit. Then, bizarrely, they called in their Gold Command, which deals with questions of public disorder and terrorism.

Journalists and MPs rushed to support the Telegraph columnist  whom her readers know as a writer of deep humanity, capable, yes, of sharp asides, but never unkind. Kemi Badenoch, her local MP, described the police action as absolutely wrong. Eventually Essex Police dropped the case.

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If only there were some way to bring the polices priorities back into line with those of the public they are supposed to serve. Oh, wait, there is. Since November 2012, each constabulary has answered to an elected Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC).

As the original proponent of what I wanted to call sheriffs, I have been driven to distraction by their unwillingness to do their job. There are exceptions  my local PCC in Hampshire, Donna Jones, is a cracker  but many take their salaries without ever asserting themselves. When the police do something idiotic, their PCCs usually hide behind the claim that its an operational matter.

But here, I thought, was such an egregious failing that the PCC would have to intervene. I took to X (it seemed the appropriate medium in this instance) to ask the incumbent, a Conservative called Roger Hirst, what he planned to do. He replied, No attack on free speech, just due process. He went on to back his constables action, adding perhaps we need to think about how our black and Asian communities are hearing this debate.

Im going to go out on a limb, here, Roger, and suggest that our black and Asian communities (a tellingly collectivist phrase, as if they all thought the same way) want the same as most white people, namely coppers who concentrate on stopping burglaries and assaults rather than harassing newspaper columnists.

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Im going to go further and suggest that, if you wont act in a case like this, you are not earning your 91,600 salary and should resign. You may be a fellow Tory, but this is one of those you had one job situations.

If the duty of a PCC, the core shrieval function, is to hold the police to account, the role of the press is to uphold free expression. Yet, once again, Leftist writers declared themselves in favour of free speech, but

The Guardian ran an ugly column by John Crace, mocking Allison for claiming victim status and portentously declaring that the legality is for others to determine. The New Statesman declared that free speech was all well and good, but (one hell of a reach this) not if your child is subject to Islamophobic or anti-Semitic abuse on their way to school.

This ambivalence about censorship should surprise us more than it does. The tribunes of free speech down the years, from John Milton to J S Mill, were seen, at the time and afterwards, as progressives. What has changed?

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Perhaps there was never a golden age of free speech, only an interregnum between the old religious ascendancy and the new trinity of Diversity, Equality, Inclusion; an uneasy stand-off when neither side held the commanding heights.

Britain last jailed someone for mocking Jesus in 1921. But in 2022, a former policeman was sentenced to 20 weeks for mocking George Floyd. There was no question of public disorder: his comments were on a private WhatsApp group. Thats the thing about blasphemy codes. They are about sniffing out sacrilege, not preserving peace.

The country that gave the world Magna Carta and the Bill of Rights is now a repressive outlier. Recent elections in Europe and the US have punished politicians associated with wokery, and Canada will surely follow suit. But here, in the nation of John Lilburne, John Locke and John Wilkes, were going in the opposite direction.

The people of Essex voted for Hirst, and the people of Britain for Keir Starmer, whose ruling principle is the supremacy of human rights lawyers. But the real problem is our standing bureaucracy which subordinates almost every other principle to DEI.

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Kemi Badenoch has made hostility to identity politics her chief cause. She must surely now fight the next election on a promise to scrap the laws on which this nonsense rests, starting with the Human Rights Act and the Equality Act.

She stood up admirably for her constituent; now let her stand up for the country.

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Good news on crime is rare, but today we report that Lawrence Newport is turning his attention from dangerous dogs to career criminals. Dr Newport made his name last year by drawing public attention to the spread of American XL bully dogs.

The former law lecturers evidence-based approach to the in-breeding of these super-sized pit bulls persuaded the then prime minister, Rishi Sunak, to ban them, after a campaign of just 77 days.

Now this intrepid boffin is calling for a new effort by police and the courts to tackle the scourge of career criminals. Just 10 per cent of offenders account for half of all crimes  and most are getting away with it.

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Dr Newport warns that more than 200,000 repeat offenders with an average of 25 previous convictions have avoided jail, including some 2,000 villains with over 100 convictions. Without prison as a deterrent, crime is a lucrative career.

We can all see the terrifying results of such impunity. For example, London is now the phone-theft capital of Europe, with over 52,000 cases last year. Professional thieves can snatch dozens of phones an hour, often using e-bikes to escape. The anonymity of e-bikes makes it hard for police to trace the culprits. All too often, they do not bother.

Phone theft is, of course, only one of many categories of crime that are seldom solved. The public has long been fobbed off with the excuse that burglaries, bike thefts, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting are low priorities for overstretched police officers. Many such incidents are not even reported, unless for insurance purposes.

But responsible citizens never grow accustomed to flagrant violations of the law, which ruin their quality of life. Ignoring petty offences opens the door to more serious crime, as the American political scientist James Q Wilson showed with his broken windows theory 40 years ago.

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While the Government has announced a sentencing review, expectations that anything will change are low. The Home Secretary seems less concerned about crime than about non-crime hate incidents.

How much longer must the public wait before the police, the judiciary and the politicians focus on putting career criminals where they belong: behind bars?

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SHEPHERDSVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56)  A Bullitt County mother who pleaded guilty to shooting and killing her two young sons has been sentenced.

Police arrested Tiffanie Lucas in November 2023 and charged her with two counts of murder. A neighbor found her sons, 6-year-old Maurice Baker Jr. and 9-year-old Jayden Howard, shot inside Lucas home.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

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The boys were rushed to the hospital but died from their injuries.

During sentencing, attorneys for Lucas said she had powerful delusions on the day of the shooting and tried to turn the gun on herself, but it jammed.

Lucas was sentenced to life in prison.

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BUSHWICK, Brooklyn (PIX11)  Following multiple electrical fires, tenants in a Bushwick building were forced to vacate their homes. PIX11s Cory McGinnis spoke with a resident now living in a shelter who shared her fight for tenant rights and the challenges she faces.

Angel Kaba, a former resident of 441 Wilson Ave. in Bushwick, Brooklyn, was forced to leave her home after three electrical fires occurred in the building within two months earlier this year. I dont wanna get emotional but its a nightmare, Kaba said, describing her current situation.

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Now living in a Harlem shelter with her daughter, Kaba faces significant disruptions to their daily lives. Me and my daughter we are the only ones who are placed in a shelter because we didnt have any other place to go, she explained. The impact on her routine is substantial, especially when it comes to her daughters care. I spend four, five hours picking up my daughter, that alone is tiring, Kaba added.

On Friday, Kaba and other displaced tenants joined local elected officials and advocates for a rally outside the vacated Bushwick building. The tenants demanded an immediate halt to unpermitted renovation work, a comprehensive review of the buildings post-fire conditions, and a guaranteed right of return for all displaced residents.

City Council Member Sandy Nurse spoke at the rally, stating, Were not going to just let you get away with it, and that you might think that tenants are too tired, theyre too busy, they dont have enough money to hold you accountable and that is true but we will hold you accountable. Nurse emphasized that they will use every legal resource available to ensure tenants rights are protected.

Alyssa Sanders, an attorney for Community Resist, highlighted the emotional impact of the situation: Theres the trauma of literally wondering if youre going to be physically safe in the home that you pay for and live in the community that you made for yourself.

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For Kaba, the situation has taken a heavy emotional toll, particularly on her daughter. My daughter is sad, she will cry sometime at night because she wants to go home. What home? She said she doesnt want to be homeless, she wants to have a normal life, Kaba shared.

As the community rallies for accountability and the right of return for displaced residents, Kaba continues to face the daily challenges of her new reality. As a single mom, I feel so helpless, its very challenging, she said.

Attempts to contact management and the owners have not been successful.

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Certain ready-to-eat meat and poultry products from Yu Shang Food of South Carolina have been recalled amid a listeria outbreak. (U.S. Department of Agriculture)

A California infant has died from listeria amid an outbreak linked to certain ready-to-eat meat and poultry products that have been recalled.

Eleven people across four states have been infected with the outbreak bacterial strain, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and nine of them have been hospitalized. Seven cases have been reported in California, two in Illinois, and one each in New York and New Jersey.

Heath authorities did not provide any additional information on the infant who died in California, including where in the state it lived.

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The recalled products are distributed by Yu Shang Food Inc. of Spartanburg, S.C., and labeled as being produced in the United States and needing refrigeration. More than 72,000 pounds of meat and poultry products have been recalled, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service said.

Read more: A wave of major listeria recalls shows food safety will 'never be perfect'

Routine testing of Yu Shang Food's products uncovered listeria bacteria, the Food Safety and Inspection Service said. A full list of affected products is available here. Recalled products should be returned or thrown away, health officials say, and residents should also clean any refrigerator, surfaces or containers that may have come into contact with them.

According to the CDC, people with listeria can start to feel sick within two weeks after eating contaminated food. Symptoms can start as early as the same day as eating the infected food, or as long as 10 weeks later.

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Symptoms can include headache, muscle aches, fever, confusion, loss of balance, stiff neck and diarrhea.

Read more: California dairy ordered to stop production following listeria outbreak

Those most at risk from listeria are older people, pregnant women, newborns and those who are immunocompromised.

"In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn," the Food and Safety Inspection Service said.

People infected with listeria can be treated with antibiotics.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Nov. 23A California woman who was accused of stabbing a couple last year on Pullman's College Hill because she thought one of the victims was the "devil" pleaded insanity in court Friday.

Whitman County Superior Court Commissioner Douglas Robinson accepted the mental health defense of 29-year-old Tiffany Dennison.

She has been held at the Whitman County Jail since she was apprehended September 2023 on charges of attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault with a deadly weapon and possessing weapons capable of producing bodily harm.

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Court documents show two people were hospitalized after Dennison attacked them with a chef style knife.

A female victim told Whitman County Dispatch her boyfriend had been stabbed in the back by Dennison.

When officers first arrived, they found the man with a "significant" amount of blood, while Dennison was holding the blade making slicing and poking motions toward him.

Police used a stun gun on Dennison to disarm her before placing her under arrest.
HALIFAX  The first woman to head Canadas armed forces pushed back on renewed debate over women serving in combat roles related to President-elect Trumps pick for Defense secretary, calling it a distraction to force women to justify their contribution to defense and national security.

Gen. Jennie Carignan, Chief of Defense Staff of Canadas Armed Forces, was speaking at the Halifax International Security Forum and responded to comments made a day earlier by Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), who said women in combat roles creates certain unique situations and called it delusional to think otherwise.

Rischs comments followed questioning on Trumps nominee for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, who has spoken out against women serving in combat roles in the military and drawn pushback from, in particular, Democratic senators charged with overseeing his confirmation hearing.

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I wouldnt want anyone to leave this forum with this idea that women are a distraction to defense or national security, Carignan said, introducing her remarks as a direct rebuttal to Rischs comments.

After 39 years of career as a combat arms officer and risking my life in many operations across the world, I cant believe that in 2024 we still have to justify the contribution of women to their defense and to their service in their country, she added.

Carginan continued, I wouldnt want anyone to leave this forum with this idea that it is some kind of social experiment.

She assumed command of Canadas armed forces in July, becoming the first woman to take up the post.

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Her remarks marked more direct international pushback to Trumps nominations, where foreign officials often walk a fine diplomatic line, emphasizing their countrys own values as a contrast to controversies playing out in the U.S.

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HUBBARD, Ohio (WKBN)  A vehicle drove off the road and crashed into a utility pole early Saturday morning in Hubbard.

It happened shortly before 3 a.m. on Youngstown-Hubbard Road near the CVS Pharmacy.

Several live wires were down, but according to FirstEnergy, no outages were reported.

An investigation is ongoing, and it is unclear if the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

The driver was not hurt in the crash.

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Andrew Peterson contributed to this report.

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Career criminals are more likely to be spared jail than at any time in the last two decades, official figures show.

Some 3,325 offenders with more than 50 convictions were let off without being sent to prison when they appeared in court for sentencing last year, according to Ministry of Justice (MoJ) data.

That is triple the 1,289 career criminals who avoided jail in 2007 and five times the rate of 17 years ago as fewer offenders were coming before the courts.

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The figures are contained in an analysis of prolific offenders by a legal academic who is launching a campaign to persuade the Government to take a tougher approach to career criminals and identify the worst constituencies for crime.

Dr Lawrence Newport, a former lecturer, led a successful campaign to ban XL Bully dogs from the UK, using data analysis and investigative techniques to expose the surge in deaths and injuries caused by the ferocious 130-pound animals.

His intervention comes just days after the MoJ launched its sentencing review under David Gauke, a former justice secretary, to advise ministers on the future shape of punishment and measures to combat reoffending amid a prison overcrowding crisis.

Dr Newport plans to use data and statistics to push Government to identify the worst constituencies for crime - Christopher Pledger

Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary, has hinted that prolific offenders could spend longer in jail in recognition that short spells in prison often fail to rehabilitate them and research that they become more dangerous the longer they are left free to continue reoffending.

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Dr Newport said: Career criminals are driving up the cost of living, terrorising our streets and consistently avoiding prison. If these individuals were imprisoned for their offences for commensurate lengths of time, Britain could essentially eradicate a vast swathe of crime overnight.

The Government must commit to taking the worst criminals off our streets  giving police more powers to pursue them, and instructing judges to ensure the more crimes someone has committed, the longer their sentence must be.

He has drawn up an eight-point set of proposals that he believes could tackle the epidemic of crime by offenders defined as prolific by the MoJ, as they have at least 16 known offences. According to official data, 10 per cent of offenders are responsible for at least half of all crimes.

Dr Newport said the failure to convict and incarcerate prolific offenders had contributed to the surge in crimes such as mobile phone theft, up 150 per cent in the past year, and shoplifting, up 30 per cent to a record high of 469,788, or two a minute.

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Around a third of all knife crime in London is committed by repeat offenders, according to government data. Knife crime has reached a record high in the capital and has passed 50,000 offences annually in England and Wales for only the second time in modern history.

Yet, according to MoJ sentencing data since 2007, more than 200,000 offenders have avoided jail despite having 25 previous convictions, 32,000 have escaped prison despite over 50 previous convictions and 2,450 have avoided jail despite more than 100 previous convictions.

Dr Newport cited the case of Owen Hill, 30, a prolific offender with 76 previous offences and 34 convictions for burglary, robbery, shoplifting, assault, battery and drug possession.

Despite being caught in Scarborough with a knife and class-A drugs and attacking a police officer, he received a three-month suspended sentence.

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Another example was Joseph Phillips, 54, who had more than 300 offences, half for theft, who was handed a 42-week suspended sentence after being caught breaking into cars and going equipped to steal in Blackburn.

Targeted strategy has instant impact on crime

But where police targeted prolific offenders, it had an instant impact on crime, said Dr Newport. When seven members of a bike theft gang in the City of London were arrested and imprisoned in 2020, the number of stolen bicycles reported to police fell by 90 per cent.

In Hemel Hempstead, Operation Cross  where police targeted crime hotspots with plain clothes and high-viz patrols intensified stop and searches and forced entry into buildings storing stolen goods  reduced reports of crime by 72 per cent.

Dr Newports eight-point plan centres on rewriting sentencing guidelines and new legislation to require compound sentencing for career criminals where judges would be required to increase the sentences by potentially two to five years for repeat offenders.

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This would be allied to fast-track non-custodial sentences for first-time offenders to ensure justice was handed out speedily and emergency planning powers for the Government to build more prisons.

Labour is expected to set out its prison-building strategy before Christmas where it will flesh out details on its manifesto commitment to use emergency planning powers to create more jail space.

Other measures outlined by Dr Newport aim to make better use of the UKs CCTV capability by police to solve crimes; expand search, surveillance and tracking powers for police; boost hotspot policing; and bigger budgets for police to investigate thefts, up to 90 per cent of which currently go unsolved.

An MoJ spokesman said: Sentencing decisions are made by the independent judiciary after careful consideration of all the facts before them. This Government is committed to addressing the high rates of reoffending we inherited.

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We have also launched an independent Sentencing Review to ensure sentences properly punish criminals, protect the public and encourage offenders to turn their backs on a life of crime.

Lawrence Newports campaigning zeal continues from supersized bully dogs to the criminal justice system

It was the summer of 2023  one of the hottest years on record  when Dr Lawrence Newport first noticed the out-sized bully dogs on a walk near his home in London.

I knew from my law degree that pit bulls were banned, says the 34-year-old legal academic. I suddenly saw these 60-kilo pit bulls. My basic thought was: does anything result from this? Is there anything bad happening?

His research  revealing the scale of deaths and the horrific in-bred origins of the super-sized American XL bully dogs  helped underpin the subsequent public outcry and rapid reaction of the Rishi Sunak government to add the animals to the Dangerous Dogs Act and ban them.

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Dr Newport, who had been looking for a mission after quitting his job as a lecturer at the Royal Holloway University of London, charted how deaths from dog attacks had gone from three a year to 10 in 2022, six of which were linked to XL Bullies. Overall, dog attacks were up from 16,000 in 2018 to 22,000 in 2022.

I thought that if we dont do anything about this, we are going to end up with a permanent problem. I could see it was going to get worse because of the popularity of the dogs. Puppies were going for as much as 3,000, he recalls.

So was born his campaign to ban XL bully dogs in June 2023. He somewhat ambitiously set a target of two and a half weeks for victory. It actually took two and a half months  or 77 days, to be precise  until the Prime Minister announced the ban on Sep 15 2023.

Dr Lawrence Newport revealed death surge caused by XL bullies - Sue Thatcher / Alamy Stock Photo

Now Dr Newport is turning his campaigning zeal to the criminal justice system where his first target is career criminals who account for half of the nations crimes while representing just one in 10 offenders.

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His own legal background  a law degree from Kent University, followed by a masters and doctorate at Royal Holloway  has again drawn him to a system recognised to be in crisis. It is backed by his personal experience of crime with friends who have been victims of phone theft.

He said: Every couple of weeks, I get text messages from one of my friends saying they have had their phone stolen. One has had hers stolen three times in the past year. Someone needs to do something about it or it will get worse.

I dont want my child to grow up in a country where every time they come out of a tube station, they ask: Is someone going to nick my phone? Its not sustainable and it is not very nice.

He plans to deploy the same techniques in his Crush Crime campaign as he did in taking on the XL Bully lobby  one that denies their dangerous ferocity is the result of in-breeding and instead seeks to pin the blame on bad owners.

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As he led the campaign for the evidence-based regulation of dangerous dogs, Dr Newport focused on publicising data to demonstrate the risks from the breed including Freedom of Information requests to police forces and genetic analysis. This was allied to lobbying MPs, ministers and evidence to Parliament.

Nothing epitomised the argument against the bad owner theory than the US-based XL Bully nicknamed Killer Kimbo, which genealogical research showed was related to 32 of the 50 breeding dogs in the UK. It was also linked by the same research to at least 10 violent incidents across the globe.

Nothing epitomised the argument against the bad owner theory than the US-based XL Bully nicknamed Killer Kimbo - Youtube

Dr Newport said: He is known among Bully breeders to be extremely violent. He is so in-bred that he has the same great grandfather four times over.

But his efforts to ban the breed have also led to smears and threats, he says. An anonymous petition accused him of fabricating statistics that risked the lives of thousands of dogs as well as making false claims about his personal life. He claims he has even had a death threat.

Although shocked and hurt by such venom, it has not stopped him from launching his Crush Crime campaign with a statistical blast at the failure of the criminal justice system to get to grips with career criminals.

International evidence shows the same picture as UK data on career criminals: a tiny number commit an extraordinary number of offences and targeting them brings huge gains, says Dr Newport.

For every one thief sent to prison with no previous theft convictions or cautions, there are 35 others that have at least 15 previous convictions.

Criminals found guilty of hundreds of offences are walking free. Over 200,000 offenders avoided jail despite having 25 previous convictions and over 2,000 avoided jail despite over 100 convictions. The courts are getting weaker at sending career criminals to jail.

Sentencing must change

Dr Newport said: We know the solution: making the best use of our limited prison space means imprisoning career criminals for longer. Sentencing must change.

It is not just the courts and sentencing where he is advocating change. He argues for better use of technology such as binary search techniques on CCTV footage to slash the time taken to search for evidence.

Establishing a CCTV repository where members of the public could submit recordings captured by their cameras could be used to gather evidence during investigations. A similar scheme already operates for the public to submit dash cam and other footage of dangerous driving to police.

A rewrite of rules under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act would enable courts to authorise police to widen their ability to enter premises in pursuit of suspected crime and mount surveillance and GPS tracking to support investigations.

Solving the ills of the criminal justice system is far more complex and multi-faceted than seeking to ban XL bullies but it is also a moment when the Government, with its sentencing review, has opened the door to new ideas and issued a call for evidence. Dr Newport will not be alone in knocking on that door.

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A high-ranking Mexican cartel leader who orchestrated an elaborate scheme to fake his own death has been arrested in Riverside, bringing an end to his carefully constructed facade of suburban California living.



According to AP News, Cristian Fernando Gutierrez Ochoa, 37, wasn't just any cartel figurehe's the son-in-law of one of Mexico's most wanted men, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, better known as "El Mencho," whose capture carries a $10 million State Department reward. After kidnapping two Mexican Navy members in 2021, Gutierrez Ochoa orchestrated his own death scene and fled to the United States, settling into an unexpectedly ordinary life under an assumed identity.



The plot thickens with a family twist that reads like a crime thriller: El Mencho himself helped his son-in-law vanish by telling associates he had killed him for lying. This deception allowed Gutierrez Ochoa to escape to California and reunite with El Mencho's daughter.

Related: Drug-Stuffed Animal Toys Lead to Eight-Year Sentence for Darknet Narco Dealer

Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco highlighted the significance of the arrest: "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 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."



Federal prosecutors allege Gutierrez Ochoa's crimes extend far beyond identity fraud. He stands accused of orchestrating the importation of thousands of kilograms of methamphetamine and cocaine into the U.S., employing violence to maintain the cartel's iron grip on its illegal operations. The 2021 kidnapping of two Mexican Navy members was reportedly an attempt to secure the release of El Mencho's wife following her arrest by Mexican authorities.



The arrest comes on the heels of another significant blow to the cartel. In September, El Mencho's son, Ruben Oseguera ("El Menchito"), was convicted in a Washington federal court for his role in the organization's violent operations, including the downing of a military helicopter.
Nov. 22CARTHAGE, Mo.  In October 2022, Carthage resident Magdalena Vasquez and her family were jolted when a fire in their home at 800 Clinton St. damaged the interior and destroyed most of their belongings.

Vasquez said the house was the first that she bought as an immigrant from Guatemala.

"When I bought this home in 1998, I was so proud," Vasquez said. "When I bought it, I didn't have money to buy it. One of my friends asked me, 'You want to rent the house?' I told him, "No, I want to buy it but I don't have money,' and he told me, 'You want to buy a house. ... I can help you.' So they gave me $300 for my down payment and that's why I bought this house. It's like a present, but I paid for everything. I own it outright now."

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Vasquez and her daughter, Olga Mazariegos, said the day of the fire was awful. It was cold outside and the family had left a space heater on when they had all left for work or other things.

Neighbors called Vasquez and the fire department when they saw the flames burst from the home.

"I cried when the fire happened," Vasquez said. "I cried for maybe six months because I don't have a house, and my little son was crying too much because we didn't have a house."

Search for a project

In May 2023, Joplin Area Habitat for Humanity and the Carthage Technical Center announced a cooperative project to bid on home repair and construction projects to give the students real-world experience.

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"We had the concept in mind to build a house at Carthage Tech, we were ready to go, we said, 'Let's do this,'" said Scott Clayton, executive director of the Joplin Area Habitat for Humanity. "But we were having trouble finding a house. We had put bids on homes and before you knew it seven other people had bid and we had bid a higher number, and we just couldn't get a house. Carthage community is great and a lot of people want to live here, so we had difficulty finding a project."

CTC Carpentry instructor Nathan Olinger said his students were getting experience in preparing bids and estimating costs to make bids.

They were also working back in the CTC workshops building sheds and tiny homes, but they were eager to get out in the field.

Then an opportunity fell in their laps.

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On Thursday, Clayton, Tiller, Olinger and dozens of students gathered at the Vasquez home to celebrate the beginning of the end of a challenging voyage for Carthage Technical Center students and the Vasquez family.

Olinger said he hoped to have the home completed for the family before the end of the year, but it looks like completion will happen in January 2025.

Students and others who made this project possible gathered on Thursday at the house to look over what the CTC students have finished and learned about Magdalena Vasquez and her story.

Clayton said Vasquez had a plan when she came to him, but some things didn't come through and there were challenges that Habitat was able to help meet.

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"We were looking for a project and you came back in, Olga, your daughter, and yourself, Magdalena," Clayton said Thursday. "It just reminds me of our mission statement at Joplin Area Habitat for Humanity, 'Seeking to put God's love into action.' Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope.' That mission is so complete here with what we're doing, with the Carthage trades students and the community of Carthage and your family, it's bringing people together to build this home and give hope."

Mazariegos said her mother was able to rent a house from Habitat while the students worked on her home.

Eliyana Valdez Juarez, 11, Vasquez's granddaughter, said she was really excited to see the work the CTC students put into the home.

"It's awesome how the students are working on it and how they've made so much progress in it," Valdez said.

"I think seeing it being rebuilt now is a blessing," said another grandchild, Adrian Juarez, 15. "I get a lot of joy seeing the house I grew up in getting rebuilt."
2 months are filing to unionize with Actors Equity and IATSE local 7, workers at Casa Bonita have unanimously vote to approve it, the guilds announced jointly on Friday.

80 workers filed with the NLRB for the election in October. Actors Equity will represent cliff divers, actors, puppeteers and magicians who entertain at the restaurant. IATSE will represent theatrical support crew.

Today, we are proud that we stood as a group and said clearly: We want to make Casa Bonita better. We love Casa Bonita, and already give our all to providing our guests with an unforgettable experience. When it is a safer, fairer place to work, we will be able to better focus on doing our jobs knowing we are protected, respected and valued. We knew that the best way to make that happen was as unionized workers, and this landslide vote confirms that we will. We are eager to take our place at the bargaining table soon, the affected workers said in a joint statement.

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IATSE Local 7 couldnt be more humbled and thrilled by the incredible crew of Casa Bonita. The days and weeks leading up to this election have been an inspiring example of solidarity. This has only been strengthened by working alongside our union siblings at Actors Equity Association. This result shows that the crew is ready for a brighter future through bargaining collectively to bring safety, security and lasting improvements to their workplace. We are excited to stand with and beside them as we prepare for and begin negotiations! IATSE Local 7 Business Agent Max Peterson said.

The workers made it clear today that they stand united for a stronger and safer Casa Bonita. It is their vision and courage that brought us quickly to an election, and that passion is what is going to get us through bargaining. We are so grateful to work with IATSE on getting even more workers at Casa Bonita unionized, and this solidarity is going to mean a better collective bargaining agreement down the road. On to bargaining! Actors Equity Association Director of Organizing and Mobilization Stefanie Frey said.

The first Casa Bonita opened in Oklahoma City in 1968, expanding to Little Rock, AR in 1969, Tulsa, OK in 1971 and to the Denver suburb of Lakewood in 1974. The chain became known for theme park-like interiors, with Denver featuring an indoor waterfall, cliff divers and haunted caves.

But the OKC flagship restaurant closed in 1993, and the company shuttered the Tulsa and Little Rock locations in 2005. Only the Colorado restaurant, made famous by the 2003 South Park episode Casa Bonita, remained.

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Following a temporary closure during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the owner of Casa Bonita filed for bankruptcy in 2021, cementing the closure of the cultural fixture. Thats when Parker and Stone bought the restaurant, which reopened in May 2023 to preview audiences.

The post Casa Bonita Cast and Crew Vote Unanimously to Unionize With Actors Equity and IATSE appeared first on TheWrap.
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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  Central Alabama Caribbean American Organization is hosting its 12th annual scholarship gala Saturday, Dec. 7.

CACAO is a non-profit founded in 2011 with a mission to share Caribbean culture and to be a resource to students from the Caribbean attending school in Central Alabama. The scholarship assists them with covering some of the costs of being an international student.

The event will be at the Pelham Civic Complex on Dec. 7, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. For tickets, click here. For more information on the event, click here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42.
It might look like any other office building, but the meaning behind it is truly something special.

Local, state and federal officials gathered Friday to cut the ribbon on the new Berks County Etchberger Veterans Affairs Center. Located at 20 Commerce Drive in Spring Township, the building offers a much-needed upgrade in space that will allow the office to meet the growing demand of serving the countys veterans.

This is home to more than 23,000 veterans and their families who call Berks County home, Jay Ostrich, director of the county veterans affairs office, said during the ceremony.

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Ostrich has said that the relocation, which took place in September, came at a pivotal time as the office has been seeing an unprecedented increase in compensation claims and a growing need for private consultation.

According to statistics from the Pennsylvania Department of Veteran and Military Affairs, the Berks office is on track to return $40.9 million to local veterans, positioning the county as the second best in the state for veteran compensation and revenue return.

The uptick in claims is partially attributed to the passage of the PACT Act in 2022, which granted new disability benefits to veterans who suffered toxic exposure injuries while in the ranks.

The office has also seen an increase in claims related to posttraumatic stress disorder and military sexual trauma, highlighting the need for increased privacy in its operations. The new space offers five private offices providing veterans with the security they need to openly discuss their injuries and trauma.

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The relocation will make services more accessible with convenient disabled parking spaces at the office entrance, things that werent available at the offices previous home in the 700 block of Cherry Street in downtown Reading.

Honored guests and speakers cut the ribbon during the dedication ceremony for the new Etchberger Veterans Center of the Berks County Department of Veterans Affairs on Friday at 20 Commerce Drive, Wyomissing. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)

During the ceremony Friday, State Rep. Mark Gillen said the amount of effort Berks puts into supporting its veterans is a small price to pay for people who have given so much to their country and community.

Gillen, who represents communities in Berks and was recently named chairman of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, said the new facility represents a renewed focus on service and advocacy for veterans.

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This is a new service station, but the reality is its just another down payment on the eternal debt that we owe to veterans, he said. This is not the end, this is really the beginning because, as much as anything else, I think we ought to recognize that there is a certain divine incompleteness with what we are doing. There is more work to be done.

County Commissioners Chairman Christian Leinbach said he and his fellow commissioners are dedicated to doing that work because its a worthy task.

In Berks County, when it comes to veterans we do more, he said. Veterans affairs offices are not a required statutory responsibility of counties, but we do it because its the right thing to do.

Leinbach said its important to make sure veterans get the benefits they deserve because the community owes them deeply for their service.

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This is about repaying, to the extent that we can, a debt we owe to every man and every woman that has put on that uniform, he said. They have earned the right to be served.

Maj. Gen. Terry Koudelka, who spoke on behalf of the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, said the new center is a prime example of how a community can come together to meet the changing needs of veterans and improve the way we serve those who have served.

Yes, we are celebrating the opening of this incredible veterans affairs office, but today is really about more than the brick and mortar, he said. It is about the men and women who walk through the door asking for help seeking assistance. They are heroes who put their lives on the line so that we can all live free and safe.

Koudelka said the facility communicates to veterans of all generations that they are not forgotten.

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What you have done is taken veteran care to another level by increasing privacy and improving accessibility in an innovative and welcoming setting, he said.

Lt. Col. Jay Ostrich, director, welcomes guests and dignitaries during the dedication ceremony and ribbon cutting for the new Etchberger Veterans Center of the Berks County Department of Veterans Affairs on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, at 20 Commerce Drive, Wyomissing. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)

County Commissioner Michael Rivera said that when Ostrich first approached the commissioners about the need for a new center he emphasized the need for private offices so that the staff can sit down with veterans and have hard conversations about what they are going through.

When doors get closed veterans and their families know that it is a private conversation and that allows them to open up, he said. Thats why this new space is so great.

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U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, who represents communities in Berks and is a veteran herself, said that how we fight wars has changed and so has the way we care for our veterans.

Houlahan spoke about the invisible wounds of war, commending the Berks center for providing privacy so veterans can freely express their struggles.

Commissioner Dante Santoni Jr. said hes happy to have played a small part in moving the office into a new home, sharing a personal story about how they help veterans.

He said his 93-year-old father is a Korean War veteran who lost his wife of 67 years over the summer. The life-changing event left his father with questions and concerns about his veterans benefits, so he set up an appointment with the office.

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The staff thoroughly and kindly provided all of the help he needed, Santoni said.

From a personal standpoint, I want to thank everyone for all the great things that you do here for all veterans, he said.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Patricia Johnican greets Lady Belinda Taylor as she passes through a common kitchen area after Wednesday bingo at Commons of Grace Senior on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Houston. Credit: AP Photo / Annie Mulligan

Kimberly Rubit had one priority in mind as Hurricane Beryl ripped through Houston this summer: her severely disabled daughter.

The 63-year-old worked nonstop to prevent Mary, 42, from overheating without air conditioning, water or lights after Beryl knocked out power to their home for 10 days. At least three dozen other people suffered heat-related deaths during the extended outage.

"It was miserable," Rubit said. "I'm sick of it."

Electric grids have buckled more frequently and outages have become longer across the U.S. as the warming atmosphere carries more water and stirs up more destructive storms, according to an AP analysis of government data. In the Pacific Northwest this week, a " bomb cyclone " caused roughly half a million outages.

People with disabilities and chronic health conditions are particularly at risk when the power goes out, and many live in homes that lack the weatherizing and backup power supplies needed to better handle high temperatures and cold freezes, or can't pay their electricity bills, said Columbia University sociomedical sciences professor Diana Hernandez, who studies energy instability in U.S. homes.

Patricia Johnican smiles as she talks about her family during an interview at Commons of Grace Senior on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Houston. Credit: AP Photo / Annie Mulligan

At any given time, 1 in 3 households in the U.S. is "actively trying to avoid a disconnection or contending with the aftermath of it," Hernandez said.

In Texas, as another winter approaches, people can't shake fears of another blackout like the one during a cold freeze in 2021 that left millions without power for days and killed more than 200 people. Despite efforts to create more resilience, a winter storm that powerful could still lead to rolling blackouts, according to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which manages most of the state's power grid.

Beryl also knocked out power to millions for days, sickening many in the sweltering July heat. Local and state officials showered criticism on CenterPoint Energy, Houston's power utility, saying it should have communicated more clearly, taken more preventive measures such as tree trimming before the storm hit and repaired downed power lines more quickly. The utility's response remains under investigation by the Texas attorney general.

Mary Burks pauses while calling out officials for their lack of action during an interview at Commons of Grace Senior on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Houston. Credit: AP Photo / Annie Mulligan

CenterPoint says it is focused now on improving resiliency, customer communications and community partnerships with the one defining goal: "to build the most resilient coastal grid in the country that can better withstand the extreme weather of the future."

Texas lawmakers, meanwhile, are debating whether assisted living facilities need more regulation. One suggestion: requiring them to have enough emergency generator fuel to power lifesaving equipment and keep indoor temperatures safe during an extended blackout, as Florida did after a scandal over hurricane-related nursing home deaths.

The legislative panel also reviewed emergency responses this month. Regulated facilities and nursing centers fared better than places such as senior communities that aren't subject to strict oversight, according to city and state officials. This meant hundreds of apartment complexes catering to older adults, as well as private homes, were likely more susceptible to losing power and going without food.

Sharon Burks remembers surviving without power after Hurricane Beryl during an interview at Commons of Grace Senior on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Houston. Credit: AP Photo / Annie Mulligan

"We've got to find a way to mark these facilities or get it entered into the computer dispatch systems," said Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management. "There are so many places in our own city that we have no idea until that 911 call comes into that facility," he said.

Texas energy companies have been required since 2003 to provide advance notice of scheduled outages to medically vulnerable households that submit a form with physician approval. But that law didn't require the utilities to share these lists with state or local emergency management agencies.

Numerous states have similar regulatory requirements and 38 have policies aimed at preventing disconnections during extreme weather, according to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. In Colorado, medically vulnerable residents are protected from disconnection for up to 90 days. In Arkansas, utilities can't disconnect power to people who are 65 or older if temperatures are forecast to reach above 94 degrees Fahrenheit (34 Celsius).

Patricia Johnican smiles as she greets a friend at Commons of Grace Senior on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Houston. Credit: AP Photo / Annie Mulligan

Patricia Johnican passes through a common kitchen area after Wednesday bingo at Commons of Grace Senior on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Houston. Credit: AP Photo / Annie Mulligan

In Houston, Rubit and her daughter share one of the roughly 3,000 households where unreliable power can quickly spiral into a life-and-death issue because at least one person requires a medical device powered by electricity, according to public filings from CenterPoint. The utility offers such households payment plans to keep the electricity on when they fall behind on their bills.

The utility's efforts bring little solace to community members at a Houston living center for seniors, Commons of Grace, where outages have become a haunting facet of life for more than 100 residents, said Belinda Taylor, who runs a nonprofit partnered with the managing company.

"I'm just frustrated that we didn't get the services that we needed," Taylor said. "It's ridiculous that we have had to suffer."

Sharon Burks, who lives at Commons of Grace, said it became unbearable when the power went out. She is 63 and uses a breathing machine for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which causes shortness of breath. She had to resort to her battery-powered breathing pump, which isn't meant to be used for long periods.

"I didn't expect anything from CenterPoint," Burks said. "We're always the last to get it."

 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA)  When Sweet Basil Cafe in Champaign reopens, it will do so under new ownership and a new name.

April Smith, the manager of the Sweet Basil Cafe location in Hannover Park, told WCIA that Dimitri and Denise Karonis sold their restaurant after receiving an offer from an interested buyer. Smith said the Karonis have been looking to sell lately and completed the sale via word-of-mouth.

The new owners plan to reopen the restaurant as Sugar Berries Cafe and serve breakfast, lunch and catering.

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The Champaign Sweet Basil location has been closed for nearly a month after the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District issued multiple red placards following inspections. It all started with a routine inspection on Oct. 24.

The inspection report found 18 risk factor/intervention violations total and four repeat risk factor/intervention violations. Violations included cross contamination between raw beef and precooked corned beef hash in a cooler, the dish machine not properly sanitizing with chlorine sanitizer, concrete mixers used with power drills to mix batter and eggs and Home Depot buckets used to store waffle crepe batter.

Carmons, other downtown Champaign venues under new ownership

All of this led to a red placard and the restaurant being labeled a Risk Category 1, meaning that a large number of food handling operations typically implicated in foodborne outbreaks and/or the type of population served by the facility.

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Despite the restaurants claims that management made improvements, Sweet Basil received another red placard on Nov. 7. The violations found on that date included spoiled produce in the walk-in cooler, flies and cockroaches in the restaurant and a hose that was supplying water to a chemical dispenser which did not have a chemical attached.

Five days later, another inspection failed to improve Sweet Basils standing. The pests that were observed on Nov. 7 were still there.

Now, Sweet Basil is in the administrative process of being cleared to reopen by the CUPHD. When that process is complete, Sweet Basil will reopen under a new name and new ownership.

Smith clarified that this only affects the Champaign location and not the rest of Sweet Basils locations in Peoria and the Chicago suburbs. She could not say when the restaurant will reopen.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  Providence Place is set to undergo some changes as receivership attorneys begin making investments to try to turn the mall around.

The malls court-appointed receivers said shoppers should expect to see a boost in security and maintenance in the next few weeks. Improvements will also be made to the parking garage after the holidays.

The states largest shopping center was ordered into receivership, a state-level version of bankruptcy, late last month after its management company defaulted on a $259 million debt.

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Tim Howes, a finance professor at Johnson and Wales University, told 12 News that the receivers current goal is to make up as much of that money as they can.

For every dollar owed, theyre going to collect pennies  Preferably lots of pennies, Howes said. The idea is to get closer to that dollar.

RELATED: Providence Place receivers looking for new anchor presence as Macys evaluates future

The receivers are looking to sell the mall, as opposed to transforming it into something else or tearing it down.

Its unclear exactly how much money the receivers are investing in the improvements. But Howes said the end result will be worth it.

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Id say these [improvements] are small potatoes in the grand scheme of things, he explained.

Howes said the malls parking garage specifically is in need of a facelift, which is why hes pleased to hear the receivers have factored that into their plan.

Sometimes when youre leaving its like a labyrinth, Howes said. Its almost like a corn maze to get out of there.

This comes as the mall also contends with the potential loss of one of its longtime anchor tenants. Macys, which as Filenes was one of the malls original anchor tenants when it first opened in 1999, was listed for sale last week.

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This comes after Macys executives warned investors earlier this year that the retail giant would close 150 unproductive namesake stores by 2026.

Report: Macys inside Providence Place listed for sale

The receivers, who proactively reached out to Macys to discuss the stores future at Providence Place, said no immediate changes are in the works. But they could not definitively confirm the stores long-term presence.

Howes warned that the mall still needs to bring in more national retailers to raise its value, especially if Macys ends up leaving.

The malls receivers confirmed that they recently introduced themselves to the Macys team. Howes believes this was done so they can try to figure out the companys intentions moving forward.

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If Macys does close and theyve got three floors, [the receivers are] going to be saying, Hey, were going to have some space coming up, he explained.

Macys is expected to remain at the mall for the rest of the year, though a decision has not been made on its future. The receivers told 12 News that they will work with Macys to find a new anchor tenant if that is the case.

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Stacks of signed petitions sat in Crista Eggers home in Omaha in May 2022, awaiting submission to the State of Nebraska. Eggers is the statewide campaign coordinator for Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana. (Courtesy of Rebecca S. Gratz)

GRAND ISLAND, Neb.  All charges against a notary public from York accused of official misconduct have been dismissed, which could have an impact on a pending case against the medical cannabis petitions he helped notarize.

Hall County Judge Alfred Corey accepted a motion to quash Friday from Attorney Mark Porto on behalf of Jacy C. Todd, 53. The State of Nebraska and Hall County Attorney Marty Klein had charged Todd with 24 counts of official misconduct for allegedly invalid notarizations.

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Each count was a specific date when Todd was accused of notarizing petition pages circulated by Michael Egbert of Grand Island without both men being in the same room, as required under state law. Egbert had admitted to using a phone book to add voters to the petition pages and accepted a plea deal: a misdemeanor and $250 fine, reduced from a felony.

Attorney General Mike Hilgers and Hall County Attorney Marty Klein host a news conference related to a Grand Island man charged with collecting allegedly fraudulent signatures on two petitions related to medical marijuana earlier in 2024. Sept. 13, 2024. (Screenshot by Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Klein and the Nebraska Attorney Generals Office argued that notaries were public officials and that Todd knowingly violated the law. Corey rejected those arguments without addressing the allegations.

While these duties greatly assist others, notary publics are not public servants who are performing governmental functions, Corey wrote in a four-page opinion Friday.

Todds attorney, Klein and the Attorney Generals Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday evening.

Notaries are clerical and ministerial

Corey said he could not find any similar Nebraska cases on a similar matter or motion to quash.

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Instead, Corey pointed to a 1984 case from the U.S. Supreme Court, Bernal v. Fainter, that dealt with Texas notaries. The justices wrote, We recognize the critical need for a notarys duties to be carried out correctly and with integrity.

But a notarys duties, important as they are, hardly implicate responsibilities that go to the heart of representative government, the court wrote. Rather, these duties are essentially clerical and ministerial.

The U.S. Supreme Court pictured on September 28, 2020. (Courtesy of Al Drago/Getty Images)

Justice Thurgood Marshall, writing for the 8-1 decision, distinguished nongovernment personnel from those who are responsible for policymaking or have broad discretion in the execution of public policy that requires the routine exercise of authority over individuals.

Neither of these characteristics pertains to the functions performed by Texas notaries, Marshall wrote.

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Attorneys defending the sponsors of the medical cannabis measures or representing other notaries who have been accused but not formally charged with similar counts have consistently said that no notary has ever been charged or convicted in such a manner. A state official who oversees notaries, David Wilson Jr., has said the same.

David Wilson Jr., associate general counsel and licensing director for the Nebraska Secretary of States Office, gives testimony on the first day of the civil trial to determine the validity of the medical marijuana ballot measures at the Lancaster County Courthouse on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in Lincoln. (Kenneth Ferriera-Pool/Lincoln Journal Star)

Pending district court case

Lancaster County District Judge Susan Strong is currently weighing a broader case in part from the AGs Office, on behalf of Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen, seeking to invalidate the medical marijuana ballot measures.

The AGs Office is arguing that any instance of circulator fraud, which Egbert was accused of, or notarial malfeasance, as Todd was accused of, should be extended to all signatures they touched.

A vast majority of the challenged signatures are related to notarial malfeasance alleged against about eight notaries, including Todd and one ballot sponsor. At the four-day trial, Wilson said his office had received only one complaint against a related notary, from Jennifer Henning, a paid petition circulator, against a lead ballot sponsor: Crista Eggers.

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Henning, a witness for Evnen, alleged Eggers had not signed her circulated petitions in person, similar to Egberts allegations against Todd. Wilson said at the time an investigation into Hennings complaint was just beginning.

The ballot sponsors noted that Henning has been sanctioned by Nebraska courts in the past for fraudulent and improper conduct and is currently on probation for felony insurance fraud. Henning said she was not on proper medication at the time for her mental health.

Lancaster County District Judge Susan Strong listens to opening statements from attorneys on the first day of the civil trial to determine the validity of the medical marijuana ballot measures at the Lancaster County Courthouse on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in Lincoln. (Kenneth Ferriera-Pool/Lincoln Journal Star)

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Nebraskans overwhelmingly supported Initiative Measures 437 and 438 in the Nov. 5 election, to legalize and regulate medical cannabis.

State constitutional officers will meet Dec. 2 on whether to certify the election results, including Evnen and Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers, who have said that at this juncture they will certify the marijuana measures.

Corey said that while many other states consider notaries to be public officers, Nebraska has outlined an administrative process through the Secretary of States Office to determine whether to maintain, suspend or revoke a notarys license.

The State attempts to differentiate what criminal activity would be as opposed to noncriminal activity, Corey wrote. The Court rejects this argument.

Corey permanently dismissed the case and ordered the state to pay associated costs.

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COOK COUNTY, Ill.  Multiple investigations are underway on Friday after a detainee, who had been arrested for allegedly body-slamming a police officer, was allegedly found with a gun inside the Cook County jail.

18-year-old Kemari Johnson revealed to a probation officer on Wednesday that he had been in possession of a gun for as long as a week.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

Records show that a probation officer had met with Johnson to place an ankle monitor on him, but during the meeting, he heard Johnson mumble before the suspect said Can I surrender something.

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Johnson then allegedly reached into his pocket and pulled out a magazine, records showed. He then allegedly reached into his pants and pulled out a gun and placed it on the table.

Johnson has since been charged with one count of possessing a firearm in a penal institution, as questions loom about where the gun came fro, and how long he had it inside the jail.

LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland

Johnson was taken to the facility after a Nov. 11th arrest during a domestic incident in which police say he pushed his way through a door while trying to attack his uncle before he allegedly attacked an officer and slammed him to the ground.

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Johnson was charged with aggravated battery in connection with that case.

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CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD)  $1.6 million in federal funding was approved for affordable housing projects here in Charleston County. The funds will produce at least 66 affordable units for rent and homeownership.

Charleston County council approved $1.6 million of American Rescue Plan Act funds for the countys Affordable Housing Land Acquisition Grant Program. This pilot program will secure land for affordable housing projects in partnership with the Charleston Redevelopment Corporation.

Its a very important issue we have to solve so folks can live work and play all in the same area, itll help reduce traffic itll benefit businesses by having a stronger workforce, said Eric Davis, the director of Greenbelt Programs.

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Four projects are part of this grant including the West Ashley Multifamily Workforce, North Charleston Townhomes, Moray Hill/Accabee Sacred Site Development and the East Cooper Tower Drive site. The county is opening the program up to a wide range of developers

I think the innovative part of the program is that we are working with both non-profits and for-profit businesses. We are letting them develop those projects and then come to us to help make that happen, said Davis.

The plan implements unique strategies working towards the ultimate goal of increasing affordable housing in the area.

They have given us a few specific strategies in that plan they want us to work on because its a really big problem. Theres lots of strategies and solutions but the first couple are acquiring land for affordable housing and also to develop a housing fund which weve done with the South Carolina loan fund as well, said Davis.

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The county has a little less than a million dollars left they will allocate to housing projects in the next few months.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2.
Hundreds of Charlotte Douglas airport workers are voting on a potential strike, threatening to walk off the job during one of the busiest travel weeks of the year.

The vote is happening through the weekend and could mean crucial workers on American Airlines flights will go on strike during the heart of the holiday season.

American Airlines new boarding technology cracks down on line-cutters

In May of last year, about 500 ABM workers, a subcontractor for the airline, voted to join the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). But that was under the previous subcontractor.

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ABM has still not negotiated a contract with the union and workers say they are specifically taking this vote to strike to protest poverty wages and unfair labor practices.

>> In the video at the top of this page, Channel 9s Evan Donovan talks to workers about the vote and potential strike.

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Chicago voters turned out at a much lower rate in this months general election than in recent presidential contests, marking the lowest turnout rate in 28 years, according to the most recent data from the Chicago Board of Elections.

While election officials initially expected a high turnout, it ended up being markedly low for a presidential election. According to unofficial results, the Chicago Board of Elections reported that roughly 67.9% of registered city voters cast ballots in the election, roughly 3 percentage points less than the 71% turnout in 2016 and 5 percentage points lower than in 2020, when turnout was 73.3%.

The turnout rate represents a notable drop, not just in recent years but in the storied history of presidential races in Chicago. The percentage of registered voters who participated in this years election is the second lowest in 80 years  as far back as the Chicago Board of Elections keeps organized records.

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The only presidential contest with a lower citywide turnout was in 1996 when it dropped to 63.2%. In that election, then-incumbent President Bill Clinton easily defeated Republican Bob Dole. Interestingly, Chicago hosted the Democratic National Convention at the United Center in 1996 and 2024.

Max Bever, spokesman for the Chicago Board of Elections, had previously said the city was on track for about 70% voter turnout  which is a common rate in the city for presidential elections.

Unfortunately, we did not see the early morning and later evening voter surges for Election Day that we usually see, Bever had said.

As of Friday, the total vote count stood at just under 1,020,000 ballots.

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Reports of lower than expected turnout in Chicago left many voters confused as to why they experienced long lines and hourslong waits on and before Election Day. This is likely due, in part, to the vast discrepancies in voter turnout across Chicago  ranging from less than 50% to close to 100% turnout in the citys 50 wards.

Turnout was lowest in wards on the West and Southwest sides, with the 14th, 15th, 22nd, 24th and 37th wards all seeing less than half of their registered voters cast ballots in the November election.

But nowhere was turnout worse than in the 16th Ward, encompassing parts of the Englewood, Chicago Lawn, New City and Gage Park neighborhoods, with just 44% participation.

Conversely, 10 wards saw turnout levels greater than 80%  the vast majority of which are concentrated on the North and Far North sides, including along the lakefront.

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But one ward dominated the rest  the 44th. Covering Lakeview, voters in this North Side ward showed up at an almost unprecedented rate, with 96.3% turnout among eligible voters  a whole 6 percentage points more than the next closest ward.

Chicagos lower turnout trend was reflected in suburban Cook County and some of its collar counties.

In the Cook County suburbs, turnout was slightly lower than the city at 66.5%, according to unofficial vote totals from the Cook County Clerks Office. Like Chicago, this years turnout was around 5 percentage points lower than it was in 2016 and 2020. It also represented the lowest participation rate in a presidential election going back to 1996.

In DuPage and Lake counties, the turnout rates were lower than average, at roughly 74% and 70.1%, according to unofficial results from the election boards in those counties.

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Yet, in Kane, McHenry and Will counties, turnout was slightly higher than average for a presidential election year.

In Kane, 74.2% of the countys registered voters turned up on Election Day, submitted a mail-in ballot or voted early  the greatest rate since 2008. Meanwhile, McHenrys 69.4% turnout, though higher than average, was still lower than in 2020.

At 75.1%, turnout in Will County was higher than the rest of the Chicago area. Yet, like McHenry, turnout was still slightly lower than 2020.
China's marines are preparing for global operations similar to the US Marine Corps.

China is building amphibious flattops whose scale rivals those of the US.

US Marines are also shifting strategies, in their case away from storming beaches.

"Send in the Marines" is an old American quip for when things get rough. It may become a Chinese one too.

Instead of merely guarding Chinese naval bases and supporting an invasion of Taiwan, China's Marine Corps appears to be preparing for amphibious operations around the world  just as US Marines do. China is building a force of amphibious flattops that can launch Marine helicopters and possibly the fighting vehicles that motor to shore.

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"The investment in large amphibious-assault ships indicates that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) envisions a future in which it can deploy expeditionary strike groups similar to those the United States has employed for the past fifty years," wrote Sam Tangredi in a new book published by the China Maritime Studies Institute at the US Naval War College "A globally deployable amphibious/expeditionary group is a far cry from the humble origins of the PLA [People's Liberation Army] amphibious force and a considerable leap from the PLAN [People's Liberation Army Navy] capabilities that existed in the first years of this century."

Established in 1953, the People's Liberation Army Navy Marine Corps, as it's officially known, was formed to seize Taiwan and other Nationalist-held islands. Like the US Marine Corps, the PLANMC is a branch of the navy. Its missions have been those of traditional naval infantry: guarding naval bases, garrisoning island outposts in the South China Sea, and supporting an amphibious invasion of Taiwan by the Chinese army, which retains its own amphibious assault force.

But the PLANMC has grown to the point where some experts wonder whether it will become an independent service. From two brigades and 12,000 personnel in 2017, the PLANMC has expanded to eight brigades, with a goal of 100,000 personnel; that compares to about 170,000 active-duty US Marines.

Tangredi, who is director of the Naval War College's Institute for Future Warfare Studies, says that there is no direct evidence that China has plans for global amphibious warfare. Yet, "if the Taiwan scenario is the primary purpose in mind, why is the PLA building amphibious warships that are optimized for global operations?" he asks.

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Invading Taiwan doesn't require big amphibious assault ships similar to the Wasp-class vessels, 840-foot-long floating airports for Marine helicopters and jump-jets like the AV-8B Harrier II and the F-35B Lightning II and concentrating its assault force into small numbers of large ships comes with risks. Yet China is building 36,000-ton Type 075 amphibious assault ships that can carry up to 30 helicopters as well as 1,200 marines and their heavy equipment, including tanks. The upcoming 50,000-ton Type 076 will be the world's largest amphibious assault vessel.

"For an invasion of Taiwan across a strait of approximately a hundred nautical miles (nm), LHDs are not necessarily the optimal (or the most cost-effective) platforms when numerous smaller warcraft are available (including civilian commercial craft)," Tangredi wrote. "They are, however, optimal for spearheading the transport of marines to conduct operations at distances out to the Horn of Africa, islands in the eastern Pacific, or  with suitable future logistics support  the Mediterranean."

Back to their roots

US Marine amphibious assault vehicles approach the USS Wasp during a 2020 ship-to-shore exercise. Lance Cpl. Jacqueline Parsons/USMC

The US Marine Corps is also adapting. It is switching from an emphasis on storming beaches  the US has not attempted a major beach assault under fire since the Korean war  to supporting the US Navy with missile-equipped units to hunt Chinese ships from island bases. This is transforming the US Marine Corps into "an archipelagic maneuver force designed to conduct littoral, sea-denial operations," Tangredi said.

The Corps devised a new force layout to operate in an age of drones and anti-ship missiles. In this new structure, Marine littoral units "would not be optimized for amphibious assaults or combat against enemy forces ashore but would use previously unoccupied territory to conduct attacks on warships and aircraft  essentially, naval combat from the land," wrote Tangredi. Retired senior Marine commanders were aghast.

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Thus the USMC has given all its tanks to the US Army, while it creates mobile units that can quickly turn small Pacific islands into missile bases from which to strike Chinese ships. The 3rd Littoral Regiment was stood up in 2022, and two more regiments are planned.

These littoral units would "assist the Navy in asserting sea control in the East and South China Seas," Tangredi wrote. "Marines would operate as part of a littoral combat group, with the Navy having overall command, supplying the warships (and necessary support vessels), and providing most of the group's firepower. Armed with land versions of the Navy's antiship missiles, Marine units would maneuver constantly while ashore by ground vehicles or from island to island using the proposed LAW [light amphibious warship]."

Ironically, the US Marine Corps is returning to its historical roots. Marines have always had an ambiguous role, neither quite army nor navy (poet Rudyard Kipling called them "soldier an' sailor too"). Back to the days of the Roman Empire, marines have been naval infantry tasked with seizing and guarding naval bases, boarding enemy vessels, and acting as shipboard military police to put down mutinies.

This is what the US Marine Corps did for most of its history since its founding in 1775. But in World War II and afterwards, it became more like a scaled-down version of the US Army, conducting massive multi-division amphibious invasions and fighting conventional ground campaigns in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. Small, light units flitting from Pacific island to island would be more in line with traditional USMC roles.

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As for Chinese marines, their historical purpose was to storm Taiwan, not garrison tiny atolls on behalf of the navy. For China and America, their marines are switching roles.

Michael Peck is a defense writer whose work has appeared in Forbes, Defense News, Foreign Policy magazine, and other publications. He holds an MA in political science from Rutgers Univ. Follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Read the original article on Business Insider
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  State health officials warned consumers on Friday not to eat PolkaDot brand Mushroom Magic Blend Chocolate Bars as they have had psychoactive drugs added to them.

According to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), the PolkaDot brand Mushroom Magic Blend Chocolate Bars were sold both online and at physical stores throughout California. The bars were labeled as containing the food additive amanita muscaria, a type of mushroom. Laboratory testing has established that the bars contained an additional synthetic psychoactive drug.

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The bars known to be affected are:

Belgian milk chocolate caramel peanut twist

Belgian milk chocolate intense dark

Belgian milk chocolate Maui coconut twist

Pictures of the recalled bars can be seen below:

State health officials warn that eating the chocolate bars has the potential to cause illness, hospitalization, and possibly even death. Young children are considered particularly at risk as the bars could be mistaken for regular chocolate bars.

No illnesses associated with the PolkaDot brand Mushroom Magic Blend Chocolate Bars have been reported at this time. The state reports that over $3 million worth of PolkaDot brand chocolate bars have been destroyed.

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CHEYENNE  For years, Cheyenne City Council members have received complaints about oversized vehicles parked on Cheyenne roads that create safety hazards. On Wednesday, the governing body began discussions of how to address the issue and potentially ban them from being parked on public roadways.

This may include large vehicles like recreational vehicles, horse trailers, campers or others that exceed 25 feet in length, seven feet in width or eight feet in height.

Council member Michelle Aldrich, who is a co-sponsor on the ordinance amendment, said there have been instances of collision with these vehicles around tight corners, it may make it difficult to plow snow in the road, it can be bad for the pavement if the vehicle is too heavy, and some obstruct pedestrian access on the sidewalk, particularly campers with pop-outs that hang over the sidewalk.

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An ordinance currently in place prohibits nuisance vehicles on public roadways. This amendment would include oversized vehicles to be included as a nuisance. Current nuisance vehicles are identified as follows:

* A vehicle with any of its tires missing or deflated for more than seven calendar days

* A vehicle which is totally or partially suspended above the ground by jacks, blocks or other devices for more than seven calendar days, except for a vehicle undergoing active repair

* A vehicle which does not display a current license plate, tag or valid temporary permit for more than seven days

* A vehicle on which any component has been removed or is inoperable so as to render the vehicle inoperable, and such vehicle remains in substantially the same condition for more than seven days

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The governing body discussed the ordinance amendment on first reading, and all voted in favor of it, except for council member Pete Laybourn. Several of them noted that it will still require some tweaking in the coming weeks before final approval.

One addition to the ordinance states, No oversized vehicle shall be parked along any public roadway of the city of Cheyenne, and any oversized vehicle found parked along a public roadway shall constitute a nuisance and be subject to abatement.

This amendment does not include food trucks.

The amendment initially allowed oversized vehicles to remain parked for 72 hours, but, after hearing public comment, council members decided to increase that to 120 hours for loading, unloading, winterizing or de-winterizing the vehicle.

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To bring one outside of an RV storage area and get it ready for a 10- or 12-day trip in 72 hours, that honestly isnt realistic, said Cheyenne resident Gary Harley in the public comment portion of the meeting. ... I take mine to get it winterized. It takes seven to eight days; theyre backed up with it.

Additionally, owners would be required to park oversized vehicles at least 30 feet from an intersection when they are parked on public roadways.

Several council members expressed concern with how this ordinance amendment would be enforced.

Do we have the capacity to go out and enforce equally, not part of the complaints, not a specific neighborhood, but across this whole city? I dont think we do, Laybourn said. ... This is certainly an issue. It certainly is a problem, but I dont believe that this particular ordinance is realistic in the ability to deal with the magnitude of the problem.

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Council member Jeff White echoed these concerns, but said he would still vote in favor of the amendment due to what he had found in doing personal research.

He said the average residential street is 50 feet in width. In The Avenues, from First Avenue up to Eighth Avenue, the width is 28 feet. He said a pickup truck is typically seven feet wide, an RV could be between eight and 10 feet wide, and the average fire truck is eight or eight-and-a-half feet wide.

White said that if enough large vehicles are parked on a street, it could potentially create safety hazards if emergency vehicles cannot access a road.

Council member Tom Segrave said the governing body should also consider how they will address the issue during Cheyenne Frontier Days, when many tourists park their RVs on Cheyenne roads over the 10-day period every July.

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Segrave said that, of 12 constituents who reached out to him, 10 were in favor of the ordinance amendment.

The amendment will be heard by Cheyenne City Council at their meeting next Monday, and will be considered for final approval or disapproval by the committee of the whole on Dec. 4.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Attorneys for the State Bar of Nevada will hold a disciplinary hearing in March in an effort to permanently disbar  or perhaps suspend  the law license of embattled Clark County Commissioner Justin Jones, the 8 News Now Investigators have learned.

Disbarment is on the table, Daniel Hooge, bar counsel, said Friday.

Hooge and attorneys for Jones held an informal hearing Thursday, remotely, in which the two sides argued motions related to Jones and his law license. Attorneys for the bar also added a second complaint to the original set of allegations against Jones. The hearing lasted some three-and-a-half hours, Hooge said. A new hearing is scheduled for late March.

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Jones was accused of deleting text messages in 2019 related to a development deal involving land next to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. A May 24 ruling in Clark County District Court found that Jones willfully destroyed evidence and did so because he viewed that evidence as being favorable to Gypsum.

The land in question is on Blue Diamond Hill, about three and a half miles from the Red Rock Visitors Center. Clark County approved the development in October 2023 after a decade-long fight. Ultimately, the county and developer settled for $80 million, more than half of which will come out of funds previously set aside for parks.

Blue Diamond Hill can be seen in the center of this photo taken from inside the scenic loop area of Red Rock Canyon. (Photo: Duncan Phenix  KLAS)

It was Jones who led the effort to stop the Gypsum Resources plan to develop near Red Rock. Rhodes, owner of Rhodes Homes and the developer of Spanish Hills, Rhodes Ranch, Tuscany Village, and other projects, secured county approval for the project in 2011, but the battle continued for years. At one point, a state law was approved to stop the development, but the Nevada Supreme Court ruled that the law was unconstitutional.

The state bars complaint against Jones, the District F commissioner, deals with his conduct during and after the Gypsum deal.

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Hooge, the bar counsel, said the disciplinary committee deciding the case must determine Jones mental state and the size of the injury caused by any misconduct Jones is found to have committed. Essentially, the issue boils down to whether Jones acted negligently or, alternatively, acted intentionally in deleting data from his phone, among other things.

We see this as intentional misconduct, and we see the injury as serious, Hooge said.

Jones entry in the state bars directory lists him as an active member since 2003 with no disciplinary action on his record. It lists him under the employ of Jones Lovelock, an eponymous firm with an office in Las Vegas.

Jones did not return a message late Friday afternoon seeking comment on this matter.

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A spokeswoman for Clark County immediately returned a message from the 8 News Now Investigators, saying, Clark County declines to comment.

Jones was elected to County Commission in 2018 and re-elected to a second four-year term in 2022.

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BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. (WBOY)  With Christmas nearly a month away, the Salvation Armys Clarksburg Corps is calling for the communitys help with its holiday fundraising campaigns.

The Salvation Armys Clarksburg Corps held its red kettle kickoff on Friday at the Meadowbrook Mall alongside the Bridgeport High School choir to help ring in the Christmas season.

Clarksburg Corps serves Barbour, Braxton, Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison, Lewis, Randolph and Upshur counties.

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Funds raised during the Red Kettle fundraiser help contribute to two-thirds of the Salvation Armys annual budget and operation fees, as well as funding for its food pantry and utility and rent assistance for those in need.

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Certainly, since COVID, financial struggles have hit everyone, including the Salvation Army. So, the line of need is long and were trying to help as best we can, certainly in the intake process of our angel trees and so many other things that we do all year round, Salvation Army Core Officer Tim Grinder said.

The Clarksburg Corps Angel Tree also has 3,000 angels up for adoption in its Angel Tree program. You can find angels to donate to at local Walmarts, by contacting the Salvation Army at 304-622-2360 and by clicking here.

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  A company that provided cleaning services to a Sioux City company is being accused by a federal agency of hiring underage workers.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) filed the complaint Tuesday in Iowa District Court against Qvest, based out of Guymon, Oklahoma. The complaint alleges that Qvest employed minor children to work overnight cleaning shifts at Seaboard Triumph Foods in Sioux City. Seaboard Triumph itself isnt accused of any wrongdoing in the complaint.

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Qvest is a cleaning and sanitation company that provided contract work at slaughtering and meat packing establishments in Iowa and continues to provide such work throughout the United States of America.

The complaint claims Qvest employed people to clean Seaboard Triumph Foods from Sept. 27, 2019 through Sept. 14, 2023. The minor employees cleaned the killing floor as wells as power-driven machines, including meat and bone cutting saws, head splitters, jaw pullers, and skinners, the complaint states.

By having the minor employees clean the killing floor and machines, Qvest is accused of violations parts of the Fair Labor Standards Act that bans the employment of minors from hazardous occupations.

The DOL asked for a judge to issue an injunction to stop Qvest from continuing to hire minors across the county and to grant other relief deemed appropriate.

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The complaint doesnt say how many minors were employed by Qvest or their ages. A motion by the DOL asking the court to approve an order for consent and judgment against Qvest states that 11 minors were identified as having been employed.

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The motion also states that Qvest agreed to the proposed consent order and judgement. As part of the motion, Qvest agreed to provide the DOL with a list of all employees under the age of 18, hire a third party to review and recommend policy changes, and include a child labor provision in contracts. The cleaning company would also have to establish a toll-free tip line for reporting any other child labor violations. Lastly, Qvest would also pay $171,919 in penalties.

In response to the accusations, Seaboard Triumph Foods provided KCAU 9 with the following statement:

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The legal filings against Qvest Sanitation by the Department of Labor (DOL) do not include any claims against Seaboard Triumph Foods (STF). STF did not employ any of the alleged individuals and has no evidence that any underage individuals accessed the plant. In addition, this vendor, who had express contractual requirements to follow all labor laws, has not been present at the STF facility for more than a year, as the companys sanitation needs are currently supported through an ongoing partnership with the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW).



This situation underscores the problems facing employers throughout the country: individuals, including minors, obtaining jobs through their use of fraudulent identification documents, which are sophisticated enough to fool even the federal governments E-Verify system. Businesses are victimized by this fraud, notes Paul DeCamp, the former head of the Department of Labors Wage and Hour Division, and counsel for STF.



Safety, ethical practices, and compliance with regulations and industry standards are of paramount importance to STF. We expect the same from our vendors and partners, and we will not tolerate any vendors use of underage labor within our facility, and will also take measures to prevent fraud against our company. Statement from Seaboard Triumph Foods

This isnt the first time a company that provided cleaning services to Seaboard Triumph Foods is accused of hiring minors. Earlier in 2024, the DOL said Fayette Janitorial Services illegally hired at least two dozen children to clean dangerous meat processing facilities, including at Seaboard Triumph Foods in Sioux City. Fayette Janitorial Services provided cleaning services to Seaboard Triumph starting in 2023.

The DOLs Wage and Hour Division department found that at least 24 children, some as young as 13 years old, were employed to perform overnight sanitation at Seaboard Triumph Foods LLC in Sioux City and Perdue Farms in Accomac, Virginia. There were nine children employed to work at Seaboard Triumph.

At the time, the DOLs legal filing detailed the injuries one 14-year-old sustained while cleaning the drumstick packing line belt at a plant in Virginia. Records showed Fayette learned the worker was underaged after the child was injured and continued to employ the minor anyway, according to an investigator.

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In response to the allegations, Seaboard Triumph Foods said that the company was disturbed to learn of the allegations filed by the Department of Labor (DOL) against Fayette Janitorial Services, which had started to provide cleaning services in Sept. 2023. Seaboard Triumph Foods said it also terminated all contracts with the cleaning service.

Former Argonaut Apartments building being demolished

The DOL said in May that Fayette Janitorial Services agreed to pay more than $600,000 in penalties after U.S. officials investigated the company.

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CLEMSON, S.C. (WSPA)  Clemson University made South Carolina history as they broke ground on the new Harvey S. Peeler Jr. College of Veterinary Medicine on Friday. The college will serve as the first and only college of veterinary medicine in the Palmetto State.

The name of the college is in honor of Harvey S. Peeler Jr., a 1970 graduate of the University who has served as a senator in the South Carolina General Assembly since 1980.

Today marks a historic milestone for our state as we break ground on the new College of Veterinary Medicine  a dream thats been a long time in the making, said Peeler in a media release. This is not just about education  it is about taking care of our animals, supporting our farmers, growing our economy and filling the need for veterinarians in South Carolina.

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There are just 33 American Veterinary Medical Association-accredited colleges in the United States. Clemson University would become the 34th when it opens in Fall of 2026.

Theres a national shortage of veterinarians, especially in South Carolina. So, were looking to produce new veterinarians, said Steve Marks, the founding dean for the College of Veterinary Medicine.

The school said a third of South Carolina counties have fewer than five veterinarians, and 48 percent of them have fewer than 10 veterinarians.

Ashlee Romp, a Pre-Veterinary major senior at Clemson believes the announcement gives aspiring South Carolina veterinarians hope that an affordable program is on the horizon.

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With an in-state option now available, talented and dedicated students no longer need to look outside of South Carolina for a premier education, said Romp. The Louisville-native said what makes Clemson University a great place to learn how to take care of animals is its location itself.

We have the space to produce equine farms and horse farms and cattle farms and all these great farms that vet students and undergrads get really great experience here, said Romp. So even I have a lot of out-of-state friends that come in from the farthest parts of the country to come to Clemson, because it is that special.

The Harvey S. Peeler Jr. College of Veterinary Medicine is currently in the process of earning AVMA accreditation.

The complex will be located across the street from Clemson Universitys Equine Center on West Queen Street in Pendleton and will be comprised of six buildings. Its expected to welcome its first cohort of 80 students in Fall 2026.

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If youve crossed a street midday during a Boise summer, you know the heat simmering off the asphalt is no joke. If its 100 degrees outside, the pavement can hit 140 degrees, said Lloyd Carnegie, the maintenance manager for the Ada County Highway District.

He would know. This summer, there were nearly 20 days of temperatures over 100 degrees, which meant that road crews working on chip sealing  the process of covering a road with liquid asphalt and a layer of crushed rocks to keep out water and extend the roads lifespan  repeatedly had to stop work for safety reasons.

A layer of fresh oil followed up with chipped rock, or seal coating, helps refurbish roads that become cracked and worn down over time.

Crews also had to stop work for seven days this summer because of poor air quality, Rachel Bjornestad, a spokesperson for ACHD, told the Idaho Statesman.

Ada County Highway Department perform chip seal work in Boise in 2015. In 2024, crews had to stop work for 25 days over heat, air quality concerns.

The result? Road crews were able to complete only about 300 lane miles out of their planned 439, according to an October ACHD news release.

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This years heat and smoke were abnormal, Carnegie said. Last year, there were zero days with poor air quality during chip seal operations, and only about 10 days above 100 degrees, Bjornestad said in an email.

But in a meeting Monday of ACHDs board and Boises City Council, ACHD Director Ryan Head said the smoke and heat are part of a longer-term trend. The highway district is evaluating its approach to preventative maintenance, he told Mayor Lauren McLean, while recognizing the realities that we do face as time changes.

Several studies have shown that climate change, or global warming, leads to warmer, drier conditions that cause longer and more active wildfire seasons in the Western U.S., according to the Nature Conservancy.

The downtown Boise skyline barely appears amid the smoke-filled air in August. Smoky, hot days are part of a long-term trend, ACHD Director Ryan Head told Boise Mayor Lauren McLean on Monday.

ACHD crews rotate annually among seven zones to conduct chip sealing. This year, they were working in Zone 5, which includes Boises North and East ends. Next summer, theyre supposed to move on to Zone 6, which covers Star, Eagle and northern Meridian.

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But what about the unfinished work in Boise? ACHD is still sorting that out, Carnegie said, weighing strategies to get it done  or deciding if some of that work can wait another seven years.

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German climate scientist Mojib Latif has fundamentally questioned the usefulness of the annual UN climate conferences, also known as COP.

"We have had 28 conferences and emissions have exploded. The COP is a spectacle that has brought nothing to the climate so far," he told Saturday's edition of the local German newspaper Rheinische Post.

The only good thing, he noted, is that developing countries are heard there and technology fairs are created.

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The senior professor at the Geomar Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research in the northern German city of Kiel also described it as absurd when climate conferences are held in countries that rely on oil or gas, such as recently in the United Arab Emirates or now in Azerbaijan.

He said, "These countries block the exit from fossil fuels, even though it is urgently needed."

In his view, it would be better than annual large-scale conferences for the major emitters of climate-damaging greenhouse gases to gather in a smaller format and take action.

"China and the US together cause almost half of the global emissions, the G20 countries together 80%," Latif said.

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In the 30 years since the first climate conferences, greenhouse gas emissions have indeed continued to rise.

However, defenders of the UN summits argue that without international agreements on climate action, the increase would likely have been much more pronounced. For example, between 1990 and 2022, the emissions of the 27 EU countries decreased by around 31%, and even more significantly in Germany.
BAKU, Azerbaijan  Negotiators reached a deal early Sunday in which rich countries agreed to provide at least $300 billion per year in financing by 2035 to help poorer nations fight climate change.

The agreement, struck and approved early Sunday at the COP29 climate summit, emerged after days of public and closed-door recriminations and finger-pointing among the nearly 200 nations represented at the gathering by the Caspian Sea.

Those included a testy, shout-filled meeting before dawn Saturday in which major economic powers including the United States, United Kingdom, the European Union and China battled over how the cash would be delivered and by which countries, two people familiar with that discussion told POLITICO.

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Afterward, large rich nations agreed to bump up their offer from a $250 billion proposal that the summits hosts had floated Friday.

Still, a minimum of $300 billion is far below the trillions of dollars that poorer and vulnerable countries will need to withstand ever-rising seas and worsening storms, droughts and floods, several analyses have found. Other ways exist to raise those funds  such as private capital, and carbon credit trading whose rules also reached a final deal Saturday. But representatives of poor and vulnerable countries such as Malawi, the Marshall Islands and the Maldives said the sum was simply insufficient to meet their needs.

We have seen the very worst of political opportunism here at this COP, Marshall Islands climate envoy Tina Stege said. We are leaving with a small portion of the funding climate-vulnerable countries urgently need. It isnt nearly enough, but its a start.

The financial agreement also comes with a pile of uncertainty about the final amount any rich country would pay  especially as President-elect Donald Trump, who calls climate change a hoax, prepares to take power in Washington. The EU, already by far the largest donor bloc, expects to have to shoulder more of the burden as U.S. participation recedes.

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The deal was broadly in line with the expectations set by a U.N. report last week, which estimated the amount of public finance and related cash transfers needed to protect climate-threatened countries and finance their clean industries. It also largely meshed with the $200 billion to $300 billion in annual funding that European Union nations had discussed in private, as POLITICO reported on Monday.

In the lead-up to the talks, the U.S. and EU pressured China and other wealthy, but technically developing, countries to join them as a donor nation.

The deal opened up the possibility for developing nations such as China to contribute, or not, on a voluntary basis  potentially allowing both sides to claim a win.

The $300 billion-plus goal will also include finance from international institutions such as the World Bank  such as money provided by China and other developing country shareholders. The inclusion allows countries that had pressured China to contribute to say they had made progress.

The final text nodded to an agreement made last year in Dubai to transition away from fossil fuels. But this year countries declined to directly mention the energy sources that cause climate change. Nor did the deal lay out actions to accelerate toward that goal, something European and U.S. negotiators had wanted. They were repeatedly rebuffed by Saudi Arabias delegation, along with a group that included China, India and other emerging economies, according to a European diplomat, who was granted anonymity in order to discuss the contents of private meetings.
There is no significant snow in the forecast for Minneapolis-St. Paul.

It's probably going to snow  and minor accumulations are possible  in northern Minnesota late Sunday into Monday, but there's nothing of significance in the pipeline through Thanksgiving.

That said, the National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center is expecting below normal temps across the northern tier of the United States through the first half of December.

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In fact, the first week of December could see a "cold air outbreak" that will be "particularly impactful across the Northern Plains." Wind chills could be dangerously low from Montana to North Dakota and northwest Minnesota late next week.

NOAA

Stock image Credit: cjuneau via Flickr

Taking a peak behind the curtain, here's what the European model is suggesting for wind chill readings on Black Friday morning. It may not get that cold, but it's definitely a possibility.

WeatherBell

Updated December-February outlook

Seasonally, NOAA updated it's December-through-February winter outlook on Nov. 21 and it reveals a 50-50 chance for above or below normal temperatures in the eastern half of a Minnesota, while the outlook slightly favors above normal temperatures in the western half of the state.

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NOAA

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The December-through-February precipitation outlook, which also updated Nov. 21, gives most of Minnesota  including the Twin Cities, St. Cloud, Duluth and Rochester  and all of Wisconsin up to a 40% chance of above normal precipitation.

NOAA

It's not a slam dunk for snowstorms, but it could indicate a potentially more active pattern in which storms track through our region.

In the shorter term, the blended average from all of the models hints at accumulating snow chances near the Minnesota-Canada border through Dec. 7. The Twin Cities doesn't look like its in line for any significant snow just yet...
An adult education college has cancelled a concert after drawing claims it would have glorified Palestinian terrorism.

Morley College London has scrapped the event, called The World Stands With Palestine: Compositions for the Palestinian Struggle, with its principal admitting it would have promoted a one-sided political view.

The evening of music  due to have been staged on Nov 15  would have included piano, violin and electric mandolin compositions titled Salute to the Resistance and Blood United Us.

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Leaflets advertising the concert included an image of hands holding a placard reading Stand with Palestine!! Stand with the Resistance!!.

The concert had been organised by the Cornelius Cardew Concerts Trust (CCCT), named after a Communist composer of avant-garde and experimental music who died in a hit-and-run accident in 1981.

Morley College London admits the event would have promoted a one-sided political view - Geoff Pugh

Andrew Gower, the principal of Morley College  which once employed German-Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution  moved quickly to cancel the event following a complaint from the campaign group UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI).

In a letter, Mr Gower told UKLFI: Regrettably on this occasion, the proposed event slipped through the net of our editorial processes, including our Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Expression Policy.

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Mr Gower said that had the policy been followed, Morley College would not have given permission for an event of this nature to take place on the grounds that it presents as promoting a specific and one-sided political view.

But the musicians behind the event have described the move as a thuggish attempt by UKLFI to silence Palestinian voices.

Particularly unpalatable

UKLFI, which had been alerted by members of the Jewish community, accused the CCCT of planning a concert sympathetic to the actions of the terrorist group Hamas.

In its complaint to Morley College, UKLFI stated: The Resistance with reference to Palestine means an armed struggle, and not only against military targets. It is evident that the organisers of the event, CCCT, have adopted a particular political viewpoint which is supportive of the Palestinian Resistance or armed struggle, and this viewpoint is being foisted on those who attend the event.

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The armed struggle to which they refer involves sending rockets indiscriminately into Israel aimed at killing all Israelis, and not aiming just at military targets. It is therefore apparent that the event is actually siding with the viewpoint of the governing authority of the Palestinians in Gaza, Hamas.

UKLFI added: This is particularly unpalatable given what happened on Oct 7 when Hamas and other Palestinian so-called resistance fighters massacred, burnt, mutilated, raped and tortured around 1200 Israelis and other nationalities, including babies, children and old people. As is also well known, they also took over 250 people hostage, 100 of whom are still in captivity.

It also claimed that had it gone ahead the concert could have risked being in breach of the Terrorism Act 2000, which bans support for a proscribed organisation.

Politically neutral

A spokesman from Morley College London said: We sincerely regret the offence caused by the proposed Cornelius Cardew Concert Trust concert. Morley is a politically neutral organisation, and the college has a proud record of inclusivity for all dating back to its foundation in 1889. Advancing diversity is a strongly held value.

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As soon as the issue was raised with senior management last week, the unequivocal decision was taken to withdraw our support as host, leading to the cancellation of the concert. As a result of this situation, we are strengthening our editorial processes.

The CCCT said it was taking legal advice and planned to stage the concert  which it described as consistent with the lofty ideals of humanity which it has always upheld  as soon as possible.

It added: The musicians and composers who organised this CCCT concert ... have done so in deepest sympathy with the suffering Palestinian people and in response to their heroic struggle for their very existence.

They reject this latest attempt to silence their music and their voices and to illegalise music itself through scaring composers and performers to remain silent and bullying the concert venue itself.

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CHEYENNE  The Wyoming Legislatures Joint Transportation, Highways and Military Affairs Committee voted Friday to sponsor a bill draft that would add citizenship/residency status to state-issued identification cards.

If passed during the 2025 general session, the bill would require a complete redesign of ID cards issued by the Wyoming Department of Transportation. The additions would be a line reading, Not a United States citizen and colors that would indicate the citizenship status of a cardholder.

The number of these types of cards needed and the cost are unknown at this time.

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The bills intent, according to Secretary of State Chuck Gray, is to take a step in the right direction by continuing to enforce voter security and make the jobs of county clerks easier when registering voters.

While we do have safeguards in place to ensure that only United States citizens are registering to vote, which is called a HAVA check, there are a number of areas where there are weaknesses that can be exposed, Gray told the committee. Thats why we need to continue to shore up this frontend monitoring, which I think this bill draft does.

Grays primary concern is addressing alleged instances of noncitizens registering to vote, even though there have been no recent reports of noncitizens voting.

WYDOT Driver Services Program Manager Misty Zimmerman testified that there is already a nonresident designation on ID cards, marked by an NR for nonresident, but that doesnt indicate citizenship.

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Zimmerman testified that no matter the type of addition to the drivers license or ID card  whether it be a symbol, a line of text or a color  WYDOT would need to completely redesign the cards to accommodate the change.

Gray was asked several times by Rep. Landon Brown, R-Cheyenne, to clarify the need for the bill given existing identifications in place. Gray was unable to quantify a need beyond his own suspicions.

Instead, he reiterated his concerns about being able to adequately record these suspected incidents of noncitizens registering to vote.

I appreciate everything that you just mentioned there, Secretary Gray. Not once did you answer my question about the NR doing the designation and what more this is going to protect when we already have front-end discussions, Brown said.

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In addition to concerns about need and cost, one issue with passing this draft bill is the limited information a physical ID provides.

What were talking about is changing the look of the physical credential, and from a timing perspective, it may be a slightly antiquated way of dealing with the issue, WYDOT Deputy Director Taylor Rossetti said. That card, when its printed, its a snapshot in time. The status of that individual could change, they could become a citizen during that time period, and maybe didnt come back in and get a new credential.

Rossetti testified that by the 2026 election cycle, there may be a more technologically advanced way to address the issue without spending the time and money redesigning ID cards.

Zimmerman testified that by waiting on WYDOTs modernization project, which is expected to be launched next year, mobile ID could be used to show real-time status, as opposed to looking at a limited physical ID.

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Mary Lankford, representing the County Clerks Association of Wyoming, reiterated the benefit of waiting for the mobile IDs. Saying that while county clerks appreciate the support in clarifying the registration process, they also want to be clear that they very rarely have noncitizens attempt to register to vote.

We understand the concern of noncitizens attempting to register to vote, after all, only Wyoming citizens should be voting in Wyoming elections, Lankford said. ... Proper participation in the WYDOT system modernization project would provide up-to-date citizenship and residency information without the redesign of the current card.

Regardless, the committee voted 10-4 to sponsor the draft bill, with opposition coming from Brown; Sen. Evie Brennan, R-Cheyenne; Rep. Kevin OHearn, R-Mills; and Rep. Jerry Obermueller, R-Casper.

In my opinion, this was not a request of the Management Council, this was not an interim topic assigned to us, this was not something that was brought to us, Brown said. This is well outside the wheelhouse, trying to fix something when it comes to voting. Were going to redesign and tell WYDOT to go fix something that we can do within our rules, and were already in that process.

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I think we have to have as much confidence in the system with the constituents, Sen. John Kolb, R-Rock Springs, said. Its not to say that I think this is a necessary thing at that level, but I believe thats irrelevant in this case. Whats relevant is what people think. I think whatever we can do to make them have confidence in our system is what we need to do.

Should the amended draft bill pass, the change would take place Jan. 1, 2026, rather than the originally proposed date of July 1, 2025.

This story was published on November 16, 2024.
ST. LOUIS  The St. Louis community will say a final farewell to a local icon this weekend.

The honorable Esther Haywood passed away Nov. 16. She was 84.

Haywood was a longtime civil rights and social justice advocate, former St. Louis County NAACP president, and previous member of the Missouri House of Representatives.

A public viewing will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday at Murchison Tabernacle C.M.E. Church, located at 7629 Natural Bridge Rd.

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Her funeral will take place Monday, just down the road at Prince of Peace Church at 9350 Natural Bridge Rd. The visitation will begin at 10 a.m. with a celebration of life following at 11 a.m.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
FAIRMONT, W.Va. (WBOY)  On a snowy Friday morning, a shark appeared in Fairmont. That is, Mr. Wonderful Kevin OLeary from the popular show Shark Tank, who was present alongside state officials like Gov. Jim Justice (R) and Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R) for the groundbreaking of the Prime 6 companys first manufacturing plant.

In a speech, OLeary said that 70% of his successful businesses have been run by women, including Prime 6s CEO and co-founder Riki Franco. After originally making plans to set up shop in Buckhannon, those plans fell through due to environmental issues on the site, that we were not aware of, Franco said.

Prime 6s Oron Franco & Riki Franco with investor Kevin OLeary (WBOY image).

In Fairmont, Prime 6 will call the former Phillips Lighting company warehouse home, after a $35 million investment was put into it. Now, the new owners have a goal to start hiring straight away, opening up 75-100 jobs in the area.

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According to Franco, partnerships with local mills, and lumber manufacturing facilities are not the only benefits to setting up in the area. Its creating a secondary income for the mills to get paid for that byproduct that they may need to get rid of right now. Secondary cycle of economic impact would be to transport all that raw material from the source all the way back to us, back and forth and out the door to our customers, said Franco.

The woman-run business makes cooking charcoal as well as other products from wood waste like sawdust and wood chips. The waste is then compressed and carbonized, lasting longer than regular charcoal and can burn equally as hot.

West Virginia native Emily Calandrelli becomes 100th woman in space

They can also power plants, energy plants, steel manufacturing, concrete. They can be ground down into biochar and put into the soil as a fertilizer, said Franco.

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This upcycled product burns at 14,000 BTU per pound, meaning it can burn as hot as coal. Companies right now that run on coal can potentially supplement some of that coal as fuels, said Franco.

West Virginia has ranked as one of the least environmentally friendly states in the country, and Gov. Justice, who was among the state officials who helped bring the company to West Virginia, has said he would like the state to expand its energy investment.

I dont think we should ever forget our fossil fuels. I mean I think thats crazy to forget our coal miners, and our gas workers, and to think of the contribution that they bring to us every day. But Im a governor that embraced all the alternatives, whether it was Form Energy or Prime 6, or whomever it may be, we should be all-inclusive, Gov. Justice said.

Prime 6 groundbreaking (WBOY image).

Prime 6 has been working with the state for around six months with the main reason they chose West Virginia being the people they met throughout the process. They also stressed the importance of their product being American-made.

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It really felt like every single person that we were in touch with was genuinely interested in helping us. And I think when the entire administration are all aligned in that kind of approach it just makes it very easy for companies like us to say yes, COO, Co-Founder and Francos husband Oron Franco said.

The ideal employee for Super 6 is someone who will support innovation, and bring new products to the market, according to Franco. The company hopes to be up and running in its new location in four to five months.

The Shark Tank production team was also present during the groundbreaking, capturing the ceremony and conducting interviews.

Shark Tank filming at Prime 6s groundbreaking ceremony and conducting an interview. (WBOY image).

To learn more about the company and its hiring opportunities, click here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com.
Nov. 22NEW LONDON  The mayor has floated a compromise plan that would split the zoning designations of a large parcel of private wooded land whose future as open space or a housing development has been the subject of intense discussion for months.

Mayor Michael Passero told city councilors on Monday his administration would support a plan to re-designate about two-thirds of a 23.7-acre parcel at 0 Stonebridge Drive into open space, while leaving the northern section open for the kind of residential development it has long been set aside for.

The property, bought by the Shiloh Baptist Church in 1999 for $950,000, is bracketed by Briggs Street to the south and Williams Street to the east, not far from the Lyman Allyn Art Museum and Connecticut College. Power lines and a small portion of another multi-family zone lie to the west, and the college's arboretum sits to the north.

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Though the city's Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD) identifies the entire church property as R-2, or available for the construction of one- and two-family homes, several such developments have been rejected by the Planning and Zoning Commission over the decades.

"For 20 years, we've had projects that have come before the city at various levels that the city said they didn't want," Shiloh's pastor, the Rev. Benjamin K. Watts, told the council on Monday "We have stewarded the land for 20 years, carrying its costs. At some point we need to say either we're going forward with one or we're going with the other. Because we can't go into (2025-26) holding this property in stewardship any longer."

Earlier this year, the commission, after hearing vocal opposition to the plan by neighbors, rejected a proposal by the Vessel Technology firm, which constructed the Vessel apartment building on Bank Street, to re-designate the land for multi-family housing. That rejection ended a purchase and sales agreement the company had entered into with Shiloh.

This month, the Old Mystic-based Avalonia Land Conservancy took initial steps to buy the property through a state grant program with the goal of transforming the entire parcel into open space.

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Avalonia needs both local and regional support to secure a state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition (OSWA) grant. The application is due by Dec. 2.

Though councilors initially signaled support for Avalonia's application, Passero said the group's desire to turn the entire parcel into open space is inconsistent with the city's POCD, which clearly labels the Shiloh land as "developable."

Details of the compromise

Passero said he disagreed with the position by some that the property, with its trees, ledges and thick brush, cannot be developed.

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"But I do agree the community and the city is resistant to every proposal that's come forward so far," he said. "But there is a win-win."

Passero's compromise proposal, supported by the council, meshes the rejected Vessel proposal and Avalonia's request. The northern one-third of the property would still be set aside for housing development, with the majority preserved as open space through a conservation easement.

Passero on Tuesday cautioned there is no guarantee Vessel would enter into a new purchase and sales agreement with Shiloh to develop a portion of the land, but was optimistic Vessel or another housing group would be interested in such a proposal.

"I believe Shiloh has a better chance of being compensated sooner for this property under these terms," Passero said. "But we are assuming the developer is still interested in moving forward, but adjusting his ambitions for the property."

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Vessel and Shiloh representatives did not respond for a request for comment this week.

Passero said the compromise would assist Shiloh's push to finally sell the land and satisfy the city's efforts to create more housing and preserve open space.

Avalonia Board of Directors President Dennis Main said Tuesday he supports Passero's proposal, though any decision on how the land is used, and by whom, is ultimately up to the Shiloh church.

"They're the ones who would have to sell the open space land to us," he said, noting it's not unusual for a piece of open-space property to contain "carve-outs" for development.

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Though Vessel never submitted a formal development plan for the Shiloh land, its attorney for the rezoning request, William Sweeney, previously said the property only offers two practical building sites: a 4.5-acre kidney bean-shaped area in the southeast  the developer's preferred option  and a 12-acre plot in the west.

Vessel planned to keep the remainder of the property undeveloped "hopefully in perpetuity," Sweeney said in August.

Main suggested there were several groups in addition to Vessel, such as Housing Opportunities to Promote Equity or Habitat for Humanity, that might be interested in building homes on the property.

Passero said the city, Shiloh and Avalonia will work this week to fine-tune the compromise proposal and ensure the state grant application is finalized. He warned council members that any of the proposed zone changes at the property must still garner Planning and Zoning approval, but that discussion would come after an application is submitted.

j.penney@theday.com
CHICOPEE, Mass (WWLP)  President-elect Donald Trump has announced many selections for his cabinet, after winning the election earlier this month against Vice President Kamala Harris, and some have caused quite a stir already.

The Presidents cabinet consists of 15 members, each leading an executive department, but the President nominates more positions than those 15.

At least three of the picks so far have faced allegations of sexual misconduct.

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Congressman Richard Neal told 22News he believes there will be continued scrutiny. The job of the United States Senate is not to simply accept a Presidential nominee. The Constitution lays out very clearly, that their job is to provide advice and consent as to what the nominee may offer to the country. So there is a very important role here for Congress and I am ever so hopeful the United States Senate will embrace it, said Congressman Richard Neal.

The creation of the Cabinet dates back to the beginning of the Presidency. Established in the Constitution, the Cabinets role is to advise the President on any subject he may require relating to the duties of each members respective office.

There is no deadline for nominees to be accepted before Inauguration Day. When Trump started his first term, he only had two confirmations for 26 nominations.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

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Nov. 22NEW LONDON  The Connecticut Port Authority said Friday it is working with State Pier contractor Kiewit to remedy what appears to be substandard soil used on a portion of the newly-constructed offshore wind facility.

The remedy for the problem, the cost to fix it and who might pay remains in question.

The problem was discovered by routine soil testing of the 100-foot long section at the south end of the pier where fill was used to expand its size. The area was once two piers.

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The soil contains excessive silty material and is not in compliance with the port authority's contract with Kiewit, said Paul Whitescarver, chairman of the board of directors of the Connecticut Port Authority.

The issue was first made public during the CPA's Finance Committee meeting on Tuesday after board member John Johnson asked whether capital expenditures were completed. The state and Danish company rsted have jointly contributed to the $310 million cost of upgrading the pier to accommodate the massive offshore wind components.

Whitescarver, who said the area where the soil problem was discovered was unusable, said he thought the remedy would be covered by Kiewitt.

"The excessive silty soil negatively affects the load capacity of this area, which is designed to be a transport corridor for terminal operations," Whitescarver said in a statement. "The CPA is working closely with its designer, contractors and partners to establish an acceptable remediation plan."

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A spokesperson from Kiewit was not immediately available for comment but has said the section of the pier in question represents less than .5% of the total project. Whitescarver said the CPA is working with Kiewit on a solution.

Despite the problem, Whitescarver said operations at State Pier remain unaffected. The pier is loaded with parts  wind turbine blades, nacelles and towers  that are bound for the waters off Rhode Island as part of Orsted's Revolution Wind project.

Whitescarver said the area in question is not intended for component storage and never was intended to have the kind of load capacity that the two heavy lift platforms have.

"The bottom line is there is no change in operations at the pier and no disruption in operations," Whitescarver said.

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News of more problems at State Pier, however, prompted a statement from state legislators already frustrated by the project's spiraling costs.

Republican senator Heather Somers of Groton, Henri Martin and Senate Minority Leader Stephen Harding issued a statement on Friday.

"It seems like every time the tide comes in, it brings with it another controversy for the Port Authority. Now we have this latest revelation. The south portion of the pier is not stable enough for wind component storage use because of the type of fill that was used," the statement reads.

"There is finger-pointing between the Port Authority and construction management company Kiewit on who is responsible. Meanwhile, the costs paid by the Connecticut taxpayer continue to rise. The price tag is already north of $310 million at this unfinished site, which we now learn has potentially dangerous and costly structural deficiencies."

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The senators called for "full transparency" and urged the port authority to answer questions from the public.

"The taxpayers of Connecticut deserve nothing less," the statement reads.

g.smith@theday.com
Cop29 ground out a last-minute compromise deal on Saturday night that offers at least $300 billion (240 billion) per year by 2035 to help poorer countries confront global warming and allows Chinas contributions to remain voluntary.

The sum demanded by the less wealthy nations had been much more following two weeks of negotiations in Azerbaijans Caspian Sea capital of Baku.

Mukhtar Babayev, the Cop29 president, declared open the final summit plenary after midnight on Saturday, two days after the conference was officially scheduled to end.

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A final text was released following several sleepless nights for negotiators, with tensions boiling over as small island states and the worlds poorest countries walked out of one meeting.

This package is an affront to us. We are the countries that have the most at stake, said Tina Stege, climate envoy of the Marshall Islands, an atoll nation threatened by rising seas.

German negotiator Jennifer Morgan told AFP that countries would be presented a take it or leave it deal.

Before the closing session, delegates huddled in small groups on the floor of the main conference room inside Bakus sports stadium to pore over copies of the latest draft deal line by line.

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I know that none of us want to leave Baku without a good outcome, Mr Babayev said.

Khalid M Almehaid, Saudi Arabias chief negotiator, at Cop29 - Reuters/Murad Sezer

A number of countries accused Azerbaijan, an authoritarian oil and gas exporter, of lacking the experience and will to meet the moment, as the planet again sets temperature records and faces rising deadly disasters.

Only a few hours earlier, the prospect of a deal hung in the balance.

Small island nations and impoverished African states on Saturday stormed out of a meeting with Azerbaijan, saying their concerns had been ignored. I think it caught a lot of people by surprise, said Brazils climate envoy, Ana Toni. It all happened very quickly.

The walkout triggered an emergency meeting between those nations; top negotiators from the EU, US and Britain; and the Cop29 presidency, in which new proposals were made.

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Jennifer Morgan, Germanys top negotiator, told AFP that countries would be presented with a take it or leave it deal. After several sleepless nights for negotiators, a final text was released offering a compromise.

Wealthy countries and small island nations had also been concerned by efforts led by Saudi Arabia to water down calls from last years summit to phase out fossil fuels.

The final text proposed that rich nations raise their commitment to poorer countries to fight climate change to at least $300 billion a year by 2035.

Annalena Baerbock , the German foreign minister, with Wopke Hoekstra, EU climate commissioner - AP/Peter Dejong

It was an increase on the $100 billion (80 billion) now provided by wealthy nations under a commitment soon to expire, and from $250 billion (200 billion) proposed in a draft agreement on Friday.

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That offer was slammed as offensively low by developing countries, which had demanded at least $500 billion (400 billion) to build resilience against climate change and cut emissions.

Jiwoh Abdulai, the climate minister of Sierra Leone, one of the worlds poorest countries, called the draft effectively a suicide pact for the rest of the world.

L-R: Simon Stiell, the UN climate head, Mukhtar Babayev, the Cop29 president, and Yalchin Rafiyev, Azerbaijans lead negotiatior - Rafiq Maqbool/AP

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Brazil pleaded for at least some progress and said it would seek to build on it when it leads Cop30 next year in the Amazon gateway of Belem.

After the difficult experience that were having here in Baku, we need to reach some outcome that is minimally acceptable in line with the emergency were facing, Marina Silva, Brazils environment minister, told delegates.

On Saturday night, diplomats rushed between meetings, some armed with food and water in anticipation of another late night.

Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez, Panamas outspoken negotiator, warned delegates not to repeat the failure of Cop15 in Copenhagen in 2009.

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Im sad, Im tired, Im disheartened, Im hungry, Im sleep-deprived, but there is a tiny ray of optimism within me because this cannot become a new Copenhagen, he told reporters.

Climate activists shouted shame as John Podesta, the US climate envoy, walked the halls. Hopefully this is the storm before the calm, Mr Podesta said.

Wealthy nations said it was politically unrealistic to expect more in direct government funding.

Activists hold a protest as talks look to be on the verge of collapse - Aziz Karimov/Reuters

Donald Trump, a sceptic of both climate change and foreign assistance, returns to the White House in January and a number of other Western countries have seen Right-wing backlashes against the green agenda.

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The draft deal posited a larger overall target of $1.3 trillion (1 trillion) per year to cope with rising temperatures and disasters, with most to come from private sources.

However, Dion George, South Africas environment minister, said: I think being ambitious at this point is not going to be very useful.

The US and EU had wanted newly wealthy emerging economies such as China  the worlds largest emitter of greenhouse gases  to chip in.

The final draft encouraged developing countries to make contributions on a voluntary basis, meaning no change for China, which already pays climate finance on its own terms.

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The EU and other countries also tussled with Saudi Arabia over including strong language on moving away from fossil fuels, which negotiators say the oil-producing country had resisted.

We will not allow the most vulnerable, especially the small island states, to be ripped off by the new, few rich fossil-fuel emitters, said Annalena Baerbock, the German foreign minister.

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Cops have arrested the man they say swiped a $3,000 gold-plated rose from a 9/11 memorial at a Midtown church.

Members of the NYPDs Manhattan Warrant Squad grabbed Deikel Alcantara, 21, for Wednesdays theft at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi on W. 31st St. near Seventh Ave., down the block from Penn Station, cops said.

Alcantara was taken into custody in Midtown at about 8 p.m. Friday and charged with grand larceny. Alcantaras father helped police track the thorny thief down, police sources said.

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His arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court was pending Saturday. The rose he stole from the church wasnt immediately recovered.

Alcantara was apprehended hours after police released his mugshot and asked the publics help locating him.

He was caught on surveillance cameras swiping the rose from the church around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, cops said.

The metal flower served as the centerpiece of a 9/11 memorial honoring those who died in the terrorist attack, with the rose rising from pieces of twisted steel taken from the wreckage of the World Trade Center.

The churchs former longtime pastor, the Rev. Mychal Judge, was a Fire Department chaplain who was crushed by falling rubble at Ground Zero while praying for victims and rescuers after the attack.

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Rev. Brian Jordan, the churchs pastor, said staffers knew Alcantara, who had asked him to leave the church on several occasions, including twice on the day of the theft.

He hopes Alcantara receives the psychiatric care he needs, Rev. Jordan told the Daily News Thursday.

It wasnt welded in, Jordan said of the golden rose. It was inserted in. You can easily break it free. [A] lady yelled at him, but he took off anyway. He was carrying it like it was a bag of groceries.

The pastor called it an act of desecration.

Alcantara was arrested in Manhattan on Oct. 27 on charges that included petty larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

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The Manhattan DAs office asked for bail, but a judge released him with no bail, court records show.

On Nov. 9 he was arrested again for an assault he committed in Manhattan on Oct. 24. He was released on Nov. 15, five days before the rose theft, after paying a $3,000 bail, officials said.
Cops are looking for a 41-year-old man with a slight link to Lehman College who sent administrators at the Bronx school a haunting email that threatened New York City Sheriff Anthony Miranda, police said Saturday.

Detectives released an image of Dimitry Rappoport and are asking for the publics help in locating him.

Rappoport is accused of sending an email to Lehman College officials that threatened to harm Miranda, a police source said. More precise details of the threats content were not immediately disclosed.

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Lehman College administrators received the email on Oct. 29, cops said. It was one of several emails Rappoport had sent to the college since attending a few seminars there a year earlier.

Mayor Adams tapped Miranda to take over the city sheriffs office in May 2022. Before becoming city sheriff, Miranda was an NYPD sergeant, director of security for the citys Administration for Childrens Services and longtime head of the National Latino Officers Association.

Mirandas deputy sheriffs are the tip of the spear in the citys ongoing fight against illegal cannabis shops.

The city Department of Investigation is looking into whether the sheriffs office has been improperly seizing cash from the unlicensed pot shops it has raided during Operation Padlock to Protect, a major crackdown on the illegal shops that the sheriffs office is conducting with the NYPD.

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Miranda said he had been told of the threat and was taking precautions.

We are working with the NYPD and the sheriffs office to address any safety concerns for myself and my family, Miranda told the Daily News on Saturday. Every threat has to be taken seriously and evaluated for an appropriate response.

The work of the sheriffs office will continue to move forward, he said.

An email requesting comment from City Hall and the city Finance Department, which oversees city sheriffs, was not immediately returned Saturday.

Cops are asking anyone with information that could help lead to Rappoports arrest to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.
In 1965, British mathematician Roger Penrose proposed the cosmic censorship conjecture, a concept that suggests that singularities  regions where gravity is so strong that the fabric of spacetime breaks, can never be viewed as they remain hidden behind the event horizon of black holes.

Penrose won the 2020 Nobel Prize for his work that describes that singularities are the unique points in spacetime where classical laws of physics such as general relativity dont work.

However, while Penroses description of black hole singularities is widely respected and accepted among physicists, until now, there has been no mathematical evidence to prove the cosmic censorship conjecture.

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Finally, a study reveals a new model that provides a solid mathematical basis for the hidden nature of singularities in quantum black holes. The study authors suggest that their findings could solve many mysteries associated with quantum gravity.

Decoding quantum cosmic censorship

Unlike classical black holes, quantum black holes are tiny subatomic structures that are driven by the rules of both quantum mechanics and general relativity. While regular black holes are formed due to the collapse of massive stars, quantum black holes can be created in a particle accelerator such as the large hadron collider.

However, scientists have found strong evidence indicating the presence of classical black holes in outer space, whereas quantum black holes remain a theoretical concept to this date.

Considering their theoretical nature, the study authors developed a model that checks whether the singularities of quantum black holes remain shielded when quantum matter interacts with them. This model uses gravitational holography, an approach that helps scientists understand the effect of gravity in extreme conditions such as those found inside a black hole.

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Using the holography method, the information about a black hole can be encoded on its boundary (the event horizon), similar to how a hologram contains 3D information in a 2D image.

The results from the model suggest that when quantum matter is introduced in spacetime geometries, due to the quantum effect, an event horizon forms around naked singularity  completely hiding it from view.

Since this effect is observed on the quantum scale, it is referred to as quantum cosmic censorship. This process  quantum effects modifying the initial classical geometry to clothe a singularity  intuitively captures the spirit of cosmic censorship, but it is solely a quantum effect. And so it is dubbed quantum cosmic censorship, Andrew Svesko, one of the study authors and a research associate at Kings College, London, said.

A test bed for quantum gravity

While scientists have yet to provide mathematical evidence for cosmic censorship in classical physics, the new model would work as an important stepping stone in this direction. Plus, it will help scientists unravel concepts such as quantum gravity.

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Resolving black hole singularities continues to be a chief goal for quantum gravity, thus rigorously understanding how notions like cosmic censorship and the Penrose inequality behave when quantum matter effects are accounted for, adds to the list of criteria that can be used to further develop quantum gravity, Svesko added.

Moreover, apart from cosmic censorship, the new model also reveals ways to understand black hole entropy, the degree of randomness in black holes. Hopefully, the model will bring us closer to gaining in-depth knowledge of many other intriguing properties of black holes.

The study is published in the journal Physical Review Letters.
A proposal to open Oklahoma primaries is drawing criticism.

Earlier this week, supporters announced State Question 835 that seeks to obtain 172,993 signatures to get the issue on the November 2026 ballot.

Under the proposal, Oklahoma primaries would be open to all voters with the top two vote-getters advancing to the general election.

Supporters said they expect a challenge to the measure.

Gov. Kevin Stitt on social media voiced his opposition.

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Oklahomans made decisions at the polls that these third party groups dont like  so now they want to upend the way we run our elections, Stitt said. Open primaries are a hard no in Oklahoma.

More: State Question 835: Oklahomans could vote on open primary system

Likewise, Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell, former Oklahoma Republican Party chairman, opposes the proposal.

At best, the push to mandate open primaries is a solution in search of a problem, and at worst, it is a thinly veiled attempt to weaken Republican voters in choosing the nominees to represent our party, Pinnell said. Oklahoma is a conservative state, and Republicans hold all the statewide and federally elected positions and super majorities in the Legislature for a simple reason: Our values and principles represent the will of our state voters.

Oklahoma United Founder and CEO Margaret Kobos talks about the Yes 835 drive to have open primaries at the Oklahoma History Center, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024.

OKC Mayor David Holt, Oklahoma United back open primary question

But not all Republicans have panned the idea.

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Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, a former Republican state senator, embraced it.

He said the system in which a mayor is elected allows all residents to vote.

Our voters get to see all the candidates and our candidates have to face all voters, Holt said. As a result, our leadership delivers unity and consensus outcomes that are clearly moving us forward.

The state question is being backed by Oklahoma United, a nonpartisan organization that says the change will increase voter participation, reduce polarization and force candidates to be responsive to all voters. It will also benefit independent voters, who cant vote in Republican or Libertarian primaries. Democrats currently allow independents to vote in their primaries.

Open primary history in Oklahoma

The idea is not new.

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In 2017, the Oklahoma Academy recommended a top-two election system. Its report said a top-two system could increase turnout, reduce partisanship and eliminate fringe special interest involvement in campaigns because candidates would be forced to respond to more moderate, general voters rather than play to the extremes of either party.

The Oklahoma Academy is a nonpartisan group that works to educate Oklahomans about public policy.

Republican political consultant Fount Holland said he doubted Oklahoma voters would approve the proposal should it make the ballot.

At the end of the day, it is about moderating the Republican primary, Holland said.

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He said the Republican Party takes things to the extreme, which is not the best way to govern.

Holland said no one enters the Republican primary as a moderate or very few can survive campaigning as a moderate.

They might be moderate, but they dont campaign that way, Holland said.

He said he tells his clients to run to win.

If approved, the measure would be advantageous to Democrats or people who want a more moderate group of elected officials, Holland said.

Republican Superintendent Ryan Walters is considered by many to be ultra-conservative, while his predecessor Joy Hofmeister was considered a moderate member of the GOP, said Holland, who worked on her two successful races for superintendent.

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Walters has focussed on putting Bibles in the classroom and removing some books from schools, while Hofmeister prioritized across-the-board teacher pay increases and boosting counseling services in schools.

Hofmeister ultimately switched parties and made an unsuccessful run as a Democrat for governor.

If you hate politics the way they are, then you need to be on our team, because we want to change it and we want to make it better, said Margaret Kobos, Oklahoma United CEO and founder.

She was asked about the partisan reaction to the proposal.

She said it misses the point because the issue is about people and not political parties.

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Rep. Andy Fugate, D-Del City, supports the measure, saying it takes power away from the political parties and gives it to the people.

Every voter. Every election, he said. That is the way democracy is supposed to work.

Oklahoma Voice is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oklahoma Voice maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Janelle Stecklein for questions: info@oklahomavoice.com. Follow Oklahoma Voice on Facebook and Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma open primary proposal draws support, criticism from leaders
Nov. 22Attracting young families, promoting civic pride and improving infrastructure are top goals Muskogee City Council members set after envisioning sessions this week.

Council members reached that consensus after meeting Tuesday night and most of Wednesday. The sessions were led by representatives of Oklahoma Municipal Assurance group, which helps cities across the state with professional and leadership development, as well as their insurance needs.

No vote was taken at the sessions.

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City Manager Mike Miller said city staff will draft a summary of the sessions to present for a council vote at a Dec. 9 meeting.

"The council will review that and possibly adopt it as our strategic focus," Miller said Wednesday afternoon. "Today was just discussion to bring back detailed notes and detailed strategy points."

Instead of filtering through lists of specific projects, councilors were asked to reach a consensus on the top three or four areas of focus.

They ended up with three:

 Growth through attracting young families, choosing Muskogee as a place to live, work and play.

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 Building a sense of pride in the community by allocating and establishing resources.

 Improving water and wastewater systems, roads and city facilities.

Session facilitator Lori Mueller said a city needs housing, jobs and retail to attract young families.

"Those things can all come as a result of this being our focus," Mueller said.

Developing pride in the community was another focus.

Ward 1 Councilor Shirley Hilton-Flanary said residents expressed concern about code enforcement. She said there are not enough workers to enforce city codes.

"They don't have time to go out and ticket people who have five couches in their front yard," Hilton-Flanary said.

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Ward 3 Councilor Melody Cranford said residents could be encouraged to have pride in their yards. She recalled knocking on doors in her ward, saying "I have trash bags, I have rakes, I have things, I can help you."

"You drive around Cherokee Elementary now and all the fence lines are clean," Cranford said. "I helped them. I said, 'I will be back Saturday,' and I helped them drag their limbs."

Ward 2 Councilor Dan Hall said the city should focus on updating water and sewer lines over the next five years. Then the city can focus on improving streets and city facilities.

"We've got to get our water and sewer lines in check and commit to a set amount of feet per year," Hall said. "You have to put the water and sewer lines in before you can fix the streets, so you don't have to tear up our streets again."

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Miller said the city must upgrade or replace aging city facilities, including City Hall and the public works building, both of which are in poor shape.

Session facilitator Mike Bailey, Bartlesville's city manager, said updated facilities instill a sense of pride in city workers and residents.

Miller said the three goals could help the council decide what goes into a half-cent sales tax election next spring. A 40-member task force is choosing projects to be included in the election, subject to council approval.

"Nothing goes on the ballot unless you say," Miller told council members. "If there are things that are higher priority, this would be a good time to have that discussion."
TRUSSVILLE, Ala. (TRUSSVILLE TRIBUNE)  Trussville City Councilwoman Lisa Bright announced her candidacy for Trussville Mayor on Friday. Bright has served on the City Council, including a stint as City Council President, since 2020. Municipal elections are slated for August of 2025. The current five year term is a one-off put in place by the Alabama Legislature to move municipal elections off of a presidential election year.

According to The Trussville Tribune, a media partner of CBS 42, mayor Buddy Choat announced at the State of the City address that he would not seek a third term after nine years in office.

Bright is currently the city council liaison for Trussville City Schools, Trussville Industrial Development Authority, and Trussville Public Works.

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Trussville councilwoman Lisa Bright has announced her plans to run for Mayor.

Since 1989, Ive invested my heart in Trussville and chosen to raise my family here. Trussville is more than a place on the map; its home, Bright said. Over the years, Ive seen Trussville grow, change, and thrive in remarkable ways, and Ive been honored to be a part of that journey. But I also know together, we can build an even brighter future for Trussville. Being guided by my faith and driven by a servants heart, I am deeply committed to serving our community with integrity, compassion, and a steadfast focus on what is best for our city.

Mayor Randall Woodfin to release memoir, Son of Birmingham, in 2025

Bright said her time on the city council gave her firsthand experience with navigating the responsibilities and complexities of local governance. She cited her track record of leadership and commitment that now leads her to seek the mayors seat in Trussville.

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I believe Trussville deserves continued strong and forward-thinking leadership rooted in both a respect for our heritage and a vision for our future, Bright continued. My vision for Trussville centers on assuring community safety, equipping our schools for continued excellence, focusing on economic development opportunities and infrastructure improvements, and communicating effectively with our residents. I am committed to enhancing our quality of life, strengthening our local economy, and ensuring that every resident has a voice in shaping the future of our city.

In addition serving on the city council, Bright is the founder and CEO of the Will Bright Foundation, named in memory of her late son. The foundation is dedicated to breaking down the barriers between drug addiction and recovery by bridging the gap through awareness, education, and transitional living.

Brights advocacy work in Washington, D.C., and her time as a member of Governor Iveys Opioid Task Force Council have given her the experience and relationships, she said, to ensure Trussvilles voice will be heard on the state and federal levels.

As I embark on this journey to serve as our Mayor, I humbly ask for your support and vote. I am deeply grateful to my husband, Bill, and my daughters, Ashley and Amy; my son-in-law, J.R Millington; and my wonderful grandchildren, Olivia, Anna Kayt, Brigs, and Trip, for their love and encouragement, Bright said in a statement to the community. I also want to thank my many longtime friends and colleagues whose support has been invaluable. Thank you for believing in me and in the vision we share for our community.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42.
Two of the top lawyers with the Niagara County Public Defenders Office, including a former North Tonawanda attorney in charge of overseeing the department, have been placed on administrative leave.

The Niagara Gazette confirmed Thursday that both Nick Robinson, the countys top public defender, and one of his office associates, Vince Sandonato, are currently on leave from their positions.

No reason for the personnel moves was given.

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The county does not comment on personal matters, said county Public Information Officer Kevin Schuler.

The Niagara Gazette reported last January that both Robinson and Sandonato were subject to a county Human Resources Department review following an anonymous complaint about their on-the-job conduct that was delivered in June 2022 to various county officials and local news media, including the Niagara Gazette and Lockport Union-Sun & Journal.

The countys human resources department conducted a review of activities within the public defenders office in response to the letter which was highly critical of Robinson, Sandonato and their conduct and management of the office and its staff. The letter writer accused both attorneys of spending afternoon hours on work days at a bar and restaurant in Wheatfield and suggested Sandonato spent time on the county clock conducting private legal business and political activity. In addition, his review took a closer look at allegations that, under Robinsons leadership, the public defenders office had become a toxic work environment.

After interviewing Robinson, Sandonato, six assistant public defenders, an administrative assistant and a senior paralegal, the countys human resources director determined the bulk of the claims to be not substantiated or not true as presented. At one point in the report, he describes the public defenders office work environment as better than it has ever been before.

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It was determined that both the public defender (Robinson) and the first assistant public defender (Sandonato), along with the support of the public defender office leadership team are providing effective leadership to the entire office employee and staff, and proving exceptional legal defense work, Lopes wrote..

The report from human resources did conclude that Robinson, Sandonato and other staff members may have consumed one alcoholic beverage each while attending out-of-office lunch meetings pertaining to duties related to the public defenders office. According to the report, Lopes found no evidence of excessive drinking during the meetings.

Lopes did conclude that on one occasion during a lunch break while he was not on county work hours, Sandonato, who is a former chairman of the Niagara Falls Republican Committee, received help from another assistant public defender, Mario Gregori Jr., and unidentified county paralegals as he ran errands that involved political activity.

While the unsigned letter writer characterized those errands as being run on behalf of Republican candidates, Lopes concluded that the claim was not true as presented.

This type of activity occurred on one occasion and took place during a lunch break and did not take place during working hours, the report reads.
A Connecticut couple is accused of stealing around $1 million worth of merchandise from Lululemon stores across the country, according to a complaint filed in Minnesota District Court.

Jadion Richards, 44, and Akwele Lawes-Richards, 45, were arrested at a Lululemon store in Woodbury, Minnesota, and charged with organized retail theft Nov. 14. According to the complaint, the couple had visited another Lululemon location in Roseville, Minnesota, the day before with an unidentified man, where they allegedly stole almost $5,000 worth of items.

An investigator for Lululemon said the couple and the organized crime group they work for had been stealing from stores across the country since September and are responsible for nearly $1 million worth of financial loss for the company, per the complaint.

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The investigator explained how the couple allegedly run their theft scheme, with Richards typically entering the store first and purchasing a couple of small items. Richards and Lawes-Richards would then remove a security sensor from another item in the store that they'd attach to the small items Richards purchased, then steal other items that they'd conceal under their clothes and jackets.

Lawes-Richards and a third person would walk out of the store ahead of Richards with the stolen items, and when the security sensor at the store would beep, Richards would offer his bag that contained the small purchased item with a sensor attached to it to staff, according to the complaint. The couple would then take the stolen items to another store to exchange them without a receipt.

In a statement, Lululemon's vice president of asset protection, Tristen Shields, said the company is committed to "creating a safe and secure environment" for staff and shoppers.

"This outcome continues to underscore our ongoing collaboration with law enforcement and our investments in advanced technology, team training and investigative capabilities to combat retail crime and hold offenders accountable," Shields said. "We remain dedicated to continuing these efforts to address and prevent this industry-wide issue."

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After their Nov. 14 arrest, officers obtained a search warrant for a room Richards had rented at a J.W. Marriott in Bloomington, Minnesota. Suitcases containing an estimated $50,000 worth of Lululemon clothing were found in the room.

Richards and Lawes-Richards were both booked into the Ramsey County Jail on Nov. 14, according to online records. Lawes-Richards was released Tuesday on $30,000 bail, while Richards was released Thursday on $100,000 bail. Both are obligated to do weekly check-ins as part of their release, according to the Ramsey County attorney's office.

Attorneys for the couple did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Their next court date is scheduled for Dec. 16.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
SYCAMORE, Ill. (WTVO)  Police are investigating the death of a married couple in Sycamore, who were found shot to death on Friday morning.

According to the Sycamore Police Department, officers responded to a reported shooting in the 200 block of E. Maplewood Drive around 6:47 a.m.

Police officers, along with deputies from the DeKalb County Sheriffs Office, located Robert, 58, and Kimberly Hurley, 56, dead in the backyard.

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Authorities said both had been shot, and a firearm was found on Robert Hurley.

Police said investigators had no evidence to believe anyone else was involved in the incident, but said the investigation was 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 MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports.
This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available.

CENTERVILLE, Utah (ABC4)  A motorcyclist was critically injured on Friday night on Legacy Parkway southbound in Centerville.

The crash happened around 9:20 p.m. when a motorcyclist was traveling southbound on Legacy Parkway when the motorcyclist went off the road, hitting the curb and crashing. Police say the man was traveling at a high rate of speed when the crash occurred.

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Legacy Parkway has been closed since the crash occurred and police are rerouting motorists off of Legacy Parkway 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.
Ediye Muslimova, the editor-in-chief of a Crimean Tatar children's magazine, disappeared in Russian-occupied Crimea on Nov. 21, according to the NGO Crimean Solidarity.

Lutfiye Zudiyeva, a journalist and human rights activist, said Muslimova was seen being put into a white GAZelle vehicle by three unknown men near her home the morning of Nov. 21.

Crimea has been under Russian occupation since 2014. Following Moscow's illegal annexation, Russia began targeting the peninsula's indigenous Tatar population, which has been particularly vocal in resisting the occupation.

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Muslimova's family became concerned after Muslimova, 61, would not answer or return calls, according to her niece, Elzara.

"I started calling  she has two phones (a work phone and her regular phone), both phones are turned off," Elzara Muslimova said.

"There is no connection: no Telegram, no WhatsApp, no Viber."

Zudiyeva's account of an apparent abduction was supported by Zarema Bariieva, manager of the Crimean Tatar Resource Center (CTRC).

"Recently, it became known that a 61-year-old woman is being held in the FSB (Russia's Federal Security Service) building," she said in a Facebook post.

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The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify these reports at the time of publication.

Muslimova is the daughter of Crimean Tatar activitst Refat Muslimov and editor of the children's magazine "Armanchyk," which has been published monthly since 2011. It is reportedly the only glossy children's magazine in the Crimean Tatar language.

According to the CTRC, 70% of all political prisoners in occupied Crimea are Crimean Tatars.

Read also: In the shadow of war, Kremlin continues terrorizing Crimean Tatars

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Republican South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham wants a forceful response to American allies who might comply with an international court order to arrest Israeli leaders Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for the prime minister and former defense minister for intentionally direct[ing] attacks against the civilian population of Gaza on Wednesday. The United States is not a member of the ICC and the Biden administration dismissed the warrants as outrageous on Thursday.

The 124 member nations of the ICC could well arrest the Israeli leader and Gaza war architect if they set foot on their soil, a possibility Sen. Graham rebuked in on Friday while stopping by Fox News' "Hannity."

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If you are going to help the ICC, as a nation, enforce the arrest warrant against Bibi and Gallant, the former Defense Minister, I will put sanctions on you as a nation, Graham warned. Youre gonna have to pick the rogue ICC versus America.

Graham added that he's "working with Tom Cotton" on an act that would sanction any nation who aided in the arrest of "any politician in Israel."

"We should crush your economy because were next, Graham said. Why cant they go after Trump or any other American president under this theory?

Many of the USs closest trading partners are committed to abiding by the ruling. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the country had an obligation to uphold the warrant, as did leaders in Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands and other American allies in Europe.

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"To any ally, Canada, Britain, Germany, France, if you try to help the ICC, were gonna sanction you, Graham said on Friday.

Sanctions are carried out by the executive branch, not the Senate, but some inside the upcoming Trump administration have expressed similar disdain for the ICCs findings. Incoming national security advisor Mike Waltz blasted the top international court and promised a strong response to arrest warrants for the pair.

The ICC has no credibility and these allegations have been refuted by the US government, Waltz wrote in a Thursday post to X. You can expect a strong response to the antisemitic bias of the ICC and UN come January.

During his first administration, Trump was a vocal critic of the ICC, imposing severe sanctions on its prosecutors and judges for looking into potential American war crimes in Afghanistan.

Watch the entire segment below:
Nov. 22New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Secretary Teresa Casados on Friday offered new initiatives she hopes will help solve years worth of problems at the troubled agency, such as convening a child welfare summit.

As for the reforms her agency agreed to in June 2023, Casados said there have been "good faith efforts" to try to achieve results, like lowering caseloads, increasing foster families and ensuring all children coming into state custody get a medical exam within 30 days.

But a group of child welfare attorneys representing 13 foster youth and organizations who sued the state in 2018 say that's not good enough. They are pressing the agency to meet agreed-upon targets that haven't been achieved as promised by CYFD leaders.

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What happens next is up to an arbitrator who listened to eight days of testimony about CYFD operations and failings from 21 witnesses. Along with the arbitrator's decision, the state Legislature will also be playing a role early next year when CYFD asks for $7 million for new hires.

"This has been years, if not decades, in the making," Albuquerque attorney Charles Peifer, the arbitrator, told Casados during her testimony on Friday.

"It's a process to change a system," responded Casados, who has headed the agency since May 2023. She is the third Cabinet secretary to head the troubled agency since 2019.

Two national experts, called co-neutrals, recently found CYFD in 2023 had not met dozens of performance standards aimed at reform. Their yearly report is required under a settlement of the lawsuit referred to as Kevin S, which was filed in 2018.

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But Casados said, "There have been efforts made that have not been recognized (by the co-neutrals)."

The plaintiffs contend CYFD violated a mutually agreed upon corrective action plan because it failed to meet Dec. 31, 2023, deadlines for lower caseloads, foster family recruitment and ensuring that children coming into state custody receive a wellness check within 30 days.

Casados had a different view of the state's obligations.

"This was drilled into me when I got here...we just have to make good faith efforts," she said.

Casados said when she took over CYFD, her biggest concern was the agency's budget division. "I couldn't get answers; there were no budget projections," she said.

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Only one deputy secretary stayed after the departure of former state Supreme Court Justice Barbara Vigil, who stepped down as Cabinet secretary. There were no division directors either, Casados said.

Casados found the structure of the agency was such that each region of protective services had its own interpretation of policies and procedures. The lack of uniform policies, procedures and forms meant that "whatever region you are (depends) on whether a child is taken into custody."

Peifer asked about ways to keep experienced caseworkers and why they might be leaving, but Casados said she doesn't see exit interview results that might show what is driving workers out of the agency, typically in the first two years.

Casados said the agency didn't comply with the goal set by the corrective action plan last year of putting a designated foster family recruiter in each of five high-needs counties. She said that was due to "miscommunication."

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Peifer asked about an idea from a private contractor that CYFD offer $250 bonuses to foster parents to hold recruitment parties in their home.

Casados said her agency's legal staff nixed that idea but added, "It's a fight we're still fighting."

After taking over the agency, Casados she imposed a months-long hiring "pause," not a hiring freeze. She said she needed to "get her arms around" various issues, such as staff needs and spending at the agency. She said staff recruitment and some hires still occurred.

So far in 2024, the agency has hired 11 employees in its child protective services section, she said. Some 1,200 full-time positions are authorized, but currently the total number of employees is between 850 and 900.

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Meanwhile, CYFD is planning new initiatives to improve the well-checks for incoming children by locating a medical liaison at various offices and is developing an enhanced foster care program for kids with higher mental or behavioral needs. Casados said an upcoming statewide child welfare summit is scheduled "to build a blueprint for the department and what we need for an appropriate child welfare system."

State Sen. Crystal Brantley, R-Elephant Butte, issued a statement late Friday after Casados' testimony at the arbitration hearing, saying, "The excuses that CYFD continually rattles off for failing our vulnerable children is infuriating."

"The department under Casados spends more time spinning its failures than striving to meet their legal obligation to reform the agency," she said.

Brantley said she expects Casados and the administration of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham "to come forward with concrete requests and legislation to implement the reforms they are obligated to make by law."
Attorneys for Daniel Penny, who is standing trial on charges of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in the May 2023 chokehold death of Jordan Neely, a homeless man on the New York City subway, rested their case Friday.

The jury is expected to hear closing arguments and start deliberations after Thanksgiving.

If Penny is convicted of manslaughter, the more serious charge, he could face up to 15 years in prison.

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Neely, 30, a Michael Jackson impersonator with a history of mental illness, had been behaving erratically but not violently, prosecutors said, on an F train he and Penny were both on when Penny threw him to the ground and put him in a chokehold for six minutes. They said Pennys actions turned criminal when he kept choking Neely, even after he no longer posed a threat.

Bystander video of the two men that was widely shared online placed a spotlight on race relations, public safety within the citys subway system and on how the city addresses mental health and homelessness. Penny is white. Neely was Black. Neely had a history of psychiatric and drug problems, and, on the day he was killed, he had synthetic cannabinoids in his system.

Pennys attorneys say the former Marine acted to protect himself and fellow passengers. They said he did not intend to kill Neely and did not apply enough pressure to do so.

Defense witness Dr. Satish Chundru, a forensic pathologist and consultant, testified Thursday that he did not believe Neely had died of a chokehold. Chundru said Neely died from the combined effects of sickle cell crisis, the schizophrenia, the struggle and restraint and the synthetic marijuana that was in his system. He was one of the defenses two experts witnesses. Pennys attorneys also called six character witnesses, including his mother and sister.

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Chundrus testimony was intended to refute the findings of New York City medical examiner Dr. Cynthia Harris, who performed Neelys autopsy and ruled that Pennys chokehold had killed him. She was a prosecution witness and testified over three days.

Its my medical opinion that there are no alternative reasonable explanations for Mr. Neelys death, Harris told jurors a week ago.

She also testified that the consensus was unanimous within the medical examiners office as to Neelys cause of death.

Harris, who was in court Thursday and Friday during Chundrus testimony, was one of more than 30 witnesses called by prosecutors during the trial, including other passengers on the train the day Neely was killed.

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Much of the final day of witness testimony Friday was dedicated to Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Dafna Yorans cross-examination of Chundru. Yoran called attention to instances where, she said, Chundrus testimony contrasted with the findings of other medical professionals, including the American Society of Hematologists, and of his opinions in other cases.

On Friday afternoon, prosecutors also called New York City Police Officer Stephon Joefield as a rebuttal witness, to refute earlier testimony from Chundru that two people at the scene reported Neely was breathing after Penny let him go.

Jurors were shown a police body-camera video of Neely laying on the ground when Joefield responded to the subway. Joefield could be heard saying Neely was breathing. Joefield testified that Neely was unconscious and unresponsive when he arrived. He said he checked Neelys pulse and that he had one, but that neither he nor his partner had checked whether Neely was breathing.

I assumed that because he had a pulse that he was breathing, Joefield testified.

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Harris, the medical examiner, previously testified that a pulse can be maintained for about 10 minutes after the brain dies in cases of asphyxial death.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Nov. 22Two members of a Dartmouth College fraternity, as well as a college sorority, face alcohol-related charges in connection with a party that led up to the drowning death of a 20-year-old student last summer.

Divers on July 7 recovered the body of Won Jang, a biomedical engineering major from Middletown, Delaware, from the Connecticut River in Hanover. Jang had last been seen the previous night after an off-campus party.

Hanover police have charged Matthew Catrambone of Chester, New Jersey, and Samuel Terry of Bedford, New York, both 21 years old, with the misdemeanor offense of providing alcohol to individuals under 21, according to a news release. Both are members of Beta Alpha Omega fraternity, of which Jang was also a member.

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The Alpha Phi sorority, which hosted the party at an off-campus apartment, was charged with facilitating an underage alcohol house party, also a misdemeanor.

According to police, most of those attending the party that night, including Jang, were under 21 years of age and were consuming alcoholic beverages. The alcohol was purchased and provided by members of the Beta Alpha Omega fraternity who were 21 or older, police said.

As the party ended, several of the partygoers decided to go for a swim in the river. A heavy rainstorm struck, and many of the students left the river.

No one noticed that Jang, who could not swim, was missing, police said.

Court hearings are scheduled in Lebanon District Court, on Jan. 6 for Catrambone, and on Jan. 27 for Terry.
BERNALILLO COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE)  Bernalillo County is reassessing some of its major roads after a new study showed they are not safe for pedestrians. The data shows the South Valley is in need of better sidewalks and bicycle lanes. New Mexico has been #1 in the nation for pedestrian fatalities per capita over the last decade, said Julie Luna, Transportation Planner at Public Works for Bernalillo County.

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Bernalillo County is taking a closer look at the roads in the South Valley after a study revealed its dangerous for pedestrians to use. The countys latest Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Action Plan showed major roads are in need of improved sidewalks and bike lanes. There are many locations in the south valley that do not have sidewalks, shelters, etc. at the bus stops and we do see it as a big issue, said Luna.

The action plan showed that the South Valley leads in the number of pedestrian traffic fatalities and injuries between 2017 and 2021. Some of the biggest problem roads include Coors Blvd., Rio Bravo Blvd., Sage Rd., and 2nd Street. This is also the area where Albuquerque Police Officer Bianca Quintana was walking near Coors and Chapulin when she was struck and killed by a car that fled the scene back in August. Bernalillo County explains the high number of fatalities and injuries could be tied to the growing population in the south valley.

Its becoming more urban with more retail and more development and as that happens, the standard of the roads without sidewalks, without any other amenities to help pedestrians, bicyclists move along that road becomes more and more important, says Luna.

Bernalillo County said they plan to use this data as they plan future construction projects in order to improve safety. Its very important for us to do our part to reduce the number of pedestrian fatalities, said Luna.

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The county said they will be releasing an updated action plan that will include specific safety updates and policy goals. They expect to release that to the public in early 2025. There is no estimate on when they would ask the county for funding to improve the roadways.

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  On Nov. 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas.

On this day 61 years ago, Kennedy was campaigning for the 1964 presidential elections. His campaign took him to Texas, a key state that he needed to win.

His morning started in Fort Worth, where Kennedy gave a brief speech to a crowd outside of the hotel where he had stayed.

His motorcade left and took him to the Carswell Air Force Base for a flight to Dallas. After arriving, they spoke with a crowd that gathered to greet them before leaving to drive through downtown Dallas, where Kennedy was scheduled to speak.

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Who is Jack Schlossberg?

As they drove past the Texas School Book Depository, gunshots ran out. Bullets hit Kennedy in the neck and head and Gov. John B. Connally in the back. Both were rushed to the hospital  Connally made a recovery despite severe wounds, but Kennedy died there.

Police arrested Lee Harvey Oswald for the assassination, but on the morning on Nov. 24, local nightclub owner Jack Ruby shot and killed Oswald.

Kennedys body was in the Capitol Rotunda for 21 hours, during which around 250,000 people paid their respects. He was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery on Nov. 25, 1963.

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CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY)  Days before the two-year anniversary of the Chesapeake Walmart mass shooting, a judge dismissed the last remaining lawsuit in Chesapeake Circuit Court against the retail giant related to the incident.

Sarah Merlo, who was shot seven times, filed a negligence suit in Sept. 2023. The document detailed concerns she raised over the shooters disturbing words and actions prior to the incident. It also included information about the horrific, debilitating injuries she sustained.

Under Virginia law, workplace shootings are treated as accidents and payouts related to them are covered under Workers Compensation. For victims seeking recourse against a negligent employer, that means state courts are a no-go.

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All four of the lawsuits were eventually dismissed after attorneys representing Walmart successfully argued that Workers Comp had jurisdiction over the courts.

Merlos attorney declined to comment except to say that the matter is concluded.

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JACKSON, Miss. (WKRG)  Mississippi voters who wish to vote in-person absentee in the 2024 General Election Runoffs are running out of time to vote, according to officials.

Carey Dale Grayson executed by nitrogen hypoxia

The Mississippi Secretary of State said in a news release that the deadline for in-person absentee voting is Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, ahead of the Tuesday, Nov. 26 election.

According to the 2024 Mississippi Elections Calendar, Circuit Clerks Offices will be open from 8 a.m. until noon on Nov. 23 so residents can vote. Those who vote by mail must have their ballots postmarked by Nov. 16 and received by the Circuit Clerks Offices by 5 p.m. on Dec. 5 to count.

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The news release from the secretary of state said 49 counties, including Greene and George counties in the News 5 coverage area, will have a runoff election on Nov. 26. News 5 previously reported that one of the runoffs in George County will be the tiebreaker for the School Board.

Man with outstanding warrants in Baldwin County considered armed and dangerous: Semmes police

For more information on the upcoming election, visit the Mississippi Yall Vote website or contact the state election division at ElectionAnswers@sos.ms.gov or (800) 829-6786.

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Bluesky, an alternative social media platform to X  formerly known as Twitter  has experienced a large surge in users as Democrats, including a number of prominent figures on the left, announced their departure from the social media network owned by Elon Musk in the wake of the presidential election.

Nearly 1 million users have signed up for Bluesky each day over the past week as the social networking website thrives in the wake of a liberal exodus from X.

Many users either quitting X or deactivating their accounts cited a toxic or disturbing environment, in part blaming Musks leadership and promotion of certain political stances.

Trumps election and Musks close alliance with President-elect Trump have intensified those concerns, repelling users who have grown uncomfortable or exhausted with the political climate on X.

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Twitter has always had its problems but over the last year or so, it has become a more toxic place, it certainly minimizes progressive voices, it has become a conservative ethosphere and I see that trend continuing, Democratic strategist Rodell Mollineau told The Hill.

To be sure, Blueskys size pales in comparison to X.

Musks site reportedly has 588 million accounts, meaning the users who have left, including more than 115,000 U.S. web users who deactivated their accounts the day after Election Day, represent a small segment of its audience.

Blueskys total user base surged by more than 500 percent after the election, but still has just 21.5 million users as of Friday afternoon.

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Instagram Threads, which might now be a stronger rival to X, has about 275 million active users, a company spokesperson confirmed.

Still, the Bluesky spike points to a new trend in social media of users dispersing themselves among different platforms.

Just as Americans increasingly read or watch traditional media with political perspectives that mirror their own, they are seeking out social media networks where they are more likely to encounter people with whom they agree.

The changes to X are due to a combination of Musks scaled-back content moderation measures, Mollineau said, and putting his thumb on the scale when it comes to content. The platforms algorithm has been repeatedly accused of favoring Musks posts, which are often about his right-leaning views and alliance with Trump.

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What I think has changed over the last 10 years  it used to be really two major platforms, Twitter and Facebook, and that sort of dominated the social media ecology, said Erik Nisbet, the director of the Center for Communication and Public Policy at Northwestern.

But we have moved to a much more fractured, much more diverse social media ecology, not only with the rise of TikTok [and] the rise of Instagram among younger people, these alt tech like Rumble as an alternative to YouTube, you have Gab  Discord.

Bluesky spokesperson Emily Liu sought to differentiate the platform from X, stating Bluesky focuses on giving control to individual users over their online identity and experience.

To do this, Bluesky allows users to build custom feeds rather than a single, default For You page like X and TikTok have. Users can subscribe to more than 50,000 different custom feeds, Liu told The Hill.

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As for the timing of the postelection surge, it just shows that users want a social network where we take trust and safety seriously, Liu said.

The amount of defections from X the day after the election surpassed those seen on any other day of Musks leadership, breaking the record set in December 2023, when 65,000 web users left the platform shortly after Musk restored conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to the platform.

Among the departing users were former cable news host Don Lemon, who cited a lack of a honest debate, and author Stephen King, who told users to follow him on Metas Instagram Threads, another microblogging alternative.

X did not respond to a request for comment. Neither Musk nor X has discussed Bluesky publicly.

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Billionaire investor Mark Cuban, who played a large role in the Harris campaign and has clashed with Musk online before, did not leave X fully but started consistently posting on Bluesky this month, writing in an introductory message, Hello, less hateful world.

Cuban told The Hill he likes Bluesky so far, calling it a social network that actually allows you to be social.

Apparently referencing Musk, Cuban said, There isnt one person driving an algorithm, influencing the tenor of the site. It is much more community driven.

The exits have spurred conversations over Xs changing landscape under Musk.

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Steven Livingston, the founding director of the Institute for Data, Democracy and Politics at George Washington University, said that when Musk purchased Twitter for $43 billion, he suggested it would be a place for open discussion and that its then-leaders were a threat to the airing of contrarian ideas.

But under Musk, Livingston argued that X has become a much more homogenous platform, with parts of it serving as a mouthpiece for the Trumpian right.

Musk has increasingly becomes intertwined with Trumps inner circle, reportedly spending days at Mar-a-Lago and appearing alongside the president-elect at public events.

Trump tapped him to lead a new government efficiency panel, called the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is tasked with slashing unnecessary government spending and regulations.

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Bluesky, like many social networks in early phases, experienced short bursts of new users in the past, but the postelection surge appears to be lasting longer, board member and Techdirt CEO Mike Masnick noted last week.

Asked if the recent uptick in Bluesky usage will last, Jonathan Bellack  the director of Harvards Applied Social Media Lab  said it is hard to predict, but the sudden influx, especially by prominent figures, may have triggered the network effect.

A lot more popular people  if theyre all somewhere else, suddenly the benefit of going somewhere else is better, he told The Hill. Youre not losing out as much and then you can really start to get a major shift where suddenly everybody goes.

Blueskys emphasis on user choice is important and could be where the social media ecosystem is heading, Bellack said.

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If people start choosing platforms that are more open and more flexible, even if they dont need to use that flexibility today, it means when the next thing comes along, there wont be this feeling of having to use words like dominance or locked in and so forth, he said. People should be able to choose how they want to communicate and socialize with each other.

Not everyone joining Bluesky is leaving X.

Cuban said he plans to stay on X and will sometimes create posts to assess the signal-to-noise ratio, noting there isnt much signal and there is still a ton of noise.

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At a Democratic caucus meeting Tuesday, Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) watched as colleagues approached and offered their support to Rep.-elect Sarah McBride (D-Del.), who will soon be sworn in as the first out transgender member of Congress.

"We have your back," Balint recalled her fellow representatives telling McBride. "We stand with you."

At a Thursday event where incoming House freshmen got assigned offices, McBride's name was met with the loudest applause.

Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) in 2022. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades / Associated Press)

According to Balint, co-chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, many Democratic members are excited to welcome and meet McBride  not just as a queer history-maker, but as a new colleague whose reputation as an effective state legislator in Delaware preceded her to Washington.

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The support has been intentionally loud, Balint said, because Democrats also want to send an unequivocal message to House Republicans who have targeted McBride with comments and actions in recent days that Democrats "are not going to retreat" on transgender rights.

"We have to absolutely recommit ourselves to this fight, for protecting everyone's inherent dignity," Balint said.

On Monday, Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) filed a resolution that would prohibit transgender women from using Capitol bathrooms that align with their gender identity. On Wednesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) announced a similar policy for Capitol bathrooms, locker rooms and changing rooms. The same day, Mace filed a bill that would expand such bans to federal facilities across the country.

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) leaves the speaker's office at the Capitol in 2023. (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press)

Mace said her measures, which would require approval, are to protect women and girls, then launched a new line of merchandise to profit off her stance. She has previously espoused support for LGBTQ+ rights.

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In issuing his bathroom rule, which falls under his purview as speaker, Johnson said, "Women deserve women's-only spaces." He also noted that all members have private bathrooms within their offices  though those can be far from the House floor.

The day prior, Johnson had responded to a question about the issue by stressing the need to "treat all persons with dignity and respect."

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) speaks at an October campaign rally for Donald Trump. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press)

Access to bathrooms has long been an issue for women at the Capitol, which originally operated on the presumption that legislators were men. Only after more and more women won seats in Congress and called out the dearth of facilities for them did the issue get resolved.

Read more: Our Queerest Century

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With the latest measures targeting McBride, Democrats say they are struggling to combat fresh discrimination in the same sphere  a backsliding they view as particularly cruel for its targeting of a single incoming legislator, and extra alarming for its potential to harm other queer people who visit or work in the Capitol.

"This incredibly craven and cruel attack directed at [McBride] was certainly intended to dehumanize her before she has even been sworn in, but it actually doesn't just affect our first trans member of Congress," Balint said. "It impacts all of the people who work on Capitol Hill who identify as trans and nonbinary. It impacts the reporters who cover the Hill that identify as trans and nonbinary. And it also impacts every single one of our constituents who come into the halls of Congress to meet with us."

Speaking out in opposition to the measures is about supporting McBride, who is "a serious legislator" and wants to get to work on a range of tough issues without having to worry about where she can get to a toilet, Balint said. But it is also about "showing the LGBTQ community across the country that we are standing up for them and pushing back."

The debate follows an election cycle steeped in anti-transgender rhetoric, when many Republicans  including President-elect Donald Trump  took to ridiculing Democrats over their support for transgender equality as a central campaign message, to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars in collective ad spending.

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"The Republican Party has laser-focused on transgender inclusion as something that it wants to roll back, and so the exciting addition of the first openly trans member of Congress has prompted a hideous response  which is [for them] to participate in an ad hominem attack that takes the form of exclusion," said Kate Redburn, co-director of the Center for Gender and Sexuality Law at Columbia Law School.

Democrats have at times struggled to respond to the barrage of Republican attacks. However, in the last week, they seem to have landed on an approach out of McBride's own playbook in Delaware  where she won a statewide congressional seat not by running away from her transgender identity and support for queer rights, but by contextualizing them alongside other important issues, such as the cost of living and access to healthcare.

Read more: For transgender Americans, Trump's win after a campaign targeting them is terrifying

Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) wrote on X on Tuesday that she is proud to serve alongside McBride, and that it was "disappointing to see Republicans pull stunts" attacking her.

Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) said she will be proud to serve alongside Rep.-elect Sarah McBride. (Jose Luis Magana / Associated Press)

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"They should take a page out of Rep-Elect McBrides book," Pressley wrote, "and focus on actually governing."

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) similarly questioned Republicans' decision to start the next Congress by "bullying" McBride instead of focusing on real issues. "This is what we're doing?" he said.

Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), who has a transgender grandson and has been outspoken against past anti-LGBTQ+ measures, hit a similar note in an interview Thursday, in which she called the Republican measures attacking McBride "absolutely outrageous" and "completely out of line."

"What a ridiculous focus this is," she said. "There are needs of many, many Americans who don't have the healthcare that they need, seniors who can't afford their medications. Those are the things that we should get to work on, that I'm sure Sarah would want to get to work on  and this is just off the deep end."

Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) called the measures attacking McBride "absolutely outrageous" and "completely out of line." (Andrew Harnik / Associated Press)

In her own remarks, McBride has acknowledged what many view as the bigotry at the root of the Republican measures, but also tried to refocus the conversation on getting things done for her constituents.

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"I'm not here to fight about bathrooms. I'm here to fight for Delawareans and to bring down costs facing families," she said in a statement Wednesday. She said Johnson's rules were an "effort to distract from the real issues facing this country," but that she wouldn't let them distract her  even as she follows them.

On Thursday, she made clear that she will work to ensure Capitol Hill is safe for everyone, including her LGBTQ+ constituents, but doesn't plan on allowing "a right wing culture war machine" to turn her identity "into the issue."

Lisa Goodman, a longtime LGBTQ+ activist in Delaware and friend of McBride's, said the representative-elect's family and friends back home "are disappointed that this is how people who are going to be her colleagues are greeting her."

But they aren't worried, Goodman said, because they know McBride is capable of navigating such waters.

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"She can handle these attacks and keep focused on what is the big picture  what is important in the big picture  like no one I have ever met," Goodman said.

Goodman said McBride has a rare talent for winning over people, which will serve her well in the coming months, as she gets to know her new colleagues  Democrats and Republicans alike.

"She's just a deeply good person, and my hope is that, as her Republican colleagues in Congress get to know her, they will see her as a person and not as some unknown member of the trans community who they feel it's OK to attack," Goodman said.

Balint said several Republican House members have told her in private that they support the LGBTQ+ community and don't support divisive policies. She said she hopes McBride's kindness and humanity in the face of such attacks will bring those Republicans to her side  and maybe even inspire them to take a stand for her.

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"It is their time to finally show some courage," Balint said. "I'm asking them to stand up for the basic, inherent dignity of all of us here in this building."

Times staff writer Andrea Castillo, in Washington, contributed to this report.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
James Toliver Craig's attorneys withdrew from the case on Thursday, Nov. 21, citing a "professional conflict and other reasons"

Facebook A photo of James Craig and Angela Craig and their family.

The Colorado dentist suspected of poisoning his wife in order to start a new life" with a Texas-based orthodontist is facing new charges.

James Toliver Craig faces two new charges of solicitation to commit murder in the first-degree and solicitation to commit perjury in the first-degree, the 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office announced in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter). He was charged with first-degree murder in connection to the case last year and pleaded not guilty.

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The 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office also wrote in a separate post that Craig declined to represent himself and the judge continued the trial over the People's objection.

Craigs attorneys withdrew from the case on Thursday, Nov. 21  the same date that the trial was scheduled to begin  after citing a "professional conflict and other reasons," according to CBS News and NBC News. Due to this, Craig's trial has been delayed, the outlets said.

Aurora Police Department via AP This undated booking photo provided by the Aurora, Colo., Police Department shows James Craig. Craig. This undated booking photo provided by the Aurora, Colo., Police Department shows James Craig. Craig.

Related: Dentist Accused of Poisoning Wife's Protein Shakes Allegedly Wanted to Start 'New Life' with Orthodontist

Craig was arrested in March 2023 for allegedly slipping potassium cyanide and arsenic into his wife Angela Craig's pre-workout shake beginning the morning of March 6, according to an arrest affidavit by the Aurora Police Department obtained by PEOPLE.

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Angela allegedly complained of feeling faint and dizzy, and Craig took her to the hospital. She was then released that same day but was subsequently admitted in and out of the hospital until March 15, the day she died, the affidavit said. She was 43 years old.

An investigation into Angela's death revealed Craig had allegedly researched "undetectable poisons" and purchased potassium cyanide and arsenic, which caused symptoms including loss of consciousness and seizures. Those symptoms were the same ones Angela was experiencing up until the day she died, per the affidavit.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

Police also said Craig had been in communication with a fellow dental professional in Austin, Texas, via email in "what appears to be a sexually intimate relationship." The affidavit said that it appeared as though James was flying this woman into Denver while his wife and the mother of his children was dying in the hospital.

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Police said additional email evidence suggested Craig told his alleged lover that Angela died, to which the woman allegedly responded, in part: "I do want to give you any comfort I can, but I do not feel it is right to mix in with all of those gathering to mourn Angela either and I do not want to meet your family as a friend and try to conceal what I feel for you."

A person close to Angela told police the couple had been experiencing marital problems for years and that Craig allegedly had a history of cheating and an addiction to pornography. He also allegedly poisoned Angela in the past, according to the affidavit.

The next hearing for Craigs case is scheduled for Dec. 16, per the 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.


DENVER (KDVR)  Community advocates reacted to the news of school closures being approved by the Denver Public Schools board and said they arent done fighting.

Thursday night, Denver Public Schools decided to close 7 schools and restructure 3 schools by next school year. The district cited low enrollment, declining birth rates and high costs as their reasons for change.

Denver among 3 finalists for a National Womens Soccer League expansion team

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These closures will affect more than a thousand kids in the district. Community advocate groups like Movimiento Poder feel those affected didnt have a voice in the decision.

Were very heartbroken for the families that will be impacted by these school closures, said Nayeli Banuelos, Movimiento Poders Youth Organizer.

Banuelos also felt the community engagement process excluded those that would be impacted the most and was only done to check a box.

These community meetings were full of district officials, hardly any families that were directly impacted. These meetings were not accessible to families who are bilingual, working class and so there was not a lot of community there and there was no opportunity for their input, she said.

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In a release Thursday, the board said they did what they had to do for the districts best interest.

We have a duty to not just all of the students and staff members, but the Denver community as a whole, to ensure the district stays financially viable, not just now, but into the future as well. That means hard decisions needed to be made and it was our duty to do so, said board officials.

Those against these closures said the district didnt do their due diligence and cited how the district did not have an impact study done and how they felt certain marginalized communities would be disproportionally impacted.

Many students that are impacted, folks that are bilingual, students that are bilingual, students with learning disabilities, special needs, those students will all be impacted. Students whose transportation was they were literally able to just walk out of their house and walk to school. Families will also be impacted. Families depended a lot on the schools as a form of community and a safe space for them. The communities themselves, all of these schools that are on the list were in communities that were highly gentrified, said Banuelos

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Thanksgiving travel forecast: Expect delays, slowdowns for incoming snowstorm

The district said impacted students will be eligible for round-trip bus services and will receive assistance from the DPS SchoolChoice Team to help with enrollment and will have priority status with that process.

Poder is in the works of taking legal action against the district for how they said this was handled. They said the legal action will include, at a minimum, the filing of complaints with the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Colorado Attorney Generals Office, concerning violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974, the consent decree resulting from the lawsuit filed by Congress of Hispanic Educators, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other state laws.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
DENVER (KDVR)  The weather heading into the weekend looks mild and dry in Denver before weather changes arrive late on Sunday and into early next week. FOX31 is tracking two storm systems that will move over across Colorado.

The first arrives late on Sunday with a few inches of snow in the mountains and light spotty accumulation across the Front Range and metro Denver. According to Pinpoint Weather, Colorados Most Accurate Forecast, its the second storm arriving late on Tuesday into Wednesday that could bring more snow to the mountains and Front Range along with some travel impacts.

View the latest Weather Alerts in Denver and across Colorado on FOX31

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Details on the exact timing and totals are still in question so check in for the latest updates.

Weather tonight: Partly cloudy and chilly

Skies will remain partly cloudy overnight across the state. The wind will be light and generally from a southerly direction. Temperatures will be chilly to cold with readings in the 20s and 30s in most locations. The coldest overnight lows will be in the teens in parts of the high country.

Overnight lows by Saturday morning across Colorado

Weather tomorrow: Partly sunny, breezy and mild

There will be passing clouds at times on Saturday. The cloud cover could limit warming in some locations, especially in areas with some snow on the ground. Overall it will turn out to be a mild day with lots of 50s in the mountains and plenty of 60s across lower elevations including metro Denver and the Front Range. This can be called the warm before the storm.

Forecast highs on Saturday across Colorado

FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up for weather alerts from the Pinpoint Weather team

Looking ahead: Snow chances return next week

There will be two chances for rain and snow coming in the next week. The first arrives in Denver as a rain/snow mix on Sunday. There could be limited accumulation in spots. However, at this time there does not appear to be any travel impacts from late Sunday into early Monday.

Colorados Most Accurate 7-day forecast from Pinpoint Weather

The next chance will bring more widespread moisture and a better chance for snow in the Colorado mountains and across the Front Range from late Tuesday into Wednesday. Travel could be impacted before Thanksgiving especially if your plans take you into or through the mountains. There could also be slick conditions on Wednesday for metro Denver and the Front Range with a few inches of accumulation possible. FOX31 is still working on the final track and totals that could impact the area come midweek.

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UPDATE: The Van Buren County Sheriffs Office said Jocelynn Munro was found safe around 11 p.m. Monday.

GENEVA TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD)  Deputies are looking for a 17-year-old girl from Van Buren County who has been missing for days.

Jocelynn Munro was last seen around 9 p.m. Tuesday at her home in Geneva Township, according to the Van Buren County Sheriffs Office. A family member reported her missing on Wednesday when they noticed she wasnt at home.

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Deputies say they believe Munro left the home willingly, but theyre concerned because she has not been in contact with any friends or family members since then.

Her family believes she could be in the area of South Bend, Indiana, according to the sheriffs office.

Munro stands 5 feet, 3 inches tall and weighs about 150 pounds, deputies say. She has dark brown hair and blue eyes.

If you know anything, youre asked to contact the Van Buren County Sheriffs Office at 269.657.3101.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Cherokee County Sheriffs Office says a suspect is dead after getting into a firefight with deputies in Canton.

According to the sheriffs office, Floyd County deputies requested help serving an arrest warrant to a suspect wanted for rape in Canton, living at a home on Ficklen Church Way.

When deputies got to the house at about 11:15 p.m., they found the suspect outside with a weapon.

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The sheriffs office said Cherokee deputies tried to negotiate with them and the Cherokee Multi-Agency SWAT Team was called out to the home.

Just after midnight, the sheriffs office said shots were fired and the suspect was killed.

Now, as they do with any shooting with officers involved, the Cherokee County Sheriffs Office requested the Georgia Bureau of Investigation review the incident and investigate the shooting.

The suspect has not yet been identified, and the sheriffs office said the GBI will provide details later on regarding the shooting incident.

Channel 2 Action News has reached out for additional information.

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Southern California is seeing its most seismically active year in decades, but some cities near the epicenter of recent temblors have yet to require retrofits of many apartment buildings deemed most at risk of collapse, a Times investigation has found.

Several suburbs closest to the widely felt earthquakes that struck Los Angeles County this summer and fall  including Alhambra, Monterey Park and South Pasadena  have no active plans to require retrofits for seismically flimsy "soft-story" apartment buildings, according to interviews with local officials and a review of existing seismic policies.

In Malibu, which was hit by modest earthquakes in February and September, city officials recently completed an inventory of 37 potential soft-story buildings.

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But elected officials there haven't publicly indicated whether they will mandate that those structures be retrofitted.

Read more: L.A. earthquakes have been unusually frequent this year, as Malibu temblor shows

Soft-story apartments are ubiquitous across California. The term applies to apartment buildings built decades ago where the bottom floor has room for a carport, garage or retail shop. In these buildings, the ground floor can be held up by flimsy, skinny poles that can collapse when shaken side-to-side in an earthquake.

"These are particularly dangerous, hazardous conditions for buildings," said Garrett Mills, president of the Structural Engineers Assn. of Southern California.

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But for residents in soft-story apartment buildings, lines on a municipal map could be all that determines whether or not their home is seismically strengthened.

A building with a weak first story collapsed on cars during the 1994 Northridge earthquake. (U.S. Geological Survey)

There's a clear pattern of many soft-story apartments being retrofitted after cities pass local ordinances requiring that work. In San Francisco, 94% of 4,941 apartment buildings affected by a soft-story retrofit law passed in 2013 have since been strengthened, said Brian Strong, the city's chief resilience officer. That law covers wood-frame buildings that are at least three stories and have five or more residential units.

The city of Beverly Hills passed a mandatory retrofit program in 2018. As of June, only 42 out of 229 soft-story buildings  just 18%  had not yet been retrofitted.

Los Angeles, too, has made progress on soft-story retrofits since the city passed its law in 2015  though exactly how much is unclear. In its last update issued in February, Los Angeles officials said more than 9,000 out of a little more than 12,000 soft-story buildings had been retrofitted.

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However, that number is no longer seen as reliable after a Times' report found errors in the city's data, and work is underway to ascertain a more accurate figure.

Read more: Los Angeles' building earthquake retrofit data have been outdated for years, Times investigation uncovers

California officials have known for generations about this structural flaw, and the danger it presents. During the predawn magnitude 6.7 Northridge earthquake of 1994, 16 people died when the ground floor of the Northridge Meadows apartment building collapsed, crushing sleeping residents in their beds. In all, the earthquake seriously damaged or destroyed about 200 soft-story buildings across the Los Angeles area.

During the magnitude 6.9 Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989, the ground floors of several apartment buildings in San Francisco's Marina District crumbled.

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Read more: Find out if your home or office building is at risk in an earthquake

Structural fixes can involve installing steel frames on the ground floor, as well as strengthening existing walls on the flimsy first story.

Some property owners have bristled at the idea of cities mandating retrofit work, however  particularly without additional government funding to help cover the cost. In a recent blog post published when the city of Burbank decided to move forward with such an ordinance, the Apartment Assn. of Greater Los Angeles called mandatory seismic retrofits "brutally expensive" and said they could force mom-and-pop owners to sell their properties.

A man stares out to the street from his wall-less home at the devastated Northridge Meadows apartments in 1994. (Los Angeles Times)

Officials have estimated that the typical retrofit of a soft-story building in L.A. costs from $80,000 to $160,000, although costs can vary depending on the size of the building.

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Others contend that retrofits should be considered a cost of doing business, given how owners are on the hook for things like replacing leaky roofs or upgrading old electrical panels. Many longtime owners have likely gained significant equity in recent decades due to rising property values, and retrofits will also keep rent checks flowing to owners by helping limit damage after an earthquake hits.

Limiting liability is also a concern. Jurors have previously sided with the families of earthquake victims against property owners who were told of the risk by government agencies but didn't do the retrofit before a damaging earthquake struck.

According to a Suffolk University/Los Angeles Times poll conducted in March 2023, Los Angeles residents strongly back the city's earthquake retrofit law, despite conventional wisdom that it would be politically unpopular because of its cost. More than 8 in 10 L.A. residents supported the retrofit law, that poll found.

"This is something that not only kills people  as we saw in 94  but it also leaves people homeless. And we have enough of a homeless problem already," seismologist Lucy Jones, a Caltech research associate, said at a news conference following an Aug. 12 magnitude 4.4 earthquake, centered in El Sereno, that rattled the Los Angeles area.

The third floor of an apartment building in San Francisco's Marina District toppled onto a parked car during the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. (J.K. Nakata / U.S. Geological Survey)

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By Jones' count, Southern California has experienced 15 independent seismic sequences so far this year in which there have been at least one magnitude 4 or higher earthquake. Thats the highest annual total in the last 65 years, surpassing the 13 seen in 1988.

In South Pasadena, with a population of 26,000, building official Dennis Tarango said the city has no plans to create an inventory of soft-story apartment buildings or consider mandatory retrofits.

That wasn't always the case. Before he retired in 2018, David Watkins, the city's longtime planning director, said he was looking to create a list of seismically vulnerable apartments.

As of late 2021, the city's strategic plan still made a mention of compiling that inventory, according to then-community development director Angelica Frausto-Lupo. But South Pasadena eventually determined it couldn't devote the necessary resources, so plans to do so were scrapped.

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Read more: Dangerous L.A. fault system rivaling the San Andreas tied to recent earthquakes

Officials in both Alhambra, with a population of around 82,000; and Monterey Park, where about 60,000 people live, also said their cities haven't imposed mandatory retrofit ordinances for soft-story apartment buildings.

In similarly worded statements, Andrew Ho and Jessica Serrano, the respective directors of Alhambra's and Monterey Park's community development departments, said they're closely monitoring neighboring cities and evaluating whether similar measures might be necessary.

A statement issued on behalf of Malibu said that the city's building official, Yolanda Bundy, is "collaborating" with other cities that have adopted retrofit ordinances to understand "the successes, challenges and best practices of similar programs to inform Malibu's approach."

A partially collapsing brick building in San Francisco crushed cars during the magnitude 6.9 Loma Prieta earthquake. Five people died after the brick building's fourth-story wall fell onto the parking lot below. (C.E. Meyer / U.S. Geological Survey)

The mayors of Alhambra, Monterey Park and Malibu either did not respond to or declined interview requests earlier this year.

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More than a half dozen cities in Southern California require soft-story apartment buildings to be retrofitted  Los Angeles, Torrance, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Culver City, West Hollywood and Beverly Hills. In Northern California, the list includes San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, Fremont, Berkeley, Albany and Mill Valley.

But most other cities across California don't require such upgrades.

Some cities are have made progress recently. The city council of San Jose, Northern California's most populous city, unanimously passed a sweeping mandatory soft-story retrofit ordinance earlier this fall.

Read more: California hospitals scramble on earthquake retrofits as state limits extensions

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Talk about an apartment retrofit law for San Jose has been circulating for at least 10 years, and picked up steam after surprise flooding in 2017 exposed how vulnerable the city of 970,000 was to natural disasters. But it was only in 2021 that it obtained a government grant to help fund efforts to establish the retrofit law, according to Lisa Joiner, the city's chief building official.

San Jose has an estimated 3,000 to 3,500 soft-story apartment buildings. The ordinance will take effect April 1, launching an 18-month screening phase where owners of suspected vulnerable buildings will be asked to fill out a form to help determine whether retrofits are needed. Owners will be given five to seven years to complete that work, with tighter deadlines set for larger and older apartment buildings.

Read more: Infographic: Look at how apartments can collapse during an earthquake

The Burbank City Council in September voted unanimously to introduce a mandatory soft-story retrofit law. There are about 675 soft-story residential buildings with three or more units in the city of about 105,000. A second vote, expected on Dec. 10, is needed for the ordinance to be formally adopted.

"We're trying to save lives," said Mario Osuna, Burbank's building official and assistant community development director.

Read more: The hidden earthquake danger lurking inside California homes and what you can do about it

Burbank had a voluntary soft-story retrofit program that began in 1998, but progress has been limited, with only 35 retrofits completed since 2008, according to a recent staff report.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has ordered an inventory for soft-story apartment buildings owned or overseen by the county or its development authority, as well as in unincorporated areas, where more than 1 million people live. These are areas in the county not governed by a city council, such as East Los Angeles, Florence-Firestone, Hacienda Heights, South Whittier, Rowland Heights, Westmont, Altadena and Willowbrook. The inventory is expected to be complete in 2026, according to the county Department of Public Works.

If the county eventually does proceed with a mandatory soft-story apartment retrofit law for the unincorporated area, Alhambra building officials would review and consider whether to bring it to their city council to adopt, Ho said.

(Separately, county officials plan to consider a mandatory law to retrofit a different type of vulnerable structure  nonductile concrete buildings  for high-rise buildings in the unincorporated area, as well as those owned by the county. That is expected to be considered in early 2025.)

Read more: Dangerous L.A. apartment buildings most at risk in an earthquake are quickly being fixed

A 2015 law enacted in the city of Los Angeles requires retrofits of soft-story buildings that have two or more stories, a wood-frame construction and ground-floor parking or a similar open floor space on that first story. The law does not affect buildings with three or fewer residential units, as long as the building is only used for housing. The law requires that retrofits be done within seven years after an owner receives an order to comply. For some buildings, that means the deadline passed last year.

Long Beach has a preliminary inventory of soft-story apartment buildings and has launched outreach meetings to educate tenants and property owners on what could happen if nothing is done before the next big earthquake. The exact number is unclear, but there could be close to 3,000 soft-story apartment buildings in the city.

"We have also notified the property owners that we feel like their buildings are seismically prone and they may be considered soft story," said David Khorram, Long Beach's superintendent of building and safety.

The draft list was released to property owners in August, but not yet to the public, offering owners a chance to correct the city's draft list, officials said. Pending approval by the city council, the list could be made public early next year. Officials said they hope the program will encourage owners to voluntarily strengthen their buildings.

Read more: California remains in puzzling earthquake 'drought' despite recent shaking

Even smaller cities have passed mandatory retrofit ordinances. The city council of Albany, a community of 20,000 residents northwest of Berkeley, unanimously passed a retrofit law in 2023. The law is estimated to affect 150 apartment buildings, containing 800 units.

"At some point, we will have a major earthquake. It's really a question of when," said Michelle Plouse, a community development analyst for the city. "Earthquake risk is a really, really major concern for our city."

The risk of soft-story apartment buildings is clear in Burlingame, where they line El Camino Real, the main road through the wealthy city just south of San Francisco International Airport. There are an estimated 140 soft-story apartment buildings there, said Rick Caro, chief building official for the city of 31,000 people.

A committee has been formed to figure out a way to "evaluate the costs and benefits of potential actions," officials said.

Read more: California earthquake early warning system: How to get it now

Other cities have been thwarted in their retrofitting efforts. Mountain View, one of the most populous cities in Silicon Valley, stopped work on an earthquake retrofit program in 2021 "due to lack of funding and staffing resources," according to Lenka Wright, a spokesperson for the city.

Palo Alto has been talking about soft-story apartments for years, and in 2016 identified 294 such buildings, said city spokesperson Meghan Horrigan-Taylor. The city council is expected to weigh in December whether to hire engineering consultants to update the city's inventory and propose a combination of voluntary and mandatory measures "as appropriate based on structural need," Horrigan-Taylor said. If the council green lights the proposal, staffers expect the update and recommendations will be completed in 15 months.

Times staff writer Rebecca Ellis contributed to this report.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
TUPELO  Flying from Tupelo to Dallas has been a popular choice among passengers at Tupelo Regional Airport, even ahead of Nashville.

In its first month of service via Contour Airlines, the Tupelo-to-Dallas connection had 889 enplanements  passenger boardings  while the Tupelo to Nashville flight had 791.

The combined 1,680 enplanements was the most ever for Contour during its nearly eight years of service in Tupelo. October's passenger crowd hasn't quite reached the peak set in 2009, when 1,866 boarded what was then Mesaba Airlines.

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Currently, Contour has seven weekly flights to Dallas and seven weekly flights to Nashville under its service agreement. Previously, all 14 flights were going to and from the Music City.

"With us splitting up those flights to where they were going, we consolidated the Nashville flight and we picked up a lot of people with the Dallas flight," said Tupelo Airport executive director Joe Wheeler. "I'm happy; we (the airport board) is happy. And Contour is happy with it."

Indeed, Matt Chaifetz, the CEO of Contour, said he was quite pleased.

"In October, the Tupelo route was the highest load factor of the entire Contour network," he said.

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The load factor is the percentage of seats that are filled on a plane. Typically, 80% or higher is ideal, and the Tupelo-Dallas flight exceeded that number.

On Thursday, the Dallas flight was mostly full and included Glen, Carrie and Reagan Davidson for the first time.

They were flying to visit Carrie's family, which lives in Wichita Falls, just outside of Dallas. Tupelo was convenient, otherwise the family would have had to fly out of Memphis.

"I actually booked the flight in July, so I was one of the first people to book a flight out," Glen said.

The flight to Dallas takes just under 2 hours and, upon landing, passengers are transported via bus to Terminal D.

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Upon arriving in Dallas, Davidson said, "(It was a) great flight and service was superb from check-in to picking up our bags at baggage claim."

One month isn't a trend, but the early indicators certainly point to the introduction of the Tupelo-Dallas route being a good decision. Whether Contour could add more flights, though, would be an uphill battle.

"DOT (the U.S. Department of Transportation) pays us for 14 flights a week," Chaifetz said. "We're open to feedback and everything's in play, but we have heard from a lot of passengers who have said maintaining the flights to Nashville is important."

Contour has provided air service since 2016 in Tupelo, and its new contract, which began Oct. 1, runs through Sept. 30, 2028. In the contract via the Essential Air Service program, Contour has an annual subsidy of $6,924,450 in the first year, with a yearly increase of 5% in each of the next three subsequent years.

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The subsidy was increased nearly $3 million to provide the Tupelo to Dallas route, which is longer and more expensive to fly than Tupelo to Nashville.

"The Essential Air Service subsidy makes the flights economically feasible, and in the absence of the subsidy, it wouldn't be viable," Chaifetz said. "We were able to secure a substantial increase in order for us to secure a new destination with more connecting opportunities and the community has responded very well to that."
EAST PALESTINE, Ohio (WKBN)  Earlier this year, East Palestine businesses created their own Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) to help with economic development.

Friday, the organization approved its very first property acquisition. The CIC will pay about $100,000 to buy the old PNC Bank on North Market Street.

The money for the purchase came from local fundraising efforts. The next step will be finding revenue sources to develop the site.

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There have been a number of people who have been working together very positively for a long time. Were super excited that this is the first deal for the CIC, said Chris Page, with CIC. We really are a group about change and action and hopeful this can be the start of something great.

Leaders of CIC say they would eventually like to see an open-air plaza developed to help attract visitors to the community and business.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 new Netflix docuseries reexamines the decades-old cold case  and whats stopping investigators from solving it

Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post Patsy Ramsey holds up a reward sign for any information leading to the arrest of their daughter JonBenet Ramsey in Boulder, Colorado on May1, 1997. Patsy Ramsey holds up a reward sign for any information leading to the arrest of their daughter JonBenet Ramsey in Boulder, Colorado on May1, 1997.

When 6-year-old JonBenet Ramsey was found dead in the basement of her family home in Boulder, Colo., on Dec. 26, 1996, police didnt have enough evidence to definitively identify and arrest her killer. Almost 30 years later, thats still the case.

Netflixs Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey? analyzes the alleged missteps the Boulder Police Department took, like not properly sealing off the crime scene and contributing to a media frenzy that focused heavily on her parents, John Bennett Ramsey and Patsy Ramsey, as suspects. He maintains his innocence, and Patsy did the same until her 2006 death due to ovarian cancer.

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The Netflix docuseries, which starts streaming on Nov. 25, highlights the multiple suspects police investigated  including one who confessed to the killing  but DNA evidence has yet to link anyone to JonBenets murder.

Many people think they know the JonBenet Ramsey story and have played armchair detective for three decades, often callously pointing a finger at the very people who suffered such an unthinkable loss, director Joe Berlinger told Deadline in October 2024. We reveal the deep flaws in how the case was originally handled, resulting in a sea of conspiracy theories that nearly destroyed the Ramsey family for a second time.

John was interviewed in the docuseries and talked about how his distrust of the police impacted their involvement in the investigation  specifically when it came to taking a lie detector test.

Here is everything to know about the investigation and why JonBenet Ramseys murder is still unsolved.

JonBenet was reported missing on Dec. 26, 1996

ABL Studio/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock JonBenet Ramsey JonBenet Ramsey

In the early morning hours of Dec. 26, 1996, JonBenet was reported missing from her home in Boulder, Colo. Patsy told police she found a ransom note on the staircase near their kitchen that demanded $118,000 for their daughters safe return. It also said that the author of the note would call John that morning to set up the exchange.

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Despite the notes instructions not to, Patsy and John called the police at 5:52 a.m. John then made arrangements to pay the ransom and was prepped by police on what to say when the kidnapper called. Retired Boulder Police detective Jeff Kithcart told Cold Case filmmakers that after he discovered the ransom note had been written from a notepad in the Ramsey home, an FBI agent in the room allegedly said, You always have to look at the family.

The only people known to be inside the home at the time of JonBenets disappearance were her parents and her 9-year-old brother, Burke Ramsey.

Where the note came from, its two-page length and the specific amount of money demanded (which police later learned was almost the same amount as John's previous Christmas bonus) led some investigators to believe that it had been staged. John never received a call from the alleged kidnapper.

Police were accused of not properly securing the crime scene

Doug Pensinger/Getty The residence at 749 15th Street, where JonBenet Ramsey was murdered in December, 1996, is seen August 17, 2006 in Boulder, Colorado. The residence at 749 15th Street, where JonBenet Ramsey was murdered in December, 1996, is seen August 17, 2006 in Boulder, Colorado.

Two detectives from the Boulder Police Department arrived at the Ramsey home a few minutes after the initial 911 call, along with a few family friends whom Patsy had called. While doing a preliminary search of the house, officers allegedly only sealed off JonBenets bedroom as a crime scene and allowed the family and their friends to roam freely inside the house for several hours, potentially contaminating crucial evidence.



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When John started getting nervous after the ransom call didnt come in, an officer at the scene told him to search the house again and see if he could find anything unusual. He and his friend went down to the basement and discovered JonBenets body in a room where the kids kept a train set. She had been sexually assaulted, hit over the head and strangled with a handmade garrote, a type of handheld ligature.

Netflix's 2024 docuseries alleges that the police mishandled the case early on by not treating the entire house as a crime scene and allowing John to conduct a search, ultimately finding JonBenet on his own and tampering with the would-be evidence by touching her body and removing duct tape from her mouth.

The Ramseys believed it was an intruder

Erik S. Lesser John and Patsy Ramsey attend a press conference following questioning by the Boulder, Colorado police on August 28, 2000. John and Patsy Ramsey attend a press conference following questioning by the Boulder, Colorado police on August 28, 2000.

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John has maintained throughout the decades-long investigation into JonBenets murder that he and his late wife believed an intruder was responsible for their daughters death, which autopsy reports confirm was caused by near-simultaneous strangulation and a blow to the skull.

DNA evidence was also found on JonBenets clothes, which belonged to an unknown male. In an exclusive November 2024 interview, John claimed to PEOPLE that some of the evidence  including the garrote  has never been tested.

We're begging the police to engage, he said. There are cutting-edge DNA labs that want to help and who believe they can move the case forward.

In Cold Case, John added that before finding JonBenet, he noticed a basement window was open and broken. There was also a suitcase under the window that he claimed shouldnt have been there.

Police said the Ramseys were under an umbrella of suspicion

MARIO TAMA/AFP via Getty John and Patsy Ramsey, whose daughter JonBenet was found murdered in their home nearly four years ago, answer questions from journalism students 12 October, 2000 about their experience in the media spotlight at the Newseum in Rosslyn, Virginia. John and Patsy Ramsey, whose daughter JonBenet was found murdered in their home nearly four years ago, answer questions from journalism students 12 October, 2000 about their experience in the media spotlight at the Newseum in Rosslyn, Virginia.

Fears that the police were focusing on them as the prime suspects in JonBenets murder led John and Patsy to hire a lawyer days after their daughter's death.

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We assumed that the police would show some level of discernment and wisdom and say, 'Yeah, well this is crazy, to think [we] murdered our child,  he told PEOPLE. Well, they never did. They made that decision on day one, and tried desperately to prove it," John claimed.

He said in Cold Case that even though their attorneys warned them against talking to the police, they still gave the detectives everything they asked for.

The Ramseys were never charged, despite a grand jury deciding in 1999 that John and Patsy had unlawfully, knowingly, recklessly and feloniously permit[ted] a child to be unreasonably placed in a situation which posed a threat of injury to the childs life or health." The Boulder police also confirmed to the media that John and Patsy were under an umbrella of suspicion," but the prosecutor decided there was not enough evidence to continue pursuing a case against JonBenets parents.

Despite the prosecutor declining to pursue the case any further, one former detective, Steve Thomas, wrote a book in 2000, JonBenet: Inside the Ramsey Murder Investigation, alleging that Patsy accidentally killed her daughter in a fit of rage over a bedwetting incident.

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John and Patsy were formally cleared of any involvement in JonBenets murder in 2008.

The Ramseys passed a private polygraph test in 2000

Erik S. Lesser/Liaison John and Patsy Ramsey dash across Peachtree Street in Atlanta, August 28, 2000 after a lunch break during questioning by the Boulder, Colorado police. John and Patsy Ramsey dash across Peachtree Street in Atlanta, August 28, 2000 after a lunch break during questioning by the Boulder, Colorado police.

CBS reported in May 2000 that John and Patsy passed a privately conducted polygraph test during which they were asked if they killed JonBenet. Polygraph examiner Ed Gelb told reporters at the time, "Neither John nor Patsy were attempting deception when they gave the answers."

These results came after a back-and-forth with Boulder police who wanted the tests to be conducted by the FBI rather than the expert the Ramseys had hired.

John and Patsys attorney told The Washington Post in April 2000 that the parents didnt want the FBI involved in the test because he claimed the organizations polygraph exam is designed to intimidate and interrogate" rather than determine the truth.

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The polygraph test may have changed public opinion of the Ramseys but did not change their legal status as polygraph results are not admissable in court.

John Mark Karr confessed to the murder in 2006

Paula Bronstein/Getty American John Mark Karr is led by Thai police from the immigration detention facility to the airport to depart for the U.S. August 20, 2006 in Bangkok, Thailand. American John Mark Karr is led by Thai police from the immigration detention facility to the airport to depart for the U.S. August 20, 2006 in Bangkok, Thailand.

The Netflix docuseries also outlines the multiple suspects police questioned throughout the investigation  including one who confessed.

In 2006, a man named John Mark Karr was arrested in Bangkok after he claimed to have killed the Colorado toddler. He confessed during a four-year-long email correspondence with documentary producer Michael Tracey, but the confession did not hold up. Karrs DNA didnt match what was found on JonBenet's body, and his family claimed that he was with them at the time of the murder.

Another suspect, Gary Howard Oliva, who spent eight years in prison on child pornography charges, was first named as a person of interest in a 2002 episode of the CBS show 48 Hours Investigates. He never confessed to the crime, but he was in the Boulder area when it happened and had a photo of JonBenet with him when he was arrested in 2000. However, police said his DNA did not match the evidence found on JonBenet.

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According to the City of Boulder, detectives have spoken to over 1,000 people in connection to the crime.

JonBenets murder remains unsolved

Courtesy of Netflix JonBenet Ramsey JonBenet Ramsey

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As of November 2024, no one has been charged in the murder of JonBenet Ramsey. Her father told PEOPLE that the Boulder Police Department has allegedly refused to send certain pieces of evidence, like the garotte, for more modern styles of DNA testing.

We're not asking them to do anything weird, John said. Just do your job. Test the DNA.

In December 2023, the City of Boulder released an update on the homicide investigation, announcing that the police department had asked the Colorado Cold Case Review Team for recommendations on whether new forensic testing technologies could produce new intelligence or leads to solve the case.

Because the investigation into JonBenets 1996 murder is still ongoing, the specific recommendations made will not be released to the public.


For nearly 50 years, no one has figured out what happened to Auburn University Student Kyle Clinkscales. He vanished on a drive from LaGrange to Auburn, and investigators have never figured out how he died.

We just we just want Kyle, you know, to be at peace. And it will help the family, you know, to be at peace, to know what happened, said Claudia Robinson, Clinkscales cousin.

According to Troup County Sheriffs Office Chief Investigator Kelli Ellington, in early 1976, Clinkscales left a bartending job in his hometown of LaGrange to return to Auburn and authorities listed him a missing person until DNA confirmed skeletal remains were his after his car was discovered in a Chambers County, Alabama creek in 2021, but sadly, the enduring mystery of what happened to Clinkscales remains as murky as the waters of that Alabama creek even after a Georgia Bureau of Investigation autopsy was completed.

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I would love to give answers to what happened to not only his family but also the community, Ellington said.

A GBI Division of Forensic Sciences report has listed Clinkscales cause and manner of death as undetermined.

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I was really hoping to find out what happened to him, Robinson said.

For expertise understanding the reports Winne obtained he turned to Gwinnett County Medical Examiner Dr. Carol Terry and forwarded records to her.

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The cause of death cannot be determined because of the deterioration of the remains, Terry said.

A document says, The coroner stated that there were several holes located in the skull.

Is it possible those holes in the skull were bullet wounds and they just couldnt tell? Or do we know that? Winne asked Terry.

Its possible, but I think its very unlikely because of the way in which these holes were described, that the people who have expertise in looking at them, specifically the anthropologist, mention that theres no beveling of the bone. Thats something that you would look at, Terry said.

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A document says, Given the paucity of the facial bones, perimortem trauma cannot be excluded.

Terry said that means trauma before death cant be ruled out.

Youre dealing with a lot of bones that are very small, delicate, and somewhat thin. So, its not surprising that these bones would break down, Terry said.

Terry said because the bones were apparently underwater so long and so many are missing its not surprising the autopsy found no evidence of any wounds, of foul play, in any of the bones.

But the GBI went the extra mile by having a forensic anthropologist look at them and confirm the holes in the skull developed after death.

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One side of it is that he was murdered on the night that he left work, on the night that he went missing. Others believe that he left his job that night intoxicated and had a drunk driving accident, Ellington said.

Although it was a cold case, law enforcement did not forget Kyle, Robinson said.

Ellington said some of those who believe Clinkscales was murdered suggest someone placed his car in the creek years after his death.

She said the case is closed unless new evidence develops.

She said one man went to prison in connection with the Clinkscales case in the 2000s but that was for false statements, and he died recently.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  Here in Downtown Honolulu, the Hawaii Theatre, the Sun Yat-Sun Park will be transformed tomorrow for the first every Dine, Art, Shop, Love (DASL) Honolulu Festival.

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We hear about tourism, regenerative tourism and this new effort taking place throughout Hawaii.

This is going to be one of those events that will contribute to that so there is so much to learn about this.

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We are here with Guillaume Maman who is the Program Manager for the Office of Economic Revitalization.

Tell us a little about what is taking place here and what was the catalyst to bring this type of event here in Honolulu.

So, we wanted to make sure that we can demonstrate that tourism can have a positive impact on our local communities, on our local businesses so we created the Dine, Art, Shop and Love event or what we call DASL in short, and we are going to bring art and different performances here in Chinatown at and around the Hawaii Theatre, said Maman.

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And most important thing, its free. Everything is free so if you ever wanted to visit the Hawaii Theatre, its going to be free. You can go inside. Of course, the performances outside will be free as well and the parking will be free as well thanks to one of our sponsors, Avalon. We are very excited about that.

We are here with Sarah Moy, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii President.

How is an event like this going to impact the community here in Chinatown?

This festival creates a wonderful opportunity for the merchants in Chinatown to showcase the diverse and unique shopping and dining that benefits Chinatown, says Moy.

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It also showcases the art galleries, Chinatowns rich cultural heritage and the trending. This is not just the one-day increasing the foot traffic for Chinatown. It is meant to be so that Chinatown can become a destination place for locals and visitors to come back again and again.

As mentioned, this is a pilot program or part of a pilot program contributing to regenerative tourism which is an effort being taken across Hawaii.

I am here with Catherine Orlans who is from the Oahu Visitors Bureau.

Tell us about, and for those who may not know, what is regenerative tourism and what are the efforts being taken?

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This is a perfect example, this event, of regenerative tourism by the city, their effort to help push the needle and pivot the states direction towards regenerative tourism, explained Orlans.

So, its a collaboration between state, city and our local community here in Chinatown to make more positive benefits from tourism to our local businesses. This means our residents get more benefits from tourism, whether its through their spending, the local foot traffic getting increased and boosting our overall economic vitality for this community and we hope to do it in other communities as well to spread that demand throughout the island.

Check out whats going on around the nation on our National News page

What you see behind me today will be all filled up with a lot of activities, tents, stage, music, everything.

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So, for all the information, again this is called Dine, Art, Shop, Love Honolulu Festival, click here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
GARFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio (WJW)  Princess, a 3-year-old Golden American pit bull, has been returned to her family by Garfield Heights Police Saturday morning.

Springfield Township police use social media to shame speeding drivers

Jaleyah Hannah said shes very happy to have Princess back in her arms but said Princess has sustained injuries, so they are taking her to the vet for evaluation. The family fears Princess was forced to breed.

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A strange man stole Princess right off the front porch of the familys home on Wednesday. The crime happening in broad daylight at 3:25 p.m. The crime was also captured on home security camera, proving a suspect and vehicle description.

Hannah led the charge to see her dog returned, sleuthing on social media and the Internet, providing possible suspects and locations to the police. She did not stop searching for her family dog.

Hannah said GHPD did not state if anyone was arrested after Princess was found near the intersection of Granger Road and Turney Road in Garfield Heights.

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Ultimately, shes relieved her dog is alive and back in her arms.

The family has set up a GoFundMe to help with vet bills.

This story is developing.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  Its been more than 3 weeks since two men were found shot to death at a South Bakersfield home.

The details of the shooting and their identities have not been released and now the dogs that were left behind may be put down.

Heres the story of Aqua and Toby, the bonded pair looking for a new home.

Aqua and Toby are still healing after their owner died in an alleged murder suicide on Cresson Court in South Bakersfield Oct. 29.

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More than 3 weeks later, the dogs are still waiting to be saved

We dont have unlimited space and when theres a couple of dogs and noones really paying attention to them, that can really work against them and the ending could be sad, Daniel Litterell, with the Kern County Animal Services, said.

Aquas story started in 2013 at the age of 4 months old when she wound up in the shelter.

After 60 days, she was adopted into the loving arms of Keith M. Austin Sr., the veteran who died in his home on Cresson Court. His daughter identifying him to 17 News.

Aquas 12 years old now and back in the shelter with Austins other dog a 10-year-old shepherd mix named Tim, family members call him Toby. They share a lifelong bond.

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Theyre part of a family and so, its kind of like your brother and sister here and they want to be together. We wanna keep them together if we can, Litterell said.

All adoption fees will be waived for this pair, but time is running out.

The shelter is a very stressful situation, but if you give them some time, theyll fit right into a family, Litterell said.

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These are photos of the dogs Austin and his ex-wife shared. They divorced and she moved back to Germany.

Shes 80 years old and due to her health she can no longer fly. She says Aqua and Toby cant die.

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These are priority dogs. These dogs need to find a home as quickly as possible, Litterell said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17.
The Frederick City Council on Thursday approved plans to distribute state funds for a downtown hotel project and an approach for preserving the history of the site.

The project, known as the Frederick Conference Center Hotel at Carroll Creek, is a 208-room Marriott-branded hotel at the corner of East Patrick Street and South Carroll Street, at the site of the former Frederick News-Post building.

Given what Councilmember Ben MacShane described as the complicated public-private approach to financing the project, council members sought a close review of the payment structure during the public meeting.

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When we talk about dollars like this, I dont want us to misstep, Councilmember Derek Shackelford said of both the total amount of money and various sources.

Richard Griffin, director of economic development for the city, said the state provided $1 million through the states Strategic Demolition Fund for design, engineering, demolition and historic mitigation work. The grant agreement between the city and state was approved by the then-Board of Aldermen at a July 18 public hearing.

The unanimous approval on Thursday of a reimbursement letter allows the city to distribute the state-provided money to Plamondon Hospitality Partners to cover costs they incurred by paying contractors for work that meets the stated goals of the grant.

Plamondon is expected to pay $73.54 million for the project, while $2 million will come from the city and $2.52 million from the county, according to city records.

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The state is expected to pay $23.5 million for the project, including $7.5 million from the governors capital budget thats already approved and the $1 million grant.

The city and county requested another $15 million from the governors budget, spread out between fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

Site historyThe other item approved Thursday pertained to how the history of the site would be approached by the developers.

State laws require the Maryland Historic Trust to review and prepare agreements whenever state funding goes toward a project that removes or destroys sites of historic significance. The site includes both the former Frederick News-Post building, as well as the Birely Tannery.

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These agreements are intended to be proportional to the loss of historical character. Theyre not intended to be punitive, Griffin said.

The agreement approved by the council members included a framework plan with steps and goals for how the site recovers archaeological and other data as well as plans for how that information will be stored and made available.

Despite the agreement, which was generated with input from the Maryland Historic Trust, many elements of the design will be finalized at later steps and much of that is beyond the scope of the council.

Councilmember Katie Nash said she hopes that any remembrance of the history of the Birely Tannery tells the whole story, including recognition for the enslaved people who provided much of the early labor.

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I just would like to honor the original slave labor that was used, Nash said. I just want it to be truly historically accurate. I dont want it to be fluff.

Speculators were drawn to the Monocacy River Valley in the early 1700s largely because of the abundance of timber, water, limestone and open space for farmers, according to city records. The combination of lime  derived from burning limestone, among other methods  and timber, as well as access to cattle, made Frederick a perfect place for making leather  both raw and finished goods  through the tanning business.

Tanning used to represent big business in both the city and county of Frederick during the 18th and 19th centuries. Census data from 1810 shows a total of 47 tanneries in the county, with eight of those operating within the city.

The Birely Tannery was built around 1800 and remained in operation for over 150 years, according to city records.

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Todd Offutt, a long-time Frederick resident, said during the public comment portion of the meeting that the agreement did not go far enough to protect the history of the tannery.

Offutt advocated for saving the smokestack, saying that the pictures, websites and other non-physical reminders of the building were woefully inadequate.

Once the tannery site is gone, however, its gone forever, along with its 224-year history, he said. Historical accounts shelved on dusty bookshelves, shiny plaques on a wall and electronic archives are no substitute for brick and mortar.

At a Nov. 14 meeting of the citys Historic Preservation Commission, when it approved all design elements of the hotel except lighting, Commissioners Paul Fitzgerald and Anne Hart expressed support for a meaningful representation of the Birely Tannery, including perhaps preserving the smokestack.

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Fitzgerald said he hoped the tanning industry in Frederick could be commemorated by an artistic element in the design.

Hart said she also would like to see a meaningful representation of the former tannery.
BOYNTON BEACH  The driver of a Lexus that struck and killed three members of a Greenacres family at nearly 100 mph in July was at more than twice the legal threshold for intoxication, according to an arrest report made public Thursday.

Dawn Michele Howard, 54, of suburban Boynton Beach, is facing charges of vehicular homicide and DUI manslaughter in the July 10 deaths of Yanela Almaguer, Alejandro Alex Cordovez and their oldest son Diego, 10. Their youngest son, Fabio, 2, was the only survivor.

The crash took place on Military Trail near Miner Road in suburban Boynton Beach, near where the family had found its first apartment in the United States after emigrating from Cuba several months before. They had lived with family in Greenacres before the wreck.

Yanela Almaguer, Alejandro Cordovez and their older son Diego, 10, were killed in a car accident on July 10, 2024. Their younger son, Fabio, 2, was the only survivor in the car.

During a hearing Thursday, Circuit Judge Daliah Weiss set Howard's bail at $375,000. She had been booked into a county jail a day earlier and remained there as of Friday morning, court and jail records show. She will be on in-house arrest complete with a GPS monitor if she posts bond.

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Howard also faces a related charge for assaulting a police officer while she was at Delray Medical Center hours after the wreck, court records show. An attempt to reach an attorney who was present in court Thursday on Howard's behalf was not immediately successful.

Fatal wreck: PBSO IDs two deputies who died, one who was injured in crash along Southern Boulevard

PBSO: Lexus traveled at 108 mph seconds before wreck

Investigators reported that Howard was driving at 97 mph when she crashed a 2022 Lexus into the rear of the Volkswagen Jetta driven by Cordovez with Yanela Almaguer by his side and his two sons in the back seat.

Cordovez, 46, was driving the family in a Volkswagen Jetta northbound on Military Trail about 7:30 p.m., when the Lexus SUV made a sweeping left-hand turn, accelerating at about 110 mph onto the road that has a 45-mph speed limit, according to Howard's arrest report.

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As the two vehicles approached Miner Road, the Lexus accelerated to 108 mph when the traffic light changed to yellow. Howard hit the brakes when she saw the Jetta in front of her but given the extremely high speed and her delayed reaction, the collision was unavoidable, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office report states.

The Lexus was traveling at 97.6 mph at the time of the wreck, the report estimated. Its front section pushed itself into the Jettas trunk and passenger compartment.

The impact sent the Jetta rotating to the side of the road before its rear collided with a power pole. The Lexus overturned and came to a stop on the swale facing southwest.

Fatal shooting: He claimed self-defense when he killed his stepfather. Would a judge agree?

Paramedics pronounced Almaguer, 43, dead at the scene and rushed Cordovez and Diego to Delray Medical Center, where they succumbed to their injuries. Fabio sustained a broken right leg.

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First responders told sheriff's investigators that Howard was possibly impaired. She was making confused and irregular statements, had very watery and bloodshot eyes, and was slurring her speech.

Paramedics said she became irate, argumentative, refusing to cooperate while being treated and neglected an arm that might have been broken, deputies said.

Separate blood draws taken hours after the collision revealed Howard had blood-alcohol levels of 0.199 and 0.133, the arrest report said. Florida's legal threshold for intoxication while driving is 0.08.

Dirt bike murder: Two men killed a teen in a dispute over a bike. A judge decides the price they'll pay

Family members mourn Cuban couple and their son

Yanela Almaguer, Alejandro Cordovez and their older son Diego, 10, where killed in a car accident on July 10, 2024. Their youngest son, Fabio, 2, was the only survivor.

Corodovez, Almaguer and their two sons were just starting their new life in the U.S. when the wreck robbed them of their future, said Arsenio Almaguer, Yanelas older brother, who lives in Greenacres.

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Arsenio had waited 40 years to reunite with Yanela and last year he requested that they come from Cuba through the parole program. Yanela and Alex dreamed of sending their sons to college and came to the U.S. to give them opportunities they had never had on the Caribbean island about 90 miles from Miami.

In March, the couple had rented their first apartment in suburban Boynton Beach and their sons were already enrolled in school.

The crash wrecked the familys life, Arsenio said.

Arsenio, his wife, Hilda, and his 11-year-old son have been taking care of Fabio since the crash. The family has asked Fabios grandmother to come to the U.S. to help raise him.

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He asks for Mami, Papi and Dieguito, Arsenio said. I dont know what to say. I try talking about another thing, but he remembers. He remembers the names, everything.

Valentina Palm covers Royal Palm Beach, Wellington, Greenacres, Palm Springs and other western communities in Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post. Email her at vpalm@pbpost.com and follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @ValenPalmB. Support local journalism: Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: PBSO: Driver was drunk in July crash that killed 3 on Military Trail
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR)  It has been a couple years of never-ending road construction as the I-81 Viaduct Project finds itself merging with the community grid.

Drivers on East Brighton Avenue are adjusting to the ongoing traffic from the roundabout construction to the interstate and beyond.

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Oh, its terrible, driver Elizabeth Gordon said. I have to go this route every day, and half the time, it takes me a half hour to get up there from Loretto.

The New York State Department of Transportation announced the construction for the ongoing project will not halt any time soon.

What drivers see out there today is pretty much what they can expect to see this winter in terms of the traffic patterns from the roadway, Tenesha Murphy, Region 3 & I-18 Viaduct Project Public Information Officer, said. The contractors for the I-81 Viaduct Project have already set those traffic patterns into place because we are nearing the time for some snowfall.

Some drivers do not seem to mind the road work, with hopes that the overall project will be worth the traffic when the work is completed.

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I go through both this construction and the one up at 81 and 481up by CiceroIve never had any problems, Mark Dobrzynski, a Pulaski resident, said. Congested a little bit at times. But, for the scope of what theyre doingthe vastness of what theyre doing, its been cake.

There are several pieces to the I-81 Viaduct Project puzzle. Every stage of construction happens at different times. But drivers can expect road construction in and around the city until the project is complete in 2028.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSYR.
CLINTWOOD, Va. (WJHL)  The Dickenson County Sheriffs Office announced multiple drug-related arrests on Friday.

The sheriffs office said that it, along with multiple other agencies, executed arrests for indictments on around 81 charges involving 27 people, with charges ranging from selling scheduled drugs to drug conspiracies.

Chief Meteorologist Mark Reynolds 2024-2025 Winter Weather Outlook

According to the sheriffs office, peer recovery specialists with Dickenson County Behavioral Health were brought in to discuss potential treatment options and other resources. Social Services is also helping families who need assistance due to arrests.

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Dickenson County Sheriffs Office and our agency partners remain dedicated to combating the ongoing drug epidemic in our region, the sheriffs office said in a release. Thank you to all agencies and departments involved in this joint operation.

The sheriffs office did not release the names of those charged or arrested.

Other agencies involved in the investigation include the 29th Circuit Narcotics Task Force, Virginia State Police, Clintwood Police Department, Wise County Sheriffs Office, Buchanan County Sheriffs Office, and Haysi Regional Jail.

The sheriffs office said efforts to locate all individuals involved are ongoing.

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DENVER (KDVR)  A man who caused a crash that killed a mother and son was sentenced to 24 years in prison Friday.

In September, Jose Menjivar, 37, pleaded guilty to two counts of vehicular homicide related to a crash that happened on Dec. 12, 2023.

PAST COVERAGE: Police say driver was drunk in Broomfield crash that killed mom, son

According to a press release from the 17 Judicial District Attorneys Office, Menjivar was driving his pickup truck near Main Street and Miramonte Boulevard at speeds estimated to be between 80 to 100 mph in a 40 mph zone.

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Menjivar crossed the double yellow centerline as he passed other vehicles. Eventually, Menjivar struck 46-year-old Melissa Powells SUV as she turned left from Miramonte onto Main Street. Powell and her 16-year-old son Riordan Powell died as a result of the crash, the district attorneys office said.

There were at least three beer cans found in the truck, two empty and one open, according to the release. A toxicology report found his blood alcohol content to be more than three times that of the legal limit.

Suspect in deadly Broomfield DUI crash previously deported 4 times: ICE

The district attorneys office said Menjivar is believed to have at least five previous DUI convictions since 2007. He is described as a habitual offender.

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Days before the crash on Dec. 8, Menjivar received a 365-day sentence in a jail work release program related to three separate DUIs in Boulder. According to the release, he was granted a stay of execution on that sentence until a space became available in the Boulder jails work release program.

Menjivar was sentenced to 24 years in the Department of Corrections by a Broomfield County District Judge on Friday.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
When humans pump groundwater, it has a substantial impact on the tilt of Earths rotation.

Additionally, a study documents just how much of an influence groundwater pumping has on climate change.

Understanding this relatively recent data may provide a better understanding of how to help stave off sea-level rise.

Water has power. So much power, in fact, that pumping Earths groundwater can change the planets tilt and rotation. It can also impact sea-level rise and other consequences of climate change.

Pumping groundwater appears to have a greater consequence than ever previously thought. But nowthanks to a study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letterswe can see that, in less than two decades, Earth has tilted 31.5 inches as a result of pumping groundwater. This equates to.24 inches of sea level rise.

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Earths rotational pole actually changes a lot, Ki-Weon Seo, a geophysicist at Seoul National University and study lead, says in a statement. Our study shows that among climate-related causes, the redistribution of groundwater actually has the largest impact on the drift of the rotational pole.

With the Earth moving on a rotational pole, the distribution of water on the planet impacts distribution of mass. Like adding a tiny bit of weight to a spinning top, authors say, the Earth spins a little differently as water is moved around.

NASA research published in 2016 alerted us to the fact that the distribution of water can change the Earths rotation. This study in Geophysical Research Letters attempts to add some hard figures to that realization. Im very glad to find the unexplained cause of the rotation pole drift, Seo says. On the other hand, as a resident of Earth and a father, Im concerned and surprised to see that pumping groundwater is another source of sea-level rise.

The study included data from 1993 through 2010, and showed that the pumping of as much as 2,150 gigatons of groundwater has caused a change in the Earths tilt of roughly 31.5 inches. The pumping is largely for irrigation and human use, with the groundwater eventually relocating to the oceans.

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In the study, researchers modeled observed changes in the drift of Earths rotational pole and the movement of water. Across varying scenarios, the only model that matched the drift was one that included 2,150 gigatons of groundwater distribution.

Surendra Adhikari, a research scientist at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory who was involved in the 2016 study, says the additional research is important. Theyve quantified the role of groundwater pumping on polar motion, he says in a news release, and its pretty significant.

Where the water moves fromand tomatters. Redistributing water from the midlatitudes makes the biggest difference, so our intense water movement from both western North America and northwestern India have played a key role in the tilt changes.

Now that the impact of water movement is known for such a shortand relatively recenttime, digging through historical data may help show trends and provide greater depth to the understanding of groundwater movement effects.

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Observing changes in Earths rotational pole is useful, Seo says, for understanding continent-scale water storage variations.

This data may also help conservationists understand how to work toward staving off continued sea level rise and other climate issues. Hopefully, changes can be properly implemented over time.

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Voters will decide whether to make easier to send teenagers to adult prisons on March 29. (Photo by Julie O'Donoghue/Louisiana Illuminator)

Louisiana voters will decide whether to make it easier to send younger teenagers to adult prisons in a constitutional proposal next spring.

The Louisiana Legislature approved Senate Bill 2 Friday with a 70-25 vote in the House of Representatives and 28-10 vote in the Senate. The measure will be on the March 29 ballot that will also feature a major rewrite of state financial policy.

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It would remove constitutional limits on crimes that can get people under age 17 sentenced as adults. Legislators would then have to enact new laws outlining how courts could send those minors to adult facilities.

Republican Gov. Jeff Landry backed the proposal and sat in the Louisiana House of Representatives as legislators debated and voted for the bill Friday. Still, it barely made it through the legislative process. The proposal only received 70 votes in the House, the exact number it needed to advance to voters.

Ahead of the narrow victory, Republican leaders appeared anxious to get through the House vote quickly and moved to cut off debate and questioning early. House Speaker Phillip DeVillier, R-Eunice, also told Rep. Denise Marcelle, D-Baton Rouge, she had missed a deadline to amend the legislation and refused to let her bring up her proposed change for debate or a vote.

One of the sponsors of the legislation, Rep. Debbie Villio, R-Kenner, also made a last-minute change to the bill to limit the offenses for which youth could be moved to adult prisons to just felonies, in part to address reservations lawmakers had about moving more young people into adult facilities. Prior to that change, the amendment would have allowed the Legislature to draft new laws to move minors to adult prisons for any crime.

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Fifteen- and 16-year-olds, and in more restricted circumstances 14-year-olds, already face adult prison sentences for limited crimes without the constitutional amendment. Those offenses include murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, rape, armed robbery, kidnapping, aggravated battery, a second or subsequent burglary of an inhabited dwelling and a second or subsequent violation of some drug crimes.



Youth advocates have said the broadening of that list to new offenses would do lasting harm to young teens caught up in the criminal justice system.

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Teenagers transferred into adult prisons are at much higher risk for sexual abuse from other inmates and dont receive the same counseling and educational services available in the juvenile system. Adult sentences are also often years or even decades longer than what youth in juvenile facilities serve, advocates said.

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Supporters of the constitutional amendment, which include the Louisiana District Attorneys Association and Louisiana Sheriffs Association, have said prosecutors need a larger list of crimes in order to hold younger teens accountable.



Villio and Sen. Heather Cloud, R-Turkey Creek, the sponsors of the legislation, mentioned a few crimes they think should be added to the list.



Cloud said she would like to make the law applicable to carjacking, drive-by shootings and human trafficking. Villio said she was interested in adding fentanyl offenses.

Attorneys who represent youth in criminal matters said many of those offenses can be used to transfer teenagers to adult prison under current law.

They also questioned why human trafficking was being brought up as a concern because prosecutors rarely charge adults with that crime. Any teens accused of the offense are also likely being trafficked themselves, advocates said.

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In an interview Friday, Villio said her intention is to get more crimes that involve serious bodily injury added to the list. Youth in the juvenile justice system who attack security guards and other workers at those facilities should receive harsher punishment, she added.



Villios proposal comes on the heels of another law that greatly expands the transfer of teens to adult facilities. Earlier this year, Landry and lawmakers passed legislation that treats all 17-year-olds as adults in the criminal justice system. The measure took away discretion from district attorneys to put accused 17-year-olds through the juvenile justice system instead of adult courts.

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NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (WPRI)  An East Providence man was arrested after allegedly exposing himself to a 17-year-old on Friday afternoon.

According to police, they received a call from the 17-year-old saying that, around 4 p.m., a man drove up to them on Prospect Ave., asking for directions to the high school while completely naked.

The vehicle, a silver Subaru with New Hampshire registration, was found on Lantern Ln.

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Police arrested the driver, David Palmer, of East Providence, and charged him with disorderly conduct  indecent exposure.

Palmer was arraigned at the station before a Justice of the Peace and released on a $1,000 personal recognizance bail.

He is expected to be arraigned in court in December.

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SMITH COUNTY, Texas (KETK)  A Smith County man was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Friday after pleading not guilty to a 2023 charge of intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle.

Tyler man arrested for child pornography possesion, thanks to task force info

William Chaplinski, 23 of Big Sandy, was found guilty for a DWI fatal head-on crash that occurred on Sept. 8, 2023 at around 11:09 p.m. on State Highway 155.

Mugshot of William Chaplinski, courtesy of the Smith County Jail.

According to a Department of Public Safety preliminary crash report, Chaplinski crossed the center line in a Nissan Titan in attempts to pass another vehicle when he collided into a Kia Sportage head-on.

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The driver of the Kia, identified as 42-year-old Harry Collins, III of Tyler, was pronounced dead at the scene. Chaplinski was booked into the Smith County Jail on Sept. 9, 2023 after authorities said he was determined to be intoxicated at the time of the crash.

A year later, at the 241st Judicial District Court Chaplinski entered a not guilty plea for the intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle charge and was found guilty. He will now serve a 20-year sentence at TDCJ.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.
Photo by Jim Small | Arizona Mirror

A panel that screens judicial hopefuls winnowed down the applicants to fill a vacant seat on the Arizona Supreme Court to eight semi-finalists on Friday.

The new justice, who will be chosen by Gov. Katie Hobbs, will replace Republican Robert Brutinel, who retired at the end of October, after 14 years on the high court and 28 as a judge.

Hobbs will be the first Democrat in more than 15 years to appoint a justice to Arizonas high court. Brutinel was appointed in 2010 by then-Gov. Jan Brewer, a Republican. Supreme Court Justice Scott Bales, the last judge appointed by a Democrat, was placed on the court in 2005 by then-Gov. Janet Napolitano. He retired in 2019.

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The nonpartisan Commission on Appellate Court Appointments, which selected the eight semi-finalists from 17 applicants, is asking for public comments on the candidates ahead of the commissions interviews with them, set for Dec. 9. After the interviews, the commission will recommend at least three of applicants to Hobbs for her to choose from.

The commission is required to submit at least one nominee to the governor who belongs to a different political party than her.

The candidates are:

Maria Elena Cruz: A Yuma County Democrat who has been an Arizona judge since 2005, currently in the Arizona Court of Appeals. She previously worked as a Yuma County Superior Court Judge and for the Yuma and Pima county attorney offices.

Nicole C. Davis: A Maricopa County independent who is the deputy director and general counsel for the Arizona Department of Economic Security. She was previously deputy general counsel for Gov. Janet Napolitano.

D. Andrew Gaona: A Maricopa County Democrat and partner at the Phoenix law firm Coppersmith Brockelman. Gaona has represented Democrats, including Hobbs, in high-profile cases, including Republican Kari Lakes unsuccessful challenge to the results of the 2022 election for Arizona governor, which she lost to Hobbs.

Andrew M. Jacobs: A Maricopa County Democrat and who was appointed to the Arizona Court of Appeals in March 2023. Prior to that he was a partner at Arizona law firm Snell and Wilmer for 20 years.

Doreen N. McPaul: A Maricopa County Democrat and assistant legislative attorney for the Tohono Oodham Nation. She is a member of the Navajo Nation and previously served as its attorney general.

Regina L. Nassen: A Pima County independent and assistant city attorney for Tucson. She previously held various positions in the Pima County Attorneys Office.

Alexander W. Samuels: A Maricopa County Democrat and deputy solicitor general for the Arizona Attorney Generals Office. He previously held various positions with the United States Attorneys Office.

Amy D. Sells: A Maricopa County Democrat and civil litigation and appeals attorney at the Phoenix office of law firm Tiffany & Bosco in Phoenix. Shes worked for various law firms in the Valley since 2005.

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Members of the public can submit written comments about the applicants to jnc@courts.az.gov or mail them to 1501 W. Washington, Suite 221, Phoenix, AZ 85007.

To be considered, comments must be received by Dec. 4, and cannot be submitted anonymously. Members of the public can also comment in person on Dec. 9. The hearing is set for 8:30 a.m. in conference room 101 of the Arizona State Courts Building at 1501 W.

Washington St. in Phoenix.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Jerod MacDonald-Evoy

Arizona Mirror

Bomb threats sent to Maricopa and Pima counties on Election Day contained identical language, according to copies of the threats obtained through public records requests.

Arizona was one of several states where polling places or election facilities were subject to bomb threats on Election Day. Ten of the states 15 counties received bomb threats that day, according to Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes.

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Officials deemed the threats non-credible and during Election Day they stressed that no voters were in immediate danger or were kept from voting because of the threats. However, some locations had to evacuate, including in Maricopa County when a threat was aimed at the Superior Court building, where Recorder Stephen Richers Office is located.

On the night of the election, Richer was seen evacuating his office in response to one of the threats. Election offices in Cochise, La Paz, and Maricopa counties also evacuated, however, many others did not.

Cochise, Coconino, Gila, La Paz, Maricopa, Navajo, Pima, Pinal, Yavapai and Yuma counties all received Election Day bomb threats.

A threat emailed to Maricopa County, and obtained by the Mirror via a public records request, shares identical language to one obtained by VoteBeat in Pima County also through a public records request.

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The email, with the subject line My manifesto, comes from an email account with the name maga_alex which is similar to the one received by Pima County with the same subject and a sender named maga_sam. Both emails have the same wording except for a change in the address where they claimed a bomb had been planted.

It will not cause much damage to the building but there will be many wounded people when it explodes, maga_alex said in the email to Maricopa. I plan on remotely detonating the device as soon as there is a large police presence.

Maricopa County Spokesman Fields Moseley told the Mirror in a written statement that the countys training and technology prevented the possibility of the email harming the countys tech.

Maricopa County employs multiple intrusion prevention and detection security controls across all technology layers including email. Along with technology controls, Maricopa County performs security awareness training and simulated phishing testing,Moseley said in the statement. It was because of this training that the email was caught, reported and addressed rapidly and efficiently. While the email content is a threat, the email itself wouldnt have harmed technology resources.

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Moseley said that the county could not comment further due to the on-going law enforcement investigation.

The FBI previously said on Nov. 5 that the emails appear to originate from Russian email domains and none of the threats were deemed credible. When asked for an update or if the FBI had engaged with the two email providers for the threats made public through records requests, the FBI deferred to their Nov. 5 statement.

The two email domains in the public records releases belong to companies called Mailum and CyberFear. Neither company responded to a request for comment.

At first glance, the websites appear to be different email services, however, when signing up for CyberFear, users are directed to Mailum, where they can choose between a @CyberFear.com email or a @Mailum.com email address.

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Additionally, when viewing the source code on Mailums website, code for an analytics tool with the username CyberFear is visible.

Both companies bill themselves as privacy email options akin to ProtonMail or Tutanota that offer end-to-end encryption and spy-proof email services. The emails operate as a paid subscription model and in a post to the BlackHatWorld Forum in 2020, a now defunct account appearing to belong to CyberFear claimed that the service could send mass emails to up to 50 recipients.

Other states seemingly had it worse than the Grand Canyon State, like Georgia, which reported over 60 bomb threats on Election Day. An analysis of the threats by NBC News found that many targeted largely Democratic areas.

The Arizona Secretary of States Office said that it is continuing to work with law enforcement to investigate the threats. Despite the threats, elections across the country ran relatively smoothly.
Nov. 22LIMA  An Elida man recently pleaded not guilty in the Allen County Common Pleas Court after the death of his daughter in a car fire in September.

Nicholas Stemen, 33, is facing charges of murder, an unclassified felony; first-degree felonies of aggravated arson and involuntary manslaughter; and fifth- and third-degree felony counts of endangering children.

Stemen's bond is currently set at $1 million, and his attorney, Public Defender Kenneth Sturgill, filed a motion Thursday to modify the bond. A pretrial has been set for Dec. 2.

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According to a report included in court documents written by Allen County Sheriff's Detective Brett Rider, at approximately 9:50 p.m. on Sept. 25 dispatch received a call that a vehicle on Zion Church Road in American Township "was driving erratically, leaving the roadway and crossing the center line; he reported that the vehicle was also missing a tire, and driving on the rim." The caller then said the vehicle came to rest near Shenk Road and caught fire.

First responders found Stemen, the registered owner of the vehicle, standing in the roadway and he appeared to be intoxicated. A deputy said Stemen was upset that his car was on fire.

Stemen reportedly said no one else was in the vehicle and that his daughter, Lillyanna Stemen, who was almost 3 years old, was with her grandfather. First responders then observed Lillyanna in the back seat of the car.

Rider conducted an interview with Stemen and wrote, "he did admit to consuming at least 10 alcoholic beverages, namely beer, prior to and leading up to the incident, but also states he had blacked out, and cannot remember all the details."

Reach Charlotte Caldwell at 567-242-0451.

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Correction: A previous version of this story gave the incorrect hometown for JSean Williams. The story was updated to reflect that Williams was from Elmira.

ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM)  An Elmira teen is facing a murder charge after an Elmira man was shot and killed at his own birthday party in Southport.

Michael W. Williams Jr. was arrested after a week-long investigation into the murder of JSean Williams (no relation). Authorities say 21-year-old JSean Williams was shot multiple times at about 12:45 a.m. on Nov. 15 during his birthday party on Richard Street in Southport and died after being taken to a local hospital.

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Original story: One person dead after early morning shooting in Southport

According to the Chemung County Sheriffs Office, more than 100 leads, countless interviews, and dozens of pieces of evidence identified Michael Williams as a suspect in the murder. A warrant was issued for his arrest, and more investigating led authorities to a residence in Binghamton. Members of the Binghamton Police Department and the Broome County Sheriffs Office located and arrested Michael Williams without incident.

Related story: Victim identified in fatal birthday party shooting in Southport

Michael Williams was charged with second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

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The Elmira Police Department, the New York State Police Department, New York State Parole, the Binghamton Police Department, and the Broome County Sheriffs Office assisted the Chemung County Sheriffs Office with the murder investigation, which is 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 WETM - MyTwinTiers.com.
Fed Up

Elon Musk has it out for federal employees.

He's promised to fire them en masse in a bid to cut down government spending by trillions of dollars, and he plans to do this through DOGE, or the Department of Government Efficiency, a commission that will be formed as part of president-elect Donald Trump's administration.

That much is old news. But as The Wall Street Journal now reports, Musk has taken his animus to another level by cruelly singling out an individual federal employee named Ashley Thomas, who works a relatively obscure job at the US International Development Finance Corporation, to be harassed online.

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"These tactics are aimed at sowing terror and fear at federal employees," Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, told the WSJ. "It's intended to make them fearful that they will become afraid to speak up."

DE-Why?

Things kicked off when a popular right wing account ridiculed Thomas in a tweet, writing, "I don't think the US Taxpayer should pay for the employment of a 'Director of Climate Diversification (she/her).'"

Musk quoted the post with a dunk of his own, effectively inviting his hundreds of millions of followers to join in on harassing this random government worker.

"So many fake jobs," Musk wrote in the tweet, which now has over 200,000 likes.

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Seemingly, the billionaire culture warrior saw the word "diversification" and thought "diversity," "DEI," or some other form of "wokeness"  his favorite punching bags  as did his many followers.

"You aren't getting rid of all the good jobs are you?" replied one of his courtiers. "I just applied for Chief Climate Gender Diversification Administrator."

Do You Know Who I Am?

Aside from the harassment and the abhorrent massacring of comedy on display here, this is a truly bizarre job to single out.

The work of climate diversification, a subset of economic diversification, does not involve sitting around at the office and inventing pronouns or whatever Musk is imagining, but to develop strategies to reduce the impact of climate change on various sectors of the economy, especially agriculture. If certain food crops end up failing, for example, diversifying what we grow ensures that we don't all literally starve. But Musk and his cronies clearly heard the job and thought it sounded like out-of-control wokeness.

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Additionally, it's pretty ironic that Musk is picking a bone with the International Development Finance Corporation, because it was his buddy-slash-father-figure Donald Trump that created it.

At any rate, Musk clearly knows what he's doing here by making that tweet. And if he doesn't, he's an idiot.

In the past, Musk disparaged Twitter's former head of trust and safety Yoel Roth by more or less implying that he was pedophile, which his followers capitalized on by sending him death threats. So intense was the onslaught of hate that followed that Yoel felt forced to flee his home.

That, and this latest episode, are a testament to the power of even just one tossed-off post by Musk  who now tweets as if it's his job.

More on Musk: Donald Trump Is Already Ignoring Elon Musk's Suggestions
Sign up for CNNs Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more.

The promise of starting life anew on Mars may appear alluring, even feasible, as the climate crisis intensifies and space and rocket technology advances.

But the reality would be dreadful, according to one book that argues that Elon Musks intention to settle the red planet within the next 30 years is doomed to failure.

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Written by Kelly and Zach Weinersmith, A City on Mars: Can We Settle Space, Should We Settle Space, and Have We Really Thought This Through? won the 2024 Royal Society Trivedi Science Book Prize and was published in November 2023.

The husband-and-wife authors investigate what life would actually be like in the unforgiving environment of the red planet and clear up any misconceptions about what it might involve.

Kelly Weinersmith, a biologist and an adjunct assistant professor at Rice University in Houston, and, Zach Weinersmith, a cartoonist, delve into all sorts of questions that humans would face if we became a multiplanetary species. How would we build space farms to feed everyone? What about giving birth to babies and raising kids? Would settling Mars unleash a new space race?

Initially enthusiastic about the prospect of humans living on Mars, the authors said their research turned them into space settlement skeptics. Leaving a 2 (degree Celsius) warmer Earth for Mars would be like leaving a messy room so you can live in a toxic waste dump, they wrote in the books introduction.

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This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

CNN: Why did you want to write this book?

Kelly Weinersmith: Were geeks. We were pretty excited about space settlement happening. We had written a book called Soonish: Ten Emerging Technologies That Will Improve and/or Ruin Everything, and two of the emerging technologies we talked about in that book were cheaper access to space and asteroid mining. Between those two technologies, we thought, we can either now ship up all the equipment we need to keep humans alive in space, or we can use space resources to build space settlements. So even though people have been saying for decades that this is coming soon, we thought maybe now it finally is coming.

CNN: But thats not what you concluded after researching and writing the book?

KW: The more we got into it  by year two out of the four-year research process, we were like, OK, theres a lot of stuff we dont know that we still need to figure out. And if we do this soon, it could be an ethical catastrophe.

In "A City on Mars," authors Kelly and Zach Weinersmith argue substantially more research is needed before humans can safely populate Mars. - Particular Books

CNN: Can humans settle Mars in the near term?

KW: Musk is saying that in the next 30 years, were going to have a million people on Mars. No way that you could scale up to a million people on Mars without something catastrophic happening, either in terms of it turns out we cant have babies up there, and moms and babies are dying or getting cancer.

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If you want to do this, its got to be the slow work of generations to build up to a point where we could be self-sustaining on Mars.



Its such a harsh environment requiring complicated equipment to keep you alive, and I just cant see that happening on Mars in the near term.

CNN: What is achievable then in our current lifetime?

KW: Lots of research, and thats exciting, I think. I would love to see, for example, a research station on the moon where we have rodent colonies, and we see how they do when they go through a couple generations. Maybe in our lifetime, well see people land on Mars, do some exploration and come home, that could happen, but I dont think were going to have babies on Mars.

CNN: You highlight reproduction as one of the major challenges. Whys that?

KW: One of the places we started was biology and medical stuff. That was our first eye-opening moment. I think we had assumed the 50 years of research we had gotten from astronauts in the space stations orbiting Earth had told us everything we needed to know about how humans respond in gravity regimes unlike Earths, and how humans respond to space radiation.

Mars' thin atmosphere means humans would have scant protection from space radiation, biologist Kelly Weinersmith said. NASA's Perseverance rover took this image of the Martian surface on November 19. - NASA/JPL-Caltech

But it turns out that the astronauts (there) are protected by the magnetosphere (a protective bubble surrounding Earths atmosphere), and we do know that being in free fall, which is essentially like experiencing zero gravity, is predictably bad for bones, for muscles. That microgravity explains why vision tends to degrade over time, and being in space could result in cognitive declines long-term.

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The longest stay in space has been less than a year and a half, and astronauts predictably experience something like 1% bone loss in their hips every month. Even if that goes down to just 0.1% every month on Mars (where gravity is 38% of Earths surface gravity), you could imagine that being really bad, for example, when labor kicks in and youve got to hope that your hips are strong enough to handle it. We were just surprised by how many problems we thought we had a handle on. But it turns out that we have very little relevant data for how adults will do, let alone how having babies would work out.

Zach Weinersmith: There needs to be a lot more research in reproduction, simply because its a big, open question. It could be completely benign for all we know  we would be surprised by that, but there should be a lot more research on that. Prima facie, the assumption should be that (babies) are going to have a higher-than-normal rate of abnormalities that have to be dealt with without any of the kind of (medical) care we take for granted on Earth.

CNN: Why is the environment on Mars so hostile?

ZW: The fundamental thing is to understand that humans evolved on Earth, and Mars just lacks a lot of the stuff that we have on Earth. Its about 40% gravity and we know that humans in microgravity have all sorts of major problems, and what happens at 40% we just dont know.

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The soil is laden in perchlorate, which is known to cause hormone disruption. We actually dont have a lot of data on prolonged exposure to high levels of this stuff, because why would we? But presumably its not great for developing humans.

You have an extremely thin atmosphere. Essentially that means you cannot go outside without a pressure suit. The atmosphere is nevertheless powerful enough to whip up worldwide dust storms and also large, localized ones. There is also this stuff called regolith, which has jagged stone and glass, all that is hurling around, which is bad for equipment, bad for humans. Also, if youre intending to use solar power, you better have a really good backup system, and youre going to have to spend a huge amount of time maintaining it.

Mars typically has large dust storms and strong winds. NASA's Curiosity rover records a wind gust on Mars on June 10. - NASA/JPL-Caltech

Also, if youre anywhere near the surface, youre exposed to high levels of radiation, because the Martian atmosphere is so thin, and because Mars is only very weakly magnetic, it doesnt have a very powerful magnetosphere like the Earth has.

KW: Mars, on average, is 140 million miles (225 million kilometers) away, which means there is always going to be a communication delay: (at least) three minutes, and sometimes as much as 22 to 24 minutes. So if there is an emergency, you can never make a live call to physicians back on Earth.

CNN: What about space governance?

KW: There are a lot of unknowns there. In 1967, we got the Outer Space Treaty through the United Nations, and that is the main document that governs space. Its only some 2,000 words long. Its a very short document, and it specifically was meant to be vague, because the people who wrote it knew that you cant really predict how the future is going to unfold. Now were at the point where things are starting to get cooking in space, but we dont have clear guidelines for whats allowed. Youre definitely not allowed to claim sovereignty.

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Also, anybody who goes to space is the responsibility of some nation, so Musk would almost certainly be the responsibility of the United States.

Some questions are less clear, like what are you allowed to do with resources in space. You have this lack of clarity about whos allowed to go where, how long they are allowed to stay there, what they are allowed to do with those resources, you could imagine the space race part two between the United States and China. This time, instead of just going and coming back, which doesnt prohibit anybody else from doing the same thing, you land and you create a research station in the best part (of Mars or the moon), that means that somebody else cant use that spot anymore. So we can imagine there being higher stakes this time around, which is a bit concerning, given current geopolitical circumstances between China and the US.

CNN: How would we feed ourselves on Mars?

ZW: Something else that needs a huge amount of research is closed loop ecology. That is, say, how do you have an underground, sealed bubble that is a sort of intensive agricultural area that produces oxygen and other consumables? We dont really know how to do that.

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Legal protections for those who are pregnant can apply to men, SNP ministers have told Britains highest court ahead of a landmark case next week over the definition of woman.

Scottish Government lawyers said that references to a woman who is pregnant in the Equality Act 2010 are capable of applying to a pregnant man who had been born female.

If this was not so, their lawyers argued that the man would potentially be entitled to bring a claim of direct discrimination on grounds of gender reassignment.

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In a 40-page legal submission to the Supreme Court, they also said that it was unlawful for women-only clubs and associations to exclude biological males with gender recognition certificates (GRCs).

For example, its legal submission stated that it would be unlawful for a lesbian association to bar biological males with GRCs who were sexually attracted to women.

The Scottish Government published its legal arguments in the case, which has been brought by For Women Scotland (FWS), the feminist group that led the successful charge against Nicola Sturgeons self-ID gender reforms.

Five judges, led by Lord Reed, will hear two days of arguments next Tuesday and Wednesday over whether guidance issued by the Scottish Government about the meaning of the word woman in the Equality Act is lawful.

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The guidance states that a trans person with a full Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) that confers upon them the acquired gender of female is a woman.

However, FWS has argued it is unlawful as the definition of woman in the Equality Act is tied to biological sex.

The case threatens to undermine efforts by John Swinney to move away from the controversial gender policies pursued by his two predecessors as first minister, Ms Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf.

Feminists warned that the case had the potential to be just as excruciating for him as images of Isla Bryson were for Ms Sturgeon.

Isla Bryson was jailed in February 2023 after being convicted of raping two women - Andrew Milligan/PA

Bryson was jailed in February 2023 after being convicted of raping two women, crimes which were committed while living as a man, Adam Graham. The predator was initially sent to a womens prison, prompting a public uproar that saw the rapist move to the male prison estate.

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The furore caused huge damage to Nicola Sturgeon and her controversial plans to allow people to self-identify their gender, shortly before her resignation as first minister.

Ms Sturgeons self-ID legislation was later vetoed by the UK Government over concerns it undermined womens rights, including the protection of safe spaces such as changing rooms.

In an article for The Critic Magazine, feminist policy analysts Susan Dalgety and Lucy Hunter Blackburn said that the Supreme Court case was a legacy of Sturgeons time in office.

They said SNP ministers were now having to argue in court what they tried to avoid admitting during the passage at Holyrood of the self-ID legislation, that having a GRC grants a man new rights in relation to women-only spaces.

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John Swinney, Scotlands current First Minister, would no doubt prefer that this case had long gone away, and will be hoping that it attracts little attention, they said.

If things said by Scottish Government lawyers in previous hearings are any guide, media coverage of quotes from its case have the potential to be just as excruciating for him as images of Isla Bryson were for his predecessor.

They added: We are approaching what is arguably the end game in the battle between material reality and gender identity theory.

Nicola Sturgeon resigned as first minister in March 2023 - Jane Barlow/PA

FWS initially went to court to challenge SNP ministers over a new law designed to increase the number of women on public boards. This stated that anyone living as a woman would be eligible.

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The Court of Session in Edinburgh found the Scottish Government had gone beyond its powers by legislating that transgender women should count as women.

This forced the publication of new statutory guidelines which stated that transgender women should still be counted as female, so long as they held a GRC.

FWS launched a new legal challenge, arguing that the Scottish Government had overstepped its powers by effectively redefining the meaning of female.

But judge Lady Haldane ruled the definition of sex was not limited to biological or birth sex in December 2022. An appeal was rejected by the Inner House of the Court of Session, prompting FWS to go to the UK Supreme Court.

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Dr Michael Foran, a public law lecturer at Glasgow University, said the Scottish Government submission to the court noted that the Equality Act protections from pregnancy discrimination are afforded only to women.

However, he said that SNP ministers argued that all of these references to a woman who is pregnant are capable of being interpreted to apply to pregnant men.

In an analysis of the submission, he said: The Scottish Governments argument is that the drafters of the Equality Act 2010, when they used the term pregnant woman made the kind of embarrassing drafting error not seen in the UK since the 1860s. Needless to say, this is a bold, perhaps even brave, claim to make.

Dr Foran said FWS was arguing that female-only groups being forced to admit male-bodied trans people with GRCs was absurd, unworkable, and a violation of the human rights of women and lesbians.

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However, he said the Scottish Governments submission argued that this is what Parliament intended to do when it passed the Gender Recognition Act and the Equality Act.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: We cannot comment on a live legal case.

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The ministries of foreign affairs and EU officials will commemorate the victims of the Holodomor in Ukraine of 19321933 on Saturday, 23 November.

Source: European Pravda, citing officials on X (Twitter)

President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola stated that Europe "joins the people of Ukraine to remember and pay tribute to the millions of victims of the Holodomor".

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani reflected on the tragedy, saying, "Today, my thoughts are with the victims of this genocide and the ongoing war in Ukraine".

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"We remember the Holodomor  the deliberate starvation of over 6 million people in Ukraine between 1932 and 1933, orchestrated by Stalin," he wrote.

Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze highlighted that Latvia officially recognised the Holodomor as genocide in 2008. She noted that Russia is continuing the campaign it began 91 years ago, "trying to erase Ukrainian nation from the Earth".

"Then via manmade famine, today with rockets, missiles, bombs, murders, rape, attacks on ports, energy facilities," Braze said.

The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs also paid tribute to the victims.

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"Just as the resilience of the Ukrainian people could not be broken then, today's Russian aggressors will not succeed. Ukraine now stands with loyal friends who will support it in every way," the ministry declared.

On the Day of Remembrance of the Holodomor Victims, we pay tribute to millions of Ukrainians that Stalin and his regime killed by hunger. The Kremlin tried to break the spine of our nation, eliminate entire generations. This horrible crime has no statute of limitations. pic.twitter.com/lfo0rEAcFR  Andrii Sybiha  (@andrii_sybiha) November 23, 2024

Background:

To date, the Holodomor has been recognised as genocide against the Ukrainian people by the parliaments of nearly 30 countries, as well as the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

In September, the Swiss Parliament officially recognised the Holodomor of 19321933 as an act of genocide.

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The president of the European Parliament, has expressed concern over a possible success of populists in the upcoming German parliamentary elections and what that would mean for Europe.

Roberta Metsola called on Germany's pro-European parties to stand together on important issues.

"What happens in Germany in the next four years has a major impact on the next four years of the European Union," she told the newspapers of the Funke Media Group in a story published on Saturday.

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She described the German parliamentary or Bundestag campaign and results as also "a litmus test for all of Europe. What influence will populist parties gain? she wondered and who "will disillusioned citizens vote for?"

She said the "European election [in June] was already a kind of snapshot, but after the state elections in East Germany, I am very concerned."

Rise of populism in the former East Germany

State elections in three east German states in September resulted in a strong showing for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The AfD won the election in Thuringia and came in second in Saxony and Brandenburg. It is however unlikely to be in any of those state governments because long-standing parties have refused to cooperate with it.

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The populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), a new party running in the state polls for the first time, posted double digit shares in all three elections, nabbing third place in all three.

Metsola directed her appeal at the pro-European, pro-Ukraine parties in Germany: "They should stand together on important future issues."

She also urged the German government to take a clear stance on European matters. "A strong Europe needs a strong Germany. And a determined Franco-German alliance, also complemented by Poland and Italy."
EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola supports the use of long-range missiles by Ukraine in its defence against Russia's full-scale invasion and said Germany should quickly deliver its long-range Taurus system to the embattled country.

Metsola, in an interview published on Saturday by the Funke Mediengruppe newspapers, said "yes," when asked whether countries providing long-range missiles to Ukraine should allow it to use them against targets in Russia - and whether Germany should deliver its Taurus weapons system to Ukraine.

"Yes, that is also the position of the EU Parliament. There is broad support for this demand. We will see if there is a corresponding policy change after the Bundestag elections."

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Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a Social Democrat, has been staunchly opposed to sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine. His coalition partners, the pro-business Free Democrats and the Greens however are in favour of sending Kiev the missiles.

With that in mind, Metsola added that perhaps such a policy change could occur even before, noting that "there are also differing positions within the Berlin coalition regarding the delivery of Taurus."

Metsola, who is from Malta, is a member of the EU's Christian Democratic EPP group. In Germany the opposition CDU and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), are also EPP members.

The discussion was reignited in recent days after US President Joe Biden gave permission for the use of American ATACMS missiles with a range of up to 300 kilometres. The Taurus has an even greater range of 500 kilometres. Metsola pointed out that the Ukrainian defenders are under time pressure.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rightly emphasized that Ukraine cannot wait indefinitely for effective military aid just because there are always elections happening in a Western country  while people continue to die daily in the war in Ukraine, she said.

It was alarming that Russia is now escalating the war and intensifying its missile attacks, which already have many civilian casualties, she added.

On Thursday, Russia fired a new medium-range ballistic missile at Ukraine in Dnipro and warned that such missiles could also hit targets in western Europe.
EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola supports the use of long-range missiles by Ukraine in its defence against Russia's full-scale invasion and said Germany should quickly deliver its long-range Taurus system to the embattled country.

Metsola, in an interview published on Saturday by the Funke Mediengruppe newspapers, said "yes," when asked whether countries providing long-range missiles to Ukraine should allow it to use them against targets in Russia - and whether Germany should deliver its Taurus weapons system to Ukraine.

"Yes, that is also the position of the EU Parliament. There is broad support for this demand. We will see if there is a corresponding policy change after the Bundestag elections."

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Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a Social Democrat, has been staunchly opposed to sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine. His coalition partners, the pro-business Free Democrats and the Greens however are in favour of sending Kiev the missiles.

With that in mind, Metsola added that perhaps such a policy change could occur even before, noting that "there are also differing positions within the Berlin coalition regarding the delivery of Taurus."

Metsola, who is from Malta, is a member of the EU's Christian Democratic EPP group. In Germany the opposition CDU and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), are also EPP members.

The discussion was reignited in recent days after US President Joe Biden gave permission for the use of American ATACMS missiles with a range of up to 300 kilometres. The Taurus has an even greater range of 500 kilometres. Metsola pointed out that the Ukrainian defenders are under time pressure.
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are calling on the European Commission to investigate whether X owner Elon Musk is boosting the reach of his own posts in a manner that violates EU law.

The inquiry is based on a study by the University of Queensland in Australia, which examined the visibility of Musk's posts over recent months.

Musk, who also owns Tesla and Space X, is a top supporter of US President-elect Donald Trump and has been named to co-lead a government efficiency agency.

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The inquiry from the EU Parliament was signed by 42 members of the European Parliament from the Greens, Social Democrats, The Left, Liberals and the centre-right European Peoples

Party (EPP) group.

The study findings suggest that the algorithm has recently shifted in favour of Musk's own posts. This includes the computational processes that determine where and how a post appears on the platform. The researchers report that since Musk announced his support for Trump in July, the views of his posts have reportedly soared.

Although posts from other prominent political accounts were also more frequently viewed during the election campaign, Musk's posts reportedly saw a significantly higher increase.

The results suggest that specific visibility advantages might have been selectively applied on the platform, according to the authors of the study, which has not yet been independently reviewed.

MEPs fear public safety impacts

"The increase in views also concerns Musk's posts on EU and member state topics on X, such as Kremlin-friendly propaganda about the war in Ukraine and anti-Semitic conspiracy theories," the MEPs stated in their written inquiry to the European Commission.

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They believe that the algorithmic shift appears to have clear impacts on civil discourse and electoral processes as well as public safety in the European Union.

The parliamentarians want the commission to investigate so they can assess the risk under the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA). There was initially no response from the commission.

The platform X has been the subject of ongoing discussions since it was purchased by tech billionaire Musk. Musk had criticized the company as it was run before he bought it, when it was called Twitter. He said Twitter's approach to implementing rules against hate speech and incitement to violence were too restrictive.

As a result, many accounts suspended by Twitter from the right-wing political spectrum were reactivated. Musk also fired a slew of content moderators, thereby allowing what was previously objectionable content onto the platform.
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are calling on the European Commission to investigate whether X owner Elon Musk is boosting the reach of his own posts in a manner that violates EU law.

The inquiry is based on a study by the University of Queensland in Australia, which examined the visibility of Musk's posts over recent months.

Musk, who also owns Tesla and Space X, is a top supporter of US President-elect Donald Trump and has been named to co-lead a government efficiency agency.

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The inquiry from the EU Parliament was signed by 42 members of the European Parliament from the Greens, Social Democrats, The Left, Liberals and the centre-right European Peoples

Party (EPP) group.

The study findings suggest that the algorithm has recently shifted in favour of Musk's own posts. This includes the computational processes that determine where and how a post appears on the platform. The researchers report that since Musk announced his support for Trump in July, the views of his posts have reportedly soared.

Although posts from other prominent political accounts were also more frequently viewed during the election campaign, Musk's posts reportedly saw a significantly higher increase.

The results suggest that specific visibility advantages might have been selectively applied on the platform, according to the authors of the study, which has not yet been independently reviewed.

MEPs fear public safety impacts

"The increase in views also concerns Musk's posts on EU and member state topics on X, such as Kremlin-friendly propaganda about the war in Ukraine and anti-Semitic conspiracy theories," the MEPs stated in their written inquiry to the European Commission.
BUCKHANNON, W.Va. (WBOY)  The Event Center at Brushy Fork hosted its annual Holly Jolly Christmas Craft and Vendor show on Saturday, providing shoppers with unique holiday gifts.

Vendors said the shows feature a little bit of everything for someone to buy, including home goods, primitives, jewelry, ornaments, baked goods and even some holiday candy.

Vendor Alexis Queen of Patriot Arc Welding and Fabrication talked about why shows like this one are important to her, saying that supporting a small business is important because they spend numerous hours working on their crafts and wears.

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So, coming to these craft fairs its our business way to get out there and to get everybody a great Christmas gift, Queen said. And then we go everywhere between Buckhannon all the way to Morgantown and I love seeing all the other vendors, and [the show] gives people a great gift idea.

WV State Parks announce Black Friday deal on lodge, cabin stays

Another vendor, Addie Woofter of Grannys Attic, discussed how craft and vendor fairs are also good for those shopping.

I love shopping for others, I love helping people, Woofter said. So, I think its really nice because this stuff isnt too expensive but too cheap. And its really nice for a family member.

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Several small businesses around North Central West Virginia will participate in the nationwide Small Business Saturday on Nov. 30, following the Thanksgiving holiday.

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CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD)  With more snow expected and freezing temperatures expected to last throughout the weekend in western North Carolina, there is a continued need for help for people whose lives were changed by Hurricane Helene.

The good news is people in the Lowcountry are finding new ways to support those who need it.

They say time heals all wounds, but it will take years for those in western North Carolina to recover from Helene. It is caring and compassion from others, like Catherine Eason, who continue to help our friends in the highlands and get them through this life-changing event.

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Eason loves pottery and lives in Brevard, North Carolina, but she and her husband, a retired minister from Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church, spend a lot of time in the Lowcountry.

The idea of her pottery helping others started long before Helene ever hit.

I got connected with a childrens home in Brevard, and so I take part of the proceeds and buy pottery supplies to teach students pottery. And its an expensive hobby, but it is also one that you cant think about anything else while youre doing it, so I feel like that really helps these kids, Eason explained.

In the time since Helene, Eason has seen her neighbors not only try to get back to normal but simply survive.

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A lot of people still struggle. I was making a donation at a place one day, and a lady beside me was asking. She had to be in her 70s, late 70s, and she was asking if they had a tent she could live in for a while, Eason said. Its a loss for a lot of people, not only lives but their homes, everything they had.

So, a new idea was born. Eason already set aside 30% of the proceeds from her pottery sales, but now she donates it to agencies that help with disaster relief.

I keep 30% set aside in an account, and it was intended originally to be for to teach these kids, but when Helene hit, its just another opportunity to give back, and so thats what I am hoping to do, Eason said.

The bottom line is that Catherin Eason just wants to help in any way she can, and if her creations can make things even a little better, then shes all in.

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I feel very blessed, and I love doing pottery, and its a way that I can give back to the community in some form, and teaching children that have been through a lot is important to me that they have a place of solace and respite, Eason explained. And now, if I can help with the Helene victims and some stuff in some small way, thats good.

If you would like to buy some of Easons pottery and support the cause, just email her at cateason77@gmail.com. She does not have a website but promises to get back to you.

If you have an Everyday Hero, email bclark@wcbd.com or submit it here.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A former Valentine Independent School District employee pleaded guilty to charges related to his scheme to fraudulently misappropriate school district funds for personal expenses, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Texas announced.

According to court records, Ernesto Villarreal Jr., 43, of Marfa, was employed as the business manager and served as the tax collector and assessor for Valentine ISD, in Valentine, Texas.

According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, Villarreal schemed to defraud Valentine ISD by using two district credit cards to make hundreds of unauthorized personal purchases, totaling thousands of dollars.

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Villarreal also issued over $10,000 in unauthorized checks to himself from district accounts; issued over $20,000 in unauthorized checks from Valentine ISD accounts to cover personal expenses owed to a credit card company; and changed the bank account information for certain current and former employees, and then generated over $100,000 in fraudulent payments to those current and former employees, for work that did not actually occur, all according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.

Villarreal had payments made to those employees and former employees routed to his own personal bank accounts, without their knowledge, the U.S. Attorneys Office added.

Valentine is located about 160 miles southeast of El Paso.

Villarreal used the ill-gotten funds for hundreds of personal purchases, including but not limited to purchases for travel, lodging, home improvements, hardware store purchases, personal cell phone bills, fuel, oil changes, convenience store purchases, Airbnb rentals, personal flight purchases, and various other unauthorized purchases, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

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Villarreal is believed to have caused over $300,000 in losses to Valentine ISD.

Villarreal pleaded guilty to one count of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and eight counts of wire fraud.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 21, 2025. Villarreal faces up to 10 years in prison for the theft count and up to 20 years in prison for each wire fraud count, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.

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While the pro-life movement traditionally focuses on issues such as abortion, euthanasia, and healthcare, I believe that the inclusion of the death penalty within this framework offers a more holistic understanding of what it means to champion the value of every human life.

At the heart of the pro-life movement lies a fundamental belief in the sanctity of human life. Those of us who are pro-life advocate for the protection and preservation of life from conception to natural death.

The death penalty, with its irreversible and final nature, stands in stark contrast to the principles of mercy, redemption, and second chances that underpin the pro-life ethos. By recognizing the inherent dignity of every individual, even those convicted of grievous offenses, we are called to uphold a vision of justice that seeks alternatives, prioritizing accountability and public safety without compromising our commitment to life.

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In conversations that I have had about this issue, I am sometimes told that those in the pro-life movement are committed to saving innocent life, not the lives of those who are guilty of heinous crimes.

I understand that position. Yet, since 1973, at least 200 people who were convicted and sentenced to death in this country have been released from death row after evidence of their innocence was finally considered. Others were executed despite new evidence and lingering doubts.

One innocent person put to death is one too many. Consider Marcellus Williams

Consider the case of Marcellus Williams, executed in Missouri on Sept. 24, despite the lack of physical evidence, including DNA, tying him to the crime.

The local district attorney, the victims family, and others worked to remove him from death row. And though a plea deal was reached that would spare his life while keeping him in prison, the Missouri Attorney General refused to accept it and pushed for his execution.

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The governor would not intervene, and a man who was most likely innocent was executed.

Sadly, there have been others like Marcellus Williams in our nation who were denied the opportunity to prove their innocence before their execution. But even if only one innocent person is executed, surely that is one too many.

News story: After Marcellus Williams is executed in Missouri, a nation reacts

As a conservative, I value justice, accountability, and individual rights. And by reevaluating capital punishment through a pro-life lens, I believe that we conservatives can strengthen our convictions and promote a more just society.

Americans should begin to protect life from start to end

Just as advocates for the pro-life movement work tirelessly to safeguard the vulnerable and nurture a culture of life, we can extend these values to criminal justice.

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By advocating for crime prevention, addressing the root causes of crime, promoting accountability and alternatives, we affirm the belief that every individual has inherent worth and dignity. And through dialogue, advocacy, and compassionate action, we can work towards a future where justice upholds those truths.

In October, the U.S. Catholic Church celebrated Respect Life Month while World Day Against the Death Penalty was held on Oct. 10. Both events called participants into deeper reflection on this critical issue.

Jasmine Woodson

As we continue on this journey, let us reflect on, and strive to embrace, the sanctity and value of all life.

Jasmine Woodson is the Director of Tennessee Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty. Visit tnconservativesconcerned.org for more information.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Honor the sanctity of life. Oppose capital punishment. | Opinion
The 2025 budget has been approved by Erie County Council in an hours-long budget session Thursday night.

Chairman of Erie County Council Terry Scutella said a tax increase can be expected with this budget that will impact homeowners.

The 2025 budget for Erie County was approved on Thursday night in a 4 to 3 vote.

Scutella explained the budget will include a tax increase and the millage rate will go up 0.51  which is about $51 a year for every $100,000 your property is worth.

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Erie County Council approves budget awaiting executive review

Our discussion was to raise the taxes now instead of delaying it and using the fund balance, Scutella said. Its tough to swallow and now the blame game starts.

Scutella recalled a small tax increase taking place previously.

A statement from Erie County Executive Brenton Davis reads:

Last year, the council ignored the finite reality of the proposed tax increase, slashed our recommended budget, and refused to make the tough cuts required. Now, four members are repeating the same reckless behavior. The reserve fund exists because taxpayers have overpaid for years, and we should use these funds judiciously before reaching into their pockets for more of their hard-earned money. We remain committed to cutting unnecessary costs, protecting critical services such as a failing ambulance system, and preventing back-to-back tax hikes. Erie County residents deserve better than this pattern of financial mismanagement. Erie County Executive Brenton Davis

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Erie earns third straight 100 on Human Rights Campaigns Municipal Equality Index

Scutella said one aspect that is not included in the budget is funding for EMS.

Theres no plan. You dont want to give $2 million when theres no plan. If there was a viable plan at the other municipalities and EMS people that could work together on and agree on, then I dont have a problem with it, he explained.

He said a benefit of the budget is $2.5 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding going towards early childhood development, which is expected to bring an economic boost.

Its alarming how many are short-staffed because of the pay, expensive for the parents. We look at it this way, if we can get that robust and working, its a form of economic development the parent that isnt working and wants to go to work can go to work, Scutella added.

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Scutella says the next step is for Davis to approve or veto the budget once it has been received.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.
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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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.

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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.

(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.)
Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, the billionaires President-elect Donald Trump picked to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), have made their aspirations of slashing government spending clear, promising to bring a "chainsaw" to federal bureaucracy and costs.

To cut back on hundreds of billions in government spending, one approach Ramaswamy has suggested is eliminating programs that have lapsed spending authorizations despite still being funded by Congress, which include veterans' healthcare services, housing assistance and the Justice Department. But not only does that proposal misunderstand the function and role of funding authorization in Congress, the lack of authorization doesn't indicate wasteful expenditures, federal fiscal policy experts told Salon.

"They have a fundamentally superficial understanding of what they're doing," argued Bobby Kogan, the senior director of federal budget policy at the Center for American Progress. "They have a meme-level understanding. 'Let's get rid of unauthorized spending' is the sort of thing that you might see in a Facebook meme."

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Ramaswamy and Musk expanded on that suggestion in a Wall Street Journal op-ed published Wednesday, outlining the newly minted out-of-government advisory commission's plans for reducing excess spending. DOGE, they wrote, will target some $500 billion in annual federal expenditures that "are unauthorized by Congress or being used in ways that Congress never intended" in an effort to help "end" federal overspending.

But the notion that any spending is not approved by Congress or used outside of how the legislative body intends is "inaccurate," said David Reich, a senior fellow at the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities. The Constitution requires Congress to authorize any and all government spending, which it does through funding bills, or appropriations.

"For anything the federal government is spending, there's going to be an appropriation," Reich told Salon in a phone interview. "It could be an annual appropriation. It could be an appropriation and authorizing law, but Congress will have authorized that expenditure."

The authorization that Musk and Ramaswamy take up actually refers to an internal House of Representative's rule that creates a separate process for authorization and appropriations, experts said.

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Authorizing committees in the House make laws dictating provisions for the creation of agencies and their functions, which include "aspirational-level" provisions for how funds can be used like requirements for eligibility to receive that funding and stipulations on its use, Kogan explained in a phone interview, and the authorization is usually temporary to allow the committees to reevaluate those details over time.

"For a while it was a very common practice for authorizing legislation to say, 'And there is hereby authorized to be appropriated X dollars in year one and Y dollars in year two' and so forth," Reich said.

But the House's use of that language has lessened in recent years, and the chamber often waives the rule, explicitly or implicitly, by considering the funding bills, which it does "often completely consistent with what the authorizing law does," he added, calling the authorization of funding via authorizing laws a "technical step."

For programs where Congress has allowed its authorization to lapse, appropriations legislation covers it. Instead of needing two laws  an authorizing law that approves funding for an agency and another to actually allocate those funds  Congress only passes the appropriation, which then gives the program the authority to spend its funding, according to The Washington Post.

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In their op-ed, Musk and Ramaswamy pointed to $535 million allocated to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, $1.5 billion for "grants to international organizations" and nearly $300 million allocated to "progressive groups like Planned Parenthood" as examples of excess spending that could be cut, appearing to cite figures from a Congressional Budget Office report on programs with unauthorized funds.

But Kent Smetters, the faculty director of the Penn Wharton Budget Model and a University of Pennsylvania Wharton School professor of business, economics and public policy, told Salon that these unauthorized funds don't inherently amount to wasteful or excess spending either.

"In practice, unauthorized funds give a federal agency more flexibility to direct funds toward the needs that the agency sees as a higher priority at any point in time," he said in an email, adding that "unauthorized funds are probably a bit more efficient because an agency might have more information about immediate needs after the funds were appropriated by Congress at a more aggregate level."

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

Programs without separate spending authorization amount to more than $516 billion of the budget, with the 10 largest programs comprising $380 billion of that share, according to a report from the Congressional Budget Office. Health care for veterans has the largest amount of "unauthorized" government spending, coming in at $119.1 billion. Funding for other programs like housing assistance under the 1998 Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act, and government entities like the State Department and Justice Department would, in theory, be on the chopping block, per Ramaswamy and Musk's suggestions.

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Still, as an out-of-government entity, DOGE can only make recommendations to Congress for ways to pare down the federal budget. "Congress will still decide whether authorized or unauthorized programs get funding," Smetters said. "It is not up to the discretion of the White House."

While policymakers have room to eliminate excess federal spending in bipartisan ways, Kogan said, the amount of wasteful government spending is far smaller than what Ramaswamy and Musk suggest.

"People have this idea of just huge and absurd amounts of government waste, and it's just not borne out in the data," he said.

Two-thirds of federal spending is mandatory, while the remaining discretionary spending largely goes toward defense. Over 70% of the nation's non-interest spending is public benefits to Americans, like Social Security, SNAP, WIC, Medicaid and Medicare, Kogan said, and "by definition, if you're cutting those, you're cutting aid to people."

"I think a lot of this comes down to people saying, 'Well, I just don't want us to do that program, and that's fine," he said, adding: "That is a stance someone can take, but it is flatly incorrect to pretend the money we give to states to help them make sure that kids with disabilities have enough money to succeed  that's not waste. You might not like the program, but is just not waste."
A loud explosion rocked the occupied city of Berdiansk in Zaporizhzhia Oblast on the night of 23-23 November. The port area was likely hit.

Source: Berdiansk City Military Administration; Telegram channel Berdiansk Today

Details: Ukrainian authorities reported a hit on the port.

Quote from Berdiansk City Military Administration: "It's loud in the port area.

Berdiansk residents heard a loud explosion at about 23:40.

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The port is reported to have been hit."

Details: Local media reported that Russian occupying authorities had issued an air-raid warning due to a UAV threat at the time. Reports also indicate that following the explosion, a glow was visible in the port area, and "the smell of burning" was noticeable in the coastal areas.

The Russians did not comment on the explosion.

Background: A man, 55, was killed and a boy, 11, was injured in a Russian airstrike on the city of Zaporizhzhia and Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  With race week and all the festivities surrounding the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix underway, a trade group is accusing race organizers of cutting corners when it comes to safety on the track.

The problem is over the fencing installed along the track, according to the Fence Workers Association.

Fencing installed for the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix. (KLAS)

We just want people to know that there is a safety concern and a hazard, Amanda Martial said.

Martial manages the local Las Vegas company A1 Fencing and is a member of the Nevada-based Fence Workers Association. She told 8 News Now contractors improperly installed fencing along the Strip to block pedestrians from getting a view of the race.

The problem with this screening is although it does block viewing on things like that, the wind gusts can absolutely pick this up and take it 20 feet in the air and cause a lot of damage, Martial said, standing near Caesars Palace at the intersection of Flamingo Road and Las Vegas Boulevard South.

Fencing installed for the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix. (KLAS)

She said the Fence Workers Association filed a complaint with the Nevada State Contractors Board. The trade group also notified Clark County officials.

We noticed that there was event staff who were putting up fencing who were unlicensed fence workers, Martial said.

Fencing installed for the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix. (KLAS)

Marital provided 8 News Now with a list of three companies used to install fencing around the F1 track. According to state records, the businesses arent licensed to do fencing but 8 News Now isnt identifying them since they have not been cited.

There would typically be a 50-pound sandbag on both sides, so that youre holding some type of weight, Martial said, but there werent any sandbags on the fences located near Flamingo and Las Vegas Boulevard.

Those fences were drilled into the sidewalk.

Fencing installed for the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix. (KLAS)

We just want them to be licensed. Theres rules and regulations that need to be had so that we can keep our community safe. Things like this just arent the safest route, you cant cut corners in exchange for safety, Martial said.

The Nevada State Contractors Board, Clark County, and F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix did not respond to requests for comment.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56)  Therell be a new slate of faces leading Kentuckys House Democrats, including the first Black woman in Kentucky to lead a legislative caucus.

This is just another opportunity to make sure that those that come behind me dont see a closed door, Rep. Pamela Stevenson (D-Louisville) told FOX 56.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

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With the prior floor leader, caucus chair, and whip all not returning to the General Assembly next year, House Democrats elected an entire new slate of leadership, now tasked with working on their priorities with the supermajority of Republicans.

We make sure that children are fed, the elderly are housed, that people have the opportunity to live their best lives. Thats why were there. So as long as we keep our attention on that, 80-20 doesnt matter because were all focused on Kentuckians, Stevenson said.

Stevenson ran a statewide campaign in 2023 for attorney general but lost to Republican opponent Russell Coleman. The attorney, pastor, retired Air Force colonel, and quilter have garnered attention for rarely mincing words on the House floor.

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You cannot stop moving forward because the agendas are different. We have to come at it different ways. And dont talk about nobodys mama, Stevenson said humorously of her style.

Joining Stevenson, Rep. Al Gentry (D-Louisville) named as caucus chair and Rep. Lindsey Burke (D-Lexington) as caucus whip. Across the aisle, leadership roles remained unchanged in the House, with Speaker David Osborne (R-Prospect) being elected to a historic fourth term last week.

Senate President Robert Stivers (R-Manchester) was also reelected to leadership, becoming the longest-serving member in that role in Kentucky history.

Replacing outgoing Senate floor leader Damon Thayer (R-Georgetown) is Sen. Max Wise (R-Campbellsville).

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We have an ambitious and politically conservative session ahead of us, focused on growing our economy, improving public services, and ensuring that the voices of all our constituents are heard, Wise wrote in a statement this week.

In addition, Sen. Robby Mills (R-Henderson) was elected caucus chair.

Lawmakers will return to Frankfort for the 2025 session beginning Jan. 7.

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Claim:

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Mehmet Oz, the television presenter and heart surgeon, said the deaths of 2%-3% more children would be worth it to reopen schools.

Rating:

Rating: Mixture

What's True:

Oz did say during an April 2020 interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity that "schools are a very appetizing opportunity" for returning a critical aspect of daily life to normality because it "would only cost us 2 to 3% in terms of total mortality," suggesting the risk of an increased mortality rate would be an acceptable "tradeoff."

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What's False:

However, he wasn't talking about 2 to 3% more deaths of children specifically, but in terms of "total mortality"  that is, the number of COVID-related deaths across all demographics. He explained his words on April 16, 2020, saying that he "misspoke" before.

After U.S. President-elect Donald Trump nominated television's Dr. Mehmet Oz to oversee the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in November 2024, an old video clip of Oz began to circulate in which, some people claimed, he said the benefits of reopening locked-down schools during the COVID-19 pandemic would be worth a 2% to 3% increase in the number of children who died (archived):

Remember during COVID when Dr. Oz said hes ok with 2-3% of children dying so they can open schools pic.twitter.com/2DZyLuJ7mB  Wu Tang is for the Children (@WUTangKids) November 19, 2024

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Here is a transcript of Oz's remarks:

First, we need our mojo back. Let's start with things that are really critical to the nation, where we think we might be able to open without getting into a lot of trouble, I tell you, schools are a very appetizing opportunity. I just saw a nice piece in The Lancet arguing that the opening of schools may only cost us 2 to 3% in terms of total mortality. And you know that's... any life is a life lost, but to get every child back into a school where they're safely being educated, being fed and making the most of their lives with a theoretical risk in the backside... It might be a tradeoff some folks would consider. We need the industries back, supply lines, I mean things we can do without putting our nation at risk...

This post had gained 1.4 million views and 18,000 likes, as of this writing. "Remember during COVID when Dr. Oz said he's ok with 2-3% of children dying so they can open schools," the post read. The same claim appeared several times on X as well as on Instagram. The magazine Vanity Fair reported the same thing at the time.

The reality is that Oz did have this interview, and he did appear to suggest that a 2% to 3% increase in total mortality would be an acceptable cost for reopening schools. However, as he later explained, he wasn't focusing on the mortality rate for children alone, but on the quantity of overall deaths related to COVID-19 (which would have still represented thousands of people).

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Faced with the uproar, Oz responded with a post on Twitter (now known as X) on April 16, 2020, saying he "misspoke" (archived):

Ive realized my comments on risks around opening schools have confused and upset people, which was never my intention. I misspoke. pic.twitter.com/Kq1utwiCjR  Dr. Mehmet Oz (@DrOz) April 16, 2020

I've realized my comments on risks around opening schools have confused and upset people, which was never my intention. I misspoke. As a heart surgeon, I spent my career fighting to save lives in the operating room by minimizing risks. At the same time, I'm being asked constantly, "How will we be able to get people back to their normal lives?" To do that, one of the important steps will be figuring out how do we get our children safely back to school. We know, for many kids, school is a place of security, nutrition and learning that is missing right now. These are issues we are all wrestling with. And I will continue looking for solutions to beat this virus.

The basis of his comments on school openings and mortality rates appears to have been a misinterpretation of an article published on April 6, 2020, in the medical journal The Lancet, which itself cited another modeling study by a team from The Imperial College London that had then not been peer-reviewed. Using available information on how the virus was transmitted in Wuhan, China, as well as data on previous influenza outbreaks, the researchers made a calculation for the population of the U.K., assuming that all schools and a quarter of universities would close. They predicted the school closures would contribute to reducing overall deaths (not just children's) by 2% to 4%, but that the most effective way to blunt transmission would be to combine school closures with isolation in case of exposure.

Oz turned the statistical prediction on its head, so to speak, to suggest that opening schools would increase overall deaths by the same amount.

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Months later, the Bulletin of Mathematical Biology published a commentary on the Imperial College study. While the authors recognized that the paper had influenced public policy and praised its "reasonable assumptions," they also warned that the model relied on "a simplified picture of social interactions," a factor that created limits to how well it could be applied.

Sources:

Eubank, S., et al. 'Commentary on Ferguson, et al., "Impact of Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs) to Reduce COVID-19 Mortality and Healthcare Demand"'. Bulletin of Mathematical Biology, vol. 82, no. 4, Oct. 2020, p. 52. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11538-020-00726-x.

Ferguson, Neil, et al. Report 9: Impact of Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs) to Reduce COVID-19 Mortality and Healthcare Demand. 16 Mar. 2020, https://scholar.harvard.edu/sites/scholar.harvard.edu/files/kleelerner/files/20200316_imperial_college_covid-19_response_team_report_9_-_impact_of_non-pharmaceutical_interventions_npis_to_reduce_covid-19_mortality_and_healthcare_demand.pdf.

Viner, Russell, et al. 'School Closure and Management Practices during Coronavirus Outbreaks Including COVID-19: A Rapid Systematic Review'. The Lancet: Child & Adolescent Health, Apr. 2020, http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanchi/article/PIIS2352-4642(20)30095-X/fulltext. https://archive.is/hhJ1h.


COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  The Department of Education has officially released the 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid Forms (FAFSA).

This comes after we saw a rocky rollout of last years forms. College financial advisors we spoke with describe last years FAFSA rollout as chaotic. They said while the form itself was simpler for families to fill out, it caused a huge headache for high schools and universities nationwide. However, those we spoke with say theyre feeling much more confident this time around.

It was extremely difficult to get through that process and having to try to navigate that rollout and the impact that it was having on students, said Deneene Merchant, the director of financial aid at Columbus State.

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According to data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, colleges nationwide saw a roughly 5% drop in first-year enrollment last year. Here in Ohio, we saw about a 9% decrease in FAFSA filers from October 2023 to October 2024, according to the Federal Student Aid website.

I would have to guess or assume that a good deal of that was because of the FAFSA simplification and the delays that that caused, said Kirsten Crotte, the senior director of enrollment operations at Otterbein University.

This time around, the Department of Education wanted to make sure this year wouldnt be a repeat of last. On October 1st, 2024, the Department opened up beta testing for a select group of students and families. The point of this testing was to check the system for any issues that may come up. On November 18th, it was opened up to everyone as part of their Expanded Beta 4 testing.

They are doing this, I think, to test the volume to get more families filing at one time, make sure theyre handling the volume, make sure their call centers are able to handle any issues that are coming up, said Crotte.

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According to the Department, since October, more than 167,000 students have submitted the online application. To help with the surge, staffing was significantly increased.

Im feeling much more confident this year about the FAFSA and the experience the families will have, said Crotte.

They had definitely continued to make improvements, said Merchant.

If you havent begun filling out the form yet and this is your first time applying, organizations like I Know I Can are here to help make it as easy as possible.

I think the one thing that I would want them to know is, have confidence that its going to work out regardless if there are issues, said Marion Meadows, the director of programs and training at I Know I Can, We have had students and families begin to do the FAFSA, thankfully, at this point.

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If you need assistance filling out the forms, the organization is offering workshops starting December 4th. One thing to keep in mind, while the FAFSA deadline goes for a while, colleges and universities have their own timeline they follow. If theres a school youre thinking of applying to, its important to check their dates so you know when to apply for FAFSA. If you have already filled out the FAFSA form during the beta testing period, you do not need to do it again.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Nov. 22Wednesday morning at a motel at the southern end of the foothills, Destany Prentice, 45, and her three children are packing up for the umpteenth time all of their belongings that are scattered across the two-bed room they've spent the last month in.

"We're screwed," Prentice said. "As of tomorrow, we're totally screwed. We're totally gone, out of here, on the streets as of tomorrow."

The next morning, the temporary hotel voucher that was keeping a roof over the family's head expired.

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As his mother and older brother, Chad Megah, 27, recall the past nine months on Wednesday, Khristopher Frost, 20, paces anxiously across the motel room as the realization sets in that he, his siblings and his mother will likely not have a roof over their heads the next day. William Prentice-Gay, 13, the youngest, doesn't say a word, lying on the bed with a hoodie on. At one point, his mother, in tears, hugs him and tells him she loves him.

They don't know where they'll go next. Prentice fears the family might spend Thanksgiving on the street.

"What a wonderful holiday, huh?"

Her voice breaks, tears follow.

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"We're falling through the cracks here," Megah said. "I don't know how many other families are going through this."

It's unclear how many families are in similar situations; though Mayor Tim Keller told the Journal in a sit-down Thursday that he estimates the actual number of homeless on Albuquerque's streets tops 5,000. Some $300,000 has been allocated to the program, according to Gavino Archuleta, Homeless Projects and Initiatives division manager for the city's Health, Housing and Homelessness department. His department did not provide a number for how many vouchers they could provide, despite multiple requests for the figure.

The city also has housing vouchers, a more permanent solution to help people get shelter, but Archuleta said funding for those is thin.

Hotel vouchers are provided by and funded through four nonprofits the city has partnered with: the Barrett Foundation, the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness, Heading Home and Albuquerque Healthcare for the Homeless.

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Hotel and motel vouchers could be for a week and up to four weeks, depending on need, Archuleta told the Journal on Thursday. "They may be extended, but those are extenuating circumstances."

While providing insights into how the voucher system works, both the Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS) department and the city's Health, Housing and Homelessness department said they could not discuss the specifics of the family's situation.

The family's journey

In 2020, Prentice and her three boys moved from Oklahoma to Albuquerque, living at an apartment in the International District until March, when Megah said the landlord raised the rent and "threw them out" when they couldn't pay it.

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From March to May, the family couch-surfed with different friends. Then from May to August, they stayed at Family Gateway, a city-operated shelter that is part of its Gateway Network of shelters and services. The Journal is not publishing the location of Family Gateway to protect the individuals living there.

Stays at Family Gateway are usually 90 days, but can be extended or families might leave and return, Archuleta said.

However, Megah said that staff told them their time was up and they could not return to the shelter for a year.

Hinting that the family didn't follow guidelines, a spokesman for the program simply cited their rules and regulations that all participants have "respectful behavior towards others, abstaining from criminal activity on property, compliance with safety protocols such as turning in weapons, and adherence to case management plans," or they risk being discharged from the program. "Discharges are handled with compassion and include providing referrals to alternative services and resources to support the resident's transition," said Connor Woods, Health, Housing and Homelessness spokesperson, in a statement Friday.

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The family was promised a housing voucher that never came, Megah said, and they have been turned down from all the apartments for which they've applied.

Since leaving Family Gateway, the family has stayed at motels but ran out of money and most recently used a motel voucher as they try to find the cheapest place they can find to live.

The family said they were directed to the motel at which they were staying by ACS.

ACS has staffers called navigators  separate from the "community-oriented" and behavioral health responders who take 911 calls  to aid people and connect them to resources and help with everyday needs. A navigator has been working with the family to help get Megah a job at Taco Bell, though he's waiting to find out when he starts, and helped with the motel voucher, said Walter Adams, deputy director of field operations for ACS, told the Journal Thursday.

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"All of our transports go into a warm handoff right to that service provider," Adams said. "So I think a big piece is, what happens next? The connection's made, what happens next?"

Next would be back to a shelter once the hotel voucher expired, Prentice said. Their ACS navigator recommended Joy Junction, a Christian-based homeless shelter based in the South Valley.

"I will not go to Joy Junction, I know what they do there. I've heard stories. I've heard crazy (expletive) stories about how people were ripped off as soon as they walked in the door," Prentice said, saying she'd heard stories of robberies and sexual violence.

Such stories are "made up" and the shelter is safe, Elma Reynalds, executive director of the shelter, told the Journal Friday.

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ACS also recommended Gateway West, the city's largest shelter, about 30 minutes by car from the city center. That facility also has developed a reputation for being unsafe, which is why Prentice does not want her family staying there either.

During a Nov. 1 news conference, Keller acknowledged the safety concerns but said things have changed. "Our West Side shelter used to not be the most hospitable place," he said. "It is in a vastly different place than it was last year."

Gateway West has undergone renovations, including added cameras and locked storage areas, according to Woods.

However, going to Gateway West would require the family to split up as it is an adult shelter and Prentice-Gay is 13.

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"I'm not willing to separate my kids from my kids," Prentice said.

Prentice and her three boys left the motel Thursday morning.

Friday morning Megah texted: "Found a couch to crash on thank god."

While grateful, Prentice said over text she's tired of bouncing around but prays her story will help other families, like hers, in need.
DENVER (KDVR)  Thornton police are investigating what they say is a false report of an active shooter in the 9400 block of Hoffman Way.

This is the block where Thornton Middle School is located, as well as the Sierra Vista Apartments, which are across the street. The middle school was placed on lockdown during the police response.

Thornton High School, Thornton Elementary School and FutureForward Bollman are all located nearby and were placed in secure status when the threat was reported, according to an email forwarded to FOX31.

Thornton PD said there was a large police presence at the school because of the initial 911 call, and officers would be remaining to assist with reunification due to the school status changes around the time of release.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
WAUKEGAN, IL  The Lake County State's Attorney's Office presented false and misleading evidence from a state police investigator to a grand jury in order to secure an indictment against the Waukegan City Clerk, according to a judge's bombshell order issued Friday.

Lake County Circuit Judge Patricia Fix dismissed all criminal charges against City Clerk Janet Kilkelly, ruling that grand jurors likely would not have indicted her in the first place had Illinois State Police Special Agent Dave Juergensen testified truthfully.

"Police and prosecutors roles are intertwined with both bearing reciprocally weighty responsibilities to uncover and analyze all relevant facts and evidence upon reviewing charges and requesting indictments," Fix said in the order.

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"Inexplicably and sadly, in this case, performance in these roles was sorely deficient, causing the grand jury to be misled as to critical and material information directly relevant to all of the charges."

Juergensen was the sole witness that the office of Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rinehart presented to the grand jury in March to get it to sign off on a 15-count indictment against Kilkelly on charges of official misconduct and misapplication of funds, alleging she illegally waived fees for local businesses as part of a COVID-19 relief effort.

"In this matter, so much misleading and false information was presented to the grand jury on material issues that the denial of due process is unequivocally clear," the judge said. "Indeed, had ALL the facts been initially known and presented to the Grand Jury, there would likely have been a different outcome."

Fix's ruling focused on two key falsehoods in the testimony from Juergensen, a senior agent with state police who collects an annual salary in excess of $120,000, that was presented by the office of Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rinehart, the Highland Park Democrat who was elected to a second term this month.

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First: that Kilkelly had been appointed as a deputy local liquor control commissioner by former Mayor Sam Cunningham in 2017, even though he never had.

During a court hearing, both Cunningham and current Mayor Ann Taylor testified that they never appointed the clerk to the post, and Juergensen admitted under oath he had merely assumed the appointment without bothering to ask anyone or ever seeing any documents identifying her as such, according to the ruling.

The other key piece of false testimony concerned the definition of "in good standing."

Prosecutors argued that Kilkelly had violated a 2020 municipal ordinance that required businesses to be "in good standing" to qualify for pandemic-related credits.

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However, the judge noted that the term was undefined, making the charges untenable.



Juergensen admitted that the resolution did not define the term and there was nothing that could have given Kilkelly its definition, so he made up his own and used that to decide which businesses Kilkelly had allegedly illegally provided COVID-19 relief.

"Considering the grand jurors questions, there is a distinct possibility that no indictment would have been returned had the states witness responded truthfully and in a manner that did not mislead the grand jury," Fix ruled. "Without a definition of ineligible businesses, it is impossible to charge [Kilkelly] with abuses in the application of the Covid credits."

The charges stemmed from Kilkelly's approval of approximately $6,300 in credits to five local businesses under Resolution No. 20-R-95, approved by the Waukegan City Council on December 21, 2020.

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The resolution provided one-time COVID-19 relief in the form of credits toward 2021-2022 liquor and gaming license fees for qualifying license holders.

After the charges were filed in March, Kilkelly remained in her role as city clerk despite calls from some Waukegan aldermen to suspend her from certain duties. A proposed ordinance to reassign her responsibilities, including oversight of licenses and Freedom of Information Act requests, failed in a narrow 5-4 City Council vote.

Kilkelly, who was first elected in 2017, reelected in 2021 and is running uncontested in April, on Friday thanked her attorneys and Waukegan residents for their support during the case, describing it as extremely stressful for her and her family, according to the Lake County News-Sun.

As someone who has dedicated over 40 years of their life to the Waukegan community, I promise to continue serving and helping all Waukegan residents as their city clerk, Kilkelly said.

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"The public must be able to trust that those who work in public service will follow the law and use our tax dollars as intended," Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly said earlier this year in a statement announcing Kilkellys indictment.

At that time, Rinehart claimed that Kilkelly had "violated the public trust" and cost the taxpayers a significant amount of revenue.



The Lake County States Attorneys Office has not issued a public statement on the judge's finding that its prosecutorial misconduct was so bad that it rose to a level of a due process violation.

Read more:

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False Testimony Misled Grand Jury Into Charging Waukegan Clerk: Judge originally appeared on the Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Patch
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11)  The family of a 28-year-old fatally shot by an NYPD officer commemorated his death on Saturday, 10 years after the young father was killed in Brooklyn.

Akai Gurley was fatally shot by an NYPD officer in 2014 in the stairwell of the Pink Houses, a NYCHA development. Gurley was unarmed and deemed by police to be a total innocent, according to the Legal Defense Fund.

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The celebration of life was held in the evening in East New York. Family and friends gathered to remember Gurley, chanting his name and releasing balloons into the sky.

Its been a tough ten years, theres still no justice, said Hertencia Peterson, Gurleys aunt. I just want to thank everyone who has been supportive during these years and not only that, but for those who are here with me today or remember him.

Peterson said the pain remains fresh, while frustration still lingers.

The color of our skin alone is a target. NYPD is the biggest gang in the entire world, Peterson said.

The commemoration brought together other families affected by police brutality, along with community members and activists.

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The officer, Peter Liang, was arrested and convicted related to the shooting and ultimately sentenced to five years probation and 500 hours of community service, according to then-Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson.

Former Officer Liang was on patrol when he opened a stairwell door at a public housing building and suddenly fired. The bullet ricocheted and hit Gurley.

There are no winners here, Thompson said.

The city paid $4.1 million and the New York City Housing Authority contributed $400,000 to settle a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Gurleys family in 2016.

In addition to money from the city, Liang paid $25,000 to the mother of Gurleys daughter as part of the settlement.

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This story comprises reporting from The Associated Press

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The family of a missing Hawaii woman is asking police to take the investigation into her disappearance more seriously.

Hannah Kobayashi, 30, went missing after she missed her connecting flight from Los Angeles to New York City on November 8. The following day, she was spotted at a bookstore at The Grove, a popular outdoor mall in LA. A day later, she was seen at a Lebron James event.

On November 11, surveillance video showed her at a downtown Los Angeles Metro stop with a person not known to her family. Larie Pidgeon, Kobayashis aunt told KTLA 5 her niece did not look well. She is not safe, and she is not alone, she said.

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Her family doesnt know what has happened to her since. They told the Daily Mail police waited 10 days after Kobayashi went missing to contact them.

Before she disappeared, Kobayashi sent cryptic texts to a friend saying she had been tricked pretty much into giving away all my funds to someone I thought I loved. Her sister, Sydni Kobayashi, described the texts as really weird. Kobayashi added that she was scared and couldnt come back home.

Surveillance footage shows Hannah Kobayashi arriving at Los Angeles International Airport on November 8 (Sydni Kobayashi/Facebook)

Then the texts stopped. Kobayashi is 5ft 10ins and weighs about 140 pounds. She has brown hair and eyes, and fair skin with freckles.

Her family recently flew to Los Angeles to search for her themselves.

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Pidgeon said of the LAPD: As of today the police have reached out to family members who last spoke with Hannah.

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.

She continued: 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.

Ryan Kobayashi, the missing womans father, handed out missing persons flyers to people on the street. He told the outlet he will do everything in his power until she is found.

The 30-year-old vanished last week while traveling from Hawaii to New York City via LA (Sydni Kobayashi/Facebook)

Shes a wonderful person who brings joy to so many people, he said.

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The New York City trip was a bucket list item for Hannah Kobayashi. She was set to meet one of her aunts, Geordan Montalvo and her husband Bob, in New York. All of them had tickets for a concert on November 12.

One of her former boyfriends was on the plane ride with her from Maui to Los Angeles. Montalvo said the ex-boyfriend is being helpful with the search.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  The family of Bennie Edwards, a homeless man killed in an officer-involved shooting in December 2020, has reached a settlement with the City of Oklahoma City for over $1 million.

60-year-old Edwards was known to some of the community as the flower man for selling bouquets on the street, and had a history of mental illness.

RELATED COVERAGE: OK County DA drops charges against police officers in three high-profile cases

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Edwards was shot and killed by Oklahoma City Police officers at a convenience store near Pennsylvania Avenue and Hefner Road after reports that he was bothering people in the area.

Three officers opened fire after he pulled out a knife and ran towards them. Oklahoma County District Attorney Vickie Behenna cleared the officers of wrongdoing in July 2023.

Edwards family then filed a civil lawsuit, and recently reached a agreement with the city for $1.05 million.

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MCNEAL  Bryan Fontes joined three workers on the field and pulled a broadfork back to dig out the remainder of the sweet potato harvest. Only a few rows of June corn, Sonoran red okra, and some chile were left from the summer season as he prepared the ground for spinach, broccoli, winter peas and cover crops.

For the past four years, Fontes, the owner of Double Adobe Farms has grown organic vegetables and grains on land his grandfather once farmed and entered contracts to sell organic produce to schools and hospitals in Tucson. He owns 65 acres of land but can only irrigate two until the state processes the necessary paperwork under the new Douglas Active Management Area or AMA.

His situation is unusual, tied to when the land he bought was last farmed. Still, other growers in the region are trying to make sense of a new set of rules and restrictions that will govern the basin starting in 2027 and determine how it will affect their operation.

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The AMA, which establishes regulations for pumping and using groundwater over about 550 square miles in southeastern Cochise County, was created after citizens concerned over local wells going dry and the aquifer's future took the issue to the ballot. Most residents in the basin get their water from a provider, but a small percentage depend entirely on private wells.

The Arizona Department of Water Resources designated the AMA in December 2022 and the water agency presented its proposal for the first management plan in early November.

Agriculture, the biggest water use in the basin, won't be the only sector facing conservation measures, yet its savings would have the greatest impact. From 1990 to 2022, farms doubled their water use in the basin even though the amount of land farmed didn't change considerably. Agriculture is expected to reduce water use by 35,200 acre-feet in the next 10 years under the management plan.

Round 5,000-pound bales of cotton by the side of Dragoon Road in Cochise County.

An acre-foot is about 326,000 gallons, enough to cover an acre of land with one foot of water. In Arizona, an acre-foot is enough to serve about three domestic households for a year.

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Most local farmers are worried about the future of their community and livelihood. Some have watched wells go dry, and hope they can pass the farm down to their family, said Carol Holden, director of the University of Arizona Cochise Cooperative. She also chairs the Sulphur Springs Water Alliance, a group trying to foster conservation and find common-ground solutions to groundwater issues in the Willcox and Douglas basins.

Bryan Fontes harvests the last of his sweet potato crop in Double Adobe Farms with a small crew.

Yet local sentiment toward management and regulations lands on the extremes, she said. A fraction of the growers she has encountered, view it as a problem that doesn't concern them.

"They have the deep pockets to drill deeper, and they've been reluctant to be involved with our group," she said.

The alliance hasn't taken a stand on the AMA but believes there should be legislative amendments to it or a redesignation that addresses the unique reality of the basins.

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Growers, agriculture experts, and domestic water users pointed at a public hearing on Nov. 6 to some of the issues they see in the management plan; some believe the conservation goals are too weak. The agency has until December 6 to review them and issue a final plan but there is no assurance the comments will be incorporated.

"I like to think that we can farm here for the next 100 years or so," said Fontes, who sees a need for groundwater management but didn't find relief in the creation of an AMA.

Depleting reserves: In the 'wild West' of groundwater use, Hobbs hears about dry wells, ground fissures

'Against agronomy and science'

Some growers like Fontes were limited after voters approved the AMA. Land that had not been irrigated in the five years before the vote doesn't have water rights unless the owner can prove they made a "substantial capital investment."

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Fontes' grandfather had sold part of the farmland back in the 1980s, and it sat unplanted for a long time. Fontes got a loan to buy it back in 2022 but because the land hadn't been farmed in years, he was prohibited from growing on it when the AMA came.

It doesn't prevent him from growing those acres in the future, if and when the agency processes his claim, but almost three years, and six growing seasons, will have gone by. By law, the water agency will start going through applications in April 2025. They received 198 and it could take months to process them all.

Fontes will plant only two acres to stay compliant, and while he is not overly worried about it, he said the wait carries costs.

"There's a market need for the crop right now," Fontes said, referring to contracts and clients he and other produce growers have cultivated. "I could lose these opportunities. Those don't come every day."

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Fontes, who went full-time into farming four years ago after working as an agriculture consultant, isn't as worried about what the AMA will do to him as what it could do to his counterparts and friends' farms.

"The monetary investment for them is huge," he said. "Something like this could bankrupt them."

Specifically, orchards could be severely affected if the management plan doesn't correct the consumptive water use of pecans.

The "irrigation water duty" is one base component of agriculture conservation programs of the AMA, and determines the maximum amount of water growers can get on a piece of land. To calculate it, the agency will consider the crop history and the water necessary to grow those crops.

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The plan assigns 3.6 acre-feet of water to pecan orchards without ground cover. According to UA comprehensive studies in Cochise County orchards, that number should be over 5 acre-feet.

"The science says that you need at least 52 inches for 100% efficiency, consumptive use. And if I add the heat and climate change over the past decades, it's really 55 inches. That consumptive use is too low," said Ethan Orr, associate director of the UA Cooperative Extension, who went to the Douglas AMA public hearing on November 6 to provide comments.

Local orchard owners can only cut so much before yields and quality fall, said Fontes, who earned a master's from New Mexico State University and worked with nut growers.

Fourteen pecan growers also submitted comments to the agency, saying that the number is unprecedented, goes "against agronomy and science" and would set them up for failure.

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State rules: Arizona proposes to regulate groundwater in shrinking Willcox Basin aquifers

Growers will be tied to historic water use

Next to Fontes, his cousin Aaron Cardona, owner of Arevalo Farms, grows 15 acres of vegetables and 10 acres of pecans. He has about 50 more acres, some of which he rotates to grow his vegetable crops to avoid pest pressure and protect soil health. With the AMA, his crop choices will become limited.

"This is where I think it's unfair to the small guy," said Cardona about the AMA. He has been active in groundwater discussions, organizing with other growers, and submitting comments to the agency. He volunteered and was selected to serve in the Groundwater Users Advisory Council for the Douglas AMA.

Watermelons are an annual crop for Cardona. The water necessary to grow them, about 2.9 acre-feet of water a year, is what he will be allotted by the AMA on many of those acres. He wouldn't be able to expand his orchard even if he had the capital to do it, and could not even add grape vines because they use more water than watermelons.

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He and other growers shared these concerns. Water allotments are fixed. The provisions would give unfair allotments to growers using the least water, while farmers growing crops that require more water would keep at a higher water allotment.

ADWR tried to respond to these comments and created a tier system to demand a higher irrigation efficiency from the biggest farms and give "a generous irrigation efficiency" to the smaller growers, said AMA Director Natalie Mast.

"This gives them a more generous allotment at the end of the day," she said.

Growers would also be able to use "flex accounts" to use more or less of their annual allotment and get credit for it the next year.

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Farms under 10 acres will be exempt from efficiency requirements. Farms from 10 to 99 acres must achieve 80% efficiency, from 100 to 499 acres; 83%, and above 500 acres, 85%. A 3% difference does not cut it, according to Cardona.

"Eight years of me (growing 15 acres of watermelon) equals one year of a pivot. So why should I get taxed the same?" he asked.

He still thinks the gradual cuts from the management plan, "is the start of going somewhere." Growers agreed to cut 640 acre-feet of water every year, incrementally, more than the 340 acre-feet a year ADWR had suggested. That represents a 1% reduction in water reduction that will climb to 10% in year 10, a "reasonable ask for the first plan" in his view. The change will allow growers to adapt. Doing it overnight would bankrupt them.

"This is gradual and where we are heading. Maybe we will not be able to farm what we used to, we are going to have to shift it up and plan accordingly over that 10 year period," he said. By years four and five, it will get harder. "It's essentially going to stop expansion, which is a good thing."

Clara Migoya covers agriculture and water issues for The Arizona Republic and azcentral. Send tips or questions to clara.migoya@arizonarepublic.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Groundwater regulations raise concerns among southern Arizona growers
A fashion company boss was allegedly spying on his models with a hidden camera in the changing room of his Chelsea office, according to one catwalker who quit in disgust.

Stefano Larese DeSanto, whose West 27th Street office, The Hive, serves as a fashion design house for individuals and businesses, admitted to placing the wi-fi-connected cam when freaked-out models found it under a table and called the cops, according to a lawsuit.

The alleged confession left Charlotte Cobb  an account executive who also modeled clothes for The Hive and who had recently used the changing room  horrified and deeply disturbed, she said in court papers.

The couple have a sprawling estate in the Hamptons. outeast.com

Cobb was hired in May 2022, eager to make her way in the fashion industry when she began working for DeSanto and his wife Julia, Italian citizens who live in an $8.4 million Southampton estate on nine acres.

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DeSanto, 60, was difficult to work for, and apparently grew increasingly paranoid, Cobb said in her Manhattan Federal Court filing, noting that he began installing more and more cameras throughout the workspace, including cameras pointed directly behind the heads of staff members sitting at their desks.

The camera was first found in the changing room in February, prompting the worker who found it to place it lens down so it couldnt film anyone, Cobb said in her sexual harassment claim against DeSanto, his wife Julia, 57, and the business.

A week later the camera was found again, this time hidden under a table at waist-height and focused on a spot in the room that offered the most space for an individual changing their clothes.

Given its placement, the camera could serve no purpose other than to take images of unsuspecting individuals as they undressed, Cobb said in court papers. It . . . would not have been found unless someone got down on the floor and looked in the exact right spot.

The Hive is a fashion design hub in Chelsea. google

A pall was cast across the office as other employees and interns dealt with the implications of the changing room camera, according to Cobbs complaint, which noted she used the room to change clothes to model the outfits for potential buyers.

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When Cobb realized the camera was still there, she called the NYPD, who sent officers to investigate. DeSanto, who apparently saw the cops show up thanks to his surveillance system, called the office demanding to speak with them.

Cobb claimed she could hear him demanding the police leave and his angry admission that he placed the camera in the changing room, she said in the litigation.

An investigation of the incident is ongoing, according to the NYPD.

The DeSantos and The Hive did not respond to messages seeking comment.

Cobb, who is seeking unspecified damages, is suing for harassment and discrimination.

What happened to Charlotte is more than an invasion of privacy. Its a blatant abuse of power and a failure to ensure workplace safety, Cobbs lawyer, Christian Hudson, said in a statement.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  It is easier than ever to sell your stuff thanks to social media, but it also makes it easier to fall victim to thieves.

Within just two days, two separate Facebook Marketplace meet ups at a metro apartment complex took a bad turn.

A diamond wedding ring and an iPhone 16 Pro, both of high value and for sale, caught the eyes of two men who made arrangements to pay and pick it up.

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What happened next, police say everyone should be aware of.

Its a very common practice these days to sell things online, it seems that it is becoming more and more popular but there are safe ways you can still go about it, Dillion Quirk with OKCPD said.

Just last month, police gave tips and ways to go about online purchases following another Facebook Marketplace deal gone wrong.

LOCAL NEWS: Metro robbery victim issues warning after social media sale goes wrong

However, two weeks ago, two more people fell victim.

According to the affidavit, a diamond wedding ring was for sale on Facebook Marketplace.

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An inquiry was made to purchase it, and they chose Ambassador Apartments as the meet up location.

A man wearing a wig showed up and while going over the paperwork to make sure the diamond ring was real, the suspect reached into the car, grabbed the ring, and took off.

While police were investigating the robbery, they were informed of another incident that took place at those apartments two days prior.

An iPhone 16 Pro being sold, but when they met, a similar story played out. A man wearing a wig showed up and ended up stealing the phone.

Anytime someone ask you to meet at a place you are not familiar with, comfortable or know the area at all, it might not be a good sign to meet at that spot, Quirk said.

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A day later, the ring was sold at a pawn shop in Del City, helping track down the individuals responsible.

Turns out, the two robberies were connected.

Keith Williams III and Kaylon Williams were both arrested and taken to the Oklahoma County Jail accused of working together in both incidents.

Agree to meet in a well-lit place, maybe somewhere that has some cameras that youre seen out in public, Quirk said.

Oklahoma City Police say Keith Williams was also linked to a drive by shooting that took place a few days after the robberies.

Both men face multiple 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 KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Springfield, Ohio  Ketlie Moise fled unspeakable violence in her homeland of Haiti hoping to find peace and a slice of the American dream, settling in Springfield, Ohio.

"I stay here," Moise told CBS News. "I do two jobs to make my business. That's why I don't go back to Haiti."

Moise saved money for years and recently opened a restaurant. She is one of the thousands of Haitian migrants building a life in Springfield who now find themselves in the crosshairs of the incoming Trump administration. About 12,000 to 15,000 Haitians reside in the Springfield area, according to city estimates.

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It was during President-elect Donald Trump's Sept. 10 debate with Vice President Kamala Harris that Springfield came to forefront, when Trump repeated false and debunked claims about the Haitian migrants living there. Local officials have said there are no credible reports to back up such allegations.

Trump made the issue of mass deportations a major pillar of his presidential campaign.

"We're going to have the largest deportation in the history of our country, and we're going to start with Springfield and Aurora," Trump told reporters on Sept. 13, referring to Aurora, Colorado, another city Trump has attempted to spotlight.

He announced last week would be tapping Tom Homan  who served as acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during his first term  as his so-called "border czar" to oversee that process.

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Moise, like most fellow Haitians in Springfield, is here legally through Temporary Protected Status, which Trump has vowed to end. The TPS program allows federal officials to grant deportation relief and work authorization to migrants from countries beset by war, environmental disaster or another "extraordinary" crisis.

Moise says she knows about 10 friends and neighbors who have recently left Springfield, along with several restaurant employees.

She said she also learned while in Springfield that her mother was fatally shot at their family's business in Haiti.

"I'm scared because my business in Haiti was bombed, I lost my mom," Moise told CBS News. "Someone come in the business, they shoot my mom with a gun, bomb my businessIf I get deportation to go back to Haiti, for me especially, I'm going to die, I'm going to be dead."

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Moise's own daughter is among those who have left Springfield. Moise said that when her daughter told her she wanted to leave, she considered joining her.



"Yes, I keep thinking about that. I don't know where I gonna go, but I keep thinking about that," Moise said.

Faith is fueling Moise's motivation to remain in Springfield and run her restaurant, while her business and her future hang in the balance.

"We're hoping that everything works out the way it's supposed to work out," she said. "God has a way of working everything out."

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Federal and local officials have joined forces to help Los Angeles Unified School District students, parents and staff learn how to stay safe online.

The partnership, involving the U.S. Attorneys Office, LAUSD and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), will provide age-appropriate training on cyber safety, focusing on protecting children from online sexual exploitation.

The program is part of HSIs Project iGuardian, a national initiative aimed at combating the rising threat of child sexual exploitation.

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Nothing is more important than protecting and uplifting our children, said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada. We are proud to team up with LAUSD and HSI to expand on that work so that we can educate more young people about the dangers posed by the internet and social media.

The formal agreement will provide tailored presentations for preteens, teenagers, younger children, staff and parents, officials said.

Special agents will visit schools to teach kids how to avoid online threats and what to do if they encounter something dangerous.

This partnership with LAUSD and DOJ is taking a proactive approach to educating students and trusted adults about the dangers our children face online, said Eddy Wang, HSIs Los Angeles special agent in charge.

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LAUSD is the second-largest school district in the nation and serves more than 600,000 students.

Alfonzo Webb, LAUSDs senior director of Climate Culture, said the district is committed to keeping students safe. By working together, we will provide age-appropriate presentations, resources, and guidance to help foster safer online environments for students, Webb said.

This effort is part of Project Safe Childhood, a national program started by the Department of Justice to fight child exploitation and abuse. For more information, 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 KTLA.
As open enrollment for Affordable Care Act plans continues through Jan. 15, youre likely seeing fewer social media ads promising monthly cash cards worth hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars that you can use for groceries, medical bills, rent and other expenses.

But dont worry. You havent missed out on any windfalls. Clicking on one of those ads would not have provided you with a cash card  at least not worth hundreds or thousands.

But you might have found yourself switched to a health insurance plan you did not authorize, unable to afford treatment for an unforeseen medical emergency, and owing thousands of dollars to the IRS, according to an ongoing lawsuit against companies and individuals who plaintiffs say masterminded the ads and alleged scams committed against millions of people who responded to them.

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The absence of those once-ubiquitous ads are likely a result of the federal government suspending access to the ACA marketplace for two companies that market health insurance out of South Florida offices, amid accusations they used fraudulent ads to lure customers and then switched their insurance plans and agents without their knowledge.

In its suspension letter, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) cited credible allegations of misconduct in the agencys decision to suspend the abilities of two companies  TrueCoverage (doing business as Inshura) and BenefitAlign  to transact information with the marketplace.

CMS licenses and monitors agencies that use their own websites and information technology platforms to enroll health insurance customers in ACA plans offered in the federal marketplace.

Suit names long list of defendants

The alleged scheme affected millions of consumers, according to a lawsuit winding its way through U.S. District Court in Fort Lauderdale that seeks class-action status.

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An amended version of the suit, filed in August, increased the number of defendants from six to 12:

 TrueCoverage LLC, an Albuquerque, New Mexico-based health insurance agency with large offices in Miami, Miramar and Deerfield Beach. TrueCoverage is a sub-tenant of the South Florida Sun Sentinel in a building leased by the newspaper in Deerfield Beach.

 Enhance Health LLC, a Sunrise-based health insurance agency that the lawsuit says was founded by Matthew Herman, also named as a defendant, with a $150 million investment from hedge fund Bain Capitals insurance division. Bain Capital Insurance Fund LP is also a defendant.

 Speridian Technologies LLC, accused in the lawsuit of establishing two direct enrollment platforms that provided TrueCoverage and other agencies access to the ACA marketplace.

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 Benefitalign LLC, identified in the suit as one of the direct enrollment platforms created by Speridian. Like Speridian and TrueCoverage, the company is based in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

 Number One Prospecting LLC, doing business as Minerva Marketing, based in Fort Lauderdale, and its founder, Brandon Bowsky, accused of developing the social media ads that drove customers  or leads  to the health insurance agencies.

 Digital Media Solutions LLC, doing business as Protect Health, a Miami-based agency that the suit says bought Minervas fraudulent ads. In September, the company filed for Chapter 11 protection from creditors in United States Bankruptcy Court in Texas, which automatically suspended claims filed against the company.

 Net Health Affiliates Inc., an Aventura-based agency the lawsuit says was associated with Enhance Health and like it, bought leads from Minerva.

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 Garish Panicker, identified in the lawsuit as half-owner of Speridian Global Holdings and day-to-day controller of companies under its umbrella, including TrueCoverage, Benefitalign and Speridian Technologies.

 Matthew Goldfuss, accused by the suit of overseeing and directing TrueCoverages ACA enrollment efforts.

All of the defendants have filed motions to dismiss the lawsuit. The motions deny the allegations and argue that the plaintiffs failed to properly state their claims and lack the standing to file the complaints.

Defendants respond to requests for comment

The Sun Sentinel sent requests for comment and lists of questions about the cases to four separate law firms representing separate groups of defendants.

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Three of the law firms  one representing Brandon Bowsky and Number One Prospecting LLC d/b/a Minerva Marketing, and two others representing Net Health Affiliates Inc. and Bain Capital Insurance Fund  did not respond to the requests.

A representative of Enhance Health LLC and Matthew Herman, Olga M. Vieira of the Miami-based firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP, responded with a short message saying she was glad the newspaper knew a motion to dismiss the charges had been filed by the defendants. She also said that, Enhance has denied all the allegations as reported previously in the media.

Catherine Riedel, a communications specialist representing TrueCoverage LLC, Benefitalign LLC, Speridian Technologies LLC, Girish Panicker and Matthew Goldfuss, issued the following statement:

TrueCoverage takes these allegations very seriously and is responding appropriately. While we cannot comment on ongoing litigation, we strongly believe that the allegations are baseless and without merit.

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Compliance is our business. The TrueCoverage team records and reviews every call with a customer, including during Open Enrollment when roughly 500 agents handle nearly 30,000 calls a day. No customer is enrolled into any policy without a formal verbal consent given by the customer. If any customer calls in as a result of misleading content presented by third-party marketing vendors, agents are trained to correct such misinformation and action is taken against such third-party vendors.

Through Riedel, the defendants declined to answer follow-up questions, including whether the company remains in business, whether it continues to enroll Affordable Care Act clients, and whether it is still operating its New Mexico call center using another affiliated technology platform.

Lawsuit: COVID relief package made scheme possible

The suspension notification from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services letter cites several factors, including the histories of noncompliance and previous suspensions. The letter noted suspicion that TrueCoverage and Benefitalign were storing consumers personally identifiable information in databases located in India and possibly other overseas locations in violation of the centers rules.

The letter also notes allegations against the companies in the pending lawsuit that they engaged in a variety of illegal practices, including violations of the (Racketeer Influenced & Corrupt Organizations, or RICO Act), misuse of consumer (personal identifiable information) and insurance fraud.

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The amended lawsuit filed in August names as plaintiffs five individuals who say their insurance plans were changed and two agencies who say they lost money when they were replaced as agents.

The lawsuit accuses the defendants of 55 counts of wrongdoing, ranging from running ads offering thousands of dollars in cash that they knew would never be provided directly to consumers, switching millions of consumers into different insurance policies without their authorization, misstating their household incomes to make them eligible for $0 premium coverage, and stealing commissions by switching the agents listed in their accounts.

TrueCoverage, Enhance Health, Protect Health, and some of their associates engaged in hundreds of thousands of agent-of-record swaps to steal other agents commissions, the suit states. Using the Benefitalign and Inshura platforms, they created large spreadsheet lists of consumer names, dates of birth and zip codes. They provided those spreadsheets to agents, it says, and instructed them to access platforms linked to the ACA marketplace and change the customers agents of record without telling the client or providing informed consent.

In doing so, they immediately captured the monthly commissions of agents  who had originally worked with the consumers directly to sign them up, the lawsuit asserts.

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TrueCoverage employees who complained about dealing with prospects who called looking for cash cards were routinely chided by supervisors who told them to be vague and keep making money, the suit says.

When the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services began contacting the company in January about customer complaints, the suit says TrueCoverage enrollment supervisor Matthew Goldfuss sent an email instructing agents do not respond.

How it started

The lawsuit states the scheme was made possible in 2021 when Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act in the wake of the COVID pandemic.

The act made it possible for Americans with household incomes between 100% and 150% of the federal poverty level to pay zero in premiums and it enabled those consumers to enroll in ACA plans all year round, instead of during the three-month open enrollment period from November to January.

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Experienced health insurance brokers recognized the opportunity presented by the changes, the lawsuit says. More than 40 million Americans live within 100% and 150% of the federal poverty level, while only 15 million had ACA insurance at the time.

The defendants developed or benefited from online ads, the lawsuit says, which falsely promised hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars per month in cash benefits such as subsidy cards to pay for common expenses like rent, groceries, and gas.

Consumers who clicked on the ads were brought to a landing page that asked a few qualifying questions, and if their answers suggested that they might qualify for a low-cost or no-cost plan, they were provided a phone number to a health insurance agency.

There was a major problem with the plan, according to the lawsuit. Customers believe they are being routed to someone who will send them a free cash card, not enroll them in health insurance. By law, the federal government sends subsidies for ACA plans to insurance companies, and not to individual consumers.

Scripts were developed requiring agents not to mention a cash card, and if a customer mentions a cash card, be vague and tell the caller that only the insurance carrier can provide that information, the lawsuit alleges.

In September, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss the claims. In addition to denying the charges, they argued that the class plaintiffs lacked the standing to make the accusations and failed to demonstrate that they suffered harm. The motion also argued that the lawsuits accusations failed to meet requirements necessary to claim civil violations of the RICO Act.

Miami-based attorney Jason Kellogg, representing the plaintiffs, said he doesnt expect a ruling on the motion to dismiss the case for several months.

The complaint also lists nearly 50 companies, not named as defendants, that it says fed business to TrueCoverage and Enhance Health. Known in the industry as downlines, most operate in office parks throughout South Florida, the lawsuit says.

Complaints from former employees and clients

The lawsuit quotes former TrueCoverage employees complaining about having to work with customers lured by false cash promises in the online ads.

A former employee who worked in the companys Deerfield Beach office was quoted in the lawsuit as saying that senior TrueCoverage and Speridian executives knew that consumers were calling in response to the false advertisements promising cash cards and they pressured agents to use them to enroll consumers into ACA plans.

A former human resources manager for TrueCoverage said sales agents frequently complained that they did not feel comfortable having to mislead consumers, the lawsuit said.

Over two dozen agents came to me with these complaints and showed me the false advertisements that consumers who called in were showing them, the lawsuit quoted the former manager as saying.

For much of the time the companies operated, the ACA marketplace enabled agents to easily access customer accounts using their names and Social Security numbers, change their insurance plans and switch their agents of record without their knowledge or authorization, the lawsuit says.

This resulted in customers original agents losing their commissions and many of the policyholders finding out they suddenly owed far more for health care services than their original plans had required, the suit states.

It says that one of the co-plaintiffs health plans was changed at least 22 times without her consent. She first discovered that she had lost her original plan when she sought to renew a prescription for her heart condition and her doctor told her she did not have health insurance, the suit states.

Another co-plaintiffs policy was switched after her husband responded to one of the cash card advertisements, the lawsuit says. That couples insurance plan was switched multiple times after a TrueCoverage agent excluded the wifes income from an application so the couple would qualify. Later, they received bills from the IRS for $4,300 to cover tax credits issued to pay for the plans.

CMS barred TrueCoverage and BenefitAlign from accessing the ACA marketplace.

It said it received more than 90,000 complaints about unauthorized plan switches and more than 183,500 complaints about unauthorized enrollments, but the agency did not attribute all of the complaints to activities by the two companies.

In addition, CMS restricted all agents abilities to alter policyholders enrollment information, the lawsuit says. Now access is allowed only for agents that already represent policyholders or if the policyholder participates in a three-way call with an agent and a marketplace employee.

Between June and October, the agency barred 850 agents and brokers from accessing the marketplace for reasonable suspicion of fraudulent or abusive conduct related to unauthorized enrollments or unauthorized plan switches, according to an October CMS news release.

The changes resulted in a dramatic and sustained drop in unauthorized activity, including a nearly 70% decrease in plan changes associated with an agent or broker and a nearly 90% decrease in changes to agent or broker commission information, the release said.

It added that while consumers were often unaware of such changes, the opportunity to make them provided significant financial incentive for non-compliant agents and brokers.

But CMS restrictions might be having unintended consequences for law-abiding agents and brokers.

A story published by Insurance News Net on Nov. 11 quoted the president of the Health Agents for America (HAFA) trade group as saying agents are being suspended by CMS after being flagged by a mysterious algorithm that no one can figure out.

The story quotes HAFA president Ronnell Nolan as surmising, maybe they wrote too many policies on the same day for people who have the same income or theyre writing too many policies on people of a certain occupation.

Nolan continued, We have members who have thousands of ACA clients. They cant update or renew their clients. So those consumers have lost access to their professional agent, which is simply unfair.

Ron Hurtibise covers business and consumer issues for the South Florida Sun Sentinel. He can be reached by phone at 954-356-4071, on Twitter @ronhurtibise or by email at rhurtibise@sunsentinel.com.
(KRON)  Methamphetamine was found on an armed felon walking the streets of Vallejo, according to the Vallejo Police Department.

On Tuesday, Vallejo PD received multiple calls regarding an armed man casually walking near Tennessee and Broadway streets. Police said officers located the subject walking on Tuolumne Street near Cassady Street.

VPD said the suspect admitted to carrying a loaded firearm and officers found the gun inside his jacket pocket. As police were searching the suspect, police said they found a significant amount of methamphetamine.

Image provided by the Vallejo Police Department

Man convicted of Hayes Valley quadruple murder

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Officers discovered the suspect was a convicted felon with two arrest warrants for arson and vandalism.

The suspect was arrested and booked into the Solano County Jail for being a felon in possession of a firearm and a controlled substance.

VPD said the gun, ammunition and narcotics were booked into 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 KRON4.
There is no challenge more urgent in the Homeland than countering illicit fentanyl that is driving overdose deaths like a weapon of mass destruction.

So said Dr. Liz Sherwood-Randall, President Joe Bidens homeland security advisor in remarks to the Soufan Centers Global Summit on Counterterrorism and Political Violence posted to the White House website on September 13.

It wasnt a fluke.

Days later Advisor Sherwood-Randall doubled down in an address to the Presidents Summit of the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats on September 24: I have devoted much of my life to countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. I view fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction. The lessons from that enduring challenge are directly relevant to the fight against illicit fentanyl and synthetic drugs today. The remarks were likewise posted to the White House website.

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With those statements, Sherwood-Randall earned the distinction of becoming the first senior official in the Biden Administration to formally and publicly recognize illicit fentanyl as a Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD).

Her perspective is far from a novel one. Over the past five years, what began as a fringe idea scoffed at by mainstream media and politicians has become mainstream. In the current Congress, there are no fewer than three separate pieces of legislation attempting to compel the Biden Administration to give illicit fentanyl WMD status: a resolution from Congressman Neal Dunn, R-Florida, a bill from Congresswoman Lauren Boebert, R-Colorado, and a bill from Congressman Brad Wenstrup, M.D., R-Ohio.

In September of 2022, a bipartisan group of 19 attorneys general led by AGs Ashley Moody, R-Florida, and William Tong, D-Connecticut, issued an open letter to Biden requesting WMD designation of illicit fentanyl.

A petition organized by the national nonprofit organization Families Against Fentanyl currently has over 85,000 signatures, with numbers growing by the day.

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The most recent provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) show an estimated 107,543 drug-related deaths in the United States in 2023  the third straight year in which drug fatalities topped 100,000. The driver of these stubbornly (and unacceptably) high numbers? Synthetic opioids, which accounted for a projected 74,702 of 2023s dead.

For its responsibility for mass nationwide death alone, illicit fentanyl should be declared a WMD, but Sherwood-Randalls remarks  spoken in her official capacity as a key member of the presidents National Security Council  highlight the very real threat illicit fentanyl poses to our nations defense.

In 2022, a report issued by the Presidents Commission on Combating Synthetic Opioid Trafficking concluded that sky-high drug-deaths represented a threat to the national security and economic well-being of the United States. That same report also found that illicit synthetic opioids have the effect of a slow-motion weapon of mass destruction.

Such opioids also have the potential to become a fast-motion weapon of mass destruction with the potential to be repurposed to affect a mass-casualty event. A 2022 exercise conducted by Harvard Disaster Medicine in Cambridge, Massachusetts explored the results of drone-deployed dummy-opioid aerosol release in a stadium. The results werent pretty  a staggering number of casualties and a full battery of first responders unprepared for dealing with such an attack.

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In equating illicit fentanyl to a WMD, Dr. Sherwood-Randall echoed the actions of the Trump Administration, which was actively considering WMD designation according to an internal DHS memo leaked in 2019 which warned that fentanyl is very likely a viable option for a chemical weapon attack.

In 2021, a bipartisan coalition letter featuring senior national security officials spanning the George W. Bush, Obama, and Trump Administrations implored President Biden to declare illicit fentanyl a WMD. With the words of Dr. Sherwood-Randall, this call now spans four presidential administrations, Democratic and Republican.

Consensus on the need for the federal government to classify illicit fentanyl as a WMD isnt just emerging; its been achieved. In his final months in office, Biden has the opportunity to adopt the advice of his Homeland Security Advisor, issue WMD designation, and add to his legacy as the first president in history who took this necessary, life-saving step.

Steve Yates is the former deputy assistant to the vice president for National Security Affairs (2001  2005) and former chairman of the Idaho Republican Party (2014  2017). James Rauh is the founder of Families Against Fentanyl. Visit familiesagainstfentanyl.org for more info.
An Ohio Fire Inspector and one other person were hospitalized after nearly 1,000 pounds of CO2 was accidentally released into the building.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Around 9:24 a.m. Thursday, the Norton Fire Department and South West Summit Communications received a radio transmission of Mayday, Mayday, Mayday from a Norton Fire inspector, according to a press release posted on Facebook.

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Mayday is universal radio traffic for a firefighter in trouble.

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Crews from the Norton Fire Department and the Norton Police Department responded to help.

The fire inspector, along with an employee of a fire safety company and an employee of a local business were in the process of decommissioning an old CO2 fire suppression system, according to the release.

During the process, a valve failure resulted in the release of approximately 1,000 pounds of CO2, which can be deadly in even small amounts.

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The employee of the local business was able to get themselves out of the building, as well as help the fire safety company employee. The Norton Fire inspector was trapped in the building.

The company employee was able to open up a second exit door, which allowed fire personnel to get the inspector out of the building.

Both the inspector and the fire safety employee were taken to area hospitals in good condition, according to the release.

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The head of Canadas opposition has called for Justin Trudeau to be fired for saying his government would abide by an international arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister.

Pierre Poilievre, the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, which will take on Mr Trudeaus Liberals in next years election, criticised Canadian premier for his extreme views.

Hes interested in arresting the leader of a democratically-elected government, the state of Israel, which has been besieged by terrorists and foreign tyrants attacking its land, Mr Poiliever said in a radio interview in Canada.

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Thats why we need to fire him and get back to a common-sense Conservative government that will stand with all our allies against terrorism and tyrants.

Iddo Moed, the Israeli ambassador to Canada, also attacked Canadas promise to abide by the warrants.

We urge the Canadian government to stand firm in its support of Israels right to defend itself by rejecting and condemning the ICCs decision, Moed said in a statement.

Credit: Times Radio

Mr Trudeau said on Friday that Canada would follow the rulings of the International Criminal Court (ICC) after it issued an arrest warrant for Mr Netanyahu, even if it meant having to arrest the Israeli prime minister on Canadian soil.

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We stand up for international law, and we will abide by all the regulations and rulings of the international courts, Mr Trudeau said. This is just who we are as Canadians.

Melanie Joly, Canadas foreign affairs minister, supported the prime ministers position, saying: We need accountability in our world, and so, based on that, Canada will abide by its obligation under the ICC treaty.

On Thursday, the ICC also issued arrest warrants for Yoav Gallant, the former Israeli defence minister, and Mohammed Deif, the Hamas military chief, for alleged war crimes.

The ICCs decision provoked a global diplomatic firestorm as countries scramble to determine whether and how they would enforce its warrants.

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Downing Street has indicated it would go along with the ICCs decision, but has not committed to this directly in outright terms.

A spokesman for Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, said the UK would always comply with its legal obligations as set out by domestic law, and indeed international law.

The stance is in opposition to that of the US, a long-time ally of the UK and Canada. Joe Biden, the US president, blasted the ICC arrest warrant for Mr Netanyahu as outrageous.

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President-elect Donald Trump announced Friday that firebrand former Trump administration aide Sebastian Gorka will return to the White House in a senior national security role.

In a statement, Trump said that Gorka will be deputy assistant to the president and serve as senior director for counterterrorism, a role housed within the White House National Security Council. He praised Gorka, saying that since 2015, Dr. Gorka has been a tireless advocate for the America First Agenda and the MAGA Movement.

Gorka, born to Hungarian parents in the United Kingdom, was seen as a contender to be deputy national security adviser. He gained prominence as a commentator and purported expert on counterterrorism in conservative media circles and served in the Trump White House in 2017 as strategist and deputy assistant to the president. His views on Islam, in particular comments hes made that violence is an intrinsic part of the Islamic faith, drew controversy, and his academic credentials have been drawn into question.

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Hes also known for his combative approach towards the press, with a penchant for telling reporters to take a long jump off a short pier.

Trump also announced that Alex Wong will be deputy national security adviser, the no. 2 to incoming national security adviser Mike Waltz.

Wong served as deputy assistant secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific affairs and deputy special representative for North Korea in the first Trump administration and was also an adviser to Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Mitt Romneys 2012 presidential campaign. He played a key role in Trumps summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, a detail which Trump noted in his statement.

Wongs future boss, Waltz, praised Trumps decision.

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Alex has a proven record of delivering results during President Trump's first term where he helped negotiate the historic summits with Kim Jong Un that stabilized relations, Waltz wrote on X. He will have an essential role in helping keep America safe!

Robbie Gramer contributed to this report.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Oklahoma City Fire Department responded to a house fire Saturday morning in NW Oklahoma City.

Officials say crews arrived at a home near NW 155th Street and N Pennsylvania Avenue around 1:35 a.m.

OKCFD responded to a house fire in NW OKC Saturday morning. (KFOR)

OKCFD responded to a house fire in NW OKC Saturday morning. (KFOR)

Heavy smoke was seen coming from the attic when crews arrived, and they worked quickly to knock the fire down.

According to OKCFD, residents inside of the home, including an infant, were evacuated from the home safely. No injuries were reported.

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The cause of the fire is 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 KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
December is still a fortnight away, yet it is snowing here in Bristol.

Temperatures dropped below freezing this week  one of several cold snaps residents here are likely to experience before the end of February.

In Ebeneezer Church, Avon, locals have gathered to make use of one of the many so-called warm banks opened in the South West. The community centres offer warm spaces to those who may struggle to heat their homes  and demand for them has soared under Labour.

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It comes as Sir Keir Starmer continues to defend the partys 300 winter fuel raid. Just last year, the Prime Minister described the need for warm banks as a powerful failure of government. Yet many have pointed out that under his leadership, more pensioners than ever will struggle to stay warm.

Analysis uncovered by The Telegraph also revealed a report by Labour in 2017 found 4,000 pensioners would die if the support was revoked.

Widower Bob Smith, 77, is one of 10 million pensioners who will lose 300 this winter because he does not qualify for pension credit. Instead, he uses his local warm bank. My wife died about four years ago, he says. Its warm here.

Smith says for him and many others, Labour has failed to shield vulnerable pensioners from the cold.

My wife died about four years ago  its warm here, says Bob Smith, 77 - Jay Williams

Labour themselves predicted that pensioners would die if they took away the winter fuel payment, he says.

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They forget that as the population grows older, we need more support. This is the grey vote  were not going to forget this.

Ebeneezer Church opens its doors for two hours a day to the cold and vulnerable. This particular hub is run by the Warm Welcome campaign group, a charity started in 2022 as energy prices soared in the wake of Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Former prime minister Gordon Brown, its founding patron, said at the time that without the hubs, half of their guests would have been at home with the heating off.

In recent weeks, a further 500 spaces have opened in the face of soaring demand. But critics argue that while charities are well-meaning, such initiatives are a symptom of, rather than a solution to, a much bigger problem.

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It comes as regulator Ofgem this week announced a further 1.2pc increase in the energy price cap from January. For most households, bills are falling year-on-year, but for pensioners losing out on winter fuel payments, it is set to be the worst winter on record.

Its crippling, says Smith. I have a son and grandchildren but they live 16 miles away.

Im in my mid-seventies now. My parents are gone, and my siblings either live abroad or in other cities  theyre not around the corner.

Despite his circumstances, Smith considers himself lucky. He says he has friends who have been let down by current policy and face a real crisis this winter.

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I know people on the basic state pension and they will therefore not get pension credit  and theyre struggling, he says. They sit with jumpers on and blankets because they cant afford to put the heating on. You think: were a first-world country. Whats going on?

The dozens gathered at Ebeneezer Church are mostly still in three layers of clothing, even with the radiators on full blast.

Labour voter, Joan Broomfield, 95, is furious that winter fuel payments were scrapped with little warning.

People on the old state pension will either go without food or heating, she says.

I think its wrong that Labour has taken away the allowance because now you have these places opening up just so people can stay warm.

Ebeneezer Church opens its doors for two hours a day to the cold and vulnerable, thanks to organiser Stewart North - Jay Williams

The two-hour timeslot the charity has at Ebeneezer Church ends, and Smith and Broomfield move to leave.

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Nevertheless, the silver lining of warm banks, Broomfield says, is that they provide some social benefits. Im the only one left in my family. You can only watch so much television before you start to go round the bend.

Warm Welcome now operates in 4,500 registered spaces across the country. Gordon Brown has yet to comment on the decision to scrap the winter fuel payment  a policy he introduced in 1997 and which he once described as proof of the Britain weve been building together; of a country that showed politics can make a difference.

Meanwhile, Starmer continues to excuse the winter fuel raid. On BBC Radio Merseyside, the Prime Minister on Friday said it makes sense to remove the payments from relatively wealthy pensioners.

When later asked if he might one day regret the policy, he told BBC West Midlands: There are lots of decisions we had to make in the Budget which to be perfectly honest Id had preferred not to have had to make.

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But when you inherit a broken economy and you then find out there is 22bn which does not appear on the books and you need to balance the books, very, very difficult decisions have to be made.

Caroline Abrahams, of charity AgeUK, warns that pensioners are in for a disappointing winter.

She says: 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.

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.

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In a statement, the Government insisted that it is committed to pensioners.

A spokesman said: We are committed to supporting pensioners  with millions set to see their state pension rise by up to 1,900 this parliament through our commitment to the triple lock.

Over a million pensioners will still receive the winter fuel payment, and our drive to boost pension credit take-up has already seen a 152pc increase in claims.

Many others will also benefit from the 150 warm home discount and cold weather payments this winter, while our extension of the household support fund will help with the cost of food, heating and bills.

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WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  It has been more than five years since 45-year-old Christopher Monk was killed in a motorcycle crash in south Wichita. On Friday, the driver who was found to be responsible was sentenced.

Judge Kevin Smith gave Travis Bryson 31 months (2.5 years) in prison for involuntary manslaughter. Bryson also got a year in jail for DUI, but the judge said that time can be served at the same time as the prison sentence.

Long-time Wichita business mourns loss of its leader

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The crash happened late at night on July 21, 2019, at K-15 and I-135. The Kansas Highway Patrol said Bryson, who was 29 at the time, was southbound on I-135 when he lost control of his motorcycle and hit a wall. Monk was a passenger on the motorcycle. He was thrown from the bike and died at the scene.

Bryson was transported to the hospital in critical condition. He was eventually arrested and charged in January 2022.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
This article was originally published in Michigan Advance.

In 12 days, it will be three years since the deadly Oxford High School shooting robbed Michigan of the lives of four students. Parents of the victims of the shooting gathered Monday in Oxford for a news conference to call on the state to open an independent investigation into the events that led to the shooting.

The gunman, who was a student at the school when he opened fired on students and educators on Nov. 30, 2021, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole at the end of 2023 for the deaths of four students. The shooters parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, were also held legally responsible for the shooting in a landmark criminal prosecution for their role in making it possible for their 15-year-old son to commit a mass shooting. The parents were sentenced earlier this year to 10 to 15 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter.

Put Students First: Support Journalism That Exposes Truth and Inspires Action. Donate to The 74

But as other families prepare for Thanksgiving and start early Christmas shopping, parents of the shooting victims are imploring the state to investigate other entities  namely the schools leadership  into what their role was in not preventing the tragedy.

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We are not going anywhere. We will do whatever it takes to drive change, because its not a matter of if a school shooting happens again, but when, said Steve St. Juliana, father of Hana St. Julianna, a student who was killed in the Oxford shooting at age 14.

Its not enough that the shooter and his parents have been held criminally responsible. The parents of the victims said much more needs to be done to understand what happened at Oxford and how other families can be spared the pain of another school shooting in the future.

Steve St. Juliana, father of Hana St. Juliana who was killed in the Oxford High school shooting in 2021 speaks in Oxford, Michigan on Nov. 18, 2024 in support of a state investigation into the events that led up to the shooting. (Anna Liz Nichols)

The shooting could have been prevented had the school responded appropriately to the shooter as a potential threat as he gave several warning signs, asserted one investigation by Guidepost Solutions which concluded in 2023. Nearly half of the individuals investigators requested to talk to did not speak with investigators. Lawyers for Oxford Community Schools, as well as the teachers union discouraged school employees from cooperating in the investigation, the report said.

To implement real change, not simply gun safety legislation as the Michigan Legislature has enacted, the state must find out exactly what happened that permitted a 15-year-old student to open fire on his classmates and teachers at school where the community should be safe, said Buck Myre, father of Tate Myre who was killed in the shooting at age 16.

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This has always been about change  period  nothing else. Its time for our state government to investigate this. Stop hiding; stop making excuses. A Michigan public school was the scene of the shooting. Kids lives were lost. Kids were shot. A teacher was shot. Every kid in school that day has a shooting badge, a shooting badge that they will heavily carry on their chest for the rest of their lives, Myre said. Dont we want to learn from this?

There is an epidemic of school shootings that are killing children, St. Juliana said. And if the state doesnt want more carnage, state agencies need to work together, stop pointing fingers, and get to work on a revelatory investigation.

We should not have to be sitting up here repeatedly saying, Do a damn investigation. Ill paraphrase the governor of Michigan fix the damn system, St. Juliana said, referring to Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmers signature call to fix the damn roads.

Forget about the roads. Keep our kids safe, St. Juliana said.

Buck Myre, father of Tate Myre who was killed in the Oxford High school shooting in 2021 speaks in Oxford, Michigan on Nov. 18, 2024 in support of a state investigation into the events that led up to the shooting. (Anna Liz Nichols)

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel responded to the parents requests for a state investigation, pointing out that her office has offered several times to perform an investigation and the Oxford School Board, Oakland County Prosecutors Office and Oakland County Sheriffs Office have rejected her requests.

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The parents of Tate Myre, Hana St. Juliana, Justin Shilling and Madisyn Baldwin are not simply calling for further prosecutions, but for the state to examine the systems that could prevent a future shooting. Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said in an emailed statement after the press conference Monday that a comprehensive, state-led investigation has the potential to provide that.

We are not aware of any mechanism for our office to refer a matter to the Attorney Generals office when it has not been presented to our office, McDonald said. And what the families are asking for is much broader. We are not aware of any action needed by my office to activate the Attorney Generals authority, but we will do everything possible to enable such an investigation. And my office will fully cooperate with any such investigation.

Nessel said the protocol for her office to perform an investigation is to respect local authority, not use her jurisdiction to supersede local or county level criminal investigations. She added that the Attorney General Department will only join or take on leadership of a criminal investigation or prosecution after local authorities have referred the case to her office.

Both McDonald and Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard have her personal phone number, Nessel said, but neither have requested the attorney generals involvement, although she is still willing to investigate

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We share in the families fatigue over the constant finger-pointing and scapegoating in these investigations and wish our offers to participate at any level had been accepted years ago for my office to conduct an investigation, Nessel said. At this point, nearly three years after the tragedy [it] will definitely be more difficult than if it had been allowed to begin when our earliest or repeated offers were initially made.

McDonald sent a letter and legal opinion on Oct. 9 to St. Juliana in response to his and other families asking for criminal charges against Oxford District members. In the documents, which were provided to the Michigan Advance by St. Juliana, McDonald says Nessel has the authority to perform an investigation without an invitation.

The Attorney Generals Office holds a wide range of powers, which include the investigatory powers that were held at common law. In addition to the investigatory powers, the Attorney Generals office is equipped with its own Criminal Investigations Division  meaning it not only has the authority, but also the resources to investigate potential violations of Michigan law, McDonald wrote to St. Juliana.

Parents on Monday talked about the Attorney Generals Offices ability to subpoena some of the individuals within Oxford Schools who did not talk with Guidepost Solutions investigation. Nessel addressed what she called confusion over what her office is allowed to do. She said her subpoena power can only be triggered when there is probable cause to believe criminal acts were committed.

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In McDonalds letter to St. Juliana, she says although parents have requested charges be filed against individuals at Oxford Schools, she has not seen evidence that would allow me to bring charges against any of those individuals.

 neither my office nor Guidepost can conduct a criminal investigation, McDonald said in the letter to St. Juliana. I can only make decisions based on the information provided to me by law enforcement, and Guidepost must rely on the cooperation of individuals who have information to share that information.

Michigan Advance is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Michigan Advance maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Susan J. Demas for questions: info@michiganadvance.com. Follow Michigan Advance on Facebook and X.
Anti-marijuana forces in Florida knew that Just Say No wouldnt be enough to defeat a measure looking to legalize recreational pot in November.

A majority of Florida voters did back legalizing pot, but the amendment still failed because it fell short of the 60 percent threshold needed for approval. It was a major win for Gov. Ron DeSantis, who used the might of his office to help doom the proposal even as then-presidential candidate Donald Trump said hed be voting for it.

But behind the scenes, it initially was not a sure thing. The opposition campaign mounted by DeSantis allies relied on focus groups and messaging  which was used to drum up needed financial support  to shift away from the usual anti-drug arguments, details of which were shared first with POLITICO.

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The victory here against the increasingly popular legalization of marijuana could inform campaigns in other states.

Instead of focusing on fears of crime or rampant drug use, they placed the spotlight on medical marijuana giant Trulieve, which wound up investing nearly $144 million into the yes campaign. The goal was clear: Persuade voters the amendment was simply a money-making scheme for a corporation.

You will not beat weed by being anti-weed, but by being anti-corporate, said Ryan Tyson, a leading Florida-based pollster and longtime DeSantis adviser who worked on the Vote No On 3 campaign.

It was a strategy that was put together during the dog days of summer, after initial rounds of polling and focus groups showed that Amendment 3 was on the path to passage. Smart & Safe Florida, the political committee that sponsored the initiative, had already begun television ads touting the measure and there was almost no response from anti-marijuana forces.

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The opposition campaign struggled with how to message effectively, finding that typical anti-drug arguments were ineffective in moving even Republican-leaning voters who viewed cannabis legalization as pro-freedom. DeSantis himself constantly refers to the state as the Free State of Florida.

But it was with a focus group in Palm Beach that they learned something important. Black voters who saw the push behind the amendment, including quotes from Truelieve CEO Kim Rivers in a Florida Trend story about the billions of dollars the company would make under recreational legalization, began changing their previously supportive stance.

They later refined the messaging about how the amendment was a corporate greed scheme and presented sequential arguments. By doing so, they were able to flip about 80 percent of participants in focus groups to vote no.



Tyson stressed it was important for ads to go through the arguments in a specific order. The ads first argued how the amendment would create a monopoly for Truelieve (without naming the company directly). They then noted the language doesnt allow people to grow weed at home, followed by highlighting the amendment language protecting pot companies against civil lawsuits. They ended with more traditional anti-drug arguments, such as how the smell created an unwelcome environment for families.

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"You beat this by riding the wave of populist sentiment that our country is consumed in, leaving them wondering, What is it youre not telling me?' Tyson said. The overall message, he added, was, Its not about you, its about them.

The campaign first launched a website with typical anti-drug arguments, which it said was intended to be a distraction to the pro-weed movement, then hit the anti-corporate theme weeks later on TV. The drop off in support didnt show up in polling until a couple of weeks before the election.

The ads didnt tell the full story. One reason Truelieve dominates the market is because of regulations the Florida Legislature created after voters approved medical marijuana in 2016. Twenty-four other companies are licensed for medical sales in Florida. As for the immunity language in the amendment, it was identical to the one for medical marijuana.

It is encouraging to see that the No on 3 campaign agrees that voters overwhelmingly approve of adult access to safe, lab-tested marijuana and, as a result, did not center their messaging around the core issue of legalizing limited amounts of marijuana for adults, but instead muddied the waters with disinformation, the Yes on 3 campaign said in a statement to POLITICO.

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The yes campaign supported letting people grow cannabis at home, though if Amendment 3 had passed, the Legislature would have had to lift an existing ban. The Legislature likewise could provide licenses to additional entities for more weed companies to enter the market.

Nevertheless, the Vote No On 3 messaging plan to make Truelieve a bogeyman, alongside evidence that it could flip public opinion, helped the DeSantis-aligned group approach donors.

Chairing the campaign was James Uthmeier, who simultaneously stayed on as DeSantis chief of staff. He worked with P2 Pathway Public Affairs, which featured strategists from DeSantis unsuccessful presidential bid, including Tyson as well as Phil Cox and Generra Peck, the former adviser and chief strategist, respectively. Also involved was Consensus Communications president Tre Evers, who was chief executive of Never Back Down, the DeSantis-supporting presidential super PAC.



They were up against a couple of familiar foes. The Smart & Safe campaign had hired Axiom Strategies, the firm owned by Jeff Roe, the former DeSantis ally who ran Never Back Down and resigned before the Iowa caucuses. And while Trump said he would vote to support the amendment, it proved to sway voters little as he made no major push aside from a post on Truth Social.

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The top contributor for the opposition effort wound up being Citadel CEO Ken Griffin, who initially donated $12 million to the cause and penned a Miami Herald op-ed that drew attention to the windfall large marijuana dispensaries were poised to receive. In the closing days before the election, Griffin added to his total.

In all, the opposition effort raised $40 million, including donations that flowed through the Republican Party of Florida  which used a campaign finance loophole to purchase ad time at a cheaper rate than a traditional political committee.

Even though the amendment opponents said they did not coordinate their messaging, the might from within DeSantis state government helped as well. For instance, Floridas Department of Children and Families used $4 million in opioid settlement money advertising marijuanas health risks for teenagers, the Tampa Bay Times found.

DeSantis himself, as well as Florida first lady Casey DeSantis, started hitting the same anti-corporate talking points in the weeks leading up to the election with a series of public appearances that the governors office billed as press conferences.

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The framing fit into other clashes DeSantis had with corporations, including Walt Disney World, big tech companies and challenging businesses over environmental, social and governance goals.

Amendment 3 is being bankrolled by one big weed company, DeSantis said on Fox News. Theyre not doing that because they care about the best interests of Florida. Theyre doing it because they want to make profits.
UMATILLA, Fla. (WFLA)  A Eustis man is behind bars after he reportedly attacked children at a bus stop on Friday, the Lake County Sheriffs Office said.

According to investigators, 59-year-old Arthur James Young attempted to run over three middle schoolers while they waited for their bus just after 8:30 a.m.

Deputies reported that a person at the scene intervened to protect the children and called 9-1-1.

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After the incident, Young reportedly fled the scene before stopping to attack a teenage girl walking to the bus stop. Young allegedly exited his black Dodge Ram pickup and physically grabbed the teen, holding her down and attempting to choke her before other citizens came to her rescue.

The immediate and heroic actions of the complainant and other residents in the area likely saved lives and allowed responding law enforcement personnel to apprehend Young within minutes of the initial call being received, the sheriffs office said in a statement.

Young was taken to a local hospital for evaluation and is being charged with aggravated assault, child abuse, and kidnapping.

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A Florida man scammed a woman out of $250,000 by posing as Elon Musk, police say.

The scam involved a fake Facebook account promising high returns on investments.

Musk's identity is frequently used in scams, including deepfake crypto schemes.

A Florida man pretending to be billionaire Elon Musk on Facebook scammed an older woman out of over $250,000, police say.

Police arrested Jeffrey Moynihan, Jr., 56, earlier this week for grand theft. The Bradenton Police Department said in a statement that financial records show the woman from Texas sent at least $250,000 to Moynihan's business in Florida.

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The victim's husband told police that she sent "approximately $600,000" to Moynihan in total.

Bradenton police say they arrested Moynihan at his home on November 19, noting that the real Elon Musk was likely busy at the time with the 6th test flight of the SpaceX Starship, which occurred the same day.

The 74-year-old victim befriended someone named "Elon Musk" on Facebook in 2023, police said. The woman messaged with the fake account for "several months" as he encouraged her to invest in his businesses.

The fake Musk account promised the woman a $55 million investment return. Instead, the money went directly into bank accounts owned by Moynihan and his business, Jeff's Painting and Pressure Washing, LLC, police said.

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In body camera footage released by police, Moynihan can be heard asking why the police have a warrant for his arrest.

"Grand theft of what?" Moynihan asks in the video.

It is unclear if Moynihan has hired an attorney. The Bradenton Police Department did not immediately return a request for comment.

Musk has become the face of many scams worldwide over the past few years. In May, authorities in Hong Kong warned that crypto scammers were using AI deepfake videos of Musk to promote fake trading websites.

One Australian man lost $50,000 after registering his details through an online crypto form he found through a deepfake interview with Musk on social media in June. Another woman in Korea gave $50,000 to a scammer who she fell in love with while they pretended to be Musk on Instagram.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo, a healthcare skeptic who has been mentioned for possible jobs in the Trump administration, issued an advisory Friday calling on Florida communities to stop fluoridating their water supplies.

Ladapo, citing controversial studies about the potential negative health impacts of fluoridation, made the announcement at a press conference at Winter Haven, where officials announced last week they would halt water fluoridation in that city by the end of 2024.

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.

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The advisory comes after U.S. president-elect Donald Trump announced he intends to appoint Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has been openly critical of community water fluoridation, as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Prior to Trumps victory in the election, Kennedy had promised Trump will call to halt fluoridation on his first day in office as president.

U.S. communities began fluoridating water in 1945, and the resulting reduction in tooth decay has been hailed as one of the great public health victories of the 20th century. But the practice has long generated some amount of controversy, and recently the controversy has grown.

Ladapos advisory  like Kennedys remarks  mentions studies that show negative impacts to health linked to fluoridation, including reduction of IQ for unborn children, increased risk for ADHD and skeletal fluorosis and negative impacts to the thyroid gland. The studies, however, are far from conclusive.

The advisory also mentions the practice has been has been ended in municipalities across the U.S. and in several European countries like France and Germany, and that fluoride is still widely available through other sources like toothpastes and mouthwashes, as well as being directly provided and applied by dental providers.

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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, the advisory reads.

Ashley Malin, an assistant professor in the University of Floridas Epidemiology Department who has studied fluorides effects in pregnant women, told KFF Health News there is evidence that fluoride exposure has been associated with the diseases and disorders that RFK listed, but with caveats.

She said some studies show that higher fluoride exposure, particularly during pregnancy, is associated with reduced child IQ, and that prenatal exposure also is linked to decreased intellectual functioning. However, many of these studies took place in countries outside the U.S., some of which put fluoride in their drinking water at twice the United States recommended level.

In a statement sent to the Orlando Sentinel after the release of Ladapos advisory, the Florida Dental Association said it strongly supports community water fluoridation at optimal levels.

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Fluoride is naturally present in the water in many parts of the country, including Florida, and has been researched for more than 80 years, the statement said. The overwhelming, credible scientific evidence consistently indicates that fluoridation of community water supplies is safe and effective at preventing and repairing tooth decay.

As a result, fluoride has been added to community water supplies nationwide for over 75 years and the CDC considers community water fluoridation one of the greatest public health achievements of the 20th century.

The advisory states that an estimated 70% of Florida communities practice water fluoridation.

Ladapo has drawn widespread criticism for other positions he has taken on matters of public health, most prominently his vigorous opposition to mRNA-based vaccines against COVID, which he claims are unsafe. A wide range of experts have said Ladapo has thoroughly misrepresented the facts and studies about that vaccine technology, which comprise most of the approved COVID vaccines.

He also drew criticism for failing to urge parents to vaccinate their children or keep unvaccinated students home from school during an alert advising the Ft. Lauderdale community of a February measles outbreak.
A food vendor with a concealed carry license shot and killed an armed man in the Austin neighborhood Friday night, according to Chicago police.

The food vendor, a 35-year-old man, was approached around 8:50 p.m. on the 300 block of South Central Avenue by an unknown man.

There was a brief struggle between the two men, where the attacker pulled out a gun, police said. The food vendor then produced a firearm, and exchanged gunfire with the second man, police said.

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The second gunman suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his body, police said. He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He was later identified as Demitrius Manning, 34, according to the Cook County medical examiners office.

The vendor was wounded in the right arm and was taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition. Police said they recovered two firearms at the scene, and detectives were investigating.
Bruce Douglas Konolds victim told the court Friday that pastors are supposed to be people you can trust.

But the 63-year-old Konold betrayed me, betrayed me at my most vulnerable moments and in the most humiliating ways, the college-aged woman said.

Your Honor, I was shamelessly exploited by a man who took pleasure in abusing his position as a pastor to find sexual satisfaction through my vulnerability, she said. My suffering was a means to his end.

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Dakota County District Judge Ann Offermann on Friday sentenced Konold to 90 days in jail. The judge stayed the imposition of a two-year prison sentence, making it possible for Konolds conviction to be reduced to a misdemeanor after 10 years of supervised probation.

A jury in September found Konold guilty of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct in 2021 involving the former parishioner, finding the relationship took place while he was giving her ongoing religious advice, which is a felony in Minnesota. They were hung on a more serious third-degree charge against Konold and acquitted him of two similar charges involving a second parishioner.

Konold was the lead pastor at Eagan Hills Church for 25 years until he resigned in February 2022, shortly after his then-wife learned of his sexual relations with the woman. She ended their 32-year marriage soon after charges were filed.

The church is affiliated with the evangelical Christian and Missionary Alliance.

Sought to be a father figure

According to the criminal complaint, the victim began attending the church in January 2021. She said the next month Konold told her she needed a father figure and began providing her with spiritual counseling and guidance on a regular basis.

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The then-20-year-old woman told police in March 2022 that Konold fondled her at his home in 2021 and it led to numerous sexual encounters at his home, the church, hotels and in his vehicle.

During a break from college, she said Konold suggested she stay at his home. One day, Konold gave her several alcoholic drinks and she felt foggy and had difficulty walking. She said he then touched her genitals above her clothing and tried to remove her clothes several times before she pushed him away.

Konold began sending the woman sexual messages regularly and suggested she move into his home at the end of her school year. He got her a cleaning job at the church.

Sexual acts began in May 2021, she said, and continued until the end of the year. She described to police how she had conflicting emotions about the incidents, explaining that there were certain incidents that didnt feel consensual, the complaint read.

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She said Konolds wife approached her in December 2021 and told her to never show her face again at the church and to disappear completely, according to the complaint.

Police in March 2022 also spoke with a 30-year-old woman who said she and her husband attended Konolds church for about 10 years and that in 2020 he offered her a personal assistant job at the church.

She said Konold first fondled her at his home in June 2020 and she agreed to have sex with him at a hotel the following November after he promised to leave her alone afterward. She said it later led to numerous sexual encounters, which occurred at his home, her home, a hotel and in his vehicle in places near the church and Lebanon Hills Regional Park.

The complaint alleged that during the time of the sexual acts, the woman continued to regularly meet with Konold for one-on-one spiritual counseling and guidance.

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In a March 2022 interview with police, Konold said he had sexual relations with the woman about 15 times. He expressed concerns about the church supporting her mission work, saying that it was not right that they continue to support an adulteress, the complaint read. He quoted a Bible verse regarding adulterous women being stoned.

Konold described his relationship with the 20-year-old woman as another adulterous relationship, the complaint said.

Konold told police the woman thought of him as a father figure and explained that his conversations are spiritual given that he is considered one of the foremost experts in world religions, according to the complaint.

Filled with regret

Konolds attorney, Kevin DeVore, noted Friday in court that the factual basis of the jurys conviction was that his client touched the victim on the groin over her clothing. There was additional attempts to engage in some sort of sexual activity, but those were rejected by the victim and then, ultimately, Mr. Konold let it be and walked away, DeVore said.

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Konold told the court he respects the jurys decision and I fully understand that I broke the law. I get it. I betrayed the trust of those I was supposed to help and protect.  I am so sorry for those whom I have hurt. It should have never happened.

Konold said he is filled with regret and pain and shame, and added: My life is currently defined by my sin in a short period of time.

Offermann told Konold that she read the presentencing investigation and psychological evaluation more than once and found your focus has been  the consequences that youre suffering.

And just like the statement you made here today  me, me, me, instead of those that were impacted, she said.

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POTTSVILLE  A former Hazleton police officer convicted of attempted murder will spend up to 35 years behind bars.

Ladell E. Hannon, 34, was sentenced Friday in Schuylkill County Court to 17  to 35 years in a state correctional facility after a jury found him guilty on Sept. 13 of setting off an explosive device outside the home of Harrison Jordan in Kelayres on Dec. 21, 2021.

Hannon, sentenced by President Judge Jacqueline L. Russell, briefly addressed the court at the beginning of the proceeding.

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Thank you to the court for your time, Hannon said, and thank you to my lawyer (Mark A. Hinrichs, Center Valley) for his support.

Hannon has been jailed in county prison since his arrest. He was found guilty of trying to kill Jordan, his estranged wifes boyfriend.

Hannon lived in Hazleton and worked as a city police officer at the time of the incident. He faced charges of attempted homicide, aggravated assault and numerous other felonies and misdemeanor charges stemming from the detonation of an improvised explosive device outside Jordans apartment at 3 Center St.

Before the sentencing, Jordan read a statement directed at Hannon. He detailed how his life has been impacted by the incident.

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He said that after Hannon and his wife, Danielle, separated earlier in 2021, Hannon could have cut his losses and moved on with his life.

Instead, you decided to terrorize me, Jordan said, and stalk me and cause my life to be living hell for over three months before culminating in a murder attempt, which youve been found guilty of.

Jordan called the defendant a coward and questioned why Hannon had tried to kill someone whom he barely knew. He said he had only known the defendant in a professional setting, having encountered Hannon when he was a Hazleton police officer and Jordan was an EMT.

We didnt even know each other, and you hated me so deeply that you tried to kill me and ruin my life and my familys life, Jordan said.

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Jordan asked the judge to impose the longest possible sentence as the defendant showed no regard for him and his neighbors. He said he would never forgive Hannon for his actions.

Afterward, the victims father, David Jordan, addressed the court and talked about how the defendants actions had taken a toll on his son.

There is not a nicer guy on the face of this earth, David Jordan said. Hes a pleasant fellow. He was more of a smiling fellow before this happened  that took a lot away from him. He was not the same guy for a long time.

Other family members of the victim and of the defendants wife were also present in the courtroom Friday.

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Speaking on behalf of the defendant, Hinrichs highlighted Hannons background as a police officer and said he had received commendations for his duties. Prior to his stint as a cop, Hannon was a truck driver and served in the military, according to Hinrichs.

Hinrichs said the defendant did not have any prior criminal history and has two children who are now 5 and 10 years old.

First Assistant District Attorney Michael J. Stine, who represented the prosecution, said the explosion was a premeditated attack planned well in advance. He cited evidence presented at the trial, such as Hannon searching on Google for information about Tannerite and explosions a month before the explosion occurred.

This was a case where there was premeditation, Stine said. And there were plenty of opportunities to abandon this plan.  There was plenty of time to say, Wait a minute, Ive gone this far, but maybe I should stop.

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Stine said the defendant had shown no remorse and accepted no responsibility for his actions.

Russell described Hannons sentencing as a difficult one, given he had no prior criminal record and otherwise displayed good character through his life.

The (explosion), as far as what I know, was out of character for you, she told Hannon.

Due to the impact on the lives of the victim and the community, and because he posed a significant danger to his wife and the victim, Hannons actions warranted a lengthy sentence, Russell said. She also cited the fact that the explosion was planned over a long period and not done impulsively.

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It almost resulted in a loss of life to Mr. Jordan and endangered a significant portion of one of the communities in Schuylkill County, Russell said. Not only the property in that neighborhood, but also other members of the community  people who had no relationship at all to Mr. Jordan or Mr. Hannon.

On the charge of attempted homicide, Hannon was sentenced to eight to 16 years in prison.

On a charge of weapons of mass destruction, he received a sentence of six to 12 years, consecutive to the first charge.

He also received three to six years on a felony charge of causing a catastrophe.

For a misdemeanor charge of stalking, Hannon was sentenced to six months to a year.

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Hannon will receive credit for time served since December 2021.

Hannon was also ordered to pay restitution of $1,000 to Michael Stein, a neighbor injured in the explosion; $500 to Harrison Jordan; and $1,315 to the victim compensation fund. He was also ordered to pay several fees related to the investigation, including $4,426 to the crime laboratory in Bethlehem.

Russell said she hopes the defendant can take advantage of whatever opportunities he is given while incarcerated and that he can address his emotional turmoil.

I hope that everyone  the victims and you  can go forward with your lives, she said.
DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA)  One community center in Decatur honored a longtime employee with much more than a dinner or card.

Jerry Pelz, the former director of Northeast Community Fund, is receiving his flowers. On Nov. 16, Pelz was gifted with an honorary street sign. You can find it to the right of North Martin Luther King Drive and East King St.

Well, first of all, it was a complete surprise when people came and told me that, Pelz said. I had no idea, I said, what are you talking about?'

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Executive director of Northeast Community Fund, Angel Lawrence, said Pelz started this organization in the late 1960s.

Decatur offering $20K grants to childcare centers

Initially, Northeast Community Fund started out as just a small little outreach, ministering in Decatur, Lawrence said.

Now, Pelz has built a legacy that provides food, clothes and has a financial support program that helps thousands of people in Decatur.

Everybody needs a handout once in a while, Pelz said. And we were there to help many other folks in this community.

Lawrence said as she continues to keep the program moving forward, shes lucky to still have Pelz by her side, guiding her through the process when she needs it.

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Macon Co. collecting, recycling unwanted Christmas lights

And he also taught me, and Ill never forget this statement, is that people may often times not remember the things that you have done for them, maybe paid a water bill or provided a food box, but theyll never forget how you treated them, Lawrence said.

Pelz said thats what he loves the most about this place.

I enjoy coming back and seeing people that I worked with for years and interacting with them, Pelz said. And still doing the things that I like to do, which was actually help people.

Lawrence said the organization has the largest food pantry south of Chicago. Right now, they have a Thanksgiving efforts program going on. People can sign up and get free food items until Nov 26.

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MIAMI, Okla.  Miami city attorney Ben Loring is stepping down after more than 40 years of community service in northeast Oklahoma.

In his retirement letter, Loring wrote that he was looking forward to spending time on his farm, the Loring Farm.

It is with a heavy heart I write this letter of resignation. I am almost 72 years old, with an unknown longevity ahead of me. I thoroughly enjoy what I am doing here at the City and believe great progress has been made, but the time I spend here takes away from the time I have for my greater loves. I thank you for allowing the opportunity to have been a part of Miamis growth and progress and will always applaud you from afar.

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His last day with the City of Miami will be Dec. 31.

A reception is scheduled for Lorings retirement on Dec. 16 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Miami Civic Center/Miami City Hall Banquet Room.

Oklahoma legislator working to improve transparency

Some of his services to the area include:

Municipal Judge for Afton, Wyandotte and Fairland

Ottawa County First Assistant District Attorney

Ottawa County District Attorney

Oklahoma State Representative for the 7 th District

City of Miamis City Attorney and City Prosecutor in Municipal Court

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com.
PINSON, Ala. (TRUSSVILLE TRIBUNE)  Former Pinson Mayor Hoyt Sanders was appointed to Place 3 on the Pinson City Council during a council meeting on Thursday, Nov. 21.

Nathan Prewett, with our media partner The Trussville Tribune, reports he was one of eight who applied for the seat. Two people later withdrew their names.

Sanders served as Pinsons first mayor from when it was incorporated in 2015 until he lost the seat to Joe Cochran in 2020. Former councilor Dawn Tanner was also among the applicants.

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Sanders will fill Mayor Robbie Roberts former seat, which was left vacant after he was appointed mayor in the wake of Cochrans death. Sanders will fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term, which expires in late 2025.

The vote to appoint him, however, was not without some contention among members of the council. Sanders was nominated by Councilor John Churchwell and elected after a 3-2 vote, with councilors Clinteshia Irvin and Brad Walker opposing.

Irvin later voiced her concerns with the vote.

Im asking the council that we all start back working together, she said. This is our second meeting where something has been proposed that I had no idea about. I cant speak for Councilor Walker or anybody else but this is the second meeting that something has been proposed and voted on without prior knowledge.

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She referred to a past meeting in which council members were divided over Cochran shortly before his death of ALS and how items were put on the agenda before meetings.

So my request is that we start collaborating and working together because we had citizens whothey notified us that theyve already voted and they didnt want Hoyt in the seat and if we were going to, by way of the people, we would have put Miss Tanner into the spot so that she may finish her term.

Tanner resigned from the position in 2022.

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Irvin further urged the council to collaborate and went on to criticize the fact that it had not been discussed in greater detail during the pre-council.

Roberts pointed out that appointing a new member to fill the vacancy was on the agenda. Irvin acknowledged that it was on the agenda but said that there was more time spent discussing selecting a carpet type for the Rock School Center and that she didnt know who would be nominated.

There followed a discussion about quorum policies to discuss nominations, with Irvin saying that she understood the law but reiterated her point.

Sanders was absent during his appointment but he was contacted and was able to come to the meeting after its adjournment to be sworn in.

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Well, Im very excited to be on the council again, he commented. Looking forward to working with the group and hope we can unify and get some things done for the city of Pinson in this last year of this term.

Interim Palmerdale Fire District Chief Taylor Hancock also spoke during public comments and thanked the council for the allocation of $50,000 that was approved at the previous meeting.

Weve had a pretty high turnover rate as far as our employees are concerned and were doing everything we can to get new people in to fill those positions and Im doing my best I can to try to find ways to add employee benefits to help retain some employees.

Walker mentioned that the fire districts had not benefited from funding by the city until recently.

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We realize that we neglected some areas there and we were glad we were able to get that back into the budget, he said.

Hancock replied, Well, that neglect could have come from different places. It is very much could have, and moving forward were going to try to change some policies and things like that and work better with the city and I want to work alongside you.

During his comments Roberts addressed several failing streetlights and traffic signals and learned that many of the streetlights are the responsibility of the Alabama Department of Transportation or ALDOT.

He said that he recently met with representatives at ALDOT and that the city has been put on a list for repairs. He also mentioned a traffic light near the high school that is the responsibility of the city and that it will be repaired in the future.

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Pinson City Council meets on the first and third Thursdays of every month at City Hall on 4410 Main Street. Live-streamed meetings can be seen on the citys Facebook page.

Nathan Prewett can be reached at nthomasp6@gmail.com.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42.
Former Stillwater dental assistant charged with sexually assaulting numerous patientsincluding minors, sharing footage online

CONTENT WARNING: This article details alleged instances of child sexual assault and child sexual abuse. This content is disturbing. Reader discretion is advised.

Update: 11/25/2024

Oklahoma State University Police tell KFOR Cody Stolfa is now a suspect in a case from 2021 where someone reported a peeping Tom taking video of people in a library on campus.

OSU police say they found suspicious pictures on Stolfas computer, and they thought many looked like they were taken on the universitys campus.

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In the library incident, OSU officials looked through surveillance video and saw a man who matched Stolfas appearance in the library at the time the peeping Tom incident was reported to have happened.

OSU Police say if you suspect you may have been victimized by the suspect, contact the University Police Department.

Original Story below:

STILLWATER, Okla. (KFOR)  A man who worked several months as an assistant at an oral surgery center allegedly recorded himself sexually assaulting 16 young male patients, some of them minors, while they were sedated for surgery, before sharing the footage online.

Authorities say the man allegedly also recorded himself committing crimes against nature, and had more than 10,000 files of child sexual abuse material stored on his computers and cell phones.

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News 4 obtained copies of 18 arrest affidavits filed against Cody Allen Stolfa, 36, in July and November 2024.

Former American Idol hopeful arrested by Tulsa Police on child porn charges

Much of the information contained in the affidavits is too graphic and disturbing for News 4 to share in full detail.

The affidavits say Stolfa allegedly sexually assaulted, battered, abused and/or sodomized 16 young male patients, six of them minors, while working as an assistant at Central Oklahoma Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Associates in Stillwater in 2021.

Prosecutors tell News 4 Stolfa only worked at the clinic for three months before being terminated for poor job performance.

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Payne County District Attorney Laura Thomas says Stolfa filmed himself while inappropriately touching himself and the patients while they were recovering from sedation post-surgery.

Its just really gross, Thomas said. Hes very brazen, scary guy.

Prosecutors say Stolfa shared the videos online.

Thomas told News 4 her office first learned about this earlier this year when someone in Australia saw a video depicting Stolfa sexually assaulting a patient on the messaging app Telegram.

She says the person reported the video to Australian authorities, who used facial recognition and other technologies to trace the video back to Stolfa, and matched the room seen in the video to a room in the Stillwater dental clinic where he previously worked.

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Australian authorities alerted the FBI and Stillwater Police, who arrested Stolfa in July.

Canadian County man arrested after flash drive of child porn found

The Payne County District Attorneys Office immediately charged him for the crime against the patient seen in the video.

Following his arrest, Stillwater Police obtained search warrants for Stolfas electronic devices, where they found evidence showing he allegedly assaulted 15 additional patients.

And then when they arrested him on what ended up being the first charge, thats when Stillwater PD seized all his phones and computers, got a search warrant for him and started the very long process of going through it all, Thomas said.

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On one of his devices, investigators found a folder marked naughty.

The folder contained 115 additional videos showing Stolfa recording himself as he allegedly sexually assaulted the 15 other patients.

Of the 16 total alleged victims, six were minors.

Thomas says they are all male, ranging in age from 15 to 23 years old in 2021.

All are now adults, and none of them knew this happened to them until they were contacted by SPD and made aware, Thomas said.

Prosecutors say Stolfa recorded the videos while alone in the room with patients as they recovered from sedation.

Theres supposed to be three in the room at one time, and there apparently were none, Thomas said.

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Thomas said each of the videos depicting the alleged assaults only last a few seconds.

Hell look at the video when hes making the video, she said. And this all takes place in seconds because someone else could walk in the room at any minute.

Deer Creek bus driver arrested for possession of child porn

Thomas says the clinic is cooperating fully with the investigation.

She says clinic management claim they had no idea Stolfa was allegedly doing these things at the time they were happening.

Court documents say investigators found other disturbing things on Stolfas computers, including a 3.2 TB folder containing more than 10,000 files of child sexual abuse material.

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[Including] images from infancy to adult, Thomas said.

Investigators seized Stolfas chat logs from the dating app, Grindr, and messaging apps, Snapchat and Discord.

Stolfa allegedly offered the people he chatted with access to a 2 TB online folder containing child sexual abuse material.

He also allegedly sent child sexual abuse material directly to the people he chatted with, including an explicit picture of a 16-year-old boy who Stolfa claimed was an acquaintance of his in Stillwater.

Court documents also share extremely graphic details of more homemade videos investigators found on Stolfas devices.

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The videos allegedly show Stolfa committing crimes against nature on an animal multiple times.

Stolfa has been held in the Payne County jail without bond since his July 10 arrest.

At least one of his alleged victims has filed a civil lawsuit.

Detectives use Zillow to track down man charged with child porn

As of Friday, Stolfa faces the following charges:

Sexual Battery: 10 counts

Forcible Sodomy: 5 counts

Child Exploitation: 6 counts

Clandestine Recording: 4 counts

Sodomy  Victim Under 16: 2 counts

Lewd Acts to Child: 1 count

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
RAPID CITY, SD (KELO)  A former treasurer of the Oglala Sioux Tribe pleaded not guilty to theft charges in federal court Friday.

A grand jury indicted 50-year-old Mason Big Crow for larceny, embezzlement and theft from an Indian Tribal Organization.

Prosecutors say Big Crow embezzled tribal funds to make personal purchases that had not been authorized by the tribe and that were used for his personal benefit.

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Prosecutors say as tribal treasurer, Big Crow had nearly exclusive access to the tribes debit and credit card.

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Nov. 22ALPINE  A former Valentine Independent School District employee pleaded guilty to charges related to his scheme to fraudulently misappropriate school district funds for personal expenses.

According to court records, Ernesto Villarreal Jr., 43, of Marfa, was employed as the Business Manager and served as the Tax Collector and Assessor for the Valentine ISD, in Valentine, Texas.

During his time as an agent of Valentine ISD, Villarreal schemed to defraud Valentine ISD by using two ISD credit cards to make hundreds of unauthorized personal purchases totaling thousands of dollars; issued over $10,000 in unauthorized checks to himself from Valentine ISD accounts; issued over $20,000 in unauthorized checks from Valentine ISD accounts to cover personal expenses owed to a credit card company; and changed the bank account information for certain current and former employees, and then generated over $100,000 in fraudulent payments to those current and former employees, for work that did not actually occur, which payments Villarreal routed to his own personal bank accounts, all without the knowledge or permission of the employees.

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Villarreal used the ill-gotten funds for hundreds of personal purchases, including but not limited to purchases for travel, lodging, home improvements, hardware store purchases, personal cell phone bills, fuel, oil changes, convenience store purchases, Airbnb rentals, personal flight purchases, and various other unauthorized purchases. Villarreal is believed to have caused over $300,000 in losses to Valentine ISD.

Villarreal pleaded guilty to one count of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and eight counts of wire fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on February 21, 2025. Villarreal faces up to 10 years in prison for the theft count and up to 20 years in prison for each wire fraud count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.

The FBI is investigating the case, assisted by the Texas Rangers and the Department of Education Office of Inspector General.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Fedock and Scott Greenbaum are prosecuting the case.
ALPINE, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)  A former Valentine Independent School District employee pled guilty to multiple charges related to his scheme to fraudulently misappropriate school district funds for personal expenses, the United State Attorneys Office announced on Friday.

According to court documents, 43-year-old Ernesto Villarreal Jr., of Marfa, was the Business Manager and served as the Tax Collector and Assessor for Valentine ISD. During his time at the school district, Villarreal was found to have schemed to defraud Valentine ISD by using two district credit cards to make hundreds of unauthorized personal purchases totaling thousands of dollars, issued more than $10,000 in unauthorized checks to himself from Valentine ISD accounts, issued more than $20,000 in unauthorized checks from Valentine ISD accounts to cover personal expenses owed to a credit card company, and changed bank account information for certain current payments Villarreal routed to his own personal bank accounts, all without the knowledge or permission of the employees.

Marfa man faces up to 14 years in prison after misappropriating school funds

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Villarreal reportedly used the funds for hundreds of personal purchases, including but not limited to purchases for travel, lodging, home improvements, hardware store purchases, personal cell phone bills, fuel, oil changes, convenience store purchases, Airbnb rentals, personal flight purchases, and various other unauthorized purchases. Villarreal is believed to have caused more than $300,000 in losses to Valentine ISD.

Villarreal pled guilty to one county of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and eight counts of wire fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on February 21, 2025 and faces up to 10 years in prison for the theft count and up to 20 years in prison for each wire fraud count.

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NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. (WJBF)  A former Washington County Deputy involved in a paralyzing crash this past summer, now looks forward to a new home.

Former Washington County Deputy Gordon Alley talked about his progress.

June 3rd of this year, I was involved in an accident on the way to assist a fellow deputy, um, from what I understand, my vehicle hydroplaned, and I hit a tree, Deputy Alley said.

And for the past five months, Deputy Alley says life has been completely different.

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Im paralyzed from above the waist down. Im in either a power chair or a manual chair. Im able to do a lot of things with my hands and everything, but other than that, Deputy Alley said.

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While no one can prepare for something as life-changing as this, organizations like Interim Healthcare of Augusta say they aim to make things a bit more easy.

Its very important to have the best bedside care. You want to have the best people and the best care possible, day in, day out, Interim Healthcare of Augusta Cutter Mitchell said.

With the help of Interim Healthcare and other organizations, Deputy Alley and his family are expecting a new home equipped with the things he needs.

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Sometimes it takes us getting in the home and assessing a clients needs to understand  really  what they need and get that, Mitchell said.

Above all, Deputy Alley says hes most grateful to those he calls family.

People that have donated to me and my family, my coworkers with Washington County, former coworkers with Burke County also former coworkers that are working at Richmond County that have helped out and called me, Deputy Alley said. My message to anybody in this situation is to never give up, continue moving forward, and just take it step by step, day by day.

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An Albanian man with dual citizenship in the U.S. was charged Friday for attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State and distributing instructional material on making explosives, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Erald Alimehmeti, 33, of Tirana, Albania  a former New York City resident  served from late 2015-2019 and again from 2020-2022 in an Albanian prison over weapons and assault charges.

Alimehmeti allegedly used online accounts to research D.C. Sniper style attacks and request tactical equipment and gear for training and operations in support of ISIS, per the DOJ release.

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He also reportedly solicited magazine pouches, and knives, and described modifications he intended to make to his AKM  an apparent reference to an assault rifle.

Alimehmetis charges for supporting ISIS carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, in addition to one count of distribution of information pertaining to explosives, destructive devices, and weapons of mass destruction in furtherance of a federal crime of violence, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years, prosecutors said.

The U.S. military has carried out at least 95 counter-ISIS operations in recent months.

The latest litigation comes after authorities apprehended and charged a U.S. soldier earlier this month for attempting to aid an ISIS plot. A Florida man with ties to ISIS was also recently arrested over a plot to bomb the New York Stock Exchange in an effort to reset the U.S. government.

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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:

Well, that doesnt sound great. Maybe the rest of the headline will be a little more lighthearted?

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?

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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?

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 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:

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!
Looking at our tax bills, especially after the punishment beating Rachel Reeves delivered in her first Budget, many of us might feel we are already basically working for the Government. But in France it is now official.

The French senate this week passed a law that will force everyone to work for one extra day a year, with everything they earn going directly to the government. With its vast bureaucracy and a tax system that already squeezes 45pc of GDP out of the economy  and yet still cant come close to balancing the books  France is on what the economist and philosopher Friedrich Hayek would have described as the road to serfdom. It is a terrible warning of the fate that will befall all of us if we dont change direction very soon.

Following chaotic elections earlier this year, and with Michel Barniers caretaker government clinging precariously to power, France is desperately searching around for a way to bring its deficit under control. It certainly needs to do something, and soon.

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The state is still spending 6pc of GDP more than it collects in taxes, its credit rating has already been downgraded twice, and it has been rapped on the knuckles by overseers in Brussels and told to get its deficit down to the 3pc maximum allowed for members of the euro.

There is not much sign of spending coming under control, with the planned cuts merely a slowdown in the rate of growth (instead of, you know, actually dishing out a bit less cash) so instead the political class is working furiously to squeeze more out of the economy.

The senate this week passed a plan that was at least honest. Forget earning your own money to look after yourself. People should just work directly for the government. An amendment proposed by the centre-Right senator Elisabeth Doineau would make people work an extra seven hours a year  in effect a day, given leisurely French lunch breaks  for which they would receive no salary, with their employer handing everything over to the government instead.

If it makes it into the final Budget, and there is no reason why it shouldnt, it is estimated to raise an extra 2.4bn (2bn) a year. Of course, it is hard to know how well it will work in practice. Personally, I would be tempted to call in sick that day, and I would certainly be working from home, and catching up on some household chores instead of sweating over my laptop. Even so, it will probably raise some extra money, even if not quite as much as forecast.

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The trouble is, this is not just a French issue. In reality, this is a terrifying glimpse into the future that may well await us all. The French government already collects an eye-watering 45pc of the countrys entire output in taxes, the highest ratio within the already highly taxed European Union, and ranking in first place among the 38 countries within the OECD.

You might think that was about enough. And yet, with a huge and bloated welfare system, France cant slow down the juggernaut of spending.

The latest budget is not just forcing people to work directly for the state. The countrys largest companies are being made to pay a temporary surcharge to help fix the mess, with companies such as LMVH estimating it will cost them 800m a year, and Vinci 40m, even though it is hard to understand why their global shareholders need to bail out the French government.

The rich, defined as anyone earning more than 250,000 euros a year, will pay another surcharge, angering many of the bankers who President Emanuel Macron persuaded to move from London to Paris after Brexit. If those tax rises dont bring the deficit back under control  and they probably wont, given that the economy has now ground to a halt  there will probably very soon be a work for the state week, and then a month. Once it has started, it will be hard to stop.

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In reality, the real problem is this. France is not an exception, it has just travelled further down the road than the rest of us. The grim reality is that we are all heading in the same direction.

Here in the UK, the plans of the Labour Government will take state spending up to 44pc of GDP, with taxes to match. That is almost certainly an underestimate given that growth is likely to be non-existent, and an ageing population, an epidemic of worklessness, and a flood of refugees will all combine to drive spending relentlessly higher.

And thats even before the Government squanders billions on expensive white elephants such as GB Energy and the National Wealth Fund. In the UK, we will probably call it a work for the NHS day, with our entire salary donated to the health system. The outcome will be much the same. We will all end up working for the Government.

Hayek would have recognised what was happening. In his classic 1944 book The Road To Serfdom he described how welfare states would evolve over time. They might start with the creation of a safety net, but they would grow relentlessly as more and more entitlements were taken for granted.

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It has taken 80 years, but it is hard to think of any word other than serfdom that better summarises being forced to work for the state a day a year, much as mediaeval peasants were forced to work for their lords for a set part of every month.

The blunt truth is this. If we dont change direction soon, we will all end up working for the government as the French soon will  and we will have lost the right to control our own lives.

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A free speech row has erupted after a comedians advert was banned for mocking the Virgin Mary.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has been accused of censorship after it ruled that a poster promoting Fern Bradys UK and Ireland stand-up tour was offensive to Christians.

The advert depicted the Scottish comic as the Virgin Mary, squirting breast milk into the mouth of a kneeling priest alongside the tours title, I Gave You Milk to Drink.

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The ASA launched an investigation after the advert was placed on the Sky News website.

Its ruling found that it was likely to be seen as mocking the religious figures shown and also likely to cause serious offence to some within the Christian faith who saw the ad on the site.

Mary, the mother of Jesus, is revered by all Christians but is especially venerated by Roman Catholics.

Brady, 38, was also warned by the regulator to not cause offence on the grounds of religion in future ads, the ruling said.

Critics branded the decision concerning and said it infantilised Christians by presuming offence on their behalf.

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Brady, who has appeared on Taskmaster, Live at the Apollo and 8 Out of 10 Cats, said in submissions to the ASA that the advert was a recreation of the 17th-century painting St Bernard and the Virgin.

The artwork, by Alonso Cano, depicted a reputed miracle in which a seriously ill Bernard of Clairvaux, a 12th-century monk who co-founded the Knights Templar, was restored to health after milk fell from a statue of the Virgin Mary into his mouth.

Brady told the regulator: The intention was not to mock or belittle the original religious significance but to offer a contemporary interpretation that aligned with her public persona as a comedian known for her irreverent style and her religious upbringing.

When the complaint was first made in October, she took to Instagram to describe the complainant as some virgin.

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Theres not even anything wrong with it, she said. Why are you complaining? If youre the person who complained about my poster, I hope you never come [to the show].

Comedy is vital for freedom of expression

Richy Thompson, director of public affairs and policy research at Humanists UK, said: It is concerning that a comedian cannot make light of religion without fear of censorship.

Comedy, by its very nature, often challenges social norms and touches on subjects that may be uncomfortable or controversial. Yet this is exactly why comedy is such a vital tool for freedom of expression and critical thinking.

In a pluralistic society, it is vital that people are able to express their views, whether they are religious or not, without the fear of being silenced by vague and subjective standards. The ASA is enabling back door anti-blasphemy laws and we urge them to review and overturn this decision.

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Stephen Evans, chief executive of the National Secular Society, said: The decision to ban this advert, along with the warning issued to Fern Brady, sets a chilling precedent that resembles a modern-day blasphemy code.

It implies that the feelings of religious groups should trump the rights of individuals to creatively express their thoughts and ideas.

Rulings like this pander to religious reactionaries and infantilise Christians by presuming offence on their behalf. We urge the ASA to reconsider its stance and to uphold the principles of freedom of expression.

Responding to the criticism, a spokesman for the ASA said: Our ruling sets out our findings in full including by making clear that the decision to ban this ad rested heavily in terms of the context  the media  in which the ad appeared.

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BINGHAMTON, NY (WIVT/WBGH)  Wine season officially began in France yesterday, and theres an event this weekend to celebrate here at home.

Under French law, the Beaujolais Nouveau wine is released on the third Thursday of November after midnight. This Sunday, the Binghamton-La Teste Sister Cities is hosting a celebration of the wines release from 6 to 8 p.m. at 205 Dry in downtown Binghamton.

There will be live performances featuring French music and culture, wine tasting, and hors-doeuvres provided by 205 Dry. The vice president of the Binghamton La Teste Sister Cities, Richard Pescatore says its a lighter wine with nodes of fruit and oak.

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But this wine is very special to the French, and the celebration is all over France. We, here in Binghamton like to do this celebration because it brings together people. It gives them a sense of other cultures, it gives them a sense of camaraderie with their friends, Vice President of the Binghamton La Teste Sister Cities Richard Pescatore said.

Tickets are $35 for non-members and are available online by looking up Binghamton La Teste Sister Cities on Facebook.

There will be raffle baskets, 50-50 raffles, and all of the funds raised from the event goes to support the organizations annual cultural exchange between students from Binghamton and La Teste.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34.
At 6:52 p.m. on Friday, President-elect Donald Trump announced his choice for Treasury secretary. Minutes later, he tapped a director for the Office of Management and Budget. Then came his picks for Labor secretary, deputy national security adviser and surgeon general.

The evening flurry lasted just over an hour, and in that time Trump announced nine high-ranking administration officials. And on Saturday afternoon, Trump announced Brooke Rollins as his pick for Agriculture secretary, rounding out the core roles in his Cabinet with the spate of nominations.

It was the latest episode in a buzzing Trump transition that is starkly different from 2016, as the president-elect and his team  insulated from reporters at Mar-a-Lago  are making often surprising decisions at breakneck speed.

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Just two and a half weeks since Election Day, Trump has announced names for 20 key administration roles, including leaders for all 15 executive agencies. He has yet to officially tap four remaining top positions, which include trade representative, chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, administrator of the Small Business Administration and director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy  roles that can be elevated to cabinet level at the presidents discretion. Overall, Trump will have to make about 4,000 political appointments, approximately 1,200 of which will require Senate confirmation.

America, the Trump Cabinet is officially complete, Trumps campaign account wrote in a now-deleted post on X, referring to the selection of the presidents core Cabinet positions.

The velocity and volume of this process stand in contrast to Trumps last transition, when he leaned on his more experienced team to make a steady stream of establishment selections. This time around, that drip has at times escalated into a fire hose as Trump, armed with hindsight and empowered by the GOP, has named anti-establishment loyalists to top positions.

Treasury

In a transition process characterized by rapid-fire decisions, Trump took his time deliberating on who to choose to head the treasury. His ultimate selection, hedge fund manager Scott Bessent, was the heavy favorite in the days after the election, but the process was complicated after one of Trumps transition heads, Howard Lutnick, started pushing hard to get the job.

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Bessents and Lutnicks camps spent days trying to undermine each others candidacy, according to people familiar with the situation. This tussle sometimes spilled out into public view, such as when Elon Musk posted on X that Lutnick would be the better choice over Bessent, who the Tesla CEO and Trump appointee characterized as a business-as-usual pick.

The infighting frustrated Trump, people familiar with the transition process said, and he decided to add more names to the mix. A day after announcing Lutnick would instead become Commerce secretary  with special authority over trade  he brought in former Federal Reserve board member Kevin Warsh and Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan for interviews at Mar-a-Lago on Wednesday afternoon.

Neither sold the president on the job, the people said  and Warsh is expected to be a candidate instead to chair the Fed when that position opens in May 2026  leaving the path open for Bessent to ultimately clinch the nomination.

Labor

In selecting Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer to lead the Department of Labor, Trump defied expectations that his pick would take a hard line against unions. Transition officials had been in touch with Chavez-DeRemer for several weeks, according to three people familiar with the matter, and there was a sense among people involved that she was in a strong position to edge out Trumps former deputy labor secretary Patrick Pizzella. Plus, Trump was eager to move quickly.

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Conservative warnings about her support for the PRO Act  legislation that would strengthen union efforts  and strong pro-union stance didnt ultimately phase Trump. She had notable backing, including from some GOP leaders who had raised her name directly with Trump. And Teamsters President Sean OBrien was pushing Chavez-DeRemers name in private, arguing the largest union in North America was eager to work with the Trump administration to improve the lives of working people  including many who had voted for Trump and shifted the Republican power balance.

Trump met with Chavez-DeRemer Thursday at Mar-a-Lago ready to make up his mind. The interview went well, and he offered her the job in the room, according to another person familiar with the matter.

Unlike many of Trumps picks, Chavez-DeRemers announcement was largely well-received on both sides of the aisle. Trade union groups praised her pro-labor record, and some Democratic members of Congress signaled an openness to the vetting process.

National security

Firebrand former Trump aide Sebastian Gorka was seen as a contender for deputy national security adviser. Instead, Trump named Gorka as deputy assistant to the president and senior director for counterterrorism within the White House National Security Council, elevating him to a powerful  but comparatively low-profile  role.

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Former national security adviser John Bolton  a notorious Trump defector  on Friday slammed Gorka as a con man, saying on CNN I wouldnt have him in any U.S. government.

Trump ultimately settled on Alex Wong, a more traditional national security adviser who worked on North Korea policy in Trumps first administration, for the No. 2 spot on the National Security Council.

Surgeon General

Trumps pick for surgeon general, physician and Fox News contributor Janette Nesheiwat, has been embraced by several public health leaders as a solid choice for the administration  especially against the backdrop of Trump choosing vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as his nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.

Dr. Peter Hotez  a vaccine scientist and outspoken critic of the Trump administrations response to Covid-19 and who has slammed the choice of Kennedy for HHS  said Nesheiwat was a good appointment in a post on X Friday night.

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She is very smart, thoughtful, interested in learning, and a compassionate doctor, and  a truly nice person, he wrote.

Eric Bazail-Eimil, Daniel Payne, Meredith Lee Hill and Victoria Guida contributed to this report.
From the Stirewalt on Politics on The Dispatch

Donald Trump arrives for a town hall campaign event with former U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard on August 29, 2024 in La Crosse, Wisconsin. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Former Rep. Matt Gaetzs abrupt withdrawal from consideration as attorney general this week was nearly as surprising to official Washington as his nomination was in the first place. Almost.

There was lots of conjecture as to why the oft-disgraced but never contrite Floridian would bail so soon from a nomination that was always bound to be an uphill struggle. Was this the plan all along? To use the nomination as an excuse to quit the House ahead of a damning Ethics Committee report and then quit the nomination to avoid the same report from coming out in the confirmation process?

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Maybe. Or maybe it was the surfacing of new revelations or a diabolical plan to get Gaetz appointed to the Senate seat expected to be vacated by the elevation of Sen. Marco Rubio to secretary of state. Or maybe it was all just a ruse to make the real nominee, former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, seem much more reasonable by comparison.

Maybe, maybe, maybe.

Whatever else it might have been, it was also most certainly this: Gaetz couldnt get 51 votes for confirmation in the Senate. And while it doesnt usually happen so quickly or with such crassness, Gaetzs story is a familiar one in history: the freighted nominee who drops out under pressure from a presidents own party.

Even Gaetzs stated rationale that he was becoming a distraction is exactly what departing nominees throughout recent history have said. From Zoe Baird in 1993 to Linda Chavez in 2001 to Tom Daschle in 2009 to Andrew Puzder in 2017 to Neera Tanden in 2021, all have bid their adieu with the word distraction on their lips, or at least in their press releases.

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That usually doesnt happen until March of the first year of the new presidential term, but with Trump everything tends to be faster, louder, and more chaotic. Perhaps this is just the maximum MAGA way of a failed nomination. But the principle is the same: The votes are the votes.

It was no coincidence that the Gaetz defenestration came immediately after the former congressman had his first meet-and-greet with Senate Republicans as nominee. One imagines that what senators were willing to say behind closed doors was different from the general surprise with which they greeted the pick in public. But even if it was all just forced smiles in private, Gaetz was almost certainly facing the opposition of many multiples of the four Senate Republicans no votes needed to scuttle the nomination.

Media attention is now focused on two other Trump nominees, Pete Hegseth for secretary of defense and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for the Department of Health and Human Services. Thats understandable. Theyre both celebrities and some of the baggage they are carrying is so lurid, Hegseth from a settlement he paid to keep a rape accusation quiet, and Kennedy from claims from his childrens former babysitter that he had repeatedly groped her.

Those stories will play out in the months to come, and, depending on whether other credible allegations emerge, determine in part whether Hegseth and Kennedy join the ranks of the scuttled nominees.

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But the focus among Republican senators and staffers right now seems to be on another less titillating story: The pick of former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to be the nations intelligence chief. Gabbard isnt in hot water because of her private life, but because of her public positions, most notably a sympathetic posture toward Russia and Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad as well as her support for the notorious Edward Snowden, perpetrator of one of the most damaging intelligence breaches in American history.

Senate Republicans are doing triage on Trumps picks, and Gabbards is next on the trauma list. The Senate Intelligence Committee is one of the last bastions of functionality and bipartisanship in the upper chamber, and its members will not be well disposed to even the idea of giving Gabbard a platform in a hearing to push her claims.

While the furor over Hegseth and Kennedy plays out in the press, keep an eye on Gabbard. She will need to go a long way to prevent four Republicans from nixing the pick, and while she isnt as easily discredited as Gaetz, the position shes seeking is just as sensitive and significant as the one he was seeking.

There are plenty of Senate Republicans with primary elections to worry about in 2026, and they wont be happy to be seen opposing any Trump picks. But there are those too with general elections to worry about in potentially competitive states, certainly Susan Collins in Maine and Thom Tillis in North Carolina, but also, depending on how sharp the midterm snapback may be, incumbents from Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Texas, and, potentially, whoever is picked to replace J.D. Vance in Ohio. Those folks are in a double bind: They dont want to court primary problemsbut they also cant let it hang too far out in a possibly competitive general election. As they weigh Gabbard and the rest, they have to wonder what kind of electorate they will be facing in 2026. Trump has defied a lot of political gravity in the past four years, but the midterm curse is a relentless force.

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Then there are others who might just not care too much about sucking up to Trump voters, led by former Republican leader Mitch McConnell. He hasnt said whether hes seeking an eighth term in 2026, but its hard to imagine that he will be interested in doing too much to curry favor with anybody.

Thats a long way of saying that its only been two weeks, people. Democrats (and some Republicans) will be very upset about some of the nominees who make it through a process that will consume a great deal of the next three months. But as the Gaetz drama shows us, its better to pace yourself and save up some outrage and anxiety for later on. Youre probably going to need it.

So far, Senate Republicans are acting normally. The carte blanche recess appointments idea is dying a quiet death and it seems likely that regular hearings and the slow, plodding pace of the Senate is still the same. The election of John Thune as McConnells replacement, despite the objections of MAGA world, is proof of those things.

The lesson of McConnells successful tenure is that the most effective opposition to Donald Trumps excesses is quiet. Nobody is going to win an argument with Trump or convince him to change course for the good of his party or the country. If anything, public opposition only makes him dig in harder.

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The next chapter of this story isnt about spin or messaging. Its about power and whos got the votes, and who doesnt.

Holy croakano! We welcome your feedback, so please email us with your tips, corrections, reactions, amplifications, etc. at STIREWALTISMS@THEDISPATCH.COM. If youd like to be considered for publication, please include your real name and hometown. If you dont want your comments to be made public, please specify.

STATSHOT

Polling Roulette

[Financial Times analysis of US General Social Survey]

TIME OUT: GREASING THE GEARS OF HISTORY

Aeon: Few foods can compete with olive oil. Its rich history, stretching back to the Greeks, Egyptians and Babylonians, plays an enormous part in its ongoing symbolic associations. Across a range of Mediterranean cultures, olive oil has been an inordinately versatile and useful product, even regarded as a means of connecting with the divine.  Next time you dip a piece of bread into a good olive oil, savor it for a moment, and seek that peppery flavor on the back of your tongue. Its a flavor that conveys the presence of healthy polyphenols, and that pepperiness is a celebrated protagonist of the Mediterranean lifestyle.  But that very pepperiness tastes much like the advent of industrial capitalism and the creation of modern power relations in the Mediterranean world. It tastes like the growing network of global shipping routes, and the increasing rotational speed of well-lubricated industrial machinery. Its a flavor that announced the dawn of a new world, the flavor of mechanization.

TRUMP FUMES AS DEMS RACE TO CONFIRM JUDGES

Axios: President-elect Trump is demanding that Senate Republicans show up and try to stop Democrats from confirming more judges. President Biden is now 15 judicial confirmations away from the record set by Trump in his first term. Trump posted Wednesday on X: The Democrats are trying to stack the Courts with Radical Left Judges on their way out the door. Republican Senators need to Show Up and Hold the Line Democrats confirmed two more judges on Wednesday by 50-48 margins, with Republican Sens. Ted Cruz (Texas) and Mike Braun (Indiana) missing the votes. If theyd voted, Vice President Harris would have been unavailable to break the 50-50 tie as shes currently vacationing in Hawaii.  I am very angry  90% of success in life is showing up, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) told reporters.  Sen. John Thune unveiled a plan Monday to aggressively defend against Bidens final nominees.  Sen. Chuck Schumer is prepared to grind through that defense with late night and weekend votes.

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Understanding Trumps Latino supporters: New Yorker: Donald Trump, according to exit polls, won a greater share of the Latino vote than any Republican Presidential candidate in at least the past half century, and maybe ever.  Bluntly asserting that Trumps Latino supporters misdiagnosed the root cause of their struggles and that they are, in fact, racist and sexist isnt the way to begin a conversation that could lead them to vote for Democrats going forward. More concretely, it also defies logic that a fourteen-percentage-point shift in four years can be attributed to the racism Latinos hold within themselves.  It is easy for me to believe Latinos who say they voted for Trump because Democrats havent always delivered on their promises of protection and prosperity. Its far from certain that Trump will do it, eitherbut many Latinos have grown desperate enough to give him a shot.  No group of voters, including Latinos, should be loyal to any party, because parties havent always been loyal to them.

Harris NYC collapse epitomizes Dems working-class problem: New York Magazine: The more camouflage Harris-Walz trucker hats I saw around Brooklyn, the greater my sense of foreboding.  Neighborhoods like Park Slope are some of the only ones in the city that remained dark blue this cycle. It was instead the areas of the city where some of the least wealthy and least white reside that broke hardest toward Trump.  Beneath the tracks of the 7 train, it is not difficult to find newly galvanized Trump voters.  When I asked [restaurant owner Carlos Bermejo] whom he voted for, he looked at me like I was kidding: Donald Trump. You gotta do that. Everybody knows that.  The areas pro-Trump turn mirrored Democratic losses on the U.S.-Mexico border and other predominantly Hispanic areas where the migrant crisis was acutely felt as well as in cities like San Francisco.

Low urban turnout tanked Harris in blue wall states: NBC News: The largest county in each state  Wayne County, Michigan, home of Detroit; Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; and Milwaukee County, Wisconsin  had either the worst or second-worst shift in votes cast of any county in their state.  Out of more than 1,700 precincts in Philadelphia, 73% had fewer voters in 2024 than in 2020. Overall, the total number of votes in Philadelphia decreased by 2.9%  resulting in approximately 20,000 fewer voters this year. Meanwhile, the rest of Pennsylvania saw a 2.1% increase.  Across the precincts in the northern part of Detroit, where voters are predominantly Black, the total number of votes tended to be more down than up.  Even though turnout grew slightly overall in [Milwaukee], just over half of precincts (58%) experienced a turnout decrease. Comparing Milwaukees sluggish turnout to Dane County  which is Wisconsins other large Democratic county, where turnout increased by over 6%.

A politics defined more by class than race: Wall Street Journal: Trump made gains with most demographic groups in this months election. But one of the biggest swings was among voters of all races who dont have a four-year college degree. He won them by 13 percentage points this time versus 4 percentage points in 2020a huge change in a group that accounted for more than half of the electorate.  The shift toward class-based sorting also comes as some of the nations longtime racial categorieswhite, Black and Hispanicare dissolving fast into more fluid and complex identities. As those categories blur, other factors, like education levels and class, are playing larger roles in Americans quality-of-life and are increasingly driving voters choices.  Hispanic and Black voters throughout the country echoed this idea, that notions of fealty to the Democratic Party based on race were outdatedand that economic concerns drove the shift to Republicans and Trump.

BRIEFLY

North Carolina GOP moves to strip Dem governor of executive powerNBC News

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GOP delights as Mark Robinson not considering 2026 Senate runWRAL

In first, California rejects minimum wage increaseLos Angeles Times

Alaska ranked choice voting survives, barelyAnchorage Daily News

WITHIN EARSHOT: THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGIN

Well, Ive been very, very clear if Dr. Oz agrees to protect and preserve Medicaid and Medicare, Im absolutely going to vote for the dude. I dont have any hard feelings or anything. Id have a beer with the dude.Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman buries the hatchet and indicates he would support his 2022 opponent in his nomination for administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

MAILBAG

What do you think of the possibility of Trump proposing the revocation of the 22nd Amendment re: term limits? I realize he will be 83 when his term ends but he certainly could run again if the Trump appointees on the Supreme Court decide the amendment is unconstitutional.Carole Wolf, Hemet, California

Ms. Wolfe,

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If were imagining that five justices on the Supreme Court would be down for invalidating parts of the Constitution to keep Trump in power, why stop there? Article II, Section 1 sets the duration of a presidents term at four years in language no more or less ambiguous or authoritative than the 22nd Amendment, so why not just skip the 2028 election altogether?

Im sorry to be flip about it, but I think its time for us to think about these things in concrete terms. If we think the Supreme Court is really capable of invalidating a plainly worded amendment that has been in the Constitution for 73 years, then it would be capable of pretty much anything.

Heres the text: No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once.

The amendment, which came after decades of consideration and more than three years of debate about its specific wording, received two-thirds support among the members of both houses of Congress and was then ratified by three-fourths of all the states. It can no more be ignored than any other part of the Constitution and is far more clear than those ambiguous passages most often neglected.

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As for repealing the amendment, maybe 290 members of the House and 67 members of the Senate would vote for such a thing, and maybe it would then be ratified by the legislatures of 38 states in time for Trump to run again. But does that seem likely to you? Just imagine the backlash from voters about even proposing such a thing.

I think that Trump foes catastrophization of the future makes dealing with the actual challenges of the present more difficult. If the worry is that he will become a dictator for life, then whos ready to roll up their sleeves and do the ordinary scut work of governing?

Republics fall bit by bit, before they tip over. Is it possible that we are close to a tipping point? Maybe closer even than I would like to admit? Its possible.

But when it comes to things like invalidating plain, well-established provisions of the Constitution, Id proceed with caution.

Warily,

c

You should email us! Write to STIREWALTISMS@THEDISPATCH.COM with your tips, kudos, criticisms, insights, rediscovered words, wonderful names, recipes, and, always, good jokes. Please include your real nameat least first and lastand hometown. Make sure to let us know in the email if you want to keep your submission private. My colleague, the natty Nate Moore, and I will look for your emails and then share the most interesting ones and my responses here. Clickety clack!

CUTLINE CONTEST: RASPUTIN ON THE RITZ

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (rihgt) talks with former Rep. Matt Gaetz and his wife Ginger Luckey Gaetz at the America First Policy Institute Gala held at Mar-a-Lago on November 14, 2024, in Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

This weeks contestants had an embarrassment of riches with which to work in this photo of former Rep. Matt Gaetz, his wife, Ginger, and Health and Human Services nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at a black-tie soiree. Our winner went with new age vibes:

Just a little longer now. I can feel the fluoride coming out.Richard Basuk, New York, New York

Winner, Golden Bachelor Division:

Ginger, will you accept this Ivermectin and join me in the tinfoil-lined Fantasy Suite?Tripp Whitbeck, Arlington, Virginia

Winner, Enchantment Under the Sea Division:

So nice to meet you. Matt says you met when he chaperoned your high school dance.Allan Hardcastle, Lincoln, California

Winner, Cobblepot Division:

Catwoman, Joker, and Penguin plot Gotham Citys destruction.Allen Mabry, Dallas, Texas

Winner, Singed or Scorched Division:

Woman smiles while trying to decide if the fire or frying pan is better.Jeff Tatusko, Plum, Pennsylvania

CATCH OF THE DAY

Vice: Some Norwegian fishermen off the coast of Troms were out and about on their vessel named ygutt looking for halibut. Something significantly larger than fish, however, found its way into their trawl net. The fishermen caught the USS Virginia, a 115-meter-long nuclear-powered attack submarine outfitted with cruise missiles.  The ships crew, made up entirely of young men in their 20s, had no idea that the USS Virginia had been dragging its net for two nautical miles before its crew realized what was going on and cut it loose.  The fishermen were unaware of it until they were contacted by the US Coast Guard. They were on the way to a new spot hoping to catch more halibut, all the while blissfully ignorant to the fact that their net was now being dragged away by the setting for several excellent 90s military thrillers.

Nate Moore contributed to this report.

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.
Donald Trump is making it clear he wants to bend the Republican-led Congress to his will, pushing the limits of what lawmakers will accept on staffing his Cabinet and also on looming questions of federal spending authority.

Round one in that fight  the Matt Gaetz saga  went to Senate Republicans. And it gives early hints of how GOP lawmakers may respond on spending and other controversial nominees.

The Senate also has a responsibility for advice and consent  and in this particular case, I think there was advice offered, rather than consent, Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) said shortly after Gaetz announced he was withdrawing his name from consideration for attorney general.

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In that tumultuous episode, GOP senators pushed back privately, not publicly. Many were hesitant to vocally denounce his efforts, knowing the threat of Trumps wrath and a potential primary challenge constantly shadow them. But they counseled him behind the scenes, hoping hed acquiesce before they were forced to either bend or defy him outright.

Gaetz wont be the last example that tests the strategy. Even with the Florida firebrand out, incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) has a slew of problems over Trumps controversial Cabinet nominees  including sexual assault allegations against Pete Hegseth, who Trump tapped to lead the Department of Defense  as the incoming president leans on Congress to let him circumvent the Senates confirmation authority and make recess appointments.



And then theres spending, arguably Congress most important responsibility. Speaker Mike Johnson has kept the House in limbo as he defers to Trump on his preferences for a funding deal, and a shutdown deadline is quickly approaching. Johnson and appropriators have a potentially bigger challenge soon, as the incoming presidents out-of-government allies have made it clear they want to go around Congress constitutionally guaranteed power to control federal spending.

I think we should defend Article One. Were an equal branch of government. I support probably 80 percent or 90 percent of the policies, but its going to be in the Article One vs. Article Two framework, Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) said about the relationship between Trump and Hill Republicans. Those two articles of the Constitution establish the legislative and executive branch, respectively.

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Trumps anticipated return to Washington is poised to look much different than his arrival in 2017, when he knew little of the ways of Congress and struggled with the persuasive tactics required to push through a legislative agenda. The coming months will lay bare whether his now-numerous Capitol Hill allies will be able to more effectively steer his ambitions  or allow him to steer theirs.

There will be no daylight between us and President Trump on policy, and moving forward with foreign policy, funding or anything else, Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), a close Trump ally, told reporters in the Capitol recently.

Trump will likely have his greatest influence in the House, particularly with Johnson leading the chamber. Their fates are closely intertwined, since Johnson will need the president-elects support to keep his job in leadership.

And even Republicans who have been fiercely public about reforming the spending process are giving Trump the latitude to decide how to handle the upcoming government funding fight, with the deadline backing up straight into the Christmas holiday.

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You just have a very Trump House, because most people that came in came in with him at the top of the ticket, said one senior GOP House member, who was granted anonymity to speak candidly.



While lawmakers havent explicitly pushed back on efforts to allow the executive branch to make more funding decisions, there are already emerging policy divides between lawmakers and Trump on spending  as well as mass deportations, tariffs and additional aid to Ukraine. Just this week, libertarian-leaning GOP Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) argued that Trumps plan to use the military to carry out mass deportations of undocumented immigrants would be a huge mistake. Several Republicans, including Thune, have raised concerns about tariffs.

But how Republicans handle the various battles will be an early litmus test for how far they are willing to bend to Trumps effort to control their end of Pennsylvania Avenue. While Johnson has tied himself closely to Trump, Thune has worked to repair their relationship  and recently got social media praise from the president-elect  but will have to try to balance Trumps demands with what can actually get the votes in the Senate.

Its just hard for me to fathom or believe that people have changed so much that theyre willing to give up that responsibility, Alberto Gonzales, who served as attorney general under George W. Bush, a president also accused of executive overreach, said about the Senates confirmation powers.

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Asked if there was a lesson for Trump to learn from Gaetzs withdrawal, incoming Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said that the only takeaway was that Trump has the constitutional right to nominate. We have the constitutional responsibility to confirm.

We each handle our jobs separately, he said.

Trump-Vance transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a statement that Trump winning by a resounding margin gives him a mandate to implement the promises he made on the campaign trail. He will deliver.

During Trumps first term, he had multiple spending clashes with conservatives on the Hill before many began to align with the iron-fisted president. And the reality that he can make or break someones career in politics is now widely recognized, though his attempts are not always successful.

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One House Republican, granted anonymity to speak frankly, recounted how several members have survived primaries after facing attacks from Trump or his allies: It was just two years ago that Matt Rosendale pushed away the presidents phone call on the House floor. I mean, like, I understand that theres this optic that were gonna all fall in line. I dont know, do we seem unified?

But spending deadlines could be where fiscal hawks clash with Trump, despite both calling for reining in government spending. Trump followed other presidents before him in contributing to the national debt, with his administration adding $7 trillion to the total.

Outside of Congress, Trumps allies are working to grease the way for his agenda to sidestep congressional approval.

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who Trump picked to lead his new so-called Department of Government Efficiency, made the case in a Wall Street Journal op-ed on Wednesday that the Supreme Court could seek to determine whether the 1974 Impoundment Control Act  which restricts the executive branchs power to alter congressionally appropriated funds  is unconstitutional.

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While the discussion, on its own, is a nod to Trumps pending return to Washington, if the high court sided with them, it would mark a significant shift. And while the idea would likely spark heartburn if enacted, even some Republicans tasked with funding the government arent closing the door entirely until they get more information.

My job is to work with the president, not against the president, said Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.). We wouldnt be in the majority without him, so were certainly going to try to work with the president.

Ursula Perano contributed to this report.
Nine men from Nantucket, Everett, Lawrence and Chelsea were arrested Thursday for drug trafficking as part of an investigation into the 18th Street Gang in Massachusetts, with some of them also facing charges for child sex abuse crimes, the U.S. Attorney said Friday.

The arrests came after an investigation into the transnational criminal organization 18th Street Gang operating in and around the North Shore area of Boston, Acting U.S. Attorney Josh Levy said in a statement.

Five of the men were arrested for various state crimes including drug trafficking, child abuse crimes including rape of a child, posing a child in a state of nudity and possession of child pornography, and unlawful possession of ammunition, Levy said.

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The following men were charged in U.S. District Court in Boston with distributing and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl:

Orlando Mancia, a/k/a Intruso, 22, of Everett, who is an alleged member of the 18th Street Gang;

Tony Cartegena-Chacon, 46, of Chelsea;

Hector Luis Santana Guzman, a/k/a DJ Black, 33, of Lawrence; and

John Angel, 31, of Nantucket

Fentanyl continues to devastate lives across Massachusetts, and the defendants arrested yesterday allegedly pumped this poison into North Shore communities for a profit, Levy said. These charges represent the continued close working relationship across federal, state and local law enforcement to relentlessly investigate, identify and disrupt criminal organizations and our efforts to protect our communities from lethal narcotics.

With this operation, the FBIs North Shore Gang Task Force has removed alleged drug traffickers accused of pushing deadly poison onto our streets, hoping to avoid detection, Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division, said in a statement. This case highlights how the FBI and our partners at every level are working together to target criminals wreaking havoc and mayhem, just to make money and a name for themselves on the street.

File photo.

According to the charging documents, on Oct. 15, Mancia sold approximately 500 pressed fentanyl pills to a cooperating witness in Everett. Later, on Oct. 23, it is alleged that Mancia again sold another 500 pressed fentanyl pills along with cocaine to the cooperating witness in Everett.

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According to the charging documents, Cartegena-Chacon distributed and possessed with intent to distribute over 40 grams of fentanyl.

It is alleged that approximately 100 grams of suspected cocaine and approximately $25,000 cash were recovered from Angels residence on Nantucket during a search at the time of his arrest.

As part of the investigation, the following additional men were arrested and charged in state court with various crimes including drug trafficking, including fentanyl and cocaine, and child sex abuse crimes including rape of a child, posing child in a state of nudity and possession of child pornography, and unlawful possession of ammunition:

Elvin Martinez, 23, of Everett; Marlon Eduardo Varela, 20, of Everett; Fidel Alexis Orellana, 21, of Chelsea; Bryan Molina, 21, of Chelsea; and Luis Borja, 20, of Chelsea.

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The federal charge of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to life, of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million.

The charge of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a sentence of at least five and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $5,000,000.

Assisting federal investigators were police departments in Boston, Chelsea, Everett, Falmouth, Lynn, Medford, Nantucket and Revere; the Massachusetts State Police; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations; and the Suffolk and Middlesex district attorneys offices.

The arrest of these individuals, including a known 18th Street gang member, for dealing fentanyl in the North Shore of Boston is a critical step in combating the devastating impact of illegal drugs in our communities, James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, said in a statement.

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Fentanyl continues to claim lives at an alarming rate, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to holding accountable those who profit from this deadly substance, Ferguson said.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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WINCHESTER, Ky. (FOX 56)  Crosley, the iconic record player manufacturer, hosted a contest in hopes of spinning a legacy of inspiration for young artists.

Its a romanticized version of music, Kaitlyn Clay, Crosleys Media Specialist, told FOX 56.

Its something a group of Winchester students have a newfound appreciation for.

You know, you dont have to stream. You dont have to log in to Spotify. You can go to a record store, and support your favorite artists. You feel more connected to the artists and the albums by taking a record out, putting it on the record, dropping the needle, and hearing the warm buzz of vinyl, Clay said.

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RELATED | Kentucky music fans give students a leg up in competition, curating record collection

A total of 25 schools were challenged to display their take on the sounds of Kentucky, but only one could be chosen for the $2,500 grand prize.

Art is not vocal. It is visual, and it takes time to stop and look and observe and see what these students have to share, Brittani Fuller, George Rogers Clarks visual arts teacher, said.

Each student had a contribution, depicting everything from Kentuckys bluegrass roots to the sounds of celebration on State Street after a University of Kentucky win.

GRCS award-winning Crosley Cruiser (FOX 56)

Each individual artist sketched out what came to their mind, Fuller said. What did they think of when they thought of Kentucky? We thought beyond just sounds of music.

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The George Rogers Clark visual arts cohort is a gifted arts program that consists of 20 young artists. Its a program thats considered an elective and is fully funded by fundraising.

I almost cried. Just because I was super proud and shocked. So all in all, I think that they feel confident, empowered, and inspired to move forward as artists, Fuller said.

It doesnt just mean the world to these students; it paves the way to a brighter future.

We can keep funding for more artists after we leave to keep our legacy of this good art program, Hannah Lam, a visual arts cohort student, said.

Read more of the latest Kentucky news

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Each school that participated will get to keep their crosley cruiser and spin the sounds of Kentucky, thanks to the help of some familiar faces.

We had Jack Harlow, My Morning Jacket, Tyler Childers, and Sturgill Simpson all graciously, and their teams donated vinyl for all of these students at each school, Clay said.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News.
On Thursday, Nov. 26, 1789, George Washington woke early. Assisted by his enslaved valets  William Billy Lee and the young Christopher Sheels  he powdered his hair, put on his favorite black velvet suit, tied his white neckwear and donned his yellow gloves.

Finally ready, he set out to travel the short distance from the Presidents House, at what used to be 3 Cherry St., New York, and St. Pauls Chapel, which still stands at 209 Broadway.

He had an important aim that day: to celebrate Thanksgiving. Washington had thought carefully about this Thanksgiving, the first of his presidency. On Oct. 3, 1789, following the recommendation of a joint committee of the Senate and House of Representatives, Washington had issued a proclamation. He urged the people of the United States to celebrate a day of public thanksgiving and prayer.

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But Washington believed that particular Thanksgiving in 1789 was a crucial occasion. He would use it to call on the people he now led to hold their new country together in the face of forces that he knew could pull it apart.

Devotion in the service of unity

It was not the first Thanksgiving Americans celebrated. The first took place at Plymouth colony in the autumn of 1621  Pilgrims held a feast to thank God for their first harvest and invited members of the neighboring Wampanoag tribe.

It was not even the first national Thanksgiving  which was held on Dec. 18, 1777, at then-General Washingtons behest. Nor was Thanksgiving yet a federal holiday to be observed every last Thursday of November  it became so with the 1863 proclamation of President Abraham Lincoln.

George Washingtons Oct. 3, 1789, Thanksgiving Day Proclamation. National Archives

Nov. 26, 1789, was a Thursday, and the weather was miserable. Few New Yorkers showed up at St. Pauls Chapel to see the president: I went to St. Pauls Chapel, Washington wrote in his diary, though it was most inclement and stormy. There were but few people at Church.

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The president had prepared for the occasion. He also contributed a sizable sum of his own money to buy beer and food for prisoners confined for debt in the New York City jail. The donation was deemed to be a magnanimous and moving gesture, suitable to the spirit of the holiday. A week later, in an advertisement in the Dec. 3 issue of the New York Journal, those very prisoners returned their grateful thanks to their president for his very acceptable donation on Thursday last.

Washingtons first Thanksgiving as a president may have not been tremendously successful, given the scarce attendance at the church service.

Yet, as a scholar writing a biography about Washington, I believe it was an important step in his much larger political plan to bring the executive branch to the peoples doorstep.

What Washington wanted was a virtuous kind of populism in the new country he led. Washingtons populism wasnt about inciting an angry mob; it was about sharing in their rituals, worshiping their God, speaking their own language. And he did so in the sole interest of the American people.

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Thanksgiving 1789, for Washington, was at once religious and more than religious. Washingtons proclamation invoked devotional language, literally. The upcoming festivity, in his words, could be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be.

But Washingtons main concern was political. The nation was recently formed, and he feared that it could easily collapse. Its many internal divisions and separate interests could be lethal. Consequently, the president wanted this holiday to be a civic celebration in which we may then all unite.

Washingtons proclamation was printed in newspapers throughout the country. George Washington's Mt. Vernon

Pardon our nationaltransgressions

As its first president, Washington recognized that the United States was born out of slavery, conquest and violence as much as of sacred principle. Civic unification required acknowledgment of these flaws. Thus, in the proclamation, Washington asked God to pardon our national and other transgressions.

A tremendously self-aware man, Washington knew that he was a deeply flawed person himself.

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He was a slave owner, a relentless pursuer of African American fugitives and a destroyer of Native American villages. He was also a warrior who deployed brutality against enemies. He was a commander who resorted to corporal punishment with his own soldiers. Washington believed that he was not a saint to be mindlessly imitated. This made him humble in his duties.

More importantly, Washington also grasped the power of his symbolic position as president. He sought to leverage that for the good of the nation.

As president, Washington could not advertise his actions effectively via Twitter and social media. He had to show himself around constantly, no matter the weather. He had to painstakingly attend balls, plays, dinners, public receptions and of course the church. Every occasion, every Thanksgiving counted.

Through his outings, Washington met with a diversity of people, including those who were second-class citizens or were not citizens at all. Women, for example, greeted Washington at nearly every stop of the extended presidential trips he took between 1789 and 1791. Textile workers in New England, Jewish leaders in Newport, many enslaved persons in the South and churchgoers everywhere did the same.

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These women and men, in bondage or free, believers or skeptics, played a part in the invention of a new political theater. Maybe, it was just a theatrical illusion. But these individuals  just like the prisoners in the New York City jail  thanked President Washington because they felt they were voices in a larger political culture.

Washington made sure his Thanksgiving message  not simply a message, but a proclamation  sounded clear and strong: May God render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Maurizio Valsania, Universita di Torino

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Maurizio Valsania 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.
Europe is facing a long-lasting threat as the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine is "no longer a regional war," German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius warned on Saturday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin "has long since switched completely to a war economy," and the country is currently producing as many weapons and ammunition in three months as the entire European Union does in a year, Pistorius said.

The minister pointed to a speech Putin gave at the end of October in which the authoritarian Russian leader spoke of a "serious, irreconcilable battle for a new world order" and said that he already saw himself as the victor in the war against the Ukrainians.

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At the same time, hybrid warfare with disinformation and fake news is in full swing, said Pistorius, who was speaking at an event in the western town of Arnsberg organized by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, which is affiliated with his centre-left Social Democrats (SPD).

"Our security is a fragile asset," Pistorius said.

Germany must step up the pace and invest more in its "war capability," he warned.
Following the extension of the deadlocked UN Climate Change Conference in Baku, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Saturday launched an unusually sharp attack on conference hosts Azerbaijan and accused the rich oil states of deceptive manoeuvres.

"We Europeans will not allow the most vulnerable states in the world, especially the small island states, to be ripped off by some of the new [rich fossil-fuel] emitters," Baerbock said at the conference, also known as COP29.

Baerbock, a Green, accused Azerbaijan, which currently holds the COP presidency, of giving backing to oil-rich states that are undermining efforts to strike an agreement.

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The German minister has been battling illness, and had initially planned to leave Baku but instead decided to remain for the added day of negotiations.

"As Europeans, we are now working intensively every minute to continue building bridges," she said.

Baerbock, who is serving as Germany's top negotiator at the conference, said she is in talks with the EU delegation and other important groups, especially with island nations and countries in Latin American and Africa.

"Especially because the concerns of these countries have unfortunately been ignored by the [Azerbaijani] presidency so far," she said.

"Money alone won't save the world"

Baerbock warned against backtracking on last year's climate resolutions in the struggle to increase climate aid for poorer countries.

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Funding for climate aid and the reduction of climate-damaging emissions "belong very closely together," said Baerbock, because "money alone won't save the world."

Developing countries have been seeking billions of dollars in annual aid to address the impact of climate change and offset the costs of action. Germany and other wealthy Western countries have been demanding that China and oil-rich countries like Saudi Arabia contribute to the fund as well.

Baerbock said that all major emitters of greenhouse gases must get on board now - "especially the large and rich new emitters."

"I am certain that what we are seeing here is the last gasp of the old fossil world. What we need for our future is a coalition across continents," she said

According to observers, Saudi Arabia in particular, together with some major authoritarian states, had attempted to roll back climate resolutions that had already been agreed to during the two-week negotiations.
Nov. 22A teenage girl was injured and the teen boy she was with faces charges after a vehicle he was driving hit her Thursday night after she got out in a parking lot, city police said.

Police were dispatched to the parking lot of the Walmart on Herrera Drive at about 10:15 p.m. Thursday, Capt. Lawrence Barnett said. A girl who had been riding in a vehicle driven by a 17-year-old boy got out of the vehicle and then the vehicle struck the girl in the parking lot, Barnett said.

He said the girl was taken to an area hospital, treated for "non-life-threatening injuries" and discharged Friday morning.

The boy was charged with aggravated driving while under the influence, possession of cannabis products by a minor, possession of alcohol by a minor and having an open container in a vehicle, Barnett said. He was arrested and booked into Santa Fe County jail for transport to a juvenile detention facility.
VERSAILLES, Ky. (FOX 56)  Versailles has a new mayor after the spot had been vacant since October.

Laura Dake was selected by Gov. Andy Beshear for the position after Brian Traugott resigned in August to take a job with the Kentucky League of Cities.

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I am honored and humbled to tell you that today Governor Beshear appointed me to be Mayor of Versailles for the remaining two years of former mayor Brian Traugotts term. Thank you for your kind words of support and encouragement. Im feeling a little like a deer in the headlights at the moment, but looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and working hard for this community that I love. Again, THANK YOU for making me feel welcome in this role. Laura Dake

Dake will finish out Traugotts term, which was set to end 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 FOX 56 News.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore released a statement on Friday expressing grave concerns with the planning process for the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project and vowing to request a meeting with the companies behind the proposed 500,000-volt transmission line.

Moores statement comes the week after New-Jersey-based developer Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) held a series of meetings in each of the three Maryland counties that would be impacted by the transmission line about its preferred route.

In Frederick County, the preferred route runs through the southeastern and southern parts of Frederick County near New Market and Ijamsville toward Buckeystown and Adamstown, ending at the Doubs substation.

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Many landowners in the path for the MPRP have fiercely opposed the project, arguing that the transmission line would hamper agricultural operations and potentially lead to the seizure of land through eminent domain.

Representatives of PSEG have countered that PJM Interconnection, a regional transmission organization, sanctioned the MPRP as a solution to projected energy shortfalls in the region. The company has said eminent domain would be a tool of last resort.

In his statement on Friday, Moore wrote that he had grave concerns about how the study area for this project was determined, the lack of community involvement in the planning process, and the lack of effective communication about the impacts of this project.

The single most important factor remains wholly unclear: the projects comprehensive benefit to Marylanders, the statement read.

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Moore voiced support for ensuring reliability of the states power grid, but wrote that the approach must be one that puts people first.

In the coming days, Moore said, he will ask to meet with the leaders of PSEG and PJM to discuss his reservations about the MPRP. PSEG has said it expects to submit its plans to the state for approval by the end of the year.

Elected officials at the local, state and federal levels  including the state delegation for Frederick County, and U.S. Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin  have expressed reservations about the project in public statements.

The Frederick County Council and Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater have sent multiple letters to leaders at PSEG and the Maryland Public Service Commission, the agency that will eventually review the project for approval.

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The most recent letter from Frederick County officials, dated Nov. 18, invited members of the PSC to come to Frederick County and hear directly from residents who would be impacted by the transmission line.

It is clear that our residents continue to have good reasons to oppose the project, the letter read in part. We stand ready to assist you with any logistics related to a public meeting.

On Thursday  the same day PSEG representatives presented the companys preferred route to Frederick County residents  the Carroll County Times reported that Moore commented on the MPRP in an interview with Baltimore Sun co-owner Armstrong Williams.

I understand the anger, but to direct it towards me doesnt make any sense, Moore reportedly told Williams.

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GOV.S STATEMENT

Moores full statement on Friday was:

Over the past several months, I have listened to concerns from local leaders, businesses, and residents about the Piedmont Reliability Project. I appreciate and respect the many Marylanders who have voiced strong opposition  especially the farmers, small business owners, and residents whose livelihoods stand to suffer impact.

As I have said from the start, I share grave concerns about how the study area for this project was determined, the lack of community involvement in the planning process, and the lack of effective communication about the impacts of this project. The single most important factor remains wholly unclear: the projects comprehensive benefit to Marylanders.

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In October, I joined Gov. Pritzker, Gov. Carney, and Gov. Murphy in signing a letter imploring PJM leadership to embrace, without delay, opportunities to work collaboratively on transmission planning. Together, we recognize that energy and economic development goals are not mutually exclusive and that progress depends upon true partnership to achieve growth.

To be clear: We need sustainable and cost-effective infrastructure to ensure the reliability of our grid and build the economy of the future in our state. But the approach must be one that puts people first.

In the coming days, I will ask leadership from PJM Interconnection and PSEG, the companies in charge of this project, to meet with me to discuss serious reservations about how this process has been conducted thus far, and the type of engagement I expect with our communities.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that 20 million people have been saved from hunger since the launch of the Grain from Ukraine programme.

Source: Zelenskyy's speech at the Third International Grain from Ukraine Conference, as reported on the President's website

Quote: "Overall, during the operation of our Grain From Ukraine program, we have managed to save 20 million people from hunger. And this is solely due to one of our humanitarian programs.

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In total, Ukraine's food exports feed 400 million people in 100 countries of the world.

Ukraine is one of the world's largest contributors to food security. And we maintain this status despite everything. Despite this colonial challenge from the Russian Federation."

Details: The President reiterated that one of the full-scale invasions components was the blockade of Ukrainian ports by the Russian fleet, among other things.

"And Russia was well aware of the consequences of this. They wanted those consequences, of course, the terrible outcome for the whole world  not just for Ukraine. They wanted global food prices to rise," Zelenskyy said.

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In his opinion, Russia's motives are not just about the desire for more profits, but primarily about power: "If they can create a food catastrophe, it means they can subjugate a nation that is dependent on food imports  any food."

Zelenskyy noted that during the operation of the Black Sea food export corridor alone, from July 2023 to November 2024, 321 Ukrainian port infrastructure facilities were damaged by Russian missiles and Iranian drones. More than 20 foreign civilian vessels were damaged. More than 60 targeted strikes have been carried out by the Russians on food infrastructure.

"Through this war against Ukraine, Russia has shown that there are no truly distant countries in the world. Everything in the world is now strongly interconnected. There is no distance. There is none," Zelenskyy said.

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Robert Habeck, the Green Party's chancellor candidate, believes Germany and the European Union are well prepared to deal with a new Donald Trump presidency but warned Trump that tariffs are not a one-way street.

"I say that I must and want to continue working closely with the USA. But if the new US administration plays hardball, we will collectively and confidently respond as the European Union," Habeck, who is also Germany's economy minister and vice chancellor, told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland. A portion of the interview was made available to dpa.

The EU is responsible for trade policy for its 27 member nations.

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President-elect Trump has threatened to impose tariffs of 60% on all Chinese goods and 10% to 20% on imports from other countries, including the EU, which would include German-built cars, a key industry.

Habeck said that the United States would be made clearly aware, through constructive dialogue with the EU, that good trade relations benefit both sides. But Germany and EU need to show their strength.

"My response to Trump is not to be submissive, but to have confidence in our own strength,"

"Germany is strong, Europe is strong," Habeck said.

Germany is currently in an economic crisis with economists lowering their forecasts and several companies announcing hefty layoffs. The economic outlook has further weakened following Trump's election victory and his tariff treat.

Trump will be inaugurated for his second term as the head of the world's largest economy on January 20.
The website for controversial social media influencer Andrew Tates self-help site The Real World was reportedly hacked this week.

The hackers were able to extract a trove of data from Tates site  formerly known as Hustlers University  that included approximately 794,000 user names, 324,382 unique email addresses and both public and private chat logs, according to the Daily Dot, which received copies of the data.

The breach was reportedly revealed on Thursday in the middle of Tates broadcast of his show Emergency Meeting on Rumble, when the hackers began flooding the websites public chatroom with emojis.

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The emojis included a transgender flag, a feminist fist, an AI-generated image of Tate draped in a rainbow flag, another where his buttocks are enlarged, and the cat character used in the boykisser meme, according to the Daily Dot.

Andrew Tate faces trial in Romania. AP

Its unclear who is responsible for the breach, but the hackers told the outlet that their motive was hacktivism and said that Tates website was hilariously insecure.

The hackers said they provided data obtained in the breach to a pair of websites  HaveIBeenPwned, which allows users to track when their personal information has been exposed, and DDoSecets, which publishes hacked documents that are thought to be in the publics interest.

Hackers flooded a public chatroom for Tates website with emojis. Rumble / TateSpeech by Andrew Tate

Memberships for The Real World program start at $50 per month.

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Tate bills the site as the worlds most advanced financial education platform and claims, making money is a skill. We will teach you how to master it.

The program purportedly includes lessons on e-commerce, copywriting, crypto and stock investments and physical fitness, according to the website.

Tates online university is called The Real World. therealworld.org

The incident occurred months after a separate breach that exposed 22 million messages from Real World members, according to Cybernews.

Tate, 37, is a former reality TV star and kickboxer who has faced intense scrutiny for expressing misogynistic views online.

Andrew Tate faces human trafficking charges. AP

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He has been banned by multiple social media platforms for violating policies against hate speech.

Tate is facing trial on allegations of human trafficking in Romania. He was placed under house arrest in August.
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (WJW)  President-elect Donald Trumps administration has made the message clear  it plans to deport illegal immigrants from the United States as soon as possible once Trump is inaugurated in January.

One area directly targeted by his campaign leading up to the election, was Springfield, Ohio  a city with up to 12,000 to 15,000 Haitian immigrants and refugees, according to the citys website.

School bus forced off the road by driver in Portage County: OSHP

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Those refugees, some of whom have been living and working in the area for years, are very worried as they face an uncertain future. Trumps false claims about their culture, eating habits and treatment of animals has caused irreparable damage.

They tell Haitian eat cats, Haitian eat dogs, but no  no, Haitian refugee and restaurant owner Ketlie Moise said.

Moise has lived in Ohio since 2019 with Temporary Protected Status, after she fled her home when her business was burned down and her mother was killed in 2018. She also hasnt spoken to her husband and son since the incident and are not sure if they are safe or alive.

Moise now lives in Springfield with her daughter, building a new life as a restaurant owner-operator, employing several other Haitian refugees. But her livelihood has become uncertain after the election.

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I hear this on the news and the Google that all the Haitian people have to leave Springfield, she said.

Shes worried about President-elect Donald Trumps plan to deport immigrants on a mass-scale.

Her restaurant, Keket Bongou Caribbean Restaurant, has seen a drop in support since the false claims of Haitians eating and killing animals came out.

I got a lot of customers who moved from Springfield, they left, she said.

Senator-elect Bernie Moreno is strongly behind Trumps plan. His press secretary sent a statement to FOX 8 on Friday evening.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris corrupted TPS by allowing hundreds of thousands of migrants to claim legal status that should have never been able to come here in the first place, overwhelming small towns like Springfield throughout the country, Moreno said in a statement. It has to stop. My position has been clear from the start: I fully support President Trumps plans to end the abuse of TPS and deport illegal immigrants.

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Springfield Township police use social media to shame speeding drivers

Gov. Mike DeWine has also previously gone on record voicing his concern that mass deportation could destabilize Springfields economy, as the Haitian population is working in various roles  from warehouse and factory jobs, to restaurants and other service industry roles.

If you are a legal immigrant and you are here legally, and you want to work and you want to raise your family, you are welcome in the state of Ohio, DeWine said on Oct. 3. If you are illegal  I dont think I said this, but I will say it today  if youre illegal, no youre not welcome.

According to data from U.S. Immigration and Customs enforcement, only 19 Haitian migrants have been removed from Ohio and Michigan since 2021. Ten of those removals were due to criminal convictions.

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Moise said her business is struggling and fewer customers are coming in after false rumors were spread about Haitian people in Springfield. She hopes things can get back to normal so she can continue to live her dream here in Ohio.

I hope everything changes, Moise said. Because I spend all my time here.

The city of Springfield declined to grant an interview for this story and DeWines office also declined further comment as there is no legislative plan to deport immigrants now.

Most Haitians in Springfield have TPS until 2026, but as Moise mentioned, the community is on edge and some are already making plans to leave Springfield.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
A woman who was kidnapped and taken to the Gaza Strip died in an Israeli attack in northern Gaza, the military arm of Hamas said on Saturday.

Abu Obaida, spokesman for the al-Qassam Brigades, said on Telegram that another female hostage was critically injured in the attack, attributing the information to the guards who had been holding the women captive.

The Israeli military said it was unable to confirm or deny the claim, but that it was in touch with the family of the Israeli hostage that Hamas says was killed. It also said it was studying footage of the alleged incident released by Hamas.

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The Hamas spokesman did not provide any details about the identities of the two hostages. It was also unclear exactly when the alleged attack took place.

Following Israeli military operations in the past, Hamas has often claimed that hostages had been killed.

Of the approximately 100 hostages still under the control of Hamas and other terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip, it is estimated that only about half remain alive.
Nov. 23The immediate annoyances of Hannaford's recent network outage are over  customers can again order groceries to go through the company's website and use their credit cards to buy food and medications at Maine's largest supermarket chain.

But two weeks after Hannaford's online systems crashed and its parent company, Ahold Delhaize USA, announced it had "recently detected a cybersecurity issue," it's still unclear how dangerous the problem is and whether customer or employee information has been compromised.

Ahold Delhaize USA posted a statement Nov. 8 saying it was investigating internally with cybersecurity experts and had notified law enforcement. Hannaford has repeatedly refused to say which agency is on the case.

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"We continue to work with leading third-party security experts as part of this process, and have notified and are working with law enforcement on the issue," said Hannaford spokesperson Ericka Dodge. "Because the investigation is ongoing, we are not able to disclose additional details at this time."

Hannaford has 9,500 workers at 68 stores in Maine, and about 30,000 employees at 189 stores across Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts and New York.

The situation is "highly suggestive of a ransomware attack," said Brian Ray, founder and director of the Center for Cybersecurity and Privacy Protection at Cleveland State University School of Law. "Something pretty dramatic happened because they had to take systems offline or they were already offline because of an attack," he said.

It's fairly common for companies to delay reporting information to the public until they know the extent of the problem  though they should act as quickly as they can, according to Ray.

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FBI RESPONDS AND ADVISES

As of Friday, neither Ahold Delhaize nor Hannaford had reported a data breach to the Office of the Maine Attorney General as required.

But data breach is a specific term indicating that digital information has been compromised, Ray said, and investigators working on the Ahold Delhaize case may not have reached that conclusion yet.

Ray said the FBI is "almost certainly" the agency leading the investigation. It has a robust national system of teams that specialize in tracking and responding to international online "threat actors" and the various impacts when online systems are compromised, Ray said.

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A ransomware attack is a cybercrime in which an outside actor infiltrates an online system, encrypts the victim's data, then demands a ransom payment in exchange for a decryption key or code to regain access to the locked files.

The attacker usually gains access through phishing emails, malicious links or vulnerabilities in software.

While many institutions and companies have anti-malware software and other protocols to prevent cyberattacks, they must be updated regularly to be effective, and cybercriminals are constantly looking for chinks in system defenses.

Many companies avoid paying the ransom for two reasons: They don't want to encourage ransom attacks, and they don't want to break the law by potentially supporting terrorism or any other threat to U.S. security.

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"The FBI has been encouraging companies for years not to pay ransoms," Ray said. "Companies are concerned about being penalized by the Office of Foreign Assets Control for directly or indirectly providing financial support to federally sanctioned entities."

The OFAC is an arm of the U.S. Treasury that enforces economic and trade sanctions against targeted foreign jurisdictions, regimes and other national security threats, including terrorists and international narcotics traffickers.

"Responding to a cyberattack is a very painstaking, complicated and uncertain process, especially when your system has been compromised," Ray said. "There's a whole spectrum of things that could happen. Sometimes companies will receive a direct ransom demand but not always."

CYBERCRIMINALS HIDE THEIR TRACKS

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Companies that are prepared will usually activate an incident response plan and call in legal and forensic specialists to help wade through the process, Ray said. But at the outset, it's often unclear exactly how a system has been compromised, and cybercriminals are practiced at avoiding detection.

"Companies need to prevent further damage to the system and protect information from being compromised," Ray said. "But these threat actors are getting much more sophisticated at hiding their tracks and making it difficult to figure out where they've been."

That process is further complicated if the attack involves multiple entities across various systems, he said, which could be the case with Ahold Delhaize USA, a Dutch-Belgian-owned company that includes Hannaford and several other East Coast supermarket chains.

While federal and state law enforcement authorities require companies to report cyberattacks, they may delay reporting until they know what's happening, which could take days or weeks, Ray said.

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"Until you have a reasonably sure understanding of what happened, you don't want to report it," he said. "You don't want information to come out in dribs and drabs and further confuse people."

However, as soon as companies believe customer or client information has been compromised, they should announce exactly what has happened, Ray said. That should include an explanation of what steps are being taken to address the breach and what steps customers should take to protect their information.

"The challenge is knowing when you know enough without taking too long," Ray said.

Companies may withhold information from the public because they don't want to appear vulnerable to cybercriminals or compromise ransom negotiations, he said.

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The FBI also has no interest in early public disclosures and may ask companies not to disclose information, Ray said. In some cases, the agency has agents embedded with cybercriminals and doesn't want to compromise ongoing investigations, Ray said.

"It's an incredibly sophisticated game, and you want to present that you've got everything under control," he said.

Because Hannaford and other Ahold Delhaize USA online systems were affected in a very public way, they didn't have the luxury of not acknowledging it, Ray said.

"It's the responsible thing to make sure they have a handle on it and take steps to contain the impacts," he said. "In this case, the interests of the company and the customers are aligned."

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BUILDING AND MAINTAINING TRUST

The Nov. 8 announcement from Ahold Delhaize was brief, terse even, compared to Hannaford's usually more personable, community-oriented efforts to promote healthy, time-saving food-shopping solutions.

"We apologize for any inconvenience this issue may have caused customers and partners," the statement said.

On Friday, the announcement was no longer posted on the company's website.

But while the public may have become used to repeated reports about data breaches, public relations and branding experts say it's a mistake to leave customers worried or even wondering for too long about the personal impacts.

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"The worst thing a company can do is to go dark," said Rich Brooks, president of Flyte New Media, a branding, web design and digital marketing company in Portland.

"As soon as a company stops answering questions, people are going to fill it with whatever," Brooks added.

Companies build trust with customers over time, he said, creating a bank they can draw from when problems crop up. But it can be hard to win back that trust.

"It's all in how you handle it," Brooks said. "They may have very legitimate reasons why they can't say anything, but they need to explain that and say what they'll do when they figure it all out."

Nancy Marshall, CEO of Marshall Communications, a Maine public relations firm that specializes in crisis management, said Hannaford is fortunate to have built a trustworthy reputation.

"I understand the public wants to know what's going on, but it's almost dangerous for them to speculate about what's happening," she said.

Still, whenever a company faces a customer-relations crisis, "my advice is always to show compassion to the victims," Marshall said.

In this case, Hannaford customers are potential victims of a cybersecurity issue, she said.

"They need to reassure them that they are doing absolutely everything to get to the bottom of this and make sure their information is safe," Marshall said.

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President-elect Donald Trump won Arizona on his way back to the White House, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris after a hard-fought battle in the Grand Canyon State.

The presidential race in Arizona encompassed many of the national trends that propelled Trump to victory, in vote-rich Maricopa County and beyond. Trump made gains in the Phoenix suburbs, outperformed his 2020 results in the border counties and benefited from a national swing to the right.

Along the way, Trump relied on outside groups to counter a Harris campaign ground game program and rally low propensity voters to cast ballots on his behalf.

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The result was an election result that wasnt particularly close, especially compared with Trumps loss to President Joe Biden, which was decided by fewer than 11,000 votes in 2020.

This time around, Trump defeated Harris by some 187,000 votes, a margin roughly 18 times larger than the result four years ago.

Here's how it happened.

Maricopa County swung right

Maricopa County is the biggest battleground county in the country. Its also the most important region in Arizona elections. Well over half of the states voters live there, and the county is home to a diverse set of voter blocs.

Maricopa County swung to the right in the presidential election, aiding Trump on Election Day. Areas with notable rightward shifts included the Latino-heavy neighborhoods of south and west Phoenix, and the East Valley cities that moved toward Biden four years ago.

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Trumps strength in Maricopa County was particularly stinging for Democrats because of how consequential it was in Bidens defeat of Trump in 2020. The Harris campaign tried unsuccessfully to hold that coalition together in 2024.

Harris carried Phoenix, but Trump dominated the suburbs

Phoenix was a bright spot for Harris in Maricopa County, but Trumps strength in the surrounding suburbs allowed him to run up the score on Nov. 5.

Harris won Phoenix with 57% of the vote. Trump received 42%, according to city election results.

But in nearby Gilbert, Trump won by 16 percentage points. He carried Mesa by 12 percentage points and Scottsdale by 9 percentage points.Trumps biggest margins in metro Phoenix were in Morristown and Wittmann, two communities where he received roughly three out of every four presidential votes. Harris widest margin of victory was Tolleson, which she won with 65% of support.

Trump made gains in Arizonas border counties

Trump promised a crackdown at the U.S.-Mexico border on the campaign trail, and the voters who live closest to Arizonas southern border moved toward him compared to 2020.

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Trump made gains in all four Arizona counties that share a border with Mexico, even the counties that Harris ultimately won.

The biggest shifts toward Trump came in Yuma County, which he won, and Santa Cruz County, which went toward Harris. He gained support in Cochise County, the region that Trump, Vice President-elect JD Vance and Harris visited during the campaign. Trump also made a minor improvement in Pima County, which is home to Tucson.

Why Democrats ground game flopped

Democrats built an organizing juggernaut in battleground Arizona to boost Harris in the final weeks of the presidential race. Trump easily overcame it on Election Day.

Political experts say that the ground game, the work of knocking doors and getting voters to cast ballots, is worth a percentage point or two in a close race. Trump was on track to win by roughly five percentage points in Arizona, despite public polling that showed a much closer contest for most of the race.

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That created an uphill climb for Harris, and now some Democrats say it is time to reevaluate how on-the-ground campaigning is done. Her supporters knocked on 112,000 Arizona doors on the Saturday before the election and made well over a half-million phone calls in a single day.

Trumps message on the economy and immigration  two of the top issues for voters  helped him turn Arizona red after his 2020 loss. He also relied on outside groups to handle the door knocking and other get-out-the-vote tasks that Harris handled within her own campaign infrastructure.

Who is Linda McMahon? What Arizonans have seen of Trump's pick for secretary of Education

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Heres what happened in Arizonas presidential election
Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question youd like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskidsus@theconversation.com.

What happened to Confederate money after the Civil War?  Ray G., 12, Arlington, Virginia

At the time the Civil War began in 1861, the United States government did not print paper money; it only minted coins. As a historian of the American Civil War, I study how the Confederate government used a radical idea: printing paper money.

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In 1861, 11 states tried to leave the United States and form a new country, causing a four-year war. Wars cost a lot of money so the new country, called the Confederate States of America, printed money as a way to pay its bills.

But this money was more like a promise  in technical terms, a promissory note  because its certificates were really pledges to give the currencys holder a specific amount of gold or silver, but only if the Confederacy won the war.

Bills issued earlier in the war said right on them, Six months after the ratification of a treaty of peace between the Confederate States and the United States, the Confederate States of America will pay the bills amount to the person holding it. Later currency delayed the promised payout until two years after a peace treaty.

The notes were commonly called graybacks, after Confederate soldiers, who wore gray uniforms. The bills were decorated with a variety of images, including depictions of mythological gods or goddesses, like the goddess of liberty. Other graybacks bore images of important people in Southern history like George Washington, Andrew Jackson and Jefferson Davis. Some of the bills depicted enslaved Americans working in the fields, or featured pictures of cotton or trains.

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But these images often werent very good quality, because the Confederacy didnt have many engravers who could make the detailed plates to print the money.

When the South started losing the war, the value of Confederate money dropped. In addition, prices for food, clothing and other necessities rose because many items were scarce during the war. Graybacks became almost worthless.

This is what 1 million Confederate dollars looked like, in a photo from 1962. U.S. National Archives

In late 1864, a few months before the wars end, one Confederate dollar was worth just three cents in U.S. currency.

When the Confederate army surrendered in April 1865, graybacks lost any remaining value they might have had. The Confederacy no longer existed, so there was nobody who would exchange its paper money for gold or silver.

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Today, though, Confederate dollars have value as a collectible item. Just like people will pay money to own a Civil War hat or musket, they will pay money to own Confederate money. Some rare Confederate bills are now worth 10 times more than they were in 1861.

Hello, curious kids! Do you have a question youd like an expert to answer? Ask an adult to send your question to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com. Please tell us your name, age and the city where you live.

And since curiosity has no age limit  adults, let us know what youre wondering, too. We wont be able to answer every question, but we will do our best.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Robert Gudmestad, Colorado State University

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Robert Gudmestad 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.
The Bronzeville Advisory Committee has delayed action on a 75-unit affordable housing development proposed for the Harambee neighborhood until a community meeting is held to discuss the plan.

Annex Management Group LLC is the developer behind the four- to five-story Union at Rose Park development, 3030 N. King Drive. The Indianapolis-based company plans to build and manage the mixed-income property.

The 1.39-acre project will include a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments as well as 12 three-bedroom townhomes for larger families. The site will have 50 surface parking spaces and building amenities, including a clubhouse and fitness center, along with a community service facility available to both residents and community members.

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The developer sought committee support for the development and a waiver from a city requirement of 60 percent glazing or opaqueness of windows on the ground level.

Union at Rose Park aims to redevelop  underutilized properties, which we are certainly doing here, said Rachel Kriech, the Annex Groups developmental director.

Rendering of proposed development Union at Rose Park, a 75-unit affordable housing development located at 3030 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Dr.

However, concerns were raised during the BACs monthly meeting Monday because the project was already awarded Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) housing tax credit  before the developer came to the committee for support.

BAC chair LaShawndra Vernon questioned city development officials about the timing of when a developer should come before the committee.

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"We need to have a conversation with WHEDA at the Bronzeville Advisory Committee, Vernon said. I think it is unfair to developers to send them to us to get approval when the approval process really starts with them getting their tax credits.

Kyle Gast of the city development department said the developer has applied with the zoning board of appeals and his department would make a recommendation on that application.

We are here to listen to the committee regarding how they feel about the development and the design. That will help inform our recommendation," he said. "Our role in this process is to just certify that the number of units complies with zoning.

But Gast agreed that WHEDA should be involved more with the BAC early in the development process.

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Matthew Haessly, also with the city development department, said the process for this project is different because it's not on city-owned land.

The developer, he said, saw the value in building in Bronzeville, acquired the private properties, spent dollars to do a market analysis and worked with the city to seek zoning approval to even apply for WHEDA tax credits.

Now the developer has come before the committee to say it has been awarded the tax credits, and this is what they envision, Haessly said.

Vernon reiterated that the BAC isn't anti-development but wanted clarification on the process, since it's held accountable for projects that come to the area.

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We want to see great things happening in Bronzeville, Vernon said. But it is definitely a process in which we want to make sure that we are going into a clear partnership as that development starts.

The Union at Rose Park is Annex's first development in Wisconsin. It has developments in 17 states.

The project aligns with two city redevelopment plans for the area: the Harambee Great Neighborhood Initiative and the Northeast Side Area Plan. Kriech said both plans stress affordable housing to counterbalance the strain of gentrification within the area.

Most of the development's units will be between 30% and 60% of the area's medium income. Five units will be market-rate and nine will be for veterans. The service center will also help connect residents with other social services in the community to address their needs.

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The proposed site  located across from the Clinton Rose Senior Center  previously contained two abandoned auto repair shops. They've been demolished to make way for the project, and Kriech said her company will work with the state to remediate any environmental concerns.

Ald. Milele Coggs said her office is willing to work with the developer and the BAC to host a community meeting on the project before the citys January zoning board meeting.

Also at the meeting, Haessly said the city has acquired the former Career Youth Development building, 2601 N. King Drive. The city is evaluating the building's condition and will work with the BAC and the Historic King Drive BID to put together a request-for-proposal for the property.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Harambee housing development decision delayed by Bronzeville committee
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY)  The Harrison County Sheriffs Office is making the public aware of a phone scam going around.

According to a Facebook post from the office, scammers are telling those who answer the call that they are Lt. Petroski from the Sheriffs Office, there is a warrant out for your arrest and that if you dont send money you will be arrested.

They are scamming people out of thousands of dollars, the office wrote.  You can tell them you are calling the local authorities and hopefully that will deter them from calling you back. Again, do NOT give them any money.

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Clarksburg Corps Salvation Army kicks off 2024 red kettle fundraiser

This kind of scam is not new to the area, as the Harrison County Sheriffs Office saw a similar scam in the community earlier this year.

If you receive a call that seems suspicious, follow these steps:

Verify Caller Identity: Always ask for the callers full name, badge number, and department. Be cautious if this information is not provided or seems suspicious. Do Not Share Personal Information: Never disclose personal or financial information over the phone. Legitimate law enforcement will never ask for payments over the phone or demand immediate action. Hang Up and Verify: If you receive such a call, hang up immediately. Verify the legitimacy of the call by reaching out to your local law enforcement agency using their official contact information. Spread Awareness: Inform your friends, family, and community about this scam to prevent others from falling victim.

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If you think you have fallen victim to a scam, you can contact the West Virginia Attorney Generals Consumer Hotline for assistance at 1-800-365-8808 or file a complaint online here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com.
HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH)  A Mexican citizen residing in Hartford admitted on Friday his role in a smuggling and labor trafficking scheme, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Connecticut leaders vow to keep undocumented immigrants safe

58-year-old Apolinar Francisco Paredes Espinoza, also known as Pancho, pleaded guilty to assisting Maria Del Carmen Sanchez Portero in illegally smuggling immigrants over the border and bringing them to the Hartford area. Paredes would create false documents for the victims and help them find employment.

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Once the immigrants were in America, they were allegedly told that they would have to pay $30,000 with interest and pay Sanchez and Paredes for rent, food, gas and utilities. Additionally, they were required to perform housework and yardwork without compensation.

He is facing up to 12 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 WTNH.com.
At least five students have been diagnosed with pertussis, otherwise known as whooping cough, since September at Lane Tech High School, according to the Chicago Department of Public Health.

In a letter to parents earlier this week, the health department said it is informing families out of an abundance of caution, as students across multiple grade levels have contracted the bacterial infection.

The highly contagious infection is easily spread by coughing and sneezing, and symptoms typically begin seven to 10 days after exposure, according to the health department. Whooping cough begins similar to a common cold and progresses to severe coughing after a couple of weeks.

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For adolescents and adults, whooping cough may not progress beyond a persistent, sometimes painful cough. For infants, however, the disease can be severe and potentially deadly.

The rates of whooping cough have increased both locally and nationally compared with recent years, signaling a return to pre-pandemic levels, the health department said in a statement to the Tribune.

The department reported there are 2.3 times as many pertussis cases in Chicago in 2024 than at the same time in 2023, with most cases this year among those aged 5 to 17. There were typically more than 10,000 cases reported each year prior to COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The single best way to protect yourself and your children from severe pertussis is vaccination, the health departments statement read. The science behind vaccine effectiveness and safety is well-established and CDPH will always advocate for maximizing vaccine coverage to keep our communities safe from preventable illnesses.

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The Chicago Department of Public Health provides DTaP and Tdap vaccines (for pertussis, diphtheria and tetanus) at its immunization clinics for those who need them.

The outbreak follows an uptick in anti-vaccination rhetoric. Illinois Association of School Nurses President Eileen Moss said there has been more vaccine hesitancy in schools than in prior years. In previous years, it was only select vaccines that some parents would object to. Now, its all of them.

People have their feelings about vaccination in the school setting, Moss said. We have to respect what they choose.

There has also been an increase in what public health officials refer to as vaccination fatigue following the pandemic. Amid the continuous COVID-19 variants that have spawned and the vaccinations required to fight the disease, research and polls show some have grown tired of the frequency of immunization demands, amid misconceptions about the severity of diseases and the need for vaccinations.

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President-elect Donald Trump recently selected Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent figure in the anti-vaccination movement, to be his Health and Human Services secretary when he takes office in January. Kennedy alleged on a now-viral podcast with computer scientist Lex Fridman that there is no vaccine thats safe and effective, a claim thats been proved to be false. With Kennedy taking his seat on Trumps Cabinet in only a couple of months, if he is approved by the Senate, his critics have expressed concern about the future of vaccinations nationally.

While some parents have been wary of vaccinations, CPS requires students to have at least eight vaccinations as listed on their minimum health requirements page of the districts student health and school forms booklet. CPS also has a list of vaccinations that it recommends parents administer to their children.

The recent cases of whooping cough follow a measles outbreak earlier this year at Cooper Dual Language Elementary Academy on the Lower West Side. Similar to then, the district is continuing to monitor the outbreak at Lane Tech, and offering various opportunities for vaccinations to aid in vaccine preventable diseases.

The District works closely with families to ensure that students stay current on all vaccination requirements, as this is one of the most effective ways to protect children from severe childhood illnesses, a CPS spokesperson said.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has called for branding India as a "Responsible Capitalist" nation, emphasizing the country's deep understanding of the limitations of capitalism. Speaking at the 8th India Ideas Conclave organized by India Foundation, Sitharaman highlighted India's traditional values of sustainable living and responsible consumption. She said "We thought of it as our responsibility to use as per our need & not as per our greed. We must understand that capitalism has its limitations & we need to brand India as a 'Responsible Capitalist' country". She noted that India's adoption of principles such as a circular economy and reuse was not driven by global trends but by necessity and responsibility. "We didn't follow the circular economy and principle of reuse because we were an impoverished nation. We thought of it as our responsibility to use as per our need and not as per our greed," Sitharaman said in a social media post. She highlighted the need to promote this mindset globally by positioning India as a nation that integrates responsibility with economic growth. The minister also emphasized enhancing tourism by integrating modern technology and traditional knowledge. She suggested creating self-learning digital programs in the top 100 tourist centers across the country. These programs could provide information about the architectural significance, tourism value, and associated languages such as Sanskrit and Pali. "We should provide learning material for those who want to understand the signature Indian architectural marvels, adopting a multidisciplinary approach to tourism," she added. Sitharaman further stressed the importance of establishing global standards in various sectors. She proposed creating a "Bharat FDA" modeled on the lines of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure top-notch standards in food and drug safety. Highlighting India's scientific heritage, she noted that India's strength in science has been unbroken since ancient times. She referenced Nobel laureate Erwin Schrodinger's acknowledgment of being influenced by Vedanta in his theories. She said "India's strength in science has been unbroken since ancient times. Erwin Schrodinger, a top scientist, has said that most of my ideas and theories were heavily influenced by Vedanta". Sitharaman said that this scientific legacy should be integrated into the vision of "Brand Bharat," emphasizing excellence in science and technology to position India as a global leader. (ANI)
HAZEL GREEN, Ala. (WHNT)  Authorities confirmed three people were taken to the hospital after a two-vehicle accident Friday.

HEMSI spokesperson Don Webster told News 19 that the wreck happened around 2:18 p.m.

Webster said the accident was on Walls Drive and U.S. 231/431 North in front of ACE Hardware.

It was a two-vehicle accident and three people were taken to the hospital: one adult and two children. There is no word on their condition at this time.

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The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said troopers are investigating the wreck.

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THOMASVILLE  If you follow the news, you may have heard about those 43 monkeys that escaped from a research facility in South Carolina earlier this month. The latest update is that 39 of the monkeys have been recaptured, while four of the furry, frisky fugitives remain on the lam.

The rumor is that the monkeys just wanted to go see the latest Planet of the Apes movie that was released a few months ago.

Anyway, South Carolinas mass monkey escape reminds us of another runaway monkey adventure from nearly 45 years ago, and it happened right in High Points back yard. The story made headlines because of its tragic ending  tragic for the monkey, that is  but waitll you hear what happened AFTER the tragic ending, when the newspapers were no longer covering the story.

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The year was 1980. One hot day in August  or did it happen under the cover of darkness?  a small monkey escaped from a research animal breeding farm in northern Davidson County. The farm was owned by the Wake Forest Bowman Gray School of Medicine, which reportedly bred animals there for the purpose of selling them to research laboratories across the country.

For about three weeks, the monkey frolicked all over Thomasville, frequently being spotted climbing trees or dancing along rooftops. City police officers  who were obviously more adept at capturing escaped convicts than escaped monkeys  set traps to nab the elusive escapee, but to no avail.

Finally, the monkeys adventure came to an end on Sept. 2, when it was cornered in a tree near the intersection of National Highway and Fairview Street. After more than two hours of trying to subdue the monkey with tranquilizer darts, a Thomasville police officer shot and killed the animal. A department spokesman explained that when attempts to capture the monkey failed, it had to be killed because of fears that it might have rabies and might bite someone.

A spokesman for the farm told a reporter he doubted anyone couldve gotten close enough to the skittish monkey to get bitten, and then dejectedly added, We would have preferred having it back.

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Heres where the story gets really interesting, and by really interesting, what we really mean is weird.

What were about to tell you was never printed in the newspapers. It comes from the memory of a former Thomasville police officer, now retired, who shall remain nameless. The key characters in this part of the story, also former Thomasville officers, shall also remain anonymous. We do believe, however, that the facts of the story are accurate.

After the escaped monkey had been shot to death, a Thomasville police officer decided  we dont know exactly why  that he would like to keep the monkey. His plan was apparently to have the animal stuffed and mounted because, you know, there arent too many stuffed and mounted monkeys in Thomasville.

Deer? Sure. But not monkeys.

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So the officer, who was single at the time, took possession of the monkey, wrapped it up in newspaper and, ahem, put it in the freezer at his apartment. It seems he was headed to the beach for a few days, but he wanted to keep his simian souvenir well-preserved before having it stuffed and mounted.

What happened next seems far-fetched, but our confidential informant insists this is how it went down. While the monkey-owning officer was out of town, his roommate  a fellow officer, as it so happens  moved out. We dont know if that was prearranged or a spur-of-the-moment decision, but he packed up and left.

And ... well ... um ... he had the power shut off.

Why he did this, we dont know  and we were unable to track him down to ask him  but thats what happened.

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Few days later, our informant tells us, officer returns from beach, finds apartment without power in summer. Monkey had thawed out.

Theres a quote we bet you never thought youd see in the newspaper: Monkey had thawed out.

Alas, we dont know what became of the monkey at that point, but we can guess.

Curiously, a newspaper article about the monkeys death compared the animal to the Revolutionary War-era patriot Patrick Henry, who famously said, Give me liberty or give me death!

In this case, though, the monkey got both.
DENVER (KDVR)  The group mentioned by Denver Mayor Mike Johnston in controversial comments he made about stopping possible mass deportation has responded. This comes after facing criticism from some across the country.

Many questions surround what a mass deportation effort would look like in Denver. The group at the center of the mayors thoughts about the situation is standing by his comments.

Denver among 3 finalists for a National Womens Soccer League expansion team

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Andrea Ryall, the Executive Director of Hope Has No Borders, is one of the moms in the Highlands Moms and Neighbors group.

Its really terrible rhetoric but kind of the same thing that hes been saying for a long time about who immigrants are and what they stand for and it is truly the exact opposite of the experience that weve had in the last year here in Denver, Ryall said when asked about President-elect Donald Trumps plans to carry out a large mass deportation effort across the nation.

The group found themselves at the center of Johnstons comments on the president-elects plan.

He told Denverite that he would have Denver police stationed at the county line to try to keep the military out.

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Its like the Tiananmen Square moment with the rose and the gun, right? Youd have every one of those Highlands moms who came out for the migrants. And you do not want to mess with them, said Johnston.

Ryall agreed with Johnstons message.

Mayor Johnston is exactly right. The people of Denver and those specifically in my community, moms and neighbors and newcomers alike, we dont want to live in a world where the U.S. military is deployed on our cities to knock on doors and take away people of their choosing. Thats not America and thats not the world we live in, Ryall said.

You will be fined for crossing the solid white line on these Colorado roadways

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The new administration has not entered into office yet. Mayor Johnston said he had to run when we tried to ask him about the comments on Thursday. Elizabeth Jordan with the Sturm School of Law at the University of Denver, said the idea of mass deportations in the U.S. is a new concept.

Its an unprecedented use of the U.S. Military, and in my opinion an illegal use of the U.S. Military. On the other hand, no, we have also not to my knowledge had to have police carry something like this out. There may be other examples in history that I am not aware of but these are potentially unprecedented conversations that we are having, said Jordan.

While Ryall agreed the Highlands Moms would stand on the frontlines to protect newcomers, she acknowledged thats not the viewpoint of everyone in Denver.

The election shows 50/50 is about where we land. Some of us see a human being in front of us, maybe who looks very different than us but who we share a lot in common with and acts in compassion and empathy. And the other half of our society needs to just have that experience face to face with another human being, Ryall said.

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Mayor Johnstons team sent a statement clarifying his thoughts on the mass deportation proposal Thursday night.

In Denver, we respect the law and enforce it without fear or favor across every inch of our city. If Donald Trump tries to break the law and abuse his power, he will get no help from us, said Mayor Mike Johnston. Denver is proud to be a welcoming city, and we will do everything in our power to protect those who live here. We are considering a number of options to strengthen protections for all our residents, and we continue to provide education about the rights of our immigrant community so they can best protect themselves from any unlawful actions.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
The Herring Pond Wampanoag Tribe, headquartered in Plymouth, has been granted state recognition.

Gov. Maura Healey's office called Tribal Chairwoman Melissa Ferretti on Friday.

The news overwhelmed her with joy, Ferretti said.

"The executive order acknowledges what we already knew. It reaffirms our thousands of years of existence here," Ferretti said Monday.

Gov. Healey made a promise to deal with Indigenous issues, Ferretti said. "She honored that promise and commitment."

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Healey officially granted state recognition on Tuesday with Executive Order 637.

Herring Pond is a distinct, cohesive and autonomous tribal community that has existed in Massachusetts for centuries, according to a statement from Healey's office.

Our administration deeply appreciates our strong ties with the indigenous tribes across our state, and this Executive Order gives Herring Pond Wampanoag the recognition they deserve," Healey said in the statement.

The state's acknowledgement, said Ferretti, will allow Herring Pond to establish a formal and political relationship with state government, and will also enable Herring Pond to gain access to resources and opportunities essential for the welfare and prosperity of the tribe community. State recognition will lead to collaboration with state agencies in areas such as education, healthcare, conservation of natural resources, and economic development, said Ferretti.

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"This isn't about money, power or greed. Its about the basic survival and inherent rights of our people," said Ferretti.

Herring Pond's tribal homelands range from Plymouth to Bourne and Sandwich in Barnstable County. There are about 200 active Herring Pond tribal citizens, said Ferretti.

The Herring Pond Wampanoag Tribe, headquartered in Plymouth, has been granted state recognition. Gov. Maura Healey's office called Tribal Chairwoman Melissa Ferretti on Nov. 15, 2024. The news overwhelmed her with joy, Ferretti said. She was photographed on July 30, 2024 at the tribe's meeting house in Plymouth.

Steps to achieve state recognition

Ferretti, along with Herring Pond's Tribal Council, have been working toward state recognition since Ferretti became a member of the Council in 2016, she said.

"At that time we had very little resources available to the tribe. We were literally passing a hat around to collect money to sustain ourselves," said Ferretti. "In the past, we were too proud to ask for money or for help. But that's what motivated us to work towards formal state recognition."

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Because Herring Pond wasn't state recognized, the tribe has often been denied services from the state, and from other tribal service organizations that required tribes to have state or federal recognition.

But after conducting research, including interviewing tribe elders, and compiling documents into evidence binders to prove Herring Pond's history, Ferretti and tribal citizens Kerina Silva, and Jamie Hoctor submitted a letter and petition to Healey's office on May 20.

In the letter, the tribe asked Healeys office to sign a proposed executive order that would formally acknowledge Herring Pond. In the letter, which Ferretti provided to the Times, the tribe said it has maintained a continuous presence with a government that predates the establishment of the American colonies, the state, and the U.S.

We stand alone as the sole tribe with unceded lands in the towns of Plymouth and Bourne," said Ferretti in the letter.

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In the letter, Ferreti said that the tribe's acknowledgement within the commonwealth is not just a procedural step. "It signifies a vital moment for the Herring Pond Wampanoag Tribe to receive equitable treatment and ensure the survival of our culture, Ferretti wrote.

Did Herring Pond have support from Wampanoag Nation?

Herring Pond is the second tribe to be granted recognition by the state, said Ferretti. The Hassanamisco Nipmuc Band  native to Central Massachusetts, Northeastern Connecticut and parts of Rhode Island  was granted state recognition under Executive Order 126, issued by Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis in 1976.

Herring Pond should have been included under that executive order, said Silva.

"I don't know why that happened or what the terms of that order were," said Silva. "But we took the steps to be a part of that order and we were successful. That's a really good feeling."

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State acknowledgement won't provide the same legal benefits or federal funding as federally recognized tribes like the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), said Ferretti. But it offers a pathway towards federal recognition, she said.

Mashpee Tribe Chairman Brian Weeden and the Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe Chairwoman Cheryl Andrews-Maltais expressed their support for Healey's decision.

"We're thrilled for our cousins in the Herring Pond Tribe that the Commonwealth has officially recognized their ancestors' perseverance in remaining on ancestral lands, Weeden said in the statement from Healey's office. The benefits of a government-to-government relationship will extend to future generations of tribal citizens and the Herring Pond Tribe's ability to sustain a healthy relationship with the land and the water."

In a letter addressed to the Healey administration, provided to Ferretti, Andrews-Maltais noted that Herring Pond has been continuously recognized by other local, state and federally recognized tribes, as well as the surrounding community. Herring Pond was also documented as a historic tribe, she said in the letter.

Will other tribes also be recognized?

The possibilities for other tribes to be recognized by the state are there, said Ferretti.

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"Hopefully this is the beginning of a real state recognition process that could bring legislation and pave the way for other legitimate tribes that are struggling," said Ferretti. "We are setting a precedent for other tribes to get recognition if they fit the criteria."

Ferretti said she would be open to collaborating with the state to establish a formal process for state recognition. For now, she's just enjoying this moment.

"It's like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders," she said. "It's been a long road. A lot of ups and downs. But we never gave up. We've achieved this important mission  for us and the ancestors."

Rachael Devaney writes about community and culture. Reach her at rdevaney@capecodonline.com.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Herring Pond Wampanoag Tribe in Plymouth achieves formal recognition
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  The Rochester Museum and Science Center Council celebrated the return of its annual Holiday Bazaar Arts & Crafts Sale. This is one of the longest-running arts and crafts festivals in the Rochester area. Admissions is $6 per person or you can purchase a $10 weekend pass for all three days available for pre-purchase online or in person. Kids 12 and younger and able to attend for free.

The RMSC Council is a volunteer service organization that supports all three locations of the RMSC (The Museum & Science Center, the Strasenburgh Planetarium, and the Cumming Nature Center) through annual fundraising events.

Lyndsay Compitello, Vice President of Marketing & Guest Experience at the RMSC said this weekend allows vendors to reach new audiences while displaying their talents, and provides an opportunity for the RMSC to lift up the vibrant art community in our region.

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The sale is filled with work by more than 160 fine artists and craftspeople. RMSC Museum & Science Center and Eisenhart Auditorium will be transformed into a holiday shopping wonderland this weekend. Visitors can expect to find locally made gifts for the holidays while supporting individual artists and their favorite non-profits. Food and beverages will be available for purchase in the Cunningham House Studio.

Juried exhibitors from the region will showcase creative, unique, hand-made items for purchase including: fiber arts, ceramics, glass, jewelry, paintings, photography, prints, mixed media, sculpture, woodwork, and more. Exhibitors will travel from across New York and several neighboring states.

This holiday tradition is the perfect opportunity for our community to shop local for the holidays while participating in a unique Rochester event, Compitello said.

The annual RMSC Council Holiday Bazaar was founded over 50 years ago as a modest Stocking Stuffer Sale. Today, the Holiday Bazaar attracts more than 5,000 shoppers, and is the RMSC Councils most successful annual fundraising event.

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The Museum & Science Center will only be open to Holiday Bazaar patrons, and some exhibits may be closed this weekend. The RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium will remain open for regular operating hours.

The event will run Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.
Seven months after the Georgia Squatter Reform Act became the law of the land, some homeowners are still encountering hurdles in getting squatting cases handled criminally.

A homeowner on Janjolin Way in DeKalb County told Channel 2 Investigative Reporter Justin Gray that squatters moved into his property while he was mid-renovation. When he called DeKalb County police, the alleged squatters provided documents claiming they were the rightful owners and DeKalb police referred the case to civil court instead of citing anyone criminally.

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State Representative Devan Seabaugh, the bills sponsor, says thats exactly the type of confusion the Squatter Reform Act was designed to prevent.

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Its a confusing process, but we tried to clarify that, Seabaugh said. Its criminal what these folks are doing. Theyre taking somebodys property illegally.

The new law came after a series of Channel 2 Action News investigations exposed the loophole squatters were taking advantage of.

Many law enforcement agencies, when presented with two sets of paperwork, referred the matter to civil eviction court.

But under the new law, suspected squatters are supposed to immediately be issued a criminal citation and have three days to present a lease. If that lease is fraudulent, the case goes from a misdemeanor to a felony.

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In this case, a spokesperson for DeKalb County says since there were two different police incident reports filed with two different people claiming ownership, they consider it a civil matter, not a criminal one.

A DeKalb County spokesperson says An owner may pursue an ejection of squatters through the Georgia Squatter Reform Act which covers ejections through a process with law enforcement officials. Squatting is now unlawful.

The homeowner filed an intruder affidavit, and the suspected squatter also provided the court paperwork which he says provides proof of his ownership.

Seabaugh says he is open to looking at tweaks to the law in the upcoming legislative session.

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Rep. Taylor Collins (left) will chair a new committee on higher education in the Iowa House of Representatives. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

A new committee established by Iowa House Republicans will conduct a comprehensive review of Iowas higher education system, curriculum and administrative costs, the new chairman says, but the panel is sparking some concerns among students and faculty members.

Rep. Taylor Collins, R-Mediapolis, will lead the new committee announced this week by House Speaker Pat Grassley. Leaders from organizations at state universities said their institutions already have a tremendous impact, and shared concerns that certain changes could hurt students, the universities themselves and the workforce.

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Collins said he is grateful to be able to lead the committee in its holistic review of Iowas higher education system, looking at how colleges and universities handle state dollars and what theyre doing for Iowas workforce needs.

I think that a review, a comprehensive review, of our higher education system is long overdue, Collins said. And its important that  these institutions that spend billions of dollars each year, not only Iowa taxpayer dollars but also tuition revenue that is given to them by Iowa students and taxpayers, that they are operating as efficiently as possible, and that they are preparing Iowas workforce.

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The committee will also work to ensure that Iowas universities are mission-focused and that they arent using tax dollars without oversight, Collins said.

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Iowas state universities are overseen by the Board of Regents, with nine members appointed by the governor.

Spending, program oversight

One area Collins said the committee will look into is administrative spending. Discussions about administrative costs at public universities, especially in areas of diversity, equity and inclusion, were held last session, and Collins said the amount of spending on DEI administrative positions was appalling.

Iowas universities have reallocated a combined more than $2 million away from DEI offices and programs, the result of cutting dozens of units and positions.

A group of Iowa State University students have formed a coalition to speak out against anti-DEI legislation passed last session, which alongside DEI directives from the Iowa Board of Regents, have led to state universities restructuring and closing DEI offices and eliminating positions. They have shared concerns with the board of regents and held multiple protests, with the support of Ames community members.

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When asked about students who have spoken out against the changes to DEI offices and activities on their campuses, Collins said he is not too concerned, as he hasnt seen that many students protesting. While he doesnt see a need to make more legislative changes to DEI activities in higher education, the committee will oversee the colleges work in changing their units to comply with the law.

Cary Stough, president of the Campaign to Organize Graduate Students (COGS), said he is concerned for students of color and international students on campus who have lost resources because of the changes to DEI programs on campus. A culture of fear has been created on campus, Stough said, as students and graduate workers teaching classes are unsure of what they can and cannot say without facing consequences.

The initiatives that fall under the umbrella of DEI are research-based, he said, conducted by graduate workers and others across the U.S.

Collins said a conversation does need to happen about the academic programs provided to Iowans by their universities. Using the example of a social justice degree offered by the University of Iowa, he said it raises questions about what Iowans are paying for and what value theyre getting.

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Academic freedom doesnt mean you get to take our money and do whatever the hell you want with it, Collins said. Legislators who represent Iowa taxpayers have every right to look at what academic programs are being offered and make sure that those programs are offering Iowa taxpayers a return on their investment.

Chris Martin, president of UNI faculty union United Faculty, warned against the Legislature getting too concerned about things like the names of degree programs, as people often use the degrees they receive in unexpected ways. Thats one of the reasons universities like UNI try to educate their students broadly, and not on just one specific thing.

He brought up Gov. Kim Reynolds as an example. Reynolds earned a bachelor of liberal studies degree from ISU while serving as lieutenant governor.

I would just remind people that a healthy society has people with all kinds of experience, and in such a dynamic economy as Iowas and the United States, you oftentimes cant predict whats going to be the next big thing, Martin said. And I always see this as a strength of the United States, the fact that we have universities and people can study a number of different things, rather than get tracked onto specific things that the government selects.

Workforce needs must be met

Much of what the committee will focus on, especially when it comes to Iowas community colleges and private universities, is examining their programs and practices from a workforce angle, Collins said. Students attending community colleges often then transition to a public university, and private college students have access to the Iowa Tuition Grant program.

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Theres no secret that Iowa has a workforce shortage, not just Iowa, but across the country, Collins said. So its critically important that we have institutions that are mission-focused on providing for the needs of Iowa employers.

Lawmakers had discussions with constituents last year about the Iowa Tuition Grant and potential changes to the program, which concerned university officials. Collins said any possible changes to the grants will be determined by data provided by private universities about what degree programs students are using those dollars for, and whether that degree will get them a job.

Collins said the state can no longer throw money out the window and hope that this money is being utilized to the best of its ability.

Martin said UNI is already focused on trying to meet the needs of Iowas employers, establishing nursing and applied engineering programs to train students for in-demand jobs.

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The committee will also look at possible tuition caps or guarantees, Collins said, which failed to be passed into law last session.

Tuition and fees at each of the state universities were raised for the 2024-2025 school year, which student leaders argued against, as those costs fell on students to bear. Some called for a freeze on tuition, paired with additional state dollars, as trends have shown that state allocations have flipped from being two-thirds of university budgets to one-third over the past 25 years.

With discussions of more cost cutting in the future, Stough said a lack of state support will put more stress on the graduate workers who teach classes, conduct research and handle other university practices while not being paid enough.

The writing on the wall here is that cutting costs comes with an increased cost to graduate workers, who already do not make a lot of money, Stough said.

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Martin shared concerns that less state support hurts the low-income families that are hoping to send their children to college, and that cutting costs could hurt Iowas economy, as public universities provide a huge economic impact for the state.

Few things better than investing in higher education

In a news release announcing the new committee, Collins said the state must turn universities away from political agendas, and back to the pursuit of academic excellence.

Both Martin and Stough said the institutions they call home have never strayed from that pursuit, and there are no political agendas that theyve seen on campus.

Universities are not forcing any sort of political ideology on their students, Martin said, and the idea of them having an ideology to push doesnt hold up under scrutiny.

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I mean, the only ideology were teaching is actually critical analysis, Martin said. At any university, thats what we teach people to do. Thats how you become smart, right you question things.

Iowas universities are for anyone and everyone in the state, he said, and partisan bickering doesnt help convey that.

There has been no evidence of political ideology making its way into the UIs classrooms, Stough said, and the fact that some of the work and research being conducted at universities is being deemed so seems ideological in itself.

The proof is in the pudding, he said, of the academic excellence of the UI and other Iowa universities, when looking at rates of job placements and success of students.

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Were all very proud Hawkeyes, very proud to contribute to the academic excellence that has already been ongoing here at the University of Iowa, Stough said. Weve not seen some break in it where its been taken over by the ideology of a specific subset, or anything like that.

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(NewsNation)  The House recently passed a Social Security bill that would expand benefits for public-sector workers and their families but the Senate is running out of time to get it over the finish line.

The Social Security Fairness Act  which won bipartisan support  would revoke two federal policies that limit retirement payments for certain retirees who also receive government pensions.

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If passed, the change would impact nearly 2.5 million retirees, increasing Social Security payments for many, including firefighters, police officers, and teachers.

Heres what a Trump presidency could mean for Social Security

For more than 40 years, the Social Security trust funds have been artificially propped up by stolen benefits that millions of Americans paid for and that their families deserve, the bills sponsors, Republican Rep. Garrett Graves of Louisiana and Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia said in a statement.

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The legislation has strong support in the Senate but the upper chamber has to vote on the bill before the end of the year otherwise it expires. That could be a tall order with a jam-packed schedule and just weeks before a new Congress begins.

Heres what to know about the Social Security Fairness Act and what could happen next.

73% worry Social Security wont pay promised benefits: Survey

What is the Social Security Fairness Act?

The bill would eliminate two policies: the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset.

Those two provisions reduce Social Security benefits for workers and their family members if the worker receives a pension based on employment not covered by Social Security.

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For example: teachers who do not earn Social Security in public schools but work part-time during the summer at another job covered by Social Security have reduced benefits. Thats true even if they pay into the system long enough to receive benefits.

One study found that households affected by either provision take a 20% hit in the present value of their lifetime Social Security benefits, reducing their total wealth by around 5 to 6%.

Social Securitys short-term solvency should not be propped up by the stolen benefits of these retirees  benefits they have long been owed and will never get back, Spanberger and Graves wrote in a letter to Senate leaders, urging them to pass the bill.

Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, and Maine Senator Susan Collins, a Republican, also signed onto the letter, calling for a vote as swiftly as possible.

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The bill passed the House with an overwhelming majority: 327-75.

How much would it cost?

The biggest downside to the bill is the cost.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, the changes would add an estimated $196 billion to the federal deficit over ten years. The bill would also bump up Social Securitys looming insolvency by about six months, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, which opposes the legislation.

They should call this bill the Social Security UnFairness Act; it creates a Windfall Expansion Provision for a small number of beneficiaries who would get to double-dip their retirement benefits, Maya MacGuineas, the committees president, said in a statement.

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In roughly a decade, retirees could see their Social Security benefits slashed by hundreds of dollars a month if Congress doesnt shore up the programs finances.

MacGuineas said repealing the two provisions in the bill would increase the size of the benefit cut and make Social Securitys financial problem worse.

A recent Urban Institute report echoed those concerns and found that eliminating the two policies would disproportionately benefit people with higher incomes.

Ultimately, getting rid of pension offsets for teachers and other government employees would do more harm than good, favoring people with the most resources and pushing the burden of fixing Social Securitys long-term financing onto everyone else, the report said.

What happens next?

The bill has 63 sponsors in the Senate which is important because 60 votes are needed to pass most legislation in the chamber.

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If the Social Security Fairness Act does get over the finish line in the Senate, it would head to President Joe Bidens desk. The changes would be effective for benefits payable after December 2023.

Brown and Collins are pushing their colleagues to take up the bill but other legislation could take priority before the balance of power changes in the new year.

Government funding, disaster relief, and an annual must-pass defense bill are all likely to take up considerable floor time.

The act could still be passed another way, by linking it to a larger legislative package but it remains to be seen whether that will happen. Graves and Spanberger ultimately had to force a vote to get the House to vote on the bill.

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If the bill doesnt get passed before the end of the year, it would expire and lawmakers would have to start over.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
The Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), signed in March 2024 between India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries, is poised to unlock new opportunities for Indian exports and drive investments worth USD 100 billion. According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the agreement, designed to enhance bilateral trade and investment, covers a wide spectrum of goods, services, and sectors, ensuring a mutually beneficial partnership. Sunil Barthwal, Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, led a high-level delegation to Norway on November 22, to further advance the objectives of TEPA. His visit aimed to secure early implementation of the USD 100 billion investment commitment and boost market access for Indian goods and services across EFTA member countries--Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. TEPA is a modern, ambitious trade agreement providing market access to 99.6 per cent of Indian exports, with EFTA countries offering concessions on 92.2 per cent of their tariff lines. This includes complete tariff elimination on non-agricultural products and substantial concessions on processed agricultural products. In return, India has committed to 82.7 per cent of its tariff lines, covering 95.3 per cent of EFTA exports. The agreement is also set to stimulate India's service exports in sectors such as IT, business, education, audio-visual, and cultural services. Enhanced access is provided through digital delivery (Mode 1), commercial presence (Mode 3), and temporary mobility of key personnel (Mode 4). TEPA is expected to bolster domestic manufacturing and support key initiatives like Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat. The agreement encourages investments in infrastructure, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, food processing, banking, and financial services. It also fosters job creation for India's youth, along with enhanced vocational and technical training opportunities over the next 15 years. Additionally, TEPA facilitates technological collaboration, granting access to advanced technologies in precision engineering, health sciences, renewable energy, and research and development. During his visit, Barthwal met with Tomas Norvoll, State Secretary of Norway's Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Fisheries, to discuss trade, investment, and mobility for Indian professionals. He also held discussions with HE Cecilie Myrseth, Minister of Trade and Industry, and HE Jan Christian Vestre, Minister of Health and Care Services, emphasising the need for swift TEPA ratification. In engagements at the Norwegian Parliament, Barthwal highlighted the transformative potential of TEPA and its benefits for both nations. He called for reenergising institutional mechanisms and fostering collaboration across industries. The delegation also engaged with business stakeholders, including the Norwegian Chamber of Commerce (NHO), Innovation Norway, and leaders from sectors like renewable energy, shipping, green hydrogen, textiles, and information technology. Barthwal underscored India's rapid economic ascent from the world's fifth-largest to the third-largest economy within the next 3-4 years, presenting unprecedented opportunities for Norwegian businesses. (ANI)
Nov. 22New Mexico will not be cooperating with a potential Trump administration crackdown on undocumented immigrants living in the U.S.  at least not if House Speaker Javier Martinez has anything to say about it.

Martinez, D-Albuquerque, stood alongside representatives of five immigrants' rights groups at the Roundhouse Friday as they unveiled nine proposals to protect immigrants in New Mexico. One of the proposals would prevent state resources from being used to help with President-elect Donald Trump's mass-deportation plans and bar the state and local governments from contracting with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain immigrants.

"I'm not an ally, I'm not a champion, I'm one of you," Martinez, a second-generation American, said to the audience of immigrants and advocates.

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Representatives of Somos un Pueblo Unido, El Centro de Igualdad y Derechos, the Santa Fe Dreamers Project, the New Mexico Immigrant Law Center, and the Semilla Project stood beside Martinez as they unveiled the slate of proposals. Among other things, the bills would invest in immigrant workforce development and provide economic relief for families with children who lose income due to immigration enforcement.

While Martinez was the only lawmaker present, he represents a "pro-immigrant Democratic majority," he said.

"Now, I am blessed to sit in the speaker's chair," said Martinez, "and it's not lost on me that that comes with a great deal of responsibility. That's why I will continue to fight alongside all of you to support New Mexico's working families  and that includes our immigrant families."

Martinez is not the only top state elected official pledging to resist Trump's stated plans to round up and deport millions of undocumented immigrants. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham told The New Mexican last week she plans to as well. She reiterated that message on MSNBC's Morning Joe on Thursday, saying mass deportation would be unconstitutional and that "we are not going to cooperate in any way with that effort."

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No state cooperation with mass deportation

Perhaps the biggest of the proposals unveiled Friday would bar state funds from being used for immigration enforcement and restrict state and local governments from contracting with ICE for the purposes of civil immigration detention.

The groups are also proposing limiting the sharing of "personal and sensitive information of New Mexico residents," including ensuring driver's license information isn't shared with ICE through data brokers. New Mexico is one of 19 states where undocumented immigrants can get driver's licenses.

Martinez said the proposed package would build on other measures the state has passed in recent years to protect immigrants and working people, including in-state college tuition to some undocumented immigrants, protections against wage theft and expanding tax credits for low-income families.

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"We've worked hard over the past few years  when I say we, I mean you  to establish key protections in New Mexico for all of our diverse communities," Martinez said.

Economic aid

The proposals include the expansion of in-state tuition and financial aid access to adult immigrant workers and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status applicants  i.e., juveniles applying for legal residence who have been abused, neglected or abandoned by their parents  enrolled in credit and noncredit workforce development programs.

Others would allocate more funding for adult training programs like English-language courses, GED and citizenship preparation tutoring and for regional workforce boards to expand services such as providing computers, internet payments and travel stipends.

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"What will happen to New Mexico's agricultural economy if we mass deport millions of people?" Martinez asked. "You'll hear us time and time again say how proud we are to be an oil and gas producing state. ... Yet if the incoming president mass-deports millions of us, those industries in New Mexico will not only suffer, they will implode. They are likely to cease to exist as we know them."

One of the proposed policies aims to create a safety net for immigrants who might be impacted, proposing economic relief for families with children who lose their income due to workplace raids or other immigration enforcement.

"New Mexico is home to an estimated 60,000 undocumented immigrants," said Zulema Chavero, citizenship coordinator for Somos Un Pueblo Unido. She said they "pay more than $67.7 million annually in state and local taxes," citing a 2020 report from New Mexico Voices for Children.

"We have gathered here today to show our strength and intention to work together to ensure state resources and funding we have helped generate to our labor, to our industries, and to our taxes are not used to increase deportations, separate families, and destabilize small business and local economies," she said. "We are confident legislative leaders will follow Speaker Martinez's example and stand with us in this crucial fight."

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Deportation protections

Another proposal, according to a news release, would "promote U-visa certification by local and state law enforcement officials to support undocumented survivors of crime in accessing crucial public safety resources." The U-visa is a type of visa for victims of crimes who are helpful to law enforcement.

"At the Santa Fe Dreamers Project, we see every day how immigrant survivors of crime are caught between systems that should protect them and policies that perpetuate fear and harm," said Jessica Aguirre, the Dreamers Project's staff attorney. "Survivors who agree to step forward to report crimes and assist law enforcement often face unnecessary barriers to obtaining new visa certifications, which are essential for them to provide for equal status and to rebuild their lives."

Another proposal would increase funding for nonprofits that provide legal representation in deportation, adjustment of status, and citizenship cases  especially in rural communities. A person's chance of being deported following an immigration hearing is doubled, Aguirre said, if they forego legal representation like the kind she provides through the Dreamers Project.

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Somos member Mireya Rivera said that while some communities, including Santa Fe, have policies barring the use of local resources for immigration enforcement, that isn't the case everywhere in the state.

"We contribute to the economy of the state," she said in Spanish. "And we don't want our money to be used to deport our families. We want to feel safe in our communities, and for our children to be protected. We want to end the narrative of fear."

The proposals will be refined before the session starts in January, said Teague Gonzalez, deputy director of programs, people, and advocacy for the New Mexico Immigrant Law Center.

"In between now and when the legislative session starts  and we're working with a number of legislators on this  we're identifying where the gaps are, because we know that New Mexico doesn't stand for mass deportation of our families," Gonzalez said.
Organic farmer Jack Fehr produces soybeans without chemical fertilizers or pesticides near West Bend, Iowa. (Photo by Keith Schneider/The New Lede)

WEST BEND, Iowa  People who think seriously about how to limit the toll industrialized American agriculture takes on communities, land, and water may want to visit the Fehr familys organic Clear Creek Acres in northern Iowa.

With just shy of 800 residents, West Bend is barely a blip on a prairie landscape, but it has become home base for an uncommonly large expanse of organically grown crops  operations that have found success in challenging the popular convention that pesticides and other agricultural chemicals are needed to feed the world.

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Towering grain bins are surrounded by close to 50,000 acres of corn, soybeans, oats and other crops grown without the use of synthetic chemicals. Farmers fertilize the land with chicken litter and hog manure and weed much of the land by hand, or with non-chemical tools, such as new laser weeders.

Whats occurred here since 1998, when farmer Barry Fehr experimented with raising chemical-free soybeans on 45 acres, is the development of the most expansive and profitable area of organic grain production in Iowa, and possibly the United States. Most of the land is farmed by multiple generations of the Fehr family. Clear Creek farms about half, 25,000 acres, and generates nearly $40 million a year in crop sales. The family also manages about 3,000 organic acres in Colorado.

The agrochemical industry, led by Monsanto-owner Bayer, Syngenta and other global seed and chemical giants, maintains that weed killers, insecticides and other pesticides are essential to robust food production, and that a growing global population requires use of the chemicals in agriculture.

Dan Fehr has been farming for more than 50 years. (Photo by Keith Schneider/The New Lede)

But 71-year-old Dan Fehr, who has been farming more than 50 years, says that is debatable.

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The Fehr family farms are nearly matching the yields of crops grown conventionally, perhaps seeing only about a 10% yield decline in comparison, Fehr said. Their costs are lower because theyre not buying pesticides and the high-priced genetically modified seeds designed to be used with certain weed-killing pesticides.

And the prices they reap are higher because organic crops command premiums in a marketplace where consumer demand for organic foods is climbing.

The premium we got from selling organics is the key reason, Fehr said. The demand for organic has definitely grown a lot. That is why we do it.

And, he added, Nobody has died of not using pesticides. I dont think it will hurt anything not to use pesticides.

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In short, the Fehrs developed an environmentally safer and more lucrative farming system that serves as a challenge to chemical grain production, and an invitation to conventional farmers to consider switching practices designed to build soil, stem pollution, and generate sufficient income to persuade every member of their family to keep farming.

They are unique in the way they run their operation, said Cole Thompson marketing director of Minnesota-based Albert Lea Seed, the nations largest organic seed producer. Most people in the industry think you cant farm at this scale organically. But you can. Theyre proving it.

Not everyone is impressed

While the familys achievements are celebrated in the countrys growing organic farm sector, not everybody in Kossuth and Palo Alto counties, close to the border with Minnesota, are impressed. Critics here say the Fehrs do not purchase chemicals and other supplies from local farm dealers, nor do they store and ship grain from local elevators.

Their cultivation practices, designed to control weeds, keep the surface of thousands of acres bare, making top soil vulnerable to erosion from wind and rain. And the $500 per acre fee the Fehrs are willing to pay to rent farmland is twice the common rate, and is seen as an impediment to young people trying to start farm careers.

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They arent doing much for this community, Ill tell you that, said Joe Joyce, who farms 2,000 acres here with chemicals.

Its just jealousy. Thats all, countered Linus Solberg, a farmer and Palo Alto County commissioner. I tell people anybody can do it. Anybody here has the opportunity to raise organic crops if they want to put in the time. These guys have figured out how to do it.

As just about every organic farmer in America can tell you, planting and harvesting crops without the protections from insects, weeds, and disease provided by chemicals is no easy feat.

But a growing body of scientific evidence has shown the chemicals come not just with benefits, but also with an array of risks.

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Many types of common farm pesticides have been scientifically shown to cause cancers and other diseases, are harmful to the environment, and are known to cause extensive water pollution. Iowa, in particular, suffers from extensive farm-related water pollution, and cancer is prevalent. Indeed, Iowa has the second-highest and fastest-rising cancer incidence among all U.S. states, according to a 2024 report issued by the Iowa Cancer Registry.

In an interview while harvesting soybeans in the cab of a John Deere combine 28-year-old Jack Fehr explained how his family disregarded the typical constraints to organic agriculture promoted by conventional growers and their allies in academia and industry  that converting to organic farming takes too long, costs more, yields less, and cant be done successfully except on small farms.

Organic generates more revenue

I talk to a lot of farmers, Fehr said. Their big question is, well, I dont know if I can make it work? Well, you can make it work. We do. And we get a premium for our organic crops, two to three times what conventional prices are on average.

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Fehr said Clear Creek buyers pay up to $8 a bushel for organic corn and $22 a bushel for organic soybeans, twice the conventional market price.

Jack Fehr combines soybeans on his organic farm near West Bend. (Photo by Keith Schneider/The New Lede)

Farming organically is a high wire act balancing the lower cost for supplies against the higher costs for labor. Fehr explained that the cost of production at Clear Creek Acres is comparable to costs of chemical agriculture.

On the saving side of the ledger are organic seeds that are priced less because they are not genetically engineered and not treated with chemicals to ward off insects and diseases. There is no cost for insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and chemical fertilizers. Clear Creek applies lower cost hog manure to its fields for nutrients. And it uses chicken litter that it produces from a big, non-organic egg-laying chicken feeding operation that it owns on the farm.

The last piece of keeping production costs down for farming operations as big as Clear Creek are economies of scale. The farm and its neighbors have fleets of tractors, combines, trailers, and other equipment that they share.

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Those lower costs are offset by the expense of overcoming the primary impediment to organic grain production  controlling weeds, especially in soybean fields. Most of Clear Creeks 30 employees spend their summers in the fields cultivating and harrowing to kill weeds. They are helped by local residents and a 70-member crew of Guatemalan field workers, hired under a special agriculture visa program, who weed by hand and cost an average of $30 an hour in wages and expenses.

We have a lot more equipment and our man hours, our labor force, are higher than with conventional farming, Fehr said. A big turnoff for the farmer looking to transition to organic is the amount of labor and time it takes. Ive been in a tractor, in the field, farming since February 15 this year. I havent had a day off.

Enthusiasm for the enterprise

That hasnt proved discouraging because Fehr and his five brothers recognize the interest in organic agriculture. The market for Clear Creeks crops is growing. The number of organic farms in Iowa increased from 467 to 799 from 2011 to 2021, an average of 33 annually. Iowa ranks sixth in the nation for the number of chemical free farms, and first in organic corn and soybean production, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Grain bins create the skyline in West Bend, Iowa. (Photo by Keith Schneider/The New Lede)

The Organic Trade Association, the industrys principal trade group, reported that from 2008 to 2016, the amount of U.S. farmland devoted to the production of organic corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, and barley grew by over 20% from 626,000 acres to 765,000. Iowa and four other northern Midwest and Great Plains states accounted for 40% of the organic grain trade, a portion of the $63.8 billion in organic food sales in 2023. That amounts to 50% more sales than in 2015, according to a Federal Reserve study.

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Theres a lot of market space to grow much bigger. Due to the increasing demand for organic meat, milk, and eggs not nearly enough organic grain is produced in the U.S. Imports of organic grain reached 1.3 million metric tons in 2023, four times more than in 2020.

Addressing that scarcity also will produce environmental benefits, particularly for water quality. There are no toxic chemicals running off the organic fields. And Cory Fehr, Jacks father, asserts the four-crop rotation, the use of manure and chicken litter, and the farms cultivation practices improve the condition of the soil. That keeps more nitrogen and phosphorus from draining into surface and ground water, he says.

I would say we have less runoff, he said. When we apply manure and litter we stir it into the soil right away. With it being organic, I think it attaches and doesnt run off like the synthetic and commercial fertilizers.

The Fehrs, though, dont take water samples to test that assertion. Until you measure it you dont really know, said Matt Liebman, professor emeritus of agronomy at Iowa State University and an expert in sustainable agriculture. Its a workable hypothesis that could be tested pretty easily.

Does organic farming affect water quality?

A team of researchers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Iowa State University compared runoff from fields where commercial fertilizers were applied to fields and pastures fertilized with manure. The researchers found that conventional crop production drained nearly twice as much nitrate into water as the organic production. The authors of the study concluded that organic farming can improve water quality in Midwestern landscapes.

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The interest in water sampling is keen in the two counties where the Fehrs farm. The area west of Emmetsburg, Palo Alto Countys largest town, has the highest number of waterways impaired by farm-related contaminants of any region of Iowa, according to the state Department of Natural Resources. But the parts of Kossuth and Palo Alto counties farmed by Clear Creek and other Fehr families lies south of the closest and lone impaired waterway in their area. It is Five Island Lake in Emmetsburg, polluted by phosphorus, which develops an annual toxic algal bloom in the summer.

Jeremy Thilges, a USDA conservation specialist, said his office in Emmetsburg is overseeing a multiyear study of water quality in Five Island Lake and other surface waters to determine the causes and the sources of contamination.

The other facet of Clear Creek Farms that doesnt attract much notice is how organic crop revenue assures that more generations of Fehrs will still be farming around West Bend mid-century and beyond.

As he bounded from one task to the next in his pickup, dropping trailers in fields, adjusting the heat on grain dryers, checking on combines, Cory Fehr explained his goals for younger Fehrs this way: What were trying to do is provide opportunity for them and all the people were able to hire, he said. If we were conventional farming, we wouldnt be able to support the families that we do.

A version of this article was published by The New Lede on Nov. 18, 2024
NEW YORK (PIX11)  A Long Island community is giving back ahead of Thanksgiving by donating turkeys to a local food bank.

The 16th annual Bethpage Turkey Drive was held on Friday. Robert Kiernan, from Oakdale, donated 34 turkeys.

Where to get a free turkey in NYC ahead of Thanksgiving

Try to do the right thing for everybody and sometimes people need a little support around the holidays, and we try to help as much as we can, he said.

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Rich Humann was there, too. He was with H2M architects and engineers, which donated more than 1,350 turkeys.

Long Island, we have affluence, but there are tens of thousands of families that normally wouldnt get the opportunity to have a meal for Thanksgiving, so were thrilled to do our part, he said.

The food collection was organized by Island Harvest and hosted by Bethpage Federal Credit Union.

Its the community supporting the community, said Randi Shubin Dresner, the president & CEO of Island Harvest. Long Island has some of the wealthiest zip codes in the country, and yet its been reported there have been 221,000 people right here on LI that are struggling with food insecurity. It doesnt make sense. People should have access to healthy food. Its our right.

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Many Long Islanders who donated say its their responsibility to give back.

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Im blessed that Im OK, and there arent a lot of people who are as fortunate, so I like to do what I can, Lorraine Kohler said.

Im blessed myself, so I have to pass it on and help other people get fed on Thanksgiving, Bill Coumaras said.

The turkeys will be distributed along with other food between now and Thanksgiving.

For more information on how to donate or how to collect food, click here.

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RALEIGH, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Legislation promising hurricane relief and changes to power held by state officials may struggle to become law here in North Carolina.

The bill in question, SB 382, easily passed out of the General Assembly earlier this week, but Governor Roy Cooper has already suggested he will veto it.

Previous Coverage | NC governor, AG powers stripped as part of Hurricane Helene relief bill

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An override from the General Assembly is possible, but not guaranteed, as three Republicans voted against SB 382 when it passed out of the House Tuesday night. The bill allocates hundreds of millions of dollars in Helene relief, but also strips powers from the Attorney General and the Governor, including the ability to appoint members to the State Board of Elections.

Incoming House Speaker Destin Hall told reporters that change in the governors powers is something that certainly always on our mind, I think its brought into focus after this election because of the problems weve seen occur at state board.

Duke Professor Mac McCorkle says bills like SB 382 are not new to Raleigh; Democrats took action to strip the powers of the Lt. Governor back a couple decades ago when the Republicans had won that race, so there are always these kinds of actions; this is pretty big in scope though.

Democrats say they cannot vote for SB 382 because it goes too far and links non-partisan relief to partisan political issues. Governor Roy Cooper blasted the bill following its passage. He accused Republicans of prioritizing power grabs over Western North Carolina recovery.

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With a veto from Cooper expected to come down in the coming days, the majority will need to convince the three holdouts to flip their votes. Western North Carolina Professor Chris Cooper expects deal-cutting to be on the table.

If youre the Republican party, calling your three members and saying, look, you want to work with us in the future, you want to be able to get things passed through for your districts, you want to get things passed through for your constituents; work with us on this bill, said Cooper.

Catastrophic failure: Wife of pilot killed in 2022 WBTV helicopter crash sues manufacturer

McCorkle said any deal will likely involve a promise of even more relief money. All three Republican no-votes were from Western NC.

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So you would think that if there were real concerns, they could easily be addressed by other legislation dealing with Hurricane Helene, he added.

Governor Cooper has until the end of the month to send the bill back to lawmakers; it becomes law automatically if he doesnt take any action. Legislators already plan to be back in Raleigh at the start of next month, likely anticipating a veto from Cooper.

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  The Ibero-American Action League hosted its 11th annual coat giveaway for Rochester residents in need of a winter coat this winter. The event was held at Eugenio Mara de Hostos Charter School on Zimbrich Street in Rochester.

Coats were distributed on a first come, first served basis. Participants received a warm meal, a gently used coat, and will be connected to local resources.

The event is co-sponsored by Advantage Federal Credit Union, Eugenio Mara de Hostos Charter School, The SUMMIT Federal Credit Union, UPNY Planet Aid, and Poder 97.1FM.

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The Ibero-American Action League was founded in 1968. Its a dual language multi-service agency that advocates for Latinos and the underserved.

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The cause of international justice was dealt a severe blow on Thursday with arrest warrants issued for Israels Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and its former Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant.

The International Criminal Court took this brazen political move in circumstances where it has no jurisdiction, in breach of its own rules and on the basis of false information.

Jurisdiction is what separates international legal institutions from political ones. The ICCs jurisdiction is derived from its member states and from other states that accept its jurisdiction over their nationals and their territory. However, Israel did not join the ICC, and the Palestinian Authority is not a state, so neither has delegated any jurisdiction to the ICC.

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Further still, the international agreements that created the Palestinian Authority (the Oslo Accords) explicitly said that Israel would have sole criminal jurisdiction over Israelis. So even if the Palestinian Authority could delegate any jurisdiction to the ICC, it had no criminal jurisdiction over Israelis to delegate.

The rules of the ICC have been thrown out of the window. A founding principle of the Court is complementarity: the ICC is a complement to national legal systems; it does not replace them.

Where a nation is willing and able to investigate credible allegations, it must be left to do so. Israel has a robust legal system and a history of successful prosecutions of its top leaders. Even if that were not the case, the timing of this application, made during an ongoing war, on the very day that the ICC Prosecutors staff were scheduled to meet Israeli officials to organise a visit to Israel to discuss his concerns, is a clear indication that the complementarity rule has been completely disregarded.

Perhaps even more concerning than the legal technicalities of a lack of jurisdiction and abandonment of the Courts rules is the incorrect ground the warrants have been based upon. The Prosecutors public summary of his application, endorsed by some celebrity experts, contained only false material.

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Every phrase of every sentence was untrue. How could the Prosecutor have got this so wrong, when publicly available information puts the lie to the allegation of starvation and when Israels conduct in this conflict has been unparalleled in protecting civilians from harm, a far higher standard that the UK or US acknowledge they could meet? Even more concerning was the Prosecutors response to being called out by multiple organisations writing as amicus curiae (friends of the Court). Nothing to see here was the reply.

The unprecedently public nature of Khans application and the subsequent granting of these warrants is a further give-away of the political game that is being played. Real arrest warrants for genuine suspects are issued in secret without press conferences and media interviews. But here the anti-Israel optics are the main objective.

Who are the winners of this dastardly enterprise? The internationally proscribed terror group Hamas publicly thanked the Court for its interventions on its behalf. But the message that is sent by this disgraceful development is one of encouragement to terror organisations the world over. It is an unconscionable attack on the inherent right of self-defence that other democratic states may well seek to exercise against similar fundamentalist terrorist organisations in the future.

The incoming US administration has plainly recognised this as an attack on law, liberty and liberal values. It understands the dangerous consequences that this decision has for other states, members and non-members alike, now that the Court has departed from the requirement of jurisdiction.

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Keir Starmers equivocation indicates he is not entirely ignorant of the political game being played. One can only hope he will find the fortitude to stand up to the Israel-haters in his party and act in the UKs national interest by calling out the politicisation of international legal institutions.

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.
STORY: :: A volcanic eruption in Iceland is captured from a passenger plane

:: November 21, 2024

:: Kayleigh Patter

Lying dormant for 800 years, the geological systems in the Reykjanes Peninsula reactivated in 2021, and have since erupted at rising frequency, with the latest fissure eruptions being the sixth so far in 2024.

Iceland, with nearly 400,000 inhabitants, is located on the fault line between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates, making it a seismic hotspot with geysers, warm-water springs and dozens of volcanoes.

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Scientists have warned that Reykjanes is likely to experience repeated volcanic outbreaks for decades, possibly even centuries.

The location and the date of the video have been verified by the original file metadata. The visuals of the volcano match Reuters footage from the scene.
PERMIAN BASIN (KMID/KPEJ)  Here are the top stories from around the Basin for the week ending on November 22.

The Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed that three Buena Vista ISD students were killed in a two-vehicle crash on Wednesday evening. You can learn more about the story here. You can also view a tribute to the three students and find out how you can help here.

An Odessa resident was killed and another was seriously injured in a car crash early Thursday morning, according to a report from DPS. DPS said a vehicle heading west crossed the center stripe and hit the other vehicle in a head on collision. You can learn more here.

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Missed what happened last week? Here were the top stories from across the Basin

MCSO arrested four suspects after discovering contraband that was introduced to the jail last week. All four were booked into the Midland County Detention Center. You can learn more here.

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Photos of Dawn Marie Holley flashed through a slideshow presented in a third-floor Canyon County courtroom: smiling widely at the camera. With family at the beach. Standing in front of a Christmas tree.

The last image showed the 59-year-old lying down in a white coffin decorated with flowers.

Marie wanted the best for everyone, and she had a heart full of compassion, her sister Sandee Marchant told the court Friday morning as she read a letter on behalf of the family. That very kindness tragically became her undoing.

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Her husband, Steven Smith, shot and killed Holley in 2022. The 56-year-old man began crying when the photos played in court and later expressed his sorrow over the reckless shooting that he referred to as an accident.

Thats my wife, Smith said. Ill never get to see her again. Her family never gets to see her again.

Smith told police that in the early hours of July 28, 2022, hed been having trouble with his eyesight. When he went to pick up his gun after it had gotten out from underneath his pillow, it accidentally went off and struck Holley, he said.

Holleys family painted a different picture of Smith. Marchant said Smith was a dangerous, vindictive individual who poses a risk to society and had abused Holley.

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Canyon County Deputy Prosecutor Shari Dodge said the shooting may have been unintentional, but his actions leading up to the shooting were not. Dodge pointed out that the gun he owned had a dual-safety feature, so he would have had to hit both the safety and pull back the hammer.

Smiths defense attorney, David Delyea, said his client wasnt experienced with firearms and didnt have enough training.

I think sometimes things are just an accident, Delyea said in court.

Smith sentenced to 20 years of probation

Third District Judge Gene Petty, who presides over cases in Canyon County, sentenced Smith to 20 years on probation, taking into account that he already served more than two years in jail, with a condition that hell spend two more years in the Canyon County Jail before hes released.

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We feel strongly that justice has not been served, Marchant said, calling the minimal sentence a great insult to her sisters memory.

Smith was initially charged with second-degree murder. With a second-degree murder conviction, Smith would have spent at least 10 years in prison with the possibility of a life sentence.

But with a binding plea deal, he pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of involuntary manslaughter, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Smith was also convicted of an enhancement for the use of a deadly weapon in the commission of a felony.

I do believe that the binding plea agreement is appropriate in this case, and I will follow it, Petty said.

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Marchant also blamed prosecutors and said they had barely communicated with the family during the case. She said the family didnt have a voice in the sentence.

Dodge, who wasnt the primary prosecutor on the case, said she understood the familys concerns and didnt want to minimize their pain, but believed that the agreement was a fair resolution.

It is never easy to lose a loved one in a manner such as this, Dodge said.
ATK New Delhi [India], November 23: In a significant initiative to elevate the global healthcare landscape, Blue Ocean Corporation, a world leader in supply chain management training and consulting, has officially launched the Global Healthcare Supply Chain programs to strengthen the healthcare sector worldwide. Recognizing the unique dynamics of the Indian healthcare market, which is experiencing rapid growth and heightened demand for specialized services, Blue Ocean Corporation, headquartered in London, is committed to tailoring its programs to meet the specific needs of this sector. A recipient of over 25 international awards including the prestigious 2024 Award for Excellence in Learning and Development from the Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM), the organization stands at the forefront of healthcare supply chain training, boasting a distinguished history of collaboration with prestigious institutions globally, including Johns Hopkins, Cleveland Clinic, King Fahad Medical City, and King Faisal Research Centre, among others. With the most acclaimed Global Health Maturity Model from ASCM, Blue Ocean offers a comprehensive framework that enables organizations to systematically assess and enhance their healthcare supply chains. Developed by the funding from Bill and Melinda Gates foundation, this assessment tool helps teams determine a level of maturity for the healthcare supply chain, as well as each category of activities within the supply chain. The program's alignment with the SCOR model allows for the identification of critical areas for improvement, facilitating targeted health outcomes and fostering greater investment in global health initiatives. This ambitious endeavor aims to address the pressing needs of India's rapidly evolving healthcare domain, which has become one of the largest sectors in the country, expected to surpass $610 billion by 2026. The launch also highlights Blue Ocean's commitment to enhancing healthcare delivery in India amidst the backdrop of significant demographic changes and increased demand for high-quality healthcare services. With the Indian population growing at 1.6 percent annually and an elderly demographic exceeding 100 million, the need for effective healthcare supply chains has never been more critical. Realizing the complexities and challenges facing the healthcare sector, including issues of service accessibility and quality, Blue Ocean's training programs are designed to empower healthcare professionals with the necessary skills to optimize supply chain operations, ensuring efficient resource utilization and improved patient outcomes. The significance of this initiative was further highlighted by a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) recently signed between Blue Ocean Corporation and the Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia, establishing a framework for collaboration and knowledge sharing. The MOU, signed recently, by Dr. Sathya Menon, Group CEO of Blue Ocean Corporation, and Meraee Al Qahtani, Deputy Health Minister of Saudi Arabia, at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center, signifies a key collaboration aimed at supporting KSA to cultivate a world-class healthcare supply chain infrastructure that effectively addresses the diverse needs of its population. This initiative aims to align training efforts with the Indian government's objectives to enhance healthcare infrastructure and accessibility, thereby supporting the nation's broader health goals. "India's healthcare market is at a crossroads, and it is essential that we build robust supply chain systems to meet the rising demands of our population," said Dr Sathya Menon, Group CEO of Blue Ocean Corporation. " Through this prestigious offering, we aim to contribute significantly to the Indian healthcare sector. By fostering skilled professionals and optimizing supply chain processes, we are laying the groundwork for a resilient healthcare ecosystem capable of responding to both current and future challenges", he added. With significant investments expected in healthcare spending from the Indian government, which is projected to rise from 2% to 2.5% of GDP by 2025, this launch is timely and crucial. The increased focus on sustainability, combined with the shift towards chronic and lifestyle diseases, necessitates a skilled workforce adept in advanced supply chain methodologies. In conjunction with the launch of this program, Blue Ocean Corporation is also announcing its massive expansion plans in India. Currently operating in Delhi, Pune, Kochi, and Hyderabad, the organization is looking forward to further establishing a presence in other key cities to better serve the diverse needs across the nation. As India continues to modernize its healthcare infrastructure and expand access to quality services, Blue Ocean Corporation's training and consulting programs, alongside its planned expansion, are poised to play a transformative role, ensuring that the country's healthcare system is prepared to meet the evolving needs of its population. About Blue Ocean Corporation: Founded in 1998, Blue Ocean Corporation is an international award-winning organization recognized for its excellence, quality, values, and innovative products and solutions. The group has expanded widely over two decades, offering premium solutions to clients across diverse verticals - Training, Consulting, and Conferences. Blue Ocean caters to a diversified client portfolio and has a 200,000+ worldwide alumni community in 16+ countries with a strong presence in the MENA region and the Indian sub-continent. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by ATK. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Idaho State Controller Brandon Woolf, center, discusses the Luma system on Friday Nov. 22 at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise. (Clark Corbin/Idaho Capital Sun)

Officials with the Idaho State Controllers Office told a legislative committee Friday that it may take two or three years for the new Luma business and IT system to be fully optimized.

On Friday, officials with the Idaho Office of Performance Evaluation presented their new evaluation report on the Luma business, finance, HR and IT system to the Idaho Legislatures Joint Legislative Oversight Committee.

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The key takeaway is clear; transitioning to Luma was the right decision, Idaho State Controller Brandon Woolf told the committee. In visiting with other states, projects of this magnitude require two to three years to fully optimize, and we are firmly on the right path to success.

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Luma, which is based on software purchased from Infor, is designed to improve security and efficiency for state agencies by replacing legacy systems from the 1990s that had outlived their useful life and were vulnerable to security threats. But the $117 million Luma system, launched in July 2023, experienced a rocky rollout that included duplicated payments, payroll challenges, late payments, reporting and reconciliation challenges and the inability to independently verify cash balances, according to the evaluation and a series of previous audits of Luma.

In the latest Luma challenge, state budget officials said Tuesday that the state was not able to identify $14.5 million in state revenues by the deadline to use that money to reduce Idaho property taxes this year.

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After Fridays presentation, Woolf issued a response and fielded questions from legislators. Luma is housed in the Idaho State Controllers Office, which was also involved in purchasing Luma.

Woolf told legislators his office takes accountability for the challenges with Luma, and believes sticking with Luma and optimizing it to see its full potential is the best option for the state moving forward.

Woolf said the Idaho State Controllers Office is developing a people-first strategy working to repair relationships with state employees and rebuild trust. As part of that effort, the office is developing a sustainable training strategy and focusing on communication.

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As we move forward, we are guided by a clear vision  to restore trust, improve transparency and ensure that Luma delivers the value it was designed to provide, Woolf said. This is a collective effort, one that depends on ongoing collaboration and respect with all involved.

Idaho Office of Performance Evaluation Director Ryan Langrill told legislators the best path forward for the state is improving Luma.

We believe that moving forward with Luma, rather than migrating back to the legacy system or doing a whole new procurement for a new system, is the most realistic option, Langrill said.

In the Idaho Office of Performance Evaluation report on Luma, evaluators suggest legislators consider changes to Idahos purchasing process and consider changes to the governance and accountability of Luma. In the report, Langrills team suggested the purchasing process the state used to get Luma may have limited choices available to the state.

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Moving forward, Woolf said his top priority is improving the reporting processes in Luma. But Woolf stressed he believes in Luma and that it will bring security benefits to the state and standardize data entry across different agencies and divisions.

The narrative that Luma does not work is counterproductive and not accurate, Woolf said. Luma is functional but its not perfect  it processes transactions, handles payments and ensures everyone gets paid.

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (NEXSTAR)  Going back years, prison guards across Illinois have reported an uptick in drugs making it to inmates.

The main method they get into the prison is through the mail, according to the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union. A largely anecdotal report released by the union last month included a long list of hospitalizations and other emergency steps taken because of drug exposures.

Chuck Stout is the lead Illinois Department of Corrections liaison for AFSCME. He said the substances are far from the usual suspects.

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Were not seeing cocaine and marijuana and LSD and things like that, Stout said. Were seeing a lot of synthetic opioids, a lot of synthetic cannabinoids.

Lawmakers react to Governor Pritzkers line in the sand for Trump administration

In order to fix this, the state is planning to totally change how people in prison get mail. Stout said IDOC already signed a contract for the tablets and that the program will launch in a few prisons starting in May.

They will get a very clearly scanned, good color, quality copy that they can read and see on the tablet, Stout said.

The Illinois Department of Corrections responded to questions about future plans with a statement.

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IDOC has a Suspicious Substance Emergency Procedure in place, which outlines the steps to be taken if a suspicious substance is discovered, said a spokesperson. Additionally, we have intensified mail screening protocols and encouraged the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). These efforts are focused on improving safety while ensuring individuals in custody maintain essential communications and family connections.

Illinois State Capitol Complex security fortified with new rules

However, the prison watchdog group the John Howard Association is concerned about the long-term impacts, both psychological and financial.

Taking away physical mail, those letters, the pictures, the drawings, the things that come from their loved ones are really meaningful and important to people who are inside, said executive director of the John Howard Association, Jennifer Vollen-Katz.

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The John Howard Association said the drug problem is noticeable, but not having clear data from IDOC on the frequency, the types of drugs being used, and how they are being seized are all concerns. These steps could amount to little more than a band-aid on a much bigger issue.

On top of that, other states have tried to eliminate physical mail too but have not seen a decrease in drug use in prisons because of it.

We also cant really begin to address these problems without fully understanding them, Vollen-Katz said. And it takes the data to do that.

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Congressman Sean Casten (D-Ill.) hammered former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) over accusations about his sexual assault allegations and reported drug use detailed in the House Ethics report that he is pushing to have released.

None of us would want to work in an environment where you can commit the crimes that Matt Gaetz is alleged to have committed, including  lets not sugarcoat this  allegations of having sex with a minor child, Casten fumed during a Saturday MSNBC appearance.

He urged the House Ethics Committee to release the details of the investigation despite Gaetzs resignation from Congress and withdrawal from the attorney general nomination.

We have to remind the American people that in the House we care about ethics, he emphasized.

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When you have elections, that we are the country that is not always perfect, but at least aspires to that vision that our founders laid out, where no one is above the law, Casten added. And to do that, we need to release this report.

In recent weeks, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said he was against releasing the report while some Democrats say the report should be brought to light. Last week, Casten and Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) moved to force votes on a resolution requesting an on record vote from members about what should be done with the information.

Given how tight the balance of the House is and, quite candidly, how many members of the Republican caucus there are who, while they might turn a blind eye to sexual assault, genuinely do not like Matt Gaetz, there is the very real possibility of that being forced to be released through a House vote, he said.

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HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  Jail records show a man charged with capital murder in an August 2023 shooting in Huntsville was booked into the Madison County Jail on Friday.

The Huntsville Police Department said Damon Andrew Blinks, 28 of Greencastle, Indiana was charged with capital murder in a shooting that happened in the 300 block of Quality Circle around 10:40 p.m. on August 28, 2023.

Man who killed HPD STAC Agent Clardy appeals conviction

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HPD said he was extradited back to Alabama on Friday after his earlier arrest in Indiana.

Madison County Jail records show Blinks was booked at 3:49 p.m. on Friday.

According to police, officers responded to Quality Circle around 7 a.m. the day after the shooting took place and found Devin Tyler McDonald, 23, lying in the parking lot unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

An HPD spokesperson said Major Crimes investigators believe Blinks fled to Indiana in McDonalds vehicle following the shooting. He was taken into custody by authorities in Indiana on Aug. 30, and McDonalds vehicle was recovered in Blinkss possession.

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According to jail records from the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office, Blinks was facing charges for theft: possession of stolen property, resisting law enforcement, resisting law enforcement with a vehicle and unlawful carrying of a handgun in Indiana.

Blinks is being held with no bond at the Madison County Jail.

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  Its been nearly one year since Joseph Broadys life was tragically cut short.

Broady was believed to be crossing Broadway and Sutton Street the day after Thanksgiving last year when he was hit and killed by an oncoming car. He was found lying in the middle of the roadway suffering from a head injury.

The driver, later identified by police as Donald OBrien, kept going. OBrien was taken into custody nearly a week later and charged with failure to stop in an accident resulting in death.

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Broadys family told 12 News he moved to Providence when he was 18 years old.

Joseph Broady poses for a picture with family on Thanksgiving 2023.

He just loved the city, his brother-in-law Norman Zolkos said. He loved the atmosphere.

Zolkos described Broady as selfless, well liked, and an avid comic book collector.

He was 58, but he was a kid at heart, Zolkos said.

This Thanksgiving will be the first without Broady, which Zolkos said is a difficult pill for his family to swallow.

We were in total shock, Zolkos recalled. He was here for Thanksgiving and then went home, and Friday we got the call.

OBrien has been out on bail since he first faced a judge last December. His next court date being Jan. 13, 2025.

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His court appearances have already been pushed back twice, according to court records, leaving Broadys family frustrated.

I remember thinking to myself, This whole thing will be over within a few months,' his nephew Zachary Zolkos said. Its been almost a year since it happened and its still getting pushed back. Its insane to me.

Dylan Giles of the Providence Streets Coalition told 12 News Broadway is notoriously dangerous for pedestrians. He said drivers are known to speed down Broadway, and the lighting can make it difficult to see.

The posted speed limit might be 25 mph, but the road is so wide and straight that it encourages drivers to go faster, Giles explained.

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Giles described Broadys death as a tragedy that shouldnt have happened.

Broadys family agrees.

Its such a shame for him to go out in such a sad way that couldve been avoided, Zachary said.

Providence was awarded a Safe Streets For All grant to enhance safety on a number of roadways across the city, including Broadway. The capital city hopes to complete those improvements by 2028.

Were very glad the city has plans for Broadway, Giles said. We want to see them carried out as quickly as possible for another tragedy like what happened to [Broady] doesnt happen again.

Broadys family is also hoping that justice will come sooner rather than later.

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Out of everything thats happened, the only thing I can ask for is some closure, Zachary said.

Providence also launched an initiative back in February called Vision Zero, which aims to end traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2030.

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NEW YORK (PIX11)  The NYPD convened a special meeting on Friday to ensure everyones safety during the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade next week.

PIX11 was the only news camera allowed inside to observe the final preparations.

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We have a common mission, a common goal, said NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey.

Everyone, from police officers to sanitation workers to federal agents to Macys representatives, was in attendance. The giant interagency meeting was filled with excitement and anticipation.

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Everything has to be maintained, looked at, and prepared so the people can come out and have a good day, Maddrey said.

It is a huge undertaking  3 million spectators will descend upon the parade route as 30 giant balloons, 34 floats, and more entertainers march down Central Park West and then through Midtown.

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Last year, pro-Palestinian protesters interrupted the parade for a time by literally gluing themselves to the pavement.

The first order of prevention is high visibility, said Maddrey about the the prospect of more protests this year. But if they do jump the fence and glue themselves, we have the equipment to remove them from the scene.

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Where to get a free turkey in NYC ahead of Thanksgiving

There is also concern over recent random violence, especially stabbings and slashing by homeless people experiencing mental health crises.

We have assets that you will see out there, stuff that you wont see out there, including undercover officers, Maddrey said. We will be using our drones and other technology make sure that people are safe. And we ask all of our community, anyone who comes out to enjoy, we asked them to keep their eyes open as well.

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DES MOINES, Iowa (Iowa Capital Dispatch)  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 Iowa Capital Dispatch reports.

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.

The Iowa Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the case in early October.

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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.

Cleaning company accused of hiring minors for Siouxland business, federal agency says

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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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However, Summit was granted use of eminent domain in August when the Iowa Utilities Commission approved its permit.

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.

Iowa Capital Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Iowa Capital Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Kathie Obradovich for questions: info@iowacapitaldispatch.com. Follow Iowa Capital Dispatch on Facebook and Twitter.

This story was republished under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

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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. (Cody Scanlan-Pool/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.

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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.

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The decision in South Dakota, while it upheld the constitutionality of a similar statute in the state, was touted as a win by those opposed to the pipeline because the court said the company must prove it is a common carrier and said surveying was only constitutional if there were minimally invasive superficial inspections that, at most, cause minor soil disturbances.

Iowa has no guardrails

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.

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.

Recent 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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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.

Conflicts remain

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.

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However, Summit was granted use of eminent domain in August when the Iowa Utilities Commission approved its permit.

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.

This article first appeared in the Iowa Capital Dispatch, a sister site of the Nebraska Examiner in the States Newsroom network.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  The Irondequoit Police Department hosted its annual Cops for the Community Cupboard donation event Saturday at the Irondequoit Community Cupboard. Donations will be going to those in need this upcoming holiday season.

Items in need included: Shampoo and conditioner, dog food, mashed potatoes, pasta, pasta sauce, canned meals, beans, ready-to-serve soups, tea, coffee, and hot chocolate.

The community support has been amazing, so, its just a fun night, said Scott Peters, the chief of police. Everybodys actually really light-hearted and its a good chance to see the officers, yknow, without being at a 911 call.

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To help families in need, donations are still welcome at the Irondequoit Community Cupboard on Culver Road.

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A landmark that is synonymous with the University of Georgia is back home in Greene County after a bit of a facelift.

The Iron Horse is now back at its home along Highway 15 following extensive renovations carried out over the summer and fall.

The statue was removed in May to be restored after years of exposure to the elements.

Work began on the 12-foot, 2-ton sculpture when it was removed from its concrete base and taken to Abbes workshop. Workers cleaned the sculpture, removed corrosion, and reinforced joints. It also received a fresh coat of black paint, UGA said in a news release Friday.

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We are grateful to everyone who made the renovation of the Iron Horse possible, said Dean of Students Eric Atkinson. All of this work will help ensure that the Iron Horse will be enjoyed for many years to come.

The Iron Horse was originally created in 1954 by a visiting artist-in-residence named Abbott Pattison, and it is made up of welded pieces of boilerplate steel.

Despite being a bit of a tourist attraction, the Iron Horse was originally met with derision from students when it was installed on campus.

The university allowed L.C. Curtis of UGAs Horticulture Department to move the statue to his farm in Greene County, about 25 miles south of Athens. The Curtis family later sold their property to the university, and it is now home to the Iron Horse Plant Sciences Farm, UGA said.

Patty Curtis and her daughter, Alice Hugel, have now gifted the sculpture and the land it sits on to the university this year.
According to an official statement by Ministry of Commerce & Industry, the meeting brought together representatives from India and all 10 ASEAN member states: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The meeting was held from November 15-22 at Vanijya Bhawan in Delhi.

The ministry also stated that there are 8 Sub-Committees under the AITIGA Joint Committee for negotiations on market access, rules of origin, technical standards, customs procedures, trade remedies, and legal frameworks.

While all Sub-Committees participated in discussions, five held physical meetings on the sidelines, marking significant progress in textual negotiations and laying groundwork for tariff-related talks.

The ministry added, "This round of AITIGA review negotiations was preceded by two high level meetings, 21st ASEAN-India Economic Ministers Meeting in September 2024 and 21st ASEAN-India Summit in October 2024, both in Vientiane, Laos".

During the current round of negotiations, bilateral meetings with Thailand and Indonesia were also conducted to address specific trade issues.

Indian and ASEAN Chief Negotiators held separate discussions to strengthen mutual understanding and set the course for future dialogue.

ASEAN is a key trade partner for India, contributing to 11 per cent of its global trade.

The ministry also stated that the bilateral trade between India and ASEAN reached USD 121 billion in 2023-24 and grew by 5.2 per cent to USD 73 billion in the first half of 2024-25.

The review of the AITIGA is expected to further boost trade sustainably, fostering deeper economic ties.

The next meeting of the AITIGA Joint Committee is scheduled for February 2025 in Jakarta, Indonesia. This review is seen as an important step toward enhancing trade relations between India and ASEAN nations. (ANI)
(NewsNation)  Israel ambassador nominee Mike Huckabee criticized the U.S. on Friday for pressuring Israel instead of holding Hamas accountable.

We have seven American hostages being held by Hamas, yet the U.S. is putting more pressure on Israel than on the Iranian-funded terrorists who butchered Jewish civilians. I cant comprehend, Huckabee said on NewsNations On Balance. He added that protests supporting Hamas make no sense.

President-elect Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he will nominate the former Arkansas governor to serve as ambassador to Israel, a major diplomatic role that will take on added importance amid the heightened tensions in the Middle East.

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Donald Trumps new administration: Who has he chosen so far?

Huckabee told NewsNations Leland Vittert his number one priority, if confirmed by the Senate, is securing the hostages release.

Those hostages must be released and accounted for, and then, and only then should Israel or anyone else even entertain (the idea of a cease-fire), Huckabee said.

On Morning in America, Huckabee said the job is all about carrying out responsibilities assigned by the president.

New York judge calls off Trump hush money sentencing

An ambassador doesnt get to make policy. Hes there to represent the policy, Huckabee said. An ambassador serves at the pleasure of the president.

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Huckabees nomination comes during the Israel-Hamas war. Israels campaign in Gaza has killed 44,056 people, according to local health authorities, who say more than half of those killed were women and children. Parts of Gaza have been decimated and more than 2.3 million people driven from their homes. The war began Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking some 250 others hostage.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
Israels new defense minister has said security forces would no longer apply administrative detention orders to Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank, and thus only Palestinian suspects can be held indefinitely without trial.

The changes in the controversial policy are the latest example of an emboldened Israeli far-right, and come in the shadow of the wars in Gaza and Lebanon, and the election of President-elect Donald Trump.

Israel Katz, a long-time ally of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was appointed defense minister earlier in November and announced the decision on Friday.

Israel Katz

In June, the number of Palestinians held in administrative detention was 3,340, more than double the number held before the Hamas terrorist attack on Oct. 7 2023, according to Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem. The Palestinian Prisoner Society said Saturday that over 11,800 Palestinians had been arrested since the current conflict began.

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BTselem said 37 Israeli citizens and foreign nationals were also being held. It is unclear whether any Israelis have been released as a result of the policy change.

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized the decision to cancel administrative orders for Israelis on X, calling it dangerous and irresponsible.

But the announcement drew praise from Israel's ultranationalist National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on X, who called it a correction of an injustice of many years and justice for those who love the land.

Most governments view the West Bank, an area nominally administered by the Palestinian Authority and seen by Palestinians as integral to a future state, as illegally occupied by Israel.

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In 2019, Trump abandoned the long-held U.S. position that West Bank settlements are illegal before it was restored by President Joe Biden. The U.S. has grown increasingly critical of some Jewish settlers in the area seized by Israel during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. Last week, the U.S. imposed sanctions on an Israeli settler group it accused of helping perpetrate violence in the area.

Annexation on the horizon?

Settler immunity from administrative detention coincides with heightened rhetoric from Israeli ministers calling for the West Bank to be annexed.

Earlier in November, Israels ultranationalist finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, said the time has come to annex parts of the area, and said he would seek Trump's support for the move.

Discussions on plans to annex parts of the West Bank were held between Israel and Washington during Trumps first term, and Smotrich said that he would push his government to engage with the incoming administration to gain support.

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We will apply the sovereignty, together with our American friends, he said.

Meanwhile, Trumps pick for ambassador to Israel, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, said in a recent interview with Arutz Sheva network that there is no such thing as the West Bank, and that there is no occupation.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 733 Palestinians and 40 Israelis have been killed in the West Bank since Oct. 7. It also said there has been a sharp rise in settler attacks on Palestinians in the area during this time.

The U.N. said four Palestinian children have been killed every week in the West Bank on average since the current conflict began, a three-fold increase from the first nine months of 2023.

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Some 1,200 people were killed during Hamas Oct. 7 attack, and 250 taken hostage. More than 44,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed by Israeli forces in the war in the war since then, according to local officials.

Israeli settlers have been galvanized by the wars in Gaza and Lebanon, and Trumps victory has only added an extra layer to their conviction, said Yossi Mekelberg, a senior consulting fellow with Chatham Houses Middle East and North Africa program.

The settlers think that this is their time, he told NBC News.

"They can dictate almost everything on this government, from expansion settlements, from a range of legislation. They are already looking for locations for settlements in Gaza, and they are even talking about South Lebanon.

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"In their view, everything is coming together."

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin reaffirmed the U.S.' "ironclad commitment" to Israel's security in a phone call with Katz on Saturday.

Austin urged the government of Israel to continue to take steps to improve the "dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza," and emphasized the U.S. commitment to securing the release of all hostages, including U.S. citizens.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.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.

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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.

Head of major hospital killed in separate strike

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.

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"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.

UN says four Italian peacekeepers hurt in attack

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.

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"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.

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."

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The peacekeeping force said it strongly urges combating parties to avoid fighting next to its positions.

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 Thursday, 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.

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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.

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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
Israeli air strikes killed at least 11 people and injured dozens more in Beirut, the fourth such attack in less than a week.

Emergency services in Lebanon searching for survivors warned that the death count could rise.

The attack took place at 4am local time on Saturday, reducing an eight-storey building to rubble.

Diplomats remain in talks to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, with US envoy Amos Hochstein holding what he described as very constructive talks in Beirut earlier this week.

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So far, however, a truce has not materialised and fighting continues to escalate between Israel and Hezbollah.

Lebanese soldiers guard the site of an Israeli strike in Beiruts Basta neighbourhood - Adnan Abidi/REUTERS

A separate drone attack killed one person and injured a second in Tyre, a port city in the south of Lebanon.

The Israeli military did not issue an evacuation warning to civilians prior to that strike, and has not commented on this one, or the attack in Tyre.

On Saturday, it commented on an operation in Dahieh, a Hezbollah stronghold in Beiruts southern suburbs, and accused its enemy of using civilians as a shield.

Hezbollah deliberately embedded its infrastructure in these civilian areas, using the Lebanese civilian population as a human shield, the Israeli military said.

A resident evacuates after more Israeli strikes on Beirut on Saturday - Adnan Abidi/REUTERS

Recent Israeli strikes on central Beirut represent a different approach as attacks so far have primarily targeted Hezbollah areas in the southern suburbs of Beirut, such as Dahieh.

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The latest strikes brought the overall death toll in Lebanon to 3,500, with another 15,000 wounded, according to figures from the Lebanese health ministry.

On the Israeli side, 90 soldiers and 50 civilians have been killed in clashes taking place in northern Israel and in Lebanon.

Antonio Tajani, the Italian foreign minister, condemned rocket fire that injured four Italian soldiers in an attack on the UN peacekeeping mission headquarters in Lebanon.

The rockets were allegedly launched by Hezbollah, or affiliates of the group.

Once again, it is unacceptable what is happening, said Mr Tajani.

Just like we told Israel to pay the utmost attention and avoid projectiles or artillery fire against our base, in the same firm way we tell it to Hezbollah as well, that our military must not be touched.

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It must be very clear, this organisation cannot play with weapons, if they dont know how to use them, they better do something else.

Rescue workers search for victims in the rubble in Beirut - Bilal Hussein/AP

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Brutal fighting in the Middle East has been the biggest cause of death for aid workers this year, according to the UN.

In all, more aid workers have been killed in 2024 than in any other year, with 281 deaths so far, said the UN.

The majority of humanitarians died in occupied Palestinian areas in the war between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, which is now in its 13th month.

A total of 333 aid workers have been killed since the Israel-Hamas war began on Oct 7 2023.

Deaths in the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian territory where the worst fighting has occurred between Israel and Hamas, surpassed 44,000 this week, according to the Hamas-run health authority.

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On Thursday, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, Yoav Gallant, Israels former defence minister, and Mohammed Deif, a Hamas military leader, for alleged war crimes.

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BEIRUT, Lebanon, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- A powerful Israeli airstrike flattened a residential building in central Beirut early Saturday, killing at least 16 people and wounding 63 others, while a Hezbollah official denied it targeted a senior commander with the militant group.

The eight-story building on Fathallah Street in the densely populated neighborhood of Basta was targeted about 4 a.m. Beirut time by at least three missiles, bringing it down and badly damaging surrounding buildings.

Large explosions were heard across Beirut, and videos then circulated on social media that showed a huge cloud of smoke billowing over the targeted area.

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Lebanese media reports said bunker-busting bombs were used in the attack that allegedly targeted a top Hezbollah officials.

Hezbollah deputy in the parliament, Amin Sherri, denied media reports that the group's senior commander, Mohammad Haidar, was the target of the Israeli attack, saying no one from Hezbollah was in the building.

The Israeli army launched a series of airstrikes on Dahieh region in Beirut, Lebanon on Saturday. Photo by Rahim Rhea/UPi..

Haidar, a former deputy in parliament and member of Hezbollah's Jihad Council, was a senior adviser to the group's assassinated leader Hassan Nasrallah. According to the Israeli Army, he took charge of the military operations after the killings of Hezbollah military commanders.

"There was no party personality or even a civilian one present there," Shirri told reporters while inspecting the targeted area. "This is meant to terrorize the people -- the displaced [who had sought refuge in the area] and the residents ... and also to create a rift between them."

Smoke billows after the Israeli army launched a series of airstrikes on Dahieh region in Beirut, Lebanon on Saturday. Photo by Rahim Rhea/UPi..

Hezbollah's Al Manar website reported that two eight story buildings were destroyed in the airstrike that caused three deep craters. Surrounding buildings and cars were badly damaged.

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Ambulances and rescue teams rushed to the scene to evacuate the casualties and pull survivors from under the rubble.

Rescue teams using excavators search for missing people under the rubble of a destroyed building after Israeli airstrikes hit a residential area in the Basta neighborhood in central Beirut, Lebanon, on Saturday. At least 11 people were killed and 63 others injured, according to Lebanon's Ministry of Health. Photo by Abbas Salman/EPA-EFE

The Health Ministry counted 11 killed and 63 wounded, and said that the death casualty toll would be updated after DNA tests are completed on remains collected on the site. Civil defense sources said the rescue teams have so far pulled out 16 bodies.

This is the second time in a month that an Israeli strike targeted the Basta area.

The Hezbollah parliamentarian, Shirri, said that Israel has carried out eight strikes on areas in central Beirut during the past month, "none of them include military targets ... all civilians."

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"This is the enemy's methodology -- more killing and destruction," he said, emphasizing that the "real confrontation is in southern Lebanon," where Hezbollah fighters are engaged in fierce battles with advancing Israeli forces that reached the town of Khiyam in the Nabatiyeh district.

Shirri emphasized that Israel will not achieve its "goals of destroying Hezbollah and returning its settlers to northern Israel" with Hezbollah "fighting to the last breath."

Two of Hezbollah's top officials were targeted in the Israeli strikes on Beirut. Mohammad Afif, who was in charge of Hezbollah's media relations, and four of his team were killed on Nov. 17 while the head of the group's Liaison and Coordination Unit Wafiq Safa was reportedly severely wounded when he was targeted on Oct. 10.

Hours after, various areas in Beirut's southern suburbs were hit after Israel issued warnings to the remaining residents to evacuate, destroying more buildings allegedly used by Hezbollah.

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On Thursday, Israel resumed its attacks on Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs after a short lull that accompanied the visit of U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein to Beirut during which he discussed a draft proposal to end the war between Israel and Hezbollah.

Israel's Ynet website quoted Saturday evening Israeli officials as saying that there was "a good chance" a settlement in Lebanon "will be finalized next week."

Also Saturday, Israel bombed several areas in southern Lebanon, including the port city of Tyre, as well as in the Baalbeck-Hermel district in eastern Lebanon.

Some 40 people, including a woman and four children, were killed and 77 wounded in both regions

A total of 3,645 people have been killed and 15,355 injured in Israeli attacks since October 2003, according to the latest count by the Health Ministry.
Lebanon's health ministry said at least 20 people were killed and dozens more are injured after an overnight Israeli airstrike in central Beirut. NBC News' Daniele Hamamdjian reports on the latest airstrikes as diplomats work to broker a ceasefire deal.
The Israeli Prime Ministers office says that an Israeli citizen living in the United Arab Emirates has been missing for two days.

The PMO said in a statement Saturday that Zvi Kogan, an Israeli-Moldovan citizen, had been missing since Thursday afternoon.

Kogan is a representative of Chabad, a religious movement of Hasidic Jews with communities, synagogues and other institutions in many countries.

The PMOs office said that since he disappeared, and due to information suggesting that this is a terror incident, an extensive investigation was launched in the country (the UAE).

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The Israeli intelligence and security services have been operating tirelessly, due to their concern to the wellbeing and safety of Zvi Kogan.

It said that Israels National Security Agency had previously recommended Israeli citizens avoid unnecessary travel to the UAE.

The UAE interior ministry confirmed Saturday it had received a report from the family of a Moldovan national named Zvi Kogan, stating that he has been missing and out of contact since last Thursday.

Specialized authorities immediately began search and investigation operations upon receiving the report, the ministry said in a statement published by the state-run WAM news agency.

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The ministry urged the public to rely on official sources for information and to avoid heeding malicious rumors or misleading news aimed at causing confusion in the community.

The UAE foreign ministry also said it was closely monitoring the case of a missing Moldovan citizen.

The ministry is in close contact with his family to provide them with all means of necessary support, the ministry added.

This is a developing story. More to come.

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At least 13 people were killed Saturday by Israeli airstrikes targetting villages near the ancient city of Baalbeck in eastern Lebanon, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry and security sources in the country.

The first strike hit Shmestar in the Baalbeck-Hermel region, killing eight people, including four children, the ministry said. An additional nine other people were wounded in the strike.

Security sources stated that at least three Israeli airstrikes targeted the area, with the final strike hitting a three-storey residential building. Rescue operations are ongoing.

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The other strike hit the village of Bodai at the outskirts of Baalbeck, according to the ministry. The village is known as a stronghold of the Lebanese militant Islamist Hezbollah movement.

The incident comes amid heightened violence in Israeli's two-front conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon as well as the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, where Israel has been seeking to destroy the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Since the start of the war in the Gaza Strip, Hezbollah been launching attacks on Israel in support of Hamas. Israel has responded with airstikes on Lebanon and a ground invasion.

The wars broke out after Hamas led unprecedented attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. In brutal massacres, Hamas and other extremist groups killed approximately 1,200 people.

People stand on the ruins of a building demolished by a massive Israeli air strike on Beirut's Basta neighborhood, which killed at least 11 people and injured 63 others, according to the Ministry of Health. Marwan Naamani/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
BEIRUT, Lebanon  Israeli airstrikes Saturday in central Beirut killed at least 15 people, officials said, as the once-rare attacks on the heart of Lebanons capital continued without warning while diplomats scrambled to broker a cease-fire.

Lebanons Health Ministry said 63 people were wounded in the strikes, which were the fourth in central Beirut in less than a week.

The escalation comes after U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein traveled to the region in pursuit of a deal to end months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah that has erupted into full-on war.

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Israeli attacks have killed more than 3,500 people in Lebanon, according to Lebanons Health Ministry. The fighting has displaced about 1.2 million people, or a quarter of Lebanons population. On the Israeli side, about 90 soldiers and nearly 50 civilians have been killed by bombardment in northern Israel and the fighting.

The 4 a.m. strikes destroyed an eight-story building in central Beirut. Hezbollah legislator Amin Shiri said no Hezbollah officials were inside. The attack stripped the facades from some nearby buildings and crumpled cars.

The area is residential, with closely packed buildings and narrow streets, making the situation challenging, said Walid Al-Hashash, a first responder with the Lebanese Civil Defense.

Israels military did not comment on the casualties.

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Also Saturday, a drone strike killed two people and injured three in the southern Lebanese port city of Tyre, according to the Lebanese state-run National News Agency.

Mohammed Bikai, spokesperson for the Fatah Palestinian faction in the Tyre area, said those killed were Palestinian refugees from nearby al-Rashidieh camp who were out fishing.

Despite a warning last month by Israels army to avoid Lebanons southern coast, you cant tell someone who needs to eat that you cant fish, Bikai said.

The Health Ministry said other airstrikes killed eight people, including four children, in the eastern town of Shmustar, five others in the southern village of Roumin, and another five people in the northeastern village of Budai.

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Two Western diplomatic officials on Saturday described disputed points between Israel and Lebanon in cease-fire negotiations. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the talks.

The current proposal calls for a two-month cease-fire during which Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanon and Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the southern border south of the Litani River. Thousands more Lebanese army troops would patrol the border area with U.N. peacekeepers, and an international committee would monitor the deals implementation.

The officials said Israel wanted more guarantees that Hezbollahs weapons are removed from the border area. Israeli officials have said they would not agree to a deal that did not explicitly grant them freedom to strike in Lebanon if they believe Hezbollah is violating it.

Lebanese officials have said the inclusion of such a term would violate their countrys sovereignty. And Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem said this week that the militant group would not agree to a deal that does not entail a complete and comprehensive end to the aggression.

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Lebanon and Israel also dispute which countries would sit on the monitoring committee. The officials said Israel refused to allow France, which has been close with Lebanon since its colonial rule there ended. Lebanon refused to have Britain, a close ally of Israel.

In northern Gaza, the Health Ministry said at least 80 people, total, were killed on Thursday and Friday, including near the Kamal Adwan and Al-Ahli hospitals. It said dozens of people were trapped under the rubble.

Israels army said it wasnt aware of a strike near Kamal Adwan, and it didnt respond to questions about the other attacks.

On Saturday, at least six people, including three children and two women, were killed in the southern city of Khan Younis, according to Associated Press reporters and staff at Nasser Hospital.

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Suddenly we woke up to dust, smoke and a fire, said one grieving father, Ahmad Ghassan. We found him dead and his brother injured. Another father wept as he carried his childs body in a bloodstained sheet.

The Palestinian death toll from the 13-month-long war surpassed 44,000 this week, according to the Health Ministry, which doesnt distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count. It has said more than half the dead are women and children. The Israeli military says it has killed more than 17,000 militants, without providing evidence.

The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting another 250. Around 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third believed to be dead.

The Israeli offensive in Gaza has devastated wide areas, and around 90 percent of Gazas 2.3 million people have been displaced, often multiple times. Hundreds of thousands live in tent camps with little food, water or basic services.

At least two women were shot dead Saturday while waiting in line for bread in central Deir al-Balah, relatives and witnesses told the AP. It was unclear who shot them and why.
OP Jindal University Sonipat (Haryana) [India], November 23: The Speaker of Lok Sabha, Om Birla and Minister of State for Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal today inaugurated India's First Constitution Museum at O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU), Sonipat. On this august occasion they were joined by Naveen Jindal, the Founding Chancellor of JGU and Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) and other distinguished guests. The Chief Guest, Speaker of Lok Sabha, Om Birla, said, "India's first Constitution Museum at O.P. Jindal Global University marks a historic milestone which will acquaint future generations with our Constitution, illuminating its history, inception, and the immense efforts behind its creation. In 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for the celebration of Constitution Day, highlighting the visionary ideas that shaped our Constitution. He urged us to remember and honour the contributions of those who worked tirelessly to frame this foundational document. Our Constitution stands as a beacon guiding India and the world. Our Constitution enshrines the principles of equality for all. More than a legal framework, our constitution is a transformative document that has brought profound social, economic, and political change. It is not merely a set of laws but a guiding philosophy, that continues to lead us towards a more just and inclusive society. Our democracy has united diverse cultures, languages, and traditions, exemplifying the spirit of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam"--the world is one family--throughout its 75-year journey. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, we continue to advance this legacy." The Guest of Honour, the Minister of State for Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal, said, "Equality, liberty and fraternity are the cornerstones of our Constitution. We place equality before liberty as it is more important. We will only remain independent, said Dr B.R. Ambedkar, only when we have equality. I especially laud the effort undertaken by Chancellor Naveen Jindal efforts to ensure that citizens would be free to fly the National Flag respectfully and with dignity and honour. The Constitution Museum is a true memorial to the significant contribution of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the main framer of the Indian Constitution and I sincerely hope that it is visited by the current legislators of India to get a modern and digital insight into the making of the Constitution. The Constitution Academy & the Rights and Freedoms Museum, a Jindal Global University initiative, is an attempt to delve into the cornerstone of India's democracy and the fundamental rights and freedoms enshrined within it. The Chancellor of O.P. Jindal Global University Naveen Jindal, M.P. Lok Sabha said, "Constitutionalism is a philosophy that restricts government power and ensures the protection of individual rights. Constitutionalism is a political theory that emphasizes that limitation of governmental power, regardless of its source of proper procedures. It asserts that there are certain actions a government just cannot undertake, even if they are supported by public opinion or proper procedures. The Constitution Museum is a reminder of the vision of our Founding Fathers. It is the longest written constitution in the world, which came into being because of the painstaking efforts and toil of the constituent assembly. It was crafted with immense foresight with an aim of balancing individual rights and the state powers the resolve to secure to all its citizens, justice, liberty, equality and promote fraternity, to assure the dignity of the individual enshrined in the preamble of the Constitution. The Constitution Musuem at O.P. Jindal Global University is a reminder to celebrate the constitution of the world's largest democracy, and to promote the idea of an Indian constitutionalism as we commemorate the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of India on November 26 this year." Professor (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar, the Founding Vice Chancellor of O.P. Jindal Global University thanked the distinguished guests on this momentous occasion and said, "As part of the celebrations, we are also hosting the National Convention on the Constitution of India from 23rd to 25th November. This convention will have distinguished speakers representing the law and public life, including three former Chief Justices, seven judges of the Supreme Court of India, three former judges of the Supreme Court, 20 plus senior advocates of the Supreme Court of India, eight distinguished parliamentarians and different political parties, besides the attorney general for India, the solicitor of India, and several other scholars from India and abroad, it is indeed my distinct honour to extend a warm welcome to our distinguished guests and we are deeply grateful to them for taking the time for inaugurating India's first constitution Museum. I would also like to extend my gratitude to our benefactor and Founding Chancellor Mr Naveen Jindal MP, Lok Sabha who brought to fruition the vision of a global university in India and has achieved historic recognition through his work in bringing the pride of flying the Indian National Flag for every citizen." ABOUT THE MUSEUM The museum is designed to provide a deep and engaging exploration of the Constitution's essential elements and key provisions that every citizen should know. The aim is to make the Constitution both accessible and relevant, demonstrating how its values and ideals have shaped the nation. The visitor can Immerse themselves in the sights and sounds of pre-independence India, through 360-degree visual spectacle. Through cutting-edge technology and multimedia storytelling, our exhibit unfolds the chronological tapestry of events leading to the drafting of the Indian Constitution. The collaboration between the O.P. Jindal Global University and IIT Madras will bring to life an unprecedented experience through a tour guide robot called S.A.M.V.I.D. to commemorate the most significant document that defines India as a Republic. On display in the museum's centre is one of the 1000 photolithographic reproductions of Constitution of India. The original, an elaborately crafted edition taking nearly five years to complete, bears the signatures of the nation's founders--the framers of the Constitution. Prem Behari Narain Raizada rendered the calligraphy, while Nandalal Bose and other artists illustrated the text. The manuscript was published in Dehradun and photolithographed by the Survey of India. The Museum especially highlights the contribution of women members of the Constituent Assembly and there are animations about the life of each female member of the Constituent Assembly focusing on their contribution to the Constitution as well as the making of Independent India. To commemorate the memory of nearly 300 members of the Constituent Assembly, sculptured busts of each member has been placed in niches to recognise their contribution. The gallery also explores the global inspirations and historical frameworks that influenced the creation of India's Constitution, highlighting how these ideas were reimagined and adapted to suit the unique needs and aspirations of India's diverse populace. The mezzanine also holds a hologram exhibit of Dr B. R. Ambedkar. This installation brings his words and vision to life, allowing visitors to experience his legacy first-hand. The answers have been crafted based on his speeches and writings. The art featured in the museum is anticipated to be a major attraction. Rajesh P. Subramanian's sculpture, 'We, The People of India', embodies "unity in diversity," a core constitutional principle. In 'Echoes of Liberty', Rahul Gautam creates a mural that fuses elements from constitutional manuscripts with modern design. Harsha Durugadda's 'Triad of Unity' links themes of unity, justice, and sovereignty. Nishant S. Kumbhatil's 'Insaaf Ki Devi' portrays lady justice holding a balance, a powerful emblem of impartiality in Indian law. Pradeep B. Jogdand's 'Equality Before Law' symbolises equality and justice. Deval Verma's large-scale 'Map of challenges viewers to reconsider notions of value and beauty. K. R. Nariman's 'Freedom' celebrates "We, the People" who uphold constitutional values in daily lives as citizens. Finally, Rahul Gautam's sculpture 'Founding Mothers' artistically represents an imagined photograph featuring the 15 women members of the Constituent Assembly, honouring their contributions to shaping India's constitutional framework. Anjchita B. Nair, CEO, Culture and Head, Centre for Museums has curated the museum emphasising on how the Constitution Museum steers away from the typical unidirectional tone taken by conventional museums and instead uses a multitude of formats for innovative storytelling. (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)
Israel's ambassador to Germany has called on German authorities to take more action against anti-Semitism across the country - not just in certain neighbourhoods in Berlin.

Berlin's police chief, Barbara Slowik, had recently warned Jews about anti-Semitism, saying they should be extra careful in certain city neighbourhoods with a heavy Arab population. She said Berliners who are openly gay also need to take precautions in these neighbourhoods.

"There are areas where someone with a kippah must be cautious," she told the Berliner Zeitung.

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Israeli Ambassador to Germany Ron Prosor said the problem is not just in parts of Berlin.

"Jews are afraid to travel alone on the S-Bahn or U-Bahn or to speak Hebrew on their mobile," he said, referring to the local regional trains and the underground.

"Jewish students have told me that they only go to the toilet in pairs at university." He stated that this should not be considered normal.

"The whole country has a responsibility here."
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  A grieving Oklahoma mother received a surprising boost of support from music artist Jelly Roll.

Jason Deford, also known as Jelly Roll, honored 19-year-old Rain Camacho during his concert on Thursday, November 14 in Oklahoma City.

The 19-year-old died from a fentanyl overdose in May 2023, while attending Cameron University. Rain, who thought she was taking a Xanax, turned out the pill was laced with fentanyl.

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RELATED STORY: Oklahoma families fighting back against fentanyl

Our kids think theyre taking one thing and its not, it looks real and that night, she Googled what does a generic Xanax look like? Because she was just trying to be safe and you cant be because one mistake costs you your life and you wont wake up, said Karla Carlock, Rains mother.

Jellyroll honored Rain Camacho at his concert last Thursday at Paycom. Image courtesy Karla Carlock.

Since her daughters death, Rains mother has made it her mission to try and help other families who are struggling with grief.

Carlock is apart of Families Supporting Families, a group of others who have lost their loved ones.

After Jelly Roll paid tribute to her daughter, Carlock shared a video, thanking the music artist.

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For a few minutes in time, you made my daughter alive again. Not physically, but you shared the face thats permanently etched within my heart, said Carlock in the video. You used your platform to show my Rain for everything amazing and beautiful she was, and not just for what took her life.

Jelly Roll, who struggled with addiction in the past and spent much of his younger life locked up on drug charges, now uses his music to tell his own story.

He says his past is one reason he testified before congress, urging them to pass an anti-fentanyl legislation.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
When pushback works

There is a reason that presidential transition teams have extensively vetted nominees for decades. This process can (and should) expose the skeletons, the conflicts of interest and, yes, even the immorality of some president-elect picks.

The process typically involves hours of intensive interviews with the candidates, an FBI background check and extensive reviews with teams of lawyers about backgrounds and qualifications.

It sounds invasive because it is invasive. But it also allows presidents-elect to weed out people who either cant be confirmed or shouldnt be confirmed to any Cabinet job.

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Maybe Matt Gaetz would have still been Trumps choice had that full process been carried out. But it seems like a lot of information about Gaetz came out in the press after his pick  information that perhaps Trump did not have (and should have had).

And Gaetz isnt the only pick who may end up mired in more controversy. The Trump team allegedly was surprised by the extent of the Pete Hegseth allegations. And there is likely a lot more to the story of Tulsi Gabbards trip to Syria to meet with brutal dictator Bashar al-Assad.

So what we have learned from Gaetzs short-lived nomination is that no transition team should cut corners on vetting. But we also learned there is a limit to Trumps power over the Senate.

These poorly made decisions from the Trump administration will keep coming. But this week proves pushback works. Now is the time to call your representatives and remind them that Trumps chaos doesnt need to become our new normal.

A story you should be following: Mike Johnsons bathroom ban

There are a lot of things happening in the world right now. But Rep. Nancy Mace and House Republican leadership are particularly distressed, it seems, about trans women using bathrooms in the Capitol.

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This week, Johnson announced a new policy barring transgender individuals from using the restrooms in the Capitol that align with their gender identity  a move transparently aimed at Rep.-elect Sarah McBride of Delaware, the first transgender member of Congress.

Johnson claims the bathroom ban is about protecting womens spaces. But when members like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene say theyd get into a physical altercation if forced to share a bathroom with a trans colleague, its obvious this isnt about safety or privacy.

And heres the kicker: Trans women have been using Capitol bathrooms for years, including throughout the entire Trump administration. Mace, who pushed for this ban, didnt seem concerned about incidents then, because there werent any.

McBride, for her part, has shown remarkable grace, calling the policy petty and urging colleagues to stay focused on the work that matters, like lowering costs for families in Delaware and beyond.

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The silver lining: The more Republicans pull stunts like this, the clearer it becomes whos focused on the real issues  and whos not.

A race to watch: New Jerseys gubernatorial election

New Jerseys 2025 governors race is already shaping up to be one of the most competitive in years. Rep. Mikie Sherrill is the latest Democrat to announce her candidacy, joining a crowded field that includes Rep. Josh Gottheimer, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop and others. On the Republican side, former state Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli and conservative radio host Bill Spadea have thrown their hats into the ring.

This race comes amid surprising political shifts in New Jersey. Vice President Kamala Harris won the state by just 5 points in 2024  down from President Joe Bidens 16-point margin in 2020. With Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy facing the end of his term limits, Jerseys next governor could signal how far right the state has shifted over the course of Trumps political career.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
'Bread and Roses', which largely features footage taken in Afghanistan after the Taliban retook control of the country in 2021, is now streaming on Apple TV+

Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage; Apple TV+ Jennifer Lawrence and Dr. Zahra Mohammadi in 'Bread and Roses' Jennifer Lawrence and Dr. Zahra Mohammadi in 'Bread and Roses'

When the United States military withdrew from Afghanistan in August 2021 and the Taliban immediately retook control over the country, Jennifer Lawrence had an idea. She sought out a female Afghan filmmaker to document the lives of women as they attempted to resist a return to life under an oppressive rule based on a strict interpretation of Islamic law.

The result is the new documentary Bread and Roses, directed by Sahra Mani and produced by Academy Award winner Lawrence, 34, through her production company Excellent Cadaver. "I wanted to make it as an antithesis of the 24 hour news cycle," Lawrence tells PEOPLE, recalling that she worried how quickly news media and the public's attention would wane following the initial shock of Kabul's fall in 2021.

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"Part of the devastation was knowing that in a matter of hours, this would be out of the news cycle and people would move on and forget what's happening to the people of Afghanistan, which is of course exactly what the Taliban wants," she says. Lawrence and producing partner Justine Ciarrochi were familiar with filmmaker Mani through her 2021 documentary A Thousand Girls Like Me, which followed an Afghan woman in her 20s seeking justice for sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of her father.

Related: From 2022: In the Year Since the Taliban Took Back Afghanistan, Women's Rights Have Been Erased

Apple TV+ Sharifa Movahidzadeh in 'Bread & Roses' Sharifa Movahidzadeh in 'Bread & Roses'

"She was already in the process of getting equipment to women in Afghanistan [and] was already collecting footage," Lawrence says of Mani, who was able to escape Afghanistan in the days before the Taliban completely retook control of the country.

For Mani, Bread and Roses is a portrait of the mindset and attitude of women  some of whom she knew personally  in Afghanistan as the Taliban set out severely repressing women's rights. While three of the women featured in the movie have since left the country, the situation has worsened as the Taliban maintains its grip on Afghanistan more than three years after much of the footage in the documentary was captured.

Apple TV+ Taranom Seyedi in 'Bread and Roses' Taranom Seyedi in 'Bread and Roses'

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.

"It was not easy journey for us, for all of us, because we were facing a real human story of loss, resilience, and hope. But we did our best to tell their stories with authenticity and respect," Mani tells PEOPLE of directing the documentary. "So it was a challenging journey for us. Especially, it was a very emotional journey for us because we were witnessing that so many women were in prison, facing [arrest], kidnapping and some of them, killing. But the story of these three women is not only their story, but a story of more than 20 million women in Afghanistan that are facing the same situation."



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Related: Jennifer Lawrence Says Loved Ones 'Encouraged Me Not to' Be Involved in Doc About Women's Rights in Afghanistan

Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage Malala Yousafzai and Jennifer Lawrence on Nov. 14, 2024 Malala Yousafzai and Jennifer Lawrence on Nov. 14, 2024

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The film's executive producers include Pakistani women's education activist Malala Yousafzai, 27, who was violently targeted by the Taliban for speaking out in favor of women's education at age 15. "[She] was very inspiring for women in Afghanistan and especially for the girls because what [she faced] we faced also in Afghanistan," Mani says.

Of Lawrence, who flew to Sweden to work with Mani as she edited the movie, Mani adds, "We had a lot of discussion in the editing room. We laugh, we cry.... It was a wonderful collaboration and deep involvement for all of us."

Bread and Roses is now streaming on Apple TV+.
Joe Rogan suggested that President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are looking to start World War III as Biden makes his way out of office. .

A slew of U.S.-supplied missiles were fired deep into Russian territory after Biden recently lifted his ban on Ukraine using them to target Russia. The change of policy came after Russia deployed North Korean troops to the battlefields of the Kursk regiona move Bidens administration viewed as a significant escalation of war that demanded a response, Reuters reported

Rogan also pinned blame for the possible escalation on Zelensky.

Rogan and his guest on Fridays podcast, music producer Scott Storch, both said they would feel safer when Donald Trump, who has signaled skepticism about U.S. support of Ukraines war effort, takes over the White House.

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However, Rogan expressed worry about the damage Bidens policies could do in the last weeks of his presidency.

How are you allowed to do that when youre on your way out? Rogan said. People dont want you to be there anymore. There should be some sort of pause for significant actions that could potentially start World War III. Maybe that would be a good thing that we would like to avoid from a dying former president. The whole thing is nuts.

Rogan also pinned blame on Zelensky, fretting that the conflicts escalation could end up reverberating across the globe.

Zelensky says Putin is terrified, Rogan said. F--k you, man. F--k you people. You people are about to start World War III.

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He added, The world has been at peace before and then all of a sudden chaos.

According to Rogan, chaos can happen just as easily now as it did before. Its happening right now, its just not happening here. We dont feel it here so it doesnt affect our thinking process and we support things that could lead to it happening here and we dont even realize were doing it as were doing it, he said.
John Bolton offered a brutal assessment Friday of Sebastian Gorka, Donald Trumps controversial pick as a deputy assistant to the president and the senior director for counterterrorism.

Well, Sebastian Gorka is a con man, said Bolton, a former national security adviser under Trump, in an interview with CNNs Kaitlan Collins.

I wouldnt have him in any U.S. government, Bolton said. Fortunately, its not the highest position he had been mentioned for. But I dont think its going to bode well for counterterrorism efforts when the [National Security Council] senior director is somebody like that.

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Gorka, who briefly served as a deputy assistant to the president in Trumps first term, made headlines in March 2017 following a report on his links to a Hungarian far-right group with historical ties to Nazi Germany. He later denied that he was a member of the group.

He has a history of controversialcomments  particularly regarding his Islamophobicviews  and once served as an adviser to Viktor Orban, Hungarys far-right prime minister and authoritarian leader whom Trump has praised as fantastic.

Gorka was recently a contender to be Trumps pick for deputy national security adviser, Politico reported last week, before Alex Wong eventually got the nod from the president-elect.

Trump, in a statement on Friday, described Gorka as a tireless advocate for the America First Agenda and the MAGA Movement.

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Bolton told Collins that Trumps choices to fill various deputy-secretary and undersecretary roles are going to tell Americans a lot about whos actually running the government.

Gorka needs a full-field FBI background investigation about his educational claims and things like that, said Bolton, who described Gorka as a perfect example of somebody who owes his position purely to Donald Trump.

Gorka doesnt display loyalty, Bolton went on. He displays fealty. And thats what Trump wants. He doesnt want Gorkas opinions. He wants Gorka to say, Yes sir. And I am fully confident thats exactly what will happen, no matter what it is Trump says.

H/T Mediaite

Related...
Never one to mince words, President-elect Donald Trumps former national security adviser John Bolton blasted the decision to reappoint firebrand political commentator Seb Gorka as a senior director for counterterrorism.

Speaking with CNNs The Source host Kaitlan Collins on Friday night, Boltonwho has become a fierce Trump critic after a brief stint in his first administrationcalled Gorka a con-man with minimal qualifications.

I wouldnt have him in any U.S. government, Bolton said. I dont think its going to bode well for counterterrorism efforts when the NSC senior director is somebody like that.

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When pressed by Collins on why exactly Gorka is a con man, the former Trump adviser said he needs a full field FBI background investigation about his educational claims and things like that.

Bolton said Gorka is the perfect example of somebody who owes his position purely to Donald Trump.

He doesnt display loyalty, he displays fealty, and thats what Trump wants. He doesnt want Gorkas opinions, he wants Gorka to say, Yes sir, said Bolton. Im fully confident thats exactly what will happen no matter what it is that Trump says.

Gorka has been described as an Islamophobe. The former national security affairs editor for Breitbart News, Gorka previously said he believes that violence is a fundamental part of the Muslim way of life, and his self-proclaimed expertise in Islamic extremism and jihadism was what secured him a spot in Trumps first administration.

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However, it wasnt long before Gorka came under fire for his lack of actual expertise. It came to light that the two of the people whod reportedly endorsed his PhD werent even academics, and the third person was a far-right Hungarian MEP with ties to Gorkas family.

Its not even remotely something that I would consider scholarship, as one academic previously described Gorkas thesis to CNN . It does not deploy evidence that would satisfy the most basic methodological requirements for a PhD in the U.S.

Speaking with the outlet, more experts further pointed out Gorkas lack of expertise on the Middle East, including that he does not speak Arabic, has not undertaken extensive travel to the Middle East, and had not prior to his White House appointment ever served in either a military or intelligence role.
JOPLIN, Mo.  With a big federal deadline looming, Joplin city leaders are finalizing more than 13 million dollars in ARPA projects.

We are spending a lot of time right now figuring out budgets and working to get the remaining dollars obligated, said Leslie Haase, Joplin city finance director.

The City of Joplin still needs to finalize a few contracts to qualify for the 13.7 million dollars in ARPA grants offered by the federal government.

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The deadline  December 31.

Tin Cup Bridge is under contract. One of the biggest ones, obviously, is the Dover Outdoor Recreation Area, which is Dora, known as Dora the Bicycle Park. SWT has been working diligently to get that designed and out to bid, said Haase.

Two and a half million dollars of the total is going toward widening West 20th Street.

Its an overall cost of 9.8 million dollars, adding an extra lane from Schifferdecker West to Central City Road  and two roundabouts.

So 20th Street is under contract. Now were in good shape on 20th Street, said Haase.

The ARPA list also partially funds neighborhood improvements, a home rehab program, and five million toward a citywide broadband network with Allo Fiber.

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To ensure that in case of certain emergencies that could take out overhead lines, were actually using that money to bury some of the fiber to ensure that that wont happen, said Haase.

The ARPA grants require the city to put projects under contract by December 31 of this year  and complete the projects by the end of 2026.

Of course, the original list of proposed projects was much longer  costing hundreds of millions of dollars.

While the city has qualified for another 65 million dollars in grants for some of those  others may take a little longer to tackle.

Below is a table representing the Contingent Spending Plan from The City of Joplins website. You can view the full document, here.

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Actor Naga Chaitanya announced a new film titled 'NC24' on his birthday. On Saturday, Naga Chaitanya took to Instagram and shared a new poster. Along with the poster, he wrote, "#NC24 - An excavation into Mythical thrills & shivers. Excited to be part of your amazing vision @karthik_cinema." The poster features Chaitanya standing on a rock in a cave with a bag full of mountaineering equipment. An eye captures the essence of the film. It hints at a thrilling narrative that blends mythology with suspense. https://www.instagram.com/p/DCtHi3et6Y9/ Netizens chimmed in the comment section with birthday wishes and blessings. A user wrote, "Happy Birthday ANNA all the best nc 23 24." Another fan commented, "Happy Birthday Chay." Talking about Naga Chaitanya's personal front, he is all set to tie the knot soon with Sobhita Dhulipala. Their pre-wedding festivities have already started. Sobhita took to Instagram and shared mesmerizing pictures from the 'Pasupu Danchadam' ceremony. In August, Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita got engaged at a private ceremony in Hyderabad in the presence of the couple's families and friends. Veteran star Nagarjuna Akkineni announced this exciting news by sharing pictures of his son Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipala from their engagement ceremony on his X handle. Along with the post, he wrote, "We are delighted to announce the engagement of our son, Naga Chaitanya, to Sobhita Dhulipala, which took place this morning at 9:42 a.m.!! We are overjoyed to welcome her into our family. Congratulations to the happy couple! Wishing them a lifetime of love and happiness. God bless! 8.8.8 A beginning of infinite love Sobhitad chayakkineni." Naga Chaitanya was previously married to actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu. They announced their separation on social media in a joint statement in October 2021. Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita have remained tight-lipped about their relationship. If reports are to be believed, the newly engaged couple met a few months after Naga's divorce with Samantha. Meanwhile, on the work front, Naga Chaitanya will be seen in 'Thandel' alongside Sai Pallavi. Directed by Chandoo Mondeti, produced by Bunny Vas under the prestigious Geetha Arts banner and presented by Allu Aravind, the film's production is nearing completion, and the makers have officially announced the release date by unveiling a special romantic poster featuring the lead actors. Taking to X handle, Naga Chaitanya treated fans with new poster along with release date. "#Thandel GRAND RELEASE WORLDWIDE ON FEBRUARY 7TH, 2025 #ThandelonFeb7th," he captioned the post. The poster captures the chemistry between Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi, set against a picturesque ocean backdrop. 'Thandel' will be hitting the screens on February 7, 2025. The film has already created a strong buzz, with the teaser and posters receiving positive responses. Fans are excited to see the much-loved pairing of Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi reunite on screen after their blockbuster hit 'Love Story', directed by Sekhar Kammula. 'Thandel' is inspired by real-life events that took place in the village of D Matchilesam in the Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh, and it promises a compelling mix of love, action, drama, and adrenaline rushing moments. The film also boasts an impressive crew, including National Award-winning composer Devi Sri Prasad for the music, Shamdat handling cinematography, and National Award-winning editor Naveen Nooli. The art department is headed by Srinagendra Tangala. The film features Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi. It is written and directed by Chandoo Mondeti and is presented by Allu Aravind. Produced by Bunny Vas under the Geetha Arts banner, the film's music is composed by Devi Sri Prasad, with cinematography by Shamdat. (ANI)
Lawyers for Sean Diddy Combs on Friday pleaded with a judge to release him from jail, arguing the embattled music producer is not the danger to the community that prosecutors allege he is.

Following nearly two hours of arguments, Judge Arun Subramanian said he would issue a decision regarding the bail petition next week. He ordered both sides to submit letters by noon on Monday to lay out what type of communication Combs is permitted to engage in after prosecutors alleged that he had tried to influence the potential jury pool and tamper with witnesses.

Combs had been in federal custody since his arrest in September. His trial on sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and prostitution-related charges is set to begin next spring. He has pleaded not guilty.

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It was Combs third attempt before a federal judge to seek bail after two other judges found there were no conditions that alleviated concerns Combs was engaging in alleged witness tampering and posed a danger to women.

The judge pressed prosecutors to explain why Combs $50 million bond proposal, including private security to monitor his phone calls and computer usage, was not enough for his release.

Prosecutor Christine Slavik alleged Combs has not followed rules at the federal jail, so there was no reason to believe he would follow rules outside of it.

She said Combs used at least eight other inmates identification numbers, engaged in three-way calling, and used unauthorized messaging from inside the jail.

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The defendant here has demonstrated either he cannot, or he will not follow rules. The defendant, simply put, cannot be trusted, Slavik said in court.

Slavik claimed Combs violated the judges order limiting public statements and said Combs admitted it in one message. She quoted Combs as having said he wanted to reach for this jury. I just need one [jurror].

He also hasnt followed his lawyers own instructions, she said.

In another exchange from jail related to a social media post from Combs family to honor his birthday, the prosecutor said that Combs is told by someone, The lawyers say we shouldnt do it.

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Combs replied, according to Slavik, I dont care. Its my birthday.

Attorneys for Combs proposed home detention with private security who would monitor him at all times. His lawyers said security would be more restrictive than federal custody in deciding who Combs could be in contact with.

The judge said Combs mansion with a private boat dock in Miami is not going to work. Combs attorney, Marc Agnifilo, countered that Combs has a three-bedroom apartment in Manhattan he could stay at.

Hotel surveillance video

Attorneys for Combs claim prosecutors altered a video they introduced to the court of the music mogul attacking his then-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, at the Intercontinental hotel in Los Angeles in March 2016.

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Earlier this year, CNN acquired and published surveillance footage depicting several different angles of the assault, which were edited together to help more clearly illustrate the incident. Combs apologized for his behavior in the footage in a social media post.

Slavik said prosecutors provided Combs team with cell phone video of the same assault that is captured on the hotel surveillance video. The cell phone footage was obtained from a grand jury witness, according to prosecutors.

The cell phone footage shows the exact same thing as the CNN video. I dont think there is a discrepancy in what both videos show, Slavik said in court. He throws her to the ground, he kicks her, he drags her. That was not edited.

Slavik said the government does not have the original surveillance video.

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Shapiro said her client was trying to get his clothes and phone back in the footage.

The sequencing is actually very important, Shapiro said.

The judge interrupted and said, There was dragging and there was kicking. There was shoving.

Combs lawyers characterized what is depicted in the video as the end of a consensual, long-term, loving relationship.

This is a case about violence, Slavik said. The defendant has engaged in physical, sexual, and emotional abuse of his romantic partners for years.

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ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR)  A judge with the 15th Circuit Solicitors Office in South Carolina has denied bond for the suspect accused of murdering 16-year-old Patrick Henry High School student Jakolbi Taylor.

Tonya Root with the 15th Circuit Solicitors Office in South Carolina has confirmed for WFXR News that the bond for Gary Abraham was denied and the case has moved into the Discovery Phase, which is expected to take several months.

ORIGINAL REPORTING: Roanoke teen killed in Myrtle Beach was a Patrick Henry HS student-athlete

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Root said there are no hearings or court proceedings scheduled and that Abraham may be offered a plea deal after the discovery phase has been completed.

Jakolbi Taylor was killed on Saturday, July 20, 2024, while traveling to Myrtle Beach in South Carolina with the Patrick Henry Patriots and AAU travel team, Twin Hoops.

The father of the suspect, Gary Ulysess Abraham, was later arrested in Aiken County South Carolina on Saturday, July 27, 2024, and charged with Possession of a Stolen Firearm, Possession of a Weapon during the Commission of a Violent Crime, Possession of Marijuana, and Trafficking of Cocaine.

RELATED STORY: Father of suspected shooter in Jakolbi Taylor case arrested on gun, drug charges

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It is still undetermined at this time if his arrest had any connection with the shooting of Taylor.

WFXR News will update you on this story as more information becomes available.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.
WAUKEGAN, Ill.  A judge has dismissed all charges against Waukegan City Clerk Janet Kilkelly.

In March 2024, the Lake County States Attorneys Office announced Kilkelly had been charged with felony official misconduct and misapplication of funds.

She was named in a 15-count indictment where prosecutors accused her of illegally providing credits to city businesses applying for liquor and gambling licenses.

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Despite approved language that the credit would only go to businesses in good standing, prosecutors say Kilkelly gave thousands to area businesses that did not qualify for financial assistance.

Kilkelly was charged following testimony from an Illinois State Police special agent.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

On Friday, a judge dismissed all of Kilkellys charges.

Kilkelly issued the following statement on the judges ruling:

Today, I am very pleased to announce that Lake County Circuit Court Judge Judge Patricia Fix

dismissed all charges filed against me on March 13, 2024. The past several months has been extremely stressful for me, my family and friends. With this

ruling, I am very grateful this is finally over. I truly appreciate my very able counsel, attorneys

Don Morrison and James Bertucci of the Lake County Firm Kelleher and Holland and attorney

Ricardo Meza of Meza Law for all that they did on my behalf. I would also like to thank the Waukegan residents who have always supported me and who sent

me their support and their well wishes during this very difficult time. As someone who has

dedicated over 40 years of their life to the Waukegan community, I promise to continue serving

and helping all Waukegan residents as their City Clerk. Now that this is finally over, I plan on spending the upcoming Holiday season continuing to do the job for which I was elected, and of course spend time with my family and friends. I will offer no further comments on this matter and Happy Holidays to all. Janet Kilkelly

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The judge overseeing President-elect Donald Trumps criminal lawsuit in Manhattan announced on Friday the case would be postponed. Sentencing in the case that found Trump guilty on all 34 criminal counts against him was originally set for next week.

Following Trumps win against Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election earlier this month, the fate of Trumps many legal battles was uncertain; a year prior, Trump was balancing four indictments with campaign rallies across the country.

In his pre-motion letter to request to file a motion dismiss, Trump Attorney Todd Blanche wrote, On Nov. 5, 2024, the Nations People issued a mandate that supersedes the political motivations of DANYs People. This case must be immediately dismissed.

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He added, Immediate dismissal of this case is mandated by the federal Constitution, the Presidential Transition Act of 1963, and the interests of justice, in order to facilitate the orderly transition of Executive power following President Trumps overwhelming victory in the 2024 Presidential Election.

State Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan granted Trumps legal team the right to submit a request to dismiss the case against the former and future president by Dec. 2. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whose office brought the case against Trump, will then have a week to respond.

A new sentencing date has not been set. Prosecutors agreed to delay sentencing but previously said they would not drop the case, noting that a jury had already convicted Trump.

The People deeply respect the Office of the President, are mindful of the demands and obligations of the presidency, and acknowledge that Defendants inauguration will raise unprecedented legal questions, the prosecutors said in their filing to Merchan.

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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 posttrial criminal proceeding during the presidency, such as deferral of all remaining criminal proceedings until after the end of Defendants upcoming presidential term, the filing said.

Merchan could dismiss the indictment entirely or order a retrial, which would remain on pause during Trumps four years in office. Though not likely in Trumps situation, a person convicted of the same crimes could spend up to four years in prison.

Steven Cheung, a spokesman for Trump, told Fox News the case against the president-elect was a hoax Manhattan Case following Merchans adjournment of the sentencing.

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 added.
(NewsNation)  The judge in music mogul Sean Diddy Combs trial is expected to issue a ruling Monday on bail after Combs appeared in court for a pretrial hearing Friday.

Combs has been detained for more than two months after being charged with racketeering, sex trafficking by force and transportation to engage in prostitution.

He was denied bail in September when the indictment was unsealed and again earlier in November as the judge deemed him a flight risk due to his money and connections.

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Combs attorneys are arguing that the technology available to him in jail is inadequate for him to prepare for his May trial given the volume of discovery and that he should be released. They have proposed conditions, including using a GPS monitor and putting one of his mansions up as collateral.

Prosecutors argue Combs has been attempting to intimidate witnesses from behind bars and would continue to do so if he were released on bail.

One argument before the judge includes handwritten notes found in Combs cell. The notes have the word legal written on the top, and his lawyers are arguing they are privileged communication and cant be introduced.

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Prosecutors have pushed back, saying that writing legal on something isnt enough to have it covered under attorney-client privilege.

On Thursday, Combs argued that a video of him allegedly attacking his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in 2016 was edited and not an accurate portrayal of what happened at the Los Angeles Hotel.

Prosecutors have pointed to the video as evidence of Combs trafficking Ventura and an example of the danger Combs could pose to women if released on bail.

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They alleged he was trafficking Ventura as part of a freak off, alleged events detailed in the indictment where Combs reportedly forced women to engage in sex acts with male prostitutes for an audience, with the events sometimes lasting for days.

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Combs defense team argued that an edited video was not related to a freak off but showed a domestic dispute between the couple. Lawyers for Combs offered to bring a forensic video analyst to court Friday during arguments regarding Combs release.

In addition to criminal charges, Combs is also facing multiple lawsuits from women who say he abused them and forced them to participate in sex acts against their will.

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Ralph Leroy Menzies appears for a competency hearing in 3rd District Court in West Jordan on Monday, Nov 18, 2024. (Pool photo by Rick Egan/The Salt Lake Tribune)

It will likely be a month, maybe more, until a judge determines whether Utah death row inmate Ralph Menzies is competent enough to be executed.

Friday marked the end of five days of testimony by medical experts who evaluated Menzies, a 66-year-old man diagnosed with dementia, who was sentenced to death in 1988 for kidnapping and murdering Maurine Hunsaker, a 26-year-old gas station clerk.

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On Dec. 9, Menzies attorneys will call another witness, Lynette Abrams-Silva, a neuropsychologist who evaluated Menzies and determined he was not competent enough to be executed. Abrams-Silva, who already testified this week, will respond to the states medical experts who deemed Menzies competent.

The Hunsaker family will also address the court. Oral arguments will come next, then in the following weeks, 3rd District Court Judge Matthew Bates will issue a written ruling.

That means a final decision as to whether Menzies is competent could potentially not come until January.

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Per Utah code, and U.S. Supreme Court case law, if an inmate cannot rationally understand why theyre being executed, they can be deemed incompetent.

If they dont understand why theyre being executed, then societys goals of retribution and deterrence are not being vindicated, said Menzies attorney, Eric Zuckerman, following Fridays hearing.

So the Supreme Court case law says that you have to rationally understand, and if not, then theres really no point in going forward, he said.

So far, the medical experts all agree that Menzies is mentally impaired in some way. But in the last five days, the court heard conflicting reports.

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What is the true extent of Menzies declining memory? Is it just normal aging, made worse by the stress of prison and several concussions, or does he have vascular dementia? Can he go about basic daily activities like organizing his cell, managing his finances, operating the laundry machines, or making coffee? Were medical experts able to establish a rapport with Menzies when evaluating him, which could impact his memory and willingness to participate? And did the medical experts omit or not review important data?

The answer to those questions depends on who you ask. The medical experts hired by the state say Menzies is competent, while the medical experts hired by his attorneys say he isnt. Ultimately, the decision will be left to Bates, the judge.

Over the course of this week weve presented substantial evidence from qualified medical experts that Mr. Menzies has vascular dementia and that hes not competent to be executed, said Zuckerman. Our experts are highly qualified. Theyre all board certified. And we believe that the evidence that we presented really presents a very strong case as to why Mr. Menzies has vascular dementia. Their experts disagree.

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This week, a forensic psychologist with the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, and a neuropsychologist contracted by the state testified that after evaluating Menzies, they believe he is competent enough to understand what he did and that he is to be executed.

He understands that an execution is pending, he understands that its pending on the charge of murder  he knows that the state wants to kill me because I killed a person and killing people is wrong, Michael Brooks with the Department of Health and Human Services told the court on Tuesday.

Matt Hunsaker, the son of Maurine Hunsaker, told Utah News Dispatch that he believes Menzies is competent, but isnt sure how the judge will rule. Its been a long week for Hunsaker, who for the first time in years in the same room as his mothers killer.

It is difficult. There is a lot of animosity, he said. But Im not looking to do anything, Im not looking to create a scene in the courtroom. Im there to represent my mom, to be there in the fight for her justice.

We are definitely ready for this to be over, he said.

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PARK TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD)  A judge has sided with Park Township and dismissed a lawsuit from a group of property owners who sued for the right to continue renting out their homes on platforms like Airbnb and VRBO.

Ottawa County Circuit Court Judge Jon Hulsing on Thursday dismissed the lawsuit, saying the court lacks jurisdiction in the case, according to a court filing provided to News 8 by Park Township Neighbors, the nonprofit made up mostly of short-term rental owners who sued the township.

The core issue of the case was whether the townships 1974 zoning ordinance banned residential-area short term rentals (properties rented for under 28 days), meaning the STR owners have been operating illegally. Park Township Neighbors argued township officials previously told property owners that STRs were legal, while the township said the 1974 ordinance bans STRs in residential areas.

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Following decisions in 2022 and 2023 that aimed to enact a STR ban, Parking Township in March amended its zoning ordinance to expressly ban STRs in all districts except for C-2 Resort Service districts, which made it so that there was no longer a legally recognized dispute before the Court, the court filing says.

An injunction that allowed property owners to continue renting out the homes on a short-term basis was lifted under the new ruling.

After several years of discussion and analysis, the Township Board of Trustees voted unanimously to uphold the 1974 zoning ordinance, which provided that STRs are not a permitted use in residential districts, Park Township Manager Howard Fink said in a Friday statement. This decision protects the family-friendly, residential character of our neighborhoods. The courts ruling clarifies this issue for the community going forward.

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Park Township Neighbors Board President Jeremy Allen told News 8 that he respects the judges opinion, adding that it seems logical and fair. He said theyll now have to go to the townships zoning board of appeals. He expects the property owners, who want their STRs to be grandfathered in, will be told no by the board. Should that happen, he said the group will appeal to the court.

Its not over.  Its a detour, and well still end up in court, he said. Were hopeful for that day in court.

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Nov. 22Attorneys made closing arguments Friday afternoon in a trial accusing two men of killing two people and shooting a tribal police officer on the Colville Indian Reservation two years ago.

Federal prosecutors in U.S. District Court for Eastern Washington argued that Zachary Holt, 24, shot and killed Jeremy Neal and his sister Gale Neal in Keller, Washington, on Oct. 20, 2022, during an attempted robbery.

Among other crimes, Holt faces charges of first-degree murder, while Dezmonique Tenzsley, 35, who prosecutors said stood guard for Holt, faces charges of felony murder.

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Curry Pinkham, 27, who prosecutors said was the getaway driver, signed a plea agreement in March 2023 to six counts, including assault on a federal officer and attempted murder of a federal officer. His sentencing is scheduled for December.

Pinkham testified this week affirming the prosecution's description of events. Pinkham said it was "devastating" to testify against Holt, who is his younger half-brother.

Describing the incident, Pinkham said he drove the men to the house of a known drug dealer, believing that they intended to rob him. But instead of walking toward the front door, Holt and Tenzsley walked to a camper trailer in the back of the property where Gale Neal lived. Pinkham followed them and watched Holt shoot Jeremy Neal in the doorway of the trailer. Pinkham looked around to see Gale Neal inside on the couch leaning back with her eyes wide open.

Pinkham said Gale Neal was like an aunt to him and used to be his babysitter.

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The defendants declined to testify.

Holt's attorney, David Partovi, said the prosecutors are overly reliant on Pinkham's testimony and questioned his credibility, given his plea deal. Pinkham was the only witness to identify who shot the Neals.

Partovi pointed to a confession Pinkham made that night in a private Facebook message to a friend.

"It's all true yeah I shot a few fools I'm angry," the message said.

In his testimony, Pinkham said he made that message while heavily intoxicated and processing a lot of emotions, and out of an attempt to cover for his younger brother.

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Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Barker said Holt also made confessions to his cellmates.

Partovi argued against the first-degree murder charge, which requires premeditation. While Holt and Tenzsley talked about making a robbery, no one said anything about killing anyone, Partovi said.

Barker rebutted that premeditation can happen in a moment. Holt first shot Jeremy Neal in the leg. The decision to shoot him again in the head was premeditated, Barker said. The decision to shoot the witness, Gale Neal, further demonstrates premeditation, he said.

Tenzsley's attorney, David Miller, argued that Tenzsley couldn't have known Holt intended to kill the Neals because he believed they were there to commit a robbery, so the felony murder charge should be dropped. Miller also said there is no evidence Tenzsley shot at tribal police officers during the ensuing car chase.

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Barker said that Tenzsley assisted Holt in earlier violent assaults and robberies in Idaho, and that he knew Holt's mode of operation. Holt and Tenzsley are professed members of the Gangster Disciples, a street gang.

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.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Kansas City neighborhood groups continue to look at ways to deter crime. They met at the Convention Center downtown with city leaders Friday morning.

The President of the Northeast Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Bobbi Baker, said meeting more face to face with the City Managers Office in particular, may help with public safety.

Again, maybe Im just the one thats not invited anymore, Baker said during the roundtable. But those quarterly meetings brought the department directors in. Wed get things fixed above and beyond picking up the trash.

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After the roundtable with the city, Baker told FOX4 those face to face meetings stopped after Troy Schulte left the city.

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I think the results that we got from those meetings helped take some of the silo away and helped solve some of the problems that each of us, each of the individual CIDs have, Baker said to FOX4.

Platt wasnt at the meeting, but Mayor Quinton Lucas was.

I dont think in any way its nefarious as the question may suggest, Lucas said when asked why the meetings with the CIDs stopped. I think probably City Manager Schulte, who hasnt been in the position since 2020 used to do those meetings, and we had a 13-month acting City Manager in Earnest Rouse, and we have a new City Manager in Brian Platt. I have no idea kind of why those stopped, but it certainly is always worth while to have better collaboration.

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I had an opportunity to speak with Bobbi this week about resuming quarterly meetings with the Community Improvement Districts (CIDs), Platt said in a statement sent to FOX4. We are actively working on getting those scheduled. Were also seeking to increase funding for CIDs to support security, cleanliness, maintenance, and other essential needs within our business districts. These efforts reflect our commitment to fostering safer and more vibrant communities across Kansas City.

Besides just meeting more in person, Baker says there needs to be more mental health resources, and if her entity could hire more harm reduction specialists, she says that could help deter small property crimes.

Weve been able to identify places and spaces for mental health, for homelessness, for drug addiction intervention, she continued. Weve been able to help get people in that direction.

Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves says her entity supports what Bakers doing with the specialists.

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In addition to that, I do know we have our social workers at each patrol division station that also work with people in those spaces as well, Graves said after the roundtable.

When it comes to the downtown area, Chief Graves also told FOX4 theyve recently increased officers in the overnight hours, resulting in a lot of arrests. Lucas says if the CIDs, business and property owners are able to share video together of suspects theyre concerned about, that may help the city and KCPD keep a closer eye on the people they need to.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  One woman says her car was stolen while in valet, and shes received little help from both the hotel and police.

It happened this past weekend at the Westin. For the last eight years, its been a familiar place for this mother, but now, shes without a car.

I made it to 50 and never had a car stolen, never had a car stolen from me and now at 50 Im like wow, Gina Hubbell said.

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Hubbell is now part of a club that no one wants to be in.

I gave the keys to the valet I said, My car stays up here dont forget that, and he says Yes maam. I said, It doesnt go to the garage, and he said, Yes maam. He said, Yes, I know. Its noted on your account, she explained.

At some point, the note he referred to was disregarded and her 2020 Dodge Durango SRT wide body was indeed parked in the garage.

Hubbell also claims staff at the hotel didnt inform her the car was gone for five hours.

I looked at the manager of the valet service and I said, At what point did you think it was ok to call me? Never, its not our policy,' she said.

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Since the theft, Hubbell has filed a police report and posted the vehicle in Stolen KC, a group on Facebook. The car was seen multiple times and even tracked with a GPS tracker.

Hubbell says police told her they could not retrieve it from that location because it was on private property.

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Now, the mother of two is left without a car and few answers. As the thieves joyride the streets of Kansas City.

Its not yours you didnt earn it, Hubbell said.

You stole it no matter which way you cut it youre a thief.

FOX4 went to the Westin and spoke with their head of security, who said the valet is run by a third party and the parking garage is overseen by Crown Center. He said he would get back to us with more answers, but at the time of this report, we havent heard any further updates.

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As far as KCPD FOX4 reached out and is waiting to hear back.

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Actor Hina Khan met with superstar Salman Khan on the sets of 'Bigg Boss 18' and penned an emotional note. On Saturday, Hina shared pictures with Bhaijaan on Instagram and wrote a long note, "I always find something to take back from my meetings with the most humble and kind @beingsalmankhanThis time though it was different.. The Effort he made to meet me after his Long n Tiring day of shoot, standing all day doing what he does.. really touched my heart Salman.." "He called me and Sat me Down for close to an hour, asked about every little detail of my Treatment and the way he tried to boost my confidence was unlike anything. He not only shared his experiences and knowledge he also made sure I leave a 'More Confident Person' than before, he assured me that I will be fine," she added. "The point is, he didn't need to do all this .. but he did..being who he is .. how busy he is .. how swamped with Work he is .. he still managed to extend his support Personally. It's not just a hearty support for me .. it's also a lesson. And I shall never forget it. Thank you for being you Salman.. my highest of Regards for you , Always," she concluded. https://www.instagram.com/p/DCtngabILtr/?img_index=2 Fans bombarded the comment section with all love and blessings. Earlier, Hina confirmed that she had been diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. Taking to Instagram, she said, "Hello Everyone, To address the recent rumour, I want to share some important news with all the Hinaholics and everyone who loves and cares for me. I have been diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. Despite this challenging diagnosis, I wish to reassure everyone that I am doing well. I am strong, determined and fully committed to overcoming this disease. My treatment has already begun and I am ready to do everything necessary to emerge from this even stronger." "I kindly ask for your respect and privacy during this time. I deeply appreciate your love, strength and blessings. Your personal experiences, anecdotes and supportive suggestions would mean the world to me as I navigate this journey. I, along with my family and loved ones, remain focused, determined and positive. With the grace of the almighty, we believe I will overcome this challenge and will be completely healthy. Please send your prayers blessings and love," she added. Meanwhile, on the work front, the actor gained a lot of recognition for her role in 'Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai'. She is also known for her negative character Komolika in 'Kasautii Zindagii Kay'. (ANI)
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly and Kansas Department of Labor secretary Amber Shultz announce the launch of the state's new online unemployment system Nov. 22, 2024, at the Statehouse. (Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector)

TOPEKA  After years of fraud, delayed claims and long waits, Kansas beleaguered unemployment program has rolled out a new, modernized system.

Gov. Laura Kelly and Kansas Department of Labor secretary Amber Shultz announced Friday the launch of the online claim system that has been three years in the making, and more than a decade overdue.

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Kelly called it a complete transformation.

Now weve unlocked access to a world of new possibilities, Kelly said. Modernizing an IT system is about more than just updating old software. Its about rethinking the entire infrastructure.

The old system was slow, inefficient and, frankly, unresponsive, especially when Kansas needed it most, Kelly told reporters and labor department staff.

Kansas aging unemployment system crumbled under the weight of a historic number of unemployment claims filed during the COVID-19 pandemic, of which an estimated hundreds of millions of dollars worth were deemed fraudulent.

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Officials admitted the system should have been updated years ago.

In 2011, former Gov. Sam Brownbacks administration halted efforts to revamp the system. Kelly had planned to upgrade the 1970s-era mainframe system before the pandemic, but the process didnt begin until June 2022.

Kelly referenced floppy disks, the Beatles and the Vietnam War when characterizing the time in which the system came to be. Roughly 50 years later, transforming the system was like turning a rotary phone into a smartphone, she said.

Kelly said the overhaul cost more than $40 million, but it would have cost about $27 million if done a decade ago. Continued investment in technology is important, Kelly said, so we never fall behind the mark again.

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Shultz, who took over as department secretary in 2021, became emotional while thanking the labor department staff members. The dark days of the pandemic, as Kelly dubbed them, involved death threats and law enforcement protection for labor department staff.

They came into a burning building during the pandemic, she said.

A September 2021 state audit found that about 59% of the roughly 1 million unique claims filed during the pandemic were suspected to be fraudulent. That same audit showed the state processed $700 million in fraudulent benefit payments. Half came from federal funds and half from state funds.

A backlog of fraudulent claims still exists, Shultz told the Reflector. However, the department believes every case of fraud has been identified.

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The new system, accessible at KansasUI.gov, was launched earlier this week. Some users encountered hiccups with the systems multi-factor authentication, a process that is meant to add an extra layer of security, but Shultz said those affected have been contacted.

With the new systems launch, claim filings are at normal levels, Shultz said. Typically, seasonal layoffs bring in about 1,200 initial claims this time of year, while continued claims are at about 7,500. As the new systems first week comes to a close, volumes remain normal, Shultz said.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  The Kauai Police Commission announced Friday that it would not pursue further action on two complaints alleging retaliation by Police Chief Todd Raybuck against officers.

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The complaints were reviewed during the commissions monthly meeting.

After considering the evidence gathered in the investigations, the commission determined that the allegations did not have sufficient merit to justify additional action.

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The Police Commission found that the evidence does not support the allegations made in the complaints, the commission said in a statement. Therefore, we have declined to pursue further action.

In addition to the complaints, the commission discussed Chief Raybucks announced retirement on Nov. 13, 2024.

The commission has formed two permitted interaction groups to develop recommendations on the hiring of a new police chief and the appointment of an interim chief.

The commission also reviewed the selection process for the new chief, which is outlined in the Kauai Police Commission Rules, though it noted that the rules have not yet been updated to reflect changes made to the Kauai County Charter in 2020.

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The charter amendment altered the minimum requirements for the position of chief.

The commission emphasized that Raybucks retirement is not linked to any settlement or severance agreement with the Police Commission.

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This was the only statement from the Kauai Police Commission on the matter.

Around 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 22, Chief Raybuck made the following statement:

After nearly seven months, the investigation into two of the retaliation complaints filed against me have concluded. The outcome confirmed what I stated publicly in April: I did not, and do not retaliate against my employees. Furthermore, it would be ludicrous for me to retaliate against my employees for an incident I self-reported in a timely manner to the police commission before any complaint was filed against me. Previous complaints made against me have been presented to the media prior to me being notified of the allegations and an investigation being completed. This practice has not afforded me due process and appears to be intended to create public shame and exert political pressure on me. I recognize that public scrutiny is part of being a public official. However, it is unfair for my family to continue bearing the emotional burdens resulting from individuals with agendas attacking my reputation and making false claims against me. For this reason alone, I have decided to retire from law enforcement. All complaints should be taken seriously, and retaliation should never be tolerated against employees or their supervisors. I respect the investigative process and appreciate the effort that has been put into uncovering the truth. Today, I accepted notice and received from the Police Commission a three-day suspension related to the failure to properly secure my firearm on Police Department property. As previously stated, I accept full responsibility for my actions. Some of my most valuable lessons in life have been learned through my mistakes. I hope that others have learned the importance of properly securing firearms from my experience. I would like to thank the Police Commission for their confidence and support of my leadership. Contrary to any speculation, I was not asked or forced to retire, nor did I announce my retirement to escape any investigation or discipline. I am confident that the leaders within the KPD will continue to work diligently to improve the services we provide to our employees and the community. I will continue to offer the necessary leadership and support for the remainder of my time with the department. Todd Raybuck, KPD Chief

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The man's leg was amputated on Nov. 23 after several attempts to extract him were "unsuccessful," police said

Tasmania Police Tasmania Police share a photo of the rescue site Tasmania Police share a photo of the rescue site

A kayaker had their leg amputated during a rescue operation after they became stuck between rocks on a river in Australia for more than 20 hours.

According to a statement from the Tasmania Police on Facebook, the man, who is in his 60s, was kayaking with a group when his leg became wedged between rocks in an area of rapids on the Franklin River on Friday, Nov. 22.

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Police said a call for assistance was first made at around 3:30 p.m. local time and several attempts were made to extract the man yesterday evening [Nov. 22] and overnight," but they were not successful.

The man was made as comfortable as possible, as he remained partly submerged in the River. A medical team remained with the patient for the duration of the response," the statement continued.

After another attempt to extract him on the morning of Nov. 23 was also unsuccessful, the decision was made to amputate his leg to facilitate his rescue. The decision came following a consultation with the man and after a medical assessment determined that his condition was deteriorating."

Getty The Franklin River in Tasmania, Australia The Franklin River in Tasmania, Australia

The operation to remove the man's leg was then "successfully undertaken by the medical team, with the aid of specialist equipment, per the statement.

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The man  who is an international visitor, according to police  was moved from the river following the amputation and airlifted to the Royal Hobart Hospital in Hobart, where he remains in critical condition.

Police described the rescue as a "complex and protracted rescue operation and said it lasted "over more than 20 hours."

Getty The Franklin River in Tasmania, Australia The Franklin River in Tasmania, Australia

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"This rescue was an extremely challenging and technical operation, and an incredible effort over many hours to save the mans life, Acting Assistant Commissioner Doug Oosterloo said, according to the statement.

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Every effort was made to extract the man before the difficult decision to amputate his leg. The professionalism and commitment of all emergency responders is to be commended," he added.

I'd like to thank everyone who contributed to this operation in the most difficult of circumstances," Oosterloo concluded.


A man's leg was amputated and he is fighting for his life after he was trapped between rocks of a raging river during a kayaking trip in Tasmania.

Officials said the man, an international tourist in his 60s, was kayaking with friends in the Franklin River when he slipped and became trapped between rocks in the river rapids on Friday afternoon.

Doug Oosterloo, the acting assistant police commissioner for Tasmania police, said the man's smartwatch made a call for assistance about an hour after getting stuck and it triggered a massive emergency response.

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"Several attempts were made to extract the man yesterday evening and overnight but were not successful," police said in a statement. "The man was made as comfortable as possible as he remained partly submerged in the river."

Rescue of a man whose leg was amputated after he became trapped between rocks while on a rafting trip on the Franklin River in Tasmania, Australia. / Credit: Tasmania Police

A medical team stayed with the man throughout the night. After they determined his condition was deteriorating, the decision was made to amputate his leg to facilitate his rescue.

"This rescue was an extremely challenging and technical operation and an incredible effort over many hours to save the man's life," Oosterloo said. "Every effort was made to extract the man before the difficult decision to amputate his leg."

The man was taken to the hospital in critical condition, police said.

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Oosterloo told the Australian Associated Press that the other 10 travelers who were with the man had stopped kayaking and were on the shore when the man slipped.

"He was scouting the area and he slipped and fell into the rock crevice," he said, according to CBS News partner BBC.

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PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD)  Volunteers spread holiday cheer at the OSF Childrens Hospital Friday morning.

Kids were surprised with superhero-themed care packages from The Ahmad Butler Foundation. Volunteers handed out sixty Captain Poodaman Care Packages.

Each was filled with superhero capes, toys, snacks, and Chick-Fil-A gift cards. The organization calls these packages Wonderful Distractions. Through these packages, those handing them out said it can help take the kids minds off of their long hospital stays during the holiday season.

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The Ahmad Butler Foundation aims to support children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases by providing direction, aid, and tools to help with the fight.

The foundation was started in honor of a young boy, Ahmad Butler, who had brain cancer. He dreamed of being a police officer when he grew up but lost his battle with cancer at just five years old.

His grandmother began The Ahmad Butler Foundation in his name to remember him, and to bring joy to children just like him; fighting their fight.

Heather Sunderland was a first-time volunteer with the organization, but she is already dedicated to the cause.

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This foundation has my heart, and Im staying with it forever, Sunderland said.

With four kids at home, she is grateful her children are healthy, but she still wants to help those who are in the hospital over the holiday season.

Sunderland was ready to join the childrens battle against cancer.

We dont want any child or any parent to fight alone. And that that is our end goal. Sunderland continued, We want to be there for everybody. We want to make sure everybody has somebody to lean on, especially during a time like this.

Wish for renovated playroom at OSF Healthcare Childrens Hospital comes true

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For some kids, these packages helped brighten their day just a little bit. 14-year-old Daviney Steidinger-Reynolds, an avid animal lover, said that this is the second time she has been at the childrens hospital for Ewing Sarcoma: a bone cancer.

While she is at the hospital, she said she enjoys watching storytime Tiktoks, reading books, and making paper stars. She began making these stars during her first stay at the hospital a tradition she has carried into her second stay.

Steidinger-Reynolds also said she is excited about the holidays, and for the day she gets to see her pets.

To find out more about volunteer opportunities with The Ahmad Butler Foundation, head over to the Get Involved tab on the organizations website.

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DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN/WGHP)  The killers of a married dad of three and Navy veteran during a gaming business robbery in Asheboro earlier this month dumped their getaway car in Durham and are still on the run, police said Saturday.

The incident began as an armed robbery around 7:15 a.m. on Nov. 11 at the 64 Skillz at 1520 E. Dixie Dr. in Asheboro, according to the Asheboro Police Department.

While police were on their way to the scene, they learned that a man had been shot and that the robbers had fled.

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When officers arrived, they found an employee David Matthew Davis, 39, dead inside the business.

David Matthew Davis with his daughter in a photo from WGHP

Davis, a U.S. Navy veteran, was married and had a daughter and two sons, according to family friends. He was a 2003 graduate of Southwestern Randolph High School, his obituary said.

Eight days after the killing, police released pictures of two suspects and a car seen on cameras at the business.

David Matthew Davis with a son in a photo from WGHP David Matthew Davis with his family in a photo from WGHP

The photos of the men showed them wearing all black and police said they were well-covered to disguise their identities.

RELATED: Asheboro police release suspect photos in robbery turned killing of Navy veteran

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The getaway car was a 2013 Toyota Avalon with a North Carolina license plate LAH-9992.

Asheboro police said Saturday that officers with the Durham Police Department found the car during a call for service Friday night.

Suspects in a photo from Asheboro police The getaway car that was found in Durham. Photo from Asheboro police Suspects in a photo from Asheboro police

The suspects are still considered at-large, and this investigation is ongoing, Asheboro police said Saturday.

WGHP contributed to this report

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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Do you believe in aliens? Its a loaded question, to be sure, and one that elicits a strong response in certain people.

Some people couldnt care less. Others gobble up any Area 51 factoid they can find. But one thing seems to be clear  highlighted by the 2021 report put together by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence  there are lots of questions with few answers; countless sightings with no understood explanation.

Report: Canadian docs solve mystery of UFO shot down over Lake Huron

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Saturday marks the 71st anniversary of a major sighting that stirred up national headlines and accusations of a government cover-up. Its often referred to as the Kinross Incident, and it happened here in Michigan.

WATCHING THE SKIES

Some of the remains of the Kincheloe Air Force Base still stand in Kinross Charter Township, about 25 miles south of Sault Ste. Marie.

It was first built during World War II as a refueling stop and to maintain a presence to protect the nearby Soo Locks. After serving as a civilian airport, the Air Force reclaimed the property during the Cold War, operating the base from 1952 until it was decommissioned in 1977.

The now-defunct base served as the backdrop to the story, starting in the early evening hours of Nov. 23, 1953.

An old ammunition bunker located on the former Kincheloe Air Force Base in Chippewa County, Michigan. The base was decommissioned in 1977. (Courtesy U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

Radar technicians on base detected something flying in restricted airspace above the Soo Locks, traveling at more than 500 mph. Commanders ordered a crew into the air to investigate, a job that fell to Lts. Felix Moncla Jr. and Robert Wilson.

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UFO report vindication for man who tracked 1994 sightings on radar

Moncla piloted the F-89C Scorpion jet while Wilson served as his navigator. The jet flew to 30,000 feet and set a path to intercept the unidentified object that showed up on radar, which was by then over Lake Superior.

Historical reports of the incident say Wilson was struggling to keep track of the object because it kept changing directions and heavy snow was causing issues with the jets radar. The solution was to feed the jet coordinates from the bases radar team.

After about 30 minutes, Moncla and Wilson had caught up with the object and were nearing the intercept point about 70 miles off of the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula. The bases radar crew guided them down to 7,000 feet.

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Lake Michigan Triangle: The might of the Great Lakes is more powerful than any myth

Suddenly, silence. The crew watched as the two signals merged into one on the radar. The blip of the unidentified object veered in another direction and vanished. Moncla and Wilsons jet was never seen again.

The Air Force searched more than 29,000 square miles over the course of five days, finding no signs of plane wreckage, Moncla or Wilson.

Photos of Lt. Felix Moncla and Lt. Robert Wilson from a newspaper report in the Nov. 24, 1953, issue of The Capital Times in Madison, Wisconsin. The two airmen disappeared while investigating an unidentified flying object over Lake Superior the previous day. (Courtesy The Capital Times)

WHAT HAPPENED?

Thats the story that Air Force officials told, at least initially. Days later, that statement was retracted and a new one was issued. In it, USAF officials said a ground control radar operator had misread the scope and that Moncla and Wilson had actually completed their mission, identifying the object as a C-47 from the Royal Canadian Air Force that had somehow gotten 30 miles off course. Then, the USAF said, Moncla was most likely stricken with vertigo and crashed into Lake Superior while returning to the base.

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There are several problems with that explanation. For one, Canadian military officials said they had no aircraft that flew over Lake Superior that night. Second, it appears it was not the only explanation provided by the Air Force.

According to Donald Keyhoe, a former Marine Corps aviator and UFO researcher, Monclas widow was given two different stories, both of which were different than the official statement given to the press. According to Keyhoe, Monclas widow was told the plane crashed while flying too low. Later, she was then told that the jet had exploded at a high altitude.

UFO sightings are more common in Michigan than you may think

Keyhoes organization, the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena, drew even more skeptics when it claimed that any mention of the mission had been expunged from all official records held by Project Blue Book, the Air Forces UFO investigative team.

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The story resurfaced again 15 years later in 1968 when some prospectors more than 200 miles away from the search area came across some aircraft wreckage. Police investigators in Ontario recovered a stabilizer from the wreckage made with a heavy metal that suggested to experts that it came from a military plane  one designed to withstand heat generated by faster speeds. Air Force officials agreed with that assessments that it was likely a military part but did not believe the stabilizer belonged to an F-89C Scorpion, meaning it wouldnt have come from Monclas downed plane.

It has been 71 years since that jet took off from Kincheloe Air Force Base and there does not appear to be any single satisfying answer to what happened. But Moncla and Wilson are remembered for their fateful flight and their brush with the unknown.

On a memorial erected near Monclas hometown of Mansura, Louisiana, a plaque reads that he disappeared (while) intercepting a UFO over the Canadian border as a pilot of an F-89 jet plane.

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President-elect Trump has picked Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Ore.) to serve as Labor secretary for his second stint in the White House, tapping the one-term House lawmaker who has strong support from unions.

Trumps choice of Chavez-DeRemer to head the Department of Labor (DOL) is one of the last president-elects Cabinet picks. The Oregon representative will need to be confirmed through the upper chamber that will be controlled by Republicans next January once Trump settles into the Oval Office and Congress kicks off a new session.

Here are some of the things to know about Chavez-DeRemer:

Labor secretary nod

Chavez-DeRemer was tapped by Trump to lead the DOL on Friday. The president-elect lauded her for working tirelessly with both Business and Labor to build Americas workforce, and support the hardworking men and women of America.

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I look forward to working with her to create tremendous opportunity for American Workers, to expand Training and Apprenticeships, to grow wages and improve working conditions, to bring back our Manufacturing jobs, Trump said in the Friday announcement.

Her candidacy for the post was backed by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters union among others. Teamsters President Sean OBrien wrote an op-ed in the magazine Compact, which was released on Thursday, where he endorsed the Oregon Republican despite the union not agreeing with her on everything.

She stood with Teamsters throughout Oregon and across the country when we negotiated an historic contract with UPS last year. She has worked hard to expand apprenticeship opportunities for people who are entering the workforce or switching careers, OBrien wrote. And as a member of the Congressional Building Trades Caucus, she has brought together leaders in the construction industry to improve conditions on the job.

Short stint on Capitol Hill

Chavez-DeRemer represented Oregons 5th Congressional District in the 118th Congress. She lost her reelection contest to Democrat Janelle Bynum earlier this month by 2 points in one of the most competitive races this cycle.

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During her short stint on Capitol Hill, Chavez-DeRemeber billed herself as a moderate Republican who welcomes bipartisanship. Apart from her focus on labor, the Oregon representative has shown support for bills that would increase felonies for fentanyl trafficking and protect responders who might end up being exposed to it.

She also co-sponsored federal cannabis law reforms with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.).

Pro-labor record

The Oregon Republican has marketed herself during her time in Congress as an avid supporter of organized labor and workers rights.

Chavez-DeRemer was one of three Republican co-sponsors of the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, legislation that increases penalties for employers who break law labor and makes it easier to unionize. The legislation passed the House when Democrats had the majority, but it never got enough support in the Senate.

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She also co-sponsored the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act, a bill that would expand the powers of public sector unions. Additionally, Chavez-DeRemer backed legislation that would shield workers in the public sector from having their Social Security benefits reduced.

Support from union leaders

Chavez-DeRemer has enjoyed support from unions during her time in Congress and on the campaign trail.

After being picked by Trump on Friday, OBrien thanked the president-elect for the choice and congratulated the GOP member on the bid.

North Americas strongest union is ready to work with you every step of the way to expand good union jobs and rebuild our nations middle class, OBrien wrote on X. Lets get to work!

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AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler praised Chavez-DeRemer for having built a pro-labor record in Congress, but cautioned that Trump is the President-elect of the United States  not Rep. Chavez-DeRemer  and it remains to be seen what she will be permitted to do as Secretary of Labor in an administration with a dramatically anti-worker agenda.

Shuler said the union will work with anyone who wants to do right by workers, but we will reject and defeat any attempt to roll back the rights and protections that working people have won with decades of blood, sweat, and tears.

However, the Oregon GOP member has gotten criticism from Democrats and some conservatives regarding labor and other issues. The conservative-leaning think tank Competitive Enterprise Institute dinged her for supporting the Pro Act.

While it is hard to predict what she would do as a Cabinet member, what we do know is not encouraging. In any event, Cabinet secretary shouldnt be a place for on-the-job training. Trump should keep on looking, Competitive Enterprise Institutes research fellow research fellow Sean Higgins wrote.

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While campaigning this year, Chavez-DeRemer looked for union endorsements. She garnered over 20, including from the Teamsters Joint Council No. 37.

After the Friday announcement, the National Education Association President Becky Pringle praised the lawmakers record on labor issues, but warned that it stands in stark contrast to Donald Trumps anti-worker, anti-union record, and his extreme Project 2025 agenda that would gut workplace protections, make it harder for workers to unionize, and diminish the voice of working people.

Pringle said but added that educators and working families across the nation will be watching Lori Chavez-DeRemer as she moves through the confirmation process and hope to hear a pledge from her to continue to stand up for workers and students as her record suggests, not blind loyalty to the Project 2025 agenda.

Municipal career in Oregon

Chavez-DeRemer has over a decade of public service experience. Before serving Oregons 5th Congressional district constituents, Chavez-DeRemer was on Happy Valley City Council where she was first elected in the early 2000s. In 2010, she was elected mayor of the suburb. She was reelected in 2014.

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She lost twice to Bynum when running for statehouse seats. When she was elected to the House, she became the first GOP woman to represent Oregon in the lower chamber.

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Rakesh Roshan's iconic film 'Karan Arjun' has returned to cinema halls, and fans are flocking to relive the magic. The film, which stars Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan, was re-released this Friday and has already become the second-highest opener in the history of re-releases, collecting Rs 30 lakh on its first day. To celebrate the special occasion, Hrithik Roshan, who worked as an Assistant Director (AD) on the movie, shared some cherished memories from the set. Taking to his Instagram account, the actor shared a series of throwback pictures from the sets of the 1995 movie. Hrithik recalled his "Karan Arjun experience" and recalled how working on the film was both challenging and memorable. The actor also shared an anecdote about screening the film's print before its original release at Mumbai's iconic Minerva theatre. "The Karan Arjun experience. I look like a young Kabir with Karan and Arjun. As an assistant, I remember minerva being the main theatre on release day. Me and dad's other assistant Anurag ( 2nd pic in the white sweatshirt)), screened the print before the release and we were all incredibly disappointed. The print looked dark and dull. We got the the entire screen washed and as the dirt and grime dissolved into the large washcloth, we heard the manager say, 'Aaj 15 saalo ke baad yeh screen dhuli hai'," read his post. "The print looked dark and dull, so we got the entire screen washed. The manager told us, 'This screen is being washed after 15 years,'" it further read. Another memory Hrithik shared was about Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan leaving the set late one night during the filming of the song Bhangda Paale. "They decided to drive to Delhi, promising to return by morning. I was flabbergasted and jumped (literally) on the car's bonnet to stop them. Call time was 6 a.m., and I couldn't let my dad lose the day. Thankfully, he didn't," the caption further read. Check out his post https://www.instagram.com/p/DCtoGfWPmM9/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link The movie, which has achieved cult status over the years, hit single screens and multiplexes across India and also had a simultaneous international re-release. 'Karan Arjun', released in 1995, is a classic Bollywood film that revolves around the theme of reincarnation and revenge. It stars Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan as two brothers, Karan and Arjun. The film is packed with memorable dialogues, high-energy action, and emotional drama. Rakhee's iconic line, "Mere Karan Arjun aayenge," has become one of the most remembered lines in Bollywood history. Even after almost three decades, the film remains close to the hearts of fans, making its re-release highly anticipated. (ANI)
A Salyersville man has pleaded guilty to possessing and distributing child pornography and sexually abusing a dog.

Kent Simpkins, 43, pleaded guilty to seven felony charges Thursday, after an investigation that began when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a cyber tip, according to a news release from Kentucky Attorney General Russell Colemans office.

Investigators searched his social media and IP address and found multiple images of minors involved in sexual acts, numerous animal sex videos and a video of Simpkins involved in a sexual act with the familys dog, the release stated.

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Simpkins was indicted May 16 by a Magoffin County grand jury.

He is scheduled for sentencing March 6. A 10-year sentence is being recommended.

After his release, Simpkins will be required to register with the Kentucky Sex Offender Registry and will be on supervised release for five years.

Simpkins pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor under 12, three counts of possession of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor under 12, two counts of possession of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor over 12 and one count of a sexual crime against an animal.

A single tip to law enforcement led to a 10-year sentence that will keep this dangerous predator away from our children, Coleman said in the release. I am grateful to the investigators and prosecutors who stare into this darkness to protect our families from these serious crimes.
The NHS will be pushed to help solve the worklessness crisis under Government plans to have Britons offered more opportunities to train and work in the health service.

Liz Kendall, the Work and Pensions Secretary, will set out proposals next week to hand more powers to local areas to get people working as she aims for an employment rate of 80pc.

Britains health service will be tasked with working more closely with job centres, linking local health, work and skills support as part of a drive to devolve more decision-making.

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The Government is trying to address an alarming post-lockdown surge in economic inactivity that has left almost 2.8m people neither in work nor looking for a job because of long-term sickness.

A white paper on Tuesday will set out future legislation to tackle worklessness, including revamping job centres and providing targeted help for young people and those with mental health conditions.

Alongside this, officials at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) have been examining health and work programmes designed to help drive economic growth.

The NHSs role as an employer is expected to be in focus as part of the wider goal to get Britons working.

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Sources close to the Government suggested the NHS could provide direct employment for tens of thousands of people who are economically inactive for health reasons.

This includes work experience and supported employment schemes for young people with mental health conditions that are already in place across the country.

Others signalled that Europes biggest employer will look to fill more of its non-clinical roles with people who are currently classified as economically inactive, including volunteering and roles linked to mental health support.

A series of trailblazer areas across England and Wales will also be established to develop local NHS partnerships known as integrated care systems that bring together organisations to improve health outcomes.

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Sources have highlighted similar successful pilot programmes as a blueprint, including one in Leeds that was established in 2018 which brought together more than a dozen of the citys biggest organisations including the council, NHS trusts, universities and colleges to find people jobs.

However, it is understood that detailed reforms to welfare payments linked to health conditions, including decisions on proposals by the previous government to reform disability benefits, will be pushed into the new year.

Jobs programmes run by the NHS, including Individual Placement Support (IPS) which helps people with severe mental health conditions and addiction issues find employment, are also likely to be expanded.

Ms Kendall told MPs that the scheme, which is used to help get people with severe mental illness to find and stay in employment saves 20,000 per person over five years through reduced public spending on health and welfare.

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In a boost for ministers, the Office for Budget Responsibility has already concluded that the scheme more than pays for itself, with a 200m expansion announced by the previous government expected to boost employment by around 10,000 and reduce welfare spending by a further 200m.

Next weeks white paper will also set out details of a new Youth Guarantee, where 18 to 21-year-olds will be offered the option to earn or learn or face their benefits being docked.

There are close to 1m young people neither in work, education or training, according to official figures  representing the largest number of so-called Neets since 2014.

Rachel Reeves set aside 240m in her maiden Budget to trial new ways of getting people back into work.

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Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, has also set out plans to prioritise clearing backlogs in parts of the country with the highest levels of worklessness.

A government source said the thrust of next weeks white paper would be to set out plans to empower local areas to boost growth and jobs.

They said: We want to give mayors the power and responsibility to bring together support that is available  some of which already exists  so they can shape their local labour markets to get people working again and offer the right support that people need.

Because fundamentally it is local areas that know best what works for them.

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A government spokesman said: Our Get Britain Working White Paper will bring together local work, health and skills plans to get Britain back to health and back to work.

Fixing the NHS and better integrating health and work support is key to tackling inactivity. By fixing these foundations we will drive growth and unlock opportunities for everyone across the UK.

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LAHAINA, Hawaii (KHON2)  A Lahaina family who lost their home on Aug. 8 2023, moved into their newly built home on Friday, Nov. 22.

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The Ah Hees are the first family back home after Maui County completed their final inspection, just in time for Thanksgiving.

Mau Ah Hee, a Maui Ocean Safety lifeguard and his wife Ariel, a Minit Medical nurse, were finally able to move back home with their two kids.

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Maui Mayor Richard Bissen said other families will be back home by the end of the year.

Ariel and her husband Mau said they have moved six times in the last year and are elated to finally be back home.

It is a miracle but its now a holiday miracle. I couldnt believe we got in before the holidays, explained Ariel Ah Hee.

They applied for their permit back in May, and Mau, along with his uncle who was their contractor, quickly began building in July.

Kauai Police Commission declines to pursue action on complaints against Police Chief Todd Raybuck

He was here before work, working on the house after work every day, continued Ariel. When we were off, he was here, and when there were no lights in the house, hed been working since 10 p.m. Hed leave Paia at 5 a.m., do a dump run before work, and work on the house until late at night. He put a lot of work into this.

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Their permit was expedited because the home they lost was relatively new, and the square footage remained the same.

I had a lot of square footage from the original, but it was only a two-bedroom, one-bath, so I changed the layout to add another bathroom, Ariel added. The reason for the addition? More children!

The furniture arrived on Thursday, and the couple was finally able to spend the night back on Komo Mai Street for the first time in over 15 months.

We just had to do it. We had to push through and get it done as quickly as possible so we could finally be home, said Ariel.

On Friday, the mayor welcomed the family home after the house passed the final inspection.

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This [home] serves as a symbol of resilience and unwavering determination for how are people will rise from what has happened here, said Bissen.

Mayor Bissen said he expects the first home in Kula to be completed and ready for move-in by next week.

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HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  The suspect in a deadly shooting on Lakeview Drive was arrested in Kentucky, according to police.

The Huntsville Police Department said they have charged 34-year-old Kiarah Donque Jones with murder in a deadly shooting on Nov. 17.

The department said officers responded to the 3000 block of Lakeview Drive for a shooting around 5 a.m. on Nov. 17 and found 35-year-old James Grays with a gunshot wound.

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MCSO: One injured in shooting on Hardin Road, suspect in custody

The department said they learned that the morning of the shooting, Grays was leaving a party when he was shot. HPD said Grays was pronounced dead at the scene.

After the department gathered evidence from the scene, they obtained a warrant for Jones on Wednesday, Nov. 20.

According to HPD, Jones was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals in Lexington, Kentucky on Friday, Nov. 22.

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Gov. Jeff Landry has established a new government efficiency task force to look at ways to cut state government spending. (Hilary Scheinuk/The Advocate, Pool)

Gov. Jeff Landry scored one of the biggest victories of his political career Friday when he managed to push major corporate and personal income tax cuts through the Louisiana Legislature, apparently without leaving the state chronically underfunded.

I didnt get a big win, the state of Louisiana got a big win, Landry said in an interview Friday at the close of a 13-day special session.

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But the governors tax reductions come at the expense of moving Louisianas highest-in-the-nation average sales tax to an even higher rate that will disproportionately burden poor people. It will also apply to a new list of digital products.

The last-minute decision to increase the state sales tax from 4.45% to 5% was made in closed-door negotiations, without any opportunity for public testimony and without an analysis of the bills impact on state revenues and on people at different income levels, said Jan Moller, executive director of Invest in Louisiana, a policy group that advocates for the interests of moderate and low-income people.

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Landrys high-minded goal of simplifying Louisianas complicated tax structure and imposing more fairness on the state tax system also wasnt achieved. State lawmakers resisted the governors efforts to eliminate expensive state tax breaks that favor certain industries.



They also refused to significantly expand the sales tax base by applying it to several so-called luxury services such as lawn care and personal training. Had they agreed to such a plan, it would have allowed the sales tax rate to remain lower.

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A large chunk of Landrys plan is also technically on hold until voters statewide consider a lengthy, tax-and-budget oriented constitutional amendment March 29.

The governor hopes to motivate the public to vote for the amendment by linking it to public school teacher pay. If voters approve it, a $2,000 stipend public school teachers have received for the past two years will become a permanent part of their salary.



The income tax cuts and sales tax hike will take effect Jan. 1 regardless of whether the amendment passes.

A flat rate of 3% will replace all three personal income tax brackets that top out at a high rate of 4.25%. The current sales tax rate of 4.45% will move to 5% for five years, and then lower to 4.75% in 2030.

A state corporate franchise tax has been eliminated, and the corporate income tax rate  which now tops out at 7.5%  has been moved to a flat rate of 5.5%.

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Landrys plan received bipartisan support in spite of Democrats expressing reservations about passing a higher sales tax rate that will be more difficult for low-income households.



Only one of Louisianas 39 senators, Democrat Royce Duplessis of New Orleans, voted against House Bill 10 to cut income taxes and raise the sales tax rate. The vote in the House was 80-18 in favor.

Among the lawmakers who opposed the plan in the House was Rep. Matthew Willard, D-New Orleans, who said the theory of states competing with income tax rates often leads to an elimination of the income tax. If all states in a given region achieve the same goal, the next thing to compete over will be sales tax rates, he said.

Earlier in the session, a handful of conservative Republicans had also balked at the notion of hiking the sales tax without adopting any significant government spending reductions. Those objections fell by the wayside under political pressure from the governors office.



In the end, only one Republican legislator, Rep. Beryl Amedee, R-Gray, voted against the bill that included the sales tax hike. Three other Republicans  Reps. Stephanie Hilferty of New Orleans, Danny McCormick of Oil City and Joe Stagni of Kenner  were absent for the vote.



Legislative leaders also minimized the Republican fallout over having to vote for a sales tax hike by merging the legislation to increase the sales tax rate with the one to lower the income tax. Conservatives were able to vote for the combined bill without having to say they had voted for a tax increase.

Landry and lawmakers were also able to avoid higher tax rates across the board by dissolving statutory dedications that require certain kinds of state revenue to be spent on certain projects.

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For example, vehicle sales tax funding that has been allocated to paying for a new Mississippi River bridge south of Baton Rouge and Interstate 49 expansions in Shreveport and Lafayette will be used for other government services, such as higher education and health care, for the next two years.



The state will also be putting less money into savings accounts. The corporate franchise tax eliminated under Landrys plan has been used to build up Louisianas reserves and wont be replaced with a new stream of revenue.

While the final numbers arent in, legislators said the tax cuts imposed should not send Louisianas budget off a cliff. Any budget deficit that results from the plan is supposed to be modest and manageable without massive spending reductions to health programs or higher education.

Speaker of the House Phillip DeVillier, R-Eunice, left, and Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, speak in the Louisiana House of Representatives on the opening day of a legislative special session, Nov. 6, 2024, at the State Capitol in Baton Rouge. (Hilary Scheinuk/The Advocate, Pool)

Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, said the Legislature will likely be cleaning up parts of the tax legislation during its regular session that starts in April.



Maybe were taxing something we werent supposed to [by accident]. People may also go back home and realize there are other changes they want to make, Henry said.

Landry and lawmakers believe their overhaul of Louisianas tax structure will lead to a higher ranking from the Tax Foundation, a national think tank that typically opposes higher business taxes.



Were more competitive now. Weve lowered our rates to stay in line with our Southeastern neighboring states, and were just excited with hopefully bringing our people home and bringing more business to this state, Rep. Julie Emerson, R-Carencro, who carried the bulk of the bills for Landrys tax package.

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The public relations of the state are greatly improved because of what we have done today, Henry said.

Income taxes

For individuals, House Bill 10 eliminates Louisianas three income tax brackets that max out at 4.25% and replaces them with a single flat rate of 3% for all filers.

This is coupled with a $12,500 standard deduction per filer, much higher than the current $4,500. The increased standard deduction means that no earners will face increased income taxes.

For corporations, lawmakers adopted a slimmed down version of the corporate flat tax bill, which replaced the three graduated corporate income tax rates that top out at 7.5% with a flat 5.5% rate.

Sales taxes

When combined with local parish sales taxes, the total sales tax rate many people will pay in Louisiana will be up over 10% starting next year.

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The state sales tax is currently 4.45% and was scheduled to automatically drop to 4% next July. Instead, House Bill 10 moves the sales tax rate to 5% on Jan. 1 and then drops it to 4.75% in 2030.

Both local and states will also apply to a range of digital goods, such as Netflix accounts and other streaming services, for the first time thanks to House Bill 8 from Rep. Ken Brass, D-Vacherie.

Local governments will retain the option to charge a sales tax on prescription drugs.

Business tax breaks

Some business tax breaks such as the Quality Jobs program, which gives employers a break on payroll taxes, and Enterprise Zone tax credits, which can offset company income taxes, will be scrapped entirely.

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But three state tax credits that Landry had originally pushed to end will remain in place. They benefit movie and television productions filmed in Louisiana, historic building preservation and digital and software companies. Though these credits survived, they have all been capped at lower levels, meaning the state will spend less money on the programs than they do now.

The state inventory tax credit, which helps businesses recoup money they pay in local government taxes, will also end for some industrial users and larger companies in 2026. But it will remain in place for more modest businesses, such as car dealerships, indefinitely.



Piper Hutchinson and Greg LaRose contributed to this report.

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A 20-year-old Lansing man has been convicted in the death of a Leavenworth County teen to whom he allegedly sold fentanyl-laced drugs via Snapchat.

Torin Michael Baughman pleaded guilty Friday to one count of distribution of a controlled substance causing death, for his role in the death of 15-year-old Nicholas Cruz Burris.

On January 17, 2023, Baughman used Snapchat to speak with Burris and make plans to sell the 15-year-old what he thought was a Percocet. Baughman allegedly delivered the pill  which had been sprayed with fentanyl  to Burris around 11:30 p.m.

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Burris parents found him dead in his bed the next morning.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid about 50 times stronger than heroin. A portion of fentanyl the same size as a standard packet of sweetener is potent enough to kill about 500 people.

When we see cases involving someone that died due to overdose, its too easy to blame the user, Leavenworth County attorney Todd Thompson said in a statement Friday. We need to hold the dealer, the provider, and the distributor accountable.

Burris parents remember their son as funny and ambitious. He spent hours practicing the piano and guitar and helping his parents with home renovation projects, hoping to become a contractor or engineer.

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He was much on his way to becoming anything he wanted to be, Andy Burris told The Star earlier this year.

Baughman was booked into the Leavenworth County Jail on March 20, 2024, on a $500,000 bond. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation initially issued an arrest warrant for the then-19-year-old on suspicion of first-degree murder and reckless endangerment of a child.

Baughman pleaded not guilty to the original two charges in July, according to court records, before accepting a plea deal Friday.

Burris parents previously told The Star that they were immediately aware of who had sold their son the pill that killed him. Though the couple brought the information regarding Baughman to police, Andy Burris said police were unable to access the contents of Baughmans phone for more than nine months after Cruzs death.

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It can be difficult to prosecute drug dealers in connection with overdose deaths, The Star found in a nine-month investigation into fentanyl death and distribution in the Kansas City area.

Jackson County medical examiner Lindsey Haldiman told The Star that drug overdoses are typically ruled accidental deaths unless there is proof that someone purposely administered the drugs to someone without their knowledge. Prosecutors must not only prove that the seller knew the true contents of the drugs, but also that they made the sale with the intent to kill.

According to court records, investigators were able to connect Baughman to Cruzs death through a combination of data from Baughmans Life360 location tracking app, his Snapchat conversations with Cruz and Cruzs autopsy.

Since 2018, fentanyl has killed more than 850 people in the nine counties touching the Kansas City area, the Star investigation found. Tony Mattivi, director of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, has called fentanyl a crisis in the metro area, telling The Star he expects the regions overdose death toll to keep rising.

Baughman will next appear in court at 10 a.m. Jan. 3 for sentencing.

Previous reporting from Judy Thomas, Laura Bauer, Kendrick Calfee and Jenna Thompson contributed to this article.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A Las Vegas woman who is recovering after being shot in the eye while driving through an apartment complex is now suing the property owner.

Las Vegas woman recalls moments before being shot while driving in complex

Martha Carbajal was shot on Oct. 5 while driving in the early evening through Vera Johnson Manor near Lamb Boulevard and Bonanza Road.

Martha Carbajal.

Carbajal is still in distress, mentally and physically.

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I have pain every single day and maybe within time, everything Im feeling will eventually leave my mind, but its so hard right now, Carbajal said.

While she waits for her prosthetic eye, Carbajal has filed a lawsuit against Nevada Hand, the property owner. The lawsuit argues Nevada Hand should take full responsibility for what happened to her.

The apartment complex where Carbajal was shot is Section 8 housing.

Carbajals attorneys at Ace Law Group told 8 News Now that despite a history of violent crime, Vera Johnson Manor has yet to take action to secure the premises. Lawyers cited a list of service calls obtained from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

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The apartment complex is in a high crime area and the complex has a responsibility to make sure there is adequate security for those who live there, but also for visitors of the property, Ace Law Groups Patrick W. Kang said.

Kang also said that in addition to adding onsite security, there are other ways the complex could have taken action before the shooting occurred.

There are a number of tools they could have utilized like leasing agreements to expel problem residents, Kang said.

Metro police are investigating the shooting and looking for the suspects involved. Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers at (702) 385-5555 to remain anonymous.

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Carbajal has been referred to a neurosurgeon, neurologist and a psychiatrist who can help as she says she is now experiencing cognitive and speech problems.

The Carbajal family has created a GoFundMe page to help with medical costs.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  The Kern County Elections Division continues counting and processing ballots from the Nov. 5 general election and announced its latest vote totals late Friday afternoon.

In the Board of Supervisors District 5 race, incumbent Leticia Perez leads Kim Salas by just 67 votes.

The race is extremely close between the two with Perez having a total of 14,532 votes (50.1%) and Salas with 14,465 votes (49.9%).

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Perez regained the lead after previous updates this week showed Salas with a slight lead.

The elections office said it still has 2,895 ballots to process.

Some ballots that remain to be counted are those that can be cured. Perezs campaign has reached out to voters by knocking on doors and asking them to cure their ballot. Voters cant change their vote, but it does ensure that the vote does get counted. The elections office has reached out to voters asking them to cure their ballot by Dec. 1.

Those ballots typically have issues with signatures on the returned envelopes not matching with whats on file with a voters registration.

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Kern County elections officials said it will release another round of vote tallies on Nov. 26. The California Secretary of State will certify election results on Dec. 13.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17.
The Los Angeles Unified School District showed strong gains in newly released state metrics and reached a record graduation rate, but overall academic performance fell well short of state learning goals.

The latest release of state data indicated positive trends for the state's largest school system, with improvement that outpaced the state as a whole.

In absolute terms, however, the performance of L.A. Unified is middling, even as depicted by a state accountability system that rarely shows school systems in a harsh light.

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"LAUSD scores are on an upward trend, but the initial goal needs to be to attain results that meet or exceed LAUSD pre-pandemic levels," said Michael W. Kirst, former state Board of Education president and a Stanford emeritus professor of education and business administration. "For example, there are some test-score results that meet this goal. I am less interested now in how they compare to the rest of the state on dashboard indicators. That will be more relevant in subsequent years."

The district's highest-rated metric was for its suspension rate, which scored the state's best color rating of blue  indicating that the L.A. Unified has successfully slashed the number of students sent home from school for disciplinary reasons.

This figure  combined with rising test scores  is genuinely positive news because it suggests that even the more challenging students are improving and remaining in class to take the state tests, rather than being hidden during the testing window via suspensions.

Read more: California students' math and English test scores rise, but pandemic losses remain stark

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The district also received a green or "good" rating for its graduation rate of 87%  a record for L.A. Unified.

This figure is more challenging to interpret because graduation rates have soared across the nation even as other indicators of academic achievement have not kept pace. In essence, school systems across the country have finally figured out how to get most students to graduation. And this is important: Graduates are eligible for higher education and have better job prospects.

However, experts have questioned whether academic standards have been sacrificed in the process. And many students enter college with learning gaps that make success there harder to achieve.

All the same, L.A. Unified's graduation rate is rising faster than in the state as a whole  a consistent theme for L.A. Unified.

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In the category of test scores for math and English language arts, L.A. Unified received a yellow rating, which is less than good, but better than the state's worse overall rating of orange.

When it comes to the rate at which students miss school, both the state and L.A. Unified fell into the yellow ranking.

L.A. Unified Supt. Alberto Carvalho categorized the results as "historic," while a district release called them "unprecedented."

Carvalho announced the latest data at Jefferson High, where he alluded to a hit song from 1960 by former Jefferson student Etta James.

"Today, at last, as Etta James would say, the story actually gets better," Carvalho said. "And at last, we can say that once again, Los Angeles Unified has overpowered, outperformed, other urban districts across the state" including, he said, those with lower poverty rates and fewer students who are learning English.

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Read more: Fewer LAUSD students feel safe at school amid rising fights, physical aggression on campus

Every school system tends to highlight the data in the best way possible.

San Diego Unified, for example, spotlighted overall achievement levels rather than rate of improvement in comparison to other school systems. Through this lens, San Diego Unified outranked L.A. Unified in every major category other than suspension rates.

Long Beach Unified could point to better overall scores in the most closely tracked categories of math and English, though it trailed L.A. Unified in other areas.

A sobering overall assessment of state progress came from the Oakland-based advocacy group EdTrust-West.

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"While some of the new data [indicate] sustained progress, particularly steady reductions in chronic absenteeism, other improvements are gains in name only," the group said in a statement. "We should not celebrate improvements of a single percentage point  or less  because they don't tell the real story: that yet another year has gone by for Californian students of color and multilingual learners, and not enough has changed."

For academic ratings, the state uses an obscure system called "distance from standard," which averages all test scores and compares that number to a figure that represents "meeting the standard."

Thus, in math, L.A. Unified is 60.4 points below standard, but is up by 6.9 points from the year before, which is considered a strong one-year improvement.

A more accessible measure, though also imperfect, is proficiency rate, which is the percentage of students who have met the state academic standard in a particular area. These figures, which were previously released, show that L.A. Unified has far to go.



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43% of L.A. Unified students met grade-level standards in English, up 1.8 percentage points. Statewide, 47% of students are proficient in English.

In math, 32.8% of Los Angeles students met standards, up 2.3 percentage points from 2023 scores. Statewide, 35.5% of student are proficient.

L.A. Unified proficiency rates in science reached 24%, up 1.8 percentage from 2023. Statewide its 30.7%.

"LAUSD students are bouncing back from learning lost during the pandemic," said UC Berkeley education Professor Bruce Fuller. "But their recovery is unfolding at a sluggish pace in reading and math."

Fuller added, "The recovery does renew the steady progress made in the two decades prior to COVID-19. Still, L.A. students read a grade level below the average California pupil, as early as the fourth grade," according to national tests.

Read more: LAUSD math, English test scores show strong gains, but most students still not proficient

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Toward the end of the news conference, Carvalho acknowledged the less positive numbers.

"Do we have more work to do? Absolutely. Are we satisfied? Absolutely not," Carvalho said. "Our static proficiency is still low, but our rate of improvement is phenomenal compared to everyone else's."

Carvalho and Deputy Supt. Karla Estrada pointed to several effective strategies. The superintendent said that summer school increased the graduation rate from 86% to 87% as seniors were able to complete required course work.

The location of the news conference at Jefferson High, south of downtown, was no accident. In the distance-from-standard measure, Jefferson had huge jumps  20 points in math, 47 in English  even though overall scores remained low.

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Jefferson is one of more than 120 "priority schools" in the district that receive extra resources and monthly evaluations and data analysis.

In an interview, Principal Kristine Puich described strategies that included aligning conference periods by grade level and topic so teachers could plan together and compare results.

The district provided a specialist in training teachers on strategies to help English learners, many of whom attend Jefferson. The school has about 100 newcomers to the United States.

The district also has assigned a special cadre of substitutes to Jefferson so they could become familiar with the students there. These substitutes work in regular classrooms as a second teacher when they are not needed as subs.

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Teachers also have received special training in how to analyze data and adapt lessons in response.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Irony Fire

A lawyer in Minnesota who claims to be an expert on how "people use deception with technology," has been accused of using an AI chatbot to draft an affidavit  in support of an anti-deepfake law in the state.

As the Minnesota Reformer reports, lawyers challenging the law on behalf of far-right YouTuber and Republican state representative Mary Franson found that Stanford Social Media Lab founding director Jeff Hancock's affidavit included references to studies that don't appear to exist, a telltale sign of AI text generators that often "hallucinate" facts and reference materials.

While it's far from the first time a lawyer has been accused of making up court cases using AI chatbots like OpenAI's ChatGPT, it's an especially ironic development given the subject matter.

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The law, which calls for a ban on the use of deepfakes to influence an election, was challenged in federal court by Franson on the grounds that such a ban would violate First Amendment rights.

But in an attempt to defend the law, Hancock  or possibly one of his staff  appears to have stepped in it, handing the plaintiff's attorneys a golden opportunity.

Law Fare

One study cited in Hancock's affidavit titled "The Influence of Deepfake Videos on Political Attitudes and Behavior" doesn't appear to 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," Franson's attorneys wrote in a memorandum. "Plaintiffs do not know how this hallucination wound up in Hancocks declaration, but it calls the entire document into question."

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And it's not just Franson's lawyers. UCLA law professor Eugene Volokh also discovered a different cited study titled "Deepfakes and the Illusion of Authenticity: Cognitive Processes Behind Misinformation Acceptance," which also doesn't appear to exist.

It's a troubling turn in an otherwise meaningful effort to keep AI deepfakes from swaying an election, something that has become a very real risk given steady advancements in the tech.

It also highlights a recurring trend: lawyers keep getting caught using tools like ChatGPT when they bungle up facts. Last year, New York City-based lawyer Steven Schwartz was caught using ChatGPT to help him write up a document.

A different Colorado-based lawyer named Zacharia Crabill, who was also caught red-handed, was fired from his job in November for the same offense.

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Crabill, however, dug in his heels.

"Theres no point in being a naysayer," he told the Washington Post of the firing, "or being against something that is invariably going to become the way of the future."

More on AI and lawyers: Lawyer in Huge Trouble After He Used ChatGPT in Court and It Totally Screwed Up
The Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) presented 'My Craft My Pride', a special showcase to celebrate India's handloom and craft traditions, at the World Crafts Forum 2024 on Saturday. Held at the National Crafts Museum in New Delhi, the event focused on sustainable design and innovation in India's craft sector. Organized by the World Crafts Council (WCC) and supported by the Ministry of Textiles, the event brought together acclaimed designers to exhibit collections that blended traditional craftsmanship with modern design sensibilities. The lineup included Anjana Bhargav for DHI, Payal Jain, Suket Dhir, Akaaro by Gaurav Jai Gupta, Anavila Misra, and Aidar Khan from Kazakhstan. FDCI Chairman Sunil Sethi expressed his gratitude for the platform saying, "This event celebrates India's sustainable crafts and our dedication to preserving tradition while paving the way for a sustainable future." Each designer presented a unique collection reflecting India's rich heritage while embracing sustainability. Anjana Bhargav used patchwork and bold modern abstractions in her black-and-white designs. "Black and white--a palette of timeless sophistication and bold allure. This collection reimagines these hues through the art of patchwork with a contemporary twist, blending traditional handlooms with bold, modern abstractions. It's about creating pieces that are not just worn but remembered," said Anjana in a statement shared by FDCI. Payal Jain repurposed antique Uzbek textiles into contemporary silhouettes with handmade embellishments. "Rising Sun is a celebration of Uzbekistan's rich cultural tapestry, reimagined through the lens of Indian craftsmanship. This collection is a tribute to sustainability and artistry, repurposing antique Uzbek textiles into modern silhouettes adorned with handmade tassels, fringes, and metallic embellishments," she said. Suket Dhir, who brought storytelling to life with Panchatantra-themed Banarasi brocades said, "The Panchatantra collection is our homage to the timeless art of storytelling. By bringing these beloved characters to life on Banarasi brocades, Muga, and other exquisite silks, we aim to celebrate India's rich handloom heritage while weaving a sustainable narrative for the future." "This collection is a tribute to the iconic International Klein Blue and its evocative journey through art, textiles, and fashion. At Akaaro, we have reimagined the expressive potential of handwoven fabrics by blending materials like stainless steel, merino wool, monofilament silk, and cotton. Through this innovative approach, we explore urbanity, functionality, and modernism while staying rooted in sustainability. Each piece is a reflection of the future of contemporary Indian textiles," shared Gaurav Jai Gupta. "'Payanam' is a tribute to the timeless spirit of Chettinad, where heritage and modernity coexist in perfect harmony. Inspired by the region's rich cultural tapestry, from its handcrafted Athangudi tiles to its vibrant kolams, this collection weaves together the essence of a community deeply rooted yet globally inspired. Each piece celebrates the slow and handmade, transforming the journey of life into wearable stories that honour tradition while embracing the present. Through craft and clothing, we aim to build kinship and preserve the legacy of thoughtful living," said Anavila Misra about her collection. Aidar Khan, who is a designer from Kazakhstan, added, "Our neo-folklore collection is a journey into the origins of tradition, where the utilitarian essence of felt--once essential for nomads--is reimagined as Haute Couture. By blending the ancient craft of felting with the modern Nuno felting technique, we create garments that embody the spirit of heritage and the elegance of contemporary design. Each piece, crafted entirely by hand, tells a story of cultural roots meeting innovation, transforming felt into a symbol of sustainable luxury." The showcase aimed to promote cross-cultural collaboration, sustainability, and innovation in global crafts while preserving India's cultural heritage. (ANI)
Dozens of people have been killed by Israeli strikes in Lebanon this weekend, including 29 who died after an attack flattened a multi-story residential building in central Beirut, according to Lebanese officials.

In the densely populated Basta area of the Lebanese capital, rescue workers were Saturday searching for survivors under the rubble after the attack featuring what the state-run National News Agency (NNA) said were bunker-busting bombs.

At least 66 people were injured in the strike, according to Lebanons Ministry of Health, while a Lebanese security source told CNN that no senior Hezbollah member was in the building leveled. The ministry revised the death toll from the attack upward Sunday, having previously reported that 20 people had died.

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The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) did not issue an evacuation order for the area ahead of the strikes, and has not yet commented on the attack.

The strike, one of several in Beirut and across Lebanon Saturday, comes as Israel escalates its attacks on the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah despite ongoing ceasefire efforts.

In the southern suburbs of Beirut, Israel said it had struck Hezbollah targets Saturday morning after issuing evacuation orders covering several buildings to mitigate harm to civilians. NNA later reported a very strong airstrike in the area.

Outside the capital, Israeli strikes were also reported in the east and south of the country Saturday.

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In eastern Lebanon, a strike on the town of Shmistar in the Baalbek-Hermel region killed at least 13 people, including four children, and wounded another 13, the countrys health ministry said. Strikes on other towns in the same region killed at least 11 people and wounded 32 others.

In the southern Lebanese city of Tyre, an Israeli strike that hit several buildings killed five people and wounded 19, the ministry said. NNA reported Saturday that one of its reporters was 50 meters away from a drone strike on a beach in Tyre.

CNN has reached out the Israel Defense Forces for comment on the strikes in the east and south.

Meanwhile, clashes between Israel and Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon are ongoing, with reports indicating heavy fighting near the town of Khiam, a strategically important location for Hezbollah. The Israeli military has not confirmed clashes in and around Khiam.

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Hezbollah said it had carried out at least 30 attacks against Israel and its troops in Lebanon Saturday with drones, missiles, and rockets, saying its actions were  in defense of Lebanon and its people.

A photo geolocated by CNN show the aftermath of the Israeli strike. - From Social Media

A woman at the site of the Israeli strike in the Basta neighborhood of Beirut, Lebanon. - Adnan Abidi/Reuters

Saturdays attack in Basta marks the latest in a string of Israeli strikes on central Beirut in recent weeks, following the killing of a Hezbollah spokesperson in an airstrike last Sunday.

Most Israeli airstrikes have targeted the Lebanese militant groups stronghold in Beiruts southern suburbs since hostilities ramped up in recent months.

Over the past week, the Israeli air force has struck dozens of Hezbollah command centers, weapons storage facilities, and terrorist infrastructure, in Beiruts southern suburbs, the Israeli military said in a statement Saturday.

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Israel launched a major offensive against Hezbollah in September, killing top commanders, carrying out waves of strikes and sending troops into southern Lebanon, with the stated goal of allowing displaced Israelis to return to areas of the north.

More than 3,000 people have been killed since then, with thousands of others injured, according to the countrys health ministry. More than a million Lebanese people have been displaced, the UNs refugee agency has said.

Earlier this week, United States envoy Amos Hochstein traveled to Beirut in what was seen as a sign of progress in ceasefire talks between Israel and Hezbollah. On Tuesday, Hochstein said that a truce between the two was within our grasp.

Hezbollahs leader Naim Qassem said Wednesday that the group was negotiating under the condition of Lebanese sovereignty, as well as the condition that the Israeli enemy has no right to violate, kill, or enter at will under any pretexts.

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Israeli ministers have said that any agreement must include the preservation of an intelligence capability and the right of the Israeli military to act and protect the citizens of Israel from Hezbollah.

The Israeli military continues to operate in Gaza, where the health ministry said 120 people have been killed as a result of Israeli military operations over the past 48 hours.

A senior official with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said Saturday that the UN had tried to get into parts of northern Gaza for over a month.

Jonathan Whittall, head of OCHA in Palestinian territory, said Israeli forces have denied almost all requests. The result? People are under rubble without rescue. The sick and wounded cant reach hospitals. Safe water and food have run out. Lives are lost.

This story has been updated.

CNNs Tim Lister, Eyad Kourdi, Tamara Qiblawi and Dana Karni contributed to this article.

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At least 15 people were killed and dozens more injured in a powerful Israeli strike that flattened a multi-storey building in densely populated central Beirut, the Lebanese Health Ministry said on Saturday.

Body parts were recovered from the rubble of the building in the Basta district and will be identified, it said.

The dawn attack was unleashed without any advance warning from the Israeli military, and caused high casualties among civilians, Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported.

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The residential area that was struck is not far from the parliament and the Grand Serail government palace.

Lebanese security sources said that the attack was aimed at an official from the pro-Iranian Lebanese Hezbollah militia.

Violent explosions that resulted from the attack shook the entire city. A huge crater was seen where the eight-story structure had previously stood while surrounding buildings were heavily damaged.

A weeping doctor stood on top of the rubble of the collapsed building.

"My mother and sister are still under the rubble," said the doctor who declined to be identified as civil defence workers frantically searched for survivors.

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A Lebanese man, who identified himself as Mohammed, stood outside his small house gazing at the havoc.

My mother and my 3-year-old daughter were sleeping here, he said as he pointed at the rubble.

They are now in the hospital suffering from various wounds," he added.

Meanwhile in southern Lebanon, Israeli ground troops were advancing into strategically important locations, according to Lebanese security sources.

They added that the Israeli forces had advanced into the Christian town of Deir Mimas in southern Lebanon. Deir Mimas is considered strategically important in the current fighting, as the Litani River can be observed from the east.

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A major road to the southern city of Nabatiyeh, seen as a main supply route for Hezbollah, has been totally destroyed.

Lebanese media reported that the Israeli army is also trying to advance on the town of Bayada in the south-west to gain control of the area around the Litani from the west.

The Hezbollah television station al-Manar reported heavy fighting in the southern town of Khiyam.

Hezbollah fighters tried to prevent the Israeli forces from advancing further, it was said.

The Israeli army did not comment on the alleged troop movements.

Experts see the reported advance as a threat to the current talks on a ceasefire between Hezbollah and the Israeli military.

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Analyst Michael Young wrote on the social media platform X, "With the current troop movements, the Israeli army could soon be able to encircle Hezbollah south of the Litani."

He was sceptical whether a ceasefire could be achieved under these circumstances.

The expert and founder of the INEGMA military institute in Dubai, Riad Khawhji, told dpa that the towns of Khiyam and Bayada are of great importance to the Israelis because they represent Hezbollah's front line.

Israel wants Hezbollah to withdraw behind the Litani River, 30 kilometres from the border - as required by UN Resolution 1701 that marked the end of the 2006 war between both sides

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A draft ceasefire currently being discussed envisages the full implementation of the resolution and withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon.

Hezbollah militants have been firing rockets across the border into Israel since the beginning of the war in Gaza more than a year ago in support of the Palestinian Hamas movement.

The Israeli military has responded with a massive campaign of airstrikes across Lebanon and a ground invasion of the neighbouring country.

On Saturday, five rockets hit the Metula region of northern Israel near the border with Lebanon, according to the Israeli military.

The rockets hit agricultural land, although in one case a rocket struck close to where a group of farm workers were gathered, the Haaretz newspaper reported, citing the local mayor.

According to initial information, no one was injured.
Nov. 22The region's congressional delegation announced Friday it is pushing for new legislation to improve the health and safety of military housing.

U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Second District, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, (D-Conn.) and Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), along with Guam's delegate to the House James Moylan, have introduced the Healthy at Home on Base Act. It is aimed at supporting service members and their families by improving research on toxic mold in base housing.

The bill would create mold standards for military installations and construction requirements for new housing so service families are not sickened from preventable causes like toxic mold. The legislators said a 2023 Army inspection found mold in more than 2,000 of its facilities.

This measure was included in the fiscal year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act. The measure is expected to come before Congress next month.
To the editor: I am confident there is no single "The Reason" that President-elect Donald Trump won. Each person voted the way they did for their own reason. I would, however, like to offer the observation that so many of us are quick to condemn others who do not agree with us. ("If Democrats want to win back the American people, does California need to stand down?" Nov. 19)

Some progressives declined to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris because of the Biden administration's policy toward Israel. So, is the Trump policy more to their liking?

Some honest, hard-working Americans voted for Trump due to their concerns about immigration. Did they not know or care that a bipartisan measure to address border security could have passed Congress earlier this year, but Trump killed it because he wanted to campaign on immigration?

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Being Americans, we have no common ancestry or shared religion. We therefore have no common, reflexive philosophical and societal views that a shared culture and religion would provide. All we can share  and for that very reason, what we must share  is a fundamental respect for each other.

As my father told me, there is not a person alive who cannot teach you something. Each of us, including me, needs to shut up and listen more.

Jack Quirk, Porter Ranch

..

To the editor: In this election, for the first time ever, I did not vote for anyone running for the state Senate or Assembly. I am a Democrat, and if Gov. Gavin Newsom had been on the ballot, I would not have voted for him or his opponent  because unfortunately, the only thing crazier than a Sacramento Democrat is a Sacramento Republican.

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Newsom is to Democrats what Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is to Republicans  two peas in a pod, ideologues, but on opposite sides of the political spectrum.

I am an elementary teacher, and California Democrats lost me with their latest moronic education law forbidding elementary schools from taking away a student's recess as a natural consequence for, let's say, misbehaving on the playground. This is in addition to the law banning student suspensions for whole class disruptions. How can we educate students if we can't even maintain a classroom environment conducive to learning?

In the next state election, I won't leave my ballot blank for the party that dares to run a moderate candidate focused on using existing resources to find solutions to pressing problems.

George Garcia, Long Beach

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To the editor: Why should Democrats be asking why they are out of touch with the American people?

If anything, they should be asking why they continue to assume that the American public possesses the critical-thinking skills required to distinguish an honorable, qualified candidate from one with a long history of corruption, lying and sexual abuse, whose goal is to exact retribution on his enemies and make more money.

Why do Democrats continue to "play nice" when all their opponents have to do to win is stoke their base's hatred of "the other" and stubbornly insist that the other side cheated with absolutely no proof?

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How will we tell our kids that the country was OK with a president who is a felon and adjudicated sexual abuser, because under no circumstances would they vote for a female president?

Jennifer Rabuchin, Burbank

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To the editor: The lead story in The Times' Nov. 20 print edition was about how California Democrats have shot themselves in the foot by being out of touch with the American people.

I was surprised that, in this long article, the word "immigration" never appeared.

Following the Nov. 5 election, multiple commentators noted that immigration was a major issue of concern to voters. Polls during the past few years have shown that a strong majority of Americans  a larger share of voters than the proportion that backed Trump  want reduced levels of immigration and oppose sanctuary-state and -city policies.

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Ben Zuckerman, Los Angeles

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To the editor: While your headline suggests Democrats are looking in the mirror, the article also quotes Republicans about what went wrong.

The truth is Democrats learned the hard way that running to represent the people with the support for former Rep. Liz Cheney  an extremely conservative Republican from Wyoming  wasn't a good strategy. Remember, in Congress she voted with Trump most of the time.

And stop using identity politics against the Democrats. Trump ran as a white Christian nationalist  that's identity politics.

Furthermore, look at the actual election result  this was no mandate. The Democrats also need to make sure that every vote in every race is counted. Look at the congressional races in California, where we do just that.

Democrats who run on democratic values win.

Erica Fox, Studio City

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
To the editor: So, ethically challenged former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) withdrew his name from consideration for U.S. attorney general. In her place, President-elect Donald Trump selected ethically challenged former Florida Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi.

Let us all recall that when she was the Sunshine State's top prosecutor, she declined to investigate the infamous Trump University for fraud after her political action committee received a $25,000 donation from the Donald J. Trump Foundation.

People with expertise in this matter considered the case to be a strong one. After all, a federal court approved a $25-million fraud settlement against Trump and his Trump University.

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I am quite disappointed that The Times' article neglected to mention her unseemly past as attorney general of Florida.

Bob Teigan, Santa Susana

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To the editor: Now that Gaetz has withdrawn his name from consideration to be attorney general, Trump is free to move on to his next equally qualified choice, Hannibal Lecter.

Allan Katz, Los Angeles

..

To the editor: I am ever-so-slightly heartened to learn that there actually are people too vile for the shameless Republicans in Congress to confirm for Trump's Cabinet.

Mary Weaver, Studio City

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Far-right state Sen. Brian Lenney, R-Nampa, reached out to multiple officials and took to social media this week to complain about a LGBTQ+ youth clubs poster on a bulletin board at the Nampa Public Library  a poster a club official said has been there for 18 months.

But even some other Republicans didnt agree with his concerns and assumptions, or didnt respond to him  perhaps another example of divisions within the Republican Party in the state. Lenney did not return two requests for comment.

I personally believe that there should be varying opinions within our political factions because it makes for healthy debate and good governance, Nampa City Council Member Natalie Jangula told the Idaho Statesman in an email. Unfortunately, over the past few years, there are Republican factions that have infiltrated Idaho who only support constitutional rights if they are in alignment with what they believe. That is dangerous, irresponsible and un-American.

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The poster advertised a group called CLUTCH, which meets on Thursdays to provide an affirming space in our community for LGBTQ+ youth.

This weeks activity was yarn crafts, according to the clubs Instagram. On X (formerly Twitter), Lenney wrote that it was a groomer group where children talked to adults about sex.

I think thats an incredibly weird thing to say, said Mindy OldenKamp, CLUTCHs operations director. We have not heard anything from him, so wed be happy to explain who we are and what we do. And I think that its just a really strange comment to make about a group that you clearly dont know anything about.

CLUTCH has had a poster up on the community board for a year and a half, OldenKamp told the Idaho Statesman.

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Lenneys comments drew internal Nampa pushback from Jangula. In emails shared with the Statesman, Jangula told Lenney that she wasnt sure where his accusations came from and asked him whether he had done any research into CLUTCH.

As a constitutional conservative, I will never stand in the way of anyones rights that I believe God has given them, Jangula wrote. The right to peacefully and lawfully assemble, even if I dont agree with it, is something I will defend.

In follow-up emails, Lenney wrote that the two were clearly lightyears apart on LGBT issues.

Maybe one takeaway for you  conservatism is about actually conserving real values  faith, traditional family values, etc, Lenney wrote. But as Andrew Breitbart pointed out, politics is downstream from culture, and it looks like the LGBT woke agenda has indeed infiltrated Nampa.

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Breitbart was a conservative journalist who founded Breitbart News, a far-right opinion and news website, after being a co-founder of Huffington Post.

Over the past 15 years, acceptance of LGBTQ+ identities and rights has dramatically increased, both in politics and culture, though some data indicate that support is slipping after hitting record highs.

In 2004, before he was president, Barack Obama said in an interview that marriage was between a man and a woman, according to TIME magazine. By 2012, he supported same-sex marriage, which has been legal nationwide since 2015, just before Obama left office.

A 2022 Statesman survey indicated that over half of Idahoans believe people should be protected from discrimination based on their gender identity or sexual orientation  protections that Republicans in the Legislature have opposed adding to the states Human Rights Act.

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OldenKamp, CLUTCHs operations director, grew up in Nampa and said she personally has seen things get better and more diverse.

However, there are still struggles, such as when Nampa Mayor Debbie Kling put out a statement earlier this year saying that the first ever Canyon County Pride Festival didnt reflect her personal beliefs  but that the city legally had to let it happen, a response to complaints from people who wanted the event canceled.

Kling, along with Police Chief Joe Huff, did not respond to Lenneys messages to the city about the CLUTCH poster, according to Nampa spokesperson Amy Bowman.

Lenney did round up support online from far-right groups such as the Idaho Liberty Dogs, and the library sent out an email Friday night seeking the communitys support. It noted that a group called Idaho Mass Resistance shared a picture of the flyer, which led to not just the usual toxic flood of social media detritus, but harsh calls, in-person visits, and emails to the library.

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The calls to action by the Mass Resistance and those who amplified their message had a damaging impact on Nampa Public Library management, staff, and library users.

The citys library director told Lenney that the poster was in line with the organizations community events posting policy. The library provides public bulletin boards, but does not imply endorsement of what is posted, according to the policy.

OldenKamp said CLUTCH has received positive messages from people.

CLUTCH was really born out of the desire to do something better for LGBTQ youth, OldenKamp said. ... For the most part, the actual community, the people who are neighbors and people that we do day-to-day life with, are super supportive and show up and just say, You have every right to exist just like we do.
Editor's note: Letters to the editor reflect the views of individual readers. Scroll to the bottom to see how you can add your voice, whether you agree or disagree. We welcome diverse viewpoints.

The conservatives and Christian nationalists are making big noises now that they have former President Trump coming back into office. However, unless they plan to completely subvert the Constitution, they are a bit limited on just what they can accomplish.

To begin with, our nation was not founded on conservatism. The founding fathers were liberals who wanted to break away from the conservative government in England. Although most may have been Christian, a large number were Deists believing only in one God and not in the Trinity.

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They intentionally wrote the Constitution and the First Amendment in such a way that no single religion could be ordained by the government. This again goes against the rule in England and in many of the European nations at the time.

Our nation remained a single unified nation after the Civil War. Again, liberals were the people who ended slavery in the US. The southern conservatives main point in seceding from the U.S. was slavery disguised in "states rights" language.

Letters: Publish more libertarian and conservative voices, and more Cameron Smith columns

Liberal futuristic ideas have given us the automobile, electricity, airplanes, and many other things that conservatism would have denied. And we can see in Iran, Afghanistan, and other nations just how people live under religious nationalism.

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Albert Hubbard, Hendersonville 37075

Agree or disagree? Or have a view on another topic entirely? Send a letter of 250 words or fewer to letters@tennessean.com. Include your full name, city/town, ZIP and contact information for verification. Thanks for adding to the public conversation.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Our liberal founders showed us how to keep America great | Opinion
CHEYENNE  Thursday evening, Cheyenne Children's Museum board members and staff presented their long-awaited vision to the community at their Pioneer Supporter Reception.

Their vision, according to their website, is about "building an engine to power the imagination and creativity of our children's futures." They're also creating a safe, fun place for kids, parents and the community to explore play-based cognitive experiences where "hands-on interactions become the source of curiosity and development."

When thinking of what they wanted the museum to be, the team prioritized an IDEA (inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility) initiative. This initiative means they'll work to provide accessible exhibits and programs for children and families with disabilities, as well as a welcoming and uplifting atmosphere for everyone and financial support to those in need.

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At the reception, Caroline Veit, the president of the museum's board of directors, thanked the community, as well as their sponsors, 5R Construction, Arete Design Group and BrownKnows Design. Before they gave their remarks, they let visitors take a peek inside at the exhibits.

The museum will have exhibits related to science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM). The main exhibit theme is called "The Sky is the Limit," which contains a room full of sensory activities related to Wyoming wildlife, Air Play tubes, a scarf tube, a wind tunnel and a patio with sand where kids can dig and look for bones.

All of the exhibit plaques have QR codes on them, as well, for anyone who scans them to learn more about the science behind the activity and how they can recreate it at home with everyday objects.

The space is meant to serve as a flexible, rentable space for the people of Cheyenne, with their main goal being to foster collaboration between education and the community and kids outside of the classroom setting.

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What was shown to the community on Thursday is a part of phase one. This initial phase, which is currently underway, cost $3 million for the 4,400-square-foot stand-alone building at 1618 O'Neil Ave. The building currently houses several uniquely Wyoming exhibits; a flexible space for educational and experimental programming, complete with a collection of craft, robotics and theater carts; as well as a rentable indoor/outdoor space for business events for adults, community events and children's birthdays.

In phase two, which they are currently fundraising for, the Children's Museum would like to raise about $15-20 million to expand the building by an additional 18,000 square feet. On top of that, they want to add more interactive exhibits, have increased programming and event opportunities, and add a makerspace for teenage and adult craftspeople.

As of right now, the museum is designed and intended for young learners (toddlers to third-graders) to explore on their own terms with the interactive and hands-on exhibits. However, they want it to be engaging for older kids and adults, as well.

Veit said, "If future generations look back and say, 'That was just the kind of place I needed as a kid,' we will have done our job well. ... We're here because of all of us. It took every single person (in here), so you all deserve to be celebrated tonight.

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"Oct. 9, 2013, was our first actual community gathering that we had, and we've been chasing this (since then). We became a nonprofit in 2014, and we had a lot of iterations of the museum. But in 2021, when we were working through the pandemic, we doubled down on going for it, and that's what's brought us here today."

Haylee Chenchar, the museum's executive director, spoke about how the museum has been more than a decade in the making.

"We'd be nowhere if not for two very special people, Amy Surdam and Caroline Veit," said Chenchar. "I think we all know we wouldn't have this museum if not for the vision of these two. ... This morning, we got a photo of their original whiteboard that they had 11 years ago at their first kitchen table meeting for their vision."

In the past, the museum had faced some challenges with its development and construction. The location choice was a large topic of discussion for local residents, as the original plan was to build it in the "hole" on West Lincolnway left by a fire in 2004.

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But the board ultimately settled on the location on O'Neil Avenue that was offered by the Dinneen family. This location was deemed the best option due to it providing more parking space, a bus drop-off location and space for growth that was still in downtown Cheyenne.

The museum is currently accepting donations, volunteers and members. Volunteers must be 14 or older and be able to commit a minimum of one two- to four-hour shift per month for a minimum of six months.

It'll start its pilot opening in December, with a plan to be officially open to the public in January.
After three airplanes were shot at in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, the U.S, State Department and the Federal Aviation Administration have issued new warnings for the island nation.

The FAA has banned all flights for 30 days while the State Department has updated its Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory for Haiti.

"Do not travel to Haiti due to kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and limited health care," the warning is headlined.

Related: What the US governments Bahamas travel warning means for cruises

"The U.S. government is very limited in its ability to help U.S. citizens in Haiti," it warned. "Local police and other first responders often lack the resources to respond to emergencies or serious crime.

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"Shortages of gasoline, electricity, medicine, and medical supplies are common throughout the country. Public and private medical clinics and hospitals often lack trained staff and basic resources. In addition, they require prepayment for services in cash."

Despite the dire situation in Haiti, Royal Caribbean continues to call on its Labadee, Haiti, private destination. The cruise line explained the situation in a recent letter to passengers on board Explorer of the Seas.

Be the first to see the best deals on cruises, special sailings, and more. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter.

Explorer of the Seas is still docking in Labadee.Image source: Daniel Kline/ComeCruiseWith.com

Royal Caribbean says Labadee is safe

Port-au-Prince and the populated parts of Haiti are nowhere near Royal Caribbean's Labadee beach resort. The cruise line has private security discreetly monitoring its fenced-off resort, and it has resources to make sure no groups make their way toward Labadee.

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The U.S. Embassy has recognized Labadee as a cruise-exclusive area with private security, low crime, and a place where only standard precautions are needed, Royal Caribbean told CruiseHive.

That would make Labadee a Level 1: Exercise Normal Caution destination. Many cruise ports where Royal Caribbean and other cruise lines stop are under Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution travel advisories.

Still, Royal Caribbean took steps on Explorer of the Seas to make sure passengers understood that Labadee was a safe place to stop.

Kindly note that the civil unrest taking place in Port-au-Prince is 128 miles south of our private destination, Labadee. The drive, on less-than-idea road conditions, would take more than six and a half hours, reads a letter left in guest's cabins before the port call.

ALSO READ: Top travel agents share how to get the best price on your cruise

Royal Caribbean stopped sailing to Labadee last March but resumed making stops there in August. It promised passengers on Explorer of the Seas that it was actively watching the situation.



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We continue to monitor the situation very closely alongside local authorities and our security team  [The] safety of our guests remains our top priority, the letter said.

Are you taking a cruise or thinking about taking one? Visit our Come Cruise With Me website to have all your questions answered.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Anurag Thakur visited his constituency on Friday. Speaking to ANI, Anurag Thakur said he met local residents at his office to address their issues. "I met the local people in my office in Hamirpur today to resolve their problems. Some issues will be raised with the concerned officials, for which I have invited them to the Disha Committee meeting so that these matters can be discussed in the presence of all relevant officials," the BJP MP stated. Earlier, after senior AAP leader Kailash Gahlot joined the BJP on Monday, Anurag Thakur criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), alleging it had surpassed the Congress in corruption, leading to its ministers leaving the party one by one. "AAP made big promises to the public that it failed to fulfil. It could not live up to public expectations. Aam Aadmi Party is synonymous with corruption. There is hardly any party more corrupt than AAP in the country. Corruption began with Kejriwal and has gradually spread to its MLAs and ministers. Although the party is called the Aam Aadmi Party, it has nothing to do with the common man. AAP has broken even the Congress's record in corruption. This is why the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister of the Aam Aadmi Party, embroiled in corruption, have resigned, and their ministers are leaving the party one after another," Thakur told reporters in Hamirpur. In a significant setback for the Aam Aadmi Party ahead of the Delhi Assembly polls, senior leader Kailash Gahlot joined the BJP on Monday. Gahlot, who resigned from AAP on Sunday citing concerns over the party's direction and internal challenges, joined the BJP in the presence of Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and other BJP leaders. (ANI)
Nov. 22LIMA  A Lima man recently pleaded not guilty in the Allen County Common Pleas Court on a charge of felonious assault after an incident involving his wife.

According to court documents, on Sept. 20, Lima police responded to a domestic violence situation and arrested Christopher Compton, 43. His wife was taken to the hospital with a collapsed lung, three broken ribs and a broken nose.

Compton allegedly told Lima Police Detective Jesse Harrod his wife was drunk and tripped and fell over a kitten and hit her face on a countertop, while his wife allegedly told officers Compton beat her and went to a neighbor to have them call 911.

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Compton is being held in the Allen County Jail on a $200,000 bond. Motions to modify the bond to an own-recognizance bond have been filed twice and have both been overruled by Judge Terri Kohlrieser. Judge Jeffrey Reed also denied a bond modification Friday at a pretrial hearing.

Compton is an Army combat veteran, Compton's previous attorney, Public Defender Kenneth Sturgill, wrote in a bond modification motion.

Another pretrial is scheduled for Dec. 20 and a jury trial is set to begin Jan. 21.

Reach Charlotte Caldwell at 567-242-0451.

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Nov. 22LIMA  A Lima man recently pleaded not guilty to nine charges of rape and two charges of gross sexual imposition in the Allen County Common Pleas Court due to an incident involving an 11-year-old girl.

Dedrick Graham is being held in the Allen County Jail on a $150,000 bond. His attorney, Public Defender Kenneth Sturgill, recently filed a motion to modify the bond, saying Graham would live with his mother and agreed to comply with the no-contact order with the victim and victim's family.

A pretrial has been set for Dec. 2.

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According to a narrative provided in court documents from Lima Police Detective Steve Stechschulte, the girl told an adult that sometime in September, Graham, 32, was playing a video game with her and asked her if she wanted to play another game. When she said yes, he asked her what she was going to do for him. Graham then retrieved a massager from the closet, pulled her pants down and used the massager on her privates. He told her not to tell anyone.

Graham told Stechschulte he used the massager on the girl but said he "used it on her torso to tickle her playfully."

"He also claimed the 11-year-old probably made it up because he limited her time on her tablet a few days before that," Stechschulte wrote.

"Dedrick was evasive of his past and couldn't remember being adjudicated as a delinquent for a sexual oriented offense while in the Michigan foster system. He also neglected to disclose that he actually placed the massager in a clear plastic drawer in his bedroom," Stechschulte continued.

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Graham gave officers permission to extract information from his phone.

"The phone extraction revealed that on the morning he was arrested, he was conducting internet searches of 'how to beat a lie detector,' 'police questioning procedures,' 'punishment for sexual assault in Ohio' as well as several other related searches," Stechschulte wrote.

Reach Charlotte Caldwell at 567-242-0451.

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Time to rethink which chocolate you're reaching for this holiday season.

Lindt/Allrecipes

Craving some dark chocolate? We're sorry to break it to you, but one of our longtime favorite chocolate brands may be off the table. In February 2023, American consumers filed a class-action lawsuit against Lindt alleging that heavy metals were found in its purportedly expertly crafted chocolate.

The lawsuit came after a Consumer Reports study found high levels of cadmium in the Lindt Excellence Dark Chocolate 70% Cocoa bar and high levels of lead in the Lindt Excellence Dark Chocolate 85% Cocoa bar.

What to Know About the Lindt Lawsuit

The people behind the lawsuit protested that they had paid upmarket prices for Lindt bars because they thought they were "purchasing quality and safe dark chocolate." Notably, the plaintiffs in the case are based in Alabama, California, Florida, Illinois, Nevada, and New York, states where there are labeling laws that Lindt may be trying to sidestep.

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The Swiss company behind the chocolate, Lindt & Sprungli, released a statement to the Agence France Presse (AFP) last week to claim, "Lindt & Sprungli disagrees with all the allegations made in the U.S. lawsuit. Our Lindt & Sprungli quality and safety procedures ensure that all products comply with all applicable safety standards and declaration requirements and are safe to consume.

A word that came up often in the wake of the lawsuit was puffery. According to New Yorks Eastern District Court, product puffery is defined as exaggerated advertising, blustering, and boasting upon which no reasonable buyer would rely.

The word was brought up by Lindt & Sprunglis lawyers, who claim that the words expertly crafted with the finest ingredients" and excellence printed on Lindt bars are puffery, so the court cannot take legal action. In essence, the lawyers are saying consumers shouldn't take the descriptions printed on the chocolate bars so seriously.

Safer Dark Chocolate Options

In addition to listing which chocolate bars contained alarming levels of lead and cadmium, the Consumer Reports study also indexed which chocolate bars were safe to eat. The list includes bars from Mast, Taza Chocolate, and Valrhona, as well as Lindt & Sprungli-owned American brand, Ghirardelli. With the holidays quickly approaching, it looks like we'll be reaching for one of those brands to stuff into stockings.


Nov. 23The San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters has 9,765 ballots left to process before certifying the election results with the California Secretary of State by Dec. 2.

Of those unprocessed, some 8,632 are conditional voter registration ballots, and 1,113 are provisional.

Another 5,793 are ballots with noncomparable signatures, or those that were submitted without them.

Once all ballots are processed, there should be 263,594 counted. And with 378,657 registered voters, turnout is expected to have been 69%.

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The Sacramento County Registrar of Voters has 26,050 ballots left to process, and once they are counted, voter turnout is expected to have been 75%.

Area city council elections

For Lodi City Council, Ramon Yepez remains in the lead for his re-election bid to the District 4 seat, while Matthew Pratton is trying to stave off Bonnie Rodriguez for the second open seat on the Galt City Council.

Yepez has collected 741 votes, for 44.16% of ballots cast thus far, while Lyndsy Davis has tallied 555 votes for 33%. Alex Aliferis garnered 382 votes and 22.77%.

Tim Reed continues to hold a commanding lead for Galt City Council, receiving 5,694 votes for 43% of ballots cast.

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Pratton and Rodriguez both have garnered 28% of the vote for the second seat, with the former collecting 3,775 ballots and the latter with 3,762.

In the Isleton City Council race, Dean Dockery has taken the lead over Aleida Suarez, although both will be headed for the dais.

Dockery has 129 votes and Suarez has collected 113. E. Kelly Hutson has 18, while Paul Steele and Jose Morquecho have tallied 50 and 33, respectively.

Diana Villones O'Brien has collected 132 votes in the race for Isleton City Council over Michelle Burke, who has 86.

Local school boards

Victoria Lenderman remains ahead of Maia Aguirre in the Lodi Unified School District Board of Education Area 2 seat race, with the former collecting 3,962 votes for 43.64% of ballots cast. Aguirre has 2,582 votes for 28.44%.

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Incumbent Gary Knackstedt, who conceded the seat during Tuesday's meeting, garnered 2,250 votes for 37.69%.

Tammi Van Houton and Ann Ullrich have continued to keep Daniel Rice at bay for the two open seats on the Oak View School District Board of Education, though that race is still close.

Van Houton has received 632 votes so far, for 35.55% of ballots cast, while Ullrich has received 618 votes and 33.79%. Rice tallied 579 votes and 31.66%.

Karol Messersmith took the lead in the race for the Galt Joint Union High School District Board of Education last week and has held on to it thus far, collecting 1,719 votes to incumbent Pat Maple's 1,656 as of the most recent update.

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The Galt district's Measure H, which would secure $27 million to repair and upgrade facilities and improve campus security, has garnered 7,072 votes in favor and 5,549 against.

Other races

At the state level, Jerry McNerney has widened his lead against Clements resident Jim Shoemaker for the State Senate District 5 seat.

McNerney has collected 51.9% and 124,332 votes, to Shoemaker's 48.1% and 115,317 tallies.

Assemblyman Heath Flora, R-Ripon, still has a commanding lead over Lodi resident Tami Nobriga, receiving 70.2% of the vote and 125,418 tallies. Nobriga has 29.8% and 53,281 votes.

And at the federal level, U.S. Rep. Josh Harder, D-Tracy, is holding on to his lead over Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln in the 9th District seat race, garnering 51.9% of the vote with 124,332 tallies. Lincoln has 48.1% and 115,317 votes.

Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Sacramento, garnered 66.8% of the vote with 191,295 ballots in the race for the 7th District seat, while Galt resident Tom Silva has received 46.9% and 162,659 ballots.
Careys Run bridge project complete

Careys Run Road bridge replacement at the 2.08-mile marker is now complete, according to Scioto County Engineer Darren LeBrun. The road is now open.

Please contact the engineers office at (740) 259-5541 or visit SciotoCountyEngineer.org with any questions or comments.

Sixth Street closure to affect travel on Monday

Effective Monday, Nov. 25, Sixth Street from Washington to Gay Street will become a one-way street heading east. Sixth Street will be temporarily closed beginning the Monday to install pavement markings and signage.

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Avoid this area on the 25th so the work can be done in a safe manner. If you travel this street regularly, please alter your route to abide by the new one-way direction.

Brownfield projects get state grant funding

The Pike County Land Reutilization Corp. has been awarded two state grants for brownfield cleanup and remediation.

The Pike land bank will receive $119,659 for the removal of the underground storage tank system, petroleum-contaminated soil, and water from the former Ricer Gas Station site. Located along a state route, this site has high potential for commercial use, attracting interest from developers once environmental hazards are addressed.

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The second project is the Waverly Bi-Low redevelopment, which will receive $244,000. This project will include soil and groundwater cleanup at a former gas station site. Upon completion, the site will be ready for commercial redevelopment.

These awards are part of a $58.2 million statewide grant package from the Ohio Department of Developments Brownfield Remediation Program.

Senator Terry Johnson visits Oak Hill Elementary

State Senator Terry Johnson, R-McDermott, was honored to be a guest at Oak Hill Elementary Schools Veterans Day Celebration.

I am thankful for these young Americans who are displaying such patriotism in remembering our veterans and showing them gratitude, Johnson said. I hope they continue to love our country and show such strong appreciation for it and our servants in the Armed Forces.

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Johnson spoke to the students as part of the event, highlighting the importance of our veterans in our nations success and the importance of loving our country and serving others.

Johnson is a retired military officer who began his career with the Ohio Army National Guard while in medical school. He attained the rank of colonel in just 12 years. Dr. Johnson was deployed overseas multiple times, including two tours in Iraq and one posting in Kuwait. He ended his military career in 2011 as the Army Guards State Surgeon, the highest position attainable for a Medical Corps officer then.
The Charlotte Rescue Mission is hoping for a rush of donations this weekend after coming up short on its collection goals.

The organization said it needs both frozen turkeys and food boxes.

Mission leaders told Channel 9s Eli Brand that their motivation is to help as many as they can.

ALSO READ: Man uses Pineville storefront to collect donations for Helene victims

But this year they are still well short of their goal as the holiday approaches.

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As of last week, we were still about 1,300 turkeys short, said Charlotte Rescue Mission President and CEO Trina Fullard.

Volunteers will be at 624 McNinch St. from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday accepting any turkeys or boxes of Thanksgiving supplies people can donate.

>> Volunteers expressed how much giving back means to them, in the video at the top of the page.

VIDEO: Man uses Pineville storefront to collect donations for Helene victims












TUPELO  The final results are out, and third grade students in Tupelo nearly matched the statewide average in reading ability, while third graders in Lee County, Oxford and Lafayette County surpassed the average, according to the Mississippi Department of Education.

The MDE announced on Nov. 7 that 84.0% of Mississippi third graders passed the third grade reading assessment after the final retest for the 2023-24 school year.

Though the pass rate is slightly lower than 2022-23 (84.9%), third graders achieved an all-time high proficiency of 57.7% in English Language Arts (ELA) for the 2023-24 school year, the MDE press release reads. The increased ELA proficiency rate marks a continuous upward trend since 2016 (33.6%).

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In the Tupelo Public School District, 83.2% of 2023-24 third graders passed their assessments after the final retests. That number was 84.7% for the Lee County School District, 86.1% for the Oxford Public School District, and 84.3% for the Lafayette County School District.

The Literacy Based Promotion Act (LBPA)  passed in 2013 and amended in 2016  promotes reading skills for students in kindergarten through third grade. It requires all third grade Mississippi public school students to score Level 3 or higher on the reading portion of the Mississippi Academic Assessment Program  English Language Arts (MAAP-ELA) test in order to progress to fourth grade. Students who dont pass can also receive good cause exemptions, which allows students learning English or who have disabilities to move on to fourth grade even without passing the reading assessment.

TPSD and Lee County SD administer the MAAP-ELA test in April. Students who fail the first test were retested May 6-10. The second retest window was June 17-28.

After the final retests for the 2022-23 school year, the state average pass rate was 84.9%, the TPSDs rate was 85%, the Lee County SDs rate was 89.3%, the OPSDs rate was 88.3%, and the Lafayette County SDs rate was 85.4%. All four districts pass rates dropped from 2022-23 to 2023-24.

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The drop in score did not surprise Lee County SDs director of student assessment, Stephen Adams. The 2023-24 third graders were in kindergarten in 2020-21, when most COVID-19 pandemic remote schooling took place. Much of that cohort of students did kindergarten from home, and many of them stayed home for first grade, as well. The MAAP-ELA test results were actually a bit better than Adams was expecting.

We were realistic about the results that we might see, and we were pleasantly surprised by the results, Adams said.

Moving forward, Lee County SD is focused on providing teachers the professional development they need to provide their students the best education possible. The district hopes and expects to see MAAP-ELA performance improve as a result.

TPSD shifted third grade curricula in the 2023-24 school year away from test preparation and toward more practical reading skills, TPSD Deputy Superintendent Kim Britton said in May after the first round of retests. That the third graders reading-assessment pass rates remained largely steady was an excellent sign.

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Ultimately, though state testing is important, Lee County schools are more focused on overall student success, Adams noted.

We want these kids to be prepared, Adams said. We want them to have integrity and character modeled for them each day, and we want them to learn the necessary prerequisites to be successful.
The Ohio Department of Development and the Area Agency on Aging District 7 (AAA7) want to remind Ohioans that assistance is available to help with their home energy bills. The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) helps Ohioans at or below 175 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for a household of up to seven members and 60 percent of State Median Income for a household of eight or more members to pay their heating bills.

Applied directly to the customers utility or bulk fuel bill, the benefit can help manage heating costs. Older Ohioans may go to their local Area Agency on Aging office for help with assembling the required documents and completing their HEAP application. They may also visit www.energyhelp.ohio.gov to apply online or to download a copy of the application.

When applying, individuals need to have copies of the following documents:

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* Most recent utility bills

* A list of all household members (including birth dates and Social Security numbers)

* Proof of income for the past 30 days for all household members (12 months for certain income types)

* Proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency for all household members

* Proof of disability (if applicable)

HEAP benefits are applied to an individuals energy bill after Jan. 1. Applications for the HEAP program must be received by May 31, 2025.

For more information or assistance with applying for a HEAP benefit, contact the AAA7 at 1-800-582-7277 or e-mail info@aaa7.org. To be connected to your local Energy Assistance Provider, call (800) 282-0880 (hearing impaired clients may dial 711 for assistance) or visit www.energyhelp.ohio.gov.

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Local partners in the AAA7s core 10-county district include:

Scioto County: Scioto County Community Action

Adams County: Adams County Senior Citizens Center

Lawrence County: Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action

Pike County: Community Action Committee of Pike County

Vinton County: Jackson-Vinton Community Action

Your local Area Agency on Aging District 7, Inc. provides services on a non-discriminatory basis. These services are available to help older adults and those with disabilities live safely and independently in their residence of choice through services paid for by Medicare, Medicaid, other federal and state resources, as well as private pay. The AAA7s Resource Center is also available to anyone in the community looking for information or assistance with long-term care options. Available Monday through Friday from 8:00 am until 4:30 pm, the Resource Center is a valuable contact for learning more about options and what programs and services are available for assistance.

Those interested in learning more can call toll-free at 1-800-582-7277 (TTY: 711). Here, individuals can speak directly with a specially-trained Resource Specialist who will assist them with information surrounding the programs and services that are available to best serve their needs. The Agency also offers an assessment at no cost for those who are interested in learning more. Information is also available on www.aaa7.org, or the Agency can be contacted through e-mail at info@aaa7.org. The Agency also has a Facebook page located at www.facebook.com/AreaAgencyOnAgingDistrict7.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  A Lockport man was arrested and charged with first-degree rape Friday following an investigation, the Niagara County Sheriffs Office announced.

A complaint involving a juvenile victim led to the investigation. Edwin Livingston, 39, was charged with first-degree rape, first-degree criminal sexual act and first-degree sexual abuse.

He is currently being held at the Niagara County Correctional Facility pending arraignment.

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Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University.

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The town of Marana on Friday announced the death of its mayor, Ed Honea. He was 77 years old.

He is survived by his two children, Whitney and Tiffany, and three grandchildren.

Vice Mayor Jon Post will assume the duties of mayor in an interim capacity. The town declined to offer comment about the details surrounding his death.

Our community has lost a remarkable leader and advocate who served Marana for nearly 40 years, said Town Manager Terry Rozema. Mayor Honea was not only a champion for Marana, but also a friend and mentor to many of us."

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Honeas public service career spanned 37 years, as well as mayor for three terms and two stints as mayor, the first from 1995 to 1997 and the second from 2005 to 2024. Before he retired in 2007 he was a contractor for the U.S. Postal Service in Marana for 29 years.

As the mayor of Maranas neighbor to the south, Tucson Mayor Regina Romero said in a statement posted on social media that she was so sorry to hear the news of Honeas death.

I always appreciated his willingness to continue our dialogue and valued how he always asked about me and my family, Romero said. His experience and leadership will be missed. On behalf of the City of Tucson, Id like to extend our deepest condolences to his family and the residents of Marana.

Details about services and ways to honor Honeas memory will be shared as they become available, the town said.

Who is Ed Honea?

From a fifth-generation Marana family, Honeas roots run deep in the community, the town said in a press release. He graduated from Marana High School in 1965 and studied at the U.S. Naval School of Construction and Pima Community College. He also served during the Vietnam War in the U.S. Navy Construction Force Seabees, Navy construction specialists.

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He was also a deeply spiritual man. He was a member of Light the Way Lutheran Church and the Community Christian Church of Marana.

He was also a member of numerous boards and organizations including the Pima Association of Governments and the Regional Transportation Authority, among others.

A lover of recreation, he was also an advocate for the Marana Aquatic & Recreation Center, and instrumental in creating the Marana Food Bank & Community Resource Center.

Where is Marana?

Marana is a historically agriculture town but is fast-growing. Located 10 miles northwest of Tucson and 90 minutes south of Phoenix, it has attracted a strong presence of aerospace and aviation services, as well as defense industries.

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According to Maranas Development Services Department, the 56,000-person town is expected to exceed 75,000 people by 2040, an estimate based on U.S. census data.

Reach the reporter at sarah.lapidus@gannett.com. The Republics coverage of southern Arizona is funded, in part, with a grant from Report for America. Support Arizona news coverage with a tax-deductible donation at supportjournalism.azcentral.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Ed Honea, Marana mayor with 37-year career in public service, dies
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Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Moroccan Crown Prince Moulay Hassan in Casablanca, Morocco, Nov. 21, 2024. Xi met with Hassan during a technical stop in Casablanca after wrapping up his state visit to Brazil. Assigned by Moroccan King Mohammed VI, Hassan and Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch greeted Xi at the airport. A welcome ceremony was held there. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that China is ready to continue working with Morocco to firmly support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests, and push for greater development of China-Morocco strategic partnership.

Xi made the remarks when meeting with Moroccan Crown Prince Moulay Hassan during a technical stop in Casablanca after wrapping up his state visit to Brazil.

Assigned by Moroccan King Mohammed VI, Hassan and Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch greeted Xi at the airport. A welcome ceremony was held there.

Xi asked Hassan to convey his cordial greetings and best wishes to King Mohammed VI.

Xi pointed out that China and Morocco have witnessed sound development in their relations, with fruitful practical cooperation and increasingly vibrant exchanges in various fields. In 2016, Xi said, King Mohammed VI paid a state visit to China, during which they held productive talks, bringing China-Morocco relations to a new level.

China is ready to work with Morocco to implement the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, and work for more outcomes in practical cooperation across various fields within the framework of Belt and Road cooperation, Xi said.

China supports Morocco's efforts in safeguarding national security and stability, Xi added, calling on the two countries to expand cultural and people-to-people exchanges, so as to enhance public support for their friendship.

For his part, Hassan conveyed the sincere greetings and warm welcome from King Mohammed VI to Xi, saying that bilateral ties have maintained a sound development momentum.

He thanked China for its valuable support to Morocco during the COVID-19 pandemic, which the Moroccan people will never forget.

The Moroccan royal family and government are firmly committed to further developing bilateral relations, and are willing to maintain high-level exchanges with China and strengthen cooperation in various fields, he said.

The Chinese language and culture are very popular among the Moroccan people, Hassan said, expressing his hope for promoting bilateral people-to-people exchanges.

Noting that the two countries hold similar positions on many issues, he said the Moroccan side stands ready to work with China to firmly support each other in safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and stability.

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Casablanca, Morocco, for a technical stop on Nov. 21, 2024, after wrapping up his state visit to Brazil. Assigned by Moroccan King Mohammed VI, Moroccan Crown Prince Moulay Hassan and Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch greeted Xi at the airport. A welcome ceremony was held there. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)




Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union government of protecting industrialist Adani, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC President DK Shivakumar on Friday called for his arrest to save the country's reputation. Addressing a press conference at the KPCC office, he said, "Our leader Rahul Gandhi has been highlighting corruption by industrialist Adani. Despite that, investigative agencies have not taken any action." "An American Court has indicted Adani in connection with irregularities in a green energy project. The Centre must take this seriously and bring him to book. The BJP government has arrested many Opposition leaders including chief ministers, why can't it arrest an industrialist," he questioned. "There is no point in protecting Adani. The government has to protect the people of the country who have invested thousands of crores in Adani's companies," he urged. Asked about BJP leaders challenging the Congress government to attach Adani's assets in Karnataka, he said, "Let the Union government initiate an inquiry and communicate to the state government to take action, then we will take suitable action here." Replying to a query if the State government would cancel Adani Group's Rs 20,000 crore investments in the state, he said, "We are not against any investment which is clean. We will discuss this during the Invest Karnataka event." 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 course and slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (ANI)
BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD)  A man was arrested in connection to an officer-involved shooting in Baton Rouge, according to Louisiana State Police.

Casey Cagle Jr., 40, was arrested and booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. Hes charged with aggravated battery and aggravated assault on a peace officer.

According to LSP, in the early morning hours of Nov. 21, Baton Rouge Police Department officers were called to a home in the 3400 block of North Sherwood Forest Drive regarding a violent disturbance between roommates.

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Upon their arrival, officers made contact with Cagle, who had a knife. State police stated, despite receiving multiple commands to put down the knife, Cagle did not comply and charged toward the officers. As a result, one of the officers discharged his firearm, striking Cagle.

Boy who shot himself dies from injuries months later, Baton Rouge police say

Cagle was taken into custody and transported to a local hospital for treatment. According to LSP, he was later released from the hospital.

A Baton Rouge police officer was placed on administrative leave in connection with the shooting. This is an ongoing investigation.

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Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko has stated that he may completely shut down the internet during the 2025 presidential elections if protests similar to those in 2020 arise, state-run news outlet Belta reported on Nov. 22.

"If this (the protests) happens again, we will shut the internet down completely," Lukashenko said, admitting that internet shutdowns during the 2020 protests were carried out with his approval.

Speaking at Minsk State Linguistic University, he justified the 2020 internet blackout by claiming it was necessary to protect the countrys stability, as protests were allegedly organized online, particularly from abroad.

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Lukashenko also denied allegations of violence against demonstrators, asserting, "No one was holding down or beating anyone," despite widespread reports of police brutality during the 2020 protests.

Lukashenko, the country's leader since 1994 and Russian President Vladimir Putin's closest ally, has long been accused of staging fraudulent elections in Belarus.

In 2020, during the last presidential election, Lukashenko maintained power despite the country's most prominent opposition leader, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, receiving popular support  claiming she won with 60 percent of the vote.

Following the fabricated results, mass protest erupted in Minsk but were ultimately quelled with the support of Russia. According to the Belarusian human rights group Viasna, over 50,000 citizens have been detained for political reasons since the 2020 election.

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His remarks come as Belarus approaches its next presidential election, amid ongoing international scrutiny of his 30-year rule and the repression of dissent.

Read also: Belarus Weekly: New Russian military doctrine to cover Belarus with nuclear umbrella

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Former European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, who was also prime minister of Luxembourg for almost two decades, has criticized the reintroduction of border checks in Germany and other European Union states.

"I would like this to stop," he told dpa. "Anyone who thinks they can apprehend refugees in droves and other people with arrest warrants at official border points is mistaken."

He argued that smugglers are doing everything possible to avoid official police checks. This is especially true for the region around Luxembourg, where there is a lot of traffic over the borders with Germany, France and Belgium.

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Juncker expressed his concern, saying: "It bothers me that it seems to become such a normal thing to reintroduce border checks. And I don't want to get used to it."

Germany reintroduced checks at all German borders on September 16, justifying this with the limitation of "irregular migration" and the protection of internal security. Other EU states are also controlling their borders again.

The Schengen Agreement on unrestricted border crossings, the 40th anniversary of which is to be celebrated next year, permits border checks only exceptionally in the event of a "serious threat to public order or internal security" for an initial six months.

"A huge fuss"

Juncker stated that if Germany is now also considering making such checks permanent, "then it is not good for the sense of belonging of people in the Greater Region [of SaarLorLux]."

He added, "In that respect, I would be grateful if they would stop."

The Greater Region of SaarLorLux includes 11 regional authorities and stretches across four European states.
TITUSVILLE  Magisterial District Judge Amy Nicols of Titusville will retire from her judicial post in early January, but she plans to remain active as a senior magistrate.

Nicols has served as the judge for District 30-3-06 since 1996.

The judicial district, with offices in Titusville, covers about 447 square miles of eastern and southeastern Crawford County.

The courts jurisdiction is the city of Titusville; the boroughs of Blooming Valley, Centerville, Cochranton, Hydetown, Spartansburg and Townville; and the townships of Athens, Bloomfield, East Fairfield, East Mead, Fairfield, Oil Creek, Randolph, Richmond, Rome, Sparta, Steuben, Troy and Wayne.

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The judges last day as a full-time magistrate will be Jan. 3, 2025, but her current six-year term wont expire until the end of 2027.

I am going to miss helping people (but) its time, Nicols told The Meadville Tribune of why shes retiring. Im 62 and Ive got 28 years of service, so Im eligible.

Nicols and her husband, Bruce, are the parents of two adult daughters. She also recently became a grandmother to twins.

Magisterial district judges are the first level of court in Pennsylvanias Unified Judicial System.

They rule on minor criminal cases like summary offenses and third-degree misdemeanors; local ordinance violations; and dog, fish and game violations. Also, they hold preliminary hearings on higher level criminal offenses to determine if there is sufficient evidence to move the case to trial in county court. Plus, they also hear civil cases up to $12,000 in value, landlord/tenant cases, and vehicle code violations.

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Nicols became a magisterial district judge in July 1996 following appointment by then-Gov. Tom Ridge. She succeeded Ron Cole who had retired as the Titusville-area judge. She then went on to win election to her first six-year term in 1997.

She previously worked as a clerical administrator in Coles office since 1987 and became state certified as a magisterial district judge in 1995.

Though retiring from full-time status, Nicols has received appointment as a senior magisterial district judge from the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts. That means she is eligible to serve as a magisterial district judge on a temporary basis as assigned by the state court system, if she chooses.

Crawford County Court of Common Pleas President Judge John Spataro said the county will ask the state to supply a senior magisterial district judge to work at least two days per week in that district. As president judge, Spataro oversees operations of the countys four magisterial districts.

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The districts work load also will be divided among the countys three other magisterial district judges  Samuel Pendolino, Adam Stallard and Lincoln Zilhaver  until the office gets a full-time magisterial district judge.

With Nicols retirement, the office will be up for election in 2025 for a six-year term, Spataro confirmed.

However, there is the possibility of an interim appointment for 2025 by Gov. Josh Shapiro. Under Pennsylvania law, a gubernatorial appointment could be made subject to confirmation by the state Senate.

Filling these positions involves an appointment by the governor, followed by majority confirmation from the Senate, Manuel Bonder, spokesman for Shapiro, said in an email to the Tribune. The governor is committed to ensuring the effective functioning of the courts and will carefully review the situation to address these vacancies in a timely manner.
An earthquake with a magnitude of 3.8 struck Southern California Friday, which was felt by residents across the greater Los Angeles region.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake struck at 2:15 p.m. with an epicenter 3 miles north of Malibu and 7.4 miles southeast of Thousand Oaks. It initially registered a magnitude of 3.5 but was later upgraded to 3.8.

There were no reports of injuries or damage, and neither were likely given the magnitude.

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Thousands of earthquakes are recorded in California yearly, but the vast majority are extremely minor. Several hundred reach a magnitude of 3.0, and only about 15 to 20 are greater than magnitude 4.0, according to the USGS.

In North America, only Alaska records more quakes per year than California.

What to do in an earthquake

During an earthquake, its crucial to know the proper steps to protect yourself and minimize injury. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) provides detailed guidelines on what to do during such events. Here are the key points:

Drop, Cover, and Hold On:

Drop: Immediately drop down onto your hands and knees. This position prevents you from being knocked over and allows you to stay low and crawl to safety if necessary.

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Cover: Use one arm to protect your head and neck, and if possible, take shelter under a sturdy table or desk. If no shelter is available, get down next to an interior wall away from windows. Stay on your knees and bend over to protect vital organs.

Hold On: Hold on to your shelter until the shaking stops. Be prepared to move with your shelter if it shifts.

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More than a month after gunfire shattered the block, wood remains are still covering the windows of Diljah Restaurant and Lounge, a business that was caught in the crossfire of a shooting. The violence occurred when a gunman opened fire on the establishment as it was closing its doors for the night.

>> Father of man who died after shooting at Lawrenceville bar speaks out following suspects arrest

Malcolm Nowlin, father of 26-year-old Malcolm Nowlin Jr., who was fatally shot while working as a security guard at the lounge, has spoken out about his sons death.

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My son was doing his job, and he was in the right place, Nowlin said. The shooter made a senseless choice.

Nowlin described his son as a good person who deserved justice.

For the first time, Nowlin faced his sons alleged killer, Eric Sudduth-Jones II, in court. Police say Sudduth-Jones shot 19 times into the lounge after being denied entry when the business was closing.

>> Man arrested after deadly shooting at Lawrenceville bar

It was hard, but I needed to be there, Nowlin said. I wanted to represent my son and see justice done.

Detectives testified that phone data placed Sudduth-Jones in East Pittsburgh at the time a car was set on fire under a bridge. The vehicle was traced back to his mother and appeared in surveillance footage. Additionally, a text found on Sudduth-Jones phone read: I need matches and fire right now.

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As a result, Sudduth-Jones now faces 11 new charges, including arson, along with the original homicide charge. All those charges were held for trial.

Malcolm Nowlin continues to wait for justice for his son. He loved life, brought joy to everyone around him, Nowlin said.

Sudduth-Jones defense attorney declined to comment after the hearing. The suspect is set for a formal arraignment on Dec. 23.

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A Florida man was taken into custody and accused of scamming a 74-year-old woman living in Texas out of hundreds of thousands of dollars by impersonating billionaire Elon Musk, police announced on Thursday.

Jeffrey Moynihan, Jr., a 56-year-old business owner in Florida, was charged with grand theft for allegedly tricking the woman into giving him at least $250,000, according to an arrest warrant obtained by HuffPost.

Its unclear if Moynihan has an attorney representing him.

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The woman initially befriended Moynihan in 2023 over Facebook, believing he was really Musk, and in the months that followed the two continued to communicate.

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk speaks at a rally for former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden in New York, October 27, 2024. ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images

Detective Jim Curulla of the Bradenton Police Departments Elder Fraud Unit told NBC affiliate WLEX-TV that Moynihan used information gathered from Musks social media accounts to guide his conversation with the woman.

So, if [Moynihan] went and saw a launch, he would say, Well today, Im at a launch but maybe we can talk tonight when Im free or This week Im going to go talk to some high-profile people and maybe you can watch me on TV tonight, Curulla said.

When questioned by her 80-year-old husband, the woman maintained that she knew she was talking to the real Musk because news coverage coincided with what Moynihan was telling her he was up to, according to WLEX.

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Moynihan eventually convinced the woman to make an investment with him, telling her she would receive $55 million in return, according to the warrant. He allegedly told the woman to wire over $370,000 to several different bank accounts in different states connecting to Jeffs Painting and Pressure Washing, LLC, which he claimed was his money manager.

Bank records cited in the warrant show a total of $250,000 transferred from the woman to accounts belonging to Jeffs Painting and Pressure Washing, LLC, which list Moynihan as the owner. The bank manger told police that Moynihans abnormal financial activity tipped off their fraud unit, and the bank eventually closed his accounts, the warrant said.

Moynihan was arrested at his home on Tuesday, according to police.

The womans husband told police that he believes his wife gave Moynihan more money, around $600,000 in all, according to the warrant. He added he believes his wife has dementia and still thinks the Musk who befriended her was real.

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A spokesperson for the Bradenton Police Department told HuffPost the investigation is still ongoing and detectives are continuing to go through the evidence obtained from Moynihans home.

A recent FBI report found that elder fraud complaints rose by 14% in 2023, with 101,000 victims over the age of 60. These scams caused over $3.4 billion in losses that year, with the average victim losing about $33,915.

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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  A man is facing a sexual battery charge after a woman said a substance she identified as semen hit her clothing as she vacuumed her vehicle at an east Bakersfield car wash.

Fernando Moreno, a registered sex offender, was arrested a day after the incident and also charged with possession of ammunition by a prohibited person, according to court records and a warrant filed by Bakersfield police.

The incident occurred May 31 at Mister Car Wash on Mt. Vernon Avenue after a gray Toyota Camry pulled into the spot next to her, the woman told police. She felt something wet hit her from behind and wiped it off.

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She told police she realized what it was due to the smell, according to the warrant.

I made a mistake: Man left girlfriends child in hot car for nearly 4 hours: docs

The Toyota drove away as she turned around.

A car wash employee told police a similar incident occurred May 20 when the driver of a white Mercedes Benz with South Dakota plates squirted fluid from a small bottle at a female, according to the warrant. That incident was not reported to police.

Police performed a records check on the Mercedes and went to the registered owners address. They saw a gray Toyota Camry at the residence.

Police were told several people use the car  but Moreno had been driving it that morning, according to the warrant.

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The car wash employee was shown a photo lineup and asked to pick out the man who squirted the substance on May 20. He chose Morenos photo, according to the warrant.

On June 1, police arrested Moreno after searching his room and the Toyota, the warrant says.

In the Toyota they located cellphones, a tablet computer  and two small bottles, one labeled lotion containing a viscous white fluid, according to the warrant. Its not clear from the warrant if the substance in the bottle or which hit the woman was identified through testing as semen.

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ST. LOUIS  A man was arrested and charged in connection with a womans death Wednesday in St. Louis City that followed an abduction in nearby Clayton.

The St. Louis Circuits Attorneys Office has charged Anjuan Mosby, 43, with 18 felonies in the investigation, including first-degree murder and eight counts of armed criminal action.

Investigators believe that Mosby and the victim, identified as 37-year-old Michelle Hampton, were known to each other.

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On Wednesday, authorities were called to St. Louis Kingsway East neighborhood just after 11 a.m. A woman, later identified as Hampton, was found shot to death in an alley on the 4700 block of Greer Avenue near Marcus Avenue.

Whats behind the doors of this Missouri cave? A former roller rink, concert stage and more

Investigators in St. Louis and Clayton determined Hampton was kidnapped early Wednesday morning in front of her home on Whitburn Drive by an armed suspect.

Witnesses told FOX 2 that Hampton was in the drivers seat of a car with another person in the passenger seat. At least one witness followed the vehicle into St. Louis City, but stopped after someone fired shots at their car.

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The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department announced on Saturday that its officers were able to arrest Mosby with assistance from the US Marshals Task Force and St. Louis County Police Department.

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Mosby will be booked at the St. Louis Justice Center. His charges in the City of St. Louis include:

First-degree murder

First-degree assault

Two counts of first-degree robbery

First-degree attempted robbery

Violation of UUW Subsection 9

Eight counts of armed criminal action

First-degree kidnapping

Two counts of endangering the Welfare of a Child

Unlawful Possession of a Firearm

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Mosby also faces a federal charge of kidnapping (resulting in death) in connection with the investigation.

St. Louis police say the investigation into Hamptons death is still very active and ongoing. If you have any relevant information to this case, contact SLMPDs homicide division at 314-444-5371 or CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS (8477).

This is a developing story. FOX 2 will update as more information becomes available.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A man was arrested on Friday after Memphis Police say he was responsible for a fatal shooting in Northaven last year.

Lamarious Rattler, 24, has been charged with first-degree murder, possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony and convicted felon in possession of a firearm.

Lamarious Rattler. (SCSO)

On October 19, 2023, deputies with the Shelby County Sheriffs Office responded to a shooting with injuries at Penny Pantry convenience store located in the 4000 block of Breckenwood Drive.

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When a deputy arrived, he saw a large crowd around an unresponsive male victim with multiple gunshot wounds to his torso in front of the store.

As the deputy waited for paramedics to arrive at the scene, he did CPR on the victim.

Suspect in Young Dolph case placed on a 6 year diversion

However, the victim was declared deceased by paramedics at 6:45 p.m.

Deputies were able to identify the victim after speaking to multiple parties on the scene.

Deputies also reviewed the camera system that showed the following:

The male victim was speaking with an unknown man outside of a red Cadillac sedan in the parking lot.

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Suddenly, the victim stopped talking to the man and began walking toward the middle of the parking lot, where a thin man wearing a white jacket with black pants began to fire shots at him with an unknown firearm.

According to the police report, the victim began to run away from the suspect when he was struck and fell to the ground. The suspect proceeded to stand over the victim and fire more rounds into him.

The suspect then left the scene in a light gray Infiniti G37 bearing Mississippi tags.

Witnesses nearby the scene told deputies that the shooter goes by multiple nicknames such as Lil Yack and Lil Hen.

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Woman dead after shooting leads to crash; 4 wanted

Detectives were told that a man named Lamarious Rattler went by those nicknames.

They searched Facebook and found three profiles with Rattler as their profile pictures. They also learned that Rattler and the victim were Facebook friends, which detectives took to mean that they knew each other.

When detectives spoke to the mother of the victims child, she told them that she was not at the scene of the shooting. However, she was told that Yak shot the victim over him selling marijuana to someone that Yak was supposed to sell marijuana to.

She also told detectives that the two had known each other for years.

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With this information, detectives prepared a six-person lineup and met with one of the nearby witnesses.

They were able to pick Rattler out of the lineup without hesitation and in a written statement said, Lil Hen shot [the victim] dead with an all-black .223.

Rattler is expected to appear before a judge on Monday.

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The Supreme Court of India has provided partial relief in the ongoing legal tussle concerning the disqualification of Chief Parliamentary Secretaries (CPS) as members of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly. This comes in response to the High Court's earlier order declaring the appointment of CPS unconstitutional under Section 3D of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly Members (Removal of Disqualification) Act, 1971. The Supreme Court's order was issued during the hearing of a Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by the Himachal Pradesh government challenging the High Court's verdict. The apex court upheld the disqualification of CPS members, including one who is a mother, while safeguarding their membership in the Assembly. Additionally, it stayed the High Court's decision to declare Section 3D unconstitutional, thereby allowing CPS appointees to retain their posts until a final ruling is delivered. Commenting on the legal developments, Revenue and Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for allegedly misinterpreting the law for political gain. He accused the BJP of attempting to destabilise the state government by exploiting legal technicalities and spreading misinformation. "Our argument in the Supreme Court was clear. The High Court's ruling compared our laws to those in Assam and Manipur, where CPS were granted ministerial status. However, the situation in Himachal is different, as CPS here do not hold ministerial status. This distinction was overlooked. The Supreme Court's stay is a victory for us, as it prevents any immediate disqualification of CPS members," said Negi. He further alleged that the BJP was using legal means to orchestrate "Operation Lotus," a term often associated with attempts to topple opposition-led governments through financial inducements and the misuse of investigative agencies. "They aim to confuse people and destabilise our government. This isn't just about CPS but about democracy itself. If elected representatives can be disqualified through retrospective application of laws, what message are we sending to the public?" he asked. Negi also addressed the controversy surrounding the High Court's earlier decision to close certain hotels in Himachal Pradesh due to occupancy violations. He welcomed the recent relief granted by the court, which allows tourism establishments to operate under regulated guidelines. "This judgment will support tourism, which is the backbone of our economy. Thousands of livelihoods depend on these hotels. However, instead of supporting Himachal's development, the BJP continues to defame the state," Negi remarked. He did not hold back in his criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of tarnishing Himachal Pradesh's image for electoral gains. "It is unfortunate that the Prime Minister praises Himachal's cuisine and culture during visits but maligns the state's reputation elsewhere. This hypocrisy harms the people of Himachal," he said. Negi also linked the CPS issue to broader national controversies, citing allegations against the Adani Group. Referring to recent FIRs filed in the United States accusing Adani of corruption in solar projects, Negi accused the BJP of shielding corporate allies. "Rahul Gandhi and the Congress have consistently highlighted how laws and policies are being tailored to benefit Adani. While opposition leaders are hounded by investigations, the BJP protects individuals facing serious allegations of bribery and money laundering. This double standard reveals their true priorities," he said. Negi concluded by highlighting the Congress government's achievements, particularly the reinstatement of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), a key election promise. "The BJP abolished OPS in 2003, and we restored it in our first cabinet meeting. Even BJP leaders now acknowledge that restoring OPS was the right decision. Instead of recognising our efforts, they spread lies and attempt to mislead voters," he said. With the CPS appointments now under the Supreme Court's purview, the Himachal Pradesh government remains confident in its legal and political position. However, Negi's statements highlight the widening divide between the Congress and the BJP, as both parties continue to accuse each other of undermining democracy and governance. (ANI)
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  A man who was arrested after authorities smelled alcohol on his breath as he sat in a van that had become disabled has been acquitted of misdemeanor DUI charges, according to court records.

Jose DeJesus Ruiz was found not guilty Thursday after his public defender presented evidence he didnt start drinking until after the van broke down, according to a release from the Kern County Public Defenders Office.

Mr. Ruiz was trying to protect his van after it broke down, Deputy Public Defender Elvia Zepeda said in the release. He had no intention of driving under the influence that night. This case shows the importance of a fair trial and avoiding rushed judgments.

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Coroner identifies man fatally shot on McClean Avenue

On the night of Jan. 21, California Highway Patrol officers came across Ruiz in a van parked at East Warren Avenue and Gillum Street in Oildale. They smelled alcohol and arrested him.

Zepeda at trial said Ruiz had recently installed new tires and  not having AAA or money for a tow  decided to sleep in the van to keep it safe after it became disabled. The release says the attorney provided credible and reliable evidence he didnt drink until the van stopped working.

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HENDERSON, Ky (WEHT)  Washington, Indiana police make an arrest after they say a man was having a possible sexual relationship with a juvenile.

Police state they received a report of a possible sexual relationship between the juvenile and Juan Tepox-Rosas, 24.

Police say Tepox-Rosas was arrested without incident and charged with ten counts of Sexual Misconduct with a Minor.

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A Kansas City, Kansas, man charged in connection with a sexual assault committed Tuesday in Overland Park had been previously convicted of attempting to rape an 11-year-old girl in New York, according to court records.

Gabriel P. Hernandez, 37, was charged Thursday with rape, two counts of aggravated criminal sodomy, one count of aggravated burglary and one count of theft, according to Johnson County court records.

The alleged theft and assault took place at approximately 2:40 a.m. Tuesday in a home near West 97th Circle and Reeder Drive in Overland Park.

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The victim did not know Hernandez, Overland Park Police Chief Doreen Jokerst said. They were transported to a local hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening early Tuesday morning.

Overland Park police arrested Hernandez on Wednesday afternoon, according to court records. He is being held on a $750,000 bond.

The earlier assault occurred in 2006, when Hernandez was living in Bronx, New York, according to the New York State Sex Offender Registry. According to the registry and to New York court records, Hernandez dragged an 11-year-old girl into a stairwell on a street corner in the Bronx and allegedly covered her mouth with his hand as he attempted to rape her.

In connection with the sexual assault, Hernandez was convicted of first-degree attempted sexual abuse on Feb. 7, 2008, a crime that carries a prison sentence of 16 months to four years in New York.

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He was designated a Tier II sex offender in New York, a category reserved for perpetrators of violent sexual crimes. According to court records, he refused to complete a court-recommended recidivism and treatment program designed for convicted sex offenders.

On May 13, 2014, a New York appeals court rejected Hernandezs bid to be downgraded to a lower tier of the state registry.

Hernandez will next appear in Johnson County court on Dec. 5 for a preliminary hearing.
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  A man was convicted of committing a quadruple murder in San Franciscos Hayes Valley neighborhood in 2015, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said Friday.

A jury deemed that Lee Farley, 36, killed four people who were stopped in a car on Laguna Street. Farley pleaded not guilty when charged.

The homicides happened on Jan 9, 2015. The victims car was stopped on Laguna Street just south of Page Street when Farley fired at least 18 bullets into it. All four victims died at the scene.

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$3.5K of tools stolen in Colma heist, police look for thieving duo

The victims were identified as Yalani Chinyamurindi, 19, Harith Atchan, 21 and Manuel ONeal, 22, of San Francisco, and Antioch resident David Saucier, 20.

I would like to thank the jury for their service in this trial, Jenkins said. I would also like to thank the mothers and families of the murdered men for their patience, faith and trust in my office to get justice for their families. Our strong legal team fought hard, understanding that while nothing we do can bring back their loved ones, that hopefully this verdict brings them some comfort.

Farley had previously been convicted of burglary, firearms, shootings, assault and drug trafficking.

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For this shooting, he was convicted of four counts of first-degree willful, deliberate, premeditated murder, discharging a firearm at an occupied motor vehicle and possession of a firearm by a felon. Special circumstances were added for it being a drive-by shooting and being committed by a street gang participant.

Farleys sentencing date is Dec. 16.

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MORGAN CITY, La. (KLFY)  A man was killed Friday afternoon when his truck left the road in Morgan City and flipped over, authorities said.

The crash claimed the life of Russ Theriot, 65, of Golden Meadow.

Louisiana State Police Troop I began investigating a single-vehicle crash shortly after 1 p.m. Friday on La. 182 near Progress Lane in Morgan City.

Investigators said Theriot was driving a 2023 Toyota Tacoma east on La. 182, traveled off the roadway to the right, struck an embankment and a set of poles and overturned.

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Theriot was pronounced dead at the scene.

Standard toxicology samples were collected from Theriot and submitted for analysis. The cause of this crash remains under investigation, officials said.

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A 34-year-old Newton man will serve 31 months in prison and a year in jail for killing his passenger in a drunken driving motorcycle crash at I-135 and K-15 highways in south Wichita in 2019.

Travis James Brent Bryson was sentenced Friday morning for the July 21, 2019, crash that killed 45-year-old Christopher Monk of Wichita and immediately went into custody ... to begin serving his sentence, a spokeswoman for the Sedgwick County District Attorneys Office said by email. Bryson pleaded guilty to one count of involuntary manslaughter and one count of misdemeanor driving under the influence in August, more than five years after Monks death.

Authorities have said Bryson was driving a 2001 Suzuki motorcycle southbound on I-135 at the K-15 exit when he lost control after hitting loose gravel and struck a highway barrier wall. When Bryson hit a curved bridge, Monk was thrown from the motorcycle and died of multiple blunt force injuries, a probable cause affidavit released in the case says.

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Bryson slid along the barrier wall for about a quarter mile before stopping. The crash happened around 10:30 p.m.

The affidavit says Bryson and Monk drank alcohol at multiple bars throughout the day before the crash. When tested, Brysons blood-alcohol concentration was .259, more than three times the legal limit to drive.

He was arrested and charged in 2022.

In a motion for leniency in sentencing, Brysons lawyer called Monk his best friend and said Bryson had to undergo at least 30 surgeries, including having his left leg amputated at the knee. Since the crash, Bryson has also suffered from an elevated heart rate requiring daily medication and now has seizures that sometimes make him lose consciousness, among other health issues.

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He is not a danger to the general public and can safely be maintained in the community, attorney C. Ryan Gering wrote in the motion, which asked for probation, or alternatively no more than a year in prison. The accident and subsequent court case have left Mr. Bryson a physically and mentally broken person. He lives every day knowing that his decision cost his best friends life and has negatively impacted the lives of countless others.

Further punishment by means of incarceration does not benefit anyone.

The DAs Office said Bryson will serve the prison and jail sentences concurrently, or at the same time. Sedgwick County District Judge Kevin Mark Smith presided over the case.

Travis Bryson has been sentenced in the July 2019 crash death of 45-year-old Christopher Monk of Wichita.

Man arrested, charged in fatal 2019 motorcycle accident in south Wichita

Motorcycle passenger killed on south I-135
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  A man who exchanged gunfire with a 13-year-old has pleaded guilty to two charges, but neither of them were the murder charge he originally faced.

The day after the shooting death of Sinzae Reed in October 2022, Columbus police arrested 38-year-old Krieg Butler Sr. on a charge of murder. But within the month, the Franklin County Prosecuting Attorneys Office dismissed the charge after Butler claimed he shot Reed in self-defense. While a grand jury also didnt pursue the charge, they did indict him on a count of improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle, and another of tampering with evidence.

On Friday, the Franklin County Prosecuting Attorneys Office said Butler pleaded guilty to both of the charges. A judge will sentence him on Dec. 2, and prosecutors said they and the defense both recommended Butler spend six months in jail, and three years on probation. Butler also agreed to testify should anyone ever be charged in connection with Reeds death.

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Butler gave descriptions of witnesses to the shootout in the Wedgewood Village Apartments during an interrogation, and told police they would corroborate his claim of self-defense. Investigators then found and interviewed three people matching the descriptions. They confirmed the 13-year-old shot at Butler first, according to the prosecutor. All three of them added that after Reed collapsed in the street, they also saw someone approach and remove what they thought was a firearm from his body. The latter detail matched what one initial witness told investigators, but that person only described it as an object.

After initially denying owning a firearm or that he shot back at Reed when officers arrested him, prosecutors noted Butler later admitted to returning fire and then got rid of his gun after leaving the scene.

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Spencer Ross Pearson stabbed ex Madison Schemitz approximately 15 times, leaving her paralyzed from the chest down

St. Johns County Sheriffs Office Spencer Ross Pearson Spencer Ross Pearson

The Florida man who stabbed his ex-girlfriend and her mother last summer will spend the remainder of his life behind bars.

Spencer Ross Pearson was sentenced to life in prison during a Friday, Nov. 22 sentencing hearing, according to a press release from the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office (SJSO). The sentencing comes after Pearson pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted first-degree murder with a weapon and aggravated battery causing serious bodily injury with a weapon in July.

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Pearson was first arrested after stabbing three victims outside a Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., restaurant on June 3, 2023. He was 18 at the time.

One of the victims was Pearsons ex-girlfriend, Madison Schemitz. It was later revealed that he had been stalking and harassing the then-17-year-old prior to the attack.

Gofundme Madison Schemitz Madison Schemitz

Schemitzs mother, Jaclyn "Jacki" Roge, was also stabbed by Pearson while attempting to protect her daughter, along with a third victim, Kennedy Armstrong.

Armstong received serious hand injuries after he intervened and incapacitated Pearson until police arrived, but not before the attacker slit his own throat in a suicide attempt, authorities said.

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Pearson allegedly assaulted Schemitz from behind, held her down and proceeded to stab her approximately 15 times, authorities said following the attack. The traumatic injuries suffered by the teen, who was a star softball player at Ponte Vedra High School, left her paralyzed from the chest down.

Schemitz, who is now a freshman in college, underwent intensive physical therapy and was able to walk across the stage to receive her high school diploma less than a year after she was attacked, according to the SJSO.

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Prior to his sentencing, Pearson shared a statement with the judge, stating that he wants to take responsibility for my actions and express my sincerest apology to the three victims, per courtroom footage shared by WJXT.

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Im sure June 3 was the worst day of their lives, Pearson said. It was also the worst day of mine, and always will be. On this day, I hurt three innocent people. I think of my terrible crimes committed every second of every day. Its on my mind constantly, and this will never ever change.

I need serious help, and I have for a long time, he added.

Following his sentencing, Schemitz shared a statement of her own. As we move forward from here we are focused on healing and rebuilding. This chapter, though challenging, is now behind us, she said, per footage shared by local outlet WJXT. And while it will take time, we are committed to moving forward with hope and strength.

For me the journey is far from over, Schemitz continued. There are still many steps to take, many challenges ahead and many lessons to learn, but with the support of those who have stood by me, Im confident that I will continue to grow stronger each day. What's next is about finding peace, embracing the future and using the strength I've gained to help others who may face similar struggles.


BJP candidate and former Jharkhand Chief Minister, Champai Soren said on Saturday that there is no doubt that the BJP is going to win in the assembly polls in the state and it will be clear in the next few hours. Speaking to ANI, Soren said, "BJP is going to win, there is no doubt. BJP-NDA is going to form the government...People have voted in favour of the BJP." "The biggest issue in Jharkhand has been the Bangladeshi infiltrators...The population of Bangladeshi infiltrators is increasing rapidly. In this election, BJP is going to form the government, it will be clear in the next 1-1.5 hours," the BJP leader added. Speaking on the CM face in Jharkhand, Champai Soren said, "BJP is the largest party in the country. It will be decided by the party and then there will be a discussion between the MLAs." Champai Soren quit his long-term relations with Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and joined the BJP. He is contesting from the Saraikela assembly seat. However, JMM spokesperson Manoj Pandey claimed that there was a clear pro-incumbency wave and Hemant Soren would return as the CM. "There is a clear voice from the people of Jharkhand - Iss baar phir Hemant dobara, Hemant Soren return. Women, students and people of Jharkhand have reposed their faith and we trust them. The excitement that was seen during campaigning and the day of elections clearly shows that we are coming to power again with absolute majority," he said. Meanwhile, the counting begins at 8 am today for the Maharashtra and Jharkhand polls along with the results of by-polls of several states. In Jharkhand, the first phase of polling was conducted in 43 of the 81 assembly seats on November 13. The second phase was conducted on November 20 on the remaining seats. Among the constituents of the INDIA bloc, JMM is contesting 43 seats, Congress 30, RJD six, and CPI(ML) four. The BJP is contesting 68 seats, AJSU 10, JD(U) two, and LJP one seat. In the previous assembly election, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha won 30 seats, the BJP 25, and Congress 16 seats. Along with this, the results of by-polls of 48 assembly and two Lok Sabha seats across 15 states will also be declared today. The bypolls were also fiercely contested across various states, including Uttar Pradesh, where nine assembly seats saw polling on Wednesday. In Wayanad, Kerala, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra made her electoral debut. The bypolls were conducted in two phases. (ANI)
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY)  A disturbing situation is unfolding in Virginia Beach involving an 11-year-old girl and a home renovation worker  and the details are graphic.

Ricardo Meija, 35, who the family had reportedly hired to remodel their bathroom, is facing three counts of raping a victim younger than 13-years-old, among other charges. His attorney, Eric Korslund, said Meija has also been charged with one count of burglary and another count of indecent liberties.

A search warrant reveals the family was awakened at 2:30 a.m. Oct. 9  they heard a noise coming from their daughters bedroom.

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Court records state that the girls bedroom was locked and the parents forced the door open using a butter knife. It was then that they saw a naked man climbing out of the window.

Hes pleading not guilty at the moment, said defense attorney Eric Korslund. I mean, certainly thats subject to change. Were at a very early stage in the case.

According to court records, the child told nurses the man had broken in through the window and raped her on at least two other occasions. On the night of the reported assault, phone records place Mejia near the victims home.

Korslund also said Mejia was cooperative with police and answered all of their questions.

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Meijas next court date is set for Dec. 18. If convicted, Meija could face a life sentence.

Resources are available for survivors of sexual assault:

RAINN  the Rape Abuse and Incest National Network offers a hotline that can help those in need. The number is 800-656-HOPE. Its free and confidential.

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BLUFF CITY, Tenn. (WJHL)  A man previously convicted of vehicular homicide was arrested for DUI and other charges on Saturday after allegedly hitting another vehicle and leaving the scene, the Bluff City Police Department reports.

According to a release from the department, Samuel Huffine, 38, was arrested just after 2:13 a.m. Saturday in the Bluff City area.

The release said a be on the lookout was issued Saturday morning for a white Jeep Wrangler with sparks coming from the bottom. The Jeep reportedly struck another vehicle on Highway 11E in Piney Flats and left the scene.

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Kingsport man arrested in connection to 27-year-old murder case

A Bluff City officer responding to the BOLO then observed a Jeep matching the description traveling on Highway 11E towards Bristol near the Tri-Cities Flea Market, the release said. A traffic stop was initiated, and Huffine was identified as the driver.

Officer Hawthorne stated while standing at the vehicle he detected a strong odor of marijuana was coming from inside the interior of the vehicle, the release states. Officer Hawthorne stated the driver Samuel was slow and slurring his speech, which indicated signs of impairment.

The release said the officer then told Huffine his Jeep matched the description of a Jeep that hit a vehicle and left the scene moments ago and that damage to his Jeep was consistent with the crash described in the BOLO. The release said Huffine told police he had run over a curb.

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Johnson City Police responded to the crash location and advised the Jeep did indeed crash into another occupied vehicle, the release states.

The Bluff City officer then had Huffine exit his vehicle, and police observed him unsteady and staggering while trying to walk, according to the release. The officer performed a field sobriety test on Huffine, to which he reportedly performed poorly, and at that point was placed into custody for driving under the influence.

The release said a probable cause search was conducted on Huffines Jeep, and officers located multiple packages containing a leafy green substance consistent with marijuana, other drug paraphernalia and a container with a clear, crystal substance inside consistent with methamphetamine.

Huffine was charged with driving under the influence, financial responsibility, simple possession, drug paraphernalia, possession of methamphetamine, leaving the scene of an accident and due care.

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The release said the crystal substance will be sent to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) for testing and weighing.

During the investigation, Bluff City police learned Huffine was convicted of vehicular homicide, reckless endangerment by vehicle and driving under the influence in 2014 in Sullivan County.

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From the Boiling Frogs on The Dispatch

One of the cringiest habits in modern journalism is treating fads on social media as evidence of meaningful political trends.

 says a guy who cant get through a newsletter without sputtering over the latest trollish provocation he stumbled across on Twitter.

Im a hypocrite, but my hypocrisy doesnt make the point less valid. Social media (usually) isnt real life. Ive been reminded of it as post-election commentary piles up about whether Donald Trumps victory might jump-start a 4B movement among women in the United States.

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Spoiler: It will notalthough it may very well spark one on TikTok, Snapchat, Twitter, etc. In fact, it already has.

The 4B movement is a feminist initiative in South Korea in which young women are protesting sexism by renouncing romantic contact with men. No sex, no dating, no marriage, no babies: The Korean word for each of those practices begins with B, hence the name. Search your favorite social media platform for the term and youll find numerous examples of progressive American women vowing to punish Trump-supporting men by bringing the movement stateside, punctuated in some cases by threats to shave their heads. Youll also find many replies mocking them and scoffing that no man would touch you anyway.

The mockery is understandable. Lysistrata, like social media, also isnt real life. And insofar as the nascent U.S. version of 4B is driven by pro-choice sentiment, its weird that the figure who inspired it happens to be the squishiest pro-life Republican president of the last 50 years.

It all reeks of slacktivism, adding a feminist twist to the sort of lame post-election tantrums from the losing side in elections to which weve all grown accustomed. Im giving up on men is part of the same empty-threat genre as Im moving to Canada. Or the states that voted my way should secede. Or Im going to break into the Capitol and lynch the vice president if he doesnt stop counting the other sides electoral votes.

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Actually, scratch that last one.

Having said all that, I find myself more sympathetic to this tantrum than I usually am after an election, and its not because I voted for the same candidate that 4B-ers did. Why shouldnt women in particular respond with unusually powerful disgust upon seeing President Access Hollywood, who was found liable by a jury for sexual abuse only last year, reelected and staffing up with one alleged degenerate after another?

Not wanting to date a man because he disagrees with you about the size of government is silly. Not wanting to date him because hes indifferentat bestto evidence of sexual assault, harassment, and statutory rape committed by high-ranking members of the government he supports is not. Thats a matter of personal safety, and a moral outrage worthy of forceful rebuke. One wonders if the theatrical mockery aimed at 4B-ers on TikTok has less to do with the form of protest theyve chosen than with the anachronism of their consciences being bothered at all.

Why are so many of Trumps nominees accused sex pests? And why are so many of his voters willing to excuse it?

Excuses, excuses.

A friend made me laugh this morning when he forwarded me something from (ahem) Twitter. Quote: Its very funny that every single dude in the new administration has ruined every single womans life theyve ever been involved in: Trump, Musk, RFK, Gaetz, Hegseth. Only Vance comes with clean hands, and thats [because] he used to be fat.

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Funny, but not entirely correct. For instance, Id like to think pre-Ozempic J.D. owes his spotless record with women to an innate sense of propriety and respect for the opposite sex rather than to being zaftig, but I suppose well find out. And of course its not literally the case that every single dude in Trumps Cabinet has a zipper problem. Marco Rubio, Michael Waltz, Doug Burgum, and John Ratcliffe have no scandals of which Im aware.

So, no, for the record, not every man whos set to hold a big job in the new administration has a history of making the women around them miserable. But it is trueand I think more than a coincidencethat the five men named in the tweet I quoted are conspicuously more popular among the GOPs populist base than Rubio, Waltz, or Ratcliffe is.

Youre no one in MAGA politics, apparently, unless and until youve been accused of getting fresh, or more than fresh, with a woman.

Trump has been accused of sexual misconduct by more than two dozen women, including the one who successfully sued him for sexual abuse. Hegseth settled financially with a woman who claimed in a police report that he physically blocked her from leaving a hotel room, took her phone, and then sexually assaulted her even though she remembered saying no a lot. Kennedy reportedly kept a sex diary of his conquests, lamented his lust demons, and was described as a sex addict by his former wife. A babysitter accused him of groping her when she worked for his family as a nanny. Musk and his company SpaceX have been sued by eight former employees for supposedly turning the workplace into an Animal House environment in which, among other things, women were rated based on their bra size.

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And Gaetz? You need to be awfully filthy in your personal conduct to be too filthy for a spot in the Trump administration.

Even so: Four of those five men are heroes of the populist right and Hegseth is a defiant televised Senate confirmation hearing away from becoming the fifth. How can that be?

If we put a Trump voter on the spot by asking them that question, theyd probably say, Sorry, I dont believe the women. (All of the accused have denied wrongdoing.) But only a truly devout cultist would be capable of the degree of willful blindness needed to dismiss all of these accusations, leveled against five very different men, out of hand. The usual argle-bargle about deep state hoaxes doesnt survive contact with reality: If all of these accusations are smears concocted to damage influential populists, its hard to explain how Ron DeSantis, for instance, made it through a presidential campaign and two successful gubernatorial campaigns without being similarly impugned.

I suspect that the average Trump voter doesnt actually believe that every woman whos accused Trump, Gaetz, and the rest of misconduct is lying. Its just something they tell others to avoid having to squarely reckon with the moral implications of their vote.

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If we pressed them further to justify their support for a Cabinet of alleged sex pests, the next thing theyd likely say is What about Bill Clinton? Or JFK? And thats fair enough. Democrats have a long, ignominious history of defending miscreants in high office. The only time youre likely to hear a liberal lament that they werent harder on one of their own for his sexual misconduct is years after hes sunken into political irrelevance. On one rare occasion when Democrats did come down hard on a major officeholder, it took barely 18 months before they were voicing their regrets.

What distinguishes the left from the right isnt that the latter is more inclined to misbehave sexually. What separates them is that the left sees sexual misbehavior as an embarrassment to be excused or overlooked while the right, in its modern populist incarnation, views it as a sort of credential.

It would be too much to say that populist Republicans celebrate sex-pest-ery. But it isnt too much to say that they see something in it worth appreciating.

Sex and ruthlessness.

Ruthlessness in pursuit of cultural dominance has become the unspoken credo of Trumpist populism. Thats a line from my first piece for The Dispatch in September 2022, reflecting on how Trump and his movement have fashioned dishonor into a political virtue in its own right, the acid test of a strong leaders resolve not to be deterred by conventional expectations of propriety when pursuing his interests.

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That piece wasnt about sex, but the overlap is obvious. Because populists detest liberal norms, theyre attracted to figures who are prone to showing contempt for traditional norms in other spheres of life. That leads them to dishonorable people, and dishonorable people tend to behave dishonorably in multiple respectsincluding in how they navigate sex. The result is a sort of anti-character test: A man willing to flout law, morality, or professional ethics to get what he wants sexually is potential leadership material insofar as his behavior implies hed do the same with official power to get what the right wants politically.

Republicans have decided that winning the culture war requires appointing ruthless generals. And one thing about sexual transgressorsthey are pretty ruthless.

Noah Millman put his own spin on this point earlier this week when he considered why MAGA regards Trump and Pete Hegseth as better exemplars of manly virtues than the highly accomplished, service-minded family man Mitt Romney. Like so many establishmentarians, Millman argued, Romney owes his success partly to his willingness to conform to the social norms of a liberal ruling class that pay lip service to virtue while flaunting its status and behaving imperiously toward out-groups. MAGA doesnt consider that manly.

If you think that most men are not their own men, are not behaving in a heroically manly fashion, and that this country desperately needs to be led by men who arent socialized into conformity and submission, then you are unlikely to look for men who are conventionally moral as paragons of manliness. On the contrary: youre going to look upon their bourgeois respectability with suspicion.  If you believe the negative picture I painted of the liberal establishment, how could you look to conformity to its rulesto any rulesas a sign of virtue? Youd have to do the opposite: look to rejection of conformity, the resolution to be oneself the only arbiter of right and wrong, as the first indicator of manliness, and therefore the predicate to any other possible virtue. Therefore, the more they flaunt their contempt for said rules, the more they are showing that they will stand up to those who made those rules, but who violate them themselves out of contempt for those who obey.

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By definition, postliberalism cant and wont succeed in dismantling the liberal order without leadership that displays an unusually high tolerance for transgression. And so it selects for leaders who have demonstrated that tolerance in their private conductcriminals, perverts, con men, predatory sociopaths of all stripes. When people like me call Trumps government a kakistocracy, its not an idle insult. Its an acknowledgment of Millmans point that populists regard conformity to rules of propriety as per se evidence of weak resolve and so they turn instead to the least fit people in society to lead them.

Trump, Hegseth, Kennedy, Musk, and (until yesterday) Gaetz: Say what you will about them but they do what they want and they dont let The Mans rules get in their way.

If you find that Nietzschean will to power logic remarkably anti-Christian for a movement of right-wingers that loves to trumpet its supposed devotion to Jesus, I think Millman has squared the circle there correctly too. Once manliness has been reestablished, we can discuss whether a real man is someone with the courage to follow Jesus of Nazareth in all things, or whether Christianity is ultimately a religion for slaves and women that a real man would have nothing to do with, he imagines a typical Trumpist Christian saying. For now  the important thing is to recognize manliness, support it, and never be cowed by moralizers into backing down from that support.

That idea, that traditional pillars of conservatism like Christianity and the Constitution are unsuited to solving the supposed cultural crisis in which we find ourselves, recurs throughout postliberal thinking. When authoritarians talk about knowing what time it is, thats precisely what they mean. Perhaps well come back to separation of powers and the Sermon on the Mount someday when the left is less of a threat, they allow. But for now, at a moment that calls for utmost ruthlessness, we need men.

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And you know how men can be with women.

Might makes right.

I wont go so far as to accuse Donald Trump of choosing his allies because theyre accused sex pests. But it wouldnt surprise me to learn that he does.

He likes having people around him who are morally compromised, I suspect. Its not just a matter of kinship, although it surely is in part. I think its a matter of him wanting deputies who owe nothing less than their total moral redemption to his patronage. The cult-iest element of the Trump cult is how it offers absolution for all but the worst conventional sins to anyone willing to pledge unquestioning worship to the leader. Only in MAGA-land could someone like Matt Gaetzwho all but excretes sleazebe warmly admired by millions of family values devotees.

Elon Musk is an obvious exception, but people as allegedly corrupt as Gaetz, Hegseth, and Kennedy plainly had no path to meaningful social influence without Trump. They know it and, more importantly, Trump knows it. And so its no accident that he turned to them to staff his administration. If you plan on giving orders that an honorable person would refuse to obey, it helps to make sure when staffing up that your deputies are dishonorable, compromised, and politically homeless without you.

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Beyond that, Trump is presumably taking the same encouraging cues about political ruthlessness from his deputies personal behavior as his populist supporters are. Jonathan Chait read several of Hegseths books and observed that he considers himself to be at war with basically everybody to Trumps left, and it is by no means clear that he means war metaphorically, pointing to examples of the nominee comparing leftists to enemy combatants. Trump isnt much of a reader, but I trust hes been cheered from their conversations by how ruthless Hegseth is willing to be. Why wouldnt he consider the belatedly discovered sexual assault allegations against him further evidence that his pick to lead the Pentagon is tough enough to not take no for an answer when imposing his will on the military on Trumps behalf?

Ultimately, its this simple: Sex pests and strongmen share the belief that might makes right. Whether you choose to cross a line of propriety should depend only on whether youre likely to face punishment for doing so, the two groups agree, not whether its right or wrong, legal or illegal. Trumps most impressive and most awful political achievement has been to convert a political party of nominal Christians into adopting that anti-morality in practice. Hes given his most ardent supporters the Cabinet they want, and the one that they deserve.

Read more at The Dispatch

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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  The Kern County Sheriffs Office is searching for a man wanted for a homicide that occurred in southeast Bakersfield.

Deputies say Israel Castillo-Ramirez, 40, is wanted for the homicide of Kevin Cortez. At 4:09 a.m., Cortez was shot at a party at a home in the 700 block of McClean Avenue on Sept. 22. Cortez later died from his injuries.

Deputies describe Ramirez to be 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighing about 155 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes.

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If anyone has any information related to the investigation or location of Castillo-Ramirez, they are asked to contact the Sheriffs Office at 661-861-3110.

Reach out to Detective Nunez at 661-392-4376 or the Secret Witness Line at 661-322-4040.

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(COLORADO SPRINGS)  The City of Colorado Springs has released the final map of the City Council District boundaries, which are effective as of Friday, Nov. 22, and will be in effect for the next four years.

According to the City Code, the six City Council Districts must be re-aligned every four years and must happen in an even year before an odd-year election. Districts must be substantially equal in population, contiguous, and comply with the City Charter, City Code, and the Voting Rights Act.

Map of City of Colorado Springs City Council Districts

The City said the final map is a result of several months of research and community engagement. Nine board members of the District Process Advisory Committee served in an advisory position throughout the process and helped work with the public, assist the City Clerk, and advise the City Council.

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A preliminary map was released in October and after review and consideration of the public comments, the City Clerk decided no changes were needed.

After months of work and valuable input from our community, I am pleased to release the final City Council district map, said Sarah Johnson, City Clerk for Colorado Springs. This map reflects our commitment to fair and equitable representation, ensuring each district accurately represents the citizens of Colorado Springs. I want to thank the District Process Advisory Committee for their dedication throughout this process. I encourage everyone to familiarize themselves with the changes, especially candidates who are looking to run for a City Council seat in the upcoming April municipal election.

The next General Municipal Election for the six City Council district seats will be on April 1, 2025, and each City Council member will need to live within the new boundaries and maintain a home within the City Council Districts they are elected to represent.

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Ukraines Ministry of Internal Affairs, together with the Holodomor-Genocide Museum, has digitised 1,022 archival criminal cases of cannibalism and more than 1,000 cases of corpse-eating during the Holodomor of 1932-1933. Photocopies of the materials are available on a ditigal map.

Source: Ihor Klymenko, Head of Ministry of Internal Affairs

Details: The map shows the geography of cannibalism cases recorded by Soviet punitive authorities during the Holodomor of 1932-1933.

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The page also contains information about the documents the Soviet authorities destroyed in 1956. Information about them was preserved in the so-called selective lists for destruction.

Quote from Ihor Klymenko: "These materials prove that the famine was a deliberate tool to conquer the Ukrainian people. We must remember this and never give up our freedom."

The Ministry of Internal Affairs noted that the electronic map shows that cases of cannibalism coincide with the geography of the oblasts affected by the Holodomor.

Quote from Ihor Klymenko: "This once again confirms the peculiarities of the genocidal policy of the Soviet empire towards Ukraine and disproves the Russian myth of the all-Union famine in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics."

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More details: The Ministry of Internal Affairs noted that on the digital map, locations of some cases of cannibalism match locations of respective investigative units looking into these cases rather than locations of actual crime scenes. Such locations can be seen as clusters on the map.

The department's archive still needs to convert paper documents into a digital format. In addition, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has begun working to verify and add information about cannibalism cases from other sources, including archives, museums, and eyewitness accounts, to the map.

Ukrainians can address questions to the map's developers, make suggestions for changes or send additional information.

The map of the Holodomor Genocide was published to meet requirements of the law on access to the archives of the repressive authorities of the Communist regime.

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For reference: Every year, on the fourth Saturday of November, Ukraine honours the memory of Ukrainians who died as a result of the famine organised by the Soviet authorities in 1932-1933. This year, the date fell on 23 November.

On this day, Ukrainians can traditionally join the All-Ukrainian honouring campaign "Let's Light a Candle". On 23 November, at 16:00, a candle should be placed by the window, and a national minute of silence should be held.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Award-winning Canadian author Margaret Atwood was set to address an audience at Oregon State University Tuesday night. However, a last-minute decision was made to hold the event virtually due to anonymous threats of violence, according to Atwood.

OSU spokesperson Rob Odom confirmed the events shift to online, but referred to the reason as unforeseen circumstances.

Striking Albany teachers accuse district of illegal tactics

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Nonetheless, over 2,100 people tuned in to the livestream at the peak of the event, according to the university.

Additionally, Atwood, who had recently become aware of an ongoing strike involving OSU graduate teaching assistants, even sent the Coalition of Graduate Employees, AFT Local 6069 a statement in solidarity, while also briefly addressing the events cancelation:

Hello Orengonites, and Greetings from my Planet:

Beaverton students learn graffiti as an art form

Here I am in Portland, having travelled for 14 hours to get here (on my birthday! Its okay, at my age, best to ignore it).

It seems there is a graduate student strike going on, for higher wages and a shorter contract that wont lock people in for 5 years. I am told that many items have been agreed upon and that a settlement is close.

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I wouldnt cross a picket line uninvited. The University gave me the option of cancelling. The strikers, on the other hand, said they didnt want to cancel or disrupt the event  thereby p*ssing off 1200 people, which would not have helped their position. They only want to gain attention for their cause. As you can see, I am helping them do that. They have a website for donations of food etc. at; vp_solidarity@cge6069.org

However, late-breaking news: due to anonymous threats of violence, Ill be doing the event via live-stream rather than in person, as I would not wish to endanger live-event audience members.

As far as I can tell, the sides are aligned thus: The grad student teachers are in favour of themselves eating. With the cost of food having gone up so much, you can see their point. The university has offered increases, but (say some) not in line with the rise in cost of living. Having been a grad student once, a long, long, time ago, before face piercings, back when female students had to wear skirts to class, I can testify to some of the cheap crap one eats on a very limited budget. Want the recipe for my nourishing potato, onion, and wiener casserole? No. You dont.

The university is in favour of fiscal responsibility and of being able to apportion and account for its responsible spending of donor and government funds. You can see their point, too: if they overspend, debt will ensue. But if they dont have any grad student TAs, they essentially wont have a university.

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I wish both sides a successful outcome. According to the negotiating classic, Getting to Yes, a good negotiation is one in which neither side ends up with everything it wants. And a hint from the oracle: the incoming federal government does not have warm, friendly feelings towards universities. Get it done before then. And hide under the table.

Very best wishes and good luck,

Margaret Atwood

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Ahead of the declaration of Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly election results, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari on Saturday expressed confidence that the saffron party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would form government in both states with absolute majority. The BJP spokesperson said that the people of Maharashtra and Jharkhand would reject Rahul Gandhi's communal and divisive politics. "We are confident that as the counting progresses in Maharashtra and Jharkhand and results get stable, BJP-NDA's absolute majority government in both states. Under the leadership and vision of PM Narendra Modi, Maharashtra and Jharkhand will reject Rahul Gandhi's communal politics, divisive politics. Maharashtra and Jharkhand are with PM Narendra Modi's 'Ek Hain Toh Safe Hain' slogan. Maharashtra is with (the slogan) 'Ladki Behna' and Jharkhand is against the infiltrators. Women voters who have stepped out to vote in large numbers will decide the fate of Maharashtra and Jharkhand," BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari told ANI. Bhandari further said that Maharashtra and Jharkhand will choose the development carried out by PM Modi and reject the "divide and rule" politics of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. "As Haryana exposed the shop of lies of Congress, Maharashtra and Jharkhand will choose the development of PM Narendra Modi and will reject the divisive, divide and rule politics of Rahul Gandhi," he added. The results of fierce electoral battle in Maharashtra and Jharkhand is set to unfold today with the leaders from both sides express confidence of their victories. Votes will be counted from 8:00 AM and trends are expected to emerge. Arrangements are also in place for counting votes for the Jharkhand assembly polls on 81 seats and bypolls on 48 assembly constituencies and two Lok Sabha seats across 15 states. In Maharashtra, Mahayuti, which includes BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP is locked in a fierce contest with Maha Vikas Aghadi (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. (ANI)
At least 20 people were killed in a powerful Israeli strike that flattened a multi-storey building in densely populated central Beirut, Lebanese officials said on Saturday, as more deaths were reported from Israeli attacks in eastern Lebanon.

Body parts were recovered from the rubble of the building in Beirut's Basta district and will try to be identified using DNA, the Lebanese Health Ministry said, adding that over 60 people were injured.

The pre-dawn dawn attack was unleashed without any advance warning from the Israeli military, Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported.

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The residential area that was struck is not far from the parliament and the Grand Serail government palace.

Lebanese security sources said that the attack was aimed at a senior official from the pro-Iranian Lebanese Hezbollah militia.

Violent explosions that resulted from the attack - which apparently used bunker-busting bombs - shook the entire city. A huge crater was seen where the eight-story structure had previously stood while surrounding buildings were heavily damaged.

A weeping doctor stood on top of the rubble of the collapsed building.

"My mother and sister are still under the rubble," said the doctor who declined to be identified as civil defence workers frantically searched for survivors.

Israeli strikes kill at least 13 people in eastern Lebanon

At least 13 people were killed Saturday by Israeli airstrikes targetting villages near the ancient city of Baalbeck in eastern Lebanon, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry and security sources in the country.

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The first strike hit Shmestar in the Baalbeck-Hermel region, killing eight people, including four children, the ministry said. An additional nine other people were wounded in the strike.

Security sources stated that at least three Israeli airstrikes targeted the area, with the final strike hitting a three-storey residential building. Rescue operations are ongoing.

The other strike hit the village of Bodai at the outskirts of Baalbeck, according to the ministry. The village is known as a stronghold of the Lebanese militant Islamist Hezbollah movement.

Ministry: Two Lebanese paramedics killed

At least two paramedics were killed in Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

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The ministry said that a rescue team from the Islamic Health Authority (IHA), an organization affiliated with the militia Hezbollah, was targeted by a drone strike.

The attack occurred while the paramedics were responding to an emergency call. When additional rescuers arrived to assist their colleagues, their vehicles were also reportedly struck, leaving four more paramedics injured.

Israels military has previously accused the IHA of using ambulances to transport weapons, though no independent evidence has been provided to substantiate these claims.

Five paramedics were killed on Friday.

The incidents come amid heightened violence in Israeli's two-front conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon as well as the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, where Israel has been seeking to destroy the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Israel advances in southern Lebanon

Meanwhile in southern Lebanon, Israeli ground troops were advancing into strategically important locations, according to Lebanese security sources.

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They added that the Israeli forces had advanced into the Christian town of Deir Mimas in southern Lebanon. Deir Mimas is considered strategically important in the current fighting, as the Litani River can be observed from the east.

A major road to the southern city of Nabatiyeh, seen as a main supply route for Hezbollah, has been totally destroyed.

Israel wants Hezbollah to withdraw behind the Litani River, 30 kilometres from the border - as required by UN Resolution 1701 that marked the end of the 2006 war between both sides

A draft ceasefire currently being discussed envisages the full implementation of the resolution and withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon.

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Since the start of the war in the Gaza Strip, Hezbollah been launching attacks on Israel in support of Hamas. Israel has responded with airstikes on Lebanon and a ground invasion.

The wars broke out after Hamas led unprecedented attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. In brutal massacres, Hamas and other extremist groups killed approximately 1,200 people.
(NewsNation)  Following his resignation from Congress and the end of his bid for U.S. attorney general, Matt Gaetz is headed to Cameo.

Were excited to have him on the platform, said Cameo CEO Steven Galanis.

Gaetz said Friday that he will not be returning to Congress after withdrawing his name from consideration to be attorney general under President-elect Donald Trump amid growing allegations of sexual misconduct.

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Sen. Mullin is lone lawmaker blocking generals promotion: Sources

That announcement came a day after Gaetz, a Florida Republican, stepped aside from the Cabinet nomination process amid growing fallout from federal and House Ethics investigations that cast doubt on his ability to be confirmed as the nations chief federal law enforcement officer. The 42-year-old has vehemently denied the allegations against him.

Cameo is a digital platform that allows fans to send basic information to celebrities, who then use that to send personalized video messages to paying customers.

A custom video from Gaetz costs $500+, according to his Cameo listing, where his profile reads, I served in Congress. Trump nominated me to be US Attorney General (that didnt work out). Once I fired the House Speaker.

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But Gaetz, who has been in state and national politics for 14 years, said hes done with Congress.

I think that eight years is probably enough time in the United States Congress, he said.

Hours after Gaetz withdrew, Trump nominated Pam Bondi, a former Florida attorney general, for the U.S. attorney general post.

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(NewsNation)  Following his resignation from Congress and withdrawal from consideration for U.S. attorney general, Matt Gaetz is headed to Cameo.

Were excited to have him on the platform, said Cameo CEO Steven Galanis.

Cameo is a digital platform that allows fans to send basic information to celebrities, who then use that to send personalized video messages to paying customers.

A custom video from Gaetz costs $500+, according to his Cameo listing.

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Sen. Mullin is lone lawmaker blocking generals promotion: Sources

Gaetz said Friday that he will not be returning to Congress after withdrawing his name from consideration to be attorney general under President-elect Donald Trump amid growing allegations of sexual misconduct.

That announcement came a day after Gaetz, a Florida Republican, stepped aside from the Cabinet nomination process amid growing fallout from federal and House Ethics investigations that cast doubt on his ability to be confirmed as the nations chief federal law enforcement officer. The 42-year-old has vehemently denied the allegations against him.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
One day after withdrawing his name from consideration for U.S. attorney general, former Congressman Matt Gaetz has launched a new side hustle making personalized videos for a fee on the website Cameo.

Gaetz joined the platform Friday, the same day he announced he would not be sworn in to Congress in January despite his re-election. His fee was initially set at $250 per video, according to Semafor, which first broke the news. By Saturday afternoon, he was charging $525 per video.

A Cameo spokesperson told the Pensacola News Journal that Gaetz joined the website on Friday. Gaetz is also promoting his Cameo account in his bio on X.

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Gaetzs new gig comes on the heels of a tumultuous few days in his political career. Last week, after President-elect Donald Trump announced Gaetz as his pick for attorney general, the Florida Republican promptly resigned from Congress, upending a House Ethics Committee investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use against him. (The Justice Department ended a sex trafficking probe against Gaetz last year without bringing any charges.) Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing.

The release of the committees report then became the subject of intense debate among lawmakers. Gaetzs allies pressured the committee not to make its findings public, though multiple Republican senators said they were interested in seeing the report prior to his confirmation hearing. With Gaetz no longer in contention for AG, it could relieve the pressure on the panel to release its report.

Gaetz follows another high-profile Republican congressman who went to Cameo to capitalize on his notoriety. Late last year, former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., began making personalized videos on the platform when he was expelled from the House after an ethics investigation found he had misused campaign cash for personal expenses. Santos has since pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges.

While its still too early to gauge Gaetzs success on the platform, Santos proved to be wildly popular. Cameo CEO Steven Galanis told Yahoo News that Santos surpassed his $174,000 annual congressional salary in his first week after joining the website.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  Early next year, Randall Woodfin will release a memoir chronicling his life leading up to becoming mayor of Birmingham.

Woodfin, who has served as mayor since 2017, announced on Saturday that he had written a memoir, Son of Birmingham, that will be published through Diversion Books on Jan. 21. The memoir was co-written with Edward Bowser, who worked as a columnist and manager of digital operations for AL.com before becoming deputy director of communications for the city in 2018.

A graduate of Morehouse College and Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, Woodfins first foray into politics was in 2009 when he ran for a seat representing District 3 on the Birmingham Board of Education, which he lost. While working as an assistant city attorney for Birmingham, Woodfin ran for the board again in 2013, winning a seat representing District 5 and going on to be president of the board. In 2017, he ran for mayor, beating incumbent William Bell.

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Since becoming mayor, Woodfins profile has risen on the national political scene, including testimony during a Congressional hearing in 2022 on decriminalizing marijuana as well as standing alongside President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for an event at the White House regarding gun violence.

Woodfin has also had a lot happen in his person life in recent years, marrying Iron City Realty owner Kendra Morris in October 2023 after several years together. In August, the Woodfins welcomed a daughter, Love Lee Woodfin.

Woodfins memoir, which includes a blurb by Harvard professor and National Book Award-winning author Imani Perry, is available for pre-order here.

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A Meadville man accused of fleeing on foot to his North Street residence after causing a nearby crash in late September will head to trial on six misdemeanor charges.

Jashawn Allen Shaw, 25, who resides in the 500 block of North Street, waived his preliminary hearing Wednesday before Magisterial District Judge Samuel Pendolino. Shaw also faces four summary traffic charges.

Witnesses told police that Shaw was traveling east on North Street when he caused a crash by running a red light at the intersection of North Street and Grove Street at approximately 11:54 a.m. Sept. 27. When police arrived moments later, Shaw, who sustained a head injury in the crash, fled the scene on foot and headed east on North Street. The driver of the Toyota sport utility vehicle that was struck in the crash was injured in the crash, according to police.

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With assistance from witnesses in the area and an expired drivers license that had been left in the damaged Ford Fiesta involved in the crash, police tracked Shaw to his residence, about two blocks east of the site of the crash. The probable cause affidavit filed by police in the cause described Shaw as having a strong odor of alcohol, bloodshot eyes and slurred speech when he exited the residence.

Another resident told police Shaw that upon returning to the home he had said he was drunk and got into an accident.

Shaw faces misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence, accidents involving death or personal injury, accidents involving death or injury while not licensed, evading arrest on foot, flight to avoid apprehension, and accident involving damage to an attended vehicle.

Shaw remains free on $20,000 bond. A trial will be scheduled for the March term of Crawford County Court of Common Pleas.
EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola is in favor of Germany sending long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine in light of Russia's recent escalatory measures, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported on Nov. 23.

"Yes, that is also the position of the EU Parliament," Metsola said in an interview, as quoted by FAZ. "There is broad support for this demand. We will see whether there will be a corresponding change of course after the (German) federal election."

Calls for Germany to supply Ukraine with long-range Taurus missiles were renewed once the U.S. authorized Ukraine to use its ATACMS long-range missiles against targets in Russia earlier in November.

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A German government spokesperson told the AFP news agency on Nov. 18 that Scholz "made his position clear" on the matter following news from the U.S. and would "not change his stance anymore."

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has repeatedly denied the possibility of supplying Ukraine with the weaponry, fearing that Germany would be brought into the war with Russia.

However, Germany is set to hold elections in late February, and center-right CDU/CSU chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz has conveyed his openness to the delivery of Taurus missiles under certain conditions.

Read also: Its personal  Why Germany still refuses to send Taurus missiles to Ukraine

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Polish farmers staged a protest in the village of Medyka on the morning of Nov. 23, blocking the road leading to the Shehyni border crossing with Ukraine, Polish media outlet RMF24 reported.

Farmers are protesting the Polish government's failure to maintain the agricultural tax rate in 2024 at the same level as in 2023, according to RMF24.

They are also reportedly protesting over concerns about the European Union signing a free trade agreement with South American countries in the Mercosur bloc.

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Only one truck per hour traveling from Poland to Ukraine will be allowed to pass, according to RMF24. Trucks coming from Ukraine are not allowed to pass, but cars, buses, vehicles with humanitarian aid, and military convoys can pass the crossing.

The protest is expected to last 48 hours, but if their concerns are not met, they are reportedly ready to protest "around the clock" until the end of the year, RMF24 wrote.

Polish farmers have staged multiple protests at border crossings between Poland and Ukraine since the start of the full-scale war, including protests against Ukrainian agricultural imports in the EU.

Read also: War in Ukraine at decisive stage, risk of global conflict, Polands Tusk says

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Incoming first lady Melania Trump announced her first major East Wing hire on Friday, naming her longtime aide, Hayley Harrison, as her chief of staff.

Mrs. Harrison has maintained an integral role and exceptional leadership on the First Ladys team over the past seven years, she said in a statement on X.

The time-period spans Trumps White House years and as well as her post-First lady life at Mar-a-Lago, their estate in Palm Beach, Florida.

Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump (L) chats wih US Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R) alongside former US First Lady Melania Trump during the 79th Annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner in New York, October 17, 2024.

Trump said Harrison had a strong understanding of White House operations, and in her new role would oversee and manage the East Wings team while strategically liaising with other parts of government.

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In an appearance on Fox & Friends on Oct. 29, a week before the election, Trump said she was not anxious because she had much more experience as she had already lived in the White House.

So when you go in, you know exactly what to expect, she said. You know what kind of people you need to get.

PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 05: Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump depart after casting their votes at a polling place in the Morton and Barbara Mandel Recreation Center on Election Day, on November 05, 2024 in Palm Beach, Florida. Trump will hold an Election Night event at the Palm Beach Convention Center. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

You need to have people that are on your team that they have the same vision as me and to serve me because they serve the country, she added.

Harrison was one of the figures named and identified as Trump Employee 1 in the indictment against the former and future President Donald Trump last year for his alleged mishandling of classified documents, according to ABC News.

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Special Counsel Jack Smith looks is expected to wind down the investigation before Trump is inaugurated.

Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy is a White House Correspondent for USA TODAY. You can follow her on X @SwapnaVenugopal

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Melania Trump appoints Hayley Harrison as chief of staff
Shiv Sena candidate from Andheri East Murji Patel on Saturday expressed confidence that he would win Andheri East with a margin of more than 20,000 votes. Patel said, "I had the darshan of Ganpati bappa just now. I prayed to Him for Mahayuti Government in Maharashtra once again. I prayed to him for his blessings...I will win Andheri East with a margin of more than 20,000 votes. In last 10 years, the people of Andheri have been hassled. No work was done." The Andheri East Assembly constituency went to polls on November 20. He faces tough contest from Rutuja Ramesh Latke from Shiv Sena (UBT). In the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections, Ramesh Latke won in this seat. Counting began at 8 am on Saturday for the 2024 Jharkhand and Maharashtra Assembly Elections, along with bypoll results from 15 states. The counting, which will decide the fate of the 288 seats in Maharashtra and 81 in Jharkhand, is expected to reveal trends in the first few hours. In Maharashtra, the polling for the Legislative Assembly was held on Wednesday, with a turnout of over 66 percent, surpassing the 61 percent recorded in the 2019 elections. The Mahayuti alliance, which includes the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, is in a tough contest with the MVA alliance consisting of Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP). Both alliances view the increased voter turnout as a sign of support for their respective campaigns. State Chief Electoral Officer S Chockalingam praised efforts to increase voter participation, especially in Mumbai. "The Election Commission of India gave significant focus, attention, and time to Maharashtra this time. Each strategy was conceptualised and implemented with high precision. This resulted in a significant addition to the voter list between the Parliament election and the current election. Efforts were made to ease voting, especially in places like Mumbai, where there were challenges during the Parliament elections. This time, everyone appreciated the arrangements," he said. He also thanked nearly 6 lakh officials who ensured smooth voting. The bypolls were held in 48 assembly seats and two Lok Sabha seats across 15 states, with notable contests in Uttar Pradesh and Wayanad, Kerala, where Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra made her electoral debut. (ANI)
A screenshot of a webcam showing downtown Ruidoso around 8:30 p.m. on June 17 as the South Fork Fire looms and drivers flee. The state's insurance regulator is seeking $50 million from state lawmakers to expand its own "insurer of last resort," as it becomes harder to get private property insurance across the state. (Photo Courtesy Village of Ruidoso)

New Mexicos insurance regulator is asking lawmakers for $50 million to expand what its staff calls its insurer of last resort, as homeowners across the state report private property insurers continue to cancel their policies, refuse to renew them or hike up premium prices.

The Office of the Superintendent of Insurance is seeking the one-time appropriation at next years legislative session, as it rolls out a pilot program increasing coverage in Lincoln County. That area was hit hard by fire and floods this year.

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The money would allow the state to increase payouts for property owners from its state-run insurance company, which they said has proved a lifeline for property owners seeking to rebuild or stay insured in fire-prone areas.

The OSI has had a state-run insurance program, known as the Fair Access to Insurance Requirements, or FAIR Plan, since 1969. The nonprofit insurance organization is there for New Mexicans who are unable to secure insurance in the normal marketplace.

Recipients have to be denied by two private insurers to qualify, according to Alice Kane, the state superintendent of insurance.

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A one-time infusion of $50 million would represent a huge increase in funding for the nonprofit, which is largely funded by premiums. It has operated off of about $4.5 million in revenues in recent years, according to recent tax filings. The program also was slightly in the red last year, generating $4.6 million in revenues  mostly premiums and spending a little more than $5 million, including $3.7 million in claims.

The program still has about $9.8 million in assets, despite the small loss, according to its filings.

The OSI did not respond to a request Friday from Source New Mexico for more details on how an expanded FAIR Plan would work

The current program caps payouts at $350,000 for homes and $1 million for commercial properties, Kane told lawmakers at a meeting of the Legislative Finance Committee on Thursday.

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With the help of the additional funding, Kane said, an expanded FAIR Plan could increase coverage to $1 million for homes and $2 million for commercial properties. It would also serve as a backstop in case a catastrophe occurs before the state can collect enough in premiums to make the program sustainable.

That increase in coverage makes sense given the increase in home prices, Kane said. While $250,000 might have paid for an amazing house back in the 70s and 80s, the numbers have gone up dramatically since then, she said.

More than 1,000 homes were destroyed due to the South Fork and Salt fires and ensuing floods this summer, according to local estimates. Some residents have reported difficulty finding any private insurance coverage as they seek mortgages to rebuild.

Federal mortgage providers like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac accept New Mexicos FAIR plan, Kane said, which is a big help for those trying to rebuild.

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Its unclear how many policies across the state have been canceled or were subject to huge price hikes, but the office said the number has increased statewide.

The office has circulated a handout showing some counties saw huge increases in home insurance premiums between 2020 and 2023, ranging between 41% and 47% in Hidalgo, Roosevelt and Curry counties. On average, New Mexico premiums increased by 16% in the same time period, and the average annual premium is $1,817.

Despite the uptick in cancellations and non-renewals, insurance companies remain largely profitable in New Mexico, according to the OSI. Still, insurers here did have losses in 2016, 2017 and 2022. The two biggest wildfires in state history occurred in 2022.

Nationally, insurers have paid out more in claims than they received in premiums over the last decade, according to the OSI.
SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE)  Under President Joe Bidens Administration, the State of New Mexico received more than $6 billion to fund infrastructure projects. But with President-elect Donald Trump taking office in a couple of months, a lot of changes are expected- and some of those changes surround the funding of those projects in the state. That is a huge sum of money that catalyzes projects and improves communities, said Rebecca Roose, Infrastructure Advisor for the New Mexico Office of the Governor.

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Now, the Governors Office is preparing for that transition as some clean energy initiatives, among other infrastructure projects, could be in jeopardy of losing funding. President-elect Trump has been very clear that he has a very different view of the role of clean energy, Roose said.

The state says theyre taking steps to track those projects that are in progress. According to the Governors Office, most of the big-ticket initiatives have been- or will be complete regardless of help from the federal government. However, some other smaller projects may be at risk. The state said they expect some projects to stall, or get delayed as a result of the political shift.

We arent sure exactly how thats going to look, and which projects are going to be impacted, Roose explained. We may see some slow down or some pull back on federal investment on clean energy projects.

State leaders said theyll work with the next administration to try and get projects back on track. Theyll also be looking for increased support and investment from the private sector but say it will be difficult to match what the feds have contributed over the last four years. State money cant make up for all those federal funds so its going to mean were going to have to make some really tough choices, Roose added.

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The Governors Office added that the Biden administration also invested heavily in expanding broadband access throughout the country and in New Mexico. They hope Trumps team will continue that trend.

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Nov. 22The specter of a Donald Trump presidency loomed over the Legislative Health and Human Services Committee during a discussion Friday on a proposal that would greatly expand Medicaid across the state.

Proponents of the Medicaid Forward plan  which would remove income caps for Medicaid eligibility in favor of a sliding scale system  say the program would solve a host of health care-related headaches and help patients, the economy and the state.

But lawmakers expressed concerns Friday about what could happen if the incoming Republican president makes sweeping changes to the health care landscape  a factor that wasn't contemplated while a study of the proposal was conducted over the past year. The study lays out a plan with heavy federal investments.

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"Like Medicaid, the state will only contribute up to 28.32% of the costs for Medicaid Forward, with the federal government covering 71.68%," states an overview of the plan by New Mexico Together for Healthcare, a statewide coalition of groups with a goal of making health care in the state more affordable. "Upfront implementation costs will be offset by long-term savings from improved health outcomes and reduced emergency care needs."

"I love this concept, but like many of us, I'm really worried about what's happening in the federal government," said Rep. Elizabeth "Liz" Thomson, an Albuquerque Democrat.

"We have a nontraditional administration coming in who does nontraditional things," she said, adding, "I really want to be for this, but I'm terrified of what New Mexico can get stuck with if the nontraditional incoming administration takes a nontraditional route."

Thomson was one of several lawmakers on the committee who expressed concerns Friday about radically changing the way Medicaid is administered in New Mexico at a time when so much is uncertain at the national level.

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Cost savings forecast

Under the terms of the proposed shift, New Mexico would adopt an option created by the federal Affordable Care Act that allows states to determine the income eligibility level for people under the age of 65 to be covered by Medicaid, federal health insurance historically offered only to people with very low incomes.

Currently, only those earning up to 138% of federal poverty level  about $43,000 for a family of four  are eligible in New Mexico. Under Medicaid Forward, which is being promoted by the coalition of health care providers and advocates, anyone could receive Medicaid coverage.

Those earning 200% or more of federal poverty levels would pay for a portion of their care, calculated on a sliding scale. The limited health care costs for patients would range from 2% to 5% of income, depending on a household's income level. Proponents say this would make health care more affordable and make it possible for patients to predict their annual costs for care.

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"The uninsured rate will be cut in half and by even more in some parts of the state," said Arika Sanchez, health care director at the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty and a member of New Mexico Together for Healthcare.

"New Mexicans will save a billion dollars on health care spending, businesses will save over $200 million and providers will see additional increases in Medicaid reimbursement rates, further narrowing the gaps between Medicaid and private insurance," Sanchez said.

There are still many details to solidify, she said in an interview after the hearing, but generally the plan would call for employers with more than 50 workers to continue offering a health insurance option. Studies indicate they could see cost savings, however, from no longer having to pay premiums for employees who choose to enroll in Medicaid, she added.

"The Medicaid Forward model also anticipates there will be some sort of new employer contribution or tax that would help offset costs to state but would be much less than they are currently paying," Sanchez said.

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Rep. Reena Szczepanski, D-Santa Fe, told the committee a recent study shows the measure would be an "all around win" that would save money for the state, employers and families and prevent people from falling off the "Medicaid cliff" and losing their health coverage if their income slightly increases.

Szczepanski will carry a bill in the upcoming legislative session that would direct the New Mexico Health Care Authority to move forward with plans to implement the plan by January 2028.

Boosting quality of care

Medical providers who advocated for the program said the new way of doing things would also have a positive effect on the quality of health care in New Mexico.

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Medicaid has built-in standards that must be met for reimbursement, they noted, and the expansion would allow patients to actually access care, which would reduce the "moral injury" driving providers to leave New Mexico due to feeling powerless to address their patients' needs.

"Moral injury ... is defined as the psychological response to an event that violates a person's deeply held values or morals, and we are losing health care providers from this state in good part because of burnout and moral injury," said Anjali Taneja a family physician and director of a nonprofit clinic in Albuquerque's South Valley who also works in an emergency room on the Navajo Nation.

Though the option for an expanded Medicaid system has been available for about 10 years, only Washington, D.C., has adopted it permanently, according to Sanchez. Oregon adopted it temporarily as a bridge to a different type of system.

The option makes more sense in New Mexico than in other places, Sanchez said, because so many people in the state already receive Medicaid and because the cost-sharing ratio between the federal government and the state already calls for the federal government to bear a larger percentage of the cost of Medicaid than it does in other states with residents who have higher incomes.

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'There is a lot unknown'

It's that cost-sharing ratio where much of the uncertainty exists.

If the federal share were to change, lawmakers worried aloud Friday, the calculations that make the adoption of Medicaid Forward an attractive option now could look much different.

"There is a lot unknown," Sanchez acknowledged in an interview after the hearing. "We don't have any idea what could happen under a Trump administration."

However, she said, attempts to reduce access to Medicaid during Trump's previous administration "all met with strong opposition" and had little impact.

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"We just know where we are today," she said. "We have health care needs that need to be addressed, and we're just going to continue pushing forward trying to increase that access."

Under current law, the state's executive has the authority to set up and implement the program, Sanchez said. "However, legislation is necessary for ensuring proper funding mechanisms are set up, and any other parameters or guidance the Legislature wants to put in place for implementation."
Nov. 22Manchester-Boston Regional Airport is losing its only nonstop flight to the New York City area starting March 30.

United Airlines is cutting its twice-daily flights to Newark (New Jersey) Liberty International Airport and replacing them with twice-daily flights to Washington Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Virginia.

"We also acknowledge that this leaves MHT without a nonstop flight to the New York area, but we are working with our airlines to bring a nonstop flight to New York back to MHT in the future," Airport Director Ted Kitchens said in a statement Friday.

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"The number of seats appears to remain the same" for the current Newark and future Dulles United flights, airport spokeswoman Christina Lawson said in an email.

United Airlines paused service from Manchester to the Washington, D.C., area in November 2021 due to staffing and other operational constraints affecting United's regional flying partners, according to airport officials.

Delta ended service in March 2020 to LaGuardia Airport in Queens, New York.

Starting Jan. 23, JetBlue will start flying out of Manchester to three Florida airports: Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Fort Myers.

JetBlue, however, offers flights from Boston to LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy International Airport, which also is in Queens.
(WHTM)  Across the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows more than 25,000 cases of whooping cough have been reported so far this year. Last year, it was a little over 5,000 cases.

Whooping cough is very contagious. Its a bacteria called pertussis. It can affect all ages, but Its most serious in young children, particularly infants, said UPMC Infectious Disease Specialist, Dr. John Goldman.

Pennsylvania is the worst state across the United States with almost 2,600 cases. Thats ten times more than last year.

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The question is why we are seeing this increase in cases.

First of all, Pennsylvania has a number of cities, high population density, said Dr. Goldman.

That includes Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

Another reason is, during the pandemic, we were following our regular precautions like hand hygiene, masking, and if you were coughing you were staying away from the general public. That also helped prevent the spread of not just the COVID but other respiratory infections as well, said Penn State Health Pediatrician, Dr. Banku Jairath.

Both doctors say whooping cough peaks every few years.

To date, Penn State Health has had 16 positive cases this year.

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UPMC couldnt provide a specific number but has noticed trends.

So we saw it concentrated in particular schools there would be an outbreak. There would be one case in the school and then there would be a bunch of cases afterwards. We saw it concentrated in particular areas. The Carlisle area had a whole bunch of cases for a little while, said Dr. Goldman.

Getting a vaccination is the best way to prevent whooping cough. Doctors say teenagers and adults should get a booster every 10 years.

Dr. Goldman says symptoms for whooping cough can be different for kids and adults.

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Be aware that it can present not in the classic way with a fit of coughing, but can be present as a chronic cough, especially as an adult. The kid will have long bouts of coughing. The coughing is often terminated when they throw up, said Dr. Goldman.

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BBC/National Crime Agency

A gang of people-smugglers promoted their work by having migrants record Tripadvisor-style reviews of their journeys to Britain.

Dilshad Shamo, 41, and Ali Khdir, 40, advertised their routes by using social media apps to circulate videos and messages from people who had already taken the journey.

In one, a family travelling by plane details the route and states we are very happy ... this is the visa, may god bless him, we are really happy.

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In another video, a man travelling by HGV tells 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.

In a sophisticated criminal enterprise, 100 people were smuggled illegally into Europe each week over a period of two years.

The pair plead guilty to people-smuggling while posing as a car wash franchise in Caerphilly, Wales - National Crime Agency

Shamo and Khdir were eventually convicted on Friday after pleading guilty to people-smuggling midway through their trial.

The pair, who posed under the cover of running a successful car wash franchise in the south Wales town of Caerphilly, were caught after a surveillance operation by the National Crime Agency.

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Officers tracked down the smugglers after a tip-off and began secretly recording some of their phone calls.

Working with a larger organised crime gang, Shamo and Khdir would facilitate the movement of people from Iraq, Iran and Syria through Turkey, Belarus, Moldova and Bosnia.

From there they would travel to Italy, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Germany and France, with many eventually arriving in Britain.

Waiting on an OK

The mens customers were offered varying levels of service  the simplest being on foot or via HGV or a smaller vehicle, the next by cargo ships or yachts, and the top platinum tier by providing plane travel.

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The platinum tier involved buying a fake passport and a plane ticket, costing between 10,000 and 25,000. The gold-tier service costing between 8,000 and 10,000 would involve boat travel, while the riskiest service  between 3,000 and 5,000  involved travel by lorry.

Money was lodged with Hawala money brokers in Iraq and Istanbul who would arrange and obtain funds from those travelling on particular routes.

Shamo and Khdir used WhatsApp to communicate with people-smugglers across Europe, waiting to receive an OK for migrants to be moved by a specified route or timeframe once a deposit was paid.

When the pair were first arrested in April 2023, police overheard Khdir telling Shamo: Just tell them that we are buying and selling cars, just say we do transfer money from our home country.

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Police found the video reviews on the smugglers own phones, intended to be used as a source of promotional material to win new customers.

In another clip a man being filmed in the back of a lorry gives a thumbs-up when someone asks: How was the route, lads?

One Iranian family, who was smuggled to Europe and filmed outside an airport, told the camera: God bless you, we are very grateful.

Derek Evans, the NCA branch commander who led the investigation, said the pair operated like a travel agency.

He added: Its like Tripadvisor, they were rating their service within that community. 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.

Smuggling vulnerable people

After hearing ten days of evidence against them at Cardiff Crown Court, both men pleaded guilty to offences of facilitation of migrants through Europe. A further hearing will be held on Monday ahead of sentencing.

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Praising the operation to bring the trafficking gang to justice, Dame Angela Eagle, a 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.

Our new Border Security Command will intensify our efforts to disrupt the criminal gangs with cutting-edge technology and increased efforts in transit countries to prevent unsafe small boat equipment reaching the French coast.

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Every week Keir Starmer jets off somewhere new to do more harm to the national interest. First, he surrendered British sovereign territory in the Chagos Islands to an ally of China. Then he was bullied into discussing billions of pounds for slavery reparations at talks in Samoa.

Next, he signed Britain up to even more costly climate targets in Azerbaijan, and this week he was in Brazil, cosying up to the biggest beneficiary of his climate plans  China. Perhaps he should consider staying at home.

The Prime Minister claims his new target to reduce carbon emissions by 81 per cent by 2035 will make us a global leader. The truth is, we have been one for many years and other major countries have not followed our lead.

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We were the first major economy to halve our emissions since 1990. In that time, the US has barely cut emissions at all, while Chinas have tripled.

Keir told us his new emission reduction targets are necessary to win the global race for jobs, yet the biggest manufacturer of clean energy technology in the world is China, which is still 60 per cent powered by coal, and, according to recent data, is now one of the largest polluters of all time.

Whether its batteries, cables, or solar panels, the biggest beneficiary of Labours headlong rush to decarbonise the electricity grid by 2030 will not be Britain, but China, who dominate clean technology supply chains.

Without time to grow, British businesses will be frozen out in favour of cheap, coal-powered Chinese mass-manufacturing. Labour will be driving billions of pounds of taxpayers money into the hands of the worlds largest polluter, all in the name of tackling climate change.

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This will be turbocharged by a hidden policy bomb implicit in Ed Milibands flagship project to decarbonise the electricity grid by 2030. Tucked away in the National Energy System Operators recent report on the costs of Clean Power 2030, a report that the Energy Secretary has unequivocally endorsed, is an assumption that Britains carbon price  a tax levied on industry players who use natural gas, for example  would be an eye-watering 147/tCO2 in 2030.

This is double the Governments own forecasts and would be the most punitive carbon tax of any country in the world. It would have a devastating effect on British industry, yet there has been no impact assessment produced of how many jobs it would cost.

The Prime Minister and the Energy Secretary are relying on this assumption to tell the British public that their energy plans will be cheaper than the status quo. This is simply not an honest position.

There are trade-offs to be made between higher climate targets, peoples jobs and energy bills. The thousands of workers in Port Talbot, Scunthorpe and Grangemouth already know this. So too do the 200,000 workers who depend on the North Sea.

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A carbon price that sends industry fleeing to cheaper, more polluting countries wont mean we need any less steel or petroleum products, we would just end up shipping in dirtier imports from countries like China.

That would mean fewer jobs here at home but more carbon in the atmosphere. This would be carbon accounting gone mad.

Britain will always play a role in protecting the environment. However, we only account for 1 per cent of global emissions.

Giving away our jobs, forcing painful changes on the British people and sending energy bills through the roof would leave us as a warning, not an example, to the rest of the world.

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If instead we focused on exporting exciting British technologies  like in nuclear  to the rest of the world we would have a greater impact on global emissions, lower bills and more jobs in Britain.

The Prime Minister needs to ground himself in the facts and ditch the dangerous ideology of his Energy Secretary before its too late

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A non-fatal shooting Friday night near Landmark Lanes left a 32-year-old person injured. The Milwaukee Police Department is still investigating.

The incident occurred at around 10:00 p.m. on the 2200 block of N. Farwell Ave, according to a release from the department sent on Nov. 23.

The 32-year-old victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment of injuries, per the release.

A few employees at businesses around the block, including Toppers Pizza, said it's usually pretty busy in the area around 10 p.m.

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An employee at The Oriental Theatre, a few storefronts down from Landmark Lanes, wasn't working at the time but said other employees at the theater escorted viewers of Bram Stoker's Dracula, which started at 9:30 p.m., out through a back door after the movie ended.

Milwaukee Police continue to seek information on possible suspects. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Milwaukee Police at (414) 935-7360 or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at (414) 224-Tips or P3 Tips.

This story was updated to add a video.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: One person injured in shooting near Oriental Theatre, Landmark Lanes
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)  The Linton Miners are heading back to the state finals for the first time since 2016.

Linton defeats Indy Lutheran 40-28 Friday night to win the 2A Semi-State.

Linton will play Adams Central Friday at 11am EST for the 2A State Title.

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Congress candidate Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is leading from the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat, counting for which began on Saturday morning, as per the early trends from the Election Commission of India. Wayanad, a Congress bastion is witnessing a triangular contest between Priyanka Gandhi, BJP's Navya Haridas, and the Left candidate Sathyan Mokeri. As per the ECI at 9 am today, Priyanka is leading with 5672 votes with Communist Party of India candidate Sathyan Mokeri trailing with 1298 votes. BJP candidate Navya Haridas is at the third spot with 1133 votes, as per ECI. Priyanka Gandhi is contesting from the Wayanad constituency as a United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate, from the seat her brother Rahul Gandhi vacated. Wayanad's seat was vacated by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after he was also elected to Lok Sabha from Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh in the general elections held earlier this year. If Priyanka Gandhi wins from Wayanad, she will be the third person from the Gandhi family to enter Parliament. BJP candidate Navya Haridas today expressed confidence in her party's victory, saying that if the people want development in Wayanad, they will choose the NDA. Speaking to ANI, Haridas said. "Last time Rahul Gandhi had won from Wayanad but he rejected this Mandal and retained Rae Bareli. This time the voting percentage came down as they were not in the mood to face the election after the landslide incident. If people need development in Wayanad, then they would select NDA." Earlier, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra hit out at the central government, which has reportedly refused to declare Wayanad landslides a national disaster as requested by the Kerala government. In a post on X, Priyanka called it a "shocking injustice" to the victims and criticised the central government for "denying essential relief to those in dire need." (ANI)
Lithuania will fund the production of Ukrainian long-range drones, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced on Nov. 23.

The long-term agreement between Ukraine and Lithuania includes an initial tranche of 10 million euros which has already been agreed upon and focuses particularly on Ukraine's Palianytsia missile-like drones.

"I expressed gratitude to the Republic of Lithuania for its steadfast support during these challenging times and personally thanked (Defense Minister Laurynas) Kasciunas for his leadership," Umerov wrote.

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Umerov and his Lithuanian counterpart also reportedly discussed plans to equip Ukrainian brigades, provide ammunition, strengthen air defense, and expand defense industry cooperation between the two countries as "key priorities" for 2025.

The Defense Ministry previously announced on Nov. 22 that Sweden had also agreed to finance the production of long-range drones for Ukraine to aid the country in its defense against Russia's war of aggression.

Read also: Dont overreact  Oreshnik missile isnt as new as Russia claims, experts say

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Sweden has agreed to finance the production of Ukrainian long-range drones, Ukraine's Defense Ministry reported on Nov. 22.

The announcement came during Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov's working visit in Sweden and his talks with his Swedish counterpart Pal Jonson.

The defense ministers also discussed plans for military aid to Ukraine in 2025, including efforts to equip military units with hardware, which Umerov said are in the final stages of negotiation.

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For us, this is not just about partnership but also about shared security, Umerov said, as quoted by the Defense Ministry.

According to the Defense Ministry, Umerov also met with representatives of Swedish defense companies.

Sweden announced a new aid package for Ukraine worth 9 million euros ($9.8 million) in early November, which included two vessels designed to enhance maritime security.

Read also: Dont overreact  Oreshnik missile isnt as new as Russia claims, experts say

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At least two paramedics were killed in Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

The ministry said that a rescue team from the Islamic Health Authority (IHA), an organization affiliated with the militia Hezbollah, was targeted by a drone strike.

The attack occurred while the paramedics were responding to an emergency call. When additional rescuers arrived to assist their colleagues, their vehicles were also reportedly struck, leaving four more paramedics injured.

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Israels military has previously accused the IHA of using ambulances to transport weapons, though no independent evidence has been provided to substantiate these claims.

The Lebanese Health Ministry condemned the strikes, describing them as a violation of international humanitarian law.

Five paramedics were killed on Friday.
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY)  Veterans Day is now in the rearview mirror while Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching.

Both holidays are on the mind of Admiral Daryl Caudle of U.S. Fleet Forces Command.

He packed his bags and did some traveling to show us how these two November holidays go hand-in-hand.

Each month here on WAVY-TV 10, Admiral Daryl Caudle, commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command will address a different topic important to our military community.

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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  The death of a missing 16-year-old whose body was found during a search south of Rockford on Friday has been ruled an accidental drowning by the medical examiner, Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Winstrom said.

Although it doesnt bring back Cortez (McConer Jr.), obviously, it does sort of make you reflect on the fact that there was nothing that we could have done sooner that would have made a difference in the case, Winstrom said.

The 16-year-old had been missing since Oct. 26 after he and some friends fled police in the Rockford area, according to authorities. The two friends were later found by police.

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GRPD chiefs message to missing teen: Call anyone

The police officers on scene saw two individuals flee from the area. They never saw Cortez. No one knew except for the kids with him that Cortez had been in that vehicle. No one knew that Cortez was up in Rockford  until his friends made contact with the family and said Hey, Cortez was with us. That was three or four days later that it was brought to my attention that these kids spoke up, Winstrom said.

Winstrom said police initially thought the teen may be hiding from police, thinking he was in trouble, because he had been an occupant in a stolen car, but emphasized Friday morning that police did not intend to pursue criminal charges and just wanted to find him.

Body of missing Grand Rapids teen found near Rockford

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Cortezs body was found Friday afternoon in a secluded and heavily wooded area south of Rockford after about three to four hours of searching. Winstrom said a jacket found during the search.

So we could kind of see where his path was, he said. And it was a significant distance through the woods  across Wolverine (Boulevard), through the woods further, and then into the swampy area which then, actually, turned into a pond.

A deaf search dog named Tucker, which also has limited vision, found the teens body. Winstrom credited the dog as being the likely reason why they found his body.

What we learned today through the autopsy and what we saw yesterday with the recovery, I think he was deceased very shortly after he fled, so it wouldnt have made a difference (had the friends told police sooner), Winstrom said.

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Winstrom explained that for the past three weeks, his agency and others have been searching for Cortez.

We put 100% into finding Cortez. I wish it had had a happier ending, but it certainly didnt turn out this way because of lack of trying or lack of care on our part or certainly on his familys part, he said.

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This article was originally published in Mississippi Today.

Mississippians who are dead set on enacting private school vouchers could do like their counterparts in Kentucky and attempt to change the state constitution to allow public funds to be spent on private schools.

The courts have ruled in Kentucky that the state constitution prevents private schools from receiving public funds, commonly known as vouchers. In response to that court ruling, an issue was placed on the ballot to change the Kentucky Constitution and allow private schools to receive public funds.

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But voters threw a monkey wrench into the voucher supporters plans to bypass the courts. The amendment was overwhelmingly defeated this month, with 65% of Kentuckians voting against the proposal.

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Kentucky, generally speaking, is at least as conservative or more conservative than Mississippi. In unofficial returns, 65% of Kentuckians voted for Republican Donald Trump on Nov. 5 compared to 62% of Mississippians.

In Mississippi, like Kentucky, there has been a hue and cry to enact a widespread voucher program.

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Mississippi House Speaker Jason White, R-West, has voiced support for vouchers, though he has conceded he does not believe there are the votes to get such a proposal through the House Republican caucus that claims a two-thirds supermajority.

And, like in Kentucky, there is the question of whether a voucher proposal could withstand legal muster under a plain reading of the Mississippi Constitution.

In Mississippi, like Kentucky, the state constitution appears to explicitly prohibit the spending of public funds on private schools. The Mississippi Constitution states that public funds should not be spent on a school that is not conducted as a free school.

The Mississippi Supreme Court has never rendered a specific ruling on the issue. The Legislature did provide $10 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds to private schools. That expenditure was challenged and appealed to the Mississippi Supreme Court. But in a ruling earlier this year, the states high court did not directly address the issue of public funds being spent on private schools. It instead ruled that the group challenging the expenditure did not have standing to file the lawsuit.

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In addition, a majority of the court ruled that the case was not directly applicable to the Mississippi Constitutions language since the money directed to private schools was not state funds but one-time federal funds earmarked for COVID-19 relief efforts.

To clear up the issue in Mississippi, those supporting vouchers could do like their counterparts did in Kentucky and try to change the constitution.

Since Mississippis ballot initiative process was struck down in an unrelated Supreme Court ruling, the only way to change the state constitution is to pass a proposal by a two-thirds majority of the Mississippi House and Senate and then by a majority of the those voting in a November general election.

Those touting public funds for private schools point to a poll commissioned by House Speaker White that shows 72% support for policies that enable parents to take a more active role in deciding the best path for their childrens education. But what does that actually mean? Many have critiqued the phrasing of the question, wondering why the pollster did not ask specifically about spending public funds on private schools.

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Regardless, Mississippi voucher supporters have made no attempt to change the constitution. Instead, they argue that for some vague reason the language in the Mississippi Constitution should be ignored.

Nationwide efforts to put vouchers before the voters have not been too successful. In addition to voters in Kentucky rejecting vouchers, so did voters in ruby-red Nebraska and true-blue Colorado in this years election.

With those election setbacks, voucher supporters in Mississippi might believe their best bet is to get the courts to ignore the plain reading of the state constitution instead of getting voters to change that language themselves.

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Nov. 22NEW LONDON  The first group of nursing students will begin training at a new, state-of-the-art facility next year at Mitchell College, part of a collaborative effort between the school and Yale New Haven Health to address a critical shortfall of nurses in the state.

During the six-semester program beginning in the fall of 2025, students working toward a bachelor's degree in nursing will take part in classroom lectures and clinical sessions overseen by Lawrence + Memorial Hospital  the program's lead clinical partner  the Shoreline Therapy behavioral health group, the state Department of Corrections and Colchester and Waterford public schools.

College President Tracy Y. Espy said Friday the school began discussing a nursing program a couple of years ago and more recently secured its clinical partners and an inaugural director of nursing, Dr. Martha Kershaw.

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Espy said the college plans to enroll 36 nursing students, divided into two groups, in its first year.

"My hope is to create a health care pipeline, similar to the state's manufacturing pipeline, in which we're encouraging young students to look into a career in nursing, occupational health or other careers," she said.

Filling a critical nursing shortage

Of the roughly 50,000 nurses working in the state, more than half are older than 50 and approaching retirement age, according to state statistics.

Officials estimate the state needs about 3,000 new registered nurses each year to meet patient demand, far more than the 1,900 nursing students who graduate from Connecticut colleges and universities each year, according to a 2020 Governor's Workforce Council report.

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The report found about 7,000 qualified nursing students were rejected by Connecticut schools due to a "lack of educational capacity," which included a dearth of faculty and available sites needed for students to earn clinic hours.

"There is a critical need for nurses at L+M, at Westerly Hospital, and across all the Yale New Haven Health hospitals," Mitchell College board member and L+M Hospital Chief Nursing Officer Shannon Christian said in an email. "Programs like this that will help reduce the shortage of nurses are a win-win for everyone. We look forward to collaborating with Mitchell College on clinical opportunities for these students."

Students who successfully complete the nursing program will be authorized to take the National Council Licensure Examination, a requirement for prospective registered nurses.

Gangrene, swollen tongues and breech births

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A large room inside the campus' Bingham Hall building has been transformed into a mock hospital room  The Edward and Mary Lord Nursing Simulation and Skills Laboratory  complete with monitors, medical equipment and beds occupied by seven manikins, including a pediatric and infant version.

Underneath the "patients'" skin, which can be inserted with IV needles and fit with blood pressure cuffs, is a host of medical issues waiting to erupt, said Betsy Beaulieu, the college's dean and vice-president of academic affairs.

"The manikins can be programmed with an iPad to talk, show heart and breath sounds and even have seizures," Beaulieu said. "Their tongues can swell and we have a box of spare feet we can change out to simulate burns or gangrene. Our pregnant patient can be programmed to simulate a breech birth or a cord wrapped around a baby's neck."

The manikins will be treated by students while their colleagues view the proceedings from a soon-to-be-added one-way mirror. Cameras and microphones will record the sessions so students can review their performances.

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Beaulieu said interest is already high in the new program, with a few current Mitchell students ready to switch their majors to nursing.

Kenshaw said while other colleges have simulation labs, few have been built from scratch like Mitchell's lab, which will be formally dedicated in December. She said the lab is good bridge to the clinical portion of the curriculum, in which students work with medical professionals and patients in a hospital or other treatment facility.

"Those clinicals are in many cases like one long job interview," Kenshaw said. "The whole program is exciting and important, as the need for more nurses is a national issue with so many aging out or having left after the (COVID-19 pandemic)," she said.

j.penney@theday.com
Moldovan Energy Minister Victor Parlicov has announced that his trip to St Petersburg for talks on Russian gas supplies to Transnistria is scheduled for 25 November. [Transnistria is a Russian-backed breakaway quasi-state, which is internationally recognised as the territory of Moldova]

Source: Moldovan news outlet NewsMaker, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Parlicov, commenting on his visit to St Petersburg, Russia, scheduled for 25 November, said he "understands" that a visit to "Russia, which is an aggressor country, is a sensitive issue".

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"But these are our options. Either you go and discuss, or you don't go and don't discuss. If you don't come and discuss, then, in my opinion, you lose the opportunity to solve the problem," Parlicov said.

He stressed that it is essential for Moldova to get clarity from Russian energy giant Gazprom on the issue of gas supplies to the Transnistrian region.

"We've drawn up 12 different scenarios of what will happen in this or that case. We'll be able to cope even with the scenario in which the transit and supply of Russian gas to the Transnistrian region is interrupted, but this is not the best scenario," the journalists quoted the Moldovan minister as saying.

Parlicov said Chisinau is concerned about the possibility of gas supplies being cut off after 1 January.

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"Everyone knows that the Transnistrian region is completely dependent on this gas. If there's no more of this de facto free supply, the region won't be able to function. And there are our citizens there. And the social and economic collapse of the region, which is home to weapons, the Russian military, and ammunition, creates much greater security risks at the regional level," he said.

Therefore, he noted that the country is "interested in and in favour of maintaining gas supplies to the Transnistrian region, at least during this period, to maintain calm".

"No one wants to destabilise the situation," the Moldovan minister explained.

He said the Moldovan delegation at the talks intends to "understand whether Gazprom will fulfil its contractual obligations to supply gas to the Transnistrian region, even if there is no transit through Ukraine".

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"If not, it's another thing. We need clarity on this issue as soon as possible to prepare for a scenario in which supplies are cut off. If this happens, it will be hard for us all," added Parlicov.

Background:

Moldova refused to purchase Russian gas after the Kremlin launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, instead buying it on the European market. However, Gazprom continues to supply gas to Transnistria, which provides Moldova with most of its electricity.

In the summer of 2023, the Moldovan government prepared three scenarios for the heating season, one of which allowed for the resumption of purchases from Gazprom for the needs of the country, excluding Transnistria.

In early October 2024, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal confirmed that Kyiv was not considering extending the transit agreement with Russia's Gazprom after the current deal expires in 2024.

Parlicov later met with his Ukrainian counterpart, Herman Halushchenko, during a visit to Kyiv, where they discussed energy cooperation and the security of Moldova's natural gas reserves in Ukraine.

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WOODBRIDGE, Va. (DC News Now)  The Prince William County Police Department (PWCPD) is investigating a felony homicide that happened in Woodbridge.

PWCPD said on Nov. 22 that two people were arrested in an ongoing investigation surrounding criminal neglect of a vulnerable adult.

Prince William County animal shelter waiving adoption fees during Black Fur-Day event

On April 2, PWCPD said a call from the familys home at Bayvue Apartments, located in the 14100 block of Fisher Ave., alerted the department of the situation.

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After investigating, PWCPD said the victim, 32-year-old Jeremy Thompson, was being treated at a medical center, suffering from extreme neglect.

Medical personnel had responded to the home where Jeremy Thompson, who has cerebral palsy and cannot move, was found unconscious on the floor. He appeared to be severely emaciated and in an unkempt state with open wounds to his body, according to PWCPD.

Katharine Thompson, 69, the victims mother, was identified as Jeremy Thompsons primary caretaker. She had been previously charged with felony neglect at the time of the initial investigation, PWCPD said.

Nearly 500 Virginia schools to get security upgrades

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On April 15, the man died and was taken to the Medical Examiners Office for an autopsy. It was revealed that he died due to sepsis in the setting of cerebral palsy and neglect.

Jeremy Thompsons brother, 31-year-old Johnathan Thompson, also lived in the house with him and had helped care for him sometimes, which made him a responsible party, PWCPD said.

Both Jeremy Thompsons brother and mom were arrested and charged with felony homicide and abuse and neglect of a vulnerable adult.

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As counting for the Jharkhand and Maharashtra Assembly Elections, along with bypoll results began on Saturday, Congress leader Rakesh Sinha exuded confidence saying that the results will be in favour of the 'Mahaghathbandhan.' The Congress leader also said BJP would be reduced to just 7-8 seats in Jharkhand since the people of the state will not accept a party that raises slogans like 'Batoge toh Katoge.' Sinha said there would be no need for resort politics, asserting that the resilient soil of Jharkhand has withstood repeated attempts by the BJP to undermine it through measures like 'Operation Lotus,' as well as interventions by the ED, Income Tax Department, and CBI. Speaking to ANI, Sinha said, "The results will come in our favour. People have shown their support, love and blessings to the candidates of 'Mahaghathbandhan'. The public in Jharkhand has said that they are not going to accept people like those who raise slogans like 'Batoge toh Katoge.' "The BJP used to claim in the Lok Sabha that they will get 400 seats. The situation is that the government is running on crutches. BJP will be reduced from 7-8 seats in Jharkhand. There will be no need for a resort. This soil of Jharkhand is very hard and the BJP has been constantly trying to demolish this soil through 'Operation Lotus', ED, Income Tax and CBI," said Sinha. Counting began at 8 am on Saturday for the 2024 Jharkhand and Maharashtra Assembly Elections, along with bypoll results from 15 states. The counting, which will decide the fate of the 288 seats in Maharashtra and 81 in Jharkhand, is expected to reveal trends in the first few hours. In Maharashtra, the polling for the Legislative Assembly was held on Wednesday, with a turnout of over 66 percent, surpassing the 61 percent recorded in the 2019 elections. The Mahayuti alliance, which includes the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, is in a tough contest with the MVA alliance consisting of Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP). Both alliances view the increased voter turnout as a sign of support for their respective campaigns. In Jharkhand, the contest is between the JMM-led alliance, comprising Congress, RJD, and CPI(ML), and the BJP-led NDA alliance, which includes AJSU, JD(U), and LJP. Exit polls predict the NDA could win between 42-47 seats, while the JMM-led alliance is expected to secure 25-30 seats. Voter turnout in Jharkhand was reported at over 68.45 percent on election day, surpassing the 2019 elections turnout of 65 percent. In the 2019 elections, the JMM won 30 seats, BJP 25, and Congress 16 seats. The results for all 81 constituencies in Jharkhand, along with the Maharashtra and bypoll results, will be declared today. (ANI)
INDEPENDENCE, Mo.  An Independence mom is upset after she said police mistook her son for a suspect who shot at officers during a chase.

The intense moment the teenager was told to come outside his home with his hands up was caught on camera, near 17th and Trail Ridge Drive.

An Independence mom said police had ordered her 14-year-old son who had been home that night  out of their house with guns drawn.

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Come out to the backyard with your hands up, an officer shouted. Step out, step out!

Kansas City mother speaks on her car being stolen from hotel valet

Amber Larcom shared videos from her security cameras on their back porch of what happened on November 6 into the next morning.

Heres the deal bud, An officer said, If you run, Im gonna send the dog over there, OK?

Shes paralyzed and said from her bed it terrified her hearing her son being shouted at, like a suspect, knowing she couldnt immediately get up to help.

I was terrified, I knew they were talking to my son, I knew he had nothing to do with this, I knew I couldnt get up and save him from whatever was going to happen, Larcom said.

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Independence police said they were searching for two suspects who took off in a vehicle when officers tried to pull them over, near Truman and Noland Road.

Police said on Nov. 6, just before midnight, officers attempted a traffic stop. They said the suspects sped off.

Police said officers chased the vehicle and a suspect fired shots at officers hitting a police vehicles headlights.

Larcom said she heard the gunfire. She told her 14-year-old to lock the doors.

Police said the suspects vehicle hit a tree and two men were taken into custody after a foot pursuit.

Police said a K-9 officer located and detained a person in a back yard of a home near the scene.

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According to the report, that person was identified as a juvenile and released.

Larcom said that juvenile was her 14-year-old son.

Shes upset with how the situation was handled.

I have never been more petrified, I dont want to cry, of anything in my life, Larcom said.

Overland Park suspect previously convicted in 2006 New York rape incident

Obviously they thought he was one of the people shooting at them. So, I immediately thought, Is he going to get shot as soon as he walks out this door?

Larcom said police detained her son for about two and a half hours, until they drove him down the street in a van. Fifteen minutes later, she said he came back with a detective and two officers who said the 14-year-old was free to go.

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Im highly upset, Larcom said. I feel like he couldve sat in here with an officer or something.

It was traumatic, it was scary, and I dont think it was handled correctly. I really dont, I feel like it couldve been handled way different than it was, especially taking my minor child and disappearing for 15 minutes with him  to me thats unacceptable.

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Larcom wants to file a complaint with the department. she said shes called and left a message with police but has not heard back.

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A Pennsylvania woman has filed a lawsuit against the estate of her childrens grandmother, who, along with her two grandsons, died in a fire at the elderly womans New Jersey home in July.

The blaze broke out inside Grace Colby Drurys home in West Orange on July 13 around 11 a.m., NJ.com reported.

When firefighters arrived on the scene, the home on Liberty Street was already filled with heavy smoke caused by a small kitchen fire, authorities said. Inside, they found Drury and her grandchildren, Aiden Drury, 8, and Anthony Drury, 3, already unresponsive.

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First responders rendered aid to the victims, but to no avail. All three were pronounced dead on the scene.

According to a new lawsuit filed by the boys mother, Jennifer Daugherty, Drury failed to maintain the property in a reasonably safe condition. The suit goes on to accuse of the grandmother of negligence, claiming adequate fire prevention measures could have prevented Aiden and Anthonys deaths.

In addition to Drurys estate, the suit also takes aim at Wertheimer & Sons, Inc., a Montville-based contractor that previously did work on the home after a separate fire. At no point, though, did the workers install functioning smoke detectors, which showed a disregard for property safety standards, according to the court documents, cited by NJ.com.

Dougherty is seeking monetary damages for wrongful death, funeral expenses, and the emotional suffering caused by the loss of her children.
The Montana State Capitol on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, a day after the legislature adjourned the 2023 session. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan)

Conservative groups are working to undermine support for Montanas Medicaid expansion in hopes the state will abandon the program. The rollback would be the first in the decade since the Affordable Care Act began allowing states to cover more people with low incomes.

Montanas expansion, which insures roughly 78,800 people, is set to expire next year unless the legislature and governor opt to renew it. Opponents see a rare opportunity to eliminate Medicaid expansion in one of the 40 states that have approved it.

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The Foundation for Government Accountability and Paragon Health Institute, think tanks funded by conservative groups, told Montana lawmakers in September that the programs enrollment and costs are bloated and that the overloaded system harms access to care for the most vulnerable.

Manatt, a consulting firm that has studied Montanas Medicaid program for years, then presented legislators with the opposite take, stating that more people have access to critical treatment because of Medicaid expansion. Those who support the program say the conservative groups arguments are flawed.

State Rep. Bob Keenan, a Republican who chairs the Health and Human Services Interim Budget Committee, which heard the dueling arguments, said the decision to kill or continue Medicaid expansion comes down to who believes what.

The expansion program extends Medicaid coverage to adults with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level, or nearly $21,000 a year for a single person. Before, the program was largely reserved for children, people with disabilities, and pregnant women. The federal government covers 90% of the expansion cost while states pick up the rest.

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National Medicaid researchers have said Montana is the only state considering shelving its expansion in 2025. Others could follow.

New Hampshire legislators in 2023 extended the states expansion for seven years and this year blocked legislation to make it permanent. Utah has provisions to scale back or end its Medicaid expansion program if federal contributions drop.

FGA and Paragon have long argued against Medicaid expansion. Tax records show their funders include some large organizations pushing conservative agendas. That includes the 85 Fund, which is backed by Leonard Leo, a conservative activist best known for his efforts to fill the courts with conservative judges.

The president of Paragon Health Institute is Brian Blase, who served as a special assistant to former President Donald Trump and is a visiting fellow at FGA, which quotes him as praising the organization for its conservative policy wins across states. He was also announced in 2019 as a visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation, which was behind the Project 2025 presidential blueprint, which proposes restricting Medicaid eligibility and benefits.

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Paragon spokesperson Anthony Wojtkowiak said its work isnt directed by any political party or donor. He said Paragon is a nonpartisan nonprofit and responds to policymakers interested in learning more about its analyses.

In the instance of Montana, Paragon does not have a role in the debate around Medicaid expansion, other than the testimony, he said.

FGA declined an interview request. As early as last year, the organization began calling on Montana lawmakers to reject reauthorizing the program. It also released a video this year of Montana Republican Rep. Jane Gillette saying the state should allow its expansion to expire.

Gillette requested the FGA and Paragon presentations to state lawmakers, according to Keenan. He said Democratic lawmakers responded by requesting the Manatt presentation.

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Manatts research was contracted by the Montana Healthcare Foundation, whose mission is to improve the health of Montanans. Its latest report also received support from the states hospital association.

The Montana Healthcare Foundation is a funder of KFF Health News, an independent national newsroom that is part of the health information nonprofit KFF.

Bryce Ward, a Montana health economist who studies Medicaid expansion, said some of the antiexpansion arguments dont add up.

For example, Hayden Dublois, FGAs data and analytics director, told Montana lawmakers that in 2022 72% of able-bodied adults on Montanas Medicaid program werent working. If that data refers to adults without disabilities, that would come to 97,000 jobless Medicaid enrollees, Ward said. He said thats just shy of the states total population who reported no income at the time, most of whom didnt qualify for Medicaid.

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Its simply not plausible, Ward said.

A Manatt report, citing federal survey data, showed 66% of Montana adults on Medicaid have jobs and an additional 11% attend school.

FGA didnt respond to a request for its data, which Dublois said in the committee hearing came through a state records request.

Jon Ebelt, a spokesperson for the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, also declined to comment. As of late October, a KFF Health News records request for the data the state provided FGA was pending.

In his presentation before Montana lawmakers, Blase said the most vulnerable people on Medicaid are worse off due to expansion as resources pool toward new enrollees.

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Some people got more medical care; some people got less medical care, Blase said.

Reports released by the state show its standard monthly reimbursement per Medicaid enrollee remained relatively flat for seniors and adults who are blind or have disabilities.

Drew Gonshorowski, a researcher with Paragon, cited data from a federal Medicaid commission that shows that, overall, states spend more on adults who qualified through the expansion programs than they do on others on Medicaid. That data also shows states spend more on seniors and people with disabilities than on the broader adult population insured by Medicaid, which is also true in Montana.

Nationally, states with expansions spend more money on people enrolled in Medicaid across eligibility groups compared with nonexpansion states, according to a KFF report.

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Zoe Barnard, a senior adviser for Manatt who worked for Montanas health department for nearly 10 years, said not only has the states uninsured rate dropped by 30% since it expanded Medicaid, but also some specialty services have grown as more people access care.

FGA has long lobbied nonexpansion states, including Texas, Kansas, and Mississippi, to leave Medicaid expansion alone. In February, an FGA representative testified in support of an Idaho bill that included an expansion repeal trigger if the state couldnt meet a set of rules, including instituting work requirements and capping enrollment. The bill failed.

Paragon produced an analysis titled Resisting the Wave of Medicaid Expansion, and Blase testified to Texas lawmakers this year on the value of continuing to keep expansion out of the Lone Star State.

On the federal level, Paragon recently proposed a Medicaid overhaul plan to phase out the federal 90% matching rate for expansion enrollees, among other changes to cut spending. The left-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities has countered that such ideas would leave more people without care.

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In Montana, Republicans are defending a supermajority they didnt have when a bipartisan group passed the expansion in 2015 and renewed it in 2019. Also unlike before, theres now a Republican in the governors office. Gov. Greg Gianforte is up for reelection and has said the safety net is important but shouldnt get too big.

Keenan, the Republican lawmaker, predicted the expansion debate wont be clear-cut when legislators convene in January.

Medicaid expansion is not a yes or no. Its going to be a negotiated decision, he said.

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFFan independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  A Montgomery County board is facing a major shakeup after three board positions were suddenly reappointed.

Montgomery County officials have tossed three board members in favor of new appointments as the Montgomery County Board of Developmental Disabilities also grapples with budget cuts from last month.

2 NEWS spoke with the superintendent of MCBDDS as well as a Montgomery County administrator about the reappointments and whats next for the board.

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It was sadness, just because I know their skillsets, said Dr. Pamela Combs, MCBDDS superintendent.

The news came abruptly earlier this week, when board members with MCBDDS found out they were being reappointed by others. This comes as the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners claim MCBDDS has been fiscally irresponsible.

When you look at the spending, theyre running a $42 million operation and are spending in excess of $50 million, said Michael Colbert, Montgomery County administrator. Those numbers just arent sustainable.

According to the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities, out of 88 counties in Ohio, Montgomery County ranks 78th in funding, while it ranks 45th in number of people served.

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Were right now one of the lowest funded counties in Ohio per person served, said Combs. Its very challenging to lose these three very knowledgeable board members at this time.

Over the last several years, prices for services have outpaced the funding the organization receives. The budget has ballooned partly due to federal mandates, which has forced them to increase their budget by nearly $12 million alone since 2020.

DDS board members say theyre struggling to fund themselves through outdated levies at the county level.



One levy, which provides them $3.5 million per year, hasnt had its property values updated since 1977.

So the best, the only avenue  theres really only one avenue for us and that is to secure additional levy funding, said Combs.



County officials claim that wont solve the problem.

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Youre only going to get so much money on a levy, said Colbert.

When county and MCBDDS officials met with the states developmental disabilities department, they were told they need to generate funding from the county level before the state could provide any more funding.

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MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  A New York man was charged in a fraudulent government-imposter-related gold bar scheme targeting an elderly couple.

The Montgomery County Department of Police (MCPD) said 23-year-old Yongxian Huang, of Brooklyn, NY was arrested and charged for allegedly targeting a 75-year-old man and his wife in the scheme.

This comes after another man from New York was arrested for targeting an elderly woman and her daughter in Montgomery County for a similar government-imposter-related gold bar fraud.

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Officers arrest New York man for defrauding elderly woman with gold sham, police say

MCPD said in September, the victims got a text appearing to be from Apple telling them that there was an authorized charged on their Apple accounts. The text directed them to contact an Apple employee.

The victims called the phone number provided and spoke with people who pretended to be Apple employees. They were eventually connected to Huang who said he worked for the Federal Trade Commission.

The victims were told to convert their assets into gold bars for safekeeping with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. They were told that that way, their assets would be prevented from being used for illegal activity such as child pornography or for buying missiles for Russia.

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The couple bought gold bars worth over $367,000 dollars and then sent a wire transfer of over $41,000 dollars before they realized they had been conned out of money.

They contacted MCPD and with the help of the FBIs Baltimore Field Office, the couple kept communicating with Huang and arranged for a pick up of over $84,000 in gold bars.

On Nov. 14, an MCPD detective posed as the female victim, gave a package to Huang who got in his car and drove back to New York. He was surveilled as he travelled until the New York Police Department arrested him.

Huang will be extradited back to Mongomery County.

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Following days of extreme winter weather that left two women dead, forced evacuations, and knocked out power for hundreds of thousands of West Coast residents, forecasters warned Friday of more life-threatening impacts from the atmospheric river and another storm through the weekend.

The first round of storms broke precipitation records in California, bringing a third of Sonoma Countys yearly rainfall average and the Russian River reached a minor flood stage at the local Hacienda Bridge. San Rosa was pummeled with 6.5 inches of rain over the last 24 hours, marking its wettest day on record since 1998.

The Humboldt County Sheriffs Office issued evacuation orders for people living near the Eel River and flooding also closed Highway 1 in Mendocino County. Evacuation orders have been downgraded since then.

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Cal Fire posted a video of its firefighters conducting a swift water rescue on a flooded roadway in northern Chico Thursday night.

A boulder that fell into the middle of Californias Highway 281 in Clearlake Riviera caused an accident and rocks blocked both lanes of Highway 20 in Sarasota Springs, according to Fox Weather.

A firefighter evaluates a mudslide near Healdsburg in unincorporated Sonoma County, California, on Friday. The county saw record rainfall from the storm ((AP Photo/Noah Berger))

In all three West Coast states, gale warnings and high wind warnings were issued, along with winter storm warnings in the California Cascades and Sierra Nevada.

Rain and snow were continuing to fall, and the weather was already hampering early Thanksgiving travel. More than 200 flights were delayed or canceled Friday morning at San Francisco International Airport, according to tracking service FlightAware.

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After hurricane-force winds, nearly 185,000 customers in Washington were still without power on Friday morning, as well as more than 19,500 in California, according to the tracker PowerOutage.US. Washington utility officials said outages, which began Tuesday, could last into Saturday.

Our swift water technicians in action last night. Just after midnight, CAL FIRE/Butte County resources were called to rescue two individuals and a dog from a flooded roadway in the area of Hicks ln. and Keefer road, in North Chico. Remember, #turnarounddontdrown pic.twitter.com/SWyItyCclg  CAL FIRE/Butte County Fire Department (@CALFIRE_ButteCo) November 22, 2024

A car is seen stranded on a flooded road in Windsor, California, on Thursday. Flooding rainfall forced evacuation orders in parts of California ((AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vasquez))

While the forecasters had warned of a potential second bomb cyclone, the storm came up short of forecasts on Thursday. The media forecasting company AccuWeather said the Golden State would see new storms over the weekend.

Unlike the storms that have been bringing the flooding to Northern California the last several days, the atmospheric river, or stream of moisture into California, wont be as strong or as intense. The areas of low pressure spinning and coming in from the Pacific will be weak and wont steer a steady stream of the remaining moisture into any one place, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Houk said.

It noted that more than a foot of rain had fallen in northern California cities west of Sacramento on Thursday morning.

Salvador Garza shovels snow from the front of his shop Crystal Tones in Mt. Shasta, California, on Thursday. More snow was falling Friday morning (AP(Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via AP))

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The National Weather Service said the atmospheric river has been directed away from flooded areas of northern California, providing beneficial rainfall across Central California into the Central Sierra Nevada range.

The long plume of moisture will continue to produce heavy mountain snows into very early morning Saturday.

Multiple feet of snow are likely to accumulate at elevations above 7,000 feet and very strong and gusting winds were forecast to slowly diminish.

Given saturated grounds, tree-falls remain possible and may result in additional power outages, the agency added.

A downed tree destroys a vehicle and a property in Forestville, California, on Thursday. Many trees fell along the West Coast this week, killing two people and blocking roads ((AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vasquez))

There is the potential for up to 0.50 of an inch to fall on the Los Angeles area, beginning Sunday morning or midday and continuing into Sunday night, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Heather Zehr said. This will be the first rainfall since May 13, when 0.13 of an inch fell on downtown Los Angeles.

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Strong winds will also continue across coastal areas of northwest California, over south-central Oregon, and into western Washington.

People walk by a tree snapped high winds brought by a bomb cyclone storm in Issaquah, Washington, earlier this week. Washington was still under the threat of high winds and rains on Friday ((AP Photo/Manuel Valdes))

A high surf advisory was in effect in Washington, bringing large ocean waves of 20 to 24 feet that could cause significant beach erosion.

With reporting from The Associated Press
Nov. 23A north Alabama state representative faces backlash from the Morgan County Republican Executive Committee after he prefiled a bill to stop political parties from disqualifying candidates based on the source of contributions they receive.

Rep. Phillip Pettus, R-Greenhill, prefiled House Bill 6 on July 28 for the 2025 legislative session. The bill would "prohibit political parties from disqualifying an individual from running for office based solely on receipt of contributions from a particular person or political action committee."

In response to HB6, the Morgan County GOP Executive Committee passed a resolution demanding that Pettus be reprimanded because he is "blatantly hindering the right of the GOP to oversee who may run under the umbrella of the party banner and ensuring that true conservatives are vetted for candidacy," and noting that GOP candidates should not accept contributions from the Alabama Education Association's political action committee.

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For Pettus to be reprimanded, a majority vote is required by the state House of Representatives.

Pettus introduced this bill previously during the 2024 session as HB186, but it did not make it out of committee.

State law currently allows parties to set the standards for individuals who desire to represent that party while running for office. HB6 would prevent a party from disqualifying a candidate solely based on the source of contributions.

In August 2023, the Alabama GOP State Executive Committee passed a resolution that bans school board and superintendent candidates running as Republicans from accepting campaign donations from the National Education Association and its affiliate, the Alabama Education Association.

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Morgan County Republican Party chairwoman Julie Clausen and Tom Fredricks, a member of the Morgan County Republican Executive Committee, say Pettus is trying to undermine the state GOP resolution by filing HB6.

"It's a legitimate concern," Fredricks said. "Political parties exist to coalesce like-minded thought and like-minded people to promote agendas of the party as defined by members of the party and we should be able to deny ballot access to anybody we want for any reason we want as long as it is consistent with the beliefs of the members of the party."

Pettus, a member of the state GOP executive committee, said he sponsored HB 6 because he does not want legislators to fall under the same party examinations as school board and superintendent candidates. He said he opposed the state GOP resolution.

"They passed it where candidates running for school board and superintendent could not receive AEA money and they made a statement that day that the legislators were next," Pettus said. "Andrew Sorrell (state auditor) was the one down there and said legislators didn't run for two more years and we had plenty of time to do it.

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"Why should they decide who and what organizations could give legislators money?"

Fredricks said he does not believe the Legislature should control the actions of political parties in the state and that a party "has to be able to define itself."

Pettus said it does not matter what organizations a Republican candidate takes contributions from, as long as the candidate's views are consistent with the GOP platform. According to Secretary of State records, Pettus has received contributions from Alabama Voice of Teachers for Education (A-VOTE), the AEA's political action committee.

"What if I take money from the (Poarch) Indians?" Pettus said. "Just because I take a contribution from someone doesn't mean I'm not conservative."

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Pettus said his bill only targets political parties who disqualify candidates based on the funds they receive and accused the Alabama Republican Party of wanting too much control over who represents the GOP brand. He referred to Senate Bill 289, passed in May 2023, which permits political action committees to make contributions to political parties.

"It's basically like a dictatorship; they want control over everything," Pettus said. "What the GOP wants is all the lobbyists to send money to the GOP and the GOP decides which candidate gets the money and what that amounts to is they want control over all the money."

Pettus said neither the state GOP nor the Morgan County GOP should have a say on whether he is on the ballot or not and it should only be left up to his constituents in west Lauderdale County.

"What it's going to come down to ... is my constituents will have no say if I run or not," Pettus said. "Eight people in the whole state will decide if I'm on the ballot or not, so that is a dictatorship."

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Pettus referenced the Limestone County Commission District 4 race in 2020 and said challenger LaDon Townsend was removed from the Limestone County Republican ballot during the Republican primaries because he contributed funds to former Sheriff Mike Blakely, a Democrat. Townsend then ran as an independent and beat the incumbent Republican Ben Harrison.

Pettus also noted the inconsistency of the state GOP wanting to control the source of contributions received by a candidate, but not condemning President-elect Donald Trump for contributing to Democratic campaigns before 2009 while he was still a registered Democrat.

"If you put Donald Trump in Alabama, Donald Trump cannot run in Alabama because he gave money to a Democrat," Pettus said. "But they don't want to talk about that. They'll say, 'Oh, we're all for Donald Trump.'"

Fredricks and Clausen said Trump sought a new party after no longer aligning with Democrats.

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"When you switched 18 years ago, it was majority Democrat (in the state) so many of them were switching, not because they changed their views, it was just all they had was the Democratic Party," Clausen said. "Switching from Democrat to Republican in 2024, that's a little fishy."

Clausen said the Morgan County GOP currently screens candidates through a questionnaire they must answer.

"We look at their background to see who contributed to them in the past and if they are a previous office holder," Clausen said. "It's not just about who gave money, we look at other things too. We had a challenge on one candidate because of moral issues. It's a committee that votes on it and if they decide to challenge it, it goes in front of the steering committee."

Fredricks said if Pettus disagrees with the GOP platform, he should run as an independent or Democrat.

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"This has nothing to do with the platform, it has to do with money," Pettus responded. "I support the platform and I'm very conservative. You can look at my voting record and see. Talk to the educators in my district and ask them if I'm helping the schools. That's who I represent."

Pettus said his bill wouldn't prevent the state or county Republican parties from disqualifying candidates based on past Democratic affiliation; it would only stop disqualification over campaign contributions received.

Besides, he said, the Alabama Education Association is not the same organization it was years ago.

"Most of the teachers in my district belong to AEA and most of them are Republicans," Pettus said. "They donate to AEA and the AEA puts the candidates back in office who are conservative. In the old days, AEA was a big Democrat organization. They support more Republicans than Democrats now and the leadership from the old days at AEA is gone."

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Pettus also mentioned the Trial Lawyers Association and the Business Council of Alabama contributing to Democratic campaigns years ago and said the state GOP should not single these organizations out for their past affiliations. Fredricks admitted to having received funds from the Trial Lawyers Association in the past.

"I asked (Alabama GOP chairman) John Wahl if he wanted the Democrats to take back over, because if we can't accept AEA money, what do you think they are going to do," Pettus said. "They are going to go to the Democrats."

Clausen accused state legislators of ignoring their county resolutions and said Pettus prefiling the bill is just another instance of that.

"I think they need to let me do my job," Pettus said in response to the Morgan County GOP. "I've been asked how come the representatives don't do what we tell them to, and I said, 'I don't represent you, I represent constituents in my district.'"

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He said the Morgan County GOP Executive Committee should be concerned about its own representatives.

"They don't need to be worried about Lauderdale County," Pettus said. "As long as my constituents in Lauderdale County are happy, I'm happy, and I think I'm doing a good job."

 wesley.tomlinson@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2442.
 Welcome to the Your Morning newsletter, featuring the latest news across America! Its Saturday, Nov. 23, and theres a lot happening today. Lets dive into it:

Donald Trump (R) and NATO chief Mark Rutte pose for photographs after talking to reporters in the Oval Office at the White House July 18, 2019 in Washington, DC.

Donald Trump leaves the stage after speaking during an event at his Mar-a-Lago home . (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on February 13, 2024 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

FILE  An advertisement of Bitcoin, one of the cryptocurrencies, is displayed on a building in Hong Kong, on Nov. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)

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Informant discusses how he has saved hundreds of cartel sex trafficking victims

 News Across America 

 Daniel Penny doesnt testify as his defense rests

 Removal of Pride tree inside library draws controversy

 Man gets probation for $100K Lance Armstrong bike theft

 Good NewsNation 

Since July, Omar the Barber has given 22 haircuts to men experiencing homelessness.

Want more good news? Get it delivered to your inbox each morning. Subscribe to Your Morning

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
Two unrelated school fights happened within minutes of one another on Friday, the Sumter County Sheriffs Office announced, one of which left a school resource officer injured.

At about 9:15 a.m., a school resource officer at R.E. Davis College Preparatory Academy on Eastern School Road contacted dispatch to report an ongoing fight and requested assistance.

A juvenile and their mother, 36-year-old Nessia Gibson, assaulted another student at the school, the sheriff said. Neither Gibson nor her children had permission to be in the area of the school where the assault happened.

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Gibson was charged with assault and battery and disturbing schools, officials said. She was placed under arrest and transported to the sheriffs detention center where she is awaiting a bond hearing. Her child, who was accused of assault, was detained and then released to a relative. They were petitioned in family court. Gibsons other child was charged with public disorderly conduct.

In the other fight at about 9:22 a.m., administrators at Lakewood High School called 911 to report an assault. A 17-year-old student allegedly assaulted two students. When a school resource officer attempted to make an arrest, the 17-year-old struck and wounded the deputy.

The deputy was treated for his wound and released from Prisma Tuomey Hospital. He is expected to make a full recovery, officials said.

The 17-year-old, whos name was not released by the sheriffs office due to their age, was charged with assault and battery, resisting arrest and assault of a police officer. They were taken to the Department of Juvenile Justice and have been petitioned to Family Court.

Schools must be safe places for our children to learn, Sheriff Anthony Dennis said in a news release. To ensure this, we have School Resource Officers assigned to each school and those juveniles and parents who cause disturbances will be held accountable.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  A 7th grader suffered alarming injuries while on a field trip his mother says she never signed a permission slip for in the first place.

Reneya Holmes said its been almost exactly one month since her 13-year-old son broke his arm and badly chipped his two front teeth while on a field trip with his charter school, KIPP College Prep.

LOCAL NEWS: Family of hit and run victim hold Walk for Justice in her honor

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While her son is healing, the injuries are having a lasting impact on his school work.

I went over to that school to find my son with blood dripping down his face, said Holmes.

It was a frightening sight for Holmes on October 23 when she received a call from her sons school telling her he had taken a little fall while on a field trip.

I never turned in the permission slip. So it was without my permission, said Holmes. I didnt expect to see my sons arm wrapped up in a makeshift splint.

Holmes said she initially rushed to KIPP OKC Prep School until she realized her son got hurt while at Harding Fine Arts Academy down the road.

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He tripped and fell down the stairs at Harding, busted his front lip, several dental fractures. He broke his arm in two places, said Holmes.

Holmes said with her son recovering at home in a cast, she called KIPP and his teachers to collect homework and assignments.

I couldnt get a response. I left voice mails. I left messages at the front desk, said Holmes.

Holmes said she missed one email from the superintendent, but never heard anything after she emailed back.

In the meantime, his grades have fallen quite a bit. I started receiving progress reports about a week ago, said Holmes.

We reached out to the school and the superintendent sent us the following statement,

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At KIPP OKC, student safety and learning are always our top priorities. We appreciate the parent who brought this matter to our attention and are working closely with them to address any concerns. Our procedures are designed to protect students, and we are committed to reviewing them thoroughly and making any necessary improvements. We take this situation seriously and remain dedicated to fostering a safe and supportive environment where all students can learn and thrive. We are also glad to see this student recovering from their injuries and back in the classroom. Michael Carter, Superintendent of KIPP OKC Public Schools

Holmes said shes feeling anxious about her son missing two weeks of class and about school policies that allowed him to get hurt in the first place.

Ive never seen the incident report thats happened. No ones reached out. I would like for at least some of those policies and procedures to be revamped, said Holmes.

Holmes said shortly after we reached out, the Superintended called her and did send her the incident report that was submitted a couple of days after the incident.

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They are also getting her sons missed school work together and will give him until the end of the second quarter to turn it in and get his grades back on track.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has said that the double-engine government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is driving a new revolution in solar energy in the state. "Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that due to the efforts of the double engine government under the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a new revolution is coming in the field of solar energy in Uttarakhand. He said that so far 7592 domestic solar power plants of 30MV capacity have been installed in the state. The Chief Minister said that due to the efforts of our government, Uttarakhand is moving rapidly towards clean and green energy," Uttarakhand CMO said. On Friday, Chief Minister Dhami 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. Chief Minister 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. (ANI)
A 19-year-old Kailua-Kona motorcyclist died in a two-vehicle crash on Queen Kaahumanu Highway in North Kona Friday evening, Hawaii island police said today.

According to a police report, at about 6 :42 p.m., the man was riding a 2024 Kawasaki Ninja sport bike, traveling south on the highway and overtaking multiple vehicles simultaneously  when he crashed head-on into a 2021 Honda CR-V driven by a 65-year-old Kamuela woman.

He was transported to Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10 :53 p.m., police said. The Honda driver suffered minor injuries, was taken to the North Hawaii Community Hospital and later released, they said.

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Hawaii island police said they initiated a coroners inquest investigation and ask that any witnesses contact Officer Dayson Taniguchi at 326-4646, ext. 229, or at dayson.taniguchi @hawaiicounty.gov. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (808 ) 961-8300.

This was the Big Islands 28th traffic fatality this year compared with 15 at this time last year.

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CLEARWATER, Fla. (WFLA)  A motorcyclist was killed after crashing into a pole overnight, the Clearwater Police Department said.

The crash happened in the 1200 block of Union Street at around 2 a.m. on Saturday.

Getting uncomfortable: 150+ Hillsborough County teens sleep outside

Officials said the motorcyclist lost control of his bike and struck a pole. It is believed that speed may have been a factor in the crash.

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The man died at the scene of the crash.

Traffic homicide investigators are continuing to investigate the incident.

No further details have been released at this time.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
(COLORADO SPRINGS)  The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) has identified a motorcyclist who was killed in a crash on the southeast side of Colorado Springs in early November.

According to CSPD, 29-year-old Cody Zimmerman was killed in a crash on Nov. 3 in the 1900 block of South Monterey Road, near South Circle Drive and the Hancock Expressway.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Motorcyclist killed in southern Colorado Springs crash

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Officers originally responded just before 5 p.m. on Nov. 3 to a report of a crash involving a car and a motorcycle. When officers arrived, they found the motorcyclist, Zimmerman, dead on scene.

CSPD said the investigation revealed the motorcyclist and driver were both in the southbound lanes of Monterey Road when the motorcycle hit the side of the car, which was making a U-turn to go north.

CSPD said the speed of the motorcycle is considered a factor in the crash.

This is the 47th fatal crash in Colorado Springs in 2024. At the same time in 2023, there had been 45 fatalities.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Central Ohio is in the middle of an affordable housing crisis. To help combat this, Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther wants to allocate more than $100 million toward it in the $1.23 billion proposed city budget for 2025.

Housing is expensive in central Ohio, and Columbus is a fast-growing city. Thats why Ginther said more money is needed to build more homes. Affordable housing is something many are struggling with right now.

I see a lot of homeless people that really they just cant afford to pay rent at a lot of places, said Darrell Beyrom, a Columbus resident.

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You know, you can work your butt off and still not afford one of the basic kind of needs for life. Its kind of really upsetting, said local homeowner Seretha Ransom.

Of the $100 million dollars, $83 million would go toward bonds and federal grants to bring more affordable housing units to the city. Rachel Lustig, the CEO of Lutheran Social Services, said that could put in a dent in the housing crisis.

We could bring another 2,500 units of affordable housing into our community and that is important. It makes a significant difference, said Lustig.

Another $10 million of the proposed budget would go to nonprofits working with the citys most vulnerable. In a previous city budget, Lustig said millions of dollars were used to build 3,500 units in Columbus. She said people should expect to see new homes and apartment buildings being constructed in the near future.

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I hope and believe so that theyll continue to see significant projects across our community that are helping to stabilize our affordable housing stock, said Lustig.

Lustig said she wants the money to be used for affordable housing for the most vulnerable and for the people who are not living in poverty but are spending a lot of their salary on housing. Thats something local homeowner Seretha Ransom said she wants to see as well. I hope it gets better. I hope that the everyday, average person is being considered when they make their decisions about affordable housing, said Ransom.

Lustig said housing is a right, not a privilege, and more work needs to continue if the city wants to get out of this crisis. Columbus City Council will discuss the proposed 2025 city budget during their upcoming meetings and are expected to approve an amended budget in early 2025.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
A number of drones were spotted over and near RAF Lakenheath in England on Nov. 20, the Air Force told The War Zone in response to our query about the incident.

The number of UASs fluctuated and they ranged in size/configuration, a spokesperson for U.S. Air Forces in Europe  Air Forces Africa (USAFE) told us The UASs were actively monitored and installation leaders determined that none of the incursions impacted base residents or critical infrastructure.

RAF Lakenheath. (Google Earth)

There were unconfirmed reports that F-15E Strike Eagles were sent aloft to chase the drones and that flight operations at the base were affected. The Air Force did not immediately respond to those claims.

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To protect operational security, we do not discuss our specific force protection measures but retain the right to protect the installation, USAFE told us. We continue to monitor our airspace and are working with host-nation authorities and mission partners to ensure the safety of base personnel, facilities, and assets.

RAF Lakenheath houses an extremely important set of capabilities, most notably the U.S. Air Forces in Europes only fourth and fifth-generation fighter wing and home to F-35A & F-15E tactical jets.

USAF 494th Fighter Squadron F-15E Strike Eagles seen returning to RAF Lakenheath on May 8, 2024. The jet in front has a number of red missile silhouettes painted above its name, Hellcat, that look to reflect air-to-air kills during its recently concluded deployment to the Middle East. USAF

This is the latest known drone incursion over a U.S. military installation or sensitive area, a topic that The War Zone has covered extensively.

Two days before the Lakenheath drones were spotted, drones were seen over the U.S. Armys Picatinny Arsenal in northern New Jersey. The FBI has taken over the investigation into that incident, which you can read more about in our initial report here.

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There has been an increase in intrusion events at home and abroad, and especially after the events over Langley AFB last winter, they are being looked at with much more concern. This now includes accelerating the deployment of military capabilities to identify and defeat drone systems near these key areas. However, its worth noting that when it comes to defending homeland installations from drones, none of these countermeasures include directed energy weapons or kinetic systems, such as guns and missiles. You can read more about what is being done in our previous feature.

This is a developing story. We will update it with more information as it comes in.

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Memphis Police made multiple arrests and seized illegal drugs during a search of a motel that was deemed a public nuisance earlier this week.

On Friday, Organized Crime Unit detectives executed the Nuisance Closure, which resulted in felony and misdemeanor arrests. Detectives seized 1.7 grams of fentanyl, 1.2 grams of methamphetamine, and one vehicle.

Additionally, the Memphis Fire Department and Memphis City Code Enforcement found various code and fire violations.

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Police say motel deemed nuisance is closed, but management disagrees

Before the closure, on Thursday, November 21, 2024, OCU teams executed a search warrant at the Economy Inn Hotel, where detectives recovered 46.5 grams of powder cocaine, 806 grams of crack cocaine, 18.8 grams of meth, 25.3 grams of marijuana, 4.1 grams of fentanyl, 135 ecstasy pills, and made three felony arrest.

Among those arrested were 29-year-old Derrica Robinson, 46-year-old Kevin Grandberry and 30-year-old Radricus Stone.

Kevin Grandberry (left), Derrica Robinson (center) and Radricus Stone (right). (SCSO)

Here is a full list of people who were arrested and their charges:

Monica Beutel: Failure to Appear.

Shekkia Bruce: Prostitution near a School.

Chensia Dates: Assault.

Jamie Fleming: Driving While License Suspended/Canceled/Revoked and Violation of Financial Law.

Kevin Grandberry: Charged with Convicted Felon in Possession of a Handgun, Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Dangerous Felony, Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to wit: Meth, Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to wit: Cocaine, Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to wit: Ecstasy, Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Manufacture/Deliver/Sell, Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to wit: Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His bond has been set at $175,000.00.

Shaundra Jackson: Burglary of a Building and Theft of Property $2,500-$10,000.

Skankeyia Keith: Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Manufacture/Deliver/Sell, and Theft of Property $1,000-$2,500.

Patrick McGhee: Violation of a Protection Order.

Britney Miller: Arrested on warrants issued out of Virginia and transported to 201 Poplar for extradition.

Jennifer Moss: Failure to Appear in a Misdemeanor Case, Theft of Property Conduct involving Merchandise less than $1,000, and Violation of Probation.

Derrica Robinson: Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Manufacture/Deliver/Sell. Her bond was set at $3,000.00.

Radricus Stone: Charged with Convicted Felon in Possession of a Handgun, Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Dangerous Felony, Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to wit: Meth, Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to wit: Ecstasy, Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Manufacture/Deliver/Sell, Theft of Firearm, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His bond was set at $175,000.00.

Melvin Taylor: Two counts of failure to appear in a misdemeanor case.

Teneko Watson: Criminal Impersonation.

Alexandria Westbrook: Failure to Appear for Booking/Process, Driving While License Suspended/Canceled/Revoked, Violation of Financial Law, Operation of a Motor Vehicle with Expired Registration, and Violation of Child Restraint Law.

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Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are leaning on the conservative Supreme Court to support their ambitious plans to slash federal regulations and increase government efficiency.

Tapped by President-elect Trump, Musk and Ramaswamy will head the newly minted Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, a nongovernmental commission to dismantle government bureaucracy and cut costs.

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, they wrote in a Wall Street Journal op-ed. We are prepared for the onslaught from entrenched interests in Washington. We expect to prevail.

The op-ed leans on the idea that a Supreme Court recrafted by Trump, who appointed three conservative justices during his first term, will reject legal challenges from the left that might rise against initiatives led by Musk and Ramaswamy.

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But legal and financial experts suggested that the court has not given the duo much additional leeway for the sweeping changes they seek to enact.

They want to go in with a blow torch, and really its going to take a pair of tweezers to really unravel what the bureaucratic infrastructure is in Washington, said Joann Needleman, who leads the financial services regulatory and compliance practice at law firm Clark Hill.

Musk and Ramaswamy cited Supreme Court rulings in two recent cases that sharply curbed the power of executive agencies as a mandate from the justices to cut back regulations.

In 2022, the high courts six conservatives in West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) solidified a doctrine that federal agencies cant take actions with major political or economic significance without clear authorization from Congress.

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Then, last summer, the justices in Loper Bright v. Raimondo overturned by the same margin the Chevron deference, a 40-year administrative law precedent that instructed judges to defer to agencies in cases where the law is ambiguous.

Now, judges must substitute their own best interpretation of the law, instead of looking to agencies  effectively making it easier to upend scores of regulations.

Musk and Ramaswamy wrote that, together, the two rulings suggest a plethora of federal regulations exceed the authority agencies were granted by Congress. They intend to tear it all down.

Nicholas Bagley, a University of Michigan law professor who served as Gov. Gretchen Whitmers (D) chief legal counsel, said the op-ed reflects a misunderstanding of what the high court actually did.

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While Musk and Ramaswamy contend the rulings established a path forward for agencies, the justices told courts how to think about challenges to agency action. Agencies have had the authority to reconsider regulations they previously issued, both now and before the landmark decisions.

Nothing changed with respect to their authority to consider different approaches to regulating, Bagley said. If what theyre saying is agencies can now adopt different regulations without going through the administrative process, because they think theyve got some clincher of a legal argument, I think theyre going to find out very quickly that the courts are not likely to be sympathetic with cutting procedural corners.

Needleman similarly suggested that pointing to the Supreme Courts recent decisions is not the golden ticket to accomplish all that the pair laid out.

I dont think Loper Bright or West Virginia do anything to help shrink the size of the administration state, but what they can do is basically give thought to and prioritize how they want these agencies to run moving forward, Needleman told The Hill.

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Loper Bright was nothing more than agency overreach, not agency expansion or contraction, she added.

Eyeing cuts to federal spending, Musk and Ramaswamy have also proposed squashing a 1974 law that blocks presidents from choosing not to spend monies authorized by Congress. Trump has described the law as not a very good act; this disaster of a law is clearly unconstitutional  a blatant violation of the separation of powers.

The tech entrepreneurs predict the Supreme Court would side with the president-elect.

While the justices may look favorably on boosting government efficiency, their conservative bent would likely not outweigh their obligation to the law, Bagley said.

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Theyre not going to recraft entire swaths of constitutional and administrative law just to accommodate this novel committee that President Trump has set up, he said.

Still, there are actions DOGE could take with little legal push back.

As Musk and Ramaswamy noted in their Journal op-ed, they plan to identify a list of regulations for Trump, who they argue can immediately halt enforcement of the rules and begin the process of rescinding them via executive action.

Agencies can usually rescind rules as long as they follow the typical notice-and-comment period required under federal law and provide a reasoned explanation for their changes in policy. This process has never required outright involvement from the courts.

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The commission could direct federal agencies to begin the process of amending rules Trumps administration finds objectionable with ease, and requiring federal employees to return to office could very well succeed, Bagley said.

But attempting not to spend money Congress required to be spent would be a very aggressive move and likely unconstitutional.

Musk and Ramaswamys plans to slash the federal government down to size are likely to face other obstacles. While the pair plan to focus their efforts on what they can do unilaterally from the executive branch, they could still encounter resistance.

They are tasked with working with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to enact their plans. The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) will also likely be crucial to this process, Needleman noted.

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It seems to me that if Trump really wanted them to do what he wants him to do, he would have appointed one of them as the director of [OMB], Needleman said, adding, They can dance around and proclaim great ideas and stuff, but if they want those ideas implemented, its got to go through OMB and OIRA.

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Nov. 22WHEN: 5:30 p.m. Monday.

WHERE: City Council Chambers, third floor, Muskogee Municipal Building, 229 W. Okmulgee Ave.

ON TV: Broadcast live on Optimum Channel 14.

INFORMATION: Those who would like to address councilors during the meeting must sign in at least 15 minutes before the meeting begins.

RECOGNIZE CITIZENS WISHING TO SPEAK TO THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL: Council Rules of Decorum limit citizen comments to three (3) minutes. Any person desiring to speak is required to sign-in with the City Clerk, provide their name, address, and the particular issue they wish to address. Under Oklahoma law, the Council Members are prohibited from discussing or taking any action on items not on today's agenda. If written materials are to be submitted to the Council twelve (12) copies should be made available, and may not be returned.

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MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY

Consider:

 MMA Minutes of Oct. 28, 2024

 MMA Claims for the month ending Oct. 31, 2024.

 2025 meeting schedule for the Muskogee Municipal Authority.

 Assignment of the Purchase and Sale of Real Estate Agreement between Stardust Power, LLC, and the City of Muskogee, authorize the Sale of Property to Stardust Power, LLC, as more particularly described below, and authorize the transfer of the sales proceeds to the City of Muskogee.

----REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

Consider:

 Minutes of Oct. 28, 2024.

 Muskogee Redevelopment Authority Claims for the period of Oct. 19, 2024 through Nov. 15, 2024.

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 Establish the 2025 meeting schedule for the Muskogee Redevelopment Authority.

 Hold a discussion and consider approval to hire a Muskogee Redevelopment Authority (MRA) employee and/or company to manage economic industrial development projects, and discuss salary, benefits, and any other compensation.

----REGULAR CITY COUNCIL

Consider:

 Claims for all City departments Oct. 19, 2024 through Nov. 15, 2024.

 Hold a Public Hearing and consider approval of Ordinance No. 4245-A, to rezone the property located at 1314 E. Okmulgee, from C-1, Local Commercial, to R-1, Single Family, and if approved, authorize Staff to update the official zoning map of the City.

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 Third Amended Ordinance No. 4198-A, an Ordinance Amending the City of Muskogee Code of Ordinances by Amending Chapter 74, Taxation, Article VIII, Use Tax, by Amending Section 74-237, Economic Development Fund, Amending Section 74-237(i)(1), Providing for Severability, Repealer and Setting an Effective Date.

 Resolution No. 3012 directing the filing and notification of the publication of Supplement No. 25 to the Muskogee City Code of Ordinances.

 Resolution No. 3015, amending the City of Muskogee municipal budget for FY 2024-2025 providing for the transfer of excess General Fund revenue from FY 2023-2024 into the Special Project Fund, in accordance with City Code 2-552; Providing for the transfer of funds from General Fund to Life and Medical Fund;Providing for the increase of the Sales Tax Capital Outlay Budget; Providing for the increase of the 2019 Street Improvements Budget.

 Resolution No. 3016, accepting beneficial interest in the Muskogee County Public Safety Authority for and on behalf of the City of Muskogee, Oklahoma.

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 Honorary street sign application to rename Denison Street from Junction to North 24th streets, to hereby be known as Prince McJunkins, III Ave..

Muskogee Broadway District Master Plan, previously adopted by Main Street Muskogee, as well as, authorizing the City Manager to execute a Letter of Support for the Oklahoma Certified Main Street Incentive Program.

 Report on Industrial Pretreatment Program Performance Summary.

 Purchase a Raw Sewage Pump Station pump from Automatic Engineering, in the amount of $103,872..

 Purchase of a Sequential Batch Reactor with submersible pumping equipment in the amount of $3,949,778 from Parkson; UV Disinfection system, in the amount $595,800 from Trojan; and Dewatering System equipment in the amount of $626,000, from GEA Westfalia.

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 City Matching Grant Funds in the amount of $20,500, to be used as a local match toward the 2022 ODOT/TAP Grant for Design work on the Coody Creek Trail Project, as recommended by Muskogee Parks and Recreation Board.

 Assignment of the Purchase and Sale of Real Estate Agreement for the real property more particularly described below, between Stardust Power, LLC, and the City of Muskogee to the Muskogee Municipal Authority (MRA), and authorize acceptance of the transfer of the sales proceeds to the City of Muskogee.

 Allow the City Manager to negotiate and execute a Consulting Services Agreement and Business Associate Agreement with Insurica, for the purpose of providing Broker Services for employee health benefits, as recommended by a subcommittee of the City of Muskogee Health Committee.

 Consider an Executive Session to discuss and take possible action on the following:

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a. Pursuant to Section 307 C.11, Title 25, Oklahoma Statutes, consider convening in Executive Session to confer on matters pertaining to an economic development project, including a proposal to entice a business to locate in the northwestern quadrant of the City, and if necessary, take appropriate action in Open Session.

b. Pursuant to Section 307 B.1, Oklahoma Statutes, consider convening in Executive Session to discuss the appointments, compensation and conditions of employment thereto related to Municipal Judge, First Alternate/Juvenile Judge and Second Alternate Judge positions, and if necessary take appropriate action in Open Session, including but not limited to, approval of Employment Agreements.

c. Pursuant to Section 307 B.1 Title 25, Oklahoma Statutes, consider convening in Executive Session to discuss the employment and evaluate the performance of City Manager, Mike Miller, and if necessary, take appropriate action in Open Session.

d. Pursuant to Section 307 B.1 Title 25, Oklahoma Statutes, consider convening in Executive Session to discuss the employment and evaluate the performance of City Attorney, Katrina Bodenhamer, and if necessary, take appropriate action in Open Session.

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e. Pursuant to Section 307 B.1 Title 25, Oklahoma Statutes, consider convening in Executive Session to discuss the employment and evaluate the performance of City Clerk, Tammy L. Tracy, and if necessary, take appropriate action in Open Session.

 Appointment of John Tyler Hammons as Municipal Judge, to fill an unexpired term created by the resignation of Judge Toni Bradley-Smith, beginning December 1, 2024, and ending January 31, 2026, unless sooner removed for cause pursuant to Section 34-89 of the Muskogee City Code of Ordinances.

 Appointment of Chad Locke as Juvenile/First Alternate Municipal Judge, to fill an unexpired term created by the resignation of Judge Toni Bradley-Smith, beginning December 1, 2024, and ending January 31, 2026, unless sooner removed for cause pursuant to Section 34-89 of the Muskogee City Code of Ordinances.

 Appointment of Justin Stout as Second Alternate Municipal and Juvenile Judge, to fill an unexpired term created by the vacancy of that position, beginning December 1, 2024, and ending January 31, 2026, unless sooner removed for cause pursuant to Section 34-89 of the Muskogee City Code of Ordinances.
The properties belong to a notorious drug peddler Rafiq Ahmad Khan @ Rafi Rafa son of Gh Hassan resident of Trikanjan Boniyar, district Baramulla.

The action was taken under sections 68-E read with 68-F (1) of NDPS Act of 1985 and is linked with case FIR nr 134/2016 u/s 8/21, 29 NDPS Act of PS Boniyar.

The properties were identified as illegally acquired during the course of an investigation conducted by police. The properties were acquired from the illicit trafficking of narcotics and psychotropic substances by the drug peddler.

Earlier on November 18 properties worth Rs 1.5 crore were attached by the Anantnag Police under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act as part of their ongoing campaign against drug peddlers in Jammu and Kashmir, said a police statement on Monday.

The Mattan Police Station attached a single-story residential house valued at Rs 80 lakh, belonging to Afroz Ahmad Bhat, son of Gh Hassan, of Azam Khan Mohalla, Khreibal.

Bhat, a habitual offender, has been involved in multiple NDPS cases for his role in the illegal narcotics trade, the police stated.

Srigufwara police station also attached three commercial shops valued at Rs 70 lakh, owned by Peer Asif Ahmad Shah and Peer Towseef Ahmad Shah, sons of Abdul Rashid Shah, residents of K Kalan, Srigufwara.

Both brothers are under investigation for their involvement in several NDPS cases.

The use of provisions under the NDPS Act to seize properties linked to criminal activities serves as a strong deterrent to those engaged in the illegal drug trade, police said. (ANI)
Earlier this week, authorities from the Cobb County Sheriffs Office asked the public for help in locating a 13-year-old Black girl.

You should know authorities only recently published a missing persons notice for her. However, the sheriffs office said she hasnt been seen for nearly a week.

Cobb County Police say Adrian Gary was last seen on Sunday, Nov. 17 at Graces Place, a commercial sexual exploitation recovery center for youth between ages 12 and 17, according to Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health.

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According said the child is 5'3 inches, weighs 143 pound, has brown eyes, black hair and glasses. She also has a nose piercing and upper gum piercing.

Adrian was last seen wearing denim bell-bottom pants, a light pink shirt, black shoes and a black coat, according to authorities.

Her disappearance comes on the heels of the national convening held by the Department of Justices Office of Justice Programs to address the crisis of missing or murdered Black women and girls.

In 2022, of the 271,493 girls and women reported missing, 97,924 (or over 36 percent) were Black, according to the National Crime Information Center. Meanwhile, Black women and girls accounted for only 14 percent of the U.S. female population at that time.

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According to the Department of Justice, some states are moving in the right direction, creating programs to curb the problem.

Several states have initiated programs that could serve as models for broader approaches throughout the nation. For instance, some state governments and law enforcement agencies have established dedicated task forces or units focused on addressing missing women and girls of color. These task forces often work in collaboration with community organizations and advocacy groups to bridge trust gaps, improve case management, inform investigative efforts, and facilitate better communication with affected families.

Its unclear what were the circumstances surrounding Adrians disappearance or who she was last seen with. None of her family members have spoken to the media yet about her disappearance.

Anyone who has seen Adrian or has information about her whereabouts is encouraged to contact Cobb Police Investigator Jon Kramer at 770-499-4761 or at jon.kramer@cobbcounty.org.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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.

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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.
A New Hampshire man who suffered critical burns on the job remains in a Boston hospital as his friends and complete strangers lend support to his wife and young daughter.

Mike Papagno, 33, an electrician, was at work on Nov. 12, transporting heavy equipment in New Hampshire when he accidentally came into contact with a live main power line and suffered an arc flash, a shock that resulted in third-degree burns over half his body, officials said.

Mikes wife called her in-laws at 1 a.m., fearing the worst.

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As a father, to get this phone call the worst feelings can come to light, the very worst, Michael Papagno said. Heres my son, Im now assuming hes dead for about an hour Its not possible to be prepared for something like that.

The family rushed to Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston where he was taken by medical helicopter with life-threatening injuries.

Learning Mike was alive was a relief for his family, though his recovery was sure to be long.

Beyond grateful. All I ever wanted once I heard this news is for him to have a fighting chance, the elder Papagno said. Its a very, very long process. And were just crawling out of the start gate, but we take it one day at a time. Sometimes its an hour or two at a time.

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Mike has been in a medically induced coma through surgeries and skin grafts since he arrived in Boston. His most extensive burns are to his torso with less severe injuries to his face.

Mike lives in Merrimack, N.H., with his wife and eight-month-old daughter. His young family is eager to bring him home.

Hes an amazing father. He has such patience and skill, Mikes father said. Every day, we feel more hopeful. He has three major factors going for him: his age  hes 33, he has no underlying medical conditions and hes strong.

As Mike recovers, his union brothers, friends and other community members have donated more than $!60,000 to a GoFundMe to support his recovery and his young family.

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Im speechless, his father said. The outpouring has been phenomenal.

As the Papagnos talk to Mike at his bedside, they are eager for the day he will be able to answer them.

Michael is probably the loudest one in the family, Mikes father said. So, weve warned the nurses to enjoy some of this quiet time, because when he wakes up, he wont be quiet, and he wont shut up. So, were looking forward to that.

To donate to the GoFundMe, click here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/donate-to-aid-michael-papagnos-recovery-and-family.

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A promised shipment of air defense systems purchased with the assistance of the Canadian government has reached Ukraine, Canada's Defense Minister Bill Blair announced on Nov. 22.

The U.S.-made National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) were first pledged to Kyiv back in January 2023. While Canada reportedly paid for the system, worth approximately $289 million, later in the spring, its delivery has been delayed.

Blair said the NASAMS are now in Ukrainian hands.

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"This ground-based air defense system will help Ukraine protect itself against destructive air attacks," Blair said.

"Canada's support for Ukraine is steadfast and we will continue to step up and build on our contributions to Ukraine in their fight against Russia's invasion."

President Volodymyr Zelensky previously said on Nov. 4 that Ukraine expected to receive the defense system "by the end of this year."

The NASAMS delivery arrives as Ukraine faces intensified Russian aerial attacks, including the recently deployed "Oreshnik" intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), launched against Dnipro on Nov. 21.

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Following the strike on Dnipro, Zelensky reiterated the importance of advanced Western air defense systems, directing Defense Minister Rustem Umerov to begin new talks with partners on acquiring additional equipment.

Ukrainian forces have been using NASAMS systems since November 2022, when the U.S. delivered the first batteries amid escalating Russian airstrikes.

Read also: What is Russias Oreshnik missile, and what happens next?

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A Nashville lawyer nominated to the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will not receive a confirmation vote after U.S. Senate Democrats and Republicans struck a late-night deal on Wednesday.

The deal paves the way for votes on several of President Joe Biden's nominees for federal trial courts while holding off on four appellate court nominations. This decision leaves those appellate court seats  including a nomination by Biden in May for Nashville plaintiffs' lawyer Karla Campbell  open for incoming President-elect Donald Trump to fill on the Cincinnati-based appeals court.

A spokesperson for Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer accused Senate Republicans of campaigning to prevent Democrats from fulfilling their plan to confirm as many life-tenured judges as possible before Trump takes office in January.

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Senate Republicans previously said they had votes to block at least two of the four appellate court nominees, including Adeel Mangi, who would have become the first Muslim federal appellate judge if confirmed to the Philadelphia-based 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The deal was sure to disappoint progressive advocates who have been pushing Democrats to fill as many judicial vacancies as possible following the Nov. 5 election, which handed the White House to Trump and control of the Senate to Republicans.

"Willingly gifting Donald Trump the chance to appoint judges more committed to political agendas than the rule of law is doing a dangerous disservice to the American people," Maggie Jo Buchanan, the director of the progressive legal group Demand Justice, said in a statement.

Since the election, the Senate has confirmed eight of Biden's judge picks, bringing the total number of confirmed judicial nominees to 221. The Democratic-led Senate on Thursday confirmed one more, Sharad Desai, to serve as a trial court judge in Arizona.

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Republicans at Trump's urging had tried to put procedural roadblocks in place to slow down the process and peel away votes in a Senate that Democrats narrowly control 51-49. But several Republican senators have missed votes to confirm judges.

As part of the agreement, the Senate will move forward with votes to confirm seven district court nominees previously advanced by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer after the post-Thanksgiving recess. In return, Democrats agreed to stop pursuing the confirmation of four appellate court nominees.

The Senate will also take up consideration of five other district court nominees whose nominations were advanced on Thursday by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

"The trade was four circuit nominees  all lacking the votes to get confirmed  for more than triple the number of additional judges moving forward," a spokesperson for Schumer said.

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The other appellate nominees were Ryan Park, up for a seat on the Richmond, Virginia-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and Julia Lipez, who was nominated to the Boston-based 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville lawyer won't get confirmation vote for appeals court seat
Bryceville Elementary School was recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a 2024 National Blue Ribbon School.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

According to a news release, the school was recognized for exemplary academic performance and commitment to closing achievement gaps among student groups.

Bryceville Elementary School was one of 356 schools in the country to be given the award this year.

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Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Kathy Burns, Bryceville Elementary Principal Tammy Smith, and teacher Pam Ploegert represented the school and district at the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program Award Ceremony in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 7 and 8.

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NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte met with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in Florida on Nov. 23, the military alliance reported.

Rutte and Trump discussed a range of security issues facing NATO, according to the press release. No details were immediately available as to the specifics of the discussions.

Rutte also reportedly met with U.S. Congressman Mike Waltz, who Trump picked as his national security adviser, as well as other members of Trump's incoming national security team. Waltz has previously expressed reservation over U.S. military aid for Ukraine, believing Europe should increase its spending.

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Rutte and Trump's meeting occurred against the backdrop of concerns that Trump's second term in office could see diminished support for Ukraine's war effort or even a lesser role played by the U.S. in the military alliance.

In February, Trump stirred up controversy when, on the campaign trail, he said that Russia could do "whatever the hell they want" to NATO member countries failing to meet NATO's 2% defense spending criteria.

Allies remain cautiously optimistic that Trump will continue supporting Ukraine and NATO, particularly if the efforts are framed as a demonstration of U.S. strength.

During a meeting with European leaders in Budapest on Nov. 7, Rutte previously backed Trump's earlier attempts to get NATO countries to spend more on defense, beyond the current 2% of GDP target.

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After congratulating Trump on winning the election, Rutte wrote on Nov. 6 on X that "his leadership will again be key to keeping our Alliance strong. I look forward to working with him again to advance peace through strength through NATO."

Read also: What do Trumps first team picks mean for Ukraine?

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NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte met US President-elect Donald Trump in Florida on Friday.

"They discussed the range of global security issues facing the alliance," NATO spokeswoman Farah Dakhlallah told dpa. She declined to provide any further details about their talks.

The meeting between Trump and Rutte, the former Dutch prime minister who took over the top NATO job earlier this year, had not been publicly announced in advance.

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According to information from sources within the alliance, the meeting was to discuss Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine as well as the issue of defence spending by NATO members, among other topics

During the election campaign, Trump claimed that he could end the Russian war of aggression within 24 hours and demanded that all NATO countries spend at least 3% of their gross domestic product (GDP) on defence in the future.

Apart from the United States, only four of the 32 NATO countries currently reach this mark. Germany is estimated to spend just 2.1% this year, which is above the current NATO target of 2%.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte met US President-elect Donald Trump in Florida on Friday.

"They discussed the range of global security issues facing the alliance," NATO spokeswoman Farah Dakhlallah told dpa. She declined to provide any further details about their talks.

The meeting between Trump and Rutte, the former Dutch prime minister who took over the top NATO job earlier this year, had not been publicly announced in advance.

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According to information from sources within the alliance, the meeting was to discuss Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine as well as the issue of defence spending by NATO members, among other topics

During the election campaign, Trump claimed that he could end the Russian war of aggression within 24 hours and demanded that all NATO countries spend at least 3% of their gross domestic product (GDP) on defence in the future.

Apart from the United States, only four of the 32 NATO countries currently reach this mark. Germany is estimated to spend just 2.1% this year, which is above the current NATO target of 2%.

NATO worries about Trump return

Leaders in a number of NATO countries have expressed concern about how Trump's return to the White House could impact the alliance, and there is a sense that most would have preferred Democrat Kamala Harris to win the election instead.

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Trump's statements in the past had raised doubts as to whether the US would remain fully committed to its mutual assistance obligations under his leadership.

During his first term in office from 2017 to 2021, Trump repeatedly railed against what he saw as the under-investment in defence by European allies and at times even threatened to withdraw the US from NATO.

However, Rutte has remained calm in the wake of Trump's election victory earlier this month.

"Through NATO, the US has 31 friends and allies who help to advance US interests, multiply American power and keep Americans safe," he said.

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Together, the allies represent half of the world's economic and military strength.

By working together in NATO, Rutte said, the allies contribute to deterring aggression, protecting collective security and supporting the economy.

It was Rutte's first meeting with Trump in his new role, although he met with Trump on several occasions in his previous role as Dutch prime minister.

During a meeting with Rutte in 2019, Trump said that he and Rutte had become friends.
Nato and Kyiv will hold emergency talks on Tuesday over Russias use of an experimental, hypersonic ballistic missile.

The Kremlin fired the new intermediate-range ballistic missile at a central Ukrainian city on Thursday in response to Kyivs use of American and British missiles capable of striking deeper into Russia.

In a televised address, Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, said that US air defence 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, meaning hazelnut.

He also said it could be used to attack any Ukrainian ally whose missiles are used to attack Russia.

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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.

Credit: social media

Officials from Nato and Ukraine are now set to meet on Tuesday, while Mark Rutte, the Nato chief, also held talks with Donald Trump, the US president-elect, in Florida on the global security issues facing the alliance.

Ukrainian military officials said the missile that hit Dnipro had reached a speed of Mach 11 and carried six non-nuclear warheads each releasing six submunitions.

Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, said the use of the missile was an obvious and serious escalation in the scale and brutality of this war, a cynical violation of the UN Charter.

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Gen Sergei Karakayev, the head of Russias Strategic Missile Forces, said the Oreshnik could reach targets across Europe and be fitted with nuclear or conventional warheads.

Rescue workers put out a fire at a house hit by a Russian strike on Dnipro - Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP

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No one in the world has such weapons, Putin said, adding that testing of the missile would continue, including in combat, depending on the situation and the character of security threats created for Russia.

Viktor Orban, the Hungarian prime minister widely considered as having the warmest relations with the Kremlin in the European Union, cautioned against underestimating Russias responses. Its not a trick there will be consequences, he said.

Donald Tusk, Polands prime minister, said the conflict was entering a decisive phase and taking on very dramatic dimensions, while the countrys foreign minister Radosaw Sikorski described the attack as an act of desperation.

Jan Lipavsky, the Czech foreign minister, called the strike an escalatory step and an attempt of the Russian dictator to scare the population of Ukraine and to scare the population of Europe.

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CPI(M)'s UR Pradeep is leading in the Chelakkara Assembly seat, counting for which began on Saturday morning, as per the early trends from the Election Commission of India. As per the ECI trends at 10 am today, Pradeep is leading with 17509 votes with Congress candidate Ramya Haridas trailing with 11675 votes. Meanwhile, Congress candidate Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is leading from the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat, counting for which began on Saturday morning, as per the early trends from the Election Commission of India. Wayanad, a Congress bastion is witnessing a triangular contest between Priyanka Gandhi, BJP's Navya Haridas, and the Left candidate Sathyan Mokeri. As per the ECI at 10 am today, Priyanka is leading with 132543 votes, as per ECI trends. Priyanka Gandhi is contesting from the Wayanad constituency as a United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate, from the seat her brother Rahul Gandhi vacated. Wayanad's seat was vacated by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after he was also elected to Lok Sabha from Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh in the general elections held earlier this year. If Priyanka Gandhi wins from Wayanad, she will be the third person from the Gandhi family to enter Parliament. BJP candidate Navya Haridas today expressed confidence in her party's victory, saying that if the people want development in Wayanad, they will choose the NDA. Speaking to ANI, Haridas said. "Last time Rahul Gandhi had won from Wayanad but he rejected this Mandal and retained Rae Bareli. This time the voting percentage came down as they were not in the mood to face the election after the landslide incident. If people need development in Wayanad, then they would select NDA." Earlier, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra hit out at the central government, which has reportedly refused to declare Wayanad landslides a national disaster as requested by the Kerala government. In a post on X, Priyanka called it a "shocking injustice" to the victims and criticised the central government for "denying essential relief to those in dire need." (ANI)
The Navy ousted the commanding officer of the Airborne Command & Control Squadron 115 on Friday, making him the third commanding officer the service has fired in November.

Cmdr. Charles Diehl was removed from his leadership role due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command, according to the service.

Diehl will be temporarily reassigned to Airborne Command & Control Logistics Wing based in Pt. Mugu, California, while Cmdr. Randall Fields, the former commanding officer of Airborne Command & Control Squadron 116, will temporarily take over leadership responsibilities for Airborne Command & Control Squadron 115.

Earlier this month, the Navy also removed the commanding officers of the Navy Leadership and Ethics Command San Diego, Capt. Lester Brown, Jr., and the Naval Information Warfare Training Group San Diego, Cmdr. Cayanne McFarlane.

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Diehl became the commanding officer of the squadron, also based out of Pt. Mugu, in May. As a naval flight officer flying the E-2 Hawkeye, he previously attended the Navy Fighter Weapons School, known as Top Gun. He also conducted deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation New Dawn and Operation Tomodachi.

Navy fires CO of Leadership and Ethics Command San Diego

No other details were immediately provided regarding Diehls removal. The Navy rarely provides any insight into the firing of commanding officers beyond the loss of confidence statement.

The Navy maintains the highest standards for commanding officers and holds them accountable when those standards are not met, the service said in a statement Friday.
The Republican North Carolina General Assembly is as exhausting as Donald Trump. Okay, not that exhausting. But they are relentless, unceasing, all-pervasive, ever-greedy and ruthlessly shameless in their abuse of power.

Think of how much energy, and how much taxpayer money, weve spent over the last 15 years because North Carolina Republicans wont comply with the state Constitution.

Gene Nichol

They violate our fundamental charter like its their job  like they took an oath to violate rather than to comply with it. No wonder a federal court wrote five years ago that it had lost confidence in the General Assemblys capacity and willingness to comply with the constitution. Me too.

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What do I mean? This week, with the election over, and the governors race, once again, not having gone in the Republicans favor, our lawmakers returned to what has become the Carolina Two-Step.

If the people of North Carolina commit the heresy of electing a Democratic governor, Sen. Phil Berger, Rep. Tim Moore, state legislative Republican leaders and their crews immediately start stripping the chief executive of essential powers. No need to turn over the keys to the governors mansion. Just burn the place down.

Josh Stein is getting the same treatment Roy Cooper got when he came in. Republicans, in 2016, were furious that Pat McCrory lost the election, and they couldnt find a way to overturn it. So they unconstitutionally gutted Coopers powers.

National commentators called it a legislative coup  the kind of thing we might expect to see in Venezuela, Slates Mark Joseph Stern said. Republican lawmakers in Wisconsin and Michigan decided to give it a try, following, they said, the North Carolina playbook. Were the grand masters of democratic demolition.

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The bill the legislature just passed will strip the governor of power to appoint the members of the State Board of Elections. Its something of a holy grail for Berger. His folks tried to steal the elections authority last year, but a trial court blocked it. They proposed a similar constitutional amendment eight years ago, but voters rejected it by over 60%.

Its stunning to the Senate leader that there should be any position in North Carolina government he cant place under his thumb. Having made a mockery of our elections through partisan gerrymandering, Berger said he just wants to take over the election board to be fair. Does he ever.

This time the Republicans, almost comically, seek to give the governors appointment power to the state auditor. That wise policy choice only became obvious when Republican Dave Boliek won the auditors race. Next year, perhaps, the Commissioner of Agriculture can become the commander in chief of the state military and the Commissioner of Insurance will get the pardon power.

The move is as unconstitutional as the day is long. The N.C. Constitution declares the executive power of the State shall be vested in the Governor. (Art. III, sec. 1). The governor, and no one else, has the power to take care that the law be faithfully executed.(Art. III sec. 5).

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Tar Heels have one governor. They dont expect the auditor to do his job. No one actually thinks they do.

But theres something darker at play here too. Republicans arent much worried about law. State constitutional review is lodged, finally, in the North Carolina Supreme Court. There, our five Republican justices appear to do whats demanded of them. Even if it means we sacrifice our structure of government in the process. Get ready for the Commissioner of Labor to give the State of the State Address.

Contributing columnist Gene Nichol is a professor of law at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
LUMBERTON, N.C. (WNCN)  A convicted murderer of a North Carolina teenage girl has made headlines twice in one day  first for his guilty plea with a life sentence and now for two attempted escapes.

On Friday morning, just over six years after the kidnapping and murder of 13-year-old Hania Aguilar, Michael McLellan entered a plea of guilty for first-degree murder. For that charge, as well as others related to two other victims, McLellan was sentenced to spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Man gets life without parole for killing Hania Aguilar in Robeson County, tries to escape before and after court appearance

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Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins confirmed that McLellan tried to escape before his sentencing and later after sentencing. In at least one of the attempts, McLellan used the handmade tool below as a makeshift key for his handcuffs.

I think the whole day was an escape attempt for him, Wilkins said. I think him coming and pleading guilty like he did, was a way to get out of that prison from behind those walls, and it gave him two opportunities to try to escape today. I listened to him speak to the family for just a few words, saying that he was he was sorry. I saw no sincerity in that at all.

Wilkins said the tool is a combination of materials from a prisons art workshop.

On the way back to Central Prison Wilkins said deputies again detected movement and before they could pull over McLellan was completely out of handcuffs.

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Wilkins said McLellan was able to reach in an air vent under the plexiglass separating him from deputies.

He reached his hands up in there, grabbed the gun, released the little lever on the holster, and was able to actually grab the entire gun, Wilkins said.

Both attempts were unsuccessful and McLellan has since made it successfully to Central Prison in Raleigh, the highest security-rated prison in the state of North Carolina.

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NEWTON COUNTY, Mo.  A Neosho woman is charged with the death of her two-month-old son.

Today, Newton County prosecutor William Lynch filed a charge of child abuse resulting in death against Sarah Sobelman, 30.

Sarah Sobelman, 30

Authorities say the babys father took him to Freeman Neosho Hospital early in the morning on October 20, because the baby was having trouble breathing.

Around 2:00 a.m. the boy was pronounced dead. An autopsy shows he died from multiple brain bleeds. The medical examiner ruled the boys death a homicide.

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According to court records  the father said he watched the infant and another child overnight on October 18.

FOUR STATES CRIME

He told deputies he left Sobelman home with the children the next morning, and when he returned later that afternoon she was bathing the infant.

Sobelman told him the baby had thrown up a lot.

The probable cause affidavit says that before Sobelman left for work that evening, she told the babys father if the baby wasnt acting right, to call her first and not take the baby to get medical attention until he talked to her.

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Sobelman is being held in the Newton County Jail without bond.

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MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa  A Newton man is facing a slew of charges after police said he tried to flee from officers and instead hit several vehicles in a Walmart parking lot. He then allegedly led police on a chase that ended with two more patrol vehicles sustaining damage.

54-year-old Aaron Parrish Scalabrini was arrested after the alleged incident on Tuesday.

According to the Marshalltown Police Department, officers were called to the Walmart in the 2800 block of South Center Street around 2:30p.m. on a report of intoxicated person. Officers arrived at the scene and found Scalabrini in his vehicle in the parking lot.

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While talking with officers, Scalabrini fled, backed into a patrol car, and hit another vehicle nearby, causing minor injuries to a person inside, according to a MPD release on the incident that was posted to the citys website.

Scalabrini continued to drive away from the Walmart driving erratically before the pursuit ended in the 2600 block of South Center Street (Highway 14) after police used their patrol vehicles to immobilize him, said the release. Two more Marshalltown Police Department patrol vehicles were damaged, according to the city.

Scalabrini was taken into custody and booked into the Marshall County Jail. No officers were injured in the incident.

Scalabrini was charged with:

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Eluding (Aggravated Misdemeanor)

Operation While Intoxicated (OWI) 1 st Offense (Serious Misdemeanor)

Driving While Revoked for OWI Test Failure (Serious Misdemeanor)

Interference with Official Acts (Simple Misdemeanor)

Public Urination (Simple Misdemeanor)

14 Counts of Traffic Violations (Scheduled and Non-Scheduled Violations)

The Marshalltown Police Department said it was assisted in this incident by the Marshall County Sheriffs Office, Marshalltown Fire Department, and UnityPoint Health Marshalltown.

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The Newton Police Department are seeking the publics help in the search and identifying the van and driver who is accused of exposing himself.

The incident occurred around 3:30pm Thursday, November 21, in the area of Hartman Road and Village Circle. Thats when two teens walking in the area reported a man driving a large white van with a silver trailer attached to it, pulled alongside the teens and exposed himself.

The driver is reported to be a man in his early-to-mid 20s, with a medium-to-dark complexion, with short dark hair, wearing sunglasses and a black t-shirt.

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Anyone with information helpful to this investigation is being asked to contact NPD at 617-796-2100, or the tip line 617-796-2121. The Newton Police Department wrote in a Facebook post.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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The Gig Harbor City Council unanimously expressed support to appoint Council Member Mary Barber to lead the city Thursday evening following Mayor Tracie Markleys resignation.

The council is scheduled for a formal vote at their meeting Monday.

If appointed as mayor, Barber will serve until the public chooses a mayor from the candidates who run in the Nov. 4, 2025 election. Council member Brenda Lykins is currently serving as the interim acting mayor, or mayor pro tempore, until the vacancy is filled.

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Barber shared her interest in stepping into the position at the City Council meeting Nov. 21. Lykins and council members Le Rodenberg, Jeni Woock, Ben Coronado, Roger Henderson and Seth Storset each said they would support Barbers appointment. The City Council plans to formally appoint her at their Monday, Nov. 25 meeting and Barber will take the oath of office directly following the councils vote, according to their meeting agenda.

If appointed, Barber must resign from her position on the City Council, according to the agenda.

Gig Harbor City Council member Mary Barber was first appointed to serve in Position 4 in January 2022. The Council will vote on her appointment to become mayor on Monday, Nov. 25, 2024.

Her open council member seat will be filled through the procedures outlined in the citys Council Guidelines & Procedures document, Article 8, the agenda says. That involves opening up applications to residents who are registered voters in the city and have lived in the city for at least one year. The council conducts interviews and selects a finalist to fill the vacancy by a majority vote.

Barbers appointment would mark the second time shes filled a vacancy by Tracie Markley. Barber was appointed to serve in Position 4 on the City Council in 2022 when Markley vacated that seat to become mayor, The News Tribune reported. After serving that term, she formally ran for the seat and was elected in 2023. Markley announced her resignation as mayor in a press release Nov. 18, citing serious health issues that her family has faced recently.

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Barber told The News Tribune Friday that she is considering running for mayor in the Nov. 4, 2025 election, but hasnt made a formal decision yet.

Council member Barbers background

Barber comes from a career spanning more than 40 years in strategic communications and public relations. She previously served on the citys Parks Commission for about two years.

Her vision for Gig Harbor includes maintaining its small-town feel, where people enjoy the waterfront, local restaurants and public trails, The News Tribune reported in January 2022. She also expressed support for residents concerns about growth in the city and the need for more infrastructure to support this growth during her interview with the council to serve in Position 4.

In an interview via phone Friday, Barber said she decided to seek the appointment because she sees it as a continuation of her value of community service.

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The different role kind of goes back to my lifelong commitment to really leaving the world or where I am in a better place than I found it, Barber said.

She said she admires former Mayor Markleys work in the city, especially what Barber characterized as heart-first leadership. Markley put her heart into her work and led with her heart, Barber said, and Barber hopes to do the same.

Asked about how city staff morale changed under Markleys leadership, Barber said she did an amazing job, along with City Administrator Katrina Knutson and their leadership team. The administration worked to help make the staff feel wanted and needed, such as by offering more flexible working schedules and better work-life balance, and organizing employee recognition events, she said.

During her time on the council, Barber said shes proud of supporting the citys hire of the Housing, Health, and Human Services Program Manager Shealynn Smiley, the passage of Ordinance 1507, which allowed short-term rentals in all residential and commercial zones with dwelling units, and the decision to fly the Pride flag on city property during the month of June.

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Looking forward, she said shes interested in bringing a community center to the city and supporting the citys business community and economic development.

Asked about challenges the city is facing, she said she wants to see a Gig Harbor that is welcoming to all people, regardless of their gender or sexuality or how long theyve lived in the city.

Another challenge she sees is talking to residents about balancing the citys growth with preserving its character.

I would love to be able to take our meetings to more neighborhoods, and thats a real challenge because when we meet we have to meet in public and we have to be available via Zoom, so there are challenges with doing that, Barber said. But that is one of the things that we can try to figure out that we can do so its easier for people to come to our meetings.

How the City Council decided to appoint Barber

During their Nov. 21 special meeting, council members initially discussed opening up applications for the mayoral appointment to the public.

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Council member Rodenberg suggested that if the council opened applications to the public, they should open it to everyone and post a formal notice. Candidates could send their resume and an explanation of their qualifications to each member of the council, he said at the meeting.

Council member Storset also said early in the discussion he thought opening up applications to the public would be a good idea. He isnt interested in serving as mayor himself.

I would hate for someone to come back and say, of course, they just chose another council member and didnt speak with anyone else, Storset said. . . . its a great opportunity for us to speak with those candidates and really see what their intentions are.

Others brought up that appointing a mayor from within the city council could be beneficial.

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Council member Woock expressed confidence in each of her fellow council members and said she would like to see a mayor appointed from among them. The citizens of Gig Harbor have already shown support for each of the council members by electing them, she said. She isnt interested in serving as mayor herself and doesnt plan to run again for the council at the end of her term.

I think it is really important that for the sake of this community and continuity that having somebody that our citizens have confidence in and have been elected by our citizens makes a lot more sense to me than having someone who doesnt know what its like to be mayor, has not been in any meetings with the mayor, Woock said at the meeting.

Lykins said she understood what other council members were saying about opening applications to the public, but said she supported Barber as the mayoral appointee to ease the transition for city employees.

When I first heard of Mayor Markley resigning, I was most concerned for city staff, Lykins said. And I was most concerned for the great work that she has done, showing compassion and respect for city staff. And I think (it would be good) to continue that, to have somebody that city staff know, to have who we know.

Tracie Markley

Lykins also said she isnt interested herself in filling the vacancy.

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By the end of the discussion, the council came to a consensus to support Barber as the mayoral appointee.

The Nov. 25 City Council meeting where council members will vote on Barbers appointment and Lykins will swear her in will be held at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers, at the Gig Harbor Civic Center at 3510 Grandview St. Attendees can also access the meeting via Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/93216056382 or by calling (253) 215-8782 and entering Meeting ID 932 1605 6382. Public comment will be accepted at the meeting.
The Osundairo brothers, Abel and Ola, have broken their silence after Jussie Smollett's hoax conviction was overturned, wondering why the actor never took responsibility for his actions.

Smollett was let off the hook in his hate crime hoax case after judges in Illinois ruled that his trial breached his rights and reversed the decision.

The Nigerian brothers decried the "sweetheart" deal Jussie Smollett got, arguing that his celebrity status tipped the scales in his favor.

Osundairo Brothers Say Jussie Smollett Should Confess

MEGA

The Osundairo brothers, two men who were found to have helped Jussie Smollett carry out a hate crime hoax, have broken their silence after his conviction was recently thrown out.

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The brothers say they were taken aback not just by the ruling that prevents Smollett from being re-tried, but because he never owned up to what he did.

They made the remark in an interview on "Fox & Friends," decrying how the "sweetheart" deal the state's attorney, Kim Foxx, gave the actor left them shocked. The actor reportedly got a forfeiture of $10K in bail and 15 hours of community service.

The Osundairo brothers went on to claim that Smollett still owed them $500, although Abel quickly chimed in, noting that the money wasn't the only reason they attacked him.

According to TMZ, they also alleged that Smollett lied to them as he claimed it was common practice for fake acts of violence against themselves, using Kim Kardashian's Paris robbery incident as an example.

Special Prosecutor Blasts Illinois Supreme Court's Ruling

MEGA

Abel and Ola are not the only persons who are uncomfortable with the turnout of Smollett's case. The special prosecutor in the case recently issued a stern rebuke of the Illinois Supreme Court after it ruled to overturn the actor's conviction on a technicality.

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Dan Webb said in a statement shared with the Daily Mail that the ruling "has nothing to do with Mr. Smollett's innocence," and the "legal reasoning upends long-standing Illinois precedent."

"My office spent nearly two years developing evidence and working closely with the Chicago Police Department to prepare that case for trial," Webb continued in his remark. "It is very important I point out that today's decision is also not the result of any error or conduct by the Office of the Special Prosecutor, the trial court, or the Chicago Police Department."

He added that Smollett "did not even challenge the sufficiency of the evidence against him in his appeal."

The Special Prosecutor Believes The Court Made A Mistake Overturning Jussie Smollett's Conviction

MEGA

Smollett was let off the hook after the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that his rights were violated by Webb and his team's decision to re-try him even after the initial charges were dropped with an agreement that he wouldn't be re-charged.

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Webb, in his statement, told the Daily Mail that "all of this conduct happened five months prior" to his appointment, and even though his actions led to the decision, the court "did not find any error with the overwhelming evidence presented at trial."

He went on to explain that the Supreme Court made a mistake in its ruling over the agreement that Smollett made with the Cook County State's Attorney's Office (CCSAO) in 2019 that he would not be re-charged.

"The Illinois Supreme Court reached this decision notwithstanding the fact that the CCSAO dismissed the initial Smollett case via a nolle prosequi, which does not bar re-prosecution under Illinois law, and Mr. Smollett's own lawyers told the public immediately following the dismissal of his initial case in March 2019 that there was 'no deal' with the CCSAO," he said.

"Today's ruling does not change how deeply proud I am of the work my Special Prosecutor's office accomplished," Webb concluded. "Nor does it undermine the jury's verdict, and most importantly, it does not clear Jussie Smollett's namehe is not innocent."

Attorney Kim Foxx Defends Deal With The Disgraced Actor

MEGA

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Meanwhile, Cook County state attorney Foxx has defended her office's decision to offer Smollett a plea deal, sharing that she feels vindicated by the court's ruling.

According to TMZ, Foxx shared that she wasn't surprised by the court's decision as she knew immediately that the conviction would be overturned.

Regarding whether she regrets not giving the actor a steeper punishment, Foxx claimed he was convicted of disorderly conduct for filing a false police report, which is a low-level felony, adding that such crimes usually end up with diversion programs, not jail sentences.

Jussie Smollett Called His Arrest 'The Darkest Day' In His Life

MEGA

In an interview with People Magazine earlier this year, Smollett opened up about the day of his arrest in 2019.

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He shared, "That was a pretty dark day because that's when everything clicked to me of what was happening,"

Smollett continued: "A lot of things tested my strength, a lot of things tested my mental, but the one thing I never lost  I never started thinking that I am somebody that I'm not. That is the one thing that did not happen."

The actor is now making an acting comeback and recently appeared in the movie, "The Lost Holliday."
 Flash

The top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has called for upgrading military equipment and developing ultra-modern weapons as a weaponry exhibition kicked off in Pyongyang to demonstrate the country's military capabilities.

Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, made the remarks on Thursday at the opening ceremony of the exhibition themed "National Defence Development-2024," the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Friday.

The report said Kim lauded the DPRK's success in developing national defense as convincing evidence that the country has "the firm capability and security guarantee" to cope with various existential and potential security threats in the future.

The DPRK leader said the ruling party and government will defend the country "by dint of national defense" through all efforts to "build up higher military and technical force and powerful military capabilities," the report added.

The exhibition showcased the latest products of the national defense scientific and technological team, featuring upgraded strategic and tactical weapons that emphasize modernity and advanced technology, precision targeting and striking power, it said.
Vote counting for the Dausa Assembly by-election in Rajasthan began on Saturday at the PG College here, with strict security measures in place. Devendra Kumar, the District Returning Officer, confirmed that the counting will be completed in 18 rounds. "There will be a total of 18 rounds for counting. The counting will be completed within 18 rounds. We have set up 14 tables for the EVMs and 3 tables for the postal ballots. The counting will start at 8 AM. At 7:30 AM, we had already opened the EVM strong room and the postal ballot strong room," the District Returning Officer said. The counting process is being updated live on the Election Commission of India (ECI) portal. "There is an ECI portal, and as the counting progresses round by round, we will continue to enter the data live on this portal, which will be available to both the media and the public. From 8:30 AM, the EVM counting will begin, and as the results come in, we will continue to make the data available to the public," added Kumar. He said that entry to the counting venue will be allowed only between 6 am and 7:30 am and all activities will be video recorded. A total of 17 tables have been set up in Room Number 13 for counting, with 4 tables dedicated to counting the ETPBS votes in Room Number 14. The Dausa Assembly constituency has 246,023 registered voters. Of these, 153,278 voters exercised their right to vote. Among the 129,434 male voters, 83,189 cast their votes, while 70,089 female voters out of 116,589 participated. Rajpura (Booth No. 52) recorded the highest voter turnout of 87.41 per cent, while Beegawas (Booth No. 158) saw the lowest turnout at just 1.87 per cent. A three-tier security system is in place at the counting venue, and entry without an authorisation letter is strictly prohibited. (ANI)
NEW YORK (PIX11)  Rep. Josh Gottheimer has been a staunch opponent of congestion pricing since its introduction.

Now, with a new plan set in motion by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, the New Jersey lawmaker tells PIX on Politics he will continue to do everything he can to keep congestion pricing from being implemented.

How will congestion pricing work in NYC? Toll cost, exemptions, more to know

Gottheimer also discusses his candidacy for governor.

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Watch the video player for the full interview.

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Nov. 22GROTON  The Noank Zoning Commission unanimously voted this week to update its rules to specifically state that short-term rentals are not allowed in the village.

The ruling comes in the wake of a state Supreme Court decision involving short-terms rentals in another community.

Commission Chairman Rick Smith said the proposal was intended to codify the long-standing position that short-term rentals are not permitted in the Noank Fire District.

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"The amendments were required to conform to a recent decision of the Connecticut Supreme Court," he said.

After weighing potential short-term regulations, the commission had decided in 2021 to keep its zoning regulations, in which short-term rentals are not expressly authorized, the same, and to enforce the short-term rental prohibition.

But in wake of the recent court decision, the commission approved zoning language that specifically states that renting a housing unit for 30 days or less is prohibited in all of Noank's zoning districts.

The Supreme Court case, Frances Wihbey vs. Zoning Board of Appeals of the Pine Orchard Association, involves a Branford resident who had been renting his property on a short-term basis years before the association prohibited short-term rentals. The court ruled that the short-term rental was allowed under the 1994 regulations in place when the owner bought the property.

k.drelich@theday.com
The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium was awarded a nearly $75 million federal grant to help native communities deal with rising global temperatures.

Alaska News Source reported the investment will help with regional capacity building, benefitting nearly 100 communities impacted by a changing climate.

ANTHC was one of 19 grant awardees that collectively received more than $500 million from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Department of Commerce to build climate resilience.

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"Alaska is an underserved state on the front lines of climate change  related impacts that are altering the Arctic landscape and affecting every aspect of life in remote Alaska Native communities," NOAA says on the grant website. "The most effective way to increase preparedness and reduce exposure to negative impacts is to increase the region's capacity to understand risk and develop and implement solutions."

The NOAA website called the expenditure, "a historic investment that is advancing NOAA's efforts to build Climate-Ready Coasts."

During a joint press conference, NOAA deputy administrator Jainey Bavishi said the money would help Alaska's native communities deal with challenges like climate-driven relocation, food sovereignty, and behavior and mental health wellness. She added that Alaska is warming twice as fast as any other state.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Alaska native communities are already experiencing the effects of a warming planet, including melting permafrost that is threatening their health, economy, and cultures.

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"Alaska native people face the realities of climate change every day," ANTHC President Natasha Singh said at the press conference. "From the shifting rivers we fish, to the changing terrain of the traditional lands that we hunt, climate change is one of the leading public health challenges in Alaska."

Diminishing sea ice has affected wildlife in the state  for instance, mass strandings of seals have increased and polar bears have limited access to prey, according to the USDA Climate Hubs website.

This is just one of a number of programs set to increase climate resilience across the United States. For instance, the federal government is investing more than $179 million in water reuse projects across the American West to help states like Utah and California better deal with droughts. In Louisiana, another climate resilience project is reconnecting wetlands to the Mississippi River to improve storm protection for local communities and to return the surrounding land to its natural state.

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.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  A North Little Rock man was sentenced to federal prison for illegal possession of ammunition.

Authorities said 40-year-old Terell Davis was a multi-convicted felon when he pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of ammunition in February, resulting in his 15-year federal sentence on Thursday. His plea came after a February 2023 indictment for the possession charge.

Conway couple sentenced to prison for distributing fentanyl resulting in death

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Davis was also sentenced to three years of supervised release.

Officials said an investigation into an Aug. 9, 2022, shooting in North Little Rock led to officers executing a search warrant on Daviss resident. During the search, officers recovered .45 caliber, .40 caliber, .410 caliber, .38 caliber, .357 caliber, 7.6239 caliber, .223 caliber and 9mm ammunition, along with multiple 50-round drum magazines.

Little Rock man gets 25 years in federal prison for selling fentanyl that resulted in death

Davis was on parole when the ammunition was found. Officials said he had previous convictions for manslaughter, cocaine possession with intent to deliver, first-degree battery and fleeing in a vehicle causing danger.

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Officials said the investigation leading to the Thursday sentencing was done by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the North Little Rock Police Department.

Greenbrier man sentenced to federal prison for Social Security fraud

There is no parole in the federal prison system.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  North Little Rock has planned a Dec. 7 event to commemorate Pearl Harbor on the 83rd anniversary of the attack.

The event will occur at 11:58 a.m. on Dec. 7 at the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum, 120 Riverfront Drive in North Little Rock.

NLRSD renames school to honor North Little Rock Six

State and local dignitaries attending include North Little Rock Mayor Terry Hartwick, Cmdr. Sterling D. Rooster Claypoole, USNR, Dr. Joe Manning ETC (SS) USN Ret.

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Officials said Arkansas is one of two locations, the other being Honolulu, Hawaii, with ships present at the beginning and end of World War II. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs officials said that of the millions who served, 119,550 veterans of the Second World War are alive today.

North Little Rock adding second entertainment district

Officials added that around 1,144 World War II veterans live in Arkansas.

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Orange County residents living in unincorporated North Tustin are one step closer to getting their own zip code thanks to a bill currently making its way through Congress.

Local leaders say this zip code is needed because the towns status as an unincorporated area can cause confusion, which sometimes leads to residents paying more taxes than they should.

The unincorporated community is located north of Tustin, east of the 55 freeway, and home to around 25,000 residents. According to the U.S. Census Bureau in 2020, North Tustin is a census-designated place.

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While a small part of North Tustin shares a zip code with Tustin, most of its residents share a zip code with Santa Ana  which can cause problems, especially when it comes to sales tax.

For example, Santa Ana has a higher sales tax than unincorporated Orange County, meaning residents can sometimes be charged the wrong tax rate when purchasing items such as cars.

In most of these transactions, there is an opportunity for someone to write in later and prove where they live and then get a refund  but its often an awful lot of hoops to jump through to get it, said O.C. Supervisor Don Wagner, who is also a North Tustin resident. Its very complicated, a lot of people dont know about it, and what were trying to do is just stop the issue from the very beginning.

The bill made it out of committee this week, and one of the co-sponsors, Congresswoman Young Kim, is hopeful that it will go before the full house before the end of the year.

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We took the first step, were very happy about it  and the fact that we did it in the unanimous, bipartisan way gives me hope that we may be able to get this done, Kim told KTLAs Chip Yost.

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(FOX40.COM)  An El Dorado County correctional officer was arrested Friday in connection to sexual assault, according to the El Dorado County Sheriffs Office.

The 24-year-old officer was placed under arrest for an alleged sexual assault against an inmate. He was booked into the El Dorado County Jail in Placerville. EDSO said it investigated the incident and the officer faces charges of consensual sex with an adult detained in a detention facility.

First Cashs Pick statue completed on Johnny Cash Trail in Folsom

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The sheriffs office said the suspects bail is set at $50,000 and he has been placed on administrative leave. The incident remains under investigation.

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To effectively reduce homelessness, there needs to be seismic changes in the approaches taken. That was the message of Randy Shumway and Joseph Grenny at a Solutions Utah town hall held on Thursday night.

Shumway, founder of Cicero Group and Utah Homeless Services chair, and Grenny, bestselling author, businessman and co-founder of The Other Side Academy, spoke to an audience of University of Utah students and Utah community members about what they think needs to happen in order for homelessness to be addressed.

Utah, like other states, has seen an increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness for the first time, according to a report from the states Office of Homeless Services. In 2023, 9,838 Utahns experienced homelessness for the first time, an increase of 9% from 2022. Four percent more people experienced homelessness multiple times in the year.

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Shumway said a decade ago, 14% of people experiencing homelessness were considered chronically homeless. Right now it is over 27%, he said, adding no matter what we do, the percentage will hit the mid-30s in the next few years.

Once a person becomes chronically homeless, society historically has experienced low single-digit success in helping them recover, he said. We are going to change that in Utah.

Definitions, metrics of success and methods of helping all need to change, he said. Instead of seeing the solution as brick and mortar  building more shelters  he argued it has to be more holistic.

This is not a bed crisis, this is a human crisis, said Shumway. And we have to, therefore, take a human first approach. The focus of their remarks at the town hall was more on a strategic approach than a physical facility.

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That, Shumway said, was intentional.

Shumway: The macro view

Trauma is a better word to describe what people experiencing homelessness are going through, said Shumway. Once someone starts living out on the streets, the amount of trauma they experience is substantially worse, he said.

A man walks past a homeless camp located above Victory Road in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

On the streets, people face physical assault, sexual exploitation and drugs, Shumway said. We have to come to their rescue.

To do that, success needs to be defined differently, he said.

As a state of Utah, we are no longer defining success as mere food and shelter, said Shumway. We are defining success as helping each and every individual realize the dignity that is inherent in each of us.

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Shumway said we need to start by bringing physical and mental health care to where people are. A successful model for this would involve bringing health care to people on the streets  he said this would result in higher participation in treatment.

In addition to this kind of treatment, he said there needs to be consistent compensation for caseworkers.

Also, Shumway said, we have to kindly, humanely and very consistently enforce the law. He said there is a drug problem in Salt Lake City that needs to be addressed.

Theres no investment in the world that will overcome the petri dish that is built around lawlessness, said Shumway.

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When Shumway was at a shelter the other day, he said there was a drug deal happening on the other side of the fence. He said he ran and started yelling at them, and they took off.

I was mad because youre coming to the location where people are coming for rescue and youre coming and exploiting them, he said. Thats not right. Shumway said shelters need to be drug-free zones to protect people who go there for healing.

So, what are the legislative priorities that Shumway wants to see achieved?

The Salt Lake City police department consistently enforce the law.

An integrated, statewide Know by Name system with an individualized care plan.

A centralized campus.

Allow for mandatory shelter, treatment and involuntary commitment when people pose high risk to themselves or others.

Criminal justice reform focused on lasting recovery.

No drugs allowed at shelters, transitional and permanent supportive housing.

Accountability for subsidized housing programs through outcome-based funding.

Grenny: The micro view

While Shumway spoke about sweeping changes, Grenny drilled down to more of a micro level. Hes the co-founder of The Other Side Academy and The Other Side Village.

The Other Side Academy campus in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, March 29, 2023. The organization works with former prisoners hoping to rehabilitate their lives. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

The Other Side Academy is a nonprofit organization that runs a residential program with transitional services for qualified students, including people experiencing homelessness. Its a therapeutic community that focuses on peer mentoring and counseling, leadership training as well as vocational training. The Other Side Village is a planned tiny home community for people coming out of experiencing chronic homelessness.

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Grenny said he thinks when it comes to homelessness, weve diagnosed the problem in a way that is condescending, that is bigoted and that is deeply, deeply flawed.

When we drive past unsheltered people experiencing homelessness, Grenny said we define the problem and then also come up with a very simple solution. He doesnt think this works  and he also thinks the nonprofit sector is broken.

Nonprofits have both donors and clients, said Grenny. And nonprofits tend to end up deferring to the donors. A market system allows companies to die if they are not working well because customers can leave, he said. Nonprofits are different because donors can write checks to keep them around.

Then, Grenny said, we also define the issues with homelessness incorrectly. He said we see them only as an asset problem  a problem that can be fixed if you give other an asset like a car. But, he said, its better to treat it like a human problem.

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If someones going to freeze to death, you fix that. If someones going to starve to death, you fix that. But beyond that, you ought to be very cautious about how your intervention will affect human behavior, human choice and whether youre actually deepening the problem, he said.

Grenny said its important not to destroy peoples self-efficacy by solving all their problems for them. Instead, its better to engage in a sustained relationship with them to help them.

While it might be bureaucratically convenient to give them assets instead, said Grenny, it doesnt get to the heart of the issue. He also said he thinks its bigoted to say that you cant set high standards and expectations because they wont be achieved.

From The Other Side Villages perspective, we believe that human beings grow by solving their own problems, said Grenny. If we rely too much on bureaucracies, he said we rob them (people experiencing homelessness) of the chance to develop a sense of dignity and self-respect.

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Grenny spoke about a man named Gideon who had lived in an encampment on North Temple until a few months ago. He came to The Other Side and started working at The Other Side Donuts. The donut shop entered a statewide donut competition and won the fan favorite award.

Lingi Ava and Kirk Ava order doughnuts from Tiffany Blair, The Other Side Village coach and The Other Side Academy graduate, at The Other Side Donuts in Salt Lake City on Thursday, July 11, 2024. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Because nobody fixed Gideons asset problem for him, he had to work and contribute, said Grenny, and learn how he needed to improve. And now he gets to stand here as a human being, taking his rightful place in society. He had to earn that or it would have meant nothing.

Grenny said the reason people become shelter-resistant is not just because shelters are often dangerous for people, but because you and I keep solving their asset problems in a way that subtracts motivation. And he said this motivation is what sparks real change.

Next steps for lawmakers

Once the holidays pass, lawmakers will convene for the 2025 legislative session, where housing certainly will be part of the conversation. This has been a real focus of Gov. Spencer Cox during his first term in office and his focus on this issue seems set to continue.

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Cox has an initiative to build 35,000 starter homes and has repeatedly urged local officials that they need to say yes to new housing developments.

Rep. Tyler Clancy, R-Provo, spoke to the Deseret News in the autumn about what to expect from lawmakers when the session starts. Clancy, like Shumway and Grenny, said the starting point is human dignity.

We need to make sure that human dignity is our guide point, said Clancy. That everything we do is around helping people move along the continuum of care to find the next rung of higher dignity.

Homelessness doesnt look the same for everyone, said Clancy. So, there will be different solutions that are needed for different people. He said hes looking at creating a Know By Name system to connect every person in the homeless services system with a case manager.

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With this system, Clancy said he would like to see services integrated rather than siloed.

Clancy said housing was a piece of the puzzle, but not the entire puzzle itself. And sometimes he said we focus too much on housing and not enough on providing resources for people to help them address underlying issues such as mental health or substance abuse.

Utahns want to see the needle move, said Clancy, and he thinks that with some reform, the money spent could actually lead to better results.
THE BRONX, N.Y. (PIX11)  NYPD officers shot a man armed with a gun who allegedly took a shooting stance at cops in the Bronx on Friday, police said.

The shooting happened after the officers responded to a 911 call about a large dispute involving a gun at 755 White Plains Road around 3:10 p.m., according to NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell.

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When they respond to the rear of 755 White Plains Road, the video shows us two of the perpetrators coming through a gate as our police officers pull up in a car. At this time, the perpetrator pulls a weapon, a 9mm, loaded, takes a shooting stance at our officers, Chell said.

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The officers opened fire and shot the suspect twice in the leg, Chell said. The suspect was hospitalized in an unknown condition.

The police chief said the suspect was previously arrested in Manhattan and indicted on a gun charge this past September.

This is the second time in three days weve had to confront people on the street with a history of firearms arrest and make split-second decisions to defend ourselves and protect their community, Chell said.

On Tuesday, an NYPD officer was shot while trying to arrest an armed robbery suspect in Jamaica, Queens, police said. The officer returned fire after getting shot and killed the suspect, who had a lengthy criminal history and was on lifetime parole, according to police.

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Finn Hoogensen is a digital journalist who has covered local news for more than five years. He has been with PIX11 News since 2022. See more of his work here.

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As the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance crossed the halfway mark in Maharashtra as per Trends released by the Election commission, BJP MP Deepak Prakash expressed confidence that symbol of 'lotus' is getting victory in Jharkhand and in Maharashtra, Mahayuti Govt will come to power. Deepak Prakash said, "The early trends will become the final trend today. During elections, I visited several places and I saw when PM Modi and Union HM Amit Shah's rallies were held, there were large gatherings. Today, its result is seen in the EVMs as the symbol of 'lotus' is getting victory in Jharkhand. Even in Maharashtra, Mahayuti Govt will come to power." He further said that the expectations of 4 crore and 21 lakh people of Jharkhand is very clear to everyone. "Jharkhand had bad governance. The youth and women suffered very badly under Hemant Soren government. The Bangladeshi infiltrators are creating havoc in the state. The people have voted against bad governance," he added. Meanwhile, early trends in Maharashtra's 2024 Assembly Elections show the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance in the lead as of 10 am on Saturday. The counting for the 2024 Jharkhand and Maharashtra Assembly Elections began at 8 AM, along with bypoll results from 15 states. The counting, which will decide the fate of the 288 seats in Maharashtra and 81 in Jharkhand, is expected to reveal trends in the first few hours. In Maharashtra, the polling for the Legislative Assembly was held on Wednesday, with a turnout of over 66 percent, surpassing the 61 percent recorded in the 2019 elections. The Mahayuti alliance, which includes the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, is in a tough contest with the MVA alliance consisting of Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP). In Jharkhand, the contest is between the JMM-led alliance, comprising Congress, RJD, and CPI(ML), and the BJP-led NDA alliance, which includes AJSU, JD(U), and LJP. Exit polls predict the NDA could win between 42-47 seats, while the JMM-led alliance is expected to secure 25-30 seats. Voter turnout in Jharkhand was reported at over 68.45 percent on election day, surpassing the 2019 elections turnout of 65 percent. In the 2019 elections, the JMM won 30 seats, BJP 25, and Congress 16 seats. The results for all 81 constituencies in Jharkhand, along with the Maharashtra and bypoll results, will be declared today. The bypolls were held in 48 assembly seats and two Lok Sabha seats across 15 states, with notable contests in Uttar Pradesh and Wayanad, Kerala, where Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra made her electoral debut. (ANI)
Nov. 22Next week drivers will be hitting the roads for one of the busiest travel periods of the year, and patrol officers will be watching.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol and partnering law enforcement agencies will be boosting enforcement as Thanksgiving holiday travel kicks off.

"We're out there now and we're expecting to see an influx of traffic," said Sgt. Shane Hux with the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

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The official counting period begins at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 27, the day before Thanksgiving, and ends at midnight on Dec. 1. During the same counting period in 2023, nine people were killed and 4,823 were injured in 1,342 traffic crashes on Missouri roadways.

As traveling begins, drivers are being reminded to take extra caution particularly on the interstates which will see the most traffic.

"Interstates are going to be the number one spot we see crashes occur, especially here in Northwest Missouri," Hux said. "Our two interstates that run north and south, I-29 and I-35, are going to be where the majority of the traffic is as well as on two-lane highways and U.S. highways."

Some people may be traveling to unfamiliar areas for the holiday and officers are warning them to be aware of their surroundings to prevent human trafficking, which is a growing concern across the country.

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"Be vigilant of where you are at all times," Hux said. "If you're in a parking lot at night, make sure it's well-lit and park in the view of cameras if possible. Even if you feel unsafe walking out from a business to your car alone, trust your instincts and ask a store associate to escort you."

A few other tips to keep in mind are ensuring your vehicle is in good condition, obeying all traffic laws and being sure everyone in your vehicle is wearing a seat belt or secured in the appropriate child safety seat for their size and age, Hux added.

"The goal is for everybody to get to their destination safely, that's what we want and for everybody to have a happy Thanksgiving," he said.

Jenna Wilson can be reached at jenna.wilson@newspressnow.com.
Rosary High School in Aurora, in a letter to parents, said its governing body will begin to explore different opportunities and options for the schools future after Marmion Academy announced it will be switching to a co-ed model, but said it wanted to be clear that Rosary is not closing.

Marmion Academy in Aurora announced on Tuesday that it will start accepting female students as early as the 2026-27 school year after more than 90 years as single-sex, all-boys school.

The Rosary Governing Boards exploration of options for the future of the school will be guided by the reality that we face a potentially fundamental shift in Catholic high school education in the Fox Valley, along with the schools mission and the charism of our founding Dominican Sisters, the letter to parents said.

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However, officials stressed that Rosary will not be closing, is not facing financial hardship and has no immediate plans to merge with any other institution.

The school continues to be supported by the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, whose foresight and planning has provided a strong financial foundation and ongoing sponsorship, officials said in the letter to parents.

A separate statement from the Dominican Sisters of Springfield said the school has the sisters full support as it plans for a vibrant future for young women.

The Dominican Sisters of Springfield also support the Rosary Governing Board in its work to maintain and deepen the schools contribution to generations of young women to come, according to the statement.

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Part of that work will be in defining the schools ways of partnering so that students have all of the opportunities in co-curricular and extracurricular activities they have always known and deserved, the statement said.

Going forward, Rosarys governing body will be focused on the nature of the ongoing collaboration between the school and Marmion, the schools letter to parents said.

Our history is one of common faith, shared experiences, and overlapping families and supporters, officials said in the letter. In many cases, what has been good for Rosary has been for Marmion, and it is our intention to engage in efforts that honor decades of collaboration between schools.

When Rosary Governing Board Chair Steve Hirner was asked if Marmions announcement was expected to have a negative impact on the school and what types of different opportunities and options were going to be explored for the schools future, he declined to comment beyond what was in the schools letter to parents and the statement from the Dominican Sisters of Springfield.

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Rosary officials said in the letter that the school was notified about Marmions decision to go co-ed on Nov. 16, the same day that the Marmion Abbey chapter of monks voted to approve the planning and implementation of the co-ed hybrid model.

Marmion Academys Abbot Joel Rippinger also told Rosary and the Dominican Sisters of Springfield that the Marmion board is willing to continue its collaboration with Rosary High School, according to the letter.

According to Marmion spokesperson Michael McGrath, Rosary was kept informed about Marmions plans to go co-ed, and that communication with the school and the sisters has been ongoing for over two years.

We hope and expect our special relationship with Rosary to continue. Rosary College Prep is a gift from God to our Catholic community and we value our relationship with them immeasurably, McGrath said in an email on Friday. As mentioned in a recent letter from Prioress Sister Mary Paul, Rosary College Prep will maintain their single sex identity and we will continue to support their mission.

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Marmion started actively considering a co-ed model a couple of years ago, according to McGrath.

We talked to other Catholic schools who have gone through similar changes and had some good conversations and lots of prayer, he said.

Under early outlines of the new model, freshmen and sophomores at Marmion Academy would attend single gender classrooms, while juniors and seniors would attend co-ed classrooms, according to the recent announcement. Other details are expected to be released over the next several months.

Rippinger said in that announcement that the move to a co-ed model will prepare students for a diverse and interconnected world, will meet the needs of the local Catholic community and will set the school up for long-term growth.

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This does not mean that the school is struggling financially, according to McGrath. He said the school is on very strong financial footing.

However, it is no secret that enrollment has been a concern since the pandemic and most private schools are facing some worrying trendlines, he said. This change to a co-ed model will certainly provide opportunities for growth.

Marmion Academys announcement on social media, which featured a video of Rippinger discussing the change, drew comments from both critics and supporters of the plan.

The Beacon-News reached out through Facebook to many who commented both against and in support of the change but did not receive any immediate responses.

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While Rippinger pointed out in the video that the school has previously made a number of significant changes to its structure, including closing its residential program and transitioning from a military academy, some who commented on the Facebook post said the school was changing what made Marmion Academy unique and going against the schools tradition.

Others who commented on the Facebook post said they were worried about Rosary High School because of the change.

A petition on Change.org was even briefly spread around asking Marmion Academys leadership to keep the school male-only.

Jacob Hutchison, the Marmion Academy graduate who started the petition, told The Beacon-News that, although Marmion has a lot of other great aspects, like the staff and the education, the brotherhood he felt at the school was a big piece of his experience, and he thinks the schools change to a co-ed model will impact that brotherhood.

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The petition received over 1,000 signatures in a single day before it was closed, and that took Hutchison by surprise.

I think it definitely speaks to the closeness of the community that it was able to spread that quickly, he said. I wasnt alone in my feelings.

Although Hutchison doesnt agree with what Marmion Academy is doing, he will always support the school, he said.

My intent was not to minimize Marmion but to hopefully continue that great experience for future generations, Hutchison said.

While most of the Facebook comments on the announcement post appeared to be against the decision, some in the comments were supporting it, saying either that they trust that the schools leadership knows what it is doing or that the school needs to keep up with the changing times.

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Marmion Academy graduate and Kane County Treasurer Chris Lauzen told The Beacon-News on Friday that he also trusts Rippingers judgment.

Lauzen gave two reasons: First, Rippinger has dedicated his life to serving God through Marmions and the Benedictines mission, and second because he really is one of the smartest, most self-disciplined human beings Ive ever met, he said.

I know that he knows all the facts, that hes studied them, and so whatever conclusion he comes to, I trust his judgment, Lauzen said.

Marmion Academy itself is receiving mostly positive feedback about the future move to a co-ed model, according to McGrath.

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However, he said the school understands that change is difficult but that it is doing everything it can to make sure concerns are addressed and the change is managed efficiently.

The bottom line is that the fundamental character of Marmion is not changing, McGrath said. Our values, rooted in the Catholic Benedictine tradition, of academic achievement, spiritual formation, and character development for our students do not change at all.

rsmith@chicagotribune.com
Editors note: This story is corrected to show when the credit claims will begin.

(WKBN)  The Ohio Transportation Safety Office (OTSO) is encouraging drivers to stay safe this holiday season by offering $20 rideshare credits.

OTSO recently received a grant from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) in partnership with Lyft to offer $20 rideshare credits across the state.

Beginning Monday, drivers can claim a rideshare credit as an alternative to driving impaired by alcohol or drugs.

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The code for the rideshare credit will be posted on otso.ohio.gov/lyft on Monday. A limited number of rideshare credits are available each day.

To claim a credit, Ohioans should open the Lyft app and choose Payment from the menu at the top left corner.

Last year during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, 13 people were killed in 12 fatal crashes on Ohios roadways, according to OTSO. Almost half of those crashes involved a driver impaired by alcohol or drugs.

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An Ohio man is accused of leading police on a chase after a hit-and-run crash in Lawrence County on Thursday.

The Pulaski Township Police Department says a U-Haul truck rear-ended another vehicle on Marr Road around 6:40 p.m. on Thursday and left the scene. The victim followed the truck onto Cheriwood Road, then into a feed store parking lot.

When police arrived, the U-Haul driver tried leaving, nearly striking an officer and a patrol car and hitting the feed store, causing significant damage to the building. Instead of listening to officer commands to shut the truck off and get out of the vehicle, police say the driver sped off, and a chase ensued.

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The pursuit ended in Campbell, OH, when the U-Haul crashed, hitting several cars and a utility pole.

Pulaski police identify the driver as Scott Lee Pelton Jr. of Leavittsburg, OH. Hes facing several charges in Pennsylvania, including fleeing from an officer, accidents involving attended vehicles, driving under the influence and recklessly endangering another person. Hes also facing a felonious assault charge in Ohio.

Pelton Jr. will be extradited to Pennsylvania after his charges in Ohio are complete.

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Students living in one residence hall at Ohio State University will be moved to another residence at the start of the spring semester due to potential air quality issues.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Students living in Lawrence Tower were informed of the change this week. Our news partners at WBNS in Columbus reported that the hall has been at the center of a mold controversy over the last few weeks.

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A water leak was first reported in Lawrence Tower on Oct. 28 and affected 19 rooms. The problem led to mold growth and prompted the university to relocate 41 students so far. As WBNS reported, the problem appears to have become more widespread and students on other floors have reported symptoms and visible mold.

Students speculate that poor air circulation, which could be due to windows that dont open, might be contributing to the problem.

Some parents of students living in the residence hall went as far as to hire a mold inspector to investigate the building. His assessment and lab results confirmed the presence of black mold in the building.

That building has seen decades of water leaks, water abuse, sometimes behind the walls. The mold was not properly addressed, Zach Duffey, the mold inspector, said.

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On Friday, the university announced they will moving students to alternative accommodations by the beginning of the spring semester.

Each student will have the option to move to a new on-campus or master-leased near-campus location, or to elect to cancel their housing contract to move home, live with a relative or identify an alternative housing option, an Ohio State spokesperson said in a statement to WBNS. We will promptly work directly with any residents of rooms that indicate the need for more immediate relocation or further analysis. We are taking care to analyze each room individually and consult with our third-party consultant and Columbus Public Health, and students who do not wish to relocate until the end of the semester may remain in their current rooms when possible.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  An Ohio State University residence hall where mold and mushrooms were found will not house students next semester, impacting close to 500 students.

It was announced in an email to students from the university Thursday night. The email once again did not acknowledge claims of mold or mushrooms. Last week, the university said a water leak was to blame.

Looking ahead to spring semester, we anticipate ongoing renovations will be required, the email from OSU read. Understanding that this may require additional temporary relocation of residents and potential continued disruption to those living in Lawrence Tower, we will not be utilizing the building for housing in spring semester.

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The email went on to list on-campus and off-campus housing options for students. Students can also elect to cancel their housing contract altogether or remain there for the semester as long as its safe, as determined by Columbus Public Health and a third-party company hired by the university.

The residence hall was busy Friday with parents and students moving their belongings out. Students like Andon Graham and Lindsay Jermain said they have mixed emotions. Many said theyre relieved that the university is taking action and getting them out of the building.

Thats the best thing they can do, Jermain said. They shouldve shut it down a long time ago honestly.

Though students said theyre still upset they had to deal with the mess in the first place, especially around the holidays and exam week.

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We made some friends up here on the floor and now maybe being split up from your roommate, the possibility of that, kind of sucks, Graham said.

Both students are opting to move out. Jermain said shes been sick with what shes calling the mold cold since she first moved in.

We had it on the ceiling of our bathroom and my dad had to come and spray bleach to get rid of it, Jermain said. And then you could see it coming out of our wallpaper. And we had someone come test and pull wallpaper back and there was a lot there.

Her mother, Shannon Jermain, took the day off work Friday to help move her into an off-campus apartment. Jermain said theyve taken a financial hit. Theyve had to replace quite a bit because mold spores are attracted to anything textile-related.

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Think about any clothes that you have, anything thats made of wood or cardboard, Jermain said. All of the mold spores dont go away so all of her pillows had to be thrown away, her mattress topper had to be thrown away.

However, Jermain said shes relieved after last nights update from the university.

I feel like they are making it right now and they can fix this, and they can move on and we can all get past this nightmare that weve been going through for the past week and a half, Jermain said.

According to the university, the decision will minimize further disruptions to residents student experience, while also facilitating ongoing renovations. The university is also offering all Lawrence Tower residents a credit to their account.

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An attorney will be spending the weekend in the Oklahoma County jail over his behavior in court and statements that a judge considered threatening.

Kelly Lynn, 45, of Norman, was found guilty Thursday of direct contempt of court for "aggressive, disorderly, obstructive and willfully disruptive" conduct at the Oklahoma County courthouse. He was originally ordered to spend five days in jail.

Such findings against an attorney are rare.

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Lynn asked Friday to get out on time served. "It hasn't been a very fun night," he said. District Judge Sheila Stinson instead only cut one day off his sentence. She ordered him released at noon Monday.

The incident has caused alarm because Lynn had a pistol in his pocket at the time. He is allowed by state law to carry a gun into the courthouse because he is a municipal judge in Wewoka.

Stinson said he will be required to have a sheriff's deputy accompany him if he comes into the Oklahoma County courthouse armed again.

Lynn was on the Norman City Council, but lost a reelection bid in 2023. He also ran unsuccessfully this year for the state Senate. He posts on X, formerly Twitter, as @LoudmouthKelly.

'Disruptive, aggressive and intimidating comments'

The incident came in a child custody case that was before Special Judge James Siderias.

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Lynn represents the father.

Siderias cited him Thursday for direct contempt after warning him about his comments to an assistant public defender, who was representing the interests of the children. Lynn was placed in handcuffs and led from the courtroom by sheriff's deputies.

The district judge, Stinson, later Thursday found him guilty of direct contempt after hearing testimony from the special judge and four attorneys who had been in the courtroom at the time. Stinson chose his punishment, saying Friday she had considered sentencing him to 10 days in jail.

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In a contempt order, Stinson wrote that Lynn "made disruptive, aggressive and intimidating comments" while the special judge was addressing him about his exchange with the assistant public defender.

"He made statements perceived by Judge Siderias and other witnesses as threatening," the district judge noted in her order.

Lynn appeared in court again Friday in orange jail clothes and chains for a review of his sentence. He was guarded in court by three sheriff's deputies.

During the review, he said he understood his behavior had been out of line, unacceptable and wrong. He promised to be more professional in the future. However, he never apologized or said he was sorry.

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He gave two thumbs-up to reporters and grinned as he was led from the courtroom.

He had asked to be released on Friday so he could go to Arkansas for a family trip that includes celebrating a daughter's birthday. He said it was a trip that had been planned all year.

Lynn has been an attorney in Oklahoma for 10 years.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Jailed Oklahoma attorney admits courtroom behavior was out of line
Scientists discovered the most consequential Biblically-related artifact since the Dead Sea Scrolls. They found an inscription that reads Jesus is God, which has left early-church historians in awe.

The Megiddo mosaic, at 1,800 years old, has enraptured experts because it is the earliest evidence ever found that the early Christians believed that Jesus Christ was God.

Currently, on exhibition at the Museum of the Bible in Washington D.C., the executives cannot stop speaking about its unparalleled significance as an archeological discovery that opens up new understandings of the early church, as quoted in the Daily Mail.

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Not since the Dead Sea Scrolls, Bobby Duke, the director of the museum explained, "Truly, the mosaic presents a wealth of new data for church historians."

The Megiddo mosaic boasts many "firsts"

For two thousand years, the 581 sq ft Megiddo mosaic lay hidden beneath the floor of a prison. In 2005, archaeologists began excavations nearby due to the prison's expansion and relocation plans in the Jezreel Valley, a mythic location where Armageddon is expected to unfold, according to GB News.

An inmate made "an extremely dramatic discovery" in what turned out to be also the world's first prayer hall, the Jewish News Syndicate reported.

Built in 230 AD, the sheer age of the hall along with the name Gaianus suggests that the relationship between the early Christian church and pagan Romans, as the mosaic predates the monotheistic shift of the empire, was less contentious than historians had previously believed. A Roman officer commissioned this stunning mosaic and the world's first house of prayer during the Roman occupation of Judea, as per The NY Post.

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'Gaianus, a Roman officer, has made the mosaic.'

All Israel News reports that a Roman camp stood adjacent to the prayer hall located in an ancient Jewish village. So the structure keeps on unfolding like a story about Christianity before it became official.

The presence of four mysterious women's names is a rare feature. The name Akeptous is inscribed in the description that, most likely, honored a Eucharist table. The inclusion of the artist's name "Brutius" is another unusual detail along with the first representations of fish, which represent Jesus.

This is the only one in Israel," Alegre Savariego, curator of the Rockefeller Collection and mosaics at the Israel Antiquities Authority told JNS. We found the name of Jesus before Christianity was part of the Roman empire, she said.

Megiddo mosaic on exhibition at the Museum of the Bible

The CEO of the Museum of the Bible, Carlos Campo concluded to JNS that he learns more about the "power of the object and what it's trying to say to me about ancient history, about the history of Christianity, about the place in Israel and so much more."

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This object really is a way for us to come togethera way for us to see that these tiny little tesserae, these tiny little chips, these beautiful pieces when placed togetherthey tell a remarkable story of unity." unity."
Nov. 23JAMESTOWN  One person was sentenced on felony charges recently in Southeast District Court in Jamestown.

Rhonda Mae McGillis, 54, New England, North Dakota, pleaded guilty to unauthorized use of personal identifying information, a Class A felony, dealing in stolen property, a Class B felony, and criminal conspiracy and theft of property, Class C felonies.

McGillis was accused of moving funds from one or more victims' accounts into the accounts of one or more inmates with previous convictions in 2017, 2018 and 2023; organizing the movement of one or more victims' funds from one or more financial accounts to one or more inmates' accounts and/or other places; conspiring with others to commit unauthorized use of personal identifying information; and organizing movement of one or more victims' funds having an aggregated value over $1,000 but less than $10,000 from one or more financial accounts to one or more inmates' accounts and/or other places from June 5, 2022, to July 22, 2022.

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Judge James Shockman sentenced McGillis to eight years in the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation with credit for 224 days to be served concurrently with a conviction from 2018. Shockman placed McGillis on two years supervised probation and ordered her to pay $11,682 in restitution.

A Class A felony is punishable by 20 years in prison and a $20,000 fine. A Class B felony is punishable by 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine. A Class C felony is punishable by five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

One person was sentenced on felony charges recently in Southeast District Court in Jamestown.
Kids Online Safety Act wont make anyone safer

It happens far too often these days, but Congress is once again considering a terribly flawed bill that would have major consequences for us here at home in the Sooner State. This bill, ironically named the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), claims to protect children on the internet but would fail to do so, all while threatening the personal freedoms that Oklahomans care so deeply about. As such, I feel compelled to speak out against KOSA on behalf of my friends, family and neighbors.

KOSAs goals are appreciated, and nobody is against making the internet safer for kids. However, its provisions raise serious concerns regarding freedom of speech, government control over the internet and parental rights. If passed, KOSA could not only pave the way for increased surveillance but also threaten our First Amendment rights by giving the government  likely influenced by liberal officials  the power to decide what is or isnt "appropriate" for children online. This opens the door to potential censorship of diverse viewpoints, including conservative perspectives, and undermines the role of parents in guiding their children's online activity.

The best way to protect children online is through strong parental involvement, not government intervention. Each family has its unique values and challenges, and one-size-fits-all solutions like this one simply dont work. The government should not be stepping into the role of parents, especially when it comes to making informed decisions about their children's online growth and education. KOSA takes away this essential right and hands that power over to unelected bureaucrats in Washington.

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Congressman Brecheen has always been a strong defender of individual liberties, and I know he cares deeply about protecting the rights of families in Oklahoma. Thats why Im calling on him and his colleagues in the House to oppose KOSA and champion policies that respect the autonomy of parents, our freedom of speech, and the values that make our country so great.

 Benjamin Boyer, McAlester

Am I out of touch with Oklahoma?

Let's see  petty, greedy, narcissistic, serial liar, corrupt, megalomanic, demagogue, bully, self-serving, (among other descriptions) without a shred conscience or decency. He (Donald Trump) makes fun of veterans, i.e John McCain, who should be enshrined as a national hero, Gold Star families, people with disabilities, and yet, Christians, veterans and people with disabled people in their families support him. He says there are good Nazis. My father, if he were alive, would disagree, because he left a wife and five children in El Reno to spend a couple of years in Europe to ensure that never happened again. My grandfather was a German immigrant.

When he left office, he had mishandled the COVID crisis and the economy was in a shambles. He calls Jan. 6 a peaceful tour of the Capitol. He had the lowest approval rating of most any president in my lifetime, and I'm 82. It's amazing how history can be re-written simply by telling a lie long enough and loud enough that people actually believe it, and apparently a short memory is what politicians count on. I served four years in the U.S. Navy and I have never felt so out of touch with my country in my entire life!

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 Richard Koebrick, Oklahoma City

State education system is failing our children

As Oklahomans, our state educational system is in crisis and failing our children. We must advocate for better quality teaching staff and integrated special services to change this, as student developmental delays and mental health crises are at an all-time high across the state. Oklahoma ranks 49th in education and 46th in overall child wellbeing  statistics that reflect poorly on our state schools superintendent who plans to spend at least $3 million of funding on Bibles instead of boosting more teacher salaries or expanding special services programs to meet the mental health needs of students.

According to the Oklahoma State School Boards Association (2024), Oklahoma approved a record-breaking number of 5,014 emergency teaching certificates just in the 2023-2024 school year, an all-time high compared to the 189 approved just a decade before-hand. To make matters worse, Oklahoma ranks 5th highest in the U.S. for Adverse Childhood Experiences, meaning our children experience more traumatic events than almost any other children in the nation (OSDE, 2022). The American School Counselor Association recommends that schools have at least 250 to 1 ratio for counselors to students; as of the 2022-2023 school year the average student to counselor ratio was 363 to 1 in Oklahoma (ACSA, 2023).

As a community mental health worker who works in early education, these statistics not only devastate me but terrify me. I am constantly helping children and families navigate the barriers they face in getting access to quality education and special services every day. These disadvantages have defined Oklahomas education system for far too long, making us become the laughingstock of the nation and even worse, detrimentally crippling our childrens ability to learn and thrive.

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These statistics must be changed for the better and I am desperately calling for our state lawmakers and the Legislature to investigate Ryan Walters and the Oklahoma State Department of Educations spending. I urge our political leaders to stop focusing on religiously indoctrinating our children and to start focusing on meeting their educational, developmental and mental health needs. I encourage all Oklahomans to advocate for the same, as our entire states future depends on the next generation of childrens success.

 Sara Vannoy, Norman

RINOs leading U.S. House and Senate

When we admit that a RINO is a de facto Democrat, were forced to admit that the Democrats control both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate.

As evidenced by their voting for RINOs as House speaker and Senate president pro tempore. So, the House and Senate will fight Trump in virtually everything he tries to do. Also, Trump only won 51% of the popular vote, which is as far from a landslide as you can get. ...

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Trump is going to have to exert some real leadership to keep the midterm elections from being a disaster. Based on his past performance, I think he is up to the task.

 Michael Jones, Oklahoma City

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Online safety, Trump's victory and crisis in schools | Letters
The counting for assembly elections in Maharashtra is underway, and early trends show NCP candidate Sana Malik leading in the Anushakti Nagar constituency. Sana Malik was leading NCP-SCP's Fahad Ahmad with over 2500 votes as of 10:30 am, according to data from the Election Commission of India. Anushakti Nagar is a part of the Mumbai South-Central Lok Sabha constituency. Sana Malik, the daughter of incumbent legislator Nawab Malik, represented the Mahayuti alliance from the Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance crossed the halfway mark at 10 am leading in 172 seats so far, while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance is trailing with 47 seats as per trends by the Elections Commission of India. According to initial trends, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena is leading in 53 seats, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in 33, and the BJP has the most, leading in 100 seats, while the Rashtriya Yuva Swabhiman Party (RYSWP), party of the maha Yuti alliance has one seat. The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), the Nationalist Congress Party - Sharadchandra Pawar (NCP-SP) is leading in 12 seats, Congress in 17 seats, and the UBT Sena in 18 seats. Samajwadi Party, which is part of the Aghadi alliance notched up 2 seats. Other parties, including Jan Surajya Shakti (JSS), are leading in three seats. The Peasants And Workers Party of India (PWPI) is leading in two seats, and Swatantra Bharat Paksha (SBP) are each leading in one seat. These smaller parties are likely to support the MVA alliance. Counting for the 2024 Jharkhand and Maharashtra Assembly Elections began at 8 am today along with bypoll results from 15 states. The counting, which will decide the fate of the 288 seats in Maharashtra and 81 in Jharkhand, is expected to reveal trends in the first few hours. In Maharashtra, the polling for the Legislative Assembly was held on Wednesday, with a turnout of over 66 percent, surpassing the 61 percent recorded in the 2019 elections. The Mahayuti alliance, which includes the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, is in a tough contest with the MVA alliance consisting of Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP). Both alliances view the increased voter turnout as a sign of support for their respective campaigns.State Chief Electoral Officer S Chockalingam praised efforts to increase voter participation, especially in Mumbai. The bypolls were held in 48 assembly seats and two Lok Sabha seats across 15 states, with notable contests in Uttar Pradesh and Wayanad, Kerala, where Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra made her electoral debut. (ANI)
As a transportation engineer working closely with local governments to achieve mobility and environmental goals, I strongly encourage school districts to embrace the transformative potential of electric school buses. Transitioning to these innovative vehicles offers a unique opportunity to improve air quality, reduce noise pollution, and foster healthier environments for childrenall while setting an inspiring example for building more sustainable communities.

Traditional diesel school buses, long regarded as a staple of student transportation, emit high levels of harmful pollutants. These emissions contribute to respiratory illnesses such as asthma, disproportionately affecting children, whose developing lungs are especially vulnerable to air pollution. Electric school buses produce zero tailpipe emissions, directly addressing this health risk. Cleaner air leads to healthier students, which not only enhances their overall well-being but supports better focus and academic performance in classrooms.

RICHMOND HEIGHTS, FLORIDA - MARCH 11: An electric bus is parked as U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael S. Regan visits during an event to highlight funding for electric school buses at the Coral Reef High School on March 11, 2024 in Richmond Heights, Florida. Miami-Dade County Public Schools received nearly $20 million to purchase 50 electric school buses as part of President Joe Biden's Investing in America Agenda. The program is helping schools nationwide purchase over 2,700 clean school buses in 280 school districts serving over 7 million students across 37 states. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Noise pollution is another overlooked issue that electric buses can help mitigate. Diesel buses are loud, causing stress and distraction for both students and drivers. By contrast, electric school buses operate quietly, creating a more serene and focused environment during commutes. Reduced noise levels also improve safety, enabling drivers to hear and react more effectively to road hazards. Moreover, this quieter operation promotes a sense of calm in the neighborhoods they serve, contributing to improved cognitive development and reduced stress levels for children.

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Although the upfront cost of electric school buses might seem significant, the long-term economic benefits are undeniable. These vehicles offer lower fuel and maintenance costs compared to diesel alternatives, leading to substantial savings over their lifespan. Additionally, school districts can leverage state and federal funding programs, including grants and subsidies, to offset initial expenses. Some companies provide tailored solutions to help districts navigate the transition seamlessly, making the adoption of zero-emission buses more accessible and affordable.

More from Uyen Dang: How West Palm is implementing its Vision Zero road safety plan - and is it working?

Across Florida, many counties are taking bold steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Transitioning to electric school buses plays a pivotal role in these efforts. For example, Broward County has set ambitious environmental targets, including achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Local initiatives such as the Broward Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure (EVCI) project and the school districts shift toward electric buses illustrate the power of collaboration between government and education systems. These programs not only accelerate progress toward sustainability but inspire other regions to pursue similar innovative solutions.

More on sustainability: West Palm advances plan to make Broadway less broad

Uyen Dang

Adopting electric school buses goes beyond transportation  its a statement of a school districts commitment to the health, safety and future of its students and community. These buses are more than just vehicles. They represent a movement toward sustainability, innovation, and responsibility for future generations. The transition to electric school buses aligns with broader goals of environmental stewardship and public health. By prioritizing this shift, school districts can create lasting benefits for children, families, and communities, paving the way for a greener, healthier and more sustainable future.

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Uyen Dang, former city traffic engineer for West Palm Beach, is the founder and principal at DDEC, a traffic and transportation engineering firm that helps local governments achieve their transportation goals.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Electric school buses are healthier for kids and communities
On Jan. 6, 2021, the nation was rocked by the disruption of the certification of Joe Biden as our next president. With Donald Trump set to return to the White House in 2025, it is astonishing how much of that day remains a matter of intense debate.

Those divisions are likely only to deepen after a slew of recent reports that have challenged the selective release of information from the House January 6 Committee.

January 6 remains as much a political litmus test as it is a historical event. Whether you refer to that day as a riot or an insurrection puts you on one side or the other of a giant political chasm. I viewed the attack on that day as a desecration of our constitutional process, but I did not view it as an insurrection. I still dont.

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It was a protest that became a riot when a woefully insufficient security plan collapsed. And that is a view shared by most Americans. One year after the riot, a CBS poll showed that 76 percent viewed it as a protest gone too far.

A Harvard study also found that those arrested on that day were motivated by loyalty to Trump rather than support for an insurrection.

A recent poll found that almost half of the public (43 percent) felt that too much is being made of the riot and that it is time to move on. Of course, that still leaves a little over half who view the day as an attack on democracy.

The continued distrust of the official accounts of Jan. 6 reflects a failure of the House Democrats, and specifically former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), to guarantee a credible and comprehensive investigation.

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The House Select Committee to investigate January 6 was comprised of Democrat-selected members who offered only one possible view: that January 6 was an attempt to overthrow our democracy by Trump and his supporters. The committee hired a former ABC News producer to create a slick, made-for-television production that barred opposing views and countervailing evidence. The members, including Republican Vice Chair Liz Cheney, played edited videotapes of Trumps speech that removed the portion where Trump called on his supporters to protest peacefully.

The committee fostered false accounts, including the claim that there was a violent episode with Trump trying to wrestle control of the presidential limousine. The Committee knew that the key Secret Service driver directly contradicted that account offered by former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson.

While the Democrats insisted that Trumps speech constituted criminal incitement, he was never charged with that crime  not even by the motivated prosecutors who pledged to pursue such charges. The reason is that Trumps speech was entirely protected under the First Amendment. Such a charge of criminal incitement would have quickly collapsed in court.

Nevertheless, the Washington Post, NPR, other media and the committee members called Jan. 6 an insurrection engineered by Trump. Figures such as Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) insisted the committee had evidence that Trump organized a coup on Jan. 6, 2021. That evidence never materialized.

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The lack of adequate security measures that day has long puzzled many of us. After all, there had been a violent riot at the White House before January 6, in which more officers were injured and Trump had to be moved to a secure location. The National Guard had to be called out to protect the White House, but those same measures (including a fence) were not ordered at the Capitol.

Two of the recent reports offered new details related to those questions.

One report confirmed that Trump did, in fact, offer the deployment of the National Guard in anticipation of the protest. The Jan. 6 Committee repeatedly dismissed this claim. After all, it would be a rather curious attempt at an insurrection if Trump was suggesting the use of thousands of troops to prevent any breach of Congress. The committee specifically found no evidence that the Trump administration called for 10,000 National Guard members to Washington, D.C., to protect the Capitol. The Washington Post even supposedly debunked Trumps comments with an award of Four Pinocchios.

Yet evidence now shows that Trump personally suggested the deployment of 10,000 National Guard troops to prevent violence. For example, a transcript includes the testimony of former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Anthony Ornato in January 2022 with Liz Cheney present. Ornato states that he clearly recalled Trumps offer of 10,000 troops.

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Videotapes have also emerged showing Pelosi privately admitting that she and Democratic leadership were responsible for the security failure on Jan. 6.

Another new report from Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.), who chairs the Committee on House Administrations Subcommittee on Oversight, shows that it was the Defense Department that delayed the eventual deployment of National Guard in the critical hours of the riot.

The evidence shows that, at 3:18 p.m., Army Ryan Secretary McCarthy tells sheltering Members of Congress that he is not blocking the deployment of the National Guard and, while referencing the D.C. National Guard, shares that We have the green light. We are moving.' However, the secretary of the Armys own timeline indicates that the DCNG did not physically leave the Armory until 5 pm.

That was the critical period for the riot. Around 2:10 p.m., people surged up the Capitol steps. Just an hour later, McCarthy said troops were on their way. At 4:17 p.m., Trump made his public statement asking rioters to stop  roughly an hour and a half later. Yet it was not until 5 pm that the troops actually left for the Capitol.

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The House is also under greater scrutiny this week for new information on the shooting of the only person to die on Jan. 6. While Democrats have referred to many deaths on that day, the only person who died in the riot itself was Ashli Babbitt, a protester shot by Capitol Police.

I have long disagreed with the findings of investigations by the Capitol Police and the Justice Department in clearing Captain Michael Byrd for this shooting. The media lionized Byrd and, in sharp contrast to other police shootings during that period, blamed the deceased. Again, an unjustified shooting of a protester would not fit the media narrative.

The concerns over the shooting were heightened by the Justice Departments bizarre review and report, which notably did not state that the shooting was justified. Instead, it declared that it could not prove a bad purpose to disregard the law and that evidence that an officer acted out of fear, mistake, panic, misperception, negligence, or even poor judgment cannot establish the high level of intent.

Babbitt, 35, was an Air Force veteran who was clearly committing criminal acts of trespass, property damage and other offenses at the time she was shot. However, Babbitt was unarmed when she tried to climb through a broken window.

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Byrd stated I could not fully see her hands or what was in the backpack or what the intentions are. In other words, Byrd admitted he did not see a weapon. He took Babbitts effort to crawl through the window as sufficient justification to kill her. It was not. And it is worth noting that Byrd could just as well have hit the officers standing just behind Babbitt.

The new report confirms that Byrd had prior disciplinary and training issues, including a failed shotgun qualification test, a failed FBI background check for a weapons purchase, a 33-day suspension for a lost weapon and referral to Maryland state prosecutors for firing his gun at a stolen car fleeing his neighborhood. In one incident, detailed in a letter from Loudermilk, Byrd was suspected of lying about the circumstances under which he shot at the fleeing car.

None of this means that Trump or even Babbitt are without fault in this matter. Trumps speech was clearly reckless and wrong, and Babbitt herself was involved in that riot. However, these reports only further highlight what we still do not know about that day.

Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro professor of public interest law at George Washington University and the author of The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Shan Wu is a former federal prosecutor who served as counsel to Attorney General Janet Reno.

Mark Twain is famously credited as saying the reports of my death are greatly exaggerated in response to a reporters query about being ill. While the accuracy of the quote is questioned, the spirit of it applies well to reporting and reaction about Judge Juan Merchans order vacating the November 26 sentencing date for President-Elect Trump.

Trump was scheduled to be sentenced for his 34 felony convictions in the prosecution brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg but Judge Merchan again delayed the sentencing. Merchan delayed the sentencing to allow Trumps legal team to make their arguments to dismiss based upon the Supreme Courts decision on Presidential immunity. The order, however, produced unjustified hyperbole.

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Trumps Hush Money Sentencing Postponed Indefinitely read one CNN headline. Steven Cheung, Trumps soon-to-be White House Communications Director exclaimed (does he ever not exclaim?) that Merchans order was a decisive win for President Trump and that the hoax Manhattan Case is now fully stayed and sentencing adjourned.

Surprisingly, its Cheungs description of the sentencing being adjourned that sounds more in the universe of accuracy then the CNN headline of postponed indefinitely. Thats because all that happened was that Merchan took the Nov. 26 sentencing date off the calendar.

It is true he didnt set a new date yet but just as not setting a wedding date does not mean the wedding is indefinitely postponed, the fact that Merchan has not set a sentencing date cannot be translated as an indefinite postponement.

In truth, Merchans order simply grants Trumps attorneys permission to file their motion to dismiss, and is quite definite about setting a tight briefing schedule for the defense motion (Dec. 2) and the prosecutions reply (Dec. 9), and forbids any further reply briefings.

Donald Trump appears in court for his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024 in New York City.

Merchan is right to allow a full briefing of the motion to dismiss issue. Even though the view of many legal commentators is that the Supreme Courts immunity ruling will not result in a dismissal of the guilty verdicts against Trump, it would be arguably reckless for Merchan just to plow ahead.

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By allowing a fuller briefing, the court also builds a better record for future appeals courts to rule upon. Ultimately, the issue is likely to go back to the U.S. Supreme Court, so Merchan may as well make his reasoning clear and well-founded upon a fulsome analysis by the lawyers. The more specificity in Merchans eventual rulingassuming he denies the motion to dismissthe more it limits the target size for an appellate court.

D.A. Braggs recognition of the possibility that one option is to delay the sentencing until after Trump is out of office is also part of building a full record. Braggs recognition of that possibility again creates a record that shows Merchan had all options before him.

The federal cases are now so dead that the only real issue that remains is whether Trump will succeed in firing all of Special Counsel Jack Smiths team Shan Wu

While many of us are tired of being repeatedly disappointed that Trump has yet to be sentenced, the fact remains that only Bragg and Judge Merchan have succeeded at having a prosecution against Trump tried to a verdict. For that they deserve some measure of deference to their judgement. By comparison, the federal cases are now so dead that the only real issue that remains is whether Trump will succeed in firing all of Special Counsel Jack Smiths team.

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In the Mar-a-Lago documents case, Judge Aileen Cannon has been the living embodiment of Trump mentor Roy Cohns famous quote: Dont tell me what the law is, tell me who the judge is, and fully rewarded Trumps faith in her.

In the D.C. election interference case, the best efforts of Judge Tanya Chutkin and the D.C. Circuit could not overcome the Supreme Courts slow roll of its decision process and the clock-eating process to determine the boundaries of Presidential immunity created by Chief Justice Roberts simulacrum of Constitutional analysis.

Special Counsel Jack Smith, June 9, 2023.

Whether the Attorney General is to be faulted for giving Special Counsel Jack Smith a late start can be debated until the Garlands defenders turn blue in the face but what cannot be debated is that Smith and DOJ ran out of time.

The Georgia case is tied up in knots that will not be undone until well into Trumps second term. Those knots are not just the issue of whether District Attorney Fani Willis will be disqualified from the case over her relationship with Nathan Wade.

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Even if the prosecution gets past that hurdle, the Trump Justice Department is likely to pursue some kind of Supremacy Clause argument that Trump cannot be prosecuted while still in office. If you dont believe that, just note that the Deputy Attorney General at D.O.J. will be one of Trumps trial attorneys, Todd Blanche, and his Principal assistant will be another Trump defense attorney, Emil Bove.

Regardless of its merit, that argument will take a slow enough road to the Supreme Court that it should take up a good portion of Trumps term before it is finally decided.

So the forever question of Will Donald Trump be held accountable? will in large part rest upon the actions and efforts of Judge Merchan and D.A. Alvin Bragg. But in a larger sense, Steven Cheung is rightits all a decisive victory for Trump because every case was delayed, and only one made it to trial before Trump was re-elected. It makes me think of Carries words to Big in the long-ago Season 3 of Sex and the City: Were so over, we need a new word for over.
The election is over, and our states representatives are turning their attention to the legislative projects they hope to pursue. One area garnering attention is election reform. The proposals currently circulating largely target mail-in voting and the pathways to the primary ballot. While our elections could always benefit from continuous improvement, these measures are misguided.

One proposal aims to require voters to request a mail-in ballot. Another would limit who is eligible to vote by mail, while the most dramatic seeks to end the practice of returning your ballot by mail altogether. Another proposed reform would create an appointed secretary of state position to oversee elections instead of the lieutenant governors office. Lastly, there is support among some lawmakers for legislation that would allow candidates to bypass party primaries if they win a significant share of delegates at the party convention. Many of these proposals would needlessly weaken our system of self-government at a time when Utah is a national example for conducting good elections, in large part due to prior reforms.

When H.B. 172 passed in 2012, Utah counties could opt in to an all-mail system where every registered voter received a ballot by mail that they could return via the postal system or in person. The entire state adopted this system by 2019, making Utah one of the pioneers of this method that has now spread throughout the country. This recent election provided more evidence that mail-based elections increase turnout while making voting easier.

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Preliminary results show that approximately 85% of Utah voters voted via a mail ballot. A recent Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll conducted by HarrisX suggests that 75% of Utahns, including 72% of Republicans, have some degree of confidence that the mail ballots are counted correctly. Actual evidence of fraud in Utah via the mail system is limited to a handful of cases. This comes amid rising voter turnout, which reached a record high of 90% of registered voters in 2020 and is likely to remain high.

As the Deseret News Editorial Board has stated, the proposed reforms to the mail-in voting system seek to solve a problem that doesnt exist. The actual effect would be to harm participation by making voting harder and less accessible with no discernible gain. Concerns about postmarks, signatures and even voter ID for mail voters can all be addressed while leaving the universal mail-in system intact, but many of the proposals currently under consideration miss the mark.

In particular, the proposal to create a secretary of state position to oversee the election, as well as the one to exempt candidates with a supermajority of convention delegates from the primary process, are worrying for both their motivation and effects.

Lawmakers in favor of the change to a secretary of state system cited allegations of conflicts of interest on the part of the lieutenant governor in the gubernatorial contest as motivation. But the complaints of those who lost an election should not be misconstrued as evidence of a real problem. Certainly, they shouldnt be the motivation for a major change to our electoral system that will expand the government at the taxpayers expense.

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Similarly, the move to allow candidates to bypass the primary seems motivated by the complaints of individuals who lost their primary race after winning at the Republican convention. But these individuals lost simply because they were not popular enough with the broader Republican electorate, which is how the system should work. This change would dramatically weaken participation by shutting out primary voters while shielding candidates from competition if they can win over a few thousand delegates.

Changes to increase the transparency of qualifying for the ballot are welcome. But other reforms should focus on making it easier for more candidates to get involved and more inclusive of the broad electorate. The proposed reforms accomplish the opposite.

It is always worthwhile to pursue better elections and strengthen participation. But Utahns and our legislators would be wise to remember that not all change is progress.
The war on terror isnt over. In fact, it is coming home.

In 2013, President Barack Obama suggested the time had come to end Americas forever wars in favor of targeted strikes on terrorists. A decade later, President Biden didnt just echo this sentiment; he stated that the U.S. was no longer at war anywhere in the world. Others speak of the war on terror as a historical effort (which might offer lessons for Israel to heed in Gaza), or simply state that terrorism remains remarkably quiet.

But these assessments fail to acknowledge that the war on terror is still very much alive  and that the greatest threats we face could soon come from within.

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Terrorisms center of gravity has almost always been thought of as far away, as terrorists like Yahya Sinwar, Osama bin Laden, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi fought and died on the other side of the world. But the most fertile ground for extremism and fanaticism is changing.

Israels war in Gaza is radicalizing a generation of young and intellectually competent Westerners. Acknowledging this, FBI Director Christopher Wray said in March 2024, Our most immediate concern has been that individuals or small groups will draw twisted inspiration from the events in the Middle East to carry out attacks here at home. Likewise, Avril Haines, Bidens director of national intelligence, recently said that the situation in Gaza will have a generational impact on terrorism.

But it isnt just intelligence officials who are sounding the alarm. Extremists here have been uncharacteristically vocal about their intentions as well. And unlike most of their predecessors, this new generation of extremists makes virtually no attempt to conceal their intentions or hatred for the West.

Historically, when the most barbaric terrorists or terrorist organizations have talked about killing us, theyve done it from across oceans. Even domestic terrorists like the Boston Bombers, the Pulse Nightclub shooter, or the Pensacola naval base attacker either kept their radical worldviews to themselves or shared them quietly within existing echo chambers. Now, however, extremists are telling us what they want and what they plan to do, using megaphones in front of our homes, schools and businesses.

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In Dearborn, Mich., for instance, a pro-Palestinian activist stated in April that Muslims should turn back to the real Islam  [the] Islam that taught the resistance to prepare whatever strength and whatever weaponry it can in order to confront and to deter the enemies of Allah. In Vancouver, British Columbia, protesters have stated, We are Hezbollah and We are Hamas. In Washington, D.C., outside the White House, protesters in June called for jihad and the killing of Zionists, and in Montreal last March, Palestinian protesters performed Nazi salutes and called for the death of Jews.

The fiery speeches we used to hear from Jalalabad or Karachi can now be heard live from our backyards.



While national security issues like the new Cold War with China, the War in Ukraine, and disrupting terrorist networks abroad must remain priorities, Western states should realize that our own countries are becoming terrorist sanctuaries.

Perhaps if we stop teaching children and young adults that Israel is a colonial entity, that Hamas and Hezbollah are fighting for liberation, that Zionism is racist, and that our own governments are complicit in genocide, we wouldnt be facing such homegrown terror.

If we continue to perpetuate these dangerous lies and continue treating extremism and terrorism as something exclusively beyond our borders, we will have to buckle up for whats to come.

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Dr. Casey Babb is a senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institutes Center for North American Prosperity and Security, a fellow with the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv, an associate fellow with the Royal United Services Institute in London, and an adviser with Secure Canada in Toronto.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Shortly after former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., announced that he was taking himself out of the running for attorney general in President-elect Donald Trumps second term, Republican strategist and Capitol Hill veteran Brendan Buck shared an image on X of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy pumping his fist. The image was old and had no caption, but anyone who had been following the news got the message: Gaetz, who had engineered McCarthys ouster as speaker, was finally getting his just deserts.

You remember the House mess, dont you? It may seem like a century ago, but it was only 2023. After 15 rounds of voting, House Republicans elected McCarthy as speaker, the job he had long sought. Why did it take so long? Because Gaetz and a few other hard-liners wanted Well, its not clear what they wanted, other than to disrupt the way things had been done. Things got so heated that Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., had to be physically restrained from attacking Gaetz.

The concessions McCarthy made to Gaetz included a measure that would make it much easier to remove the House speaker. Last fall, Gaetz moved to do just that after McCarthy made a deal with Democrats to avert a government shutdown. Hard-liners aligned with Gaetz gave him the boot, and the House plunged into chaos again.

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Maybe youre starting to grasp why Republicans did not see Gaetz dropping out as a crushing defeat. Back in their Capitol Hill offices, away from the press, they collectively exhaled  and may have hoped that embattled defense secretary prospective nominee Pete Hegseth would soon follow suit and take the express train out of Washington.

Gaetz was good at chaos. Once, he showed up in the House floor in a gas mask, presumably to protest pandemic regulations. Another time, in 2021, he told me he might nominate Trump as House speaker (you dont need to be a member of the chamber to hold that title, in case youre looking to apply for the most unpleasant job imaginable). And many times, he either downplayed or peddled conspiracy theories about the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, which he darkly (and falsely) insinuated had been a fedsurrection.

Perhaps legislators did not want the U.S. law enforcement apparatus run by a guy who saw the rampage through their workplace as a good idea. After all, there is only so much chaos Washington can take.

Say what you will about his politics, the Republicans new leader in the Senate, John Thune of South Dakota, is no MAGA diehard. Thune is an understudy of Kentuckys Mitch McConnell, the outgoing leader, who according to a new book once called Trump despicable.

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For all the talk of how MAGA the GOP has become, there are few genuine Trumpists in the Senate. Oh, they will go along with most of what Trump says, but only because they are afraid of his supporters and Fox News. Most of them would be as out of place at a Trump rally as a Boston Red Sox jersey in the bleachers at Yankee Stadium  and would probably get a similar reception. Their great hope was a Nikki Haley presidency, with its promise of a return to Bush-era conservative values.

For all their obeisance, mainstream Republicans want Trump 2.0 about as much as your average socialist. They just want lower taxes and fewer regulations  policies that will, to be sure, hurt the average American, but without terribly upsetting the status quo.

Instead, they have four more years of reporters asking if theyve read the tweets, or whatever were supposed to call Trumps social media posts these days. Four more years of fearing that the likes of Roy Moore, the disastrous Alabama candidate for the U.S. Senate, will be foisted on them by Trump and allies like Steve Bannon and Charlie Kirk, who seem to care a lot more about fighting battles than winning wars.

But whereas there is little they can do to affect how Trump runs the White House, U.S. senators do have the power to minimize what goes at the federal agency buildings that line Pennsylvania Avenue and surrounding streets. They can also remind Trump that they have advice and consent powers they dont intend to hand over just yet. It will be smart for Thune to hold the line in the weeks to come. He will emerge a stronger leader for it.

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I want to say that principled Republicans were turned off by allegations of Gaetz having sex with minors, which he has denied. A report from the House Ethics Committee, which has not yet been made public (and may never be), reportedly includes allegations of Gaetz paying two young women for sex and engaging in drug use. But those allegations are not new. I dont remember many Republicans saying much after Gaetz spoke on the third night of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee; do you?

Hegseth, the Fox News host Trump has nominated to head the Department of Defense, faces hardly less disturbing allegations of having sexually assaulted a woman in 2017. Although no charges were brought, Hegseth paid the woman a settlement  and the Trump team was reportedly blindsided by the allegations. The police report of the incident raises serious questions about Hegseths character. (An attorney for Hegseth says he was falsely accused.)

Yet after he did his obligatory tour on Capitol Hill, just as Gaetz did, Republican senators came quickly to his defense. His confirmation hearings may indeed be a circus, but then it will be over, and Hegseth will, if he is confirmed, retreat to the Pentagon, on the other side of the Potomac. He wont make trouble on Capitol Hill, they figure. He gets a pass.

It is good for the country that Gaetz will not serve as its attorney general, but I am not prepared to say that the GOP has fully found its backbone. Trump certainly knows they havent, given the two impeachments against him in which the overwhelming majority of Republicans stayed on his side. He lost on Gaetz, a bad pick to begin with, but will win on other fronts. The chaos is coming, whether Republicans like it or not.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Donald Trumps first term as president was plagued by unprecedented conflicts of interest. This time around, the possibilities for corruption are worse, and we risk billionaires and foreign governments around the world thinking of U.S. policy as up for sale to the highest bidder.

When Trump ran for president in 2016, he deployed the rhetoric of anti-corruption and voluntarily adhered to at least some ethics norms. He promised to drain the swamp, leaning in part on his status as a billionaire to depict himself as immune to interest groups. He declined his presidential salary. He did not fulfill promises to completely self-fund his campaign, but his own expenditures and his rhetoric were significant and a part of his political brand. He said he sold all his stock.

As we all know, this was far from adequate for walling off Trump from conflicts of interest. He refused to divest from the Trump Organization, conducted official government business at his own properties and allowed special interest groups to hold events at them. Ultimately Trump was able to enrich himself using his position, and his vast business holdings allowed foreign governments, or anyone with money, to try boosting his companys bottom line as a way to try to extract or sweeten policy decisions. As Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington put it in 2021, Trumps donation of his presidential salary was merely a fig leaf to cover up four years of brazen corruption.

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Its possible Trumps second term will make his first look like a paragon of ethical governance by comparison.

Notably, Trump hasnt been emphasizing, however questionably, independence or ethics. He apparently doesnt feel an obligation to even pay lip service to the principle of insulation from special interests. And that might be a harbinger of things to come.

As The Washington Post reports in an excellent overview, this time there will be many more ways for Trump to enrich himself using the White House. Trumps financial situation has changed since the end of his first term. The Trump Organization has a variety of large, ongoing international deals, including properties in Saudi Arabia and Oman, which could influence his policy outlook in the Middle East. He owns billions of dollars worth of shares in his social media company Truth Social, and he has said he will not be selling them. He has a cryptocurrency business.

Truth Social, in particular, creates a new setup for generating possible conflicts of interest for Trump. The ability to influence Trumps net worth with relative impunity goes up when theres a publicly traded stock associated with him, Jeff Hauser, executive director of the Revolving Door Project, a public interest watchdog, told me. Think about it this way: Its a lot easier for somebody to buy and sell shares (or hire someone else to) of a publicly traded company and say its purely about money  and not political influence  than it is when dropping a ton of cash on events at Trump properties. In other words, people can help enrich (or hurt) Trumps wealth with a more robust kind of plausible deniability. And its logistically easier as well.

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And as Trump contemplates hiring the first-ever crypto czar for the White House, there is no way to rule out that Trumps decision-making on regulating the industry wont be influenced by his own financial interest in the industry.

Trump is also on stronger legal footing than during his first term. Not only does long-standing legal doctrine make it difficult to block Trump from enriching himself using the presidency, but the Supreme Courts presidential immunity ruling makes it even harder. If Trump were to craft policies in response to bribes or implied bribes from donors or foreign governments, he will know that the Supreme Court just said that if a president is exercising the powers of the presidency, he or she cannot be held criminally responsible. Hauser says that Trump likely views the ruling as a powerful get-out-of-jail-free card.

On top of all this, its hard to imagine Trump not feeling emboldened by his serial successes as a political escape artist. He has returned to the White House after two impeachments, an attempt to overthrow the 2020 election results with a violent mob, 34 felony convictions, a verdict finding him liable for sexual abuse and many other transgressions of civic norms and human decency. At this point, with the wind at his back and the courts on his side, Trump is set to take what he wants and do so with impunity.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
ORONOGO, Mo.  Another southwest Missouri town is considering asking voters for a tax on online sales.

Oronogo city leaders have been debating putting a two-percent use tax on the ballot next year.

It would mirror the local sales tax, potentially collecting hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Councilmembers say they would like to put that money toward the police department, making it more competitive with other law enforcement agencies in the area.

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They are expected to make a decision about the ballot question next week.

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We are now learning more about what happened right before Osceola County deputies say a mother held her 14-year-old daughter underwater - killing her.

New court filings reveal it all started with an argument with Kelsey Glovers roommate after Glover refused to give insulin to her daughter, Giselle.

The mothers roommate told investigators Glover took her daughter off insulin medication.

Read: Osceola mom accused of drowning daughter trained to be child protection investigator

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The roommate says that Giselle Glover was ill, vomiting, not eating and feeling weak. She said she had a hard time drinking water.

The roommate told deputies when she confronted Kelsey Glover about the need for medical care, the mother refused.

Thats when the roommate says Kelsey Glover grabbed the girls hair and held her underwater in the bathtub.

Read: New details released after Osceola County mom accused of killing her 14-year-old daughter

The roommate says she tried to resuscitate the girl, but the mother pushed her out of the bathroom and threatened her with a hammer.

Osceola County Sheriffs Office said late Friday, Glover now faces a first-degree murder charge after the Medical Examiners Office concluded Giselle died from drowning by homicide.

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Giselle Glovers father started a GoFundMe Friday to try to raise money so the family can bury the 14-year-old in Virginia.

Also, on the GoFundMe, he wrote a heart-wrenching final letter to his daughter.

Original report: Mom arrested after daughter, 14, found dead inside Osceola County home, deputies say

He spoke of the moments he lost with her like walking her down the aisle and sharing a daddy-daughter dance.

He called this the most unimaginable challenge in this world.

He described her as daddys princess. He wrote of how she had a heart full of love, was beautiful inside and out. He said she was intelligent and strong.

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From the moment you were born, you were the strongest soldier God ever created. You never let your type 1 diabetes define you or hold you back, he wrote.

In new documents the state filed, prosecutors say the mother poses a threat to the community.

Prosecutors want her to remain in jail until trial.

A hearing to determine that was set to happen Friday afternoon, but the defense asked for it to be postponed until December 4.

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SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Flocks at three commercial turkey facilities and one backyard flock infected with bird flu have been killed in the last two weeks, amounting to over 100,000 turkeys, according to the Utah Dept. of Agriculture and Food (UDAF).

Five Utah poultry farms currently remain under quarantine as the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) raises concerns in the state. The UDAF has recently confirmed four additional cases of HPAI  three commercial turkey facilities in Piute County and one small backyard poultry flock in Salt Lake County.

Due to the infections, between Nov. 10-19, a total of 107,800 turkeys were killed at the Piute County facilities and another 253 birds in Salt Lake County.

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3 Utah children missing since 2022 found living with FLDS Church, returned to mother

The strains for each outbreak are currently undergoing sequencing, a press release from the UDAF states. Though the overall risk to public health remains low, HPAI is a serious disease, requiring rapid response, including depopulation of affected flocks as it is highly contagious and fatal to poultry.

These birds were reportedly killed within 24 hours after being diagnosed in order to limit the spread of disease. After the decision is made, the UDAF consults with the Utah Dept. of Environmental Quality (UDEQ) on how to appropriately dispose of the birds.

In the case of the Piute County flocks, they elected to go with an on-site burial, determining that this method would not affect the groundwater or cause any other environmental concerns. Additionally, all equipment at the site will be disinfected and all personnel required to

wear protective equipment to reduce the risk of infection or transfer.

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Despite the recent infections, the overall impact to the food supply is expected to be limited at this time.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Delhi police said that the death of 5 year old child was informed by Deepchand Hospital.

Delhi Police said, "Enquiry revealed strangulation marks on child. Immediately the case was registered and all known to child including her mother was brought to police station for examination. After sustained interrogation the mother of child broke down and revealed that she strangulated her."

Police said that further enquiry revealed that the said mother's first husband abandoned her and later she came in contact with a person named Rahul through Instagram. Later she came to Delhi and wanted to marry him.

However Rahul and his family didn't accept the child and hence refused to marry. In frustration the mother strangulated the child.

Furthermore investigation revealed that the child with her mother were residing in Himachal Pradesh with one of their relative prior coming to Delhi. There the said relative had sexually assaulted child as per statement of mother, Delhi police said.

An offence under section 103 /65(2) BNS read with 06 POCSO Act has been registered. Further investigation in this case is being done. (ANI)
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  The New York Police Department confirms to FOX4 Friday that a man accused of rape in Overland Park was previously convicted of abducting and raping an 11-year-old girl.

NYPD tells FOX4 Gabriel Pascual Hernandez, 37, was convicted for an incident that happened 18 years ago.

Merriam police investigating deadly shooting connected to crash

According to a NYPD police report, the incident occurred on Friday, Nov. 24, 2006 in the area of East Houston Street and Avenue D in New York City.

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An investigation revealed that an 11-year-old girl was leaving her apartment when she was approached by an unknown man, who pinned her against the wall and tried to cover her mouth while she screamed for help.

Hernandez is currently in the Johnson County jail facing multiple felony charges.

Hes accused of sexually assaulting an Overland Park woman in her home early Tuesday morning. He was arrested on Wednesday and made his first court appearance on Thursday.

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Hernandez is due back in court on Dec. 5.

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OWENSBORO, Ky. (WEHT)  The lights are on, the music is playing and downtown Owensboro is fully in the holiday spirit with Hometown Christmas officially underway. We just want to create those experiences for people to enjoy the holidays, says Tim Ross, Director of Events for the City of Owensboro.

Ross helps organize the annual display along the Owensboro riverfront. The Hometown Christmas in Smothers Park features hundreds of thousand of lights, which are also choreographed to music every 15 minutes from 5pm to 9pm.

We know the community really enjoys it, explains Ross, and every year we add bits and pieces to it to slowly kind of expand that, for people to enjoy it. Its spread out along 2nd Street, McConnell Plaza, so well continue to do that in the coming years. Weve already got a quarter million lights along the riverfront.

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Christmas on North Main returns after five years

Trasey Falcone and her daughters Gianna and Rosemary attended the tree lighting ceremony. The Falcones have lived in Owensboro for just over a decade and say the Christmas display has quickly become their favorite community tradition.

It feels like a small hometown when were doing things like this, says Trasey. I really like the dancers and I also really enjoy the lights, adds Rosemary. Gianna was on hand to view the display, but not before performing with the Kentucky Youth Chorale.

I get to sing with my friends, and thats pretty fun. Also, musics pretty awesome, says Gianna. I just love spending time with my family and getting to know people, says Rosemary.

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The lights along the riverfront will be up through the first two weeks of January. Ross says the unique display makes Owensboro a holiday destination. We really just try to complement all the other stuff thats happening downtown, explains Ross, and give people a chance to really enjoy the Christmas spirit on the riverfront.

The kickoff to the holiday season continues Saturday November 23 with the Owensboro Christmas Parade. But with the parade comes several street closures. Starting at 12:00 p.m., 2nd Street will be closed from Greyhound Drive to Walnut Street, as well as side streets connecting 2nd and 3rd streets. Parking garages on Daviess and Locust streets will be available, however officials say the Daviess Street garage will close around the start of the parade at 4:30 p.m.

More from Cody Bailey

Eyewitness News. Everywhere you are.

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  A concert meant to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center wont be happening.

Popstar Pink was scheduled to perform in Sioux Falls in October, but that show along with concerts in Nebraska, Iowa, and Wisconsin were postponed.

Now, theyve been canceled.

Officials in Sioux Falls made the highly-anticipated concert announcement in February.

Pink would bring her high-energy performance to Sioux Falls on a Monday night.

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So I would already put Tuesday morning on your calendar and ask for that off because we want to you to have fun on that Monday night, Mayor Paul TenHaken said in February.

The venues general manager explained to KELOLAND News that booking the act took a lot of heavy lifting.

Hitting bullseye with Falls Park plan?

It is a nine-month cycle of hard work, a lot of fist wrangling and calling in favors and everything like that to make this happen, PREMIER Center General Manager Mike Krewson said in February.

Ahead of the concert, the street in front of the PREMIER Center temporarily turned into P!NK Place.

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The concert was then postponed just days before Pink was set to take the stage.

Now, its canceled.

In an Instagram post Thursday, the singer explained shes been in pain for months and has two surgeries planned.

For the last couple of months, I have been performing with a torn bicep and two torn meniscus, P!NK said in an Instagram video.

The performer apologized to the fans.

I am so, so deeply sorry that I will not be able to make those shows up, P!NK said in an Instagram video.

In a Facebook post, the PREMIER Center said it was heartbroken and explained ticketholders will be refunded.

KELOLAND News reached out to the Mayors office and the general manager of the PREMIER Center Friday, but they were not available for interviews.

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The GM did tell us theres currently no signature concert or event designed for the celebration.

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Nov. 22WILKES-BARRE  With the Shapiro Administration committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of residents statewide, the Pennsylvania Insurance Department (PID) and the Office of the State Fire Commissioner this week reminded Pennsylvanians to practice safe cooking habits this Thanksgiving holiday.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, the average number of reported residential building fires on Thanksgiving Day is more than double  2.3 times more  the average number of fires in residential buildings on all other days.

An average of 2,300 residential building fires were reported to fire departments in the U.S. on Thanksgiving Day from 2017 to 2019. These fires caused an estimated annual average of 5 deaths, 25 injuries and nearly $26 million in property loss.

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"We want all Pennsylvanians to have a safe holiday with loved ones and are reminding everyone today that safety should be a top priority," said Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Michael Humphreys. "In the event of an accident, homeowners insurance and renters insurance will only cover certain damages, and PID is here to help should you have any questions about, or problems with, your insurance. We urge you to use caution this holiday season when cooking to avoid potentially dangerous situations and prevent costly repairs. Have a Happy Thanksgiving, and please don't drop the frozen turkey directly into the fryer!"

Homeowners insurance policies will cover damage to the structure of a home and personal belongings. Homeowners policies also provide liability protection for the homeowner if guests are injured. However, a homeowner will still be responsible for any deductible.

PID also reminds renters that, although the landlord's insurance policy will cover damage to the building itself, it most likely will not cover a renter's personal contents. Renters insurance provides financial protection against the loss or destruction of possessions for individuals who rent a house or apartment. It may cover additional living expenses if renters are unable to live in their apartment because of a fire. And just like homeowners insurance, renters insurance also provides liability protection for injury to guests.

"Just a few simple precautions can greatly affect your safety during this holiday season," said State Fire Commissioner Tom Cook. "Before you fire up the oven, grill, or turkey fryer, make a plan. Ensure all smoke alarms are functioning and there is a fire extinguisher handy. Set regular timers or alarms on your phone to make sure not to lose track of timing. And if you're using a turkey fryer, make sure to follow all manufacturer's recommendations for use and cooking."

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Pennsylvanians should file any claim as soon as possible. Once an insurance company has been notified of a claim, the company has 10 business days to provide the consumer with the necessary claim forms.

Gov. Shapiro takes key action to provide critical funding for SEPTA

Gov. Josh Shapiro this week made a critical announcement to ensure Pennsylvanians who rely on the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) can continue to access safe, reliable, and affordable public transportation.

With SEPTA facing a significant funding shortfall due to the expiration of federal pandemic relief funds, Gov. Shapiro directed PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll to begin the process of transferring $153 million in federal highway capital funds to SEPTA.

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This action will prevent immediate service cuts and a planned 21% fare increase, allowing the transit agency  which serves 800,000 people across Southeastern Pennsylvania every day  to maintain critical operations through at least July 2025.

The flexing of federal highway capital funds  a standard practice in Pennsylvania and across the nation  temporarily reallocates funds from projects not yet underway.

Critically, the Governor's announcement does not jeopardize or halt any ongoing infrastructure projects already underway across the Commonwealth. The projects are not yet under construction or have been put out to bid.

Gov. Shapiro was joined by Secretary Carroll to make this announcement at SEPTA's Frankford Transportation Center.

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"As Governor, I have a responsibility to serve every region of our Commonwealth  rural, suburban, and urban," Shapiro said. "Over the past two years, we've come together on a bipartisan basis to invest $330.5 million in additional funding for Pennsylvania's roads and bridges, repairing more poor-condition bridges than any other state and improving more miles of roadway than at any time in the past decade.

"While the Pennsylvania House of Representatives has passed bipartisan legislation three times in 2024 to increase funding to SEPTA and other public transit agencies statewide, the State Senate did not act on those bills or their own version of funding for mass transit. In order to prevent critically damaging service cuts and fare increases ahead of our next state budget, I have directed PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll to begin the process of flexing $153 million of federal highway capital funds to SEPTA. This action allows for continued service and for SEPTA to avoid immediate service cuts and delay more significant fare increases until July 1, 2025."

GOP leaders: Governor must consider all taxpayers in transportation discussion

Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R, D-41) and Senate Transportation Committee Chair Wayne Langerholc, Jr. (R, D-35) issued the following statement in response to Gov. Josh Shapiro's decision to flex $153 million of federal highway and bridge capital funds.

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"Our Senate Republican Caucus has made it clear from the outset that we will examine transit funding that makes sense and can be justified to commonwealth taxpayers who are being asked to pay the bill. We will not, and we have not wavered from our position."

"We reached a bipartisan agreement in July to temporarily fund SEPTA and other transit agencies to the tune of $80.5 million. Conditions of this funding included a re-examination of the delivery model given recent reductions in ridership, which are a direct result of COVID, people not working full-time in cities, and major safety concerns within the system. Rather than making prudent, sensible changes, they have chosen to politicize and pillage critical infrastructure projects for other districts which are well outside of SEPTA reach, ironically, the majority being in Republican districts."

"It is apparent today that the Democrats' mindset is we can just spend more money on transit regardless of where it comes from. The fact of the matter is that the governor made a fairy tale wishlist to sizably increase SEPTA funding absent legislative involvement, which he failed to deliver. Equally troubling is the fact that SEPTA relied on this fairy tale wishlist in their budgeting process. We would be hard-pressed to find businesses in the commonwealth that operate on this type of budgeting principle. Now, instead of getting stuff done, the governor is taking stuff away by allowing roads and bridges in Republican districts to deteriorate."

"Transit funding is one side of a very large coin. The other side of the coin includes critical infrastructure projects of roads and bridges. These roads and bridges carry millions of commonwealth residents daily. Pennsylvania is the fourth largest contributor to mass transit in the country. Simply throwing more money at the problem without addressing the root causes will only further burden taxpayers and take away from road and bridge projects in the commonwealth as a whole. Robbing Peter to pay Paul should not be the solution to this problem."

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"Whether the governor likes it or not, Pennsylvania does have a structural budget deficit. The action by the governor today will do nothing but harm millions of hard-working Pennsylvanians by depriving their areas of critical infrastructure. We will not apologize for being fiscal stewards of tax dollars. The bottom line is that there must be a significant overall re-examination of the SEPTA delivery model and mass transit."

"We remain committed to common sense reform with stakeholder input that benefits all commonwealth taxpayers."

Sen. Baker: For Pete's Sake Cancer Respite Center slated to open in 2026

Two long-standing partners dedicated to providing relief and renewal for those affected by cancer are joining forces to create a transformative space  the nation's first onsite respite facility, For Pete's Sake Cancer Respite Center at Woodloch.

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Projected to open in 2026, this innovative center will serve more than 4,000 people annually and redefine cancer care in Pennsylvania.

For nearly two decades, Montgomery County-based For Pete's Sake Cancer Respite Foundation has helped families take a break from cancer through meaningful, restorative experiences. Similarly, Woodloch Resort, renowned for its world-class hospitality in the Pocono Mountains, has offered family-focused getaways for over 65 years. Since 2011, the organizations have collaborated to support patients, loved ones and caregivers navigating the cancer journey.

This joint venture consolidates all For Pete's Sake's services into one signature location in Hawley. A $3.5 million grant through Pennsylvania's Redevelopment Capital Assistance Program brings the project closer to its $25 million fundraising goal, complementing significant contributions already secured.

"So many of us have been touched by this terrible disease," said Sen. Lisa Baker (D, D-20), a project advocate. "This infusion of state dollars is a significant investment that will help leverage the corporate, foundation and private donations required to establish this premier complex right here in northeastern Pennsylvania."

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Set on 32 acres, the 34,000-square-foot campus will feature amenities designed with input from oncology professionals, addressing the emotional, financial, spiritual and physical challenges of cancer in a safe, restorative environment. Features include a dining room serving 60,000 meals annually, an art room, a chapel, yoga space, a swimming pool for water therapy and nature trails. Groundbreaking is scheduled for spring 2025, with completion in 2026.

For more information on how to get involved, visit  www.RespiteTransformed.org.

Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
A dog controversy involving Pam Bondi, Trumps new pick for Attorney General after Matt Gaetz surprisingly withdrew, has returned to the forefront. Bondi was accused of stealing a St. Bernard by a Louisiana couple, while she accused them of neglecting the animal and refused to return the dog. It took a legal battle lasting 16 months before the situation was resolved, but not without lingering bitterness. Heres a breakdown of the dog scandal with Pam Bondi.

What is the Pam Bondi dog scandal?

The dog scandal with Pam Bondi is about a custody battle in 2006 that occurred after she adopted a St. Bernard that was not actually lost.

After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Bondi adopted the dog from Floridas Pinellas County Human Society after her own St. Bernard passed away due to cancer, per Tampa Bay Times. At the time, she was a prosecutor for the Hillsborough County State Attorneys Office in Florida, and she named the dog Noah.

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However, in January 2006, Louisiana couple Steven and Doreen Couture was looking for their missing dog, Master Tank, who was lost after Katrina, and they tracked him down in the lawyers home, according to The Independent. The grandparents and their two grandchildren requested the dog back, but Bondi refused, saying that the dog was a walking skeleton when she adopted him and questioned whether the couple had a stable environment. The Coutures responded by saying that the dog suffered from heartworms since he was 10 years old and sued Bondi for custody of the animal.

After a legal battle lasting over a year, both sides came to a deal before it went to trial. Bondi returned the dog and said she would pay for his food and medical bills for life. She said she would also visit the dog, and in exchange the Coutures would send her photos and updates of its wellbeing.

But by 2010, bad blood between Bondi and the Coutures returned. Doreen said that Bondi did visit the dog for a few months, but then cancelled her first visitation in September. Doreen also didnt reach out to Bondi either, saying that she stole my dog. Bondi adopted a new St. Bernard puppy named Luke in 2008.

Meanwhile, fears that Trump was sent to a hospital in an ambulance from Mar-a-Lago were quelled after a report by the Secret Service.

The post Pam Bondis Dog Controversy Resurfaces After Trump Picks Her for Attorney General appeared first on Mandatory.
President-elect Donald Trump announced former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as his choice for U.S. attorney general after Matt Gaetzs withdrawal of his nomination.

Trump nominated Bondi Nov. 21 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.

Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi addresses a crowd at the opening of the new Trump Force 47 office in Casa Grande, Arizona, on July 2, 2024.

Who is Pam Bondi?

Bondi, 59, was Florida's attorney general for eight years, from 2011 to 2019. She was the first woman elected to the position.

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Bondi is Trump's second choice for attorney general and the second Floridian has tapped for the job.

What is Pam Bondi's connection to Trump?

Bondi served as one of Trump's 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.

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, a Trump ally, is likely to have an easier time winning Senate confirmation than Gaetz, who faced opposition from some Senate Republicans.

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"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!"

Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee hold a field hearing in Yuma on Feb. 23, 2023. Pictured at center from left are Reps. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., and Andy Biggs, R-Ariz.

Why did Matt Gaetz withdraw?

Matt Gaetz, a former U.S. representative from Florida who was originally nominated by Trump as the next attorney general, announced his withdrawal from the role in an X post Nov. 21 after controversy surrounding allegations of sexual misconduct and drug use.

While denying the allegations, Gaetz stated he would be an "unfair distraction" to the Trump/Vance transition.

Gaetz, 42, stepped away just a little over a week after his nomination.

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Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to respond, sharing his respect for Gaetz' decision: "Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do!"

What allegations against Gaetz were investigated?

The Justice Department, which Gaetz would have led if he were attorney general, investigated allegations that Gaetz committed statutory rape by paying for sex with a 17-year-old and for her to travel with him across state lines. The investigation was dropped without charges.

But recently, the House Ethics Committee, a bipartisan panel made up of Democrats and Republicans, began investigating the allegations. The committee had planned to vote on whether to release a report of its findings two days after Gaetz resigned from his seat in Congress to accept Trump's nomination.

Reach the reporter at cphillips@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Florida lawyer Pam Bondi is Donald Trump's pick for attorney general
On Thursday (Nov. 21), CNN reported that hours after his initial choice for attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, withdrew from consideration, President-elect Donald Trump announced former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as his new pick to lead the Department of Justice. The decision, revealed on Trumps Truth Social platform, followed Gaetzs withdrawal amid mounting challenges, including concerns over a pending House Ethics Committee report into allegations of sexual misconduct and other crimes. He denied the accusations, which include claims of involvement with a minor in 2017, and has not been charged.

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For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans - Not anymore, Trump declared in his announcement. 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 was under consideration before Gaetz was initially selected. CNN added that Bondis candidacy resurfaced quickly after Gaetzs withdrawal, with discussions beginning early Thursday afternoon. Trump reportedly met with her at Mar-a-Lago before officially offering her the position later that evening.

Bondis nomination is seen as a safer choice given her extensive legal background and relationships with Capitol Hill lawmakers. Shes a solid choice, a Trump ally reportedly said. We feel much better about her chances. As Florida attorney general, she tackled high-profile issues, including a failed bid to overturn Obamacare and defended Floridas ban on gay marriage. Bondi has remained a key figure for Trump as a vocal supporter during his 2016 presidential campaign. She worked in his White House as a legal advisor during his first impeachment trial and currently chairs the Center for Litigation at the America First Policy Institute, a pro-Trump think tank.

Her nomination is not without controversy. In 2018, Bondi faced scrutiny over a $25,000 donation from Trumps foundation to her political action committee, which coincided with her offices decision not to pursue an investigation into Trump University. A Florida ethics panel later cleared her of any wrongdoing. Bondis post-attorney general career has also drawn criticism, particularly her lobbying work for Qatar and legal involvement in cases supporting Trump. One notable incident involved a custody battle over a dog named Master Tank, who she was accused of stealing, by a Louisiana family following Hurricane Katrina. Bondi subsequent returned the dog following a settlement.

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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA)  The President of Parkland College is sticking around for another year following an extension to her contract.

The trustees met Wednesday and approved several pieces of business. Chief among them was the approval of a one-year extension to President Pamela Laus contract. Lau has been employed by the college for 30 years and she became its president two years ago on a four-year contract. The extension to her contract now goes through June 30, 2028.

I get the privilege of taking it to the next level and having that stability in terms of who the board leadership is, who our interim executive leaders are, and then throughout the college that it is much easier to steer the boat because we know that we have good expertise, and we have the mission of the college at heart, Lau said.

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Im fiercely loyal to Vermilion County: DACC names interim president

Going forward Lau hopes to better inform the community about the different options Parkland can offer. Another thing the president wants to emphasize is setting up apprenticeship students for careers after leaving campus.

She said Parkland will make more of an effort to build relationships with employers in the area. The hope is once apprentices finish working part-time for their education, they will have full-time jobs lined up.

In addition, the board also discussed next steps for a proposed tax levy for Fiscal Year 2025. The requested levy is $37.3 million  $22.2 million for the colleges educational funds, $8.5 million for operations and maintenance, $2.7 million for protection, health and safety and $2.2 million for tort liability.

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In other business, the board also approved:

A motion to abate the lax levied for 2024 on $5.86 million of general obligation bonds

The 2026-2027 academic calendar

A $62,000 contract with Pauly Group of Springfield

Electricity and natural gas utility service from Constellation Energy of Chicago

A $712,000 bid for the Electrical Distribution Panel Safety Improvements  Phase I project from Bodine Electric of Decatur

The purchase of: Furniture and installation from Kruger International, Green Bay, Wisc., worth $42,476 A 2025 Tesla Model 3 worth $58,630

The filing of grant applications with: The Illinois Community College Board (ICCB): FY25 Innovative Bridge and Transition Grant Community Colleges for International Development (CCID): Technical and Vocational Educational Training (TVET) Exchange to Advance U.S.-Singaporean Relations Program ICCB: FY25 Noncredit Workforce Training Initiative Grant ICCB: Mental Health Early Action on Campus Support Expansion Project

Funds awarded to Parkland from external sources: ICCB: FY2025 Federal Postsecondary Perkins Basic Grant  Career and Technical Education ICCB: Adult Education and Literacy: Integrated English Language and Civics Education (IELCE) ICCB: Illinois Community College Board (ICCB): Adult Education & Family Literacy Activities (AEFLA) ICCB: Workforce Equity Initiative (WEI)  Support for Workforce Training (SWFT)

Personnel appointments and modifications

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Robbie Parker at his home on October 7, 2024 in Ridgefield, Washington. Credit - Celeste NocheGuardian/eyevine/Redux

When Robbie Parker decided to join a lawsuit suing infamous right wing conspiracy theorist and radio host Alex Jones, he says it was for a multitude of reasons. Yes, he says it was for other parents of school shooting victims who, like himself, were accused of being crisis actors. Yes, it was to protect the legacy of his daughter, Emilie, who he says was already deeply kind and empathetic at just six years old. Hes quick to admit, and emphasize, though, that the fight was also for himself.

On Dec. 14, 2012, Parkers daughter was killed during a mass shooting at Sandy Hook elementary school in Newtown, Conn., by a semiautomatic riflea shooting that left 26 people dead.

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For Parker, though, the trauma did not end there. The media onslaught and subsequent conspiracy theories and online vitriol bolstered by Jones through Infowars ripped through Parker and his familys life, preventing the healing he knew was possible for them.

In 2022, Jones was found liable for defaming victims of the Sandy Hook shooting, and was ordered to pay nearly $1.5 billion in damages to the victims families. Now, Parker has written and published a book, A Fathers Fight, about his experiences grieving for his daughter, and fighting for her legacy in the lawsuit against Jones.

It was easy in some ways to relate to Parker, who names the shooting at my school, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., as the turning point in his choice to enter the lawsuit against Jones. Though neither of us experienced gun violence or online lies about that violence in the same way, we were both forever touched by it.

Background Image: jayk7Getty Images

TIME sat down with Parker to discuss his book, the pressure of the media spotlight after tragedy, the healing process of writing, and suing Jones.

TIME: I wanted to start by offering a space to talk about that daythe day of the shooting when you found out about your daughter, Emilies, death. I get asked about that day all the time, and I recognize its sometimes strange to talk about this many years later. But, its also the first chapter of your book.

Parker: Its important to give details about that day sometimes. And I liked that this was the lawyers approach in the trial [against Jones]we need to really establish the truth of what actually happened, because we're going to be dealing the whole rest of the time talking about people saying that it didn't happen. I felt like in the book, I really had to, in a way that was as gentle as I could to the reader, really help them feel and understand just everything that transpired that day, and who Emilie was as a person. I had to make sure everyone understood that the biggest difference between me and anybody that's reading this book that hasn't been in this situation is chance. And that makes people very uncomfortable.

I often say that for me, the trauma of the day of the shooting was really a small part of the trauma, because so much of it came afterwards, with the media onslaught that followed. What was that pressure like for you? And how does it feel to look back on it?

I'm such a people pleaser. For a long time, I felt like, in order for me to feel like I'm in a safe place. I have to make sure that the people around me either feel okay or manipulate how they view me. That pressure was really, really intense. And I also had this pressure where I felt like I had to show up for my family at the same time. It really, really led to a big breakdown.

Yeah, and then it also becomes a really complicated thing to feel emotion, because of the eyes and the pressure. You have to actually relearn how to feel things.

It just gets uncomfortable and gets frustrating, because people are trying to relate to you, and you feel like they can't. And then I was in a situation where I felt like I couldn't go anywhere without feeling that. I would pump gas, wondering, Am I doing this right? Is somebody watching me? I was cautious about if I smiled, or if I was singing along in my car.

When did you realize that the attention was transferring from just sensationalism to youre a crisis actor and to denialism and vilifying. Or was it always there?

That came at me so fast. I became acutely aware of it in a very short amount of time. It was almost so immediate on the heels of learning that Emilie died that there wasn't a way for me to process all of that info at once.

I was struck by this quote in the book: I told my friends and my family that the vitriolic hate, the terrifying threats, and the online slander that defiled Emilies name and memory didnt affect me. Talk about the moment when you decided to let it affect you and to be honest about that.

I was so tired of carrying it. And then, I had an experience with the nurse that night [discussed in the book] in the NICU, where she was so distraught and so angry, and she was crying, and she was so emotional about seeing the things that were being said online about Emilie. It was this weird, bizarre experience. I was just like, why is this person expressing so many emotions and I'm not feeling anything here? That was a big turning point.

You talk about the shooting at my high school as another turning point for you, and a push for you to sue Jones, particularly after speaking to two parents of someone who was killed at my high school. I'm curious why that was the moment that spurred action.

There's this quote that I've been saying lately from the HBO show Chernobyl: Every lie we tell incurs debt to the truth. Sooner or later that debt gets paid. I can throw that on Alex Jones.

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When Ryan came into the conversation, it was like I recognized myself in him. I needed that six years of time to create some distance away from my experience in those early days, to be able to see it clearly when it was mirrored back to me. [Ryan Pettys daughter Alaina Petty was killed in the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.]

What was it like to see Jones in court? Its a very visceral moment in the book.

It was the antithesis of that don't ever meet your hero thing. I felt like I knew exactly what was going to happen. He was going to come in. I was going to feel this way. I was going to stare him down like this perfect John Grisham moment.

And then it finally happened, and he was human, and I saw him struggling like, literally, just struggling to exist. It looked like it's painful for him to walk, it looked like it's hard for him to breathethat debt that he had incurred weighed so heavily on him, is how I interpreted it. That touched me, and I was not prepared for that, but I'm kind of glad I had that human moment. People can do awful things to other people when they hate them because they don't look at them as another person, right? And it leads you to think things and act in ways that aren't authentic to you, and I don't want to be that person.

What do you feel like you learned from this fight? And, knowing that this is a lifelong journey of reckoning and healing (at least for me its been a whole process to realize this), how does your court fight bring you to where you are now in healing?

I get asked a lot, do you find victory in this, or, did you find justice? You really have to adjust what your expectation and definition is of those words for yourself. It's been over two years since the verdict, and Alex Jones is still on air, still making money. It can feel like, Man, I went through all this and there's nothing to show for it, but that's so not true for me.

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When I got off the stand, it felt like my feet werent touching the ground. That moment was so euphoric in all of this. I can claim that as my victory, and I dont live in fear anymore. Im able to sit there and realize he has no power over me. He never did.

It recently came to light that the satirical newspaper The Onion was named the winning bidder for Joness Infowarsa transaction which was backed by the Sandy Hook families.

We came up with this strategy about what we were willing to sacrifice to make sure that none of his allies got [Infowars]. We were prepared to forego any money that we would have made from the sale. I have girls that are going to be going to college soon. My wife's in college right now. Having a payday coming to help me with that is very tempting. But what I find beautiful is that every single Connecticut family was prepared to give that up.

I'd love to hear more about the writing process as a space for healing as well. For myself, I wanted to be a doctor, and then when the shooting happened at my high school, thats how I turned to journalism. So I really see the power in writing.

We have inverse paths. When I was younger, I liked to write, and I would write stories in elementary school.I realized the reason I got into my NICU career was because you have children who are suffering because of nothing that they did to themselves, and it wasn't their fault.

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The results of this trial made me realize that I have more in me I need to express. I realized the more I shared [my writing], it wasn't scary anymore. And when I shared, then other people opened up and they shared. In grief, things are so hard, or they seem so insurmountable, and writing was one way that I could push through that.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Saturday accused political parties in the state of "encouraging" violence and corruption. Speaking to reporters, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose said, "Bengal is a great land. The people of Bengal are very cultured but politics is bad...As it is said, politics is the last refuge of this country. Now I know what it means, but that has to change. The people of Bengal will not allow these kinds of things to stay in politics." "The two aspects which are a cancer on the body politics of Bengal are violence and corruption. These two things are to be contained by political action, but these are now encouraged by political action...I'm not attributing anything to any particular political party. It is a fact before us that violence and corruption are on the increase," he added. Governor Bose expressed concern about the recent violence in the Beldanga area of Murshidabad, saying that such incidents should not occur. "The issue is very sensitive. I'm monitoring the situation. I'm getting information from the field through the police room and with intelligence agencies. I'm making my own assessment. If my presence is required, I will be there. Such instances should not happen," he said. On November 16, communal violence erupted in the Beldanga area of Murshidabad. On Wednesday, police detained Union Minister of State and West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar as he attempted to visit the violence-affected area in Beldanga, Murshidabad. Majumdar, along with his convoy, was stopped by police at the Jalangi Bridge while he was on his way to the region that had recently witnessed communal violence between two communities on November 16 night due to an objectionable message displayed on a board at a temporary gate set up for a religious event. (ANI)
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Police say a man was killed after being hit by a car while crossing on a red light in Vancouver Thursday evening.

Just before 6:30 p.m., officers responded to the intersection of Northeast Fourth Plain Boulevard and 117th Avenue on reports that a vehicle had hit a pedestrian.

Three vehicles damaged after cinder block, heavy objects thrown off I-205 overpass in Vancouver

On arrival, they found the pedestrian had been hit by a car after reportedly crossing the street on a red light.

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The pedestrian was taken to the hospital but later died from his injuries, authorities said.

Police say the driver remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation.

Portland police arrest car theft suspect accused of causing multiple vehicle crashes, injuries

No further information has been released at this time.

Vancouver police say this is their 14th recorded fatality collision in 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 KOIN.com.
This story was produced by the State College regional bureau of Spotlight PA, an independent, nonpartisan newsroom dedicated to investigative and public-service journalism for Pennsylvania. Sign up for Talk of the Town, a weekly newsletter of local stories that dig deep, events, and more from north-central PA, at spotlightpa.org/newsletters/talkofthetown.

Penn State will pay more than more than $564,000 toward the ongoing cleanup of contaminated drinking water affecting dozens of homes near the universitys airport in Benner Township.

The action is the result of a proposed agreement the university signed earlier this month with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, following a roughly five-year state investigation into a group of hazardous chemicals called PFAS in local groundwater.

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Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as forever chemicals because they dont break down naturally, were widely used in consumer and industrial products for decades starting in the mid-20th century, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Exposure to these chemicals has been linked to higher risks of some cancers, developmental delays in children, negative effects on the bodys immune system, and decreased fertility.

Penn State is a responsible person for the release or threatened release of PFAS at the State College Regional Airport (formerly the University Park Airport), according to the agreement. The chemicals were in federally mandated firefighting foam used at the airport. The airport now uses PFAS-free foam, according to a university statement.

However, per the consent order, Penn State does not admit responsibility that PFAS released at the airport contaminated groundwater.

Under the agreement, the university will pay the DEP more than half a million dollars to partially reimburse the state for its investigation and response efforts, which included providing bottled water and installing treatment systems for dozens of affected residents and businesses in rural Centre County. The state spent more than $892,000 in its work, according to the document.

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Going forward, Penn State will test the wells, provide bottled water, and maintain the treatment systems. However, according to the order, the university will not be responsible for those costs if any of the following occur:

The affected properties get access to public water.

Another party is deemed responsible for the contamination.

The private wells are determined to be outside the areas affected by the airport contamination.

The state approves the existing treatment systems as the final remedy for safe drinking water.

If eight consecutive quarterly water samples show PFAS levels below a certain threshold.

The agreement is not final, and the public can submit comments over a 60-day period starting in early December, a DEP spokesperson told Spotlight PA. Information about how to submit a comment will be available in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and the Centre Daily Times, as well as on the DEPs website about the investigation.

Residents told Spotlight PA the proposed agreement might not fully protect them. They worry cleanup costs could eventually be passed onto them and put them on the hook for hundreds if not thousands of dollars in annual expenses.

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We didnt contaminate our wells, so why would we be responsible for paying the costs of treating our water? said Rick Weyer, a resident of Walnut Grove Estates, a neighborhood in Benner Township thats near the University Park campus.

In 2019, the state began sampling water from areas where PFAS were commonly used, including fire training locations, landfills, military bases, and manufacturing facilities. Well tests from three businesses near the State College airport revealed levels of the chemicals above the federal health advisory limit at the time. That threshold has since been lowered.

Penn State declined to answer questions from Spotlight PA about how it would fund its payment to the state. The university is pursuing legal action against some PFAS manufacturers that it argues are responsible for local drinking water contamination. Penn State is also seeking taxpayer funds from the federal and state governments to offset the costs, according to the universitys website.

The university will continue the investigation until DEP is satisfied that the contamination is thoroughly understood, a DEP spokesperson said.

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For years, residents worried what the contamination could mean for their health and questioned why the state took roughly two years to test the wells at their homes after PFAS were first detected nearby, as previously reported by Spotlight PA. Longtime residents might have been consuming the chemicals for years.

SUPPORT THIS JOURNALISM and help us reinvigorate local news in north-central Pennsylvania at spotlightpa.org/donate/statecollege. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability and public-service journalism that gets results.
Three universities in Pennsylvanias State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) have launched a new program to simplify and streamline the admission process for students and families.

Kutztown University, Shippensburg University and Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest) are now offering real-time acceptance and scholarship offers to high school seniors who meet each universitys admissions requirements through a partnership with Niche Direct Admissions.

PASSHE is committed to innovating and expanding opportunities for students to get a college education that prepares them for success in Pennsylvania, said Interim Chancellor Chris Fiorentino. This direct admissions program at three universities will provide students and families with a more streamlined way to apply for college, saving students time so they can focus on choosing the college that is the best fit for them.

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The program is another example of PASSHEs dedication to serving students of all backgrounds and increasing access to higher education in order to ease worker shortages and strengthen the states economy.

This marks the first time any PASSHE university has offered a direct pathway to admission. Across the country, colleges and universities are increasingly adopting this approach to modernize the application process. Direct admission also helps break down barriers to enrollment, especially for first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented minority students.

Prospective high school students create a free profile with Niche  nearly one out of every two college-bound seniors does so each year. High school seniors who meet each universitys admissions requirements will instantly learn if they have been accepted to Kutztown, PennWest and/or Shippensburg universities, all within their Niche account. Eligible students also receive merit scholarship offers, detailed information about each university and the option to begin the enrollment process.

PennWest has received a generous grant from the Richard King Mellon Foundation for each of its three campuses  PennWest California, PennWest Clarion and PennWest Edinboro  to participate in the Niche Direct Admissions program for two consecutive admissions cycles. The foundation is dedicated to promoting the health and vitality of the Pittsburgh and Southwestern Pennsylvania region by investing in transformative initiatives across various sectors, including education.

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Too many high-school graduates and GED recipients choose not to apply to college because they dont believe they are qualified; they consider the application process too complicated; or they are concerned they cant afford to attend, said Sam Reiman, director of the Richard King Mellon Foundation. We are excited to partner with Niche and PASSHE to fund the launch of Direct Admissions at PennWest to help solve for these problems, so that more students can obtain the higher education and the path to economic mobility they deserve.

Jon Anderson, president of PennWest University, added, As the second-largest public university in western Pennsylvania, PennWest plays an important role in providing access to higher education for the communities we serve. We thank the Richard King Mellon Foundation for their support to help us connect students with college opportunities all the while breaking down barriers to apply and enroll. We are thrilled to be engaged with Niche as we bring forward our direct admission program to students and families across western Pennsylvania and the commonwealth.

Students using direct admissions do not need to submit applications, letters of recommendation, or personal essays to be admitted. Students can still apply to these institutions via a traditional application. The same admissions criteria apply to all students, regardless of their chosen admissions process.

Kutztown, PennWest and Shippensburg universities are now actively offering Niche Direct Admissions to the high school class of 2025.
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD)  Peoria Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat was named the 2025 Illinois Superintendent of the Year on Saturday.

According to a news release, she was presented with the award by the Illinois Association of School Administrators during the Joint Annual Conference in Chicago.

An independent panel judged her for the award according to her academic achievement, how she is preparing students for the future, social-emotional support, teaching and instruction and leadership.

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I am truly honored to accept this award, a tribute that truly belongs to the entire team at Peoria Public Schools, Kherat said. No significant achievement is the work of a single individual, and this award is no exception. Our journey may be demanding, but it is undeniably rewarding, bringing life-changing benefits to our children. What sets our district apart is our perspective on problems  we view them as opportunities, tirelessly striving to devise solutions to the most complex challenges.

Peoria Public Schools Safety Director wins national award

Some of the achievements under her tenure that led to her receiving the award include alleviating the districts teacher shortage and expanding comprehensive support for students.

The district has also improved some key academic metrics, including gains in first-grade reading and math proficiency across multiple schools. From 2015 to 2024, Graduation rates have increased from 65% to 80%, and dropout rates have decreased from 7% to 3%.

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The Board of Education and I are immensely proud to congratulate Dr. Desmoulin-Kherat as the 2025 Illinois Superintendent of the Year, said Peoria Board President Paris McConnell. This award reflects not only her exceptional leadership and dedication to our students and staff but also the collaborative spirit with our entire community. We are incredibly fortunate to have her at the helm fostering an environment where every student has opportunities to thrive.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now)  A student in Prince William County reported she was assaulted in a high school school bathroom, according to a letter forwarded to DC News Now on Friday.

In the letter, Osbourn Park High School Principal Lisamarie Kane said they were only recently made aware of the allegations, despite the incident happening earlier in the school year.

The Prince William County Police Department (PWCPD) said that the student was an adult female. She reported that she was in a bathroom near the gym on the first floor of the school when someone entered her stall and sexually assaulted her.

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The incident happened in August, during the first two weeks of the school year, PWCPD said.

Bark Social files for bankruptcy, closes all locations across DMV

As soon as our administration team was made aware, our school resource officer and law enforcement officials began an investigation, Kane wrote. PWCPD officials said the school resource officer began investigating on Nov. 15.

She added that the school is providing support to the victim and their family and cooperating with authorities as they investigate.

The student told police the suspect was wearing an animal costume mask and was about 58 or 59 at the time of the attack.

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Considering this incident, we will be implementing additional safety measures, including increased supervision in shared areas, limiting access to [the] bathroom during instructional time, and ongoing education and support for students on safety and reporting procedures, the letter continued.

Counseling services are available to students and anyone with information is asked to contact police, she said.

It was not made clear whether the person responsible was a student.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
When President-elect Donald Trump chose the television commentator Pete Hegseth as his nominee for secretary of defense, a panoply of national security stalwarts  retired generals and admirals, former appointees, and elected officials  evinced surprise.

Some of us found the defense establishment getting caught off guard par for the course. Really? On a scale of the Islamic State capturing Fallujah in 2014 to the Afghan military collapsing before the Taliban in 2021, how surprising was it?

The choice of Hegseth  whose highest position of military authority was as a mid-level National Guard officer  is certainly unconventional. Theres no guarantee he will be confirmed, and he could well be forced to drop out amid sexual assault allegations. But the nomination of an extreme, anti-establishment crusader like Hegseth was predictable.

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Trumps re-election means the upheavals have just begun. While many will celebrate a cultural shakeup at the Pentagon, they may not like the direction it takes.

Hegseth is the wrong person delivering the wrong message at the wrong moment, one former Airborne officer tells Rolling Stone. But it comes from a sincere place of frustration and discontent.

Washington pretended Afghanistan was turning the corner for decades. But the truth was exposed when Kabul fell to the Taliban in August 2021, with crowds of refugees clambering aboard C-17s, while Marines were blown up guarding the perimeter at Abbey Gate. The bloody debacle was seared into American memory, as surely as pictures of helicopters lifting off from the roof of the Embassy in Saigon in 1975.

There has never been an accounting for the grand failures of the Global War on Terror, or GWOT. Not for the lies, like the non-existent Weapons of Mass Destruction used as a pretext to invade Iraq; not for the incompetence at the outset of the occupation and ensuing sectarian bloodshed that killed 4,507 Americans and 110,600 Iraqis between 2003 and 2009. Not for dropping the ball in Afghanistan, squandering the lives of 70,000 U.S. coalition and Afghan security forces and $2 trillion in treasure, and shoring up venal warlords in pursuit of an elusive fantasy: that America could turn a failed state into a modern nation.

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The lack of accountability pisses people off. There is fury in the hearts of those who served in these wars.

The people who think theres been a string of failures are naturally attracted to the person who wants to break the system, says a former Explosive Ordnance Disposal officer. Because the system is not working.

The Trump administration plans to harness that rage and direct it at its enemies. It intends to prosecute military leaders for the Afghanistan withdrawal, even going so far as to recall officers to active duty so they can be court-martialed. That may be a daydream, but what many people want is someone to blame for America losing. Trump and his supporters dont want reform, they want revenge. They want blood.

These generals lied. They mismanaged. They violated their oath. They failed. They disgraced our troops, and our nation. They got people killed, unnecessarily, Hegseth wrote in his recently published book, The War on Warriors. And, to this moment, they keep their jobs. Worse, they continue to actively erode our military and its values  by capitulating to civilians with radical agendas. They are an embarrassment, with stars still on their shoulders.

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Hegseth isnt just a thumb in the eye of the career brass. Trump also intends to purge generals he doesnt like. After decades of disastrous strategy and policy overreach at the Pentagon, Hegseth is meant to be the reckoning.

War Fanatics

Since Hegseths nomination was announced, commentators have bemoaned his tattoos and beliefs, and exposed infidelities, hypocrisies, and potential crimes.

Some of these appear to have surprised even the Trump transition team, including reports that Hegseth paid off a woman who accused him of a 2017 sexual assault, and forced her to sign a non-disclosure agreement. That the settlement happened was confirmed by his lawyer, Timothy Parlatore, but Hegseth denies accusations the incident in question was sexual assault.

Rather than try to convince anyone Hegseth is a good or bad choice, this reporter would rather explain why he was chosen.

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How does one go from a small town, to GWOT military service, to the New York City media bubble?

Well, as it turns out, theres someone who has an idea how that might happen: yours truly.

Hegseth and I went to the same elementary school in Forest Lake, Minnesota  a town of about 6,000 people when we lived there in the early 80s, although I later moved to Colorado. He was a High School sophomore when I joined the Marines; I left the military just before he deployed to Kabul in the National Guard.

While Hegseth was onscreen at Fox News, I was a few blocks down Avenue of the Americas at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, backfilling on NBC Nightly News from my then-post as an international field producer based in London.

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Ive never met Hegseth. He was too young to be in my class at Forest Lake Elementary; I guess its possible we attended daycare in the basement of a local church together. I worked with various National Guard units over the years, but never the Minnesota Guard. Our paths never crossed in the military or in television.

I dont want to push this too far. Weve had different lives and careers. The point is, Hegseths experiences are not alien to me.

An important period is from 2007 to 2011. After the invasion of Iraq became a mire of occupation, as Afghanistan became increasingly deadly and Americas goals unclear, many military professionals doubled down on the warrior ethos. They became what one of my platoon commanders acerbically dubbed Born-Again Hard.

A lot of military personnel responded to Forever War with fanatical devotion to the profession of arms, seeking to mold themselves into perfect warriors  as if the American Century could be defended solely through max reps and personal asceticism. We would learn that no CrossFit routine could box jump America to victory; no Sparta kick could banish strategic mistakes.

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But in 2007 there was still hope, and amid the Surge in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus appeared as a media-savvy prophet, bearing a new gospel of deliverance: FM 3-24, aka the Counterinsurgency (COIN) Field Manual.

Many servicemembers  myself included  devoured the book, hoping to locate in its pages the wisdom needed to keep people alive, accomplish the mission, and make America proud. Hegseth was a disciple, penning an opinion piece for The Wall Street Journal called Give the Surge a Chance, appearing on C-SPAN to elaborate.

Weve got the right strategy, with the right general, and hes making progress  and he needs to be given the time and the resources necessary to see that strategy through, Hegseth declared.

It worked  or seemed to. Attacks on American forces declined. There remains fierce debate about what Petraeus actually achieved in Iraq. Certainly this reporter can introduce the reader to several Marines who tell a different story, one about the Anbar Awakening and Sunni leaders rejecting Al Qaeda after the killing of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

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No matter. Washington was convinced: COIN would win GWOT. Petraeus was sent to Afghanistan with his gospel, in the hope of replicating his Surge miracles.

It was a weird moment, between Iraq working, and before trying it in Afghanistan, says one former infantry captain. At least it felt like something different.

In 2011, Petraeus left both Afghanistan and the Army, briefly taking over the CIA before a short-lived fall-from-grace related to an extramarital affair with his biographer. You can still see him on TV sometimes.

Hegseth was sent to Kabul to serve as a counterinsurgency instructor in 2012, joining legions of soldiers, airmen, sailors, and Marines who would spend years helping to build security forces that could stand on their own.

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Needless to say, it didnt work. In 2020, the Trump administration negotiated an end to the conflict with the Taliban, known as the Doha Accord. President Joe Biden inherited the plan, and the 20-year imperial project to build a self-sustaining government and military imploded in the space of four months in 2021. COIN did not save Afghanistan from the Taliban.

Im sure hes walked back the belief, but he was a true believer, says an Army officer acquainted with Hegseth, pointing to his COIN advocacy. He added many Americans were lulled by a strategy that donned the guise of temporary victory.

Make Christendom Great Again

America may run on Dunkin, but its built on fear. It always has been. Fear of slave rebellions; fear of Indian attacks; fear of Japanese invasion; fear of Communist infiltrators; fear of immigrants; fear of terrorists.

Warrior philosophies are meant to be an antidote to fear. The GWOT warriors obsession with physical fitness and combat arts leached out of the military onto American society in a kind of tacticool osmosis, until office workers were carrying backpacks bedecked with MOLLE straps; men experiencing mid-life crises were practicing close-quarters-battle drills at weekend camps; an ever-increasing share of disposable income was exchanged for an endless variety of attachments for the Picatinny rails on AR-15s.

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Martial pastimes ebbed and flowed back-and-forth across the civil-military divide, mutated versions ingesting extreme politics and fringe philosophies. Many men gravitated toward these, insecurity and doubt replaced by aggression and intolerance; fear and uncertainty replaced by guns and testosterone.

Christian nationalism  ever present through American history  became a small but influential cult within the military during this period, repackaged in reactionary alt-right politics, but with the same old message as always: There is but one true faith, and America is its beacon.

Ive encountered such people for years: The young petty officer who argued the founders meant freedom of religion to apply only to Christians while I was deployed aboard U.S.S. Essex; the Marine reservist who asserted that, historically, Christianitys adherents only become violent when forced to defend their faith; the Army Special Forces major who lectured me at a forward operating base about how Islam was the greatest threat to Western civilization; the airman with the tattoo of an armored Templar, helping me load gear onto a contracted turboprop at an airfield in Africa.

Hegseth, too, became an adherent.

Much discourse about Hegseths nomination has centered around his ink, his Jerusalem Cross and his Deus Vult tattoos.

People have been fighting over the meaning of the Crusades and hijacking their imagery and symbols for a thousand years, and theyll likely do it for a thousand more. Good luck sorting it out to everyones satisfaction. But if you are surprised that devout Christians pop up with symbols of their faith tattooed on their body, you probably havent spent much time around the military.

Obviously there is more to this than Hegseth just really liking Orlando Blooms performance in Kingdom of Heaven, or being a fan of the Swedish author Jan Guillous crusader novel, The Road to Jerusalem. Atavistic fantasizing about Templars, or keeping Outremer out of the hands of Saracens, doesnt have a lot of relevance to modern defense policy.

But Hegseths writings and statements do.

His book American Crusade calls for a holy war for the righteous cause of human freedom.

Yeah, ok. I like freedom. Tell me more.

Our present moment is much like the 11th Century. We dont want to fight, but, like our fellow Christians one thousand years ago, we must, Hegseth writes.

Hmm. A lot of inexactitude in two sentences, but I get it. Reluctant warriors. So whats our target, Major?

Islamism is the most dangerous threat to freedom in the world. It cannot be negotiated with, coexisted with, or understood; it must be exposed, marginalized, and crushed American leftists insist on pursuing the very same policies that led to the cultural invasion in Europe.

Well, ok then. Were gonna invade modernity and lay siege to multicultural liberalism, not liberate Jerusalem from infidels. Got it.

The National Guard took a dim view of Hegseths tattoos in the context of vetting soldiers assigned to the inauguration of Joe Biden in 2021.

The phrase Deus Vult is associated with Supremacist groups in which White-Supremacist use of #DeusVult and a return to medieval Catholicism, is to invoke a white Christian (i.e. Catholic) medieval past that wishes to ignore the actual demographics and theological state of Catholicism today, wrote Master Sgt. DeRicko Gaither, charged with identifying insider threats, in an email to commanders explaining concerns over Hegseth.

Although religious intolerance and ethnic chauvinism often go hand-in-hand, calling Hegseth a white supremacist is a stretch, and lacks nuance. He is a militant Christian nationalist.

In case there are doubts: Our American Crusade is not about literal swords, and our fight is not with guns. Yet, Hegseth writes in his book, himself adding the emphasis to yet.

What did America think was going to happen when it sent warriors out into the world to battle Islamic extremists for two decades, watching friends die or lose limbs, only to realize in the end all that suffering and sacrifice accomplished nothing noble or worthwhile?

Some of Americas warriors are lost. They dont know where were going or how were getting there. But they hear a clear voice coming over the navigation system, and its saying: Make a hard right turn onto Christian Militant Lane.

Wokeism and War Crimes

I asked an Air Force officer if he thought the War on Woke was the descendant of the War on Terror. He scoffed, saying the only place people still talk about GWOT is in VFW halls.

But when I mentioned the plan to prosecute leaders for the Afghanistan withdrawal, it clicked. Well, getting stuck in Kabul, I took that personally, and may not be 100 percent opposed to that, he said.

Several military members Rolling Stone spoke with deride Hegseths focus on culture war bullshit, with one saying that combating Wokeism as the imaginary reason he thinks responsible for our loss in GWOT was just a modern version of the old Dolchstoss myth, the stab-in-the-back legend that became pervasive across Germany in the aftermath of World War I  the belief that the German Army wasnt defeated on the battlefield, rather, it was betrayed by communists and Jews on the homefront.

The current, Americanized version of this myth blames the nations failures on DEI, or Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies  and still communists, but only in the sense that communist is now just a generic pejorative. And it informs the worldview in which Hegseth confidently exclaims: Im straight up just saying, we shouldnt have women in combat roles.

In his 2024 book, the Fox News contributor put it in expressly partisan terms: Do we really want only the woke diverse recruits that the Biden administration is curating to be the ones with the guns and the guidons?

In this world, the enemy is feminists, gays, diversity, vegans, soy milk  anything and everything that distracts the warfighter from executing pure violence to achieve the mission of protecting America. Like the Laws of Armed Conflict.

There isnt much new to say about Hegseths involvement in getting several convicted or accused war criminals pardoned by Trump during his first term. Its surreal to have to point out the prevailing view in the military  for ethical, legal, and practical reasons  remains that war crimes are bad, actually.

You can always find puffed-up poseurs in the military, swaggering around saying war has no rules. But that idea is problematic in a professional military unit. Few want to serve beside an armed psychopath with no regard for human life, who enjoys torturing or executing prisoners or murdering civilians  which is why in the cases of the three people Trump pardoned, members of their own units testified against them.

Hegseths claim that the woke laws of war are why America hasnt won a war since World War II makes little sense. Even General Douglas MacArthur  not exactly known for his Marxist proclivities  personally signed the order to hang an American soldier convicted of murdering civilians during World War II. In all, there were more than 140 such executions for violations of the Articles of War  rape, murder, or both  from 1941 to 1945.

Its true that no amount of renaming military bases, ordering stand-downs to address extremism, or revising the policies on trans servicemembers would have won Afghanistan. Banning the transgendered, whining about women passing Ranger School, or gloves-off war-criming wouldnt have done it, either. Perhaps these are important battles in the fight to shape American society, but they are irrelevancies to the actual wars America lost.

But if people want a myth about why that happened, Hegseth has one.

Trumps Generals

Democrats tried, but found it impossible to convince many voters that Trump doesnt love the military. Because he does. He loves the pageantry and trappings of power, he loves thundering boots on parade, and choreographed displays of might. He saluted a North Korean general, for heavens sake. If anything, Trump loves the military a little too much.

At the outset of his first administration, Trump loved his own generals, too. Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn; Maj. Gen. H.R. McMaster; Gen. James Mattis; Gen. John Kelly; Gen. Mark Milley. These are central casting, he said. If Im doing a movie, Id pick you generals.

The public breakup with the men he once called my generals was ugly. Only Milley, who was the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, made it to the end of Trumps term. Hes somewhere toward the top of Trumps enemies list now.

Many of those who served in the first Trump administration endorsed his opponent, Kamala Harris, in the last election. They warned he was a fascist and a threat to democracy.

Trump has little interest in arcane debates about the role of the military in a constitutional republic with enshrined civil liberties. Hegseth will serve at his pleasure.

The gangster mentality of absolute loyalty or retribution will feed on the anti-establishment rage that is coursing through much of the armed forces. Hegseth will be the tool Trump uses to purge the Pentagon, and many will cheer him on.

The real test will come when protesters are out in the streets, and the president calls on the defense secretary to deploy the military to quell civil unrest.

Thats not hypothetical. It already happened once under Trump, in June 2020, when the 82nd Airborne was called out to deal with Black Lives Matter protesters rampaging in Washington D.C. At the time, Defense Secretary Mark Esper was able to put the kibosh on the deployment, in the belief that using the military against throngs of unarmed protesters was a step too far. He didnt make it to the end of Trumps term, either.

The question lingering in the mind of those Ive spoken to is this: When Trump calls on Hegseth and asks him to use the military against his fellow citizens, what will he do?

Pete Hegseth knows the answer to that question.

The American people should know it, too.

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Nov. 22WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) and U.S. Sen.Steve Daines (R-MT) led a letter urging Congress to pass the Supporting National Security with Spectrum Act to fully fund the "Rip and Replace" program to remove Chinese equipment from our telecommunications networks.

The lawmakers wrote, "It is estimated that there are over 6,000 sites across the United States in need of this funding. Without it, Chinese equipment will continue to pose a significant national security risk to the United States homeland. Additionally, several recipients of previously deployed funding would have to shut down their networks, leaving many rural and remote areas of the country without access to basic broadband services."

Read the full text of the letter here.
Nov. 23 (UPI) -- Philippines Vice President Sara Duterte said Saturday if she is killed, she has contracted an assassin to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife Liza Araneta-Marcos and House of Representatives Speaker Martin Romualdez.

The Presidential Security Command referred the "active threat" by the 46-year-old Duterte to the Presidential Security Command.

"Acting on the Vice President's clear and unequivocal statement that she had contracted an assassin to kill the President if an alleged plot against her succeeds, the Executive Secretary has referred this active threat to the Presidential Security Command for immediate proper action," according to a statement. "Any threat to the life of the President must always be taken seriously, more so that this threat has been publicly revealed in clear and certain terms.

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In a statement later Saturday, the PSC said Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin implemented tighter security measures.

"Pursuant to the directive of the Executive Secretary, the Presidential Security Command (PSC) has heightened and strengthened its security protocols. We are also closely coordinating with law enforcement agencies to detect, deter, and defend against any and all threats to the President and the First Family," the PSC said.

Duterte made the threat in an online news conference Friday, saying "I have talked to someone. I told him that if I am killed, he should kill [Marcos Jr.], Liza Araneta and Martin Romualdez. No joke. I already left instructions."

Tingog Party-List Rep. Jude Acidre said: "What happened was a meltdown, plain and simple."

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Duterte has criticized Romualdez for allegedly ordering a lockdown of the House premises, which she said delayed medical response for her detained chief of staff Zuleika Lopez.

Lopez has been detained since being cited for contempt due to "undue interference" in the House probe into alleged misuse of confidential funds by Duterte. He was initially taken to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center for evaluation.

Duterte had decided to stay at the Batasang Pambansa.

Romualdez is the president's ally and cousin.

Marcos Jr, 67, is the son of Ferdinand Marcos, who was president from 1965 to 1986.

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Marcos ran with Duterte as his vice presidential running mate in the May 2022 elections and they won by a landslide.

But the two have had a falling out. She has said Marcos Jr. is unfit for office.

Her father is former President Rodrigo Duterte, who ended his six-year term in 2022. He is not allowed to run for a second term.

In his war on drug, he saw 6,252 people killed by unknown gunmen and police operations.

Duterte, 79, wants to become mayor of Davao City again.
The vice-president of the Philippines has hired a hitman to kill the countrys president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, his wife and the speaker of the house, in the event she is assassinated.

Describing how she contracted an assassin as a kind of insurance policy for her own protection, Sara Duterte said: Ive given my order. If I die, dont stop until youve killed them. And he said, yes.

She insisted the warning was not a joke.

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Ms Dutertes brazen public threat signals just how deep the rift has become between the two leaders of the island nation after their landslide election victory in 2022.

She is the daughter of former president Rodrigo Duterte, a firebrand politician whose anti-drugs crackdown ended in the deaths of thousands of people.

The International Criminal Court is investigating whether those actions amount to possible crimes against humanity.

Sara Duterte insists her warning against the president and his allies is not a joke - Aaron Favila/AP

Mr Marcos Jr is the son of late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos, who ruled the country under martial law before being overthrown in a popular uprising in 1986.

After making a pact to win the election, the pair have had a serious falling out over disagreements in policy approaches, including how Manila should handle Chinese territorial aggression in the international waters of the South China Sea.

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The Philippine presidential security command said it considered Ms Dutertes threat a matter of national security, and immediately boosted its security for Mr Marcos Jr.

The security force said it was co-ordinating with law enforcement agencies to detect, deter and defend against any and all threats to the president and the first family.

Ms Duterte has also opposed Mr Marcos Jrs wife, Liza Araneta-Marcos and house speaker Martin Romualdez, alleging corruption, incompetence and political persecution of her family and their allies.

Her assassination threat comes shortly after Zuleika Lopez, her chief of staff, was detained by Mr Marcos Jrs allies in the house.

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Ms Lopez is accused of impeding a congressional inquiry into whether she misused the budget in her prior posts as vice-president and education secretary.

The dramatic political spat has prompted Romeo Brawner, the Philippine military chief, to assure that the countrys armed forces remained non-partisan and retained utmost respect for our democratic institutions and civilian authority.

We call for calm and resolve, Mr Brawner said. We reiterate our need to stand together against those who will try to break our bonds as Filipinos.

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 trends for the general assembly election results in Jharkhand and Maharashtra predict a win for Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led Mahagathbandhan and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Mahayuti, respectively. The counting of votes in seven assembly constituencies for by-election in Rajasthan is also underway. Reacting to this, Rajasthan BJP President Madan Rathore on Saturday said that people have voted for "Modi ki Guarantee." He expressed confidence in the BJP forming the government with a majority in states where general assembly elections were held recently. In Rajasthan, people have shown faith in the announcements made by Chief Minister BhajanLal Sharma in the budget, the senior BJP leader said. "People have voted for 'Modi ki guarantee' in all the places. We are going to win the majority and form our government. I am confident that here in the state, we will win. People have shown faith in CM Bhajanlal's announcements in the budget and 'Modi ki guarantee'," Rajasthan BJP President Madan Rathore told ANI. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MP Sanjay Raut on Saturday expressed concerns over the trends emerging from the counting of votes in Maharashtra for the recently held assembly elections, saying that they have done 'gadbad' to steal Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) seats. He said that such results are being imposed because this cannot be the decision of the people of Maharashtra. Raut further questioned the number of seats NCP and Shinde's Shiv Sena were getting, saying that the public doesn't agree with these results. "They have done some 'gadbad', they have stolen some of our seats. This cannot be the public's decision. Even the public does not agree with these results. Once the results are out, we will talk more. In every election seat, money-counting machines were installed. Is it possible that Shinde will get 60 seats, Ajit Pawar will get 40 seats and BJP will get 125 seats? The people of this state are not dishonest. We have their faith in the people of Maharashtra," Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut told mediapersons in Mumbai. (ANI)
There were speeches, music, prayers, a shared meal, awards, remembrances and fellowship when about 200 people gathered for The Salvation Army Corps of Johnstowns annual Veterans Appreciation Luncheon Thursday.

They put on a tremendous show, Veteran Community Initiatives President Tom Caulfield said. Everyone comes and is comfortable. You have all of the leading veterans advocates talking about some of the positive things that are happening in this community, and there are a lot of positive things working with the community, the school districts that are here today. Its a networking opportunity.

Theres no one that can match that.

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The gathering at Richland Township Fire Departments banquet hall included performances by the Conemaugh Valley Elementary School chorus.

We believe that its super-important that we recognize our veterans and that the youth of America get to meet them and understand what the veterans have done for us, Salvation Army Maj. Don Sanderson said. Its so important that we combine the kids with the older folks and we recognize the service of our veterans and we get the kids to understand what their sacrifice really means in this country. Its super-important to all of us.

Army Col. Michael Girvin, commander of the 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade, spoke about the importance of citizen-soldiers, saying, Our National Guard can serve the community and thats an opportunity to our residents in our commonwealth to have a purpose greater than themselves.

Heather Tomasko (John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport), Amy Canavan (James E. Van Zandt Veterans Affairs Medical Center) and Bill Petruniak (Marine Corps League Conemaugh Valley Detachment 287) received Edward Cernic Sr. Community Support Recognition Awards.

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Retired Army Lt. Col. Scott Eberhart and retired Army SP4 Andrew Kasper got The Salvation Army Give Back Awards.

People everywhere tell veterans, Thank you for your service,  Eberhart said. I always feel humbled when I hear that. I often respond, Thank you for paying your taxes. Thank you for a strong economy. Thank you for affording me the opportunity, for all of us the opportunity to serve in the various branches of the military. 

Dave Sutor is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at 814-532-5056. Follow him on Twitter @Dave_Sutor.
PRESTONBURG, Ky. (FOX 56)  Authorities provided an update regarding a missing Pike County man.

In an update to a Facebook post, Kentucky State Police Trooper Coleman said Michael Fogleman had been located as of around 3 p.m. on Nov. 24.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

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Kentucky State Police is searching for a missing Pike County man.

 MISSING IN KENTUCKY

On Friday, Kentucky State Police said the Pikeville Post asked for help finding 26-year-old Michael Fogleman of Virgie.

A news release said KSP Post 9 was first contacted about Fogleman on Nov. 16.

Fogleman is described as a 6-foot, 1-inch tall, 188-pound white man with brown hair and eyes.

Michael Fogleman (Via Kentucky State Police)

According to authorities, he was last seen on Nov. 12 in Prestonsburg.

Anyone with information about his location is asked to contact the KSP Pikeville Post at 606-433-7711.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News.
Polish Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski has condemned Russia's launch of a new experimental ballistic missile on Ukraine, describing the attack as "an act of desperation".

Source: Sikorski in an interview with the Voice of America, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Sikorski was asked whether he considered the recent Russian strike on Dnipro, which involved a new ballistic missile, as an escalation in the war.

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In response, the Polish foreign minister said, "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," he said.

Sikorski added that he is currently observing the Russian economy experiencing "real stress". He also noted reports of desertions among Russian soldiers, emphasising that "inviting mercenaries from North Korea is not exactly a sign of strength".

Background:

Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin stated that Russian forces had used an Oreshnik medium-range missile during the morning attack on Dnipro on 21 November.

The Pentagon explained that Russia had launched an experimental intermediate-range ballistic missile, based on the RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile, on Dnipro.

Earlier, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stressed that "the events of the last few dozen hours" point to a "real threat of global conflict".

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Police have arrested the man accused of shooting and killing a 20-year-old mom and her 4-month-old baby from Massachusetts in Hartford.

Hartford Police announced that the U.S. Marshals found Lance Morales, 23, of Waterbury, in Puerto Rico.

According to police, officers were called to Hartford Hospital for a report of a vehicle arriving with multiple gunshot victims just before 3 p.m. on November 19.

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Two of the three victims were pronounced dead at the hospital. They were identified as 20-year-old Jessiah Mercado and her baby, Messiah Diaz, both of Springfield.

The third victim, a male in his 20s, suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. The driver of the vehicle was uninjured.

Police arrest man accused of shooting, killing Mass mom, her infant child in Hartford

According to police, the victims were shot while in a vehicle after the suspect vehicle pulled alongside them and opened fire in the area of 380 New Britain Avenue.

Morales is being charged with criminal possession of a firearm, assault, criminal attempt to commit assault, two counts of murder, and murder with special circumstances.

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He is being held on a $3 million bond and is waiting to be extradited to Connecticut.

An investigation into the shooting remains 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.

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Nov. 22A Manchester man was arrested after he barricaded himself inside a house on River Road Friday morning and threatened to harm himself and others, police said.

Jamie Gerrard, 51, was charged with domestic violence-related criminal threatening and resisting arrest, according to a Friday news release.

The incident began around 9:30 a.m. when officers responded to 1507 River Road for a report of a man who was threatening harm, officials said. When they arrived, the man was alone inside the house but hung up the phone on police when they attempted to speak with him by phone.

Police then formed a perimeter around the house and blocked off nearby streets, according the the report. Negotiators were able to make contact with the man and convince him to come outside, and he was taken into custody.
SEEKONK, Mass. (WPRI)  A man was arrested after allegedly assaulting a woman at a Seekonk motel early Friday morning, according to police.

Officers responded to the Motel 6 on Fall River Avenue around 1:30 a.m. after receiving a 911 hang-up call. Upon arrival, police located a woman in one of the hallways who claimed she had been assaulted by a man armed with a gun.

Police told 12 News the suspect pointed the gun at the victims head while strangling her, but she was not seriously injured.

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The suspect, identified as 37-year-old Corey L. Soares of Punta Gorda, Florida, fled the motel when officers arrived.

Gun seized by Seekonk Police on Nov. 22, 2024. (Courtesy: Seekonk Police Department)

Corey Soares, 37, of Punta Gorda, FL. (Courtesy: Seekonk Police Department)

During their investigation, police searched the motel room and found a loaded firearm.

Later that afternoon, around 2 p.m., officers spotted Soares entering a Panera Bread on Highland Avenue. Police said officers engaged Soares inside the restaurant and confirmed it was him before taking him into custody.

Soares is facing several charges, including the following:

(Courtesy: Seekonk Police Department)

Assault with a dangerous weapon

Domestic assault and battery

Domestic strangulation or suffocation

Possession of a large-capacity firearm

Assault to murder, firearm-armed

Firearm violation with three prior violent or drug-related crimes

Possession of ammunition without an FID card

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Police said Soares drove away in a green 2001 Ford F150 bearing a Florida plate #33EKYT. The truck has not yet been found, according to police, and anyone with information regarding the location is urged to contact the department at (508) 336-8123.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com.
Nov. 22AUBURN  Wet roads were blamed for a three-vehicle pileup that left one driver with injuries early Friday morning on the Maine Turnpike in Auburn.

The 12:30 a.m. wreck at mile marker 75 northbound left the turnpike reduced to one lane in that area for 2 1/2 hours.

Police said the driver of a passenger vehicle headed north appeared to have lost control and spun out before coming to rest in the roadway. That vehicle was then struck by a box truck, which then skidded into a tractor-trailer, police said.

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"After striking the tractor-trailer unit, the box truck rolled over the guardrail coming to rest partially down an embankment," according to a Maine State Police press release.

The driver of the box truck was taken to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston with injuries described as non-life-threatening. There were no other injuries, police said.

Police did not identify any of the drivers involved in the wreck.

Police said speed and wet road conditions were contributing factors in the crash, which remains under investigation.

State Police were assisted at the scene by the Maine Turnpike Authority, State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement and the Auburn Fire Department.

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Auburn man sentenced to life in prison for Poland double murders

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WARREN, Ohio (WKBN)  Warren police investigated a report of shots fired in the city early Thursday morning.

According to a police report, it happened around 2:30 a.m. in the area of Parkman Road NW and Stiles Street NW.

Two witnesses reported hearing six to eight gunshots and seeing two vehicles following each other. The vehicles were a dark-colored truck with a cab and a black Chevy Impala, the report stated.

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The vehicles then continued southbound on Parkman Road and made a turn onto W. Market Street.

Police found a .40-caliber shell casing on Parkman Road near Stiles Street. The casing was collected as evidence.

Officers were unable to find any further evidence in the area but are continuing to investigate.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
(WHTM)  State Police are investigating reports of seven dirt bikes being stolen in York County.

According to a PSP release, on November 21, authorities were notified of stolen dirt bikes on the 400 block of Huffmanville Road in Codorus Township, York County. The release says an investigation by the York Patrol Unit determined that seven dirt bikes were stolen from a detached garage between 12 a.m. and 4 a.m. on Nov. 21. Below are pictures of four of the seven stolen dirt bikes.

The release says one dirt bike was recovered nearby in a cornfield.

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According to the release, witnesses described two vehicles involved in this incident, including a white or silver 2000-2010 Chevrolet pickup truck with an extended cab. Witnesses say the pickup had a short bed with ladder racks and was in poor condition. The other vehicle involved was a white, newer model Honda Accord or Civic. The release says both vehicles were seen fleeing south on Maryland State Route 27 and traveling to Westminster, MD.

The Pennsylvania State Police are asking anyone with information on this incident to contact Trooper Matthew Johnson at 717-428-1011.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Congress leader Jagdish Tytler is accused in this case. He appeared through video conferencing. Special CBI Judge Jitendra Singh was informed by the CBI that the summons could not be served to prosecution witness Manmohan Kaur at her address.

The CBI sought time to make an effort to serve the summon again to the witness. The court granted time.

Meanwhile, the court has summoned other prosecution witnesses Dharam Chandrasekar and Ravi Sharma for the next date. The next date is December 2.

On November 12, the court concluded the recording of the cross-examination of Lakhvinder Kaur, widow of Badal Singh who was killed by a mob at Gurudwara Pul Bangash during the 1984 Anti-Sikh riots. Badal Singh was a ragi in the Gurudwara Pul Bangash.

This case is linked with the killings of three Sikhs at Gurudwara Pul Bangash in 1984. The Rouse Avenue court had framed charges against Congress leader Jagdish Tytler on September 13.

The CBI had filed a supplementary charge sheet against Congress leader Jagdish Tytler in May 2023.

The agency had filed the supplementary charge without arresting Tytler. He was summoned by the court after taking Cognizance of the charge sheet. He was granted bail in the court after he appeared.

This case is related to the 1984 riots which took place after assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on 31 October 1984. (ANI)
'People Magazine Investigates' looks into the serial murders of Billy Chemirmir

Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News via AP Billy Chemirmir Billy Chemirmir

Mary Bartel, 91, was an early riser.

On the morning of March 19, 2018, the feisty grandmother woke up at 4:30 a.m., took her blood pressure and then went for her daily walk around the grounds of the Preston Place Retirement Community in Plano, Texas.

She then drove to a 6:30 a.m. church mass before returning to her first-floor apartment she'd once shared with her husband before he passed away.

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Bartel was at her computer writing an email when she heard someone incessantly knocking on her door.

I opened the door and I saw this man with his green rubber gloves on, she later told authorities. I tried to push back but Im 91-years-old and he is young and muscular. And he just said, 'Dont fight me. Just get on the bed.'

Fearful, Bartel complied.

The man then grabbed a pillow and attempted to smother her  and the horrific story is the subject of the upcoming episode of People Magazine Investigates. Titled "A Serial Killers Playbook," the episode premieres Monday, November 25 at 9/8c on ID. (An exclusive clip is shown below.)

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 felt as though I could not breathe, she said. I thought I would die. I am not afraid to die but I didnt want to die that way.

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Convinced that Bartel was dead, the man stole some jewelry before fleeing the retirement complex.

AP Photo/LM Otero, Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News/Pool via AP Chemirmir victims Lu Thi Harris, Leah Corken, Mary Brooks Chemirmir victims Lu Thi Harris, Leah Corken, Mary Brooks

When Bartel didnt show up to her exercise class, a friend stopped by to check on her and found her unconscious, but still breathing.

Dallas County Jail Billy Chemirmir

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As she was transported to the hospital, she regained consciousness and told authorities about her brutal ordeal.

Ultimately, the attack on Bartel changed everything for law enforcement.

Before the attempted murder of Bartel, more than six women died at the same retirement complex, but police assumed they'd died from natural causes.

The same day of Bartels attack, police learned of another suspicious death. Ann Conklin, 82, who lived in the apartment across the hall from Bartel, was found dead in her apartment by her daughter. Her ring and watch were missing.

Police canvassed the complex and learned that the son of a resident reported a stranger loitering in the parking lot a few days earlier.

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The witness had written down a license plate for the strangers Nissan Altima.

Investigators ran the license plate number and discovered the vehicle was registered to Billy Chemirmir, a former health care worker who'd moved to the United States in 2003 from Kenya.

The following day, on March 20, Chemirmir was arrested in the parking lot of his Dallas apartment complex after authorities watched him toss into the dumpster a distinct red wooden jewelry box with Asian markings.

Legal papers found in the jewelry box tied him to the murder of 81-year-old Lu Thi Harris, who was found smothered to death with a pillow in her bedroom.

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Related: How an Accused Serial Killer Allegedly Snuck into Senior Living Facilities to Murder 22 People

In total, Chemirmir was charged with the murders of 22 seniors between 2016 and 2018.

Authorities alleged that Chemirmir targeted elderly people living in upscale senior living facilities. He would allegedly dress as a maintenance worker or health care aide and kill his victims before robbing them. Because the victims were between 76 and 94, their deaths weren't investigated thoroughly, with most people believing they'd died of natural causes.

He was convicted of killing two elderly women, including Harris, NBC5 reported.

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Chemirmir, 50, was found murdered in his Texas prison cell by his cellmate in September 2023, per the Associated Press.



People Magazine Investigates: A Serial Killer's Playbook premieres Monday, November 25 at 9/8c on ID.
Pope Francis is set to visit the French island of Corsica next month to participate in a congress on religiosity in the Mediterranean region and celebrate Mass, the Vatican announced on Saturday.

The island has never received a visit from a pope.

Francis will meet French President Emmanuel Macron during the one-day trip on December 15. A brief meeting is planned shortly before Francis's return to Rome at the airport in the island's capital, Ajaccio.

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A week before Francis's visit to Corsica, the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris will be reopened following a lengthy restoration after a devastating fire in 2019.

Macron had initially expected the pope to attend the grand ceremony. But in September the pope made it clear that he would not participate and would instead appoint new cardinals at a Vatican function on December 7.

Francis visited France last year. During the visit to Marseille he met Macron for a short discussion.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Portland police arrested a car theft suspect who is accused of causing multiple crashes and serious injuries on Friday.

David A. Callaway, 27, is facing multiple charges  including car theft and assault  and was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center.

Police said he was located with another person as a passenger in an allegedly stolen 2025 BMW X6. The passenger, 21-year-old Brooklyn J. Williams, was also booked into jail on multiple warrants, authorities said.

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Trump picks Chavez-DeRemer to oversee Labor Dept.

Police said what began as a stolen vehicle investigation culminated in drivers from two different Toyota Priuses being sent to the hospital with serious injuries and another unoccupied car getting damaged in a crash.

Just after 10 a.m., a public safety support specialist responded to a report of a stolen car near Northwest Marshall Street and Northwest 13th Avenue. After locating the BMW and seeing people inside it, he requested backup from police officers.

The driver allegedly sped off recklessly just as officers were arriving to the scene. Police said he intentionally eluded law enforcement, despite officers activating emergency lights.

Side view of a black BMW crossover SUV with heavy front end damage, airbags deployed, and vehicle debris strewn across the pavement, a PPB vehicle pinning it against another vehicle. November 22, 2024 (courtesy Portland Police Bureau). Front view of the damage to the BMW. November 22, 2023 (courtesy Portland Police Bureau). Front view of damaged victim vehicle on its side. November 22, 2024 (courtesy Portland Police Bureau). Top view of damaged Toyota with a field of vehicle debris. November 22, 2024 (courtesy Portland Police Bureau).

Rather than giving chase, the first arriving officer quickly deactivated his lights in an effort to encourage the driver to slow down, Portland Police Bureau said in a release.

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The driver continued recklessly driving, causing a minor, non-injury crash at Northwest 16th and Northrup, then left the scene in a hit and run, police said. After that, the driver was allegedly involved in another crash with two Toyota sedans at Northwest 17th Avenue and Northwest Lovejoy Street.

A complete timeline of St. Helens sex abuse scandal

One of the Toyotas was struck so hard it rolled onto its side, police said. After the crash, a PPB officer pulled his vehicle up to pin the stolen car in case the reckless driver tried to drive off again.

The driver allegedly tried to flee on foot. However, numerous officers were coming into the area and they were able to surround and arrest him.

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Callaway was charged with two counts of second-degree assault, two counts of failure to perform the duties of a driver (one for injury and one for property damage), unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, possession of a stolen vehicle, two counts of reckless endangering, possession of methamphetamine, and past warrants.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Workers at a Portland-area grocery chain plan to launch a strike just ahead of Thanksgiving.

On Friday, the New Seasons Labor Union announced that staff at multiple stores throughout the city are set to participate in a Unfair Labor Practice Strike on Wednesday, Nov. 27  one of the busiest days for grocery shopping this year.

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The union reported the strike comes after New Seasons Market has committed numerous ongoing unfair labor practices. According to a statement from NSLU Co-Chair Ava Robins, the company has refused to offer employees a deal that would prevent the strike.

Along with the one-day strike, the 1,100-member labor organization is asking shoppers to boycott the chain throughout the holiday season.

We have always had support from our community in our fight for a fair contract, and the number one way that customers can support us now is by refusing to shop at New Seasons this holiday season, and joining us on the picket line on Wednesday, Sellwood Chapter Representative Jimbo Heiner said in the announcement.

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These 11 locations will be affected by the strike, which received 82% approval in the authorization vote.

6400 N Interstate Ave, Portland, OR 97217

3495 SW Cedar Hills Blvd, Beaverton, OR 97005

5320 NE 33rd Ave, Portland, OR 97211

3210 NE Broadway, Portland, OR 97232

4034 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214

1214 SE Tacoma St, Portland, OR 97202

1954 SE Division St, Portland, OR 97202

2170 NW Raleigh St, Portland, OR 97210

6300 N Lombard St, Portland, OR 97203

4500 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland, OR 97206

3445 N Williams Ave, Portland, OR 97227

Workers at 10 of these 11 stores, all but the University Park location, most recently launched a one-day strike in early September.

Margaret Atwoods OSU event goes virtual due to anonymous threats of violence

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The employees first began unionizing in 2022. Since then, union members have alleged New Seasons has offered just a $0.25-cent increase on starting wages while reducing benefits like holiday pay.

The chain previously told KOIN 6 it made multiple efforts to reach an agreement with the union.

In an updated statement from New Seasons on Sunday, the company noted that some facts presented by the union had been misrepresented. They sought to clarify the comprehensive resources provided to employees, including a wage increase every six months for hourly staff as well as holiday pay.

The statement continued, touching on the NLRB allegations as well as perceived progress in making agreements.

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As we have since the very beginning, we continue to approach collective bargaining in good faith, committed to creating a contract that fairly represents the interests of all parties. We have consistently met with NSLU at mutually agreed-upon times, adhering to and responding to their topics. Of the charges the NLRB has investigated from the NSLU, each case has resulted in either dismissal or withdrawal, and we believe that any further allegations of unfair labor practices will be determined unfounded.

First-time contracts are inherently challenging, particularly when working with newly formed, independent, worker-led unions operating without legal representation. Separately, but similarly, the recent Burgerville contract required more than three years to reach ratification. That said, we are making tangible progress. To date, we have reached sixteen tentative agreements and remain committed to finding common ground.

To avert the strike, the union says the company will have until Monday to respond to and accept their newest proposals.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Attendees at a rally for transgender rights carry flags in support of LGBTQ+ rights. | Kyle Davidson

Originally published by The 19th

This story was published in partnership with Them.

Reached by phone in the days following the election, LGBTQ+ movement leaders promised they are more prepared than ever to face off against a second Trump administration.

Were ready, said Heron Greenesmith, deputy director of policy at the Transgender Law Center, a civil rights organization. We did extensive scenario planning, internal and external. We did safety planning internally. We did scenario planning with partners, cross movement, inter movement, trans specific, LGBT.

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For transgender Americans, the moment feels particularly vulnerable. President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to end what he has termed transgender insanity and cut Medicaid and Medicare funding to health providers offering gender-affirming health care on his first day in office.

The result is that many trans Americans are reeling, feeling that the country has elected a man set on wiping them off the face of the earth.

Responding to the election, Sarah Warbelows voice broke.

Theres so much love, she said. Love is still out there, and that is not what this election was about.

Warbelow isnt transgender. But her daughter is. And as the vice president of legal for the nations largest LGBTQ+ rights organization, the Human Rights Campaign, Warbelow will be tasked with shoring up protections for queer Americans as Trump retakes office.

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Warbelows tone turned from teary to defiant as she talked about a slew of political ads attacking transgender Americans, many of them run by Trump and his surrogates. They dont represent the feelings of the nation, she said.

A majority of voters found the anti-trans advertisements were just mean-spirited, she said.

But Kierra Johnson, president of the National LGBTQ Task Force, one of the communitys largest organizations focused on field organizing and political change, said 2024 is nothing like 2016 when Trump was first elected.

The strategies are already in motion across movements, Johnson said.

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Yes, we should be worried, Johnson said, adding that Project 2025, the blueprint for a second Trump term written by his former advisors, makes extremely concerning suggestions about how to approach LGBTQ+ rights. They put it in black and white. If we dont take that as serious, then thats on us. Whether they execute or not, thats something else.

Advocates said there are a number of things trans people can do immediately to protect their rights and safety before January. Heres how the nations LGBTQ+ leaders feel things will go in the top policy areas impacting trans people and how trans folks can prepare ahead of January 2025.

Identification and gender markers

For people who need updated gender markers on their identification or have already obtained them, Greenesmith advised looking at state laws first if there are questions.

The laws in your state will impact a lot of everything else, including whether or not you can get your name and gender changed to match, Greenesmith said.

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Some have expressed fears that having an X gender marker on a drivers license or passport instead of the formerly standard M or F will make them a target in the new administration. Advocates advise that deciding on a gender marker is an incredibly personal decision. Some noted that removing the X might make one feel safer, but would be unlikely to erase the paper trail of a gender marker change in government records. In other words, if a trans person was trying to change a marker to conceal their gender identity from the federal government, updating gender markers would likely have minimal impact.

Advocates for Transgender Equality has a full ID resources library with a state-by-state drop-down menu, as does Trans Lifeline, to help people navigate local laws. Both are nonprofit civil rights organizations.

The 19th will continue to provide guidance on IDs, documents and other paperwork as organizations release it.

Freedom to be

Perhaps the greatest fear many trans people have is that simply being transgender will be criminalized. While experts acknowledge that its reasonable to be scared, they expressed that the federal government doesnt have the same resources states have to target transgender people individually on the basis of identity alone.

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When you look at the data and the polling, despite what people are pontificating about at this moment, the American public supports the existence of transgender people, Warbelow said. Because Trump has shown himself to be incredibly fickle, its difficult to know at this point exactly what his plans are for carrying out his campaign promises. That said, Warbelow believes that the president-elect does care, on some level, about his popularity with the public.

Warbelow also believes that the administration does not have the levers to target transgender people in the ways that states have aimed to criminalize transgender life.

Greenesmith is quick to add that worst-case scenario fears are already a reality for many of the most marginalized queer people.

This is why we cant catastrophize at this moment, because catastrophization is white supremacy, they said. All the things that White people fear, Black people, Indigenous folks, migrants have been facing for centuries.

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Andrea Jenkins, a Minneapolis City Council member who made history as the first out Black trans woman elected to public office in the United States, said that for Black trans women, that also means coming together and rising up.

What I will say to my sisters out there is we got to stand strong, she said. Weve got to organize. Weve got to build systems of support for each other.

Moving

As some trans people consider relocating, its not easy for people to just do that, said Jamison Green, veteran trans organizer and health expert.

Whether people are considering a move out of the country, or out of state, advocates acknowledge that the laws impacting trans lives in real ways differ from place to place. The 19th will be reporting more deeply on these options in the weeks to come, but Green advises that people in states with trans-friendly laws will be far safer than states with anti-trans laws, if they are able to get to affirming states because so many of the policies impacting trans lives are decided at a state level.

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No matter what, get connected to community, he said.

Organizations on the ground are ready to greet those who do need to move, said Jax Gonzalez, political director at LGBTQ+ statewide equality organization One Colorado.

We know that we are a sanctuary state, and that there are many families who have been coming here from Oklahoma, Florida, Arkansas, Texas, you name it, Missouri, Gonzalez said. We want to ensure that those folks who do come here, that were doing everything that we can to ensure that they are protected and can thrive in community.

Health care

Trump has vowed to cut off federal funding to health providers offering gender-affirming care to transgender people via executive order. Many fear this will mean the end of gender-affirming care like hormones, puberty blockers and surgeries for transgender people on Trumps first day in office.

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Before panicking, experts advise that this will be logistically complicated for the administration to pull off. For one, transgender people are protected by the Supreme Courts 2020 Bostock v. Clayton County decision, which ruled that gender discrimination and sex discrimination are one and the same, meaning if the government barred gender-affirming care for a trans man, it would have to outlaw that same care (testosterone) for a cisgender man.

Further, Green said the feasibility of the federal government tracking everyones prescriptions would get complicated quickly.

The volume of prescriptions that are written in this country, it would be very difficult and time-consuming and costly to track at a federal level.

State controls would have more access, he added. Some people have worried that the administration could threaten pharmacists, especially when it comes to prescriptions for testosterone, which is a schedule III class drug. Off-label use would not be allowed. Green, again, thinks this would be challenging for the administration.

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Most drugs are used off label, and thats a fact, he added. Medicine is an extremely complex field. Its an art as well as a science  this is why we license doctors to use their medical judgment in applying the chemistry of pharmaceuticals to their patients to help them.

Further, Trump attempted to gut transgender health care protections in the Affordable Care Act during his first term. The fight over those protections wound through the courts, and the repeal was finalized in 2020, only to be reversed by President Joe Biden, another rule-making process and fight that took four years.

In short, advocates said its difficult to anticipate how health care policy will play out. But whatever happens is not likely to happen immediately, and all major medical associations back gender-affirming care for transgender people.

Green said there is cause for concern.

But I think we have to not just roll over and let them do it, he said. Whatever, they think theyre going to do, we have to stay fighting for peoples health and rights and social safety.

Marriage and family planning

Marriage will not immediately be at risk in the new administration because of legal precedent and a 2022 law passed by Congress called the Respect for Marriage Act, which requires states to recognize LGBTQ+ marriages already performed, even those from out of state.

If something changes in the future, there will still be time to get married, said Warbelow. That is not something the Trump administration has the power to undo it any immediate term

Still, a couple of Supreme Court justices have expressed interest in overturning Obergefell v. Hodges, the landmark 2015 ruling that established nationwide marriage equality.

Advocates advise that for LGBTQ+ people who want to marry, now is not a bad time to do it.

I think people need to do everything they can to fortify their families and their finances, period, said Johnson, adding that this can be applied to marriages, adoptions, powers of attorney or wills.
Its been a brew-tiful year on the farm as Poverty Knob celebrated its one-year anniversary!

What started as a suggestion has become a community staple and continues bringing visitors to the region.

Poverty Knob Farmhouse Ales said cheers to one year as they celebrated their first anniversary.

The brewery is an extension of Port Farms known for welcoming people of all ages while holding unique events.

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Owner Kelly Port says the last year has been interesting their businesss dynamic has changed now that their facility is open all year round.

Bringing a brewery to Waterford has also boosted business for all of the local small shops.

Port says they have visitors who travel from hours away who now take advantage of everything Waterford has to offer.

Years ago, when we were out on the farm, wed always ask people, what would make your day even better here at Port Farms? They would always jokingly say having a glass of beer or glass of wine. A lot of support from the community, a lot of support from Erie County, a lot of support from Pittsburgh people and people who are traveling up to Chautauqua. We couldnt have been any happier with the response that we got, said Kelly Port, owner of Poverty Knob.

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And while their one-year celebration was Friday night, Port says they have plenty of events planned for the future.

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BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  Concerns over an electrical power line in one Buffalo neighborhood has a city resident calling for action. This came after an incident earlier this month that sent sparks flying.

It was a scare in the middle of the night on the West Side with a power line on Carolina Avenue having a major malfunction, causing popping sounds and sending sparks flying to the ground.

I woke up to the sound of loud banging and tried to make sense of it and eventually got out of bed, said Michael Eder, who captured the above video on his Ring camera. Made my way to the front of the house, saw lights kind of scattered beyond the shades of the window.

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Id like to say I was totally shocked, but since I had seen this happen one time before I thought, oh no, not again,' Eder said.

Another video clip shows sparks repeatedly hitting a car.

Within the hour, National Grid was on scene to inspect the power line and replace a damaged wire. However, Michael says he never got details on the work that was done and doesnt know if the line is safe. Sparks from arcing could cause burns and blindness, and electrical arcing could cause a fire.

Its a huge concern for sure, Eder said. We get heavy foot traffic in this neighborhood. Lots of people are walking on the sidewalk. Houses dont have front yards, kids play on the sidewalk. Theres a lot of kids around.

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Call 4 Action contacted National Grid to address Michaels concerns. Since our inquiry, the utility company has called Michael to answer his questions and did an on-site visit Thursday.

Theyve been great since I contacted you, Eder said.

As a reminder, National Grid says call 911 or your local utility company if you suspect a power line is unsafe.

Latest Local News

Jeff Preval is an award-winning anchor and reporter who joined the News 4 team in December 2021. See more of his work here.

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A pregnant student at Georgetown University has allegedly been told by the prestigious universitys administration she must sit for an in-person exam just days after giving birth.

On Friday (November 22), students at the private university in Washington, D.C. organized a petition on behalf of second-year classmate Brittany Lovely, who is preparing to welcome her first child in early December.

According to the petition, the administration at Georgetown Law had allegedly denied Brittanys request for reasonable accommodations in violation of Title IX, a landmark federal law that prohibits educational institutions from discriminating against students based on sex.

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Lovely, who has an in-person final exam scheduled for December 13, had purportedly requested accommodations to either take the exam early or take the exam from home postpartum. She had contended to take the test at the same time as her in-person classmates on the same date, or on the universitys deferral dates beginning three days later.

Georgetown Law denied her recommendations, stating that it would be inequitable to all the other non-birthing students in her class, the petition read.

Organizers claimed that the administration had suggested Lovely bring her days-old child to campus a few days after birth, with minimal recovery, to take the exam with more time so she can breastfeed her newborn baby during the exam.

Georgetown University Law Center, located in Washington, D.C., allegedly denied a pregnant students request for accomodations leading up to her final exam (Getty Images)

Despite Lovelys professor agreeing to let her take her exam early, Georgetown Law student Divya Goel confirmed on X/Twitter, that the school allegedly told the pregnant law student: Motherhood is not for the faint of heart.

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Lovelys classmates argued that her request for an accommodation was not in violation of Title IX because the statute protects students from discrimination based on current, potential, or past pregnancy or related conditions.

The accommodations Brittany requested (taking the exam early when the finals period begins and/or from home just days after giving birth) are reasonable and are not in any way inequitable, nor do they harm my education at Georgetown, they said.

We urge Georgetown University Law Centers administration to approve her accommodations and hold Georgetown Laws promise of supporting the whole student, including those who are pregnant.

The Independent has contacted Goel and the petitions organizers for comment.

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As listed on the Georgetown Law website, the universitys current Title IX policy prohibits sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and discrimination based on pregnancy or parenting status.

The school also instructs students to request adjustments based on general pregnancy needs or accommodations based on a pregnancy-related condition. These adjustments include larger desks, breaks during class, excusing absences due to pregnancy or related conditions, rescheduling tests or exams, submitting work after a deadline missed due to pregnancy or childbirth, or providing alternatives to make up missed work.

Accommodations at Georgetown Law are directed to the schools Accessibility Services, which requires students to complete a request form and speak with the Law Centers deputy Title IX coordinator.

In a statement to The Independent, a university spokesperson said: Georgetown is committed to providing a caring, supportive environment for pregnant and parenting students. We have reached a mutually agreeable solution with the student who raised concerns.

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Most recently, efforts to expand protections for LGBT+ students under Title IX have been blocked by courts and conservative grassroots organizations, such as Moms For Liberty.

In August, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a ruling by lower courts in Louisiana and Kentucky that allowed 26 states to temporarily block President Joe Bidens efforts to protect transgender students from discrimination.

The Biden administration unveiled the new rules in 2021, which aimed to redefine sex discrimination under Title IX to include sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB)  November is National Native American Heritage Month and some locals are taking the opportunity to share their heritage.

Native Americans use this month to celebrate and preserve their traditions, languages, and stories.

Panama City resident, Ronald Scott is a Vietnam veteran and a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. He spends most of his time teaching his native language.

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Community unites for 41st annual Empty Stocking Fund Fundraiser

On Friday morning, Scott gave a presentation at Panama City Hall, educating locals about what it means to be a Choctaw Indian.

He believes there is hope for the future.

The younger generation are becoming more and more proud of who they are. Like in the 1900s, 1800s. They became ashamed of being an Indian because the American people tried to make them Americans and not Indians took away their culture, Scott said.

Scott is opening his Choctaw language classes to the community. He is offering a new session beginning early next year. If youre interested, email RScott0320@gmail.com.

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The trends for the 2024 general assembly elections in Jharkhand have started to emerge where the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led Mahagathbandhan has crossed the halfway mark. Jharkhand Congress in-charge Ghulam Ahmad Mir said that the number of seats and the margin of votes for his party will increase. Mir said that there are approximately 20 rounds of counting in total and the counting has happened for just two or three rounds. He further added that Congress will be able to add five to six more seats by the end of the vote count. "These are early trends, we have just entered the second or third rounds of counting, there are approximately 20 rounds of counting in total. In some places, we are leading and in others, we are trailing. We should wait till 2-3 PM, the number of seats and margin of votes for Congress will increase. In some areas, we will definitely do better in the fifth or sixth round of counting. Our JMM-led alliance has tried to perform better in these elections. We tried to reach out to people, especially women voters. People have responded to it in the polling and it is also visible now,' Jharkhand Congress in-charge Ghulam Ahmad Mir told ANI. The perception about the presence of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in urban areas is changing through the emerging trends, he said, adding that the small and media businessmen were not able to see any achievements and have suffered because of BJP's policies such as Goods and Services Tax (GST). "In Dhanbad, which is considered the second-best capital after Ranchi, we are performing very well. In Ranchi and Bokaro as well, we are performing well. We expect to add five to six seats by the end," the Congress leader said. Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has said that the BJP was successful in winning the confidence of people once again according to its expectation and hopes. He further extended greetings to the public highlighting that the people are expressing their full faith in the BJP under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Seeing the initial trends of election results, I am satisfied that the BJP seems to be successful in winning the confidence of people once again as per its expectations and hopes; be it Maharashtra assembly polls or Jharkhand assembly elections or any other by-elections. Under the leadership of PM Modi, the public is expressing full faith in the BJP. I extend greetings from my side," CM Yadav told ANI. Jharkhand Mukti Morcha is leading on 30 seats, Congress on 14 seats, RJD on 4 seats and Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (Liberation) - CPI(ML)(L) on 2 seats. As per the trends, the BJP-led NDA has taken the lead on 30 seats, with BJP leading on 27 seats, AJSU on 1 seat and JD(U) and LJP(RV) both on 1 seat each. (ANI)
Roberta Metsola, the President of the European Parliament, has called on the German government to finally decide on the transfer of long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine.

Source: German newspaper Der Spiegel; European Pravda; Roberta Metsola in an interview with a group of German media

Details: Roberta Metsola stressed that "time matters" for Ukraine and that Russia is increasing its pressure, with more air targets striking Ukrainian cities.

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Roberta Metsola stressed that Ukraine "cannot wait forever" and that the European Parliament has broad support for Germany's decision.

Background:

The Taurus debate has resumed after the US lifted restrictions on the use of long-range weapons by Ukraine to strike Russian territory, and Germany is approaching early elections. The leader of the largest opposition party, the Christian Democratic Union of Germany, Friedrich Merz, who has a good chance of becoming the next chancellor, is in favour of the Taurus transfer, while the Social Democratic Party of Germany partners are also in favour of the decision, but Chancellor Olaf Scholz insists that he will not do so.

Recently, Spiegel published an editorial harshly criticising Scholz for delaying the decision.

More than 60% of Germans oppose providing Ukraine with Taurus missiles.

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PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  A member of the Prince Georges County Police Department (PGPD) was ordered to be fired after a video of him kissing a woman and getting into the backseat of his police cruiser with her went viral last year, according to a report from the Washington Post.

The video posted on TikTok, which amassed millions of views, showed Cpl. Francesco Marlett hugging and seemingly kissing a woman before escorting her to the back of his police SUV and joining her.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Prince Georges County police officer suspended over viral video of him entering his SUV with woman

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On Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023, PGPD launched an internal affairs investigation into Marlett. At the time, he was suspended with pay but his police powers were taken away, according to a previous report from DC News Now.

Prince Georges County police officials said that he had problems in the past.

In 2016, Marlett was disciplined for allegations of child abuse and domestic violence but an investigation found that the charges were unfounded, a statement from police officials said.

Officials also said that in the alleged child abuse case, Marlett was removed from the next promotional cycle and fined $1,500 for his actions.

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In a statement to DC News Now on Monday, the Office of the Inspector General for Prince Georges County said that the administrative hearing board recommended Marletts firing by sending two termination orders to the police department.

The office could not confirm if he was formally terminated and stated that the police chief conducts that process.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Thousands of GCSE pupils pushed out of private school by Labours tax raid face failing their exams because of the disruption, Keir Starmer has been warned.

Councils are struggling to match pupils with local state schools using the same exam boards as they deal with a bottleneck of applications ahead of the Governments 20pc levy on school fees beginning in January.

It is of particular concern for the more than 30,000 pupils who study IGCSEs, a qualification typically only taught in private schools after it was phased out of state schools in 2018.

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Some pushed out by fee rises face joining a school that has been following a different curriculum, leaving them to choose between dropping a year to learn the content from scratch or attempting to play catch-up and risk underperforming in their exams.

Julie Robinson, the chief executive of the Independent Schools Council (ISC), which represents 1,400 schools, has called for an urgent meeting with ministers to help discuss how disruption could be avoided for Year 10 and Year 11 students.

She said: This is a particular issue given the mid-year introduction. Thousands of students GCSE results could be put at risk, with a knock-on effect for their future studies.

The problem is further complicated by subjects such as English, music, art and drama where students in Year 10 or Year 11 will already have completed coursework as part of their exam.

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Jaideep Barot, headmaster of Bristol Grammar School, which is one of hundreds of private schools that teaches a mixture of GCSEs and IGCSEs, said the issue was emblematic of Labours rushed policy

Mr Barot, who is also chairman of the The Heads Conference, an association of headteachers at 300 leading private schools, added: I would urge the Government to delay the introduction of the policy until September 2025 as tax experts, faith groups, schools and others have called for.

This would give HMRC, local councils, state schools, independent schools and parents the time needed to prepare properly for its introduction.

A government source told The Telegraph that any coursework already completed would be redundant at their new school unless it could be edited or altered in a way to fit the new syllabus.

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They said: Whether a school can use existing coursework will entirely depend on how similar the IGCSE syllabus is to the one they are following. It will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis by schools.

One mother in Hillingdon, north-west London, was told by the local council it did not recommend her Year 11 son changing schools in January so close to his GCSE exams next summer.

The council wrote: There is no guarantee that subject options and exam boards can be matched between schools and coursework cannot be transferred. This would seriously disadvantage his final GCSE grades.

However the mother, who wishes to remain anonymous, said she was left with no option but to proceed because the VAT raid meant she could no longer afford the fees.

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While some parents have been forced to risk their childs GCSE performance by removing them from their school, others are taking extreme measures to try and avoid disruption

Carol Wiltshire, 67, has decided to raid her pension early and committed to working beyond her 70th birthday to help pay for her granddaughters school fees so that she can sit her IGCSEs next summer.

Ms Wiltshire said: The Government has not brought in any plan for these pupils. My granddaughter has done most of her coursework and that coursework is totally different to the state school system.

I could have retired by now but because of this I have to keep going.

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Ive also begun drawing my pension from a previous job, but because I am still working that is being taxed at 40pc.

Last year 32,832 private school pupils sat IGCSE exams according to the ISC, which suggests there are approximately 60,000 pupils currently studying for an IGCSE in Year 10 and Year 11.

Ben Spencer, MP for Runnymede and Weybridge, said: This recent data shows just how many children are going to have their education disrupted and suffer long-term damage through this shameful policy.

I feel deeply sorry for the many children forced to move school as part of this attack on independent schools. Families who chose not to use taxpayer resources to educate their children should be thanked rather than targeted by this Government.

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It is not yet known how many GCSE pupils will be affected, however the Government estimates overall 37,000 pupils will be forced out of private schools as a result of its tax change with 3,000 due to leave by the end of this academic year.

Some have claimed this estimate is too low after The Telegraph revealed state schools received more than 3,000 applications from private school pupils between June and September alone.

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Hello its the weekend. This is The Weekender 

Its odd that the hush money case made it as far as it did.

Alvin Bragg always seemed mercurial in his willingness to pursue it; the facts of the case all dealt with conduct around the 2016 election and the ensuing first months of Trumps presidency. The charges werent the most serious, nor were they the most ambitious: the Smith and Georgia January 6 cases went to the heart of Trumps 2020 coup attempt; Smiths classified records case focused on a clear-cut instance of criminality.

But out of them all, the hush money case was arguably the most Trumpian. It was all there: tabloids, celebrity drama, porn stars, sex, money, bribery, dirty lawyers, rage, betrayal, the works. The hush money scheme itself was uniquely Trumpian also in that it was largely pointless and mostly a product of the once and future Presidents extensive anxieties. He ended up paying largely out of fear of embarrassment over his brief encounter with Stormy Daniels, a concern heightened by the release of the Access Hollywood tape.

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But even Trump couldnt see the critical reality that he had created. His audience never cared; if anything, people appreciate that he doesnt play by the rules. Trump hadnt fully understood what he could get away with, all out in public. Thats changed.

 Josh Kovensky

Heres what else TPM has on tap this weekender

Hunter Walker checks in on the Heritage Foundation and the Trump teams laughable efforts to distance Trump from Project 2025.

Khaya Himmelman has the details on a second layer of North Carolina Republicans 11th hour effort to strip power from newly-elected statewide Democrats before the end of the year.

Emine Yucel unpacks the weeklong hateful ploy for attention from Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC).

Project 2025 Would Like Its Cabinet Now

During the presidential campaign, as Vice President Kamala Harris turned Project 2025 into a political attack, Donald Trump disavowed the conservative blueprint for the White House. However, since he was elected, Trump has staffed his incoming administration with a slew of Project 2025 authors and contributors. And now, the group behind the controversial policy push is launching a million dollar effort to ensure the prompt confirmation of Trumps Cabinet.

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On Thursday, the Heritage Foundation, which organized and published Project 2025, announced it would be launching a public relations effort that would target the home states of key senators who could make or break the confirmation process for President Trumps highly capable nominees. That announcement included quotes from three Heritage leaders; the organizations president, Kevin Roberts, its executive vice president, Ryan Walker, and distinguished fellow Steve Bradbury.

All three of the Heritage leaders who helped roll out the push to confirm Trumps Cabinet played a role in Project 2025, which included a 922-page policy plan and a personnel database for a potential conservative administration. Roberts led the effort and penned the foreword to the manifesto. Walker gave interviews defending the project as it became a campaign trail liability, including one where he was identified as one of its conservative architects. Bradbury was one of the plans contributors and received special mention in the chapter outlining a vision for the Department of Transportation. The Heritage Foundation did not immediately respond to a request for comment on this story.

And the Cabinet these Project 2025 backers are pushing for has at least one member so far who was also linked to the effort. John Ratcliffe, who Trump tapped to become CIA director, which is a Cabinet-level post, was a contributor. Additionally, Trump named Tom Homan, another Project 2025 contributor, as his Border Czar. The term czar is often applied to high-level executive branch members who take on a major policy role while avoiding the confirmation process required for Cabinet members. Homan, who was Trumps director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, during his first term, has been an outspoken advocate for Trumps mass deportation push. Project 2025 contained a series of proposals aimed at helping step up deportations.

Trumps efforts to distance himself from Project 2025 were always questionable. The effort was stacked with his allies and former officials from his first administration. His appointments have made the connection even more clear. And Heritages statement about their effort to hasten confirmation of the Trump Cabinet put a bow around the whole thing.

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In the announcement, Roberts, who was known as the chief architect of Project 2025, said the Heritage Cabinet push was designed to help Trump cement his legacy as the president who confronted Washingtons unaccountable bureaucracy and restored power to the people. There were over a dozen references to unaccountable bureaucrats, programs, and spending in Project 2025, including one in Roberts foreword. And, as he is agitating for the Trump Cabinet, Roberts essentially acknowledged they represent the fulfillment of that part of the projects vision.

His Cabinet choices reflect a commitment to this mission, Roberts said.

 Hunter Walker

North Carolina Republicans Power Grab Involves Fake Voter Fraud Claims Too

In yet another attempt to hang onto power, North Carolina Republican lawmakers are spreading baseless election fraud claims, in the same week that they attempted to pass legislation to strip power from newly-elected Democrats in the waning days of their supermajority.

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Republican North Carolina Senate Leader Phil Berger told reporters on Wednesday that ballots have been wrongly counted in favor of Democrats. Were seeing played out at this point another episode of Count Until Somebody You Want to Win Wins, said Berger, according to reporting from the Associated Press.

More specifically, Berger was referencing the recount process for a seat on the state Supreme Court, which Democratic Justice Allison Riggs appears to have won over Republican candidate Jefferson Griffin, according to WRAL News.

In response, Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the North Carolina State Board of Elections, wrote to Berger on Thursday with an urgent plea to retract his statement.

This is an accusation of wrongdoing that has absolutely no basis in fact, she wrote. 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 use of violence.

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This week, the North Carolina Republican-controlled legislature voted on SB382, a power grab disguised as a hurricane relief bill, to take away power from newly elected Democrats while Republicans hold a veto-proof supermajority for a few more weeks.

Sen. Bergers accusation that votes are being counted until someone [we] want to win wins is irresponsible and dangerous. Every legally cast vote deserves to be counted, and election workers from both parties have said they actually need more time to conduct an accurate canvass, not less, Democratic State Rep. Pricey Harrison said in an email to TPM.

That certainly would have been the case in the NC Supreme Court race this year, and Jefferson Griffins losing the lead after all legal votes were counted seems to be the motive behind S382s proposed changes, she added.

 Khaya Himmelman

Nancy Maces Obsession With Bathrooms Is One Large, Hateful Ploy For Attention

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) on Monday introduced a resolution to ban transgender women from womens restrooms at the Capitol building  just two weeks after the first openly transgender person was elected to the U.S. Congress.

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When asked directly if her resolution was in response to Rep.-elect Sarah McBride (D-DE) joining the upcoming Congress, Mace did not hesitate to say, absolutely, a hundred percent, adding that she thinks her resolution does not go far enough.

Maces performative outrage has been on steroids all week. Over 72 hours, Mace posted about trans women and bathrooms more than 325 times on the social media platform X.

Its all quite ironic. In 2021, Mace said, I strongly support LGBTQ rights and equality. No one should be discriminated against, in a Washington Examinder interview.

As Maces brigade for attention by shamelessly othering the will-be first ever trans member of Congress continued, on Wednesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) came out in support of her, announcing in a press release that trans women will not be allowed to use the womens restrooms and locker rooms in the House side of the Capitol complex.

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It is important to note that each Member office has its own private restroom, and unisex restrooms are available throughout the Capitol, Johnson said, disregarding the fact that there is no single occupancy restroom in the actual U.S. Capitol building where lawmakers and staff often spend hours voting or in meetings.

Meanwhile McBride is taking the high road when it comes to the GOP attacks.

Im not here to fight about bathrooms. Im here to fight for Delawareans and to bring down costs facing families, McBride said in a social media post, describing the Republicans rule as an effort to distract from the real issues facing this country.

 Emine Yucel
ST. LOUIS  A protest was held at St. Louis City Hall Friday, with demonstrators demanding urgent action to address what they call deadly and inhumane conditions at the St. Louis City Justice Center.

Those who showed up in the chambers hung signs from the balcony reading No jail deaths during a board of aldermen reading.

Apologies, we cannot hang this in the chamber, Megan Green, Board of Aldermen President, said.

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This protest comes after 18 Justice Center deaths, including most recently Antonio Weber, who died earlier this month after nine days in custody.

The continuing deaths and suffering at St. Louis City Justice Center are unacceptable. We must act now to prevent any further loss, Executive Director of the Freedom Community Center Mike Milton said.

Alderpersons Rasheen Aldridge (Ward 14), Alisha Sonnier (Ward 7), and Shameem Clark Hubbard (Ward 10) stood in support of the advocates that are pushing for transparency and immediate improvements, including better medical care and sanitation. Theyre also hoping for better communication with the Justice Center.

Its very vague, and that is one of things I would like us to talk about as a city. I think theres clearly a need for us to figure out a way to be more transparent about that, Sonnier said.

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The Justice Center is now one of the deadliest jails in the countrythree times deadlier than Kansas Citys jail.

In response, the Mayors Office stated, Mayor Jones agrees that incarceration should not be a death sentence. Many of these demands have already been met and are currently in action. Healthcare continues to improve at the CJC, and 2024 has seen the fewest deaths in the jail since 2021.

The mayors deputy communications director stated the citys public safety director was unavailable for comment on the issue.

The mayor provided detailed responses to each demand, emphasizing ongoing efforts to improve jail conditions and detainee healthcare.

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Below is the statement released, in part:

In December 2023, the St. Louis City Department of Health began monitoring the provider of medical services at the CJC related to alignment with NCCHC standards. Since then, we have seen a notable decrease in deaths and improvements across many aspects of healthcare.

As well, Mayor Jones administration contracted with a new medical vendor, Physician Correctional USA, in December 2023, to provide medical care at the facility. An additional $2 million in funding and multiple new positions have allowed the Department of Health to monitor the new providers performance against NCCHC standards.

We have had staffing issues at the commissioner level for this unit; however, the Mayors Office continues to strengthen our collaboration with the DFOB. Mayor Jones signed Executive Order 79 on March 23, 2024, mandating certain actions by the DFOB and the Oversight Division.

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Supported release is under the jurisdiction of the Circuit Attorney, not the Mayors Office. The Mayor meets regularly with the Circuit Attorneys Office, and their discussions do include updates on the jail population.

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Nov. 22A health care advocacy group is railing against President-elect Donald Trump's selection of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for health and human services secretary, saying it will be "dangerous" to the health of the American people.

During a news conference Friday in front of Portland City Hall, several speakers affiliated with the nonprofit Protect Our Care, which advocates to protect the Affordable Care Act, Medicare and Medicaid, decried Kennedy's false rhetoric questioning the safety and efficacy of vaccines, among other conspiracy theories.

"His message is, 'We are going to make eradicated diseases great again,' " said Mark Gallagher, a leader of Protect Our Care Maine.

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Vaccines have stopped or slowed the spread of infectious diseases such as measles, mumps, polio, pertussis, chickenpox and influenza, and saved millions of lives. The quick development of COVID-19 vaccines saved millions of lives worldwide during the pandemic.

Kennedy has falsely claimed that vaccines cause autism, and cast doubts about the safety of vaccines during testimony before the Maine Legislature in 2015. He also has spread myths that the 1918 influenza pandemic was caused by vaccine research, among other things.

Trump's nominees must be confirmed by the Senate, and Maine's senators, Republican Susan Collins and independent Angus King, have not yet taken a stand on specific nominees, according to their offices.

"I think you are going to do some unbelievable things," Trump said, praising RFK Jr. during a recent event at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort. "If you like health and you like people that live a long time, it's the most important position."

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Kennedy, in defending his nomination, said on the X social media platform that "there's a generational opportunity to bring together the greatest minds in science, medicine, industry, and government to put an end to the chronic disease epidemic."

"Together we will clean up corruption, stop the revolving door between industry and government, and return our health agencies to their rich tradition of gold-standard, evidence-based science," Kennedy wrote. "I will provide Americans with transparency and access to all the data so they can make informed choices for themselves and their families."

But Dr. Patricia Hymanson, a retired physician and former state lawmaker, said Kennedy has "embraced radical conspiracy theories" about science and medicine. Hymanson also called out Kennedy for wanting to pause scientific research into new medications.

"He will sabotage science and hurt people," said Hymanson, speaking on behalf of the Maine Medical Association, which represents physicians. "We are calling on our entire federal delegation to stop this nomination. We cannot have an unqualified person who has never led undermining decades of progress to keep Mainers healthy."

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Kennedy has advocated for removing fluoride from public drinking water supplies, considered by health experts as one of the most important advancements in public health during the 20th century. He has also attacked the Food and Drug Administration, which is tasked with protecting the food supply, safety of medications and approving new drugs and vaccines.

"If you work for the FDA and are part of this corrupt system, I have two messages for you. 1. Preserve your records. 2. Pack your bags," Kennedy said on social media in October.

Kennedy made an appearance in 2015 before the Maine Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee, where he repeated debunked claims about vaccines as lawmakers were debating a vaccine bill. Maine lawmakers eventually passed a bill that eliminated religious and philosophic exemptions for school-required vaccinations. Since the law went into effect, Maine's kindergarten vaccination rates have improved and are among the best in the nation.

Matthew Felling, a King spokesperson, said in a written statement that the senator "will review and consider all nominations when the next administration formally sends them to the Senate in 2025  though he acknowledges that some of those mentioned thus far do not appear to have the requisite background or experience for the important posts in question."

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GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV)  A 59-year-old Pulaski man was sentenced to six months in jail and placed on probation for three years after videotaping a 17-year-old girl while she showered.

Wisconsin Circuit Court records show that Ruben Baez-Garcias criminal case has come to a close following the sentencing from a Brown County judge. Baez-Garcia received credit for four days in jail and pled no contest on November 19, 2024.

Wisconsin man pleads guilty to possession of child pornography & child trafficking

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While in jail, Baez-Garcia will have Huber privileges. Hell also need to complete a COMPAS Evaluation and follow through by maintaining/obtaining full-time employment.

On December 1, 2023, authorities were advised of the incident that took place at a residence in Pulaski.

Baez-Garcia was said to have known the 17-year-old girl, who told authorities she was taking a shower. She noticed the light dim in the bathroom and saw a shadow coming over the shower curtain. When she looked up, she reportedly saw a cell phone camera pointing down at her.

The criminal complaint says that she tried to hit the phone and ended up seeing Baez-Garcia as the person with the phone.

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UPDATE: Green Bay woman accused of neglecting mother appears in court

Baez-Garcia told the girl multiple times that he was sorry. The victim took a video of her confronting Baez-Garcia about the incident. When Baez-Garcia was asked, Why would you do that? He reportedly responded with, I am attracted to you.

The complaint mentions a previous incident where the victim saw a cell phone recording her while she went to the bathroom.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Russian ruler Vladimir Putin has signed laws banning the "propaganda" of childfree approach (refusal to have children) and prohibiting the adoption of children by citizens of countries where "sex reassignment" is allowed.

Source: Latvia-based Russian media outlet Meduza

Details: The first law signed by Putin adds the concept of "refusal to have children" to Article 6.21 of the Code of Administrative Offences, entitled Propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations and (or) preferences, sex reassignment. This article provides for fines of 50,000 to 400,000 roubles (approximately from US$ 480 to 3,800) for citizens; 400,000 to 800,000 roubles (from US$ 3,800 to 7,670) for officials, and two to five million roubles (from US$ 19,100 to 48,000) for legal entities.

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At the same time, the law notes that the dissemination of information about the monastic way of life and the vow of celibacy associated with the refusal to have children will not be considered an administrative offence.

The second document amends six federal laws at once and stipulates that information that "promotes" refusal to have children will be banned from being used in films, advertising, the media and the Internet.

The third law signed by Putin amends the Family Code by adding a note to one of its articles stating that people living in countries where "sex reassignment" is allowed cannot be adoptive parents.

On 25 September, two bills were submitted to the State Duma [the lower chamber of the Russian Parliament  ed.] to ban the propaganda of "refusal to have children". On 12 November, the Duma passed both documents in the second and third readings. The authors of the draft law explained that the spread of the childlessness ideology in the Russian society "leads to the degradation of social institutions" and called it "one of the threats to traditional values".

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The law banning the adoption of children by citizens of countries where "sex reassignment" is allowed was introduced to the State Duma in July 2024 and passed on 12 November. The explanatory note stated that it was aimed at "making it impossible for any representatives of the LGBT community to adopt Russian children".

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Nov. 23 (UPI) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin says the new Oreshnik hypersonic missile used against Ukraine this week will go into serial production and is "ready to be used" again if necessary.

Speaking on Friday during a televised meeting with members of his Security Council, defense industry officials and missile developers, the Russian leader said the Oreshnik cannot be stopped or intercepted and will be deployed as part of the country's Strategic Missile Forces.

"We need to launch serial production," he said, according to the state-run TASS news agency. "Let's say that the decision has been made that the system will go into serial production. Basically, it has already happened."

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Putin added, "we have a stock of such systems ready to be used" if needed.

The comments came a day after the missile was "successfully" tested in a strike against a Ukrainian aerospace plant in the first use of a nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile by Russia during its 33-month-old invasion of its neighbor.

Russia's use of the missile follows Ukraine having fired U.S. and British long-range missiles this week after U.S. President Joe Biden gave Ukraine the green light to use Army Tactical Missile Systems to attack deeper within Russian territory.

The situation has resulted in greatly raised tensions. NATO and Ukraine will hold emergency talks Tuesday as Russian leaders continued to make threats against the West, some with thinly veiled references to the use of nuclear arms.

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In an address to the nation Thursday after the Oreshnik strike, Putin warned there would be "further tests of our advanced missile systems based on the threats to the security of the Russian Federation."

He added, "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."

During Friday's Kremlin meeting, Strategic Missile Forces Commander Sergey Karakayev said the Oreshnik is capable of reaching targets across the European continent.

"Based on the tasks and the range of this weapon, it can hit targets across entire Europe, which sets it apart from other high-precision long-range weapons," he said, according to TASS.

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Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev seemed to once again play the nuclear card Saturday in an interview with the Al Arabiya TV channel, accusing the United States and Britain of "joining" Ukraine in its fight to repel Russian invaders.

"If the escalation scenario continues to unfold, it won't be possible to exclude anything because NATO countries have in fact joined the conflict," he said.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Russian ruler Vladimir Putin has set a goal of pushing Ukrainian forces out of Russias Kursk Oblast by 20 January 2025, the date of the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump.

Source: Zelenskyy during the 3rd International Grain from Ukraine Conference on Saturday, reported by Interfax-Ukraine

Quote from Zelenskyy: "For Putin, the most important thing is to push us out of Russias Kursk Oblast. All these stories, all these indicators, strikes with new missiles, all this is not just for fun. He has set this task. I am sure he wants to push us out by 20 January. It is very important for him to demonstrate that he is in control of the situation. He is not in control of the situation."

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Details: Zelenskyy said that "the Kursk operation is not a toy," and it showed that Putin is not able to defend Russia fully. Nevertheless, Zelenskyy said that the most difficult situation on the frontline is in Donetsk Oblast and Ukraines east in general.

"He [Putin  ed.] wants to show that he has fulfilled, as he said, the task of occupying the entire Donbas, and he needs to push us out of the Kursk front. He has these two tasks," Zelenskyy said.

He added that Russia has never had such huge losses as on the Kursk front.

"The fact that he [Putin] is most likely passing on personal requests to the command that the fate of the Armed Forces rests on the Kursk operation," Zelenskyy said, adding that Russia can only intimidate and is not as strong as it seems.

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Background: Earlier, The Telegraph reported that Putin had deployed 50,000 Russian and North Korean troops in an attempt to retake Kursk Oblast from Ukraine before Donald Trump took office in January.

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CPI leader D Raja on Saturday said that the INDIA alliance in Jharkhand will be forming the government, noting that the people of Jharkhand were not convinced by the campaigning of the BJP in the state. He noted that the issues of infiltration and corruption raised by the BJP leaders in Jharkhand could not convince the people. He claimed that the issue of infiltration was the responsibility of the Union Government and that they should be held responsible if there was any infiltration. "These are all early trends. If these trends continue, then in Maharashtra, the BJP and its allies will win and form the government. As far as Jharkhand is concerned, JMM, Congress, and its allies are sure to form the government. Let us wait for the final outcome and the verdict of the people of Maharashtra and Jharkhand," the CPI leader said. "The people of Jharkhand are not at all convinced by the campaign unleashed by the BJP and its leaders. The way they were raising the issue of infiltration and corruption could not convince the people of Jharkhand. If infiltration is the issue, then who should be held responsible other than the Union Government...They must be held responsible if there is infiltration," he added. According to current trends, in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, the Mahayuti alliance has crossed the crucial majority mark, as per ECI data around 11:00 am. It is securing a lead in 220 seats and is likely heading towards a landslide victory. Celebrations have already begun at the BJP's Mumbai office. As per the initial results, the Mahayuti alliance is leading in 220 seats, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leading in 128 seats, driving the charge in Maharashtra. The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena (SHS) follows closely with 55 seats. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, is leading in 35 seats, while the Rashtriya Yuva Swabhiman Party (RSHYVSWBHM) is leading in 2 seats. Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha is leading on 31 seats, Congress on 14 seats, RJD on 4 seats, and the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (Liberation) - CPI(ML)(L) on 2 seats. As per the trends, the BJP-led NDA has taken the lead on 28 seats, with the BJP leading on 26 seats, AJSU on 1 seat, and JD(U) and LJP(RV) both on 1 seat each. (ANI)
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  With Donald Trump taking office again in January, Oregon lawmakers are preparing to challenge potential restrictions to abortion access.

This comes after the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, released Project 2025  a policy document the group intended for the incoming Trump administration  which calls for limits to abortion access.

While President-elect Trump has made efforts to distance himself from Project 2025, some of his cabinet picks authored parts of the document, as reported by Politico, which could influence policy under his administration.

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In a statement to KOIN 6 News, Trump-Vance Transition Spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said, President Trump has long been consistent in supporting the rights of states to make decisions on abortion, adding, As President Trump said many times, he had nothing to do with Project 2025.

Amid the threats to abortion access, KOIN 6 News spoke with Oregon Attorney General-elect Dan Rayfield earlier this week to discuss his plans to protect access in Oregon. Below is KOIN 6 News conversation with Attorney General-elect Rayfield.

DONT MISS: Oregon secures abortion pill supply ahead of second Trump term

Question: What are your thoughts on Project 2025, and the Trump administrations plans when it comes to abortion?

Dan Rayfield: The values in Oregon are extremely clear when it comes to abortion access. An overwhelming majority of Oregonians support abortion access here in our state, and so as an attorney general representing the values of our state, Project 25 and some of the things that they want to do when it comes to abortion access are deeply concerning. I think there is a long history, a four-year history during President Trumps first term, that when he says things out loud, he often tries to accomplish those things, sometimes by administrative actions. I think with a Republican-controlled Congress, you could see them try to pass legislation to enact Project 25 and some of their viewpoints.

Question: As attorney general, how will you protect abortion access in Oregon? What are some of the tools that the state has to protect access?

Rayfield: As attorney general in Oregon, the number one responsibility for me is to protect the values of our state. I was very fortunate when I served as Speaker of the House, we passed one of the most forward-thinking abortion rights access bills in the nation. We have that on our books. We have a lot of protections for abortion rights in Oregon. However, challenges come when theyre being threatened in other states, whether its the mifepristone lawsuit that the current attorney general had to intervene and be a part of, even when we had a Democratic president, if the current administration were to advocate and pass an abortion ban nationally, that law would be in conflict with Oregon laws. It would be our responsibility in the Attorney Generals Office to make sure that we stand up for Oregons values and stand up for the laws that we have passed in the state that reflect the values in our state.

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Question: If there is a national abortion ban, whats your first step?

Dan Rayfield: So, what we would do is we would be in a position to preserve the rights of Oregonians by filing a lawsuit to show that the effect of Oregons laws should be enforced over the federal laws, and we would use existing constitutional law that has been put in precedent to defend those values.

Question: Project 2025 also calls for changes to how states report abortions to federal health agencies, saying, because liberal states have now become sanctuaries for abortion tourism, HHS should use every available tool, including cutting of funds, to ensure that every state reports exactly how many abortions take place within its borders, at what gestational age of the child, for what reason, the mothers state of residence, and by what method.

As attorney general, how do you balance Oregonians access to abortion and health privacy concerns amid threats to federal funding?

Rayfield: And I think the one thing, again, that we go back to here is theres a lot of tools in the toolbox of Project 2025, and theyre trying to be extremely creative to take away a womans right to have an abortion. When it comes to defending those values, we have to be equally as creative and equally as aggressive to defend the values and our rights here in this state, and thats what we will plan to do going forward. Theres a lot of different ways that the attorney general has different tools in our toolbelt to protect those. It may require cooperation with the governor, it may require cooperation with our legislature and be creative on how were funding healthcare in this state.

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Heaven spot turned deadly for teen tagger in PNW

Question: Outgoing Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum is co-leading a federal lawsuit with Washingtons outgoing Attorney General Bob Ferguson that challenges FDA restrictions on abortion medication and mifepristone. Will you continue that lawsuit?

Rayfield: The mifepristone lawsuit is a wonderful example of how people who are trying to attack abortion rights; theyre trying to do it creatively by going at it through administrative channels, through the FDA, when there is a clearly safe drug that is on the market. And so, the current attorney general [Ellen Rosenblum], as well as the governor-elect in Washington [former Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson], move forward with a lawsuit to protect those values, we will absolutely continue to pursue that to ensure that that mifepristone is accessible and available in our state.

Question: With the incoming Trump administration and potential abortion restrictions under Project 2025, how important will partnerships with other states, such as Washington, be in efforts to protect abortion access?

Rayfield: Partnerships with all attorneys general are incredibly important in protecting values. States like Washington and Oregon, our values often align incredibly closely. So, to be able to utilize our resources, our collective think tank when it comes to some of our best legal minds is incredibly important, and its always good to have partners when youre trying to take on extremely big tasks, especially a national or a federal administration thats trying to or threatening the rights of Oregonians.

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Trump chooses Pam Bondi for attorney general pick after Gaetz withdraws

Question: What are some other ways that youre preparing for the potential fight for abortion access? Are there plans to increase special counsel in the Attorney Generals office or build teams in the Oregon DOJ that focus on healthcare issues?

Rayfield: Theres already an amazing team at the Department of Justice that is ready to step in and lead when it comes to defending Oregons values. During the first four years of the Trump administration, that was an incredibly important time where partnerships between attorney generals offices were working together. I think as we go into the second four-year term of Trumps presidency, I dont think that these attacks are going to lessen.

I think its really important to remember that during that first four-year term, there were 100, roughly a little more than 100, lawsuits filed by Democratic attorneys general, and 80% of those cases were won because they had overstepped their constitutional balance, because they had taken unlawful actions. That is going to continue.

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Theres always a possibility that in the Department of Justice in Oregon, to protect Oregons values, we will need more resources, we will need more attorneys to be able to do that again. Its very early. Were two weeks past the election. Its incredibly important that as the attorney general in Oregon, as the Department of Justice in Oregon, that we are ready, and that we know that attacks are going to come, how they come and where they come, well see in the coming months.

Oregon forecasts higher revenue, kicker for 2025-27 amid moderate economy

Question: As you prepare to take office, how has Attorney General Rosenblums office and her team helped prepare your team for potential threats to abortion access?

Rayfield: In any transition into any office, Im incredibly grateful to our current attorney general in this process, in leading what I would consider and hope to be an incredibly seamless transition as we move into January. And so those are things that just naturally go on in this process. I had a pre-existing relationship with the current attorney general for my time in the legislature as speaker and co-chair of Ways and Means, and so we have a wonderful relationship. She has incredible staff and an entirely incredible team at the Department of Justice. So, I look forward to working with all of them in this new role.

Question: Since becoming Attorney General-Elect, have you spoken with Governor Kotek or Washingtons Attorney General-Elect Nick Brown to discuss plans to protect abortion access in Oregon and in the Pacific Northwest?

Dan Rayfield: We have had brief conversations post-election, but nothing in terms of specifics with all of our unique plans. I think each of us brings something unique to the table. I think Washingtons incoming governor [Bob Ferguson], who was an attorney general, has a unique perspective. So, I think in collaboration with the four of us, I think were in a really good position to protect Oregonians rights as well as Washington.

Question: What is your message to Oregonians, or people who travel to Oregon for abortion access amid threats to abortion?

Dan Rayfield: Oregonians have made their voices incredibly clear on how they stand on the issue of abortion rights, and it is my responsibility and duty as Oregons Attorney General to defend those rights and anybody that comes here.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
A Pennsylvania mail ballot envelope (Capital-Star photo)

The Democratic and Republican parties will withdraw 20 lawsuits on behalf of their candidates for Pennsylvanias U.S. Senate seat following incumbent Sen. Bob Caseys concession Thursday to Senator-elect Dave McCormick.

Filed in more than a dozen counties, the cases challenged decisions by boards of election on whether to count provisional ballots with mistakes made by voters or poll workers.

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But with McCormick more than 16,000 votes ahead, Casey on Thursday evening called McCormick to congratulate him on the win. Hours later, the Pennsylvania Department of State called off a statewide recount triggered by the narrow margin of less than 0.5% of the vote, saying it was in the best interest of taxpayers.

More than 6,000 votes for Casey or McCormick hung on the outcome of the cases, with the McCormick camp arguing flawed ballots should be tossed and the Casey campaign arguing that some should be counted.

Although each side had already won decisions, there was no reason to keep fighting and the parties reached mutual agreement to end the litigation, election lawyer Adam Bonin told the Capital-Star on Friday.

Lawyers for the Republican party did not return calls from the Capital-Star on Friday.

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Were thrilled for the victories we had, said Bonin, who filed some of the lawsuits on behalf of Caseys campaign and the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee. There were definitely strong arguments on appeal but that battle is for another day.

Voting rights advocates, meanwhile, are looking ahead to renewed efforts to ensure voters who make a mistake on mail ballots are not disenfranchised.

The Republican National Committee has asked the state Supreme Court to decide whether a requirement to write the date on mail-in ballots is constitutional. Voting rights groups agree the court should take up the issue.

The one thing that is undisputed in all of the litigation  is that the date is meaningless, Mimi McMkenzie, legal director of the Public Interest Law Center, said. Its a vestige of a prior time that it is still in the Election Code and we shouldnt be disenfranchising voters for a meaningless date.

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Pennsylvanias Election Code has frequently been the subject of litigation, but especially since 2020, after Act 77 allowed voting by mail without an excuse for the first time. Counties issued about 2.2 million mail ballots in this election.

Earlier this fall, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court answered one of the questions that emerged with the advent of voting by mail, ruling that voters who intended to vote by mail must be permitted to cast provisional ballots if they find out that their mail ballots may be rejected.

Provisional ballots are used as a failsafe method for voters to ensure their votes are counted when they encounter difficulty, such as uncertainty about whether theyre registered or at the right polling place. The provisional ballot allows a voter to record their votes on election day until a decision is made about whether theyre eligible to vote.

While its unclear how much the Supreme Court decision increased the use of provisional ballots, their potential to be decisive in the Senate race brought a spotlight to problems with the process they have not had in past elections, Bonin said.

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The lawsuits fell into three main categories, Bonin said.

Democrats and the Casey campaign argued that voters should not be disenfranchised because election workers erred by failing to sign provisional ballot envelopes. The Election Code requires the envelopes be signed by the judge of elections and the inspector for the party in the minority on the board of elections.

Bonin said that in the cases that reached a conclusion in county court, judges uniformly decided that poll worker errors were not a reason to disenfranchise voters.

Would it have been nice to bring this up to the appellate level and get a statewide ruling on this? Yes, Bonin said. But if nothing else it highlights a weakness. Election workers need to understand this.

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Republicans and the McCormick campaign argued that provisional ballots where the voter signed the ballot envelope in only one place or failed to place the ballot in an inner secrecy envelope should not be counted.

The state Supreme Court ruled in September that the law requires provisional ballot envelopes to be signed twice and that a failure to do so requires election officials to discard the ballot. Bonin said the Democrats believe that disenfranchising voters for mistakes in a process that is supposed to be supervised by election officials is a violation of the U.S. Constitutions Due Process Clause and the Help America Vote Act.

We believe it is the poll workers fault and the voter should not be punished for these types of paperwork issues, Bonin said, adding that those arguments could be raised in a future case.

Vic Walczak, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, said those issues could be corrected by the Pennsylvania Legislature by clarifying that such inconsequential errors should not prevent ballots from being counted.

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But they havent done their job, Walczak said.

With the election over, Walczak said the state Supreme Court should take the opportunity to decide once and for all whether mail-in voters should be required to put the date on their ballots or be disenfranchised.

In numerous cases since 2020, the parties have agreed that the date and time stamped on ballots when they are received in county elections offices, and not the date written by voters, are used to determine if a ballot is timely and valid.

Pennsylvanias intermediate court of appeals, the Commonwealth Court, has ruled twice that the date requirement violates the state Constitutions guarantee of the right to vote because it serves no compelling governmental purpose. But the Supreme Court threw out the first ruling on a technicality and it has since refused to take up the question, saying it would not risk confusion by changing the rules so close to an election.

Now is the time to do it, right? Walczak said Theres no election. Lets get it done for the future.

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ST. LOUIS  A judges ruling on Friday has made room for the Railway Exchange Building to be acquired by the St. Louis Development Corporations Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority.

The City of St. Louis judge approved for the organization to condemn and take over the building and the adjacent parking garage by eminent domain, according to a release.

LCRA will ask to purchase the property at $5.3 million, which was a price set by the groups chosen appraisers.

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A court date for a hearing to determine the propertys value is pending.

LCRA is hopeful to receive final determination of value before the end of the year, and

aims to pay that value and take possession of the property shortly after, the release stated.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO)  A weekend concert on the campus of Augustana University will raise money and awareness about the ongoing plight facing refugees escaping war-torn Ukraine.

The concert will feature original music from a South Dakota composer.

This cause is close to Calvin Jones heart.

Beautiful music played against a backdrop of the ugliness of war.

My music is touching on all aspects of life. So, theres celebration. Theres devastation, and everything in-between, composer Calvin Jones said.

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Pierre resident Calvin Jones is performing a concert to benefit Freedoms Haven, a non-profit that helps bring Ukrainians to South Dakota.

Its not a piano recital. Itll be something that will move you, so dont wear mascara, Jones said.

Jones and his wife Inga were living in the capital of Kyiv, when Russia launched its attack on Ukraine in February of 2022.

What Falls Park could look like in next 30 years?

It was early morning, around 5 oclock. I just heard this huge explosion. It was different from other sounds that we are used to, Inga Jones said.

When those bombs hit, they felt so close to you, you just had no idea of what was going on, because you didnt, Calvin Jones said.

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The war still impacts the couple to this day.

My best friend over there just got conscripted yesterday. So, Im really concerned about him, praying for him as he goes into the army now, Jones said.

Resettling Ukrainian refugees in the United States isnt just a humanitarian cause. To Jones, it also brings a big economic benefit to South Dakota, helping fill a labor shortage throughout the state.

Weve got a lot of people that are aging-out and the birth rate is getting lower and so the need for immigrants is pressing, Jones said.

Jones is concerned that Americas focus is drifting away from a war thats dragged on for nearly three years. He hopes his music will motivate audiences to reach out to the refugees whove lost so much, yet still have so much left to offer.

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The concert is Saturday at 7 p.m. in the Hamre Recital Hall on the Augie campus. Admission is free.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
With Readings chief water source running critically low, the Reading Area Water Authority is asking customers to cut back their water use by 15%.

Lake Ontelaunee is approaching critically low levels due to the current drought condition, Bill Murray told City Council at a recent committee of the whole meeting.

We need to create an environment that encourages conservation of our remaining resources until nature blesses us with significant rainfall, Murray said.

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The small amount of rain in the region this month has not made a significant difference, he said.

The consistent dry conditions prompted the state Department of Environmental Protection to place Berks and Schuylkill counties under a drought warning this month.

The DEP declared a drought watch for 33 other Pennsylvania counties.

We urgently need rain, preferably over the lake or to the north, to increase the flow from the streams that feed into the lake, Murray said.

Lake Ontelaunee is fed by Ontelaunee Creek and Kistler Creek, which join to form Maiden Creek. But Maiden Creeks levels have dropped so low, RAWA is unable to draw from it, Murray said.

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To meet the current demands of its customers RAWA must produce an average of 16 million gallons a day.

But inflow from the streams feeding the lake has dwindled to about 13 million gallons per day, Murray said, and at current usage rates, the deficit is unsustainable.

If consumption continues at current levels, Murray said, the lake could only sustain the city for 60 to 70 days without additional rainfall.

The crisis compelled the implementation of water rationing strategies, he said, noting RAWA is calling for a 15% reduction in water use across all users.

This includes commercial customers, including utilities, schools, colleges and local government operations, which account for about 70% of the daily consumption, and residential customers, who use the remaining 30%, he noted.

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The reduction is part of the rationing plan outlined in the emergency plan drafted by RAWA as required by DEP.

The plan aims to reduce demand so the lake can slowly recover over an extended period, Murray said.

However, its uncertain when we will see normal conditions, he said, calling on city leaders to foster what he called a new culture of water conservation. Together, we must continue to conserve wherever possible.

Murray stressed the importance of preserving water for firefighting and other critical services. Had the system run out of water during the recent fire on Neversink Mountain, he said, the devastation could have been unimaginable.

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For now, Murray said, RAWA is asking customers to voluntarily restrict water use.

But that could change.

If we do not achieve required reductions, DEP will mandate stricter rationing measures, which include daily monitoring of customers, Murray said, noting RAWA already began weekly meter-monitoring of top users.

Commercial users, he said, must make operational adjustments to conserve water.

Measures such as optimizing industrial processes and limiting recreational water use are a priority, he said, noting Albright College, for example, has temporarily closed its indoor pool.

Restaurants, as another example, might temporarily switch to biodegradable paper cups and plates to avoid using the large volume of water needed for a commercial dishwasher.

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Residential users also are encouraged to identify and eliminate wasteful practices. Simple things such as only running the washing machine with a full load can make a difference, Murray noted.

The biggest thing a residential customer can do, he said, is to make sure there are no running toilets in the home.

Its our number one waster of water, Murray said, noting a running toilet can use 60,000 gallons of water in a month.

RAWA is hoping for cooperation from all users, large and small, he said.

We hope we can do this equally across the board, Murray said, which means 15% for a home that uses 4,000 gallons. Its not just 15% for a business that uses 5 million gallons, right? The pain should be shared equally. It shouldnt be dumped on the residences, and it shouldnt be unnecessarily dumped on the commercial properties.
Three Alaska village public safety officers are seen in this 2024 photo. (Alaska Department of Public Safety photo)

Under Gov. Mike Dunleavys leadership and with reliable funding from the Alaska Legislature, Alaskas Village Public Safety Officer (VPSO) program has experienced substantial growth, reflecting Alaskas commitment to public safety across its communities. The number of VPSOs working in our remote communities was once at 42 officers in January 2020 and has grown to a current total of 79. Along with the introduction of Regional Public Safety Officers and competitive wage adjustments, the VPSO program has become more robust and better equipped to serve the needs of rural Alaska.

This increase in officer numbers is a significant accomplishment, expanding the safety network across Alaskas rural communities. Each new VPSO represents not only an additional first responder but also a vital resource for residents in need of emergency response, search and rescue, and community safety support. By nearly doubling the number of officers in just a few years, the program has strengthened statewide readiness and improved the capacity to address Alaskas unique rural challenges.

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A key initiative supporting this growth has been the addition of Regional Public Safety Officers. RPSOs enhance the effectiveness of local VPSOs by providing a layer of specialized regional support, acting as a resource that multiple communities can rely on in times of need. They can respond quickly with the Alaska State Troopers to large-scale incidents, provide backup to VPSOs during demanding situations, and share essential resources across multiple villages. This novel regional approach ensures that communities have comprehensive public safety coverage including their local VPSO, regional RPSO, and the Alaska State Troopers

Another major factor in the VPSO programs expansion has been the increase in wages, making the role more competitive and sustainable as a career. Recognizing the high costs of living and the challenges of public safety work in rural Alaska, recent adjustments to VPSO compensation have made these positions more appealing to qualified candidates and have strengthened officer retention. This increase underscores the commitment required of VPSOs, who serve as the primary responders for some of Alaskas most isolated communities. By offering competitive pay, the program attracts skilled individuals committed to public safety, building a more dedicated workforce equipped to serve Alaskas rural residents.

These improvements in staffing, regional support through RPSOs, and wage enhancements have created a VPSO program that is more resilient and adaptable than ever before. VPSOs provide critical services to safeguard the well-being of residents, and the increased investment in personnel and resources underscores Alaskas dedication to supporting its rural communities.

Looking ahead, the VPSO program will continue to focus on these priorities to ensure that Alaskas rural communities have the support they need. We remain committed to working closely with Gov. Dunleavy, the Legislature, the regional VPSO grantees, and Alaskas villages to ensure that every village that wants a VPSO can have a VPSO.

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Counting will continue Saturday in a recount of votes for the Frederick County Board of Education race.

The official certified results from the election showed that fourth-place candidate Josh Bokee received 53,190 votes and that he trailed the third-place candidate, Colt Morningstar Black, who received 53,403 votes, by 213.

There are three open seats on the Board of Education.

Bokee requested the recount shortly after the election was certified on Tuesday.

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The margin between Bokee and Black was close enough  0.2%  that Bokee could request a recount within three days of certification.

According to Maryland law, a candidate can request a recount if the margin of difference between two candidates is not greater than 5%.

If the margin of difference between the two candidates in question is less than 0.25% of the total votes cast for those two candidates, the county elections board covers the cost of the recount.

The recount started on Thursday with a review of 19 of the 66 precincts from Election Day.

Recount teams finished counting the votes from Election Day on Friday, but other ballots remained to be counted, Barbara Wagner, the election director for Frederick County, said.

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The net effect of the recount of votes on Friday was not available Friday evening.

Wagner said counting is expected to continue from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Frontrunner Jaime Kiersten Brennan received 55,444 votes, and second-place finisher Janie Monier had 54,976, according to the certified results.

Six candidates were on the ballot and there was one registered write-in candidate.
Nov. 22HUBBARD COUNTY  Two people from Red Lake have been charged with multiple offenses after law enforcement discovered multiple bags of fentanyl and a firearm in their vehicle in August.

According to court documents, 30-year-old Marcus Pemberton and 29-year-old Miranda Enno were in a vehicle parked on the shoulder of State Highway 64 near Laporte on Aug. 2 when a Minnesota State Patrol officer approached them to see if they needed assistance.

Upon approaching the vehicle, the officer saw two small children in the second-row seat and was informed there was a third child lying on the rear floor. They were later identified as Enno's children, one of which she shared with Pemberton.

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Enno, the driver, stated that they were parked on the side of the road because they ran out of gas.

Both Enno and Pemberton showed signs of impairment, according to court documents. During a search of Enno's person, the officer found a bag containing suspected fentanyl weighing 11.7 grams.

While searching the vehicle, the officer located a Beretta handgun with a loaded magazine underneath a seat. Another bag containing suspected fentanyl was also found in the vehicle, weighing 113.2 grams.

Enno was placed under arrest on suspicion of DWI and later admitted to ingesting fentanyl earlier that day.

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Pemberton was initially arrested for providing a false name to law enforcement after giving the officer multiple different names and birth dates when identifying himself, according to court documents.

While trying to identify Pemberton, dispatch learned that he had a felony warrant out of Hennepin County for receiving stolen property.

Enno was charged with first-degree fentanyl possession, second-degree fentanyl possession and fourth-degree DWI. She was sentenced on Nov. 5 to 96 days in the Hubbard County Jail, with credit for 64 days of time served.

She was also sentenced to four years at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Shakopee; however, the sentence has been stayed for five years.

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She has also been placed on supervised probation for five years, monitored by Hubbard County Probation.

Pemberton has been charged with aggravated first-degree fentanyl possession and possession of a firearm after a violent crime conviction.

A contested omnibus hearing for Pemberton is set for Monday, Nov. 25.
ORANGE BEACH, Ala. (WKRG)  Orange Beach City Schools officials are celebrating what they say is remarkable growth in test scores following the release of the Alabama State Department of Educations State and Federal Report Cards.

Semmes man accused of pepper spraying, shooting his stepdaughters boyfriend: Police

According to the OBCS news release, the report cards were released on Friday, Nov. 22.

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Officials said the results showed remarkable year-over-year growth in test scores.

In only its second year since formation, Alabamas newest school system has achieved an overall performance score of 95, securing its place among the top-performing districts in the state, the release said. The achievements reflect the success of both Orange Beach Elementary and Orange Beach Middle High School. Orange Beach Elementary School raised its score from 95 to an impressive 97, while Orange Beach Middle High School made an incredible leap from 85 to 94a nine-point increase in just one year.

OBCS Superintendent Wilkes said the results of the report are due to factors including improved student attendance, elevated expectations, and a rigorous academic approach.

Our focus on creating a culture of commitment and excellence has truly paid off. Its a testament to our dedicated staff, hardworking students, and supportive community that we continue to achieve new heights, Randy Wilkes said.

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Man with outstanding warrants in Baldwin County considered armed and dangerous: Semmes police

School officials said the district is continuing to look ahead and build off this years success.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak expressed confidence over the BJP's victory in the bypolls and said that the party will win 8 of the 9 seats in the state. Brajesh Pathak also said that the BJP-alliance in Maharashtra is heading towards a thumping majority and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's welfare schemes for the poor have won the trust of the people and that they have voted for the Mahayuti. "Of the 9 seats in Uttar Pradesh, BJP will win 8. We have posed a tough competition to Samajwadi Party. Since there are more voters from their community, they are in a better position there. BJP-alliance in Maharashtra is heading towards a thumping majority. PM Modi's welfare schemes for the poor have won the trust of the people and people have voted for Mahayuti," said Pathak. Taking a hit at the opposition, Pathak said, "They (MVA) say things for face-saving when they lose elections. BJP has always supported transparency in elections." As per the recent trends from the Election Commission, the BJP is leading on five seats including- Kundarki, Khair, Phulpur, Katehari and Majhawan. Meanwhile, BJP-led Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra crossed the crucial majority mark. As the Mahayuti alliance inches closer to a landslide victory in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, incumbent CM Eknath Shinde stated that, just as the alliance fought the elections together, they will collectively decide on the CM face once the final results are declared on Saturday. He also thanked his party workers and expressed gratitude to the voters.The incumbent CM said, "Let the final results come in. Then, in the same way as we fought elections together, all three parties will sit together and take a decision (on who will be the CM)." "I thank the voters of Maharashtra. This is a landslide victory. I had said before that Mahayuti will get a thumping victory. I thank all sections of society and all the workers of the Mahayuti parties," he added. Meanwhile, celebrations were seen at Shinde's residence in Thane, with bouquets arriving and Shiv Sena workers cheering outside. Shiv Sena MP and Shinde's son, Shrikant Shinde, were also seen celebrating with fellow party members. Speaking on the victory, Shrikant Shinde said, "As we had expected, we have got very good numbers. I thank all the voters who stood behind Mahayuti and gave this landslide victory." The Mahayuti alliance is on its way to a landslide victory in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, crossing the crucial majority mark, winning one seat and leading in over 200 seats as of 1:00 PM. Sweets were also seen being brought to the residence of Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis. Meanwhile, the BJP's Mumbai office was abuzz with joy, with party workers bringing sweets in anticipation of a resounding victory. As the Sena-BJP-NCP celebrate, all eyes will now be on who will assume the post of CM of the state. (ANI)
A prominent digital rights activist, who is transgender, confronted Rep. Nancy Mace at a public event Thursday, days after the congresswoman from South Carolina introduced a resolution to ban transgender women from using womens bathrooms in the U.S. Capitol.

Evan Greer, the director of Fight for the Future, stood up during the kickoff panel at The Summit of the Future of the Internet at Georgetown University, in Washington, D.C., and displayed an LGBTQ pride flag. Mace was speaking alongside Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna and radio host Charlamagne tha God on the topic Bipartisan Tech Solutions to Unite a Nation.

We have had dozens of trans people die this year because of the hate and lies that you are spreading, Greer said, to applause from the audience, as she was escorted out of the room. Are we building an internet with free speech for everyone or just the privileged few?

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Mace responded by misgendering Greer and making a comment about her genitals, which the crowd booed at. A representative for Mace and Project Liberty, the organization that hosted the summit and invited Greer, didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Greers organization is known for its viral protest efforts against internet censorship and surveillance and in support of net neutrality.

Videos of Greer at the event have been viewed more than 1 million times on X, where conservative influencers and Mace have continued to misgender and insult Greer.

In an interview with NBC News, Greer said that Project Liberty has yet to reach out to her or make any statements about the panel, her protest or Maces remarks. While Greer said she had hoped that other people, including cisgender people (who identify with their gender assigned at birth), would have joined her in opposing Maces presence in the panel, she said, In the end, I was there in the room and I just could not sit silently.

My goal is to call to the progressive tech policy community and ask ourselves, what is our strategy going into these next four years? Greer said. Are we going to try and curry favor with people whose goals are diametrically opposed to human rights, or are we going to draw some lines in the sand and build a meaningful strategy for collective resistance to the role that technology will play in carrying out human rights violations?

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Greer said, Im not trying to convince her of anything, but really my goal was to spark a conversation within the tech policy space, to ask ourselves, What are we actually fighting for?

After taking office in 2021, Mace initially said she was pro-LGBTQ rights. But in recent days, she has made headlines and racked up engagement on social media by leading an anti-transgender campaign against the only trans member of Congress, Sarah McBride, one that has received the support of House Speaker Mike Johnson.

McBride, whom Mace has repeatedly misgendered, said in a statement that she would follow the new bathroom rules as outlined by Johnson, even if she disagrees with them. In her congressional office, McBride will have a private bathroom, while all other public bathrooms in the Capitol will be banned for transgender people.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
SHAWNEE, Okla. (KFOR)  More has come out after a 91-year-old former board member of a Shawnee Nazarene Church was arrested in connection to alleged child molestation.

A former youth pastor reached out to News 4 Friday and said he also was threatened that he would lose his job if the allegations were reported further.

Shawnee Police told News 4 that they dont understand how a report from 2016 was not followed up on within their department. But as soon as the victim from that report came back this past summer, they started reaching out and following up.

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PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Several girls allegedly molested at a Shawnee church, former pastor: I shouldve called police

The report was from a victim, who filed with her mother when she was 16 years old. The report included allegations that 91-year-old Charles Sulivant lured her to his truck when she was 9-years-old promising a gift, touched her, kissed her, and then tried getting under her clothes.

Documents detailed that the girl said she talked to her pastor at the time, Johnny Stephens. She said that he told her, at the time, that there were at least four other girls that he knew of that Sulivant had tried something with.

News 4 confronted Stephens on Thursday who said he only knew of two victims during his time at the church. Stephens was retired from the church.

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To the police, Stephens allegedly denied knowing of anyone being threatened of losing their jobs for doing the right thing.

I didnt ignore him, I didnt ignore him, I just tried my best to watch him, said Stephens.

Reportedly, a youth pastor from a different church, overheard girls discussing allegations surrounding Sulivant in 2015 or 2016. He told police that he then reached out to his lead pastor who allegedly told him to leave it up to the girls families to report it.

But he took it a step further, and reported the allegations anonymously to Oklahoma Human Services.

One of the victims reached out to News 4 Friday to make it clear that the pastor who made the anonymous report did the right thing.

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Stephens told police, according to the report, that at no point did he or anyone else in his church make any police reports, or DHS referrals about what Sullivant was doing.

In an interview Thursday Stephens said, Looking back, I probably should have called the police.

Current Oklahoma law states that there is a mandatory reporting law that requires any individual who suspects a person is being abused or neglected to report it immediately.

Oklahoma Human Services responded to News 4 after being told of the situation.

Oklahoma Human Services takes the well-being of Oklahomas children very seriously. We encourage Oklahomans to join our efforts and utilize our abuse and neglect reporting hotline which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The number is 1-800-522-3511. Our states mandatory reporting laws require that any individual who suspects a person is being abused or neglected should never wait for another individual to report the alleged abuse and should instead report it themselves immediately. The agency has statutory authority to investigate instances of abuse, neglect and abandonment at the hands of those who are responsible for the care of a child like a parent, guardian, foster parent or child care employee. In other instances, law enforcement will investigate. Oklahoma Human Services is thankful for our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners who work in unison with our agency to ensure the safety of all Oklahomans. Oklahoma Human Services

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The allegations include up to five victims interviews with police and allegations of Sulivant rubbing himself on one young girl, reaching inside the dress of another girl, and more.

According to court documents, Stephens and another youth pastor allegedly told the superintendent at the time, Terry Rowland. That youth pastor told police that Rowland tried to tell him not to report it, and to leave it up to the girls families to report it.

Stephens told police during his interview that he reached out to Rowland, and that he told Stephens that he needed to continue doing what he was doing to handle the situation.

Its unknown what Stephens told Rowland specifically about the allegations.

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Rowland was asked by News 4, but could not recall the incident or the conversations. He had not been interviewed by police.

He said that if the pastor knew then it should have been reported, but he did not have time to look back and recall specifics.

Im sorry, I just dont remember. If I didnt know anything about it then how would I have failed them, said Rowland Friday.

Sulivant, when first interviewed by Shawnee Police in August, said he admitted that what he had done to the girls was wrong, inappropriate, and criminal.

After a second interview he told police, Okay, I guess its time to pay up (for what he had done).

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Sulivant was booked into jail on November 5 and bonded out soon after.

Police are asking if there are any other victims, to call their department at 405-273-0989.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BOSTON (WWLP)  Republicans added a touch of purple to Massachusettss blue legislature this election season, gaining a seat in the state senate.

While the GOP flipped three seats in total, Democrats also flipped two.

Kelly Dooner, now the Senator-elect from Taunton, will become the fifth member of the Senates GOP Caucusthe first Republican woman senator in 20 years.

Despite this new addition, most Senate Republicans say they are not interested in a change of leadership.

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Bruce Tarr, the Senator from Gloucester, is expected to stay in his role of Senate Minority Leader. Tarr, a Baker-reminiscent moderate, has served in the senate for 29 years. While Tarr himself has called talks about next terms leadership premature, he did provide some clarity to reporters.

Im focused on finishing the remainder of this session. We obviously have a lot of items that are in active play, said Tarr. But I have no plans to change course. Western Massachusetts Senator Peter Durant, who is a member of the Republican Caucus, has voiced his support for continuing under Tarrs leadership.

Im really happy with Bruces leadership and I certainly have no intention of changing, said Durant. I think hes a good leader. I think hes a fantastic leader, actually. Tarr has served as Senate minority leader since the first Obama administration.

In the next session, this now 5-person senate caucus will be up against a 35-person Democratic Caucus, with just two new elected officials.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer said that Matt Gaetz s nomination to head the Justice Department fizzled because it would have cost too much political capital for Donald Trump to try to push his confirmation through the Senate.

In a lengthy interview with Politico , the North Dakotan was candid about the president-elects most controversial picks for his upcoming administration.

Cramer lauded Gaetzs decision this past Thursday to pull his name from contention, amid a slew of sexual misconduct allegations, which has paved the way for Trump to name a markedly more conventional nominee: former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Several of Trumps cabinet picks face uphill battles to confirmation.

I would say whatever the circumstances are, this is one of the more positive things Matt Gaetz has done in a while, Cramer told Politico. I think in terms of his patriotism, in terms of his honor, in terms of his respect for the institutions, good for him to recognize that early on and prevent further wasting of the resources.

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Cramer explained that Trump had told him as recently as Tuesday that he still hoped to push Gaetzs nomination through, but that, in the end, the cost of doing so was apparently too great.

Ive been everywhere just saying that the hill is very, very steep and the capital that youd have to spend to succeed, much less probably not succeed, with the confirmation would be probably more than it would be worth, he said. I think thats how he gamed it out. And good for him for not spending a lot more capital.

Coachella, California October 12, 2024-Politician Matt Gaetz, who was recently picked by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as attorney general, speaks at a rally in Coachella recently.

Cramer added that political capital is our currencyand that its what you gather by doing things for people, with your partners, with your colleagues.

The risk for Trump, according to Cramer, was that he would have had to start heavily leveraging his capital for Gaetz to have a shot as attorney general. Even so, it still would have been a longshot.

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Donald Trump would have had to spend a lot, Cramer said. If he was going to get Matt Gaetz across the finish line, hed have to start transacting with some pretty strong skeptics. And it may very well be that there were not enough that were even persuadable.

Of another eyebrow raising Trump cabinet pick, prospective Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Cramer explained that he is a fan of the former Fox News host, who faces a sexual assault allegation .

Hegseth, a former Fox News host, faces a sexual assault allegation.

I think Pete, as a face of the military, as a warrior, as sort of a blue-collar, talented television personality, I think he gives hope to those people that say, theres somebody at the top that actually understands my role in this military as opposed to just the generals role, Cramer said.

The senator admitted, though, that he thought Hegseth should drop his controversial stance that women should be prohibited from combat roles in the U.S. military.

I think the landing position on it is simply the position that the requirement for combat readiness has to be the same for women as it is for men, Cramer said. And there are a lot of women who have met that standard that a lot of men could not. In which case, why would you not allow women in combat?
U.S. Senator Mike Rounds, a Republican and ally of President-elect Donald Trump, said on Nov. 22 that Russia could not be trusted to engage in peace negotiations to end the full-scale war in Ukraine.

"As much as I would like to believe we can negotiate with a tyrant, I suspect we may be deceiving ourselves," Rounds said at the Halifax Security Forum, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Rounds' remarks stand in stark contrast to the views expressed by Trump, who has repeatedly pressed for a swift deal to end the war. Trump has also spoken admiringly of Putin on a number of occasions.

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"Do you believe that this tyrant, if you offer him a part of a free country, do you think he's gonna stop?" Rounds said, as reported by Politico.

"I wish I could say theres an easy way out, there's not."

While many of Trump's congressional allies have opposed ongoing military aid to Ukraine, Senate Republicans are generally pro-Ukraine and skeptical of negotiating with Moscow. Rounds went so far as to express frustration that the U.S. has not provided more weapons to Kyiv.

"I just feel so frustrated that we have not been able to provide them all of the equipment that they need, and all of the weapons systems that they need, in order to respond to the absolute tyranny coming from Russia," he said.

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"I wonder why we haven't done more more quickly than we have."

Rounds did not criticize Trump directly and pointed out that his views were not those of the incoming presidential administration.

Trump takes office on Jan. 20, 2025. His push for speedy negotiations has sparked fears that Washington will pressure Kyiv to accept a deal that favors Moscow, including territorial concessions and a possible promise not to join NATO.

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.
When conspiracy theorist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took to the social media site X (formerly Twitter) last month to threaten the Food and Drug Administration, he included a laundry list of items that he wants to deregulate if elected to a health leadership position under the incoming Trump Administration. For the most part, all of the items Kennedy listed  including clean foods, raw milk, and stem cells  seemed to fall in line with his campaign to prioritize personal choice and new age or experimental medicines while upending regulatory bodies like the FDA.

But Kennedy also listed psychedelic drugs, which are banned in most parts of the world, as something under the FDAs aggressive suppression, which may come as a surprise to those who associate psychedelics with flower children of the 1960s and not the far-right libertarian crowd that Kennedy has historically drawn. As one supporter commented on his post, I disagree on the psychedelics which are horrible, but on everything else, yes.

Yet Kennedy is just one of several prominent Republican politicians to recently endorse psychedelics. In 2023, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who served as the U.S. Secretary of Energy under the last Trump Administration, spoke at the annual Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) conference after previously backing a Texas bill that would increase research investigating psilocybin for veterans. Psilocybin is the drug in "magic" mushrooms and has been shown to significantly improve depression symptoms for patients in clinical trials, and other studies are investigating its use in other conditions like obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance use.

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Some of you are out there thinking what in the hell is that dude doing on this stage, Perry said at the conference. Yet that same summer, Perry said federal psychedelics legalization was actually more supported by Republicans than Democrats.

Now that Republicans control the Senate and Congress  and President elect Donald Trump nominated Kennedy to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services  some are hopeful that the GOP can exercise its governing power to revive a psychedelic movement that has shown signs of losing steam. Yet others warn that right-wing leadership could fast-track psychedelics and prioritize the business side of the industry without ensuring equal priority to the integration part of the psychedelic experience that comes with additional mental health and societal supports.

The Trump Administration has signaled that it is going to be as radical as possible," said Brian Pace, a psychedelics researcher at Ohio State University. "They see themselves as coming in and cleaning house and implementing change through executive directives, and I dont think that makes for careful medicine.

Want more health and science stories in your inbox? Subscribe to Salon's weekly newsletter Lab Notes.

Although it remains illegal on the federal level, psilocybin was legalized in Oregon and Colorado through ballot measures in recent years, and treatment centers are now being rolled out in these states. Many other cities have decriminalized psychedelics, citing their low risk for harm, especially compared to drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine.

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With this momentum, many were hopeful that Lykos Therapeutics (formerly known as MAPS Public Benefit Corporation), would get FDA approval this summer when they submitted a new drug application for MDMA to treat PTSD. MDMA, sometimes called "ecstasy," had been shown to significantly improve PTSD symptoms in clinical trials.

However, the industry experienced serious setbacks after the FDA rejected MDMA therapy in August, citing concerns over the quality of the data submitted with the new drug application. Earlier this year, study participants came out to say that they had felt pressured to report positive results, and at least one patient came forward with sexual misconduct allegations. Ultimately, some of the studies submitted in the new drug application were retracted by the journal that published them.

Juliana Mercer, the director of veteran advocacy and public policy at Healing Breakthrough, which advocates for MDMA-assisted therapy for veterans, said the FDA's MDMA decision came as a "gut punch" to those working to increase the availability of psychedelics and that long-standing stigma against controlled substances like MDMA are a barrier to getting them approved. In Massachusetts, a ballot measure to legalize psilocybin was also rejected this past election.

"I think there is absolutely still stigma attached to it," Mercer told Salon in a phone interview. "There is still more work to be done in terms of correcting the information that was given to us through programs like the 'Just Say No,' campaign and the War on Drugs."

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Although Kennedy will need to be confirmed by the Senate to secure a leadership role at the HHS, some believe his influence could lead to deregulation that could make psychedelics more widely available.

With plans to bust the corrupt alliance between major pharmaceutical companies and the agencies that regulate them, while supporting transformative treatments such as psychedelic-assisted therapies, we expect RFK to usher in a new era of U.S. health care, Joe Caltabiano, the CEO of Healing Realty Trust, which invests in the psychedelics industry, wrote in a statement.

Yet others emphasize that those regulatory frameworks are in place for safety reasons and that psychedelics need to be subject to this kind of scientific scrutiny. Some, including Dr. Nora Volkow, who helms the National Institute of Drug Abuse, have warned that the hype around psychedelics has outpaced the science.

You have people saying psychedelics are going to cure the mental health crisis, and those are big statements, Pace told Salon in a phone interview. Those are the kinds of statements that certainly attract investors, and they certainly get donations to get a research study done.

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In addition to support from Republican representatives in California, Texas and Michigan, psychedelics have also garnered advocacy among Silicon Valley Republicans. Elon Musk, who Trump appointed to lead a new Department of Government Efficiency agency, has said that he has a prescription for ketamine, a psychedelic-like anesthetic, and has discussed using other psychedelics. Earlier this month, psychedelic investor Christian Angermayer said on X that many attendees at a psychedelics event in San Francisco were pro-Trump, some of them very openly which would have been impossible a year ago. And Rebekah Mercer, who has been called one of the chief financiers of the fascist movement, donated $1 million to MAPS through the Mercer Family Foundation to fund psychedelic research for veterans.

Although some have argued that psychedelics can turn people into progressives, change ideology, or fight facism, these substances have a long history of use by people across party lines and tend to amplify existing ideologies rather than change them, Pace said. As psychedelics have hit the mainstream, it follows that they are being embraced by mainstream political parties in the U.S., he added.

"For those who think that psychedelics are going to revolutionize mental health, 'solve the mental health crisis,' or introduce kinder, gentler capitalism, it's much more likely that the reverse is going to happen," Pace said. "Psychedelics will be assimilated by the mental health system, [or, for example,] they will be applied through a conservative, Christian lens, rather than distort[ing] it."

Psychedelics have been described as having the power to deconstruct the mind, from which changes can be made in the process of integration that can significantly improve mental health. In Western culture, the reconstruction part of the process could be deprioritized in an attempt to find a quick fix to the mental health crisis.

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When the stakes are high, go slow, but in Silicon Valley, its move fast and break things, Pace said. But in this case, we are talking about people  not things.

Psychedelics may be another tool for tackling the mental health crisis, but they will be most effective for communities that have social support in place to help them integrate the experience, Pace said. It also seems counterintuitive for Republican leaders to try and solve the mental health crisis  which is known to be amplified by health disparities, discrimination and social determinants of health like economic inequality  when many of those same leaders back legislation that puts more people at risk for these situations on the front end, he added.

There is this idea that if you have a mental health problem, you take a pill and you have this individual solution for a problem that affects a lot of people, Pace said. There is this systemic side of how to address things like reducing the rates of PTSD by making sure that we have robust conversations about sexual assault prevention with men and boys and all kinds of things that are beyond the individual. But this can be a selling point for people: Now we have this treatment, you just pull yourself up by the bootstraps and get back in the saddle.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this article stated that Healing Realty Trust invests in the cannabis industry, which is inaccurate. Additionally, this article mentioned that Lykos Therapeutics was formerly known as MAPS, when it was technically called MAPS Public Benefit Corporation. The article has been updated.
For the first time, scientists temporarily captured baleen whales and tested their hearing, a controversial step that brings researchers closer to understanding how some of the largest and most intelligent animals on Earth perceive their world.

In 2023, researchers captured two juvenile minke whales off the coast of Norway, applied gold-plated electrodes to their skin with suction cups and then examined their brain waves as different frequencies of sound played. Each young whale was at least 12 feet long and weighed about 1 ton.

The results of the study, published Thursday in the journal Science, surprised whale researchers because they suggest the creatures can hear at much higher frequencies than expected. The mammals ability far exceeds that of typical humans, the research suggests.

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It was a bit shocking, said Dorian Houser, director of conservation biology for the National Marine Mammal Foundation and the studys lead author. They have this ultrasonic hearing, which we think is probably related to avoiding the killer whale as a primary predator since they use echolocation signals to hunt their prey at the same frequencies.

The surprising findings come amid growing concern about the effects of ocean noise from sources like naval sonar, oil and gas exploration and ship traffic, which can alter marine mammals behavior, cause hearing loss and even kill them. The new information could shift what noisy activities are allowed in the ocean under the Marine Mammal Protection Act or lead to restrictions on some equipment.

There might be higher frequency sounds that are produced from ocean exploration activities that were never considered a potential problem for baleen whales that need a second look, said Susan Parks, a professor of biology at Syracuse University in New York, who was not involved in the study.

This study also closes a chapter of deep disagreement within the whale research community. Scientists had never captured baleen whales and tested their hearing before because the animals are so large it could be dangerous to both the whales and researchers.

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Some scientists and activists fiercely opposed the four-year research effort  called the Minke Whale Hearing Project  over concerns that whales would become stressed and potentially die during their brief stints in captivity. They argued it wasnt possible to safely capture the whales or ensure they wouldnt develop long-term stress responses.

The Whale and Dolphin Conservation, a global nonprofit advocacy group that focuses on protection of these animals, in 2021 organized and sent an open letter from scientists and veterinarians to the Norwegian government, urging the project be stopped as it may lead to considerable trauma for the whales targeted, without contributing to useful science.

What the largest whales on Earth could hear has long remained a mystery to scientists. Because baleen whales  of which there are 16 species, including Humpback, Blue and Fin whales  are too large to study in captivity, biologists have had to infer their hearing ability from studies of whale behavior, how other animals interact with them and from models of their anatomy.

Scientists know, from recordings and other observations, that baleen whales rely on hearing for social communication and that its important to their survival. Humpback whales sing complex songs associated with courtship and mating, and make clicks when foraging, for example.

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To get an actual direct measure of hearing, that was something thats been kind of a Holy Grail, Houser said.

Minke whales were a good target for audio testing because theyre the smallest baleen whale and a species whose hearing scientists dont understand very well.

For minke whales, I dont think there are a lot of details on how they use sound day-to-day, Parks said, adding that there are other baleen species where were just matching species to sound.

To perform the tests, the Minke Whale Hearing Project researchers devised a complex trap near Norways Lofoten Islands to capture whales, relying on the species predictable migration path along the coastline.

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The researchers set up more than a mile of nets to guide the whales into a channel between two islands, then blocked off their exits with barrier nets. The researchers next corralled the whales into a preexisting fish farm enclosure, where they used a hammock-like net to pull the creatures up closer to the surface.

In June 2023, the researchers caught two young whales and, with on-site veterinarians, performed 30 minutes of testing on one whale and 90 minutes on the other before releasing them. The researchers attached electrodes for brain stem monitoring, took blood samples and attached satellite tracking tags to follow up on the animals behavior and welfare.

Houser said the effort required about 20 tons of netting and 12-15 people working around the clock to corral, monitor and test the whales. Although the whales blood sugar rose and their heart rates changed, he said they tolerated testing well and continued their typical behavior afterward.

Those satellite tags do show that they return to being minke whales again, he said, adding that the animals welfare was the researchers top priority.

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A minke whale that was never caught nor tested died when it became entangled in a net and drowned after a storm forced the research crew off the water and dislodged an anchor securing its nets.

Regina Asmutis-Silvia, executive director of the Whale and Dolphin Conservation in North America, said the organization remained opposed to the project.

Releasing the whales alive does not mean that these individuals will not suffer long term stress responses to sounds or activities they associate with this experiment and their lives, and health, may be compromised as a result, Asmutis-Silvia wrote in an email, adding that it was tragic and ironic to harm individual whales to substantiate just how harmful human sounds are on these species.

Asmutis-Silvia said similar science could have been completed through noninvasive means, like studies of behavioral responses or stress hormones, and that the science produced by the project had significant limitations.

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This is a sample size of two juvenile male minke whales from a particular region so its not clear how this translates more broadly to other age classes in that area, never mind other species, she said.

Brandon Southall, a scientist and consultant who has helped develop acoustic exposure criteria for marine animals for federal regulators, said he thought the research would contribute to future limits set on ocean sound to keep marine mammals healthy.

They did everything according to best practices and carefully and professionally. The fact that it did yield the first results and it guides conservation outputs, I think on balance it was useful and informative, Southall said.

Southall said the new research did not measure the lowest ranges of the whales hearing ability, which is more challenging because of how neural signals operate in animals bodies.

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He said low-frequency sounds, like ship propellers or seafloor piledriving for wind farms, travel great distances in the ocean and are more likely to cause marine mammals harm.

We should think, before someone does another study like this, what more could we get out of it, Southall said.

Houser agreed that its more difficult to study low-frequency sounds. But he said researchers had not reached the lower limit of what signals they could detect. He said the Minke Whale Hearing Project is on hold, but hed like to pursue the topic further if he could secure funding.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Locals in Kilifi County, Kenya, are pushing back against plans for the country's first nuclear power plant, as reported by The Associated Press. Residents are calling to stop the project to focus on safer alternatives that will benefit their communities.

What's happening?

The Nuclear Power and Energy Agency in Kenya plans to build a $3.8 billion nuclear power plant in Kilifi, aiming for completion by 2034, with construction starting in 2027. However, residents, environmentalists, and human rights groups are pushing back, saying the decision was rushed and lacks community backing. Tensions have escalated during protests, highlighting the need for more transparent planning and community input on major projects.

Phyllis Omido from the Centre for Justice Governance and Environmental Action emphasized the region's rich ecosystems, like Watamu Marine Park and Kenya's largest mangrove forests. "We host the only East African coastal forest.  We do not want nuclear energy to mess up our ecosystem," Omido said. The center filed a parliamentary petition, addressing the issue that "Locals had limited information on the proposed plant and the criteria for selecting preferred sites."

Which of these factors would most effectively convince you to support nuclear energy projects in your area?

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Why are the protests important?

Kilifi's economy relies on fishing and eco-tourism, so a proposed nuclear power plant has locals concerned. They fear construction could harm fishing grounds, impacting incomes, while worries over nuclear waste and potential accidents threaten public health. The possibility of accidents could also drive tourists away, hurting local businesses.

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Environmentalists are championing solar and wind energy as a safer and more economically friendly alternative. In an interview with The Cool Down, co-founder of the Rocky Mountain Institute Amory Lovins said nuclear power is "increasingly expensive." Renewable energy such as solar and wind power are more cost-efficient to develop.

Projects like the Green Heart of Kenya show what's possible when eco-friendly ideas meet urban planning. The initiative integrates 70% green space, agroforestry, and solar-powered energy, proving that sustainable living can go hand-in-hand with development.

What's being done about the plant?

The Senate is reevaluating the project after the backlash and a lawsuit filed by Collins Sang and Cecilia Ndeti. The Nuclear Power and Energy Agency says the project will meet safety standards, but locals still want a change of plans. Kenya has the chance to prioritize renewable energy solutions, offering a safer, more sustainable future for its people and the environment. As of right now, the project is still set to begin in 2027.

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SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  A proposed 23-story high-rise in Pacific Beach has sparked protests, with opposing residents taking their resistance to new heights on Saturday  literally.

Around 9 a.m., a group of concerned citizens attempted to release balloons tied to strings with the intention of letting them float up to the prospective 238-foot height of the controversial building, which could possibly be built at 970 Turquoise St.

Though windy conditions ended up impacting their attempt, the message of the protesters remained clear: dont ruin the view of the beach community. The purpose of the balloon release, according to Scott Chipman of San Diegans for Responsible Planning, was to help the surrounding community fully grasp how tall the structure  dubbed Turquoise Tower  would be.

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The suggested high-rise, proposed by developer Kalonymous and known as the Vela Project, would include 213 units, with only 10 reserved for low and middle-income families, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

I-15 freeway temporarily shutdown as police stop large group of motorcycle riders

With decades of anti-development policies across California, new affordable housing laws  specifically the State Density Bonus Law  will now allow for affordable housing projects to bypass the normal 30-foot height rules, including in Pacific Beach.

Critics have argued that the project is an example of the misuse of the new law, designed to incentivize the construction of affordable housing.

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Kalonymus previously released this statement regarding the proposed development:

San Diego has a well-documented shortage of homes that is making life increasingly expensive, so we need ambitious projects to truly move the needle. The project team has been working with experts for quite some time to craft a building that complies with all applicable housing laws.

Chipman, however, said that the group San Diegans for Responsible Planning is not opposed to more housing, but is rather against  irresponsible, ridiculous housing like a 230-foot building next to little houses.

The proposed high-rise has also become a focal point in the debate over local zoning laws. If approved, the Turquoise Tower would significantly alter the skyline of Pacific Beach, a community that has adhered to a 30-foot height limit since 1972.

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The City of San Diego is currently awaiting technical guidance from the California Department of Housing and Community Development, which will help the city determine whether the project should proceed.

The debate over the Turquoise Tower and its potential impact on Pacific Beach is expected to continue to grow, with citizens voicing concerns about the future of their communitys character and the effectiveness of state laws aimed at addressing the housing crisis.

Jennifer Franco 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 FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
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China has expanded its visa-free policy to nine additional countries, including eight in Europe, allowing their citizens to enter for up to 30 days without a visa for business, tourism, and other visits starting Nov. 30, 2024.

The policy now includes Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, and Latvia, alongside other nations already benefiting from China's open-door approach. Officials and tourism professionals from the newly included countries have welcomed the move as a step toward stronger bilateral ties.

Malta's Deputy Prime Minister, Ian Borg, hailed the policy on Friday as another milestone in the long-standing bilateral relations between the two countries.

"This visa-free agreement reflects the strong mutual trust and commitment to fostering closer ties in tourism, business, and cultural exchange," Borg, who is also Malta's minister for foreign and European affairs and trade, said in a press release.

"It simplifies travel for our citizens but also paves the way for deeper cooperation and new international trade opportunities," he added.

For Croatian tour guide Branka Peric, the visa-free policy is "certainly good news" for tourism and those who work in the tourism sector.

Peric, a long-time tour guide who is establishing her own travel agency, said the latest visa-free policy showcased China's opening up to the outside world and will result in more friendly ties between China and Croatia.

"China and Croatia have a long history of good relations, and this has been confirmed in many cases. China has shown that it can successfully cooperate with much smaller countries like Croatia and to the benefit of both sides," she noted.

Xie Dong, a Chinese inbound tour guide for Latvia and Estonia, also agreed that China's new visa-free policy would boost tourism between the two Baltic countries and China, calling for direct flights between China and the Baltic countries.

For Nina Merlusca, who is the destination manager of Romanian tourism city Piatra-Neamt, the visa-free policy for Romanian ordinary passport holders will "increase cooperation between the two countries."

Based on her personal experiences of traveling in China, she said that China is a very friendly country to tourists.

Starting from Nov. 30, 2024, ordinary passport holders from a total of 38 countries within China's visa-free arrangement can enter China without a need to apply for a visa for the purposes of business, tourism, family visits, exchanges and visits and transit, with stays of no more than 30 days.




Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday expressed his gratitude towards the people of the Kedarnath constituency as the BJP candidate Asha Nautiyal is leading from the seat, as per the latest trend from the Election Commission. The Chief Minister thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the development work carried out in the area. The trends emerging amid the counting of votes for by-election in Uttarakhand's Kedarnath assembly constituency show Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Asha Nautiyal leading against Congress' Manoj Rawat. According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), all 13 rounds for counting votes have concluded, projecting Nautiyal as the winner. He said that this win was for development and nationalism as people have rejected the politics of "delusion and lies." "Firstly, I want to remember Baba Kedar and I want to express my gratitude towards the people of Kedarnath assembly constituency for electing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Asha Nautiyal. Along with this, I want to congratulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi for BJP-led Mahayuti winning in Maharashtra elections," Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami told ANI. "It is the people who have won in Kedarnath assembly constituency. We have won because of the development work carried out by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the renovation of Kedarnath Dham. This is a win for development, nationalism and Sanatan Dharma. In this election, they (the opposition) tried to spread regionalism and casteism. But people have completely rejected such politics of delusion and lies. People have chosen development," the Chief Minister said. "We will fulfil the pledge we have taken to develop the entire Uttarakhand including Kedarnath," he added. The win in Maharashtra is also the win of good governance and development, CM Dhami said, adding that people have accepted the policies carried forward by PM Modi. Meanwhile, BJP leaders and workers reached the CM's residence to congratulate Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami after party leader Asha Nautiyal is currently leading in the Kedarnath assembly elections. The Mahayuti alliance is on its way to a landslide victory in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, crossing the crucial majority mark, winning one seat and leading in over 200 seats as of 1:00 PM. Sweets were also seen being brought to the residence of Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis. Meanwhile, the BJP's Mumbai office was abuzz with joy, with party workers bringing sweets in anticipation of a resounding victory. (ANI)
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has expressed opposition to gender-affirming health care for transgender minors and questioned evidence linking HIV to AIDS, two issues that critics say should give senators second thoughts about confirming him as Health and Human Services secretary.

While Kennedys vaccine skepticism has received more attention, his remarks on LGBTQ issues, including comments during a podcast last year that chemicals in drinking water could be making children gay or transgender, have also raised serious alarms.

RFK Jr.s history of denying basic scientific truth, from the cause of AIDS to the legitimacy of transgender health care, they represent a grave threat to the health and well-being of the LGBTQ+ community, and he is poised now for one of the most powerful and consequential positions in shaping the nations health care and public health policies. In this context, disinformation isnt just harmful, it is deadly, said Alex Sheldon, executive director of GLMA, an association of LGBTQ health care professionals.

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Trump has said he plans to let Kennedy go wild on health, unnerving some LGBTQ health care providers and researchers, given Kennedys past statements and policy proposals.

In December, Kennedy told the conservative political commentator Patrick Bet-David that transgender minors should not be able to access medications like puberty blockers and hormones without permission, but fell short of opposing gender-affirming care altogether or endorsing federal restrictions.

By May, however, Kennedys position had become more conservative. He wrote on the social platform X that while individuals diagnosed with gender dysphoria deserve compassion and respect, hed become troubled by the idea of giving puberty blockers to minors, labeling them as repurposed castration drugs. He also referred to transition-related surgery as mutilation and said such treatments should be postponed until adulthood.

Major professional medical organizations say gender-affirming health care for transgender adults and minors is medically necessary and can be lifesaving  several studies link puberty blockers and hormone replacement therapy to lower rates of suicidality in transgender adolescents.

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Surgical procedures are not often recommended for trans youths under 18, according to the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, and the only form of gender-affirming care for children before puberty is social support, such as allowing a child to choose clothing, hairstyles or a name that more closely aligns with their gender identity.

[Kennedys] comments on transgender health care, in a lot of ways, reflect a confusion that is very widespread right now among a lot of people in U.S. society who dont know what it means to be transgender, and how deep and long-standing both the evidence and clinical practice on this topic are, said Kellan Baker, executive director of Whitman-Walker Health, a Washington-based nonprofit focused on LGBTQ health care.

Kennedys skepticism of established medical and scientific consensus extends to areas outside LGBTQ health. He has a long record of promoting misleading claims about vaccines and recently called for water systems to remove fluoride from public drinking water, hailed as one of the greatest public health achievements of the 20th century.

Having an individual with a clear ideological bent on health care is going to make everyone unhealthy, said Dr. Meredithe McNamara, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Yale School of Medicine. The damage done by the metastasis of scientific disinformation will land most squarely on kids  kids who need vaccines, kids who need gender-affirming care.

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With the megaphone that he will have and the false legitimacy that this appointment would give him, I am deeply concerned that people will become even more steeped in misinformation, and even more swayed by the outlandish things that he says, said McNamara, a co-founder of Yale Law Schools Integrity Project, which disseminates scientific and legal knowledge in support of LGBTQ youth.

Kennedys suspicion over whether HIV causes AIDS  hes suggested the party drug poppers might be the real culprit  has also concerned public health experts. In his 2021 book The Real Anthony Fauci, Kennedy claimed that Fauci, who led the response against the HIV epidemic in the 1980s, had sabotaged effective treatments for AIDS.

HIV prevention and care research has been incredibly important for our communities  its kept millions of people alive around the world, said Sean Cahill, director of health policy research at the Fenway Institute in Boston. But theres still a lot of work to do in terms of HIV prevention and HIV treatment, and the idea that hes questioning whether HIV causes AIDS is very perplexing.

Kennedy has also said he intends to shake up the National Institutes of Health, a division of HHS that includes the Office of AIDS Research, by firing 600 federal employees, a move that threatens to stymie medical advances in treating the disease. As head of HHS, Kennedy would also help oversee the Presidents Plan for Emergency AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a program first authorized in 2004 that provides HIV prevention and treatment in more than 50 countries.

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Beyond Kennedy, physicians and public health experts said policies proposed by the president-elect and the incoming administration would drastically reshape the health care landscape for LGBTQ Americans, not necessarily for the better. The agenda on Trumps website says he plans to reverse Biden-era policies and guidance supporting gender-affirming health care for transgender minors and sign an executive order instructing federal agencies to cease programs that promote the concept of sex and gender transition at any age.

The agenda also promises to declare that any hospital or clinician who provides gender-affirming care to minors would no longer meet federal health and safety standards for Medicaid and Medicare  and will be terminated from the program immediately. Cutting federal funding to hospitals, many of which rely on government money to remain operational, would disrupt health care for everyone, not just trans people, said McNamara, of Yale Medical School.

Its impossible to discriminate against a single group of people without hurting everyone else, and bans, restrictions and threats that target evidence-based health care will show us that over time, she said.

It is expected that Kennedy, a close Trump ally, will honor the expectations of the president-elect, meaning HHS rules expanding access to gender-affirming care and prohibiting sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination in health care settings will likely be on the chopping block in the next administration. A rule finalized by the department in April strengthening protections for LGBTQ foster youth could also be targeted.

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The federal rulemaking process is often lengthy, and it could take several years to completely reverse and replace rules instituted by the Biden administration. But hospitals and clinicians that provide gender-affirming care, anticipating the administrations actions, are likely to respond well before the new rules are finalized, said one physician in Massachusetts, who requested their name not be published because of safety and privacy concerns.

There will definitely be health care systems that are proactively seeking to minimize their risk of retribution by the Trump administration. So, that means, even before rules go into effect, health care systems will roll back access to care and will roll back research infrastructures around this, the physician said. Their goal is to use federal structures to eliminate this care and silence researchers.

Baker, of Whitman-Walker Health, said hes hopeful that career scientists and health care experts at HHS, a sweeping agency that employs more than 80,000 federal employees across the U.S. and around the world, will help rein in some of Kennedy and the Trump administrations proposals.

Theres a lot of concern that different parts of the administrations agenda will be driven by things other than science, he said. At the same time, were all hoping that the realities of running a federal agency like HHS will encourage the Secretary and the entire administration to rely on the people who know that science the best.

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Since being tapped as President-elect Donald Trump's controversial pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been criticized by medical and public health experts for his anti-vaccine history, his current vaccine skepticism, his take on the COVID-19 pandemic -- and by some for his descriptions of fluorinated water. But some of the environmental attorney's views are also receiving support from some unexpected sources.

On Wednesday, renowned food author Michael Pollan echoed those criticisms -- but offered some praise for Kennedy's criticism of the American food industry, which Kennedy has accused of propagating obesity and chronic disease.

"He's voicing a critique of the food system that is important," Pollan told ABC News, while making clear he was drawing a "strong distinction" between Kennedy's food stances and his medical advice -- and that he thinks Kennedy is a "horrible" choice for the job.

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MORE: Doctors worried RFK Jr. will tout vaccine-skeptic views after he is picked for HHS secretary

Pollan's comments join a stance taken in recent days by some prominent Democrats who have praised Kennedy for his vows to "Make America Healthy Again," in part by tackling the food industry -- while condemning him for his years working against vaccine health policies.

The comments from Pollan to ABC News came after he shared a seemingly positive article on social media about Kennedy titled, "They're lying about Robert F. Kennedy Jr." -- a move that prompted Kennedy himself to reply and suggest they work together.

"Thanks @michaelpollan!" Kennedy wrote Thursday on X. "I'd love to work with you to restore our public health agencies to their rich tradition of gold-standard, evidence-based science and Make America Healthy Again."

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Asked if he would take Kennedy up on the offer, Pollan was clear: "No."

PHOTO: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., arrives before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at Macomb Community College, Nov. 1, 2024, in Warren, Mich. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP)

"I've got my role to play, and that's not the role," he told ABC News.

Kennedy has faced fierce criticism over his claims that vaccines are behind an "epidemic" of diseases in America, and that cavity-fighting mineral fluoride, added in small amounts to some drinking water, is "industrial waste." Pollan said Kennedy's stances on vaccines and fluoride "seem nutty" and that he was overall a "horrible" pick to lead HHS.

But Pollan -- who has authored multiple books, including several on the effects of food on the human body -- offered some praise for Kennedy for his views on ultra-processed food and the overuse of corn and soy.

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"He's injected these issues into the national conversation, and I think that's a big deal," Pollan said.

He also praised Kennedy for linking the epidemic of obesity and chronic disease to agricultural policies -- a move he said is "really important."

"I'm looking for glimmers in an otherwise bleak landscape," Pollan said.

MORE: RFK Jr. has been picked for HHS secretary. Here are the agencies he would oversee

Pollan's approval of Kennedy's food stances follows similar praise from some Democrat officials.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said he was "excited by the news" that Kennedy had been appointed to lead HHS, writing on X that he was "most optimistic" about Kennedy "taking on big pharma and the corporate ag oligopoly to improve our health."

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He wrote in a subsequent post that "Science must remain THE cornerstone of our nation's health policy" and said "the science-backed decision to get vaccinated improves public health and safety," but noted that he is "for a major shake-up in institutions like the FDA that have been barriers to lowering drug costs and promoting healthy food choices."

Earlier this week, Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey posted a video on social media about how he has been "raising the alarm of the dangers of our current food system."

"Food in America is making us sick," Booker said in the video. Though he did not mention Kennedy by name, Kennedy reposted the video, thanking Booker for his "long history of leadership on this issue."

MORE: Trump promised to disrupt Washington. His Cabinet picks would do just that: ANALYSIS

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Asked by ABC News, Booker said he had not yet made up his mind on Kennedy's nomination, saying that Kennedy would need to go through the confirmation process and that Kennedy's stances on vaccines were "very troubling." He added he was "super skeptical of the Trump administration's efforts in any way to say that they are going to be doing things to make us more healthy."

Still, Booker added he was "happy to hear" Kennedy on some of the issues around health, saying, "There's a growing coalition in America from both sides of the aisle really demanding change. I hope, if the Trump administration is willing to do something right and positive on these issues, I'll be right there."

"When it comes to RFK, we're going to look at the totality of his record, we're going to evaluate and make a decision, but my focus is trying to block Trump from doing more damage to Americans health, like he did last time," Booker said.

Pollan, for his part, questioned just how much Trump would let Kennedy make true reforms to the food industry, should Kennedy be confirmed.

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"I have my doubts about whether Trump is going to give him authority to do what he wants to do around food," Pollan said of Kennedy, who over the weekend was in a viral photo eating McDonald's with Trump and others on Trump's plane. "Whether he'll get anywhere, I have my doubts -- but I am pleased to see these issues getting talked about."

Some of RFK Jr.'s views are finding support in some unexpected quarters originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Nov. 23COLFAX  A Richland, Wash., man who was arrested earlier this month for leading deputies on a high-speed chase in Colfax is going to jail.

Derek Adams, 32, pleaded guilty to attempting to elude a police vehicle and fourth-degree assault Friday morning in Whitman County Superior Court. Court Commissioner Douglas Robinson sentenced him to 45 days in prison.

Adams was arrested by Whitman County deputies Nov. 2 for a car chase that exceeded speeds of 100 mph and ended in a crash.

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Court records say a wildlife agent tried stopping a motorcyclist for speeding on Washington State Route 26.

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The driver failed to yield, and deputies followed the vehicle after entering Colfax. Instead of pulling over, Adams reportedly accelerated onto Washington State Route 272.

The pursuit ended when Adams failed to negotiate a corner and crashed into an adjacent field.

Adams was taken to the hospital for treatment of broken ribs before being booked into the Whitman County Jail.

In court, Adams said he was sorry for imposing the dangers of that pursuit upon officers. He also sent an apology letter to the officers involved.

After serving time, Adams will transfer into Benton County's custody on several warrants. He's accused of stealing a vehicle in the Tri-Cities area.
Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID), the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, declined to commit to supporting two of President-elect Donald Trumps most controversial Cabinet nominees: former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard for intelligence chief, and Fox News host Pete Hegseth for defense secretary.



Ask me this question again after the hearings, Risch told Jewish Insider on Saturday in an interview at the Halifax International Security Forum. These appointments by the president are constrained by the advice and consent of the Senate. The Senate takes that seriously, and we vet these.



Those remarks stand in contrast to comments Risch made a day earlier about Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), Trumps pick for secretary of state, on a panel alongside Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), who will be the Foreign Relations Committees top Democrat.



Im enthusiastic about Marco, and were going to do our best, and Jeanne and I have talked about this, were going to do our best to have him confirmed as secretary of state on the same day as the president is inaugurated, Risch said.



Gabbard, a former Democratic member of Congress from Hawaii who earlier this year switched her party affiliation, has drawn criticism from some national security-minded Republicans after Trump announced his intention to nominate her to be director of national intelligence. During Gabbards time in Congress, she went to Syria and met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as his forces engaged in a bloody civil war that included the use of chemical weapons on civilians. She has also faced scrutiny for parrotting rhetoric employed by Russian President Vladimir Putin that the U.S. had instigated Russias invasion of Ukraine by encouraging Ukraine to join NATO.



Risch didnt criticize Gabbard directly, but argued that her influence would be limited by virtue of large size of the intelligence community noting the thousands of employees and officials across departments.



I am not concerned that a person is going to influence the president to the point where he changes his basic view on things, Risch said at the Friday panel.



As incoming chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Risch told JI he plans to focus during his tenure on the wars in Israel and Ukraine, and to shine a greater spotlight on China.



What takes up the time, a lot of the time, is what we have on our plate right in front of us, and thats Ukraine and the Middle East situation, Risch explained. The challenge over the rest of the century, I think it may be even beyond, is China.



The focus in Halifax this weekend is Ukraine and promoting democracy worldwide, bringing together representatives from more than 60 democratic nations. Many of those countries, including Canada and the European Union, have pledged to abide by the International Criminal Courts arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Risch said he has not spoken to anyone on the ground in Halifax about the warrants, but that his message to them is clear.



People need to understand were serious about these sanctions, and if someone does engage in enforcing the warrant, thus enforcing action against Netanyahu, they easily could be the target of a third-party sanction, said Risch.




The county inspector general's report about Riviera Beach's water system didn't mince words.

John A. Carey and his team, in an investigative report issued this week, found the utility district's former executive director, Michael Low, and three subordinates, responsible for underreporting or falsifying poor water purity test results in 2023. The actions violated state regulations designed to ensure the safety of city residents, Carey said in the report, which he forwarded to the Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office for potential prosecution.

Blame has been flying about Riviera Beach for months, since word of the alleged misdeeds was revealed and the state began issuing the city fines for dozens of test procedure violations. The city's 40,000 residents have been left to doubt whether they can trust the yellowish water that comes out of their taps, though the city insists it's fine and getting better.

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More on Riviera Beach: Riviera Beach mayor warns that city could face as many as 151 more water quality violations

Riviera Beach Mayor Ronnie L. Felder

Mayor Ronnie Felder and some on the city council  who themselves, as members of the utility board of directors, bear responsibility for water quality in Riviera Beach, they should be reminded  have been quick to blame City Manager Jonathan Evans, so often a target for their political maneuvering that it's hard to take them seriously.

But Inspector General Carey makes it clear: His office is not an expert in water systems but does specialize in accountability, and neither Evans nor his deputy, Deirdre Jacobs, knew what the technical experts charged with operating the system were hiding, Carey says. The four who in his view were responsible are gone. (In addenda to the report, they deny wrongdoing.) Looking forward, Carey says, Evans and Jacobs appear on board with making improvements the report demands. "In general it looks like they've accepted it and are taking actions to implement our recommendations," Carey told us Tuesday.

That's good because the city has a lot of work ahead of it. The time for recrimination is over and residents deserve a new system as soon as possible.

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Between the proposed new water plant, improved delivery systems, wells and everything else, that project is a long, complex one that could cost as much as $400 million. So it deserves the administration's full professional attention, and competent, well-intentioned city council oversight without interference. Planning for that plant is 60% complete, and the city finance team is analyzing how best to raise money through bonds, state and federal grants, in a way that least adds to residents' future water bills.

One of the renderings of the future Riviera Beach water plant from Blue Heron Blvd. looking east.

From September: Riviera Beach mayor suspends city manager without pay, blindsiding council members

Meanwhile, the existing 66-year-old plant is being operated by a consulting firm U.S. Water under a six-month, $1.3 million contract. The plant should be able to produce 17.5 million gallons of clean water a day but currently limps along at 8-9 million, with Riviera Beach having to buy additional supply from utilities in neighboring cities.

Jonathan Evans

Under the glare of bad publicity  something to which this city is no stranger  Evans needs to follow through on his pledges to improve water sampling and reporting procedures, and install technical systems to ensure water quality and clarity. The utility has promised to improve its compliance systems and procedures, and to inspect and rehab wells in need of urgent repair and train staff. Above all what this episode teaches is that a culture of detailed communication and trust, among technical operators and city leadership, must be instilled.

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Neither the city manager nor the city council are off the hook. While the State Attorney's Office has been asked to look into what former employees allegedly did, the inspector general promises that he will be watching to assure the city's compliance in the months ahead, and so, no doubt will the Florida Department of Health.

Municipal water systems are expensive, data- and tech-intensive and hard to run flawlessly under the best of circumstances. And this is not the best of circumstances. The city's old system has been hobbling along through a series of utility executives, city managers and board members for years.

But Riviera Beach has pulled itself up to the point where it's ready to spring for a new one, while also working aggressively on a list of other projects that together could bring the entire city renewed vitality. The critical water system report should be seen as an opportunity to prepare personnel, procedures  and Riviera Beach leadership  for all the challenges in the pipeline.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Riviera Beach water investigation shows a way forward | Editorial
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO)  Andrew Janes, 34, was charged with sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl after his incarceration for kidnapping a child in February.

On June 4, DCFS reported child abuse to the Rockford Police Department. Officials interviewed the victim about the incident at Carrie Lynn Childrens Center on October 9, at 4 p.m.

The victim told authorities she was sexually harassed on multiple different occasions.

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The felon was found guilty of child abduction on October 4th for an incident that took place in February.

Janes is charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a child and sex exploitation of a child.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports.
Far-right nationalist George Simion could become Romania's next president. Just days before the election, he hailed Donald trump at the campaign headquarters and 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.

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Sundays presidential election has 13 candidates and is expected to go to a 8 December 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 on 1 December 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 said 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.

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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 centre-right National Liberal Party, which is currently in a tense coalition with the PSD.

Some voters feel that none of the candidates in Sundays race are addressing issues they view as significant.
(FOX40.COM)  Law enforcement is investigating a burglary that happened at the Roseville Galleria Mall on Thursday.

Around 11:30 a.m., the Roseville Police Department said it responded to a smash and grab inside the Gallerias S&L Gem. Officers said multiple suspects entered the store with hammers, smashed the glass displays, and fled with stolen jewelry.

Northern California officer arrested after sexual assault allegations

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No weapons were used and no one was injured, according to RPD. There were also no arrests, but RPD said an investigation is ongoing.

In response, Roseville Galleria ramped up security.

The safety and security of our customers, retailers, and employees is always our primary concern at Westfield Galleria at Roseville, a Roseville Galleria spokesperson told FOX40.com. We are working closely with local law enforcement regarding the earlier incident at our center.

The burglary comes one week after a Kim Tin jewelry store burglary in Sacramento that left a woman dead. The two incidents have not been connected, however, the Sacramento burglary involved five to six people who used crowbars and other items for the crime.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  Its Friday, November 22. Take a look at our top stories in news and weather with KELOLAND On The GO First@4.

Senator Mike Rounds is proposing legislation to do away with the U.S. Department of Education.

Rounds: Federal dollars to remain the same despite DOE elimination

2 people were arrested after a report of gunshots in Oelrichs, South Dakota last night.

Shots fired in Oelrichs, South Dakota

For the 5th time this year, a truck has been damaged by the train bridge in Pierre.

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5th truck damaged by Pierre bridge

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.

Storm Center PM Update: Seasonable with Cold Air On The Way

Download the KELOLAND News app to find the latest headlines while on the go.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
PECOS, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)  Reeves Regional Health is warning local residents of a scam that is claiming to be from the hospital and offering free prescriptions or prizes.

ECSO warns of law enforcement impersonation scam

In response, Reeves Regional Health said it will never make these kinds of calls and will never share personal information with unknown callers. You can learn more about how you can protect yourself and others from being scammed in the video above.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin.
With the Mahayuti alliance inching closer to victory and likely to form the government in Maharashtra, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde thanked the BJP high command for their support in prioritising Maharashtra. Speaking about the alliance's success, Shinde said, "I thank all the workers of Mahayuti. PM Modi, Amit Shah bhai, Nadda ji - all supported us. They gave priority to Maharashtra. I am proud that I have been proven right about what I had said that we will win 200 seats. We (Mahayuti) fought like a team..." Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah congratulated CM Eknath Shinde, Deputy CMs Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis, as the Mahayuti alliance approached a landslide victory in the 2024 Assembly elections. Earlier, CM Shinde stated that the alliance would collectively decide on the Chief Minister's face once the final results are declared. "Let the final results come in... Then, in the same way as we fought elections together, all three parties will sit together and take a decision (on who will be the CM)," he said. Celebrations erupted at Shinde's residence in Thane, where Shiv Sena workers cheered, and bouquets arrived. His son, Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, celebrated with fellow party members. "As we had expected, we have got very good numbers. I thank all the voters who stood behind Mahayuti and gave this landslide victory," Shrikant said. As of 2:15 PM, the Mahayuti alliance crossed the crucial majority mark, winning 8 seats and leading in over 200 constituencies. Sweets were brought to the residences of Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis, and BJP's Mumbai office buzzed with celebrations. BJP leader Vikas Pathak said, "We were expecting over 160 seats for Mahayuti, and that is exactly how it's shaping up. The lead could increase further. This year has been significant for BJP. On its strength, the BJP is crossing 100 seats, and a Mahayuti Chief Minister is set to take office." Pathak noted the enthusiasm among workers but emphasized final celebrations would begin after results were confirmed. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar celebrated in Baramati, leading by over 15,000 votes. At Devagiri, NCP leaders, including Ajit Pawar, Praful Patel, and Sunil Tatkare, joined supporters to mark the victory. Congress leader Supriya Shrinate admitted, "Maharashtra election results are opposite to our (Congress') expectations. There is no doubt we could have done better." Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut dismissed the results, claiming, "This cannot be the decision of the people of Maharashtra." BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla criticised the opposition for "making excuses" and praised PM Modi's leadership, stating that Maharashtra would have a government with a huge majority. All eyes are now on who will assume the Chief Minister's position. (ANI)
Nov. 23Rogers State University plans to construct a new, modernized building for its science and technology programs.

Steve Valencia, RSU's vice president for development, said the state has given $10 million and the Cherokee Nation $4 million for the proposed Center for Science and Technology. The university can also bond up to $12 million for the project.

Valencia said RSU is relying on private donors to shore up the remaining $4 million.

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"This is a $30 million project," Valencia said. "We'll build as much building as we can for $30 million, but if we fall short in our fundraising ... it will be a setback. It is critically important that we meet the goal."

RSU invited the community to the Dr. Carolyn Taylor Center Wednesday for a kick-off event to raise awareness of the fundraiser. There, RSU Foundation Chair Misty Choat announced the foundation would match up to $1 million in private donations.

"This means that your gift will have double the impact," Choat said.

RSU plans to break ground on the STEM center by the end of next summer, Valencia said. The STEM center will go up in what is now the parking lot west of Loshbaugh Hall and south of the Stratton Taylor Library.

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He said the university will soon begin negotiations with an architectural firm to put together designs for the center. A different architectural firm has drafted concept art, Valencia said, but this art doesn't reflect how the final design will look.

The university's science and technology programs currently occupy Loshbaugh Hall, built in 1955 when the school on the hill was the Oklahoma Military Academy.

Valencia said RSU determined renovating Loshbaugh would cost more than constructing a brand-new building.

"It was never big enough to accommodate Rogers State University and certainly doesn't have the modern amenities that science labs need today," Valencia said.

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Alyssa Allen, a senior studying molecular biology at RSU, said Loshbaugh lacks natural gas, so students have to use inferior hot plates or lighters to generate heat for experiments.

She said there are often more broken microscopes in the microbiology lab than functioning ones, and much of the equipment students use is older than they are.

"The routine of equipment not working or being dated from the last century has become the butt of the joke for laboratories in Loshbaugh," Allen said. "Students and professors alike do not deserve this imbalance of superior teaching with inferior lab equipment and antiquated facilities."

Mark Rasor, the university's interim president, said accrediting officials told RSU leaders if the university wasn't planning to build a new STEM building, they would have determined RSU's facilities to be inadequate.

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"That's a huge one, because that means that we could easily lose accreditation," Rasor said.

Valencia said RSU will keep Loshbaugh for faculty offices and rooms for classes that don't require sophisticated equipment.

He said parents and students tend to equate quality of education with the quality of a school's facilities, and he figured most high schools in the area have nicer science labs than RSU.

A better science building, Valencia said, would allow the university to accurately reflect the quality of its professors and programs.

"We really have a beautiful, modern campus, until you get to Loshbaugh," Valencia said. "...It hurts us in our ability to recruit. This new facility, obviously, will be a very attractive and functional space, and it will help with with recruiting."

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Meggie Froman-Knight, executive director of Claremore Economic Development, said the center would equip future generations to receive world-class science and technology education at home in Rogers County.

She said the center would attract and retain high-quality job opportunities in northeast Oklahoma.

"Careers will be launched here," Froman-Knight said. "Groundbreaking ideas will take shape within the walls of this center ... It's a promise to provide the skills and education needed to succeed in an ever-evolving global economy."

People can donate to the campaign by emailing Valencia at svalencia@rsu.edu or calling him at 918-343-7780.
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, pointing to the move by the United States and its allies to authorize Kiev to hit targets inside Russian territory.

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"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.

NATO-Ukraine Council to meet

In response, Rutte said on Friday he would convene a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council.

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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.

Zelensky: Putin is committing new war crimes

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday accused Putin of new war crimes following the missile attack on the city of Dnipro with a new medium-range missile.

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Zelensky, in his evening video address, said "when someone starts using other countries not only for terror, but also for testing their new missiles through terror, this is definitely an international crime."

Earlier, Putin described the use of the medium-range missile as a successful test under war conditions.

Zelensky said that Russia's behaviour is "making a mockery" of the positions of China and the countries of the Global South, which are calling for moderation. Once again, he called for a strong response from the international community.

Zelensky also made an appeal to his compatriots and the foreign diplomats working in Kiev. He stated that Ukraine is working to strengthen its air defence. Nevertheless, every air raid alarm should be taken seriously, and cover should be sought in case of danger.

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At the same time, he said, the potential threat of a Russian missile attack should not be used as an excuse to take time off, referring to the partially closed embassies in the country.

"When the siren sounds, we go for cover. And when there is no siren, we work and serve."

He said Putin will continue to intimidate Ukraine.

"He has built his entire power on this."

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.

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.

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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.

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 has damaged 321 port infrastructure facilities, as well as 20 foreign merchant vessels since July 2023, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Nov. 23 at the International Conference on Food Security in Kyiv.

Traveling along the Black Sea route, ships are regularly at risk of being attacked by Russia. Since the beginning of the all-out war, mines have also been drifting along the trade route, which also poses a risk to maritime transport.

As a major grain producer, Ukraine exports about 6 million tons of grain per month through ports along the Black Sea.

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Following an initial blockade at the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, Russia unilaterally terminated the Black Sea grain deal last year forcing Kyiv to set up a new export route in the Black Sea.

Initially envisioned as a humanitarian corridor to allow the departure of ships stranded there since the start of the full-scale war, it has since grown into a full-blown trade route.

Last month, Russian forces struck a foreign civilian ships in Odesa, killing a 60 year-old Ukrainian port employee and injuring five foreign nationals.

"By attacking civilian vessels, Russia tries to weaken Ukraines economy and put millions around the world at risk of hunger," Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote on social media following the attack in October.

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Speaking at the Grain from Ukraine conference during a program that included journalists from 10 different African countries, Zelensky said that the country's "food exports provide food for 400 million people in 100 countries around the world."

"Food prices in Egypt, Libya, Nigeria, and other countries in Africa directly depend on whether farmers and agricultural companies in Ukraine can operate normally," Zelensky added.

Attempting to strengthen ties with African nations amid Russia's continued influence in the region, Zelensky said that seven of the ten embassies that the country announced it was opening in African nations in December 2022 have already been opened, with an additional three opening in the near future.

Read also: West should not set red lines on providing military support for Ukraine, French foreign minister says





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The United States intelligence has declassified a document on the assassinations abroad of political opponents of Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Source: Bloomberg with reference to US intelligence document

Quote: "... Political and opposition leaders in key former Soviet republics that are deemed a threat.

A key example is former President of Ukraine Viktor Yuschenko, who suffered a near-fatal poisoning in 2004.

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His supporters concluded that Russian intelligence introduced the chemical dioxin into his food when he was a presidential candidate advocating Ukraine's integration with the West."

Details: The report also mentions the blowing up of the car belonging to a former leader of Ichkeria, Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev. Other Kremlin-related murders include the poisoning of former FSB officer Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006 and businessman Alexander Perepelichny, who died suddenly while jogging near his mansion in England in 2012.

Another target of the Kremlin may be separatists in Ukraines east disloyal to Moscow, according to the declassified report. The 2015 murder of Oleksandr Biednov, who was the defence minister of the so-called Luhansk Peoples Republic [a non-recognised quasi-state formation in Luhansk Oblast  ed.] is cited as an example.

The US intelligence said it was highly confident in this report.

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It was also reported that Putin had probably given Ramzan Kadyrov, the head of the Chechen Republic who is extremely loyal to Putin, the freedom to kill Chechens abroad. Most of the killings attributed to Kadyrov's people have been carried out by shooting, while those that intelligence estimates were carried out by Russian secret services include a wide range of methods, including poisoning.

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Russian leader Vladimir Putin and the Russian military leadership are continuing to laud the Oreshnik ballistic missile launched on 21 November on the city of Dnipro. However, military analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) suggest that this is part of an information campaign to inflate Russia's capabilities and put pressure on the West and Ukraine.

Source: ISW

Details: Putin met with Russian Defence Ministry leadership, representatives of the Russian defence industry and missile developers on 22 November, calling the Oreshnik launch "successful" in response to "those who are trying to blackmail" Russia.

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According to Putin, the Oreshnik missile has been created based on advanced technology, not a modernisation of Soviet-era designs, and is already being prepared for mass production. Colonel General Sergei Karakayev, Commander of the Russian Strategic Missile Forces, emphasised that the missile could strike targets across Europe and claimed there is nothing else like it in the world.

The US and Ukrainian media have pointed out that the Oreshnik missile is not a fundamentally new weapon. Pentagon officials have confirmed it is a medium-range missile derived from the RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental missile (ICBM). Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh stressed that previous Russian missile strikes involved warheads "significantly larger" than those of the Oreshnik.

Ukrainian military intelligence suggests that Oreshnik is a codename for the Kedr missile project, developed from the Yars ICBM. Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, Head of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, stated that work on the Kedr has been underway since 2018-2019. While ISW cannot independently verify these statements, it concurs that the 21 November strike does not indicate any new Russian capabilities.

Quote: "Russia benefits from the rhetorical fanfare surrounding the November 21 strike and likely hopes that stoking concerns over the Oreshnik missile launch will prompt the West to dial back its support for Ukraine."

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To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways on 22 November:

Russian President [sic] Vladimir Putin and Russian military leadership continue to extol the ballistic missile that Russian forces launched at Ukraine on 21 November, likely in an effort to artificially inflate expectations of Russian capabilities and encourage Western and Ukrainian self-deterrence.

Russia may additionally conduct test launches of the same or similar ballistic missiles in the coming days to accomplish the same rhetorical effect.

Russia has reportedly provided North Korea with over one million barrels of oil and an unspecified number and type of air defence systems and missiles in return for North Korea's provision of manpower for Russia's war effort in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian Prosecutor Generals Office opened an investigation against another instance of Russian forces executing Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) in Donetsk Oblast.

Russian forces recently advanced west of Svatove, south of Chasiv Yar, south of Toretsk, northeast of Vuhledar, and northeast of Velyka Novosilka.

Russia continues to build its training capacity by establishing new service academies in occupied Ukraine.

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The Russian "kill list", planned in the event of Ukraine's capture, included teachers, veterans of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO), journalists, priests, and others. [The ATO or Anti-Terrorist Operation is a term used from 2014 to 2018 by the media, the government of Ukraine and the OSCE to identify combat actions in parts of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts against Russian military forces and pro-Russian separatists  ed.]

Source: Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, Head of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, at the Genocidal Practices of the Russian Federation in Ukraine: From the Holodomor to the Russo-Ukrainian War forum on 23 November

Quote from Budanov: "The kill lists were to include Ukrainian language, literature and history teachers; veterans of the ATO; journalists; scientists; writers; priests from the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and other denominations supporting Ukraine; civic and political leaders; as well as heads of state and local government bodies.

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We have witnessed horrific mass crimes against Ukrainian citizens, the evidence of which has been made known to the world. The atrocities committed by Russian Armed Forces in Bucha, Borodianka, Hostomel, Izium, Mariupol, and many other settlements across Ukraine have shown that these coordinated and systematic actions were based on the clear doctrinal principles of Russia's genocidal policies, as promoted by its authorities and military leadership."

Details: Budanov said that the Russians were briefed on the locations of mass graves before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Background:

In early February 2022, Bild reported on Russian leader Vladimir Putin's plans for Ukraine in the event of an invasion, one of which included the destruction of the resistance movement and "camps" for dissenting Ukrainians.

As usual, the Kremlin dismissed this as "a fabrication and a fake".

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(FOX40.COM)  The Sacramento Police Department is asking for the communitys assistance in locating an at-risk missing person.

The missing person is 71-year-old Karin Johnson. SPD said Karin is at risk due to her mental capacity. She was last seen leaving the 2700 block of Caldwell Court around 2 a.m. on Friday. Johnson is 5 foot 7 inches tall, 130 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes. She was last seen wearing a light-colored jacket and light-colored pants.

Anyone with information on her whereabouts can call the Sacramento Police Department at 916-808-5471.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40.
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)  The Salvation Army is looking for volunteers to sign up to be bellringers this season.

Officials say all proceeds from Red Kettles will be staying in western Kentucky to provide vital assistance for families and individuals in need. The funds raised help support programs for food, shelter and Christmas assistance, such as toys and clothing for children and seniors.

Missing 12 year old from Henderson found

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Major Norman Grainger, corps officer of The Salvation Army in Henderson, shared, The demand for our services has grown as many local families feel the pressure of rising costs. We are doing everything we can to help everyone who reaches out, but our resources are stretched thin. By volunteering as a bellringer, you can make a tangible impact for those in need this holiday season, helping to ensure that no family has to go without food or shelter during this special time of year.

The Salvation Army says bellringing shifts have already begun and will continue through Christmas Eve. Each shift lasts for two hours, and volunteers are welcome to sign up for as many as they would like. Organizations or businesses can also support the cause by Adopting a Kettle for a day. This involves sending volunteers in two-hour shifts throughout the day to cover a specific kettle location.

Man facing multiple charges following motorcycle chase ending near Hopkins County Fairgrounds

To become a volunteer bellringer, people can either visit this website or call The Salvation Army in:

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Henderson: 270-826-4472

Madisonville: 270-825-3620

Owensboro: 270-685-5576

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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).
Editors note: Details of the story may be disturbing to some readers.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56)  Attorney General Russell Coleman announced on Friday that a Salyersville man received a 10-year recommended sentence and a lifetime designation on the Kentucky Sex Offender Registry for possessing sex abuse material, as well as a sex crime against an animal.

4 indicted after Lexington-based sober home allegedly used urine tests to defraud Medicare

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In a news release from the attorney generals office, state officials said that on Thursday, 43-year-old Kent Simpkins pleaded guilty to:

One count of distribution of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor under age 12

Three counts of possession of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor under age 12

Two counts of possession of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor under 12

One count of sexual crime against an animal

The attorney generals office reportedly received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (MCMEC), which led to law enforcement searching Simpkins IP address and social media, where multiple images of minors involved in sexual acts, numerous animal sex videos and a video of Simpkins involved in a sexual act with the familys dog were found, the news release read.

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A single tip to law enforcement led to a 10-year sentence that will keep this dangerous predator away from our children, said Attorney General Coleman. I am grateful to the investigators and prosecutors who stare into this darkness to protect our families from these serious crimes.

Simpkins is due to be sentenced in March 2025.

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With trends indicating a lead for Congress candidate Priyanka Gandhi with over four lakh votes as counting progressed in Wayanad Lok Sabha by-polls on Saturday, BJP leader Anil Antony said that Wayanad election was forced on the people by Gandhi family and it was a set match to ensure that she would reach the Parliament. Anil Antony said, "There are elections happening across the country. There is a historic election in Maharashtra where BJP-NDA is well poised to have the best every victory. There are by elections happening in Assam and Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and everywhere we are doing very well. Wayanad is an election that was forced on the people of Wayanad by Gandhi family." He said that Priyanka Gandhi's margin is much less than Rahul Gandhi's margin in 2019 and 2024. "In Kerala CPM and the Congress both of them are part of the same national alliance. It is amusing that Priyanka Gandhi could not find any other constituency in the country. Two years ago she was face of Congress in UP. She could not find any other constituency where she was assured that she could win so she came to Wayanad. Because of demographics she has advantage here. The election was imposed on the people," he added. He further said that till the last day of Lok Sabha polls 2024 Rahul Gandhi did not tell the people that he was going to fight from another constituency. "Rahul Gandhi came to Wayanad as he was assured that he would lose from Amethi. He stood in Wayanad but till last day he did not tell that he would fight from Raebareli also. Across nation the Congress party has been rejected and even in Wayanad their popularity is decreasing. What is the use of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra standing in Wayanad in the national perspective where she is fighting against her own alliance? This is set match to ensure that she would reach the Parliament,"he added. He said that NDA is growing in Kerala. "In 2009 our vote share was 9 percent, in 2014 it was 13 percent. This Lok Sabha polls our vote share became 19 percent. We opened our account. Today in Palakkad bye-elections we are having close contest with Congress and ahead of CPI(M)," he added. Meanwhile as per trends published by the Election Commmission of India at 2 pm today, Congress candidate Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was leading by over two lakh votes in the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat. Priyanka Gandhi had obtained 6,12,020 votes and leading by a margin of 4,04,619 votes, as per the ECI. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra made her electoral debut with this seat. CPI candidate Sathyan Mokeri is in the second spot and BJP candidate Navya Haridas on third. By-polls were held in 48 assembly seats and two Lok Sabha seats across 15 states. Wayanad, a Congress bastion is witnessing a triangular contest between Priyanka Gandhi, BJP's Navya Haridas, and the Left candidate Sathyan Mokeri. Priyanka Gandhi is contesting from the Wayanad constituency as a United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate, from the seat her brother Rahul Gandhi vacated after he was also elected to Lok Sabha from Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh in the general elections held earlier this year. (ANI)
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP)  Santa Claus made his way to the Holyoke Mall from the North Pole on Saturday, bringing holiday spirit to western Massachusetts! 22News was there to greet him upon his grand arrival, and captured the sights and sounds of this joyous tradition.

Santa made his way down to the Mall at 10 a.m., and stepped out of a firetruck outside the Red entrance of the building near Round 1. He greeted the children ready to meet him; who told him what they want for Christmas.

Northampton hosts Bag Day sale with discounts

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But the Christmas magic didnt stop there! Families had their share of festive fun with face painting, balloon art, holiday music, a spirited performance by Colby Academy of Dance, and of course, many lined up for their photo with Santa.

One family really felt the Christmas magic and told 22News why they wanted to be there to welcome Santa to Holyoke.

My kids love Christmas and Im a big fan of Christmas, expressed Rosalia Guzman of Holyoke. So, I just want my kids to enjoy it too, and see the childhood that I dealt with.

Layla Guzman shared her favorite part about Christmas time, besides seeing Santa of course, To have enjoyment with my family and spend time with them! And, Christmas gifts!

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Santas Village at the Holyoke mall is open through Christmas Eve on the lower level Honor Court near Mrs. Fields. While Saturday is Santas first appearance, hell be spreading holiday cheer all season long.

This is the best place in the whole world to see Santa!, said Santa Claus, of the North Pole. And, I love every one of you. Please come and see Santa!

You can bring your furry friends to Pet Night with Santa on November 25 or 26, December 2, or December 3. Santa Cares day is December 8, and that brings Santas magic to an inclusive atmosphere.

This holiday season, reservations to visit Santa are encouraged. You can find the reservation link, Santas hours, and event information here.

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From Santa and everyone at the Mall, Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays!

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
GAVOI, SARDINIA  On the staircase to the mayors office of Gavoi, a screen projects the daily count of energy production and carbon emissions reduction from the solar panels that adorn the municipal buildings in this charming mountain town, as if suggesting that the direction of the energy policy for the second largest island in the Mediterranean is on target.

As thousands of climate advocates descend on Baku, Azerbaijan, this week for the 2024 U.N. Climate Change Conference, better known as COP29, Sardinian President Alessandra Todde reiterated her islands intent to address the climate emergency through strong collective action in the Mediterranean, citing the recent flooding disasters in Valencia, Spain and the south of Sardinia.

But the roadmap for such collective action here  technically, Sardinia is an "autonomous region" of Italy, with its own government  presents a new path forward as a European climate leader on different terms. Sardinia has broken with the Italian government in Rome in a showdown over a "speculative assault of private energy projects, political power and its implications of autonomous rule in an age of climate change.

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Thousands of protesters converged on the Sardinian capital of Cagliari last month to deliver an extraordinary package  more than 210,000 signatures from an island of 1.6 million inhabitants  on behalf of the Pratobello 24 initiative, which aims to reclaim the regions jurisdiction over urban planning, including renewable energy installations.

In ways similar to protests seen from Greece to Australia to the wind rush in Brazil, and even in Swedish activist Greta Thunbergs protest against Europes largest onshore wind farm on indigenous Sami territory in Norway, the Sardinian rebellion emerges as a powerful cautionary tale: Central government officials must learn follow the lead of locally-based planners in addressing climate action.

Sardinians are quick to remind visitors that this crisis is more than a handful of wind turbines tilting above an archaeological site. Nor is it a simple not in my backyard complaint, of the kind echoed from Cape Cod to Ireland.

In an effort uniting often acrimonious political parties earlier this summer, the Regional Council under the newly-elected Todde passed an emergency 18-month suspension of a mind-boggling number of wind turbine and photovoltaic projects ushered in under former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi's administration in 2021 and meant to exploit Sardinia, among other regions, to meet European Union benchmarks for national carbon reductions.

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That didnt land well in Rome. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, still reeling from the electoral rebuke of her right-wing alliance in Sardinia's elections last spring, immediately announced her governments intention to challenge the regions jurisdiction in Italy's Constitutional Court.

While that jurisdictional question heads to the courtroom, Toddes regional government approved a legislative decree in mid-September to set "provisions for the identification of areas and surfaces suitable and unsuitable for the installation of renewable energy systems," marking the island as the first Italian region to propose a law on suitable areas approximately three months in advance of the deadline set by the Government.

"Sardinia, like it or not, will not accept to passively suffer decisions made from above," Todde declared, in a salvo clearly directed at Meloni.

Ancient Rome's emperors once feared the wind power along the insane mountains on this island. Now it is the Sardinians who are gobsmacked by the Roman obsession with wind power and its possible destruction of their island. According to the Italian-based multinational TERNA, the largest independent electrical grid operator in Europe, applications by outside companies for renewable projects in Sardinia, underscored by E.U. incentives and funds, now number well over 750, potentially producing nearly nine times the amount of clean energy required in the Italian decree.

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We inherited a region without rules regarding the installation of renewable energy plants, declared Todde, with many authorizations effectively out of control.

Saddled with the highest utility rates anywhere in Italy, Sardinians also know that nearly three-fourths of the energy production on the island comes from fossil fuels, including the only two coal-fired plants in the entire country, both dependent on imported coal, which have been given an extension to operate until 2027. But even that doesn't tell the whole story; nearly 40% of the energy those plants produce is exported to mainland Italy.

For Todde's administration, the response is clear: Sardinia plans to lead a green energy transition on its own terms, consulting with municipalities, territories and citizens.

Invoking the islands autonomous status, which makes it one of five regions in Italy granted special jurisdiction over planning and regulatory provisions, Sardinia's Regional Council has not abandoned the Draghi-era benchmarks for renewable energy, but intends to restrict them to suitable areas that ensure protection of the landscape, along with cultural and environmental assets.

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That laudable-sounding goal may be more complicated to achieve than it sounds.

Diverse voices of rebellion are growing ever more pointed, with increasing protests and blockades. The energy transition, activists say, must serve the island, not subjugate it. A revolt of the olives emerged as a symbolic showdown in Selargius, a small municipality near Cagliari, where TERNA's expropriation and destruction of a farmers olive grove brought out an army of shovel-wielding supporters to plant new olive trees.

Even "Casino Royale" film star Caterina Murino returned to her native island and met with Todde, invoking the resistance of Sardinia's 14th-century hero Eleanor of Arborea as a model for regional leadership. Last week, jazz legend Paolo Fresu performed on Italian national TV along with popular TV host Geppi Cucciari, who joined her fellow Sardinian in reading his monologue dedicated to the island's heritage, "The Wind Knows."

Sardinians fear this energy transition will transform their landscape and invade their territory, with the greatest benefits going to Italian and international corporate speculators. From interviews around the island, it is clear that those who live here and love the island fear they will suffer a cultural uprooting, one similar to what has happened over previous centuries, and even millennia.

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This assertion of Sardinias ancient heritage might be the greatest outcome of this crisis. A cultural reawakening is spreading across the island, aligning diverse groups committed to municipal rights, cultural and archaeological preservation, environmental protection  and a history of resistance.

Beyond its fabled beaches, Sardinia is not an empty stage, as both ancient and modern-day Romans have conceived it. Considered by archaeologists as an open museum, the island possesses the highest density of Neolithic and Bronze Age archaeological sites in Europe. One only has to visit the pioneering Nurnet geoportal website, which tracks the islands archaeological wonders, including those of the Nuragic civilization, which served as a cradle of architectural and maritime innovation in the Bronze Age, beginning around 1800 B.C.

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The risk is that the areas of great environmental, historical and archaeological value in Sardinia will be irremediably compromised, former Baunei mayor Angela Corrias recently told me.

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Many such sites, such as the Bronze Age "nuraghe" or tower fortress known as Genna Maria, risk losing their status as anchors for cultural tourism, locals fear, due to the encroachment of wind and solar projects. Villanovaforru mayor Maurizio Onnis filed a formal comment on the environmental and cultural impact of the wind farm proposal in August, declaring that the historical-identity elements of the landscape at Nuraghe Genna Maria would be fractured, resulting in the disintegration of the panoramic and environmental values of the area.

Toddes regional government even joined a court challenge against a solar proposal near the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Barumini. A regional court recently struck down a project proposed near Pranu Muttedu, a Neolithic necropolis that has been called the Sardinian Stonehenge.

Some activists invoke a historic uprising against an Italian military facility in Pratobello in 1969, and an awareness of Sardinia's colonial legacy remains a factor today: More than 60% of Italian military operations, including war games and bombing ranges, have claimed over a quarter of the island's territory.

A century before the military takeover, deforestation of the island by Italian railways and companies left Sardinia literally razed as if by a barbarian invasion, declared the legendary Sardinian journalist and Marxist philosopher Antonio Gramsci in 1919. He also pointed out the effects of destruction on the islands climate: We inherited todays Sardinia, alternating long dry seasons and flooding showers.

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Todays climate crisis, therefore, is not a new story for this island.

Yet Sardinia has never lacked for ideas or innovators. In the midst of this cultural revival, Sardinians see their ancient history as a continuum of todays endeavors; writers, artists and cultural tourism groups are engaged in a process they call "re-storification," unearthing and forging new stories, rituals, and gatherings that recover the withered or denied strands of history and reshape a continuum between the past and present. That includes climate action.

In fact, the Regional Council passed its own environmental energy plan in 2016, spelling out a path to a renewable energy transition and 50% reduction of carbon emissions by 2030. Amid political turmoil and changing regional administrations, the plan fell through the cracks as Draghi's government in Rome ramrodded its decree over Sardinian silence, more than consent.

That era of silence in Sardinia is over now.

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Former Sardinian president and Tiscali founder Renato Soru, the Bill Gates of Italy, who created the first subscription-free internet company in Italy, has issued his own Project Sardinia plan for renewable energy. The regional newspaper Unione Sarda, which has become a clearinghouse of information over the wind assault, promotes the "Pratobello law," an initiative to grant territories the power to decide over energy projects. In the once-abandoned village of Rebeccu, the MusaMadre Project has inspired a revival based on the power of eco-cultural arts projects.

Sardinians are not waiting on the government to move forward.

Soon we will have already created an Eden, Stefania Demurtas and Salvatore Marongiu told me, as we walked in the shade of fruit trees through their agro-forestry project, Tenute il Maggese, in the eastern Ogliastra area. A regenerative future is waiting for us in Sardinia.

In the meantime, Sardinias fate as a climate leader, and its authority to decide its own energy future, will be decided in the courts. But the island's message to Italy  and the faltering COP29 negotiations  has already set its course. .
SAYRE, Pa. (WETM)  A Sayre man has been charged on more than 500 sexually related crimes, including 69 counts of rape, after a months-long investigation by police into evidence collected from his Sayre home during a drug-related search warrant in April, according to information from the Bradford County District Attorneys Office.

Sean Hall, 45, of Linden Street in Sayre was charged on 531 counts of various crimes including 69 counts of rape, 47 counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, 198 counts of indecent assault, 127 counts of aggravated indecent assault, 18 counts of sexual extortion, 10 counts of strangulation, and six counts of unauthorized administration of an intoxicant.

The charges stem from Halls involvement with at least 17 different female victims and the alleged events that occurred over several years, the DAs office said.

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On April 11, 2024, a search warrant was conducted on Halls home on Linden Street to find evidence of the possible manufacture, sale, use, and possession of meth. During the search, police said officers found evidence of the making of meth along with Halls cell phone and a collection of digital storage devices like multiple external hard drives and dozens of micro SD cards, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

Previous Post: Sayre man arrested on 66 felony counts of drug possession

A warrant was granted to look into the electronics with police finding Hall engaging in non-consensual sex with a female. Police stopped the video to acquire a second warrant to include sexual offenses in the search.

A further search of Halls hard drives found that Hall had dozens of folders organized by name with hundreds of videos of him having non-consensual sex with these women. Police found sexual material on not only the hard drives but his phone and the micro SD cards as well.

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As police searched through the videos it was noticed that these women were under the influence of some kind of substance. Further investigation claims that Hall would use Ambien, a prescription sedative used to treat insomnia, to drug these women by crushing it up and telling them it was Percocet or another substance, or he would put the drugs in their drinks.

The documents claim Hall would bind these women up with fabrics and sometimes chains before raping them and recording the incidents from several different angles. Hall would keep them away from their phones and threaten them with numerous things to keep them from escaping.

When police searched Halls phone they found two Facebook accounts they claim Hall was using to lure in and meet up with these women. The documents said Hall reached out to more than 500 women in ten months with one of the fake accounts and 400 women on the other account.

Police said Hall would search Facebook and look for women who were vulnerable and were looking for something he could provide for them, whether it be a place to stay, money, drugs, clothes, or even a shoulder to cry on, the documents said.

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Body cam footage released from Steuben County 12-hour standoff in October

On top of these women, Hall would hire escorts through online websites with police saying he intended to rape them. Hall would meet these women and have consensual sex with them before quickly turning into rape. Hall would threaten to not pay these women if they didnt comply with his demands, along with other tactics he performed on his other victims.

The assaults would not stop at the rape as police said Hall would harass and threaten his victims through the phone. Documents said that even after the victims would block Halls number, he would create dozens of more fake phone numbers to continue contacting the victims.

In August, the Bradford County Drug Task Force applied for another search warrant for Halls Linden Street home to look for evidence related to these crimes. Documents state that when police searched the home again, numerous items seen on the recordings were taken from the home as evidence.

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Hall was arrested and presented with the charges on Friday, Nov. 22, and was denied bail. Hall is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Dec. 3. Hall was previously arrested on 66 felony drug charges relating to the April 11, raid on his home.

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Nov. 22The Albert Lea school board on Monday accepted the resignation of the Southwest Middle School teacher accused of soliciting a 15-year-old student for sex during the 2023-24 school year.

Gerardo Guerrero, 31, had been placed on paid administrative leave after his arrest Nov. 6, and his name was included in the staff movement list that came before the board in its Monday meeting. The list includes new appointments, extra duties assigned to teachers, as well as resignations, retirements and terminations.

The district confirmed his was a resignation that was effective Monday, Nov. 18.

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A question about whether Guerrero had been on paid leave since his arrest has not yet been answered by the district.

There has also been no discussion about the issue, either in open or closed session at school board meetings.

Gerardo Guerrero, 31, of Austin was charged with one count of soliciting a child to engage in sexual conduct and one count of distributing via electronic communication material that relates or describes sexual conduct to a child, both felonies.

Court documents allege he met the student when she handed out cupcakes to teachers at Albert Lea High School one day and then tracked her down on Instagram and Snapchat and began sending photos and at least one video that were sexual in nature.

He is next slated to appear in court Dec. 19.
Scientists were alarmed to discover newborn rodents' organs contained micro- and nanoplastics after maternal exposure, leading them to call for further research into the matter, according to a media release from Rutgers University.

What's happening?

Researchers from Rutgers University exposed six pregnant rats to aerosolized food-grade plastic powder over 10 days (pregnancies in rats generally last 21-23 days, per a study published in Clinical Anatomy and Physiology of Exotic Species).

After testing two newborns 14 days after birth, the team determined that both young rats (one male, one female) had plastic particles in their hearts, kidneys, lungs, and brain tissue. The control group, on the other hand, had no plastic particles present.

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Why are these findings important?

According to the release, the Rutgers Health team chose to study rats because maternal and fetal blood aren't in direct contact during circulation  similar to human pregnancies.

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The fact that the newborns' organs contained plastics suggests a public health issue may be looming. Scientists have found a "strong correlation" between micro- and nanoplastics exposure and impaired immune function, heart problems, and cancer, among other serious complications.

"These results raise concerns for the toxicological impacts associated with [micro-nanoplastic particulates] exposure, maternal-fetal health, and systemic MNPs particle deposition," the researchers wrote in the study, published in Science of the Total Environment.

It is difficult, if not impossible, to escape exposure to micro- and nanoplastics (tinier than their five-millimeter micro counterparts), as they've been found just about everywhere on the planet, from high mountain peaks to deep ocean waters. Another study even found microplastic fibers in the breath of dolphins.

What can be done about this?

Phoebe A. Stapleton, the study's senior author and an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Rutgers, hopes that her team's initial findings will spur policymakers to support further research into the potential impact of micro- and nanoplastics, according to the release.

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"Nobody wants plastic in their liver. Now that we know it's there  as well as in other organs  the next step is to understand why and what that means," Stapleton said, explaining that more knowledge about the particles' effects could help protect public health.

"Without answers, we can't have policy change," she added. "I don't think we'll ever get rid of plastics altogether.  But I do think we might get to a point where we'll have some policies to indicate which ones are less toxic than others."

To the latter point, some promising developments are underway. For example, researchers in Australia are working on compostable plastics derived from biomaterials rather than dirty fuels.

You can limit your exposure to microplastics at home by storing and heating food in reusable containers made from alternative materials, including silicone.

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.
Bes Up

A team of researchers from the University of South Florida has discovered the first-ever physical evidence that ancient Egyptians got messed up on rowdy cocktails of hallucinogenic drugs.

The findings add evidence to centuries-old myths surrounding the rituals and practices of ancient Egyptians, whose empire lasted from around five thousand years ago until shortly into the common era.

The team examined an ancient Egyptian "Bes" mug, which was donated to the Tampa Museum of Art in 1984. These mugs are decorated with the head of Bes, the ancient Egyptian god associated with protection, fertility, healing, and magical purification.

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As detailed in their paper published in the journal Scientific Reports, the researchers identified the remains of psychoactive compounds while closely examining the interior of the mug.

"Theres no research out there that has ever found what we found in this study," said study lead and University of South Florida anthropology professor Davide Tanasi in a statement. "For the first time, we were able to identify all the chemical signatures of the components of the liquid concoction contained in the Tampa Museum of Arts Bes mug, including the plants used by Egyptians, all of which have psychotropic and medicinal properties."

Ancient Jungle Juice

It's a fascinating new wrinkle in a mystery that has been puzzling scientists.

"For a very long time now, Egyptologists have been speculating what mugs with the head of Bes could have been used for, and for what kind of beverage, like sacred water, milk, wine or beer," said Tampa Museum of Art curator Branko van Oppen in a statement. "Experts did not know if these mugs were used in daily life, for religious purposes or in magic rituals."

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Tanasi and his colleagues used advanced chemical and DNA analyses on samples carefully scraped from the mug's inner walls.

They found the mug once held an astonishing "cocktail of psychedelic drugs, bodily fluids, and alcohol" in possible evidence of a magical ritual reenactment, Tanasi posited.

Some of the hallucinogenic sources include wild rue and a water lily known to have been grown by ancient Egyptians, both of which were "traditionally proven to have psychotropic and medicinal properties," according to the paper.

"Egyptologists believe that people visited the so-called Bes Chambers at Saqqara when they wished to confirm a successful pregnancy because pregnancies in the ancient world were fraught with dangers," Van Oppen explained. "So, this combination of ingredients may have been used in a dream-vision inducing magic ritual within the context of this dangerous period of childbirth."

More on ancient Egypt: Scientists Find Evidence of Advanced Technology Used to Build Egyptian Pyramid
Is there something in the water?

The answer appears to be yes. For four decades, scientists have struggled to identify a mysterious "phantom" chemical found in drinking water across the US. All they knew was that it was a byproduct of the disinfectant chloramine, which is commonly used in water treatment.

Now, the mystery appears to have been solved. As detailed in a study published in the journal Science, the culprit is what the authors have identified as chloronitramide anion, a chemical previously unknown to science that is a compound of one chlorine atom, two nitrogen atoms, and two oxygen atoms.

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But the implications of the discovery are unclear. While it bears similarities to other waterborne chemicals that are regulated for being toxic, scientists don't yet know if chloronitramide anion is harmful for humans to consume, and are thus urging immediate further research into the byproduct.

"We need to investigate it. We don't know the toxicity," study lead author Julian Fairey, an associate professor at the University of Arkansas, told The Washington Post. "This work was 40 years in the making in terms of trying to identify the compound, and now that we have identified it, we can delve into how toxic is this thing."

None of this is necessarily cause for alarm. Contaminants are unavoidable in drinking water, and when kept at low enough concentrations are generally harmless.

Chloramines, which are derived from combining chlorine and ammonia, have been used to effectively treat water for nearly a century in the US, and are also used in other countries including Australia.

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But as with many chemical disinfectants, it creates byproducts that themselves have to be carefully managed. These form when the chloramines interact with organic substances in the water, like harmful germs, and over time, can decompose to form yet more kinds of byproducts. The newly identified chloronitramide anion is one of these decomposition off-shoots.

Still, the advantage of using chloramines was that they actually facilitate lower concentrations of byproducts that we know to be harmful  and in some cases carcinogenic  than chlorine, the most popular disinfectant for treating water.

Until more research is conducted, the verdict is out on chloronitramide anion's safety  but many experts are optimistic.

"I agree that a toxicological investigation of this anion would be useful now that we know its identity, but I am not overly worried about my tap water," Oliver Jones, a professor of chemistry at RMIT University in Melbourne Australia, who was not involved in the study, said in a statement.

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"The question is not  is something toxic or not  because everything is toxic at the right amount, even water. The question is whether the substance is toxic at the amount we are exposed to," he continued. "I think here the answer is probably not."

If anything, we should probably be more worried about all those microplastics we imbibe.

More on water: Nearly Half of US Tap Water Laced With Toxic "Forever Chemicals," Scientists Find
VANDALISM: Report from Shepherd Fork Road of a car window being broken out. 2:13 a.m., Friday, Nov. 15.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON: Report from Careys Run-Pond Creek of a male walking in the roadway. 11:07 a.m., Friday, Nov. 15.

THEFT: Report from Noel Lane of a breakin at a residence. 11:32 a.m., Friday, Nov. 15.

THREATS OR HARASSMENT: Report from Valley High School of a student making threats against the school. 2:05 p.m., Friday, Nov. 15.

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THREATS OR HARASSMENT: Report from Center Street of a minor student being harassed by other students. 3:49 p.m., Friday, Nov. 15.

THREATS OR HARASSMENT: Report from Pirate Drive of a minor student being verbally harassed by other students. 4:20 p.m., Friday, Nov. 15.

ANIMAL COMPLAINT: Report from Swauger Valley Road of a neighbors loose dog coming on callers property and trying to attack callers dogs. 5:15 p.m., Friday, Nov. 15.

INVESTIGATED: Report from Linwood Avenue of a female making threats to mace people. 6:51 p.m., Friday, Nov. 15.

STOLEN VEHICLE: Report from Luther Road of a caller finding a stolen vehicle. 10:12 p.m., Friday, Nov. 15.

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STOLEN VEHICLE: Report from North Street of a borrowed car that wasnt returned. 2:32 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 16.

INVESTIGATED: Report of two red four-wheelers doing donuts in a parking lot at Dogwood Ridge Road. 3:37 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 16.

INVESTIGATED: Report from a U.S. 23 business of a male spitting all over lobby, cursing at staff. 12:36 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 16.

DOMESTIC COMPLAINT: Report from Clayton Court of a domestic incident between a female and a male. Male was taken into custody. 9:15 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 16.

THREATS OR HARASSMENT: Report from Marne Avenue of a possibly drunk individual driving up and down road, possibly in possession of a firearm, yelling at caller. Caller reports it happens every weekend. 9:29 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 16.

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DOMESTIC COMPLAINT: Report from Aaron Road of two drunk males fighting. No injuries visible on either party. 11:24 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 16.

MOTORCYCLE/ATV COMPLAINT: Report from Ohio 104 of four-wheelers doing donuts on a business property. Riders may be impaired. Midnight, Sunday, Nov. 17.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON: Report from Wilson Street of possibly drunk individual banging on callers door. 12:06 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 17.

BURGLARY: Report from Eighth Street of breaking into residence, attempting to steal leaf blower off a porch. 2:23 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 17.

BURGLARY IN PROGRESS: Report from Gleim Road of two individuals trying to break into a residence. 3:03 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 17.

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THEFT: Report from Pollock Road of a stolen log splitter. 12:02 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 17.

INVESTIGATED: Report from Feurt Hill Road of teenages partying on callers property. 2:14 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 17.

INVESTIGATED: Report from U.S. 23 of a roadside vendor receiving counterfeit bills. 3:12 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 17.

THEFT: Report from Selby Avenue of a stolen boat. 8:30 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 17.

THREATS OR HARASSMENT: Report from Third Street of an individual online sending his son inappropriate photos and harassing the family for money. 8:31 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 17.

INVESTIGATED: Report from Eighth Street of a stolen car held for ransom, which the caller has had returned. 2:51 a.m., Monday, Nov. 18.

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VANDALISM: Report from Henley Deemer Road of an individual kicking a dent in a truck. 11:39 a.m., Monday, Nov. 18.

FIGHT: Report from Camp Road of two females in a fight. 11:48 a.m., Monday, Nov. 18.

INVESTIGATED: Report from U.S. 23 of a male in the southbound lane near Clay Schools. 12:13 p.m., Monday, Nov. 18.

BURGLARY: Report from Arion Road of a house being broken into and tire tracks in the yard. 12:55 p.m., Monday, Nov. 18.

INVESTIGATED: Report from Fairgrounds Road of an injured deer inside the fence of a business. Deputy euthanized deer. 2:23 p.m., Monday, Nov. 18.

ROAD BLOCKED: Report from Iroquois Avenhe of a utility truck in the roadway. 4:15 p.m., Monday, Nov. 18.

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ASSAULT: Report from Noel Lane of an assault on a female. 6:10 p.m., Monday, Nov. 18.

BURGLARY: Report from Arizona Avenue of males breaking into a house and stealing items. 7:38 p.m., Monday, Nov. 18.

INVESTIGATED: Report from Disterdick Lane of an ongoing issue of a known female making threats. 8:02 p.m., Monday, Nov. 18.

INVESTIGATED: Report from Odle Creek Road of caller hearing someone making loud noises around a residence. 8:23 p.m., Monday, Nov. 18.

THEFT: Report from Arion Road of theft of items and jewelry froma residence. 8:53 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 19.

INVESTIGATED: Report of a diesel or gas spill on Ohio 823 near the Minford airport. 9:54 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 19.

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ESCORT: Report from Ohio River Road of a Scioto Water employee needing assistance to read the meter of a disgruntled customer who has made threats of violence in the past. 12:08 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 19.

VANDALISM: Report from Ohio 728 of a contractor returning to a site to rip out concrete work done in the spring that customer said was not done to their satisfaction. Caller reported they had not been invoiced until Nov. 18. Deputy advised it was likely a civil issue. 12:59 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 19.

ACCIDENT WITH INJURY/HIT-SKIP: Report from Ohio 104 of two-vehicle hit-skip crash that injured one woman and broke a utility pole. AEP contacted. 5:12 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 19.

PERSON WITH GUN: Report from Clayton Court of an unknown male assaulting a female, then hearing shots fired. Multiple people reported hearing three gunshots and everyone involved left in vehicles. 10:15 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 19.

ACCIDENT WITH INJURY: Report from Ohio River Road of a car vs. deer crash. Ohio State Patrol contacted. 11:27 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 19.
Union Minister and Republic Party of India's (Athawale) President Ramdas Athawale expressed confidence in Mahayuti alliance's victory margin will increase as more and the counting of votes progresses, saying that the alliance's landslide victory is on the basis of all the developmental schemes by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the state government. Attributing the victory of the Mahayuti alliance to the development schemes, specifically the Ladki Bahin Yojana, and expressed confidence in the alliance increasing its victory margin and even winning more than 225 seats as the counting concludes. "The reason for the victory is the development role of PM Modi in 'sabka saath sabka vikas' and the decisions taken by the Maharashtra government in the last 2.5 years. A lot of those decisions were anyway great, but the Ladki Bahin (yojana) decision was definitely revolutionary... We are confident that we can get up to 225-230 seats," he told ANI. Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah congratulated the leaders in Maharashtra, CM Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Ministers Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis as the Mahayuti alliance approaches a landslide victory. Maharashtra incumbent CM Eknath Shinde also stated that just as the alliance fought the elections together, they will collectively decide on the Chief Minister's face once the final results are declared. "Let the final results come in... Then, in the same way as we fought elections together, all three parties will sit together and take a decision (on who will be the CM)," incumbent CM Shinde said. Meanwhile, celebrations were seen at Shinde's residence in Thane, with bouquets arriving and Shiv Sena workers cheering outside. Shiv Sena MP and Shinde's son, Shrikant Shinde, were also seen celebrating with fellow party members. The alliance had crossed the crucial 145 majority mark, winning in winning one seat and leading in over 220 seats. Meanwhile, NCP party workers celebrated in Baramati, where Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar is leading by 15,382 votes. Supporters were seen bursting crackers to mark the moment. (ANI)
Pam Bondi is not Matt Gaetz.

That fact alone is probably enough for Bondi to win Senate confirmation as the next United States attorney general. But it shouldnt be.

Bondi, 59, has long been a part of Trump World since her days as Florida attorney general more than a decade ago, and now shes about to reap the rewards for her loyalty.

Shes certainly Trumps type.

Bondi looks and sounds good on TV, especially on Fox, where she forcefully and repeatedly denied that Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election fair and square  despite a lack of evidence. She talked baselessly about ballots being buried in Pennsylvania.

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Bondi, a veteran state prosecutor in Tampa, rode a wave of Tea Party support into office in 2010, the same year Rick Scott was elected governor and Marco Rubio won a U.S. Senate seat.

She replaced Bill McCollum as attorney general after he had left to run unsuccessfully for governor.

From a distance, she looked like a moderate, mainstream Republican. She wasnt.

One of Bondis first actions as state attorney general tells you all you need to know.

Along with Scott, Bondi became a key member of an all-Republican Cabinet that immediately, and cruelly, rolled back the clock on civil rights  a move that would be ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge.

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They voted to force people who had felony convictions and had paid their debts to society to wait a mandatory five years before they could apply for clemency and regain the right to vote, a process that typically takes a decade or longer.

The clemency system Bondi inherited was already broken, and she made it a lot worse and caused a lot of heartbreak for a lot of people.

Later, when U.S. District Judge Mark Walker struck down the clemency system in 2018 as arbitrarily unconstitutional, Bondi naturally appealed the decision, calling it my duty to the Constitution.

Its easy to see her using that same logic as the nations top law enforcement official in carrying out Donald Trumps orders to seek retribution against his political opponents.

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That unconscionable five-year wait provided a big part of the impetus for the 2018 ballot initiative that restored voting rights to most convicted felons in Florida.

Dont let Bondis come-hither smile fool you.

Shes a hard-right extremist who will do Trumps bidding. Its curious why it took this long for Trump to offer a plum position.

Clearly shes a Trump apologist, a Trump lackey, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston, told Jake Tapper on CNN Friday. But its a heck of a lot better than Matt Gaetz.

Her loyalty to Trump is unquestioned, and Trump wants to dismantle the Department of Justice. His first choice for the assignment was Gaetz, who lasted all of eight days.

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To her credit, Bondi aggressively fought to reduce human trafficking in Florida and to rid the state of its reputation as a prescription drug pill mill capital.

But when it comes to protecting consumers, either of her Democratic opponents, Dan Gelber or George Sheldon, would have been vastly superior to the pro-business Bondi.

If senators do their jobs, they will closely scrutinize Bondis record as a prosecutor, attorney general, Washington lobbyist and director of a pro-Trump think tank.

Senators can start by demanding that Bondi explain under oath why she had no interest in pursuing fraud complaints from people who were ripped off by Trump University, which had made a $25,000 contribution to her 2014 re-election campaign.

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As Floridas chief legal officer, Bondi also fired prosecutors who were pursuing foreclosure fraud; waged lengthy and costly legal battles against the Affordable Care Act and same-sex marriage in Florida; fought the legalization of medical marijuana, which proved highly popular with voters; opposed a ban on semi-automatic weapons after the horrific massacre at an elementary school in Sandy Hook, Connecticut; and sided with polluters in fighting federal efforts to clean up Chesapeake Bay in Maryland.

Thats not a very pretty record from which to run Americas justice system.

But shes not Matt Gaetz, and for Trump at the moment, thats what matters.

Steve Bousquet is Opinion Editor of the Sun Sentinel and a columnist in Tallahassee and Fort Lauderdale. Contact him at sbousquet@sunsentinel.com or (850) 567-2240 and follow him on X @stevebousquet.
For a third time, lawyers for Sean "Diddy" Combs urged a judge Friday to grant the hip-hop mogul $50 million bail, this time saying he should be placed in home confinement in a three-bedroom New York City apartment on the Upper East Side with 24-hour surveillance.

Federal prosecutors, however, said Combs violated the rules in a federal lockup and "cannot be trusted" outside with contacting witnesses. They also alleged that he was a "danger to others."

U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian delayed a decision until next week.

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Combs' legal team told the judge that it was proposing conditions "far more restrictive" than Combs faces in jail, including limiting phone calls to only his attorneys, prohibiting visitors other than a handful of lawyers and named family members, and requiring 24-hour security by an independent firm with a bar on contacting witnesses or potential witnesses. Previously, the defense had proposed Combs' Miami mansion for home detention, but the judge rejected that Friday because it has a dock and access to the water.

Read more: What to know about the Sean 'Diddy' Combs arrest, lawsuits, raids

Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. He and associates are accused of luring female victims, often under the pretense of a romantic relationship, and using force, threats, coercion and drugs to get them to engage in sex acts with male prostitutes in what Combs referred to as freak-offs. He has been in federal detention for more than 60 days since his arrest.

Federal prosecutors reiterated their opposition to Combs being granted bail, alleging that he attempted to tamper with witnesses and influence potential jurors.

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Prosecutors said that in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn where he is being held, Combs had flouted rules regarding communications and phones and was orchestrating contact with witnesses to buy himself out of the case with false testimony. The prosecutor said he was a "danger to others" who only needs to reach one juror.

The judge asked prosecutors to address why Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Michael Jeffries was able to get $10-million bail on an indictment for sex trafficking and prostitution business but not Combs.

Combs's lawyers noted that Jeffries allegedly paid for dozens of men to travel within the United States and internationally to meet him and his co-defendants to engage in commercial sex acts. Jeffries is also accused of using a security company to surveil and intimidate witnesses who threatened to expose his misconduct, yet the government agreed to his home detention.

Federal prosecutors, however, argued in court and a two-page letter to the judge that the cases are materially different for multiple reasons. While Jeffries is accused of using force, fraud, and coercion to engage men in non-consensual sex, he is not facing the additional racketeering, firearms and violence-related charges that Combs is.

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Combs is charged with leading an enterprise with a persistent pattern of racketeering activity from 2008 to 2024 that included Combs and his co-conspirators engaging in kidnapping, arson, and forced labor.

Combs' alleged criminal conduct, a prosecutor told the judge, was more similar to high-profile sex-crime cases where defendants were kept in custody, as with NXIVM leader Keith Raniere, Larry Ray and R. Kelly.

Combs' lawyers also argued that the government distorted the now-infamous security video of Combs assaulting then-girlfriend Cassandra "Cassie" Ventura at the Intercontinental Hotel in Los Angeles. A prosecutor said they used the version that was first shown on CNN because they didn't want Combs or his attorneys to be able to identify the source of the video and retaliate.

The judge gave prosecutors and Combs' attorneys until Monday to submit information about Combs' communications from jail  a recent sticking point in the case  before he makes a bail decision.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Scientists have spotted the first endangered North Atlantic right whale headed south for the winter off the Outer Banks, and theyre warning boaters to heed speed reduction rules to protect the species.

There are about 370 North Atlantic right whales alive, with the species threatened by strikes from fast-moving vessels and entanglements with fishing gear. The whales typically live off of the Northeastern coast in summer before migrating to warmer waters off the Southeast coast and Florida in the winter months to breed and give birth.

Wednesday, a team from the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute spotted a whale known as Black Heart off of North Carolina. The 19-year-old whale was about two nautical miles east of the Cape Lookout National Seashores High Hills, according to a release from the aquarium.

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Black Heart is one of about 70 reproductively active female North Atlantic right whales and is known to have given birth to one calf. She is the first whale spotted in the Southeast during the 2024-25 calving season.

To protect the whales, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has established seasonal vessel speed regulations. Off of the North Carolina coast, those rules mandate that most boaters whose vessels are more than 65 feet long do not top more than 10 knots in areas of the Atlantic Ocean around Morehead City and Wilmington between Nov. 1 and April 30.

NOAA also encourages smaller vessels to keep speeds below 10 knots..

It is extremely important through these seasonal management areas to provide a safe haven for mothers and calves in the only known calving ground for this species, James Buddy Powell, the aquariums executive director, said in a press release.

Threats to an endangered species

North Atlantic right whales are slow swimmers, typically going just over 2 mph and almost reaching 6 mph at top speed.

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During winter months, the whales tend to live in shallow water near the coast where they breed and calve. And they spend much of their time near the surface, NOAA scientists wrote in a 2022 memo, especially in the mid-Atlantic when they are migrating rather than diving to eat.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, this meant they were easy for whalers to kill, prized for the long baleen hanging from their mouths that could be used for crossbows or umbrella frames, among other uses. Whalers also valued their blubber.

Now, that slow pace and tendency to be found in shallow waters leaves the whales vulnerable to vessel strikes that can maim and ultimately kill them. Further adding to the risk is the whales dark color and lack of dorsal fin, which can make it difficult for boaters to see.

Between Nov. 1 and April 30, boaters operating vessels more than 65 feet long are not supposed to top 10 knots in areas around Morehead City and Wilmington. The restrictions are intended to protect the endangered North Atlantic right whale, of which there are only about 370 alive.

Beginning in 2017, NOAA said that North Atlantic right whales have been undergoing an unusual mortality event caused by human impacts. The species deaths are outpacing its births and, NOAA said on its website, Endangered North Atlantic right whales are approaching extinction.

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Since the unusual mortality event was declared, 41 North Atlantic right whales are known to have died, according to NOAA. Vessel strikes were the leading cause of death, killing 15 whales, followed by entanglement with fishing gear, which caused 10 deaths.

In 2024, vessel strikes have killed three North Atlantic right whales, including one calf and the mother of another calf that has since gone missing and is presumed dead.

A NOAA dashboard indicates that between North Carolina and Georgia, boats complied with the speed zone rules nearly 69% of the time during the 2023-24 season, with pleasure boats and container ships the most frequent violators. In total, NOAA recorded boats traveling about 440,000 nautical miles in the area, with 137,572 of those traversed above the 10 knot limit.

Could more speed restrictions help?

NOAA has proposed changes to the vessel speed reduction rule that would widen its mandate to any vessel longer than 35 feet and broaden the area covered to include the entire North Carolina coastline between Nov. 1 and April 30.

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The rule was proposed nearly 850 days ago and has not yet been finalized by the Biden administration.

It has met significant opposition from some members of North Carolinas congressional delegation. In April, Rep. Greg Murphy released a statement saying that finalizing it would be destructive to boatbuilders and fishermen. Sen. Thom Tillis has also joined a group of senators who told NOAA in 2022 that finalizing the rule could jeopardize ports and ocean industries and that the rule should be modified to protect both the whales and the economy.

Updating the rule is necessary to protect the whale, environmental groups and scientists say.

The 2022 memo from NOAA scientists found that expanding the speed zones would reduce North Atlantic right whale vessel strike mortality by an average of 27.5% That memo also found that vessel strikes pose the most risk to the whales in areas between Cape Hatteras and New York where a high number of ships are approaching large ports.

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In an October press release, Gib Brogan, a campaign director at environmental nonprofit Oceana, said, President Biden must approve and implement the updated vessel speed rule soon, before we see moms and calves on our shores this calving season instead of in our waters.

This story was produced with financial support from the Hartfield Foundation and Green South Foundation, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners, as part of an independent journalism fellowship program. The N&O maintains full editorial control of the work. If you would like to help support local journalism, please consider signing up for a digital subscription, which you can do here.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  A Sedgwick County Courthouse police employee has been arrested and booked into jail on suspicion of criminal threat.

A county spokesperson did not give details of what allegedly happened. She said the Sedgwick County Sheriffs Office is investigating and will present the case to the district attorney for possible charges.

The county has placed the worker on administrative leave until the DAs decision and the outcome of an internal investigation.

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Crown Uptown to be torn down if capacity expansion not approved

Sedgwick County Government is dedicated to providing a healthy, safe and welcoming community, the spokesperson said. Due to this being a criminal investigation and a personnel matter, Sedgwick County will not comment further.

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Update:

John Quincy Ruffin Jr. has been located and is in good health.

Previous Story:

The Orlando Police Department is requesting the publics assistance in locating 12-year-old John Quincy Ruffin Jr.

Ruffin Jr. was last seen today, November 23, leaving his home near the 5000 block of Millenia Boulevard at approximately 12:00 p.m.

He was wearing a black shirt, gray shorts, and black slides.

Read: Umatilla Student relives the moment he was almost run over by Eustis man at a school bus stop

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If you have any information about where Ruffin Jr. may be, please contact the Orlando Police Department.

Stay with Channel 9 for the latest in this story.

Read: Firefighters battle semi-trailer fire on I-75 carrying load of potatoes

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.




Portland, CONN. (WTNH)  The owners of Two Herons Farm in Portland said consumers should be careful when they shop for Thanksgiving.

They said deceptive advertising when it comes to phrases like hormone free and sustainably raised are being used on meat and poultry products.

The two farm owners were joined by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) who blasted what he called factory farms for misleading labeling.

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Sustainability raised, free-range, hormone-free, the labels on these packages often mean nothing, and so consumers are being sold a bunch of baloney, Blumenthal said.

Hes now pushing the U.S. Department of Agriculture to make labeling standards tougher, and he wants to see third-party, independent label verification.

Good & Gather, Trader Joes carrots sold in Connecticut recalled due to E. coli outbreak

Farmers Molly Hennessy and Diego Delacruz said they only treat their animals in the most humane way possible and feed them naturally. It does take more work, but they said that in the end, the consumer benefits from the extra work.

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A lot of people they dont know what they are eating, so we tend to buy stuff from a supermarket because it looks good, Delacuz said.

Hennessy and Delacruz sell their items to local shops.

The local chapter of the ASPCA also met with the farmers and Blumenthal on Friday. The organization said a lot of the items in supermarkets come from factory farms, where the care is not the best for the animals.

[Its] where animals are in confinement and they are often spending their lives in a space so small, they cant even turn around, said Chelsea Blink, with the Connecticut branch of the ASPCA.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com.
Utah Sen.-elect John Curtis denied media reports that he had committed to reject former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., as President-elect Donald Trumps nominee for attorney general before Gaetz withdrew his bid on Thursday.

Curtis had no plans to confirm or reject Gaetzs bid for attorney general until he had met with Gaetz and participated in the Senates constitutional duty to review the presidents cabinet picks in confirmation hearings, according to Curtis chief of staff, Corey Norman.

Reports suggesting that Curtis rejected the Gaetz nomination before completing this process are inaccurate, Norman told the Deseret News Saturday in a statement. The Senator-elect did not meet with Mr. Gaetz and had no intention of rejecting the nomination prior to their meeting.

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On Wednesday, Gaetz and Vice President-elect JD Vance, a senator from Ohio, met privately with Republican senators in an attempt to increase support for his nomination. Gaetz did not reach out to Curtis for a meeting, according to Norman, who said Curtis is dedicated to meeting with every nominee to ensure his decisions align with the best interests of the people of Utah.

A day later, Gaetz withdrew his week-old nomination for attorney general, saying despite his bids strong momentum, he did not want to continue distracting from the Trump transition.

The New York Times and NBC reported on Thursday that multiple sources close to Gaetz said the former congressman believed a group of at least four Republican Senators were implacably opposed to his nomination and unlikely to be swayed.

Both outlets included Curtis  as well as former Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and moderate GOP Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine  in their lists of those who firmly opposed Gaetz as the nations top law enforcement official.

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With a 53-seat GOP majority in the Senate, only four senators were needed to torpedo Gaetzs chances at running the Department of Justice, which previously investigated Gaetz, over allegations that he paid underage girls for sex and transported them across state lines. No charges were filed. The Wall Street Journal reported last week that sources believed more than a dozen Republican senators were prepared to vote no on Gaetzs nomination.

Gaetzs nomination to head more than 100,000 employees at the Department of Justice was met with immediate consternation on the part of multiple congressional lawmakers. Gaetz gained national attention in October 2023 when he spearheaded the ouster of his partys House speaker for the first time in American history.

Two days after Gaetz tendered his resignation to the U.S. House of Representatives, the House Ethics Committee was scheduled to vote on releasing a highly damaging report regarding Gaetzs alleged sexual misconduct, illicit drug use as well as accepting improper gifts, giving special favors and obstructing the House investigation.

Gaetz has denied the allegations.
Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Democrat Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts joined forces to call on the IRS to crack down on hospitals that abuse their non-profit status.

Their letter to the IRS expresses concern those hospitals dont live up to the promotion of health rules established by the IRS. They point out more than 1,900 hospitals get more in tax breaks than they put into the community.

The senators want the agency to enforce the rules by increasing oversight of tax-exempt hospitals  clarify the requirements for financial assistance policies, prohibit nonprofit hospitals from using aggressive collections practices, and reinstate a ruling that requires nonprofit hospitals to provide charitable care.

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They also want a briefing from the IRS next month about how it would provide financial relief for patients and families.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  The areas largest medical group is teaming up with a growing community college to fill needed healthcare jobs, and students who are a part of the program are thankful for the help.

The Virginia Department of Health and the state of Virginia partnered to create the Earn to Learn grant, which pays up to $500,000 to state colleges in underserved areas, and Sentara Health is partnering with Paul D. Camp Community College to take on those who receive the grant to give them the real-world experience they need at Suffolks Sentara Obici Hospital.

Theyre hoping the grant gives people a strong incentive to choose a degree in the medical field, with a nursing shortage that has been exacerbated by the pandemic.

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Nineteen students at Paul D. Camp Community College are benefiting from the new state grant, with pay comparable to what a certified nursing assistant would get. Students told 10 On Your Side that its a game-changer.

For student Miranda McCabe, it started at age 11, watching her grandfather suffer through an aggressive type of cancer.



Watching the hospice nurse and all the hospital faculty kind of go in and take care of him and my family, that really touched me as a young person, McCabe said.



And Juhan Carr was in engineering when he decided to flip majors.



My grandmother passed away awhile back, Carr said, so, when that happened, before that, she had always told me she wanted me to be a nurse, or just to help people out. So its what I set out to do.

Camp Community College Dean of Nursing and Allied Health Dr. Angela Sheaffer said she knows the struggle all too well.

I remember running clinical during the pandemic and being one of those nurses to sit at the bedside of a patient who was dying, cause we couldnt have their families come in, Sheaffer said. So that, in-and-of-itself, put an emotional and mental toll on nurses. And nurses basically said, I cant do this anymore.'

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She believes this grant will give the field a cushion and help fill the gaps.

So that hospitals dont have to have nurses work four and five days a week, they can work that three 12-hour shifts or four 12-hour shifts  and have a better work-life balance, Sheaffer said.



The money allowed McCabe to cut back from her second full-time job to just part-time.



Its really nice when we can get a little bit of money here-and-there for going and helping people because that takes a little stress off of us, McCabe said.

And she cant wait to make a difference.



Ive been able to be there, cry with the families, pray with the families, be with the patients themselves, McCabe said.



And Carr said hes found his passion in the emergency room.



Its fast-paced, and Im seeing a lot of people and helping a lot of people at the same time, Carr said.

They said they used to work full-time night shifts and would go into class with little sleep. Now theyre able to focus more on making a difference.

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Thats the type of thing both Camp Community College and Sentara Health officials want to hear, coming on the heels of the schools expansion of its nursing and allied health offerings with a new Franklin facility, as the Sentara Foundation gave $450,000 toward renovating the former Tidewater News building.

The school has expanded its nursing and allied health offerings with the 2023 purchase of a new facility  with help from the Obici Healthcare Foundation and the Hampton Roads Community Foundation  as the Sentara Foundation gave $450,000 toward renovating the building in August.

The building will serve as the home of the schools Nursing and Allied Health Professions Center, with the first phase of work set to be completed by the end of the year and classes kicking off in early 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 WAVY.com.
UPDATE 11/23/24: ALEA sent this news release:

A two-vehicle crash that occurred at approximately 12:10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, has claimed the life of a Citronelle man. Nolan J. McDavid, 19, was fatally injured when the 2014 Ford Focus he was driving collided head-on with the 2014 Chevy Impala driven by a 17-year-old juvenile. McDavid was pronounced deceased at the scene. The juvenile sustained injuries and was transported to a local area hospital. The crash occurred on Alabama 217 near the 13 mile marker, approximately three miles north of Semmes, in Mobile County. Nothing further is available as Troopers the Alabama Law Enforcement Agencys (ALEA) Highway Patrol Division continue to investigate.

ORIGINAL STORY: WILMER, Ala. (WKRG)  Officials with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency are investigating after a serious crash on Lott Road near a Mobile County Elementary School. Witnesses say at least two vehicles crashed near JE Turner Elementary early Saturday morning.

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Witnesses say at least one person was killed and a second person was flown by air ambulance to a hospital. Neighbors say they were awoken by numerous first responder vehicles who came to the crash scene. Traffic on the two-lane roadway was closed for several hours while troopers investigated. The roadway is now open.

Officials returned to the scene after daybreak with a drone taking pictures of what was left of the scene. You can see markings in the dirt where the vehicles ended up after the collision and several shattered car parts.

We have reached out to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency for more information. An official acknowledged our request and said they are working on a news release.

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As the trends for the 2024 general assembly elections in Maharashtra project a clear win for the Mahayuti, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Tamilisai Soundararajan on Saturday celebrated by bursting crackers outside the party's office in Chennai. She expressed her happiness about the BJP-led alliance leading and said that BJP-led Mahayuti was going to form the government in Maharashtra. "It is a historic win," the BJP leader said. "First of all, I would like to congratulate all the candidates and thank our Prime Minister for getting this victory in the state of Maharashtra. Maharashtra is a different state and Maharashtra victory can be viewed as the victory and the opinion of all over the country. Maharashtra is a strong state and citizens from all over the country in a significant number stay there," BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan told ANI. Soundararajan took a dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, saying that his campaign in Maharashtra failed and that the lead in Maharashtra shows that the whole of India supports the BJP. "Rahul's campaign in Maharashtra totally failed. Maharashtra victory shows that the whole of India supports BJP," she said. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde thanked the BJP high command for their support in prioritising Maharashtra. Speaking about the alliance's success, Shinde said, "I thank all the workers of Mahayuti. PM Modi, Amit Shah bhai, Nadda ji - all supported us. They gave priority to Maharashtra. I am proud that I have been proven right about what I had said that we will win 200 seats. We (Mahayuti) fought like a team..." Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah congratulated CM Eknath Shinde, Deputy CMs Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis, as the Mahayuti alliance approached a landslide victory in the 2024 Assembly elections. As of 2:15 PM, the Mahayuti alliance crossed the crucial majority mark, winning 8 seats and leading in over 200 constituencies. Sweets were brought to the residences of Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis, and BJP's Mumbai office buzzed with celebrations. (ANI)
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  Its Saturday, November 23. Take a look at our top stories in news and weather with KELOLAND On The GO.

Police are investigating a weekend homicide in a central Sioux Falls neighborhood.

Sioux Falls police investigate weekend homicide

A weekend concert on the campus of Augustana University will raise money and awareness about the ongoing plight facing refugees escaping war-torn Ukraine.

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Raising Ukrainian refugee awareness through music

A concert meant to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center wont be happening.

P!NK apologizes, explains canceled dates

Republican Sen. Mike Rounds is proposing legislation to do away with the U.S. Department of Education.

Rounds: Federal dollars to remain the same despite DOE elimination

With the lights now on at Falls Park, its beginning to look and feel a bit more like Christmas (Not to mention the snow in northeastern KELOLAND). Its going to feel even more like the holiday season as we head into next week.

Storm Center AM Update: Mainly Quiet Weekend; Chillier Next Week

Its officially the Christmas season at Falls Park.

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Fireworks as Winter Wonderland opens at Falls Park

Check out our Boredom Busters!

Saturday Boredom Busters: November 23rd

Download the KELOLAND News app to find the latest headlines while on the go.

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Gov. Josh Shapiro speaking at a press conference at the Frankford Transportation Center in Philadelphia on Friday, Nov. 22 about funding for SEPTA. (Capital-Star photo by John Cole)

PHILADELPHIA  Answering the pleas of public transit advocates in southeastern Pennsylvania, Gov. Josh Shapiro has directed Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Mike Carroll to immediately transfer $153 million in federal highway capital funds to SEPTA.

That money will prevent service cuts, and that money will prevent the dramatic increases in fares that SEPTA has been contemplating at least until next July, Shapiro said Friday at the Frankford Transportation Center in Philadelphia. Its going to ensure that the people of southeastern Pennsylvania who rely on SEPTA every day, that theyre going to be able to get where they need to go, theyre not going to face higher costs.

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SEPTA officials have sounded the alarm for months about its funding challenges and on Nov. 12 proposed increasing fares by over 20% by Jan. 1. While that increase has been averted, a smaller increase of 7.5% goes into effect Dec. 1.

SEPTA has been in the water for two years now, and we were going under, and today, Governor Shapiro has thrown us a lifeline, Ken Lawrence, SEPTA Board Chair said at the press conference on Friday. While this announcement today pauses the death spiral and allows us to tread water, we still desperately need a permanent, sustainable funding solution for SEPTA and mass transit in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

While mass transit agencies across the Commonwealth are struggling, it is true, and it is unmistakable, that there is one agency that will not make it to the next summer with the status quo, and that is SEPTA, Shapiro said before the announcement.

Shapiro said the federal funds would create a bridge, some time and space for the state House and Senate to work toward an agreement on funding mass transit throughout the state.

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Carroll said the measure taken by Shapiro on Friday was not the first time a governor had flexed funding towards public transportation.

Governor Rendell did that years ago, and it led to the passage of a transportation bill, Carroll said. And I remain hopeful that that flexing, the flexing that occurs today, will result in a serious conversation that might result, and hopefully will result in a transportation bill that will land on his desk next June.

Where the funds are coming from

Following the press conference, Carroll told reporters that funds will be siphoned from the following interstate projects: I-79 in Mercer County, I-80 in Columbia County, I-95 in Philadelphia County, I-83 York County, two I-80 projects in Jefferson County, and I-70 in Washington County.

Let me be clear, while these funds will come from seven different highway projects across the state, none of those highway projects are under construction yet. In fact, none of them have even been put out to bid, Shapiro said. Theyre a long way off.

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And hear me on this, there is no reason to keep that money on our balance sheet in the state when we can invest it in SEPTA right now, Shapiro said.

In addition to the flexing of highway funds towards SEPTA, Shapiro said he received commitments from each of the five counties that fund SEPTA to increase their local share by millions of dollars.

Local Democratic elected officials were on hand for the announcement, some sharing anecdotes of how SEPTA has impacted their lives, and applauded the move from Shapiro.

You cant say you want a pro-growth and pro-business Pennsylvania and you are willing to let SEPTA depth spiral, because it is at the heart of the economic engine in Pennsylvania, southeastern Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker said, while saying Shapiro was walking the walk by his announcement.

Legislative response

The Pennsylvania House passed a bill on a bipartisan basis that would have increased transportation funding in the state on three occasions, although it did not advance in the state Senate, which has a Republican majority.

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Earlier in the week, Shapiro said the ball is squarely in the Senates court with regard to passing a transit bill and added that he had agreed to consider marrying it to funding for roads and bridges, and regulating and taxing skill games.

But on Friday, Republicans criticized Shapiros actions and said their position had not changed.

Todays announcement by Gov. Josh Shapiro to address the mass transit crisis facing SEPTA is a crisis of his own making, Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland) said in a statement.

Gov. Shapiro and House Democrats prioritized education over mass transit by approving the largest budget increase ever for a traditional education system that continues to trap Philadelphias kids in failing schools, Ward added. The bottom line is this: Pennsylvanians  especially those in the southeast  are losing out, not because of divided government, but because Pennsylvania Democrats have chosen to focus their priorities and spending on one area alone.

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Democrats, however, assured transportation funding will remain top of mind in the next session.

We must continue and be vigilant in this fight. When we get back to Harrisburg in January, this will remain at the top of our agenda, said House Speaker Joanna McClinton (D-Philadelphia), about passing a transportation funding bill.

State Rep. Ed Neilson (D-Philadelphia) is the head of the House Transportation Committee. He told the Capital-Star on Friday that they are looking to pass a comprehensive package on transportation funding that would fund ports, roads, bridges, and mass transit.

State Rep. Jordan Harris (D-Philadelphia), who will serve as the House Appropriations Committee chair in the next session, called the federal flex funds for SEPTA just a stop gap.

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This is not the end of the road, and we know that, Harris said, adding he thinks they will come together in bipartisan fashion to pass a mass transit funding bill.

State Sen. Vince Hughes (D-Philadelphia) will be the minority chair for the Senate Appropriations Committee in the next session. He also called transit funding extremely important and a high priority.

What you see here is the galvanizing all of southeastern Pennsylvania, the business community, the workers, the elected officials, are all coming together around this system and sending a message that this must get addressed, Hughes told the Capital-Star in an interview Friday. And we are prepared to address it, not just with our own self interest in southeastern Pennsylvania, but were prepared to address it from a statewide interest. Lets get this thing done for the entire commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

But Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-Indiana) and Senate Transportation Committee Chair Wayne Langerholc (R-Clearfield) issued a joint statement saying they have not wavered from their previous position.

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Our Senate Republican Caucus has made it clear from the outset that we will examine transit funding that makes sense and can be justified to commonwealth taxpayers who are being asked to pay the bill, Pittman and Langerholc said.

We reached a bipartisan agreement in July to temporarily fund SEPTA and other transit agencies to the tune of $80.5 million. Conditions of this funding included a re-examination of the delivery model given recent reductions in ridership, which are a direct result of Covid, people not working full-time in cities, and major safety concerns within the system, they added. Rather than making prudent, sensible changes, they have chosen to politicize and pillage critical infrastructure projects for other districts which are well outside of SEPTA reach, ironically, the majority being in Republican districts.

State Rep. Martina White is the only Republican currently serving in the Pennsylvania General Assembly whose district is in Philadelphia. As recently as Oct. 22, she voted in support of a bill that would increase funding for mass transit.

However, she told the Capital-Star that she does not support Shapiros flexing of federal funds towards SEPTA.

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Redirecting federal highway funds from an already underfunded highway system to fund SEPTA is robbing Peter to pay Paul, White told the Capital-Star. While public transit funding is undeniably critical, pulling funds from our already strained highway infrastructure is not a sustainable solution.

This decision underscores a failure to create a long-term, dedicated funding plan for SEPTA, leaving both transit riders and Pennsylvania drivers vulnerable, she added. Instead of temporary fixes and last-minute maneuvers, we need real leadership and proactive solutions to address these challenges comprehensively.

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Everyone knew where Matt Gaetz stood on the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. He promoted conspiracy theories, called for sweeping pardons and said the 22-year sentence delivered to Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio for seditious conspiracy was Orwellian.

But Pam Bondi is a blank slate. And among the Trump supporters most invested in his vow to upend the massive prosecution of those who breached the Capitol in his name, Bondi's silence is prompting questions about whether she will be the reliable ally on Jan. 6 that Gaetz seemed poised to be.

Bondi  a former Florida attorney general whom Trump picked to lead the Justice Department after the Gaetz nomination collapsed  has made no public comments about the attack. Her X account used to feature two reposted condemnations of the violence  one by Idahos attorney general at the time and one by Donald Trump Jr.  that have since been removed.

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In the ensuing four years, theres no record of Bondi commenting on the massive FBI manhunt to apprehend nearly 1,600 people for storming the Capitol that day, including hundreds who assaulted police.

Trump has made the plight of those defendants a centerpiece of his resurgence to power, downplaying the violence and vowing sweeping pardons for all or most of those caught up in the federal dragnet. Gaetzs nomination was seen as the clearest signal of his intent to make good on those promises.

Bondi's silence on one of the most salient issues to Trumps MAGA base distinguishes her from most of the other people Trump considered to become attorney general in his second term. And Trumps allies in that world have noticed.

I have never seen Pam Bondi speak out on January 6. Hopefully, she isn't too distant from the issue to clean house and investigate DOJ wrongdoing, said William Pope, an outspoken Jan. 6 defendant facing trial early next year. This is a top priority for our next Attorney General!

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Julie Kelly, another prominent voice on the right advocating for Jan. 6 defendants, agreed that Bondi is a question mark on matters related to the riot.

I don't know much about Pam Bondi aside from her representation of the president during impeachment, Kelly posted on X. Accounts here that I respect are expressing disappointment and criticism of her nomination, which I will consider.

Other Jan. 6 defendants and supporters who loudly celebrated the Gaetz pick remained cautious in their comments on Bondi, aware that she has not taken up their mantle in any public forum. Others expressed concern that some Republican figures they distrust  like Jeb Bush and Lindsey Graham  heaped praise on the Bondi nomination.

Donald Trump has nominated Pam Bondi to be Attorney General. She will be confirmed, wrote Phillip Anderson, another Jan. 6 defendant facing pending charges. But is she on our side? Will she end the J6 prosecutions and start prosecuting democrats? If not then shes the wrong choice.

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A spokesperson for Trumps transition did not respond to an inquiry about Bondis position on Jan. 6 riot prosecutions.

Bondis limited connection to issues related to Jan. 6 investigations stems from her contact with Cassidy Hutchinson, a witness to the House Jan. 6 select committee who described efforts by figures close to Trump  including Bondi  to line up jobs and legal representation for her. Hutchinson interpreted those overtures as an effort to keep her in the fold amid fears that other allies might reveal damaging information to investigators.



Hutchinson testified that Bondi reached out to her in early February 2022 and indicated she was working on logistics with Susie Wiles  now Trumps incoming chief of staff  about a potential lawyer.

Pam and I also had a working relationship at the White House, so it wasn't out of the ordinary, Hutchinson recalled. And we loosely kept in touch for the past, at this point, a year.  I wouldn't see her as like a friend figure necessarily, but she was frequently at the White House. She would meet with Mark [Meadows] a lot.

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Hutchinson said that the following month, Bondi texted her on Signal and told her she had just had dinner with POTUS at Mar-a-Lago and to call Trump ally Matt Schlapp for news about a potential job.

You are the best. Keep up the good work. Love and miss you, Hutchinson recalled of Bondis signoff.

Bondi also played a role in igniting Trumps challenge to the 2020 election results. The day after Election Day, she and Rudy Giuliani drove together from Washington, D.C., to Pennsylvania, according to Giulianis testimony in his disbarment proceedings. There, they led challenges to the procedures election officials were using for observing vote counts and spread some of the first claims that the results were untrustworthy.

Bondi reposted many of the fraud allegations Trump and his allies promoted in those early days after the election, but most of them  along with many other retweets and reposts  have since been removed from her X account.

And even on election fraud, Bondi played a limited role compared to other allies that ignited the furor. Giuliani would orchestrate efforts to overturn the election via state legislatures and Congress, but Bondi played no discernible role in those increasingly fringe efforts.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  Two people were arrested after a report of gunshots in Oelrichs, South Dakota, Wednesday night.

The Fall River County Sheriffs Office say it happened outside the Black Hills Saloon just before 7 p.m. local time.

Hitting bullseye with Falls Park plan?

Deputies arriving on scene found shell casings consistent with a shooting.

Witnesses told authorities that the people had left in a pickup. The pickup was later found and the two were arrested.

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Authorities say no injuries were reported and that there is no threat to the public.

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They have stopped serving shots in the backpacker bars of Vang Vieng.

The night spots of this south-east Asian tourist town would normally be full of young travellers downing traditional Lao whiskey, a strong rice-based spirit, bouncing from bar to bar and partying until dawn.

But the mood on Saturday night was sombre  and with good reason.

Six foreign tourists including Simone White, a 28-year-old British lawyer, have died in the last two weeks from suspected methanol poisoning after drinking contaminated alcohol in the town.

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We are not really scared, said Aron Stephen, an Australian tourist, while sipping a mango shake in downtown Vang Vieng. They dont give shots anywhere now. We couldnt find any in the past few nights.

Holly Bowles, Mr Stephens fellow Australian, died aged 19 in a Thai hospital just a day after her best friend Bianca Jones. Two Danes and James Hutson, a 57-year-old American, are also dead.

The Nana Backpackers Hostel in Vang Vieng has its own swimming pool - Beatrice Siviero

It is believed at least 12 others fell ill, requiring hospital treatment, including travellers from the UK, the United States and New Zealand.

All the victims were staying at the Nana Backpacker Hostel, and their deaths have been linked to both the hostel and Jaidee Bar, a nearby watering hole.

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The backpackers were seen returning from the bar to the hostel on Nov 12, the day before a number were found unconscious in their rooms.

Ten days later, the Laos government confirmed methanol contamination in the guesthouses beverages.

While unofficial reports suggested both the hostel owner and manager had been detained, three sources in Vang Vieng told The Telegraph that only Yueng Van Huan, the Vietnamese manager, was in custody.

Mr Huan told ABC News (Australia) that he is certain the poisoned drinks were not sold at the Nana Backpacker Hostel bar.

He also strongly denied adding methanol to the drinks at the hostels bar, and said police had checked his business.

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The authorities have yet to respond to requests for comment.

Signs on the doors of the hostel warn tourists against excessive drinking - Beatrice Siviero

The Nana Backpacker Hostel was closed for business but not deserted when The Telegraph visited on Saturday. Its blue gates remained ajar, and accessible to passers-by.

Five staff members were staying at the hostel, which has its own swimming pool and warnings on the bedroom doors about the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption.

The owner had left the property in their care, according to a housekeeper, who spoke anonymously for security reasons.

We have no guests now. The bosses all went to Vientiane [the capital]. I only clean the rooms but I have a job outside too. I am out most of the day. The police came already, but I dont know how many times, she said.

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A short walk away, the Jaidee Bar remained open for business on Saturday night, with staff declining to comment.

A group of five British men there, in their early 20s, said they were taking precautions on their evening out but would not let the incident ruin their visit.

The Jaidee Bar, which has been linked to the affected backpackers - Beatrice Siviero

We arrived yesterday and all we know is what is already in the news, said one. Well be fine as long as we stick to beer and be careful. We are not scared of what happened.

Two Israeli backpackers, who also wished to remain anonymous, believed that as long as they drank from previously sealed bottles, there was no cause for concern.

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While these tourists and the international community seemed to accept the Laos governments explanation of the deaths  tainted alcohol  one local business owner questioned the official line.

A Norwegian, he has lived in Vang Vieng since 2004 and owns a coffee shop a few hundred yards down the road from Jaidee Bar. He said investigators should be be looking into drugs as well as bad alcohol.

People here dont drink a lot, but they use lots of drugs. All kinds of drugs. Its easy to find, he said, claiming visitors knew where to find places which had a special menu offering illicit substances.

But a nearby restaurant owner insisted alcohol remained popular among her customers, giving more credence to the official version of events.

Sources told The Telegraph only the manager of the hotel had been arrested - Beatrice Siviero

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I have heard what happened, and its quite usual for backpackers at Nana Hostel to have parties and drink a lot. Its always like that, said the Laotian woman in her 50s, who owns a restaurant yards from Jaidee Bar.

Now that people have died the hostel is closed. But the Jaidee Bar is still open. We dont sell Lao whiskey, so I dont know where other bars get it from or what they do with it.

The Laos Ministry of Foreign Affairs released an statement expressing deep sorrow about the deaths on Saturday.

As the statement came out, visitors were still tubing or trekking in Vang Vieng  but the long-term implications for tourism were not clear.

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In 2011, a spate of deaths by drowning in the town, which involved alcohol and drugs, led to a police crackdown.

Since then, Laos has tried to rebrand Vang Vieng as a quieter eco-tourism and adventure destination, attracting families and tour groups, especially from South Korea and China.

But the latest tragedy will no doubt raise fresh concerns about the safety of backpacker tourism.

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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY)  WVU Medicine held a signing ceremony for the latest cohort of its Aspiring Nurse Program Friday afternoon, which works to assist nursing students during their education.

According to AVP of System Nursing Services Jessica Huffman, this program serves facilities across the WVU Hospital System, including the northern panhandle, Parkersburg, Charleston and Princeton, as well as the Morgantown location.

Its very important to us to continue to recruit West Virginia nurses because our population in West Virginia needs good nurses and we have wonderful healthcare facilities with WVU Medicine across the state, Huffman said. So, were really excited to see 51 new nurses joining us today in the Aspiring Nurse Program.

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West Virginia native Emily Calandrelli becomes 100th woman in space

Through the program, WVU Medicine is hoping to address some of the different needs that students may face while trying to get through nursing school.

Meeting some of those needs at home, getting transportation, paying for childcare, supplementing food costsits very expensive to get through nursing school and to juggle everything, Huffman said.

To help address some of these different costs, the Aspiring Nurse Program provides stipends to students while theyre pursuing their education.

Huffman explained how she grew up in West Virginia and had to work several jobs to get herself through nursing school. She said that at many times throughout her education, she wished that she had a little bit more money so that she could focus on her exams and study more. Therefore, she told 12 News that she is excited to be able to offer this opportunity, to take some of the burden off of the students.

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What were doing is very innovative, Huffman said. Were meeting the needs of students, not just checking a box giving out scholarships.

Huffman said that getting to know the on-site systems makes students less nervous when they come on board full-time because theyre already part of the team. She added that the program has state-of-the-art equipment and facilities and that WVU Medicine is proud to offer them training there so that they can be prepared for future employment with the organization.

Dealership donates 3 dozen teddy bears to WVU Medicine Childrens

Huffman added that most facilities have a transition coordinator, or some other staff member in the education department thats meeting with students once a month while theyre in school, and that WVU Medicine has retained 96% of students that have joined the program.

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Huffman said that shes heard unconventional success stories of people who have gone through the program, such as a former coal miner who now got to go to nursing school because of the program and a father who was supporting his family off of four jobs while going to nursing school full-time.

Were hearing these stories that are unbelievable, but its really exciting to make that difference and support their needs, Huffman added.

After completing the program, students will commit to beginning their nursing careers with WVU Hospitals.

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A Silvis man was sentenced Thursday to 115 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a felon, according to a news release.

According to public court documents, in July 2022, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for a vehicle and residence belonging to Quivadas Quadell-Lee Gaines, 34. At Gaines residence, officers seized at least 40 rounds of ammunition. The vehicle search warrant resulted in the seizure of a loaded pistol, found along with Gaines drivers license and Social Security card. Gaines is a felon and prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.

Quivadas Gaines (Scott County Jail)

In 2019, Gaines was convicted of one felony count of second-degree theft, in the Iowa District Court for Muscatine County.

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After completing his term of imprisonment, Gaines will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

U. S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Bettendorf Police Department.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit here.

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A human controller flying in an L-39 Albatros jet ordered a pair of L-29 Delfin jets with artificial intelligence (AI) driven flight technology acting as surrogates for advanced drones to engage simulated enemy fighters in a series of recent flight tests. Lockheed Martins famed Skunk Works advanced projects division led the experiment, which reflects growing discussions about how exactly crewed platforms will manage their uncrewed companions in the future. This is becoming a particularly important question for the U.S. Air Force in regard to its Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program.

Skunk Works collaborated with Lockheed Martins own Demonstrations and Prototypes organization and the University of Iowas Operator Performance Laboratory (OPL) on the crewed-uncrewed teaming test, according to a company press release. The testing occurred, at least in part, over an unspecified range in Iowa.

In a series of flight tests, the Skunk Works and OPL teams simulated an offensive counter air mission where an airborne, human battle manager aboard an L-39 Albatros assigned targets to two AI-controlled L-29 Delfin jets, which then worked together to defeat two mock enemy jets using simulated mission systems and weapons, the release stated. [The] airborne battle manager issued real-time commands to AI-controlled aircraft through a touchscreen pilot vehicle interface (PVI).

A stock picture of one of the L-29 jets from the University of Iowas Operator Performance Laboratory (OPL) involved in the recent Skunk Works test. USAF

These flight tests build on previous experiments that demonstrated AI-controlled air-to-ground jamming and geolocation, the release added. This year, the tests shifted to AI in air-to-air combat, where AI sends commands directly to the planes autopilots. This is the third test of this type and the first to include a real-time human battle manager overseeing the AIs actions.

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As The War Zone has highlighted in the past, there are significant benefits to using piloted or pilot-optional platforms as surrogates for drones in tests within the United States. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) currently imposes significant restrictions on truly uncrewed flight operations inside U.S. airspace. This, in turn, means that pilot-optional aircraft presents significant benefits, especially research and development and test and evaluation activities. Having a human pilot onboard can help accelerate certain kinds of testing and also provides an extra margin of safety.

The U.S. military and other companies beyond Lockheed Martin, such as Shield AI, have used OPLs L-29s, as well as contractor-operated L-39s and other pilot-optional platforms, to support advanced autonomy and drone development efforts in the past for exactly these reasons. In addition, despite continual advances in what can be done in virtual environments through advanced modeling and simulation, being able to conduct live testing remains very important, in general.

Live flight tests are a crucial aspect of advancing our expertise in AI and autonomy, Matthew Gabe Beard, Lockheed Martin Skunk Works autonomy/AI and machine learning engineering manager, said after another test involving OPLs L-29s that demonstrated their ability to conduct AI-enabled air-to-air intercepts back in June. These flights are powerful demonstrations of our ability to quickly and affordably develop and test operationally relevant AI capabilities.

OPLs L-29s at Edwards Air Force Base in California earlier this year. USAF

Lockheed Martin is among an array of U.S. defense contractors working to develop more and more advanced AI agents and expand the envelope of what AI-driven autonomous flight systems can do. This includes General Atomics and Anduril, which also currently developing drones as part of the first phase of the CCA program, also known as Increment 1. Lockheed Martin was among the companies not selected to proceed in Increment 1, but are looking toward the next phase, or Increment 2.

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Increasing trust in those systems to do what they are instructed to do by human operators is also a key aspect of this autonomy work. Additional developments are undoubtedly ongoing in the classified realm, as well.

This is hardly the first time Lockheed Martin has demonstrated an operational relevant autonomous flight capability, either. Back in 2015, the company, working together with the CalSpan Corporation, demonstrated the ability of a highly modified pilot-optional F-16 testbed, now designated the X-62A, to fly in formation with a standard two-seat F-16D, break off to fly a preplanned route, and then form back up with the other jet, all while in a semi-autonomous mode. The F-16 testbed took part in a very similar experiment in 2017 that also included the jet carrying out a simulated strike mission.

Since then, the X-62A has been involved in even more advanced autonomy testing work, including a first-of-its-kind AI-driven dogfight with another F-16 just earlier this year. You can read more about that particular jet here.

The X-62A test jet. USAF The X-62A Variable In-flight Simulator Aircraft (VISTA) flies over Edwards Air Force Base, California. U.S. Air Force photo

All of this is being done with a particular eye on meeting emerging U.S. military requirements, especially the autonomy demands that the U.S. Air Forces CCA program is generating. The Air Force is also working on autonomous capabilities and other technologies to support future drone developments in direct cooperation with the U.S. Navy and branches of the U.S. military through the CCA effort.

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The work were doing with the University of Iowas OPL is foundational for the future of air combat, where a family of crewed and uncrewed systems will work together to execute complex missions, John Clark, head of Skunk Works, said in a statement after the recent test. Were excited to leverage our diverse skillsets to advance all elements of this new way of operating.

For the CCA program, there continues to be questions not just about what kinds of missions the highly autonomous drones will expect to perform, but also about how they will be controlled, especially by operators in other aircraft. The touchscreen devices like the one featured in the recent Skunk Works test continue to be a user interface of choice.

Theres a lot of opinions amongst the Air Force about the right way to go [about controlling drones from other aircraft], Clark told The War Zone and others at this years Air & Space Forces Associations (AFA) Air, Space & Cyber Conference back in September. The universal thought, though, is that this [a tablet or other touch-based interface] may be the fastest way to begin experimentation. It may not be the end state.

The video below from Collins Aerospace presents one notional vision for how advanced drones might operate together with crewed aircraft, including receiving instructions from human operators via touchscreen devices, at least initially.

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At the same time, there is growing evidence that tablet-like devices, especially, may create additional burdens for pilots.

We started with [the Air Forces] Air Combat Command with tablets There was this idea that they wanted to have this discreet control, Michael Atwood, Vice President of Advanced Programs for General Atomics, said during an appearance on The Merge podcast earlier this year. I got to fly in one of these jets with a tablet. And it was really hard to fly the airplane, let alone the weapon system of my primary airplane, and spatially and temporally think about this other thing.

Were working through a spectrum of options that are the minimum invasive opportunities, as well as something thats more organically equipped, where theres not even a tablet, Skunk Works Clark added at the AFA gathering.

An example of an actual tablet-based drone control system General Atomics has experimented with in the past. GA-ASI

The Air Forces CCA program is increasingly facing a raft of other questions, including about how and where they will operate from, especially on a day-to-day basis domestically within the United States, what it will take to deploy them to forward locations for non-combat and combat missions, and other new training, maintenance, and logistics demands. Serious concerns are also building about the services ability to pay for its planned CCA fleets and other modernization plans. You can read more about all of these issues here.

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The Navy and other branches of the U.S. military will have to answer the same kinds of questions when it comes to their future drone plans and how those pilotless platforms will be managed.

The latest Skunk Works test involving the battle manager riding in the L-39 jet directing the two L-29 aircraft is another step forward in finding the necessary answers to help turn various uncrewed aviation ambitions into realities.

Contact the author: joe@twz.com
Elections are the foundation of how we govern in the United States.

Trust in the process relies on transparency and accuracy.

As tabulation continues in San Luis Obispo County, we are reminded elections are not a simple process. What human enterprise involving power and money is?

Each state and local election official weighs decisions based on the law, budget, access, technology, time and other local considerations.

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All of these rules are given different weights in different states, with accuracy being the outcome.

One example of different decisions between two large states: Florida closes voter registration 29 days before elections with no provision for Election Day registration. Californias deadline is 15 days before election with conditional registration and provisional ballots available on Election Day.

A red flashing light photographs signatures and records bar codes as Melanie Foster, deputy director clerk-recorder, runs mail-in ballots in batches of 200 at the San Luis Obispo County elections office Nov. 7, 2024.

California argues enfranchising voters makes for a more representative result, but it also complicates and slows the process of counting.

Elaina Cano, San Luis Obispo Countys Clerk-Recorder and registrar of voters, explained the process in a recent opinion piece.

A sample ballot from San Luis Obispo County circa 1940 in the California Votes: Exercise Your Right! exhibit at the McHenry Museum in Modesto, Sept. 27, 2024.

It was a simpler time in 1957 when San Luis Obispo County decided voting machines would improve tabulation speed and lower printing costs. The county began using them a year later.

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The machines were touted as foolproof and fast.

But when they failed, they failed big.

The equipment crash in the primary election had been so bad that Shoup voting machine company vice-president, Ransom F. Shoup, had personally directed the overhaul of balky machines.

The county would use the machines for less than two decades and eventually scrap the huge mechanical machines and replace them in 1975 with punch card ballots.

Barney Barnett wrote this story Nov. 2, 1962, just before the general election.

Diane Maddux, a deputy San Luis Obispo County clerk, demonstrates new punch card voting machine on Aug. 27, 1975. The Diamond International system replaced old Shoup Voting Machines that came into service in 1957.

$250,000 GAMBLE

Paper Ballot Vs. Machine

Although San Luis Obispo County has almost $250,000 invested in voting machines, taxpayers will still have to pay $6,000 for a supply of paper ballots for Tuesdays election.

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This extra expense is the result of the machines failing to function properly during the June primary and an ensuing order from the board of supervisors to make paper ballots available at all polling places in the county.

At their Oct. 1 meeting, the supervisors voted to instruct county clerk A.E. (Mike) Mallagh to have old style paper ballots available for use in conjunction with the machines if he felt it were necessary and in the public interest.

As a result of this order, Mallagh said voters can take their choice of voting by machine or by paper ballots when they go to the polls Tuesday. Mallaghs directions have resulted in the backers of one candidate, Sam Borradori, urging the use of paper ballots.

Borradori is running against incumbent Jesse Drake for the second district supervisorial post, representing the north coast area.

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Drake has advocated a program of voter instruction in the use of the machines and a recent demonstration in Morro Bay resulted in some 600 persons checking out the mechanical ballot.

Voting machines were introduced to San Luis Obispo County on a trial basis during the 1958 election. As a result, some of the machines were purchased and functioned properly during the 1960 elections, although there was some grumbling among the electorate about the long wait at the polls

Voters, in this undated photo from the 1960s, sit and wait for a voting machine to become available at the Veterans Memorial Hall in San Luis Obispo. The machines were in use for elections from 1958-1975 but in the 1962 primary election machines jammed and caused lines at the polls. Training machines set on tables to help teach the process

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In this Junes primary, many of the machines either broke down completely or only allowed ballots to be cast for certain combinations of candidates. This malfunctioning caused a storm of protest from aroused citizens who were unable to vote for the candidates of their choice.

I was disenfranchised by a machine, M.G. Stephanovich of Paso Robles charged at a meeting of the board of supervisors. Other county residents vowed they would fight against machine voting to the end.

It was at this meeting the subject of giving voters their choice of ballots was first brought up. Mallagh pointed out if this was done it would result in a terrific expense to the county.

Supervisor Roland Gates, first district, Paso Robles, pointed out the expense would be far greater if the county was hit by a taxpayers suit of if a complete new election would have to be held.

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I have been opposed to voting machines from the start, gated declared, they are expensive cumbersome and inadequate.

County clerk A.I. Mike Mallagh is shown marking a ballot in the Shoup electrical voting machine in 1957. County supervisors approved use of five of the machines at the June primary. Mervin Katz, a vice president with the Shoup Voting Machine corporation is at left.

Drake said the voting machines had been purchased in an effort to same the county money and reduce the costs of printing paper ballots. He urged giving the machines another trial and setting up instruction sessions for voters unfamiliar with their operation.

Ransom F. Shoup took full blame for the machine break down, claiming an improperly constructed small part had caused the trouble. However, the voting machine company official also blasted the California election laws and implied voters were not using the machines intelligently.

The supervisors also decided to delay purchase of more machines pending the result of the November general election.

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As a result of the boards order voters in 74 of the countys 86 polling places can take their choice between using machines or paper ballots.

In the other 12 voting places only paper ballots will be available.

The countys 169 precincts are combined into the 86 polling places.

If nothing else, the election should give county officials some idea of what type of ballot casting method voters prefer.

What happened during SLO County election recounts 40 years ago? It did open our eyes
The Congress party on Saturday secured a sweeping victory in the Karnataka assembly bypolls, winning all three contested seats--Shiggaon, Sandur, and Channapatna. Congress in-charge for Karnataka, Randeep Singh Surjewala, celebrated the win in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating, "Congress sweeps Karnataka by-elections! Congress won the Channapatna Assembly by 26,929 votes. CP Yogeshwar of Congress defeats Nikhil Kumaraswamy of JD-BJP. Congress wins Sandur Assembly, retains the seat Annapurna Tukaram of Congress wins, defeating B Hanumantappa of BJP by 9,568 votes. Congress wins the Shiggaon Assembly, wrests the seat from BJP. Bharath Bommai of BJP loses to Yasir Pathan of Congress by 13,446 votes." https://x.com/rssurjewala/status/1860231544159310088 He added, "A victory for leadership of Mallikarjun kharge & Rahul Gandhi! A victory of Congress workers, Congress Guarantees, and Congress Govt's policies as also the leadership of Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah & PCC President, DK Shivakumar!" Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar called the win a rejection of BJP's narrative in the state. "In Shiggaon, Sandur, and Channapatna, the people have rejected the statements made by the BJP and NDA leaders. Their alliance will never work in Karnataka," he said. In Sandur, Congress leader E Annapoorna expressed her gratitude to voters. "I'm happy that the people of the constituency have chosen me. I'll try to meet their expectations. I, along with the MP (her husband E Tukaram), will work for the betterment of the constituency. People have voted not only over our guarantees, but they considered me as one of their own, and that's why they have chosen me," she said. Congress MLA Sharath Bachegowda also underlined the clear mandate for Congress policies. "The victory which the Congress party has achieved in Karnataka (assembly by-elections)--we are winning all three seats by a very comfortable margin. This is a clear mandate from the public that the kind of facilities that the Govt is giving to the public and the kind of politics that we are doing is being universally accepted by the people of Karnataka. Karnataka is a state which has continuously rejected this kind of caste and communal politics and we can see this once again," he said. He also dismissed BJP's allegations against the Congress government. "Whatever allegations the BJP is making are unfounded. The government has been very transparent in its dealings. This is a grand victory for Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar's government," Bachegowda added. (ANI)
Texans are gearing up for Small Business Saturday, a day dedicated to supporting the heart of their local economies: small businesses. From quaint downtown shops to bustling farmers' markets, this annual shopping event offers a chance to find unique gifts while making a big impact on the community.

Initially launched by American Express in 2010, Small Business Saturday encourages consumers to shop at one of the 33 million independent businesses that exist in the U.S. In 2011, the Senate passed a resolution officially recognizing the Saturday after Thanksgiving as Small Business Saturday.

Here's how you can find a small business in your area to support this holiday season.

When is Small Business Saturday 2024?

Small Business Saturday falls right after Black Friday, and this years late Thanksgiving pushes the event to the very end of November. Taking place on Saturday, Nov. 30, its the final shopping day of the month.

How can I find a small business in Texas on Google?

If you'd like to buy local or from a small business for your holiday shopping, Google made it a little easier. With a small business filter for search and maps, Google allows shoppers to find products offered online by local retailers that identify as small businesses.

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Here's how it works:

On "search," look for the small business filter when shopping on desktop or mobile, or select the filter on "maps" on mobile when looking for local businesses.

Tap the filter to see products from merchants who identify as small businesses.

How can I find a small business in Texas on Amazon?

Amazon also now has options for finding small stores.

With the Amazon Support Small filter, buyers can sift through an assortment of small businesses on the site. You can even turn on further filters, searching specific categories like toys or clothing, or support specific communities like Black-owned or LGBTQ+ owned stores.

There's no straightforward way to filter Amazon businesses by location.

How can I find a small business in Texas to shop from on Etsy?

Etsy is known for its array of small businesses to choose from. With a variety of products  decor, jewelry and handmade clothing galore  the online marketplace is a community of independent sellers, so you always know you're supporting small.

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It's simple and straightforward, with a "search" bar right up top. You can also try looking through their "Editor's Pick" holiday guides, "Very Merry deals" list or their gift finder page, with a category for everyone.

While the online marketplace isn't specific to location, shoppers can use the Shop Location filter when searching for a specific item.

Here's how to use it:

Search for an item: Start by entering a keyword in the Etsy search bar for the product you want. Apply filters: On the results page, click the "All Filters" button at the top. Set a custom location: Scroll down to the "Shop Location" filter.

Select "Custom" and type in your city, state, or country to narrow the results to local sellers

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Support small businesses at Etsy

Use social media for Small Business Saturday in Texas

Local businesses often share their deals in community groups, Buy/Sell/Trade groups and on their social media platforms leading up to events and throughout the day.

To stay informed and take advantage of the best offers, follow your favorite local businesses on their social media pages and keep an eye on community group updates.

 Purchases you make through our links may earn us and our publishing partners a commission.

USA TODAY contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Small Business Saturday: What to know to shop local in Texas
The Kernersville Chamber of Commerces 2024 Arnold G. King Community Distinguished Service Award was presented to Ray Smith.

Smith moved to Kernersville in 1997 and has worked in the private sector for the past 27 years and has worked closely with local organizations to help improve the Kernersville community.

The award is named for a Kernersville native and former president of the Kernersville Chamber of Commerce who was instrumental in the development of the Leadership Kernersville program, the Spring Folly downtown festival and the Kernersville Foundation Inc., and whose extensive community involvement included pivotal roles in bringing both a Forsyth Tech campus and Novant Health Kernersville Medical Center to Kernersville. King died in 2019

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This is quite an honor to have an award thats named after Arnold King, Smith said. Arnold was a great friend, and I certainly respected him.

Smith first met King when hosting a special Olympics team from Taiwan in 1999. However, they worked closely in Rotary Club of Kernersville for 20 years.

I have worked a lot during my life, and Ive been on several projects, Ive volunteered a lot with the town of Kernersville, so Ive always done it without wanting attention from it, he said. But to be identified as is this, like I say, I was shocked at first, but it was certainly an honor.

Not only has Smith volunteered with the town, he helped form Kernersville Sister City Commission and has been a part of the Korners Folly Foundation, Piedmont Challenger Softball League since 1999 and has been on the board for Next Step Ministries for three years.

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Smith thanked numerous people but singled out Kevin Bugg, last years winner of the Arnold G. King Community Distinguished Service Award, who has worked on multiple projects over the years and Duane Long.

[This award] is very special to me and I couldnt do it without the support of my wife, Vi, and Ive got great kids and grandkids, and so thats whats special about life, he said.
SMITHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Smithville Mayor Josh Miller commended law enforcement for their work arresting suspects involved in recent area crimes. However, he is concerned over the involvement a Middle Tennessee district attorney.

On Wednesday, three deceased individuals were discovered in a home near McMinnville. The next day, Warren County officers announced that three individuals had been arrested in connection with the homicides.

According to Dekalb County District Attorney Bryan Dunaway, the Warren County District Attorney Chris Stanford was involved in the shooting. DeKalb County sheriff Patrick Ray confirmed that Stanford fired shots at the vehicle of one of the suspects wanted in connection with the Warren County homicide.

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RELATED: 3 bodies found in northern Warren County

I would just like to know what protocol is, Miller said. Ive never heard of our district attorney going around with police.

News 2 obtained a statement from Stanford. Stanford said that, to his understanding, Warren County sheriff Jackie Matheny notified the DeKalb County Sheriffs Department of his incoming presence for the purposes of locating, detaining and arresting suspects wanted on outstanding Warren County warrants. Stanford said that he is the constitutionally elected official and chief law enforcement officer in the 31st Judicial District.

Thus, if we suspect that criminal suspects are located in a nearby jurisdiction, on a crime we are investigating in our jurisdiction (the 31st Judicial District), we are permitted to enter said jurisdiction, with notice to the local authorities, Stanford added.

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Stanford said that he followed Mathenys team in case any assistance was needed. Further, Stanford noted that he is a POST-certified law enforcement officer who is authorized to carry his service weapon at all times. Stanford said that he completed the required 40 hours of initial training for that certification last year.

Yesterday afternoon, immediately after witnessing a Homeland Security Agent hit by a vehicle, the vehicle then drove toward me and others, accelerating quickly, Stanfords statement reads, in part. 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.

Stanford added that he is praying for a fast recovery for the injured Homeland Security agent and that his prayers are with the Warren County homicide victims.

The mayor said that some of his residents contacted him about the situation and had the same questions. News 2 spoke with multiple people who live along Bell Road. They added that it was a chaotic scene on Thursday and they dont understand why suspects were in their neighborhood.

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SEE ALSO: TBI investigating shooting involving District Attorney General

Some residents, who wished to not disclose their identity, said they hunkered down in their homes during the shooting. They also witnessed one of the suspects trying to drive away from the scene.

These residents also wanted to clarify that these crimes dont happen in Smithville. They are very proud of their city and its safety. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) has stated that theyre looking into the incident involving Stanford.

District Attorney General Craig Northcott will be the substitute prosecutor that will handle the Warren County triple homicide prosecution to its conclusion, according to Stanfords statement.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
November marks eight years since a worker found a woman severely injured in an east Charlotte Papa Johns parking lot.

She died from her injuries six months later.

Channel 9s Erika Jackson spoke with an investigator to discuss the challenges with the cold case.

There are hundreds of cold case files in Room 713 at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.

This file was added to it last year. Its important for investigators to bring closure when they can.

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CMPD: Cold case killer caught 35 years after womans death, thanks to DNA match

The biggest thing for me is being able to go to a family and tell them weve found the person who killed your loved one and seek justice for the family, said Det. James Helms, CMPD Cold Case Unit.

Helms has worked hundreds of cases during his 25 years with the department.

One on his list is the 2016 slaying of Brian Sherrell Faulkner.

We might not ever be able to solve a case like this, but we can give them more answers, Helms said. (To) give them more information about what happened.

Sherrell Faulkner was living in Charlotte. Her family said she identified as a transgender woman. Detectives dont think that was a motive for her death.

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Somebody knows something, and I want this to be out, said Robyn Faulkner, the victims sister. And if it could open up something where somebody would come forward, please.

Robyn Faulkner who lives in New York remembers flying to Charlotte when she learned her sister was fighting for her life.

The doctors were saying that he had traumatic brain injury, most likely wouldnt be the same, Robyn Faulkner said.

Police said a trash worker found Sherrell Faulkner next to a dumpster. Shed been shot multiple times. Officers blocked off the Papa Johns parking lot at The Plaza and East 35th Street. Paramedics rushed Sherrell Faulkner to a hospital.

Sherrill Faulkner was shot and found in November 2016 in the Papa Johns parking lot at The Plaza and East 35th Street. She died six months later.

Investigators dont know how she ended up next to the dumpster.

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She had suffered a gunshot wound to the head, so she was not able to provide any, she was never conscious again to provide us information that could lead us in any direction in the investigation, Helms said.

His team learned that just after midnight that night, Sherrell Faulkner had left an abandoned house behind Papa Johns.

Helms said someone saw her get into a white vehicle with two men. Sometime between midnight and 2:30 a.m., someone called the police to report gunshots. However, officers saw nothing unusual.

The trash worker found Sherrell Faulkner at 7 a.m. and she died six months later from her injuries.

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This has been traumatizing for seven years, and I just want closure. My family needs closure, Robyn Faulkner said.

It happened late at night, semi-residential, semi-business, but most of the businesses are closed, so theres not a lot of people out walking around, Helms said. Maybe not a lot of people with information.

Helms explained what investigators have accomplished since taking over the case in 2023.

We have done some other investigative work, done some cellphone analysis and things like that, but it just hasnt led us anywhere, he said.

In the last 18 months, he has spoken with witnesses who pointed him to others.

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He said there is one critical witness who could help move the cold case file out of Room 713 and into the solved case category.

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I do know there are certain people that do have information, and I just ask that they come forward, the detective said.

There is a $5,000 reward for tips leading to an arrest.

LINK: CMPD CrimeStoppers
A former vice president of the Daystar Television Network has been accused of launching a smear campaign against the companys leadership after he was fired last week for failing to meet performance improvement goals.

Jonathan Lamb, whose parents Joni and Marcus Lamb founded the Bedford-based Christian television network, posted a video on X and YouTube stating that he and his wife Suzy are no longer at Daystar.

The Lambs did not return messages from the Star-Telegram seeking comment.

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I really felt from the Lord, that even though a lot of wrong had been done to me that I was to stand firm in the position that God had called me to and to not walk away, Jonathan Lamb said in the video.

A spokesperson from Daystar wrote in an email to the Star-Telegram that Lamb was fired on Nov. 16, a day after the deadline he was given to comply with his performance improvement plan.

Lamb has since engaged in a smear campaign by spreading false allegations against Daystar and its leadership, the spokesperson said.

Based on a clear and documented pattern, it is clear this smear campaign is the result of Jonathan not being designated as the future President of Daystar following the untimely death of Daystars founder, Marcus Lamb, the statement said.

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Marcus Lamb died of COVID-19 in 2021. Lamb launched the Daystar Television Network in Dallas in 1997 and moved it to Bedford 2003. The network has grown to reach over 108 million households in the U.S. and more than 2 billion people worldwide.

The network has more than 100 TV stations and programming from Kenneth Copeland and Joel Osteen.

The decision was made to terminate Lamb after prayerful consideration and a thorough internal review and performance assessment over the past 15 months, including Lambs refusal to participate in a third-party mediation to resolve grievances in a biblical and professional manner, according to Daystar.

Rather than take any steps toward completion of the PIP, it is now clear that Jonathan was instead collaborating with reporters and timed a coordinated release of a misleading campaign to coincide with the end of his six-month probation period, the statement read.

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Daystar also provided Lambs performance plan and termination letter to the Star-Telegram.

Lamb received the performance improvement plan in April, when he was removed from his VP position and assigned the job of overseeing the Daystar Cafe and operations. According to the performance review, Lamb had deficiencies in several areas that justified immediate termination for cause, which included blackmail, breach of fiduciary responsibilities, and failure to provide adequate leadership and oversight.

The plan also called for Lamb to sign a nondisclosure agreement, a requirement for many executives, Daystar said. Lamb did not sign the agreement, Daystar said.
A Los Angeles assistant principal was arrested Friday on suspicion of molesting eight young children while working at a Santa Paula elementary school several years ago, authorities said.

David Lane Braff Jr., 42, of Thousand Oaks is accused of molesting eight students ages 6 to 10 in a school office at McKevett Elementary School, where he worked as a counselor from 2015 to 2019, according to the Ventura County district attorney's office. At the time of his arrest, Braff was an assistant principal and school counselor at Ingenium Charter Middle School in Winnetka, prosecutors said.

David Lane Braff Jr., 42, of Thousand Oaks was arrested Friday. (Ventura County district attorney's office)

He has been charged with 17 felony counts of lewd acts upon a child under 14 years old and will be arraigned Monday in Ventura County Superior Court, prosecutors said.

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He is being held in Ventura County jail on $3-million bail, prosecutors said.

The defendant is alleged to have molested multiple elementary school children over a number of years, shattering the trust placed in him by parents, educators and the public, Ventura County Dist. Atty. Erik Nasarenko said in a statement. We intend to vigorously prosecute this case and encourage others to come forward who may have information about additional victims and crimes."

The district attorney's office and the Santa Paula Police Department launched an investigation into Braff last month, and that effort continues. Prosecutors believe that Braff has worked at other schools in Southern California and may have been a volunteer for youth organizations.

Anyone who believes they may have been victimized, or who witnessed suspicious conduct, is encouraged to contact Greg Webb, an investigator at the Ventura County district attorney's office, at (805) 477-1627, regardless of whether the incident occurred in Ventura County.

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.
CRANE COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)  A spokesperson with Southern Power has issued a statement following the devastating loss of three Buena Vista ISD students and employee, Gary Liles, in a deadly head-on collision on Wednesday.

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our friend and colleague Gary Liles, who was involved in a tragic traffic accident this week that also took the lives of Jaden and Jackie Jurado and Nautica Carrasco, Southern Power said in a statement.

A tribute to Jackie & Jaden Jurado and Nautica Carrasco

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48-year-old Gary Don Liles was travelling south on FM 1052 Wednesday evening before the collision, according to a report from the Texas Department of Public Safety. Upon arrival, troopers found the students vehicle fully engulfed in flames. DPS has not yet determined what led up to the crash. You can learn more here.

We are devastated by this loss of life and are cooperating with local authorities as they search for the cause of the crash. But what we do know is that four lives were taken too soon, and we grieve for these families as well as the broader community in and around Odessa, the company 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 Yourbasin.
GT Hill, an Arkansas resident, purchased a decommissioned missile silo for $90,000 in 2010.

He spent $800,000 over 10 years converting the space but doesn't recommend others try it.

Hill made it into an Airbnb and has hosted YouTubers, acrobats, and an author.

This is an as-told-to essay based on a conversation with GT Hill, a 49-year-old former director of technical marketing who lives in Vilonia, Arkansas. He bought a $90,000 decommissioned missile silo and turned it into an Airbnb. The following conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

I grew up in eastern Oregon, in the middle of nowhere, so I did welding and many other mechanical things. I was a jet-engine mechanic in the Air Force and spent my primary career in technology. I worked for a handful of Silicon Valley companies as a director of technical marketing.

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One day, I was getting my haircut in Searcy, Arkansas. These old guys were talking about the missile silos that were around Arkansas. I'd never heard about these places that housed nuclear missiles, so I started researching.

Probably 20% of my interest was in the doomsday-prepper aspect, or the idea of preparing to survive in the case of a catastrophe. I'm not a full doomsday prepper, but I like the idea of being prepared for the unknown, including having food storage and some survival skills.

If you talk to the hardcore preppers, which I'm not, missile silos are not that great, depending on what you think is the worst-case scenario. If it's a "Walking Dead"-style apocalypse, you don't want to be in a missile silo because then you're trapped inside.

Another 30% of my interest was in the modern-archaeology aspect of owning something like this. I really wanted to dig it up and see what was in there. Initially, I intended to make it a house for my family.

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Lastly, I was interested in owning a missile silo because it's just kick ass. The place has 7,000-pound doors. Its three floors are made out of a steel structure nicknamed "the birdcage."

It's on eight springs and actually hangs from the ceiling. And the reason is if it gets hit by a bomb, it allows the structure to shake to try to preserve the equipment and the people inside.

Thanks to the rattle space or the gap between the floors and walls, I can put my back against the wall and push the structure to get it to move.

I bought the historic silo for $90,000. It was decommissioned in the 1980s as part of an international treaty.

The silo can turn into a nightclub that hosts parties, charity events, and even acrobats. Courtesy of GT Hill

I found my missile silo, called Titan II, online. I started talking to the previous owner in January of 2010, and by August, I owned it.

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Titan II was denuclearized after the US and Russia signed a 1979 treaty to limit each country's nuclear weapons. The US disarmed Titan II as part of that negotiation, called the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks II or SALT II.

They had to destroy the silo in very specific ways. They actually had to blow up the top of the structure and fill it in. So it was an underground structure, but completely buried.

I bought the 9-acre site in Vilonia, Arkansas, for $90,000, which was about a $30,000 premium over the land's value alone.

There were three main components. There's the silo itself, a 57-foot diameter structure or basically a 15-story building, which sits underground at 150 feet deep. Then there's a long tunnel connecting the silo to the center area that's 35 feet underground. The last part of it is the launch control center, which goes as deep as 50 feet underground.

The whole process was risky and expensive. I don't recommend people try to copy me.

The middle floor of the control center is available to rent. Courtesy of GT Hill

Some people look at an old house and think, "There's no way I want to rebuild that." I liked the challenge. I knew we could build a pretty cool place. It just took a whole lot more money and time than I anticipated.

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I finally got money and time together in October 2010. I rented a large bulldozer and an excavator, and then we started digging.

The whole facility was full of water. We could see water pouring out on top of us, so we had to figure out how to open the front door of the control center without dying. When the door popped open, a huge wave came over us. It was scary.

The main bedroom is in the livable portion of the silo. Courtesy of GT Hill

There were other challenges. The place had asbestos and methane gas at the top of the control center, where the crew quarters were. I recorded videos of the whole process, and you can actually hear my voice change because of the methane in the air.

I had much more time than I did money. It's not that I didn't have the money to do it, but when you get the money, how do you prioritize using it? Do you throw it in a hole in the ground or spend it on a vacation for your family? Or upgrade the current home you live in? I had to make many of those decisions over the 10-year renovation period.

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After spending $800,000, we're probably netting $80,000 a year in revenue from the place now that I rent it out on Airbnb.

People ask what the hardest part about doing this was, and it has nothing to do with the work. It's the mental side. You're spending money on a hole in the ground, and you have nothing to show for it. It ended well for me, but the average person shouldn't do it.

It's not a great way to spend time or money.

We've turned the missile into an Airbnb and have hosted YouTubers, acrobats, and a writer who lived cut off from the world for 10 days.

The main kitchen. Courtesy of GT Hill

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We still live on the property, but we never moved in full time. We'd spend some nights as a family there, either for fun or as a shelter from big tornadoes.

There are no walls and doors, so there's no real primary bedroom. The top floor has a king bed, a large, open shower, and a freestanding bathtub. The middle floor has two queen beds that we can move to make more space. Then the kitchen and the living room are on the bottom floor, which also doubles as a dance floor and can turn into a club.

We host anything on the property, including meetings. If it's semilegal and people want to do it there and pay for it, we're fine with it.

The first booking we got was in November 2020. It was a couple coming for their honeymoon, but they got a little too intoxicated at their wedding to make the trip. They sent their best man instead.

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Our initial rate was $275 a night with a $75 cleaning fee. Since then, we've raised prices a few times, so now we're in the $400 to $700 range for a one-night stay, depending on whether it's a weekday or a weekend.

Inside one of the bathrooms. Courtesy of GT Hill

COVID was obviously still going on when we started to list it, and I marketed the silo as the ultimate social distancing. There was this YouTube couple, Kara and Nate, with like 3 million subscribers, who came to stay in 2021. They were travel influencers who started doing van life during the pandemic.

I would say 70% of our bookings for the next year came through the video they made about their stay. Today, I would've paid an influencer couple like that $5,000 to stay for that kind of exposure. With them, it was just a coincidence.

I once intentionally locked a woman in there for 10 days straight. In 2021, an author named Lynne Peeples called me and said, "I'm doing a book on circadian rhythm, and I need a place that has absolutely no indication of time whatsoever." She wanted to see what would happen to her sleep cycle. Before her arrival, I had to ensure everything that told the time was covered; even the Netflix account couldn't show the time.

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We've had acrobats down there for a charity event. We've had bands perform. We've had birthday parties and even some swingers. I'm a pretty open guy. Just treat each other and the place well.

The only thing we haven't had yet is a wedding. And a lot of the reason for that is because of the stairs. It's five flights down, and typically, everybody's got at least one older relative in attendance.

It's been a pretty terrible investment, any way you look at it, but it's become more than that. It's now part of my identity.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is set to launch the third edition of Nayi Chetna - Pahal Badlaav Ki, a national campaign against gender-based violence on November 25 in New Delhi "Union Minister of Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan will launch the third edition of Nayi Chetna - Pahal Badlaav Ki, a national campaign against gender-based violence on 25th November 2024 in Rang Bhawan Auditorium, All India Radio, Sansad Marg, New Delhi," as per a Ministry of Rural Development release. Union Minister of Women and Child Development Annpurna Devi will also grace the event in a collective effort of the government to eliminate gender-based violence. The month-long campaign, organized by the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) under the aegis of the Ministry of Rural Development, will run across all Indian States and Union Territories until December 23. This initiative, led by DAY-NRLM's extensive Self-Help Group (SHG) network, embodies the spirit of Jan Andolan. "The campaign is a collaborative effort in the spirit of "whole of government" approach and will witness participation of 9 Ministries/Departments namely Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Department of Justice," the release read. The Nayi Chetna campaign aims to amplify awareness and drive informed action against gender-based violence through grassroots initiatives. Since its inception, Nayi Chetna has mobilized millions nationwide, fostering a significant movement for gender equality and women's empowerment. "The first edition reached 3.5 crore people, supported by multiple line ministries, while Nayi Chetna 2.0 engaged 5.5 crore participants across 31 States and Union Territories, with over 9 lakh awareness activities on gender-based violence conducted nationwide," the release read. The objectives of Nayi Chetna 3.0 include raising awareness of all forms of gender-based violence, encouraging communities to speak out and demand action, providing access to support systems for timely assistance and empowering local institutions to act decisively against violence. The campaign's slogan, "Ek Saath, Ek Awaaz, Hinsa Ke Khilaaf," embodies the call for collective action through convergence efforts, adopting a whole-of-society and whole-of-government approach. (ANI)
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA)  The Springfield Police Department is notifying residents that there is no evidence behind any gang-related activity in the area involving Venezuelan migrants.

In a press release Friday, the department said they are aware of the recent social media rumors circulating concerning potential threats involving Venezuelan gangs. They also said they did not generate this information, and they have no evidence to support any of these claims.

Springfield man arrested after drugs found in search warrant

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The department recently made arrests of individuals in a retail theft incident and is currently working with law enforcement partners on two ATM thefts in Springfield, the department added. There is also no information indicating that these incidents are related in any way.

Springfield Police urge their community to rely on verified information directly from the department for updates on safety and security concerns. Their agency continues to work with state and federal partners on criminal matters to address the safety concerns of all citizens.

The department is encouraging residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to Springfield Police, especially as the holiday season approaches.

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SPRINGFIELD TWP., Ohio (WJW)  Police Chief Jack Simone says the majority of the complaints his department gets from those living in Springfield Township is about excessive speed.

You see the signs everywhere we have children that play here we love our children please slow down but people they just dont seem to care, said Jacqulyn Ashbrook, who lives on Northview Drive.

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The speed limit on most of Springfield Townships residential streets is 25 miles per hour.

So, to help slow people down trustees have invested in three speed signs with a display that not only flashes the speed drivers are traveling when they approach the signs but will take images of those who are the most egregious violators.

We are a relatively small police department; our officers can be spread pretty thin sometimes so thats why we invested in these signs, said Simone.

The signs have been in place on three streets, including Northview, for about a month and in that time, they have recorded hundreds of speeders, some going as fast as 80 in a 25.

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The police department now posts photos of the most serious violators on its Facebook page.

The ones that are getting our attention are the excessive speed violations which are 20 miles an hour or over. Those are the ones that we are using the social media platform to get folks attention, to shame them, I guess. said Simone.

PHOTOS: Browns win ends in scuffle and snow angels

We are trying to make them famous so to speak on social media, he told Fox 8 News.

The records generated by the signs show that about 85% are driving between 30 and 35 mph.

Still above the posted limit of 25, but Simone says among the benefits of the signs is that the township can see where people are driving more reasonably.

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But a camera on Delaware Road captured one driver who was clocked at 80, three others driving in the 70s, including one at 77 miles per hour and two others driving through the 25-mile-per-hour zone over 60.

Simone says the signs are programmed not to display speeds that high so as not to encourage anyone who might try intentionally driving past them as fast as they can.

It was the sign on Delaware that captured the image of a police cruiser in front as a driver went past them going 56 mph, 31 miles per hour over the limit.

The driver was pulled over and issued a citation.

We encourage our officers to conduct radar in the area of those signs. Folks shouldnt assume that because they see the sign that theres not an officer close by conducting traffic enforcement, said Simone.

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That really is beneficial for our officers because it shows the driver can see that they were speeding then the officer can issue a citation if need be, because of the excessive speed, he said

Fox 8 cameras captured a minivan approaching the sign on Delaware traveling 43 mph, but slowing to 33 as they passed the sign, still 8 mph over the posted speed limit.

Lake effect snow could impact Thanksgiving weekend

Simone also confirms that most of the townships residential streets do not have sidewalks, so anyone out for a walk would have to be in the street.

And this is a very active neighborhood, I mean multiple dog walkers there are tons of parents that are walking their children in strollers, said Asbrook.

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We cant issue citations off of that picture that we are getting from these signs that we are putting on social media, however what our officers can do is they can take that information, they can investigate those cases they can talk to those folks and encourage them to drive the speed limit as they are driving through our community in the future, said Simone.

And I can assure those folks if they are stopped by one of our officers after that conversation that a warning wont be an option, he added

The signs are solar powered and can be moved. The township intends for them to be in different locations every couple of months.

But the police chief says the object is not to shame the drivers, or to make them famous it is to slow them down.

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Safer streets obviously at the end of the day we just want safer streets.

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA)  A suspect accused of driving drunk struck a St. Petersburg police officer early Saturday morning.

The police department said a driver ran a stop sign at 1st Avenue North and 23rd Street North and struck the officer in a marked cruiser, who was traveling through the intersection.

Motorcyclist killed after hitting street pole in Clearwater

Both drivers were taken for evaluation with non-life-threatening injuries. Officials said the officer was treated and released with minor injuries.

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The suspect was taken into custody and charged with DUI, according to police.

No additional details on the suspects identity have been released.

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA)  A St. Petersburg man is being accused of stabbing a victim near his heart at a public library on Friday afternoon.

According to an arrest affidavit, 28-year-old Tavaris Cunningham was sitting next to the victim in a computer area at the Mirror Lake Community Library, located at 280 5th Street North in St. Pete, when he began to act erratically.

St. Pete officer struck by suspected drunken driver, officials say

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When the victim asked Cunningham to calm down, he pulled a knife from a bag. Officials said Cunningham stabbed the man in the upper right chest area.

I stabbed him in the heart, Cunningham told St. Pete police. I stabbed him above the waist, means 25 years to life.

The victim also had lacerations to his left thigh and left hand, the affidavit said.

Largo police arrest man accused of stealing over $15K from client in estate sale

I stabbed him in the thigh because he was attacking me, Cunningham added.

The victim was treated for his injuries, but his current condition is unknown.

According to the affidavit, Cunningham is facing a second-degree attempted murder charge. He is being held without bond.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
A knife attack on a doctor in India has renewed an impassioned debate about whether enough is being done to protect medical staff in the worlds most populous nations often crowded and overstretched hospital wards.

Last week, thousands of doctors went on strike, shutting down private hospitals and clinics after a doctor was stabbed while on duty in the southern city of Chennai.

Oncologist Balaji Jaganathan was allegedly attacked by the relative of a patient who was unhappy with his mothers treatment, local police said. The doctor survived the attack and remains in stable condition.

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How are we supposed to treat patients if we dont know if we ourselves will make it out safely, K. M. Abdul Hasan, president of the Indian Medical Association in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, told CNN, adding that more than 40,000 doctors went on strike on November 14 to demand safety in the workplace for health care workers.

Earlier this summer, thousands of doctors across the country took industrial action  and also spent weeks protesting  after a trainee medic was raped and murdered in the eastern city of Kolkata in July.

Their main demand then was a federal law, known as the Central Protection Act (CPA), to protect doctors and medical staff at their workplace. The stabbing in Tamil Nadu has once again emphasized the need for such a law, and stricter security measures to protect health care workers, doctors say.

Violence is expected

In recent weeks, CNN has spoken to nearly a dozen doctors who all reported a hostile work environment and lack of security. Several doctors work in the capital New Delhi, but they say things are much worse at remote health care centers.

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A survey published in August in the wake of the trainee medics killing showed 78% of health care workers reported being threatened while on duty.

Another 63% said they felt unsafe while working a night shift, while those at government-run hospitals or community health centers felt more unsafe than those working in private hospitals. The survey had 1,566 responses from doctors, nurses and other medical staff across the country.

Every doctor can tell you many incidents where they have been verbally abused or worse, it is expected for us, said a doctor in a Delhi hospital who asked to conceal her name, fearing repercussions at work for speaking to the media.

In July, while the doctor was on duty in a Delhi government hospital, what was supposed to be a simple baby delivery turned into a complicated procedure, and the mother was imperiled.

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As monitors beeped and a doctor rushed to resuscitate her, an older female relative began screaming. What happened next left staff traumatized, said the Delhi-based doctor.

Dozens of armed men barged into the delivery area reserved for patients and their female relatives as many women lay uncovered to give birth.

The men, claiming to be the patients relatives, began yelling, destroying equipment and assaulting the doctors. Despite the attacks, the team continued to try to revive the patient, until there was nothing more they could do.

The doctors ran and hid in the duty room but they even broke into there, said the Delhi-based doctor.

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Doctors at the hospital subsequently asked for more security personnel and metal detectors, but their pleas have gone unanswered, said the doctor.

Protests by medical staff in Kolkata earlier this year lasted for weeks following the rape and murder of a trainee doctor. - Samir Jana/Hindustan Times/Sipa USA

It could have been any one of us

The Kolkata trainee medics murder took place while she was working a night shift and had shut her eyes for a short while in a seminar room at the R. G. Kar medical college and hospital.

A civic volunteer at the hospital has been charged with rape and murder and his trial in ongoing.

Indian laws require the identity of a rape victim to be protected. She has been given the moniker Abhaya, meaning without fear, and her case has become the latest to fuel surging anger in India over endemic violence against women.

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But it also galvanized doctors to call for better protections.

It could have been any one of us, we have no choice but to protest because if we dont speak up now then when; it cant get any worse, said Anwesha Banerjee, a doctor from the same class of medical students as Abhaya, who also asked to use a pseudonym.

This incident brought doctors from all parts of the country to the street, united in their demand for stronger laws to protect doctors.

The Supreme Court of India opened a case on the Kolkata trainee doctors rape and murder and formed a national task force to recommend measures to improve security at hospitals.

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However, the task force has disagreed with the doctors key demand for a new law, arguing Indias criminal code already has adequate legislation.

In the aftermath of the doctors strike in August, Indias Health Ministry set up a sub-committee to help the task force suggest all such possible measures for ensuring the safety of health care professionals.

The task force outlined measures to improve safety, such as installing more CCTV cameras, providing transport at night and better duty rooms for staff. But doctors say they want concrete action now.

We need measures to actually be implemented, we need both state and central governments to act  guidelines cannot help until put into practice, said Hasan in Tamil Nadu.

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CNN has reached out to the Indian Ministry of Health for comment.

Hospitals used to be ours

Following the murder in Kolkata, the local West Bengal government issued a notification saying female doctors should avoid night duty.

But that sparked a rebuke from one of Indias top judges, who cited the countrys equality laws, and triggered fresh anger among doctors.

Instead of protecting us and creating a safer work environment, if you restrict our ability to work, that only disadvantages us further, it goes against the very principle of what we want, said Banerjee in Kolkata.

The Delhi-based doctor said while she lives not too far from her hospital, it is located in an area which is unsafe, especially at night.

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We dont have transport provided for getting to the hospital and the hostels arent well maintained so we dont prefer staying on campus, she said.

The doctor to population ratio in India stands at one to 834, Indias health minister told parliament in February, citing the Health Ministry. That exceeds the World Health Organization standard of one to 1,000.

However, doctors say the problem is a shortfall of hospitals across rural India and second-tier cities. As a result, people end up having to travel long distances for treatment, and those hospitals bear the brunt of treating those with serious illnesses.

Those stresses were particularly acute during the coronavirus pandemic, when India was hit by a particularly devastating second wave.

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The latest attacks on doctors have only added to that feeling that not enough is being done to protect them.

With everything thats happened, we have lost our sense of security, the hospital used to be ours, we owned it, thats no longer the case, said the Delhi-based doctor.

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Work to clear the wagons from a freight train collision on the tracks between the German cities of Cologne and Aachen got under way on Saturday morning.

It remains unclear when the section of railway, an important corridor for international long-distance passenger and freight trains, will reopen.

The German state-owned Deutsche Bahn railway said the recovery work is expected to be time-consuming and difficult.

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A forecast for reopening will be issued on Monday at the earliest, according to Deutsche Bahn.

The route connects Brussels with Frankfurt and Paris, and is used by both Eurostar and German Intercity Express (ICE) trains. Travellers between Cologne and Aachen will have to switch to other routes or take replacement buses.

On Friday, the freight train collided with a construction train near the town of Kerpen. Both the locomotive and six wagons of the freight train derailed.

According to the German police, the driver of the freight train suffered serious injuries in the collision and was taken to hospital. Two other people were also injured, but not seriously.

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Investigations into the cause of the accident are ongoing.

If possible, the wagons will be placed back on the rails with the help of the cranes and then driven away. If this is not possible, they will have to be removed by road.

The derailed locomotive weighs around 80 tons, according to Deutsche Bahn.

There was also considerable damage to the track. According to the rail operator, four concrete masts had to be replaced. According to initial estimates, several hundred metres of track as well as railroad sleepers will also have to be replaced.
Nov. 22Addiction is "very prevalent" in Roswell, said Trent Carter, who owns and runs the local treatment clinic Renew Health.

"There's a lot of folks that are struggling," said Carter, who opened the clinic three years ago.

But Carter said other rural New Mexico towns are also grappling with high rates of addiction, pushing him to open a slate of new clinics in the southern portion of the state.

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Renew Health is one of four organizations receiving a share of $5.4 million, state officials said this week, part of $46 million approved by state legislators this year for the Rural Health Care Delivery Fund.

"Every New Mexican deserves access to quality health care close to home," Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said in a statement. "Rural health care providers are lifelines in their communities. This funding is a bold investment in the health and dignity of our rural communities, ensuring no New Mexican is left behind."

Three other entities are getting money, including Santo Domingo Pueblo, which will use $2 million to expand behavioral health and primary care services, state officials said.

Clovis-based Multicultural Evaluation and Consultation Associates will use $1.6 million to enhance maternal health care coordination in Curry, Chaves, Dona Ana, Lea, Quay and Roosevelt counties. Meridian Behavioral Health, based in Albuquerque, will expand reentry services for children in state custody in Cibola, San Miguel, Sandoval, Torrance and Valencia counties with $759,141 from the fund.

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The Rural Health Care Delivery Fund, established last year with an initial $80 million, aids health care projects in counties with fewer than 100,000 people. Championed by Lujan Grisham during the 2023 session, 52 organizations received a share from that pool of money.

Pumped with more cash during this year's session, the fund has so far received 77 applicants, New Mexico Health Care Authority spokeswoman Marina Pina said.

She said the state will announce more awardees next month, noting that the first four approved this week were part of an expedited group called "access champions." The funding as part of the second cohort will run through June 2027.

Carter, a nurse practitioner, said the funding will help open Renew Health clinics in Alamogordo, Clovis and Hobbs over the next several months. He also has plans for more clinics in Artesia and Socorro.

"It doesn't matter which corner of the state you go to, you're going to find these same prevalent issues (of addiction)," Carter said. "Down here in the southern part of the state, there seems to be very few resources and this is where I'm located, so trying to make an impact here and then spreading it across the entire state is the goal."
Nov. 22On the heels of a report from the state auditor, the State Ethics Commission this week launched its own investigation into questions plaguing Western New Mexico University over taxpayer-funded trips around the world and high-end furniture.

State Auditor Joseph Maestas announced Tuesday the Special Investigations Division in his office found more than $363,000 in extravagant spending on travel and lodging by university officials and improper use of credit cards and expense accounts.

Investigators also noted the university had provided expense accounts and purchasing cards to a "non-university employee." Maestas confirmed the reference was to WNMU President Joseph Shepard's wife, Valerie Plame, a former covert CIA operations officer and unsuccessful congressional candidate.

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The Ethics Commission will treat the auditor's report as an "informal complaint," Deputy Director Amelia Bierle wrote in an email to Maestas.

"As part of our investigation into informal complaints, commission staff may make public records requests to the public entities involved, review any documents you have provided, contact additional witnesses who may have information, including those you have identified, or otherwise contact you with follow-up questions or requests for additional information," she wrote.

Informal complaints could lead the commission to authorize its executive director and staff attorneys to file a civil lawsuit in state court or refer the matter to other enforcement agencies for their review, the email states.

However, Bierle wrote, such decisions would depend on the statutory limits on the commission's authority and the capacity of the commission's staff.

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A news release issued by Maestas' office Tuesday stated university management and the Board of Regents failed to uphold their fiduciary responsibilities by neglecting to follow university policies, procedures and rules regarding travel and procurement.

The release cited more than $214,000 in spending on domestic and international travel and lodging and about $149,000 in spending covering 91 instances of procurement and university credit cards that didn't comply with the university's policies and rules.

The auditor's investigation was sparked by a report last year by Searchlight New Mexico. The nonprofit news organization found Shepard had spent tens of thousands of dollars on international travel, often accompanied by other university executives, members of the board of regents and his wife, as well as high-end custom furnishings for the president's official residence in Silver City.

Follow Daniel J. Chacon on Twitter @danieljchacon.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Former Florida Attorney General and Temple Terrace native Pam Bondi has been selected to be President-elect Donald Trumps next U.S. Attorney General.

During her time as the states top cop, Bondi pushed for a safe way for students to report school shootings following the tragedy in Parkland. She also focused on getting drugs off the street, like opioids and bath salts.

Will Matt Gaetz return to congress? He says no

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Florida GOP Chair Evan Power said efforts like those make Bondi ready to be the nations attorney general.

Pam Bondi was a great attorney general, Power said. I think shes going to be ready to go.

Sen. Rick Scott, who was governor while Bondi was state attorney general, congratulated the Hillsborough County native on social media.

For eight years, I worked alongside pam to keep Florida safe, and Im looking forward to working with her to keep our nation safe, Scott said.

State Democratic Chair Nikki Fried said Bondi was mostly selected because of her loyalty to Trump.

When shes not taking checks from Trump in exchange for immunity, shes defending him from impeachment, Fried said.

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Bondi represented and supported Trump after his first impeachment and after he lost to President Joe Biden.

Fried was also referring to Bondi accepting a $25,000 political donation from Trump in 2013 while her office was deciding whether to sue Trump University over fraud allegations.

Power said that didnt impact her then and wont impact her now.

She ended up being reelected, Power said. So, voters made a decision that none of that matters to them. I think shes going to be easily confirmed.

USF Political Science Professor J. Edwin Benton said, if confirmed, which is likely, Bondi could set her sights on seeking a higher office.

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I think its going to increase her political capital down the road to occupy some other office at the federal level, Benton said. She is a fair-minded person. Ive known her myself going back to the days when she was in Hillsborough County in the state attorneys office.



Bondi was named for the seat after former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz, according to NBC News, withdrew from the nomination. That stemmed from allegations of sexual misconduct. He has denied any wrongdoing.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
CHEYENNE  The Wyoming Supreme Court decided in early October that the state-owned land leased to Pilot Corporation in Uinta County was not exempt from property taxes, despite the fact revenue generated from the lease benefited the Wyoming State Hospital.

Pilot is a private company that has operated a truck stop on the land since 1999, said Revenue Department Director Brenda Henson during the Legislatures Joint Revenue Committee meeting on Monday. The lessee paid taxes on the truck stop itself, but not the state land surrounding it.

In 2022, a Uinta County assessor charged Wyoming property tax on the 3.37 acres of state land surrounding the truck stop. The state fought this all the way to the Wyoming Supreme Court, arguing the revenue benefiting the state hospital served a governmental purpose.

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Wyoming Statute 39-11-105 exempts state-owned land from property taxation if it is used primarily for a governmental purpose. However, Chief Justice Kate Fox wrote in the decision that the state land was used to operate a truck stop, which is a non-governmental purpose.

Fox also pointed out theres no definition of governmental purpose provided anywhere in statute.

(T)he exemption the State argues for does not exist, Fox wrote.

The 3.4 million acres of state-owned land used for grazing leases is now subject to property tax as a result of the decision, which Henson said would amount to just under $3 million. Gov. Mark Gordon requested an appropriation of $3 million to the Office of State Lands and Investments in his supplemental budget request to pay it off.

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OSLI Interim Director Jason Crowder told lawmakers on Monday the $3 million will either be paid to the Department of Revenue or county assessors.

Im not sure how it will break that down yet, but thats where itll go, and then theyll distribute it, Crowder said.

County assessors and the Department of Revenue have struggled with this topic for years, Henson said. There were at least three different interim topics in the last decade to study what qualifies as a governmental purpose, but no bill has come before the Legislature.

When the government leases out lands to an entity for a non-governmental purpose, should those be taxable? County assessors across the state and the Department of Revenue believe that that was a question the Legislature needed to answer, Henson said. We have not, as a Legislature, defined what is a governmental purpose.

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Committee co-Chairman Sen. Bo Biteman, R-Ranchester, asked if the high courts decision affected leased federal lands, as well, since those are also exempted under the same statute.

Henson said that is currently being researched, since federal lands are a slightly different scenario. Wyoming grants counties the authority to tax, she said, and the federal government grants that authority to the state.

That will be explored, Henson said. We do not have clear guidelines for the 2025 tax year as of yet, but that relationship is very similar.

Two bills coming up

Two legislative bills passed in different committees are headed to the 2025 general session, each containing different language that broadens the property tax exemption for state-owned land.

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The Legislatures Joint Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources Committee forwarded a bill at its last meeting in October that would provide a property tax exemption for state-owned land used for agricultural purposes, as well as governmental purposes.

The bill has a two-year sunset date and includes language requiring further study after the 2025 general session, during the Legislatures off-season, as an interim topic.

The Revenue Committee unanimously passed its own bill on Monday that takes a broader approach. As written, it provides a property tax exemption for all state-owned land, regardless of the use of the lands.

A Legislative Service Office (LSO) staff note in the bill suggested providing similar exemptions for federal, county, city and school district lands that are also used primarily for a governmental purpose. LSO also noted this may require additional review and would likely be appropriate for an interim study in 2025, since those exemptions are all applied in different ways.

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Co-Chairman Rep. Steve Harshman, R-Casper, successfully added an amendment that included a two-year sunset date and a requirement for an interim study in 2025.

What is fair?

Director Henson said part of the tax exemption issue is deciding whether its fair to just exempt everything that the state of Wyoming owns.

Is it fair that these lands that arent being used for a governmental purpose should not be paying taxes? Henson said. I think that there will be a very robust discussion related to the taxation of these lands.

Rep. Dan Zwonitzer, R-Cheyenne, said it didnt seem to be equitable for the state to pay property taxes on leased land serving one purpose, such as agriculture, but not for another purpose.

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Do we know what it would cost to pay the taxes across the board for everyone caught in the situation, not just grazing leases? Zwonitzer said.

Henson said a majority of state land leasing contracts that arent for grazing make the lessee responsible for any taxation. Improvements on state land in these special leases, such as buildings and infrastructure, are assessed by the county assessor.

The statute says that thats not a government purpose and has never been interpreted as such. So county assessors will now just include the land in the valuation with those improvements, Henson said.

A complex issue

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Time is of the essence as county assessors put together assessment schedules for the 2025 tax year, said Converse County Assessor Dixie Huxtable.

I cant wait till Jan. 1, and respectfully, I cant wait to make sure that the Legislature is going to pass something, Huxtable said. Ive got to be ready.  And I think all the other assessors fall in that same category.

Huxtable told lawmakers its difficult to go back and repeal legislation once its been signed into law. Putting an expiration date on the law gives the Legislature time to further study the issue and make a final  potentially different  decision, she said.

I am a little concerned about how this will play out if it was to make everything just exempt, Huxtable said.

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Her biggest concern, shared by Crowder and some members of the committee, is the lack of definition of a governmental purpose, which neither of the proposed bills provide.

Somewhere along the line, theres got to be some definition of governmental purpose, Huxtable said. I do think there could be some legal challenges, and Im not a lawyer ... but Ive heard rumblings.
After Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi took a major lead from Wayanad seat, DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi on Saturday expressed her joy saying that she is very happy because one more very strong woman voice will now sit in the opposition benches in Parliament. Speaking to ANI, Kanimozhi said, "I am very happy because one more very strong woman voice in the opposition benches in Parliament. It is very good for democracy and I am very happy about this." Reacting to the trends of the Maharashtra Assembly elections, Kanimozhi said that it is the people's verdict and they accept that in the democracy. She said, "In democracy, its people's verdict and what they decide, so we had two states going for elections, one went BJP way one went other way, this is what people have decided and accept that in the democracy..." Congress leader Mumtaz Patel also welcomed Priyanka Gandhi's landslide victory in Wayanad saying "good news is we will now see Priyanka in Parliament." Patel also expressed grief over the performance of the Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra, saying that it is saddening to see the results coming from the state. Speaking to ANI, Congress leader Mumtaz Patel said, "The good news is that we will now see Priyanka ji in Parliament with a landslide victory in Wayanad. The party is leading in both Gujarat and all 3 seats in Karnataka in bypolls. Our alliance is also leading in Jharkhand. It is saddening to see the results coming from Maharashtra. On this occasion, I remember my father Ahmed Patel because Maha Vikas Aghadi was his brainchild." "Ahmed Patel used to say and do things with seriousness. He used to make decisions by taking everyone along. Like he used to do, there is a need for people who only think about the interest of the party and keep personal interests behind," she added. As per EC data, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is leading by more than 6 lakh votes in the Wayanad constituency, and is poised to retain the Congress stronghold seat which was earlier vacated by her brother, Lok sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi. She is contesting against BJP's Navya Haridas. Communist Party of India's also contested the seat, with candidate Sathyan Mokeri. As per the election commission of India, the Mahayuti alliance is leading in 218 seats, with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) winning 2 seats and Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) 1, as of 1 PM. Whereas the Maha Vikas Agadhi is only leading in 47 seats, with Congress being the leading party in MVA alliance, having a lead in only 20 seats. (ANI)
Nov. 22DOUGLAS COUNTY  The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction released its 2023-2024 report cards Nov. 19. About 84% of public schools met, exceeded or significantly exceeded expectations.

Of the 377 public school districts receiving report cards, 94% met, exceeded or significantly exceeded expectations. All three Douglas County school districts were among them.

Report cards include data for multiple school years across four priority areas: Achievement, growth, target group outcomes, and on-track to graduation.

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The report card provides information regarding student performance on state assessments such as Wisconsin Forward, PreACT Secure and ACT testing with a comparison to state averages, according to Solon Springs Superintendent Pete Hopke. It also provides feedback on attendance, post-secondary preparation and completion of arts courses for the district compared to state averages. And it provides a breakdown of student performance based on demographics such as economically disadvantaged and students with disabilities.

The achievement and growth priority areas are weighted based on a district or school percentage of economically disadvantaged pupils, as required by state law.

Districts and schools are given an overall score, and a metric based on that score determines if they are meeting, exceeding or falling below expectations.

District overall: 62.7 Meets Expectations

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Bryant Elementary: 74.1 Exceeds Expectations

Cooper Elementary: 81.9 Exceeds Expectations

Four Corners Elementary: 65.1 Meets Expectations

Great Lakes Elementary: 71.9 Exceeds Expectations

Lake Superior Elementary: 70.6 Exceeds Expectations

Northern Lights Elementary: 56.3 Meets Few Expectations

Superior Middle School: 54.7 Meets Few Expectations

Superior High School: 66.8 Meets Expectations

A press release from the Superior School District notes that four schools reached or maintained the exceeds expectations category and five schools in the district  Bryant, Cooper, Four Corners, Lake Superior and Superior Middle School  increased their overall report card score from 2022-2023.

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At 98%, the test participation rate in Superior was higher than the state average of 95.4%.

"These report cards allow the district to prioritize needs and celebrate growth on a large scale," Superior Director of Continuous Improvement and Assessment Kate Tesch said in a statement. "It's helpful to see trends and celebrate areas of consistent growth across buildings as we prioritize the work of our strategic plan. School teams use the assessment data included in the report cards in addition to district and classroom assessment data to set specific goals and actions in their continuous improvement plans."

District overall: 70.0 Exceeds Expectations

Northwestern Elementary School: 70.4 Exceeds Expectations

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Iron River Elementary School: 87.7 Significantly Exceeds Expectations

Northwestern Middle School: 70.2 Exceeds Expectations

Northwestern High School: 65.7 Meets Expectations

District Administrator Karl Morrin said the principals, teachers and students deserve the credit for the high scores in the Maple district.

"The expectations are high here, and the staff continues to do an outstanding job with their instruction," he said. "We pride ourselves on having success academically in the School District of Maple, but the one thing that stands out is that we are always striving to do better. Right now the admin team has looked at the data and are looking at ways to close the gaps in our areas of need."

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District overall: 63.8 Meets Expectations

Solon Springs School: 63.8 Meets Expectations

Eagles' Wings Public Montessori Charter: 67.0 Meets Expectations

Eagles Academy and Eagles' Wings Virtual Charter School: Enrollment is below the minimum threshold to receive a rating

"The overall district score for Solon Springs of 63.8 (Meets Expectations) is based on student performance in achievement, growth, target group outcomes and on-track to graduation data. Due to the district's higher rate of economically disadvantaged students, the priority area of growth is weighted more in our score than achievement," Hopke said.

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Growth refers to the amount of academic growth from year to year on the state assessments. The Solon Springs District had the same growth level as the state average in English language arts with 66 out of 100 points. In math, the state average was also 66 points and Solon Springs exceeded that with 71.7 points.

"This is a testament to the great work of the educators in our district. Still, academic achievement needs to be the focus of our instruction," Hopke said.

The district is focusing on reading and writing standards and skills this year.

"We are identifying our priority standards, aligning our instruction, and honing in on instruction/assessment to increase depth of knowledge. We will be using the same process to focus on math next year," Hopke said.

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While the report card provides good information and data for the district compared to state averages, Hopke said it shouldn't be the only measure of accountability.

"It is a snapshot of student performance during the academic year. However, the academic measurements only look at student performance on state assessments. It doesn't take into account student performance in the classroom," Hopke said.

To increase student performance on state assessments, he said, teachers need to focus on teaching with the same vocabulary, content and structure used on the state assessments.

The Solon Springs district had an enrollment of 326 students in the 2023-2024 school year, according to its DPI report card; Maple had 1,278 and Superior had 4,023. Smaller districts are impacted more with student performance measures than larger districts, Hopke said, since one student is a higher percentage of the population.

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"Lower performance by a couple of students has a much larger impact on building and district report cards," he said. "If a couple students are not invested in doing their best on the assessment, are absent, or are not feeling well when the assessment is administered, their performance or lack thereof affects the score more significantly."

While the report card is a good tool for gauging student progress, he said, it can be problematic when it is the sole measure used for accountability, especially in smaller districts.

Visit

the DPI website

for more information or to view report cards.
CLARKSBURG, W.Va.  Here are some of the top stories this week on the WBOY 12News Facebook page.

A forensic team from Pennsylvania is assisting in a homicide investigation in Monongalia County.

A camping ban in Morgantown has been suspended, and the issue will appear on the ballot next April.

A company that was featured on Shark Tank has broken ground on a facility in Fairmont.

An Ohio company plans to open the second-largest airsoft field in America in Clarksburg.

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West Virginia native Emily Calandrelli became the 100th woman to go into space.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com.
STRUTHERS, Ohio (WKBN)  Struthers City Schools hosted a Drive the Bus event Saturday to fill bus driver positions.

The district wants to hire two substitute bus drivers.

Candidates who attended the event had the opportunity to test drive a bus through a short driving course in the transportation parking lot.

They also toured the newly constructed 11,000-square-foot facility.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
McDaniel College has awarded select freshmen and transfer students with Military Legacy Scholarships valued at up to $132,000, or $33,000 annually over four years, for each student.

Students who received the Military Legacy Scholarship from McDaniel College include:

Jaylin Edwards, of Frederick. Edwards is a graduate of Frederick High School.

Bre Mckee, of Mount Airy. Mckee is a graduate of South Carroll High School.

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Jaedon Welch, of Frederick. Welch is a graduate of Tuscarora High School.

All military veterans, active-duty military personnel, and their children can apply for this guaranteed scholarship to attend McDaniel College. There is no limit to the number of Military Legacy Scholarships awarded annually by McDaniel.

The Military Legacy Scholarship is among the largest scholarships offered at McDaniel. To apply for the scholarship, students must complete and submit a Military Legacy Scholarship eligibility form and provide verification of military service.
PALOS HILLS, Ill.  A suburban man has been sentenced to four years in federal prison for illegally shipping firearm parts to Israel.

The U.S. Attorneys Office of the Northern District of Illinois said 37-year-old Amin Betuni of Palos Hills shipped the parts to people in Israel at least three times in 2022. The parts reportedly included rifle barrels, gas blocks for rifles and bolt carrier groups.

Betuni also put false information on the shipping labels and concealed the parts in packages containing auto parts or George Foreman grills, according to officials.

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The parts were on the United States Commerce Control List and subject to federal export regulations. In order for the parts to be exported from the U.S. to Israel, they required a license or written approval from the Department of Commerce, neither of which Betuni obtained prior to his shipments.

Charges filed against Chicago man accused of participating in Jan. 6 Capitol riot

Authorities searched Betunis home in December 2022 and found over 1,200 rounds of assorted ammunition, a shotgun, rifle, handgun, additional bolt carrier groups and three firearm conversion devices, also known as Glock switches, which allow guns to fire multiple rounds with a single pull of the trigger.

Earlier in 2024, Betuni pleaded guilty to a federal charge of knowingly and fraudulently exporting firearm parts in violation of U.S. laws and regulations.

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On Thursday, Betuni was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison.

Export-control violations are critically important because they undermine federal laws and regulations that seek to protect international security, said Acting U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual. The U.S. Attorneys Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to relentlessly pursue those who seek to exploit U.S. export-control laws for financial gain.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Suspect accused of killing mother and baby in Hartford found in Puerto Rico

HARTFORD, CONN. (WTNH)  The suspect who allegedly killed a Massachusetts mother and her baby during a drive-by shooting in Hartford was apprehended by the U.S. Marshals Violent Fugitive Task Force in Puerto Rico on Saturday morning, according to Hartford police.

Lance Macho Morales, 23, of Waterbury, is charged with criminal possession of a firearm, assault in the first degree, criminal attempt to commit assault in the first degree, two counts of murder, and murder with special circumstances.

Hartford police identify man accused of killing mother, baby

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According to the U.S. Marshals, Morales was found at a residence in the Fajardo region of eastern Puerto Rico. Later processed and formally charged as a fugitive of justice, Morales will be extradited back to Connecticut to faces his charges.

This individual who was involved in this heinous act was brought to justice in less than four days which shows, dont commit a crime in Hartford, Hartfords Mayor Arunan Arulampalam said. Well come for you. Our police department is working very hard, very well.

On Nov. 19 at 2:47 p.m., Hartford police responded to Hartford Hospital after a vehicle arrived with three gunshot victims. Twenty-year-old Jessiah Mercado and her son, 4-month-old Messiah Diaz, were later pronounced deceased. A third victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

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Police said the shooting happened earlier in the area of 380 New Britain Avenue. The three victims were shot after Morales allegedly pulled alongside the car and opened fire.

A probable cause was developed and an arrest warrant was approved to charge Morales for the shooting. He is being held on a $3 million bond and is awaiting extradition back to the U.S.

While state and federal law enforcement were looking for Morales, family and friends brought candles and stuffed animals near to the location where Mercado and her baby were killed on New Britain Avenue. Arulampalam said the family can grieve in peace thanks to police and violence intervention groups who have been working to prevent retaliation.

Hes going to be brought to justice through the normal legal channels, he said. This isnt going to spawn ongoing acts of violence and thats how our system is supposed to work.

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A growing memorial at 380 New Britain Avenue will be the site of a vigil at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 26, hosted by Mothers United Against Violence. Theyre inviting the public to join the family as they remember the two lives lost.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com.
The suspect in the double-fatal homicide of a mother and 4-month-old son in Hartford has been caught after a nationwide search, officials said.

On Saturday, the suspect in the shooting, 23-year-old Lance Morales, was located by members of the U.S. Marshalls Violent Fugitive Task Force in Puerto Rico and was taken into custody, according to a press release from the Hartford Police Department. Morales is facing multiple charges including criminal possession of a firearm, first-degree assault, first-degree criminal attempt to commit assault, two counts of murder and murder with special circumstances.

He is being held on a $3 million bond and is awaiting extradition back to the United States.

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The arrest comes after Hartford police officers were dispatched to Hartford Hospital on Nov. 19, on a report of multiple gunshot victims. Hartford Police Lt. Aaron Boisvert said three victims were suffering from gunshot wounds, including 20-year-old Jessiah Mercado of Springfield, Mass. and her 4-month-old son, identified as Messiah Diaz, both of whom were pronounced dead at the hospital. The third victim, a man in his 20s, was suffering from a non-life-threatening gunshot wound, according to Boisvert.

Police believe that Morales opened fire in the area of 380 New Britain Ave. on Tuesday afternoon and shot the victims while they inside a vehicle, after Morales pulled alongside the vehicle and opened fire.

The Hartford Police Major Crimes and Crime Scene Divisions continues to investigate.

Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@courant.com
Residents are worried and remain on high alert after a group of suspected burglary tourists targeted homes in the Santa Clarita Valley.

In the last week alone, at least three homes inside a gated community in Valencia were burglarized.

Neighbors believe their community is being targeted by a South American crime ring and the suspects may even be tracking their every move with drone surveillance.

A few days ago, we noticed that there were drones flying above our house, a resident, who did not wish to be identified, told KTLAs Ellina Abovian.

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Surveillance cameras captured the burglars images as they trespassed onto victims properties and smashed their way into homes.

It appears theyre using sophisticated technology to surveil the home to see whos home and whos not, the resident said.

A resident captured drones flying over homes in a Valencia gated community in what neighbors believe are surveillance methods used by a South American crime ring. The entrance to the gated Valencia neighborhood where multiple burglaries were reported in the last several weeks. (KTLA) Home security cameras captured a male suspect trepassing through a backyard. Several burglary suspects were captured on surveillance video after breaking into homes in a Valencia neighborhood. The glass window of a victims door was smashed into by burglars. Home security cameras captured a male suspect trepassing through a backyard. Several burglary suspects were captured on surveillance video after breaking into homes in a Valencia neighborhood.

Some neighbors decided to follow the drones which led them to a nearby parking lot outside a La Quinta Inn where a group of men were spotted. The men reportedly fit the description of the burglars seen in victims surveillance images.

Theres five of them who were hanging out together and as soon as they noticed that they were being watched, they all took off and ran in different directions, the resident said.

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The victims suspect the burglars are part of a crime tourism burglary ring from South America.

Crime tourism often involves foreign nationals who visit the U.S. with the sole purpose of committing theft.

Recently, an uptick in crime tourism has been reported across the Southland and beyond. The homes of Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce were burglarized in October by what investigators believed was a South American crime ring.

Its frustrating, Mahomes said of the break-ins during a recent press conference. Its disappointing.

In August, six people in Southern California were arrested in connection to a tourism burglary ring after a Van Nuys car rental business was reportedly facilitating the illicit deeds.

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For now, residents in the Valencia community remain frustrated as theyre forced to be on high alert. Some have even hired security patrols to protect their properties while also keeping an eye on their neighbors homes.

There have been extra patrols, but its just very hard to get anything done with the current crime sprees happening in California, the resident said.

Authorities are aware of the incidents and are investigating the burglaries, but so far, no arrests have been made.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Union Minister of State (MoS) for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal on Saturday praised Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla who accompanied him in Haryana's Sonipat during the inauguration of India's first Constitution Museum. Speaking at the inaugural event hosted by OP Jindal Global University, the Union Minister highlighted the importance of the ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity mentioned in the Indian Constitution. "Liberty, Equality and Fraternity - these three are important words in the Constitution. But when the Constitution was being made, why did the Constitution makers give first preference to equality? When you read Articles 14 to 18, we will find that equality is mentioned first and after that there is liberty. During the French Revolution, Rousseau gave the slogan of 'liberty, equality and fraternity'. However, Babasaheb Ambedkar said that equality is more important for India. Ambedkar had said that if we remain equal, only then the democracy can survive," Union Minister Meghwal said. The Union Minister further mentioned Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar who was a social reformer in Bengal, saying that he was a promoter of fraternity. "Once Vidyasagar brought a person from the Valmiki caste who was unconscious and sick. But he was questioned by others saying that how can you as a Brahmin claim a person from the sweeper caste to be your brother? Vidyasagar told them that we have to promote brotherhood in the country. He said that this is precisely why he is my brother because he cleans the outside and I clean the inside (problematic thoughts). This is why we both are sweepers," Meghwal narrated, asserting that fraternity was also important. Babasaheb managed to pilot everything, but failed to do so with Article 370, the Union Minister said, adding that Union Home Minister Amit Shah was able to announce its abrogation. "For this, I would like to thank Om Birla. This government managed to remove Article 370 which even Babasaheb didn't like," Meghwal added. Meanwhile, Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla acknowledged the contribution of architects of the Indian Constitution during his address at the event. He said that it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who started the celebrations for Constitution Day on November 26 in the year 2015. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi floated the idea of celebrating Constitution Day on November 26 to remember the legacy, ideologies and contributions of those who made the Indian Constitution possible. We can say this now that globally the countries are adopting democratic ways. We are proud to say that in these 75 years of democracy, we managed to give the message of Vasudhev Kutumbhkam," Biral said. (ANI)
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Cloudflare says European countries saw little-to-no observable impact following cable damage

BSC East-West Interlink and C-Lion1 cables were damaged recently

Several redundancy options kept the affected nations online

Recent damage to undersea internet cables in the Baltic Sea which affected some European countries may not have been as bad first though, after Cloudflare claimed the potential sabotage had little-to-no observable impact whatsoever.

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The company credited this to Europes robust internet infrastructure, demonstrating a high level of resilience supported by a network of redundancy options to keep the continent connected to the internet.

Two lines were impacted  the BSC East-West Interlink cable between Lithuania and Sweden, and the C-Lion1 cable linking Finland to Germany.

Internet cable damage didnt really affect us

Cloudflare used metrics like internet quality, latency and bandwidth in the supposedly affected countries to reveal that networks remained stable.

The BCS East-West Interlink, damaged on November 17, usually carried around one-third of Lithuanias internet capacity, however alternate pathways allowed the country to stay connected without major disruptions.

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One day later, the C-Lion1 cable was damaged. Minor fluctuations in internet performance, like a slight change in bandwidth and latency in Finland, were observed, however they were remediated within just hours.

Although undersea cables are critical to keeping countries connected to the internet, several redundancy options make it extremely difficult to entirely cut off a nation.

Sweden is connected by more than 20 subsea cables, while Finland and Germany have 10. They also benefit from land-based fiber networks, all of which help keep the countries and their critical infrastructures connected during such outages.

However, the threat of sabotage to undersea cables remains a key focus for many countries. The Danish Navy recently intercepted a suspected Chinese vessel, highlighting the need to protect these physical connections.

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Earlier in 2024, we reported NATO had revealed plans to use satellite-based connections to safeguard against undersea cable attacks, while other consumer options like Starlink promise to keep citizens connected.
Career lawyers throughout the Justice Department let out a collective sigh of relief when they learned that former Rep. Matt Gaetz would not be their boss. But his withdrawal as President-elect Donald Trumps attorney general pick only slightly dissipated the tense and unsettled atmosphere that has prevailed in the department since Trumps victory earlier this month.

There are huge amounts of relief among career lawyers and the FBI that Gaetz is no longer in contention, one former career DOJ official said Friday.

Trumps selection of former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as his new attorney general nominee was perceived by many DOJ veterans as less of a norm-shattering, unorthodox, in-your-face choice than Gaetz, a bellicose MAGA provocateur who was investigated by the department for years over sex-trafficking allegations without any charges being filed.

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In terms of Bondi, people havent freaked out like they did over Gaetz, a career DOJ lawyer said Friday. It doesnt seem surprising to anybody. Shes obviously a loyalist, which makes the choice absurd, but weve expected that.  It definitely lacks the shock factor that Gaetz caused.



While nearly everyone at the Justice Department knew about Gaetz from the sensational federal criminal investigation and his highly publicized role in forcing Speaker Kevin McCarthy out of his post last year, Bondi is less familiar.

Current and former DOJ employees, granted anonymity to speak freely about internal discussions at the department, said they knew little about Bondis substantive work during eight years as Floridas top law enforcement official. However, many agreed that experience seemed to give her the basic qualifications for the job, especially when compared to Gaetz, who only practiced law for a couple of years before getting into politics.

On a superficial level, yeah, shes qualified, the current DOJ attorney said.

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However, some Justice Department veterans expressed concern that Bondi might effectively be Gaetz without the baggage  that she could serve as a vehicle to carry out Trumps stated desire to target his perceived enemies inside and outside the department, without the distracting allegations of personal misconduct Gaetz faced.

So is she going to just be a somewhat more palatable, esthetically more enhanced version of Gaetz or something else? said the former prosecutor. We won't know until she's in the job.

Any immediate impact of the shift from Gaetz to Bondi on the mood of the departments staff was hard to discern. Hallways and offices at Main Justice were unusually quiet Friday, likely a combination of dismal weather in Washington, the run-up to the Thanksgiving holiday next week and many government workers still opting for remote work, particularly just before and after the weekend.

Attorney General Merrick Garland had no events on his public schedule Friday, but the presence of a sentry near his office indicated he was at work. Earlier this week, he seemed to be steeling DOJs career lawyers for future tumult by praising them as the institutional backbone and the heart and soul of the department.

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Some lawyers who have expressed concern about the impact Trumps return will have on the Justice Department said Friday they were looking beyond the AG pick to the president-elects other personnel choices. Those could be important signals about whether the changes at DOJ will be large-scale and destabilizing or more like the reprioritizing that typically occurs when a president of a different party than his predecessor takes over the White House, those attorneys said.

In the wake of the replacement of Gaetz by Bondi, Trumps choices for FBI posts and for prominent U.S. attorney positions are going to be heavily scrutinized and are now the subject of lobbying by Trump supporters angry that Gaetz was dropped.

On Friday morning, Trump seemed to bend to that constituency when his close aide Dan Scavino Jr. posted on social media that former Rep. Mike Rogers  whod been campaigning for the job of FBI director on Fox News earlier in the day  was never in the running. Among Trump backers who want radical changes at DOJ and FBI, Rogers had been viewed suspiciously as an establishment pick. Many in that camp are pushing for Trump to instead pick Kash Patel, a former prosecutor and National Security Council aide.



And one prominent advocate for defendants charged in the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the Capitol, writer Julie Kelly, said Friday she wants Trump to name a U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., who will repudiate the aggressive approach that office has taken in the more than 1,500 criminal cases filed over that days events.

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The corrupt rot of the DOJ is not necessarily at main Justice but festers in the DC US Attorney's office, which carried out each political prosecution, Kelly wrote on X. The incoming DC US Attorney must investigate what happened in that office and pursue charges against every official including assistant US attorneys responsible for these abusive, selective, and destructive prosecutions. To me, that appointment is as important if not more so than attorney general.

But the former career prosecutor said that office and other major federal prosecutors offices in places like Los Angeles and Miami could be thrown into turmoil if Trump nominates U.S. attorneys seen as overtly political. Trump has already tapped former SEC Chair Jay Clayton to lead the federal prosecutors office in Manhattan, but hes seen as a relatively establishment figure.

That's also going to be a barometer, if he just appoints political people to these jobs who get confirmed, the ex-official said. That's gonna be a real problem for the rank-and-file.
Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umierov has held talks with his Swedish counterpart Pal Jonson during a working visit to Sweden, where an agreement has been reached that Sweden will finance the production of Ukrainian long-range drones following the "Danish model".

Source: Ukraine's Defence Ministry

Details: During the talks, the ministers agreed that Sweden would finance the production of Ukrainian drones by purchasing products for the needs of Ukraine's defence forces.

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"This is another step towards strengthening Ukraine's defence capabilities, demonstrating our partners' trust in our defence industrial base potential," Umierov noted.

The parties also discussed plans to finance aid to Ukraine for 2025. Particular focus was placed on equipping Ukrainian army units with military equipment. Umierov said talks on this component of cooperation are at the final stage.

In addition, he met with representatives of Swedish defence companies. The participants talked about implementing new projects in the fields of military equipment production, artillery, optics, guidance systems, communications and air defence systems.

Quote: "Particular attention was given to localising production in Ukraine, establishing joint ventures, increasing supply volumes and procuring new types of weapons and advanced technologies."

Background:

At a joint briefing with his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umierov in Sweden, Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson announced that Sweden would soon allocate "substantial funds" as an investment to enable Ukraine to launch the large-scale production of its own long-range missiles and attack drones.

Jonson stated that this initiative would follow Denmark's example by channelling funds into Ukraine's defence industrial base.

Jonson also emphasised that Sweden had imposed no restrictions on Ukraine regarding the use of Swedish weapons. "Ukraine is clearly exercising its right to self-defence in accordance with international law. Supporting Ukraine is not escalating," Jonson stressed.

Umierov said during his visit to Oslo on 15 November that Norway would finance the production of Ukrainian weapons and equipment, thereby joining the "Danish model" of military support for Ukraine.

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(Bloomberg) -- A multi-party group of lawmakers and public figures plans to launch an initiative seeking to ban Swiss financial institutions from funding or insuring new fossil-fuel mining, newspaper Schweiz am Wochenende reported.

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The campaigners want to enshrine an eco-friendly, sustainable orientation of the Swiss financial center in the countrys constitution, according to the report published on Saturday. If they succeed in collecting 100,000 signatures for their cause, a national vote on the issue will be held within a few years.

Swiss banks and insurers should be prohibited from providing any services to tap new fossil-fuel deposits or expand the mining of existing ones, their proposal reads, according to the newspaper SaW. They want this to be enforced by a government authority.

The proponents  which include left, green, pro-business and conservative politicians  want to officially launch their campaign on Tuesday, the paper said.

While many banks subscribe to sustainability, their efforts often take a back seat if they clash with earnings targets. For example, UBS Group AG in March ditched a plan to phase out coal financing it had inherited from taking over Credit Suisse.

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Related video above: Several pets were rescued from a house fire in Tampa on Nov. 18.

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Tampa Fire Rescue saved a person inside a burning home on Saturday morning.

Several 911 callers reported a resident possibly trapped inside a home in the 1600 block of East Idell Street at around 10:30 a.m.

St. Petersburg man accused of stabbing victim in chest at public library

Fire crews found the home engulfed in smoke and flames.

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Inside, a victim was found and removed from the home. They were taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition.

Tampa Fire Rescue

No other injuries were reported and the fire was extinguished in 20 minutes.

The cause of the fire is being investigated by Tampa Fire Rescue, the State Fire Marshals office, and the Tampa Police Department.

No further details were released.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Nov. 23tazewell, va.  Around seven years ago, a power company started studying the possibility of creating a Tazewell County hydroelectric station that could generate millions of dollars in tax revenue for the region, but this week local officials were informed that this major project is not going ahead.

Dominion Energy announced late Thursday that it was halting development on the $2 billion project for creating a power-generating pump storage facility in Tazewell County near Bluefield, Va. which could have resulted in 2,000 construction jobs over a five-year period as well as 50 permanent jobs and millions of dollars in tax revenues for Tazewell County and other parts of Southwest Virginia.

Jeremy L. Slayton with Dominion Energy's media relations said when the company announced it was ending the project that the company will retain ownership of 2,600 acres on East River Mountain and that no decisions had been made about the land's future use."

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"We appreciate, and look forward to continuing, our relationship with Tazewell County and the surrounding Southwest Virginia region," he said.

Back in 2017, Dominion Energy started looking at possible sites across Southwest Virginia for a hydroelectric pump station. One previous idea for the land, a wind farm on top of the mountain, had drawn widespread opposition from the public.

In contrast to using windmills to generate electricity, pump storage is a renewable energy source and works by having an upper reservoir and a lower reservoir with at least a 1,000-foot drop between them.

The power plant generates electricity as the water is released from the upper reservoir, running through tunnels and using its force to rotate turbines at the lower reservoir. Dominion Energy runs a pump hydroelectric storage station in Bath County, Va. That facility has the ability to provide electricity to around 750,000 homes.

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Slayton said Dominion halted the Tazewell County hydroelectric project for several reasons. These reasons included the cost impact on Dominion's customers, the expiration of a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission permit, and the availability of more affordable and higher-capacity power generation options for the company's customers.

Tazewell County Administrator Eric Young said Friday that the county was informed about Dominion's decision not to go ahead with the hydroelectric project.

"We were disappointed to receive official notice earlier this week that the pumped hydro storage electric generation facility will not come to fruition," Young said. "However we had known for several years that the project faced many serious, practical challenges like access to an adequate raw water source and complex environmental regulations that made the project unlikely. I am sure the expected cost of the project probably rose as well."

"So it was sad news to hear officially, but by no means a surprise," Young said. "Dominion expressed a willingness to work with the county for potential recreational development of the property they acquired. We will explore those possibilities going forward."

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Slayton was asked about whether wind turbines could be part of any future plans for East River Mountain.

"I am not going to speculate about what we might consider for the site, but I can tell you that we will retain ownership of that land and have not made any decisions regarding its future use," he said.

Contact Greg Jordan at

gjordan@bdtonline.com

Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  Sioux Falls will host its 32nd annual parade of lights one week from tonight.

But the following night, on Saturday, the town of Tea will host its first ever parade of lights and theyve been getting ready for the last two months.

Let there be light, lots of lights, 60 thousand to be exact.

This float is just one of several that will be participating in Teas first-ever Parade of Lights.

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I think its going to be a great event, its going to be fun we picked the weekend of Thanksgiving because we think theres going to be a lot of people in town gathering for the holidays with their families and were hoping we get a good turnout for the families who come to watch the parade, Andrea Kuipers said.

They decided to hold it the day after Sioux Falls parade on purpose.

I think its just something we can kind of flow after the Sioux Falls one and hopefully get some floats from there to come out here, I mean they put all their time into their floats, so might as well as have two nights out of it, Chad Meyer said.

P!NK apologizes, explains canceled dates

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The parade will start at the high school and go east down Brian Street, then turn south on Main Street and end near the American Legion where there will be the lighting of this Christmas tree, Christmas Carols sung by the high school choir and a lot more.

The last couple of years weve done a chili cookoff so people can submit their chili and come to the Legion after the parade and tree lighting, Tara Kelley said.

While float builders are putting the final touches on their entries, crews downtown are tweaking some of the Christmas lights along main street.

Its an exciting event, its something to bring the community together; families and something fun to look forward to before the Christmas season, Kelley said.

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And the response?

Pretty great I think, people have been pretty open to it and sounds like the city council is pretty excited about it and the main city people are pumped to bring just another thing to town, Meyer said.

Tea is also planning to have Santa ride in a fire truck during the parade. It starts at 6:15 on November 30th.

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Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Barcelona on Satuday evening to demonstrate for affordable housing.

Police spoke of about 22,000 participants while the organizers said 170,000 attended, the Spanish news agency Europapress reported.

Demonstrators demanded that rents be reduced by half, the daily El Pais and other media reported.

Protesters also want vacant flats and tourist accommodation to be made available again to the residents of Barcelona, the capital of the Catalonia region in north-eastern Spain, and for rental contracts to be valid for an unlimited period.

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"It is no longer acceptable for us to spend half of our salary on rent and to have to pack our things again every time a contract expires," Carme Arcarazo, spokeswoman for the tenants association Sindicatos de Inquilinos, told El Pais.

Various political parties and trade unions also took part in the solidarity demonstration.

According to El Pais, the situation on the already strained housing market in Barcelona is being further exacerbated by residential housing increasingly being used to put up tourists and the fact that foreign investors are buying property there, which in turn helps them to obtain visas.

In recent months there have been also protests against high rents and the impact of mass tourism in other Spanish cities and on the Spanish islands.
Opponents of the Tesla electric vehicle factory near Berlin have renewed their criticism days after police cleared a protest camp.

The alliance Turn Off the Tap on Tesla organized a "forest walk" with Carola Rackete, a well-known German activist and member of the European Parliament, to protest the expansion of the only Tesla factory in Europe.

The event in Grunheide, the site of the factory, proceeded peacefully, police and a dpa reporter at the scene said.

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Police broke up a protest camp on Tuesday in the woods near the plant, citing violations of public safety and order. Environmental activists had been occupying the forest area in tree houses since February.

They are opposed to Tesla's plans to expand the factory to create a freight station and storage areas. The carmaker has proposed buying a wooded area from the German state of Brandenburg for this purpose.

The alliance Turn Off the Tap on Tesla condemned the clearance. The group is opposed to the forest clearance and is concerned about risks posed to the groundwater by the factory.
After BJP gets a lead on six seats in Uttar Pradesh bypolls, state's Congress President Ajay Rai on Saturday accused the Yogi government of using government machinery in the by-polls that were conducted on nine seats of the state. Rai also claimed that voters were intimidated and threatened during the bye-elections. Ajay Rai said, "It was already decided in Uttar Pradesh that the government was fighting the elections with the help of its machinery and police to win the elections. The result of that has come out... All the machineries, and police administration was deployed, voters were intimidated and threatened. This is a complete murder of democracy." As the INDIA bloc took the lead in Jharkhand, Rai said that it was because the Mahagathan government in Jharkhand did good work in the state. He said, "Our government did good work in Jharkhand. Hemant Soren was sent to jail and tortured... The way the BJP broke Champai Soren and brought him to its side using money and muscle power, anger was also seen among the general public over this..." Samajwadi Party candidate from Karhal Assembly seat, Tej Pratap Singh Yadav alleged that the administration abused power and constantly harassed people in Meerapur and Kundarki assembly constituencies during the bypolls. "The way the administration abused power and constantly harassed our people, our activists and the people here contested the elections very strongly and we hope that we will win the elections with a good margin. The whole country knows that all the videos of the election day went viral on social media and the way the police contested the elections in Mirapur in Kundarki on behalf of the BJP, everyone has seen that and everyone knows it. I hope that we will win with a good number of votes..." he said. As of 2.20 pm, according to the Election Commission of India, BJP is leading on six seats - Kundarki, Ghaziabad, Khair, Phulpur, Katehari and Majhawan. Samajwadi party is leading on two seats of Sishamau and Karhal while Jayant Chuadhary's RLD is on the Meerapur seat. The by-polls were held in 48 assembly seats and two Lok Sabha seats across 15 states, with notable contests in Uttar Pradesh and Wayanad, Kerala, where Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra made her electoral debut. (ANI)
Texas has joined the states mixing the Bible with public school classrooms, setting up another potential legal showdown.

The Texas State Board of Education voted 8-7 on Friday to allow lessons about stories in the Bible in K-5 classes, encouraging those who want more Christianity in public schools.

Texass neighbors to the North and East, Oklahoma and Louisiana, are already facing court challenges over their own biblical mandates, and the Lone Star State is likely to join them there, too.

Its not unlikely that were going to see a lawsuit in Texas, and well start by making clear to superintendents across the state that it would be unconstitutional to implement this type of requirement, said Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which is involved in lawsuits in Oklahoma and Louisiana.

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The instruction allowed in Texas is from the state-created Bluebonnet Learning and includes lessons such as one about Jesuss Sermon on the Mount for kindergarteners or the parable of the prodigal son for first grade.

Schools in the Lone Star State are not required to adopt the curriculum but will receive an extra $60 per student in funding if they do so.

The State Board of Education heard hours of testimony, both for and against the measure, before the vote, with some saying the curriculum disproportionately focuses on Christianity and blurs the lines between church and state.

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.

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Advocates for increased use of religion texts in schools say teaching about Christianity is part of understanding the history of the U.S.

As part of understanding the Civil Rights movement or the Great Awakening, or, you know, perhaps international relations after 9/11, youre allowed to teach people about religious texts. These are texts that exist in the world, and theyre influential, and you dont have to erase them, said Rick Garnett, director of Notre Dame Law Schools Program on Church, State & Society, who is part of a legal effort in Oklahoma to create the nations first openly religious charter school.

If schools were picking Christian texts because we want to engage in evangelization [] That that would be discriminatory and problematic, Garnett acknowledged. But he said from a constitutional standpoint, as long as the teaching doesnt go into prophesizing, the permissibility of this program does not depend on how much one religion is spoken about over another.

Oklahoma, meanwhile, is defending a rule that requires both copies of the Bible in every public school classroom and lessons regarding the book with no opt-out given. And Louisiana has sought to mandate posters of the Ten Commandments in classes, though that requirement has been paused as the case works its way through the courts.

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Whats happening here is the introduction of the idea of Bible lessons. Well, are we establishing religion, or are we just increasing access to information, right? So thats how youre seeing the question being changed, said Matthew Patrick Shaw, an assistant professor of law at Vanderbilt University Law School and an assistant professor of public policy and education at Vanderbilt Peabody College.

There is a pathway for this to be declared constitutional [] that says were just giving people information. Were not telling them what to believe. Theyre getting access to this, Shaw added. OK, this is part of what were deciding is the curriculum we want people to be exposed to, and were not exposing people to this curriculum because of its religious content, were exposing because it is culturally relevant. You can imagine: This is the conversation they will have.

Those fighting the increased presence of Christianity in taxpayer-funded schools say the battle isnt going anywhere, particularly in light of the incoming administration.

This is also a moment where the election of Trump  the reelection of Trump  is giving oxygen to this movement, Laser said.

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  Thanksgiving week is a popular time for travel, and this year its no different.

AAA predicts that nearly 80 million people will travel 50 miles or more for the holiday, of which more than 71 million are expected to do so by car, almost 6 million are forecast to fly, and more than 2 million will go by bus, boat or train.

No matter your mode of transportation, below are some resources and information for your trip.

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Skip to a section: Weather Forecast  Road Travel  Air Travel  Other Types

Weather Forecast

12 News team of meteorologists will be keeping a close eye on the conditions over the next few days.

After a lengthy stretch of dry weather, were finally starting to see some rain. The current forecast calls for a sunny and seasonable start to the week, but chances for showers on Tuesday and Thursday.

Detailed 7-Day Forecast 

Interactive Radar Map 

Stay with 12 News and WPRI.com for updates on the holiday forecast.

Winter Weather Outlook: Whats the forecast for this year?

Download the free Pinpoint Weather App to get customized weather reports and alerts wherever you travel for Thanksgiving.

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Road Travel

With tens of millions of people expected to hit the road for Thanksgiving, here are the best and worst travel times, according to AAA:

Date Worst Travel Time Best Travel Time 11/25 1 p.m.  5 p.m. Before 11 a.m. 11/26 1 p.m.  7 p.m. Before 10 a.m. 11/27 1 p.m.  5 p.m. Before 10 a.m. 11/28 Minimal traffic expected Minimal traffic expected 11/29 7 a.m.  10 a.m. After 1 p.m. 11/30 4 p.m.  8 p.m. Before 1 p.m. 12/1 12 p.m.  6 p.m. Before 1 p.m. 12/2 9 a.m.  6 p.m. Before 8 a.m., after 7 p.m.

Gas prices are lower this year compared to last Thanksgiving. According to AAA, the average price in Rhode Island was well above $3 per gallon in 2023, but stood at $2.94 as of Monday. The national average is down to $3.05 per gallon, compared to $3.25 at this time last year.

GAS TRACKER: Find the lowest price in your area

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Air Travel

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) says the three busiest days for air travel are the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after the holiday. Flyers are urged to arrive at least two hours early for domestic flights and anticipate long lines at the TSA checkpoints.

To make your experience at the airport go as smoothly as possible, the TSA offered a number of travel tips, which include:

Pack Smart: Make sure you dont have any prohibited items and any liquids are in a checked bag. Bring Your ID: Make sure you have an acceptable form of identification ready to show. Ask TSA: Get your questions answered ahead of time by calling 866-289-9673 or contacting @TSA on Facebook Messenger or X.

More air travel tips from the TSA 

Flight Tracker:

Providence Arrivals & Departures 

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Other Forms of Travel

For those looking to save on gas, Amtrak is another option for travel this Thanksgiving.

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AMTRAK: Check local train schedules

RIPTA says it will be running its holiday schedule on Thanksgiving. All RIPTA offices will be closed on Thursday.

RIPTA Service Alerts

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Detailed 7-Day Forecast | Weather Now | Radar | Hour-by-Hour | Ocean, Bay & Beach | Pinpoint Traffic | Flight Tracker | Active Weather Alerts | Closings & Delays | Power Outages | Get the Weather App

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Authorities have extradited to Palm Beach County a third suspect in a September fatal shooting at an alleged brothel near Lake Worth Beach.

Anthony Jennings, 26, of Pompano Beach faces a first-degree murder charge in the Sept. 5 killing of 58-year-old Marco Antonio Rubi Escobar at a home on the 3500 block of Melaleuca Lane, near Davis Road west of Congress Avenue.

Jennings had been in custody in Hillsborough County on unrelated charges.

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Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office investigators previously arrested Spencer Privet, 26, and a 14-year-old boy, both also from Broward County, in the fatal shooting. They alleged the two and Jennings were involved in a burglary that led to Escobar's death. A 23-year-old man was also shot and wounded while fleeing the residence.

'The ultimate sacrifice': Palm Beach County reacts to crash that killed two deputies, injured a third

During a hearing Thursday, Nov. 22, Palm Beach County Judge Ted Booras assigned Jennings an attorney from the state Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel. Booras also ordered that Jennings be held without bail.

The state Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel represents people facing charges when the county Public Defender's Office cannot because of conflicts. As a policy, the office does not comment on open cases.

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Investigators say at least three gunmen entered the residence, firing at a man at the front door and the man who ran from the reputed brothel. The surviving shooting victim told investigators he was at the back of the house when he saw a younger Hispanic male enter and greet a man at the front door.

The man said he heard yelling a few minutes later, followed by the sound of gunfire, prompting him to flee through the back door.

One witness told sheriff's investigators that the home is used as a brothel, and stated that Escobar controlled the residence and the women who work there.

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Julius Whigham II is a criminal justice and public safety reporter for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jwhigham@pbpost.com and follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @JuliusWhigham. Help support our work: Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Third suspect arrested in homicide at Lake Worth Beach-area brothel
INDIANOLA, Iowa  Three Indianola farms are collaborating to host an event on Saturday to showcase local vendors.

Cortum Farm & Co, Edge of the Woods Farm, and Honey Hollow are hosting the third annual Holiday Happenings at each of their farms from 9 a.m. through 2 p.m.

Local businesses from all over Warren County are setting up stations at each farm to sell their homegrown or homemade products.

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While this is only the third year of Holiday Happenings, the Edge of the Woods Farm has hosted a holiday shopping event for more than a decade. Beth McGeough, the owner, said this is their 11th annual Holiday Open House, where shoppers can see their products and other products that local vendors sell at their farm.

The partnership of the three farms to create Holiday Happenings was to grow their outreach and provide opportunity for people to see different Warren County smally businesses in one area.

Cortum Farm & Co is located at 6373 150th Avenue, Edge of the Woods Farm is located at 15285 Fairfax Street, and Honey Hollow is located at 13778 Summerset Road. All are in Indianola.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  May Avenue is a hot spot for fast food restaurants and local businesses, but workers say one Wendys in particular is a danger zone.

They destroyed thousands of dollars of property, they threw our monitors, said Dalton Kennedy.

Kennedy is one of the store managers at Wendys on NW 36th and May who spoke with News 4.

Oklahoma City Police say Derrick Jackson, Jerome Mayfield and Misty Vannoy assaulted workers and destroyed property inside of the Wendys two weeks ago. They have since been arrested.

Derrick Jackson, courtesy Oklahoma County Detention Center

Jerome Mayfield courtesy Oklahoma County Detention Center

Misty Vannoy courtesy Oklahoma County Detention Center

I got hit in the face, said Kennedy

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He also said another person had a cookie display case thrown at them.

According to police records, the suspects were fighting with people in another car that pulled up next to them.

I went over there and just kind of tried to de-escalate and said, you know, lets not have any trouble, Kennedy said. We gave him his food.

Family of OKC man killed in officer-involved shooting receives $1.05M settlement

Five minutes later, Kennedy said things took a violent turn, as one of the men came inside demanding a refund. He claimed they were missing part of their order.

I just heard screaming from the front counter. I told him how he could get his refund if thats what he wanted to do through the proper channels, Kennedy said.

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Kennedy said they destroyed everything, including monitors and printers.

Court records detail all three suspects having a criminal background.

Misty Herrin was previously convicted and serving a 15-year suspended sentence for first degree manslaughter.

Both Derrick Jackson and Jerome Mayfield also have felony charges on their record.

Kennedy said being in an unsafe environment while working to make money is stressful.

Im only 21 years old myself, and now Im dealing with 15 and 16-year-olds who are afraid to come in to work tomorrow because of what they had to go through, Kennedy said.

News 4 reached out to the Wendys corporate office about the incident, who sent the following statement.

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Wendys of Oklahoma takes the safety and wellbeing of our employees, and our customers, very seriously. We cannot comment specifically on the details of this incident. Wendys Media Relations

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Three people were sickened by a stomach bug outbreak that authorities with the Seattle & King County Health Department say was associated with a Kirkland hamburger restaurant.

According to an investigation completed by the department, three people were sickened after eating at Stack 571 Burger and Whiskey Bar located at 12540 120th Avenue Northeast in Kirkland between Oct. 27-Nov. 3. The restaurant has a good inspection rating and the outbreak was reportedly over.

The health department said it investigated an outbreak of stomach illness that was most likely caused by a bacterial toxin in food at the restaurant. Each person who ate at the restaurant had one or more signs that were consistent with a bacterial toxin, including vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps.

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According to the department, Bacillus cereus and Clostridium perfringens are both bacteria that grow rapidly at room temperature. These bacteria are found in a variety of foods, including meats, rice, leftovers, sauces, soups, and other prepared foods, particularly those that have sat out too long at room temperature.

Some restaurant workers had been sick recently, the department said, but no one was sick at the time of the investigation. There was no evidence of the customers illnesses being connected to restaurant workers.

The department outlined its investigation in the report, which read in part:

On Nov. 8, we visited Stack 571 Burger and Whiskey Bar. We found some unsafe food practices, including an improperly stocked handwashing facility but nothing that could raise the risk of bacterial toxin growth. We also found some issues with their worker health policy. While the restaurant does not allow workers to work while sick, workers were not asked what symptoms they had when staying home sick. We gave the restaurant resources and educated them on ways to fix these problems, including guidance for management to check with sick workers about their symptoms before they are allowed to come back to work. This is to lower the chance a worker returns to work with a sickness that could make other people sick or the food they make unsafe. We also went over safe cooling procedures for cooked foods, which helps prevent the growth of bacterial toxins.

For a full look at the departments investigation, click here.
ELIZABETHTON AND JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL)  Barring a court challenge  and despite ineligible votes likely being cast and counted  Johnson City Commissioner Joe Wises razor-thin win over fellow commissioner Aaron Murphy in Nov. 5s election became official Friday.

Washington Co. Election Commission fires administrator, citing personnel issues

Carter Countys election commission certified its results Friday morning with the knowledge that some of the 44 Heather Lane residents who voted were given ballots that included the Johnson City Commission race, even though Heather Lane isnt in the city limits.

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Five hours later, Washington Countys election commissioners certified that countys results and made the final result official. In a nine-person race for three available seats, Wise edged Murphy for the third and final spot with a total of 7,750 votes to Murphys 7,712. Though its voting totals for Johnson City are tiny compared to Washington County, Carter County provided the bulk of that 38-vote margin.

Photo: WJHL

After she and her colleagues certified Washington Countys results in the afternoon session in Johnson City, Washington County Election Commission Secretary Margaret Davis expressed misgivings over the Carter County situation.

The questions that have come up in the other counties and the fact that voters were allowed to vote in an election (for which they werent eligible), it certainly does question the integrity of the city election, Davis said. And it also begins to make people think that there is an unfair advantage in the way in which things are done. And its sad.

That morning, Carter County Election Commissioner Diane Wilde questioned Election Administrator Tracy Harris after she and her four colleagues finished certifying the results, asking what happened.

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Harris said some but not all 44 Heather Lane residents were given city ballots, because they were corrected by the machine operator. They was corrected at the machine and they were gave county ballots.

Harris further explained why she didnt think enough of those residents could have voted to change the outcome even if all of them had voted for Murphy and none had voted for Wise.

40 percent of those people didnt vote the down ballot (local elections) so that would leave maybe a leeway of 28  if in fact they all (44 voters) voted in the city, and it wouldnt change the City of Johnson City election, Harris said.

What are we going to do to avoid this in the future? Wilde asked.

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Harris said its been fixed. She said she received correspondence from the state comptrollers office listing all Carter County streets that are within the Johnson City limits. She said Heather Lane was the only non-city road for which election workers gave people city ballots.

Fixed, though, does not mean any mistakenly cast city election votes by ineligible voters can be found and subtracted from the vote total. Because the actual votes people cast are private and protected, election officials have no way of going back and extracting erroneously cast ballots.

Through a public records request, News Channel 11 obtained an email exchange from Nov. 18 between Harris and Matthew Hill, GIS Supervisor at the Comptroller of the Treasury.

Harris emailed Hill asking if he could send her the streets inside Carter County that are within the Johnson City limits. I want to make sure that I have them listed correctly in case a Johnson City commissioner files a contest of elections, she wrote.

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Hill sent a list and said Harris should verify it with the city.

As for contesting the election, state law does allow for that. 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, any appeal 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.

While the vast majority of the votes were cast in Washington County, small portions of both Carter and Sullivan counties lie within the city limits of Johnson City. For the city commission, that included a recorded 920 votes in Carter County (each person could make up to three votes in the race) compared to 58,993 votes in Washington County.

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However, Wises margin over Murphy in Carter County was 38 votes, compared with a two-vote Murphy advantage in Washington County and a four-vote Wise advantage in Sullivan County.

Murphy has declined requests to comment on the 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 WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A total of six staff members with the St. Helens School District are under investigation by the Oregon Department of Human Services in an ongoing sex abuse scandal involving students as well as allegations of school administrators turning a blind eye to these crimes.

Since the first of these allegations went public in mid-November, the St. Helens community  including parents, students and school staff  have rallied against what they claim to be the districts failure to protect its vulnerable students.

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Below is a timeline of events, from the first reported cases of abuse to the current status of the investigation.

2015

Eric Stearns, a choir teacher, and Mark Collins, who recently retired from teaching at the high school, have been accused of sexually abusing nine students on campus over the course of several years, according to court documents.

The first allegations of sex abuse at St. Helens High School were recorded in 2015, according to police.

Court documents allege that Stearns, 46, inappropriately touched six students while Collins, 64, abused two students and tried to inappropriately touch another between the years of 2015 and 2023.

November 2023

Before his retirement, Collins briefly worked as a substitute teacher at Scappoose High School for seven days between Oct. 30, 2023, and Feb. 9, 2024, according to Scappoose officials. He had not been under investigation during this period.

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A week after news broke that Collins had been named in the St. Helens investigation, a student came forward to report an incident from Nov. 13, 2023, in which a few students heard what they interpreted as pornography playing on an electronic device where Mr. Collins was sitting.

More students were interviewed to share their experiences, and the district said it immediately notified the St. Helens Police Department.

September 2024

St. Helens police first began its two-month investigation into the schools sex abuse allegations in September.

After receiving reports of the alleged sexual abuse, St. Helens detectives immediately conducted interviews and obtained a subpoena for records related to the allegations, police said. Former student victims were identified, and additional potential victims were also identified.

Nov. 12, 2024

Following the investigation, Stearns was charged with seven counts of second-degree sexual abuse and one count of third-degree sexual abuse, and Collins was charged with two counts of second-degree sexual abuse and one count of attempted second-degree sexual abuse.

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Both men were lodged in the Columbia County Jail on Tuesday, Nov. 12. Collins posted $50,000 in bail.

St. Helens High School teacher Eric Stearns appeared in court on Nov. 13, 2024. (KOIN) Mark Collins appeared in Columbia County County on Nov. 14, 2024. (KOIN) Protesters outside of St. Helens High School on Nov. 14, 2024 (KOIN) Community members began protesting in front of St. Helens High School and district offices on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. (KOIN) Parents and teachers of St. Helens High School pack the Village Inn Restaurant and Lounge in St. Helens to hold a watch party of an emergency district board meeting. November 15, 2024 (KOIN).

Nov. 13, 2024

Stearns appeared virtually in Columbia County Court to plead not guilty on all counts on Wednesday, Nov. 13.

That night, hundreds of parents attended a school board meeting to ask why they werent told about the two-month investigation and why the school hadnt placed the choir teacher on leave during this time.

According to District Board chair Ryan Scholl, school administrators had asked police whether Stearns should be placed on administrative leave, claiming that law enforcement said no.

However, Scholls claim during a school board meeting was later refuted by Chief Joseph Hogue who checked the body cam footage when officers served the subpoena and told KOIN 6 News that at no point did the officers tell the school district or advise the school district in any way to not put the teacher on admin leave.

Nov. 14, 2024

A protest involving parents, students, and community members at St. Helens High School and district offices led the school to close its doors early Thursday, Nov. 14 and remain closed through the following Monday. The demonstrations continued for two days.

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The same day, Collins pleaded not guilty to the charges against him in Columbia County Court.

Nov. 15, 2024

The St. Helens School District announced in a Facebook post Friday, Nov. 15, that the high schools principal Katy Wagner and the districts superintendent Scot Stockwell had been placed on administrative leave.

In the same post, officials also announced that school board chair Ryan Scholl had resigned from his position. The district added that, in the absence of a board chair, the role was left to vice chair Trinity Monahan.

As protests continued, some community members called the move to place the leaders on administrative leave a step in the right direction. Others demanded more action from the remaining board members.

Nov. 21, 2024

The following Thursday, Nov. 21, the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) announced that Principal Katy Wagner was under investigation for allegedly failing to report safety concerns to law enforcement.

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Chief Hogue said the St. Helens Police Department was not made aware of incidents that had been recorded by the school since 2019, despite the school having a legal obligation to notify law enforcement.

They are mandatory reporters at school, of course, so theyre obligated to either notify us or the Department of Human Services Child Welfare Division, Hogue said.

The same day, the police department also announced an investigation into criminal conduct involving a teacher at St. Helens Middle School after a report claimed the teacher had been engaging in alleged offensive physical contact with students.

Nov. 22, 2024

The ODHS announced Friday morning that two more St. Helens High School employees were also being investigated on allegations of sex abuse, though they have not yet been named in a criminal investigation by St. Helens police.

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The state department also said Superintendent Stockwell is under investigation for neglecting to report child safety concerns.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek shared a letter with the City of St. Helens in reaction to the ongoing situation, adding that she is 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.

Whats next?

At the time of this articles publication, two teachers  Eric Stearns and Mark Collins  face charges related to sex abuse on the St. Helens High School campus, and a St. Helens Middle School teacher is under criminal investigation for offensive physical contact with a student.

Meanwhile, ODHS has opened six investigations within the St. Helens School District, including additional abuse allegations and allegations that mandatory reporters failed in their duty.

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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.

St. Helens police said their investigations have also led them to more potential victims in the area. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact law enforcement.

If an interim superintendent for the St. Helens School District isnt appointed within 14 days, the state will make a recommendation for the position.

Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story continues to develop.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
ST. LOUIS  A court order issued Friday could lead to federal charges against Tonia Haddix, a Missouri woman at the center of high-profile legal battles and controversies over exotic animal ownership, specifically chimpanzees.

Tonia Haddix has recently gained notoriety as the focus of new viral HBO docuseries Chimp Crazy, which explores her actions and broader issues related to the private ownership of exotic animals. The docuseries is based on original reporting from FOX Files investigator Chris Hayes.

On Friday, a court order formally requested the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri to prosecute Haddix for criminal contempt of court.

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The U.S. Department of Justice defines criminal contempt of court as an act of disobedience or disrespect towards the judicial branch of the government, or an interference with its orderly process.

For Haddix, this means she could face federal charges for, as outlined in Fridays court order, repeatedly defying other court orders related to the care and transfer of chimpanzees, as well as sharing confidential information with a documentary film crew and allowing them to record.

However, whether Haddix will be prosecuted and possibly charged depends on the U.S. Attorneys response to the court order. If the request is accepted, prosecution will follow. If not, the court may have an option to appoint another attorney to pursue a criminal contempt charge.

The court order requires the U.S. Attorney to accept or decline the request to prosecute Haddix for criminal contempt by Dec. 16, 2024. A decision has not been returned as of this storys publication, so charges have not yet been filed.

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Animal advocacy group PETA considers Fridays court order a victory. PETA Foundation General Counsel Brittany Peet shared the following statement via a news release:

The wheels of justice are turning for entitled Tonia Haddix, who has shown time and time again that she believes the justice system will simply indulge her as she defies court orders in her warped quest to exploit chimpanzees. This is a woman who either cant or wont abide by the law, and PETA thanks the court for making moves to hold her accountable with these much-deserved federal charges.

Who is Tonia Haddix?

Haddix, who once dubbed herself the Dolly Parton of chimps, is an exotic animal owner from Festus, Missouri.

Haddix, the subject of HBO docuseries Chimp Crazy, has faced pushback from law enforcement and animal advocacy groups like PETA, which allege that many chimpanzees once under her care were unsafe and neglected.

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Throughout the years, Haddix cared for the seven chimpanzees and bred them as talent for films and photoshoots, among other activities. These chimpanzees previously inhabited the Missouri Primate Foundation, a now-defunct animal breeding facility near Festus.

Haddixs attachment to one chimpanzee, Tonka, sparked national attention in 2021. Tonka is a former animal movie star, appearing in films like the 1997 comedy Buddy. At some point, Haddix claimed that Tonka had died when she instead had him locked in her basement.

Before that, PETA and Haddix agreed to a consent decree in 2020 that would address concerns of neglect and allow Haddix to keep three of the seven chimpanzees, including Tonka, according to our news partners at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Later on, Haddix told FOX Files reporter Chris Hayes, Theyre not getting the chimps in defiance of such terms.

Federal authorities eventually removed six chimps, all but Tonka, while responding to Festus in July 2021. Arrangements called to transfer the chimpanzees to a Florida animal sanctuary for treatment. At the time, Haddix stood by the assertion that Tonka was dead.

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But nearly one whole year later, Tonka was found caged in Haddixs basement in her Lake of the Ozarks-area home.

That discovery prompted a new lawsuit from PETA, which contended that Haddix and her husband concocted an elaborate hoax when claiming Tonka had died, lied under oath about text messages she sent about Tonka at a time she previously deemed the chimp dead and tried to bribe federal marshals ordered to prevent Haddix from euthanizing Tonka.

Just last year, a federal court ordered Haddix to pay more than $220,000 in attorneys fees and costs to PETA last year to end that lawsuit.

In 2022, amid pending prosecution, Haddix told FOX 2 that she was unable to talk on camera about the situation, but sent the following message: I still stand on my promise to Tonka, and I would do anything to protect him from the evil clutches of PETA and the hell hole they placed him in. And that if the judicial system was just, he never would have left the only home hes ever known.

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Tonka, now 32 years old, resides at the Save The Chimps sanctuary in Fort Pierce, Florida. There have been no reports of contact between Tonka and Haddix since both were split apart in 2022.

Meanwhile, just last year, Haddix and her husband Jerry Aswegan opened the Sunrise Beach Safari near the Lake of the Ozarks. The venues website says it is family-run and offers a petting zoo, pony rides, sloth encounters, and photo opportunities with animals.

Haddix and Aswegan opened the Sunrise Beach Safari after PETA filed a complaint to the U.S. Department of Agriculture in October 2022 to terminate both of their Animal Welfare Act licenses. The licenses allow them to operate the venue with exotic animals.

Haddix is also the mother of two children, and description of the docuseries states that Haddix once claimed that she loved Tonka more than her children.

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NOTE: Video attached above is from FOX 2s report on Haddix on Oct. 31, 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 FOX 2.
China to grant visa-free entry to citizens of more countries

Xinhua) 09:14, November 23, 2024

BEIJING, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- China will soon grant visa-free entry to citizens of Japan and eight other countries as part of its ongoing efforts to boost international tourism and business travel, authorities announced Friday.

From Nov. 30, 2024 to Dec. 31, 2025, trial visa exemption will be applied to ordinary passport holders from Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia and Japan. The duration of visa-free stays allowed will be doubled to 30 days, foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said.

The addition will expand the coverage of China's unilateral visa-free policy from 29 to 38 countries.

This latest move aims to facilitate inbound travel. It builds upon the introduction of the unilateral visa-free policy last December, further demonstrating China's commitment to opening up following the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Dec. 1, 2023, China began implementing unilateral visa-free entry trials for ordinary passport holders from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia. The policies were later expanded several times to more countries.

Shortly after the announcement on Friday, Trip.com's international platforms witnessed a surge of interest in Chinese cities, with searches rising by 65 percent on its European site and 112 percent on its Japanese site within 30 minutes. Interest in direct flights from various cities in Japan to China also saw a notable spike.

"I will visit right away. Authentic Chinese cuisine is truly wonderful, and I'm also looking forward to meeting my friend after a long time," said a Japanese netizen on Yahoo, who also expressed the desire to gather information for future investments.

After the announcement, seats of flights for a twin-city tour in China's Ningbo and Xi'an, launched by the Japanese branch of the Shanghai-based Spring Tour travel agency, were quickly snapped up. The branch's hotline was flooded with inquiries from Japanese tourists, prompting the agency to coordinate additional flight seats to meet the rising demand.

Zhou Weihong, deputy general manager of Spring Tour, said the company plans to leverage resources further and launch more diversified products tailored to foreign tourists of different age groups.

The ease of visa policies has shown remarkable results. According to China's National Immigration Administration, in the first three quarters of this year, China received approximately 94.63 million inbound trips, up by 78.8 percent year-on-year.

The policies also facilitated a trendy "China Travel" keyword on major online platforms like TikTok, X and YouTube, as foreign visitors flock to China to experience the country's delicious food, attractive views, world-leading infrastructure, heartwarming people and free atmospheres, seeing a real China that is different from what they learnt about from Western media.

International businesspeople have found it easier to conduct business in China. From January to September this year, 42,000 new foreign-invested enterprises were established nationwide, marking an 11.4 percent year-on-year increase, according to data from the foreign ministry.

Foreign nationals can now benefit from simplified procedures and reduced fees, as well as faster border entry services, which makes traveling to China even more appealing.

China has implemented measures to make it more convenient for foreigners to visit, work, and live in the country, ranging from currency exchanges and e-payment to hotel check-ins, among others.

In Beijing, a city services guide has been launched for first-time foreign arrivals, offering information on a wide range of areas, such as healthcare and transportation.

In Shanghai, foreign visitors can conveniently pay for taxis and subway rides using international credit cards.

In the first eight months of this year, Shanghai received more than 4.02 million inbound tourists, a 110-percent increase over the same period last year. Among them were 2.9 million foreign tourists, 140 percent more than the same period last year.

"We welcome more foreign friends to visit China frequently to explore its beauty, and we will create more favorable conditions for their visits," said Tong Xuejun, head of the foreign ministry's consular department, at a press briefing on Friday morning.

(Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Kou Jie)
The Employees Union of Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) vehemently criticised the response provided by the corporation's officials in the Himachal Pradesh High Court regarding its financial status, revenue, and occupancy. In light of the ongoing financial struggles, the union is calling for the revival of a vital state grant. The union leaders claimed that the officials had misled the court with incorrect information, and they vowed to personally present the "real facts" to the judiciary. The union also allege that the Chairman of the HPTDC should be removed and he has misdirected the employee and misinformed the Court and the order resulted as they had concealed the information. The employee leaders are demanding removal of the Chairman. The head of the Employees Union, Hukum Ram emphasised that the closure of nine operational hotels under the HPTDC, including significant properties like Chail Palace, Log hut and Nagar Castle, would lead to severe consequences for both employees and the tourism industry. "Our demand is clear: the government must issue an affidavit and make a decision in favor of these nine hotels, as they are functioning properly. If these hotels are shut down, it will become extremely difficult for the staff who have dedicated their lives to this sector. These employees deserve their rights, and the court's decision should reflect that," Ram stated. The Himachal Pardesh High court earlier had listed 18 hotels of HPTDC to shut down after November 25 and now on Friday shortlisted 9 hotels out of 18 and has ordered to close nine and has given over four months to make a plan for the same and give a status report by March 31, 2025. According to the employee union, the affected hotels employ approximately 300 workers who are registered on voter rolls, and the shutdown would not only endanger their livelihoods but also disrupt the broader tourism ecosystem, impacting local businesses such as taxi drivers and tourism operators. "There are many shortcomings in the management, but these hotels are still operational. If the staff had been adequately managed earlier, we wouldn't be facing such a crisis today. It's unfortunate that these vital properties, which contribute to the state's tourism, are being threatened with closure," said Rajkumar Sharma, the General Secretary of the HPTDC Employees Union. The employee's union also raised concerns about the delayed payment of dues to both retired and current staff. A significant number of employees have yet to receive their arrears, including the much-anticipated Sixth Pay Commission dues. Moreover, medical bills remain unpaid for several months, further compounding the financial hardships faced by the workforce. "The state government owes money to the corporation for food served during official functions, but these payments are often delayed for months. This lack of timely financial support is a major reason for the current crisis," Ram pointed out. In previous years, the state government used to provide grants to the HPTDC, which helped the corporation manage its operations. "A Grant-in-Aid used to be provided to the corporation, but this has not been received in recent times. We urge the government to restart this support, similar to the grants given to other state corporations like the State Transport Corporation," Sharma explained. The union also stressed the broader importance of the tourism sector to Himachal Pradesh's economy. The state is renowned for its tourism, attracting visitors from across India and around the world. With several government-run canteens, Himachal Bhawan, Sadan, State Guest House, and other essential services managed by the HPTDC, the union emphasised that the corporation plays a vital role in maintaining the state's image as a premier tourist destination. To address the financial challenges, the Employees Union has demanded a lump-sum financial aid of around Rs 50 crore from the state government. This support, they argue, is crucial for improving the corporation's financial health and ensuring the continued success of Himachal Pradesh's tourism industry. "If the tourism sector falters, it will tarnish the image of Himachal Pradesh in the eyes of the world. Tourists come here to enjoy the beauty of the state, and it's essential that we have the infrastructure and services to support them," said Ram. The union has also highlighted the urgency of their demands, given the growing financial distress within the corporation. With employees struggling with overdue payments and the threat of hotel closures looming, they are calling on the state government to take immediate action before the situation worsens. Despite multiple attempts to engage with the state's leadership, union representatives claim they have been unable to meet the concerned officials. "We have tried meeting the President several times, but he is never available in Shimla. His work often takes him outside the state, and this lack of engagement is one of the key reasons why the situation has not improved," Ram noted. As the situation stands, the Employees Union of HPTDC remains firm in its stance, calling on the state government to prioritize the financial stability of the corporation and the well-being of its dedicated employees. (ANI)
LANSING  One candidate in the Nov. 5 election may have had too much success.

Republican Linsey Rogers ran for treasurer in Montmorency County  and won as the only listed candidate, according to information posted on the county website.

Rogers also ran for school board in the Montmorency community of Atlanta  and won there, too, finishing third out of three candidates for three board seats in the community in Michigan's northern Lower Peninsula, the website shows.

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The double victories for Rogers are now the subject of litigation. They also came up at Friday's meeting of the Board of State Canvassers in Lansing, where Assistant Attorney General Heather Meingast said the twin victories for Rogers appeared to be in violation of Michigan law related to incompatible public offices.

The unusual situation in Montmorency County was raised Friday when the Board of State Canvassers voted to certify results of the Nov. 5 election statewide.

Meingast told board members they don't have jurisdiction to get involved in such an issue. She advised the board to certify the Michigan election, including the two wins for Rogers, and allow the situation to be addressed elsewhere.

Under state law, nobody can simultaneously hold two public offices that are deemed incompatible.

Montmorency Clerk Cheryl Neilsen said the current treasurer, Cheri Eggett, who ran Nov. 5 as a write-in candidate, sued in Montmorency County Circuit Court over Rogers' double candidacy and lost. The case is now before the Michigan Court of Appeals, Neilsen said Friday. She declined to say whether she had made a determination about whether the two offices were incompatible.

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Rogers could not be reached, but she addressed her double candidacies in an Oct. 3 public posting on her Facebook page. Rogers said she's not convinced the two offices are incompatible, and if they were considered incompatible, her name should not have appeared twice on the county ballot. Rogers said if the positions are found to be incompatible, she is prepared to give up her school board position to serve as county treasurer.

State law says public offices are incompatible if one is subordinate to the other, if one is supervisory of the other, or if performing the duties of one public office can create a breach of duty related to the other public office. Running for two incompatible offices could potentially disqualify a candidate from both.

"The two positions of Montmorency County treasurer and the Atlanta School Board of Education have not been proven to be incompatible," Rogers said on Facebook.

MIGOP: After Trump taps Hoekstra for ambassadorship, state Republicans will have to find new leadership again

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In a statement that didn't appear consistent with the rest of her Oct. 3 posting, Rogers said in the same Facebook message that she had abandoned her candidacy for the school board, even though her name would appear on the ballot.

Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Montmorency County candidate elected to 2 separate offices Nov. 5
Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo on Friday announced a recommendation against community water fluoridation.

The recommendation comes as a Florida city voted last week to remove fluoride from its drinking water, with one city commissioner citing Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s past comments on the matter as one of the reasons.

Floridas top health official cited the neuropsychiatric risk associated with fluoride exposure, particularly in pregnant women and children as the primary reason for the recommendation.

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It is clear more research is necessary to address safety and efficacy concerns regarding community water fluoridation, said State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo. The previously considered benefit of community water fluoridation does not outweigh the current known risks, especially for special populations like pregnant women and children.

The Environmental Protection Agency sets legal limits for water fluoridation as high amounts of the chemical can cause health issues.

In 2017, a judge, considering a legal challenge claiming fluoride causes neurological impacts, concluded there was unreasonable risk related to its presence in water, but that this finding does not conclude with certainty that fluoridated water is injurious to public health.

Kennedy, who President-elect Trump recently tapped to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), previously said in a post on social media that the Trump White House will advise all U.S. water systems to remove fluoride from public water.

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Water fluoridation is a local government decision, and its unclear if Kennedy could compel municipalities to do away with the cavity-fighting chemical.

Kennedy also wrote that fluoride was associated with numerous medical issues, though many of these claims are linked to exposure to fluoride doses far higher than what most people would experience drinking fluoridated water and brushing their teeth.

Fluoride, a naturally occurring substance, has been used in U.S. drinking water since 1945 and is largely considered one of the most important public health measures of the 20th century.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
BEE CAVE, Texas (KXAN)  Get ready, Trader Joes fans! A new store is coming to Central Texas.

Trader Joes will open its fourth Austin-area store in Bee Cave, according to a project filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The newest Central Texas store will be in the Shops at The Galleria, replacing an office supplies store.

Store construction is expected to start in February and finish in June, according to filing estimates, but those dates are not official.

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Trader Joes has three other area locations in downtown Austin, northwest Austin and Rollingwood.

A company spokesperson said Trader Joes plans to open an additional store in Austin but couldnt confirm a location or timeline.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

The neighborhood grocery chain sells mostly Trader Joes-branded food and household items including shopper favorites like cauliflower gnocchi, chili and lime-flavored corn tortilla chips, soup dumplings, butternut squash mac & cheese, mandarin orange chicken and inexpensive wine known as Two Buck Chuck.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Until this week, the conventional wisdom in Washington has been that Republicans will fall in line behind President-elect Donald Trump on virtually everything. Then Matt Gaetzs nomination to be attorney general collapsed.

Sen. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican who was one of Trumps earliest backers in 2016, wasnt surprised.

Political capital is our currency, he said in a Playbook Deep Dive podcast. How you use your political capital matters a great deal. Donald Trump would have had to spend a lot to try to get Gaetz confirmed. And even then, he still might have failed.

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It wasnt worth it.

Other nominees also face serious scrutiny, including Trumps pick to lead the Defense Department: Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host and Army veteran whos now facing allegations of sexual assault.

Cramer backs Hegseth, and he expressed optimism that Trump wouldnt see many more nominees derailed. Republican senators do broadly want to support the president and his agenda, Cramer said.

But if they need to defend their institutional prerogatives, he added, they will. He doesnt see any way GOP lawmakers would allow Trump to sideline them and install nominees with recess appointments.

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It gets back to that fundamental constitutional responsibility of advice and consent, Cramer said. It's just 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.

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity by Deep Dive Producer Kara Tabor. You can listen to the full Playbook Deep Dive podcast interview here:



Listen to this episode of Playbook Deep Dive on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

Matt Gaetz just announced he is withdrawing his name from consideration as Donald Trump's pick as attorney general, noting in a social media post that his nomination has become a distraction. I've heard this from other Republicans, too. What's your reaction?

I'd say he clearly knew this hill was steep. The meetings he's had over the course of the last couple of days with Republican senators, as he says, gamed out. Hes gamed it out that theres not a path to victory. And if there's not a path to confirmation, why go through it? Because it does become a distraction. Not just to him, but to the Senate, to the president.

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I would say whatever the circumstances are, this is one of the more positive things Matt Gaetz has done in a while. I think in terms of his patriotism, in terms of his honor, in terms of his respect for the institutions, good for him to recognize that early on and prevent further wasting of the resources.

Have you talked to him at all? Did you talk to Trump about this? What's been your advice behind the scenes?

I have not talked to [Gaetz]. I talked to President Trump about [the nomination] Sunday on the phone. I was on the plane with him Tuesday. We did not talk about it on Tuesday other than just him expressing, I wish we could get this across the finish line. But I've been very open about it. I've been everywhere just saying that the hill is very, very steep and the capital that you'd have to spend to succeed, much less probably not succeed, with the confirmation would be probably more than it would be worth. I think that's how he gamed it out. And good for him for not spending a lot more capital.

Political capital is our currency. Political capital is what you gather by doing things for people, with your partners, with your colleagues. Then it's to be spent on them doing things for you, right? It's a transactional business and a lot of people find that offensive, to which I say, Gee, talk to the founders of our great country.

It's part of a relationship.

It's all about relationship. When you consider that the president of the United States is the CEO of a big country with 535 board members who are all independent brokers there, we all got here the same way. And so how you use your political capital matters a great deal. Donald Trump would have had to spend a lot. If he was going to get Matt Gaetz across the finish line, he'd have to start transacting with some pretty strong skeptics. And it may very well be that there were not enough that were even persuadable.

Do you think Gaetz runs for governor in Florida?

Not successfully, I don't think. But I don't live there. Florida is a big, complicated state. It's not a gerrymandered congressional district.

Yeah, a lot of personalities down there, too, on the Republican side.

Do you think that he's going to be just the first one to go down or that there could be others?

Well, I think it's really important for people to understand: I don't know if any presidents ever had everybody they wanted, at least not a modern president. I mean Joe Biden  he's had four years with a Democratic Senate and there are several that he has had to pull that couldn't get there.

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It's not the worst thing to happen for a president whose party is in power in the Senate, because I think it actually speaks to how damn smart our founders were when they created this whole system of a check and a balance, of advice and consent by the Senate, to make sure that we don't have a king, but that we have these three co-equal branches. It's kind of a wonderful description of it.

The conventional wisdom right now is This is Trump's Washington. The Republican Senate is going to do what Donald Trump wants. This pushback against cabinet nominees is obviously challenging that. Do you think we're going to see more of this?

No, I think you're going to see what you'd normally see.

I will say Donald Trump is unconventional and he is nominating a lot of nonconventional people. But I do think what's different this go-around is a couple of things. One is he has the experience of, and the benefit of, four years that had a slow start to it and a bureaucracy that he thought was going to be more compliant than they turned out to be. The second thing is he doesn't get another term after this. So he's got a sense of urgency about it that's real. We know how precious and how unusual these moments are when we have a president and a pretty good, 53-47 Senate majority of the same party and none of us wants to be responsible for screwing it up. And so for the most part, we're going to yield to him. As long as its 

Not Matt Gaetz.

Well, not Matt Gaetz or even another possibility. I mean, as much as I love Donald Trump, I did vote to override his veto of the National Defense Authorization Act and it succeeded.

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We are loyal to Donald Trump. His agenda  he did run on it. He was clear about it. And American people like it. They like the disruption. They don't trust the deep state. They truly don't.

And he's shaking it up. He's bringing in a new generation, by and large. I like that. And even the breakneck speed with which he's doing it is a strong signal of the seriousness of it. I think America is behind him right now and I think that Matt getting out of the running for attorney general gets the focus back on what's most important to be.



There have been concerns that Pete Hegseth doesn't have the credentials to lead this massive bureaucracy that is the Pentagon and that he's not exactly the decorated leader that Lloyd Austin is or Jim Mattis is. But you are a fan.

I am.

Why so?

Because he's not the quote decorated leader that Lloyd Austin is.

That's a bonus in your eyes that he's not.

It is. Listen, I'm grateful for every airman and soldier and guardian and Marine and sailor, Coast Guardsman that puts on the uniform and defends us for sure. But in the case of Lloyd Austin, that didn't seem to help him as a secretary of Defense. I also realize he works for a commander-in-chief who's not really very qualified. When you use the word qualifications in these appointed and elected positions, the thing you have to remember is the only qualification required is that he has the confidence of the president and can get enough votes to be confirmed. That's our political system.

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I have two really favorite paintings in the rotunda. One of them is the Embarkation of the Pilgrims. And the other one is George Washington surrendering his commission as a military general, because in our system, generals don't run the country. Civilians do. Civilians are the leaders of our military. And that's by design on purpose.

I think Pete, in terms of his service, will bring something that we haven't had in a long time. And that is not a general-turned-secretary. Remember, we had to waive the rules both for [Jim] Mattis and for Austin to even be the secretary, because our rules require a longer period between [military] service and in political service.

And remember that this very large organization isn't run by one person. It's run by a whole bunch of talented people that bring gifts to the mosaic, if you will. I think Pete, as a face of the military, as a warrior, as sort of a blue-collar, talented television personality, I think he gives hope to those people that hey, there's somebody at the top that actually understands my role in this military as opposed to just the generals role.

He's also been accused of sexual assault in 2017 by a woman who identifies as a conservative. He has denied this, but he did pay her in return for a nondisclosure agreement. Are you worried about what message this sends to the Pentagon? As you know from the Armed Services Committee, they have had an issue with sexual assault in the military.

They continue to. I've been very supportive, particularly of Senator [Kirsten] Gillibrand's efforts in that regard. I've supported her legislation to clamp down on that and change the chain of command as it relates to assault claims and prosecutions and investigations. So I'm all about that.

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Does it send a tough message or a bad message? Perhaps. But I also think until such time as it's vetted  and it will be  the bottom line is that none of this is done until there's background checks, that the veracity of all these claims are checked out and then we'll see it.

But at this point, he's the president's choice. From everything that I know to be true, I think he'd be a fine secretary. But we'll see how all the rest of this plays out.

On CNN, you said something along the lines of I just don't think you can deal with allegations in the past as though they're fact. And you noted that Gaetz  I assume this applies to Hegseth too  hasnt been convicted of a crime.

But with a cabinet position, it's a little different, right? It's not just about whether you committed a crime and were charged with something. It's also an optics thing and there's a higher bar in terms of ethics.

For sure image matters, but at the same time, if we allow allegations to set the bar, then everybody, no matter who they are, runs the risk of not being qualified because of an allegation. So we have to be fairer both to the victims and to the alleged perpetrators. We've had some very detailed issues that we've addressed with general officers with false allegations as well as proven allegations. And we have to deal with them based on the evidence that comes out.

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Listen to this episode of Playbook Deep Dive on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

Do you think that the panel should talk to Hegseths accuser?

I hadn't thought about that question. I, first of all, would never force somebody, if they felt like they'd be revictimized, to do that. We may be nicer than people think we are, but it's a pretty intimidating thing to sit across the table from a bunch of senators and have to relive an incident that may have happened or that happened to you. I wouldn't want to force her to do that. But if she wanted to, yeah, why wouldn't we hear from her?

On the other hand, if there's more to it than that, that's important as well. If there's another investigation somewhere, maybe we could have access to that and spare the extra trauma.

Do you think that to help his confirmation process, Hegseth should basically disavow his position against women in combat?

I think he should. Don't get me wrong. As an entertainer, as a writer and author selling books, I can see that he can express himself. He's untethered to somebody else's views. He gets to espouse his own. In a position like this, he has to look at the larger picture and say, Okay, I'm here to lead this organization. But the policy is this. And I'm going to salute and support the policy.

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I think the landing position on it is simply the position that the requirement for combat readiness has to be the same for women as it is for men. And there are a lot of women who have met that standard that a lot of men could not. In which case, why would you not allow women in combat?

So if he comes out and says, Yes, I personally believe this, but as Defense secretary, I would never change the policy or try to change it, you think that could help?

I think that would be a more than adequate position.

There's been talk about Trump using the military to help with deportations of undocumented migrants. What's your take on that?

Well, I would rather that we give him the law enforcement resources to do that. It's a better use of law enforcement and it's not a great use of the military. We have pretty specific policies about policing, for example. Our military can be helpful in lots of ways. They could be helpful even in the deportation process. But what they don't have is policing powers. They don't have arrest authorities, force authorization, anything like that. And I think that's important to maintain.

I personally think that the deportation is going to be better and easier than a lot of people think it is, partly because even the draw of illegal immigration is based largely on the attitude of the country and the policies of welcoming.

It is really clear to people that are thinking about coming here illegally now that it may be not a great idea. I think it's pretty clear to a lot of people that have come here illegally that, you know, maybe I should call home and see if I can get back. I do believe this is one where the American people want [Trump] to do it. They want him to get rid of at least the criminal element that has been welcomed here by an open border policy. I would rather see us give him the police resources, ICE and Customs and Border Protection resources than use our military. But if necessary in certain functions that aren't force, that aren't policing, if he needs the human power to do it, he ought to do it.

There was recent reporting that Trump's transition team is compiling a list of senior U.S. military officers who were involved in the bungled withdrawal of Afghanistan, exploring whether they could be court-martialed, even potentially charged with treason. What do you make of this?

I think that the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan was one of the greatest embarrassments this country has ever been through. But I don't lay that on officers. I lay that on the commander-in-chief. This was his decision only.

I think we need to be very careful when we start going after military officers and personnel who saluted the commander-in-chief and saluted the secretary of Defense. That's their job. They should not be blamed for that.

There was this perception that Trump was going to just bend Republicans to his will. But in talking to you, it feels like the communication between Trump's team, Trump himself and Republicans on the Hill are happening behind closed doors and that maybe he's listening more than people perceived that he would be. What do you think this relationship is going to be like?

I think it's going to be great. I and the vast majority of my colleagues  all of them, to varying degrees  are quite enthused by the fact that we have a majority and a president, and we're transactional people, but we're also people of conviction. We all got here the same way. Nobody gets to the Senate by accident. If they do, it would be very unusual. But this is a hard job to get. It's a harder job to keep in many respects.

I think its going to be a great relationship. I've always found Donald Trump to be very respectful of the institution of the Senate.



Is it the institution or is it the people themselves that he has relationships with?

Well, it's both things, but he does have respect for the institution. I've heard him express that many times. When he recruited me, he made that such a strong point. He said, The Senate is a very special place. It's one of the three most exclusive clubs in the world. And he's told me that so many times.

And so, he respects the institution. He has a lot of great relationships. He has a good relationship with John Thune. He expressed to me how much he's looking forward to working with John. He and John haven't always agreed on things, but he has great respect for him.

One point of contention is recess appointments. I believe you've come out and said that you did not want to see Gaetz confirmed by a recess appointment. Do you think that Trump will get any recess appointments or do you think a message has been sent that he should not be expecting that?

Well, remember, the same people that would vote against a cabinet secretary are the same people that would vote against a recess. So you have to get a majority either way.

Have you explained that to him or do you think somebody has?

I've not talked to him about it, but I've been very open about it. Again, it gets back to that fundamental constitutional responsibility of advice and consent.

It's just 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. I can understand why a president might make a recess appointment if he didn't have the majority. I think when you have the same party, it doesn't make a lot of sense.

Now, 1,200 confirmations is a lot of confirmations, plus all of the advancements. We vote on every general officers promotion in the military. We vote on every advancement or promotion in the State Department. That means there's thousands of them in a certain year or term. So it's very conceivable that you could have a recess appointment of a number of people at a sub-cabinet level. I do think cabinet level is different. I try to avoid saying what I'll never do, but it should be very rare, if ever.

I want to talk just briefly about some of the people who are going to play key roles in this relationship between Senate Republicans and the White House. One is JD Vance. He was up here with Gaetz and Hegseth this week.

My impression, at least before he became Trump's running mate, was that there were a number of Senate Republicans who didn't actually like him. I'm curious if you can tell us about his relationship with folks up here.

JD is a great voice and face for the populist movement, generational change certainly in the White House and within the United States Senate. What I think is a little different in JDs role is that because Donald Trump himself has so many personal relationships, JD, he'll have the most influence over like-minded senators. And there are a lot of them. JD represents  granted, in a much more eloquent and intellectual way than perhaps some others  a significant part of the conservative population, as do a whole bunch of senators. I think JD helped Donald Trump win and I think he'll help him on the Hill. Not everybody has the same regard for JD. I don't know how you can't like him though.

Trump's incoming chief of staff, Susie Wiles, is obviously well-known in Florida and via the campaign, but not really well known with members up here. Has she been reaching out?

During the campaign, a lot of people got to know Susie as surrogates, how to be helpful. She'd come around and speak at your retreats and things like that. She's well-known by most senators and almost universally admired. My gosh, the woman, look what she did! You talk about somebody who brought discipline to a whirlwind. I mean, she really did.

And don't tell Trump that! He doesn't like that.

I know. Believe me, he has great respect for her. He wouldn't have made her his chief of staff. He understands she is in some ways the yin to his yang. She's serious. She only talks when it's necessary. She listens carefully. And then when she does speak, she has great authority earned by her reputation, earned by her patience, earned by the fact that she listens carefully before she speaks. Now as he often says about people  I don't know if he'd say this about her, but I would  she's right out of central casting, if you're looking for the perfect chief of staff.

Who do you think is going to have the most difficult path to confirmation now that Gaetz is out?

That's a good question. Well, they aren't all named yet.

Oh interesting. So you're anticipating more who might be challenging?

I don't know. I don't have any reason to believe that necessarily. It's hard to say and here's why I said it. On the one hand, you have Pete Hegseth, who has some similar issues. And you've already identified people on the Armed Services Committee that may be difficult for him.

On the other hand, you have a couple of people who were Democrats. That raises a whole different set of concerns for people who've been Republican all their adult life or people who've gone through a longer process of evolution than them and proven their Republican credibility in office. I think both in RFK Jr. and in Tulsi Gabbard, you have people who are representative of an evolution of our country, of Republicans and Democrats who are trending more toward a populist-libertarian bent.

If you could guess, how many of Trumps nominees do you think will go down?

I don't know how to handicap that, to be honest with you.

You don't want to get in trouble with the former and future president. Would it be more than three?

No. I don't believe it will be three. It may not get to three. I hope it doesnt.

Listen to this episode of Playbook Deep Dive on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Transgender residents in Odessa, Texas, have been banned from using single-gender bathrooms in public buildings that align with their gender identity.

Alexander Ermels, a transgender man, made the decision to start using the men's room after he experienced a negative response to being in the women's bathroom -- which he would be forced to use under the Odessa bathroom policy.

"I hadn't even started hormone replacement therapy yet the first time that I had a negative altercation in the women's room," said Ermels, who serves as president of the LGBTQ advocacy group PFLAGs Midland and Odessa chapter. "I don't want to make women uncomfortable, that has never been my goal, and I use the men's room because I don't want to make women uncomfortable."

PHOTO: Alexander Ermels, a transgender man, made the decision to start using the men's room after a negative encounter (ABC News)

In Odessa, the passage of a city ordinance amendment in October declares that any person who uses a bathroom, changing room, or locker room in any city building -- including community centers, libraries, airports, park facilities and administrative office buildings -- that does not align with their gender as assigned at birth could be convicted of a Class C misdemeanor and punished with a fine of up to $500.

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People who violate the rule and refuse to leave a public bathroom could also be sued for "statutory damages in an amount of not less than $10,000 for each violation of this ordinance," according to the decree. The ordinance lists exceptions for children or someone offering emergency assistance.

For transgender and nonbinary Odessa residents who have lived under this rule, the recent decision from House Speaker Mike Johnson to reserve congressional bathrooms based on one's gender assigned at birth comes as no surprise. His mandate comes as Rep.-elect Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender member of Congress, gets ready to begin serving her constituents.

Johnson's statement, issued on November 20, reads: 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. It is important to note that each Member office has its own private restroom, and unisex restrooms are available throughout the Capitol. Women deserve womens only spaces.

Ernels argues: "It is not that they think that I should be using the women's room, it's that they think that I shouldn't exist."

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He continued, "America has tried to do this with other minorities before, for things like segregation of bathrooms for Black and white people, for the vitriol that's happening in the media right now for immigrants, for specifically Hispanic immigrants, it is not about safety and it's not about kids. It's about a thing that they really don't like and they want you to stop doing it."

PHOTO: Representative-elect Sarah McBride attends an orientation for new members of Congress at the US Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 14, 2024. (Allison Robbert/AFP via Getty Images)

Proponents of these restrictions, including Republican Rep. Nancy Mace, argue that single-gender bathroom policies are for women's safety and privacy: "I have PTSD from the abuse I've suffered at the hands of a man, and I know how vulnerable women and girls are in private spaces, so 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," said Mace in a statement. "I will be there fighting you every step of the way."

Odessa Councilmember Chris Hanie, who voted in favor of the local ordinance change, argued: "I don't care who you are, and what you do in the privacy of your home is your business, but I don't need to see it in public, Hanie said, according to the Texas Tribune.

Trans residents, however, say that the narrative around "fear" and "personal safety" concerning transgender use of bathrooms is rooted in discrimination. They argue transgender people aren't inherently dangerous and are actually more likely to be victims of violence than cisgender people.

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One study in the Sexuality Research and Social Policy journal was unable to find evidence that trans-inclusive policies on restrooms, lockers and changing rooms increase safety risks or related crimes.

McBride has said she will follow the congressional rules on bathroom use.

"Im not here to fight about bathrooms," said McBride in an online statement. "Im here to fight for Delawareans and to bring down costs facing families. Like all members, I will follow the rules as outlined by Speaker Johnson, even if I disagree with them."

Diego Miguel Sanchez, who, in 2008, became the first openly transgender senior congressional staffer, told ABC News that he remembers being welcomed by Congress members, who assured him they intended to "make sure that you're as safe as absolutely everybody else, that we want to make sure that no one bothers you while you're here."

PHOTO: Diego Miguel Sanchez was the first openly transgender senior Congressional staffer in 2008. (Courtesy of Diego Miguel Sanchez)

"It didn't shock me, but it was a kind of welcome that I wasn't expecting," Sanchez said. "There are people all over the place at Capitol Hill who do welcome us, and they are still there, because I still see them when I visit every couple of weeks."

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Sanchez worked as the senior policy adviser to Congressman Barney Frank until Frank's 2013 retirement. He was disheartened hearing that McBride was specifically being targeted in the effort to restrict bathrooms.

"For the community to have moved to a place of public acceptance and then being shut down in a way as if it were criminalized, as if we are criminals, it is absolutely unacceptable," said Sanchez.

Nycole Roulette, a transgender woman who was born and raised in Odessa, said that she harbors fear when it comes to using the bathroom in public: "It's not fair because [Odessa] is my home, too."

She told ABC News she uses a single-person unisex bathroom in the back of her workplace, or waits until she's home for the day, because she fears the potential for discrimination or violence. Advocates argue that this is what the workday could look like for any transgender or nonbinary employees or for trans visitors on Capitol Hill.

PHOTO: Odessa residents say trans bathroom restrictions have sparked fear and concern of discrimination. (ABC News)

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Waiting to use the bathroom can have adverse effects, including urinary tract infections and bowel and bladder problems, according to Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

"I don't know if there's somebody else that I work with or it's just a guest that is dining in with us who can clock me at any given moment, and just because I walk funny or my feet are a little too big -- a lot of things run through the trans person's head," said Roulette.

Odessa residents argue that people of all identities -- transgender or not -- will be scrutinized under bathroom bans for how they present their gender "if you don't match their idea of what we should look like," said Pauline Williamson, the Vice President of Price Center West Texas.

On Nov. 21, the mayor-elect and new city council have said that the controversial Odessa bathroom ordinance will not be actively enforced, as it "creates the potential for lawsuits to be brought against the city."

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"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," the Mayor-elect Cal Hendrick's office said in a statement. "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."

Eli Hilbert, an Odessa resident who uses both he/him and they/them pronouns, pleads with lawmakers to focus on "real problems," not about "who's in the bathroom."

"We have real problems as a city, and the city council has not been addressing them," said Hilbert.

Transgender residents living under bathroom ban reflect on Sarah McBride controversy originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  The trial involving the murder of a 13-year-old girl whose body was found in a Portland-area park over two years ago has ended in the guilty verdict on Friday, according to court records.

Daniel Gore, the suspect in the death of Milana Li, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, first-degree rape and first-degree sexual abuse. The now-18-year-old defendant was found guilty on all counts.

TIMELINE: When St. Helens teacher sex abuse scandal began, latest investigations, whats next

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Prosecutors described Gore to the jury as a wolf in sheeps clothing as he lured Milana into a false sense of security before he brutally raped and killed her in a wooded area, on May 8, 2022, the Washington County District Attorneys Office said in a release.

Lis mother reported her missing the following day after coming home from a night shift, with her daughter not home as expected. She didnt show up to school, either.

Lis friend thought to look for her in a wooded area she was known to visit every so often. The friend and Lis mother found her clothing and shoes and called the police.

After searching the area, the Beaverton Police Department found the teens body in a stream underneath a weighed-down blanket at Westside Linear Park  about a half-mile away from her apartment.

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Gore was the last person seen with Li alive, according to surveillance footage and cell phone data taken from the night of the murder. Gores tent near Progress Ridge also had packaging straps linked to the blanket. Investigators said Gore was linked to DNA evidence left inside his victim, too.

The Oregon State Medical Examiners Office later ruled Lis death a homicide.

Washington County announced that Gore had been charged with her murder nearly two weeks after the incident. Although Gore was 16 years old at the time of Lis death, a judge determined in July 2023 the juvenile would be tried as an adult.

Beaverton police are investigating the suspicious death of missing 13-year-old Milana Li. May 10, 2022 (courtesy Beaverton Police Department). Milana Lis family was given a box of homemade cards from the teens classmates  sharing condolences and memories of their friend. May 20, 2022 (KOIN). Lydia Li sits with cards sent to the family of Milana Li, the Beaverton teen slain in May 2022 (KOIN) Milana Lis family was given a box of homemade cards from the teens classmates  sharing condolences and memories of their friend. May 20, 2022 (KOIN). Milana Li at the Murrayhill Martial arts. (KOIN) Milana Lis family was given a box of homemade cards from the teens classmates  sharing condolences and memories of their friend. May 20, 2022 (KOIN). Milana Lis family was given a box of homemade cards from the teens classmates  sharing condolences and memories of their friend. May 20, 2022 (KOIN).

According to court documents, Gore had been living alone in a tent in a wooded area near Beavertons Progress Ridge shopping complex. Previously released court documents cited Gores obsession with rapper 7xvn, who wears a signature white mask with a hand-drawn smile and whose lyrics romanticize violent acts including murder and strangulation.

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Gore is scheduled to be sentenced on the afternoon of Dec. 2.

Stay with KOIN 6 News as we continue to follow this story.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Nov. 22The Texas Tribune will host a 2025 Legislative Preview at 9 a.m. Dec. 4, in Austin and online for a daylong symposium exploring top priorities for the upcoming legislative session. Hear from newly elected officials, old guard incumbents and other Capitol insiders on what's ahead for the 2025 session  and what it will mean for Texans.

Doors open at 8 a.m. at The University of Texas at Austin's Thompson Conference Center for breakfast and the day's program begins at 9 a.m. in-person and online.

RSVP here.

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Confirmed speakers include:

 State Sen. Molly Cook, D-Houston, and State Rep. Don McLaughlin, R-Uvalde, as part of a "Meet the New Members" panel moderated by Renzo Downey, lead writer of The Blast for The Texas Tribune

 State Rep.-elect Mitch Little, R-Denton, and State Rep. J.M. Lozano, R-Kingsville, in conversation with Tribune politics reporter James Barragan on the Republican agenda for the 2025 session

 State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin, and State Rep. Erin Zwiener, D-Driftwood, in conversation with Rebekah Allen, the Tribune's managing editor for enterprise and politics, on the Democratic agenda for the 2025 session
Well, we started the week with another crushing defeat for the Chicago Bears, this time a 20-19 loss to the rival Green Bay Packers. As the team prepares to take on the Minnesota Vikings this Sunday, Caleb Williams and the Bears are looking to snap a four-game losing streak and keep their season alive.

The Jussie Smollett case came to a surprising conclusion Thursday, with the Illinois Supreme Court overturning the former Empire actors convictions for allegedly staging a hate crime against himself.

In other local news, the Cook County Board passed a $9.94 billion budget for 2025, closing the $218 million projected shortfall without program cuts, layoffs or raising taxes. Meanwhile, the city of Chicago continues its own budget efforts, with the mayor proposing a revised $150 million property tax hike and a 35% tax hike on liquor sales.

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President-elect Donald Trump continued to announce his picks for key positions in his second administration this week, nominating wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of education and selecting Dr. Mehmet Oz, a former TV talk show host and heart surgeon, to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. After Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration amid scrutiny over a federal sex trafficking investigation, Trump on Thursday tapped Pam Bondi to be U.S. attorney general.

Without further ado, heres the Tribunes Quotes of the Week quiz for the week spanning Nov. 10 to 16. Missed last week? You can find it here or check out our past editions of Quotes of the Week.

The quotes team will be taking a break next week for the holidays, but well be back with another quiz the first week of December. Until then, have a nice Thanksgiving and take care out there!
CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Three men are facing charges for conspiring to steal luxury vehicles, Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina announced.

Jonathan Marquis Stitt, 36, Francisco Arnoldo Lopez Pena, 41, and Jason Randall Spearman, 43, who all live in Charlotte, are accused of breaking federal law against transporting, owning and selling stolen vehicles, as well as removing Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs).

Stitt is also facing two counts of possession of a stolen vehicle, and Spearman is also charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

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According to the indictment, between 2020 and Oct. 2024, the three and their coconspirators arranged to steal high-end vehicle worth millions from individuals and businesses in the Carolinas, Georgia, Virginia and Maryland. This included luxury cars from Acura, Cadillac, Lamborghini, Land Rover and Mercedes-Benz as well as expensive trucks from Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, Freightliner and GMC.

Officials say they would then change the stolen vehicles VINs, use fraudulent 30-day tags and repaint the vehicles to try to hide their tracks. They would usually sell the vehicles below market value. They kept some of the vehicles.

Jonathan Stitt faces up to 30 years in prison, Francisco Pena up to 10 years and Jason Spearman up to 25 years.

This is the fifth Charlotte indictment for stolen vehicles since Aug. 2023.

Queen City News

High-End Vehicle Thefts

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said that people of Maharashtra have given Mahayuti an "unprecedented victory" and there "will be no dispute on CM face". "The people of Maharashtra have given us an unprecedented victory. This shows that people are with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In line with the slogan he gave 'ek hain toh safe hain', people from all sections and communities voted for us unitedly...," Fadnavis told reporters here. "This is the victory of Mahayuti, CM Eknath Shinde, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and Ramdas Athawale, this is the victory of unity...," he added. Answering a query, he said it had been decided that leaders of three parties would sit together and decide on the chief minister. "There will be no dispute on the CM's face. It was decided from day one that after the elections, the leaders of the three parties would sit together and decide on this. The decision will be acceptable to everyone, there is no dispute on this," he said. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde thanked the BJP central leadership for their support in Maharashtra campaign. "I thank all the workers of Mahayuti. PM Modi, Amit Shah bhai, Nadda ji - all supported us. They gave priority to Maharashtra. I am proud that I have been proven right about what I had said that we will win 200 seats. We (Mahayuti) fought like a team..." Union Home Minister Amit Shah congratulated Eknath Shinde, Deputy CMs Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis, as the Mahayuti is on course to a landslide victory in the assembly elections. Mahayuti has won or is ahead in 224 of 288 seats in the Maharashtra assembly. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi has won or is leading on 54 seats. (ANI)
Nov. 22TRIPP, S.D.  A Tripp city councilman's complaint regarding an August meeting in which the city's police chief's resignation was accepted will be heard by South Dakota's Open Meetings Commission.

Councilman Cody Fischer filed an open meetings complaint to the South Dakota Attorney General's Office following the special Aug. 1 meeting. Fischer alleges that the city of Tripp did not post notice of the special meeting at least 24 hours in advance of its start time.

Fischer claims he was notified via group text message at 9:29 a.m. of the meeting later that day, which was to begin at 7 p.m. Minutes say the meeting was called to order at 7:01 p.m. by Mayor Scott Schelske. Four Tripp city council members were present, and two were absent including Fischer.

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The council and mayor met in executive session for 23 minutes and accepted Tripp City Police Chief Darren Donnelson's resignation when the group came out of the closed-door meeting. South Dakota law allows government groups to hold executive session meetings for items such as personnel. The meeting was adjourned at 8:05 p.m.

Notice to the public of an open meeting for 24 continuous hours is a South Dakota law, a violation of which is a Class 2 misdemeanor. The South Dakota Open Meetings Commission will

review the case as part of an agenda

with six other cases, beginning at 9 a.m. Monday in Pierre. Those unable to attend in person will be able to attend by Microsoft Teams or SD.Net.

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A response from the Tripp City Attorney Mike Fink, of Fink Law office in Bridgewater, acknowledges the city did violate South Dakota Codified Law 1-25 when it held the special meeting without posting the agenda at least 24 hours in advance. Fink said, based on his communication with Schelske, that the mayor was "under the impression that the 24 hour rule did not apply to Special Meetings. He understands now that this is incorrect, and apologizes for the mistake."

Fink, in his response, said no council member the morning of the meeting questioned (at that time) whether the meeting could proceed on such short notice.

"As such, I suspect all were under the same mistaken impression regarding the 24 hour rule (or just didn't give it a thought)."

Fink also said it was "unfortunate" that Fischer did not bring the matter to the mayor before filing the complaint with the state's attorney to be forwarded to the Open Meetings Commission.

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"The complaining council member, in fact, supported the continuing employment of the police officer who resigned from his job on the night of the Special Meeting," Fink wrote. "This is telling, as it appears the council member chose to file the complaint with the States Attorney, rather than having a discussion with the rest of the board and myself in advance of a self-report."

In South Dakota, a Class 2 misdemeanor is a crime that can result in a maximum penalty of 30 days in jail and a $500 fine.
Nov. 22The Trotwood-Madison school board voted Thursday to remove board member Sidney Davis Jr. Board President Sonja Cherry said Davis' removal is due to continued meeting absences.

"(Davis' attendance record) does not meet the expectations outlined in our policies," Cherry said in an email to this newspaper Thursday evening. "This decision was not made lightly, as we recognize the importance of every member's role in supporting the success of our district."

The resolution approved during Thursday's meeting states Davis failed to appear for or attend any of the six board meetings in August, September, and October.

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"(Davis) has provided no reason or excuse for his absences from the meetings of the board ... rendering him absent without sufficient reason," the text reads.

According to the board's bylaw, and pursuant to Ohio Revised Code, a member forfeits his or her position after failing to appear for a period of 90 days without sufficient reason.

Davis was elected to Trotwood's board of education in November 2021, when he was one of three candidates running unopposed for three seats.

Earlier this month, Davis said he's had ongoing issues with members of the board, claiming he had been "peer pressured" to vote certain ways, and more recently, into resigning from his position.

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"We've not been seeing eye-to-eye since the new board members came in," Davis said then.

Davis also claims he had attempted to contact the district, both personally and through attorneys, to explain his meeting absences, at least one of which was due to a medical issue. Davis said he said he has never received any response.

In documents provided to the Dayton Daily News by Davis, a note from a physician states Davis has been unable to attend board meetings due to the medical needs of his partner, who is pregnant.

"Mr. Davis has felt it best to prioritize her health and their unborn child's welfare during this critical time," the letter reads.

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Davis' documents also outline several accusations against the board, including allegations that members have acted in ways that serve "personal and political interests," at the expense of the district. Davis' claims include abuse of authority, hostile work environment, coercion and intimidation, and Sunshine Law violations.

"On multiple occasions, I was contacted outside of meetings to ensure that my vote would align with the group's predetermined agenda," Davis wrote. "This organized collusion undermined the integrity of the board and subverted the democratic process."
Nov. 22A Trotwood man pleaded guilty to sexual abuse charges involving two girls  a 16-year-old he reportedly assaulted at gunpoint and a girl younger than 13.

Jeremiah Avery, 20, pleaded guilty to gross sexual imposition of a person younger than 13 and rape in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court.

Two additional rape charges were dismissed.

On Jan. 12 Dayton police opened an investigation after a woman reported her 16-year-old daughter had been raped, according to Dayton Municipal Court records.

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During a forensic interview, the teen said she had been hanging out with Avery when he reportedly started waving a gun around.

"Jeremiah pointed the gun at her and said he would kill her, her mom and her brother," an affidavit read.

He then reportedly sexually assaulted her.

The other case stemmed from an incident involving the younger girl on Oct. 16, 2023. Avery forced the girl to engage in a sex act with him, according to the Montgomery County Prosecutor's Office.

Avery is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 12.
EAST LIVERPOOL, Ohio (WKBN)  Back in October, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine made a stop in East Liverpool, announcing that a business from across the river was relocating to downtown.

True North is taking this piece of real estate in a new direction. In October, they made the announcement theyre moving their headquarters from across the river to downtown East Liverpool.

Were all local business owners. Were not some corporation out of Dallas. Collaboration of all the business owners is extremely important, said True North CEO and Founder Charles Bailey.

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Bailey believes the project can play a bigger role in the ongoing revitalization happening downtown.

This was envisioned to be an employee break room and cafeteria area but we decided to go and take it a step further and put in a true breakfast cafe that would be available not only to our employees but to the entire community, he said.

The company specializes in consulting services and bookkeeping for small businesses and start-ups. Theyre looking to find an operator for the restaurant, dubbed Latitude 40 for now, and allow them to tap into an audience of 70 or more people who work in the building.

True Norths core business is taking the burden off of business operators to enable them to focus on what they do best. What we want to do is give them resources to really enable that success and take the pressure off of them, Bailey said.

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The project is based more on collaboration than competition. True North expects to move in by the end of the first quarter of next year and theyd like to have the Latitude 40 open around the same time.

The term a rising tide floats all boats  thats exactly what were looking at here. Were not looking at Latitude 40 as competition for any other restaurant in town. Were looking at it as a catalyst to help those restaurants be even more, said Bailey.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Matt Gaetzs withdrawal from consideration as Donald Trumps attorney general is unquestionably a big victory for the rule of law. But now that Trump has put forth Pam Bondithe former Florida attorney general whose loyalty to Trump is almost as slavish as Gaetzsit raises a question: Why assume shell be any less wedded to his agenda of unleashing the Justice Department on his enemies and otherwise reducing it to a tool of his most corrupt designs and whims?

After all, a willingness to put Trump above the Constitution is a requirement for serving with him, especially in such a pivotal position. As Talking Points Memos David Kurtz notes, Trump will wield the DOJ as a centerpiece of his retribution, corruption and destruction jihad, and his attorney general will be merely the figurehead for that effort.

Thats why Democrats should start thinking right now about the opportunity presented by Bondis Senate confirmation hearings next year. This will be a major occasion to unmask just how far shell gladly go in corrupting the rule of law and unleashing the state on all the vermin he has threatened to persecute.

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The attorney general will be the weaponizer in chief of the legal system for Trump, Representative Jamie Raskin, Democrat of Maryland, told me.

Bondi has been a very committed Trump loyalist through his most flagrantly lawless moments. As Politico reports, just after he lost reelection in 2020, Bondi immediately joined forces with Rudy Giuliani to sow doubts about the results, helping lay the groundwork for his insurrection attempt. Bondi also stood by him when he faced prosecution for his criminal hush-money scheme and impeachment for extorting a foreign ally.

All this isnt just ancient history. It raises questions about what kind of attorney general shed be, in non-obvious wayswhich is where the confirmation hearings come in.

For instance, how will a devoted election denier turned attorney general handle remaining prosecutions of people who assaulted the Capitol? Does Bondi view a pardon of all the Janurary 6 criminals as in keeping with the rule of law? One House Democrat points to an interesting wrinkle: If Trump does pardon them, hell have to decide between individual pardons and a blanket one. As this Democrat notes, Bondi should be asked: What does she think of a mass pardon?

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Democrats can also press Bondi on how shell respond if Trump orders her to drop all remaining January 6 prosecutions. This is an opportunity for political theater: They can highlight specific cases of really heinous January 6 violence and ask Bondi if shell defend it when Trump pardons those good people.

What happens if Trump pardons the Proud Boys leaders who were convicted for seditious conspiracy and instigating the violence? said Tom Joscelyn, a lead author of the January 6 committee report, in suggesting lines of questioning for Bondi. What about the dozens of defendants convicted of assaulting cops?

Joscelyn adds that pardons for them would provide a major boost to violent far-right extremist groups in this country and would legitimize their cause. Dems should confront Bondi with all of that. Make her own every last bit of it.

Trump has threatened to prosecute enemies without cause. How will Bondi respond when he demands such prosecutions? He has vowed to yank broadcasting rights to punish media companies that displease him and send the military into blue areas for indeterminate pacification missions. His advisers are reportedly exploring whether military officers involved in the Afghanistan mission can be court-martialed. Raskin says Bondi should be confronted on all of this: Ask whether she thinks the First Amendment and due process are any impediment to what Trump has called for.

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Of course, the attorney general oversees law enforcement on a host of other matters; shell be asked about that as well. But its worth noting that Trump doesnt have any genuine vision for the Justice Department beyond turning it into a vehicle for unshackled state persecution of designated enemies of MAGA. How far he gets will turn heavily on what his consiglieres are willing to do when the corrupt orders really start coming.

Unlike Gaetz, Bondi seems to want to retain a tenuous connection to the purportedly respectable conservative legal movement. During her stint as Florida attorney general, she engaged in questionable practicessuch as refraining from joining a lawsuit against Trump University after Trump donated $25,000 to a political committee supporting herbut nonetheless, thats a major law enforcement job in one of the biggest states in the country. Bondi has also engaged in traditional lobbying and typical conservative legal advocacy. It wont be easy for Bondi to answer hard questions about what shell do as Trumps minister of retribution.

And Trump will expect her to deliver on all of it. While no one should underestimate what Bondi is capable of, shell find herself at loggerheads with Trump eventually. Trump turned against all his prior attorneys general when they retained a shred of respect for the rule of law, said Michael Sozan, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress. Hes expecting Bondi to be an arsonist. It wont end well for her. It will be even worse for the American people.

Theres still another unsettling consideration here. If and when Trump pardons the January 6 attackers, media commentary will exude a strong push toward turning the page and looking forward, not backward. But as Brian Beutler argues, all this impulse really does is risk encouraging exponentially more right-wing degeneracy later. Indeed, this instinct toward absolution will be doubly absurd coming even as Trump is preparing to escalate the lawlessness and unleash sadistic persecution of an ever-expanding list of enemies within.

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Yet lets face it: Chances are it will be politically challenging to explain to the public why all those things from way back in the past should still weigh on us and why we must resist a mass forgetting of them. By successfully ending prosecutions of himself and by pardoning the Capitol attackers, Trump will in effect be trying to make January 6 disappear, and it will be hard to explain why it matters that Trump is effectively rewriting all of it as a massive historical lie.

Democrats need to start thinking through how theyre going to talk about all these things when this Great Rewrite begins, and the confirmation hearings for one of the chief authors of that rewrite are a good place to start. Senate Democrats: Make them count.
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia  A top Senate ally of President-elect Donald Trump poured cold water over the idea of negotiating a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, saying the Kremlin couldnt be trusted and would see any peace proposals as a sign of Western weakness.

As much as I would like to believe we can negotiate with a tyrant, I suspect we may be deceiving ourselves," Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) said of Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at the Halifax International Security Forum.

Do you believe that this tyrant, if you offer him a part of a free country, do you think hes gonna stop? Rounds asked. I wish I could say theres an easy way out, theres not.

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The impassioned comments from Rounds, which he stressed were not the position of the incoming Trump administration, still represent a starkly differing view in the Republican party from Trumps vows to broker a peace deal with Russia within days of assuming the presidency. They also reflect a pro-Ukraine view that is widely-held in the Senate Republican caucus even if other camps in the MAGA world are pushing Trump to cut U.S. military aid to Ukraine when he takes office in January.

Rounds spoke after Hanna Hopko, a Ukrainian civil society leader and former member of parliament, expressed frustration with the amount of time it has taken the U.S. to agree to weapons transfers and to loosen restrictions on their usage.

He echoed that sentiment. I just feel so frustrated that we have not been able to provide them all of the equipment that they need, and all of the weapons systems that they need, in order to respond to the absolute tyranny coming from Russia, Rounds said. I wonder why we havent done more more quickly than we have.

Rounds added to the skepticism from some Western officials about the prospect of Trumps vows to end the war early into his administration  though officials have been careful not to directly criticize Trump in their assessments in public.

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Ukraine is staving off a renewed assault from Russian troops and North Koreans who have been sent to the frontlines.

"We have to continue to support Ukraine because there's so much at stake, and I cannot imagine that it is in the interest of the U.S. to see Putin coming out of those negotiations as a winner, Royal Netherlands Navy Adm. Rob Bauer, the chair of NATOs Military Committee, told POLITICO on the sidelines of the Halifax conference.
Donald Trumps Christian nationalist, crusades-obsessed defense secretary nominee expects the military to mobilize against U.S. citizens in a civil war.

Pete Hegseth, a veteran and former Fox & Friends co-host, outlined a deeply troubling, extremist right-wing agenda for Americas future in his 2020 book, American Crusade.

America will decline and die. A national divorce will ensue. Outnumbered freedom lovers will fight back, Hegseth writes. The military and police, both bastions of freedom-loving patriots, will be forced to make a choice. It will not be good. Yes, there will be some form of civil war.

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In another section, Hegseth writes that our present moment is much like the 11th Century. We dont want to fight, but, like our fellow Christians one thousand years ago, we must. Arm yourselfmetaphorically, intellectually, physically. Our fight is not with guns. Yet.



This is deeply troubling rhetoric from the man who might be in charge of the Pentagon in a few months. Hegseth also continuously cites internal cultural threats that need to be eliminated, like socialism, secularism, environmentalism, Islamism, and genderism, and identifies the need to defeat Americas internal enemies, aligning seamlessly with Trumps enemy within talking points. Hegseths nomination is currently in jeopardy over accusations that he sexually assaulted a woman in California in 2017.

The former Fox News host is the exact type of defense secretary Trump is looking forlittle experience, complete loyalty, and a deep personal vendetta against anything outside a narrow right-wing vision for society. Hegseth drives this point home in American Crusade, ending the book with:
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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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.

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The anti-vaxxer said he sees himself as pro-choice and believes it is always the womans right to choose.

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.

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem was tapped to be the next secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo)

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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.

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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.
President-elect Donald Trump is set to nominate businesswoman and former Georgia Senator Kelly Loeffler to serve as the secretary of the Department of Agriculture, according to CNN.

The billionaire conservative donor is currently serving as the co-chair of Trumps inauguration planning committee.

The appointment comes as Trumps technology company is reportedly in talks to acquire crypto group Bakkt, formerly headed by Loeffler and founded by her husband Jeffrey Sprechers company Intercontinental Exchange. Loeffler served as CEO of Bakkt from 2018 until December 2019, when she was appointed to fill a vacancy in the Senate by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp.

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Trump Media and Technology Groups interest in the group sent shares of Bakkt soaring earlier this week.

Loeffler drew criticism early in her Senate term for selling off stock in retail firms following a briefing on the coronavirus pandemic. The $20 million deal raised concerns over insider trading. She lost her seat in early 2021 to Democrat Raphael Warnock.

Loefflers appointment drew another round of online criticism of alleged self-serving business transactions.

So basically Loeffler (former CEO of crypto company BAKKT) and her husband Sprecher (current CEO of intercontinental exchange, which majority owns BAKKT) are selling BAKKT to Trumps Truth Social in exchange for a cabinet position, cool cool cool, economic analyst Joey Politano wrote in a post to social media.

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so basically Loeffler (former CEO of crypto company BAKKT) and her husband Sprecher (current CEO of intercontinental exchange, which majority owns BAKKT) are selling BAKKT to Trumps Truth Social in exchange for a cabinet position, cool cool cool [image or embed]  Joey Politano (@josephpolitano.bsky.social) November 22, 2024 at 2:17 PM

If confirmed, Loeffler will be among the richest members of Trumps administration, joining billionaires Doug Burgum, Howard Lutnick, Linda McMahon, Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk.
Congress Candidate Mukesh Malhotra defeated BJP candidate and state cabinet minister Ramniwas Rawat by 7364 votes in Vijaypur assembly bypolls, according to the Election Commission of India. Malhotra secured 1,00,469 votes while BJP's Rawat managed to get 93,105 votes in the by-elections. After winning the election, Congress candidate Mukesh Malhotra told ANI, "I give the credit of victory to the people of Vijaypur assembly constituency. Also, I extend my gratitude to my party workers, office-bearers and all the leaders of my party. With the support of these people, I have won the election here." The Congress party workers celebrated the victory of Vijaypur seats at the state Congress office in Bhopal and distributed sweets on the occasion. State Congress Chief Jitu Patwari dedicated the victory of Vijaypur assembly seat in Sheopur district to the party workers, stating that they endured all kinds of tortures, faced police lathicharge and lawsuits but still they stood firmly. "Vijaypur's victory is the victory of only and only Congress workers. The party workers endured all kinds of tortures, faced police lathicharge and lawsuits but still they stood firmly. The entire system was also against the Congress. The BJP was contesting the elections with the backing of goons, dacoits and mafia, yet the Congress workers showed how great the power of truth is," Patwari wrote on his X. He further wrote, "I bow before each and every worker of the Congress. I give the credit of the victory to Baba Saheb Ambedkar's constitution and Congress workers." Two assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh which include Vijaypur assembly seat in Sheopur district and Budhni seat in Sehore district underwent by-poll on November 13. Vijaypur assembly seat in Sheopur district fell vacant after Ramniwas Rawat, who was sitting MLA from the seat from Congress party, quit the grand old party and joined the BJP amid the Lok Sabha elections in April this year. Currently, Rawat is the Forest and Environment Minister in the cabinet of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav. On the other hand, Budhni assembly seat is the bastion of senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and it got vacant as he got elected as Member of Parliament (MP) from Vidisha constituency in the recently concluded general election 2024. BJP candidate Ramakant Bhargava contested from Budhni while congress fielded Rajkumar Patel. According to the latest data of ECI, status as on round 10 out of 13, BJP nominee Bhargava has been leading with 10142 votes by securing 83,368 votes with Congress' Patel having 73226 votes. (ANI)
Donald Trump plans to appoint Richard Grenell, his former intelligence chief and a vocal critic of Ukraine's rapid NATO membership, as a special envoy for the "Russia-Ukraine conflict".

Source: Reuters with reference to four sources familiar with Trump's transition plans

Details: Reuters noted that Grenell, who previously served as US Ambassador to Germany and Acting Director of National Intelligence during Trumps presidency from 2017 to 2021, could become a key figure in the president-elects efforts to end the war in Ukraine if his nomination is confirmed.

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According to anonymous sources, Trump is considering creating the role of a special envoy dedicated exclusively to resolving the "Russia-Ukraine conflict". This could be one of his first diplomatic initiatives after taking office. However, a final decision on establishing the position has not yet been made.

During his campaign, Trump promised to end the war within 24 hours but has not disclosed the specifics of his plan.

Some of Grenells statements might give Ukrainian leaders pause for thought.

Quote: "In July, he advocated for the creation of "autonomous zones" as a means of settling the conflict, which began after Russia invaded Ukrainian sovereign territory. He also suggested he would not be in favour of Ukraine joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation in the immediate future, a position he shares with many Trump allies."

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Details: Supporters of Grenell emphasise his extensive diplomatic experience and knowledge of European affairs. In addition to his work in Germany, he served as a special envoy for US talks between Serbia and Kosovo.

Grenell was previously considered a contender for Secretary of State, reflecting the high level of trust he enjoys from the president-elect.

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Pete Hegseth, Donald Trumps pick to be secretary of defense, has called for an educational insurgency to take over American schools in an appearance on a right-wing podcast.

During a CrossPolitic discussion about religiously affiliated schools, Hegseth explained his idea for a system of classical Christian schools to provide recruits for an underground army that could eventually launch an educational insurgency.

Host Toby Sumpter said: I think we need to be thinking in terms of these classical Christian schools are boot camps for winning back America.

Pete Hegseth, Donald Trumps pick for defense secretary, at the US Capitol (Getty Images)

Thats what the crop of these classical Christian schools are gonna do in a generation, Hegseth agreed. 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.

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We call it a tactical retreat, Hegseth continued. 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 the middle of 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.

Appearing on a Christian nationalist podcast last night, Pete Hegseth said he's creating a system of "classical Christian schools" to provide recruits for an underground army that will eventually launch an "educational insurgency" across the nation. https://t.co/OnW3oNXoDf pic.twitter.com/dSb0RB8Y5Q  Right Wing Watch (@RightWingWatch) November 19, 2024

He added to laughter: Obviously, all of this is metaphorical and all that good stuff.

Right Wing Watch first reported that the nominee to be defense secretary was a guest on the show on Monday to discuss his 2022 book Battle for the American Mind. The podcast comes after claims two of Hegseths tattoos are associated with far-right extremism, though he dismissed the accusations as anti-Christian bigotry.

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The veteran and Fox News weekend anchor has been dogged by controversy since a police report emerged regarding allegations of sexual assault against a woman at a conservative event in California in 2017. Hegseth says the encounter was consensual.

Former Fox News host Hegseth has been accused of sexual assault, which he denies (REUTERS)

The allegations make him one of a number of Trumps prospective candidates to be accused of sexual misbehaviour, including former attorney general nominee Matt Gaetz.

Gaetz stepped back from consideration amid reports that he had sex with a 17-year-old girl, an allegation he forcefully denies.

Hegseths probability of being confirmed appears to have dipped significantly since Gaetzs departure.
(Bloomberg) -- President-elect Donald Trump picked Brooke Rollins as US secretary of agriculture, tapping a member of his first-term White House team and elevating another loyalist to his incoming administration.

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Rollins commitment to supporting farmers, food self-sufficiency and the restoration of agriculture-dependent American small towns is second to none, Trump said Saturday in a statement.

Rollins heads the America First Policy Institute, which she founded in 2021 to help lay the groundwork for Trumps eventual return to the White House. Its tasks included creating how-to guides for incoming staffers and policy recommendations from people who served during the first Trump administration.

The conservative Texas lawyer was previously director of the Domestic Policy Council and assistant to the president for strategic initiatives during Trumps first administration, where she was involved in securing a bipartisan criminal justice reform law. She also served as former Governor Rick Perrys policy director before heading the Texas Public Policy Foundation.

Rollins name emerged after CNN reported Friday that Trump was expected to select Kelly Loeffler, a former senator from Georgia and prominent donor.

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His ultimate choice was a reminder that no nominee is final until announced by Trump  as evidenced by the contest for Treasury secretary, which spilled into public view and ended up with the president-elect picking hedge fund executive Scott Bessent, who beat out rivals in a dramatic competition after starting off as the front-runner.

If confirmed, Rollins will be a crucial adviser to lawmakers on shepherding a long-stalled farm bill through Congress after the 2018 reauthorization expired last year and received a short-term extension.

Shed also be likely to review the departments internal operations, given Trumps stated goal of making government cuts.

I look forward to working with her to ensure that modern agriculture remains competitive and allows farm families to thrive so they can continue to supply an affordable and abundant supply of food and fiber, Senator John Boozman of Arkansas, the senior Republican on chambers Agriculture Committee, said on X.

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Trump cited Rollinss experience, including her agriculture studies at Texas A&M University, her familys farming background and guiding her four kids in their show cattle careers. She will spearhead the effort to protect American Farmers, he said.

The Agriculture Departments role goes beyond farm policy  it also manages food stamps, school lunches and other nutrition programs, and its responsible for forest conservation, food inspections and rural development.

Project 2025, the Heritage Foundations manifesto for conservative policy seen by many as a guidebook for the incoming administration, has called the departments 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.

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Agriculture is likely to be swept up in other Trump priorities, including the threat of higher tariffs that could prompt foreign retaliation against US farm exports. Trump papered over the issue in his last presidency by raiding billions in leftover funds from a crop insurance program.

Rollins policy group has been seen as a sort of shadow government for the second Trump administration. Many top officials in it served in high-ranking positions in the first administration and have spent the last four years planning potential policies and drafting lists of personnel to help Trump transition back to the White House.

AFPI chair Linda McMahon headed the Small Business Administrations during Trumps first term, was named co-chair of Trumps transition and was chosen by the President-elect on Tuesday to lead the Department of Education.

House Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn Thompson, a Pennsylvania Republican who was among the names floated for secretary, said he looks forward to working with Rollins and Trump to make agriculture great again!

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--With assistance from Skye Witley.

(Updates with lawmaker reactions starting in ninth paragraph.)

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2024 Bloomberg L.P.
A version of this story appeared in CNNs What Matters newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here.

President-elect Donald Trump is still putting together his Cabinet for his second term, and many other government positions will open up when he takes the oath of office in January.

But theres a growing expectation that he will quickly make at least one new vacancy by firing FBI Director Christopher Wray.

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There would be some circularity in that particular personnel move since it was Trump who hired Wray, a Republican, by nominating him to a 10-year term in 2017. That said, Trump has never shied away from firing someone he once backed.

FBI directors get those 10-year terms as the result of a post-Watergate law that was in response to J. Edgar Hoovers much-too-long and controlling 48-year leadership of the FBI.

The term length is supposed to inoculate the director from political pressure. But it never works out that way.

If Trump fires Wray, hed be first president to fire 2 FBI directors

Trump famously fired then-FBI Director James Comey months after taking office for his first term in 2017. Comey was also a Republican, although he was nominated to the position by Democratic President Barack Obama. (Comey later said in 2018 that he cant be associated with the Republican Party due to Trumps influence on the GOP.)

Presidents before Trump pushed FBI directors out

In 1993, Bill Clinton fired then-FBI Director William Sessions after an internal ethics report emerged during the prior years presidential campaign. It included questions about a $10,000 fence installed around the directors home and flights he had taken, among other issues.

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Earlier, Jimmy Carter suggested during the 1976 presidential campaign that he would have fired then-FBI Director Clarence Kelley over revelations about window drapery valances improperly installed at his home, among other things. Carter did not immediately fire Kelley when he took the White House, but Kelley was ultimately forced to resign, according to Douglas Charles, a history professor at Penn State University, who noted that the drapery scandal today seems like very small fry stuff.

But at the time, it would have tested the new law, which Congress passed in 1976, for Carter to fire Kelley.

There certainly was the question, can any president fire an FBI director when theres a legislated 10-year term, Charles said.

While that question has clearly been answered now, those previous firings were about ethics and personal failings. Trumps are about policy differences, including over the role of the Justice Department overall.

Why did Trump fire Comey?

The stated reasons for Comeys firing, laid out in a memo prepared for Trumps Justice Department, were contradictory. Comey was criticized both for not prosecuting Hillary Clinton over her treatment of classified material and then for releasing derogatory information about Clinton at a press conference.

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The real reason Comey was fired, as Trump admitted to NBC News at the time, was Comeys investigation into ties between Trumps 2016 campaign and Russia.

Former FBI director James Comey takes his seat at the beginning of the Senate Intelligence Committee hearing in Washington, DC, on June 8, 2017. - Andrew Harnik/AP

Then Trumps troubles cascaded

In the furor that followed Comeys firing, it was the author of the Justice Department memo recommending Comeys firing, then-Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who appointed a special counsel to follow up on the Russia investigation.

Rosenstein appointed the special counsel because Trumps attorney general, Jeff Sessions, had recused himself from any investigation related to Trumps 2016 campaign. Sessions did so because he had failed during Senate confirmation hearings to disclose preelection contacts he had with Russias ambassador to the US at the time.

Enter another former FBI director

Who did Rosenstein pick as special counsel to lead that Russia investigation? Robert S. Mueller III, who happened to be the former FBI director. Mueller was widely respected and had taken charge of the FBI days before the 9/11 attacks in 2001. Congress passed a special law to extend his term by two years during the Obama administration.

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Anyone who remembers Trumps first term can recall that speculation about the Russia investigation sucked up much of the oxygen in Washington and led to the prosecution of several of Trumps top 2016 campaign aides, including campaign chairman Paul Manafort, who Trump later pardoned. Trump has complained that the investigation was part of a deep state effort to undermine him.

Unintended consequences

The cooperation by Trumps former fixer Michael Cohen with Muellers investigation is what led to revelations about hush money payments for which Trump was convicted in New York earlier this year. Trumps sentencing for his conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records has been delayed indefinitely after his election win.

What the Mueller report concluded

The release of Muellers report was slow-walked by Trumps second attorney general, Bill Barr, who gave the impression that Muellers report exonerated Trump. It did not.

Mueller was constrained by Justice Department rules that bar the prosecution of a sitting president. When the full report was released in April 2019, Mueller said there was not enough evidence to prove collusion between Trumps campaign and Russians. It also specifically did not exonerate Trump.

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While this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him, the report said. It also concluded that while Trumps campaign in 2016 expected help from Russia, it didnt conspire with Russia. That gets forgotten after years of Trump referring to Muellers investigation as the Russia hoax.

There are things that helped generate the Mueller investigation, notably the discredited Steele dossier, that will forever anger Trump.

Then-special counsel Robert Mueller makes a statement about the Russia investigation on May 29, 2019, at the Justice Department in Washington, DC. - Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Trump targeted FBI officials

There were also related scandals, such as the release of anti-Trump texts by an FBI agent at the time, Peter Strzok, who initially played a role in Muellers inquiry, and Lisa Page, who was then an FBI attorney with whom Strzok was having an affair. The FBI agreed in July of this year to pay $2 million to Strzok and Page to compensate for the release of those text messages.

Another FBI official, Andrew McCabe, who served briefly as acting director after Trump fired Comey, was fired by Sessions days before his retirement. McCabe, now a CNN contributor, ultimately won back his pension in court.

Trump turned on Wray

Wray was overwhelmingly confirmed to succeed Comey in August 2017 in part by promising during confirmation hearings to maintain independence from the White House. Trump, meanwhile, prizes loyalty.

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Even while Trump was still president in 2020, he had already turned on Wray, in part because he felt Wray was not cooperating with special counsel John Durham  who was appointed by Barr, Sessions replacement, to investigate the Mueller investigation.

In this 2017 photo, then-President Donald Trump sits with FBI Director Christopher Wray in Quantico, Virginia. - Evan Vucci/AP/File

All of that adds up to why Trump wants loyalists at the Department of Justice, including the FBI.

Douglas said that about 100 years ago, in the wake of the Teapot Dome scandal that exposed corruption within the federal government, there was talk in the Senate of taking the Department of Justice, including the FBI, completely out of politics and making it and all of its employees an independent part of the civil service.

Trump wants to go in the opposite direction today and bring the FBI more under the control of the president.

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Editors Note: A previous version of this article was first published on November 22. It has been updated to include Trumps pick to direct the National Institutes of Health.

President-elect Donald Trump has announced his picks for critical remaining public health roles in his incoming administration.

Trump named Dr. Janette Nesheiwat as US surgeon general; Dr. Marty Makary as US Food and Drug Administration commissioner; Dr. Dave Weldon, a former congressman from Florida, as director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and Dr. Jay Bhattacharya as director of the National Institutes of Health.

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The announced selections come as some in the public health world have already expressed concern over the president-elects intention to elevate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist, to the nations top health post as secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services. Trumps picks paint a fuller picture of what the health agency would look like under Kennedy, if confirmed by the US Senate.

A person familiar with the search told CNNs Kaitlan Collins that Kennedy played a key role in selecting the names to fill out the department, including the FDA commissioner and the CDC director.

The appointees, if also confirmed, will fall under the purview of Kennedy, who has emphasized the importance of ridding the department and its agencies of corruption. Trump, for his part, said on the campaign trail that he would let Kennedy go wild on health.

US surgeon general

Also known as the nations doctor, the surgeon general is a medical doctor who focuses on educating and advising Americans on how to improve their health. He or she issues advisories, reports and calls to action to offer the best available scientific information on crucial issues. He or she also serves as vice admiral of the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, overseeing this group of uniformed officers who seek to promote the nations health.

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Nominees for surgeon general must be confirmed by the Senate to serve.

Nesheiwat is a family practice doctor and Fox News medical contributor who is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. She attended medical school at the American University of the Caribbean in St. Maarten, according to her New York state physician profile, and did postgraduate work at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

Were coming up on the five-year anniversary of Covid, Nesheiwat said Sunday on a Fox News segment about mpox. And if you remember, under the President Trump administrations leadership, youll recall that we had incredible public health policies, President Trumps unparalled creation of Operation Warp Speed was one like weve never seen before. And thats a vaccine that saved thousands of lives, and we still saw lives saved even after President Trump left office.

FDA commissioner

The commissioner of food and drugs oversees the FDA, which is responsible for the safety, efficacy and security of medications, biological products, medical devices, food and cosmetics. Vaccine authorization or approval falls under the FDAs purview. It also regulates the manufacturing, marketing and distribution of tobacco products.

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The commissioner is traditionally a medical doctor, and nominees are subject to Senate confirmation.

Makary is a surgeon and researcher at Johns Hopkins University. He received a medical degree from Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University and attended graduate school at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. He was elected to the National Academy of Medicine, Johns Hopkins says, and helped lead the World Health Organization patient safety program.

Makary, like Nesheiwat, has Fox News ties. In an opinion piece published on Fox News at the height of the pandemic in 2021, Makary argued that Covid-19 had revealed the FDA to be a broken administration mired in politics and red tape.

The agency moved too slowly in its authorization of the antiviral pill molnupiravir, he said, and stubbornly clung to its recommendations on Covid vaccine spacing. Its time for our old guard medical leaders to step aside into advisory roles and let new scientists, ones who are not afraid to speak up, take charge, he wrote.

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He became a paid contributor for the network as the pandemic wound down in March 2024 and remained in the role through mid-2024, according to a Fox News spokesperson. He appeared on Fox News Sunday earlier this week to endorse Kennedy as HHS secretary.

During the pandemic, Makary was a proponent of the importance of natural immunity derived from Covid-19 infection.

In February 2021, he predicted in the Wall Street Journal that this natural immunity would help the nation achieve herd immunity to the coronavirus within two months. Later that year, he wrote an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal arguing that workers who had natural immunity and who had been fired for not being fully vaccinated should be reinstated. The superiority of natural immunity over vaccinated immunity is clear.

CDC director

The director of the CDC leads the nations foremost public health agency, which deals with disease prevention and control and environmental health. Among his or her most prominent duties is making final recommendations on vaccinations and immunization schedules. He or she also serves as administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, which responds to large-scale hazardous exposures such as chemical spills.

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Formerly appointed by the president, the CDC director position will be subject to Senate confirmation beginning in January.

Weldon got a medical degree from SUNY-Buffalo on an Army scholarship and did postgraduate training in internal medicine at the Letterman Army Medical Center. He served six years in active duty and eight in the Army Reserve, according to a biography on his US Senate campaign website. He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine.

As a physician, Dr. Weldon became involved with many health care policy issues, including efforts to ban human cloning and vaccine safety, the campaign website notes. He helped lead the effort to remove toxic mercury containing preservatives from childhood vaccines.

In 2007, then-Rep. Weldon introduced the Vaccine Safety and Public Confidence Assurance Act, which aimed to create an Agency for Vaccine Safety Evaluation within HHS. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is responsible for promoting both high immunization rates and vaccine safety, duties perceived by some to constitute a conflict of interest, the legislation noted.

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In 2005, during the legal battle over Terri Schiavo, a Florida woman who was left in a persistent vegetative state after cardiac arrest, Weldon introduced the Incapacitated Persons Legal Protection Act to permit a federal court to review the issue.

NIH director

The director of the NIH sets agency policy and manages the programs and activities of the research centers 27 institutes and centers, which include the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute on Aging, the National Library of Medicine and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Nominees for the research centers director are subject to Senate confirmation.

Bhattacharya received his medical degree from the Stanford University School of Medicine and a doctorate from the universitys Department of Economics.

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He emerged as a critic of strict lockdown policies during the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2020, he co-authored the Great Barrington Declaration, which called for a focus on protecting the elderly and most vulnerable while ending lockdown measures such as school closures, saying they caused disproportionate damage to the overall populations health and well-being. This stance was at odds with views held by public health officials  with then-NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins calling the open letters writers fringe epidemiologists  and Bhattacharya later said he was targeted for censorship by federal government officials.

In 2022, Bhattacharya and Makary, Trumps pick to lead the FDA, were among a group of eight scientists and researchers who created a blueprint containing key public health questions for a COVID-19 commission on the nations pandemic response. The Norfolk Groups document questioned such topics as failures to protect older high-risk Americans, collateral lockdown harms, misleading risk communication and downplaying infection-acquired immunity.

CNNs Kaitlan Collins, Brian Stelter and Meg Tirrell contributed to this report.

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The youngest child of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr didnt want Donald Trump to become the next president  but Dr Bernice King believes Trumps inauguration taking place on the same day as the federal holiday honoring her father is a small win.

Im glad that if it was going to happen, it happened on the King holiday, because Dr King is still speaking to us, she told The Independent. She sees the January 20 event as a wake-up call for the country and an opportunity to stand up to the incoming administrations charged agenda items.

We cannot retreat or recoil, King said. We have to commit ourselves to continuing the mission of protecting freedom, justice and democracy in the spirit of my father.

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King had been excited about the prospect of seeing Vice President Kamala Harris, who is of Black and South Asian heritage, become the countrys first female president on MLK Day.

Bernice King looks up at her fathers memorial in Washington in August 2023, 60 years after the March on Washington (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Shed hoped the US would elect someone who embodied the values her father did. Not someone whos spewing hateful rhetoric, whos not been very kind-hearted and whose policies are not humane in their approach, as she described the president-elect.

She later added: A Trump win could potentially set in motion a perilous and oppressive presidential administration that would undermine and deny the hard-fought battle for civil and human rights for which my parents and so many others sacrificed.

Civil rights leaders like her are worried the incoming administration will attempt to scale back those rights. Trump has proposed a mass deportation plan, vowed to go after his enemies, and intends to implement discriminating federal policies against LGBTQIA+ people and people of color.

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The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and NAACP have announced their commitment to fighting what may come next.

Chief Justice John Roberts, right, reads the oath of office to the former president at the ceremonial swearing-in at the US Capitol in 2013. Obama used Kings Bible in the ceremony (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

We are entering a new era of civil rights for better or worse, Gerald Griggs, president of the Georgia NAACP, said. We have not seen an assault on civil rights like I believe is about to happen since the 50s, maybe even the 20s.

The group is working to ensure Trumps power does not go unchecked by bolstering its legal and lobbying teams. Griggs said hes willing to give the president-elect a chance, but is concerned about some of his recent actions, like appointing former congressman Matt Gaetz as his pick for US attorney general. Gaetz withdrew himself from consideration on Thursday.

Under Trump, Griggs fears the Department of Justices civil rights division will be weaponized against minority groups.

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We have to be ready right now, he said. We are already having organizational meetings, both on the national level and the state level, to prepare the units for whats about to happen.

In a news release distributed the day after the election, the ACLU promised to defend against Trumps deportation plan, provide counsel to whistleblowers and challenge any discriminatory policies and regressive plans on reproductive freedoms.

The late civil rights leader speaks to thousands during his "I Have a Dream" speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in Washington on August 28, 1963 (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

King knows any pushback against the incoming administration will require the same level of dedication seen during her fathers movement, before the country had a Civil Rights Act or a Voting Rights Act.

In the weeks after the election, shes been comforted by his famous words like, Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred, something he said while delivering the famous I Have a Dream speech in 1963.

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I know a lot of people are angry right now, King told The Independent. But we cant let that rot in us.

Thousands of protesters are expected to descend onto the streets of Washington DC ahead of Trumps inauguration.

The Peoples March on Washington is scheduled for January 18. A coalition of organizations, including the ACLU, Planned Parenthood and the National Womens Law Center, are planning the event to protest Trumps stances that they fear will undermine civil rights.

On Inauguration Day, Al Sharptons National Action Network plans to hold a rally in the city.

There has never been a more important time to peacefully mobilize and organize, Sharpton said while announcing the event on MSNBC last week.

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MLK Day has been celebrated on the third Monday in January since its establishment in 1983, while Inauguration Day has been set as January 20 since 1937. The late civil rights icon was assassinated in 1968.

Protesters cheer at the Women's March on Washington during the first full day of Donald Trump's presidency in 2017 (AP)

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Griggs and King will spend the holiday attending events commemorating the late Kings legacy. As Trump takes the oath, Griggs wants the incoming president to consider the importance of the late icon in American history and not forget people in King Jrs birthplace, Fulton County, are still waiting for an explanation on charges related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

In August 2023, Trump was charged with racketeering and conspiracy for allegedly urging Georgia officials to sway the results in his favor. The case has been delayed after a December 5 hearing in the matter was canceled until further order from the court.

Its interesting, Griggs said of the upcoming holiday. The juxtaposition of a man of immense greatness, humility and concern for the community, with Donald Trump.

Only two presidents have taken the oath on the holiday before: Barack Obama in 2013 and Bill Clinton in 1997. Obama used a Bible belonging to the civil rights leader in the ceremony.

The Independent emailed a Trump spokesperson asking whether the president-elect would incorporate Kings legacy into the ceremony but did not get a response.
Migrant families and immigration advocacy groups are preparing for millions of families to potentially be separated from each other during the mass deportations planned by President-elect Donald Trump.

Asylum seekers walk along a desert road after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border on Sept. 22, 2024 near Jacumba Hot Springs, Calif.

It is unclear how exactly the deportations will play out and how families will be impacted. But a recent study by the American Immigration Council, a pro-immigration advocacy group, estimated that up to 4 million mixed-status families  where some members are undocumented and some are U.S. citizens  could be separated.

In states like Arizona, Colorado and Pennsylvania, mixed-status families, asylum-seekers and advocates say they are planning for scenarios where children could be separated from their parents.

Migrants wait in a processing center at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Dennis DeConcini port of entry in Nogales Ariz. in June.

In Pennsylvania, Lillie, a U.S. citizen who did not want to use her last name out of concern for her familys safety, has been married to her undocumented husband from Honduras for 10 years. Last week, she took her U.S.-born children to get their passports and plans to get a power of attorney drawn up in the event her husband gets deported, she said.

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If something happens and my husband is detained or hes deported, it would be very difficult for me to get passports for my children, for our children, to be able to leave the country to go see him, she said.

Her husband was detained back in 2017, during the last Trump administration, for about two months. The experience has affected him mentally and emotionally, she said.

Hes made it clear that if it were to happen again, it would not be Lets stay and fight, Lillie said. It would be Lets just go, because he does not want to stay in detention again.

Throughout his successful 2024 run for the presidency, Trump has rallied supporters on the promise that he would enact the largest mass deportation effort in American history. And while Trump has said he will begin by prioritizing criminal noncitizens for deportation, the former president and his incoming administration have not ruled out separating or deporting families.

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When asked by CBS News last month if there was a way to carry out mass deportations without separating families, Tom Homan, who has since been named as Trumps border czar, said, Families can be deported together.

Specific mass deportation plans are still being developed by Trump and his transition team, but sources familiar with the planning told NBC News recently that restarting family detention and potentially building more detention facilities in nonborder U.S. cities are being considered.

People hold "Mass Deportation Now!" signs at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, on July 17, 2024.

Preparations in Arizona and Colorado

In Tucson, Arizona, the Coalicion de Derechos Humanos, a group of more than 10 nonprofit organizations, is helping undocumented and mixed-status families create emergency packets ahead of potential mass deportations. The idea, organizers say, is partly based on past experiences where parents have been detained or deported while their children were in school.

We had cases where they made calls. We had cases where they were not able to get in touch with the mother, their friends, said coalition co-founder Isabel Garcia.

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The emergency packet, which coalition members are helping families make in local workshops, will include key documents such as a power of attorney for parental authority, family emergency contacts and a childs school records.

Garcia said that community interest in the coalition and its services has peaked since Trump won the 2024 presidential election.

More people have come to our meetings. We have had more people calling us. We are now inundated with people, Garcia said.

Advocacy groups are also bracing for state-level changes to immigration enforcement that could result in deportations. Organizers for Coalicion de Derechos Humanos in Tucson say they are bracing for the impact of Proposition 314, a hard-line state immigration and border enforcement law that Arizona voters passed in November.

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The measure makes it a state crime to enter Arizona between a port of entry illegally and allows local law enforcement to arrest noncitizens and state judges to order deportations. It also adds state penalties to acts like selling fentanyl that lead to the death of another person and presenting false information to an employer or a public benefits program.

Proposition 314 is one of multiple immigration-related state laws passed in the U.S. to address what supporters say is a record-high number of illegal border crossings under the Biden administration.

Scenes of asylum-seeker encampments in nonborder cities as well as high-profile crimes committed by immigrants contributed to immigration becoming a key issue in this years election in states like Arizona that helped Trump return to the White House.

A woman with a young child boards an ICE Air flight back to Honduras in Harlingen, Texas in 2023.

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Some sections of Arizonas Proposition 314 cannot go into effect until similar laws currently held up in court, like Texas Senate Bill 4, are in effect for at least 60 consecutive days. And some Arizona sheriffs have expressed concerns about having to enforce the full extent of Proposition 314.

It would create distrust in the community, said Santa Cruz County Sheriff David Hathaway, referring to the predominantly Latino jurisdiction he oversees. They wouldnt want to call 911. They would be hesitant to call us.

Hathaway, a former Drug Enforcement Administration agent, says hes also worried about the lack of training and funding related to the new law. Hes worried that his workforce of 40 deputies will be overextended if he asks them to take on immigration duties on top of general crime in the area.

We have no training to become immigration officers, and Im going to stick with the same basics of law enforcement as every one of the 3,000 elected sheriffs across the U.S., Hathaway said. Coincidentally, Im located on the border, but my priorities are still the same as any other sheriff in the U.S.

Fear in Colorado

In Denver, Yoli Casas runs a nonprofit that has assisted thousands of the more than 19,200 migrants who have arrived in the city since Texas Gov. Greg Abbott started busing migrants to the area in May 2023.

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While the number of daily arrivals has diminished significantly in recent months, Casas says her team has received a surge of emails and texts from the community that has not stopped since Election Day.

Casas says she has gotten messages from families asking whether they could grant her organization power of attorney to do things like put children on planes in the event of a separation.

The nonprofit leader says shes beginning to meet with lawyers and families to talk through whats possible and how best to answer such questions from the community.

She said that children in the after-school programs she operates are posing questions as well.

Theyre even asking, Are we going to get deported? she said. And other children are saying, Is my friend going to be deported?

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is considering naming his former intelligence director, diplomat Richard Grenell, as a special Ukrainian peace envoy to lead negotiations on an end to Russia's war, Reuters reported on Nov. 22.

Fox News previously reported on Nov. 13 that Trump planned to announce a special envoy to take the lead on peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv. Throughout his campaign, Trump insisted he would negotiate a swift end to Russia's all-out war in Ukraine if reelected.

Grenell is a contender for the new position, four sources close to Trump's transition plans told Reuters.

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Grenell served as U.S. Ambassador to Germany during Trump's first presidential term and as acting National Intelligence Director for a period in 2020. He was also appointed Special Presidential Envoy for Serbia and Kosovo Peace Negotiations from 2019-2021.

In July, Grenell told Bloomberg that a path to peace in Ukraine could include the creation of "autonomous zones," though he did not explain what this would entail.

"Autonomous regions can mean a lot of things to a lot of people, but you got to work through those details," he said.

Grenell also said he did not think Ukraine should become a member of NATO in the near future.

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The sources who spoke to Bloomberg said it was still possible Trump could change his mind about establishing the Ukraine envoy position.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
(Bloomberg) -- President-elect Donald Trump said he was naming Fox News medical contributor Janette Nesheiwat as his surgeon general, elevating another personality from the conservative network to a top role in his incoming administration.

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Dr. Nesheiwat is a fierce advocate and strong communicator for preventive medicine and public health, Trump said in a statement. She is committed to ensuring that Americans have access to affordable, quality healthcare, and believes in empowering individuals to take charge of their health to live longer, healthier lives.

The Office of the Surgeon General is responsible for providing Americans with scientific information about healthcare options and how to reduce the risk of illness, and best known for issuing warnings on products like cigarettes. Shes expected to work in the new role alongside Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the former presidential candidate who has vowed a dramatic overhaul of the nations healthcare system.

Nesheiwat joins Fox and Friends weekend host Pete Hegseth, who Trump selected to run the Pentagon, Tulsi Gabbard, the former Fox News contributor chosen as national intelligence director, and Mike Huckabee, a former Fox News host as top administration officials with ties to the network.

Nesheiwat led a flurry of additional senior staff hires announced by Trump on Friday, including:

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Former Congressman Dave Weldon as the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency was at the center of controversies over Trumps handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

Marty Makary, the Johns Hopkins surgeon known for questioning medical orthodoxy, was picked to run the US Food and Drug Administration.

Sebastian Gorka, the conservative commentator who served briefly in Trumps first administration before departing amid issues over his security clearance, was named as Senior Director for Counterterrorism.

Alex Wong, who served as Trumps Deputy Special Representative for North Korea, was named as the principal deputy to incoming National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.

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Jagdambika Pal, Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on Waqf Amendment Bill 2024, on Saturday met Muslim delegations ahead of the winter session of the Parliament. JPC Chairman Jagdambika Pal told ANI that the delegation issued a memorandum regarding the proposed Amendment Bill of the Waqf Board "Different delegations from Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, some professors of Delhi University, Islamic scholars, former Vice Chancellor of Lucknow and others from the minority community had come and issued a memorandum regarding the proposed Amendment Bill of Waqf Board," Jagdambika Pal said. He also said that the delegations affirmed their support for the Bill and cited the example of Triple Talaq Jagdambika Pal further added, "They said that they support this bill because as they got freedom from Triple Talaq, similarly if this bill is passed, then the women and children will benefit from this..." The JPC committee 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, which will run from November 25 to December 20. The JPC's efforts are part of a larger national initiative to reform the Waqf Act and ensure that waqf properties are used for the greater good of the community. Since August 22 of this year, the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2024, has held 25 meetings. The JPC reviewed the work of six ministries and heard from 123 stakeholders, including representatives from six states, eight Waqf boards, and four minority commissions. It is pertinent to note that The Waqf Act, of 1995, which was created to regulate waqf properties, has long faced allegations of mismanagement, corruption and encroachments. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 seeks to bring sweeping reforms, introducing digitisation, stricter audits, transparency and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties. The JPC is holding a series of meetings to gather input from government officials, legal experts, Waqf Board members and community representatives from different states and Union Territories, aiming for the most comprehensive reform possible. (ANI)
President-elect Donald Trump on Friday announced his choices to lead the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as his pick for the surgeon general post.

Trump, 78, nominated Dr. Marty Makary  a professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and contributor for The Post  to serve as FDA commissioner.

Makary has been an outspoken critic of the Biden-Harris administrations handling of the coronavirus pandemic, accusing White House officials of pushing unsupported claims about the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines and risks the virus poses.

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In his announcement, Trump said that the FDA has lost the trust of Americans and has lost sight of its primary goal as a regulator.

Trump has nominated Post contributor Dr. Marty Makary as FDA commissioner. Getty Images for HBO

The Agency needs Dr. Marty Makary, a Highly Respected Johns Hopkins Surgical Oncologist and Health Policy Expert, to course-correct and refocus the Agency, the president-elect said.

Makary has also railed against the overprescribing of drugs, the use of pesticides on foods and the influence pharmaceutical and insurance companies have over physicians and federal agencies.

Trump indicated that Makary will work closely with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.  his pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services  to 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.

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The president-elect touted Makarys devotion to improving Medical Quality and lowering Hospital and Drug Costs for all Americans and his advocacy for Healthcare Transparency.

Makary has written hundreds of scientific articles and several books on healthcare.

Dr. Janette Nesheiwat has been tapped to serve as surgeon general. AP

I am confident that Dr. Makary, having dedicated his career to High-Quality, Lower-Cost Care, will restore FDA to the Gold Standard of Scientific Research, and cut the bureaucratic red tape at the Agency to make sure Americans get the Medical Cures and Treatments they deserve, Trump said.

Trump also selected former Rep. Dave Weldon (R-Fla.) to head the CDC on Friday.

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The agency has come under fire from Republicans in Congress since the pandemic over its inconsistent and flawed guidance on masking, lockdowns, vaccines and boosters and the threat of COVID-19 to children. The agency has also been accused of withholding data about COVID-19 vaccines from Congress.

Weldon, a doctor and Army veteran, served seven terms in the House of Representatives before opting to not seek re-election in 2008.

Americans have lost trust in the CDC and in our Federal Health Authorities, who have engaged in censorship, data manipulation, and misinformation, Trump said of the embattled agency. Given the current Chronic Health Crisis in our Country, the CDC must step up and correct past errors to focus on the Prevention of Disease.

The current Health of Americans is critical, and CDC will play a big role in helping to ensure Americans have the tools and resources they need to understand the underlying causes of disease, and the solutions to cure these diseases.

Trump wants former Rep. Dave Weldon to lead the CDC. AP

Trump indicated that Weldon will prioritize Transparency, Competence, and High Standards at the agency and proudly restore the CDC to its true purpose, and will work to end the Chronic Disease Epidemic, and Make America Healthy Again!

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Rounding out Trumps end of the week selections for health posts is Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, whom he tapped to serve as surgeon general.

Nesheiwat is a Fox News medical contributor and the medical director for CityMD, a network of urgent care clinics in New York and New Jersey.

Trump lauded Nesheiwats unwavering commitment to saving and treating thousands of American lives, describing her as a fierce advocate and strong communicator for preventive medicine and public health.

She is committed to ensuring that Americans have access to affordable, quality healthcare, and believes in empowering individuals to take charge of their health to live longer, healthier lives, the president-elect continued, noting that Nesheiwat worked on the front lines in New York City at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Her expertise and leadership have been pivotal during some of the most challenging Healthcare crises of our time, Trump said. Dr. Janette provided on-the-ground medical treatment to Americans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the Joplin tornadoes. She is also a member of Samaritans Purse Disaster Assistance, Relief Team, and has provided lifesaving care during crises in Morocco, Haiti, and Poland.

Dr. Nesheiwat will play a pivotal role in MAKING AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN!
President-elect Trump has tapped his first term alums Alex Wong and Sebastian Gorka to join his national security team for his second go-around.

Gorka will act as the deputy assistant to the president and as the senior director for counterterrorism while Wong will serve as assistant to the president and as the principal deputy national security advisor while, Trump said in a statement through his transition.

Since 2015, Dr. Gorka has been a tireless advocate for the America First Agenda and the MAGA Movement, serving previously as Strategist to the President in the first Trump Administration, the release reads.

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Gorka, who Trump noted is a legal immigrant, has over 30 years of national security experience. Gorka was born in the United Kingdom.

During Trumps first term, Wong was the deputy special representative for North Korea. He later served as the deputy assistant secretary for East Asian and Pacific affairs within the State Department.

In the statement, Trump said Wong helped broker his summit with Kim Jong Un in North Korea during his first term.

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President-elect Donald Trump has selected Marty Makary, a Johns Hopkins surgeon who criticized the Biden administrations Covid response, to lead the FDA.

FDA has lost the trust of Americans, and has lost sight of its primary goal as a regulator, Trump said in a statement late Friday, adding Makary would course-correct the agency if confirmed.

He 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, Trump said.

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Makary emerged during the Covid pandemic as a critic of the FDA  first on how long it took the agency to review data leading up to its approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, and then for not considering changes to recommendations for children in light of the risk of a rare heart condition in young males thats been linked to the shot.

His suggestion that the agency slow-walked the first Covid vaccines to undermine then-President Trump prompted fierce pushback from agency leaders. Four years later, Makary, a Johns Hopkins gastrointestinal surgeon who advised the first Trump White House, stands to be recognized for his vociferous support of the president-elects pandemic response.

While Makarys record may not endear him with all Senate Democrats, his selection could also quell fears of an anti-vaccine cloud hanging over the agency charged with evaluating those products for the American market. He advocated for federal authorities to develop nuanced recommendations for the Covid vaccines  like focusing on older individuals and those with high-risk health issues  and to consider changing the mRNA vaccine regimens for healthy children to one dose.

Im pro-vaccine. But the issue of the appropriate clinical indication of the [Covid] vaccine is not an all-or-nothing phenomenon, as we frequently see in American culture and politics, he wrote in an August 2021 op-ed for U.S. News & World Report.

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Still, his propensity to lambaste federal health officials like Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, likely earned Makary points with Trumps team.

One senior Republican on the Senate HELP Committee  the panel tasked with holding a confirmation hearing for the top FDA job  praised Makary on Thursday before he was formally announced.

Great guy, impeccable credentials, academia, patient medicine and also a real believer in patient freedom, said Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who has also been vocal with his criticism of Fauci.

Dr. Jerome Adams, Trumps surgeon general during his first term, said he doesnt know Makary personally.

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But he seems like a reasonable choice, and is the least surprising of all the health picks so far, he said.

Chris Meekins, an HHS official during Trumps first term whos now a health policy research analyst at Raymond James, said Makarys views may create more upheaval on the FDAs food programs rather than its drug offices.

Dr. Makary will likely be a more welcome pick for industry and investors compared to some of the other names being floated, but he will not be as well received as Dr. Scott Gottlieb, Trumps first FDA commissioner, he said.

Makarys latest book, published in September, may have helped ingratiate him with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s camp.

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It examines instances where modern medicine has ultimately gotten the science wrong  like doctors insisting opioids arent addictive or urging consumers to avoid foods naturally high in fat.

Makary defended Kennedy, Trumps pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, on Fox News Sunday on Nov. 17, saying the founder of the anti-vaccine group Childrens Health Defense is now saying very clearly hes not anti-vax.

What is scary and dangerous to health is not RFK Jr.  its what people just witnessed, Makary said, pointing to the early years of the opioid epidemic and what he described as the medical establishment ignoring the effects of natural immunity during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Makary donated $1,000 to Barack Obamas presidential campaign in 2008, according to Federal Election Commission records. He also gave $3,000 to the campaign of then-Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) between 2004 and 2006.
Donald Trump has nominated Scott Bessent, a billionaire investment manager who is gay, as secretary of the Treasury.

Bessent, if confirmed by the U.S. Senate, would be the first out member of the LGBTQ+ community to be Treasury secretary and one of only a few to ever hold a Cabinet or Cabinet-level position.

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Scott has long been a strong advocate of the America First Agenda, Trump said in a statement Friday, confirming earlier reporting by several major news outlets that Bessent would be the Treasury nominee. On the eve of our Great Countrys 250th Anniversary, he will help me usher in a new Golden Age for the United States, as we fortify our position as the Worlds leading Economy, Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurialism, Destination for Capital, while always, and without question, maintaining the U.S. Dollar as the Reserve Currency of the World.

Bessent, 62, is the founder of Key Square Capital Management, a hedge fund. His background may upset some of the MAGA crowd, however. From 2011 to 2015, before starting Key Square, he was chief investment officer at Soros Fund Management, a hedge fund founded by George Soros, and Bessent had worked for Soross firm at various times since 1991. Soros is a major donor to Democrats and a bete noire of the far right. Some right-wingers claim  falsely  that Soros pays protesters who turn out to support liberal causes. But Trump liked [Bessents] billionaire bona fides and the fact that he converted to the MAGA movement after working for Soros, CNN reports.

Bessent donated to Trumps presidential campaign and advised him on economic policy. He has contributed to some other Republican politicians and is a longtime friend of Vice President-elect JD Vance, but he also has donated to Democrats, including Al Gore, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama. He hosted a fundraising event for Gores presidential campaign in 2000.

Bessent could earn bipartisan support, the Associated Press reports, but some Democrats have already expressed skepticism about him. Donald Trump pretends to be an economic populist, but it wouldnt be a Trump Treasury Department without a rich political donor running the show, Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, told The New York Times. When it comes to the economy, the government under Trump is of, by and for the ultrawealthy.

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Bessent has signaled support for a more gradual approach to tariffs than that of Trump, who has called for a 60 percent tariff on goods from China and 10 percent to 20 percent on those from other countries, CNN notes. Many economists oppose across-the-board tariffs, as the cost will be passed on to consumers and raise prices.

The nominee also wants to lower the national debt but favors extending some parts of Trumps tax cut legislation, most of which are set to expire at the end of 2025. Estimates from different economic analyses of the costs of the various tax cuts range between nearly $6 trillion and $10 trillion over 10 years, the AP reports.

He lives in South Carolina with his husband, John Freeman, a former prosecuting attorney in New York City. They have two children. Bessent is the nephew of the late U.S. Rep. John Jenrette, a progressive Democrat from South Carolina who was disgraced in the mid-1980s scandal known as Abscam. It was "a two-year sting operation that videotaped politicians and others taking bribes from federal agents pretending to be rich Arabs looking for favors," The New York Times explained in its obit of Jenrette in 2023. Jenrette was convicted of conspiracy and violating the federal law against bribery, and he served 13 months in prison.

Bessent would be the first gay Senate-confirmed Cabinet member in a Republican administration. Richard Grenell, a gay Republican and longtime Trump ally, was acting director of national intelligence in Trumps first administration after having been ambassador to Germany. The director of national intelligence is not part of the Cabinet but is considered Cabinet-level, so Grenell was the first out gay person to achieve that. Because of the interim nature of his post, he did not need Senate confirmation. Pete Buttigieg, secretary of Transportation in the Biden administration, was the first out Senate-confirmed Cabinet official.

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Trump's pick of a gay man as Treasury secretary doesn't mean his new administration won't be a threat to LGBTQ+ people, especially transgender people. Another nominee announced by president-elect Friday is more in keeping with the Trump team's ideology. He chose Russell Vought as director of the Office of Management and Budget, a post he held in the last few months of Trump's first administration after having been deputy director and acting director. Vought is a coauthor of the deeply anti-LGBTQ+ Project 2025, a blueprint for conservative government that Trump has claimed to know nothing about.

After the end of Trump's first term, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, which has a mission "to renew a consensus of America as a nation under God," it states on its website. "The organization has engaged in fights against so-called critical race theory, LGBTQ rights, immigration, and voting rights," according to Monitoring Influence, a watchdog group. Trump has raised funds for the Center for Renewing America.

Vought's previous experience includes working for Heritage Action for America, the lobbying arm of the Heritage Foundation. The Heritage Foundation was the driving force behind Project 2025. He also worked for Mike Pence when Pence was a congressman and another Republican, Phil Gramm, when Gramm was a U.S. senator. And Vought has even said the Federalist Society, a conservative legal organization that has influenced Trump's judicial choices, is not conservative enough, The New York Times notes.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said on Friday that he has choosing former State Department official Alex Wong to serve as deputy national security adviser.

Wong, who served as deputy special representative for North Korea during the first Trump administration, "helped negotiate my Summit with North Korean Leader, Kim Jong Un," Trump said in a statement.

Trump also chose Sebastian Gorka to serve as White House senior director for counterterrorism, saying he had more than 30 years of national security experience.

(Reporting by Jasper Ward; editing by Costas Pitas)
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.

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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.

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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.

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President-elect Donald Trump has picked Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, a Fox News medical contributor, to serve as the U.S. next surgeon general.

Trump announced his plans to nominate Nesheiwat on Friday, along with several other key names.

Dr. Nesheiwat is a fierce advocate and strong communicator for preventive medicine and public health, Trump said in a statement.

She is committed to ensuring that Americans have access to affordable, quality healthcare, and believes in empowering individuals to take charge of their health to live longer, healthier lives.

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If confirmed by the Senate, Nesheiwat will be in charge of providing Americans with the best scientific information available on how to improve their health and reduce the risk of illness and injury, according to a job description from the Department of Health and Human Services.

Dr. Janette Nesheiwat attends the 2023 FOX Nation Patriot Awards at The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. Terry Wyatt via Getty Images

As a Fox News contributor, Nesheiwat has discussed health issues like drug and alcohol use and natural disaster relief, Reuters reported. In 2022, she launched a supplement product called B-C Boost that claims to help strengthen & boost your immunity.

Nesheiwat completed her medical residency at University of Arkansas Medical Center and currently serves as medical director at CityMD, a network of urgent care centers in New York and New Jersey.

Following Trumps announcement, a spokesperson for Fox News told several publications that Nesheiwat was no longer a Fox News contributor.

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Dr. Nesheiwat will play a pivotal role in MAKING AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN! Trump wrote in his statement.

Related...
President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Lori Chavez-DeRemer, one of most pro-union Republicans to recently serve in Congress, to be his Labor secretary.

Chavez-DeRemer lost her reelection bid to represent Oregon in the House by a narrow margin. Her campaign was backed by about two dozen unions, including those representing flight attendants and grocery store workers.

Sean OBrien, the president of the influential International Brotherhood of Teamsters union, pushed for Chavez-DeRemers nomination.

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In Congress, she was one of three House Republicans to support the PRO Act, one of the most substantial union bills in recent years that would strengthen workers rights to organize and limit retaliation from employers. She was also one of the few House Republicans to support the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act, which would expand collective bargaining rights for state and local government workers  positions predominately held by women.

Chavez-DeRemer has advocated for improvements to the child care system. Last year, she was one of only five Republicans who responded to The 19ths questions about the kind of child care policy theyd support, saying she was in favor of expanding a tax credit for employers who offer child care.

She has spoken about the importance of the Republican party being the party of workers with President Trump leading the way.

Lori has worked tirelessly with both Business and Labor to build Americas workforce, and support the hardworking men and women of America, Trump wrote on Truth Social, his social media platform.

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On X, OBrien, of the Teamsters union, thanked Trump for putting American workers first with Chavez-DeRemers nomination.

Nearly a year ago, you joined us for a Teamsters roundtable and pledged to listen to workers and find common ground to protect and respect labor in America. You put words into action. Now lets grow wages and improve working conditions nationwide, OBrien wrote.

If confirmed, Chavez-DeRemer would follow Bidens first Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, a longtime union leader, and acting Labor Secretary Julie Su  the former California labor secretary and commissioner, as well as a former labor attorney  in the role.

The pick represents something of a break for Trump, who has typically chosen pro-business leaders to head the department.

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Now the question is how Trumps approach could evolve with Chavez-DeRemer at the helm.

It was expected that Trumps Labor Department would undo some regulations from past administrations. Likely on the chopping block is an Obama-era overtime rule that administrations have been fighting over ever since.

During the Obama administration, the Department of Labor expanded the number of workers eligible for 1.5 times pay if they work more than 40 hours a week to those earning up to about $47,000 a year  about 33 percent of people, according to an analysis by the Economic Policy Institute, a nonpartisan think tank that focuses on the needs of low- and middle-income workers.

But the rule was blocked in court, and when Trump took office, his Department of Labor proposed a new rule with a lower threshold at about $35,500, gutting the impact. About 8 million workers  4.2 million women, 2.9 million people of color, 2.7 million parents  were cut out as a result.

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The Biden administration then pushed back, raising the threshold back to those earning up to about $43,800. An estimated 4.3 million workers, more than half of whom are women, were impacted. A Trump-appointed federal judge in Texas recently blocked that expansion, teeing up Trumps Labor Department to take over from there. The threshold is set to go up again to $58,656 in 2025.

During the president-elects first term, the department also rolled back the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces executive order issued during the Obama administration that required federal contractors to comply with 14 labor and civil rights laws, including a paycheck transparency rule. Biden issued a new rule last year that bars more than 80 federal agencies from considering workers current or past pay in setting their salaries, a practice that has suppressed wages for women by carrying inequities from one job to the next and one that is considered key to closing the pay gap between men and women.

Its likely the Trump administration will want to revisit those policies again.

The post Trump picks Lori Chavez-DeRemer, a pro-union Republican, to lead the Department of Labor appeared first on The 19th.

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Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Oregon, lost her congressional seat in a close election this month to Democratic state Rep. Janelle Bynum. (Julia Shumway/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

Oregon Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who cultivated a closer relationship with some labor unions than most Republicans and narrowly lost her bid for a second term in Congress earlier this month, is President-elect Donald Trumps pick to lead the U.S. Labor Department.

Trump on Friday praised Chavez-DeRemer, the daughter of a Teamster who sought endorsements from unions in her unsuccessful reelection campaign, for building relationships with business and labor.

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I look forward to working with her to create tremendous opportunity for American Workers, to expand Training and Apprenticeships, to grow wages and improve working conditions, to bring back our Manufacturing jobs, Trump said in a statement. Together, we will achieve historic cooperation between Business and Labor that will restore the American Dream for Working Families.

Chavez-DeRemer thanked him in a social media post, writing Working-class Americans finally have a lifeline with you in the White House. Its time to bring our economy to new heights and secure a prosperous future for all hardworking Americans.

She narrowly won election in 2022 in Oregons 5th Congressional District, which stretches from Bend across the Cascades to the suburbs of Portland. Democratic President Joe Biden won the district by 9 points in 2020, and Democratic state Rep. Janelle Bynum  who twice beat Chavez-DeRemer in state legislative races and will be Oregons first Black member of Congress  defeated Chavez-DeRemer by 2.4 points this year.

Chavez-DeRemer operated as a moderate Republican during her nearly two years in federal office, frequently citing an analysis that rated her the second-most bipartisan member of Congress.

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She also sought support from unions, garnering endorsements from more than 20 of them. Most of those endorsements came from small local unions, though she received the sole endorsement of Teamsters Joint Council No. 37, which represents roughly 20,000 workers in various industries across Oregon, Idaho and southwest Washington.

National Teamsters President Sean OBrien, who spoke at the Republican National Convention this summer, supported Chavez-DeRemer for labor secretary. He posted a photo Friday evening of himself with Trump and Chavez-DeRemer, thanking Trump in the caption for putting American workers first by nominating Chavez-DeRemer.

North Americas strongest union is ready to work with you every step of the way to expand good union jobs and rebuild our nations middle class, he wrote.

Oregons largest private-sector union, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555, gave both Chavez-DeRemer and Bynum its greenlight stamp, indicating that both candidates values align with the unions. The states other large unions  Service Employees International Union Local 503, with 72,000 members; the Oregon Education Association, with 41,000 members; and the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, with 300,000 Oregon members  exclusively backed Bynum.

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Chavez-DeRemer rarely mentioned Trump on the campaign trail, though she publicly endorsed him ahead of the May primary in Oregon. One of her final campaign stops, an October rally with House Speaker Mike Johnson, was to an audience decked out in pro-Trump merchandise.

The business manager of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 701 introduced Chavez-DeRemer at that event, and Johnson commented on her support for unions.

Shes got more labor union endorsements than any Republican Ive ever seen in my life, Johnson said. She understands the plight of working people.

Since losing her election, Chavez-DeRemer has vocally praised Trump, writing on X earlier this week that he expanded on his Working Class coalition by speaking directly to hardworking Americans. This is a true political realignment. We must continue to be the party of the American Worker, with President Trump leading the way!

Democrats criticize record

Democrats criticized Chavez-DeRemer for endorsing Trump and voting for Johnson as speaker, as well as for inconsistent statements and actions on issues including abortion rights, protections for LGBTQ+ individuals and the Biden administrations infrastructure law.

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Both liberals and conservatives have criticized her labor record  Democrats say she hasnt proven that shes a friend of the labor movement despite seeking endorsements, while conservative organizations including the Competitive Enterprise Institute faulted her for backing the Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act, or PRO Act, a Democratic priority which would weaken state right-to-work laws to allow unions to collect dues from all employees, increase penalties for employers who violate labor law and strengthen employees legal rights to join a union.

Before running for Congress in 2022, Chavez-DeRemer served on the Happy Valley City Council and as mayor of the 28,000-population Portland suburb. She ran unsuccessfully for the state House in 2016 and 2018, losing both times to Bynum.

Some of her colleagues in Oregons congressional delegation were surprised by rumors Trump was considering Chavez-DeRemer.

U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas, a Democrat who along with Chavez-DeRemer was one of Oregons first Latinas in Congress, called discussion about it interesting during a Thursday interview.

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If the Trump administration thinks that she would be a reasonable pick for Department of Labor, I think that could be interesting, Salinas said. I dont know how much background she actually has in labor and workforce issues, I think she served on the committee, but yeah, it could be interesting.

Retiring U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, the Democratic dean of Oregons congressional delegation, said he didnt know what to make of Trumps appointments, who he said were manifestly polarizing and unqualified.

I wish Lori luck, he told the Capital Chronicle. I hope they treat her better than they treated the others by not doing their homework. Thats a brutal situation to be in, and I wish her well if she decides to wade into it.

U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz, who will return to being the only Republican member of Oregons congressional delegation after Chavez-DeRemers loss, praised her nomination.

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She is an excellent choice by president-elect Trump to serve as labor secretary and she will be a credit to our great state of Oregon. Congratulations again to you, Lori, soon to be Madam Secretary!! Bentz wrote on X.

Updated at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22 with additional reactions.

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Jharkhand Mukti Morcha candidate from Gandey and Chief Minister Hemant Soren's wife, Kalpana Soren, continued to lead from her seat in the Jharkhand state assembly election counting on Saturday. According to the latest data by the Election Commission of India, Kalpana is leading on the seat by a margin of over 13,000 votes. Expressing gratitude, Soren said, "I want to thank the people of Gandhey, Giridih, and the people of the state for showering love on me and blessing me like their daughter..." The JMM-led India bloc is set to retain the power in Jharkhand, with the alliance leading by almost 50 seats. But the Congress, which contested 30 seats in the state, is leading on 14 seats with a strike rate of 46 per cent. Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) contested 43 seats and is leading on 30 seats, a strike rate of nearly 70 per cent, while the Rashtriya Janata Dal contested six seats and gained a lead on four seats. As per the election commission, JMM is leading on 34 seats, while the alliance partners Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal, and Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) are leading in 16, 4, and 2 seats, respectively, totalling the alliance leading in 56 seats. The opposition alliance, BJP, is leading on 21 seats, while its alliance partners, AJSU Party, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), and Janata Dal (United), are leading on one seat each. In Jharkhand, the first phase of polling took place on November 13, covering 43 of the 81 assembly seats. The contest is between the JMM-led alliance, comprising Congress, RJD, and CPI (ML), and the BJP-led NDA alliance, which includes AJSU, JD (U), and LJP. Exit polls had predicted that the NDA could win between 42-47 seats, while the JMM-led alliance is expected to secure 25-30 seats. Voter turnout in Jharkhand was reported at over 68.45 per cent on election day, surpassing the 2019 election turnout of 65 per cent. In the 2019 elections, the JMM won 30 seats, the BJP 25, and Congress 16 seats. The results for all 81 constituencies in Jharkhand, along with the Maharashtra and by-poll results, will be declared today. (ANI)
Trump will almost certainly be unable to deport every unauthorized immigrant in the country. But that doesnt mean his efforts wont harm millions of people. Maddie Abuyuan / HuffPost; Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

In the aftermath of Donald Trumps election to a second term as president, attention has turned to his highest-profile campaign promise: the massdeportation of millions of undocumented immigrants living in the United States.

But uncertainty remains about the scope of Trumps plans. Who exactly does he want to deport? And will he actually be able to carry out a mass deportation operation?

Trump and his allies say they will focus on violent criminals, staging rallies with posters of mugshots showing alleged illegal immigrant gang members and talking about immigrants as invaders who are poisoning the country with their bad genes.

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But the fine print is always the same. When they say criminals, they mean all roughly 11 million undocumented people in the country, most of whom have lived in the United States here for years, have family and loved ones who are U.S. citizens, and have never committed a serious crime.

The real question is whether Trump has the power to turn his campaign pledge into reality.

The short answer is almost certainly that Trump will not be able to deport every unauthorized immigrant in the country. But that doesnt mean Trumps efforts wont harm millions of people.

While most discussions of immigration and deportation focus on the removal of people encountered at the U.S.-Mexico border each year, removing unauthorized immigrants who have established lives within the country is a separate and typically much slower process. Theres no modern precedent for deporting even 1 million migrants from within the United States in a single presidential term, let alone several million.

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In recent history, the single most efficient president at removing unauthorized immigrants from the interior of the United States was Barack Obama, whose first administration deported roughly 872,000 migrants from inside the country. Trumps first term, by contrast, fell well short of half that figure.

This time around, the scale of Trumps deportation policy will ultimately depend on how skillfully his administration navigates the logistical and legal hurdles that have always obstructed mass deportation.

If he pursues the most aggressive form of his campaign promise, as outlined by key advisers in recent months  erecting detention camps, aggressive interior policing, and attacks against key temporary legal protections held by millions of undocumented people  Trumps second term will likely be more indiscriminate, and more punitive, than his first.

Though legal challenges may slow him down, Trump has broad power to pursue mass deportation  and hes made clear he intends to use it.

No Ones Off The Table

U.S. immigration enforcement agencies do not treat all unauthorized immigrants the same.

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Under presidents Obama and Biden, ICE lawyers extended prosecutorial discretion to cases involving migrants with clean criminal records or close ties to the United States, as a way to prioritize limited deportation resources for people with criminal records or who pose national security threats. Trump, on the other hand, scrapped Obamas priorities in his first term, replacing them with a much broader scope of deportable migrants. As a Department of Homeland Security memo at the time put it, ICE will not exempt classes or categories of removal aliens from potential enforcement.

Trump is expected to follow that same path this time, and key incoming officials have said as much.

No ones off the table. If youre in the country illegally, its not OK. If youre in the country illegally, you better be looking over your shoulder, Trumps incoming border czar Tom Homansaid in July. The bottom line is, every illegal alien is a criminal. They enter the country in violation of federal law. Its a crime to enter this country illegally, he added. Homan made the same point on NewsNation last week.

And Homan said earlier this month that the massive deportation operation would be focused on those people entering the country illegally, which is a crime.

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Its not technically true that all unauthorized immigrants are criminals. Though crossing the border without authorization is a misdemeanor at first, and then a felony every time after that, some undocumented people  such as those who overstay visas  are civil offenders, not criminals.

Nonetheless, Trump and his allies have painted all undocumented immigrants broadly as criminals, and theyve said they intend to go after everyone.

Last November, Stephen Miller  a key Trump adviser on immigration and the incoming deputy chief of staff for policy  told The New York Times, in the papers words, that a new Trump administration would shift from the ICE practice of arresting specific people to carrying out workplace raids and other sweeps in public places aimed at arresting scores of unauthorized immigrants at once.

That message hasnt always reached the communities that could be at risk of deportation.

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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Lautaro Grinspan, for example, spoke to several people in line at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement office who said they didnt believe Trump would deport them because they are not criminals. One woman whos lived in the country for decades told the BBC of Trumps mass deportation threats, Thats for criminals to worry about. I pay taxes, and I work.

President Trump will marshal every federal and state power necessary to institute the largest deportation operation of illegal criminals, drug dealers, and human traffickers in American history while simultaneously lowering costs for families, Karoline Leavitt, the incoming White House press secretary and a Trump-Vance Transition spokesperson, told HuffPost in a statement. The American people re-elected President Trump by a resounding margin giving him a mandate to implement the promises he made on the campaign trail, like deporting migrant criminals and restoring our economic greatness. He will deliver.

Who Is Actually Undocumented?

In order to understand who Trump will try to deport, its important to get our definitions straight. That means defining whos considered undocumented  and, within that group, whos actually legally and practically able to be deported quickly.

Roughly 11 million undocumented people lived in the United States as of 2022, according to both the Department of Homeland Securitys and Pew Research Centers most recent estimates.

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Estimates of the undocumented population include people who have temporary protections from deportation, such as people who are applying for asylum (even if they crossed the border without authorization), people with so-called temporary protected status, recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, and people applying for certain visas from within the United States. This group with temporary protections accounts for almost 30% of the undocumented population, according to Pew.

The undocumented population estimates do not include naturalized citizens, green card holders, approved refugees, people whove been granted asylum, and people with temporary lawful status like students with visas.

Nearly two-thirds of the undocumented population has lived in the United States for over a decade, and a third of those 15 and older reside with at least one U.S.-citizen child under 18, according to a Migration Policy Institute analysis of 2019 figures. The vast majority of undocumented immigrants live in mixed status households. Some 8.5 million undocumented people live alongside U.S. citizens, or, in some cases, noncitizens with legal status, the Center for Migration Studies reported, based on 2022 data. In all, 5.5 million U.S.-born children live in households with at least one undocumented resident, according to CMS.

All told, about 1 in 12 U.S. residents will be at risk of either deportation or family separation  the result of deporting a member of a mixed-status or undocumented household  in 2025, FWD.us, a pro-immigration-reform group, recently estimated.

Trump's "border czar" Tom Homan said the president-elect had given the "green light" for mass deportation. Maddie Abuyuan / HuffPost; Photo by Jeenah Moon/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

Who Can Be Deported Quickly?

Defining the various kinds of groups considered undocumented is important because these distinctions get to the heart of Trumps mass deportation campaign promise. Trump wont be able to deport everyone immediately.

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Some people have received what are known as final orders of removal, meaning an immigration judge has determined they can be deported. Recentreports citing unnamed officials put the figure at between 1.4 and 1.5 million people. Only a fraction of that number is currently in ICE custody, or part of an alternative to detention program like wearing an ankle bracelet. This group will be a top priority for the Trump administration, as will detaining people with final removal orders who arent in ICE custody. This is where ICEs cooperation with local law enforcement agencies is key.

I think whats most likely is that the main pathway to deportations will be people who have local criminal justice involvement and then get transferred to ICE, Julia Gelatt, associate director of the U.S. Immigration Policy Program at the Migration Policy Institute, told HuffPost. We could see expansion of that pathway led by localities that are eager to cooperate with ICE.

If ICE found recent contact information on someone, even if that person wasnt a high priority [during other administrations] because they didnt have criminal involvement or anything, but they were known to be removable, and ICE has fresh location information, they might go arrest that person, Gelatt added.

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Others have been ordered removed from the country in absentia  meaning after they missed an immigration court date  though these orders can be reversed in some cases, for example if the affected person did not receive proper notice of their hearing. In all, there are millions of cases currently pending in immigration court.

Even if Trump vastly expanded the scale and pace of the immigration legal system  a tall order  hed still need the cooperation of other countries to accept people deported from the United States. The repatriation flights that Miller hopes will constantly churn between U.S.-based detention facilities and countries around the world depend in part on diplomacy. Trump has not laid out any details for how hed make this happen. But as things stand, the United States considers many countries recalcitrant or at risk of noncompliance when it comes to accepting back their own citizens.

Trumps also likely to target those allowed into the United States via parole programs, which offer a legal pathway into the country without conferring long-term legal status.

Then theres expedited removal, or the process by which people whove just crossed the border can be deported without a hearing. Expedited removal is a common method for expelling people newly arrived on U.S. soil. Presidents of both parties have used it extensively, particularly the Biden administration in recent months. In fact, Bidens use of the practice is one of the reasons fiscal year 2024 surpassed previous years combined numbers for returns and removals  the terms used for expulsions that occur without a court order along the border, and those that take place after immigration hearings, respectively  going back to at least2010.

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Whereas President Barack Obama was labeled by some as the deporter in chief, this new trend may earn President Joe Biden the title of returner in chief, the Migration Policy Institute observed in June. But Trump wants to vastly expand the use of the practice himself, potentially also applying it to any inadmissible immigrant who cant prove theyve been in the country for more than two years  regardless of where in the country they were arrested. This maximalist view of the law could dramatically expand the pool of people facing deportation in Trumps second term.

Trump tried this more aggressive use of expedited removal in his first term, but it was blocked in court.

So were other moves hes likely to try again, including revoking DACA  which was blocked by the Supreme Court in 2020  and removing deportation protection from those with temporary protected status, or TPS, which protects hundreds of thousands of people whose home countries are affected by natural disasters or political strife.

The homeland security secretary is responsible for designating TPS countries, though when the Trump administration tried to end TPS protections from the vast majority of people in the program, the move was held up in court and later reversed by Biden.

Trump has said hell target TPS again in his second term, though he and Vice President-elect JD Vance havent provided specifics  aside from threatening people from Haiti, hundreds of thousands of whom are currently covered by TPS, and whom Trump and Vance liedextensively about during the campaign.

Immigrants are less likely to win favorable decisions this time around, if only because Trump added three conservative Supreme Court justices during his first term, and scores of conservative judges in district and appeals courts.

The goal of mass deportation will be slowed by so-called sanctuary jurisdictions, an umbrella term referring to cities, localities and even a few states that prohibit various kinds of cooperation with immigration authorities  especially coordination between local and federal law enforcement to turn over people in local jails to ICE. Trump attempted to withhold funding from sanctuary jurisdictions in his first term, and will likely do so again once in office. Homan, the incoming border czar, also suggested ICE will double the workforce in sanctuary cities.

Also, as Homan told Fox News, some sheriffs [in sanctuary jurisdictions] have been coming forward, working [with ICE] behind the scenes.

The battle over sanctuary jurisdictions  particularly large blue cities in otherwise red areas  will be a crucial battleground in Trumps mass deportation effort. During his first term, Trump failed to increase removals because local jurisdictions refused to cooperate with his administration, continuing a trend begun during the Obama administration in response to their deportation efforts, Alex Nowrasteh, vice president for economic and social policy studies at the Cato Institute, wrote in 2021.

But perhaps the greatest barrier to mass deportation is due process. Of the millions of cases pending in immigration court, around 1.5 million are people seeking asylum in the United States, a process that can take years. And that number would only grow as people facing deportation file defensive claims for asylum and other types of legal relief as a way of attempting to stay in the country.

Trumps Potential Emergency Declaration

Millers goal of establishing mass detention camps for undocumented people  as with the backlog of asylum cases, and the potential surge of ICE officers to sanctuary cities  also depend on resources. Trump needs officers, detention space, supplies, translators and judges.

Republican control of Congress will help. But the incoming president may look for money and resources elsewhere, too. Trump on Monday responded TRUE!!! after a conservative activist claimed the incoming administration is prepared to declare a national emergency and will use military assets to reverse the Biden invasion through a mass deportation program.

In his first term, Trump used an emergency declaration to divert military funding to build part of his desired U.S.-Mexico border wall. Miller has suggested Trump could use military funds this time to build mass detention camps. (Private prison contractors were ecstatic at Trumps election in part because of the potential need for some soft-sided facilities around the country, as the founder of GEO Group put it.)

On a call Thursday, attorneys with the ACLU called on the Biden administration to pause efforts to potentially expand immigration detention, and to shut down facilities with abusive conditions. They pointed to their own research that the vast majority of dozens of deaths in ICE detention between 2017 and 2021 were likely preventable. They also called on states and localities to legislate against private immigration detention, and to rule out allowing their local government detention facilities to be used to detain immigrants.

We dont need to put down runway for the Trump administration to put in place these massive detention and deportation machines, said Eunice Cho, a senior staff attorney at the ACLU National Prison Project. We know that the anti-immigrant policies in the second [Trump] administration are going to be far more aggressive than what we saw in the first term, and mass arrest and detention is going to become, perhaps, the norm to create and carry out these deportation operations, unless we do all we can to put a stop to them.

Trump and Miller have also spoken about the potential for using National Guard and even U.S. military personnel as part of the effort  though U.S. law would complicate this. Immigration enforcement is generally reserved for domestic federal law officers, not the military, and efforts to cross that line would likely end up in court.

There is bipartisan practice that service members can carry out support and logistical tasks, as long as they dont engage in immigration law enforcement. Thousands of National Guard soldiers currently do this as part of a federal mission; a separate National Guard deployment called Operation Lone Star, launched in 2021 by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R), has pushed this concept to the extreme, leading to troubling allegations of abuse.

Trumps nominee for homeland security secretary, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R), has sent five deployments of South Dakota National Guard troops and other assets to the border since 2021, funded in part by a billionaire Republican donor, and in part by the states Emergency and Disaster Fund, South Dakota Searchlight reported. She has referred to the situation at the border as an invasion and a war zone  though Guard members emails tell a different story.

In a speech to legislators in February, Noem complained that South Dakota soldiers had been hampered by federal restrictions when theyve been deployed to the border, and that the state was reviewing rules of engagement. When South Dakota Public Broadcasting asked Noem what she meant, she said soldiers need to be able to stop people and turn them around, essentially describing state military personnel taking on federal immigration duties.

Homan himself said the scale of the deportation operation depended on resources, including bed space, transportation contracts, and officers working the operation.

Everybody always asks me, How many people can you remove? I dont know. What do our resources look like? he told Fox News. How many beds are we going to have? Whats the size of the transportation contract? How many resources do I have? How many officers do I have? Can I bring back retired officers? Can [the Department of Defense] help, with a lot of the stuff that doesnt require arrest, where you dont have to have a badge and a gun and immigration authority? There are a lot of things  whether its transportation, or logistics, or infrastructure-building  that DOD can do.

Regardless, Homan said, Trump had given the green light for mass deportation. And, of course, the secretary of homeland security  thats where he has the power to reprogram money for other areas.

Deportation Obtained Under Durress

Perhaps the most potent weapon Trump wields when it comes to speeding deportations is the fact that open-ended stays in detention facilities, which are jails in all but name, will lead many to put an end to their misery by agreeing to their own deportation without waiting for a judges order.

That is likely one of the motivations behind Millers effort to build vast detention camps for migrants  they would constitute an extreme attempt to pressure people to leave the country without exercising their right to appeal.

If they put a lot of non-citizens in really crappy conditions  in tent camps in the desert  the conditions will be so abysmal and so dehumanizing that people will give up their meritorious claims for relief, said Sarah Sherman-Stokes, a professor at Boston University School of Law who specializes in immigration. There is a process, but there are also a number of ways to undercut that process.

Trump applied such pressure in his first term with the zero tolerance or family separation policy, which Miller and Homan played key roles in crafting. The practice involved criminally charging every adult who crossed the border without authorization, meaning they would be briefly held in jail and their children would be considered unaccompanied minors, as detention rules differ for children. The Trump administration acknowledged the policy was a deterrent. Also, some affected immigrants reportedly felt pressured to voluntarily sign deportation orders in order to be more quickly reunited with their children; attorneys at the time rang alarm bells that such deportations would be obtained under duress.

Human rights violations happen when nobody is watching, so its really important for you, if youre in this situation, to not sign away your rights, Angelica Salas, executive director of CHIRLA, the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, told HuffPost. Among other work, CHIRLA hosts know your rights workshops about what to do in interactions with immigration officers. Like anyone else, immigrants have a right to request an attorney, decline to admit anything to law enforcement officers, and decline to sign any paperwork, she said.

People are very, very scared, and theyre coerced into signing a voluntary departure, because [immigration officers] tell them theyre going to be in detention for years if they dont sign it.

Instilling that fear is itself the broadest goal of Trumps mass deportation policy, said Doris Meissner, a former commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, which preceded the Department of Homeland Security.

Even if it isnt millions, if it is significantly larger numbers than is the case now, they will have created a significant climate of fear and hostility toward migrants, Meissner said. And thats a policy end in itself.

Related...
 This story first appeared in New York Focus, a non-profit news publication investigating New York state politics. Sign up for their stories at nysfocus.com/newsletter.

President-elect Donald Trump hasnt yet laid out a detailed plan for his administrations education policy. But a review of his first term and his campaign promises, as well as the details contained in the 2025 Presidential Transition Project, gives some indication of what might be coming in New York.

Trump, who has falsely claimed that the US ranks last in education, has repeatedly vowed to eliminate the $79 billion US Department of Education. Im dying to get back to do this, he said in September. Whether he succeeds will depend on whether he has congressional support.

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Late Tuesday, Trump announced his pick for Secretary of Education: Linda McMahon, who oversaw the Small Business Administration during Trumps first term and co-founded the WWE wrestling empire.

McMahon is the chair of the America First Policy Institute, which has assisted Trumps transition team. The think tanks policy proposals for education center on school choice, allowing parents to evaluate curriculum materials, teaching life skills like financial and digital literacy, and prohibiting the teaching of Critical Race Theory

While education advocates wait for Trump to take office, they are bracing for changes in how public education is administered.

We dont know yet what will happen, said Randi Levine, the policy director of Advocates for Children of New York, but many of the policy proposals raised would be devastating for the students we serve.

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Cuts to federal school funding

Regardless of whether the Department of Education closes, Trump can seek to limit federal aid to schools  something he repeatedly tried to do during his first term.

His administration proposed a number of cuts to the education budget, including appropriations for Title II, which mainly aims to help states and districts pay for teacher development and reduce class size; Title IV, which administers postsecondary federal student aid; and funding for after-school and summer programs for low-income students. Congress rejected these cuts.

This time, Trumps allies have had more time to lay the groundwork for their proposals. The nearly 900-page Project 2025 report, published by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, lays out ideas for downsizing and reshaping federal agencies  including the elimination of the Education Department. While Trump has sought to distance himself from the playbook, at least 140 people who worked within his first administration were involved in the project, according to CNN.

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The Heritage Foundation has argued that budget cuts would help transition control over education back to states and localities.

The federal government also pays for about 10 percent of the US Special Olympics budget, which the first Trump administration tried to cut. Former Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos defended that move to Congress, unsuccessfully.

Michael Rebell, the executive director of the Center for Educational Equity, said he is skeptical that Congress will agree to shutter the Department of Education, since the agency is federally mandated to distribute funding to low-income schools and students with disabilities.

Thats easier said than done on the campaign trail, and whether Congress is going to go along with that is another question, Rebell said.

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The proposed federal cuts are coming just as New York begins to reevaluate Foundation Aid, the formula used to distribute most state funding to public schools. Federal budget cuts would increase pressure on the state and local school districts to make up for any shortfalls.

Compared to the $36 billion the state spends on school aid, federal funds account for a much smaller amount  $8.6 billion during the 2024 fiscal year, according to the Division of the Budget. For New York City, 5 percent of its budget, or $2 billion, comes from the federal government, according to the City Comptrollers Office. An additional $1.5 billion goes toward the CUNY system and early childhood programs.

State education funding is a reliably heated battle during each budget cycle. Last year, Governor Kathy Hochuls proposed cuts to education were roundly rejected by the state legislature. But many observers expect that she may try again.

Levines organization is calling for the new formula to create funding for homeless students, and increase it for students with disabilities and English Language Learners.

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We think this is a key moment for the state to commit to providing the resources necessary for all students to get the excellent education that they deserve, she said.

David Little, the executive director of the Rural Schools Association, pointed to the state education departments current effort to overhaul graduation requirements as a program that will be harder for districts to implement if their budgets are cut.

The only thing that can derail that is money, Little said. If the governor is in the process of trying to figure out how we alter state education aid  with an eye toward trying to ratchet that back  and the federal government is proposing to also diminish federal funding, then you immediately go into survival mode.

Trump has also pledged to withhold funds to schools that recognize transgender students or teach critical race theory, an academic framework that seeks to understand history and society through the lens of historical and systemic racism.

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The deportation of newly arrived students

Trump, who has called immigrants criminals, drug dealers and rapists, has made tightening US immigration policy a signature part of his platform. (There is no link between an increase in immigrant populations and a rise in crime.) He has promised the mass deportation of millions of undocumented immigrants living in the US, an effort that would be both logistically complicated and costly.

The number of unauthorized immigrants in the United States grew by about 800,000 to 11 million between 2019 and 2022, according to the Pew Research Center. That number peaked in 2007 at 12.2 million.

More than 200,000 new immigrants and asylum seekers have entered New York State in the last two years, prompting school districts statewide to find ways to respond to the unexpected jump in student enrollment.

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During the last Trump presidency, the New York City Department of Education issued guidance to schools and families to protect students from federal immigration action.

We certainly hope that the city will step up again and do all it can to protect immigrant students and families and keep their records confidential as well, Levine said.

A rollback of civil rights protections

Trumps return also poses a risk to the Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights, the arm of the agency responsible for investigating claims of discrimination at schools and universities across the country.

That office handled more than 19,000 claims last year  a record for the 44-year old department. In New York state alone, there are currently 423 pending cases at elementary and secondary schools and another 207 at colleges and universities. The office is also tasked with collecting data about access to education.

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Under DeVos, the agencys arm became more lenient, limiting the time and scope of investigations in an effort to clear a backlog of old cases, according to a ProPublica review. DeVos also rescinded protections for transgender students issued under former President Barack Obama while expanding rights afforded to individuals accused of campus sexual harassment and assault.

Project 2025 recommends moving the Office for Civil Rights under the Department of Justice and would require its actions against violators to take place through litigation, rather than administrative enforcement.

The plan also recommends the government rescind guidance issued during the Obama era that is meant to weed out racial discrimination toward students of color with disabilities.

Education advocates in blue states like New York can expect their state governments to take a more active role in civil rights enforcement, Rebell predicted.

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The more so-called progressive states will probably pick up at least some of the slack, Rebell said. The ones who are going to get clobbered are going to be the kids in states that are going to be happy to see civil rights enforcement go by the wayside.

School meals

Previously, Trump tried to tighten requirements around who qualified for free school lunches, which would have caused nearly half a million students to lose access to the program, according to an analysis by the US Department of Agriculture. He also sought to loosen Obama-era nutrition standards.

Project 2025 refers to the federal free lunch program as an entitlement program that represents an example of the ever-expanding federal footprint in local school operations. The plan would do away with a provision that eases access to free meals in high-poverty areas and recommends cutting summer meals for students who are not enrolled in summer programs.

Throughout New York, 57 percent of students were eligible for the federal free or reduced-price lunch program during the 202223 school year, slightly higher than the national average, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

A few cities  New York City, Albany, Rochester and Yonkers  have their own universal free school meal programs to help fill in gaps where the federal program does not cover all students. State legislators have successfully expanded access to free meals in other regions, but efforts to pass a statewide universal program have stalled.

New York Citys program, which receives $545 million in federal funding, could face restrictions in the wake of budget cuts, according to the city comptroller.

A push for school choice incentives

Trump has championed charter and private schools, a win for school choice proponents in New York. His administration pushed for federal funding to go toward charter schools, voucher programs and tax credits for private school tuition, as a means to empower parents and give them educational options that better suit their children.

For too long, countless American children have been trapped in failing government schools, he said in his 2020 State of the Union address.

A recent study from the Stanford University Center for Research on Educational Outcomes found that charter schools have begun to outperform public schools. Critics say school choice is an effort to privatize schools and that charter schools are a financial burden on public school districts.

Though New York has 357 charter schools, there is a statewide cap on the number of schools that can open. New Yorks public education community is largely opposed to using public funding for private schools, noted Little of the Rural Schools Association.

There might be proposals to make inroads, he said. But our governor and our legislative houses are so overwhelmingly Democratic that it would be really hard for them to try and advance a prospective agenda like that.
President-elect Trump selected billionaire investor Scott Bessent to lead the Treasury Department on Friday as the former president continues to call for an increase in tariffs and major shifts in the countrys global trade operations.

Bessent raked in profits as the founder of hedge fund Key Square Group, and he helped finance Trumps second campaign after decades of supporting Democratic presidential candidates.

As a lifelong Champion of Main Street America and American Industry, Scott will support my Policies that will drive U.S. Competitiveness, and stop unfair Trade imbalances, work to create an Economy that places Growth at the forefront, especially through our coming World Energy Dominance, Trump wrote in his announcement.

Democrat turned Trump supporter

Bessent has ties to the Democratic Party and donated to the presidential campaigns of Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Al Gore, who he hosted a fundraiser for in the 2000s.

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Before founding his own firm, Bessent worked for billionaire George Soros as his chief investment officer for over a decade. Soros, one of the most high profile Democratic donors, has drawn the ire of Trump and his allies over the years, with some Republicans suggesting he funded college campus protests against the Israel-Gaza war earlier this year.

Soros is a strong advocate for Democratic causes including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Planned Parenthood and the Brennan Center according to the National Interest.

Regardless, Bessent has been in the Trump circles orbit for years and is close to Vice President-elect JD Vance, according to reporting from the Wall Street Journal.

Background as an investor

Bessents career skyrocketed under Soros as he helped his London investment firm bet against the British pound in 1992, resulting in a $1 billion payout for the firm, Reuters reported.

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Years later he eventually garnered $4.5 million to launch his own hedge fund that monitors global macroeconomics. Throughout his finance career, he also built close relationships with Trumps brother Robert Trump, an investor, and remained a confidante for the family.

Before the Friday announcement, a source told The Hill that Bessents experience in bond and currency markets would be beneficial if he were to join Trumps administration.

Economic adviser to Trump campaign

Trump spoke about the state of economic affairs frequently throughout the campaign, especially tax cuts and tariff increases. Throughout the campaign cycle, Bessent regulary appeared on talk shows to tout the president-elects economic agenda.

The Treasury secretary pick is a supporter of the tax cuts implemented during Trumps first administration and will likely prioritize deregulating the countrys markets if confirmed by the Senate.

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Bessent impressed the former president with his proposal to spark 3 percent growth through a reduced budget deficit equal to 3 percent of gross domestic product and 3 million additional barrels a day of oil production, according to the Associated Press.

However, some supporters of Trump fear the American businessman is weak on tariffs. Trump did not mention tariffs at all in his announcement about Bessent.

Support of tariffs

Trump declared an all out war on products not sourced or manufactured in the U.S. throughout his bid for the White House.

The Republican proposed a general tariff of 10 to 20 percent on all imported goods and 60 percent tariff on China, both of which Bessent would be charged with overseeing. Bessent said that tariffs can be used as a tool in place of sanctions to refine trade agreements.

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I think that tariffs in a way can be regarded as an economic sanction without a sanction, he told Bloomberg in August according to the AP.

If you dont like Chinese economic policy, flooding the market with over production, you could put a sanction on them, or a tariff. Its also an answer to currency manipulation, he said at the time.

First openly gay Treasury chief

If confirmed, Bessent would make history as the first Senate-confirmed openly LGBTQ cabinet member in a Republican administration. Bessent is married to John Freeman, a former New York City prosecutor.

He would follow in the steps of Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg who became the first openly LGBTQ Senate-confirmed Cabinet member in 2021.

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The year prior, Trump appointed Richard Grenell, who is openly gay, to serve as acting director of national intelligence in a role that did not require Senate confirmation.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The News

Donald Trump named Scott Bessent as his Treasury Secretary, putting the veteran investor in charge of an economic agenda of lower taxes and economic protectionism.

The appointment will end a waiting game on Wall Street, which had watched with alarm as Trump appointed partisan warriors with thin resumes to top positions in law enforcement, national security, and healthcare.

Bessent was the most vocal of the final Treasury candidates in his support of Trump, publishing an op-ed in Fox News in support of tariffs last week as his chances of getting the job seemed to be shrinking. But he has spent his career in global markets and was, for a time, a senior executive at George Soros investment fund, revered on Wall Street for its bold and profitable bets on the direction of the world economy.

Know More

Bessent beat out three serious contenders: former Federal Reserve official Kevin Warsh, Apollo CEO Marc Rowan, and Sen. Bill Hagerty, a Tennessee Republican. Any one of them would have been a relatively uncontroversial pick, especially compared to some of Trumps other nominees.

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Tulsi Gabbard, tapped to oversee the agency in charge of US intelligence integration, and Fox News host Pete Hegseth to run the Defense Department, have both been criticized for their lack of experience. The president-elects first choice for attorney general, Matt Gaetz, withdrew after Republican senators expressed concerns.

Step Back

Bessent was an early favorite for the job, after spending months as an adviser to the Trump campaign and an occasional guest in Palm Beach. But a late charge from billionaire Howard Lutnick, a Trump loyalist in charge of staffing the incoming administration, to take the job for himself threw the process into chaos and opened space for Rowan and Hagerty to become serious contenders. Lutnick was later chosen as Commerce secretary.
President-elect Donald Trumps transition team is in the final stages of announcing Scott Bessent as treasury secretary nominee, an unnamed source told Bloomberg.

Bessent, who runs the Key Square Group macro hedge fund, has served as a key economic adviser for Trumps presidential campaign and helped craft policy speeches, reported Bloomberg.

The New York Post reported that 62-year-old Bessent got Trumps backing as early as Thursday, after Trump met with financier Kevin Warsh and billionaire Marc Rowan at Mar-a-Lago earlier this week.

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Bessent has shown his loyalty to Trump many times over, hitting the campaign trail and endorsing Trumps plan to increase tariffs in a Wall Street Journal op-ed.

If you want to bring a genius into that job who is loyal to the president, Scott is the right guy, a source told New York Post.

If Bessent accepts the nomination, he will join a growing list of Trump administration officials who will need to be confirmed by the Senate.
Nov. 22Maryland counties are sharply divided over whether to assist President-elect Donald Trump with what he says will be the largest deportation program in American history.

A Baltimore Sun survey found widely divergent responses to Trump's proposal  from Harford County's pledge to "fully support" his efforts to Anne Arundel County's commitment to keep local law enforcement "separate" from federal immigration actions.

Karoline Leavitt, a Trump transition spokeswoman who will be White House press secretary, said this week that Trump will "marshal every federal and state power necessary to institute the largest deportation operation of illegal criminals, drug dealers, and human traffickers in American history."

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The Republican president-elect indicated in a Truth Social post that he was prepared to declare a national border emergency and use the military in the operation.

If Trump follows through with his program as promised, local jurisdictions will be left with the politically charged decision of whether to assist federal agents if asked.

"Our philosophy is the federal government does immigration enforcement; local government has a lot of other responsibilities and that's not one of them," Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman, a Democrat, said in an interview. "So we'll wait and see what they ask, or if they even do."

Pittman said he was concerned the police department would lose the trust of people it hoped to serve if it entered into "the business of deporting people."

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Immigration has been a politically charged issue in the state since the capture in June of Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez, a native of El Salvador who entered the United States unlawfully and is accused of killing Rachel Morin, a 37-year-old mother of five whose body was found in August 2023 near the Ma & Pa Heritage Trail in Harford County.

"I fully support the president-elect's intention to stop and reverse illegal immigration, which is a humanitarian catastrophe and a dangerous violation of our national sovereignty," Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly told The Sun in an email. "In Harford County, where murder is fortunately rare, two innocent young women were brutally raped and murdered by men who entered this country illegally."

Cassilly, a Republican, referred to Morin and Kayla Hamilton, a 20-year-old Aberdeen woman with high-functioning autism who was murdered in 2022. Walter Javier Martinez, 19, pleaded guilty in August. He had illegally entered the U.S. from El Salvador in March 2022, according to the Harford County state's attorney's office.

None of the counties surveyed by The Sun said they would resist cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to capture and detain potentially dangerous criminal suspects.

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But, while counties cannot legally block federal agents from entering their jurisdictions, they can resist joining forces with them.

"I would hope that if we got ordered to do something we thought was illegal that our first step would be to try to go to court to get it blocked," Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, a Democrat, said in an interview.

"I've got to make sure my resources take care of the people in Montgomery County; I do not want to displace resources from the service of the people who live here when the president has at his disposal unlimited money and unlimited resources," Elrich said.

In Howard County, local law enforcement is barred from assisting ICE in immigration enforcement under the county code.

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"As always, we will adhere to federal and state laws. Should there be changes under a Trump administration, we will evaluate how to ensure compliance with federal law," Safa Hira, director of communications for Howard County government, said in an emailed statement.

Matthew Elliston, the Baltimore field office director for ICE, did not immediately return messages seeking comment.

In Baltimore County, an aide to Johnny Olszewski, the county executive just elected to Congress, referred a reporter to a 2017 executive order that remains in effect. The order says the county police force "prides itself on the positive relationship that it has maintained with the county's resident population, including its immigrant community."

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The order limits police involvement in immigration cases but emphasizes that police would not be restrained "from investigating violations of criminal law."

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In Carroll County, a statement issued on behalf of Commissioners' President Ken Kiler said the board "recognizes that the matter of deportation falls under the jurisdiction of federal authorities and law enforcement agencies. As such, it is not within the scope of local government policies to address this issue."

In Baltimore, a spokesperson for Mayor Brandon Scott and City Council President-elect Zeke Cohen did not immediately respond to requests for comments.

Studies by the Pew Research Center and others have placed the number of unauthorized immigrants at around 11 million.

They fall into different categories, including people who were unauthorized and never apprehended, and those who were processed and ordered to report for a court hearing on their bid to gain asylum. Some may have worked in the United States for years and be part of families where other members are documented. Others may have received protections under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), a program with an uncertain future that protected people brought to the country as children from deportation.

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"The current mandate under President Biden is for ICE to focus on those with criminal convictions," said Colleen Putzell-Kavanaugh, an associate policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, a nonpartisan think tank. "There aren't necessarily any firm plans, but, based on what Tom Homan  Trump's border czar  has said, that would be where the Trump administration would start."

While that would not represent a significant policy change, it may mean that ICE resources now mostly used at the border "would be redirected towards the interior," Putzell-Kavanaugh said.

She and others said there is fear among immigrant groups that mass deportation could extend well beyond those with criminal convictions and include "people who are parts of communities, potentially parts of mixed-status families where some people are U.S. citizens and others aren't, and people who go to work every day in really important industries."

Officials in Gov. Wes Moore's administration declined interview requests but issued a statement saying the governor comes "from a family of immigrants" and feels "deeply connected" to the immigrant story.

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"There is currently a lot of speculation going around about how the new federal administration plans to address immigration policy," Moore's statement said. "As governor, I have an obligation to protect Marylanders, including members of our immigrant communities. I take that obligation seriously and will wait to see what actions the new administration takes on immigration policy."

Baltimore Sun reporters Natalie Jones, Kiersten Hacker and Brennan Stewart contributed to this article.

Got a news tip? Contact Jeff Barker at jebarker@baltsun.com, (410) 979-2052 and on X as @sunjeffbarker.

Originally Published:November 22, 2024 at 5:00 AM EST
This is no time for American journalists to cower or retreat, with a president-elect showing an authoritarian streak in so many disturbing ways.

If the demise of democracy elsewhere in the world has shown us anything, it is that the neutering of independent media is an essential element of the authoritarian playbook.

So, a robust, defiantly courageous defense of a free press by news organizations with the stature and credibility to warn the citizenry of the threats among them is not just a fulfillment of their duty endowed by the founding fathers in the First Amendment.

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Its also in their self-interest.

Sadly, disturbingly, we are seeing what Timothy Snyder, a professor of history at Yale University, has called anticipatory obedience  basically, to cower and grovel before they come after you.

Critics met with Trump. It looked like fealty

As he wrote in his book On Tyranny, most of the power of authoritarianism is is freely given.

The latest high-profile example of this phenomenon came when MSNBCs Morning Joe hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski last week made the trek to Mar-a-Lago to restart communications with President-elect Donald Trump, whom theyve been describing as hateful, racist, bigoted and  yes  comparable to Adolf Hitler.

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Opinion: Donald Trump is no Hilter

Now, there is nothing inherently wrong with an incoming presidents journalistic critics coming in to get a better understanding of him.

But heres a pro tip for Joe and Mika: bring your video crew and probing questions. Otherwise, it looks for all the world like an exercise in fealty.

That is certainly Trumps spin on the meeting, telling Fox News Digital that the duo congratulated him on executing a great and flawless campaign, one for the history books.

Concerns about anticipatory obedience by big media players have been in the air ever since the honchos at the Washington Post, and then the Los Angeles Times, abruptly spiked ready-to-go endorsements for Kamala Harris in the closing days of the campaign.

Washington Post, LA Times backed down

In the case of the Post, the move raised questions about whether its owner, Jeff Bezos, was worried about retribution to his vast holdings, including Amazon, in a second Trump administration. He denied any such motive, insisting it was a principled decision to restore public trust in the news media.

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Similarly, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, owner of the LA Times, said he was concerned about the growing conflation of news and opinion  and an endorsement of Democrat Harris might further muddle the public confusion.

As an editorial page editor at the San Francisco Chronicle for 31 years, Ive heard the argument for halting presidential endorsements, sometimes within my own newsroom.

Ive always disagreed, based on my belief that a judgment on the one office that had the most influence on the issues our editorial board cared about offered a chance to accentuate the values and policies expressed in the other 364 days of the year.

Yet, Ive also seen enough surveys and focus groups to know that a newspapers editorial influence is inversely proportional to the profile of the contest.

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Readers have an abundance of information available on a presidential race; they are more likely to appreciate an informed analysis on a judicial election or complex and confusing ballot measure.

LA Times owner dug the hole even deeper

Perhaps the Post and LA Times owners rationalizations would have been more justified if announced early in the election cycle. Instead, it sure has the scent of anticipatory obedience.

Shame on them.

And it gets worse with their follow-up explanations, which, however unintentional, amount to a slap at the Pulitzer-grade reporting by skilled reporters at each organization.

As for Bezos, talk about a need to restore public trust is hardly a vote of confidence from the owner of a newspaper that embodies the professions role as a government watchdog.

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Meanwhile, Soon-Shiong wrote on X, formerly Twitter, Coming soon: A new Editorial Board. Trust in media is critical to a strong democracy.

Curiously, the LA Times owner told Fox News hes looking for people like Scott Jennings to balance his editorial board, referring to a commentator who came to CNN as a reasonable Republican voice  and Trump critic  who has evolved into a shrill Trump apologist with a seemingly fixed smirk.

His pugilistic style is a long way from the thoughtful, measured historic editorial voice of one of the nations premier newspapers.

Trump has said he wants to silence journalists

The election may be over, but the fate of American democracy is anything but settled.

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Trumps authoritarian instincts are on full display. He has talked of shuttering major broadcast networks and jailing journalists who refuse to reveal their sources.

He may well steal a page from Viktor Orban, the Hungarian prime minister he professes to admire, in choking off the independent press.

The authoritarian playbook around the world includes scapegoating vulnerable communities.

Recall Trumps campaign statements about immigrants poisoning the blood of this nation. Or those TV ads mocking transgender people as they and them. Or his pledge to use the military in the mass deportation of the undocumented.

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As the Project Democracy group noted in a recent report, politicizing independent institutions is an essential tool for autocrats. Just consider the wave of his woefully unqualified Cabinet choices (Matt Gaetz for attorney general being the poster child for the sycophant squad before his abrupt withdrawal on Thursday) who make little pretense about their determination to undo the institutions they would lead.

Trump has also set his sights on going after the financial underpinnings of nonprofits or colleges that draw his ire.

Keep in mind, the U.S. Supreme Courts ruling that gives a president almost unfettered immunity from official actions that cross legal boundaries  and the absence of the adults in the White House who restrained Trump from his first-term impulses  have removed the essential guardrails against a rogue leader.

3 ways you can help protect the press

The watchdogs in the press are needed more than ever. This is no time to cower or retreat.

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Get involved. Heres what you can do:

Subscribe to organizations dedicated to watchdog reporting, including local news outlets where resources and manpower are scarce. They need income to not only do that reporting, but also to challenge the inevitable legal fights with the Trump administration.

Urge your U.S. senators to pass the PRESS Act  now!  which protects journalists from having to reveal confidential sources and prevents federal law enforcement from abusing subpoena power in pursuit of whistleblowers. (It cleared the House of Representatives by unanimous vote earlier this year.)

Support organizations that go to battle for press freedom. That would include the First Amendment Coalition, Committee to Protect Journalists, ACLU and Project Democracy.

John Diaz was the San Francisco Chronicles editorial page editor from 1996 to 2021. He lives in Scottsdale. On X, formerly Twitter: @JohnDiazChron.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Joe Scarborough is latest in media to back down on Trump | Opinion
Elon Musk has become one of Donald Trump's strongest political allies.

Musk recently said his choice for the influential Treasury secretary role would be Howard Lutnick.

Trump ultimately went with hedge fund manager Scott Bessent, however.

As President-elect Donald Trump assembles the key players to drive his new administration's agenda, Elon Musk is rarely far away.

From meetings at Mar-a-Lago in Florida to a weekend UFC match in New York, Musk has been a mainstay of Trump's political orbit in recent months. The Tesla CEO spent at least $119 million supporting the president-elect's 2024 campaign.

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Musk is poised to be a high-profile player in Trump's second term. He's expected to serve as a co-lead of the forthcoming Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) alongside onetime GOP presidential contender Vivek Ramaswamy.

There seems, however, at least for now, some limit to Musk's influence on Trump.

Trump tapped hedge fund manager Scott Bessent, the founder and chief executive of Key Square Group, to be his next Treasury secretary on Friday. Bessent, a Wall Street veteran and a top economic advisor to Trump, emerged as a favorite of the president-elect while on the campaign trail this year.

Last Saturday, however, before Trump decided, Musk shared his thoughts about the Treasury job, writing in a post on X that Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick would be a stronger choice.

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"My view fwiw is that Bessent is a business-as-usual choice, whereas @howardlutnick will actually enact change," Musk wrote at the time. "Business-as-usual is driving America bankrupt, so we need change one way or another."

Days later, Trump nominated Lutnick as commerce secretary. If confirmed by the Senate, the veteran businessman  who strongly supported the president-elect's campaign  is set to drive the administration's trade policy.

That Trump went his own way in selecting Bessent for what is seen as the top economic role in any presidential administration may be an early sign of the limitations of Musk's relationship with the president-elect.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump sought advice from Wall Street leaders for the Treasury spot, and his advisors told him that analysts would view Bessent as a stabilizing figure.

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Bessent's economic worldview has largely mirrored Trump's. Shortly after the election, the hedge fund manager argued in an op-ed that the country's competitiveness "has been weakened by destructive energy policies and the channeling of investment toward a quixotic energy transition."

"Allowing the private sector rather than the government to allocate capital is crucial to growth," he wrote. "Overhauling the regulatory and supervisory environment will encourage more lending and reinvigorate banks."

It's the sort of message that Trump touted as he campaigned for a second term. And, in his announcement of Bessent's nomination, he continued in that same vein, remarking that Bessent will "help me usher in a new Golden Age for the United States."

Musk did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Read the original article on Business Insider
ST. LANDRY PARISH, La. (KLFY)  Sheriff Bobby Guidroz is addressing overcrowding issues in the parish jail by building a trustee dormitory across the street.

The building is expected to open in January. Once it opens, 68 trustees can be moved into the facility and free up space in the jail.

Over the last several months, there has been discussion between the sheriff and Parish President Jesse Bellard concerning overcrowding at the parish jail and expenses the parish government pays to care for St. Landry Parish inmates at other facilities.

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I want to help parish government. I understand youre spending a lot of money every month to house inmates, the sheriff said to the parish council this week.

Bellard said in October that the parish government pays $26 per day to house inmates across the state as a result of the parish jail being overcrowded.

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Guidroz said moving 68 inmates into the new facility across the street from the parish jail will save the parish government a lot of money.

The sheriff believes the dorm will be successful. He noted that housing St. Landry Parish inmates in the parish jail is beneficial to family members who dont have the means to travel to Angola or other state penitentiaries.

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Church Point man arrested, charged with 2016 murder of Erica Hunt

Inmates housed in the parish will also have the ability to work in community services for litter abatement, painting buildings, or grass cutting.

Im thankful that the trustee dorm is going to work well. Its going to be able to house those folks that, number one, need to work. Theyre learning a trade. And number two, the families will have their loved ones here close by, the sheriff said.

Guidroz will also be working with parish government to cover other expenses including feeding state inmates to be a helping hand.

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Amruta Fadnavis, wife of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, praised the BJP campaign for its success in the Maharashtra Assembly elections on Saturday. "I am very happy with the outcome that has come out. It is phenomenal... The hard work of the party, Devendra Fadnavis, and all the workers of the party has paid off...What has happened is best for the state," she said. As the Mahayuti alliance registered a landslide victory in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, incumbent CM Eknath Shinde stated that, just as the alliance fought the elections together, they will collectively decide on the CM face once the final results are declared on Saturday. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said that the people of Maharashtra have given Mahayuti an "unprecedented victory" and there "will be no dispute on CM's face.". "The people of Maharashtra have given us an unprecedented victory. This shows that people are with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In line with the slogan he gave 'ek hain toh safe hain', people from all sections and communities voted for us unitedly... " Fadnavis told reporters here. "This is the victory of Mahayuti, CM Eknath Shinde, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, and Ramdas Athawale; this is the victory of unity..." he added. According to current trends, in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, the Mahayuti alliance has crossed the crucial majority mark, as per ECI data. As per the initial results, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is leading in 126 seats and has won 3, driving the charge in Maharashtra. The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena (SHS) follows closely, with leads in 55 seats and 2 wins. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, is leading in 37 seats with 2 wins, while the Rashtriya Yuva Swabhiman Party (RSHYVSWBHM) is leading in 1 seat. (ANI)
President-elect Donald Trumps choice to be his director of national intelligence, former Democratic Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, was briefly put on a watchlist by the Transportation Security Administration, according to CNN.

The list leads to certain individuals being chosen for additional screening before flights. She was added to the list after her patterns of travel and foreign connections triggered a government algorithm this year, three sources told the network.

But Gabbard was soon removed from the list, called Quiet Skies. Her removal came after she publicly claimed that she had been put on a secret terror watchlist.

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While Gabbard claimed she was put on the list because of her criticism of Vice President Kamala Harris during an appearance on Fox News when Harris was the Democratic nominee for president, CNN reported that two sources rejected this version of events.

The TSA placed me on the Quiet Skies domestic terror watchlist in what I can only describe as the ultimate betrayal, Gabbard said 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.

Security officials have noted Gabbards irregular travel patterns and relationships abroad, such as in 2017, when as a member of Congress she went to Syria to meet with the countrys dictator Bashar al-Assad.

Tulsi Gabbard waves as she arrives to speak during a campaign rally for Donald Trump at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on November 4, 2024. She was briefly placed on a TSA watchlist (AFP via Getty Images)

The sources noted that Gabbard being put on the list may not be for any harmful reasons. But several officials told CNN that a nominee for a top intelligence position being on such a list is unusual, possibly unprecedented.

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One official said that Gabbard would usually have to account for her foreign travel and contacts during a background investigation, something Trump has indicated that he may try to avoid for his top nominees. This means that Gabbard may not be assessed by national security officials to look into whether she could pose a risk.

While the Quiet Skies algorithm looks at travel patterns, foreign connections, and other information and may trigger additional screening, it has nothing to do with the terrorist watchlist maintained by the FBI. Quiet Skies has far looser standards for including people on the list, CNN noted.

The TSA told CNN that the list is not a terrorist watchlist and that the agency uses multi-layered security processes to protect the nations transportation systems to ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce.

TSAs Quiet Skies program uses a risk-based, random, unpredictable approach to transportation security, to include identifying passengers and applying enhanced security measures, the agency added. TSAs Quiet Skies program, which is not a terrorist watchlist, leverages USG intelligence information and databases to apply screening measures to a limited number of passengers for a limited period of time. Simply matching to a risk-based rule does not constitute derogatory information about an individual.

Some Republican Senators are likely to be uneasy voting for Gabbard, particularly for her past comments appearing to echo Russian propaganda in relation to the war in Ukraine.
Nov. 22State Corrections Department officers and other law enforcement agencies arrested 12 people in Santa Fe on Wednesday on accusations of probation violations and other warrants.

The department's Probation and Parole Security Threat Intelligence Unit Fugitive Apprehension Team was joined by officers from the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office, Santa Fe police, New Mexico State Police and U.S. Marshals Service in the operation, which they called Operation Clean Sweep, according to a news release from the agency. Officers seized a loaded handgun and illegal drugs in the operation as well, the release states.

Many of the people arrested were booked into Santa Fe County jail Wednesday on various charges including probation violations, failure to comply with parole requirements and failure to appear in court.

The agency said nine of the people arrested had failed to comply with Corrections Department programs, and three others were arrested on other charges.
CENTRAL, Ill. (WMBD)  Two local students are heading to New York City to perform in the Macys Thanksgiving Day parade.

Eureka High School senior Ariana Arnold will be performing in the Macys Thanksgiving Day parade as a member of the color guard.

Originally they said I was just an alternate. A couple of months later, theyre like, hey, we have a spot open. Like, do you want to go? And Im like, yes, of course I do, said Arnold.



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She and her family have a tradition of watching the parade shell be performing in



The Thanksgiving parade has always been like a tradition in my house. Like, we watch it every Thanksgiving morning, and I think its just fun that I had to be part of it, she said.



At Normal West High School, junior Claire Taylor prepares to play her French horn in the parade. For her, marching in the parade isnt just a bucket list item but engrained in her DNA.



Both my parents marched in it, theyve told me that its like really long. Its going to be cold. So I have to, like, dress warm, and I got to have my music memorized, said Taylor.

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Normal West Band Director Ryan Budzinski said he couldnt be more proud of his student.

We were super excited for Claire and happy for her to have kind of a once-in-a-lifetime experience. And as you know, her parents have both marched in the parade before. So its a legacy thing in the family and also just an opportunity for our students to get out and see the world, said Budzinkski.

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CENTRE COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ)  After months of investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) says that two Centre County church fires were intentional.

The ATF told WTAJ that it is working with PSP and Patton Townships PD to solve and prevent a series of intentional fires at United Methodist Churches.

The first fire claimed the Woodycrest United Methodist Church in September 2024. At the time, Pastor Renee Ford said they would have to look for a temporary new home. However, the church has still not reopened.

Why are flags at half-staff in Pennsylvania?

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Weve had an offer, among other offers, to use the Patton Township Building for indoor worship, and so thats going to be where were planning to hold worship while we go through the rebuild process, Ford said.

The second fire destroyed the Filmore United Methodist Church on Oct. 9. That fire started outside of the building, but by the time first responders contained the blaze, it was deemed a total loss.

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The ATF would not give more information, citing that it is an ongoing investigation. It encourages anyone who may have relevant information to reach out to them by phone at 1-888-ATF-TIPS (1-888-283-8477), email at ATFTips@atf.gov, or on their website http://www.atf.gov/atf-tips.

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MESA COUNTY, Colo. (KREX)  On Friday, a pair of crashes within minutes of each other temporarily closed Interstate 70

According to the Colorado State Patrol, the first collision  a rollover  occurred around 3:41 p.m. in the westbound lane near mile point 34 on I70. The two vehicles involved were a Ford F150 and a Toyota Corolla.

CSP Trooper Sam Goure told WesternSlopeNow the Ford was driving recklessly before colliding with the Corolla.

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The second crash happened at 3:48 p.m., near the first collision involving a Dodge Challenger and Subaru Outback. Goure said the former of the two cars slowed down before it was rearended by the latter.

One person in the first crash was taken to the hospital for cautionary reasons while there were none in the second one.

The westbound lanes were closed from around Palisade to Horizon Drive in Grand Junction. The Colorado Department of Transportation detoured traffic until the interstate reopened around 5 p.m.

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Two men have been convicted for their role in a human trafficking scheme that resulted in the deaths of a family-of-four, who froze in northern Minnesota in 2022 after they had been smuggled across the Canadian border.

Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, 29, and Steve Anthony Shand, 50, were each found guilty of four counts related to human trafficking of foreign nationals in court on Friday, after a the court heard they smuggled dozens of people into the U.S. over the Canadian border in December and January 2021-2022.

The two were a part of a large-scale human trafficking operation that brought Indian nationals to Canada on student visas in order to smuggle them, and were in charge of picking up the migrants near entry points in Lancaster and Pembina, North Dakota before driving them to Chicago.

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The family-of-four from Indian, husband and wife Jagdish and Vaishaliben Patel, 39 and 37, and their two children Vihangi (11) and Dharmik (3) were found frozen to death yards inside the Minnesota border on Jan. 19, having been left to travel alone in blizzard-like conditions after making it across the border.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

On Jan. 19, law enforcement was sent to assist U.S. Border Patrol in Pembina after Shand was stopped while driving a 15-seater van.

A short time later, five Indian nationals were found just south of the border walking in the direction of where Shand had been arrested. They explained that they had walked across the border expecting to be picked up.

The group had been walking for more than seven hours.

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One of the group members was carrying a backpack with items belonging to a family of four. The family had become separated from the group during the night, when temperatures had dipped to -36 degrees.

The Patel family was found dead a short time later, and it was confirmed they were among those Patel and Shand had been paid to smuggle over the border.

This trial exposed the unthinkable cruelty of human smuggling and the lengths that traffickers will go to maximize profit  putting men, woman and little children in extraordinary peril, ultimately leading to the tragic deaths of an entire family, U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger said in a statement.

Today, we have brought those responsible to justice. For that, I thank the tenacious work of all of the law enforcement officers involved, including the prosecution team from my office and the Department of Justice.
HENDERSON, Ky (WEHT)  Two longtime educators joined the Governor Louie B. Nunn Kentucky Teacher Hall of Fame during its 2024 induction ceremony at Western Kentucky University.

Arthur C. Hale taught Science and Math at Ohio County High School for 54 years, and Linda Kingsley taught English and Debate at Owensboro High School for 29 years.

I never expected to be in the Hall of Fame, Hale said. I didnt do it for fame. You dont dream about that. If you love what you do, you do it right. I think teachers are like preachers, you are called to teach,

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Kingsley offered advice for students considering a teaching career. Pursue that goal for teaching, she said. I didnt think when I started college that would be my goal, but once I was introduced to the classroom it was where I was meant to be.

Thank you for answering your own call to teaching decades ago; for inspiring your students and all those who worked alongside you during your career; and for demonstrating to us all how a single teacher can change many lives, said WKU President Timothy C. Caboni. How one teacher can truly make a difference.

Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, a former teacher, thanked the inductees for their dedication and service to their students. May we have more future generations of Kentucky teachers walk in your shoes and live by your example, she said.

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HANOVER, N.H. (myCV)  Two fraternity brothers and one sorority are facing charges after an underage Dartmouth student drowned while intoxicated in July.

Won Jang, 20, was found dead in the Connecticut River on July 7th at roughly 7:30 p.m. A toxicology report later showed that his blood alcohol level was 0.167.

Investigators are charging two members of Jangs fraternity, Matthew Catrambone and Samuel Terry, with one misdemeanor each for supplying alcohol to underage individuals. The Alpha Phi Sorority faces one charge, a misdemeanor for facilitating underage drinking. Both Greek groups involved were suspended following this incident.

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Dartmouth Greek Life organizations suspended following students death

Jang attended an off campus party with a number of underage drinkers the night before his death. This party was hosted by the Alpha Phi Sorority, and of-age Beta Alpha Omega Fraternity brothers supplied the alcohol. Several party attendees went to swim in the river when a heavy rainstorm hit the area. Many people left, but no one had noticed Jangs disappearance. He was last seen alive at 9:30 p.m.

All charged parties are set to appear at Lebanon District Court.

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The two turkeys set to receive a presidential pardon ahead of Thanksgiving are once again from Minnesota.

President Joe Biden will pardon the two Minnesota turkeys, which come from a farm in Northfield, at the White House on Monday.

The two turkeys will head to Washington, D.C., to participate in the 77th annual National Thanksgiving Presentation. They come from the National Turkey Federation's Chair, John Zimmerman, and his family's farm in Minnesota.

National Turkey Federation

The birds will spend a night Willard Intercontinental Hotel and be unveiled at a Sunday press conference.

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Minnesota turkeys have been honored at the annual ceremony on multiple occasions since the tradition began during the Truman Administration. Last year marked the first time in 30 years that Jennie-O supplied the pardonees.

Minnesota State Auditor Julie Blaha has also announced she will attend the ceremony.

Following their pardon, the turkeys will be sent to Farmamerica, an agricultural center in southern Minnesota, CNN reports.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  More than 200 Kansas City homicides remain unsolved. Two of them occurred the same day in different parts of the city exactly eight years ago Friday.

Two families in separate parts of the Kansas City metro, going through the same pain Friday, on the eighth anniversary of their loved ones death.

November 22, 2016, 35 year old Air Force Veteran Corey Lee Walls was shot and killed by someone he said he didnt know who demanded his phone and wallet as he walked toward a bus station in route to go to his moms house for Thanksgiving.

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He was just walking down the street and this happens to a lot of peoples families every year and its senseless, his sister Rachell Garlick said.

Driver in crash that killed 4 kids was allegedly photographing Welcome to Florida sign

And sometimes the very same day. November 22, 2016 was the last time anyone saw 21 year old Brandon Herring and the day his family has been told he was shot and killed.

Brandon had money on him to get an apartment and a car and his friends picked him up, they just never brought my baby back home, his mother Rhonda Herring said.

His son would be born two weeks later. The body of the man they called Mac Bear was discovered in January the next year in the area of 67th and Lewis, by the family of Jessica Runions as they searched for her.

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Friday, second grader King Joseph wrote a message on a balloon to his dad telling him hes doing good in school before releasing it to the heavens.

Its not just about me, this is going on everyday we all want justice and accountability, Herring said.

Its why Rachell Garlick drove across Missouri Friday to stand at Cypress and St. John near where her brother was killed. Hoping someone passing by knows something that could help detectives.

Mom says Independence police pointed gun at teen son, mistaking him for chase suspect

If you know something say something. There are people like me everywhere that are just wanting justice for our family. These people that have done this to my brother are still living out here, Garlick said.

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Speak up, speak out, this is serious, because we are dying everyday and to walk in these shoes, you dont want to, Herring said.

Coreys Network held a fundraiser Friday in Olathe. They support homicide victims families and posted both mens photos Friday hoping to generate new leads in the case.

Kansas City police say they will continue to work cases, no matter how long they remain unsolved. They encourage anyone to come forward and call the TIPS Hotline at (816) 474-8477. You can remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward.

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As the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance edges closer to a historic win in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, leading in over 231 seats, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday called it a "record-breaking victory" for the alliance. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is leading in 51 seats. Addressing a press conference alongside Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, Shinde said, "This is the record-breaking victory of Mahayuti. We are thankful to the whole of Maharashtra...We removed all the obstacles created by the MVA during their governance.." In celebration, Shinde, Fadnavis, Pawar and other Mahayuti leaders showed victory signs and exchanged sweets as they prepared to form the government. Emphasising that their government represents the "common man", Shinde thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his support. In a symbolic gesture, he redefined "CM" to mean "Common Man" instead of "Chief Minister." "Our government is the government of the common man. I'm thankful to PM Modi for his incredible support. Women, children, and farmers were out central focus. We aim to transform the common man into a 'Superman'. For me, CM stands for Common Man," Shinde said. Deputy CM Ajit Pawar highlighted the Ladki Bahin Yojana as a "game changer" that helped Mahayuti defeat their opponent. "The Ladki Bahin Yojana became our game changer. It defeated each of our adversaries. I have not seen such a victory in my memory," Pawar said. He also acknowledged the increased responsibility this victory brings and emphasized the need for financial discipline in delivering on their promises. "We will not be carried away by this victory; instead, it increases our responsibility. We have to behave responsibly now. Especially financial discipline is essential to fulfil all our promises. We are committed to working together for Maharashtra's development over the next five years," Pawar said. Commenting on criticism about Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), Pawar dismissed the allegations, noting that they had lost elections using the same EVMs in Lok Sabha polls and Jharkhand. "Those blaming EVMs must remember we lost the Lok Sabha elections, and now Jharkhand elections on the same EVMs. We even lost some seats here by very thin margins," he said. Deputy CM Fadnavis said that expressed his gratitude towards the people of Maharashtra, acknowledging the increased responsibility that comes with their overwhelming support. "We are humbled by the support of Maharashtra and its people. This victory has increased our responsibility. Maharashtra has shown its full support for Modi ji and we will do everything to reciprocate their trust," he said. (ANI)
CORNELIUS, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Its been two years since the missing 11-year-old girl, Madalina Cojocari, was last seen in public getting off the school bus.

Madalinas disappearance is one that captured national and international attention.

Two years later: are we any closer to finding Madalina?

The Cornelius police chief says Madalinas mom, Diana Cojocari, is a suspect in her daughters disappearance because shes her main caregiver and because Diana has not been helping investigators.

Madalina Cojocari (Cornelius Police) Madalina Cojocari (Cornelius Police) Madalina Cojocari (Cornelius Police) Madalina Cojocari (Cornelius Police) Madalina Cojocari (Cornelius Police)

Ever since the world found out that 11-year-old Cojocari is missing, her face has been everywhere, including at the Cornelius Police Department.

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Its just very heartbreaking that a member of this community is missing, and two years have gone by, and we havent been able to find her, said Cornelius Police Chief David Baucom.

How often do you think about Madalina? asked Queen City News Anchor Robin Kanady.

Honestly, every day, answered Baucom.

Baucom was deputy chief at the time Madalina went missing two years ago.

He became chief only about a month after the investigation into Madalinas disappearance began.

We werent getting the level of cooperation that we felt like parents would normally give; it kind of set in that, Yes, this case is going to be different, said Baucom.

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On December 15, 2022, police got a call to Madalinas school.

They soon found out the girl hadnt been seen in public since November 21, 2022, when she was getting off her school bus.

School officials had been bringing the heat on Madalinas parents, her mom, Diana Cojocari, and her stepdad, Christopher Palmiter, because Madalina wasnt showing up to school.

And when police found out Madalinas parents didnt report her missing, they arrested them.

EXCLUSIVE: Videos, recordings released in states case against Christopher Palmiter

In May, Palmiter was found guilty of failing to report Madalina missing.

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Hes appealing the verdict and filed for divorce against Diana.

Diana returned to her home country of Moldova this summer after pleading guilty to failing to report her daughter missing.

When Diana was released from jail in May, detectives interviewed her several times in Cornelius, but the chief says she never gave them any information about her daughter.

Her standard response is, I dont know where shes at, but I hope shes ok, said Baucom.

The chief says Diana is a suspect in her daughters disappearance.

If shes a suspect, how is she allowed to leave the country? asked Kanady.

Its disappointing that she left because if that was my child missing, I would be here beating on the doors to the police department every day, trying to help and provide information and give all the assistance I could, but she was charged with failure to notify law enforcement that Madalina was missing; she went to court, got time served, and is essentially free and clear of all criminal charges right now, so there was no legal reason to prevent her from leaving the country, answered Baucom.

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The chief says theyre working with federal partners to try and reach Diana and to keep tabs on her, and theyre hoping something breaks soon.

Im confident in the detectives we have working this case, and Im confident that Madalinas out there, and Im confident were going to find her.

Queen City News

Finding Madalina

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Tyson Foods has released a statement in regard to the allegations the company is trafficking migrants and employing minors.

As we have stated previously, everyone working at our Logansport facility is legally authorized to do so and the majority of those team members are American citizens or permanent residents, said a spokesperson from Tyson. We are committed to operating our business legally and have policies in place to prevent the recruitment or use of any illegal labor across our supply chain. We are complying with this request and demonstrating how seriously we follow all labor laws and regulations.

The allegations are part of an investigation led by Indiana attorney general Todd Rokita.

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Rokita announced in a press release Wednesday that Logansports Tyson Foods was sent a civil investigative demand (CID) that seeks information related to human labor trafficking.

The press release said the CID comes in regards to reported concerns about a largescale influx of illegal aliens and legal migrants into local communities. Tyson has until Dec. 4, 2024 to respond to the CID.

A CID is a type of subpoena seeking documents or information and does not necessarily mean those who receive it are under investigation. CIDs can be used to obtain information from third parties about the actual source of an investigation.

Earlier in the month, Rokita sent CIDs to the Cass County Health Department and the Logansport Community School Corporation.

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LSCS requested an extension in gathering the information asked for in the CID. The original deadline of Friday, Nov. 22 has been changed to Sunday, Dec. 22, Superintendent Michelle Starkey said in an email.

Starkey said a lot of the questions the CID asked pertained to information that the school corporation does not document. One such question was where migrant students work when not in school and how much they are paid.

Alongside LCSC and the Cass County Health Department, CIDs were also sent to God is Good and Berry Global Group in Evansville and the Jackson County Industrial Development Corp. and Tent Partnership for Refugees in Seymour.

The attorney generals office is conducting the investigations pursuant to its authority under Indianas Deceptive Consumer Sales Act and indecent nuisance statute.
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA)  Engineering and medical students at the University of Illinois are developing a special suit to protect babies from harmful radiation using NASA technology.

Carle Illinois College of Medicine student Annie Tigranyan was excited to get accepted into U of Is College of Medicine, but not just for the education. She also wanted to focus on innovation, including wanting to protect babies from harmful X-ray radiation because conventional lead lined garments dont work for that.

Because its so heavy, its not something that [you] could imagine putting on a baby, Tigranyan said. Especially the premature ones, which were really targeting, who are somewhere between like 1.5 to 2 to 3 pounds.

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With three kids and a lot of medical schoolwork, Tigranyan and her team started Radiant Looms LLC to create the baby spacesuits.

U of I researchers create onesie to decrease infant radiation exposure

The support of my family, my friends, the friends Ive made here, the friends back home and my community, she said. Its also mentorship and guidance thats offered here [that] has really kept me afloat.

The all-women team of students call them spacesuits because NASA technology motivated a light bulb moment in production.

We went down this whole rabbit hole of figuring out like, what does NASA have? What kind of technology are they pushing forward?' Tigranyan said. And so, thats where that was, where that came from.

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Med student Debora Nya joined the team because she has an interest in radiology.

Annie approached me with the project and, you know, talking about when she conveyed to me how many X-rays that babies can go through in the NICU, I was like, thats a big problem actually,' Nya said.

Housing website eases leasing stress for U of I students

The suits have openings in them to allow doctors to X-ray specific organs without exposing other parts of the body to radiation. The team brought on Antara Sira for her skills as well.

Sira eventually wants to be an OB/GYN, but she also has a knack for sewing.

It was up to me to take those designs and figure out what was actually feasible with the materials we were working with, Sira said. And the kinds of closures that we wanted to include.

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The group is currently one small step away from getting approval for use of NASAs material. The team expects licensure to be approved in about a year, and thatll be one giant leap for protecting babies.

The student-led team hopes to start making useable prototypes in approximately two years. They also said there could be other practical uses for the suits, such as protecting babies from sun exposure at the beach.

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The United Kingdoms top antitrust regulator said Friday that an independent inquiry provisionally found that Apples and Googles policies for mobile browsers are blocking innovation.

The report recommended that the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) open investigations into the two tech giants under the U.K.s digital regulations that will begin next year.

The independent inquiry group appointed for this market investigation has provisionally

found that a number of markets relating to browsers on mobile devices are not working

well, the report stated. This means that consumers could be missing out on new features when using mobile browsers; and businesses are limited in their ability to reach consumers through browser apps.

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The CMAs findings come just days after the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) asked a federal judge to order Google to sell off its Chrome browser.

The CMA report largely focused on Apple, stating the company restricts progressive web apps, which are low-cost, do not need to be downloaded from an app store and are not subject to app store commissions. In doing so, Apple hinders users from accessing certain new features, the watchdog said.

The watchdog said it has concerns about the revenue-sharing arrangements between Google and Apple, stating the two tech giants earn significant revenue when their key rivals mobile browser is used on iOS, which lessens the financial incentives to compete.

It also took issue with Apples and Googles product design choices, arguing the tech companies are making it harder for users to choose alternative browsers that are not the default options.

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In the U.S., the DOJ argued Googles ownership and control of Chrome, as well as Android, inhibit efforts to open up the market for online search and prevent future monopolization. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled in August that Google had illegally maintained a monopoly over online search  one of the biggest antitrust decisions in decades.

Kent Walker, Googles chief legal officer and president of global affairs, described the DOJs recommended remedies as a staggering proposal.

DOJ had a chance to propose remedies related to the issue in this case: search distribution agreements with Apple, Mozilla, smartphone [original equipment manufacturers], and wireless carriers, Walker wrote in a blog post.

Instead, DOJ chose to push a radical interventionist agenda that would harm Americans and Americas global technology leadership, he added. DOJs wildly overbroad proposal goes miles beyond the Courts decision. It would break a range of Google products  even beyond Search  that people love and find helpful in their everyday lives.

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Google is facing a second antitrust trial over its dominance in advertising technology, which is set to wrap up Monday with closing arguments. The DOJ also sued Apple earlier this year, accusing the iPhone maker of monopolizing the smartphone market.

The move is the latest from U.K. regulators to crack down on safety and competition concerns around social media platforms. The CMA is required to publish its final report next March.

The Hill reached out to Apple and Google for comment.

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Ukraine has been hit by a surge in Russian ballistic missile attacks, about a third of which used North Korean weapons that can only fly because they run on Western circuitry, obtained despite sanctions, according to Ukrainian military officials.

Russia has fired about 60 North Korean KN-23 missiles at Ukraine this year, according to a Ukrainian defense official. That accounts for nearly one in three of the 194 ballistic missiles fired so far in 2024, a CNN tally of attacks publicly acknowledged by Ukraines air force shows.

August and September saw a spike in ballistic missile attacks, when Ukraine first publicly detailed the use of the KN-23.

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We see that since the spring, Russia has been using ballistic missiles and attack drones much more to strike Ukraine. And less use of cruise missiles, the acting head of communications of the Ukrainian Air Force, Yuriy Ignat, told CNN.

These less-sophisticated missiles are part of North Koreas growing support to Moscow, which also includes about 11,000 North Korean soldiers deployed to Russias Kursk region.

As the expanding role of the North Korean missiles becomes clear, Ukrainian officials have given CNN rare access to fragments from the wreckage of the weapons, which show the apparent extent of US- and European-made or designed circuitry in their guidance systems.

Investigators at Kyivs Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise examine the debris of KN-23 missiles that Russia has used to attack Ukraine. - CNN

Crucial components used in the North Korean missiles are produced by nine Western manufacturers, including companies based in the United States, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, according to a recent report by Ukraines Independent Anti-Corruption Commission (NAKO), a civil society organization. Some parts of the KN-23/24 missiles they analyzed were produced as recently as 2023, suggesting a swift delivery pipeline to North Korea.

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CNN was shown around one warehouse where Ukrainian government investigators comb through the debris, searching for small details that offer clues about the production of these deadly weapons.

The warehouse was full of damaged drones and burned missile parts. In different buildings, hundreds of microchips were carefully separated into folders named for various weapons used by Russia  Shahed, Iskander, and KN-23.

Its a somber site, as investigators are keenly aware the components were salvaged from the rubble of buildings where lives were lost. Strikes using North Korean missiles have killed at least 28 people and injured 213 this year, the Ukrainian prosecutor general told CNN.

Ukrainian investigators found evidence that crucial components used in the North Korean missiles are produced by at least nine Western manufacturers. CNN has blurred portions of this image. - CNN

Everything that works to guide the missile, to make it fly, is all foreign components. All the electronics are foreign. There is nothing Korean in it, said Andriy Kulchytskyi, head of the Military Research Laboratory of Kyivs Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise.

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The only thing Korean is the metal, which quickly rusts and corrodes, he added.

A Ukrainian Defense Intelligence official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said their investigations are hampered by the damage to the missile fragments, but its still possible to determine that the vast majority of components are Western components. Probably 70% are American, from well-known companies [] They also use components made in Germany and Switzerland.

A report released earlier this year by the UK-based investigative organization Conflict Armament Research, or CAR, found that 75% of components in one of the first North Korean missiles used to attack Ukraine were from US-based companies.

Sanctioned goods move though China

There is no reliable information on how exactly the components make their way into North Korea, according to weapons-tracing experts. But all signs to point to China as the likely conduit, experts say.

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We have successfully traced some of those components, and the last known custodians are Chinese companies, said Damien Spleeters, deputy director of operations at CAR, which works to independently document diverted weapons. That means Chinese firms bought the components from manufacturers and a series of intermediaries.

The diversion rarely happens at the plant that makes the components, he told CNN.

CAR has a policy of not naming and shaming specific manufacturers because there is no evidence the firms deliberately shipped the parts to North Korea.

Some parts of these components may be actually fake and made in China, said Victoria Vyshnivska, a senior researcher at NAKO. But we cannot be 100% sure, she added, as the companies in question often failed to respond to questions.

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One manufacturer was able to provide NAKO with evidence that a low-value electronic component found in a North Korean missile was counterfeit.

Meanwhile, Vyshnivska said, some other manufacturers are choosing not to pursue better control of their exports, as more detailed record-keeping and company audits would incur costs. Its ignorance that is sometimes, maybe, driven by money, she told CNN.

A view of damaged residential buildings outside of Kyiv following a Russian attack using two KN-23 ballistic missiles on August 18, 2024. - Danylo Antoniuk/Anadolu/Getty Images

CAR and others consider that middleman distribution companies  not manufacturers  are the primary issue.

There are more than 250 companies whose components have been identified in North Korean missiles, according to CAR. But the majority of those electronics are sold to five main distributors, which are all based in the United States and Canada. CAR is urging policymakers to focus more effort on regulating those distribution companies.

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The US Commerce Department has already stepped up its targeting of entities and shell companies that have shipped sanctioned goods to Russia and Belarus.

Ukrainian officials argue the poor enforcement of the sanctions regime by Western nations is one major issue.

Vladyslav Vlasiuk, the Ukrainian presidents commissioner for sanctions policy, said he was hopeful the incoming Trump administration would seek greater control over the illicit trade.

No manufacturers entities have been held responsible for any of these supplies yet, he told CNN. We think that if any of these  manufacturers would be held responsible for the quantity of microelectronics found, say, in Russian missiles hitting Ukraine, (they) would really, really start to do more in that regard.

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That echoes the sentiment of the US Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, which earlier this year slammed US manufacturers for not doing enough to vet potential buyers, despite having adequate resources, funding, and knowledge.

Our findings reveal a distinct disinterest in evaluating and improving corporate compliance practices and particularly, monitoring those distributors, the middlemen, said Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) in September.

Components also continue to be diverted to Iran and to Russia directly, according to the Ukrainian intelligence official.

Russia uses Western components in the whole segment of both lethal weapons and reconnaissance drones, the Defense Intelligence official told CNN, noting that the downing of one of Russias heavy drones, the Okhotnik, revealed it was primarily made from American components. We also need to do the appropriate work to close these supply channels, he said.

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Ukraine has lost more than 40 per cent of the territory in Russias Kursk region that it seized in August, a senior Ukrainian military source said.

Russia had deployed 59,000 troops to the region since the surprise invasion by Kyivs forces, said the source, who is on Ukraines general staff.

At most, we controlled about 1,376 square kilometres (531 square miles), now of course this territory is smaller. The enemy is increasing its counter-attacks, the source said, reported by Reuters.

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Now we control approximately 800 square kilometres (309 square miles). We will hold this territory for as long as is militarily appropriate.

The Kursk offensive was the first ground invasion of Russia by a foreign power since the Second World War.

Kyiv aimed to stem Russian attacks in eastern and northeastern Ukraine, force Russia to pull back forces gradually advancing in the east and give themselves extra leverage in any future peace negotiations.

But Russian forces have advanced through the Donetsk region over the past two months at their fastest rate since March 2022, according to open source data. They now hold a little under 20 per cent of Ukraines territory.

Credit: X / @maria_drutska

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This weekend, Russia said its forces had captured the village of Novodmytrivka in eastern Ukraines Donetsk region, their latest gain in what Andrei Belousov, Russias defence minister, described as an accelerated advance.

This work we have done here now has crushed the best (Ukrainian) units, said Mr Belousov, who was filmed handing out medals for bravery while visiting a command post in Ukraine manned by the Russian army.

Now the advance has accelerated. We have thwarted their entire 2025 campaign.

Ukraines general staff said last night that Novodmytrivka, north of the key town of Kurakhove, was among eight villages where Russian forces were engaged in fighting and trying to advance.

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The same briefing also said the front-line area around Kurakhove was gripped by heavy fighting with clashes extending to the town of Pokrovsk to the north, the site of the sole colliery that supplies Ukraines steel industry.

Russian forces have reportedly also made gains still farther north near Kupiansk, a rail hub and logistics centre in the Kharkiv region.

The general staff source reiterated to Reuters that about 11,000 North Korean troops had arrived in the Kursk region in support of Russia but the bulk of their forces were still finalising their training.

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Ukraine has lost over 40 per cent of the territory it previously gained in Russia's Kursk Oblast due to Russian counterattacks, Reuters reported on Nov. 23, citing a source in Ukraine's General Staff.

"At most, we controlled about 1,376 square kilometres, now of course this territory is smaller. The enemy is increasing its counterattacks," the source told Reuters. "Now we control approximately 800 square kilometres. We will hold this territory for as long as is militarily appropriate."

Ukraine first gained a foothold in Kursk Oblast during a surprise incursion into the Russian region in early August. Since then, Russia has launched extensive counterattacks in an effort to take back the region.

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NATO allies believe that Russian President Vladimir Putin is aiming to recapture territory lost in Kursk Oblast before U.S. President-elect Donald Trumps inauguration on Jan. 20, The Telegraph reported, hoping to gain leverage in future peace negotiations.

The source added that nearly 60,000 Russian army personnel are currently stationed in Kursk Oblast, 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 has previously said that about 11,000 North Korean soldiers have joined the counteroffensive in Kursk, with the General Staff source noting that the majority of North Korean soldiers was finalizing training along Russian forces.

The Kyiv Independent has not been able to verify the information provided by the General Staff source.

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As Russia's attempt to take back Kursk continues to progress, Russia has also intensified its attacks along the eastern front in recent weeks, putting Ukrainian forces under mounting pressure as they struggle to defend key positions.

In total, almost 580,000 Russian soldiers are participating in combat against Ukraine, Vadym Skibitskyi, the deputy head of Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR), told Interfax Ukraine on Nov. 21.

Read also: Zaluzhnyi: Use of technological advancements will prevent serious front line breakthrough until 2027

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Ukraine's Defence Minister Rustem Umierov has said that Lithuania will finance the production of Ukrainian long-range drones.

Source: Ukraine's Defence Ministry, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Lithuania will reportedly finance the production of Ukrainian long-range drones.

Umierov signed a relevant memorandum in Vilnius with his Lithuanian counterpart Laurynas Kasciunas.

Umierov explained that this is a long-term agreement under which the first tranche of 10 million had been agreed upon.

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"Lithuania will allocate these funds for the production of Ukrainian long-range weapons, particularly the Palianytsia [turbojet drone missile system] project," the defence minister said. ["Palianytsia", a type of bread, is a Ukrainian word that Russians find difficult to pronounce properly. Since the full-scale Russian invasion started, Ukrainians have used the word as a means to identify Russian military or saboteurs  ed.]

The minister highlighted that Lithuania is in the final stages of completing the necessary bureaucratic procedures, and the first tranche to support Ukraine's DeepStrike UAVs is set to be transferred soon.

Alongside signing the memorandum, the defence ministers outlined key priorities for 2025: training and equipping Ukrainian brigades, supplying ammunition and air defence systems, and enhancing collaboration in the defence industry.

Background:

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In August, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the first successful combat use of a new weapon, the Ukrainian long-range turbojet drone missile system Palianytsia.

Nearly all details about the Palianytsia drone missile system remain classified. However, it is known to have a range capable of targeting at least two dozen Russian military airfields. The system can be launched from a ground-based platform.

Last week, Umierov announced that Norway would finance the production of Ukrainian weapons and equipment, thus joining the Danish model of military support for Ukraine.

At the Ukraine-Northern Europe summit last month, the prime ministers of Iceland, Denmark, Norway and Sweden expressed their interest in further cooperation with the Ukrainian defence industry.

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Ukraines Embassy in Greece has demanded an investigation into the attack on the gathering held by Ukrainians in the city of Mandra on the occasion of the Holodomor Victims' Day (observed in Ukraine annually on the fourth Saturday in November). The Embassy also confirmed that a Ukrainian diplomat present at the event was physically injured by the attackers.

Source: the statement was published on the embassy's official website, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The embassy protested against the aggressive actions and provocations against the participants of the Ukrainian community, noting that the attackers were members of the Communist Party of Greece.

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"The Embassy condemns in the strongest terms the disgraceful disruption of this solemn commemoration, which is of deep historical and emotional significance to the Ukrainian people. This act of provocation, culminating in physical attacks, including the assault on a Ukrainian diplomat resulting in bodily injury, is utterly unacceptable and constitutes a flagrant violation of international norms protecting diplomatic personnel," the statement said.

The embassy called on Greece to ensure a proper investigation into the incident.

"It is imperative to safeguard the rights of individuals and communities to commemorate historical tragedies without fear of intimidation or violence... We trust that the relevant Greek authorities will take all necessary measures to address this grave incident and prevent similar provocations in the future," the embassy said.

Background:

Representatives of the Ukrainian community in Greece reported that their gathering in Mandra to commemorate the Holodomor victims was attacked by unknown aggressive individuals with communist symbols. The video shows clashes and the use of pyrotechnics.

Earlier in the day, several other Western leaders made statements, and Western ambassadors to Ukraine attended the official commemoration of the Holodomor victims in Kyiv.

To date, the parliaments of about 30 countries, as well as the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, recognised the Holodomor as genocide of the Ukrainian people.

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Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has asked the AAP Government to urgently look into the matter of pending salaries of Delhi SC/ST/OBC/Minority, Safai Karamcharis and Handicapped Financial and Development Corporation (DSFDC). According to a press note issued by the LG's office, Saxena has also advised the government to revive this once flourishing corporation, now lying "defunct" due to sheer "neglect and apathy" on the part of the government for the last 10 years. A delegation of employees of DSFDC had met the LG recently with their grievances and brought to his notice that their salaries had not been paid for the last nine months. They also informed that one of such employees had committed suicide on campus and many were suffering various mental traumas due to continued uncertainty and financial insecurity. It was brought out in their representation that the Corporation that had once been a major source of support to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, OBCs, Minorities, Safai Karamcharis and Physically Disabled people, had become defunct due to utter neglect of the AAP Government for the past 10 years, according to the press release. "While at one point in time, DSFDC successfully provided financial support to entrepreneurs and self-employed people of these most marginalized sections of the society, it had been reduced to a Body paying salaries to its employees out of its corpus, even which had now become depleted," the press release added. The LG has asked for the employees to be provided with immediate relief in terms of their salaries and advised the AAP government to revive the Corporation by way of restructuring, financial support, etc. It may be noted that several other organizations comprising thousands of employees including those of DTC, Education Department, Aided DU Colleges, etc. have been facing the situation of non-payment of their due salaries and have made several representations to the LG amongst others. The DSFDC which was created in 1983, over the decades, ran successfully with programs that included formulation of Economic Development Schemes, Mobilizing Institutional Credit and Education Loans, etc. to the target sections. It also allotted and maintained work sheds, ran training schemes, a computer footwear design centre and a general loan scheme for the self-employment of Safai Karamcharis. Its robust presence had led to DSFDC shifting to a new modern office building in West Delhi during the previous Sheila Dikshit regime. (ANI)
Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine's Ambassador to the UK and former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, believes that European countries are not ready for a prolonged war with Russia.

Source: Valerii Zaluzhnyi in an interview with Ukrainska Pravda

Quote from Zaluzhnyi: "If we are talking about short-term military operations, European countries are most likely ready. But the essence of the question was whether they were ready for a war of attrition. Let's just do the maths. Look, in October, Ukraine was attacked 1643 times with Shaheds and about 200 missiles against civilian energy facilities. The trend will be to increase this number. This month alone [November 2024  ed.], if we count the number of Shaheds and missiles that have hit civilian objects, it reaches 3,000. And the month is not even over yet.

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So, the number of aerial targets is growing, and the number of countermeasures assets is limited and too expensive. Even by this number, I believe neither the UK nor European countries will be ready [for possible military action against Russia  ed.]. Despite the fact that they have a sufficient number of F-16s, which have excellent air defence capabilities, the air defence network can be completely exhausted in 2-3 months.

It is difficult to say whether they are engaged in alternative measures to learn how to deal with air targets. Most likely they're not."

Details: Zaluzhnyi also noted that "in October and September, the front line was hit by approximately 4,500 guided aerial bombs (KAB)". He stressed that a KAB has a warhead weight of 500 kilograms, while an Iskander warhead weighs 480 kilograms.

Quote from Zaluzhnyi: "Does a European country or the UK have at least 5,000 missiles for the Patriot system to shoot down guided aerial bombs? I doubt it. Because they are very expensive, having too many of them is impossible because it is problematic to produce them. Therefore, regarding this military component, we can say that they are probably not ready."

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Zaluzhnyi added that, in addition to military actions, the Russians use information and psychological operations in their strategy of "attrition".

Quote from Zaluzhnyi: "Europe is in a warm environment [comfortable situation] and does not want to leave it now. Therefore, in my personal opinion, if they are ready for such a war for attrition, it will probably be with very great restrictions."

At the same time, Zaluzhnyi noted that he does not see an enemy having enough resources to be able to conduct large-scale military operations for a while.

Quote from Zaluzhnyi: "I even doubt that China is ready to engage in large-scale actions now."

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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)

This story originally published Nov. 22 on Stateline.

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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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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 Medicaid work 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.

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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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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MCLEAN COUNTY, Ill. (WMBD)  Five new electric buses are coming to Unit 5 School District.

The district was awarded two grants over the last few years from the Illinois and federal EPA grant for electric buses.

On Wednesday, the school board accepted a bid for 5 buses for more than $2 million.

The district will receive three buses that will be made accessible for students with disabilities, the other two will be regular passenger buses along with five charging units.

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72-passenger buses. So, you know, full-size buses, its just going to be electrically powered instead of diesel. So inside a lot of our fleet is older and so we dont have the air conditioning on buses and that kind of thing. These bus all five will have full air conditioning, which would be great. Were going to start by using them in more of our, I would say, in-town routes, said CFO Martin Hickman.

Which local schools topped the list of the best in Illinois?

Theyre hoping to get the buses before the start of the next school year.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com.
As part of National Rural Health Day, UnityPoint Health  Trinity Muscatine is proud to announce it has earned a 2024 Performance Leadership Award for excellence in outcomes, a news release says.

Compiled by The Chartis Center for Rural Health, the Performance Leadership Awards celebrate rural hospitals that rank in the top 25% nationwide for quality, outcomes and/or patient perspective.

(UnityPoint Health Trinity  Muscatine Campus)

We have always been strongly committed to providing the best care possible for the Muscatine

community, and this award goes to show how far our efforts have come, says Rhonda Sowards, MD, medical director, Trinity Muscatine Emergency Department. We want the Muscatine community to know we are invested in their health and well-being, and they can always trust they will receive exceptional care when they walk through our doors.

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The Performance Leadership Awards are based on the results of the Chartis Rural Hospital

Performance INDEX, a comprehensive and objective framework for assessing how rural hospitals are performing. INDEX benchmarks are relied upon by rural hospitals, health systems with rural footprints, hospital associations and state offices of rural health to measure performance across multiple areas impacting hospital operations and finance, the release says.

The Performance Leadership Awards capture the commitment, diligence and innovation with which Americas rural hospitals approach the delivery of care within their communities, says Troy Brown, Network Consultant, The Chartis Center for Rural Health. Its a tremendous honor

to be able to recognize the efforts of this years award winners and celebrate their achievement

as part of National Rural Health Day.

Trinity Muscatine, in partnership with the Community Health Foundation, recently celebrated the

opening of the new Mulberry Health Clinic. The new three-story, 42,000 square foot building allows for future expansion including multi-use space for services like telehealth, primary care,

behavioral health and community health.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Nov. 22The closure of University of Idaho's diversity offices on campus is up in the air pending a decision from the Idaho State Board of Education.

The university intends to comply with any resolutions or policies the board establishes and is having conversations regarding the closure of those offices, spokesperson Jodi Walker wrote in an email. In the meantime, the school will be working with the board to provide input and feedback.

"We are not going to speculate. Student support and success is always our priority and we will ensure that every student is always welcome and supported at U of I," Walker wrote.

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In a board meeting Thursday, members discussed a draft resolution to possibly eliminate diversity offices from Idaho universities. The resolution states "institutions shall ensure that no central office, policy, procedure, or initiative is dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion." If passed, the resolution could scrap diversity offices from Boise State University, University of Idaho, Idaho State University and Lewis-Clark State College.

Colleges like University of Idaho have other centers that collaborate and function under their Diversity and Equity office, including the Women's Center, which educates students on abusive relationships, safe sex, pregnancy, communication and more. The LGBTQ+ Office, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the Black and African American Cultural Center and the College Assistant Migrant Program  which provides a supplemental scholarship, academic help, mentorship and other support services  is also a subgroup of the Diversity and Equity office.

In the board's meeting, some spoke up about including and uplifting all students with success programs, whereas others voiced concern about supporting students with different types of backgrounds.

Board member Kurt Liebich said in the meeting that perceptions of colleges in Idaho are being shaped by national dialogue, and Idaho cannot be compared to places across the U.S. He added that the resolution needs to be more specific, because the way he reads it, it would eliminate things that he as a board member "could not support." Just as the college has a group for veterans, the college also has a group for Black and Latino students, he pointed out.

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"Every student comes to our campuses from a different starting point. They need the academic support ... They need to find their people. They need to find their close group of friends to do this journey together," Liebich said.

Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield said the resolution slightly concerns her because she worries about what it would look like for tribal and native students she frequently works with.

"I would not want to remove some of the programs designed to help our tribes be successful," she said.

Board member David Turnbull said he talked to psychologist, author and former professor Johnathan Haidt, who recently came out against diversity, equality and inclusion practices. Haidt refers to diversity practices as "coddling" in an essay and has previously said they need to be eliminated in academia.

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Turnbull said he mostly agrees with him.

"Identity has become a way of separating us instead of bringing us together," he said. "I didn't read this as undoing any of the things you said are important. I agree they're important."

Joshua Whitworth, the board's executive director, added later that something to keep in mind is to ensure students not part of an identity-centric group or program aren't "alienated" or feeling like universities are forcing anything upon them.

Ultimately, the board decided in Thursday's special meeting it wants more input from the university provosts and presidents, and additional input from the Idaho Legislature's "DEI Task Force" before continuing to debate the issue and making a decision in the coming weeks.

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The DEI task force is intended to prohibit state funds from going toward any "DEI activities" that could be considered "discrimination" by some, the Idaho Press reported. The group is made up of eight lawmakers, including lone Democrat Melissa Wintrow of Boise.

Following the news of potential elimination of diversity offices at the University of Idaho, UNITY, a coalition of multicultural students at the school, posted on Instagram that it is "deeply saddened and affected," and intends to hold a gathering in protest.

"Removal of these resources creates a scary time for the university and its students. Many of the students ... rely on the multiple resources provided by the staff and cohorts as well as the home away from home it creates," the post said. "... These programs have been lifelines for so many and their absence will be deeply felt."
Nov. 23CROOKSTON, Minn.  The University of Minnesota Crookston has signed a memorandum of understanding with two Mongolian universities, including a joint degree program with one and explorations of a partnership with the other.

The university signed a joint degree program agreement with Global Leadership University in international business, and will explore opportunities in agriculture and animal science with Mongolian University of Life Sciences. UM-Crookston Chancellor Mary Holz-Clause and Director of Global Programs Sok Leng Tan both traveled to Mongolia to meet with the universities and the U.S. Embassy.

"It was interesting," Holz-Clause said. "I have probably been to 70-plus countries in my life. ... I was surprised when I got there because Ulaanbataar, the capital, is just like any other city. Very thriving, very well developed. You never know exactly what an area's going to be like."

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She and Tan visited with Mongolian University of Life Sciences President Baasansukh Bardach to explore partnerships considering students in agronomy, animal genetics and breeding science in a possible 2+2 joint degree program. Students would spend two years at the Mongolian university, then two in Crookston. The partnership could "assist immensely the cooperation between universities and the youth of Mongolia," said Sukhtulga Tseremmadmid, chief of international cooperation and partnership, in a press release announcing the memorandum.

Conversations between Crookston and the two Mongolian universities started when Crookston connected with GLU the previous summer, bringing two students to the Minnesota campus for the fall semester. Another student is expected for the spring, and GLU President Otgonbat Barkhuu is expected to visit Crookston in May.

Creating a partnership like this takes time and building a relationship, which sometimes doesn't work out, Holz-Clause said.

"That's very much, as in everything in life, very much relationship-based," she said. "We start out with  we see that there might be synergies with working together. ... A lot of times, these relationships take a couple years."

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Mongolia isn't the only country UM-Crookston has international agreements with. It also has relationships with a Vietnamese university and two Chinese universities. Having international students come to campus is a great opportunity for more local students to see different ways of life. UM-Crookston's international dinners, where international students showcase their cultures, are regularly sold out, she said. Though COVID had a negative impact on the number of students coming from other countries, this year has seen a significant increase after the past few years.

"These students bring a great opportunity for students to be exposed to individuals that provide greater diversity  diversity of culture, diversity of thought, diversity of ideas  that they might not have been exposed to in the classroom if these students were not here," she said. "It really provides both a good opportunity for the student coming to experience life in the U.S. and vice versa for our students to be engaged and involved."
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE)  With a recent $500,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission and Tennessees Department of Economic and Community Development, Tennessee RiverLine, an initiative of University of Tennessee, is looking to improve shorelines across the Tennessee river.

Traditionally, you know, rivers in the past century were really centers for waste management and industry only, and now communities are looking to their waterways as part of their quality of life as their front door, not their back door any longer, said executive director Brad Collett.

Three developers bid for control of former Smokies Stadium in Sevier County

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As recreational use of the Tennessee river continues to grow, Collett said Tennessee RiverLine has created a first-of-its-kind resource for communities to use.

A resource like this has never been developed, thats so broad in its scale and so broad in its reach as well, he said. So, were really excited to provide this innovative tool, that will break down those barriers for creative ideas again, for communities to overcome these challenges to infrastructure development.

Collett said their recent grant will fund the development of planning and design standards to build and enhance parks, trails, and access points along the river.

This really creates a creative resource for communities to think differently about their waterways, he said. I think Knoxvilles a great example where a lot of work has already happened, but theres so much opportunity as well, and a resource like this will help inspire those ideas as well.

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This includes ideas like how to build ADA accessible ramps, connect access points or construct a park or campsite.

Also recognizing that many communities dont have access to that type of professional, and this resource will kind of serve as a surrogate for those communities to have access to those creative ideas and create equitable access within their own communities, said Collett, for individuals of different abilities or different types of recreation experiences as well.

Raw fish found over ready-to-eat food at Sevierville restaurant

He said by connecting communities with the river, it not only improves peoples daily lives, but boosts the outdoor recreation economy as well.

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We expect to see in the coming years communities to begin to use this tool as a way to accelerate infrastructure development in their own community, said Collett.

Collett said Tennessee RiverLines development is part of their larger goal to establish the Tennessee River as a continuous system of recreational experiences from Knoxville to Paducah, Kentucky. They hope to complete the plan by 2026.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side.
Unknown persons with communist symbols aggressively disrupted the event held by the Ukrainian community in Greece on the occasion of the Holodomor Victims' Day (observed in Ukraine annually on the fourth Saturday in November).

Source: Ihor Posolenyk, a priest of the Ukrainian Church Community of St Nicholas of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Greece, on Facebook; European Pravda

Details: The incident occurred in Mandra, where Ukrainians had gathered from other towns to go to the Taras Shevchenko monument to hold honouring events.

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Quote from Posolenyk: "On Saturday, during a peaceful event dedicated to the Day of the Holodomor Victims in Ukraine, a group of aggressive individuals under Communist flags and [chanting Communist] slogans attacked Ukrainians, many of whom were women and children of Ukrainian schools and associationThe participants report that the attackers, who carried Communist symbols, blocked access to the monument and resorted to aggressive actions. They resorted to insults and threats".

Details: The video attached to the post shows a bit of fighting and the use of pyrotechnics. The wrongdoers were about two dozen people.

The priest also mentioned that a representative of the Ukrainian embassy was injured as a result of the actions of unknown individuals, which was later confirmed in an official statement.

Quote from Posolenyk: "Greece is a European democratic state that hosted thousands of Ukrainian children and families who have been forced to seek refuge because of Russian aggression. However, this incident came as a shock to the community, especially since the attack took place at an event that was supposed to highlight the importance of remembering the tragedies of the past. This incident once again raises the question of who the "fascists" really are when aggressive behaviour is demonstrated by those who advocate for freedom of speech and democracy It also raises a question whether the support of pro-Russian propaganda by some groups in Europe could pose a real threat to civil peace."

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Background:

Earlier in the day, several other Western leaders made statements, and Western ambassadors to Ukraine attended the official commemoration of the Holodomor victims in Kyiv.

To date, the parliaments of about 30 countries, as well as the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, recognised the Holodomor as genocide of the Ukrainian people.

In September 2024, the Swiss parliament also adopted this decision.

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Nov. 22State and local police are investigating reports of shots fired in New London and Ledyard on Friday, as well as reports of a man with a gun in Norwich.

Sometime after 10:30 a.m., New London police responded to the area of the Geographical Area 10 courthouse at 112 Broad St. for reports of shots fired.

By 11:30 a.m., police had blocked off Mercer Street and told area residents to shelter in place while a K9 team patrolled the area. Shattered glass covered a portion of the road near the courthouse exit on Mercer Street.

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There are no known victims. New London Police Chief Brian Wright said the shooting does not appear to be a random act.

Moments before the report of the shooting, a door alarm sounded inside the New London courthouse though it is not clear if the alarm was related to the shooting investigation. Police were questioning people inside the courthouse.

Later in the morning at about 11:44 a.m., police responded to the area of Shewville Road in Ledyard for another reported shooting.

Ledyard Police Capt. Ken Creutz, in a statement, said police responded to a 911 call from a resident on Shewville Road that someone fired a gun at an occupied vehicle in front of their home. Two people were in the vehicle that was shot at multiple times, police said. No one was injured and police said the individuals in the car are cooperating with police.

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Creutz said the investigation is ongoing but "there is no ongoing danger to the community."

"Investigators are actively working to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and are collaborating with neighboring jurisdictions to evaluate whether the situation extends beyond Ledyard," Creutz said in the statement.

Norwich police, following the Ledyard shooting, said they responded to reports of a man in a car displaying a gun. The description of the car, police said, matched the description of the car involved in the Ledyard shooting. Police pursued the car but were not successful in stopping the driver, police said.

Anyone with information about the New London incident is encouraged to contact the New London Police Department's Detective Bureau at 860-447-1481. Anonymous information can be submitted via the New London Tips 411 system by texting NLPDTip plus the information.

Anyone with information about the Ledyard shooting regarding is urged to contact the Ledyard Police Department at 860-464-6400.

g.smith@theday.com
Aam Aadmi Party National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, along with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, expressed their gratitude towards the people of Punjab after the party won three out of the four seats available for the state assembly by-polls on Saturday. Taking to social media platform X, the former Delhi Chief Minister said that the people of Punjab have again expressed their faith in the ideology of the Aam Aadmi Party. "The people of Punjab have once again expressed their faith in the ideology of the Aam Aadmi Party and the work of our government by giving three out of four seats to the Aam Aadmi Party in the by-elections. Many thanks to the people of Punjab and many congratulations to everyone," Kejriwal said. https://x.com/ArvindKejriwal/status/1860234392515543327 Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann congratulated the people of Punjab for the victory in the by-elections, stating that under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal, AAP has been touching new heights day by day across the country. "Many congratulations to Punjabis for the spectacular victory in the by-elections. Under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal, Aam Aadmi Party is touching new heights day by day across the country. We are working day and night without any discrimination and honestly for the progress and prosperity of Punjab. We will fulfill every promise made to Punjabis during the by-elections on a priority basis. Best wishes to everyone. Inquilab Zindabad," Mann said. https://x.com/bhagwantmann/status/1860229673055101118?s=48 In Punjab, AAP's Gurdeep Singh Randhawa, Ishank Kumar, and Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon won the assembly by-polls in Dera Baba Nanak, Chabbewal, and Gidderbaha, respectively. Meanwhile, in Barnala, Congress's Kuldeep Singh Dhillon won. Notably, in Maharashtra, Mahayuti has won or is ahead in 231 of 288 seats in the state assembly. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi has won or is leading on 50 seats. (ANI)
An upstate New York teen has been arrested on murder and related charges in the killing of a 21-year-old man who was shot multiple times at his own birthday party in the Town of Southport last weekend.

Michael Williams, 17, of Elmira, was taken into custody following a weeklong investigation into the murder of JSean Williams (no relation), the Chemung County Sheriffs Office said Saturday.

The incident unfolded just before 1 a.m. on Nov. 16, when multiple law enforcement agencies responded to a large party at a home in Southport, near the Pennsylvania border, for reports of a shooting.

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When deputies arrived at the residence, they determined one person had suffered from multiple gunshot wounds and the alleged shooter had fled the scene.

The victim, later identified as JSean Williams, was celebrating his birthday with a group of 30 to 50 people, according to WETM. He was rushed to Arnot Ogden Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead.

After multiple interviews with witnesses and the recovery of dozens of items of evidence, investigators named the younger Williams as a suspect.

Further investigation eventually led authorities to a residence in Binghamton, approximately 55 miles east of Elmira, where the suspect was located and arrested without incident. Hes since been charged with second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

According to the Chemung County Sheriffs Office, the 17-year-old is being charged as an adult. The investigation into what led to the fatal shooting is still ongoing.
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia  Some NATO allies are indignant over new questions in Washington about the role of women in the military after President-elect Donald Trumps pick to be defense secretary rejected the idea of women serving in frontline combat roles.

Former Fox News commentator and Army National Guard veteran Pete Hegseth said on a recent podcast that "I'm straight up saying we should not have women in combat roles," raising fears among Defense Department officials that progress for women in the military, allowing female service members into combat branches like artillery, armor, infantry and special operations, could be rolled back.

The response from NATO allies has been swift, with current and former top military officers fuming that they have to rehash the debate.

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After 39 years of a career as a combat arms officer and risking my life in many ops across the world, I cant believe that in 2024 we still have to justify the contribution of women to their defense and to their service in their country, Canadian military chief Gen. Jennie Carignan said at the Halifax International Security Forum on Saturday.

She received a standing ovation from the audience of defense and national security officials at the forum.

Carignan was one of a pile-on of attendees at the confab in Canada expressing similar sentiments, particularly after Sen. Jim Risch (R-Id.) didnt dismiss Hegseths comments at the forum.

I think its delusional for anybody to not agree that women in combat creates certain unique situations that have to be dealt with, I think the jurys still out on how to do that, said Risch, who is slated to become the next chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

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Other military officials were even more blunt than Carignan. If we are not willing to use half the population on something so important, then we are stupid, Royal Netherlands Navy Adm. Rob Bauer, the chair of NATOs Military Committee, said at the conference on Friday.

The Obama administration first allowed women to serve in combat roles starting in 2015, when then-U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter opened all U.S. military jobs to female service members.

Hegseths comments, and the release of a police report detailing graphic sexual assault allegations against Hegseth dating back to 2017, have raised fears among defense officials at the Pentagon that if the Trump ally is confirmed by the Senate to lead the agency, his tenure could halt progress on ending sex abuses in the military  which ticked up during the first Trump administration  and even the recruitment of women.

Carignan and others, including the retired Army Gen. Mark Milley, have noted that women have been serving in combat for much longer.

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Women have been participating in combat for hundreds of years however they have never been recognized for doing so, they have been demobilized quickly and then quickly forgotten about their service and their commitment, Carignan added.

On a practical level, moving women out of combat roles across the U.S. military would create a massive disruption within the active duty and reserve forces. Jobs that troops have performed for years would suddenly be left vacant and career paths upended. Female enlisted troops and officers and their families would also have to move to different installations at significant cost to take any job they can find.

I think we need to say very clearly to women in the United States that we would like those women who are interested, who meet the qualifications to join the military, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, set to be the next ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said at the forum. Right now about 18 percent of our military are women. We are not meeting our recruitment goals as it is. If women think they cant participate fully in our military and take on combat roles, thats gonna have an impact on what women are willing to join our military.

That will be very clearly asked at the hearing for Mr. Hegseth, Shaheen added.

The armed services have fallen short of their recruitment goals in recent years, and have had to curtail their recruitment targets to meet new numbers to reflect the crisis. Excluding women from critical roles could only worsen those issues as jobs are left open and disruptive personnel moves take up time and effort.
It's been decades since the US made TNT, a key ingredient for munitions, on American soil.

But a new US Army contract for a TNT production facility in Kentucky will change that.

Officers and experts say the facility will help the US reduce the risk of relying on imports.

The US intends to start making TNT at home again. It's a critical step as the military prepares for the possibility of a protracted great-power conflict against a nation like Russia or China.

The US Army plans to build a domestic production facility for the explosive compound, which the Pentagon has long been forced to obtain from overseas.

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TNT, short for trinitrotoluene, is a widely used highly explosive material that serves as an important ingredient for bombs, grenades, and artillery shells like the 155mm shells that have been used extensively in the Ukraine war to the point of straining Western stockpiles.

The US hasn't produced TNT on American soil in decades, but that is changing. Production is coming back. Last week, the Army announced that it had awarded REPKON USA-Defense LLC a contract worth up to $435 million to design, build, and launch a TNT production facility in Kentucky.

Army officers and defense experts told Business Insider that the new facility, which is expected to be commissioned in 2028, will strengthen the US industrial base and reduce the risks of depending on supplies from partners overseas. In conflicts, supply chains become more vulnerable and potentially less stable. Making essential materials at home better insulates them from external effects.

Maj. Gen. John T. Reim, head of the Army's Joint Program Executive Office for Armaments and Ammunition, told BI that "the ability to produce TNT domestically ensures a steady, reliable supply of this critical explosive material."

A US soldier moves a 155mm round to load a howitzer during live-fire exercises in Germany in February. US Army photo by Kevin Sterling Payne

"This reduces dependence on foreign sources and mitigates risks of supply chain disruptions," he added. "With a steady supply of TNT, the Army can sustain and scale up munitions production as required."

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And there's growing evidence from the war in Ukraine that the US would need to significantly ramp up munitions production in a major conflict. As is, the US military is already rethinking how much ammunition it really needs and how much larger stockpiles potentially need to be, especially for a long conflict.

"The volume of weaponry  the number of missiles and other systems that are going to be required to deal with a high-end conflict  are just much more than we had planned," Bradley Martin, a retired Navy surface warfare captain, recently told BI about what the current conflicts say about ammunition and firepower needs.

"We also lack the industrial base to rapidly expand," he added. "So it's really important that we start addressing those sets of issues quickly."

The US has transferred over 3 million 155mm shells to Ukraine as part of the $60 billion in security assistance that it has given to Kyiv, prompting the Army to dramatically step up production of these key shells to meet demands.

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Before the war, the US was making somewhere around 14,000 shells a month. Officials have said that they want the figure to eventually reach 100,000. This requires significantly more TNT, the primary fill for a 155mm round. The US hasn't made TNT at home since 1986 and, instead, relies on countries like South Korea and Poland to supply the explosive material.

155mm shells have been key munitions in Ukraine's defense against Russia. Oleg Petrasiuk/Ukrainian 24th Mechanised Brigade via AP

European countries providing Ukraine with artillery shells are also rushing to scale up production of munitions and explosives as they, like the US, continue to supply Kyiv.

Cynthia Cook, director of the Defense-Industrial Initiatives Group at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, said that increasingly contested logistics and global political issues make America's dependence on foreign sources a greater strategic risk. Restarting domestic TNT production is an investment in the country's industrial base, she said.

She told BI that "the inadequacy of investments in the munitions industrial base and munitions production have been revealed by the US and allies support of Ukraine in its self-defense against Russia's illegal invasion."

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"The US has recognized that it needs to prepare for more protracted conflicts, and an increase in munitions production and the munitions supply chain are important parts of that story," Cook said.

Indeed, a future fight against a near-peer adversary might not resemble the swift victory of Operation Desert Storm, instead looking more like what is playing out in Ukraine today.

That demands a new approach to readiness. The new TNT production facility is expected to help strengthen the US military's preparation for large-scale conflict. "Ensuring a secure and domestic supply of TNT bolsters the US' ability to support warfighter readiness," Reim said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Automotive parts manufacturers that engage in emissions tampering are learning the hard way that there are serious consequences for contributing to extreme air pollution.

What's happening?

As reported in Transport Topics last month, Aaron Rudolf and his North Carolina-based auto parts company Rudy's Performance Parts were ordered to pay $10 million in criminal fines and civil penalties after Rudolf pleaded guilty to conspiring to violate the Clean Air Act by manufacturing, selling, and installing emissions defeat devices on motor vehicles.

The bulk of the penalty stems from a 2022 lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency that is being settled by a $7 million civil penalty under a consent decree for Rudolf and Rudy's. The civil complaint by the EPA estimated that Rudy's sold and installed devices in over 1 million vehicles that allowed them to emit excess pollution.

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U.S. District Court Judge Trevor N. McFadden ordered Rudy's to pay a $2.4 million criminal fine and sentenced the company to three years of organizational probation. Rudolf was previously sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay a $600,000 criminal fine as part of a plea agreement in April for conspiring to violate the Clean Air Act by tampering with monitoring devices on approximately 300 diesel trucks.

"For too many years, companies like Rudy's have installed illegal defeat devices to evade the public health protections of the Clean Air Act, to the detriment of communities across America," David Uhlmann, assistant administrator for EPA enforcement and compliance assurance, said, adding that the EPA "will vigorously pursue criminal and civil penalties until this illegal behavior comes to an end."

Why is this important?

Emissions tampering can significantly increase the amount of harmful pollutants released into the air, contributing to environmental and public health problems. The EPA announced the quest to stop the ongoing manufacturing and selling of emissions defeat devices last December.

Rudy's isn't alone in facing a hefty financial penalty for these practices. In September, it was reported that Austin, Texas-based COBB Tuning, a leading manufacturer of aftermarket performance products for vehicles, was hit with a nearly $3 million fine from the EPA for selling thousands of illegal devices that produced significant air pollution.

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In the case of Rudy's, the EPA noted that the company "sold approximately 43,900 imitation tuners, generating about $33 million in revenue." The monetary gains blinded Rudolf from the immense damage his company was doing to the environment, and now he's paying for it.

"Those selling defeat devices are willing to pollute the environment so that they can personally profit," U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Matthew Graves said. "Anyone considering peddling or installing these devices is on notice of the substantial costs of doing so."

Do you worry about air pollution in and around your home?

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What's being done about this?

The EPA's crackdown on companies that engage in emissions tampering has already yielded impressive results. In December, it was announced that between 2020 and 2023 the agency finalized 172 civil enforcement cases resulting in civil penalties totaling $55.5 million, 17 criminal cases resulting in penalties totaling $5.6 million, $1.2 million in restitution, $438,000 in environmental projects, and 54 months of incarceration.

If you're considering making changes to your vehicle, it's always best to ensure that all modifications comply with environmental standards and regulations in order to avoid generating excessive air pollution that could lead to significant financial penalties.

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.
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)  USA Health announced the addition of a new doctor at the hospital.

Semmes man accused of pepper spraying, shooting his stepdaughters boyfriend: Police

According to a hospital news release, Michael Fesenmeier, M.D. joined the team as the hospital aims to better meet the needs of patients by expanding the womens services division.

(USA Health)

Fesenmeier is a Mobile native with nearly two decades of experience in the OB-GYN field, from having a private practice to working in the academic health system.

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Fesenmeier received his undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame, obtained his medical degree from the Whiddon College of Medicine in 2001, and completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, the release said.

Officials with the hospital said his experience will help to benefit patients at the hospital.

He treats the full spectrum of womens obstetrics and gynecological healthcare needs and has performed numerous robotic hysterectomies, according to the release. He is certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and is a fellow with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

The father of four said he returned to Mobile and joined USA Health to give back to the community.

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We know Mobile is a great place to raise your kids, he said. And it has been nice to come back to the place where it started. I had some excellent mentors, and hopefully, I can be that for the next generation.

Man with outstanding warrants in Baldwin County considered armed and dangerous: Semmes police

Fesenmeier is now accepting patients at USA Health OB-GYN on the fourth floor of USA Health Childrens and Womens Hospital, the release said. Those wishing to make an appointment with Fesenmeier can call 251-415-1496.

Those looking for information on USA Healths OB-GYN division can visit the hospitals website.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
HEBER CITY, Utah (ABC4)  A Wasatch County man has been arrested and is now facing charges after mail addressed to a fictitious Utah business was intercepted and tested positive for ketamine, MDMA, and cocaine.

Utah city among the 10 least sinful cities in the United States

Elijah Sky Carrillo, 42, has been charged with the following:

Two counts of possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance  class A misdemeanor

One count of possession or use of a controlled substance  class B misdemeanor

One count of possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person  third-degree felony

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Police said they also found marijuana and suspected LSD at the residence where the package was delivered.

According to Heber City Police, United States Postal Service (USPS) postal inspectors and the Heber City Police Department (HCPD) executed a search warrant on a package addressed to a business called Free Eagle Builders.

Free Eagle Builders is not a registered business in the state of Utah, according to police. The package was opened through a warrant from HCPD and the package contained the following:

58.5 grams of cocaine

58.4 grams of ketamine

95 grams of MDMA

Police also said that they found around 14 similar packages were delivered to the address where Carrillo was living. Previous package images found by police all reportedly bore fake return addresses and were being sent to this fake business. Police then obtained a search warrant for the home.

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Police then found the following drugs in distributable quantities:

MDMA

Ketamine

LSD (suspected)

Marijuana

Cocaine

Substances were found in a freezer, a locked safe, a cupboard, and other areas in the house. Police also found several handguns and a rifle in the home, with the handguns found in a nightstand in the bedroom.

Carrillo arrived back at the residence during the search and was arrested. Police booked Carrillo in Wasatch County Jail on the prior 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.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  After almost six months of rigorous training and dedication, Honolulu Emergency Medical Services introduced their newest EMT Academy V graduates.

Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You

Seventeen graduates complete the training program, learning everything they need to handle Oahus emergency situations effectively.

Head of Honolulu EMS discusses plan to address staffing issues

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Through their training, recruits learned hands-on training for essential procedures such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation, establishing IV lines and wound care.

Each recruit also learned numerous ambulance operations, including emergency driving.

Graduates, family and friends gathered at the John A. Burns School of Medicine to celebrate their accomplishments and perservearance.

For graduates like Michael Gorman, completing the training represents an opportunity to serve the community and help better lives.

Im excited about the opportunity. Its gonna be a great experience and weve got a lot to do, Gorman explained. Its a stressful job. It needs to be done correctly, so we trained for it. Were excited to get out there.

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According to Gorman, the experience is divided into lots of academic work and spending time in the field to learn the job.

One recruit, Wyatt Ernst, was recognized as the top recruit. The leadership reward was presented to Christine Chen.

Choosing a career as an EMT is both physically demanding and emotionally challenging, yet it is one of the most courageous callings. As Mayor, I am committed to supporting their success and ensuring they have the tools and resources needed to serve our community with excellence. Rick Blangiardi, Honolulu Mayor

Graduates are expected to begin working in the field full time in December.

Check out whats going on around the nation on our National News page

The graduating class will help fill the vacancies within the EMS Division. If youre thinking about a possible career with the Emergency Services Department, fill out a job card through the Honolulus Department of Human Resources website.

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Those who are looking to apply must be at least 18 years old, have a drivers license and a high school diploma.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Venezuelan authorities are investigating opposition leader Maria Corina Machado for alleged treason after she expressed support for a US bipartisan bill that seeks to block Washington from doing business with any entity that has commercial ties with the government of Venezuelas President Nicolas Maduro.

In a statement, the countrys Attorney Generals Office said Machados support is considered a terrible criminal act against the Venezuelan people. Machado is also being investigated for conspiracy with foreign countries and association to commit a crime.

Machado - one of the countrys key opposition leaders - was banned from running in Venezuelas July presidential election, which was marred with allegations of foul play that saw opposition figures arrested, opposition witnesses allegedly denied access to the centralized vote count, and overseas Venezuelans largely unable to cast ballots.

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CNN has reached out to Machados team for comment.

The US bill  introduced by Florida Reps. Mike Waltz (R) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D)  was passed on Monday by the House of Representatives.

Waltz, who President-elect Donald Trump has asked to serve as his national security adviser, wrote on X Wednesday that Machado remains a beacon of hope for Venezuelans who rejected Maduro and his socialist authoritarianism as he announced the bill.

Im proud the House passed my bill, the BOLIVAR Act, to block the federal government from doing business with anyone who has commercial ties to Maduros regime, Walz wrote.

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Machado, whos in hiding, later thanked Waltz and the House of Representatives for approving the initiative.It is a crucial step to hold the Maduro regime accountable, she wrote on X on Wednesday.

During a televised event on Wednesday, Maduro criticized the bill and said that the oppositions actions against him will not be successful.

Venezuela has been in a state of crisis in its aftermath when the nations electoral authority  a body stacked with Maduro allies  declared him the winner with 51% of the vote against candidate Edmundo Gonzalez.

Even after Venezuelas electoral and judicial authorities announced Maduros victory, they have not shown detailed results and electoral records to support it, prompting anger and concern across the country and abroad.

Several countries, including the US, have formally recognized Gonzalez as the countrys president-elect following the disputed election.

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At the conclusion of the 11th 'Chintan Shibir', organised by the Gujarat government, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Saturday announced the formation of an Artificial intelligence (AI) Task Force aimed at accelerating administrative reforms and public welfare schemes in the state. The task force will leverage technology to ensure greater speed, efficiency, and transparency. By harnessing the potential of technology, the task force will support the realization of the saturation approach, aimed at covering 100 per cent of the beneficiaries, as per an official release. On this occasion, the Chief Minister digitally unveiled the Chintan Shibir logo. During the closing ceremony, held on the third and final day of the 11th Chintan Shibir amid the divine grace of Somnath Mahadev, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel reiterated Gujarat's unwavering commitment to fulfilling Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a saturation approach. This approach will ensure the benefits of public welfare schemes reach all eligible beneficiaries through the extensive use of technology, elevating Gujarat's developmental trajectory, stated the release. In the concluding session of the Chintan Shibir, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel encouraged senior secretaries, district collectors, and development officers to enhance the application of AI in key sectors such as malnutrition, education, health, agriculture, infrastructure, employment, and public grievance redressal. To facilitate this, a high-level task force will be established, which will present its recommendations within a month. These recommendations will guide the state government's focus on achieving sustainable development through AI and data analytics. The Chief Minister also emphasized that Chintan Shibir, initiated in 2003 under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has led to transformative administrative reforms, positioning Gujarat as a model state and a growth engine for the nation, stated the release. Additionally, the Shibirs have become a catalyst for technology-driven governance. He reiterated that development is an ongoing journey and that the discussions fostered through collective thinking and brainstorming offer new perspectives and directions for progress. The Chief Minister highlighted that elected officials are collaborating as a team to advance the development of Gujarat. He highlighted that the government system should be so effective that wrongdoers fear its authority. He further clarified that while mistakes made with genuine intentions can be forgiven, those stemming from malicious intent will never be tolerated. Encouraging employees to embrace the path of Karma Yog, the Chief Minister urged them to apply the six principles of Karma Yog in their lives, stated the release. He emphasized that these principles are deeply interconnected, and the practice of even one principle can have a profound impact on a person's personality and character. Bhupendra Patel stressed the importance of sharing timely information with the public about the government's important and beneficial work while promoting a positive approach in the face of negativity. In the era of social media, where information spreads quickly, he stated that it is our collective responsibility to ensure that true and positive information reaches people promptly, counteracting any misinformation, stated the release. In addressing societal incidents, the Chief Minister urged that any mistakes be swiftly rectified, while also fostering an approach to prevent such errors from occurring in the future. The group discussion sessions held during the three-day Chintan Shibir focused on four key issues such as creating employment opportunities, increasing income in rural areas, saturation in government services, and the role of district and local self-government institutions in tourism development, added the release. The Chief Minister encouraged the swift implementation of these recommendations at the district level. He urged each district collector and development officer to identify three projects from these recommendations in their district, take prompt action, and regularly review their progress. The Chief Minister emphasized that all development work should be carried out with a strong focus on environmental sustainability. The Chief Minister emphasised the important role of district administration in connecting the village level to the state government and urged officials to ensure no gap between them, as per the release. He further noted that when issues of interpretation or misunderstandings arise in daily administrative work, the Chintan Shibirs have proven to be an essential platform for collectively reflecting on and resolving such challenges. Citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047, the Chief Minister underlined the importance of continuous reflection to move from 'Viksit Gujarat' to 'Viksit Bharat,' with Gujarat leading the way in development. He also emphasized that Chintan Shibir should be viewed as an ongoing process for personal and professional growth, the release said. On this occasion, Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghvi congratulated the district administration for the successful organization of the 11th Chintan Shibir and conveyed his best wishes for the successful implementation of the new ideas generated during the event. While delivering the vote of thanks for the 11th Chintan Shibir at the state level, Additional Chief Secretary of the General Administration Department, Kamal Dayani, expressed his gratitude to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, all Cabinet members, senior secretaries, district collectors, and DDOs for their active participation in the group discussions. He commended the valuable recommendations shared during the sessions and emphasized that optimal results can be achieved through proper coordination and cooperation between various government departments and offices, extending up to the district level, said the release. Kamal Dayani encouraged all participants to adopt and implement the new approaches and ideas presented during the Chintan Shibir and continue making progress. He also thanked Harit Shukla, Principal Secretary of the General Administration Department, the Gir Somnath District Collector, and the entire district administration for their efforts in organizing the successful event. The concluding ceremony of the Chintan Shibir was attended by Minister of Finance and Energy Kanubhai Desai, State Cabinet Ministers, Principal Advisor to the Chief Minister Dr Hasmukh Adhia, Chief Secretary Raj Kumar, Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, Secretaries, as well as District Collectors and District Development Officers of the State Government, the release added. (ANI)
CHEYENNE  A commemorative plaque marking the return of the Bells of Balangiga to the Philippines was unveiled during a formal ceremony Friday on F.E. Warren Air Force Base.

The Bells of Balangiga were taken by U.S. troops during the Philippine-American War and were kept on F.E. Warren AFB for decades. The bells had been used during an attack that killed nearly 50 U.S. soldiers.

The 11th Infantry Division returned to America after the war with the bells. They were housed on F.E. Warren in 1904 and, by 1992, became property of the U.S. Air Force Museum System.

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Defense Secretary James Mattis visited F.E. Warren AFB on Nov. 14, 2018, to meet Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Romualdez and formally begin the return of the Bells of Balangiga to the Philippines.

History teaches us that nations with allies thrive, Mattis said that day. It reminds us, too, that all wars end. By returning the Bells of Balangiga to our ally and our friend, the Philippines, we pick up our generation's responsibility to deepen the respect between our people.

On Friday, a commemorative plaque was unveiled to honor this exchange. The plaque signifies a shared history and renewed ties between the U.S. and the Philippines.

The plaques unveiling was attended by civilian and military leaders, including Cheyenne Mayor Patrick Collins, 20th Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Stacy Huser and Wyoming Veterans Commission Director Tim Sheppard.

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Nine months ago, 90th Missile Wing Commander Col. Johnny Galbert was contacted by veteran Dave McCracken, a retired colonel, who wanted to do something to commemorate the historic exchange that took place nearly six years ago.

Something like this requires a lot of effort, a lot of coordination, said Galbert, who serves as base commander.

The project was handed off to 90th Missile Wing historian Kyle Brislan, who ran with it and got it to where it is today, Galbert said. The plaque hangs on a wall in the F.E. Warren ICBM and Heritage Museum on base.

McCracken said he remembered seeing the day the bells were returned to Balangiga.

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"The Secretary of Defense was here, allegedly to honor veterans, but the real purpose of the trip was to take the bells, and they did," McCracken said. "This is a closing. A very fitting closing."

History of the bells

On Aug. 11, 1901, Company C of the 9th U.S. Infantry was deployed to Balangiga, a town on Samar Island in the Philippines, at the request of Mayor Pedro Abayan, who requested U.S. Army protection from the savages of the mountain, Brislan said during the ceremony Friday.

The relationship between Company C and the people of the Balangiga was cordial, and on some accounts, even friendly, Brislan said.

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One September night, things quickly turned sour when an altercation occurred between two intoxicated soldiers and a local woman, and eventually the womans brothers, Brislan said. Company C Capt. Thomas Connell initiated a swift response. Some of the local men were placed in forced labor, and the ports were closed. The troops also seized the towns supply of rice, fish and livestock.

Capt. McConnell's response challenged the autonomy of the locals, which subsequently compelled the villagers to abandon any notion of embracing those visiting forces, falling back onto their informal relationship with the rebels, Brislan said.

The locals planned a coordinated attack against the U.S. troops that encompassed seven rebel units from four local towns, he said. On Sept. 28, 1901, the bells of a local Catholic Church rang, signaling 400 insurrectos to attack.

The unarmed U.S. soldiers, who were eating their Sunday breakfast, were attacked from five different fronts.

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The attackers killed at least 30 soldiers within minutes, Brislan said. The remaining soldiers managed to grab their rifles and force the attackers to retreat.

Thirty-eight soldiers managed to find their way out, with 33 of them wounded. They traveled 45 miles by canoe up the coast of the island, where they arrived at another U.S. military camp at approximately 4 a.m. the next day.

Eight soldiers succumbed to their wounds along the journey, Brislan said, and four other soldiers went missing.

The Balangiga Massacre, as it came to be known, was the worst loss of life of American military forces during the Philippine-American War, Brislan said.

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The 9th Infantry deployed Company G immediately following the arrival of Company C to recover additional soldiers and re-secure the town. When the unit arrived, approximately 55 insurrectos were captured and killed, and the town of Balangiga was burned.

However, unknown to the 9th Infantry, Brigadier Gen. Jacob Smith planned to conduct a massive counterattack across the island. Breaking away from military rules of engagement, Companies K and L of the 11th Infantry were ordered to turn Eastern Samar into a howling wilderness, Brislan said.

The Samar campaign was the most vicious and controversial operation of the U.S. occupation in the Philippines of that time. At the end of the Samar campaign in 1901, 11th Infantry soldiers brought back two church bells from Balangiga to Fort D.A. Russell, a base outside Cheyenne that is now F.E. Warren AFB.

A third bell was returned to the Philippines from the U.S. Armys Camp Red Cloud in Uijeongbu, South Korea.
(COLORADO SPRINGS)  Jon and Carie Hallford plead guilty on Friday, Nov. 22, to 191 counts of abuse of a corpse. The couple owned the Return to Nature Funeral Home in Penrose, where nearly 200 bodies were mistreated in alarming ways.

The plea was for the state charges filed against them. The couple pled guilty to the federal charges they were facing back in October.

Colorado funeral home owners accused of stashing dead bodies plead guilty to federal fraud charges

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FOX21 was in the courtroom on Friday. We want to warn you that some of the details are disturbing.

It was a deeply emotional day. People inside the courtroom erupted into applause as Mrs. Hallford was placed in handcuffs and taken back into custody.

Its very difficult for me to really know what to think and how to feel. Part of me wants this over and done with. I want to be able to move on, but at the same time, I know that I wont. Them being behind bars doesnt change anything for us today, said Chrystina Page, a mother of an identified victim.

Victims of the Hallfords found support in one another after the guilty pleas were accepted.

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Although the judge still has to decide on the plea agreements, the district attorney says in the agreements, the possibility of probation was taken off the table.

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, said District Attorney Michael Allen.

People began crying as more details of the crimes were revealed in court on Friday. The prosecution said that bodies were stuffed into plastic totes, fully exposed, and stacked on top of each other along with other various states.

Theres a lot of information out there that has not been made public that I feel should be made public and can only be made public in that way through trial, said Page.

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She says her sons body was dumped into the corner of a broken fridge by Jon Hallford. Shes one of the victims who wanted the case to go to trial, so she and many others could get more answers.

I want people to understand, that we continue to talk about 191 bodies that were located in Penrose, but there are 1,178 people who did business with Return to Nature between 2017 and 2023 when the bodies were discovered, said Page, This is not just 191 people affected. Each one of those 191 bodies, had more than one person who loved them. We still have 987 people who have no answers through the discovery of a corpse.

Sentencing is currently set for April 18th, starting at 9 a.m. There will be an opportunity for those impacted by the Hallfords to speak.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BLACKSBURG, Va. (WFXR)  Virginia Tech was awarded the Jack Donnelly Award for excellence in counterintelligence by the U.S. Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency.

On Friday, the director of the DCSA and U.S. Senator Mark Warner was in Blacksburg to present the award to Virginia Tech President Tim Sands.

More than 13,000 government agencies, private contractors, and universities that have security clearance are eligible for the award but no more than five are recognized each year.

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Virginia Tech won the award one other time, in 2019, but has won the DCSAs other premier award for excellence in security on two occasions as well.

Because theyve won this award a couple of times, frankly they have been one of the leaders in getting it right, said Senator Warner. A lot of other universities could learn from Tech.

The award is bestowed annually to the institutions that most effectively support and reinforce federal security efforts.

Virginia Tech receives $1.1M for advanced, mobile 3D construction printer

It means that theyve got a solid program, said DCSA Director David Cattler. They know what theyre doing. Theyre training the professors, their research security officers, even students from time to time on what proper security procedures are.

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Senator Warner is the chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and said that the world is experiencing a change in the way national security is looked at.

Increasingly in the 21st century, national security means whos going to win the technology battle, he said. Whos going to win the battle around AI or quantum computing or whos going to have the most advanced telecom networks or satellite systems.

The award does not include a monetary component, but Cattler said that the recognition alone is a powerful tool for bringing in and retaining the top talent in counterintelligence and reinforcing the security practices in place.

Keep in mind that companies like Lockheed Martin win this award, Cattler said. Boeing wins this award. Small companies can win this award too and universities like Virginia Tech.

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Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.
HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN)  Hays County is recruiting volunteers from all its cities to participate in the annual survey of people experiencing homelessness.

Local nonprofit Hays County Homeless Coalition will conduct a Point-in-Time Count on Jan. 23 with the Texas Homeless Network and local agencies, the county said this week. The data from the count will guide policy and funding decisions for homeless programs on local and national levels.

Im concerned: Hays County Homeless Coalition releases 2024 data

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The Point-in-Time Count gives us data that helps us to receive housing vouchers from the federal government, said Hannah Durrance, director of the H.O.M.E Center.

Durrance works with Hays Countys unhoused to help them get into stable housing. She said she facilitated three lease signings for her clients in the past week, which were made possible because of last years Point-in-Time Count.

We do anticipate seeing an increased number of unhoused [in January], Durrance said.

Weve seen a lot of growth [in the county]. That growth leads to higher costs for housing, and has pushed a lot of elderly people out of their apartments, Durrance said. Weve seen a lot more unhoused individuals who are elderly and who have disabilities, who no longer can afford their homes.

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Data from the January 2024 point-in-time count found the number of unhoused people in the county increased from about 128 people in 2020 to over 240 people in 2024.

A majority of people experiencing homelessness were in shelters, the PIT Count found, which is different than in the first count in 2020.

2024 Hays County Point-in-Time County (Courtesy Hays County)

During the Point-in-Time Count, groups of volunteers will conduct surveys across the county and provide resources to people experiencing homelessness, according to Hays County. Then, the data collected will be sent to the Texas Homeless Network, which will report the numbers to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The nonprofit is looking for volunteers to help with the count. People interested can contact tyler.staton@hayscountytx.gov or peyton.wagner@hayscountytx.gov to learn more.

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A similar count will happen in Austin on Jan. 25, the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition nonprofit announced in September. The count will survey the number of people experiencing homelessness in Austin and Travis County. The group is looking for about 1,200 volunteers to complete the one-night survey.

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Warmer weather continues through the weekend. It becomes a little more active next week with snow returning to the northern mountains and colder temperatures by Thanksgiving.

Temperatures have continued their warming trend Friday afternoon, with highs again climbing a few degrees over Thursdays. This has again come with sunny skies and calm conditions, but also some very dry air. Another warm day is in store Saturday with mostly sunny skies.

Our weather starts becoming a little more unsettled Sunday as westerly winds pick up statewide. West winds could gust over 35 mph at times, but this will bring in even warmer weather. Snow will begin by Sunday night in the San Juans in southern Colorado, but well stay dry in New Mexico.

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Cloud cover increases early next week as mid-level moisture streams into the state. Thanks to the clouds and a backdoor cold front, temperatures will be cooler Monday afternoon. A better chance for rain and mountain snow moves into northern New Mexico beginning late Monday night, and this will continue into the middle of next week. Theres a little more uncertainty with how much rain will actually fall in the lower elevations, but places like Farmington, Durango, Taos, and Raton will have the highest chances for rain. While the mountains in northern New Mexico could see anywhere from a few inches of snow to nearly a foot.

Drier weather will return by Thanksgiving Day, but so will the colder temperatures. This colder and drier air will likely continue into next Friday as well.

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UPDATE: Anthony Jamal Wright has been taken into custody, the St. Petersburg Police Department announced.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA)  The St. Petersburg Police Department has issued an arrest warrant for a man believed to have been involved in a deadly shooting.

Anthony Jamal Wright, 28, is wanted for second-degree murder in connection with the Nov. 21 shooting at Three Brothers Market, located off of 16th Street South, police said Friday.

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Officers responded to the market around 7:10 p.m. Thursday night, where they found the 34-year-old victim suffering from a gunshot wound.

The man died at the scene, according to authorities. An investigation was launched, and detectives said they were quickly able to identify Wright as a suspect.

Anyone with information about Wrights whereabouts is asked to contact the St.

Petersburg Police Department at 727-893-7780 or text SPPD and their tip to

TIP411.

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WASHINGTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL)  Washington County Administrator of Elections Dana Jones was fired by the county election commission on Friday after one commissioner cited personnel issues.

The Washington County Election Commission met on Friday to certify the results of the recent November general election.

SEE ALSO: Invalid votes likely cast in tight Johnson City Commission race

The commission did certify the results, but as the meeting seemed to be wrapping up, Commissioner John Abe Teague addressed Jones with what he called an item of new business that was not on the agenda. Jones read from a prepared statement.

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I made a motion to hire you as our election administrator on April 15, 2021, based on your work ethic, your career success and your get-it-done attitude, Teague said. I will state that during your tenure as the administrator, you have accomplished much.

Teague went on to say that during his career, he has seen the value of having the trust of people in an office.

This brings me to a point of recognizing a fact that we have issues with people in this office, coworkers and vendors who have witnessed attitude. I have struggled with your management skills for some time, and it has not improved  only worsened. We, the commission, have seen employees with much experience going out the door. So, Mr. Chairman, I would make a motion that Dana Jones immediately vacate her position as election administrator either by her resignation or termination effective today.

Photo: The Washington County Election Commission voted on Friday to terminate Election Administrator Dana Jones. (WJHL)

Teague motioned to fire Jones, and Commissioner Mike Elder seconded it.

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Ill say I disagree. I think Ms. Jones has done an excellent job, and I appreciate all shes done and the amazing things shes worked towards, Chairman Gary McAllister said after opening the floor for discussion. Im saddened this has to come to this in a public meeting like this.

No other commissioners spoke after McAllister.

Prior to voting, Jones was given the option to resign, which she declined.

Im not going to resign, so you can vote me out if you would like, Jones said.

Jones was fired after a 4-1 vote.

Commissioners Margaret Davis and Lora Rosenoff joined Teague and Elder; Chairman Gary McAllister alone voted against firing Jones.

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Sheila Hayes was named interim election administrator.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Local, state and federal officials gathered for an annual forum in Washington County on Friday aimed at tackling housing and homelessness issues.

Among the attendees was U.S. Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.), who represents most of the county. She said shes working on several bills in Congress to try and address homelessness.

Second wind, rain event of the week arrives Friday

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Washington County Chair Kathryn Harrington said while the county is making good progress in the homeless crisis, theres still a risk of falling back in some areas, calling it an inflection point.

The county chair said Washington County has cut homelessness by one-third in three years. However, a lot of the progress was made through one-time funding, like pandemic-era aid. Harrington said Supportive Housing Services is the only continuing funding source the county has to combat the homeless crisis long-term.

As we engage in conversations about a potential SHS reform measure, I urge those of you with influence  including our Metro colleagues  to talk to experts about what reductions would mean to our shared goals, Harrington said.

The annual Washington County Department of Housing Services forum was held at the Wingspan Event and Conference Center in Hillsboro. In addition to Count Chair Harrington and U.S. Rep. Bonamici, other guests included Oregon State Senatore Kate Lieber (D), and a number of other representatives from organizations and non-profits in the housing, mental health and homelessness fields, including CareOregon, Central City Concern, and Bridge Housing.

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STREETSBORO, Ohio (WJW)  A local high school student who is hoping to receive a life-saving heart transplant operation received an emotional clap out on Friday from his fellow students.

Even before Cole Palmer was born in 2009, doctors told his family they were deeply concerned about the condition of his heart.

He had his first heart surgery at 10 days old. I didnt get to hold Cole until he was 2; 2 1/2 months old was the first time I got to hold him, said Coles mother, Sherly Palmer.

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Born with a congenital heart disease, Cole underwent additional open-heart surgeries and numerous procedures over the years that included a pacemaker being implanted in his heart.

His family said he took every setback in stride and has been a great brother to his seven siblings and a good friend to everyone he knows.

He gets along with everybody. Hes always just fun to be around. He stands up for kids who need to be stood up for. He does not discriminate, said his mother.

Cole is now 15 years old and a sophomore at Streetsboro High School.

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Unfortunately, doctors say Coles heart and other organs are starting to fail, and he is in dire need of a heart transplant.

This is scary for him  not only for him, for me, his siblings, his dad. You know, for him though, I think its the scariest, said Sherly.

Friday was Coles last day at school for the foreseeable future. He will be admitted to Nationwide Childrens Hospital in Columbus the week of Thanksgiving, where he will wait for a donor heart to arrive and then undergo a life-saving transplant operation.

Just getting a heart and going home on and finally not having to worry about whether my heart is just going to cease at any moment, Cole told FOX 8 News.

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While Cole views himself as being reserved and shy, it turns out that the students and faculty at Streetsboro High have taken notice of his quiet strength in the face of adversity.

The school asked everyone to wear red on Friday, but Cole had no idea why until he walked into the gym and received a thunderous clap-out from the Streetsboro High community. They shouted, We love you Cole, and then cheered.

I was just astonished. I was like wow. I felt a sense of like, you know, support and hope that I havent had in a long time, said Cole.

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He added that the powerful sendoff will serve as an inspiration as he takes the next big step in his life journey.

I will be OK and, you know, theres something that I can come back to when I finally come back as a whole new person, said Cole with a smile.

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The awards were presented during the concluding day of the three-day 11th Chintan Shibir, held in the divine grace of Somnath Mahadev, the first Jyotirling.

Formed in 2005, the Karmayogi Puraskar yojana aims to promote dynamism in governance and recognize excellence in administrative performance.

These awards are based on criteria such as the effective use of modern tools, the implementation of innovative schemes and programs, and adherence to key benchmarks that drive good governance, the release added.

Under this scheme, District Collectors and District Development Officers who have served in the same district for more than six months during a financial year are evaluated for eligibility.

The selection process entails a detailed performance assessment conducted by the respective departments and the Chief Secretary.

Based on this evaluation, recommendations for the Best District Collector and Best District Development Officer are submitted to the state government. The final selection is determined by a scoring system out of 100 marks.

The awards are classified into two categories one district with a population exceeding 15 lakhs, including those with municipal corporations and second districts with a population of up to 15 lakhs.

In the event, 20 officials including district collectors and development officers, honoured for remarkable administrative contributions.

Shalini Agrawal District Collector 2019-2020 Vadodara, Adra Agrawal District Collector 2019-2020 Navsari, Arpit Sagar District Development Officer 2019-2020 Valsad, VK Advani District Development Officer 2019-2020 Porbandar, RR Rawal District Collector 2020-2021 Valsad, Supreet Singh Gulati District Collector 2020-2021 Patan, Pravin Chaudhary District Development Officer 2020-2021 Junagadh, Prashasti Parik District Development Officer 2020-2021 Navsari, Kshipra Suryakantarav Agre District Collector 2021-2022, Valsad, M.A. Pandya District Collector 2021-2022 Devbhoomi Dwarka and 10 others were honoured. (ANI)
Imagine walking with headphones on and listening to your favorite tunes. Now, imagine doing that with a group of friends.

Friday night, the community is able to dance the night away at a silent disco.

Reporter Jade Leah Burns went live at Kings Rook Club, 1921 Peach St, and talked with community school director Amy Grande about the event.

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A new report by climate watchdog DeSmog has accused the BBC of greenwashing the image of some of the most carbon-intensive sectors in the world.

The article noted that BBC StoryWorks, the studio responsible for producing branded, sponsored, and commercial advertising content and publishing it to an international audience, has helped generate billions of dollars in sales over the last few years.

Part of that financial growth can be attributed to the films, articles, and advertisements the studio created on behalf of companies and countries involved with the dirty energy, agricultural, and transportation industries.

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Earlier in 2024, BBC published two articles for global utility company Engie, touting its goals for a more sustainable future despite the brand's heavy ties to liquefied natural gas and coal-fired power plants.

The broadcasting company also released a series of short films paid for by fossil fuel companies like Engie Brazil, Gasum, CLP Holdings, Mabanaft, and Invenergy. DeSmog noted they all made a pointed effort to highlight the featured company's "climate credentials  without examining their contribution to global emissions or the viability of the featured technologies."

Meanwhile, Boeing sponsored one of the films to advocate for the development and implementation of sustainable aviation fuels  a promising yet flawed option in the quest for environmentally friendlier solutions for airplanes.

Other entities in the transportation industry that BBC has partnered with include Uzbekistan Airways, China Southern Airline, Korean Air, Hyundai, Lexus, Volkswagen, and Jaguar, as well as shipping and cruise company Cunard.

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BBC StoryWorks has also distributed media promoting the ecofriendliness of pesticide giants like Bayer and Corteva while ignoring the harmful effects their products have on food production, biodiversity, and human health.

It's even worked with Australian Dairy and Nestle, both of which have fueled the planet's overheating through carbon-intensive agricultural practices.

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Lastly, DeSmog mentioned the studio's cooperation with oil-rich regions with a poor record of human rights abuses and press freedom. BBC StoryWorks has produced content for Azerbaijan and the UAE, highlighting their claims of switching to renewable energy but largely ignoring their track record of exporting gas and oil.

"Accepting money from sources like this, to make content like this, risks undermining the BBC's own hard-won reputation and will ultimately put it on the wrong side of history," Patrick Howse, the BBC's former bureau chief in Baghdad, told DeSmog.

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A BBC StoryWorks spokesperson told DeSmog that it "operates entirely separately from the BBC's editorial operations" and that its productions are "clearly labelled as commercial content"  a refrain frequently cited by publications to absolve itself of any responsibility.

Additionally, the watchdog referenced BBC's supposed commitment to science-based climate reporting and signing of the Climate Content Pledge, vowing to do "more and better climate story-telling on screen across all genres."

Nonetheless, the studio and several other outlets have drawn criticism from climate experts and advocates for deliberately showcasing the deceptive and misleading messages of the sectors most culpable of rising global temperatures.

"This important investigation reveals that BBC StoryWorks has been doing the greenwashing work of major polluting firms driving the climate crisis by obscuring their role and promoting their preferred 'solutions', however discredited by science," Professor Peter Newell of the University of Sussex told DeSmog.

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"This is a huge disservice to the BBC's audiences, and a betrayal of the many brave and conscientious BBC journalists around the world who see holding power to account and telling the truth as their raison d'etre," Howse added.

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Nov. 22WATERVILLE  Officials are considering instituting a four-day work week for City Hall employees and extending their daily hours to 10.

Doing so would help recruit and retain good workers, give the public more opportunity to do business at City Hall before and after regular business hours and help boost employee morale.

Beyond that, being open only four days would have an environmental impact as it would decrease the number of days people drive to City Hall and reduce, by about 20%, the buildings' use of heat and utilities.

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Those were some of the points City Manager Bryan Kaenrath and the city's human resources director, Bobbi-Jo Green, pitched to the City Council Tuesday night.

Kaenrath said the world has changed since the COVID pandemic, the nature of work schedules has changed as a result and many other municipalities have moved to a four-day work week. Those seeking employment are interested in that schedule or a hybrid situation where they may also work from home, he said. Waterville is losing good people to more attractive opportunities and in the last month, the city lost two very good employees in the finance and code enforcement offices to other positions that offered remote or hybrid flexibility, according to Kaenrath.

"It is exceedingly competitive out there for municipal employees," he said.

South Portland and Gorham went to a four-day work week in 2023 and South Portland changed to a four-day week this past September.

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Councilors voted 5-2 Tuesday to approve a proposed amendment to the city's personnel ordinance that would change the work week from five to four days, and they must take a second vote to finalize it. Now, City Hall is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and with the change, the hours would be 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, with employees having a half hour for lunch. The change for City Hall would not affect employees in the public works and public safety departments, which would be considered later for possible schedule changes, according to Kaenrath. While there is no hard and fast timeline for implementing a new schedule if the council approves it, the city is proposing it start Jan. 1, he said.

Councilors Ken Gagnon, D-Ward 5, and Tom McCormick, who is unenrolled and represents Ward 7, opposed the change, with Gagnon saying the proposal benefits the administration and not the public.

"I think this is a terrible idea," he said.

Gagnon argued that workers may leave city employment for reasons other than the work schedule, no one has studied why they leave, and he'd want to see a report on that before making a decision to approve a schedule change.

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"I don't think that this has been well thought out," he said.

Kaenrath said employees were surveyed for their thoughts and there was "near unanimous support and great interest and excitement to do this with our staff which is a great moral piece. There is 99.8% interest from our employees to do something like this."

The primary reason the city is looking at the change is to keep pace with the market and what Waterville's municipal peers are doing, he said.

Councilors Thomas Klepach, D-Ward 3, Flavia DeBrito, D-Ward 2, and Brandon Gilley, D-Ward 1, said they favor the change. Klepach said the city needs top-quality personnel, which makes the city run like a top; without it, the city falls on its face.

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DeBrito said she worked four days a week at a previous job and it was beneficial as she was able to schedule medical and other appointments on Fridays for her and her children. It is also crucial for people to take time for themselves in a world where mental health is on the rise, she said.

"I do see this as a way to take care of our staff, so I'm totally in favor of it," she said.

Gilley followed by saying work-life balance is important, as is being able to have a designated day for personal needs.

More and more municipalities are changing to a four-day work week, according to Kaenrath. At Waterville City Hall, Tuesday is the busiest day in terms of doing the public's business, with Monday the next busiest day and Friday, the third busiest, he said.

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The towns of Oakland, Winslow, Newport, Pittsfield, Pittston and Dresden, close their town offices on Friday. Other municipalities whose offices are closed Friday include Biddeford, Bath, Sanford, Windham, Cumberland, Scarborough, Cape Elizabeth, Falmouth, Lisbon, Wiscasset and Belfast.

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Nov. 22WATERVILLE  Members of the public are invited to a community forum Monday to give input on what they see as the state of city schools and what they envision for the future.

The session is part of an ongoing process launched by the Waterville Board of Education and coordinated by Superintendent Peter Hallen and Assistant Superintendent Jen Allen to develop a strategic plan for city schools. It will be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Waterville Junior High School.

Hallen and Allen encouraged anyone who is interested in the future of public schools to attend.

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"There's plenty of room and we certainly want as many people there as can make it," Hallen said Thursday.

The idea for developing a strategic plan began as Hallen and Allen were working on professional development with the Maine School Superintendents Association, where they met monthly to discuss issues including hiring practices, budget development, legal matters and more. The sessions typically started off with talks about leadership in terms of building trust and relationships in the school community, according to Hallen and Allen. Building such trust is a focus of the book "The Trust Imperative: Practical Approaches to School Leadership," written by Yarmouth school Superintendent Andrew Dolloff, who was at the meetings.

Dolloff asked school leaders attending one session what they had for school strategic plans and, conceding they had none, Hallen and Allen spoke with him afterward and concluded such a plan needed to be developed for Waterville schools.

"We have had him (Dolloff) as a consultant throughout the process," Hallen said. "He has done one at Yarmouth and helped a dozen or so other schools through the strategic planning process."

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As part of the Waterville process, input was sought from school staff and a community survey was launched about a month ago which garnered about 400 responses from residents, former and current students and others. They were asked questions about what they thought Waterville schools do best, what areas they thought need improvement, what opportunities might exist and what areas they view as out of school control and impeding progress.

A strategic planning team will work to build an outline for a plan and another community forum is planned for the spring of 2025. The team of 14 includes Hallen, Allen, representatives from each of Waterville's four schools and school departments, as well as school alumni, parents of students, including those new to the school system, faculty, staff and a representative from Mid-Maine Technical Center. The team, which also includes a city councilor and school board member, meets once a month.

Waterville schools, according to Hallen, serve more than 1,600 students in kindergarten through grade 12; about 200 children in Educare, an early childhood education program; about 300 students from other communities enrolled at Mid-Maine Technical Center; and about 150 students in adult education.

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The Archbishop of Canterbury is facing fresh criticism for an egregious failure to act in the case of a convicted paedophile.

The Most Rev Justin Welby, while Dean of Liverpool Cathedral in 2007, allowed a priest to continue officiating despite being told he had been convicted of sex offences in 1989.

The Archbishop reportedly told Cannon John Roberts he could continue to practise but to make sure he was not alone with parishioners, saying: For obvious reasons you are more vulnerable to unfounded accusation [sic] than others.

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The details emerged the week after the Archbishop announced he would resign in the wake of a damning report which found that he and officials showed a distinct lack of curiosity about whether police had followed up allegations against the prolific child abuser John Smyth.

The Archbishop was forced to resign over his handling of serial abuser John Smyth (seen here) - UNPIXS

It comes as The Telegraph reveals that a fifth Church of England (CoE) clergyman, the Rev John Woolmer, has stood down following the Makin review.

Roberts was convicted in 1989 of the indecent assault of Craig Freedman, who has waved his right to anonymity, fined 500 and required to sign the sex offenders register.

However, he remained at St Peters Church in Woolton because David Sheppard, the then Bishop of Liverpool, believed it to be a miscarriage of justice. The convicted sex offender later became a canon of Liverpool Cathedral.

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In 2019 the Archbishop conceded to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse: With the benefit of hindsight I would not have permitted [Roberts] to be on my staff.

In 2020 Roberts was further convicted of nine counts of indecent and sexual assault against three victims, and was convicted this year in relation to a another victim, which increased his jail sentence to a total of 12 years.

Mr Freedman, now 51, told The Times: Even though in 1989 I proved my innocence and his guilt, they chose to put me down and discredit me.

In 2011, while the Archbishop was still at Liverpool Cathedral, another man came forward to make a complaint against Roberts, but the then dean accepted his denials and banned the complainant from the cathedral, describing him as angry and aggressive.

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Richard Scorer, head of abuse law at Slater and Gordon and who is calling for an external review into the churchs conduct, said: Welby appears to have exhibited the same lack of curiosity and concern we saw in the Smyth case. [The Roberts case was] one of the most egregious failures that Ive seen.

John Roberts was allowed to continue officiating despite being convicted of sex offences in 1989 - Merseyside Police

In a separate case, The Telegraph can reveal that Mr Woolmer was told about Smyths behaviour by a pupil who had been abused by him in the 1980s, but took no action.

Mr Woolmer, founder of Winchesters Christian Forum, where Smyth abused multiple boys, has now voluntarily agreed to step back from ministry in the Diocese of Leicester, while his permission to officiate is reviewed.

Mr Woolmer first learned of concerns in late 1981 or early 1982, when a former pupil, now at Oxford, confided with an injunction to total silence that Smyth had beaten him. Mr Woolmer said the young man told him about a physical punishment administered by Smyth, but said he didnt go into details and the priest assumed that he had consented to the sort of punishment that housemasters were still administering occasionally.

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He added: It was totally out of order; but hardly illegal. My former pupil, in his last year at Oxford, was absolutely clear that nothing should be said to anyone.

The Church must always be accountable

On Friday, the Diocese of Leicester announced he had been asked to step back pending investigations. Although retired, Mr Woolmer still holds permission to officiate in the diocese and has continued to preach and help with services at All Saints Church in Newtown Linford, Leicester.

A spokesman said Mr Woolmer cooperated with that work, and his PTO [licence allowing clergy to conduct services and perform ministerial duties] was subsequently restored.

[He] exercised a very limited ministry of preaching and teaching... supervised regularly by his local incumbent, with his PTO reviewed on an annual basis, the spokesman said.

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The Diocese of Leicester said Bishop Martyn Snow requested that [Mr Woolmer] steps back from ministry whilst this work is conducted, and that he has voluntarily agreed to do. His PTO will be reviewed once the National Safeguarding Team and the Diocesan Safeguarding Team have concluded their work.

The Telegraph understands up to 30 CoE officials face dismissal for failing to prevent Smyths abuse, though only the Archbishop has resigned.

In a statement to reviewers, Mr Woolmer said: I deeply regret not breaking the seal of the confessional, but I doubt it would have made much difference.

A spokesman for Lambeth Palace said: The assaults carried out by John Roberts were an appalling breach of trust and have damaged the lives of his victims and the survivors. The Church must always be accountable and learn lessons from its handling of these cases.

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The Archbishop has publicly apologised to survivors of abuse at the Churchs IICSA hearing  and he repeated this apology at the trial of John Roberts. While he followed the cathedral process that was in place at the time, he regrets the handling of the specific complaint while he was Dean of Liverpool.

As he explained at the IICSA hearing, the complainant was threatening towards several members of cathedral staff, which affected his judgement and handling. He has apologised for his response, and has said publicly that had he known the full detail of John Roberts 1989 conviction, he would have handled it differently. At no stage did he conceal information.

Mr Woolmer has been contacted for comment.

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Sacramento County will open a local assistance center Sunday in North Highlands for the dozens displaced in a destructive blaze that gutted a North Highlands apartment complex late Tuesday.

At the local assistance center to open inside the North Highlands Community Center, 6040 Watt Ave., residents can find support and resources from a number of state and county agencies and private nonprofit organizations. The center will be open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday.

More than 40 people at the Estate Apartments at 3651 A St., were chased from the wind-swept inferno that overwhelmed the complex and sent three people to the hospital. More than 85 firefighters battled the flames into early Wednesday.

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The American Red Cross opened a shelter to provide an immediate roof and beds for the complexs residents as this weeks storm bore down on the Sacramento region.

Sacramento Countys Office of Emergency Services and Department of Human Assistance will be available as well as the countys Community Support Team and Clerk/Recorders office, which handles birth and marriage certificates and other vital records. State agencies include the Office of Emergency Services, the Department of Insurance and Department of Motor Vehicles.

The Salvation Army, American Red Cross, Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services and Law Enforcement Chaplaincy Sacramento also are slated to provide services.
France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told the BBC in an excerpt of an interview published on Nov. 23 that Western allies should "not set and express red lines" on providing Ukraine with military support against Russian aggression.

The comments come just days after U.S. President Joe Biden approved Ukraine's use of U.S.-supplied long-range missile to strike targets within Russia, many months after President Volodymyr Zelensky first made the request.

Days before the approval, the leaders of France and the U.K. met in Paris on Nov. 11 to discuss a last-ditch attempt to persuade the U.S. to allow Ukraine to strike deep inside Russia with Western weapons before Donald Trump enters the White House in January.

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Barrot's comments come as EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola, on Nov. 23, also called on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to send long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine  even as Scholz has repeatedly denied the possibility of supplying Ukraine with the weaponry, fearing that Germany would be brought into the war with Russia.

"(France) will support Ukraine as intensely and as long as necessary. Why? Because it is our security that is at stake. Each time the Russian army progresses by one square kilometre, the threat gets one square kilometre closer to Europe," Barrot said.

Barrot stated that Ukraine could use French-supplied long-range missiles "in the logics of self defence" to strike targets within Russia, but did not elaborate as to whether Kyiv has already used the French-provided weapons.

During the interview Barrot also hinted France may eventually invite Ukraine to join NATO as part of Zelensky's five-point victory plan.

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"We are open to extending an invitation, and so in our discussions with friends and allies, and friends and allies of Ukraine, we are working to get them to closer to our positions."

Earlier this year, French President Emmanuel Macron said he would consider sending French troops to Ukraine in the case of a Russian breakthrough at the front or if Ukraine requested it.

When asked by the BBC whether sending French troops would constitute a so-called red-line, Barrot said that France would "not discard any option."

Barrot's comments comes as Russia continues to intensify its attacks along the eastern front in recent weeks, putting Ukrainian forces under mounting pressure as they struggle to defend key positions.

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In total, almost 580,000 Russian soldiers are participating in combat against Ukraine, Vadym Skibitskyi, the deputy head of Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR), told Interfax Ukraine on Nov. 21.

Read also: Ukraine has lost over 40% of territory previously gained in Kursk incursion, Reuters reports





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JOHNSTOWN, Pa.  Highlights of Thursdays Westmont Hilltop School Board meeting were approval of the Federal Aviation Administration Redbird TD flight simulator donation from Aerium and an EADS Group study to evaluate classroom capacities throughout the district.

The donation was one of the first items handled on the agenda, with the simulator, software, maintenance, training, licenses and other costs totaling nearly $20,000 in value.

Board President Robert Gleason has been a proponent of introducing aviation at the secondary level and was excited about this next step.

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Ive often challenged (Superintendent Thomas Mitchell), How do we take our school district to the next level?  he said. I think aviation courses is the next level.

With the donation, the district will be responsible for implementing new associated classes.

Those will be 11th-grade courses on the flying environment and unmanned aircraft systems operations; as well as the 12th-grade classes on the world of unmanned aircraft systems and The Capstone Experience.

This motion sparked a discussion among the members ranging from electives and elimination of classes to student interest and possible adjustments to the daily schedule to maximize education.

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Board member Rebecca Webb questioned the elimination of junior high electives, such as art, to fit the new courses and stressed to her fellow school directors that she isnt against aviation but was concerned about limiting possible interest in other opportunities.

Webb also noted that at this time there isnt a sizable interest in the aviation courses.

School director Jeffrey Masterson noted that the program hasnt fully taken off yet, so its hard to gauge student appeal. He urged Webb and others to give the new addition a chance.

This led to a discussion about the district better utilizing the school day and the possibility of adjustments, to which Mitchell said he was open. No decisions were made.

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In other business, the board approved a $17,940 contract with the EADS Group to identify additional classroom space in the district with the goal of increasing the number of instructional spaces available to manage class sizes.

Steady enrollment and a robust housing market reflect the strong value our community places on the school district, Mitchell said. However, the overcrowding of classrooms, particularly at the elementary school, level has been an ongoing concern. Partnering with the EADS Group allows us to explore effective, cost-conscious solutions to address these challenges and maintain high-quality educational experience for our students and teachers.

The study will evaluate classroom capacity; identify potential spaces to accommodate additional classrooms; and propose cost-effective strategies to meet current and future classroom need.

Parents, staff and residents are encouraged to stay informed and involved in the process as Westmont continues to monitor enrollment trends and real estate data to anticipate future needs proactively, Mitchell said.
The end result was the urban tide never materialized for Harris, not in Philadelphia and not in other major cities across half a dozen battleground states.

Blue cities represent the core of the Democratic base  they contain a mix of liberal educated professionals and working-class voters that have long sustained Democratic candidates  and the party has to run up the margins in urban areas to stand any chance of winning elections.

But this year, the major cities accounted for smaller shares of the votes cast in the battleground states than four years ago  effectively ceding political power to suburban and rural voters who are, in aggregate, more conservative. Even as fewer voters turned out in Philadelphia, for example, Pennsylvania statewide had more votes cast than in 2020.



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While there are differences across the cities, a POLITICO analysis found the greatest decline in voter participation in all six appears to be in predominantly low-income Black and Hispanic neighborhoods. There were some shifts toward Trump, but it was ultimately the turnout drop in staunchly Democratic precincts that had the greatest impact on urban margins.

The analysis of nearly 3,000 precincts  the most granular election results available for the biggest cities in six of the presidential battleground states  across Philadelphia, Atlanta, Charlotte, Milwaukee, Phoenix and Las Vegas paints a vivid picture for why Harris lost ground. (Complete precinct results for Detroit, the biggest city in Michigan, were not available as of Friday.)

How individual voters cast their ballots is not known, but stark residential segregation along lines of race and class suggests clear patterns in which voters swung toward Trump the most, and who stayed home this time.

For instance, Trump received nearly 3,400 more votes than he had in 2020 across the 476 predominantly Black precincts in the six cities, defined for POLITICOs analysis as places where at least 85 percent of residents are Black. But Harris received about 17,500 fewer than Biden had, a far greater impact on the overall margins.

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That decline in city voter participation does not alone explain Harris defeat  Trump improved on his 2020 margins all across the battlegrounds, including in purple suburbs and rural red counties. But the turnout slump prevented Harris from building an urban firewall in areas that have long been bastions of Democratic power, and it portends challenges Democrats will have to address in future elections.

We missed something here, everybody did, said Kevin Olasanoye, the executive director of the Democratic Party of Georgia.

What we were talking to voters about, they told us with their votes that those were important, but they wanted something different, he said. People have the right to feel like we let one slip away here. Legitimately.

Turnout dropped in urban Black neighborhoods, driving down Harris vote totals

Democrats saw the warning signs heading into Election Day.

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Polls indicating some Black voters, in particular men, were drifting from the Democratic Party raised doubts about whether Harris could get the margins she needed in major urban centers like Philadelphia.

Harris still commandingly won the precincts where at least 85 percent of residents are Black in the six cities analyzed by POLITICO, receiving 94.6 percent of the two-party votes  a total of more than 200,000 votes compared to fewer than 11,500 for Trump.

But the sobering reality for Democrats is her numbers are a significant drop from 2020 levels. Across the six cities, the number of votes declined 6.1 percent from 2020 to 2024 in these predominantly Black precincts  more than double the 2.7 percent falloff seen across the cities overall.

That turnout drop accounted for much of what looks like a shift toward Trump in Black neighborhoods.

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And it split along income and educational lines, with the highest drops coming in neighborhoods where residents have the lowest incomes and are least likely to be college-educated.

In the lowest-income Black areas  where most households make less than $50,000 per year  turnout dropped 7 percent. In higher-income precincts, the decline was 4 percent. Similar gaps exist among precincts with varying education levels.



Some Democrats blame the partys inability to drive home a message that would inspire working class voters of color.

Mustafa Rashed, a Philadelphia-based Democratic strategist, pointed to that final late-night rally in the city in which Harris urged a crowd of 30,000 to finally turn the page on a decade of politics that has been driven by fear and division and praised Republicans who put the Constitution of the United States above party.

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That was a glaring miss, he said  playing up the need for voters to save democracy when polls showed the economy and immigration were consistently the top concerns for voters.

Saying to urban voters that you have to help prevent fascism and help save democracy, people are like, I dont know what that means, he said. [The party was] asking people to uphold systems that they dont believe, by and large, are working for them.

Turnout also dropped sharply in Hispanic neighborhoods, which also saw swings toward Trump

Voter participation also plummeted in predominantly Hispanic precincts across the six big cities.

The decline was even sharper than the one in Black neighborhoods  and there was a notable divergence, with Latino neighborhoods also swinging hard to the right even as turnout fell.

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Trump won roughly 46 percent of Hispanic voters nationally, up some 14 percentage points from four years ago, according to exit polls. That would be a new high-water mark for a GOP candidate.

The majority-Hispanic neighborhoods in the six cities almost universally broke for Trump. That rightward shift was consistent across cities, income levels and country of origin. And those breaks to the right are not explained just by falling Democratic turnout alone  they were large enough to make it clear that vote-switching occurred.

Hispanic voters arent as represented in the urban hubs of battleground states as Black voters. Still, there are more than three dozen precincts across the six cities where the population is at least 85 percent Hispanic. Combined, those areas swung 8.2 points toward Trump and turnout dropped by more than 11 percent.

The decreased turnout and the shifts toward Trump were apparent across both low-income and middle-income Hispanic precincts. (There isnt enough data from the six cities to meaningfully analyze higher-educated or higher-income Hispanic precincts.)

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Philadelphias Fairhill neighborhood, known for its vibrantly painted row houses, large murals and a historic burial ground dating back the early 1700s, is an epicenter of the citys Hispanic communities. It has a large concentration of Puerto Ricans and was an area where Trump saw some of his biggest gains.

A lot of people said, well, you know what? We prefer crazy motherflower who actually has done something or try to do something [different], and lets see what happens with Trump, said Charito Morales, co-founder of Philly Boricuas, which conducted voter outreach for the Harris campaign in Fairhill and elsewhere.

She believes many Hispanic voters here were motivated to cast a punishment vote against Harris and Biden for a range of issues, including stagnant economic outlooks and the unwillingness to change direction on the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Morales also pointed to immigration, saying that the Biden-Harris administration had promised to take up legislative protections for undocumented immigrants, but the administration never tried to do anything until the last minute.

White voters were more conservative to begin with, but exhibited fewer swings

White voters in cities have long broken both more favorably for Democrats than white voters in other areas and more conservatively than Black or Latino voters in cities. That trend continued this year, with urban white precincts moving slightly to the right  but not as dramatically as other neighborhoods.

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Four years ago, the six cities precincts where residents are at least 85 percent white went 54.6 percent for Biden in the two-party vote. This year, those precincts, almost all of which are higher-income and higher-educated, in aggregate shifted toward Trump by roughly 0.6 percentage points. Turnout remained similar to 2020 levels.

Harris had been banking on robust turnout from a wide range of voters in cities, across race, income, and education  but Trump eroded that coalition. Despite Harris repeated stops in Milwaukee, for example, the traditional liberal bastion lurched toward Trump and provided little defense for her as he rode a wave of support across the rest of Wisconsin.

Marquette University political scientist John Johnson noted that in Milwaukee, where the white and Black populations are roughly even, the turnout difference among the citys white populations was negligible  and certainly not what Democrats had projected needing to help carry the Badger State.

In the majority-white parts of the city, a lot of them voted a little bit more, had a little bit higher turnout, maybe netted a few more votes for the Harris campaign, Johnson said, but not the kinds of dramatic changes that weve seen in some of the past cycles.

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He added that Harris electoral woes were exasperated by the fact that Trump made gains in some of the least-educated wards. Harris, meanwhile, was treading water in some of the highest-educated wards of the city  only able to match, not build upon, Bidens performance.

Sean McMinn, Taylor Miller Thomas, Greta Reich, Emmy Martin and Tara Gnewikow contributed to this report.


As the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led Mahagathbandhan is poised to retain the power in the state, party candidate from Gandey and Chief Minister Hemant Soren's wife, Kalpana Soren on Saturday expressed her gratitude towards the people for their overwhelming support. She emphasized that the government is truly "of the people", highlighting Hemant Soren's dedication to serving the state. "This government is the Abua government, this government is the government of the people of Jharkhand. The people have expressed their unwavering faith in Hemant Soren. The way Hemant ji was serving Jharkhand earlier as a son, as a brother, now in the coming times, he will work even harder than that," Kalpana told ANI. According to the latest data by the Election Commission of India, Kalpana is leading on the seat against BJP's Muniya Devi by a margin of over 16, 960 votes. The JMM has won 22 seats and is leading on 12 seats till 6:45 pm, Congress won 11 seats and is leading on 5 seats, RJD won 2 and is leading on 2 seats, the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (Liberation) - CPI(ML)(L) won 2 seats. As per the trends, the BJP has won 15 seats and has taken the lead on 6 seats, its alliance partners AJSU, JD(U) and LJP (RV) have won 1 seat each. Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janta Party's Jharkhand election in-charge, Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday expressed sorrow over NDA trailing behind INDIA alliance in the state. Taking to social media X, Sarma wrote, "The loss in Jharkhand is deeply painful for me personally, even though we secured victory in all five by-elections in Assam. I have witnessed the unwavering dedication and relentless efforts of our Karyakartas in Jharkhand, who gave their all in this election," Sarma reaffirmed that BJP fought Jharkhand election to lead it on the path of development, fulfilling the aspirations of students and youth. He "humbly" accepted the defeat. "We fought with a vision to protect the state from infiltration and to lead it on the path of development, fulfilling the aspirations of students and youth. However, we must humbly accept the mandate of the people, for that is the true essence of democracy. In these challenging times, we will stand firmly with our Karyakartas, offering them unwavering support and solidarity," Sarma said on X. Sarma congratulated Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and its chief Hemant Soren for receiving people's mandate in the election. "JMM and its allies have secured an impressive victory in Jharkhand. My heartfelt congratulations to Shri @HemantSorenJMM and his entire team on this achievement. I am confident that under his leadership, Jharkhand will embark on a path of progress and development," Sarma said. In the 2019 elections, the JMM won 30 seats, the BJP 25, and Congress 16 seats. (ANI)
Donald Trump could ignite a whiskey war with the UK as part of negotiations over tariffs after he takes office in January, industry insiders fear.

The US president has pledged to impose blanket tariffs on all foreign imports of between 10 and 20 per cent, but the UK could be given an exemption.

Trade talks are set to begin imminently, and Cabinet ministers have warned a full-scale trade war could wreak havoc on the economy in both the UK and US.

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Industry insiders have told The Telegraph that one area of negotiation is likely to include new tariffs on wines and spirits, which are due to take effect in 18 months.

A 25 per cent tariff on American and British exported spirits was imposed by both countries in 2019, in response to a long-running dispute over Boeing and Airbus.

Both sides later agreed to suspend the levies for five years from 2021, but they will return in June 2026 unless a new agreement can be reached between London and Washington.

Jack Daniels could increase by more than a fifth

Businesses fear Mr Trump could agree to reimpose the tariffs as part of trade talks with the UK, harming the Scotch whisky industry and raising the cost of American spirits for British consumers.

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The whiskey war could see the price of a Jack Daniels and Coca-Cola increase by more than a fifth in British pubs, while treasured Scotch brands would see exports plummet.

Miles Beale, the chief executive of the UKs Wine and Spirits Trade Association, said: We are worried that the US will be tempted to pick on wines and spirits.

We are asking the UK Government to get in there early and make the case for getting rid of the tariffs altogether, and not give any opportunity for a second Trump administration to reapply them.

Mr Trump has suggested that tariffs in the US could eventually become a replacement for income tax.

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On the campaign trail, he repeatedly praised William McKinley, a 19th-century US president who used tariffs to raise revenue and shape foreign policy, and he has nominated Howard Lutnick, a Wall Street chief executive, to be his Commerce Secretary with responsibility for tariffs.

Mr Lutnick, who also serves as co-chairman of the Trump transition team, has described the threat of blanket tariffs as a bargaining chip that will force other countries to the negotiating table on trade.

List of priority industries to remain tariff-free

During the 18 months the transatlantic whiskey tariff was previously in place, the Scotch whisky industry in the UK lost 600 million in exports to the US.

Last year, Scottish businesses sold 978 million of whiskey in the US  the equivalent of 127 million bottles. Wine and spirit exports together accounted for 1.4 billion in trade.

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A spokesman for the Scotch Whisky Association, which represents distillers, told The Telegraph: Our world-class whiskies have benefited from zero-tariff trade for over a quarter of a century.

It is in all our interests that our collective energy is focussed on growing our sectors, creating jobs and investment.

The Department of Business and Trade has drawn up a list of priority industries it will push to remain tariff-free after Mr Trump takes office.

They include financial services, tech companies and pharmaceuticals.

A Whitehall source said Britain would also push to scrap the existing 2.5 per cent tariff on cars exported to the US, but officials have little confidence of success.

Trade barriers as diplomatic tool

Mr Trumps tariff plan represents an unprecedented attempt to use trade barriers as a diplomatic tool.

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He has proposed blanket tariffs of 60 per cent on Chinese imports, which American retailers including Walmart have warned will increase the price of goods for consumers.

Mr Trumps allies have suggested that the UK may be forced to choose between a closer trade relationship with Europe or with the US.

Jonathan Reynolds, the Business Secretary, suggested earlier this week that the Government may align more closely with the EU if Mr Trump starts a trade war with China, because the UK would be exposed to tariffs on both sides.

Clearly if there are things that were offered or asked to do that would result in an adverse relationship on the European side, wed have to weigh the consequences of that, he told a House of Lords committee.

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.
While Deleisha Kelleys tearful and torn-up family addressed her killer, Billy Dupree, in court at his Friday sentencing hearing, he did not pretend to either listen or care. Instead, he chatted up his lawyer even as Kelleys mother wept and said shed never celebrate another Christmas, or any other holiday.

Dupree, a 41-year-old repeat sex offender already doing time for another violent crime, is a nephew of Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree. Originally, he was charged with first-degree premeditated murder and was facing a life sentence in the December 2014 death of 16-year-old Kelley. She was strangled in Kansas City, Kansas, and then dumped in Kansas City, Missouri, where a homeless man looking for cans found her body covered with branches, tires and trash in an abandoned garage. That was 10 years ago next month.

Just before Billy Duprees scheduled September trial, though, he was allowed to plead to the very reduced charge of involuntary manslaughter. On Friday, Judge Dan Cahill handed down the agreed-upon 15-year sentence. And since that will run concurrently with the one hes already serving, Dupree will spend less than a dozen additional years behind bars for making sure that a 16-year-old would never turn 17.

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Kelleys relatives begged Cahill to do more. He said how moved he was by their grief, and how impressed by their knowledge. Then he blessed the original deal.

Billy Dupree is a repeat sex offender.

Judge says Mark Dupree never interfered

According to prosecutors and pretrial testimony, Billy Dupree killed Deleisha Kelley because hed just found out she was a minor and didnt want to get in legal trouble again for having sex with yet another underage girl.

Evidence in the case included a DNA semen hit and cell phone tower information that said shed spent the entire last day of her life within .1 mile of Duprees apartment. It showed that she had placed her last, aborted call to 911 from there, too. A neighbor who testified at a pretrial hearing that Dupree had asked him to help him get rid of her body, which he had glimpsed, had fully expected to testify again.

Other than Dupree and his defense attorney, Antwone Floyd, who used to work for Mark Dupree, no one in the courtroom seemed to think this outcome was justice, but only a faint photocopy, which Cahill called a whisper of justice.

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The judge spoke beautifully, and said he didnt want the family to think that he doesnt appreciate their loss or value Kelleys life. Even the death penalty wouldnt give them what they really need, he said. But this is a long way from that, and Kelleys mother, Kellie Blewett, told me she got no comfort from the judge, with all his pretty words, since he could have imposed a sentence twice as long on the same charges and did not.

Cahill said he wanted to state for the record that DA Dupree, who was not yet in that position when Kelley died, had stayed away from the case and had nothing to do with the outcome. There, too, Blewett said she was sure that this was technically true, and yet remains unconvinced. The judge stressed that Mark Dupree never called him. He didnt have to.

The lead prosecutor in the case, Kansas assistant attorney general Jessica Domme, was on the verge of tears herself as she very obliquely explained the last-minute decision not to go to trial.

Emotional Kansas assistant AG: I value this life.

I value this life, she told the court, but had to consider a number of factors, including the credibility of witnesses. The decisions I make as a prosecutor are hard and are criticized. I do value the victims life in this case.

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She also said she has to argue her case not in a newspaper, but in a courtroom. Yes, I did criticize the plea deal, and because Ive read everything filed in the case, still believe that there was more than enough evidence to convict.

Blewett and her whole family had already taken time off work for the trial that never happened, so what changed just ahead of jury selection? Back then, prosecutors told her the case was just too old to go to trial, though its age hadnt changed overnight, and neither had the evidence.

Kelleys mother wonders whether the credibility issue Domme is alluding to now involves Jalelisa Jeffery, a witness who only days before the plea deal was announced held a news conference at which she accused Mark Dupree of using his influence to help both Billy Dupree and his brother, Glen Blount, the father of Jefferys child. According to Jeffery, Blount dumped Kelleys body for Billy.

Thats what both Jeffery and Blount were expected to say in court. But Jeffery has also been trying to get her daughter back from the Dupree family for years, and investigators pressing her to testify had from the beginning also told her shed be seen as a bitter baby mama. They also, Jeffery says, promised to help her get her child back, and that never happened. No doubt prosecutors didnt like her calling out the DA right before trial, though she had the Kelley familys full go-ahead to tell her story. Blewett doesnt blame her, in any case, and why would she?

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There was so much physical evidence and other testimony in the case that even if prosecutors were horrified by what Jeffery said about a sitting district attorney and president of the Kansas Bar Association, the truth is that they did not need Jefferys testimony to get a conviction.

So if thats the super secret last-minute witness problem, then I still say thats an excuse rather than a reason. Because as Blewett says, DNA doesnt lie. There was an overabundance of evidence.

Do you know who I am?

And, even before the hearing started, there was a noticeable surplus of entitlement from Billy Dupree. Seated just a few feet in front of me in the courtroom, he was regaling his defense attorney with a story about something that had just happened to him in custody, presumably in Wyandotte County. And I said, Do you know who I am? Im going to write him up!

Yes, Billy, we all know who you are, and know, too, that the fact that this is your third violation as a registered sex offender somehow didnt override whatever political considerations kept you from going to trial.

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As the devastated relatives of his victim spoke, Billy Dupree did everything but look like he gave even one hoot.

Deleishas great aunt, Davitta Hanson, told the court, Im here today because the plea agreement will not do justice for anybody. This isnt the first teenager hes had a situation with.  Voluntarily you put something around her neck. To me, thats not involuntary. She also asked whether, if her niece had been another color, the case would have ended this way a decade later.

Blewett told the judge that her daughter had been suffering emotionally since her fathers murder, a year before Deleishas death, and she implored Cahill to give Dupree more of a sentence: I beg of you. He doesnt deserve to be free, she said, sobbing. She was a runaway for sure, but she was coming home on Christmas  as it turned out, just days after her body was found. Now I cant celebrate Christmas ever, or any other holiday. He stole that.

Another of Duprees uncles, Alvin Dupree, came forward to admonish his nephew, and tell him to get some real religion, rather than just some fake jailhouse substitute, You cannot fool God. Its holiness or hell. Live right, moving forward.

Dupree: I didnt know she was 16.

When it was Billy Duprees own turn to speak, he, too, spoke of God, and declared himself sanctified, filled with the Holy Ghost and doing a great job preaching in prison. I dont want to talk about the case, he said, but Im apologetic. I didnt know she was 16. 

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Cahill, who was also the trial judge on one of Duprees earlier cases, called him a sociopath who has a history of preying on vulnerable people. I dont believe you didnt know she was 16 years old.

That he knew he was killing her would seem to be the more relevant fact, but Cahill was definitely right when he told Dupree this: My words are wasted on you.

What is justice for a murder, the judge asked Kelleys family. Its not within my power to bring ultimate justice for you. The charging documents clearly set out probable cause, but unfortunately, we live in a world in which witnesses disappear or die or move on. He doesnt know what happened here, he said. The mysterious haze that obscures all knowing is supposed to be OK, I guess, but it isnt, and will never be.

The lead prosecutor, Domme, on her way out of the courtroom, told me shed have no more to say about her reasons.

Blewett, when I spoke to her later, said there were only two bearable things about the day: First, what Duprees Uncle Alvin had said in court, so at least I know not his whole family supports him in his madness. And then, this: At least the world knows you murdered my baby.
Entering the Georgian parliament following the widely disputed results of Tbilisi's October parliamentary elections is the same as entering Russia, Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili said during an interview with local television on Nov. 22.

"Whoever enters the parliament today will enter Russia," she told the Georgian broadcaster Mtavari Arkhi.

Zourabichvili has accused the ruling pro-Russian Georgian Dream party of rigging the recent elections and refused to accept the stated results. Along with other opposition party leaders, she has called for public demonstrations and a parliamentary boycott.

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"I am sure that the parties will not enter the parliament," she said.

According to Zourabichvili, the 2024 elections were defined by fraud on an unprecedented scale.

"There was, as always, what I call 'normal rigging,' and they make fun of me for it, but the feeling that the elections and the country were stolen from us did not exist," she said.

"The situation is very different. Today, whoever enters the parliament will enter Russia."

Official results of the October election show Georgian Dream securing nearly 54% of the vote, but pro-EU opposition leaders and international observers have highlighted widespread allegations of intimidation, ballot-stuffing, and vote-buying.

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The disputed results triggered large-scale protests in Tbilisi. Police began dispersing and arresting demonstrators on Nov. 18, though organizers promised to continue protesting.

Zourabichvili also insists that if Georgian Dream continues to stand by the allegedly fraudulent election results, they will govern alone.

"They are alone," she said.

"They are alone in the parliament, they are alone in the government. The government, the parliament, is one-party, under the vertical of one person, and all the institutions that exist in the country are completely dependent on this one party."

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Read also: If Georgian Dream stays its course, we cant consider them a democratic partner, expert says

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Podcaster Joe Rogan slammed President Joe Bidens lame-duck efforts to arm Ukraine in its fight against Russia in a Friday episode, claiming the nations use of long-range American missiles could bring World War III.

In an interview with record producer Scott Storch, Rogan cosigned the Grammy nominees suggestion that he felt safer under a Donald Trump presidency than Bidens leadership. He also wondered if a change of strategy this close to a hand-off of the presidency was wise.

[But] what I dont feel safer is right now, theyre launching missiles into Russia, Rogan said. How are you allowed to do that when youre on the way out? Like the people dont want you to be there anymore. This should be some sort of, like, a pause, for like, significant actions that could potentially start World War III.

Biden authorized the Ukrainian military to use long-range American-made missiles against Russia last weekend, responding to Russia deploying North Korean soldiers to the battlefield in its ongoing war effort.

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The outgoing president has ramped up weapons shipments to Ukraine and dismantled some restrictive rules on the use of American munitions ahead of Trumps inauguration. The president-elect has expressed a desire to cut off aid to Ukraine and has previously shown coziness with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Rogan endorsed president-elect Trump a day before the election and he hoped that his second term would bring an end to hostilities.

We voted Trump in, and his idea is to stop all this s**t, and hopefully he can do that, Rogan said.

Rogan suggested Ukraine come to the negotiation table with Russia instead of continuing fighting the war, which will enter its third year in February.

Maybe that would be a good thing we would like to avoid from a dying former President, Rogan said. F**k you, man. F**k you people. You f**king people are about to start World War III.
Photo: Chris Unger/Zuffa (Getty Images)

President-elect Donald Trump has outlined plans for his second term in scary detail: using military force to execute mass deportations, clearing out DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) policies, and, shockingly, even eliminating the Department of Education (DOE).  Phenix S Halley

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Photo: Chip Somodevilla (Getty Images)

President-elect Donald Trump began picking members of his Cabinet right after winning the election, and almost immediately his choices courted lots of criticism  chief among them the fact that most of them dont seem to have any actual experience for the positions in which theyve been placed.  Candace McDuffie

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Donald Trump managed to secure a second presidential term earlier this month after defeating Vice President Kamala Harris in a tight race. Since then, a slew of racial incidents have happenedwith many people believing Trumps victory served as a catalyst. Here is a list of the most disturbing ones.  Candace McDuffie

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Photo: Derek White (Getty Images)

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On Thursday, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that Jussie Smollett one of the stars from the popular television series Empire  would have his 2019 hate crime hoax conviction overturned. Now, conservatives are going in on X (formerly Twitter) about how Smolletts race played a major role in this decision.  Candace McDuffie

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Here we are, booming head on into a second presidency under Donald J. Trump. Polls show thirteen percent of Black voters casted their ballots on the Republican primary candidate. However, the things he promises to do in office are quite contrary to what can actually benefit Black people.  Kalyn Womack

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Photo: Leon Neal (Getty Images)

As President-elect Donald Trump continues to handpick members of his Cabinet, it appears as though the Black conservatives who backed him at mind-boggling levels are nowhere to be found. Here are the ones that got noticeably left in the dust.  Candace McDuffie

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Screenshot: ABC News

President-elect Donald Trump hasnt even taken office, but are we seeing the effects of the racist rhetoric that dominated the election? Last week, a white supremacist felt bold enough to say the N-word at a Senate committee meeting in Michigan. Now, Nazis are marching in Ohio.  Candace McDuffie

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Shortly before Haitis new ruling presidential council took office earlier this year in a deal brokered by Washington and the Caribbean Community, one of its incoming members discussed the plan to take back control of Port-au-Prince from armed gangs and declared that within a 100 days the road to the south of the country would re-open.

That road, a 15-mile stretch known as Route National 2, was the first major highway to fall in June 2021 when gangs began occupying sections of Martissant, a community of single-family homes and streetside lottery kiosks.

Seven months after the council members bold declaration  and five months after the first contingent of foreign police officers from Kenya arrived in Haiti  the dusty highway through Martissant remains the road of death. Gangs shoot at anyone trying to pass through, and neighboring Carrefour and Gressier are now among at least five areas of the capital and the neighboring Artibonite region that have fallen as gangs audaciously gain ground.

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The upsurge in violence in the face of an international armed force in Haiti has raised questions about the effectiveness of the Kenya-led mission, as well as whether the deployment of a formal United Nations peacekeeping operation would make a difference.

Security experts and those on the front lines say there is no simple answer. While acknowledging the shortcomings of the Multinational Security Support mission, backed by the United States, observers say Haiti faced a daunting numbers dilemma from the outset.

The Haiti National Police has one officer for every 1,000 residents, based on its claim of a total force of 12,000. In the developing world, the standard is twice as many officers per 1,000 people. Meanwhile, an analysis by the recently ousted prime minister, Garry Conille, showed that to open just 15 miles of road to the south, Haiti would need 700 police and military officers, plus attack drones, hand grenades and armor vehicles that can engage in combat.

The required force is almost double the 416 foreign police officers who currently make up the security mission, and significantly more than the Haitian polices small specialized forces can spare.

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But the inability of Haiti and the international community to stem the tide of violence, which escalated this week with the attempted gang attack on one of Haitis wealthier suburbs, Petion-Ville, isnt just about the numbers. Its also about lack of a security strategy on the part of all involved, and an underestimation of the urban warfare the country finds itself embroiled in.

Experts say the U.S., which has provided more than $300 million so far for the multinational mission, failed to ask a basic question at the start: What would it take to win this?

More gang violence

Haitis armed gangs should have been under pressure over the past few months. But they are in fact stronger today than in March, when they launched coordinated attacks throughout the capital under a new alliance called Viv Ansanm  Living Together. Since then, gangs have conquered more territory, become even better equipped and been responsible for the deaths of thousands of Haitians and the displacement of more than 40,000 people since last month. Thats in addition to 700,000-plus who have been forced to flee their homes over the last three years because of the violence.

There is a level of underestimation of the power of the gangs, not only the way they operate, but their capacity to hold the terrain, their capacity to know the terrain, their capacity to fight or not fight, and their ability to control different areas in different theaters, said Romain Le Cour, senior expert at the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime, a civil-society organization based in Switzerland.

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On Wednesday, the Kenya-led missions struggle to stabilize Haiti came under scrutiny as the U.N. Security Council met to discuss the push by the U.S. to transform the undertaking into a formal peacekeeping operation. The measure, which would mean the U.N. would take over sending troops to Haiti and paying for them, has been endorsed by at least 16 Latin American nations, along with the 15-member Caribbean Community bloc.

But such a peacekeeping mission is opposed by Russia and China, which have veto powers in the security council and have expressed concerns about sending peacekeepers to Haiti. The focus, they said, should remain on the under-resourced and understaffed multinational mission. Neither country has contributed financially to the mission. which was recently re-authorized for another year, until October 2025.

Deploying a peacekeeping operation at this time is nothing more than putting peacekeepers into the front line of the battles with the gangs. This will expose peacekeepers to great security risks, Geng Shuang, Chinas deputy permanent representative to the U.N., said.

What a gang attack in a rural Haiti town says about the Kenya-led security mission

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Kenyan National Security Adviser Monica Juma, who spoke via video link from Nairobi, said the multinational missions success in Haiti would include the reopening of schools and the international airport, which was recently closed. However, she acknowledged that the gangs coordinated attacks on multiple fronts have significantly challenged the capacity of both the Haitian police and the missions forces to respond.

The missions current deployment figure is a mere fraction of the 2,500 security personnel originally planned, she noted. Kenya, which had promised to deploy 617 additional cops by this month, has yet to do so and Juma did not provide the Security Council with a timeline. Jamaica, which is leading a Caribbean contingent to Haiti that includes members of its defense force and police, has not said when it will deploy the rest of its promised forces.

The stalled deployments are all taking place against a backdrop of increased fighting between police and armed gangs on the streets of the capital that has devastated communities and led to more than 4,000 deaths this year.

They are committing terrifying abuse, murders, abductions, rapes and burning of homes, Haitis U.N. representative, Antonio Rodrigue, said. Children, women and men are caught and entrapped in this indiscriminate violence.

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In the past two months, gangs have become even more audacious, he said. Last week, they shot at three U.S. commercial aircraft flying over Port-au-Prince, prompting a 30-day ban on flights to Haiti by the Federal Aviation Administration. The incident has also forced the closure of both the international and domestic airports in the capital for the second time this year.

On Tuesday, at least 28 suspected gang members were killed by police and residents as they attempted to invade the upscale Petion-Ville community. The gang attacks underscored Haitis continuing instability amid a deepening governing crisis. The ruling Transitional Presidential Council fired the prime minister last week, after hed been in office for just six months, and replaced him with local businessman Alix Didier Fils-Aime.

On Thursday Fils-Aime addressed the recent attacks. His office said hes determined to guarantee the free movement of goods and people and reaffirmed his desire to unblock all roads.

The most tragic part of whats happening right now is that it feels like we went back to March, back to a situation in which there is a massive vacuum of political power and institutional representation, said Le Cour. It feels like the situation in terms of public security is absolutely out of control, he added, despite the presence of the multinational mission.

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The armed international force, he said, lacks a clear strategy built around a deep, precise assessment of gang activity, neighborhood by neighborhood, group by group.

There is absolutely a lack of knowledge and analysis at the very local level, with granular information that would allow everybody ... to actually know much better the dynamics on the grounds in different areas, Le Cour said, echoing sentiments that have been shared by others critical of recent leadership movements within the Haitian police and the lack of military strategists in the mission. The more you think about it, the more you feel like there was no strategy, there was no plan, or maybe there was one, but its apparently not working at all, and we havent reassessed.

Pleas to Washington

During a visit to Washington over the summer, Conille told U.S. officials that even at its projected full strength of 2,500, the multinational missions personnel would not be enough to take on the gangs. On top of that, he stressed, the Haitian polices weak force lacks training and officers. Some reports have put the forces real numbers at between 4,000 and 7,000 officers on public-safety duty for the countrys nearly 12 million people.

The effort also lacked the proper kind of equipment, Conille said.

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I keep on wondering, why did we send a type of armored vehicle... that does not fit with the terrain that we see in Haiti? Le Cour said about vehicles that initially came with easily inflatable tires and no gun turret. How is it possible that you end up using vehicles that cant move around, for example, or are very densely constructed?

A police officer keeps his trigger finger at the ready as then-Haitian Prime Minister Gary Conille, left, speaks to the press along with Haiti Police Chief Rameau Normil, right, at Hospital Bernard Mevs in August.

U.S. officials finally agreed to allow Haiti to purchase some military-type equipment just before Conilles firing. They intend to provide nearly $628 million in financial and in-kind support to the multinational mission, State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said earlier this month. This would include armored vehicles, radios, night-vision goggles and drones. On Friday, the U.S. Embassy in Haiti began evacuating its staff.

Were literally back to March 1 and 2 when the airport was attacked and was closed, and the country is left to drift away, said Le Cour, noting not one major gang leader has been arrested despite police assertions that gang members have been killed during operations. It is very hard to find progress, although we know that... everybody has put tons of effort in trying to do something over the summer. I think this is why, maybe, people are so paralyzed right now and feel that what has happened over the past seven months has led to absolutely nothing.

For the multinational mission to achieve its envisioned strength, donors have to step up immediately, Miroslav Jencas, assistant secretary-general for the region, told the Security Council. He noted that the U.N. Trust Fund for the mission has a pledged amount of only $96.8 million, which is way below what is needed.

The failed effort in Solino

On the ground the missions weakness plays out in its operations.

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Like Martissant, the working-class neighborhood of Solino in central Port-au-Prince is considered a key target by both the government and the gangs. Its strategic location provides access to various neighborhoods, including Delmas and Petion-Ville.

In late August the government decided to focus on the area after Haitian Police Chief Rameau Normil nixed a plan to deploy forces into Ganthier. The rural town east of the capital had fallen under attacks by the 400 Mawozo gang, and the government had unblocked the equivalent of $59.4 million for the operation.

READ MORE: More than 100 suspected gang members have been killed as vigilantism grows in Haiti

The about-face on Ganthier in favor of Solino, a knowledgeable source told the Herald, was made more out of desperation than any strategy by the police, which believed it could succeed given Solinos location and the presence of cops who had spent two years successfully resisting gangs. They were wrong.

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After four weeks of intense daily exchanges of gunfire, the Haitian security forces and the multinational mission never controlled more than 50% of Solino. A security analysis shared with the Herald showed that to succeed in Solino the government would need about 200 specialized officers to fight the gangs and another 300 to hold the territory.

We keep on reproaching the Haitian national police and the [multinational force] for not conducting a mission, although we never really gave them the means and the time to succeed in conducting that mission, said Le Cour, noting that regardless of what decision is made about a U.N peacekeeping operation, Haiti needs the right strategy.

The gangs have personnel. They have people available to conduct operations. They have the will to conduct the operations. They have the coordination, he said. The situation over the past few weeks is that the Haitian police and the multinational mission, he added are caught between a rock and a hard place. Were stuck, really, in the middle of the river. Weve crossed and we advanced until the middle of the river, but we are very far from the horizon, and we cant go back to the bank.
After a bone-shaking ride through the saw-toothed peaks of northern Pakistan, we find that floodwaters have wiped away the road ahead. Fortunately, Rashid, our driver, spots another Jeep across the roaring river, which swirls and leaps like a tempestuous sea.

Quickly we transfer our dusty bags and hurry over a rickety footbridge before the ferocious glacial waters devour it too. And this is just the beginning. My husband, Mark, and I are on our way to Askole, the gateway to K2 base camp  and the start of one of the worlds most remote and challenging treks.

Until the 1980s, the journey to this frontier village was only possible on foot, extending what today is a two-week trek. The construction of a dirt track connecting Skardu, the town we flew into from the capital, Islamabad, to Askole, shortened the distance, but the route remains rugged.

Crossing one of the rickety bridges on the way to Askole on four wheels (Kate Eshelby)

Read more: Is Bhutans tourism tax an elitist ruse or the blueprint for the future of sustainable travel?

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Askole sits in the region of Baltistan: home to five of the worlds 14 peaks above 8,000 metres and more than 100 surpassing 7,000 metres. K2, the second-tallest mountain on Earth, is the poster child of the Karakoram range, which was thrown up millions of years ago when the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates smashed together.

Trekking to K2s base camp gives an alternative to the more commercialised Everest route in nearby Nepal, which sees 40,000 hikers annually compared to just 1,000 visitors here. While K2s numbers are growing, Everest base camp is still more crowded with tea houses and lodges along the way, whereas K2 offers no such comforts  only rock, ice and wilderness. Recent images of Everest show climbers lined up like ants to reach the summit, yet K2 is far more technical, reserved only for the most experienced.

On our first day, we leave the pin-bright, emerald-green terraces of Askole  our last glimpse of civilisation  and head onto a vast, stony plateau. Our gear is carried by a colourful caravan of mules and eight porters with homemade rucksacks; one has a cage of live chickens strapped to the top, and another leads a goat on a rope, both destined to become our future meals. Again, the path in front is washed away; we watch another group attempt a river crossing, only to lose a mule and tents to the current.

Sufi Hussain, the groups head porter, and Ibrahim, another porter, crossing a bridge at Jhola across the Dumordo River with the mule (Kate Eshelby)

Instead, we press on to a further footbridge, a couple of hours away, under stormy skies. We used to walk across Dumordo River. Now its so fast and furious because of global warming, Bashir, our guide, says. It becomes a recurring theme, Bashir, urging us to move fast before the rising waters consume the flimsy bridges.

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After three days, we reach the 39-mile-long Baltoro Glacier  cracked with unseen crevasses  which well traverse over the next few days. Pakistan boasts more glaciers than any other country outside the polar regions. The glaciers jagged jaws resemble a dragon, with icy black fangs firing out a torrent of water-like flames. The rivers waves surge like a battalion of raging stallions, rearing up over big rocky boulders in a frenzied dance.

Concordia, Throne Room of the Mountain Gods, where K2 can be seen (centre left) with another mountain, Broad Peak, on the right (Kate Eshelby)

Read more: Walking with gods in the Greek Peloponnese

Aside from guiding, Bashir is a gem miner  these mountains are as spectacular inside as out, with amethyst, rubies and aquamarine glittering below. After 9/11, I was like a fish on dry ground, Bashir says, explaining why he added another job to guiding. That evening, following a hot, shadeless walk, we camp at Liligo, where even the long drop loo has magnificent views, surrounded by mythical Tolkienesque towers and spires shawled in sparkling snow.

The landscape continues to surprise as we venture deeper. Despite the altitude, candy-pink asters and purple gentians gleam unexpectedly in the rocky terrain. In places, the glacier gapes like opening clams to reveal brilliant turquoise ice inside. We step onto an expanse of white sand dunes, dazzling amongst a constellation of peaks.

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As we approach Khuburse, our next campsite, with its stone terraces cut into the rock, mist suddenly swallows the mountains. This countrys politics is like the weather on Baltoro, it changes every minute, Bashir laughs.

A lunch stop on the Baltoro Glacier (Kate Eshelby)

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Read more: Joy, pain and an uncomfortable truth at the heart of every climbers story

Even exhausted, Im moved by the drama of the landscape  waterfalls tumble down, rivers carve under the glacier and rocks crash into blue glacial pools. At the campsite we meet fellow trekkers from Switzerland, and I comment on their home countrys mountains. Nothing compares to the grandeur of these mountains, they reply.

Then, for miles, we hike between giant ice arches, domes, and pyramids, which lift from the glacier like raised eyebrows. That night, wrapped in puffer jackets and thermals, we camp directly on the ice, the darkness punctuated with shooting stars. Morning finds the porters huddled together in a makeshift longhouse, built from stones and a tarpaulin, drinking Balti tea. Its made from butter, salt, and green tea, and gives us power, says Mohammed Ali, one of the porters.

Power is what we need for todays tough, uphill climb. Scattered kerosene canisters near an army post are a reminder that were near the disputed Indian border. Then, suddenly, we see K2  other mountains jostle for space, yet K2 stands majestically alone. This trek feels like a pilgrimage for a peak, and here it is, in front of us.

Tea time: The team on the trek (Kate Eshelby)

Read more: What Rishi Sunak can expect on the Coast to Coast walk  as he bids to make it UKs greatest national trail

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As I marvel, a Korean trekker pulls out his phone, and another begins preening for photos against K2. The sight is jarring  mobiles, though useful, especially for climbers, make these far-flung places seem more accessible, stripping away their magic.

Were camping at Concordia, often called the Throne Room of the Mountain Gods, as it was once proclaimed by a renowned photographer. The scenery is almost otherworldly but rather than solitude, theres a festival-like feel with all the tents. I think back to treks Ive made in Mongolia and Chad  places of equal, if not greater, beauty, yet untouched by tourism. Theres something, however, about mans need to conquer the big names, like K2 and Everest, akin to planting flags throughout history, as symbols of victory.

While we settle in, I notice that sadly vivid yellow loo cabins rise in front of K2, unused dustbins lie toppled, and litter is evident everywhere. Despite the Central Karakoram National Park (CKNP) being paid to clear the rubbish, the government service falls short. An ethical dilemma looms: if the numbers to K2 keep increasing, and the waste continues to pile up, should we reconsider our presence here?

Askole, the last village before the wilderness of the K2 base camp trek begins (Kate Eshelby)

On our final day before we turn around to return to Askole (theres an alternative, yet more technical, route out, over the Gondogoro La pass), we make our way towards K2 base camp. We walk along the Godwin-Austen Glacier, a long sherbet-white tail leading from K2, glittering with ice and pearlised channels of crystal-clear water snaking down its sides. As the evening light daggers in like searchlights, a rose armoury is cast over the mountains and Im convinced this is a holy, inviolable land: mysterious, volatile and alluring. You only have to look at the many plaques to those who have lost their lives to know who has the upper hand.

Travel essentials

Getting there

Waljis (waljis.com), Pakistans first and longest-serving travel company, offers an 18-day K2 base camp trek from 2,295 per person including all camping, a guide, porters, mules, meals prepared by a chef and cooking staff, and transfers with a car and driver from Shigar to Askole. Also included are two nights in the Serena Shigar either side of the trek, a return internal flight from Skardu to Islamabad (daily flights, weather dependent) and two nights in Islamabad. British nationals require a visa to enter Pakistan.

How to get there

Flights with British Airways start at 658 return from London to Islamabad. Book with Flight Centre; flightcentre.co.uk

Read more: This previously out-of-favour tourist island is now seeing a boom in bookings
Nov. 22NORWICH  More than 200 high school students who have to walk to school could get a winter reprieve, as the Board of Education and district administrators work out a three-month plan to create neighborhood bus stops starting in January.

The school district this year is enforcing a long-ignored policy that high school students who live within 1.5 miles of Norwich Free Academy must walk to school. Students attending Norwich Technical High School also walk to NFA to board a shuttle to the tech school.

Students, parents and supporters have complained repeatedly that the walking routes are not safe and unfairly affect students in the urban Greeneville neighborhoods.

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The school board met for an hour in a special online meeting Thursday night and voted unanimously to direct school administrators to propose a temporary transportation plan for high school students from Jan. 2 through March.

District Transportation and Safety Director Maria Parrillo and Acting Superintendent Susan Lessard will gather data on student walkers, the cost of buses and potential bus stops for the board's Dec. 10 meeting at 5:30 p.m. at Kelly STEAM Magnet Middle School.

A half mile instead

Lessard suggested students be asked to walk up to about a half mile to hub spots in neighborhoods to catch buses. She suggested concentrating on the area of most concern, such as streets with no sidewalks and where families have expressed safety concerns.

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On Thursday morning, Lessard, school board members John Iovino and Gregory Perry and NFA Head of School Nathan Quesnel walked one of the criticized routes from Greeneville to NFA in the rain. Lessard said she welcomed the inclement weather to better experience what students are expressing.

Lessard said while there are routes the students could walk with sidewalks, she understands why students use streets without sidewalks to shorten their routes.

The board also voted Thursday to establish a transportation committee to handle long-term issues. Board members Heather Fowler, Christina Milton and Perry will serve, along with two administrators and two community members. Board Chairman Mark Kulos said one community member should represent high school students and one for elementary-aged students.

"I envision this as something extending beyond the immediate needs of the concerns that were raised," Kulos said. "We should be planning and including this as a logistics plan for the new elementary schools."

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Because the city is building four new elementary schools, a reduction from the current seven schools, a citywide school redistricting will be needed.

Doctors' notes, exemptions

At the start of the school year, 285 high school students were affected by the walking policy, which was expected to save $180,000 this year. But dozens of parents asked Parrillo for exemptions, citing safety, medical or other considerations.

Parrillo said she investigated every safety issue, asking school resource police officers to check out the routes. She required doctor notes for medical issues. She has approved exemptions for 82 students, leaving 203 students still required to walk to NFA.

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School Business Administrator Robert Sirpenski said if three buses are needed for the three-month winter reprieve, it could cost about $75,000. A more precise cost projection will depend upon the specific winter plan.

Lessard alerted the board Thursday about the budget impacts of restoring all high school bus transportation. She said school officials enforced the long-ignored walking policy because the budget cut would not affect classroom education.

She said money needed to reinstate buses for high school walkers would come from the preschool-through-eighth-grade programs, not from the NFA or Norwich Tech budgets.

"We talk about equity," she said. "We're going to run into an equity no matter what we do here. We're not going to be able to cut teachers, because we already have large class sizes. If we can't find the savings in buses, transportation, we're going to wind up cutting intervention."

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That means potentially cutting support staff from "the neediest kids that struggle the most."

Board member Milton, however, said the safety concerns should be top priority. Milton said she walked about two miles to NFA in the early 1980s, passing one house where a man once chased her, forcing her to run through woods and yards to get to school.

Milton said she walked and drove along some of the routes of concern recently and learned there are more than 17 registered sex offenders living in some of those neighborhoods. Milton also is on a drug prevention task force and said there are known drug dealers in those areas.

"I really feel strongly that the money we're saving is not worth the liability we're putting ourselves out to," Milton said.

c.bessette@theday.com
Ryan Borgwardt, who has been missing since August, appears in a video shared by the Green Lake County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities have contacted a 44-year-old Wisconsin man suspected to have staged his own death and fled the country, Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll said at a Thursday press conference.

Podoll said the "great news" is that Ryan Borgwardt, a Watertown resident and married father of three, is "alive and well." Borgwardt filmed a video of himself in what he called "his apartment" that played at the press conference.

The "bad news" is that authorities don't know where Borgwardt is in Europe and he hasn't yet decided to return home, Podoll said.

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The sheriff's chief deputy has a "good relationship" with Borgwardt, Podoll said, and communicates with him nearly daily for the past 10 days. Authorities first got in contact with Borgwardt on Nov. 11 through a woman who spoke Russian. Few details about her were available, other than that she and Borgwardt met on the internet.

"In our communications, we are expressing the importance of his decision to return home (and) clean up the mess that he has created," Podoll said, adding that his family wants him to come home.

Borgwardt has told authorities that his biggest concern is how the community is going to react to him, Podoll said.

Here are the updates from the Thursday press conference and what's happened in the case:

What charges is Ryan Borgwardt facing?

Podoll said the sheriff's office is looking at an obstruction charge. He said he couldn't address any charges "that may or may not be filed through our federal partners."

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No warrants have been issued, and Podoll says he thinks warrants won't be needed if Borgwardt cooperates and decides to return home soon.

Will the Green Lake County Sheriff's Office seek restitution for the costs of the search of Ryan Borgwardt?

Podoll said this was one of the most important questions the office has gotten. The county will seek $35,000 to $40,000, Podoll said, not including the costs incurred by search and recovery efforts from the Bruce's Legacy nonprofit organization.

"We're looking at about $7,000 in equipment expenses, along with the wages," he said.

The 54-day search for Borgwardt involved underwater drones, towable submersible sonar, divers and three K-9 cadaver teams.

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Borgwardt "feels bad about the amount of hours that we have put in" as a community, Podoll said, and didn't expect they would search for him for more than two weeks.

"He picked the wrong sheriff from the wrong department," Podoll said.

How did Ryan Borgwardt stage his disappearance on Green Lake?

Podoll said Borgwardt decided to share details of how he staged his disappearance.

He left an e-bike hear the boat launch, then paddled his kayak in a child-sized inflatable boat out into the lake. He overturned the kayak and dumped his phone in the lake. He paddled the inflatable boat back to shore, got on his e-bike and "rode through the night to Madison," Podoll said.

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In Madison, he boarded a bus, went to Detroit and reached the Canadian border. He continued on the bus to an airport and got on a plane, Podoll said.

"We are continuing to verify this information, trying to put the dots together," Podoll said. "We feel that this was Ryan's way that he could tell the entire country how he did it."

When did Ryan Borgwardt disappear in Wisconsin?

Borgwardt was first reported missing Aug. 12 and was last known to be on Green Lake in his kayak.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Bruce's Legacy assisted with the search. Efforts to search the area were continued through August with no signs of Borgwardt.

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More: Key events in the case of Ryan Borgwardt, Wisconsin man who may have faked his death

What do authorities think happened to Ryan Borgwardt?

Authorities learned that Borgwardt had reported his passport lost or stolen and had obtained another passport issued in May 2024.

Digital forensic analysis of a laptop showed a digital trail, with Borgwardt planning his disappearance to Europe and his attempt to conceal his efforts.

Authorities found a replacement of the hard drive on the laptop, and that he cleared the browsers on the day of the disappearance.

Authorities also discovered inquiries about moving funds to foreign banks, communication with a woman from Uzbekistan and a new $375,000 life insurance policy.

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Although it's unknown where Borgwardt is, Podoll said the United States doesn't have an extradition treaty with Uzbekistan.

Was Ryan Borgwardt seen in a viral TikTok video?

Authorities reviewed a viral TikTok that showed a man who looked like Borgwardt but determined it wasn't him by contacting people who know Borgwardt.

In the video, a man comes up to the TikTok creator, who is holding an "ask me for free advice" sign, and asks if he should go to Uzbekistan to meet a woman.

Several other content creators and social media users found the connection odd, prompting the sheriff's office to debunk the theory on Facebook.

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More: Ryan Borgwardt isnt the man in viral TikTok video, Green Lake County sheriff says

Justin Marville of the Fond du Lac Reporter contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Ryan Borgwardt, Wisconsin kakayer who faked death, talks with police
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday, said that the state government is considering to rank colleges and formulae for the same is being prepared. CM Sukhu made the while presiding over the programme of the Alumni Association at Center of Excellence Government Degree College Sanjauli. "The state government is considering ranking the colleges of the state. There were about 138 colleges in the state and the formula for their ranking was being prepared. We want to strengthen the facilities in the colleges and all other government educational institutions. The state government is emphasizing to provide quality education to the students of the state and there is no dearth of funds for this work", said CM Sukhu. Sukhu said that in the next two years, arts block, girls hostel and parking will be built in the college complex and he would lay the foundation stones of these projects. The Chief Minister also announced Rs 50 lakh to the Alumni Association. CM Sukhu said that the present state government was about to complete two years' term and the state government had taken many corrective steps during this period, whose positive results would come out in the coming time. He further said that the Himachal government started the 'Mukhyamantri Sukh Shiksha Yojana' to bear the expenses of education of 23 thousand children of widows till the age of 27 years. 'Dr YS Parmar student loan scheme' had been started to provide higher education to meritorious students, so that no student was deprived of education due to lack of money. Under this scheme, loans up to 20 lakhs was provided for studies at the rate of one per cent and the benefit of this scheme can also be availed for studies abroad. He said that many changes would be seen in the next budget where special emphasis would be on the field of education. He said that the previous governments looted the resources of the state, but the present government was making efforts to provide the benefits of the resources of the state to the people of the state. Recalling the old days, the Chief Minister said, "I will always remember the time spent in this college. My media advisor Naresh Chauhan contested elections against me in the college, but I won. All student organizations used to go on strike for their demands, but everyone's thinking was to strengthen the institution." He said that the students of Sanjauli college used to come in the merit list and many students passed the PMT examination from this college. He appealed to the students to work hard and move forward with strong willpower. He said that the students should stay away from drugs and the state government was taking strict action against the drug mafia. CM Sukhu further added that new courses were being started so that students could get better opportunities for employment and self-employment, adding that it was the priority of the state government to ensure quality in education, electricity, water and other facilities. (ANI)
WEST BEND, Wis. (WFRV)  A 36-year-old Wisconsin man accused of possessing child pornography and human trafficking in the Philippines pleaded guilty in court on Friday.

Wisconsin Circuit Court records show that Michael Westphal pled guilty to three counts of child pornography and one count of trafficking a child. As part of the plea deal, Westphal had to forfeit all electronic devices, and 21 counts of possessing child pornography would be dismissed but read in at the sentencing.

UPDATE: Green Bay woman accused of neglecting mother appears in court

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Authorities say that Westphal was sending a sex trafficker money in exchange for videos and pictures of a child being sexually assaulted. It was also noted that Westphal believed the money was also covering the costs for the trafficker to adopt the victim.

Additionally, Westphal was planning a trip to the Philippines to meet the trafficker and victim in person.

A lead detective then began working with agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to identify the trafficker and victim.

HSI agents worked closely with authorities from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on this case.

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On March 25, 2024, the investigation culminated with a raid in the Philippines that resulted in the arrest of three human traffickers and the rescue of six children, ranging from ages 2 to 15.

Scott Farmer sentenced to 37.5 years in prison for drunken driving crash that killed four Weyauwega siblings

Among the children rescued was Westphals victim.

Westphals $500,000 cash bond was revoked, and a sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 21, 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 WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
(WFRV)  A beloved K-9 who trained with the Wisconsin State Patrol unfortunately passed away at the age of nine on Monday, according to a Facebook post.

It is with great sadness that the Wisconsin State Patrol announces the passing of K-9 Capo, the post said.

K-9 Capo joined the force in 2016 working in the Southwest Region  Tomah Post as part of Special Operations. K-9 Capo was trained in detecting explosives while playing a major role in public safety.

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Watch for hunters: Wisconsin Department of Transportation reminds motorists to be mindful as gun-deer season begins

In his years with the State Patrol, K-9 Capo protected countless authority figures. K-9 Capo was assigned to protect presidents, vice presidents, cabinet members, state officials and countless other political figures along with helping to keep large events safe.

K-9 Capo was due to retire with Trooper McCarthy next month.

We salute K-9 Capo for his dedicated service to the state of Wisconsin, the post said. He will be deeply missed by his family and the communities he served.

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MADISON, Wis. (WFRV)  U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin Timothy M. OShea announced that a 37-year-old Wisconsin woman was sentenced to 1.5 years in federal prison by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson on Tuesday.

Simmeka Tibbs of Madison pled guilty to a fentanyl distribution charge on Aug 15. According to the release, co-defendant Lildre Brown had arranged to distribute heroin laced with fentanyl between Dec. 2023 and Feb. 2024.

Pulaski man gets jail time for videotaping 17-year-old girl while she showered

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The distributions were made on three separate occasions in the Madison area. Brown was sentenced to 85 months in federal prison on Nov. 7 in the case.

In one instance, co-defendant Nicole Sanders delivered nearly 100 grams of fentanyl, while in the other two, Tibbs delivered it for Brown. An investigation unveiled that Tibbs delivered Drugs for Brown regularly.

UPDATE: Green Bay woman accused of neglecting mother appears in court

Judge Peterson noted that Tibbs brought a child with her while delivering drugs in one instance while emphasizing the serious crime of distributing a dangerous drug.

Sanders is scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 10. No more details were provided.

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MIDDLE ISLAND (PIX11)  A crash involving an intoxicated driver killed a 75-year-old woman on Long Island Friday night, according to the Suffolk County Police Department.

Melissa Koprowski, 41, was arrested and charged with Driving While Intoxicated after she allegedly crashed into another car near Middle Country Road and Wading River Hollow Road around 8:40 p.m., police said.

NYC congestion pricing gets final administrative approval

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Koprowski was attempting to turn left before allegedly crashing into the other car, police said.

A passenger in the other car, 75-year-old Esther Guy, was rushed to an area hospital and later pronounced dead, police said. Guys daughter, who was driving the car, was also sent to an area hospital, police said. Her 22-month-old daughter was in the backseat but was not injured.

Koprowski was also hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, according to the SCPD.

Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter who has covered New York City since 2023 after reporting in Los Angeles for years. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter here.

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VERNAL, Utah (ABC4)  One of several people involved in an attempted Vernal kidnapping is set to be sentenced next month, while another suspect is set to be arraigned for his role in the kidnapping, also set for next month.

Beth Marilyn Marie Schardine, 33, pleaded guilty to her role in the attempted kidnapping in September, is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 17. While a case with one of her co-defendants, Ty Lucero Whetten, will be in court for an arraignment on Dec. 4.

Man impersonates social worker, tries to kidnap child from Vernal home in premeditated plan, police say

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In that September hearing, she pleaded guilty to two second-degree felony charges, one count of aggravated kidnapping and one count of aggravated burglary. Schardine took a plea deal for her role in the crime.

One of her co-defendants, Ty Lucero Whetten, is set to be arraigned on the following charges:

Impersonating a peace officer/public servant (class-B misdemeanor)

Aggravated kidnapping (third-degree felony)

Two counts of aggravated assault (third-degree felony)

Aggravated burglary (first-degree felony)

This case dates back to May when Whetten reportedly recruited the help of Schardine and another woman to kidnap a child in Vernal.

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On May 15, Whetten reportedly traveled with Schardine and another female to Roosevelt and Vernal to take a kid back that Whetten claims to police shouldnt be in the care of the victim. The victim countered by saying he was awarded full custody by the courts.

The incident started on the morning of May 15, when Whetten and a female suspect approached a residence and began banging on the door. When the property manager approached the male and female, the male indicated that he was a social worker and was there to remove a child from the home.

According to her plea, Schardine remained in the vehicle, a white Jeep Renegade, while Whetten and the other female allegedly went to try and get the child out of the residence.

Whetten and the unnamed female suspect entered a Vernal day spa and requested to speak with the victims wife about an hour later, an affidavit of probable cause states. The supervisor of the spa warned the woman that she was being searched for.

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On the evening of May 15, Whetten reportedly gained entry to the residence where the child was located with a female suspect. The victims wife called 911 and took the daughter into the bathroom to hide.

Whetten and the female suspect threatened to take the child and it was reported that Whetten was allegedly carrying a handgun. The victim involved confronted the suspects with a handgun of his own.

Arguments ensued until law enforcement arrived on the scene. Whetten was reportedly met upon exiting by Uintah County Sheriffs Deputies and Naples City Police. Whetten reportedly retreated into the residence with the female suspect. Both people tried to get out of the residence through the back door but were met by authorities on the backside of the home where they surrendered. Schardine was found in the drivers seat of the Jeep.

Schardine, Whetten, and another woman were all arrested following the incident.

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During the interview process, Schardine, Whetten and the other female involved stated they had planned to drive up to Vernal to obtain the child for a couple of weeks. As part of her plea deal, Schardine agreed to truthfully testify and cooperate fully with any evidentiary hearing testimony where she is subpoenaed to testify in court proceedings involving her co-defendants.

Schardine will be sentenced on December 17, and Whettens next court appearance is December 4.

Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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KETCHUM, Okla.  A Tulsa mother and her two school-age children are dead from an apparent double murder-suicide, Delaware County Sheriff James Beck confirmed on Saturday.

Sheriffs Capt. Jackie Smithson said the mothers name is Alisia Pena, 38. The childrens names were not released, but Smithson confirmed they were both under 10.

A preliminary investigation shows the familys small SUV was found in the middle of OK-85 highway near 340 Road in the Ketchum area of Grand Lake around 6 a.m. Smithson said the reporting party notified the sheriffs department, thinking it was an abandoned vehicle in the middle of the roadway.

DEVELOPING

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NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  The U.S. Attorneys Office announced that Lindsey Yazzie pled guilty for her role in a carjacking on the Navajo Nation in May 2022. Yazzie, along with Brandon Barber, were accused of attacking a woman who was driving a Jeep.

Albuquerque police arrest teen accused of pointing gun at officers

Yazzie threw a rock at the vehicle which caused it to stop. The two then pulled the woman from the vehicle and Yazzie tried to hit the victim in the head with the rock. The two then took the Jeep and led Navajo Nation police on a chase.

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Yazzie faces up to 15 years in prison.

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For more than 15 years, one of the world's most famous gemstones  the 180,000-carat Bahia Emerald  has been held in Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department custody, its ultimate fate uncertain amid more than a decade of discord, disagreement and courtroom wrangling.

Now, a federal judge has ruled that the smuggled stone should return to its home country of Brazil.

According to Brazilian authorities, the Bahia Emerald is one of the largest emeralds, if not the largest, ever discovered. Court documents say it weighs approximately 836 pounds.

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Estimates of its worth vary but are as high as $925 million.

Read more: Brazil's claim adds yet another facet to the case of the Bahia Emerald

The emerald, Brazilian authorities say, was discovered in a beryl mine in the country in 2001 and later smuggled to the U.S. There, it reportedly survived flooding from Hurricane Katrina in 2005 while submerged in an underwater vault.

The gem eventually ended up in the hands of an investor, who reported it missing from a South El Monte vault a few years later, according to previous Times coverage. Los Angeles County sheriffs investigators subsequently tracked the emerald to a Las Vegas vault, but since they could not sort out who owned the gem, they confiscated it.

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The stone's long and sordid history gave rise to rumors that it could even be cursed.

For more than a decade, about 10 individuals and a handful of corporations have duked it out in California Superior Court trying to prove they are the rightful owners of the stone. Meanwhile, the Brazilian government has engaged in its own lengthy legal battle in federal court to try to repatriate the gemstone.

Read more: Trial begins in tussle over giant emerald

Thursday's ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton, supersedes claims of American ownership and paves the way for the emerald to return to Brazil.

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"After this long, long battle, we're thrilled with the federal court's ruling in this matter, which we believe is the right result and is a major step toward repatriating the Bahia Emerald to its rightful owner: the country of Brazil," Los Angeles-based attorney John Nadolenco, who represented Brazil in the federal case, told The Times on Friday.

Nadolenco recalls the day he received a letter from the Brazilian government asking for his help repatriating an 836-pound emerald. He threw it in the trash, assuming it was a scam.

However, the letter proved to be real  as did Brazil's claim to ownership. Nadolenco spent the following 10 years on one of the wildest legal adventures of his career.

Read more: Lode of contention on gem

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Brazil enlisted Nadolenco's firm, Mayer Brown, to assist in retrieving the stone in 2014. In 2015, the firm convinced the U.S. Department of Justice to initiate a federal court action to seize the emerald following the resolution of criminal prosecutions in Brazil.

In 2017, the Brazilian government convicted two Brazilian residents of illegally smuggling the emerald into the United States. After the two men lost an appeal in 2021, Brazil issued a forfeiture order for the Bahia Emerald.

In 2022, the Justice Department filed a motion in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia under the mutual legal assistance treaty between the United States and Brazil, asking the court to order the emeralds forfeiture. Walton approved this motion Thursday.

If no appeal is filed, the next step would be to schedule a formal repatriation ceremony for the U.S. government to turn the stone over to Brazil.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu extended his heartfelt congratulations to senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi for her emphatic victory in the Wayanad by-election on Saturday. Sukhu said that Priyanka Gandhi's record-breaking win marks a "significant milestone" in her electoral journey and will further "strengthen the Congress party." The CM also congratulated senior leaders and party workers for their success in the Jharkhand Assembly elections, emphasizing their dedication and hard work. After winning the Lok Sabha by-poll for Kerala's Wayanad seat, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi thanked voters for giving her "the honour to represent them." "I thank the people of Wayanad for giving me the honour to represent them. It's a testament to the fact that my brother worked hard there, their love for him and their trust in me. I feel it's a great honour and I will respect it fully," she told reporters. According to the Election Commission, Priyanka Gandhi won the Wayanad bypoll by 4,10,931 votes by defeating BJP candidate Navya Haridas and CPI candidate Sathyan Mokeri. She won 6,22,338 votes, Sathyan Mokeri bagged 2,11,407 and Navya Haridas managed to win 1,09,939 votes. The Wayanad seat fell vacant as Rahul Gandhi resigned from there after deciding to retain the UP's Rae Bareli constituency, as he had won both seats during the Lok Sabha elections in 2024. Meanwhile, CM Sukhu, in response to a question, criticized the BJP for engaging in obstructionist rather than cooperative politics in Himachal Pradesh. He stated, "The BJP evades addressing public concerns and avoids discussing their five-year performance. Instead, they divert attention to matters like toilet tax and samosas. The public deserves to know why the standards of education and healthcare declined during their regime." He said that his government is committed to fulfilling its promises and leading Himachal Pradesh on the path of development. "The people elect a government for five years, and democracy is the voice of the people. However, BJP is creating hurdles in the state's progress," he added. The Chief Minister remarked that the BJP is divided into five factions, each led by Nadda, Anurag Thakur, Jairam Thakur, Rajeev Bindal, and a group of former Congress members who joined the BJP, now referred to as the "East India Company." He stated that the opposition is not engaging in policy-based criticism but is instead targeting him personally. "Despite their efforts, the current state government is steadfast in its commitment to advancing Himachal Pradesh on the path of development. Over the past two years, the government has strengthened the state's economy, which has become a source of concern for the opposition, he added. Sukhu asked former Chief Minister Jairam Thakur to explain why Himachal Pradesh fell to 21st place in qualitative education during the BJP's tenure. He further pointed out that the current government has made significant strides, such as increasing MGNREGA wages by Rs. 60 and reinstating the old pension scheme for government employees. "I want to assure everyone that we will take firm and decisive steps, which will yield positive results. We are moving towards a self-reliant Himachal Pradesh through Vyavstha Parivartan, the foundation for which has already been laid by the present government." (ANI)
You may have noticed that many of the selections for the gathering Donald Trump Cabinet are eliciting reactions ranging from distaste to outright alarm. You may have also noticed conservatives smiling broadly at both the selections and those reactions.

Trumps picks, as the saying goes, are upsetting the right people. And that doesnt mean just Democrats. History will record that both Trump presidential victories were fueled by his successful challenges to the establishment layers of both parties. As he gathers his pirate ship filled with a feisty mixture of hand-picked MAGA allies, some dinosaur Republicans are as irate as Kamala Harris voters.

The blink-and-you-missed-it Matt Gaetz nomination for attorney general surely inflamed the left but also annoyed old-school GOP elites still frosted over his sabotage of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. This was a reaction steeped in self-absorption. Most Republican voters have forgotten that entire chapter, aided by the satisfying performance of McCarthys successor, Mike Johnson.

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Democrats may not feel a sting of loss at the defection of Tulsi Gabbard, but her arrival as director of national intelligence has not been welcomed by the Nikki Haley wing of the GOP, with its thirst for endless years and dollars devoted to Ukraine.

Whatever the source of the criticism, the ruffled feathers are evidence of where we are headed: an administration in which many long-standing norms are about to be exploded. While Trump benefited from voters preferring him on the top two issues  the economy and the border  his reliable base was joined by less partisan voters in seeking a variety of delicious disruptions.

Millions of Americans are tired of sclerotic bureaucracies packed with unelected officials wielding unchecked power. There is additional fatigue from decades of failure under both parties to address a power-hungry regulatory state, a swamped and confused immigration system and a bloated Pentagon slowed by dalliances into social experimentation.

As sore losers nitpick over the lack of experience in some Trump Cabinet picks, they conveniently forget that people with long resumes guided the nation into these various ditches in the first place. Maybe its time for some fresh eyes.

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For example, it is true that Pete Hegseth does not approach the secretary of defense title steeped in years of military budget analysis or weapons systems assessments. But he brings a combat veterans mindset and the most important attribute of all: the spine of a leader. He has made clear he will guide the Pentagon back to its prime goal, assembling the most effective military possible in a dangerous world. This will involve unplugging various political whims that have distracted from that goal and relieving top brass who have clouded their service with devotion to a woke agenda.

Nov 16, 2024; New York, NY, USA; Speaker of the house Mike Johnson (left) stands with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (right) behind president-elect Donald Trump during UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The appetite for reform is so pronounced that some Trump picks are enjoying a free pass that would be disqualifying in less urgent times. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. finds conservative favor as health and human services secretary due to his quest for transparency in the public health infrastructure and his opposition to vaccine mandates. These are strong enough attributes that many are willing to completely overlook some of his past pronouncements favoring abortion rights.

But his comfort zone is the same enjoyed by Gabbard. While they are both recent Democratic candidates for president, they enjoy a deep well of trust that they will abide by the oldest rule in White House etiquette  the expectation that the moment you arrive, you serve at the pleasure of the president and are expected to fall in line with his agenda.

The Trump agenda involves far more than a predictable reset of Republican flavors following a Democrat term. He will rattle cages at every level of government, seeking to rein in some operations and eliminate others. Critics complaining about Linda McMahon for education secretary must not have gotten the memo that she does not need years of experience in the maze of education bureaucracy when her main task may be to dismantle it.

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A futile recurring slam of the Trump picks is that their prime qualifications seem to involve loyalty to Trump, as if Barack Obama and Bill Clinton surrounded themselves with saboteurs. One would actually hope this Trump administration is more loyal to him than his first, which was peppered with opportunistic troublemakers and narcissists who thought they could shape him to their will. They learned otherwise.

What observers of the new Trump White House should learn is that his goal has not been to gather a team defined by loyalty to him but rather by loyalty to his goals  reshaping much of how government works, what it prioritizes and how well it serves the citizens.

This is why he won. And to the delight of some and the chagrin of others, he tends to deliver on what he has promised.

Mark Davis hosts a morning radio show in Dallas-Fort Worth on 660-AM and at 660amtheanswer.com. Follow him on X: @markdavis .

Mark Davis hosts a morning radio show on 660-AM and at 660amtheanswer.com. Follow him on Twitter: @markdavis.

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Latonja Ross, 51, bundled up and stood in line Friday morning at Sanad Social Services food pantry in Chicago Lawn to pick up a turkey and some sides in preparation for the Thanksgiving holiday next week.

A resident of the neighborhood since the late 90s, Ross said she loves having the whole family together for Thanksgiving, including her mother and her four sons, but its not easy getting food on the table.

The food stamps I get are not enough to feed me and my boys, and turkeys cost a lot of money at the store, Ross said. Its helpful when you get them from your local neighborhood.

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Sanads food pantry, 3302 W. 63rd St., was one of 35 partners in and around Chicago hosting food pickups this weekend as part of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicagos second turkey drive, called Feasting with Dignity.

The Thanksgiving drive started Friday morning and will continue through Sunday. The council expects to give away over 5,000 turkeys to people and families from different backgrounds in an effort to help the community while making interfaith and intercultural connections this season.

Although the Muslim faith might not be the first to come to mind when thinking of Thanksgiving and Christmas traditions, serving the community and helping those in need are fundamental in Islam.

At Sanads food drive Friday morning, hundreds of people waited in line down the block and around the corner. Once they got to the front table, volunteers handed over a bag of groceries fit to fill a Thanksgiving spread on any table, from canned goods such as soups, corn and pumpkin puree, to fresh produce such as potatoes, onions and apples. Then recipients were given a choice between a chicken or a halal turkey to take home.

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The turkeys were provided by Zakat Chicago, the charity and service committee of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago. The chicken and all the sides were provided to Sanad by the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

Last year, over 3,000 turkeys were passed out during Zakat Chicagos turkey drive.

For Ross, the turkey drive is a big help, and she has benefited from similar services around this time of year in the past.

Im grateful for the food pantry and excited to put a meal together for the whole family on Thanksgiving, Ross said.

Irshad Khan, chairman of Zakat Chicago, said the committee has a number of programs that help the communities of Chicago and its suburbs with food aid, financial assistance and more.

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The turkey drive started last year to bring together neighbors and communities during the holidays and make sure people are able to feed themselves and their families, Khan said.

Last year, it was very popular and we got a lot of people who sent their testimonials saying how good it was, and it showed us the meaning of giving and serving those in need at this time of year, he said.

Next year, Khan said, the committee would like to include the canned goods and produce along with the turkeys to offer a more complete meal at all of their partners pickup locations.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is expected to appear Saturday at one of the turkey drive locations, Masjid Al-Taqwa. Other partners and locations hosting the turkey drive Saturday and Sunday are ICNA Relief at 2809 W. Devon Ave., Rahmah Halal Food Pantry at 7412 N. Milwaukee Ave., the Mosque Foundation at 9851 S. 76th Ave. in Bridgeview, and the Urban Muslim Minority Alliance at 502 10th St., Waukegan.

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While most of the turkeys have already been claimed, as people were encouraged to preregister, Khan said some walk-ins are still expected and welcomed.

Aber Abueid, food pantry director at Sanad, said Chicago Lawn is a very diverse neighborhood, so all the volunteers as well as the participants are coming from all walks of life. Sanad planned to give out 500 turkeys Friday, Abueid said.

People coming together and showing up, no matter where they come from, its very powerful, she said. Its not just about turkey distribution, its about telling and, more importantly, showing the community that were here and were going to take care of each other.

Eduardo Ortiz, 59, said it was his first time at a turkey drive, but he came to Sanad on Friday morning to get some food.

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Im going through some hard times right now and trying to keep my head above the water, Ortiz said.

Seeing the food pantrys kind-hearted work for the needy was wonderful, Ortiz said. He planned to cook his Thanksgiving meal himself.

Zakat Chicago will also, for the second year, be giving away winter kits with the help of about 40 partner organizations. The kits include a blanket, jackets, headwear and gloves. About 8,000 kits were distributed last year, and the group hopes to give away close to 9,000 this year, starting the first week of December.

Serving those in need is part of our core Islamic values, and its also our duty to serve our neighbors in Chicago, Khan said. Its also important to make a bigger impact by working with volunteers and partners from all different backgrounds because our collective work is greater than anyones individual effort.
Newfound technological advancements during wartime will prevent serious front line breakthroughs along the Ukraine-Russia border until around 2027, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine's former commander-in-chief and current ambassador to the U.K., told Ukrainska Pravda in an interview published on Nov. 23.

"When robots began to appear massively on the battlefield, they made any movement of soldiers impossible. The inability to fight robots led to a standstill. We couldnt move forward towards the Russians, and the Russians, accordingly, couldnt move forward either," Zaluzhnyi said.

Zaluzhnyi added that this was a temporary period of adaptation and, based on his predictions, by around 2027, the use of such technology could become so commonplace that the potential to achieve serious breakthroughs on the front line would resume.

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Russia has intensified its attacks along the eastern front in recent weeks, putting Ukrainian forces under mounting pressure as they struggle to defend key positions.

Russia also continues to increase its attacks against civilian targets, amid an expected harsh winter plagued by energy shortages.

On Nov. 21, in a show of force, Russia launched a new type of intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) against Dnipro. The attack comes as news that Russia has began producing thermobaric drones to target Ukraine, which are capable of causing "simply terrifying" hard to civilian populations, including collapsed lungs, crushed eyeballs, and brain damage, according to a source familiar with Russian drone production.

Despite the onslaught of attacks and use of new weaponry, Russian troops have sustained record casualties since the start of the full-scale war and have yet to fully breach Ukrainian defenses to seize the entirety of Donetsk Oblast and continue their assault. According to estimates by Ukraine's General Staff, Russia suffered a staggering 1,420 casualties on Nov. 22.

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Despite Russia tapping about 11,000 North Korean soldiers to support its attempt to regain territory in Kursk Oblast, questions surrounding their effectiveness remains amid significant language barriers as well as a lack of active combat experience.

According to Zaluzhnyi, Russia is not able to expand the front line, as it would require huge resources "which the Russians no longer have."

Read also: Dont overreact  Oreshnik missile isnt as new as Russia claims, experts say

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday accused Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin of new war crimes following the missile attack on the city of Dnipro with a new medium-range missile.

Zelensky, in his evening video address, said "when someone starts using other countries not only for terror, but also for testing their new missiles through terror, this is definitely an international crime."

Earlier, Putin described the use of the medium-range missile as a successful test under war conditions.

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Zelensky said that Russia's behaviour is "making a mockery" of the positions of China and the countries of the Global South, which are calling for moderation. Once again, he called for a strong response from the international community.

The Kremlin accuses Kiev and the West of escalation and sees the use of the new missile as a response to the shelling of Russian territory with long-range Western weapons by Ukraine.

Zelensky also made an appeal to his compatriots and the foreign diplomats working in Kiev. He stated that Ukraine is working to strengthen its air defence. Nevertheless, every air raid alarm should be taken seriously, and cover should be sought in case of danger.

At the same time, he said, the potential threat of a Russian missile attack should not be used as an excuse to take time off, referring to the partially closed embassies in the country.

"When the siren sounds, we go for cover. And when there is no siren, we work and serve."

He said Putin will continue to intimidate Ukraine.

"He has built his entire power on this."
President Volodymyr Zelensky says he sees possibilities that the Russian war against Ukraine can be ended in the coming year.

"When will the war end? When Russia wants the war to end. When the United States takes a stronger position. When the Global South stands with Ukraine and stands with the end of the war," Zelensky said in a conversation with representatives of foreign media in Kiev at the third international conference on food security called Grain from Ukraine.

Zelensky said Saturday that he is confident that all these measures will be implemented and decisions will be made sooner or later. "It won't be an easy road, but I am confident that we have every chance of making it next year," Zelensky was further quoted by the Ukrinform agency as saying.

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"We are open to proposals from leaders of African, Asian and Arab states," Zelensky continued. "I would also like to hear the proposals of the new president of the United States of America and I think we will hear them in January and we will have a plan to end this war."

During his election campaign, US President-elect Donald Trump repeatedly suggested that he wanted to scale back massive US military support for Kiev.

He has since stopped short of his earlier declaration that he could end the war within 24 hours.

Fierce Russian attacks reported in eastern Ukraine

On the military front, advancing Russian troops and Ukrainian defenders continue to engage in fierce fighting in eastern Ukraine, according to Ukrainian military officials.

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In its morning report on Saturday, the Ukrainian General Staff in Kiev cited the comparatively high number of 194 attacks since Friday morning.

"The enemy is using its superiority in men and materiel and is constantly attacking our positions," the general staff said.

On the Pokrovsk front section in the Donetsk region alone, 44 attacks were counted, although the military data cannot be verified in detail.

There were 36 Russian assaults near the extremely vulnerable town of Kurakhove. According to situation maps, a cauldron is threatening to form to the south of the town, from which it is likely to be difficult for the Ukrainian soldiers to withdraw.

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The Ukrainian military blog DeepState also referred to the Russian advance near Velyka Novosilka in the south of the Donetsk region. The Ukrainians are losing territory there that they had recaptured during their summer offensive in 2023.

Russian military blogs report further advances by their troops in the mining town of Toretsk.

Rocket attack targets occupied Ukrainian port of Berdiansk

Meanwhile the Moscow-appointed administration in Berdiansk said Kiev launched a guided missile attack on the Russian-occupied port city on the Sea of Azov.

Governor Yevgeny Balitsky said on Saturday that no one was injured, the port's work was not affected, and fires caused by the attack have been extinguished.

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Ukrainian Telegram channels reported a loud explosion was heard in Berdiansk shortly before midnight on Friday.

Berdiansk was one of Ukraine's busiest ports before the war. The city was occupied early in the all-out invasion launched by Russia in February 2022.
President Volodomor Zelensky marked Holodomor Remembrance Day on Nov. 23, honoring the victims of the Soviet man-made famine that killed an estimated three to five million Ukrainians.

The Holodomor occurred from 1932 to 1933 under Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin's rule. The Ukrainian government has called on the international community to recognize it as a genocide against the Ukrainian people.

On Holodomor Remembrance Day, Ukrainians traditionally light a candle at 4 p.m. and place it in their window to honor the memories of those who perished in the famine.

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"They wanted to destroy us. To kill us. To subjugate us. They failed. They wanted to hide the truth and silence the terrible crimes forever. They failed," Zelensky wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"They wanted to confuse us, mislead us, make us doubtto forget, and in forgetting, to forgive. They failed."

Several of Ukraine's European allies also marked Holodomor Remembrance Day.

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola wrote that "Europe joins the people of Ukraine to remember and pay tribute (to the victims)."

"Russia continues what it started 91 years ago  trying to erase the Ukrainian nation from the Earth. Then via manmade famine, today with rockets, missiles, bombs, murders, rape, attacks on ports, energy facilities," Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze wrote, noting that Latvia recognized the Holodomor as a genocide in 2008.

Read also: Holodomor: Soviet Unions man-made famine in Ukraine

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that the G20 summit in Brazil was held with very little support for Ukraine and that Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva showed a weak side.

Source: Zelenskyy during the 3rd International Grain from Ukraine Conference on Saturday, reported by Interfax-Ukraine

Quote from Zelenskyy: "Brazil is a great country. I know that most people support Ukraine, and I want to thank them for that. Unfortunately, the G20 was held with very little support for Ukraine."

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Details: Zelenskyy noted that if Ukraine and Brazil want normal relations between our nations and peoples, "we probably need to support people, not aggressors, leaders of aggression in the world".

Nevertheless, Zelenskyy said that the communique adopted following the G20 summit "showed a weak position".

"And there was a very difficult situation there, I know, quite scandalous. How it happened, and what decision was made. Unfortunately, the leader of Brazil showed a weak position," the President stressed.

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Ukraine is ready to share with African countries, among other things, the experience of combating Wagnerites, fighters who are part of the Russian Wagner Group.

Source: Zelenskyy during the 3rd International Grain from Ukraine Conference on Saturday, reported by Interfax-Ukraine

Quote: "We know who the Wagnerites are. We know how to fight them. We know how to destroy them. This shows that we have relevant experience."

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Details: Zelenskyy reiterated that Ukraine's military was represented in various missions in African countries and that, given the experience of today's Ukrainian forces, it "can invest in terms of contingent".

The President added that African countries should be interested in security technologies developed and used in Ukraine today, such as UAVs and USVs.

Zelenskyy said that Ukraine could also help in the fight against disinformation and cyber defence, as it has been the target of thousands of cyber attacks, including on the banking system and communications.

The Ukrainian leader added that African countries would have many problems due to Russian influence both on the continent and in the markets. Drawing on Ukraine's experience, he called for putting security and independence first, rather than the benefits of cheaper resources, even in the face of economic problems.

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He mentioned food security, education, mining, digitalisation, and the Diia government app as other areas of cooperation.

"We can gladly offer all these things," Zelenskyy said.

Background:

In July of this year, the Malian army and its Russian allies suffered losses from Tuareg rebels. The Tuareg from the CSP-PSD movement showed photos and videos of a broken Wagner Group convoy. The battle took place in the town of Tinzaouaten near Mali's border with Algeria on Thursday and Friday, 25 and 26 July. At least 20 Wagner fighters were killed, while others were captured.

In addition to the dozens of the Russians from the Wagner Group killed or captured in Malis north, a mercenary propagandist and author of the Grey Zone channel was killed.

After the Mali operation, the Tuareg rebels were photographed with the Ukrainian flag.

In August, UK intelligence analysed the situation with the Wagner Group and its leaders a year after the death of its owner, Yevgeny Prigozhin. Intelligence notes that the group is becoming increasingly fragmented, and many of the survivors are leaving.

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy supports the transition of the Armed Forces to a corps-based system of command if it helps reduce bureaucracy in the army.

Source: Zelenskyy during the 3rd International Grain from Ukraine Conference on Saturday, as reported by the President's website

Quote from Zelenskyy: "It's up to the military to decide. If the corps system that they are proposing today reduces the distance between a general and a soldier, if this bureaucracy is reduced, let them do what they can to reduce it."

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Details: The President stressed that the task now is to reduce bureaucracy in the army. In particular, this should be the responsibility of Oleksandr Syrskyi, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Quote from Zelenskyy: "An officer must see [perhaps, Zelenskyy meant to say understand  ed.] a soldier. A general who has not been in a trench is not a general for me. Regardless of his experience. With all due respect. Today, the most difficult situation is on the front line, in the trench."

The president says it is necessary not only to talk about problematic issues during staff meetings or in the command headquarters but also to communicate directly with the soldiers.

Quote from Zelenskyy: "That's why Syrskyi is constantly on the battlefield, constantly going there. We have conversations every day, twice a day. He has a morning and evening report. But it's still not enough. Generals should be in the trenches. That's the nature of this war. The morale of the military is the most important thing."

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Background: Earlier, Suspilne, Ukraine's public broadcaster, reported that the Armed Forces of Ukraine would present a concept of the reform by the end of November, under which the Ukrainian army would switch to the system of corps ans brigades. Such a system would significantly save human and material resources.

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Credit: Ubisoft

After years of Assassin's Creed games that show signs of classic stealthy goodness but aren't quite what I'm looking for, I've been trying really hard not to get excited about Assassin's Creed Shadows. Yes, the series is finally going to Japan and yes, Naoe's stealthy moves look fantastic, but my eyes roll into the back of my head when I see chunky health bars and "level 28" above guard heads. Shadows still has that loot-heavy RPG stink that put me off Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla.

And yet, the way Ubi keeps talking about Shadows suggests it's not only moving in a stealthier direction than ever before, but doing so by evoking the best games the studio ever made: Splinter Cell. Not by name, thoughin a new "Stealth Gameplay Overview" blog, Ubi talked about the core pillars of Shadows' stealth, which heavily involves a new light visibility meter that's ripped straight out of the Splinter Cell playbook. The blog also includes new gameplay snippets, like this one showing the visibility meter in action:

"For the first time in the Assassin's Creed series, hiding in the shadows will make you invisible to enemies," Ubi said. "During nighttime, any pocket of shadows becomes a dynamic hiding spot in which you can progress without being seen. This applies to both interiors and exteriors."

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As an even more direct pull from Splinter Cell, pockets of darkness can be created by extinguishing lanterns with shurikens. This is all stuff that Ubi has previously talked about, but I don't think we've seen Naoe's ability to grab enemies and move them before knocking them out (another notch in the Sam Fisher column).

"While undetected, you can briefly grab and drag enemies in any direction to silently assassinate or take them down non-lethally," the blog reads. "This grab mechanic removes some of the automation we've had in the series before."

This looks so cool: Naoe skulks up behind a guard, loops a rope around his neck, and starts dragging him away like a belligerent toddler before knocking him out in a bush. As Ubi indicates, this is a way more interesting method of moving bodies around because you don't have to sit through a kill animation first, and it rewards players for thinking ahead before charging toward guards. Now if only Naoe could interrogate bound guards for useful intel

I'm encouraged by this bit about Shadows enemy AI, too:

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"If you get detected and are able to disappear again, enemies will search for you in pairs (one watcher and one seeker) and will remain more suspicious going forward," Ubi wrote. "That means that tactics such as whistling to lure them in will only increase their suspicion and thus their ability to spot you. This can have an impact on your ability to assassinate from a hiding spot, as these suspicious guards will be more likely to get in the way if you're not cautious enough."

That already sounds more sophisticated than the AI behavior of the last few AC games, which as far as I could tell would lose sight of me and forget I ever existed. I love when stealth games manage to tighten the screws on sloppy play while still giving players options.

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What might prove controversial are enemy types that can't be assassinated dependent on your hidden blade upgrades, like samurai. Telling Assassin's Creed fans that they can't assassinate anyone they want tends to ruffle feathers, which is why Ubi is bringing back an optional setting that enables old school insta-kill assassinations on all enemies.

But consider that stealth games are better when you can't just lights-out every scenario. I like the idea of an elite threat that, if stealth is the mission, is best avoided instead of confronted. Maybe this is Ubi acknowledging that easy stealth kills are kind of a crutch in this genreyou barely have to sneak if you can easily kill every guard in your way.

This is the first of a handful of overview blogs dropping over the next few weeks. Next up is a focus on Yosuke and combat, all leading up to Assassin's Creed Shadows' new release date of February 14, 2025.
Union Minister of Power and Housing & Urban Affairs Manohar Lal on Saturday flagged off a fleet of green hydrogen buses of NTPC at Leh in the presence of senior officials of the Ministry of Power, Leh Administration, and NTPC on Saturday. After the flag-off, the Union Minister travelled 12 km in one of the H2 buses from the H2 filling station to the Leh airport. The Union Minister congratulated NTPC for its unique contribution to the energy security and decarbonisation efforts of the country through the adoption of hydrogen technologies at various fronts like mobility, blending with PNG, green methanol, and its overall thrust on RE. The Green Hydrogen Mobility Project at Leh comprises an in-situ 1.7 MW solar plant, a green hydrogen filling station of capacity 80 kg/day, and 5 hydrogen intra-city buses. Each bus can cover 300 km per single filling of hydrogen of 25 kg. It is also the world's highest altitude (3650 m MSL) Green Hydrogen Mobility Project that is designed to operate in low-density air and sub-zero temperatures and can fill hydrogen at 350 bar pressure. The station shall mitigate the carbon emissions of approx. 350 MT/year and contribute 230 MT/year of pure oxygen into the atmosphere, which is equal to planting of approx. 13,000 trees. The potential of green hydrogen mobility solutions in Ladakh is very strong considering the high solar irradiance with low temperature, a sweet spot for producing solar power and green hydrogen efficiently. Production and utilisation of this green fuel at these locations would avoid fossil fuel logistics and make the locations self-sufficient in terms of energy requirements. NTPC is setting up more hydrogen mobility projects across India in addition to the deployment of various green hydrogen technologies, rapidly scaling up RE capacity, including the setting up of a hydrogen hub in Andhra Pradesh. (ANI)
Questen Inghram is a Murrow News Fellow at the Yakima Herald-Republic whose beat focuses on government in Central Washington communities. Email qinghram@yakimaherald.com or call 509-577-7674.

This story can be republished by other organizations for free under a Creative Commons license. For more information on this, email news@yakimaherald.com.
A man sits on a public bench beneath a large billboard congratulating Republican President-elect Donald Trump at a traffic junction in Israel's coastal city of Tel Aviv on Nov. 6. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Trump, calling it "history's greatest comeback" and a new beginning in the U.S.-Israel alliance.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav will be on a six-day visit to the United Kingdom (UK) and Germany from Sunday. CM Yadav will be on a foreign tour in view of providing a new height to industrial development in the state and attracting global investment. After the phenomenal success of four Interactive Session on Investment Opportunities in MP in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Coimbatore and Kolkata along with the Regional Industry Conclaves held at Ujjain, Jabalpur, Gwalior, Sagar and Rewa. This foreign tour is an unprecedented effort to effectively present the investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh among the international investors. According to a release of the state government, Chief Minister Yadav will visit London, Birmingham (UK), Munich and Stuttgart (Germany) in this six-day foreign trip to increase investment in the state by 2025. The chief minister will call on representatives of industrial organisations and industrialists to increase opportunities for investment and industrial cooperation in the state. CM Yadav will leave for London from Bhopal via Mumbai on November 24. He will visit the British Parliament in Westminster on November 25 and will visit King's Cross and redevelopment sites. The Chief Minister will also attend a dinner programme organised by the NRI "Friends of Madhya Pradesh" in London, over 400 NRIs will participate in it, the release read. The CM will interact with industrialists and the High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom (UK) Vikram K Doraiswami at breakfast on November 26. After that, Investment Opportunities in Madhya Pradesh will be discussed with about 120 participants in an interactive session. He will discuss investment in various sectors including electric vehicles and auto, education, renewable energy and food processing sectors in round table meetings after the lunch break. Additionally, CM Yadav will hold one-to-one meetings with industrialists, it added. On November 27, CM Yadav will visit Warwick University, after which he will interact with the Dean, faculty members and researchers of Warwick Manufacturing Group. Later on, he will leave for Germany from Birmingham Airport and reach Munich. CM Yadav will be on a visit to Germany on November 28 and November 29 after his three-day visit to the UK. During the visit, he will attend several events in Munich and Stuttgart. He will hold discussions with the leaders of the Bavaria state government and the Consul General of India in Munich on November 28 morning. After that CM Yadav will visit SFC Energy. CM Yadav will participate in the interactive session on Investment Opportunities in Madhya Pradesh, in which representatives of the Consulate General of India, CII, Invest India, and Indo-German Chamber of Commerce will also be present. There will be a discussion related to investment in Madhya Pradesh with about 80 representatives. After the interactive session, CM Yadav will also discuss investment-related matters in one-to-one meetings with industry representatives, the release stated. On November 29, CM Yadav will visit the factory of LAPP Group in Stuttgart and will discuss investment-related matters with the officials. There will be a roundtable meeting with industry representatives on "Investment Opportunities in Madhya Pradesh", in which about 20 representatives will participate. Additionally, the Chief Minister will also visit the State Museum of Natural History of Stuttgart. This museum is a major natural history museum in Germany, which has a huge collection of ancient fossils and dinosaur remains. The museum was established in 1791 and has more than 11 million objects stored in it. Later on, CM Yadav will leave for Frankfurt and then he will leave for New Delhi from Frankfurt. (ANI)
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Saturday expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for congratulating the JMM-led alliance for their win in the state. "I want to thank PM Modi also for his best wishes to us (on winning the elections)," CM Hemant Soren told reporters here. https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1860281012519112987 Earlier in the day, PM Modi also thanked the people of Jharkhand for their support towards the BJP and stated that the Centre will always be at the forefront of raising people's issues and working for the state. "I thank the people of Jharkhand for their support towards us. We will always be at the forefront of raising people's issues and working for the state. I also congratulate the JMM-led alliance for their performance in the state," PM Modi said in a post on X. The JMM has won 22 seats and is leading on 12 seats till the last reports, Congress won 11 seats and is leading on 5 seats, RJD won 2 and is leading on 2 seats, the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (Liberation) - CPI(ML)(L) won 2 seats. As per the trends, the BJP has won 15 seats and has taken the lead on 6 seats, its alliance partners AJSU, JD(U) and LJP (RV) have won 1 seat each. The contest was between the JMM-led alliance, comprising Congress, RJD, and CPI (ML), and the BJP-led NDA alliance, which includes AJSU, JD (U), and LJP. Exit polls had predicted that the NDA could win between 42-47 seats, while the JMM-led alliance is expected to secure 25-30 seats. . In the 2019 elections, the JMM won 30 seats, the BJP 25, and Congress 16 seats. (ANI)
Actor Babil Khan is set to grace the big screen once again with Amit Golani's much-anticipated film, 'Log Out.' The film will have its world premiere at the prestigious Mar del Plata International Film Festival in Argentina. Known for his remarkable ability to delve into nuanced and compelling characters, Babil is ready to captivate audiences with this socially relevant and thought-provoking drama.

In 'Log Out,' Babil Khan steps into the shoes of a modern-day influencer caught in the whirlwind of digital fame. The story unravels as his character, thriving in the virtual spotlight, begins to confront the darker, more isolating facets of online stardom. With its fresh and relatable narrative, the film holds a mirror to the digitally dominated lives of todays generation, offering a deep reflection on the consequences of virtual fame.

Sharing his enthusiasm for the project, Babil said: Im thrilled to see people finally witness Log Out. Ive poured my heart and soul into this project, and I can't wait for the world to see it. Im 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 Im proud of what weve created together.

Babil Khan continues to cement his reputation as one of Indian cinemas most promising talents. Following his stellar performances in 'Qala,' 'Friday Night Plan,' and 'The Railway Men,' 'Log Out' reflects his commitment to selecting challenging roles that resonate deeply with audiences. His ability to bring authenticity and emotional complexity to every role makes him a standout in the industry.

Directed by Amit Golani and written by Biswapati Sarkar, 'Log Out' is produced by Ajit Andhare under V18 Studios and Poshampa Pictures, with Sameer Saxena serving as the Creative Producer. The films unique storyline and powerful performances are set to leave an indelible mark, making its premiere at Mar del Plata a significant milestone for the team.

With its global debut at one of the worlds most prestigious film festivals, 'Log Out' promises to deliver an engaging cinematic experience that challenges perceptions of digital fame and its impact on personal identity.
New Delhi: Actor Utkarsh Sharma, who is all set to make a splash with his upcoming film 'Vanvaas,' has kickstarted the movie's promotional journey with a spiritual and heartfelt gesture.

Utkarsh began his promotions by seeking blessings at the sacred temple of Lord Jagannath in Puri, marking an auspicious start to the campaign.

Following his visit to Puri, Utkarsh headed to Bhubaneswar, where an overwhelming sea of fans greeted him with immense love and enthusiasm. The energy in the city was electric as the crowd gathered to catch a glimpse of the actor, who has won hearts with his performances and is now gearing up for the much-anticipated film Vanvaas.

Utkarsh took to social media to share a glimpse of the extraordinary welcome he received.

Thank you for your excitement for #Vanvaas and Thanks to @dr.achyutasamanta ji for this unforgettable experience

In the viral video posted on his handle, Utkarsh can be seen immersed in the euphoria, surrounded by his adoring fans who waved banners, cheered loudly, and expressed their excitement for the film. "A fulfilling evening spent interacting with the student of @kiituniversity and @kissfoundation in Bhubhaneswar, Odisha. The place is beautiful and so are the people!

About Vanvaas

Vanvaas promises a gripping tale, blending intense drama with a thought-provoking narrative. With the buzz already strong, fans are eagerly awaiting its release. Directed by Anil Sharma, the film goes beyond traditional storytelling, offering an emotional journey through timeless themes. The first song from the film 'Yaadon Ke Jharokhon Se', composed and arranged by Mithoon, and sung by Sonu Nigam and Shreya Ghoshal, has already won fans hearts.

Starring Nana Patekar and Utkarsh Sharma in pivotal roles, Vanvaas is written, produced, and directed by Anil Sharma and will be released worldwide by Zee Studios.

This family saga is slated to hit theaters on 20th December 2024.
Maharashtra Assembly Polls: The thumping victory for the Bharatiya Janata-led Mahayuti alliance has certainly given some serious dents to the future prospects of Shiv Sena (UBT) and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP (Sharad Pawar)).

The Maharashtra polls held this year were undoubtedly crucial, as it was for the first time two major parties in the state, the NCP and Shiv Sena, entered the poll battle following a split. The Assembly elections were also pivotal, as these polls cleared the air on many questions that were creating a buzz in the political circles of Maharashtra.

As these polls saw the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) reeling, they also left a bunch of questions surrounding the future of Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar. MVA comprises Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and NCP (SP).

As far as the Shiv Sena vs. Shiv Sena battle is concerned, the people of Maharashtra have given their verdict about who is the real Shiv Sena?".

The MVA's defeat in Maharashtra is likely to lie the heaviest on the shoulders of former CM Uddhav Thackeray, who, in a span of three years, not only lost power in the state but also his party.

Todays defeat at the hands of Mahayuti made matters even worse for Uddhav, who apparently lost the legacy of his father, Balasaheb Thackeray.

The Shinde-led faction slammed Thackeray and accused him of trading in his father's principles for power and pitched the electoral battle as a test of "Who is the real Shiv Sena?" but has lost no time to announce it as an ideological victory.

Thackeray, whose Shiv Sena won a mere 20 out of the 95 seats it contested, admitted that he was unable to understand how the electorate, which had inflicted a drubbing on the ruling alliance in the Lok Sabha elections only five months ago, changed its mind.

In the Lok Sabha polls, the opposition camp bagged 30 out of 48 seats, giving an exceptional performance. With so much to think about and assess, Uddhav Thackerays significance in the politics of Maharashtra will remain a talking point in the near future.

Big Setback For Sharad Pawar

Sharad Pawar, who led the NCP faction to a massive victory in the Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra; however, five months later, the 83-year-old suffered one of the worst setbacks in his five-decade-long political career on Saturday.



The rout of the Sharad Pawar-led faction has raised questions over his political future, with a potential risk of a further slide in the party flock in the future. Similar to the story with the Shiv Sena, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, who led a split in the NCP in July 2023, has emerged as the true inheritor of his uncle's political legacy. NCP.

In contrast, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) won just four seats and led in six others with the latest trends. The Ajit-led NCP had contested 59 seats and the NCP (SP) 86 out of the 288 constituencies. Ajit Pawars faction bagged 41 out of 59 seats, while Sharad Pawar's camp won 12 out of

The defeat is specifically personal for Sharad Pawar, as his grandnephew Yugendra Pawar is trailing by 99,000 votes from home turf, Baramati, against Ajit Pawar, the sitting MLA. Five months back, Sharad Pawar's daughter and Baramati MP Supriya Sule had comfortably overcome the challenge posed by Ajit's wife Sunetra in Lok Sabha polls and retained the seat.

In his 57-year-long political career, Sharad Pawar has represented Baramati in the assembly as well as in the Lok Sabha, and currently he is a member of the Rajya Sabha. Before the assembly elections, he had indicated that he would bid farewell to his parliamentary career after his current term ends next year. The NCP (SP)'s poor performance in the assembly polls stands in contrast to the Lok Sabha elections, when it had won eight out of 10 seats contested.

Sharad Pawar had not been complacent following the Lok Sabha elections. He toured the state extensively and inducted BJP leaders, including Samarjit Ghatge and Harshvardhan Patil.

The latest assembly elections followed a split in the party in 2023, with nephew Ajit Pawar walking away to join the ruling coalition. It seems the senior Pawar's appeal to voters to defeat "all the traitors" by decisive margins did not elicit much response.

Following the split, Ajit Pawar and senior NCP leader Praful Patel showed no signs of regrets and claimed that they committed no treachery, as Sharad Pawar himself had wanted to join the BJP-led alliance but backed out at the last moment. To this, Sharad Pawar never issued any clarification.

With the INDIA blocs good show at the general elections, which saw it achieve success in cutting down the saffron partys tally in the Lower House, it was expected that Pawar would be able to replicate the results and even dislodge the BJP from power in the state. Following the Maharashtra polls, one thing is confirmed: veteran NCP leader Sharad Pawar has a lot of assessment to do and a lot of ground to cover.

(With PTI Inputs)
Assembly Election Results 2024: It was a really great day in the office for the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Mahayuti alliance, which secured a landslide victory in the Maharashtra Assembly polls. Another big talking point of the day was the resounding comeback of the Hemant Soren-led JMM government in Jharkhand.

In Maharashtra, the BJP led the Mahayuti alliance to victory in style and also carried its alliesShiv Sena and NCPalong with it. While the saffron party bagged 132, Shiv Sena, led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, won 57, and the NCP, led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, is poised to win 41 seats. The state has 288 assembly seats.

As far as Jharkhand is concerned, the ruling JMM led the ruling coalition to a convincing victory. The JMM won 34 seats. Its allies are poised to win 22 more seatsCongress 16, RJD on 4, and CPI (M) two.

The saffron party, which suffered a defeat in the state, managed to win 21 seats. Polling was held for 81 seats in Jharkhand. This is the first time since the creation of the state that an alliance has won polls after five years in power.

The constituents of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) suffered a rude jolt with Shiv Sena (UBT) led by Uddhav Thackeray poised to win 20 seats, Congress 16 and NCP (SP) led by Sharad Pawar only 10 seats. Reacting to the poll results on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the verdict in Maharashtra is a victory of "development" and thanked people for their support.

"Development wins! Good governance wins! United, we will soar even higher! Heartfelt gratitude to my sisters and brothers of Maharashtra, especially the youth and women of the state, for a historic mandate to the NDA. This affection and warmth is unparalleled. I assure the people that our Alliance will keep working for Maharashtra's progress," he said in a post on X.

"NDA's pro-people efforts resonate all over! I thank people across various states for blessing NDA candidates in the various by-polls held. We will leave no stone unturned in fulfilling their dreams and aspirations. I am proud of every NDA Karyakarta for their efforts on the ground. They worked hard, went among people and elaborated on our good governance agenda," he added.

The Prime Minister extended his wishes and congratulated Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren over the performance of the ruling alliance in the polls. "I thank the people of Jharkhand for their support towards us. We will always be at the forefront of raising people's issues and working for the state. I also congratulate the JMM-led alliance for their performance in the state," he said.

Reacting over the results, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that his contribution in the victory is small and it is "victory of unity." "I had said earlier that I am a modern Abhimanyu and know how to break the 'Chakravyuh'... I think, my contribution in this victory is small, it is the victory of our team. The people of Maharashtra have given us an unprecedented victory. This shows that people are with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In line with the slogan he gave 'Ek hain toh safe hain', people from all sections and communities voted for us unitedly... This is the victory of Mahayuti, CM Eknath Shinde, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and Ramdas Athawale, this is the victory of unity," Fadnavis said.

The unprecedented Mahayuti victory came months after it suffered a setback in the Lok Sabha polls, winning only 17 of 48 seats. The polling in Jhakhand was held in two phases and in Maharashtra in a single phase on November 20.

(With ANI Inputs)
Mumbai/Ranchi: Maharashtra was coloured a vivid saffron on Saturday with voters giving the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance a landslide win over a tottering MVA while the opposition INDIA bloc looked set to return to power in Jharkhand.

As votes were counted for the assembly elections in the two states, it was time for celebration in the BJP with the party poised to win 125 of the 149 seats it contested in the powerhouse state of Maharashtra. Together with its partners Shiv Sena and NCP, the ruling Mahayuti alliance could win 219 of the 288 seats in the state, leaving the Congress-Shiv Sena(UBT)-NCP(SP) tie-up with just 51 seats.

As the opposition reeled under the impact of the decisive mandate against it in Maharashtra, Jharkhand offered some consolation with voters in both states going for continuity rather than change.

In the 81-seat Jharkhand assembly, the BJP was ahead in 27 seats, while the Chief Minister Hemant Soren-led JMM was leading in 30 seats, the Congress in 14, the RJD in four and the CPI-ML in one, according to the Election Commission website.

"We are going to get the reward for the work we did... And also for the manner in which we remained connected to the public. What can be seen in trends, we can say that we are going to form the govt again and the fulfil the promises we made," Congress leader Rajesh Thakur told PTI Videos as the INDIA bloc neared victory in Jharkhand.

I thank everybody for this victory. We have such a big victory because of the work Mahayuti did. Very grateful, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde told reporters while his alliance colleagues attributed the stunning win to welfare schemes such as the Laadli Behna scheme.

His son and Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde said the mandate shows who is taking Balasaheb Thackeray's ideals forward, pointing to the fractured legacy of the Shiv Sena founder whose son Uddhav heads the Shiv Sena (UBT).

As the Mahayuti walked the road towards power in a result that went ahead of what exit polls had predicted, on the other side of the spectrum was Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut who alleged that there was a "big conspiracy" and something was "fishy".

"I see a big conspiracy in this...This is not a mandate of Marathi 'manoos' and farmers. We do not accept this as people's mandate, he said.

Adding that there was little doubt in his mind that money was used in the polls, Raut said, "How can all MLAs of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde win? How can Ajit Pawar, whose betrayal angered Maharashtra, win?" Voters in the politically significant western state, which sends 48 MPs to the Lok Sabha and gave the MVA a decisive 30 seats, clearly decided to go against the trend of that parliamentary victory just five months ago.

Their mandate gives a fillip for the BJP, which won an unprecedented hat-trick in Haryana last month, and helps the party overcome some of its reverses in the general elections where it bagged just 240 seats.

The Maharashtra verdict -- which gives primacy to the BJP within the Mahayuti alliance and opens up the possibility of a shift in power with Devendra Fadnavis as chief minister again - was the stuff of sober introspection too for the Congress and Maratha strongman Sharad Pawar.

The BJP was ahead in 125 seats, close to the halfway mark of 144 on its own, while the Shiv Sena had leads in 56 and the NCP in 35. In contrast, the Congress was ahead in just 21, the Shiv Sena(UBT) in 17 and the NCP(SP) in 13.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Shinde and his deputies Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar were leading in their respective assembly constituencies. Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole was leading narrowly from Sakoli constituency and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and sitting MLA Aaditya Thackeray was leading in Worli assembly seat.

BJP MLC Darekar said, "Based on the current trends, I believe the BJP will be the single largest party and Devendra Fadnavis should become the chief minister. The Congress, for which Priyanka Gandhi's win the Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll is the proverbial silver lining in a dark cloud, counted its reverses in Maharashtra. Its legislature party leader and former minister Balasaheb Thorat was trailing in Sangamner as was senior Congress leader and former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan in the Karad South assembly seat.

It's devastating, heartbreaking for us ... The BJP is leading due to the amazing ground work they must've done and seat distribution," Congress spokesperson Lavanya Ballal told deKoder.

In the ruling Mahayuti alliance, the BJP contested 149 assembly seats, the Shiv Sena 81 seats, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP in 59 constituencies. In the MVA combine, the Congress fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena(UBT) 95 and the NCP(SP) 86.

The results will decide the electoral fate of 1,211 candidates in Jharkhand, including Soren, his wife Kalpana from Gandey, former CM and BJP state president Babulal Marandi from Dhanwar and ex-CM Champai Soren from Seraikela.

Other prominent candidates include Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato of the JMM from Nala, Deepika Pandey Singh of Congress from Mahagama, Sita Soren (sister-in-law of CM Hemant Soren) from Jamtara, AJSU Party chief Sudesh Mahto from Silli.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday extended his gratitude to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and workers for their efforts that led to the party's performance in the Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly elections, as well as bypolls across 15 states. The Mahayuti alliance, led by the BJP, is set to form the government in Maharashtra with a landslide victory, while the BJP also achieved the highest vote share in Jharkhand. In a series of posts on X, Shah highlighted the hard work of BJP leaders and workers, celebrating the results as a testament to the people's faith in the double-engine government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Shah lauded the Mahayuti alliance victory in Maharashtra, saying, "This victory of the Mahayuti alliance is a triumph of the 'Politics of Performance' of the double-engine government under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji." "The people of Maharashtra have rejected the politics of appeasement and have once again placed their trust in the legacy, development, and welfare initiatives of the Mahayuti," he wrote on X. He also thanked BJP leaders and workers in Maharashtra for their efforts and congratulated party leaders, including BJP national president JP Nadda, Maharashtra state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule, CM Eknath Shinde, DyCM Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar. https://x.com/AmitShah/status/1860289555972391011 On the Jharkhand assembly poll results, Shah reiterated the commitment of the PM Modi-led central government to the development and welfare of the state's tribal population. "I express my gratitude to the people of Jharkhand for blessing the BJP with the highest vote percentage in the state. I also extend my best wishes to all the BJP workers in Jharkhand for their tireless efforts.Fulfilling the aspirations of the tribal communities and protecting their identity is the BJP's top priority," he wrote in another post on X. https://x.com/AmitShah/status/1860291348777304531 "The NDA government at the Centre is committed to the advancement, progress, and preservation of the tribal heritage of the people of Jharkhand. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, we will continue to work tirelessly in this direction. The BJP will play the role of a constructive opposition in Jharkhand," he added. Shah also expressed his gratitude to BJP workers who campaigned across 15 states and 48 constituencies during the bypolls, congratulating NDA candidates who won elections across the country. https://x.com/AmitShah/status/1860292905077997969 "I congratulate all the NDA candidates who won in the by-elections across the country. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi, the country is witnessing a beautiful era of development and trust. Whether it's the Lok Sabha elections, the Haryana or Maharashtra assembly elections, or the by-elections, the NDA's victory clearly demonstrates the unwavering faith that the people of India have in Modi Ji," Shah wrote in another post on X. "These victorious NDA candidates will continue to contribute their utmost in building a developed and self-reliant India," he added. In Maharashtra, BJP has won or is ahead in 132 seats, Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has won or is ahead in 57 seats and NCP led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar is poised to win 41 seats. The state has 288 assembly seats. The constituents of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) suffered a rude jolt with Shiv Sena (UBT) led by Uddhav Thackeray poised to win 20 seats, Congress 16, and NCP (SP) led by Sharad Pawar only 10 seats. In Jharkhand, the ruling JMM led the ruling coalition to a convincing victory. The JMM has won or is leading on 34 seats. Its allies are poised to win 22 more seats - Congress 16, RJD on 4 and CPI(ML) two. BJP is ahead or has won 21 seats. According to the Election Commission data at 8.30 pm, BJP had secured the highest vote share in the state with 33 per cent of the votes (59 lakh 20 thousand votes) in Jharkhand. The JMM stood in second place with 23.4 per cent vote share (41 lakh 82 thousand votes), and Congress in third place with 27 lakh 76 thousand votes. Polling was held for 81 seats in Jharkhand. This is the first time since the creation of the state that an alliance has won polls after five years in power. (ANI)
Bengaluru: Thanking the voters on Saturday for the Congress partys victory on all three Assembly seats in the bye-elections, Karnataka Congress President and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar stated that it was a victory for guarantees, development and the leadership of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Addressing the media at the Congress headquarters in Bengaluru, Shivakumar stated on Saturday that, Now, our numbers have gone up from 136 to 138 in the state Assembly. I wont discuss who extended support from the Opposition internally. That will project more numbers.

Our guarantees and development played a major role in the bypolls. Ultimately, criticisms perish and work remains intact. This has been proved. The voters have given a message to the Opposition to shun criticism and false propaganda. They have also given a message not to play with the emotions of people. Politics has to be carried out on the lives and livelihood of people, Dy CM Shivakumar stated.

Dy CM Shivakumar claimed that the results were precursors of the upcoming 2028 Assembly elections in Karnataka.

The people have clearly stated that the Congress party will come to power yet again in the state through these results, he said.

There were different opinions on the guarantees. The Opposition claimed there was no money with the government. We have allotted Rs 56,000 crore for development and on an average each Assembly constituency will get Rs 225 crore to Rs 250 crore funds in Karnataka, said Dy CM Shivakumar.

The people are benefitting from the guarantees so how will they believe false propaganda? Shivakumar questioned.

The voter is intelligent and has discretion. On the Sandur seat, the lead by which former CM and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai won was more than 30,000 in the 2023 Assembly elections. Now, we are leading with more than 14,000 votes, he stated.

One of the seats was located in Kittur Karnataka, another in Kalyan Karnataka and the third one in Old Mysuru region.

People from across the state have supported the party. People have seen how CM Siddaramaiah was ridiculed and the NDA alliance was projected. Baseless allegations were made and they were projected as big and the people have not tolerated it, Shivakumar stated.

Without taking names of mining baron and MLA Janardhana Reddy, he stated, So-called prominent leaders went to Sandur for the BJP but failed.
New Delhi: The British colonial rule over India, spanning approximately 200 years, remains one of history's most exploitative eras. During this time, the British drained India's resources on an unprecedented scale. But do you know just how much wealth was taken from India? According to leading historians, the figure is estimated at a staggering 45 trillion dollars, a sum that exceeds 15 times the current annual GDP of the United Kingdom.

The Extent of Economic Drain

Between 1757 and 1947, the British extracted roughly 80,000 trillion rupees worth of resources from India. According to Utsa Patnaik, a renowned economist and historian, this massive wealth transfer occurred between 1765 and 1938, reshaping the economic structure of both nations. While many in Britain argue that colonization did not result in significant economic gains, the facts tell a different story. The systematic plundering of India bolstered Britain's industrial revolution while leaving India impoverished.

Impact of British Exploitation

The extensive resource drain during colonial rule left India grappling with poverty, famine, and underdevelopment, consequences that continue to affect the nation decades after independence. The British government's exploitation dismantled India's thriving industries, such as textiles, and redirected wealth to fuel Britain's growth, leaving India to rebuild from the ashes.

What If India Retained Even a Quarter of This Wealth?

Imagine if India had retained even 25% of this wealth. The country's trajectory would likely have been vastly different, with a head start in infrastructure, education, and technological advancement. The staggering 45 trillion dollars looted from India could have propelled it into one of the world's most advanced economies today.

The Turning Point: The Battle of Plassey

The British foothold in India was firmly established after their victory in the Battle of Plassey in 1757, marking the beginning of nearly two centuries of colonial rule. This victory allowed the East India Company to consolidate power, laying the groundwork for direct British governance in 1858 under Queen Victoria.

The End of Colonial Rule

India's long struggle for independence culminated on August 15, 1947, marking the end of British rule. However, the legacy of economic exploitation, political oppression, and cultural imperialism left deep scars that India continues to heal.

The staggering wealth looted by the British not only highlights the extent of exploitation but also serves as a reminder of India's resilience. Despite losing immense resources and enduring centuries of oppression, India has emerged as one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.

The question remainswhat heights could India have achieved without the shadow of colonial exploitation?
Jamtara Assembly Election Result 2024: Live Updates The Jamtara Assembly constituency is a significant electoral region in Jharkhand, known for its political dynamics. Voting for the Jamtara seat was held on November 20, 2024, as part of the second phase of the Jharkhand Assembly elections. The total percentage of voters in Jamtara Assembly Constituency was recorded at 75.01 percent. Historically, Jamtara has been a stronghold for the Indian National Congress (INC), with the party winning multiple elections in the past.

12:00 update: Irfan Ansari Trails Against Sita Murmu for INC vs BJP With the margin of 19084

In the 2024 elections, a total of 43 candidates are contesting for the Jamtara seat, including several independents. Key candidates include Irfan Ansari from INC, the incumbent MLA, and Sita Soren from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Sita Soren, who is also related to prominent Jharkhand politicians, is entering this constituency for the first time after previously contesting from Jama. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha candidate Nalin Soren won from Dumka Lok Sabha (MP) Seat with the margin of 22527 votes by defeating Smt. Sita Soren of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Jamtara Election Result 2024 Live:

In the previous assembly elections held in 2019, Irfan Ansari of INC won by defeating Birendra Mandal of BJP with a substantial margin of approximately 38,741 votes. This victory solidified Ansari's political influence in Jamtara, where his family has deep roots in local politics. The constituency has traditionally seen strong support from both Muslim and tribal voters, making these communities crucial to both candidates strategies.

The counting of votes will take place on November 23, 2024, alongside results from other constituencies in this critical election cycle. As voters head to the polls, their decisions will significantly impact the political landscape in Jharkhand. The outcome in Jamtara will not only influence local governance but also indicate broader trends within the state's political dynamics as both major parties strive for dominance in this pivotal constituency.

The voting for the 81 legislative assembly seats of Jharkhand was held on November 20 and the counting of votes is taking place today.
Jamua (SC) Jharkhand Assembly Election Result 2024 Live: Jamua (SC) Assembly seat is one of the six assembly seats in the Giridih district of Jharkhand. Voting for the Jamua seat was held on November 20.

Update 1:45 pm: Manju Kumari of BJP leading against Kedar Hazra of JMM against a margin of 10,938 votes.

Update 5:30 pm: Manju Kumari of BJP leads against Kedar Hazra of JMM by a margin of 32,631 votes.

The Jamua assembly seat is a BJP stronghold where BJP won 3 times while JVM won 1 times since the 2005 elections.

Jamua (SC) Vidhan Sabha Chunav Vote Counting 2024 LIVE:

There are a total of 8 candidates in the fray for the seat including several independents. Some of the key candidates are Manju Devi of BJP and Kedar Hazara of JMM and other 8 candidate independents besides some candidates from smaller regional parties.

In the 2019 assembly elections,Kedar Hazra of the BJP won the elections by defeating Manju Kumari of INC by around 18,175 votes.

In the 2014 assembly elections,Kedar Hazra contested the polls on the BJP ticket and bagged the seat by defeating Satya Narayan Das of the JVM by 23,100 votes.

The main contest in the Jharkhand assembly election is between the ruling BJP and the opposition JMM where Manju Devi is contesting on the BJP ticket while Kedar Hazra is the JMM candidate.

The voting in Jharkhand, which was held in two phases from 13 November to 20 November 2024, to elect all 81 assembly seats of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly. The counting of votes is taking place today.

The two main alliances are the INDIA bloc and the NDA. The INDIA bloc comprises Congress, JMM, RJD and the Left while the NDA comprises BJP, AJSU, LJP-RV and the JDU.
Jharkhand Assembly Polls: After facing the heat following his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case, Jharkhand CM and senior Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Hemant Soren bounced back to bag a landslide victory in the assembly elections on Saturday. JMM-led Mahagathbandhan crossed the halfway mark as the alliance was leading on 56 seats in the Assembly election. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led alliance is ahead on 24 seats.

In the last few months, the BJP made strong efforts to keep the ground running by fielding Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma as co-incharge, along with Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Hemants SorenThe two senior leaders failed to dislodge the Hemant Soren-led government.

Factors That Made Hemant Soren 'The King'

1. Sympathy Towards Soren: When the Jharkhand CM came under the scanner of the ED and was arrested by the probe agency on January 31 in connection with its probe into the money laundering case linked to the illegal possession of 8.36 acres of land, the saffron party attacked the JMM leader and cornered him over corruption charges, but the strategy went in vein as the BJP's claims of anti-incumbency in the state were put to rest today.

With Hemant Soren behind bars, his wife Kalpana stepped up and took the charge and handled the election campaign against the saffron party. She reached out to the people in the state playing a victim card to garner sympathy. The Soren couple and other JMM leaders ran entire campaigns attacking the BJP over the arrest of a sitting CM, who was released from jail ahead of the polls.

2. Bangladeshi Infiltration Issue: The issue of Bangladeshi infiltration was raised by the BJP and was one of the key factors that played a big role in driving the results of assembly polls in the state.

The issue was raised by several leaders, right from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Jharkhand BJP-co-in-charge Himanta Biswa Sarma. The saffron party took a hardline stance on the issue and vowed to deport Bangladesh Muslims to Bangladesh if voted to power.

During the poll campaign, the top brass of the BJP claimed that some parts of the state, including the Santhal Pargana region, are becoming a 'mini-Bangladesh'. The issue fired back as the ruling coalition managed to convince the voters that the BJP is trying to infuse a communal agenda in line with 'divide and rule'.

3. No CM Face For BJP: The BJP had no face to project as the Chief Minister, which came out as a disadvantage.

4. ED, CBI raids: The probe agenciesED and CBIhave managed to make it to the headlines for raiding and arresting top leaders from the ruling camp, which allowed the INDIA bloc to reach out to people claiming that these actions were politically motivated.

5. Turncoats: In a bid to oust the Hemant Soren government, the saffron party drew several leaders, including Sita Soren, sister-in-law of Hemant Soren, and his close aide Champai Soren. But the strategy failed to yield electoral dividends for the BJP.
Jharkhand Assembly Election Results: Hemant Soren and Kalpana Soren have emerged as the power couple who paved Jharkhand Mukti Morchas (JMM) road to victory in the Assembly Elections. Dubbed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as Bunty aur Babli, the duo bagged the Jharkhand Chief Ministers crown for the second consecutive time with apparent ease.

Helicopter Madams Magic

Chief Minister Hemant Soren and his wife, legislator Kalpana Soren, led the campaign trail with vigor, holding nearly 200 election rallies after the polls were announced. Kalpana, who entered politics earlier this year following her husbands arrest, played a pivotal role alongside Hemant in mobilizing grassroots support.

A JMM worker told PTI in Gandey, Kalpana Soren was often referred to as helicopter madam, a term coined by the BJP to suggest she was an outsider, unlike local resident Muniya Devi. Despite this label, the worker expressed confidence, saying, Kalpana may close the gap in the coming rounds.

JMM Undeterred By Champai Sorens Exit

According to the Election Commission of Indias website, JMM was leading in 34 out of the 43 seats it contested as of 3:30 p.m. Pictures of jubilant party workers surfaced across the state, showing supporters bursting crackers and distributing sweets in anticipation of a landslide victory.

The party's performance holds special significance, given that prominent leaders like Sita Soren, Champai Soren, and Lobin Hembrom switched sides at the eleventh hour.

BJPs Hindutva, Infiltration Tactics Prove Fruitless

The BJPs star-studded campaign team, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, failed to dislodge the JMM-led government. Despite emphasizing issues like Hindutva, corruption, infiltration, and tribal rights, voters resonated more with the Sorens narrative.

The husband-and-wife duo successfully leveraged tribal sentiments, particularly in the wake of Hemant Sorens incarceration by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money-laundering case linked to an alleged land scam.

Poll analysts noted that Hemant and Kalpana Sorens strategy effectively generated a wave of sympathy among tribal voters. Combined with the BJPs struggle to counter anti-incumbency sentiment, these factors thwarted the partys bid to form a government.

In the Barhait assembly constituency, Hemant Soren led by 37,334 votes against the BJP's Gamliyel Hembrom. Meanwhile, Kalpana Soren, who played a critical role in revitalizing the JMM post-Hemants arrest, maintained a lead of 9,361 votes after the 19th round of counting.
2:30 PM: Karnataka Assembly By-Election Results 2024: Congress Sweeps All Seats In Southern State

The Congress has improved its tally in Karnataka. The grand old party has defeated the BJP and won all three seats that went for bypolls. PATHAN YASIRAHMEDKHAN defeated BHARATH BOMMAI in Shiggaon. On Sandur seat, E ANNAPOORNA defeated BANGARA HANUMANTHA. As far as the CHANNAPATNA seat is concerned, C. P. YOGEESHWARA defeated NIKHIL KUMARASWAMY of the JD (S).

10:45 AM: Karnataka Assembly By-Election Results 2024: Congress Ahead On 2 Seats

As per the latest trends projected by the Election Commission, the BJP and the Congress are locked in a tight fight, with the grand old party leading on two seats while the saffron camp marching ahead on one seat. BJP maintains lead in Shiggaon, and the Congress is ahead on Sandur and Channapatna seats.

10:07 AM: Karnataka Assembly By-election Results LIVE: BJP-Cong Leading On 1 Seat Each After 2 Hrs

As per the Election Commission data, the BJP and Congress are leading on one seat each, and JD (S) is ahead on one seat. The saffron party is leading from Shiggaon, while Congress is ahead from Sandur seat. JD (S) is leading on Channapatna seat.

9:10 AM: Karnataka Assembly Bypoll Results LIVE: Early Trends Project Neck And Neck Fight

The early trends in the Karnataka Assembly polls project a neck-and-neck fight between the BJP and the Congress. The saffron party is leading from Shiggaon, while the grand old party is ahead on Sandur seat.

8:30 AM: Karnataka Assembly Bypoll Results LIVE: 3 Seats Up For Grabs

By-polls for Sandur, Shiggaon, and Channapatna were necessitated, as the seats fell vacant following the election of their respective representativesE Tukaram of Congress, former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai of the BJP, and Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy of the JD(S)to Lok Sabha in the May elections.

8:00 AM: Karnataka Assembly Bypoll Results LIVE -- Counting Of Votes Begins On 3 Seats

The counting of votes began on three Assembly seats in Karnataka at 8 AM.

Karnataka Assembly Bypolls: The counting of votes in the Assembly bypolls in Karnataka is set to take palace today. The bypolls were held in three assembly constituencies: Sandur, Shiggaon, and Channapatna.

By-polls for Sandur, Shiggaon, and Channapatna were necessitated, as the seats fell vacant following the election of their respective representativesE Tukaram of Congress, former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai of the BJP, and Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy of the JD(S)to Lok Sabha in the May elections.

Among the three segments, Channapatna is considered to be a 'high profile', where the contest is between C P Yogeeshwara, a five-time MLA from the segment and former minister who joined the Congress, quitting the BJP recently, and actor-turned-politician Nikhil Kumaraswamy, who is Kumaraswamys son and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda's grandson.

In Shiggaon, BJP's Bharath Bommai, son of Basavaraj Bommai, had a direct fight against Congress' Yasir Ahmed Khan Pathan, who had faced defeat against the former chief minister in the 2023 Assembly polls.

In Sandur, Bellary MP Tukaram's wife, E Annapurna of Congress, is contesting from the seat vacated by her husband against BJP state ST Morcha president Bangaru Hanumanthu, who is considered close to party leader and former mining baron G Janardhana Reddy.

On the polling day, an estimated 76.9 percent of voters turned out in the three Assembly segments of Karnatak, election officials said. More than seven lakh voters were eligible to cast their votes in about 770 polling stations in Shiggaon, Sandur, and Channapatna, where a total of 45 candidates were in the fray.
Bengaluru: E Annapoorna of the Congress party has won the bye-election to the Sandur ST Reserve Assembly constituency in Karnataka by 9,649 votes, the counting for which was held on Saturday.

Annapoorna secured 93,616 votes defeating her nearest rival BJP candidate Bangaru Hanumantha, who managed to get 83,967 votes. The counting for all 19 rounds was completed according to the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Reacting to the victory, State Minister for Labour Santhosh Lad said the Congress party had won the seat for the seventh consecutive time. The result has shown that the people are not bothered about allegations of Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam, Waqf row and mainly Tribal Welfare Board scams.

The result has shown that the people are with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, he stated.

Meanwhile, teased by Congress workers after the declaration of defeat, the BJP candidate Bangaru Hanumanthu challenged the Congress supporters that he will ensure victory for BJP in the 2028 Assembly elections.

According to the ECI, in the high-profile Channapatna constituency, NDA candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy was trailing by 26,462 votes at the end of the 18th round.

Nikhil polled 77,702 votes while the Congress candidate C.P. Yogeshwara got 1,04 lakh (1,04,164) votes.

There are 20 rounds of counting for this segment which witnessed a remarkable 88.80 per cent voting in the bye-election. A total of 390 voters opted for NOTA here.

Nikhil Kumaraswamy is Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumarswamys son.

In the Shiggaon Assembly constituency, BJP candidate Bharath Bommai was trailing by 13,840 votes in round 17. He polled 85,919 votes and Congress candidate Yasir Ahmed Khan Pathan who suffered an initial setback managed a strong comeback and got 99,399 votes. The counting of one round is remaining. 823 NOTA votes have been cast so far.

The Congress supporters have started chanting bye, bye Bommai slogans. They also celebrated with the waving posters of Minister for Waqf and Housing Zameer Ahmad Khan.

The three went to the polls following the resignations of legislators who successfully contested the Lok Sabha elections.

Of the three seats, the Channapatna seat is considered the most high-profile, as it has witnessed a showdown between the families of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and Deputy Chief Minister and Karnataka Congress President D. K. Shivakumar.

The by-elections were held for the high-profile Channapatna Assembly seat represented by Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H. D. Kumaraswamy, Shiggaon seat held by former CM and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai. Sandur's seat, where BJP has never won, was represented by the Congress MP E. Tukaram.
Bagodar Jharkhand Assembly Election Result 2024 Live: Bagodar Assembly seat is one of the six assembly seats in the Giridih district of Jharkhand. Voting for the Bagodar seat was held on November 20.

1:40 pm Update: Nagendra Mahto of BJP leading against Vinod Kumar Singh of CPI(ML)(L) with a margin of 14,452.

5:30 pm Update: Nagendra Mahto of BJP leading against Vinod Kumar Singh of CPI(ML)(L) with a margin of 31,037.

The Bagodar assembly seat is Communist party of India (Marxist- Leninist) (Liberation) stronghold where CPI won 3 times while BJP won 1 times since the 2005 elections.

Bagodar Vidhan Sabha Chunav Vote Counting 2024 LIVE:

There are a total of 13 candidates in the fray for the seat including several independents. Some of the key candidates are Nagendra Mahto of BJP , Vinod Kumar Singh of CPI(ML)(L), Santosh Kumar of Bahujan Samaj Party and other 10 candidate independents besides some candidates from smaller regional parties.

In the 2019 assembly elections,Vinod Kumar Singh of the CPI(ML)(L) won the elections by defeating Nagendra Mahto of BJP by around 14,545 votes.

In the 2014 assembly elections,Nagendra Mahto contested the polls on the BJP ticket and had bagged the seat by defeating Vinod Kumar Singh of the CPI(ML)(L) by only 4,339 votes.

The main contest in the Jharkhand assembly election is between the ruling BJP and the opposition CPI(ML)(L) where Nagendra Mahto is contesting on the BJP ticket while Vindod is the CPI(ML)(L) candidate.

The voting in Jharkhand, which was held in two phases from 13 November to 20 November 2024, to elect all 81 assembly seats of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly. The counting of votes is taking place today.

The two main alliances are the INDIA bloc and the NDA. The INDIA bloc comprises Congress, JMM, RJD and the Left while the NDA comprises BJP, AJSU, LJP-RV and the JDU.
Barkagaon Jharkhand Assembly Election Result 2024 Live: Barkagaon Assembly seat is one of the two assembly seats in the Ramgarh district of Jharkhand. Voting for the Barkagaon seat was held on November 13.

1:30 pm Update: Roshan Lal Choudhary of BJP leading against Amba Prasad of INC by a margin of 24,249 votes.

5:10 pm Update: Roshan Lal Choudhary of BJP leading against Amba Prasad of INC by a margin of 31,106 votes.

The Barkagaon assembly seat is Indian National Congress stronghold where Congress winning the seat 3 times while bjp won once since 2005 elections.

Barkagaon Vidhan Sabha Chunav Vote Counting 2024 LIVE:

There are a total of 26 candidates in the fray for the seat including several independents. Some of the key candidates are Roshan Lal Chaudhary of BJP, Amba Prasad Sahu of Congress, Kameshwar Kumar Das of BSP, Anirudhha Kumar of CPIM and other 23 independents besides some candidates from smaller regional parties.

Currently, the contest between the BJP and Congress has become interesting this time as there is neck-to-neck competition between both parties for this particular assembly seat.

In the 2019 assembly elections, Amba Prasad Sahu of the INC won the elections by defeating Roshan Lal Choudhary of AJSU party by around 31,514 votes.

In the 2014 assembly elections, Nirmala Devi contested the polls on the INC ticket and had bagged the seat by defeating Roshan Lal Choudhary of AJSU Party by only 411 votes.

The voting in Jharkhand, which was held in two phases from 13 November to 20 November 2024, to elect all 81 assembly seats of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly. The counting of votes is taking place today.

The two main alliances are the INDIA bloc and the NDA. The INDIA bloc comprises Congress, JMM, RJD and the Left while the NDA comprises BJP, AJSU, LJP-RV and the JDU.
Aam Aadmi Party National Convenor and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday congratulated Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren after the JMM coalition registered a huge victory in the Jharkhand assembly elections, and said the people rejected the "deceit" of the Bharatiya Janata Party. "The people of Jharkhand have once again expressed their faith in Shri @HemantSorenJMM ji. Congratulations to Hemant Ji and all his workers for this magnificent victory. The people of Jharkhand rejected the deceit of the BJP and once again the Constitution, tribal honour and the people have won in Jharkhand," Kejriwal wrote on X. Delhi Chief Minister Atishi also extended wishes to Hemant Soren and said this is the victory of "tribal identity" adding that the people have given the message that democracy always wins. "Congratulations @HemantSorenJMM ji for the great victory. This victory is the victory of tribal identity. The people of Jharkhand have given the message that no matter how many conspiracies the BJP hatches to grab power, democracy will always win," she stated on X. Notably, the JMM-led alliance is set to return to power winning 56 seats with JMM alone winning 34 seats. Its allies are poised to win 22 more seats - Congress 16, RJD 4 and CPI(ML) 2. The opposition BJP's hopes of coming to power were shattered, as it was reduced to 21 seats and its allies AJSU Party, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and Janata Dal (United) could win one seat each. Hemant Soren retained the Barhait seat defeating BJP's Gamliyel Hembrom by a margin of 39,791 votes, according to the Election Commission. Soren secured 95,612 votes, while Hembrom got 55,821 votes. Soren is now set to return as Chief Minister of Jharkhand at the helm of the JMM-led alliance. Earlier, Hemant Soren expressed his gratitude to the people of all communities and farmers, women and youth of the state for casting their votes in large numbers during the assembly elections. "Today the results of the Jharkhand Assembly Election2024 have come...I want to thank the people of all communities and all the farmers, women and youth of the state for casting their votes with the majority and making this election successful...I also thank all the leaders who were there in the field and took the power of democracy to the people," Soren told reporters. Hemant Soren's wife, Kalpana Soren also thanked the people of Jharkhand for their support. "I want to thank the people of Gandhey, Giridih and the people of the state for showering love on me and blessing me like their daughter," Kalpana Soren said. The polling for the 81 seats in Jhakhand was held in two phases on November 13 and on November 20. (ANI)
Deoghar (SC) Assembly Election Result 2024 Live: Deoghar (SC) Assembly seat is one of the three assembly seats in the Deoghar district of Jharkhand. Voting for the Deoghar (SC) seat was held on November 20.

1:10pm: Suresh Paswan of Rashtriya Janata Dal leading against Narayan Das of Bharatiya Janata Party with a margin 34,275 votes.

5:00 pm: Suresh Paswan of Rashtriya Janata Dal leading against Narayan Das of Bharatiya Janata Party with a margin of 25,398 votes.

The Deoghar (SC) assembly seat has given mixed verdicts in the past elections, with the BJP, and the RJD winning the seat alternatively.

Deoghar (SC) Vidhan Sabha Chunav Vote Counting 2024 LIVE:

There are a total of 7 candidates in the fray for the seat including several independents. Some of the key candidates are Narayan Das of BJP, Suresh paswan of RJD and 5 candidate independents besides some candidates from smaller regional parties.

Currently, the contest between the BJP and the RJD has become interesting this time as there is neck-to-neck competition between both parties for this particular assembly seat.

In the 2019 assembly elections, Narayan Das of the BJP won the elections by defeating Suresh Paswan of the RJD by around 2,624 votes.

In the 2014 assembly elections, Narayan Das contested the polls on the BJP ticket and had bagged the seat by defeating Suresh Paswan of RJD by around 45,152 votes.

The voting in Jharkhand, which was held in two phases from 13 November to 20 November 2024, to elect all 81 assembly seats of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly. The counting of votes is taking place today.

The two main alliances are the INDIA bloc and the NDA. The INDIA bloc comprises Congress, JMM, RJD and the Left while the NDA comprises BJP, AJSU, LJP-RV and the JDU.
Litipara Assembly Election Result 2024: Live Updates The Litipara Assembly constituency is a notable electoral region in Jharkhand, recognized for its vibrant political dynamics. Voting for the Litipara seat was held on November 20, 2024, as part of the second phase of the Jharkhand Assembly elections. Historically, this constituency has been a stronghold for the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), with significant competition from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

1:05 update: Hemlal Murmu Trails Against Babudhan Murmu For JMM vs BJP With the margin of 13626

In the 2024 elections, a total of 22 candidates are contesting for the Litipara seat, including several independents. Key candidates include Babudhan Murmu from BJP and Hemlal Murmu from JMM. The presence of independent candidates and representatives from smaller regional parties adds to the diversity of choices available to voters. In the previous assembly elections held in 2019, Dr. Anil Murmu of JMM won decisively with 71,194 votes, defeating Simon Marandi of BJP, who received 42,111 votes.

Litipara Assembly Election Result 2024: Live Updates

This victory underscored JMM's strong support in the constituency, where Dr. Murmu secured around 45.93% of the total votes cast.The main contest in Litipara this time is expected to be between Babudhan Murmu and Hemlal Murmu, with both candidates aiming to consolidate their respective voter bases.

The counting of votes will take place on November 23, 2024, alongside results from other constituencies in this crucial election cycle. As voters head to the polls, their decisions will significantly influence the political landscape in Jharkhand. The outcome in Litipara will not only affect local governance but also reflect broader trends within the state's political dynamics, as both major parties strive for dominance in this pivotal constituency.

The competition is intensified by the presence of various independent candidates who could play a crucial role in determining the final results.

The voting for the 81 legislative assembly seats of Jharkhand was held on November 20 and the counting of votes is taking place today.
Kerala Lottery Results Saturday 23-11-2024 LIVE: The Kerala Lottery Department, on behalf of the Keralan government, announces the "KARUNYA KR-681" Lucky Draw Result today Karunya Kr-681, November 23, 2024. The draw will be held at Gorky Bhavan near Bakery Junction in Thiruvananthapuram. The Kerala Lottery Result 2024 for "Karunya KR-681" will feature 12 series, with changes in series possible each week. A total of 108 lakh tickets are available for purchase weekly. The ticket prices may vary. Check the Karunya KR-681 results right here to see if youre the first-place winner of 80 Lakhs. Stay tuned to this website for the live update of Kerala Lottery Karunya KR-681 results today.

Kerala Lottery Result 23-11-2024 Nov: FULL LIST OF WINNING NUMBERS FOR KARUNYA KR-681 Draw

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KN 523994

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(For The Tickets Ending with The Following Numbers below)

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LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 7TH PRIZE OF RS 500 ARE: 0053 0085 0173 0408 0649 0657 0771 0790 1198 1228 1305 1339 1389 1572 1579 1616 1666 1684 1705 1926 2251 2295 2374 2470 2535 2562 2606 2651 3078 3202 3329 3417 3426 3461 3487 3845 4050 4079 4328 4540 4554 4557 4706 4835 5277 5447 5821 5914 5922 5940 6019 6020 6083 6383 6445 6659 6707 6849 6935 7022 7061 7128 7149 7211 7443 7510 7543 7564 8250 8362 8427 8437 8452 8830 8845 9012 9321 9500 9853 9978

LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 8TH PRIZE OF RS 100 ARE: 0025 0028 0055 0112 0159 0175 0383 0397 0415 0429 0545 0566 0622 0752 0816 0880 1069 1126 1134 1258 1282 1356 1366 1436 1762 1775 1814 1821 1935 1984 2082 2114 2128 2163 2253 2356 2358 2425 2433 2499 2524 2675 2734 2971 3190 3246 3364 3366 3409 3432 3545 3815 4102 4105 4157 4227 4433 4773 4941 4964 5067 5209 5225 5429 5465 5496 5575 5613 5676 5761 5819 6032 6034 6112 6189 6269 6277 6346 6385 6386 6500 6568 6582 6647 6779 6847 6858 6914 6971 7063 7147 7154 7184 7203 7214 7224 7395 7431 7558 7643 7666 7684 7719 7913 8048 8238 8240 8282 8568 8598 8699 8787 8993 9070 9152 9435 9484 9576 9592 9680 9726 9757 9859 9972

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Baramati: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has gained a comfortable lead of 34,118 votes over his nephew and NCP (SP) candidate Yugendra Pawar in the early rounds of counting in the Baramati assembly constituency.

After round seven of counting, the NCP chief, seeking an eighth term from Baramati, has polled 65,211 votes against his debutante nephew's 31,096.

Baramati will witness 20 rounds of counting.

All eyes are on Baramati, a stronghold of NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar, as the high-profile contest is within the family.

The Lok Sabha polls earlier this year saw NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule defeat Ajit Pawar's wife Sunetra by more than 1.5 lakh votes.

In another key contest in Pune district, NCP candidate and ruling MLA Dilip Walse Patil is ahead of NCP (SP) candidate Devdatta Nikam by 4,384 votes by the 10th round of counting in Ambegaon.

Walse Patil has polled 53,673 votes against Nikam's 49,289.

There will be 19 rounds of counting in Ambegaon.
Maharashtra Election Result 2024: The BJP-led Mahayuti is heading towards a thumping victory in Maharashtra as the alliance is set to win around 218 seats while the Maha Vikas Aghadi is leading on 54 votes. According to Zee News TV, the swearing-in ceremony is likely to be held on November 26 while the BJP's legislative party meeting will be held on November 25. While the NCP and Shiv Sena workers have been sloganeering to make Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde the Chief Minister candidate respectively, the report said that Devendra Fadnavis is leading the CM post-race.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah called Ajit Pawar, Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis to chalk out the government formation plan. Earlier in the day, Fadnavis met Union Minister Piyush Goyal. Fadnavis also met Bhupendra Yadav in the presence of other BJP leaders. "Ek hai to safe hai, Modi hai to mumkin hai," posted Fadnavis on X.

Earlier in the day, BJP legislator Pravin Darekar demanded that Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis be appointed as the next chief minister of the state.

In the alliance, the party that secures the highest number of seats will be entitled to get the chief minister's post, he asserted. The ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance appeared set to retain power in the state and was leading in 217 of the 288 assembly seats, as per the latest figures in the counting of votes by the Election Commission.

The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) was stumbling, with its candidates leading in just 51 seats. As per ECI figures, in the Mahayuti, BJP candidates were leading in 126 seats, Shiv Sena in 54 and NCP in 38 seats. The Congress and the Shiv Sena UBT are leading on 19 seats each while NCPSP is leading on 13 seats.
Ahead of the declaration of Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly election results, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari on Saturday expressed confidence that the saffron party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would form government in both states with absolute majority. The BJP spokesperson said that the people of Maharashtra and Jharkhand would reject Rahul Gandhi's communal and divisive politics.

"We are confident that as the counting progresses in Maharashtra and Jharkhand and results get stable, BJP-NDA's absolute majority government in both states. Under the leadership and vision of PM Narendra Modi, Maharashtra and Jharkhand will reject Rahul Gandhi's communal politics, divisive politics. Maharashtra and Jharkhand are with PM Narendra Modi's 'Ek Hain Toh Safe Hain' slogan. Maharashtra is with (the slogan) 'Ladki Behna' and Jharkhand is against the infiltrators. Women voters who have stepped out to vote in large numbers will decide the fate of Maharashtra and Jharkhand," BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari told ANI.

Bhandari further said that Maharashtra and Jharkhand will choose the development carried out by PM Modi and reject the "divide and rule" politics of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. "As Haryana exposed the shop of lies of Congress, Maharashtra and Jharkhand will choose the development of PM Narendra Modi and will reject the divisive, divide and rule politics of Rahul Gandhi," he added.

The results of the fierce electoral battle in Maharashtra and Jharkhand are set to unfold today with the leaders from both sides expressing confidence in their victories. Votes will be counted from 8:00 AM and trends are expected to emerge. Arrangements are also in place to count votes for the Jharkhand assembly polls on 81 seats and by-polls on 48 assembly constituencies and two Lok Sabha seats across 15 states.

In Maharashtra, Mahayuti, which includes BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP is locked in a fierce contest with Maha Vikas Aghadi (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.
Nandurbar Assembly Election Result 2024 Live: Nandurbar, a Scheduled Tribe (ST)-reserved constituency in Maharashtra's Nandurbar district, cast its votes on November 20, 2024, along with all 288 assembly constituencies in the state. Known for its substantial tribal population, which forms over 69% of the districts demographics, Nandurbar holds significant political importance in the region.

Key Candidates in the Fray

The 2024 electoral contest is headlined by Vijaykumar Krushnarao Gavit from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who is seeking a third consecutive term following victories in 2014 and 2019. Competing against him are candidates from the Congress (INC), factions of the NCP, and smaller parties, along with independents, adding layers of complexity to the race.

Nandurbar Vidhan Sabha Chunav Vote Counting 2024 Live:

BJPs Historical Dominance in Nandurbar

The BJP has maintained a stronghold in Nandurbar over the past decade. In the 2019 assembly elections, Vijaykumar Gavit secured a decisive victory with over 121,000 votes, significantly outpacing his closest rival, Udesingh Padvi of the Congress, who garnered just above 51,000 votes. Congress, once a dominant force in the region, has struggled to regain its footing since its last significant win decades ago.

Statewide Political Dynamics Shape the Race

Nandurbars electoral battle is emblematic of the broader political clash in Maharashtra. The ruling Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), and NCP (Ajit Pawar group), is vying to consolidate its influence against the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (Congress, Shiv Sena UBT, and NCP Sharad Pawar faction).

Awaiting the Results

As vote counting progresses, all eyes are on Nandurbar to see if the BJP can sustain its dominance or if the Congress and other challengers can mount a significant comeback. The outcome will reflect the shifting political trends in this critical tribal constituency.
Patna: The ruling NDA in Bihar on Saturday swept the bypolls to four assembly segments, retaining Imamganj and wresting from the INDIA bloc Tarari, Ramgarh and Belaganj, receiving a boost ahead of the assembly elections due next year.

Candidates of the Jan Suraaj, floated recently by former political strategist Prashant Kishor with much fanfare, lost deposits in all but one seat, in a clear indication that the fledgling party, despite claims of taking the political landscape in the state by storm, needs to cover much ground.

The biggest setback for the INDIA bloc, helmed by the RJD, came in Belaganj, a seat the party had been winning since its inception in the 1990s, but this time lost to the JD(U) headed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the arch-rival of its founding president Lalu Prasad.

The JD(U) candidate Manorama Devi, a former MLC, defeated by a margin of more than 21,000 votes RJD's Vishwanath Kumar Singh who made his debut from a seat that fell vacant upon election to Lok Sabha of his father Surendra Prasad Yadav, a multiple term MLA.

The margin of victory was greater than the 17,285 votes polled by Mohd Amjad of Jan Suraaj, whom the RJD may have liked to blame for its defeat by causing a split in Muslim votes.

JD(U) national spokesman Rajiv Ranjan Prasad said, "The people of Bihar deserve kudos for rejecting the negativity of the opposition and reposing their trust in Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Under his leadership, the NDA will win more than 200 seats of the 243-strong assembly in 2025." The RJD also suffered an embarrassing defeat in Ramgarh, where Prashant Kishor's prediction of the party finishing third or fourth came true. The forecast had caused Sudhakar Singh, son of state RJD president Jagadanand Singh, the MP from Buxar who had won the assembly seat in 2020, to threaten that Jan Suraaj cadres in the constituency will be beaten up with sticks.

Singh's younger brother Ajit finished a distant third after BJP winner Ashok Kumar Singh, a former MLA, and Satish Kumar Singh Yadav who fought on a ticket of the BSP, which has little foothold in Bihar.

Jan Suraaj, though, was hardly a factor in Ramgarh, where its candidate Sushil Kumar Singh polled less than four per cent votes.

The BJP also pulled off a stunning victory in Tarari, which falls under the Arrah Lok Sabha seat, currently represented by CPI(ML)'s Sudama Prasad, who had won the assembly segment for two consecutive terms.

CPI(ML) candidate Raju Yadav lost, by a margin of a little over 10,000 votes, to BJP debutant Vishal Prashant, better known as the son of local strongman Sunil Pandey, who was formerly with the JD(U) and had joined the saffron party a few months ago.

Jan Suraaj had initially announced that it was fielding a former Vice Chief of the Army in Tarari but later disclosed that he could not contest because of technical reasons. Its candidate Kiran Singh got less than four per cent votes.

The most respectable performance from Jan Suraaj came in the reserved Imamganj seat where its candidate Jitendra Paswan stood third, polling well over 20 per cent votes.

The seat, however, went to Deepa Kumari, daughter-in-law of Union minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, who defeated RJD's Raushan Kumar by a slender margin of less than 6,000 votes.

Manjhi, who heads the Hindustani Awam Morcha, vacated Imamganj earlier this year upon getting elected to Lok Sabha from Gaya.

With the exception of Ashok Singh in Ramgarh, the winners in all the seats shall be making their debut in the state assembly.
Rajasthan Bypolls Results 2024 Live: The counting of votes for the 2024 Rajasthan bypolls has begun at 8:00 a.m on November 23 and the results will begin to unfold after few hours.

The bypolls were held across seven assembly constituencies in the state on November 20, and the outcome will determine the fate of key candidates from both the Congress and BJP.

The bypolls were held for seven assembly seats in Rajasthan: Jhunjhunu, Ramgarh, Dausa, Deoli-Uniara, Khinwsar, Salumber, and Chorasi. These seats became vacant due to the resignation, death, or election of the sitting MLAs to other positions. Key contenders include prominent names like Revant Ram Danga, Kanika Chaudhary, Rajendra Bhamboo, and Amit Ola, among others.

Key Constituencies and Candidates

Jhunjhunu: Congress leader Brijendra Olas resignation after being elected to Parliament led to this bypoll. His son, Amit Ola, is contesting on a Congress ticket against BJPs Rajendra Bhamboo. Independent candidate Rajendra Singh Gudha, a former minister, is also in the fray.

Dausa: BJPs Kirodi Lal Meena resigned from this seat after promising to quit if the party lost the Dausa Lok Sabha seat. His brother, Jagmohan Meena, is contesting as BJPs candidate against Congress Deen Dayal.

Deoli-Uniara: This seat became vacant after Congress Harish Chandra Meena was elected to the Lok Sabha. Naresh Meena, a rebel Congress leader, is contesting as an independent, while Congress has fielded Kastoor Chand Meena, and BJPs Rajendra Gujrar is also in the race.

Khinwsar: This bypoll occurred after RLPs Hanuman Beniwal was elected to Parliament. His wife, Kanika Beniwal, is running for the seat against BJPs Rewant Ram Danga and Congress Ratan Chaudhary.

Chorasi: Bharat Adivasi Partys Rajkumar Roat vacated this seat to contest the Lok Sabha elections. The BAP has fielded Anil Katara, while BJPs Karilal Nanoma and Congress Mahesh Roat are also contesting.

Salumber: BJP MLA Amritlal Meenas death prompted this bypoll. The contest is between BJPs Shanta Devi, Congress Reshma Meena, and BAPs Jitesh Katara.

Ramgarh: This seat fell vacant due to the death of Congress MLA Zubair Khan. BJPs Sukhwant Singh is contesting against Congress Aryan Khan.

Voter Turnout

A total voter turnout of 69.29% was recorded for the bypolls, highlighting active participation in this crucial election. Although these bypolls will not alter the overall stability of the current BJP-led government, they are seen as an opportunity for BJP Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and state president Madanlal Rathore to regain some of the party's lost support after a poor performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections.

Currently, the Rajasthan state assembly has 200 seats, with the BJP holding 114 seats, Congress holding 65, and smaller parties and independents accounting for the remaining seats. The results of these bypolls could provide an important indicator of voter sentiment ahead of the 2024 state elections.

As the vote counting begins, the results of the Rajasthan bypolls will be crucial in assessing the political landscape of the state. Both the Congress and BJP have strong candidates in the fray, and the outcome will likely set the stage for the upcoming state elections. Stay tuned for the latest updates on the election results as they are announced throughout the day.

08:04 a.m.: Vote Counting Begins

The counting for votes has begun for the seven seats of Rajasthan by-elections.

9: 10 a.m. : BJP Takes Lead On Two Seats

As the vote counting continues, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is showing an early lead in two key constituencies: Dausa and Chorasi. In Dausa, Jagmohan Meena of the BJP is leading based on initial trends.

Meanwhile, the Congress party has managed to take an early lead in the Ramgarh seat, showing early success in that region. These trends are still in the early stages, and the final outcome will depend on the remaining votes being counted.

9:40 a.m: Congress' Aryaan Zubair Takes Early Lead in Ramgarh

As per the early trends, Aryaan Zubair of the Congress party is leading in the Ramgarh by-election results. Both of Aryaan Zubairs parents have previously won elections from the Ramgarh seat, adding a significant legacy to his political run.

9:50 a.m: BJP Leads in Four Seats

The latest trends indicate that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is leading in four out of the seven constituency seats.Congress Ahead in Ramgarh and Jhunjhunu. Meanwhile, the Congress party is currently in the lead in the Ramgarh and Jhunjhunu seats.

9:55 a.m.: BJP Leads in Deoli-Uniara Seat: Early Trends

In the early trends of the Deoli-Uniara seat, BJP's candidate Rajendra Gurjar is leading the race. Gurjar has gained an early advantage with a lead of 2,300 votes as the counting progresses.

10:00 a.m: BJP's Rajendra Bhamboo Leads in Jhunjhunu

As the vote counting process continues, BJP candidate Rajendra Bhamboo has taken an early lead in the Jhunjhunu Assembly by-elections. Bhamboo is currently leading by a margin of 1,018 votes, according to the Election Commission of India (ECI).

10:55 a.m.: BJP's Sukhavant Singh Takes Lead in Ramgarh

After five rounds of counting, BJP's Sukhavant Singh has surged ahead with a lead of 23,925 votes. In contrast, Aryaan Zubair is trailing behind, with Rashtriya Loktantrik Party's candidate Kanika Beniwal following closely, behind by 4,045 votes.

11:20 a.m: BAP Leads in Chorasi and Salumber Seats

According to the latest trends from the Election Commission of India (ECI), the Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP) has surprised many by taking the lead in two key constituencies: Chorasi and Salumber. Despite BAP's strong performance, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) continues to dominate the overall race, leading in four out of the seven constituencies.

15:20 p.m: Close Fight Between BJP, Congress, And BAP On Three Seats

Ramgarh Constituency

As per the ECI website, BJP candidate Sukhavant Singh from Ramgarh is facing a tough challenge from the Congress. Sukhavant is leading by a narrow margin of just 4,752 votes.

Dausa Constituency

In the Dausa constituency, BJP's Deen Dayal is ahead of Congress candidate Jag Mohan by a slim margin of 2,300 votes, making the race highly competitive.

Salumber Constituency

In the Salumber seat, BJP's Shanta Amrit Lal Meena is leading with a tight margin of 1,057 votes over BAP's Jitesh Kumar Katara.
Savner, located in Maharashtra's Nagpur district, has long been a hotbed for political competition, known for its blend of urban and rural voters. In the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, this constituency continues to hold significant importance due to its diverse electorate and shifting political dynamics.

Key Contenders in Savners Electoral Battle

In the 2024 race, key candidates include Ashish Deshmukh from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Anuja Kedar from the Indian National Congress (INC), and Rajesh Shriram Shrikhande from the Janhit Lokshahi Party. A total of 34 candidates applied, with 23 being accepted, 8 rejected, and 3 withdrawn. 18 contestants remain in the fight for this crucial seat.

2019 Elections: A Strong Victory for Congress

In the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections, Kedar Sunil Chhatrapal of Congress won the Savner seat with a commanding margin of 26,291 votes. He secured 113,184 votes, amounting to 53.47% of the vote share, defeating BJPs Rajeev Bhaskarrao Potdar, who garnered 86,893 votes (41.05%). This victory marked Congresss stronghold in the region, despite a competitive contest.

2014 Elections: Congress Retains Control

In the 2014 elections, Kedar Sunil Chhatrapal emerged victorious for Congress, winning 84,630 votes (45.33%) and defeating Shiv Senas Vinod Bapuraoji Jivtode (guruji), who secured 75,421 votes (40.39%). Kedars margin of victory in 2014 was 9,209 votes, continuing Congresss dominance in the area.

Shifting Political Dynamics and Local Factors

As political alliances shift between major parties like BJP, Congress, and NCP, local issues and voter sentiment will play a pivotal role in determining the winner in Savner. With the results being closely monitored, the outcome will have broader implications for the Nagpur district and Maharashtras political landscape.

The Big Question: Can BJP Overcome Congresss Stronghold?

As the counting progresses, the critical question remains whether the BJP can break Congresss grip on Savner or if the opposition will maintain its control in this politically significant constituency. The results will offer insights into the evolving political preferences of the region.
The troops of the Border Security Force on Saturday apprehended four Bangladeshi nationals and two Indians in three different incidents, a press release said. Three Bangladeshi Nationals were apprehended in West Tripura district while they were trying to infiltrate Indian territory by negotiating the Border fence. "On November 23, three Bangladesh nationals were apprehended by BSF troops of BOP Lankamura under West Tripura district while they were trying to infiltrate Indian territory by negotiating the Border fence. Apprehended Bangladeshi nationals are residents of Sunamganj and Habiganj districts of Bangladesh," the release said. One Bangladesh national and one Indian were apprehended from North Tripura district. In separate operations, BSF troops apprehended one Bangladeshi and one Indian from North Tripura district, the release added. Further, the BSF also recovered huge quantities of Ganja and liquor from a house leading to the arrest of the owner. In addition in joint operation with Police BSF troops of BOP Salpokhar under Sepahijela district carried out search operations in Barkhola village and recovered huge quantities of Ganja and liquor from a house. The house owner was also arrested, the release said. Earlier on November 17, two persons were arrested with 24 cartons of cannabis worth over Rs 35 lakh at the Agartala Railway Station, officials said. According to police, the arrested individuals have been identified as Bittu Kumar (27), from Bihar's Begusarai and Ankul Kumar (23), from Bihar's Lakhisarai district. The duo was nabbed under a joint operation conducted today by the Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) in Agartala. The authorities arrested both of them at Platform No. 1 of Agartala Railway Station with a total of 298 kg of dry cannabis, which was being transported on a pushcart. The cannabis was packed in 24 cartons, containing a total of 282 packets. The two individuals reportedly intended to smuggle the cannabis to Bihar via the Deoghar Express train. The estimated market value of the seized cannabis is approximately Rs 35.76 lakh. A case has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at Agartala GRP station. (ANI)
The latest UP bypoll election results have brought out two significant messages that highlight why it is still nearly impossible for opposition parties to halt the triumph of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

BJP has achieved its most remarkable performance yet in Maharashtra, paving the way for the formation of a government with a substantial majority, under the Mahayuti alliance. This is seen as a significant political win for the party, which is now in a stronger position to govern the state. In today's episode of DNA, Zee News explains, how BJP managed to win highest number of seats through its key agendas.

Yogi Adityanaths Victory in Uttar Pradesh By-Elections

In Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath emerged victorious in the by-elections, a major test for his leadership. Contrary to predictions, Yogi surpassed all expectations and led the BJP to an overwhelming win, effectively crushing the Samajwadi Party's (SP) hopes of a resurgence. The victory was a testament to how the ideological appeal of Hindutva reached deep into the hearts of the electorate.

Yogi Adityanaths Win is a Triumph of Hindutva

Yogi's success in the Uttar Pradesh by-elections is not just a win for the BJP; it is a victory for Hindutva, the ideological pillar that Yogi has embraced and promoted throughout his tenure. His leadership has taken Hindutva ideals directly to the people, consolidating Hindu votes and neutralizing the opposition's political strategies. This victory is also a direct response to critics who had suggested that his grip on the state was weakening. The by-election results have firmly established Yogi as the undisputed leader in Uttar Pradesh.

Kundarki Constituency

One of the most significant upsets occurred in Kundarki constituency, a region where the Muslim community makes up nearly 60% of the electorate. In previous elections, the Samajwadi Party (SP) had consistently won this seat, with Muslim candidates dominating the field. However, this time, despite 11 Muslim candidates standing in the race, BJP's Ramveer Singh clinched the seat with a massive margin of nearly one lakh votes. Yogi Adityanath had held two major rallies here, and his efforts proved decisive in flipping the results in BJPs favor.

Ambedkarnagars Katthehari Seat

The Katthehari seat in Ambedkarnagar, previously won by Samajwadi Partys Lalji Verma, also witnessed a significant change. Lalji Vermas wife, Shobhavati Verma, was given the ticket this time, but BJP's Dharmaraj Nishad emerged victorious. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath campaigned here three times, and his efforts once again proved instrumental in delivering a crucial win for the BJP.

Meerapur Constituency

In the Meerapur constituency, the election witnessed a dramatic and controversial situation. During the voting process, allegations surfaced that police used their uniforms and firearms to intimidate Muslim voters, preventing them from casting their ballots. However, counter-videos emerged, showing how police officers were pelted with stones by locals, turning the narrative around.

Despite the controversy, the results saw the BJP-backed National Lok Dal (NLD) candidate Mithilesh Pal emerging victorious, defeating Samajwadi Party's prominent candidate, Sumbul Rana. Meerapur, which has nearly 40% Muslim voters, posed a significant challenge for the BJP, but once again, Yogi Adityanaths strategic campaigning made the difference.

Hindutva Agenda: The Key to BJP's Success

The results from these constituencies clearly illustrate that the Hindutva agenda, led by Yogi Adityanath, played a central role in BJP's victory. In all three key seatsKundarki, Katthehari, and Meerapurthe Hindu vote consolidation, backed by Yogis leadership and campaigning, was critical.

The BJPs ability to win even in Muslim-majority areas is a testament to how effectively the party's ideological message has resonated with the electorate.

The results of the Uttar Pradesh by-elections have not only bolstered Yogi Adityanaths political stature but have also reasserted the strength of the BJP in the state
Kolkata: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) cemented its dominance in West Bengal politics with resounding victories in bypolls for three of the six Assembly seats held on November 13. TMC candidates Sanat Dey and Sangita Roy emerged victorious in Naihati (North 24 Parganas), Sitai (Cooch Behar) and Sk Rabiul Islam (Haroa) respectively, with the party leading in the other three constituencies as well.

In Naihati, Sanat Dey defeated BJPs Rupak Mitra by a landslide margin of 48,912 votes, surpassing the 18,675-vote lead achieved by his predecessor, Partha Bhowmik, in the 2021 elections. After his win, Dey attributed his success to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees leadership and the development work under her administration. This victory belongs to Didis vision and her commitment to the people, Dey said.

In Sitai, Sangita Roy secured an even more emphatic victory, defeating BJPs Dipak Kumar Roy by a margin of 1,30,156 votes. Her win overshadowed the 10,112-vote margin achieved by her husband, Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia, in 2021.

In Haroa, Trinamool Congress candidate Sk Rabiul Islam won the Haroa assembly by-poll on Saturday, defeating his nearest AISF nominee Piyarul Islam by 1,31,388 votes, the EC said. BJP secured the third position as party candidate Bimal Das got 13,570 votes.

TMC candidates are also poised to win Madarihat (Alipurduar), Haroa (North 24 Parganas), Taldangra (Bankura), and Medinipur (Paschim Medinipur), according to Election Commission trends. Haroa saw Left-backed AISF candidate Piyarul Islam in second place, while BJP candidates trailed in the other three constituencies.

Celebrations erupted across the state, particularly outside Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees residence in south Kolkata. Thanking voters on social media, Mamata posted, I would like to thank the Maa, Mati, Manush. Your blessings will help us continue working for the people.

The Chief Minister emphasized TMCs commitment to the common people, stating, We are custodians of the people, not zamindars.

Party leaders hailed the results as a rejection of opposition parties smear campaigns. TMC claimed the victory sends a strong message after recent attempts to malign the government over the rape and murder of a junior doctor in Kolkata.
Delhi: Anushka Sen, one of India's most promising young actors, continues to make waves on the global stage. Recently, she was recognized at the India-Korea Partnership Business Forum held in Delhi, where she was honored as the Honorary Ambassador of Korean Tourism. This prestigious recognition highlights her role in fostering cultural exchange and strengthening ties between India and South Korea.

Anushka took to Instagram to share her excitement about the honor: "Yesterday I got felicitated for my contribution in fostering and enhancing cooperation and strengthening friendship between the Republic of Korea and Republic Of India. Such an honour to receive this prestigious award from The Korea Herald Media Group @thekoreaherald at the Yashobhoomi, Delhi. Special thanks to @asialab.kr @asialab_ceo Director Lee for giving me the opportunity to collaborate with the Korean Industry and creating history together. So happy to see so many companies and delegates from Korea and India celebrating and coming together to create more opportunities for both the countries."

Have a look at her post here:

Anushka, who earlier made headlines as the only Indian to feature on billboards in Korea, has quickly become an international sensation. At just 22 years old, she has amassed a social media following of over 50 million, further solidifying her influence and global appeal. This recognition adds to her reputation as a young leader fostering international relationships.

Currently, Anushka is basking in the success of her recent release, 'Dil Dosti Dilemma,' which has been well-received by fans. She is also making strides internationally with the project 'Asia,' alongside her upcoming collaboration 'Crush' with South Korean Olympic shooter Kim Ye-ji. Her diverse range of projects demonstrates her relentless drive and talent, paving the way for her extraordinary success.

As the Honorary Ambassador of Korean Tourism, Anushka Sen continues to inspire by acting as a cultural bridge, bringing India and South Korea closer through her work and initiatives.
Bhubaneswar witnessed an unexpected drama on Friday (November 22) as Odia film personalities Bobby Islam and Manoj Mishra clashed outside the DCPs office. Their heated confrontation, captured on video, has since gone viral, drawing attention to a disagreement over a film title that spiraled into a physical altercation.

Viral Videos Show Heated Exchange

Videos circulating on social media show police officers intervening as Bobby and Manojs argument escalated into a physical fight. Bystanders watched in shock as the two hurled abuses and engaged in a scuffle in public. One such video, shared by OTV News, highlights the chaotic scene with police trying to separate the two.

Have a look at the video:

#OllywoodWarIntensifies | Tension ran high in front of #Bhubaneswar DCP office after director Bobby Islam and actor Manoj Mishra entered into a verbal dual today when they were called for an amicable solution to the ongoing dispute between them.



It is alleged that actor Manoj pic.twitter.com/5QoK4dT31O November 22, 2024

The dispute reportedly began when Manoj objected to a word used in the title of an upcoming film. Bobby, on the other hand, accused Manoj of making derogatory remarks about the Odia film industry.

Apparently, the bone of contention is Manoj's opposition to the use of a word in the title of a film that a producer is making. Bobby alleged that Manoj has been casting aspersions on the Odia film industry, explained a police officer, as reported by The Times of India.

Manoj Mishra claimed that Bobby used the contentious word in a derogatory manner during their meeting at the DCPs office and even at a public show. I didnt attack anybody. Bobby used the word for me in a derogatory twist, which is why I lodged a police complaint, Manoj stated.

As of now, Bobby Islam has not issued a public statement regarding the incident.

This altercation highlights the underlying tensions in the Odia film industry and has sparked conversations about professionalism within the regional cinema space. Meanwhile, police are investigating the matter to prevent further escalations.
New Delhi: Rana Daggubati kicks off his first and unfiltered talk show 'The Rana Daggubati Show' with Natural Star Nani, Priyanka Mohan, and Teja Sajja which will premiere exclusively on Prime Video from today (November 23).

During their unfiltered chat, the celebrities discussed family, love, hobbies, and their latest stint at IIFA, among other things, making the episode an exciting watch for viewers.

Earlier Prime Video premiered the debut episode of its first-ever Telugu Original talk show, 'The Rana Daggubati Show' at the prestigious 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) on November 21

Have A Look At The Post:

The first episode dives into candid conversations filled with playful banter, heartwarming moments, and profound reflections.

Rana -Nani's Candid Chat

The interaction took an endearing turn when Rana curiously asked Nani about his married life with Anjana Yelavarthy.

Blushing Nani revealed how his wife Anjanas family, comprising highly qualified individuals in technical fields, was starkly different from his own background.

He said, She is the granddaughter of the famous and celebrated scientist, Mr. Yelavarthy Nayudamma. Anjana has a diaryhis diary. On one of its pages, he's written, I met Mrs. Indira Gandhi today. A few pages later, he writes, After my breakfast with NTR Sir!

I honestly didnt think our wedding plans would materialize. It was back when I had just started out in the film industry. As actors, we dont know what the future has in store for us. They (Anjunas family) were all brilliant in academics.

When Rana questioned how he convinced his wife's family of their marriage, Nani cheekily quipped, Once you meet me, all such doubts get cleared. Those doubts stay only until you meet me.

Created and hosted by the charismatic Rana Daggubati and executive produced by him under the banner of Spirit Media, the unscripted Telugu Original eight-episode series features a dazzling line-up of guests, including Dulquer Salmaan, Naga Chaitanya Akkineni, Siddhu Jonnalagadda and Sreeleela, Nani, S.S. Rajamouli and Ram Gopal Varma among others.

The Rana Daggubati Show will stream exclusively on Prime Video from November 23, available in India and over 240 countries and territories worldwide, with new episodes every Saturday.
Coming down heavily on the INDIA bloc after BJP-led Mahayuti scored historic victory in Maharashtra assembly polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the leaders of the opposition alliance are unable to understand the country's mood as voters support those who put "Nation First" and not those who dream of "kursi first". "The leaders of INDI Alliance are not able to understand the changed mood of the country. These people do not want to accept the truth, these people still underestimate the wisdom of the common Indian voter. The voter of the country is with the spirit of 'Nation First'. Those who dream of 'chair first' are not liked by the voters of the country," PM Modi said addressing party workers in BJP headquarters. Targeting Congress over performance of its state governments, he said voters evaluate promises and delivery in other states. "Voters of every state of the country also evaluate the governments of other states. They see how the people who make big promises in one state perform in other states. The people of Maharashtra have also seen how the Congress governments in Karnataka, Telangana and Himachal are betraying the people and you will see this in Punjab too. Therefore the public has rejected the hypocrisy of Congress," he said. Punjab is ruled by Aam Aadmi Party. He said one constitution will be applicable in the country and those who talk about two will be completely rejected by the people of the country. "Now only one constitution will be applicable in the entire country... that constitution is the constitution of Baba Saheb Ambedkar, the constitution of India. Whoever talks about two constitutions in the country, either openly or behind the scenes... the country will completely reject him," PM Modi said. The Prime Minister took a dig at Congress for its alliance with Shiv Sena faction led by Uddhav Thackeray and said Maharashtra election "has exposed the true faces of the INDI and Aghadi groups" before the nation. "We all know that Balasaheb Thackeray made significant contributions to this country. However, the Congress, driven by a desire for power, managed to take a faction of his party along, but no Congress leader can ever praise Balasaheb's principles. That's why I challenged the Aghadi leaders to get Congress to praise Balasaheb's principles and policies, but they've failed to do so till date," he said. PM Modi said that Article 370 will not be restored in Jammu and Kashmir. "Congress and its allies tried to build a wall of Article 370 again in Jammu and Kashmir. Maharashtra has clearly told them that this will not work. I also tell the Congress people and their allies to listen carefully... now no power in the world can bring back Article 370." He alleged that Congress has become a "parjeevi" (parasitic party) for whom it is very difficult to form the government on its own. "Congress has now become a parasitic party, increasingly difficult for it to form government on its own. Congress not only sinks its own boat, but also the boats of its allies. Today we have seen the same thing in Maharashtra also," he said. The Prime Minister received a grand welcomed as he arrived at the BJP headquarters and greeted party workers and leaders present there. The ruling Mahayuti alliance won the Maharashtra assembly polls and is poised for a landslide mandate. JMM-led alliance returned to power in Jharkhand. In Maharashtra, the BJP led the Mahayuti alliance to a smashing victory carrying its allies - Shiv Sena and NCP - with its momentum. (ANI)
BRS Working President KT Rama Rao (KTR) stated that the people of Maharashtra have noticed the betrayal of Congress with the people of Telangana in implementing the poll promises and rejected the Congress. Despite spending Rs 300 crore of Telangana taxpayers' money on false advertisements, the public in Maharashtra did not believe Congress' lies, KTR said in a statement. KTR criticized Congress for its contradictory claims, pointing out that while it promised Rs 3,000 in Maharashtra, it failed to deliver Rs 2,500 to 1.6 crore women in Telangana. He remarked that the people of Maharashtra rejected these false promises and lies. He also advised Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to stop spreading false propaganda and focus on fulfilling the promises made to the people of Telangana. KTR added that Congress' promises in Maharashtra, which it failed to deliver in Telangana, exposed its double standards. Despite spending Rs 300 crore of public money on advertisements, the people of Maharashtra were not deceived. He also pointed out the hypocrisy in Congress' stance on Adani, labelling him a fraud in Maharashtra while maintaining business ties with him in Telangana. KTR highlighted that Congress faced complete rejection by the people in Maharashtra. In Jharkhand, Congress could not independently form a government and had to rely on the regional party JMM. He noted that this inability to independently form state governments demonstrates Congress' diminishing political strength. KTR emphasized that the future of Indian politics belongs to regional parties. He noted that the Maharashtra and Jharkhand election results reflect the growing dissatisfaction with national parties like BJP and Congress and highlight the importance of respecting regional aspirations. He congratulated Hemant Soren of the JMM for his victory in Jharkhand, emphasizing that the growing prominence of regional forces is crucial for federalism and the development of states. He remarked that the election results in both Maharashtra and Jharkhand demonstrate that people will stand by regional forces when national parties attempt to suppress them. KTR concluded by expressing optimism about the continued rise of strong regional leaders like KCR, who prioritize development and federalism. He stated that such leaders will play a significant role in shaping the future of the country while ensuring the growth and development of states. In Maharashtra, BJP has won or is ahead in 132 seats, Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has won or is ahead in 57 seats and NCP led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar is poised to win 41 seats. The state has 288 assembly seats. The constituents of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) suffered a rude jolt with Shiv Sena (UBT) led by Uddhav Thackeray poised to win 20 seats, Congress 16, and NCP (SP) led by Sharad Pawar only 10 seats. In Jharkhand, the ruling JMM led the ruling coalition to a convincing victory. The JMM has won or is leading on 34 seats. Its allies are poised to win 22 more seats - Congress 16, RJD on 4 and CPI(ML) two. BJP is ahead or has won 21 seats. Polling was held for 81 seats in Jharkhand. This is the first time since the creation of the state that an alliance has won polls after five years in power. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday accused Congress of "appeasement politics" and said it framed law concerning Waqf Board which has no mandate in the Constitution. PM Modi made the remarks at a function in BJP headquarters to celebrate party-led Mahayuti's landslide victory in the Maharashtra assembly polls. He accused Congress of sowing seeds of "appeasement". "Congress made laws for appeasement. They did not even care about the Supreme Court's order. An example of this is the Waqf Board. The people of Delhi will be surprised. The situation was that before leaving the government in 2014, these people had handed over many properties of Delhi and surrounding areas to the Waqf Board. There is no place for Waqf law in the Constitution given to us by Babasaheb Ambedkar, but the Congress did this to increase its vote bank," he said. He also alleged that Congress tried to give death penalty to "real secularism". The Waqf Amendment Bill,2024 is on the agenda of the government in the winter session of Parliament beginning on December 25. The bill is being examined by a joint committee of the two Houses of Parliament. The bill seeks to bring sweeping reforms, introducing digitisation, stricter audits, transparency and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties. The JPC is holding a series of meetings to gather input from government officials, legal experts, Waqf Board members and community representatives from different states and Union Territories, aiming for the most comprehensive reform possible. In his speech, PM Modi referred to the landslide victory in Maharashtra. "This is the third consecutive time that the BJP has emerged as the largest party in Maharashtra, which is undoubtedly a historic feat. This victory is a stamp on the BJP's governance model. The people of Maharashtra have given the BJP many more seats than the Congress and its allies combined. This shows that when it comes to good governance, the country trusts only the BJP and the NDA," he said. The Prime Minister also attacked the Congress and alleged that its "alignment with urban Naxalism has emerged as a new challenge". "The Congress party's sole focus is on the family, disregarding the welfare of the nation's people. A party that prioritises family over citizens poses a significant threat to democracy... Notably, Congress's alignment with urban Naxalism has emerged as a new challenge for India. It's alarming to note that these urban Naxalites are controlled by external forces, making it essential for everyone to exercise extreme caution," he said. "Today, Maharashtra has witnessed the triumph of development, good governance, and genuine social justice. Today, the forces of deception, divisive politics, and family dynasty have been defeated! Today, Maharashtra has strengthened its resolve for a developed India. I congratulate and applaud all BJP and NDA workers across the country," he added. He alleged that Congress has become a "parjeevi" (parasitic party) for whom it is very difficult to form the government on its own. "Congress has now become a parasitic party, increasingly difficult for it to form government on its own. Congress not only sinks its own boat, but also the boats of its allies. Today we have seen the same thing in Maharashtra also," he said. The Prime Minister received a grand welcomed as he arrived at the BJP headquarters and greeted party workers and leaders present there. The ruling Mahayuti alliance won the Maharashtra assembly polls and is poised for a landslide mandate. JMM-led alliance returned to power in Jharkhand. In Maharashtra, the BJP led the Mahayuti alliance to a smashing victory carrying its allies - Shiv Sena and NCP - with its momentum. (ANI)
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday said that despite BJP and JD(S) levelling numerous allegations against the party, the Congress won the all three seats in Karnataka bypolls and defeated BJP and JD(S). The Congress won all three Assembly bypolls in Karnataka, Shiggaon, Sandur, and Channapatna defeating two BJP candidates and a JD(S) candidate. "By-elections for three assembly constituencies have been held. I knew that we would win all three seats and we did...The BJP claimed they would win all three seats and alleged many lies against our government and guarantees. They raised the MUDA issue and Waqf issue...We defeated the BJP and JD(S), even after they joined hands and levelled numerous allegations against us. They resorted to fake allegations and a misinformation campaign was spread against us, " Siddaramaiah said addressing a press conference. "The Maharashtra government even advertised, saying the Siddaramaiah government hasn't implemented the five guarantees. I said I would retire and leave politics if those guarantees weren't fulfilled," he added. Congress' Yasir Pathan defeated former CM Basavraj Bommai's son in Shigagaon while BJP turncoat CP Yogeshwara defeated HD Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil by a massive margin in Channapatna. Congress candidate Annapoorna Tukaram accepted the winning certificate from the returning officer after securing 93,616 votes, defeating BJP's Bangara Hanumantha by 9,649 votes in Sandur. Karnataka CM also congratulated Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for winning Wayanad bypoll. She won by a margin with a margin of over four lakh votes. He called the results of Maharashtra elections "big setback" for Congress and congratulated Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren for India alliance vicotry in Jharkhand. "It is a big setback for us in Maharashtra. In Jharkhand, we won. I congratulate Hemant Soren," he said. The ruling Mahayuti alliance scored a landslide victory in Maharashtra assembly polls. In Jharkhand, the ruling JMM led the ruling coalition to a convincing victory. The polling in Jhakhand was held in two phases and in Maharashtra in single phase. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the Congress after BJP-led alliance's, historic victory in the Maharashtra assembly polls, alleging that it "'parjeevi" party that "sinks boat of its allies". He also emphasised his 'ek hain toh safe hain' slogan, saying that biggest message of Maharashtra elections is unity. Addressing party members in the BJP headquarters,PM Modi said it is difficult for Congress to win elections on its own. "Congress has now become a parasitic party, increasingly difficult for it to form government on its own. Congress not only sinks its own boat, but also the boats of its allies. Today we have seen the same thing in Maharashtra also," he said. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) performed dismally in Maharashtra polls with Congress, which contested over 100 seats, winning only 16. Other constituents of MVA also performed poorly with Shiv Sena (UBT) won 20 seats and NCP(SP) 10. He accused the Congress of destroying the spirit of secularism and said that the "seeds of appeasement sown by the Congress" is a huge betrayal of the makers of the Constitution. "In its hunger for power, the Congress family has destroyed the spirit of secularism of the Constitution. At that time (1947), even amidst the horrors of Partition, our Constitution makers had chosen the path of secularism while keeping Hindu culture and tradition alive. But the Congress family destroyed that great tradition in the name of false secularism. The seeds of appeasement sown by the Congress is a huge betrayal of the makers of the Constitution," he said. The Prime Minister accused the Congress party of priotizing "family" saying that "a party which does not have the people as its priority is very harmful for democracy. " He pointed out that "urban Naxalism" as a new challenge for India. "The Congress party's sole focus is on the family, disregarding the welfare of the nation's people. A party that prioritises family over citizens poses a significant threat to democracy... Notably, Congress's alignment with urban Naxalism has emerged as a new challenge for India. It's alarming to note that these urban Naxalites are controlled by external forces, making it essential for everyone to exercise extreme caution," he said. PM Modi said that Article 370 will not be restored in Jammu and Kashmir. "Congress and its allies tried to build a wall of Article 370 again in Jammu and Kashmir. Maharashtra has clearly told them that this will not work. I also tell the Congress people and their allies to listen carefully... now no power in the world can bring back Article 370," he said. Targeting Congress over performance of its state governments, he said voters evaluate promises and delivery in other states. "Voters of every state of the country also evaluate the governments of other states. They see how the people who make big promises in one state perform in other states. The people of Maharashtra have also seen how the Congress governments in Karnataka, Telangana and Himachal are betraying the people and you will see this in Punjab too. Therefore the public has rejected the hypocrisy of Congress," he said. Punjab is ruled by Aam Aadmi Party. He said one constitution will be applicable in the country and those who talk about two will be completely rejected by the people of the country. "Now only one constitution will be applicable in the entire country... that constitution is the constitution of Baba Saheb Ambedkar, the constitution of India. Whoever talks about two constitutions in the country, either openly or behind the scenes... the country will completely reject him," PM Modi said. PM Modi joined celebrations at BJP headquarters following party-led Mahayuti's landslide victory in Maharashtra assembly elections and said people of the state have defeated "negative and parivarvad politics." He said Maharashtra has strengthened the resolve for a developed India. "Development, good governance and social justice have won in Maharashtra. Lies and deceit have suffered a crushing defeat. Today negative politics has been defeated. Today 'Parivarvad' have been defeated. Today Maharashtra has strengthened the resolve for a developed India. I congratulate all the workers of BJP and NDA across the country," PM Modi said addressing the party workers and leaders. He lauded Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, state Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar for victory in Maharashtra polls. "After Haryana, the biggest message of this election is unity. 'Ek hain toh safe hain' has become the 'maha-mantra' of the country," he said. The Prime Minister also referred to the results of bypolls across 48 assembly and two Lok Sabha seats in 15 states and said the BJP had increased its strength. "The results for byelections in several states were also declared today. Besides, our tally in Lok Sabha has increased today as well. UP, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan have strongly supported BJP (in bypolls). The people of Assam have once again expressed their trust in BJP. We have also got success in Madhya Pradesh. Support for NDA has increased in Bihar. This shows that the country now only wants development," he added. Meanwhile, Congress' Maharashtra election in-charge Ramesh Chennithala on Saturday expressed strong scepticism over the results of the Maharashtra Assembly polls, calling them "unbelievable" and said they did not match the public sentiments. Chennithala raised questions on the outcome, which saw a decisive victory for the Mahayuti alliance. "The results of the Maharashtra Assembly elections are unbelievable and are not acceptable as they don't match the public sentiments. The exit polls also predicted a close fight between Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi. How can we believe the Maharashtra Assembly election results?" he said at a press conference. (ANI)
After the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Mahayuti alliance registered victory in the Maharashtra assembly polls, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday stated that the decision regarding the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra will be made collectively by the leaders of three parties, including Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). "I went to Varsha Bungalow (Chief Minister's residence) in the afternoon and felicitated CM Eknath Shinde. The leaders of the three parties (BJP, Shiv Sena, NCP) will decide who will become the Chief Minister..." said Fadnavis. On Saturday, Devendra Fadnavis slammed Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut for alleging that "seats were stolen" after the Maha Vikas Aghadi was routed in the assembly polls. Deputy CM Fadnavis responded, "Sometimes one needs to introspect." Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and congratulated him on the alliance retaining power in the state. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also congratulated Eknath Shinde, along with Deputy CMs Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis, as the Mahayuti alliance is on course to a landslide victory in the assembly elections. Prime Minister Modi said the "historic victory" in assembly elections is a win for development and good governance, and assured the people that their alliance will keep working for Maharashtra's progress. "Development wins! Good governance wins! United we will soar even higher! Heartfelt gratitude to my sisters and brothers of Maharashtra, especially the youth and women of the state, for a historic mandate to the NDA. This affection and warmth is unparalleled. I assure the people that our Alliance will keep working for Maharashtra's progress. Jai Maharashtra!" PM Modi posted on X. Mahayuti has won 230 out of 288 seats in the Maharashtra assembly while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi has won 46 seats. (ANI)
A Jewish Indian-American, Nissin Rubin, expressed deep gratitude for India's historical harmony and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts in fostering recognition of the country's ancient ties with the Jewish people. Speaking at the launch of the Association of Indian American Minorities (AIAM) in Maryland on Friday (local time), Rubin highlighted India's unique legacy of ensuring safety and acceptance for its Jewish minority over two millennia. "I'm from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, where we proudly say that our motherland, India, is the only country in the world with absolutely no history of anti-Semitism in its 2,000-year history. This is a fact that has been not-so-well-known in the West but is now gaining recognition, thanks to Prime Minister Modi mentioning it in his speeches. While the relationship with Israel is relatively new, spanning the last thirty years, the bonds with the Jewish people are ancient," said Rubin. Rubin praised India for its enduring inclusivity, citing examples of interfaith cooperation. "What is not well-known is that in our 120-year-old Jewish girls' school in Calcutta, and the two Sassoon schools in Mumbai, the majority of students are Muslim. Even during periods of severe violence in the Middle East, not a single stone was thrown at these schools, which are located within Jewish synagogue compounds in Calcutta and Mumbai. Remarkably, these schools are in Muslim-majority neighbourhoods, showcasing the resilience and harmony of the Indian people," he said. Rubin also emphasised the importance of collaborative efforts for global peace. "We are looking forward to a robust partnership between the United States, India, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and other partners to ensure a free, stable, prosperous, and secure Middle East." The Association of Indian American Minorities (AIAM), a newly established non-governmental organisation, was launched at the Sligo Seventh-day Adventist Church in Maryland. The initiative aims to unify and promote the welfare of minority communities within the Indian American diaspora. During the event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was honoured (in absentia) with the Dr Martin Luther King Jr Global Peace Award for Minority Upliftment. The award, jointly presented by Washington Adventist University and AIAM, recognises his contributions to inclusive development and minority welfare. (ANI)
In a post on X, the Ministry of National Defence (MOD) of Taiwan noted, "25 PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today".

The MOD noted that 13 aircrafts "crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern and southeastern ADIZ".

The Taiwanese Ministry of Defence announced that it has monitored the situation and responded accordingly.

https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1860128187956756620

In recent times, Chinese incursion has increased in Taiwan. In response, Taiwan has stepped up security on its maritime borders.

On Friday, Taiwanese President, Lai Ching-te attended the completion ceremony for the #ROCN Shuei-Sing Barracks. This base will serve as the new home for the Taiwanese Navy Underwater Operations Unit and enhance its training capabilities.

https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1859844282842218983

Earlier on Tuesday, 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.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.

https://x.com/TaiwanPresSPOX/status/1858435843511427524

Taiwan Presidential Office Spokesperson shared the joint statment on X, and wrote, "Presidential Office responds to a joint statement following the trilateral meeting of US, Japanese, and Australian defence ministers."

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te convened a high-level national security conference in which he assured the public about the government's commitment to neutralising any threat to Taiwan's democracy and security after China staged a large-scale military drill around the island.He made his remarks in response to the Chinese People's Liberation Army's (PLA) announcement of military drills, named "Joint Sword-2024B," in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding areas, which were described as a "stern warning" to advocates of Taiwan independence, according to the Taipei Times. (ANI)
United States President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Scott Bessent to lead the US Department of Treasury. In a statement, Trump said, "I am most pleased to nominate Scott Bessent to serve as the 79th Secretary of the Treasury of the United States. Scott is widely respected as one of the World's foremost International Investors and Geopolitical and Economic Strategists. Scott's story is that of the American Dream". https://x.com/TrumpDailyPosts/status/1860112446754816385 "Scott has long been a strong advocate of the America First Agenda. On the eve of our Great Country's 250th Anniversary, he will help me usher in a new Golden Age for the United States, as we fortify our position as the World's leading Economy, Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurialism, Destination for Capital, while always, and without question, maintaining the US Dollar as the Reserve Currency of the World. Unlike in past Administrations, we will ensure that no Americans will be left behind in the next and Greatest Economic Boom, and Scott will lead that effort for me, and the Great People of the United States of America". Commenting upon the key issues of his political campaign, Trump noted in his statement that his administration will "restore Freedom, Strength, Resilience, and Efficiency to our Capital Markets". He also said that his administration will, "reinvigorate the Private Sector, and help curb the unsustainable path of Federal Debt". Trump described 62-year-old Bessent as "A lifelong Champion of Main Street America and American Industry", and said that Scott will work for Trump's policies to drive American competitiveness, stop "unfair trade imbalances", and help create an economy that places growth at the forefront. Treasury Department, serves as a key liaison between the White House and Wall Street and its functions include collecting taxes, supervising banks, wielding sanctions and handling US government debt. As per the statement issued by Trump, Bessent is an American Investor, philanthropist, and educator. He is the Founder and CEO of Key Square Group. Before that, he spent most of his career at Soros Capital Management, including as chief investment officer from 2011 to 2015. Through his family office, Bessent controls a number of diversified operating businesses in industries including Agriculture, Hospitality, Publishing, and Real Estate. He has been in the Investment Management Business for over 35 years. Bessent serves on the Board of Rockefeller University. Also, he is a Member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Economic Club of New York. Bessent has been involved in some of the largest and most profitable trades in Hedge Fund History, including shorting the British pound and the Japanese yen, the Argentine debt reorganization, and MF Global Italian bonds liquidation, the statement issued by Trump noted. Bessent's nomination to lead the Treasury department now has to be confirmed by the Senate In an interview with Fox News shortly before the US presidential election, Bessent had said that ensuring the tax cuts do not expire as planned at the end of next year would be his top priority, if he became part of the administration. "If it doesn't happen, this will be the largest tax increase in US history," Bessent had said. The Secretary of the Treasury serves as a major policy advisor to the President, has primary responsibility for formulating and recommending domestic and international financial, economic, and tax policy, participating in the formulation of broad fiscal policies that have general significance for the economy, and managing the public debt. The Secretary oversees the activities of the Department which serves as the financial agent for the US Government, carries out certain law enforcement responsibilities, and manufactures coins and currency. The Secretary also serves as the chief financial officer of the government. Janet Yellen is the current US Treasury Secretary. Meanwhile, Trump also nominated 56-year-old Republican Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer for US Labour Secretary on Friday, saying she would help to "grow wages and improve working conditions [and] bring back our manufacturing jobs". The US President-elect has also announced Scott Turner as his nominee to lead Department of Housing and Urban Development. He previously served in the Texas House of Representatives. (ANI)
President-elect Donald Trump has named 56-year-old Lori Chavez-DeRemer as his nominee to lead the US Labour Department. In a statement issued by Trump, he announced, "I am proud to hereby nominate Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer, from the Great State of Oregon, as United States Secretary of Labour". He added, "I look forward to working with her to create tremendous opportunity for American Workers, to expand Training and Apprenticeships, to grow wages and improve working conditions, to bring back our Manufacturing jobs. Together, we will achieve historic cooperation between Business and Labour that will restore the American Dream for Working Families". https://x.com/TrumpDailyPosts/status/1860119554887942597 Trump's electoral campaign had given impetus to supporting American businesses. In his statement, he said, "Lori's strong support from both the Business and Labor communities will ensure that the Labour Department can unite Americans of all backgrounds behind our Agenda for unprecedented National Success - Making America Richer, Wealthier, Stronger and more Prosperous than ever before!" As per the statement issued by Trump Lori Chavez-DeRemer started her public service career in 2002 on the Happy Valley Parks Committee, where she helped build the Happy Valley 4th of July Festival that it is today. Later, she won a seat on the Happy Valley City Council and became City Council President. As a potential Labor secretary, Chavez-DeRemer would oversee the Labour Department's workforce and its budget and put forth priorities that impact workers' wages, health, safety and ability to unionize, and employers' rights to fire employees, among other responsibilities. As per CBS News, Chavez-DeRemer is one of a few House Republicans to endorse the "Protecting the Right to Organize" or PRO Act that would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and would add penalties for companies that violate workers' rights. The act would also weaken "right-to-work" laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. She was elected Mayor in 2010, becoming Happy Valley's first female and Latina Mayor. She was re-elected in 2014. In 2022, she was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives to represent Oregon's 5th Congressional District and is one of the first Latinas and the first Republican woman elected to Congress from the state of Oregon. Donald Trump won a second term as President of the United States after securing 295 electoral votes in the 2024 presidential election, defeating Democratic rival Kamala Harris, who garnered 226 votes. Following his victory, President-elect Donald Trump has moved swiftly with finalising his foreign policy and national security team ahead of his formal inauguration in January 2025. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged members of the Indian diaspora to participate in the 'Bharat ko Janiye' (Know India) Quiz to deepen the ties between India and the diaspora. PM Modi wrote a message on X, urging the diaspora to take part in this unique opportunity, " Strengthening the bond with our diaspora! Urge Indian community abroad and friends from other countries to take part in the #BharatKoJaniye Quiz!" PM Modi said that the quiz "deepens the connect between India and its diaspora worldwide. It's also a wonderful way to rediscover our rich heritage and vibrant culture". In his post, he noted that the winners of the Quiz would "get an opportunity to experience the wonders of #IncredibleIndia". https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1860165705259450803 In his recently concluded trip to Guyana, the PM had urged the diaspora to participate in the Bharat Ko Janiye Quiz as it was an opportunity to understand India, its values, culture and diversity. He urged the people to invite their friends too to participate. He had also invited the diaspora to participate with their families and friends in the Maha Kumbh to be held at Prayagraj, visit the Ram Temple at Ayodhya and participate in the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas that will be held in Bhubaneswar in January. The 5th Bharat Ko Janiye Quiz was virtually launched by External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar on November 11. As per the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Bharat Ko Janiye Quiz began its journey in 2015 following an announcement by PM Modi during the 13th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas celebrations. The Quiz is an endeavour of the Government of India to strengthen its connection with the Indian Diaspora, particularly the youth, and also to engage foreigners keen to learn about India. The quiz is designed to promote a deeper understanding of India's history, culture, growth story, nation-making, and contributions to the world, the MEA had observed in its press release. The 5th edition of the Bharat Ko Janiye Quiz is being held online (www.bkjquiz.com) from 11 November 2024 to 11 December 2024 and is open for participation in two categories (i) Non-Resident Indians and (ii) Persons of Indian Origin/Foreign nationals, aged between 14 to 50 years. The top 30 scorers of the quiz, 15 in each category, will be invited for a two-week immersive Bharat Ko Janiye Yatra (Know India Tour). They will also participate in the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Bhubhaneshwar from 08-10 January 2025. (ANI)
A grisly murder shook Northamptonshire in UK, over alleged suspicion of dowry demand.Harshita Brella's murder, points finger at her husband, 23-year-old Pankaj Lamba, as per Northamptonshire police. Lamba is the prime suspect. Sonia Brella, the Elder Sister of Harshita, told ANI on Friday that Lamba's family demanded dowry from them, even though they provided gold and money during the wedding. Speaking to ANI, Sonia alleged that she suspected that her sister was murdered for dowry. "Harshita was married to Pankaj Lamba on March 22 this year. The family had given a lot of dowry to Pankaj but still he was not happy, he kept demanding dowry from us," she said. Brella's body had been transported from Corby to east London by car, which was left parked in Brisbane Road, Ilford on November 14. Investigation suggests that Harshita was murdered on November 10. Police are now searching for Pankaj Lamba, who they wish to talk to in connection with her death, as per police's statement. "We received a call from a local police station on November 15 that Harshita had been murdered. The embassy might have informed them. We were surprised as to how this happened. When we called Harshita and Lamba, both their phones were switched off. When we told Pankaj's family, they did not seem worried. We then felt that Pankaj must have told everything to his family after the murder," Sonia told ANI.Northamptonshire Police launched a murder investigation into Harshita's death after her body was found on November 14, as per their statement. "We had talked to Harshita on 10th, we did not talk to Pankaj much, at that time she was very happy...she did not tell us that any fight or anything had happened," Sonia said. Sonia told ANI that on August 29, after Harshita lodged a complaint, even Pankaj's family members came to her house, demanding dowry. Her father then sold some of their property to arrange the money. "On August 29, when Pankaj had beaten her she lodged a complaint against him. Subsequently, his family members had come at our house here and again started demanding dowry, due to which my father sold some property to fulfill their demand and by February we were able to fulfill the demand. We were about to fulfil their demands after we got the money in hand," she said. Sonia said that Harshita was assaulted by her husband and she filed a case of domestic abuse against him on August 29 with the Northamptonshire Police. Pankaj clandestinely paid the fine and was out on bail. "Harshita's husband assaulted her on August 29 and she had filed a case against him. She used to give us every moment's information. This case was closed on October 30 when Pankaj paid the fine, but Harshita was not informed about it. It was said that Pankaj has got the case closed by paying the fine," she said. Assistant Chief Constable Emma James said, "Harshita was identified as being at high risk of domestic abuse and was immediately assigned an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA)...Harshita was placed in a refuge and visited and contacted by officers on a number of occasions throughout the investigation. The alleged perpetrator was identified, quickly arrested and bailed with conditions." Sonia said that the two were married on March 22 this year and moved to the UK next month as Lamba wanted to continue his further studies. "Pankaj and Harshita had an arranged marriage on March 22. They went to UK on April 30, Pankaj does a part time job there as a delivery boy because he is a student. Harshita works as an admin in a warehouse there. He needed her to work and used to check her salary slips too. He used to make her work for multiple shifts. He even kept records of her bank details. Pankaj even emptied her account after she filed the case," she said. "UK Police told us that it will take a week or two for Harshita's body to arrive, we have signed the undertaking and sent it," she added.She also appealed to the UK police to send the mortal remains of Harshita. "Why the UK Police did not guide Harshita when she had already been subjected to domestic violence. The UK police told us that Pankaj had killed Harshita and no one else was with him. The quotes from their neighbours said that approximately 10 minutes after the fighting, they saw Pankaj coming out of the house," she said. Sonia suspects that Pankaj came back to India and is on the run. "I am sure that Pankaj has fled from the UK to India and is hiding somewhere here. The UK police should also caution Indian police that they must arrest Pankaj if he is here. We want to register a complaint with the Delhi Police but they are not registering a case saying that the incident took place on foreign soil. We will also go to the Ministry of External Affairs and register our complaint," she said. Sonia further voiced suspicion that Lamba's family knows his whereabouts and are aware of the murder. "When I called Pankaj's mother about the news, she coolly replied that at least my sister was returning back. She said her son's whereabouts are not known. But, on the other hand, they are not even trying to find his whereabouts and are calm. This behaviour raises suspicions," she said. (ANI)
An eight-storey residential building was completely destroyed with five missiles on Al-Mamoun Street in the capital's Basta district, according to Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA).

Videos on social media showed the purported wreckage of the building at which missiles were reportedly fired at around 4am local time, as per a report in Al- Jazeera, which said that this marked the fourth Israeli air strike this week targeting a central area of Beirut.

Israeli fighter jets have been carrying out repeated raids on the city over the past 24 hours.

Al-Jazeera further reported that Lebanon's Ministry of Health has confirmed at least four casualties, while the number of injured stands at 23, following an Israeli attack in Basta area.

The National News Agency says Israeli war planes "completely destroyed an eight-story residential building with five missiles" and left a crater in the ground.

The Israeli military has not made any immediate comments on the reported strikes.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) had this September carried out air strikes against the Iran-backed Hezbollah group and sent troops into southern Lebanon. This was in response to Hezbollah's rocket strikes into Israel to show solidarity with Hamas group that had carried out the deadly October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel.

Meanwhile, a report in the Times of Israel, said that according to rumours swirling on Hebrew news outlets and social media, the target of a massive Israeli strike in central Beirut this morning was either new Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem or senior Hezbollah officer Talal Hamiya.

Qassem was appointed to lead the Iran-backed terror group after his predecessor Hassan Nasrallah was killed in a massive Israeli airstrike on Hezbollah's underground headquarters in southern Beirut in September this year. (ANI)
In a post on X, the Chief Minister's Office stated, "The South Carolina House of Representatives member, Mr J A Moore, paid a courtesy call on the Hon'ble Chief Minister Shri Revanth Reddy, at the Dr B R Ambedkar State Secretariat in Hyderabad."

https://x.com/TelanganaCMO/status/1859917245989990530

Earlier on August 9, Reddy alongwith Minister for Information Technology and Industries Sridhar Babu Duddilla and their team members visited Apple headquarters in California, following his arrival on Friday.

During his visit, he met with senior Apple executives in manufacturing, public policy, and healthcare divisions.

https://x.com/TelanganaCMO/status/1821760774693638652

"Exhilarating to visit Apple Park, the corporate headquarters of Apple Inc., at Cupertino, California. The 175-acre campus was the ideal place to make a strong pitch for #Hyderabad and #Telangana as a leading investment destinations in several sectors," Revanth Reddy said in a post on X.

"My team, including my minister colleague @OffDSB, and senior officials, and I, highlighted the new Electronics park, Skills University, AI city, Future City and other game-changing initiatives to the senior Apple Executives looking after manufacturing, public policy and Apple healthcare divisions," he added.

Further, the Chief Minister expressed confidence that the positive discussions will lead to beneficial outcomes for Hyderabad and Telangana, positioning the state as a leading investment destination in various sectors.

"Confident that our highly encouraging and cordial talks today will lead to several positive outcomes for Hyderabad and Telangana," the Telangana CM said on X.

Earlier in the day, Telangana CM and his team arrived in California. The delegation held interactions with some of the greatest companies in Silicon Valley in the following days. (ANI)
A delegation from the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (TPiE), led by Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel and accompanied by parliamentarian Dawa Tsering, continued their official visit to the United Kingdom where they engaged with key political leaders, including the Speaker of the House of Commons, Members of Parliament (MPs), and prominent figures from the House of Lords, an official statement said. The meetings provided the delegation with valuable insights into the UK's legislative processes, including how ideas evolve into political party policies, the navigation of these policies through the House of Lords, and the steps required to pass legislation, as per the statement. However, the central focus of the discussions was the escalating human rights violations in Tibet, particularly those perpetuated by China. During their engagements, Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel drew attention to the dire and ongoing repression faced by Tibetans under Chinese rule. He highlighted the Chinese government's increasingly aggressive assimilation policies, which have led to systematic attempts to erode Tibetan culture, religion, and identity. Speaker Tenphel raised alarm over the forced boarding school policy, where Tibetan children are separated from their families and indoctrinated in Chinese state ideology. He also emphasized the disturbing mass DNA collection program, which is being used to track and control the Tibetan population, along with the deliberate closure of Tibetan schools and the destruction of monasteries actions that are not only an assault on Tibet's cultural heritage but also a violation of basic human rights, as per the statement. The delegation also met with Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, who reiterated the importance of resuming dialogue with China to address the Sino-Tibet issue. Speaker Tenphel, however, urged the UK to adopt a stronger stance by supporting policies like the US Resolve Tibet Act, which calls for concrete actions to support Tibet's political and cultural autonomy, the statement added. As per the statement, in these discussions, the delegation underscored the critical need for the international community to hold China accountable for its oppressive policies in Tibet. They also highlighted the shared responsibility of global parliaments, including the UK, to actively address human rights abuses, and to work towards ensuring that Tibetans are not silenced or erased in the face of these relentless assaults on their culture and freedom. Today, the Tibet-China issue remains unresolved. While the Chinese government maintains strict control over Tibet, Tibetans in exile continue to advocate for their rights, including through the work of the CTA, which functions as the Tibetan government-in-exile. Despite international pressure, the Chinese government continues to reject any form of independence or autonomy for Tibet. (ANI)
Pakistan military forces have reportedly abducted a student preparing for the Public Service Commission examinations from Quetta, Balochistan during a raid on Thursday. The Balochistan Post reported that according to residents, a raid was conducted by personnel from Pakistani forces, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), and the police. The reports identified the student as Behzad Dilawari, the son of Barkat Dilawari and a resident of Khudabadan in Panjgur. This marks the second time Behzad has been forcibly disappeared. He was earlier abducted from Panjgur on November 30, 2021, but was later released. According to the Balochistan Post, Behzad was preparing for Public Service Commission examinations during the abduction. Enforced disappearances have long been a serious concern in Balochistan, where students have become one of the most vulnerable groups. Human rights organizations have consistently raised alarms over the widespread practice. Paank, the human rights department of the Baloch National Movement reported that more than 110 cases of enforced disappearances and six extrajudicial killings of Baloch people were documented in the past month alone across Balochistan, Karachi, and other parts of Pakistan. The group further disclosed that at least 35 of those disappearances occurred in just the past few weeks, further deepening concerns over the ongoing human rights violations in the region, as reported by the Balochistan Post. Earlier, Muhammad Musawir, a young boy who was forcibly disappeared from the Multani Mohalla area of Balochistan. The schoolchildren protested against the abduction, demanding the safe return of the boy. Parents also raised concerns against such abductions. The abduction on November 14 has ignited widespread outrage among citizens, political organizations, and the business sector. Protesters have vowed to escalate their demonstrations until Musawir is safely released. As the search for Behzad Dilawari continues, the frequency of such incidents has sparked outrage among Baloch activists and human rights advocates, who are calling for immediate action to address the growing crisis of enforced disappearances. (ANI)
In visuals shared by the Ministry of External Affairs, the Dornier aircraft was seen performing an elegant flypast as the leaders of India and Guyana watched.

As per the information provided by the Indian Coast Guard, Dornier 228 is a twin-engine turboprop, highly versatile multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft manufactured by HAL for the Indian Coast Guard. The aircraft is lightweight with a wide range of operating speeds and fuel-efficient uniqueness.

The Dornier 228 has quick role-changing capability for various roles such as maritime patrol & surveillance, marine pollution contingency, search and rescue and medical evacuation.

The two Dornier 228 aircraft were commissioned by the Guyanese Defense Force in April earlier this year.

Guyanese President Mohamed Irfaan Ali had shared the details on X.

" The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited @HALHQBLR delivered two Dornier 228 planes to the Guyana Defence Force. The planes arrived at Cheddi Jagan International Airport last evening aboard two Boeing C-17 Globemaster military transport planes".

https://x.com/presidentaligy/status/1774765936177733890

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently concluded his historic trip to Guyana.

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. He also participated in various cultural programs, held several bilateral meetings and received awards from the member countries. (ANI)
The United Nations celebrated Hindi Divas in its headquarters on Friday (local time) and the event was attended by MPs from India among others. MP Birendra Prasad Baishya highlighted the popular appeal of Hindi in different countries. https://x.com/IndiaUNNewYork/status/1860118203676160188 "Hindi Diwas 2024 was celebrated in the UN, in the gracious presence of Hon'ble MPs from India, PRs from several countries, diplomatic community and several guests. MP Birendra Prasad Baishya highlighted the popular appeal of Hindi in different countries," the permanent mission of India to the UN said in a statement. For the first time, the Hindi Diwas is being organised in the UN premises. This provides an impetus to India's collaborative effort of promoting multilingualism with the UN. Given India's multilingual and pluralistic character of society, which coincides with the United Nations, holding the event in the UN also serves the purpose to connect with the wider audience, to achieve a higher scale of participation, including those from the Hindi- speaking Diaspora Missions such as Trinidad and Tobago, Fiji, Mauritius, Guyana, Suriname etc, as per the UN. Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, Parvathaneni Harish underscored the importance of the celebrations this year as 2024 is the 75th year of adoption of Hindi as an official language. https://x.com/IndiaUNNewYork/status/1860118207249678433 Permanent Representatives of Mauritius and Nepal and representatives of Guyana and Suriname and UN stressed the instrumental role of Hindi in strengthening the ties between peoples. https://x.com/IndiaUNNewYork/status/1860118209032257686 https://x.com/IndiaUNNewYork/status/1860118210676424996 The event encouraged participation by Hindi-enthusiasts, Diaspora members and Officials and family members of the UN /PMI/ CGI, in four categories of competition. An essay competition on the theme of Women Empowerment was held, Poetry writing competition on the importance of Hindi, Recital / singing of Hindi poems/songs and a Quiz on India's Civilization. As per UN's statement, India is home to a wide range of dialects and languages each with their own regional flavour. Post-independence, Hindi with its large base of native speakers, together with English, has become the official language of India. To commemorate this recognition, the India declared 14 September as Hindi Day. This is a celebration of Hindi's cultural and linguistic significance, and its role in national unity and identity. (ANI)
Jamil Maqsood, the President of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the United Kashmir People's National Party (UKPNP), has strongly condemned the ongoing human rights abuses and unconstitutional actions by the Puppet Government of Pakistan in the Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). In a recent statement, Maqsood expressed grave concerns over the imposition of the controversial Presidential Order, calling it a politically motivated move aimed at stifling fundamental freedoms and eliminating peaceful dissent in the region. He emphasized that the Presidential Order imposed in PoJK represents a severe violation of human rights, undermining the rights to peaceful assembly, free expression, and protest fundamental rights protected under international human rights law. He also denounced the order as unconstitutional, highlighting that it lacks both moral and democratic legitimacy. The people of PoJK, who have long struggled for self-governance, autonomy, and freedom from external interference, have been denied the opportunity to participate in genuine democratic processes for decades. "The imposition of this decree is a direct attack on the socio-political fabric of PoJK," Maqsood said. "By silencing dissent and suppressing the demand for justice and democratic representation, Pakistan is further deepening the marginalization of the people in this region." The UKPNP also raised alarms about reports of ambulances being misused to transport weapons and ammunition to security forces in Kotli. This disturbing practice, Maqsood stated, violates international humanitarian laws, including the Geneva Conventions, which strictly prohibit the use of medical vehicles for military purposes. He condemned Pakistan for exploiting resources meant for saving lives, endangering both civilian health and the credibility of humanitarian services in PoJK. Another point of concern highlighted by the UKPNP is the increasing militarization of PoJK, particularly in civilian areas such as Rawalakot, Bagh, and Kotli. Maqsood condemned the use of force to suppress peaceful protests, leading to widespread violence, fear, and instability. Reports of arbitrary detentions, physical assaults, and crackdowns on demonstrators are deeply concerning, with the UKPNP calling for urgent international intervention to address these violations. They have urged global institutions, including the United Nations Security Council, the United Nations Human Rights Council, the European Union, and other international human rights organizations, to take immediate action against Pakistan's actions in PoJK. The party emphasized that the international community's silence has allowed Pakistan to continue its oppressive policies unchecked. The UKPNP remains committed to raising these issues at international forums, ensuring that the voices of the people in PoJK are heard and their fundamental rights are protected. The UKPNP has called for the immediate repeal of the Presidential Order in PoJK, demilitarization of the region, an investigation into the misuse of ambulances for military purposes, and the restoration of fundamental rights, including freedom of assembly and speech. The party is committed to raising these issues internationally to protect the rights of the people in PoJK. (ANI)
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte met with President-elect Donald Trump in Palm Beach, Florida on Friday (local time), a statement by NATO said. They discussed the range of global security issues facing the Alliance, as per the statement. https://x.com/NATOpress/status/1860267571464782004 The Secretary General and his team also met with Congressperson Mike Waltz and members of the President-elect's national security team, the statement added. Earlier on Thursday, the US Mission to NATO declared that it will donate USD 20 billion to Ukraine as a part of the loan G7 has pledged. The US said that they froze Russia's assets and used those funds for Ukraine's aid. In a post on X, US mission to NATO said, "Russia must bear the costs of its illegal war. Of the USD 50 billion that the G7 committed to loan Ukraine back in June, the United States will provide USD 20 billion. But the circumstances around this are unique. Never before has a multilateral coalition frozen the assets of an aggressor country (Russia) and then harnessed the value of those assets to fund the defense of the aggrieved party (Ukraine)." https://x.com/USNATO/status/1859544528757133721 Earlier on November 18, US President Joe Biden authorised the use of long-range missiles by Ukraine to target the deepest part of Russia, the New York Times reported on Sunday. The missiles could be used in the Kursk region of western Russia to defend Ukrainian forces against Russian and North Korean offensives, the New York Times quoted US officials as saying. This comes as President-elect Donald Trump is set to assume charge. In earlier statements, Trump has called to bring an end to the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed optimism that US President-elect Donald Trump's administration could expedite the resolution of the ongoing war with Russia, Anadolu reported. Zelenskyy made the remarks during an interview with public broadcaster Suspilne, where he reflected on US-Ukraine relations and past discussions with Trump regarding the conflict, which began in 2022. Addressing whether Trump had urged Ukraine to negotiate with Russia, Zelenskyy clarified, "We are an independent country. And we, during this war, both our people and I, personally, are in negotiations with the United States, with both Trump and Biden, and with European leaders, proved that the 'sit and listen' rhetoric doesn't work with us." (ANI)
Britain hinted that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could be arrested on the basis of an International Criminal Court warrant if he visits, and Ireland said it would definitely arrest him if he did, as per Times of Israel. "The UK will always comply with its legal obligations as set out by domestic law and indeed international law," UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's spokesperson said on Friday, as per Times of Israel. However, the spokesperson denied when asked about Netanyahu, and said, he would not "talk about specific cases." Earlier on Friday, Ireland's Prime Minister Simon Harris said Netanyahu would be detained if he arrived there. Asked by state broadcaster RTE if Ireland would arrest the Israeli prime minister if he came to Ireland, Harris said: "Yes, absolutely," as per Times of Israel. "We support international courts and we apply their warrants," he added. The Ireland-Israel relations went downhill after the former recognised the State of Palestine last May, causing Israel to spring to action and call their ambassador back, as per Times of Israel. The ICC arrest warrant has several countries in splits on whether to uphold it or not. Ireland's Foreign Minister Micheal Martin said Friday he disagreed with US President Joe Biden's depiction of the warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant as "outrageous," asserting that war crimes have been committed in Gaza. "It's a collective punishment of the people... it's genocidal," he said, as per Times of Israel. Canada, Belgium, Spain, Austria, Finland, Portugal, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Switzerland are among others of the 124 ICC member-countries that have said they will comply with the arrest warrants. Others, including Hungary, Czechia and Argentina, have said they will ignore them. Hungary rejected the ICC decision to seek Netanyahu's arrest for alleged war crimes in Gaza and invited him to make an official visit. https://x.com/PM_ViktorOrban/status/1859905807577726996 The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague on Thursday 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 program. (ANI)
Pakistan's Anti-Terrorism Court on Saturday sent two suspects for a 10-day physical remand for killing two Chinese nationals, ARY News reported. The suspects, Javed and Gul Nisa are suspected to be connected to the Karachi Airport blast last month. The duo was produced in court after their initial remand expired, as per ARY News. According to the police, the duo assisted the suicide bomber, who targeted a convoy of Chinese nationals near the airport. The police claimed that the suspects are linked with the banned Balochistan Liberation Army, ARY News reported. The investigation is ongoing, and the court has directed the investigation officer to submit a progress report on the next hearing, ARY News stated. The said attack took place on October 6 in Pakistan's port city of Karachi in which at least three people including Chinese nationals were killed. Pakistan news outlet Geo News said that at least three foreign nationals died while 17 others sustained injuries in a huge explosion near Jinnah International Airport, Karachi. The Chinese Embassy in Pakistan condemned the attack. The Embassy in a statement said the attack took place at about 11 pm on October 6 when "a convoy from the Port Qasim Electric Power Company was attacked by terrorists near Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, the capital city of the country's south Sindh province." As per Xinhua news outlet, the banned outfit Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for the attack through a statement on a social media platform, while the Pakistani authorities have not confirmed it. "The Chinese Embassy and Consulate in Pakistan strongly condemn this terrorist act, express deep condolences to the victims of the two countries, and extend sincere condolences to the injured and their relatives," a statement by the Chinese embassy in Pakistan said. It added that the Chinese side has been working with the Pakistani side to do their best to deal with the aftermath of the incident. As per the statement, the Chinese missions in Pakistan have launched an emergency response plan immediately, requesting the Pakistani side to thoroughly investigate the attack, severely punish the perpetrators, and take all necessary measures to protect the safety of Chinese citizens, institutions and projects in Pakistan. (ANI)
Two fresh charges have been imposed against incarcerated Prime Minister Imran Khan's wife Bushra Bibi, ARY News reported. Days after she made a video statement, Bushra Bibi on the allegations of making inflammatory statements to incite hatred. The proceedings are being conducted under Section 126 of the Telegraph Act of 1885 and other relevant laws. Pakistan's Former First Lady accused Saudi Arabia of playing a part in the ouster of Imran Khan. The case accuses Bushra Bibi of making 'provocative remarks intended to stir public emotions'. The charges claimed that the statement, made with intent and planning, targeted Saudi Arabia, as per ARY News. The first case, in Dera Ghazi Khan was filed on the complaint of a citizen named Ghulam Yaseen. The second case was filed in Rajanpur, by another citizen, Hakeem. The PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has given clarification on the issue. Party's spokesperson Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif on Friday said that Bushra Bibi's statement was taken "out of context". Saif's clarification came after the PTI members distanced themselves from Bushra Bibi's statement. He blamed the media for distorting her statement, and said, "Bushra Bibi did not level any allegation against Saudi Arabia or Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud." Bushra alleged that when Imran Khan went to Madina "barefoot", the then-army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa started receiving "their calls". The former first lady claimed that Bajwa was asked, "Who is this person you have brought with you [...] we don't want such personalities. Since then, they launched a smear campaign against us and started calling Imran a Jewish agent." Slamming the incumbent government, Barrister Saif said: "The government wants to spoil the relationship between the PTI founder and the Saudi crown prince." "Bushra Bibi's viewpoint is her own. She will clarify whether her statement was personal or intended to represent the party's stance," Geo News quoted him as saying. Earlier on November 22, both Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief Minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz strongly condemned Bushra Bibi's remarks, accusing her of harming Pakistan's relations with, Saudi Arabia. He criticized the "poisonous rhetoric" against Pakistan's allies, particularly Saudi Arabia, and warned of its potential repercussions. Maryam Nawaz labelled the remarks as an attack on Pakistan's most trusted ally. Maryam Nawaz was staggered at how a "non-political individual" could harm Pakistan's foreign relations. (ANI)
Century Steel Group, a Chinese steel producer, has threatened to pull out its investment and shut down its operations in Pakistan unless its concerns are addressed, Geo News reported. In a letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the company's CEO, Li Chunjian, expressed frustration over unresolved issues at the Rashakai Special Economic Zone in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. "The company had reached the decision to wrap up its business and withdraw investment from the country as the government departments, responsible for handling foreign direct investment (FDI) in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Rashakai Special Economic Zone (RSEZ) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, failed to resolve multitude of their problems," said CEO Li Chunjian. "This will be our last notice to the Government of Pakistan; if the problems are not resolved immediately, we will start dismantling the plant from the RSEZ," the company said. Earlier, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formed a committee under Federal Minister for Communications, Privatisation and Board of Investment Abdul Aleem Khan to address all of the company's complaints, according to a senior official statement. The News reported citing a senior government official, that the prime minister has constituted a committee under Federal Minister for Communications, Privatisation and Board of Investment Abdul Aleem Khan to address all of the company's complaints. The committee includes members from both the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and federal governments. According to the steel group, they arrived in Pakistan with big goals and intended to build up the country's biggest steel mill in three stages in the first RSEZ of CPEC in KP. Century Steel Group has invested over USD 30 million in the first phase of its steel project in Pakistan, with plans to produce 500,000 tonnes of steel products annually, as reported by Geo News. The company had planned to invest an additional USD 200 million in the next two phases of the project, which would involve the transfer of advanced steel technology from China to Pakistan. This investment would have enabled the production of downstream steel products in Pakistan. Within five years, the final capacity for steel products would be 1.5 million tonnes, China's steel giant said. "We aimed to contribute to the GDP of Pakistan and also to create thousands of jobs as well as build exports of steel products to the regional markets. However, due to the following unresolved issues for over five years, we have finally decided to exit from Pakistan and report this matter to the Chinese government/embassy and the international press as a last resort," it stated in the letter. "We have been waiting for the last five years at RSEZ and maintenance of our staff and expenses has caused us big losses to the tune of USD 7.5 million," the letter added. (ANI)
Speaking to ANI at the launch of the Association of Indian American Minorities (AIAM) in Maryland, US, Tarar emphasised that India has emerged as the fifth largest economy under PM Modi's leadership who always keeps 'India First'.

Tarar told ANI, "I'm here to support this alliance because they are representing minorities. Minorities meaning Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, all of them."

"A lot of Indian leadership is here and I'm here to listen to the success story of how India has become the 5th largest economy on the planet, they are moving rapidly towards gaining the 3rd position. We need a leader like Modi Sahib in Pakistan as well, a nationalist leader. I'm here to observe the story of Indian success," he added.

The Association of Indian American Minorities (AIAM), a newly formed non-governmental organisation, was launched on Friday at Sligo Seventh-day Adventist Church, Maryland.

The initiative aims to unite and promote the welfare of minority communities within the Indian American diaspora in the United States.

During the event, Prime Minister Modi was honoured (in absentia) with the Dr Martin Luther King Jr Global Peace Award for Minority Upliftment. The award was jointly presented by Washington Adventist University and AIAM, recognising his efforts towards inclusive development and minority welfare.

Renowned Sikh philanthropist Jasdip Singh was appointed as the Founder and Chairman of AIAM, supported by a seven-member Board of Directors representing diverse Indian minority communities. These members include Baljinder Singh and Dr Sukhpal Dhanoa (Sikhs), Pawan Bezwada and Elisha Pulivarti (Christians), Dipak Thakker (Hindu), Juned Qazi (Muslim), and Nissim Reuben (Indian Jewish).

Addressing the gathering, AIAM Chairman Jasdip Singh emphasised the organisation's role in advancing PM Modi's vision of a "Viksit Bharat" by 2047.

"Under PM Modi's leadership, India has embraced an all-inclusive approach, ensuring equal opportunities for every citizen, irrespective of religion, caste, or sect," he said. (ANI)
Following the spiritual visit, General Dwivedi proceeded to the Nepali Army's Western Division Headquarters in Pokhara, where he was welcomed by the Division Commander, Major General Shantosh Ballave Poudyal.

"General Upendra Dwivedi visited Pokhara and addressed a big Ex-servicemen Rally of Nepal Domiciled Gorkha Ex-servicemen in the sprawling lawns of PPO Pokhara. Gen Upendra Dwivedi and Mrs Sunita Dwivedi, President, AWWA (IA) interacted with and felicitated the gallantry awardees and Veer Naris present during the occasion," the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu said.

During his address, COAS lauded the bravery of the Gorkha Soldiers and saluted their courage and dedicated service to the nation.

The Indian Army Chief arrived in Kathmandu on Wednesday on a five-day official visit. The five-member delegation, led by General Dwivedi, also includes Sunita Dwivedi, chairperson of the Army Wives Welfare Association of the Indian Army.

President Ramchandra Paudel had earlier on Thursday conferred the honorary rank of General of the Nepali Army on General Dwivedi as per the tradition of Nepal and India conferring army chiefs of each other's country with the honorary title.

The Indian army chief also called on Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Friday. General Dwivedi has been serving as the Indian Army Chief since June 30. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday emphasised India's increasing global recognition and respect, and stated that today, everybody sees something of interest for them In New Delhi's endeavours. In his virtual address at the India Foundation's Ideas Conclave on 'Building Brand Bharat,' Jaishankar recalled his recent attendance at the CARICOM summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Guyana this week. The Foreign Minister lauded India's rise in the areas of infrastructue, economic growth and technology, and also noted the recent Lok Sabha elections as the "largest democratic exercise ever." Highlighting the appreciation India has received, Jaishankar stated, "Just two days ago, I was with the Prime Minister (PM Modi) at the CARICOM summit and I could see that these feelings are still very much alive in the Caribbean. Everybody today sees something of interest to them In India's endeavours. The tech community notes our India stack and 5G technology. The AI and the semiconductor businesses appreciate our talent and creativity." The world of marine, shipping and airlines respects our professionalism. Be it blue or white collar, traditional or emerging sectors, or creative or executive, we are viewed increasingly positively. This summer, our nation also witnessed the largest democratic exercise ever. As is to be expected, there were passionate arguments and strong polemics in that process. But at the end of the day, the system delivered fully and flawlessly," he added. Further Jaishankar stated that the world was clearly seeing new possibilities and competencies in India. "Indians started acquiring the image of being 'techies'. Various challenges also led to the realization that on crucial issues - be it trade, nuclear or territorial - India would stand its ground," said Jaishankar. "The last decade has seen a big shift in that regard. Economically, we are now perceived as much easier to do business. The transformation underway in infrastructure is also increasingly appreciated. Whether it is the airports, metros, highways or railways, the achievements of the last decade stand out even by global standards. Perhaps, nothing has been more impactful than our embrace of digital technologies," he added. https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1860331607498064244 Jaishankar also took to social media platform X, sharing pictures of the virtual address. "Pleased to join virtually at the India Foundation's Ideas Conclave on #BuildingBrandBharat," he stated. "Brand Bharat reflects our civilizational character. It is a statement of authenticity, be it in representation, articulation or beliefs. Brand is equally a message that we are now more ambitious, drawing on our own past, fashioning our own lexicon, advancing our own ideas and engaging the world more on our terms," Jaishankar added. Recently, Jaishankar accompanied PM Modi during his five-day and three-nation visit to Nigeria, Brazil and Guyana. PM Modi's first stop was Nigeria, then Brazil for the 19th G20 Summit, and the last was Guyana, which was concluded on Thursday. The Prime Minister 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 and 10 bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Brazil. Thereafter, during the visit to Guyana, he held 9 bilateral meetings, according to an official statement. On Thursday night, PM Modi 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. The three-nation tour showcased India's growing global engagement, with pivotal discussions in Nigeria, active participation in the G20 Summit in Brazil, and reinforcing ties with the Caribbean during the historic Guyana visit. (ANI)
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), founded by incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan, has called a huge march tomorrow demanding the "restoration of democracy" and upholding of human rights in the country. Pointing that social media platform X is already banned in Pakistan since February this year, the PTI on Saturday, accused the current regime of cracking down on social media activists and their families, abducting and torturing them. Claiming that the regime is planning to shut down the internet altogether, the Imran Khan-founded party requested Tesla and Starlink CEO Elon Musk to help the world see the real story of Pakistan. https://x.com/PTIofficial/status/1860089198872789228 In a post on X, PTI said, "Hey Elon @elonmusk! Millions of Pakistanis are marching for the restoration of democracy, protection of constitution and upholding of human rights, in their country this Sunday, November 24th. The world needs to see and hear their remarkable story!." "The illegitimate, authoritarian regime has not only shut down @X Since February 2024, abducted and tortured social media activists as well as their family members but is now planning on shutting down the internet altogether. Pakistan Needs Starlink!." the statement added. Notably, mobile and internet services are expected to remain suspended in several areas of Pakistan, especially in Islamabad. The internet shutdown might affect some districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Islamabad, ARY News reported. It reported citing sources within the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) that mobile internet services will be halted starting November 22, with firewalls being implemented to reduce internet speeds and disrupt access to social media apps. The sources also indicated that authorities could shut down internet and mobile services in certain areas based on the evolving situation. Earlier, Section 144 was imposed in Rawalpindi due to reports of potential unrest ahead of a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest. This decision was made during a district intelligence committee meeting chaired by Rawalpindi DC Hassan Waqar Cheem. The notification stated that public gatherings, rallies, and assemblies of more than four people have been prohibited in Rawalpindi due to reports of potential 'unrest,' 'extremism,' and 'terrorism.' The decision came in the wake of Imran Khan's call for nationwide protests on November 24. (ANI)
A recent war simulation conducted by a US congressional committee and a think tank has found that Taiwan would have to defend itself for at least a month or possibly two in the event of a Chinese invasion before the US could send reinforcements, Taiwan News reported. The simulation, held by the US House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), aimed to assess the potential consequences of a Chinese attack on Taiwan. CSIS defence expert Mark Cancian, who led the simulation, stated that Taiwan's mountainous terrain makes it difficult to invade, adding that the mountainous island only has two relatively narrow coastal corridors, making Taiwan a "difficult island to capture," Taiwan News reported citing CNA. Further, Cancian stated that Taiwan's troops are stationed in the north, which is also a major industrial hub. He said this creates a 'strategic dilemma for China'. Higlighting some of the possibilities, the defence expert noted "One option is for China to attack from the north "into the teeth of the Taiwanese defences" but close to the capital city Taipei. Its other option is to assault the south which is easier to land troops," adding that if the People's Liberation Army (PLA) attempted to land in the north, it would face strong resistance," emphasising it would be "tough for China to capture Taipei." The simulation, which was modelled after the Allied campaign in Italy during World War II, envisioned a scenario in which battles progress "river line by river line, ridge line by ridge line." If China opts for an invasion from the south, Cancion said the PLA must rapidly capture a port or airfield. He said this is because the US and Japan would team up to target China's amphibious ships. If these vessels are destroyed, the PLA would be unable to supply its troops in Taiwan, as per Taiwan News. However, Cancian added in most scenarios, US and Japanese forces emerged victorious in the simulation but at a high cost. He said that US attempts to reinforce Taiwan would initially be thwarted as aircraft would be shot down and amphibious forces could not break through China's tight blockade around Taiwan. Noting that this situation would be different from the Russo-Ukrainian War. He pointed out that the US and its allies have been able to send equipment into western Ukraine by land, but this would be much more difficult as Taiwan is an island country. As Chinese forces would quickly surround Taiwan, Cancian estimated it would take three or four weeks before the US could break through the blockade. He predicted, "Taiwan would have to fight at least the first month, and maybe the first two months, with whatever it starts out with." "I think the most effective thing you could do is to give Taiwan 500 Harpoon missiles," said Cancian. He added these missiles could be mounted on mobile launchers, enabling Taiwan to strike Chinese vessels within range without requiring US ground forces. (ANI)
The alert raises serious concerns over a militant threat, specifically from a group that recently crossed into Pakistan from Afghanistan, The Express Tribune reported.

NACTA identified the group as "Fitna al-Khawarij," previously known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). These militants reportedly entered Pakistan through the Pak-Afghan border on the night of November 19-20. The authority has cautioned that the militants might exploit PTI's public gathering as an opportunity for an attack.

In response, security measures across the capital have been significantly reinforced, with authorities instructed to remain vigilant and ensure the protest site is protected against any potential threats.

Earlier on Saturday, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi contacted PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar to inform him that the government would not allow any sit-ins or rallies in Islamabad during the visit of a high-ranking Belarusian delegation, reported The Express Tribune.

Naqvi cited security concerns as the reason for the decision. The delegation, led by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, is scheduled to visit from November 24 to November 27.

Ahead of the PTI protest on November 24, the government imposed Section 144 across Punjab for three days and deployed thousands of security personnel in Islamabad. Authorities have sealed major routes leading to the Red Zone, including Srinagar Highway, GT Road, and those connecting to Islamabad Airport.

Containers have been placed at multiple entry points, while Rangers, police, and Frontier Corps personnel have been stationed at sensitive locations, particularly around D-Chowk, The Express Tribune reported.

Other precautionary measures include the partial suspension of internet and mobile services in Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Punjab. Public transport, such as the metro bus services in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, has been halted. Additionally, all bus terminals at Faizabad have been barricaded to prevent security breaches during the protest and the high-profile visit.

The heightened security underscores the government's concern over both the potential terrorist threat and ensuring public safety amidst increased tensions in the capital. (ANI)
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 .

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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.

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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

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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.'

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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
Swedish investigators are looking into the movements of a Chinese vessel in the Baltic Sea after two internet cables were severed in what some Western leaders suspect was an act of sabotage.

According to ship tracking data, Yi Peng 3, a Chinese-registered bulk carrier, passed close to the Swedish-Lithuanian and Finnish-German cables at the time both were mysteriously damaged on Sunday and Monday.

Sweden is now taking a hard look at Yi Peng 3 and the role it might have played in both incidents, a source familiar with the investigation told the Financial Times.

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The vessel had been travelling from Ust-Luga, in Russia, to Port Said, in Egypt, through the Baltic Sea when the 730-mile fibre optic cable C-Lion1  the only such direct connection between central Europe and Finland  and another cable were cut, causing some internet outages in Lithuania.

A Danish navy vessel appears to have pursued the Yi Peng 3 on Tuesday evening, according to marine traffic data. The same data showed HDMS Soloeleven, another Danish military ship, staying close to the Chinese carrier on Wednesday morning.

A Danish military spokesman told The Telegraph: The Danish Defence [ministry] can confirm that we are present in the area near the Chinese ship Yi Peng 3.

The cable between Finland and Germany was laid in the Baltic Sea in 2015 - Heikki Saukkomaa/AFP

The Yi Peng 3 is owned by Ningbo Yipeng Shipping, which owns only one other vessel and is based near Ningbo, an eastern Chinese port city. It was not immediately possible to reach the company for comment.

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The incident comes roughly a year after a Chinese vessels anchor damaged a Baltic gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia. Neither country has confirmed whether the damage was an accident or intentional.

Boris Pistorius, the German defence minister, said he believed the C-Lion1 cable was cut deliberately, a view echoed by other EU governments on Tuesday.

Nobody believes these cables were accidentally severed, he said. Therefore, we have to state, without knowing specifically who it came from, that it is a hybrid action. And we also have to assume, without knowing it yet, that it is sabotage.

Escalating hybrid activities

Hybrid warfare is a Russian strategy to destabilise Nato allies through attacks on critical infrastructure and attempts to sabotage facilities in Europe, which support the Ukrainian army.

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A joint statement by France, Italy, Germany, Poland and Britain had previously suggested that Russia was the prime suspect in the cable incident.

Moscows escalating hybrid activities against Nato and EU countries are also unprecedented in their variety and scale, creating significant security risks, the statement said.

Lithuania said it had increased security patrols around its maritime borders, and Poland threatened to close all Russian consulates if such attacks continued.

US officials have expressed scepticism about the sabotage theory. CNN reported on Tuesday that Washington has not seen any indications of nefarious activity, citing two US officials.

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On Wednesday, the Kremlin rejected laughable suggestions it was involved, saying that it was absurd to keep blaming Russia for anything without any grounds.

The Chinese embassy in London has been approached for comment.

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Editor's note: Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his nomination for attorney general of the Trump administration.

It's been two weeks since Election Day, and President-elect Donald Trump is getting his administration together ahead of his inauguration.

Two weeks into his first presidential transition, Trump had only named three key people to his administration: the chief of staff, the attorney general and the ambassador to the United Nations, according to a timeline by Politico. Within the same time frame since this Election Day, he has named more than 10 Cabinet positions and a slate of other key positions within his administration.

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Here's what you need to know:

Trump's Inauguration Day as the 47th President of the United States is slated for Jan. 20, 2025 in Washington, D.C.

Before Trump is sworn in, there are other key dates and processes that need to happen, including the electoral vote count.

Here are dates to keep in mind for the remainder of this election season:

Dec. 11: Preparation of Certificates of Ascertainment

Dec. 17: Electors vote in each state

Dec. 25: Deadline for electoral votes to be received

Jan. 3: Congress convenes

Jan. 6: Electoral vote count

Others are reading: Prosecutors ask to delay Donald Trump hush money sentencing, but oppose case dismissal

Who has Trump chosen for his administration?

Senior advisor Susie Wiles listens as Republican presidential nominee former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at his election night rally at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., November 6, 2024. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

Trump named his senior campaign adviser Susie Wiles as his White House chief of staff, the first woman in history to hold the title. The Florida political consultant largely stays out of the spotlight, but has been credited with helping Trump's political comeback.

FILE PHOTO: Republican U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz speaks at a campaign rally for Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump in Henderson, Nevada U.S. October 31, 2024. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo

Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida has been nominated as the next attorney general overseeing the Justice Department that he has long criticized.

Florida Senator Marco Rubio and family celebrate his victory over Rep. Val Demings in Miami Florida on November 8, 2022.

Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida is nominated as the next secretary of state. He will bring foreign policy experience through his roles in the Senate Intelligence Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. A Cuban-American, he is set to be the first Latino person to be secretary of state.

Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, on Nov. 4, 2024, campaigns in Pittsburgh for former President Donald Trump's reelection bid.

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Former congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is nominated as the director of national intelligence. The former Democratic presidential candidate-turned Republican represented Hawaii's 2nd Congressional District from 2013-2021.

Stephen Miller, Senior Advisor to Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald J. Trump and President, America First Legal speaks prior to Trump taking the stage at a campaign rally at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 27, 2024 in New York City. Trump closed out his weekend of campaigning in NYC with a guest list of speakers that includes his running mate Republican vice presidential nominee, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), Tesla CEO Elon Musk, UFC CEO Dana White, and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), among others, nine days before Election Day.

Long-standing Trump adviser Stephen Miller has been tapped for deputy chief of staff for policy in Trump's next administration. The 39-year-old served as senior adviser to Trump and director of speechwriting during the Republican's first term in the White House and is credited with shaping Trumps immigration policies.

Feb 23, 2024; National Harbor, MD, USA; Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), chair of the House Republican Conference, attends the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC 2024, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jack Gruber-USA TODAY

Trump nominated Elise Stefanik, a five-term Republican representing a northern New York district, as his pick for Ambassador to the United Nations. She is the House Republican Conference Chair and a former contender for Trump's running mate.

'Border czar': Trump has appointed Tom Homan to oversee deportation policy and aviation security. Homan was a Border Patrol agent for 34 years and served in Trump's first administration as acting ICE director. He drew controversy for strict immigration enforcement, including the "zero-tolerance" policy which separated families of undocumented immigrants.

Trump has appointed Tom Homan to oversee deportation policy and aviation security. Homan was a Border Patrol agent for 34 years and served in Trump's first administration as acting ICE director. He drew controversy for strict immigration enforcement, including the "zero-tolerance" policy which separated families of undocumented immigrants.

Congressman Lee Zeldin, Republican candidate for governor of New York, speaks during a press conference outside the Whitehall Terminal in New York on November 7, 2022. (Photo by Yuki IWAMURA / AFP) (Photo by YUKI IWAMURA/AFP via Getty Images)

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Trump has appointed Lee Zeldin as the administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Zeldin was a Congressman for parts of Long Island, New York and ran but lost against Kathy Hochul in the 2022 gubernatorial race.

Sep 26, 2024; Washington, DC, USA; Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., speaks during a congressional task force hearing on the assassination attempt of now President-elect Donald J. Trump in Butler, Pa. on July 13, 2024.

Trump has named Florida Rep. Mike Waltz as his national security adviser. Waltz has held civilian positions at the Pentagon, was on the House Armed Services Committee and has supported Trump's isolationist view of foreign relations.

President-elect Donald Trump nominates on Nov. 12, 2024, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be his U.S. ambassador to Israel, tapping a pro-Israel evangelical Christian.

Trump announced he is nominating former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee as his U.S. ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a Baptist minister and former Fox News host, who has run for the Republican presidential nomination twice, unsuccessfully. His daughter is Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who served as White House press secretary during Trump's first presidency.

Rep. John Ratcliffe, R-TX, testifies before a Senate Intelligence Committee nomination hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington,DC on May 5, 2020. - The panel is considering Ratcliffes nomination for Director of National Intelligence. (Photo by Andrew Harnik / POOL / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW HARNIK/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump designated his former director of national intelligence John Ratcliffe as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Ratcliffe previously was a House member from Texas before serving as director of national intelligence at the end of Trump's first presidency.

U.S. President Donald Trump is interviewed by Fox and Friends co-host Pete Hegseth at the White House in Washington, U.S. April 6, 2017.

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Trump nominated Fox News host Pete Hegseth to Defense secretary. A Fox News commentator, Hegseth served in the U.S. Army National Guard and had led veteran's advocacy groups.

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem speaks during the CJ Schwan's announcement ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, at Marion Road & 259th Street in Sioux Falls.

Trump announced his choice of South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to be the secretary of Homeland Security. The pick puts the hardline conservative governor, who sent the state's National Guard to the southern border, in a key role on immigration.

Trump tapped William McGinley to serve as his White House counsel. McGinley, a partner at the Washington-based law firm Holtzman Vogel, worked as White House Cabinet secretary during Trump's first presidency.

(FILES) In this file photo taken on December 13, 2019 ranking Member, Republican Representative Doug Collins, awaits the start of the House Judiciary Committee's vote on House Resolution 755, Articles of Impeachment Against President Donald Trump, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. - A US lawmaker announced March 9, 2020 that he was exposed to the new coronavirus at the CPAC conservative conference in late February, just days before he met with President Donald Trump. Republican Representative Doug Collins said he was photographed at the conference with a person who has tested positive for the new coronavirus. He added that while he himself has no symptoms, he has "decided to self-quarantine out of an abundance of caution." (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images) ORIG FILE ID: AFP_1PQ8LG

Trump named Doug Collins to be his secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Collins, a former congressman from 2013 to 2021 and trusted Trump loyalist, is a chaplain of the United States Air Force Reserve Command.

Governor of North Dakota Doug Burgum speaks during the final campaign rally for former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump before election day at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on November 4, 2024.

Trump named North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum as his nominee for secretary of Interior. Burgum, a 68-year-old wealthy software executive, ran against Trump in the 2020 election but dropped out in December. As secretary for the Interior, he would oversee federal land and run programs involving native tribes.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stumps for Donald Trump before he speaks at Macomb Community College on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024.

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Trump announced Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as his pick to oversee the Department of Health and Human Services. Kennedy ran as an independent before dropping out in August and endorsing Trump. He is known for his vaccine hesitancy and stance against fluoride in water, despite both being widely encouraged by medical professionals.

President-elect Donald Trump sits ringside with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk during Saturday's UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden.

Trump namedElon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead a newly created initiative to slash government spending. Trump's stated plan is for the department to advise from outside the government.

Contributing: Greta Cross, Joey Garrison, Francesca Chambers

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: When is Trump's inauguration and who are his cabinet picks? What to know
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.

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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.

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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.

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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.
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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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WAUPACA  A 48-year-old Neenah man will be sentenced Friday for causing the deaths of four siblings while driving drunk in December 2023.

Scott Farmer was convicted in August of four counts of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle and one count of operating under the influence as a fifth offense. He pleaded no contest to the charges, meaning he accepts a guilty verdict without necessarily accepting or denying guilt.

On Dec. 16, Farmer was driving the wrong way on U.S. 10 in the town of Weyauwega and crashed his truck head-on into a SUV containing four siblings: 9-year-old Daniela Gonzalez, 14-year-old Lilian Gonzalez, 23-year-old Fabian Gonzalez and 25-year-old Daniel Gonzalez.

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Daniela, Lilian and Fabian died at the scene. Daniel, who was driving the vehicle, was taken to a hospital, where he died the following day.

According to their shared obituary, Daniel and Fabian worked at a dairy farm in Waushara County. Lilian was a freshman at Weyauwega-Fremont High School, and Daniela was in fourth grade at Weyauwega-Fremont Elementary School.

Farmer was taken to a hospital for critical injuries. A criminal complaint says he had previously had four OWI convictions and had his driver's license revoked.

In the aftermath of the siblings' deaths, community members rallied to raise money for funerals in both the United States and Ecuador. One GoFundMe raised more than $60,000, while another reached more than $115,000.

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Court records show dozens of letters have been pouring in from family of the siblings, citizens and people who know Farmer. A Waupaca County jury clerk estimated Wednesday that there have been upwards of 100 submitted to the court.

Farmer's sentencing is at 9 a.m. Friday in Waupaca County Circuit Court. He faces up to 40 years in prison on each homicide count, and up to 10 years in prison on the fifth OWI count.

Contact Kelli Arseneau at 920-213-3721 or karseneau@gannett.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, at @ArseneauKelli.

This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Neenah man to be sentenced for killing 4 siblings in wrong-way crash
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 some of its latest strikes. Earlier, Ukraines air force said Russia had fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in an attack on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro  the first recorded use of the weapon during the war.

Ukrainian air defence forces said the missile  which has a range of more than 3,400 miles and can be used to carry nuclear warheads  was fired from Russias Astrakhan region, on the Caspian Sea. However, American officials said an initial US assessment indicated the strike was carried out with an intermediate-range ballistic missile which cannot travel so far, something backed by Putins remarks.

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In combat conditions, a test was carried out of one of the latest Russian intermediate-range missile systems, Putin said.

The incident comes amid fast-rising tensions between the West and Russia, after Ukraine fired both British Storm Shadow missiles and American ATACMS missiles into Russia after being granted permission to do so this week.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky claimed the missile fired on Thursday matches the speed and altitude of an ICBM, adding that Kyivs crazy neighbour once again showed what he really is, and how afraid he is.

Kyivs air force said the attack targeted enterprises and critical infrastructure but has not specified which type of missile was used.

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Downing Street condemned Putin for further escalating the conflict by using a ballistic missile against the city of Dnipro. Putin suggested the missile could also be used to strike Kyivs allies who have given Ukraine permission to use Western-supplied weapons inside Russia.

Putins remarks came hours after Russias foreign ministry claimed that a new US ballistic missile defence base in northern Poland is a priority target for potential neutralisation.

Russian spokesperson Maria Zakharova said: Given the nature and level of threats posed by such Western military facilities, the missile defence base in Poland has long been added to the list of priority targets for potential destruction, which, if necessary, can be executed with a wide range of advanced weapons.

The US base at Redzikowo is part of a broader Nato missile shield, dubbed Aegis Ashore, which the alliance says can intercept short- to intermediate-range ballistic missiles.

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Polands foreign ministry spokesperson Pawel Wronski said there were no nuclear missiles at the base, which was purely equipped for defence.

It is a base that serves the purpose of defence, not attack, Mr Wronski said. Such threats will certainly serve as an argument to strengthen Polands and Natos air defences, and should also be considered by the United States.

The Nato missile shield includes sites in Poland and Romania, as well as US Navy destroyers at a naval base in Spain and an early warning radar system in Turkey, according to Nato.

On Wednesday, images circulated online appearing to show fragments of Storm Shadow missiles in Russias Kursk region  the border area into which Ukrainian forces staged a surprise assault in August. Around 50,000 Russian troops, including about 10,000 soldiers from North Korea have amassed in Kursk to try and retake territory currently held by Ukraine. The use of North Korean troops in Kursk is believed to have played into the decision from the US and UK to allow Ukraine to fire long-range missiles into Russia.

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On Thursday, at a Commons Defence Committee meeting, UK defence secretary John Healey said he wont be drawn on the operational details of the conflict.

He said MPs should be in no doubt that the UK government is stepping up our support for Ukraine, determined to continue doubling down our support for Ukraine.

Also on Thursday, Russia struck Mr Zelenskys 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 multi-story residential buildings, and civilian vehicles.

The Russian defence ministry, meanwhile, claimed in a statement that its air defence systems shot down two British-made Storm Shadow missiles, six HIMAR rockets, and 67 drones.

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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 Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula.

Analysts and observers say that the loosening of restrictions on Ukraines use of Western missiles is unlikely to change the course of the war, but it puts the Russian army in a more vulnerable position and complicates the logistics that are crucial in warfare.

Peter Ricketts, a former UK national security adviser who now sits in the House of Lords, said: 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.

Reuters contributed to this report
A Republican senator who is a close ally of President-elect Donald Trump has falsely accused President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris of being behind the British governments decision to turn over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands  including the location of a key military base  to Mauritius despite the deals origins under the previous Conservative-led government.

Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana used time for debate over a trio of Democratic-authored resolutions to cut off certain kinds of arms to Israel to rail against the agreement that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmers government reached with Mauritius over the status of the archipelago in October.

In remarks delivered from the Senate floor, Kennedy  who is not related to the famous family that has produced multiple Democratic officeholders since the 1960s  described the pending agreement as a crisis that he was only recently alerted to.

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Kennedy accused Biden and Harris of giving away the important British-American military base on Diego Garcia, one of the islands that will be turned over to Mauritian authorities once the agreement is completed, albeit with a 99-year lease that guarantees continued American control of the island.

Heres what President Biden is doing and Vice President Harris, they say, we need to ... grant independence to the Chagos islands, but not let the people of the Chagos islands run their country. We need to give the Chagos islands back to Mauritius, he said.

A US Air Force B-1B bomber takes off from the Diego Garcia military base on a strike mission against Afghanistan in Diego Garcia in 2001 (DoD/AFP via Getty Images)

He also claimed the agreement reached by the British government to hand over the Chagos Islands is cell-deep stupid because the Chagos Islands and Mauritius dont have a relationship anymore and accused both the Labour-led UK government and Biden and Harris of supporting the agreement to satisfy bureaucrats at the United Nations.

The United Nations is saying: United Kingdom, you bad people, give back  give the Chagos Islands back, but not let the Chagos Islands be free. They want to give the Chagos islands back to Mauritius, and President Biden could stop it, and so could Vice President Harris, but theyre for it, all in an effort to curry favor with the people at the United Nations who walk around with their NPR tote bags and their organic broccoli and have great relationships with media, members of media ... who they think write history, he said.

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But the Louisiana Senator failed to mention that the Chagos deal, to which the United States is not a party, is the end result of negotiations which started two years ago under then-foreign secretary James Cleverly. The talks stalled under Cleverlys replacement, Lord Cameron, but were revived after Labour took power in the July 2024 general election.

Despite the public record showing the lack of American involvement in the talks, Kennedy claimed that the foreign policy crisis caused by the deal was all because President Biden and Vice President Harris want to appease the United Nations and urged the incoming Trump administration to call a halt to the process.

President Trump: Please, pretty please with sugar on top, pick up the phone and call the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and say dont sign that treaty, he said. Dont give away the Chagos islands. Dont give away Americas military base.

UK prime minister Keir Starmer at the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (PA Wire)

The deal with Mauritius is not due to come into place until next year but has been backed by the outgoing Biden administration. It could be an early flashpoint between Sir Keirs government and the incoming Trump administration, as US government sources say Mr Trump is looking to veto the deal, which is set to come into force after his inauguration in January, over global security fears.

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The Independent has reported that Mr Trumps transition team has requested legal advice from the Pentagon over the agreement after allies of Nigel Farage had pushed Mr Trumps team to investigate the consequences of the Chagos Islands deal ahead of the US election.

Ahead of an urgent question in the Commons last week, Mr Farage told The Independent that Mr Trump would be attempting to veto the deal. He said: Its happening!

The controversy adds to tensions between the Labour-led government and Mr Trumps team over issues including continued support for Ukraine, tackling climate change and a row over alleged election interference in America by the Labour Party. Past tweets by foreign secretary David Lammy calling the president-elect a neo-Nazi have also caused issues.

A US government official source told The Independent: Trump has received a UK-sourced briefing on Chagos and has asked the presidential transition team to work with the Pentagon to get legal advice. He has expressed a stance in principle to object to the deal if elected on the advice of the Department of Defense based on their global security posture.

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Mr Trumps incoming national security adviser, Florida Representative Mike Waltz, has been highly critical of the deal as well.

Recently, Mr Waltz said: Should the UK cede control of the Chagos to Mauritius, I have no doubt that China will take advantage of the resulting vacuum.

Meanwhile, Mr Trumps nominee for secretary of state, Florida Senator Marco Rubio, has described the deal as concerning as it would provide an opportunity for communist China to gain valuable intelligence on our naval support facility in Mauritius.
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.

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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.

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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.
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.

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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.

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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.
Access to an iconic Icelandic tourist attraction is now mostly submerged in lava, according to The Iceland Monitor, after the Reykjanes Peninsula volcano erupted for the seventh time in under 12 months.

At around 11:14 p.m. local time on Wednesday night, a fissure of lava nearly two miles high began spewing from the volcano, which sits about 30 miles from Reykjavik. As of Thursday morning, the parking lot of the countrys famous Blue Lagoon was completely submerged in molten lava with the exception of a few street lamps. Photos show a sign in the parking lot wilted and nearly felled from the lavas heat.

The parking lot is a massive plot of land which holds up to 350 cars in addition to spaces for buses. Those who work at the Blue Lagoon are considering other ways in which they and guests can access the facilities should the lava completely erode the roadways. The lagoon itself is protected by a defensive wall, and current information does not indicate that lava will reach the famed geothermal spa itself. Over 700,000 people visit the lagoon annually.

Video showing the lava taking over the Blue Lagoon car park....pic.twitter.com/MvMowaTuwz  Volcaholic  (@volcaholic1) November 21, 2024

"It is impossible to tell the damage at this point, but we will see this better as time goes on and how we can respond, Helga Arnadottir, Blue Lagoons manager of sales, operations, and services explained. There are some parking options at the reservoir, but we need to take a closer look at it in the future.

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Aerial views show the lava flow and its proximity to the lagoon.

Though the Reykjanes Peninsula was laid dormant for 800 years, its been experiencing a geological renaissance, according to Newsweek. Unfortunately, experts advise it wont stop anytime soon. "This activity will go on for maybe a decade, possibly decades," Tamsin Mather, a professor of Earth sciences at the University of Oxford, told the outlet. "Volcanism doesn't happen in a smooth fashion; it happens in pulses of activity and then quiet again."

A volcano near Icelands capital Reykjavik erupted for the tenth time in three years, spewing fountains of lava and smoke, the countrys meteorological office said https://t.co/QRKOuqdFmU pic.twitter.com/vDv1KJDuvX  Reuters (@Reuters) November 21, 2024

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Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have declared the just-concluded Edo governorship election as a rape of democracy.

Also, the PDP governors said: We are still examining the documents in Ondo elections where the APC manipulated results after openly buying votes.

These were part of the resolutions reached by the PDP Governors Forum, PDP-GF, at an extra-ordinary session in Jos, the Plateau State capital today. Read the other resolutions HERE.

Meanwhile, the PDP governors gave the National Working Committee, NWC, February 2025 deadline to call National Executive Council, NEC, meeting.

Edo and Ondo election

According to the PDP governors, The Forum notes with concern the rape of democracy in Edo Governorship elections.

It is clear to everyone with conscience that INEC manipulated results in favour of the APC candidate when in fact majority of lawful votes were won by the PDP candidate, Mr. Asue Ighodalo.

Meanwhile, we are still examining the documents in Ondo elections where the APC manipulated results after openly buying votes.

The Forum calls on the judiciary to save Nigerian democracy and the National Assembly to look into our electoral laws to make it difficult for institutional sabotage of the will of the people.

Roll call

Those who attended the meeting include: Governors Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Barr. Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau)  Host Governor.

Others are H.E. Dr. Agbu Kefas (Taraba), Hon. Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), H.E Seyi Makinde (Oyo) and H.E. Dauda Lawal (Zamfara).Others include: Sir Monday Onyeme (Deputy Governor, Delta) and Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai (Deputy Governor, Enugu ).
By Rachel Okporu Fadoju

Governors elected on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform have called on the Partys National Working Committee to organise a meeting of the Partys National Executive Committee by the first week of February at the latest.

Naija News recalls that the NWC has continued to postpone the NEC, expected to discuss some issues bedevilling the Party and present a substantive National Chairman of the Party who will take over from Umar Damagum and complete the tenure of the suspended Iyorchia Ayu.

The Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, who is also the chairman of the Forum, in a communique read to journalists on Saturday, said the meeting will allow elaborate consultations with critical stakeholders of the Party.

He said, The Forum notes the concerns of Nigerians, PDP founding fathers, elders and members of our great Party of seeming divisions within the ranks and files.

The Forum wishes to state categorically that it remains resolute in its determination to ensure unity and cohesion of this great Party that Nigerians have come to trust as the best platform for democratic governance.

The Forum is constrained to accept the latest postponement of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Party in empathy with our colleague, Governor Umo Eno whose late dear wife will be buried on the same day earlier scheduled for NEC.

The Forum is strongly advising the NWC to call NEC latest by the first week of February 2025 to allow for elaborate consultations with critical stakeholders of the Party. The period between November and February is to address the existential problems confronting the Party, with a deliberate timeline of activities within the period under review to address issues of leadership and litigations confronting the Party.

Mohammed also said the Forum empathized with Nigerians who are groaning under the oppressive economic hardship foisted on the nation by the policies and decisions of the APC-led Federal Government.

Mohammed also called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently review macroeconomic and fiscal policies that will address the welfare and well-being of Nigerians.

The Forum added that all PDP Governors will continue to aggressively pursue policies and programs that will reduce the hardship and ensure progress and development.

They also lamented about the Edo and Ondo State Governorship elections won by the APC and asked the judiciary to save the countrys democracy.
By Udeze Ekene

The House Representatives would on Monday march against gender-based violence, as part of activities to commemorate the 2024 International Day for the elimination of violence against women.

The spokesman of the House, Akintunde Rotimi, said the march would take off from the National Assembly and terminate at the police headquarters.

He said the march reflects the resolve of the House to end gender-based violence and demand prosecution of perpetrators.

In a statement, Rotimi disclosed that the march would bring together over 1,000 participants  including Representatives and members of the public  on a symbolic walk from the National Assembly to the Headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force.

This demonstration of solidarity will culminate in the submission of a petition to the Inspector General of Police, demanding decisive action to safeguard vulnerable populations and ensure accountability for perpetrators of GBV.

This march and the associated activities are not just symbolic gestures, they reflect our resolve and call to action against gender-based violence head-on.

We stand united in the fight to protect the rights and dignity of all Nigerians, especially the most vulnerable. Together, through collective action and legislative reforms, we can build a society where safety, justice, and equality prevail, he stated.

He added that beyond the march, the House, in alignment with its Legislative Agenda has outlined key activities to sustain awareness and action throughout the 16 Days of Activism.

On Tuesday, November 26, 2024 Members of the House will be expected to don orange sashes, symbolizing solidarity with the fight against GBV, and during plenary sessions throughout the campaign period.

The House, will on Monday, on December 9, 2024, hold a strategic meeting that will bring together Speakers of State Houses of Assembly to discuss legislative strategies for combating GBV nationwide, which will be followed by the National Citizens Summit and GBV Conference 2024 the following day, he added.

Rotimi noted that gender-based violence continues to devastate families and communities across Nigeria,

He emphasized that the 10th House of Representatives remains steadfast in driving systemic reforms, fostering collaboration, and championing accountability to address this pervasive issue.

Together, let us take a decisive stand for justice, equality, and the protection of human rights, paving the way for a safer, more equitable Nigeria, he called.
Kenya has backpedaled on a $2 billion deal under which it was expected to hand over Nairobis airport to Indias Adani Group.

The deal was canceled after Indias richest man, Adani, was indicted in the US for fraud for allegedly orchestrating a $250m bribery scheme and concealing it to raise money in the US.

I have directed agencies within the ministry of transport and within the ministry of energy and petroleum to immediately cancel the ongoing procurement, Kenyas president Ruto said in a speech

In the face of undisputed evidence or credible information on corruption, I will not hesitate to take decisive action, he said.

Adani was planning to upgrade Kenyas main airport, although the deal triggered strikes and a popular backlash.
Libya has been elected to chair the International Olive Council (IOC), formerly the International Olive Oil Council, for a one-year term.

The election took place during the 120th session of the IOC, held this week in Spain. Libya competed against Uruguay and Israel for the position. Iran, the outgoing chair, had sought an extension of its presidency.

The session, chaired by Javad Mirarab, featured several preparatory meetings, including specialized committee discussions from November 1214 via videoconference and an Advisory Committee meeting on November 19. This year, World Olive Day celebrations were moved to November 21 to ensure full participation by council representatives.

Libya also achieved significant milestones during the session, receiving accreditation for its sensory and chemical laboratories. This qualification enables Libya to issue internationally recognized export certifications for olive oil. Additionally, the council approved Libyas proposal to host its next session in Tripoli, further solidifying the countrys role in the global olive sector.

The International Olive Council is an intergovernmental organization representing over 98% of global olive production. Based in Madrid, Spain, the IOC has long been regarded as an independent body dedicated to regulating and promoting the olive and olive oil industry.
Senegals ruling PASTEF party has achieved a decisive parliamentary victory, securing 130 of 165 seats according to provisional election results. This overwhelming majority empowers newly elected President Bassirou Diomaye Faye to implement his comprehensive reform agenda targeting corruption, fishing industry revitalization, and natural resource management.

The opposition coalition, led by former President Macky Sall, captured 16 seats, marking a significant shift from their previous slim majority of 83 seats. Sall and other opposition leaders quickly acknowledged PASTEFs victory, demonstrating democratic maturity in the transition of power.

The results await final confirmation from the constitutional council, expected within the week. This victory represents a dramatic reversal from PASTEFs previous minority position of 56 seats, which had hindered implementation of promised reforms.

Fayes September dissolution of the opposition-led parliament enabled this early election, which proceeded peacefully despite occasional campaign tensions. International observers, including African Union and ECOWAS representatives, praised the electoral process and Senegals democratic stability.

At 44, Fayes emergence as Africas youngest elected leader reflects widespread youth frustration with traditional leadership across the continent. His rapid rise from imprisonment to presidency, followed by this parliamentary triumph, signals significant political transformation in Senegal, contrasting sharply with other African nations where aging leaders maintain extended periods of control.
Moroccos Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, held talks on Friday in Rabat with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk.

The talks were held on the sidelines of the UNHRC retreat, held on November 21-22 at the initiative of the Moroccan Presidency of the HRC.

At their talks, Bourita and the UN High Commissioner discussed a number of issues of common interest, including the strengthening of the global human rights system and the promotion and protection of human rights.

The two-day retreat that was attended by ambassadors, permanent representatives from HRC member States, and representatives of UN regional and political groups, addressed key challenges in human rights protection, and explored potential reforms to the Human Rights Council, the UNs central human rights body.

The gathering marks another step in the ongoing dialogue on strengthening the global human rights system.
MP Industry Group, a subsidiary of the Romanian MEN Industry Grouphas inaugurated its first plant in Tangier Automotive City, Northern Morocco.

The plant, built over a 35,000 m2 area, will produce automotive plastic components using advanced injection molding techniques. Nearly $40 million has been invested in this facility which comes to enhance further Moroccos position as a competitive hub for automotive manufacturing.

The inauguration ceremony was held Friday in presence of Ryad Mezzour, Moroccos Minister of Industry, Ahmed Bennis, General Director of Tanger Med Zones (TMZ), Jean Drugescu, CEO of Metaplast & MP Industry Group, Dan Iacoban, General of MP Industry Group Morocco and Mohamed Bachiri, General Director of Renault Group Morocco.

Morocco is becoming a global powerhouse in the automotive industry thanks to its political stability, geostrategic position, economic performance, and incentives to investors.

Moroccos automotive sector, which employs over 222,000 skilled workers, is a strategic sector for the countrys economy. The sector has grown at an exponential rate over the last decade, enabling the Kingdom to become the leader in Africa in automotive manufacturing and exports.

With over 250 international suppliers and a 60% integration rate, the sector produces annually 700,000 vehicles. In 2023, exports surged by 27%, reaching $14 billion.
Time has come for the UK government to recognize Moroccos full sovereignty over its entire Saharan territory following in the footsteps of key allies, including the United States, France, Germany and Israel.

In an Op-Ed published in online platform Comment Central, Harry James Richer, a foreign policy analyst, said such recognition would positively contribute to the UKs trade, energy, and foreign policy goals, affirming that supporting Moroccan sovereignty over Sahara is not merely a diplomatic gesture but a strategic imperative.

With a new UK government finally settling in following the recent General Election, the United Kingdom has an opportunity to recalibrate its foreign policy objectives, said the British expert, citing the 10 billion deals sealed during the recent visit paid by French President Emmanuel Macron to Morocco during which the French President renewed Paris support for Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara.

With new Labor government underscoring its own plans for both boosting economic growth and expanding renewable energy efforts, UK recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Sahara would provide an aligned path forward, said Mr. Richer, noting that the post-Brexit world has seen the United Kingdom hungry for opportunities to strengthen its trade network and create partnerships in sectors such as energy, logistics, and technology.

The Sahara, in which Morocco has already made significant investments in renewable energy infrastructure alongside transportation networks, has the potential to similarly attract tremendous amounts of British investment, boost British trade, and support Britains foreign policy ambitions in a post-Brexit world.

Beyond economic considerations, supporting Moroccos sovereignty over the Sahara will lead to a more comprehensive borders regimes, reducing illegal migration into Europe, alongside threats of terrorism, and though this, easing pressure on the UK, said the British analyst, who affirmed that the UN Security Councils recent extension of the MINURSO mandate underscores the international communitys recognition of the centrality of the area to counter-terrorism efforts.

Actually, the Moroccan Saharas vast deserts and high solar exposure have positioned it as an ideal location for solar farms alongside a range of additional, impactful renewable energy projects. These include wind energy farms such as the Aftissat and Boujdour wind farms alongside projects focused on green hydrogen and ammonia production, which all underscore Moroccos commitment to expanding its renewable energy capacity within the Sahara and already show impressive results. Fostering such a partnership directly aligns with the new Labor Governments energy agenda.

With the U.S. recognizing Moroccan sovereignty over its Sahara, the incoming second Trump administration will certainly dedicate significant efforts to cooperation surrounding the Sahara further, both within the context of efforts to expand the Abraham Accords and outside it, said the British expert, warning that delaying UK support puts London at risk of isolating itself from allies who see Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara beneficial to stability, trade, and security.

London cannot afford to lose sight of its strategic interests or lag behind its allies on an issue of such significance any longer, underlined Mr. Richer who served as a senior aide and economic adviser to a member of the UK Parliament.
The Republic of Ecuador has officially begun the process of revoking its recognition of the so called Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), self-proclaimed by the separatist Polisario group that it had previously recognized in 1983 and allowed to establish a so-called embassy in the country in 2009.

The decision to end diplomatic relations with the Polisario is a significant shift in Ecuadors foreign policy. According to reliable sources, the country has removed the Polisario from its official list of nations with accredited diplomatic missions in Quito.

The so-called representation of the Algeria-backed Polisario, which had been listed on Ecuadors Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, has now been deleted from records.

Ecuador has also ordered the separatist representatives to close their mission in the country and leave. Images and videos relayed by Moroccan media show the closure of the fake embassy, and the removal of their flag from the building.

Ecuador had decided on October 22 this year to suspend its recognition of the so-called SADR.

Gabriela Sommerfeld, Ecuadors Foreign Minister, had then notified her Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, of the decision in a phone call. She had also sent an official letter to the separatist mission in Quito informing them of the closure.

Ecuadors decision signals a new phase in the diplomatic relationship between Rabat and Quito and opens up a new chapter in relations between the North African Kingdom and this Latin American country.

The timing of Ecuadors decision is significant as it comes just a day after Panama announced a similar move to suspend diplomatic relations with the Polisario.

These moves come amid a growing international support for Moroccos sovereignty over its Sahara and for its autonomy initiative, described by the international community as the ONLY serious, credible & realistic solution to the Sahara regional conflict.

This momentum is building on the opening of several consulates in the Saharan cities of Laayoune and Dakhla, the Morocco-Nigeria gas pipeline project, and the royal Atlantic initiative, which aims to make the Atlantic a unique area for connectivity and advanced integration between Southern nations and their international partners, a crucial move for achieving Atlantic prosperity.

These send a clear message to the world super-powers, Moroccos partners, friends and especially to the other parties to the Sahara regional conflict and the UN that time has come to move towards a political solution based exclusively on the Autonomy plan, through the round table process and in accordance with Security Council resolutions.
Marjorie Taylor Greene with the Trump-Vance ticket. Photo: Dustin Chamber/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Nobody much knows how to deal with the Department of Government Efficiency, whose DOGE acronym is based on a cryptocurrency-adjacent meme. Donald Trumps recently acquired buddy Elon Musk seems to have developed the idea of a sort of cartoon superhero agency designed to destroy the deep state  or maybe it was just a joke, suggests Decrypts Liz Napolitano. DOGE has no legal status, no public funding, no authority to do much of anything other than bloviate, headed by Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, two men with zero experience inside the federal government they promise to expose and largely blow up.

Musk came up with the wild $2 trillion goal for federal budget savings that DOGE will allegedly generate (out of $6.75 trillion in total federal spending, including such trifles as mandatory interest payments on existing public debt, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, national defense, and a thousand other programs and services, most of which have enjoyed bipartisan support for decades). While he has argued that deep-state bureaucrats soak up most of this excess spending, the reality is that total government wages and salaries amount to around $800 billion. Ramaswamy has chipped in with the gimmicky idea of killing off any programs for which appropriations are being made without formal legal authorization (an extremely common practice that the whiz kid seems to misunderstand as involving illegal spending), which would, among other things, eliminate veterans health care services, perhaps the most sacred cow of all federal programs. Ramaswamy has also suggested that a model for what DOGE would accomplish is Argentinas radical austerity program under President Javier Milei, which has pushed that country into a recession and doubled poverty rates.

In a Wall Street Journal op-ed that laid out their vision for cheerfully blowing up the public sector, Musk and Ramaswamy suggested that Trump might be able to unilaterally implement their recommendations via the illegal means of presidential impoundment (i.e., cancellation) of congressionally appropriated spending, a trick that contributed to Richard Nixons downfall when he tried it. The dynamic duo also vaguely but alarmingly said theyd pursue reforms in government contracting via a temporary suspension of payments, which sounds a lot like abrogation of federal obligations.

Now, its possible that this is all just a fantasy exercise by two rich boys or even a way to keep them busy and out of the actual work of the Trump administration (though Musk and Ramaswamy have been assured the presidents Office of Management and Budget, which prepares Trumps own fiscal recommendations, will be paying close attention to their findings).

Certainly, the idea that DOGE will be a rhetorical playground for extremist rhetoric was reinforced by the step House Republicans just took to provide oversight of the pretend department, as The Hill reports: putting Marjorie Taylor Greene in charge of oversight with the aptly named Delivering on Government Efficiency Subcommittee.

Now, unlike her new partners in the demolition business, shes has a grand total of three years in the public sector, though all of it has been spent running around the country like a firebug promoting the MAGA cause and headline-grabbing through high-profile antics in the House. The sort of deep thinking on government efficiency we can expect Greene to exhibit was expressed by Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer in his defense of the much-mocked Georgia extremist:

We dont care if someones feelings get hurt if we eliminate their fat-cat bureaucratic job in Washington, Comer told conservative commentator Benny Johnson.

Greene, Comer said, is not afraid to back down or walk away from a fight.

Shes also not afraid to speak authoritatively about stuff she knows literally nothing about. She has a very safe ultra-Republican district and now a license to demagogue even more than usual. Greene, Musk and Ramaswamy form quite the three musketeers of what will likely be a pretend war on inefficiency that will generate headlines and social media fire and not a lot more.
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Neither Kennedy nor Trump has the power to ban FDA-approved vaccines outright, neither has said they would, and its likely that any effort to do so would face significant legal challenges, and that the Supreme Court would be skeptical of any politically motivated efforts to overturn a science-based FDA vaccine approval. RFK Jr. has repeatedly said that he isnt planning to ban vaccines  repeating the day after the election that Im not going to take away anybodys vaccines  but there are many other ways the former anti-vaxx movement leader can, as HHS secretary, cast doubt on them and reduce their use.

Furthermore, there are anti-vaccine activists assisting Kennedy as informal advisers in his transition efforts, according to Politico. Trumps new pick for FDA commissioner, Martin Makary, is a Kennedy ally and Fox News contributor who opposed COVID-vaccine mandates (though he didnt oppose the COVID vaccines). He is also a longtime critic of the FDA. Trumps pick for CDC director, former Florida congressman Dave Weldon, is, like Kennedy, a veteran of the anti-vaxx movement who has promoted the debunked theory linking childhood vaccines to autism. In Congress, Weldon tried and failed to transfer vaccine safety oversight from the CDC to an new independent agency. The Washington Post reports that both Weldon and Makary were recommended by Kennedys advisors.
A lot of different opinions about this one here but the general consensus is that everyone lied, the case was handled badly from the start, all of this is a waste of taxpayer's money, and that Smollett had received his comeuppance in spades and should be left alone.

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You know why

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idk i think we as a community could still dish out some more comeuppance specifically for the way he triumphantly called himself "the gay tupac" lmao

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I'd still go for a different career path if I were him.

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Exiting day for dude that interrupted annoying meme girl doing annoying viral dance at one hit wonder negative rizz concert

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It's the right call since they gave him a deal to not prosecute, he did the required parts of the deal and then they were like "lol nvm" and prosecuted him anyway.



I also can't believe that was 2019/almost 6 years ago.



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My thought was that I can't believe this only happened in 2019. It feels like it's been dragging on for like a decade at this point.

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Since Empire was his big break how is this goofy nigga paying all these lawyer fees? There's no syndication royalties and the streaming coins can't be enough for more than a small coffee and I'm assuming its the same for the music royalties because who's listening to the Empire soundtrack in 2024?

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idk is his sister making enough to fund his case?

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He's been working since he was a child and if that income was invested properly it could have set him up for life. Also Empire was a network TV show and those are better about payments and royalties. And finally his sister Jurnee is successful and has been working steadily since she was a kid. I'm sure she could help if he needed it.

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I've never seen that last name in real life outside of their family.



The second I saw his name I googled to see which brother in he was, because she always talks about how big her family is.











Even if you never saw the show, their last name is pretty unique.I've never seen that last name in real life outside of their family.The second I saw his name I googled to see which brother in he was, because she always talks about how big her family is.

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Also, he was one of the ORIGINAL Mighty Ducks

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I don't know much about this case, but if a deal is made, then all parties must fulfil their parts. This take back thing is reminding me of some of the commentary on the Asap Rocky trial and how the prosecutor's office and one of the judges were doing all sorts of fucked up shit that should have ended with job losses and disbarment at minimum.

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It makes me sad, because all of this was just extra and unnecessary behavior. People loved him on Empire, he was getting a lot of good press....this is a case that my gran would call "getting in the way of your own blessings." His career is in tatters due to his own stupidity, and there's something especially awful about that.

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Doesn't mean he's innocent. Just that he did a plea deal they failed to uphold lol ahhhh the "justice" system...

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He's still guilty to me. No one can convince me otherwise

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from just reading briefly, sounds like a pretty clear case of prosecutorial overreach by charging him when he already agreed to a plea deal. it doesn't mean he's innocent but this was shady as fuck from the prosecutors and overturning it is the right call.

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100%! I felt compelled to share my opinion because it is ontd

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Yep. Some people are weirdly acting like he was exonerated or something.



In a statement to press after the conviction was overturned, Webb said: Make no mistake  todays ruling has nothing to do with Mr. Smolletts 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 jurys unanimous verdict that Mr. Smollett was guilty of five counts of felony disorderly conduct. In fact, Mr. Smollett did not even challenge the sufficiency of the evidence against him in his appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court.

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well I don't know the legal details here, but his career is over either way, so I don't think anyone is checking on Jussie Smollet in 2024

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This whole thing was so wild

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The US and Europe are leading the charge, with new legislation and substantial investments paving the way for a geothermal boom.

Following an influx of funding in the sector in recent years, there have been significant advances in geothermal energy. More countries are backing the clean energy source in a bid to diversify their energy mix and shift away from a reliance on fossil fuels towards green alternatives. In addition to government backing for geothermal projects, many private companies, including several technology giants, are investing in the clean energy source to help meet the growing electricity demand due to the commercial rollout of advanced technologies.

People have been tapping into geothermal energy worldwide from natural heat sources, such as hot springs, for centuries. However, over the last half a century, energy companies have been increasingly looking to source geothermal energy at less conventional locations. This involves the drilling of a borehole up to several kilometres deep, where the rocks are around 200C, and injecting water and sand at high pressure. This creates fractures in the rocks, which increases their permeability and produces a reservoir of hot water that can be extracted via a second borehole. This water is then used to generate electricity.

In recent years, this process has been modified to incorporate enhanced geothermal systems (EGS). This development was only made possible by applying fracking techniques used in the oil and gas industry. Energy companies have discovered better ways to fracture rock and drill horizontally, even in high-temperature environments. This advancement has been supported by billions in government funding in the U.S. and several other countries around the globe.

This November, in the U.S., two major geothermal bills passed in the House, which is expected to clear the way for a clean energy drilling boom. The CLEAN Act and HEATS Act remove many of the federal permitting regulations that are currently required to drill for geothermal power plants. The bills saw wide support from both Republicans and Democrats and will now go to the Senate for approval.

The Department of Energy (DoE) has pumped billions into research and development in geothermal energy in recent years. It predicts that $25 billion in near-term geothermal investment could spur greater innovation that could lead to millions of homes being powered by the clean energy source. Most U.S. geothermal resources are located on federal land in the west of the country. The CLEAN Act would require the Department of the Interior to hold an annual lease auction for geothermal drilling.

A week before the passing of the two acts, California passed the HEATS Act, which exempts new geothermal wells from the current federal permitting laws, so long as less than half of their footprint is on federal land. Congresswoman Young Kim argued in favour of the bill, stating, While geothermal uses a similar extraction process to that of oil and gas to exploit a form of clean energy, it faces more stringent permitting requirements than the oil and gas sector does.

Progress is also being seen in Western Europe, following the backing of a strategy to boost the regions geothermal energy output by EU lawmakers. This is expected to make way for the development of geothermal projects in geologic basins in the Netherlands, western Germany, and Belgium. In the EU, geothermal energy contributes just 0.2 percent of electricity generation at present, lower than the world average of 0.5 percent.

In 2023, 50 geothermal power plants were under various stages of development across Europe. Regulatory uncertainties at the EU level have been blamed for discouraging greater private investment in the sector in the past.

In November, Germany broke ground on the Laufzorn II geothermal heating plant in Bavaria. The Federal Ministry of Economics is investing almost $65 million in the project and the municipality will invest an additional $158 million. Germany has been a leader in geothermal energy in recent years, alongside Turkey, Italy, France, and Croatia. Europe also has several emerging markets that are beginning to tap into the energy source, including Spain and Greece.

Several countries across Asia are also looking to expand their geothermal resources. The Philippines, Japan, China, Taiwan, and South Korea are some of the countries expanding their geothermal markets. China is the world's fastest-growing geothermal heat market, seeing a CAGR of over 21 percent between 2015 and 2019 and reaching 14.2 GW of capacity in 2019. The China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) reported an increase in geothermal heating capacity of 15 percent from 2023 to 2024.

Meanwhile, Indonesia is adding 90 MW of installed renewable energy capacity to its grid, with three geothermal power plants expected to commence operations by the end of the year. Eniya Listiani Dewi, the director general of Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, stated, Weve seen increasing geothermal adoption in the last 10 years We hope it will continue to increase more significantly.

By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

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The push for net zero emissions has led to higher energy costs for consumers, as well as disruptions to ecosystems and wildlife habitats.

Authored by Linnea Leuken & H. Sterlin Burnett via RealClearPolitics,

When electric power was a novel idea and just beginning to be adopted in urban centers, the industry had a Wild West feel to it as multiple companies strung wires, opened power plants, and sold electricity on an unregulated market. Competition was fierce, but state and local governments concluded that the inefficiencies and redundancies endangered the public and imposed higher costs.

So states set up service territories with monopolistic or oligopolistic service providers, who were entrusted with providing reliable power and sufficient reserve for peak periods in return for being guaranteed a profit on rates proposed by the utilities but approved or set by newly established state public utility commissions (PUCs). These commissions were charged with ensuring public utilities served the general public universally within their territory, providing reliable service at reasonable rates.

Much has changed since then. Politicians began to supplant engineers to decide, based on self-interested calculations, what types of power should be favored and disfavored, and what types of appliances and modes of transportation Americans could use. As the 21st century dawned, a new consideration entered the picture: Climate change.

Under the banner of combatting global warming, utilities were at first encouraged and then coerced into adopting plans and policies aimed at achieving net zero emissions of carbon dioxide. The aim of providing reliable, affordable power  the rationale for the electric utilities monopolies in the first place  was supplanted by a controversial and partisan political goal. Initially, as states began to push renewable energy mandates, utilities fought back, arguing that prematurely closing reliable power plants, primarily coal-fueled, would increase energy costs, compromise grid reliability, and leave them with millions of dollars in stranded assets.

Politicians addressed those concerns with subsidies and tax credits for renewable power. In addition, they passed on the costs of the expanded grid to ratepayers and taxpayers. Effectively, elected officials and the PUCs, with a wink and a nod, indemnified utilities for power supply failures, allowing utilities to claim that aging grid infrastructure and climate change were to blame for failures rather than the increased percentage of intermittent power added to the grid at their direction.

Today, utilities have enthusiastically embraced the push for renewable (but less reliable) resources, primarily wind and solar. PUCs guarantee a high rate of return for all new power source (wind, solar, and battery) installations, which has resulted in the construction of ever more and bigger wind, solar, and battery facilities. The costlier, the more profitable  regardless of their compromised ability to provide reliable power or the cost impact on residential, commercial, and industrial ratepayers.

A new report from The Heartland Institute demonstrates the significant financial incentives from government and financiers for utilities to turn away from affordable energy sources like natural gas and coal, and even nuclear, and instead aggressively pursue wind and solar in particular. All of this is done in the name of pursuing net zero emissions, which every single major utility company in the country boasts about on their corporate reports and websites. Reliability and affordability come secondary to the decarbonization agenda.

Dominion Energy is a good example, as they are one of the most aggressive movers on climate-focused policy. Dominion CEO Robert Blue speaks excitedly about government-forced transitions to a wind- and solar-dominated grid in interviews. During one interview with a renewable energy podcast, he said:

[S]ometimes the government needs to focus on outcomes. Were trying to address a climate crisis, and we are going to need to move quickly to do that. In the same interview, he expressed enthusiasm about federal policy that would achieve a government-directed transition.

And why wouldnt he? Dominion, like most utilities, is granted government tax credits and guarantees on returns for investing in large, expensive projects like offshore wind, the most expensive source of electric power. The bigger the project, the bigger the profit with guaranteed returns.

Also, onshore wind companies have received special take limits from the Fish and Wildlife Service to kill protected bald eagles and golden eagles, while prosecuting oil companies if birds are injured or killed on their sites.

Net zero policies are not the environmental panacea that climate change activists proclaim. Industrial-scale wind and solar use substantially more land than conventional energy resources, disrupting ecosystems and destroying wildlife habitats in the process.

And despite recent technological advances, wind and solar are still not dispatchable resources, meaning they cannot provide consistent power at all times needed. Refuting claims made by environmentalists and utilities that wind and solar are the cheapest sources of electric power, costs have risen steeply as the use of wind and solar has increased. Customers of Duke Energy in Kentucky, for example, are paying 78% higher rates in the wake of coal-fired plant closings.

Politicians and utilities are pushing for even more electrification for appliances and vehicles despite the fact that Federal Energy Regulatory Commission officials have repeatedly warned in recent years that adding more demand for electric power while replacing reliable power sources with intermittent renewables is destabilizing the power system.

It appears that the utilities prioritize short-term profits over grid reliability or keeping costs reasonable  and the government officials who are supposed to keep them in check are only encouraging them. It doesnt need to be this way. The U.S. grid was not always this way. Only in recent years, with the obsessive pursuit of net zero, have rolling black and brownouts become so common.

Today, utility companies are sending lobbyists to conservative policymakers in order to convince them that the utilities have our best interests in mind. Their track record tells another story. Meanwhile, Americans have less reliable electricity at higher costs.

By Zerohedge.com

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Electric vehicle (EV) makers are constantly looking for ways to improve battery life to deliver more reliable batteries that can power EVs more efficiently for a longer distance. To date, battery manufacturers have relied heavily on lithium producers to supply the minerals needed to power their products. However, the rising demand for lithium and the finite supply of the mineral mean that battery makers are looking for alternative options and aiming to recycle more batteries. They are also investing heavily in research and development to improve the performance and lifecycle of their batteries. This will help improve efficiency in EVs and utility-scale battery storage.

Some companies are searching for alternatives to lithium-powered batteries as they require massive amounts of water and energy to produce, and are difficult to recycle. The Australian company Nation Energie, a joint venture between Faradion and ICM Investments, is exploring the potential of sodium-powered batteries, which it believes could be more sustainable. The company installed the first Faradion sodium-ion battery at a site in Yarra Valley in New South Wales in 2022 to trial the technology.

James Quinn, the CEO of U.K.-based Faradion, stated, Sodium is a much more sustainable source for batteries [than lithium].; Quinn added, Its widely available around the world, meaning it's cheaper to source, and less water-intensive to extract It takes 682 times more water to extract one tonne of lithium versus one tonne of sodium. That is a significant amount.

Another alternative is lithium-sulphur batteries, which use sulphur rather than rare earths, such as nickel, manganese and cobalt, in their cathode. There are more abundant quantities of sulphur in the Earths crust and it is also a by-product of natural gas processing and oil refining, meaning it is easier to access than rare earths, which makes lithium-sulphur batteries more sustainable.

While many firms are investing in alternative battery technology, other companies are looking to optimise their lithium-ion batteries. Some EV makers are exploring solid-state battery technology, while others are researching the potential for silicon anodes in batteries.

Solid-state batteries use solid electrolytes rather than the liquid or aqueous electrolytes used in conventional batteries. The two most common types of solid electrolytes are inorganic solid electrolytes (oxides and sulphides) and solid polymers (polymer salts, or gel polymers). Solid-state batteries are growing increasingly popular as they have a lower risk of flammability, a higher energy density, and a faster charging cycle. However, they do cost more to produce than sodium batteries.

Many industry experts believe an ideal solid electrolyte still needs to be found to effectively power the battery. However, Colorado-based Solid Power has created a sulphide electrolyte-based battery that it says has between a 50 and 100 percent higher energy density than conventional lithium-ion batteries. The company aims to provide solid-state batteries for 800,000 EVs annually by 2028.

Japans Toyota and Nissan are both funding research and development into solid-state batteries, which they hope will improve the performance of their EVs in the coming years. Toyota hopes to launch the mass production of solid-state batteries between 2027 and 2028, and Nissan aims to use the technology in its EVs by 2029. Meanwhile, Mercedes, Porsche, and GM are all investing in silicon anode technology to improve the power and charging capabilities of their batteries.

A report from May by the consultancy IDTechEx described the potential for advanced silicon anode materials as immense for improving critical areas of battery performance. However, several barriers stand in the way of a commercial rollout of the technology, including cycle life, shelf life, and cost. Silicon anode appears to be overtaking solid-state battery technology at present largely thanks to several technological breakthroughs in the last few years, but neither one is ready for use on a commercial scale yet.

Silicon anode batteries had a shelf life of just one year a few years ago, but battery producers believe they have increased this to between three and four years today. Experts suggest that silicon anodes may be able to provide 10 times the energy density as graphite, which is commonly used in battery anodes. However, these same materials can suffer from faster degradation when more silicon is used.

Georgi Georgiev, a battery raw materials analyst at the consultancy Fastmarkets, explained, Especially in the West, advances in the area of silicon anodes [are] seen as a strategic opportunity to catch up with China, which dominates the graphite-based anode supply chains with Chinese anode producers holding 98% of the global anode market for batteries. Georgiev added, However, there are significant technical challenges going to 100 percent silicon anode such as silicon expansion affecting the longevity of the batteries and currently there are several routes to produce silicon anodes.

EV and battery makers are investing heavily in research and development into battery technology, both in developing alternative battery materials and improving performance. This is expected to spur innovations in the coming years, to improve the performance of EV and utility-scale batteries. However, it is unclear at present which battery technology will reign supreme.

By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

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Nigerias ambitious strategy to price crude oil in naira for local refineries has encountered significant setbacks just two months after its rollout. Spearheaded by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), the plans goal was to stabilize the country's dollar reserves while ensuring sufficient crude supply for domestic refining.

But the initiative appears to be faltering. Major players like Dangote Oil Refinery are receiving only a fraction of what it was promised.

According to Edwin Devakumar, the Dangote refinery's executive director, NNPC committed to delivering 385,000 barrels per day (bpd) to the 650,000-bpd facility but has failed to meet even this reduced quota. Describing deliveries as peanuts, Devakumar highlighted the challenges of relying on inconsistent domestic supply chains. Meanwhile, other refineries under the Crude Oil Refinery-owners Association of Nigeria (CORAN) report being entirely excluded from the naira-based crude program, citing ongoing negotiations with the government for resolution.

This supply crunch has forced Dangote to turn to international markets, recently purchasing 2 million barrels of U.S. WTI Midland crude. This may highlight the refinerys global competitiveness, but it also exposes the inadequacy of Nigerias domestic crude allocation system.

NNPC has faced criticism for its inability to tackle a long history of chronic oil theft and pipeline vandalism. It now faces new criticismfor failing to prioritize local refining needs. Efforts to enforce domestic supply rules through the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission have so far proven ineffective.

As Nigerias largest refinery edges toward its year-end goal of 85% operational capacity, its struggles are emblematic of broader systemic issues in the countrys energy sector. Without reliable crude supply, the vision of a self-sufficient refining industryanchored by the Dangote refineryrisks being another unrealized ambition in Nigerias complex oil landscape.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

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Over 80 countries, regions participate in int'l travel fair in Shanghai

Xinhua) 09:18, November 23, 2024

People visit the booth of Expo 2025 Osaka during the China International Travel Mart 2024 in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 22, 2024. The China International Travel Mart 2024, organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, kicked off Friday in Shanghai, bringing together exhibitors from over 80 countries and regions. The three-day fair has attracted more than 1,000 international exhibitors and nearly 600 travel agencies, along with over 600 offline buyer-seller meetings, according to the organizers. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

SHANGHAI, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- The China International Travel Mart 2024, organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, kicked off Friday in Shanghai, bringing together exhibitors from over 80 countries and regions.

The three-day fair has attracted more than 1,000 international exhibitors and nearly 600 travel agencies, along with over 600 offline buyer-seller meetings, according to the organizers.

Covering an exhibition area of 53,000 square meters, the fair will feature diverse fields, including Chinese and international cultures and tourism, tourism-related technologies, cultural creative products, as well as tourism services.

Some overseas travel agencies are expected to take this opportunity to conduct market research on tourism routes across various Chinese provinces and cities, the organizers said.

China has implemented unilateral visa-free policies for 29 countries, including France and Germany, as part of efforts to boost international travel.

Visitors watch performances at the booth of Mekong Tourism during the China International Travel Mart 2024 in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 22, 2024. The China International Travel Mart 2024, organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, kicked off Friday in Shanghai, bringing together exhibitors from over 80 countries and regions. The three-day fair has attracted more than 1,000 international exhibitors and nearly 600 travel agencies, along with over 600 offline buyer-seller meetings, according to the organizers. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

A visitor poses for photos with Bing Dwen Dwen, the mascot for the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, during the China International Travel Mart 2024 in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 22, 2024. The China International Travel Mart 2024, organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, kicked off Friday in Shanghai, bringing together exhibitors from over 80 countries and regions. The three-day fair has attracted more than 1,000 international exhibitors and nearly 600 travel agencies, along with over 600 offline buyer-seller meetings, according to the organizers. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

Dancers perform at the booth of east China's Shandong Province during the China International Travel Mart 2024 in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 22, 2024. The China International Travel Mart 2024, organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, kicked off Friday in Shanghai, bringing together exhibitors from over 80 countries and regions. The three-day fair has attracted more than 1,000 international exhibitors and nearly 600 travel agencies, along with over 600 offline buyer-seller meetings, according to the organizers. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

A visitor tries to blow a sugar figure at the booth of east China's Anhui Province during the China International Travel Mart 2024 in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 22, 2024. The China International Travel Mart 2024, organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, kicked off Friday in Shanghai, bringing together exhibitors from over 80 countries and regions. The three-day fair has attracted more than 1,000 international exhibitors and nearly 600 travel agencies, along with over 600 offline buyer-seller meetings, according to the organizers. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

Visitors watch performances during the China International Travel Mart 2024 in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 22, 2024. The China International Travel Mart 2024, organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, kicked off Friday in Shanghai, bringing together exhibitors from over 80 countries and regions. The three-day fair has attracted more than 1,000 international exhibitors and nearly 600 travel agencies, along with over 600 offline buyer-seller meetings, according to the organizers. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

Visitors and exhibitors communicate at the booth of east China's Zhejiang Province during the China International Travel Mart 2024 in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 22, 2024. The China International Travel Mart 2024, organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, kicked off Friday in Shanghai, bringing together exhibitors from over 80 countries and regions. The three-day fair has attracted more than 1,000 international exhibitors and nearly 600 travel agencies, along with over 600 offline buyer-seller meetings, according to the organizers. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

A visitor (C) poses for photos at the booth of China Tourism Group during the China International Travel Mart 2024 in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 22, 2024. The China International Travel Mart 2024, organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, kicked off Friday in Shanghai, bringing together exhibitors from over 80 countries and regions. The three-day fair has attracted more than 1,000 international exhibitors and nearly 600 travel agencies, along with over 600 offline buyer-seller meetings, according to the organizers. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

(Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Kou Jie)
NAIROBI, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Kenya on Friday called for urgent and concerted efforts to address the growing threat of small arms proliferation in the Great Lakes region and Horn of Africa.

Kenya's Prime Cabinet Secretary, Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs and Acting Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Interior and National Administration Musalia Mudavadi said the unregulated flow of illicit small arms continues to undermine the peace, security, and development of many states.

"We must prioritize regional cooperation and empower the Regional Center on Small Arms (RECSA) Secretariat in its critical coordinating role," Mudavadi said when he officially opened the 15th RECSA Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) meeting in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya.

The high-level meeting brought together representatives from RECSA member states, police chiefs, development partners, and other stakeholders committed to fighting illicit arms proliferation. Participants highlighted the devastating impact of illicit small arms on regional security. The discussions focused on strategies to address the spread of small arms and light weapons, which are crucial for promoting long-term peace and security.

Mudavadi pointed out that small arms fuel conflicts, terrorism, and other crimes, destabilizing the region. He stressed the need for member states to recommit to the Nairobi Protocol, which aims to curb the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.

The proliferation of small arms threatens the social fabric in the East African region thanks to a surge in transnational crime, human and drug trafficking and terrorism.

Mudavadi called for stronger national control mechanisms, harmonized policies and improved stockpile management to prevent arms from falling into illicit hands.

"We need robust policies that align with the Nairobi Protocol, and stronger systems to ensure weapons stockpiles are well-managed and secured," he added, also commending the RECSA Secretariat for its leadership in regional initiatives, such as the Physical Stockpile Management training.

RECSA, established in 2005, is an inter-governmental organization within Africa with 15 member states, namely Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania. It is an internationally recognized organization that plays a crucial role in fostering regional cooperation and addressing the illicit flow of small arms, working toward a peaceful and secure environment in the region. 
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

This Dec. 14, 2023 image made available by NOIRLab shows meteors from the Geminid meteor shower streaking across the sky above the Nicholas U. Mayall Telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO), a Program of NSF's NOIRLab, in Tucson, Ariz. Credit: NSF's NOIRLab via AP

Distant, ancient galaxies are giving scientists more hints that a mysterious force called dark energy may not be what they thought.

Astronomers know that the universe is being pushed apart at an accelerating rate and they have puzzled for decades over what could possibly be speeding everything up. They theorize that a powerful, constant force is at play, one that fits nicely with the main mathematical model that describes how the universe behaves. But they can't see it and they don't know where it comes from, so they call it dark energy.

It is so vast it is thought to make up nearly 70% of the universewhile ordinary matter like all the stars and planets and people make up just 5%.

But findings published earlier this year by an international research collaboration of more than 900 scientists from around the globe yielded a major surprise. As the scientists analyzed how galaxies move they found that the force pushing or pulling them around did not seem to be constant. And the same group published a new, broader set of analyses Tuesday that yielded a similar answer.

"I did not think that such a result would happen in my lifetime," said Mustapha Ishak-Boushaki, a cosmologist at the University of Texas at Dallas who is part of the collaboration.

In this 360-degree video, take an interactive flight through millions of galaxies mapped using coordinate data from DESI. Credit: Fiske Planetarium, CU Boulder and DESI collaboration

What is the DESI collaboration?

Called the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument, it uses a telescope southwest of Tucson, Arizona to create a three-dimensional map of the universe over 11 billion years to see how galaxies have clustered throughout time and across space. That gives scientists information about how the universe evolved, and where it might be heading.

The map they are building would not make sense if dark energy were a constant force, as it is theorized. Instead, the energy appears to be changing or weakening over time. If that is indeed the case, it would upend astronomers' standard cosmological model. It could mean that dark energy is very different than what scientists thoughtor that there may be something else altogether going on.

"It's a time of great excitement, and also some head-scratching and confusion," said Bhuvnesh Jain, a cosmologist at the University of Pennsylvania who is not involved with the research.

The collaboration's latest finding points to a possible explanation from an older theory: that across billions of years of cosmic history, the universe expanded and galaxies clustered as Einstein's general relativity predicted.

The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) making observations in the night sky on the Nicholas U. Mayall 4-meter Telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory in Tucson, Ariz. Credit: Peter Toman Tomas Slovinsky/NSF's NOIRLab via AP

Is dark energy dead?

The new findings aren't definitive. Astronomers say they need more data to overturn a theory that seemed to fit together so well. They hope observations from other telescopes and new analyses of the new data over the next few years will determine whether the current view of dark energy stands or falls.

"The significance of this result right now is tantalizing," said Robert Caldwell, a physicist at Dartmouth College who is not involved with the research, "but it's not like a gold-plated measurement."

Why does dark energy matter?

There's a lot riding on the answer. Because dark energy is the biggest component of the universe, its behavior determines the universe's fate, explained David Spergel, an astrophysicist and president of the Simons Foundation. If dark energy is constant, the universe will continue to expand, forever getting colder and emptier. If it's growing in strength, the universe will expand so speedily that it'll destroy itself in what astronomers call the Big Rip.

"Not to panic. If this is what's going on, it won't happen for billions of years," he said. "But we'd like to know about it."

 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

On March 2, 2022, delegates to the UN environment assembly adopted an ambitious resolution to develop the text of a new treaty by the end of 2024 to end plastic pollution. With 24 days of formal negotiation between almost 200 countries completed, spread over meetings in Peru, France, Kenya and Canada, the fifth and final negotiation meeting is about to take place in Busan, South Korea. This is crunch time. Agreement must be found or the opportunity to take global action to tackle plastic pollution might be lost.

I have studied international action to tackle plastic pollution for the past decade. During this time, I have witnessed remarkable growth in plastic wastean estimated 400 million tons is thrown away every year. Plastic pollution is now ubiquitous.

The issue of plastic pollution has moved up the public and political agenda in a way few could have predicted. Global action has always been the missing piece of the picture, as the plastics economy transcends national boundaries, and actions in one jurisdiction, while locally beneficial, tend not to address global pollution patterns.

To tackle plastic pollution, a shift in the entire plastics economy is needed. This should focus on reuse and refill schemes, which reduce the need for new plastic products and the substitution of plastics with other materials that are less polluting or harmful.

With my team of policy researchers, I have attended the last three plastics treaty negotiation meetings as an observer to gauge progress towards a global treaty. For the most part, progress has been slow, largely because of delaying and blocking tactics by a few countries that depend on fossil fuel industries. Lobbying from the petrochemical industry frustrates progress further. Given the tight timescale to agree the treaty, I worry that no agreement will be reached.

Three priorities

Final negotiations must include three things.

An immediate priority is to agree on the rules governing how decisions are taken in the negotiations between member states, known as the "rules of procedure." At present, decisions are taken by consensus, meaning all delegations must agree before a decision is reached.

Given the entrenched positions of some countries, consensus-based decision-making is unlikely to yield rapid agreement because the positions of some nations are so far apart. The rules of procedure needs to include a voting mechanism so that when there is decisive agreement between most nations, a decision can be taken and progress can be made, when consensus cannot be reached.

The second critical issue is finance. Plastic pollution is a challenge most acutely faced by low- and middle-income countries. The plastics treaty is only likely to be effective if there's adequate funding for countries most affected by plastic pollution to take action.

As witnessed in the climate debate, finance is incredibly contentious and raises critical questions. That includes who will pay for the problems plastic pollution has already caused and the new measures to tackle plastic pollution, plus how supporting countries can best provide necessary technology and training.

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 role of the private sector is also significant in the plastics economy, and discussions are underway about innovative options for private finance to support treaty implementation. For the treaty to be credible, agreement on the broad terms of a finance mechanism for treaty implementation is essential.

The treaty must also focus on actions most likely to reduce plastic pollution. There is clear evidence that reducing the production of primary plastic polymers reduces plastic pollution most efficiently and effectively.

Plastic is made at such a rate that it is impossible for waste management systems to keep up. So a treaty that focuses on waste management will not reduce plastic pollution significantly enough. Only putting the brake on plastic production will stop the inundation of plastic waste.

There are, of course, many other important elements to agree on during negotiations. Criteria must be set to identify problematic, unnecessary and avoidable plastics that companies should stop making. Problematic plastics have harmful effects on human health or the environment, so any chemicals of concern must be removed from plastic materials and products. Unnecessary plastics are those with a function that is deemed non-essential, while avoidable plastics have an essential function but could be replaced by a non-plastic alternative.

Subsidies on virgin plastics that make single-use products so financially attractive need to be stripped away. Any changes in the plastics economy that this treaty create need to benefit workers in the informal waste sector too.

This week is critical for the world's relationship with plastics. People and planet depend on it.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
With 10 Catholic bishops in China in 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, Catholics at the Nov. 4-6 conference on Sinicization told 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.

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 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 Pope 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.
Holbox mayor looking to solve island garbage problem with thermal valorization

Holbox, Q.R.  Problems of stagnant garbage in the Holbox transfer site have begun again. Lazaro Cardenas Mayor Nivardo Mena Villanueva acknowledged the serious garbage problem on the island.

He says the transfer site has completely collapsed and operates at maximum capacity, representing a risk of water table contamination. According to Mena Villanueva, there is in excess of 40,000 tons of garbage sitting in the islands transfer site. The solution, he says, is thermo valorization.

Today it is over saturated. We have to resume what we did four years ago with thermal valorization. When we worked on the garbage problem in the past it was through a system called thermo valorization in which the PET from the garbage is separated and recycled.

The rest is melted and is friendly to the environment. We have between 40,000 and 50,000 tons that have been collected during the last few years, and what happens is that it really overwhelms us, but it is super important to clean it up, he said.

The thermal valorization method was used during his administration in 2018-2021, which he says, is a practical and reliable solution to clean up the landfill and eliminate that waste.

The mayor mentioned that the state governor, Mara Lezama, arranged and provided resources to remove the garbage from the island of Holbox and transfer it to the Kantunilkin landfill, but noted that this measure, despite providing a temporary solution, generated another problem which was overcrowding the final disposal site in the capital of Lazaro Cardenas, so it was stopped.

He stressed that once they have the resources to be able to apply the thermal valorization, they have set a deadline of six months to free up the Holbox garbage dump.

He also says he is aware that despite positive results in the past, they could once again face legal issues with environmental authorities, which happened during his previous administration.

Transparency is that nothing appears against the law. If someone said that I was a magician because I made the trash disappear last time, well, there are two things, either it was done well or we buried it, and the environmentalists accused us of burying it because they went for the practical solution.

But they did all the investigations, tests, and even the Navy did the tests and they never found anything, he said.
IMEEC awards 17 Riviera Maya beaches with Platinum certifications

Riviera Maya, Q.R.  A total of 17 platinum beach certificates have been awarded in Riviera Maya by the Mexican Institute of Standardization and Certification (IMEEC). Thirteen beaches in Solidaridad and four in Tulum were presented with the distinctions this week by personnel from Instituto Mexicano de Normalizacion y Certificacion (IMEEC).

The ratification of 13 beaches with the Playa Platino certification not only symbolizes the continuous effort in the conservation of our natural resources, but also reaffirms our commitment to sustainable development and responsible tourism, said Playa del Carmen Mayor Estefania Mercado.

During the presentation, the Mayor pointed out that the beaches meet the highest standards of environmental quality, making Solidaridad a benchmark at national and international level.

Each of our 13 certified beaches is a living testimony of what we can achieve by taking care of our natural wealth. Beyond recognition, these beaches represent a place of encounter and enjoyment for our families, tourists and visitors, ensuring that the beauty and splendor of Solidaridad are accessible to all, she said.

Estefania Mercado added that environmental conservation is not only a duty, but a legacy that her administration wants to leave to future generations.

We will continue working to preserve our biodiversity, promote more clean-up and environmental education initiatives and strengthen this commitment that defines us as a responsible and visionary community, she said.

In this context, the Mayor took the opportunity to acknowledge the staff of the Federal Maritime Land Zone Directorate (Zofemat), under the leadership of the Secretariat of Sustainable Environment and Climate Change, for their dedication and professionalism in keeping the beaches clean, safe and sustainable.

He also thanked the public, volunteers, civil associations and hotels, including those responsible for the certified Grand Velas beach, for joining these conservation and care efforts.

The beaches that received the certification are Xcalacoco, Punta Esmeralda, Playa 88, Pelicanos, Pretel Norte (40), Playa 38, Playa 72, Montecarlo, Cisne, Pirata, Caribe, Xpuha and the beach managed by the Grand Velas hotel.

In Tulum, Mayor Diego Castanon Trejo announced on social media Wwed four Playa Platino certifications, a recognition of the quality and beauty of our natural beauties.

This achievement places us as a world leader in responsible tourism, highlighting our commitment to ecosystem conservation and sustainability.

The award was presented by Viviana Fernanda Camargo, the General Director of the IMEEC. The award-winning beaches of Tulum are Santa Fe, Playa Maya, Pescadores and Playa Aventuras, destinations that stand out not only for their beauty, but also for their responsible environmental impact and the conservation of their coastal ecosystems.

The challenge is clear. To strengthen our resilience to climate change and innovate in technology to promote responsible and sustainable tourism, said Diego Castanon.

These certifications reflect compliance with strict international standards, positioning Tulum as a leader in the preservation of nature without compromising the quality of its landscapes or the biodiversity they protect, he added.
Police continue search for driver after truck found destroyed

Playa del Carmen, Q.R.  Solidaridad police continue to search for the driver of a truck found demolished in a highway accident. Emergency personnel responded to reports of a destroyed pickup on the federal highway south of Playa del Carmen Saturday morning.

When they arrived, they found the truck but no driver. The single vehicle crash happened near Punta Venado. It was around 7:00 a.m. when motorists reported seeing the truck slam into a highway post.

Members of the National Guard were first on scene. They located the totaled white Nissan pickup truck on the side of the road without license plates. Traffic was affected for about an hour during the removal of the crumpled truck.

Police continue to search for the driver since it is not known if they fled the scene or were taken to a hospital in a private vehicle.

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Police pick up five suspects wanted for eight Tulum murders

Tulum, Q.R.  Five male youths were arrested Friday in relation to eight Tulum murders. One of the captured suspects, arrested separately, is reported to be a gang leader and hitman on the states most wanted list.

Police say Darwin Daniel N, alias Tiro Loco, is considered a priority target of the Criminal Atlas of the State of Quintana Roo. According to authorities, Darwin Daniel N, 20, has two arrest warrants for the crime of qualified homicide. He is the head of hitmen of the criminal group to which he belongs, they said.

The group were taken into custody by the Investigative Police of the FGE on Avenida 10 Norte near the corner of Calle 4 Norte in the city of Tulum. Arrested separately was Alexis Armando N, alias El Motor, Gabriel N, alias El Tocino and Wilber N, alias El Kakash, all of them possibly related to more than eight homicides. They are also part of a criminal group that generates violence in this municipality.

These people were seized with short and long weapons, type AK47, chargers, as well as a Chevrolet Spark vehicle, police said. After completing the corresponding procedures, the detainees were placed at the disposal of the Public Prosecutors Office.
Riviera Maya Jazz Festival revamped into Mexican Caribbean Music Fest

Riviera Maya, Q.R.  For the first time in 20 years, Riviera Maya will not host the international jazz festival it became known for. Instead, the 2024 event has been postponed until next year when it will reemerge as the Mexican Caribbean Music Fest.

According to Andres Martinez, Director of the Mexican Caribbean Tourism Promotion Council (CPTQ), November is currently a season with much more solid hotel occupancy rates which led organizers to rethink the purpose of the festival since the original purpose was to attract tourists in low season.

After celebrating its 20th edition last year, promoters decided not to cancel the event, but revamp it into something else. He says the revamp will see the festival broaden its musical focus by integrating more diverse genres and opening the doors to a wider audience.

Martinez, who heads the Consejo de Promocion Turistica del Caribe Mexicano (CPTQ), says the events main objective is to encourage tourism in low seasons. He says part of the restructuring will also see the festival change venues.

He says the first edition of the Mexican Caribbean Music Fest will be held in Playa del Carmen, but will have a different venue for the second edition. The festival will combine national and international talents that attract both North American and Mexican markets.

I spoke with Riviera Maya hotels and it was established that it was necessary to promote the event with new genres, without leaving aside jazz, so it is evolving and now it will be on other dates, since it was always held in November, he added.

Details of a lineup and dates for a possible first edition have not yet been revealed, however, Martinez says the official announcement is expected soon.
On Wednesday, Vanity Fair published a blockbuster literary revelation about Cormac McCarthy: The writer had a sexual relationship with a teenager when he was in his early 40s, and for decades afterward, he included versions of her in nearly everything he wrote, including his final two novels, The Passenger and Stella Maris.

Reportedly, multiple biographers have been trying to get Augusta Britt, now 64, to talk to them about her long relationship with McCarthy, which began when she was 16 and turned sexual when she was 17. But she didnt talk to them. Instead, she talked to Vincenzo Barney, a 2018 Bennington grad and fledgling writer whose reviews of those final novels shed found on Substack. She left a comment, he followed up, and a year and a half later, Barney published his big break in one of the biggest magazines in the world.

Criticism of the piece has been fierce and has fallen along two lines: The first is that the piece as a whole is irresponsible and that it downplays McCarthys abuse of a teenager. Britt insists in the story that she doesnt feel like a victim, an assertion reflected in the storys very Vanity Fair headline: Cormac McCarthys Secret Muse Breaks Her Silence After Half a Century: I Loved Him. He Was My Safety.  As Liam Kelly writes in the Telegraph, Barney seems to treat McCarthys pedophilic interest in the vulnerable teenager as a great love story.

However, that serious criticism has been somewhat drowned out by the gleeful clamor of people quoting their favorite Vincenzo Barney lines. Because, when the greatest literary scoop he was likely to get in his lifetime landed in his lap, Vincenzo Barney did not phone it in. He spent nearly a year living in Arizona, talking to Britt basically every day, and when he filed to Vanity Fair, he did not file a careful, journalistic report. No, he really went for it, delivering the weirdest, most frequently nonsensical, most floridly overwritten story to appear in a legitimate magazine since  maybe since the heights of New Journalism in the 1970s.

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Barney went so hard, in fact, that he seems in some ways to have broken the magazine-publishing apparatus. My guess is that Vanity Fair would have had an easier time with a more traditionally written story but that Barney basically forced its hand through the overwhelming sentence-by-sentence purpleness of his prose to just publish it his way. The alternative was to lose the story, and the story was too juicy to lose. What else would you expect from an enormous Cormac McCarthy fan who has had what he believes to be one of the most profound experiences of my lifeand knows that this is the biggest opportunity of his career?

The problem is, of course, that underneath all the bizarre descriptions of lightning theres a very difficult story to tell, about a teenager who was taken advantage of, a woman who loved and was disappointed by the man who did it, and a 64-year-old who now fiercely defends her own agency. I sort of grudgingly admire Vincenzo Barneys willingness to go all outin a media world where a lot of stories sound the same, that sure wasnt the problem here. But he wasnt the writer to grapple with these weighty issues. I dont know who would be! But it wasnt a guy so determined to make his mark on the literary firmament that he eclipsed his subjects story with his own writing style.

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On Thursday I emailed Vincenzo Barney, who goes by Nick, to ask for an interview. He responded eagerly but looped in Conde Nast PR, who quickly told me that a phone call couldnt happen because Barney was simply too busy, but that I could email questions instead. I pointed out that writing answers to a bunch of questions would take way longer than just talking to me on the phone, but the publicists refusedpresumably so that they could have a look at his answers before sending them to me.

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And while they may well have edited some of Barneys responses, they sure didnt edit out his personality. In this email Q&A, he addresses the criticism he has received, reveals that he thinks his style is less McCarthyan than influenced by another writer, defends his characterization of Britt and McCarthys relationship, and playfully deflects any number of questions, while straight up ignoring one. All that is to say, he responded with the bluff bravado of someone whose dreams have come true, though I think that someday hell regret viewing these events in that way. His answers are presented as he wrote them.

Dan Kois: This story seems like it fell from the sky. When did you realize what you had, and how did you feel?

Vincenzo Barney: It did indeed fall from the sky.

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In 2023, I had been working for months on a review of The Passenger and Stella Maris for Substack. I posted it on April 1stand that day my wildest April Fools Day wish came true: Augusta discovered me and entrusted me to tell her story to the world. No joke. (We now celebrate April Fools Day as a private holiday.)

Augusta and I got each other immediately and laughed and laughed each night on the phone. (Augusta is one of the funniest humans Ive ever met.) She was especially amused by the projections of some self-proclaimed Cormac McCarthy scholars (I am not one of those, by the way; I am simply a writer who believes that sometimes the most worshipful scholars and critics understand their subjects the least). This will break a lot of hearts, but according to Augusta, McCarthy had zero interest in Gnosticism, or Foucault.

Augusta had long thought of telling her storyindeed, she says McCarthy actively encouraged her for decadesbut it wasnt until she read my horrible drek on Substack that she felt it could be pulled off: that is, told from her perspective, with my daringly bad style absorbing most of the controversy and opinion columns.

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In the piece you say youve spent thousands of hours with Augusta Britt. What has that looked like over the past year and a half? Multiple visits to the Southwest?

Tens of thousands of hours may be more accurate. It looked, and felt, and was, idyllic. I lived for 9 months in Tucson. We shot guns, we took care of her horses, we rooted against the Chiefs. We did Zyn and smoked Camel Wide blues and contemplated cacti. I read Moby Dick and drank two bottles of Greek red wine a night, most of which ran down my shirt as Augusta cracked one-liners and prepared us some of McCarthys favorite dishes. As is the Southwestern custom, she bought me my first pair of cowboy boots, which I had surgically attached to my feet this summer.

When I was a freelancer in my 20s, I would have killed for a story like this, but how did you afford to report it? Youre working on books, but do you have a day job?

Im not a nepo baby (though I plan to have several in the future), so I did have a day job. But that didnt last long out in Arizona. I have an incredible family who have always wanted to see me be called a greasy guido by strangers on the internet, so they took up several financial reins that they couldnt particularly afford for my benefit. Im sorry to disappoint everyone, but Im still penniless.

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Augusta is really steadfast that she doesnt consider herself a victim, that she wasnt groomed. Do you agree with her? I know thats a charged question.

Ive been surprised that so many responses have passed over Augustas valuation of herself.

Let us remember, Augusta Britt continued to age and is no longer a teenager but a 65-year-old woman who has had her entire life to reflect on McCarthy, and used her agency several times in their relationship, including leaving McCarthy after finding out he was still married and had a child. Still, it is a charged question. Grown men having relationships with teenage girls is immoral, as is writing sexually explicit letters to them. As I write in the piece, it was also illegal. But I am also deeply uncomfortable contravening a womans authority on her own life. Especially as a young man half her age. She has been emphatic that there was no grooming (as recently as again today).

Did you argue about it?

[Barney did not answer this question.]

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At what point in the process did Vanity Fair get involved in the story, and how did that happen?

It happened almost immediately. My former professor, Benjamin Anastas, was in the editorial trenches with Radhika Jones back in the 90s, and he made the connection. The story, I hope its obvious now, was not assigned to me, and was not assignable to anyone else.

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You talked to McCarthys son John. Was that a hard get?

John is a really wonderful and intelligent young man, with a very kind soul. Hes a special cat.

Its safe to say youre a McCarthy completist. How has his writing influenced yours?

I used to live by a rule, passed down by my father: Dont read living authors. One day that changed. I came down the stairs one Saturday morning at the age of 15, pausing halfway down, my hand slowing on the banister, to find my father silent in his recliner. Son, he said to me. I knew what he was about to say would be important. There is one living writer you can read.

Without McCarthy, I would never have developed my bold, nonsensical style.  Vincenzo Barney

Reading Blood Meridian at the age of 15 was like getting high. McCarthy was my introduction to the inventive malleability of the word. Without McCarthy, I would never have developed my bold, nonsensical style.

Just for the record, I also write fiction and have a novel set at Bennington that everyone is going to hate. I cant wait to share it with the world!

Did reading those letters change how you felt about McCarthy?

As a person? Yes.

Have they changed my feelings about him as a writer? No.

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When you sat down to write, did you consciously want McCarthys style to inflect the piece?

I hate to say this, but I felt I wrote the piece with my own style. Is such a thing possible? My general approach was mostly painterly, impressionistic. (I can hear the groans and patter of furious little thumbs on X as I say this.) However, there was no way to write the southwest or Augusta or McCarthy himself without dropping into his register. But the style I was most trying to steal from was, and I hope this pisses a lot of people off, Martin Amis.

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Martin Amis! Can you tell me what aspect of his style influenced you the most while writing this piece?

Just about everything. Very few have written better sentences than Amis. He stands on the opposite end of the spectrum from McCarthy. Both play God in their novels, McCarthy from the third person with his complete cosmogonies, and Amis from the first person, with the private cosmologies of his megalomaniacs. And he passed eerily close to McCarthy, which means my father allows me to read him now. In the unsung Zone of Interest, Amis records the greatest phraselet in the English language, glueyly asquirm. I will forever be trying to top that, or find a way to steal it. In fact, Id like very much for my critics to start saying Im an Amis wannabe, not a McCarthy imposter.

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Did you think about writing it in a more traditional journalistic style?

Not once. My original draft had no quotation marks.

What was your editorial process like? Did you wrestle over style questions at all? Or was Daniel Kile, who edited the piece, receptive to your choices?

Wrestle? At dawn Daniel and I would square off on a mat and grapple over commas, question marks. I was most receptive to Daniels rear-naked choke. In fact, hes editing this interview as we speak. The bell is about to go off for the next round. I havent much time.

I can see from your Twitter that youre definitely aware of how people are responding. Readers are really coming at you for purple prose. Is that annoying?

More people have been coming at my purple shirt, unbuttoned to the chest in my profile photo. And my hair. And my name. You can blame the artistic genius who created me (my mother), for the name and the hair. My favorite thing Ive read is that I look like my style, and that I write as if my hair is holding the pen.

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As for my style and the profile itself, Augusta loves it, and she has great taste. McCarthy also liked my writing. Ive received just as many complimentary and thoughtful responses from readers. Most of them have taken place, if you can believe it, not in the cesspool of X. I do want to apologize, though, for having a personality and writing the way I like to. Ive talked to doctors about it and theres really not much I can do. My next piece is going to be so purple, so hyacinth, so ultravioletwhoops, there I go again.

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Related From Slate Cormac McCarthys Grim Final Novels Read More

To me the piece reads like you have had a very profound experience meeting Augusta, and that youre doing everything you can to convey that on the page. Does this sound right to you?

I appreciate that reading. It has been one of the most profound experiences of my life.

Ive profiled people who had a huge impact on me. You fall for them a little bit. Thats part of the point! Did you fall for Augusta?

Everyone falls for Augusta.

There are other biographers chasing this story. How does it feel to be the one who got it?

Fate. I will never be able to repay Augusta for trusting me with her life story. Anything else I do going forward, I owe to her.
Welcome to this weeks edition of the Surge, which President-elect Donald Trump has just nominated to run the Department of Newsletters! [Five minutes pass] Never mind, the nomination has been withdrawn, and we are now wanted by the police because of sex.





Well, the air hockey table finally got its revenge on Matt Gaetz. But more nominees remain! Pete Hegseth is still a nominee. Is that going to last? Dr. Oz is now a nominee. Why? So too is Pam Bondi. OK?





If you think were phoning it in with this intro, you should see next weeks, when there wont even be an intro because there will be no Surge. Enjoy your turkey leftovers!





And yes, Gaetz is No. 1 for a second consecutive week, but he may never make the list again. Ah, well.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20241123/eu-aims-to-resolve-electric-vehicle-trade-dispute-with-china-through-new-agreement-1120973913.html

EU Aims to Resolve Electric Vehicle Trade Dispute With China Through New Agreement

EU Aims to Resolve Electric Vehicle Trade Dispute With China Through New Agreement

Sputnik International

The European Union and China are close to concluding an agreement to eliminate tariffs on imports of Chinese electric vehicles to Europe, Bernd Lange, the chair of the European Parliament's Committee on International Trade, said on Friday.

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"We are continuing negotiations with the Chinese side on electric vehicles. We are close to a decision with China to cancel the duties. We are close to an agreement: China can commit to offering electric vehicles in the EU at least at the minimum price. This would solve the problem of distorting competition through unfair subsidies, which is why duties were initially introduced," Lange told German broadcaster NTV. The official also said that he does not share Germany's concerns about possible Chinese retaliatory measures. The European Commission approved additional duties of up to 35.3% on electric car imports from China in late October, citing what it referred to as unfair Chinese subsidies. China warned that the move could provoke a trade war. It retaliated by imposing provisional anti-dumping measures against brandy imports from the EU.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20241116/china-calls-on-canada-to-lift-increased-duties-on-chinese-ev-cars-1120902082.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241123/farewell-boeing-and-airbus-russian-aircraft-industry-goes-fully-domestic-1120972637.html

Farewell, Boeing and Airbus: Russian Aircraft Industry Goes Fully Domestic

Farewell, Boeing and Airbus: Russian Aircraft Industry Goes Fully Domestic

Sputnik International

The Russian government adopted a comprehensive program to expand the production of domestic aircraft, engines and equipment to accelerate the import substitution effort in the face of Western sanctions.

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Russia is taking the final step toward creating its own aircraft industry, completely independent of the US Boeing and Frances Airbus industry giants. All thanks to Russias completely domestically produced Yakovlev MC-21 and Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SJ-100) planes.Russian Airliners Debut flights of MC-21 and SJ-100 aircraft with domestic engines are planned for 2025. This landmark event will demonstrate Russia's ability to not only to design and build modern airliners, but also to eliminate dependence on Western suppliers for components, the countrys Minister of Industry and Trade Anton Alikhanov said.MC-21 is a new generation medium-haul single-aisle airliner, developed by the Yakovlev Corporation, and its production is scheduled for 2025. Serial production of the MC-21 is underway, with the planes awaiting completion of certification tests. Airlines can expect to receive at least 10 such craft in 2025. Production facilities may be ready to produce 36 aircraft of that type annually in about three years time, according to Russian experts. Russian Engines The PD-14 turboprop engine for the MC-21 aircraft is ready, with certification flights set for late March-early April 2025.Certification flights of the SJ100 short-haul regional passenger jet with the domestic PD-8 engine are to begin next year as well. Ground tests of this engine are coming to an end. Currently in development is the PD-35 prospective ultra-high thrust turbofan engine for long-range airliners and military transport aircraft.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241123/five-arrested-for-attempted-attack-on-idf-major-general---reports-1120972859.html

Five Arrested for Attempted Attack on IDF Major General - Reports

Five Arrested for Attempted Attack on IDF Major General - Reports

Sputnik International

At least five people were arrested in the southern West Bank for attempting to attack Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Central Command Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth during an annual pilgrimage in the city of Hebron, an Israeli newspaper reported on Saturday.

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Bluth was reportedly in the flashpoint city on Friday to secure the gathering when several dozen Jewish individuals chased him and his accompanying soldiers, calling the IDF commander a "traitor." The Central Command head, who typically has a fraught relationship with local extremist settlers, and the accompanying soldiers were not injured in the attack, the newspaper reported. On October 7, 2023, Israel was subjected to an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. In addition, Hamas fighters 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 IDF launched Operation Iron Swords in the Gaza Strip and announced a complete blockade of the enclave.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241123/hamas-claims-israeli-hostage-killed-in-strike-idf-says-verifying-report-1120981741.html

Hamas Claims Israeli Hostage Killed in Strike, IDF Says Verifying Report

Hamas Claims Israeli Hostage Killed in Strike, IDF Says Verifying Report

Sputnik International

Al-Qassam Brigades, the Hamas' military wing, said on Saturday that an Israeli female hostage had died in the north of the Gaza Strip.

2024-11-23T18:15+0000

2024-11-23T18:15+0000

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After the communication broken a few weeks ago had been reestablished with the fighters assigned to protect the enemy hostages, it turned out, that one hostage had died in the area exposed to Israels aggression in the north of the Gaza Strip, Al-Qassam Brigades spokesman Abu Obaida said. He added that another female hostage is in critical condition. Obaida said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government are responsible for the lives of hostages. Hamas has said it would release prisoners only after the end of the war in the Gaza Strip and withdrawal of Israeli forces.The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in the meantime said that it cannot confirm or deny information about the death of one of the hostages in the Gaza Strip announced by Palestinian movement Hamas.The IDF added that Hamas "continues to engage in psychological terror and act with extreme brutality."

https://sputnikglobe.com/20241103/only-half-of-101-israeli-hostages-held-in-gaza-strip-still-alive---reports-1120763406.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241123/hezbollah-fired-about-80-projectiles-into-israel-on-friday---israel-defense-forces-1120971983.html

Hezbollah Fired About 80 Projectiles Into Israel on Friday - Israel Defense Forces

Hezbollah Fired About 80 Projectiles Into Israel on Friday - Israel Defense Forces

Sputnik International

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it recorded some 80 projectiles fired by the Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah into Israeli territory on Friday.

2024-11-23T04:43+0000

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"Approximately 80 projectiles fired by the Hezbollah terrorist organization crossed from Lebanon into Israel on Friday, November 22nd. The IDF will continue to defend the State of Israel and its people against the threat posed by the Hezbollah terrorist organization," the IDF said on Telegram. Israel began a large-scale aerial bombardment on September 23, citing the need to secure citizens in the north from Hezbollah missile, rocket and drone attacks.Since October 1, Israel has been conducting a ground operation against Hezbollah forces in southern Lebanon while continuing airstrikes. The death toll in Lebanon from Israeli strikes has exceeded 3,500 since the escalation, according to the Lebanese health authorities.Despite losses, Hezbollah has been fighting Israeli troops on the ground and launching rockets across the border. Israel says its main objective is to create conditions for the return of 60,000 residents who fled shelling in the north.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20241117/israeli-strikes-kill-hezbollah-spox-in-regional-office-of-syrian-baath-party---reports-1120912423.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241123/how-russias-icbm-design-school-laid-the-groundwork-for-the-oreshnik-hypersonic-ballistic-missile-1120980603.html

How Russias ICBM Design School Laid the Groundwork for the Oreshnik Hypersonic Ballistic Missile

How Russias ICBM Design School Laid the Groundwork for the Oreshnik Hypersonic Ballistic Missile

Sputnik International

Russian rocket scientists created the new Oreshnik intermediate-range ground-based hypersonic ballistic missile from scratch, five years after the US unilaterally terminated the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty restricting such weapons. Sputnik asked a retired Russian Air Defense Forces colonel and missile expert how this became possible.

2024-11-23T17:18+0000

2024-11-23T17:18+0000

2024-11-30T16:12+0000

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Russia's president provided new information about the Oreshnik missile system at a meeting with defense and military industry officials on Friday, 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 Thursday, 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.Washington unilaterally pulled out of the INF Treaty in 2019 and immediately set to work on the development of new US medium and intermediate-range ballistic missile designs, but this work has yet to bear fruit, with systems like the Dark Eagle Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon facing delays thanks to repeated test failures, with combat deployment plans put off repeatedly.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.The observer pointed, for example, to the pioneering work of rocket scientist and former Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology head Yuri Solomonov, 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 hypersonics.Oreshniks Cousins: What Will They Look Like?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.Factors That Make Russia's Missiles UnstoppableThere are four basic elements which combine to make Russia's strategic missile systems essentially impervious to even the most modern air and missile defense systems, Khodarenok says, among them their incredible speed, and ability to be armed with maneuvering hypersonic gliders.Because the speed of approach of warheads and anti-missile missiles is extremely high  seven km per second or more (accounting for both the warhead and interceptor), a human operator in principle cannot control the process of gunnery," Khodarenok said. "Everything happens automatically and by and large, firing is controlled by a digital computing complex.Plus there are electronic warfare systems operating in the terminal stage, as well as dummy warheads. In such conditions, shooting simply becomes unrealistic, Khodarenok summed up.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20241122/why-us-and-its-nato-allies-cant-intercept-russias-oreshnik-missiles-1120966598.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231217/watch-russian-forces-employ-yars-icbms-in-military-exercise-1115650398.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241111/russian-hypersonic-developments-still-unattainable-for-west---kurchatov-institute-head-1120848120.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241123/israeli-airstrike-in-central-beirut-leaves-eight-story-building-in-ruins-casualties-reported-1120974029.html

Israeli Airstrike in Central Beirut Leaves Eight-Story Building in Ruins, Casualties Reported

Israeli Airstrike in Central Beirut Leaves Eight-Story Building in Ruins, Casualties Reported

Sputnik International

At least four people were killed and 23 others were wounded in an Israeli airstrike on a residential building in Beirut's central Basta neighborhood on Saturday morning, Al Mayadeen broadcaster reported, citing Lebanon's Health Ministry.

2024-11-23T08:49+0000

2024-11-23T08:49+0000

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The television channel previously reported an Israeli airstrike on a building in central Beirut. As reported earlier by the Lebanese Al-Jadeed broadcaster, Israeli fighter jets fired at least four missiles at the building, and ambulances arrived at the scene. As a result of the strike, the eight-story building collapsed. The Israeli army had not warned residents of the area about the upcoming strike.Israeli Air Force aircraft launched a series of strikes on the southern suburb of Beirut early on Saturday, hitting the Haret Hreik, Ghobeiry and Chiyah neighborhoods, the Lebanese Al Manar TV channel reported, citing its own correspondent.Shortly before the strikes, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Arabic-speaking spokesman Avichay Adraee called on residents of the Haret Hreik and Ghobeiry areas to immediately evacuate several buildings because, according to the IDF, they allegedly house facilities of the Shia Hezbollah movement.Since October 1, Israel has been conducting a ground operation against Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah forces in southern Lebanon while continuing airstrikes. Despite losses, Hezbollah has been fighting Israeli troops on the ground and launching rockets across the border. Israel says its main objective is to create conditions for the return of 60,000 residents who fled shelling in the north.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20241114/israeli-air-force-strikes-area-near-beirut-international-airport-1120885632.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241123/journo-branded-head-of-putins-network-in-italy-for-honesty-on-ukraine-1120973543.html

Journo Branded Head of Putin's Network in Italy for Honesty on Ukraine

Journo Branded Head of Putin's Network in Italy for Honesty on Ukraine

Sputnik International

Italian journalist Giorgio Bianchi was deprived of the opportunity to speak publicly about the Ukraine conflict and called a Russian spy for trying to inform Italians about the real reasons for what is happening in Ukraine after the start of the special military operation, the journalist told Sputnik.

2024-11-23T09:48+0000

2024-11-23T09:48+0000

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The reporter has been covering events in Ukraine since the Euromaidan in 2014, and has appeared several times as an expert in the Italian media. After the start of the special military operation, he went to Donbass for almost two months, where he witnessed the liberation of Mariupol and Volnovakha firsthand. Bianchi emphasized that he continued to tell the truth, explaining that the Minsk agreements were subversively used to arm Ukraine and that neo-Nazi ideas were actually observed in the country, as the journalist himself saw neo-Nazi symbols and literature when he was in Mariupol. However, all the newspapers that had been talking about it for years suddenly changed their minds overnight, and began to claim there was no such ideology in Ukraine, the journalist stressed.The sanctions that Washington is pressuring European countries to impose against Russia are actually hurting the European Union (EU) more, Giorgio Bianchi said.Bianchi believes that the US and UK have actually benefited far more from these sanctions than from the bombing of Europes industrial districts during World War II. The ban on using Italian-supplied weapons by Kiev to strike Russia is mere noise, since Rome can still provide all the support NATO may request, Bianchi said. Statements by the Italian authorities that Ukraine cannot use Italian-supplied weapons against Russia are a farce that continues to play only for the electorate. Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that Ukrainian forces launched ATACMS missiles at Russias Bryansk region during the night of November 19. Five missiles were intercepted by Pantsir and S-400 systems, while one was damaged.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240701/this-day-in-history-nazis-ukrainian-nationalists-launch-massive-pogrom-in-lvov-1119198369.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240922/ukraine-assistance-largesse-self-harming-sanctions-helped-push-uk-debt-to-100-of-gdp-milestone-1120246985.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241123/media-reveals-number-of-men-ukraine-may-mobilize-1120972217.html

Media Reveals Number of Men Ukraine May Mobilize

Media Reveals Number of Men Ukraine May Mobilize

Sputnik International

The Kiev regime can potentially mobilize 3.7 million people, according to a Financial Times report based on data from the Verkhovna Rada parliament's Committee on Economic Development.

2024-11-23T11:41+0000

2024-11-23T11:41+0000

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Ukraine could conscript almost four million more men to fight the West's proxy conflict with Russia.According to data from the Ukrainian parliamentary Committee on Economic Development published by the Financial Times, the total number of male Ukrainian citizens aged 25 to 60 is 11.1 million, of whom 1.2 million are already serving in the armed forces.Another 2.9 million men live in regions liberated by Russia since the start of its military operation in February 2022.1.3 million men have left Ukraine, 1.5 million are disabled and unfit for military service and 600,000 are exempt from military conscription as critical workers.That leaves 3.7 million men who can be mobilized. Of those, 2.8 million are self-employed and registered taxpayers, while 900,000 are not registered in the system, the article says.The report quoted military officers, analysts and soldiers who said the conflict will reach a critical juncture in the next few months, as the armed forces try to stabilize the situation and halt Russian advances on several fronts.Ukrainian leaders have also admitted devastating manpower shortages and aim to draft even more men into "open-ended" military service.Earlier in October, National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksandr Lytvynenko stated that the country planned to draft 160,000 more people into Ukrainian armed forces.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20241019/most-mobilized-ukrainians-surrender-at-first-opportunity---captured-draft-enforcer-1120599191.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241123/polish-farmers-block-border-crossing-with-ukraine-in-ongoing-protest-against-duty-free-imports-1120979530.html

Polish Farmers Block Border Crossing With Ukraine in Ongoing Protest Against Duty-Free Imports

Polish Farmers Block Border Crossing With Ukraine in Ongoing Protest Against Duty-Free Imports

Sputnik International

Polish farmers have blocked a border crossing with Ukraine, the Ukrainian State Customs Service said on Saturday.

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Earlier in the month, a spokesperson for the Deceived Village movement told Sputnik that Polish farmers would resume blocking border crossings with Ukraine in November, with the action planned to last until December 31. Protesters are allowing one cargo truck per hour to enter Ukraine, while the movement of trucks weighing over 3.5 tonnes toward Poland is completely blocked. Buses and passenger vehicles continue to move without restrictions, it said. Polish farmers started a nationwide protest in February, blocking roads and access to border checkpoints with Ukraine. They demand an end to the duty-free import of Ukrainian agricultural products and the rejection of the European Green Deal, which aims for zero emissions by 2050.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240315/fuel-poverty-polish-gasoline-sales-to-ukraine-fall-to-under-half-amid-farmer-protests-1117351272.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241123/russian-security-council-deputy-chairman-medvedev-doubts-trump-will-lift-sanctions-1120971096.html

Medvedev Doubts Trump Will Lift Sanctions Against Russia

Medvedev Doubts Trump Will Lift Sanctions Against Russia

Sputnik International

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev doubted that US President-elect Donald Trump would lift sanctions against Russia after taking office.

2024-11-23T04:28+0000

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"I believe that it is unlikely that the president-elect, having taken office, will immediately lift these sanctions. Especially since he actually insisted on a number of sanctions at a certain time, in any case, trying to limit our gas supplies to Europe," Medvedev said in an interview with the Al Arabiya TV channel. He recalled Trump's words about the need to supply Europe with liquefied natural gas from the US. The West stepped up sanctions pressure on Russia after the start of Moscow's military operation in Ukraine in February 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the policy of containing and weakening Russia is the West's long-term strategy, and the restrictions have affected the entire global economy. According to him, the main goal of the West is to make the lives of millions of people worse. Russia has said it can cope with any sanctions pressure.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20241123/slovak-defense-minister-warns-of-provocations-over-us-backed-long-range-weapons-in-ukraine-1120974333.html

Slovak Defense Minister Warns of Provocations Over US-Backed Long-Range Weapons in Ukraine

Slovak Defense Minister Warns of Provocations Over US-Backed Long-Range Weapons in Ukraine

Sputnik International

Slovak Defense Minister Robert Kalinak said he fears provocations amid the worsening situation in Ukraine after the United States allowed Kiev to use long-range weapons to strike deep into Russia, which could lead to irreparable consequences.

2024-11-23T08:54+0000

2024-11-23T08:54+0000

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"I have serious concerns that this escalation is already so tense that some kind of provocation will occur... Therefore, we fundamentally disagreed with the permission for these missiles to be sent deep into [Russian] territory," Kalinak said in an interview with the Pravda publication. He said he hopes US President-elect Donald Trump will make attempts to resolve the situation in Ukraine, and during the first six months of his presidency one can expect at least a ceasefire. On Thursday, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico expressed hope that with the inauguration of US President Donald Trump, progress will be made in finding a solution to the conflict in Ukraine acceptable to all parties. Earlier, Fico called the US decision to allow Kiev to strike deep into Russian territory irresponsible, saying that this proves the West's unwillingness to end the conflict in Ukraine. According to Fico, this "dangerous adventure" could ultimately harm Ukraine the most, since the West has decided to fight in Ukraine to the last Ukrainian soldier. On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Ukraine had struck targets in the Kursk and Bryansk regions on November 19, using US ATACMS missiles and UK Storm Shadow missiles. He said Thursday Russia successfully test fired on November 21 a new intermediate-range ballistic missile, Oreshnik, in response to Ukraine's use of the US and UK weapons. The missile hit a defense and industrial complex in the Ukrainian city of Dnepropetrovsk, also known as Dnipro. Earlier, Trump pledged that he would be able to achieve a settlement of the Ukrainian conflict through talks in one day. Russia says this is too complex a problem for such a simple solution. A presidential election took place in the US on November 5. Republican candidate Donald Trump, who served as the US president in 2017-2021, 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/20241119/atacms-strike-on-russias-soil-equates-declaration-of-war-expert-1120935239.html

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Trump Considering Ex-Intel Chief Grenell As Envoy for Russia-Ukraine Conflict - Reports

Trump Considering Ex-Intel Chief Grenell As Envoy for Russia-Ukraine Conflict - Reports

Sputnik International

US President-elect Donald Trump is considering picking his former intelligence chief Richard Grenell as a special envoy for the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, Reuters reported citing sources familiar with the transition plans.

2024-11-23T04:38+0000

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According to the report, Grenell, who earlier was the ambassador to Germany and acting national intelligence director during Trump's 2017-2021 term, could play a key role in the incoming US administration's efforts to end the conflict if he is selected for the post. It said Trump is considering the possibility of creating a new position of a special envoy for the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine. However, the final decision on the position has not been made yet, and Grenell is only one of the possible candidates for the post. Earlier, Trump said he would be able to achieve a settlement of the Ukrainian conflict through talks in one day. Russia says this is too complex a problem for such a simple solution. A presidential election took place in the United States on November 5. Republican candidate Donald Trump, who served as the US president in 2017-2021, 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.

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Brett Beckwith was on point again on Friday, Nov. 22 after he swept the co-featured $35,211 Winners-Over trots at Plainridge Park where big efforts were turned in and solid payoffs were paid out by both victors.

The first division went to Snowpiercer (pictured above) who went gate to wire with the win never in doubt.

Beckwith set Snowpiercer on the point and stepped off quarters of :27.3. :57 and 1:25 while turning away a mild bid from Marquis Lafayette (Bruce Ranger). Snowpiercer then took his two length lead into the final turn, entered the stretch with the same gap behind him and trotted home under a line drive to win in 1:54.4.

Owned by Janie Kellogg and trained by Jackie Greene, Snowpiercer ($10.20) scored his sixth win of the year.

The second division was won by the Massachusetts-bred and stake champion Bill Bauer, who was also the commander of fractions en route to a new lifetime mark.

Beckwith also sent Bill Bauer forward off the gate and grabbed the front just past the :27.3 quarter. Once settled on the lead, Bill Bauer went to the half in :56.2 where Sforza (Bruce Ranger) mounted an attack first-up in the breeze. Sforza drew alongside Bill Bauer moving up the backstretch and got to within a half length of the leader. But Bill Bauer was not giving any ground and held Sforza at bay from three-quarters to the top of the stretch. When they straightened for home, Bill Bauer swelled up and trotted away from the group by 1-1/2 lengths and stopped the clock in 1:53.4, which was a career best effort for the winner.

The win was the second in the last three starts and fourth of the year for Bill Bauer ($10,00), who is owned by his trainer Paul Kelley, in partnership with Leo Bauer.

Beckwith rounded out his trotting triple with the Danish-bred Ikon Vang DK (1:55.3, $2.80) who scored his third consecutive win since landing in the U.S., while making his first visit to Plainridge.

Despite Beckwiths big day, Bruce Ranger was the leading dash driver for Friday as he registered a grand slam during the afternoon. Ranger won with Internationalmodel (1:57.1, $5.40), Treatyofversaille (1:56.1, $3.80) and Cheval Rapide (1:57.3, $2.10) who were all trained by Domenico Cecere, and Dazzling Lindy (1:59, $26.80).

Live harness racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Monday (Nov. 25) at 1 p.m. and there will be a $4,641 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta in race six.

There are only four live racing days left in the 2024 meet that wraps up on Friday (Nov. 29). Please note that next week, racing will be held on Monday (Nov. 25), Tuesday (Nov. 26), Wednesday (Nov. 27) and Friday (Nov. 29), with Thursday (Nov. 28) being dark in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.

(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)
Rallying four-wide past the three-quarters, Gung Ho had little trouble with the extra distance  or the off going  and comfortably captured Fridays feature at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows, a $21,127 conditioned pace.

A runner-up in the Open class last week, Gung Ho was fourth-over in Friday's feature when winning driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. decided the excess cover wasnt getting him where he wanted to go. Once Wrenn showed Gung Ho racetrack, the four-year-old Captaintreacherous-Silky gelding exploded, overwhelming the leader, Mantador, and prevailing in 1:52.1. Matador held second, beaten 3-1/4 lengths, with Saulsbrook Genesis third.

Ron Burke trains Gung Ho, who has $246,261 in career earnings, for Burke Racing Stable, Elizabeth Jones, M1 Stable and Beasty. The winner returned $4.20.

Wrenn and Burke teamed up for three wins on the 13-race card, also scoring with a pair of streaking three-year-olds. They combined with pacing gelding War Machine ($2.80), who won his third straight race in a 1:53 mile, and filly trotter Final Text ($2.20), an Indiana Sires Stakes graduate who has been perfect in three starts since joining the Burke barn with her latest in 1:56.4.

Live harness racing at The Meadows resumes on Wednesday when the U.S. Thanksgiving Eve program features 15 races. First post is 12:45 p.m.

(With files from Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)
Very nearly as much as the horses and horsepeople themselves, the southeast Pennsylvania weather played a decisive factor in the Friday afternoon racing at Harrahs Philadelphia.

Moisture from the sky, whether drizzle or flurries, caused the track to be downgraded from good to sloppy, and was coupled with a strong headwind in the stretch, which necessitated horses finding success primarily by being close to the pace, and if on the lead backing off quarter two into the frigid wind.

Take the $21,127 featured trot as illustrating these points. The Donato Hanover mare Chake was hustled to the lead in a :27.4 quarter and then driver Rikard Skoglund backed the pace down to a :58 half. Chake thus had some in the tank when first-over Usain Hanover came on strongly before breaking past a 1:25.4 three-quarters, and she went on against the wind to withstand Resolve To Win by a half-length in 1:54.1. The winner, a model of consistency who now has earned almost $175,000 this year alone, is owned by Daniel Sarafian of Unionville, Ont., and is trained by Per Engblom, who sent out four winning charges during the 14-race card.

Three divisions of the $19,718 fast-class pace came together, with the fastest split showing the importance of a favourable journey. In his previous start, the Foreclosure N gelding Oakwood Paddy IR had set the pace, came home in :54.1 and was beaten a head; on Friday, Andrew McCarthy sat with the Irish-bred in the two-hole behind Lyons Steel, then went inside and beat that rival  by a head  in a race with a back half of :54.1. The 1:52 victory was the third in the last five starts for Oakwood Paddy IR, who is trained by Robert Cleary for Robert Corrigan and Ruari McNulty.

David Miller, who won five races on Friday to go with his four triumphs on Thursday, followed the days winning script with the veteran Somebeachsomewhere gelding Nicholas Beach, coasting while leading to a :57.4 half, then hitting the accelerator to storm home in :54.2 and finish clear in 1:52.1. Owned by John Lengacher, Melco Devim Inc., and Jennifer Bongiorno Stable, Nicholas Beach is trained by Joe Bongiorno, who matched Engblom with four winners  in fact, those two trainers furnished Miller with all five of his winning drives, Bongiorno three and Engblom two.

The other feature pace went to the Betting Line gelding Dean B Hanover, who was able to sit in third until late in the backstretch, then overhauled pacesetter Pass Line by a neck in 1:53.3, with Wichita Lineman just photoed for the deuce and pacesetting favourite Camara Moment beaten only a half-length while fourth. Tim Tetrick drove Dean B Hanover for trainer Jeff Cullipher and Pollack Racing.

The temperature is forecast to rise to a balmy 55 degrees in dry conditions for the final card of the week at Philly, set for Sunday at 12:40 p.m. After that, the track will be dark for live racing on U.S. Thanksgiving Thursday and Friday, with the trotters and pacers coming back on Sunday, Dec. 1.

(PHHA / Harrahs Philadelphia)
Three-year-old pacing filly Wicked Discovery has discovered her niche at The Raceway at Western Fair District.

On Friday night, the Gerard Demers trainee competed in the fillies and mares $20,000 claiming-conditioned class with success for the fifth time in a row while partnered up with driver Travis Henry.

The 1-5 favourite wired the field in the 10th race going for a $5,500 purse, with the fractions clocked in :29.1, :59.2, 1:28.3 and 1:58.2. Queen Of The Deck closed in from the pocket, finishing three-quarters of a length behind, while a first-over Lucy And Ethel was third.

Winless in eight starts as a two-year-old, Wicked Discovery has earned a total of nine victories in her sophomore season from 28 starts to lift her earnings to $38,345 for Demers and co-owner Jean Roch Marois of St-Joachim-De-Shefford, Que. Prior to her current win streak that began on Oct. 18, the McWicked-Pan Voyage filly took a mark of 1:57.1 in her London debut on Oct. 7 after winning three races in a row at Hippodrome 3R during the summer months.

To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Western Fair Raceway.

(Standardbred Canada)
In the latest edition of Rewind Robert Smith recalls a milestone event at the now defunct Windsor Raceway that occurred some 56 years ago back in 1968. It reminds us of just how much has changed over that time span.

When Windsor Raceway opened in October of 1965 it introduced an entirely new era in the sport. Ten years prior to this in 1955, the legendary and ancient Dufferin Park in Toronto closed forever, thus removing winter time racing after a very long and storied history. The new Windsor track was an entirely different story. Things had changed.

Fans could now watch top notch racing throughout the winter, with all the comforts of virtual summer weather. On the backstretch, those who put on the show had many more comforts than in days gone by. Heated tack rooms, direct telephone lines to the racing office and just a better overall existence. On top of this the track was designed to be in "fast" condition regardless of the elements. This was thanks to a synthetic tartan substance manufactured by the 3M Company. I recall that a strip of the same material was on the floor as you entered the grandstand.





A view of the stable area at Windsor Raceway during the very early years of the track's existence

It is difficult to fathom based on the speeds that horses routinely travel today, that when Windsor opened there had only been six sub-two minute clockings on Canadian soil! Yes, count them: SIX!! And that was in the entire history of Canadian harness racing. Ironically the first one on the list dated back to 1923. Guess where it happened?

Just a few miles east of the brand new Windsor Raceway site is where the famous Devonshire Park Racetrack once stood. It was there that the famed trotter Peter Manning trotted an exhibition mile in 1:59 1/2 back in 1923. Shortly after this time [1965], a new landmark sprung up on the old Racetrack grounds. It was the new ultramodern Devonshire Shopping Mall opened in 1970 that to this day serves as the area's top shopping destination.

When Windsor opened in late October of 1965 (on October 22nd) an opening meeting of approximately 10 weeks managed to experience several respectable mile times. The fastest pacing mile was set by a mare named Barbara Johnston when her owner and driver Gerald Johnston from the Dresden area piloted her to a winning time of 2:02.1. The horse that cut the entire mile and finished a close second was Philip Brian. That would stand as the first official track record and remained unbroken for quite a while.

Sub-2:00 Speed Comes To Windsor Raceway





Above is how the teletimer looked following Windsor's first sub 2:00 mile in 1968 set by Philip Brian

On the evening of October 12, 1968, almost three years after Windsor opened, the track witnessed its first ever sub-two minute mile. Philip Brian, a then seven-year-old gelding, hung out the first "miracle mile" as they were referred to back then. He had been a fan favourite and actually won Windsor's first ever Invitational Pace back in 1965 shortly after the track opened.

On that night driver Jim Merriman Jr. was Philip Brian's driver as he had often been as he at times shared driving duties with his brother Tom Merriman. Their father Jim Sr. was the trainer. While Philip Brian had cut out a number of miles that resulted in either track records or memorable races, on this occasion that job was done by another very well known speedster of the day. Blaze Pick, owned by Russell Miller of Dutton, Ont., led throughout the early part of the race before yielding to the record setter.

In the three years (1965 - 1968) from the time the track opened until this record setting performance, the number of sub-2:00 miles recorded in Canada had risen sharply. Philip Brian's score was number 31 in history.

Philip Brian had an amazing record at the Windsor oval. In 30 lifetime starts he won 15 times, to go along with seven second place finishes and was third on wo occasions. This very accomplished horse died at the age of 10 while training in Florida from a suspected stomach ailment. He was being prepped for the upcoming 1971 season at the time. At the time of his passing he was the biggest money winner in the history of Windsor Raceway. His owner termed the loss as "like losing a member of the family."

He was purchased as a four year old for $15,000 by his longtime owners Louis and son Gerald Mijal of Westland, Michigan from J.L. Penrod. He went on to a fabulous career which saw him win $276,828 in purse money. Soon after his passing Windsor track officials announced that a memorial race honouring this horse would become part of their annual stakes program.





In 1973 the winner of the Philip Brian Memorial Pace was won by Bedford Jet. Pictured above from left to right are: Al Nagler, Windsor Publicity; owners Mr. & Mrs. Ed Weber; and driver-trainer Keith Quinlan.

Windsor Raceway was part of the Ontario racing scene for some 47 years. Opening night was October 22, 1965 and it closed on August 31, 2012. Today the grounds stand much as they did when it closed with virtually all traces of its former self removed except for the paved parking lots. The property has never been repurposed.





An old Windsor Raceway sign recalls a bygone era

Quote For The Week: The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing. - Walt Disney

Who Is It?

Can you identify this bevy of drivers that were pictured in a Windsor program back in the 1970's?

Who Else Is It?

How many people can you identify from this photo taken at Windsor many years ago? Include the horse's name if you recognize him.
There have been 13 in custody deaths at the Bexar County jail this year. Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar launched a new procedure last month that puts him at odds with the San Antonio Police Department Chief William McManus  and possibly the law. Bob Owen /Staff photographer Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar faces harsh criticism from area police chiefs about his new mandate that requires police departments to get medical clearance for sick and intoxicated inmates before they're booked into the Bexar County jail. Bob Owen, Staff-photographer / San Antonio Express-News Last week, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus told the Express-News he considers Salazar's new rejection procedure at the jail "a disagreement  an operational issue  between the sheriff's office and SAPD, and other law enforcement jurisdictions." KAYLEE GREENLEE BEAL 2022 Johnny Siemens, Universal City Chief of Police, is calling on Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar to stop rejecting arrestees at the jail. He said it's a burden on all local police departments. Universal City Police Department Marco Pena, Elmendorf Chief of Police, is calling on Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar to stop rejecting arrestees at the jail. He said the procedure delays justice. Elmendorf Police Department

San Antonio-area police chiefs are blasting Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar's new inmate rejection procedure, saying it equates "delayed justice" and a burden on their departments.

Salazar's mandate, which comes amid an uptick in jail inmate deaths  13 so far this year and 18 last year  requires police officers to transport arrestees who are sick or intoxicated to the hospital to get cleared before the county jail will accept them.

San Antonio Police Chief William McManus and other area police chiefs have been meeting to discuss the toll the procedure is taking on their departments. They're calling on the sheriff to stop his procedure of rejecting sick and intoxicated inmates.

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The local police chiefs argue that this procedure strains their departments' staffing levels and budgets.

In interviews with the Express-News, Johnny Siemens, the Universal City police chief and an executive board member of the Alamo Area Police Chiefs Association, and Marco Pena, the Elmendorf police chief, said Salazar's mandate is a burden on their departments and threatens public safety.

It certainly seems arbitrary. We are being impacted, negatively impacted," Siemens said. "Who knows the impetus is for this policy, but I know that this isn't the right answer to what we're trying to accomplish as a criminal justice system. This impacts every agency in San Antonio and the Bexar County region. This thing is Pandora's box in a lot of ways."

Last week, McManus told the Express-News he considers Salazar's procedure "a disagreement  an operational issue  between the sheriff's office and SAPD, and other law enforcement jurisdictions."

He vowed to work with Salazar to resolve it.

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READ MORE: Bexar County sheriff and San Antonio police chief at odds over sick and intoxicated arrestees

Sheriff Javier Salazar's jail booking rejection procedure began last month.

In an Oct. 11 email to all law enforcement agencies about his "arrested person acceptance procedure," Salazar said all arrested individuals must pass a medical screening before being accepted by the jail. Detainees detoxing from alcohol or narcotics, insulin-dependent diabetics, and those who need dialysis will be rejected, the sheriff wrote.

"It will be the responsibility of the arresting agency to take these individuals to the hospital to undergo a medical evaluation and receive medical clearance prior to being accepted into our facility," Salazar said in the email.

The new procedure aims to decrease jail deaths, Salazar said. In his email, he mentioned Operation Lifeguard, which was launched in October 2023 to improve the health and wellness of inmates housed at the Bexar County jail, the sheriffs office said.

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Operation Safeguard has so far provided "some positive results," Salazar told the Express-News last week. But more change is needed.

"Its clear that we need to be more selective with medical admissions, as individuals with chronic health issues would be better served in specialized medical facilities, Salazar said. We understand that detoxification can be particularly challenging, especially with comorbidities. This memo aims to ensure that inmates undergoing detoxification receive the appropriate medical care to manage their potentially life-threatening symptoms."

The Bexar County Sheriff's Office provided data to the Express-News that detailed medical rejections at the jail of 20 arrested persons out of a total of 4,896 inmates who were booked between Oct. 11 and Nov. 17.

The list, which includes reasons why the jail rejected sick or intoxicated inmates, includes the following details:

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 three with high blood pressure (needed to rule out stroke for one inmate, another with a reading of 206/105 and another with chest pain)

 three with injuries from motor-vehicle accidents (one had abdominal pain and one had lacerations to the face)

 two with possible ingestion of drugs (one had elevated heart rate and the other had slurred speech)

 one with "alcohol abuse cirrhosis"

 one with uncontrolled seizures

 one with cardiac issues (also with elevated blood pressure readings of 205/119 and 198/132)

 one with an internal heart monitor

 one with cancer, a rash and wounds

 one with severe intoxication (also tased in the chest)

 one with signs of alcohol withdrawal

 one with head trauma

 one with an injury to their torso caused by being hit with an unknown object

 one with facial injuries

 one using a wheelchair who was unable to move independently or complete daily activities

 one pregnant woman who complained of stomach pain a day before she was scheduled to give birth

But Siemens said that while no one wants inmates to die in the jail, arrestees must be taken off the streets and there are staffing and "obvious financial implications for every agency in Bexar County" resulting from the sheriff's new procedure.

"We're not prepared for this," Siemens said. "The majority of the policing agencies in Bexar County don't have the resources to do this."

Siemens said his department has experienced at least two rejections from the jail where his officers have had to wait at the hospital for several hours.

About 28 agencies in the county have two to five officers per shift on average, Siemens said, so if even one officer is at the hospital waiting for their detainee to be cleared, it puts the department in a challenging staffing situation because officers will need to work extra hours, which requires overtime pay.

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The local police chiefs worry about finding the funding to overtime pay.

"Our budgets are in for the fiscal year... those were approved Oct. 1. Nobody approved extra overtime for sitting (officers) at the hospital for 10 and 12 hours," Siemens said. "This impacts every police agency in Bexar County."

Sitting for hours at the hospital with inmates also affects departmental manpower because departments won't have enough officers to answer calls and they must call other agencies for help, Siemens said.

The financial and staffing implications will increase once the word gets out and arrestees use it to their advantage, Siemens said.

"These offenders, they speak to each other. All they have to say is that they're detoxing ... and never see a jail cell," Siemens said. "This will spread like a prairie fire."

He compared what could happen to what his department experienced during the COVID pandemic when arrestees would say they had been exposed to COVID or had symptoms, and were turned away at the jail.

The word spread, and every person that you arrested was saying they had been exposed or had had symptoms, and therefore we weren't taking anybody to jail, Siemens said.

The local chiefs are also worried about the possibility of revictimization occuring when offenders aren't immediately arrested and booked.

"We usually are often forced to file at-large, which in turn, often won't be prosecuted at all," Siemens said.

Like McManus, the local chiefs say the procedure violates the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.

"Are we violating this code by going through a different process before we take (an arrested person) to jail?," Pena asked.

Pena and Siemens said as a result of the new procedure, their departments are filing more at-large cases with the Bexar County District Attorney's Office.

"I'm trying to be cost-effective," Pena said.

Avoiding the booking process at the jail is how Pena's Elmendorf officers haven't directly experienced a single jail rejection. When his officers make arrests, they call the jail for advice.

"I even call the assistant DA at the jail (and ask) 'Hey, are you accepting this individual? Yes or no? No? OK'," Pena said. "Therefore, I'm going to file at-large."

The association plans to invite Salazar to its next meeting to discuss the policy.

"Hopefully, we can all sit down and talk about (the procedure)," Pena said. "To get this issue resolved."
Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez speaks at a council meeting on Thurs, Nov. 21, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Christopher Lee/Staff Photographer Doggett Freightliner Attorney Ken Brown (center) attends a San Antonio City Council meeting concerning on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Christopher Lee/Staff Photographer

Doggett Freightliner attorney Ken Brown was quick to forgive Jalen McKee-Rodriguez when the District 2 councilman misled the company last month in an effort to block it from opening a new semi-truck dealership near an East Side neighborhood.

Brown and McKee-Rodriguez were texting within hours of the Oct. 17 subterfuge. The next day, they met to hammer out a compromise.

But a San Antonio resident with no apparent ties to the company wasnt as understanding.

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Oscar A. Zepeda, a real estate agent who goes by Alex, filed an ethics complaint against McKee-Rodriguez on Nov. 5. He accuses the councilman of using his position to unfairly impede the private interests of Doggett Freightliner.

Councilman McKee-Rodriguez is a liar, he said in the first sentence of his filing before outlining the details of the October council meeting.

He does not have license to unfairly and improperly wield his authority to injure any member of the public, Zepeda said in the complaint. He is not excused from telling the truth and dealing fairly with City staff, other elected officials, or members of the public.

A lawyer hired by the city evaluated Zepedas complaint and sent it to the citys Ethics Review Board for consideration. The board is expected to decide soon whether to weigh in on the matter.

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McKee-Rodriguez has until Dec. 4 to file a response.

In a statement to the Express-News, Zepeda said he would be surprised if the ethics board disagreed with his complaint.

I am a real estate agent and I am very worried that this unethical conduct, if left unopposed, will negatively impact my industry, he said. Also, I believe his dishonest scheme hurts our local economy because it makes it more difficult to attract new employers to neighborhoods that need good jobs.

READ MORE: Future San Antonio mayor could have less say on who gets key board appointments

Zepeda did not make himself available for an interview.

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Brown said he hadnt read the complaint, and noted Zepeda had no affiliation with Doggett Freightliner.

I dont understand, but I guess people do what they do, Brown said.

Though initially frustrated at how McKee-Rodriguez treated Doggett Freightliner, Brown said he never considered filing his own complaint against the councilman because thats just poor form.

McKee-Rodriguez said he had faith in the Ethics Review Boards process.

My intentions have always been to represent my constituency to the best of my ability, McKee-Rodriguez told the San Antonio Express-News. And I believe Ive done that. I continue to earn and build their trust, and thats demonstrated.

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A fight and compromise

Converse-based Doggett Freightliner tried for a year to secure zoning and land-use changes for its vacant 35-acre property on Weichold Road and Interstate 10. Half of the property is outside of San Antonios limits and had to be annexed for the project to move ahead.

The company has outgrown its existing 14-acre location in Converse  one of 15 it operates in the U.S.  and is looking to expand to a larger property.

The possibility of a semi sales operation and repair shop upset residents in the neighboring Paloma subdivision. They worried their property values would plummet and that theyd have to put up with noise, traffic and pollution from the dealership. The neighbors packed city and community meetings.

Ahead of the October council meeting, McKee-Rodriguez told Doggett Freightliner representatives he would push the annexation debate to a later date. But during the meeting, he called for a council vote to annex the property and change its zoning to allow for stores and other retail options that residents want  but that would have blocked the company from opening a dealership on its property.

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McKee-Rodriguezs push failed. He couldnt line up enough of his colleagues to support the sneak attack.

Brown was livid. He told reporters he would never again trust McKee-Rodriguez. He also said the company would likely open a new dealership at another property it owns nearby and use half of the 35-acre property that abuts Paloma as overflow parking for truck cabs.

But McKee-Rodriguez, Brown and Paloma residents instead reached a compromise they could all live with.

And McKee-Rodriguez's and Brown's tones have shifted since Oct. 17. They now talk about the councilman's maneuver that day as last-minute change of heart, not so much a lie.

Construction on a new dealership next to the Paloma neighborhood will begin in about six months  with several company concessions. The facility is expected open within two years.

The City Council voted 10-0 Thursday to approve the zoning, land use and annexation motions needed to make that happen. Councilwoman Marina Alderete Gavito was absent.

Doggett Freightliner agreed to prohibit trucks from driving down Weichold Road. And the company will leave extra space between the business and the property line; build a 10-foot wall along the side that abuts the neighborhood; limit hours of operation; and spray to prevent critters displaced by construction from running to the nearby houses.

McKee-Rodriguez said he met with 20 Paloma residents the night before the Nov. 21 vote. Though nobody was happy about having a truck dealership next door, most agreed it would be better than the parking lot Doggett Freightliner planned to build in lieu of a sales operation.
The annual lighting of the River Walk for the holidays is a San Antonio tradition that started in 1975. Billy Calzada/Express-News file photo In 2011, the River Walk got new LED holiday lights to replace the traditional incandescent bulbs. The change made waves with many San Antonians, who preferred the classic dangling lights to the wrapped trunks. Tom Reel/Staff photographer file photo

The switch transforming a 3-mile portion of the San Antonio River Walk into an illuminated holiday display was first flipped 49 years ago this week.

On Nov. 28, 1975, Mayor Lila Cockrell launched the holiday lights celebration atop a decorated barge carrying other city officials and various community leaders. From a spot near Crockett and Commerce streets, the mayor kicked off the display of 35,000 lights.

Taking in the festive River Walk lights has become a Christmas-time tradition for many San Antonio residents and visitors, and luring people downtown was what motivated the creation of the holiday display.

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Businessman William Bill McCormick, president of Joskes of Texas, suggested a holiday attraction would help bring customers to downtown stores that were taking a hit with the opening of shopping malls and suburban growth.

A downtown merchants group approved $25,000 to cover most of the lights display, according to newspaper archives, and KTSA radio station helped raise money to pay for the rest. Its fundraiser asked listeners to buy a sponsorship of the River Walk light bulbs for 55 cents each. The cost was a nod to the stations frequency of 550 AM.

As with most traditions, people dont like anyone messing with them.

In 2011, City Council approved replacing the holiday displays incandescent lights with around 1.76 million energy-efficient LED lights. The switch involved wrapping lights around the trunks of trees lining the River Walk instead of hanging the lights from branches and letting them dangle from treetops.

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The change didnt impress holiday revelers, including the Express-News Editorial Board, who blasted the modification as being a bad idea and a poor investment.

One of the biggest criticisms was the switch from dangling lights.

The cascading lights hanging overhead and the twinkling they produce on the water are part of the magic of the holiday season in San Antonio. Tourists flock to the River Walk and wait patiently in long lines for barge rides for the experience. Lets not shortchange them, the Express-News wrote.

There were other issues with the new, closer-to-the-ground, lighting system  squirrels chewed their way through many of them, causing thousands of dollars in damage. Chatter making the rounds joked that either the squirrels liked the taste of the stringed lights or wanted to do their part to get rid of the unpopular decorations.

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The city, who in 2011 took over the River Walk holiday display from the Paseo del Rio Association, added draping LED lights in 2012.

Today, the River Walk holiday display features over 100,000 lights (approximately 2,250 strings of light), according to the San Antonio River Walk Division of Visit San Antonio. Draping lights remain a part of the beloved Christmas-time tradition.

Also, this week in San Antonio history, City Council considered a resolution that would urge merchants to remain closed on Sundays.

On Nov. 25, 1964, the resolution died when Mayor Walter McAllister failed to ask for a second, according to San Antonio Public Library archives.

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Jack Martin, president of the San Antonio Building Trades Council, predicted San Antonios economy would fall with a seven-day week. There is something wrong with the moral fiber of this community if we must work seven days a week, he said.

In other business-related history, the First National Bank of San Antonio on Nov. 27, 1946 inaugurated its new drive-up window service. Joe Straus, president of the Straus-Frank Saddlery Company, was the first customer to use the service, making a deposit at the bank, archives show.
Several churches and groups across The T&D Region are working to prepare meals stuffed with love and care during the Thanksgiving holiday.

Williams Chapel AME Church will be handing out hot meals to the community and an Orangeburg nonprofit will be distributing meals to the homeless on Wednesday, Nov. 27.

Several groups and churches are also offering meals on Thanksgiving Day.

Bennie Brown, a member of Williams Chapel, said the church will not have its traditional sit-down meal this year, but there are plans for a walk-through Thanksgiving meal giveaway from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at the church, which is located at 1198 Glover St., Orangeburg.

The church served more than 650 meals on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving last year. The church is prepared for approximately the same amount this year, including 300 meals to be delivered Wednesday morning.

Brown thanked the arsenal of soup kitchen volunteers and community partners, including businesses, who make donations to the churchs food ministry.

What would we do without them? They are extremely important. Without their assistance, this would be an impossible task, Brown said.

The meals will include, but not be limited to, turkey, stuffing, ham, rice, string beans, a roll, fruit and cake for dessert.

The church normally gives out food bags every Wednesday, along with cooked meals every second and fourth Friday. Brown said the need has risen, but that God has also provided.

We cant do it without him, he said.

Orangeburg resident Jacqueline Garrett, founder of the nonprofit Mothers Against Gun Violence, will be distributing free dinners to the homeless beginning at 12:30 p.m. and for as long as they last Wednesday, Nov. 27 at the Orangeburg County Library at 1645 Russell St. in Orangeburg. Its the second annual event.

Garrett said the food is a gift from the heart. She presents it in memory of her son, Joshua, who was murdered six years ago.

It was important for me because I often think about my son and how he helped others when he was here. He died in such a horrific and tragic way that I felt the need to do what he laid on my heart to do, along with my lord and savior. I give what I can, she said.

Garrett said the meal will consist of yellow rice, collard greens or lima beans, chicken, tea and possibly dessert.

It doesnt take a lot to give. This is something Im paying for out of my pocket. I could have taken that change and been doing a lot of things that really needed to be done because Ive been through a fire back in March. But my thing is Im still standing and able to be blessed to pass what God has passed to me to somebody else, she said.

On Thanksgiving Day, five churches are coming together for a Thanksgiving feast.

The free, sit-down meal will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Downtown Market Pavilion at 1326 Russell St. in Orangeburg. The event is open to the public and has been held since 2003.

Were doing the Thanksgiving meals differently this year. Were going to sit down and eat together, said Norma Sells, a member of St. Pauls United Methodist Church.

Last year, the meals were take-out only and distributed at the First Baptist Church of Orangeburg.

We love Jesus. We do it because were Jesus hands and feet. ... Just come out and eat with us. We have yet to run out of food, Sells said.

Turkey, dressing, rice and gravy, green beans, sweet potato casserole, macaroni and cheese and cranberry sauce are among the items being served up.

Participating churches include St. Pauls UMC, First Presbyterian Church, First Baptist Church, Trinity UMC and Unity Fellowship Community Church.

Other groups are also demonstrating their love for their communities on Thanksgiving.

Jean Self, secretary at Denmark First Baptist Church, said the church is continuing the work of late church member and Denmark resident Mary Polasky.

Polasky, who died in 2021, was a member of Feed My Sheep Ministries. The ministry is a coalition of several Denmark churches and members of the Denmark-Olar High School class of 1983.

It has held two community drive-through Thanksgiving Day dinners for many years.

Self said plans are underway for the Thanksgiving meals this year.

We just love to be able to feed the community and let everybody know that God loves them, Self said.

The meals will include turkey, sweet potatoes, dressing and gravy, green beans and a dessert.

One community dinner will be distributed from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday at St. Philips Apostolic Church located at 78 5th St. in Olar.

Another community Thanksgiving Day lunch will be distributed from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday at Denmark-Olar High School, Heritage Highway in Denmark.

Meals can be picked up at the elementary entrance of the school.

Self said the meal giveaway will be drive-through only. She said meals can also be delivered by calling Denmark First Baptist Church at 803-793-3690.
This clipping from the San Antonio Express, Jan. 21, 1957, shows the Uhl house, completed in 1900, and describes its setting at that time as a country road, later Steves Avenue. San Antonio Express

I used to live on Skyridge Street on the South Side. Our neighbor, Rocco A. Errico, was a pastor at a nondenominational church on the 1800 block of Steves Avenue. The property covered over an acre, and a two-story plantation house was at the back. In 1969, maybe 1970, the house caught fire and was demolished.

The pastors son, Steve, said they called the house Steves House. I think maybe Steves Avenue is named for the houses original owner.

Do you know the history of that old house?

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 Barry Woitena

There are two families of German heritage related to this property. First on the scene was the Steves family, founded by lumber dealer Edward Steves and his wife, Johanna. Their son Albert owned what was known as the Steves pasture, 780 brushy acres leased to dairy farmers for grazing by their herds.

It was owned from 1891 to 1895 by the Park Terrace Land Co., which cratered when it didnt sell. According to research by local historian Maria Watson Pfeiffer, Johanna Steves purchased 740.49 acres for $66,100; while Elmira Gillis bought 238.68 acres for $12,848 and conveyed 54 acres in December 1895 to daughter Edna and son-in-law W.A. Lewis, who sold it to Alexander J. Uhl for $3,000.

Johanna Kloepper Steves, seen in this 1873 portrait, was the wife of Edward Steves, who founded a local lumber company. Their son, Albert J. Steves, owned the 780-acre Steves Pasture on the site of what became the Highland Park subdivision, where Steves Avenue formed the southern border. UTSA Special Collections

Alexander Alex Joseph Gottlieb Uhl (1863-1954) was the son of Emma and Alexander Elias Constantin Uhl, both German-born. Alex Uhl Sr., as he was eventually known, was the proprietor of Central Dairy, traded in cattle and operated a feed store. With his son Alex Jr., he also was involved in real estate and an insurance agency.

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From 1898 to 1900, the Uhls built the house you heard referred to as the Steves House, probably because its address was at 320 Steves Ave. or because of the areas association with the former pasture. Although its sometimes referred to as being one of the first houses in Highland Park, it was completed years before the former Steves pasture acreage was sold in 1907 to the investors who formed the Highland Park Improvement Co., which was chartered in 1908 and first started selling lots in October 1909.

Alex Uhl and his English-born wife, Agnes, had 14 children, for whom they built a three-story, 17-room house with wraparound verandas on three sides of the first and second floors and a conservatory that spanned the remaining side. Inside was a ballroom, modern bathrooms, pocket doors, a rosewood staircase, high ceilings and five fireplaces; outside was a barn and carriage house on the acreage behind of the house, where they carried on the dairy operation.

According to family stories, Alex Sr.s family was well-to-do, and his ranch was large, says his great-niece Lisa Uhl. The house was grand, with a wide porch that wrapped around it, she said. The ranch hands would eat their meals on the porch, and often they and the kids rode their horses right up the front steps. The family was fun to visit  The childrens rooms were connected through a series of hidden accesses.

While there were a few Highland Park houses built with pillars and broad porches, the Uhl house is often described as Victorian, while the architectural style of the new subdivision ran to bungalows, Spanish Revival and English Tudor styles (and) eclectic Craftsman houses, says the Highland Park page of the Office of Historic Preservation section of the city website, www.sanantonio.gov.

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This map from the San Antonio Light, Nov. 16, 1909, is oriented to show the main entrance to Highland Park at the bottom and shows Steves Avenue on the right. The Uhl homestead was built at what became 320 Steves Ave., about a decade before these streets were platted. San Antonio Light

Although the family had moved often during the last two decades of the 19th century, this was the place they put down roots. In 1940, Alex Sr. divided most of the land among his surviving children and continued to live in the house until his death in 1954. His heirs sold land in 1958 to the independent Calvary Mission Church, which bought the homestead two years later for use as a social hall and guest home behind the main church building, according to the Express, Jan. 20, 1970.

That was the day after a two-alarm fire of unknown origin ripped through the old frame house. Of the two San Antonio College students who were living there, one was gone for the weekend but the other, Mike Melugin, 19, of Dallas, woke up to smoke filling his upstairs bedroom and flames blocking his escape on the stairs, so he slid down a pillar to safety.

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It was about 2 a.m. when the fire broke out at 1518 Steves Ave., as the house was by then addressed. Second Assistant Fire Chief R.E. Fritz told the Light, Jan. 19, 1970, that The flames were so hot when we arrived, water didnt even faze it.

The blaze destroyed most of the house and its contents, including an antique piano and a stained glass window. Damages were estimated at $50,000. A pair of photostatic copies of two original scrolls in Aramaic, kept in a second-floor room, were the only things that survived.

One was partially burned and one was burned around the edges, said Associate Pastor Rev. Rocco Errico. There was no reason in the world for them not to go up, for everything else just melted.

Thanks to Clarissa Chavira of the San Antonio Public Librarys Texana/Genealogy Department and to Beth Standifird, librarian of the Conservation Society of San Antonio, for their help with this answer.
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.
Some 98% of entrepreneurs in the UAE, one of the highest globally, are confident that their businesses are set to flourish, despite geopolitical uncertainty and global macroeconomic headwinds, according to HSBCs latest survey. About 95% also expect personal wealth to increase in the next few years.

Their optimism is based on the performance of their investment portfolios, business opportunities, confidence in their own abilities, technological advancements and the diversification of their business, according to the annual HSBC Global Entrepreneurial Wealth Report 2024.

The report surveyed more than 1,800 entrepreneurs with investable assets of more than $2 million or total net worth of over $20 million, across ten markets including the UAE, US, UK, Hong Kong, India and China,

International ambitions

UAEs business owners are highly mobile and seven out of ten (65%) live for part of the year in more than one location, compared to a global average of 53%. For those considering moving their assets and business, neighbouring Saudi Arabia is the top choice followed by UK and US.

Farzad Billimoria, Head of Global Private Banking, UAE, HSBC Bank Middle East, said: Entrepreneurs in the UAE are driven by personal passions and interests compared to their global counterparts, and while financial freedom and reinvestment is a priority, they also cherish travel, comfort and luxurious lifestyles. However, what is striking is that like their global counterparts, around half of the UAEs wealthy business owners do not have a succession or wealth transfer plan in place.

This is where professional wealth planning experts can help, bridging disconnections and driving difficult conversations to make sure their hard-earned legacy continues to thrive for generations to come with the right structure and long-term plan in place.

UAEs pro-business environment

UAE entrepreneurs rank highest globally for confidence in the level and quality of support the government here provides business owners. 86% agree that the UAE has the right regulations, laws and tax policies in place to encourage business owners.

Richard Van Der Meer, Head of Commercial Banking, UAE, HSBC Bank Middle East, said: The UAEs pro-business policies are fueling a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem domestically and attracting global entrepreneurs eager to launch or even relocate their headquarters here. This growth is especially vibrant in the tech sector, where were helping businesses scale rapidly and expand internationally.

Through digital solutions like API-enabled global treasury management, virtual accounts, and our new venture debt offering for mid and late-stage tech firms, were supporting entrepreneurs in achieving their ambitions. Its exciting to see this momentum continue in the UAE.--TradeArabia News Service
In a regional milestone, Buraidah Oasis, a project initiated by the National Water Company (NWC) in support of the Saudi Green Initiative, has recorded the first internationally accredited water footprint in the world and the first internationally accredited carbon footprint in the Middle East and Europe.

This accomplishment comes as the project approaches the conclusion of its inaugural year, with NWC highlighting it as one of its flagship initiatives in promoting environmental sustainability.

The carbon footprint report, which was certified by the German Board, showed that the oasis has no carbon emissions and is instead a giant reservoir that absorbs carbon from the surrounding environment at a rate of 0.12% per year. The certification was presented to NWC Chief Executive Officer Dr Fuad Al AlSheikh Mubarak.

The German Government's German Board certification is one of the strongest institutional certifications at the European level, given Germany's global excellence in the agricultural sector, as well as its seven decades of experience in combating carbon emissions.

Achieving complete absorption of CO emissions remains an ambitious goal pursued by nations and international organizations dedicated to this cause across diverse environments globally.

A comparative analysis between Buraidah Oasis and a forest in Germany highlights this effort: the forest emits 12 times more carbon emissions than the oasis. This stark contrast underscores the oasis impressive capacity for carbon absorption, showcasing its vital role in environmental sustainability.

As for the water footprint, the report for Buraidah Oasis was prepared to calculate the rate of water wastage and the amount of irrigation water concentration in the vicinity of the tree trunk, which contributes to the sapling's absorption of carbon emission.

The water footprint is an indicator that measures the appropriate amount of water that a single plant needs to grow dynamically.

The Buraidah Oasis features one million trees encircling a vast lake that contains 86,000 cu m of renewable water sourced from NWCs wastewater treatment plant. This innovative approach is integral to its future vision for sustainability and aims to make a positive environmental impact in the Kingdom.

A new antelope sanctuary has recently been established within the oasis, featuring the release of 15 antelopes into its protected environment. This sanctuary spans 50,000 square meters of the oasis's expansive total area of 19 million sq m.-TradeArabia News Service
The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) held a strategic meeting in Dubai with major international feeder ship companies as part of its efforts to enhance connectivity between Saudi and global ports and bolster the competitiveness of the kingdom's ports on the regional and international fronts.

The meeting also focused on the developments at Saudi ports, including the development of infrastructure and handling equipment in container terminals.

It highlighted the latest technologies being implemented in the ports and ongoing capacity enhancements to ensure that ports can deliver highly efficient operational services, said a statement from Mawani.

Senior officials emphasized the significance of exploring opportunities for collaboration, enhancing strategic partnerships with such companies, and formulating joint action plans to improve the connectivity of Saudi ports, enhance logistics services and facilitate trade, it stated.

This endeavour is part of a broader effort to support the national economy and strengthen the Kingdom's standing as a global logistics hub, which is in line with Vision 2030, it added.-TradeArabia News Service
IndusInd International Holdings Limited (IIHL), a company backed by Indian business congomerate Hinduja Group, has cleared the last hurdle for the $1.17 billion acquisition of Anil Ambanis Reliance Capital (RCAP) with Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) giving a go-ahead.

The green signal from Indian Governments DPIT was necessary as some of the IIHL shareholders were residents of Hong Kong, a special administrative region of China, said IIHL in its statement.

As per DPIT norms, if an entity from a nation sharing a land border with India (China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, and Afghanistan), or if a citizen or permanent resident of any such country is the beneficial owner of an investment in India, they are required to pursue investment through the government approval route, it stated.

The DPIT approval now paves the way for IIHL to close the transaction before the deadline of January 31, 2025, it added.

Investment experts said the RCAP acquisition will give a boost to the IIHL strategy to enhance its presence in the Banking and Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI) sector in India and the Middle East.

IIHL has a large shareholding from the Indian diaspora in the UAE. Last year an IIHL board meeting in Dubai had approved a capital raising of $1.5 billion to fund the (RCAP) acquisition.

It is the promoter of IndusInd Bank which has a representative presence in the UAE, and the RCAP acquisition will bolster the growth strategy of IIHL and IndusInd Bank.

The underlying operating companies in RCAP are in Insurance (Life, General and Health), Asset Reconstruction, Broking, etc and augur well to meet IIHLs aspirations in the BFSI sector, according to experts.

Apart from financial services, the Hinduja Groups business and investment interests in the UAE and region include GCCs only bus manufacturing plant, Ashok Leyland and downstream petroleum products entity, Gulf Oil Middle East.-TradeArabia News Service
Bahrain Network (BNET), the national company responsible for providing fiber-based broadband network in the Kingdom of Bahrain, has signed a deal with Infonas, a key telecom services group in the Middle East, for the transfer of all its fixed fiber network assets to its fiber portfolio.

Announcing the strategic deal, BNET said this marks an important chapter in the development of the telecommunications sector, with Infonas being the first licensed operator to transfer its assets to BNET since the latters separation from Batelco in 2019.

In collaboration with the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, BNET has been working to set optimal policies to enable the transfer of the fixed fiber network assets of licensed operators to the company, including the introduction of new BNET services to the Kingdom's wholesale sector, said a statement from BNET.

This comes as part of Bahrains Fifth National Telecommunications Plan (NTP5) which stipulates the transfer of all fixed telecommunications infrastructure assets to BNET, thus reinforcing its role as the kingdoms national broadband operator providing equal access to all fiber-optic service providers.

Speaking on the occasion, CEO Ahmed Jaber Alhogbani Aldoseri said: "BNET is proud to be merging Infonas fixed assets to its single network, as part of our commitment to fulfilling the directives of the National Telecommunications Plan."

"We would also like to commend the efforts of both parties towards successfully completing this transaction. BNET is dedicated to working alongside all telecommunications companies and invites more network operators to transfer their assets to join our single network," stated Aldoseri.

Robert Rees, the Chief Revenue Officer at Infonas, said: "We are proud to be the first network to join the single national network through the transfer of our fixed assets to BNET."

"We hope this step will deliver more efficient fiber services and enhance coverage to unprecedented heights as we ensure our customers experience uninterrupted and elevated telecommunications services stronger than before. We also aim to contribute to achieving the national aspiration of unifying all fixed telecommunications infrastructure assets in Bahrain, and elevating the success of this vital sector," he added.
Increasingly, hotel companies view monitoring their environmental footprint as both a standard practice and a necessity, says an official of one of the top 10 hospitality management schools worldwide that is celebrating almost a century of creating the hospitality leaders of tomorrow.

Paul Griep, Director of Industry & Alumni Relations, Hotelschool The Hague, outlined in an interview to the TTN, how the hospitality industry has made significant strides in adopting sustainable practices.

Excerpts

What are the key trends and developments in sustainability in the travel and hospitality sector?

When it comes to applying sustainable practices, our industry has seen some great development and progress within our industry.

For many years, critics drew attention to what they claimed to be a slow transition within the hospitality industry, often mentioned as not genuine and green-washed.

The dynamics within our Industry make it difficult to disrupt the status-quo, this mostly due to the many stakeholders (investors, management companies, guests) involved.

We have, however, seen some positive developments; especially in the "E" of ESG. More and more hotel companies see monitoring their environmental footprint as a "standard" and a "must" these days, automatically leading to initiatives and practices that accelerate sustainability.

Renewable energy, water consumption, smart technology and food waste are areas where we are taking fast, positive strides. EU and US regulations, in combination with the increased awareness and decision making of consumers/guests, brings our industry to a pivotal point: one with investors that are more inclined to invest into sustainable buildings, construction and building materials.

This important "tipping point" is then supported by hotel chains who welcome and execute the sustainable practices that they are so busy developing and implementing.

What do you see as the core focus when it comes to investment in sustainability/sustainable tourism in hospitality and travel in 2024 and beyond?

When it comes to investments, the main focus is on buildings, construction and technology.

This is simply because it is the most impactful. Innovations and concepts that have a proven impact in the area of sustainability, in combination with a positive ROI, are what investors are typically looking for.

These innovations target not only the "bigger" picture, such as real estate (construction materials, machinery etc.), but also "smaller" technological inventions which lead to savings and thus present a "win" for the investor.

The mindset, the practices and the way we treat "sustainability" has shown great strides.

I do believe, however, that our industry is in need of a major disruption. Similar to how hotel chains upgraded the discipline of revenue management in the 2000's to board-room level, we now see a similar trend in how we address sustainability.

Sustainability is growing from "someone doing this next to their current job" to a full department, company-wide approach, whereby it becomes an integrated main component of the companys mission and vision.

A real disruption, however, hasnt yet taken place. A drastic, daring, and especially disruptive approach leading to a renewed way of thinking and acting for the common good is what our industry needs.

A so-called "reboot" on how corporations, governments and consumers approach sustainability is needed in order to tackle society's greatest challenge. This was the clear message coming from The Sustainable Development Goals Summit in New York.

I personally cannot wait to see which hotel chain will be the first to take this "bold" step.

What role does technology play in driving innovation and pushing sustainability in the industry?

Technology is without a doubt crucial when it comes to driving innovation. Some great concepts have been developed and implemented which undoubtedly have positive impacts on sustainability.

Some innovations, however, have led to lower satisfaction levels among guests. The unknown, the frustration around "something not working properly", or the feeling of the guest who now needs to do everything him/herself is a difficult trajectory to navigate.

Hotel chains need to find the balance between using technology to increase efficiency, ROI and cost control, whilst at the same time ensuring that our guests continue to receive the "personal touch", the personalised service and the perception of being treated in the most special way.

It is evident that we see a gap in the target markets when it comes to applying and using technology. Brands attracting multiple generations face this challenge of providing the necessary "high touch" in a renewed "high tech" and especially "high self-service" world.

Whereas we see great strides in the "E" component of ESG, I believe there is still a lot of work to be done in the area of social sustainability.

Inequality remains a big issue, not only in the world, but especially in our industry. With large groups of people becoming more and more aware of this situation, it is evident that it must be addressed, and yet remains extremely challenging for companies to tackle this.

A disruption, a changed way of thinking, is needed to drastically improve this situation in our industry.

Another pitfall our Industry continues to face is the "greenwashing" aspect around sustainability. We see true and genuine initiatives and developments which we all welcome. There are, however, still plenty of parties using practices that are insignificant, irrelevant, of little impact, or simply not true.

Communicating the right practices around sustainability from a hotel chain's perspective is challenging as it needs transparency, honesty and pride whilst also requiring humility to avoid critical push back.

One hotel chain has appointed a VP Sustainability Sales, showcasing the need to communicate the right message with the right intentions to all stakeholders involved; certainly, an interesting, innovative and impactful approach.  TradeArabia News Service
WE all have the power to break down the barriers that have held us back for too long.

This was the statement from attorney-at-law and lay assessor of the Equal Opportunity Tribunal Veera Bhajan as she addressed the American Chamber of Commerce for T&T (Amcham T&T) Womens Leadership Conference yesterday.

The event was hosted at the Hyatt Regency (Trinidad), Wrightson Road, Port of Spain.
Maltese students fascinated by Confucius-themed photo exhibition

Xinhua) 09:55, November 23, 2024

VALLETTA, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Students from Malta's St Ignatius College Handaq Middle School were fascinated by a Confucius-themed photo exhibition held at their school on Friday, describing the event as a window into Chinese culture.

The exhibition, presented by the China Cultural Center in Malta, showcased a series of images. Chinese cultural artifacts were also displayed during the event. The exhibition guided visitors through ancient and modern context.

Claire Zahra, deputy principal of the school, said the event would undoubtedly arouse students' curiosity to further explore China, its culture, and perhaps even visit the country one day.

Students were also engaged in interactive activities, and creative cultural products were distributed as rewards.

"The exhibition is very interesting, and I love it," 12-year-old Stefano Gallo said, expressing hope to visit China in the future.

Winning a Chinese knot, Maksym Antonchenko said he has gained a deeper understanding of Chinese culture.

Rita Micallef, a teacher, told Xinhua that the students enjoyed the experience. "I do that as well," she said, sharing her personal interest in Chinese films and her efforts to learn Chinese.

(Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Kou Jie)
The Judson Independent School District board will vote next month on a plan involving the closure of Coronado Village Elementary School. Robin Jerstad

Confronting shrinking enrollment and a projected $25 million budget shortfall, the Judson Independent School District is considering a plan that could result in Bexar Countys 26th school closure since 2023.

Trustees are slated to vote next month on a series of proposals that include closing Coronado Village Elementary School and redrawing attendance lines to increase the efficiency of district facilities.

The recommendation came from the districts growth and planning committee, a task force of community members who began meeting in September to brainstorm solutions to even out student enrollment at Judsons campuses.

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This is not an easy task, and we are not going to please everyone, trustee Stephanie Faulkner said at a board meeting Thursday. We have to set our personal thoughts and experiences aside and look at academics and expenditures, and we have to think about not just the immediate timeline but the future.

Its a familiar discussion for local school officials and families. Four other San Antonio school districts have consolidated campuses in the last two years to cope with fewer students and reduced funding.

Unlike those school systems, however, Judson is discussing shuttering a school while construction crews work to erect two new campuses.

District trustees have contested the need for the new elementary and middle schools, funded by a $345 million bond package approved by voters in 2022. While 15 of Judsons 29 campuses currently operate more than 20% below capacity, six are overcrowded due to new residential development in the district's northern end.

The proposed plan is to move the students and staff at Coronado Village to Selma Elementary School, a 60,000-square-foot campus that broke ground in May. District officials insisted Coronado Village staff members would retain their jobs. They did not discuss how the neighborhood school would be repurposed.

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Rumors that the district had already decided to close Coronado Village resulted in a full house at the first growth and planning meeting in September. Scores of community members showed up assuming the school would absorb the Judson CARE Academy, an alternative education program that serves some 120 students out of an office building near the former Converse Elementary School.

A dual-language campus that opened in 1971, Coronado Village is currently 41% under capacity with 469 students, according to district and state data.

While Coronado Village is the only campus on the chopping block, the plan also involves redrawn attendance maps and changes to academic programming. The attendance zone for Rolling Meadows Elementary School would split at Kentucky Street, and JSTEM Academy, a STEM-based educational program with over 400 students, would relocate from Judson Middle School to Kitty Hawk Middle School.

During the public comment portion of Thursday's meeting, two community members expressed strong opposition to a part of the plan calling for the end of Wortham Oak Elementary Schools Spanish Immersion Program, a pipeline for English-speaking students to become fluent in Spanish.

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Ive always considered Spanish immersion as more of an advanced academics program in an elementary setting where AP and honors courses are not available, said Samantha Wohler, parent to a third grader in the program. This program offers an academic enrichment that not only teaches our students a second language, a vital skill in todays society, but an advanced pacing and curriculum that allows additional exposure to new concepts and enrichment activities.

During a board workshop last week, trustees and administrators discussed phasing out Spanish immersion over the next three years. District officials said it was not viable to continue pouring money  including $400,000 for salaries  into a program with only 80 students.

I wouldnt recommend we sustain a program like that, said Superintendent Milton Fields.

Fields and his cabinet noted the importance of making a decision in December so any changes could be implemented in the fall of next year. The board will discuss the recommendations at a board workshop on Dec. 11 and vote at a regular meeting on Dec. 19.

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WHITE candles were yesterday placed on the side of the road in Sennon Village Number Three, Siparia, where the severed head of 59-year-old Joanne Estick was found in a bag on Thursday.

Estick, a mother of one and grandmother of three, was last seen in the village earlier this week.

A senior police officer of the South Western Police Division said they are yet to officially confirm that the head is that of Estick without the rest of the human remains.
Rhyma Castillo is a trending reporter for the Express-News and a member of its Digital Go Team. She can be reached at rhyma.castillo@express-news.net.

A native of San Antonio and a Texas A&M University graduate, she is a journalist with nearly a decade of experience. She has reported on politics, immigration, climate change, gun violence, and workers rights. Additionally, she excels in lifestyle and entertainment writing, covering music, television, video games, technology, and relationships.

In her free time, she enjoys painting, drawing, cooking, hiking, climbing, gardening, playing video games, cuddling with her cats, and making music with her band.
Flight tickets for the 2025 Lunar New Year holiday (Tet) in Vietnam are both expensive and scarce, especially on domestic routes linking major cities with other provinces across the country.

Lots of travel agencies shared that airfares for group bookings were as high as those for individuals.

This has significantly hiked the cost of domestic tours, making them even pricier than some international trips and prompting many travelers to opt for overseas tours.

A survey conducted by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Wednesday this week across the websites of local carriers like Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet, Bamboo Airways, and Vietravel Airlines indicated substantial price increases for Tet flights, especially between January 25 and February 2, 2025 (the 26th of the 12th lunar month to the fifth of the first lunar month).

Airfares for the Tet holiday have doubled compared to normal days and been higher than two months ago.

For instance, on the Ho Chi Minh City - Hanoi route, budget carrier Vietjet offered the lowest round-trip fare at VND7.2 million (US$283), while other local airlines charged between VND7.3 million ($287) and VND7.5 million ($295).

Fares on this route have risen by some VND300,000 ($11.7) since September.

Regarding the route linking the southern hub with Thanh Hoa Province in north-central Vietnam, Vietjets tickets cost VND7.3 million while national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines charged VND10 million ($393).

Notably, tickets for Ho Chi Minh City - Dong Hoi flights on January 24-25 were sold out.

Round-trip fares for flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang City and Quy Nhon City, both in central Vietnam ranged from VND5 million ($196) to VND5.9 million ($232).

Some air ticketing agents reported a difference of VND800,000-1.2 million ($31-47) per round-trip ticket compared to normal days.

For busy routes like the Ho Chi Minh - Hanoi, tickets for peak travel times cost VND6-8 million ($235-314), significantly higher than the Tet 2024 prices of VND6-6.7 million ($235-236).

Despite the high airfares, demand remains strong, particularly for prime travel times.

The lack of ticket availability forced many holidaymakers to book their flights early to avoid even higher last-minute fares.

Minh Trang, an office worker in Ho Chi Minh City who always returns to her hometown for Tet, shared that she was hesitant about booking a flight for the upcoming Tet, since the airfare is as high as VND8 million ($314).

Trang added that she was waiting to see if additional flights or better deals become available.

Tuoi Tre has reached some local airline representatives and insiders for comments on the issue.

Hang Quang Tuan, director of Ngoc Mai Travel Company in Ho Chi Minh City, said that Tet flights bound for provinces across the country have been almost fully booked, adding that ticket price hikes remained within regulated caps.

He went on to say that Tet marks the busiest travel season, particularly between Ho Chi Minh City and northern provinces.

However, the limited flight frequencies of 5-7 flights per day per airline at provincial airports, where Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet are responsible for operating most of the flights, has left travel demand far outstripping supply.

Smaller carriers with limited fleets struggle to add more flights.

Local carriers justified high Tet airfares as a necessity to offset costs from unbalanced demand.

They said that flights bound for northern Vietnam from the south are fully booked before Tet, while return flights are often empty. After Tet, the reverse occurs.

Speaking to Tuoi Tre, a representative of a major local carrier announced plans to add 2,000 seats per day on Tet holiday routes.

We expect to increase flights and introduce more fare types next week.

However, finding fares as cheap as regular days will be extremely difficult, the representative said.

Some individuals argued that airlines are taking advantage of Tet soaring travel demand to maximize their profits and prioritize their revenue over passenger affordability.

Industry experts said the lack of competition in the local aviation market was a key reason for high Tet airfares.

The domestic market is dominated by a few large carriers, reducing competitiveness on price and services during peak seasons.

Foreign airlines being not allowed to operate domestic routes and infrastructure constraints prevent the entry of new carriers. As a result, travelers have limited affordable options.

One expert took examples of mature markets like the U.S. or Europe where fierce airline competition keeps prices reasonable, even during peak times.

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Kyokuyo Co., Ltd., Japans third largest seafood processor, has opened a US$12.65 million factory in Vietnams Long An Province, following concerns about Fukushima water safety and overdependence on China, according to Japans Nikkei Asia newspaper.

Located in Duc Hoa 1 Industrial Park in southern Long Ans Duc Hoa District, the factory is under Kyokuyo Vina Foods Co., Ltd., a Vietnamese arm of Kyokuyo.

As the first facility of the Japanese seafood giant in Vietnam, the factory specializes in producing crab and fish filets with workshops and machinery imported from Japan and Europe.

Kyokuyo plans to export products from this factory to around the world, including to Japan and Southeast Asia.

The factory, which was completed recently, is expected to be put into full operation in February 2025 with an estimated output of 5,000 metric tons.

It is expected that the facility needs unskilled labor of up to 800 employees.

Nikkei Asia cited Kyokuyo as saying in May that seafood businesses face difficulties due to the effects of the treated water discharge from the Fukushima nuclear power plant and growing risk in China due to their economic slowdown and foreign policies.

Radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, although treated before discharge, still makes many countries concerned about its possible impacts on the marine environment.

In August 2023, after Japan began discharging treated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean, China banned all seafood imports from Japan.

According to the International Trade Center, a joint agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, the worlds five largest importers of seafood in 2023 were, by descending order, the EU, the U.S., China, Japan, and South Korea.

As of August 2024, Vietnam, with a global market share of seven percent, was the worlds third largest export of seafood, after China and Norway, the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development reported.

Kyokuyo is Japan's third largest seafood producer by assets after Maruha Nichiro and Nissui, as of March, Nikkei Asia said, citing Statista data.

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VND15 billion (US$590,000) was awarded to the three winning teams of the Net Zero Challenge 2024, Vietnams largest international competition on green growth and carbon neutrality.

The final round of the Net Zero Challenge 2024 took place on Friday afternoon in Ho Chi Minh City, featuring nine teams selected from 500 applications across 55 countries and territories worldwide.

The competition was organized by Vietnams Touchstone Partners venture capital fund, Singapores Temasek Foundation, and the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies.

After a competitive final pitching session, the organizers announced the three winning teams in each track.

CO2L Tech from Canada won the Renewables and Carbon Removal track for their cost-competitive CO2 capture and utilization technology, producing valuable chemicals with up to 90 percent less carbon footprint.

N&E Innovations from Singapore won the Food Systems & Sustainable Agriculture track for their biodegradable antimicrobial coating and packaging made from upcycled food waste, which helps reduce post-harvest loss by at least 20 percent.

Bygen from Australia won the Circular Economy & Waste Management track for their sustainable activated carbon production from agricultural waste at 60 percent lower production costs.

Each winning team received a prize of VND5 billion ($196,700).

Additionally, N&E Innovations and CO2L Tech were awarded an investment prize of $50,000 each from Sopoong Ventures and Touchstone Partners, respectively.

Heng Li Lang, head of climate and liveability at Temasek Foundation, speaks at the grand finale of the Net Zero Challenge 2024 held in Ho Chi Minh City, November 22, 2024. Photo: Bao Anh / Tuoi Tre News

Three other finalists -- Cruz Foam from the U.S., Blusink from the UK, and MYCL from Indonesia -- also received investment prizes and other grants worth $50,000 each from Hao Shi Foundation, SembCorp Industries, and Dragon Capital, respectively.

Among the nine teams that reached the final round, a Vietnamese team, RARE Toles, presented a roof cooling coating solution that can save up to 30 percent in energy consumption within the fields of renewable energy and CO2 neutrality.

Speaking at the event, Nguyen Van Dung, deputy chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee, highlighted that this is the largest international competition in Vietnam focused on green growth and carbon neutrality.

Dung expressed honor that the participating teams, from all around the world, have chosen Ho Chi Minh City as the place to promote their technological innovations.

In addition to the official prize pool of VND15 billion, the competition this year also received significant support from large corporations, international organizations, and investment funds, creating a rich ecosystem for the teams to develop and deploy their initiatives in Ho Chi Minh City, the southern region, and nationwide.

Green and technology businesses have demonstrated their effectiveness, with their models serving as clear evidence of Ho Chi Minh Citys ability to mobilize both domestic and foreign resources, Dung emphasized.

The city continues to attract talent from around the world, serving as a fertile land for ideas, capital, and a spirit of entrepreneurship, start-ups, and international innovation.

Nguyen Van Dung, deputy chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee, speaks at the grand finale of the Net Zero Challenge 2024 held in Ho Chi Minh City, November 22, 2024. Photo: Bao Anh / Tuoi Tre News

The Net Zero Challenge 2024, the second edition of the annual contest seeking technological solutions to address climate change, began in Ho Chi Minh City on July 16.

It was open to Vietnamese and foreign startups, research teams, and non-profits working in climate technologies.

Entities whose solutions have been commercialized in other nations but want them piloted in Vietnam were also encouraged to join.

The number of participants in the competition this year has grown significantly compared to over 100 applicants from 45 countries and 200 from Vietnam in 2023.

This year, we were impressed by the quantity and quality of participants and the level of interest from international teams, investors, and partners, said Tu Ngo, general partner at Touchstone Partners.

This also supports our thesis in building the Net Zero Challenge as an open platform for climate technology, serving as a bridge between ecosystem partners and startup founders.

Nguyen Quoc Hung, representative of Vietnam's RARE Toles, presents his pitch at the grand finale of the Net Zero Challenge 2024 held in Ho Chi Minh City, November 22, 2024. Photo: Bao Anh / Tuoi Tre News

Temasek Foundation is proud to support the winners of Net Zero Challenge 2024 as they pilot their innovations in Vietnam, stated Heng Li Lang, head of climate and liveability at Temasek Foundation.

Congratulations to these trailblazers for their inspiring solutions, which are paving the way for transformative change by seizing green opportunities and scaling sustainability solutions.

This underscores our commitment to fostering enduring partnerships with governments, businesses, investors and innovators, driving impactful solutions that will benefit both the people and planet.

Truong Minh Huy Vu, director at the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies, stated that they were excited to see new technologies in Vietnams green economy and were committed to supporting these initiatives.

We aim to create the best conditions for these innovative projects to grow and help achieve national goals for a green transition and sustainable growth, Vu said.

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Party General Secretary To Lam affirmed Vietnams willingness to share its agricultural development experience with Malaysia and called on Malaysia to support Vietnam in developing its Halal industry during his meeting with Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Rural and Regional Development, and President of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) Dato Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.

The Vietnamese Party chief met with the UMNO leader and senior leaders of Malaysias ruling coalition during his official visit to Malaysia from Thursday to Saturday this week.

Underscoring the friendship between the UMNO and the Communist Party of Vietnam, the UMNO leader commended Vietnams socioeconomic achievements, calling them a source of pride for ASEAN.

He expressed confidence that, under the Vietnamese Communist Party's leadership, headed by Party chief Lam, Vietnam would achieve its developmental goals and usher in a new era of progress.

A meeting between Party General Secretary of Vietnam To Lam and Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Rural and Regional Development, and President of the United Malays National Organization Dato Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, November 22, 2024. Photo: Vietnam News Agency

Lam congratulated Malaysia on its achievements under the Unity Government and expressed optimism about Malaysias potential to become one of Asias leading economies and rank among the worlds top 30 within the next decade.

Lam urged Malaysia to facilitate greater market access for Vietnamese processed agricultural products, seafood, and food items.

He reiterated Vietnams commitment to ensuring a stable rice supply for Malaysia, sharing its expertise in agricultural development, including food and coffee production.

He also encouraged Malaysia to support Vietnams Halal sector and promote investment in this industry.

Emphasizing the importance of education and training as strategic breakthroughs, the top Vietnamese official proposed increased cooperation in higher education, postgraduate training, and leadership development.

Both leaders agreed to bolster youth and women leadership exchanges, enhance collaboration on multilateral platforms, and work together to build a stronger ASEAN community.

The Deputy PM of Malaysia expressed a desire to deepen bilateral ties ahead of Malaysias ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025.

Party General Secretary of Vietnam To Lam (L) visits Malaysias national oil and gas company Petronas, Malaysia, November 22, 2024. Photo: Vietnam News Agency

On the same day, Lam visited Malaysias national oil and gas company Petronas.

Lam commended Petronas for its achievements as well as its cooperation outcomes with the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group over the past three decades.

He urged Petronas to align its investment and business strategies in Vietnam with the recently established comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations.

He also called for increased collaboration in emerging energy fields.

President and Group Chief Executive Officer of Petronas Yang Mulia Tan Sri Tengku Muhammand Taufik highlighted opportunities for cooperation in oil and gas and renewable energy.

He affirmed Petronas commitment to promoting collaboration in energy and key projects, contributing to ensuring energy security and shared prosperity.

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The U.S. delivered the first five T-6C trainer aircraft to Vietnam at a handover ceremony held in Phan Thiet City, south-central Binh Thuan Province on Wednesday, marking a significant landmark in the bilateral defense relationship, the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi reported the same day.

The ceremony was attended by U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper, U.S. Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) Commander General Kevin B. Schneider, and Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Hien, Commander of the Vietnam Peoples Air Defense-Air Force (ADAF).

The U.S. Embassy emphasized that the delivery of the first five T-6C trainer aircraft, among a total 12, is a significant milestone in the bilateral defense relationship.

The T-6C trainer aircraft will provide valuable support to Vietnams pilot training program, reflecting our shared vision for a strong, prosperous, independent, and resilient Vietnam that contributes to regional stability and security, the website of the U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Vietnam cited Ambassador Knapper.

He commented that this delivery marked an important step forward in the growing partnership between the U.S. and Vietnam.

The delivery of these aircraft underscores the increasing cooperation between the U.S Department of Defense and Vietnams Ministry of National Defense and reinforces the commitment to joint training and capacity building, the embassy said.

This collaboration demonstrates the spirit of the U.S.-Vietnam comprehensive strategic partnership, which promotes mutual growth and shared objectives.

In 2021, the Vietnamese defense ministry and the U.S. Air Forces committed to the T-6C trainer aircraft to operationalize and improve the ADAFs pilot training program, stated the embassy.

Todays arrival of the first T-6C aircraft to the Vietnam [Peoples] ADAF represents the promise we made to assist in your air force modernization efforts, the PACAF quoted General Schneider as saying.

Speaking at the event, Lieut. Gen. Hien said these aircraft will support Vietnamese military pilots in complementing and enhancing the capability of training and interoperability, thereby meeting the requirements of training military pilots, mission readiness and homeland protection.

Hien added that in the coming time, the Vietnamese side will collaborate with the U.S. side in exploiting and utilizing T-6C aircraft in the most effective manner, to serve as a basis for the training and assigning tasks in Vietnam Peoples Air Defense-Air Force.

The delivery of the five aircraft was based on the defense cooperation agreement between Vietnam and the U.S., such as the 2011 Memorandum of Understanding on Defense Cooperation and the 2024 Joint Vision Statement on Defense Cooperation, spokeswoman of Vietnams Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang said at a press briefing in Hanoi on Thursday in response to the media query regarding the U.S.'s handover of these aircraft to Vietnam.

This cooperative activity is within the framework of the Vietnam - U.S. Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace, Cooperation and Sustainable Development, which is developing well, contributing to regional and global peace, stability, cooperation and development, Hang said.

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Dr. Nguyen Thuy Ba Linh, a university lecturer in the UK, has become the first Vietnamese scientist to be honored at the prestigious TechWomen100 Awards 2024 for her outstanding contributions to research, development and application of biotechnologies.

Among more than 1,150 nominations, Dr. Linh, from the University College London, was recently selected as the sole Vietnamese representative to be included in the list of 100 winners at the TechWomen100 Awards this year, the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported.

The award ceremony took place at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Center in London on November 21 (local time).

Dr. Linh, 44, shared that she is always proud to be Vietnamese and believes that the efforts of Vietnamese people can make a difference anywhere.

She hoped that the award will serve as a source of inspiration for Vietnamese female scientists at home and abroad, especially young people, to overcome barriers and pursue their passion for science.

In an interview with VNA in the UK, Dr. Vanessa Vallely, founder and CEO of WeAreTechWomen - head of the organizing committee of the TechWomen100 2024 - said that the awards aim to find special talents in the technology field and create an ecosystem for women working in technology to connect and support each other.

She highly appreciated Dr. Linh's achievements and expressed her wish to see more Vietnamese female scientists take part in the awards, contributing to expanding the global nominations of TechWomen100.

Dr. Nguyen Thuy Ba Linh (L) and Dr. Vanessa Vallely, head of the organizing committee of the TechWomen100 2024 Awards, at the award ceremony in London, the UK on November 21, 2024. Photo: VNA

Dr. Linh graduated with a major in chemistry from the University of Natural Sciences, Ho Chi Minh City in 2003.

After receiving a PhD in regenerative medicine from Soonchunhyang University, South Korea, she joined the Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Oxford as a postdoctoral researcher, focusing on biomedical engineering and tissue regeneration.

Since 2019, Dr. Linh has been a lecturer in biomaterials at the Eastman Dental Institute at the University College London.

Her research focuses on biomaterials for tissue regeneration, drug delivery systems, and thermoresponsive polymers for stem cell expansion and harvesting.

Dr. Linh has conducted many important projects on bone and skin regeneration material technology.

The researcher has published more than 50 peer-reviewed articles, two book chapters, and two patents.

She was also an editor and reviewer for many prestigious journals such as the Journal of Biomaterials Applications, and gave courses on nanomedicine, biomedical engineering applications, and clinical sciences.

Launched in 2017, the annual TechWomen100 honors 100 exceptional women leaders working in technology across the UK each year.

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Doctors in Phu Quoc Island off Kien Giang Province in southern Vietnam recently saved the life of a South Korean octogenarian tourist who suffered a severe brain hemorrhage after a fall.

The 84-year-old tourist, who wished to not be named, received support from local authorities and hospital staff to return to his homeland safely.

He was then admitted to a hospital in South Korea for further care.

Vinmec Phu Quoc International General Hospital reported on Saturday that the male patient was admitted in a state of drowsiness, stiff neck, and weak limbs following a fall.

A CT scan revealed multiple brain hemorrhages and severe brain edema.

After consultation, doctors decided on conservative treatment.

Following resuscitation, the patient gradually regained alertness, improved muscle strength, and was able to move gently in bed.

The patients family then requested to transfer him back to South Korea for further treatment.

The hospital provided a doctor, nurse, equipment, and medicine to ensure his safe return by civil aircraft.

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Aging heritage houses in Hoi An Ancient Town in Quang Nam Province, central Vietnam, are falling into disrepair, trapped in legal limbo as ownership disputes and funding shortfalls hinder urgent restoration efforts.

The iconic town, a UNESCO-recognized trading port from the 15th to the 19th centuries, is grappling with mounting challenges in preserving its historical treasures.

Currently, 11 privately owned heritage sites in Hoi An require immediate restoration.

Among them is a house at 68 Tran Phu Street, where an unassuming moss-covered facade conceals a crumbling interior of decayed beams and walls.

The nearly 400-square-meter house is home to three elderly women, the youngest of whom, 83-year-old Ngo Thi Gan, said the property has been passed down through generations.

The houses current legal owner is a Dutch national, complicating restoration efforts.

The exterior of 68 Tran Phu Street in Hoi An Ancient Town, Quang Nam Province, central Vietnam, appears intact, but the interior is almost entirely damaged. Photo: Thai Ba Dung / Tuoi Tre

Despite its prime location and estimated value of billions of Vietnam dong, the structure is beyond repair and slated for demolition, and authorities have been unable to proceed due to the legal owners absence.

Residents have been evacuated during severe storms, like recent Typhoon Tra Mi, to ensure their safety.

Another property at 76/18 Tran Phu Street, spanning thousands of square meters, houses three families of the same clan.

Years of battling decay and termites have left one of its three houses unsalvageable, but restoration is stalled due to the need for a legal representative.

Other historic sites on Tran Phu Street, Le Loi, Bach Dang, and the Ngu Bang Assembly Hall face similar predicaments.

Nguyen Van Son, the Hoi An Peoples Committee chairman, emphasized that restoration and resident safety are priorities, but unresolved ownership issues and financial barriers complicate efforts.

Its a perplexing reality. Even with funding, we cannot restore these ancient houses, Son said, explaining that many properties, some over a century old, have changed hands multiple times, leaving their legal documentation incomplete or unclear.

Structural components of 76/18 Tran Phu Street in Hoi An Ancient Town, Quang Nam Province, central Vietnam, have been hollowed out by termites. Photo: Thai Ba Dung / Tuoi Tre

Although these buildings are severely damaged, theres little we can do, Son added.

While the national government fully funds the restoration of state-owned heritage sites, it only covers 45 to 75 percent of the costs for privately owned properties.

Most families cannot afford the remaining expenses.

Residents such as Luong Thi Huyen Trang at 76/18 Tran Phu and Ngo Thi Gans family at 68 Tran Phu told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that their incomes barely cover daily necessities, leaving no funds for restoration.

Despite some sites receiving special support from the government, unresolved legal issues have kept restoration efforts at a standstill.

Eleven privately owned heritage sites in Hoi An remain at risk of collapse, posing dangers to residents and the towns historical legacy.

Until solutions are found, authorities can only prepare to evacuate occupants during severe weather.

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River Oaks District hosts Fashion Santa for its tree lighting ceremony and holiday photo sessions. Courtesy of River Oaks District

Fashion Santa, the viral holiday icon, will make several appearances at Houstons River Oaks District this season.

Paul Mason, the international model behind Fashion Santa, has walked runways for designers like Versace, Dior and Armani. In 2014, he introduced the Fashion Santa persona, combining high fashion with the holiday spirit. Since then, the character has gained global recognition and helped raise funds for charities including Make-A-Wish, SickKids Foundation and the Terry Fox Foundation.

River Oaks District hosts Fashion Santa for its tree lighting ceremony and holiday photo sessions. Courtesy of River Oaks District

MORE FROM ANA KHAN: 15 must-see holiday light displays to explore in Houston this season

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Fashion Santa will appear at River Oaks Districts Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony from 5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 23, arriving in a Rolls Royce at 5:10 p.m. The event features The Parks 30-foot tree lighting, accompanied by performances from The Houston Christmas Carolers and an A-Capella Group, with complimentary hot cocoa and holiday cocktails. The event is free and open to the public.

On Nov. 24, from 5 to 7 p.m., Fashion Santa will return to The Park for complimentary family photos in a photobooth. Later, on Dec. 8, pet owners can bring their furry companions for free photos with Fashion Santa from noon to 2 p.m.

River Oaks District hosts Fashion Santa for its tree lighting ceremony and holiday photo sessions. Courtesy of River Oaks District

Fashion Santas final appearance at River Oaks District will be on Dec. 22, from 5 to 7 p.m,. Families can enjoy one last chance to capture festive photos with the iconic Santa.
Vietnamese authorities are pressing ahead with the ambitious North-South high-speed railway project, a landmark endeavour in terms of both scale and required capital. Once completed, it is expected to transform the nations transport infrastructure, boost economic growth, and enhance connectivity between key regions.

The ruling Party and Government have stated their commitment to prioritising Vietnamese enterprises in the execution of the project. Leading domestic construction firms, while cautious, have expressed confidence in their capacity to deliver, aiming to reduce reliance on foreign contractors.

Vu Hong Phuong, director of the Railway Project Management Unit under the Ministry of Transport, described the railway as a "particularly significant project" that has been under consideration for over 18 years.

In 2010, the Government submitted the project to the National Assembly for review, but it was rejected due to concerns about the countrys resources, industrial capacity, and construction expertise in light of the projects scale.

Following a Party Politburo directive, the transport ministry conducted study trips to six countries with world-class high-speed rail systems, including Japan, France and China.

These trips informed a pre-feasibility report, which was approved by the Communist Party Central Committee earlier this year. The report is now under discussion at the ongoing National Assembly session, where it has drawn significant interest from lawmakers and the public.

The proposed double-track standard gauge (1,435mm) railway spans 1,541km from Ngoc Hoi Station in Ha Noi to Thu Thiem Station in HCM City. Designed for electrification, the line will support speeds of 350kph and a load capacity of 22.5 tonnes per axle. It will include 23 passenger stations and five freight stations, ensuring the system caters to both passenger and cargo transport.

The Party Central Committee has stressed the great importance of the project, setting clear objectives: securing parliamentary approval in 2024, beginning project preparations in 2025, and completing the basic infrastructure by 2035.

Construction is slated to start in 2027, beginning with the Ha Noi-Vinh and Nha Trang-HCM City sections. These two busiest segments are expected to deliver immediate benefits upon completion.

The projects total estimated cost is US$67.34 billion, with approximately $33 billion allocated for infrastructure. Other components include control systems, power supply, and rolling stock.

Prioritising domestic enterprises

Director Phuong highlighted that the project would offer a significant opportunity for Vietnamese businesses, provided the country maintains financial independence, and avoids over-reliance on foreign sources. The Party and Government have been consistent in prioritising domestic enterprises across all areas, including consulting, construction, and material production.

To address concerns from local companies, the project proposes an EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) model. Once approved by the National Assembly, the transport ministry will prepare a feasibility report outlining how the project will be divided into sub-projects and EPC packages. Criteria for participation and bidding procedures will ensure transparency and competition.

Phuong said that contractor selectionwhether through tendering or direct appointmentswould be carefully considered in subsequent phases to maintain fairness and efficiency. Clear regulations and strict oversight would be implemented to avoid delays or inefficiencies during the construction process.

Special policies, such as workforce training programmes and collaborations with international institutions, had been proposed to bolster domestic capacity.

A direct contracting mechanism was planned for land clearance and resettlement to expedite these processes. Lessons had also been drawn from previous large-scale projects, including the North-South Expressway, to improve material sourcing policies and avoid unnecessary reliance on imported materials.

Confidence in local capabilities

Nguyen Quoc Hiep, chairman of the Viet Nam Construction Contractors Association, said that Vietnamese contractors had made significant strides in recent years and were capable of handling major infrastructure projects.

He pointed to the successful completion of large bridges, tunnels, and expressways as evidence of domestic expertise. However, he acknowledged that the precision required for a 350kph railway would demand advanced technology and expertise.

Hiep urged unity among contractors, calling on them to pool resources and share knowledge. He also pointed out that current bidding laws, which require prior experience with projects of similar scale, may pose challenges for Vietnamese firms.

Revising these regulations, he said, would provide opportunities for capable domestic enterprises to take on more responsibility in this landmark project.

Army Colonel Nguyen Tuan Anh, deputy general director of Truong Son Construction Corporation, emphasised the importance of collaboration, saying that competition among domestic firms had recently given way to improved cooperation.

He expressed confidence that, with policy support from the Party and Government, Vietnamese contractors could deliver on their responsibilities.

Nguyen uc Kien, former head of economic consultancy to the Prime Minister, stressed the need for businesses to enhance technological investments and partnerships for mutual growth. He highlighted the importance of technological transfers, saying this was key to mastering new construction methods and meeting international standards.

Labour and training challenges

The project is expected to require around 240,000 skilled workers for infrastructure construction, 13,800 operational staff, and 2,000 consultants.

Mai Thanh Phuong, chairman of the Railway Construction Corporation, said that immediate labour training might not be feasible during the initial preparation phase. He suggested importing skilled workers and engineers as a short-term solution, with long-term training strategies to follow.

Nguyen Quang Huy, CEO of eo Ca Group, said his company had partnered with domestic universities to establish a research and training institute focused on railway and metro construction.

This initiative was expected to prepare a new generation of Vietnamese engineers capable of handling future projects. Huy also called on the Government to issue contractor standards promptly, enabling international collaboration and access to cutting-edge technology.

Army Colonel Phan Phu, chairman of the Ministry of Defence Corporation 319, identified land clearance as a recurring bottleneck in large-scale projects. He proposed initiating land recovery during the planning phase to streamline the process.

Clearer legal frameworks and more effective coordination with local authorities, he said, would ensure smoother resettlement and compensation efforts.

The projects huge capital requirements present challenges for domestic enterprises.

Tran Cao Son, deputy general director of Central Construction Group, raised concerns about access to bank loans and other financial incentives. He questioned whether businesses would have sufficient financial support to mobilise the required resources and called for proper policies to mitigate risks for contractors.

Son also emphasised the importance of careful planning to avoid cost overruns and delays. Transparent financial oversight and flexible policies would be essential for ensuring that Vietnamese businesses could effectively contribute to the project, he said.

Despite these challenges, optimism remains high. Vietnamese enterprises have demonstrated significant growth and adaptability in recent years, particularly in infrastructure development.

The North-South high-speed railway project is not only a major economic undertaking but also a symbol of national progress. Its success will depend on the collective efforts of the Government, domestic businesses, and experts working together to overcome obstacles and seize opportunities. VNS
Viet Nam should focus on improving quality and building brands for fishery products to take advantage of the UK-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA) for further expansion to this market.

According to Nguyen Hoai Nam, deputy general secretary of the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), the fishery sector is one which can benefit the most from the UKVFTA.

The tariffs on shrimp and tra fish have been lifted completely since the UKVFTA came into force. Shrimp and tra fish are currently the two major export fish products of Viet Nam to the UK, accounting for 70 per cent and 20 per cent, respectively, of Viet Nams total exports, worth around US$300-350 million to this market every year, or four per cent of the countrys total global exports.

These are, indeed, impressive figures," Nam said.

"If we look at the UK as a single market, the UK is the sixth largest market for Vietnamese fishery products. Although the UK has not yet entered the billion-US-dollar club, fish exports to this market saw growth of around eight per cent in the first nine months of this year over the same period last year.

It is the advantage the UKVFTA has given to Vietnamese products that promotes the growth of exports to the UK despite the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic or geopolitical conflicts around the world.

In light of the UKVFTA, Vietnamese seafood products have greater competitive advantages over other markets such as India, Indonesia and Thailand which have not signed FTAs with the UK, according to Nam.

However, to better take advantage of the tariff incentives from the UKVFTA, it is necessary for Vietnamese producers and exporters to focus on improving quality and supplying capacity in order to expand market share in the UK.

"The UK has requirements about food hygiene and safety, origin traceability, corporate social responsibility and sustainability, which are basically the same before Brexit," Nam said, adding that this is also an advantage of domestic exporters with experience working with the EU partners.

He urged seafood producers and exporters to regularly update the market information, especially changes in requirements such as illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, to maintain export momentum.

Companies could study the UK market information via the UK and Vietnamese governments official sources, the UK public body Seafish and e-portal of VASEP.

Nam said that owning market information would play an important role in the success of the shrimp export market, for example, to the UK. Currently, Viet Nams shrimp export to the UK accounts for more than 60 per cent.

The opportunities are even bigger for the export of Vietnamese products to the UK, given the UKs accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), Nam said.

He said the drastic efforts taken by Viet Nam recently to reduce emissions, apply organic production, promote the use of renewable energy and protect the environment, had helped Vietnamese products gain trust and favour by the British consumers who prioritise traceability, food safety, environmentally friendliness, and ethical standards.

However, Viet Nam must ramp up the effort to get IUU 'yellow card' removed. Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha recently stressed that the removal of the card was critical, not only to expand exports but also to develop the sustainable fishing industry, ensure long-term benefits and livelihoods.

Nam said that enterprises needed the Governments support to have higher competitiveness to be able to effectively exploit FTAs, including the UKVFTA, for export expansion.

Vu Viet Thanh from the European-American Market Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said Vietnamese producers and exporters should tighten control over the entire production process to ensure origin traceability, quality, food hygiene and safety, as well as increase the application of science and technology for deep processing to increase the competitiveness of products.

Focus on brand building

The fishing sector should focus on developing brands to better take advantage of opportunities arising from FTAs.

Viet Nam has signed and basically concluded negotiations on 17 FTAs, with over 60 countries and territories.

"FTAs have positively changed the entire fishery sector through the effort of complying with the regulations on conservation and protection of diverse ecosystem, rational exploitation and use of aquatic resource and sustainable aquaculture," said Nguyen Thi Phuong Dung from the Directorate of Fisheries under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

"The sector has been focusing on enhancing management capacity across the entire value chain, improving product quality and ensuring traceability.

"The participation in new-generation FTAs also creates an impetus to accelerate the modernisation of the fish sector and promote the application of advanced technologies and investment in closed production chains."

VASEP said that Viet Nams fish products had been exported to more than 160 markets, the major ones being those the country has FTAs with.

Specifically, export to CPTPP markets accounts for 25 per cent of Viet Nams total fish exports, to the EU with EU-Viet Nam FTA (EVFTA) 10 per cent and South Korea with the Viet Nam-Korea FTA (VKFTA) 9 per cent and the UK with the UKVFTA around 4 per cent.

To better use FTAs, Nam said it was vital to focus on building and developing brands, adding that branding is associated with the decisions of retailers and consumers to make purchases or not.

Building a brand cannot be done in a day or two, but it is a process requiring the coordination of the Government, ministries, localities, business community and farmers, he said.

With regard to the Ministry of Industry and Trades plan of developing an FTA ecosystem, Nam expected that the ecosystem would help producers and exporters to better take advantage of opportunities from FTAs to expand exports sustainably.

VASEP also urged enterprises to enhance competitiveness through improving product quality and diversifying export markets.

Fish exports are poised to hit $10 billion this year, on improving demand of major import markets including the US and China, up from $9.2 billion last year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Exports totalled $8.33 billion in the first 10 months of this year, up 12 per cent over the same period last year. Shrimp exports were estimated at $3.23 billion, up 13.9 per cent, and tra fish $1.54 billion, up 8.7 per cent.

In October alone, seafood exports reached $1.1 billion, up 31 per cent, returning to the threshold of $1 billion after 27 months.

The US, China and Japan are the three largest export markets for Vietnamese seafood products, accounting for 18.5 per cent, 16.8 per cent and 15.4 per cent, respectively. VNS
Speculation and manipulation are among factors which have inflated housing prices in major cities recently, in addition to increases in land-related costs and limited supply, according to the Ministry of Construction.

The ministrys statistics showed that in major cities including Ha Noi and HCM City, apartment prices continued to increase in the third quarter of this year by around 4-6 per cent, or 22-25 per cent from the beginning of this year. In some areas, the increases were as high as 40 per cent over the previous quarter.

There are almost no apartments being supplied with selling price below VN25 million (US$986) per square metre. The market only saw the supply and transactions of apartments with prices from VN25-50 million per sq.m, the ones most in demand, priced at VN50 million or higher.

In Ha Noi, the Zurich in Vinhomes Ocean Park in Gia Lam District has a price of around VN46-55 million per sq.m, Limi Prestige in Nam Tu Liem District is from VN69 million, The Ninety Complex in ong a District VN60-75 million, The Sapphire  Vinhomes Smart City in Nam Tu Liem District VN47-67 million, and Viha Complex 107 Nguyen Tuan in Thanh Xuan District VN75-97.2 million.

In HCM City, Diamond Centery in Tan Phu District is selling for around VN61-73.3 million, Stown Tham Luong in District 12 VN29.8-43.5 million, Urban Green in Thu uc City VN52-59.7 million, Glory Heights  Vinhomes Grand Park in District 9 VN40-80 million, The Aurora Phu My Hung in District 7 VN88-90 million, and the Beverly Solari  Vinhomes Grand Park in District 9 VN46.83-65.6 million.

The prices of villas and townhouses in projects with developing infrastructure in Ha Noi are also increasing, due to the cash flow of long-term investors, priced at around VN160 million per sq.m, or up by three per cent over the quarter, and nearly seven per cent from the beginning of this year.

"Given housing demand, the increasing trend of housing prices is inevitable," said Le inh Chung, general director of real estate company SGO Homes.

"However, a sharp increase in housing prices over a short period of time is unusual. The main cause for the skyrocketing housing prices is limited supply and high investment costs, causing investors to have higher expectations for profits."

Nguyen Hoai An, director of CBRE Ha Noi, said this was almost the first time ever the Ha Noi apartment market saw rapid increases in prices over such a short period.

She added that over the past decade apartment prices in Ha Noi had increased by an average of five per cent per year, but started to increase rapidly from 2022.

According to the Chairman of the Viet Nam Association of Real Estate Brokers (VARS), Nguyen Van inh, the recent increases in housing prices in Ha Noi are unusual and unreasonable, especially in the context that the domestic economy, the market and incomes have not recovered. This phenomenon could be due to the impact of so-called interest groups.

Housing prices are skyrocketing but there are few transactions. This can be a trick with a purpose, inh said.

"Speculation and manipulation are inflating housing prices with a shortage of supply to blame. In recent years, the market has not seen any new projects. The housing supply is both in shortage and of poor quality, coupled with an imbalanced housing product structure.

It is not a good sign for the real estate market. Unreasonable housing prices will bring many consequences, including rising investment and production costs and undermining competitiveness.

Economist inh The Hien said that there was no market in which buying is winning, and questioned why prices kept increasing in a quiet market.

In its most recent report, the Ministry of Construction has pointed out that the increase in housing prices is partly because of the rising land-related costs, coupled with the impacts of the new land price frame.

Specifically, land use right auctions in some areas saw winning bids many times higher than the initial prices due to weak management, creating room for investors to collude with each other to pay high prices then abandon the deposits after winning the bid with an aim of establishing a virtual price level in the area to make a profit.

This will push up land and housing price levels, as well as property development costs, meaning that housing supply will fall.

Speculation and manipulation are also inflating housing prices with individual brokers and speculators taking advantage of the crowds lack of understanding to make a profit.

The ministry said that these were mostly individuals operating as freelancer brokers without certificates. They colluded to push up prices higher than the actual values to manipulate the market, causing damage to buyers and impacting the transparency of the real estate market.

The market also had a severe shortage of affordable homes for low-income earners in major cities as developers still faced difficulties in legal procedures, site clearance, credit access and corporate bond issuance.

It would take time for the Law on Land, the Law on Housing and the Law on Real Estate Business to work in reality and remove these roadblocks to unlock resources for housing development, the ministry said.

Furthermore, the recent fluctuations in the stock, bond and gold markets had led investors to move cash into the property market, as a prospective safe haven.

The ministry said that a combination of solutions must be implemented to remove the difficulty for the real estate market and promote its healthy and sustainable development, in which the focus will be on boosting supply. VNS
GUANGXI  Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang has led a delegation of five Vietnamese localities  Ca Mau, Ninh Thuan, Ninh Binh, Nam inh, and Vinh Long to pay an official visit to Chinas Guangxi, as part of the annual cooperation programme between the ministry and the autonomous region that shares a long borderline with Viet Nam.

During the trip, from November 20-22, Deputy Minister Hang met with Liu Ning, member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Secretary of the CPC Committee of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, while joining Xu Yongke, member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, to co-chair a seminar on enhancing local-level foreign affairs and tourism cooperation between Viet Nam and the Chinese region. At the event, Liu conferred the Guangxi honorary citizen title on Vietnamese Consul General in Nanning o Nam Trung.

In Liuzhou city, the Vietnamese delegation met with the region's vice chairperson and Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Tan Feichuang, and visited the former residence of late Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh. Additional activities included discussions with officials in Chongzuo and a visit to the cross-border landscape site of Ban Gioc (Viet Nam) - Detian (China) Waterfalls.

These meetings saw both sides agreeing that the countries comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership is thriving, marked by fruitful recent high-level exchanges that have laid the groundwork for strengthened cooperation across all fields.

At the meeting with Liu Ning, Deputy Minister Hang stressed that Viet Nam prioritises maintaining stable, sustainable, and long-term relations with China as part of its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralism, and diversification.

She suggested stepping up bilateral exchanges in various sectors and mutually beneficial cooperation to deliver tangible benefits for the peoples of both nations. Vietnam will create the best conditions possible for stronger ties between Guangxi and Vietnamese localities, particularly beyond the regions existing connections with Quang Ninh, Lang Son, Cao Bang, and Ha Giang.

Hang urged both sides to increase delegation exchanges, promote people-to-people diplomacy, strengthen transportation links, advance practical trade, tourism, and investment partnerships, optimize the Ban Gioc-Detian Waterfalls site, ensure broader market access for Vietnamese agricultural products in Guangxi and across China, and further work closely in land border management.

In response, Liu pledged to bolster cooperation between Guangxi and Vietnamese provinces, boost people-to-people exchange and trade-investment-tourism collaboration, strengthen transport connectivity, particularly via the standard gauge routes of Lang Son-Ha Noi and Mong Cai-Ha Long-Hai Phong, and streamline border gate procedures.

Meeting with Tan in Liuzhou, Hang called for increased investments and tourism expansion between the city and Vietnamese localities. Liuzhou leaders affirmed their commitment to preserving historical sites related to President Ho Chi Minh in the city and organising educational initiatives for Vietnamese and Chinese youth to deepen their understanding of the bilateral ties. VNS
HA NOI  President of the Armenian National Assembly Alen Simonyan and his entourage left Ha Noi on November 23 morning, successfully wrapping up their official visit to Viet Nam.

During the visit, Simonyan and the Armenian NA delegation paid tribute to late President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum in Ha Noi.

At the NA House, NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man chaired the welcome ceremony for NA President Alen Simonyan and the Armenian NA delegation. Immediately after the welcome ceremony, the two NA leaders held talks.

Within the framework of the official visit to Viet Nam, NA President Alen Simonyan and the Armenian delegation were received by Party General Secretary To Lam and State President Luong Cuong.

This is the first official visit to Viet Nam by a head of the Armenian legislature after more than 30 years of establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries, demonstrating that Armenia treasures traditional relations and multi-faceted cooperation with Viet Nam in all fields.

At the talks and meetings, the leaders of both sides agreed that in recent times, relations between Viet Nam and Armenia have seen good development steps in all fields. High-level exchange activities and meetings have been promoted.

In addition, bilateral economic and trade cooperation has been strengthened. Trade turnover in the first 10 months of 2024 reached nearly 424 million USD, an increase of 28.9% over the same period in 2023. Armenia has invested in a number of direct investment projects in Viet Nam. Viet Nam has also encouraged its businesses to invest in Armenia, especially in advantageous sectors such as agriculture, food processing, and textiles.

Considering that the potential and advantages between the two countries are still very large, the two sides agreed to continue promoting the exchange of high-level and all-level delegations, effectively deploying existing cooperation mechanisms and agreements, contributing to consolidating political trust between the two countries; and promote the implementation of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) - Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement to create strong and breakthrough changes in bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

The two sides consented to increase exchanges and provide information for each other on issues of mutual concern and each side's foreign policies; and continue to coordinate effectively at regional forums, and support the stance of ASEAN and Viet Nam on the East Sea issue to resolve disputes by peaceful means, on the basis of international law, the United Nations Charter, and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), especially in issues related to peace, stability, and sustainable development.

The two governments will accelerate negotiations and sign cooperation documents, creating a legal framework for agencies, organisations, people, and businesses to promote exchanges and explore markets and opportunities for cooperation and investment and exchange of goods in each specific field, especially plant and animal quarantine, mutual recognition of product quality certification, and avoidance of double taxation.

The top legislators agreed to continue to exchange and reach consensus on the granting of scholarships for exchange students between the two countries; and continue to organise regular cultural exchange activities. They proposed relevant agencies of both sides consider preferential visa policies to create favourable conditions for citizens when traveling and learning about culture.

The two NA leaders assessed that the relationship between the two legislatures has been maintained, contributing to promoting Viet Nam-Armenia bilateral relations. However, the exchange of delegations at all levels is not frequent, mainly on the sidelines of multilateral conferences and forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), and the Francophone Parliamentary Alliance (APF).

To further strengthen the relationship between the two NAs, they agreed to increase meetings and exchange of delegations between NA leaders, NA agencies, and NA deputies of the two countries, and exchange experience in building laws and perfecting institutions to serve each country's development and parliamentary activities.

The two sides consider signing a cooperation agreement between the two parliaments to create a legal framework to promote and deepen parliamentary cooperation, contributing to building political trust, mutual understanding, and cooperation between Viet Nam and Armenia.

The official visit to Viet Nam by the Armenian NA President was an important milestone, contributing to promoting the bilateral relations between the two legislative bodies and between the two countries in the new period. VNS
KUALA LUMPUR - Viet Nam always treasures and welcomes Malaysian enterprises to invest and do long-term business in the country, and continues to perfect its legal framework, improve the investment and business environment, and simplify administrative procedures to create the best conditions for them, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee To Lam has affirmed.

Receiving leaders of several major Malaysian groups on November 22-23 within the framework of his official visit to Malaysia, Lam acknowledged and appreciated the businesses support for and contributions to economic, trade and investment cooperation between Viet Nam and Malaysia, considering this as a highlight and a key factor ensuring the sustainable and substantive development of bilateral relationship, bringing practical benefits to the two nations' people.

Speaking highly of Viet Nams attractive and favourable investment and business environment, leaders of the Malaysian groups affirmed that they will actively promote business activities in the country.

Lin Yun Ling, Managing Director of Gamuda Group, a leading regional conglomerate in real estate and infrastructure, briefed the Party chief on the group's investment situation across the world and in Viet Nam. Emphasising that Viet Nam is Gamuda's preferred investment destination with great prospects, he expressed his desire to continue expanding investment in the country.

Praising Gamudas practical and effective contributions to developing urban infrastructure projects in Viet Nam, Lam emphasised that the construction and development of a modern urban system is one of Viet Nam's top priorities. He encouraged the group to further expand its investment in urban development and technology, and in emerging sectors where it excels.

Francis Yeoh Sock Ping, Executive Director of YTL Corporation Berhad - a leading regional integrated infrastructure developer, reported to the Vietnamese leader on the companys collaboration with US-based NVIDIA Corporation to build a large data centre in Johor state, Malaysia. He expressed his confidence in Viet Nam's clean energy development trend and digital transformation, and his desire to build a data centre in the country.

Lam appreciated YTL's vision and technological capabilities in capturing development trends, especially in the field of AI infrastructure and emerging technologies. He showed his belief that YTL will be an important partner in driving digital transformation and modernising infrastructure in Viet Nam.

The Party General Secretary also emphasised that Viet Nam will create favourable conditions for large enterprises to invest in chip manufacturing and large data centres, to seize opportunities in light of the rapid development in science and technology.

Meanwhile, Tony Fernandes, CEO of Capital A (AirAsia), expressed his hope to expand the group's investment and business activities in Viet Nam, particularly in areas such as aviation connectivity, aircraft maintenance, tourism, and financial services.

Lam appreciated Capital A's strengths in capital, technology, international management experience, and its positive contributions to promoting investment and business in the Vietnamese market. He encouraged the group to continue expanding its operations to meet the development needs and build a skilled workforce in Viet Nam, and becoming an important bridge to attract more Malaysian businesses to invest in the nation.

Meeting the Vietnamese leader, Vincent Tan Chee Yioun, founder and advisor of Berjaya Corporation Berhad, expressed his desire to continue investing in urban infrastructure and tourism development projects in Viet Nam.

Congratulating the group on its business achievements, Lam noted that the results Berjaya has gained in Viet Nam are a vivid testament to the improving investment environment and the vast potential of the country. He hoped Berjaya will continue to expand its operations in Viet Nam in its areas of strength, such as developing smart urban areas, environmental services, and clean technology. VNS
HA NOI  General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee To Lam, his spouse, and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation visited the Vietnamese Embassy and met with representatives of the Vietnamese community in Malaysia on November 23.

At the meeting, Vietnamese Ambassador to Malaysia inh Ngoc Linh reported that over 30,000 Vietnamese nationals are currently residing, studying, and working primarily in Malaysias western peninsula, including Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor, and Ipoh states. The community is largely united, hardworking, and supportive of one another, adhering to both Vietnamese and Malaysian laws while integrating well into local society.

President of the Malaysia-Viet Nam Friendship Association Tran Thi Chang expressed her hope for continued attention from the Vietnamese Party, State, National Assembly, and Government towards the overseas Vietnamese (OV) communities, including those in Malaysia.

She called for the creation of more opportunities for them to invest in and contribute to Viet Nams development during the era of the nation's rise. Chang also urged collaboration between Vietnamese and Malaysian authorities to address challenges facing the expats in Malaysia, such as ensuring Vietnamese spouses receive rights comparable to Malaysian citizens.

Lam said during his ongoing official visit, the two nations agreed to upgrade their relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, opening up significant cooperation opportunities as both countries enter a new phase of growth, enhancing the bilateral relations to benefit their people, and contributing to regional and global peace, stability, cooperation, and economic connectivity.

The Party chief underscored that the Party and State place importance on overseas Vietnamese communities, including those in Malaysia. He affirmed Viet Nams consistent policy of caring for these communities and recognising them as an integral part and a vital resource of the nation. Therefore, policies aimed at supporting OV have been issued.

He encouraged the expatriates in Malaysia to comply with local laws and employment contracts, uphold the positive image of Vietnamese people, integrate actively into the hosts society, and contribute to the home countrys development as well as to the bilateral relations.

The General Secretary also urged the Vietnamese Embassy to pay attention to the communitys affairs, swiftly address challenges related to their residence, work, business, and education, assist in improving their legal status, and encourage their integration and contributions. VNS
PHNOM PENH Visiting National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man received Samdech Men Sam An, Chairwoman of the Cambodia-Viet Nam Friendship Association and Chairwoman of the Cambodia-Viet Nam Friendship Parliamentarians' Group, in Phnom Penh on November 23.

Highlighting Viet Nams consistent policy of prioritising the strengthening of its good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability with Cambodia for the sake of their people and for regional and global peace, stability, cooperation and development, the NA leader stated that Viet Nam always considers Cambodias achievements a significant source of encouragement and success of Viet Nam itself.

He informed about his productive talks with his Cambodian counterpart Samdech Khuon Sudary on November 21 and their participation in the inauguration ceremony of the Cambodian NA's new administrative building  a symbol of the two countries friendship. Man also expressed gratitude for being awarded the Royal Order of Sahametrei (The Grand Cross)  the highest honour that Cambodia bestows upon foreigners.

The NA Chairman said in discussions with other Cambodian leaders, including President of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and President of the Senate Samdech Techo Hun Sen and Prime Minister Samdech Hun Manet, the two sides reviewed bilateral agreements in such areas as economy, culture, science, technology, and investment to step up cooperation in the time to come.

Stressing the untapped potential between the two nations, the top legislator called for increased collaboration, particularly in trade and economic sectors, while requesting Cambodian authorities to facilitate Vietnamese investments in the country.

He also asked the Cambodia-Viet Nam and Viet Nam-Cambodia Friendship Associations to step up public education efforts, particularly among the youth, to deepen their understanding of the significance of the bilateral ties, to help address challenges faced by people of Vietnamese origin in Cambodia, and to support Vietnamese businesses operating there.

Men Sam An, who is also a supreme advisor to the Cambodian King and Vice President of the CPP, agreed with the Vietnamese leader's assessments, expressing her confidence that the substantive discussions during his visit would further strengthen the countries special solidarity and friendship, and safeguard the relationship from any attempts to undermine it.

The Party, State and people of Cambodia never forget Viet Nams heartfelt support and assistance in the past and present period, she said, pledging to maximising cooperative potential in line with the high-level agreements between their leaders.

She also thanked the Viet Nam-Cambodia Friendship Association for its support to Cambodian students studying in Viet Nam. The official said her association will continue efforts to foster the bilateral cooperation. VNS
SAN ANSELMO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 06: In this photo illustration, water from a tap fills a glass on July 06, 2023 in San Anselmo, California. According to a study by the US Geological Survey, nearly half of the tap water in the United States is contaminated with "forever chemicals" that are considered dangerous to human health. Per and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, or PFAS, are chemicals that linger in the body and are linked to health issues like cancer, obesity, liver damage, decreased fertility, thyroid disease, high cholesterol and hormone suppression. (Photo Illustration by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) ***BESTPIX*** Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Scientists have discovered a chemical byproduct in treated drinking water that for years, they couldnt isolate. More research is now on the horizon because the byproduct shares similarities with other toxic compounds, although its own toxicity level is not yet known.

The byproduct is called chloronitramide anion, and its found in chloraminated drinking water. A professor at the University of Arkansas led research on the byproduct along with researchers from the U.S and Switzerland, leading to a report published Thursday in the journal Science.

Its common for drinking water to be treated with chlorine or inorganic chloramines to disinfect the water and protect people from diseases like cholera and typhoid fever, according to the EPA.

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In 2023, Houston's main water system, serving 2.4 million customers, had an average of 2.9 parts per million (PPM) of the chemical used in the treatment process that researchers say creates this newly identified byproduct, according to data from the city's public works department.

What is chloramine?

Chloramines, also known as secondary disinfection, are used in drinking water as to provide long-lasting disinfection. They are typically formed when ammonium is added to chlorine. Chloramines themselves are not new; theyve been used in the U.S since the 1930s and are consumed in drinking water by over one in five Americans, according to the EPA.

How did scientists identify a byproduct theyve known about for decades?

Chloronitramide anion isnt a new byproduct; scientists have known about it for 40 years. But its isolation is a new discovery, Arkansas researchers said. A civil engineering professor at the University of Arkansas who was the first co-author on the report, Julian Fairey, first started cracking into research on the byproduct ten years ago because the byproducts commonalities with other toxic compounds urged the need for further research for public health risk.

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Fairey broke ground by synthesizing the compound in his lab, and then sending the samples for analysis to a research university in Zurich, where first co-author, Juliana Laszakovits, tested them. Because Swiss tap water doesnt use chlroamine as a disinfectant, it allowed the researchers to compare U.S samples to Swiss ones as a control in the study.

Is it OK to drink and use tap water?
PHNOM PENH  Viet Nam places high importance on educating young people about the preservation and development of the countrys friendship and special solidarity with Cambodia, said National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man at his meeting with former Cambodian NA President Samdech Heng Samrin in Phnom Penh on November 23.

The top legislator briefed Heng Samrin on the outcomes of his successful talks with Cambodian NA President Samdech Khuon Sudary, who joined him in the inauguration ceremony of Cambodias new NA administrative building  a symbol of the two countries solidarity and traditional friendship.

He also expressed gratitude to Heng Samrin for his special affection for Viet Nam and his confidence in the former leaders continued contributions to further strengthening ties between the Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP), the NA, and the Solidarity Front for the Development of Cambodian Motherland (SFDCM), and Viet Nams counterparts.

For his part, Heng Samrin, who is also the Honorary President of the CPP and Honorary President of the Cambodian Kings Supreme Consultative Council, echoed the Vietnamese top legislators assessments about the bilateral relationship.

He stressed that the shared legacy carefully nurtured by generations of leaders from both nations will be preserved and passed on to younger generations, given the current complicated developments of the world situation. VNS
OTTAWA In preparation for cooperation in training human resources in science and technology, a delegation of the Viet Nam Higher Education Network of Entrepreneurship & Innovation (VNEI) has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICAN) on the occasion of their participation in the Canadian Bureau for International Education Conference.

This agreement will focus on developing a proposal funded by Global Affairs Canada to establish a Canada-Viet Nam Innovation Centre which aims to promote expertise transfer and cooperation in innovation and entrepreneurship between the two countries.

Head of the Viet Nam Science and Technology Representative Office Hoang Ngoc inh stated that the MoU is of practical significance, as it will open up clearer opportunities for enhancing cooperation in human resources training in science and technology for Viet Nam.

This agreement will also create opportunities to implement several joint scientific research projects between the two sides in priority areas such as climate change mitigation and adaptation, and energy transition. As a result, research institutions and universities in both countries will establish joint projects and propose funding sources from the Canadian government to implement components in each country.

Evaluating that bilateral cooperation in science and technology, particularly in the transfer of products, technological know-how, and innovation, has been limited due to disparities in development levels, high costs, and significant expenses involved in technology transfer, inh said that the MoU will open up prospects for fostering more comprehensive and in-depth cooperation in science, technology, and innovation.

Regarding the establishment of the Canada-Viet Nam Innovation Centre, he said that this will help promote knowledge transfer, enabling Viet Nam to gain early and direct access to global knowledge, entrepreneurial spirit, and innovative thinking. VNS
PHNOM PENH  Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Tran Thanh Man paid a courtesy visit to Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni on November 23, within the framework of his official visit to the neighbouring country.

King Norodom Sihamoni welcomed Mans official visit and his attendance at the 12th General Assembly of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) and the 11th Plenary Session of the International Parliament for Tolerance and Peace (IPTP), affirming that this trip plays an important role in strengthening the special neighbourliness between the two countries.

Congratulating Cambodia on successfully organising its recent elections, Man said he believed that with the current stable political environment and growth momentum, Cambodia will soon achieve its goal of becoming an upper-middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income country by 2050.

The two sides expressed their delight at the continuous development of the Viet Nam-Cambodia comprehensive cooperation.

The top legislator affirmed that the Party and State leaders and people of Viet Nam always treasure the affection that King Norodom Sihamoni and Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk have reserved for Viet Nam, and they look forward to welcoming the King and Queen Mother on a visit to the country.

He told the King that within the framework of his visit, he held talks with President of the Cambodian National Assembly Samdech Khuon Sudary, and had meetings with Senate President Samdech Hun Sen and Samdech Prime Minister Hun Manet, during which they exchanged substantial and effective ideas on measures to promote cooperation between the two countries and their legislatures in the coming time, for the benefit of the two countries' people.

The Party, State, National Assembly, and people of Viet Nam will work together with Cambodia to continue nurturing the relationship of "good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability" to meet the aspirations of the two nations' people, Man stated, pledging that the Vietnamese legislature will collaborate with the Senate and National Assembly of Cambodia to further enhance cooperation in legislative affairs, and supervision, and decision-making on major national issues.

He also took this occasion to express his hope that the King and other senior leaders will continue to address difficulties and obstacles, facilitate the naturalisation of people of Vietnamese origin who meet necessary requirements, and create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community to live and work legally and stably in Cambodia, thus helping them integrate well into society and become a bridge of friendship between the two countries. VNS
HA NOI  General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee To Lam, his spouse, and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation arrived at the Noi Bai International Airport in Ha Noi on November 23 afternoon, successfully concluding their three-day official visit to Malaysia at the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his spouse.

This is the first visit to Malaysia by a General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam over the past 30 years. Hence, both sides placed great importance on the trip, meticulously arranging both the schedule and agenda.

Upgrading bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

Within the framework of his visit, Lam held talks with PM Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim; met with Speaker of the House of Representatives Tan Sri Dato' Johari Bin Abdul, and President of the Senate Dato Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah; and received Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Rural and Regional Development, and President of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) Dato Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He also had meetings with outstanding Vietnamese nationals living in ASEAN member states, and representatives from the Vietnamese community in Malaysia; visited several cultural and economic centres; and delivered a policy speech at the University of Malaya. On this occasion, his spouse, Ngo Phuong Ly, visited the National Heart Institute of Malaysia, and presented gifts to child patients undergoing intensive treatment there.

At these meetings, both sides expressed satisfaction with the two countries broad and deep cooperation over the past more than 50 years (1973-2024). It has helped Viet Nam and Malaysia achieve significant milestones in both bilateral and multilateral aspects based on their mutual understanding and trust and a shared vision of security, prosperity, and sustainable development in the region, as well as the deep cultural and historical ties between their people.

Party General Secretary To Lam and Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim agreed to elevate the bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and issued a joint declaration on this upgrade, affirming their commitments to supporting each other on the two nations respective development paths. Viet Nam and Malaysia are now each other's only comprehensive strategic partners in Southeast Asia, providing a critical framework and orientation for bilateral cooperation in the new era focusing on four key pillars, namely enhancing cooperation in politics, defence, and security; strengthening economic connectivity for sustainable development; exploring new cooperative areas such as digital transformation, clean energy, and advanced technologies; and deepening coordination on international and multilateral issues.

Discussing domestic and global issues, the two sides leaders stressed the two countries historical and cultural similarities as well as common goals in development, which could foster greater political trust and deeper collaboration between the Communist Party of Viet Nam and Malaysias major political parties.

They agreed to work together to build a cohesive and prosperous ASEAN Community, with the Party leader underscoring Viet Nams strong support for Malaysias ASEAN chairmanship in 2025.

Vietnamese and Malaysian leaders also highlighted the importance of maintaining peace, security, stability, and safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea, not using or threatening to use force, and resolving disputes through peaceful means in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982.

Visiting the prestigious University of Malaya, the Party chief delivered a policy speech outlining Viet Nams vision for future relations with Malaysia and for a united, prosperous ASEAN Community. His remarks also underscored the fact that Viet Nam has attached importance to ASEAN.

In his speech, Lam expressed his confidence that the recently established Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Viet Nam and Malaysia will open a new chapter of development in the bilateral relations, contributing to peace, stability, and prosperity in each country and in the region. Stressing the crucial role ASEAN plays in the next paths of the two countries and the bilateral ties as well as in ensuring a fair and open international system based on the rule of law, the Vietnamese leader underlined that the future of ASEAN depends on the determination of its members, including Malaysia and Viet Nam. Since its establishment in 1967, ASEAN has made significant strides, overcoming divisions in the region to become a sustainable, united community that faces challenges with maturity and resilience.

Creating new momentum for Vietnam-Malaysia relations

The outcomes of the visit are of great significance in continuing to bring into full play the cooperation potential between Viet Nam and Malaysia, making the most of each other's strengths, while also strengthening the peaceful environment and facilitating a new development phase for both countries as well as the region.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Malaysia inh Ngoc Linh stated that there remains ample room for bilateral economic and trade cooperation, and the goal of raising bilateral trade to 18 billion USD is feasible. However, to achieve new successes, both sides need to find new directions, especially in areas where they have mutual needs and complementary strengths, such as development of digital economy and energy connectivity.

One promising area that both sides are actively collaborating on is the Halal sector. With its experience in Halal certification, Malaysian leaders have expressed their desire to cooperate with Viet Nam in establishing Halal standards for key products. This will help Viet Nam easily penetrate the Malaysian market and other major Muslim markets worldwide, he added.

Regarding future directions to build on such significant outcomes, Le Hoai Trung, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Chairman of its Commission for External Relations, stressed that the initial task for relevant agencies in both countries is to promptly concretise the framework of the newly established Comprehensive Strategic Partnership through the development of a comprehensive action plan, while reviewing and advancing necessary agreements to create an effective collaboration mechanism.

Based on this plan, ministries and sectors involved should quickly devise specific programmes to further traditional areas of cooperation while placing particular focus on new and emerging fields such as green economy, innovation, science and technology, digital transformation, and green energy.

Relevant agencies should also regularly review, monitor, and evaluate the implementation of these plans and programmes to ensure that agreements are effectively translated into reality, serving the developmental goals of both nations in the new era.

The Party official expressed his hope that the two sides will continue to increase exchanges, sharing, and interactions through state, party, and people-to-people channels to nurture and enhance their bonds and solidify a foundation for the robust development of the bilateral relations in the future.

The Party leaders trip is of special significance, marking a concrete step in the implementation of the foreign policy outlined by the 13th National Party Congress, as the country is entering a new era - the era of the nations rise. It not only contributes to promoting solidarity among ASEAN members but also demonstrates Viet Nam's consistent foreign policy of prioritising its friendly neighbourliness and relations with Malaysia. VNS
PHNOM PENH  Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Tran Thanh Man met with the staff of the Vietnamese Embassy, and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Cambodia on Saturday, within the framework of his official visit to the neighbouring country.

Informing them of the homelands socio-economic situation, Man mentioned that recently, Party General Secretary To Lam had written an important article on preventing wastefulness and reforming the organisational apparatus within the entire political system. The Politburo has discussed and prepared to implement the streamlining of the apparatus from the central to local levels, with the aim of reducing spending from the state budget to invest in the country's development.

He emphasised that the Party and State always acknowledge and appreciate the role of the overseas Vietnamese community in Cambodia, with over 100,000 people, who are also among those facing many difficulties.

Sharing with the challenges facing them, the top legislator stated that in his meetings with senior Cambodian leaders, he urged continued attention to and favourable conditions for people of Vietnamese origin to live and do business stably and legally in Cambodia. He called for a reasonable relocation plan for those living on rivers, including setting up resettlement areas with necessary infrastructure, basic social welfare, and support for career transitions for families that need to be relocated. The leader also proposed Cambodia continue to address issues related to paperwork to accelerate the process of granting citizenship to those who meet the requirements.

The NA Chairman expressed his hope that the Vietnamese community will continue to uphold the spirit of solidarity and mutual support, comply with local laws, and strive for self-improvement.

Within the framework of the trip, in the afternoon of the same day, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Ho uc Phoc had a working session with the Viet Nam-Cambodia Business Association (VCBA) to listen to its concerns and proposals to help the Vietnamese business community resolve difficulties.

At the meeting, VCBA President Oknha Leng Rithy underscored the need for continued support from both governments so that enterprises and investors can fully utilise their existing potential.

VCBA presented several recommendations to the Deputy PM and the Vietnamese high-level government delegation, including requests for the Government to consider working with the Cambodian side to issue policies, measures, and preferential credit packages to create better conditions for Vietnamese enterprises investing in Cambodia.

After hearing reports on the operations of the Cambodian subsidiaries of several Vietnamese companies such as the Vietnam Rubber Group and the Viettel Military Industry and Telecoms Group, Phoc praised their achievements so far.

He encouraged the groups to continue playing a key role in enhancing the country's image and further strengthening its friendship and cooperation with Cambodia.

VCBA currently groups about 50 member companies with total investment capital of nearly US$3 billion. The Vietnamese firms provide jobs for nearly 100,000 local workers, contributing effectively to the host nations socio-economic development. VNS
Viet Nams medical sector has achieved extraordinary progress in organ transplantation over the past three decades, positioning the country as a leader in Southeast Asia for the number of transplants performed annually.

Organ transplantation is one of the greatest medical miracles and among the most significant scientific advances of the 20th century. These procedures are only possible in countries with advanced medical systems, where infrastructure and expertise are robust, Dr Pham Gia Khanh, president of the Viet Nam Transplant Society, said.

Viet Nams progress in this field has been a testament to its dedication, innovation, and relentless pursuit of medical excellence.

Achievements

Viet Nams journey in organ transplantation began in 1992, with its first kidney transplant performed with assistance from foreign experts. This landmark procedure involved contributions from leading institutions, including Bach Mai Hospital, Viet uc Hospital, Ha Noi Medical University, Central Military Hospital 108, and the Military Medical Academy.

The following year, Vietnamese doctors carried out the countrys first kidney transplant independently, demonstrating their growing expertise. This marked the beginning of rapid advancements in organ transplantation techniques.

Viet Nam achieved significant milestones by 2017, including its first lung transplant and a heart transplant for a child patient.

These successes paved the way for further breakthroughs in 2018, when Vietnamese doctors conducted lung and kidney transplants using organs from brain-dead donors. Multiple simultaneous organ retrieval and transplantation surgeries were also successfully performed.

Viet Nam became the first Southeast Asian country in 2020, to perform a limb transplant and a small intestine transplant from a living donor, placing the nation among an elite group of just 22 countries worldwide capable of such procedures.

In 2023, Vietnamese surgeons completed a complex multi-organ heart and kidney transplant in a coordinated effort between hospitals in HCM City and Ha Noi.

By early this year the country had performed nearly 8,000 organ transplants, including over 7,000 kidney transplants and 500 liver transplants, saving thousands of lives.

Viet Nam now performs more than 1,000 organ transplants annually, making it a leading country in Southeast Asia in this field. This progress reflects the nations increasing expertise and its ability to adopt and refine cutting-edge medical technologies.

The country boasts 26 transplant centres nationwide, with local hospitals mastering techniques once considered exclusive to central facilities. Leading institutions such as Military Hospital 108, Viet uc Hospital, Cho Ray Hospital, and Hue Hospital have been at the forefront of these achievements.

Military Hospital 108 set a record by performing five liver transplants in a single week. Viet uc Hospital has excelled in coordinating organ retrievals and transplants across regions, even managing multiple-organ retrieval surgeries from brain-dead donors.

Cho Ray Hospital has pioneered robotic-assisted kidney transplantation, enabling procedures for patients with complex conditions such as blood type mismatches.

Paediatric liver transplants, among the most complex medical procedures, are now routinely performed by the National Paediatric Hospital. The institution has successfully handled challenging cases, including those involving blood type incompatibility, liver cancer, and genetic disorders.

Viet Nam has also mastered kidney, heart, liver, pancreas, lung, and corneal transplants, achieving post-surgery survival rates that match or exceed those of developed countries.

The affordability of transplantsone-eighth the cost in Thailand and one-twenty-fourth the cost in the United Stateshas attracted international patients seeking life-saving treatment.

Overcoming challenges

Despite its remarkable achievements, Viet Nams organ transplantation sector faces a persistent challenge: the shortage of donated organs. Currently, 96 per cent of organ transplants rely on living donors, while brain-dead donors account for only 4 per centa stark contrast to the 4090 per cent contribution seen in developed countries.

Public awareness remains a significant barrier. Misconceptions about organ donation, cultural beliefs, and a lack of understanding of its humanitarian value have hindered progress.

Viet Nam recorded in 2023 an organ donation rate of just 0.15 per million peoplefar lower than Spains 43 per million or Thailands six per million.

There are about 300 brain dead persons in Viet Nam every day, yet most of their organs go unused. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of patients remain on waiting lists, with many dying before a suitable donor is found.

To address these challenges, Viet Nam has implemented comprehensive legal frameworks and public awareness campaigns. The Health Insurance Law provides coverage for transplant costs and post-surgical treatment, while government initiatives such as Register to Donate Tissues and Organs to Save Lives  Giving is Forever have encouraged nearly 100,000 people to register as donors.

However, current regulations require family consent to proceed with donations, even if the deceased had registered beforehand. This can lead to situations where a single family members objection prevents a donation.

Dr Nguyen Thi Kim Tien, president of the Viet Nam Association for Organ and Tissue Donation, highlighted this issue, saying: Each brain dead person can save many lives through organ and tissue donation. This deed reflects a profound spirit of sharing and compassion.

To overcome these barriers, experts recommend integrating organ donation education into school curriculums, using technology to streamline donor registration, and improving transparency in the donation process.

Call to action

Viet Nams organ transplantation achievements over the past 30 years are remarkable, but the journey is far from over. Organ donation is not only a medical necessity but also a legacy of compassion and humanity.

Raising public awareness and addressing cultural barriers are crucial to saving more lives. Educating the public on the humanitarian value of organ donation and its positive social impact can help shift perceptions.

Moreover, technology can play a role in coordinating donations and ensuring transparency. By streamlining registration and enabling better tracking of potential donors, Viet Nam can increase efficiency and build public trust.

Viet Nams medical community, government, and society must work together to foster a "culture of donation". Comprehensive education, policy improvements, and robust outreach programmes are essential to changing mindsets and removing barriers.

With collective effort, Viet Nam can continue to build on its successes, offering hope and a second chance at life to thousands of patients. VNS
LONDON  With outstanding achievements in biotechnology, Nguyen Thuy Ba Linh from University College London (UCL) has become the first Vietnamese scientist to win the UK's TechWomen 100 Awards.

The award ceremony was held at Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in London on November 21.

Founded in 2017, the TechWomen 100 Awards recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of women in the field technology, focusing solely on women working in technology below director level, with an aim to create a new generation of female role models for the industry and a pipeline of future leaders.

Speaking to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)s resident correspondent in the UK at the award ceremony, Dr Vanessa Vallely OBE, CEO and Founder of WeAreTheCity/WeAreTechWomen and organiser of the Awards, said the Awards aim to find incredible women working in technology or across STEM fields to honour their achievements and at the same time support them with a full development program, building up an ecosystem of women in technology that are supporting one another and opening doors of opportunities.

To become one of the 100 most outstanding women in the field of technology this year, Linh, lecturer of Biomaterials at UCLs Eastman Dental Institute, surpassed 1,150 applicants to be in the shortlist of 200 candidates, winning the Award for her extensive research and academic contributions in biotechnology, including biomaterials for tissue regeneration, drug delivery systems, and thermo-responsive polymers for stem cell expansion and harvesting.

Vanessa Vallely said it was an honour to have Linh as one of the winners, trusting Linh will be an asset to the group and a flagship for Viet Nam. She hoped in the future the Awards will see more candidates from Viet Nam.

Linh said she was happy and proud to be the first Vietnamese to receive the TechWomen 100 Award. Although living and working in the UK, Linh is always proud to be Vietnamese and believes that efforts of Vietnamese can make a difference wherever they are.

She believes the Award is not only a recognition of her efforts but also helps promote the image of Vietnamese women in science and technology, proving that Vietnamese women can make achievements in such challenging fields as science and technology.

Linh hopes her Award will inspire female Vietnamese scientists both at home and abroad, especially young people, to be confident and overcome all barriers to pursue their passion for science.

Nguyen Thuy Ba Linh was born in 1980 in Ho Chi Minh City. She graduated from Ho Chi Minh City University of Natural Sciences in Chemistry in 2003 and did postdoctoral research at the Republic of Koreas Soonchunhyang University, focusing on regenerative medicine. In 2016, she joined the University of Oxfords Institute of Biomedical Engineering as a postdoctoral researcher, contributing to significant advancements in biomedical engineering and tissue regeneration.

In 2019, Linh transitioned to a faculty position at UCLs Eastman. Her research interests include biomaterials for tissue regeneration, drug delivery systems, and thermo-responsive polymers for stem cell expansion and harvesting.

In addition to academic pursuits, Linh founded SmileScaff, dedicated to developing advanced scaffold technologies for accelerated wound healing and tissue regeneration. The company integrates cutting-edge biomaterials with practical medical applications, aiming to revolutionise tissue engineering. She also chaired the Vietnam Young Academy from 2021-2023 and mentor young scientists through the Vietnamese Intellectual Society in the UK and Ireland. VNS
KUALA LUMPUR General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee To Lam, his spouse and a high-ranking delegation of Viet Nam left Kuala Lumpur at noon on November 23, wrapping up their three-day official visit to Malaysia, at the invitation of Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his spouse.

Within the framework of his visit, Lam held talks with PM Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim; met with Speaker of the House of Representatives Tan Sri Dato' Johari Bin Abdul, and President of the Senate Dato Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah; and received Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Rural and Regional Development, and President of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) Dato Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He also had meetings with outstanding Vietnamese nationals living in ASEAN member states, and representatives from the Vietnamese community in Malaysia; visited several cultural and economic centres; and delivered a policy speech at the University of Malaya. On this occasion, his spouse, Ngo Phuong Ly, visited the National Heart Institute of Malaysia, and presented gifts to child patients undergoing intensive treatment there.

Within the framework of the visit, the two sides issued a Joint Statement on upgrading the bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Both sides affirmed their commitments to supporting each other on the path of development, continuing to enhance their friendship, cooperation and political trust, based on mutual respect for international law, independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political systems.

The leaders agreed on directions to further deepen and elevate the bilateral relationship in various fields, particularly through breakthrough measures aimed at enhancing connectivity, solving difficulties, and expanding cooperation, so as to open up a new chapter in the bilateral cooperation for peace, stability, sustainability, inclusivity, and shared prosperity, as well as for a united, self-reliant, and prosperous ASEAN community.

Both sides also agreed to review and initiate negotiations on new cooperation agreements at an appropriate time to create a strong momentum and a solid foundation for future collaboration.

They reiterated ASEAN's consistent stance on the East Sea and reaffirmed their commitments to continue close coordination to maintain peace, security, stability, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea. They emphasised the importance of peacefully settling disputes and not using or threatening to use force, in accordance with widely recognised principles of international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982.

On this occasion, Party General Secretary To Lam also attended the opening ceremony of Ha Noi  Kuala Lumpur direct air route of Vietjet Air, which is expected to further promote economic-cultural-tourism links between the two countries and the whole Southeast Asian region.

The visit is an important milestone in Viet Nam-Malaysia relations, contributing to strengthening their political trust at a high level. It reflects the Vietnamese Party and States consistent policy of always treasuring and wishing to further enhance relations with neighbouring countries and the region, including Malaysia. VNS
KUALA LUMPUR  Beginning next year, South-East Asian airline operators can have stopovers within Asean member states.

This will come into effect once all Asean member states sign Protocol 5 on Own Stopover Rights between Points within the Territory of any other Asean Member State, says Transport Minister Anthony Loke.

Prior to this, airline operators can only fly to their destination within member states before having to return.

Under Protocol 5, Loke said airlines are allowed to stop over at Asean member state airports before heading to another point within the region.

For example, if an airline flies from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore, that same flight can head to Bali in Indonesia.

From there, they can also head to other airports within Asean member states, he told a press conference yesterday.

The signing of Protocol 5 is held in conjunction with the 30th Asean Transport Ministers (ATM) and 58th Senior Transport Officials Meetings (STOM).

All Asean members except for Myanmar and Indonesia have signed Protocol 5.

Loke said the move will boost regional air connectivity.

It facilitates greater operational flexibility for carriers, promotes tourism and enhances trade by providing more seamless and convenient air travel options across the region, he said.

He also said Asean airlines, including Malaysian flight operators, can benefit given their various travel destinations within the region.

For Asean member states that have yet to sign, we will circulate this to them.

Once all have signed, the protocol will come into force by next year, said Loke.

Separately, he said Asean transport ministers agreed to adopt guidelines on light electric vehicles like electric scooters, bikes and small cars within the region.

They outline standards and best practices for integrating these vehicles into transport systems.

It also aims to address environmental concerns by reducing carbon emissions and encouraging sustainable energy usage in transportation, he said.

Other adopted initiatives include guidelines on urban freight transport, focusing on improving efficiency while minimising environmental impact.

Loke said Asean is also committed to advancing negotiations and finalising air services agreements with China, Japan and South Korea.

This is pivotal for strengthening regional and inter-regional connectivity by enabling greater market access, promoting air transport liberalisation, and fostering closer economic and cultural ties, he said.

In welcoming the news, Federation of Asean Travel Associations president Datuk Tan Kok Liang said this would boost the tourism industry.

It will also enable the promotion of multiple destination packages and give travellers the freedom to choose, he said.

Tan is also looking forward to the reduction of airline tickets stemming from this new agreement.

It does have the potential to reduce prices for tickets. But more importantly, this agreement will see improvements in air connectivity, he said. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Katy ISD board president Victor Perez during public comments about employing chaplains at the Katy ISD school board meeting at Katy ISD Educational Support Building on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024, in Katy. Karen Warren/Staff photographer

A fierce email debate between Katy ISD board members and Superintendent Ken Gregorski over a novel by a Native American author reveals how different leaders approach the issue of book banning and how much autonomy they say the district's book committee should have.

Sherman Alexie's "Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" follows the experiences of Junior, a Native American high school student from the Spokane Indian Reservation, navigating a predominantly white school in the 1980s.

The book was flagged for review last year. Board President Victor Perez told the Houston Chronicle in an Oct. 26 email that a committee agreed at the time to keep the book in classrooms.

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The lesson, which was an excerpt from a book, was reviewed by a district committee after a parent complaint and was determined to be in compliance with board policy on teaching controversial issues, Perez said.

Internal district emails obtained by the Chronicle, dated between August and September, show Perez and other board members pushed for the book's removal behind the scenes.

The book came to the board's attention in August after a teacher used an excerpt from the story in a lesson.

In the excerpt, Junior arrives at his new school for the first time. He marvels at the size of his white peers, calling them "monsters," and wonders if he'll have to fight any of them. At one point a white student uses a racial slur, and Junior hits him. The white student doesn't fight back, which confuses Junior.

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In emails, Gregorski defended the use of the book in classrooms. He said the book tells the lived experiences of a young Native American teenager growing up in a time when students with differences were not always welcome.

Board members who want to see the book removed argued that it makes white children feel bad for being white. In an Aug. 30 email, Perez criticized Gregorskis assessment, referring to Gregoski's point as "the idea that it's open season on white children, as long as a minority group member is sharing their lived experiences.

Later in the email, Perez said I think it's unjust and cruel to force children to feel shame for their racial identity and for historical injustices over which they had no control.

The lesson over Alexie's book also sparked a proposal to change what training teachers receive when crafting lessons. That policy change was discussed during an Oct. 21 meeting but was never voted on.

Perez told the Chronicle in the Oct. 26 email that he did not have a problem with the book itself, but rather a specific lesson.

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He did not respond to requests for clarification on why his emails to Gregorski referred to the entirety of the book as being problematic.

Gregorski did not respond to requests for comment.

Email debate began Aug. 29

Perez and board members Amy Thieme, Mary Ellen Cuzela and Morgan Calhoun expressed opposition to the book outside of a board meeting, prompting Gregorski to respond to the concerns in an email dated Aug. 29.

In the Aug. 29 email, Gregorski reminded board members that the book had already been challenged but was deemed appropriate for instruction by a book-review group. He also argued the book is a valid teaching tool.

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Teachers are encouraged to choose texts that are relevant to their students' challenges and experiences, while also including a variety of perspectives, Gregorski said in the email. While the unit emphasizes skill acquisition through literary fiction and literary non-fiction, it is equally important to incorporate texts from multiple genres, cultures, and time periods.

He also argued that if the district were to pull every book told from a firsthand account that addresses race, the district would have to overhaul the libraries entirely.

Gregorski likened the novel to books about the Jim Crow era, Japanese-American internment camps in World War II and the treatment of Irish and Chinese immigrants.

Historically, there have been times in American history that different groups had been mistreated, Gregorski noted. I think the important question to be asked here is this: If there are firsthand accounts in our curriculum, texts or teaching materials of how some groups were mistreated, historically, should those accounts be removed from study?

Four board members push back

Gregorskis defense of the book did not sit well with the four board members calling for its removal.

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Perez, in an email dated Aug. 30, said he read the Cliffs Notes version of the book, and came to the conclusion that (The book) is clearly promoting the idea that white people are racist and oppressors.

In one email to Gregorski, Perez cited five instances where the book had been banned in other school districts for its overarching content.

Thieme, another board member, took issue with Gregorskis reticence to override the book committee, explaining that Gregorski should know what the board expects of him, and asking for guidance on why a book needs to be pulled is an indication that hes trying to subvert the boards authority.

I am concerned that you are asking for guidance from the board because I feel very strongly that we have given clear guidance in policy, Thieme told Gregorski in a Sept. 7 email.

Calhoun spoke out about the books retention in an email dated Sept. 9, saying its a fiction book based on lived experiences, meaning it wasnt properly evaluated.

I disagree with the retainment of the book on the policy violation in and that of itself, Calhoun said. This is not a non-fiction book; this is a fiction title that the author himself stated was 78% true.

While parents are able to opt out of the instruction, Cuzela argued, the book still needs to be pulled.

Explaining that the parent can exempt their child from the assignment does not justify the reading passage, she said.

In a final Sept. 8 email, the same one that contained the "open season" comment, Perez argued that a book about history doesnt belong in an English class.
Russian Defence Ministry reports on the progress of the special military operation (1622 November 2024)

From 16 to 22 November 2024, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out a massed and 30 group strikes with high-precision weapons, including the strike by the Kinzhal hypersonic air-launched ballistic missile as well as with strike drones.

As a result, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation hit important facilities of the Ukrainian defence industry, energy facilities used to support the AFU, infrastructure of military airfields, places where strike drones were assembled and stored as well as stockpiles, ammunition and fuel depots.

On 21 November 2024, in response to the use of U.S. and British long-range weapons against facilities on the territory of the Russian Federation, the Armed Forces delivered a combined strike on a Ukrainian defence industry facility in Dnepropetrovsk. For the first time, the Russian Armed Forces employed an Oreshnik medium-range ballistic missile equipped with supersonic non-nuclear charge. The purpose of the launch was achieved. All warheads reached the designated targets.

Moreover, Russian units hit temporary deployment areas of Ukrainian armed, nationalist, and foreign mercenaries formations.

Over the past week, the Sever Group of Forces continued to defeat the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Kursk region.

Aviation, drones, and artillery hit manpower and hardware of a tank brigade, five mechanised brigades, three air assault brigades, a marine brigade, five territorial defence brigades, and two National Guard brigades.

In Kharkov direction, Russian units hit formations of a mechanised brigade, a motorised infantry brigade, an air assault brigade, four territorial defence brigades, a National Guard brigade, and a Ukrainian border guard detachment.

During the week, in the Sever Group of Forces area of responsibility, the AFU losses amounted to up to 2,620 troops, seven tanks, including a German-made Leopard tank, 73 infantry fighting vehicles, including two U.S.-made Bradley and three German Marder armoured vehicles, a U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier, 47 motor vehicles, and 24 field artillery guns.

The Zapad Group of Forces seized more advantageous lines and positions, inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of five mechanised brigades, a jaeger brigade, an airborne brigade, two territorial defence brigades, and a National Guard brigade. In addition, 27 counter-attacks launched by AFU assault detachments were repelled.

The AFU losses amounted to more than 3,210 troops, 16 armoured fighting vehicles, including four U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carriers, 36 motor vehicles, and 30 field artillery guns, including ten 155-mm self-propelled artillery systems and howitzers produced by NATO states.

Six electronic warfare stations and 17 field ammunition depots were obliterated.

The Yug Group of Forces liberated Dalneye of the Donetsk Peoples Republic.

Russian troops hit four mechanised brigades, a motorised infantry brigade, a mountain assault brigade, two airmobile brigades, and an air assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Russian troops repelled 13 counter-attacks of AFU units.

The AFU losses amounted to more than 3,845 troops, four tanks, ten armoured fighting vehicles, including five U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carriers, 51 motor vehicles, 35 field artillery guns, and 16 Western-made artillery guns. In addition, ten electronic warfare and counter-battery stations as well as 16 field ammunition depots were destroyed.

The Tsentr Group of Forces continued advancing into the depths of the enemys defence and liberated Leninskoye, Novoalekseyevka, Novoselidovka, Ilinka, and Novodmitrovka of Donetsk Peoples Republic.

Russian troops engaged manpower and hardware of a tank brigade, four mechanised brigades, an infantry brigade, three jaeger brigades of the AFU, two marine brigades, three territorial defence brigades, and two National Guard brigades. In addition, 68 enemy counter-attacks were repelled.

Over the past week, the losses of Ukrainian armed formations in this area amounted to over 2,680 troops, two U.S.-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, 17 armoured fighting vehicles, including two U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carriers, six Kazak,U.S.-made MaxxPro, and Turkish-made Kirpi armoured fighting vehicles, 19 motor vehicles, and 36 field artillery guns.

The Vostok Group of Forces liberated Makarovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

Russian troops damaged formations of a mechanised brigade, a motorised infantry brigade, an infantry brigade, a marine brigade, four territorial defence brigades, and a National Guard brigade. Nine counter-attacks of AFU assault groups were repelled.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 975 troops, seven tanks including a German-made Leopard tank, 13 armoured fighting vehicles, 36 motor vehicles, 15 field artillery guns, and manufactured in the United States: two M113 armoured personnel carriers, a HMMWV armoured vehicle, and a HIMARS multiple rocket launcher.

The Dnepr Group of Forces engaged manpower and hardware of three mechanised brigades, an infantry brigade, a mountain assault brigade of the AFU, and three territorial defence brigades.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 530 troops, 37 motor vehicles, four field artillery guns, 11 electronic and counter-battery warfare stations, and four field ammunition depots.

Russian air defence shot down a Neptune long-range missile, five U.S.-made ATACMS operational-tactical missiles, two UK-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles, 16 French-made Hammer aerial bombs, 18 U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectiles, and 642 U.S.-made fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.

During the week, 82 Ukrainian servicemen surrendered, including 52 servicemen in Kursk region.

In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 648 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 36,500 unmanned aerial vehicles, 586 anti-aircraft missile systems, 19,481 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,490 MLRS launchers, 18,388 field artillery guns and mortars, and 28,637 units of support military vehicles of the enemy have been neutralised.

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WtR
Shakari Briggs is a Quality of Life reporter for the Houston Chronicle. She focuses on issues in the rapidly growing suburbs and surrounding counties.

Before joining the Chronicle in November 2023, Shakari worked for Spectrum News as a digital journalist based in her hometown. She has experience in broadcast reporting and producing as a former multimedia journalist and associate producer. The Dallas native has also worked at small to medium-sized newspapers throughout her career.

Her reporting on the rise and fall of a shopping mall won an Arkansas Associated Press Managing Editors Contest award. She also earned an Arkansas Press Association award for freelance reporting.
 Answer

The permission of the US and its allies to use long-range weapons of Western manufacture against our country once again confirms that NATO is fighting against Russia.

Without the participation of their military specialists and satellite data, it is impossible to aim the weapons at the target and put them into action.

US and UK missiles struck military targets in the Kursk and Bryansk regions.

The Russian Federation has repeatedly emphasized  and we have spoken about this  that such actions will be responded to. And more powerful.

Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin made a decision that we support.

In a situation where the US and its European allies are using missiles to strike the territory of the Russian Federation, this is the correct and long-awaited response.

Our country has the right to use its weapons against military facilities of those states that attack us.

When voices are heard in the West that Russia will not dare, it will certainly dare. And he has every right to do so!

We are obliged to do everything to protect the territorial integrity and security of our citizens.

The outgoing Biden, together with his friends in Europe, is deliberately complicating the situation. Doing everything to not lose the remnants of hegemony. Not thinking about people and the security of the world as a whole. His decisions lead to an escalation that becomes global in nature.

Our country is ready for any development of events.

And politicians in Western countries need to ask themselves: are they ready for this and do they understand the consequences?!

Volodin of Duma

WtR
Chester bus and train station alert  police say we are now happy there is nothing untoward

This article is old - Published: Friday, Nov 22nd, 2024

Police have said all cordons have been removed and roads reopened in Chester after a major security alert.

The incident follows a security alert at the nearby Chester train station that saw rail services stopped for around two hours with a full evacuation and wide cordon. Rail services resumed around 7pm, however cordons remained in place at the bus station.

Just before 10PM police issued the first statement on the incident, in full here: At 5.09pm today (Friday 22 November) police received a report of suspicious activity on two busses in Chester City Centre. One near the train station and one near the bus interchange.

As a precaution a cordon was put in place and a number of roads were closed while we investigated the report. EOD attended with other emergency services to assist.

All was in order, the cordon was released and roads reopened. We understand that this caused some disruption and concern but we are now happy there is nothing untoward. Thank you for your patience while we dealt with this incident.

Police have not confirmed local reports of a controlled explosion at Chester bus station around 9:30PM this evening and related warnings to nearby residents. The statement above uses the EOD jargon  which stands for Explosive Ordnance Disposal.

A video of an apparent explosion is below in the second video:

Chester bus station bomb disposal pic.twitter.com/fRvKzWQPQH  Lee McHugh (@Lee_McHugh) November 22, 2024

Top pic: @ShitChester on the scene in Chester  check out thechesterblog.com here.

Original updates below

Update: All lines have reopened, with services resuming. However a large security operation appears to remain in place nearby.

The area around the bus station remains closed. Police don't know how long for pic.twitter.com/D19YmzdI0E  this Chester (@ShitChester) November 22, 2024

Strange night in @ShitChester with both the train and bus stations closed due to bomb scares. Seems to be over now and police tape has come down pic.twitter.com/H2zVAkyAKX  Matthew Lumby (@MatthewLumby) November 22, 2024

earlier information below

All lines are closed at Chester Station this evening amid a wider security alert.

National Rail say Trains are currently unable to call at Chester due to a security alert at this station with an expectation from the service that the station will remain closed for several hours.

A security alert at Chester station means all lines are currently closed. As a result, trains may be cancelled, delayed or revised to not call at Chester station.

Eyewitnesses are reporting a section of City Road is also closed by the station.

Other images on social media show Chester bus station is also cordoned off with taxi and bus services are affected.

Will has told Wrexham.com, All buses including the Wrexham buses have been told to move on and not call at any of the stops at the bus station.

Images of an Army ordnance corps bomb disposal vehicle in the city has been shared with Wrexham.com this evening.

There is no information from Cheshire Police.

Nearly an hour after the initial reports, and 48 minutes after the National Rail update, TfW updated, Due to a security alert at a station at Chester the line is closed.

Mersey Rail said, Due to a security alert at Chester, train services running through this station will be terminated at and started back from Hooton. No alternative transport can be provided at present.

More shortly.
Funding boost for North Wales Community Speedwatch to enhance road safety

This article is old - Published: Saturday, Nov 23rd, 2024

A Community Speedwatch scheme in North Wales has received a funding boost to help people can record the speed of vehicles travelling through their area.

The initiative, which is overseen by North Wales Police, involves local volunteers monitoring traffic speeds their community.

Its goal is to raise awareness about speeding and promote road safety.

Volunteers use speed detection devices to check the speed of vehicles and record the details of those exceeding the speed limit.

This information is then shared with North Wales Police, who may follow up with educational letters to the registered owners speeding vehicles. The initiative aims to encourage responsible driving and reduce accidents in communities.

The funding, provided by Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for North Wales Andy Dunbobbins Innovate to Grow initiative, has been used to purchase three new speed detection devices.

These will be used in communities across the region to will help further grow the project and encourage road safety  starting with Llanferres and Henllan in the Vale of Clwyd.

Andy Dunbobbin visited the Community Speedwatch team at their base in the GoSafe Unit at North Wales Police Divisional HQ in St Asaph on 13 November to meet staff and to learn about the schemes valuable part in helping to reduce speed and make communities safer in North Wales.

He heard that around 90 per cent of drivers who receive a letter through their details being recorded by Community Speedwatch do not receive a further letter.

North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin commented: Road safety is a crucial part of my Police and Crime Plan.

Road safety protects lives and schemes like this will hopefully help prevent potential riad accidents before they happen.

Many of these incidents can be prevented through awareness and education, and that is why funding projects such as this is extremely important to me as Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales.

Community Speedwatch manager, John Morris added: Community Speedwatch (CSW) is a national initiative where, in partnership with the police, members of communities use detection devices to monitor local vehicle speeds.

The volunteers report drivers exceeding the speed limit to the police with the aim of educating drivers to slow down. Community Speedwatch does not result in prosecution itself.

However, if a persistent speeding driver is identified through the scheme, police can use this evidence to act against them if required. If there is a persistent general speeding issue where highway improvements are required, such as speedbumps, the relevant agency will be contacted.

To enable our volunteers to carry out their role effectively its vital that they have the correct equipment, and we are most grateful for the NWP PCC Andy Dunbobbin for providing us with three handheld speed detection devices for use by our teams of volunteers in communities, towns and cities across North Wales which will assist us greatly in changing driver behaviour and reducing those killed and seriously injured on our roads.

To learn more about Community Speedwatch and to get involved, visit: Community Speedwatch | North Wales Police
Welsh Government urged to invest in social housing and meet demand for one-bed homes

This article is old - Published: Saturday, Nov 23rd, 2024

The Welsh Government is being urged to invest in social housing to help tackle the rising demand.

An inquiry by the Senedds Local Government and Housing Committee has led to calls for the creation of a national development corporation to speed up housebuilding by buying land and planning housing across Wales.

It comes after a report released by the committee this week found that local authorities and housing associations will struggle to build the number of houses required and that the solution is a new development corporation that could work on much larger sites.

Increasing housebuilding

Evidence to the Committee found that countries such as Denmark and Canada use development corporations and that Wales should aim to learn from these successful examples.

Now the Committee is calling on the Welsh Government to increase the amount spent on social housing to build 60,000 more homes, with the ultimate aim that 20% of Wales housing stock falls into this category, up from 16% today.

The report also says that the Development Bank of Wales should become a direct funder of social housing developments, potentially offering more favourable terms to those currently offered to social landlords by private investors.

The Development Bank of Wales is a body funded by the Welsh Government which finances businesses to help them grow in Wales.

One-bed waiting lists

Social housing, which is provided by local authorities and housing associations, has long waiting lists for people needing different types of accommodation.

The Committee heard from tenants that the type of properties available are often not the sort needed.

Many of the properties available through social housing are two or three bedroomed homes, which are prioritised for families, meaning that individuals needing one-bedroom properties are stuck on waiting lists for longer.

Garry Roper, aged 47, lives in Cardiff. He waited 21 months for a one-bed property to become available.

During that time, he lived in a YMCA hostel which made it difficult for him to see his son on a regular basis.

I was living in the YMCA from November 2022 until end of August 2024. I was told that the reason for the long wait was because of the shortage of single adult properties, said Garry.

The main issue I had during that time was that it was difficult to see my son and spend time with him.

He did visit me at the YMCA during the visiting hours allowed, but there were some issues with this. Living in a homelessness hostel was quite stressful at times.

Im really pleased that I have been offered my property and it is a lot easier than living in a hostel. I have had a lot of support from friends, family and from the Salvation Army Floating Support Team which has helped me to set up and manage my new home. I am able to see my son more regularly which has been great.

The Committee is urging the Welsh Government to work with local authorities and housing associations to make sure that enough one-bedroom homes are being built to reduce the pressure on waiting lists.

Organisations such as the Planning Officers Society Wales and the Chartered Institute for Housing Cymru told the Committee that there is a massive demand for one-bedroom accommodation.

The committees report says that this should be addressed in different ways.

For example councils and housing associations should acquire existing one-bedroom properties, build on vacant land near housing developments, remodel bigger houses into smaller houses, and also bring flats above high street shops back into use.

Missed targets?

The Welsh Government has a longstanding target to build 20,000 new homes by 2026 to ease the housing crisis in Wales. The Committee supports this goal but is concerned that the target will not be met, and even if met, it will not be sufficient to address demand.

Earlier this year, Julie James MS, who was at the time the Welsh Governments Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Local Government and Planning, said that the government was hanging on to the 20,000 target by the skin of our teeth.

John Griffiths MS, Chair of the Local Government and Housing Committee, said the report shows that the Welsh Government has a long way to go if they are to reach their target of 20,000 new homes by 2026.

John Griffiths MS continued: A crucial part of delivering this is ensuring that there is a suitable mix of homes being built which must include more one-bedroom properties.

The Welsh Government must work with local authorities and housing associations to make sure that this message gets through.

The Welsh Government needs to look at all the options at its disposal to tackle this problem.

Empowering the Development Bank of Wales to become a direct funder of social housing developments is one way to boost the number of homes being built.

If we want to get to grips with the housing crisis then we have to build more social housing urgently  before the waiting lists get even longer.
Judge Susan Brown, who oversees the Eleventh Administrative Judicial Region of Texas, talks with attorneys Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in the 178th District Court at Harris County Criminal Justice Center in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer FILE - In this Aug. 27, 2019, file photo, Ronald Haskell, center, appears in Judge George Powell's courtroom for his capital murder trial in Houston. A jury has convicted Haskell of capital murder for fatally shooting six members of his ex-wife's family in Texas. Jurors on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019, rejected Ronald Lee Haskell's insanity defense. His attorneys said Haskell believed voices in his head were telling him to kill the Stay family, including four children, at their suburban Houston home in 2014. (Steve Gonzales/Houston Chronicle via AP, File) Steve Gonzales/Associated Press Drue Lyon listens to a recording of a jailhouse phone call between Ronald Haskell and his mother during a hearing Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in the 178th District Court at Harris County Criminal Justice Center in Houston. Lyons sister, Katie Stay, was among Haskells victims. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer The Harris County District Attorney's Office included screenshots of body-worn camera footage of death row inmate Ronald Haskell's visit to a Houston medical office in their court filings seeking to recuse a judge. Harris County District Clerk's Office People watch proceedings Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in the 178th District Court at Harris County Criminal Justice Center in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Harris County Deputy Sheriff Brian Jones testifies Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in the 178th District Court at Harris County Criminal Justice Center in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

Prosecutors will have access to sealed orders and potential communications between lawyers for a man convicted of killing six members of his ex-wife's family and the judge who let him return to Houston for a brain scan.

An appellate court on Wednesday upheld a judges decision to unseal ex parte records between death row inmate Ronald Haskell's lawyers and the judge  records that prosecutors are typically barred from seeing in some circumstances  allowing the Harris County District Attorney's Office to sift through the files. The records will likely include the orders Judge Natalia Cornelio issued and then sealed to allow Haskell's return to Houston for a MRI  a decision prosecutors have challenged as lawyers from Dallas pursue a potential writ in his case.

A judge who handled a recusal hearing in October is expected to comb through the records for relevant information and share the files with prosecutors.

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A jury in 2019 found Haskell guilty of capital murder and sentenced him to die for the 2014 killings of Stephen and Katie Stay, and their four children.

The lawyers tried thwarting the release of communications  and the judges recusal  in last month's contentious hearing aimed at removing Cornelio from the case. Prosecutors accused Cornelio of abusing a bench warrant authorized in June to bring the condemned mass killer to Houston  an assertion the attorneys have rejected and defended as standard practice.

His lawyer, Christi Dean, a public defender in Dallas, could not be reached for comment.

The bench warrant in question said Haskell would appear in court at midnight July 22 after being booked into Harris County jail  but no such court appearance happened. Deputies drove him to an MRI appointment days later instead.

The upheld ruling by the Court of Criminal Appeals stems from a second recusal attempt this year, with prosecutors basing their latest request on the bench warrant.

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Joshua Reiss, a division chief for the office, unsuccessfully sought Cornelio's removal in March by airing remarks she made about Haskell's mental health at the time of his trial. Cornelio was not yet the 351st District Court judge.

She has since secured a second term earlier this month after running unchallenged.

Cornelio declined to step down from Haskell's case during both of Reiss' attempts and handed the requests to Judge Susan Brown, the appointed Eleventh Administrative Judicial Region of Texas, to decide for her. Brown sided with Cornelio the first time and assembled a rare recusal hearing for the second request.

Several prosecutors, deputies and a relative of Haskells victims testified in a packed courtroom Oct. 29 as prosecutors asserted Cornelio showed bias in how she allowed Haskell to leave death row for the medical procedure. The gallery was mostly filled with fellow prosecutors.

Cornelio was absent from the proceedings while handling a docket in her courtroom.

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Defense attorney Philip Scardino, who has been vocal in support of Cornelio, observed the proceedings with skepticism and noted no other judge has garnered similar criticism.

"They're just picking on her," Scardino last month said.

The prosecutors who secured the jurys guilty verdict were unaware of his move from death row until a victims brother notified them in July that Haskell was no longer in Texas Department of Criminal Justice custody. Dean underscored the district attorneys office knew about the bench warrant for weeks but did nothing to voice their exception until weeks later. They instead listened to hours of Haskells jail calls to his mother.

One phone call featured Haskell describing the bench warrant as having an imaginary court date, according to audio played in court.

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Dean said Haskell has no perception of whats happening because of mental health issues.
Harris County Department of Education Board Trustee Eric Dick listens during a meeting Wedneday, Jan. 17, 2024 in Houston. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer From left, Harris County Department of Education Board Trustee Dr. John McGee, Attorney Sarah Langlois, Superintendent James Colbert and President Andrea Duhon listen during a meeting Wedneday, Jan. 17, 2024 in Hoouston. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer

Fresh off running unopposed for re-election to the Harris County Department of Educations board of trustees, attorney Eric Dick may face disciplinary action after the rest of the board chose to consider censuring the elected official due to $40,000 in unpaid ethics fines.

The board voted 6-0 with Dick absent to draft a resolution of censure before the next board meeting, claiming that he had violated the boards code of ethics.

The $40,000 in campaign ethics fines were issued by the Texas Ethics Commission after his unsuccessful bids for an at-large seat on Houstons City Council in 2019 and for Harris County treasurer in 2022. He had served on the HCDE board until December 2022 and then was appointed to the board again in January 2023 after his campaign for treasurer.

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Harris County resident and retired NASA software engineer John Cobarruvias initially filed complaints against the official with the ethics commission after the 2019 and 2022 violations, one of more than 60 complaints Cobarruvias said he has filed in the last 15 or so years. He also filed a grievance with the HCDE against Dick in July.

Trustees are elected officials. Taxpayers should expect them to do some basic things, tell the truth, follow the laws of the state, honor subpoenas issued by judges, pay your fines assessed by the state, Cobarruvias said at Wednesdays hearing. What happens if you and I don't pay our parking tickets? You know, it's pretty clear. But the worst part about all this is that he's thumbing his nose at the law.

Trustees on the board did not give an indication publicly about their thoughts toward the grievance, but one trustee did thank him for coming forward.

I am very appreciative, to speak for myself, that you have come forward today, trustee Erica Davis said to Cobarruvias.

While Davis said the HCDE Board of Trustees does not have jurisdiction to grant the remedies Cobarruvias was seeking, such as removing Dick from the board, it can consider a resolution of censure.

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The Harris County Department of Education, or HCDE, is a nonprofit, tax-assisted organization that provides additional services to the 25 school districts in the area and serves over 100,000 students. It has been in operation for 135 years, and its mission under the law is to equalize educational opportunity.

Specific details of the censure will be available immediately following the December board meeting, said HCDE communications manager Angel Verdejo.

Dick was re-elected in November after running unopposed for his seat. His spouse, Danielle Dick, also ran for the HCDE board in November against incumbent trustee Richard Cantu, but her second bid for the county education board was unsuccessful.

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In a statement emailed in the days following the hearing, Dick blamed the grievance on politics, and said he didn't fully agree with the way that the board approached the matter, he appreciated their commitment to "transparency and accountability."

"Legal and political systems are increasingly weaponized as tools to target and marginalize Republican officials. This grievance is not an isolated event but part of a larger pattern," the trustee wrote.

He also called the HCDE a "vital yet vulnerable organization, subject to political scrutiny and, at times, targeted efforts to diminish or eliminate its operations," and said that he did not attend the hearing to "allow the board to deliberate without (his) presence influencing the discussion."

Dick has previously said he is challenging the fines, which he said were indicative of a systemic issue within the TEC. More than $1.5 million in fines are due to the TEC and have been sent to the Attorney General for collection, according to state records.

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Earlier this year, the attorney was also sanctioned $250,000 for his legal practices, which he said he would fight, and he was under investigation by the Hawaii Office of Disciplinary Counsel after allegedly illegally soliciting Maui wildfire victims. Dick characterized it as a misunderstanding at the time.

What were the violations?

When Dick ran for City Council in 2019, the commission found that he paid for mailers from the Harris County Black Democratic News, featuring photos of prominent Black politicians on the front, including former President Barack Obama, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, state Rep. Senfronia Thompson, state Sen. Borris Miles, and Mayor Sylvester Turner. The back of the mailers included endorsements of candidates, including Dick.

Miles and Thomas denounced the mailers at the time, saying they had no affiliation with the group. The mailers also lacked a disclosure saying who paid for them, as required by state law.

Dick was fined $30,000 for his role in the creation of the mailers, and his attorney, Phillip Bryant, was also fined $6,000 for his role in the mailer creation. Bryant was allegedly spending money on behalf of the Harris County Black Democratic News without a campaign treasurer, a violation of Texas Election Code. According to the sworn complaint, Bryant did not appear at the hearing.

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Dick wrote a blog post on his law firms website in October 2022 musing, Is the Texas Ethics Commission racist? In the post, he wrote that he represented the leader of the Harris County Black Democratic News, Phillip Bryant, as an attorney, thereby was acting on behalf of his client. Dick claimed the TEC ignored evidence from Bryant due to his race.

But the commission stated that they found no presented evidence that demonstrates the consent from Phillip Bryant, for the respondent to act on his behalf, or on behalf of HCDN/HCBDN in this instance.

In the response to the initial ethics complaint filed by Cobarruvias, Dicks attorney, Chris Carmona wrote that Cobarruvias had an ongoing personal agenda against Dick.

The Complainant in this matter has had it out for Mr. Dick since he first ran for City Council in 2011. In any election that Mr. Dick has run, the Complainant has found it his personal goal to trash, disparage, and tear apart Mr. Dick as much as he could. The same happened in 2019, but with eve more hatred than before, and as the Complainant states himself, he has become obsessed with going after Mr. Dick, Carmona wrote at the time.

In 2022, during Dicks run for Harris County treasurer, he failed to report two $25,000 payments to the Conservative Republicans of Texas and the Conservative Republicans of Harris County. There was also a discrepancy of over $100,000 in his pre-election filings, according to the TECs signed resolution from Sept. 29.

The TEC found Dick acted in bad faith after not responding to its complaint letter for eight months. According to the resolution, the additional $10,000 fine took into account that Dick had not paid his $30,000 fine, so the TEC sought to deter future violations with the additional fine.
Social media was recently buzzing with surprise after Deepinder Goyal, Zomato CEO shared a job post where he was seeking candidates who will contribute INR 20 lakh to work in Zomato for a year as the Chief of Staff.

This position provides the chosen individual an opportunity to contribute to Zomato's significant initiatives: Hyperpure, Blinkit, and Feeding India. Designed as an intensive educational journey, it offers a challenging and enriching experience comparable to that of a top-tier MBA program.

The 20 lakh will go towards Feeding India, a charity sponsored by Zomato. While netizens poured in their thoughts on the same and apparently Zomato received over 18,000 job applications with some backlash on social media, Shaadi.com Founder Anupam Mittal also joined in the brandwagon. In his Linkedin profile, he shared a quirky post extending invitation to individuals to apply for the 'Chief of Staff' position in case they are not able to pay INR 20 lakh to his friend Deepinder Goyal.

He posted on his Linkedin: "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" followed by a step by step guide to submit application for the 'Chief of Staff' position along with the job requirements which included a 6 months probation period as 'Chief of What' before working out of the actual office in Mumbai.

Its yet to be seen how many job applications Shaadi.com receives for the same!. Goyal on the other hand clarified that the INR 20 lakh fee was a screening test that will not be executed in real.

Check out Anupam Mittal's Linkedin post here :
Hyundai Motor India Foundation (HMIF), the CSR arm of Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) inaugurated Gurugrams first Traffic Engineering Centre and Organization Development Centre, at the DCPs office in Gurugram, Haryana. 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. A significant step towards enhancing road safety in the city, the Traffic Engineering Centre monitors 218 junctions, helping manage traffic better, analyze 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 effective traffic management across the city.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Traffic Engineering Centre, Mr. Unsoo Kim, Managing Director - HMIL, said, "At Hyundai Motor India Foundation, we are committed to improving road safety through our 'Easy Roads' initiative. The launch of the first-ever Traffic Engineering Centre in Gurugram, Haryana, marks a significant milestone in this journey. By leveraging cutting edge technology, we aim to reduce accidents, improve driver behavior, and create a safer, more efficient transportation ecosystem for the citizens of the city. I am confident that through our collective efforts, this Traffic Engineering Centre will emerge as a model facility that can be emulated across the nation, making our roads safer for all.

Some key features of this tech driven Traffic Engineering Centre by HMIF & Haryana Police include:

Centralized Live Access: Traffic Police can monitor 1,100 cameras across 218 junctions with a live view of 25 cameras at once, enabling swift action and improved response time.

Specialized Training Programs: Traffic Police officers will receive dedicated training to enhance their skills and knowledge on traffic and accident management.

Collaborative Effort: The Centre operates in collaboration between HMIF and Haryana Police, with expert support from the Institute of Road Traffic Education, and TSL Foundation.

This comprehensive solution, emphasizing the 3Es of road safety: Education, Engineering, and Enforcement, will revolutionize road safety in Gurugram, making it a model for other cities and states.

Also Read: Hyundai Motor to organize 2024 edition of Hyundai Spotlight Concerts
BJP-Led Mahayuti Secures Massive Victory in Maharashtra, Opposition INDIA Bloc Set to Retain Jharkhand 2

The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is on course for a decisive victory in Maharashtra, securing an overwhelming lead over the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), while the opposition INDIA bloc appears set to claim a win in Jharkhand. According to trends from the Election Commission, the BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP coalition in Maharashtra is leading in 218 of the 288 assembly seats, signalling a significant mandate in favour of the ruling alliance. In contrast, the MVAcomprising the Congress, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), and Shiv Sena (UBT)is ahead in just 50 seats.

Meanwhile, in Jharkhands 81-member assembly, the Hemant Soren-led opposition alliance is leading, with the JMM ahead in 30 seats, the Congress in 13, the RJD in five, and the CPI-ML in one. The BJP trails significantly with 26 leads. Hemant Soren looks set to return as chief minister, with Congress leader Rajesh Thakur expressing confidence in forming the government with a two-thirds majority.

Union Minister Giriraj Singh claimed that the BJPs success reflects the publics rejection of communal politics allegedly promoted by the INDIA bloc. The results mark a boost for the BJP, following its recent electoral victories, including a historic third consecutive win in Haryana. These victories come despite setbacks in the general elections, where the BJP won 240 Lok Sabha seats.

In Maharashtra, the BJP leads in 125 seats, nearing the halfway mark of 144 on its own, while the Shiv Sena and NCP hold leads in 56 and 35 seats, respectively. Key leaders, including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, his deputies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray, are leading in their constituencies. However, Congresss performance has been disappointing, with its leaders Nana Patole, Balasaheb Thorat, and former CM Prithviraj Chavan facing challenges in their constituencies.

In Jharkhand, Chief Minister Hemant Soren is leading in Barhait, while his wife Kalpana Soren and prominent leaders like Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato and Deepika Pandey Singh are also in contention. BJP state president Babulal Marandi and AJSU Party chief Sudesh Mahto face stiff competition, indicating a tough battle in this eastern state.

The contrasting results in Maharashtra and Jharkhand underscore regional variations in voter preferences, with the BJP consolidating its hold in western India while the opposition strengthens its position in the east.
If youve ever watched Home Alone 2: Lost in New York and envied the fancy hotel suite with the giant Christmas tree, now is your chance to stay in a room decked out with two trees, plus plenty of shiny baubles and sparkly garland. And pink! Lots and lots of pink.

Thats because its the 9 to 5 room at The Graduate Hotel in Nashville, a Dolly Parton-themed, over-the-top suite that sleeps four people. (And because designers at The Graduate by Hilton also watched the movies, they created tinseled The Home Alone suite at their hotel in Evanston, Ill. See it here).

Designers of the 9 to 5 suite channeled Parton, who would surely approve of the blinged-out room.

The 9 to 5 suite at The Graduate by Hilton Hotel in Nashville  a Dolly Parton-themed suite that sleeps four people  is decked out for the holidays with two Christmas trees, shiny baubles and sparkly garland. The decor year-round is over-the-top glam, featuring shag carpet, disco ball-tile ceilings and a neon sign with a well-known Parton quote: "It costs a lot of money to look this cheap.Courtesy The Graduate by Hilton in Nashville

The suite is decked out for the holiday season, guaranteed to leave guests feeling the holiday spirit, according to a spokeswoman for the company.

The suite, a press release said, is like Dolly herself, is a true Nashville original. Inspired by Partons glamorous and glitzy style, this spacious suite is decked out for the holidays with tinsel, various shades of pink ornaments, and not one but two Christmas trees to accompany the pink feathers, disco ball-tile ceilings, and shag carpet youll find in the suite year-round.

The 9 to 5 suite at The Graduate Hotel by Hilton in Nashville  a Dolly Parton-themed suite that sleeps four people  is decked out for the holidays with two Christmas trees, shiny baubles and sparkly garland. The decor year-round is over-the-top glam, featuring shag carpet, disco ball-tile ceilings and a neon sign with a well-known Parton quote: "It costs a lot of money to look this cheap.Courtesy The Graduate by Hilton in Nashville

Another permanent decoration hangs above the bed  a neon sign with a well-known Parton quote: It costs a lot of money to look this cheap.

At the time of this writing, a quick check online shows the suite is booked on some days during the holidays but Christmas day and dates earlier in December are still available. The suites price starts at $659 per night. Click here for details.

The 9 to 5 suite at The Graduate Hotel in Nashville  a Dolly Parton-themed suite that sleeps four people  is decked out for the holidays with two Christmas trees, shiny baubles and sparkly garland. The decor year-round is over-the-top glam, featuring shag carpet, disco ball-tile ceilings and a neon sign with a well-known Parton quote: "It costs a lot of money to look this cheap.Courtesy The Graduate by Hilton in Nashville

The Graduate in Nashville, as might be expected, continues the country-music theme throughout the facility, featuring kids rooms with guitar-shaped headboards and an amazing 15-foot-long latch hook-rug portrait of Minnie Pearl behind the check-in desk. The lobby features pink plaid chairs and paintings of legendary country stars. But the most over-the-top feature is a 9-foot-high bust of Dolly made from chicken wire  and painted pink  in the rooftop bar. Click here to read about the statue.
Two men were killed, and a third injured, in two separate Montgomery shootings on Friday.

Police on Saturday identified the slain men as Maurice Walker, 44, of North Carolina, and Marcelino Hernandez, 33, of Montgomery.

Officers and fire medics responded at 4:18 p.m. to the 900 block of West South Boulevard on a report of a person shot.

Walker was pronounced dead on the scene.

Police at the same time were dispatched to the 100 block of Beckview Drive where they found a second man wounded, said Maj. Saba Coleman. His injuries were not life-threatening.

Coleman said investigators determined the second victim was also shot at the West South Boulevard location.

At 11:30 p.m., first responders were dispatched to the 4800 block of Park Towne Way. There, they found Hernandez dead from a gunshot wound as well.

Authorities have not released details surrounding either shooting. No arrests have been announced.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP, Montgomery police at 334-625-2831 or the police departments Secret Witness tip line at 334-625-4000.
Alabama state Sen. Merika Coleman, D-Pleasant Grove, has pre-filed a bill that would establish a legal right to distribute and use contraceptives.

Coleman said this week that in light of President-elect Donald Trumps recent win and Republicans gaining control of the House and Senate, she felt it necessary to have legal protections in place for contraception access.

I used to serve on judiciary when I served in the House before going to the Senate, and I saw a trend, Coleman said.

There were some people that were coming to testify on bills where they used the term chemical abortion, and they were talking about the morning after pill.

And so now, especially in light of the new president that was elected, and now that we have both the Republican House and Senate that will take office next year, we definitely, no time soon, will have the protections of Roe [v. Wade] reinstated when it comes to abortion access. But theres still also an attack on contraception. And so, I just want to make sure that I highlight this issue.

In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that legalized abortion nationwide.

Immediately following the decision, Alabama enforced a total abortion ban, which prohibits abortion at all stages of pregnancy, except when the pregnancy poses a serious health risk to the mother.

The law makes performing an abortion a Class A felony. And anyone administering an abortion could face up to 99 years in prison.

You know folks will say thats settled law, the Supreme Court has had various cases on contraception, Coleman said.

Why are you talking about that now? Im talking about it now because who in the world would have thought five years ago that Roe v. Wade was going to be overturned?

You know, we always thought that that was settled law... But yet when the court case came before them, they threw that back to the states. And now because Alabama had a trigger law, we lost abortion access in our state. And so, I want to make sure that we keep our protections for contraception in the state of Alabama.

Contraception under Trumps presidency

Trump has had a mixed response to questions about contraception access over the last year.

During an interview with Pittsburgh TV station KDKA-TV in May, Trump was asked if he supports any restrictions on a persons right to contraceptives.

Well, were looking at that and were going to have a policy on that very shortly, he said.

And I think its something youll find interesting and its another issue thats very interesting.

When asked specifically about restrictions on the morning after pill, Trump replied that things really do have a lot to do with the states -- and some states are going to have different policy than others.

After receiving public backlash and a call out from President Joe Bidens campaign team, Trump took to Twitter to clarify his position.

I HAVE NEVER, AND WILL NEVER ADVOCATE IMPOSING RESTRICTIONS ON BIRTH CONTROL, or other contraceptives, he wrote in a May 21 post.

Doctors say many patients are worried about their access to contraception under another Trump presidency.

During his first term as president, the Department of Health and Human Services issued new rules allowing more employers to opt-out of the Affordable Care Act mandate guaranteeing no-cost contraceptive services for women.

Trumps election victory could also extend conservative control of the Supreme Court for another two decades.

Conservative Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has previously proposed that Griswold v. Connecticut, the Supreme Court ruling that invalidated a Connecticut law that made it illegal to use birth control devices or to advise about their use, should be reconsidered.

We have a duty to correct the error established in those precedents, Thomas wrote in reference to the Griswold opinion and others in a solo concurring opinion when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
Slow down, buckle up and have your drivers license handy.

Thats the message from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency leaders as they urge drivers to exercise caution this weekend and throughout the week of Thanksgiving. And more troopers will be visible along roadways as an extra incentive.

Alabama state troopers will conduct checkpoints at targeting high-crash areas along busy corridors in partnership with local law enforcement agencies.

Checkpoint activities will include drivers license checks. Authorities say the campaign is an effort to reduce crashes, injuries and deaths this season.

Stepped up enforcement runs through Dec. 1.

The Thanksgiving holiday marks the beginning of a cherished time of year, Col. Jonathan Archer, ALEAs department of public safety director, said in a statement. Tragically, many Alabama families experience loss due to preventable motor vehicle accidents caused by impaired driving, speeding, and failure to wear seat belts.

Archer stressed that proper seat belt use is the best defense against impaired, aggressive, and distracted drivers.

No matter how long or short your drive, its critical that drivers and passengers buckle up. Every trip. Every time, he said.
A group of people are excited as they leave Texas Southern Universitys Robert James Terry Library, a poll location, after voting Friday, Nov. 4, 2022, in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer People leave Texas Southern Universitys Robert James Terry Library, a poll location, after voting Friday, Nov. 4, 2022, in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Texas Southern University Senior Al Williams is happy about former President Donald Trump winning the election Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024 in Houston. Williams said he voted for Trump but he was sad about voters dont take into account the local and state elections. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Texas Southern University Freshman and first-time voter Keimora Sherman speaks about her reactions to former President Donald Trump winning the election Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024 in Houston. As a Black woman going to a HBCU school, she worries what is her future going to hold, Sherman said. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Texas Southern University Freshman and first-time voter Keimora Sherman reads her tablet on a bench Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024 in Houston. As a Black woman going to a HBCU school, she worries what is her future going to hold, following former President Donald Trump won the election Sherman said. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer University of Houston Freshman Lance Ly said they are heartbroken to former President Donald Trump winning the election Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024 in Houston. Ly, a non-binary person, said they wanted for their reproductive rights back and supported LGBTQ+ and education rights. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Rice University Sophomore Opal Lung, right, looks at Sammi Frey, also a sophomore, using her cellphone after speaking to the Houston Chronicle about their reactions to President-elect Donald Trump winning the election Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024 at in Houston. Both Lung and Frey were disappointed about the results. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Rice University Junior Amy Totoe reads at Founder's Court Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024 at in Houston. Tote said she was very surprised President-elect Donald Trump won the election. She said she is trying to be calm and go through it. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer University of St. Thomas student Clarissa Flores, 20, talks to the Houston Chronicle about her reactions to the presidential election results Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024 in Houston. Flores voted for Kamala Harris and was disappointed that President-elect Donald Trump won the election. She said, as a Hispanic woman, she worried about whats going to happen. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer University of St. Thomas student and first-time voter Alain Clase, 19, talks to the Houston Chronicle about his reactions to the presidential election results Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024 in Houston. Clase said he voted for President-elect Donald Trump because his morals and ideas as a Catholic aligned with Trump. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer University of St. Thomas student Daniela Diaz, 22, talks to the Houston Chronicle about her reactions to the presidential election results Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024 at in Houston. Diaz said she is a liberal person but casted her vote tor President-elect Donald Trump. It was a very hard decision for her, she said. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

Sammi Frey and Opal Lung studied together on a quiet Rice University campus the day after the presidential election. The students were both downcast, in disbelief of the results.

As co-president of Rice Young Democrats, Frey had led 10 events in the prior two weeks. The momentum seemed on their side. Everyone they knew said they were voting for Vice President Kamala Harris.

I hadnt really prepared myself for this to be a reality, Lung, 20, said. Being in this kind of blue bubble sets you up for disappointment.

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The re-election of former President Donald Trump came as a surprise to some Houston college students like Frey and Lung, who said the results made them rethink how dialogue occurs on their campuses. They knew that some people at their universities obviously voted for the Republican candidate  nationwide, exit polls showed voters aged 18-29 casting their ballots 54% of the time for Harris and 43% of the time for Trump  but where were they?

Many Houston-area students described feeling disillusioned by an appearance of liberalism at their schools, but researchers who study young voters said the full story is much more complicated, having more to do with conversation patterns than demographics.

"It's challenging to kind of categorize such a big, diverse group," said Demetri Morgan, associate professor of education at the University of Michigan. "But we tend to see college students being more socially liberal, but when it comes to fiscal issues, when it comes to foreign policy, you know, it gets much more spread out and harder to pin down."

J.V. Mehta, a sophomore at Rice, said he sees more nuance to how people vote than some young people allow. He understood that some Trump voters looked past concerns about his character and voted on his economic plan, but a tendency to keep to a certain echochamber might have prevented students from seeing that viewpoint, he said.

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Thats something that needs to be looked into," said Mehta, who came from the San Francisco area. "For the ability of that to be resolved, Im not so confident about that.

Of course, some students were not surprised at the election results, having family members who supported Trump or having sought more media engagement with opinions outside of their own social media algorithms. And painting colleges as overwhelmingly liberal isn't entirely fair, either, with little solid data showing how college students vote, said Nancy Thomas, executive director of the Institute for Democracy and Higher Education.

Most exit polls focus on a broader age group, which includes people in college, people who graduated, and people who never attended higher education. The Tufts Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement breaks it down generally by people 18-24 choosing Harris by 10 points, compared to voters 25-29 favoring Trump by two points.

People 18-29 who have an associate's degree or some time in college, split 55-43 Harris to Trump, according to the data.

"It's the best we've got, but it is not 'college youth,'" Thomas said.

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FIRE, a nonpartisan First Amendment organization for college students, found in its annual study of college campuses that students leaned 47% liberal, 16% moderate and 21% conservative, said Nathan Honeycutt, a FIRE research fellow. The idea then shifts to why students are more liberal, but people come to college with many of their opinions already formed, Thomas added. And in her own studies, students have sometimes shown less willingness to engage.

"The students told us that the faculty bend over backwards, particularly in the classroom, to draw out all sorts of perspectives," Thomas said. "It's the students that don't want to share them, because they don't want to be ostracized by their peers."

At University of St. Thomas, a Catholic private university in Montrose, many students said their friend groups are more mixed. Alwin Clase, 19, said he voted for Trump, but he's hasn't seen people antagonized for that vote on campus.

"I have friends that have varying viewpoints, and we tend to be respectful about it," he said. "Its been kind of civilized."

Justin Bailey, a 22-year-old graduate student at the University of Houston, said he voted for Trump though he has friends who voted for Harris.

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"Its a very split demographic, and Im not going to let anybodys opinions affect our friendships," he said.

At Texas Southern University, an HBCU, several students said they recognized how young people's support of social policies might have obscured Trump win. College students are also known as being more politically engaged than non-college-going counterparts, but young voter turnout and wasn't as high as in 2020, sitting at 42% this November.

I feel like most of the generation just goes by whats trending right now," said Keimora Sherman, a freshman from Dallas. "Factually, Ive seen that Trump was going to win, but everybody feels like for LGBT rights, for womens rights, for Black rights, people were going to feel like Kamala was going to win.

Amy Totoe, a Rice junior from Abilene, said she knew many people at the university who leaned toward Trump who didn't vote. She voted for Harris, but one positive from the election has been an increase of dialogue at the university, she said.

"Its been nice to hear that more, instead of being more divisive, people are trying to understand the why," Totoe said. "Theyre reaching out to people on the other side.

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Clarissa Flores, a sophomore at University of St. Thomas, said she hasn't had heated discussions either. She was a Harris supporter, but one of her high school friends is a Trump supporter. She sometimes struggles to grasp how.
The warning was for Marion, Lamar, Fayette, Winston, Walker, Blount, Etowah, Calhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne, St. Clair, Talladega, Clay and Randolph counties.

Freeze watch or warning - this is what it means

Freeze warnings are issued from May to October (but can be extended if necessary), when low temperatures are expected to be 29-32 degrees. If there is a potential for temperatures to fall into these thresholds, a freeze watch may be issued a few days ahead of time.

According to the National Weather Service, if a freeze warning or watch is issued for your area, there is little you can do to protect plants. If you can move your sensitive plants inside, do so because the freeze will likely kill them, depending on the severity of conditions.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.
By Gail Drake

news@albanyherald.com

One of the most extraordinary women in American history was born in the mountains of Idaho around 1788 into the Lemhi Shoshone tribe. She was a victim of child trafficking, and her subsequent courage and selflessness benefited our country at a crucial time in ways often overlooked. Her adventure began in November 1804.

When she was 12 years old, Sacagawea was kidnapped by Hidatsa warriors and transported to North Dakota. A year later, she was sold into a non-consensual marriage to a fur trapper from Quebec. Toussaint Charbonneau bought her and another teenage girl, reportedly having won her in gambling.

America at that time was a chain of former English colonies settled along the Atlantic seaboard. Napoleon of France had lost interest in a North American empire and needed money to fight the British. The French-controlled Mississippi River basin and its tributaries offered valuable ports for the U.S., and President Thomas Jefferson had long been interested in exploring and acquiring this vast unknown region.

So for $15 million dollars, Jefferson purchased the Louisiana Territory in 1803, doubling the size of the United States. He commissioned the Corps of Discovery and appointed Army Captain Meriwether Lewis as its leader. Lewis invited his friend, William Clark, as co-leader. Jeffersons goals included finding the most direct & practicable water communication across this continent, building trade relationship with Indian tribes, and documenting the lands geography, ecology and culture.

In 1804, the Corps settled at Fort Mandan in Missouri and recruited team members. Recognizing the need for translators with the various tribal nations, they hired trapper Charbonneau. Clarks journal recorded that a French man by Name Chabonah who Speaks the Big Belley language  we engaged him  and  one of his wives to interpret the Snake language. His teenage wife, Sacagawea, was pregnant with her first child. Lewis recorded the birth of Jean Baptiste Charbonneau on Feb. 11, 1805, who they nicknamed Pompy.

The team launched in April 1805 and headed up the Missouri River to its headwaters in dugout canoes, poling against the current or pulling via ropes from shore. On May 14, a canoe capsized and Sacagawea quickly rescued several fallen items, including Clarks journals and records.

In August, the corps met a Shoshone tribe and requested to trade horses to cross the Rocky Mountains. Sacagawea translated and discovered that the tribes leader, Cameahwait, was her long-lost brother. Lewis journal recorded: The Indian woman  proved to be a sister of the Chief Cameahwait. The meeting of those people was really affecting, particularly between Sacah-gar-we-ah and an Indian woman who had been taken prisoner at the same time with her.

The Shoshones housed them through the winter, then traded horses and provided guides across the mountains. When the party crested the first mountain peaks, they discovered the vastness of the Rockies. Crossing the mountains took longer than expected, and food supplies ran low. Sacagawea helped find and cook camas roots to feed the fainting party members. As the parties followed the Columbia River to the Pacific Ocean, Sacagawea traded her beaded belt so Clark could purchase a fur coat made of sea otter skin. When the corps reached the Pacific in Oregon, all members of the expedition, including Sacagawea, voted on the location for their winter fort.

On the return trip, Sacagawea provided directions for alternate routes. On July 6, 1806, Clark recorded that the Indian woman  said we would discover a gap in the mountains in our direction (present day Gibbons Pass). On July 13, she advised Clark to cross into Yellowstone River basin at what is now known as Bozeman Pass.

Throughout their travels, the presence of an Indian woman and baby provided safe passage as it identified the team as not being a war party. The wife of Shabono our interpreter, we find reconciles all the Indians, as to our friendly intentions a woman with a party of men is a token of peace. In total, they had walked and traveled by water more than 8,000 miles over 2 1/2 years.

Lewis and Clark grew in their fondness for baby Jean Baptist and their respect for his mother. In their letter to Charbonneau, they wrote, Your woman who accompanied you that long dangerous and fatiguing rout to the Pacific Ocean and back deserved a greater reward for her attention and services on that rout than we had in our power to give her. As to your little Son (my boy Pomp), you well know my fondness of him and my anxiety to take him and raise him as my own child.

After the expedition, Sacagawea and her husband lived among the Hidatsa before settling into St. Louis. In 1809 they entrusted their child to Clark, who enrolled little Jean in boarding school. Most Indian historians record that Sacagawea died in 1812 of illness, while others suggest she returned to the Shoshone Reservation and lived to old age. Her wind-swept grave rests in Fort Washakie, Wyo.

Sacagawea overcomer and endured every deprivation of this important American trek while caring for her baby. Her presence and skills ensured the success of that expedition.

Sacagawea Charbonneau: Lemhi Shoshone, translator for Lewis & Clark Expedition. An American hero. Lest we forget.
For a host of reasons, it became convenient for progressives to suggest that large numbers were fleeing Florida in search of a better life.

When Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was a GOP presidential frontrunner, liberal Democrats dug up every scrap of information suggesting he was an ineffective governor, noting that thousands were fleeing his state as a result of his supposedly poor governance. When Trump became the GOP nominee, the attack on Trumps adopted home state continued. Hundreds if not thousands of articles were generated implying that Trumps adopted home state was such a disaster that there was a mass exodus. The reality is just the opposite.

To begin, the idea that Florida is losing residents is simply not true. Of course, some residents are always leaving, and others are migrating into the state, but the net result is that Florida gained 2.7 million residents (14.7%) from 2010 to 2020  more in numeric terms than any other state except Texas. From 2019 to 2024, it is estimated that Floridas population grew by 1.5% annually, or 7.5% altogether, and there is no indication that its population will stop growing.

Florida is well-run by its respected governor. It does not impose personal income taxes (or taxes on pharmaceutical items); it offers a $50,000 homestead exemption for homeowners residing in their homes as primary residences; it has spectacular weather from October to May (and livable conditions from June through September); it is an increasingly conservative state, where personal freedom is respected; and it is very safe outside some areas within its larger cities.

If there is a mass exodus taking place, it is from California, New York, and Illinois. These states have become less attractive because of the high cost of living, crime, high taxes, regulation, and government intrusion into the lives of their citizens. The numbers do not lie: since 2020, California has lost population (200,000 from 2020 to 2022), New York has lost 1.4 million over the past decade (more than any other state), and Illinois lost 853,000 residents from 2010 to 2019 and continues to lose them.

The contrast between Florida and California is especially revealing. San Francisco and Los Angeles have become plagued with homelessness, violent crime, shoplifting, a lack of affordable housing, failing public education, a high cost of living, and intrusive governance  and these conditions are not being addressed. Rules in place to eliminate the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035 will only make life in California more expensive and less free. Gov. Newsoms talk of defying Trumps reforms on immigration and crime wont make things better. Despite the passage of Proposition 36 with 70% of the vote, a measure aimed at reducing crime and shoplifting, California wont get better unless its governor and legislature enforce that proposition. In addition, Prop. 36 itself requires two previous convictions for theft before a theft under $900 is classified as a felony. Why not once, and youre out?

Furthermore, Prop. 36 treats serious drug offenses with a slap on the wrist: offenders are given the choice of mandated treatment, under which they receive housing, training, and psychological support, after which they will see their charges dismissed. This is not punishment; it is a cruise.

By contrast, Florida is a place of freedom and opportunity because of the fact that laws are enforced and criminals are sentenced to actual punishment. Freedom and opportunity exist only when they are supported by strong protections against those criminals who would victimize the weak. Without its effective policing and protections for gun owners, including permitless concealed carry, Florida would face even more crime than other states because its elderly population would be left at the mercy of theft or worse.

Florida boasts high employment and a low cost of living. Its public education system is rated 25th in the U.S. for quality (despite spending close to the least) compared to California, which is ranked at number 38. Certainly, Floridas public education system needs improvement, but it is far above California's.

In addition, at least outside coastal areas, Florida still offers affordable housing and a relatively low cost of living, especially when one includes tax savings. The median price of a new home in San Francisco is $1.35 million. The median price of a new home in Orlando is $399,000.

For the 3.625 million retirees in the state, Florida may not be paradise, but it is better than New York, Illinois, or California. The proof of this is simply that retirees continue moving to Florida, not to more expensive, dangerous, and snowy states. Most retirees appreciate the warm year-round climate. In some parts of the state, it is possible for retirees to live only on their Social Security payments. Property taxes can be quite low on a modest home. (Insurance is another matter, but insurance costs have been rising everywhere.) For those who live in gated retirement communities, life is especially safe. (The large community of 20,000 residents where I live has had one murder in the last 45 years.)

Florida also has some of the strongest laws in the country in place to protect homes and retirement income against liability lawsuits. These laws protect all Floridians, but they are especially important for retirees. Under Floridas Homestead Exemption law, homeowners cannot lose their homes in a liability lawsuit even when they are at fault in an accident. Also, under Florida law, IRAs and SEP-IRAs are protected from civil judgments. Under Florida law, any money or other assets payable to a participant or beneficiary in a qualified retirement or profit-sharing plan is exempt from creditor claims.

Of course, there are hurricanes, and there are long, humid summers, but the damage of hurricanes is localized, mostly on the coasts, and those long, hot summers are the price we pay for spectacular winter weather. Not very long ago, a bomb cyclone struck the West Coast, and a major winter storm moved across the northern U.S. toward New York and New England. In Florida, so far, the entire month of November has been dry, with highs in the 80s and no significant storm damage. On balance, the weather in Florida is appealing.

Despite media efforts to portray Florida as a failed state from which tens of thousands are fleeing, Florida remains a magnet for families seeking opportunity and for retirees seeking a warm, safe, affordable place to live.

The liberal media will continue to try to discredit the quality of life in Florida in an effort to undermine Trump, DeSantis, and conservatism more generally, but the reality is quite different. The fact is that Florida remains a well-governed state with a booming economy and opportunity for all. That is why Florida continues to see a net inflow of population regardless of how the state is portrayed in the liberal media.

Jeffrey Folks is the author of many books and articles on American culture.

Image: Donkey Hotey via Flickr, CC BY 2.0.
Its easy to say that stuff has to go. Unfortunately, lots of Swamp critters have burrowed deeply into the muck surrounding the White House. And while Vivek and Elon are really smart, there are a couple of blind spots that can be fixed. Maybe more than a couple

The most obvious is simple. Most people who have reached a degree of education fit for the task of helping out with DOGE are old enough that the 80-hour weeks that Musk and Ramaswamy demand are a problem. I used to work such hours when I was younger in an understaffed hospital Anesthesia department. I definitely fit the IQ requirement theyve put out, but I no longer have the physical stamina for those long hours. If that requirement were dropped for certain supporting roles, Id be ready to work. One job Id volunteer for would be as an idea screener.

Suppose that a website was set up to receive ideas for government waste reduction. It would become a portal for suggestions that would then be batted around before massaging them into tight presentations for the big Kahunas. Of course, ideas that have already been presented would be listed in an already received library that is visible to all so that they dont have to be dealt with repetitively. Ideas that are simply unacceptable, such as burn down the department with them in it, would be labeled as out of bounds, even if the sentiment has a certain attraction. As time passes, the site would grow and change to meet the need.

Image by AI

Next, we must deal with the mechanics of change. Lots of federal programs are the internal creations of the department in which they reside and are not specifically established by statute. This provides a bit of low-hanging fruit. Every one of those programs can be terminated immediately. If a federal employee is assigned to a terminated program, that employees job no longer exists. That allows the department to terminate that employees paycheck without any recourse. This approach alone might balance the federal budget.

The next branch up the tree is security clearances. Large parts of the federal government require employees to have them. The Mar-a-Lago case led to wide discussions about how the President may or may not manage classification and security clearances. It is now widely understood that the President is the ultimate classification authority. If he declares that certain employees no longer possess valid security clearances, those people will no longer be able to work for the government. If they cannot work, they cannot get paid. Of course, if they were offered some severance pay, many would move out on their own.

At this time, we need to start looking outside the box because eliminating whole departments, such as the Department of Education, will require Congressional action.

There are ways around eliminating departments, though. Moving the Department of the Interior to the interior of the USperhaps North Dakotacomes to mind. Im sure theres some remote federal land on the Canadian border that can be put to use. If Interior were moved, a lot of people would resign rather than relocate. More savings.

Send the Energy Department to Florida, where we have lots of offshore oil, or, on second thought, to Fairbanks, Alaska, near North Slope oil. We dont really want them in Florida.

With this type of relocation, destination cities would see tax benefits, and the DC suburbs would be far less blue. Bureaucrats residing in Loudoun County would suddenly find their way to new employers, mostly removed from the DC area.

When these left-leaning counties are depopulated of Swamp creatures, housing prices will fall, making them attractive for less luxuriously paid employees in companies that actually produce something. The force to keep Virginia blue will be rapidly reversed by the good people of the Commonwealth.

Another way to reduce government costs is to make all government grants subject to such strict criteria that no one can meet them. Congress can appropriate money for NIH for grants, but it cant create the criteria for each one. That set of requirements is set within the halls to soon be run by RFK Junior.

Up till now, grants have almost exclusively gone to research that is constructed in a way to support the current political orthodoxy. I know that Democrats contend that NIH is a health agency. However, it actually acts as a political agency, and that must be stopped.

Placing a final arbiter who excludes political criteria in studies will save almost all of the research money NIH shovels out to its friends. This does not require Congressional action.

Then, in the next budget, all grants of every sort can be defunded. This includes block grants to states for Medicaid, schools, and whatever. Why should our tax money be sent to DC just so it can come back to us? Let DC focus on foreign issues to protect us. We can take care of the rest without having bureaucrats suck up a lot as baksheesh.

Extending this logic, all foreign aid is unconstitutional. Article 1, Section 8 lists what is allowed, and aid to foreign countries isnt in it. Complete the committed sales to Taiwan and Israel and then turn them into actual business partners in various defense projects. Were already doing it in the Iron Dome system. Why not let Israel test that truck-mounted laser system in a real battle against incoming missiles instead of letting the Army twiddle its thumbs for two more years before declaring it operational? Either it works, or it doesnt. This pattern has been proven.

Hitler sent his Luftwaffe to Spain in the 1930s to work out its kinks in the Spanish Civil War before starting a Blitzkrieg against Poland. We did the same in the Pacific when we took B-25 medium bombers and turned them into extremely lethal gunships against Japanese shipping by adding extra machine guns and howitzers to them. Of course, our military in theater took this idea further with the AC-47 Spooky, a DC-3 fitted with massive machine guns and howitzers in the side. Our ground forces in Viet Nam were more than happy that the pencil pushers in the Pentagon didnt get in the way of that combat innovation.

Returning to Article I, Section 8, look at the list that starts with to borrow money If something isnt specifically on that list, cross it out of the budget. This will get rid of the blank check that the Supreme Court wrote when it said that the general welfare clause was infinitely elastic.

I can go on ranting, but you get the picture. The list of low-hanging fruit is, as Iceman told Maverick, long and distinguished.

Ted Noel is a retired physician who posts on social media as Doctor Ted. His Doctor Teds Prescription podcast is available on multiple podcast channels.
For many decades, the left in America has interpreted the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in a manner that is inherently hostile to religion, particularly to the Christian faith.

An example of the lefts adversarial interpretation of the separation of church and state is the recent decision by U.S. district judge John W. deGravelles, who has ruled that the Ten Commandments are not to be displayed in Louisianas public schools. He has declared the public display to be a coercive establishment of religion.

It is hard to overemphasize the importance of Judge deGravelless ruling, following as it does the multi-generational assault on Christianity as well as the other monotheistic faiths revering the Ten Commandments.

Historically, when and wherever the left holds the reins of power, the advocates of atheism will attack Christians, as Pope Pius XI noted in his 1937 encyclical concerning atheistic communism.

The 30s saw the height of the Moscow show trials and the purges that eliminated or sent to gulags millions of Soviet citizens, many of them Orthodox Christians. Those years also saw the acceleration of materialistic atheism in Russian classrooms and an increase in anti-religious efforts in Russia as well as in other nations in which Bolshevism was nascent or ascendant.

As the pope noted, this all too imminent danger ... is bolshevistic and atheistic Communism, which aims at upsetting the social order and at undermining the very foundations of Christian civilization.

The communist campaigns against the Christian foundations of the West remain a constant in Europe, America, and present-day China.

In the United States, Christianity has seen the Judiciary assault people of faith.

Prayer and Bible reading in public schools was abolished in 1962, when the Supreme Court ruled in Engel v. Vitale that school-sponsored prayer in public schools is unconstitutional. The decision attacked the foundational belief of all three monotheistic religions that there is a transcendent Creator to whom children of all ages pray.

In 1973, SCOTUSs Roe v. Wade decision ruled that the constitution of the United States protected womens right to have abortions, thus rendering protection of the unborn children null and void. The decision utterly degraded the value of human life, which was no longer to be regarded as having intrinsic worth given it by its Creator, but rather to be seen as a merely material entity subject to anothers or the States power to eliminate at will.

In 2015, the highest courts Obergefell v. Hodges vitiated the Jewish and Christian idea of marriage as the union between a man and a woman by ruling that same-sex couples have the same right to marry as opposite-sex couples do. The decision was a ruling that overruled all civilizations bedrock foundation of family, a pre-civilizational unit. In addition, the decision fostered the extreme lefts idea of equality as elimination of distinctions, including the obvious distinction between man and woman. Hence the rise of advocacy of the trans movement and its manifold deleterious effects on our children  within the very walls of our public schools.

The bottom line is that leftists in America have essentially sought to drive Christianity out of the civic square and thus to eventually eliminate it from the national discourse and influence. As Pius XI wrote, the left always seeks to eliminate what it considers the enemy of religion to establish a godless utopia: [all] other forces whatever, as long as they resist such systematic violence, must be annihilated as hostile to the human race.

Joseph Stalin put it even more bluntly: The Party cannot be neutral towards the bearers of religious prejudices, towards the reactionary clergy who poison the minds of the toiling masses. Have we suppressed the reactionary clergy? Yes, we have. The unfortunate thing is that it has not been completely liquidated.

The rejection of the universally applicable and generally accepted moral standard summarized by the Ten Commandments means that no person is subject to a higher authority and that lawfare is waged solely by means of sheer personal power and control of institutional levers. Both are then employed to control and persecute those who do not bow down to the almighty State and its self-anointed rulers. The self-appointed cognoscenti rely on infallible internal illumination that supposedly grants divination into the true nature of the law, which is regarded as evolving in a progressive direction that renders the bases of divine and natural law null and void.

Judge deGravelles and those likeminded totally repudiate the Judeo/Christian belief there is a transcendent moral and natural order that one cannot seek to change or subvert without disastrous consequences to self and to culture. As Pius XI put it, the lefts contempt for divine and natural law removes all the moral restraints that check the eruptions of blind impulse.

Acknowledgment of that moral and natural order applies to both domestic and foreign policies: How can any contract be maintained, and what value can any treaty have, in which every guarantee of conscience is lacking? And how can there be talk of guarantees of conscience when all faith in God and all fear of God have vanished? Take away this basis, and with it all moral law falls, and there is no remedy left to stop the gradual but inevitable destruction of peoples, families, the State, civilization itself.

Thankfully, the endeavor to crush Christianity and the standard of law summarized in the Ten Commandments will not succeed.

It never has.

Recall that Lenin and Joseph Stalin were elevated to god-like status. Stalin sneered at the papacys power, saying, The pope! How many divisions has he got?

Lenin and Stalin are gone, just as in present-day America the anointed few who seek to force godless ideology on Americas children will one day be powerless.

To that end, it is past time this nation promoted the restoration of the standard of moral excellence summarized in an ineffably majestic way in the Ten Commandments, each of which has finely wrought permutations that have defined the Wests ideas and practice concerning law for millennia.

The State has the responsibility of promoting that Law for the guidance of the nation. As Matthew Arnold put it in Culture and Anarchy, published in 1869, the eternal theme of the harmonization of the necessary that ... flows from the laws of nature  that which is and cannot be otherwise. (Italics mine.)

As Pius XI also pointed out, the State must fight for the preservation of the foundations of Western civilization. All diligence, he wrote, should be exercised by States to prevent within their territories the ravages of an anti-God campaign which shakes society to its very foundations.

The State must work for, not against the development of the spiritual life of its citizens. A start would be to stop the lawfare against Christians, including those whose children are in public schools. As the pope warned, when religion is banished from the school, from education and from public life, when the representatives of Christianity and its sacred rites are held up to ridicule, are we not really fostering the materialism which is the fertile soil of Communism?

Fortunately, there is hope on the horizon.

As the Epoch Times relates, the incoming Trump administration has indicated an end to the Department of Education, returning control of education to the states. Hopefully, people of faith will have more of a voice concerning their childrens spiritual development.

Trump has also promised an end to the promotion of the transgender cult in public schools as well as the inherently discriminatory Critical Race Theory. He has promised to halt gender transition, vowing an end to the chemical, physical, and emotional mutilation of our youth.

The Church at large generally has not compellingly fostered harmonization of spheres of influence, as it has failed to promote the all-encompassing worldview it once articulated with great intellectual and spiritual authenticity. Those who should have been keepers of the flame of justice and righteousness have become smoldering wicks, too often incorporating the insanity of woke ideology into church doctrine and practice.

But as Arnold put it, Christians leaders can and should re-ignite the flame. The Church must lead  but not hole and corner churches without great men and without furtherance for the higher life of humanity.

It is time for both Church and State to rise and to rekindle the bases of the spiritual life on which America was built and which have allowed her to thrive.

A beginning? Post the Ten Commandments in our schools, courts, and state houses.

Fay Voshell holds a M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary. Her thoughts have appeared in American Thinker and other online publications. She may be reached at fvoshell@yahoo.com.

Image via Picryl.
Attention, Disney: Your Snow White lead actress, Rachel Zegler, has got to go.

Now.

Shes gone beyond the Pale, and theres no turning back.



Heres why. Last week, she took to Instagram with a series of posts about Trump and Trumps supporters. She echoed some left-wing bimbos comment that she wished on Trump and his supporters that we never find peace.

According to Fox News, here's what she wrote:

"I find myself speechless in the midst of this. Another four years of hatred, leaning us towards a world I do not want to live in," Zegler wrote. "Leaning us towards a world that will be hard to raise my daughter in. Leaning us towards a world that will force her to have a baby she doesn't want. Leaning us towards a world that is fearful." She also said the country had a "deep sickness" and it was "terrifying" how many people backed Trump's vision for the country. Trump trounced Harris in the Electoral College, sweeping all battleground states, and he's on track to win the national popular vote as well. Zegler also wrote, "May Trump supporters and Trump voters and Trump himself never know peace," and she called on her supporters to abandon X, the social media platform owned by billionaire Elon Musk. "F---Donald Trump," she added.

I cant think of a worse fate than being barred from finding peace. So, thanks, Rachel.



After being lambasted by many famous and not-famous Trump supporters, keynoted by Megyn Kelly (Megyn Says Young and Dumb Rachel Zegler Has a Lot to Learn After Apologizing for Derogatory Trump Post  Megyn Kelly), for her insensitive (but clearly sincere, from her perspective) attack posts on Instagram, this week she came out with a totally lame and blatantly insincere apology. These are almost never real apologies, as I wrote here on American Thinker a few years ago (The Apology-Gotcha Game - American Thinker).



As a grandparent, Ive been more than just glad to share with my grandchildren many of the joys Disney brought me as a child, back before political correctness became a thing. But Disneys lost its way, as evidenced by the fact that Zegler hasnt been removed from the role of Snow White because of the many hostile, and purely sexist things she said about her role  especially trashing the original Snow White, Disneys first animated feature film. Why they didnt just recast her and reshoot the scenes she appeared in, I dont know.



But I know this.



Disney: If Rachel Zeglers in the film, it will be a cold day in, well, Las Vegas in August (the closest I could come to where that classic statement really went) before I take my granddaughters to see the live-action Snow White. Nor will I buy them DVD copies of this film. And I will encourage my sons and daughters-in-law to cancel their membership to Disneys streaming service, and to take their kids to Universal Theme Park instead of Disney World next summer when they go to Florida. Im talking scorched earth, take-no-prisoners response to Rachel Zegler and her hateful comments, and to Disneys continued defense of her, manifested by keeping her in that yet-to-be-released movie.



And I guarantee that Im not alone. Zegler wished hostility and hatefulness on every single person who voted for Trump. Do you really think they will accept this liberal bimbos non-apology apology and patronize her movie? I dont think so  and if youre honest, Disney  so do you.



Ned Barnett is a lifelong conservative, and  until they went woke  a lifelong Disney fan. Today, not so much. When hes not writing his own books  40 books published to date, with one more scheduled to come out in January  he is helping conservatives write content that will help them advance their belief in conservative values, from campaign books needed by candidates or causes to help win elections, or for individuals who want their voices heard. Ned can be reached at nedbarnett51@gmail.com or 702-561-1167.

Image: Jennie Park mydisneyadventures, via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 2.0 Deed


Did the Democrats learn anything from the 2024 results? I think that its fair to say that voters sent a clear message on issues like men in womens bathrooms or competing against their daughters.

Enter Rep. Nancy Mace, who doesnt want a man in the womens room even if the person in question is a trans woman elected in Delaware. Well, here is the story:

Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., said Tuesday that her effort to ban transgender women from using female bathrooms at the U.S. Capitol is a direct response to the election of Sarah McBride, who is set to be the first openly transgender person in Congress. Mace introduced a resolution Monday to prohibit any lawmakers and House employees from using single-sex facilities other than those corresponding to their biological sex. She was asked by reporters Tuesday if the move was in response to McBride. Yes and absolutely, and then some, Mace told reporters, adding, Im absolutely 100% gonna stand in the way of any man who wants to be in a womens restroom, in our locker rooms, in our changing rooms. I will be there fighting you every step of the way.

Good for Nancy. Its not about the trans; its about the male thing down there, if you know what I mean.

My guess is that most men and women agree with Rep. Mace. This is not a civil rights issue but rather a matter of common sense and decency. Who wants their wife, sister, cousin, daughter, etc., to go to a bathroom visited by men wearing a dress? Im sorry, but dressing up as a woman, mascara and all, does not make you a she.

You cant stop Democrat voters from voting for a trans person. He or she won fair and square. Nevertheless, that doesnt give this person a pass to violate the privacy of women who dont want a dude in a dress in that private space.

So, let the Democrats fight on this hill. Im just warning them that this is not the hill that you want to die on. Why? Because you are going to die for lack of public support.

P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts, and videos.

Image: X screen grab.
Among our elected representatives are far too many willing to lie, cheat and steal to enrich themselves and further anti-American interests. There are also others who are historical illiterates, who know little or nothing about American history, the Constitution or our representative republic. Those Democrats/socialists/communists (D/s/cs) who insist on calling America our democracy rather than our representative republic are choosing that formulation not necessarily because they know the difference, but because they do know how to support current D/s/c narratives. Surely, they have at least a sense that by so doing, theyre sticking a thumb in Americas eye? Often those classes inhabit a single body. One such is Senator Mazie Hirono, Democrat of Hawaii.

During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday Sen. Mazie Hirono (D) claimed the Supreme Court of the United States created the ability to own guns via Heller (2008). In video published by Forbes, Hirono began her opening remarks by referencing an earlier hearing in which the entire panel of witnesses agreed that this nation is awash in guns. She went on to stress the phrase awash in guns at least three more times, then said, Meanwhile, the Supreme Court in various decisions, Heller was pretty much an astounding decision to me when suddenly, individual could, [under] the Second Amendment, individuals could own firearms.

Suddenly? Astounding?

She then jumped to the Bruen (2022) decision, feigning shock that, Suddenly, were supposed to look to what the Founding Fathers thought about in1791 or some astounding time-frame such as that.

I know D/s/cs, including Congress dwellers, have long argued the Constitution is outmoded, and written in an archaic, incomprehensible language that has no application in modern America. Odd that my 15-year-old students were able to understand the Shakespearean English of the late 1500s, but D/s/cs think the colonial English of the late 1700s incomprehensible. To them, sure, but to literate and honest Americans willing to do a tiny bit of research, nah.

Graphic: YouTube Screenshot

We are awash in guns, which to a free people is a good thing indeed. But despite what people like Hirono claim, that doesnt translate to violence. In a classic video, the invaluable Bill Whittle revealed America isnt even in the top ten of nations in homicides per capita. As of 2012things havent changed much if at allAmerica ranked number 111in the world. Were that high because of D/s/c ruled, anti-liberty/gun places like Detroit, St. Louis and Chicago. Whittle points out if America had the same rate0.4 per 100,000as awash in guns Plano, TX, America wouldnt be at 111, but 211, only a fourth as bad as faux-violent Belgium at 1.6.

Graphic: YouTube Screenshot

Hirono is sort of right about one thing: the Bill of Rights, including the Second Amendment, was ratified in 1791. It reads:

A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

The amendment consists of two clauses, the prefatory clause"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, and the operant clause: the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed. Prefatory or introductory clauses serve as an introduction. Operant clauses carry the meaning.

Hirono, in referring to Heller (2008), presumably refers to this portion of that historic decision:

The Second Amendment protects an individual right to possess a firearm unconnected with service in a militia, and to use that arm for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home."

The court recognized the Second Amendment as a fundamental, unalienable right, a right given us by God, not established by man, hence a right government does not grant nor may legitimately take away. Americans always could keep and bear arms, and did, long before the Constitution was ratified, because God knows we need the right of self-defense and the means to affect it. The Bible also makes clear the reality of the disadvantage of the weak vs. the strong.

Bruen (2022) not only established a strict scrutiny requirement for consideration of Second Amendment cases, but affirmed the individual right to not only keepown/possessarms, but to bear them, concealed or openly, in public places with few limitations based not on some artificial multi-part test, but on this nations historical tradition of firearm regulation. Bruen built on Hellers holding that arms in common use are presumptively constitutional.

Neither Heller nor Bruen held that suddenly, individual could, [under] the Second Amendment, individuals could own firearms. Both decisions merely acknowledged that ancient, unalienable right, a right D/s/cs like Hirono have no more power to rescind than they have to abolish the God that created itand us.

Thank God for that.

Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor.
Around 2,500 years ago, Aesop (c. 620-564 BC) wrote short fables that pithily revealed deep truths. They used to be part of the Western canon but are no longer. And thats a shame because if more Westerners had been raised on Aesop and knew the story of the Farmer and the Viper, they would not have welcomed in bazillions of Muslims from countries practicing the strictest versions of that faith, they would not have encouraged leftism, and they definitely would not be surprised by the violent anti-Israel rioting in Montreal.

As with all of Aesops stories, The Farmer And The Viper is short, and the outcome is not sweet. A farmer, walking through his fields one chilly morning, finds a viper frozen stiff but not quite dead. Out of an excess of misplaced sympathy, the farmer takes the viper and places it inside his shirt to warm it. The viper, when it recovers from the cold, promptly bites the farmer, killing him.

The moral of the story is that when you are kind to something evil, you will be betrayed. The once-common expression to describe this was to nourish a viper in ones bosom.

Unsurprisingly, this is not the only tale reminding people that there is evil in the world and that you cannot nurture it, for it will destroy you. A Russian version of the tale is The Frog And The Scorpion. In that version, as flood waters rise, a frog yields to a scorpions request that he carry the scorpion across a river to safety. Halfway across the river, the scorpion bites the frog, causing both to drown. As they sink, the frog asks, Why did you do this, since it kills you, too? The scorpion answers, I couldnt help myself. It is my nature.

And theres the Talmud, which states simply, If you are kind to the cruel, you will end up being cruel to the kind. (For the curious, this bit of wisdom is found in the Midrash.)

But as I said, the nature of leftism is that it learns nothing from the past. As with the Jacobins, its always the Year One. Or, if you want to switch sides of the French aisle, leftists are like the Bourbons, the line of the French kings whom the Jacobins overthrew: They have learned nothing and forgotten nothing.

Thus, they have their little bits of embedded knowledge (like Jasmine Crockett screaming about blacks being forcibly taken to America), but they have no larger understanding (e.g., the last legal slave shipped to America was in 1808, the slave trade existed because black tribesmen captured each other and sold their captives to Muslim traders, slavery was a human norm, all people in the past were both slaves and enslavers at some point, etc.).

That inability to learn is why the West embraces leftism despite its unending bloody failures going back to the French Revolution. And its why leftists embrace Islam despite its unparalleled 1,700-year history of violent conquestand that gets me to Canada.

Canada has been unparalleled in the welcome mat its set out for people from hardcore Muslim countries in the Middle East and Africa. Thanks to its generous immigration policies, roughly 1 in 20 people (5% of the population) in Canada are now Muslim, making Islam the second most popular religion. Heres a little chart I made based on Wikipedia figures showing Islams growth through 2021:

I think we can assume that the line has ascended even more steeply in the last three years.

Naturally, the Muslims in Canada live mostly in urban areas. As of 2021, they were over 10% of Torontos population and almost 9% of Montreals population. As shown in this analysis, which endlessly proves itself to be true, at around 10%, Muslims get restive in violent and lawless ways.

Perhaps because hes a leftist and/or perhaps because hes starting to be afraid of Canadas Muslim population, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hasnt been showing any love to Israel in the last year. Beginning this fall, Canada has been blocking weapon sales to Israel via the U.S. and directly embargoing them from Canada. When the malevolent ICC announced that it was indicting Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant for war crimes (a charge that included throwing in a dead terrorist for balance), Trudeau excitedly announced that he was all in on the plan.

But its never enough. If it were enough, antisemitic Muslim activists and their fellow travelers on the left wouldnt have spent the last year protesting against Israel in Montreal, an activity that is escalating in its ferocity. Trudeau refuses to condemn the protests.

Why are Montreal police not bringing in the riot squad?



The Pro-Palestine mob is now smashing windows at McGill University.



I have an out of box idea.

Jail if they are Canadian.

Deport immediately if they are not.pic.twitter.com/VD9hD8jPmV  sonofabench (@therealmrbench) October 7, 2024

Complete lawlessness in Montreal as the Pro-Hamas terror mobs emboldened by the Trudeau Liberals destroy the PMs own hometown.



Rioters on a violent rampage and not a single word from our government. They only act when you disagree with them.



Bring back law and order, safe pic.twitter.com/jz2YVKBtL9  Melissa Lantsman (@MelissaLantsman) November 23, 2024

They are burning down Montreal in the name of "Palestine" while Canada promises to arrest Netanyahu if he travels there.



What a broken country. pic.twitter.com/tpv2OFikj5      (@NiohBerg) November 23, 2024

Anti-Israel protesters destroying the Palais des congres in Montreal, Canada.



We don't actually have to tolerate this. Letting this happen is a choice. Why do those in power choose to do nothing?pic.twitter.com/LPKuwma8Ht  Colin Wright (@SwipeWright) November 23, 2024

(Whats striking about the above video is that theyve pixelated the faces of people actively in engaging in criminal activity. Canada nice has morphed into Canada stupid.

Justin Trudeau refuses to condemn the anti-semitic riots in Montreal.



He has time to dance & do selfies.



But hes too busy to condemn a violent Hamas takeover of our streets.



Not worth the chaos. pic.twitter.com/053h0NMqIW  Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) November 23, 2024

Radical Islamists* are vipers, they are scorpions, and they are evil. When we nurture them to our bosoms, carry them on our backs, or reward them with goodness, we are signing our own death certificates.

Theres very little time left for the West to figure this out and to make the Muslims in their countries decide whether they want to embrace Western values and be good citizens (subject to stringent punishments if they deviate from that) or if they want to be deported to countries that are already Sharia-compliant.

______________________

*Not all Muslims, of course, because some of them are lovely and good people (see, e.g., about halfway down this post).

Image: X screen grab.
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.
Its not all about you. How many times have we, from childhood to adulthood, heard that pithy aphorism? When we were more self-centered, when we, in youth, ignorance or arrogance, believed it was all about us we were fortunate to have wiser souls set us straight. Fortunate because that fundamental understanding--knowing we have no right to force our whims on others--is one of the foundation stones of the social compact. Without it we end up with the dysfunctional society American voters, overcoming the margin of fraud, rejected on November 5 and continue to reject as Democrats/socialists/communists (D/s/cs) try to find votes to steal senate seats.

D/s/cs are desperate to wear down that foundation, because without carve outs, without special rights for their favored victim groups, their game is up. The entire DEI/Woke scam collapses, and there will be no more cushy jobs for race and gender hustlers who cant earn honest livings. There will be no more political sinecures allowing them to control the lives of Normal Americans. Thats why Donald Trumps reelection has so horrified them. Well, that and the likelihood many of them will be going to prison, not on politicized charges, but to answer for the actual crimes theyve committed.

One attempt to retain those perks and powers is the Trans Superiority Narrative (TSN). Its the assertion those afflicted with gender dysphoria, and yes, its a recognized mental illness, are morally, intellectually superior beings. Theyre uniquely in touch with their true selves. While the rest of us struggle with who we are, who we want to be, they know. They have no doubt, and that means they are endowed not only with the unalienable, natural rights of all Americans, but with trans rights, rights that have only recently appeared out of thin air, rights that negate the pedestrian rights of Normal Americans.

Among these rights are gender affirming caremedicinal sterilization and surgical mutilation at any ageparticipation in and domination of womens sports, forced utterance of their preferred pronouns and other methods of address, preferences in hiring, housing and every other aspect of life. These rights also demolish parental rights, including parents control over their childrens medical care. Normals are expected not only to recognize these rights, but must do whatever is necessary to advance them, and above all to acknowledge and embrace the TSN and to praise every trans for their bravery and superiority. Trans must also be given unfettered admittance to womens locker rooms and showers, and of course, access to womens bathrooms.

Finally, and probably not coincidentally, the reality of the TSN has finally come home to Congress, with the installation of its first Trans legislator. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), is not impressed:

Graphic: X Screenshot

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) ardently defended her plans to introduce a bill preventing biological men to use womens facilities at the U.S. Capitol, making it clear forcing women to share private spaces with men is not dignity and not respect. Mace took questions from an ABC reporter, who asked about her plans to introduce a bill that requires members, delegates, officers, or employees of the House to use the single-sex facility that corresponds with their biological gender. The forthcoming legislation corresponds with transgender Delaware Rep.-elect Sarah McBride (D)  a man who believes he is a woman  set to join the House of Representatives in January.

Accosted by an ABC reporter, Mace demonstrated Normal American clarity:

Im not going to allow biological men into womens private spaces. I will stand in the brink and stand in the way of anyone on the radical left who thinks that its ok for a penis to be in a womens locker room or a bathroom or a changing room. Hell no, Im not going to stand for it, she said.

Senator Mike Lee, a man, unlike many Representatives and Senators, well-versed in the Constitution, agrees:

Graphic: X Screenshot

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, while not as fervent as Mace and Lee, is also standing for normalcy and the Constitution:

Johnson, during Tuesday mornings weekly House Republican Conference meeting, said transgender women wont be allowed to use womens restrooms in the Capitol, Politico reported.

Graphic: X Screenshot

Johnson delivered, but unisex bathrooms remain at the Congress. Thats prolonging the insanity by acknowledging the TSN. Its tacitly extending at least partial trans rights, and legitimizing mental illness. Its compromising the nature and reality of natural rights, and by so doing, further eroding the foundation of the social compact.

Congressman McBride can hold any delusion he wishes. He just cant force the rest of us to acknowledge, praise or subsidize it, not if we want to keep the social compact. Not if it really isnt all about you.

Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor.
I got curious about Bluesky, the social media platform that Democrats saw as their refuge once Elon Musk had the bad taste to turn X from a censorious leftist redoubt into a free speech platform. Today, I set up an account there, and I was absolutely dazzled. This is leftism unhinged, although for the real purists, like spoiled (and very rich) Hollywood brat, Rob Reiner, Bluesky is still too polluted by non-approved ideas.

Bluesky is a Twitter derivative. In 2019, Twitter did some research into a more decentralized platform that couldnt be controlled by a single company. That actually sounds like a good idea and one more closely tied to the free market than any other social media platform. However, when Elon Musk purchased Twitter, Twitter severed Bluesky, making it an independent entity.

All might have gone well with Bluesky if it had remained true to the notion of decentralization, which is, of course, the opposite of the leftist love for central control in government and business. However, those Democrats who are offended by free speech announced that Bluesky was their destination of choice. Currently, the site is growing exponentially, but I suspect a lot of the growth comes from people like me, who sign up out of simple curiosity and have no intention of returning.

Why wouldnt I return? Simple: Bluesky is all about content moderation.

Theoretically, it moderates through crowd-sourcing and AI learning from that crowd-sourcing. But rather than sharing opposing or correct information via community notes, as X does, Bluesky shuts down information the community determines is offensive. Currently, the leftist community is going crazy trying to silence people with whom it disagrees:

The mass migration of wokes from X to Bluesky is already impacting "safety" culture and censorship on that platform. pic.twitter.com/QE6HA0Shcw  i/o (@eyeslasho) November 16, 2024

And no wonder the community is in an uproar. Conservatives have been posting controversial things that require Bluesky users to get eye bleach and counseling. The Babylon Bee didnt even get past the first post:

Our @TheBabylonBee debut on Blue Sky is going great  pic.twitter.com/Hf6xRYUQVF  Kyle Mann (@The_Kyle_Mann) November 20, 2024

And End Wokeness was blocked within 30 seconds of stating a biological truth:

Got banned from BIuesky within the first 30 seconds for posting a biological fact pic.twitter.com/uxQzPVn2SR  End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) November 17, 2024

Even with this rigorous gatekeeping, though, the sites intellectual impurity is alienating its core users. So it was that Rob Reiner had another of his public meltdowns. The following series of posts demonstrate that when the problem is you, you can never outrun yourself. Wherever you go, there you are:

His complaint reminds me of the joke office sign saying that the beatings will continue until morale improves. In leftist land, the heads will explode until all is aligned.

So, what is approved Bluesky content? Well, Im glad you asked. Heres a sampling, for your enjoyment and edification, showing what leftists get up to in the categories of politics and news when theres no one there to challenge or ridicule them. Please note that I didnt follow anyone or express a political preference. I just asked for politics and news.

There are the communist messages unironically imposed over the highly profitable Simpsons:

There are Antifa-sponsored anti-capitalist pro-illegal posters:

Theres the anti-Israel propaganda:

Naturally, there is scatological anti-Trump stuff:

And of course, there are the professions of woke loyalty, over and over, with some more loyal (going by list length) than others:

Original thinking isnt a thing here...

Contrast this groupthink with the exquisite balance over at X now that its a truly open platform. While it, too, was once a sort of Bluesky (although not as extreme), now its a place where all sorts of political ideologies exist and, if they like want to, get exposed to opposing ideas:

X sees huge shift in its U.S. users political affiliation.



2022:



65% Democrat



31% Republican



2024:



48% Democrat



47% Republican



pic.twitter.com/ZTdmbgScNu  Oli London (@OliLondonTV) November 19, 2024

And thats why Im sticking with X (you can find me here, in case you wondered) and not migrating with the blue herd to Bluesky.
Throughout history Man has shown extraordinary imagination in inventing penalties and sentences for crimes committed by fellow man. The Romans in particular had an almost theatrical quality in the way these punishments were dolled out. One of the worst was reserved for parricidethe killing of a parent in which the prisoner was placed in a sack with several live animals and thrown into the water: the poena cullei, or penalty of the sack.

The German philosopher Erich Fromm said that we are "the only animal that enjoys doing evil to its own kind without any rational biological or social benefit". But sometimes there was, and still is, a moral pretext: the defense of society. Aristotle himself affirms in his work Politics that the most necessary public position is that of a jailer, while Pio Baroja, through the mouth of a character in his novel La lucha por la vida, equated the office of executioner with those of priest, military and magistrate, as supports of society.

In this sense, patricide was considered a particularly infamous crime in ancient Rome (and earlier in Greece, as evidenced by the myth of Oedipus or the harshness with which Solon treated it), where the character of Tulia the Less was a figure of unfortunate memory. As almost everything in the monarchical stage, history and legend intertwine and there remains a mixed narrative of how the youngest daughter of the sixth king, Servius Tullius, not only participated in the conspiracy to assassinate her father and get her second husband, the future Tarquinius the Superb, to ascend the throne, but also desecrated his corpse by driving over it with a chariot.

It must be understood that the Roman family was the basic cell of society; it was a vast institution that grouped the members of the family, but also those adopted and even servants, and was under the absolute authority of the pater familias, whose patria potestas allowed him to dispose of the lives of all those dependent on him. Therefore, to kill him was revealed as an atrocious act in the personal but also in the social sphere and the state had to act accordingly. The Lex duodecim tabularum (Law of the XII of Tables) defined parricide as the voluntary homicide of parents by their children.

A 1560 sketch showing capital punishment.

But this legislative corpus was made in the middle of the 5th century B.C. and, with time, the section referring to this type of crime was expanded. For example, Lucius Cornelius Sulla, consul between 88 and 80 BC. (with a period of dictatorship from 81 to 80 B.C.), extended the possible liability to other relatives in addition to offspring. And the Lex Pompeia de parricidiis, established by Pompey in 55 B.C., did the same with potential victims, going from being only parents to stepparents, grandparents, siblings, uncles, spouses, cousins, in-laws, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, stepchildren and even employers.

Those who fell outside these categories were governed by the general Lex Cornelia de sicariis et veneficiis, which remained almost unchanged since the XII Tables and punished murder with banishment. Likewise, according to Herennius Modestinus (a Roman jurist of the 3rd century A.D.), the Lex Pompeia could be used to accuse parricide in reverse, that is, parents who murdered their children, grandparents who did so with their grandchildren or even anyone who bought poison with the intention of killing their parent, even if they did not actually do it.

Once the crime has been clarified, how does the corresponding punishment arise? It is possible that the origins of the poena cullei date back to the monarchic period. During the reign of Tarquinius the Superb, one of the duumviri sacrorum (priests) Marcus Atilius, appointed to guard the Sibylline Books, revealed some of their secrets. This was a sacrilege because these books were an anthology of prophecies dictated by the Sibyl of Cumae and were consulted every time Rome faced a difficult situation to seek possible solutions, so they were forbidden to the public. Consequently, Atilius was condemned to be thrown into the sea inside a sewn sack.

Now, what does that have to do with patricide? Nothing really, unless we believe Dionysius of Halicarnassus, according to whom Atilius was also condemned for parricide. Other authors are of the opinion that he simply took advantage later of that form of execution because his extravagant character went well to exemplify. Plutarch places the date after the Second Punic War and gives the name of Lucius Hostius as the first documented parricide of Rome, although he does not explain how he was executed; before, the death of a father at the hands of his son would be considered a homicide more, generically.

When it began to give differential category to that type of crime, it would have resorted to the atavistic method of delivering the culprit to the family of the deceased; but being the same, it became necessary to also devise a different punishment. This must have begun towards the end of the third century B.C.; according to some historians, perhaps because of the social disorders that arose among the Romans as a result of the invasion of the Italian peninsula by the Carthaginian Hannibal. They even believe to see in certain passages of Plautus, at the beginning of the following century, humorous references to the introduction of the poena cullei.

Of course, Marcus Attilius was not the only one to go down in history dying in such an ignominious way. Plutarch also describes the case of a certain Gaius Vilius, who was condemned for having supported the reforms of the Gracchi and who was executed by being locked inside a vase with snakes inside. A variant that preceded by a few decades the one that Titus Livius is considered to be the first to be executed for parricide in the way that would last from then on: Publicius Maleolus, who, having been found guilty of murdering his mother around 100 B.C., was condemned to be put inside a closed sack and thrown "into a stream of water".

The case of Maleolus is described by various sources and none of them mentions that animals were also introduced with the prisoner, which confirms the current belief that this was a later addition of the first imperial stage. The description that can be read in the Rhetorica ad Herennium (Rhetoric to Herennius, an anonymous philosophical treatise dated approximately 90 B.C.), does provide other details, such as that Maleolus' head was covered with a wolf-skin bag and soleae lignae (wooden clogs or shoes) were put on him, objects that were intended to isolate the culprit from the world.

However, Cicero (to whom the Rhetoric to Herennius was erroneously attributed for a long time) objects in his De inventione that the head bag was made of simple leather, perhaps a wineskin. Cicero speaks several times of poena cullei in his writings. For example, in the vibrant speech with which he defended Sextus Roscius against the accusation of murdering his father (in reality it was a personal vendetta in which Roscius himself almost died after his father), Cicero criticized the system of execution, and incidentally, obtained the acquittal of his client.

Suetonius says that it was Augustus who formally authorized the poena cullei, although in practice it was already applied, as we saw, and since then it became habitual; so much so that, according to Seneca, in the time of Claudius they saw "more sacks than crosses", from which it would be necessary to deduce that the parricides proliferated. That parricide had become more frequent than desirable has its icing on the cake in the death of Agrippina at the hands of her son Nero.

Suetonius attributes to the emperor the death of her young lover, Aulus Plautius, suspecting that she wanted to replace him on the throne; later, he adds, he did the same to her under the influence of his wife, Poppaea Sabina, fulfilling an ancient prophecy that foretold that he would be emperor but would kill his mother, to which she would have replied "Occidat, dum imperet!" (Let him kill me as long as he reigns!).

Regardless of whether these facts are true or not, as also happens with the life of the reviled Caligula (Suetonius, one of the main sources for both, belonged to the senatorial class and in that period the Senate struggled not to lose its power before the growing imperial authority), and returning to what concerns us, Juvenal wrote that Nero deserved more punishment than to end up in a sack. Something that Suetonius endorses again when he narrates how, after the emperor's suicide, a statue of him appeared partially covered with a culleum and accompanied by a writing that read "I did what I could. But you deserve the sack!"

The poena cullei was not only a form of execution. It constituted a whole ritual full of symbols, although not all were incorporated at the same time. Some had antecedents as old as Pharaonic Egypt, where the parricide was martyred by cutting off pieces of flesh with sharpened reeds ad hoc and then burning him on thorns. In this sense, the aforementioned Modestino narrates how the prisoner was whipped with the virgae sanguinae (blood sticks, so called because of their function or perhaps because they were previously dyed red), before his head was covered, the clogs were put on him and he was introduced into the sack, whose opening was then sewn; in this way, he was deprived of seeing the sky before dying.

The extra element of the animals inside the sack did not arrive until imperial times. It was precisely Seneca's father who testified to the novelty of the introduction of snakes with the prisoner (specifically a viper, a species believed to kill its parents at birth), while the poet Juvenal, a little later, did the same with respect to a monkey, which embodied madness and was considered a caricatured version of the human being. It is not clear at what point the rest of the fauna appeared, a rooster (metaphor of ferocity and violence against its own parents) and a dog (representative of rabies, a despicable animal for the Romans).

In the second century A.D., under Hadrian, we find another faunal element, although not inside the sack: a pair of black oxen pulled the cart that transported the prisoner and his peculiar prison to the water. This had a double meaning; on the one hand, the culprit of such a horrendous crime was deprived of land where he could rest in peace and, on the other hand, the human and animal remains would end up mixed for his eternal dishonor, all of this sifted by the purifying quality attributed to water in the Roman world.

However, with Hadrian the poena cullei fell into disuse and became optional; there were other alternatives such as buried alive or in a damnatio ad bestias (that is, being devoured by wild beasts) in the arena of the amphitheater, although it seems that it applied mainly to lower-class people and it is also unclear whether the condemned could defend themselves (damnatio ad bestias proper) or awaited their terrible end tied up (obicere bestiis). It is possible that this was to make things easier if there was no body of water nearby.

However, in the third century Constantine revitalized the ceremonialhe was the one who brought the dog and the rooster without considering it incompatible with the new Christian faith. In fact, it was even extended, for in the following century Constantius and Constantius included the penalty for adultery and added a fish, symbol of lust, to the sack. The same happened with Justinian three centuries later, since in his Institutiones (an introduction to the legislative compilation he made under the title Corpus iuris civilis) the poena cullei is reflected with all its paraphernalia, including animals. Nevertheless, the Basilika (the legal corpus of the Byzantine emperor Leo VI the Wise) shows that in the ninth century it no longer existed and had been replaced by the stake.

This did not prevent it from being briefly resurrected in the Middle Ages. For example, it appears in the Siete Partidas (a legislative body introduced in 13th century Castile by King Alfonso X) and with all the characteristics (sack, animals, water), although over time it tended to be carried out only metaphorically: the condemned was dragged to the scaffold in a seron dragged by some beast of burden (something that continued to be done until the middle of the 19th century) and then his corpse was introduced into a bucket that had a dog, a monkey, a rooster and a snake painted on it, and which was simulated to be thrown into the water before burial.

But where it really survived was in medieval and modern Germany, as evidenced in the 12th century by the Sassen Speyghel (Saxon Mirror), the most important penal code of the Germanic Middle Ages. There were some differences, however: the rooster was not included, and the serpent was represented only pictorially on a piece of paper and the monkey was replaced with a cat, often separated from the prisoner by a sewn cloth. Moreover, the sack was not made of leather but of linen, which facilitated death by drowning rather than by asphyxiation. This meant shortening the suffering, something that was sometimes sought and sometimes not.

A case is recorded in Dresden in which a leather sack waterproofed with pitch was used to make the agony of its occupant last longer. But the sack burst open when it hit water, and the animals were able to escape. The condemned, however, presumably tied, drowned and got his punishment. The last time this punishment was meted out in 1734, somewhere in Saxony. However, according to some sources, it could have been the Saxonian city Zittau, where the last case is alleged to have happened in 1749. In 1761 the poena cullei was definitively abolished.

This article was originally published in La Brujula Verde. It has been translated from Spanish and republished with permission.
For some time now, the business models of big tech companies in different fields have been under the scrutiny of antitrust authorities. Apple and Google have been among the companies hardest hit by lawsuits and regulations. Although both companies are direct rivals in some segments, they also have deals in common. An investigation by a UK regulator found that Apple, in collaboration with Google, is holding back innovation in the mobile browser segment.

UK regulator finds Google and Apple are holding back innovation in mobile browsers segment

The whole problem seems to revolve around Safari, the native browser on Apple devices. The restrictive policies Apple imposes on third-party browsers on iOS also stem from this issue. Google entered the scene due to a revenue-sharing agreement, which provides it with financial benefits when owners of Apple devices use Chrome. The deal could be reducing Googles financial incentives to compete.

The origin of the conclusions dates back to 2021 when The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched a market study. The goal was to examine the state of Apple and Googles dominance in terms of app stores and browsers. The following year, the investigation formally escalated to an antitrust one. This time, the CMA focused on two main areas: mobile browsers and cloud gaming. The CMA had found evidence of practices potentially damaging to rivals, limiting choices and possibilities for users.

Years later, the CMAs investigation has come to preliminary conclusions. We have provisionally found that Apples restrictions limit the traffic available to challenger browsers in this type of browsing and also limit the extent to which apps can customise their users browsing experience, as companies with millions of users like Meta would like to do, reads the document.

Third-party browser developers are limited on Apple devices

By Apples restrictions the CMA refers to Apples imposition on external browser developers to use Webkit, the companys browser engine. Even using WebKit does not guarantee access to all features and functions. The investigation found that third-party browsers have limited levels of access and functionality compared to Safari. This could be preventing third-party developers from being able to compete fairly against Apples browser.

The agency ruled out cloud gaming during the investigation, focusing only on browsers. Some changes made by Apple in favor of a fairer competition satisfied the CMA.

Regarding Google, a spokesperson for the company offered an official statement. Androids openness has helped to expand choice, reduce prices and democratize access to smartphones and apps, adding that it will continue to engage constructively with the CMA on these matters in the months ahead, Google says.

Google is already having its own problems with Chrome in the United States. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) is requesting that the Mountain View giant sell Chrome as a solution to the monopoly situation it is currently facing. Lets remember that a judge ruled in August that Google represented a monopoly in the field of online search.

U.K.s Digital Markets Act comes into force in 2025

For now, the CMAs findings wont change anything, at least in the short term. However, next year the U.K.s Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act comes into force. The findings could be the basis for potential disciplinary proceedings against both Apple and Google. The final conclusions in the investigation are due in March 2025. In the meantime, the CMA is open to receiving comments from all parties.
Anthropic is one of the major AI companies on the market, and its a competitor to Googles Gemini. However, did you know that Google actually invested $2 billion into Anthropic? Thats right; both Google and Amazon invested in Anthropic, and this has the U.S. DOJ (Department Of Justice) on edge. According to a new report, the DOJ wants to break up the relationship between Google and Anthropic.

2024 is NOT a good year for Google. It lost two ground-shaking antitrust lawsuits in the span of a year, and it could be on track to lose its third. Not only that, but the government could force Google to sell off Chrome, the worlds most popular internet browser. We cant deny that Google throws its weight and money around to grab a chunk of any market it wants. The question is how long it can be allowed to do this.

The DOJ wants Google to break up with Anthropic

The U.S. DOJ is a major thorn in Googles side right now, and it could hurt the companys AI ambitions. As part of an ongoing antitrust case, the government does not want Google working with or acquiring any companies for the sake of boosting its AI technology.

At this point, Google hasnt expressed any interest in buying Anthropic, and we dont expect it to try. However, theres an ongoing struggle regarding Googles dominance over the search market. Blocking this partnership is part of this struggle.

Google hasnt commented on this move just yet. However, we can tell that it doesnt like it, and will defend its ability to invest in Anthropic. Also, were sure that Anthropic in the same boat.

What about the other company?

Google has another reason to be upset with the DOJ. Its not the only large company investing in Anthropic. As stated before, Amazon has also invested in the company, but the DOJ isnt targeting that company. We know that Google has a ton of heat on it because of the recent lawsuits, but Amazon has also had its run-ins with antitrust lawsuits.

Theres no telling if the DOJ will also look into Amazons connection with Anthropic. In any case, if Google has to disconnect from Anthropic, then it will lose probably one of its biggest investors.
Gamers may be in for a tough time concerning GPU upgrades with the next generation, with NVIDIA stating that there could be a shortage of its RTX 50-series GPUs coming down the pipe. If you dont remember the GPU shortage from just a few years ago, it was a time of high prices and high stress. Finding a GPU at its MSRP was nigh impossible, scalpers ran rampant with large stockpiles of graphics cards and were charging two or three times the price.

Which meant you either had to pay those exorbitant and downright offensive asking prices, or you had to wait for more stock. I was put on a waiting list for 10 months before I was able to secure an RTX 3060 (this was the current GPU series at the time and the card was only a few months old). Even if you did wait, there was no guarantee you would get a card. I got lucky with how EVGA was running its restocking process. It was the Wild West and if you wanted to upgrade your PC with a new GPU, getting one was basically left up to fate.

Its not clear if things will get that bad again with regard to NVIDIA GPUs. However, it does seem like there may be less to go around with the companys next-gen cards, slated for release in 2025. And it might be down to NVIDIA designating a large amount of the Blackwell GPUs to companies who want GPUs capable of powring high-performance AI applications.

The NVIDIA GPU shortage may cause price increases for current stock

Although NVIDIA has warned gamers of potential GPU shortages, its important to remember that it might not be that bad. Nevertheless, its going to be prudent to prepare for the possibility. As Digital Trends points out, NVIDIA has said in its recent earnings call that fourth-quarter revenue may decline due to supply constraints. This is after a relatively positive growth in revenue for the third quarter.

The important detail here is the supply constraints. NVIDIA is expecting the supply of its 50-series GPUs to be lower than the 40-series GPUs that are available right now. And with both gamers and Enterprise looking to upgrade to NVIDIAs new powerful option, it might impact the prices of current generation stock. Especially with the holidays coming up and the holiday shopping season in full swing.

In short, prepare for potential price increases. Some cards are available at reasonable prices for the moment, but that could change. And theres no guarantee that if prices do go up, they will be limited to NVIDIAs Founders Edition models. However, you can certainly expect those to be impacted heavily. As they have been since the 30-series.

The shortage may not last long

Heres the kicker with any shortage. Its only really a bad thing if you have no patience. If you can weather the drought, then you can come out on top with a brand-new GPU that you didnt overpay for. The good news is that NVIDIA has alluded to the fact that a shortage may not last long. The company says that it expects production to ramp up in early 2025. This should help costs on GPUs come back down if they increase significantly in the first place.

Another thing to consider is how this will impact the cost of older GPUs. An increase in 50-series GPU production early next year should cause decreased prices of 40-series GPUs. Again, thats assuming they see a significant price increase. Either way, the point is, to make plans to secure a GPU now if youre ready to upgrade now. Even if you arent, it might be wise to buy while prices are reasonable. Its either that or risk paying more in a couple of months.

Then again, those with 30-series GPUs are still fine. Especially those who own the Ti version of the RTX 3080 and 3090 (games still run pretty well on those).
This week, OPPO announced the Find X8 and Find X8 Pro in Bali. This was the global launch after the two devices had been launched in China about a month earlier. Sitting through their keynote here in Bali, one thing really stood out to me. OPPO isnt so much targeting Apple users, but Samsung users and the company itself.

During the keynote, every comparison that OPPO made, was to the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Whether that was in software (specifically animations) or with the camera performance. It was all being compared to Samsung. And surprisingly, not Apple, considering OPPO has taken a lot of design influence from Apple over the years.

So why is OPPO going after Samsung so much? Well, this launch marks its return to the international stage for the Find X series. The previous two models  Find X6 and Find X7 were China only  and of course, the biggest Android competitor there is Samsung.

OPPO is correct; there is a new Zoom King

Back in 2020, just before the pandemic changed the world forever, Samsung introduced the Galaxy S20 series. The Galaxy S20 Ultra was the companys first phone with Space Zoom. Where it was able to achieve 100x digital zoom. Now, obviously, it looked terrible and has gotten a little better over the past few years. But Samsung was one of the first to offer meaningful zooming capabilities, at 5x and even 10x optical zoom. But thats been pretty stagnant for Samsung over the last four years. In fact, they ditched the 10x zoom lens for a 5x this past year.

Now, enter the OPPO Find X8 series. On the Find X8, were looking at a 50-megapixel 3x telephoto lens. And on the Find X8 Pro, we have a 3x and a 6x telephoto lens. This allows the phone to go seamlessly from 3x to 6x and all the way up to 120x. Surprisingly, 120x does look pretty decent, not perfect, but decent, in some conditions.

However, it is not all about the zoom capabilities of this camera and why its now better than what Samsung offers. Something else that is really important here is the Zero Shutter Lag. They did not really talk about all that much during the keynote, surprisingly. And for me, this is the killer feature.

Weve seen phones talk about having zero shutter lag before, but with OPPOs Find X8 this year, its absolutely true. Even when taking shots that are digitally zoomed in, also known as AI Telescope Zoom. That means that you can take the shot right away without having to risk missing the shot. This is really good for action shots, or fireworks or even in concerts.

Samsung has a new bar that it needs to reach. But, since OPPO wont be selling the Find X8 series in the US, Samsung likely wont do much to catch up to OPPO, unfortunately. Well have to wait and see how good the OnePlus 13 cameras will be in the next few months. However, OnePlus is still at a disadvantage since its devices arent sold on carriers.

OPPOs Find X8 series is better than Samsungs Galaxy S24 in almost every way

Something OPPO didnt talk about on stage was how much better the Find X8 is, versus the Galaxy S24, in almost every way. And honestly, I think the non-Pro Find X8 is probably the best all-around smartphone you can get right now. There are really no downsides to that phone, and the fact that theres no dedicated 6x telephoto lens on that phone is likely not a dealbreaker for most people.

OPPO is now using Silicon-Carbon for its batteries, like HONOR, Xiaomi, and a number of other Chinese smartphone makers. This allows them to put much larger battery capacity into their phones and keeps them rather thin. The Find X8, for example, has a 5630mAh battery, while the Find X8 Pro has a 5910mAh battery. Thats much larger than what Samsung is putting into its phones. The Galaxy S24 Ultra is larger than both Find X8 models and has just a 5,000mAh capacity battery. That means that the Find X8 Pro has a 16% larger battery in a smaller and thinner form factor. This also results in some pretty incredible battery life.

While Ive been here in Bali, Ive been using the Find X8 Pro quite a bit and have been pretty surprised at how well it has performed. Despite the heat and using the camera a whole lot more than normal, I was still able to get through a full day. Which is honestly hard to do on days like that with this kind of heat, as well as on most other phones. By the end of the day, my iPhone 16 Pro was down to 30% with not a whole lot of usage, while the Find X8 Pro was down to 39% with a lot more usage  about four hours of screen on time too.

OPPO has also already launched Android 15 for the Find X8 and will start updating other devices in the coming days. Thats something that Samsung is struggling with, too, now. One UI 7, which is based on Android 15 hasnt even started public beta yet. And thats not expected to start until the end of the year. Meanwhile, ColorOS 15 is out and is actually starting to be pushed out via OTA.

Finally, the last area where OPPO is better than Samsung right now is with its displays. The Find X8 has a flat display with an incredibly thin bezel. The Find X8 Pro has a quad-curved display, which looks amazing, to be quite honest. It has some pretty thin bezels, too, but that quad-curved display is just stunning to look at when watching videos and playing games.

Samsung better get its act together

If Samsung doesnt watch out, they could end up being dethroned by other companies in the smartphone world. Theyve been in the top 2 for many years. Often trading places with Apple depending on the time of the year. But with brands like OPPO doing so many great things with their phones, Samsung might be dropping to third or fourth.

Lately, we havent seen much innovation from Samsung. The most innovation we saw from them this year was with the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition, which had a wider front display, thinner bezels and a 200-megapixel camera. Yeah its a nice upgrade, but I wouldnt necessarily call that innovation.

Samsung has been resting on its laurels a whole lot in the past few years, knowing that its brand name holds a lot of weight and people will still buy their phones, particularly in the US. In the US, we are limited to basically Samsung, Apple, Google, Motorola, and OnePlus. And with the big updates Google made with the Pixel this year, its starting to eat away at Samsungs market share. Id expect Samsung to do something drastic soon, to stop that bleeding. The US is its second largest market, behind Korea. So its not a surprise that they (supposedly) moved to help keep many Chinese brands like Huawei out of the US. Because theyd be done for.
Multiple reports in the past few weeks are going in the same direction: a Samsung Galaxy tri-fold is planned for 2025. Weve seen everything from leakers claiming the devices existence to patents showing how it might look and work. Now, another source reiterates that Samsung is working on its triple-screen foldable device.

Huawei beat Samsung to the punch in the tri-fold device niche with the launch of the Huawei Mate XT. This was a coup that reflects the current state of the South Korean giant, a pioneer, and driver of the foldable screen segment. In recent years, the brand has been complacent, allowing other companies to surpass them in terms of innovation. However, disappointing financial results this year across multiple divisions are leading Samsung to shake things up.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 may get a tri-fold variant in 2025

This time its yeux1122m, a South Korean blogger, who mentions the companys upcoming product. The source claimed on Naver that Samsung will launch a Fold 7 Variant (Triple), which refers to the device having three display sections. Although people commonly refer to them as tri-fold, this term isnt technically accurate. After all, there are actually only two hinges. Anyway, the report says that the smartphone will arrive next year.

According to a recent report, the tri-fold device will only fold inwards. This is different from Huaweis approach where one side folds inwards and the other outwards, taking on a zigzag form factor as you fold/unfold it. If this is indeed the case, the South Korean giants device will require an additional display to enable use while it is folded. Huaweis form factor allows for a section of the foldable inner display to be available when its folded.

Exynos-powered Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE reportedly in the works

The report includes more info on Samsungs line of foldable phones for 2025. The company could launch a Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE as a more affordable version of its next-gen clamshell mobile device. The device could run on the companys Exynos 2500 chip. Lastly, like the current Galaxy Z Fold 6, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 could get a Special Edition.
China-Serbia roundtable highlights cultural cooperation

Xinhua) 10:03, November 23, 2024

BELGRADE, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- A roundtable on China-Serbia cultural cooperation was held Friday in Belgrade, focusing on enhancing bilateral relations through cultural exchanges.

Highlighting the significance of bilateral relations, Marina Ragus, deputy speaker of the Serbian parliament and head of the parliamentary friendship group with China, noted the historical and cultural bonds between the two nations, particularly during challenging times.

Ragus advocated for strengthening cultural ties, saying, "Culture is the best bridge for the two nations to get to know each other." She proposed additional study tours and cultural programs to deepen connections.

She also highlighted the economic benefits brought to Serbia through cooperation with China, particularly via the Belt and Road Initiative.

Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Li Ming spoke highly of the growth of cultural exchanges between the two countries. He highlighted events such as the celebration of the Chinese Lunar Year of the Dragon, dragon boat races, poetry recitals, and tea art demonstrations in the country.

The roundtable was organized by the Chinese Embassy in Serbia, the Chinese Cultural Center in Belgrade, the National Assembly of Serbia, and the Serbian ministry of culture. Members of Serbia's parliamentary friendship group with China also visited a Confucius exhibition on the sidelines of the meeting.

The event marked the beginning of a series of dialogues aimed at fostering deeper ties and exploring opportunities for further collaboration between the two nations.

(Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Kou Jie)
ABC13 anchor Chauncy Glover, poses for photos in his downtown Houston apartment complex on Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer

A celebration of life for Chauncy Glover, Emmy Award-winning journalist and former ABC 13 anchor, will be hosted at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Glover, who died earlier this month at 39, was an Alabama native and Los Angeles news anchor who worked at Houstons ABC 13 from 2015 to 2023. A service was held in his hometown of Athens, Alabama, Nov. 16. But this Saturday, Houstonians will have the opportunity to bid farewell to the man remembered by his family as a hero to his community.

HOUSTON DEPARTURE: Former ABC 13 Houston anchor Chauncy Glover joins CBS in Los Angeles

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Members of the public, family, friends and colleagues are invited to attend the event, which will honor Glovers legacy and impact on the Houston area. Attendees can RSVP on Eventbrite.

In addition to his reporting, Glover is remembered as the founder of the Chauncy Glover Project, a mentoring and college-preparatory program geared toward young Black and Hispanic men. The program offers group and individual mentoring, as well as academic support and civic engagement opportunities to young men from typically undeserved communities. Glovers family have asked that attendees donate to the Chauncy Glover Project in lieu of flowers.

Chauncys compassion and dedication to helping others, especially through the Chauncy Glover Project, changed countless lives and inspired so many young men to pursue their dreams," Glovers family said in a statement in early November. "His talent, warmth, and vision left an imprint on everyone who knew him, and the world is dimmer without him."

Members of the public who wish to send condolences can address their well-wishes to Robert and Sherry Glover at 17433 Eastmoor St., Athens, AL.
Snapchat has claimed that the child safety complaint filed by the state of New Mexico is fundamentally flawed. The social media and messaging platform wants the lawsuit dismissed over the technical procedure adopted to allegedly expose how child predators lurk on Snapchat.

Snapchat is a breeding ground for predators, claims New Mexico

Snapchat is currently facing legal action by the state of New Mexico. Specifically speaking, the New Mexico Department of Justice has accused Snapchat of harboring child predators on the platform.

New Mexico recently concluded an investigation that concluded Snapchats features foster the sharing of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) and facilitate child sexual exploitation. Investigations by the state revealed a vast network of dark web sites dedicated to sharing stolen, non-consensual sexual images from Snap.

In what could be one of the biggest sensational claims, New Mexico has reportedly alleged that Snapchat is by far the biggest source of images and videos on the dark web sites that it has seen. The state even called the appa breeding ground for predators to collect sexually explicit images of children and to find, groom, and extort them.

Child safety complaint by New Mexico relies on flawed approach, claims Snapchat

In the lawsuit, New Mexico claimed that suspicious and concerning accounts sought out young teens. Specifically speaking, the attorney generals office was using a decoy account supposed to be owned by a 14-year-old girl.

A user named Enzo (Nud15Ans) allegedly sought out the account, and then the app allegedly suggested over 91 users. Needless to say, a concerning number of suggested accounts belonged to adults looking for sexual content.

Snapchat has reportedly filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit claiming New Mexicos allegations are patently false. According to Snapchat, it was the decoy account that searched for and added Enzo. Furthermore, it was the attorney generals operatives who looked for and added accounts with questionable usernames, Snapchat has claimed.

Needless to add, Snapchat has vehemently denied storing Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM) on its servers. The company has stated that it hands over such material to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
A birthday is the perfect time to celebrate, no matter who's turning a year older. It's a wonderful excuse to bring friends and family together or to do something special, which is why dog owners are taking advantage of their fur baby's big days. After all, pets deserve to be pampered and celebrated, too!

The residents and workers at one assisted living facility had a blast throwing an 18th birthday party for Arthur, one of the residents' beloved senior dogs. Judging by the looks of a November 14 TikTok video from @squibbzz AKA Gabrielle (love your name), almost everyone at the home turned up for the party! The priceless moment is touching hearts across the Internet, but I'm sure it meant the most to Arthur's adoring owner.

Happy Birthday, Arthur! This little dog looks so adorable in his blue harness (or is it a dog bandana?), and he seems completely content on his mama's lap. Whether or not he knew that this party was all for him has yet to be determined!

Related: Video of Dog Making It To His 23rd Birthday Is So Moving

"May the belly rubs be plentiful, your food be given a little earlier than usual, and your walks be full of joy with lots of grass," wrote commenter @fiesty.devil. What a precious birthday wish! This sounds like every dog's dream come true, though being surrounded by loved ones and yummy dog treats can't be too far behind.



I was happy to see just how many commenters loved this pet-friendly assisted living home. It can be difficult to find these types of accommodations for older dog owners, but not everyone realizes what a massive impact a dog can have when someone lives in a nursing home or assisted living facility. The love of a pet can combat loneliness, promote exercise and movement, and even help seniors make new friends! There's no doubt how much Arthur is adored by his mom and her neighbors, but it seems like he's made some four-legged friends as well!

Celebrating Dog Birthdays

Arthur's friends proved that you don't need to spend thousands of dollars to celebrate a dog's birthday. As long as they feel special and are having a good time--you've done your job! Some folks may take their dogs for a hike or buy them a Pup Cup at Starbucks, but a surprise party can be a great way for social butterflies to have fun, too. There's no wrong way to celebrate a dog's birthday!

If you adopted your dog from an animal rescue or shelter, you can celebrate their birthday on their 'gotcha' day,' or the day they come home for the very first time. There really are no rules, so feel free to celebrate when it feels like the right time!

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I remember the early days of parenting, when my whole life seemed to cater around a cycle of feeding and sleep schedules, and there was never enough time for either. It was an exhausting roller coaster and I remember crying over a nursing pillow as I tried to figure out how to comfortably feed my kid while using one. So my heart goes out to this German Shorthaired Pointer mama, who is looking for the comfiest spot in the house to feed her babies, and isnt above carrying them, one by one, to the best place once shes found it.

View the original article to see embedded media.

In this video, Rave, a German Shorthaired Pointer who just gave birth to a large littler of puppies, is seen carefully moving her pups, one by one, out of their blanket lined whelping box and onto a fluffy dog bed near the fireplace, Nearby, two other dogs watch the proceedings with interest. Its funny to watch the large dog carefully carrying her tiny puppies in her mouth, and really speaks to the level of gentleness that shes able to muster for her offspring.

Related: German Shorthaired Pointer Getting Hype in the Backseat of Her Mamas Car Is Such a Vibe

Never separate a pointer from their fireplace! says a fan of the breed, in the comments.

Its clear that the breeder in this video has been very careful about providing a quality environment for Rave and her puppies, but that doesnt mean that the dog herself doesnt have her own opinions about what would make her most comfortable, and that includes a soft, cozy bed and a nice warm fire.

Hey, shes been through a lot. Give the lady what she wants.

Are German Shorthaired Pointers Right For You?

Like most working dogs, German Shorthaired Pointers have a high energy level and equally high activity needs. They are not the kind of dog who would be satisfied with a quick spin around the block. Theyre hunting dogs, meant to be running through fields and woods after game. They have a high prey drive and can quickly get bored and even depressed if they arent given opportunities to keep active and engaged.

You know that boundless energy that puppies seem to have? Well, with German Shorthaired Pointers, that energy can last several years, or even the rest of their lives. Breed experts say that this particular breed of dog can often be slow to mature, and even once trained will need a highly active lifestyle. They are prone to jumping and separation anxiety, and are not a good choice for first-time dog owners or people looking for an easygoing breed.

But boy are they adorable.

Mama Dogs and Their Puppies

The puppies in this video are obviously newborns, as they are not quite able to do more than wiggle around and search for milk. So its easier for their mother to move them where she wants them to be. At this stage of a puppys development, they are completely dependent on their mom, as they cannot hear, see, or even eliminate waste on their own yet. Its not until about four weeks that a puppys senses develop, and they begin to walk and explore on their own.

At that point, itll be the puppies following their mom around. But for now, shes their transportation, too.

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Homeowners are facing flooding as Storm Bert continues to batter Wales, bringing rain, winds and rising waters.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has issued a series of flood warnings and alerts across the country, as bridges are shut and roads closed.

Five adults and five children had to be rescued from a house in Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, near Llangollen in north Wales, following a landslide.

A North Wales Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said they are all being assessed by ambulance services away from the scene somewhere warm.

A further landslide has been reported in the area but it is understood no one has been affected.

Over the weekend, Wales is expected to face up to 75mm of rain widely, with 150mm possible in some areas.

Dont walk or drive through flood water  its not worth the risk. Check your local flood risk and sign up for warnings https://t.co/QKfx8BJAK7#StormBert pic.twitter.com/AGb8XpyLHE  Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru | Natural Resources Wales (@NatResWales) November 23, 2024

The strongest gust recorded so far by the Met Office is 82mph at Capel Curig in Conwy, north Wales, with winds of 70mph expected around coastal areas.

The Met Office has warned heavy rain is likely to cause travel disruption and flooding, particularly across south Wales.

NRW has issued flood warnings  where flooding is expected, and immediate action is required  on eight stretches of river.

#StormBert has brought some very strong winds to parts of the UK today Here are the strongest wind gusts recorded so far today pic.twitter.com/LGJPideLzN  Met Office (@metoffice) November 23, 2024

It has also issued alerts  where flooding is possible  for more than 40 areas across Wales.

Warnings are in place around:

-River Loughor at Ammanford and Llandybie impacting low-lying property in Ammanford, Llandybie and Aberlash, including Carmarthenshire College

-River Severn, affecting the village of Aberbechan

-River Severn, affecting parts of the village of Abermule

-River Cothi in low lying areas between Pontargothi and Pontynyswen, including the Cothi Bridge Hotel

-River Towy, affecting isolated properties, as well as farms and roads, between Llandeilo and Abbergwili

-River Tawe, impacting properties in Ystradgynlais including Tawe Park, Heol Glantawe and College Row

-River Rhyd Hir around Riverside Terrace, Pwllheli

-River Lower Clydach at Clydach Bridge

The roads have also seen massive disruption, with the M48 Severn Bridge between Monmouthshire and Gloucestershire closed in both directions between J1 and J2 due to strong winds.

The #M48 #SevernBridge is CLOSED in both directions due to strong wind speeds. There are currently delays of 40 mins and approx. 4 miles of congestion on #M4 west J20  J22. For more info including diversion route : https://t.co/Wpis17lOHm pic.twitter.com/WUHwkc2bXn  The Severn Bridges (@2SevernBridges) November 23, 2024

National Highways has advised motorists to use the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge, leading to around four miles of congestion on the M4 west of J20-22.

Rail lines have also been affected, with the Conwy Valley line, which runs from Llandudno to Blaenau Ffestiniog, and the Heart of Wales lines  Swansea to Shropshire  set to be closed all Saturday and Sunday.

Irish Ferries crossings between Pembroke Dock and Rosslare and Stena Lines services between Fishguard and Rosslare have been cancelled.
The Laos government has said it is profoundly saddened and is investigating the deaths of six people from suspected methanol poisoning, including a British lawyer.

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.

Simone White, a British lawyer who died from suspected methanol poisoning in Laos (Squire Patton Boggs/PA)

In a statement released to the media, the Laos government said it was profoundly saddened over the deaths of foreign tourists and offered its condolences to their families.

It added that is has been investigating to find causes of the incident and to bring the perpetrators to justice.

On Friday, Ms Whites parents said they are devastated by the loss of our beautiful, kind and loving daughter.

In a statement, Ms Whites parents added: 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.

The Nana Backpacker Hostel in Vang Vieng (Anupam Nath/AP)

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 Ms White was a talented colleague with a bright future ahead of her and someone who epitomised (our firms) values.

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.

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.

Foreign tourists ride on kayaks in Namsong river in Vang Vieng, Laos (Anupam Nath/AP)

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 his countrys 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.
Sione Tuipulotu says he could not be more content with the way his career has panned out as he prepares to captain Scotland against the country of his birth when Australia visit Murrayfield on Sunday.

The 27-year-old begrudgingly left his homeland for Japan in 2018 due to a lack of opportunities and since moving to Glasgow in 2021 he has developed into one of the top centres in the world.

Wallabies scrum-half Nic White said earlier this week of Tuipulotu: Unfortunately we let him get away, but hes going to have a point to prove this weekend.

But the burgeoning back said on Saturday at his captains run press conference that he is entirely at ease that he ended up getting international recognition with the nation of grandmothers birth rather than Australia.

Skyscanner and Scottish Rugby presents: The Ultimate Reunion Sione and Mosese qualify for Scotland through their grandmother in Australia, but she's never seen them play in a Scotland jersey before. That is, until our friends at @Skyscanner came up with an idea to bring the pic.twitter.com/rrpZFg6M9o  Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) November 20, 2024

I think if you asked me that question maybe three years ago or when I first left Australia, I had so much, I suppose, animosity or professional anger inside of me just because I felt like maybe my talent really wasnt looked after in Australia, he said.

But to be honest now I feel like I am where Im supposed to be, like here in Scotland. And I feel like all those things that happened early in my career were meant to happen because now Im sitting here talking to you guys in the position that I am.

Tuipulotu has played against Australia once before when he started the last meeting between the teams two years ago.

The thing that makes this one extra significant for the centre  aside from the fact he is now captain  is that his 77-year-old Scottish grandmother Jacqueline Thomson will be in attendance after she was flown over from Australia as a surprise by Skyscanner, Scottish Rugbys travel partner, earlier this week.

Prior to their unexpected meeting in Edinburgh on Tuesday, Tuipulotu had not previously seen his beloved gran for four years. Sunday will be the first time she has watched him play rugby since he left Australia more than six years ago.

Its massively special, he said. Im just trying not to make it bigger than it already is and Ive taken my preparation real seriously this week. Im just trying to not change anything.

I know its a big game for, I suppose, the media in terms of me playing back against Australia but its probably just more of a special game for me because my granny gets to watch me play and to be back in her home country.

When I run out, Ill look up and Ill see her in the stands and shell sing the anthem. It will be special for me and my family and, most importantly, special for my gran. Im so happy that she gets to have this experience because I wouldnt be here without her.
Angela Merkel wrote that her support for David Cameron weakened her international standing - Denis Closon/AFP via Getty

Brexit felt like a humiliation and a disgrace for the EU, according to the blocs longest-serving leader.

Angela Merkel, the former German chancellor, was the head of the union when the UK voted to leave. In her memoir, Freedom, published this week, she wrote that the EU was weakened by the move.

To me, the result felt like a humiliation, a disgrace for us, the other members of the European Union  the United Kingdom was leaving us in the lurch, Mrs Merkel said.

This changed the European Union (EU) in the view of the world; we were weakened.

She added: I regarded the United Kingdom as an indispensable part of the peace project of European unity, which had been born of two catastrophic world wars. The former British prime minister, Winston Churchill, had made a significant contribution to the projects creation in a speech on Sept 19, 1946, in Zurich.

Angela Merkel wrote that Churchill had helped creat the European Union - Ullstein Bild/Getty

His country was a veto power in the UN Security Council; cosmopolitan and competitive through the Commonwealth and as a former seafaring nation; and it supported multilateral co-operation. The UKs economic strength made the European single market stronger.

We could have much more impact worldwide with democratic convictions together than separately, of that I was convinced. Even though the British frequently played a special role, I would much rather have continued working with them within the European Union than lose them as a member.

She claimed she had helped David Cameron, the former British prime minister, during negotiations for the EUs financial perspective for 2014 to 2020 and that her support for him had an impact on her relationship with other EU leaders.

She wrote: After the referendum, I was tormented by whether I should have made even more concessions towards the UK to make it possible for them to remain in the community.

Mrs Merkel with Boris Johnson in 2019, after he became prime minister - Olivier Hoslet/EPA-EFE

I came to the conclusion that, in the face of the political developments taking place at the time within the country, there wouldnt have been any reasonable way of preventing the UKs path out of the EU as an outsider.

Even with the best political will, mistakes of the past could not be undone  this was a bitter lesson.

And so all that remained for me was the hope that the UK and the EU would maintain a sense of mutual appreciation, and that when it came to important matters, they would find ways and means of engaging in dialogue that led to harmonious agreement.

Mrs Merkel left office after 16 years in 2021, handing power to Olaf Scholz.
A child using her mobile phone in a darkened room at night

The Government must urgently update its official advice on childrens screen time, health experts have said, warning that they are seeing daily cases of youngsters suffering harmful effects of overuse.

A group of more than 60 health professionals has written to Prof Sir Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer, to warn that the current advice is far too lenient on tech companies, and does not take into account the latest research on the dangers of excessive screen time for youngsters.

They point out that the current advice was published in 2019, and is outdated, given the substantial amount of evidence in recent years that excessive screen time and social media use are fuelling mental health issues in children.

International crackdown on devices

The Australian government recently announced that it intends to ban social media for children, while the US Congress is considering tough rules on addictive design features, and the French government is testing a legal phone ban in schools.

Last week, Peter Kyle, the Technology Secretary, warned that an Australian-style ban on social media for under-16s is on the table unless tech giants take action to protect children.

He has told Ofcom, the regulator, to be more assertive in taking on social media firms and reassured it that it has his backing to use its full fining and jailing powers.

Peter Kyle, the Technology Secretary, has told Ofcom, the regulator, not to hold back on using its powers against tech companies - Geoff Pugh for The Telegraph

The group of health experts, which includes paediatricians, consultants, GPs, psychologists and public health experts, explains that excessive use of social media and screens harms children in multiple ways, including problems with sleep, eyesight, speech and language development, as well as body image.

The letter, sent to the chief medical officers of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland as well as Sir Chris, says: As clinicians, we witness these harmful effects daily, and academics are now establishing causal connections.

The experts cite research which indicates that over one in four children are using their smartphone in a manner consistent with behavioural addiction, and also cite the dangers of vulnerable youngsters being exposed to inappropriate sexual content online.

Young struggling with phones

Earlier this year, researchers found that 18.7 per cent teenagers aged between 16 and 18 suffer from symptoms of smartphone addiction.

Experts at Kings College London said fears that mobile devices were harmful were not just older people being hysterical, and warned that young people were genuinely struggling because of their phones.

The current CMO advice, published in 2019, states that research is insufficiently conclusive to draw up guidelines on optimal amounts of screen use or online activities such as social media use.

It says that it is not clear that screen-based activities are the cause of mental health problems in youngsters, and adds that while it is wise to take a cautionary approach, this needs to be balanced against the potential benefits that children can derive from screen-based activities.

The CMO advice also says that the technology industry should contribute to the funding for independent research over the next decade.

Conflict of interest warning

The letter, co-ordinated by the group Health Professionals for Safer Screens, argues that the CMO position is too lenient on tech firms, and sets up a conflict of interest by asking tech companies to contribute financially towards research into harms.

The minimum age for children to access social media sites should be raised from 13 to 16, the health experts add.

A Government spokesman declined to commit to updating the CMO guidance, but said: This Government is committed to finding the best way of ensuring children are kept safe while also benefiting from the latest digital technology.

We will ensure there is access to a specialist mental health professional in every school in England and a Young Futures hub in every community.

We will also recruit an additional 8,500 mental health workers across children and adult mental health services to reduce delays and provide faster treatment.
The new Kinder Building, part of the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, sits along Main Street looking towards downtown Houston, Friday, Nov. 6, 2020. Mark Mulligan/Staff photographer A visitor takes photographs of Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte) Louise Delmotte/Associated Press

Most Houstonians won't be able to make it to Paris for the reopening of the famous Notre Dame cathedral early next month.

But the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston is giving Texans a chance to celebrate the completed rebuilding of the cathedral without having to fly to Europe.

An immersive experience at the museum opening Saturday will take visitors on a 14-minute presentation through the cathedral, the 2019 fire that forced it to close and the recovery process. It also features a 3D model of the cathedral.

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"It is difficult to exaggerate the role Notre-Dame plays in the public imagination, from its iconic architecture, emblematic of the Northern Gothic style, to its magnificent stained-glass rose windows," museum director Gary Tinterow said in a statement. "When fire erupted five years ago, millions of people around the world grieved the loss of a monument that had personal significance to each of them. Happily, the cathedral has been restored, and now Houstonians will be among the first to experience the reconstructed building that rose from the ashes."

The exhibit takes place in Cullinan Hall in the Caroline Wiess Law Building. The exhibit will run through Jan. 5, 2025.

Notre Dame cathedral, one of the most famous cathedrals in the world, is located near the Seine River in Paris' Fourth Arrondissement. Workers started construction of the cathedral in 1163 and it took nearly 200 years to be completed.

A fire broke out in the Notre Dame on April 15, 2019, causing significant damage to the building.

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HOUSTON EXPLAINED: Why the only Gandhi museum in the United States is in Houston

It has taken five years of reconstruction to make it ready for visitors. The restoration is expected to cost around $767 million, according to a CNN story from December.
Climate activists on the water at the Rising Tide protest as bulk carriers come and go off the coast of Newcastle. Photograph: Dean Sewell/Oculi/The Guardian

As more than a hundred climate activists waded into the Port of Newcastle on Thursday afternoon with kayaks and rafts, with police boats drifting in the distance, it was unclear what would happen next.

In a supreme court room, about two and half hours drive south in Sydney, sat 21-year-old Alexa Stuart who was challenging a maritime exclusion zone the New South Wales government had imposed around the port. The zone restricted anyone entering the water over a four-day period in a bid to stop the protest, which was attempting to stop coal ships from leaving the port.

A few hours later, the court would accept the argument of the protest organisers, Rising Tide, that the government had improperly used the Marine Safety Act and deemed the move invalid.

When news of the win spread to the protesters floating on the water, the crowd erupted in a rousing cheer, waving paddles in the air.

Weve had to overcome so many twists and turns, Stuart says. The fact we are here is a win in itself.

Legal experts say moves by the government and police to stop the Rising Tide protest  which organisers hoped to be among the biggest climate protests in Australias history  comes amid an escalating crackdown on protesting across the country.

Draconian anti-protest laws weaken our democracy

Over the past two decades there have been 49 laws introduced by federal and state governments that have eroded rights to protest, according to a report released by the Human Rights Law Centre in June.

The report author, senior lawyer David Mejia-Canales, says that since the reports release, protests have been restricted in significant ways across both pro-Palestine and climate movements.

Its being done by police and politicians, Mejia-Canales says.

The reasons are being wrapped up in often dubious safety concerns, Mejia-Canales adds, referring to the NSW polices supreme court challenge against a pro-Palestine protest which cited new planter boxes installed at town hall as one of a number of safety hazards.

Mejia-Canaless report found NSW had introduced the most anti-protest laws. On Thursday, the Minns government added another, introducing a maximum $22,000 offence for obstructing a railway.

It adds to the same laws for protesters caught blocking major roads and facilities like ports  parts of which the supreme court found last year were unconstitutional.

Related: Emperor penguin that travelled 3,000km to West Australian beach begins long journey home

Recent protests have centred on railway lines, putting everyones safety at risk, Minns said at the time of the announcement. Introducing this fine for blocking a railway line sends a strong message: this conduct is not acceptable.

Five unions, including the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association, signed a letter opposing the bill. In a statement to Guardian Australia, the Australian Services Union says the government had decided to double down on bad legislation even after the supreme court ruled part of the laws unconstitutional.

Draconian anti-protest laws, together with the lack of a basic Human Rights Act in NSW, weakens our democracy, the unions secretary, Angus McFarland, says.

Mejia-Canales says these laws are also causing protests to become more restricted by police via the form 1 permit system for protests. If organisers applications are accepted by the police, it protects them from certain criminal charges, such as obstructing traffic.

But Mejia-Canales says the threat of charges under the anti-protest laws has transformed the form 1 system, from what used to be a notification to police, to making police the authoriser of protests.

The overreach from the authorities including the NSW government in respect of peaceful protest is unnecessary Peter Garrett

This permit system does not exist in Victoria, where the premier, Jacinta Allan, rejected a proposal to introduce one. For this reason, Mejia-Canales says Victoria is above other places in how the right to protest is protected.

In the space of a month, the NSW police declined and legally challenged two applications to hold a protest. This included a rally which went ahead after negotiations between organisers and police.

The second legal challenge, which it ultimately won, was against the Rising Tide organisers, who had made an application to block coal exports from leaving the port for 30 hours.

A similar protest had gone ahead last year. But this time around, the police minister, Yasmin Catley, said police deemed it too big and dangerous to proceed.

We strongly urge the public not to attend or participate in this assembly. Do not put yourself or our police, maritime, and emergency service workers at risk, Catley said.

The Rising Tide protest went ahead, with organisers expecting 5,500 demonstrators over a week-long action.

On Saturday, three were arrested after they tried to paddle through a police water checkpoint.

We are really up against it

This increasingly stringent approach is happening as Australia pitched itself to the world as the right location for the 2026 UN climate summit  COP31.

Were definitely worried about how these trends may escalate in the lead up to COP, says Isabelle Reinecke, the founder of Grata Fund, a public interest organisation that helps individuals access the courts.

COP will be a really important opportunity for Australians to express their concerns, and people from other communities in the region, like Pacific Island leaders and their communities, to express their concerns with the Australian governments approach.

Australia is the third largest exporter of fossil fuels in the world.

Since the Albanese government was elected, the Greens say it has approved 26 new coal and gas projects. The climate change minister, Chris Bowen, has said the country is aiming to become a renewable energy superpower, but that it was a big task that would take time.

Rising Tide is demanding the government immediately cancel all new fossil fuel projects and end all coal exports from Newcastle by 2030. It is also calling for the government to tax current fossil fuel export profits at 78%, and to put that money towards community and industrial transition away from fossil fuels.

At the protest this week  it began on Tuesday and will run until Monday  it felt more party than protest at times. It attracted people from across the country, and included a land-based protestival with a number of musical performances, including one by Midnight Oil frontman, Peter Garrett.

The overreach from the authorities including the NSW government in respect of peaceful protest is unnecessary, Garrett told the crowd after his performance.

The water-based aspect of the protest, the purpose of which was to block coal ships, did not work however. The coal and other cargo ships continued to lumber through the port.

Related: Teammates tie ribbons as community mourns Melbourne teens after suspected methanol poisoning

Police set up an area in the water, marked by yellow bouys, and reportedly told organisers it had been set up for peoples safety and moving past them would result in a response by the police, but not an immediate arrest.

It was like they had set up a kiddie pool for us, while they [let] the coal ships through, says Stuart, who led the legal actions against the governments exclusion zone.

On Saturday, the third day of the protest, activists decided to test this, paddling outside the boundary set by police, resulting in three arrests

Stuart says the reason protesters felt compelled to engage in civil disobedience was to send a message. She says so many of the other protesters had already tried signing petitions, marching, and speaking to MPs.

Ive been protesting for this since I was 15, Stuart says. Thats a quarter of my life  It feels like theres no way else to be heard.

Its a big reminder that the fossil fuel industry is so big and that we are really up against it.
This is the latest of many calls to proscribe the IRGC from across the political spectrum - AFP via Getty Images

Sir Keir Starmer has been urged to proscribe Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and stop relying on ineffective sanctions that are riddled with loopholes.

A cross-party group of more than 40 MPs, peers and other public figures has written to the Prime Minister to argue that sanctions are not working and the IRGC must be listed as a terrorist group.

Labour MPs and peers are among the signatories, as is Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of MI6.

Luke Akehurst, Labour MP for North Durham, said: I have signed the call for the IRGC to be proscribed as they are a significant terror threat to UK interests and allies in the Middle East ... potentially even here in the UK.

Proscribing the IRGC is something Labour called for in opposition. I want to see action on this now that we are in government.

Other Labour signatories include Dame Siobhain McDonagh, the veteran MP, and Damien Egan, a newly elected MP.

The IRGC is accused of terrorist activities across the world - Getty Images/Morteza Nikoubazl

Lord Turnberg, a Labour peer and signatory, urged Sir Keir to get on with it and ban the IRGC.

He told The Telegraph: The IRGC are responsible for all sorts of nasty activities against their own people, women in particular, and against others who dissent from the [Iranian] government.

They are responsible for sponsoring a lot of the terrorism in the Middle East and they are responsible for terrorist activities in the UK and in Europe. So I think they have every reason to be proscribed.

I think the Government needs quite a bit of encouragement to move a bit faster on this. It is not entirely clear why they are holding back  I cant see any good reason.

Labour called for the proscription of the IRGC in opposition but has not committed to doing so since winning the election.

The Labour manifesto explicitly cited the IRGC, saying: From the Skripal poisonings to assassination plots by the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, threats from hostile states or state-sponsored groups are on the rise, but Britain lacks a comprehensive framework to protect us.

Labour will take the approach used for dealing with non-state terrorism and adapt it to deal with state-based domestic security threats.

Sanctions ultimately ineffective

Signatories of the letter, organised by the Henry Jackson Society, argue that in addition to the IRGCs support for Irans proxy groups Hamas and Hezbollah, which are already proscribed in the UK, the group also poses a threat further afield.

Beyond its activities in the Middle East, the IRGC has been implicated in cyber-attacks, assassination plots, and covert operations targeting dissidents and civilians in Europe and North America, they say.

Since January 2022, there have been 20 credible threats against British citizens and UK-based individuals, all linked to Iran and the IRGC.

By proscribing the IRGC, not only would its resources be subject to seizure, but public support for the group would be criminalised. This step is especially critical as public displays glorifying dangerous organisations have increasingly surfaced on the streets of London in recent months.

They add that the Governments strategy of relying on sanctions is ultimately ineffective in curbing the IRGCs activities since these are riddled with loopholes and poorly enforced.

A Government spokesman said: The UK Government, law enforcement and our international partners continue to work together to identify, deter and respond to threats from Iran.

That is why we continue to take strong action to hold the Iranian regime to account  we have sanctioned more than 450 Iranian individuals and entities, including the IRGC in its entirety, as well as individual commanders.
Donald Trump is ready to take on the Washington swamp come Jan 20 - Allison Robbert/Pool AFP

Following the election of Donald Trump and his appointment of Elon Musk to make swingeing cuts to the federal government, civil servants are said to be quitting in droves.

Government insiders said employees were already resigning and looking for work in the private sector amid concern that their roles will be politicised under Mr Trumps second administration.

Others fear they will be sacked.

Mr Trump has drawn up unprecedented plans to take on federal bureaucracy, promising to bring back Schedule F  a controversial order he introduced at the end of his first term, which would have made it easier to remove civil servants who disobey him.

The move is one measure he has proposed to take on the Washington swamp, which he says blocked many of his policy plans between 2017 and 2021.

Either the deep state destroys America, or we destroy the deep state, the president-elect told supporters at his first rally of the 2024 election cycle.

The thugs and criminals who are corrupting our justice system will be defeated, discredited and totally disgraced.

Since winning the election on Nov 5, Mr Trump has appointed the billionaire Mr Musk and Vivek Ramaswasmy, an entrepreneur and former Republican primary contender, to run a Department of Government Efficiency.

Donald Trump has appointed Elon Musk to run a new Department of Government Efficiency - Brandon Bell/via REUTERS

Mr Musk has said he intends to delete around 75 per cent of federal agencies, and has railed against bodies he says serve no purpose apart from the aggrandisement of bureaucrats with fake jobs.

He has also called for an end to work from home policies in the federal government.

His pseudo-agency, DOGE, will recommend cuts to be enacted by Mr Trump by executive order.

In a recent op-ed for the Wall Street Journal, Mr Musk and Mr Ramaswamy said they plan to reduce the size of the government without passing any new legislation.

Among so-called swamp-dwellers, the reaction has been one of blind panic.

Jaqueline Simon, the policy director of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), said Mr Trumps victory and his appointment of Mr Musk meant many of the unions members were planning to desert their posts.

Schedule F would involve reclassifying positions in the civil service and essentially turning them into political appointments, she said.

People would be fired or hired at will, they could be fired for any reason or no reason, including [their] politics and questions about an individuals loyalty to Donald Trump.

Ive heard people say that if they are Schedule F-d, they are retiring.

AFGE thought to be planning more legal challenges

The AFGE was one of the most prolific complainants in judicial reviews against Mr Trump during his first term, challenging his decision to alter collective bargaining clauses in federal workers contracts.

The organisation is thought to be planning more legal challenges in Mr Trumps second term, when he will have control of both branches of Congress and a conservative majority on the Supreme Court bench.

Meanwhile, Randy Erwin, president of the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), said he and his colleagues were getting ready for a really, really big fight when asked about Mr Musk and Mr Ramaswamys plans.

The federal government employs almost three million people, many of whom work in Washington DC.

The size of the government peaked during the Second World War, then fell sharply in the 1950s before trending upwards into the mid-1990s. It has since declined marginally.

The federal debt, however, has continued to rise more sharply than ever before, spurred by stimulus packages and economic life support programmes during the Covid-19 pandemic.

It now stands at more than $35 trillion, or $104,000 per person.

Trump presidency could see big spending cut

Mr Trumps election could see the sharpest reduction in the civil service headcount and spending in decades.

But of those who stay, many are planning to fight.

Trump-prepping is now widespread among government employees, with some citing concerns about working on some of his more controversial policies, including the mass deportation of illegal migrants.

The American Civil Liberties Union, a civil rights nonprofit that filed more than 400 challenges to Mr Trumps policies during his first term, has announced plans to fight back against his second administration.

Anthony Romero, the organisations president, said on the day after the election that it would focus on the four policy areas of migrant deportations, anti-LGBTQ discrimination, abortion rights and legal protections for whistleblowers.

The outgoing Biden administration is also trying to future proof the federal government, including by passing legislation that would reduce the effectiveness of a second Schedule F if it is passed after Mr Trumps inauguration.

It has also attempted to spend the remainder of a budget allocated to military aid for Ukraine, and to bake in federal grant programmes for green energy and semiconductors that form part of Mr Bidens Bidenomics industrial policy.

Fears research agencies could close

Jesus Soriano, a federal government scientist at the US National Science Foundation, told The Telegraph he was concerned that Mr Musk would recommend the closure of some research agencies and cut grant funding.

Mr Musks DOGE has taken to his social media platform, X, to criticise the US governments decision to fund some research.

The agency claimed the government had handed out grants for $100,000 to study if tequila or gin makes sunfish more aggressive and nearly $1 million to study if cocaine makes Japanese quail more sexually promiscuous.

Its not clear if this was genuinely the case.

However, Mr Soriano said a major reduction in federal research funding could see the US slip behind competitors in the development of AI, semiconductors and other technologies.

The effects will be progressive, when it comes to the lack of development that occurs when the scientific enterprise is disrupted, he said.

In the long term, it will be difficult to redress.

People preparing Plan Bs

He added that many of his colleagues are starting to look for jobs or preparing Plan Bs because of Mr Trumps election.

There is self censure and fear, so employees are keeping their opinions to themselves, but I do know that many are planning and taking steps to leave through retirement or attrition, which represents a very expensive brain drain, he said.

Although no reform has been enacted, just the public comments alone are already having an effect.

When Mr Trump takes office on Jan 20, his appointees are planning to launch a war on the state with immediate effect.

Allies at the America First Policy Institute and Heritage Foundation have spent years preparing hundreds of executive orders to be signed on his first day in the White House  many of which are designed to reform the government.

Mr Trumps plans for revenge on the administrative state are already in motion. But who will win round two?
Farmers in protest at the Houses of Parliament over inheritance tax raid

Ministers have been accused of creating a suicide window for elderly farmers who feel staying alive is a burden on their families because of inheritance tax changes.

Farmers have told The Telegraph that their older relatives feel the honourable thing to do would be to end their life before April 2026, when the Governments tax raid comes into effect, so they can pass on their estate intact to the next generation.

Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, sparked a backlash in the farming community by placing a 20 per cent inheritance tax on farmers assets worth more than 1 million in her first Budget.

Previously, tax breaks designed to allow family farms to pass down the generations were exempt from the 40 per cent duty.

Farmers argue that many will now have to sell part of their land to release the cash to pay the inheritance tax bill, making the farm commercially unviable, which would mean having to wind up the business altogether.

Oliver Harrison, a fifth generation arable farmer from Prescot, Merseyside, and one of the organisers of last weeks London protest, said he has spoken to multiple farmers who now feel like they are placing a burden on their family by staying alive.

Its horrendous, what government incentivises people to be dead? he said.

If you are getting on in life in your 80s, youve worked all your life to build it up for your children, and then someone makes it so that its got to be given up for a tax bill  a lifetimes work or several generations work can all be undone with one careless Budget.

He urged Sir Keir Starmer and Ms Reeves to own the problem youve started and look for a solution. He added: Have a look at the unintended consequences of incentivising old people to be dead. Be human here.

Farmers who know they will live for another seven years can give their farm to their relatives tax-free. But those who are not certain they will live this long argue that the only way to ensure they can pass on their farm to the next generation would be to die before the changes come into effect.

Many older farmers fear the only way of preserving their family businesses could be suicide, campaigners say - John F Scott/E+

The Telegraph spoke to a female farmer in the south-west who said her own father had talked about ending his life in the next eighteen months.

The fifth-generation farmer said: The Government has either deliberately or unwittingly created a suicide window where farmers are incentivised to kill themselves. I can understand a government doing this accidentally. But any government that is aware of it and does not act to close it is not morally capable of running the country.

My father has spent decades farming, he is out in all weather. He is now saying he should be dead by April 2026, because that is the way to protect his lifes work. It is just horrific.

My fathers case is not unusual. This is causing anxiety for a lot of families out there. People are feeling pressurised almost, they are feeling that this is the honourable thing for their family, to protect their family, so as not to land their children with a huge inheritance tax bill.

Horrible pressures and huge nerves

Farming groups have been calling for it to be made easier for farmers aged over 80 to pass their estates down without landing a huge inheritance tax bill.

However, the Treasury has denied that it is considering this move, which would water down the Governments inheritance tax raid on farmers.

Dominic Armstrong, a 59-year-old farmer from West Berkshire, said: The suicide window is the talk among farmers from Northumberland to Hampshire down to Cornwall. Children are worried their parents will do something stupid to save them.

Suddenly, there are horrible pressures and huge nerves about what people are considering. Can you think of any government in the free world forcing people to make that sort of choice? It is beyond despicable.

Last week, Steve Reed, the Environment Secretary, was confronted by a farmer at a conference who said the one sure way he could avoid the Governments farm tax was to kill myself.

Steve Reed at the Country Land and Business Association conference, where the Environment Secretary was confronted by a farmer who warned of suicides - James Manning/PA Wire

At the Country Land and Business Association conference, Tom Allen-Stevens, an Oxfordshire arable farmer, told Mr Reed he faces a 400,000 bill, which he cannot afford.

If I was elderly, infirm or I had mental health issues and financial worries that is an option I would seriously consider, he said.

How many of the most vulnerable will have to take their lives before you and Rachel Reeves understand the wretchedness of the policy you have put upon us?

A Government spokesman said: We recognise the concerns among our farming communities. Our commitment to farmers remains steadfast  we have committed 5 billion to the farming budget over two years, including more money than ever for sustainable food production.

Our reform to Agricultural and Business Property Relief will impact around 500 estates a year. For these estates, inheritance tax will be at half the rate paid by others, with 10 years to pay the liability back interest-free.

This is a fair and balanced approach that protects the family farm while also fixing the public services that we all rely on.
From left to right: Counsel assisting the coroner, Peggy Dwyer SC, Northern Territory police commissioner Michael Murphy and coroner Elisabeth Armitage. Composite: Guardian design/The Guardian

Kumanjayi Haywood died with horrific burns to 90% of her body after her former partner doused the house in petrol and set it on fire.

Hours before, she had sent a text to a loved one: [Hes] going to kill me tonight, love you so much  always and forever in my [heart emoji].

Ngeyo Ragurrk was beaten to death over several hours by her former partner at Darwins Mindil Beach.

Miss Yunupingu was stabbed to death by her former partner in a home in Palmerston, on 4 October 2018.

Kumarn Rubuntja was murdered by Malcolm Abbott outside the Alice Springs hospital on 7 January 2021. Abbott ran over her in his car, then reversed.

These four womens shortened lives and brutal deaths are part of a landmark coronial inquest which began in July 2023 and concludes on Monday, when the Northern Territory coroner, Elisabeth Armitage, is due to hand down her findings.

Armitage combined the deaths of Kumanjayi Haywood, Ngeygo Ragurrk, Miss Yunupingu and Kumarn Rubuntja to examine systemic failings across the domestic, sexual and family violence sector.

All four women had reported to authorities or loved ones their fears for their safety in the weeks, months and even years before they were killed. All four perpetrators had histories of family violence and were known to police.

This is our horror Elisabeth Armitage

The inquest has heard shocking testimony about an epidemic of violence against Aboriginal women, which the coroner has called a terrible, terrible carnage.

This is not somebody elses horror. This is our horror, Armitage said in court in October 2023.

Armitages investigations have found 81 women have died as a result of domestic violence in the NT since 2000. 93% of them were Aboriginal. The NT has the worst domestic and family violence rates in the nation. Its domestic homicide rate is seven times the national rate. Aboriginal women in the NT are 40 times more likely to be hospitalised for domestic violence.

And these statistics are growing worse.

Related: Nobody is happy with the Northern Territory police, including officers. Leanne Liddle hopes to fix that

The NT police commissioner, Michael Murphy, told the inquest in May there has been a 117% increase in domestic and family violence over the past 10 years, and police expected it to rise by a further 73% over the next decade.

Counsel assisting the coroner, Peggy Dwyer SC, told the court that 50% to 80% of NT polices entire workload was spent on domestic and family violence matters. NT police spent 882,000 hours on domestic violence in 2022-23. Based on those figures, Dwyer said, the projected costs of police response to domestic violence by 2026 would be a minimum of $156m a year.

Murphy said NT police faced challenges in recruitment and retention, there were concerns about racism within the force and there was a significant number of officers on long-term sick leave.

Under questioning by Phillip Boulten SC representing one of the womens families, Murphy revealed that an NT police sergeant shared a photo of a topless Aboriginal woman with a WhatsApp group of other officers in Alice Springs. The woman had been unconscious in a public place when the photo was taken, the court heard.

A member of the group reported it to the professional standards command, and an internal inquiry recommended the officer be demoted from sergeant and transferred. But Murphy told the court he rescinded that decision after the officer admitted to the act and had shown contrition. Instead, Murphy said, the officer was transferred to Darwin and given a 12-month good behaviour bond, but not demoted.

The inquest heard evidence of chronic and shocking underfunding, and services struggling to meet demand.

In August 2023, the court was told the NT government had rejected calls for $180m to be spent over five years for womens shelters, behaviour change programs and policy reform. It had provided the sector with $20m over two years.

The NT government director of strategic policy in the domestic, family and sexual violence reduction division, Anna Davis, told the court in May this year the territory needed sustainable needs-based funding from the commonwealth.

Due to its small population, the inquest heard, the NT receives just 4.6% of federal funding under the national partnership agreement on family and domestic violence.

In August, Dwyer put 30 recommendations to the coroner that she said should be addressed, including increased and indexed funding for family violence services, an overhaul of prison and mens behaviour-change programs, culturally appropriate supports including interpreters and the establishment of an NT peak body for domestic and family violence.

On Friday, the NTs peak Aboriginal health body, Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory (Amsant), called on the NT government to fulfil its $180m election commitment to tackling the crisis.

Related: Epidemic of violence against Aboriginal women in NT is getting worse, exasperated experts warn

Amsant s CEO, Dr John Paterson, said the new CLP government needed to move beyond lip service.

Before the election, both major parties recognised the desperate need and committed to $180m over five years to support specialist services. Yet, since taking office, the CLP government has provided no details on how this critical funding will be delivered, Paterson said.

This month, the eighth alleged domestic violence-related homicide since June was recorded in Katherine, Paterson said.

This is a crisis that has already cost far too many lives, particularly the lives of our Aboriginal women  and the reality is that these deaths, these traumas, are preventable, he said.

 In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14 and the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123 and the domestic abuse helpline is 0808 2000 247. In the US, the suicide prevention lifeline is 988 and the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Other international helplines can be found via www.befrienders.org
KFC announced it was signing up to the Better Chicken Commitment in 2019 and says it still wishes to achieve its animal welfare target at some point. Photograph: Alicia Canter/The Observer

The fast food chain KFC has ditched its pledge in the UK to improve animal welfare by sourcing its chicken from slower-growing breeds by 2026.

Fast-growing meat chickens have been called Frankenchickens because of welfare concerns, including higher mortality rates, lameness and muscle disease. More than 1 billion chickens are slaughtered in the UK each year for meat.

KFC won plaudits in 2019 when it announced it was signing up to the Better Chicken Commitment but now says it will not meet the pledge. Its 2024 annual progress report on chicken welfare reported that just 1% of its chickens were from slower-growing breeds.

The firms ambition was to meet six key targets by 2026, including adoption of slower-growing breeds and a maximum stocking density of 30kg a square metre or less, which gives the birds significantly more space.

KFC restaurants in the UK, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Sweden signed up to the commitment, but the company has made almost no progress in adopting slower-growing breeds.

Ruth Edge, head of sustainability at KFC UK and Ireland, told the Egg and Poultry Industry Conference in Wales last week that its ambition of using slower-growing breeds by 2026 was not achievable.

Were not saying were never going to, she said. But were saying for 2026, and the way the market has developed, or lack of, were not going to be able to do it.

KFC says there is an inadequate supply to meet the commitment because farmers are not switching in big enough numbers to slower-growing breeds. The company says it is still working to source chickens from farms with lower stocking densities.

Campaigners say a move to slower-growing breeds would reduce mortality rates and improve welfare, but many retailers and restaurants have been reluctant to sign up to the Better Chicken Commitment because of the higher costs involved.

Food firms and retailers that have signed up to the commitment include Marks & Spencer, Burger King, Subway, Nandos, Nestle and Greggs. One of the commitments is third-party auditing to ensure compliance with the standard by 2026, with a longer timeframe for companies that have signed up this year.

The animal welfare group the Humane League UK said it would be protesting against KFC over the backtracking. Katie Ferneyhough from the charity said: The use of Frankenchickens is the biggest animal welfare crisis of our time, and we will not tolerate companies breaking their promises to animals. We will not rest until KFC comes to the table and sets out a new timeline for adopting the [Better Chicken Commitment].

Related: KFC faces backlash over misleading portrayal of UK chicken farming

Connor Jackson, co-founder of the charity Open Cages, said: We are in touch with companies that can supply KFC with the slower-growing chickens it needs to fulfil its commitment. The fact that KFC has made less than 1% progress on removing Frankenchickens from its supply chain is very concerning.

An RSPCA spokesperson said: Faster-growing breeds of chicken can suffer severe health and welfare issues, and we urge KFC to do all they can to transition to using only slower-growing breeds as soon as possible.

Rudi Van Schoor, the chief supply chain officer for KFC Europe, said: The Better Chicken Commitment is an absolutely essential framework for tracking and improving welfare standards which we follow. When we signed up in 2019, we did so to support the direction of travel. We were very clear that we could only meet all the asks in the commitment if the wider poultry sector moved, as we make up less than 3% of the total UK chicken market.

The reality, at the moment, is that the UK poultry industry is not yet in an operational and commercial position to deliver the Better Chicken Commitment by 2026. But we remain committed to the Better Chicken Commitment framework.
Anneliese Dodds, the development minister, promised 50 million to tackle food security in countries like Ethiopia and Chad - Wiktor Szymanowicz/Getty Images

Ministers have pledged 70 million of taxpayers money to foreign farmers, despite the ongoing row about the Governments tax raid on British agriculture at home.

On Thursday, ministers promised millions to agricultural businesses across Asia and Africa after reaffirming its commitment to the Global Hunger and Poverty Alliance, led by Brazil.

Anneliese Dodds, the development minister, said: With the climate emergency increasingly preventing the worlds most vulnerable families from having enough to eat, its time for a new approach.

Ms Dodds promised 50 million to tackle food security in countries such as Ethiopia, Chad and Bangladesh. Another 25.5 million has been offered to agricultural businesses and smallholders across Africa and Asia.

The funding will be delivered over the next 18 months to enable food-insecure households to withstand shocks, drive green growth in the agriculture sector, and improve social protection for those in need, the Government said.

It adds to the 32 million already pledged to help scale up African agricultural businesses under the scheme.

An Ethiopian woman scoops up portions of wheat after it was distributed by the Relief Society of Tigray - Ben Curtis/AP

The announcement comes amid an ongoing row between the Government and farmers over its agricultural tax raid.

In the Budget, the Chancellor pledged to cut relief on inheritance tax for British farmers in order to raise around 500 million for the Exchequer.

The Government has said the changes will not impact the UKs food security, despite warnings from farmers. It has not yet disclosed any official impact assessment of the policy, which would be likely to give a judgement on its effect on food security.

Ministers claim the policy will only impact the richest farmers. However concerns have been raised about the knock-on effects for tenant farmers who do not own the land they work. They face being evicted by landlords seeking more profitable ways to raise money that can pay off inheritance tax bills, the Tenant Farmers Association has warned.

New analysis of UK development spending showed more than 536 million is being spent across ten programmes in Africa, Asia, and South America, including in Brazil, the worlds 11th-richest country. The scheme in Brazil is intended to support low-carbon farming.

Many of the schemes were undertaken by the previous Conservative government and run for a number of years. A 206 million scheme agreed in 2012 is expected to run until 2031.

Victoria Atkins, the shadow environment secretary, said: Labour have taken a political decision to impose a family farm tax that will devastate farming in this country.

For them to give 70 million to support food security overseas - a significant percentage of what the family farm tax will supposedly raise - at the expense of our own food security and farming industry is astonishing.

They need to get real on this policy quickly. Some farmers have an annual income of around 20,000. They cannot afford Labours vindictive tax. As a country, we need our farmers and food security. This city-dwelling government needs to listen to rural folk fast.

Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, said the Government was spending hundreds of millions on foreign farmers while British livelihoods are destroyed by their cruel inheritance tax changes.

A government spokesman said: We are committed to supporting farmers here in the UK, which is why we are investing 5 billion into farming at home over the next two years  the largest amount ever for sustainable food production and natures recovery in this countrys history.
A detail of the graphic novel about Elon Musk by Darryl Cunningham. Photograph: Darryl Cunningham

A biography by a British graphic novelist of Elon Musk is struggling to find an English-language publisher due to feared legal consequences.

Elon Musk: Investigation into a New Master of the World is the latest graphic novel by Darryl Cunningham, from West Yorkshire. Cunningham, 64, has written and illustrated seven nonfiction books on topics ranging from the 2008 global economic meltdown (Supercrash), to Russian leader Vladimir Putin (subtitled The Rise of a Dictator).

His first book, Psychiatric Tales, which drew on his time working on an acute psychiatric ward, was called an unsettling but rewarding experience in an Observer review in 2010.

Although his previous books have all found publishers in the UK and America, there has been silence on the Elon Musk project, despite the fact that it has already been translated into French and published in France to positive reviews.

His French publishers, Delcourt, shopped it around at the Frankfurt book fair last month, and French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche called it rich and thought-provoking.

Cunningham said in a post on his Patreon website last week: Its publication in other countries looks unlikely. Im told that there was interest from various international publishers at the recent Frankfurt book fair, but there was concern over possible legal consequences.

He told the Observer: Im surprised publishers are so seemingly cautious of publishing the Musk book when there are already many books published on Musk and various aspects of his businesses.

Delcourt had lawyers go over every single word and picture to make sure there were no problems. I didnt use any information that hadnt been published elsewhere, much of it from the book by Musks own mother, Maye.

But it looks like we live in a climate of fear where the worst people have immense power, and because of this theres a tendency for the individuals, institutions, businesses and the state to run for cover.

Cunningham praised Delcourt, who also put out the French edition of his book on Putin, for having the courage to publish the book.

It was published in France in May, and Cunningham added that so much has happened since then  including Musk being appointed by incoming US president Donald Trump to jointly head up his new Department of Government Efficiency  that Cunningham is already working on updates for subsequent editions.

The book is certainly no glowing hagiography. Drawing on various sources, Cunningham tells the life story of Musk, going back to his parents, Errol and Maye, and Musks grandfather, who Cunningham says was a bit of a white supremacist.

He charts the rise of Musk to the billionaire class through his various business dealings including acquiring Tesla, SpaceX and Twitter, which he renamed X.

Cunningham said: Knowing what I know about the man, my conclusion is that its incredible that such a mediocre figure can amass such wealth, but it was ever thus.

Musk did not respond to a request for comment.
It was easy to fix, says Sarah of Somerset. They arent cheap to buy but they are massive value as every part can be replaced easily and cheaply. Composite: Getty Images

One of the best ways we can reduce our households carbon footprint is to repair things instead of throwing them away. But its also a way of life for many people.

Seems Ive spent most of my life fixing stuff because I was brought up that way, observes Phil, from Bedfordshire. I look at everything that comes my way as potentially useful and more often than not, it is, writes Richard, a designer from Essex.

Sometimes, as Stew from London notes, repair is about purchasing choices as well as deciding to do the work.

From practical items such as appliances to the more sentimental objects were reluctant to part with, Guardian readers share some of their repair success stories, and offer tips for those wondering where to start.

Appliances: YouTube is your friend and keep spare parts just in case

My Dualit toaster is getting on for 30 years old. Its had a new element costing about 5 and is as good as new. It was easy to fix. They arent cheap to buy but they are massive value as every part can be replaced easily and cheaply.

 Sarah, Somerset

The locking mechanism on the plastic door handle of my washing machine broke. I eventually found a YouTube video showing how to replace it. I had nothing to lose so gave it a go, taking the door off the machine and then stripping it down to reveal the locking mechanism. 30 for the parts but it saved me buying a new washing machine, and gave me a lot of satisfaction.

 Hitesh, Warrington

Related: Can I fix it? Yes you can! Dont throw away these household items before trying to repair them

We had a Bosch dishwasher that I replaced the pump on (burnt out when blocked, 39), the manifold (hard water damaged, similar price) and finally the input water pipe (mouse nibbled). All done with YouTube videos and standard toolbox and no prior repairing experience. Extended its life to 13 years.

 Ian, Derbyshire

Espresso coffee machine. Luckily the Italian machine included a wiring diagram in the instruction booklet. I have found a small workshop that sells generic spare parts for coffee machines and have conducted open heart surgery several times. Failed thermostats, coils, valve internals, seals  all tackled. It is now 22 years old. Very satisfying. I will always have a go at fixing anything. I always keep bits just in case.

 John, Netherlands

Our front loading washing machine had been leaving shreds of white plastic in the completed wash for some months before we noticed a small puddle of water on the floor under it. Upon investigation, I found a 22min video on YouTube made by someone who had had the same issue  one of the 3 legs of the aluminium frame holding the drum had broken after which the drum had rested on the plastic tub that holds the water and worn a hole in it as it ran. The first part of the video listed the tools required and suggested I make a cup of tea before starting the disassembly! Once apart, I ordered a few spare parts (about half the cost of a new machine) and then put it back together for another 5 years reliable operation.

 Harry, Melbourne

Sentimental and unique items: endless memories retained

I had a fishing rod given to me by my nan and grandad in 1972 when I was 10. A short, hefty, fibreglass boat rod. It got used but over the years it sat in the garage rafters and the rings went rusty and came undone, the whipping rotted, and the wooden grips came loose. It had mould on it, and the paint peeled off it. About 10 years ago I stripped it down, sprayed it, re-ringed it with new rings and smart new blue and white whipping, I varnished the wooden grips and epoxied them firmly into place. It looked as good as new. Once done, I took this rod with me every time I took my boat out even though I used a more modern one when out on the water. It didnt matter. I know how my nan and grandad would have felt when they gave it to me, and I know how they would feel if they knew that I had restored it exactly to how it was when they first gave it to me as a 10 year old boy, on my birthday over 50 years ago.

 Mark, Bournemouth

Because a lovely person at the Blairgowrie & Rattray Repair Cafe soldered one of the whisks on my hand-held mixer back together, my 44-year-old family heirloom is good for a few more decades! It was a present from my mother when I went off to university. I have never owned any other mixer. Repair Cafe impact: 36g whisk repaired, 1.345kg of waste avoided, and endless memories retained.

 Gina, Blairgowrie

My parents bought a sideboard circa 1965-68. It is beautiful 1960s craftsmanship. In the late 80s the end door, a drop-down flap as opposed to the other 3 side-hinged doors below the draws broke, at first it was the part that held it horizontal but later the large hinge failed. I at first tried to replace the hinge but replacing a 12-16 hinge proved difficult partly as the wood would not easily take a new hinge and the bracket had failed. Finally in the early 2010s, after a decade or so of an open gash where the door had been, I took on the challenge and with some lovely brass hinges mated the door again but in the same alignment as the other doors and fitted a catch mechanism to keep it closed. As a total amateur I am so proud to have this beautiful cabinetry returned to full function even if the door no longer drops down as originally.

 Mark, Preston, UK

3D printing: a new way to source replacement parts

Our local library network offers access to basic 3D printers for use by patrons. Ive 3D-printed all kinds of small plastic parts that have broken through use or accident  clips on the inside of bathroom exhaust covers, anchors for the little wheels that fridge drawers run on, bike computer clips, slots for the legs of a board game tile holder, dish-drying rack parts, even little hinges and cupboard doorstops. Mostly I try to model the part in SketchUp from scratch, because there is often nothing available on the internet, although Thingiverse is not bad for stand-alone items. Sometimes its hit and miss with my own models/redesigns, but the library only charges for material, not time, and I enjoy the challenge of remaking a small something that can save a bigger item. Sadly, libraries with 3D printers seem far less common in England than in Canada.

 Anon, Kelowna, Canada
NSW police say they were called to reports of a shooting in Surry Hills, where a man later died of a gunshot wound. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP

A man killed in a shooting at an inner-city petrol station on Friday night had links to organised crime, New South Wales police say.

Emergency services responded to a shooting at Surry Hills at about 7.45pm on Friday, and found a man with gunshot wounds to his upper torso.

The man, believed to be in his 30s, was treated by paramedics on Cleveland Street, near Baptist Street, but succumbed to his injuries.

He was alone in his car at a service station when he was shot, NSW police Supt Andrew Garner said on Saturday.

After that, he got out of the vehicle and went on foot down Cleveland Street to a point where he eventually died near Baptist Street on Cleveland Street, he told reporters.

Police also responded to reports of a car on fire in the nearby suburb of Kensington a short time later. They said they arrived to find a Porsche well alight.

Police believe the two incidents are linked.

Detectives alleged the shooting was definitely a targeted attack, but said there was no broader risk or threat to the public.

The male who died had known links to organised crime so on that basis, we believe it was targeted  that he was the intended target of that attack, Garner alleged.

The number of offenders and their movements after the shooting is still being investigated.

This outrageous incident demonstrated a high level of reckless indifference to the public around that area at the time, Garner said.

Were coming for you.

Police are appealing for anyone with information or CCTV to contact Crime Stoppers.
Supporters arrive at an election night watch party for Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/Associated Press

Old-school Republicans

Regarding Trumps plans will likely spur economic growth. But theres a fiscal downside too. | Opinion, (Nov. 15): I long for the days when Republicans were fiscally conservative, law-and-order and small-government minded. Almost every article I read in the Nov. 17 print edition was all about how entrenched fiscally liberal and big-government policies have become.

Government handouts, be they in the form of vouchers to pay for private schooling or any of the myriad tax credits, are by definition fiscally liberal. Fiscal conservatives are against relying on the government to help them pay for their life choices. The sad truth is, too many businesses in our country have become reliant on the government to help them keep their employees fed, clothed and housed.

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The current income tax system encourages bad fiscal behavior and punishes good. If the incoming president and Congress manage to reduce federal spending, will the private sector save the economy by increasing its spending?

When governments at all levels are telling me as a parent what my children can read, how they should be taught, what religion we should practice and what medical choices I must make for my children, they lose my respect and trust. May I have the freedoms my ancestors fought for in the Revolutionary War back, please?

The Democrats may be woke, but the Republican anti-woke stance is far worse, in my opinion.

Ernest Davis, Houston

The United States is perhaps the only Western country where a two-party political system continues to overwhelm the ability of other political parties to gain a foothold. The Libertarian Party and one-time independent candidates, such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., usually dont become popular enough to impact elections.

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With his reelection, Donald Trump has successfully replaced the establishment Republican Party with MAGA. Traditional Republicans unwilling to pledge loyalty to Trump have found themselves on the outside looking in. Theyve opted to retire from public office or have lost to Trump-endorsed candidates in party primaries. And theyre being replaced by extreme MAGA politicians, often with no or minimal political experience, who have polarized American politics and for whom bipartisan leadership is not in their vocabulary.

Unless Trump makes a complete shambles of his second term, I think going forward we will have the Democratic Party and the MAGA Party. Traditional Republicans will become a minor third party, if they continue at all.

Dave DiCamillo, Tomball

Robert Roberson

Regarding Texas Supreme Court clears way for new Robert Roberson execution date, but says he can also testify, (Nov. 15): Could the authorities simply refuse to carry out this execution? Civil disobedience should never be taken lightly, but Robert Roberson is still facing execution even after new evidence has cast serious doubt on his guilt. So many different voices are urging reconsideration. Lets hope that justice and good sense prevail.

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Nancy Perich Daly, Houston

Conservative politicians, such as Gov. Greg Abbott, are constantly reminding us of their skepticism of government. They often insist that regulation of private sector activities should be eliminated whenever possible and that the judgments of non-government sources should override public sector decisions.

Then there is the tragic case of Robert Roberson, who has, in all probability, been wrongfully convicted of a crime. Yet Abbott and other like-minded conservatives insist on the infallibility of the governments judicial processes. Despite the overwhelming evidence that suggests Roberson is the victim of public officials' ignorance about shaken baby syndrome, Abbott has made it clear hes comfortable letting a barbaric decision stand when he could simply offer a reprieve. Abbotts message is that the government can do no wrong.

Michael Douglas Gilbert, Houston

Sad were so selfish

Regarding Trump chose his Cabinet picks to run departments into the ground | Opinion, (Nov. 20): The past week saw a string of letters and a lengthy article explaining why people voted for Trump. The common theme, unsurprisingly, is self-interest. Last Sunday, a gay, Christian Latino wrote what appeared to be the result of Fox News brainwashing. Despite being gay, he voted for a regime that is openly hostile to LGBTQ people. He must be in a profession that insulates him from such scrutiny. Then he trashed efforts to help immigrants with an Ive got mine, you get yours stance that is contrary to Jesus' teachings.

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As another letter writer noted, its sad that weve become so selfish that people would put the price of poultry above the clearly threatened principles of our democracy. In another time and place, such folks would have voted for a dictator for a day who made the trains run on time.

David A. Sherron, Houston

With Thanksgiving upon us, we want to hear from you! Were looking for tiny tales of Houston-area reasons to be grateful: unexpected joys or acts of kindness. In no more than 150 words describe one of those bright spots that youve witnessed this year.

If youve got a story to share, send an email to regina.lankenau@houstonchronicle.com with the subject line Thanksgiving Tale. Dont forget to include your full name and address, for verification reasons. Your letter might be featured in a special holiday roundup from our readers!
The Princess of Wales will host the annual Together at Christmas service at Westminster Abbey - Chris Jackson/PA

The Princess of Wales has invited child survivors of the Southport stabbing to her annual Christmas carol concert.

The Princess, who is recovering from cancer, is holding her festive event at Westminster Abbey on Dec 6, Kensington Palace has confirmed.

It comes after the Princess and the Prince of Wales met privately with the bereaved families of Bebe King, 6, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 9, who were fatally stabbed during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on July 29 in Southport, as well as the childrens dance teacher.

At the Southport Community Centre, they met emergency responders involved in the attack and heard about their experiences.

The Princess had set her sights on being able to stage the Together At Christmas service in 2024 despite the health challenges she faced in what the Prince of Wales described as a brutal year.

It forms part of her gradual return to public duties after finishing chemotherapy treatment in the summer.

The Prince and Princess of Wales spoke to members of the emergency services during a visit to Southport Community Centre - Danny Lawson/PA

The Palace said the Princess, who honoured the war dead at Remembrance events earlier this month, wanted the theme of this years carol service to celebrate those supporting others in need, with a focus on the importance of love and empathy.

The service will shine a light on individuals from all over the UK who have shown love, kindness and empathy towards others in their communities.

The Palace added: This year, Her Royal Highness wanted to celebrate the many people supporting those in need  individuals who have inspired, counselled, comforted, and above all else, shown that love is the greatest gift we can receive.

This theme takes inspiration from the Christmas story which encourages us to consider the experiences of others and the important human need of giving and receiving empathy.

It will be the fourth time the Princess of Wales has staged her Together At Christmas carol service, which is supported by The Royal Foundation.

The event will be filmed as part of a special programme on ITV1 and ITVX on Christmas Eve.

The Wales during the carol service in 2023 - Pool/Getty Images Europe

Members of the Royal family will join around 1,600 people at the Abbey for musical performances by the world-renowned Abbey Choir and stars including Paloma Faith, Olivia Dean and Gregory Porter.

Among the invited guests will be people who have given support, either on a personal level with friends and family or through their work or volunteering.

They have been nominated by charities associated with the Royal family and by Lord Lieutenants, the Kings representatives in counties across the UK.

Last year, the Wales children  Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis  attended the holiday service, alongside the Middleton family.
Missile strike

It may be innocently called the hazelnut, but this is a fig leaf disguise.

The Kremlins latest hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile is actually one of its most dangerous.

Vladimir Putin test-fired the Oreshnik, the Russian word for hazelnut tree, for the first time in combat on Thursday against the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. He later boasted that it had been designed for a decisive strike on Britain  and added a chilling warning.

I recommend that the ruling elites of those countries that are hatching plans to use their military contingents against Russia seriously think about this, Putin said.

So secret was the development of the Oreshnik that very little is known about it until footage emerged of its first strike.

Credit: Telegram / dnepr_operativ

Flashes of startling light emanating from multiple warheads were seen raining down on Dnipro and exploding on impact in deadly synchronisation.

Initially, it was mistaken for an RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile when it was fired at Dnipro from a launch site in Astrakhan on the Caspian Sea.

The Pentagon has also described Oreshnik as a variant of the RS-26 Rubezh.

The grainy footage shows that Oreshnik appears to have multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles. These are separate warheads able to hit different targets, which gives one missile enormous destructive power.

Experts described it as an experimental hybrid missile that sits in a category between intercontinental and intermediate-range missiles. This means it has a range of around 3,000 miles, easily enough to strike Britain.

Analysing the video, Andrey Baklitskiy, a senior researcher in the weapons of mass destruction programme for the United Nations, said that the video showed multiple warheads crashing into Dnipro at high speed.

They all fell in a close vicinity of each other, more consistent with MRV technology, meaning the warheads were not independently targeted, he said.

Mr Baklitskiy agreed that it was more difficult to defend against multiple warheads but each warhead would be less potent.

As for the apparently small explosions, Mr Baklitskiy said that this was probably due to the small payload or no payload at all in the warheads.

Vladimir Putin test-fires the Oreshnik for the first time in combat against the Ukrainian city of Dnipro - UNPIXS

Michael Bonhert, an engineer at US think tank Rand Corporation, described it as part of Russias strategic nuclear triad, a change from the missiles that the Kremlin has been firing at Ukraine throughout the war.

What is different is missiles that tend to be intermediate-range missiles and almost every intercontinental ballistic missile is nuclear-capable, he said.

As well as gloating that the missile was capable of carrying both a conventional payload or a nuclear warhead, Putin dropped some more hints about the capabilities of the Oreshnik missile on Thursday, claiming that it could easily dodge anti-missile systems.

The Oreshnik is fast and stealthy too. Putin said that the missile can fly at 10 times the speed of sound and cannot be shot down.

The modern air defence systems in the world and the missile defence systems created by the Americans in Europe do not intercept such missiles, Mr Bonhert said.

Ukraines military intelligence agency (HUR) said the missile could fly at 11 times the speed of sound as it released further details on the new weapon.

It said the missile was fired from the fourth missile test range Kapustin Yar in Russias Astrakhan region, and flew 15 minutes before striking Dnipro. The missile had six warheads each carrying six submunitions.

Test launches of a similar missile were conducted at the range in October 2023 and June 2024, HUR said.

Mick Ryan, a military analyst and a retired Australian major general, said that by unveiling the Oreshnik with his strike on Dnipro, Putin was sending a strong message.

This was a political strike, not a military one, he said. It can be used against almost any target in Europe and the United Kingdom.

The issue for Putin, who looked more tired and drawn than usual in his video on Thursday, is that Britains deepening involvement in the war in Ukraine feels personal.

Under his 24-year reign, the Kremlin has kept up a stream of particularly vindictive rhetoric against Britain and has previously threatened to strike London with a nuclear missile.

Now that Ukraine has fired British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles at Russia, Putin has said that he is ready and entitled to respond with destructive force. The Oreshnik could be his weapon of choice.
Families at the Manston asylum centre in Kent in 2022. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

When David Neal, the former independent chief inspector of borders and immigration, visited the Manston asylum processing centre in Kent at the height of the crisis in October 2022, he said the conditions he found there were so alarming it left him speechless.

People were crammed on the dirty floors of marquees to sleep, toilets overflowed with faeces, there was inadequate access to medical care and new arrivals were referred to by a number on a wristband rather than by their name.

The asylum seekers bringing the legal challenge against the governments decision to downgrade the planned inquiry said they endured brutal and unacceptable conditions.

One woman was held at Manston for 21 days and was forced to live and sleep in an overcrowded room with more than 100 detainees. She feared for her safety and said there were regular fights.

She was referred to by a number she had been assigned, which was based on the boat she had travelled on and was allocated by officials who had counted how many people were on board. When she was menstruating, she was offered male underwear.

Another man said he was detained for six days and only had three square metres of personal space to live in. He claimed he had to eat on a wet and muddy floor, suffered racist abuse and was assaulted by guards, who punched him, dragged him along the ground and kicked his head and body.

Home Office lawyers claimed the man had attacked a guard and was subsequently restrained.

In documents submitted to last weeks high court hearing to determine the kind of investigation that should take place into what went wrong at Manston, the Home Office said there were 21 use-of-force incidents by guards at the facility in October 2022. Some of those involved in the legal challenge are children aged between six months and six years. Their lawyers say that conditions for small children there were particularly difficult.

According to documents submitted to the court, repeated advice was given to the then home secretary that Manston was not operating lawfully.

Related: You walked in and your heart sank: the shocking inside story of Manston detention centre

One family  a mother, father and two young children  who had travelled overland from Iran to northern France by foot and car in a journey taking more than a month, arrived at the processing centre at the beginning of October 2022. They said they were horrified by what they saw after being taken to a marquee on the site, soaking wet and chilled to the bone.

The mother said: We thought they would only keep us there for a day or two but we were locked up there for nearly 30 days. We had to sleep on filthy cardboard in the marquee with the children because there was nothing else for us. We were so frightened for our children  that place wasnt safe for them. The situation in Manston was drastic.

They had been forced to leave Iran after experiencing repeated raids on their home by government officials because they opposed the regime.

Once in Manston, she said, they were only allowed outside for an hour a day. Their phones were confiscated, preventing them from contacting their family to tell them they had survived the Channel crossing.

After two years, we have not yet recovered from what happened to us at Manston, the mother said.
Scott Bessent was a donor to the Trump campaign and became the Republicans economic adviser - Jonathan Drake/REUTERS

Scott Bessent was one of George Soros right-hand men when the liberal billionaire bet against the pound on Black Wednesday.

Mr Bessent, then in his early 30s, was part of one of the most famous trades in history and helped net the Soros Fund some $1.5 billion in the space of a month. For Britain, it was a national humiliation that broke the Bank of England.

Mr Bessent, whom Mr Trump once praised as a nice-looking guy and one of the most brilliant men on Wall Street, has now been named as the incoming presidents treasury secretary.

In many ways, he is a conventional pick: a donor to the Trump campaign who became the Republicans economic adviser, who had the Wall Street pedigree to back it up.

But his association with Mr Soros, a boogeyman for the American Right who hired him twice and has given billions of dollars to his ventures, marks him out.

The nomination to the Treasury means that one of the final open cabinet positions has now been filled  subject to Senate confirmation.

Scott Besent speaks at the National Conservative Conference in Washington DC in July - DOMINIC GWINN/AFP

For a time, Howard Lutnick, the former head of financial services company Cantor Fitzgerald, seemed the likeliest option. Elon Musk, the Tesla billionaire and close Trump ally, had openly lobbied the president-elect to choose him.

But Mr Trump did not, reportedly souring on Mr Lutnick as he jostled with Mr Bessent for the role, with the pair criticising and briefing against each other for the role.

Mr Lutnick was given the Commerce Secretary role this week, in what appeared to be a consolation prize. Mr Bessent came out on top and will see his defeated rival around the Cabinet table.

It also raises questions about Mr Musks influence, who not only praised Mr Lutnick but has criticised Mr Soros as a threat to the very fabric of civilisation.

Mr Bessent, a 62-year-old South Carolina native, has made a career at the side of Mr Soros betting against currencies  and winning.

He reportedly joined Soros Fund Management in London in the early 1990s as its head of global research, a year before Mr Soros short of the pound. He is said to have played a behind-the-scenes role in the bet.

One figure who reported to him described Mr Bessent as one of the few guys who wasnt scared of Mr Soros, describing the pair as a pretty powerful combination.

In fact, the 62-year-old rarely had as much success without the backing of his protege when he sought to branch out in later years.

Bessent widely respected

In 2000, Mr Bessent is said to have launched Bessent Capital with some $200 million in capital from his former boss.

Forbes reports that this wound down some six years later, and he rejoined Soros Fund Management in 2011 as chief investment officer.

In that role, he is said to have helped net billions for the firm in betting against the Japanese yen and the pounds decline following the Brexit vote in 2016.

He parted ways with Mr Soros again in 2017, raising some $4.5 billion to form Key Square Capital Management  this time with $2 billion from Mr Soros.

Reuters suggests that the funds uneven performance may have scared away investors, which saw its assets shrink from some $5.1 billion at the end of 2017 to some $577 million in December 2023.

Nevertheless, Mr Trump declared that Mr Bessent was widely respected as one of the worlds foremost international investors and geopolitical and economic strategists as he confirmed his nomination.

As Treasury secretary, he will usher in a new Golden Age for the United States, as we fortify our position as the worlds leading economy, centre of innovation and entrepreneurialism, destination for capital, Mr Trump continued.

Unlike past administrations, we will ensure that no Americans will be left behind in the next and greatest economic boom.

Mr Bessent has previously declared that the US under Mr Trump would bring back manufacturing, establish energy dominance, and bring about a technology boom.

In a Wall Street Journal piece last month, he advocated for the president-elect to pursue deregulation and tax cuts while addressing debt levels, which he blamed on four years of reckless spending under Joe Biden, the US president.

However, commentators noted that he did not make any mention of tariffs in the piece  one of Mr Trumps flagship campaign promises.
Tulsi Gabbard has previously been accused of pushing Russian propaganda - Ross D. Franklin/AP

Tulsi Gabbard, Donald Trumps pick for US intelligence chief, has previously been placed on a government watch list.

Ms Gabbard, who has been nominated as director of national intelligence, was subject to additional security screening ahead of flights given her foreign connections and overseas travel patterns, sources told CNN.

Several officials said it was highly unusual, if not unprecedented, for someone to be elevated to the top spot in the intelligence community after being placed on such a list.

The former congresswoman, who has previously been accused of pushing Russian propaganda, was removed from the Quiet Skies list in September after claiming publicly it was retaliation for criticising Kamala Harris, the vice-president.

However, CNN reported that her inclusion on the list was the result of a computer algorithm.

A webpage on Quiet Skies from the Transport Security Administration states that its purpose is to focus on travellers who may present an elevated risk to aviation security and may require enhanced screening.

This is said to be based on travel patterns and other intelligence-based factors.

Nominees may not undergo normal background checks

Federal air marshals are instructed to observe those included on the list while they are in the airport and onboard the flight.

The TSA placed me on the Quiet Skies domestic terror watchlist in what I can only describe as the ultimate betrayal, Ms Gabbard wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, in September.

The Harris-Biden regime has now labelled me a domestic terror threat. Why? They see me as a threat to their power.

One official said that Ms Gabbard would normally be forced to explain the reason for her foreign travel and contacts that had led to her inclusion on the list as part of the process of becoming national intelligence director.

However, Donald Trump has indicated that some of his nominees may not have to undergo the normal background check process, raising questions about what she will be required to disclose.

Quiet Skies is not a terror watchlist and reportedly has much laxer standards for inclusion than the FBIs terrorist watch list.

Gabbard met with Assad

The former congresswoman has had two controversial meetings with Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian dictator, and cast doubt on claims that his regime is responsible for deadly gas attacks. She appeared to blame the US and Nato when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

It comes after Nikki Haley, the former UN ambassador and contender for the Republican presidential nomination, criticised Ms Gabbard for her disgusting visit to Assad in 2017.

Everything she said about that was Russian talking points, Russian propaganda, she said, adding that national intelligence director was a job for an honest broker without any pronounced policy biases.

Steven Cheung, Mr Trumps communications director, said in a statement: If Nikki Haley has criticisms she should run for president and oh, wait, she did exactly that and lost in a landslide.

Ms Gabbard has been approached for comment.
The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, welcomed the decision to grant the use of Atacms against Russian targets. Photograph: Ukrainian Presidential Press Office/UPI/Shutterstock

In Kyiv, as autumn turns fast turns to winter, Ukrainians in the government describe a vacuum before the arrival of Donald Trump in the White House on 20 January that will be filled by more war as both sides jockey for advantage. Trump has said he wants to end the war within 24 hours. Nobody is more interested in this topic than Ukraine, a senior official told the Guardian.

But the problem is, for the moment, everything is just speculation. Will it be the first peace plan, the second plan, the first variant, the 10th variant? they said. Ukraine is in a difficult but not catastrophic position and has little choice but to fight on and perhaps show Trump that backing Kyiv is not a losing bet.

Related: Putins Ukraine missile a warning to west before second age of Trump

What helped this week was an 11th hour change of heart by the current US president, Joe Biden, whose White House briefed on Sunday that the US would allow its Atacms missiles, with a range of 190 miles (306km), to be used on targets inside Russia. Ukraine had been asking for permission for years, arguing that it has been unable to hit barracks, airfields and logistics sites in the Russian rear.

Finally, at the end of Bidens term, the White House is more helpful. But it cant compensate for delays in previous years, the official said. Russia now holds the military initiative in large parts of the eastern front, where it is gradually swallowing up the town of Kurakhove, even if its casualty rate was approximately 1,350 a day in October, according to British estimates. The frontline is now less stable than at any time since the early days of the full-scale Russian invasion, warned the British defence secretary, John Healey, on Thursday.

Even so, the permission came with another limitation. The missiles could only be used in relation to the battle in Kursk oblast, where Ukraine seized a chunk of territory in August and is trying to resist a counterattack from 50,000 soldiers, including 10,000 from Russias newly recruited ally, North Korea. Nevertheless, there was little hesitation: a day later Ukraines military fired about eight missiles into what it said was an ammunition depot 80 miles from the border.

Attention immediately shifted to whether the UK  caught up in the US reluctance  would be willing to give more of its Storm Shadow missiles, weapons with similar range and capabilities to the Atacms, to Ukraine. The prime minister, Keir Starmer, who was in Rio de Janiero for the G20 summit between Sunday and Wednesday, was determined only to loosely indicate the UK needed to double down.

Amid a handful of half hints and more direct comments from other allies it became clear on Monday that the UK was finally ready to supply more Storm Shadow missiles  which had been a bone of contention with Kyiv. On Wednesday, it emerged a dozen were reportedly fired into a command point more than 25 miles inside Russia.

Even so Britain was unwilling to confirm its change of policy, mindful perhaps of antagonising Moscow, until a Russian military blogger had published pictures showing missile fragments marked with the words Storm Shadow. Finally, a British defence source said look at the social media, in effect arguing the proof was incontrovertible.

Two strategic missile strikes are not enough to change the course of war, however. The military value of both weapons is limited by the fact that there are only limited numbers of Atacms and Storm Shadow, said Matthew Savill, the director of Military Sciences at the Royal United Services Institute thinktank.

It is possible the US restriction will be an advantage, Savill said, because it will concentrate Ukraines focus on a narrow part of the front. When Ukraine previously used Atacms and Storm Shadow for strikes on territories occupied by the Russians, the results were sometimes spectacular but it did not alter the balance in its favour on land. Now, he argued, Ukraine can focus on holding Kursk as a going concern and giving it a modest bargaining chip in any peace negotiations.

Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, wasted little time in promising an appropriate response and a nervous Wednesday in Kyiv followed as the US unexpectedly closed its embassy after warning of a potential significant air attack. When it came, though it was a surprise: a single, nuclear-capable missile with a range estimated at 3,500 miles used to target, Russia said, a factory in Dnipro at a very short range for such a weapon, 500 miles.

Such a missile is too expensive to justify using at that distance, but when Vladimir Putin made an unscheduled appearance on Russian television it proved its purpose was also political. We consider ourselves entitled to use our weapons against military facilities of those countries that allow to use their weapons against our facilities, he said, an escalatory threat clearly aimed at Trump in particular, arguing the war will only spread if the west keeps allowing its missiles to strike into Russia.

While such missile diplomacy continues, the frontline fundamentals are unchanged. Savill argues this gives Russia no need to rush into peace talks because they can expend more lives and potentially gain another 20 to 30 kilometres. All Putin is trying to do is persuade Trump that helping Ukraine significantly further would be too costly for the west, and few believe the US incoming president will face him down.
Pentagon estimates suggest that Beijing will have 1,500 operable nuclear weapons by 2035

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.
Wales slumped to a 12th successive Test match defeat and head coach Warren Gatland saw the pressure ramped up on him as world champions South Africa won 45-12 at the Principality Stadium.

For the first time since 1937, Wales went a whole calendar year without winning a Test, and many will feel that Gatlands job is now hanging by a thread.

South Africa were not at their best, but the sad truth for Wales is that they did not have to be.

SGOR TERFYNOL | FULL TIME  12  45  #AutumnNationsSeries pic.twitter.com/jk9nbnA5m0  Welsh Rugby Union  (@WelshRugbyUnion) November 23, 2024

The Springboks ran in seven tries  Franco Mostert, Eben Etzebeth, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Aphelele Fassi, Elrigh Louw, Jordan Hendrikse and Gerhard Steenekamp touched down  while Hendrikse kicked five conversions.

Wales claimed consolation scores from wing Rio Dyer and flanker James Botham, with Ben Thomas adding one conversion, but the game was done inside the opening quarter after South Africa posted three tries.

Whether Gatland, who has now lost 18 of 24 Tests since returning for a second stint as head coach, remains in charge for a daunting Six Nations opener against France in Paris on January 31 must be a subject of huge debate.

Whatever happens, though, Wales are at the lowest point in their 143-year international rugby history, and there appears no respite any time soon.

Wales showed two late changes, with wing Tom Rogers ruled out by a calf muscle injury and prop Gareth Thomas missing out through illness. Gloucester back Josh Hathaway replaced Rogers, with Nicky Smith taking over from Thomas.

It took South Africa just six minutes to open their account after a move forged by skipper Siya Kolisis strong run ended with Mostert sprinting over unopposed and Hendrikse converting.

Jordan Hendrikse scored a try and kicked five conversions for South Africa (David Davies/PA)

Mosterts second-row partner Etzebeth then rounded off fine work by Arendse and Wales were already facing damage-limitation as fly-half Sam Costelow went off for a head injury assessment.

Centre Ben Thomas moved to the number 10 role with Scarlets centre Eddie James going on but South Africa added a third try inside the opening quarter after Arendse touched down wide out and Hendrikse converted.

Costelow rejoined the action and Wales managed to secure some scraps of possession before Etzebeth went off injured 11 minutes before half-time and was replaced by RG Snyman.

South Africa twice saw players held up over the Wales line, then Kolisi had a try disallowed following a knock-on in approach play by scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse.

But the Springboks did not have long to wait for try number four, with Wales unable to handle their power-runners, and Louw crossed between the posts.

Jordan Hendrikses conversion made it 26-0, yet Wales managed the final scoring act of a hopelessly one-sided opening half when Dyer finished strongly on his first appearance of the autumn campaign.

Rio Dyer, right, provided brief cheer for home supporters (PA)

It was his eighth international try, and at least ensured Wales opened their account, albeit against a Springboks side that had rarely moved out of third gear.

Costelow did not reappear for the second period  James came back on  and there was also a Test debut off the bench for Gloucester forward Freddie Thomas, who replaced Taine Plumtree and went into the back-row.

It took South Africa until 14 minutes into the second period to increase their advantage, and it was Arendses jinking running that created space for Fassi, who crossed on the overlap.

Replacement prop Steenekamp claimed South Africas sixth try, converted by Jordan Hendrikse, and Wales still had 17 minutes left before their misery would be over.

Jordan Hendrikse then added a final try that he also converted, and Wales could escape to the sanctuary of their changing room after Bothams late effort.
Views around Ledbury, Herefordshire, as the snow hit UK homes this week - and temperatures plunged. (Andrew Higgins/Thousand Word Media) (Thousand Word Media, Thousand Word Media Ltd)

A cold snap has swept across the UK this week, with temperatures plummeting to lows of -11c in some parts of the country.

These low temperatures are set to continue, with the Met Office issuing another weather warning as Storm Bert brings in 70mph winds, rain and snow this weekend.

While the lower-than-average temperatures continue, many of us are still hesitant to turn up the thermostat thanks to skyrocketing energy bills.

Even when we do crank up the heating, many find it difficult to keep the warmth inside leaving us reaching for an extra jumper or spare blanket.

So what is it about the UK's heating system that leaves so many of us wanting? Here's what we know about why the UK is so rubbish at heatings its homes properly, the challenges it faces, and how we make it fit for purpose.

Damp and old housing

The UK has some of the oldest and least energy efficient housing stock in Europe.

One third of UK homes were built before 1946, according to think-tank the Resolution Foundation, long before heating became commonplace in our homes in the 1970s.

Because of this, we lose heat in our homes faster than our European neighbours.

"We do have a relatively old housing stock compared to some European countries. Because of this, the homes on average are less energy efficient," Dr Neil Simcock, an energy expert and Geography lecturer at Liverpool John Moores University, tells Yahoo News.

UK homes lose heat three times faster than their European neighbours (Home climate management company tado)

"As they're less insulated, they leak out heat more rapidly. That means you have to be heating on a bit more. So you use more, and then that costs you more," he added.

This problem is even more pronounced in the private rental sector.

Landlords don't have an incentive because they're not the ones paying the energy bills," Dr Gareth Thomas, a research associate at Cardiff University, told Yahoo News.Given the housing crisis, and the fact that there are more people looking for homes than there are homes available, it doesnt harm their ability to rent out properties."

Old, inefficient boilers that "should have been replaced years ago" are also "quietly draining away money" says Becky Lane, who is the co-owner of retrofit start-up Furbnow, which helps homeowners reduce carbon emissions.

"Boilers that really should have been replaced years ago  what we call 'zombie boilers'  are quietly draining money from millions of British households," she said. "These ancient heating systems typically operate at around 70% efficiency or worse, meaning for every pound spent on gas, 30p is simply wasted. Modern condensing boilers, by comparison, are over 90% efficient."

Poor walls

The quality of insulation within our homes is a big factor, too. Houses in the UK are not just old, but they are leaky.

In 2022, nine million homes  one in four  had walls that were rated as poor.

It will come as little surprise that this has a knock-on effect on how energy efficient our homes are. In England and in Wales, houses have a median energy efficiency rating of band D.

D is the average efficiency of a home in the UK (House of Commons)

These lower figures doesn't just affect older, high-ceilinged Edwardian homes. Only 1.8% of new homes in England meet the highest energy efficiency rating, Greenpeace research has shown.

Attempts to accelerate this weren't helped when plans to make all new homes in the UK carbon neutral were scrapped in 2015. This means that even some of the newest homes are still lagging significantly behind in the efficiency ratings.

We've not been as on it with energy efficiency upgrades as we should have been over the last 10 years," Thomas said. We were doing quite well on insulation up until about 2010-2015, when most of the government subsidies for that were all massively cut back.

Loft and cavity wall insuraltions fell dramatically in 2013. The chart above shows millions of insulation measures under government schemes. (gov.uk)

This was when the Conservatives started to dip in the polls halfway through Camerons first administration, prompting government advisors to ask them to win over voters by cutting the green crap.

While the government's approval ratings were saved, Thomas believes the cuts were "pretty short-sighted."

It would have saved quite a lot of money during the more recent energy price crisis," he added. The policies to do this work were in place and while they weren't perfect, but progress was being made."

Energy is very expensive

Even though heating our homes can be a struggle, the UK now pays the highest electricity prices in the world  four times the price of the average bill in the US.

The energy price cap is predicted to rise by another 1.2% in January, making the average household energy bill 1738.

Gas prices are not much better. "We're massively over reliant on natural gas," Thomas said. "Other countries have a more diverse selection of heating sources being used in homes.

"Natural gas was great for the country in the sixties and seventies. When we found North Sea gas, we had comparatively cheap home heating bills for a number of years.

But now North Sea reserves are dwindling down and we're more reliant on international oil and gas markets. Things like the war in Ukraine affect us very badly."

Russia's invasion of Ukraine also led to a spike in natural gas prices (Ihor Kuznietsov/Novyny LIVE/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images) (Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

The price increases ties to gas and electricity have been devastating for many UK households.

"Theres 3 million people that struggle in the overlap between living on the lowest incomes but also living in the least energy efficient homes," Peter Smith, the policy director at National Energy Action told Yahoo News.

"Those households are not only living with often inefficient, elderly  and in some instances, dangerous heating systems  but they're also living in properties which haven't been insulated and the basic energy efficiency measures, like insulation," Smith added.

"A third of people are in arrears with their energy supplier," Simcock said.

"The average household in arrears owes about 1500 pounds for electricity and 1300 for gas."

Professor Mari Martiskainen, the director of the Energy Demand Research Centre, has heard first-hand some of the devastating effects of the energy price hikes that have affected the UK over the last three years.

"We are hearing from people that they will only heat one room of the house. We've heard from parents who will give their bedroom to their children, and they themselves perhaps need to sleep in the living room, so that they only have to heat one room or two rooms," Martiskainen told Yahoo News.

We are a G7 country, one of the most wealthy countries in the world. So how is it that we are allowing six million households to live in fuel poverty?" she added.

What are the alternatives?

So, if the current system to heat our homes isn't working, what are the alternatives?

Many of the experts Yahoo News spoke to voiced their support for installing heat pumps.

Last October, the government rolled out the Boiler Upgrade Scheme heat pump grant, increasing it to 7,500 for households looking to install air source heat pumps and ground source heat pumps.

"The most efficient way to heat most homes is through heat pumps," Professor of Energy Policy Aimee Ambrose at Sheffield Hallam University told Yahoo News.

"They generate much more heat per each unit of energy put into them than any other form of heating available to us. However, they can seem expensive compared to gas boilers but it should be kept in mind that they are likely to last longer than a gas boiler," she added.

While they're a step in the right direction, Thomas points out that there's not a lot of "reliable information out there" about them.

"When we moved to gas heating, there were gas shops in every town. It was run by the national gas board and everyone kind of knew that was where you went for advice on this stuff. We don't have that face-to-face advice right now," he added.

This building in East Anglia has heat pumps and solar panels (Andrew Aitchison / In pictures via Getty Images) (Andrew Aitchison via Getty Images)

Another option is district heating.

District heating heats half of Paris and is in use quite a lot in parts of Scandinavia and parts of eastern Europe, Thomas explained. It is essentially where you have one massive boiler or  in the future  a massive heat pump producing very large quantities of heat that's then pumped directly into people's homes through underground pipes.

"You don't have the heating source in your home, hot water is directly pumped into your home."

The system has already had success in Aberdeenshire, where a successful social housing trial means that the heating is paid as part of the rent.

"It's an option that tends to get overlooked, but it has a lot of potential," Thomas added.

District heating is good in a way that usually it's more efficient, so there's a lot less sort of losses in that system, but it hasn't really taken off in the UK that much yet," Martiskainen said.

Partly, it's also a cultural thing. People in the UK really tend to like their gas boilers and their individual heating systems because they might have not been used to that communal heating system.

For heating engineer Lee Moio, hydrogen heating is the way forward.

"I think in the future, we're probably just going to move on to hydrogen," he told Yahoo News. "At the moment, it costs more electricity to make one kilowatt of hydrogen than what you get out of it. So it's just figuring out how to make it cheap enough," he added.

It's a view the government has shared too  even though many of its projects have been delayed.

The third pilot of a "hydrogen town", where hydrogen heating would be tested in homes, was culled by the government in May. While hydrogen "may have a role to play" in cutting heating emissions, it will be in "a slower time in some locations", likely 2026.

Thomas does warn, however, that installing them can be "very controversial", and come with a number of risks.

"The trickiest thing I think with hydrogen is you need to convert whole streets and neighbourhoods all in one. You can't put hydrogen on one street and natural gas on another," he added.

Simcock is keen to point out that the struggle to heat our homes is not just an energy problem, but a "welfare problem".

Bringing in an energy social tariff and universal basic energy could mean that every household can house their home a lot more easily.

"Its a housing problem, and its about economic policy as well. It's all of the issues of the last 14 years coming to a head. We can't see energy in a silo," he added.
Money 20/20 is a fast-paced conference held annually in Las Vegas, chock-full of the latest and greatest when it comes to technology, products and best practices for the financial services industry. I had the opportunity to attend the four-day conference with my editor, Marc Wojno. We attended dozens of informative sessions (unsurprisingly, generative artificial intelligence (AI) was the topic du jour), and we appreciated the opportunity to meet up with numerous movers-and-shakers in the banking and fintech industries.

Day 1 of the conference consisted of several sessions on how banks and fintechs are making use of AI. Presenters emphasized AIs staggering potential, and one stat that stuck with me was that JP Morgan Chase expects AI will deliver $2 billion in value for the bank in 2024. Many presenters spoke of leveraging AI in thwarting cyberattacks as well as preventing identity theft and other crimes.

As a banking reporter, I was particularly interested in learning more about what banks are doing these days to keep their customers safe from such financial crimes  whether its through high-tech AI methods or ones that involve a human touch. In gathering information, I spoke with various attendees of Money 20/20, as well as bank representatives and a personal friend who recently lost tens of thousands of dollars due to bank fraud.

Based on what I gleaned at the conference, here are various ways banks and credit unions are working to help keep your money safe.

1. Behind-the-scenes algorithms are monitoring your banking transactions in real time

When youre doing your banking on a computer or smartphone, your bank is likely conducting fraud analysis behind the scenes. These checks are typically applied at various times, including when youre signing up for a bank account or applying for a loan.

Prevention of synthetic identity fraud

One common vehicle used to commit financial fraud as of late is a synthetic identity, wherein fraudsters combine both real and fake information  a real social security number and a fake name, for example  to create a fictitious identity that appears legitimate. In fact, 45 percent of fintech companies reported an increase in synthetic identity fraud in the past 12 months, according to a report from GBG IDology, a provider of fraud prevention solutions.

Identity thieves commonly use AI to help them generate such synthetic identities, which they establish over time and eventually commit financial fraud, says Joel Sequeira, director of product management at GBG IDology. These fake identities start out by paying bills and establishing credit.

Synthetic identities mix themselves with the rest of the population. Its often really hard to identify those.Joel Sequeira, Director of Product Management at GBG IDology

To help prevent this type of crime, banks often turn to technology to help detect fraudulent identities in real time. Tools can be used to identify red flags such as an at-risk IP address, a suspect email address or the use of a suspended phone number, Sequeira says. Theres a lot of indicators that come back, which help [companies] make a decision in a split second before they can decide to onboard or ask for a higher level of verification.

Prevention of fraudulent money transfers

Commonly enough, an employee of a company unwittingly transfers money to a third party as a result of criminal deception. This type of crime falls under the category of occupational fraud, which is likely the largest and most costly form of financial crime globally, according to a 2024 report from the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. The estimated total annual costs of occupational fraud run in the trillions of dollars, according to the report.

A common way for scammers to lure potential victims into this type of crime is through LinkedIn, says GBG IDologys Sequeira. Theyre able to guess the persons email and send a note saying, This is an invoice. Can you pay this invoice right away? To help prevent such crimes, banks and other companies can insert additional steps during money transfers to help stop such fraudulent transactions from occurring, Sequeira says.

Because such added steps can slow down the process, theyre often referred to in the industry as friction  although companies are typically fine with adding that friction, if it could potentially prevent the loss of large amounts of money, Sequeira says. So if you were to transact $50,000 from a bank account, you probably will be completely fine providing that additional layer of verification, if you were asked to come to the bank branch to provide it, or if you were just sent a link to provide your documentation, such as your drivers license.

2. Bank branch personnel also play a role in fraud prevention

As common as it is for banks to apply cutting edge technologies to prevent fraud, there is still a human component at play. To illustrate this, Ill tell a story about a friend of mine who was recently the victim of a government impersonation scam. When all was said and done, her savings account was depleted to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars. Well call her Darla, to protect her identity.

A fraud victims story of handing over cash in a shoebox

Darla was talking to a man who claimed he was with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) after calling the number listed in a pop-up message on her computer. Unfortunately, she fell victim to the scam we encounter online daily that imply our computer has been compromised and that we need to call Microsoft tech support. Once the fraudster got her on the phone, he shared that her information was on the dark web and being used for identity theft. Turning over her money for him to guard was the only way to keep her funds safe until the fraudsters were caught.

Ultimately, Darla complied with the mans requests. First, she provided him with thousands of dollars in Apple gift cards. Then, she withdrew most of her money from the bank, placed it in a shoebox and handed it to a courier who showed up at her house.

In retrospect, Darla says she should have recognized this for the fraud it was, but she fell for it because the man had successfully instilled her trust, and she was very worried how such identity theft could impact her and her son. Im so angry at myself, she says. I know enough about computers and things that this shouldnt have happened.

How bank personnel thwarted further fraud

On the day Darla gathered the money for the shoebox, she encountered problems withdrawing such a large sum in cash, due to safeguards set in place at the large regional bank where shes a customer. She attempted to get around this by taking out smaller sums from multiple branches on the same day.

The bank employees were really trying their hardest to stop me, but I kept telling them, Its my money, so why cant I have it? Darla says. They were saying to me, You need this kind of money, but why? Cant we just give you a check? Why do you need it in cash? If youre going to be carrying cash around, thats not safe.

After she visited a third branch to withdraw cash, bank personnel froze Darlas accounts due to the heavy suspicion of fraud. This move sent an automated bank alert to her adult son, whom shed kept in the dark for days in an attempt to protect him from becoming involved. Her son came to her home, listened to her story and helped her understand it was fraud  although not before the scammers had taken her cash.

Although Darla wasnt able to recover the money shed already given the fraudsters, she became aware of the fraud in time to refrain from depleting an annuity and other investments shed been planning to turn over to the fraudster.

Darla credits her banks employees for their efforts to help her and for ultimately saving her from further financial damage. During her visit to one of the branches that day, the bank manager spoke with her. Coincidentally, they had just come out of a meeting with their headquarters about fraud, she says. The guy in charge pulled me into a cubicle and said, Dont do this. Please dont do this. Looking back, it was stupid for me not to trust the bank.

3. Banks are taking a proactive approach to educate consumers on security

When it comes to keeping their customers abreast of the latest ways to bank securely, banks may turn to emails, in-app notifications and social media posts, as well as webinars and virtual workshops. Many also find ways to incorporate security measures throughout the customer banking experience.

Some banks help spread awareness by incorporating informational hubs into their websites with articles on how to bank safely. For example, Chase Bank maintains a Security Center web page that contains articles on:

Creating strong passwords

Spotting scams

Reporting fraud

Using Zelle safely

Keeping seniors safe from fraud and scams

We start with offering our customers ways to keep their accounts safe with options for privacy and security on their mobile app and online, and provide online dos and donts, says Darius Kingsley, head of business practices for consumer banking at Chase. In addition to educating consumers about safe banking online, Chase offers informational sessions in person at branches, Kingsley adds.

Some banks work to incentivize consumers to follow best cybersecurity practices. For instance, Fifth-Third Bank offers customers its free SmartShield product, which incorporates fraud monitoring, threat blocking and login security features. Included is a protection meter that rates a customers security measures on a tiered basis, with exceptional being the highest level attainable.

Within SmartShield, users complete tasks such as updating their password or engaging with monthly quiz content to achieve higher status levels within the app, says Ben Hoffman, chief strategy officer and head of consumer product at Fifth Third Bank. Since SmartShield launched earlier this year, more than one million customers have taken advantage of the service, Hoffman says.

Ways to protect yourself from bank fraud

In addition to the measures banks employ to safeguard their consumers from fraud, some vigilance and best practices on the part of consumers can play a major role in secure banking. Here are a few types of financial fraud, and what you can do to protect yourself from them:

1. New account fraud: This occurs when a fraudster uses someone elses information to open a new bank account or credit card account, or to apply for a loan. [To help prevent] new account fraud, consumers can regularly monitor their credit bureaus, although thats typically most effective for credit extensions, says David Liu, senior vice president, fraud & risk at identity verification services company Trulioo.

2. Account takeover fraud: In this case, a fraudster gains unauthorized access to a consumers account and either uses their login credentials online or impersonates them over the phone.

In the case of account takeover fraud, consumers can use a password manager to set unique passwords. Additional steps include enabling two-factor authentication and setting up device enrollment when given the option.David Liu, Senior Vice President, Fraud & Risk at Identity Verification Services Company Trulioo

3. Digital pickpocketing: For this type of financial crime, fraudsters tap a mobile point-of-sale device against a victims pocket, wallet or purse in order to initiate a fraudulent transaction, according to Visas biannual threats report. To stay safe, keep wallets and purses close to your body and consider wallets that block radio-frequency identification (RFID) skimming, says Marijus Briedis, chief technology officer at security and privacy solution firm NordVPN.

Bottom line

Thanks to attending Money 20/20 and conducting follow-up research and interviews, I learned about how banks utilize artificial intelligence in real time to help prevent fraud. It was also reassuring to hear the story of a large regional bank that empowers its branch personnel to step in and counsel customers when they suspect fraud.

One thing I learned in researching this article, however, is that theres a good deal of work ahead of banks when it comes to sharing information with each other to help prevent fraud  which is an initiative thats likely to be hindered right now by regulations that could impede banks ability to innovate.

As a consumer, in addition to paying attention to emails and alerts from your bank regarding fraud, you can be proactive about banking safely by choosing strong passwords and watching your bank account activity closely.


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Earlier this summer, I flew from my home in Portland, Oregon to Dallas and back in the same day to pick up my new puppy, a 16-week-old American Hairless Terrier.

Courtesy Sassafras Patterdale

As a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) and Certified Fear Free Professional, I put a lot of plans into place to make sure the flight would be as successful as possible with my new puppy. I flew to Texas, spent the afternoon bonding, then headed to the airport to fly home.

Rule one of flying with a dog: Don't just show up at the airport with your dog! Beyond that, simply knowing an airline's rules and regulations and following a few best practices will make travel with your pup a snap. If youre going to be flying with a dog or puppy, I recommend booking a direct flight whenever possible. This will minimize the amount of time you and your dog must spend in airports.

Getting ready for a trip? Here are answers to some common questions about flying with dogs, as well as some of my top training tips and strategies for supporting your dog while in the air and at the airport.

What are the rules for flying with dogs?

Always check your airline for specific requirements  each airline has slightly different rules for the size of carrier allowed, the age dogs must be to fly and other specifications and paperwork.



Generally, puppies must be older than 8-10 weeks for domestic flights. Airlines often charge a fee (generally $100-$125) for flying with dogs under the seat. Some airlines require dogs to have received health clearance from a veterinarian before flying. Others, like American Airlines (the airline I used for my trip to Dallas), do not require health certificates for domestic flights.

Many airlines dont allow brachycephalic breeds or flat-faced breeds, including French Bulldogs and pugs, to fly in the cabin (or cargo).

Can dogs fly in the cabin?

Most airlines do allow small dog breeds and puppies to travel under the seat in a carrier in the main cabin. You will need to purchase an add-on to your ticket to fly with your dog, so check with the airline beforehand to ensure there is room for a pet on your flight.

gchutka

In most cases, large dog breeds will have to travel in cargo. However, there are now some specialized airline options like Bark Air catering to dog guardians and dogs of all sizes, serving limited destinations. Service dogs are permitted to fly on all airplanes while they are working, however, they must be task-trained to assist a person with a disability. Do not ever try to pass your pet dog off as a service dog  it's unethical and illegal.

Can I fly internationally with my dog?

Yes! But be sure to check dog travel requirements for all countries youll be visiting. Since August 1, 2024, there have been new steps implemented for bringing dogs into the United States, and young puppies can no longer be brought into the country. If you're traveling from a country considered low risk for rabies, like Canada, the puppy has to be at least six months old, have a Centers of Disease Control (CDC) Dog Import Form and be microchipped. Dogs entering/returning to the United States from or having visited counties considered high-risk for rabies have additional health screening requirements to be permitted to enter the country.

What to pack

Your dogs carrier will count as one of your two carry-on items. This is my list of items I recommend bringing when flying with a dog:

Health certificate (if required by your airline)

Copies of vet records.

Treats

Chew

Poop bags

Pet wipes

Pee pads

Toy

Leash (6 foot, no retractable leashes)

Harness

Collar and updated tags

Collapsible water bowl

Food for the day of travel and your trip

Any daily medication that your dog takes

What to expect

When flying with a dog, you wont be able to check in for your flight in advance  you'll have to check in at the ticket counter at the airport  so plan to get there a little earlier than usual. An attendant at the ticket counter will request the documentation that the airline requires and confirm that your dog's carrier is the appropriate size.

At security, your dog will need to come out of the carrier. (Ive never had such a fun experience going through TSA screening as I did while holding my new puppy!) Most airports have pet relief areas where dogs can potty before the flight. Then, get your dog settled into their carrier with toys and chews. Regardless of how cute or well-behaved your dog is, they must stay in their carrier for the duration of the flight.

How to prepare your dog to fly

If you know that youre going to be flying with your dog, there are things you can do to help make the travel day less stressful.

Get a carrier before the trip.

Buy your dog an appropriately sized carrier. Set it out in your home and let your dog explore and get comfortable with it. To help your dog build positive associations with the carrier, give your dog special chews or even a few meals in the carrier.

Get your dog used to public transit.

If your city allows small dogs in carriers on public transportation, bring your dog on the bus, subway, or train in their carrier. You can also transport your dog in the car in their carrier to get them used to the sensation of being in motion while in the carrier.

Bring chews on travel day.

Having something to chew on will help make pressure changes during takeoff and landing more comfortable.

Get some exercise.

On the day of your flight, try to get your dog out for a good walk before heading to the airport. My puppy Rodeo and I went on a long walk with her breeder and littermates before our flight. She then had a chew and treat-filled toy in her carrier and was quiet for the flight from Dallas to Portland.

How to make flying easier

If you are going to fly frequently with your dog, an advanced training skill that can make your flight better is to teach your dog to potty on cue. This will allow you to take your dog to the bathroom in the pet relief area before your flight or during a layover.

CRobertson

To start teaching your dog to go on cue, say the cue you want like potty anytime your dog potties outside, and give your dog a treat. Soon your dog will make the association that when you use that verbal cue they should potty. With practice, youll be able to ask your dog to potty anywhere, even the pet relief area of an airport. Although flying can be stressful, with some planning and preparation you can help the travel days go smoothly for your dog.

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PEOPLE spoke with the author at the New York Celebration of Reading on Nov. 20

Courtesy of Kirsten Miller Kirsten Miller

Author Kirsten Miller's work feels more timely now than ever.



Speaking with PEOPLE at the New York Celebration of Reading on Nov. 20, Miller, who published her latest novel Lula Deans Little Library of Banned Books in June, noted that the books subject matter is on many peoples minds right now.



We knew book banning was happening long before it became a national topic of discussion, Miller said. I have good friends whose books have been banned for reasons that I, at the time, still continue to find rather ridiculous  it was just sort of a crisis that we saw unfolding in slow motion.



Lula Deans Little Library of Banned Books is a satirical novel set in a small Georgia town that follows the title character who, intent on removing books she doesn't see fit from libraries, sets up her own library in front of her home. But then someone in town begins replacing Lulas books with banned titles, including classics, LGBTQ+ romances and more  sliding the forbidden material into Lula's original books' jackets, effectively tricking people into reading banned books.

William Morrow 'Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books' by Kirsten Miller

Miller recently spent time traveling the country, talking with librarians, teachers and booksellers, as book bans skyrocket nationwide. A recent PEN America report found that there were over 10,000 recorded instances of book bans during the 2023-2024 school year, a 200 percent surge over the previous year.



Im from the South, and a lot of people assume that its a southern problem, Miller said. You talk to librarians in Massachusetts or Wisconsin or even Connecticut and they will tell you that the same thing is happening in their schools and in their public libraries and even in their bookstores.

Related: In New Memoir, Librarian Amanda Jones Recounts Her Fight Against Book Bans: 'I'm Going to Keep Going' (Exclusive)

Miller, who got her start as a childrens author, also noted how fiction can offer a way to discuss hard topics with readers.



One of the things that I've been trying to do is to take up very, very serious issues, whether it's violence against women in my first book, The Change, or whether it is book banning in Lula Dean, and really try to reel people into these very, very serious topics with humor and with an entertaining story, the author explained.

Amazon 'The Change' by Kirsten Miller

Because I think, right now, people are very hesitant. They do not want to be lectured, the author added. They do not want to be browbeaten. And I think the effect of that is that we've ended up not having discussions that we really need to have.

Related: Why Rebecca Yarros Is Anti-Book Ban: Im Not a Librarian (Exclusive)

Miller also had some advice for those who may be looking for ways to combat book banning.



Find a posse [and] surround yourself with people who feel the same way, Miller advised. One of the things that I've seen over and over again in the cities and towns that I visit, people that are fighting to keep books on the shelves often feel very isolated and very alone  find your people and fight for what you think is right.

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.



Miller was a featured author at the New York Celebration of Reading event, hosted by the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy. Founded by the former first lady in 1989, the foundation aims to expand literacy services for adults and families nationwide, per their website; an issue that Miller also stands behind.



It is something that's having an effect on the industry, Miller said. It's having an effect on teachers that we deal with and librarians that we deal with. And this is a subject that's always been very near and dear to my heart."


TALLINN, Estonia (AP)  Belarus has granted asylum to a former Polish judge who faced espionage charges at home following his defection in May to the Kremlin-allied country.

A decree published Friday by Alexander Lukashenko, Belarus autocratic president, described Tomasz Szmydt as being prosecuted for political reasons in Poland. The country is an EU and NATO member that has lent vocal support to Ukraine in its war against Russian aggression.

Szmydts defection to Belarus in May trained the focus on Poland as a key target for Russian intelligence activity and ignited a bitter political row over the circumstances of his rapid ascent through the ranks of the Polish justice system.

Polands prosecutors and special services launched an investigation the same month after Belarus media reported that Szmydt arrived in the country and asked for protection. Warsaw responded days later by putting Szmydt on a wanted list, a step toward an international arrest warrant on spying allegations that would restrict his ability to travel internationally.

Polish officials have been working to determine how harmful Szmydts knowledge of any classified information might be to the interests of Warsaw and its Western allies. Polands Prime Minister Donald Tusk has publicly called him a traitor.

Szmydt fled to Belarus after resigning from his post as a judge at the Warsaw Administrative Court, saying in a public statement that he was doing so in protest against Polands harmful and unjust policy toward Belarus and Russia. A short time later, he appeared at a press conference in Belarus, praising Lukashenkos regime and presenting himself as a victim of repression.

A Polish court later that month lifted Szmydts immunity, allowing him to be tried in absentia for spying allegations that he has denied.

Szmydt was notorious in Poland for having engaged in a 2019 online smear campaign against other judges that was sponsored by the Justice Ministry under the previous right-wing government. Three years later, he appeared to switch sides, appearing in a TV documentary to expose what he said was unethical behavior by judges close to the ruling party.

Szmydts defection came as a shock in Poland, which has a history of distrust of Russia.

Belarus has been one of the Kremlins few close allies since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Lukashenko has relied on Moscow's subsidies and support. In return, he has allowed Moscow to use Belarusian territory to send troops and weapons into the neighboring state, and to deploy tactical nuclear weapons on Belarusian soil.

Authorities in Minsk have been ratcheting up repressive measures ahead of a presidential election in January in which the strongman leader is seeking a seventh term, including by arresting hundreds of people who have shown solidarity with Kyiv.

Authorities responded to massive protests following the widely disputed 2020 election of Lukashenko with a wide-ranging crackdown in which about 65,000 people were arrested. Major opposition figures were either imprisoned or fled the country, and human rights activists say Belarus is holding about 1,300 political prisoners.
By Nia Williams

(Reuters) -Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Saturday condemned violence and antisemitism at anti-NATO and pro-Palestinian protests in downtown Montreal on Friday night, where NATO delegates have gathered for the alliance's annual assembly.

Around 300 delegates from NATO members and partner states are meeting in Montreal from Nov. 22-25.

Local media reported that protesters burned an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and lit smoke bombs.

Two separate protest groups merged into a march, and some protesters started throwing smoke bombs and metal objects at officers policing the demonstration, Montreal police said.

Police used tear gas and batons to disperse the crowd and three people were arrested for assaulting officers and obstructing police work. Protesters set two cars on fire and smashed windows as the march was dispersed around 7 pm ET, police said.

Videos and pictures posted to social media showed masked rioters burning flares and battering storefront windows.

"What we saw on the streets of Montreal last night was appalling. Acts of antisemitism, intimidation, and violence must be condemned wherever we see them," Trudeau said in a post on social media website X.

Pro-Palestinian protests have been taking place across Canada since the Israel-Gaza war started late last year.

Israel's 13-month campaign in Gaza has killed more than 44,000 people and displaced nearly all the enclave's population at least once, according to Gaza officials.

The war was launched in response to an attack by Hamas-led fighters who killed 1,200 people and captured more than 250 hostages in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, Israel has said.

(Reporting by Nia Williams in British Columbia; Editing by David Gregorio and Chizu Nomiyama )
PHILADELPHIA  How busy could a typewriter shop be in 2024, when software codes write themselves, when the siren song of artificial intelligence beckons to help us concoct better emails and explainers, not to mention (gulp) news?

Pretty busy, it turns out, if that shop is Philly Typewriter.

And the millennials hunched over desk lamps, tiny tools and polishing cloths in hand, aren't the only ones enraptured by the clack-clack-clack of these old machines. Poets, artists, writers, even high school students are putting words to paper and finding pleasure in the sounds of fingers on keys, the brrring! of the return wheel.

"Typewriters never really went away," said Bill Rhoda, co-owner and lead mechanic at Philly Typewriter. Police departments, courts, those who record birth and death certificates, title companies  many of them still use typewriters, Rhoda said. "We went away, the mechanics. The typewriters are still out there."

Rhoda, 35, had a background in higher education but was feeling burned out when he found an old typewriter at his mom's house. It had no ribbon, though, so he searched online and found Bryan Kravitz, who specialized in IBM Selectric repairs. Rhoda wanted to learn, too. Kravitz was happy to teach him.

"I just put my head down, and learned how to do it," Rhoda said, and he partnered with Kravitz to open Philly Typewriter in 2017.

Their neighbors in South Philadelphia were a bit bemused when the first brick and mortar opened, Rhoda said. People thought it might be a pop-up, but what started "as a plastic table and a red umbrella" has become more than a store.

It's a community, where like-minded people come to learn, read, write, create art and find others who are just their type. And it's not the only community built around these old machines.

Ryan Anderson works on a typewriter at Philly Typewriter. The shop offers restorations, sales and repairs, but it also has classes for the public to learn typewriter repairs and hosts community events

'An enchantment and a romance' with typewriters

In Midland, Pennsylvania, Fred Durbin's students at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School are writing like many of the 20th century's greatest minds: on typewriters.

Guided by "The Typewriter Revolution," a book by Richard Polt that Durbin described as "walking a line between writing and philosophy," students use typewriters from Durbin's personal collection.

First, though, Durbin, who's also a novelist, had to teach the students about typewriters: how to store them, carry them ("They're luggable, but not portable," he said) from one classroom to another, how to load paper into the rollers and to use the keys.

Ravenna Rodgers, a student in Fred Durbin's class at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School in Midland, Pennsylvania, looks over her typewritten story.

"We use them to connect with younger people who are so lost on their screens, who are used to seeing everything instantly," he said. His approach is to get students to think of themselves as artists, "using our senses and focusing on one thing at a time." A typewriter, he said, demands one's full attention, unlike a computer where other tabs tempt the easily distracted.

"I emphasize that it's OK for a rough draft to be rough. It makes them think more with their heads than their fingers. You have to think more carefully.

"At first there was an enchantment and a romance with it," Durbin said. "But it's also been challenging. They're not used to working this way at all, and there was a certain resistance we had to overcome."

That resistance, he said, has dissipated. About 20 students, mostly juniors and seniors, will work on typewritten projects for the semester, meet with authors (Polt will talk to the class via Zoom later this month). And some have even sought out their own typewriters at thrift stores and flea markets.

Fred Durbin adjusts a sticky key during his class at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School. Durbin is teaching his creative writing students to slow down and think more about their work by using typewriters.

Tom Hanks and Taylor Swift: Just their type

Philly Typewriter grew quickly, Rhoda said, thanks to the South Philadelphia community, where independently owned shops and restaurants proliferate among world-famous destinations such as the Italian Market (where Rocky Balboa went for a run) and Pat's and Geno's, touristy cheesesteak shops.

A pair of celebrities helped, one directly and one indirectly, he added: Actor and typewriter enthusiast Tom Hanks donated a rare typewriter to the shop in 2023. And then there's "the Taylor Swift effect," Rhoda added, alluding to the pop megastar's typewriter reference on the title song of her album, "Tortured Poets Department."

The shop repairs, maintains and sells mostly manual typewriters, returning them to "as close to factory new as possible," Rhoda said. There's a typewriter "graveyard" in the basement with machines beyond repair that are used for parts; cabinets stocked with components and manuals; even machines and schematics to make hard- or impossible-to-find pieces on-site.

Bill Rhoda stands behind the counter at Philly Typewriter. Signs behind him read, "For better mental health, use a typewriter," and "These will never be made again."

But it's the community Philly Typewriter has fostered that's helped it gain customers and fans across the country and the world.

The store offers maintenance and repair lessons to the public (including Philadelphia school students). The shop hosts poetry nights, open mics, comedy shows and other events. It even offers typewriters to public places such as bookstores, libraries and coffee shops to bring the machines back into the collective consciousness.

"I work with the most amazing people in the world," said Rhoda, referencing not just his co-workers at Philly Typewriter but also the clients, authors, writers and artists he's come to know through the Remingtons, Olympias, Smith Coronas and Underwoods he touches each day.

"They're all brilliant, but also kind," he said. "And the things they've written on typewriters are kind. Typewriters themselves are works of kindness."

The basement at Philly Typewriter serves as a repository for parts, a "graveyard" for typewriters that are beyond repair and a place where they can make some of the smaller parts they need to restore vintage typewriters.

Letters to the president; warnings about censorship

Sheryl Oring, who lived in Berlin in the years after the fall of the Soviet Bloc, says typewriters make her a better writer  even as she spends time transcribing what other people think.

Dividing her time between Philadelphia and Greensboro, North Carolina, Oring first fell for typewriters when she kept seeing them as newly free East Germans started clearing out their old possessions. Inspired by the discarded typewriters and the ubiquitous construction materials she saw all over Berlin, she created "Writer's Block," an art installation with rebar-caged writing implements placed in Bebelplatz, where in 1933 Nazis burned piles of books.

It was a warning against censorship, one that's traveled to other cities including New York and Boston. She's now working with the National Coalition Against Censorship to add the installation to libraries around the U.S.

Sheryl Oring's "I Wish to Say" is a way for the public to dictate a postcard to the U.S. president. Oring types the messages verbatim on a manual typewriter, as she is here in Philadelphia at a February performance.

But "Writer's Block" isn't Oring's only typewriter-related work.

Since 2004, Oring has invited voters to write letters to presidential candidates. Dressed as a 1960s secretary, she takes dictated advice and appeals to the person who will take the highest office in the land.

This year, she set herself and a vintage typewriter up outside the Free Library of Philadelphia on Election Day, listening to voters in a crucial battleground state.

Using a typewriter "makes me think more clearly about what I want to say before I can put it down on paper," said Oring, who's typed out more than 4,300 postcards as part of "I Wish To Say," with the originals sent to the White House.

"Theres the sound, which is really beautiful," she said. "The feel of the keys. I think of it as a sensual object, in that touches all these different senses. That doesnt feel the same on a computer."

She believes typewriters still have a place in our increasingly digital, AI-infused world.

"You know who wrote the letter, you know the background," she said. "The connections we have to the human aspect (of creativity) is becoming more and more removed, but when you type, you see evidence of a human being in the small mistakes. I don't see that as a negative; I see it as the beauty of the human touch."

There's an aspect of fun, too, and typing a letter can bring joy not just to the writer, but also to the recipient, she said.

Sheryl Oring created "Writers Block" in 1999 in Berlin, Germany, at Bebelplatz, site of the Nazi book burning of 1933. The artist collected hundreds of typewriters from across Europe and "caged" them to highlight free expression and the dangers of censorship.

One woman she talked to in Philadelphia recalled her mother's promise to give her a typewriter after she completed a typing course. "She still has that type-written note from her mother," Oring said. "It's a way of preserving our personal histories. You don't keep emails. You don't keep texts."

Phaedra Trethan isn't sure where her old Smith Corona is, but she thought about it the whole time she reported and wrote this story. Maybe in her mom's attic? Reach her at ptrethan@usatoday.com, on Bluesky @byphaedra or on Threads @by_phaedra.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Clack to the future: Why typewriters are making a comeback
The Colorado funeral home owners that had nearly 200 decomposing bodies at their facility pleaded guilty on Friday, according to reports.

Jon Hallford and Carie Hallford, who owned Return to Nature Funeral Home, pleaded guilty to 190 counts of corpse abuse, the Colorado Gazette, CBS News, and multiple other news outlets reported.

Authorities began investigating the Hallfords in October 2023. The investigation began after residents and businesses in the Penrose area reported a foul odor near the funeral home. After obtaining a search warrant, the FBI, Colorado Bureau of Investigation, and local law enforcement discovered improperly stored human remains inside the building.

A further investigation revealed that about 190 bodies, which were in various states of decomposition, had been stored in the building, according to authorities.

"Some of the remains discovered had dates of death as far back as 2019," the U.S. Attorney's Office said in an October news release. "As part of their fraud scheme, the Hallfords misled customers of the funeral home into believing that the remains of their loved ones would be buried or cremated per their wishes and the terms of the parties contracts."

News: 18 decomposing bodies found at Georgia funeral home; owner charged with corpse abuse

Colorado funeral home owners accused of defrauding grieving families

The family-owned and operated funeral home advertised that they performed "green" natural burials without embalming chemicals or metal caskets. Prosecutors said the Hallfords defrauded families across the country by "not providing a cremation or burial for the deceased as promised."

According to prosecutors, the Hallfords allegedly gave families dry concrete instead of ashes, collected more than $130,000 from families for cremations and burials they never performed. In addition, the Hallfords allegedly buried the wrong body on at least two occasions.

After authorities discovered the bodies, investigators said Jon Hallford falsely attributed the odor to his taxidermy hobby. The Environmental Protection Agency later concluded that the building was too full of "biohazards" and began demolition earlier this year.

The couple was arrested in November 2023 after fleeing to Oklahoma to avoid prosecution. Affidavits at the time revealed that the Hallfords each faced 249 charges connected to the investigation.

In April, the Hallfords were accused of fraudulently obtaining pandemic funds on behalf of their business, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Prosecutors said the couple received $882,300 by "misrepresenting the fact that Jon Hallford owed back child support and by claiming that their business was not engaged in criminal activity at the time they applied for COVID-19 relief funds."

The duo was also accused of misapplying the relief funds for personal purposes instead of using them for their business operations, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Funeral home owners face up to 20 years in prison

Last month, the United States Attorneys Office for the District of Colorado announced that the Hallfords pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

As part of their plea agreements, prosecutors said the Hallfords also admitted to conspiring to defraud the U.S. Small Business Administration of more than $880,000 in pandemic relief funds.

The Colorado couple faces up to 20 years in federal prison for the fraud charges, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. The duo was initially indicted on 13 counts of wire fraud and two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which will be dismissed under their plea agreements.

The Hallfords sentencing hearing is set for early 2025, court documents show.

USA TODAY reached out to Colorados Office of the District Attorney for the Fourth Judicial District Attorney Michael Allen for comment.

Ahjane Forbes is a reporter on the National Trending Team at USA TODAY. Ahjane covers breaking news, car recalls, crime, food recalls, health, lottery, and public policy stories. Email her at aforbes@gannett.com. Follow her on Instagram, Threads, and X (Twitter) @forbesfineest.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jon and Carie Hallford plead guilty to corpse abuse charges: Reports
Can your dog eat turkey? Here's which Thanksgiving foods are safe for dogs

Thanksgiving Day brings with it a delicious spread of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and pies, but how much of it is safe for your dog?

"Health risks vary depending on the dogs size and breed, as well as what they ate and specifically how much of it," Dr. Danielle Bernal, a global veterinarian with Wellness Pet Company tells USA TODAY. "If a pet parent is ever concerned that their pet has eaten something that could be dangerous or is displaying abnormal behavior, they should contact their veterinarian immediately."

Dr. Bernal also advises establishing "establish ground rules with your guests," and being open "about whether or not you want to feed your dog any human food, where pets are allowed inside or outside, what to do when trash begins to overflow and how to treat pets who may experience anxiety with guests."

Here is a list of typical Thanksgiving foods that are suitable for your dogs and a list of foods to avoid.

Can my dog eat that? A guide to fruits and vegetables safe for canine consumption.

Thanksgiving meal

Turkey

Plain, boneless, and skinless turkey is generally safe for dogs to eat, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and Dr. Bernal says the meat is "a protein supporting muscle health and a lean body condition."

However, stuffings, seasonings, skin and bones are a hard no for your canine friends and can create digestive issues for them.

"For pets, prepared high calorie and fatty foods, such as the skin from a roast turkey, gravies, and sides with extra butter, creams and oils can trigger acute digestive upsets, vomiting, bloating and diarrhea or even painful and dangerous pancreatitis," Dr. Bernal warns.

Dr. Bernal explains that "turkey bones are known to splinter easily," and "chewing on those could increase a risk of choking and intestinal punctures" in dogs.

"This would require an emergency trip to the vet, which we all hope to avoid," Dr. Bernal says.

Thanksgiving turkey

Fruits and vegetables

Sliced raw carrots, apples and cranberries are suitable options for your dogs, according to Dr. Bernal. While carrots are low in calories and protect against cataracts and heart disease, pectin in apples supports the digestive system. Similarly, cranberries are rich in antioxidants and Vitamins A, B1, B2, and C, which help support urinary health and help prevent UTIs and bacterial growth.

In vegetables, steamed sweet potatoes, butternut squash, green beans, and peas are great options for dogs. Sweet potatoes are rich in vitamins A, B6, C and calcium and "support fiber and digestion in dogs," Dr. Bernal explains.

Desserts

While canned 100% pumpkin puree and unsweetened applesauce "delivering a healthy source of fiber" are popular dessert options for dogs, according to Dr. Bernal, pumpkin pies and prepared desserts are not suitable and should be kept away from them.

"Pumpkin pie can contain ingredients that are toxic to animals," AVMA says, explaining that "uncooked, yeast-based bread dough can cause problems for pets, including painful gas and potentially dangerous bloating."

Foods to keep away from your dogs

A table full of Thanksgiving favorites.

Chocolates: Like humans, dog crave chocolate, but chocolate can be immensely harmful for pets, AVMA says. "Caffeine and theobromine in chocolate and cocoa powder are highly toxic due to their ability to increase heart rate, blood pressure, agitation, tremors and seizures or even potentially lead to death," Dr. Bernal says.

Xylitol : The artificial sweetener commonly used in gum and sugar-free baked goods can be deadly for both dogs and cats, as per AVMA.

Seasonings and spices: Use of onion and garlic "can be harmful to pets as they contain compounds that can damage red blood cells resulting in lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, pale gums, and red or brown urine," Dr. Bernal says.

Processed foods and added ingredients : Butter, brown sugar, marshmallows and syrup are not suitable for dogs and can create digestive issues.

Nutmeg: When consumed in large amounts, nutmeg can be toxic due to the hallucinogenic compound myristicin.

Grapes and raisins: These are also toxic to dogs.

Human food for dogs: Here's what is and isn't safe for your pet to eat.

Dog-friendly Thanksgiving recipes

Though dogs can get a few treats from the Thanksgiving table, Dr. Bernal recommends limiting the "extras" to only 10% of your dog's daily nutrition and feeding them before dinner begins to "help decrease their interest in what youre eating."

"This will let them enjoy the delicious tastes for mealtime variety but keep them healthy and their nutrition balanced," Dr. Bernal says.

That doesn't mean dog owners have to limit their furry friends' celebrations. Dr. Bernal recommends creating a "pet-friendly barkcuterie board" that will make your pooch feel included while keeping them safe.

"You can add all the safe Thanksgiving foods that are good for your dog (like sliced apples and carrots) plus some healthy dog treats, such as Wellness Old Mother Hubbard treats or options that incorporate typical Thanksgiving ingredients," Dr Bernal says. "Adding some fresh boneless and skinless turkey, pureed pumpkin or baked vegetables to your dogs dry kibble or preferred main meal is a great way of using those delicious leftovers as a festive topper that elevates their mealtime."

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.

This story has been updated with new information.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Can your dog eat turkey, other Thanksgiving foods? Here's what to know
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."

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.

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.

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.

"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."

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Follow these pro tips to keep your cookies, cakes, pies, and breads fresh for longer.

Anna Efetova / Getty Images

The holiday season is firmly upon us, which means you've likely got plenty of parties to attend on your upcoming social calendar. And with those events come a whole lot of baked goods, whether you're making them, swapping them, or receiving them as a gift. And those holiday baked goods sure are tasty, so you should try your best to extend the life of those cookies, cakes, and all that fruit bread for as long as possible. But how? We asked a few experts for their advice on how to extend the life of all your delicious baked goods.

First, consider the type of baked goods

As Keiry Palma, chef-instructor of Pastry & Baking Arts at the Institute of Culinary Educations New York City campus, explains, it all depends on the type of baked goods. For cakes and cupcakes, Palma shared that for optimal flavor, these should be consumed within two to three days. However, "If your product does not contain dairy, store cakes and cupcakes at room temperature in an air-tight container to maintain their consistency."

As for cookies, brownies, and bars, those stay fresh a little longer, about two days to a week, according to Palma. (Though she recommends eating them within the first two days, and really, that sounds correct.) And, as pastry chef Adriano Zumbo added, "If it's a croissant or bread, they will change over a few days, so they're best eaten fresh."

Related: How to Store Flour, Sugar, and Other Baking Ingredients So They Last

So, should you refrigerate baked goods?

Palma noted, you should refrigerate cakes and cookies "to ensure food safety and optimal quality" if they have dairy-based fillings or frostings. "This includes popular choices like whipped cream, buttercream, and cream cheese frosting. Storing these cakes in an air-tight container in the refrigerator can significantly reduce the risk of foodborne illness caused by harmful bacteria." While refrigeration may slightly alter the texture of the cake, Palma said, it's a necessary step "to prioritize safety and freshness, especially when dealing with perishable ingredients."

Eunji Lee, one of Food & Wines Best New Chefs in 2023 and the founder of Patisserie Lysee, echoed this statement, noting that it indeed can also depend on the products you're refrigerating and if they contain elements like ganache or whipped cream. But added, "based on dairy or not, in general, it is better to not refrigerate," Lee said. "If you want to refrigerate for a longer shelf life, it might be better to enjoy it at room temperature."

How about freezing baked goods?

Again, it can depend on the type of baked goods. Or Amsalam, the founder of Lodge Bread, shared that for bread specifically, "freezing is the best way to preserve freshness." But you should do so in a very precise way. "I recommend slicing the loaf, placing it in a large zip-top bag, and freezing it," Amsalam shared. "This way, you can easily take out a slice at a time and warm it up as needed."

Palma added that freezing is a good way to preserve baked goods for long-term storage but also recommended wrapping each piece individually. "For longer storage, wrap individual cookies in plastic wrap or parchment paper, place them in an air-tight container, and freeze them for up to three months. Freezing is a great way to extend the shelf life of baked goods. By tightly wrapping baked goods in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, followed by an air-tight container or freezer bag, you can significantly extend their shelf life."

The only caveat here would be cream pies, which Palma noted "do not freeze well."

Related: Buying One of These Will Ensure Your Butter Says Fresh for Way Longer, and They Start at $12

So, should you always wrap baked goods?

"Baked goods tend to stale and deteriorate from direct contact with air and humidity, depending on weather and your home room conditions. This can vary greatly for everyone, so keeping things wrapped and in proper containers will help maintain texture and shelf life just that little bit longer," Zumbo said.



However, it's important to note that plastic wrap isn't ideal for long-term storage. "The tight seal can trap moisture, leading to sweating and potential sogginess," Palma explained. "When frozen, this excess moisture can contribute to freezer burn." And while it may look cute, Palma also noted that she does not recommend storing items in cloth, as the fibers can hold bacteria and moisture, "which create the perfect breeding conditions for mold and other harmful pathogens that may cause illnesses."

How can I bring baked goods back to life?

If you're looking to bring loaf cakes back to life to enjoy your next slice, Amsalam says you first need to let it defrost at room temperature, which keeps the texture and quality intact. "Once defrosted, it can be sliced or topped with frosting or buttercream as desired." As for cookie dough, Amsalam added, "you can make a large batch, bake what you need for the day, and then either refrigerate or freeze the rest in pre-shaped portions. This makes it easy to bake fresh cookies on demand."

Palma added that it's best to let all baked goods warm up before serving. "Thaw the baked goods gradually at room temperature or in the refrigerator. Rapid thawing can lead to uneven texture and reduced quality," she added. Then, you can reheat them in the oven to make them feel totally brand-new.


Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, of Monaco, drives the course during qualifying for the Formula One U.S. Grand Prix auto race, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

LAS VEGAS (AP)  Formula 1 is expected to approve grid expansion for an 11th team originally started by Michael Andretti as early as next week, The Associated Press has learned.

The team will be called Cadillac F1 and powered by Ferrari engines when it enters the sport in 2026. General Motors is expected to complete its own Cadillac power unit ahead of the 2028 season.

Multiple industry insiders spoke to the AP about the grid expansion on condition of anonymity because an announcement ahead of Saturday night's Las Vegas Grand Prix could potentially steal the spotlight from the showcase event on the F1 calendar.

The delayed decision to expand the grid for the Andretti-started entry is a reversal for F1, which initially denied the application despite approval from F1 sanctioning body FIA. The existing 10 teams, who have no voice in the matter, have largely opposed expansion because of the dilution in prize money and the billions of dollars they've already invested in the series.

The teams also contended that Andretti should buy a team rather than expanding the grid. No teams have marketed themselves for sale, however, and Andretti in 2020 already tried to close a deal that would have taken over the existing Sauber team.

The entire situation began to change when Andretti's father, 1978 F1 champion Mario Andretti, went to Washington, D.C., earlier this year to lobby for support for the Andretti Global effort. That launched a Department of Justice investigation into why Colorado-based Liberty Media, the commercial rights holder of F1, was denying the American team an entry.

The DOJ situation wasn't helped when Luca de Meo, the CEO of Renault, said in October he refused to sell the Alpine F1 team because it was such a prized company possession and he referred to F1 as a closed club that made it a very lucrative seller market.

The DOJ as part of the discovery phase of its investigation is also believed to have a copy of a WhatsApp group chat among team principals that could have damning statements against the Andretti bid.

The Las Vegas race marks the third and final stop this year for F1 in the United States, where the series has exploded in popularity over the last five years. The three U.S. stops  Miami; Austin, Texas; and Las Vegas  are more than any other country.

Another significant change to the acceptance was Michael Andretti's decision in September to take a smaller role within his namesake organization and turn over controlling interest to new team majority owners Dan Towriss and Mark Walter, the controlling owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Although the Andretti Global name is expected to remain in IndyCar, it will be dropped from the F1 team as Cadillac plans to make it a proper manufacturer-driven organization. F1 had always said from its initial denial of the Andretti application it would revisit the expansion request when General Motors was prepared to take on a larger role.

Mario Andretti will have an ambassador role with the F1 team, but Michael Andretti will be largely sidelined, AP has learned. Michael Andretti ran 13 F1 races in an abbreviated 1993 season and many believe F1's snub of his application was over lingering resentment toward the former driver.

He refused to move to Europe that year and commuted from the U.S. in which many believe was not a fully focused effort in F1. He was back racing in America the next year.

Another wrinkle to the more than three-year saga is the impending resignation of Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei, who was largely believed to be one of the biggest opponents of the Andretti entry. Maffei said last week he'd step down at the end of the year but has been in Las Vegas all weekend as the event is considered the showpiece of Liberty's portfolio.

Towriss and General Motors executives also have a large presence in Las Vegas this weekend but have declined to speak on the record because of the sensitivity of the situation. The GM executives are guests of the FIA, which has given GM its full support from president Mohammed Ben Sulayem since its plans were announced.

The FIA said at the time that Michael Andrettis application was the only one of seven applicants to meet all required criteria to expand F1s current grid.

The pushback came only from F1, Formula One Management and the majority of the 10 existing teams, most of whom openly wondered what additive Michael Andretti could bring to a series already booming in popularity and financial success globally.

In fact, F1's initial denial of the Andretti application read extremely personal in that F1 informed the Andretti family it did not believe it could field a competitive team; the Andretti name does not bring the value to the series that Michael Andretti believes it would; and that getting on the grid in the next two years would be a challenge Andretti has never before faced.

General Motors, on the other hand, is the top-selling manufacturer in the United States and its addition has always been welcomed by all current F1 participants. In fact, F1 at one point asked GM to find another team to partner with besides Andretti. GM refused.

There is only one American team on the current F1 grid  owned by California businessman Gene Haas  but it is not particularly competitive and does not field American drivers. Andretti's dream was to field a truly American team with American drivers.

Despite the denial of his application, Andretti continued work on both building a car, a race shop in England and has a job listings board of openings for the future team. He just won't have a role in its operations.

There's also confusion over how involved Andretti will remain with his namesake IndyCar team. IndyCar recently came to an agreement on charters for its participants and the final page of the agreement, a copy of which was obtained by AP, includes a disclosures page in which anyone with a controlling interest in the teams must be listed with what percentage of the organization they own.

The copy obtained by AP had the ownership stakes redacted, but an owner only had to be listed if they held more than 10%. Towriss signed the Andretti charter agreements.

___

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
The celebrity chef and cookbook author tells PEOPLE she's planning to spend the holiday in Japan this year  with encouragement from her 16-year-old daughter, Jade

Francis Specker/CBS/Getty Giada De Laurentiis

Giada De Laurentiis will be fulfilling a longtime travel goal this Turkey Day.

"I just decided yesterday that I am going to go nuts and go to Japan, which I've always wanted to for Thanksgiving, the celebrity chef, 54, told PEOPLE in October when discussing her upcoming cookbook, Super-Italian.

My family's like, 'What? You can't leave,' because I'm usually the cook at Thanksgiving, so I think they're freaking out a little bit, she said. But I am so excited.

The Food Network alums 16-year-old daughter, Jade, was on board with the plan, she added.

I've been talking about it for five years, De Laurentiis explained. I think Jade's like, 'Let's just do it so I can stop hearing about it.' Anyway, yes, we're going to go to Tokyo and Kyoto and do a little excursion in Japan.

I'm so thrilled, she said. I think it's going to be very inspirational for me."

Eric Charbonneau/Getty Giada De Laurentiis and daughter Jade

Related: Martha Stewart Is Leaving the U.S. for Thanksgiving with Her Grandkids: We Have Such an Itinerary (Exclusive)

The culinary star also opened up about her dynamic with her daughter, revealing that she doesnt consider her only child a mini me.

While Jade sings with her band and performs in musicals and plays, her proud mom said a talent for singing isnt a trait she passed down.

It's crazy because neither her father or I sing, the chef told PEOPLE of her ex-husband Todd Thompson. Nobody in my family sings. I mean, we all love music, but not like that. Maybe in the shower. I'm always speechless when it comes to Jade and her music, because she's able to write music.

Getty Tokyo

Related: Why Giada De Laurentiis Insists Her Daughter Jade, 16, 'Really Isn't' Her 'Mini Me' (Exclusive)

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Jade taught herself to play the keyboard during the pandemic, and is learning to play the guitar on her own, De Laurentiis said.

I don't have that gift, so I am just in such awe of her willingness and her openness at teaching herself these instruments that to me are just beyond, she said. I don't play the piano. I don't play any instrument. It's really sad. It wasn't something my parents highlighted, and I just never went for it.

De Laurentiis said shes truly impressed with Jades talent, and is looking forward to seeing what path the high school junior will pursue when she graduates.

She added, I'm really, really fascinated to watch her because she is nothing like me. I know everybody says, 'She's like a mini you,' but she really isn't.

Super Italian: More Than 110 Indulgent Recipes Using Italy's Healthiest Foods will be released on March 4, 2025, and is available for preorder now.


The holiday season is here and the Duchess of Sussex is preparing a Thanksgiving to remember with husband Prince Harry and their two children, five-year-old Archie and three-year-old Lilibet. On Friday, in a new interview with Marie Claire, Meghan Markle shared details of their upcoming family feast.

Were always making sure we have something fun to do, Meghan shared. Like any other family you spend time having a great meal and then what do you do? Play games, all the same stuff, someone brings a guitarfun.

She added, I love the holidays, explaining that every year it gets better as the kids gets older and appreciate the special traditions more.

At first, I think as a mom with children youre just enjoying having them there, but theyre not understanding everything thats happening yet, she said. But now were at the age where I just cant wait to see it through their lens every year.

The couple apparently keep their Thanksgivings low-key, but have been inviting more people every year.

I was thinking about, in the past few years of having Thanksgiving here, like many of us, I think you always make sure theres room at the table for your friends who dont have family, which is really key, she said, adding one year writer Gloria Steinem joined them in their Montecito home, where theyve been hosting dinners since 2020.

In 2021, Meghan was interviewed around the same season on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, telling host Ellen DeGeneres, I love to cook. Well be home and just sort of relax and settle in. Its our second Thanksgiving at home in California. Itll be nice, itll be really nice.

She continued, We moved here during [COVID-19] lockdown, exactly when things shut down, so weve just been able to spend a lot of time at home and creating our home. But I think its just the lifestyle and the weather is pretty great Were just happy.

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Israels new defense minister has said security forces would no longer apply administrative detention orders to Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank, and thus only Palestinian suspects can be held indefinitely without trial.

The changes in the controversial policy are the latest example of an emboldened Israeli far-right, and come in the shadow of the wars in Gaza and Lebanon, and the election of President-elect Donald Trump.

Israel Katz, a long-time ally of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was appointed defense minister earlier in November and announced the decision on Friday.

Israel Katz

In June, the number of Palestinians held in administrative detention was 3,340, more than double the number held before the Hamas terrorist attack on Oct. 7 2023, according to Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem. The Palestinian Prisoner Society said Saturday that over 11,800 Palestinians had been arrested since the current conflict began.

BTselem said 37 Israeli citizens and foreign nationals were also being held. It is unclear whether any Israelis have been released as a result of the policy change.

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized the decision to cancel administrative orders for Israelis on X, calling it dangerous and irresponsible.

But the announcement drew praise from Israel's ultranationalist National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on X, who called it a correction of an injustice of many years and justice for those who love the land.

Most governments view the West Bank, an area nominally administered by the Palestinian Authority and seen by Palestinians as integral to a future state, as illegally occupied by Israel.

In 2019, Trump abandoned the long-held U.S. position that West Bank settlements are illegal before it was restored by President Joe Biden. The U.S. has grown increasingly critical of some Jewish settlers in the area seized by Israel during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. Last week, the U.S. imposed sanctions on an Israeli settler group it accused of helping perpetrate violence in the area.

Annexation on the horizon?

Settler immunity from administrative detention coincides with heightened rhetoric from Israeli ministers calling for the West Bank to be annexed.

Earlier in November, Israels ultranationalist finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, said the time has come to annex parts of the area, and said he would seek Trump's support for the move.

Discussions on plans to annex parts of the West Bank were held between Israel and Washington during Trumps first term, and Smotrich said that he would push his government to engage with the incoming administration to gain support.

We will apply the sovereignty, together with our American friends, he said.

Meanwhile, Trumps pick for ambassador to Israel, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, said in a recent interview with Arutz Sheva network that there is no such thing as the West Bank, and that there is no occupation.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 733 Palestinians and 40 Israelis have been killed in the West Bank since Oct. 7. It also said there has been a sharp rise in settler attacks on Palestinians in the area during this time.

The U.N. said four Palestinian children have been killed every week in the West Bank on average since the current conflict began, a three-fold increase from the first nine months of 2023.

Some 1,200 people were killed during Hamas Oct. 7 attack, and 250 taken hostage. More than 44,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed by Israeli forces in the war in the war since then, according to local officials.

Israeli settlers have been galvanized by the wars in Gaza and Lebanon, and Trumps victory has only added an extra layer to their conviction, said Yossi Mekelberg, a senior consulting fellow with Chatham Houses Middle East and North Africa program.

The settlers think that this is their time, he told NBC News.

"They can dictate almost everything on this government, from expansion settlements, from a range of legislation. They are already looking for locations for settlements in Gaza, and they are even talking about South Lebanon.

"In their view, everything is coming together."

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin reaffirmed the U.S.' "ironclad commitment" to Israel's security in a phone call with Katz on Saturday.

Austin urged the government of Israel to continue to take steps to improve the "dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza," and emphasized the U.S. commitment to securing the release of all hostages, including U.S. citizens.
The ceremony was held two days before John's daughter Shannon is set to host her own event to honor her father

Ed White, Najee Ali, Aiden Romero From left: Najee Ali and K.C. Amos at John Amos' Celebration of Life on Nov. 21

Friends and family of John Amos are remembering his legacy.

Amos loved ones gathered for a celebration of life at Leimert Park in Los Angeles on Nov. 21, where they pay tribute to the late actor following his death in August. Hosted by community advocate Najee Ali and led by Pastor Robert Sausedo, attendees shared their memories of Amos with the community.

"For many young African-American boys who grew up as I did, John Amos was the father figure that we didn't have, Ali said in a press release for the ceremony. His role on Good Times portrayed him as a loving husband and father, who was a provider and protector for his family. The greatest honor of my life was meeting him in Leimert Park and telling him that I watched him on Good Times every week and wished I had grown up with a father like him."

During the service, actor Rodney Allen Ripply gave a speech about what Amos meant to him, honoring the Roots alum for his widespread impact.

I ain't going to take up much time, but I just want to say, God bless John, Ripply said as he got choked up. I know he's in heaven. He was a good man. I remember him all the way back to his one-man show, Halley's Comet. I remember that, and I remember going to see him do his one-man act, and I was like, this man  what for like, an hour and a half  I said, Man, how much content does this guy have in his hand? And I was like, Wow. He was an actor of actors, and I stand on his shoulders because of people like him, who's amazing.

Aiden Romero Front row (from left): Najee Ali (Community Activist), Robert Sausedo (President and Founder of Community Build, LLC), K.C. Amos (John's son), Maria Avila Dr. Eddie White (CEO of Storm Protection Services) and Dr. Cherilyn Lee (Holistic Healer) Back row (from left): Andre Parvenue, Rodney Allen Rippy (Actor/Producer) and Zollie Stevens (Professional Basketball Player/Real Estate Investor) at John Amos' Celebration of Life on Nov. 21

Rippy also recalled when he first met Amos while starting up his radio show. He said he was calling people to ask if they would be guests and he was introduced to Amos by his longtime rep during that process.

Through Belinda Foster, I was able to get in contact with John, Rippy shared. And John and [his son] K.C. came to my show, and I was able to interview John, and I was so honored because I grew up, you know, I was proud of the 70s and all of that, and I saw John, and John was my biggest interview on my show.

I was so honored to have John be there, he added.

Following the event, Amos son, K.C., offered thanks to everyone who contributed to the gathering, saying he was happy to see everyone uniting with me to celebrate my fathers life.

"We're honoring my father, John Amos, in L.A. with those he loved and especially with the community that he cherished and cared about. I'm carrying out my father's wishes, and there are more details coming soon as to the real truth," he shared in a statement, seemingly referring to the ongoing drama with his sister Shannon.

Shannon was not present at the service as she announced in an Instagram post on Oct. 23 that she planned a memorial and celebration of life for the Good Times star on Nov. 23 as a means of "sending my dads spirit home" and to "celebrate his extraordinary life and legacy."

Chris Tian also remembered Amos in a statement to PEOPLE, sharing, "I'd like to send my love and condolences to KC Amos, Belinda Foster, Eugene Brummet and everyone else effected [sic] by the loss of our John Amos who we cherished deeply. John was a real humanitarian as a father, actor, and dear friend. His legacy continues to inspire all of us."



Related: John Amos' Final Wish Was a Delay in Death Announcement to Avoid Daughter Turning It 'into a Circus,' Says Rep (Exclusive)

Ed White, Najee Ali, Aiden Romero From left: KC Amos and Rodney Allen Rippy (Celebrity Actor, Community Leader, Producer) at John Amos' Celebration of Life on Nov. 21

Amos died of congestive heart failure on Aug. 21 at 5:18 p.m. at a hospital in Inglewood, Calif. He was 84. No autopsy was performed and a death certificate obtained by PEOPLE showed that his remains, which appear to be in the possession of K.C., were cremated on Aug. 30.

K.C. announced his dads passing in a statement on Oct. 1.

It is with heartfelt sadness that I share with you that my father has transitioned, K.C. wrote in a statement to PEOPLE. He was a man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold and he was loved the world over."

Related: Martin Lawrence, Garcelle Beauvais and More Stars React to John Amos' Death: 'A True Legend' and 'Role Model'

He continued: "Many fans consider him their TV father. He lived a good life. His legacy will live on in his outstanding works in television and film as an actor.

"My father loved working as an actor throughout his entire life," he added. "Most recently in Suits LA playing himself and our documentary about his life journey as an actor, America's Dad. He was my dad, my best friend, and my hero. Thank you for your prayers and support at this time."

Ed White, Najee Ali, Aiden Romero From left: Kevin Faler (Private Investigator), Najee Ali (Community Advocate) and K.C. Amos (John Amos' Son)

Related: What Happens to John Amos Estate After Elder Abuse Claims? Legal Experts Explain (Exclusive)

Shannon and Amos goddaughter Amy Goudy later released their own statement claiming they found out about Amos death through the media. On Facebook, Shannon called out her brother for the mistreatment of their father in his final days, noting that his failure to notify them about the death was suspicious.

Shortly after the message made headlines, Foster, who was also named in Goudy's statement, refuted those claims in an exclusive statement shared with PEOPLE.

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"I represented John Amos for over 30 years as his publicist of record," Foster said. "The media knows this along with John's agencies of record. Over the years we grew close to one another to the point of a familial relationship. In the last few years, he often referred to me as his 'daughter.' This was not a fraud by John, K.C., or myself. He was like a father to me. I deeply mourn his passing."

"Shannon's claims that John was abused are false," Foster continued. "K.C., Eugene and I, along with numerous others cared for him. On several occasions when Shannon claimed that he was abused, law enforcement authorities sat with John and confirmed his well being."



PEOPLE previously reached out to a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department, who said there "are no updates or statements" in regards to reopening John's elder abuse case at this time.
Two side-by-side images of Bahia Emerald, one of right showing striking green characteristics.

An 836-pound cursed emerald worth nearly $1 billion will be returned to Brazil after 15 years under lock and key in Los Angeles.

The 180,000-carat Bahia Emerald was smuggled out of the South American country by two residents in 2001.

A legal battle over the stone ensued in 2014 as about 10 individuals, corporations and the Brazilian government fought over ownership.

On Thursday, a federal judge ruled in favor of a US Department of Justice motion to forfeit the gem to Brazil.

A massive, 836-pound emerald worth as much as $1 billion will be returned to Brazil, a US court ruled this week. AP

The Bahia Emerald is one of the largest emeralds  if not the largest emerald  ever discovered, according to Brazilian authorities. PRNewsFoto/Attorney Andrew Spielberger

The emerald was discovered in a beryl mine in 2001 and later smuggled out of the rainforest and to the US by mules  one of whom was reportedly attacked by a panther during the mission.

Once here, it reportedly survived flooding during Hurricane Katrina.

Idaho businessman Kit Morrison eventually bought the gem for $1.3 million, but reported it missing a few years later, according to reports.

Los Angeles County sheriffs investigators tracked it down to a Las Vegas vault, but since they could not figure out who owned the gem, they confiscated it.

The back-and-forth over the massive jewel led to rumors that it might be cursed.

Other crazy claims that have followed the stone include that it was involved in Brazilian Mafia plots and that it was part of a $197 million banking transaction with Bernie Madoff, The Post reported in 2015.

All the while, Brazilian officials argued it was a national treasure that belonged in a museum, according to the Washington Post. They called on their American counterparts to turn it over under a legal agreement between countries that allows for the exchange of evidence in criminal matters, since the gem was stolen.

Finally, US District Judge Reggie Walton said American gem speculators had stalled long enough.

The Court has concluded that the intervenors positions are insufficient to prohibit the return of the emerald to Brazil, Watson wrote in the ruling. The Court must therefore enforce the Brazilian forfeiture judgment of the Bahia Emerald.

Were very happy with the decision, federal prosecutor Boni de Moraes Soares told the Washington Post. Were closer than ever to bringing the Bahia emerald back to the Brazilian people.

The Bahia Emerald is one of the largest emeralds  if not the largest emerald  ever discovered, Brazilian authorities claimed in court documents.

Morrison, the former owner, told the outlet he doesnt have any feelings of defeat or loss.

When you are an investor and entrepreneur, you do everything you can to protect, preserve and improve the investment and opportunity, he said. However, you cannot control the things that are out of your control.

If no appeal is filed, the rock will be turned over to Brazil in a formal repatriation ceremony.
The actress spoke about her identity in an interview for her forthcoming film 'The Wedding Banquet'

Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock Kelly Marie Tran

Kelly Marie Tran has come out as queer in a new interview.

The 35-year-old Star Wars and Raya and the Last Dragon star opened up about her identity in conversation with Vanity Fair while discussing her forthcoming rom-com The Wedding Banquet.

I havent said this publicly yet, but Im a queer person, Tran said.

The thing that really excited me about it was I got to play a person that I felt like I knew," the actress added of her new film, a remake of Ang Lee's 1993 queer comedy of the same name. "I dont feel like Im acting at all in this movie. Im here doing this amazing movie with these amazing people. Ive never been in a queer space before. Ive never truly felt this accepted before.

Related: Kelly Marie Tran Says Racist, Sexist 'Star Wars' Bullying Felt Like an 'Embarrassingly Horrible Breakup'

Sean Mathis/Getty Kelly Marie Tran attends SXSW in Austin, Texas, on March 12, 2023

The Wedding Banquet  directed by Andrew Ahn  stars Tran as a woman named Angela who tries to have a baby through IVF with her girlfriend Lee, played by Lily Gladstone.

Her character then plots a fake traditional Korean wedding ceremony with a male friend to raise funds for IVF as he secures a green card, per Vanity Fair. The film also features performances from Bowen Yang and Han Gi-chan, with Joan Chen appearing as the mother of Tran's character.

I came out to my mom in a very specific experience, Tran told the outlet. The scenes that I have with Joan Chen in this movie are very similar to the experience that I had.

Ahn, 38, told Vanity Fair that, for the remake, he wanted to tell "a story that felt reflective of the community as Ive experienced it growing up."

The spirit is the same, and I think its even more queer," he said of the project.

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.

Karwai Tang/WireImage Kelly Marie Tran

Tran has previously addressed online harassment she faced after her work in the Star Wars franchise  including 2017's The Last Jedi and 2019's The Rise of Skywalker  after she became the first woman of color to lead a Star Wars film. Tran also notably starred as the first Southeast Asian Disney princess in 2021's Raya and the Last Dragon.

In 2021, she said in a Hollywood Reporter interview that "if someone doesn't understand me or my experience, it shouldn't be my place to have to internalize their misogyny or racism or all of the above."

"Maybe they just don't have the imagination to understand that there are different types of people living in the world," she added at the time.



Tran's role in The Wedding Banquet follows her performance in 2023's The Young Wife, as well as her work in Netflix's Sweet Tooth. Per Vanity Fair, The Wedding Banquet is set to premiere in theaters in the spring.
Dozens of people have been killed by Israeli strikes in Lebanon this weekend, including 29 who died after an attack flattened a multi-story residential building in central Beirut, according to Lebanese officials.

In the densely populated Basta area of the Lebanese capital, rescue workers were Saturday searching for survivors under the rubble after the attack featuring what the state-run National News Agency (NNA) said were bunker-busting bombs.

At least 66 people were injured in the strike, according to Lebanons Ministry of Health, while a Lebanese security source told CNN that no senior Hezbollah member was in the building leveled. The ministry revised the death toll from the attack upward Sunday, having previously reported that 20 people had died.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) did not issue an evacuation order for the area ahead of the strikes, and has not yet commented on the attack.

The strike, one of several in Beirut and across Lebanon Saturday, comes as Israel escalates its attacks on the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah despite ongoing ceasefire efforts.

In the southern suburbs of Beirut, Israel said it had struck Hezbollah targets Saturday morning after issuing evacuation orders covering several buildings to mitigate harm to civilians. NNA later reported a very strong airstrike in the area.

Outside the capital, Israeli strikes were also reported in the east and south of the country Saturday.

In eastern Lebanon, a strike on the town of Shmistar in the Baalbek-Hermel region killed at least 13 people, including four children, and wounded another 13, the countrys health ministry said. Strikes on other towns in the same region killed at least 11 people and wounded 32 others.

In the southern Lebanese city of Tyre, an Israeli strike that hit several buildings killed five people and wounded 19, the ministry said. NNA reported Saturday that one of its reporters was 50 meters away from a drone strike on a beach in Tyre.

CNN has reached out the Israel Defense Forces for comment on the strikes in the east and south.

Meanwhile, clashes between Israel and Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon are ongoing, with reports indicating heavy fighting near the town of Khiam, a strategically important location for Hezbollah. The Israeli military has not confirmed clashes in and around Khiam.

Hezbollah said it had carried out at least 30 attacks against Israel and its troops in Lebanon Saturday with drones, missiles, and rockets, saying its actions were  in defense of Lebanon and its people.

A photo geolocated by CNN show the aftermath of the Israeli strike. - From Social Media

A woman at the site of the Israeli strike in the Basta neighborhood of Beirut, Lebanon. - Adnan Abidi/Reuters

Saturdays attack in Basta marks the latest in a string of Israeli strikes on central Beirut in recent weeks, following the killing of a Hezbollah spokesperson in an airstrike last Sunday.

Most Israeli airstrikes have targeted the Lebanese militant groups stronghold in Beiruts southern suburbs since hostilities ramped up in recent months.

Over the past week, the Israeli air force has struck dozens of Hezbollah command centers, weapons storage facilities, and terrorist infrastructure, in Beiruts southern suburbs, the Israeli military said in a statement Saturday.

Israel launched a major offensive against Hezbollah in September, killing top commanders, carrying out waves of strikes and sending troops into southern Lebanon, with the stated goal of allowing displaced Israelis to return to areas of the north.

More than 3,000 people have been killed since then, with thousands of others injured, according to the countrys health ministry. More than a million Lebanese people have been displaced, the UNs refugee agency has said.

Earlier this week, United States envoy Amos Hochstein traveled to Beirut in what was seen as a sign of progress in ceasefire talks between Israel and Hezbollah. On Tuesday, Hochstein said that a truce between the two was within our grasp.

Hezbollahs leader Naim Qassem said Wednesday that the group was negotiating under the condition of Lebanese sovereignty, as well as the condition that the Israeli enemy has no right to violate, kill, or enter at will under any pretexts.

Israeli ministers have said that any agreement must include the preservation of an intelligence capability and the right of the Israeli military to act and protect the citizens of Israel from Hezbollah.

The Israeli military continues to operate in Gaza, where the health ministry said 120 people have been killed as a result of Israeli military operations over the past 48 hours.

A senior official with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said Saturday that the UN had tried to get into parts of northern Gaza for over a month.

Jonathan Whittall, head of OCHA in Palestinian territory, said Israeli forces have denied almost all requests. The result? People are under rubble without rescue. The sick and wounded cant reach hospitals. Safe water and food have run out. Lives are lost.

This story has been updated.

CNNs Tim Lister, Eyad Kourdi, Tamara Qiblawi and Dana Karni contributed to this article.

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The owners of a Colorado funeral home accused of piling 190 bodies inside a room-temperature building and giving the grieving relatives fake ashes pleaded guilty to corpse abuse.

The owners of a Colorado funeral home accused of piling 190 bodies inside a room-temperature building and giving the grieving relatives fake ashes pleaded guilty Friday to corpse abuse as aggrieved families looked on in court.

Jon and Carie Hallford, who own the Return to Nature Funeral Home, began storing bodies in a decrepit building near Colorado Springs as far back as 2019 and gave families dry concrete in place of cremated remains, according to the charges.

The grim discovery last year upended families grieving processes.

The owners of a Colorado funeral home accused of piling 190 bodies inside a room-temperature building and giving the grieving relatives fake ashes pleaded guilty to corpse abuse. AP

Over the years, the Hallfords spent extravagantly, prosecutors say.

They used customers money and nearly $900,000 in pandemic relief funds to buy laser body sculpting, fancy cars, trips to Las Vegas and Florida, $31,000 in cryptocurrency, and other luxury items, according to court records.

Last month, the Hallfords pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges in an agreement in which they acknowledged defrauding customers and the federal government.

The two have been charged with more than 200 charges of corpse abuse, theft, forgery, and money laundering in state court.

Jon and Carie Hallford, who own the Return to Nature Funeral Home, began storing bodies in a decrepit building near Colorado Springs as far back as 2019. AP

Jon Hallford is represented by the public defenders office, which does not comment on cases. Carie Hallfords attorney, Michael Stuzynski, declined to comment.

Over four years, customers of Return to Nature spread what they thought were their loves ones ashes in meaningful locations, sometimes a planes flight away.

Others carried their urns on cross-country road trips or held them tight at home.

The two have been charged with more than 200 charges of corpse abuse, theft, forgery, and money laundering in state court. Return to Nature Colorado

The bodies, which prosecutors say were improperly stored, were discovered last year when neighbors reported a stench coming from a building in the small town of Penrose, southwest of Colorado Springs.

Authorities found bodies stacked atop each other, some swarming with insects. Among them were remains too decayed for visual identification.

The building was so toxic that responders had to wear hazmat gear and could remain inside only for brief periods.

Authorities found bodies stacked atop each other, some swarming with insects, with some remains too decayed for visual identification. AP

The discovery of the bodies at Return to Nature prompted state legislators to strengthen what had been among the laxest funeral home regulations in the country.

Unlike most states, Colorado didnt require routine inspections of funeral homes or credentials for the businesses operators.

This year, lawmakers brought Colorados regulations up to par with most other states, largely with support from the funeral home industry.
The latest Cop29 draft deal on climate finance is thought to have been firmly rejected by developing countries as negotiators walked out of UN talks on the verge of collapse.

Negotiators from rich and poor nations were huddled in one room on Saturday as the talks to reach a deal on money for developing economies went into overtime, a day after the UN summit in Azerbaijan was scheduled to finish.

A group of negotiators from the Least Developed Countries (LDC) bloc and the Alliance of Small Island States walked out because they did not want to engage with the rough draft in Baku in a dramatic day that also saw protests echoing through the corridors.

[The] current deal is unacceptable for us. We need to speak to other developing countries and decide what to do, Evans Njewa, the chairman of the LDC group, said.

Asked if the walkout was a protest, Colombia environment minister Susana Mohamed told The Associated Press: I would call this dissatisfaction, [we are] highly dissatisfied.

Activists participate in a demonstration for climate finance at Cop29 on Saturday (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

The last official draft on Friday pledged $250billion annually by 2035, more than double the previous goal of $100billion set 15 years ago, but far short of the annual $1trillion-plus that experts say is needed and many hope for.

The proposal  which is supposed to be powered by developed nations to support vulnerable and developing countries and mitigate and adapt to the climate crisis  was denounced by vulnerable countries and campaigners as a joke and insult to the victims of climate disasters.

The rough draft discussed on Saturday was for $300billion, sources told the Associated Press. The intense wrangling between the 200 countries to set up the new collective quantified goal (NCQG) continues.

In the wee hours of Friday, negotiators were wrangling over every word of the text to be able to provide assurance to vulnerable nations of the delivery of the finance they need.

Developing countries have accused the richer nations of trying to get their way  and a small financial aid package  via a war of attrition.

Meanwhile, small island nations, particularly vulnerable to climate change's worsening effects, accused the host country presidency of ignoring them for the entire two weeks.

Panama chief negotiator Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez speaks to members of the media at the UN summit on Saturday (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Every minute that passes, we are going to just keep getting weaker and weaker and weaker. They don't have that issue. They have massive delegations," Panama chief negotiator Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez said, as he watched a delegation of about 20 people from the EU enter the room shortly after one of his own colleagues left.

This is what they always do. They break us at the last minute. You know, they push it and push it and push it until our negotiators leave. Until we're tired, until we're delusional from not eating, from not sleeping.

With ministers and delegations from developing nations having to catch flights home, desperation has set in, said Mohamed Adow of Power Shift Africa.

The fast-emptying corridors of Baku Stadium which were once filled with thousands of people walking around at pavillions and cafes, were just echoed by chants of activists on Saturday who demanded developing nations to reject the proposal.

John Podesta, the US climate envoy, was met with activists shouting shame as he walked out of a meeting.

The rich world has refused to honour their obligations, Mr Adow told the press outside.

Attendees walk into the venue for the Cop29 UN Climate Summit on Saturday in Baku, Azerbaijan (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

"The risk is if developing countries don't hold the line, they will likely be forced to compromise and accept a goal that doesn't add up to get the job done," he said.

Cedric Schuster, the Samoan chairman of the Alliance of Small Island States, issued a statement saying they "were not part of the discussion that gave rise to these imbalanced texts" and asked the Cop29 presidency to listen to them.

Wealthy nations are obligated to help vulnerable countries under an agreement reached at these talks in Paris in 2015.

Developing nations are seeking $1.3trillion to help adapt to droughts, floods, rising seas and extreme heat, pay for losses and damages caused by extreme weather, and transition their energy systems away from planet-warming fossil fuels and towards clean energy.

Mr Gomez said even the increased $300billion figure is "still crumbs". He asked: "How do you go from the request of $1.3trillion to $300billion? I mean, is that even half of what we put forth?"

On Saturday morning, Irish environment minister Eamon Ryan said there will likely be a new number for climate finance in the next draft, adding: "But it's not just that number  it's how do you get to $1.3trillion?"

An activist participates in a protest at the UN summit in Baku, Azerbaijan (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Mr Ryan said any number reached at the summit will have to be supplemented with other sources of finance, for example through a market for carbon emissions where polluters would pay to offset the carbon they produce.

Nations were also angry at potential backsliding on commitments to slash fossil fuels. German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock called out rich fossil fuel emitters who she said have "ripped off" climate vulnerable states.

"We are in the midst of a geopolitical power play by a few fossil fuel states," Ms Baerbock said.

"We have to do everything to come toward the 1.5C pathway" of keeping warming below that temperature limit since pre-industrial times, she said.

But despite the fractures between nations, some still held out hopes for the talks.

"We remain optimistic," said Nabeel Munir of Pakistan, who chairs one of the negotiating committees.

Cop29 climate champion Nigar Arpadarai added: "We have no choice."
Home > 2024 > Durga Puja & R G Kar Agitation In West Bengal | Sujit Kumar Paul & (...)

Durga Puja is West Bengals most significant and cherished festival, celebrated with great enthusiasm and deep devotion. It honours Goddess Durga and her triumph over the demon Mahishasura, symbolising the victory of good over evil. Durga idols, especially those from Kumar Tuli in Kolkata, are crafted with meticulous attention to detail. Artistes use clay to create the divine forms, reflecting the craftsmanship of Bengals sculptors. Durga Puja is not just a religious festival but also a cultural extravaganza. Many pandals organise concerts, recitals, and plays, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Bengal. It has also gained international recognition, and in 2021, it was inscribed on UNESCOs intangible Cultural Heritage list.

DURGA PUJA IN West Bengal plays a significant socio-economic role, going beyond its religious and cultural significance. It is not only a celebration of faith and culture but also a major driver of the economy. The festival stimulates various sectors of the economy and fosters social cohesion, impacting both urban and rural communities. The months preceding the festival are the busiest work season for these artisans. The construction of elaborate pandals (temporary shrines) creates significant employment opportunities. Workers involve in carpentry, lighting, decorations, and theme-building benefit from the festivals grand scale. Each pandal can cost millions of rupees, stimulating various industries like textile, craft, and design. Street vendors, food sellers, and artisans selling handicrafts or religious items see a significant surge in demand. Temporary markets and stalls spring up around pandals, generating income for many.

It sustains livelihoods, stimulates consumer spending, and promotes tourism, benefiting a wide range of sectors. Moreover, it plays an important role in community building, making it both a cultural and socio-economic event of national significance. Durga Puja is a peak season for shopping, especially for clothes, accessories, and household items. Durga Puja attracts tourists from all over India and abroad, eager to experience the grandeur of Kolkatas famous pandals. This influx of visitors boosts the hospitality sector, including hotels, guesthouses, and transport services. Cultural enthusiasts visit West Bengal to witness the art, craft, and traditions associated with the festival. It is also the time when media houses see a surge in advertisement revenues as brands vie for attention. Many brands sponsor Durga Puja events, using the pandals as platforms for marketing and advertising.

In this Durga Puja, along with all the celebration, a series of protests occurred regarding the rape and killing of a student doctor at the R G Kar Medical College and hospital. On 9 August 2024, a 31-year-old post-graduate trainee doctor was found dead in semi-naked condition in a seminar hall on the fourth floor of this facility. The medical examination revealed the victim had sustained external and internal injuries in the sexual assault and was murdered. No FIR was filed for 14 hours.

Durga Puja in 2024 was marked just two months later, from 9 October to the 13th, just in time when the protests by junior doctors and the discerning public peaked. Countless people from all walks of life participate in this festival, making the festival a crucial source of livelihood for many. There is no doubt the rape-murder dimmed the festive spirit and the protests rang louder in the city than all the drumbeats for a female deity, militant enough to kill evil. Perhaps recognising this, the lady Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee urged junior Medical Officers and the public to end their protest. However, rather than halting, the doctors s escalated their protest with a hunger strike, gaining full support from the public. This led to a lot of gloominess during the Puja celebrations.

Soon after Mahalaya, a hunger strike began on 5 October, as a part of the healthcare sector protest, initially led by nine junior doctors  seven in Kolkata and two from North Bengal Medical College, several of whom were later hospitalised. More junior doctors joined the strike over time, and the movement garnered support from the public and many celebrities. Rather than visiting Durga Puja pandals, people began gathering at the hunger strike sites in solidarity.

On 9 October, police arrested nine individuals for chanting, We want Justice at a Durga Puja pandal. The next day, the lower court placed them in judicial custody. In a special hearing on 11 October, the court granted bail with specific conditions. Efforts to resolve the situation through talks between government officials and representatives of the Doctors Association on 14 October were unsuccessful. The Indian Medical Association organised a 12-hour strike on October 15.

On 15 October, doctors declared a droh carnival, parallel to the Durga Puja carnival of the State government. The police blocked areas and imposed section 163, but a special bench of the Calcutta High Court which was constituted gave permission for the protest carnival. A doctor, who was on duty at the government carnival was taken by the police for protesting, just by wearing a batch written We Want Justice. Thus, throughout the Durga Puja festival, numerous protests took place across the State of West Bengal, which pitted the government against the people, not only against healthcare workers. The junior doctors primary demands included justice for the RG Kar Hospital victim, the immediate removal of Health Secretary N S Nigam, and improved workplace security, along with additional demands for a centralised hospital referral system, a bed vacancy monitoring system, and essential infrastructure like on-call rooms, CCTV, and proper washrooms.

When the State government remained unresponsive, junior doctors, after consulting with senior doctors, announced they would go on strike on 22 October, if their demands were not addressed. Following yet more protracted meetings with government officials and further discussions with the doctors forum, the protestors decided to end the hunger strike.

Social Relevance of the Protests

Durga Puja is a significant festival in West Bengals society. Before the festivities began, many experts predicted that the protests would subside, assuming people would move past the incident. However, demonstrations persisted State-wide throughout the celebrations. The government provides a financial grant to all registered clubs organising Durga Puja, with this years amount set at ?85,000. Some clubs, however, refused the grant in a symbolic act of protest.

The R G Kar was reflected in themes of many clubs. Symbolic spinal cords were put up in some pandals, but later removed, assumption is political powers forced their removal from public view. People got arrested for protesting and were given bail by the court as mentioned above. Many celebrities the general public sat in protest with the doctors and gave moral support to them.

Role of the State Government:

For much of the time, the State government remained silent on the issue, aiming to curb the protests through force rather than addressing the protesters demands. Both, the healthcare workers and the Government later expressed a willingness to hold discussions, but multiple meetings between government officials and the doctors association ultimately failed to reach a resolution.

The government didnt take any step during the strike called by IMA. The police were criticised by the High Court when they arrested persons for raising slogans, We Want Justice in Puja pandals. The police were also criticised when they imposed section 163 to stop the droh carnival. Leaders including e some MLAs of the ruling party criticised everyone who protestested, ignoring the horrendous crime and the criminality it involved. It was only after two weeks of unrest that the Chief Minister had a talk with the junior doctors on 19 October, through a phone, in the presence of State Secretary and Home Secretary. After this, a meeting was held between the Chief Minister and junior doctors in presence of government officials. It was only then that all the demands of the junior doctors were addressed.

The first demand was justice in the R G Kar case, which is now under CBI investigation. The second demand was removal of the State health secretary, however the government did not agree to this. The third demand was to beef up security in the hospital which was accepted by the government. The fourth demand was establishing a central referral system. The government said, it was already working for the establishing a central referral system. The fifth demand was monitoring the vacant beds in the hospital. This work is already going, the government said. The Sixth demand is constitution of a student union in the medical colleges. The government promised, to do this at the beginning of next year and till then, selected representative of the students will be in the committees. The seventh demand was filling up the vacant seats in the hospital. This has been agreed to by the government. The eighth demand was to take steps against those who promote culture of threat in the medical colleges. The nineth demand was reconstruction of the Medical Council, which the government did not agree to. The tenth demand was setting up CCTV cameras and panic buttons. The government said, this too was being done. According to the government, most of the demands of the protesting doctors have been met. Although the strikes have ended, healthcare workers are still concerned at the threat culture in hospitals of West Bengal.

The R G Kar Medical College and Hospital incident has deeply impacted the minds of the common people. Especially, as the protests took place during Durga Puja and the festive season. The government attempted to suppress the protests through police intervention, and people are not likely to forget this. The junior doctors have clearly said, their hunger strike was not ended due to request of the government but due to the request by the Victims parents and common people. Though the strike has been called off, but the protest is on until justice is served, and the prevailing threat culture is stopped. Though the ruling party has a majority in the Legislative Assembly, it however fears, the R G Kar incident will impact the 2026 Assembly elections.

(Authors: Prof Dr. Sujit Kumar Paul: Professor of Rural Development & Management, Department of Lifelong Learning and Extension, Visva-Bharati (A Central University), Sriniketan  731236, Birbhum, West Bengal

Email  skpaulrd[at]gmail.com; Souradeep Sarkar: Research Scholar, Department of Lifelong Learning and Extension, Visva-Bharati (A Central University), Sriniketan  731236, Birbhum, West Bengal)

References:

Deccan Herald (2024).On-duty doctor at Puja Carnival detained by police for wearing protest badge, claim medics.https://www.deccanherald.com/india/west-bengal/wb-doctor-justice-arrest-3233498.

ETV Bharat (2024). Nine Youths Arrested For Protesting Outside Puja Marquee Sent to 7 Days Of Police Custody. https://www.etvbharat.com/en/!bharat/many-youths-arrested-for-protesting-outside-puja-marquee-sent-to-7-days-of-police-custody-enn24101007410.

Ghoshal S (2024). IMA holds 12-hour nationwide hunger strike; FAIMA warns complete shutdown against Kolkata doctor rape case/ Top pts. Mint.https://www.livemint.com/news/india/ima-holds-12-hour-nationwide-hunger-strike-faima-warns-complete-shutdown-against-kolkata-doctor-rape-case-top-pts-11728956470436.html.

Hindustan Times (2024). Kolkata rape-murder: Bengal doctors hunger strike enters 12th day.https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/kolkata-news/kolkata-rape-murder-bengal-doctors-hunger-strike-enters-12th-day-101729085807605.html.

Hindustan Times (2024). Mamata Banerjee speaks to fasting doctors over phone, calls meet on Monday.https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/kolkata-news/mamata-banerjee-speaks-to-fasting-doctors-over-phone-calls-meet-on-monday-101729350999783.html.

Lakhotia S and Banerjee T (2024). Club removes 40ft spine after too many queries . The Times of India.https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/durga-puja-committee-removes-40ft-spine-installation-amid-controversy/articleshow/113795490.cms.

Taazatv(2024). High Court allows Droh Carnival of protesting doctors after police prohibition. https://taazatv.com/article/high-court-allows-droh-carnival-of-protesting-doctors-after-police-prohibition&38887&en&West%20Bengal.

The Hindu (2024). West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee-Junior doctors meeting highlights: Protesting junior doctors call off hunger strike after meeting Mamata. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/rg-kar-rape-and-murder-kolkata-rape-case-junior-doctors-meet-west-bengal-cm-mamata-banerjee-live-updates/article68779003.ece

The Times of India (2024).Bail riders for 9 pandal protestors.https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/calcutta-hc-grants-bail-to-9-protesters-arrested-at-durga-puja-pandal-for-justice-for-rg-kar-slogans/articleshow/114230091.cms.
By Jonathan Saul and James Mackenzie

SHILO, West Bank (Reuters) - After a record expansion of Israeli settlement activity, some settler advocates in the occupied West Bank are looking to Donald Trump to fulfil a dream of imposing sovereignty over the area seen by Palestinians as the heart of a future state.

The West Bank has been transformed by the rapid growth of Jewish settlements since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned at the head of a far-right nationalist coalition two years ago. During that time, an explosion in settler violence that has led to U.S. sanctions.

In recent weeks, Israeli flags have sprouted on hilltops claimed by some settlers in the West Bank's Jordan Valley, adding to worries among many local Palestinians of greater control of those areas. Some settlers prayed for Trump's victory before the election.

"We have high hopes. We're even buoyant to a certain extent," said Yisrael Medad, an activist and writer who supports Israel absorbing the West Bank, speaking to Reuters about Trump's victory in the house he has lived in for more than four decades in the West Bank settlement of Shilo.

Settlers have celebrated Trump's nomination of a clutch of officials known for pro-Israel views, among them ambassador Mike Huckabee, an evangelical Christian who has said the West Bank is not under occupation and prefers the term "communities" to "settlements."

And over the past month, Israeli government ministers and settler advocates who have cultivated ties with the U.S. Christian right have increasingly pushed the once fringe idea of "restoring sovereignty" over the West Bank in public comments. The Netanyahu government has not announced any official decision on the matter. A spokesperson at Netanyahus office declined to comment for this story.

It is by no means certain Trump will give backing to a move that puts at risk Washington's strategic ambition of a wider deal under the Abraham Accords to normalize Israel's ties with Saudi Arabia, which, like most countries in the world, rejects Israeli sovereignty in the West Bank.

"Trump's desire for expansion of the Abraham Accords will be a top priority," Dennis Ross, a former Middle East negotiator for Democratic and Republican administrations said, based on his own assessment of Trump's foreign policy considerations.

"There's no way the Saudis will think seriously about joining if Israel formally absorbs the West Bank," he said.

Annexation would bury any hope of a two-state solution that creates an independent Palestine and also complicate efforts to resolve more than a year of war in Gaza that has spilled over into neighbouring Lebanon.

In his first term, Trump moved the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem and ended Washington's long-held position that the settlements are illegal. But, in 2020, his plan to create a rump of a Palestinian state along existing boundaries derailed efforts by Netanyahu for Israeli sovereignty over the area.

The president-elect has not revealed his plans for the region. Trump transition spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt did not answer questions about policy, saying only that he would "restore peace through strength around the world."

Nonetheless, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, one of the most prominent pro-settler ministers in the government, said last week he hoped Israel could absorb the West Bank as early as next year with the support of the Trump administration.

Israel Ganz, the head of the Yesha Council, an umbrella group of West Bank Jewish municipalities, said in an interview that he hoped the Trump administration would "let" Israel's government move ahead.

Ganz led a prayer session for a Trump victory in the ruins of an old Byzantine basilica in Shilo before the Nov. 5 election.

"We prayed that God will lead to better days for the people of the United States of America and for Israel," he said. Shilo has been a popular stop for visiting U.S. politicians, including both Huckabee and Pete Hegseth, Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense.

Last week, Huckabee told Arutz Sheva, an Israeli news outlet aligned with Smotrich's Religious Zionism movement, that any decision on annexation would be a matter for the Israeli government. Huckabee did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Senior Palestine Liberation Organization official Wasel Abu Yousef said any such action by the Israeli government "will not change the truth that this is Palestinian land."

SURROUNDED

Together with the neighbouring settlement of Eli, Shilo sits near the centre of the West Bank, an hour from Jerusalem along Route 60, a smooth motorway that contrasts sharply with the potholed roads that connect the area's Palestinian cities.

Bashar al-Qaryouti, a Palestinian activist from the nearby village of Qaryut, said the expansion of Shilo and Eli had left Palestinian villages in the central West Bank surrounded.

Al-Qaryouti described an increase in settlers constructing without waiting for formal paperwork from the Israeli government, a trend also noted by Peace Now, an Israeli activist group that tracks settlement issues.

"This is happening on the ground," Al-Qaryouti told Reuters by phone. "Areas across the centre of the West Bank are under the control of settlers now."

The West Bank, which many in Israel call Judea and Samaria after the old Biblical terms for the area, is a kidney shaped region about 100 km (60 miles) long and 50 km (30 miles) wide that has been at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since it was captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war.

Most countries consider the area as occupied territory and deem the settlements illegal under international law, a position upheld by the U.N's top court in July.

Around 750,000 Palestinians were displaced with the creation of Israel in 1948, according to U.N. estimates. The West Bank is claimed by Palestinians as the nucleus of a future independent state, along with the Mediterranean enclave of Gaza to the south.

But the spread of Jewish settlements, which have mushroomed across the West Bank since the Oslo interim peace accords 30 years ago, has transformed the area.

Revered as the site of the tabernacle set up by the ancient Israelites after they returned from exile in Egypt and kept there for 300 years, modern Shilo was established in the 1970s and has the air of a gated community of quiet streets and neat suburban homes. Its population in 2022 was around 5,000 people.

For supporters of Jewish settlements, the Biblical connection is what gives them the right to be there, whatever international law may say.

"Even if the Byzantines, the Romans, the Mameluks and Ottomans ruled it, it was our land," said Medad.

As such, settler advocates reject the term "annexation," which they say suggests taking a foreign territory.

Settlement construction in the West Bank reached record levels in 2023. Since the war started in Gaza last October, a spate of new roads and ground works have changed the appearance of hillsides across the area visibly.

Criticism from the Biden administration has done nothing to stop it.

At the same time, violence by Jewish settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank has spiralled, including around Shilo, drawing international condemnation and U.S. and European sanctions, as recently as this week, against individuals deemed to have taken a prominent part.

Settler leaders including Ganz say violence has no place in their movement. The settler movement has argued that they provide security for the rest of Israel with their presence in areas near Palestinian towns and cities.

"IRREVERSIBLE FACT"

A series of steps have been taken to consolidate Israel's position in the West Bank since Netanyahu's government came to power with a coalition agreement stating "The Jewish people have a natural right to the Land of Israel."

"We're changing a lot of things on the ground to make it a fact that Israel is in Judea and Samaria as well," said Ohad Tal, chairman of Smotrich's parliamentary faction, speaking beside a red Trump MAGA hat on a shelf in his Knesset office.

A whole mechanism has been built "to effectively apply sovereignty in Judea and Samaria, to make it an irreversible fact that Jewish presence is there and to stay."

Many functions relating to settlements previously handled by the military have been handed to the Settlement Administration, a civilian body answerable directly to finance minister Smotrich, who has an additional defence ministry portfolio that puts him in charge of running the West Bank.

In 2024, nearly 6,000 acres (2,400 hectares) have been declared Israeli state land, a classification that makes it easier to build settlements, the biggest annual growth on record and accounting for half of all areas declared state land in the past three decades, Peace Now said in a report in October.

At least 43 new settler outposts have been established over the past year, compared with an average of under 7 a year since 1996, according to a separate analysis from Peace Now.

The outposts, often satellites of existing settlements on nearby hilltops that allow the original location to expand, have been served with kilometres of new roads and other infrastructure. Often built illegally according to Israeli law, the Yesha Council has said almost 70 were extended government support this year.

"It's clever because it's boring looking," said Ziv Stahl, a director of Yesh Din, another Israeli group that tracks settlements. "They are not legislating now, saying 'We are annexing the West Bank', they are just doing it."

(Additional reporting by Ali Sawafta in Ramallah and Matt Spetalnick in Washington)
Risk assessment: Ops Group map of Middle East airspace (Ops Group)

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.
By Stine Jacobsen

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -Northvolt's CEO and co-founder Peter Carlsson stepped down on Friday, a day after Europe's biggest hope for an electric vehicle battery champion filed for U.S. Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The Swedish maker of battery cells went in a matter of months this year from being Europe's best shot in a vital industry for the energy transition to racing to stay afloat, hobbled by production problems and dwindling funds.

Its collapse deals a big blow to Europe's hopes of reducing its auto industry's reliance on Chinese battery suppliers such as CATL and BYD.

The company, whose motto is "make oil history", has received more than $10 billion in equity, debt and public financing since its 2016 startup, and counts Volkswagen and Goldman Sachs, each with about one fifth of the shares, as its top owners.

It now needs to raise between $1 billion and $1.2 billion to restore its business, the outgoing CEO told reporters.

"Personally this is an emotional day," Carlsson said. The former Tesla executive said Northvolt had been "like a baby" to him.

The company opted for a court-led restructuring after talks with investors and creditors including Volkswagen and Goldman broke down, and as its funds were running out.

The Chapter 11 filing allows a period during which the company can reorganise and ramp up operations while honouring customer and supplier commitments, and ultimately position itself for the long term, Carlsson said.

The company had only $30 million of cash at the time of the filing, enough to sustain it for one week, while its debts stood at $5.8 billion, including $313 million owed to the European Investment Bank (EIB) and a $154 million loan from shareholders.

It was far too early to say what the outcome of the Chapter 11 process will be, EIB Vice President Tomas Ostros said.

"For us ... it remains the case that Europe has a strategic interest in a European battery industry for electric cars and we will follow developments very closely," he added.

The lithium-ion battery maker also secured $100 million in new financing for the bankruptcy process from other shareholder and top customer Scania to allow it to continue operating, and said it would seek more cash.

Northvolt, which employs around 6,600 staff across seven countries, said in its Chapter 11 filing that it expects to complete the restructuring by the first quarter of 2025.

Company sources, who declined to be named because they are not authorised to speak to media, said Northvolt's problems in ramping up output stemmed from faults with machines, inexperienced staff and unrealistic ambitions.

"In hindsight, we were over-ambitious on the timing in which we could achieve it," Carlsson said of the production target, adding the company was working towards improving output.

On Monday, Reuters reported that Northvolt had missed some in-house targets and curtailed production at its battery-cell plant in northern Sweden.

Carlsson will become a senior adviser and remain a member of the board, the company said, adding the search for a new CEO had started. In the meantime, it will be led by finance chief Pia Aaltonen-Forsell and its president of battery cells, Matthias Arleth, who takes up a new role as chief operations officer.

NOT EASY TO MAKE

"The biggest issue is that batteries are not easy to make and Northvolt haven't satisfied the supply demands of their customers - that is a management issue," said Andy Palmer, founder of consultancy Palmer Automotive.

Europe has been seeking to attract EV battery makers to the region - home to the likes of Volkswagen and Stellantis - to cut dependency on Asia, and win a green subsidies race with the United States.

Production plans have, however, been bogged down by bureaucracy, technical problems and slower EV demand than expected.

In 2024, Europe's battery pipeline capacity out to 2030 has fallen by 176 gigawatt-hours, according to data firm Benchmark Minerals. That's equivalent to almost all the current installed capacity in Europe, according to Reuters calculations.

Only a single production line at Northvolt's plant in northern Sweden, its sole operating battery facility, is currently delivering finished products to an end user, truck maker Scania, Carlsson told reporters.

Work is ongoing on two other production lines at the plant to enable deliveries to Porsche and Audi, he added.

Northvolt said on Thursday it was looking for one or more partners to finance its restructuring and return the company to long-term sustainability, including the completion of major battery plants in Germany and Canada.

"Any and all interested parties, regardless of their desired transaction type, are encouraged to contact Rothschild as soon as possible and submit proposals by early December," Northvolt said in its Chapter 11 filing at a Texas court.

Failing this, Northvolt said it had engaged financial services company Hilco Global to assist with "an orderly liquidation process if necessary".

(Reporting by Stine Jacobsen in Copenhagen and Marie Mannes in Stockholm. Additional reporting by Alessandro Parodi and Simon Johnson; Editing by Terje Solsvik, Jan Harvey, Josephine Mason and Mark Potter)
By Jonathan Stempel

(Reuters) - Nissan persuaded a federal appeals court on Friday to decertify 10 class actions accusing the Japanese automaker of selling cars and SUVs with defective automatic emergency braking systems that caused vehicles to stop suddenly for no reason.

The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati said it was improper to let drivers of 14 Nissan models sue in groups under the laws of 10 individual states simply by claiming that the braking systems did not work.

Drivers claimed they experienced "phantom" activations of the systems at low overpasses, parking garages and railroad crossings, instead of when collisions might be imminent.

Writing for a three-judge panel, however, Chief Judge Jeffrey Sutton said some drivers may never have experienced sudden braking, or sought repairs to begin with.

He also said Nissan created "distinct" software upgrades for different models that appeared to fix the problem for some drivers, suggesting there was no common defect.

"Analyzing the various manifestations of the alleged defect is necessary to assess whether common evidence could vindicate the plaintiffs or Nissan on a classwide basis," Sutton wrote.

Class actions let plaintiffs potentially obtain greater remedies at lower costs than if forced to sue individually.

The litigation covers Nissan's Rogue from 2017 to 2020, Rogue Sport from 2017 to 2021, Altima from 2019 to 2021, and Kicks from 2020 to 2021.

The 10 states are California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas.

Lawyers for the drivers did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Nissan and its lawyers did not immediately respond to similar requests.

The appeals court returned the case to a trial judge in Nashville, Tennessee, for further proceedings, potentially allowing new evidence supporting class certification. Nissan has plants in Smyrna and Decherd, Tennessee.

The case is In re: Nissan North America Inc Litigation, 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 23-5950.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Sandra Maler)
ST. LOUIS  They feed the hungry. They counter violence and racial injustice. They fight for criminal justice reform and against book bans. And this week, more than 4,200 of them came together for solace and support and to map out how to respond if President-elect Donald Trump delivers on campaign promises to dismantle programs that support their work.

The effort comes as many racial justice activists said they mourn Vice President Kamala Harris defeat to Trump, the Republican former president.

We find ourselves at a crossroads, Glenn Harris, president of Race Forward, told activists. We cannot allow ourselves to fall into hopelessness.

In the wake of the presidential election, the activists, educators, government workers and researchers participated in a two-day "Facing Race" conference Thursday and Friday hosted by Race Forward, a progressive-leaning national social justice organization. The event took place 10 years after Michael Brown, an unarmed Black teenager, was killed by a white police officer a few miles away in Ferguson, Missouri. Browns death sparked demonstrations and a focus on racial tensions there and other places.

Traditionally, the conference is held every two years and two weeks after Election Day.

Glenn Harris, president of Race Forward, talked to reporters Nov. 21, 2024 during the organization's conference in St. Louis.

Organizers said the convening provided activists an opportunity to discuss some concerns, including Trumps campaign promses to eliminate the federal Department of Education, deport millions of immigrants and scrap programs centered on diversity. Other groups are also ramping up progressive activism efforts.

Other efforts: The Donald Trump resistance is ready for when Democrats are done grieving

Harris praised activists for their work acknowledging they may be tired, but stressed their civic engagement efforts werent about just one election.

We still have agency, he said. The road ahead will be tough.

Searching for strategies

Katherine Boyles attended the conference hoping to learn how best to strategize if there are major changes in federal policies or budget cuts for programs that provide food aid.

We have to figure out how to navigate, said Boyles, community nutrition and food policy coordinator for the Office of Public Health and Safety in Indianapolis. Part of her work is trying to improve food equity in the city.

Boyles said in the wake of the election there needs to be more focus on ramping up local and community-based strategies.

It will be very difficult if there are in fact cuts, she said.

Katherine Boyles, community nutrition and food policy coordinator for the Office of Public Health and Safety in Indianapolis, is worried that federal budget cutbacks will leave people hungry in her community.

Trump officials have said they will cut or eliminate some federal programs to reduce out-of-control costs.

Jarvis Williams of Augusta, Georgia, said he expects Trumps win will impact the work of many grassroots activists.

They will have to think about how their work can flourish within a new global context, said Williams, director of race and democracy at Horizons Project, which he described as a group of national organizers trying to address the failings of democracy.

But its not something we never faced before,'' Williams said. Its just a new day with new characters with the same racial justice fight.

'This will be a generational struggle'

Speakers and organizers also pointed to what they called victories, including some down-ballot elections of progressive candidates in Missouri and some union-backed candidates in New York.

Elections are not just about the president, said Maurice Mitchell, national director of Working Families Party.

Mitchell praised the work of activists, particularly Black women, who he and others credited with helping lead civic engagement efforts across the country.

Leaders of Race Forward, including Julie Nelson, Glenn Harris, Karla Bruce and Eric Ward, talked to reporters Nov. 21, 2024, about the goals of the racial justice conference the organization hosted in St. Louis.

Still, Mitchell said, it may take years to undo some of the expected changes.

Were not getting out of here in one election cycle, he said.

Eric Ward, executive vice president of Race Forward, agreed.

This will be a generational struggle, he told reporters. This will not be solved in four years or eight years or 10.

Keep our eyes on the movement

Conference organizers said they recognize that some activists are still grieving the loss of the presidential election and provided offerings to help, including a session called, Finding my wellness and wellbeing and gathering strength for the road ahead.

We need to grieve, whatever people need to do to re-center themselves, said Harris. We can mourn, but we need to get back to remembering who we are, where we come from and what debt we owe to our ancestors.

Michael Brown Sr., far left, the father of Michael Brown, an unarmed teenager who was killed by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, joined a panel Nov. 21, 2024 at the Facing Race conference discussing the 10th anniversary of his son's death.

Kim Desmond, chief equity officer for the International City/County Management Association, said the work of activists will continue. Let us keep our eyes on the movement, Desmond said.

Among others, there were sessions on combating systemic racism, navigating the post-election landscape, empowering community through climate initiatives and using equity tools in communities. There was also a call for more police accountability during a panel on the 10th anniversary of Brown's death.

There were also sessions and efforts to highlight joy, including a DJ and craft activities. And in an effort to support the St. Louis community, local businesses also set up shop.

Its important for activists to be prepared to build, block and protect their communities for whatever changes come, conference organizers said.

In times like these sometimes we just have to remind ourselves, remind ourselves of our strength, remind ourselves of our power, remind ourselves that we have strength in our community, said Karla Bruce, chief of staff for Race Forward. And sometimes in the immortal words of the poet Kendrick Lamar we just have to pop out and show em.

Dont be mistaken we are doing the most important work there is to do  advancing racial justice, she said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Activists gathered to strategize how to continue to fight inequities
North Korea has allegedly imported more than a million barrels of oil from Russia this year, flouting United Nations sanctions, according to satellite analysis released by the UK-based Open Source Centre and the BBC on Friday.

The research suggests that North Korean oil tankers have visited Russias Vostochny port more than 40 times since March in defiance of international restrictions.

These findings are supported by satellite images, automatic identification system (AIS) data, and maritime patrol imagery, the Open Source Centre said.

Dozens of high-resolution satellite images, AIS data, and imagery released by maritime patrol missions tasked with monitoring North Koreas UN-sanctions-busting activities show North Korean tankers repeatedly loading at an oil terminal at Russian port Vostochny, the report stated.

Russia hasnt responded to the allegations, it added.

The report came as a South Korean official accused Russia of supplying air defence missiles to the North in exchange for allegedly sending troops to support its war in Ukraine.

The United Nations Security Council caps North Koreas annual refined petroleum imports at 500,000 barrels under sanctions imposed due to its nuclear weapons and missile programmes. However, Pyongyang has continued to exceed this quota through illicit channels, as documented by multiple international watchdogs.

Attempts to curb North Koreas activities include a joint task force launched by the US and South Korea earlier this year, aimed at preventing the nation from acquiring illicit oil. However, the effectiveness of these initiatives has been questioned, particularly as UN resolutions have caused divisions among key members.

Strategic, diplomatic and economic ties between Pyongyang and Moscow have significantly deepened in recent years. In June, Russian president Vladimir Putin visited North Korea, where he and Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un agreed to a mutual defence agreement.

Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un meeting in Pyongyang in June this year (AP)

The deepening partnership has sparked concern in the US, Ukraine and South Korea. The three countries have all condemned the North for allegedly sending military equipment and more than 10,000 troops to aid Russias war effort.

Russias UN envoy, Vassily Nebenzia, asserted last month that such military cooperation does not violate international law. North Korea has neither confirmed nor denied these deployments.

South Koreas national security adviser Shin Won Sik said in an interview with broadcaster SBS that Russia has provided the North with anti-air missiles along with air defence equipment to strengthen Pyongyangs weak air defence system.

Pyongyang also appears to have been given military technology by Russia to support its satellite programme following the failed attempt to launch a spy satellite earlier this year, he claimed.

North Korea likely feels the need to boost its air defence capabilities after South Korean drones dropped propaganda leaflets over Pyongyang last month.

In response to the flying of drones, Pyongyang threatened military action if such incidents occurred again. South Koreas military has declined to confirm involvement in the alleged drone flights linked to the leafleting.

According to Mr Shin, Russia has provided North Korea economic aid and advanced military technologies, including support for developing a space-based surveillance system.

During a summit with Mr Kim last year, the Russian president expressed willingness to assist North Korea in building satellites.

While North Korea launched its first spy satellite in November, foreign analysts doubt its capacity to generate militarily useful imagery. A second satellite launch attempt failed in May.

Seoul and Washington have expressed concerns over potential Russian transfer of sensitive nuclear or missile technologies to Pyongyang.

Mr Shin did not confirm whether such transfers have occurred and experts suggest it is unlikely that Russia would provide such capabilities early in North Koreas reported troop deployment to Russia.

Additional reporting by agencies.
TALLINN, Estonia  Industry @ Tallinn & Baltic Event, one of the leading industry events in Northern Europe, closed Nov. 22 with an awards ceremony where the focus country Germany dominated the list of 15 winning projects at various stages of development or post-production, on top of two accolades to promising producers.

For the first time, the public was invited to cast their vote for each category, which gave more chances of a larger number of projects standing out at the market.

More from Variety

Among the most coveted accolades, the 20,000 ($20,800) Eurimages Co-Production Development Award from the Baltic Event Co-Production Market was handed out to the German-Bulgarian project The Worker helmed by Bulgarian-born Eliza Petkova, whose debut feature Zhaleika earned a special mention at the 66th Berlinale.

The drama about Roma Bulgarian Gorgi, pushed into a life of lies and deceit in Berlin to try to make ends meet and maintain his family in a Bulgarian village, was praised by the jury for its portrait of displacement in Europe, which takes us and the protagonist on an unexpected journey. A journey during which the director invites us to rethink the meaning of community and masculinity. The film is being produced by Nicolas Konauer for Germanys ROW Pictures and Fourmat Film.

For the first time, films for kids and youth joined the market pitches, an inclusion that benefitted the Ukrainian helmer Sveta Solovyova (Oxygen Station) and writer Ivan Tymchenko who scooped the 20,000 Eurimages Special Co-Production Development Award for their heart-warming animation/documentary hybrid English Lesson.

The pic consists of six-seven stories told by Ukrainian children during an online lesson, who confide about their life experience of war. Ukrainian producer Svitlana Soloviova of SvitlorforFilm is co-producing with Estonia, Sweden and the Czech Republic. The pic also grabbed a 1,000 ($1,040) grant from Many More Films.

In the Works in Progress session, the 7,000 ($7,280) best international project pitch went to Greek debut helmer Stefanos Tsivopoulos for Late Shift (a.k.a Kindness). The story of a Romanian single mum with a history of activism who struggles to fit in in Greek society is being produced by Nikos Smpiliris for Boo Production. This film deals with a timely topic regarding migration and assimilation through the unique lens of the Greece process, featuring captivating acting by the lead actress, said the jury.

Among other accolades, the Special Mention nod went to Switzerlands Wolves by Jonas Ulrich set in the underground music scene, with Bartosz Bielenia (from the Oscar-nominated Corpus Christi) as lead vocalist. Dynamic Frame is producing.

Seasoned Latvian producer Uljana Kim (Studio Uljana Kim), recipient of last years Eurimages International Co-production Award, scooped the Best Baltic Project Prize with Renovation helmed by Columbia U graduate Gabriele Urbonaite, multi-prized for her shorts The Swimmer and Back. Capturing the anxious nature of young adults in their thirties, this piece brings forth rich elements of self-discovery and the burgeoning yet complex emotions of love and companionship, said the jury. Kim is co-producing with Lithuanias Alise Rogule of Mima Films.

Another debut filmmaker trained in the U.S.  the Finn Risto Tuominen, a former graduate from L.A.s American Film Institute  scooped the top award at the popular European Genre Forum for his thriller The Dark Architect, about a young student who moves into a decaying apartment building and is given a gruesome task by its residents. Established Finnish producer Ilkka Matila of MRP Matila Rohr Productions (Mother of Mine, The Eternal Road) is producing with Estonias Taska Film.

Meanwhile, two projects from Latin America  Emi by Argentinian-born Ezequiel Erriquez Mena and The River, by emerging Chilean writer-director Cristobal Garcia, won respectively the Best Just Film Project from the kids and youth section and the public award.

Reflecting on the 23rd Industry@Tallinn& Baltic Event which also included the Short Film Industry Days and series-focused TV Beats, industry honcho Marge Liiske said she was extremely happy about the 800+ delegates from 47 countries who showed a strong interest in our activities and films and series from the Baltics. We had closed our accreditation 10 days before kick off as we couldnt accommodate more participants at the Nordic Hotel Forum hub. We might make slight adjustments next year, but we will stick to our central headquarters which allows for easy networking for festival and industry guests, she said.

Among the international sales agents on hand, Paris-based Arnaud Chevallier of B-Rated International, sales rep of the festival Competition entry The Exalted, praised Tallinns dynamic and friendly industry showcase. This was a perfect platform to screen projects before the end of the year, confirm our lineup before Berlin and sit down with buyers in a relaxed market. The works in progress in particular were of high quality, said the former Mediawan sales executive who was chasing quirky auteur-driven and genre features, whatever the nationality.

TV Beats Forum co-heads Petri Kemppinen and Roosa Toivoven were equally satisfied with the human-size industry event in Tallinn which gave a chance to the smaller industry ecosystems in the Baltics to build networks and relationships with top international partners. We had two full days focused on the current times where companies have to understand what content to produce, sell and buy, how were managing to serve the audience in the changing landscape of financing and viewing habits, Toivoven summarised.

I think we had a well-balanced series program with masterclasses, case studies, with storytelling always at the heart of it, added Kemppinen who underscored the presence of key players such as Keshet International, Media Musketeers, WildBunch, Baltic platforms Elisa and Go3. He hopes to attract a larger number of TV commissioners for 2025.

Looking ahead, Toivonen said she will discuss with Industry @ Tallinn & Baltic Event organisers the possibility of setting up a think tank in Tallinn to address collaborations in Europe to make sure content creators stay at the top of their game in a highly competitive market. We need to empower the producers to be as good as possible in finding financing, retaining IP and enriching our culture in Europe, she said.

Here are some five takeaways and the full list of award winners:

Democracy under threat

With Russian  or Soviet  rule still vivid in the memories of the Baltic nations, solidarity with Ukraine, indie Georgian cinema and Belarusian filmmakers in exile were natural rallying cries in Tallinn. At the panel The Edge of Democracy, Belarusian filmmakers Tanya Haurylchyk, Yuliya Pogrebnyak and Volia Chajskouslakay (founder of the Belarusian festival in exile Northern Lights Nordic Baltic Film Festival) voiced their difficulties to live and work in exile and of the vital need for their dispatched community to stick together and keep fighting.

When everything is so dark, lets try to tell our stories with playfulness to reach wider audiences, said Haurylchyk, whose take was shared by her counterpart Andrei Kashperski, currently working from Poland on the comedy slasher Judgement of the Dead. David Vashadze, head of the independent Georgian Film Institute, reminded all attendees of the double-edged value of film as an empowering tool of protest for filmmakers, but also of propaganda for authoritarian regimes to crush democratic voices.

Meanwhile seasoned documentary specialist Uldis Cekulis of VFS Film, currently co-producing two Ukrainian documentaries, urged dissident filmmakers and producers to make their voices and stories travel fast. Short films could be the way to reach audiences as fast as possible, he suggested.

People who live comfortably in Western Europe should be reminded what is at stake [with todays rise of populism]. Democracy is not a given, and freedom is not a given, insisted Liiske.

Co-productions: All Eyes on Germany

For the smaller production nations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania with a shared history with Germany, the Tallinn Focus on Germany was an opportunity to let German funding reps explain the upcoming reform of their film funding landscape, and to hopefully reboot collaborations that had declined in recent years. Berenice Honold, advisor to the CEO for international and European affairs at the German Federal Film Board (FFA), said the industry-backed reform, due to be effective from January 1  once approved by the Bundestag  will be two-fold.

The selective support will move towards an automatic support which make producers freer to take their own decisions, although a point system will still be in place. Secondly, a new tax incentive model due to replace the German Federal Film Fund (DFFF) and the German Motion Picture Fund (GMPF), will provide 30% non-repayable grant on German spend to producers of major features and high-end series, as well as service providers. I hope these changes will be positive for the international community. Within Europe, we need a strong Germany, and a stronger German film industry will benefit everyone, said Honold.

We hope the German film reform will expand our co-productions, as we are natural co-producers with Germany, said Edith Sepp, head of the Estonian Film Institute Our own support system and 30% tax rebates are very fast [around 30 days for support decisions and for reporting on costs audition] and hopefully with the new German automatic scheme, things will speed up as well with Germany, she said.

Buzzy film projects

Reflecting todays troubled times, projects at the co-financing markets dealt with harsh human stories about migration, war, bullying, climate crisis and screen addiction but most were told with a playfulness and even humor in order to reach a wide audience. Standout projects included the winning projects The Worker, English Lesson, Push the Button and The Flood,but also Estonian-Norwegian thriller Container by Arun Tamm starring Danish star Dar Salim (The Covenant, Darkland), as well as Latvian-Slovenian dramedy The Last Meal by Elza Gauja. Latvias seasoned Uldis Cekulis (The Rossellinis, Immortal) is producing.

Among the international works in progress, the ambitious thriller Papers by two times Oscar contender Arturo Montenegro was a buzzy market title alongside the winning titles Late Shift, Wolves and Interior.

AI For All

Lets not be eaten up by technology but lets try to master it, said Liiske, a self-proclaimed tech geek, who sprinkled AI training sessions and talks in her industry program. One of the most entertaining AI sessions was delivered by Banijays Content Partnerships Executive Steve Matthews at his third round of Steve vs the Machine game, where he had to guess which of a series pitch was AI initiated. He ended up guessing wrong. The truth is that the human idea was better; I overestimated the machine and underestimated the writer, he acknowledged.

On the use of AI in screenwriting, Matthews said. I have no problem with the idea of AI in a story room generating idea after idea, until the team finds one that resonates. I can see how the sheer practical brain-crunching hard work of complex storytelling can be helped. Research, drafting pitch decks or synopses, thats all good. But what AI isnt going to do is delve into the deep depths of Tony Sopranos or Walter Whites or Logan Roys souls. Real writing engages bravely, painfully, with the human condition and only a human can do that.

At Tallinn, AI also scored with the launch of Susi, the first ever recommender for festival audiences. Its not just a search tool, but an interactive companion that communicates in multiple languages and offers insightful suggestions, making the festival more accessible to international audiences. And today we can already see that Susi has brought new people to the festival, said Mikk Granstrom, Tallinn head of administration.

Training and Upskilling

With training and education as one of the key strands of I@T & BE, this years edition broadened the existing schemes of film circulation training for emerging industry executives through the inaugural Tallinn Industry Academy, co-organised with LocarnoPro. 15 participants from the Baltics, the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Finland, France, U.K., and Germany were selected out of 50 applicants to improve their skills in sales, distribution and festival programming.

We dont have sales companies in the Baltics, so we were glad to invite up-and-coming sales agents and festival coordinators from other countries, said organiser Eda Koppel, who underlined the need as well to train emerging professionals in leadership and human behaviour. Our working environment has changed. We need to be more caring towards each other.

French major Gaumonts festivals manager Eva Duriez said the program provided her with a valuable insight into the complexities of film distribution, and also fostered connections with an inspiring group of young professionals from across Europe. Rokas Jonas, festival programmer at the Vilnius Short Film Festival, said the Tallinn Industry Academy exceeded my expectations. Both the lecturers and fellow participants shared invaluable tips, tricks and especially sore spots of the industry.

Full List of Awards:

Baltic Event Co-Production Market

Best Project: The Worker (Germany, Bulgaria)

Directed by Eliza Petkova, produced by Nicolas Kronauer (ROW Pictures, Fourmat Film)

Eurimages Special Co-Production Development Award: English Lesson (Ukraine, Estonia, Sweden, Czech Republic)

Directed by Ivan Tymchenko, produced by Svitlana Soloviova (SvitloforFilm)

Public Favourite Award: Push The Button (Norway,Sweden, Denmark)

Directed by Anton Kallrot, produced by Ylva Olaison, Jonathan SIlen, Madeleine Ekman, (Ogat Film)

Producers Network Prize to Yann Sochaczewski, Miriam Kunde for Amy, Great Adventures on Little Paws!, and Ruta Petronyte, Justinas Pocius for The Flood

Works in Progress

Best International Project: Late Shift (a.k.a. Kindness) (Greece)

Directed by Stefanos Tsivopoulos, produced by Nikos Smpiliris (Boo Production)

Special Mention winner: Wolves (Switzerland)

Directed by Jonas Ulrich, produced by Nicole Ulrich (Dynamic Frame)

Public Favourite Award: Interior (Germany)

Directed by Pascal Schuh, produced by Timo Ackermann, Katrin Haase, Olivier Arnold (U5 Filmproduction & Co)

Best Baltic Project: Renovation (Latvia-Lithuania)

Directed by Gabriele Urbonaite, produced by Uljana Kim, Alise Rogule (Studio Uljana Kim, Mima Films)

Audience Favorite Award: Sand In Your Hair (Lithuania)

Directed by Mantas Verbiejus, produced by Zivile Gallego (Fralita Films)

Best Just Film Project: Emi (Argentina, Uruguay)

Directed by Ezequiel Erriquez Mena, produced by Laura Mara Tablon (Rite Cine)

Audience Favorite Award: The River (Chile, Argentina)

Directed by Cristobal Garcia, produced by Francisco Bisanez, Santiago Ortuzar (Vortice Films)

European Genre Forum

Most Promising Project: The Dark Architect (Finland)

Directed by Risto Tuominen, produced by Ilkka Matila (MRP Matila Rohr Productions)

Special Mention: Vrykola (Greece)

Directed by Achilleas Gatsopoulos, produced by Minos Nikolakakis, Vassilis Economou (Apshalt)

Audience Favourite Award: Neighbour (Estonia)

Directed by Oskar Lehemaa, produced by Evelin Penttila (Stellar Film)

Script Pool

Most Promising Project: Kingpins (Latvia)

Directed by Kristians Riekstins, produced by Alise Rogule (Mima Films)

Audience Favorite Award: Fabula Rasa (Germany-Luxembourg-Canada)

Directed by Miriam Suad Buhler, Maurice Sinner, produced by Steffen Gerdes (Red Balloon Film, Maze Pictures)

Enterprise Estonia Film Award: The Code of Thule (Estonia)

Directed by Liliana Torres, produced by Helen Lohmus, Rene Ezra (Oree Films)

POFF Industry Awards

Best of Variety

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Home > 2024 > The Crisis in Manipur: A Call for Accountability | Pallab Sengupta

In the midst of current turmoil, Manipur state council meeting of CPI was held on 15th November, 2024. The meeting was attended by all state council members and participated in the discussion on present political developments, organizational issues and preparations for the centenary foundation of CPI.

The meeting felt that ongoing turmoil in Manipur has reached alarming levels, drawing widespread concern across the nation. The situation, marked by escalating violence, killings, deepening mistrust, and increasing human suffering, underscores the urgent need for a decisive and empathetic approach to bring the state back to peace and stability. This was the main concern of the meeting.

Manipur has been grappling with a complex socio-political crisis that has its roots in ethnic tensions, economic disparities, and political mismanagement. Over recent months, violence has intensified, leading to loss of lives, displacement of communities, and a general sense of insecurity among the people. Along with these unfortunate developments, demands for greater Mizoram or a Christian nation brings the nefarious plan for destabilizing not only Manipur further but also providing foreign powers to play their dirty games.

The India-Myanmar-Bangladesh border area is home to multiple ethnic communities, including Kukis, Nagas, Chins, Mizos, and others. While some share cultural or linguistic similarities, there are historical tensions and competition over land and resources. A demand for a Christian nation based on Kuki identity risks alienating other groups, further complicating inter-ethnic relations in already volatile Manipur.

Instead of addressing these issues, the state government, led by Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, has been responsible of inaction and poor crisis management. This has eroded public confidence and amplified calls for his resignation.

At the central level, the silence and perceived indifference of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have been stark. Their lack of timely intervention and visible efforts to de-escalate the crisis has been seen as a betrayal of the people of Manipur. This inaction has allowed the situation to spiral further, deepening divisions and alienating affected communities.

The double engines governments without trying for finding an appropriate political solution, once again imposed the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which grants sweeping powers to the armed forces in disturbed areas. While its stated objective is to maintain law and order, AFSPA has often been criticized for fostering a climate of impunity and exacerbating tensions.

The people of Manipur have consistently opposed this draconian law, which they believe undermines their rights and dignity. Its presence has only fueled distrust between the state and its citizens, making reconciliation and peace building even more challenging.

Our Party believes that resolving the crisis in Manipur requires a multi-pronged approach that prioritizes dialogue, justice, and long-term peace building. The CPI has outlined several steps that should be taken immediately:

The government must initiate an inclusive dialogue involving all political parties, community leaders, and civil society organizations. The objective should be to address the root causes of the conflict and find sustainable solutions that respect the rights and aspirations of all communities.

Removing AFSPA from Manipur would signal a commitment to a more humane and democratic approach to governance. It would help rebuild trust between the state and its citizens, creating a conducive environment for reconciliation.

Resignation of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, for his governments failure to address the crisis. His inability to foster dialogue, ensure security, and rebuild trust among communities has left the state in a precarious situation. The Chief Ministers departure would pave the way for a more inclusive and competent leadership capable of managing the crisis effectively

The Prime Minister must break his silence and take a hands-on approach to resolving the crisis. This includes visiting Manipur, meeting with affected communities, and overseeing the implementation of peace measures.

Immediately holding of the Local self governments like Municipalities and Panchayat to strengthen local governance structures and providing adequate resources for community-led inclusive development that can help to overcome economic and social disparities.

To take serious steps and take stern actions against those groups who are dreaming for a Christian state challenging territorial integrity of our country.

The situation in Manipur is a stark reminder of the cost of neglect and poor governance. The CPIs demand for the resignation of the Chief Minister, the withdrawal of AFSPA, and immediate central intervention reflects the urgency of the crisis. Beyond addressing the immediate challenges, the state and central governments must commit to building a Manipur where justice, peace, and dignity prevail. Only through inclusive dialogue, empathetic governance, and accountability can the people of Manipur hope for a brighter and more harmonious future.

(Author: Com. Pallab Sengupta. is National Secretary of the Communist Party of India)
A middle school cheerleader in Tennessee was stabbed to death by a 15-year-old boy  and now prosecutors are aiming to try him as an adult.

Savannah Copeland, a 13-year-old cheerleader at Powell United Methodist Church, was found dead by her father on a hiking trail near their family home in Knox County, Tenn, on Oct. 22,

.

Savannah Copeland, 13, was stabbed to death on a woods trail near her home on October 22, according to the Knox

County Sheriffs Office. GoFundMe

Her alleged killer brought Savannah to the popular walking path in Powell, Tenn., just after midnight, according to Knox County authorities.

On the trail, the boy allegedly stabbed Savannah multiple times with a pocketknife, according to the sheriffs office.

It is not clear how the two teenagers knew each other.

The teen suspect was arrested later that day and has been charged with second-degree murder, according to the sheriffs office.

Michael Copeland, Savannahs dad, at a memorial made for his daughter near the site of her murder in Powell, Tenn. WSAZ 3

Prosecutors announced at a hearing this week that they plan to try him as an adult, according to 6 News.

Michael Copeland, the victims father, tracked her the night of the murder using her cell phone and found her lifeless body in the woods, per 8 WVLT.

I think it was a lack of compassion and a lack of empathy that drove the hand that took my daughters life, Copeland told 8 WVLT.

Copeland said that the outpouring of support his family has received from their community helped restore my faith in God, according to that outlet.

Prosecutors will seek to charge the 15-year-old suspect as an adult, according to a report. WBIR News 10

Savannah was an active kid  involved in cheerleading, karate, gymnastics and art, according to an obituary.



The young girl, whose beautiful smile lit up a room, wanted to attend the University of Tennessee and study forensic anthropology, according to that obituary.

Savannah is survived by one brother, another twin brother, and her two loving parents.



Her alleged killer is due back in court on January 14.
Tulsi Gabbard speaks before Donald Trump at a campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in October in New York. (Alex Brandon/AP)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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.

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)

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)





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

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The first day of filming Netflixs The Piano Lesson was emotional for Denzel Washington as he watched his two sons work  Malcolm directing and John David in front of the camera  while he sat next to his fellow producer, daughter Katia.

Washington, 69, felt like a "proud" dad before having to switch back to filmmaker mode to get things done: Great, we're all here. OK, what's next? the Oscar winner says, wearing his signature smile in an interview alongside longtime producing partner Todd Black.

It's been thrilling and fun as hell to watch all these siblings get to work together and make art together, Black adds.

The fact that there are so many Washingtons involved befits Piano Lesson (streaming now on Netflix), a drama based on the August Wilson play thats very much about family legacy. In 1936, Boy Willie Charles (John David Washington) travels from Mississippi to Pittsburgh to see his sister Berniece (Danielle Deadwyler) and sell a truck full of watermelons with plans to buy the land where their family was once enslaved. To help in the endeavor, Boy Willie also wants to sell Bernieces piano, a storied heirloom with carvings of their ancestors' faces, but his fiery sister is hellbent on not letting it go.

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August Wilson's 'Piano Lesson' spoke to Malcolm Washington 'directly'

Siblings Berniece (Danielle Deadwyler) and Boy Willie (John David Washington) disagree strongly on whether to sell their family's prized heirloom piano in Netflix's "The Piano Lesson," based on the August Wilson play.

Berniece has lost three significant people in her life  her parents and her husband  and now wants to create a better foundation for her daughter while working through "her trauma and her history and a more refined understanding of her mother's experience with the piano, which is an altar of sorts, Deadwyler says. Meanwhile, Boy Willie admires his sister and recognizes her strength that was passed down" through their family, John David Washington adds.

Piano Lesson marks the third Wilson adaptation on Denzel Washingtons watch since he struck a deal with Wilsons estate to produce the influential playwrights 10 works as films. Washington directed and starred in 2016s Fences and executive produced 2020s Ma Raineys Black Bottom and the new movie. It's great material by a great playwright, he says.

Seeing and studying Wilson's plays made John David, 40, want to be a professional actor. Not so much his writing/directing younger brother: It's best to know one's limitations, Malcolm quips, getting a laugh from his sibling. But Malcolm, a 33-year-old American Film Institute conservatory graduate, felt The Piano Lesson speaking to me directly, he says about his debut film. There were ideas in there that I had to engage seriously and meaningfully, and address parts of myself and confront parts of my ancestry and lineage for the first time.

Denzel Washington's creative sons look up to each another

Writer/director Malcolm Washington (center) hangs with actors Ray Fisher and John David Washington on the set of "The Piano Lesson."

While the first day of Piano Lesson stands out in his fathers mind, John David Washington recalls another time as particularly stirring. During the first cast read-through, "there was a moment when Malcolm comes in, he's in all-white overalls, hes got a candle lit (and) it's like, Yo, look at what he assembled!  John David says proudly. I was very excited about not my brother necessarily, but this director that I'm about to work with, a director that I'm a fan of.

For Malcolm Washington, his Hollywood brotherly love moment came when visiting John David on the set of Christopher Nolans 2020 action thriller Tenet.

When Nolan walked over to go through a minor scene with his brother, I just burst into tears. I was just so overwhelmed," Malcolm says. "The crew looked over at me and I'm crying. I'm like, He just opened the door. It was beautiful.  Then his older brother came out and he is so embarrassed."

Adds John David: I was like, They can still fire me, bro. 

John David Washington takes his parents' acting careers to heart

Denzel Washington (far left) attends Netflix's presentation of "The Piano Lesson" during Toronto Film Festival with son John David, daughter Katia, wife Pauletta and son Malcolm Washington.

When asked if hes passed on anything to his sons, Denzel Washington says with a laugh, I hope it's good sense. However, Malcolm did recently get a gift from his father that meant a lot: a Bible handed down by Denzel's mom, who had received it from her uncle. There are so many generations of Washington touching this, Malcolm says.

When discussing the family business, John David thinks about both his dad and mom Pauletta, who starred on Broadway and in films like "Philadelphia" and "Antwone Fisher": "The artist I'm trying to be is the legacy and what they've represented my entire life. He also looks up to sister Katia, a co-executive producer on his 2021 movie Malcolm & Marie," and admits he's mad nervous around her. She believes in me so much and she's everything. I've never said this really publicly (but) I want to impress her in a way.

It was important for Malcolm to bring in as many family members as possible into the project, which is why his mom and his twin sister Olivia play older and younger versions of a supporting character. And while hes not onscreen, Denzel Washington does have a role, too. He's a little Easter egg. I won't say where, Malcolm teases. He is represented in a way that I think is really poetic and beautiful.

Years from now, we can always come back to The Piano Lesson and say, Our story's there, our faces are there, our voices are there and our heart is there.' 

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'The Piano Lesson' movie is a Denzel Washington family project
Today's headlines: Pakistan is shaken by protests and unrest after a recent terrorist attack. South Korea accuses Russia of sending air defence equipment to North Korea. In Japan, public libraries will sell books to those who do not use online stores. In the Philippines, the Marcos and Duterte clans are increasingly at loggerheads.

COP29

Negotiations at the COP29 climate conference are taking longer than expected after developing countries rejected an offer from advanced economies to allocate US$ 250 billion a year for climate finance by 2035. The amount is seen as too modest; the most vulnerable countries were seeking more than a trillion dollars a year. Discussions will continue today.

PAKISTAN

The authorities have imposed a curfew and suspended mobile services in Kurram (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), after anti-government protests broke out in the wake of a recent armed attack against a convoy of vehicles that left dozens of people dead. Protesters accuse the government of not providing adequate security. Thousands joined a sit-in in Parachinar, while riots were reported in other areas.

MIDDLE EAST

Around 4 am, an Israeli airstrike levelled a residential building in Beiruts Basra neighbourhood; four people were killed and dozens injured, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health. This is the fourth attack by Israel in central Beirut in the last seven days. US President Joe Biden called his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, to discuss a proposed ceasefire along the "Blue Line".

KAZAKHTAN

Alga (Forward) Kazakhstan party activists have been trying to register since May 2022, but for the 25th time, the Ministry of Justice in Astana denied their application, even though it contained 3,000 signatures. Police tried to stop them, claiming the activists disturbed the work of officials.

KOREAN PENINSULA

Shin Won-sik, director of the South Korean National Security Bureau, said that Russia has provided North Korea with anti-air missiles and air defence equipment in exchange for North Korean troops sent to support its war against Ukraine. Meanwhile, South Korean residents living along the border between the two countries have reported serious mental health issues due to the annoying sounds blared by North Korean loudspeakers, which have been activated in response to South Korean propaganda, also broadcast over loudspeakers.

JAPAN

Some public libraries will start selling books next year to fill the void left by the closure of bookstores; the initiative is aimed primarily at seniors who may not be familiar with buying books online. Some libraries will also sell stationery and locally grown vegetables to create interactive hubs. About 145 bookstores closed from August 2023 year to March 2024.

PHILIPPINES

Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte said that she would have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. murdered if she were killed herself. This morning, at a press conference, she explained that she had spoken with an assassin and had instructed him to kill Marcos, his wife, and the House speaker if she died. Marcos's Office responded with a statement saying it had reported the threat to the Presidential Security Command.
The BJP alliance will continue to lead the former, while a local party will lead the latter, attentive to tribal issues. In both states, local politics again trumped over the largest national parties, including the Indian National Congress. Turnout falls short of 70 per cent and many pre-election polls were off the mark.

New Delhi (AsiaNews/Agencies)  Vote counting in two state elections were completed today. Results indicate that Maharashtra will remain in the hands of an alliance led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while Jharkhand will continue to be governed by a local party, the Mukti Morcha, backed by the Indian National Congress (INC) and other left-wing parties.

In Maharashtra, where turnout was 66.05 per cent, the highest since 1995, the Mahayuti alliance won 225 seats out of 288, while the opposition, united in the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition, won 54. Another nine seats went to third-party candidates.

Within the Mahayuti alliance, the BJP, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis Hindu ultranationalist party, won the most seats, followed by the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Chief Minister Eknath Shinde thanked voters saying that the electorate had rewarded his administration for its work over the past two years.

The political landscape in Maharashtra, which has radically changed in the past five years with fragmentation and splits, now includes six parties.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition is composed by the INC, which won 19 seats, but also factions from the Shiv Sena and the NCP that split from their respective parties and joined the opposition to Shinde and the BJP.

In the 2019, the BJP and the Shiv Sena won the election defeating the INC and the NCP, but failed to agree on who would be chief minister, a post held by three different people in the last five years: Devendra Fadnavis of the BJP, Uddhav Thackeray of the Shiv Sena (now an ally of INC in opposition), and finally Eknath Shinde, in power since 2022.

In Jharkhand, the election result also underlined the fundamental role played by local parties. The turnout was similar to Maharashtras, 67.74 per cent.

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) was declared the winner; together with the INC and other smaller parties, it won over 50 seats, while the BJP-led alliance stopped at just over 20 out of 81.

In 2019, the JMM coalition had won 47 seats. Hemant Soren was appointed chief minister at the time will continue in this position, despite several pre-election polls (as is often the case in India) predicting a close race or, in some cases, a BJP victory.

Jharkhand, which was split off from Bihar in 2000, has a large tribal population. In this years election to the Lok Sabha (lower house), the BJP-led alliance won 8 out of 14 of Jharkhand's seats.

The BJP's proposal to introduce a uniform Civil Code to standardise the practices of various groups was met with suspicion by the local population, fearing the loss of their customs and autonomy.
23 November 2024 13:22 (UTC+04:00)

By Baheddin Hazi, Exclusive for AzerNEWS

"In Azerbaijan, which is an oil country, people are not only proud of their oil but also bathe in it. Because they believe in the health benefits of oil."

These sentences were written by Anton Troyanovski, a correspondent of "The New York Times" (NYT) newspaper sent to Azerbaijan, in his report entitled "Bathing in oil at the climate summit. The stain remains". The reporter writes that he took an oil bath during the climate summit. In his impressions, the journalist wrote that he felt like an "animal covered in oil".

How a Slavic American journalist feels like a living being is, of course, his own business. However, he even wrote the report from the resort town of Naftalan, from the treatment sanatorium, with prejudice.

Troyanovski writes that he came to Azerbaijan to participate in COP29 and went to the city of Naftalan, which is 4 hours away from Baku. There he saw and heard that there are people from all over the former Soviet Union who come here for treatment. "The number of people coming from Russia has increased due to the sanctions in light of the war in Ukraine," he writes. He spoke with a patient from Kazakhstan. He spoke with other guests as well. Everyone has talked about the benefits of these oil baths.

It may be asked, where is the bias of the reporter here?

Pay attention to this sentence: "By building a modern oil industry, Azerbaijan has created opportunities for itself and a threat to our civilization."

The newspaper of the world's largest oil and gas producing country writes that Azerbaijan has endangered humanity by creating a modern oil industry. They write this in the world's leading media outlet, can you imagine?

I have to repeat the comparison I made in my previous post.

Please note: Azerbaijan's annual gas production is 34 billion cubic meters. However, 1 trillion 29 billion cubic meters of gas is produced annually in the United States. Almost 1 trillion cubic meters more than Azerbaijan. In other words, there is a difference of 30 times, no less, no more. Also, Canada produces 188 billion cubic meters of gas, Norway 124 billion cubic meters, etc. Apart from that, if we look at oil production, Azerbaijan ranks 23rd, and the United States ranks first.

The oil produced in Azerbaijan does not even reach 1 percent of the world's oil production. Gas production is also: 0.7 percent. In this case, who is "endangering our civilization"?!

"The New York Times" writes that while the climate conference is looking for ways to reduce fossil fuel emissions, "Azerbaijanis are proud of their oil" and say: "Oil played a major role in the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany."

A journalist who approaches the subject so simply and thinks so primitively works in the world's leading media organization. It is impossible not to be surprised.

First of all, not only Azerbaijanis but also Americans are proud of the victory over Nazi Germany. I remind the NYT's Slavic-American journalist that the United States was an ally of the Soviet Union in World War II and considered the victory over Nazi Germany as its own victory, of course. During the war, 90 per cent of the gasoline used by military equipment was supplied by Baku, Azerbaijan. Why Azerbaijan not be proud of it?! Should he feel sorry and apologize?! Secondly, as for fossil fuel waste, only 0.1 per cent of it falls on Azerbaijan's share. But 12.6 per cent of waste gases are released into the atmosphere from the United States, 7.6 per cent from India, 6.4 per cent from the European Union, and 1.52 per cent from Canada.

Who is the threat to civilization in this case?!

In this article, the journalist gives a biased interpretation of Azerbaijan's restoration of its territorial integrity and victory over Armenia. He writes that more people came to Naftalan after the Azerbaijani army "recaptured Nagorno-Karabakh, which is located near Naftalan, and removed the contact line."

Again, the expression "Nagorno-Karabakh" is used, and it is another story. The journalist interprets Azerbaijan's liberation of its territory as a "recapturing". What does it mean for a state to recapture its territory?! Can journalists working in the largest media holdings in a country like America make such an obvious mistake? There may be a lack of information about Azerbaijan, perhaps it is understandable. However, it is not difficult for the NYT employee who wrote this article to get accurate and complete information about the territories of Azerbaijan recognized by the United Nations, including those recognized by the United States. One click is enough.

Looking for an excuse to blame Azerbaijan even on the most innocent topicsThis seems to be a disease of the Western media that cannot be cured by any treatment protocol.

I read, review, watch and analyze such articles in such media. I think: are they really that big, or have we magnified too much in our own eyes?!

No, the NYT is a really big media outlet; It has a huge budget and an army journalist. There are incredible amounts of advertising and sales revenue. But...

But the people within these media giants are small; they approach countries like ours with small feelings and weak interests. Just like in this report I wrote about.

PS After bathing in an oil bath, a stain of oil remains on the person. This is natural. If you wash it, it will go away. But if a person's conscience is stained, he will draw "political" conclusions in the treatment procedure.
23 November 2024 16:55 (UTC+04:00)

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In the first ten months of 2024 (January-October), Azerbaijans non-oil and gas exports saw a slight increase. It is worth noting that as a country suffering from Dutch Disease, the development of the non-oil and gas sector remains a key focus for the government. To support the growth of this sector, the government has been implementing various projects, resulting in successive growth.

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23 November 2024 12:36 (UTC+04:00)

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Azerbaijan's State Statistics Committee revealed the amount of goods and services that meet the needs of consumers in the country for January and October of this year, Azernews reports, citing the Committee.

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23 November 2024 14:56 (UTC+04:00)

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From January to October this year, Azerbaijan imported a total of 948,815 tons of wheat, Azernews reports, citing the State Customs Committee.

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23 November 2024 16:39 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

During the first 10 months of 2024 (January-October), Australia ranked 4th among the main countries in Azerbaijan's imports, with a total value of $1.036 billion. During this period, Azerbaijan exported goods worth $114,000 to Australia, Azernews reports, citing the monthly statistics of the State Customs Committee.

In contrast, during the same period in 2023, Australia did not appear on the list of Azerbaijan's main import partners. In the first 10 months of 2023, Azerbaijan's imports from Australia amounted to only $9.004 million, while exports to Australia reached $29.208 million. Throughout the entire year of 2023, Azerbaijan's imports from Australia totaled only $11.688 million.

This year, Azerbaijan imported 115 times more goods from Australia, reaching a total of $1.036 billion.
23 November 2024 11:09 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

A presentation of the book "COP29 - Climate, Planet, and Us" has been held in Baku within the framework of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), Azernews reports.

"EkoSfera" Ecological-Social Center has prepared a methodological manual on climate change in Azerbaijani and Russian languages in a pilot format, and work is currently underway on the English version.

The methodological manual will be made available online in all three languages, ensuring accessibility for anyone looking to acquire knowledge in this field. The first 28 chapters of the book have been prepared by specialists from the "EkoSfera" Ecological-Social Center.

The final 29th chapter has been completed with recommendations for readers by the COP29 President, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Mukhtar Babayev, UN High-Level Climate Champion Nigar Arpadarai, and COP29 Youth Climate Champion Leyla Hasanova.

The idea's author and chief editor of the book is Firuz Sultan-zad, the head of the "EkoSfera" SEM.

The 2024 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 29) took place in Baku, Azerbaijan on November 11-22.

The event has gathered world leaders and negotiators from the member states (or Parties) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to further global progress, with business leaders, young people, climate scientists, Indigenous Peoples, and civil society sharing insights and best practices to strengthen global, collective and inclusive climate action.

Among the key priorities of COP 29 are securing a new goal on climate finance, ensuring every country has the means to take much stronger climate action, slashing greenhouse gas emissions and building resilient communities.
23 November 2024 12:13 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

Gilavar Photo Club has opened a photo exhibition " Feet pressing the button" within the COP29, Azernews reports.

The exhibition, which opened in the Green Zone was dedicated to the victims of mines in Azerbaijan.

Note that the total number of mine victims in Azerbaijan as a result of Armenian aggression reached 3,460 people, including 359 children and 38 women.

From 1991 until November 10, 2020, 2,418 people were injured, 530 people were killed, and 131 people were injured by cluster munitions, with the total number of mine victims during this period amounting to 3,079.

From November 10, 2020, to the present, the number of injured has reached 311, and the number of fatalities has been 70. Over the years, the total number of mine victims has reached 381.

The mines laid by Armenia hinder the process of construction and restoration carried out by Azerbaijan and the return of former internally displaced persons to their native lands. Armenia continues to refuse to provide relevant maps of the minefields, which contradicts its participation in the normalization of relations with Azerbaijan and the peace process.

The international community should not turn a blind eye to the mine terror against Azerbaijan.

Founded in 2017, the Gilavar Photo Club aims to discover and support talented photographers.

2023 marked the fifth anniversary of the photo club that promotes photography art in the country and beyond its borders.

The club's participants are actively engaged in local and international photo contests.

Since 2017, the photo club has been a member of the International Association of Art Photographers.

In 2020, the Gilavar Photo Club became Azerbaijan's official representative at the association.
23 November 2024 15:19 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

Azerbaijani Embassy in Germany has organized an event at the Azerbaijan Cultural Center in Berlin as part of the "35th Berlin Storytelling Days" festival, Azernews reports.

Around 100 students studying in Berlin and their teachers attended the event.

During the event, the Embassy's Second Secretary Gunay Isfandiyarova, provided detailed information about Azerbaijan to the guests and answered questions that interested the students. A short video about Azerbaijan was also presented to the attendees.

Anna Povedic, project manager of the "Marchenland" organization, which organized the festival, spoke about the event and expressed gratitude for its high-level organization.

Following the speeches, Azerbaijani pianist Narmin Najafli performed the Azerbaijani folk tale "Ag goyrcin" (White Dove) for the students, and a music quiz for children was organized.

At the end of the event, the young guests were presented with Azerbaijani sweets and souvenirs.

It is noteworthy that the Azerbaijani Embassy has participated in the "Berlin Storytelling Days," considered the world's largest storytelling festival, for the second consecutive year.
23 November 2024 16:18 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

Heydar Aliyev Azerbaijani Cultural Center in Uzbekistan and the Tashkent State Pedagogical Institute named after Nizami have participated in a tree-planting campaign organized within Green World SolidarityYear in Azerbaijan and in support of COP29 , Azernews reports.

The event was attended by employees of the Cultural Center, members of the Uzbekistan-Azerbaijan Friendship Society, university faculty members, and students.

Speakers included the First Vice-Rector of the Nizami Tashkent State Pedagogical University Vahobjon Rajabov; Deputy Director of the Heydar Aliyev Azerbaijani Cultural Center in Uzbekistan Nadir Alimirzayev; and the Executive Director of the Uzbekistan-Azerbaijan Society, Erkin Nuriddinov.

Addressing the event, the speakers pointed out that President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan, Tanzila Narbayeva, and other officials participated in COP29 in Baku.

The Uzbek delegation held various meetings during COP29. The climate and ecological issues raised at this prestigious event, held in Azerbaijan, are very relevant for Uzbekistan as well, and the Government of Uzbekistan is implementing relevant steps and programs to address these issues. The aim of this campaign is to draw the attention of Uzbek society to this important event and the global environmental problems occurring in the country.

As part of the event, there was also an exhibition showcasing photographs that capture climate change caused by environmental damage.

The 2024 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 29) was held in Baku, Azerbaijan on November 11-22.

The event has gathered world leaders and negotiators from the member states (or Parties) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to further global progress, with business leaders, young people, climate scientists, Indigenous Peoples, and civil society sharing insights and best practices to strengthen global, collective and inclusive climate action.

Among the key priorities of COP 29 are securing a new goal on climate finance, ensuring every country has the means to take much stronger climate action, slashing greenhouse gas emissions and building resilient communities.
23 November 2024 10:47 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

The prospects for the development of tourism relations between Azerbaijan and Brazil were discussed at a meeting held on November 22 between the Chairman of Azerbaijans State Tourism Agency, Fuad Nagiyev, and the Tourism Minister of the Federal Republic of Brazil, Celso Sabino, Azernews reports, citing the State Tourism Agency.

During the meeting, it was noted that the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) held in Azerbaijan featured a special day dedicated to tourism. This event aimed to maintain the continuity of the initiatives presented at COP29 and to exchange views on joint actions for COP30.

The discussions also covered the expansion of bilateral cooperation in tourism and the organization of mutual events.

As part of the meeting, Fuad Nagiyev and Celso Sabino planted a pomegranate tree in front of the State Tourism Agency's administrative building. Symbolically, Fuad Nagiyev presented a pomegranate tree to Celso Sabino to plant in his country, ensuring that the agreements reached in the field of tourism at COP29 will continue in Brazil as the host of COP30. This gesture aims to emphasize the continuous inclusion of tourism and climate issues in the COP agenda.
23 November 2024 17:50 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

A meeting has been held to mark the 90th anniversary of the Azerbaijan Composers' Union, Azernews reports. The event began with a tribute to the memory of the great composer Uzeyir Hajibayli.

Chairman of the Azerbaijan Composers' Union, People's Artist, Frangiz Alizade, addressed the members of the Board and presented a report on the events held in connection with the anniversary.

In her speech, she noted that the celebratory events conducted in Baku, Ganja, Sheki, Shusha, and Berlin are valuable contributions to the Azerbaijani school of composition.

The Union's Secretaries, Zemfira Gafarova and Jalal Abbasov, discussed the activities of musicologists, as well as various departments of the Union and their work.

In their remarks, the corresponding member of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), academician Rena Mammadova, Doctor of Philosophy, Professor Mina Hajiyeva, Honored Art Worker, Professor Hajar Babayeva and others, stressed the significant role of the Azerbaijan Composers' Union in the cultural landscape of Azerbaijani music.

Honored Cultural Worker, PhD in Art Studies, Saadat Tehmirazqizi, highlighted the importance of the programs presented in the series "Union of Composers-90," broadcast on the "Culture" channel of Azerbaijan Television, in educating the public.

At the end of the meeting, by the decision of the board members, young composers Aydan Aliyeva and Uzeyir Mammadov were elected as members of the Azerbaijan Composers' Union.

Furthermore, a gala concert has been presented at Azerbaijan State Academic Philharmonic in celebration of the 90th anniversary of union.

Before the concert program, a congratulatory letter addressed to the Chairman of the Azerbaijan Composers' Union, People's Artist, Frangiz Alizade, was read out by the Ministry of Culture.

During the event, associate professor Leyla Zohrabova provided extensive information about the founding and activities of the union. She pointed out that several events have been organized as part of the anniversary celebrations.

The musical evening featured performances by the Azerbaijan State Symphonic Orchestra named after Uzeyir Hajibayli.

Azerbaijan Composers' Union was founded with the assistance of Uzeyir Hajibeyli on June 30, 1934, as a department of the USSR Composers Union.

The founding assembly was attended by 17 composers from the USSR countries, including three Azerbaijani composers - Afrasiyab Badalbayli, Zulfugar Hajibeyov and Niyazi. The current chairman of the Union is Peoples Artist Frangiz Alizade.

In 2019, Azerbaijan Composers' Union celebrated its 85th anniversary. As part of the festival, a series of marvelous concerts were solemnly held in the Philharmonic Hall, Azerbaijani Composers' Union, Baku Music Academy, the State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater and the Rashid Behbudov State Song Theater. The festival's closing ceremony took place in Heydar Aliyev Palace.

Along with concert programs, a scientific conference titled "Achievements of Azerbaijani musical culture in recent years and prospects" was also held as part of the festival.

Azerbaijan Composers' Union serves as a space for both well-known and new composers, giving them chances to share their music, work together, and take part in different festivals both in Azerbaijan and around the world.
23 November 2024 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

by Akbar Novruz and Nazrin Abdul

As COP29 in Baku reaches its final hours, the atmosphere is charged with emotions, ranging from cautious optimism to outright disappointment. Delegates from around the world have shared their unfiltered views on the state of negotiations, particularly on the contentious issue of climate finance.

Azernews presents the coverage:

Chris Tallentire, an Australian delegate, commended Azerbaijans efforts in hosting the conference and emphasized the events significance. "COP29 has been a big success in bringing together people who are anxious and keen to see action on climate change. Were waiting for the negotiations to come to the crunch point and get some good results. I know some are skeptical, but I think theres still hope," he remarked.

Jake Schmidt from the NRDC foresaw the possibility of extended discussions. "Its going to come down to the wire. Theres no way its going to get done today. Weve got a long way to go on this climate finance target," he said, emphasizing the complexities of reaching a consensus.

Professor Mizan Khan, representing the LDC group, expressed his dissatisfaction with the current financial commitments. "We are not happy with the latest text on NCQG. The proposed $250 billion falls short of expectations. At least $400 to $500 billion is needed annually for climate financing, especially for adaptation in LDCs. This is now a matter for high-level negotiations, and we hope they make the right decision," he said.

Riyaz Hamidullah, Bangladeshs Additional Foreign Secretary for Multilateral Affairs, reflected on the broader context. "We came here with a lot of expectations, not only in terms of finance but also regarding other targets. Right now, we are far from achieving those. But we are keeping our fingers crossed, hoping for a good package from Baku to carry forward to Belem," he noted.

Observer Sonia Basinia Kwami, from 350.org, voiced their disappointment in stark terms: "The $250 billion proposed is abysmal. We need $1.3 trillion, and thats an old figure. This isnt a favor; its a debt owed by the Global North for their emissions. If they can raise $2.3 trillion for wars, then $1.3 trillion for climate action should be nothing. A real commitment is urgently needed," they said.

Dr. Wafa Misrel, Africa Campaigns and Policy Lead, did not hold back her critique of the negotiations. "This is a big disrespect to our continent and our people, who are losing their lives and loved ones. We cant accept thisits more than the worst we expected," she declared.

From the given answers we can say that the opinions collide with each other. As this year's crucial climate conference host, Azerbaijan has successfully executed her desire, and commitment for climate change, and rightfully will continue its fight against climate change. As the final decisions lie with high-level representatives and ministers, the world watches to see if COP29 will deliver on its promises or leave critical climate issues unresolved. From now on it's up to rich countries to decide if we are tackling this ongoing issue after three decades.
23 November 2024 08:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

Negotiations with the United States at various levels have only highlighted the persistence of Washington's hostile policy towards Pyongyang, Azernews reports.

This was stated by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during the opening of an arms exhibition in Pyongyang, as quoted by the Korean Central News Agency.

"In our negotiations with the United States, we went as far as possible, but the outcomes only reinforced the belief that the superpower is not interested in peaceful coexistence," Kim Jong-un said. "Instead, it has demonstrated a constant, hostile, and aggressive policy, coupled with a consistent reliance on force."

He added, "The current emergency situation on the Korean Peninsula is in no way the result of any misunderstanding on the other side."

Kim Jong-un and former U.S. President Donald Trump held several high-profile meetings aimed at reducing tensions on the peninsula. Their second summit in Hanoi in 2019, which focused on denuclearization, ended without an agreement, deepening skepticism about the viability of negotiations. Despite earlier optimism, these talks ultimately failed to produce lasting results, and North Korea has continued to advance its nuclear and missile programs.

The remarks from Kim Jong-un come amid rising tensions in the region. North Korea has conducted multiple missile tests in recent months, while the U.S. continues to impose sanctions, and international efforts to restart talks have largely stalled. Kim's comments suggest that Pyongyang is increasingly resolute in its stance, viewing Washington's actions as evidence that diplomacy has been ineffective.
23 November 2024 09:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), led by Japan's newly appointed Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba, will discuss next week the proposal he supportsthe creation of an "Asian NATO," Azernews reports.

A new working group will be established within the party to explore the potential for such a security alliance in the region.

During his election campaign, Shigeru Ishiba voiced strong support for enhancing Japan's defense capabilities, including the creation of a regional collective security system, which he has referred to as an "Asian NATO." Ishiba also proposed the idea of deploying American nuclear missiles in Asia and has raised the prospect of "joint ownership" of such weapons in an article published by the Hudson Institute, a U.S.-based think tank.

The proposal has stirred debate in Japan and beyond, with critics expressing concerns about the implications for regional stability, while supporters argue that such a move would enhance collective security in the face of growing threats from North Korea and China. Ishibas vision for an "Asian NATO" reflects broader regional trends toward military cooperation and security partnerships, as countries in Asia seek to counter rising geopolitical tensions.

The idea of a collective security arrangement akin to NATO is not new in Asia, but it has gained traction recently as countries like Japan, South Korea, and India increasingly look to collaborate on defense issues. The potential establishment of an "Asian NATO" would mark a significant shift in the regions security architecture, with Japan playing a central role in a new multilateral defense framework.
23 November 2024 10:21 (UTC+04:00)

The President-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, has proposed investor Scott Bessant for the post of finance minister.

Azernews reports, citing the foreign media that D. Trump said this on the "Truth" social network.

According to the politician, this businessman has a reputation as one of the leading international investors and strategists in geopolitics and economics.

It should be noted that Bessent and Trump have known each other for many years. In 2016, the investor donated $1 million to the politician's inauguration committee and advised him on economic issues during his last re-election campaign.
23 November 2024 20:24 (UTC+04:00)

A few years ago, when the European Union approved a decision to toughen sanctions against Russia, a number of countries faced serious threats for not complying with the Western decisions. At that time, one of the Western independent news sites reported that about 20 Armenian companies were banned just because of crooking the West's sanction rule. However, over time, this issue was bypassed.

Recently, the hot discussion between high-ranking officials of Armenia and Russia about increasing trade turnover covered all the headlines. It is no secret that Armenia has been successfully continuing its trade with Russia, despite the heavy sanctions imposed by the West against the country since 2022.

Even reports say that Armenian companies are helping Russia bypass the Western embargo on the gold trade, according to the Insider and Hetq. Behind these companies are influential politicians and businessmen in the country. Since 2022, billions of dollars worth of gold have been imported to Armenia, but the metal does not remain in the country - its export volumes to the UAE are also unprecedented. At the same time, a flow of, presumably, cash and securities goes from the UAE to Armenia. It is profitable for Russian businesses to trade gold through Armenia, since the country does not levy export duties, and trade through private individuals allows them to evade sanctions.

Gold was one of the first Russian exports to be embargoed in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine crisis. In June 2022, the United States banned purchases of the precious metal from Russia, which it described as the countrys largest non-energy export. The embargo formally applies only to imports to the United States.

However, even if the tainted gold is purchased by another country, it remains unsaleable in the United States, meaning that banks will not buy it for investment or trading. Thus, unlike import restrictions on most other goods, the U.S. embargo on bank gold automatically becomes global.

In 20222023, the flow of Russian gold turned east: before the outbreak of the war, it was exported to the UK, but since 2022, the main recipients have been the UAE, Hong Kong, and several other countries. However, these flows have completely stopped by April 2023. Since then, not a single ounce of Russian gold has been exported outside the Eurasian Economic Union. Around the same time, Armenia became a major gold exporter, according to the publication. The Insider and Hetq found that almost all of this gold was imported from Russia.

The publication writes that the Yerevan Jewelry Factory was officially opened in 2022 in a new building on the territory of the Yerevan Market. It is associated with the Sukiasyan and Avagyan families, the latter of whom were involved in the jewellery business in Russia. The company re-exports large quantities of jewellery of Russian origin from Armenia, passing them off as made in Armenia. Apparently, the Yerevan Jewelry Factory served as a channel for whitening the Russian jewellery product. It purchased gold from about three dozen Russian companies.

After the introduction of sanctions, among the recipients of gold in 2022 and 2023 were not only jewellery factories and LLCs with signs of shell companies, but also banks such as Araratbank and Converse Bank. However, by 2024, Armenian bankers began to refrain from such risky steps.

It is possible to assume that Russian gold can be used in the jewellery industry, but this version raises significant doubts. In 2020, jewellery exports from Armenia amounted to $26 million, in 2021 - $75 million, in 2022 - $109 million, and in 2023 - $499 million, according to the source. It is obvious that the jewellery industry of Armenia has grown significantly in the early 2020s, increasing by 1.5-2 times annually, but to assume that it will grow by about two orders of magnitude from 2022 to 2024 (if we assume that gold imports in 2024 are intended exclusively for the jewellery industry) seems completely impossible.

Gold does not stay in Armenia, either in the form of jewellery or with banks. It is exported. According to data from the State Revenue Committee (SRC), in 2023, gold was mainly sent to the UAE. And according to Armenian customs, in the first half of 2024, the country exported a record volume of gold - about 59 tons ($4.1 billion). In addition to the United Arab Emirates, small volumes are also exported to Hong Kong and China.

How Armenia used as a transit state to bypass duties and trading

Billions of dollars in payments that would have to be made through Armenia if gold were sold for currency at banks would raise suspicions. Moreover, because of sanctions, Russia, as the final recipient of the payments, would face the obvious problem of using these currencies to buy other goods.

At the same time, there is a comparable flow of receipts to Armenia under the commodity item, which includes "cash" and "bonds", according to data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC). In 2022, such imports amounted to $1.45 billion, and all of it came from the UAE. This may mean, in particular, the import of cash from the Emirates to Armenia.

Economist Aghasi Tavadyan notes that Russian businessmen used Armenia as a transit country for gold exports because Russia imposed a customs duty on it. However, it did not apply to exports to the EAEU countries.

"Russian businessmen first brought this gold to Armenia and then exported it to the Emirates. This was profitable for them since no export duty is levied on gold from Armenia," the economist explains.
23 November 2024 20:48 (UTC+04:00)

Some public libraries in Japan will trial sales of new books from fiscal 2025 to fill the void caused by a nationwide decline in the number of physical bookstores, industry officials said, Azernews reports, citing Kyodonews.

The program is aimed at increasing opportunities for people to buy books, particularly the elderly who may be unfamiliar with the process of using online shopping sites.

The trial will be conducted in a number of libraries by TRC Library Service Inc., which provides library services for local governments and others, in conjunction with major book wholesaler Nippon Shuppan Hanbai Inc., they said.

The libraries will have separate counters for book purchases and regular lending as well as taking orders for books not held in stock.

The trial will be funded by the two companies which are currently selecting candidate libraries. They expect to expand the system if demand for book sales is strong, they said.

As the libraries may also sell stationery and locally-grown vegetables, an official from Nippon Shuppan Hanbai said, "We hope to create a hub for local interactions by revitalizing libraries."

The number of stores excluding university cooperatives or secondhand bookstores in Japan stood at 7,828 in March, down 145 from the previous survey in August, according to the Japan Publishing Industry Foundation for Culture. The survey also found 24 cities in 15 prefectures had no bookstores at all.

Bookstore operators have come under pressure due to the nation's falling population and increasing popularity of online sales.
23 November 2024 21:46 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

The Japanese government has begun developing a new strategy for the qualitative advancement of its military-industrial complex and the expansion of arms exports, Azernews reports.

According to officials, the further lifting of restrictions on the supply of military equipment abroad is aimed at increasing the sector's attractiveness for businesses, including small and medium-sized enterprises. Documents outlining the new strategy are expected to be published in 2025.

For a long time, Japan maintained a de facto ban on arms exports, which made the country's Self-Defense Forces the only client of its military-industrial complex. This severely limited the size and attractiveness of the relevant market, leading many companies to withdraw from it.

As a result, Japan now has extremely limited production capacity, particularly in areas like ammunition. According to the Nikkei economic newspaper, the countrys reserves would last no more than two months in the event of a large-scale military conflict. Despite taking consistent steps in recent years to expand its military industry and lift export restrictions, Japan's presence in global defense markets remains extremely limited.
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?
Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems has entered into a definitive agreement to sell ShorePoint Health Port Charlotte (Fla.) and certain assets of ShorePoint Health Punta Gorda to AdventHealth.

AdventHealth, a 50-plus hospital system headquartered in Altamonte Springs, Fla., plans to acquire the assets for $265 million in cash, subject to certain net working capital and other adjustments.

Due to the effects of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, the Punta Gorda hospital has indefinitely suspended inpatient operations.

The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2025, subject to regulatory approvals and closing conditions.

"We are excited about the opportunity to bring whole-person care to these communities and look forward to partnering with the dedicated team members and physicians to meet the growing health care needs of Southwest Florida," AdventHealth President and CEO Terry Shaw said in a Nov. 22 news release.

Earlier this year, CHS sold two hospitals in North Carolina and one in Tennessee. It also has plans to sell three hospitals in Pennsylvania and another in Mississippi. The transactions are part of the health system's ongoing divestiture plan, which aims to take in about $1 billion from offloading assets in multiple markets.
More than 3,000 resident physicians and fellows from three Philadelphia-based systems will consider a plan to unionize, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Nov. 21.

Residents at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Temple University Hospital, Jefferson Health and Jefferson's Einstein Healthcare Network will vote on whether to unionize, according to the Committee of Interns and Residents, which is affiliated with SEIU Healthcare.

"Due to chronic understaffing, extreme hours, and an endemic lack of support, the physicians say it is currently impossible to maintain their own well-being in their roles caring for the majority of patients at safety-net hospitals across the city," the union said, according to the Inquirer.

More than 300 residents at Wilmington, Del.-based ChristianaCare are also planning to join CIR/SEIU, which would make them the first unionized residents in Delaware, according to a Nov. 22 Facebook post from the union.

About 20% of the 162,644 active medical residents in the U.S. are unionized, the Inquirer reported.

"Our residency program provides competitive wages and benefits, and fosters an environment of exceptional medical training," Jefferson Health said in a statement shared with Becker's. "While we respect our residents right to explore unionization, we believe that a direct working relationship between our health system's team members and our leaders results in the most empowered and productive teams."

ChristianaCare has received the petition to form a residents' union, a system spokesperson said in a statement shared with Becker's.

"We recognize the right of all employees to vote on whether or not they want a union to represent them," the statement said. "We are committed to providing accurate information to help our residents make an informed decision."

The other health systems were not immediately available for comment. This story will be updated if more information becomes available.
Albany (N.Y.) Med Health System has filed a federal lawsuit against the New York State Nurses Association, alleging improper use of its trademark and domain name, according to court documents accessed by Becker's.

The lawsuit, filed Nov. 15 in federal court, accuses the union of trademark infringement, domain name misappropriation, and actions that harm Albany Med's reputation.

Albany Med alleges that during contract negotiations, the union used its trademarks, "Albany Medical Center" and "Albany Med," without authorization in commerce, including prominently on the union's website, AlbanyMedQualityCare.org.

"Such unauthorized and infringing uses tend to blur the Albany Medical Center word mark and the Albany Med word mark," the lawsuit states. "For example, [the] defendant has published the website AlbanyMedQualityCare.org, where it has used the designation 'albanymedqualitycare.'"

The lawsuit further alleges that the union "engaged in, conspired with others, induced others to engage in, and facilitated an advertising campaign using the website AlbanyMedQualityCare.org regarding plaintiff."

Albany Med claims the union's actions aim to mislead consumers into falsely believing an affiliation or sponsorship exists between the hospital and the union when that is not the case.

In a Nov. 22 news release, NYSNA called the lawsuit "baseless" and described it as "the latest attempt to silence nurses speaking out about the staffing crisis."

The union said it launched the campaign website AlbanyMedQualityCare.org earlier this year as part of an effort to inform the public about what it considers unsafe staffing levels at the hospital. According to Albany Med's lawsuit, the union registered the domain name AlbanyMedQualityCare.org in 2020.

NYSNA alleges that Albany Med management is trying to shut down the union's publicity campaign amid ongoing contract negotiations.

"NYSNA nurses at Albany Med refuse to be silenced, and the union's legal team will vigorously defend this meritless lawsuit," the union said.

Union members have been in negotiations with hospital management since April, with staffing levels continuing to be a key sticking point.
UN chief condemns deadly attack in northwest Pakistan

Xinhua) 10:06, November 23, 2024

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.

(Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Kou Jie)
Aftab Hussain, a former New York pharmacy owner, has been sentenced to two to six years in prison for his role in a Medicaid fraud scheme that defrauded the state of more than $11.5 million.

Mr. Hussain, who operated more than 20 pharmacies in New York City and Westchester County, illegally obtained IV medications through black market channels and paid kickbacks to Medicaid recipients to direct their prescriptions to his pharmacies, according to a Nov. 20 news release from the New York state attorney general.

From 2015 to 2019, Mr. Hussain and his associates paid patients between $25 and $100 to fill their prescriptions at his pharmacies, where the drugs were often illegally sourced. Mr. Hussain also bought back HIV medication from patients for a fraction of its wholesale value, putting vulnerable individuals at risk by depriving them of necessary treatment.

The fraudulent scheme involved submitting false Medicaid claims for these illicit medications, putting taxpayer funds at risk and endangering public health, according to the press release.

Mr. Hussain, who pleaded guilty to multiple charges including grand larceny and healthcare fraud, is also required to pay $7 million in restitution to the state.
Nurse practitioners are taking on more patient care responsibilities in hospitals, helping organizations address growing care demands amid the national physician shortage. However, education gaps may leave many NPs unprepared for practice, posing potential patient safety risks, Bloomberg Businessweek reported Nov. 22.

The report is the second installment in Bloomberg's series exploring the growing role of NPs in today's healthcare system. Its first report, published in July, alleged that many NP programs lack standardized curricula and sufficient clinical training. The latest installment explores the potential safety ramifications for health systems that are overly reliant on NPs who may be unprepared to step into high-stakes roles immediately after graduation.

Four report takeaways:

1. Health systems are increasingly assigning NPs to roles with greater independence, driven in part by physician shortages and the need for cost-effective staffing. NPs are twice as profitable for hospitals to employ, according to 2022 data from Kaufman Hall. A primary care NP costs significantly less to employ than a primary care physician  $156,546 versus $344,308 annually  while generating nearly the same revenue ($424,979 for NPs vs. $462,000 for physicians).

Matthew Bates, a managing director at Kaufman Hall, predicts advanced practice providers will outnumber physicians within the next decade. "It can either be a cause of success and economic benefit or it can cause a lot of disruption, depending on how you handle it," he said in a 2023 podcast cited by Bloomberg.

2. In today's healthcare industry, comprehensive NP training programs in hospitals are relatively rare, partly because federal funding is only allocated for physician training. As a result, the level of preparation NPs receive to work in high-stakes environments like intensive care units is "unbelievably variable," according to Craig Coopersmith, MD, director of the critical care center at Atlanta-based Emory University Hospital. Dr. Coopersmith advocates for increasing federal funding for residency programs and expanding this support to all clinicians.

"You clearly have people who literally aren't trained to do what theyre doing, he told Bloomberg. "There are ways to prevent that."

3. Many large health systems are using NPs to scale services efficiently and reduce staffing costs. This shift is driven by the need to address workforce shortages and improve operational efficiency, with NPs filling critical roles across various specialties. Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare staffs about 37 NPs for every 100 physicians, slightly above the industry average, according to Bloomberg's review of HHS data. The company also has one of the lowest ratios of physicians and APPs per bed among more than 600 health systems tracked by HHS. While this approach has allowed HCA to achieve significant financial efficiency, it has also raised concerns about the high pressure placed on NPs who may be tasked with managing high-stakes patient care beyond their level of training. The publication cited the case of an early-career nurse practitioner who was terminated by HCA in April 2022 after four patients reportedly died under her care.

HCA defended its staffing practices and criticized Bloomberg's analysis in a Nov. 22 statement to Becker's. The health system alleges that the analysis underestimates the number of physicians working in its hospitals by two-thirds, as the HHS data only includes physicians who are "closely affiliated" with systems. In total, more than 45,000 physicians have medical privileges at HCA hospitals.

"We, like hospitals across the country, use NPs to supplement, not replace, physician-led care teams in hospitals," the HCA spokesperson said. "Our use of properly trained and licensed NPs is appropriate; they are supervised by physicians who are available for consultation. It is unfortunate that Bloomberg would publish a story that ignores data we provided and prioritizes unfounded allegations over state findings."

4. For health systems, the key challenge is how to expand reliance on NPs and other APPs while minimizing safety risks. Emory University Hospital is using a creative staffing model to address this concern. The Emory Critical Care Center employs 200 advanced practice providers and 88 physicians who sit in a centralized virtual command center. In this model, APPs are the backbone of intensive care, while physicians manage the overall flow of care. Emory credits the program's success to an extensive transition-to-practice program for NPs. The system is also the first in the nation to offer a yearlong fellowship for APPs.

Read the full article here.
Following Eli Lilly and Johnson & Johnson, Sanofi is aiming to change how it participates in the 340B program, a federal drug pricing program created in 1992, The Wall Street Journal reported Nov. 22.

340B compels drugmakers to offer discounted medications to healthcare facilities serving low-income and uninsured patients. Currently, pharmaceutical companies provide these discounts at the point of purchase. Now, three drugmakers want to implement a different structure.

The Health Resources and Services Administration, which oversees 340B, is pushing back.

The fight began in August, when Johnson & Johnson said it would end upfront discounts for two medications: Xarelto, a blood thinner, and Stelara, an anti-inflammatory. J&J planned to launch a rebate application process Oct. 15, but after HRSA declared the plan illegal and several healthcare organizations criticized it, J&J bowed out Sept. 30.

About six weeks later, J&J filed a lawsuit against HHS and HRSA, arguing the rebate plan is legal. Eli Lilly soon filed a similar lawsuit about its rebate plan, which would require 340B entities to pay full price for drugs before receiving weekly cash rebates.

Sanofi told safety-net entities Nov. 22 it will roll out a new 340B plan in early 2025, according to WSJ. The plan requires certain hospitals to submit claims data that demonstrates eligibility in the program before the France-based drugmaker provides credit. Hospitals would have these credits before they buy drugs from wholesalers, the report said.

The American Hospital Association criticized Sanofi's plan, saying it undermines the program's integrity. Sanofi argued the 340B program "bears little resemblance" to its original purpose and said the new model would "rein in the 340B waste and abuse."

Sanofi's plan would affect more than 20 medications.

In recent years, the number of participants in the 340B program has grown rapidly. In 2004, 657 federally qualified health centers were in the program. By 2021, this increased to 1,280, according to a recent study. More pharmacies are also participating. The proportion of retail pharmacies participating grew from 1% in 2010 to over 40% by 2022.

Opponents to these changes argue they will create financial strain and hinder care for vulnerable populations.
Sundays are pretty busy for me but its all of my own choosing and I wouldnt have it any other way
I remember ringing my mum, saying Im going to go to circus school and she said oh, well at least its a school

As Belfasts Tumble Circus gears up to celebrate its 30th anniversary, co-founder Tina Seger talks about living life in the air

Tumble Circus begins its 30th anniversary celebrations

Aine Toner Sat 23 Nov 2024 at 08:00

Weekend is watching Tina Segner twist in complicated turns high up from the ground in her studio.
A new play inspired by a pioneering trans woman is being performed by Kabosh as part of Belfasts Outburst Festival.

Suspect Device details the life of Wilma Creith, who drove an Ulsterbus from Belfast to Bangor from 1977 until her death in 1989, taking pupils to and from school.
Thirty seconds of savagery, nearly six years for justice: The horrific murder that took life of much-loved dad

Ian Ogle, 45, was attacked and killed by a gang of men in January 2019

Ian Ogle's daughter Toni addressing the media following the court verdict. Pic: PressEye

Liam Tunney Fri 22 Nov 2024 at 21:55

East Belfast father-of-two Ian Ogle was 45 years old. He had a partner  Vera  and two children Toni and Ryan.
A man has been arrested after suspected cannabis worth up to 150,000 was seized by police.

The discovery was made after a vehicle was stopped and searched in the harbour area of West Bank Road, north Belfast on Friday.

The PSNI said officers discovered a well-constructed hide between the rear seat of the vehicle and the boot where suspected herbal cannabis with an estimated street value of up to 150,000 had been concealed.

The suspected herbal cannabis has since been seized along with the vehicle for further forensic examination, they added.

An additional search was also conducted at a property in the south Belfast area.

A 36-year-old man, the driver of the vehicle, was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of a Class B controlled drug, possessing a Class B controlled drug and possession of a Class B controlled drug with intent to supply.

He remains in police custody at this time as enquiries continue.

Detective Sergeant Moore continued: This search, seizure and arrest was conducted as part of our ongoing commitment to address criminality linked to drug importation, supply and use that often results in drug debts, drug addiction and drug-related deaths within our communities.

We will continue to be relentless in our commitment to tackle the illegal supply and use of drugs, and will continue to investigate those who profit from the consequent misery and harm.
Disruption across NI due to snow, wind and rainSome residents trapped in homes in DundonaldChristmas lights switch-on called offNew weather warning issued for Sunday

The Broadway Roundabout in Belfast was closed to traffic for a time. Photo: Andrew McCarroll/Pacemaker Press

Flooding on the A2 Shore Road at Jordanstown as Storm Bert hit Northern Ireland. Photo: Andrew McCarroll/ Pacemaker Press

A clean-up operation is underway after homes were flooded in counties Down and Tyrone.

Storm Bert brought chaos across Northern Ireland on Saturday morning, with power cuts, travel disruption and flooding.

A new alert has been issued for strong winds on Sunday.

Homes near Moat Park in Dundonald were affected by flooding. Some residents at Park Avenue were trapped in their homes by the floodwater.

Several homes in Coalisland, Co Tyrone, have also been damaged. A local community centre has been opened for those affected.

The Department for Infrastructure said its roads and rivers teams responded to over 500 incidents since the yellow weather warning for Storm Bert took effect.

There has been some internal flooding to properties in Dundonald, Kilcoo, Coalisland and Ballinamallard as well as a Royal Mail property in Mallusk, it said.

The department said the Emergency Flooding Payment Scheme has been activated.

About 3,500 customers were without power this afternoon, with the south east and north west worst affected.

The weather also led to the Bangor Christmas Lights switch-on event scheduled for this evening being postponed.

Heres whats happening around Northern Ireland:

Press Eye - Northern Ireland - 23 November 2024 Flooding at Moat Park in Dundonald, Belfast Photograph by Declan Roughan / Press Eye

Watch: Snow arrives in Northern Ireland as temperatures fall below 0
Nikita Hand, who is also known as Nikita Ni Laimhin, leaves the High Court in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA)

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.
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Kremlin critic and Pulitzer Prize winning writer Vladimir Kara-Murza received the award which is in honour of the late US senator John McCain (AP Photo/Rob Gillies)

A Canadian security forum has presented an award to British-Russian dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was freed from prison earlier this year in a massive prisoner exchange.

The Halifax International Security Forum presents the award annually in honour of US senator John McCain, who died in 2018, to individuals from any country who have demonstrated uncommon leadership in the pursuit of human justice.

The forum attracts military officials, United States senators, diplomats and scholars.

I am humbled beyond words to be receiving this prize, but I view it first and foremost as your recognition of all my fellow Russian citizens who have the courage to stand up to Putins regime and to call out his murderous war in Ukraine in full knowledge what the price of that will be, Mr Kara-Murza said.

Mr McCain was a regular at the forum and his son, Jack McCain, presented Mr Kara-Murza with the award.

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Mr Kara-Murza was a pallbearer at Mr McCains funeral. It was described as his last dig at Vladimir Putin, Jack McCain said.

Mr Kara-Murza was freed in the massive prisoner exchange earlier this year with the West  the largest since the Cold War. He had been imprisoned in Russia since April 2022 and was convicted of treason for denouncing the war in Ukraine.

He rose to prominence as a journalist and did columns as a contributor for The Washington Post from his prison cell. He won the Pulitzer Prize for commentary earlier this year.

In 2015 and 2017, he suffered two near-fatal poisonings and developed polyneuropathy, a condition that deadens the feeling in his limbs. He blamed the poisonings on Russian authorities.

Mr Kara-Murza rejected the charges against him as punishment for standing up to Mr Putin.

Past winners of the John McCain Prize for Leadership in Public Service have included the people of Hong Kong for their fight for their rights in the face of oppression from the government of China and the people of Lesbos, Greece, for their valiant actions to rescue refugees fleeing conflict in the Middle East.

A Navy pilot, John McCain was shot down over North Vietnam in 1967. He was captured, beaten and held prisoner for more than five years, refusing to be released before other American service members.

Like Senator McCain, Kara-Murza was willing to stand up for his beliefs even if it came at the price of his freedom, said Peter Van Praagh, the president of the Halifax International Security Forum.
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BENNINGTON  A Bennington man charged with brutally strangling his girlfriend and forcing her to flee out of a third-story window and onto a snowy roof where she later fell off has taken a plea deal with prosecutors that dismisses the murder charge and another serious felony but upholds an aggravated domestic assault charge which allows for a deferred sentence and a 2-year probation.

Jesse Hodsdon, 27, was initially charged with two felony counts  aggravated domestic assault and unlawful restraint, after an arrest warrant was issued. He was arrested weeks later and arraigned on both counts in February 2023. An additional count  attempted murder, was charged in August 2024 when further investigation revealed the extent of the assault. Hodsdon was also charged with violations of his conditions or release after his initial arrest. He was accused of breaking his no-contact condition with the victim.

According to several police affidavits, the victim, a female in a relationship with Hodsdon, was found on January 24th, 2023, lying on the ground with a severe broken arm and lacerations to her head. When police questioned Hodsdon, who was on the scene, he told them that the female had her head out of the window to get fresh air because the apartment was too hot. He claimed that he attempted to grab her to pull her back, but it was too late. The victim was life-flighted to Albany Medical Center for trauma.

After the victim departed, police questioned Hodsdon further. He then told the police that the female had been smoking weed and was blowing the smoke out of the window when she fell. He also told police that he believed she might have been attempting suicide. Hours later, police received a call From Albany Med alerting them to a safety concern for the victim. Albany Med personnel told police that Hodsdon had been calling the victim non-stop. The victim was placed into hiding, where she would not receive phone calls or visitors.

Later that evening, Bennington police received a call from the Albany Police Department alerting them that the victim had told authorities that she had jumped out of the window to get away from Hodsdon due to him strangling her by covering her face with a pillow.

The plea deal called for Hodsdon to plead guilty to one count of aggravated domestic assault and one count of violating his conditions of release. In return, prosecutors dismissed one count of violating his conditions, one count of unlawful restrain, and the attempted murder charge.

At his change of plea hearing Thursday, Hodsdon was given a two-year deferred sentence on the aggravated domestic assault and a 5-6-day sentence on the violation with credit for time served. He was initially facing a possible life sentence.

Hodsdon was also handed a two-year probation with special conditions. He must receive anger management, domestic violence, and mental health screenings and possible counseling if deemed needed by screeners. Hodsdon is also banned from using firearms, harassing or making contact with the victim, and engaging in any further violent behaviors. Travel might also be restricted.

At his hearing, Hodsdon refused to make a statement. The victim did not make any statement, either. States Attorney Erica Marthage told the court on behalf of the victim, that she just wanted this to be over, that she wanted Hodsdon to receive anger management help, and that she had accepted the plea deal.

Hodsdon was released after filing paperwork with the Vermont Department of Probation.

If you or anyone you know is suffering from domestic violence, please call 911, the Bennington Police Department, or reach out to PAVE, Project Against Violent Encounters, here in Bennington at 802-442-2370
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NEW ASHFORD  Just as firefighters from across Berkshire County descended this week on the Butternut wildfire in Great Barrington, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has been holding hearings that would upgrade health and safety rules for emergency responders, like firefighters.

Among the 475 people who have testified about OSHA's proposed Emergency Response Standard in recent days was New Ashford Fire Chief Frank Speth III, who said it would would negatively impact his volunteer fire department.

OSHA says that its Emergency Response Standard is an answer to what is now a haphazard patchwork of occupational safety rules for emergency responders like firefighters. But the cost of the training, the medical and educational requirements, as well as the equipment and the administrative burdens on chiefs, is likely to bankrupt volunteer and call fire departments across New England and the country, according to both fire chiefs and firefighters.

An OSHA panel is in the midst of 11 days of taking testimony from emergency responders and firefighters from across the country in virtual hearings prior to making a decision whether to implement the Emergency Response Standard as is  or make modifications like exempting fire departments at the volunteer level.

Speth said his volunteer fire department's annual budget is $19,500.

"If these proposed rules are adopted, there's a real possibility the town of New Ashford cannot afford them and will have to forgo having a fire department. If that happens, there will be no practical replacement for the New Ashford Fire Department," Speth said.

In his five-minute testimony on Monday, Speth explained that the other nearest departments to New Ashford are 10 miles to the north and 7 miles to the south.

"It would take these two trucks about 15 to 20 minutes to reach a fire in New Ashford," he said. "Waiting that long is really pointless."

He explained that the town's 15-member volunteer fire department responded to 42 emergency calls last year including just one structure fire. It will cost at least $14,000 for his department to comply with OSHA's Emergency Response Standard proposal and that would more than double the town's fire department budget.

"New Ashford is like a lot of small communities around New England and in an image like thousands of small towns across the country, we simply have no financial or administrative resources," he said. "New Ashford is a low-firefighting risk environment when compared to larger cities and towns."

Speth said actual firefighting for his department is limited to small outdoor fires and single-family homes. Most calls are responding to medical emergencies, he said.

Speth said National Fire Protection Association estimates small towns like New Ashford have an injury rate of 0.5 percent per 100 firefighters, eight to 10 times less of career firefighters in larger cities.

"Many of the proposed fixes have not had any impact on firefighter health and safety in New Ashford or the thousands of small towns like us," he said. "On behalf of my town and my department, I ask you to reject this proposal as written, reexamine the issues before moving ahead."

Michael Goldstein, president of the Massachusetts Call/Volunteers Firefighters Association, testified as well and was asked by an OSHA panelist to explain how "call fire departments" operate.

Goldstein explained that they operate similarly to volunteer departments, with the key difference being that firefighters are paid per call.

Department of Labor Senior Attorney Linda Wiles asked whether firefighters at call and volunteer departments in Massachusetts would be covered under OSHA rules. They would, said Speth, Goldstein and Sunderland Fire Chief Michael Zeoli, who also testified.

In response to some of the 2,500 comments OSHA received during a comment period that ended in July, the agency released a statement on Sept. 17 directed to volunteer fire departments.

It said that their comments raised "serious concerns about the economic feasibility of the proposed standard for volunteer fire departments. OSHA takes these concerns seriously."

OSHA's Sept. 17 statement ended thus: "The agency's intention has always been to work collaboratively with the emergency response community to find win-win solutions that ensure both responder safety and public safety."
GREAT BARRINGTON  On Saturday, officials said the Butternut Fire appears to be contained, but residents should still steer clear of it.

"This area is very unstable," Great Barrington Fire Department Lt. Brian Mead said in a news release. "We are expecting that there is going to be trees falling, there's going to be landslides and they're going to be rocks rolling down hills. It is very steep, it is very slippery. We cannot have anybody in this area."

Officials issued a map of where fire breaks have been cut. 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.

"At this time, to the best of our knowledge through recognizance and aerial imaging, the fire is contained within this area," a statement from the department reads.

However, the department emphasized that it was not safe to walk up to the break line and to avoid East Mountain.

On Friday, the department said that crews were working on establishing the final break line for the blaze, connecting its eastern and western line.

On Thursday, much-needed rain slowed the growth of the fire that started Monday on East Mountain. It has burned more than 1,300 acres, endangering 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.

Fire officials continued to monitor the area for flare-ups on Saturday. Mead explained that 30-40 mph winds were expected to expose the smoldering blaze to "some new material to burn."

"Over the next two days we are expecting to be in a defensive/protective mode," the town's fire department explained in a separate Saturday morning statement. "This means that we will be closely monitoring the area  should there be the slightest indication of danger to residential areas, we will stage structural firefighting equipment and personnel to protect property."

Residents that witness flare-ups in the area of the fire are instructed to call 413-528-0788 extension 8 and leave a message. If the fire appears to endanger a structure or any people, residents should call 911.

The Saturday operation was described as "smaller scale," with drones and a crew from Wyoming experienced in wildfires monitoring the perimeter of the fire to inspect break lines and make improvements as needed.

Almost all of the Berkshires continues to be under a severe drought. The human-caused Butternut Fire ignited amid frequent Red Flag warnings for the area, the highest warning level for wildfire potential because of dry conditions, wind and warm temperatures. On Friday, the town's fire department confirmed that burning bans for the area were still in place.

Masks available

Officials are also monitoring the area's air quality. As of 1 p.m. Saturday, the town's air quality index was 19, which is considered good. If it worsens, the fire department said that the town's health department would issue updated guidance to residents.

KN-95 or N-95 masks are available for pickup at all South County towns, according to a Saturday afternoon update from the Southern Berkshire Public Health Collaborative. A full list of pickup locations and hours can be found at southernberkshirehealth.com or by calling 413-243 -5540 extension 109.

The Western Massachusetts Health and Medical Coordinating Coalition is expected to deliver more masks next week to ensure an "ongoing supply."

During periods of poor air quality, the collaborative encourages residents to stay indoors, keep car and house windows closed and wear a KN-95 or N-95 mask when working or exercising outdoors.
Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data.

Our Opinion: Before answering who should take over Berkshire Carousel, we must ask where it can succeed
Several areas have been hit by flooding and power cuts after Storm Bert swept across Ireland overnight on Friday.

The Electricity Supply Board (ESB) said that high winds had caused power outages for 60,000 customers, with the worst affected counties including Donegal, Sligo, Mayo, Galway, Cavan, Monaghan, Kerry and Cork.

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Status red rain warnings were issued by forecasters for Cork and Galway until 10am on Saturday, while an orange alert for rain was in place for 10 hours for counties Waterford, Kerry, Clare, Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim.

A Yellow alert for wind and rain warnings remains in place for most counties until midday on Saturday, with a snow-ice warning in place for Co Donegal.

Storm Bert

Very wet & windy this morning with widespread rain & flooding in places as warnings still in place



Showery rain will move in from the W this afternoon, heavy at times with hail & thunder possible



Very strong & gusty southerly winds will ease for a time pic.twitter.com/aCIWHlhIDZ  Met Eireann (@MetEireann) November 23, 2024

Cork Airport said it was operating normally despite the weather conditions, while images posted online appeared to show that the River Feale in west Limerick had burst its banks.

There has also been major flooding on Bridge Street in Killybegs, Co Donegal, while flooding has also been reported in Galway.

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Flooding and gusty winds are expected across the country on Saturday, according to forecasters Met Eireann, but will ease off in the mid-afternoon before more heavy rain moves in from the west.

In Northern Ireland, a yellow alert for rain and snow is in place across the region from midnight until 11am on Saturday, while a wind warning is in place until Saturday evening.

Police urged motorists to take extra care on a number of roads in the Newtownards area because of the impact of poor weather conditions on Saturday.

It said that a fallen tree on the Belfast Road and on the Springvale Road, between Ballyhalbert and Ballywalter, has blocked both lanes.

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The PSNI said a shed roof has been blown onto the Ballyquinn Road, Dungiven and is causing an obstruction, and there is a heavy build-up of traffic in the Dunhill Road area of Coleraine because of snow.
Taoiseach Simon Harris has spoken to the Dublin woman who won a civil case against mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor to praise her courage.

The Taoiseach said he also wanted to tell Nikita Hand, a hair colourist from Drimnagh, that her case had prompted an increase in women coming forward to ask for support.

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Ms Hand, who accused McGregor of raping her in a Dublin hotel in December 2018, won her claim against him for damages in a civil case at the High Court in Dublin on Friday.

The total amount of damages awarded to Ms Hand by the jury was 248,603.60.

Mr McGregor said in a post on social media on Friday that he intends to appeal against the decision. That post has since been deleted.

Speaking to the media on Saturday, Mr Harris said he told Ms Hand of the support she has from people across Ireland.

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I spoke with Nikita today and I wanted to thank her for her incredible bravery and her courage, he said.

I wanted to make sure that she knew how much solidarity and support there was across this country for her bravery.

Nikita Ni Laimhin (Brian Lawless/PA)

I also wanted to make sure she knew of what the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre had said yesterday  that so many other women have now come forward in relation to their own experiences of sexual abuse as a result of Nikitas bravery.

The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre said the case has had a profound effect on the people the charity supports, and that over the first 10 days of the High Court case, calls to its national helpline increased by almost 20 per cent.

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It said that first-time callers increased by 50 per cent compared to the same period last year, and were largely from people who had experienced sexual violence who were distressed and anxious from the details of case and the views people had to it.

Mr Harris said: I wanted to speak with her and I wanted to wish her and her daughter, Freya, all the very best night, and I was very grateful to talk with Nikita today.

Her bravery, her courage, her voice has made a real difference in a country in which we must continue to work to get to zero tolerance when it comes to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.

I dont want to say too much more, because conscious there could be further legal processes, but I absolutely want to commend Nikita for her bravery, for her courage, for using her voice.

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Nikita Hand, who is also known as Nikita Ni Laimhin (Brian Lawless/PA)

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee praised Ms Hands bravery and said she had shown there is light at the end of the tunnel.

She said: I just want to commend Nikita for her bravery, for her determination and the leadership that she has shown in what has been  Ive no doubt  a very, very difficult time for her and indeed, for her family.

She added: Because of wonderful people like Nikita, I hope that it shows that there is light at the end of the tunnel, that there are supports available to people, and that there is justice at the end of the day.

Ms Hand said in a statement outside court on Friday that she hoped her case would remind victims of assault to keep pushing forward for justice.

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Describing the past six years as a nightmare, she said: I want to show (my daughter) Freya 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.

Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor (Brian Lawless/PA)

During the case, Ms Hand said she was disappointed and upset when the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) decided not to prosecute the case after she made a complaint to An Garda Siochana.

In a letter to her in August 2020, the DPP said there was insufficient evidence and there was not a reasonable prospect of conviction.

Ms Hand asked the DPP to review the decision, saying she felt she was being treated differently because one of the suspects was famous.

Asked about the DPPs decision not to prosecute, Mr Harris and Ms McEntee stressed the importance of the DPPs independence on whether to prosecute.

There are obviously structures in place where the DPP can meet a victim and can outline to them their reasons for not taking the case, Mr Harris said.

Ireland Inside Court 24: How the case against Conor McGreg... Read More

But theres also always an opportunity for the DPP in any situation  and I speak broadly in relation to this  to review a decision, to consider any new information that may come to light, and I dont want to say anything that may ever cut across the ongoing work of the DPP.

Ms McEntee stressed that there should never be any political interference in the independence of the DPPs decisions.

I have, since becoming minister, given priority to and enabled a new office within the DPP to open specifically focused on sexual offences, so that this issue can be given the focus and the priority that it needs, she said.
Saturday's front pages are firmly focused on Conor McGregor losing his civil rape case against Nikita Hand with a jury awarding her damages worth over 248,000.

The Irish Times and Irish Examiner report a High Court jury has awarded 248,603 damages to a woman against Conor McGregor after finding she was assaulted by him in a Dublin hotel.

The Echo focus on a Cork teacher who is appealing for funding for homeless children in the city who are coming to school without breakfast, clean clothes and enough sleep.

For all the big news and sport, pick up a copy of Saturday's Irish Daily Mail pic.twitter.com/3Z8vvlOuTE  The Irish Daily Mail (@irishdailymail) November 22, 2024

Today's front page of The Irish Sun pic.twitter.com/WVVsgsV69K  The Irish Sun (@IrishSunOnline) November 23, 2024

Morning readers, here's a look at your weekend Belfast Telegraph. And stay with us for all your breaking news. On the front page  https://t.co/D7kbtEjnlz pic.twitter.com/vGGnemfuW7  Belfast Telegraph (@BelTel) November 23, 2024

In the UK, the economic fallout from Labours October budget features heavily on the front pages of Saturdays newspapers.

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The Times, Financial Times and Daily Mail all focus on Britains private sector shrinking in the month since Chancellor Rachel Reeves unveiled her financial vision.

Just published: front page of the Financial Times, UK edition, Saturday 23 November https://t.co/V4iSJFjnel pic.twitter.com/x1kG4rwcLg  Financial Times (@FT) November 22, 2024

MAIL: Private sector shrinks after Labour budget #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/b3jjyxHuW5  Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) November 22, 2024

THE TIMES: UK economy takes a hit after Labour tax increases #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/jqnDOzPRUv  Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) November 22, 2024

The Daily Express warns the Budgets impact on social care could be disastrous.

The i looks at the rising number of people admitted to hospital due to side effects and reactions to weight loss injections.

Saturday's front page: Weight loss jab hospital cases surge - after rush to buy slimming drugs online#Tomorrowspaperstoday



Latest by @adamtomforrest: https://t.co/DuRXd6MePh pic.twitter.com/MrbnNEZayO  The i paper (@theipaper) November 22, 2024

The Daily Mirror reports the King is planning a trip to South Asia.

Donald Trump is considering sanctions against the International Criminal Court after an arrest warrant was issued for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to The Daily Telegraph.

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The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:



'Trump threatens sanctions on ICC'#TomorrowsPapersToday



Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4OoUh6 pic.twitter.com/5NQuj1XFkR  The Telegraph (@Telegraph) November 22, 2024

Lastly, the Daily Star reports the Kings coronation cost 72 million, which it says is the same amount that could fund an extra 2,057 nurses per year.
The Laos government has said it is profoundly saddened and is investigating the deaths of six people from suspected methanol poisoning, including a British lawyer.

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.

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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.

Simone White, a British lawyer who died from suspected methanol poisoning in Laos. Issue date: Friday November 22, 2024. (Squire Patton Boggs/PA)

In a statement released to the media, the Laos government said it was profoundly saddened over the deaths of foreign tourists and offered its condolences to their families.

It added that is has been investigating to find causes of the incident and to bring the perpetrators to justice.

On Friday, Ms Whites parents said they are devastated by the loss of our beautiful, kind and loving daughter.

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In a statement, Ms Whites parents added: 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.

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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 Ms White was a talented colleague with a bright future ahead of her and someone who epitomised (our firms) values.

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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 13th, and they arranged transport to a hospital for them.

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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 his countrys 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.
A Canadian security forum has presented an award to British-Russian dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was freed from prison earlier this year in a massive prisoner exchange.

The Halifax International Security Forum presents the award annually in honour of US senator John McCain, who died in 2018, to individuals from any country who have demonstrated uncommon leadership in the pursuit of human justice.

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The forum attracts military officials, United States senators, diplomats and scholars.

I am humbled beyond words to be receiving this prize, but I view it first and foremost as your recognition of all my fellow Russian citizens who have the courage to stand up to Putins regime and to call out his murderous war in Ukraine in full knowledge what the price of that will be, Mr Kara-Murza said.

Mr McCain was a regular at the forum and his son, Jack McCain, presented Mr Kara-Murza with the award.





Jack McCain, Senator John McCains son, is presenting the 2024 John McCain Prize for Leadership in Public Service to @FreeVladimirKM for repeatedly demonstrating unusual courage and defending the rule of law in Russia. Learn more about the prize here: https://t.co/MSoeVsqsxa pic.twitter.com/AosBWz8ekv  Halifax The Forum (@HFXforum) November 23, 2024

Mr Kara-Murza was a pallbearer at Mr McCains funeral. It was described as his last dig at Vladimir Putin, Jack McCain said.

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Mr Kara-Murza was freed in the massive prisoner exchange earlier this year with the West  the largest since the Cold War. He had been imprisoned in Russia since April 2022 and was convicted of treason for denouncing the war in Ukraine.

He rose to prominence as a journalist and did columns as a contributor for The Washington Post from his prison cell. He won the Pulitzer Prize for commentary earlier this year.

In 2015 and 2017, he suffered two near-fatal poisonings and developed polyneuropathy, a condition that deadens the feeling in his limbs. He blamed the poisonings on Russian authorities.

Mr Kara-Murza rejected the charges against him as punishment for standing up to Mr Putin.

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Past winners of the John McCain Prize for Leadership in Public Service have included the people of Hong Kong for their fight for their rights in the face of oppression from the government of China and the people of Lesbos, Greece, for their valiant actions to rescue refugees fleeing conflict in the Middle East.

A Navy pilot, John McCain was shot down over North Vietnam in 1967. He was captured, beaten and held prisoner for more than five years, refusing to be released before other American service members.

Like Senator McCain, Kara-Murza was willing to stand up for his beliefs even if it came at the price of his freedom, said Peter Van Praagh, the president of the Halifax International Security Forum.
Venezuelas government has announced another investigation against opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.

Fridays move continues its efforts to blame her for the economic sanctions the United States and other nations have imposed against the South American country.

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Ms Machado will be investigated for expressing support for a bill passed by the US House of Representatives this week that would block the federal government from contracting any company doing business with Venezuelas government.

A statement from Venezuelas attorney generals office announcing the latest investigation said Ms Machados comments constitute the commission of crimes of treason against the country, conspiracy with foreign countries and associations.





The statement characterised the House bill as an effort to increase the catalogue of sanctions against Venezuela.

The announcement came four days after the US government recognized Venezuelan opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez as that nations president-elect.

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President Nicolas Maduro claimed to have won the July election, but he and his government have refused to show vote tallies backing his supposed victory.

Ms Machado won the primary organised last year by the main opposition coalition with more than 90% of support. But she did not appear on the July 28 ballot because the government banned her from running for office, alleging she had sought the economic sanctions the US imposed last decade in an effort to topple Mr Maduro.

Her hand-picked substitute was also barred from representing the Unitary Platform opposition coalition. That prompted the factions leadership to choose Gonzalez as a candidate.



Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez waves to supporters in Madrid (AP)

Venezuelas National Electoral Council, which is stacked with ruling party loyalists, declared Mr Maduro the election winner hours after polls closed. Unlike previous presidential elections, electoral authorities did not provide detailed vote counts.

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However, the opposition coalition collected tally sheets from 80% of the nations electronic voting machines and posted them online. Mr Gonzalez and Ms Machado then said the voting records showed the former diplomat won the election with twice as many votes as Mr Maduro.

Mr Gonzalez left Venezuela in September for exile in Spain after a warrant was issued for his arrest in connection with an investigation into the publishing of the vote tally sheets.

Venezuelas next presidential term starts on January 10.

In a post on X, Ms Machado earlier this week expressed her gratitude to members of Congress for passing the bill, which she described as a crucial step towards holding Maduros regime accountable.

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We look forward to continuing the fight for freedom in Venezuela, working together to achieve a swift transition to democracy and a bright future for the region, she wrote.
Malabar Coast, Arabian Sea. Theres romance enough just in the names. Im rattling along in a rickety local bus (no windows, driver perched on the springs of a seat that long ago lost its padding) towards Kochi in Kerala state, south-west India. The city, once known as Cochin, was a relatively sleepy place in the 1960s. Since then, the population has exploded from a manageable 250,000 to more than 3 million. What youll see today is a colonial-era district, Fort Kochi, surrounded by a vast Indian city of shopping malls, high-rise apartment blocks and motorways  pumping with life and energy 24/7.

Traditional Kathakali dance at a New Year carnival in Fort Kochi, Kerala, India. Credit: Getty Images

Fort Kochi was a significant trading port long before the local raja (king) negotiated a deal with the Portuguese in 1500. He got the worst of the arrangement, slowly losing power to his erstwhile ally. The Portuguese built a fort, hence the name, and held on to the territory for the next 163 years before losing it in turn to the Dutch. The British wrested it away in 1795, holding on to the growing town until India gained its hard-won independence in 1947.

Its no surprise that Kochi is a major tourist attraction. Its small enough to navigate around easily and is packed with the magnificent architecture of three successive colonial influences alongside Indian, with the lot surrounded by sea. With an international airport well serviced by flights from Australia, Kochi is a great place to begin your Indian adventure, especially if youre a first-time visitor to this country.

Kerala is considered a politically and socially progressive state relative to the rest of India. Its also one of the wealthiest, and this is evident in Kochi. Its a city of fine restaurants, hipster cafes, boutiques packed with original designs and a surprisingly large number of art galleries, many housed in exquisite, well-maintained colonial buildings. The city is home to the government-supported Kochi-Muziris Biennale, which has had quite an impact on the art world since its inception in 2012. The sixth edition gets under way in December this year.
A Peter Dutton-led government would deport non-citizens who voice rhetorical support for terror groups and demand the Australian Broadcasting Corporation avoid bias on Israel, according to a keynote speech home affairs spokesman James Paterson will deliver outlining the Coalitions pledges.

Portraying the bloody war in Gaza and Lebanon as a battle for democracy, Paterson will say Australian Jews were being held responsible for difficult choices Israel was forced to make in its fight against terror groups supported by Iran.

Liberal frontbencher James Paterson. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Paterson will say that a Coalition government will strengthen the laws used by police to lay charges on incitement and displaying terror symbols if they prove too difficult to enforce.

I am deeply troubled by the number of Jews who have told me they are contemplating moving to Israel because they think they may feel safer in a country under attack from three terrorist organisations and a genocidal nation state than they do in Melbourne or Sydney, he will say in a speech to the Executive Council of the Australian Jewrys annual general meeting in Melbourne on Sunday. But I understand it.
Warning: Disturbing content.

Vang Vieng: The American victim of a suspected mass poisoning in Laos was found dead in his hostel room next to two empty bottles of vodka, while the two Danish victims were discovered unconscious on their bathroom floor, according to a Laos government document.

The police document, seen by this masthead, named the American as James Louis Hutson, 57, and the Danish women as Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, and Freja Vennervald Sorensen, 21, although the trio could not be independently identified.

Tourists at Nana Backpacker Hostel in Vang Vieng on Tuesday. Credit: AP

They are believed to be the first three deaths from the suspected methanol poisoning in Vang Vieng that also killed Australians Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, and 28-year-old British woman Simone White.
Young men and women should be able to travel, create their own life experiences and be safe. Well forever miss our beautiful girl and hope her loss of life has not been in vain. Six people have now died in the suspected poisoning incident. At least 10 others are seriously ill after drinking spirits believed to have been laced with methanol, a cheap and deadly form of alcohol mostly found in crude or criminal brews. Tourists at Nana Backpacker Hostel in Vang Vieng last Tuesday. Credit: AP The government of Laos publicly acknowledged the tragedy for the first time on Saturday, saying it was profoundly saddened. The government of the Lao [Peoples Democratic Republic] has been conducting investigations to find the causes of the incident and to bring the perpetrators to justice in accordance with the law, it said. The [government] reaffirms that it always attaches importance and pays attention to the safety of both domestic and foreign tourists.

Australian officials in Laos and Thailand told this masthead they were working closely with local authorities, including offering assistance in relation to the investigations that were underway. We are clear with our Lao counterparts that Australians expect those investigations to be thorough and transparent to try to prevent a repeat of such tragic events, DFAT said in a statement. They have also brought together representatives from other countries with affected citizens, including Denmark, UK, US and others. At the weekend, members of the womens football team, the Beaumaris Sharks, and other locals tied blue and yellow ribbons  the clubs colours  at locations across the suburb including at Beaumaris Secondary College and at Beaumaris Reserve. In a statement released on Sunday, Beaumaris Football Club, where the girls played, said the events of the past week had taken a huge toll on the club.

We continue to send our thoughts and prayers to Sam and Shaun Bowles and Michelle and Mark Jones and their family as they prepare to bring their beloved daughters Holly and Bianca home, the club wrote. Loading The Beaumaris Football Club extends its love and support to both the Mentone Girls Grammar and Beaumaris Secondary College communities as they too navigate Holly and Biancas passing. Holly and Bianca were loved and respected leaders of both school communities and we know all students, past and present, will be feeling their loss immeasurably. Beaumaris Cricket Club released a statement extending its condolences and unwavering support to the football club and the families of Bowles and Jones.

Holly and Biancas tragic passing has left an indelible void in our community. Our hearts go out to the Bowles and Jones families, as well as the many friends, teammates, and supporters who have been touched by the lives of these two incredible young women, the club wrote. Ribbons in the womens sporting clubs colours left as a tribute in Beaumaris. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui The Beaumaris community is built on the values of care, compassion, and solidarity. In the wake of this tragedy, we stand united with the football club and the wider Beaumaris community, offering our love and support in every way possible. Tributes for Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones at Beaumaris Football Club on Saturday. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui Further details have emerged about the suspected methanol poisoning in Vang Vieng. An American man and two Danish women are believed to have been the first to die.

A Laotian government document revealed that the American victim was found dead in his hostel room next to two empty bottles of vodka, while the two Danish victims were discovered unconscious on their bathroom floor. Loading The police document, seen by this masthead, named the American as James Louis Hutson, 57, and the Danish women as Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, and Freja Vennervald Sorensen, 21, although the trio could not be independently identified. British woman Simone White, 28, is also among the dead. On Friday, police ordered the closure of Nana Backpacker Hostel, the hostel where the Australians and other travellers were staying when they were taken to hospital. This masthead has been unable to verify reports from locals that all the dead victims were guests at Nana, which had been serving free shots of alcohol just before they became sick.
'Terrified' King Charles Already Sees Prince Harry As 'Emotionally Unstable' And 'Volatile' Prior To Royal Rift (Photo: REUTERS)

A journey to the Indian subcontinent would substantially enhance King Charles' health as he persists in his cancer rehabilitation.

This may indicate a revival of his intentions to visit India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, which were postponed until the Queen's demise in September 2022. Number 10 is eager to enlist King Charles and Queen Camilla to initiate a charm offensive as Britain aims to forge substantial commercial connections in a post-Brexit landscape.

A source indicated that it is highly encouraging to formulate such preparations for King Charles and Queen Camilla, considering the monarch's challenging year; yet, it is proceeding with significant momentum. A forthcoming tour of the Indian subcontinent will hold substantial political and cultural significance for Britain on the global stage. The King and Queen served as exemplary ambassadors during this period.

Officials from the Foreign Office have received authorization to initiate conversations with prospective host nations for royal visits, and plans for tours of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh are being formulated. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has conveyed his intention to host King Charles and Queen Camilla following the cancellation of their previous visit, Reuters reported.

Concerns exist regarding a visit to the country due to Modi's increasing proximity to the Russian autocrat Vladimir Putin. Last month, the pair convened at the BRICS meeting of global leaders, and on Tuesday, Putin extolled Russia's "strategic partnership" with India.

Modi has asserted that Moscow's unlawful conflict in Ukraine must be resolved amicably. In 2006, King Charles, as Prince of Wales, visited Pakistan for a week accompanied by Camilla. It has taken me very nearly 58 years to reach you, and its not from want of trying, I can tell you," he said at the time.

The couple traveled in 2019 to enhance relations between the two nations. In November that year, King Charles embarked on his 10th official visit to India, concentrating on climate change, sustainability, and social finance. He visited the Meteorological Department in New Delhi, traveled in an electric rickshaw, and talked with environmentalist Sunita Narain.

Last month, King Charles and Queen Camilla visited the countryside for a spa retreat following their trip to Australia and Samoa. Sources indicated that King Charles would "relish" the prospect of publicly resuming his role as monarch, as per Town & Country Magazine.

Palace officials indicated last month that he was poised to commence a comprehensive international tour following the trip to Australia and Samoa, which was deemed the "ideal remedy." The Mirror disclosed this month that the pair is organizing a spring vacation to Italy as the administration aims to reinforce relations with Europe.

Italy will have a sacred Jubilee year in 2025, commencing on Christmas Eve and concluding on Epiphany 2026. This significant anniversary for the Catholic Church is a period of celebration, prompting conjecture regarding a potential meeting between the royals and the Pope.

The announcement of King Charles' anticipated visit has elicited varied responses online. King Charles' India trip could redefine UK-South Asia relations! an X user said. A health-focused royal tour? Seems like a win-win for diplomacy and recovery," another netizen stated.

Business Times has reached out to King Charles and Queen Camilla for comments.


PM Modi, top ministers extend birthday wishes to Om Birla Prime Minister Narendra Modi and top ministers extended warm birthday wishes to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Saturday, lauding his contributions to upholding democratic values and ensuring the smooth functioning of the Parliament. Taking to social media platform X, PM Modi praised Om Birla's leadership, emphasising his commitment to maintaining parliamentary decorum.



"Happy birthday to Om Birla ji, who has made a distinct identity as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha with his simple, easy, and efficient working style. Protecting democratic decorum and parliamentary dignity has been his top priority. May God grant him a healthy and long life," the Prime Minister wrote.



Union Home Minister Amit Shah also conveyed his best wishes, highlighting the Speaker's role in enabling a productive legislative environment.



"Heartiest birthday wishes to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla ji. Under your chairmanship, the House is witnessing a golden period of public welfare schemes and policies. I pray to God for your healthy and long life," the Home Minister's post read.



External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar extended wishes and appreciated Om Birla's leadership and dedication to democratic processes.



"Heartiest birthday wishes to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla ji. Your efficient leadership, effective management, and inspiring working style have further enriched the House and the democratic process. I wish you a long life and good health," EAM Jaishankar wrote in a post on X.



Born on November 23, 1962, Om Birla has been serving as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha since 19 June 2019, and he was re-elected for a second term in June 2024. He serves as a Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha from Kota constituency in Rajasthan since 2014.




Novotech, the global full-service clinical Contract Research Organization (CRO) that partners with biotech companies to accelerate the development of advanced and novel therapeutics at every phase, has published an in-depth whitepaper titled "Vaccines  Global Clinical Trial Landscape (2024)." This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the evolving vaccine development landscape, offering strategic insights for biotech and pharma stakeholders.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241122751296/en/

The whitepaper examines trends in prophylactic and therapeutic vaccine trials, highlighting advancements and emerging challenges. Key topics covered include the expansion of mRNA platforms, innovative delivery methods, and efforts toward equitable vaccine access by organizations such as WHO and Gavi.

Highlights:

Emerging Trends : A shift towards adaptive trial designs, personalized vaccine trials, and novel delivery methods addressing infectious diseases and cancer.

: A shift towards adaptive trial designs, personalized vaccine trials, and novel delivery methods addressing infectious diseases and cancer. Regional Analysis : Clinical trial activity by region, emphasizing Asia-Pacifics increasing role in vaccine development, especially in therapeutic vaccines.

: Clinical trial activity by region, emphasizing Asia-Pacifics increasing role in vaccine development, especially in therapeutic vaccines. Investment Landscape : A summary of venture funding and M&A activity, with a focus on infectious and oncology vaccines.

: A summary of venture funding and M&A activity, with a focus on infectious and oncology vaccines. Regulatory Developments: Insights into streamlined regulatory processes established after COVID-19, aiming to expedite vaccine approvals and enhance pandemic preparedness.



The whitepaper is available for download, providing actionable data and strategic guidance on navigating regulatory complexities, patient recruitment, and leveraging new vaccine technologies.

For more details or to access the report, click here.

About Novotech Novotech-CRO.com

Founded in 1997, Novotech is a global full-service clinical Contract Research Organization (CRO) focused on partnering with biotech companies to accelerate the development of advanced and novel therapeutics at every phase.

Recognized for its industry-leading contributions, Novotech has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Frost & Sullivan 2024 Global Biotech CRO Award, 2024 Clinical Trials Arena Award for Excellence in Business Expansion, Marketing, and Innovation**,** 2024 Employer of Choice, 2024 Great Place to Work in the US, 2024 Brandon Hall Gold Award, CRO Leadership Award 2023, the Asia Pacific Cell & Gene Therapy Clinical Trials Excellence 2023, the Asia-Pacific Contract Research Organization Company of the Year Award since 2006.

The Company offers a comprehensive suite of services including laboratories, Phase I facilities, drug development consulting, regulatory expertise, and has experience with over 5,000 clinical projects, including Phase I to Phase IV clinical trials and bioequivalence studies. With a presence in 34 office locations and a dedicated team of 3,000+ professionals worldwide, Novotech is a trusted end-to-end strategic partner of choice.

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View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241122751296/en/


Bengal bypolls: Trinamool candidates declared elected from Naihati, Sitai; leading in other four seats too Trinamool Congress candidates Sanat Dey and Sangita Roy were on Saturday declared elected from the Naihati constituency in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district and Sitai constituency in Cooch Behar district, and party candidates were ahead in the other four Assembly seats too where bypolls were held on November 13. In Nahati, Dey defeated his nearest rival, BJP's Rupak Mitra by a margin of 48,912 votes. Left Front-supported CPI-M-L candidate Dabajyoti Majumder and the Congress' Paresh Nath Sarkar ended in the third and fourth positions, respectively, and forfeited their deposits.



After being announced as the winner, Dey dedicated his victory to the charisma of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the tremendous development work undertaken by the state government under her leadership.



Deys winning margin surpassed that of erstwhile Trinamool legislator, Partha Bhowmik, who won in the 2021 Assembly elections of 18,675 votes.



Naihati went for the bypolls after Bhowmik resigned as the legislator after being elected from Barrackpore Lok Sabha constituency in the general elections earlier this year.



In Sitai, Roy was declared elected by a massive margin of 1,30,156 votes, defeating her nearest rival, BJP's Dipak Kumar Roy. Congress candidate Harihar Roy Singha and the All India Forward Bloc candidate Arun Kumar Barma came in the third and fourth positions, respectively, and forfeited their deposits too.



Roy's winning margin far surpassed that of the victory margin of her husband and the erstwhile Trinamool legislator, Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia, in the 2021 Assembly elections as he had won by just 10,112 votes. Sitai went for bypolls after Basunia resigned as the legislator after being elected from the Cooch Behar Lok Sabha constituency in the general elections this year.



As per the trends available so far, Trinamool Congress candidates are way ahead in the remaining four constituencies too - Madarihat in Alipurduar, Haroa in North 24 Parganas, Taldangra in Bankura district, and Medinipur in Paschim Medinipur district.



Barring Haroa, where the Left Front-supported All India Secular Front candidate Piyarul Islam is in the second position, the BJP candidates are in the second position in the remaining four constituencies.



Celebrations have already started at different Trinamool party offices, including the area in front of the residence of Mamata Banerjee in south Kolkata, as from the trend it has become clear that the ruling party is all set to make a clean sweep.



Trinamool leaders have started claiming that the results show that the voters have rejected the attempts by the opposition parties to malign the state government and the ruling party over the ghastly rape and murder of a junior doctor of R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata in August this year.




Welcome to Cartoon Brews series of spotlights focusing on the animated shorts that have qualified for the 2025 Oscars. The films in this series have qualified through one of multiple routes: by winning an Oscar-qualifying award at a film festival, by exhibiting theatrically, or by winning a Student Academy Award.

Todays film is In the Shadow of the Cypress from Iranian filmmakers duo Hossein Molayemi and Shirin Sohani. The short earned its Oscars qualification by winning multiple awards, including the grand jury prize at Animayo and the best animated short award at Tribeca festival.

Living in a house by the sea with his daughter, a former captain who has post-traumatic stress disorder leads a tough and secluded life, which is pulled out of its isolation by the unexpected arrival of a stranded whale. As his daughter refuses to give up on the animal, the captain will face his own demons in this poignant universal story about resilience.

Cartoon Brew: Your fine-tuned editing, going from one character to the other, from past to present, plays a key part in bringing the heartfelt story of your film to screen. Could you elaborate on this specific aspect of your work?

Hossein Molayemi and Shirin Sohani: While we had certain priorities and obsessions in mind, our initial goal was simply to tell a story about a parent and child. We didnt want to impose a specific goal or ending at the beginning of the story development. Gradually, our other obsessions found their way into the narrative, almost unconsciously. We preferred to let the story find its own way naturally, which is why we took our time with every detail.

Much of the editing was obviously done during the pre-production phase to avoid extra costs. However, in some key sequences, we needed to change the order of shots to achieve the best dramatic effect and enhance the consistency and continuity of the narrative. These slight modifications were rare and exceptional. We viewed the editing process as a form of retouching and minor trimming rather than making significant changes.

What was it about this story or concept that connected with you and compelled you to direct the film?

We were particularly passionate about themes such as PTSD, parent-child relationships, nature and the environment, and the impact of war. Beyond these themes, our own life experiences and a sense of responsibility towards our peoplewho have endured suffering over the past 46 yearscompelled us to create this film, especially in honor of Iran-Iraq war veterans, many of whom still struggle with PTSD.

We understood that the journey to complete the project would be long, so it was crucial for us to be 100% certain and satisfied with the story before moving on to the next stages. Otherwise, the extensive work ahead could become an exhausting burden, leading to unsatisfactory results. In essence, achieving satisfaction at each stage acted as the fuel we needed for the subsequent phases of the film. So the more we progressed in developing the story, the more we got enthusiastic about making the film.

What did you learn through the experience of making this film, either production-wise, filmmaking-wise, creatively, or about the subject matter?

To be perfectly frank, we learned more during the process of making this film than what we were taught in university. Both of us earned our M.A. degrees in Animation Directing from Tehran University of Art, so this was not our first animated film. We had already learned the techniques and principles of animation filmmaking. However, we believe that every new project is like earning a new degree in filmmaking because each brings new experiences and challenges that require creative solutions.

Its a matter of details rather than principles. Sometimes, we couldnt rely on traditional methods and had to think outside the box. It felt like playing chess; we needed to arrange our crew, budget, and equipment as efficiently as possible, especially since we were making our film under extraordinary circumstances in Iran. The sanctions and the constant devaluation of our currency have made it difficult to survive in our country, let alone pursuing animation filmmaking. What we can mention here in terms of the challenges is just the tip of the iceberg.

No matter how hard we try, we cant fully convey the harsh conditions we endured in our country while making this film. We had to create an unconventional pipeline for production and remain resilient to complete the project. As a result, we managed to make this film appear as a high-budget production, even though it was made with a very low budget compared to other productions worldwide. Thus, our experience while making this film was entirely different from working on university assignments, and these new conditions taught us many lessons that were not covered in our classes.

Can you describe how you developed your visual approach to the film? Why did you settle on this style/technique?

Firstly, it was important for us not to imitate a specific film or artists visual style, which is why the visual development process took longer than usual. We needed to allow enough time to make our visual style get ripe and desirable. Its worth mentioning that we worked on the visual elements concurrently with developing the story. In our film, visual development and story development were interdependent and influenced each other. For instance, on some occasions, unexpected developments in the visual process inspired changes in the storys direction.

We did not aim to showcase our technical skills. Instead, we were committed to maintaining a minimal and simple visual style because we didnt want the audience to be distracted by visual elements and lose focus on the story. Our goal was to keep the audiences attention on the drama and narrative. Additionally, the minimal scenes were intended to emphasize the characters solitude and reinforce the sense of an ambiguous and nowhere location in the film.
Cartoon Brew is putting the spotlight on animated short films that have qualified for the 2025 Oscars.

Todays film is Orens Way from director Keika Lee and her studio Greyscale Animation. The short earned its Oscars qualification through theatrical exhibition.

Orens Way is the story of Princess Oren, whose kingdom faces doom and ruin. The only way for Oren and her brother to prevent an unhappy ending is by capturing the mythical and magical golden fox, a task no knight nor hero ever achieved. Through her journey, skillfully woven into motion by Keika Lee and her team, the princess may well find the key to saving her kingdom, as well as the path to her own accomplishment.

Cartoon Brew: Orens Way tells the story of a female princess in search of freedom despite her assigned role in a male-driven society. How does that relate to your own experience, be it as a child or during your professional career?

Keika Lee: Being an Asian-American female in todays society is a challenge, but that doesnt define who I am. Growing up it was tough because in my household I was told to be nice and quiet. Not saying that my family was wrong; it just didnt match up with the American culture of being direct and speaking up. It was tough for me to navigate this career with clashing cultures and I thought I had to change in order to succeed. But thats not the case. People, not just women, need to realize that you dont need to change yourself in order to change the world. You just have to be yourself.

There is strength in everyone, especially women, that you can tap into to create a better world. Im an introvert and thought I needed to be an extrovert to make it in this industry. But I actually found out that being an introvert was a strength that I could rely on to push forward. I urge women to remind themselves that they are perfect and will succeed in whatever they choose to pursue.

What was it about this story or concept that connected with you and compelled you to direct the film?

Like any young girl, after watching Disney princess films, I wanted to be a princess. Not just any princess, but a fearless warrior who saved herself from the clutches of evil. Orens Way is just that. Its about a princess who saves her kingdom from eternal despair while finding the true meaning of happiness. I wrote the story with my scriptwriter and directed the short. The character of Princess Oren came first, and then the story was created around her and from my heart. I hope that when people watch this film, they feel the love that went into making it.

What did you learn through the experience of making this film, either production-wise, filmmaking-wise, creatively, or about the subject matter?

I learned so much from making Orens Way! Production-wise, I realized I couldnt produce this 17-minute short on my own and hired an amazing producer, Eun Bi Chang, to take over the production management. We also had to fundraise for the film so we ran a successful Kickstarter campaign, which is a ton of work. This was the second campaign I had ever done, and you learn a lot from just running one campaign. This time though I put a little more strategy in the campaigns planning. For instance, I was more careful about when to run the campaign in order for it to be successful.

Filmmaking-wise, the team was a lot bigger than my last short film and I had to figure out ways to give feedback in an effective way and keep morale up. The film took three-and-a-half years to make, and thats a long time for artists to stay on a project. Creatively, I had to push myself to improve my artistic skills and learn new skills to communicate what I wanted with each design, animation, compositing, etc. In regards to the subject matter, I was very comfortable making a strong princess story as I still think of myself as one.

Can you describe how you developed your visual approach to the film? Why did you settle on this style/technique?

Hand-drawn 2d animation is my first love. Its nostalgic and awesome. I used a lot of reference from old medieval castles in Europe but also mixed in Asian folklore and style. For instance, the three-tailed fox in my film is based on the ancient Asian myth about the nine-tailed fox. And if you look at the characters collars, they are inspired by the collars of Chinese traditional cheongsam dresses.

My artistic inspirations were the styles of classic Disney Animation, but also Hayao Miyazaki and Don Bluth. I settled on this style/technique because it brought back great childhood memories for me and I wanted to do the same for the audience.
Ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, four studios released new trailers today for animated projects to be released in 2025.

Two of the films  Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl and Elio  had previously released trailers, while the other two  Night of the Zoopocalpse and The Bad Guys 2  revealed trailers for the first time.

Watch them all below and share in the comments which one youre most looking forward to:

Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl  Aardman Animations/Netflix (January 3, 2025)

In this new Wallace & Gromit installment, Gromits concern that Wallace is becoming too dependent on his inventions proves justified, when Wallace invents a smart gnome that seems to develop a mind of its own. When it emerges that a vengeful figure from the past might be masterminding things, it falls to Gromit to battle sinister forces and save his master or Wallace may never be able to invent again. The film is directed by Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham and produced by Richard Beek.

Night of the Zoopocalypse  Viva Pictures (March 7, 2025)

After a meteor unleashes a virus that turns zoo animals into zombies, a mountain lion and wolf lead a team of surviving animals to stop the virus and rescue their zoo. The film is directed by Ricardo Curtis and Rodrigo Perez-Castro, and produced by Steve Hoban and Mark Smith.

Elio  Disney/Pixar (June 13, 2025)

A space fanatic with an active imagination and a huge alien obsession, Elios all in for an epic undertaking when hes beamed up to the Communiverse, an interplanetary organization with representatives from galaxies far and wide. When Elio is mistakenly identified as Earths leader, he must form new bonds with eccentric alien lifeforms, navigate a crisis of intergalactic proportions, and somehow discover who and where he is truly meant to be. The film is directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, and Adrian Molina, and produced by Mary Alice Drumm.

The Bad Guys 2  Dreamworks Animation (August 1, 2025)


Maha stunner: BJP's lead on 124 seats and 84 pc strike rate, bigger than MVA's combined strength The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led MahaYuti is headed for a thumping victory in the high-stakes Maharashtra Assembly elections while a pall of gloom prevails in the rival faction Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) comprising Congress, SS (UBT) and NCP-SP, as per trends till 12 noon. While the MVA is left grappling with the 'Maha stunner', the number crunching yields another startling detail about MahaYuti's performance, particularly the BJP.



The latest trends show that the BJP leading on 124 seats, Shiv Sena on 56 seats, and NCP on 37 seats, while Congress, SS (UBT) and NCP-SP were ahead on 19, 19 and 13 seats respectively.



The current trends show the BJP alone fetching more seats than the combined MVA's strength. Its strike rate in the Assembly elections came as a shock for the opposition alliance as the latter mounted an aggressive campaign to counter MahaYuti's poll promises. The cash-for-votes scandal on a day before polling also seems to have had no impact on election results.



As per available data, BJP's strike rate stands at 84 per cent, with the party taking the lead in 122 seats out of 148 that it contested. Similarly, its allies Shiv Sena and NCP's strike rates are too impressive to ignore. Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has managed a strike rate of 71 per cent, taking the lead in 58 out of 81 seats it contested while Ajit Pawar-led NCP earned a strike rate of 62 per cent, managing the lead in 37 out of 59 constituencies that it fought.



On the other hand, MVA's strike rate as well as leads in early trends has come as a major setback, so much so that SS (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut termed it "unacceptable" and pressed for a fresh election.



The Congress contested 110 seats and is leading on just 20 seats, indicating a strike rate of 19.2 per cent while Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP-SP contested 92 and 86 seats respectively but are seen taking the lead on 18 and 10 seats respectively, thus garnering strike rates of 20.6 per cent and 11.6 per cent.



The outgoing Assembly had MahaYuti holding 186 seats amongst its three constituents.



Current trends suggest the alliance is poised to surpass its previous tally and even better its 2019 performance by a big margin.



In 2019, the BJP bagged 105 seats whereas the undivided Shiv Sena won 56 seats, taking the alliance's total number of seats to 161.




The Extra Space Storage at 5027 Hixson Pike in Hixson has sold for $10,300,000.



Freeup Storage Chattanooga Hixson Pike LLC purchased the property from FTPA Storage Chattanooga LLC.

The business was started in 1977.
President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Beth Harwell and Brian Noland to be members of the Board of Directors of TVA.

Ms. Harwell has served as a member of the TVA Board of Directors since 2021. She represented Tennessees 56th District in the states House of Representatives for nearly 30 years, including seven years as Speaker of the House, a position to which she was elected with bipartisan support. Previously, Ms. Harwell chaired the Tennessee Republican Party and served as an assistant professor of Political Science at Belmont University. Ms. Harwell moved to Nashville to attend David Lipscomb University, and subsequently completed her graduate work at Vanderbilt University. She is married to Sam Harwell, with whom she has three children.

Mr. Noland became the ninth president of East Tennessee State University in January 2012. During his tenure, ETSU has achieved its highest graduation, retention and employee satisfaction rates in history and secured record-breaking levels of research funding. Mr. Noland has secured resources for and overseen some of the institutions largest and most transformative capital projects, including the complete renovations of the D.P. Culp Student Center, Brown Hall, and Lamb Hall, as well as the construction of Greene Stadium, the Martin Center for the Arts, Bishop Hall, a new humanities building, and a new integrated health services center.

Sustaining ETSUs focus on regional stewardship, Mr. Noland has partnered with civic and corporate entities to position the university as a national leader in interprofessional health care and rural health. Under his leadership, ETSU has launched several health research and care centers, including the Ballad Health Strong BRAIN Institute, a first-of-its-kind institute dedicated to promoting the awareness and study of adverse childhood experiences; the Center for Applied Research and Evaluation in Womens Health; the Addiction Science Center; the Center for Rural Health and Research; the ETSU/NORC Rural Health Equity Research Center; the Center for Cardiovascular Risk Research; and the Tennessee Center for Nursing Advancement. Mr. Noland has guided ongoing innovations within ETSUs academic portfolio and curricula. This includes the launch of the BlueSky Institute, a 27-month computer science program developed hand-in-hand with BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee through which students receive training and mentoring onsite at BCBSs headquarters and earn job offers immediately following graduation.

Mr. Noland has served as a board member for the American Council on Education, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, the NCAA Division I Board of Directors, Ballad Health, Bank of Tennessee, and TVA.
A new Everywhere You Look, UT mural in Bradley County celebrates the role UT Extension has played in transforming the lives of small farmers across Tennessee.For Charles Garrett Jr., Deborah Garrett (Chattanooga 12), and their daughter Samantha Garrett (Chattanooga 12), the mural painted on the side of their familys heritage barn represents their connection to agriculture and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.The Garretts operate a small cattle farm on their property, where they have embraced UT Extension resources to support their agricultural journey.Were proud to have our barn used as a canvas to help commemorate the impact UT Extension has had on our journey into becoming small farmers in Tennessee and the impact that agriculture continues to play in our state, Samantha said.The Garrett family shares a unique bond with the University.Both Deborah and Samantha graduated from UT Chattanooga in 2012, Deborah earning a master of education and Samantha a bachelor of arts in history.Today, Deborah teaches English at Cleveland Middle School, while Samantha teaches language arts at Bradley Central High School.The 55-foot-wide mural is displayed on the Garrett property located along Harris Creek Road in McDonald, a main thoroughfare near Interstate 75. Seasonally, it is visible to approximately 51,000 passersby from the interstate.Painted by Troy Freeman of Free Sky Studios, the mural marks county number 58 in the Everywhere You Look, UT campaign. The campaign aims to add a mural in each of Tennessees 95 counties by 2030. Since its launch in 2018, the campaign has created 64 total murals across the state. The University covers the cost of the first mural in each county.To learn more about the Everywhere You Look, UT mural in Bradley County or to submit a location for consideration, visit the campaign website
Ringgold's Down-Home Christmas Ringgold's Down-Home Christmas Ringgold's Down-Home Christmas Previous Next

The city of Ringgold announces the return of its Down-Home Christmas event Dec. 6. The holiday tradition features community favorite activities like the Ringgold Christmas Parade and the annual tree-lighting ceremony.

The event will kick off at 6 p.m. at Citizen's Park, at the intersection of Nashville and Lafayette Streets, and continue throughout the night with other offerings, including the Festival of Trees, pictures with Santa, caroling and more.

The city of Ringgold has been organizing Ringgold's Down-Home Christmas for decades, and this year, the Ringgold Events Committee and the Ringgold CVB are joining the city in its plans and preparations for the event. Together, they have expanded the event to include new elements like the Festival of Trees, prizes for the best parade floats, and a light display with thousands of new Christmas lights.

The Festival of Trees, which will be on display behind Ringgold City Hall, showcases over 20 trees decorated by local businesses, schools, and non-profits to be voted on by the community. The Festival of Trees begins the night of Down-Home Christmas and continues through Jan. 6, though voting ends Dec. 31.

The Down-Home Christmas festivities will start at 6 p.m. with the tree lighting ceremony at Citizen's Park, followed promptly by the Christmas parade through Sparks Street and Nashville Street, and will end at the historic Ringgold Depot with Santa pictures, hot cocoa, music from local choirs and more.

Ringgold's Down-Home Christmas is free and open to the public. In preparation for the event, the city of Ringgold Police Department will close roads by 5:30 p.m. Road closures include portions of Sparks Street, Nashville Street, Depot Street, and Tennessee Street. Attendees can find a map of these road closures and available detours, as well as further details about Down-Home Christmas at www.nothinlikeringgold.com/event/downhome-christmas/.
Ahead of Thanksgiving week, a message about reconciliation...





In an era of contentious political division among neighbors and friends, there are factions, including former mortal enemies, who remind us that making peace in the wake of far worse circumstances is both possible and necessary.





We all live near the nations first National Military Park, the Chickamauga and Chattanooga NMP. It is the site of the second-bloodiest battle of the War Between the States, the first being Gettysburg.Notably, Chattanooga is also the birthplace of the Medal of Honor for actions 16 months before the Battle of Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge.





Officially founded by an act of Congress in 1890, five years later, Chickamauga National Military Park was the site of a great reunion and picnic between former Confederate and Yankee combatants. Veterans came in large numbers for the formal park dedication as an act of healing from the bloodiest and most costly war in American history.





For context regarding that reconciliation, an estimated 625,000 combat and related disease deaths occurred between 1861 and 1865, totaling more than 2% of the 31 million Americans at that time. That was 50% higher than the total losses in our nations second-most-costly conflict, World War II, 80 years later. The 405,000 WWII casualties represented 0.02% of the 140 million Americans in 1945, so the War Between the States casualties as a percentage of the population were 10 times higher.





I note this data distinction to make the point that the reconciliation burden Veterans carried to the great reunion at Chickamauga in 1895, was very heavy.





In the last decade, I have had the humbling privilege of being a witness to individual reconciliation between Chattanooga friends and their former combatants, including the return of MG Bill Raines (USA) and LtCol Bill Gauntt (USAF-POW) to find the latters crash site in Vietnam. My friend, Vietnam Vet Roger Helle (USMC), has returned many times to his former battleground where he was a breath from death, in order to provide medical care for and ministry to outcast orphans.





A few months ago, a distinguished military officer and colleague, GEN B.B. Bell (USA, Ret.), co-chairman of the National Medal of Honor Sustaining Fund, made a trip to Fort Benning, Georgia, now renamed Fort Moore, where he had earned his Ranger Tab in 1969. B.B., a former tanker, was the recipient of the MG Adna Chaffee Award, the highest honor for Armor and Cavalry Soldiers, becoming a Legend of Armor. The first recipient was GEN George Patton.





The segue here concerns the renaming of Ft. Benning to Ft. Moore and its namesake, whose heroic service and reconciliation with his former enemies B.B. and I recently discussed.





For the record, I equate the political correction of historic military installation names by the Biden/Harris regime with historic cleansing, such as tearing down statues. For many Army Rangers, Ft. Benning will always remain just that.





But unlike some other relabeled military installations, Ft. Benning was renamed for a fitting exemplar, taking its name from famed Army officer, LTG Harold Hal Moore.





There was a remarkable reconciliation between Hal Moore and his once-mortal enemy, Nguyen Huu An, former communist commander of the North Vietnamese Army's 325th Division and general of the brutal NVA.





Hal Moore was a Kentucky native from a big family who graduated from West Point in 1945. He joked, I graduated at the top  of the bottom 15% of my class. His first assignment was the completion of the Officer Basic Course at Fort Benning. He completed the Infantry Officers Advanced Course at Benning, and then-Captain Moore was deployed for his first combat assignment with the 17th Infantry Regiment of the 7th Infantry Division in Korea. It was there that he witnessed the human waves of the Chinese Red Army regulars, a disastrous tactic that resulted in enormous human losses as those lines surged through fields of artillery and machine-gun fire.





After Korea, he attended the Naval War College and also earned a masters degree in International Relations from George Washington University. Then LTC Moore returned to Benning, where he commanded 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry, later to become a part of 11th Air Assault Division.





In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson (D-TX) announced that he was sending the Airmobile Division to Vietnam, the first major deployment. Moores Battalion was re-designated 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division. The airmobile cavalry helicopter combat role was new and untested.





Moore is most remembered for his Battalion command during the week-long Battle of Ia Drang in 1965, the first major Vietnam battle between the U.S. Army and the NVA. Commencing on November 14, Moores Battalion was ordered to take on an air assault in the Ia Drang Valley, and at about noon that day, the North Vietnamese 33rd Regiment attacked their position. The fighting continued all day and into the days and nights that followed.





Ill always be the first person on the battlefield, Moore said. My boots will be the first boots on it, and Ill be the last person off. Ill never leave a body.





And so it was.





Surrounded by enemy forces soon after the battle commenced, it was Moores motto that there is always one more thing you can do to increase your odds of success, and ultimately, he and his extraordinary command would persevere through heavy losses. There were 305 Americans, along with an estimated 2,000 North Vietnamese troops, killed in that battle. There were three recipients of the Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism exhibited during the Battle of Ia Drang: Flight Commander MAJ Bruce Crandall, Flight Leader Ed Freeman, and Platoon Leader Joe Marm.





(Notably, Chattanooga native and Medal of Honor recipient CAPT Larry Taylor received that award for his actions as an Air Cavalry Cobra pilot three years after the Battle of Ia Drang.)





Their actions, and those of Hal Moore and others, are memorialized in Moores 1992 book, We Were Soldiers Once  and Young, subsequently made into an outstanding film by the same name in 2002. GEN Norman Schwarzkopf said it was military history, written the way military history should be written.





Moore and coauthor Joseph Galloway followed with a book, We Are Soldiers Still; A Journey Back to the Battlefields of Vietnam, published in 2008.





That book recounts his 1993 return to Vietnam and the battlefield of Ia Drang. It tells the story of that journey across the years and miles and a long night spent stranded on a battlefield known as Landing Zone XRay, amid Khmer Rouge guerrillas from nearby Cambodia, tigers and the spirits of those who had fallen there in desperate hand-to-hand fighting in that long-ago November.





There, he met with his former adversaries and traveled to those fields of battle where they confronted each other four decades earlier. Once there, he gathered his Army friends and invited all to form a circle with arms extended around each others shoulders and we bowed our heads. He said, With prayer and tears, we openly shared our painful memories.





He notes of his transit to Ia Drang: Our traveling companions on the journey were three of the North Vietnamese officers who had done their best to kill us all  Lt. Gen. Nguyen Huu An, the enemy battlefield commander; and Colonels Vu Dinh Thuoc and Tran Minh Hao, who had fought there as lieutenants.  This led to some remarkable exchanges.





At one point, he writes, my seatmate on the bus, Colonel Thuoc, tapped me on the chest and told me through the interpreter: You have the heart of a soldier. It is just like mine. I am glad I did not kill you. Stunned, all I could do was nod and think to myself: Me, too, colonel. Me, too.





Moore notes: It has now been 43 years since those bloody battles of our youth, and yet the memories of the killing and dying  little more than a footnote in the schoolbooks of both the United States and Vietnam  are as fresh as yesterday in our hearts and minds. Now we know that the dwindling down of our years to a precious few means little because we are soldiers still.





He concluded: There is no such thing as closure for soldiers who have survived a war. They have an obligation, a sacred duty, to remember those who fell in battle beside them all their days and to bear witness to the insanity that is war.





Nguyen Huu An died two years after their meeting, and Moore returned to Vietnam to pay his respects to his family.





To be clear, while there is reconciliation to be made among soldiers, there is no moral equivocation about their respective missions  the communist surrogates of the now-collapsed Soviet Union were there to suppress the Liberty of the South Vietnamese people. Americans were there in defense of that Liberty and to hold the line against the spread of tyranny.





For his combat actions in Vietnam, Hal Moore received the Armys second-highest award to the Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross. He is also the recipient of the Army Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit (3), Bronze Star Medal (4) w/ V Device, Purple Heart, and nine Air Medals.





Hal died in February 2017 and was eulogized by his son Gregory Moore. He was preceded in death by his wife, Julia, whom he married in 1949, and is survived by three sons and two daughters, 12 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.





LTG Harold Hal Moore: Your example of valor  a humble American Patriot defending Liberty for all above and beyond the call of duty and in disregard for the peril to your own life  is eternal.





"Greater love has no one than this, to lay down ones life for his friends." (John 15:13)





Live your life worthy of his sacrifice.





Semper Vigilans Fortis Paratus et Fidelis

Pro Deo et Libertate -- 1776





Join us in daily prayer for our Patriots in uniform  Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen -- standing in harms way in defense of American Liberty, and for Veterans, First Responders, and their families.




Looking forward to January 20, 2025? Many people in Swannanoa, NC are. The Asheville Citizen Times reported on thefts taking place in a FEMA tent encampment there. What the report did was actually to call attention to residents living in FEMA tents there two months after Helene moved through North Carolina.

Illegals, however, are warmed and fed in a Crowne Plaza Hotel in Queens. This came out in testimony by a former roommate of the illegal migrant convicted of murdering Georgia nursing student Laken Riley (NYTimes 11/18/24) yet US citizens are living in tents in NC with temps predicted to fall into the 20s, possibly with snow.

The FEMA Director was questioned by Congress about a text message telling workers to avoid houses with Trump campaign signs. Director Criswell had to admit she hadnt personally spoken to anyone on the text message thread (ABC 11/19/24). Criswells responses reminded me of earlier testimony by Ivy League college presidents and the former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle after they attracted national attention.

We survived four years of hoaxes, then voters spoke loudly on Nov. 5. Democrats should take note of this rejection which cost them more dollars than the entire GDP of The Netherlands. Now like the folks in Swannanoa, Im looking forward to when Joe Biden wanders out of the White House.

Ralph Miller
A driver struck and killed a pedestrian identified as a student at Santa Clara University on Thursday in Santa Clara. ER Productions Limited/Getty Images

A driver heading south down El Camino Real in Santa Clara struck and killed a college student on Thursday morning, according to police.

The crash occurred just before noon at El Camino Real and Accolti Way. Officers who responded to the scene found an 18-year-old man on the ground with visible injuries.

Although paramedics tried lifesaving efforts and transported the victim to a hospital, he ultimately died. Police investigating the incident did not immediately identify the victim beyond describing him as a student at Santa Clara University.

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The motorist remained at the scene and cooperated with police, who said drugs and alcohol did not appear to factor in the collision.
photo credit: Grand Canyon University | Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona

The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled against the U.S. Department of Education's denial of nonprofit status to Grand Canyon University (GCU), a leading Christian higher education institution.

In a unanimous 3-0 decision, the panel directed the department to reassess GCU's status under the appropriate legal standards specified in the Higher Education Act (HEA). The court found that the department exceeded its authority by employing an incorrect standard, relying on IRS regulations that extended beyond the HEA's requirements.

The Department invoked the wrong legal standards by relying on IRS regulations that impose requirements that go well beyond the HEA's requirement and instead implement a portion of [law] that has no counterpart in the definition of the term nonprofit set forth in HEA, the ruling details.

The court clarified that the HEA standards required a determination of GCU's nonprofit status based on ownership and operation by a nonprofit corporation and compliance with the no-inurement requirement. The panel reversed the district court's judgment and remanded the case with instructions to dismiss the Department's denials and reconsider further proceedings.

GCU's Board of Trustees decided in 2018 to revert the university to a nonprofit model, similar to its original structure. The Arizona government, the IRS, the Arizona Board for Private Postsecondary Education, and the Higher Learning Commission recognized this move. However, the U.S. Department of Education refused to acknowledge the nonprofit status in 2019 due to concerns about revenues benefiting a former for-profit owner.

GCU claims that the Department of Educations stance is unprecedented. In light of the court's decision, the university stated that the ruling is "a long-awaited correction" and expressed hope for swift affirmation of its nonprofit status.

The court instructed the department to employ the standard private inurement test, already approved by the IRS, which evaluates whether a nonprofit pays fair market value for goods and services.

GCU mentioned that several independent valuation studies had confirmed its compliance with fair market value standards. This decision comes after a similar ruling in a case involving the Federal Trade Commission, where an Arizona district court dismissed claims against GCU due to the FTC's lack of authority over nonprofits.

Achieving nonprofit status allows GCU to access federal resources and research grants, vital given its substantial Hispanic student demographic.

GCU has managed to maintain stable tuition rates for 17 years while expanding student enrollment, enhancing academic offerings, and investing in its infrastructure. Notably, last November, GCU faced a $37.7 million fine from the department, accusing the university of misleading doctoral students about program costs.

This fine considerably exceeds penalties imposed on other institutions like Penn State and Michigan State, and GCU is currently appealing this penalty.
European Union Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium | photo credit: Christian Lue/ Unsplash

A recent report reveals that anti-Christian hate crimes in Europe surged to a total of 2,444 incidents in 2023.

The report, titled Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe Report 2024, was published by OIDAC Europe, a watchdog organization. This data was compiled from police and civil society sources across 35 European countries and includes 232 personal attacks on Christians, encompassing harassment, threats, and physical violence.

The findings indicate that at least 1,230 of these anti-Christian hate crimes were allegedly perpetrated by ten European governments in 2023, marking a significant rise from 1,029 incidents reported in 2022. Notable countries where these incidents occurred include France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, which reported some of the highest recorded offenses.

France experienced a particularly alarming number of hate crimes, with nearly 1,000 incidents recorded in 2023. Approximately 90 percent of these attacks targeted churches and cemeteries.

French authorities also documented 84 personal attacks on individuals, including a distressing incident involving two nuns in Nantes who left the city in March 2023, stating they endured beatings, spitting, and insults. Additionally, in January of the same year, arsonists attacked four churches in Paris with Molotov cocktails, highlighting a troubling trend of escalating violence against places of worship.

In the United Kingdom, there were 702 reported cases of anti-Christian hate crimes in England and Wales between April 2023 and March 2024, which is a 15% increase compared to the previous year.

Germany also saw a dramatic rise, with incidents increasing by 105%, from 135 in 2022 to 277 in 2023. However, it should be noted that the German government's official statistics only account for politically motivated hate crimes and exclude acts of vandalism or arson without political motives. OIDAC Europe estimated that there were at least 2,000 instances of damage to Christian places of worship in Germany during 2023, signaling a disturbing pattern of violence against religious institutions.

The report provides insight into the nature of the attacks, documenting that most incidents targeted places of worship. OIDAC identified a total of 232 incidents involving verbal and physical attacks on Christians, with vandalism constituting 62% of these offenses. Arson attacks accounted for 10%, while threats and physical violence made up 8% and 7%, respectively. Among the documented cases, there were reports of one murder, seven attempted murders, and 68 personal attacks motivated by anti-Christian bias.

Determining the motives and backgrounds of the perpetrators has proven challenging, as police authorities often do not disclose this information. However, Germany reported some specifics, noting 92 politically motivated attacks on churches with identifiable motives. These included actions attributed to political right (31 incidents), religious ideologies (16 incidents), and political left (14 incidents). The report also highlighted a concerning increase in incidents with identifiable radical Islamist backgrounds, which nearly doubled from 11 to 21 in comparison to 2022.

Furthermore, the report outlined various restrictions on religious freedom impacting Christians in Europe. These restrictions include fines and prosecutions against individuals engaging in public prayer, as illustrated by a case in the UK where a man was convicted for silently praying near an abortion clinic within a designated buffer zone.

The report also noted discrimination against Christians in public life and the workplace, particularly affecting Christian politicians who sometimes face pressure to choose between their faith and their political careers. This discrimination and other forms of societal pressure have contributed to a rising trend of self-censorship among Christians, especially younger individuals, who often conceal their beliefs to avoid confrontation or harassment.
The church in Amheida, located in central Egypt. | photo credit: NYU Excavations at Amheida

An archaeological team from New York University has uncovered discoveries about an early Christian church in Egypt, including 17 human remains and the stories they reveal.

Experts unearthed the ruins of a church, dated to around the mid-fourth century, during an ongoing excavation of Trimithis (also known as the ancient city Amheida), an ancient city located near the western edge of the Dakhla Oasis in the western desert.

Trimithis was once a settlement during Egypts Roman period, which lasted from 30 B.C. until the Muslim conquest in 641 A.D.

The international research team is led by New York Universitys Institute for the Study of the Ancient World (ISAW).

According to NYU, excavation work in Trimithis resumed in 2023 after a seven-year hiatus, a pause exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, while experts continue to study various buildings, inscriptions, and bathhouse facilities.

Project Director David Ratzan, who also heads ISAWs library, described the church as one of the most exciting discoveries. He noted that while believers gathered to worship before the Roman Emperor Constantine made it illegal to persecute Christians, the design of this particular church is distinctive.

In any case, churches in this style, based on the Roman basilica, a type of public building dedicated to administration and law, date back only to a generation or two before the church at Trimithis, since only then did Christians feel sufficiently confident to build proudly public spaces of worship, Ratzan explained.

More surprising to experts than the churchs design was the discovery of 17 bodies buried within. Twelve of the remains were found in crypts beneath what would have been the altar and pastophoria, which are areas within an early Christian church used for storing sacred items or service rooms.

Scientists were particularly focused on the fact that seven of the bodies buried in the crypt were female and eight were children or adolescents, including infants. Additional women may be among the remains, but determining a persons sex from skeletons at certain ages is challenging.

While there is good evidence that women were important in early Christianity, it was still surprising to find such a concentration of women and children buried in this church, since Roman Egypt was a patriarchal society," Ratzan stated.

Although the excavation of the church is complete, Ratzan noted that the team still has questions regarding the relationships among the buried individuals and whether they represented the majority or different segments of the Christian community in Trimithis.
Pastor Carolyn Cavaness delivers a sermon at Salem Baptist Church in Abington, Pennsylvania, on March 27, 2022. | Source: Salem Baptist Church of Abington YouTube Channel

A landmark African Methodist Episcopal (AME) church in Pennsylvania has made history by appointing its first female pastor since its establishment in the late 18th century.

Mother Bethel AME Church of Philadelphia, originally founded by Richard Allen, the creator of the AME Church in the 1790s, announced on Saturday the appointment of the Rev. Carolyn C. Cavaness as its new pastor.

Bishop Samuel Green appointed Cavaness during last Saturday's AME First Episcopal District Planning Meeting. Before this, she served as pastor at Bethel AME Church in Ardmore, Pennsylvania.

Cavaness holds an undergraduate degree in urban studies from Barnard College of Columbia University, New York City, and a Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary in New York City. In addition to her role in pastoral leadership, Cavaness has participated in interfaith charitable activities and worked as deputy finance director for Hillary Clintons 2016 presidential campaign.

Cavaness addressed the congregation during her inaugural service as pastor at Mother Bethel AME Church on Sunday, expressing that she was tremendously honored and humbled and overwhelmed by Gods goodness and faithfulness. She declared, I stand before you as a new pastor before new people. But the same God that has kept us yesterday and is keeping us right now is the same God that will keep us in the days that will unfold.

She also delved into her family's history, highlighting her lineage as a fourth-generation preacher in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Her great-grandfather, grandmother, and father were all significantly involved in the AME denomination.

Acknowledging those who paved the way for female preachers in the AME Church, Cavaness paid homage to pioneers like Jarena Lee, the first woman authorized to preach in the AME in 1819. Im looking forward to working together; Im looking forward to continuing in the long legacy as we stand as the mother of them all, she stated. I stand here with a debt of gratitude.

Mother Bethel was established by Richard Allen, who founded the AME denomination in 1816, in response to the racial discrimination he faced in the predominantly white Methodist Episcopal Church. Over the years, the congregation has witnessed multiple church buildings on its Philadelphia property, with the current sanctuary constructed in 1890.

Additionally, in January, Mother Bethels staff announced that it received $90,000 in preservation funding from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, making it one of several historic black churches to benefit from such grants.
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. | Mike Huckabee Facebook

U.S. evangelical leader Franklin Graham congratulated former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee on his nomination by President-elect Donald Trump as the U.S. ambassador to Israel.

In a statement posted Tuesday, Graham expressed his support: Congratulations to [Huckabee] on his nomination by [Trump] to serve as US Ambassador to Israel. The Huckabees love Israel and will be a great blessing to the people of that country and represent America well.

Trump's announcement of Huckabee's nomination comes at a time of heightened geopolitical tension due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.

Trump praised Huckabee as the Highly Respected former Governor of Arkansas, noting his unwavering support for Israel. Mike has been a great public servant, Governor, and Leader in Faith for many years. He loves Israel, and the people of Israel, and likewise, the people of Israel love him. Mike will work tirelessly to bring about Peace in the Middle East!

Huckabee responded to the nomination on X, sharing, It's been [an] incredible day as [Trump] asked me to serve as Ambassador to [Israel], a land I have been visiting since 1973 when I was a teenager. It will be a privilege to serve my country and my President in this role.

A vocal supporter of Israel, Huckabee condemned the October 7 terrorist attacks by Hamas, which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and the taking of over 250 hostages, including American citizens.

He compared the brutality of Hamas's actions to Nazi atrocities, but noted a distinction: As horrible as the Nazis were, they werent posting their atrocities on social media and trying to trumpet what they were doing to the world, he told the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. Which is what makes this horrendous thing Hamas has done so much, to me, worse, because they want everyone to see what theyve done.

As an ordained Baptist minister, Huckabee has been a longtime advocate for Israel, opposing the establishment of a Palestinian state and supporting Israel's control of territories such as the West Bank, citing biblical interpretations for his stance.

Huckabees nomination drew accolades from Israeli leaders, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who praised him as a consistent and loyal friend of the State of Israel and a supporter of the settlement enterprise in Judea and Samaria.

Smotrich expressed confidence in Huckabee's commitment, adding, For many years [he] fought for our state and our right to all parts of the Land of Israel, [and] I have no doubt that we have won and together with him we will strengthen Israels security and strength and strengthen our hold in all its spaces.
The Ten Commandments installed at the Arkansas State Capitol grounds in Little Rock, Arkansas. | Wikipedia

A federal judge has temporarily blocked a recently passed Louisiana law requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments in their classrooms.

U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles issued a detailed ruling on Tuesday regarding the case of Darcy Roake et al. v. Cade Brumley et al.

The law in question, Louisiana's House Bill 71, was signed into law in June and aimed to mandate the display of the Decalogue along with other historical documents in public school classrooms. The law was scheduled to take effect on New Year's Day.

In his ruling, deGravelles stated, "Plaintiffs have established a viable Free Exercise claim." He pointed out that "H.B. 71 is not neutral toward religion, and this is evident from the text of the statute, its effects, and the statements of lawmakers before and after the Act's passage."

The judge also addressed the defendants' assertion that the Ten Commandments are historically integral to public education in the United States.

He noted, "In sum, the historical evidence showed that the instances of using the Ten Commandments in public schools were too 'scattered' to amount to 'convincing evidence that it was common' at the time of the Founding or incorporation of the First Amendment to utilize the Decalogue in public-school education," further indicating that the practice does not align with a broader historical tradition during those time periods.

Signed into law by Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, HB 71 requires public school classrooms to display "certain historical documents," including the Ten Commandments, the Mayflower Compact, the Declaration of Independence, and the Northwest Ordinance.

The legislation states, Recognizing the historical role of the Ten Commandments accords with our nation's history and faithfully reflects the understanding of the founders of our nation with respect to the necessity of civic morality to a functional self-government.

Shortly after the bill was signed, the ACLU, the Freedom From Religion Foundation, and Americans United for Separation of Church and State filed a lawsuit against the law on behalf of an interfaith group of parents. The complaint read, For nearly half a century, it has been well settled that the First Amendment forbids public schools from posting the Ten Commandments in this manner.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill championed the new law on social media in June, expressing her commitment to defending the legislation in court. She stated, The 10 Commandments are pretty simple (don't kill, steal, cheat on your wife), but they also are important to our country's foundations.

Additionally, she noted, Moses, who you may recall brought the 10 Commandments down from Mount Sinai, appears eight times in carvings that ring the United States Supreme Court Great Hall ceiling. I look forward to defending the law.

This legal challenge follows a precedent set in 1980 when the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 5-4 ruling in Stone v. Graham, stating that Kentucky could not mandate that public schools display the Ten Commandments, as it violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
A San Francisco man was convicted Friday of the murders of four men in a drive-by shooting in 2015. Associated Press

A San Francisco man was convicted of murder in the 2015 drive-by shooting of four men in the citys Hayes Valley neighborhood, prosecutors said.

The man, Lee Farley, 36, on Friday was found guilty of four counts of first-degree willful, deliberate and premeditated murder, including allegations that he fired a gun at an occupied motor vehicle and that he unlawfully possessed a gun as a felon, according to the San Francisco District Attorneys Office. A jury also found that Farley committed the murders by drive-by shooting and as an active member of a street gang to benefit his gang, prosecutors said.

Farley will be sentenced after a bench trial for prior crimes, according to the district attorneys office.

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The four men were shot by Farley at 10:01 p.m. on Jan. 9, 2015, the district attorneys office said. On that night, Yalani Chinyamurindi, 19, David Saucier, 20, Harith Atchan, 21, and Manuel ONeal, 22, were sitting in their Honda Civic on Laguna Street, just south of Page Street when they were ambushed from behind and shot with at least 18 bullets, according to prosecutors and previous Chronicle reporting. Police arrived within two minutes of the shooting but all four men died at the scene, prosecutors said.

Farley was serving prison time in Merced County in 2016 when authorities connected him to the shooting and booked him into San Francisco County Jail on murder charges, the Chronicle previously reported.

I would also like to thank the mothers and families of the murdered men for their patience, faith and trust in my office to get justice for their families, said a statement from San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins. Our strong legal team fought hard, understanding that while nothing we do can bring back their loved ones, that hopefully this verdict brings them some comfort.
Ryan Walters, Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction. | photo credit: Ryan Walters Facebook

The Oklahoma Department of Education has announced the creation of an "Office of Religious Liberty and Patriotism" aimed at safeguarding the religious practices of students, teachers, and parents.

This initiative was revealed in a statement on Tuesday, ensuring that individuals can practice their religion freely in all aspects and investigate any abuses related to religious freedom or expressions of patriotism.

The office plans to provide specific guidance to Oklahoma public schools soon, with assurances that the right to pray in schools is safeguarded. State Superintendent Ryan Walters expressed concern over what he perceives as a decline in religious liberty within public schools, claiming that they have become tragically ground zero for the erosion of religious liberty across our country over recent decades.

Walters criticized the radical left for allegedly using teacher unions to indoctrinate children against traditional values centered around faith and family, stating, It is no coincidence that the dismantling of faith and family values in public schools directly correlates with declining academic outcomes in our public schools.

The new office is designed to assist educators and students when their constitutional rights are threatened by well-funded, out of state groups. The announcement referenced a previous incident in Skiatook, where legal pressure resulted in the removal of Bible verses from school displays.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), a Wisconsin-based secularist legal organization advocating for strict church-state separation, responded to the office's establishment with criticism, labeling it unnecessary. FFRF tweeted, Students have always had the right to pray. No one is trying to take that away. This dystopian 'office of Religious Liberty and Patriotism' is about indoctrination and forced prayer in schools.

Earlier this year, Walters drew national attention when he mandated that public schools integrate the Bible into their curriculum, alongside plans to allocate $3 million for Bibles for schools. In response, a coalition of parents, teachers, and clergy from various faith backgrounds filed a complaint against Walters' actions, arguing that they interfere with the parents' ability to direct the religious and moral upbringing of their children and violate the Oklahoma Administrative Procedures Act.

The plaintiffs were represented by FFRF, the Oklahoma chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, the Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law & Justice, and Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

Walters responded to the lawsuit in an emailed statement to The Christian Post, asserting, Oklahomans will not be bullied by out-of-state, radical leftists who hate the principles our nation was founded upon. He emphasized the necessity of understanding American history and culture, stating, It is not possible for our students to understand American history and culture without understanding the Biblical principles from which they came.

He further proclaimed his commitment to reintroducing the Bible into every classroom in Oklahoma, asserting, I will never back down to the woke mob, no matter what tactic they use to try to intimidate Oklahomans.
Christian portraiture artist, Zimou Tan. | The Christian Post

Earlier this year, acclaimed Christian master portrait artist Zimou Tan, who held a solo exhibition titled The Lord was There featuring his religious paintings in New York, launched a Kickstarter campaign.

The campaign aims to raise $37,500 to cover production costs for the book, offering rewards to donors that range from signed copies to original artwork, depending on their level of support.

"Im thrilled to announce the upcoming launch of my Kickstarter campaign for The Lord Was There, an art book dedicated to illustrating moments of faith, hope, and the presence of God, Tan said in an interview with The Christian Post.

Tan described his collection as a reflection of my journey through Scripture, bringing each scene to life with visuals that capture the depth and beauty of Gods story. He hopes that these pieces inspire viewers to see familiar passages in a new light and feel the impact of Gods presence through art.

During his exhibition, Tan showcased ten selected works from his religious portfolio, highlighting how deeply his work is inspired by his faith and Scripture.

Among his featured works were Valley of Dry Bones, inspired by Ezekiel 37:1-10; The Lion, the Lamb, and the King, which draws inspiration from Revelation 5:5 and Isaiah 53:7; Forgiveness, inspired by John 8:3-7; Temptations, based on Matthew 4:1-11; Faith, which takes its roots from Genesis 22:1-19; 40 Days, inspired by Matthew 4:1; Blessing, based on Luke 6:20-23; Seeking Sanctuary, inspired by Romans 11:33-36; "Carrying the Cross Together," which draws inspiration from Matthew 27:31-32; and Receiving the Paraclete, based on John 16:13.

One notable piece, Temptations, illustrates Jesus' spiritual journey as recounted in Matthew 4:111. In this piece, Tan presents a culturally Westernized image of Jesus, stirring discussion about the longstanding debate on the portrayal of Jesus' physical appearance.

Addressing this debate, Tan remarked, I don't want to put my own opinion into who Jesus really was as a physical person, which explains why he has never painted a portrait of Jesus.

Tan, believing that God is too vast for his canvas, suggested that Jesus might be perceived differently by individuals depending on their cultural context.

Tan's Kickstarter campaign is set to conclude on January 11, 2025.
Home News Evidence for puberty blockers is 'scarce,' New Zealand's health ministry says in long-awaited report

The New Zealand Ministry of Health released a long-anticipated report this week, stating that there is limited evidence supporting the use of puberty-blocking drugs for children suffering from gender identity issues.

The ministry called for a more cautious approach to their prescription, aligning with a growing global trend towards tightening regulations on what critics had for years argued were experimental practices.

The ministry stated in a release there is "a lack of good quality evidence to back the effectiveness and safety of puberty blockers when used for this purpose."

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The government agency also announced a public consultation process, inviting submissions until late January 2025 to assess whether additional safeguards should be established, potentially through amendments to the Medicines Act 1981. These safeguards could include regulatory measures to further restrict or condition the prescription of puberty blockers.

"The Ministry's assessment is that the starting point for treatment is a holistic assessment determining the full spectrum of needs a young person may have including social and mental health," the release states.

"The new precautionary approach signals the need for clinicians to exercise caution in prescribing, including that prescribing should only be initiated by clinicians who are experienced in providing gender-affirming care, and are part of an interprofessional team offering a full range of supports to young people presenting with gender identity issues."

The review surveyed over 4,000 academic papers, narrowing its focus to 30 studies.

"Evidence about the impact of GnRHa on clinical and mental health and wellbeing outcomes is scarce, with available evidence largely of poor quality," the brief states. "While there are studies on non-medical interventions that show improvements in the mental health and wellbeing of gender-dysphoric adolescents, these generally rely on small, localized cohorts, making it difficult to extrapolate to other, larger cohorts."

The ministry says it will also commission new research to investigate the long-term clinical and mental health impacts of puberty blockers.

In a position statement published along with the new evidence brief, the ministry stated that some evidence shows that bone density "appears to increase at less than the expected rate for individual stage of development" for children placed on puberty blockers, but there is "no evidence of impact on renal or liver function, the onset of diabetes, or fertility."

"Whilst there are some studies that suggest an improvement in depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation for individuals treated with puberty blockers, the quality of the evidence is poor," the position statement reads.

"Overall, the evidence brief found significant limitations in the quality of evidence for either the benefits or risks (or lack thereof) of the use of puberty blockers. This means there is insufficient basis to say that puberty blockers are safe or reversible (or not) for use as an intervention for gender dysphoria in adolescents."

New Zealand has joined several other countries, including the United Kingdom, Sweden, Finland and France, in re-evaluating the prescription of puberty blockers amid rising concerns. In the United Kingdom, these drugs are now largely restricted to clinical trials.

In the United States, around two dozen states have taken action to restrict the prescription of puberty-blocking drugs to minors for the purpose of a so-called gender transition.

The number of adolescents prescribed puberty blockers in New Zealand has fluctuated over recent years. In 2010, around 25 individuals between the ages of 11 and 17 began treatment, rising to about 140 by 2021. In 2023, that number had decreased slightly to 113.

The Professional Association for Transgender Health Aotearoa (PATHA) welcomed the ministry's position statement while acknowledging the limitations in the quality of current research.

However, the organization doesn't appear too supportive of the ministry's plan to open a consultation process for more potential restrictions, questioning the "appropriateness of opening this consultation on a medical matter to the wider public, particularly when the matter of gender-affirming care has become highly politicized and subject to disinformation." PATHA President Jennifer Shields believes the guidance reinforces existing best practices.

"PATHA cautions against further restrictions," the organization states.

The report also received attention from Genspect NZ, whose spokesperson Jan Rivers, criticized the decision to continue allowing the prescription of puberty blockers.

Rivers argued in a statement that the report's findings pointed to significant gaps in scientific knowledge, which should have prompted more robust restrictions.

"The Ministry's decision to entrust this treatment to the very clinicians who have misrepresented the evidence for years raises serious concerns about accountability and patient safety," said Rivers.

The evidence brief, which included an addendum reviewing 160 articles published between October 2023 and May 2024, aimed to provide a more comprehensive understanding of puberty blockers' impact on clinical and mental health outcomes.
Home News Fresh violence erupts in Manipur, India, as Christian-Hindu tensions escalate

Twenty people have died in the past two weeks as ethnoreligious violence resurges in India's northeastern state of Manipur, where Christians and Hindus remain locked in a devastating conflict that has displaced more than 60,000 people since May 2023.

The latest outbreak of violence between the majority Hindu Meiteis and minority Christian Kukis has shattered hopes for peace in the region, with churches burned, children killed and security forces struggling to maintain order. The conflict has effectively segregated the two communities, forcing 50,000 Kuki Christians to flee the Imphal valley and 10,000 Meiteis to abandon their homes in Kuki-majority areas.

The recent surge of violence erupted in Jiribam, near the Assam border, after a series of retaliatory killings that began with the murder of a young Kuki woman found in a river. Tensions escalated dramatically after the Christian teacher and mother of three was killed and burned in an attack by Meiteis, leading to a deadly confrontation between armed Kukis and security forces that left 10 Kuki assailants dead.

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The situation deteriorated further when six Meiteis, including three children, were found dead on Nov. 16. In response, protesters torched Kuki homes and six churches in Jiribam, while mobs in the state capital of Imphal burned government officials' residences. Authorities have imposed curfews, suspended internet access and closed schools.

"People are living in fear and tension. They don't know what will happen next," a senior Meitei church leader in Imphal told Global Christian Relief.

The handling of the deceased has become another flashpoint. When security forces airlifted the bodies of the 10 Kuki Christians to Churuchandpur for burial, government delays in releasing the bodies prompted an unprecedented protest. On Nov. 19, hundreds of black-clad mourners marched through Churuchandpur carrying empty coffins to honor the dead and protest their killing.

Critics have targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his absence from the region throughout the crisis, noting that his Hindu nationalist BJP party, which governs Manipur, has failed to restore peace. "Though one and a half years have gone since Manipur slipped into anarchy, no effective and serious effort has been made to restore law and order," said a senior journalist in Imphal.

A church leader in the region expressed the community's growing frustration: "We had been praying for lasting peace and were feeling relaxed. But this latest conflict has shattered the peace to which Manipur was returning. While many are struggling for their livelihoods, the curfew has only worsened their situation."
Home News Pastor takes family into hiding after daughter raped, nearly kidnapped

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 her, 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.

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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 United Nations 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.

Originally published at Christian Daily InternationalMorning Star News
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.

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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 How will Trump's reelection impact Israel's war against Hamas?

How will President-elect Donald Trump's stunning victory impact the current war between Israel and Hamas?

Author Joel Rosenberg recently joined CBN News to discuss that very issue, exploring what could come next in a region roiled by violence and consternation.

"Israelis overwhelmingly wanted Trump," he said. "This is interesting, right? Because, obviously, unless you're a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen like me, Israelis obviously can't vote in the election."

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That said, Rosenberg  who cited polling showing 66% of Israelis opted for Trump compared to just 17% who hoped Vice President Kamala Harris would win  contends the election could have a huge impact on "how this war is finished, whether it's actually won, and what our security and prosperity is going to be in the years ahead."

In particular, Rosenberg said polling results showing more support for Trump among Israelis before the election simply don't match the rhetoric. Listen to him explain:

"This is after the Kamala Harris closing argument  'Trump's a Nazi, Trump's a fascist, Trump is Hitler,'" he continued. "Israeli Jews and Israelis generally rejected that, and if there was any country that might think, 'Oh gosh, if somebody's Hitler, we don't want them around' [it's Israel]."

Rosenberg continued, "The Israelis heard all the rhetoric, but they saw four years of Donald Trump in action, and he was super pro-Israel, and they saw President Biden and Kamala Harris on the stage for four years, and they are partially pro-Israel, but they're a bit schizophrenic."

It's no secret the Biden administration has, at moments, clashed with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over divergent views on how to handle the Hamas terror crisis. It is believed among some that Trump's approach could be more consistently favorable to Israeli interests.

Regardless of what happens next, it already seems Trump is making good on his pledge to be pro-Israel, with the president-elect assembling what The Hill called "one of the most pro-Israel teams of any administration in history."

Watch Rosenberg explain why he believes key differences between Democrats and Republicans drove some of the aforementioned polling results.

As CBN News previously reported, Rosenberg also spoke with CBN News about Hamas, the war in Gaza, and how current events might play into what the Bible says about future happenings and the end of days.

That is the No. 1 question Im getting asked, Can you put this [current moment] in a prophetic context?' Rosenberg said. I would say, No. 1, were definitely in a birth pang, right? Jesus speaks in Matthew 24 that theres going to be contractions and releases, moments of wars and rumors of wars, and kingdom against kingdom, nation against nation, as well as earthquakes and famines and other disasters.

He continued, Those are contractions and, just like when your wife gets close to delivering,  the contractions are longer and more painful, and the release moments are shorter.

Read more about Rosenberg's eschatological views as they pertain to the crisis in the Middle East here.

This article originally appeared on CBNs Faithwire.
(Photo: Getty/iStock)

During the recent American presidential campaign, the defeated presidential candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris, attacked the views of her opponent, former president Donald Trump, by declaring that 'he believes that women should not have agency over their bodies.'

I found this claim really surprising because of the extent of what Harris seemed to be claiming. Agency means the ability to act, and so denying someone agency over their bodies means reducing them to a state of complete paralysis in which they are incapable to making their bodies do anything at all. As we all know, Trump is quite capable of saying some completely outlandish things, but I was not aware that even he had expressed the idea that all women should be subject to total paralysis and the Harris campaign did not subsequently produce any evidence that he had in fact done so.

The truth, of course, is that Harris was not making the claim that her words suggested she was making. What she was actually trying to say was that Donald Trump believed in outlawing abortion.

This claim was itself misleading, as he had not in fact given his support to an abortion ban, but has argued that this is a matter for the people of each of the states to decide. What interests me from the standpoint of Christian ethics, however, is the way in which Harris' misleading claim about Donald Trump's position reflects the belief that is often appealed to by supporters of abortion that women should have absolute freedom to decide what to do with their bodies and therefore a right to decide to have an abortion.

This belief seems to me to be wrong on two grounds.

The first reason is that I think it is wrong to argue that any human beings, whether men or women, should have absolute freedom to decide what to do with their bodies.

This is a belief that in fact nobody actually holds, even if notionally they subscribe to an absolutist view of human bodily autonomy. At some stage they will say of some action by someone else that he or she should not have done that, or that he or she should not be allowed to do that.

Given that all human actions involve the use of a person's body, this means that what they are really saying when they object to what someone is doing is that human bodily autonomy should not be seen as absolute. There should be limits to how people exercise the agency have over their bodies. For example, even the most ardent libertarian feminist will argue that rape and all other forms of sexual violence against women should be completely prohibited and that men who use their bodies to perform acts of sexual violence should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

From a Christian perspective they are completely right to argue in this way. However, their argument is incompatible with the view that human beings should be free to do they want with their own bodies. Clearly, they don't really believe that.

Furthermore, from a Christian viewpoint they shouldn't really believe that. This is because as the Anglican theologian John Webster notes, what underlies a belief in complete autonomy of the use of our bodies is a belief in the absolute primacy of the human will. As he puts it, according to this belief:

"Being human is not a matter of having a certain nature or being placed in an ordered reality of which I am not the originator; rather, the distinguishing feature of humankind is, that last resort, the will. The agent is characterised, above all, not as a sort of substance but as enacted intention. The subject is agent, and in her action is demonstrated her capacity for the self-determination which is freedom: in free action, the human subject is self-positing."

As Webster goes on to say, in this modern view of freedom, freedom is portrayed:

"... as an opposing of the self to forces which seek to inhibit, contain or envelop the self and rob it of its authenticity, its self-constituted and self-legislated identity. The dynamic of freedom is thus one of acting against a countervailing force, whether that force be nature, custom, law, society or God."

To quote Jonathan Grant, according to this modern view: "The worst thing we can do is to conform to some moral code that is imposed on us from outside  by society, our parents, the church, or whoever else. It is deemed to be self-evident that such imposition would undermine our unique identity."

From a Christian viewpoint this insistence on the necessity for human beings to exercise complete moral autonomy ignores one simple critical fact, which is that however much we want to ignore or deny the fact, as human beings we all exist in relation to God.

In the words of the Psalmist, "It is he who has made us and not we ourselves" (Psalm 100:3). We are not our own creators by the acts of our own will. We only exist as creatures held in being by the Triune God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and as such we are inescapably in relationship with him. We can no more avoid the fact that we have a relationship with God as his human creatures that we can avoid the fact that as human beings we need air and water to stay alive.

To quote Webster again, what follows from the fact that we are God's creatures, made by him to live in a particular way is that:

"....we need to lay aside the assumption around which so much of our economic, political and sexual identity is organized, namely the assumption that freedom is autonomy. Freedom, is, rather, that capacity to realize what one is. What we are is reconciled creatures, those set free for true humanness by the work of the Triune God. To be set free is not to exercise the false freedom to invent myself by my actions, nor to be creator, reconciler and perfecter to myself. Nor is it mere unrestricted will. It is, rather, to be what I have been made to be, to fulfil my vocation as a creature of God, and so (and only so) to exist in authenticity."

If we ask what it means to fulfil our created vocation as God's creatures there is a basic two-fold answer given by Jesus. We are called to love God with all our heart, our mind and our strength, and we are called to love our neighbours as ourselves (Mark 12:28-34). These two commands go together because loving our neighbours as ourselves means participating in the work of God by enabling them to flourish as God's creatures in the way God intends for them.

This brings us to the second reason why I think it is wrong to argue that human freedom means the right to abort unborn children. This reason is because the unborn child is not part of a woman's body. Both natural reason and Scripture tell us otherwise.

As Sean Doherty notes, natural reason tells us that:

".... our lives as people begin when our physical life begins  that is, at the moment of fertilisation. Fertilisation is when a new life begins physically. A fertilised egg is not a part of the mother or the father in the way that the sperm or the egg were  something new has begun. No new beginning takes place after this: all that ensues is the natural development of the new life which has already begun. Significant milestones such as the emergence of the primitive streak, organ development, quickening, viability and birth are clearly developments towards maturity, not the beginning from scratch of something new."

This testimony of natural reason is then underlined by the testimony of Scripture. We see this n Psalm 139: 13-16 where the Psalmist declares that from the moment of conception he was a person (an 'I') existing in relationship with God:

"For thou didst form my inward parts, thou didst knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise thee, for thou art fearful and wonderful. Wonderful are thy works! Thou knowest me right well; my frame was not hidden from thee, when I was being made in secret, intricately wrought in the depths of the earth. Thy eyes beheld my unformed substance; in thy book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them."

What follows from the fact that every human being is thus a person from the moment of conception is that every unborn child is our neighbour whom we are called to love by enabling them to flourish in the way God intends all his human creatures to flourish.

To put the same point negatively, because every unborn child is our neighbour they are the subject of the sixth commandment, 'You shall not kill' (Exodus 20:13). This commandment forbids us from misusing our capacity for free bodily action by taking the life of any other human being except as an act of judgement upon very serious wrongdoing. What follows from this is that we cannot rightly take the life of an unborn child since they are by reason of their stage of life necessarily incapable of wrongdoing of any kind.

If we say that it is right to exercise the agency we have over our bodies to take the life of an unborn child then we are either being radically inconsistent or we have to hold that we have the right to kill other people simply because we want to, a position which as far as I know no serious moralist has ever held and which the Christian faith totally rejects as incompatible with the sixth commandment and God's call to love our neighbours on which it is based.

The only circumstance in which it can plausibly be argued that it would be right to take the life of an unborn child would be in very rare circumstances in which the 'doctrine of double effect' comes into play.

This doctrine applies in circumstances where a morally good action has an effect which causes unintended harm. For example, if a mother has aggressive uterine cancer it could be the case that the only way to save her life would be to remove her uterus. This would mean that her unborn child would die, but that child would have died anyway if the mother had been killed by the effects of the cancer. In this situation both lives cannot be saved and the moral good intended is to save one life rather than none, with the death of the unborn child being the undesired consequence of that decision.

In such circumstances using bodily agency in a way that results in the death of an unborn child can be justified as a form of love for neighbour (the neighbour being the woman whose life is saved) but, to repeat, such situations are, thankfully, very rare and they do not negate the normal moral judgement that, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church puts it, "Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person  among which is the inviolable right of every human being to life."
(Photo: Getty/iStock)

Four priests have had their licence to practise suspended by the Church of England as it continues to deal with the fallout from a damning review into safeguarding failings.

The Diocese of London has withdrawn permission to officiate (PTO) pending investigation from Hugh Palmer, former rector at All Soul's Church, Langham Place in London, and Christianity Explored founder Rico Tice, The Telegraph reports.

Sue Colman, associate minister at St Leonard's Church in Oakley, Hampshire, has also had her PTO suspended pending investigation, while in the Diocese of Gloucester the licence of Cheltenham-based pastor Nick Stott has been withdrawn.

The measures have been taken following the publication of the Makin Review which accused the Church of England of carrying out a "cover-up" of horrific abuse perpetrated by John Smyth, the late organiser of Iwerne Christian youth camps.

The report led to the resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, but there have been calls for more clergy to go over their failure to act.

Palmer was cited in the report as having met with a badly beaten Smyth victim in 1982 the day after he had attempted to take his own life. Palmer said he did not realise at the time that the suicide attempt was linked to abuse by Smyth.

The report said: "Hugh Palmer visits victim [and] tells victim he was extremely sympathetic to abuse suffered at [the] hands of John Smyth."

During the review, victims cast doubt over the motives behind such visits by clergy.

"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 Smyth's approach to their grooming," the report said.

"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."

Palmer, a former chaplain to Queen Elizabeth II, told the review his visit had been motivated by "genuine concern".

Tice left the Church of England earlier this year over its introduction of same-sex blessings but retained his PTO so that he could continue to speak in Church of England churches.

He told The Times that after becoming aware of the abuse in 1987, he made his concerns known "soon afterwards" and "reported what I knew to senior people in the Iwerne camp more than once".

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."

Of Colman, the Makin Review said it was likely that she and her husband Jamie had "significant knowledge" of Smyth's abuse in the UK and Africa as they were trustees of a ministry that funded his work in Africa.

Concerning Stott, he was described as among the first on the scene when a young boy died in suspicious circumstances at one of Smyth's camps in Zimbabwe. Stott told the review he had had "a confidence that any matters would have been investigated and dealt with by people he trusted".
(Photo: Getty/iStock)

The very existence of truth has been rejected by many people today, but the reality of an objective truth is a vital foundation for belief in God.

Have you ever tried to persuade someone to believe in Christ, only to be told, 'well, that's true for you, and I'm happy for you, but it's not true for me?'

This attitude is a new development in our societies, in which 'truth' is effectively seen as just an opinion rather than objective and real. In contrast, in times gone by, human beings tended to agree that there was a "truth" to be found, and searched hard to find it  often disagreeing vehemently along the way.

Perhaps this potential for conflict is the reason why the new belief that truth is 'just what an individual perceives it to be' has become so popular. It appears on the surface to be tolerant and accepting. We can't argue, fight, or wage wars on the basis of 'truth' if we just accept that there is no one truth to be found, and let people make their own minds up.

This is a foundation of modern, liberal, secular societies  they are supposed to allow for a plurality of beliefs with no strong imposition of values from the authorities, and so allow a person to be free.

Yet the reality of this new world of supposed tolerance is that our culture is now breeding some alarming extremism. In almost every political and social group, angry intolerance is spreading. Multicultural societies don't seem to be working well, as their different communities and groups become increasingly hostile to one another. There has been an increase in many other problems such as mental health, family breakdown, crime and other woes.

Christians often point to these troubles in society and argue that their own worldview, and the truths of the Christian faith, are the answer. There is a good case to be made. However, in a world that has rejected the notion of 'truth', we might first need to examine how and why the modern secular worldview has rejected truth, in order to then be able to argue in favour of Christianity.

The philosophical foundations of 'truth'

Although most people pay little attention to academic philosophical movements, the roots of the modern attitude lie in arcane intellectual discussions.

A movement that is called "postmodernism" has proved to be very influential. This is the source of a lot of the strange, modern ideas that are rapidly changing society, especially about biological sex and gender, and even about discussions related to the history of colonialism and racism. In a postmodern mindset, truth is not real but instead 'constructed' to serve the interests of the individual, often to claim or hold on to power, it is alleged.

Yet the reality is that these postmodern beliefs are therefore selling their own version of 'truth', and they seem just as keen to impose their own 'truth' onto others as other worldviews ever did  the intolerance of the recent upsurge in activist movements bears witness to this. In any case, it does not make sense to claim 'there is no truth', as it itself is a statement of truth.

Ignoring the problems that their own ideology creates - many postmodernists use their ideology to claim that Christianity was merely a means by which powerful people oppressed others, pointing to the era of Christendom when the religion did have a powerful influence on ruling authorities and atrocities were done in its name. They believe the claim of Karl Marx that religion is the 'opium of the people'.

These ideas are very ignorant of both Christian history and belief. For example, the reality is that the early Church had no power, was intensely persecuted by the powerful, and throughout history has been the means by which many oppressed people have been set free  both physically and spiritually. The New Testament is the stories of people with no worldly power other than what God gave them for the healing and liberation of others in their immediate surroundings. As Jesus said, his Kingdom is not of this world.

Even when Constantine converted and Christianity became the religion of the powerful Roman Empire, and it retained its power during the medieval period, the Church often acted to support the liberation of people. For example, slavery was outlawed in Europe during the Middle Ages due to the persuasion of people like Pope Gregory I and Anselm of Canterbury. Although European countries were complicit in the new slave trade to the Americas for a period of time, it was a group of devout Christians such as William Wilberforce who put an end to this travesty.

In other situations where the Church is accused of being complicit in evil, such as in Nazi Germany, many Christians spoke and acted against the regime at great risk to themselves, such as the Bishop of Munster Clemens von Galen, whose public speeches were the reason the despicable regime was forced to end its mass slaughter of people with learning disabilities.

There were many heroes who hid Jewish people and helped them to hide from certain death, such as devout spinster Corrie ten Boom, the villagers of Le Chambon and their pastor Andre Trocme, Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty and orthodox nun Mother Maria Skobtsova. These are all inspiring examples of how Christian faith inspires its holder to liberate the oppressed from the powerful through works of love.

But the reason the Church did act in favour of the oppressed in this way was because they believed a truth  the reality of God and the morals that He instituted, such as the intrinsic value of human life. These heroes did not adopt these truths to have power over others, as postmodernists claim, but instead they saw the beauty, goodness, love, freedom and truth of Jesus Christ, and sought to live that out in their daily lives to help others to escape evil and discover the same divine reality, both spiritually and physically.

So what is truth?

According to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, "truth is one of the central subjects in philosophy. It is also one of the largest. Truth has been a topic of discussion in its own right for thousands of years."

Because many of these academic discussions took place within Christian societies, there is a huge amount of Christian influence on the philosophical debate, such as the thoughts of the great medieval thinker Thomas Aquinas, for whom the existence of truth was very real.

However a Christian understanding of truth began to be questioned by atheistic philosophers in later centuries, which accelerated in the 19th Century, when Friedrich Schleiermacher questioned the historicity of the Bible, Charles Darwin doubted the Creation story, and Friedrich Nietzsche said "truths are illusions which we have forgotten are illusions," doubting that God exists or that there is any real meaning or purpose in the world.

Then in the 20th Century, philosophers increasingly questioned the relationship between language, mind and reality, leading to postmodern thought. But perhaps this was more to do with the rise of atheistic ideas? If it is true that there is no God, and that all that exists is the material world and what we can surmise about it through science, then truth becomes a much more debatable concept.

Yet most people can see intuitively that there is more to life than just the material world of atoms, molecules and scientific laws. Deep inside, we know we have a soul and that there is meaning in the world  indeed when someone does lose this sense, it is often accompanied by great grief and distress.

The evidence in an ordinary life is overwhelming: the feeling of love when you hold a newborn in your arms; the incredible beauty of nature or an exquisite work of art of music; the experience of the love of God in many conversions; even the reality of mathematical and scientific equations, which have been said by many scientists to point to God himself. These all reflect the reality that is beyond our material world.

And Jesus explicitly addressed the existence of truth with some powerful statements: "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6) and "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32). In total, there are 137 Bible verses that refer to truth.

For those who know that God is real, it is easy to believe in a 'truth' that exists over and above the material, physical world. God is the source of truth, and what truth is grounded in.

We can still be humble and tolerant and recognise that our own human frailties mean that we can be deceived, and that we should listen to the opinions of others with respect and without force. But that does not mean we should ever need to abandon the reality that there is a real, objective and important truth to be found, and that it is based on the One who told us that he is 'the Truth'.

Heather Tomlinson is a freelance Christian writer. Find more of her work at https://heathertomlinson.substack.com/ or via X (twitter) @heathertomli
Conflict in S. Lebanon kills 3 paramedics, injures 4 peacekeepers

Xinhua) 10:16, November 23, 2024

BEIRUT, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Violence continued to escalate in southern Lebanon and Beirut's suburbs on Friday, with the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah claiming the lives of three paramedics and injuring four peacekeepers.

According to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, the three paramedics were killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting their vehicle at the Deir Qanoun Ras El Ain junction in southern Lebanon. The attack also injured three others.

The ministry said the victims were affiliated with the Islamic Health Authority Association, a civil defense and rescue group linked to Hezbollah.

On the same day, four Italian peacekeepers were injured when two rockets struck the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) West Sector Headquarters in southern Lebanon.

The rockets, reportedly launched by Hezbollah or affiliated groups, hit a bunker and a logistics area, causing significant damage to nearby infrastructure, said UNIFIL in a statement.

This marked the third attack on UNIFIL facilities in the village of Chamaa within a week.

UNIFIL called for all parties to avoid fighting near its positions and stressed the inviolability of UN premises and personnel, warning that attacks on peacekeepers violate international law and United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701.

In Beirut, Israeli warplanes launched four airstrikes on Chiyah, including one that destroyed a residential building that also housed commercial stores and offices.

The Israeli military also issued evacuation warnings for residents living in Hadath, Haret Hreik, and Ghobeiry, saying that these areas are located near the interests of Hezbollah.

Since Sept. 23, the Israeli army has intensified its air attack on Lebanon in an escalation of conflict with Hezbollah. Israel further initiated a ground operation across its northern border into Lebanon in early October.

According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, the death toll from Israeli airstrikes since the war began on Oct. 8, 2023, has reached 3,645, with over 15,355 individuals injured.

(Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Kou Jie)
A sixth-grader raises her hand at American Indian Public Charter School in 2013. The school, which has a history of controversy and top test scores, is battling to stay open after Oaklands school board raised concerns about substantial governance issues and pointed to evidence that the school is not serving all students who want to attend. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle 2013

An Oakland charter school with a history of controversy and top test scores is battling to stay open after the citys school board raised concerns about substantial governance issues and pointed to evidence that the school is not serving all students who want to attend.

The Oakland Unified school board, which oversees the K-8 American Indian Public Charter School II, has issued a notice that the problems could lead to the first step in a closure process.

The school has 30 days to address the issues before an expected school board vote on Dec. 9. American Indian Charter II is one of three AIM K-12 charters, formerly called American Indian Model Schools.

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The possible closure is the latest chapter for a charter school with a history of scandal and controversy that includes a 2012 district investigation into fraud and mismanagement, followed by an FBI raid of the schools and their controversial founder Ben Chavis that led to a federal indictment and a plea deal on a minor charge.

An attempt to close the school at the time was thwarted by a legal challenge.

Officials say the concerns now include the release of confidential information, violation of open-meeting laws, a lack of qualified teachers and a disproportionately small number of high-needs students, including just 40 enrolled in special education programs out of 640. In addition, district officials noted, low-performing students are far more likely to transfer to other schools.

Some schools have achieved very high test scores, but the question remains as to whether they are serving all students who wish to attend as the law requires, said school board President Sam Davis. We have a responsibility to make sure all charter schools are serving our community equitably, yet weve seen that some dont show nearly the responsibility to students with disabilities that Oakland Unified has.

American Indian charter officials noted the school has a long list of accolades, including being a 2023 California Distinguished School, and a history of above average test scores despite an enrollment of disproportionately low-income families and Black students, who historically have scored much lower than their counterparts.

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Last year, 45% of the 628 students were Black, 36% Asian American, 7% Hispanic, 6% white, with the rest part of small demographic groups. The school reports just 18 students as two or more races, a much smaller ratio compared with district-wide data.

School leaders also noted the school has seen an increase this year in the number of special needs students after joining a charter school consortium to get special education administrative support rather than relying on Oakland Unified. That reduced delays in assessing students among other issues, they said.

We were not getting the support and services for our children from the district, said Maya Woods-Cadiz, superintendent for AIMS K-12, which oversees three charter schools, including American Indian charter.

As for the cherry-picking students, she said the school uses a common charter school application platform, ensuring that the enrollment process is not selective.

We couldnt cherry-pick if we wanted to, she said. Were not high-performing just by luck or hanky-panky going on.

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The results come from high expectations and wraparound support, including tutoring during summer, winter and other breaks, Saturday school, after-school programs and more, Woods-Cadiz said.

Data compiled by the district, however, shows up to 20% of American Indian charters students dont return the next school year. And the students who leave have significantly lower test scores than those who stay.

The evidence, including witness statements, indicates the school pushes lower-achieving students out, which is particularly concerning, district officials said in the official 30-day notice in late October.

The school also lacks fully credentialed teachers, with more than two-thirds teaching on an emergency credential or without any credential at all, district officials said.

In addition, American Indian charter has about 6% of students in special education programs this year, compared with 16% of the 34,000 students in Oakland Unified schools. In recent years, special education enrollment at the school fell to as low as 16 students.

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Parents, teachers and staff defended the school at the first school board hearing on the renewal. Amy Lee, who has two students with special needs at the charter school, said her children have been well served by the special education staff.

I hope you keep (American Indian charter) open for many years to come, she told the school board at the Nov. 13 hearing. I care deeply for the school the same way (the school) cares deeply for their students.

American Indian charter school opened in 2007, one of three operated by American Indian Model Schools, with a reputation for high expectations and a no-nonsense approach to discipline and academic performance.

Its controversial founder, Chavis, was both praised and scorned at the time for unorthodox and harsh methods of disciplining students for even minor offenses, which included humiliation, profanity and detention.

In one case, Chavis cut the hair of a student accused of stealing. Another who called a classmate a derogatory name was required to wear a note that said, Im an (expletive).

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He left the school amid the federal investigation into fraud.

Pressure to succeed and strict policies remain at the school. Three unexcused absences can mean a call to police to report the truancy, while a C-minus or lower is considered a failing grade, requiring many students to either repeat a year or leave, according to the schools policies, a practice questioned by school board members.

While no organization is perfect, American Indian charter school should be renewed by the districts school board, Woods-Cadiz said.
The Catholic St Michael's Cathedral in Qingdao, Shandong Province. (Photo: Getty/iStock)

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 Jinping's "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 month's 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 CCP's ideology," Bitter Winter reported. "An optimist could object that Bishop Shen Bin did not explicitly tell Shanghai Catholics 'not' to listen to the pope's teachings, which oppose the CCP's 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."

The conference encouraged clergy to study and disseminate to church members documents of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CCP Central Committee and Xi's 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 Institute's 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.

"It's a bitter fruit, considering his advanced age," Shea wrote. "The gesture aims to influence public opinion. It is on par with Beijing's 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 CCP's 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."

 Christian Daily International
Peste o mie de copii din raionul Criuleni vor avea acces gratuit la un spatiu modern pentru joaca si lectura
Packaging of a Yu Shang food product that is among the products the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said is contaminated with listeria. CDC

Health officials are investigating a multistate listeria outbreak tied to more than 72,000 pounds of recalled meat products from Yu Shang Food Inc.

The outbreak has affected 11 people across four states, with nine people hospitalized, including a California woman, who was pregnant and lost her twin infants due to the infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As of Friday, the CDC, state public health authorities and the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed cases dating to October 2021. The affected individuals range in age, and their illnesses have been linked to Yu Shang branded products, which were sold in various markets across the United States.

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Among the cases, the CDC confirmed that listeria was found in samples from the pregnant woman and one of her twins. However, the bacteria was not detected in the second twin, so only the mother and one twin are included in the outbreak statistics.

Another infant who contracted listeria has since recovered. Public health officials warn that the actual number of cases is likely higher, as some individuals recover without medical treatment or testing.

The recalled products, all bearing the Yu Shang label and establishment number P46684 or EST. M46684, include ready-to-eat meat and poultry items produced before Oct. 28. The recall initially was issued on Nov. 9 and expanded on Nov. 21.

Consumers are urged to discard or return any affected products that have been linked to multiple retail locations.

In interviews with the sick individuals, health officials found that many had purchased the recalled products at various stores, with two people specifically mentioning ready-to-eat chicken products from Yu Shang.

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Listeria is a serious infection that can lead to severe health complications, particularly in pregnant individuals, older adults and those with weakened immune systems, according to the CDC.

Symptoms include fever, muscle aches and fatigue, with more severe signs like headache, stiff neck and confusion occurring in some cases. Pregnant people are at higher risk of miscarriage, premature birth, or infection of the newborn.

Health authorities advise anyone who has consumed the recalled products and experiences symptoms to seek medical attention immediately. Businesses are also reminded not to sell or serve the affected products, and to follow proper food safety protocols.
President-elect Donald Trump on Friday nominated Dr. Marty Makary, a pancreatic surgeon at Johns Hopkins University who's made controversial claims about Covid, as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration.

Makary is the chief of Islet Transplant Surgery at Johns Hopkins, according to the university's website. He also served in leadership at the World Health Organization Patient Safety Program and is a member of the National Academy of Medicine, which is part of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine. He's also served as a public adviser to Paragon Health Institute, a conservative health care think tank, and regularly appears on Fox News.

"FDA has lost the trust of Americans, and has lost sight of its primary goal as a regulator. The Agency needs Dr. Marty Makary, a Highly Respected Johns Hopkins Surgical Oncologist and Health Policy Expert, to course-correct and refocus the Agency," Trump said on Truth Social.

"He will work under the leadership of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to, among other things, properly evaluate harmful chemicals poisoning our Nation's food supply and drugs and biologics being given to our Nation's youth, so that we can finally address the Childhood Chronic Disease Epidemic," Trump said.

The position requires Senate confirmation. As FDA commissioner, Makary would be responsible for regulating and overseeing drugs, food, medical devices and other products, such as tobacco and cosmetics.

Makary has made some controversial statements in the past, particularly about the pandemic. He said that the federal government was the "greatest perpetrator" of misinformation during the pandemic.

He was a proponent of natural immunity, saying it was "at least" as effective or even better than immunity provided by vaccines, ignoring the risk of infections. He also argued the nation would reach herd immunity by April 2021.

He's claimed that myocarditis, a rare heart condition, is more common after Covid vaccination than after a Covid infection, a claim which has been debunked by several studies.

In 2023, he also wrote an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal criticizing the Biden administration's decision to recommend the Covid boosters for younger patients who are at lower risk. The idea that young, healthy people don't need additional Covid vaccines is now more widely accepted among the medical community.

If nominated and confirmed, Makary would potentially work under Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whom Trump has picked for Secretary of Health and Human Services. The FDA is one of 13 agencies that falls under HHS's purview.

The pick of Kennedy was heavily criticized by the medical and scientific community, given his controversial views when it comes to public health, including anti-vaccine activism.

Appearing Sunday on Fox News, Makary defended Kennedy, saying he's the least "scary" thing happening in the U.S. health care system and people shouldn't "dissect" things Kennedy's said "30 years ago."

"He wants to address corruption in health care and corruption in our government health agencies," Makary said. "A lot of people don't like that message and a lot of people are threatened by it."

Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine expert at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, said Makary isn't fit for the role of FDA commissioner, given his past comments on Covid and defense of Kennedy.

"He's willing to lie to the American public," Offit said. "Why do we think this someone who should head the FDA?"

The current FDA commissioner is Dr. Robert Califf, a cardiologist who also held the role during President Barack Obama's second term.

Trump had two FDA commissioners during his first term: physician Dr. Scott Gottlieb and oncologist Dr. Stephen Hahn.
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Acting Director Russell Vought speaks with reporters during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, March 11, 2019

President-elect Donald Trump on Friday named Russell Vought, a co-author of Project 2025 who served as a platform policy director for the Republican National Committee, as his pick to lead the Office of Management and Budget.

In a statement announcing his pick, Trump referred to Vought, who previously held the role in his first term, as "an aggressive cost cutter and deregulator who will help us implement our America First Agenda across all Agencies."

"Russ knows exactly how to dismantle the Deep State and end Weaponized Government, and he will help us return Self Governance to the People," Trump said. "We will restore fiscal sanity to our Nation, and unleash the American People to new levels of Prosperity and Ingenuity."

Vought responded to Trump's nomination in a post to X on Friday night, saying, "Thank you @realDonaldTrump! There is unfinished business on behalf of the American people, and it's an honor of a lifetime to get the call again."

In the chapter Vought authored for conservative blueprint Project 2025, he argued the OMB director "should present a fiscal goal to the President early in the budget development process to address the federal government's fiscal irresponsibility."

"Though some mistakenly regard it as a mere paper-pushing exercise, the President's budget is in fact a powerful mechanism for setting and enforcing public policy at federal agencies," he wrote.

Though Trump and many of his allies distanced themselves from Project 2025  an initiative that includes policy proposals led by the right-leaning think tank Heritage Foundation and other conservative groups for a Republican administration  on the campaign trail, many people associated with the agenda have been tapped for positions in the incoming Trump administration. Some of those named have included Tom Homan as border czar, Brendan Carr as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission and John Ratcliffe as CIA director.

If he is confirmed by the Senate, Vought would oversee budget and the execution of Trump's policies across executive departments and agencies.

Vought previously served as director of the Office of Management during Trump's first term. He assumed the role after working as deputy director and acting director of that office before his Senate confirmation in July 2020


The power needs of artificial intelligence and cloud computing are growing so large that individual data center campuses could soon use more electricity than some cities, and even entire U.S. states, according to companies developing the facilities.

The electricity consumption of data centers has exploded along with their increasingly critical role in the economy in the past 10 years, housing servers that power the applications businesses and consumers rely on for daily tasks.

Now, with the advent of artificial intelligence, data centers are growing so large that finding enough power to drive them and enough suitable land to house them will become increasingly difficult, the developers say. The facilities could increasingly demand a gigawatt or more of power  one billion watts  or about twice the residential electricity consumption of the Pittsburgh area last year.

Technology companies are in a "race of a lifetime to global dominance" in artificial intelligence, said Ali Fenn, president of Lancium, a company that secures land and power for data centers in Texas. "It's frankly about national security and economic security," she said. "They're going to keep spending" because there's no more profitable place to deploy capital.

Renewable energy alone won't be sufficient to meet their power needs. Natural gas will have to play a role, developers say, which will slow progress toward meeting carbon dioxide emissions targets.

(See here for which stocks are helping to fix the nation's power grid.)

Regardless of where the power comes from, data centers are now at a scale where they have started "tapping out against the existing utility infrastructure," said Nat Sahlstrom, chief energy officer at Tract, a Denver-based company that secures land, infrastructure and power resources for such facilities.

And "the funnel of available of land in this country that's industrial zone land that can fit the data center use case  it's becoming more and more constrained," said Sahlstrom, who previously led Amazon's energy, water and sustainability teams.

Beyond Virginia

As land and power grow more limited, data centers are expanding into new markets outside the long-established global hub in northern Virginia, Sahlstrom said. The electric grid that serves Virginia is facing looming reliability problems. Power demand is expected to surge, while supply is falling due to the retirement of coal- and some natural gas-powered plants.

Tract, for example, has assembled more than 23,000 acres of land for data center development across the U.S., with large holdings in Maricopa County, Arizona  home to Phoenix  and Storey County, Nevada, near Reno.

Tract recently bought almost 2,100 acres in Buckeye, Arizona with plans to develop the land into one of the largest data center campuses in the country. The privately-held company is working with utilities to secure up to 1.8 gigawatts of power for the site to support as many as 40 individual data centers.

For context, a data center campus with peak demand of one gigawatt is roughly equivalent to the average annual consumption of about 700,000 homes, or a city of around 1.8 million people, according to a CNBC analysis using data from the Department of Energy and Census Bureau.
Pedestrians and bicyclists stood outside the pedestrian gate on the south side of the Golden Gate Bridge while it was closed due to Gaza protesters on April 15. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle

A San Francisco judge on Friday dismissed many of the charges against several people arrested in an April 15 protest that shut down the Golden Gate Bridge, but in most cases left in place the most serious, felony counts.

The defendants, who adopted the moniker the GG26, faced charges including conspiracy and false imprisonment after bringing traffic to a standstill for hours in an effort to call attention to the war in Gaza. Eight of the accused protesters were charged with felonies, while the rest faced misdemeanor charges.

When announcing the charges in August, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said the blockage caused extreme threats to the health and welfare of those trapped, and said people exercising their rights to free speech shouldnt do so at the expense of public safety.

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Defense attorneys blasted the charges as unjustly harsh, and they filed motions asking a judge to consider reducing or tossing many of the charges.

Judge Brendan P. Conroy on Friday dismissed 32 of the 44 charges against the defendants who were facing felonies, finding that the evidence collected by the California Highway Patrol was insufficient to support them, according to a statement released by defense attorneys. One defendants case was dismissed outright, the lawyers said. The felony charges of conspiracy remained in place, except for the defendant whose case was dismissed, according to prosecutors.

Todays decision is a huge win for our clients and the community at large, said Jeff Wozniak, an attorney representing the defendants charged with felonies. The clients know their actions were just, taken to speak up for the thousands of Palestinians murdered in the past year and that the initial, overly harsh charges were merely an effort to silence their activism.

Wozniak said most of the charges that were dismissed were counts of false imprisonment, the number of which was based on the number of victims named in the case. Conroy found that there was insufficient evidence that these particular crimes were committed, Wozniak said. Some defendants still face charges of false imprisonment and conspiracy.

In addition to the demonstration on the Golden Gate Bridge, protesters on that day also staged sit-ins on several parts of Interstate 880 in the East Bay. The actions collectively brought traffic to a halt and caused disruptions across the Bay Area that lasted several hours.

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This story is part of CNBC Make It's The Moment series, where highly successful people reveal the critical moment that changed the trajectory of their lives and careers, discussing what drove them to make the leap into the unknown.

Jake Loosararian's nine-figure business might've never existed if he'd listened to the people he trusts most.

As students at Pennsylvania's Grove City College in 2012, Loosararian and his electrical engineering classmates were asked to build robots that could climb and scan a local power plant's walls for costly issues like cracks or corrosion. His team built a 40-pound robot with an ultrasonic scanner that collected data in dirty and dangerous environments more efficiently than human workers ever could.

Their creation saved the power plant tens of millions of dollars in labor costs and productivity, says Loosararian. He floated the idea of turning it into a business to his family and professors.

"Everyone said, 'Don't f---ing do it,'" Loosararian says.

Such a company would be a major longshot: Loosararian had very little work experience or seed money, and no tech industry connections. Roughly 70% of hardware startups either shutter or fail to grow, mostly due to how long it typically takes to get a product to market and build a reliable customer base, according to CBInsights.

But few tech companies seemed focused on Loosararian's niche of inspecting critical infrastructure. He believed he'd stumbled onto "a secret hiding in plain sight," he says.

After graduating college in 2013, Loosararian co-founded Pittsburgh-based Gecko Robotics. He worked 100-hour weeks to save "$30,000 or $40,000" and fund his startup's first few years of existence, he says. He spent a lot of that time in some dark places  going broke, sleeping on friends' floors and climbing inside power plant boilers, which are "dirty and horrible," he notes. Repeatedly, he almost walked away.

Today, Gecko Robotics is a fast-growing robotics company with $220 million in funding, including a $100 million fundraising round last year that valued Gecko at $633 million. The startup, with Loosararian at the helm, ranked 42nd on the 2024 CNBC Disruptor 50 List, which released in May.

Here, Loosararian discusses why he believed he'd seen something that nobody else did, the challenge of funding his startup without investors or family money, and the "I will not die" mentality he developed to succeed.

CNBC Make It: Did you immediately believe you had a major tech startup on your hands after building a successful robot in college? Did you get advice from anyone?

Loosararian: I talked to a bunch of people after that project  my parents, my siblings, people who had started companies before, people I looked up to from a technology standpoint, like professors. Everyone said, "Don't f---ing do it. There's not a big market here." It was very clearly a bad idea.

I'm not a very smart individual, but I just began to think: It seems like the robots are an incredible way to localize and gather information using sensors that couldn't get to these places without robotic systems. Customers will pay me to collect and own that data on their assets, which no one else has access to.

It seemed like that was a secret hiding in plain sight. And, more importantly, it was a really important [problem] no one else was solving for. So, if not me, then who else was going to solve it?

How did you get the funds to get started?

I didn't come from a super well-off family. I had, maybe, $15,000 [in savings]. I knew that wasn't enough to start the company, and I had no idea you could get people to give you money for equity in a company that was still worthless.

I took a job doing systems automation. The first day I got in there, I sat at my cubicle and was like, "Aw, get me the hell out of here!" I spent 50 to 60 hours a week at my job, and about 40 to 50 hours at Gecko. My weekends were at power plants, and in the lab building the robot.

A year to the day I joined [that job], I quit. I think I ended up saving $30,000 or $40,000. I was like, "Thank God. I have enough money to bootstrap the thing."
The U.S. electric grid needs a total body makeover. As growing power demands from data centers and artificial intelligence applications are driving unprecedented electricity demand, utilities are gearing up for a tidal wave of investments to expand and modernize the grid. Experts say it's one of the quickest ways to provide more electricity. The Edison Electric Institute, the industry's trade group, projects a massive jump in spending by U.S. investor-owned electric utilities  from $96 billion in 2014 to $202.8 billion by 2026, a 110% increase. In 2024, the projected spending total is expected to be $186.4 billion. Of that total, $59.7 billion, or 32%, is expected to be funneled toward upgrading power distribution, while $35.9 billion, or 19%, will be dedicated to transmission projects. This sets the stage for multiyear growth for specialty contractors Quanta Services , MasTec and MYR Group  all of which have strong capabilities in electric power infrastructure. Our grid "needs a tremendous amount of investment," said Neil Mehta, managing director at Goldman Sachs and head of its Americas natural resources equity research. "You're dealing with modern-day challenges that weren't envisioned when we developed a lot of the most recent iterations of the grid." The substantial investment required to modernize and expand the grid means high capital expenditures for utilities, which Goldman analysts said typically translates to higher earnings growth for infrastructure solution providers. "We continue to be very bullish on this ecosystem of the specialty contractors because the future of utility capex is very bright and these are the companies that are the one-for-one beneficiaries of it," Mehta said. With Duke Austin, a fourth-generation lineman, at its helm, Quanta Services has a long history in electric power infrastructure. MasTec's roots are in oil, gas and telecommunications projects, but it is evolving into an electric delivery powerhouse as it turns its attention to large transmission and distribution, or T & D, projects. MYR Group is known for building high-voltage T & D networks for utilities. The backbone of the electric grid Transmission and distribution is the backbone of the electrical grid, delivering power from generation sites to consumers. Transmission carries high-voltage power over long distances to regional hubs, while distribution handles the lower-voltage delivery to end users. Much of this infrastructure was built more than 60 years ago, making it outdated and in need of major upgrades and replacements. Grid retrofitting is needed to address the rising power demand that is coming from the electrification of transportation, more frequent severe weather such as hurricanes, and population growth. However, data centers are the "single largest contributor to that power demand growth" in the U.S., Carly Davenport, utilities research analyst at Goldman Sachs, said in an interview with CNBC. Davenport sees surging power demands from data centers as a "key driver of potential upside around transmission and generation" capital expenditures. That's because new AI servers are power hungry, consuming more electricity as processing speeds increase. Taken together, the rising energy demands make it clear that the aging grid infrastructure will eventually not be able to handle growing power needs. Quanta Services Quanta Services, a leading specialty contractor with a strong track record in electric grid construction and a deep understanding of utility needs, is considered a secular winner in the utility capex theme. The company is seeing record levels of bids and requests for proposals focused on expanding transmission capacity. During the company's third-quarter earnings webcast on Oct. 31, Austin, its CEO, said the company is "positioned for decades of expected necessary infrastructure investment." Large transmission projects are the "cheapest form of generation," Austin said, suggesting that utilities see these projects as the most cost-efficient way to increase power supply. Management has estimated another year of double-digit earnings growth in 2025. Goldman's Mehta attributed Quanta's long-term growth trajectory to its "unparalleled relationships" with utilities. Quanta is "advising them 20 years into the future and they're effectively imbedded in their resource planning process with these companies," he said. Quanta's stock has surged 58% so far in 2024 and is priced at a premium to its peers, with shares trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.9  well ahead of its five-year average of 20.4. Yet, Mehta believes Quanta's growth prospects justify its extended valuation and argued that it's a buy during market pullbacks. MasTec's stock has also seen massive gains this year, surging 87%, also making its valuation look stretched with a P/E of 29. MYR Group, on the other hand, has yet to see this type of gain, despite a similar growth profile, prompting Mehta to recommend the stock. PWR YTD mountain Quanta Services shares year to date MasTec MasTec has been in comeback mode. Operational issues on key projects in 2022 and 2023 pressured the company's margins, but MasTec is showing early signs that it can become a strong competitor in utility T & D. "Energy load growth in the U.S. will have a substantial impact on our business as our customers meaningfully increase their investment in both generation and grid expansion," CEO Jose Mas said during the company's third-quarter earnings webcast Nov. 1. Following MasTec's strong third-quarter results , Truist upgraded the stock to buy from hold, saying the company is a strong generator of free cash flow with a healthy balance sheet and growth ahead. The firm increased its price target to $173 from $133, implying a 21% upside to current levels. MTZ YTD mountain MasTec shares year to date Even with MasTec shares soaring 87% year to date, industrials analyst Jamie Cook said the stock is still "trading at a significant discount." He estimates earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization margins will grow by double digits in the next few years. Cook's conviction comes from the recent transformation of MasTec's portfolio after the acquisitions of two large T & D utility services providers: INTREN, and Henkel's & McCoy. The deals drastically expanded its capabilities and footprint. MasTec's operating margins have underperformed Quanta's, but Cook expects that as MasTec grows its market share, the added scale should help margins expand and rival its competitor. MYR Group Goldman expects MYR Group is well positioned for 2025. Execution challenges on solar projects have weighed on the company's top and bottom lines, resulting in muted stock performance in 2024. Delayed solar panel deliveries had held up installations and led to rising costs, while bookings were hurt by increased competition for clean energy projects. But analyst Ati Modak suspects the company is through the worst of it. MYRG YTD mountain MYR Group shares year to date. After MYR Group reported third-quarter results that showed its project activity was above expectations, Modak raised the firm's price target to $153 while reiterating a buy rating in a Nov. 3 report to clients. Modak's conviction lies in the challenged projects nearing completion by the end of 2024, which should create potential for revenue growth and operating margin expansion in its T & D and commercial and industrial segments. MYR said it will be "very selective" about which solar projects it takes on in the future, weighing various factors such as project size, cost and customer profile before it commits to the work. While some project uncertainties may hurt fourth-quarter performance, Modak estimates 5% revenue growth in the electric contractor's T & D unit in 2025, followed by 8% to 9% growth in the upcoming years. Modak said "MYRG's top three market share position" results in "strong bidding activity" and opportunities in data center construction that will drive its growth in the years to come.


Bulgaria and Romania belong fully to the Schengen area.

Removing internal controls at land borders is the last hurdle.



I welcome the positive outcome of informal discussions in Budapest today.

@EUCouncil formal decision is next.



Let 2025 see Schengen become stronger. pic.twitter.com/zHJrg9HzFw



 Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) November 22, 2024

Romania and Bulgaria are set to become full members of the Schengen Area by as early as January 2025, according to officials in Hungarian. The development marks the culmination of years of partial inclusion, as the two Balkan nations, which joined the European Union in 2007, had only gained limited access to the Schengen Area in March 2023.Ursula von der Leyen, head of the EU's executive commission, said in a post on Twitter that the last few remaining hurdles would be removed and Romania and Bulgaria would "belong fully to the Schengen area".While air and maritime border controls were lifted, land borders remained subject to restrictions due to concerns about illegal migration, particularly from Austria, which had previously blocked their entry into the zone.However, following recent talks in Budapest between the interior ministers of Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania, Austria has now removed its opposition. The move sets the stage for a final decision on full membership to be made by EU interior ministers in December 2024.Hungarian Interior Minister Sandor Pinter confirmed that Romania and Bulgaria are one step closer to full membership. A key aspect of this progress will be the deployment of at least 100 border guards along the Bulgaria-Turkey border.This breakthrough represents a major step in the Schengen expansion process. EU leaders, including Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, have celebrated the development, stating that Romania and Bulgaria now fully belong to the Schengen Area. Johansson expressed her approval of the progress, calling it a significant move toward granting both countries citizens full freedom of movement.
In early November, Molti Amici announced it was closing, just 16 months after it opened. The news brought a mysterious embezzlement claim back into the spotlight, but police officers said they are closing the case. Brian L. Frank/Special to the Chronicle

When Molti Amici, a popular Wine Country Italian restaurant, announced suddenly in early November that it would be closing  just 16 months after it opened  the shocking news brought a mysterious embezzlement claim back into the spotlight.

In June, a Molti Amici owner called Healdsburg police and claimed that a business partner had failed to deposit $60,000 in the restaurants bank account. Shortly after, the allegedly missing amount was raised to $70,000, according to Healdsburg police Sgt. Nick Doherty. But two of the restaurants owners later said the report was being retracted, and while police told the Chronicle that never formally happened, Doherty also said police received no further evidence to support the allegations.

The reporting party never responded or reached out to us, Doherty said. We set up meetings and he never showed. As a result, police officers told the Chronicle they are in the process of closing the case.

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Now, a Chronicle review of Molti Amicis financial records shows the restaurant was in significant financial distress. It lost more than $600,000 in its first year in business and owed vendors tens of thousands of dollars. Accountants Molti Amici hired had raised concerns about the restaurants bookkeeping.

Led by three veterans of the nearby three-Michelin-starred SingleThread  founder Jonny Barr and consulting chefs Melissa Yanc and Sean McGaughey  Molti Amici was among the highest-profile restaurant openings in Wine Country in recent years.

Its menu, full of modern Italian comfort fare like handmade pastas and wood-fired pizzas with unorthodox toppings, earned it a Bib Gourmand from the Michelin Guide, awarded to restaurants that offer high-quality food at reasonable prices, in August. Molti Amicis most expensive dish, a truffle-dusted, plate-sized raviolo ($35) that cinematically oozed bright orange egg yolk when sliced with a knife, was an entree made for the social media age.

Molti Amicis most expensive dish, a truffle-dusted raviolo ($35), was an entree made for the social media age. Brian L. Frank/Special to the Chronicle

Yet by the time it closed this month, none of the three SingleThread alumni were still involved in daily operations. Yanc and McGaughey, who own Healdsburgs Quail and Condor bakery and Troubador sandwich shop, had stepped away in April. Weeks later, Barr quietly left, too, citing stress-related health concerns. He passed responsibility to his business partner, Jason Cutrer, who had become involved in Molti Amici as a majority investor at the close of 2023.

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In November, Barr, who had moved to Indiana for a family matter, said he was completely caught off guard by the restaurants closing, though he admitted that Molti Amici had struggled financially, blaming a drop in tourism and a commitment to paying its workers well.

Interviews with Yanc and another Molti Amici investor, along with financial documents and emails reviewed by the Chronicle, paint a more complicated picture of the restaurants financial issues.

Will Santana, a retired Healdsburg native who said he invested $100,000 in Molti Amici, said he initially loved (Barrs) energy, his passion and believed in what he was doing, but from the get-go, there wasnt a ton of transparency.

In December 2023, Molti Amicis original majority investors divested rather abruptly, according to a timeline that the Chronicle reviewed from KitchenSync, a restaurant industry accounting company the restaurant hired. Cutrer, a friend of Barrs since 2020, decided to invest at that point, initially infusing $900,000 into Molti Amici, according to documents reviewed by the Chronicle.

He stepped in and did a big favor and brought some more money to the table to make sure the restaurant could stay open, Barr said of Cutrers investment. Cutrer told the Chronicle he had planned to work strictly as an investor, with no plans to actively manage or operate the restaurant.

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A Chronicle review of Molti Amici's financial records shows the restaurant was in significant financial distress. It lost more than $600,000 in its first year in business and owed vendors tens of thousands of dollars. Brian L. Frank/Special to the Chronicle

Profit and loss statements reviewed by the Chronicle show that by the time Cutrer arrived, Molti Amici had lost $308,000 in its first six months of operation. That number more than doubled from January through July 2024, with another $354,000 in losses. Moreover, May 2024 emails from restaurant vendors obtained by the Chronicle reveal that Molti Amici had dozens of past-due invoices totaling tens of thousands of dollars. Among them were invoices for more than $13,000 from produce provider Green Leaf and more than $10,000 from food purveyor Chefs Warehouse. (Neither vendor responded to the Chronicles request for comment.)

Former Molti Amici consulting chef Yanc pointed out that late or missed payments are very normal in the restaurant industry, and vendors are often flexible. As restaurants get on their feet, she said, its a combination of invoices getting lost, or digital invoices sent to the wrong person.

Yanc and fellow consulting chef McGaughey were not in charge of ordering at Molti Amici or paying invoices, she said, and they were never partners in the business. They departed to focus on their own businesses, she said, and believe the closure boiled down to mismanagement.

In its timeline, KitchenSync noted irregularities in the restaurants bookkeeping, particularly regarding cash deposits. In mid-August 2023, Barr stopped reporting and depositing cash, the timeline said, and the accountants couldnt make things match. KitchenSyncs audit of Molti Amicis cash records indicated that no cash deposits were made into the restaurants bank account between September 2023 and January 2024  despite records of cash sales and tips that totaled more than $62,000. According to the audit, the restaurants bank account was short nearly $66,000 in cash deposits from July 2023 through May 2024.

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There was a paper trail, Barr said of the missing cash. They were cash deposits that should have been deposited, but the cash was paid to vendors. Barr sent KitchenSync a cash reconciliation spreadsheet that listed Petty Cash Spendatures (sic), including vendor payments, restaurant equipment and artwork, totaling just over $60,000. (The spreadsheet also indicated that a deposit of roughly $6,500 was owed to the restaurants bank account.) Only some of Barrs entries included a date, and according to the accountants timeline, no receipts were provided.

A spread of Italian dishes at Molti Amici. Founder Jonny Barr, who stepped away from the restaurant in May, pointed to labor costs as the main contributor to the closure. Brian L. Frank/Special to the Chronicle

There were some discrepancies between Barrs account and vendors records. For instance, the spreadsheet listed a cash payment of roughly $15,000 to Seral Wood & Steel, but Seral owner Mike Benz told the Chronicle that the company was paid in other ways, including through meal trade.

Barr declined to comment on the specifics of the restaurants finances but said Molti Amici had been stretched thin when he left, pointing to labor costs as the main contributor. He said Molti Amici paid employees at least $2 above minimum wage and offered many of them health insurance. I tried to do something different, where we were creating a work-life balance and paying people generously, but it just wasnt sustainable, he said. It came at an expense to the restaurant.

A drop in area tourism compounded the issue, he said. Molti Amici was never able to achieve the numbers that the previous restaurant in its space, Campo Fina, had.

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Still, Barr said he doesnt believe Molti Amicis financial woes were significant enough to shutter it. Restaurants are always floating with some sort of looming debt, he said. When I left, it wasnt in a place I thought it would ever close.

Cutrer said he added cash to the restaurants bank account in May and July but that ultimately, he couldnt compensate for the combination of lower-than-expected sales and higher-than-expected labor costs.

Unless expenses are rigorously managed and operational disciplines upheld, things can get out of hand quickly, he continued. What I thought was a great investment opportunity quickly deteriorated into financial stress.

Cutrer paid Molti Amicis employees severance, documents reviewed by the Chronicle confirm. He said hes working on reopening the space  on which the restaurant had a 10-year lease  but not as Molti Amici. In the meantime, he plans to use the space for events.
Situation comedies arent usually known for season-ending cliffhangers. But what makes the occasional white-knuckle episode especially frustrating is when the show is canceled before the payoff, leaving viewers wondering what the hell happened.

Redditors on r/Sitcoms recently grumbled about their most aggravating experiences with sitcoms that left them hanging. Sitcoms like

1 My Name Is Earl Don't Miss Season Four of My Name Is Earl ended on a graphic that promised, To Be Continued. That turned out to be a lie and left many of the shows questions unanswered. Grrr! In a Reddit AMA in 2013, fans tried to get closure by asking show creator Greg Garcia, Who was Earl Jr.s real father, and did Earl ever finish the list? Garcias response: We never really got the chance to fully figure it out, but the talk in the writers room was that Earl Jr.s dad was going to be someone famous. Like Dave Chappelle or Lil Jon. Someone that came to town on tour, and Joy slept with. But when we got canceled, we never got the chance to figure it out.

2 Benson Soap spin-off Benson saw the rise of Benson DuBois from head of household affairs for Governor Eugene Gatling to state budget director to lieutenant governor. In the shows final season, Benson runs for the governor job against his old boss. That final season saw the two friends battling for the election win, with the last episode ending on a freeze frame as Benson and Gatling wait for the final results. Who wins the election? Because the show got canceled, viewers never found out. But executive producer Bob Fraser later revealed that Gatling would have won, with Benson becoming a U.S. Senator. Advertisement

3 Last Man on Earth Advertisement Advertisement At the end of Season Four, Will Forte and the gang discover a small house and farm in Tapachula. It looks like the perfect new home until theyre surrounded by strange underground colonists. And thats all she wrote, folks. Forte told the Good One podcast (via Collider) what would have happened if the show hadnt been canned: The way that we would have handled these people  basically they had been in this bunker, and they went down when the virus had first started. They had some kind of medical expert or scientist who knew, At this certain point, the virus will be dormant. Youll be safe to get back out. Then they see a bunch of stragglers  us. And we represent a real threat to them because theyd thought everything was dead, so they quarantine us. And we eventually communicate with them a little bit. They get comfortable with us. Theyre very nice people. They look scary but they end up being nice people.

4 Mork & Mindy Advertisement Yeesh, what a mess. Mork & Mindys fourth season was set to end on a three-part cliffhanger, with the titular characters running through time from a ray-gun-wielding, Neptunian baddie named Kalnik. The final episode ends with Mork and Mindy escaping into the Vortex, holding on to each other for dear life. (The comedy, which promised a fish-out-of-water alien trying to understand Earth culture, had become a sci-fi mess.) What happens next? Tune in next fall to find out! Play But the show was canceled, forcing ABC to shift the order of its episodes to kinda, sorta wrap up the series with Morks final report to Orson. What happened to the couple swirling in the Vortex? Well never know. Advertisement Advertisement
San Francisco voters approved Proposition K, which will close the Upper Great Highway between Lincoln Way and Sloat Boulevard to car traffic. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle Proposition K opponents rally near Civic Center on Aug. 24. Most voters in the Sunset and Richmond districts opposed Prop K, arguably the most contentious item on San Franciscos November ballot. Manuel Orbegozo/Special to the Chronicle

Its been a couple of weeks since the election, and many people in my Outer Sunset neighborhood are still angry.

No, not about Donald Trump.

The outrage is over the passage of Proposition K, which when enacted, will permanently close the 2-mile stretch of Upper Great Highway from Lincoln Way to Sloat Boulevard to car traffic to create an as-of-yet unfunded park.

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Changing the streets or anything that might affect traffic is divisive in San Francisco, and Prop K was arguably the most contentious item on the citys November ballot. It passed with a 54% margin citywide but the Sunset and Richmond districts neighboring the Great Highway voted no decisively.

Opponents are primarily concerned about more traffic congestion in the area. Planned street improvements to mitigate traffic and the prospect of a new park arent assuaging their angst. Now theres talk of recalling our supervisor, Joel Engardio, one of the main proponents of Prop K. There are also threats of lawsuits to stop implementation and putting a measure on the ballot in the next election that would mandate keeping the road open to traffic.

All this anger shouldnt be surprising. At least not to me. I wrote a column in support of Prop K and heard the wrath from some of my west side neighbors, including a former elected official who called me one of the great schmucks of modern-day San Francisco!

However, the rage isnt universal. In the aftermath of the election, I reached out to several Ocean Beach area businesses to get their perspectives on the Prop K upheaval. Some were cautiously optimistic about closing the Great Highway. One of the arguments for Prop K is that a permanent closure for recreational space, and eventually a park, would attract more people and help businesses in the area.

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Bartender Ruari Horan at Pitts Pub told me that if the road closure brought more visitors to the area, he would have more customers at the Judah Street bar near the beach.

Kind of like when people are down here for Outside Lands or Hardly Strictly, you definitely see more influx of people stopping by the bar, Horan said. I cant imagine it would hurt.

Andytown Coffee Roasters co-owner Lauren Crabbe told me that if plans for a big, beautiful park are realized, it would be great for her three cafes in the Outer Sunset and Richmond districts, which she said are busier on weekends when the Great Highway is closed.

Crabbe said along with a park, she wants the city to add infrastructure, such as more public restrooms. Things that you expect from a park. And obviously, this will all take time, but for me, it can only bring more good to the commerce in the neighborhood.

With so much opposition to Prop K, a bright outlook is not universal in the area.

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Aqua Surf Shop manager Dagan Ministero told me he opposed Prop K and doesnt think closing the Great Highway would be a boon to his Judah Street shop or other businesses. If the closed roads open space does draw more people, Dagan said many of them will be stuck in traffic.

On a Saturday, when were very busy, you cant really cross the park  its hard for local people as well already, he said. So, it doesnt end up increasing foot traffic as much if people cant get here. Its kind of a catch-22, unfortunately.

What about the planned street improvements on Lincoln, Sunset and Sloat, some underway, to ease traffic congestion?

I dont have a lot of faith in the citys ability to create an infrastructure on that level, he said.

Outerlands restaurant owner Riley Bartlett said he was ambivalent about Prop K, but hed welcome any additional business the road closure might bring and hopes it wont keep away customers who drive.

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The voters have kind of spoken on this, he said. Im hoping for the best.

That best doesnt have a chance if Prop Ks implementation gets bogged down in lawsuits and recall efforts  in typical San Francisco fashion, endlessly arguing an issue that voters already passed.

San Francisco would be better served if that civic engagement is directed toward building that park Crabbe envisions and making sure the city and officials like Engardio prove Ministero wrong by implementing changes that will alleviate traffic congestion.

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

All San Franciscans want to make the city great. Prop K is giving us a chance to do that by transforming Ocean Beach into a destination. I may be a schmuck, but it would be foolish if San Francisco doesnt take this opportunity.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed has a major decision to make before she leaves office, and shes weighing a choice that could prove highly irritating to her successor Daniel Lurie. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

San Francisco Mayor London Breed has a major decision to make before she leaves office, and shes weighing a choice that could prove irritating to her successor, Daniel Lurie.

Breed will soon name a new member of the Board of Supervisors to fill the seat being vacated by Catherine Stefani, who was just elected to the state Assembly. One of several people the mayor is considering for the appointment is Conor Johnston, a former Breed aide who remains one of her close confidants.



He worked for Breed for more than four years when she was a supervisor, including as her chief of staff when she was board president. Since leaving City Hall, Johnston has been a cannabis business owner and consultant.

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Despite his political bona fides, Johnston would be a controversial pick. He is considered the mayors guard dog and has frequently antagonized Breeds political opponents and people he perceives as being unfair to her, often in sharply worded social media posts.

During the mayoral campaign, he repeatedly blasted Lurie as Malibu Dan in reference to a pricey Southern California home Lurie reportedly bought in 2021. Johnston stood outside Luries campaign launch in September 2023 holding a sign that read my cat is more qualified than Dan.

Conor Johnston, left, and a person who declined to give their name hold signs outside a San Francisco mayoral campaign launch event for Daniel Lurie in 2023. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

Such antics are hardly unusual for Johnston: In 2018, SF Weekly declared him the biggest mayoral race troll that year because of his scathing online critiques of people who supported other candidates or criticized Breed.



Breeds office declined to comment, but multiple City Hall insiders confirmed Johnston is among the people the mayor is thinking about choosing to replace Stefani. Breed is expected to announce her decision before Lurie is sworn in Jan 8. Stefani will vacate her seat Dec. 2. Whoever gets the nod from Breed would represent District 2, which covers Pacific Heights and the Marina.

Johnston did not confirm or deny his interest in the supervisor appointment when contacted by the Chronicle.

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Other potential appointees include current Breed staffer Eileen Mariano, the granddaughter of the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein; Stephen Sherrill, director of the mayors innovation office; former Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier and Parks Commissioner Kat Anderson, who is the wife of former U.S. Attorney David Anderson.



Kat Anderson told the Chronicle she is respectfully interested in the position but will ultimately respect the mayors choice. Mariano declined to comment. Alioto-Pier and Sherrill could not be immediately reached for comment.

But among all the possible picks, Johnston stands out as the one closest to Breed. The prospect of his ascent to the Board of Supervisors is raising eyebrows throughout City Hall because of his reputation for irreverent behavior  and the ire he directed at Lurie during the campaign.



I personally have no beef with him, but its not sending a message of wanting to have a collaborative transition, said Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin, who unsuccessfully ran for mayor against Breed and Lurie. Peskin said appointing Johnston would be a vindictive parting shot by the mayor.

Lurie has not publicly stated a preference for who Breed picks to the forthcoming supervisorial vacancy. In a statement Friday, his aides said Lurie is optimistic that Breed will make an appointment that ensures the people of District 2 are well represented and who will be focused on bringing San Franciscans together to address our citys biggest challenges.



Lurie isnt the only politician Johnston went after this year: He loudly confronted Supervisor Connie Chan during a press conference she held about policing in her district in April. In a video of the encounter published by the San Francisco Standard, Johnston accused Chan of propagating a racist trope about Black women after Chan called Breed lazy in comments to a Chinese language news outlet. You are not as clever as you think you are, Johnston told Chan as the cameras rolled.



Chan just won her bid for another term representing District 1 and would be one of Johnstons colleagues if Breed named him to the board.



District 2 residents deserve a supervisor who is committed to represent them and serve in their best interest and not in the interest of petty politics or political payback, Chan said in a statement.

Floyd Rollins, president of the San Francisco firefighters union, told the Chronicle he was also on the receiving end of Johnstons vitriol this year after his labor group endorsed Breeds rival Mark Farrell for mayor. Rollins said Johnston later confronted him on the street outside a local political group meeting.

He called me Judas and started yelling and screaming at me about how I betrayed the mayor and turned our back on her after all that she has done for us, Rollins said, adding that he told Johnston that he had to follow the will of his members. It was rather ridiculous.



Johnston told the Chronicle in a text message that he has multiple family members in Rollins union. He said Breed has always fought for firefighters and medics, often putting her neck on the line to do it.



Sadly, Floyd has spent years blaming her for his own failings, Johnston said.



Johnston does not appear to live in District 2  public records show that as of last year, he was registered to vote at an address in District 8. The City Attorneys Office said the appointee only needs to reside in the district by the time theyre sworn into office.



Supervisor Myrna Melgar, who is lobbying colleagues to become the boards next president, told the Chronicle she has a good relationship with Johnston despite others feeling he is difficult to work with. She said she has no doubt he would be a good addition to the board.



Im not going to second-guess any of the mayors choices, Melgar said. I actually have a lovely relationship with Conor and it would be difficult to find someone who has as much knowledge of the city and City Hall.

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Melgar also praised the other picks, saying that while she and Anderson havent always seen eye-to-eye, she would be a great asset because she already lives in the district. She also said that Alioto-Pier would bring much-needed institutional knowledge to a board with inexperienced freshmen supervisors. Alioto-Pier represented District 2 from 2004 to 2011.



Whoever she picks will set the tone for the beginning of Daniel Luries administration, and that is really significant, Melgar said of Breed.

Stoking suspicion of his political ambitions, Johnston recently deleted his account on X, formerly Twitter, where he used to regularly post missives against Breeds enemies. Johnston told the Chronicle in a text message Thursday that he deleted his profile because he grew tired after 7 or 8 cycles of political fights that he just wanted to leave in the past once this one ended. He also said he was really uncomfortable staying on a social media site owned by Elon Musk.

Stefani told the Chronicle she wants someone who will have close ties to the district.



I care deeply about who will be appointed to complete the remainder of my term, Stefani said. While the decision ultimately rests with the Mayor, I would hope that she appoints someone who shares our commitment to putting the needs of the community first.

Stefanis appointed successor will hold the District 2 seat until at least the next citywide election, which currently is scheduled for June 2026.
Even for a new Labour government which has proved to be repeatedly accident-prone adept only at scoring own goals  there was something particularly cack-handed about announcing cuts to our defence capabilities on the same day British-made Storm Shadow missiles started smashing into military bases on Russian soil.

Allowing Ukraine to use longer-range US and British missiles to impede Russian advances by taking out military storage depots and arsenals has provoked the Kremlin into re-issuing all manner of blood-curdling threats against NATO in general and Britain in particular.

Now would have been a good time to make clear we were not intimidated by President Putins nuclear sabre-rattling and that our armed forces were fully primed to deter any aggression, in concert with our powerful NATO allies.

Instead, Defence Secretary John Healey, a decent, patriotic cove who believes in the defence of the realm even if some of his cabinet colleagues are rather less committed, decided to announce 500million-worth of cuts in the UKs naval, helicopter and drone assets. Even the Kremlin must have been scratching its head.

The real villain here, however, is not the novice Labour government but the last 14 years of Tory rule, which penny-pinched defence spending.

In 2009-10, the final year of the last Labour government, defence spending was 57billion (in todays money). The incoming Tory government then starved defence of funds, as part of its austerity drive, reaching a nadir of 44.5billion in 2016-17.

Thereafter, defence spending started to creep up again. But, even as the world became a much more dangerous place, in 2023-24 (the last full financial year of Conservative rule) it was still only 54billion, 3billion in real terms below where it had been 14 years before.

Labour is somewhat flattered by these figures. It was known in 2010 that if Gordon Brown had been re-elected Labour would also have cut defence spending. Brown was no great fan of the military, except when (as with aircraft carriers) it benefited his Scottish constituency.

Britain needs to learn from the US Marine Corps (above) and Germany's Bundeswehr (below) for a successful integrated military to replace our separate Army, Navy and Air Force

Volunteer reservist soldiers train in Germany as the threat of an attack against Nato countries increases

Even so, a combination of parsimony and incompetence during the Tory years proved to be a toxic brew, hollowing out our defence capabilities to such an extent that the Royal Navys surface fleet was eviscerated  even lacking enough ships to protect the new carriers  and defence experts began to fear the British Army had become incapable of deploying a fighting force at anything close to the scale likely to be required.

American military planners began to discount British armed forces, bar special forces and intelligence, as no longer of much consequence.

Even when the Tories came up with the necessary funds, billions were squandered on the most wasteful of procurement processes which they never managed to get a grip of  from the Royal Navys multi-billion-pound late and over-budget carriers (started under the last Labour government) to the armys Ajax armoured fighting vehicle, devised well over a decade ago, still not deployed, still gobbling up hundreds of millions in overspend.

The Ministry of Defence has become synonymous with eking out the lowest possible bang for every buck spent  a poster child for bureaucratic incompetence, in which we now have more MoD pen-pushers than soldiers equipped to fight.

Nor is the military itself without fault. As our armed forces have shrunk in size it has become a top-heavy boondoggle for the top brass: more admirals than warships, more generals than fighting units, more senior RAF officers than fighter jets  a military superstructure of fancy titles and impressive uniforms with nothing to command.

This has been Labours inheritance. And it seems determined to make things worse. This, in an era when the world becomes a more dangerous place with every passing day.

As I see it, there are three things the Government must do if it is to make Britain Putin-proof.

First, it must not only stop prevaricating over when it will raise defence spending from 2.3 per cent of GDP to 2.5 per cent  it must think even bigger. For our armed forces to become credible again we need to be spending 3 per cent of GDP on defence by 2030.

There are three things the Government must do if it is to make Britain Putin-proof, writes Andrew Neil

I fear this is unlikely to happen. Labour ministers can quickly rustle up billions for everything from overpaid striking train drivers to an insatiable NHS to green energy schemes to satisfy Ed Milibands every whim.

But when it comes to the proper financing of the defence of the realm they remain schtum, which tells you everything about where their priorities really lie.

In truth, spending 3 per cent of GDP on defence is not enough on its own to make our military fit for purpose, though it is an essential first step.

More money would make it incumbent on the military to give far better value which, in my view, requires a radical second step: the abolition of a separate army, navy and airforce and the creation of a British Defence Force combining all the services under a single command structure.

I can hear the outrage among the top brass already at such heresy. They will fight it with all the entrenched self-entitlement of the print workers in Fleet Street of old or todays Luddite train drivers. But national security and the proper, efficient use of funds devoted to defence demand it.

The United States Marine Corps, probably the most formidable fighting force in the world, is 180,000-strong  30,000 more than the combined might of Britains armed forces, with the ability to fight on land, sea and air. The USMC should be the model for a radical overhaul of our military.

This is the moment missiles believed to be British Storm Shadows struck Russia on Wednesday

At a stroke, turf wars between the various services would come to an end. Infighting over who should have the helicopters or fly off the decks of the aircraft carriers would be no more.

The top brass in all the services would be culled and slimmed down to create a single command structure. Investment decisions would be taken on the basis of what was best for Britains overall military posture, not who happened to have ministers ears  army, navy or air force  at any particular time.

Procurement could be streamlined, equipment standardised. Value for money, at last, for the British taxpayer.

The Israeli Defence Force is another pretty good template for Britain to learn from when it comes to combining the services. The IDF defends a country which has faced an existential threat since it was established almost 80 years ago. So far it has been more than a match for all who would destroy it.

Germanys Bundeswehr is also worth of study. It has, of course, been starved of funds in recent years and its various services still have a certain individual identity. But the combined command structure allows decisions to be taken in the national interest rather than the self-serving interests of any one service.

The third step in my three-point programme to drag our military capabilities into the 21st century is as radical as the creation of a British Defence Force: a missile defence system to protect the homeland from rogue states increasingly armed with missiles that can hit us  and if they cant at the moment they will soon be able to.

This week Putin unleashed a medium-range ballistic missile on a Ukrainian city while simultaneously loosening the protocols around Russias use of nuclear weapons.

Iran has mounted two mass missile attacks on Israel while also supplying Russia with missiles and drones. North Korea, which has already deployed troops alongside Russian forces against Ukraine, has missiles to offer too.

Russian missiles, of course, can already hit Britain. It wont be long before the missiles of the more unpredictable members of the axis of evil, such as Iran, can do so too.

It is a remarkable lacunae in modern British military strategy that we have no defence against this threat, certainly nothing like Israels Iron Dome system. Our main anti-missile defences Typhoon jets, Type-45 destroyers and our only ground-based air defence system, Sky Sabre  are no match for the ballistic missile threats just over the horizon.

Germany is similarly threatened (as is most of Europe) but has done something about it  just over a year ago it signed a $3.5billion deal with Israel to buy Arrow 3, its most sophisticated anti-ballistic missile interception capability, which was successfully deployed against Irans recent missile attack. It will be delivered late next year.

Britain should be following Germanys example. Not only would it make our islands more secure, we would reap huge dividends from technological cooperation with Israel, which is at the cutting edge of anti-missile technology. Development wont stop at Arrow 3.

Such a course of action demands grown-up politics, which are in short supply these days. Its quite hard to cosy up to Israel for essential anti-missile technology while also indicating youll lock up its prime minister, should he ever come to Britain, because the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for him. The ICC is an activist court whose lead prosecutor is no friend of Israel. Hes also under investigation for sexual harassment allegations (charges, he strenuously denies, it has to be said).

Germany has done a deal with Israel to buy Arrow 3 - its sophisticated anti-ballistic missile interceptor system



The court appears to see no distinction between Hamas, an evil terrorist dictatorship, and the democratically elected and accountable government of Israel. It is over-reaching itself: the ICC only has jurisdiction over its member states. Israel is not a member and Gaza is not a state.

Yet some Labour ministers seem to relish the prospect of arresting Benjamin Netanyahu, should he make the unlikely mistake of ever coming here, which makes them more student politicians than custodians of a great nation. Its hardly a friendly basis for asking Israel, a good ally, to help defend our national security.

Im currently reading a history of the 1930s, when the Labour and Conservative parties looked the other way as the storm clouds of war gathered over Europe, rather as they are now.

Labours position was especially egregious. In late 1933, as the Nazis consolidated their evil grip on Germany and began relentless rearmament to expand their tyranny, George Lansbury, then leader of the Labour Party, called for the British army to be disbanded and the RAF to be dismissed.

Even Clement Attlee, who succeeded Lansbury as party leader and would eventually play a distinguished role in Churchills war cabinet, went along with this pacifism at the time.

In 1935, two years after Lansbury had spouted his nonsense, when the Nazi threat was more obvious than ever, Attlee was still saying Labours policy is not one of seeking security through rearmament but through disarmament. Many Tory appeasers agreed with him.

The current crop of Labour leaders is better than that: pacifism is very much a minority pursuit in todays party. But Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves are ignorant in military matters and defence strategy.

I fear they have little inclination to spend 3 per cent on defence, no interest in the radical overhaul of our military to create a formidable British Defence Force and no appetite for a missile shield.

We paid a heavy, almost unimaginable, price for the stupidity of our political elite in the 1930s.

We are in a better position now than we were then. But the dangers are just as great and, unless we square up to them, honestly and robustly, we risk paying another terrible price.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella speaks during the Microsoft Ignite conference in Chicago on Tuesday. The company has announced the conference will come to San Francisco next year. Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

Microsoft is bringing its Ignite tech conference to San Francisco in 2025 for the first time, a win for the city as it continues to grapple with lost business travel since the pandemic.

The company confirmed the Moscone Center booking on Friday, the final day of this years conference, held in Chicago. The San Francisco event is booked for the week of Nov. 17, 2025.

At Microsoft, 2024 was a tremendous year for growth and AI innovation, said Takeshi Numoto, the companys executive vice president and chief marketing officer. We are excited to grow Microsoft Ignite in San Francisco in 2025.

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The 31-year-old conference, originally branded as TechEd, was heavily focused on artificial intelligence this year. Microsoft owns 49% of San Francisco-based AI leader OpenAI.

Ignite is projected to generate $41.5 million in direct spending and account for 61,510 booked hotel room nights, according to San Francisco Travel, the citys tourism bureau.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella addresses attendees at the Microsoft Ignite conference in Chicago on Tuesday. The conference was heavily focused on artificial intelligence this year. Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

Other big business events from Google, Meta and Oracle have gone elsewhere, and remote work has also weighed on San Franciscos tourism industry.

San Francisco Travel said 2025 bookings are up significantly from this year, with 30 confirmed Moscone Center events and hotel room nights tied to conferences up 59%, to 659,000. Thats still below 2019s record of around 900,000 hotel room nights, but San Francisco Travel noted that year was boosted because Moscone Center had been closed for renovations, which shifted more events to 2019.

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Theres a lot to be excited about. I think were going to see a very different San Francisco in 25. Itll be much more lively along that convention corridor, said Anna Marie Presutti, CEO of San Francisco Travel.

Though Presutti thinks returning to 2019 levels of bookings isnt happening, she believes having 750,000-800,000 room nights a year tied to conferences is a realistic goal.

Other confirmed 2025 events include tech firms events Aveva World 2025, Figmas Config and HubSpots Inbound, as well as the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections.

San Francisco is also challenged by an ongoing hotel worker strike and a continued lag in leisure travelers, especially from abroad.

International travel has been way down, said Presutti.

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The return of President-elect Donald Trump to the White House will have uncertain effects on tourism and international relations next year.

Presutti said she has met with Mayor-elect Daniel Lurie and been pleasantly surprised with his knowledge of the tourism sector. (Lurie was chair of the Bay Areas 2016 Super Bowl Host Committee.)

He absolutely understands the impact of tourism, Presutti said.
In recent months, the world has been shocked by a number of high-profile cases involving drug rape - notably the 'Monster of Avignon', Dominique Pelicot, 71, who has admitted to drugging his wife Gisele Pelicot, 72, before inviting other men to rape her as he filmed the assaults.

An additional 50 men are on trial, with some arguing that they did not believe they had committed an offence because they had her husband's permission to have sex with the unconscious Mrs Pelicot.

Further allegations involving drug rape have emerged in the US, where rapper and business mogul Sean 'P Diddy' Combs is currently in jail awaiting trial on sex trafficking and racketeering charges. The trial is set to start on May 5.

In addition to the criminal charges against Combs - who has repeatedly maintained his innocence - more than 100 people have filed civil suits against the celebrity, with some claiming they were drugged before being raped and filmed.

Meanwhile in the UK, those convicted of drugging and raping intimate partners and loved ones in recent years include a Met Police detective who led a rape investigation team, and a tech guru with an OBE dubbed 'Britain's nicest boss'.

Gisele Pelicot has been lauded for her bravery in waiving her right to anonymity in order to raise awareness around how drugs are used to commit sexual assault by predators with somnophilia - a sexual fetish of becoming aroused by someone who is unconscious.

A 2021 Canadian study found that nine per cent of participants showed interest in 'sex with someone who is unconscious or sleeping' and 7.7 per cent had engaged in such behaviour.

Gisele's daughter Caroline has written a book about the case, noting how the family's ordeal 'will at least have made it possible to reveal a social phenomenon that is still largely underestimated in France', and the wider world.

Gisele Pelicot (pictured in Avignon in November 2024) is considered a feminist hero in France after waiving her right to anonymity after her husband drugged her and invited 50 more men to rape her while unconscious

Dominique Pelicot pictured on holiday to the Isle of Re in 2018 with his wife Gisele - two years before he was arrested for drugging her and arranging for men to rape her

Music and business mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs has been accused of drugging and raping a significant number of victims - allegations he denies (pictured in LA in 2014)

She added: 'Chemical submission in the intra-family and social sphere is much more widespread than one might think. This modus operandi is the preferred weapon of sexual predators.

'For the moment, we still do not have reliable statistical data to demonstrate this. Needless to say, in 2020, when my father was arrested, no one was talking about it.

'Difficult to define, still poorly identified, insufficiently quantified, poorly diagnosed and therefore poorly supported, it nevertheless affects multiple profiles, from women, sometimes men, but also children, and even to infants and the elderly, and in all social backgrounds.

'We knew about GHB, known as a "rapist's drug", but can you imagine being chemically abused by a loved one, with medication from the family medicine cabinet?'

She cites a study conducted by the French National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products of 727 police reports transmitted in 2021, which found that the drugs involved where largely substances such as sleeping pills, anihistamines and opiods - rather than GHB.

The report also found that in more than 41 per cent of cases, the aggressor was someone close to the victim.

She pointed out that women like her mother don't speak to each other because they don't know what's happened to them.

'Chemical submission is sneaky, undetectable. It gives aggressors a sense of impunity, so that months or even years can go by without anyone noticing. In many cases, the strategy of the sexual maniac is to render the victim incapable of reacting, in the same way that a lamp is extinguished. She becomes an inert thing, a puppet at the mercy of the aggressor,' she explained.

Dr Sohom Das (pictured) is a forensic psychiatrist and content creator, with a YouTube channel called A Psych for Sore Minds

PROFILE OF A DRUG RAPIST According to forensic psychiatrist Dr Sohom Das: 'The most obvious traits of someone who would carry out this type of attack are callousness and lack of empathy. 'So that is basically being able to harm somebody else without feeling remorse.' He added: 'Another trait is narcissism. So these kind of perpetrators, they have this sense of entitlement, of lack of empathy.' Referencing the Monster of Avignon case, he said the perpetrator treated his victim as 'basically an object for sexual gratification, as opposed to an actual human being'. 'Another trait would be impulsivity,' he said. 'I mean, sometimes these things are planned to a degree, but sometimes it's just kind of striking at the moment. 'Manipulation and deceit is another fairly obvious one - using manipulation to gain the trust of the victims in the first place.' Dr Das added: 'People that indulge in sexual assault tend to be anti social and engage in risky behaviours, including other forms of violence, as well as, for example, illicit drug use.' Advertisement

Dr Sohom Das is a forensic psychiatrist, based in London. He assesses mentally ill offenders and acts as an expert witness in criminal trials across the country. He also runs a YouTube channel and TikTok channel - where he shares content about crime, mental health conditions, and other topics. He is also the author of 'In Two Minds: Stories of Murder, Justice and Recovery from a Forensic Psychiatrist'.

He told MailOnline: 'I think that the main motivation in the majority of cases is simply that it's easier to commit sexual assault' when those targetted are in a drugged state.

But, he added, he believes that 'in some cases, it's more than that. It's about power and control'.

Noting that there are multiple cases where a man has used drugs to facilitate an assault on a woman he was in a relationship with - such as the 'Monster of Avignon' case, Dr Das said 'presumably they could have had sex with their wives consensually'.

He continued: 'So I think it's something beyond that. It's beyond just opportunities about power and control, and I think potentially, people like these perpetrators want to keep their victims semiconscious, as opposed to unconscious, because they actually get some sort of sadistic pleasure in watching the victim suffer.'

'It's about power and control and kind of dominating somebody, as opposed to [having a] happy, consensual sexual experience.'

He explained that it is difficult to find specific statistics around the crime for several reasons. Dr Das explained: 'There's the general consensus is that is massively under reported, so there's actually a much higher number of incidents [than we think.

'That's for a number of reasons. So victims are not necessarily aware that their drink has been spiked.

'It makes it difficult to identify the crime in the first place, and then, even when they think they have been spiked, sometimes it's hard to get forensic evidence, because the drugs can wear off quite quickly.'

In addition, he added, there are a range of drugs used, and 'police don't necessarily have the right tests to detect them'. Finally, he said: 'Often victims might be hesitant to report the crime due to no shame or embarrassment or stigma.'

The sobering reality is that there are numerous cases of sexual attacks in Britain with similarities to the Pelicot case where the victim has been in an intimate relationship with the rapist.

Here, MailOnline reveals the cases that illustrate the terrifying scale of the problem.

Multi-millionaire businessman dubbed 'Britain's nicest boss' drugged and raped two women

Lawrence Jones (pictured), who received honorary doctorate in business administration from Manchester Metropolitan University in 2016, has been stripped of the award after he being found guilty of drugging and raping two women 30 years ago

Tech entrepreneur Lawrence Jones  once dubbed 'Britain's nicest boss' built a reputation as a business guru, playing chess against Sir Richard Branson on Necker Island and regularly featuring on the BBC.

His success in creating a 700million business empire along with his glamorous wife Gail  who is standing by him - saw him appointed MBE for services to the digital economy, and he twice donated 100,000 to the Conservative Party.

Staff at his Manchester-based web hosting firm UKFast enjoyed perks including an on-site bar, ice rink, recording studio and even a den for taking naps.

Jones was arrested in 2021, over accusations that he drugged and raped two women in the 90s - claims he continuously denied.

In 2023, he was convicted of raping two women in the early 1990s while earning a living as a hotel pianist.

The businessman at the height of his success playing chess with Richard Branson, left

Before his downfall, the father-of-four had built a 700million fortune and a reputation as a business guru, playing chess against Sir Richard Branson

Jones shared this photo on his blog with the caption, 'Stress free in the Maldives'

During his three-week trial at Manchester Crown Court, it was said that he'd given one woman a glass of red wine and they had smoked marijuana before he said to her: 'So do I have to teach you a lesson (or) are you just gonna let me f*** you?'

The other woman said that while at his flat, Jones told her she was 'gorgeous', then gave her a medicine bottle containing clear liquid, which he told her to sniff.

Describing the incident, the woman said she felt 'helpless' as Jones assaulted her.

According to Prosecutor Eloise Marshall KC, Jones 'used drugs to facilitate' the rapes.

She said: 'The manner in which the drugs were administered in each case differs but the effects were the same  both women were stupefied and left partially conscious but unable to react.'

Following the guilty verdicts, it was revealed that he had already been convicted earlier in 2023 of sexually assaulting a woman employee of UKFast back in 2013.

That conviction could not be reported at the time to avoid prejudicing the jury in the second trial.

Met Police detective who led rape investigation team drugged and raped his wife

Rebekah met Arter in 2007 when she reported a complaint of domestic violence to police and Arter was the investigator, a detective sergeant working on a community safety unit

Detective Inspector Warren Arter was sacked over accusations he made sexual advances on victims and offered cocaine to women at orgies

He was found to have breached the police standards of professional behaviour for discreditable conduct, authority, respect and courtesy, duties and responsibilities, honesty and integrity. Above is an image on his phone used against him at tribunal

One disturbing case ended with both the perpetrator - a disgraced Met detective - and the victim, his wife, dead.

Warren Arter, 54, married Rebekah, 47, in Las Vegas in 2016 after the couple met when he was the lead investigator on her domestic violence case.

Rebekah was found dead in a blood-drenched hotel room two weeks before Arter took his own life in prison. He had been arrested soon after when the police received an anonymous tip-off that he was having inappropriate relationships with victims.

He was accused of making sexual advances towards at least four victims between 2006 and 2012 when he was leading a rape investigation team.

Shortly after the shamed officer was suspended for abusing his position, but remained on full pay until finally being sacked last year after a misconduct tribunal, which heard evidence of him taking drugs and offering to supply them at swingers parties.

During this time, Rebekah's friends described their relationship as 'toxic' and 'deeply controlling', with the pair both addicted to crack cocaine.

It was also claimed that he forced Rebekah to have sex with other men at parties and at one point she was raped while unconscious after being drugged by the ex-Met cop.

These allegations of coercive control were being investigated by police when Rebekah was found dead in a blood-drenched hotel room while on holiday in Barbados earlier this year.

On his return to Heathrow, Arter was arrested on allegations of serious offences, including rape, not related to Rebekah. Two weeks later Arter was discovered dead in his jail cell.

Rebekah met Arter in 2007 when she reported a complaint of domestic violence to police and Arter was the investigator, a detective sergeant working on a community safety unit.

They began dating, which was part of his pattern of inappropriate relationships with vulnerable victims.

Six months after meeting Rebekah, he moved into the home she shared with her young son Elliot in Welling, South London, and they married in Las Vegas in 2016.

But when they returned from their honeymoon, Met anti-corruption officers were waiting and he was suspended from duty on suspicion of having sex with vulnerable rape victims.

Arter went down a rabbit hole of cocaine and sex, staying out all night, sleeping during the day and having nose bleeds from drug abuse, friends said.

And he reportedly forced his wife to do so with him, 'under his complete control'.

Friends said he made her wear revealing clothing and stilettos, saying that she 'was not the woman she was when she met Warren.'

Arter was barred from policing after his sordid role in cocaine-fuelled parties where he turned a blind eye to drug taking and suspected exploitation was revealed in a police misconduct hearing.

Drugged and raped women before 'broadcasting it online'

Yet another example, which bore some similarities to the 'Monster of Avignon', saw Daniel Bishop, of Bristol, jailed for 14 years and eight months with extended licence of eight years in 2022.

This was after he plead guilty to three rapes, three attempted rapes, a sexual assault and administering a noxious substance. Bishop, who was 43 at the time of his sentencing, slipped date rape drug GHB into his victims drink, before assaulting her and broadcasting it online.

Then, like Dominique Pelicot, he tried to get other men to similarly abuse her - though in this case, they refused.

Speaking after the conviction, Detective Constable Cheryl Aucott, the investigating police officer in the case, said: 'Daniel Bishop has been convicted of a series of appalling offences following a sensitive and complex investigation.

'The victim in this case has shown incredible bravery in supporting these court proceedings.

'We hope this conviction encourages other victims of sexual offences to have the confidence to report incidents to us, so offenders can be brought to justice.'

GP 'plied student nurse' with drugs and raped her

In June 2022, GP Manesh Gill, then 39, was sentenced to four years at the High Court in Edinburgh after being convicted of an assault that took place in 2018.

The father-of-three invited a woman, a student nurse, he had met on dating app Tinder to a hotel, before giving her a strong drink, which is believed to have been spiked with morphine. He then raped her.

Describing the attack, the woman said: 'He was on top of me. I was trying to push him off. I couldnt.

GP Manesh Gill (pictured) was sentenced to four years in prison after being being convicted of assaulting a woman he met on dating app Tinder

'I just felt like my whole body was stuck to the bed. He was having sex with me. I wanted to go home. I felt as if I couldnt move. I couldnt do anything. My body shut down.'

Following the sentencing, Detective Inspector Forbes Wilson of the Public Protection Unit said: 'The conviction and sentencing of Gill sends a clear message to anyone found guilty of sexual offences, you will be brought to justice.

'Gill must now face the consequences for his horrific behaviour.

'The victim has shown tremendous bravery in coming forward and telling her story and I would like to thank her for her assistance during our investigation. I hope todays outcome will give her some form of closure.'

Secretly drugged and raped his girlfriend - then showed her videos

Hubert Greliak (pictured) was sentenced to 18 years in prison in December 2022, after being found guilty of rape

Worrying, while many of the police involved in these investigations have praised the victims for their bravery in coming forward, in one case, a woman accused a Met police officer of making inappropriate comments to her.

Juliana Terlizzi, who waived her right to anonymity, was drugged, filmed and blackmailed by her ex-boyfriend Hubert Greliak, who was sentenced to 18 years in prison in December 2022, after being found guilty of rape.

According to Juliana, Greliak drugged her, then filmed himself raping her, showing her the videos afterwards.

Describing how the police officer's comments had made her feel, Juliana said: 'I said this is abuse, this person is being sexually inappropriate with me, he knows I'm a rape victim.

'Because he was the investigating officer he had access to those videos - I was naked, I was vulnerable. He should not have strayed anywhere near that type of conversation.'

The police said an investigation into the comments would be taking place.

Juliana is now working with her MP, Richmond Park's Sarah Olney, on a campaign to allow rape victims access to transcripts from their trial for free, after applying to see hers' and being asked to pay 7,500.

Drugged and sexually assaulted two girlfriends

Jonathon Baker (pictured) from Wolverhampton, was jailed for 22 years earlier this year, after his victims bravely came forward

Earlier this year, Jonathon Baker, 46, from Wolverhampton, was sentenced to 22 years in prison after being found guilty of assaulting two women he'd started relationships with.

The crimes were committed between 2013 and 2018, and only came to light when the two victims came forward.

It emerged that Baker initially made the women 'feel like the most important woman in the world', his abusive behaviour escalated, until he drugged and sexually assaulting one of them.

Baker reportedly initially told police that all activity between him and the women were consensual, before denying everything. He is said to laughed when it the drugging allegation was put to him.

Despite his denials, he was found guilty of rape, sexual assault and administering a substance to enable sexual activity at Wolverhampton Crown Court

Brothers attacked women during 20-year spree

Graham (pictured, left) and Simon Laskey (pictured, right) drugged, beat and raped women - often keeping their victims in their caravan for days at a time - during their 20-year spree

Another particularly chilling case saw two brothers working together to drug, beat and rape women - often keeping their victims in their caravan for days at a time.

It is believed that Graham and Simon Laskey, from Wales, who would go on to face a sentence of life imprisonment for the offences, started their 20-year criminal reign as far back as the 1960s, often using lonely hearts columns to find women.

They were able to continue to commit their crimes as their victims were too terrified to come forward - until one teenager told her mother about being attacked by the brothers. It was discovered that the mother had also been a victim of the Laskeys.

Once the brothers were locked up on remand, witnesses felt safe to come forward with their experiences - independently sharing very similar stories, about how they were drugged - most likely with tea spiked with sedatives - before being raped and beaten.

They were tried in 1999, after police had undertaken a major investigation, which included some 200 witness interviews.

Graham Laskey, then 49, was convicted of five rapes, five other serious sexual offences, four indecent assaults on women, and an indecent assault on a baby, receiving 10 life sentences.

Meanwhile, his brother Simon, then 37, was convicted of five rapes and one serious sexual offence, and was handed six life sentences.

22 years for drugging, rape, and bigamy

In early 2023, Frederick Allchorne was sentenced to for 22 years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of rape, five counts of administering a stupefying or overpowering drug with intent, five counts of indecent assault on a woman over 16 and one count of bigamy

In February 2023, Frederick Allchorne, then 62, from Wiltshire, was handed a 22 year prison sentence Croydon Crown Court after pleading guilty to two counts of rape, five counts of administering a stupefying or overpowering drug with intent, five counts of indecent assault on a woman over 16 and one count of bigamy.

According to reports, the victim was a woman who was in her 50s when she reported the abuse in 2018. Shockingly, it had started in the mid-80s, when she was 15-years-old.

Among the horrifying abuse reported by the victim, Allchorne drugged and raped her on multiple occasions, with the woman even waking up to find herself tied to the bed more than once.

On one occasion, after waking up feeling like she was choking, the woman went to hospital. A medical report undertaken during the investigation said the symptoms she had presented were consistent with the effects of drugs being administered.

The relationship ended when the woman left Allchorne in 1991.

Following the conviction, she encouraged other victims to come forward, saying: 'The officers believed in me, you have to come forward yourself. If you dont it will catch up on you one day, its time to take back control. Dont suffer in silence, you are not alone. Please come forward and you will be heard.'

Caught after arranging to meet undercover officer - posing as a child

In another case in Wales, the victim had no idea she'd been raped, until messages and imagery of the attacks came to light during an investigation.

Cynric Parry, then 64, would ply his victim with Rohypnol - a drug often used to render victims of drug facilitated rape unconscious.

Then, he would assault her while she was unconscious.

He would often invite his friend, Carwyn Jones, then 39, to join him.

Jones would then join in on the attacks.

Their activities came to light when a police officer posing as a 13 year-old girl was speaking to from Parry, from Llandudno, on social media platform KIK.

Despite repeatedly saying she was 13, Parry sent repeated sexual imagery and videos to the undercover officer.

He eventually asked her to meet up, saying he wanted to have sex with her - even though Parry believed the person he was in contact with was just a 13-year-old child at this point in time.

At this point, police decided to arrest Parry.

This is when they found the videos of him raping his drugged victim.

Previously, she had been unaware that the assaults were taking place.

In November, Parry was eventually sentenced to 15 years behind bars and five years on licence.

This was after being charged with eight counts of assault by penetration, five counts of sexual assault and one count of rape.

This was in addition to five counts of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, three counts of attempting to cause a child to look at images of sexual activity, and one count of attempting to arrange the commission of child sex offence.

A further offence included one count of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

This related to his communications with the undercover police officer, who he believed was a 13-year-old girl while they were in touch with each other in social media app KIK.
An influencer who shares steamy content online has revealed how she was kicked out of her family home because her mum 'hated' her career.

Aishah Sofey, 22, was left living in her car after her devout Christian mum, Maria found out about her raunchy work and promptly told her to leave was told by friends of her daughter's exploits.

Aishah had a conservative upbringing where sex was never discussed and she was encouraged to dress modestly and behave 'like a lady'.

But when a friend started making money from sharing adult content online after garnering an initial following from uploading fitness content  Aisha decided to take the plunge as well.

She subsequently revealed that she was able to find 'true joy' in stripping off online.

In a bizarre twist of fate, the content creator now supports her mother - as Maria even lives under Aishah's roof in the 1.9million home that her saucy job paid for.

'I used to sneak around the house to shoot my content,' said the influencer, who has 1.8million followers on Instagram and takes home a seven-figure annual salary.

'Even while my mum was at home  but when she found out, she was fuming.

An influencer who shares steamy content online has revealed how she was kicked out of her family home because her mum 'hated' her career

Aishah Sofey, 22, was left living in her car after her devout Christian mum, Maria found out about her raunchy work and promptly told her to leave was told by friends of her daughter's exploits

In a bizarre twist of fate, the content creator now supports her mother - as Maria even lives under Aishah's roof in the 1.9million home that her saucy job paid for

'She didn't agree with what I was doing and gave me an ultimatum to either ''stop or get out''.

'I had been selling content for a year when I was kicked out. It was a tough choice but I love what I do, so I decided to leave.

'My dad wasn't surprised when she kicked me out because he wasn't happy I was doing this job either.'

Despite being forced of her family home, Aishah continued to sell her steamy content against her parents' wishes.

A year later, she was able to buy her dream house in the form of a magnificent mansion in Miami.

Around the same time, Aishah learned that her mother was struggling to pay her bills.

She said: 'When I found out that my mum was struggling financially, I decided to reach out.

'Over time, our relationship repaired itself. She couldn't afford her mortgage and I really wanted to help.

Commenting on how her mother reacted, Aishah said: 'She didn't agree with what I was doing and gave me an ultimatum to either ''stop or get out''

Despite being forced of her family home, Aishah continued to sell her steamy content against her parents' wishes

A year later, she was able to buy her dream house in the form of a magnificent mansion in Miami

'I pleaded with her to move in and let me take care of her.It was really sad for me to leave home because I love my mum.

'I never intended to upset her.She now lives under my roof.

'Although she knows my career pays for these luxuries, we don't discuss it and I know it's tough on her pride to take the money, but I'm glad we've found a compromise.

'My dad is still heavily against my work and wants me to change my career. He doesn't live with us and I only speak to him occasionally.'

Aishah's current life of luxury is a far cry from her childhood, with her parents struggling to get by.

She grew up in a small home in Miami  which she shared with her mother, father and two brothers.

Her father was a dental assistant, while Maria worked in a hospital.

Both of her parents, who are now divorced, hoped that their daughter would follow in their footsteps and work in the medical field.

After learning that her mother was struggling to pay her bills, Aishah reached out to Maria, offering her the chance to live in the home her work has paid for

Aishah's current life of luxury is a far cry from her childhood, with her parents struggling to make ends meet

Aishah said: 'Growing up was tough, we weren't blessed financially. We used food stamps when I was in school.

'I was brought up in quite a conservative way.

'My mum did not like us showing much skin; I wasn't allowed to wear shorts and went to school every day in my collared shirt and trousers.

'My upbringing was very different from my classmates', none of them were religious.

'I spent a lot of my younger years going to church, we went at least once every week.'

The 22-year-old's journey to financial independence and online stardom first began when she joined a gym at the age of 16.

Sharing her progress online, her following quickly grew.

Social media gave Aishah a space to be proud of her body and over time, she started getting DMs from fans suggesting she create adult content.

Social media gave Aishah a space to be proud of her body and over time, she started getting DMs from fans suggesting she create adult content

But it wasn't until she found out that a friend was doing something similar, that she decided to follow suit.

Aishah, who launched her account in 2020, said: 'I had a lot of pre-conceived negative thoughts about this type of work.

'It just seemed really raunchy to me and at that time my personality was the complete opposite.

'My friend had started an account sharing adult content and that really debunked the stigma for me.

'I've been selling saucy snaps for the past four years and I have never looked back.'

Aside from looking after her mum and enjoying her millionaire mansion, Aishah also likes to spend her cash on cars.

She also owns a boatload of magnificent motors, including a 180,000 Nissan GT-R and a 190,000 Lamborghini Urus, as well as a Tesla and Mustang.

Aisha added: 'I love what I do and the work allows me to live my dream life, I'm currently in the best place I could be.

Aishah, who launched her account in 2020, said: 'I had a lot of pre-conceived negative thoughts about this type of work

However, she added: 'While I was hurt at the time she kicked me out, there are no hard feelings anymore'

'Selling sexy snaps has allowed me to buy a beautiful home, earn seven figures a year and drive my dream cars.

'My dad always loved cars, he was always into his speed, it's where I get it from.

'It's a shame that I can't share my success with him but I'm glad that my mother and I have made up.

'While I was hurt at the time she kicked me out, there are no hard feelings anymore.

'I'm more than happy to pay for her needs, it's my turn to look after her.'
Dear Jana,

My new missus thinks me watching porn and masturbating is the same as cheating? She can't be serious! Is this how women think these days? Or is she being too precious? Can't a man live! How do I talk sense into her?

Johnny.

Oh Johnny,

That's quite the dilemma! But here's the thing: she's wrong. Good lord, we all feel the urge from time to time. If that's the worst you do, then I think you're just fine. I wouldn't try to talk sense to her - I just wouldn't tell her when you self-pleasure or watch porn. It's that simple. We don't have to tell our partners everything. Just make sure you clear your search history.

At the end of the day, a porno can't cuddle you afterwards, or tell you that you look hot in that outfit. And no one's ever left their partner to watch porn all day (well, apart from porn addicts - but that's another story). So it's not cheating, for heaven's sake. Just keep your habits to yourself, like the rest of us do.

Dear Jana,

So the other night, I had to finish this last-minute report for work, and since I had left my laptop at home, I borrowed my boyfriend's. When he got up to make us dinner I decided to see if his laptop was logged into his Instagram and it was, so I scrolled through his DMs (you would too!) and discovered all these messages he had sent models he was following.

Mail+ columnist Jana Hocking gives her trademark sassy advice to Aussies needing help with their love lives - or lack thereof

He was saying things like 'I want to f**k you' and 'I could give you an orgasm in under a minute.' (For the record, no he could not.) Now I don't know what to do. I feel like it is cheating - even if these women didn't write back to him. Are all men this creepy? I feel like he has crossed a boundary, but also don't want to confront him because he'll know I went through his Instagram. How do I approach this?

Angela.

Ah Angela,

It's a risky game to go through a partner's Instagram DMs. It's guaranteed you're never going to like what you find - so tut-tut for letting your curiosity get the better of you. In saying that, I probably couldn't help myself either.

So yeah, it turns out your boyfriend is a creep! Not really a cheat, just a creep. Although I reckon he would jump at the chance to bed one of these Insta hotties if given the opportunity. So rather then bring it up with him, why not just dump him? Seeing messages like that (ignored messages too!) would just give me the ick. You really should be focusing on his gross unsolicited messages to strangers rather than what he might think of you snooping on his laptop.

And to answer your other question, no, not all guys are creepy - you've just found one of them unfortunately. So thank your lucky stars you found out before you married and had children with him (because, trust me, there are plenty of creepy married men in my DMs - many with their wives in their profile picture...)

Just get out of the relationship and under somebody else - problem solved!

Side note: why is it always the men who aren't gods in the bedroom who seem to brag about it?

Jana helps out one male reader whose new girlfriend considers porn cheating, and gives some bad news to a young woman despairing over her divorced father's much younger partner

Dear Jana,

I'm in quite the predicament and could really use your advice. My dad has started dating someone I went to high school with and I can't shake how unsettling it feels. She is 25 years younger than him, and I can't help but wonder if her intentions are entirely genuine.

My dad spent his whole life building his carpentry business from the ground up, and his girlfriend is a single mother with three kids. I worry he might end up taking on a much bigger responsibility than he realises if this relationship becomes serious. And it seems to be heading that way.

Honestly, I think this might just be a rebound after my mum left him last year, but it's hard to sit back and watch what looks like a midlife crisis playing out. Her ex is completely unreliable, so I suspect she sees my dad as her ticket to stability.

The tricky part is, I don't want to embarrass my father or hurt our relationship by confronting him about this. How do I gently help him see sense before it's too late?

Anonymous.

Anonymous,

I hate to say it, but I reckon you've got to let it play out. At the end of the day, your father is a grown man and can make his own (horny) decisions.

Is it a rebound? Highly likely. It's a tale as old as time when the man goes on to replace his ex-wife with a younger model *sigh* but it's perhaps a mistake he simply must make on his own.

If you try to intervene, you will upset everyone. And if he's a stubborn bugger like most of the older gents I know, he will probably stay with her longer just to make a point.

So let him have his fun in the sun, and then all you can do is be there for him when it goes belly up. And if it doesn't well, you're going to have some interesting Christmases. Perhaps just give her a knowing 'I'm on to you' look when you see her next. But let's not go full Jerry Springer.

I appreciate your dad has worked hard building his business and bank account, but it's his money to spend however he likes. At least he's not sending it to a fake girlfriend overseas - which happens more than you'd think.

Let Papa Bear figure it out himself - they usually do. Just maybe slip some condoms in his bedside table. She sounds very, um, fertile.
The consumer magazine tests thousands of products in their lab every year

The consumer magazine tests thousands of products in their lab every year

Although the weather outside is frightful, the Black Friday deals are delightful!

With November 29 fast approaching, shoppers are gearing up to bag the best bargains.

To help you sift through the thousands of products on offer, Which? has carried out tests in their lab to reveal the ones worth your consideration this Black Friday.

From an electric shaver with a countdown to when the battery will die to a hoover equipped with a green laser to illuminate hidden dust in your home, here are the top ten Black Friday deals according to the consumer magazine.

The best of the fridge freezer deals is the Fridgemaster which is on sale on AO.com for 299.

It has great chilling and freezing power as well as an accurate thermostat.

According to Which?, the 'fairly basic model' can hold up to ten supermarket bags worth of produce.

The air fryer deal that has been given a thumbs up by the consumer magazine is the Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone.

The best of the fridge freezer deals is the Fridgemaster which is on sale on AO.com for 299

The air fryer deal that has been given a thumbs up by the consumer magazine is the Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone

This air fryer, which is available on Amazon for 149, has two 4.75-litre drawers and a handy sync function that ensures the food in both drawers is ready to serve up at the same time.

Ninja says that when it is completely full, it can feed around eight people.

If you are in the market for a coffee machine, Which? recommends you splash out on the DeLonghi Dedica Maestro Plus.

Available from AO.com for 279, this coffee machine comes with accessories including a built-in steam wand and a milk jug.

You can even choose from three different temperatures to froth your milk, as well as customise the milk froth consistency from dense, fine or microfoam for latte art.

To take the stress out of household chores, Which? highlights the Dry:Soon Deluxe Three Tier Heated Clothes Airer.

A great option for larger laundry loads, this heated airer can hold up to 33 pounds of wet clothes.

You can buy it for 179.99 from Amazon - which is the cheapest it has been in the past six months.

If you are in the market for a coffee machine, Which? recommends you splash out on the DeLonghi Dedica Maestro Plus

To take the stress out of household chores, Which? highlights the Dry:Soon Deluxe Three Tier Heated Clothes Airer for 179.99 on Amazon

The Braun Series 8 electric shaver is next on the Which? best deal list.

This shaver comes genius extra features such as a a countdown timer in minutes to when the batter will die.

It is available from Currys for 208.99.

The only downside? Testers thought it was 'a tad noisy'.

If shoppers are looking for a smart watch, Which? advises them to opt for the Google Pixel Watch 3 45mm for 329 on Amazon - the cheapest it has been in six months.

This watch has a 'luxurious feel' and offers accurate tracking as well as a host of smart features.

But Which? points out that they only tested the strap that the watch came with - a silicone one.

With five ATM water resistance, it can be used in shallow water, but its worth knowing that the resistance can depreciate over time.

You can buy a fabric or leather strap separately, but these arent water resistant.

The Braun Series 8 electric shaver is available from Currys for 208.99.

If shoppers are looking for a smart watch, Which? advises them to opt for the Google Pixel Watch 3 45mm for 329 on Amazon - the cheapest it has been in six months

Another smart product on sale this Black Friday with the Which? seal of approval is the Philips Sonicare 4100 Series electric toothbrush.

It features a two-minute timer, a battery level indicator and comes with a handy travel case.

And if you apply to much pressure, the toothbrush gives you instant feedback with a change in vibration, a sound variation and the brush head replacement light flashes orange.

You will never damage your gums with exaggerated brushing again.

Whilst shopping in the tech section, Which? testers would turn your attention to the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones.

Available on Amazon for 179, these headphones use Bluetooth to connect to devices- though a wire can be added.

With three mode including noise cancelling, ambient and non-noise cancelling, they even come with a travel case for safe storage.

The best vacuum cleaner deal according to Which? is the Dyson V15 Detect Absolute that has a 499 price tag from Currys.

Another smart product on sale this Black Friday with the Which? seal of approval is the Philips Sonicare 4100 Series electric toothbrush

The best vacuum cleaner deal according to Which? is the Dyson V15 Detect Absolute that has a 499 price tag from Currys

Best Black Friday deals for 2024 Source: Which? Best fridge freezer deal: Fridgemaster MC55251DE (299 from AO.com) Best vacuum cleaner deal: Dyson V15 Detect Absolute (499 from Currys) Best air fryer deal: Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone AF400UK (149 from Amazon) Best coffee machine deal: DeLonghi Dedica Maestro Plus EC950.M (279 from AO.com) Best heated clothes airer deal: Dry:Soon Deluxe Three Tier Heated Clothes Airer (179.99 from Amazon) Best electric toothbrush deal: Philips Sonicare 4100 Series (49.99 from Amazon) Best electric shaver deal: Braun Series 8 electric shaver (208.99 from Currys) Best smartwatch deal: Google Pixel Watch 3 45mm (329 from Amazon) Best headphone deal: Sony WH-1000XM4 (179 from Amazon) Best smart doorbell dea: Ring Video Doorbell Plus (79 from AO.com) Advertisement

Like something out of a sci-fi film, this cordless hoover has a green laser diode to illuminate the hidden dust in your home as well as sensors that record how much dust you suck up.

Satisfyingly, it categorises the dust by size into a colourful bar chart on the digital display.

If you want to take your home security to the next level, Which? ranked the Ring Video Doorbell Plus as the best smart doorbell deal this Black Friday.

The easy-to-install camera has motion detection and a 'head to toe' HD-resolution camera with support for colour night vision.

It is currently the cheapest it has been in the past six months at 79 on AO.com.
Samantha Markle's mother died six weeks ago. They had been estranged for many years. Things had been rocky anyway, but the nail in the coffin of their relationship, Samantha claims, was when her half-sister Meghan got engaged to Prince Harry, and the whole world turned its attention to the Markle family, in all its dysfunction.

'And everyone sucked up to Meghan, even on the fringes of the family,' says Samantha. 'It was like the Emperor's New Clothes. Unfortunately, my mother fell prey to it.'

It is sad when families become estranged, and the Markles seem almost to have made an art form of it, the breathtaking capacity to hold a grudge most famously evidenced by the Duchess of Sussex's apparent disowning of huge swathes of her birth family, her (and Samantha's) father Thomas included.

Yet, perhaps against all odds, it seems parallel hostilities between Samantha and her mother Roslyn  Thomas's first wife, whom he divorced in the mid-Seventies  had ceased, to a point, before Roslyn's death in early October, and the pair were reconciled, messaging each other daily.

It is about an hour into our interview and the tears are rolling down Samantha's face, taking her mascara with them.

I have interviewed her several times before and seen her angry, defiant, even petulant, but never an emotional mess.

Meghan Markle at her half-sister Samanthas graduation in 2008

Samantha, a mother-of-three who suffers from MS and is wheelchair-bound, apologises. 'I am about to turn 60,' she says (her birthday is tomorrow; and no, she is not expecting Meghan to turn up with a card and a pot of homemade jam). 'I should be old enough to be able to deal with the death of a parent, but I think I'm still in denial.'

Samantha is often accused of being quick to blame others, but today she is full of mea culpas.

She speaks to her father Thomas 'every day, sometimes several times a day', but Meghan has not been in contact since before her wedding. Thomas Markle has had two heart attacks and a stroke. He is 80, she points out, 'and we don't know how long he has'.

Her anger returns. 'Meghan has no idea what she is missing out on because when my dad goes, it will be too late. Believe me, I know. You can't get back that time. It leaves a hole in your heart.

'When my father passes away, I hope she can feel, and remember he loved her more than life itself  or she will never be able to look in the mirror.'

She hasn't finished. 'Maybe Harry can learn something from me too,' she continues, turning to the subject of the perhaps more complex distancing of the Duke of Sussex from his blood family, and his perceived punishing of his father for crimes that Samantha can't quite fathom.

Speaking of Harry and Meghan's infamous 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey she says: 'I don't know the Royal Family. I'm just a human, watching from across the pond, but I couldn't believe it.' In particular, she was incensed by Harry's implication he never had fun with Charles, and wasn't able to go bike riding with him as a child.

Samantha, 60, a mother-of-three, suffers from MS and is wheelchair-bound

Samantha says she never thought she 'would see Meghan do what she has done to the Royal Family'

'Then we saw all those pictures of him rolling in the grass with Charles, laughing, riding on the back of his bike. I want to say to him "Why did you say it? Do you know what a gift that is? Maybe you didn't get that every day, but you had it, and your family gave you those experiences".'

'I'd ask Harry "What did you give them? Heartache? Grief?".'

If Samantha could, she would march both Meghan and Harry to their respective parents and force them to beg forgiveness. Her critics would say that she'd probably do it with a camera crew in tow, but it's still hard to quibble with the underlying sentiment.

'As souls, we don't want our kids to pay us back. My dad doesn't want Meghan to pay him back. But you want love from them because there is a pain in your heart if it isn't there. I didn't want my mom to die feeling she was alone, and not loved. I almost left it too late. They could both learn from me.'

Where to start with this catch-up with Meghan's big sister?

The last time I met her was in her living room, in the small town of Ocala in Florida, on the day of Meghan and Harry's wedding in May 2018. We watched the TV coverage together.

My most surreal memory is of having to explain to her who TV presenters Richard and Judy's daughter Chloe Madeley was, and hazard a guess at why she might be at the wedding of the decade, while Samantha (and the entire rest of the Markle and Ragland clan, save for Meghan's mother Doria Ragland) were not.

Today Samantha scoffs at that 'charade'. 'We know now that most of those celebrities  George Clooney included  didn't even know why they were there either.'

'Dad paid for so much when she was growing up. If we'd been at the wedding, people would have been talking about that because at wedding receptions, families talk when they start drinking champagne.'

Samantha talks to her father Thomas, pictured with a teenage Meghan, 'every day, sometimes several times a day'. Aged 80, he has had two heart attacks and a stroke

These seem petty matters, but it's a fact that since the wedding many more of Meghan and Harry's 'truths' have been contested.

Who can forget, for example, when Harry told listeners during his guest editorship of Radio Four's Today programme in December 2017 that the Royals were the big family Meghan 'never had'?

Does Samantha now feel a sense of vindication that raising questions about the Sussexes accounts of themselves has become something of an international sport?

'I feel vindicated that now the world knows how they operated,' she says, pointing in particular to Tom Bower's explosive 2022 biography Revenge, about the war between Harry, Meghan and the House of Windsor. Still, even Samantha could not have predicted how things would go.

'I never thought I would see Meghan do what she has done to the Royal Family. She's done what she did to her own family to so many other people, too. I knew my dad had suffered, but I thought she would stop at the Queen.'

Samantha tells me 'a line was crossed' when Meghan mimicked curtseying to the Queen during the couple's 2022 Netflix docuseries. 'What a flagrant, nasty mockery of lovely royal protocol. And Harry sat there smiling, like a buffoon. He allowed it. In counselling [Samantha is a trained counsellor] we call this "enabling".'

Samantha's view of her brother-in-law Harry has evolved over the years. 'I used to think Harry was the victim here, that he had arrested development over the death of his mum and Meghan manipulated it. But there was no excuse for the things he said in his memoir Spare. There is no excuse for hurting people like that.

'Now I think of him as the teenage delinquent who throws stones at the windows of the school then sets it on fire, yet has the audacity to play the victim and say, "Oh I'll come back to school on these terms".'

From the off in this ongoing panto, Samantha was cast as the wicked step-sister. But she too is a complex character.

In our very first chat, just after Harry and Meghan's engagement announcement, she spoke with warmth about playing with her little half-sister.

Samantha says there have been 'so many missed opportunities for love and real family'. Meghan is pictured as a baby with her half-sister

She recalled walking around with Meghan on her hip, doing Daffy Duck impressions and making her laugh.

She was at pains to stress how proud she was of her and despite the 17-year age difference, how the relationship was emotionally close, even if not geographically so.

Who, for example, can forget that warm picture of a young Meghan congratulating Samantha on her 2008 graduation? Yet Meghan has since argued that she was an only child and barely knew Samantha, something that has been the subject of recent libel action (Samantha lost her case; but an appeal may be pending).

The hurt on Samantha's part is real. 'Yes, when she went to Canada (to take an acting role in Suits in 2011), she distanced herself  from Dad too, but we gave her the benefit of the doubt there. She was a young woman spreading her wings. I wasn't going to say: 'Oh, you should phone your sister in a wheelchair more.'

'No. Maybe she did prefer her new life to the ordinary family one. But we loved her.'

Actually, the 'ghosting' that Samantha talks about pre-dated Meghan meeting Harry. As Meghan's acting career took off, there were fewer and fewer calls home. 'But there wasn't a rift, as such. It was just that she didn't want to involve us in her new life.'

The sisters last spoke in 2016 and the tone was warm-ish. 'I remember her saying 'Let's keep in touch, Babe'. She always called me Babe.' Samantha sounds baffled, now. 'Why would you say that if you didn't mean it?'

Almost from the off, though, Samantha  always ready to share her views  was a problem for Meghan. Suddenly, the whole clan was in the spotlight. Already fraught family relationships simply had no chance as rival media outlets moved in; and the Palace  fatally, you could argue  stepped back.

Samantha argues that Meghan could have stopped all of it.

'I still don't understand why she couldn't have just acknowledged us, said to the world, ''This is my family and I am proud of them. We are like any family  good and bad.'''

And now? Where once there might have been affection, there is something closer to contempt.

The subject of American Riviera Orchard and Meghan's lifestyle venture comes up  so far we've seen some jam and dog biscuits.

'Is it in the shops? I don't think it got beyond the PR stage,' she muses 'In the 70s, Tom [Samantha's brother] and I would spend our summers with Grandma Markle and she did make jam, but that was long before Meghan was around. By the time she was interacting with Grandma Markle, she was in a care home and she certainly wasn't making jam.'

While Samantha desperately wants Meghan to get in touch with their father, she is more lukewarm about the idea of a cessation of hostilities between the sisters. 'If you accept an olive branch, you are asking to be hurt again. I think that would be weird. It would be hard to trust that she was doing it for the right reasons.

'I think what makes me sad now is there were so many missed opportunities for love and real family.'

What of Archie and Lilibet  the nephew and niece she has never seen, and the innocents in this unholy mess?

She says it would be better for those children to know their families, in all their messy reality.

'If they would [allow it], when we are all gone, when Meghan and Harry are gone, these kids won't be left floundering because they'll have a sense of family, aunts, uncles, cousins. That's life and it's cool. Everyone needs family. It's the only thing that matters. If you love said children, you want them to have a larger sense of family and you put your differences aside.'

Samantha returns to the subject of how she failed her own mother.

'I keep thinking of the words of the Willie Nelson song, 'Maybe I didn't love you/quite as good as I should have'. I have so many regrets. There were so many years I wanted to catch up on, and now it is too late.

'It really sucks that human beings sometimes need tragedy to wake us up.'
McDonald's has launched a new festive happy meal in the UK and Ireland - and it's created some unhappiness among fans abroad.

Lovers of the fast food chain can now pick up a Grinch-themed Happy Meal, inspired by the cult Christmas film.

The meal comes in a green box (reflecting the shade of the titular character), topped with a picture of a Santa hat.

Announcing the launch of the product on its website, McDonald's said: 'The Grinch has arrived to spread festive cheer during the most magical time of year!'

The festive offering, which is available now for UK and Ireland diners, will be available until December 31.

McDonald's is offering a Grinch themed Happy Meal in the UK and Ireland - and some overseas fans wish they could buy the option too

One US fan contacted the fast food giant via X (formerly Twitter) asking for the option to be made available for them too

A press release from the fast food giant said of the option: 'From 20th November to 31st December, the Grinch will be making his way to McDonalds Happy Meal.

'Each limited-edition Happy Meal will come with one of eight Grinch and friends toys, featuring adorable plush Christmas decorations and Grinch family card games or the exclusive Twelve Days of Grinchmas tale.

'The Grinch will also be visiting McDonalds locations nationwide to meet families in person and help them get in the Christmas spirit - who knew the Grinch could be so jolly?'

While Grinch fans able to get their hands on the option are likely to be delighted, not everyone is so happy.

Now fans in the US and Canada are calling on the chain to offer the themed Happy Meal to them as well.

One X (formerly Twitter) user tagged McDonald's and wrote: 'I never ever tweet but please bring The Grinch happy meals to the USA please please please!!!!'

Another added: 'Who else took their kids to get a grinch happy meal here in the US?

'And it wasnt available because we arent the UK. McDonald's. we want the Grinch happy meal too.'

Other non UK-based X users also shared their thoughts on the Grinch Happy Meals, lamenting that they are not available in the US

A further X user simply asked: 'Why are Grinch happy meals not coming to the US?!'

In a similar vein, another wrote: 'Grinch going to the UK McDonalds only is whack. Why everyone gotta hate us and not let us have the cool stuff.'

And another social media user lamented: 'I wish the US could get the grinch happy meals.'

Meanwhile, some McDonald's fans in the UK and Ireland, who have been able to get hold of the meals, shared their excitement on social media

Conversely, some of those in the UK and Ireland who have bought the Happy Meals have been sharing how pleased they are with the treat.

Some have taken to social media to express their glee at purchasing the festive option.

One said on X: 'Ordered a mcds just for the grinch happy meal (obviously i got more than that ).'

And another added: 'LOVE that McDonald's is offering a Grinch happy meal this holiday season.

'My inner child just might need to check this out ha ha. Merry Grinchmas.'
Whats the problem?

Lets start with the shark battle.

Ridley Scott has new gladiator Paul Mescal fighting sharks?

The director claims theres every likelihood the Romans did this.

Really?

[Get] a couple of sharks in a net from the sea, are you kidding? Of course they can, Scott told one reporter.

Turn on the taps and release the sharks!: director Ridley Scott with Paul Mescal

That thinking sounds about as watertight as the Colosseum.

Actually, the Romans did once flood the Colosseum.

I once flooded the utility room but I didnt put sharks in it.

They were only about six or seven feet, explained Scott.

Oh, right  if they were only small sharks, then that should keep the historians happy.

Unsurprisingly, it hasnt.

Go on

Total Hollywood bulls**t said Dr Shadi Bartsch, a classicist at the University of Chicago, adding, I dont think Romans knew what a shark was.

Has Dr Bartsch uncovered any other crimes against Roman history?

Yes. In one scene a noble is shown reading a newspaper in a cafe.

Whats the objection to that?

The Romans didnt have newspapers  or cafes.

Did Scott have a comeback to the criticisms?

By the time you get to 2024, its all speculation, he told The Hollywood Reporter.

What else is on the list of gripes?

Upsetting scenes for scholars of the ancient Numidian army.

Many of those, are there?

They may be few, but they know their stuff. At this point in time, Numidia has been a Roman province for 200 years  the war part is an egregious fiction, far worse than the sharks! pointed out one Telegraph reader.

But are people watching Gladiator II to learn about Numidian military history?

Arguably not. In a tweet that got 1.3 million views and 37k likes, a fan wrote, Im not going to see Gladiator II for historical accuracy. Im going because Paul Mescal is hot.

Im guessing that was a common sentiment.

Im there to see Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal fighting each other in miniskirts, clarified another contributor.

Were critics hamstrung by the need for historical accuracy?

Some more than others.

Go on

One poor unfortunate gets skewered to the frame of his own trebuchet by a bolt from a rival ballista, elucidated the Telegraph reviewer.

Er

GQs critic went with the easier-to-understand observation: Gladiator II is kinda gay.

GQ may recall that Paul Mescal doesnt like being objectified?

I think they might have forgotten.

Because

Your movie can only boast so many close-ups of a shirtless Paul Mescal  sweat glistening over the surface of his pulsating biceps and taut stomach before it starts to feel a little fruity, swooned the writer.

Mescal will appreciate The Telegraphs reserve, then.

As it happens, even they couldnt steer clear of his muscles entirely. Once hed got the trebuchet out of the way, the reviewer continued: [Mescals] bod surpasses Crowes: the shoulders alone are like freshly baked sourdough loaves.

What about the actual film?

The Times gave it two stars.

Why so low?

The screenplay was described as a hotchpotch  consisting of little more than five consecutive Colosseum dust-ups.

And Mescals performance?

[He] frequently puts the meh into Mescal.

Ouch. So what are the chances of another film?

Im already toying with the idea of Gladiator III. No, seriously! Ive lit the fuse, Scott told the French magazine Premiere.

But hes 86! Last time he lit the fuse, it took him 24 years to produce a sequel  that would make him 110.

As Scott would surely be quick to point out, stranger things have happened.

Like what?

Try sharks in the Colosseum.
I was alone on the overnight ferry back from the Shetland Islands when I started knitting my triangle scarf. It was December 2023 and the sea was rough. The journey from Shetland to Aberdeen takes 12 hours and I was too seasick to sleep or read, but too bored to sit and do nothing. I had acquired good green wool and a pair of needles in Shetland, so, I thought, as our enormous boat travelled through the enormous darkness, Id knit something.

I am not a very good knitter. I am, in fact, a very bad knitter. But I wondered what would happen if I cast on hundreds of stitches, then, at the start and end of each new row, dropped a stitch. I had a vague vision that the scarf might turn into a triangle, but I wasnt certain. I dont knit with patterns because I dont understand them. I am also not mathematically or practically minded. So what I mean is, it seemed very likely that this wouldnt work.

Alpaca-blend scarf, 125, rejinapyo.com

But, it did! With each new row, my scarf became more narrow and more triangular. It was smaller than a shawl and I wouldnt call it a neckerchief because it was made with wool; it was just a triangle scarf. On the ferry, a woman wearing an intricately patterned fair isle jumper observed my handiwork: That looks interesting. I said thank you and kept knitting.

Having so many initial stitches was sometimes a bit of a nuisance because my needles werent quite long enough and I kept having to push the wool down to accommodate. Otherwise, it was a satisfying process. Unlike the endlessness of a long scarf or the fiddliness of socks, this knitting only got easier  and smaller  as I went along.

By the time I had arrived in Aberdeen, caught a train to Edinburgh, then taken another to London, the scarf was finished. I tied it around my neck, left Kings Cross and went straight to meet some friends at the pub. I was delighted. I had not just knitted but, basically, invented a scarf and it looked brilliant. When my first friend arrived at the pub, I noticed her eyes move down to my neck. Hmm, she said. You look a bit like Queen Elizabeth. I assume she meant Elizabeth the second, not the first. Either way, it was not intended as a compliment.

Three points for a win: Maddys creation

Things did not entirely improve. Some time that Christmas, I wore my new scarf to see my godmother. Thats a nice scarf, she said. Thank you, I invented it! I replied. She looked confused, so I explained that I had conceived of the idea of a woollen triangular scarf, and then knitted it, without a pattern, simply making things up as I went along. My godmother howled at this. Maddy! You didnt invent the triangle! I sighed. You dont understand. (Although for accuracy purposes, no, I didnt invent the triangle.

If you google Who invented the triangle?, as I have since done, the answer reads: The triangle as a concept is deeply rooted in ancient mathematics and geometry, and there isnt a specific individual credited with its invention. Sure.)

Still, I continued to wear my scarf, happily and undeterred, for most of the following year. Then, in September 2024 something strange happened. My friend  the one who told me I looked like the Queen and not in a good way  arrived to our other friends birthday wearing, you will have guessed this, a triangle scarf. It was baby blue cashmere. She had wrapped it over her head like a bonnet, then flung it off and tied it round her neck. She told us she had bought it in Anthropologie. People cooed. I was seething.

After that, everything changed quickly. There were triangle scarves being sold in Cos. There were triangle scarves being sold in Zara. On fashion websites like Sheer Luxe and Who What Wear, they published articles about where to buy triangle scarves and how to style them. The triangle scarf even broke America; an article in The US Sun said the new scarf shape was trending everywhere on the high street.

There are still sceptics. I personally will never wear a knitted triangle scarf, says the fashion director of this magazine, Sophie Dearden-Howell. I am neither a character in an Enid Blyton novel, a wartime evacuee, nor a 90-year-old woman. But she is in a minority within her own team. On the YOU fashion desk, stylist Jessica Carroll and bookings editor Lila Flint-Roberts now own three and four triangle scarves respectively. They are such an easy way to accessorise, says Jess. I honestly think you can wear them with any item of clothing and itll elevate that outfit, says Lila.

Triangle scarves are our bestselling scarf across all scarves, says Emma Macdonald, the 39-year-old CEO and co-founder of the Tartan Blanket Company, a scarf and blanket maker based in Scotland. TBCo  as its referred to  currently sells 26 merino wool triangle scarves in various sizes and colours. The cheapest is 45, the most expensive is 85, and, of these, eight are currently sold out. According to Macdonald, some have waiting lists with hundreds of people. (She also mentions that, so far, sales in triangle scarves are up 1,443 per cent from this time last year, which is impressive, but the fact that TBCo has been making and selling triangle scarves for more than a year puts something of a huge cork in my theory that I invented them, so I am going to move on from it.)

When I speak to Macdonald, on Zoom from her home in Edinburgh, she is wearing a black and white striped triangle scarf. How many does she own in total? She looks sheepish. Twelve. She thinks that people like them because theyre something you can wear indoors and outdoors, and, unlike a scarf, they are not very long and tied at the front so they dont blow about in the wind. I dont think theyre just a trend, she says. I think theyre here to stay.

I hope so. Last week I ordered more good wool from Shetland, this time in navy. I took ages casting on and my needles still arent long enough, but now I am in the rhythm of it; enjoying the fact my knitting is becoming smaller with each new row, happily watching my triangle scarf take shape.

TRIANGLES TO TIE FOR

Compiled by Jessica Carroll

24, freepeople.com; 25, riverisland.com

25, johnlewis.com; 49, tartan blanketco.com
The old are meant to envy the young; its the natural order of things.

It says much about the modern world that people of my age dont envy but pity the younger generation, with their anxiety and sobriety. Now it transpires that Gen Z is snapping up retro fragrances; specifically, perfume from the 1990s, when the world was enjoying its last decade of freedom from social media and cancel culture. On TikTok you can see spritzy young things making free with CK One and Tommy Girl  but is it the smell they like or the lifestyle the brands promoted back in the 20th century?

Kate Moss promoting Obsession in 1993

Ive always loved perfume; its how I remember the parts of my life that three decades of enthusiastic recreational drug use have wiped: the smell-track to my wild youth. First came Tabu, when I was a child in the 60s; my mother was a somewhat timid woman, so I have no idea what drew her to this most sex-mad of scents (When you want whats going on to go on and on), which came in a box first bearing an etching of some sort of pagan female, with an actual horn on her head, then a snogging couple.

I looked up the word and was very taken with the idea of doing things that were repulsive to respectable society; this happened when I was a bit too generous with the Tabu one morning before school and was ordered out of the classroom to wash it off, to the delight of my jeering classmates.

The 1996 Opium campaign with Linda Evangelista

Never mind  the 70s and my teenage years were around the corner; hello, five-finger discount at Boots! My scent was Charlie (Kinda young, kinda now/Kinda free, kinda wow!), but it wasnt so much the smell  a wishy-washy floral  I liked as what the first Charlie model, Shelley Hack, represented: easy, breezy freedom. I wasnt the only one; in 2007 Oprah had Hack as a guest on her show and told her: I wanted to stride with confidenceI wanted to be this fabulous.

I wanted to escape my provincial life and I did, but a surprising side effect was that, in the punk London of the late 70s, I stopped using scent as it seemed inappropriate. Ironically, there is now a Valentino perfume called Punk Romantic (Punk is romantic. Love has no rule. From this conceptual subversion comes the unexpected encounter of vanilla and an olive wood accord): 295 for 100ml. Was there ever a more blatant example of the Clash lyric turning rebellion into money?

Shelley Hack as the face of Revlons Charlie, 1978

The 80s more than made up for the perfume desert of my late teens; this was the decade of King Kong fragrances such as Red Door and Giorgio, both spirit-raisers and elevator-clearers. A friend who was a medium used to say that my LHeure Bleue by Guerlain made the spirits flee in fear. When my dirty book, Ambition, became a bestseller I took to wearing Joy, Jean Patous rose and jasmine creation, hyped as the costliest perfume in the world; I got used to people saying of bars and restaurants I knew youd been in earlier  I could smell your Joy. But when a friend claimed to know Id been in a station (a really big one) with hours between our visits, I thought I should tone it down a bit; and when my mum sneered, You smell like your grandmas knicker drawer! my Joy days were numbered  even if the warning was a bit rich coming from someone who once practically bathed in Tabu.

Tommy Hilfigers first ever fragrance for women, launched in 1996

The 90s were a particularly happy time for me; I met and married my third husband and moved to Brighton, and 30 years later still feel Im on holiday. I wore Smiley by Jeanne Arthes, the kind of upbeat fragrance kids now covet, but I wonder if it isnt rather the models of the era who embody qualities todays youth lacks, be it the confidence of Linda Evangelista (Opium) or the insouciance of Kate Moss (Obsession)?

I now favour sophisticated scents; Diptyque Philosykos in the spring and summer, Tom Ford Noir in autumn and winter. I love them. But somethings missing. Though Ive done everything I wanted to in my long, lush, louche life since I took that first tentative dab of Tabu  and though I can afford any scent I want  perfume will never again smell of the future to me. Perfume of the past transports me to a time when I was looking forward to my life. So, if I had to name one thing I do envy the youth of today it would be this; the sweet smell of imagined future success.

It was in this uncharacteristically downbeat state that I was contacted by the perfume house Ormonde Jayne. They had followed my musings on nostalgic fragrances and asked if Id like to visit their Mayfair shop for an intriguing-sounding Scent Strength Style In-Store Experience. Linda Pilkington created the brand 25 years ago, using ingredients not widely found in the fragrance business (when we meet shes wearing a scent with hemlock  unsettlingly gorgeous), still handmade in England and never tested on our dumb friends. Delicately beautiful and savagely smart, Pilkington has the fizzy aplomb of one who does what they love for a living, having created everything they have from scratch.

Red Door, 1989

I leave with a big bottle of Damask, having asked Pilkington to create a personal scent called Brighton Rose  with notes of leather, smoke and salted caramel  to celebrate the title of the dark-fantasy book I will write next year. On the train back to Brighton I feel a sense of what can only be called glee. When, nearly 30 years ago, I got tired of London, I never believed I was tired of life. Yet when I got bored with perfume a few years back, and fell into lazy ways, I felt Id passed a melancholy milestone.

It was a kind of mourning. But after my visit to Ormonde Jayne, I cant ever imagine being bored with perfume again.

REMEMBER THESE CLASSICS?

1977 YSL Opium

This amber, patchouli and myrrh blend had a huge comeback in the 90s. It has inspired other spin-offs, including Belle dOpium (famous for an ad that was banned for suggesting drug use).

1981 The Body Shop White Musk

A cult eau de toilette, this was the first to use synthetic musk (as in, not sourced from deer). It has lily of the valley and clean-smelling aldehydes. One sells every six seconds worldwide.

1989 Joop! Homme

A cocktail of sandalwood, amber, cinnamon and orange blossom, this caused a stir when launched. Pink packaging? For men? It has remained a classic and retailers have seen a 381 per cent rise in sales in the past month.

1992 Thierry Mugler Angel

Smelling of caramel and vanilla, Angel was first promoted by actor/model Estelle Lefebure, shot by Mr Mugler up a Manhattan skyscraper. Faces since have included Jerry Hall and daughter Georgia May Jagger.

1994 CK One

This bright scent (the first official unisex fragrance) has notes of citrus, jasmine and oakmoss. The ads had Kate Moss surrounded by men and women in miniskirts and leather trousers: the epitome of cool.

1996 Tommy Girl

Bright, fresh and floral, this was an icon of the times, with ads featuring American flags and denim-clad women. It was sold as the smell of freedom in a bottle  whether it is or not is up to you.

1999 Dior Jadore

Supermodel Carmen Kass launched this perfume, memorably immersed in a pool of liquid gold. Charlize Theron took it on in 2004, handing over to Rihanna last September. Its a smooth floral scent with touches of powder and tuberose.

Additional research: Alice Robertson.
Susan Wokoma is about to break out. Roles in Phoebe Waller-Bridges Crashing and horror comedy Crazyhead already had the critics excited. Ms Wokoma steals every scene shes in, concluded The New York Times of her performance in transatlantic crossover hit Chewing Gum.

Frankly, its about time a talent this big had her own TV lead. And so here she is, in the second season of the outrageously filthy BBC One comedy Cheaters. She stars as Fola, who hooks up with Joshua McGuires Josh, despite both being in other relationships.

Susan won acclaim in Crashing, Crazyhead and Chewing Gum.

For Cheaters, producers were clear that there would be a lot of sex. She had only done one sex scene before, aged just 24, in the film Half of a Yellow Sun. Back then there were no intimacy co-ordinators choreographing actors to make them feel safe. It was awful, so awkward, she says, remembering the direction to her and co-star Chiwetel Ejiofor: Start rutting, basically.

Im more comfortable with it now, she adds. Im not Sharon Stone, but I have had sex. Im more confident, so its not a big deal.

Wokoma grew up on the now demolished North Peckham estate, the daughter of Nigerian parents: her mum was a cleaner and her dad, among various jobs, worked in security at the Royal Festival Hall. They were not on board with her career choice.

I get it, she says. They came here and wanted their kids to have the stability that they didnt. Imagine your kid saying, I want to be an actor. Id be tearing my hair out.

Graduating from Rada in 2010, in the middle of an economic downturn, Wokoma built her reputation in the aforementioned Channel 4 shows before starring in Millie Bobby Browns blockbusting Enola Holmes films, the first of which was streamed by 76 million households in its launch month in 2020. She is just as happy dabbling in stand-up comedy on her friend Deborah Frances-Whites podcast The Guilty Feminist; or in the writers room for Netflixs Sex Education (alongside Baby Reindeers Richard Gadd); or on the West End stage  shes just appeared in Tom Stoppards The Real Thing at the Old Vic.

Life has not always been good. In 2021, somebody  she doesnt know who  posted Wokomas home address on Instagram. She reported it to Meta, Instas parent company. They did nothing, she says. The police did nothing. It was reported as trolling, but thats not what it was. One police officer said I had to be attacked before they could do anything. Since then Ive had to live with somebody harassing me. Its been really f***ing horrible.

Initially, the stalker sent messages online, but soon started posting letters to her home, too. Im a tough person, but when that happened I fell apart, she says. I didnt even know whether this person was someone known to me or a complete stranger.

With Joshua McGuire in Cheaters

The police never found the stalker  theyre still out there  so Wokoma is ultra-cautious over sharing details about herself. How did she cope? She started doing EMDR (eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing), in which a therapist asks you to recall a traumatic experience while you move your eyes in a specific way. The aim is to process negative emotions. Its helped me to logically assess a threat and not be triggered by it, she says. At first I thought it was nonsense, but it saved my life.

Meanwhile, she has written and will direct and star in Three Weeks, a comedy drama about a woman who chooses to have a termination. Its not really about abortion, she says. Its about the question of being a mother, because most of us grew up with the expectation that wed get married and have kids, but thats not how it looks for many women.

Wokoma has known that she didnt want to be a mother since she was eight years old. I just knew intrinsically, she says. And I live in a one-bed flat. Where am I going to put a kid  in the under-bed storage? Although, she adds with a smile, life makes hypocrites of us all so, if you see me with a baby bump in a year, then scrap that answer.

Wokomas birthday is on New Years Eve, and celebrations depend on how everyone elses year has been. Ive had parties where people have broken up as its all come to a head, like an EastEnders Christmas special.

This New Years Eve she will turn 37. Her resolution? To prioritise fun  she chooses friends, jobs and experiences on that basis. How much fun will it be? As you get older, fun becomes less important in life, she sighs. Well, not to me. I know were grown-ups, but lets just try and have a great time.

Cheaters is on BBC One on Tuesdays at 9.45pm and on iPlayer
San Francisco voted to ban private vehicles on the Upper Great Highway between Lincoln Way and Sloat Boulevard. The road has been closed intermittently to traffic on a trial basis, making the road accessible to foot traffic. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

The plan to transform a 2-mile stretch of the Great Highway into a permanent park has reached a first funding milestone in making the vision a reality.

The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department has announced that the city has secured a $1 million grant from the California State Coastal Conservancy Board to fund the transformation of a portion of the citys westernmost coastal boulevard  known as Upper Great Highway  into a permanent park.

S.F. Great Highway: First details on citys plan for art installations in new park

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The grant, intended to address sea level rise, will go toward funding, among other things, environmental restoration efforts to protect the natural dunes, beach access and recreation options, including adding new paths and safer transportation.

The city now has to secure a permit from the California Coastal Commission before it can begin converting the four-lane thoroughfare into a park. The Recreation and Park Department said the Great Highway will reopen as a car-free promenade in early 2025.

Rising sea levels will have a dramatic impact on the California coast, wrote Amy Hutzel, executive officer, State Coastal Conservancy, in a news release. The Coastal Conservancy is excited to work on projects like this that explore how we can adapt to this reality while expanding recreational, ecological, and climate resilience benefits.

A majority of voters approved closing the Great Highway between Lincoln Way to Sloat Boulevard to cars on Nov. 5 through a ballot measure known as Proposition K that hotly divided San Francisco residents. A majority of voters in west side precincts voted against the measure, with opponents arguing it would cause traffic congestion on alternate routes and decrease their quality of life, while a majority in eastside precincts voted for it.

District 4 Supervisor Joel Engardio, who championed Prop K and said it was a once in a generational opportunity to create a renaissance for the Sunset District faced backlash from some constituents over his support for the measure. Backers included Yelp CEO Jeremy Stoppelman, who donated $350,000 to the Yes on K campaign.

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The Recreation and Park Department said it will seek community input on the long-term park design, starting in the spring.

Lucas Lux, board president of the nonprofit Friends of Great Highway Park, said he expects that most funding for long-term park improvements will come from external sources, including state and federal grants like this one, or philanthropic donations  and not San Franciscos city budget.

Friends of Great Highway Park will be volunteer community partners in the citys process of creating the new park, Lux said.

Since San Francisco voters decided to ban private vehicles on the Upper Great Highway, there have questions about how the plan for a new park would be funded. People associated with the park say it will not be funded by the city budget. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

This grant funds the type of work that we know is the best path to creating great park spaces in our city, which is starting with community engagement and discovering community needs, Lux said. On our side, we are very excited to participate to ensure all the right voices are included and at the table for those discussions.

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The parks department said it will study how to improve walking, biking and transit access while managing traffic in the surrounding neighborhood.

Drivers who previously depended on the Upper Great Highway to get around the west side will likely be funneled onto Sunset Boulevard and 19th Avenue. A major concern of opponents to the measure was how the alternate routes would handle increased traffic.

The city said it plans to complete repaving Sunset Boulevard, activate a new signal at Sloat and Skyline boulevards, and activate a new signal at Skyline Boulevard and Great Highway, among other traffic changes, before the Great Highway is converted into a park.

In the meantime, the Great Highway remains closed to traffic on weekends, as it has been for the past three years as part of a pilot program scheduled to end on Dec. 31, 2025.

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The Government's stake in NatWest has fallen below 11 per cent for the first time since the bank was bailed out by taxpayers during the financial crisis.

It comes after Labour abandoned the Tory plan to offload its remaining stake in NatWest in a public share sale.

In 2008 the Government was forced to inject 45.5billion into the stricken lender during the height of the financial crisis. It ended up holding an 84 per cent stake.

As recently as 2018 it still owned 62 per cent of the lender but has been steadily unwinding its stake in the bank.
When Richard Hanchett finally learned who his biological mom was, it was already too late.

It was October 2022, and police had made a breakthrough in a decades-old Massachusetts mystery - the mutilated body of a 37-year-old woman found in the dunes of Provincetown in July 1974.

For years, the nameless victim was known as 'The Lady of the Dunes.' Then, DNA tests showed her to be Ruth Marie Terry of Tennessee, and later exposed her then-husband Guy Muldavin as the killer.

Terry had given her son to the Hanchett family in Michigan soon after his birth in 1958. He'd long struggled with her absence, but upon learning she was a homicide victim, his emotions were rocked once again.

'I still have a hard time believing it. It's like a dream,' Hanchett, 66, told DailyMail.com.

'I'm finding out I'm a hillbilly raised as a Yankee, and then to find out she was brutally murdered like that.'

The story of Hanchett, Terry and the 50-year quest to identify her is chronicled in Oxygen's true-crime series Lady of the Dunes: Hunting the Cape Cod Killer, which begins on November 29.

'For the longest time, nobody knew what happened to her and everybody thought the worst,' said Hanchett.

Officials used investigative genealogy to identify the 'Lady of the Dunes' murder victim, whose body was found on Cape Cod in 1974, as Ruth Marie Terry of Tennessee

Richard Hanchett, 66, of Michigan, says revelations about his mom's death have been 'like a dream.'

'The documentary gives back the dignity and respect to my mom.'

Terry's body was found in the dunes in Provincetown in July 1974. She was naked, with her hands severed - so she could not be identified by her fingerprints, officials believe.

She was lying on a beach blanket with her nearly severed head and crushed skull resting on her folded jeans.

There was no sign of a struggle, no murder weapon left behind, and her body was decomposing in the heat, which left investigators with few clues.

Her long, reddish-brown hair was held back with a barrette, and she had seven gold crowns on her teeth, worth about $5,000 to $8,000 at the time.

She had been sexually molested with a wooden object, apparently after her death, The Boston Globe reported.

The cause of death was determined to be a blow to the head, and authorities believe she was killed several weeks before her body was found.

For decades, the identity of the 'Provincetown Jane Doe' eluded detectives.

Authorities tried to identify her and her killer by exhuming her remains, performing clay model facial reconstruction, and releasing age-regression drawings of her face.

The macabre mystery roiled Provincetown's idyllic and close-knit community.

Theories about serial killers, a mob hit, and even that the victim was an extra from the movie Jaws, which was filmed nearby, made headlines.

Then in October 2022, the FBI in Boston revealed she'd been identified as Terry through investigative genealogy - the use of DNA analysis in combination with traditional genealogy research and historical records.

Trinkets encircle the grave marker of the Lady of the Dunes, Ruth Marie Terry, at Saint Peters Cemetery, where her remains were buried

Terry's nude body was found on July 26, 1974 by a 13-year-old girl walking her dog who stumbled upon the horrific scene in the dunes in Provincetown, Massachusetts

Terry is pictured here in the 1960s, years before she was killed and left in the dunes

Police say Terry's then-husband, Guy Muldavin, an antiques dealer, was responsible for her death

The macabre mystery roiled Provincetown's idyllic and close-knit community for years

Authorities identified Terry's body through investigative genealogy

The techniques mirrored those used in California to identify a serial killer known as the Golden State Killer.

Previous attempts to trace the DNA had proven unsuccessful.

Investigators then honed in on the life of Terry, who had never been reported missing.

Massachusetts State Police investigators learned she'd left Tennessee to work at a car plant in Michigan.

She gave birth there to her son Richard, but was too poor to support him and he was adopted by the Hanchetts.

She then moved to California, and in 1973 or 1974 married Muldavin, an antiques dealer, in Reno, Nevada.

The couple traveled after their wedding, including stopping in Tennessee to see her family.

Friends at the time noted Muldavin's possessive and controlling behavior over Terry.

Police also learned that Muldavin returned from the trip in the summer of 1974 driving what was believed to be her vehicle.

He told the Terry family that she'd left him after a fight.

Her brother James Terry travelled to California and hired a private detective to track her down.

But his efforts were unsuccessful, and there were reports that she'd joined a cult.

In August 2023, months after they'd identified Terry as the Lady of the Dunes, they determined that Muldavin was responsible for the death.

But it was too late for justice. Muldavin had died in 2002.

He was also a prime suspect in the disappearance of a previous wife and his stepdaughter in the Seattle area in the 1960s, prosecutors said.

'The guy got away with it. He killed multiple people,' said her son, Hanchett.

'You get to a point where you realize you there's nothing you can do.'

The new docuseries features interviews with Hanchett and other relatives, and details about contaminated DNA samples and lost physical evidence from the crime scene.

Provincetown detective Meredith Lobur also lifts the lid on a police chief who tried to put the brakes on her investigation.

Hanchett's book about the saga - Through His Eyes: the Lady of the Dunes, Ruth Marie Terry's Story - also comes out this month.

Provincetown police Chief James Meads for years led the investigation into the Lady of the Dunes, who was then unidentified

Muldavin, right, was also suspected of killing a previous wife and his stepdaughter in the Seattle area in the 1960s.

Lady of the Dunes: Hunting the Cape Cod Killer, which premieres on November 29

He talks about his struggle with abandonment and his regret over a time in 1974, when Terry contacted his family in the hope of seeing her then-teenage son.

He declined, because he was recovering from a drug overdose at the time.

He always wondered what had happened to his biological mom, imagining her living a 'rock star' life in California, he says.

In 2018, Hancett used an at-home DNA genealogy service that put him in touch with his maternal family, who told him that his mom went missing in the 1970s.

Four years later, the FBI contacted Hanchett and his Tennessee kin upon identifying the Lady of the Dunes.

As well as learning the shocking truth about what happened to Ruth Terry, they were quizzed about Muldavin, the prime suspect in her death.

'It hurt down in my stomach,' he says. 'And that's gonna bother me to the day I die.'

Hanchett says these past six years have been eye-opening.

Still, the jigsaw of his life is not complete, he adds.

'The only piece that we can't verify is the why. Why did he kill her?' he says.

He wonders whether Terry walked in on Muldavin in a criminal act, or of some other reason he needed to silence her.

'I was hoping the last two years someone would come forward, and tell me why,' he says.

'That was the only thing that I didn't get answered.'
With a growing number of Americans considering leaving the country after Donald Trump's election as president, one young woman has warned fleeing for politics isn't always what it's cracked up to be.

Google searches on on 'how to move to countries' massively increased after Trump's win, with relocation firms saying 80 per cent of people want to move specifically for political reasons.

Celebrities such as Barbra Streisand, Cher and Sharon Stone and Barbie star America Ferrera all said they'd leave if Trump won.

An insider told DailyMail.com that Ferrera is 'sick' that Trump was re-elected and will be moving to the UK in search of the 'best opportunities' for her children.

On Thursday, it was confirmed Ellen DeGeneres and wife Portia de Rossi had moved to the Cotswolds, in southeast England.

Yet after Trump's landslide election win, Katy Nightingale, a 30-something who describes herself as an 'anxious millennial' and 'eco-socialist', warned Americans to reconsider making such a big commitment.

'Want to leave the US cause it's a dumpster fire? I thought I'd share my experience and some thoughts,' the artist, activist and health care professional said

Nightingale, writing a piece on her Substack titled 'I tried to quit the US', said she left specifically because of the politics in the US in April 2023, spending a year in New Zealand.

She has also spent time in the Middle East after growing up in Chicago and Michigan.

Self-described 'anxious millennial' Katy Nightingale (pictured) told people to reconsider leaving the the country

A growing number of Americans are considering leaving the country after Trump's re-election

On arriving in New Zealand, her first hurdle came with the challenging bureaucracy around immigration and working, and having to constantly update her visa to keep working.

She also found it a lonely experience trying to make friends in a new country with a different culture 'in your early 30s.'

'New Zealand is considered one of the more accessible countries for Americans with no heritage-based citizenship options, but that doesn't make the process easy,' Nightingale said.

Nightingale also addressed fears of those leaving because they were concerned about what a Trump presidency meant for issues of race, gender, children's education and reproductive rights.

Nightingale said there is no such thing as a utopia and people fleeing would be leaving others behind to deal with those things,

'Leaving is not a protest. Sometimes quitting is necessary for self-preservation, but let's not get it confused with creating any kind of positive difference on the place you're leaving,' she said.

Nightingale said rather than 'abandoning' their communities, they should try help them.

'For those of us that want to dismantle unjust systems, we need to think critically about whether we leave or stay.

'Departing creates a void that will eagerly be filled by those who aim to advance fascism and oppression. With fewer people engaging locally, certain voices will grow louder.

'Even if you plan to stay engaged and vote from abroad, you will never be as involved as you can be while living there. In my years of being abroad, I've followed US news closely, voted, signed petitions, and shared on social media, but I've found that the lack of proximity keeps me from doing much more than that.'

Nightingale moved to New Zealand (pictured Matheson Lake on the South Island) in pursuit of a better life but revealed in a recent blog post that she now feels utopias do not exist

Nightingale (pictured) called out people who are fleeing over politics for abandoning the communities that need their help

A host of celebrities who have been vocal in their opposition to Trump taking office -including Barbie star America Ferrera - even promised they would leave the country in the won

She advised it would make more of an impact for people who have the means to leave the country to stay and use their resources to help others.

'While I struggled with my decision to stay or to leave, a friend of mine patiently reminded me how much privilege I benefit from in the US,' said Nightingale.

'Being an educated, able-bodied, cis, white person with a large social network means that I will almost always have access to a myriad of resources. How much would the policies I fear actually impact me, compared to those who can't leave?'

Ordinary Americans told DailyMail.com their opinions on the matter, noting how there are most likely other countries that offer a more peaceful living environment, while also simultaneously questioning what would change for those with more influence.

'If they have power, privilege and money, maybe they should do something to help the community around them instead of just fleeing,' said one person.

'I understand when people want to leave, because it's crazy out here. But I don't like that privileged people with mobility are just willy nilly saying 'we're going to leave because the ship is sinking,'' another said.

Democratic candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris had a who's who of Hollywood endorsing her, with stars such as Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce, Oprah Winfrey, Bruce Springsteen and Howard Stern backing her campaign.
Tells prime minister: You must force social media giants to 'weed out evil'

EXCLUSIVE

Kyle Sandilands has blasted Anthony Albanese over his divisive new social media restrictions, insisting it's not the PM's job to tell parents how to raise their children.

The top-rating radio king and new dad told Daily Mail Australia the government needed to stop wasting time with its ill-conceived 'nanny state' legislation - including banning under 16s from social media and so-called 'misinformation' laws.

Instead, he said the prime minister needed to force social media companies to take full responsibility for 'weeding out the evil on their platforms'.

'I absolutely want kids to be protected, I don't want a single child to get bullied, but a social media ban isnt the way to go about it,' he said.

'Im not sure why the government all of a sudden thinks it should be raising peoples kids for them.

'It should be parents deciding what social media platforms their kids use.'

Sandilands' blunt assessment comes after the Albanese government introduced the controversial legislation to parliament on Thursday.

Radio titan Kyle Sandilands has warned Anthony Albanese that it's not his job to tell parents how to raise their children and says the government's ill-conceived social media age restrictions need to be fully explored before they are rushed through the Senate

Anthony Albanese is friends with Kyle Sandilands and has even met his young son Otto but that hasn't stopped the radio star from offering a brutal assessment of his proposed laws

If passed, the new laws will block children under 16 from using Snapchat, Facebook, TikTok, X and Instagram - while others social media sites, such as YouTube, WhatsApp and Messenger Kids, will remain unrestricted.

Under the world-first proposal, the social media sites will face fines of up to $50million for failing to take 'reasonable steps' to keep minors off their platforms - though details about how the ban would be effectively implemented are sparse.

Although Sandilands' hit Kyle and Jackie O breakfast show is famed for its fast-flowing comedy, he said it was important to stop and have a serious conversation about the laws before they are pushed through the Senate.

He said he appreciated the motivation behind the laws but warned telling teens what they 'can and can't do' would simply drive internet-savvy youngsters to access the sites surreptitiously.

'While I understand theyre wanting these laws to protect those that have succumbed to the dark side of social media, it should be social media companies themselves responsible for weeding out the evil on their platforms,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'Social media restrictions only encourage kids to seek out whats banned, and going about it in an unregulated and secretive way.

'Every kid knows how to use a VPN. Any type of ban is absolutely useless.

'The solution is holding the actual social media companies responsible for whats on their platforms.

Albanese at Sandilands' wedding with radio co-star Jackie O

The popular breakfast radio king says the proposed age restrictions will simply force internet-savvy minors to flout the laws and secretly access social media sites

'If these companies can get richer from advertising to Australians, then they can also protect Australian children from bullies and scams.

'There needs to be more of a focus on social media companies to properly police their platforms and less on Australians being told what they can and cant do.

'Why are 16 and a 17-year-olds exempt from these laws? They're still just as vulnerable as minors as anyone else.'

The radio and television star has been a long-standing friend of the prime minister, with Albanese last year even attending his star-studded wedding to Tegan Kynaston, with whom Sandilands shares a beautiful young son, Otto.

Despite his close connection to the nation's leader, Sandilands has not been afraid to criticise his government over its social media ban nor its proposed 'disinformation laws', warning they risked jeopardising everyday Australians' right to free speech.

That legislation will allow the Australian Communications and Media Authority to impose massive fines on social media companies that fail to adequately crack down on users posting 'misinformation' and 'disinformation' on their pages.

'Disinformation laws sound like a great idea as a headline, but when you look into it, who's actually deciding what's misinformation?' Sandilands told Daily Mail Australia.

'Many issues arent simply just black and white. All issues require healthy and respectful debate, not being shut down by laws which suppress free speech.

'Sharing information is how we all grow as humans.'

Sandilands' views have been backed by the Australian Human Rights Commission, which has also raised concerns about the scope of the Albanese government's social media restrictions.

'Given the potential for these laws to significantly interfere with the rights of children and young people, the Commission has serious reservations about the proposed social media ban,' it said in a statement.

'The social media ban is designed to protect children and young people from online harms and the negative impact social media is having on their well-being.

'However, such a social media ban is likely to also have negative human rights impacts on children and young people.

'There are arguments for and against the introduction of a social media ban for under-16s. While a ban may help to protect children and young people from online harms, it will also limit important human rights.

'Based on the information currently available, the Australian Human Rights Commission has serious reservations about the proposed social media ban for children under 16 years of age.'

Introducing the bill in the House of Representatives on Thursday, Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said the laws would help parents resist their children's desire to access social media.

'The legislation brought forward by the Albanese government is, in the most fundamental sense, about helping families when they sit around the kitchen table, they have that hard conversation about accessing social media,' she said.

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland introduces the divisive bill on Thursday

'Our laws will enable parents to say no.'

Opposition communications spokesman David Coleman offered the bill bipartisan support, describing 'the safety of Australian children online from social media is one of the defining issues of our era.'

'It is of titanic significance to our community,' he said.

'The social media companies for too long have abrogated their responsibility to care about Australian children.'
Brandon Johnson struck an uplifting note in his inaugural speech as Chicago's mayor in May 2023, saying a 'better day is ahead' for a city gripped by 'violence and despair.'

Eighteen months later, and residents of the third-biggest US city are waiting on the Democrat to deliver, as his popularity collapses amid a series of political missteps.

Just 14 percent of Chicagoans approve of the mayor, and 70 percent view him unfavorably, according to a recent survey by San-Francisco based Change Research.

Critics say the dad-of-three has been too hostile to police while abandoning his teachers' union pals and the cash-strapped Chicagoans who voted him into office.

Stephen Maynard Caliendo, a political science professor, says Johnson, 48, gets bad advice and makes too many 'rookie mistakes.'

'The honeymoon is well over. There has to be some wins coming,' Caliendo told CBS News.

Johnson's office did not answer our request for comment.

His supporters say it's hard to reverse Chicago's long-standing problems of poverty, crime, and racial tensions overnight when the city faces a $1 billion budget deficit crisis.

Against this backdrop, DailyMail.com takes a look at what's gone wrong for Chicago's mayor

THE THIN BLUE LINE

Mayor Brandon Johnson's approval rating is 56 points underwater after just 18 months on the job

The mayor was not welcome at the funeral this month of slain Chicago Police Officer Enrique Martine

Voters in Chicago, like anywhere else, want to feel safe when they walk down the street.

But Johnson fell into the progressive politician's trap of going softer on lawbreakers than the public can stomach.

As America grappled with the police killing of George Floyd, Johnson, then Cook County Commissioner, joined others in calls to 'defund the police.'

He backtracked on this during a mayoral election campaign that pitted him against centrist Democrat Paul Vallas, who vowed to hire more officers amid widespread public safety concerns.

Even so, his mayorship has suffered by a lack of commitment to law and order.

The number of aggravated assaults in Chicago jumped 4 percent to 14,029 between 2023 and 2024, according to the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA).

The numbers of homicides, rapes, and robberies fell slightly, but remains alarmingly high.

In his draft budget for the hard up city, Johnson last month proposed swingeing cuts to police training and reform efforts.

Maggie Hickey, an independent monitor of the Chicago Police Department, said it 'risks undoing' progress in the force.

Johnson's lack of support among street cops was plain to see this week.

He planned to attend his funeral of Officer Enrique Martinez, who was killed during a traffic stop on the South Side.

But the officer's family and the police union raised objections. Johnson eventually backtracked, saying he was 'honoring' the family's request to stay away.

When it comes to cops, crime and public safety, Johnson just can't get it right.

THE UNION'S MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE

Johnson was supposed to be the mayor who could handle contract negotiations with a powerful teaching union

Instead, a public school system for some 323,000 students has been thrown into chaos

The Chicago Teachers Union bankrolled Johnson's mayoral campaign - pouring cash into the candidacy of one of its ex-organizers and former social studies teacher.

As mayor, Johnson was expected to repay the largesse when teachers contracts were re-negotiated in 2024.

But cash-strapped Chicago can't afford to meet educators' demand for a 9 percent annual pay bump.

Johnson tied himself in knots trying to keep the union happy while balancing the books.

His plan to fill a looming deficit in the schools budget with a $300m short-term, high-interest loan was rejected by the public school district's CEO, Pedro Martinez.

When Johnson tried to get school board members to oust Martinez, they refused and resigned instead.

Last month, the mayor hastily appointed new board members, but the damage was already done.

The public spat threw a system for some 323,000 students into chaos, and Johnson had alienated many of his former backers.

WINDY CITY WELCOME

Mayor Johnson visits a police headquarters that was housing asylum-seekers and migrant new arrivals in May 2023

Johnson was in August ranked as America's 'worst sanctuary mayor' by the Immigration Reform Law Institute, a watchdog

Chicago is not the only liberal US city struggling to cope with the influx of immigrants and asylum seekers across the southern border.

But Johnson has struggled especially hard to accommodate the tens of thousands of newcomers who arrived looking for work and schools and without a roof over their heads.

When his administration turned public schools into shelters and doled out apartments to foreigners, residents in the mostly-black affected neighborhoods vented their ire on social media.

In one viral clip, an African-American woman slammed the mayor's support for asylum seekers, with shelters and $9,000 payouts, saying it was at the expense of the blacks who helped elect him.

'I don't understand how they can give these immigrants thousands of dollars in the state of Illinois, but look what they're doing to our own f******g people,' said the Chicago woman.

She described seeing 'Latinos' arriving in her neighborhood in a '12-foot box truck,' using government welfare checks to 'buy up everything' and effectively price black residents out.

'The fact they are here, and our government is giving more to them than to the people who were born here, is really starting to p**s us off,' she added.

'Mayor Brandon, we are coming for your a**.'

Johnson was in August ranked as America's 'worst sanctuary mayor' by the Immigration Reform Law Institute, a watchdog.

The group said he'd lavished hundreds of millions of dollars on immigrants while his own voters languished in poverty.

DEARTH OF TAXES

Downing a pint at a Chicago boozer will get more expensive under Mayor Johnson's tax hike plans

Johnson has failed miserably at what 17th Century French statesmen Jean-Baptiste Colbert called the 'art of taxation.'

For Colbert, it involved 'so plucking the goose as to obtain the largest amount of feathers with the least amount of hissing.'

Yet the hissing after Johnson's hikes on property and liquor taxes has been hard to ignore.

When he proposed $300 million rise in property taxes in the 2025 budget, City Council members had a rare moment of unanimity.

They voted 50-0 against the proposal. The mayor's revised plan, a $150 million hike, is only slightly less unpopular.

Chicagoans already pay among the highest property taxes in the country.

Poor and minority groups have long said the taxes make homeownership a pipe dream.

One Chicago resident, a woman known only as Mrs Lawrence, slammed the mayor at a recent city meeting.

'We paid for these properties for a purpose and not for you to go touchin' it with $300 million that you want to siphon out of the citizens' pockets,' she said.

Seemingly not content with taxing Chicagoans into homelessness, the mayor also took aim at their Friday nights.

He seeks to raise taxes in liquor in bars and restaurants to 35 percent, the first such bump since 2008.

Hospitality groups are fighting against the plan, saying it will upend their industry.

THE TRUMP SLUMP

Donald Trump made gains with voters across Illinois in this month's election, but did not win the state

Johnson's predecessor Lori Lightfoot didn't leave office with a smile on her face

The writing has been on the wall for Johnson for some time. Voices calling for his recall are growing louder.

This month's presidential election was another wake-up call about the changing face of blue US cities.

President-elect Donald Trump's vote share rose from 15.8 percent across Cook County, which includes Chicago, in 2020, to 21.4 percent this year.

MAGA Chicagoans blasted Johnson's tax hikes at a heated city council meeting this month in a sign of the city's shifting political sands.

Among the most vocal critics was Tyjuan Sims, who confronted Johnson directly, accusing him of neglecting Chicagoans while helping undocumented immigrants.

'The feds need to address you! The DOJ needs to address you! And hopefully Donald Trump will address you,' Sims yelled in the chamber.

'You're gonna protect the undocumented, while you're gonna allow for the citizens in Chicago to suffer under your, what? Three percent?'

Johnson has been on the back foot for weeks.

Reporters quizzed him about his doomed taxation plans and dismal approval ratings this week.

He said it was 'too early' to grade his performance, and talked up recent gains  investment flows to Chicago and a falling homicide rate.

Johnson is having a hard time, but he can perhaps take some solace in the fact that he's not the only unpopular mayor Chicagoans have complained about.

His predecessor, Lori Lightfoot, was so unpopular that she failed to make the mayoral run-off vote in 2023.

Before her, Rahm Emanuel dropped his 2019 reelection bid amid controversies over rising crime, school closures and an infamous police shooting.
Two rare classic cars hidden away in a rural barns for 40 years have fetched tens of thousands of pounds at auction.

The two five-figure cars - a 1921 Talbot Darracq and a 1952 Mercedes Benz 220 Type A convertible - were discovered in Framlingham, Suffolk after their owner died.

The white Mercedes covered in a thin veil of dust sold for 37,000 while the green Talbot bagged for 10,500.

Both exceeded their estimated sale prices, with the Mercedes and Talbot valued between 30,000 to 35,000 and 6,000 to 8,000 respectively.

The classic green car was originally purchased by its late owner in 1967 for 750, whilst he served in the British Army in Germany.

The man had even preserved the original receipt of his beloved vehicle which had travelled with him through his time in the military.

He continued to drive both antique cars up until the 1980s, but for the last four decades they remained tucked away in his barn.

The two valuable vehicles were purchased at Reeman Dansie Auctions in Colchester, Essex, on November 16.

This 1952 convertible Mercedes Benz 220 Type stored in a barn in Framlingham, Suffolk, fetched 10,500 at auction

And the 1921 Talbot Darracq was sold for 37,000 at auction

The Talbot had been purchased in 1967 for 750 - with the original receipt and cheque intact

The wwo rare classic cars that were stored in a rural barn for 40 years

A Reeman Dansie spokesperson said: 'The left hand drive Mercedes was originally purchased by the late owner, whilst he was serving in the British Army in Germany, with the much loved car travelling with him during his military career.

'It also saw life in Cyprus and the Middle East, before he undertook an epic journey across the continent to bring the car back to Blighty.

'The 1921 Talbot - Darracq was purchased from C. J. Bendall Ltd in Hitchin in February 1967 at a cost of 750.00.

'The original purchase receipt and cheque remains with a photograph of the late owner and his wife standing proudly beside their new purchase.

'We understand from the late owner's family that the cars were last running in the 1980s and have remained preserved in his barn for the last four decades.'

The discovery of the hidden jewels comes shortly after a hoard of classic cars were found in a rural warehouse in Wales - worth an estimated 1 million.

The motor graveyard, which was packed out with iconic yet rusting cars such as Bentleys, Jaguars, a Porsche and even a Rolls-Royce, were found earlier this year.

But the epic treasure trove had seen better days, with many cars drowned in a veil of dust and rust, while others were missing doors and had plants growing through their mechanisms.

However urban explorer, Daniel Sims, who refused to disclose the location of where he found the cars, believed their historic and sentimental value was upwards of 1million.

The 35-year-old, divulged there must have been more than 100 vehicles hidden away in the building, which he has documented for his YouTube channel Bearded Reality.

He said: 'I was tipped off about a potential massive car graveyard by another explorer so I decided to check it out for myself.

A motor graveyard filled with Rolls Royce, Jaguar and Porsche cars have been found withering away in a warehouse in Wales

The collection - worth up to a staggering 1 million - is every car enthusiasts dream

However many of the antique cars have seen better days with many hidden away behind plants, or gathering dust as they rot away in the warehouse

'I don't know anything about the history of the place other than whoever has been collecting these cars for decades and has an impressive collection which they must be proud of.

'The cars were visible from the roadside so once on a field it was open access as the back of the property fence had fallen down.

'We were quite nervous as we didn't know the backstory of this place apart from it containing a car graveyard with classic cars and from what we saw must have been over 100 hidden away here.

'The place itself is a little overgrown at the back with rust and decay setting into the vehicles. Some were stored away meaning the damage to these amazing vehicles was minimal which is crazy to see.

'Iconic cars such as Bentleys, Porsche, Peugeot 205 GTI , various Mercedes, MGs and quite a few imports from different countries are hidden here and would be worth a minimum from what I saw over 500,000 to 1,000,000 just off basic calculations.'

Other vehicles found inside include Land Rover Defenders, Jaguars, Morris Minor 1100, a Rolls-Royce, MG MGA 1960, Mercedes-Benz, Triumph, Jaguar MK1, Mini Coopers, MG MG B, Cadillac Eldorado and a Volkswagen caddy.

'I love taking photos of different things and items and dramatic places such as this and showing how these places and items end up,' Mr Sims added.

'For a lot of people, these iconic cars will hold a lot of memories.

Urban explorer Daniel Sims, made the astonishing find but is refusing to reveal the location of the warehouse for fear of attracting looters

Hehas documented for his YouTube channel Bearded Reality - and is under the impression the loot could be worth around 1million

Several Mercedes, MGs, MG Midgets, Land Rover Discoveries, Volkswagens were found among the rusting vehicles

'I was tipped off about a potential massive car graveyard by another explorer so I decided to check it out for myself,' Mr Sims said

'There were no scary moments but we were interrupted towards the end of the exploration by some locals who were worried we could be burglars as there had been some rural crime taking place in the area recently.

'We explained how we were photographers and moved on from the area.

'Just the sheer amount of vehicles collected which is rare to see and was a real treat to see so many iconic cars collected here.'

However it isn't the first time urban explorers have discovered a treasure trove of vehicles, as two upon this car graveyard that is filled with hundreds of classic motors last year.

Matt, 43, from Sheffield, and Andy, 56, from Doncaster - both YouTubers - journeyed to the secretive location in Suffolk.

They originally wanted to explore an abandoned house, but ended up stumbling across a huge barn and field full of classic cars.

The pair documented their incredible findings on their YouTube channel, FindersBeepers, where they showcased the goldmine of old classic cars that have been abandoned and reclaimed by the earth.

Matt said: 'After doing a lot of research on Google Earth, Andy came across the typical signs of an abandoned house only to go on to find a huge barn and field full of classic cars.

Hoards of clutter filling one side of the barn which is packed with antique cars

A micro car next to a Fiat Coupe, both of which have been left rotting away among the hidden collection located somewhere in Wales

Several cars estimated to be worth thousands lined up rusting away in unison, hidden from public view

A picture of the barn where the vehicles are held from the exterior

'We were desperate to document them before they were lost to decay.

'The nostalgia around old cars is huge and our viewers loved that seeing some of the classics brought back strong memories from their childhood. That's one of the main reasons why we make our videos.

'I was a massive fan of the Jowett Javelin, however, Andy favoured the Ford Prefect. There are hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of cars in that place even if it was for parts on some of them.

'There were around 100 cars across the property,' he added.

'It's hard to know the backstory of all the abandoned places we go. We mostly research as we go but on this occasion, there was very little to find out.'

In 2022, an urban explorer discovered a mystery classic car collection just thirty miles from Edinburgh, Scotland - as sixty year old cars were being left to rust.

Jaguars and Austins accounted for the majority of vehicles at this location which may be concealing some rare, hidden gems.

It's believed that the classic motors were collected by an unknown Jaguar enthusiast.

Some of those vehicles dating back to the sixties and were in a sorry state. However, back in the day, the motors were highly sought after.

At the time, Jaguars were very fashionable, seen gracing the tracks at the infamous Le Mans race, and cost up to 45,000 in today's currency value.

Finders Beepers' Matt Nadin and Andy Thompson exploring the car graveyard with over a hundred classic cars in 2023

The duo found a car graveyard filled with hundreds of classic motors that time has forgotten

Many of the vehicles were stored carefully in a garage, with dozens of others outside

An old Bentley S2 was among the litany of rusted vehicles left outside the property

The rusted front grill of a classic automobile outside the abandoned house in Suffolk

Outside the barn was a field which was also rammed with classic vehicles

FindersBeepers showcased the goldmine of old classic cars on their Youtube channel

Many of the vehicles would be worth tens of thousands of pounds

Finders Beepers documented their incredible findings on their YouTube channel

The goldmine of old classic cars that have been abandoned and were left dormant in the field

In 2016, a mountain of abandoned cars from the 1970s were found 200ft below ground in an abandoned slate mine.

Up to 100 cars in various condition were discovered cascading down the inside of the cave in Ceredigion, Wales.

Urban explorers made a treacherous journey through darkness, in dangerous conditions and were stunned to find a car graveyard at the mine, which closed in 1960.

IT Engineer Gregory Rivolet, 31, spent four hours exploring this unlikely last resting place for abandoned vehicles.

'It was very dangerous as the mine is really unstable. Pieces of slate were falling from above our heads,' he said.

'We had to use rope to climb down to the right level of the mine, the descent was around sixty-five feet deep, it didn't feel very secure at all.'
The disheveled mugshot of a 46-year-old lawyer has emerged after his wife was found 'pulverized' in the stairwell of his luxury Chicago apartment.

Adam P. Beckerink was arrested and detained the day after Caitlin Walch Tracey, 36, was found dead, records obtained by a DailyMail.com FOIA request revealed.

Chicago PD officers initially charged the attorney with disorderly conduct and accused him of making a false report of an offense on October 28, but he was released without charge after questioning.

Beckerink appeared with stubble and his hair skewed to one side in the mugshot pictured in his police report.

Since Tracey's autopsy results are pending and the investigation into her death is ongoing, police declined to give any further information. No one has been charged over her death.

The report comes after Tracey's parents won custody of her body from Beckerink amid an acrimonious court battle where they accused him of wreaking a secret 'campaign of abuse and terror' against her in the year before she died.

Beckerink hit back by filing an emergency motion on Monday to prevent them from proceeding with her funeral and give him the opportunity to challenge the decision.

However, a Cook County judge denied his motion on Wednesday, according to the Chicago Tribune, which allowed them to proceed with the Catholic burial they had planned for their daughter this Saturday.

Adam P Beckerink (pictured in his mugshot) was detained under felony arrest the day after his wife Caitlin Walch Tracey, 36, was found dead, records obtained by a DailyMail.com FOIA request reveal. He has not been charged over her death. The investigation is ongoing

Caitlin Tracey (pictured) died after falling down 24 flights of stairs on October 27. Her body was at the center of a dispute between her family against her husband of six months

Tracey's body was found 'pulverized' and missing a foot in the stairwell of Beckerink's luxury South Loop condo on October 27, according to court documents seen by DailyMail.com.

In the weeks that followed, Tracey's heartbroken parents, retired real estate developer Andrew Tracey, 69, and college professor Dr. Monica Tracey, 65, battled against Beckerink for custody of their daughter's remains.

Beckerink, a former partner of international law firm Duane Morris who had been married to Tracey for six months, argued that he had the rights to her body as the surviving spouse.

But on November 6, her family filed documents accusing him of wreaking a 'campaign of abuse and terror' against their daughter, including allegedly throwing a glass pickle jar at her head and pouring vodka on her wounds.

Pictured: Adam P Beckerink

According to the Traceys, their daughter had been in a relationship with Beckerink from October 2022 until September 2023, but the couple never lived together or had children.

At some point after September, they got back together, and married in a private ceremony on April 8, 2024, which did not involve any of Traceys relatives.

Amid the wrangling for control of her body, her parents accused Beckerink of manipulating their daughter, of purposefully isolating her from her family and being responsible for her tragic and highly suspicious death.

To support their argument, the Michigan-based family presented a since-rescinded petition Tracey made to Cook County Court a year before she died in a desperate attempt to obtain a restraining order against her husband.

In her October 4, 2023 filing, Tracey detailed three examples of horrific attacks by the tax attorney.

Tracey said that on July 11, 2023, at around 3 pm, Beckerink stripped her naked and attacked her at her three-story home in New Buffalo on the banks of Lake Michigan, where her parents said she lived to be close to them and away from her partner.

(Beckerink) physically abused me by throwing a pickle jar, which struck me on my head, punching me, pushing me, pulling my hair, dragging me by my clothes, and stripping me out of my clothes,' Tracey wrote in the petition seen by DailyMail.com.

'(He) also poured Vodka on my body, which burned my wounds, and would motion as if he was going to hit me with the alcohol bottle.

Pictured: Caitlin Tracey's father, retired real estate developer Andrew Tracey (second left), 69, holding hands with his wife and her mother, college professor Dr Monica Tracey, 65

Pictured: the Traceys speaking with their lawyers in court last week

Tracey fell down 24 flights of stairs in Beckerink's high rise (pictured) on the 1200 block of Prairie Street in South Loop, severing her foot during the descent

Tracey said she managed to escape on foot, before her husband later took her to hospital for treatment to an 'open head wound'.

In a second alleged incident on August 21, 2023, Tracey once again only narrowly escaped a brutal attack by her husband, this time at his plush apartment in Chicago's Grand Luxury Condos where she was later found dead.

At around 8 am, they had an argument, and Beckerink began launching a foul-mouthed tirade of abuse against his partner, according to her filing.

Tracey alleges he 'verbally abused' her by calling her a 'cheater', a 'wh***', a 'piece of s***, 'liar' and a 'b****' before escalating to a physical assault.

'(He) physically abused me by dragging me by my ankle, strangling me, suffocating me, slamming my head against a cabinet, slapping me, punching me, putting my head in a headlock, and dragging me away from the door to prevent me from leaving' Tracey wrote in her petition.

He then allegedly stole her 'keys, wallet, iPad and phone' to prevent her from leaving or seeking help. Tracey said she escaped again by 'fleeing on foot', this time to the nearest police station.

Cops went to Beckerink's apartment, but he refused to open the door.

Tracey detailed an alleged third incident which unfolded in the room where she was staying at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Chicagos Magnificent Mile neighborhood on September 20, 2023.

She said her husband stormed into her room around 5:30 pm before hurling abuse at her and this time attempting sexually abuse her.

Tracey did not give context about why she was at the hotel or go into detail about the sexual abuse, but said she filed a police report for domestic battery.

Her parents said it was around this time that Tracey temporarily ended her relationship with Beckerink and opened up to them about the alleged violence.

In their petition for control of her body, the Traceys said she told them Beckerink had been emotionally, psychologically and physically abusive to her including holding her hostage and brutalizing her so badly she needed medical treatment.

She also said he had been trying to contact her approximately 20 times a day either demanding to see her, or to verbally abuse her over the phone.

Tracey's body was at the center of a dispute between her family against her husband

Tracey's family said her husband filed a police report on October 26 to make a missing person report, and the next day her body was found 'directly below' his apartment (pictured)

I believe if Beckerink knew I was here trying to get an Emergency Order of Protection, he would try and stop me, or I would be at risk of further abuse, Tracey wrote in her bid for the restraining order.

But Traceys parents said Beckerink found out and threatened to sue her for defamation and libel - so she withdrew her petition based on fear.

Though Tracey never secured the restraint, Berrien County Prosecutors Office charged him on January 13, 2024, with four counts of larceny, interference with electronic communications and domestic violence against Tracey.

On August 19, 2024, they added two counts of resisting and obstruction, interference with electronic communications and more counts of domestic violence against Tracey, according to her parents.

Beckerink has been removed from his role as partner at law firm Duane Morris

But the charges came too late for Tracey. Her body was discovered by Beckerinks condo building manager, after a traumatized resident reported finding a severed foot in the stairwell.

Cops attended the grisly scene at 7:20 pm on October 27, and told the family that based on the condition of the remains they determined that Traceys body fell approximately 24 floors.

Her devastated parents said they were told that based on the height of the fall, their daughters body was pulverized and her foot was severed from her body.

According to a police report, Beckerink was detained and questioned but later released. Traceys parents said in their petition officers told them at the time that he was the primary suspect.

'An unidentified adult female was found unresponsive at the bottom of the stairs at a residence at the above location,' Chicago Police told DailyMail.com.

'She was pronounced on scene. Detectives are conducting a death investigation, pending autopsy results.

'No one is in custody and there are no updates at this time as the investigation is ongoing.'

Cook County Medical Examiner's Office is conducting an autopsy on Traceys remains. Officials told DailyMail.com this week that the results are pending.

Traceys parents are still going through the agonizing process of piecing together their daughters suffering via Freedom of Information requests to find any further documents she filed with police.

But they secured one major victory when Judge Brian Berger ruled that her remains would be released to them rather than to Beckerink.

The Tracey family's attorneys, Mitt Drew and Andrew Cunniff, released statements on their behalf celebrating the judge's decision.

'We are incredibly grateful for Judge Berger's expedited decision,' said Drew, of Butzel Long, Michigan.

'The ruling allows Caitlin's family not only to honor her life with the final services she deserves, but also to grieve appropriately, supporting them in their journey through this difficult time.'

'Today's ruling in Michigan is a critical step in the family's efforts to protect and preserve Caitlin's legacy,' added Cunniff, of Galarnyk and Associates in Chicago.

'The family will continue to fight for Caitlin until she is laid to rest with the respect and dignity she deserves.'

Caitlin Tracey (pictured) died after falling down 24 flights of stairs on October 27

Tracey's family said her husband filed a police report on October 26 to make a missing person report, and the next day her body was found 'directly below' his apartment (pictured)

Duane Morris, the Chicago law firm where Beckerink worked as a partner, told DailyMail.com he had been 'swiftly removed' in response to the abuse allegations.

'This is a shocking and tragic case, and we send our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Caitlin Tracey,' the firm said.

'Our firm was not aware of the domestic violence and other allegations against Adam Beckerink asserted in various legal proceedings until recent media accounts of her death.

'Once we confirmed key facts, the Partners Board swiftly removed Adam as a partner of Duane Morris LLP. He is no longer associated with our firm.

'This is a tragedy for all involved. Our deepest condolences go to Caitlin Tracey's family. Counseling will be available for Chicago office employees this week.

'Out of respect for the legal process, it is not appropriate for the firm to speculate about the ongoing investigation, other than to say we hope justice will be served and we stand ready to assist if we can be helpful to investigators.'

DailyMail.com has contacted Beckerink's lawyers for comment.
Protecting children from online bullying and filth on social media sounds like a noble cause.

After all, it's hard to argue that children shouldn't be kept away from the dark recesses of Facebook and X - whether that's sexually explicit content or political and religious extremists who peddle hatred and incite violence.

Not to mention the threat of schoolyard bullies stalking them on social media after hours.

The Opposition was so keen to back Anthony Albanese's Labor Party on this that it went further and suggested loopholes be closed so the proposed new law applied to TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram.

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland on Thursday told Parliament of her plan to ban under-16s from using social media - arguing this was about 'protecting young Australians at a critical stage of their development'.

But apparently good intentions can also lead to significant government overreach and erode our privacy.

A bad law that threatens our freedom is being rushed through with support from the Liberal Party - which claims to be the party of the individual.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson fears everyone will be forced to get a digital government ID, whether they like it or not, just to prove they are over 16.

Protecting children from harassment and filth on social media sounds like a noble cause - but Labor's new bill, supported by the Opposition, could come at a heavy price (stock image)

Those who refuse could lose their ability to connect with family and friends on Facebook - leading to a situation where the government even controls our social life.

'This is all leading to control of the people,' she tells me.

'Governments are getting too involved in our lives dictating to us how we should live our lives.

'We've allowed our governments to start telling us what to do.

'Why do we keep bringing in more and more laws that is basically government nanny control and overreach?'

The Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024 is being rammed through with little scrutiny just as a voluntary digital ID comes into effect on December 1.

Submissions on the bill to impose a minimum age restriction to use social media closed on Friday - only a day after the minister outlined her plans in a second reading speech to the House of Representatives.

That's because the Coalition abstained as Labor used its numbers in the Senate to rush this bill through.

The Opposition was so keen to back the Labor Party on this that it went further and suggested loopholes be closed so the proposed new law applied to TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram

In a harrowing development, the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee will have just four days to write up a report with a deadline of Tuesday next week - dispensing with the usual practice of lawmakers spending months cross-examining experts.

'Due to the short timeframe of this inquiry, the committee would appreciate submissions being limited to 1-2 pages,' a government website says.

Senator Hanson's running mate Malcolm Roberts fears it will see Australians forced to get a digital ID via facial recognition software to use social media, arguing only facial recognition software could guarantee a Facebook user was over 16.

'You'll be potentially managed as to what you can and cannot say on social media - this reaches into every aspect of our lives,' he informs me.

'If a 16-year-old logs on and abandons the chair at home to his 14-year-old brother, they won't know it unless the camera's on permanently.'

This could also lead to hackers accessing government databases of our faces.

'This is a hacker's paradise,' Senator Roberts says.

'The most prone to hacking institutions in the world are big government and big tech - they're the ones who have the most hacking and the least security.'

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson fears everyone will be forced to get a digital government ID, whether they like it or not, just to prove they are over 16

Labor has tried previously, without success, to control what we see on the web.

In late 2009, Stephen Conroy as the minister for broadband, communications and the digital economy, outlined his plan for a government-run filter so internet service providers would be banned from allowing access to refused classification material.

Like Ms Rowland in 2024, the then Labor senator pushed that 'would someone think about the children?' line.

'Today, I am announcing new measures to help Australian families stay safer when they are online,' he said.

The idea was to stop child pornography during the tumultuous era of Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard.

But the plan was dumped in 2012 after the Coalition's then communications spokesman Malcolm Turnbull pointed out criminal networks posting material on the dark web would find ways to get around a filter looking for certain words.

A state-run filter, however, could be abused and see it deployed to censor websites expressing views the government doesn't like, and catch out bloggers who are less sophisticated in publishing their opinions.

Mr Conroy was also the minister who tried to have the government regulate newspapers and online websites.

Forcing everyone to get a digital ID to access social media could also lead to hackers accessing government databases of our faces. (Pictured is a stock image)

Labor attempts to curb our freedoms and privacy are certainly nothing new.

Bob Hawke's government in 1985 proposed an Australia Card that would contain an individual's details from all other government agencies in a bid to stamp out tax evasion.

Labor was so determined to pass this law it called a double-dissolution election in 1987 of all seats in Parliament after the Coalition blocked its legislation twice in the Senate.

But the idea was dropped after Labor was re-elected, but again without a Senate majority.

Now the spectre of an Australia Card in the 21st century is a real possibility with the introduction of age limits on social media.

Unlike other bad Labor policies that were a threat to our freedom, this one has support from the Coalition - even if it's opposing Labor's very flawed Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation Bill.

The plan to introduce a 16-and-up age limit on social media combines the worst aspects of Labor's aborted net filter and Australia Card - this time with bipartisan support.

'This is absolutely worse - far, far worse. The others were just playing around the fringes,' Senator Roberts says.

'In Australia, the Liberal Party and the Labor Party are beholden to a corporate agenda - they want to get access to us and control over us.'

Senator Hanson's running mate Malcolm Roberts fears it will see Australians forced to get a digital ID via facial recognition software to use social media, arguing only a facial recognition software could guarantee a Facebook user was over 16

The 2020s saw Australians surrender their freedoms to Covid lockdowns and having to scan QR codes to enter shops so the government could track our every move.

Now, these proposed social media rules are another step in that submission as both sides of politics compete to see who can exert more control over our lives.

If parents are worried about their children accessing social media or visiting adult websites, they can get an app telling them when their children are online or simply tell them which websites they are allowed to access.

'There are apps parents can buy to put on kids' phones so that if the child wants to download a new app, they have to get permission from the parent first,' Senator Roberts says.

Or technology companies can simply develop software that blocks sites like Facebook or X or porn sites from smartphones, at the request of the parents.

Senator Hanson says requiring a digital ID could even make it hard for kids under 16 to do their homework online.

'How are the kids going to do their research? They use computers to do their research for their schoolwork,' she tells me. 'What's going to happen then?'

She argues the government has resorted to policing our lives because parents are too lazy to discipline their kids.

'Parents have become lazy. Time is restricted for a lot of people trying to work hard so it's easy for a lot of parents to sit them on a chair and give them a computer to play with because it gets them out of their hair,' she says.

Since they pay their kids' phone bills, it should be up to parents to take responsibility for when their children access the internet rather than surrendering our freedom to a Big Brother government.

'The bill undermines parental rights, duties and responsibilities,' Senator Roberts says.

'If governments can't fix bullying in real life, how are they going to do it on the internet?'

Senator Hanson says kids just need to become more resilient.

'Kids are not resilient these days - we put them in cotton wool and we're making excuses for them all the time,' she says.

'We keep Band-Aiding it all the time without ripping off the bloody Band-Aid.'

The lesson is: when the government tries to fix a problem, it just creates a problem that is far worse.
A girl almost strangled by her father in an alleged 'honor killing' claims he threatened to murder her several times and abused her at home.

Ihsan Ali, 44, and his wife Zahraa Subhi Mohsin Ali, 40, were charged with attempted murder, attempted kidnapping, and assault after the attack on October 18.

The girl, 17, who wasn't named, ran away from home to Timberline High School in Lacey, Washington, after her parents tried to put her on a plane to Iraq.

'Her father had recently been threatening her with honor killing for refusing an arranged marriage with an older man in another county,' the girl told police, according to court documents.

Shocking video allegedly showed Ihsan on the ground with his daughter in a chokehold, while classmates desperately tried to free her.

After she was freed and escaped alleged murder attempts by both her parents and fled into the school with her boyfriend, 16, she detailed claims of abuse to cops.

A police officer interviewed the girl in her bed at Providence St Peter Hospital in Olympia on October 21, where she explained her father felt she dishonored the family.

'[The girl] said the reason why her father threatened to kill her [was] because she has made "trouble at home" and he believes she is trying to "separate the family",' the officer wrote in their report obtained by DailyMail.com.

Shocking video allegedly showed Ihsan Ali, 44, on the ground with his daughter in a chokehold, while classmates desperately tried to free her

The officer wrote that she told them Ihsan previously told his daughter he wanted to 'hurt her so badly but there are cops here' but also told her how he would 'kill her no matter what happens' and he 'did not care if anyone saw him'.

The girl said the last time her father threatened to kill her was two to three weeks before the attack when her boyfriend came to the door.

'[The girl] said she is scared and believed her father's threats to kill her,' the offer wrote.

The girl said her father had a gun 'with colored dots on it' he used to carry in his pickup truck and now kept in a purple box on a shelf in his bedroom closet.

The teenager claimed her father was also abusing her youngest brother, who is autistic.

'She said her father "hits" her younger brother "way more" and it is "disgusting",' the officer wrote. The girl said her brother was autistic and 'didn't know any better'.

'She said one time her father shoved food in the brother's mouth and he was "choking" on it.

'She said the second incident her father took her brother to work with him who in turn "tasted" the "blue thing" in the urinal. She said her dad got mad at him and "hurt" her brother with the belt, which left bruises all over his back.

'She said the third time her brother was in the bathroom and he "pooped" on the floor. She said her dad got upset with him and shoved the poop in his mouth to make him "taste it".

The alleged attack was outside Timberline High School in Lacey, Washington

The officer wrote that the girl alleged her father threw a watermelon at her brother's back, who then fell over and the fruit 'broke open all over his back'.

'She said one time her dad caught her using a cell phone and dragged her by the hair, which caused her to "hit the wall" and hurt her knee,' the report read.

The girl said her father had already bought plane tickets for her, Zahraa, her two younger brothers, and another adult sister to fly to Iraq for the arranged marriage, leaving only Ihsan and the oldest daughter Naheen, 20, behind in the US.

Fearing she would be forced onto the flight or murdered, the teenager fled to Timberline High School the morning of October 18 and met her boyfriend in class.

Discovering she was gone, her parents went to the boyfriend's home with the police and demanded to know where she was.

The boyfriend's father, Victor Barnes, said he told them he didn't know, but presumed she was at school.

Police reports detailed how the girl spent all day with school officials until they found a safe place for her to stay, but did not offer her transport to get there.

Instead, the teen and her boyfriend went to the bus stop out the front of the school to wait for a local bus that would take her to the accommodation.

Suddenly, just after 2.10pm, Ishan emerged from the truck and confronted them, yelling at his daughter in Arabic.

Barnes said his son told him another student, who spoke Arabic, yelled back, 'She doesn't want to go back with you. Leave her alone.'

'He didn't like what the kid said, he loses his mind and punches my son in the face,' Barnes alleged.

Victor Barnes (pictured), the boyfriend's father, explained how the attack unfolded - and the events before it - as told to him by his son

Court documents explained that another student told police the boyfriend stood in front of her and was sent 'flying onto the concrete' when he was punched.

Ishan allegedly put his daughter in a headlock and tried to choke her to death, saying, 'It's not right you are not supposed to do this', she told police.

Barnes said his son 'starts to see her eyes roll back, and her arms start flailing' before she went limp and unconscious as he tried to save her.

Other students described similar horrifying scenes to police, and her boyfriend said he thought she was going to die.

Her boyfriend managed to subdue him, along with other students, by repeatedly punching Ishan in the head until he was dazed and let go, prosecutors said.

Josh Wagner, who was driving by the school and stopped to break up what he thought was a school fight, then restrained Ishan until police arrived about 2.20pm.

Zahraa then allegedly entered the fray and also tried to choke her daughter to death, but was separated by the growing group of kids.

'Her other daughter, which is the girl's older sister, is trying to fight the other kids away,' Barnes said, which the girl also told police.

'But it's too many other kids and mom isn't as strong as that, so they eventually grab the girl away from mom.'

The girl told police she fled inside with her boyfriend yelling, 'My dad was trying to kill me' as Zahraa allegedly pursued her to the school doors, but wasn't let in.

Security footage showed Zahraa chasing after the teens as they ran inside, before she was blocked from following them further than the front office.

After Zahraa tried to get through other entrances, the principal yelled at her to leave and put the school on lockdown.

Josh Wagner (pictured), who was driving by the school and stopped to break up what he thought was a school fight, restrained Ishan until police arrived

The boyfriend suffered a boxer's fracture as he tried to get Ishan off his girlfriend, which is now in a cast. The girl was taken to St Peter Hospital for treatment and a strangulation exam.

Police said they saw scratches on her neck and she complained of neck, throat, and jaw pain, and had difficulty swallowing.

'She believes she lost consciousness three to four times during the incident,' court documents alleged, adding that at one point she woke up with dirt pressed into her face.

'[The girl] stated that she thought she was going to die.'

Medical staff at the hospital reported she also suffered burst blood vessels in her eyes, and abrasions to her shoulders.

Ishan was charged with second-degree attempted murder, first-degree attempted kidnapping, second-degree attempted kidnapping, second-degree domestic assault, and fourth-degree assault.

Zahraa was charged with second-degree attempted murder first-degree attempted kidnapping, second-degree attempted kidnapping, second-degree domestic assault, and second-degree burglary.

They are both behind bars on $1 million and $500,000 bonds, respectively.
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 one of Mrs Rinehart's speeches in the series.

In this address, delivered in Bendigo, Victoria, Mrs Rinehart takes aim at the current state of the school curriculum in Australia.

Hello and welcome to all our farmers, small businessmen, 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 Bush Summit in Bendigo, which has such a great agricultural and mining history. Indeed, my great grandfather on my mother's side, who came out from the south of England, looked for gold somewhere around here, I don't know exactly where, but I do know conditions were pretty rough back then.

His son, James Nicholas, when a young teenager, took up work after his dad sadly died at stables that Cobb & Co had, about 11 or 12 miles away from their bush home. Cobb & Co's work let James provide for his widowed mother and two younger sisters. For the younger ones in the audience, Cobb & Co was essential to open up bush regions, providing transport for mail, passenger, equipment and supplies to make possible mining and agricultural lives and businesses including in this region.

An interesting and magnificent history, like Wells Fargo, which made possible the opening up of the USA.

Bendigo has certainly contributed, and can be proud of its contribution. In the early 1850s, Thomas McIvor - who I understand a shire near here was named after - was known for his discovery of gold in Bendigo. His discoveries contributed significantly to the Bendigo area gold rush, bringing settlers and investors to the area and the town of Bendigo to life.

And George Lansell, known as the 'Quartz King'. Lansell was a prominent mining entrepreneur who invested heavily in Bendigo's gold mines during the late 19th century. His investments helped develop and sustain the local gold mining industry, offering employment to many.

The Bush Summit 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 - we have developed primary industries that shine on the global stage.

Our agricultural produce is amongst the best in the world. Aren't we fortunate to be able to enjoy it. 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.

Mining magnate Gina Rinehart has spoken at a series of Bush Summits where the billionaire businesswoman outlined five key priorities for Australia. This speech focuses on education

Thank you to all members of our primary industries. And to the many businesses they support.

These standards of living are not an accident. They are the result of investment and our incredible people in our primary industries. Mining provides not only jobs that pay 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.

And of course, mining provides much more than this. Too often mining is just thought of in economic terms, but mining and the businesses mining supports, 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 governments prime responsibility to its citizens, without the wealth-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 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, that 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 for training and retraining, less 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 gets 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 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 costs 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. I repeat, only if they choose to work.

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 expensive immigration, while making it difficult for our own Aussies to work if they choose. Let's not forget, the approx. 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 and resulting in more crime, and increased delays at hospitals, some even being turned away from emergency, as our doctors, nurses, medical facilities simply can't cope.

If only our governments would truly consider the farmers and many struggling, instead of nice sounding words, even saying they like visiting 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, too 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.

In Townsville where the bush summit opened, I called for ANDEV (Australians for Northern Development and Economic Vision) style policies, less tape and less tax, to help the Townsville region establish much needed defence industries, defence being as I see it a priority for our country.

With the number of defence personnel dwindling and our school curriculums teaching our children to be ashamed of our country, not proud of our history that has actually led us to have one of the greatest standards of living in the world and created primary industries that shine, the question should be asked: why would our school children want to defend our country in future, a country they've learned not to like, even to hate?

Some years ago the Victorian government adopted the slogan 'The Education State' on car license plates, so 622 kilometres away from Canberra let's tackle what I think should be another important priority of our government: fixing our national curriculum.

Unfortunately, our children and grandchildren are being let down in their schools. Even for those as young as three in pre-schools, are being taught our police are bad. Plastics, essential in hospitals, are bad. They and others in school classes are no longer taught to be proud of our country, quite the opposite. They are taught that it is wrong to say there are two genders, indeed even told off if they say that. They are being taught propaganda rather than facts, and woke causes instead of understanding rationale and logic.

Can you believe that in the entire high school economics and business curriculum mining, coal, and iron ore do not receive even a single mention? From the gold rush in Bendigo to the iron ore exports of the last five decades, our country has been underpinned by mining. So how can we call this an economics and business curriculum if our school children don't learn what underpins so much of our economy, so many of our businesses, indeed our living standards.

Mrs Rinehart says the legacy of mining, coal and iron ore should get more of a say in the school curriculum

In the entire high school national curriculum iron ore is referenced only twice. Yet climate change and renewable energy are mentioned 48 times. School children are anxious that the world will end and they will die - some think within five to ten years. They ask, why should they do their homework if the world will end? Such curriculums are revealing of the generation of young Australians we are quite frankly letting down.

I'm told that anti-Australia, woke and human induced climate change topics, now take up approximately one third of our school curriculums. No wonder we are falling behind.

I hope mothers concerned for their children and their future, will take up their own version of 'Moms for America', and help to battle this here.

I'll continue with 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.
Daniel Landry speaks during a Fillmore United Town Hall at the Hamilton Recreation Center on Thursday about the controversial plan to close the Fillmore Safeway in San Francisco. We have some bad corporate neighbors and they need to be called out, he said. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle

It seems everyone has plenty to say about the looming closure of the Safeway on Webster Street in the Fillmore District.

Everyone, that is, except Safeway itself.

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With less than two months to go until the possible demise of the San Francisco neighborhoods only full-service grocery store, residents of both the Fillmore and Japantown gathered Thursday night to both lash out at the grocery chain and strategize about ways to pressure the company to resume negotiations with the community.

There was talk of a citywide Safeway boycott. A protest at the companys Pleasanton headquarters. A rally outside the store. A lawsuit. Pushing Supervisor Dean Prestons call for the city to seize the property by eminent domain and develop it as affordable housing above a new grocery store.

We have some bad corporate neighbors and they need to be called out. We cant pussyfoot around, said Fillmore District community activist Daniel Landry. We need to think of options other than saying, Please stay, come sit at the table with us. You can only appeal for so long.

Community member Andre Bolaffi speaks during Fillmore United Town Hall about the plan to close Fillmore Safeway in San Francisco. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle

The meeting came 10 months after Safeway announced it would be closing in March of this year, a date that was pushed back to at least January of 2025 after community outrage and lobbying by Preston and Mayor London Breed. At the time, Safeway confirmed that it was in contract to sell the property to Align Real Estate, which intends to build upward of 1,000 mostly market rate apartments on the 3.5 acre site. The planned closure followed months of complaints about public safety issues at the store.

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Since then, Safeway has been mum about its plans. The company has not said when in January, or later, it intends to shutter. It has not given 60-day notices to any employees it intends to lay off, something required by state law. It has not responded to city agencies working to either keep the store open or come up with a plan to activate the parcel in the transition period  which could last five years or longer, depending on the economy  after Safeway closes but before Align starts construction.

The reality is Safeway has not been at the table, said Preston Kilgore, chief of staff for Preston. They are not here tonight, they were not at the last meeting in June.

In a statement on Friday afternoon, Safeway said the store will close in early 2025 as planned and that all employees would be reassigned to other stores. Pharmacy customers can be transferred to other stores and that the company continue to work with Align Real Estate on a proposed mixed-use development project to include housing and commercial retail space.

The reality is Safeway has not been at the table, said Preston Kilgore, chief of staff for Supervisor Dean Prestons office during a town hall about the plan to close the Fillmore Safeway in San Francisco. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle

Vallie Brown, director of strategic partnerships for the San Francisco Human Rights Commission, said the city asked Safeway if it would be willing to leave behind the freezers and refrigerators and lease the building to another grocer, and the answer was no.

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The city has also inquired as to whether Safeway would allow the property to be activated in other ways  senior fitness classes, farmers markets, movie nights, Brown said. Again the answer was no.

We have had a lot of nos Brown said. These are all the things that are in motion but we are also in limbo because Safeway isnt communicating with us or giving us the answers that we need.

Jada Jackson, a lifelong Fillmore resident and project manager for the Office of Economic and Workforce Development, called the situation beyond frustrating.

From the city side, unfortunately, there has been no communication from Safeway, which is disheartening personally and professionally because this is important and January is coming close, said Jackson. Unfortunately we have nothing to report.

Safeway did not respond to an email seeking comment.

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Like many larger Safeway stores, the Webster Street location offered more than groceries  with a pharmacy, a Starbucks and a full-service Wells Fargo branch, which has already closed.

Its obviously a grocery store, but also such a significant community hub, said Erika Scott, who owns Honey Art Studio, just off Fillmore Street. I remember watching it being built when walking to school.

Ace Washington speaks during the town hall about the plan to close the Fillmore Safeway in San Francisco. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle

The countdown to the likely closure comes as the neighborhood is also in political limbo with both Preston and Breed, who grew up nearby, having lost their bids for reelection. Supervisor-elect Bilal Mahmood, who will take over for Preston in January, had two aides at the community meeting; Mayor-elect Daniel Lurie did not have a representative at the meeting, which was sponsored by the Fillmore United Alliance, which also includes representatives from the Japantown Task Force.

Japantown Task Force member Alice Kawahatsu said the neighborhood has a disproportionate number of elderly residents who dont drive and rely on having groceries and a pharmacy nearby.

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We need to make sure we have food access for everyone, not just for the rich or people who have cars, she said. Weve gotta get out there and beat drums. We gotta fight for what we want.

Erris Edgerly of the Fillmore United Alliance said the recent rezoning of District 5  in which the Tenderloin was added  may have taken attention away from the fight to save Safeway. Long-standing animosity between the moderate Breed and the Democratic Socialist Preston may not have helped either.

They are both working on it  but not together, Edgerly said. The Safeway closure brought the community together but the government is still split.

Meanwhile, Edgerly said, From the shelves it looks like they are not going anywhere. They still have a lot of food in there. But he said he and other neighbors may go elsewhere for their Thanksgiving provisions.
The family of an 18-year-old Brit who is facing up to 20 years in a UAE prison over a holiday romance have warned that his mental health is 'declining' as they say they are all stuck in a 'nightmare'.

Marcus Fakana, of Tottenham, was held in Dubai's 'notorious' Al Barsha Police Station for days after the 'strict' mother of a 17-year-old girl he had sex with on holiday this summer reported him to Dubai authorities.

The couple, who had met while staying at the same hotel with their families, 'had a wonderful time together', with the girl - also a Brit - meeting up in secret as she feared she could not tell her mother she was seeing a boy.

But in a devastating turn of events, Marcus - who had been on a family holiday celebrating his father's birthday - could face two decades inside a gruelling UAE prison after the girl's furious mother found out about the fling and informed police in Dubai upon returning back to the UK.

While the relationship would have been legal in the UK, under Dubai law a 17-year-old is defined as a child. The girl has since turned 18.

Setting up a GoFundMe page to raise money for legal fees to bring him home, Marcus' family said: 'What was meant to be a happy time has turned into a nightmare for him, our family, and our friends.

'This has happened as a result of someone trying to misuse UAE law against him.

The family of Marcus Fakana, from Tottenham, London, say his mental health is 'deteriorating' as he is stuck in Dubai facing the possibility of up to 20 years in jail

Marcus pictured with his family, who are hoping to raise 20,000 to help toward his legal fees

'He is being charged with a crime that could lead to imprisonment for up to 20 years.

'He is only 18 years old, very scared, and his mental health is starting to decline.'

Dubai has only recently reformed its laws on sex outside of marriage for tourists, but upholds a strict Islamic legal system, and has no firm ruling on age of consent.

But under local law, a child is defined as a person under 18 years of age. The girl was just months away from turning 18 when the pair met in August.

The teenagers were planning to continue their relationship when they were back in London.But it is understood the mother had found out about their relationship when she went through her daughter's phone and found their chats and pictures, later sharing them with Dubai police from the safety of the UK.

Marcus had still been on holiday with his family when police suddenly turned up at the hotel and detained him for three days at Al Barsha Police Station.

He is still in Dubai as he fights the case, and the family are hoping to raise 20,000 to help towards legal fees, accommodation and travel costs to come back to the UK.

The lawyer's fees alone could cost them up to 21,000.

In a previous GoFundMe page set up two months ago, the family alleged Marcus had been denied a translator and forced to sign a confession document he did not understand.

They said: 'He has been wrongfully accused of a crime he did not commit, and is now caught in a legal battle in Dubai.

'This is not just a misunderstanding, it is racial discrimination, with someone seeking to use the UAE law against him.

'While detained he was denied access to a translator and forced to sign a confession document he didn't understand. He is only 18 years old, terrified, and very scared.

'His mental health is deteriorating rapidly.'

Speaking to British-based aid organisation Detained in Dubai, Marcus told of how the couple had planned to see each other when they got home.

Marcus said: 'We had a wonderful time together. We really liked each other but she was secretive with her family because they were strict.

'My parents knew about our relationship but she couldn't tell hers. She had to meet me without telling them it was to see a boy.

'When she left, I couldn't wait to see her again when I got home. Then suddenly, police knocked on our hotel door.

The 18-year-old was detained in a notorious Dubai police station after the mother of a then 17-year-old girl he had a holiday romance with reported him to authorities

'They said they were taking me in for questioning but wouldn't tell me why. I couldn't imagine what for. I was frightened and my parents were terrified.'

The pair had tried to spend as much time as they could together while abroad, and hoped to get to know each other better when back in London.

The girl left Dubai first and they had arranged to meet up.

'He [Marcus] was told his girlfriend's mother had reported the relationship to authorities in Dubai after she had arrived back in London,' said Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai and human rights advocate.

The organisation offers confidential legal help to people facing civil and criminal legal trouble in the UAE.

'This is clearly a very strict mother to involve police in a private matter that is completely legal in the country where she lives and where the children have grown up,' Ms Stirling warned.

'Perhaps she wasn't aware that she triggered the possibility of a young man of only 18 spending the next 20 years in prison.'

'My mother is a cleaner and my dad works in a warehouse. They saved up for this one-off holiday and they have now used all of their savings,' Marcus explained.

'The police demanded 10,000 AED for bail which I've been told is not normal and the costs are mounting. I'm here all alone. I pray this nightmare will be over and I'll be home for Christmas.'

Marcus and his family are now calling on the British Foreign Secretary to help him.

'Dubai police have the power to drop the case against Marcus and let him come home,' Ms Stirling said.

'This is not something we want to do to young people and we ask David Lammy MP to convey this message to his counterparts in the UAE.'

The UAE has only recently implemented changes allowing tourists to have sex outside of marriage - as well as more lax regulations on alcohol and vaping.

A British couple were jailed for kissing in public in 2010, and ultimately deported for violating the country's decency laws.

Despite changes to the law, Ms Stirling warns that parents will soon 'be scared to take their older teenagers on vacation with them where they could end up losing their lives over behaviour that's completely legal in their own countries'.

Dubai Public Prosecution said in a statement shared with MailOnline: 'The case was initiated in response to a complaint filed by the mother of a 17-year-old British girl.

'The girl, a tourist visiting Dubai, is not a resident of the UAE. Under UAE law, the girl is legally classified as a minor, and in accordance with procedures recognised internationally, her mother -being the legal guardian- filed the complaint.

'Dubai's legal system is committed to protecting the rights of all individuals and ensuring impartial judicial proceedings. The next court hearing has been scheduled for 9 December at the request of the defendant's legal counsel, contrary to what has been reported by some media.

'The media should avoid speculation and allow the judiciary to carry out its responsibilities within its clear legal framework.'
J.D. Vance, wife Usha and their three children are packing up to live in their new residence - a 9,000 square foot home on the 80-acre Naval Observatory with a tree swing and a swimming pool.

A swimming pool Joe Biden is obsessed with. And loved to use for skinny dipping when he lived there.

Joe and Jill Biden resided at One Naval Observatory for eight years when he was vice president under Barack Obama.

And, even as president, he still talks about the place, including its private, heated swimming pool.

'You're on 80 acres, overlooking the rest of the city, and you can walk out, there's a swimming pool, you can walk off the porch in the summer and jump in the pool and go into work,' Biden said at a CNN town hall during the first year of his presidency.

'You can ride a bicycle around and never leave the property. You can work out, but the White House is very different,' he noted.

And Biden reportedly jumped into that pool naked, Secret Service agents told author Ron Kessler for his 2014 book about the agency.

'Agents say that, whether at the vice president's residence or at his home in Delaware, Biden has a habit of swimming in his pool nude,' Kessler wrote in his book, The First Family Detail: Secret Service Agents Reveal the Hidden Lives of the Presidents.

'Female Secret Service agents find that offensive,' he noted.

J.D. and Usha Vance (above) will move in the Vice President's residence in January

The vice president's house - known as One Naval Observatory, has a private, heated pool

The White House also has a swimming pool but it's behind the Oval Office patio, which means it would be almost impossible for Biden to skinny dip without baring all before the West Wing staff.

Biden even told his successor Mike Pence and his family to enjoy the vice presidential swimming pool, calling it one of his favorite perks.

Karen and Mike Pence used it often as part of their exercise routine.

'It's great,' Karen Pence told Washington Life magazine in 2017 when she was second lady. 'That's the thing that Joe Biden said to us as he got into the limo and left the Capitol on inauguration day  he said, 'you're gonna love the pool.'

Biden, as vice president, said his favorite vice president was Dan Quayle, who installed the pool at the residence.

'No can say a negative thing about Dan Quayle,' he told reporters in 2010, adding Quayle 'built that pool.'

'He's my favorite vice president,' said Biden. 'And my granddaughters love it.'

Biden even dubbed it 'the Dan Quayle swimming pool.'

Naomi, Finnegan and Maisey - the daughters of Hunter Biden - lived with their parents in Washington D.C. when Joe Biden was president. They frequently visited their grandparents at the Naval Observatory.

Joe BIden, as a vice president, would host pool parties where he used a super soaker

The 9,000 square foot vice presidential residence has six bedrooms

Biden, as vice president, bragged about his living conditions: 'I voted all those years for public housing. I didn't know it was gonna be this good.'

The vice presidential residence is technically public property.

It sits on the United States Naval Observatory, a Navy base that is one of the oldest scientific research areas in the country. It remains the country's leading facility for astronomical and timing data and is a center for navigational information.

Only two miles from the White House, Vance will have a short commute, particularly since he'll be traveling in a motorcade.

There's also plenty of room for him, his three children Ewan, Vivek and Mirabel and the family dog Atlas.

The Queen Anne style house is 9,150 square feet with 33 rooms, seven wood-burning fireplaces, a library and solarium.

It has six bedrooms and a wrap around porch. There's also sweeping grounds with plenty of room for Atlas to run and the children to play.

And it's completely private. Unlike the White House, there are no public tours of the vice pesidential residence although the public can sign up for tours of the observatory itself to see the giant telescope and scientific library.

The home was built in 1893 for the Naval Observatory's superintendent. The three-story house cost approximately $20,000 to build.

It began housing its chief of naval operations in 1923 and became the vice presidential residence in the 1970s. Vice President Walter Mondale, who served under President Jimmy Carter, became the first vice president to live there full-time.

J.D. Vance and Usha with Evan, Vivek, and Mirabel

Dick Cheney, as vice president, dressed up his labrador retrievers Jackson (left as Darth Vader) and Dave (right as Superman) for Halloween

Al Gore, as vice president, and wife Tipper held big Halloween events where they would dress in costume - above the couple in 1998 dressed as mummies

Many vice presidents have hosted receptions there as part of their official duties.

The Pences and the Bidens each hosted parties for military families. The Bidens held summer barbeques for supporters and press that would feature Joe Biden running around with a super soaker.

Al and Tipper Gore were famous for their Halloween events, which Dick and Lynne Cheney continued.

The vice presidents and spouses who lived there have add their personal touches.

Joe Biden surprised Jill with a tree swing for Valentine's Day in 2010. The commemorative plaque on the tree reads 'Joe loves Jill. Valentine's Day 2010.'

Karen Pence installed a bee hive.

Doug Emhoff, who is Jewish, added a white mezuzah - a small scroll of Hebrew text from the Torah in a decorative case - on the right side of the doorway of their residence.

The Vance family will move into the residence on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2025.
Heartbreaking details have emerged about the final moments of an Indian family who froze to death near the Canadian border.

Jagdish Patel, 39 and Vaishailben Patel, 37, and their children Vihangi, 11, and Dharkmik, three, were found dead in a field along the US-Canada border on January 19, 2022, after temperatures plummeted to as low as -40F.

New details about their tragic deaths have now surfaced during the trial of human smugglers, Steve Stand and Harshkumar Patel, who were found guilty on Friday.

Daniel Huguley, a US Border Patrol intelligence agent, recalled his heart sinking when he discovered the Patel family's belongings buried in a backpack in the snow.

'First thing I saw  was that diaper,' he testified before a US District Court, according to The National Post. Photos were also shown in court of diapers, wipes, mittens, and two little toy trucks - one red and one white.

Huguley alerted his supervisor that he believed more people were missing in the field between Manitoba and Minnesota.

A few hours later, the family's bodies were found just meters from the border by Canadian police, with the little boy being cradled in his father's arms.

Shand and Harshkumar - who is of no relation to the family - were accused of participating in a smuggling ring between December 2021 to January 2022 that brought Indian nationals to Canada on student visas before helping them cross the border into the US.

Jagdish Patel, 39 and Vaishailben Patel, 37, and their children Vihangi, 11, and Dharkmik, three, were found dead in a field along the US-Canada border on January 19, 2022, as temperatures had plummeted to as low as -40F

New details about their gruesome deaths have surfaced as the trial of two smugglers, Steve Stand (right) and Harshkumar Patel (left), who is not related to the family, began

Both were found guilty on Friday of conspiracy to bring noncitizens to the US, conspiracy to transport aliens, attempted transportation of aliens into the US for commercial advantage, and aiding and abetting the attempted transportation of aliens in America.

The verdict was handed down in little over an hour after the jury went into deliberations, according to The Star Tribune.

Shand had been driving a passenger van when it got stuck in the snow far from a legal crossing just south of the border.

When Troy Larson, who worked at a nearby gas plant, approached the van to tow it out of the ditch, Stand had told him 'they were going to visit friends in Winnipeg,' the former testified.

Larson had offered to let Shand and the two others warm up in a nearby building, but the driver declined. But they didn't get far as border patrol agents arrived on scene and Shand once again repeated his story.

Border Patrol Agent Christopher Oliver said Stand's story didn't make sense as the crew were far from a main highway and the license, passports, and student visas checked by him didn't indicate they had legally entered the US in the first place, The National Post reported.

Shortly after, Oliver received a call saying border-crossers had been found in a field. When asked if there were more, Shand had told Oliver there wasn't.

'People will die if you don't tell me the truth,' Oliver recalled telling Shand.

Five more people were found by other agents, including a woman suffering from hypothermia who was struggling to stay conscious, Oliver testified.

Daniel Huguley, a US Border Patrol intelligence agent, recalled his heart sinking after he discovered the Patel family's personal belongings buried in a backpack in the snow, including diapers, wipes, mittens, and two little toy trucks (pictured: contents of the backpack)

A photo of the survivors show how the Indian nationals were inadequately dressed for the blizzard

Huguley then found the family's backpack, which extended the search for the missing migrants. They were found frozen to death in a nearby field.

The group of migrants had allegedly called Fenil Patel - who is accused of running the smuggling ring and is not related to the family - who said he would get someone to pick them up.

They had reportedly told Fenil they couldn't find the driver in the blizzard and didn't have enough clothes to keep them warm, according to The Minnesota Star Tribune.

Fenil had allegedly told them to go back to the Canadian side as he was worried they would get picked up without visas, but no one came their rescue.

'[Fenil] said that he told them: "Come back to where you came from and Ill [have someone] pick you up there,"' Rajinder Paul Singh, who worked for the smuggling ring for eight years but was not involved in the 2022 trip, testified.

'He lied to them.'

Indian authorities are working to extradite Fenil - who faces charges in Canada but not in the US - and another Canadian to face charges there, according to The National Post.

Shand's lawyers argued he was simply a taxi driver who frequently picked up people, unaware that he was doing anything illegal, according to The Post.

His calls for a mistrial were denied, according to The Star Tribune.

Huguley alerted his supervisor that he believed more people were missing in the field between Manitoba and Minnesota . A few hours later, the family-of-four's body were found meters from the Canadian border by Canadian police, the little boy cradled in his father's arms

The group of migrants had allegedly called Fenil Patel - who ran the smuggling ring and is not related to the family - who said he'd have someone come pick them up. No one arrived

After obtaining student visas for the migrants, Fenil Patel would send the migrants from Toronto to British Columbia, where they would be smuggled into Washington. Migrants were given prepaid phones with tracking systems on them to allow them to know where they were while crossing

Harshkumar's attorneys alleged that he has been wrongfully identified as a part of the smuggling ring and his representative expressed disappointment in the verdict.

Singh pleaded guilty in February 2023 in Seattle to transporting and harboring migrants for profit. He smuggled more than 500 people into the US and received more than a half-a-million dollars for his work, according to The Star Tribune.

Fenil's operation involved allegedly charging Indian nationals $100,000 to be smuggled into the US, according to The Star Tribune.

After obtaining student visas for the migrants, he would send them from Toronto to British Columbia, where they would be smuggled into Washington.

Migrants were reportedly given prepaid phones with tracking systems so they would know where they were while crossing.

Mudslides and floods prevented the family-of-four's group from crossing through Washington and they were instead taken through Manitoba.

'He said he [had] the connections in Minnesota,' Singh testified.

On the fateful January day, Singh said he woke up to many missed calls from Fenil, who told him: 'Our work got screwed up...All the people got caught.'

They were supposed to be taken to Chicago after crossing the border.

Mudslides and floods didn't allow the family-of-four's group to cross through Washington and were instead taken through Manitoba. They were supposed to be taken to Chicago after crossing the border (pictured: Minnesota courthouse)

Yash Patel, 23, survived the ordeal after getting separated from the family-of-four.

He told the court he walked alone for five or six hours before finding the van and Stand waiting for him, according to The Independent.

'It was snowing and it was very windy. I was very scared,' he told the court. 'I wanted to have help from someone, but there was no one.'

US Border Patrol arrested more than 14,000 Indians along the Canadian border in the 2024 fiscal year, which ended on September 30.

An estimated 725,000 Indians were living in the US illegally by 2022, according to Pew Research Center.
House lawmakers this week weighed the prospects for a 2026 conflict between the US, Japan, and China over Taiwan in a war simulation that warned of devastating costs for all involved.

Exercises gamed out by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) showed how the US and its allies could derail an amphibious Chinese assault - but not without taking heavy losses themselves.

Fighting would claim some 10,000 casualties on all sides, CSIS projected. The US would lose 10-20 warships, two aircraft carriers, 200-400 warplanes and some 3,000 troops in just the first three weeks of fighting.

But China comes off worse, failing to regain Taiwan and losing most of its amphibious fleet, 52 major warships and 160 warplanes - a military humiliation that would imperil the country's communist leaders.

The grim war simulations come at a time of political upheaval, with Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te taking a tougher line on China, which sees Taiwan as a renegade province to be unified with the mainland, by force if necessary.

China has ramped up its military activities around Taiwan in the past five years, and President Xi Jinping has reportedly asked his generals to prepare to retake the island of 24 million people as soon as 2027.

US President Joe Biden has vowed to defend the territory. But the US is not under any treaty obligations to do so, and president-elect Donald Trump has signaled he is less willing to bankroll a war in Asia in pursuit of his 'America First' policy.

Against this tense backdrop, the CSIS this week showcased 25 possible simulations of the conflict to the members of the House China Select Committee, which is led by Michigan Republican John Moolenaar.

Ready for action: A Taiwanese conscript launches rockets during an exercise at a military base in Tainan, Taiwan

The big unknown: Would Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) launch an attack on Taiwan, and would president-elect Donald Trump defend the island? Pictured: a meeting of the two leaders in 2017

'We walked through one simulation of what might happen in a worst-case scenario conflict with China and learned ways we can work together, in a bipartisan manner, to ensure that America is prepared,' Moolenaar told Fox News.

'No matter where or when, the US and our allies must have the military means to defeat our adversaries,' he said, adding that America may have to be the world's 'arsenal of democracy once more if called upon.'

The Chinese defense industry is operating on a 'wartime footing,' and has ramped up its shipbuilding capacity 230 times greater than America's, reducing the military advantage the US has enjoyed for decades against the rising Asian power, the CSIS warns.

Analysts urged lawmakers to be ready to act fast against a Chinese assault on Taiwan - saying the 'Ukraine' strategy of gradually upping support to that country to repel Russian invaders would not work in the South China Sea.

Taiwan would have to hold the line against an assault, and the US would need to join the fight immediately, operating through its bases in Japan, says Matthew Cancian, a Naval War College professor and lead author of the project.

'If the US were not to join the fight for two weeks [after an invasion], it would be too late,' says Cancian, a Marine veteran.

'China would already have too strong a footing.'

Washington also needs to send more anti-ship missiles to Taiwan to defend itself against an attack, the report says.

CSIS said Japan's role in any such conflict was paramount and called for quickly bolstering US-Japan ties, as South Korea would likely not get involved in a war over Taiwan.

Cancian said it would be 'very helpful if South Korea stood shoulder-to-shoulder with us.'

Analysts also warned that North Korea may use a Taiwan crisis as an opportunity to invade the South, perhaps using the troops currently getting combat experience backing Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te (center) is taking a tougher line on independence from China than his predecessors

A M60A3 tank fires live rounds in Penghu, Taiwan, in a simulation of a response to an attack from China's Coast Guard vessels and militia boats

War exercises gamed out by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) showed how the US and its allies could derail an amphibious Chinese assault

Cancian warned that US forces could not defend Taiwan from afar and would have to be deployed on the island to halt any Chinese attack.

That's because China's anti-tank and anti-air missiles would threaten US shipments of weapons to the island.

'US forces would have to be directly involved,' said Cancian.

'There is no way to achieve denying a takeover of Taiwan while also keeping US forces safe.'

Researchers warned that China is outproducing the US on airplanes, ships, and missiles.

Beijing's land attack missiles and anti-ship missiles would be particularly devastating to US and allied forces there.

The Pentagon must ramp up production of Harpoon anti-ship missiles, coastal defense cruise missiles and other munitions to defend Taiwan, it is claimed.

Washington's current stockpile of some 440 anti-ship missiles would run out in less than seven days in a war with China, researchers warned.

They urged Taiwan's admirals to stop ordering large ships that China can easily target and destroy, and focus on smaller vessels and stealthy submarines.

The US has long maintained a policy of 'strategic ambiguity' over whether it would step in to defend Taiwan from a Chinese assault.

The policy makes Taipei unwilling to provoke a war by formally declaring independence from China, while at the same time deterring Beijing from invading the island, for fear of ending up at war with a superpower.

In the war game scenario, Trump, who is set to be president in 2026, comes to the defense of Taiwan.

The US is Taiwan's most important international backer and arms supplier, despite the lack of formal diplomatic recognition.

It is not clear what Trump would do under such a scenario - he has in the past suggested Taiwan should pay Washington for giving it defensive aid.

The war-gaming took place against the backdrop of mounting tensions between Taiwan, China, and the US.

Taiwanese soldiers stand guard during the 'Chen-Chiang' nighttime military exercises, in Penghu, Taiwan

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te visits a military camp in Taoyuan, Taiwan, in May 2024, soon after taking office

A member of the honour guards is seen during a ceremony commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Guningtou in Kinmen, Taiwan

Taiwan's President Lai 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 any transit stops by the president on US soil.

Taiwanese presidents usually use visits to allies to make what are officially stop-overs in the US, where they often meet with friendly politicians and give speeches, which anger Beijing.

On two occasions in the past two years, China staged military drills around Taiwan after presidential or vice-presidential stopovers in the US.

Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims and says it has a right to engage with outer countries and for its leaders to make foreign trips.

In August of last year, China held a day of military drills around Taiwan after then-vice president Lai returned from the US, 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 US trip by then-president Tsai Ing-wen, who met then-US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles.
A bombshell documentary has revealed how six men who were wrongfully convicted of murder were eventually exonerated.

The injustice first came to light in 2002 when veteran Bronx homicide detective Bobby Addolorato told Dateline NBC Investigative Producer Dan Slepian there was one murder case that had haunted him for more than a decade.

Bouncer Markus Peterson had been shot dead at the Palladium nightclub in Manhattan on Thanksgiving eve in 1990, with another wounded. It was 'Latin Night' at the club with more than 1,000 people attending.

Addolorato claimed the two men convicted of the crime and locked up at New York's Sing Sing Correctional Facility, David Lemus and Olmedo Hidalgo, were in fact innocent - and that he knew who the real shooter was.

'It really really ate at him and that is when I said lets make it our story. Let me follow you as we reinvestigate this,' Slepian said.

This moment became the springboard for a two-decade investigation that went on to expose a further four wrongful conviction cases at the same prison. In total, six men spent half their lives behind bars for crimes they did not commit.

The extraordinary tale is now being told in full in a new MSNBC documentary series called The Sing Sing Chronicles, which will air in four parts on Saturday and Sunday at 9pm.

In an exclusive clip shared with DailyMail.com, viewers can see the very moment Addolorato is heard telling a shocked Slepian about the case that 'haunts' him.

Bronx homicide detective Bobby Addolorato (pictured) seated with Dateline NBC Investigative Producer Dan Slepian in a restaurant telling him the one murder case that haunted him for more than a decade

Dateline NBC Investigative Journalist Dan Slepian is pictured interviewing a handcuffed David Lemus (left) and Olmedo Hidalgo (right) at the Green Haven Correctional Facility in Stormville, NY 2002 before they were transferred to Sing Sing

A new four-part documentary series called The Sing Sing Chronicles will air this weekend. The picture shows an NYPD officer covering a homicide Slepian was nearby trailing the detective

'It's going to haunt you, without a doubt. It's going to haunt you until there is closure. And even after there is closure, it's still going to haunt you,' Addolorato said to Slepian in the clip.

Lemus and Hidalgo had been locked up for over a decade by the time Slepian found out about the case.

He had originally been trailing the detective for a piece about how homicide cops solve murders, and claimed he 'never imagined' where it would lead.

'It was hard for me to wrap my mind around with if they were innocent why were they there,' he added.

Slepian went to Sing Sing to meet with Lemus and Hidalgo in 2002, where the two men were cuffed and emotional as they spoke about their incarceration.

Lemus had been incarcerated for 11 years and 7 months at that point, and Hidalgo 10 years and 9 months.

'No one wants to live in this cage like I am. It is harder to accept being in here when you know you didn't do anything,' Lemus said through tears at the time.

Recalling the moment the guilty verdict had been read in court, Hidalgo broke down and said in Spanish that his life had been crushed.

From then on, the detective, with the help of his partner John Schwartz, the journalist and others, pushed to get the case reopened.

Eventually the pair were exonerated in 2005 after nearly 15 years in prison. Lemus was retried in 2007 but acquitted.

Lemus told NBC News he largely credited his release to the two detectives who never gave up.

Speaking of Slepian, he said: 'He was young, eager and green, but he was also hungry. So I was willing to take my chance with him, because I had nobody else to take a chance with.'

Detective Addolorato remarked that seeing them released was the highlight of his career.

Paramedics arrive to transport the wounded after the shooting at the Palladium nightclub

NBC Investigative Journalist Dan Slepian shaking hands with veteran Bronx homicide detective Bobby Addolorato in 2002. Addolorato's partner John Schwartz is pictured right

Bronx Homicide Detective Bobby Addolorato featured during the documentary

The mugshot of David Lemus and Olmedo Hidalgo who were incarcerated for nearly 15 years for a crime they did not commit at the Palladium nightclub November 1990

It was during his visit to the prison that Slepian first met Jon-Adrian 'JJ' Velazquez, who was in the cell next door to Lemus.

Velazquez had been convicted aged 22 for the 1998 murder of a retired NYPD officer and was serving a 25 year sentence.

His mother, who was visiting the jail, approached Slepian and told him her son was innocent and asked if he could help him too.

When he began investigating, Slepian uncovered new information but told DailyMail.com it 'took an army of people to achieve his freedom'.

The docuseries focuses on Velazquez' agonizing journey and the special bond the pair went on to form.

In 2021, Velazquez was finally granted clemency and released on parole. But it was not until October of this year that he was exonerated after his wrongful arrest nearly 27 years ago.

New York State Supreme Court Judge Abraham Clott vacated his conviction after the Manhattan DA's office reviewed his case.

While fighting for his own freedom, Velazquez introduced Slepian to other men he believed were also innocent in unrelated homicide cases.

These men were Eric Glisson, Johnny Hincapie and Richard Rosario, who were also later exonerated.

David Lemus was exonerated in 2005 after nearly 15 years in prison. He was retried in 2007 but acquitted

Dan Slepian speaking during the 4-part docuseries about his 20-year investigation

Today, Velazquez is working as a director of the Frederick Douglass Project for Justice and leads the organization's National Prison Visitation Program.

He is a vocal advocate for legal reform and a champion for those who have been wrongfully convicted.

Slepian was recognized as a Pulitzer Prize finalist and has a podcast 'Letters from Sing Sing' for NBC News Studios.

His 1,000 hours of original footage from 2002 to present day is featured in the four-part episodes showing the gritty streets of New York, the stalwart detectives, the back logs of case documents spanning decades, and prison interviews.

Slepian is pictured speaking to Jon-Adrian 'JJ' Velazquez in 2007 years after he was wrongfully convicted of the murder of a retired NYPD detective

Dan Slepian visiting Velazquez at Sing Sing Correctional Facility in 2017

Slepian and Velazquez attend the screening of The Sing Sing Chronicles on November 15 in Manhattan

Slepian told DailyMail.com how 'enormously grateful' he was that the series is airing this weekend.

'I discovered the complexities of our justice system, the power of human resilience and the deep impact of wrongful conviction on individuals, communities and families,' he said.

He explained that The Sing Sing Chronicles is more than just a docuseries and instead 'a call to action for empathy, awareness and change.'

'The series not only sheds light on the flaws within the system but also inspires people to see the humanity in those whose voices are often too silenced,' he added.

The four episode The Sing Sing Chronicles series, produced by NBC News Studios, will air on Saturday and Sunday at 9pm on MSNBC.
A UK Border Force officer and a trade official accused of breaching the National spying for Chinese intelligence appeared in court today.

Chi Leung Wai, 39, also known as Peter Wai, who worked at London Heathrow Airport as a Border Force officer and a City of London special constable, is accused of carrying out surveillance and hostile reconnaissance.

He is charged alongside retired Hong Kong police officer Chung Biu Yuen, 64, also known as Billy Yuen, who is employed as an office manager of Hong Kong's economic and trade office in London.

Wai and Yuen, who both wore suits, raised their hands to confirm their identities from the dock when they appeared in court today.

A trial date was set at Kingston Crown Court for February 10 and the defendants will be required to attend the next hearing at the Old Bailey on November 22.

Wai, of Staines-upon-Thames, Surrey, and Yuen, of Hackney, east London, were released on bail.

They are accused of 'hostile activity which includes information-gathering, hostile surveillance, acts of deception and forcing entry into a UK residential address.'

The 'primary targets' are said to be pro-democracy campaigners from the Hong Kong diaspora now based in the UK.

Chi Leung Wai (pictured), 39, also known as Peter Wai, who worked at London Heathrow Airport as a Border Force officer and a City of London special constable, is accused of carrying out surveillance and hostile reconnaissance

He is charged alongside retired Hong Kong police officer Chung Biu Yuen, 64, also known as Billy Yuen (pictured outside court today), who is employed as an office manager of Hong Kong's economic and trade office in London

Chi Leung Wai, pictured in a police uniform, volunteered as a special constable for the City of London Police

They are alleged to have broken into the home of one of their targets in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, on May 1 this year.

The investigation involved the Met's Counter Terrorism Command along with the North East and South East Counter Terrorism Policing Units.

Wai and Yuen stand charged with allegedly assisting a foreign intelligence service between December 20, 2023 and May 2, 2024 by engaging in conduct, namely agreeing to undertake information-gathering, surveillance and acts of deception.

They also face a second charge of foreign interference on May 1, 2024, by engaging in 'prohibited conduct, namely, forcing entry into a UK residential address'.

They have been allowed bail subject to conditions including residence, curfews between 10pm-5am and reporting at relevant police stations.

They also include surrendering their passports, not applying for any international travel documents, not entering any international travel hubs and not being in possession of any travel documents.

This case is the first time that anyone has been charged with spying on British soil for the Hong Kong intelligence service.

The men were charged under the new National Security Act brought in last year to target those working secretly for hostile states within the UK.
More than a million Brits are attracted to the balmy weather and lush tropical jungles of South-East Asia each year.

But the 'toxic shot' tragedy in Laos, which has claimed the lives of six backpackers, has also highlighted the hidden dangers lurking in this corner of 'paradise'.

British lawyer Simone White, 28, from Orpington, Kent, died after falling ill along with more than a dozen others in the popular backpacking town Vang Vieng.

Ms White was among a group of tourists who drank free shots on November 12, suspected to have been laced with methanol.

Australian Bianca Jones, 19, two Danish women in their 20s and a 56-year-old US citizen have also died. At least 11 other people are thought to remain in hospital.

Fellow Australian Holly Bowles, 19, was the latest backpacker to die from suspected methanol poisoning on Friday.

The hostel owner at the centre of the alleged methanol poisonings has reportedly been detained by police.

And the Foreign Office has now issued urgent guidance to Brits visiting Laos, warning them not to consume replica alcohol brands that could contain hidden amounts of deadly methanol, or accept drinks from strangers.

But adulterated drinks are not the only perils lurking in SE Asia, where unwary British travellers have fallen victim to hidden dangers.

Simone White, 28, died in hospital after drinking alcohol suspected to have been laced with methanol in the backpacking hotspot Vang Vien

Bianca Jones, 19, has become the fourth person to die after consuming alleged 'methanol-laced' drinks in Vang Vieng, Laos

Simone White (left) and Bethany Clarke (right) both fell ill on holiday in Southeast Asia

Ms Jones and her best friend Holly Bowles (pictured) are two of 14 tourists who are believed to be victims of a mass methanol poisoning in the party town of Vang Vieng

Tourists kayaking in the party town of Vang Vieng in Laos

In March, backpacker Theo Bailey, 31, was found dead in a shallow ditch in Thailand's notorious Koh Tao Island where several tourists have died in suspicious circumstances in recent years.

He and his girlfriend had enjoyed a pub crawl with other holidaymakers before he became separated from the group.

Theo's body was discovered near Sairee Beach, a beauty spot where Brits Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, were bludgeoned to death in September 2014 - the incident which gave rise to Koh Tao's grim moniker Death Island.

Hannah from Norfolk and David were on a backpacking tour of SE Asia before Hannah started a master's course.

But Hannah was raped and both the friends were murdered by two Burmese men who have been convicted of the crimes.

Two years later, Hannah's mother Susan revealed how she begged her daughter not to go to Thailand, fearing for her safety.

Mrs Witheridge said: 'The family had always been against Hannah going on the trip and tried to persuade her out of it.

'None of the family was happy with her going there, but she had made her mind up.'

Simone had been staying at Nana's Backpackers Hostel in Vang Vieng

Hannah Witheridge, who was found murdered on island of Koh Tao, Thailand in 2014

Parants Tony and Sue with sister Laura and her partner pictured at the funeral of Hannah Witheridge at St Marys Church, Hemsby, Norfolk, in 2014

In January this year, Hugo Mooney, 26, from Brighton was stabbed in the neck and almost bled to death when he told another tourist to stop harassing his female friend in a bar on Kho Pha Ngan, Thailand.

Luckily, a Canadian doctor was on hand to help stem the bleeding during the hour-long trip to hospital by truck.

Israeli Eliran Alias, who had attacked Hugo with a broken beer bottle, escaped with a fine of just $70.

In 2016, three Brits were swept over a 15m high waterfall to their deaths while taking part in a water slide ride in Vietnam.

Sisters Izzy Squire, 19, and Beth Anderson, 24, died with their friend Christian Sloan, 25, at the Datanla waterfalls in Lam Dong province in Vietnam's Central Highlands in February 2016.

The young women from Sheffield, were seven weeks into a backpacking tour of Asia when they died. Their father, David Squire, later described their deaths as being 'wholly preventable'.

At an inquest three years later, Coroner Chris Dorries heard how the friends wore life jackets and helmets as they slid head-first down a natural water slide before ending up in a 2-metre-deep pool.

But instead of leaving the pool, the trio were swept along by strong currents and disappeared over the next tier of the river complex. Mr Dorries heard that the trio had not been sufficiently warned about the river hazards.

Bangkok police claimed that Luke Ramage, 31, from Co Durham had died of alcoholic poisoning in his hotel in 2018, despite the fact his room in the city's red-light district of Patpong showed signs of damage and he had injuries.

Hugo Mooney, 26, from from Brighton, was stabbed in the neck and almost bled to death when he told another tourist to stop harassing his female friend in a bar on Kho Pha Ngan, Thailand

In March 2024, backpacker Theo Bailey, 31, (pictured with his girlfriend) was found dead in a shallow ditch in Thailand's notorious Koh Tao Island where several tourists have died

Bangkok police claimed that Luke Ramage, 31, from Co Durham had died of alcoholic poisoning in his hotel in 2018, despite the fact his room in the city's red-light district of Patpong showed signs of damage and he had injuries.

Backpacker Gavin Topley spent a nightmare week in a cockroach-infested Thai prison in 2016 after handwash leaked onto his passport and left a stain.

He tried to enter Vietnam but was refused entry and sent back to Bangkok -- where he was detained in a grim airport immigration centre for six nights because his visa had expired.

Sometimes misfortune can strike in the most unlikely settings.

In 2016, Gareth Crowe was on a trek during a family holiday on Koh Samui, Thailand when he was trampled and gored by an elephant in front of his daughter.

Mr Crowe, 36, died when the animal turned on its handler who had dismounted to take photographs.

Mr Crowe and his daughter, Eilidh, 16, from the Scottish Isle of Islay, were thrown by the elephant which is then said to have trampled him and impaled him through the chest with its tusk.

Eilidh was admitted to hospital with minor injuries but is believed to have escaped with her life after the elephant ran off into the forest.

Mr Crowe, 36, was on holiday with his partner Catherine Hughes, 42, and their two children.

In 2012, Jack Cole from Bath had a narrow escape after being repeatedly stabbed by a mob as he saved his girlfriend April Cole from a sex attack by seven men.

The laughing youths grabbed 21-year-old April as the couple enjoyed a romantic stroll towards a boat pier in Ao Nang, in southern Thailand.

After jumping to April's defence Jack was left to die in a pool of blood as the armed thugs fled.

Sometimes poorly maintained infrastructure can lead to tragedy. Backpacker Charlie Thomas, 20, died of electrocution in 2011 when he inadvertently touched a live socket while sheltering from a storm outside a shop in Phuket, Thailand.

Sociology student Charlie, from Sale in Greater Manchester, touched the socket as he pushed himself to his feet after sitting out the downpour.

Sisters Izzy Squire, 19, and Beth Anderson, 24, died with their friend Christian Sloan, 25, at the Datanla waterfalls in Lam Dong province in Vietnam's Central Highlands in February 2016

Squire (left) and Beth Anderson with their friend Christian Sloan

In 2008, a 17-year-old Buddhist monk was arrested by police in Cambodia for raping a 39-year-old British tourist he was guiding to a remote mountain-top temple.

Thorn Sophoan confessed to the crime, according to Mey Chhengly, police chief of Battambang Province in Northwest Cambodia.

'He has already been disrobed and thrown out of his temple. He had not been in the temple long,' he said.

Travel expert Charlie McGrath said that the biggest danger for unsuspecting tourists in the area was the motorbikes and scooters rented by visitors, whether because of poor conditions and inexperienced riders.

'In SE Asia, the number one threat is motorbike accidents, followed by partying, or even worse if the two are combined,' said Mr McGrath, director of Objective Travel Safety, which hosts 1-day travel safety courses for gap-year students and hostile environment courses for journalists.

'In Vang Vieng there were an awful lot of deaths from tubing in the rivers until the government there cracked down on safety.

'The threat from methanol poisoning for tourists is more unusual, but clearly it can happen. Most young people are well aware of the dangers of drinks being spiked abroad, just as they are back in the UK.

'It's about taking precautions and checking things out  is there something suspicious about the drink you've been given? Better to stick to bottled beer and avoid shots.

'Stay with your friends and if someone starts to feel unwell, seek help immediately.'
A bank treasurer and his wife planned to flee to Uruguay after stealing almost $259,000 from his job, authorities in the southeastern Brazilian state of Espirito Santo have revealed.

Eduardo Oliveira, 43, was accompanied by his wife, Paloma Tolentino, 29, and was seen carrying a box containing the money after he had concluded his November 14 shift at a Banco do Brasil branch in the municipality of Vitoria, surveillance video showed.

Oliveira, who had been employed by the bank for 12 years, could be seen approaching a security guard in the lobby and greeting him before he made his way to the exit.

Investigators discovered that Oliveira and Tolentino plotted the heist in advance and were able to change the bank safe box's password.

The couple loaded up all of their belongings and moved into a new home in Vitoria on Saturday, and used some of the cash to pay down some of their personal debts.

On Monday, Tolentino visited a car dealership and attempted to purchased a Jeep Renegade with $12,700 in cash, but was told by a salesperson that they could not process the cash-only transaction.

She told the worker that she had money at a bank branch and visited the financial institution, where Oliveira was already waiting for them.

As part of the plot, Tolentino and Oliveira made believe that they did not know each in order other to process the car purchase.

Brazilian bank worker, Eduardo Oliveira, and his wife, Paloma Tolentino, were arrested Monday, just four days after robbing the Banco do Brasil branch where he was employed. The couple was 153 miles away from the border with Uruguay when they were captured

Eduardo Oliveira carries a box loaded with the cash he stole from a Banco do Brasil branch where he worked at in Vitoria, Brazil, as he followed his wife out the door on November 14

The bank became suspicious when Oliveira did not show up to work Monday and did not answer any of their phone calls.

Another manager at the branch notified the police of the robbery after noticing that money was missing from the safe deposit box.

Authorities caught a break in the investigation when they found that Tolentino had deposited $12,700 in an account that was used for the purchase of a brand-new Jeep Renegade on Monday afternoon.

Investigators visited the car dealership and were able to obtain the vehicle's license plates.

Oliveira and his wife loaded their dog and cat into the SUV and drove about 1,367 miles to Santa Cruz, a city in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul.

They were just 153 miles from the border with Uruguay when they were intercepted by the Federal Highway Police.

Footage filmed by the police showed a cop searching the vehicle's trunk and removing a suitcase loaded with 70,700 euros, $41,490 and $131,596 in Brazilian currency.

'The discovery and expertise of the police in identifying that this money was used to buy a car and, quickly realizing that this car was transferred to Eduardo's name, helped a lot in arresting them and recovering the money,' said police officer Gabriel Monteiro, who oversees the Specialized Criminal Investigations Department and of the Specialized Bank Robbery Unit.

Paloma Tolentino (left) and her husband and bank manager, Eduardo Oliveira (right), are facing three charges: receiving stolen goods, continued theft and attempted foreign exchange evasion

Authorities recovered 70,700 euros, $41,490 and $131,596 in Brazilian currency

Authorities were able to return all of the money to the bank and the vehicle to the car dealership.

They also recovered about $3,400 from Oliveira's former wife, who said that the money was part of a divorce settlement.

'At the police station, he reserved the right to remain silent, but with all this evidence there is no doubt that he wanted to flee with the money,' Monteiro said.

'This caused some surprise, as he was an individual who held a high-ranking position at the bank, with a good salary.'
A Wisconsin husband who faked his own death and ran away with his mistress is speaking to the cops 'on a near daily basis', but still refusing to disclose his location.

Ryan Borgwardt, 45, purposely flipped his kayak on Green Lake on August 11, dumping his phone and belongings in the water before paddling to safety on an inflatable boat and e-biking more than 50 miles to Madison overnight, the Green Lake County Sheriff's Office said on Thursday.

His disappearance devastated his wife and three children and sparked a massive manhunt, for which law enforcement want to send him a $40,000 bill.

However, officers said they are focused on trying to get Borgwardt to turn himself in for his family's sake.

'We are speaking to him on a near daily basis, encouraging him to come home and clean up the mess he has created,' Chief Deputy Matthew Vande Kolk told DailyMail.com.

'We're not pursuing a boots on the ground approach or anything like that at this moment, we still believe he will do the right thing and we have been in constant contact.'

Police learned in October that Borgwardt had crossed the border into Canada a few days after his disappearance and had been communicating with a Uzbek woman who spoke Russian.

Vande Kolk confirmed the two 'connected online', but said he could not elaborate further at this stage.

Ryan Borgwardt, 45, who faked his own death and ran away with his mistress is speaking to the cops 'on a near daily basis', but still refusing to disclose his location

Authorities learned in October that Borgwardt had crossed the border into Canada a few days after his disappearance and had been communicating with a Uzbek woman who spoke Russian, leaving behind his wife (pictured) and kids

Through her, the Sheriff's Office was able to get in contact with the father-of-three and asked him to answer questions only he would know and to film a video of himself, which he did.

In the video, Borgwardt - who has not contacted his family since his disappearance - showed off his apartment, telling officers: 'I am safe, secure, no problems.'

But the same cannot be said for his heartbroken family, who are also being supported by the Sheriff's Office.

'They are doing okay, that's probably the best thing you could say,' Vande Kolk explained.

'I can't compare their situation to anything I have ever experienced in law enforcement before, I don't have any reference.'

Authorities do not know exactly where the married man is, but they suspect he is in Eastern Europe.

Vande Kolk said he has no idea when Borgwardt plans to come back, but has been encouraged by the communication that has been established.

'We are making constant progress and the fact that he has stayed in contact is encouraging.'

The Green Lake County Sheriff's Office is now seeking $35,000 to $40,000 in restitution for the money used in the search and Borgwardt could face obstruction charges

The Green Lake County Sheriff's Office is now seeking $35,000 to $40,000 in restitution for the money used in the search. Authorities used divers, drones, sonar and cadaver K-9s, and more to look for the missing father, according to ABC News.

Borgwardt could also face obstruction charges, the sheriff said.

Podoll is hoping the father will make the decision to return home.

'He needs to come home to his kids,' he said at the press conference, saying officers are trying to 'pull at his heartstrings.'

Authorities spent 54 days looking for the Wisconsin man before announcing on November 8 that they didn't believe he had drowned in the lake, but rather had faked his own death.

Investigators revealed that Borgwardt had been talking to a woman in Uzbekistan before he obtained a new passport and a $375,000 life insurance policy in January.

Borgwardt is believed to have used the new passport in Canada a day after he was reported missing.

The scheme was elaborately planned. Borgwardt left his original passport at home when he vanished, and police said he tried to cover his tracks by removing his laptop's hard drive and wiping his search history clean.

Podoll is hoping the father of three will make the decision to return home. 'He needs to come home to his kids,' he said at the press conference, saying officers are trying to 'pull at his heartstrings'

Before his disappearance, he changed all the email addresses linked to his bank accounts and moved money to a foreign bank account.

Borgwardt's devastated wife, Emily, and their three children, have been grieving their loss, believing for months he was likely dead.

She is now being urged to join support groups for women with 'runaway husbands' as her friends and community rally around her.

She and Borgwardt celebrated their 22nd wedding anniversary in July 2024.
'I did not have sexual relations with that woman.'

Bill Clinton was once so categorical  and so categorically wrong  about White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

Today, 26 years later, he is just as forthright about another relationship now casting a shadow over his later years.

In his new memoir, 'Citizen: My Life After The White House', the former US President tackles his controversial connection with pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein  a connection that some felt was so toxic that it might derail Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential bid.

In the event, Bill's friendship with Epstein was effectively cancelled out because Donald Trump, Hillary's election opponent, had also been a friend and Palm Beach neighbor of the sex predator.

Clinton now says he wishes he'd never met Epstein  who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting sex trafficking charges  which is hardly surprising in the circumstances.

In significantly underplaying their relationship, however, Clinton might leave sceptics wondering if there isn't more he could have said.

When the privacy-loving Epstein started attracting media curiosity more than 20 years ago, he was sometimes referred to as 'Clinton's pal'.

Clinton (pictured with Epstein) now says he wishes he'd never met Epstein - who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting sex trafficking charges - which is hardly surprising in the circumstances.

In significantly underplaying their relationship, however, Clinton might leave sceptics wondering if there isn't more he could have said. (Pictured: Clinton poses with Epstein's madam Ghislaine Maxwell on the billionaire's private jet, dubbed the 'Lolita Express', in 2002).

Yet the former president now suggests he wasn't friends with Epstein at all but merely connected through their shared interest in philanthropy.

He writes: 'In 2002 and 2003, he invited me to fly on his airplane to support the work of the [Clinton] Foundation, and in return for flying me, my staff, and my Secret Service detail who always accompanied me, Epstein asked only that I take an hour or two on each trip to discuss politics and economics.'

Clinton's spokesman has previously said the former president made four trips on 'Air Epstein' in those years, twice to Africa and once each to Asia and Europe.

Clinton goes on: '[Epstein] had just donated $10 million to Harvard for brain research and he asked a lot of questions. That was the extent of our conversations.'

Clinton insists that his 'only other interactions' with Epstein were 'two brief meetings, one at my office in Harlem [in 2002] and another at his house in New York.'

Yet there are photographs of the two men together dating back to 1993, smiling warmly to each other when they met during a VIP tour of the White House. Perhaps Clinton's memory is failing him.

For that was one of many visits Epstein reportedly made to the Clinton White House.

While Clinton disputes the accuracy of the White House logs, there are also flight records logged with the Federal Aviation Administration indicating he flew on Epstein's private jet at least 26 times.

Clinton continues: 'I had always thought Epstein was odd but had no inkling of the crimes he was committing. He hurt a lot of people, but I knew nothing about it, and by the time he was first arrested in 2005, I had stopped contact with him.'

The former president goes to some lengths in his memoir to disprove one particular Epstein-related accusation against him: that he visited the multi-millionaire's notorious private island in the US Virgin Islands.

Little St James was dubbed 'Orgy Island' as Epstein allegedly hosted underage sex parties there.

In 2019, it was revealed that Virginia Giuffre, the most famous of Epstein's alleged sex trafficking victims, had told her lawyers years earlier that she knew Clinton definitely stayed at least once on the island because she and two 'lovely girls' from New York flew down there with him some time after his presidency.

Giuffre, who alleges she was a teenage 'sex slave' for Epstein and his friends, says they all joined Epstein and his partner-in-crime, Ghislaine Maxwell, for dinner.

Clinton, she said, was teasing the other women with 'playful pokes' and 'brassy comments' before leaving with them at the end of the night.

There are flight records logged with the Federal Aviation Administration indicating he flew on Epstein's private jet at least 26 times. (Pictured: Clinton on 'Lolita Express').

In an unpublished memoir, she wrote: 'Strolling into the darkness with two beautiful girls around either arm, Bill seemed content to retire for the evening.'

Giuffre, who never accused Clinton of any wrongdoing but who claimed orgies were 'a constant thing' on the island, said that when she asked Epstein what the ex-president was doing there, the financier laughed and answered mysteriously: 'He owes me a favor.'

Giuffre added: 'He never told me what favors they were. I never knew. I didn't know if he was serious.'

She hasn't always been totally accurate in her recollections, but Giuffre isn't the only one who has claimed Clinton visited the island.

In 2020, Steve Scully, an IT engineer who worked for Epstein on the island, told a Netflix documentary he'd once seen Clinton there with Epstein. Mr Scully claimed there had been nobody else with the pair, who were allegedly sitting on the porch of Epsteins villa. A Clinton spokesman denied the claim.

In the same, Doug Band, a former key aide, confidant and bagman who worked closely with Clinton for 20 years, made further allegation to Vanity Fair.

Band  who once had a stormy relationship with First Daughter Chelsea Clinton and later fell out with her father  claimed he'd advised his boss to have nothing to do with Epstein.

That was after the two men had joined Kevin Spacey on a well-publicized philanthropy trip to Africa in 2002, aboard Epstein's private Boeing 727, notoriously known as the 'Lolita Express'.

Band later said he knew nothing about the sex allegations against Epstein at the time but still got 'bad vibes' from him. As reported by Vanity Fair, however, 'Clinton continued to socialize with Epstein and take his money', including a 2006 donation of $25,000 to the Clinton Foundation.

According to Band, Clinton did visit Epstein's private Caribbean island in January 2003  one of the few of his trips which Band declined to join.

A Clinton spokesman told Vanity Fair that the president never went to the island and provided details of his movements at the time specified by Band that did not include such a visit.

The former president has now personally addressed Band's allegation, writing in his memoir about an unnamed staffer who 'fed the story' to Vanity Fair: 'He knew it wasn't true when he said it.'

Yet there have been myriad other indications over the years that, while there was never any suggestion of illegality on Clinton's part, his relationship with Epstein was rather closer than the dry, business-like and very limited association he now outlines in his book.

As long ago as 1993, Epstein and Maxwell were pictured greeting Clinton inside the White House at an event for donors to the White House Historical Association after Epstein stumped up $10,000.

That was one of at least 17 occasions on which Epstein reportedly visited the White House during Clinton's first term as president.

In 2020, photos emerged showing Clinton getting a neck massage from another of Epstein's accusers, Chauntae Davies, then 22, during a Lolita Express refueling stop on the 2002 Africa jaunt.

As long ago as 1993, Epstein and Maxwell were pictured greeting Clinton inside the White House at an event for donors to the White House Historical Association after Epstein stumped up $10,000.

That was one of at least 17 occasions on which Epstein reportedly visited the White House during Clinton's first term as president.

In 2020, photos emerged showing Clinton getting a neck massage from another of Epstein's accusers, Chauntae Davies, then 22, during a Lolita Express refueling stop on the 2002 Africa jaunt.

In his New York house, Epstein kept a somewhat disturbing portrait of Clinton dressed in Monica Lewinsky's famous blue dress and heels, and reclining in the Oval Office. (Pictured: Clinton with Epstein accuser Chauntae Davies).

'The bottom line is, even though it allowed me to visit the work of my foundation, traveling on Epstein's plane was not worth the years of questioning afterward,' Clinton now writes. 'I wish I had never met him.' He might have similar feelings about Monica Lewinsky (pictured with Clinton in the Oval Office in 1997).

Then in January of this year, hundreds of pages of court documents relating to Epstein were released.

They included the testimony of Epstein accuser Johanna Sjoberg, who told lawyers in 2016 that Epstein once told her, 'Clinton likes them young, referring to girls'.

Various people have said that Epstein used to play up his connections to powerful people such as Clinton in order to impress others. He'd sometimes have phone calls with them while women with whom he was in a relationship listened in.

In 2003, New York Magazine reported that Epstein once threw a party at his mansion in Clinton's honor.

Clinton didn't attend but guests included Donald Trump, magician David Blaine and Clinton aide Doug Band.

In the same New York house, Epstein kept a somewhat disturbing portrait of Clinton dressed in Monica Lewinsky's famous blue dress and heels, and reclining in the Oval Office. Epstein also had a signed photo of Clinton.

Odd behavior for two men who  according to one of them  hardly knew each other.

'The bottom line is, even though it allowed me to visit the work of my foundation, traveling on Epstein's plane was not worth the years of questioning afterward,' Clinton now writes. 'I wish I had never met him.'

He might have similar feelings about Monica Lewinsky, with whom he had an affair when he was a 49-year-old leader of the Free World and she a 22-year-old intern. Although nowadays he's too diplomatic to say so.

That wasn't always the case.

Clinton severely damaged his reputation in 2018 when he gave a disastrous interview to NBC's Today show in which  only months after the shaming of Harvey Weinstein and birth of the #MeToo movement  he denied that he owed Lewinsky an apology as he'd already publicly said sorry.

Still smarting from that, he brings it up in the new memoir, complaining that the NBC interviewer had been badly briefed, in what, surprisingly, is the only reference to Lewinsky in the book.

Others will say that it was Clinton who was badly briefed  in not appreciating the crucial distinction between a public mea culpa and a private one.

At least he doesn't need to apologize about Jeffrey Epstein  because, of course, he barely knew the man.
Tristan Millstone steps in water after kayaking across a flooded section of Neely Road in Guerneville to buy groceries Saturday, a day after heavy rain pounded Sonoma County. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle A structure is partially submerged near Mays Canyon in Guerneville on Saturday in the wake of Fridays atmospheric river. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Guerneville residents watch Ben Cote row a boat across flooded Neely Road on Saturday during a break in the heavy rain. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Floodwater engulfs Pee Wee Golf & Arcade in Guerneville on Saturday, a day after Fridays atmospheric river. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle A car is submerged in floodwater at Mirabel RV Park & Campground on Saturday after Fridays torrential rain in the Sonoma County community of Forestville. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

Bay Area residents are getting a welcome break Saturday from the wild weather that caused a flash flood warning in San Francisco  complete with a spewing geyser on the Embarcadero  record rainfall in Santa Rosa and a landslide on Berkeleys Grizzly Peak.

We definitely will be seeing a break, at least a downtrend, said Dakari Anderson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service for the area covering Solano County and Sacramento.

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Skiers should also be happy, with Northstar seeing 10 inches of fresh snow and about a foot at the base and summit of Sugar Bowl.

Its a good amount. It helps to fill in where the machine-made snow cant be laid down, said Mark Deutschendorf, a meteorologist in Reno with the weather service.

Sitting on a canoe, John Phillips works to shut down power at a flooded building Saturday at Mirabel RV Park & Campground in Forestville. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

The Palisades Tahoe ski resort announced it was opening Saturday, though with some wind restrictions. Wind sensors clocked gusts at 146 mph at the ridgetop level at Sierra Crest and Alpine Meadows in the area, Deutschendorf said.

Forecasters advised checking individual resorts to make sure theyre open.

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In the Bay Area, the weekend wont start out completely dry, but the scattered showers expected Saturday should feel like a chance for people to sweep up and take a breath, weather watchers say.

But exceptions exist, including a 15-foot sinkhole blocking three lanes of traffic on southbound Highway 101 near the Cesar Chavez off-ramp in San Francisco, reported to the California Highway Patrol just before 7 a.m., and an early morning flood on Eighth Street between Harrison and Bryant streets in the city.

The weather service issued a flood advisory for northwestern Alameda and central Contra Costa counties until 1:45 p.m., with water expected to flow into some roadways. Drivers are advised to turn around instead of plowing through the water because most flood deaths occur in vehicles.

Also, the northbound lane of Grizzly Peak Boulevard in Berkeley remains closed a mile south of Centennial Drive because of a landslide that shut down the roadway around 4 p.m. Friday.

The North Bay had the greatest chance of rain Saturday  not surprisingly, after an atmospheric river hovered over Santa Rosa, dropping more rain over a three-day period than had been recorded since 1902, when records first were kept, said meteorologist Dylan Flynn, in the National Weather Services Monterey office. The last three-day rain record for the area was 9.72 inches in October 2021. That fell when the storm dropped 12.47 inches from Wednesday through Friday.

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Kevin Ozorkiewicz, left, and neighbor John Phillips row a canoe Saturday at the flooded Mirabel RV Park & Campground in Forestville. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

The Russian River, notorious for heavy flooding, reached moderate levels of nearly 35 feet early Saturday before receding to under 17 feet later in the morning.

San Francisco and Alameda County have a 5% to 10% chance of rain Saturday, with wet weather expected to build up again Sunday, said meteorologist Brayden Murdock.

Monday is expected to be the biggest rain day to come, with the water tapering off again for a dry Thanksgiving, Murdock said.

But Saturday should provide a break.

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Itll be much, much better today. Theres still rain in the forecast, but nothing like yesterday, Flynn said, noting that Fridays rainfall in downtown San Francisco more than doubled a 159-year-old record for Nov. 22 that has held since 1865. Thats when 1.12 inches fell on the Mint Building at Fifth and Mission streets.

A rainbow provides a backdrop Saturday to a flooded vineyard in Forestville. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

On Friday, 2.97 inches fell at the Mint, while a geyser opened up down at the Embarcadero at Beale Street, sending water several feet into the air as stunned observers pulled out their cameras and posted the odd phenomenon on social media.

The day was so wet that the weather service issued a rare flash flood warning in San Francisco, causing peoples phones to buzz in the afternoon.

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A realtor has issued a warning to parents about the dangers of bringing kids to house showings after witnessing a horrifying ordeal.

Karina VanOrman shared a story of how a family who were viewing a home in Utah wound up with their six-year-old daughter in hospital.

The family had brought their three children to the viewing where they soon became bored and restless.

'The kids would be running through the home,' said VanOrman, who at one point attempted to 'corral' the children.

Playful fun soon turned disastrous, and the little girl sped through the home toward the backyard.

'I could see that she did not notice the sliding door was closed,' she said, and added that she had made a futile attempt to call out to the girl. 'Before she could stop herself, she ran straight through that glass door.'

The girl smashed the glass door and caused a huge shard of glass to pierce her stomach.

'She looked down in total panic, and she grabbed it with both hands and pulled it out and cut her hands,' VanOrman recalled.

Karina VanOrman shared the harrowing story of how a family who were viewing a home in Utah wound up with their six-year-old daughter in hospital

The little girl survived the incident, but VanOrman's perspective was forever changed, and she now tells her clients to avoid bringing their children along

The little girl was rushed to hospital, also with several injuries to her head, while VanOrman attempted to console the frantic mother and other children.

'I just needed to be strong in that situation,' she said. 'And I needed to be the one not in shock.'

The little girl survived the incident, but VanOrman's perspective was forever changed, and she now tells her clients to avoid bringing their children along.

'I don't actually recommend the kids come because of this situation,' she said in her video.

Viewers in the comments agreed with the realtor, and many made a point of the lack of parenting that is often the case in situations such as these.

'Some parents don't realize that you have to be parent at all times, no matter where you are or what you're doing,' wrote one.

'If you have to bring your kids. One parent should watch them while the other looks then switch out,' said another.

'We took four kids around to look at houses and they knew to stand "still" and keep their voices down. Why can't parents teach their kids these things anymore?'

'If you HAVE to bring your kids. One parent should watch them while the other looks then switch out,' wrote one comment

While many believed it shouldn't be the realtor's responsibility to look after a client's children.

'The audacity of any parent to assume you'd watch their kids,' wrote one.

'I'm soooo sick of parents expecting strangers to parent their kids,' said another.

VanOrman, however, revealed how she tries to prevent children from becoming restless while they tag along with their parents on their house viewings.

She wrote back to one commenter who queried the children becoming bored and said: 'Parents will often bring their kids on an all-day outing of looking at homes.

'After the third home they get restless and by the 6th they are often melting down. We take breaks and I bring snacks.'
Three children who mysteriously disappeared over two years ago have been found alive in a tiny, unassuming desert town just south of the Arizona-Utah border.

The children strangely vanished two years ago in October 2022 from their home in Beaver County, Utah, prompting a years-long search that has finally met its end.

A tip received by local police in late August alerted the officials to the possible whereabouts of the children.

At the time, police believed that the children's father may have 'orchestrated the disappearance and subsequent hiding' of his three kids.

The missing children have now been later discovered in Fredonia, Arizona, a small desert town less than five miles from the Arizona-Utah border, in the custody of their grandmother.

Upon further investigation it was revealed by the Fredonia Police Department that the children had been intentionally concealed from the rest of the world as family members helped hide their location.

The unnamed children's grandmother and aunt have both been arrested in connection to the 2022 disappearance. Meanwhile, their father remains at large.

Three Utah children who have been missing since 2022 have been found alive and have reportedly been returned to their mother

The missing children were later discovered in Fredonia, Arizona, a small desert town less than five miles from the Arizona-Utah border, while in the custody of their grandmother

The children were said to be living with the Fundamentalist Latter-day Saint church, a religious movement that has oft been compared to a cult for its involvement in various illegal activities, including child marriages, child abandonment, sexual assault and human trafficking.

A press release issued by the department stated that in a joint effort, both the Arizona and Utah law enforcement agencies were able to liberate the children on September 1.

The children have since been returned to their mother.

'The Fredonia Police Department would like to thank all involved for their assistance,' the release stated. 'As of today, the children are safe with their mother as this investigation continues.'

The quaint northern Arizona town, known as the gateway to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, boasts a population of just 1,203, according to the United States Census Bureau.

A former member of the Fundamentalist Latter-day Saint church previously opened up about what life is like inside a commune linked to the Latter Day Saints.

In December, a married couple, Sam and Melissa, of Hilldale, Utah, opened up to popular YouTube creator Peter Santanello to discuss their experience growing up within the religion.

The pair told Santanello that they were raised under the reign of Warren Jeffs' polygamous Mormon cult, where girls could be married off as young as 14 and 'men were living in fear.'

Sam laid bare the truth about the pervasive control within the church and dished on the intimidation tactics used to spread fear throughout the members.

Popular YouTube creator Peter Santanello met with former members of the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints Church (FLDS) in Hildale, Utah. Pictured: Married couple Sam and Melissa talk to the popular YouTuber

Sam laid bare the truth about the pervasive control within the church and dished on the intimidation tactics used to spread fear throughout the members

He began by explaining that he was raised by his three moms in a trailer, which was home to dozens of kids at once - all of whom were his siblings.

He said: 'My mom was the second wife. That's a whole interesting story about how the wives got along and all of that - but my mom was the second and I am about the middle child of hers she had 12 kids.

'I have 36 siblings altogether.'

He explained that birth control was 'completely against the rules' and that 'the sexual stuff was so taboo.'

'Marriages were all arranged and completely dependent on what Warren Jeffs decided at the moment - if someone deserved another wife, if they were righteous enough, it was up to him,' Sam explained.

The former member said that this often meant people were 'forced' to get married - including girls as young as 14 to older men.

Melissa explained: 'Most of the men in the community they're assigned their wives and if the prophet says here's your new wife she's 14 are you going to look him in the eye and say "well I don't want a 14-year-old"?

'He's going to look at you and say so your questioning what God wants for you. God told me that this 14-year-old is meant to be your fourth wife are you telling me you don't trust God?

'And that's what these men are dealing with and so who's going to question that authority in that sense.'

She continued: 'The women can have situations where they are oppressed or in circumstances that there's abuse or these other things that can happen - but the men also can be victims as well and I think we overlook that a lot.

In 2011, Jeffs, who is estimated to have had 85 wives, was sent away for life after he was convicted of two felony counts of child sexual assault for having sex with girls aged 12 and 14

Jeffs, who is estimated to have had 85 wives (pictured),kept FLDS members living in fear

'We don't think about the pressure that this man has to live perfectly and if his family's not perfect, and if his wives aren't perfect, and if his children aren't perfect, if anything in his life and household isn't perfect he can lose everything.'

Sam confirmed: 'It became common for Warren Jeffs to just kick people out of the community - claim that they did something evil, say they're not worthy to be here anymore.

'He would force them out and that would open up all of this room for women to be passed around to other men.'

He continued: 'Men were living in fear all the time that if I don't obey perfectly this will happen to me and I'm gone.

'He made an example of a lot of people to put fear into the other members of the church.'

Warren Jeffs has has since been imprisoned for life on two felony counts of child sexual assault.
NATO members including Britain are to hold crisis talks after Vladimir Putin pledged to fire more nuclear-capable missiles into Ukraine.

Meanwhile Russias top missile commander warned its latest unstoppable weapon can strike targets throughout Europe.

Next weeks emergency meeting will discuss the terrifying threat posed by the hypersonic rockets and fears that Ukraines front line is on the brink of collapse.

Speaking last night, President Putin described Thursdays ballistic strike as successful and said he would launch more in combat conditions.

In a televised address, Putin boasted there was no countermeasure to the Oreshnik missile due to its speed. It took just 15 minutes to travel from a launch site in northern Russia to its target in central Ukraine, at Mach 11, or more than 8,500mph.

The medium-range, or intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), struck an arms factory in Dnipro, causing damage.

Putin said: I will add, there is no means of intercepting it, in the world today. And I will emphasise once again that we will continue testing this newest system.

If Russia can mass produce the weapon, as Putin said it would do, it could force Ukraine to surrender  or draw NATO states deeper into the conflict.

In a televised address, Putin (pictured) boasted there was no countermeasure to Russia's Oreshnik missile due to its speed

It took just 15 minutes for the missile to travel from a launch site in northern Russia to its target in central Ukraine, at Mach 11, or more than 8,500mph (File image)

Commander of the Russian Strategic Missiles Forces, Sergei Karakayev, said: The Oreshnik missile system has characteristics that allow it to hit targets throughout Europe.

This hypersonic missile system can hit any target, from individual targets to area targets, as well as highly protected targets, with great effectiveness.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country is working on air defence systems to counter the new risks.

UK missile expert Justin Crump said the Oreshnik was likely to be experimental at this stage and had been fired as a demonstration of Russias capabilities.

Also yesterday, Ukraines UK envoy, Valery Zaluzhny, said a Third World War had begun, given Russias use of North Korean troops, Iranian drones and Chinese computer components.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer denied a Kremlin claim that the UK was already at war with Russia due to its involvement in Ukraines use of Storm Shadows.

The British-supplied cruise missiles were fired into mainland Russia for the first time earlier this week. The rockets require direct UK and US involvement in mission planning.

Sir Keir said: No, were not at war, but Ukraine certainly is, because Ukraine has been invaded by Russia and that war has been going on for just over 1,000 days.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country is working on air defence systems to counter the new risks

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer denied a Kremlin claim that the UK was already at war with Russia due to its involvement in Ukraines use of Storm Shadows

An image highlighting the moment a Russian hypersonic missile struck in Dnipro, Ukraine on Thursday

Ukrainian firefighters deal with the aftermath of Russia's hypersonic missile strike in Dnipro

Thats 1,000 days of aggression from Russia and 1,000 days of sacrifice for Ukraine. That is why weve said consistently we stand by Ukraine. We cannot allow Putin to win this war. Concerns were intensifying last night that the Kremlins position in the conflict could soon become unassailable. This year it has seized six times as much territory in Ukraine as it did in 2023.

Consequently, Russia occupies more than 110,000 square kilometres of Ukraine while Ukraine only occupies 1,100 square kilometres of Russian territory.

However, this relatively small area of Kursk province could be a valuable bargaining chip.

Without it, Ukraine would have no leverage to persuade the Kremlin to withdraw from its sovereign territory  parts of which have been under Russian occupation since the invasion in 2022.

Dr Marina Miron, a defence researcher at Kings College London, suggested the Kremlins land grab had been caused by Ukraine diverting troops to southern Russia.

She said: The Kursk incursion was a moment of tactical brilliance but it has been a strategic catastrophe for Ukraine.
The Budget is a 'deep and painful wound' for pub trade, an industry boss has warned amid sinking confidence in the Government.

Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, warned venues will shut, jobs will be lost and the price of a pint will go up in a 650m hit to the sector.

Brewers and pub companies have been left 'reeling' after being let down by Rachel Reeves last month, she said.

Labour had been elected on a 'crystal clear' pro-growth agenda but had ultimately 'slapped on business one of the biggest bills they have ever seen,' McClarkin added.

'It is very difficult to put the two positions together. There has been some faith lost,' she said.

McClarkin said: 'The Budget is a deep and painful wound that is going to take the industry a long time to recover from.'

A raft of higher costs including the National Insurance contributions paid by employers (NICs), the National Minimum Wage and a new workers' rights package, will heap extra pressure onto firms.

Her group represents major brewers including Greene King, Molson Coors and Heineken UK, as well as 20,000 pubs across the country.

Emma McClarkin (pictured), chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, warned venues will shut, jobs will be lost and the price of a pint will go up in a 650m hit to the sector

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves displays the red budget briefcase to the media in Downing Street, London

In a major blow for the industry, the Government has left firms facing a sharp rise in business rates in April, with the average pub facing a 6,000 annual hike (File photo)

There is still time for Labour to 'repair' its strained relationship with publicans but ministers must 'listen to business' on demands to maintain critical support including business rates relief, she said.

In a major blow for the industry, the Government has left firms facing a sharp rise in business rates in April, with the average pub facing a 6,000 annual hike.

This is despite a manifesto pledge to 'replace the business rates system' to 'level the playing field between the High Street and online giants'.

But Labour simply said it would launch a consultation, with an overhaul expected only in 2026. And sector pleas to maintain an existing 75pc relief on this levy were ignored, with Reeves reducing it to a 40pc rate.

At her first Budget, Reeves declared the price of a pint of beer would fall as she reduced beer duty by the equivalent of a penny per drink.

But publicans say the cut will be more than swallowed by rising costs elsewhere.

The barrage of increases will leave them with no other choice but to pass costs on to punters.

Pubs have an integral role both supporting jobs and bringing people together socially, McClarkin said.

But she warned their vital community role is under threat due to the increasingly hard to stomach costs.
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The man shot dead in the carpark of a busy petrol station by a balaclava-clad gunman has been identified as Nidal Acherkouk.

The shooter remains on the run after police were called to Baptist Street in Surry Hills after locals reported hearing gunshots just before 8pm on Friday.

Police found Acherkouk, aged in his 30s, near the carpark of a BP petrol station on the corner of Crown and Cleveland Street.

NSW Police said on Saturday that Acherkouk had links to underworld organisations in Sydney and was known to police at the time of his death.

South Sydney Police Area Command Superintendent Andrew Garner said the attack was 'targeted' during a press conference on Saturday.

'We believe it was targeted, and that he was the intended target of that attack, and theres no broader risk or threat to the public in relation to this,' he said.

Supt Garner said Acherkouk had suffered a gunshot wound to his upper body but couldn't confirm how many shots had been fired.

'He was alone in his vehicle in the service station,' he said.

Images from the scene showed blood stains (pictured) on the road near the petrol station

The shooter remains on the run after police were called to Baptist Street in Surry Hills after locals reported hearing gunshots just before 8pm on Friday (pictured is the scene on Friday)

'After that he got out of the vehicle and went on foot down Cleveland Street where he has succumbed to his injuries.'

Supt Garner said the incident was 'outrageous' and demonstrated a lack of regard for public safety in a busy and crowded part of the city.

'We'll be working very hard to identify and arrest those involved and hold them to account,' Supt Garner said.

Images from the scene showed blood stains on the road near the service station.

Earlier, a blood-soaked white sheet was seen covering Acherkouk's body as paramedics desperately worked to revive him.

A Porsche, believed to be the getaway car, was found on fire on Kensington Road in Kensington, about an hour after the shooting.

Supt Garner said police are investigating the movements of the burnt-out vehicle.

NSW Police said in a statement on Friday night that the shooting and the burnt out car are believed to be linked.

Earlier, blood-soaked white sheet was seen covering the man's body as paramedics desperately worked to revive him (pictured)

Swarms of emergency responders, including police and at least five emergency vehicles were at the scene.

Officers secured the intersection of Cleveland and Bourke Streets before a police operation commenced.

Several people, who were inside one store, were forced to duck for cover at the sound of gunshots.

One local who was dining nearby told Daily Mail Australia she heard three gunshots go off in the direction of the BP.

Witnesses reported seeing the gunman jump from a car before the shooting, while another witness said they saw a 'bloodied' man after the incident.

Another man told the Daily Telegraph he heard 'bang after bang' and said 'everyone just panicked' as chaos ensued.

'People running and screaming everywhere. It was surreal. Terrifying,' he said.

Some businesses were forced to shut their doors for the night with local grocery store Harris Farm reportedly urging shoppers to leave.

Investigations into the incident are ongoing with anyone with information about the incident has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
In a touching move, Kate Middleton has invited the children who survived the Southport stabbings to her Christmas carol concert after meeting them last month.

The Princess of Wales, 42, met them in private previously and they will reunite on December 6 at her first Together at Christmas celebration since finishing her chemotherapy.

She visited the grieving town in October and offered words of comfort to the families of little Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine.

In a deeply personal statement released in the wake of the attack, the Princess wrote: 'As parents, we cannot begin to imagine what the families, friends and loved ones of those killed and injured in Southport today are going through.'

Their meeting with the victims' families was held completely in private and not announced publicly until they had left.

The prince and princess spent half an hour in private with each of the girls' families.

They also spent time with dance teacher Leanne Lucas, 35, who was seriously injured as she shielded youngsters as they were attacked by a knifeman during a Taylor Swift-themed summer holiday class.

The couple then went onto meet with emergency responders who were involved in the aftermath of the attack at a local community centre to hear about their experiences.

In August, King Charles also paid tributes to the victims of the Southport stabbing during an emotional visit to the town. and met with survivors of the rampage.

The Princess of Wales arriving for the 'Together at Christmas' Carol Service at Westminster Abbey in London, in 2022

Left to right: Southport victims Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice da Silva Aguia

Prince William and the Princess of Wales arrive for a visit to Southport Community Centre in Southport, north west England on October 10

According to The Sun, the young survivors of the horrendous attack will stay in London for three days, with their transport and accommodation paid for by charity Southport Stronger Together.

Around 1,600 invites have been sent out to the Princess of Wales' event, who wants to celebrate those who have 'above all else shown that love is the greatest gift we can receive'.

The King, Queen Camilla and William are all expected at the concert, with a later decision being made on whether George, Charlotte and Louis will attend.

A source told the newspaper: 'The Royal family have been a tremendous support to the families.

'The King met the survivors, then Kate took time out to meet them in private last month with Prince William.'

Axel Rudakubana, of Banks in Lancashire, 18, is accused of killing the three children in the savage knife attack is charged with the attempted murder of eight other children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, instructor Leanne Lucas and businessman John Hayes. He is also charged with possession of a knife.

Axel Rudakubana (pictured), of Banks in Lancashire, is charged with the murders of Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, six-year-old Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven

A courtroom sketch shows Axel Rudakubana appearing via video link at the Westminster Magistrates' Court on October 30, 2024

Members of the community blow bubbles as people gathered to mourn victims of the Southport knife attack by holding a vigil on August 5

Alice, Bebe and Elise died following the stabbings at The Hart Space in Southport, Merseyside, shortly before midday on July 29.

The killings sparked large scale riots, fuelled by misinformation on social media, in towns and cities across the UK in August.

Rioting broke out in Southport with the local mosque targeted and a popular convenience shop attacked.

The disorder included looting with hotels housing asylum seekers also attacked before counter demonstrations appeared to quell the disturbances.

The violence, denounced as 'far-right thuggery' by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, was sparked by false claims about the identity of a teenage suspect later charged with three counts of murder.

Rudakubana was born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents and moved to the Southport area in 2013. He was living in Banks, Lancashire, at the time of the attack.

Kate's visit to speak with the survivors was the first public engagement for the princess since she announced that she had complete treatment for cancer and would undertake a carefully calibrated return to public duties.

Members of the public gathered to hold a vigil at the scene on July 29

The trip to Southport was the first public engagement since the Princess of Wales announced she had completed her chemotherapy treatment

In an emotional post following their visit, the couple pledged that they 'continue to stand with everyone in Southport'

Apart from a small media contingency, the visit was kept deliberately low key as both the prince and princess wanted it to remain as discreet as possible out of respect to those involved.

While speaking to the emergency personnel, Kate was asked how the families of the three girls killed in the attack were doing.

She said: 'They're OK. They're managing it differently. All the families are so different. Individually too they are managing it and processing this tragic event in very different ways but they're getting support from families and officers and things like that.

'I think being able to have opportunities to be able to speak to different people in the community about the experience and drawing that together and sharing their experience I think is massively helpful.'

Referencing the earlier meeting with the families of those who died in the attack, the Princess of Wales said: 'I can't underestimate how grateful they all are for the support you provided on the day.

The royal pair also spent time with dance teacher Leanne Lucas, 35, who was seriously injured as she shielded youngsters (Prince William and Princess Kate are pictured in Southport)

The Prince and Princess of Wales meet a critical care paramedic from the Air Ambulance during a visit to Southport Community Centre

'On behalf of them, thank you.'

The Prince of Wales told the personnel: 'You're all heroes. Please make sure you look after yourselves, please take your time, don't rush back to work.'

The couple shook hands with the emergency workers after the conversation.

Kate rested a hand on William's back as she joined him to speak to a member of air ambulance crew.

William called the emergency workers 'true professionals' and said they had a 'bumpy few months' ahead but would get through it together.

He said: 'The first thing we thought about was actually how on earth you guys are going to handle having seen what you've seen. So, please take your time, don't rush back to work, do whatever you need to, talk about it, give your superiors a hard time if they not letting you have that time to decompress because it's so important you have those moments.'

In August, King Charles paid tributes to the victims of the Southport stabbing during an emotional visit to the town.

The monarch was greeted with cheers and applause as he viewed a floral display honouring the youngsters killed in the horror knife attack.

Later the royal couple had a sit down meeting with other members of the emergency services

The King visited Southport in August, a month after the horrific stabbings took place

The monarch appeared moved by the huge number of floral tributes left in Southport

At the time, King Charles said he and Queen Camilla were 'profoundly shocked' by the attack

He also met with survivors of the rampage.

Reacting to the tragedy at the time, King Charles said: 'My wife and I have been profoundly shocked to hear of the utterly horrific incident in Southport today.

'We send out most heartfelt condolences, prayers and deepest sympathies to the families and loved ones of those who have so tragically lost their lives, and to all those affected by this truly appalling attack.'

During the his trip to Southport town hall, Charles was greeted by Dr Ruth Hussey, the vice lord lieutenant of Merseyside, and counsellor June Burns, the mayor of Sefton.

He then viewed a large makeshift memorial dedicated to the victims, gesturing in appreciation at the scale of it. One member of the public gave him three cheers and another shouted 'thank you for coming' as he greeted the crowds.

The King affectionately patted one young girl on the shoulder as he shook hands with many of the hundreds gathered to see him.
Potential terror threats have raised alarms for officials as the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City draws closer.

A joint threat assessment obtained by ABC News highlighted how the parade may attract both foreign and domestic terroristic violence according to multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and the New York Police Department.

Among the most significant threats stem from 'lone offenders and small groups of individuals seeking to commit acts of violence', but the document noted there is not a 'specific, actionable threat'.

Concern was expressed for vehicle ramming, which has become a 'recurring tactic' used by terrorists or terrorist groups looking to target crowded areas.

This year marks the 98th year of the annual parade which is set to begin at 8.30am on the Upper West Side of Manhattan at West 77th Street & Central Park West.

'Though the 2024 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade event will provide a broad set of potential soft targets for an attack, congested areas where the largest amount of people gather - particularly designated viewing areas - are likely the most vulnerable spots for a mass casualty attacks,' the assessment said, according to ABC.

The law enforcement agencies said they 'remain concerned that malicious actors may seek to engage in public safety disruptions, including attempting to block ingress and egress paths and roadways around the event and major transportation.'

Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and the New York Police Department, have expressed concerns about potential terror attacks as large crowds are expected come the iconic Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

The law enforcement agencies said they 'remain concerned that malicious actors may seek to engage in public safety disruptions, including attempting to block ingress and egress paths and roadways around the event and major transportation'

The parade is expected to draw a large crowd of over two million spectators and 10,000 participants.

It is also expected to feature 10 performance groups, many music stars, 700 clowns, 11 marching bands, all before Santa Claus closes out the celebration.

It was announced, according to NBC News, that new performers for this year's parade would include Jennifer Hudson, Kylie Minogue, Billy Porter, and Loud Luxury.

The parade is set to feature over 20 different character balloons including Snoopy, Ronald McDonald and Disney's Minnie Mouse, and will come to an end at Macy's Herald Square.

Concern for potential threats comes after pro-Palestinian protestors glued their hands to the pavement along the route, resulting in the arrest of 34 protestors, during the 2023 parade.

The activists had doused themselves in fake blood and forced the parade to continue around their demonstrations while they were heard shouting: 'Liberation for Palestine and climate.'

Their actions left many furious that the popular fun family event had been dragged into politics - while others commented on how the broadcast coverage appeared to purposefully avoid showing the disruption taking place.

To take extra precautions which will likely be seen this year, NYPD officers were out in force, with officials saying they had stepped up extra 'robust' security along the route compared to previous years.

The protest was targeted at US support for Israel, while also linking the crisis in the Middle East to climate change as they shouted: 'Liberation for Palestine and climate'

Among the most significant threats stem from 'lone offenders and small groups of individuals seeking to commit acts of violence', but the document noted there is not a 'specific, actionable threat'

Before the event was hampered by politics, festivities got off to a bright and sunny start as the city celebrated the 97th edition of Macy's Thanksgiving parade - although Snoopy fans were left slightly deflated when the air went out of one of the famed giant balloons, causing his hat to sag.

Further deflations hit the Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Monkey D. Luffy, after both characters got snagged on overhanging trees and obstacles that popped the huge balloons.

Over three dozen floats, 25 giant balloons and 18 star performers - including Jon Baptiste and Cher - took center stage as the vibrant parade moved through the city, with the first parade floats reaching Midtown Manhattan in the mid-morning.
A leading surgeon has kept his job despite ploughing his car into the barriers of his hospital while more than five times the drink-drive limit in the middle of the afternoon.

Dr Paulo Torres was spotted driving erratically at 4.30pm by a police officer who began to follow the surgeon's car.

As he reached the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne, Dr Torres mounted the pavement and crashed into the barriers, where he was discovered slumped drunk at the wheel.

The eminent foot and ankle specialist was handed a 12-week suspended jail term and banned from the roads for 36 months by magistrates.

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) found that his fitness to practise was impaired, and that he had brought the profession into disrepute and 'undermined public confidence'.

However, the panel let him keep his job after hearing that Dr Torres was in personal 'crisis' at the time of the offence and had demonstrated 'significant insight' into his offending.

He must, however, inform the General Medical Council if he changes jobs, and must be supervised by a 'workplace reporter' while at work.

After the crash, on February 22, 2022, Dr Torres was subject to two breathalyser tests four minutes apart. They gave readings of 190mcg and 175mcg per 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg. He was arrested and held overnight in police cells.

Dr Paulo Torres (pictured) was spotted driving erratically at 4.30pm by a police officer who began to follow the surgeon's car

Pictured: The Freeman Hospital in Newcastle Upon Tyne

Tom Moran, for the GMC, told the hearing: 'It was only good fortune that nobody was hurt when Dr Torres drove and crashed his vehicle, given the level of his intoxication and the effect it had on his ability to stand up.'

Tribunal chairwoman Nessa Sharkett ruled: '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.'

The tribunal covered four allegations, two relating to Dr Torres's conviction and sentence, and two which have not been made public. Its ruling concluded there was a public interest in allowing Dr Torres to continue to work given the specialist nature of his work 'and the high regard in which he is held'.

Dr Torres qualified in 1993 with an Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery degree from the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa. Since August 2010 he has been a consultant orthopaedic surgeon, joining Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in March 2012.
An ex-government minister who investigated the death of weapons inspector David Kelly has called for him to be awarded a posthumous honour.

Former Lib Dem MP Norman Baker believes the scientist should get a knighthood for his work on the biological weapons threat from Russia and Iraq.

He said Dr Kelly had been considered for the honour before his death, and that his work had made the world a safer place.

The former transport minister, whose book The Strange Death Of David Kelly has been updated, also called for an inquest to be held into the weapons inspector's death, which shocked Britain more than two decades ago.

Dr Kelly, 59, was at the centre of a row between the BBC and Tony Blair's Labour government over claims that No10 'sexed up' a dossier on Iraq's weapons capability.

After he was named as a source for a BBC report  as Mr Blair was making a case for Britain to join the US in a war in Iraq  he was hauled before MPs to give evidence.

Days later, on July 18, 2003, his body was found in woodland near his home in Oxfordshire after he apparently took his own life.

Mr Baker has investigated claims Dr Kelly was murdered or assassinated because of his role in the 'dodgy dossier' row or his work as a weapons inspector in Iraq.

An ex-government minister who investigated the death of weapons inspector David Kelly (pictured) has called for him to be awarded a posthumous honour

Dr Kelly was at the centre of a row between the BBC and Tony Blair 's Labour government over claims that No10 'sexed up' a dossier on Iraq's weapons capability. Pictured: Tony Blair with George Bush in 2007

Former Lib Dem MP Norman Baker (pictured) believes scientist David Kelly should get a knighthood for his work on the biological weapons threat from Russia and Iraq

He said 'basic questions' over the death remained, and the Government-commissioned Hutton Inquiry was 'a travesty'.

It found Dr Kelly committed suicide. Critics of the Hutton Inquiry claim it failed to fully examine how Dr Kelly died, including the official cause of death.

Three medical experts have said publicly that it was 'highly improbable' he bled to death from a self-inflicted wound to his wrist. Questions also remain over why no fingerprints were found on the knife he apparently used, and why only a non-toxic amount of the painkiller coproxamol was found in his system when he appeared to have taken a large dose.

Mr Baker has now called for 'a properly constituted and openly accountable coroner's inquest', adding: 'We owe it to a good man to set aside the farce of a process that occurred under Lord Hutton and create a new process that inspires public confidence and examines the matter of his death officially, openly and honestly, and with the rigour that people in this country are entitled to expect.'

Mr Baker said: 'Government documents show that in May 2003 he was rightly being considered for a knighthood in recognition of the superb work he had done to help eliminate the biological weapons threat posed by Russia and Iraq, and much more besides.

'That honour should now be awarded posthumously in recognition for all Dr Kelly achieved for this country and for the world.'

Dr Kelly was a weapons inspector in Iraq between 1991 and 1998, following the first Gulf War, and was nominated for a Nobel peace prize. He spent most of his career as a consultant on arms control for the Ministry of Defence and other government departments.

Mr Baker said: 'It is no exaggeration to say that between 1990 and his death, Dr Kelly probably did more to make the world a more secure place than anyone else on the planet. It is not too late to pay proper respects.'

The Strange Death Of David Kelly will be serialised on Mail+ at www.dailymail.co.uk next week.
A prominent Florida property developer has surrendered himself to authorities as a result of his involvement in a 2022 boating accident that killed a 17-year-old girl and left another paralyzed.

George Pino, a well-known real estate broker in Doral, appeared in a Miami-Dade Court on Thursday for a hearing that saw him turn himself into authorities.

The 54-year-old, who is currently facing a felony vessel homicide charge for his involvement in the 2022 Biscayne boat crash, somberly walked into the courtroom hand-in-hand with his wife and daughter.

The horrific accident took place on Labor Day weekend two years ago when Pino accidentally struck a channel marker, causing the 29-foot Robalo boat to overturn, sending all 14 passengers overboard.

The fatal crash took the life of 17-year-old Luciana 'Lucy' Fernandez and left Katerina Puig, who was 18 at the time, with debilitating and permanent injuries that will preclude her from living an independent life.

The near 15-minute hearing saw a distressed and emotional Pino, as he stood silently behind his attorney, Howard Srebnick, while nearly 75 of his relatives and friends sat behind him in support.

At the close of the Thursday hearing the prominent property developer was taken into custody by corrections officers and was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center at 12:50 pm, according to jail records.

As the distressed developer exited the courtroom, his attorney thanked Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge, Maria Tinkler Mendez, for her 'sensitivity' in expediting the surrender process.

George Pino, 54, a well-known real estate broker in Doral, appeared in a Miami-Dade Court on Thursday for a hearing that saw him turn himself into authorities

The 54-year-old, who is currently facing a felony vessel homicide charge for his involvement in the 2022 Biscayne boat crash , somberly walked into the courtroom hand-in-hand with his wife and daughter

The fatal crash took the life of 17-year-old Luciana 'Lucy' Fernandez (pictured) and left Katerina Puig, who was 18 at the time, with debilitating and permanent injuries that will preclude her from living an independent life

Last year, Pino was charged with three misdemeanors: one count of second-degree careless operation of a vessel and two counts of careless operation of a vessel causing serious bodily injury.

However, those charges were dropped on October 31 in favor of the felony charge, which was brought about after additional witnesses came forward, strengthening the case.

If convicted, Pino faces a minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison.

He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Following his emotional surrender, Pino's niece, Sofia Castellanos, read a tear-jerking statement from the family.

'From that moment, we have been racked by despair and grief and living a nightmare we could never have imagined. Worse than this though, is knowing that our anguish does not compare to the pain and suffering experienced by the impacted families; something we would not have wished on anyone, let alone our closest friends and family,' Castellanos read.

'If we could give up our lives to bring Lucy back or change what happened that day, we would do so in an instant. Sadly, we cannot. We pray every day for the Fernandez and Puig families and have committed our life savings and taken on substantial debt to help support them.

'As my father now confronts the serious criminal charges which have been filed, we can only hope that the State Attorney, and the community we love so much, will seek to understand all the facts surrounding this tragic accident,' she closed.

If convicted, Pino faces a minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Pictured: Pino's wife, Cecilia Pino, embraces her husband before corrections officers took him in for processing

Following his emotional surrender, Pino's niece, Sofia Castellanos (pictured), read a tear-jerking statement from the family

Pino allegedly said another boat came by creating a big wake and when he turned to check and make sure all of the girls were okay, he hit the marker, causing the boat to overturn, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said

The devastating crash took place on September 4, 2022, when Pino and his wife, Cecilia Pino, were hosting several teen girls for their daughter's 18th birthday party.

All of the girls on the boat were lifelong friends of Carolina Pino and students at Carrolton School of the Sacred Heart and Our Lady of Lourdes Academy.

Upon investigation, it was revealed that Pino was piloting the 29-foot vessel back to the dock when he hit a channel marker, while speeding at around 50 miles per hour, near Boca Chita Key.

Pino allegedly said another boat came by creating a big wake and when he turned to check and make sure all of the girls were okay, he hit the marker, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said.

The boat crash knocked everyone out of the boat and tore a large hole in the side of the vessel, injuring 11 of the passengers.

Six of them were taken to the hospital, where Fernandez would later die.

Pino was never administered a sobriety test, yet when the boat was pulled from the water the day after the crash, 61 empty alcohol bottles - including an empty bottle of champagne - were found on it, according to the Miami Herald.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Committee - who conducted an 'extensive marine investigation' following the accident - maintained that it didn't have probable cause to perform the test.

Upon investigation, it was revealed that Pino was piloting the 29-foot vessel back to the dock when he hit a channel marker, while speeding at around 50 miles per hour, near Boca Chita Key. Pictured: Severe damage to the boat caused by the fatal crash

The boat crash knocked everyone out of the boat and tore a large hole in the side of the vessel, injuring 11 of the passengers. Six of them were taken to the hospital, where Fernandez would later die

'I am dismayed by the State's surprise decision to file this new charge more than two years later,' Srebnick (pictured) told CBS News Miami

Pino told investigators that he had 'two beers' and didn't seem impaired at the scene.

'I am dismayed by the State's surprise decision to file this new charge more than two years later,' Srebnick told CBS News Miami.

'Officers on the scene of the crash determined that Pino was not intoxicated; Pino did not exceed any posted speed limit, Pino had the required number of Coast Guard-approved life preservers on board the vessel, and despite sustaining a head injury himself [requiring fifteen stitches], Pino made heroic efforts to rescue the injured passengers, including diving under the capsized boat,' he continued.

'This was an accident, not a crime, much less a felony.'

The lawsuit alleging the involvement of alcohol during the celebratory outing surfaced in March of last year when the family of the now disabled teen filed it.

The claim also alleges that the 54-year-old driver had been drinking before the crash and allowed the underaged teens to consume alcoholic beverages while out on the boat.

Pino is scheduled to reappear in court in January.